In a spectacular urban wildlife event, three young peregrine falcons have successfully taken their first flights from the top of a 35-storey skyscraper in Melbourne's Central Business District. The momentous occasion was captured on a 24-hour livestream, allowing thousands of dedicated fans worldwide to witness the fledglings' inaugural journey into the skies.
The Fledging Event Captivates Online Audience
The three peregrine falcons – two females and one male – left their high-rise nest late last week, with the non-profit organisation Bird Life Australia sharing the footage on Instagram. The last of the trio made its successful flight shortly after 9am on Saturday, marking its second attempt after experiencing a dramatic crash-landing the day before.
"After weeks of watching them grow on the 24-hour livestream, the peregrine falcon trio have finally taken their first flights over Melbourne CBD," stated the organisation's social media caption. The post noted that one young falcon required a couple of days to master flying after its initial crash-landing comeback.
A Project Years in the Making
The falcon chicks hatched at the end of September and early October, with their development closely monitored by viewers through cameras installed 150 metres above Melbourne's 367 Collins Street. This monitoring forms part of the Victorian Peregrine Project (VPP), established by peregrine expert Dr Victor Hurley in partnership with the building's owner Mirvac.
Dr Hurley explained that the birds took slightly longer than expected to fledge, which actually worked to their advantage. "They're a bit slow to fledge and that's a good thing because the longer they take, the wing feathers are still growing so the bigger the wing surface area," he said. He described this natural process as similar to "having training wheels" for the young birds.
The expert also revealed that parent falcons deliberately reduce food provisions before fledging, making the chicks lighter and better prepared for their first flights. Hurley confirmed that when the birds finally took flight on Saturday, they demonstrated confidence and landed safely on another building, typically never returning to their original ledge nest.
Dedicated Following and Future Prospects
The livestream, which concludes on Monday, has been running annually since 2017, though the nest was first discovered in the 1990s. The project has generated enormous public interest, with a dedicated Facebook group boasting more than 56,000 members who share their enthusiasm for the urban falcons.
Online viewers expressed emotional connections to the birds, with one YouTube commenter writing: "I loved watching this reunion today! Made me shed a few tears!" Another added: "Awe, I'm going to miss them. This nest gave me many laughs with their personalities."
The peregrine falcon's popularity saw a significant boost in the Bird of the Year competition in October, rising from 28th position to 14th in the penultimate round, though it ultimately didn't make the final round, which was won by the Tawny Frogmouth.
According to Bird Life Australia, the young falcons will remain close to the city for the coming weeks, continuing to receive food from their parents until they gain confidence to hunt independently. The organisation confirmed the livestream will return next year when the breeding season recommences, ending their announcement with a hopeful message: "But for now, good luck, young falcons."
