Known as one of the fastest known birds in the world—and one of the fastest animals on Earth—these powerful birds of prey can dive at speeds of up to 200 mph. They also have a unique conservation success story. 

By the 1970s, Peregrine Falcons were greatly reduced around the world because of the widespread use the pesticides, like DDT, after WWII, and even classified as Endangered in the U.S. and other countries. A thorough statewide California nesting survey in 1970 yielded only two Peregrine nests. After a quarter-century of Peregrine Falcon conservation efforts in North America and the Environmental Protection Agency bans on DDT in the U.S., Peregrine populations seemed to rebound by the late 1990s. The species was delisted from Endangered status in 1999. Today there are hundreds of nesting pairs of Peregrines in California alone. 

According to NPS, Peregrine Falcons on Alcatraz Island are a direct result of this tremendous conservation success. The female falcon, Lawrencium (aka Larry) was one of the 2018 chicks hatched on UC Berkeley’s Campanile by falcons Annie and Grinnell. Larry was identified on Alcatraz in 2020 by biologists who could see the bands placed on her legs when she was a chick. By 2020, Larry and her mate were producing their own young in a natural cave, called an “eyrie,” tucked away on the west side of the Island, and far from human activity. It was the first time Peregrines had ever been recorded nesting on Alcatraz. 

Since 2023, NPS biologists have been monitoring Larry’s nesting on Alcatraz with the help of a small camera placed near her nest, called a “scrape.” In 2024, NPS in collaboration with the Parks Conservancy was able to set up the livestream camera to share this incredible view of a wild Peregrine Falcon nest with the world. 

These are wild animals and the camera will show Peregrines bringing prey to the nest and feeding nestlings.

The camera is set up to provide visual monitoring of the ongoing nesting. NPS typically does not intervene in natural processes, like Peregrine nesting. Also, the camera nest location is not accessible. So NPS will not intervene at the nest even if there is video evidence of sick or injured birds or even siblicide.

In 2024, Peregrine Falcons once again nested on Alcatraz Island in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. The resident pair—one known as Lawrencium, or “Larry,” who first arrived on the island in 2020—successfully fledged 2–4 chicks each year, a remarkable achievement. A retrospective video captures their time on the Rock, showing the fledgling family grow right before your eyes.

This extraordinary opportunity to observe the falcons up close was made possible through a collaboration between the National Park Service (NPS) and the Parks Conservancy, who worked together to plan, fund, and install a nest camera and live stream. Visitors could watch the falcons court, defend their territory, and raise their young on the rugged cliffs of Alcatraz.

In early 2025, the pair was spotted again around the island, seemingly preparing for another nesting season. But by mid-February—when courtship displays and nest preparation typically begin—they had vanished. A similar story unfolded across the Bay at UC Berkeley, where Larry’s mother, Annie, also disappeared from her usual nesting site.

NPS biologists suspect that Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), a deadly strain of avian flu currently circulating in North America, may be to blame. Peregrine falcons, as bird specialists, are especially vulnerable to HPAI due to their diet. It is believed that Larry, her mate, and the Berkeley falcons may have succumbed to the virus. The loss is a sobering reminder of the ongoing threats facing wildlife—even those species, like peregrines, once celebrated as conservation success stories after rebounding from near-extinction due to DDT.

Still want to experience the wildlife of Alcatraz? You can visit the Alcatraz Island nest webcam page to view the current stars—Brandt’s Cormorants—and explore past peregrine footage. If you're planning a trip to the island, don’t miss NPS Biologist Lidia D’Amico’s expert tips for safely spotting nesting birds. And while you're there, stop by the Birds in a Changing Climate exhibit to learn more about the island’s rich and resilient birdlife.