Melbourne's 'Nest-flix': Peregrine Falcons' High-Flying Drama Captivates Aussies

'Nest-flix' is a popular livestream that shows the lives of peregrine falcons living on top of a skyscraper in Melbourne, Australia. Since August, thousands of Australians have been tuning in to watch these birds every day. The show became famous during the Covid pandemic and is often compared to dramatic TV shows because of all the action and surprises. The falcons fight, raise chicks, and sometimes even deal with earthquakes. Right now, viewers are waiting for the new chicks, which hatched at the end of September, to try flying for the first time. The chicks can be seen running and flapping their wings on the ledge, which is 34 stories high. Their mother sometimes flies by with food, like pigeons, but she does not always give it to them. Dr Victor Hurley, who started the Victorian Peregrine Project, says the mother is encouraging the chicks to fly by teasing them with food and giving them less to eat. This helps them lose weight and makes it easier for them to fly.

Dr Hurley first learned about the falcons nesting on the building in 1991. At first, the birds were laying their eggs in a metal gutter, which was too cold and not safe for the eggs. Dr Hurley suggested that the building managers install a nest box, and they agreed. The next year, three chicks were born. In 1993, a CCTV camera was set up to watch the nest, and every year during breeding season, Dr Hurley would bring a big TV into the building so people could watch the falcons. In 2017, a webcam was installed, and 'Nest-flix' started streaming live on YouTube. The falcons also have a Facebook group with more than 50,000 members. Kylie Humrick, one of the moderators, says the group is a friendly place where people enjoy watching birds. During Covid, the group grew quickly because people wanted to feel connected to nature. One memorable moment was in 2021 when an earthquake startled a falcon off the nest, and it was caught on the livestream.

Over the years, the nest has been home to several pairs of falcons. The location is very valuable to the birds because there is always plenty of food, like pigeons and sparrows. Peregrine falcons are very territorial and do not nest close to each other, so there are often fights when other falcons try to take over the nest. In 2022, a younger male falcon replaced an older one after a long battle. The new male was not very good at taking care of the eggs, but he did feed the chicks when they hatched. In 2023, the female falcon was injured in a fight and could not care for the eggs, so there were no chicks that year. Dr Hurley says these behaviors are normal for falcons and does not intervene. Peregrine falcons were once almost wiped out in Australia because of pesticides, but they have made a comeback since those chemicals were banned. They are the fastest animals on earth and can be found in many cities, where tall buildings are like the cliffs they prefer in nature. The chicks at 367 Collins Street are expected to try flying soon. The male chick will probably fly first, followed by his sisters, who are heavier and need more time to get strong. Flying for the first time is risky, and some chicks get hurt or lost. If they survive, they will leave to find their own territories. People in the Facebook group are excited to see the chicks fly and hope they do well. Watching the falcons helps people feel connected to nature and gives them something to look forward to.