Peregrine Falcon: Birdcam 2000
This Web site offers live coverage of peregrine falcons in the city, from hatching to first flight, as well as in-depth stories about the rare birds’ habits, haunts, and near brush with extinction.
Since 1998 Mariah and Cabot-Sirocco have built their nest atop Kodak tower in Rochester, New York, with Kodak’s live video camera capturing a bird’s-eye view of peregrine family life. On the Birdcam 2000 site, a family tree traces three generations of these peregrines born on the Kodak Tower (including baby pictures). Interactive natural histories tell the story of the bird’s natural and urban habitats, the impact of DDT on reproduction, and the peregrine’s role in human myth and history. Birdcam 2000 blends a live Web experience with in-depth story modules to create a hybrid site that both entertains and educates. From March to August, audiences can view live video-captured images for a first-hand look into the peregrine’s life cycle. Selected birdcam images are archived in a gallery and can be sent as postcards. The interactive natural history modules were rolled out to correspond with developmental milestones and are available as a resource tool long after the hatchlings have left the nest.