By Khalida Sarwari
Four offspring of San Jose City Hall’s celebrity falcons Clara and Esteban Colbert were banded this morning, and wildlife biologists have learned they are three males and a female.
Glenn Stewart, coordinator of the University of California at Santa Cruz’s Predatory Bird Research Group, rappelled down the side of the building and banded the chicks’ legs so that scientists can track them and collect data.
Stewart said all four chicks appear to be healthy.
“They look great,” Stewart said.
The falcon chicks were born earlier this month on a City Hall ledge 18 stories above the street.
They will begin flying around mid-May, Stewart said.
This is Clara’s fifth nesting season at City Hall and her third with mate Esteban Colbert.
The city of San Jose held a contest for youths ages 5 to 18 to come up with names for the birds. Today, a panel of judges will select up to 10 finalists from the 97 names that were submitted. The public will be able to vote on the top names beginning Friday.
The winning names will be announced on May 6.
More information about the contest can be found online at www.sanjoseca.gov/falcons.