Evolution by Natural Selection made this fantastic creature possible: When “stooping” (dropping on their prey with wings closed), the Peregrine Falcon can achieve speeds over 321 KPH (200 MPH).

WELCOME TO THE LIVE FALCON CAM! The University of Texas Tower is home to a female Peregrine Falcon, nicknamed “Tower Girl.” An urban predator who lives in Austin year round, she can be seen swooping down at remarkable speeds to find her prey. The live camera here allows monitoring of her nest box.

Peregrine Falcons are considered the fastest animal on the planet, with average cruising speed of 37 – 53 kilometers per hour (24 – 33 miles per hour), up to 107 KPH (67 MPH) when hunting down their prey. When “stooping” (dropping on their prey with wings closed), the Peregrine Falcon can achieve speeds over 321 KPH (200 MPH).

Male Peregrine Falcons visit Tower Girl in the late winter and early spring to start courtship and mating.

Austin’s abundant pigeon, dove and grackle population make up much of the diet for Tower Girl. However, Peregrines do have predators of their own they have to watch out for. These include other birds like Great Horned owls, Gyrfalcons, and other Peregrine Falcons.

Austin is considered the edge of the peregrine breeding range, so any hatching eggs atop the UT Tower would expand the known breeding range of the species.

UT Austin students in classes such as Biology of Birds observe Tower Girl and use her to practice their field-work and observational skills.

Peregrines are considered an endangered species success story. A ban on the chemical DDT led them to be removed from the federal endangered species list in 1999. However, Texas Parks & Wildlife notes that Peregrine Falcons continue to have "threatened" status in Texas.

The Peregrine Falcon is the national animal of the United Arab Emirates, and the official city bird of Chicago. It also makes an appearance on the 2007 Idaho state quarter.
Most Peregrine Falcons migrate but Tower Girl has lived in Austin year-round, spending time at both the UT Tower and the Frost Bank Tower downtown.