In what has become an annual tradition, the four baby falcons born a few weeks ago at 55 Water Street were tagged and named yesterday in a ceremony overseen by the Department of Environmental Protection and 9/11 nonprofit Hope for Warriors, whose headquarters are located in the downtown building. The falcons were named after first responders who died on 9/11 and U.S. soldiers killed or injured overseas.
Austin (named for Gunnery Sergeant Matthew Austin), Shattuck (after a special ops member who was injured in Afghanistan), Jordan (for Lance Corporal Jordan Haerter), and Hope (a name chosen by the daughters of two brothers who were 9/11 first responders), join siblings Brianne, Ramona, Matthew and Stephen and proud parents Rocky and Jubilee at the building, where the family has roosted for several years. "To me it's more than just a name being thrown on a bird," said Tina Atherall, vice president of Hope for Warriors. "There's a bigger meaning to it all."
According to photographer Yojimbot, who was on hand for the ceremony, "Three chicks were banded, and one was too runty to band. All chicks otherwise healthy."
