21 May 2024
Yesterday was a big day for the Pitt peregrine chicks. The smaller chick made two new moves: He jumped up on the green perch and he snatched prey from his mother. Today will be even bigger. It’s Banding Day! The event is closed to the public (the room has a very strict occupancy limit!) but you’ll see the start and end on the falconcam.
Big Moves Yesterday: Green perch & Food snatch
Both big moves are shown in this video of snapshots.
Here’s a closer look at the snatching episode as seen on the streaming cam: Carla was about to kill and pluck a chimney swift when the male chick snatched it. Chaos ensued! When Carla couldn’t retrieve it she shouted to Ecco while the other chick begged loudly.
Banding Day Today:
You’ll know when Lead Bander Patti Barber of the Pennsylvania Game Commission goes out on the ledge to retrieve the chicks because you’ll hear Carla and Ecco shouting and the youngsters will huddle at the back of the box.
When the chicks are brought indoors they will receive health checks and leg bands and be returned to the nest in less than half an hour.
Stay tuned later today for banding photos and an update on the event.
(photo from the National Aviary falconcam at Univ .of Pittsburgh)
Checked the camera around 10:30 am. Chicks were cowering in the corner with fear in their eyes. Hope you got that egg out of the nest. That probably counts as toxic waste.
The egg was collected for testing.
Hello, Kate!
I collect the information for our Fort Wayne falcons (Moxie and Jamie), Carla’s parents, and was hoping you could share the names and band numbers for Carla’s two chicks that were banded on 5-21-24
Thank you!
Mary, I will email you