Yesterday Dorothy and E2’s chick stayed upright all day long and began to walk around.
In the video above he tips backward but does not fall, perhaps because his tail feathers (called rectrices) grew long enough to act as a prop. One day earlier he used the wall as a prop and was mostly successful. During his week of toppling over (5/19 to 5/26/2015) he needed a prop but hadn’t found one. Toppling is not normal.
Yesterday he walked and explored a bit. In the short video below he walks on his tarsi (plural of tarsus, the leg section from toes to heel). Peregrine chicks normally walk on their tarsi at first, then stand up on their toes.
Adult birds walk on their toes with their heels in the air. Their legs look to us as if their knees are bent backward but the “knees” are actually their heels and the tarsi are the lower section of their legs. We humans have tarsi, too — the many bones in our feet. We walk on our tarsi all our lives.
It is very hard to tell whether the chick’s improvement is a leap forward or merely a compensation that masks his underlying weakness.
Meanwhile, he made KDKA news last night. Click here to watch.
The chick will be examined thoroughly tomorrow, Banding Day. Watch this blog for updates.
(videos captured from the National Aviary falconcam at University of Pittsburgh, streamed from Wildearth.tv)
Thanks for the link and for your excellent coverage here, Kate. Your calm, reasoned reporting is so much appreciated, and your compassion for this family comes through. I look forward to reading about the results when the chick is examined on Banding Day.
Kate, thank you for the update, and your observations. Re: banding day examine, what type of medical tests are done, routinely, on this date? If there is information posted already on this topic, my apologies. Thanks!
Kim, from my experience of watching routine peregrine chick exams they include: weight, swab of throat to check for fungus/parasite, blood sample. There may be more to it than this but I am not a vet so I don’t even notice. This chick will get a much more extensive exam but I don’t know what that will be.
Thank you for all your informational posts! I’m learning so much from you and I worry a little less about the chick.
Thanks very much for your updates,I’m from England and I love watching these chicks grow up too many to keep an eye on all the time. The nearest one to where I live are in Derby. so I’m keeping up to date with them and this little chick.
I have been very upset to see the little chick trying to get up, but your updates have made me look and think about things a lot more and now watching the mother ,it’s just so amazing to see her care and try to figure out how to help her baby. I’ve got everything crossed this little beauty will be ok.
Thank you for the updates. It looked like chick was done for but so happy to see that the little guy is up and about last night and again this morning. He should be called Trooper. Once again mom is so steadfast in looking out for him and checking on him if he is inactive. Keep the news coming.
I just received a nice and very detailed email from the PA Game Commission, including all the information and possibilities to help this little dear chick:
Le 28/05/2015 13:20, GM, Comments a écrit :
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> You’re welcome. We recently received additional information from our peregrine falcon coordinator. Please see below:
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> We have been following the situation at the Peregrine Falcon nest at the University of Pittsburgh Cathedral of Learning very closely for several months, starting even before the eggs were laid. The lone chick (out of 4 eggs laid) is developmentally abnormal, due to the adult female’s extreme age. The female is 16 years old. Falcons who live to this age in the wild (which is rare) have reduced fertility and a heightened incidence of developmental defects in their chicks, if they even have chicks. That is what has been happening with this female for the last 3 years.
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> If there were anything we could do to help the chick, we would do it. For example, if the chick had an injury or a treatable disease, we would help it immediately, as we always do in such circumstances. But there is nothing we can do in this case.
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> In the mean time, the parents are taking care of the chick far better than any humans could. The chick is growing well, and although it is obviously very clumsy, there is no evidence that it is suffering. The best thing we can do for the chick right now is to leave it with its parents.
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> That situation may change in the near future. The chick will be 19 days old on Friday 5/29, and soon after that it will begin walking around in the nest, and there is the possibility that it could fall out of the nest, which would not be good, considering that the nest is on the 40th floor of the building.
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> We (PGC) and partners will visit the nest on Friday 5/29, a date that was chosen with the chick’s best interests in mind, and at that time, the chick will get a thorough exam by veterinarians and wildlife biologists. If it is determined that the chick may become at risk of falling out of the nest, and/or that it is unlikely to survive in the wild, we will remove the chick from the nest and take it to a wildlife rehabilitator for further analysis, and then to a permanent home where it can have a happy life in safety. That is the most likely outcome on Friday. Arrangements have already been made with a wildlife rehabilitator and a home. If the panel of wildlife experts determines that the chick does have a good chance of surviving well in the wild, we will return the chick to the nest after examining it on Friday, but that seems unlikely at this point.
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> At the present time, the best place for the chick, for its sake, is in the nest with its parents. In the near future, the best place for it may be with human caretakers. We will determine that, and act appropriately.
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> Thank you for your concern and for contacting us about this.
What time do they plan to do the banding on Friday? How long will the cam be off while they are checking baby?
Thank you Anita for that update. We will have wait and see.
Kate, I was wondering if you could expand some on what developmental abnormalities you noted before the chick began toppling over. For example you state “During his week of toppling over (5/19 to 5/26/2015) he needed a prop”, but I did not see him topple over until 5/22 around 1:30. Could you point to specific instances that you noticed a problem from 5/19 until 5/22? Thank you!
Sue, a few examples as I am too swamped to do a huge investigation right now. Time stamps are 24-hr clock:
5/19, 15:53
5/22, 13:54
5/24, 11:48
… skipping to…
5/26, 17:18
I see that now on the 19th, thank you!
Anita, Many thanks for your updated info! Much appreciated!
Thank you for sharing this Anita. It’s nice to know that this chick is going to be given every possibility available to survive. Thanks again for sharing the information!
So appreciative of the information and expertise that is shared on this blog. I have been a faithful follower of the Rochester Falcons for years and then when I saw the interesting info about Dorothy, I began watching the Pitt nest. There is sharp contrast between the nests ! Thanks to the info I’ve read here I have been able to re-frame my viewing. It is a phenomenal study of nature and I am enjoying every minute that I watch.
Thanks, Anita. That answers my question as to how they decide when to step in. I wondered, as at the closest bird rescue to me, Wildwings of San Dimas, CA.there is a blind peregrine falcon -named Adonis- found grounded as a juvie. So he is cared for and very popular, but not, of course, living a normal falcon life. And, thank you, Kate, for all you do. You have had the patience of a saint.
Did they take the bird for banding today Thursday? My screen went blank and when I refreshed there was no baby.
oops, I found it. Under the green stuff in the front. Must have been hiding.
Thank you, thank you.
Given : Dorothy… 16 years old… 40+ eggs and chicks… and I looked at the files…
Question :
Is this the FIRST time there is only ONE (surviving /viable) chick ?
ReA, no, Dorothy had only one survive to fledge in 2013
anita, thank you for the explanation. I feel horrible for Dorothy if the chick is removed and not put back. How will she respond with her baby taken away permantly?? Could they keep them together a little longer??
Thank you for all the information on this blog about Dorothy’s chick. It was upsetting to have the chat shut down but I obtained info about your blog from the Hayes Eagle chat. I have been so amazed by the care that Dorothy and E2 have given this baby. I think he has a strong will to survive and I think Dorothy and E2’s devotion and care indicate that they expect the same. It would be an amazing tribute to Dorothy on Friday if the medical and banding team provides this baby with the support and attention that he needs and deserves.
Thanks so much for your updates Kate. The wee one seems to be doing remarkably better today overall — much more mobile, standing and balancing better, and clearly well fed (plump little thing). I hope this is signs of developmental progress and that it stands a good chance in the wild. Someone posted a vet commenting that it could be that Dorothy brooding on him so closely and tightly due to the presence of the other eggs may be to blame? Maybe that just caused him a set back?
Thank you Anita for sharing the letter from the PGC. If they do take the chick if it seems that is the best move for him, do we know how this will effect Dorothy, E2, and baby? We definitely don’t want him to fall off. Has this ever been done with one of her chicks?it will be sad if they have to remove him, but he will be safer.
LuAnn, humans are the peregrines’ mortal enemy. When humans take their babies peregrines sometimes abandon the nest site because it is not safe. Other than that we don’t know what will happen.
It’s a somewhat confusing situation, it seems. For awhile there, about four days ago, it seemed like the chick might never get up on his or her feet again. I was among those who hoped that, if the situation got desperate enough, the authorities could do something immediately. So, it’s been such an amazing relief to see the events over the past few days! – with Dorothy helping the chick up a few nights ago, with it spending increasingly more time on its (his or her) feet, and now to the point that Fuzzy has improved even MORE, as reported here. What wonderful news! So now, instead of feeling gripped by panic and sadness about this, I’m starting to think like Patti’s comment, above – that is, I’m wondering, hey, maybe if Fuzzy seems healthy enough to keep growing and learning to use its wings, we could wait awhile longer perhaps even until fledging and see if it needs to be rescued after fledge?
(Fuzzy was a common nickname being used on the Chat site, not supposed to be a “real” name. I’d certainly vote for Flip as real name, as someone proposed the other day, if there were a vote 🙂
At this point, it seems like a judgment call – so for me, I am just deciding to completely trust the PGC, Aviary and whichever other authority is involved.
Hi Kate, as always, thank you for your ongoing information and clear-sighted view. While I’ve been distressed,–like so many people (I just shut off the cam and stopped FB altogether–maybe good for work productivity).
I’ve been watching the Pitt nest since I came to work in the Cathedral in 2007. I remember my first spring here working on 23 and thinking that I was hearing “seagulls”. In fact, it was Dorothy and E2 and their fledglings! I got hooked that spring and I’ve enjoyed several years of watching Dorothy and E2 and their family.
Those are the years that I’m focusing on and prefer to remember.
But mostly I’m grateful for the opportunity to watch and be informed, and be a witness to the wonderful and the difficult parts of nature.
Kate, thank you for that information. Do they abandon that site forever, or just the season?
Luann there is no predicting any of this. The answer is ‘might happen’ and ‘might not happen’.
The chick is progressing – perhaps he needs a bit more time than “normal” — some do. Taking him away from his parents will be traumatizing and stressful both to him and the parents. I am not an expert and don’t have the solutions, but at times it seems that the natural world functions best without human intervention. (I helped out at a wildlife center for a year and was astounded how many were euthanized.)
Emily, I see you are posting this same message over and over. I am leaving this copy in place and removing the redundant ones. This is in accord with my policy stated here: http://www.birdsoutsidemywindow.org/2015/05/25/this-is-not-normal/comment-page-1/#comment-155540
I am just in awe of how much improvement this young has done . I really believe now that it will be fine with some more time.
I was one who wanted them to check this wee one, and they will tomorrow but Kate, I hope you have watched s me today, and seen the progress.
being on its back held it back. and it is getting around and sitting like it should now.
it even tried to self feed and held prey between toes.
I think it will be fine with Dorothy . sh e is giving it the space it needs now to gain strength, by moving and resting without someone on top
so I am hopeful it will stay put after its examine.
bev, I agree that he looks good. The best place for a baby bird is always with his mother.
Kate, I posted one today by error on yesterday’s stream of comments and recopied to today’s comments. Sorry for the hassle.
No problem, Emily. Just keeping you informed
When I watched him eat earlier Dorothy seemed to be making him reach for the food instead of her just dropping it in his mouth. She seems like she is trying to make him stronger and he looks so much better than before. I wish he’d move back a little from that front ledge!
LuAnn that front ledge is very safe. Even if he jumped down he would land on the floor less than 3 feet below. The nest is elevated with a walk space under and around it and a wall so there is no access to the street. Other chicks have explored the gully in years past and all of them flew. He cannot fall off the building.
Thank you Kate! Glad to hear that.
I also was worried about the chick being near the front ledge, and am very relieved and interested to hear that there is a floor below the nest. I have been trying to picture how even a strong and able-bodied eyas fledges 40 stories up, since it seems like there’s little room for error for a novice or hesitant flyer. Like expecting a new driver to drive the Indianapolis Speedway. Do most chicks land on the floor below when first trying out their wings?
Karen, just like the eaglets peregrine chicks walk off the nest before they fly. Because the ledge is in a tight space the camera can’t be zoomed out to show them in the practice zone. They flap and practice off camera, then fly to another ledge on the building. They rest and then fly to another place on the huge building. In a day or two they fly to Heinz Chapel steeple. They learn fast!
Wow! I was saddened by the Pitt peregrine’s situation listening to the news but hopefully Dorothy’s chick will steadily improve. Can’t wait for banding!
So happy to see the little chick has been banded and is back in his nest. He is a fighter and hopefully can have a great future. Have been watching several sets of chicks but this chick has won my heart. Will be curious to hear about exam.