This morning Todd Katzner of the National Aviary had to rescue a peregrine chick from a first floor window well at the Cathedral of Learning. It appeared to be unhurt — just shaken up — so he returned it to the ledge. A side benefit of this adventure is that Todd restarted the streaming video camera while he was up there.
The chick who had this adventure is the same one who got bumped into the gully about a week ago. Perhaps he’s now cured of his fixation with gullies. 🙂
UPDATE from Tuesday afternoon: At 2:20pm, five juveniles were visible simultaneously. At Fledge Watch tonight we saw only four, one of which flew back to the nestrail to be on hand for tonight’s feedings.
This juvenile peregrine is quite the adventurer. Please pass along a huge thank you to Dr. Katzner for getting the streaming video camera going again. As for the juvenile staying out of gullies. . .we’ll see 🙂
So is this the same chick who fledged yesterday and was on the top of the building? Do we now have two chicks fledged, and are they the two males? Just wondering…
I think this chick fledged (er, sorta fledged) when no one was watching. The chick on the roof was probably fine because he had no reason to go to the ground when he’s on the roof.
I stopped by the CL during the downppour before the thunderstorm last night and saw 3 chicks standing on the nest rail. If one of them got blown off it’d explain everything.
I was there for another couple of hours this morning and there were still all four in the nest area. I think I saw the fifth leave with mom to the north. I’ve never seen Dorothy and E2 fly in formation the way these did…like two planes at an airshow side by side. Unfortunately they headed north, away from me.
Coming back to looking at the building I could still see dad and four chicks on the railing.
You can see how they were in the photos below. They remained that way from about 9:20 until 9:40 when the two flew north.
http://lead.chem.pitt.edu/peregrines/IMG_8134.jpg
http://lead.chem.pitt.edu/peregrines/IMG_8134label.jpg
Alas I had to pack up and be at work by 10:30, so I started packing up about 10 and walked towards my building which happens to be on the other side of the cathedral, so I walked slowly. As I got across Forbes they began making all kinds of racket, so I stopped and waited, figuring I could still make it on time. About 10:15 mom and dad darted off the top and down the west face of the COL after maybe a pigeon? on the porch area about half way up. The chicks were still being as noisy as ever, but they were all still there when I left about 10:20. I just missed all the excitement!
Anyway, for those that were curious, there were still four up there this morning before this rescue.
Peter, thanks for the update. I wonder if they were darting off the west face toward the chick who might not have been flapping. Hmmm!
Could have been the one who had fledge if he miscalculated and hit a window he would have fallen without flapping. Glad he’s OK.
I always thought there was one chick more adventurous and maybe more developed.
Good for them all!