I got a message from Barb Becker at Make-A-Wish that starting yesterday they’ve been seeing only four chicks at the Gulf Tower nest.  (There are four in this picture.)

There are many explanations for this but the probable one — at least to me — is that the oldest of the chicks fledged on Tuesday evening.

When they were banded last Thursday, one of the five chicks was clearly more feathered than the others.  He seemed days ahead of his siblings and was so ready to fly that he considered jumping when Beth Fife came to the ledge to collect him for banding.

The oldest male at Gulf Tower (see the slideshow here) seemed to be the same age as his cohorts at the Cathedral of Learning.  He was probably just as ready to fly on Tuesday as the young male at Pitt.

So if you’re downtown, keep your eyes peeled for the young peregrines from the Gulf Tower.  They are — or will be — ready to fly soon!

(photo from the National Aviary falconcam at the Gulf Tower)