BERKELEY Inspire

Once on the brink of extinction, peregrine falcons have made a remarkable comeback in recent decades. One noble pair has taken up residence in a luxury suite — atop the 307-foot Campanile — to grow their family. Three chicks hatched and fledged last spring and, with the help of our friends on social media, were named after three elements discovered at Berkeley: Berkelium, Californium, and Lawrencium. While you couldn’t see the falcons from inside the Campanile, volunteers set up scopes on the ground for curious passersby. The university and its partners surpassed a fundraising goal to install webcams in time for next spring’s hopeful hatching. Bird enthusiasts worldwide, including our own researchers, will be able to watch the falcons in real time and document various behaviors. You might even catch a spectacular power dive as one strikes its prey in midair.