What's Happening in Rosedale, MD…

People asked to name a bird connected with Baltimore might say the Orioles or the Ravens, the city’s major league baseball and football teams, but probably not falcons. However, peregrine falcons have captured the city’s heart to such an extent that cameras have been set up to view their roosting spots.

Several peregrine falcons have made their home in Baltimore since the 1970s, but many people were unaware of them, since the nest is on a skyscraper. Now, people everywhere can take a look at the beautiful birds. The falcon webcam is mounted on the 33rd floor of the TransAmerica building, and looks directly at their perch.

The ledge is located directly outside a conference room called, appropriately enough, the Falcon’s Nest. The office built a wall to give the falcons some privacy, but mounted the camera so nature lovers could still see the birds. Chesapeake Conservancy executive director Joel Dunn said watching the falcons was better than reality TV at its finest.

Falcons, which live an average span of 17 years, mate for life. This means the nest on the skyscraper has been home to several different pairs of birds, but all have thrived. The success of this nest and others in the city has been instrumental in the increase in the number of peregrines.

Building management might like to work with a flyer printing company on a handout that informs people downtown about the webcam.