Readers of our Forum and FalconWatch blog know that a banded (black/green, 67/AR) falcon has been seen with Veteran, our recently named tiercel, at Seneca Towers. She was hatched in 2013 at a nest on a cliff in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, and as is customary at that location, she was not given a name when she was banded.
While we could refer to her by her band id, it is our custom to give names to the Peregrine falcons living in Rochester.
So once again, falcon fans will have an opportunity to choose a name for a Rochester falcon, and again it will be in the form of a naming contest open to all viewers.
We’ve included the criteria that has always been used to choose a name. Please read the rules very carefully and use the link below to submit either a female or gender neutral name. Only one submission per person!
The deadline for name submissions is 11:59 pm (EDT) on Monday, May 26, 2014.
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. Mariah, Kaver, Isaura, Fulmine, Alkyonis, Skye, Aconcagua)
Inspirational Names (e.g. Freedom, Hope, Destiny)
Mythological Beings (e.g. Isis, Thor, Zeus, Ananta)
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 will be accepted.
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?fromEmail=true&formkey=dFBSdV9PeDNWSWZWQjAwdXlxMjVpdGc6MA
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 five names from those submitted and create a poll for members of the Rfalconcam Forum to vote for their favorite. You must be a member of the Forum to be able to vote for a name. Join the forum now if you’d like to participate! (Forum membership is NOT required to submit a name for consideration.)
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
Isis – Egyptian goddess, mother of the Falcon god Horus
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, who founded the Hawk Mountain Sanctuary in Pennsylvania, USA
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 honor of Virgil “Gus” Grissom, the second American to fly in space
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, the highest in the Western Hemisphere
Skye – An island in Scotland where falconry is practiced
2006
Aura – Latin word for breeze
Sabrina – Celtic goddess
Rhea Mae – Named for two famous Peregrines that were instrumental in repopulation efforts in the United States
2007
Ananta – A Sanskrit word meaning “infinite” and “endless.”
It is one of the many names of Vishnu, the supreme being in the Hindu faith
Linn – Named in honor of Linn Pierson, a naturalist for the New Jersey
Dept. of Fish and Wildlife who was an educator and tireless advocate for Peregrine falcons in New Jersey
Sacajawea – In honor of the Shoshone woman who accompanied early American explorers Lewis and Clark on their historic trek through the western United States
Grace – Graces were sister goddesses in Greek mythology who had control over pleasure, charm, elegance and beauty in human life and in nature
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 of North American Indians
Susan B – Named for the famed Rochester native and Women’s Rights activist
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 and an adopted Seneca
2013
Rosetta
Voyager
The deadline for name submissions is 11:59 pm (EDT) on Monday, May 26, 2014.
Good Luck!
Much care and thought was used to name past falcons. We’ve included the criteria that has always been used to choose a name. Please read the rules very carefully and use the link below to submit either a male or gender neutral name. Only one submission per person!
