Beloved peregrine falcon found dead in Berkeley; likely hit by car

BERKELEY, Calif. - Grinnell, a peregrine falcon who made a home at the Campanile at the University of California at Berkeley campus, was found dead Thursday, according to a group that monitors the birds.   

"We are all deeply saddened to report that Grinnell was found dead in downtown Berkeley this afternoon," the group Cal Falcons announced on Twitter. "We are devastated and heartbroken."   

The announcement added, "His cause of death isn't known, but he was probably struck by a car given where we found him."   

Grinnell and his partner that community members had named Annie had been nesting atop the Campanile since 2017. 

Late last year, it was unclear whether the pair were going to stay together after Grinnell was attacked by two other falcons and hospitalized and Annie was seen starting pairing behavior with one of them.   

But fans were optimistic earlier this year that Annie and Grinnell would stay together.   

"They know each other is around," said Mary Malec of Cal Falcons in a statement in early January. "They have been talking to each other and flying together, but this is the first time anyone has seen courtship behavior between them."   

Now members of Cal Falcons are unsure if Annie's nest will last with just her.   

"Given the timing of this within the breeding season, it is doubtful that this nest will succeed with Annie alone," Cal Falcons' Twitter account said.