Melbourne Falcon Chicks prepare to Fledge, Captivating Online Audience
Melbourne, Australia – Anticipation is building as three falcon chicks nesting on the 367 Collins Street skyscraper in Melbourne prepare to take their first flights, drawing a dedicated online audience captivated by a 24/7 livestream.The fledglings, monitored by experts and a growing community of viewers, are entering a critical phase where they will begin testing their wings and ultimately leave the nest.
The livestream, and others like it across Australia, offer a unique window into the lives of wild birds, fostering a growing “nest-flix” phenomenon. Experts say the fledging process is a delicate balance of strength and timing, with parents intentionally reducing food provisions to encourage their young to fly. “They’ll spend an inordinate amount of time running up and down the ledge, flapping,” explains ornithologist Dr.clifford Hurley. “Then, the adults will start reducing their food, and might fly past the ledge with a dead starling, or a pigeon, almost taunting the young with food.”
The appeal of these wildlife webcams extends beyond simple entertainment. Birdlife Australia’s EagleCAM provides a view of sea eagles nesting at Newington nature Reserve in Sydney, while the Daintree Rainforest Observatory streams ospreys from a 55-metre canopy crane. Friends of Osprey in South Australia offer live access to a nest on a barge in Port Lincoln. hurley attributes the popularity to “unlimited streaming, with plenty of drama and ‘no ads’,” highlighting the immersive and accessible nature of observing wildlife in its natural habitat.
Viewers can participate in the Australian Bird of the Year poll currently underway: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/ng-interactive/2025/oct/06/australian-bird-of-the-year-2025-vote-now. Further details on the EagleCAM can be found here: https://youtu.be/XJcbNBmxJX0,the Daintree rainforest Osprey cam: https://www.jcu.edu.au/daintree/resources/live-cameras, and the Port Lincoln Osprey feed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5SQd6QkBbc0.
