Less than a day after Grinnell, the male peregrine falcon who lives atop the UC Berkeley clocktower, was found dead, bird experts say his mate Annie may have found a new man.
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According to Cal Falcons, a dedicated group that keeps tabs on Annie and Grinnell, a new peregrine falcon swooped into the Campanile nest Friday, attempting to become the next mate.
To the dismay of Annie and Grinnell fans, Grinnell's body was discovered in downtown Berkeley Thursday afternoon. While his cause of death isn't yet known, "he was probably struck by a car given where we found him," Cal Falcons announced in a mournful Instagram post.
Annie had been left to raise two eggs on her own. However, the night of Grinnell's passing, the new untagged male joined Annie in the Campanile. Cal Falcons reported he performed multiple courtship displays and mated with the widowed falcon.
"When a mated Peregrine dies during the breeding season, the most likely outcome is nest failure. In rare cases, a new mate can come in, establish a bond with the remaining individual, and adopt the chicks. It is *possible* that we are witnessing this right now," bird experts wrote hopefully.
According to Cal Falcons, the new male even took a turn incubating the eggs while Annie was away Friday afternoon, calling the situation a "promising development."
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