Omaha Public Power District’s peregrine falcon chicks get named via community vote

After inviting the public to help name the two new female chicks born this spring at OPPD’s North Omaha Station, roughly 1,000 customers cast their votes. Yin and Yang emerged as the favorites, earning nearly 40% of the overall vote, according to an OPPD press release. 

Thelma and Louise finished second with 13% of the vote, followed by Florence and Fontenelle with 10%. 

OPPD officials said the names are fitting for each of the chicks’ distinct personalities. Yin and Yang come from an ancient Chinese philosophy about opposing forces that can work complementary to one another.

Yang embodies the bright, active force associated with her namesake, while Yin is the calmer counterpart of the falcon pair. 

Each falcon was given a black and blue band with an identification number. Yang was given band number 47/AS, and Yin received band number 48/AS. 

SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE

The names Yin and Yang will now be officially registered with the Midwest Peregrine Society. 

Peregrine falcons are the fastest animal in the world thanks to top diving speeds of more than 200 miles per hour. The species had been listed as endangered between 1970 and 1999, but steady conservation work helped repopulate the species.

Lewis and Clark, Yin and Yang’s parents, have produced and raised numerous chicks since they began nesting at the North Omaha Station in 2015. From 2020 to 2026, the public has helped name roughly a dozen offspring — Storm, Flicker, Flash, Volta, Watt, Ohm, Ampere, Thunder, Lightning, Beak Randby, and now Yin and Yang.

The public can continue following Yin and Yang as they grow, watching OPPD’s livestream at OPPD.com/FalconLive. To learn more about Yin and Yang, visit OPPDTheWire.com.

SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX.

​This story is provided by States Newsroom, a nonprofit state news network and Blox Digital content partner.