Peripatetic

Hope (69/Z) preens at the Tarentum Bridge, 28 Aug 2016 (photo by Anthony Bruno)
Hope (69/Z) preens at the Tarentum Bridge, 28 Aug 2016 (photo by Anthony Bruno)

Peripatetic: adjective [1] traveling from place to place, especially working or based in various places for relatively short periods. (definition from Google search)

Hope (69/Z, black/green) is a peripatetic peregrine falcon.  For five years she called the Tarentum Bridge her home until last spring when she nested at the Cathedral of Learning.

In my experience, peregrines stay put when they’ve claimed a prime territory but Hope does not.  On Friday she flew 15 miles back to Tarentum and set up shop for several days.

She’s so comfortable at Tarentum that, unlike her habits at Pitt, she perches in easy view.

Last weekend Tony Bruno and Steve Gosser stopped by for some great photographs. Above, Tony got a photo of Hope’s bands while she was preening.  Look how close she is!

Below, Steve caught the action when a curious mourning dove came close while Hope was eating. The dove escaped.

Peregrine falcon, Hope, confronts a mourning dove at the Tarentum Bridge, 27 Aug 2016 (photo by Steve Gosser)
Peregrine falcon, Hope, confronts a mourning dove at the Tarentum Bridge, 27 Aug 2016 (photo by Steve Gosser)
Peregrine falcon Hope stirs up a watchful mourning dove at the Tarentum Bridge, 27 Aug 2016 (photo by Steve Gosser)
Peregrine falcon Hope stirs up a watchful mourning dove at the Tarentum Bridge, 27 Aug 2016 (photo by Steve Gosser)
...and the mourning dove escapes at the Tarentum Bridge, 27 Aug 2016 (photo by Steve Gosser)
…and the mourning dove escapes at the Tarentum Bridge, 27 Aug 2016 (photo by Steve Gosser)

 

Apparently three days were long enough at Tarentum because Hope flew back to the Cathedral of Learning yesterday afternoon.  She appeared on the falconcam at 3:30pm, dug a little at the scrape and then perched and preened.

You can see her band colors below.  Her greenish right-leg band and black/green left-leg band are a diagnostic combination.

Hope reappears at Pitt, 28 Aug 2016, 3:30pm (photo from the National Aviary falconcam at Univ of Pittsburgh)
Hope reappears at Pitt, 28 Aug 2016, 3:30pm (photo from the National Aviary falconcam at Univ of Pittsburgh)

 

And here’s her familiar face.

Hope at Pitt, 28 Aug 2016, 3:34pm (photo from the National Aviary falconcam at Univ of Pittsburgh)
Hope at Pitt, 28 Aug 2016, 3:34pm (photo from the National Aviary falconcam at Univ of Pittsburgh)

 

She probably was at the Cathedral of Learning during last night’s terrific thunderstorm, but who knows.

Hope doesn’t perch in sight at Pitt so I’m never sure if this peripatetic bird is actually there.

 

(photos by Anthony Bruno, Steve Gosser and the National Aviary falconcam at Univ. of Pittsburgh)

28 thoughts on “Peripatetic

  1. Hope is just Hope, I guess we’ll just have to love her the way she is, and hope she keeps the Cathedral. I will say, she certainly causes me a lot of anxiety.

  2. These are incredible photos! You feel like you are on the bridge beam with them! That was one brave and lucky dove.

    1. Lori, Steve says the dove might have been looking at what Hope was eating — which might have been the dove’s relative!

    2. Nature or not, how pathetic if that was the case.
      The poor dove might have hoped it could still help.
      I know a lot of humans who would not stick their neck out for a family member.

  3. I think Hope is like the old TV show Green Acres she doesn’t know if she wants to live in the country or the city will know which one she picks next spring. As for now we’ll just keep watching the ongoing saga at the Cathedral. We are blessed to have the opportunity to witness such a beautiful look at one of God creatures.

  4. Have not been able to see web cam for days on eith aviary site or wild earth!!. Is something wrong with camera?

    1. It appears to be a power or network failure in the area where the cam is located. More news later.

  5. Sunday 3:05 p.m. hope is at the nest I saw her band black / green she was also here this morning about and after 10 a.m.

  6. Hi Kate, I was pleasantly suprised to see Louie or Dori at the Gulf Tower just now. I do not know their band numbers do you have them?? Thanks so much.

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