Birdcam | Falcon Cam

Our falcon cam features three different nest sites at Xcel Energy power plants in Minnesota. They include the Allen S. King Plant, in Oak Park Heights, Black Dog Plant in Burnsville and Sherburne County (Sherco) Plant, in Becker.

The nest boxes at these sites are installed 300 - 600 feet above the ground to imitate the same features of high cliffs. Falcons perch where they have excellent views of the skies, so they can spot and "skydive" for prey.

View streaming videos and pictures of all three nest boxes. Be sure to follow us on Twitter for updates on the falcons' nesting activities.

View the Black Dog Falcon Cam View the King Falcon Cam View the Sherco Falcon Cam

News
About
Falcon Facts
Black Dog Daily Pics
King Daily Pics
Sherco Daily Pics

News

April 16 2013

All three falcon nests have been occupied for this season.

April 11 2013

The Sherco falcon is trying to keep her egg from freezing.

March 26 2013

Another falcon has been spotted at Sherco plant.

February 25 2013

A falcon has begun nesting at the Black Dog plant.

About

Peregrine falcons find the boxes installed on power plant stacks attractive as nesting sites because they offer some of the same features as the high cliffs, which they naturally prefer. Installed 300 to 600 feet above the ground, the boxes provide a perch where peregrines have an excellent view of the skies around them and can quickly spot and “skydive” for prey. The boxes were first installed at our Minnesota power plants beginning in 1989 to help return peregrines to the Mississippi River Valley. Since 1989, our falcon nest boxes have fledged 225 young falcons.

Interested in corresponding with other Bird Cam viewers? Join the BirdCam Forum available through the Raptor Resource Project.

Falcon Facts

Peregrine falcons are the fastest raptors on earth with diving speeds of more than 200 mph and level flight speeds of more than 60 mph.
These falcons are relatively smaller than other birds of prey. They grow to about 15 inches in length and have a 40-inch wingspan.
The use of the pesticide DDT nearly wiped out the entire population in the 1960s.
Both parents help incubate the eggs as well as raise the young peregrines.
Peregrine falcons have been known to live for up to 15 years.