Caleb Rodgers had a peregrine outside his window at Point Park University last evening.
This young peregrine fledged from the Third Avenue nest several days ago. He’s flying so well now that he visited one of his parents’ favorite perches at Lawrence Hall in Downtown Pittsburgh.
How cool is that!
(photo by Amanda McGuire)
It’s still All Peregrines All the Time here on the blog, but within a week they’ll all have flown and I’ll return to other topics.
Cathedral of Learning:
The female chick, C1, at the Cathedral of Learning disappeared from the streaming camera this morning by walking up the ledge near the snapshot camera. Soon she was completely out of view. She’s ledge walking! Click here to see the big area she’s exploring above the keyholes.
C1 will ledge walk for 2+ days before she fledges. The only way to see her is from Schenley Plaza so come on down to Fledge Watch today, noon to 2:00pm, or this coming weekend to see what she and her parents are up to. Check the Events page before you come. The schedule changes frequently.
Downtown Pittsburgh:
Yesterday the Downtown peregrines were flying so well that it was hard to keep up with them. We found two youngsters at noon: one on the Art Institute and the other flying rapidly and frequently(!) over a four block area. One of the adults watched from the gargoyle on Lawrence Hall, above.
The purpose of Fledge Watch is to rescue newly-fledged peregrines if they land on the ground. That early flight period of their lives is over so Downtown Fledge Watch has ended, too.
Meanwhile at the Gulf Tower, a falcon came for a visit…
… but it was not a peregrine. He’s an American kestrel. Pretty bird!
Neville Island I-79 Bridge:
We’re saddened to hear from Anne Marie Bosynak that she saw a dead peregrine fledgling on the road at the I-79 Neville Island Bridge last evening. It was below the spot where she saw one perching the day before. You can’t stop your car on the bridge so Anne Marie drove by many times to check its identity. Both adults were visible but she couldn’t find the other fledgling.
Alas. 🙁
Urban peregrines face so many challenges that cliff-nesting peregrines avoid.
(photo credits: National Aviary falconcams, John English, Gene Henderson. See captions.)
News of the Downtown peregrines:
As of yesterday morning all four nestlings had flown.
7:30am to 10:30am: 3 fledglings visible simultaneously.
11:00am to end of day: 2 fledglings visible simultaneously. The others were perched out of sight.
For most of the day a fledgling perched and screamed from a 7th floor windowsill at 309 Smithfield Street (above). The screaming meant “Parents! Bring me food!” but his parents ignored him because they wanted him to fly to a better perch. Concerned observers called the Game Commission. No worries. A high-up screaming peregrine is OK, just annoying.
At noon, Tuesday’s rescued bird ran along the edge of the porch and flew 1.5 blocks to the top of the Art Institute.
At 4:10pm Lori Maggio found this fledgling on an arch at the Pioneer Building, Wood Street at Boulevard of the Allies.
Today the Downtown fledglings will be harder to find because they’re flying everywhere.
UPDATE June 9, 12:20pm: Today is the last day of Downtown Fledge Watch. The youngsters are flying so well that it’s really hard to keep up with them.
Around noon I found 1 adult on the Third Ave gargoyle, 1 youngster on top of the Art Institute and another (apparently The Screamer) on a 6th floor ledge on Third Avenue. The Screamer is really good at flying now. He moves fast!
(photos by Lori Maggio)
If you stop by Downtown Fledge Watch check the ground. If you find a fledgling, corral it to a safe zone and call the PGC “rescue” number (724-238-9523).
Anne Marie Bosnyak reports that two peregrines have fledged from the Neville Island I-79 Bridge as of yesterday evening, June 8.
The first one, above, was seen by Gene Henderson on Tuesday afternoon, June 7. An adult watched over it.
(photos by Gene Henderson)
Please stop by Downtown Fledge Watch any time and check for peregrines on the ground. If you find one, corral it to a safe zone and call the PGC “rescue” number: 724-238-9523.
As you can see there’s a pretty side of the street (above) and the dumpster side of the street (below).
News of the Downtown peregrines:
As of June 7 at 2:00pm: 3 had fledged, 1 was still in the nest. One of the three had been rescued and was 19 stories up at Lawrence Hall. Both parents visible.
As of June 8, 7:30am: Lori Maggio reports that two of the fledglings are two stories up and whining loudly at the gated area behind Dollar Bank. They’re begging for food. My guess is that their parents are refusing to feed them until they fly up higher. This is a noisy test of wills which the older generation will eventually win. The “kids” have to learn to stay up high.
… Yesterday John English caught us by the dumpsters looking at our cellphones. Yoy!
(photos by John English)
UPDATE, June 8, 8:30am: Photo from Lori Maggio, two fledglings at back of Dollar Bank. Today’s gusty winds may keep these birds low today. SEE ABOVE FOR THE REASON WHY THEY’RE WHINING.
UPDATE AT 12:20pm: All 4 have fledged. Rescue Porch bird flew to top of Art Institute (good job!). Another fledgling is perched at a blue window approx 7 floors up on Smithfield Street above Crazy Mocha. Haven’t seen the other two yet. (We try to locate all of them but it’s impossible this stage.) As I left Fledge Watch, Lori Maggio and Dallas DiLeo are on site.
NO CHANGE as of 4:30pm except Art Institute bird flew to Pioneer Hall (corner of Wood and Blvd of the allies) on the Wood Street side. 5 stories up on an arch. Only 2 are visible.
The peregrine chick at the Cathedral of Learning, C1, has changed a lot in the past week.
On May 31 she was mostly white. Now (June 7) she’s mostly brown. C1 has grown her juvenile plumage and preened away at lot of the down.
Yesterday she was 39 days old, the age at which male peregrine chicks often fledge at the Cathedral of Learning. However, females fly a few days later than the males because they are 1/3 larger and heavier. It will be several more days before C1 flies.
When she walks off camera she’ll fledge in (typically) 2-5 days.
(photos from the National Aviary falconcam at Univ of Pittsburgh)
Peregrine Fledge Watch was exciting this morning in Downtown Pittsburgh. This bird was rescued after walking down Wood Street and turning the corner to 4th Avenue.
Right now he’s in custody at Animal Control. PGC’s Officer Bergman is on his way. If this peregrine is in good condition he’ll be up on the rescue porch soon.
Reminder: Schenley Plaza Fledge Watch is cancelled today. I will be Downtown noon to 1:00pm
(photo by Amanda McGuire)
p.s. At first I misheard Officer Bergman’s name & thought it was “Byrd.” Oops! Typo corrected.
(see below for more info)
News of Downtown’s peregrines, June 6:
Two of the four nestlings fledged yesterday. We found them at noon perched like bookends on the Boulevard of the Allies, 8-stories high on the corners of Lawrence Hall and Point Park Student Center.
In the evening Lori Maggio found both on Lawrence Hall and one of them was only 2.5 stories up on the Boulevard side. I hope he flies high today.
The remaining two nestlings are still at the nest. My guess is they’re both female.
News from the Cathedral of Learning, June 6:
C1 is browner and has lost more down but she’s still days behind the Downtown nestlings. Yesterday she graduated to the perching phase. There’s not much to see from Schenley Plaza. All the action is still on camera.
Status of Fledge Watch, Tuesday June 7 & 8:
I can’t be in two places at once and the Downtown peregrines are in need of watchers so I won’t be at Schenley.
Schenley Plaza Fledge Watch is cancelled today, June 7 (and probably tomorrow June 8, too).
Check the Events page for updates every day.
(photos of Downtown peregines by Lori Maggio. Webcam photo from the National Aviary falconcam at Univ of Pittsburgh)
UPDATED ON 5 MARCH 2018:
Did you know there are 10 places to watch peregrine falcons in western Pennsylvania? Here’s where to find them from March to early June.
1. Downtown Pittsburgh (map of viewing location): Only one pair of peregrines owns all of downtown Pittsburgh where they’ve nested since 1991, originally at the Gulf Tower, sometimes on Third Avenue. As of February 2018 we’ve confirmed that the Downtown parents are still Dori (Akron, OH, 2007) and Louie (Pitt, 2002). When they nest at the Gulf Tower we can watch them on the National Aviary’s falconcam. Click here for Third Avenue site information.
2. Cathedral of Learning, University of Pittsburgh (map of viewing location):
The Cathedral of Learning has been home to a pair of peregrines since their first nesting attempt in 2001. This year the continuing adults are Hope (Hopewell, VA, 2008) and Terzo (Cincinnati, OH, 2013). Visit the National Aviary Cathedral of Learning falconcam or Schenley Plaza to watch.
3. Westinghouse Bridge (map of viewing location):
The Westinghouse Bridge carries Route 30 over Turtle Creek and has been home to peregrine falcons since at least 2010. In 2016 the male was confirmed as George (Cobb Island, VA, 2006), paired with an unbanded female. In 2017 the couple was so secretive that we didn’t know they’d nested until a begging juvenile was seen in July. The best place to watch is on Elder Street underneath the E.Pittsburgh-McKeesport Bridge.
4. McKees Rocks Bridge (map of bridge location):
Peregrine falcons have nested at the McKees Rocks Bridge since at least 2008 but their nest is hard to find because the bridge is so big. During the nesting season watch for peregrines perched on the bridge or on power towers on either side of the river. Viewing locations are a challenge. Let us know if you find a good one.
5. Neville Island I-79 Bridge (map of viewing locations):
This bridge has been home to peregrines since at least 2012 when a fledgling was found swimming in the Ohio River below. In 2015 the pair was confirmed to be Beau (Pitt, 2010) and Magnum (Canton, OH, 2010). Their nest is always over the center of the river. Watch from these viewing locations.
6. Monaca-E.Rochester -or- Monaca-to-Beaver RR Bridge (map of viewing area):
Only one pair of peregrines owns the Beaver-Monaca-East Rochester territory but they move their nest year to year. Some years it’s high on the big black railroad bridge from Monaca to Beaver. Other years it’s under the deck of the Monaca-East Rochester Bridge that carries Rt 51 over the Ohio River. You can see them on the railroad bridge if you use a scope at the Rochester Riverfront Park. At the Monaca-East-Rochester Bridge, use these viewing locations.
7. Tarentum Bridge (map of viewing location):
Peregrine falcons have nested at the Tarentum Bridge over the Allegheny River since at least 2010. Because the nests were in cubbyholes over open water a nest box was provided in early 2015. In 2018 the male was confirmed as 48/BR (Westinghouse Bridge, 2014). His unbanded mate is distinctive because of the many dots on her chest. Watch them from the Tarentum public boat launch.
8. The Graff Bridge, Kittanning Route 422 (map of bridge):
In Armstrong County a pair of peregrines nests on the Judge Graff Bridge that carries Route 422 over the Allegheny River near Kittanning. If you know of a good viewing location, please leave a comment with the answer.
9. Elizabeth Bridge, Route 51, Allegheny County (map of viewing location):
Peregrines have been seen off and on at this bridge that spans the Monongahela River since 2015, most recently on 4 March 2018. The photo above shows the best viewing location at Elizabeth Riverfront Park in Elizabeth, PA.
10. Erie, PA Waterfront (map of viewing location):
Peregrines have been in Erie, PA for at least five years but no one knew where they nested until a fledgling was found inside the Donjon Shipyard building in 2014. Nomad (Cleveland, 2008) and an unbanded female are nesting inside the big white building pictured above. You can see them perched nearby or flying in the vicinity from this viewing location.
Early June is a great time to watch peregrine falcons in western Pennsylvania. It’s time to get outdoors.
(photo credits:
Downtown Pittsburgh, Cathedral of Learning, Westinghouse Bridge, Tarentum Bridge by Kate St. John
McKees Rocks Bridge, Neville Island I-79 Bridge by Robert Stovers via Wikimedia Commons
Monaca-E.Rochester Bridge by PGC WCO Steve Leiendecker
Judge Graff Bridge by S.Lukens via Wikimedia Commons
Donjon Shipbuilding linked from donjonshipbuilding.com)
Lori Maggio reports that this morning (June 6, 2016) one of the Downtown peregrine nestlings has fledged. At 7:00am he was perched seven stories up on Lawrence Hall, across the street from the nest.
If you’re in the area, stop by and check for peregrines. The clue to finding one is this: Watch their parents. The parents look at the fledgling a lot!
If you see a young peregrine standing on the ground he’ll have to be rescued by the PA Game Commission (PGC) and placed up high to start again. Keep this PGC “rescue” number handy: 724-238-9523
I’m not sure I can make it but … I’ll try to be at Third Avenue at lunchtime today, noon to 1:00pm. (Here’s the map.)
(photo by Lori Maggio)
UPDATE AT 11:18am: Second peregrine fledged, landed on building on Blvd of Allies directly across the street from the first fledgling. They are both about 8 stories up, perched on the corner of flat-topped roofs.
UPDATE AT 2:20pm: No change. 2 fledglings perched high on buildings on the Blvd of the Allies between Smithfield and Wood St. 2 nestlings remain at the nest. Adults perched or flying nearby.