The Rockaways

Arts & Entertainment

Urban Animals

PHOTOS: 10 Adorable Baby Falcons Born Atop MTA Bridges

June 2, 2016 5:04pm | Updated June 2, 2016 5:04pm
PHOTOS: 10 Adorable Baby Falcons Born Atop MTA Bridges
View Full Caption

Ten new Peregrine falcons, among the fastest birds in the world, were born this year on top of three MTA bridges, officials said.

Two boys and a girl were born on top of the Brooklyn tower of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, which is 693-feet in the air. 

Four birds — three girls and a boy — were born on the Rockaway tower of the Marine Parkway-Gil Hodges Memorial bridge, which connects Brooklyn to the peninsula. 

And two boys and a girl were hatched 360 feet in the air on the Bronx side of the Throgs Neck Bridge, according to the MTA. 

Chris Nadareski, a research scientist with the city's Department of Environmental Protection, climbed to the top of the three bridges to band the falcons with identifying tags, which helps experts identify them if they become sick. It also helps scientists keep track of how many of the endangered birds are in the city.

Nadareski was joined this year by Barbara Saunders, from the state's Department of Environmental Conservation, who climbed the bridges May 18 and May 25.

All of the birds were named — so welcome Princess, Nelson, Roger, April, May, June, Huey, Daisy, Little Bob and Freddy to New York City's skies. 

Watch a video of the process: 

Advertisement