30 April 2021

If you’ve been following the Pitt peregrines for a couple of years you know that this nesting season is very special. We are watching good, attentive parents raising four healthy chicks.

It’s been 10 years since we’ve had a normal nesting season with a large family at the Cathedral of Learning. The last time was in 2011 when Dorothy and E2 raised four chicks.

Dorothy was twelve years old that year and at the pinnacle of her breeding success. As she aged her fertility declined to zero, 2012-2015. She was replaced by Hope, the aberrant female peregrine who killed and ate some of her chicks every year, 2016-2019. Morela replaced Hope in late 2019 but last year, 2020, was a failure because of Terzo and Ecco’s unresolved competition. Ecco triumphed in February 2021.

This year we have a happy family. Enjoy this 12-minute video of Morela feeding her chicks on Wednesday 28 April 2021 at 1:00pm. As the video opens, Ecco has already handed off prey to Morela and is guarding the chicks until she returns.

In case you miss the feedings, rest assured that the chicks are fed seven times a day. Watch for the feedings from 5:30am (before dawn) through 7:00pm in this Day-in-a-Minute video on 28 April. NOTE: It was so hot that day (81 degrees F) that Morela draped her wings over the chicks.

This table shows the history, 2011-2021.

Peregrine Nesting Success at Cathedral of Learning, 2011-2021

Year	Peregrine Pair	Chicks Fledged	Notes
2011	Dorothy & E2	4 chicks
2012	Dorothy & E2	3
2013	Dorothy & E2	1	2 of 5 eggs hatched, 1 died
2014	Dorothy & E2	0	Dorothy was eggbound
2015	Dorothy & E2	1 disabled chick
2016	Hope & Terzo	1	4 eggs: 2 killed + 1 died on its own
2017	Hope & Terzo	3	4 eggs: 1 killed
2018	Hope & Terzo	2	4 eggs: 2 killed
2019	Hope & Terzo	2	5 eggs: 2 killed, 1 unhatched
2020	Morela, Terzo, Ecco	0	2 eggs, not incubated
2021	Morela & Ecco	4 chicks	(not fledged yet as of 4/30/2021)

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

27 April 2021, 7:30am

The last egg hatched overnight so now there are four babies at the Pitt peregrine nest. Here they are at this morning’s feeding with Morela.

Happy family!

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

(photos from the National Aviary falconcam at Univ of Pittsburgh. Thanks to Sara Showers for sending them along!)

26 April 2021

When Morela feeds her chicks at the Pitt peregrine nest she puts her back to the streaming falconcam and often blocks our view. The snapshot camera provides closeups from another angle.

The slideshow above shows last night’s feeding at 25 April 2021, 6:04pm in snapshots, each 15 seconds apart.

It begins with Ecco brooding the chicks after handing off food to Morela. Morela returns to feed them and takes away the leftovers when the feeding is done. Ecco broods again briefly, Morela returns.

Click here to see the snapshot camera.

Number of chicks as of 26 April 2021, 7:19am: At this moment it looks like the fourth egg has not hatched. Since it was scored around the outside last evening I expected it to be open by now … but what do I know? Keep an eye on it today.

Watch the live action on the National Aviary falconcam at Univ of Pittsburgh.

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

25 April 2021

Just to show how wrong we humans can be … We saw a pip yesterday and expected the chick to hatch in 72 hours. Well, that pip was a lot older than we thought. The first chick hatched early this morning before 3:09am!

This morning I saw a discarded half shell next to Morela at 5:37am, above. A discarded shell is a sure sign that an egg has hatched. I looked back in time to find that hatch time. It took me a while because Morela had kept the half shell under her for more than two hours.

Here’s the earliest footage of the first chick — at least it’s the earliest I can find — Sunday 25 April 2021 at 3:09am. The chick hatched before this time but I don’t know when.

Here’s the first good look at the chick.

And here’s proof at 5:30am that there are still three eggs to go. One has a big pip!

Morela will eventually eat the eggshell. In this way mother birds regain the calcium they lost by laying eggs.

Watch Hatch Day at the Pitt peregrine nest on the National Aviary falconcam at Univ of Pittsburgh.

UPDATES IN PICTURES — 10:42am to 5:16pm

2 chicks, 3 chicks, 4th egg underway + first & 2nd feeding of 3 chicks

(photo from the National Aviary falconcam at the University of Pittsburgh)

24 April 2021

Morela was restless overnight at the Cathedral of Learning peregrine nest and her mate Ecco could not sit still this morning. The reason became obvious in the 10 o’clock hour. Their eggs are beginning to hatch!

It takes up to 72 hours for the chick to hammer his way out of the egg so it will be approximately Tuesday 27 April when this baby bird emerges.

Tune in to the National Aviary falconcam at Univ of Pittsburgh to watch the live action.

Grab snapshots from both cameras at this link: CL Snapshots.

Read more about hatching at: How Do They Hatch?

p.s. When “Hope” was the resident female peregrine at the Cathedral of Learning I used to warn folks not to watch the hatching because “Hope” had a very aberrant behavior: she killed and ate some of her chicks as they emerged.

I believe Morela and Ecco are quite normal so (unless they prove otherwise) this will be a happy hatching and it’s safe to watch the camera.

(photo from the National Aviary falconcam at the University of Pittsburgh)

20 April 2021

Morela was incubating yesterday afternoon when she noticed something suspicious in the sky. It was flying around the Cathedral of Learning and it was interesting enough that she got up to watch.

Though it feels like the episode lasts a long time, Morela settled back on the eggs in less than 5 minutes.

Watching her move her head is like watching the crowd at a tennis match. We never see the “tennis ball” but we know it went away.

Stay tuned to the National Aviary falconcam at Univ of Pittsburgh where the eggs are due to hatch later this week.

p.s. We see Morela’s beak move twice in the video but we cannot hear what she’s saying. The microphone is misbehaving. Please be patient as we try to fix it remotely.

(photo and video from the National Aviary falconcam at Univ of Pittsburgh)

15 April 2021

Incubation began three and a half weeks ago at the Cathedral of Learning peregrine nest. During the day Morela and Ecco take turns every one to six hours.

Because peregrines delay incubation until the clutch is almost complete, nearly all the eggs will hatch on the same day. We humans predict Hatch Day will be between 20 to 26 April. My calculation is on the late end of that spectrum (here).

The peregrines know when Hatch Day is coming because they can hear the chicks inside the eggs. As hatching approaches, Ecco will spend less time on the eggs and Morela will take over.

Our first visual indication will be a pip, shown here in 2013. The chick will emerge in about 72 hours.

How can you tell if an egg has hatched while Morela is completely covering the eggs? Look for a discarded half eggshell away from the scrape, shown here in 2013.

Watch for Hatch Day late next week on the National Aviary falconcam at Univ of Pittsburgh.

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

5 April 2021

At the Cathedral of Learning peregrine nest Morela and Ecco have been incubating four eggs all night, all day, and in all kinds of weather since 23-24 March. Incubation is boring except for the weather events.

Recurring heavy snow showers moved through in Pittsburgh on April Fools’ Day (1 April). Morela kept dry under the nestbox roof until the wind blew the snow at her.

Here’s her reaction to an intense snow shower. Was she scowling?

Yesterday, 4 April, it was so hot that Morela was able to expose the eggs for five minutes while she panted and sunbathed.

Morela incubates all night. Ecco helps out by arriving every morning before dawn. On 31 March he had a message for her. Was he telling her where he stored her breakfast? Was he saying “No need to hurry back” ? Who knows.

Every day is the same. There’s always a bird on the nest. The pair switches off several times a day.

While you wait for hatch day on the National Aviary falconcam at Univ of Pittsburgh, check out this FAQ on When Will The Eggs Hatch?

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

25 March 2021:

Peregrine falcons in southwestern Pennsylvania are very active in the month of March so this is the perfect time for a regional update before the birds “disappear” during incubation.

This year we are watching — or not watching — 11 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, NO NEWS
6. Ohio River: Neville Island Bridge, NO PEREGRINES DUE TO CONSTRUCTION
7. Ohio River: Ambridge-Aliquippa Bridge, Beaver County
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:

Morela laid her fourth egg yesterday at 3:38pm (real time, 3:42pm camera time). As you can see from the 24 March timelapse video, she and Ecco rarely step away from the eggs. Morela stood up at 3:38pm to lay the fourth egg then settled down again as soon as it dried.

Hatch day is expected sometime between April 20-25. We don’t have any history with Morela but I do have history with Dorothy so my guess is April 24-25. Click here for details on my calculation.

Watch Morela and Ecco “live” on the National Aviary falconcam at Univ of Pittsburgh.

Downtown Pittsburgh:

Best viewing of the Third Avenue nest site is from Grandview Avenue on Mt Washington next to the Monongahela Incline. On 20 March Jeff photographed a peregrine perched inside the nook. At that point it appeared they were choosing this location, not Gulf Tower.

Yesterday afternoon, 24 March, I confirmed nesting. When I set up my scope I immediately saw a peregrine in the back left corner standing in the about-to-lay-an-egg posture. As I waited and watched she laid at egg at 3:23pm, paused, raised her foot, then carefully stepped around it and stood waiting for it to dry. Dori laid her egg just 15 minutes before Morela laid hers.

Jeff Cieslaks’ photo insets from Tuesday at 5:43p show an incubating peregrine where the egg was laid … so maybe I saw Dori laying her last egg.

Monongahela Watershed: Westinghouse Bridge

Dana Nesiti photographed the Westinghouse Bridge peregrines mating on 21 March 2021. They are certainly planning to nest!

Monongahela River, Speers Railroad Bridge:

The Speers Railroad Bridge peregrines have been identified thanks to photos by Joe Ciferno and Dana Nesiti. Both birds are banded:

• Female – 07/BS Black/Green, banded on 5/18/2017 on the Commodore Barry bridge over the Delaware river in Chester, Delaware County, PA.
• Male – 68/AC Black/Green, banded on 5/23/2012 at the Cathedral of Learning University of Pittsburgh Allegheny County, PA.

Ohio River, McKees Rocks Bridge: No news. Observers needed!

Ohio River, Neville Island I-79 Bridge: No peregrines due to construction. The underside of the bridge is completely covered. No nest access.

Ohio River, Ambridge Bridge: Peregrines are present throughout the year. Karen Lang has recently seen a single bird, apparently the male, perched on the bridge — Sunday 22 March at 4pm and Wednesday 24 March at noon. Perhaps this pair is incubating.

Ohio River, Monaca Railroad Bridge:

Jeff Cieslak was in Monaca on 21 March and photographed the peregrines perching and flying around the superstructure. Sometimes they are hard to see.

Allegheny River, 62nd Street Bridge to Aspinwall Railroad Bridge: No peregrines. One was present in January and February but no sightings since then.

Allegheny River, Tarentum Bridge:

Dave Brooke’s 16 March photo shows a peregrine very low in the nestbox. (Can you see her?) It appears this pair is already incubating.

Allegheny River, Rt 422 Graff Bridge, Kittanning:

On 14 March I walked under the Graff Bridge at Manorville and immediately saw a peregrine perched on the upriver side. Peregrines are present. Are they nesting?

Observers needed! Visit these sites and tell me what you see.

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

Peregrine falcons lay 3-5 eggs per clutch. Four is the norm.

This afternoon Morela laid her fourth egg of 2021 at 3:38pm (real time, 3:42pm camera time) so it is likely that her clutch is now complete.

Meanwhile Downtown I watched from Mt. Washington through my scope as Dori laid an egg at the 3rd Avenue site at 3:23pm.

It was a busy day for Pittsburgh’s peregrines.

Tune in tomorrow for peregrine news from the active sites in southwestern Pennsylvania area.

Meanwhile, watch the peregrines at the National Aviary falconcam at Univ of Pittsburgh.

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