A pair of San Jose, California, falcons named Clara and Esteban Colbert welcomed a fourth egg to their city hall nest on March 15.
The city is running a contest for children to name the peregrine chicks when they emerge. San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed is a fan of the Colbert Report, and named Esteban after show host Stephen Colbert. He said on the city Web site, “Like the city hall falcons, the original Colbert has proven that with primitive instincts and sharp talons, anyone can survive in modern society.”
The Santa Cruz Predatory Bird Research Group operates a “FalconCam,” allowing people to watch the birds. It has received over 400,000 hits. The group also built the bird's nesting box and advised the city how best to co-exist with these birds of prey. In the wild, falcons prefer cliffs as nesting sites, but they are adaptable and can use tall buildings to nest.
