In a nest box on the 21st floor of Riverfront Plaza’s West Tower, a pair of endangered falcons are preparing to bring some new chicks to their corner of Richmond.
The peregrine falcons, one of more than 30 pairs in Virginia, will be captured on a livestream through egg laying, incubation, hatching and until the chicks leave the nest. The peregrine falcons are considered state-threatened.
For the ninth year, the camera will allow viewers to follow the pair as they nest and raise offspring. There can be a bit of drama — including territorial disputes, chicks taking their first nail-biting flights and even the failure of the nest, according to biologists from the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources.
“We’ve been monitoring the activity on camera throughout the course of the last month and have seen the same birds from the past several years on camera daily,” said Meagan Thomas, DWR wildlife viewing program coordinator. “I always get a bit anxious at the start of each year before we get confirmation as to which individual falcons it is that we are seeing – mostly just wondering if we will have the same pair or a new falcon that we haven’t seen before.
“This year, due to all the snow and ice in front of the box during February, it took us a bit longer to get that individual confirmation, but once things started to melt, I was happy to see that it was the same pair, back for another hopefully successful nesting season.”
The Richmond Falcon Cam is a partnership between DWR and Comcast Business, who provides the internet connection for the livestream.
“We’re glad to continue our partnership with DWR and help bring the Richmond Falcon Cam to wildlife fans near and far,” said Holli Lloyd, senior director of marketing for Comcast Business Beltway region. “It’s a great reminder of what reliable connectivity makes possible, whether it’s a classroom in Richmond tuning in for the first time or a viewer halfway around the world watching a fledgling take its first flight.”
During the 2025 nesting season, more than 62,000 users logged on to see the pair raise three chicks, including viewers from Australia and Singapore.
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Crystal Graham
