Falcon's Nest in Lincoln – Watch the Webcam Online

Urban Citadel of Birds of Prey

In the very heart of Lincoln, the capital of Nebraska, at an altitude of over one hundred meters above the ground, sits one of the most unusual nesting sites in North America. A wooden box with gravel, fixed to the concrete surface of a high-rise building, has become home to a pair of peregrine falcons — the fastest birds on the planet. The online camera aimed at this nesting site allows real-time observation of the lives of these majestic predators, who have chosen an urban environment instead of their usual cliffs and crags.

Lincoln is a city with a population of about 290,000 people, the second largest in Nebraska. Its downtown is predominantly built up with mid-rise buildings, and it is the Nebraska State Capitol — a monumental building with a dome and spire — that rises above the surrounding development, creating an ideal nesting point for birds of prey. Peregrine falcons instinctively seek high shelters that resemble their natural habitat, and urban skyscrapers successfully replace rocky cliffs for them.

Why Falcons Chose the City

Urbanization has long altered the familiar migration routes and nesting sites of many bird species. For peregrine falcons, the urban environment turned out to be not hostile, but on the contrary — exceptionally favorable. Peregrine falcons nest on artificial structures — towers, communication masts, and high-rise buildings that mimic their natural habitats. The high-rise buildings in downtown Lincoln provide them with everything they need: a vantage point for hunting, protection from ground predators, and an abundance of prey in the form of city pigeons, sparrows, and thrushes.

The very fact of peregrine falcons nesting on the Capitol is no accident, but the result of years of effort by ornithologists and conservationists. The nesting box was installed specifically to attract these birds, and over time the falcons have claimed it as a safe place to raise their young. The height and restricted human access make this site virtually invulnerable to most threats.

Nesting Box at 121 Meters Above Ground

The structure that viewers see on the broadcast is a wooden box filled with gravel and stones. It is fixed to a concrete surface on the 18th floor of the Nebraska State Capitol building at a height of 121 m. This altitude provides the birds with an excellent view of the city and surrounding areas, as well as protection from the elements — the deep recess of the box shelters the chicks from wind and rain.

The design of the nesting box is thought through to the smallest detail: a large opening at the front allows adult birds to land freely, an overhanging roof protects from precipitation, and a gravel-covered floor is scraped by the male into a shallow depression for the eggs. Dimensional precision is critical — the box must provide enough space for a four-foot wingspan of an adult bird, a wide landing platform, and sufficient depth to protect the chicks.

Life of Peregrine Falcons in an Urban Environment

The peregrine falcon is the absolute speed record holder among living creatures. It can climb to an altitude of 1.5 km, becoming practically invisible from the ground. In a stooping dive, the peregrine falcon's speed exceeds 300 km/h, making it a formidable predator for any bird caught in the open space above the city.

In Lincoln, peregrine falcons hunt primarily on city pigeons and starlings, which are abundant in the city center. Watching their hunt from a bird's-eye view is a spectacle available to every viewer of the online camera. The pair of peregrine falcons that has settled on the Capitol controls a vast territory around the building, and their presence noticeably affects the behavior of urban birds — they become more cautious and less likely to appear in open spaces.

Offspring: Chicks and Their Fate

One of the most exciting periods in the life of a falcon family is raising chicks. Peregrine falcon chicks fledge 35–42 days after hatching, but even after their first flight, they remain under their parents' care. The father peregrine falcon independently teaches the grown juveniles to fly and hunt — this process can stretch over several weeks.

Historically, the peregrine falcon population in North America was severely affected by pesticide use in the mid-20th century, but thanks to reintroduction programs and the installation of artificial nest boxes on buildings, the species' numbers are recovering. In 2024, a significant event occurred at the Nebraska State Capitol — three peregrine falcon chicks hatched — the first in eight years. They were named Cirrus, Stratus, and Cumulus — after types of clouds, which emphasizes the height of their nesting site. The parents were peregrine falcons Jet and Atlas.

Panorama of Lincoln from Above

The webcam with the falcon's nest opens up to the viewer not only the life of birds of prey but also an impressive panorama of the city. From the camera on the peregrine falcon's nest on the Nebraska State Capitol, a view of the city of Lincoln to the east opens up. In the background, high-rise and low-rise buildings, roads with cars, parking areas, green lawns, and trees are visible.

Lincoln is a compact city with a clear street grid, and from a height of 121 meters, its layout is visible at a glance. The central part with the Capitol gradually transitions into residential neighborhoods and green spaces. In clear weather, the horizon allows you to make out the outlines of the city for many kilometers, and at night, the lights of Lincoln create a completely different but no less mesmerizing picture.

Peregrine Falcons Around the World: From Moscow to Lincoln

The phenomenon of peregrine falcons nesting on high-rise buildings is not a unique feature of Lincoln. All over the world, these birds are colonizing urban skyscrapers. Peregrine falcons appeared on the Main Building of Moscow State University in 2005, but only began regularly breeding in 2017. Since then, the chicks have been banded and their subsequent movements tracked, allowing scientists to better understand the migration routes and behavior of the species.

Similar programs to attract peregrine falcons to buildings exist in dozens of cities across Europe and North America. Each such project is a small victory over urbanization, proof that humans can coexist with wildlife by creating safe conditions for it within the city limits.

How to Watch Falcons Online

The webcam overlooking the falcon's nest in Lincoln operates in real time, allowing viewers from around the world to follow the lives of peregrine falcons without having to travel to Nebraska. The live stream is available around the clock, and at different times of day, you can see different scenes: from morning flights and hunting to nighttime rest in the nest.

For the most interesting observations, pay attention to the periods of feeding chicks (if there are young in the nest during the current season), courtship displays in spring, and the first flights of grown fledglings. The camera with the falcon's nest is a window into the wild, located right in the heart of an American city.

What You Can See on the Camera

On the broadcast from the "Falcon's Nest" webcam in Lincoln, the viewer sees a wooden nesting box filled with gravel and stones, fixed to the concrete surface of a high-rise building. In the foreground is the nesting site itself, where the peregrine falcons spend most of their time during the breeding season. In the background, a panoramic panorama of Lincoln's urban development unfolds: high-rise and low-rise buildings, roads with cars, parking areas, green lawns, and trees. The camera allows you to observe the birds in an urban environment from above, combining close contact with the nest and a wide panorama of the city of Nebraska.