26 March 2023
Four days ago I wondered if a female peregrine was challenging Morela at the Pitt peregrine nest because I hadn’t seen her on camera since Tuesday afternoon, 21 March. Yesterday morning Ecco was still present and calling to a female off camera. Was she Morela? Or had the challenger won?
The answer came yesterday around 6:15pm. After Ecco spent five minutes calling and bowing to an unseen female she appeared on camera. Morela is back!
This video shows only a small portion of time it took Ecco to entice her to the nest.
After he left she was so confident that the challenger was gone that she snoozed at the nest for an hour.
Stay tuned to the National Aviary Falconcam at the Cathedral of Learning to see what happens next.
(photos and video from the National Aviary falconcam at Univ of Pittsburgh)
Wonderful news! Thank you Kate – for all you do …
Happy to see this reunion!
What happens when egg laying is delayed?
No problem if the eggs are laid a bit later than usual. They just hatch later and the young fledge later.
What is latest they are known to lay eggs?
In 2020 Morela laid two eggs, the first on May 9, but at that time Ecco and Terzo were contesting the nest. Neither one helped her incubate so the eggs never hatched.
https://www.birdsoutsidemywindow.org/2020/05/22/why-isnt-he-helping/
So happy she is back. They had such a successful season last year, we need a repeat. She is a beautiful bird!!
Thanks for the update Kate. Good news!