It’s a boy and his name is Bibli.
Bibli, the namesake of a baby peregrine falcon, a chick hatched on an encased ledge at the Evanston Public Library, was banded on June 9 by ornithologists and scientists with the Field Museum’s Chicago Peregrine Program.
The public was invited to see the June 9 falcon banding at an event which has taken place on and off
— depending on successful hatching — since 2004 when peregrine falcons began nesting at the library. More than 200 people attended the Friday morning falcon banding event.
Bibli’s name was rounded out by a name given to the unnamed falcon’s mother, Teca. Add the two names together and it is close to the word “Biblioteca” which means library in Spanish.
A naming contest has helped to name birds like Bibli over the years who were banded at the library. Peregrine falcons have an approximate 10 year life span. They occupy the nest (scrape) from March until June each year.
The chick was hatched on May 14 in time for Mother’s Day. Scientists band the falcons to track their flight pattern. A blood sample is taken to assess the chick’s health.
Josh Engel, founder of Red Hill Birding, handled Bibli and fulfilled the blood draw and banding.
“It’s one of my favorite days every year,” Engel said with a smile. “It’s a unique opportunity. This is something that people will remember for a long time.”
The current couple, a male named Coach Kevin and the newly named Teca, laid three eggs this season.
“We’re so happy to see the return of our falcon family to their library (nest) scrape, and I know our whole community is looking forward to watching our new chick get ready for his first flight,” the library’s Interim Executive Director Heather Norborg said.
“Bibli and Teca are great ambassadors for their species and for the role libraries can play in connecting people to the natural world all around them.”
Mary Hennen, ornithologist for the Field Museum, reported feeling, “always happy” to have experts visit the nest.
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“That’s what we want, successful breeding peregrines, it doesn’t matter if they have one chick or they have four,” Hennen said. “We’re just as happy with the one.”
Hennen explained why the Evanston Public Library roofline and eaves are so appealing to peregrine falcons.
“It is a beautiful building,” Hennen said. “Keep in mind that peregrines found it on their own. They like ledges on sides, they’re cliff dwelling birds, and so this is a beautiful pseudo cliff, lots of prey in the area, they have adapted very well to the urban environment.”
Hennen said the birds ability to adapt has helped the species recover from its previous endangered status. Peregrine falcons were one of many species impacted by the insecticide DDT which thinned the shells of their eggs and led to a decline in population.
The species was taken off the endangered species list in 1999 and Hennen said most of the birds living in the Midwest are in urban environments.
“My favorite thing about coming to the library is all of the kids. We’re sparking hopefully an interest in these young kids in science or in conservation topics,” Hennen said. “If we can get them excited about wildlife, that’s icing on the cake.”
Evanston siblings Emberlyn Brewer and Declan Brewer were among people of all ages who had the chance to see Bibli up close. No petting, of course, but eyes could take in all the white and gray fluffiness.
“We really love animals and science and it was a unique opportunity,” said the children’s mother Carri-Lyn Brewer.
Sarah Holian of Evanston and daughter Elsa, a rising kindergartner, were among attendees who clapped when they saw Bibli safely returned to the nest. This was shown via livestream on a monitor.
Of the learning takeaway, “I hope she (Elsa) gets to appreciate the local wildlife all around us,” Sarah Holian said.
As of 5:30 p.m. on Sunday, June 11, Bibli had not yet left the nest but was seen flapping his wings with a parent nearby. Watch and hear the birds live at epl.org/falconcam.
Karie Angell Luc is a freelance reporter with Pioneer Press.