Recently emerged Peregrine falcon chicks have started considering downtown Salinas as their new habitat following the birth of the initial pair on Monday afternoon.
Alice and Sal, whose names reflect their residence on Alisal Street, were initially observed in the downtown region in 2021. It was then that volunteers alongside the Predatory Bird Research Group at UC Santa Cruz came across an unincubated egg.
Subscribe to our NewslettersTo encourage the falcons to return to their usual location, a nesting box suitable for incubating fertile eggs was supplied. While this led to several successful hatchings, the most recent one has, for the first time, been captured entirely via live stream.
"Up until now, everyone has been enthusiastic about it. In my opinion, it’s the greatest thing ever. Everyone seems very eager to witness it. People particularly adore the footage of the falcon. It appears this link has spread widely, with several schools in Santa Cruz already observing the live stream from our camera in their classrooms," stated Greg Hamer, a volunteer working with the Peregrine Falcon camera project.
The video can be located on YouTube Under 'Salinas Falcon Cam,' footage reveals that the falcons laid a set of four eggs about a month ago. On Monday, the first two chicks began "pippering," which means they successfully hatched. Early Tuesday morning, observers spotted the third chick emerging from its shell. Meanwhile, the parents continue to await the arrival of their last offspring before completing this brood.
Experts claim that this camera enables a closer observation of wildlife, facilitating greater learning opportunities for the community about these species and fostering a stronger connection with the animals sharing their space.
They also wish for everyone to be aware that the fledge season is approaching shortly. Therefore, if you spot any tagged young birds on the ground, please contact either the Salinas Animal Control or the Bird Research Team at UC Santa Cruz.
Alice and Sal, the parents, honor their address on Alisal Street.
Peregrine falcons hold the title of being the fastest creature globally. Once listed as an endangered species under the Federal Endangered Species Act in 1971, various conservation and recovery initiatives contributed to their removal from both the Federal registry in 1999 and the California list in 2009.
Therefore, spotting this species either through a camera or in person is quite an thrilling experience.
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