Hundreds of feet above the Hudson River, a nest box installed on the Governor Mario M. Cuomo Bridge provides shelter for a pair of endangered peregrine falcons. These birds can scour for and dive after prey from this high vantage point.

Did you know?

• Peregrine means “wanderer.” These falcons migrate great distances, flying north or south as seasons change.
• Peregrine falcon chicks are called “eyases.”
• The peregrine falcon can reach speeds over 200 miles per hour in a controlled dive, making it the fastest member of the animal kingdom.
• Bony protrusions divert powerful airflow away from a falcon’s nostrils, allowing them to breathe during dives.
• A third, translucent eyelid known as a “nictitating membrane” keeps their eyes moist and clear from debris while maintaining their vision.
• Falcons generally establish a nest in February to raise their young before migrating south in the fall.