San Francisco's feathered felon residents have gone viral, as Alcatraz Island welcomes four fluffy additions to its historic landscape. Thanks to a new public webcam, birdwatchers and the general public alike can now tune in to the daily drama of a nest of baby peregrine falcons around the clock. According to SFist, the livestream shows the chicks in HD clarity, catching them snooze, preen, and grow up on the rocky outcrops of the infamous island.
These young raptors are the offspring of Larry (short for the element Lawrencium), a female peregrine born atop the UC Berkeley Campanile to Berkeley's own celebrity falcon, Annie in 2018. Last year, these falcons raised four chicks out of the camera's eye, but this time, the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy have allowed wildlife enthusiasts an intimate glimpse into their lives. Despite the nature of Alcatraz's former residents, the falcon family offers a much softer side to island life, a sentiment echoed by Alcatraz Island biologist Lidia D'Amico, who, in a statement obtained by SFist, expressed her hopes that "this livestream generates appreciation for peregrine falcons and sparks viewers' interest in the other bird life found on Alcatraz as well."
SFist report details that the webcam, which only provides one angle, nevertheless broadcasts in HD even after dark, ensuring not a precious moment of cuteness or predatory behavior is missed. Adding to this, the National Park Service claims there’s a 12-hour cache available, giving viewers the chance to rewind and experience moments they've missed.
For those engrossed by the circle of life on Alcatraz, the chicks' livestream provides a bird's-eye view of nature in its raw form, including the feeding and rearing of these apex predators. Alcatraz Island biologist Lidia D'Amico told the National Park Service, “This all started as a ‘what if’ when I was watching the CalFalcons webcam, wondering ‘how cool would it be to have a livestream of the Alcatraz falcon nest?’. I’m thrilled this became a reality.” She's now seeing her ‘what if’ moment hatch before the world's eyes, giving exposure to these majestic birds and the natural history of Alcatraz.
The webcam can be viewed online at the Parks Conservancy website, adding to the Bay Area's list of must-watch wildlife cams. With the birds growing older by the day, the stage is set for a summer of growth and learning for both the falcons and their human onlookers.
