During the nesting season female peregrines typically lay one egg every two+ days. Though the interval is not exact, we were sure Morela’s clutch was complete when she began incubation after egg #3, laid egg #4, and did not lay another. We were surprised when Kim Getz saw five eggs yesterday afternoon. She sent me a snapshot. Oh my!
When did the fifth egg show up? Almost five days after the fourth.
First egg: 3/18/2022, 08:31am
Second egg: 3/20/2022, 20:09 = 2.5 days later
Third egg: 3/23/2022, 04:40 = 2.4 days later … began incubation
Fourth egg: 3/26/2022, 06:32 = 3.1 days later
Fifth egg: 3/30/2022, 19:08 = 4.5 days later
It is a very odd looking egg. One side is the normal reddish color while the other is white. Did her Morela’s body not lay down pigment on one side? Very odd.
The delayed fifth egg will make for a long hatch period. The first three eggs, incubated equally, will hatch on the same day. The fourth will probably hatch 2-3 days later, matching its appearance after incubation began. The fifth will probably hatch a week after the first three.
Les Leighton had his camera set up at Canada’s Vancouver harbor when a drama played out in front of him. A gull zipped by with both a bald eagle and peregrine falcon pursuing it in flight. What was it about that gull that attracted two predators at the same time?
Watch the chase and notice the difference between the eagle’s and peregrine’s hunting techniques. Why did both of them give up?
Peregrine at the California Avenue Bridge (vicinity of McKees Rocks Bridge), 23 March 2022 (photo by Jeff Cieslak)
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.)
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:
Downtown peregrine at nest on Third Avenue, 23 March 2022 (photo by Jeff Cieslak)
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.
Railroad bridge over the Ohio River from Monaca to Beaver (photo by Kate St.John)
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:
Ambridge Bridge with a peregrine on top, 20 Feb 2020 (photo by Kate St. John)
No news since 8 March. If you’re in the vicinity, please take a look.
Sewickley Bridge, Ohio River:
Peregrine on the Sewickley Bridge, 27 March 2022 (photo by Jeff Cieslak)
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:
Peregrine on the smokestack near McKees Rocks Bridge, 22 March 2022 (photo by Jeff Cieslak)
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!
Peregrine at Ohio River Blvd Bridge, 23 March 2022 (photo by Jeff Cieslak)
Westinghouse Bridge, Turtle Creek:
Male peregrine comes in for a landing at Westinghouse Bridge, 26 March 2022 (photo by Dana Nesiti)
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.
Male peregrine at Westinghouse Bridge, 26 March 2022 (photo by Dana Nesiti)
62nd Street Bridge / Aspinwall Riverfront Park, Allegheny River:
Aspinwall RR Bridge, 12 Feb 2022 (photo by Kate St. John)
On 15 March Andrew Mumma saw gulls harass a peregrine falcon perched on the Aspinwall Railroad Bridge, shown above. Where did the peregrine come from? We don’t know but the 62nd Street Bridge is not far away.
62nd Street and Highland Park bridges as seen from underneath Aspinwall RR bridge (photo by Kate St. John)
Look for peregrines at the 62nd Street Bridge from either side of the river — on the Pittsburgh side or Etna Riverfront Trail. Tell me what you see. (Click the links to see maps.)
Tarentum Bridge, Allegheny River:
Female peregrine at Tarentum Bridge, 22 March 2022 (photo by Dave Brooke)
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.
Male peregrine at the Tarentum Bridge, 19 March 2022 (photo by Dave Brooke)
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.
Six of us braved the drizzle yesterday morning at Duck Hollow and were rewarded with an exciting visit from one of the Hays bald eagles. Connie Gallagher captured part of the action in photos.
Five of 6 participants at the Duck Hollow outing, 20 March 2022 (photo by Kate St. John)
It all began with two herring gulls on the mud spit, manipulating a large fish.
Two herring gulls with a big fish, 20 March 2022, 8:45am (photo by Connie Gallagher)
The gulls hadn’t made much progress opening the fish when they saw the male Hays bald eagle flying upriver toward Duck Hollow. All the waterbirds could tell the eagle wanted that fish. The ducks stayed put, the gulls quickly stashed the fish and flew up calling and complaining.
The eagle made three dropped-talon passes at the fish but it was too hard to grab in flight. Meanwhile the gulls divebombed him and chased him every time. That fish was stashed so tightly that the eagle would have to land to get it. But the gulls were relentlessly annoying.
Finally the eagle left and the gulls resumed their meal, watched by a crow.
Herring gulls resume their meal, 20 March 2022, 10am (photo by Connie Gallagher)
Right away she stepped back to let it dry. After a minute or two she turned it.
Because peregrine falcons don’t begin incubation until the next-to-last egg is laid, Morela won’t sit on this one until she’s laid (probably) three eggs. Then she’ll lay one more — if her clutch size last year is any guide.
Today it is warm in Pittsburgh — 63oF — so Morela can safely leave the egg in the sun.
Morela dozes at the nest, simultaneously guarding her first egg, 18 March 2022, 11:16am
Peregrine at the Sewickley Bridge, 3 March 2022 (photo by Jeff Cieslak)
14 March 2022
Until they begin incubating eggs two to four weeks from now, our local peregrine falcons are quite visible. If you want to see peregrines, now is the time.
Most sites have recent observations but some have no reports in March — probably not because there are no peregrines but because no one has looked. Take some time this month to look for peregrines at the sites without March reports. Click here for a regional map. More info at end.
Cathedral of Learning, Univ of Pittsburgh:
Morela has been spending every night at the nest since the beginning of March. She and Ecco court here and mate off camera. In the video below Ecco chirps at her for 8+ minutes on 11 March before she joins him. (I shortened the time with a “fade to black.”)
Watch the nest “live” on the National Aviary falconcam. Last year Morela’s first egg was on 17 March. Soon!
Downtown Pittsburgh:
Downtown peregrine nest building, Third Avenue (photo by Lori Maggio, 2013)
Montgomery Brown is still seeing a single peregrine from a vantage point at Oxford Center, most recently on 11 March. Has anyone been to 3rd Avenue lately? We need more observers.
Railroad bridge over the Ohio River from Monaca to Beaver (photo by Kate St.John)
Dante Zuccaro reports one or two peregrines almost every day, seen from the mouth of the Beaver River, most recently on 12 March.
Ambridge-Aliquippa Bridge, Ohio River:
Ambridge Bridge with a peregrine on top, 20 Feb 2020 (photo by Kate St. John)
If you’re in the vicinity of the Ambridge-Aliquippa Bridge, check the top of it. Mark Vass saw a pair of peregrines there on 6 March. I saw a solo bird on 8 March.
Sewickley Bridge, Ohio River:
Peregrine on the Sewickley Bridge, 3 March 2022 (photo by Jeff Cieslak)
The peregrines at the Sewickley Bridge have been very active lately. Jeff Cieslak saw them on 3 March, I saw them on 8 March from Sewickley Riverfront Park, Mark Vass saw them on 10 March.
In the photo below Jeff Cieslak shows where they were perching on 3 March.
Two peregrines on the Sewickley Bridge, 3 March 2022 (photo by Jeff Cieslak)
It looks like one is banded per Jeff’s photo! Can’t read the bands yet. I wonder who this is.
Peregrine flying near the Sewickley Bridge appears to be banded, 3 March 2022 (photo by Jeff Cieslak)
Westinghouse Bridge, Turtle Creek:
Peregrine pair at Westinghouse Bridge, 12 March 2022 (photo by Dana Nesiti)
When Dana Nesiti visited the Westinghouse Bridge on 12 March one of the peregrines was nearly invisible. He found it by looking through the walkway grating, circled in bold yellow in his photo. (I circled the visible bird in thin yellow.)
This is a great example of how peregrines can fool you until they fly.
Peregrine at Westinghouse Bridge, 12 March 2022 (photo by Dana Nesiti)
Tarentum Bridge, Allegheny River:
Peregrine pair at Tarentum Bridge, 14 March 2022 (photo by Dave Brooke)
Dave Brooke sees the Tarentum Bridge peregrines every time he visits, sometimes one sometimes both.
On 6 March Dave noticed that the female’s left wing appears to be scraped. Perhaps she was in a fight. Obviously she won.
Peregrine at the Tarentum Bridge, 6 March 2022 (photo by Dave Brooke)
Female peregrines molt their primary wing feathers while incubating. She will eventually replace these feathers too and be back to normal. She is due to lay her first egg soon.
Peregrine at the Graff Bridge, Rt 422, Kittanning, 14 March 2022 (photo by Dave Brooke)
UPDATE at 2pm on 14 March: Dave Brooke went up to the Graff Bridge on the Manordale side this morning and found a peregrine. The bird was totally unconcerned about local crows, a bald eagle, and noisy traffic on the bridge. Just preening.
Peregrine preening at the Graff Bridge, 14 March 2022 (photo by Dave Brooke)
If you go: The best place to see peregrines 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.
No recent news: No news since February at three sites. Can you help?
McKees Rocks Bridge, Ohio River:
McKees Rocks Bridge with ALCOSAN in foreground (photo from Wikimedia Commons)
The easiest place to observe the McKees Rocks Bridge and nearby power tower perches is at this eBird hotspot on Doerr Street.
62nd Street Bridge / Aspinwall Riverfront Park, Allegheny River:
62nd Street Bridge from the Pittsburgh side (photo by Kate St. John)
Over the weekend the 62nd Street Pittsburgh side was inaccessible due to a water main break. Visit this site from either side of the river — on the Pittsburgh side or Etna Riverfront Trail — and tell me what you see. (Click the links to see maps.)
In April nesting peregrines will be on eggs and very, very secretive. It will seem that they have abandoned their sites — but they haven’t. Go look for them now. Tell me what you see.
After yesterday’s sunny Spring weather we are waking up to snow this morning. Fortunately Pittsburgh missed the heavy snow and blizzard conditions to our east.
Last night Morela slept in the open at the Cathedral of Learning peregrine nest. You can tell that her feathers provide excellent insulation because several inches of snow did not melt right next to her body.
At the start of the nesting season it’s a good sign when the female peregrine spends the night at the nest. She is thinking about laying eggs.
For the past two nights, February 28 and March 1, Morela has spent part of each night at the Cathedral of Learning peregrine nest.
On the night of Feb 28-to-Mar 1 she arrived just before midnight and roosted on the green perch until 35 minutes before sunrise. By then it was light enough that Ecco woke up and called to her. Turn up your speakers and you’ll hear both voices in the video. Morela’s is gravelly, Ecco’s is a high squeak in the distance.
The pair had a busy day yesterday. At noon I saw them mating on the 38th floor ledge on the Heinz Chapel side, a location that can only be seen from the ground. Peregrines are very ostentatious when they mate because it’s a signal to all other peregrines that this territory is occupied and both birds are present. Very present!
At the end of the day Morela arrived at 6:17pm and waited for darkness before hopping up to the green perch.
She left at 2am, then returned this morning at 5am to wait for Ecco at dawn.
When will Morela lay her first egg? Last year her first egg was on 17 March. Stay tuned to the National Aviary falconcam to see when.
(photos and videos from the National Aviary falconcam at Univ of Pittsburgh)
Peregrine nesting season is heating up and the birds are quite active before egg-laying begins. Here’s a roundup of peregrine news from the sites listed below plus a regional map. Notice the dates!
Peregrine locations in Southwestern PA (annotated by Kate St. John)
Cathedral of Learning, Univ of Pittsburgh:
At the Cathedral of Learning Morela and Ecco sometimes perch like bookends on the 32nd floor spouts, facing Heinz Chapel. Above, they are just dots in my cellphone photo (spouts circled in faint yellow).
The easiest way to see them is “live” on the National Aviary falconcam, especially when they court at the nest, video below.
Last year Morela laid her first egg on 17 March. When will her first egg appear this year?
Downtown Pittsburgh:
Will the peregrines use this location in 2022? (photo by Kate St. John)
According to eBird, Montgomery Brown often sees a single peregrine from a vantage point at 4th and Cherry Way, most recently on 27 Feb. I’m looking forward to seeing both peregrines. Have they shown up at the 3rd Avenue nest site yet (photo above)? More observers needed!
Answering your questions about the Gulf Tower: The Gulf Tower nestbox was removed in 2019 during masonry repairs and reinstalled in Feb 2021. No peregrines. Not since 2017. The camera is not on. Observers in the building will let us know if the peregrines show up.
Monaca RR Bridge, Ohio River:
Two peregrines at Monaca RR Bridge in Feb 2019 (photo by Jeff Cieslak)
Ambridge Bridge, 20 Feb 2020 (photo by Kate St. John)
Yesterday Mark Vass saw two peregrines at the Ambridge-Aliquippa Bridge. But will they nest there? We have never been able to confirm it during the four years peregrines have been seen at this site.
Sewickley Bridge, Ohio River:
Peregrine atop the Sewickley Bridge, 20 Feb 2022 (photo by Jeff Cieslak)
The Sewickley Bridge is the newest peregrine hangout on the Ohio River. Jeff Cieslak saw a pair there on 20 Feb 2022. Dean Newhouse photographed one on 24 February for his eBird checklist at Sewickley Riverfront Park.
Keep an eye on Sewickley this spring. A former peregrine nest site that’s just 3 miles away — the I-79 Neville Island Bridge — is still blocked for construction. Will peregrines nest at the Sewickley Bridge this year?
McKees Rocks Bridge, Ohio River:
Peregrine at the power tower near the McKees Rocks Bridge, 7 Feb 2022 (photo by Jeff Cieslak)
This month the McKees Rocks Bridge peregrines are often seen from the North Shore Trail at the end of Westhall or Doerr Streets in the Chateau district. Jeff Cieslak photographed the pair on the power tower on 7 Feb (see his map below). Douglas Spindler recorded one in eBird, as seen from Doerr Street on 21 Feb.
Map of McKees Rocks Bridge area including power tower (screenshot from Google maps markup by Jeff Cieslak )
Westinghouse Bridge, Turtle Creek:
Male approaching the female, Westinghouse Bridge, 26 Feb 2022 (photo by Dana Nesiti)
The Westinghouse Bridge peregrines were very active last weekend. Dana Nesiti photographed them mating on 26 Feb and saw one chase a red-tailed hawk on 27 Feb. This pair is easy to see before the female lays eggs in mid to late March.
Peregrines mating at Westinghouse Bridge, 26 Feb 2022 (photo by Dana Nesiti)Red-tailed hawk flips upside down to fend off a Westinghouse peregrine, 27 Feb 2022 (photo by Dana Nesiti)
Tarentum Bridge, Allegheny River:
Peregrine at the Tarentum Bridge, 24 Feb 2022 (photo by Dave Brooke)
The Tarentum Bridge peregrines are active, too, seen and heard by Dave Brooke on 24 February as he described below.
The female was wailing from the catwalk this morning at 10:40. After about 15 minutes the male made a couple passes before flying up under the bridge deck. She went to the middle of the railing and perched and stopped wailing. My guess she was giving an advertisement wail and they could begin mating any time now?
— email from Dave Brooke, 24 Feb 2022
You bet they’ll be mating soon! The first egg last year was on or around March 10.
No recent news: There’s been no news since early/mid February from three sites. Observers needed!
62nd Street Bridge / Aspinwall Riverfront Park, Allegheny River: Look from either side of the river — Tree Pittsburgh or Sharpsburg — and tell me what you see.
62nd Street Bridge from the Pittsburgh side (photo by Kate St. John)
Graff Bridge, Rt 422, Kittanning, Allegheny River: The best place to see peregrines is from the Armstrong Trail near or under the Graff Bridge. Last time I went I saw a canvasback duck on the river. If you go, tell me what you see.
Under the Graff Bridge as seen from the Armstrong Trail, 2022 (photo by Kate St. John)
Speers Railroad Bridge, Washington County, Monongahela River: Alyssa Nees photographed a single peregrine here on Valentine’s Day. Are there two?
With only 2-4 weeks of great peregrine viewing left before the nesting pairs “disappear” for incubation, now is the time to see peregrine falcons. Check out any site and tell me what you see.
Magnum at Neville Island Bridge, 28 Feb 2015 (photo by Anne Marie Bosnyak)
3 February 2022
In 1970 peregrine falcons were listed as Endangered or Threatened in Pennsylvania but by last year (2021) their population had recovered so fully from extirpation during the DDT era that they were removed from both lists by the PA Game Commission.
Their status was different seven years ago. On Throw Back Thursday here’s a look back at peregrines from the winter of 2015.
The Neville Island I-79 Bridge was a favored nesting spot in 2015, guarded by the reigning female Magnum from Canton, OH. The bridge has been under construction and inaccessible to peregrines for the past two nesting seasons but when it opens up again I expect to see a pair nesting there. Magnum won’t be one of them. She disappeared around 2019.
In 2015 peregrines were not common at all so it was amazing to see one looking in an office window in Johnstown, PA that January.
Screenshot from WJAC news of Johnstown peregrine, January 2015
When peregrines were endangered in Pennsylvania their chicks were banded so we could find out where they went. In February 2015 we learned that one of Downtown Pittsburgh’s youngsters was spending the winter in Wetzel County, West Virginia about 60 miles west of Morgantown.
Peregrine falcon bands captured on camera at Wetzel County 911, New Martinsville, WV
Peregrines’ endangered status also meant that the PA Game Commission installed nestboxes at well-used nesting sites that had dangerous outcomes for the chicks. In February 2015 they installed a nestbox on the pier at the Tarentum Bridge.
Tarentum Bridge nestbox project, The Bucket Truck, 27 Feb 2015 (photo by Kate St. John)
Peregrines falcons are doing so well in PA now that the Game Commission no longer bands peregrine chicks nor do they install nestboxes. Nowadays there are more adult peregrines than good nesting sites in PA. This winter, watch for floaters lurking to claim good territories.
