Falcon Chicks Thrive on the Verrazzano Bridge

By Y.M. Lowy

High above the rush of traffic on the Verrazzano  Bridge, three young peregrine falcons are growing up with a view few others can match. Nestled in a manmade box on the Brooklyn tower of the bridge, the chicks were recently visited by a scientist from the NYC Department of Environmental Protection.

Christopher Nadareski, a wildlife specialist, climbed to the nest on Friday, to check on the birds and attach ID bands to their legs. The process helps scientists monitor the falcons as they grow and later as they fly off to new places. The three chicks, named Skyforger, Genevieve, and Marcella, were found to be healthy and active.

These birds are part of an ongoing effort to support peregrine falcons in the city. Once nearly wiped out in the area, they have slowly made a comeback, often nesting on tall bridges and buildings that resemble the cliffs they used in the wild. With their strong wings and sharp eyesight, they are known as the fastest animals on earth when diving.

If all goes well, these three falcons should be ready to fly within three weeks. For now, they stay close to their nest high over New York Harbor, watched closely by scientists and sometimes spotted by lucky bridge workers below.

photos by: Marc A. Hermann / MTA