Peregrine Falcon Nest, Silex Tower Lyon

A Cliff in the City

The Silex² tower rises above Lyon's Part-Dieu business district, and its upper ledges mimic the rocky crags that peregrine falcons favour in the wild. Tall buildings across Europe have become vital substitute habitat for these birds, and this purpose-built nest box gives the resident pair a secure place to breed in the heart of the city.

The Fastest Hunter Alive

The peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) is renowned as the fastest animal on the planet, reaching over 300 km/h in a hunting stoop. From this elevated vantage the falcons command the skyline, hunting pigeons and other birds on the wing high above the streets.

A Conservation Partnership

The camera is operated by the LPO (Ligue pour la Protection des Oiseaux) Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes together with Covivio, the building's owner. It is part of a wider effort to monitor and protect urban raptors, letting researchers and the public follow the birds without disturbing them.

What You'll See

The view frames the gravel-lined nest tray and its sheltered alcove, where the pair lay their eggs and raise their chicks. Expect to watch incubation, feeding, and the rapid growth of the young, with the adults coming and going as they tend the brood.