We Energies peregrine falcon naming contest open, Olympic names theme
MILWAUKEE - Ahead of this summer's Olympic Games in Paris, We Energies is looking to name the world's fastest animal after some of its fastest people – and wants your help.
The 2024 peregrine falcon naming contest is will honor Olympic medalists with Wisconsin ties. The winter and summer games are well represented, from speedskaters Bonnie Blair and Dan Jansen to gymnasts Chellsie Memmel and Paul Hamm.
The names with the most votes will be given to the falcon chicks that hatch at We Energies and Wisconsin Public Service power plants this spring. So far, there are 11 eggs ready to hatch.
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The public can vote as many times as desired between now and Thursday, May 9. Votes for the following names can be cast online:
- Birdie Blair, in honor of five-time gold-medal speedskater and Wisconsin resident Bonnie Blair-Cruikshank
- Beezie, in honor of equestrian and Nicolet High School grad Elizabeth "Beezie" Madden
- Blade, in honor of speedskater and West Allis resident Jonathan Kuck
- Champ, in honor of gold-medal winning speedskater and West Allis native Dan Jansen
- Chase, in honor of University of Wisconsin grad Evan Jager, who took home the silver medal in steeplechase
- Curly, in honor of sibling curlers Becca and Matt Hamilton, who hail from Madison
- Duchess, in honor of soccer star, University of Wisconsin grad and "Nutmeg Duchess" Rose Lavelle
- Fitz, in honor of Casey FitzRandolph, a Verona native who won gold in speedskating at the 2002 Winter Games
- Glider, in honor of speedskater and Milwaukee resident Brian Hansen
- Golly, in honor of Brookfield native Molly Seidel, who took the bronze medal in the marathon
- G-Dubs, in honor of Nicolet High School grad and swimmer Garrett Weber-Gale
- Happy, in honor of speedskater and regular at the Pettit National Ice Center Ethan Cepuran
- Hero, in honor of Wisconsin’s Special Olympics Athletes
- Heater, in honor of Ben Sheets, Milwaukee Brewers All-Star pitcher who led Team USA to its first-ever gold medal in baseball
- Khash, in honor of gold-medal and NBA championship-winning basketball star Khris Middleton
- Kung Fu Kenny, in honor of Rice Lake native and runner Kenny Bednarek, nicknamed "Kung Fu Kenny"
- Lancer, in honor of triple jumper and Brookfield Central grad Kenny Harrison
- Miracle, in honor of the Wisconsinites on the 1980 men’s hockey team
- Oarlock, in honor of bronze-medal rower and St. Croix Falls native Megan Kalmoe
- Placid, in honor of sibling speedskaters Beth and Eric Heiden, who grew up in Madison and competed in the Lake Placid games
- Pommel, in honor of sibling gymnasts and Waukesha natives Paul and Morgan Hamm
- Puck, in honor of the many University of Wisconsin grads who have played on the women’s national hockey team
- Sharpie, in honor of speedskater and Milwaukee resident Katherine Reutter
- Skelly, in honor of skeleton racer and Prairie du Chien native Matt Antoine
- Skip, in honor of curler and Superior resident John Shuster’s position on the 2018 gold-medal winning team
- Soar-gensen, in honor of University of Wisconsin grad Gwen Jorgensen, who soared above the competition in the 2016 triathalon
- Speedy, in honor of Marquette University grad and speedskater Emery Lehman
- Trailblazer, in honor of speedskater Shani Davis, who trained at the Pettit and was the first African American athlete to win a gold medal in an individual event at the Winter Games
- Trapper, in honor of sportshooter and Waterford native Madelynn Bernau
- Triumph, in honor of gymnast and West Allis native Chellsie Memmel
- Warrior, in honor of Wisconsin’s Paralympic athletes
- Witty, in honor of speedskater and West Allis native Chris Witty
Wisconsin falcon rescued in Nicaragua, part of We Energies project
When you hear the name Pio Pete, you may think of Carroll University's mascot. But the name is now soaring to new heights thousands of miles away.
Peregrine falcon program
We Energies and WPS began installing peregrine falcon nest boxes on power plants in the early 1990s. So far, a news release said 444 peregrine falcons have hatched at We Energies and WPS facilities – that’s 20% of all peregrine falcons born in Wisconsin.
Also coming up this season, the public can help We Energies name this year’s chicks in a naming contest. Details on that contest, and updates on each nest box, will be announced later this season.
Cameras will livestream the endangered species’ nest boxes at four We Energies/WPS facilities this year:
- Oak Creek Power Plant
- Port Washington Generating Station
- Valley Power Plant in Milwaukee
- Weston Power Plant in Rothschild
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