Nestbox News has provided an account of each year's activity at a nestbox atop Mack-Cali Realty Corporation's 101 Hudson, Jersey City, since 2001. Entries by biologists in the Endangered and Nongame Species Program (ENSP) and volunteers have provided details of the successes and failures at the nest enabling the public to keep abreast of the challenges of survival these urban birds face.

Beginning this year the webcam will be operated by the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ (CWF), an organization which has supported the nestbox and webcam from the beginning. The live feed and future entries will be found on their website at www.conservewildlifenj.org/education/falconcam. We hope you will continue to follow this chronicle of the nesting behavior and activity of peregrine falcons and their chicks, and to provide your financial support as well.

Viewers can also help support all the work of the ENSP through the Income Tax Check-off for Wildlife and Conserve Wildlife License Plates. We appreciate and value your support, as well as the support we've received from the CWF and the Mack-Cali Realty Corporation and its staff at 101 Hudson - without their cooperation the nestbox and webcam would not be possible.

March 31, 2014 - New Cameras - and Sound - Go Live!
The new camera system, consisting of a wall-mounted PTZ (pan, tilt, zoom) camera and a "pinhole" camera inside the box. A microphone was also installed in the box, allowing for the sounds of the falcons (and of the urban environment). The system was acquired and installed by our partners and colleagues at the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ. We thank them for enabling the webcam to continue into the future.

To view the webcam, visit the CWF site at: www.conservewildlifenj.org/education/falconcam/. Enjoy what we hope will be a productive 2014 season!

March 19, 2014 - A New Season, A New System
Welcome to the 2014 edition of Nestbox News!

Most visitors to Nestbox News have been following the Jersey City peregrines for many years - perhaps since its inception! - and we welcome them back. By now many of them are aware that, due to funding constraints, the Division's Endangered and Nongame Species Program can no longer bear the financial burden of streaming video from Jersey City. Fortunately, our partners at the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ have agreed to not only take on the webcam but have been upgrading the entire system!

Yesterday staff from the CWF and Division traveled to Jersey City to install the new system. Once fully operational viewers will not only have views from cameras both inside and outside the nestbox, but also be treated to audio and infrared lighting at night. The new system is digital (vs. the original analog system) and will provide startlingly clear and crisp images from the nestbox.

And as far as peregrine activity at 101 Hudson Street, we did observe both adults who warily watched the work being done for the new system, and there was a fresh scrape in the nestbox gravel. Judging by the behavior of the two birds, it appears they are the same individuals as last year. We will confirm that in the coming weeks once we get a good look at their leg bands. We're confident another clutch of eggs will be laid soon.

We do want to remind the viewing public that funding for projects such as this remains hard to obtain - the Peregrine Project, like other projects conducted by the ENSP, is funded entirely by grants and donations. Please help this project continue by making a direct donation to the ENSP, or by "checking-off" for wildlife on your state income tax return. By becoming a partner in the work of ENSP you can proudly feel you are doing your part in protecting our endangered and threatened species. And those wanting to contribute directly to support of the webcam can make their donation via the CWF Webcam page.