Boswell 2 Falcon Camera in Cohasset — Live Webcam
Cohasset — a coastal town with wildlife
Cohasset is a small town in Norfolk County, Massachusetts, located on the Atlantic coast. According to the 2020 census, 8,381 people live here. The town's name comes from the Algonquian language — the word Quonahassit translates to "long rocky place," which fully matches the local landscape. Cohasset is a quiet suburb of Boston, where rocky cliffs meet sandy beaches, and urban development coexists with natural areas.
Peregrine falcons — record holders among living creatures
The main stars of this broadcast are peregrine falcons (Falco peregrinus), birds of prey from the falcon family. They hold the title of the fastest animals on the planet: during a dive, a peregrine falcon reaches speeds exceeding 320 km/h. These birds hunt on the wing, striking prey — pigeons, ducks, small passerines — with their talons at tremendous speed.
Peregrine falcons were nearly wiped out in the eastern part of North America by the mid-20th century due to the pesticide DDT. By 1964, not a single breeding pair remained east of the Mississippi. Reintroduction programs begun in the 1970s helped restore the population, and today peregrine falcons successfully nest in many Massachusetts cities.
How peregrine falcons adapted to urban life
Unlike most birds of prey, peregrine falcons have adapted remarkably well to the urban environment. Tall buildings with cornices and ledges have replaced natural cliffs for them, and the abundance of rock pigeons and other urban birds has provided a stable food supply. According to MassWildlife, in Massachusetts, peregrine falcon pairs nest on buildings in Boston, Cambridge, Watertown, Lowell, Worcester, and other populated areas.
Urban nesting sites have their advantages: there are fewer natural predators, and tall buildings protect against severe weather. However, chicks face other threats — falling from heights and collisions with vehicles. Local ornithologists and volunteers regularly monitor nests and, when necessary, return fallen chicks to the site.
Nesting features on the Boswell 2 camera
The camera is installed at a site in Cohasset and is aimed at an artificial nesting platform — a rocky surface with gravel and pebbles. Such platforms are specifically set up to attract peregrine falcons: the loose rocky substrate mimics natural cliff ledges where these birds lay eggs without building a traditional nest.
Peregrine falcons show strong site fidelity. If a pair successfully raises chicks on a platform, they are highly likely to return here the next season. The area around the nest is guarded by the parents — the male and female take turns standing watch on the platform while the other bird goes hunting.
Nesting season: what happens at the site
The peregrine falcon breeding season begins in early spring. In March and April, the pair performs display flights over the territory, after which the female lays 3–4 reddish-brown eggs. Incubation lasts about 33 days, and during this period the female barely leaves the nest while the male brings her food.
The chicks hatch in May and are covered in white down for the first few weeks. They grow quickly and are fledged at 5–6 weeks of age. Young peregrine falcons remain near the nesting territory for several more months, learning to hunt under their parents' supervision. By late summer, the young birds disperse, and the adult pair may start a second clutch if the first was lost.
Observing peregrine falcons in real time
The live stream from the nesting platform is a unique opportunity to observe the behavior of these predators without interfering in their lives. The camera operates continuously, and viewers can see moments of chick feeding, parent changeovers at the nest, and the first flights of the young. Such observation is valuable not only for bird enthusiasts but also for scientists studying the adaptation of peregrine falcons to the urban environment.
The webcam in Cohasset is part of a network of similar broadcasts that cover peregrine falcon nesting sites across Massachusetts and New England. Each camera provides insight into how wildlife coexists with humans in the face of growing urbanization.
What you can see on the camera
On the Boswell 2 camera stream, viewers see a rocky gravel platform — an artificial nesting site covered with stones and pebbles. Above, part of an architectural structure with a curved element is visible, likely a cornice or building overhang. The camera is aimed downward at the platform, so most of the time the image is static — stones, possibly feathers and prey remains. But when the birds appear at the site, the real show begins: peregrine falcons bring food, care for their chicks, or simply rest on the rocks while surveying the surrounding territory.
