Word of the Week: Before the Birdman of Alcatraz, the island was known for its birds

A seagull flies over Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary on Alcatraz Island July 2, 2003 in the San Francisco Bay, California.

The origin story of Alcatraz's name is a complicated mix of language, a history that dates back to the first Europeans to explore the coast of California, and, a flock of seabirds.

(Image credit: Justin Sullivan)