In a spectacular urban wildlife event, three young peregrine falcons have taken their first flights from a 35-storey skyscraper in Melbourne's central business district, captivating a global online audience.
Fledglings Take to the Skies
The trio of peregrine falcons – comprising two females and one male – fledged late last week from their nest perched 150 metres above 367 Collins Street. Their inaugural flights were broadcast live to thousands of dedicated followers through a 24-hour livestream operated by Bird Life Australia.
The final falcon successfully took flight shortly after 9am on Saturday, marking its second attempt after experiencing a dramatic crash-landing the previous day that saw it return to the safety of the ledge.
"After weeks of watching them grow on the 24-hour livestream, the peregrine falcon trio have finally taken their first flights over Melbourne CBD," Bird Life Australia stated on Instagram.
Urban Falcon Family History
The three peregrine chicks originally hatched in late September and early October, becoming the latest generation in a nesting site first discovered in the 1990s. The Victorian Peregrine Project (VPP), established by peregrine expert Dr Victor Hurley in partnership with building owner Mirvac, has been running the popular livestream yearly since 2017.
Dr Hurley explained that the chicks' slightly delayed fledging was actually beneficial. "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 how the parent falcons intentionally reduce food provisions to make the young birds lighter for their first flights, comparing their developing wings to "training wheels."
Global Audience and Future Prospects
The livestream, which concludes on Monday, has developed a substantial following with a dedicated Facebook group boasting more than 56,000 members. Emotional comments flooded social media platforms as viewers witnessed the fledglings' progress.
"I loved watching this reunion today! Made me shed a few tears!" one YouTube commenter expressed, while another wrote: "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, rising from 28th position to 14th in the penultimate round following the hatching news, 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 near the city for several weeks while their parents continue to feed them until they gain confidence to hunt independently. The livestream will return next year when the breeding season recommences, but for now, the organisation bids farewell to this year's cohort: "But for now, good luck, young falcons."
