In a record-breaking competition as fierce as the falcons themselves, almost 30,000 votes were cast to name this year’s peregrine chicks after Milwaukee news anchors.

Spectrum News, followed closely by Fox6, both deserve feathers in their caps for the highest total vote counts. But all the stations made quite a showing with some of the winners decided by just a few dozen votes.

The names that will be given to this year’s falcons are:

  • “Brooke Flighton” in honor of Brooke Brighton from Spectrum News*
  • “Gino Falcone” in honor of Gino Salomone from Fox6*
  • “Flown Mercure” in honor of John Mercure from Newsradio 620*
  • “Mark Birden” in honor of Mark Baden from WISN 12*
  • “Lance Talon” in honor of Lance Allan from CBS 58*
  • “Brian Nestnansky” in honor of Brian Niznansky from TMJ4*
  • “Tom Squawks” in honor of Tom Wachs from Fox6**
  • “Ted Perrygrine” in honor of Ted Perry from Fox6**
  • “Rob Flieswell” in honor of Rob Haswell from Fox6**

* will be used to name the current chicks

** will be used if the remaining eggs hatch

Runners up:

  • “Kristin Hatchell” in honor of Kristin Ketchell from Spectrum News
  • “Carl Featherbaugh” in honor of Carl Deffenbaugh from Fox6
  • “Beak Handelman” in honor of Ben Handelman from Fox6
  • “Steve Sca-tweety” in honor of Steve Scaffidi from Newsradio 620
  • “Stephanie Airy-chello” in honor of Stephanie Barichello from Fox6
  • “Vince Falcono” in honor of Vince Vitrano from Newsradio 620
  • “Mary Soarer Smith” in honor of Mary Stoker Smith from Fox6
  • “Jessob Reisbeak” in honor of Jessob Reisbeck from CBS 58
  • “Kim Birdphy” in honor of Kim Murphy from Fox6
  • “Flyin’ Kramp” in honor of Brian Kramp from Fox6
  • “Molly Birdnest” in honor of Molly Bernard from WISN 12

How the chicks will be named:

So far, six eggs have hatched and three more eggs are expected to hatch early next week for a total of nine chicks. As it stands, one falcon will be named for the top vote getter from each station. If the remaining three eggs hatch, they will be given the names with the next highest overall votes.

You can keep an eye on all of the nest sites and watch the chicks grow, build strength and learn to fly on the We Energies live cameras.

Next week, the Oak Creek peregrine falcon chicks will get their identification bands. Stay tuned for more details on that event.

About the peregrine falcon program

We Energies and Wisconsin Public Service (WPS) began installing peregrine falcon nest boxes at power plants in the early 1990s to support the species’ recovery in Wisconsin. Since then, 465 peregrine falcons have been named and banded at company facilities — representing 20% of all peregrine falcons born in the state. This program is just one way We Energies and WPS are building a bright, sustainable future.