UPDATE, 4 June 2019, 9:50am: For a short time we thought both had fledged. But only Red flew — back and forth to Heinz Chapel steeple. Yellow was still on the nest rail as of 1:15pm.
Yesterday at the start of Pitt Peregrine Fledge Watch, we figured out that a youngster had flown because his parents were perching and flying to unusual places. About 10 minutes later Hope and Terzo flew together — kind of crazy — and John English saw a third bird flying with them. Alas, I missed seeing that third bird.
But I found him on the 25th floor corner in the shade.
Eventually the sun moved.
He warmed up and flap-walked to the corner of 25 (top photo) and then disappeared, probably down to the patio. His parents flew above and perched nearby to check on him.
Youngster #1 kept going. By 3:40p, Peter Bell saw him on the edge of 16 facing Heinz Chapel. He’d already completed the circle tour of the Cathedral of Learning.
Meanwhile his brother was still on the nest rail when Fledge Watch ended at 1pm. He will probably fly today.
Come on down to Pitt Peregrine Fledge Watch today at Schenley Plaza, 11a to 1p. I predict this will be the best day to watch.
CANCELLATION UPDATE: We are canceling tomorrow’s Fledge Watch for Wed 5 June. Thunderstorms are in the forecast and the birds will be flying too well to find them. I chased ‘Red’ around the building twice today. This means that Fledge Watch ended today, Tues 4 June.
p.s. In case you haven’t noticed it’s All Peregrines, All The Time this week.
(photos by John English)
What wonderful news! Thank you for sharing the beautiful pictures.
Fingers crossed they make it through these next few days. Thanks for all of the updates Kate and thank you to all of the people that take the awesome pictures you post on your blog!
We saw a juvenile early this morning on the Cathedral 16th floor ledge. He was nestled down rather than standing so I don’t know if had slept there or was just resting. He flew off when we tried to get a closer look.
Do you have any inside scoop on the Hays eaglets fledging?
Kathy, sorry I don’t have news about the Hays eagles because I’ve been so busy with peregrines.
Hays eaglets are branching, which means they are hopping to the horizontal branches right by the nest. Kind of like when the peregrines do the ledge walking. So it will be soon.
They just started branching. So they will probably be fledging soon.