Sordid San Francisco Falcon Drama

Watching the Santa Cruz Predatory Bird Research Group's Falcon Nest Cam is a popular worktime timewaster educational activity in the Bay Area. Up until last week, it was a peaceful domestic scene: Peregrine falcons Dan and Diamond Lil had produced four eggs in the nest on the 33rd floor of the headquarters of Pacific Gas & Electric. Then all hell broke loose. Here's how the SCPBRG reports this avian Downton Abbey:

March 14, 2013: About one week ago, Diamond Lil disappeared. We do not know her current status, just that she has not returned to the nest ledge. A new female, dubbed "Cher," has been visiting the nest ledge but does not seem inclined to share in incubation duties. Dan has been doing all the incubation but he must also hunt for food to eat. The eggs have been uncovered during these absences and incubation has been uneven. The eggs need about 12 days more incubation. Will the eggs hatch? Will Dan continue to make a heroic effort at incubation? Will the new pair recycle and lay a new set of eggs? We will soon know. 

Watch for the weekly update on Monday here. If you don't want to wait for Netflix, you can join the San Francisco Peregrines Discussion Forum.

PAUL RAUBER is a senior editor at Sierra. He is the author, with Carl Pope, of the happily outdated Strategic Ignorance: Why the Bush Administration Is Recklessly Destroying a Century of Environmental Progress. Otherwise he is a cyclist, cook, and father of two. Follow him on Twitter @paulrauber