The University of Texas Tower is home to a female Peregrine Falcon, nicknamed “Tower Girl.” An urban predator who lives in Austin year round, she can be seen swooping down at remarkable speeds to find her prey. The live camera here allows monitoring of her nest box at the top of UT's 302' iconic tower.
Biodiversity Center scientists and students study issues of land use and species interaction in Texas and work to raise awareness about a wide diversity of animals, plants, ecosystems and their interactions. This project supports the Biodiversity Center’s mission in research, education, and public engagement.
Popular demand for the Falcon Cam has increased our costs. Help keep the camera on air by supporting the Biodiversity Center's research, outreach and falcon cam livestream with a donation today.
FUN FACTS:
- Peregrine Falcons are considered the fastest animal on the planet, with average cruising speed of 37 – 53 kilometers per hour (24 – 33 miles per hour), up to 107 KPH (67 MPH) when hunting down their prey. When “stooping” (dropping on their prey with wings closed), the Peregrine Falcon can achieve speeds over 321 KPH (200 MPH).
- Male Peregrine Falcons visit Tower Girl in the late winter and early spring to start courtship and mating.
- The Peregrine Falcon is an apex predator. Austin's abundant pigeon, dove, and grackle populations make up much of the diet for Tower Girl. However, Peregrines may themselves fall victim to other predators competing for food or territory. These mostly include other birds like Great Horned owls, Red-tailed hawks, and other Peregrine Falcons.
- Austin is considered the edge of the peregrine breeding range, so any hatching eggs atop the UT Tower would expand the known breeding range of the species.
- UT Austin students in classes such as Biology of Birds observe Tower Girl and use her to practice their field-work and observational skills.
- Peregrines are considered an endangered species success story. A ban on the chemical DDT led them to be removed from the federal endangered species list in 1999. However, Texas Parks & Wildlife notes that Peregrine Falcons continue to have "threatened" status in Texas.
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The Peregrine Falcon is the national animal of the United Arab Emirates, and the official city bird of Chicago. It also makes an appearance on the 2007 Idaho state quarter.
- Most Peregrine Falcons migrate but Tower Girl has lived in Austin year-round, spending time at both the UT Tower and the downtown area.
- Bruce Calder (B.S. ’81) first proposed installation of the falcon nest box and nest cam in 2013.
We thank the Winkler Family Foundation for their generous support of the Biodiversity Center, which enables projects including the Falcon Cam.
Photo credits: Neil Crump, Martin do Nascimento of KUT, Chris DuCharme