SF’s Live “Raptor Cam” Returns to The Presidio

The Presidio is an important stop on the Pacific Flyway, the major north-south flyway for migratory birds, which means it’s a hotspot for birdwatching with 323 different types of birds spotted (so far!) in the park. Around this time of year, plenty of birds stop-off in the Presidio to build, or rehabilitate, a nest for the season.

At the Presidio, our mission is to steward the habitat to ensure biodiversity in the park and help visitors connect to nature. In 2018, the Presidio’s live “Hawk Cam” was established above a nest located 100 feet up in one of the blue gum eucalyptus trees near the Main Post. Over a few seasons, it’s given all of us an up-close and personal look at nesting raptors in the park – and it’s back! Our wildlife ecologists think the same breeding resident pair of hawks have returned to their nest four years later – and the good news is we now see two eggs being nurtured for a mid-April hatching.

The 2019 season saw a brutal take-over of the nest by a pair of Great Horned Owls as is typical of owls who don’t build their own nests but rather use those of other raptors. This prompted a renaming of the cam to “Raptor Cam” and another thrilling watch season. While they laid an egg in the nest, it was not viable, and we were not able to see a hatching. There were no nest occupants in 2020 or 2021, which is why we’re excited it’s in use once again.

We will schedule a few sessions where our ecologists will be available for a live chat with viewers.

View the Live Presidio Raptor-Cam