The famed peregrine falcons nesting high above Melbourne’s central business district have resumed their season-long livestream, attracting tens of thousands of viewers as three newly-hatched chicks await their imminent first flight.

The pair, nesting on a 34-storey ledge at 367 Collins Street, laid eggs at the end of August and the fledging ritual is now underway.

Since the 24-hour webcam was introduced in 2017 the stream has earned the nickname “Nest-flix”.

In the current season the broadcast celebrates the trio of chicks as they scamper along the ledge, flap their wings and anticipate the final step of taking off into Melbourne’s skyline.

Viewers tune in to witness their mother’s aerial hunting runs, clutching live prey and flying past the nest in deliberate view as if enticing her offspring to launch.

Dr Victor Hurley of the Victorian Peregrine Project emphasised the educational and entertainment value of the livestream: “Their wings are growing and getting bigger… the longer they take before their first flight, the stronger they’ll be.” He noted the fledging window—typically early November—is approaching fast and cautioned that an early leap into the air could prove risky in the built environment.

The nesting pair have used the skyscraper ledge since 1991, aided by volunteers who installed a custom nest-box and webcam decades ago.

During the Covid-19 lockdowns the broadcast shot to internet fame, drawing over fifty thousand followers in a dedicated Facebook group.

This year’s audience continues to swell as viewers await the moment the chicks leave the ledge and begin their independent lives.

While the livestream draws enthusiastic engagement, Dr Hurley reminds watchers that the real wild habitat lies just beyond the screen: he encourages visitors to watch the falcons live in flight above the city to fully appreciate their speed and adaptability.

The fledging of this season’s trio promises to be another high-profile moment in Melbourne’s urban wildlife history.