Louise and Lil' Kool are two peregrine falcons who reside on the ledge of the Rockford Register Star news tower. They had a clutch of four eggs. Last month, three of the eggs successfully hatched into fluffy chicks. They appear to be thriving, but they don't have names...yet.
The Sinnissippi Audubon Society is holding a naming contest. Jennifer Kuroda is the president of this chapter. She said the contest is open all ages, and anyone with a Google account can submit one female and one male name.
"If more than one person submits the same name," she said, "the first entry will be the one that will be acknowledged."
Kuroda said the process will take two weeks. "We'll give everyone a week to submit names," she explained, "and then a week to vote."
- Deadline to submit names is 12:01 a.m. on June 8
- Deadline to vote on names is 12:01 a.m. on June 15
- Birds will be banded and sexed at 10:00 a.m. on June 16
Kuroda said the birds will be banded by Mary Hennen of the Chicago Peregrine Program and that the public is invited to watch this process via their livestream. Hennen will have one assistant with her and they will find out the sexes of three chicks at that time. Then the birds will receive their names.
Kuroda said winners must allow Sinnissippi Audubon Society to use their name in print and on social media so they can acknowledge that person. The winners will each receive a bird guide, a bird band, a special peregrine-themed gift, and bragging rights.
To learn more about the naming contest, click here.
