The first of five Peregrine falcon eggs in a nest on the 15th floor ledge of the Rachel Carson State Office Building in Harrisburg hatched this week and you can watch what happens next online.

"The short period of time between hatchings is encouraging and if this continues, the nestlings will grow and develop evenly," DEP Director of Environmental Education Jack Farster said. "This is an important factor, especially this year as there are 5 eggs."

Since 2000, the adult female falcon has laid four eggs each spring. This is the first year that she laid five eggs. The fifth egg was laid 10 days after the first. If the fifth egg hatches much later than the others, that nestling will be smaller than the others and could be at a disadvantage when the adults feed the nestlings.

To view all of the action, visit DEP's Falcon webpage.

5/5/2006