A big thank you to everyone who attended last night’s event, Celebrate Pittsburgh’s Peregrines, and especially to Steve Sarro, Cathy Schlott, and Horace, the lanner falcon, from the National Aviary.
I had a great time and enjoyed catching up with old friends and meeting so many of you who read this blog.
I’ll post more pictures from the event as I have time to prepare them. Here’s one from Sharon Leadbitter.
Again, thank you. It was great fun!
(photo by Sharon Leadbitter)
There’s a new 360o view of the National Aviary penguins on the Post-Gazette website. The P-G uses a special video camera…which the penguins jump up on. You can hear them chirr at it. Very cool!
Yay!
The National Aviary’s peregrine falcon webcams are up!
You can watch live streaming video of Dorothy and E2 at the University of Pittsburgh’s Cathedral of Learning here …and… Louie and Dori at the Gulf Tower in downtown Pittsburgh here. If you bookmarked the links last year you’re already good to go.
This year the Aviary made improvements thanks to generous donations from the peregrine fans. The video is a lot more reliable with new streaming equipment installed by PixController. It’s incredibly easy to maintain and has none of the problems we experienced with the old Flash-encoding PCs. For you webcam buffs, you’ll appreciate that PixController installed the Axis Q7401.
Streaming is again hosted at Wildearth.tv and they, too, have made improvements with all an new streaming and chat setup.
And, new this year at the Gulf Tower are 4-per-minute snapshots, just like we have at Pitt. Check out the snapshot links at the bottom right of both webpages.
Our peregrines are courting, Dorothy and Dori will lay their eggs next month, and we’re ready for a great nesting season thanks to the National Aviary’s FalconCams.
It’s peregrine time!
(screenshot of the National Aviary falconcam at the Cathedral of Learning. Splash-screen is Pat Szczepanski’s photo of Dorothy at the Cathedral of Learning)
I’ve been so absorbed by peregrine season preparations that I forgot that this weekend, Friday February 18 through Tuesday February 21, is the Great Backyard Bird Count. Thanks to Anne Curtis for reminding me.
Here’s a descripton of the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) that I wrote last year (check out the cute photo), and two links from Anne: Scott Shalaway’s article in the Post-Gazette and the main Great Backyard Bird Count website where you can enter your count.
The weather will be pretty good for the count. Even if it isn’t, you can participate by counting from your kitchen window.
Wow! What a response!
By last Friday afternoon “Celebrate Pittsburgh’s Peregrines” was booked solid and we had to wait-list 15 people!
The good news is that today more spots became available, so we’re notifying those on wait list that they’re confirmed for the event.
If you want to come but haven’t made a reservation, don’t delay. Only 8 seats left! Email peregrines@wqed.org or call 412-622-1505.
Thanks for your support! I’m looking forward to March 7.
(photo by Kim Steininger)
Peregrine fans! I’ve planned this event just for you.
Gear up for peregrine season on Monday March 7, 2011, 6:00-8:00pm at WQED in Oakland, 4802 Fifth Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15213.
Join me to Celebrate Pittsburgh’s Peregrines!
We’ve met each other on the blog and corresponded online. Here’s a chance to meet face to face, learn about peregrines, and share our enthusiam for these charismatic birds.
I’ll present the life and history of Pittsburgh’s peregrines. Steve Sarro and Cathy Schlott, from the National Aviary, will join us with a special avian guest.
Light refreshments will be provided.
This event is free, but space is limited!
Reservations are required so call WQED at 412-622-1505 or email peregrines@wqed.org to reserve your space now.
Come learn about peregrines on this special evening devoted to our beloved birds.
I’m looking forward to meeting you!
Note: This event is geared toward adults (with wine and Powerpoint). Sorry, we cannot accommodate children under six years old.
(photo by Kim Steininger)
Coming this Sunday January 23 at 8:00pm on PBS’s Nature is a fascinating program you won’t want to miss: Birds of the Gods.
Narrated by David Attenborough, the show travels with Indonesian ornithologists to the remotest parts of New Guinea to film stunning birds-of-paradise.
New Guinea is a huge, mountainous, jungle-covered island north of Australia that had no mammalian predators until humans arrived. When they did, they were fascinated by these flashy birds whose courtship dances became part of human culture and whose feathers became essential symbols of status and wealth.
In Indonesian villages the feathers adorn elaborate headdresses and are used like money. Because the feathers are valuable the villagers protect their birds until needed for ornamentation. Unfortunately New Guinea’s habitat is changing. The program shows how local scientists are helping villagers preserve the headdresses with mothballs, allowing more birds to live.
Why are the feathers so valuable?
Birds-of-paradise are an excellent example of runaway selection. The drab females of these 40 species select mates who are “fashion icons.” All the males have elaborate feathers and amazing dance repertoires, but only the fanciest plumes and the best dance steps win a mate. The females watch intently, stepping in for a closer look. After thousands of generations only the most beautiful dancing males catch the females’ attention to reproduce.
To give you an idea of their beauty, shown above is a male Greater Bird of Paradise in courtship display. You can see his beautiful ruby tail and wings and his astonishing yellow-and-white upper tail coverts. This is only his back end! His chest is iridescent green.
But to really understand these birds you have to see them dance. The program has awesome video footage of courtship displays. My favorite is the ultimate fashion icon, the Superb Bird of Paradise. You have to see him to believe him!
Watch Birds of the Gods this Sunday, January 23 at 8:00pm EST on PBS. This news just in! Check your local listings! The show isn’t running on all stations.
In Pittsburgh, it’s on WQED.
(photo of a Greater Bird of Paradise in courtship display, by Andrea Lawardi via Wikimedia Commons. Click on the photo to see the original)
Yow! It’s 2011!
Time sure flies when you’re having fun.
Happy New Year!
(photo of a royal tern by Kim Steininger)
For a respite from the cold, visit Phipps Conservatory. Their Winter Flower Show runs until January 9.
(photo taken at Phipps Conservatory in 2008 by Dianne Machesney)
Are you starved for live bird activity on your computer? Do you miss the peregrine webcams?
Well, here’s something to pique your interest while you wait for spring. The National Aviary has installed a Penguin Cam at their African penguin exhibit.
If you haven’t met these penguins yet you’ll soon find out they’re photogenic, sociable and cute.
Because their native climate in South Africa is similar to Pittsburgh’s the penguins live outdoors with glass viewing areas for visitors. The clear cylinder at the back of the image is one such viewing area so don’t be surprised if you see a person in it. There’s no sound on the video but you can watch the penguins all night because infrared light illuminates the scene.
If you’re familiar with the Aviary’s peregrine falconcams, you’ll notice the Penguin Cam is similar but better than ever. PixController helped set it up, Wildearth.TV is streaming, and the new equipment behind the scenes is more reliable. The picture is sharper, the colors brighter and the image is much less likely to freeze. It’s such a good arrangement that this equipment is planned for the falconcams next spring.
Check out the Penguin Cam. Try out the new chat. Click on the image above to watch the action.
After you meet the penguins online I’m sure you’ll want to see them in person at the National Aviary.
(screenshot of the National Aviary’s Penguin Cam)
p.s. Scroll down the Penguin Cam webpage to learn more about African penguins and see a short video.