FalconCam Gets IT Upgrade

Here's looking at you, Clara and Estaban

It's a bird's eye view, literally.

A new Webcam atop San Jose City Hall gives falcon followers a more consistent view of the city's famed love birds, Peregrine falcons Clara and Esteban Colbert.

A recent technology upgrade added a new camera and replaced the original that has transmitted the doings of the birds and Clara's previous mates since 2007.

The dual cameras give viewers a more complete view of their nesting box perched on an 18th floor ledge. The feed lets falcon watchers view both the nesting box area and the ledges where the birds typically roost.

Fans say the webcams are already providing new and amorous views of the duo. Since the cameras went live last week, members of  the San Jose Peregrines Yahoo group have reported witnessing "copulation" and "full courtship mode" between the birds.

The San Jose Peregrine Falcons Alliance raised $25,000 for the new equipment from individual and corporate donors. The FalconCam is maintained by the city and the Santa Cruz Predatory Bird Research Group at the University of California, Santa Cruz.

Bay City News contributed to this report.

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