Peregrine Falcon Nest Ledge, San Jose City Hall Live Cam

The camera watches the falcon ledge on the 18th floor of San Jose City Hall, with downtown towers rising beyond its concrete parapet. The nest box stands at the far end of the walkway, and a round drain grate sits among scattered debris in the foreground.

For peregrines, a high ledge like this works much like a cliff shelf in the wild. The adults perch here, bring in prey and step into the box to tend the eggs and chicks. In late spring the young walk along the ledge and stretch their wings before their first flights.

Where the nest box camera stays fixed on the gravel, this one shows how the birds move around their home. At times the camera turns and zooms in on the brick facades of nearby office towers before returning to the ledge.