Thirty miles from the Point Reyes Lighthouse, the Farallon Islands emerge from the water’s surface like ancient columns. On a clear day, their desolate beauty is emboldened by the sun, but most of the time, the islands are shrouded in coastal fog. Only a handful of scientists set foot on the islands each year and visitors are not allowed. For nearly a decade, a camera sat atop the lighthouse on the South Farallon Island to peek at wildlife, from white sharks and whales to tufted puffins. But it broke two years ago, and the feed has been dark ever since. Last month, a new camera—donated by the Santa Cruz Island Foundation, a nonprofit that catalogs the history of the Channel Islands—was installed, thanks to a partnership from various agencies and environmental groups. Now, viewers from around the world can once again see the 360-degree live feed. Marla Daily, the president of the Santa Cruz Island Foundation, said she was watching the live feed two years ago, when suddenly the footage went black. “We don’t know what exactly happened but it was not repairable,” she said. “We bought the hard equipment and donated it.” From December to February, elephant seals are visible, while March to August is marked by the presence of breeding seabirds. From September to November, anticipate the arrival of migratory birds, whales and white sharks. Sir Francis Drake holds the distinction of being the first individual to document visiting the islands. In 1579, he and his crew came ashore for a single day, gathering eggs and hunting seals. He bestowed the name “Islands of St. James” upon them. Around 25 years later, the Spanish explorer Friar Antonio de la Ascensión referred to the cluster of islands in his diary as “seven farallónes close together”—the word “farallón” meaning a rocky outcrop. The islands host the largest nesting seabird colony in the contiguous United States and provide a breeding and haul-out site for several species of marine mammals. Some of those, like elephant seals, offer abundant feed for a large population of white sharks. To view the webcam, visit https://www.calacademy.org/webcams/farallones