DEP, Port Authority tracking New York's peregrine falcons

NEW YORK -- The Department of Environmental Protection and Port Authority are teaming up to track -- and hopefully help -- New York's population of peregrine falcons.

The DEP has partnered with the Port Authority to keep nesting boxes monitored - many of them high above the city in places like the George Washington Bridge. Experts attach identification bands to the falcons on the endangered special list as a way to monitor their health and progress.

This week, researcher Chris Nadareski perched right next to the nest of a family of falcons -- including four chicks -- living on the George Washington Bridge. He was cautious, but not deterred. Nadareski has tagged nearly 1,000 birds over the last two decades.

The researchers need to tag the birds when their legs are big enough for the bands, but also before they are old enough to fly. "It's actually a perfect time ... three weeks when we can access the sex of the bird and without the bands falling off," he said.

Tracking research shows that New York City may be where the peregrine falcon finds salvation. In New York's five boroughs, there is a successful population of peregrine falcons, mainly because they have enough to eat and high places to live.

Experts have named the new chicks in the family Nadareski visited, including Cassie, Faith, Maya and William. "One day we would like to get the falcon off the endangered species list," said Nadareski

The tagged chicks are expected to take flight within the next month. Birdwatchers track the falcons and report progress over the birds' lifespans.