The Downtown peregrines have new digs at the Gulf Tower.

Last month the weeds in the Gulf Tower nest indicated to Art McMorris (PA Game Commission Peregrine Coordinator) that the nest needed a makeover.  Fortunately the wooden box and hood were fine so …

Yesterday Art came to town with 10 bags of pea gravel, a new wooden ramp and lots of tools to refurbish the nest. At 80 pounds per bag that’s a lot of lugging.

Here, he makes note of the site conditions before he begins.  The edge behind him is a sheer 37-floor drop to the street.  No way! I stayed inside.

First order of business: Shovel out the old gravel into many(!) garbage bags.  Art shoveled while Bob Mulvihill and Eric Fialkovich of the National Aviary hauled the bags over the transom and into the hall for later disposal.

As soon as the old gravel was gone the problem was obvious. There were no drainage holes in the base so all the water stayed in the box. Peregrines don’t like wet gravel and neither do we. Art drilled 77 7/16″ holes.

Then he dumped in and smoothed the new gravel.

He needed only six bags.

Art added the new ramp and Ta Dah!  It’s as good as new (shown at top).

The new gravel is such a different color that I’m hoping the peregrines get curious and come to check it out.  When they do they’ll find clean, dry gravel to dig their toes into.

Fingers crossed that they like it well enough to nest here next spring.

(photos by Kate St. John)