Govind Tekale
Karmactive Staff
Three peregrine falcon chicks recently hatched high above New York City traffic on the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge. The young birds – two females named Genevieve and Marcella, and one male named Skyforger – are part of ongoing efforts to protect this once nearly extinct species.
The chicks were born in a specially built nesting box on top of the 693-foot Brooklyn Tower of the bridge. On May 23, when the chicks were about three weeks old, they received identifying bands on their legs as part of wildlife monitoring efforts.
Wildlife experts use these identifying bands to keep track of the number of peregrines in the city and identify them in case they become sick or injured. Chris Nadareski, research scientist with the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, performs this delicate banding procedure each year.
Photo Source: MTA (CC BY 2.0)
Despite their comeback, peregrine falcons remain on New York State’s endangered birds list. These birds faced near extinction in the 1960s when widespread use of the pesticide DDT caused their eggshells to become dangerously thin, breaking during incubation before chicks could fully develop.
After DDT was banned in 1972, intensive conservation efforts began. Between 1974 and 1988, wildlife officials released 157 captive-bred young peregrines across New York State. The program worked – by 2013, New York had 72 breeding pairs across the state.
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The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) Bridges and Tunnels has supported these conservation efforts since 1983 by installing nesting boxes on its bridges. The agency provides the boxes but otherwise leaves the birds alone, especially during nesting season.
Falcons mate for life and generally return to the same nest to hatch their young.
Photo Source: MTA (CC BY 2.0)
Urban environments have proven surprisingly suitable for these birds of prey. Bridges, tall buildings, and church steeples mimic the cliff faces where peregrines traditionally nest in the wild. These high perches give the falcons excellent views to spot prey, mainly pigeons and small birds.
Peregrine falcons are remarkable hunters and hold the title of fastest animal on Earth. During hunting dives called “stoops,” they can reach speeds over 200 miles per hour.
Though removed from the federal endangered species list in 1999, the peregrine falcon’s continued protected status in New York highlights the ongoing need for conservation efforts. The regular appearance of new chicks on structures like the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge shows the positive impact of these programs.
Other MTA bridges hosting falcon nests include the Throgs Neck, Bronx-Whitestone, and Marine Parkway-Gil Hodges Memorial Bridges. Additional nests can be found on the George Washington Bridge and Bayonne Bridge, managed by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
The success of urban-nesting peregrines demonstrates how wildlife can adapt to human environments when given proper protection and support. Each new generation of falcon chicks represents another step in the ongoing recovery of this remarkable species.
