Startups

This new webcam shows falcons nesting high above Baltimore

The camera sits atop the 100 Light Street building, where peregrine falcons have nested since the 1970s.

A peregrine falcon rests on its 33rd-floor ledge. (Screenshot via Chesapeake Conservancy)

Ever since the 1970s, a cast of peregrine falcons has made their home 33 floors above downtown Baltimore. They’ve mostly kept to themselves, but for a few fish and wildlife workers checking in now and then.
But starting this week, grounded Baltimoreans can watch the falcons without disturbing them. The Chesapeake Conservancy has launched a new webcam of the nest.
Watch live
The falcons are located atop the Transamerica Tower at 100 Light St.
Falcons almost disappeared in the 1970s, but have rebounded thanks to a breeding and release program. Here’s how they got to downtown Baltimore, according to the building that houses them:

In 1978, the Cornell labs at the U.S. Army base in Aberdeen released Scarlett, a peregrine falcon. As many peregrine falcons do, Scarlett searched for a tall manmade structure for her nesting location. She discovered and selected 100 Light Street as a suitable cliff. For the past thirty years, peregrine falcons have occupied the southwest corner on the 33rd floor of the 100 Light Street building.

On the tech side, Chesapeake Conservancy Executive Director Joel Dunn credited Skyline Technology Solutions and Cogent Communications for helping with the project.
We kept an eye on the cam for most of Tuesday afternoon, and found that two falcons were mostly hanging around the nest. They were a bit camera shy.
The Conservancy also runs an osprey cam on the Eastern Shore. It’s currently being repaired as a result of damage from a winter storm, but you can watch the best moments from 2013 below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2pot0Jeu48

Before you go...

Please consider supporting Technical.ly to keep our independent journalism strong. Unlike most business-focused media outlets, we don’t have a paywall. Instead, we count on your personal and organizational support.

3 ways to support our work:
  • Contribute to the Journalism Fund. Charitable giving ensures our information remains free and accessible for residents to discover workforce programs and entrepreneurship pathways. This includes philanthropic grants and individual tax-deductible donations from readers like you.
  • Use our Preferred Partners. Our directory of vetted providers offers high-quality recommendations for services our readers need, and each referral supports our journalism.
  • Use our services. If you need entrepreneurs and tech leaders to buy your services, are seeking technologists to hire or want more professionals to know about your ecosystem, Technical.ly has the biggest and most engaged audience in the mid-Atlantic. We help companies tell their stories and answer big questions to meet and serve our community.
The journalism fund Preferred partners Our services
Engagement

Join our growing Slack community

Join 5,000 tech professionals and entrepreneurs in our community Slack today!

Trending

Leadership lessons from Baltimore’s Key Bridge collapse, a defining crisis event

Interactive timeline: top moments from Baltimore’s challenging yet inspiring year in tech

How 5 orgs help local businesses achieve success

Baltimore is setting a national standard for diversifying its economy

Technically Media