WSU Falcons

Wayne State's Old Main building has been home to a bonded pair of peregrine falcons since 2016. Our Falcon Cam allows researchers and the public alike to monitor these fascinating birds of prey 24 hours a day. Follow for updates on Instagram and our Warrior Wildlife blog.

Down falcon? 𓅃

If you see a down falcon on the ground, call the Wayne State Police at 313-577-2222. You can also let us know by sending a DM to @WSUFalcons or emailing falcons@wayne.edu!

Join the team

WSU researchers need your help to collect data! If you see something interesting (chicks fledging the nest, etc.) near Old Main or on the stream, let us know by using #WSUFalcons, tag us on Instagram @WSUFalcons or email falcons@wayne.edu.

A bird's eye view

Timeline

Lineage

Wayne State University's new female peregrine falcon is Lillie, and she has Detroit roots!

Date	Location	Parents	Offspring
2018	Port Washington, WI	Beasley (m) and Brinn (f)	Lillie (f) 𓅃
2014	Milwaukee, WI	Lightning (m) and Tahoe (f)	Beasley (m)
2012	Oak Creek, WI	Eclipse (f) and Scott (m)	Lightning (m)
2009	Columbus, OH	Orville (m, 2003) and Scout (f, 2005)	Eclipse (f)
2005	Detroit Fischer Bldg.	Alpha (f) and Maumee (m)	Scout (f)
2003	Dayton, OH	Snowball (f) and Mercury (m)	Orville (m)
2000	Cleveland, OH	Clearpath (f) and Wizard (m)	Snowball (f)
1997	Detroit Book Bldg.	Pop (m) and Judy (f)	Clearpath (f)

m = male, f = female

Wayne State falcon history

Date	Falcon	Origin
03-30-2023	Lillie	Port Washington, WI
12-30-2020	Aura	Toledo, OH
2016	Isabella	Berea, KY

View Warrior Wildlife blog

News and media
Falcon news
View upcoming events

2024 season

Date	Event
05-03	First egg hatch of 2024!
04-25	Falcon educational outreach during Take Your Kid To Work Day 2024.
04-03	Egg three arrives! 🥚
03-24	Lillie welcomes a new male (full story)! 🫣
03-22	Lillie defends the nest from a juvenile intruder.
03-22	The final snowstorm of the season buries the nest, but Lillie endures.
03-21	First egg drop of the 2024 season!
02-15	Some post Valentine's Day chill time.
01-16	The mating season commences.
01-06	Our feathered friend returns on National Bird Day to kick off WSU Falcon's sixth season!

2023 season

Date	Event
07-03	Early fledger, Ben, is successfully released.
06-26	Last two 2023 babies fledge and leave the nest.
06-20	The first baby (Ben) fledges.
05-12	First egg hatch.
03-30	Confirmation of a new falcon's (Lillie) arrival at the Old Main nesting site.

Falcon facts

Peregrine Falcons catch medium-sized birds in the air with swift, spectacular dives, called stoops

Peregrine falcon chicks, called eyases, eat an incredible amount of food - in six days, they double their weight, and at three weeks are ten times their size at birth

Peregrine falcons are the fastest animal on earth, sometimes diving 240 miles per hour to catch prey

Peregrine falcons have been known to travel hundreds of miles to find their mates. Once mated, most remain monogamous for life and nest in the same territory for years

Download Peregrine Falcon Facts poster

Resources

Falcon Cam conception

With this new video stream, WSU researchers will now be able to collect and share data on the whole brood, year after year. "This camera is going to be our eyes and ears when it comes to keeping tabs on the peregrines," says Michelle Serreyn, a two-time CLAS alumna and lab coordinator in the biology department. "Not only to monitor their behavior but if something happens to one of the chicks, if one of them gets sick, now we'll be able to help." Anyone with an internet connection will be able to watch the birds, day or night, and assist with data collection.

Falcon Cam drawings