LOOK: Peregrine Falcons High Atop NYC Bridges

Every year, peregrine falcons return to nesting boxes on MTA bridges. This year, twelve chicks have been banded by wildlife experts.

Peregrine falcon chicks

(Metropolitan Transportation Authority / Patrick Cashin)

According to the MTA, there are "two boys and two girls 693-feet atop the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge’s Brooklyn tower; one boy and three girls 215-feet atop the Rockaway tower at Marine Parkway-Gil Hodges Memorial Bridge; and two boys and two girls 360-feet atop the Bronx tower at the Throgs Neck Bridge."

NYC DEP Research scientist Chris Nadareski with falcon on the Rockaway tower of the Marine Parkway Bridge

(Metropolitan Transportation Authority / Patrick Cashin)

That's up a bird over last year, when eleven chicks were found. In 2012, there were seven. But in 2011, there were nine.

A peregrine falcon chick being banded atop the Verrazano Bridge

(Metropolitan Transportation Authority / Patrick Cashin)

For more photos, visit the MTA's flickr page. 

View from top of Brooklyn tower of Verrazano.

(Metropolitan Transportation Authority / Patrick Cashin/Flickr)

Parent falcon flies near the Verrazano Bridge

(Metropolitan Transportation Authority / Patrick Cashin/Flickr)

To see a video of the banding process, watch below.