That’s what this young peregrine falcon seems to be saying to her sister. They were hanging out on the 25th floor ledge at the Cathedral of Learning last week waiting for food deliveries from their parents. Kimberly Thomas was able to see them from the 27th floor so she took their picture, though from afar.
It’s been hard to get a good look at the Pitt peregrines ever since they fledged. They’re still on campus at dawn and dusk but they usually perch high on the Cathedral of Learning and can only be seen with binoculars. If you work in the building the peregrines are sometimes just outside your window. Oh how lucky!
This week the juveniles will explore Oakland. Today at lunch I found only one young peregrine on the Cathedral of Learning but on my way back to work I found the other three – plus their father – chasing each other around the steeples of St. Paul’s Cathedral. Peregrines in training!
(photo by Kimberly Thomas)
you may think these are bad pictures but to me they are wonderful. I am enjoying all the facts about who & what & why can take care of sick peregrines etc. Enjoy all your plant info. My brother used to get poison ivy if someone was burning it; the smoke would carry the oil. It was okay if they burned it when it was brown but not the green leaves. He is 68 now & still is very careful. Faith C.
Thanks Kate and Kimberly for the update and sharing the photo. Lunch time is too short or I would be there watching them too! I miss watching them every day. Wow! They do grow up fast.
Kate – Are they not yet getting food on their own? Are they still learning how to maneuver and practicing hunting skills?
They aren’t hunting on their own yet. They have to be better at flying before they use that skill to catch a bird. In the meantime they are playing in the air and building their skills.
Is that red splotch near the top right corner and the smaller one just behind the flying birds outstretched left wing old blood from a previous meal? Does someone have the unenviable job of having to periodically have to clean up the blood and other uneaten parts or do they just leave it to other scavengers or to be washed away by the rain?
Usually the rain washes it away but Facilities Management does clean up when they visit the roof. They have plenty of ‘equipment’ reasons to be up there.
Speaking of Poison Ivy, I avoided the rash after exposure a few years ago. I was going into a restaurant after being in a park where I had contacted the stuff. I rubbed ketchup all over my hands , then went and washed it off in the ladies room. I never got the rash, and the ketchup felt wonderful. My hands and forearms were tingling all over before the ketchup treatment and I knew I was in big trouble. SAVED by the ketchup. It takes skunk oil off of dogs, so I guess it cut the poison ivy oil too.