8 February 2021
On 17 January 2021 Alyssa & Hanna Nees were on the road when they saw a peregrine falcon near the I-70 Belle Vernon Bridge over the Monongahela River. They posted on eBird: “Perched next to road on top of a crane. Could not stop safely to photograph.”
PGC’s Peregrine Falcon Coordinator, Art McMorris, passed on their report to peregrine volunteers in southwestern PA and on 4 February 2021 Jeff Cieslak posted to Pittsburgh Falconuts: (note PEFA=peregrine falcon)
John English suggested I might like to check out the Belle Vernon I-70 bridge, as some folks had spotted some PEFAs there lately. And, since I was in the vicinity (North America), I decided to drive an hour down there today on spec to see what’s what. I only saw this one [see photo at top] but it was easy to spot right away — on the westernmost pier of the Speers railroad bridge.
— Jeff Cieslak post to Pittsburgh Falconuts, 4 January 2021
Two days later Dana Nesiti made the trip and got photos of the peregrine’s black/green bands.
Peregrine at Speers RR Bridge, 6 Feb 2021 (photo by Dana Nesiti)
And on 7 February Joe Ciferno got stunning photos as well.
Art McMorris identified the peregrine yesterday as …
68/AC Black/Green is a male banded on 5/23/2012 at the University of Pittsburgh Cathedral of Learning. This is the first re-sight of him that I know of since he fledged from the Cathedral nest.
— email from Art McMorris, 7 Feb 2021
We know this bird!
Son of Dorothy and E2, 68/AC and his two brothers hatched at the Cathedral of Learning in April 2012 and fledged on 5 June 2012. With red tape on his USFW band — long since worn off — he was easy to recognize in Pete Bell’s photos on 8 June 2012.
In the brief span of time between banding and dispersal we identified the fledglings by the color of their tape (Blue, Yellow and RedBoy). Of the three, 68/AC is the only one who’s been reported since 2012. Blue died in June 2012 when he hit a window on Craig Street. There is no news of Yellow.
Nine years later it’s nice to see an old friend at the Speers Railroad Bridge. If you want to visit him use Jeff Cieslak’s Google map link: https://goo.gl/maps/vMfg5683jNNgPM6Q6
(photos by Jeff Cieslak, Dana Nesiti and Joe Ciferno, Jr)
All peregrine success stories are good news, but it’s especially comforting somehow to know that Dorothy’s line continues.
Totally agree with Stacey. And any mention of Dorothy or her offspring brings a great big smile to my face.
The Rochester watchers are commenting that there is definitely a family resemblance with our Beauty. He also has the same fierce look as his older sister. Awesome news to hear about her sibling.