Bo, Fritz, Lloyd and Yost: Peregrine falcon chicks named after famous U-M football coaches
Four peregrine falcon chicks hatched atop the roof of University Hospital in May.
Photo courtesy of Barb Baldinger.
The healthy chicks hatched in a man-made nest atop University of Michigan Hospital on May 2. Last week, U-M launched a naming contest on its Facebook page.
After receiving suggestions, U-M launched a poll with name clusters centered on former U-M presidents, U-M cheer mantras —such as hail and victor,— astronomical missions or terms and football coaches.
Bo, Fritz, Lloyd and Yost easily won, receiving 205 out of 328 total votes. The names reference former head football coaches Bo Schembechler, Herbert "Fritz" Crisler, Lloyd Carr and Fielding Yost.
The chicks were banded in late May so they can be tracked by the Department of Natural Resources. The join a growing family of peregrine chicks hatched in Ann Arbor.
Peregrine falcons are endangered in Michigan. U-M's campus has been home to two grown peregrines since 2006.
In urban areas, Falcons tend to nest on tall buildings or bridges because of their similarity to high cliffs and ledges. When officials realized the pair wasn't successfully nesting on U-M's 192-foot tall Burton Memorial Tower, their nesting place of choice, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources helped set up a nesting box atop University Hospital.
Last spring the falcons successfully hatched a trio of chicks. Another nesting box has been installed on North Quad.
Peregrine falcons often use the same nest site for many years, so it's possible that U-M's campus could be the birth spot for more chicks in future years.
Kellie Woodhouse covers higher education for AnnArbor.com. Reach her at kelliewoodhouse@annarbor.com or 734-623-4602 and follow her on twitter.
Comments
mary
Wed, Sep 5, 2012 : 1:20 a.m.
I was taking my daily walk with a co-worker and I looked up and there stood a Peregrine Falcon! It was beautiful..I work at the NCRC building on North Campus. I had to come home and google it to find out if I was correct, it was just amazing. I have worked at the U for 25 years and never in my life seen this type of bird. I hope I see more, they are amazing!.
Wolf's Bane
Fri, Jun 8, 2012 : 7:02 p.m.
This is so cool!
Jennifer
Fri, Jun 8, 2012 : 5:03 p.m.
How original. ;) But really, how cool is this? Hope these babies grow up healthy and strong :)
Drew Montag
Fri, Jun 8, 2012 : 4:50 p.m.
Which 2 female chicks got the male football coach names?
xmo
Fri, Jun 8, 2012 : 4:24 p.m.
What about the one that got away ? Rich?
Terry Star21
Sat, Jun 9, 2012 : 12:08 a.m.
Funny Tru2Blu....hopefully far outside of town.....
Tru2Blu76
Fri, Jun 8, 2012 : 5:05 p.m.
All the attention is focused on the falcons but if you investigate deeply, you'll find a Turkey Vulture chick named "RichRod" in the colony nesting site just outside of town. ;-)
Tru2Blu76
Fri, Jun 8, 2012 : 4:12 p.m.
At last - new peregrine chicks! This is truly cool. But wait - why isn't there a live cam to record the progress of this brood? Downside for the city's pigeons: the parents will be after them more than ever now that there are four extra mouths to feed. Upside for the pigeons: once the chicks are grown, they won't be sticking around but will be off seeking their own hunting territory. So there should be no increase in pigeon hunting in Ann Arbor on their part. Upside for the rest of us: we get the chance to see more spectacular aerial peregrine falcon hunting around town as the parents work to feed their new offspring. Lastly: what are the names of the two chicks shown in the photo? We Faithful Readers will not accept the old "but they all look alike" excuse, either. LOL!
djacks24
Fri, Jun 8, 2012 : 7:59 p.m.
"At last - new peregrine chicks! This is truly cool. But wait - why isn't there a live cam to record the progress of this brood?" Maybe it would an invasion of their privacy?
dougfair
Fri, Jun 8, 2012 : 3:31 p.m.
Why aren't they Bo, Fritz, Lloyd and Fielding? Parallel construction!
arborani
Sat, Jun 9, 2012 : 2:23 p.m.
"Fielding" is harder for falcons to pronounce.
Commoncents
Fri, Jun 8, 2012 : 4:08 p.m.
Lloyd Carr actively tried to destroy the program while being paid to be an associate athletic director for the school. Ironic he's on the list.