Cal Falcons

[1] The live stream runs continuously throughout the year, recording all facets of the falcon lifecycle, including courtship, breeding, and raising young.

[2] Peregrine falcons initially established a territory and nest at Sather Tower in spring of 2017.

[6] The breeding pair that established the territory in 2017 were named Annie and Grinnell as part of a crowdfunding campaign to purchase the cameras.

[10] During the 2022 breeding season, Annie disappeared for a week prior to laying eggs, leading to speculation that she had been injured, killed, or driven away from the territory, as multiple unknown female birds were seen courting Grinnell.

[14] In late 2022, Alden disappeared and was replaced by Lou, named after Louise Kellogg, who was the best friend of Annie Alexander.

Each year Cal Falcons holds an naming contest for the season's chicks largely via social media.

[18] Previous names have included Berkeley's motto (Fiat/Lux), chemical elements discovered at UC Berkeley, conservationists critical to the peregrine falcon's recovery, California state plants, falcon figures in Native American tradition, famous scientists, and Grinnell-related topics.

Peregrine Falcons nesting at University of California, Berkeley
Grinnell incubates eggs in the nest box atop Sather Tower at the University of California, Berkeley
Three juvenile peregrine falcons in their nest box atop Sather Tower at the University of California, Berkeley