I saw something remarkable on the way to work this morning. I saw a man standing in the park with a long leather strap dangling from his wrist. Any guesses? My guess was jesses. And I was right*! At his feet was a small falcon devouring some hapless prey. So it seems the noble art of falconry is alive and well in Berkeley.

* Almost. It turns out a jess is a strap on the falcon's leg to which a leash can be attached.