What to Know
- A red-tailed hawk has claimed the top of a building at Washington National Cathedral as its new home.
- The Cathedral is asking the public to help name the bird.
- As of Friday afternoon, Grace was the favorite with 19 percent of the 379 total votes.
A red-tailed hawk has claimed the top of a building at Washington National Cathedral as its new home, so the Cathedral is working to help the bird find an identity.
The Cathedral is asking the public to help name the bird, which has anchored itself atop one of the Cathedral’s towers. Workers first noticed the hawk on the south side of the building last summer while conducting earthquake repairs, spokesman Kevin Eckstrom said.
The hawk is typically around the Cathedral during the afternoon, but Eckstrom is unsure whether it remains atop the building at night. Cathedral officials haven't seen a nest but notice that the hawk remains on the scaffolding from earthquake damage that's at the top of the central tower.
The Cathedral has seen peregrine falcons and other birds circle above its buildings but this is the first that has "become a regular fixture," Eckstrom said.
Voters can choose between names like Bishop, Deacon, Agnes and Satterlee, among others. The Cathedral created the list using the 10 most popular names that Facebook and Twitter users recommended last week.
As of Friday afternoon, Grace was the favorite with 19 percent of the 379 total votes.