Photos: UC Berkeley falcon chicks have hatched! Best moments so far

The falcon chicks have hatched, and the world is watching!

Cal Falcons raised money last year for the installation of two nest cameras on UC Berkeley’s Campanile Tower, where Peregrine Falcons Annie and Grinnell have been nesting since 2017. Cal Falcons is a collaboration of the Golden Gate Raptor Observatory (a Parks Conservancy program), the UC Berkeley Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, East Bay Regional Parks District, and the Institute for Wildlife Studies.

On April 24, 2019, two chicks were hatched on the live stream nest cam and have been creating quite the buzz on social media since. The chicks, now five weeks old, should start fledging in the next week. We’re hoping the second camera, facing a ledge where previous years’ chicks have been known to fledge, will allow us to follow along as they venture from the nest.

Check out our favorite moments so far in the gallery below.
 

View of the first hatched 2019 'eyas' (a very young falcon or hawk that hasn't yet learned to fly). From the nest cameras on UC Berkeley’s Campanile Tower where Peregrine Falcons Annie and Grinnell have been nesting since 2017, and two baby chicks hatched in April 2019.

Courtesy Cal Falcons

Onlookers watch a full screen livestream of Annie, Grinnell, and their newly hatched Peregrine Falcon chicks on BAMFA’s (UC Berkeley Art Museum and Pacific Film Archive) outdoor video screen on April 25, 2019.

Allen Fish / Golden Gate Raptor Observatory

Annie brings lunch to the chicks, 8 days old in this photo. Dad Grinnell is on the right, and can be identified by his tangerine feet. The third egg did not hatch for reasons unknown. From the nest cameras on UC Berkeley’s Campanile Tower where Peregrine Falcons Annie and Grinnell have been nesting since 2017, and two baby chicks hatched in April 2019.

Courtesy Cal Falcons

The chicks look anxious for their next meal. From the nest cameras on UC Berkeley’s Campanile Tower where Peregrine Falcons Annie and Grinnell have been nesting since 2017, and two baby chicks hatched in April 2019.

Courtesy Cal Falcons

At about 10 days old, the chicks show the first signs of real feathers! Those dark spots are called "pin feathers" and are the first stage of feather development. From the nest cameras on UC Berkeley’s Campanile Tower where Peregrine Falcons Annie and Grinnell have been nesting since 2017, and two baby chicks hatched in April 2019.

Courtesy Cal Falcons

This image provides a good look at the wing feather development of the chicks. The outer feathers, which currently look like grey pins, are called "primaries" and are the main structure with which birds create thrust. Each feather can be individually rotated, creating ideal aerodynamics for flight. From the nest cameras on UC Berkeley’s Campanile Tower where Peregrine Falcons Annie and Grinnell have been nesting since 2017, and two baby chicks hatched in April 2019.

Courtesy Cal Falcons

Breakfast time! From the nest cameras on UC Berkeley’s Campanile Tower where Peregrine Falcons Annie and Grinnell have been nesting since 2017, and two baby chicks hatched in April 2019.

Courtesy Cal Falcons

This is Annie and Grinnell’s third year nesting on the Campanile Tower at UC Berkeley. The nest cameras featuring the Peregrine Falcons and their chicks have created buzz online.

Courtesy Mary Malec

Zeka Glucs, former GGRO intern and current Director of the Santa Cruz Predatory Bird Research Group and GGRO volunteer bander, banded last year’s chicks on May 18, 2018. Nest cameras on UC Berkeley’s Campanile Tower featuring Peregrine Falcons Annie and Grinnell and their chicks have created buzz online.

Courtesy Mary Malec

In August of 2018, GGRO volunteer banders recaptured Peregrine 11AM—one of the three chicks banded by Zeka Glucs (former GGRO intern and current Director of the SCPBRG and GGRO volunteer bander) at the Campanile earlier that year—healthy and hunting in the Marin Headlands. Nest cameras on UC Berkeley’s Campanile Tower featuring Peregrine Falcons Annie and Grinnell and their chicks have created buzz online.

Courtesy Kirsti Carr

The 2019 chicks have now been banded and are expected to fledge in the next week. Nest cameras on UC Berkeley’s Campanile Tower featuring Peregrine Falcons Annie and Grinnell and their chicks have created buzz online.

Courtesy Cal Falcons

The 2019 chicks have now been banded and are expected to fledge in the next week. Nest cameras on UC Berkeley’s Campanile Tower featuring Peregrine Falcons Annie and Grinnell and their chicks have created buzz online.

Courtesy Cal Falcons

Previous

Next