8. Peregrine Falcons Live on Top of the Throgs Neck Bridge

peregrine-falcons-new-york-city-department-of-environmental-protection-new-york-untapped-cities-samantha-sokol1All photos from the MTA Photos Flickr, for the full album see here.

Peregrine falcons live atop several bridges in New York City, including the Brooklyn Bridge, the Verrazano Bridge and the Throgs Neck Bridge. Since 1983, MTA Bridges and Tunnels has been part of a state nesting program, which involves placing identifying bands on newborn chicks each year. The procedure was put into action after Peregrine falcons were nearly wiped out in the 1960s due to pesticides. This year, the Throgs Neck Bridge welcomed two boys and one girl chick.