Many of you are looking forward to Dorothy having eggs and chicks this spring at the Cathedral of Learning. Others, knowing her age, have asked about her status. Today I’ll explain her condition and why you should not be surprised when she doesn’t have viable eggs this year.
Dorothy is 16 years old, elderly for a wild peregrine. Her fertility dropped to a single fledgling in 2013 and collapsed in 2014 after she became egg bound. In the top photo she was sleek and alert in her fertile years (photo from 2010). In the second photo, she is rumpled and slow moving now. Consistently rumpled feathers are an indication of ill health in birds.
I have watched Dorothy since 2001 when she was only two years old. For more than a decade she was full of vitality, totally in control. She only began to hint at her age in 2013. This year her decline is pronounced. There are differences in her behavior that tell me she is past her prime.
| THEN: 2001 to 2013 | NOW: 2014 and 2015 |
| Many courtship flights including aerial prey exchange in January, February, March | No courtship flights in 2015. No aerial prey exchange since 2013. |
| Perching and mating(!) on the lightning rod on top of the Cathedral of Learning | Has not been on the lightning rod. Has not been seen mating this spring. |
| Laid down only to incubate. (Peregrines roost and sleep in a standing position) | Lies down to sleep in nest though there are no eggs |
| Agile at all times | Opens wings to steady herself while walking on nest rail. Is slow moving |
| Always perched above the 27th floor. Rarely perched on A/C units | Perches as low as 12th or 13th, often on A/C units. |
| Sleek feathers, alert stance | Rumpled rough feathers, hunches more often |
When I see her lying down in the nest without any eggs, I worry. This is an unnatural position for a peregrine falcon that isn’t incubating.
For now Dorothy is staying close to home. She is often seen on camera or perched at office windows, gazing in. These are endearing traits that make us love her more, but that does not change the fact that she is elderly.
Dorothy’s chances of producing healthy peregrine chicks this year is very slim.
(photos from the National Aviary falconcam at University of Pittsburgh)
Kate, I have been watching Dorothy for several years now and have seen the decline. I am wondering, even tho it would not be “allowing nature to take its natural course” if there is not something that perhaps the Game Commission would not be able to do that would allow her to live out her remaining time peacefully. i am most upset thinking of what may happen to her as she attempts to protect her nest once a new female comes into the area. I’m sure we all realize how physically unable she would be to do that. Thinking of her being driven off from what has been her “home” all these years is also upsetting. I also realize I’m inserting human emotions into this situation which is not necessarily wise, but I thought I would ask.
Patsy, you are right that we must allow nature to take it’s course. Not only is it the right thing to do but Dorothy would not ‘live peacefully’ in captivity. She is a wild bird and humans are her #1 enemy. It would be putting her in a prison. Just because she’s willing to watch us when we are captive indoors doesn’t mean she wants to be our prisoner. (Have you ever had to commit a parent to a nursing home or a person to jail? Even humans don’t like it.)
Thank you for this comparison. It is sad to see Dorothy aging but we have to remember that this is the normal process for us all. The only thing that I don’t want to see is if and when someone challenges her for her nest. That will truly be a sad day. Thank you for all you do!
I suspected much of what you’ve confirmed, but it still makes me sad. Many times a mother and, seemingly, a grandmother, Dorothy has done more than her part to help peregrines make a comeback. Odd as it may sound, I’ll miss her when she’s no longer Queen of the Cathedral. E2 doesn’t, and the new queen won’t, have quite the place in my heart that Erie and Dorothy did/do – maybe because they were my first exposure to peregrines.
Elizabeth, I agree!!
Thank you for this comparison. More often than not, we don’t get to see these senior years because they have been displaced. How is her mate’s behavior?
Joyce, E2 still brings her food and tries to encourage her to court. He is present at the CL every day.
Kate, thanks for your wise perspective. As everyone else has expressed, she will be sorely missed. She was my first introduction to the Pittsburgh peregrines. Very glad to also know E2 is still feeding her.
I have only been watching Dorothy for a couple of years. I worry about her. My only prayer is that she go peacefully when her time comes.
A special thanks to everyone who was involved in placing the scrape there, without which Dorothy may not have lived this long or this well. Not to mention our being able to watch. As we all say-getting old stinks, until you consider the alternative.
Thanks Kate. You really gave us insight into Dorothy’s behavior. I will be watching. My intro into Peregrines has been your blog and working at Pitt for 15 years in and around the Cathedral almost everyday made it extra special.
Best Regards
How much do we love E2 for “trying”. This is a part of their “story”. It is not what we want, or “like”, but it is what they are. My hope is that Dorothy, being as fragile as she is now, won’t put up too much of a fight when the new Queen appears on the scene. I am sure she will fight some, but hopefully she will know she is no match, and relinquish her spot.
Thank you, Kate. I know this is very difficult for you too.
Have been watching Dorothy for several years . Many hour of enjoyment , but last year was heartbreaking to watch her with her egg. I would check in to watch but many times it was difficult to see thru my tears !!! Years are hard to deal with even for our feathered friends .. I hope her remaining days are peaceful for her …..
Thank you so much for the article and update Kate. I have been watching since 2010 and was privileged to see Dorothy in her glory years. I’m sure you know her best, but I can’t imagine Dorothy giving up without a fight. I have looked for old videos of her and couldn’t find any. It would be awesome to see a compilation of the “Queen”
God bless her as she ages & I hope she goes in peace. Mother of our Beauty whom I consider my falcon mother, I thank her for all she has given us as we observe these amazing raptors. She has been a true Braveheart
Thanks for posting! I had been wondering too.
We love Dorothy here in Rochester for bringing Beauty into the falcon world. I wish her a peaceful existence until she crosses the rainbow bridge. <3
So sad. The excitement here at Pitt will be missed, but I’m sure glad we can continue to host her senior years.
Like many here, Dorothy was my first exposure to peregrines. It is tough to see her age, and it will be even harder to see her go. But her legacy will live on in her many successful offspring. As bittersweet as it will be, I look forward to seeing chicks in the nestbox again.
I went to Pitt and loved to watch Dorothy from the ground (started watching in 2004). The Cathedral is my favorite building, and she is a big reason why. Since I have graduated I have loved watching her on the camera. She is a fantastic bird – I call her the Ultimate Bird (A great mother, a great hunter, a great defender, and a just a beautiful bird – so calm and elegant). So, this just breaks my heart. Pitt won’t be the same. Question: How old would she be in human years?
Kristen, based on Dorothy’s condition (post menopausal, “wrinkled” but not frail) I’d guess older than 65 and younger than 80. This is highly subjective and is merely my own guess at a human equivalent. I don’t think there is a human equivalent scale like there is for dogs.
On the subject of “It won’t be the same”: I agree it won’t be the same but we will have baby peregrines again some day and that’s a happy thing to look forward to.
Thank you Kate, for the information on Dorothy. My human feelings tell me to be very sad, and yet, as others have written, it is a part of nature. So trying to remind myself of that but it’s difficult. She is still a wonderful bird, wrinkly though she may be, and it’s lovely to learn that E2 continues to bring her food.
Be well old friend. Thank you Kate.