This beautiful bird, the grand peregrine queen of Youngstown, Ohio, died this week. 

Stellar had nested in Youngstown since 2005 with her mate Stammy, who was born at the Cathedral of Learning in 2003.  In human terms this made Stellar Dorothy’s daughter-in-law.

In the early years Stellar and Stammy nested in a cornice hole in the old Stambaugh Building, then in a nestbox at Stambaugh.  Unfortunately the building’s owner had the nestbox removed so the peregrines had to find a new site in 2009.  That year they had success at the Mahoning County Courthouse.

This year a nestbox was provided at the International Towers building.  Stellar laid eggs there but the nest failed so she went back to the Courthouse and laid another clutch.   She hatched three chicks — named Magistrate, Jurist and Marshall (Ohio names their peregrines) — and all three fledged.

On Friday July 15 Karen Lang visited Youngstown and saw the entire family of five.  Days later two of the peregrines went missing:  Jurist and Stellar.   Sadly, Jurist landed on the ground and was killed by a car. 

Stellar was found in a parking area under the Market Street bridge on July 18, very thin with an injured leg.  It appeared that she hadn’t eaten for days.  Though Birds in Flight Sanctuary tried to save her she died that night.  (Read more here.)

Stammy is now alone with two dependent youngsters.  He’s a good dad with years of experience so I’m sure he’ll successfully raise them to independence. 

I’m also sure a new female peregrine will arrive on the scene to become Stammy’s mate.  She’ll have some big shoes — er rather, wingspan — to fill.

(photo of Stellar in flight by Chad+Chris Saladin)

p.s. I’ve featured Stellar in the past at It Takes Two and Concentrate!