For three days — 26 to 28 March 2020 — the Cathedral of Learning peregrine nest was eerily quiet. Morela hasn’t laid an egg and she was rarely on camera. Thanks to “Pa Gal’s” faithful nest watch we found out why.
Yesterday afternoon at 3:45pm Pa Gal saw the new unbanded male courting Morela for several minutes. Two hours later, John English reported Terzo back at the nest. The revolving door has turned again.
Yesterday’s Day In A Minute video (29 March 2020, 7a-7p) shows a nest that’s mostly empty until two peregrines show up at 3:45p.
The unbanded male peregrine bowed closely with Morela, then looked around and left. I believe he’s the same male from earlier this month with the bright orange cere and legs.
The situation at this point seems to be:
- Morela is the only female at the nest; no female challengers.
- Terzo was on camera twice on Wednesday morning, 25 March, then absent until 5:45pm on Sunday 29 March.
- I assume from Terzo’s absence that he was chasing away the other male for 3-4 days.
- The dispute between the males probably explains why Morela hasn’t laid an egg yet.
It was really hard to figure this out because my usual detective method failed. (The @pittpefaALERT Twitter feed died on 20 March and won’t be back until the COVID-19 shutdown is over.)
Please keep watching the National Aviary falconcam and tell me what you see and when! We’ll get to the bottom of this eventually.
(photos and video from the National Aviary falconcam at Univ. of Pittsburgh)
Morela was squatting in the scrape this morning (6 or 6:30-ish), just e-chupping like crazy for a long time. I thought she might be laying an egg, but not yet.
It’s 10:45AM on 3/30 and there was a single peregrine at nest. I didn’t see bands and the legs were bright yellow. Nor did I see apricot ticking on breast. Whoever I saw, (s)he appeared to be eating leftovers then trying the nest bowl out for size. About two minutes later it left the nest. Maybe someone could identify.
A lurker from St. Michaels, Maryland – the vacation home of Tundra Swans
At around 10:00, it was Terzo and Morela. Just now at 11:28, I couldn’t see bands – it appeared to be two unbanded birds but I didn’t get a good look. Man, revolving door is right!
PS – Hope that Kate and all you watchers and your families are safe and well!
Two birds at 11:37 – definitely unbanded.
Unbanded male and female @ 11:55
Someone was bowing with Morela around 11:37 this morning. I think it was the unbanded male.
2 birds bowing again around 12:27, couldn’t see the male’s legs well enough to tell who it was.
Thank you, everyone, for comments. Keep those observations coming! 🙂
Unbanded male delivered food @ 12:50 to female.
Brian, thanks for the heads up. Looks like someone brought food to Morela. The unbanded male went to the nest & called to Morela and she arrived, carrying the prey he gave her. This is a decisive move. Hmmmm. Terzo is out of the picture right now.
More activity at 3:35. I think it was Morela and the unbanded male again. I’m just looking at the snapshot camera so I don’t always get a picture that shows their legs well.
Terzo in @ 3:51
Hooray! Terzo arrived at 3:51 to bow with Morela! Up until then, I think it was the unbanded male in the nest. I had only seen Terzo at around 10:00, and thankfully, he’s back!
Oh my! Around and around we go.
Terzo’s back alone at 4;31. With Morela join him? Geez, he doesn’t hang out as long as his foe does. The unbanded guy and Morela tend to spend more time with each other.
Terzo back at the nest by himself at 4:32. Glad to see him return.
Now it looks like Terzo and Morela bowing at 4:39. I wonder if Morela is getting tired of the back and forth and thinking “Could you guys just settle this between yourselves and let me get on with egg laying?” 🙂
So Morela brought in prey to show to Terzo this time. And she bowed so low that her tail was way up in the air. Is that an invitation to mate?