When the falcons return home to roost

A newly installed wildlife camera on Memorial Hall provides online visitors with an intimate look at a peregrine falcon nesting site rich in history.

The FAS launched the Peregrine Falcon Cam this spring on the eastern side of the tower, aimed at the rooftop nest box. Two falcons, one male and one female, have been frequently observed throughout the day as they feed, groom, and rest between hunts.

“Buildings serve as natural canyons for them,” stated Brian Farrell, Monique and Philip Lehner Professor for the Study of Latin America, professor of biology, and curator of entomology at the Museum of Comparative Zoology. “They’re akin to cliffsides, with an abundance of starlings and pigeons nearby, providing ample food. They prefer high perches because they only hunt birds in flight and exclusively over open spaces.”

The site at Memorial Hall boasts a long legacy—renowned biologist and Harvard professor emeritus Edward O. Wilson documented peregrine falcons nesting there while he was a Ph.D. student in 1955. However, the U.S. population of peregrines was severely reduced due to the pesticide DDT in the mid-20th century, and these birds of prey were absent from Harvard’s campus for years.

Ray Traietti, director of administration for the Office for the Arts and former building manager of Memorial Hall, realized the birds had returned one day in 2014. As he walked into work, a severed starling head fell at his feet.

“I began to notice dead bird parts scattered around. I thought, ‘Oh, this is peculiar,’” Traietti recalled. Officials from the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife later discovered that the falcon eggs laid on the rubber roof of Memorial Hall were not viable that year, likely due to environmental factors.

State officials installed the box the following year to safeguard future nests. Its three-sided design allows the fastest birds on Earth to exit the nest with their characteristic move: a dive reaching speeds of 200 mph.

“They require open space to take off,” Farrell commented. “Unlike birds with broader wings that can ascend vertically, they launch off like fighter jets from an aircraft carrier.”

In spring 2021, a pair of falcons successfully incubated and fledged three chicks—the first known to hatch on Memorial Hall since the 1950s.

“I believe, as E.O. Wilson pointed out, there’s something about that location that suits them,” Traietti remarked. “To think that after the nationwide devastation from DDT, they returned to that same location is truly remarkable.”

“The world feels more chaotic every day, but here’s something that’s beautiful, pure, and enduring.”

Brian Farrell

Following the federal DDT ban in the 1970s, a reintroduction initiative ensued, leading to a slow increase in the falcon population. Once classified as endangered in Massachusetts, they were reclassified to the less critical “special concern” category in 2019. As of 2020, there are at least 46 nesting pairs in the state.

“These creatures thrive in a predominantly human environment,” Traietti stated. “Observing them up there is a testament to coexistence.”

The Memorial Hall falcons frequently change, but one familiar figure keeps reappearing. Fellsway (identified by band number 79/CB) has nested at Harvard for the past three years. He was discovered injured in Medford and treated at the Tufts Wildlife Clinic in 2021.

In spring 2023, he reared three chicks at Memorial Hall with an unbanded female (Traietti nicknames her “Athena,” after the stained-glass window in Sanders Theatre). Fellsway and Athena returned in 2024 and successfully raised four additional chicks.

However, in an unexpected twist this year, Fellsway arrived with a new partner: Letitia, marked with leg band 28/BV, who had previously nested at Boston University. According to Farrell, they have not yet laid eggs at Memorial Hall—likely due to their new bond, although it is also possible Letitia recently hatched a brood with another male at BU.

“There’s an intriguing and intricate drama of pairings and locations,” Farrell noted. “It can be a challenge to keep track of these individuals and distinguish them, as adults are nearly indistinguishable. You need a sufficiently detailed photograph to read the band.”

This fall, Traietti mentioned that a new nest box will be installed. He and Farrell are optimistic that there will be a nest in the coming spring.

Meanwhile, Farrell expressed his joy that the Falcon Cam can help the Harvard community connect with the fierce, majestic birds living just above them.

“This initiative is really about outreach and sharing science with the world,” Farrell shared. “The world may seem more chaotic every day, but here is something beautiful, pure, and enduring.”