Last Updated on Tuesday, 22 May 2012 11:19
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PEREGRINE FALCONS have used nesting locations in downtown Salt Lake City since 1984. This spring, like most, the falcons are using a nesting box located on the Joseph Smith Memorial Building at South Temple and Main Street. If you're in downtown Salt Lake City, look up — if you're lucky you might catch a glimpse of these amazing birds.
The links on this page lead to live video feeds of the activities inside the nesting box. Viewing the peregrine falcons requires a fast Internet connection. It might take a minute or two for the video to load depending on the traffic to the cameras. Please be patient. If you're having problems viewing the video, try downloading this free VLC media player.
May 22, 2012 update
The third egg hatched this morning. Waiting on the fourth and final hatchling to arrive. We expect it to happen any time.
May 20, 2012 update
Two out of four eyases have hatched. The other eggs could hatch any time.
May 15, 2012 update
We expect hatching to take place on or around May 21.
April 20, 2012 update
There are now four eggs in the nest. Head to the Salt Lake City Peregrine Falcons Facebook page to see photos of the eggs.
April 16, 2012 update
There are now two eggs in the nest. The first egg was reported Thursday, April 12 at 6:58 a.m. (Thanks Claire!) The second was confirmed on April 14.
Stay tuned and let us know if you see any additional eggs. Normally, the birds lay one egg every other day until they reach the normal clutch size of four. (For comparison, last year the eggs were detected on April 19, 22, 24 and 27.) Once laid, the incubation period until the first hatch is about 30 to 32 days.
For more updates about the falcons, visit the Salt Lake City Peregrine Falcons page on Facebook.
April 6, 2012 update
The cameras are now online!
March 20, 2012 update
We have reports that the Salt Lake City peregrine falcon adults have been in the area around the nest box at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building in downtown Salt Lake City. If everything goes well, the cameras should be online in early- to mid-April.
Although the sexes are outwardly similar, there are a few differences. If you would like to identify the adults more easily, here are a few tips.
The male tiercel, or tercel, is generally one-fourth to one-third smaller in size than the female. He typically appears darker in color and his malars (the dark wedge below the eye) are broader with rounded tips.
The female falcon appears grayer and has narrow malars with pointy tips. The buff-colored area at the tip of her tail is wider than the male's.
Peregrine falcons do not build nests from grass or twigs. Usually, they create a scrape (a shallow depression in the substrate) on ledges, cliffs, or — in this case — a high, protected spot on a downtown Salt Lake City building. Once a nesting site is established, it may be reused year after year, although alternative sites have been utilized as well.
Over the years, with the help of the Salt Lake City Peregrine Falcon Watchpost Team members, a surprisingly large number of birds have survived flight training and successfully learned to fly. From 1986 through 1990 and 1995, 11 of 14 young learned to fly and dispersed to the wild. From 2004 through 2009, 10 of 13 young successfully departed to wilder haunts. From 1991 through 1993, five of six young reached the flying stage and dispersed from a cliff nest site located just north of the downtown area.
Peregrines are hunters extraordinaire that prey almost exclusively on birds caught in mid-air. Considered one of the world's fastest animals, peregrines can reach speeds of up to 200 miles per hour during vertical dives. The pigeon population of downtown Salt Lake City provides ample food, but, through the years, more than 35 other bird species have fallen prey to these magnificent, awe-inspiring flyers. Many falcon prey species are not normally found in urban environments, which indicates that the falcons forage within and beyond the confines of the big city.
The peregrine falcon was removed from the federal Endangered Species List in 1999. The Utah peregrine population is recovering statewide, and the species continues to enjoy protection under Utah State Code and the federal Migratory Bird Treaty Act.
Two of the three North American subspecies can be seen in Utah. The continental form, subspecies anatum, is a Utah nester that can be seen year round. The tundra form, subspecies tundrius, is a migrant that can be seen during the spring and fall
More information:
These links launch separate windows. Turn up the volume to hear sound.
2011 videos
Contact Bob Walters for details: BobWalters@utah.gov or 801-209-5326.
Live video from an osprey nest near Deer Creek Reservoir.
