28 March 2022

Since my last update on 14 March a Big Thank You goes out to everyone who went looking for peregrines in Southwestern PA, especially to Jeff Cieslak, Dave Brooke and Dana Nesiti. Jeff’s photo, above, has a second message. If you ever doubted the sorry condition of Pittsburgh’s bridges take a look at the underside of the California Avenue Bridge. Yikes!

At every site except Speers/Belle Vernon at least one peregrine has been seen this month. At sites with eggs it’s common to see only one bird. (Click here for a regional map of these sites.)

Cathedral of Learning, Univ of Pittsburgh:

From March 18 to 30 Morela laid 5 eggs (24-hour clock matches the falconcam).

• 3/18/2022, 08:31
• 3/20/2022, 20:09 (approx guess)
• 3/23/2022, 04:40 (approx)
• 3/26/2022, 06:32
• 3/30/2022, 19:08

The overnight egg-times were hard to determine but her 4th egg was easy to see just before dawn. After the 4th she resumed incubation immediately.

I believe that incubation began on 23 March so we can expect Hatch Day on or about 26 April 2022. Watch the nest “live” on the National Aviary falconcam.

Downtown Pittsburgh:

From the top of Mt Washington on 23 March 2022 Jeff Cieslak photographed a peregrine on the nest ledge at Third Avenue Downtown. The pair has not been seen simultaneously since 17 March.

Note on the Gulf Tower: The nestbox was removed in 2019 during masonry repairs and reinstalled in Feb 2021. No peregrines. Not since 2017. The camera is not streaming. Observers in the building will let us know if the peregrines show up.

Monaca RR Bridge, Ohio River:

Dante Zuccaro now reports a single peregrine almost every day, seen from the mouth of the Beaver River, most recently on 27 March.

Ambridge-Aliquippa Bridge, Ohio River:

No news since 8 March. If you’re in the vicinity, please take a look.

Sewickley Bridge, Ohio River:

After frequently seeing both peregrines at the Sewickley Bridge Jeff Cieslak found only one on 27 March. I’m encouraged that this bird is perched on the pier rather than the superstructure since the underside of the bridge is a much safer place for youngsters. Perhaps they have eggs in a nest under the bridge.

McKees Rocks Bridge / Ohio River Blvd, Ohio River:

On 22 March Jeff Cieslak saw a peregrine perched near Alcosan (which is near the McKees Rocks Bridge) but could not figure out where it came from. When it flew he followed it as best he could and returned the next day to investigate.

On 23 March he found a peregrine at the Ohio River Blvd bridge (below) which flew to the California Avenue bridge (shown at top). Perhaps this pair is nesting in the area of the McKees Rocks Bridge but not on it. Meanwhile, did you know that the decrepit California Ave bridge (at top) is rated in “fair” condition? Hmmm!

Westinghouse Bridge, Turtle Creek:

At the Westinghouse Bridge on 26 March Dana Nesiti watched the male bring in food and stash it near the nest area. He may have heard the female call from the nest but can’t be sure because a noisy train went by right then.

Tarentum Bridge, Allegheny River:

When Dave Brooke visits the Tarentum Bridge now he sees only one bird at a time, as on 22 March above. On 19 March his distant observation of the nestbox indicated that the female may have laid her first egg. The male was perched alone that day.

Graff Bridge, Rt 422, Kittanning, Allegheny River:

Dave Brooke found a peregrine at the Rt 422 Graff Bridge on 14 March (see this link). No news since then.

The best place to watch this bridge is from the Armstrong Trail near or under the Graff Bridge. Park here on Water Street in Manordale (click link) and walk north (upstream) on the Armstrong Trail. Tell me what you see.

Speers Railroad Bridge, Washington County, Monongahela River: No news since February. Any news at all — seen or “didn’t see” — would be welcome! Click here for a map of the best vantage point.

(photos by Kate St. John, National Aviary falconcam at Univ of Pittsburgh, Jeff Cieslak, Dana Nesiti, Dave Brooke and Wikimedia Commons)