Busy morning at the Cathedral of Learning nest! 

Last evening the young male peregrine made his first flight and landed on the other side the building.  This morning his three sisters climbed out of camera range.  I’ll bet they’re up on the nestrail waiting for breakfast. 

When I looked at the snapshot camera at 6:20am I thought there were no birds at the nest but I caught a glimpse of a juvenile on the roof perch. 

See that red tape on his USFW band (his right leg)?  This is the young male who flew last night.  I can tell he’s doing really well because (a) he flew back to the nest to get breakfast and (b) he grabbed his breakfast and took it to a safe zone where his sisters can’t disturb him. 

The three sisters can’t fly yet but I’ll bet at least two of them will have fledged by the end of Thursday. 

Fledge Watch Update, May 31: 

Here’s what the Pitt peregrines saw last evening when they looked down on the Schenley Plaza tent:  Fledge Watchers.

Jennie Barker captured this photo at 6:00pm from the web-controlled Internet camera on Pitt’s website.  The camera is on edge of the 38th floor of the Cathedral of Learning.  Not quite as high as the peregrines, but you get the idea.

I’ll be at the tent today from 1:00-2:00pm but can’t make it this evening.  However, a dedicated group of watchers will be there after work with binoculars and scopes and a wealth of experience so feel free to join them. 

I’ll bet they see a lot of fledgling action tonight.  Wish I could be there!

Fledge Watch Update, June 1 at 2pm:  We didn’t see much activity at lunchtime though we did see one adult and two juveniles.  The “kids” seemed to be napping.

(photos from the National Aviary snapshot camera and the Pitt Virtual Tour camera at the Cathedral of Learning)