I filed a brief report yesterday on the peregrine chick banding at the Cathedral of Learning. Here’s news to fill in the gaps with a note about pronouns. I’m using the pronouns “he” and “him” though we really don’t know his sex.
Yesterday the chick’s in-hand exam showed he has no deformities but has experienced delayed development. Peregrine chicks develop so fast that biologists can age them by examining their behavior and measuring their legs and emerging feathers. Because we have a webcam we know the chick hatched on May 10 making him 19 days old on Banding Day. If we didn’t know when he hatched, his behavior and measurements say he’s 14 days old.
Here he waited and watched while the vet observed him quietly.
The vet examined his skin and feathers and found parasites (insects) under his wings and in his feathers. Insects arrive at the nest on the bodies of newly killed bird(s) that parents feed to the chicks. This transfer of insect pests happens so often to young peregrines that the banders always carry medicated powder to dust and debug the nestlings. This chick was powdered yesterday and soon, or now, is bug-free. The powder is long-lasting. He will stay bug-free even if more bugs arrive at the nest.
The chick’s mouth was examined for trichomoniasis, a parasitic infection of the mouth, throat and jaw. Fortunately he showed no sign of “trich.”
Disease and parasites consume a nestling’s energy and can delay development. Delay can also result from a less nutritious yolk, a common occurrence in the eggs of older birds (Dorothy is 16). If the yolk (food) is not nutritious, the embryo is malnourished. We don’t know if that happened here.
Delayed development made it challenging to determine his sex. At banding age, male peregrines weigh considerably less than females (2/3) so weight plus days-since-hatch indicate the sex. How old is this nestling? 19 days on camera but 14 days in-hand. Since his sex could not be determined he was given the larger size female band in case he/she grows into it.
The vet drew blood for a blood test that will take 10-14 days to complete. (I’m not a vet and have no idea what they are testing.) The preliminary result shows the chick is anemic — no surprise since parasites were sucking his blood. Now that he’s bug-free he can absorb nutrition at a much higher rate.
By the end of the exam he was sitting up and squawking — a really good sign!
With new “bling” on his legs he went back to his parents and spent lots of time sleeping off the excitement.
He’s had some challenges but he’s got great parents and stands a good chance of catching up.
Coming soon:
- Peregrine nest area diagrams to show that this bird cannot jump/fall off the Cathedral of Learning — even if he wanted to.
- News of other peregrine nests in Pittsburgh — Neville, Downtown, Westinghouse.
(photos by Kate St. John)
p.s. Someone asked if the fluffy leg feathers (“pants”) on Dorothy are a sign of parasites. No, it’s just one of the many expressive ways birds hold their feathers. In ravens it’s a way of showing power and superiority. I don’t know what it means among peregrines.
Wonderful update and photos. And those feet! 🙂
Thanks for the update and good news. The pictures are so cute and he will be growing quickly now.
Thank you for sharing this information! I am new to watching Dorothy and E2’s nest so I appreciate all of the info. I just think this chick is so cute! Love the Buddha pose they do and that this little one is doing more of what “he” should be doing. I remain optimistic for this little one since the parents are so attentive!
Thanks so much for all your explanations. I’ve learned so much from your blog. So glad the eyas was returned to the parents.
Kate – Thanks for the rundown of facts. Was there any mention of mites? When all the “toppling” was going on, I was curious about a possible ear issue affecting his balance.
Nice to know all the pests are gone; that should help the situation.
Carol, mites and other bugs were mentioned.
Thanks Kate for the update. I missed what happened to the other 3 eggs
Ramona, they never hatched. Remnants were collected for testing.
“fluffy leg feathers (“pants”)…. In ravens it’s a way of showing power and superiority.” Great tidbit. Thanks.
Great report and photos, Kate! I remember seeing Dorothy picking under his wings – now we know why!
Really appreciate you sharing this information and photos to provide us with a better understanding of this. Looking forward to watching a healthy little chick and a fledge. Thanks again for all your postings
Thank you so much for all you do and report to us, Kate!! I’ve been following the fb pages and your posts, just haven’t commented…Dorothy and nature are truly amazing and I pray and hope this little chick will make it to adulthood or at least fledge so Dorothy and E2 have good memories. Long may they reign : )
Thanks
Thanks — great reporting! When will a name be given to the chick?
Thanks so much Kate! We really appreciate all the info/updates you give us. When we don’t know what’s going on, we speculate( & worry ). When we know what’s going on we can deal with it much better. So, thank you very much for keeping us informed/updated.
I’m so happy he was able to be returned back to Mom & Dad(& the nest). Hope whatever happened before was just a fluke. Btw, do you happen to know why (when he kept going on his back)? Did the vet or game commission happen to give any indication as to any reason why that might have happened? I’m assuming not since you didn’t mention anything. I guess we’ll just have to wait for test results to see if that shows anything. Hopefully it was just a fluke and he will continue to grow up alright.
Thanks soooo much again!!!
M P, the chick probably fell because he was weak. He appears to be stronger now.
Someone else suggested it. He must be named Flip!
Sorry, Gwyn, peregrines are not named in Pennsylvania. Please see this information on how peregrines get their names: http://www.birdsoutsidemywindow.org/peregrine-faqs/question-how-do-peregrines-get-their-names/
Thank you for the update Kate. Any comments on a neurological exam, I assume one was performed since you had mentioned possible seizures and that he passed the neuro exam? Any comment from the veterinarian on this or ideas about the toppling over (muscle weakness due to delayed development, for example)?
Thanks for all the great info, really enjoy reading your blog!
Thank you , thank you !
Congrats on “making” ALL of last night’s and this morning’s news. Those clips were awesome.
BUT : Is there / will there be a full-length video of the entire banding “thing” “anywhere” ? Not just 30-40 seconds … but the WHOLE thing ?
If so, could you please post a link.
Thank You.
Thanks, Kate for the update complete with pictures which are simply beautiful. The dear little chick has certainly had his share of difficulties which are hopefully well behind him now. Our miracle baby now has a chance of fledging. Good for Dorothy and E2, such loving and attentive parents. I very much appreciate the opportunity to watch this PEFA family in action. Thanks to everyone who makes that possible.
Another great update and lovely photo’s. I love the chick’s feet and you are right they are quite big ??
Thank you so much for the update the the adorable pictures. It is greatly appreciated.
I’m so glad to hear he shows no deformities and hopefully w/ all the TLC he gets from fantastic mom Dorothy & E2 he will continue to develop normally. I am so happy he is back w/ his mum, she is very special. Mother of my falcon mother Beauty, I consider her my falcon Grandmother <3 .May God bless her & the little one, whom I have named Miraclpefa
Thank you for the update. I call it Little Chick. Love it to bits. So glad things are looking up for it.
Kind of off topic here, but Pittsburgh Falconuts on Facebook has switched to a members only reading. When you post something, will you also post on the Pitts Falcons or Pitts Falcon Chat FB page? Thanks.
Gindy, I post every blog on my Facebook timeline –> follow me directly on Facebook here (https://www.facebook.com/KStJBirdblog) or get peregrine updates by visiting my blog at http://www.birdsoutsidemywindow.org/category/peregrines/.
Just got home and jumped right on this page for my Fuzzy update. Great news. Thanks Kate, maybe now that the parasites are gone he/she can start really absorbing the nutrients that he/she needs to catch up. Still thinking positive.
I’ve been calling the little chick Fuzzy but I just read a post from Gwyn Cready that it should be named Flip. What does every one think. Sounds like a very fitting name. Any other suggestions.
Sorry, Lori and everyone, peregrines are not named in Pennsylvania. They are named in other states, and sometimes when they breed.
Here’s information on how peregrines get their names. http://www.birdsoutsidemywindow.org/peregrine-faqs/question-how-do-peregrines-get-their-names/
Thanks for the info Kate. I was not aware of that. I guess I will continue to call him Fuzzy on this blog if that is ok.
Ummm… Well… Stay tuned for my blog post on naming. I don’t like to stifle well-meaning comments which happen to include a name for the chick … but I must admit I wince.
I think I read somewhere the person who originally finds the nesting site gets to name the chicks….did I read that you are the one who found this nest in 2002, Kate? Then the honor would go to you….or is that in other states?
Gindy, more news on this later. (Which is why I haven’t deleted)
Kate, have there been less feedings today? Or maybe I’m just tuning in at off times? Should we expect to see changes in feeding frequency and routine at this point?
Carolyn, yes as the chick grows the timing of feedings changes. In a nest with 3-4 chicks feedings continue to be frequent because 1 prey item is shared among so many and there’s only so much to go around. With 1 chick the feedings occur whenever he is hungry. His parents check often, looking, assessing. His needs are sometimes met before he even “asks” vocally.
For ReA above:
If you go to youtube and search “harrisburg peregrine falcon banding” — many videos from different years will come up. I didn’t see 2014 cone up (but it was there before), but there is a 41 min vid labeled 2 years ago (thumbnail showed Art) which is probably 2013.
Also links to PEFA bandings elsewhere came up, so you should find a good one to watch.
And. . . considering the “firedrill disturbance” during Hburg banding this month, I don’t know if that video will make it to youtube or not.
Thank you Rob. 🙂
I am hoping for a WQED fundraising /special “thing”, like in the past.
ReA, the only video recorded was by the news media. There is not a complete end-to-end video of the event.
🙁 too bad.
Next year ?!?! Maybe… Please.
Kate I haven’t heard anything about how Fuzzy has been doing in regards to the bloodwork that was done on banding day. We know he was anemic but was anything else wrong? Please post the results if you can.
Thanks, Lori
Lori, I know nothing more about the bloodwork.
Thanks Kate.