Alcatraz is now home to falcons known for catching prey in midair, officials say

Massive birds have nested on Alcatraz for the first time in recorded history, the Golden Gate National Recreation Area said.

In early March, peregrine falcons were spotted mating on the Alcatraz Water Tower, park officials said in a post Wednesday. The pair was seen a few months later sharing prey on the island.

“A couple months later biologists were elated to see two fledglings eating and testing their wings while their parents sat nearby,” the Golden Gate National Recreation Area said. “They’ve taken a few short flights, but are still wobbly in the air.”

Peregrine falcons are the largest falcon in most of the continent, The Cornell Lab reported. They can weigh up to 56 ounces and have a wingspan of more than 3 feet, according to National Geographic.

“These falcons are formidable hunters that prey on other birds (and bats) in mid-flight,” National Geographic reported. “Peregrines hunt from above and, after sighting their prey, drop into a steep, swift dive that can top 200 miles an hour.”