The Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge provides a home for the fastest members of the animal kingdom, a pair of peregrine falcons. These peregrine falcons typically lay eggs in early spring, with chicks hatching one month later. This year, the project is once again asking students to help name the falcon chicks!
Several chicks have recently hatched, and while the final number is currently unknown, the project team is accepting names for the contest. The winning names will be selected after the number of birds has been determined.
Currently, the adult pair nested in this box and laid several peregrine eggs. The falcons are now incubating their eggs, which are expected to hatch in mid-May. The eggs will hatch with chicks, called eyases (“EYE-a-sez”, singular “EYE-us”).
2019 is the Fith Annual Falcon Naming Contest, the New NY Bridge project is asking students to help name the Tappan Zee falcon eyases!
Learn more about the Peregrine Falcon at the following resources:
- The New NY Bridge Project has a webcam which provides an unfiltered window on the day-to-day lives of the peregrine falcons. You may see the adult birds eating, incubating eggs, feeding their young, defending their nest and more. Remember, 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.
- Peregrine Falcon Fact Sheet- NYSDEC
- Annual reports from NYSDEC on the status of falcons in NYS
- North American Falconry Association
