Yesterday morning the new male peregrine at the Cathedral of Learning stepped on the nest and paused in front of the falconcam.
Ta dah! He is banded and we captured two clear snapshots of his bands: Black/Red, N/29.
(The black/white image was taken in the infrared light before dawn.)
Peregrine fans searched online for his identity and came up empty. This isn’t surprising. Eastern states don’t keep an online database.
I sent the ID photos to Art McMorris, PA Game Commission Peregrine Coordinator, and he looked in his databases — which include states that don’t report online — and came up empty as well.
The bands are within the color/number series issued to a midwestern state but they are not in that state’s database. They were probably used somewhere else. But where?
Art contacted peregrine coordinators in other states and is awaiting information. He says it may take days to get the answer. (Remember, it’s Easter season and the person who knows the answer may be on vacation.)
So we’ll just have to be patient.
In the meantime the new male’s bands provide us with an easy way to tell the two birds apart on camera: Hope is Black/Green, he is Black/Red. 🙂
(photo from the National Aviary falconcam at Univ of Pittsburgh)
p.s. Here’s a nice article in The Trib about Hope and her new mate: Cathedral peregrine finds new beau
Wow, great shot on the infrared, and excellent posing on New Guy’s part. 🙂 Welcome to Pittsburgh!
I am so so very happy that our Hope has found a new mate. Hopefully he will stay and Hope and he can have a long life together.
Hi Kate, Is there a post on your blog or any links about how long from mating until a first egg? I’ve been asked and I don’t know! Very happy about the new mate. Thank you for all your info and updates.
Cindy P, it takes about two weeks+ for a new couple to get in tune enough for the female to lay more eggs.
Just have to add that the infrared photo is priceless, it looks like he is posing! So handsome.
He’s quite a handsome devil isn’t he?
Great photo Kate. He likes being the mystery man.
Did you try New York they band eagles with black/red bands and a letter over number
Katshappy, eagle bands are very different than peregrine bands — much bigger! They can also be in a different color series.
Does this mean she will be able to incubate the eggs fromE2?
Tikosmom, please read the explanation at this link: http://www.birdsoutsidemywindow.org/2016/03/21/questions-about-eggs-and-food/
Does the red and black band totally exclude Canada?
Karen, don’t know. Art McMorris knows and will let us know the identity when he finds out.
I’m a new reader and I love your writing! Thank you for your thorough information!
Try the Canadian Peregrine Foundation. Lots of falcons nesting in and around Toronto and Niagara and many are banded.
Hi Kate, I found a Peregrine named Sylvester with (b/r) 29n band from Illinois. Born in 2011 Chicago South Loop, Mother: Helen and Father: Mr. M. http://peregrines.erinyes.org/nesting-history/. Could this be the same peregrine?
Karen, it is not the same. b/R 29/N means black 29, red N. This bird is black N, red 29
Hi Kate! Just catching up on all the news and I am so sorry to hear about E2. He left many healthy offspring, though. I am so excited to hear about the new male; waiting to find out his identity is better than Masterpiece Mystery! P.S. I think that I was just buzzed on my deck by a ruby-throated hummingbird. Is that even possible?!?
Colleen, it is very early for hummingbirds in the Pittsburgh area but bumblebees are out today.
Good Morning Kate, just wondering if you have seen the new male in Hope’s life since he visited the nest. I have not seen him on any of the videos. Thanks.
His chest appears to be pure white. Don’t most peregrines have stripes on their chests?
Cindy, there is a lot of variation on the chest. Males tend to be whiter than females.
Janet, N/29 was at the nestbox many times over the weekend. He was also seen shading the eggs from the sun yesterday.
I have seen him at those lucky times when I happen to watch the live video while he’s there. He walks around the nest box, looks up frequently (probably watching Hope) and sits on the nest rail. He’s often too far to the right side to see his leg bands, but when he steps to his right, you can clearly see them.
Thank you Kate for the info.
Thanks for the info, Kate.