28 February 2022
Peregrine nesting season is heating up and the birds are quite active before egg-laying begins. Here’s a roundup of peregrine news from the sites listed below plus a regional map. Notice the dates!
Cathedral of Learning, Univ of Pittsburgh:
At the Cathedral of Learning Morela and Ecco sometimes perch like bookends on the 32nd floor spouts, facing Heinz Chapel. Above, they are just dots in my cellphone photo (spouts circled in faint yellow).
The easiest way to see them is “live” on the National Aviary falconcam, especially when they court at the nest, video below.
Last year Morela laid her first egg on 17 March. When will her first egg appear this year?
Downtown Pittsburgh:
According to eBird, Montgomery Brown often sees a single peregrine from a vantage point at 4th and Cherry Way, most recently on 27 Feb. I’m looking forward to seeing both peregrines. Have they shown up at the 3rd Avenue nest site yet (photo above)? More observers needed!
Answering your questions about the Gulf Tower: The Gulf Tower nestbox was removed in 2019 during masonry repairs and reinstalled in Feb 2021. No peregrines. Not since 2017. The camera is not on. Observers in the building will let us know if the peregrines show up.
Monaca RR Bridge, Ohio River:
Dante Zuccaro reports one or two peregrines almost every day, seen from the mouth of the Beaver River. My guess is that they are perched on territory at the Monaca Railroad Bridge, as photographed by Jeff Cieslak in February 2019.
Ambridge-Aliquippa Bridge, Ohio River:
Yesterday Mark Vass saw two peregrines at the Ambridge-Aliquippa Bridge. But will they nest there? We have never been able to confirm it during the four years peregrines have been seen at this site.
Sewickley Bridge, Ohio River:
The Sewickley Bridge is the newest peregrine hangout on the Ohio River. Jeff Cieslak saw a pair there on 20 Feb 2022. Dean Newhouse photographed one on 24 February for his eBird checklist at Sewickley Riverfront Park.
Keep an eye on Sewickley this spring. A former peregrine nest site that’s just 3 miles away — the I-79 Neville Island Bridge — is still blocked for construction. Will peregrines nest at the Sewickley Bridge this year?
McKees Rocks Bridge, Ohio River:
This month the McKees Rocks Bridge peregrines are often seen from the North Shore Trail at the end of Westhall or Doerr Streets in the Chateau district. Jeff Cieslak photographed the pair on the power tower on 7 Feb (see his map below). Douglas Spindler recorded one in eBird, as seen from Doerr Street on 21 Feb.
Westinghouse Bridge, Turtle Creek:
The Westinghouse Bridge peregrines were very active last weekend. Dana Nesiti photographed them mating on 26 Feb and saw one chase a red-tailed hawk on 27 Feb. This pair is easy to see before the female lays eggs in mid to late March.
Tarentum Bridge, Allegheny River:
The Tarentum Bridge peregrines are active, too, seen and heard by Dave Brooke on 24 February as he described below.
The female was wailing from the catwalk this morning at 10:40. After about 15 minutes the male made a couple passes before flying up under the bridge deck. She went to the middle of the railing and perched and stopped wailing. My guess she was giving an advertisement wail and they could begin mating any time now?
— email from Dave Brooke, 24 Feb 2022
You bet they’ll be mating soon! The first egg last year was on or around March 10.
No recent news: There’s been no news since early/mid February from three sites. Observers needed!
62nd Street Bridge / Aspinwall Riverfront Park, Allegheny River: Look from either side of the river — Tree Pittsburgh or Sharpsburg — and tell me what you see.
Graff Bridge, Rt 422, Kittanning, Allegheny River: The best place to see peregrines is from the Armstrong Trail near or under the Graff Bridge. Last time I went I saw a canvasback duck on the river. If you go, tell me what you see.
Speers Railroad Bridge, Washington County, Monongahela River: Alyssa Nees photographed a single peregrine here on Valentine’s Day. Are there two?
With only 2-4 weeks of great peregrine viewing left before the nesting pairs “disappear” for incubation, now is the time to see peregrine falcons. Check out any site and tell me what you see.
Need directions? Leave a comment.
(photos by Kate St. John, National Aviary falconcam at Univ of Pittsburgh, Jeff Cieslak, Dana Nesiti, Dave Brooke)
What’s the status of the Gulf Tower nest box/cam?
The Gulf Tower nestbox was reinstalled a year ago. No peregrines. The camera is not on.
I too am wondering about the Gulf Tower box/ peregrines… Did I not read that Terzo (Morella’s former mate) had paired with Dori last year?
Susan, please see my answer to Nathalie above