Though the Hays bald eagles are incubating eggs in their icy nest, Pittsburgh’s peregrines are hanging back — but that’s about to change.

Peregrines in western Pennsylvania lay eggs from mid-March to early April.  In late February they make courtship flights together when the weather is good (when has it been good?!).  Then in early March they bow at the nest.

You can watch this up close on the National Aviary falconcams:

• At the Gulf Tower in downtown Pittsburgh, Dori usually lays her first egg between March 10 and 17.  (Notice the new HD camera installed this winter!)

• At the University of Pittsburgh’s Cathedral of Learning, Dorothy used to lay between March 13 and 20 but she is 16 years old this spring (that’s old for a peregrine).  Last year she became egg bound.  Will she be able to lay this year?

Drama is possible at any site in March. Younger peregrines arrive to challenge the older ones.  (Not only is Dorothy 16, but Louie at the Gulf Tower is 13 this year.)  Nevertheless by mid-May there will be bright-eyed nestlings on camera.

To get you in the mood for nesting season, click here or on the photo above for nesting highlights from last spring at the Gulf Tower.

Peregrine nesting season is almost here!

p.s.  Pittsburgh’s six other peregrine sites can be monitored from the ground:

• Tarentum Bridge: PGC and PennDOT will install a nest box this Friday 2/27 at 9:00am.  Come watch from the boat ramp under the bridge.  There were 2 chicks here last year.
• Monaca-East Rochester Bridge: 4 chicks in 2014
• Westinghouse Bridge: 2 chicks in 2014
• Neville Island I-79 Bridge: 1 chick in 2014
• McKees Rocks Bridge: Nest could not be found
• Green Tree water tower:  No nest in 2014

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

p.p.s.  Right on schedule, guess who came to visit at the Cathedral of Learning nest this afternoon … E2 calls, “Hey, Dorothy!”