Coming soon, my favorite week of the year:  Pitt Peregrine Fledge Watch!

As amazing as it seems, Dorothy and E2’s youngsters will be ready to fly at the end of this month.  They’ll lose their fluffy, white, Buddha-look and become sleek with brown and cream-colored feathers.  And then they’ll learn to fly.

While they’re learning, the young peregrines walk and flap on the ledges above their nest.  It’s easy to see them with binoculars so I sit at the Schenley Plaza tent (shown here) to watch the fun.

Come join me!  See the youngsters exercise their wings.  See Dorothy and E2 show their kids how to fly.  Swap stories about peregrines and the nesting year.

Save these dates, weather permitting.  (I guarantee the weather will change this schedule, so watch the blog for the latest updates.)

• Monday May 30 (Memorial Day), 11:00am to 1:00pm.  The youngsters will be visible near their nest, but won’t be ready to fly.
• Tuesday May 31, and Wednesday June 1, 1:00pm to 2:00pm.  I’ll spend my lunch hour at the tent.  Come join me!
• Thursday and Friday June 2 & 3, noon to 2:15pm.  I’m staying longer on Thursday and Friday because I think they’ll be the best days. (I may be wrong!)
• probably Thursday evening, 5:30pm to 7:00pm.  If Thursday is good, I’ll be there after work, too.
• Saturday June 4, 10:00am to 2:00pm. Almost all the chicks will have flown by Saturday but the last one keeps the family’s focus on the nest area.
• Sunday June 5, no time set yet.  This is a rain date whose schedule depends on what the peregrines are doing.

Don’t miss the fun.  Plan on joining me at the tent for Pitt Peregrine Fledge Watch.

See this link for news of last year’s fun and this Peregrine FAQ that describes what you’ll see on camera as the young peregrines leave the nest.

(photo of the Schenley Plaza tent by Kate St. John)