Last night, the first of four Peregrine Falcon eggs hatched at a nest site being monitored by Biodiversity Research Institute’s Peregrinecam live webcam.

The Peregrinecam can be viewed at http://www.briloon.org/webcams/ and is provided free of charge by Maine-based Biodiversity Research Institute (BRI). The webcam system offers two perspectives of the nest and is equipped with a camera that functions in extremely low light, allowing for daily monitoring around the clock. This webcam is just one of BRI’s fleet of webcams that is now featuring nesting eagles (incubating eggs), nesting ospreys (incubating two eggs), as well as the falcons.

“Observing falcons live at their scrape is an amazing opportunity to learn about bird behavior. We expect the falcon chicks to grow quickly as they prepare for their first flight in about six weeks,” says BRI outreach director Patrick Keenan.

“We hope that this camera provides a new opportunity for individuals around the world to connect with wildlife and learn about the vast array of issues that wildlife face,” says Wing Goodale, deputy director of Biodiversity Research Institute. “People all over the world are watching these webcams and joining our online community to learn more about our research and the wildlife that we feature on our webcams.” To participate online, visit www.briloon.ning.com.

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Biodiversity Research Institute is a non-profit ecological research group dedicated to progressive environmental study and education that furthers global sustainability and conservation policies. BRI’s mission is to assess emerging threats to wildlife and ecosystems through collaborative research, and to use scientific findings to advance environmental awareness and inform decision makers. BRI’s science programs include wetlands, mammal, raptor, waterfowl, migratory bird, marine bird, coastal bird, wildlife and renewable energy, and tropical programs; the Institute’s research efforts stretch throughout most of North and Central America, as well as across sites in South America, Russia, South Africa, and Europe. For more information visit www.briloon.org.

The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (www.maine.gov/ifw) is a state agency that oversees the conservation and responsible use of Maine’s natural resources. For more than three decades, the MDIFW has worked with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (www.fws.gov) in peregrine falcon recovery efforts.