Tuesday afternoon I glanced out my office window and was immediately mesmerized.
A peregrine falcon was flying by, pumping hard, carrying a heavy burden. He’d killed a pigeon over Carnegie-Mellon’s campus and was taking it home to the Cathedral of Learning to eat.
Carrying prey is strenuous work. On average, a pigeon weighs 354g while a male peregrine weighs 612g (females average 976g). Imagine that your lunch weighed more than half your body weight and you had to carry it half a mile before you could eat. No way! That’s why we invented wheels.
And so I watched, unable to continue working while the peregrine slowly disappeared in the distance. My desk job is easy compared to a peregrine’s work.
(photo by Kim Steininger)
IN THE LAST WEEK OR SO, I HAVE NOTICED A PEREGINE FALCON HANGING AROUND THE 62nd STREET BRIDGE / ETNA / SHARSBURG END OF BRIDGE. NOT SURE IF ITS A TRANSIENT OR NOT?
Great spotting! You probably saw the new female peregrine who’s claimed that bridge. Dan Yagusic identified her last month. She’s 2 years old, born in Akron, Ohio in Spring 2007. She hasn’t attracted a mate yet but we certainly hope she does!
Keep watching the bridge — especially in January, February, March — and let me know if you see TWO peregrines there. If so, it means she has a mate & will nest.
Keep us posted!
I keep seeing one of the peregrines either on the Gulf Tower or atop one of the spires on the Koppers building … I have some pretty decent pictures but not sure how to get them to you