25 May 2021

If you’ve been putting off a trip to Tarentum to see the peregrines don’t wait any longer. This is the week to watch!

Thanks to Dave Brooke’s photos earlier this month we learned the chicks were 18-20 days old on 9 May so they must have hatched 19-21 April and are due to fledge around 29 May. The best time to watch peregrines is before the young fly. That’s this week through Memorial Day.

The Tarentum chicks were active outside the nest last weekend, walking on the pier and testing their wings. They begged loudly when their parents arrived, a sound that’s hard to miss from the Tarentum boat ramp.

Dave Brooke stopped by on Sunday 23 May and saw the youngsters preening. Click here for his video of the three chicks.

Later that day Lynn Mamros was on hand for a feeding. The chicks loafed on the pier, at top, then rushed their mother to get a share of dinner, a bird with long legs. (Peregrines eat birds.)

Visit the Tarentum boat launch or the sidewalk on 1st Avenue to watch the youngsters before they fly.  Click here for a map.

p.s. Lynn Mamros reminded me that the Tarentum Bridge will close for construction on 9 June. This closure will not affect the young peregrines. They will have left the pier long ago and will not be dependent on it by then.

(photos by Dave Brooke and Lynn Mamros)

21 May 2021

Peregrine watchers were thrilled last year when a pair of peregrines established a nest at a new site in rural Bradford County, PA. Observers could tell the male was banded but no one could read his bands until Teri Franzen captured a photo last week.

Art McMorris, Peregrine Coordinator at the PA Game Commission (PGC), confirmed that Black/Green 58/AP hatched at the Third Avenue nest site in Downtown Pittsburgh in 2018 in one of the most unusual nesting years we’ve ever seen in Allegheny County.

When Dori and Louie began to nest in the spring of 2018, the building below their nest was being renovated to become Keystone Flats. At first the work was indoors but when it moved outside the workers would need a crane too close to the nest.

The developer believed he could not wait 20-30 days for the young to fledge so he got a takings permit from US Fish and Wildlife who delegated the job to the PA Game Commission (PGC). PGC removed the chicks on 8 May 2018, took them to Humane Animal Rescue and banded them. (Read the story here.)

On 31 May 2018, when 58/AP and his brother were nearly old enough to fledge, PGC fostered them with an established peregrine pair at a cliff site in Luzerne County. In 2020 he was found nesting in Bradford County as shown on the map below.

It was a real surprise to discover that this city-born peregrine chose to nest in the country. During Pennsylvania’s peregrine recovery program many young peregrines were released at cliff sites but they usually ignored their rural beginnings and chose to nest on man-made structures in towns and cities. 58/AP came from an urban site and chose the country.

See stunning photos of 58/AP, his unbanded mate, and youngsters at Teri Franzen’s website: https://www.terifranzenphotography.com/gallery/birds/raptors/peregrine-falcons/

p.s. Because 58/AP and his parents were banded we know his genealogy. He’s the son of Downtown peregrines Dori (2007-?present) and Louie (2003-2019) and the grandson of Erie (1998-2007) and Dorothy (1999-2015) at the University of Pittsburgh. Dorothy was the matriarch who fledged 43 young at the Cathedral of Learning.

(photos by Teri Franzen and Doug Cunzolo, map from Wikimedia Commons)

19 May 2021

For many years we have taken for granted that peregrine falcons are always banded but that status changed more than three years ago. Morela and Ecco are both members of the new cohort of peregrines who were not banded as chicks because their species has made such a dramatic recovery.

This year Morela and Ecco’s youngsters join their parents in the ranks of the unbanded. Art McMorris, Peregrine Falcon Coordinator for the PA Game Commission, explains how this came about:

The Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) did not band peregrine falcons in 2020 because of COVID-19. A combination of formal restrictions and basic prudence made banding untenable. Among other things, banding requires a team working together at close quarters, which is impossible while practicing social distancing. At the same time, the recent upgrading of peregrine falcons in Pennsylvania from Endangered to Threatened made banding less imperative for management of the population.

Because of the high public interest in the peregrines at the University of Pittsburgh Cathedral of Learning, the PGC explored the possibility of banding the Pitt peregrine nestlings this year. However, a combination of logistical problems, including the availability of key personnel and issues related to COVID, made it impossible to proceed.

Although the Pitt peregrines will not be banded this year, viewers can follow the growth of the four Pitt nestlings on the National Aviary’s falconcam. Based on size, the four nestlings, which were 23, 23, 23 and 22 days old yesterday (18 May 2021) are 2 males, 1 female, and one uncertain but possibly also female.

— Art McMorris, Peregrine Falcon coordinator for PGC, 17 May 2021

Why are peregrines not banded anymore? The purpose of banding is to identify where a bird came from and where it was found later on. Since peregrines are no longer endangered, we don’t need to track them that much. Peregrine banding is becoming a rare event.

How much have peregrines recovered? In 2019 the PA Game Commission upgraded the status of peregrine falcons from Endangered to Threatened. Last year 64 pairs of peregrine nested in the state, significantly more than the 44 pairs we had before DDT wiped out peregrines east of the Mississippi in 1964.

When will the nest box be cleaned? The nest surface looks dirty with the remains of many feathered dinners. Because this nest is on a building, it is cleaned every year in late fall during the annual maintenance visit to the cameras. In a natural setting on a cliff the nest would never be cleaned.

It is normal for nestling peregrines — and bald eagles — to grow up near the remains of prey. As they get older they discover they can snack on the leftovers. Morela and Ecco were not banded so I’m sure their nests were never cleaned when they were babies.

Did you notice that the camera zoomed out? The streaming camera zoomed out yesterday so you can see more of the hidden nest areas. Nestbox “cleaning” during a banding visit is often done to find out what the young birds have been eating. Before the camera zoomed out I could tell you they ate pigeons, robins, starlings, cardinals and wood thrushes.

(photo from the National Aviary falconcam at Univ of Pittsburgh, map courtesy of PGC)

16 May 2021

If you thought the Pitt peregrine nest was messy two weeks ago when Morela plucked a dark-colored bird to feed four tiny chicks (1 May 2021, above), that was *nothing* to the mess on Friday 14 May when Ecco fed the chicks, below.

The mess grows with each feeding. It looked even worse yesterday.

Did you notice the changes in two weeks?

• Look how much the chicks have grown!
• Two weeks ago Morela did all the feedings. Now Ecco is feeding them, too.
• The chicks’ feathers are growing in on wings and tail and they have feather “faces.”
• In the last photo only 3 of the chicks are visible on camera. Find out how to see all 4 in yesterday’s article: Now You See Us, Now You Don’t.
• In the last photo, one chick is lying flat on its belly while another is sleeping standing up. As they age the chicks will stop belly-sleeping and roost upright instead.

Watch them grow at the National Aviary falconcam at Univ of Pittsburgh.

(photos from the National Aviary falconcam at Univ of Pittsburgh)

15 May 2021

At 20 days old, the Pitt peregrine chicks are actively walking all over the nest surface. The streaming camera cannot see the entire nest so you might be fooled into thinking that one or more chicks have “fallen” from the nest. Not at all. They are playing a game of Now You See Us, Now You Don’t.

A good example of this occurred yesterday, 14 May, at 12:38pm. Within one minute the streaming camera viewed four chicks, above, …

… then three chicks …

… then only two chicks.

To find out where they went, look at wider view on the snapshot camera at FALCONCAM–CL Snapshots.

Notice that neither camera shows the entire nest.

• The streaming camera cannot see the front right side near the green perch.
• The snapshot camera cannot see the back right corner and obscures chicks in deep shadow.

View images from both cameras to count 4 chicks. For instance at 12:38:50pm, two chicks are visible on the streaming camera in shadow at the back of the box.

Meanwhile 3 chicks are visible on the snapshot camera, one in deep shadow.

The red mark-up shows the location of chicks #3 and #4.

None of the chicks are missing. They are just very active.

Practice counting heads on the National Aviary falconcam at Univ of Pittsburgh and the snapshot camera at FALCONCAM–CL Snapshots.

(photos from the National Aviary falconcam at Univ of Pittsburgh)

10 May 2021

Western Pennsylvania peregrine families are very active at this time of year but we often don’t see it. In May the parents are feeding hungry chicks but the chicks are typically hidden from view. At most sites we won’t know if a nest is successful until the chicks appear — loudly — when they’re about to fledge in late May or early June. Right now I have news from only 4 (boldface) of our 11 regional sites.

1. Pittsburgh: Cathedral of Learning, Allegheny County
2. Pittsburgh: Downtown, Allegheny County
3. Monongahela Watershed: Westinghouse Bridge, Allegheny County
4. Monongahela River: Speers Railroad Bridge, Washington County
5. Ohio River: McKees Rocks Bridge, Allegheny County
6. Ohio River: Neville Island I-79 Bridge, NO PEREGRINES DUE TO CONSTRUCTION
7. Ohio River: Ambridge-Aliquippa Bridge, Beaver County, NO PEREGRINES SEEN FOR SEVERAL WEEKS
8. Ohio River: Monaca Railroad Bridge, Beaver County
9. Allegheny River: 62nd Street to Aspinwall Railroad Bridge, NO PEREGRINES NOW
10. Allegheny River: Tarentum Bridge, Allegheny & Westmoreland Counties
11. Allegheny River: Rt 422 Graff Bridge Kittanning, Armstrong County

Cathedral of Learning, University of Pittsburgh:

Yesterday the chicks were 14 days old (2 weeks): Their second down is long and fluffy and pin feathers are beginning to emerge at wing tips and tail. The chicks walk around on their tarsi and sit like white Buddhas.

In good weather their parents guard them from the nestrail (bulwark) above the nest. I’ve put yellow V’s on the photo below to show Ecco’s typical perch on the left and Morela’s in the center. When on the bulwark they are not visible on camera but you can see them with binoculars from Schenley Plaza.

Watch the family at the nest on the National Aviary falconcam at Univ of Pittsburgh.

Downtown Pittsburgh:

We know that the Downtown peregrines are nesting at Third Avenue this spring (yellow arrow) even though it’s impossible to see into the nest from the street. The best vantage point is from the sidewalk on Mt. Washington near the incline. Use a scope.

When they’re ready to fledge we can see them at Third Avenue.

Meanwhile, though the Gulf Tower nestbox is not in use an immature peregrine showed up on 4 May to have a look at the building. Photo by Ann Hohn at Make-a-Wish.

Monongahela Watershed: Westinghouse Bridge

The Westinghouse Bridge peregrines must be too busy to show themselves. Dana Nesiti visited the site yesterday and said, “[It] Took a while to find one of the falcons. It then flew to one of the arches and was hanging out. Didn’t hear any calls.”

Allegheny River, Tarentum Bridge:

On Saturday May 8 Dave Brooke stopped by 1st Avenue in Tarentum to film the Tarentum Bridge peregrines during a feeding. Click on the photo or caption above to see Dave’s video.

The three chicks already have “faces,” a trait that appears at 3 weeks old. Art McMorris estimates they are 18-20 days old. This means they are likely to fledge around 27 May 2021. Be sure to visit Tarentum before they go.

(photos by National Aviary falconcam at Cathedral of Learning, Kate St. John, Jeff Cieslak, Dana Nesiti, Dave Brooke)

7 May 2021

We know that peregrines are nesting in the Tarentum Bridge nestbox, circled above, thanks to observations and photos by Dave Brooke. On Friday 6 May, he wrote:

Yesterday (5 May 2021) I was able to see 2 young falcons in the box from Riverside Park. Both were all grey with black eyes. They walked inside the box and stretched their wings. They also shot poop out of the box. [They] can be seen in the right corner in this video I digiscoped. From your chicks aging blog Kate, these two would appear to be older than the Pitt young. … There could be a third.

— email from Dave Brooke, 6 May 2021

In Dave’s video you can see a chick’s head moving at the bottom right corner of the box opening. Do you see two?

On the same day at the Cathedral of Learning nest, the chicks were active but not walking around alone nor were they stretching their wings. The Pitt chicks hatched on 25 April. Based on behavior they are clearly younger than the chicks at Tarentum.

Using the descriptions and photos here — Peregrine Chicks Week-to-Week Development — can you guess how old the Tarentum chicks are?

(photo of the Tarentum Bridge by Amber Van Strien Treese, videos from Dave Brooke and the National Aviary falconcam at Univ of Pittsburgh)

4 May 2021

Last weekend the Pitt peregrine chicks reached a milestone. At seven days old they were able to thermoregulate (stay warm on their own) so Morela didn’t have to brood them anymore.

They also became more mobile, moving out of the scrape into the shade, then into the sun again. The chicks popped up to watch Ecco examine a corner of the box, “Hey, should we be over there?” And they pursued Morela across the gravel during the 1:45pm feeding.

Watch them move in this day-in-a-minute video.

Morela and Ecco keep a watchful eye on them, even when you don’t see the parents on camera.

“We’re stepping out!” say the chicks. They’re growing up fast.

Watch them on the National Aviary falconcam at Univ of Pittsburgh.

And for a peek at what will happen next, check out this Peregrine FAQ: Peregrine Chicks Week-to-Week Development.

p.s. The nestlings huddled yesterday because it rained all day. Today’s forecast calls for thunderstorms so they’ll huddle again when the storms roll in at 11am.

(photos from the National Aviary falconcam at Univ of Pittsburgh)

2 May 2021

Perhaps you’ve noticed that the Pitt peregrine nest stays clean during the chicks’ first week of life, then suddenly becomes a mess after a routine feeding. The reason has to do with the chicks’ age. This background explains why.

• Peregrines eat birds that they capture in flight (not on the ground). The male usually captures medium-sized songbirds because they are plentiful and smaller than he is.
• The male does all the hunting during incubation and brooding in the chicks’ first week of life. The female will start hunting when the chicks can be left alone.
• The female does all the feeding. (The male may do so later in the chicks’ lives.)
• Peregrines pluck their prey and remove the head and wings before eating. They can do this in flight or at a favorite perch.
• If the male is not in a hurry or the chicks are very young he completely prepares the prey — plucked, headless, wingless — before handing off to the female.
• When the chicks are old enough to learn how prey is prepared, the male hands over an unplucked bird. (Most males remove the heads. Ecco doesn’t bother.)
• When the female plucks, the nest gets messy.

The messy nest moment came yesterday morning, 1 May, at 6am. Ecco delivered a complete unplucked bird. It may have been a starling.

Morela plucked as she fed the chicks. Instant messy nest!

Yesterday the chicks ate 10 times in 24 hours. The nest got even messier!

Morela was in such a rush at the 7:09am feeding that the chicks ate feathers with their breakfast. No problem. It’s good for their digestion.

So what are they eating? It’s hard to see during this feeding at 11:54am.

But the leftovers tell the tale. There are prey heads on the gravel. I see four in this image from 11:56am on Saturday.

Circled below they are …

1. American robin
2. Wood thrush (at the 11:54 feeding)
3. European starling, appears to be male
4. European starling, male

Sigh. I wish they had not eaten a wood thrush. 🙁

With 10 feedings a day you have a pretty good chance to see one on the National Aviary falconcam at Univ of Pittsburgh.

(photos from the National Aviary falconcam at Univ of Pittsburgh)