The Rochester Falcons eyases received their bands on Wednesday, May 21st, thanks to our friends at the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC).

Introducing our Class of 2025!

Zephyrus (Male)

Zephyrus received band 27 Black over R Green, with red tape over his USFW band.

Name chosen by Elizabeth Simons’ students at Greece Olympia High School in Greece, NY.

“We offer the name Zephyrus to honor our Greece Schools and because it means ‘west wind’ symbolizing speed and agility.”

Anders (Male)

Anders received band 28 Black over R Green, with blue tape over his USFW band.

Name chosen by our naming contest winner, Lori Zurick of Hilton, NY.

Anders was chosen in honor of Neander and his guardian spirit, strength and bravery. His soul will live on in one of his new falcons so that he will never be forgotten to all who loved him and watched him be a loyal partner to Nova.

Thank you Lori and all that chose this name in memory of our beloved Neander. ♥️

Denali (Male)

Denali received band 29 Black over R Green, with yellow tape over his USFW band.

Named by Susan Kraftschik of Tucson, AZ.

Susan was a longtime Rochester Falcon Watcher. She chose the name Denali for the highest mountain, not only in the US, but in all of North America. It is also the tallest mountain in the world from base to peak on land. Mountains always remind me of falcons, not only for the cliffs that they nest on but for the height, strength and power that mountains represent.

We want to thank our friends at the DEC, Elizabeth Simons’ students at Greece Olympia, Lori Zurick, Susan Kraftschik, all those that watch the Rfalconcam and the Rochester Falcon Watchers, who were watching Nova and New Guy’s reaction from below! Also, a big thanks to the Rfalconcam Team who keep the cameras going, so we have this wonderful view into the world of a Peregrine Falcon family! The true stars are Nova, Neander, Zephyrus, Anders, Denali and New Guy who is learning to take care of this little family.

We all miss Neander. Since no territorial battle was ever witnessed, we’ll probably never know what happened to him. Fly Free Neander. We Miss You!

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Finally! This is the moment you’ve all been waiting for. It’s time to name an eyas!

The poll is open! From the many excellent suggestions that were received, Rfalconcam’s Naming Committee selected 17 names from over 100 submissions. Thank you to everyone who submitted a name!

Voting is easy. Just click/tap on the link below. It will open the ballot form where you’ll start by filling in your name and email address. Then select your favorite name and click/tap the Submit button. Be sure to read the brief description we’ve included with each name. It might help you make your decision. We’ll announce the winning name when the eyases are banded.

Use this link to vote:

https://forms.gle/VVmopSWEWBQU21xF7

Voting closes at 11:59 pm EDT on Tuesday, May 20, 2025.

Good luck!

Here’s your chance to name one of this year’s Eyases!

We are very happy to announce that once again falcon fans will have an opportunity to choose a name for an eyas in the nest box atop the Times Square Building, and it will be in the form of a naming contest open to all viewers.

Much care and thought has been used to name past eyases. We’ve included the criteria for choosing a name. Please read the rules very carefully and use the link below to submit one (1) gender neutral name.

Please, only one submission per person!

The deadline for name submissions is 11:59 pm (EDT) on Wednesday, May 14, 2025.

Suggested Rfalconcam Naming Criteria Acceptable Categories for Names:

Explorers, Astronomers, Conservationists, especially those with
International appeal (e.g., Galileo, [Amelia] Earhart, Magellan), or those who have played a significant role in Peregrine re-population efforts.
Names inspired by Nature–topographic, meteorological, geographic, etc. (e.g. Kaver, Isaura, Fulmine, Alkyonis, Skye, Aconcagua)
Inspirational Names (e.g. Freedom, Hope, Destiny)
Words that refer to falcons in languages other than Modern English (e.g. Thlotli, Hafoc)

Categories that do not fit the criteria:

Names derived from religious, political, or popular culture icons.
Names directly related to a human person either living or dead, except as noted in the acceptable criteria above.
Names related to a commercial product, or a copyrighted or trademarked name owned by any corporation, individual or organization.
Names that reflect negatively on any group, organization, individual or entity.

Names should be well researched whenever possible. Supporting rationale for the name is required, so give us a few sentences that explain the name and the reason you chose it.

Submitting a Name:

That’s easy! Just click on this link to open the submission form. Only one submission per person please! If multiple submissions are sent in, only the first one that meets the criteria will be accepted.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScnqnEHIjS5b1pe0QXRvey301O7dOIfUogo69ND2quRTbKmYA/viewform?usp=sf_link

NOTE: IF SUBMITTING A NAME, PLEASE DO NOT DISCUSS IT HERE, ON THE FORUM, OR ON SOCIAL MEDIA. WE WOULD LIKE TO MAKE THIS AS FAIR AS POSSIBLE TO ALL PARTICIPANTS.

Judging the Name Submissions:

The Rfalconcam Naming Committee will evaluate all name submissions for appropriateness, including (but not limited to) adherence to the naming criteria, well researched name, uniqueness of the name and how well it follows the “spirit” of past falcon names.

The committee will select the top 10 names from those submitted and create a poll for our viewers to vote for their favorite.

NOTE: MEMBERS OF THE NAMING COMMITTEE WILL HAVE FINAL EDITORIAL RIGHT OF REFUSAL FOR ALL SUBMISSIONS, AND THEY MAY REJECT ANY NAME SUBMISSION THAT DOES NOT MEET THE NAMING CRITERIA OR IS JUDGED NOT TO BE APPROPRIATE FOR ANY OTHER REASON.

Past Falcon Names that Meet the Criteria Above:

2002 Freedom

2003 Isaura – A wind that blows off the Greek Isles
Chayton – A Native American word for Falcon
Destiny
Thlotli – An Aztec name for Falcon
Edge – Named for Rosalie Edge

2004 Alkyonis – Named in honor of the 2004 Olympic games in Greece
Pride
Gahastey – Native American word for a type of wind
Grissom – Named in memory of Virgil “Gus” Grissom
Hafoc – Old English word for Falcon

2005 Esperanza – Spanish word for Hope
Ihteram – Arabic word for Respect
Fulmine – Italian word for Lightning
Aconcagua – A mountain in Argentina
Skye – An island in Scotland where falconry is practiced

2006 Aura – Latin word for breeze

2007 Ananta – A Sanskrit word meaning “infinite” and “endless.”

2008 Diamante – Spanish for “diamond”
Quest – A search or pursuit made in order to find or obtain something
Seneca – Named after the largest tribe of the Iroquois confederacy
Zephyr – The name given to the West Wind in Greek mythology

2010 Callidora – Gift of Beauty
Jemison – In honor of Mary Jemison, an American frontierswoman

2012 Orion – The constellation of “The Hunter”

2013 Baron, Rosetta, Voyager

2014 Tesh, Nettie, Nor’easter, Mercury

2015 Cadence, Genesee, Bronx

2016 Matilda, Aria, Lilac, Leo

2017 Seabreeze, Ontario, Charlotte, Rachel

2018 Mike, Letchworth, Sundara

2019 Lakota, Phoenix, Jupiter, Donna

2020 Roc, Hope, γεράκι

2021 Freyja, Golden

2022 Blaze, Zara, Kanfai Malachim

2023 Sterling, Artemis, Jubilee

2024 Justice, Meng, Walker, Mighty

The deadline for name submissions is 11:59 pm (EDT) on Wednesday, May 14, 2025.

Good Luck!

Nova and Neander’s trio of eyases are now complete! I wish Neander was here to see them. He would be so happy and excited. That’s just how he was when it came to caring for his young. He could never get enough time with them.

But, here we are. Nova is a wonderful mom and the New Guy (NG) is providing food for Nova to feed her young ones. I think NG has potential to be a good dad. He needs to learn and Nova will be an excellent teacher.

Early this morning at 4:28 am, under a waxing crescent moon, Nova and Neander’s third eyas broke out of its egg.

The Rochester Triad is now complete. Through the lenses of our Rfalconcam cameras we will watch this little family of Peregrine Falcons grow, quickly. We are so blessed to have this window into the life of the Rochester Falcons living on top of the Times Square Bldg. Please join us!

There were so many awesome pictures to go through this morning. Here are just a few of them. Please click on them to see a larger version.

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Sorry for the delay. The eyas from the darker egg, that was laid first, arrived at approximately 8:39 am this morning.

It took awhile, but Nova brought in food with NG right behind her. There have been multiple feedings so far today.

Hopefully the 3rd eyas will hatch soon!

Here are some pictures from this morning and afternoon. Be sure to click on them to see them larger.

On a very windy evening here in Rochester, NY, at approximately 11:11pm last night, a very small, wet and pink eyas (baby falcon) broke out of its shell under the watchful eyes of momma Nova.

She quickly tucked the eyas underneath her to join the two eggs that had not hatched yet. It’s important to keep the newly hatched eyas warm. Nova settled in to munch on half of the white egg that was directly in front of her.

Yes, the eyas in the white egg, the 2nd egg laid, hatched first!

During the overnight, NG arrived on the corner of the nest box platform. He settled in to keep guard over Nova and her young.

Just a little while ago, Nova left for a quick break, giving us a good look at the now fluffy, white eyas and the darker egg with its pip. She returned and tucked the eyas and two eggs under her.

Now we wait to see if NG will bring in food for the eyas’s first meal.

Thank you Linda and Lori for staying up to witness the first eyas hatching on our live stream last night and reporting it!

Here are some pictures from overnight and this morning. Click on a picture to enlarge it.

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Nova and Neander’s eggs are showing signs of the eyases inside hatching! What we call a PIP! It’s bittersweet, but very happy news! Nova stood up from the eggs to take food that New Guy brought in for her. We got our first really good look at the eggs.

There are good size pips in the darker egg and the white egg. These were the first two eggs that Nova laid. There also appears to be the start of a pip in the third egg.

We’ll keep watching and report updates.

Sadly, we believe that the male that has been coming to the nest box most of yesterday and today, is not Neander. The last verified sighting of Neander was yesterday (4/22) at 8:00 am at the nest box.

So where is Neander? We know he injured his left leg and needed to use his wings for support and balance last Friday. He also closed his right eye a lot. It seemed that he was improving.

How was he injured? One watcher, Brian H, reported seeing two falcons chasing each other east of the Times Square Bldg. Watchers Carol P and Larry O were out Sunday morning. Neander was flying well and seemed to be very attentive to Nova and their eggs. He spent time incubating the eggs while Nova was out, spreading her wings and chasing a juvie Bald Eagle out of the area.

Later, Sunday morning, Neander settled on the Wilder Chimney. A juvie Peregrine Falcon flew in from the south and circled above the Times Square Bldg while Neander ee chupped a warning for the youngster to move on, which the juvie did, flying south over the Genesee River. Neander did not move from the Wilder Chimney. When I ended my watch, all was quiet and peaceful. No territory battles were witnessed.

Monday, Neander was seen and seemed to be improving. He was still limping badly, but was very attentive to his family.

On Tuesday and today, we were seeing a behavior change by Nova and who we thought was Neander. The male made a lot of frequent visits to the nest box platform. In all cases, Nova did not budge from the eggs. She would wait for him to leave before flying out for a quick break and returning.

After looking closely at the pictures posted by Rfalconcam, we could see differences that had not been noticed immediately. There was a little bit of white above the cere and the black hood was shaped differently than Neander’s. Also, there was no white feather on the left wing. Plus Nova’s behavior change told us that this was not Neander.

This morning, three watchers (Dana, Kathy O & Carol P and Lou too!) spent the morning walking and driving around the area looking for Neander. Shaky and Ei, controlling the Rfalconcam cameras searched all the places our cameras could reach. Neander was nowhere to be found.

During the time we were there, the New Guy (NG for now), spent time on the Times Square Bldg, keeping guard.

On camera, NG was seen bringing in food for Nova. He left it on the platform for her. Only when he left, did she move off of the eggs to take it. Thankfully, he is bringing in food for her.

Just before we ended our watch, NG went to the First Federal Bldg (OCSR) to retrieve a cache from the 2nd Ibeam down. He flew around with it, landing on top of Camera 4. The bit of food dangled from his beak. Nova came out of the nest box, but couldn’t reach the food, so she quickly went back into the nest box to lay on the eggs. NG, jumped down to the platform, but when Nova didn’t move, he took off with the food, heading towards the back of the Times Square Bldg.

There are so many questions that need to be answered. Where is Neander? We will continue to look for him. Will Nova accept NG? So far, she has not allowed him to get near the eggs, but she has accepted food from him. The eggs are peeping and getting ready to hatch. These are uncertain times for us. The Rochester Falcon Watchers are a dedicated and passionate group that care very much for our Rochester Falcons. We’ll be keeping a close eye on this situation and report anything new. I’ll be saying a prayer that Neander is ok and found soon. cp

Roof work at the Powers Bldg is starting soon, and we will be shutting down cameras, electronics, and internet connection to prevent damage. They will be turned on again after roof work is finished later this summer.

In the meantime, our cameras at the Times Square Bldg will be on 24/7 to catch all the action when Nova and Neander’s three eggs hatch. Keep watching!

After spending the overnight incubating the eggs, Nova stood up at 6:06 am. Neander flew in and landed on the end of the nest box platform at 6:11 am. He made his way to the nest box, and sat down on his eggs.

Neander stayed on the eggs until 6:41 am, when he stood up and left. A couple minutes later, Nova returned.

As you’ll see in the video (link below) that Rochester Falcon team member Dana made from the stream, Neander is still very wobbly. But he does seem improved from yesterday. I was very happy to see him this morning! We’ll continue to keep an eye on him.

Here is the link to Dana’s YouTube video showing Neander coming to the nest box this morning.

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