Voting To Name Baby Falcons Begins At Cuomo Bridge

TARRYTOWN, NY — We've watched them from the beginning when they were still in their shells high atop the Gov. Mario M. Cuomo Bridge.

Now that the three peregrine falcon chicks are likely to take wing and leave the nest soon, it's time to give them names.

Breaking from tradition in which votes were cast online, the state Thruway Authority will be collecting votes for the public's favorite names for the babies at the Rockland and Westchester landings of the bridge's 3.6-mile shared bicycle and pedestrian path.

From Thursday through Sunday, and again from June 3 to June 6, visitors to the path may cast their votes from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the booths where the bridge ambassadors can be found.

As in past years, students in Rockland Westchester elementary and middle schools came up with more than 50 names for consideration.

The finalists are:

• Jimmy Falcon
• Justin Beaker
• Lord of the Wings
• Luke Flywalker
• Sky
• Talon Zee
• Wi-Fly
• Zoom

The three winning names will be announced by the Thruway Authority during the week of June 7 on the bridge's Twitter account.

Top vote-getting names in years past have included Cardi Beak, Bridge-ette and Hudson.

The nest box is more than 400 feet above the Hudson River. The 24-hour FalconCam provides an insight into the behavior of the parent falcons and their chicks.

Thruway officials said a wildlife specialist from the New York City Department of Environmental Protection visited the three chicks this week and attached bands to their legs. The bands will allow biologists to track the movements of each bird and follow its life history.

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