Dorothy has always been a messy housekeeper but she normally keeps the nest clean until she’s finished brooding the chicks, eight days after they hatch. Last evening she broke with tradition.
Just after 6:00pm E2 brought a mourning dove for dinner for their half-day-old nestling. Dorothy couldn’t wait for him to prepare it and began plucking like crazy. The feathers flew!
Mission accomplished, the nestling ate his fill and fell asleep among the feathers.
Most peregrine nests are cleaner than this but Dorothy is an exception … in many ways.
Watch the action here on the National Aviary falconcam at the Cathedral of Learning.
(photos from the National Aviary snapshot camera at University of Pittsburgh)
Yes, Dorothy is a wonderful exception. The nestling is feisty and it looks as if mom will have her hands full. What a terrific mother’s day present!
Kate – do you have any news to share about Dori and Louie? Hope they are safe and well and have nestlings, too.
Pa Gal, we still haven’t found the Downtown peregrines’ nest so there’s now news yet.