22 June 2018:
Yesterday was a big day for peregrine falcon news. There are updates from four sites.
Downtown Pittsburgh’s peregrines: formerly at Third Avenue
On Wednesday the PA Game Commission Southwest Region issued a press release on the status of the Downtown peregrine chicks that were removed from their nest on 8 May (pictured at top on 15 May). I have not seen the press release so my source for this news is John Hayes’ 21 June 2018 article in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: Displaced Pittsburgh peregrine falcon chicks resettle in new home in northcentral PA.
Though two of the chicks passed away I am happy to learn that the remaining two were fostered at a wild peregrine nest on a cliff in north central Pennsylvania. One of them is shown in a tree above just after release. He was wetted down to insure he would not fly abruptly.
Fostering is much better than hacking. In hacking, the chicks have no parents to learn from. In fostering, the chicks are placed in a family with chicks of similar age. The family accepts the newcomers and the parents feed and teach everyone.
Please read John Hayes’ article for all the details.
UPDATE, 11am: I received the PGC Press Release (click here to read the entire release). Here’s my favorite quote from it:
“The Pennsylvania Game Commission on May 31 transported the chicks from a wildlife rehabilitation facility to the nest, where both adult and young peregrines had been seen. It quickly was apparent the adults at the nest accepted the new chicks as their own. The chicks were seen at the nest the next day, with chicks that had hatched in the nest and their parents.”
Elizabeth Bridge, Monongahela River, Allegheny County
Unfortunately, the Elizabeth Bridge nest site is dangerous for peregrine fledglings. This year we’ve learned that they land on the roadway on first flight. One fledgling was found dead on 5 June, the other was found injured on 3 June and taken to Wildlife Works rehab center.
Yesterday we heard good news of the surviving juvenile, embedded below from Wildlife Works, Inc Facebook page. (Click here for a full-length photo.)
During the week of 10 June observers checked the bridge often for signs of continued nest activity — especially looking for food deliveries — but there were none. The parents remain at the bridge. PennDOT has resumed construction work on the entire bridge.
Tarentum Bridge, Allegheny River, Allegheny-Westmoreland Counties
By now at least one of the three juveniles has fledged. Rob Protz reported this activity on 20 June 2018:
Tarentum: Fledge watch Wed. evening (between the raindrops).
The smaller juvenile was not seen. The two larger juveniles were present, mostly on top of the nestbox, though one did wander down to the downriver end of the railing early on after 6 PM. There was one visit by an adult – probably a food drop – but since it was mostly behind the box, it wasn’t very visible. One juvie did jump down and stay behind the box for a while at that point.
Visit the Tarentum Bridge soon to see the young peregrines.
Cathedral of Learning, University of Pittsburgh
On Midsummer morning, Hope and Terzo made a quick visit to the nestbox and bowed to each other. Though they will not nest again this year bowing strengthens their pair bond.
(photo credits:
screenshot of Downtown peregrine chicks 15 May 2018 from Humane Animal Rescue,
peregrine at Elizabeth Bridge by John English,
injured juvenile peregrine from Elizabeth Bridge embedded from Wildlife Works Facebook page,
juvenile peregrines at Tarentum Bridge by Steve Gosser
Terzo and Hope at Cathedral of Learning from the National Aviary snapshot camera at Univ of Pittsburgh)
So sad to learn that 2 of the downtown chicks died from an infection. Maybe they would not have died had they been left at the nest. But then they could have perished on the street downtown. Will never know. Hopefully the 2 surviving chicks fostered will flourish. Are any updates on them planned??
Patti, I doubt there will be further updates. The chicks are banded so we might hear that one of them is found nesting somewhere but the earliest that would happen is Spring of 2020. Whenever I receive news like that, I publish it on the blog.
Ever examine Mount Washington for Peregrine nesting?
Kurt, yes I have but Mount Washington isn’t steep and sheer enough. Peregrines like sheer rocky cliffs that mammals can’t walk up and down. Before peregrines went extinct of the Mississippi there was only 1 known peregrine nest site in southwestern PA — in Fayette County. They no longer nest there because the habitat has changed so much. If they didn’t use buildings and bridges we would not have them in southwestern PA.
Sure hope the Tarentum chicks survived the rainstorm if they were about to fledge! Has anyone seen them since?
Robin, I don’t know. However I think the rain was not nearly as bad at Tarentum on Wednesday night as it was in the South Hills. We would have heard about it if it was.
Robin, news from Rob Protz as of Friday evening 6/22: All three juvies were seen on the mid-river pier (the location of the nestbox).
Thank you Kate for all your great work in keeping us informed. I am so happy to learn that 2 of the chicks from Gulf Building are in an actual nest and have been accepted by the parents. Great work by the PA Game Commission and everyone involved. I had not expected such a good outcome!!
Where in Fayette county?
Jacobs Creek