22 April 2024
This morning at 11:02am the first of Carla and Ecco’s four eggs hatched at the Cathedral of Learning peregrine nest. Our glimpse was fleeting because Carla kept her back to the camera (above). Later in the hour she turned and we got a better view.
This slideshow from the streaming falconcam contains the best snapshots from the 11:00am hour with one chick, one pipped egg, and an empty eggshell. Carla ate the eggshell to regain the calcium she lost in laying the egg. The shell was nearly gone by noon.
You can see Ecco’s very brief visit at 11:42am in these video highlights.
He made another appearance in the 1:00 o’clock hour but I missed it.
Stay tuned to the National Aviary falconcam at Univ of Pittsburgh to see the remaining eggs hatch and the chicks grow up.
Happy Earth Day!
UPDATES:
- KDKA news: https://www.cbsnews.com/pittsburgh/news/egg-hatches-peregrine-falcon-nest-pitt-cathedral-of-learning/
- Joann connected that it looks like a 2nd egg hatched at 4:10pm.
- WPXI news: https://www.wpxi.com/news/local/cathedral-learning-peregrine-falcon-pair-welcome-first-chick/H6IY7K3RYZEPZLNV6QI5ORQILI/
(all photos and video are from the National Aviary falconcam at Univ of Pittsburgh)
Carla is mad about something. she flew out of the next making lots of noise.
Carla left just before 2:30 pm (perhaps carrying prey that Ecco brought her?) and Ecco came to sit on the eggs, and just as he was getting situated Carla came back and he looked like he was going to leave, then she left and he settled himself on the eggs. But he was having a tough time keeping the eggs and chick under him, and the eggs kept rolling out as he tried to tuck them in. Looks like maybe two have pips on them.
Looks like another egg may have hatched as at 4:10 PM I see half shell in the nest.
I am so happy!!! Been waiting a long time for this. Congratulations Carla and Ecco!!
That looked like Carla giving Ecco the business…”get out and don’t come back until you’ve got some food!”