The three falcon chicks on top of San Jose City Hall are males, according to a biologist who scaled the building and banded the legs of the birds of prey on Tuesday.
Females are bigger than males, which is how Glenn Stewart, the biologist, can tell the sex of the bird.
"It was a nice day on the ledge," he said. "I think the peregrines are doing great."
Now that's left is for the young falcons to eventually fly away - and have their movements tracked for science thanks to the bands - and be named in the annual citywide contest.
The chicks belong to parents, Clara and Fernando El Cohete. The eggs hatched open on Easter and the morning after. A fourth egg never hatched.
As is the annual tradition, kids who live or attend school in San Jose are invited to send in a suggested name plus artwork, an essay, video or song with each entry. Submissions are due online by midnight April 26.
To view the rules, click here. To enter online, click here.
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Winners will receive a commendation from Mayor Reed at a future City Council meeting, passes to Happy Hollow Park & Zoo, and a school assembly featuring Stewart of the UC Santa Cruz Predatory Bird Research Group. Stewart has also written a book about his experiences with birds of prey, called Eye To Eye With Eagles, Hawks and Falcons.
If you're interested in donating to the research group or watching the falcons live on a FalconCam, click on To donate to the UC Santa Cruz Predatory Bird Research Group and see the falcons on a live falcon cam in San Jose, click here.
To watch a YouTube video put out by the city of San Jose of the mother falcon feeding one of her chicks, click here:
Related story:
Four Falcon Eggs of 2013 Laid Atop San Jose City Hall
Contact Lisa Fernandez at 408-432-4758 or lisa.fernandez@nbcuni.com.
