On Sunday afternoon I received a text from Peter Bell, “Intruder at Pitt. On about 4th floor windowsill of Union. Dorothy and E2 are at top corners angrily e-chupping and diving.”
I live only 10 minutes away so I hopped in the car and went over to see.
As I waited for the light at Schenley Plaza I saw a solo peregrine flying eastward over Posvar Hall. I surmised that I’d missed them and I was right. Peter was waiting on the corner to fill me in.
Returning from a weekend trip, he’d gotten off the airport bus near Pitt’s Student Union and immediately heard unusual peregrine sounds. Peter looked up to see three peregrines on the building. Two angry birds had claimed the high ground. The third was in an uncomfortable spot on the 4th floor windowsill.
Peter happened to have his camera so he fired off as many shots as possible while the action unfolded. Ultimately Dorothy zoomed in and chased off the third bird (shown above). I arrived in time to see E2 bringing up the rear. Click on the photo to watch a slideshow of the action.
August seems an unusual time for an intruder but I know why she’s here. Dorothy is 15 years old and has many physical challenges. In March she laid only one egg, then became egg-bound. She survived by expelling the malformed egg, then started to molt early. Three months later Dorothy still looks very ragged, a sign that she’s not in good condition.
On camera at the nestbox she exhibits “tired” behavior. After 13 years of watching her, I now see her pausing in new postures as if she aches. In the slideshow the intruder looks sleek and nimble. Dorothy does not. Dorothy is challenged in more ways than one.
Under these circumstances, it’s obvious to other peregrines that Dorothy is not at the top of her form. Wandering female peregrines will try their chances to win the site. Sunday’s challenger flew away but she, or another, will be back. Dorothy will chase again but at some point a new female will return to the Cathedral of Learning and Dorothy will not.
This is not unusual or “terrible” activity. Chases and fights are the normal, natural way that peregrines insure strong birds own every site and produce healthy young peregrines for the future. Old humans fade away slowly, surrounded by family (or not). Old peregrines go out with a bang.
Here’s the fight sequence from Peter’s photos.
We are privileged to watch and learn.
(photos by Peter Bell)
p.s. Peter saw in his photos that the intruding female is banded. He couldn’t read the band but the colors are Black/Red.
I know it’s the way of the wild, but I will be sad when Dorothy is gone. She’s had a long, productive tenure here at Pitt. Thanks for the awesome photos!
Thank you for this. I knew it was just a matter of time and that is their way. To nature the survival of the species is key and our love of a peregrine named Dorothy does not change that. She with the help of you and the rest of the peregrine community have added a new level to my life. I so respect these birds. In your final words you compared human to peregrine demise. I remember my uncle who was a WWII bomber pilot coming home from the war with his album of army air core songs. In the air core song is the line “They live in fame and go down in flame”. As I watched the last two years that line has haunted me. A warrior species second to none. I salute you peregrine Dorothy.
Thank you for the excellent photos….nature is always teaching us…it’s been easy to neglect Dorothy & E2 with all the buzz about the eagles this year.
That makes my heart hurt:(
Hi Kate! Just want to say that I’m very grateful to Dorothy for bringing Beauty into my life. Dorothy has been a tremendous contributor to the species and when she fades out may it be peacefully and not painfully. <3
Kate, I know how difficult this is for you. Know that we who love these birds are with you in spirit. Dorothy and E2, like Rochester’s Mariah and Kaver, will always be with us no matter what. As MAK said above, we are so grateful to Dorothy for Beauty.
Awesome coverage of a event rarely witnessed, let alone captured! I must say that I agree strongly that the event is not “terrible”, even though people are emotionally wired to be sad at these events, and the inevitable turnaround of a longtime peregrine, it is really not something that is to be sad about. The longtime peregrines are great birds and what is the point in focusing on the sad part of the peregrine’s end of it’s reign? All the longtimers have done exactly what they are supposed to, and the takeover is supposed to happen. It seems people oftentimes make it into more about themselves then the actual peregrine. Dorothy or any of the other peregrine’s that have led long lifetimes on cam really are no more special than the many more peregrines that reside in nestsites off cam, except we see them at the nest. Most of the time no one ever see’s them ending the life of another bird to survive, and when it is seen, many are taken aback. Nature in the real is what people can perceive as civilized, or take in the whole “picture” and realize it IS dog eat dog for the wild creatures and Welcome the inevitable. It is as it should be. I say this even as I watch “my” pair and want to see them, and their offspring succeed, but I know full well how things go in the wild. I try to keep in mind these birds are Not civilized, and I never want them to be, for they would not be what they are….Lets help them if they need it, but let them be what they are and not be upset when it goes the way it is supposed to go.
Thank You for posting an intriguing portion of the life of this pair.
Dorothy has been such a fixture in Pittsburgh, it seems strange to think of her tired and vulnerable. I remember that Harrisburg’s “Mom” seemed a bit off her game and tired all through the summer of 2010, until she was displaced at the end of August that year. Like then, I feel sympathy for such a fierce and successful bird running down to the end of her time, knowing that eventually she will face a challenge she cannot win. For myself, I would wish her a peaceful end, but I have a feeling she would just as soon go out fighting, knowing this way that whoever succeeds her as queen of the ledge has proved her mettle and earned her position. And while I will cherish Dorothy’s memory for so many memories she has given me, I will welcome her successor and watch with interest as she establishes her own legacy.
I had to gather myself together after reading this. What a wonderful Peregrine Dorothy has been and continues to be. This is life in nature and eventually and unfortunately, we will see Dorothy’s demise. She will always be in my heart as she was the first Peregrine for me to watch on cam and raise her many families. Thanks for the great info.
Awesome photos, Peter, moving update, Kate, thank you both – just love our Pittsburgh Peregrines.