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
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:
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