Ledge Walking and Other News

Peregrine chick C1 bgins to ledge walk, 10 June 2016 (photo from the National Aviary falconcam at Univ of Pittsburgh)
Peregrine chick C1 begins to ledge walk, 10 June 2016 (photo from the National Aviary falconcam at Univ of Pittsburgh)
Peregrine chick C1 on her way to the nestrail, 10 June 2016 (photo from the National Aviary falconcam at Univ of Pittsburgh)
C1 is about to leave the camera view, 10 June 2016 (photo from the National Aviary falconcam at Univ of Pittsburgh)

It’s still All Peregrines All the Time here on the blog, but within a week they’ll all have flown and I’ll return to other topics.

Cathedral of Learning:

The female chick, C1, at the Cathedral of Learning disappeared from the streaming camera this morning by walking up the ledge near the snapshot camera.  Soon she was completely out of view.  She’s ledge walking!  Click here to see the big area she’s exploring above the keyholes.

C1 will ledge walk for 2+ days before she fledges. The only way to see her is from Schenley Plaza so come on down to Fledge Watch today, noon to 2:00pm, or this coming weekend to see what she and her parents are up to.  Check the Events page before you come.  The schedule changes frequently.

 

Downtown Pittsburgh:

Adult peregrine on Lawrence Hall gargoyle, Downtown Pittsburgh (photo by John English)
Adult peregrine on Lawrence Hall gargoyle, Downtown Pittsburgh (photo by John English)

Yesterday the Downtown peregrines were flying so well that it was hard to keep up with them.  We found two youngsters at noon: one on the Art Institute and the other flying rapidly and frequently(!) over a four block area.  One of the adults watched from the gargoyle on Lawrence Hall, above.

The purpose of Fledge Watch is to rescue newly-fledged peregrines if they land on the ground.  That early flight period of their lives is over so Downtown Fledge Watch has ended, too.

Meanwhile at the Gulf Tower, a falcon came for a visit…

American kestrel at the Gulf Tower nest site (photo from the National Aviary falconcam at Gulf Tower)
American kestrel at the Gulf Tower nest site (photo from the National Aviary falconcam at Gulf Tower)

… but it was not a peregrine.  He’s an American kestrel.  Pretty bird!

 

Neville Island I-79 Bridge:

Adult peregrine at Neville Island I-79 bridge (photo by Gene Henderson)
Adult peregrine at Neville Island I-79 bridge (photo by Gene Henderson)

We’re saddened to hear from Anne Marie Bosynak that she saw a dead peregrine fledgling on the road at the I-79 Neville Island Bridge last evening.  It was below the spot where she saw one perching the day before.  You can’t stop your car on the bridge so Anne Marie drove by many times to check its identity.  Both adults were visible but she couldn’t find the other fledgling.

Alas. 🙁

Urban peregrines face so many challenges that cliff-nesting peregrines avoid.

 

(photo credits: National Aviary falconcams, John English, Gene Henderson. See captions.)

17 thoughts on “Ledge Walking and Other News

  1. Kate,
    Yes, I too saw what I thought was probably one of the fledglings on the road dead. It was on the northbound side on the bridge.

    From the Fairfield Inn I only spotted one of the adults perched high up in a dead tree on the Glenfield side. This was at 4:30 yesterday.

    Gene

  2. The highs and lows of the peregrine world continue. But no matter what is reported, when your blogs come in, all seems right with the world.

  3. Will C1 come back to the nest again? Sleep? Eat? Anything? I look forward to hearing and seeing reports of her first flights! Go C1!!

    1. Jenn, she may return to the camera view off and on for a couple of days but then gone forever

  4. Just a few days, Kate? So they don’t “hang around” in he vicinity for a while, to pick up hunting behavior, etc. from the parents?

    1. Carolyne, (in my earlier comment I meant “on camera” as in…) C1 will stay in the area of the Cathedral of Learning for about 6-8 weeks but, after she flies, rarely at the nest. She’ll leave town later this summer.

  5. Kate, I have learned so much from you about these beautiful and wonderful birds this nesting season. Although it has been heartbreaking at times, I am so happy that Hope has turned out to be the mom I thought she was, and Terzo has become a great dad and provider. I wish C1 a successful fledge and a wonderful life as a Peregrine, and hope she has many babies of her own. Even though this year was filled with heartache, there was a lot of happiness. I will miss you C1. THANKS KATE FOR EVERYTHING!!!

  6. C1 is special to me. She is the last of E2’s offspring. I’ll keep checking in, hoping to hear of a successful fledge for her within the next few days.

  7. Aww, stan d ard, agree that C1 is connected to E2 and by extension our former queen of the Cathedral, Dorothy. High hopes that C1 inherited the best from them both and that she’ll soar far and wide, and produce many progeny!

  8. This morning I saw both downtown adult peregrines; one was at the nest ledge and the other was perched on top of a 4th Ave building with 2 juvies. If I’m lucky to see them anymore it is only in the mornings.

  9. 11 10 hope and terzo are at the nest . They were going to each other terzo left hope is still at nest

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