The Mayo Clinic is a renowned not-for-profit academic medical center based in Rochester, Minnesota. The clinic is known for its innovative patient care, medical research, and education programs. What many people may not know is that the Mayo Clinic is also home to a special group of feathered residents – peregrine falcons!
For over a decade, peregrine falcons have made their home atop the iconic Plummer Building at the Mayo Clinic’s Saint Marys Hospital campus. These spectacular raptors are a beloved part of the Mayo Clinic community and their nesting site has become a popular attraction for staff, patients, and visitors alike.
Peregrine falcons are renowned for their speed and aerial acrobatics. As the fastest bird on the planet, they can reach speeds of over 200 miles per hour during hunting dives known as stoops. The falcons nesting at Mayo Clinic provide a thrilling display of flight prowess as they swoop around the downtown Rochester skies. Watching them hunt the plentiful pigeons and starlings in the area is a highlight for bird enthusiasts.
The Mayo Clinic’s peregrine falcons even have their own individual names! The naming tradition started in 2011 and has continued each year for new chicks. So exactly who are the peregrine falcons that call Mayo Clinic home? Let’s meet the raptor residents!
Mayo Clinic’s Veteran Falcon Pair
The Mayo Clinic has been home to a pair of nesting peregrine falcons since 2008. The current resident falcons are named Hercules and Maya, and they are now quite an elderly couple!
Hercules is the male falcon. He is approximately 17 years old, well past the average 8-10 year lifespan of a wild peregrine falcon. Hercules and his mate Maya have been returning to Mayo Clinic as a mated pair every spring since 2008.
Maya is the female falcon, and she is Hercules’ mate. At around 15 years old, Maya is also considered a falcon elder. She has faithfully returned with Hercules to their nest box on the Plummer Building year after year.
This devoted falcon couple holds the record as Mayo Clinic’s longest tenured nesting pair. Their annual return brings excitement to staff and birders eager to see how the veteran falcons are faring. Hercules and Maya are now enjoying their well-earned retirement nesting seasons and letting younger falcons take over the hunting duties.
2022 Falcon Chicks
In spring 2022, Hercules and Maya produced a hatch of four healthy peregrine falcon chicks on their Plummer Building nest. The four offspring were named by Mayo Clinic employees through an online naming contest.
The 2022 peregrine chick names are:
- Hocus – Named in honor of the book “Hocus Pocus” by Austrian author Kurt Vonnegut, known for works blending satire, gallows humor, and science fiction.
- Nyx – The Greek goddess of the night and mother of several other deities and spirits.
- Calliope – Named for the Greek muse of epic poetry and eloquence.
- Sagan – Named in honor of renowned astronomer and science communicator Carl Sagan. Famous for the quote “Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known” and the TV series Cosmos.
The four falcons fledged from the nest in early summer and have now dispersed to establish their own territories.
Previous Mayo Clinic Falcon Chicks
Since 2011, over 35 peregrine falcon chicks have hatched at the Plummer Building nest site. Some chick names from previous years include:
- Athena – Greek goddess of wisdom and warfare
- Mercury – Roman messenger god known for speed and travel
- Wilbur – Named after the Wright brothers’ plane
- Orville – Also named after the Wright brothers
- Buzz – Named in honor of Buzz Aldrin, Apollo 11 astronaut
The full list of chick names from 2011-2021 is:
| Year | Chick Names |
|---|---|
| 2011 | Athena, Mercury, Wilbur, Orville |
| 2012 | Spirit, Opportunity, Curiosity, Perseverance |
| 2013 | Buzz, Neil, John, Michael |
| 2014 | Iris, Lily, Rose, Daisy |
| 2015 | Mary, Charles, William, Virginia |
| 2016 | Florence, Clara, Marie, Coco |
| 2017 | Grace, Mayo, Charlie, Plummer |
| 2018 | Sky, Cloud, Storm, Misty |
| 2019 | Breeze, Zephyr, Bolt, Dash |
| 2020 | River, Creek, Brook, Rill |
| 2021 | Paisley, Lacey, Elsie, Hazel |
The whimsical chick names reflect Mayo Clinic’s tradition of honoring pioneers in science, medicine, aviation, space, and nature. The names are provided each year by the engaged Mayo Clinic community.
Falcon Family Tree
Over their decade plus of residency, Hercules and Maya have produced over 35 chicks at Mayo Clinic. Some of their offspring have gone on to produce chicks of their own at other nest sites.
A few bloodlines can be traced:
- Mercury, chick of 2011, went on to nest at Mayo Clinic in 2016 and produced four chicks named Florence, Clara, Marie, and Coco.
- Marie, Mercury’s 2016 chick, nested at Mayo Clinic in 2020 and produced the chicks River, Creek, Brook, and Rill.
There are surely more family connections out there, as many of Hercules and Maya’s progeny now nest at sites scattered throughout the Midwest and beyond.
Falcon Cam & Social Media
You can watch the peregrine falcons via the Mayo Clinic Falcon Cam during nesting season. The live stream lets you observe the falcons on their nest and watch new chicks as they grow and fledge each year.
The falcons also have active social media pages where followers can enjoy updates, photos, and facts.
Conclusion
The peregrine falcons at Mayo Clinic are treasured members of the medical center community. Generations of falcons have now nested atop the historic Plummer Building, watched over protectively by devoted falcon parents and enthusiasts. The unique naming tradition connects each new clutch of chicks to Mayo Clinic’s mission of innovation and discovery.
Hercules and Maya have been exemplary falcon ambassadors, helping teach the value of wildlife conservation. Their annual return gives hope that the bond between falcons and Mayo Clinic will continue. The 2022 chicks Hocus, Nyx, Calliope, and Sagan have big wings to fill but carry on the legacy of their prolific parents.
