Fourth chick hatches in falcon nest, completing the brood

Update: May 12, 2026

The fourth peregrine falcon chick has hatched in the campus nest, completing the brood of four.

The final chick emerged within the past day, joining siblings that began hatching on Mother's Day. All four chicks appear healthy, with the parent falcons actively feeding them and keeping them warm.

An adult peregrine falcon feeds four newly hatched chicks inside the UC Davis Health nest box while a second adult stands nearby on the ledge. All four chicks hatched in recent days and are being actively cared for by the parent falcons.

As activity in the nest increases, observers have also noted the presence of another peregrine falcon near the nesting area earlier this month. The bird, identified by band number 65/AW, is a male hatched at the UC Davis Medical Center nest in 2023.

Falcon observers will continue to watch closely in the coming days and weeks to see how this interaction develops and to follow the growth of the four chicks.

Update: May 11, 2026

Three chicks have hatched in the campus falcon nest, marking a Mother's Day milestone for the resident peregrine pair.

An adult peregrine falcon tends to newly hatched chicks in the UC Davis Health nest box after three chicks emerged beginning on Mother's Day. One egg remains in the nest.

The first hatchling emerged Sunday, followed by two more shortly after. One egg remains in the nest, and observers are watching closely to see if it will hatch in the coming days.

The new arrivals are already being tended to by their parents, who are keeping the chicks warm and well fed. As the hatchlings grow, viewers can expect more movement and activity in the nest and, soon, the first glimpses of their developing personalities.

An adult peregrine falcon stands over recently hatched chicks and the remaining egg inside the UC Davis Health nest box. Three chicks have hatched, with one egg still unhatched.

Updates will continue as the remaining egg nears its expected hatch and the chicks continue to grow.

Update: May 5, 2026

The peregrine falcons nesting atop the UC Davis Medical Center remain settled in for the long wait, with four eggs still unhatched. The adult pair has been taking turns incubating the clutch, carefully trading places throughout the day to keep the eggs warm and protected.

<_o3a_p>The image captures both birds on duty: one tucked inside the nest box, the other standing watch nearby, scanning the horizon above the Sacramento skyline. This steady shift work is a key part of the incubation process, which can last several weeks.

<_o3a_p>For now, it is a quiet moment in the nesting season. No chicks yet, but all signs point to attentive parents staying the course as the countdown to hatching continues.

Update: April 14, 2026

All signs point to a full nest this season, with the UC Davis Health peregrine falcon appearing to settle in with a brood of four eggs.

The mother falcon is now in full nesting mode, spending most of her time tucked low in the nest, keeping the eggs warm and protected. Her movements have slowed and become more deliberate - a clear signal that incubation is well underway.

Meanwhile, the father falcon continues to make regular appearances, stopping by the nest area periodically to check in on the family before heading back out. Together, the pair is settling into the steady rhythm of nesting season, marking another exciting milestone for this year's falcon watch. Watch live cameras.

Update: April 8, 2026

Add one more to the count.

Falcon-eyed viewers and nest cameras confirmed the presence of a fourth egg, marking yet another change inside the UC Davis Health falcon nest. In just over a week, the season has changed from "will she this year?" to "how many?"

With four eggs now, attention turns to what comes next: a fifth egg, or the incubation phase?

Update: April 6, 2026

Over the weekend, the mother falcon laid a third egg, continuing a nesting season that has already delivered several unexpected turns.

What began with uncertainty has quickly grown into a season full of momentum-and, once again, the falcons aren't done keeping us on our toes.

Update: April 2, 2026

The falcons have added another egg to the nest. Shortly after noon, the mother falcon laid a second egg, building on a nesting season that just days ago appeared uncertain. The two eggs are now visible on the nest cameras.

Update: March 31, 2026

Talk about a plot twist.

Less than 24 hours after sharing that there was a real possibility the falcons might not lay eggs this season, the mother falcon proved once again that nature doesn't follow our timelines.

Sometime overnight, she laid her first egg.

Based on the nest camera footage, the event occurred quietly and without fanfare. When the sun set Monday evening, the nest was still empty. By the time dawn broke Tuesday morning, a single egg had appeared-transforming a season of uncertainty into one of renewed anticipation.

For everyone watching, it was a reminder why this nest keeps captivating year after year: just when it seems like the story might be winding down, the falcons surprise us with a performance worthy of prime-time interest.

Update: March 30, 2026

It has been nearly two months since peregrine falcons were first spotted near the UC Davis Medical Center this year, prompting a familiar question from fans of the birds: Where are the eggs?

In recent years, egg-laying has followed a fairly predictable timeline. Last year, the female falcon laid her first egg on March 17 and her final egg on March 28. In 2024, the first egg appeared on March 12. While an exact date isn't available for 2023, the timing of the first hatch suggests the eggs likely arrived in late March.

This year, however, the nest remains empty.

William "Bill" Corbett, a procurement supervisor at UC Davis Health and a longtime falcon expert, said the delay is unusual. Peregrine falcons he tracks in San Jose laid their eggs weeks ago, he said, raising the possibility that the UC Davis Health birds may have chosen a different location.

His team plans to check other areas of the roof to determine whether the falcons established an alternate nest.

"If we don't have eggs by the end of this week, I don't feel like it's going to happen," Corbett said.

Original Post

A pair of peregrine falcons has once again returned to their nest atop UC Davis Medical Center. The nest sits at a safe distance from the hospital's busy helipad, offering the birds a secure place to call home for the spring.

Image shows a funny AI-generated falcon returning from vacation with luggage.

This season, the nest features a new, cleaner and larger sign and a ramp. The falcons have already started checking it out as they prepare for their next clutch of eggs.

Image shows the real falcon returning to the UC Davis Health nest.

Last year, the female falcon laid five eggs, four of which successfully hatched. The falcons had three female chicks and one male. Chicks usually begin hatching in late April. Corbett will continue to share insights about these remarkable birds - and why their presence here is so special - throughout spring.

Watch the live FalconCam here.