One of the best things about the internet is all of the seemingly mundane things you can watch live, and how those things can actually turn out to be incredibly riveting. Today’s example: Falcon nest box livestreams.
For the past couple of years, it’s become a spring tradition of mine to tune into the multiple livestreams online that let me peer into the lives of the local peregrine falcon populations throughout the state.
It’s amazing how much of a bond you can develop with an animal by simply watching their day-to-day lives. I’ve watched eggs being laid, chicks hatch, and witnessed those chicks grow up to start their own lives. I often find myself flipping through these streams throughout the day. My goal is to make you as passionate about these falcons as I am.
Without further ado, here are five different livestreams where you can watch Michigan falcons live their lives right now.
Spartan Stadium Falcon Cam
My personal favorite stream is this nest box, located on the roof of Michigan State University’s Spartan Stadium (maybe I’m biased as a Lansing resident). Since 2022, it has been the home of falcon parents Apollo and Freyja. Last year, they birthed four peregrine falcon chicks: Pickles, Muhammad, Egbert, and Swooper. I highly recommend this stream because of its high-quality video and audio.
Warren Peregrine Falcons
This peregrine falcon nest atop the GM Cadillac Building in Warren has been the home of multiple mating pairs and their chicks. This season, it is the home of Wilma and Fred. Clear audio and video.
Sault Ste. Marie International Bridge Falcon Nest Box
One of the older nest locations, peregrine falcon nest boxes have been installed on the International Bridge since 2010. Given the location of the box, the video and audio can be iffy at times.
Lansing BWL Eckert Falcon Cam and Lansing BWL Erickson Falcon Cam
The Lansing Board of Water and Light has housed falcon nesting boxes at at least one of their plants for two decades. As of publishing time, the Eckert plant is home to multiple chicks! While these cameras don’t feature sound, I enjoy the multiple camera angles of the Eckert plant falcon stream.
Honorable mentions
Michigan Tech Peregrine Falcon Cam
As of this article’s publishing, Michigan Tech’s stream doesn’t have a falcon yet, but the stream features great video and sound. Stay tuned, and maybe you’ll be able to witness a falcon finding its new home as it happens.
Indiana Michigan Power Center Falcon Cam
Okay, bear with me here. Although this nest is located in Fort Wayne, Indiana, I’m gonna let this one slide on a technicality due to the fact that Indiana Michigan Power provides electricity to southwest Michigan. It’s already got some chicks in the nest. Although the stream doesn’t have sound, it has good video quality.
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