The young falcons are growing their adult feathers.
The project team is pleased to announce the winning names of the 2019 Falcon Naming Contest: Talon-ted, Cardi Beak, Rio and Speedy. The winners were decided through a week-long online public poll, featuring submissions from local elementary and middle school students.
Classes began submitting names after the hatching of four young falcons in the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge’s nest box last month. The project outreach team curated a list of the top 10 submissions and opened a public poll on the project’s FalconCam webpage. More than 1,500 falcon fans voted for their favorite name.
The project outreach team plans to visit the winning classes at Claremont Elementary School in Ossining, Concord Road Elementary School in Ardsley and Washington Irving Intermediate School in Tarrytown this month to deliver award certificates and share more information on the endangered birds.
The young falcons white “baby feathers” have been replaced with their adult feathers, which are shades of brown. The young birds are expected to occupy the man-made nest box 419 feet above the Hudson River until they have learned to hunt and survive on their own in the coming weeks.
The naming contest is just the latest endeavor in the project’s educational outreach initiative, which has met with more than 65,000 students. The outreach team helps reinforce STEAM curriculum – highlighting the different types of bridges built around the world.
Falcon fans are urged to keep an eye on the birds via the project’s 24/7 FalconCam.
Please note: the FalconCam provides an unfiltered window on the day-to-day lives of these fascinating birds of prey. At any given moment, you may see the adult falcons eating, feeding their young, defending their nest and more. These are wild birds and their behaviors reflect what really happens in nature. Some of their actions may be unpleasant to watch and it is possible that some of the fledglings may not survive into adulthood.
