Peregrine falcons at church in Antwerp to be livestreamed starting in Spring

The peregrine falcon nesting site atop Christ the King Church in Antwerp’s Kiel district will be accessible via livestream from this spring. The initiative comes from local volunteers and birdwatching group Ardea, following similar nest camera projects at Agfa-Gevaert in Mortsel and the church tower on Koxplein in Borgerhout.

Peregrine falcons have been nesting at the church, near Jan De Voslei, for several years. Images of the birds frequently appear on the Facebook page “Peregrine Falcons Antwerp”. Now, after receiving permission from the church council, organisers will install a camera directly at the nesting site, allowing the public to follow events live.

Ardea is funding the project and expects the livestream to go online in the spring, in time for the breeding season.

"Peregrine falcon enthusiasts describe this nesting site as the most beautiful in the region, not only because of the view of Kiel, but also because you can see not only the nest box but also the entire eaves through the camera," says Ardea.

“This way, we can also see how the chicks are training their wings. From the moment the first egg is laid, the camera will zoom in on the nest box. This gives you a good view of the nest, the number of eggs, and the chicks. From the moment the chicks are able to leave the nest box and venture into the gutter, the camera will zoom out to see the full picture,” Ardea concludes.

^{​#FlandersNewsService | A peregrine falcon © PHOTO YURI CORTEZ / AFP}