Here’s news of Pittsburgh’s two “on camera” peregrine families:
- Dori and Louie + 3 chicks (G1, G2, G3) hatched 19 April at the Gulf Tower,
- Hope and Terzo + 3 chicks (C6, C7, C8) hatched 25 April at the Cathedral of Learning.
At the Gulf Tower the chicks are old enough that they don’t need to be brooded. Their parents are nearby but you usually can’t see them on camera … except in this photo.
When peregrine falcon chicks are two weeks old — May 3 at this nest — they walk off the scrape. These chicks have already begun walking (see below) so we’ll try to zoom out the Gulf Tower camera soon. If one chick “disappears” it’s only because he walked an inch out of view and we weren’t quick enough to zoom out.
After a disturbing start at the Cathedral of Learning, the adults are caring for three nestlings. These chicks are smaller than those at the Gulf Tower because they’re six days younger.
On Sunday April 30, Terzo was seen limping and favoring his left foot (shown below).
Those of us who’ve watched falconcams for many years know that injuries like this occur fairly often and the parents cope. Yesterday Terzo was limping less, so he’s getting better. If his foot heals nicely, that’s great. If it doesn’t, he’ll compensate. Meanwhile, the chicks will reach the no-more-brooding stage this week and their mother will resume hunting. Hope will help provide for them, too.
During yesterday’s thunderstorm and Tornado Watch(!) all five family members huddled in the Cathedral of Learning nest. Hope fed the chicks at the beginning of the storm, then everyone stood by and waited it out.
You can see that Terzo, on the left, is clearly smaller than Hope. This male-female size difference is typical of peregrine falcons.
(photos from the National Aviary falconcams at Gulf Tower and Cathedral of Learning)
Oh, how we love, both of these sets of parents, and their babies. Hope and pray for successful fledge at both sites. I guess it’s safe for me to watch COL again, but I really admire how DORI and Louie take care of their kids. Kate, THANK YOU so much for everything you do. You are always so willing to answer our questions and concerns, and it is greatly appreciated. Thanks
Wonderful photos, wonderful update.Thanks, Kate!
There was a falcon named Zephyr by the local nest monitors in South Bend, Indiana. He was unfortunate enough to lose his entire foot in a trap. He was fine afterwards.
Your updates are wonderful Kate! Thank you for your time and insight.
Aw, for a moment there just now it looked like Louie and Dori were both feeding the chicks simultaneously – I’ve never seen that before. First Dori was feeding the chicks and then Louie came in with a second bird and started looking back and forth from his bird to the rest of the family, nibbled at it a bit, and eventually brought it over and seemed to be feeding the chicks (though Dori’s back was in the way so I couldn’t quite tell for sure). There’s something new every day to see at these nests!
Trying desperately to reach you. I don’t do social media.
Oh-my-god! Did I just see what I thought I saw? One of the GULF peregrines eating a chick and then carrying off the remains?
Margaret, no you did not. Peregrine falcons eat bird species that are smaller than they are. That’s what you saw.
Keep in mind that it is EXTREMELY RARE for a parent peregrine to kill & eat it’s young. I have heard of only 2 incidents in the past 20 yrs(*) where this has happened. The 3rd one is Hope at the Cathedral of Learning (she is not at Gulf Tower) who has killed 3 chicks while hatching. It is well known that this is EXTREMELY RARE behavior.
(* 20 yrs is the length of time I have access to. Falconers have centuries of experience.)
At 4:10 pm there are 3 chicks in the nest at Gulf
I’m just in awe 3 chicks in each nest! Nature is a beautiful thing to watch. Thank you
I’m glad all were safe in yesterday’s storms.
Thank you so much Kate for these updates. So appreciated.
Oh my, I just saw one of the Pitt chicks attempt to swallow what was quite certainly a leg – it sat there attempting to swallow for a minute or so with a foot dangling out of its mouth, but was obviously having no luck. Hope made several attempts before she was able to pull the half-swallowed leg back out of her chick – makes my throat hurt just thinking about it!
I saw that also. I was a little nervous, hoping Hope could get it out, which she did but it took a few attempts.
Aw, one of the Gulf chicks is flapping her wings and taking little hop/steps around at the moment – wonder how long before they’re all ledge walking!
Little chicks at COL are really growing and getting very vocal. Just saw a great feeding and Hope made sure each one got fed. Then she immediately started to shelter and keep them warm for their nap. Both parents are really doing a great job. So thankful to watch this nest with pleasure and less worry as time goes by.
All the babies at both sites are getting so big! I never seem to see Terzo, do we know how his left foot is?
LuAnn, Terzo is often there but he looks so much like Hope that it’s hard to tell them apart.
Terzo was at the nestbox around 7:30AM this morning (05/08/17), and his foot appears to be much better. He is not limping and I could not see any apparent injury.
Hi Kate,
Any news on when banding may take place. For Gulf and Pitt- Cath
Thank you