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It’s been a year since the beloved UC Berkeley falcons disappeared from the campus campanile, probable victims of avian flu. For those of us who obsessed over resilient mom falcon Annie and her series of beaus (Grinnell, Alden, Archie and Lou) and offspring, there has been a giant bird of prey–shaped hole in our hearts ever since.
Since no new falcons have taken residence on the clock tower, and an appropriate period of mourning has passed, it might be time to find a new bird-loving livestream. Which is where the Port of Stockton’s Barn Owl Cams come in.
Since 2006, the Delta Environmental Enhancement Program has been installing nest boxes around the port to increase owl numbers. The main goal was to keep rodent populations in check, in order to protect the port’s levees. There are now 20 nest boxes and they’re doing their job. The resident owls kill and eat around 40,000 rodents annually which has reduced the need for rodenticide use at the shoreline. (The rodent bait that’s still in use is safe for the owls to consume.)…