This web cam has some interesting coverage of four newly hatched Peregrine Falcon chicks nesting at 55 Water St. in downtown NYC. Click on Live BirdCam

http://falcons.55water.com/

The original pair first made a home here in 1999. The female has since been injured and was retired but was successfully replaced by a new Peregrine.

Great stuff, thanks. The Live BirdCam is incredible, right now the mama bird is feeding three little chicks.

So interesting that you posted this... That is the building I work in. I work for Standard & Poor's, and that is the S&P building. I check on them every day, and was very excited when her eggs started to hatch on Thursday.

The Falcons had 4 chicks this weekend. They are magnificent, and mommy and daddy are excellent parents. I'll post some pics soon.

-Skater

Shouldn't they have a nest or something? I mean, it looks like the chicks are just out there on gravel. Hopefully, not too cold this time of year.

They do have a nest. It's inside a little housing on that ledge. But she and the chicks stay outside in the soft gravel most of the time. BTW, those birds are amazingly clean. I have watched the male doing the housekeeping, and it is striking at how good they are at keeping that isolated ledge spotless.

I have also seen them go off on (I suppose) hunting missions. They leave the ledge like a bullet shot out of a cannon and fly off over the East River. Amazing!

It's in the 50's and 60's now, but we were in the 90's last week.

-Skater

Thanks, yeah, I was just watching the BirdCam again, moma's huddled over the chicks and when the cam turns to different positions I could see the enclosure. So cool.

Skater, I assume the feathers on the ledge are from past prey. Have you seen them come back with entire birds?

Yes, I have seen them actually intercept pigeons (or some kind of bird) in mid air. Hits the bird like a bag of bricks and it looks like they are both gonna fall to their death and then all of a sudden the big bird flaps up and away with the small bird in it's grasp. Breathtaking!

Not sure about the feathers, but I assume it is past prey.

-Skater

As of 5:32 PM EST both mom and dad are away and that little white thing shown is four chicks huddled up against the weather.

Mom's back, huddled over the baby birds. Indescribably cute.