Another twist at the nest: Falcons welcome a second egg

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.

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.

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.