City of San Jose Names Peregrine Falcon ‘Esteban Colbert’

There are a few different ways to get the much sought after Stephen “Colbert Bump,” from one of which is naming an animal after the faux-right wing kingmaker. And that is exactly what the City of San José has done by naming a male peregrine falcon recently  San José City Hall, “Esteban Colbert”.

As it became apparent that the resident female’s mate from last year would not return for a second season in downtown San Jose, fans of the city’s Falcon Cam, installed on the roof of city hall a few years back, also noticed frequent visits from a new male suitor.

“I’m delighted that Esteban Colbert appeared at City Hall this week, and that he and Clara are hitting it off,” said San José Mayor Chuck Reed in a statement. Reed is reportedly an avid fan of Stephen Colbert’s Colbert Report. “Like the City Hall falcons, the original Colbert has proven that with primitive instincts and sharp talons, anyone can survive in modern society,” said Reed.

Peregrine Falcons had only two mating pairs remaining in the California wild in 1970. Today, due in large part to the efforts of the UC Santa Cruz Predatory Bird Research Group, there are more than 250 nesting pairs, including those at San José City Hall.