Help Name New Baby Falcon Chick On Top Of Tappan Zee Bridge

ORANGETOWN, N.Y. -- A pair of peregrine falcons that live in a man-made nest box on the existing Tappan Zee Bridge became proud parents once again with the hatching of a nestling on April 10. The only problem is the chick doesn't have a name.

The NY New Bridge Authority is asking the public to help name the new baby falcon chick born earlier this month.
Photo Credit: *NYNewBridge/Webcam*

K Reakes

04/27/2016 8:00 p.m.

To help solve that problem, the New NY Bridge project team is inviting members of the public to help name the new falcon chick.

A week-long naming contest is now under way on the project’s Falcon Cam webpage. Rockland and Westchester students came up with the names that are listed on the side of webcam. Some of the names include Marshmallow, Tappy Feet and Rocky.

Last year, thousands of people participated in voting for their favorite falcon names. The schools and classes that suggested the winning names were recognized with award certificates and commemorative posters of the falcons.

Soon after being dubbed “Hudson, Bridge-ette and Zee,” last year’s falcons learned how to hunt and survive on their own before leaving the nest.

Before the old bridge is torn down, a similar nest box will be installed atop one the new bridge’s towers for future falcons.

The nest box — installed and maintained by the New York State Thruway Authority — provides shelter and a high vantage point from which the peregrines can seek out and dive after prey. Capable of exceeding 200 miles per hour, peregrine falcons are the fastest members of the animal kingdom.

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