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The DNAinfo archives brought to you by WNYC.
Read the press release here.

Name the Hawks Nesting at This Park Slope Church and Win Zoo Tickets

 Does he look like a Bob or a Ted? St. Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Church is holding a contest to name a family of hawks building a nest in the church's bell tower.
Does he look like a Bob or a Ted? St. Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Church is holding a contest to name a family of hawks building a nest in the church's bell tower.
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Bill Rueger

They must have heard about the stellar schools.

A hawk couple looking to start a family has moved into Park Slope — and whoever comes up with the best names for them will win tickets to the Prospect Park Zoo.

A maintenance man at St. Francis Xavier Roman Catholic Church at Sixth Avenue and Carroll Street spotted the red-tailed hawks about three weeks ago high atop the church's soaring bell tower, said The Reverend Bill Rueger.

The duo have been busy fashioning the hawk equivalent of a two-bedroom apartment out of twigs, Rueger said, and he expects to see eggs any day now.

Rueger had hoped to set up a webcam to broadcast the young family's progress, but the nest is in a hard-to-access crevice.

  The bell tower at St. Francis Xavier where a hawk family is building a nest. (Photo: Bill Rueger)

Perhaps intentionally, the hawks are building their home just inches away from a fearsome winged gargoyle that seems to be guarding the raptors.

  The hawk nest and its gargoyle guard at St. Francis Xavier. (Photo: Bill Rueger)

The church is now accepting suggestions for names for the hawk mom, dad and two not-yet-born offspring. Entries can be sent to hawknames@gmail.com.

"We’re very happy to have them," Rueger told DNAinfo New York. "Pope Francis is very big on the environment. He encourages us to be careful with the planet and treat it respectfully. It just goes along with our faith to be involved in things like this."

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