University of Montreal Falcon Webcam — Watch Live in Real Time
Live Streaming from a Peregrine Falcon Nest in Montreal
On the roof of one of the tallest buildings at the University of Montreal, a pair of peregrine falcons — the fastest birds on the planet — has made its home. This live webcam allows you to observe their lives in real time: how the female Ziva incubates her eggs, how the male Tadi brings prey, how the chicks take their first steps along the edge of the nest before their decisive flight. The broadcast runs around the clock, and at any moment of the day or night you can see what's happening on the 23rd floor of the Roger-Gaudry tower.
The University of Montreal peregrine falcons have become a true internet sensation in Canada. Thousands of viewers tune in daily to watch the lives of these majestic predators in an urban environment. This is one of the rare cases where protected wild birds allow people into their private lives through a camera lens.
History of the Falcons at the Roger-Gaudry Building
It all began in 2007, when a pair of peregrine falcons was first spotted on the roof of the Roger-Gaudry building. The birds attracted the attention of university staff and local ornithologists — peregrine falcons had been endangered in North America just decades earlier, and their return to the urban environment became an important event for species conservation.
In 2008, researcher Eva Bélisle from Polytechnique Montréal installed a special nest box on the building's roof. This allowed the peregrine falcons to settle on the 23rd floor of the tower and begin nesting here regularly. The first pair of falcons was named Roger and Spirit, then they were succeeded by Miro and Eve, and today the nest is occupied by Ziva and Tadi.
The first chicks hatched in 2009, and since then the pair has raised offspring every spring. Over more than a decade of the project's existence, several dozen chicks have been born, then dispersed throughout Quebec cities and beyond.
The Roger-Gaudry Building — Architectural Centerpiece of the Campus
The Roger-Gaudry building is the first and main building of the University of Montreal, constructed to house all faculties and 6,000 students. It is a massive Art Deco tower that rises above the slopes of Mount Royal and is visible from many points across the city. It is here, on the upper floors, that conditions are ideal for peregrine falcons to nest — the height, the vantage point, and the absence of natural predators.
The University of Montreal is one of the largest French-speaking universities in the world, with over 60,000 students enrolled. The campus is located in the Côte-des-Neiges district in the northwestern part of the Island of Montreal, and the Roger-Gaudry tower serves as its landmark. For the peregrine falcons, this building has become a replacement for the rocky cliffs they typically choose for nesting in the wild.
Ziva and Tadi — The Current Pair of Peregrine Falcons
Today, the nest on the 23rd floor is occupied by Ziva (female) and Tadi (male). The names were chosen publicly through a vote conducted by the university each time a new pair or brood of chicks appears. Ziva is an experienced female who has nested here for several seasons in a row.
Peregrine falcons form pair bonds for life, but if one partner dies, the other quickly finds a replacement. In the history of the nest on Roger-Gaudry, there has already been a change of males — after the death of her previous partner, Ziva attracted a new one, who was named Tadi. The pair successfully raises offspring every year, and viewers can observe their interactions through the online camera.
The female is larger than the male — this is characteristic of many raptors. Ziva typically lays 3–4 eggs at intervals of 2–3 days. Incubation lasts about 33 days, and during this period the female barely leaves the nest while Tadi brings her food. The diet consists mainly of pigeons, starlings, and other urban birds that the falcons catch mid-air right above the campus.
Nesting Season: What Happens in Different Months
The peregrine falcon breeding season in Montreal begins in early spring. In March and April, the pair actively courts each other: the male performs aerial courtship displays, brings prey to the female, and both birds emit characteristic calls. During this time, the camera captures mating ceremonies and nest preparation.
In April and May, the female lays eggs, and the incubation period begins. Viewers can watch Ziva turn the eggs, see her rest, and observe Tadi bringing food. In late May and early June, the chicks appear — small white fluffy bundles that grow quickly.
In summer, the chicks become covered in feathers, learn to flap their wings, and stand at the edge of the nest. In July, the first flight occurs — an exciting moment when young peregrine falcons spread their wings over the city for the first time. After fledging, the chicks remain near the nest for several more weeks, and the parents continue to feed them.
In autumn and winter, the adult birds remain on their territory. Peregrine falcons do not migrate — they are sedentary, and the camera continues to show their life in snowy Montreal. In winter, you can see the falcons hunting in freezing temperatures and preening their feathers against the backdrop of the snow-covered city.
View from the Roof: Montreal from the Height of the 23rd Floor
The peregrine falcon nest overlooks Notre-Dame-des-Neiges Cemetery and the southeastern side of the city. This is one of the largest cemeteries in North America, occupying a vast area on the slopes of Mount Royal. From the height of the 23rd floor, a panoramic view opens up over the green expanses of the cemetery, residential neighborhoods, and church silhouettes.
On the horizon, other university buildings are visible — the distinctive tower and the domed building recognized by anyone who has visited the campus. In clear weather, the roof of Roger-Gaudry offers a view of downtown Montreal with its skyscrapers, the Saint Lawrence River, and the bridges connecting the island to the mainland.
Montreal's weather changes quickly — in summer the camera shows the green slopes of the mountain, in autumn the fiery blaze of foliage, in winter a white blanket of snow and gray skies. On foggy days, the city seems to dissolve in the haze, and only the silhouettes of the nearest buildings hint at civilization.
How to Get to the Peregrine Falcon Nest
The University of Montreal is located at 2900, boulevard Édouard-Montpetit, Montreal, Quebec. The nearest metro station is Côte-des-Neiges (Blue line), from which it is about a 10-minute walk uphill to the Roger-Gaudry building. You can also reach it by bus No. 51 or No. 165.
The Roger-Gaudry building itself is open during working hours, but access to the roof and the nest is restricted — it is a protected area. However, you can watch the falcons from the ground: during the nesting season, information stands are set up on campus, and visitors can see the birds in flight or approaching the nest with binoculars.
Adjacent to the university is Notre-Dame-des-Neiges Cemetery — one of the most visited places in Montreal. A visit can be combined with watching the peregrine falcons, which often hunt above the cemetery trees. Also within walking distance is Mount Royal with its parks and observation points.
Why Peregrine Falcons Chose the City for Nesting
Peregrine falcons are birds that historically nested on rocky cliffs and in mountains. But in recent decades, they have increasingly adapted to the urban environment. Tall buildings with niches and cornices remind them of natural rocky shelters, and the abundance of pigeons and starlings provides a constant source of food.
Montreal has become one of the cities where peregrine falcons have successfully adapted to urban life. In addition to the university, pairs of falcons nest on other tall buildings in the city — on bridges, churches, and industrial structures. The installation of the nest box on Roger-Gaudry was part of a species conservation program that helps birds find safe breeding locations in urban conditions.
Research shows that urban peregrine falcons successfully raise offspring — sometimes even better than their wild counterparts. The absence of large predators, abundance of prey, and protection from harsh weather make urban nesting sites attractive to these birds.
Observation Technology: How the Camera Works
The webcam is installed directly in the nest box on the 23rd floor of the Roger-Gaudry tower. It broadcasts high-quality images 24 hours a day, allowing viewers to observe the lives of the falcons at any time. The camera is equipped with infrared lighting, so even at night you can make out the silhouettes of the birds in the nest.
The stream is available for free on the project's official website and through video platforms. Image quality depends on weather conditions — on clear days, the finest details of plumage are visible, while in fog or blizzards the picture becomes blurry. Nevertheless, even in challenging conditions, the camera continues to operate, and viewers can watch how the falcons cope with bad weather.
The project is supported by the university and volunteer ornithologists who monitor the equipment and comment on what is happening in the nest. During the hatching season, the stream attracts the most viewers — thousands of people simultaneously watch the emergence of new nest occupants.
What You Can See on the Camera
The camera shows the peregrine falcons' nest — a tray with gravel flooring and a wooden railing installed on the roof of the Roger-Gaudry building. In the nest, you can see the female Ziva, who spends most of her time here during the incubation period, and the male Tadi, who appears periodically bringing prey. When chicks appear, the nest fills with small white fluffy bundles that quickly grow and become covered in feathers.
The panoramic camera shows the view from the roof over the city — university buildings, including the tower and the domed building, as well as Notre-Dame-des-Neiges Cemetery and the southeastern part of Montreal. In clear weather, there is a view of downtown and the Saint Lawrence River. In winter, the roof is covered in snow, and against this background, the dark silhouettes of the falcons are especially visible.
The online camera operates around the clock, and at any moment you can see what is happening in the nest: feeding of chicks, mating ceremonies, falcons hunting on approach to the nest, or simply birds resting after a successful hunt. This is a unique opportunity to observe the lives of wild predators in an urban environment without leaving your home.
