Where are the eggs? The falcons’ spring mystery continues
By Nick Houser
(SACRAMENTO)
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.
Image shows a funny AI-generated falcon returning from vacation with luggage.
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.
Image shows the real falcon returning to the UC Davis Health nest.
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.
