Falcon Chatter

Resident pair of peregrines, 09/BS and 85/AK, nesting on the 15th floor of the Rachel Carson State Office Building in HBG, PA.

Account run by @PennsylvaniaDEP

[Falcon Chatter @FalconChatter]

Tune in TODAY for the live stream of our Falcon Banding!
May 28 | 10–11:30 AM | on Facebook @PennsylvaniaDEP

...
@pagamecomm
@padcnr

[PA Department of Environmental Protection @PennsylvaniaDEP]

Today we celebrate Rachel Carson's birthday! Her groundbreaking work still guides environmental action in 2026.

And her book "Silent Spring" helped expose how pesticides like DDT were devastating birds of prey - especially peregrine falcons - and her influence is a big reason these birds have made such a strong comeback. 💪

That recovery is especially close to home at the Rachel Carson State Office Building (our Central Office) where a dedicated falcon family has been nesting for years. This is the perfect nod to Carson’s legacy: the wildlife she fought to protect now thriving right above the building named for her.

And tomorrow, the next chapter continues with this year’s falcon banding! A sweet milestone, as the newest nestlings get their IDs and prepare for their own journeys. And this year we have our 100th bird! 🪺

Happy birthday, Rachel. Your impact lives in our conservation efforts, in our communities, and every year in the little falcons born in Harrisburg.

Tune in 👉 May 28 | 10–11:30 AM | https://t.co/zKHrYxvlD4

[PA Department of Environmental Protection @PennsylvaniaDEP]

Tune in THIS Thursday for the live stream of our Falcon Banding!

May 28 | 10–11:30 AM | on Facebook
https://t.co/f4CGMbVlB9

...
@pagamecomm @padcnr

[Falcon Chatter @FalconChatter]

🦅 The baby falcons are growing super fast and flapping their tiny wings around the nest! 

Dad is delivering food up to 8 times a day while the hungry eyases compete for every bite as they get stronger for flight. 😴 After all that eating and growing, they love taking naps.

Watch them live on the PA Falcon Cam: https://t.co/wqA1qlMSVe

[PA Department of Environmental Protection @PennsylvaniaDEP]

Do you love watching the baby falcons on the falcon cam? 🪺👀
Do you want to watch them even closer?

We’re looking for Falcon Watch & Rescue volunteers in Harrisburg!

Dates: June 6-24
Times: Shifts between 5:30 AM – 9 PM
Free training provided.

Volunteers watch the young falcons as they learn to fly and hunt.
If needed, select, trained volunteers help fledglings return to their nest box.

Interested adults, please email: [email protected]

...
@DCNRnews
@PAGameComm

[Falcon Chatter @FalconChatter]

You may have seen the Rachel Carson building falcons referred to as the most productive nest in PA.  And for good reason. These falcons have successfully hatched and fledged young every year since 2000. In fact this year's 4th hatch, on Saturday, was the 100th hatch from this nest!

In 27 nesting seasons, 6 different pairs have produced 117 eggs, of which 100 have hatched, and 91 have fledged. 7 offspring from this nest have been identified as nesting adults in 5 states, with four known grandchildren also identified as nesting adults in PA and OH.

Congrats on the 100th hatch!

[Falcon Chatter @FalconChatter]

We have four strong and apparently healthy eyases.

The fourth-hatched chick is noticeably smaller than the older three, but it is successfully claiming its share at feeding.

Keep up with updates daily at https://t.co/CnrJxhIZrZ

[PA Department of Environmental Protection @PennsylvaniaDEP]

Egg-citing update: 🐣Our newest residents to the Rachel Carson building have arrived. They're arriving so fast we can't keep up.

Our first hatch of the 2026 season arrived today at 11:20 AM and our second hatch arrived around 1:00 PM. And a third hatch is possible, too!

The brand new eyases appear to be in good condition and began to snuggle up against unhatched siblings in the shelter of Mom's warmth.

Keep an eye out to see who else enters the chat! https://t.co/q0c3LnWhAK

...
@DCNRnews @PAGameComm @FalconChatter

[Falcon Chatter @FalconChatter]

#2 is here! 🐣
#3 is close.

Eggs 4 & 5 will probably hatch in a day or two. Keep watching https://t.co/CnrJxhIZrZ

[Falcon Chatter @FalconChatter]

Things are HAPPENING! 👀🪺
https://t.co/1Cto1h5WZk

Who sees a baby?

[Falcon Chatter @FalconChatter]

Hey! It looks like hatching has started right on the due date!

Keep an eye on the Falcon Cam for fuzzy chicks soon! 👀 https://t.co/CnrJxhIZrZ

[Falcon Chatter @FalconChatter]

Mama's still keeping her eggs warm, but don't take your eyes off the Falcon Cams! The eggs should be here any day now! 🪺https://t.co/hUdTNvEstK

Keep an ear out too, for squeaking or tapping from inside the eggs. It takes some time for the eyases to break that first hole in the shell, but we should see our first pip soon!

[Falcon Chatter @FalconChatter]

09/BS and 85/AK have been incubating their eggs for almost four weeks. Incubation typically lasts from 33-35 days, so we are expecting a hatch 🐣 in about a week.

Catch it all at PA Falcon Cam https://t.co/isYPStlpiZ

[PA Department of Environmental Protection @PennsylvaniaDEP]

The falcons would like everyone to know the eggs are about to make their big debut.

Keep your eyes peeled and watch the Falcon Cam, unless you want to get yelled at: https://t.co/4b86sApHQW 🐣👀

[PA Department of Environmental Protection @PennsylvaniaDEP]

Hatch watch is officially on! 🔭

It’s been an exciting nesting season for peregrine falcons 09/BS and her mate, 85/AK. The action has been unfolding egg by egg on the PA Falcon Cam. 🪺

Over the past few weeks, 09/BS laid a full clutch of five eggs, completing her third consecutive five-egg year. Egg-laying followed its familiar rhythm: the first egg arrived on March 20, followed by additional eggs every 2–3 days. By March 30, the fifth egg was confirmed, and 09/BS shifted into full-time incubation.

Both parents are busy—09/BS keeping the eggs warm (shown here), and 85/AK providing regular food deliveries (brown thrasher was on the menu just last week!).

Now with 10–12 days of incubation behind us, the embryos inside are well into development. Vital organs, early feathers, and the tiny beak and wings are forming as the chicks fuel their growth from the yolk. Over the next couple of weeks, bones, muscles, and body systems will finish developing as hatch day approaches.

Hatching is expected to begin around April 29, so now is the perfect time to tune in.

Watch live on the PA Falcon Cam 👀 https://t.co/bLvDJh68C0

@DCNRnews @PAGameComm

[Falcon Chatter @FalconChatter]

09/BS delivered the fourth egg sometime overnight🥚🥚🥚🥚

Don't miss a minute of the action!

Catch it all at PA Falcon Cam https://t.co/isYPStlpiZ.

[Falcon Chatter @FalconChatter]

Here is how DEP’s Central Office is kicking off the first day of spring.

You can watch the incubation period unfold on the PA Falcon Cam at https://t.co/isYPStlpiZ