Union County offers one of only two live web links in New Jersey for peregrine falcon nests
Union County, NJ – Visitors to the Union County website can now access a free link to the County’s first ever “Falcon Cam,” which provides a live stream of all the action in and around the peregrine falcon nest located on the roof of the County Courthouse in midtown Elizabeth.
The mother falcon laid four eggs earlier this spring, and they are expected to hatch within days.
“The new Falcon Cam is a wonderful opportunity to observe and study one of nature’s most fierce and fascinating creatures,” said Union County Freeholder Bruce H. Bergen. “It will provide an enriching experience for County residents of all ages, and for online visitors from all over the world.”
Peregrine falcons are known for their rapid dives, which can approach an astounding 200 miles an hour as they move in on their prey.
A pair first attempted to build a nest on the roof of the County Courthouse in 2005, but windy conditions were an obstacle. In 2006 County workers installed a repurposed dog house to provide a wind shield, acting on the guidance of wildlife experts with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. A nesting pair has raised chicks in the doghouse every year since then.
“Peregrine falcons are listed as an endangered species in New Jersey, and Union County has been part of ongoing efforts to ensure the survival of these remarkable birds statewide,” said Freeholder Sergio Granados, who is a member of the Parks and Recreation advisory board. “The new live feed will help build an appreciation for the role that we can all play in preserving our natural heritage, both in our parks and in the urban environment.”
In 2015 only 24 nesting pairs of peregrine falcons were reported in all of New Jersey. Of that total, only 16 are known to have made their homes in buildings like the County Courthouse.
Union County participates in a banding program with wildlife experts from the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. Thanks to the partnership, offspring from the County Courthouse pair have been observed around the tri-state region, where they have raised chicks of their own.
The same pair occupied the County Courthouse nest from 2006 to 2015. Last year they had four eggs, beating the statewide average of 2.25 young per active nest. They also hatched all four to achieve a 100 percent success rate, well above the average rate of 71 percent.
Earlier this year a new female took up residence in the nest. Leg bands indicate that she was born in a nest located at Throgs Neck Bridge in New York City in 2010.
The new Falcon Cam live stream includes two cameras. One provides a view of the nest interior. This camera also provides an infrared video image at night.
A second camera enables observers to track the falcons’ behavior while perched outside of the nest. An audio feed will also be available later this year.
With the Falcon Cam, Union County becomes one of only two places in New Jersey with a live peregrine falcon web link. The other web cam is located at a nest in Jersey City.
Until recent years, the peregrine falcon population was in steep decline along with other birds of prey due to habitat loss and the pesticide DDT. By 1964, peregrine falcons disappeared completely from New Jersey and all other states east of the Mississippi River.
Peregrine falcons were one of the first birds to be the focus of conservation efforts after the 1960’s. In the 1980’s an intensive re-introduction effort began in the tri-state region.
Since 2000 the New Jersey population has stabilized at approximately two dozen nesting pairs annually.
For more information about peregrine falcons, visit the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Fish & Wildlife.
A link for the new Falcon Cam is located on the County website at ucnj.org/falcon.
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