Just before I logged out this morning I checked the Pitt falconcam one last time and saw Morela bowing and e-chupping to “no one.” Yes, a male peregrine was perched and bowing above the falconcam, out of sight to us but visible to her.
Soon the unbanded male jumped into the nest and bowed with her. Then he looked around in a nervous way as if another male (Terzo?) might show up at any minute.
Only time will tell which male peregrine is in charge at the Cathedral of Learning. In any case, the new guy is still here.
(snapshot from the National Aviary falconcam at Univ of Pittsburgh)
Morela has been in the nest calling for the past 15 minutes, at least, and it looks like the unbanded male finally joined her for a few minutes, but looked around nervously and left quickly.
Morela was alone in the nest when I logged on, softly chirping. He arrived back again at 9:04, joining Morela for a quick bow. He left at 9:05; she left at 9:06. There was a bit of chirping off camera but it’s silent now.
I wonder if the nesting sites at the bridges are often contested like this, and that is why you see peregrines there some years but no young?
Just looked at nest and there is an egg, 5:17 a.m.!!
At 8:42am on 5/8, the unbanded male joined Morela in the nest for a brief visit. He jumped into the scrape, then moved to the green strip, then off camera, all in about a minute. She’s still there at 8:53, standing quietly in the middle of the box.
At 9:08. he’s back for a brief bow with Morela, a short stint on the green strip, and then he jumped up on the roof. Again, just took about a minute.
Morela was in the nest alone when I logged in, but about 10 minutes later (9:10am) the new guy joined her, bowed for half a minute, jumped onto the rail, looked around, then took off. I think I heard faint wailing in the background shortly after he left Morela alone in the nest again.
Did you see the egg ? at the nest. I saw it this morning May 9 at 3:39am. Maybe I’m crazy
Michelle! Thanks for telling me about the egg. I had given up. What amazing news!!