25 March 2023
UPDATE as of Saturday 25 March 2023, 7:15 PM: MORELA IS AT THE NEST!
News as of Saturday 25 March 2023, 8:00am:
On Wednesday morning, 22 March, I began to wonder if a female peregrine was challenging Morela at the Pitt peregrine nest. Morela hasn’t been seen on the falconcam since Tues 21 March at 3:32pm and two days have passed since I last saw her perched on campus (Wed 22 March at 4:14pm). Meanwhile Ecco waits and watches at the Cathedral of Learning.
Though none of us have seen any female peregrine for two days Ecco sometimes sees one in the sky — or maybe more than one. Yesterday afternoon he called to her from the nest. Whoever she was, she didn’t come in. Only Ecco knows whether she was Morela or the challenger.
Eventually a female will join Ecco at the nest so watch carefully at that point. Is she Morela? Or someone new?
Will there be eggs and chicks this year? No one can tell. Like Ecco, all we can do is watch and wait.
The drama continues off camera for now.
Stay tuned at the National Aviary Falconcam at the Cathedral of Learning.
(photos and video from the National Aviary falconcam at Univ of Pittsburgh)
Kate,
I discovered your blog when I discovered the Aviary’s cam last spring, and as an arm’s length bird admirer, I appreciate your updates and insights into what’s happening at the nest. I am as invested in the drama that’s unfolding this year as in any Netflix series. 🙂 It truly is nature’s version of Real Housewives!! Based on your reply and the other comment here, I’m sure the birds I saw on Wednesday were red tails — staying tuned to the cam and your posts, instead, to see how the story unfolds. Thanks again ~ MJ
the Harrisburg falcons also do not have eggs yet. Is it something in the atmosphere?
I hoping along with everyone else, Kate!!
Thanks for the update, and talons crossed that Morela and Ecco are able to maintain their presence at the nest. They have been such a wonderful pair to watch.
Someone has been on the front perch for at least the last 10 minutes or so and I don’t think it’s Ecco (Cere and feet look yellow).
It’s MORELA!!
Hooray!