At one of the first vigils, there was someone in the crowd who had a sign that said “Pale Male needs a miracle on 74th Street.” Today we have that miracle on 74th Street--just in time for Christmas.

New York City Audubon members, Audubon members, and other Pale Male supporters changed the hearts of the building with their outpourings of love and support for Pale Male and Lola. From around the city and around the world, their petitions, letters, emails, calls, and their presence on the street right here surprised the building and let the building know how important these hawks are to the quality of life in New York City.

Thoreau once said, “In Wildness is the preservation of the world.” He didn’t say “In Wilderness is the preservation of the world” or “In the Wild is the preservation of the world.” He said “In Wildness…” This wildness is everywhere, even in the city. For many, Pale Male and Lola are their only connection to wildness in this concrete jungle. As long as these hawks are flying, mating, and rearing young, there is hope that people and birds can live in harmony in the city.

Over the last 16 days, NYC Audubon stood up for Pale Male and Lola, their wildness, and the world, and we will continue to do that for all the city’s wild birds and for their habitat.

If there is one thing that my experience in urban bird conservation has taught me is that good conservation only happens with good partners. I want to acknowledge the people here with me today whose dedication brought about this happy outcome.

John Flicker, President of National Audubon, supported our chapter’s efforts and took the lead in the negotiations with 927 Fifth Avenue. Today just shows that when all of Audubon gets together we can really make a difference for birds.

Commissioner Adrian Benepe and his staff helped NYC Audubon through every step of the process. Once the building agreed to bring back the spikes, he was there to ensure that the structure was returned quickly.

NYC Audubon sent letters to all the local, state and national elected officials in the city. Eva Moscowitz was the only one that came out in the cold to support us because she knew how important this nest was for the city’s kids.

Dan Ionescu built Pale Male and Lola’s new home. It balances perfectly the hawks’ needs and the concerns of the building. His design proves we can design a city that is livable for birds and people.

Chris Nadaraski from NYC DEP and Barbara Loucks from NYS DEC gave us spot-on assistance with the biology of these birds and they have left their mark on the design.

Finally, I want to thank NYC Audubon’s Board Members, especially President Marcia T. Fowle, and my staff, Emily FitzGerald and Yigal Gelb. They have given up every speck of free time for the last 16 days so that Pale Male and Lola could rebuild.

Now, all of us here have done everything humanly possible for Pale Male and Lola to return. Now all we can say is:

Come Home for the Holidays!