The Shadow
Richmond, VA—Biologists from the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources (DWR) have observed peregrine falcons on camera at Riverfront Plaza in downtown Richmond. This means the time has come for DWR, in partnership with Comcast Business, to turn on the live stream for the ninth year. The popular live stream offers viewers a unique opportunity to observe peregrine falcons nesting in Richmond, Virginia. During the 2025 nesting season, more than 62,000 users logged on from countries as far as Australia and Singapore to watch the pair raise three chicks! The powerful internet connection provided by Comcast Business allows wildlife lovers to follow the falcons 24 hours a day, seven days a week at dwr.virginia.gov/falcon-cam. The camera itself is focused on a nest box atop the 21st floor of the Riverfront Plaza’s West Tower and follows the activities of a peregrine falcon pair that nest downtown each spring.
“We’re glad to continue our partnership with DWR and help bring the Richmond Falcon Cam to wildlife fans near and far,” said Holli Lloyd, Senior Director of Marketing, Comcast Business Beltway Region. “It’s a great reminder of what reliable connectivity makes possible, whether it’s a classroom in Richmond tuning in for the first time or a viewer halfway around the world watching a fledgling take its first flight.”
Peregrine falcons are listed as state-threatened in Virginia with more than 30 pairs, including the Richmond birds, nesting across the Commonwealth each spring. The camera allows viewers to follow the pair as they nest and raise offspring. And, like any TV nature show, there can be a bit of drama—including territorial disputes, chicks taking their first nail-biting flights, and even the failure of the nest. It is impossible to predict exactly what this season has in store for the birds, but there is no doubt that falcon fans will be rooting for their success.
“We’ve been monitoring the activity on camera throughout the course of the last month and have seen the same birds from the past several years on camera, daily,” said DWR Wildlife Viewing Program Coordinator Meagan Thomas. “I always get a bit anxious at the start of each year before we get confirmation as to which individual falcons it is that we are seeing — mostly just wondering if we will have the same pair or a new falcon that we haven’t seen before. This year, due to all the snow and ice in front of the box during February, it took us a bit longer to get that individual confirmation. But once things started to melt, I was happy to see that it was the same pair, back for another hopefully successful nesting season.”
The Richmond Falcon Cam will remain active through egg laying, incubation and hatching, and follows the growth of the chicks until they fledge (take their first flight).
Pending a successful nesting season, a raffle to participate in a falcon experience will be back for a second year! Stay tuned for more information on how you can enter in the coming weeks.
