Hibbard 1 Peregrine Falcon Nest in Duluth — Live Webcam

Duluth — a city on the shore of a great lake

Duluth is a port city in the northwest of Minnesota, located on the westernmost edge of Lake Superior, the largest of the Great Lakes of North America. It is a place where industrial history intertwines with wildlife in the most unexpected way. It is here, on the energy infrastructure in the city's harbor, that one of the most famous peregrine falcon nesting sites in the region — the Hibbard 1 nest — has existed for more than three decades. The online camera installed at this location allows you to observe birds of prey in real time from anywhere in the world.

The city of Duluth stretches for dozens of kilometers along the rocky shore of Lake Superior. Its port is one of the largest on the Great Lakes, handling millions of tons of iron ore and grain annually. Near the shipping channels rise power plants, bridges, and industrial structures that have become an unexpected home for the fastest birds on the planet.

History of the Hibbard 1 Nest

It all began in 1991 when Minnesota Power installed nest boxes at the Hibbard and Boswell power plants. This was part of a program to restore the peregrine falcon population after their catastrophic decline in the mid-20th century due to the pesticide DDT. The Hibbard 1 nest box was placed on the catwalk of the smokestack at the Hibbard Power Plant in Duluth Harbor, near the Bong Bridge.

The first peregrine falcons moved into the box shortly after installation, but the Hibbard 1 nest first became productive in 1993 — that is when the first chicks fledged from it. Since then, the nest has operated almost without interruption, and by 2018, 77 peregrine falcons had fledged from it. Each generation of birds was carefully documented, chicks were banded, and entered into a database to track their future fate.

The FalconCam camera broadcasts round-the-clock updated live images of the nest boxes, allowing researchers and bird enthusiasts to observe the lives of peregrine falcons without interfering with their natural behavior. The Hibbard falcons are identified, banded, and entered into a database to track the birds' activity throughout their lives — this is invaluable material for ornithologists studying the migration routes and survival of the species.

Peregrine Falcons — Record Holders Among Birds

The peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) is a bird of prey that is rightly considered the fastest animal on Earth. During a diving stoop on prey, the peregrine falcon can reach speeds exceeding 320 km/h. This incredible speed is achieved thanks to the streamlined body shape, powerful pectoral muscles, and special feather structure that prevents the bird from breaking apart in air currents during a dive.

Peregrine falcons hunt primarily other birds — pigeons, ducks, gulls, and passerines. In Duluth Harbor and on the shores of Lake Superior, they find an abundant food supply, making this territory attractive for year-round residence. Peregrine falcons can remain on their nesting territory year-round when food needs are met and local conditions are suitable — which is why the Hibbard 1 camera is interesting not only during the breeding season.

In appearance, peregrine falcons are large birds of prey with a body length of 34 to 58 cm and a wingspan of up to 120 cm. Distinctive features include the dark "mustache" on the cheeks, contrasting with the light breast, and the bluish-gray back plumage with a streaked belly. Young birds have a more brownish plumage in their first years of life and acquire adult plumage by one to two years of age.

Breeding Season: From Courtship to Fledging

Every year, life in the Hibbard 1 nest follows a predictable but always exciting scenario. Peregrine falcons begin courtship between early and mid-March — during this time, you can observe the male's aerial displays, the so-called "aerobatic maneuvers," which he performs to impress the female. The male makes deep dives, sharp ascents, and even passes prey to the female in mid-air — this is one of the most impressive rituals among birds.

After pair formation, the female lays eggs between late March and mid-April. The clutch usually contains 3–4 eggs with a characteristic reddish-brown shell. Incubation lasts about 33–35 days, and during this period the female spends most of her time in the nest while the male provides her with food.

Hibbard chicks usually hatch in early to mid-May — this is the most anticipated moment for online camera viewers. The tiny, white down-covered chicks are helpless and completely dependent on their parents. In the first weeks, the female hardly leaves the nest, warming the brood and tearing the prey brought by the male into small pieces.

By three weeks, the chicks are covered with feathers, and they leave the nest 38–40 days after hatching. The first flights are clumsy — young peregrine falcons learn to maneuver, dive, and hunt under the supervision of their parents. For several more weeks after fledging, the young birds remain in the area of the power plant, honing their flying skills. Young peregrine falcons disperse in late August or mid-September, setting off on their independent lives.

Hibbard Power Plant and Conservation

The Hibbard Power Plant is an energy infrastructure facility located in Duluth Harbor on the shore of Lake Superior. The tall smokestacks and industrial buildings of the station create an ideal imitation of the rocky landscape to which peregrine falcons have evolutionarily adapted for nesting. In the wild, these birds prefer to nest on rocky ledges and cliffs — industrial structures turned out to be no less suitable an option for them.

Minnesota Power's program to install nest boxes on its facilities has become one of the successful examples of corporate participation in conservation. The company not only provided the physical infrastructure for nesting but also supports the operation of the cameras, ensuring continuous broadcasting. This allows thousands of people around the world to observe rare birds while simultaneously supplementing scientific data on the behavior of peregrine falcons in urban environments.

The Hibbard falcons are identified, banded, and entered into a database to track the birds' activity throughout their lives. Banding allows ornithologists to track migrations, survival, and territorial fidelity of individual birds. However, in recent years, banding practices have undergone changes — as the peregrine falcon population has recovered and their conservation status has improved, the need for mass banding has decreased.

Bong Bridge and Duluth Harbor

The Hibbard 1 camera is located in close proximity to the Bong Bridge (Richard I. Bong Memorial Bridge) — a cable-stayed bridge connecting the city of Duluth in Minnesota with the city of Superior in Wisconsin. The bridge spans the St. Louis Bay, which connects Lake Superior with the Duluth shipping canal. It is one of the longest bridges in the region, and its cables are often visible in the background of the broadcast.

Duluth Harbor is a bustling place. Cargo ships, fishing boats, and recreational yachts pass through here. In winter, Lake Superior partially freezes, and the landscape around the power plant transforms beyond recognition. Ice fields, snowstorms, and the northern lights — all of this can be seen on the Hibbard 1 camera in the cold months.

The Duluth shipping canal is the most important waterway in the region. It connects Lake Superior with port facilities and allows large vessels to enter the harbor. For peregrine falcons, the canal and adjacent areas represent rich hunting grounds — there are always plenty of gulls, ducks, and pigeons here, which form the basis of their diet.

Year-Round Presence of Peregrine Falcons

Unlike many migratory birds of prey, peregrine falcons in the Duluth area can remain on their nesting territory year-round. This is because Lake Superior and the urban environment provide a stable food supply even in winter. Peregrine falcons can remain on their nesting territory year-round when food needs are met and local conditions are suitable. In winter, they often hunt urban pigeons and ducks that remain on unfrozen sections of water bodies.

The FalconCam camera broadcasts round-the-clock updated live images of the nest boxes, so viewers can observe peregrine falcons at any time of year. In winter, the nest looks deserted, but adult birds regularly visit it — they perch on the edge of the box, survey the territory, and even spend nights here. In late winter, usually in February, the first signs of preparation for the new season begin — pairs spend more time together, clean the nest box, and display territorial behavior.

The nighttime broadcast on the Hibbard 1 camera is a separate interest. Thanks to infrared illumination, you can observe how peregrine falcons sleep, wait out bad weather, or even hunt in the dark. The city lights of Duluth and port lighting create sufficient visibility for night hunting, making the peregrine falcons of this region unique in their kind.

What You Can See on the Camera

The Hibbard 1 online camera is aimed directly at the nesting platform — a wooden structure filled with gravel and crushed stone that mimics the natural substrate for peregrine falcon nesting. The nest is installed on a catwalk around the smokestack of the Hibbard Power Plant, providing a panoramic view of the surrounding area.

In the background of the broadcast, the Bong Bridge is visible — an impressive cable-stayed structure spanning the strait. Beyond the bridge lie the expanses of Lake Superior — the largest freshwater lake in the world by surface area. On clear days, visibility can reach dozens of kilometers, while in fog or rain, the landscape transforms into an atmospheric gray haze.

During the breeding season (March–August), the camera captures the full dynamics of peregrine falcon life: from courtship displays and egg-laying to hatching chicks and their first flights. Outside the breeding season, the camera shows the empty nest with periodic appearances of adult birds, winter landscapes of Duluth Harbor, and the stark beauty of Lake Superior in the cold months. The Hibbard 1 camera is a window into the wild nature in the middle of an industrial city, where the fastest birds on the planet have found their home.