New, Improved Minnesota DNR FalconCam Is Now Live
Now in its 16th year, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources' FalconCam is a seasonal livestream that follows a pair of peregrine falcons during their breeding season in downtown Saint Paul.
The nest box is located near the top of the Town Square Tower in downtown Saint Paul. It was first placed on this building in 1987, and, since then, various pairs have produced 93 chicks through the 2025 season.
The DNR says that this site is ideal for falcons due to its proximity to the Mississippi River, which serves as a major hunting corridor, and now a new and improved camera is active for the 2026 season.
2026 Minnesota DNR Is New and Improved
The Minnesota DNR recently announced that its FalconCam is now live for the 2026 nesting season, and this year’s livestream is using a new camera that offers a much sharper view of peregrine falcons.
The new camera provides a close-up, high-resolution view of the seasonal behaviors associated with nesting, such as courtship displays and nest preparation. Also, for the first time, the DNR FalconCam also includes sound, so you may also hear occasional calls by the falcons.
The DNR notes that the livestream also supports peregrine falcon conservation efforts in Minnesota. The opportunity to view these raptors is the result of a long and successful conservation effort.
In the 1970s, peregrine falcons nearly went extinct in North America, and populations were restored in the state with the help of Minnesota falconers, the Midwest Peregrine Society, and the DNR’s Nongame Wildlife Program.
Minnesotans can support the Nongame Wildlife Fund with donations on state tax returns or at the DNR Donating for Wildlife webpage. These donations fund projects that protect rare and vulnerable wildlife across the state, including the FalconCam.
Falcons You Can See On Camera In 2026
The DNR says that one of the two adult falcons using the nest box is the same female as last year: a 14-year-old who fledged from St. Cloud and has nested in the downtown St. Paul box since 2016. The DNR will update the FalconCam webpage if more is learned about the male bird.
The birds have dug a shallow bowl in the gravel, forming a nest, called a “scrape,” where they may soon lay eggs. If the eggs hatch again this year, viewers will be able to watch these notable raptors rear their chicks throughout the spring.
Last year, the pair laid their first egg on March 31, and eggs could appear around the same time this year. Peregrine falcons usually lay three to four eggs per season.
The FalconCam livestream is available on the DNR website and on the DNR YouTube channel.
SEE NOW: Minnesota's Gitchi-Gami State Trail Now Nominated As The Best In America
Check Out 10 of Minnesota's Most Breathtaking Waterfalls
Gallery Credit: Samm Adams