Two new Melburnians have taken up residence at 367 Collins Street, and they’re a lot fluffier than most of the CBD’s corporate crowd. The two new peregrine falcon chicks hatched on Sunday, September 29 and on Monday, September 30 on a nest atop the 35th floor of 367 Collins Street. And in true 2019 fashion, you can watch them grow up via livestream.
The two parent falcons have been patiently waiting for four eggs to hatch since they were laid in early September. So far only two have hatched, but it’s possible the other two might hatch in the next day or so. In 2018 four eggs were laid but only three hatched.
The two baby falcons (properly called ‘eyases’, though birdspotters are also calling them ‘murder pom poms’) have been observed snoozing, cuddling and being fed by their doting parents. If you’re squeamish, be warned: you might see a pigeon being shredded and fed to the chicks. Ah, nature.
The fluff balls are not the first chicks to nest on the skyscraper. Peregrine falcons have been nesting on 367 Collins Street since 1991, with the building proving popular with the birds thanks to its south-east outlook (meaning it gets morning, but not afternoon sun).
The livesteam was set up in 2016, and these are not the first hatchlings to be caught on camera. On average, it takes 42 to 46 days for the chicks to fledge (grow enough feathers to enable flight), so you’ve roughly another month to watch them grow. Only one chick survived long enough to fledge last year.
Update 03/10/19: another egg has hatched, bringing the total number of falcon chicks to three.