16 May 2021
If you thought the Pitt peregrine nest was messy two weeks ago when Morela plucked a dark-colored bird to feed four tiny chicks (1 May 2021, above), that was *nothing* to the mess on Friday 14 May when Ecco fed the chicks, below.
The mess grows with each feeding. It looked even worse yesterday.
Did you notice the changes in two weeks?
- Look how much the chicks have grown!
- Two weeks ago Morela did all the feedings. Now Ecco is feeding them, too.
- The chicks’ feathers are growing in on wings and tail and they have feather “faces.”
- In the last photo only 3 of the chicks are visible on camera. Find out how to see all 4 in yesterday’s article: Now You See Us, Now You Don’t.
- In the last photo, one chick is lying flat on its belly while another is sleeping standing up. As they age the chicks will stop belly-sleeping and roost upright instead.
Watch them grow at the National Aviary falconcam at Univ of Pittsburgh.
(photos from the National Aviary falconcam at Univ of Pittsburgh)
They are such a joy to watch, and Morela and Ecco are wonderful parents. Thank you Kate for all the updates. It is very much appreciated.
When is banding day? Will you be allowed to be there this year? Will the nest be tidied at that time?
So far no banding is planned at Pitt this year. Even without a banding, the nest is cleaned up in the fall during the annual maintenance visit to the cameras.
Kate, in the past the banding gave them a chance to clean up the nest…the reason for no banding is related to shortage of personnel?? It makes it an area for flies & bugs , doesn’t it…the fall is months away…wow! This is the only post relating to this Ihave made….
See the answers in today’s blog post at https://www.birdsoutsidemywindow.org/2021/05/19/no-peregrine-banding-at-pitt-this-year/