E2 at the nest perch, 24 Oct 2015 (photo from the National Aviary snapshot camera at Univ of Pittsburgh)
Yesterday Barbara Hancey asked if Dorothy and E2 are still at home at the Cathedral of Learning.
Yes, they are.
On campus my friend Karen Lang and I have seen at least one peregrine, sometimes both, several times a week. The birds are much less active than they are in the spring and they have very little interest in visiting the nest.
Like all birds peregrine falcons are sensitive to seasonal light changes. As the days get shorter their reproductive hormones cease and their interest in breeding — and in the nest — ceases, too.
The snapshots above (E2) and below (Dorothy) show they currently visit about once a week. This frequency will drop even further and won’t ramp up again until February.
Dorothy makes a quick visit to the nest,19 Oct 2015 (photo from the National Aviary snapshot camera at Univ of Pittsburgh)
(photos from the National Aviary snapshot camera at the University of Pittsburgh)
p.s. This is not an egg. It’s a reddish hole-punch that blew into the nest on the windy day, Oct 29.
Reddish hole-punch that blew into the Pitt peregrine nest on Oct 29, 2015
Dorothy sleeping at the nest in July (photo from the National Aviary snapshot camera at Univ of Pittsburgh)
Peregrine falcons sleep standing up. They don’t lie down on the nest unless they are incubating. Here Dorothy is making an exception.
In April we’d expect to see her sleeping over her eggs at the Cathedral of Learning but she never has eggs in July. In her first 14 years of life she didn’t slept prone at the nest unless she had eggs.
Now at age 16, Dorothy is an elderly wild peregrine. A year ago she started sleeping at the nest like this in the summer.
She’s tired. She’s showing her age.
p.s. If you have not seen the sad news of this year’s Pitt peregrine chick (published Monday afternoon) click here.
(photo from the National Aviary snapshot camera at University of Pittsburgh)
Screenshot of the peregrine nicknamed Silver, 8 July 2015 (courtesy ARL Wildlife Center)
Peregrine Update from ARL Wildlife Center, 20 July 2015, 4:00 pm:
It is with heavy hearts that we must share the news of the passing of the Peregrine Falcon we accepted from the Cathedral of Learning. After weeks with little change to its status, the bird experienced a sudden drop in weight – despite routine hand feedings & daily weight monitoring.
After discovering signs of a respiratory illness on Saturday morning, a staff member rushed the falcon to an emergency clinic in Cleveland to see avian specialist Dr. Jamie Lindstrom. Dr. Lindstrom is renowned for his knowledge & experience with wild birds, having authored numerous academic articles & speeches, as well as serving in leadership roles in several avian organizations.
While receiving top-notch care at the hospital, the falcon passed away. Dr. Lindstrom felt strongly that the illness was linked to the animal being developmentally delayed, immuno-suppressed & a failure to thrive & diagnosed him with a chronic pulmonary obstructive disease. Unfortunately, there was nothing further that any of the doctors could do.
The staff of the Animal Rescue League thank you for your support & well wishes throughout this process. May the Peregrine’s spirit fly, free of the burdens that plagued him during his short life.
(screenshot of peregrine falcon hatched at Cathedral of Learning in May 2015)
Weeds at the Gulf Tower peregrine nest, July 2015 (photo from the National Aviary falconcam at Gulf Tower)
What happens when a long established peregrines’ ledge goes unused for a season?
Weeds grow.
This snapshot from the Gulf Tower nest shows that Nature takes over after 24 years of use, even on a skyscraper.
How did the plants get up so high? Some may have sprouted from wind-borne seeds, but others arrived as seeds in the digestive tracks of birds the peregrines ate at the nest. The annuals re-seed in place year after year.
The big plant at back left is pokeweed whose berries are food for many birds including robins and cedar waxwings.
Can you identify the other plants and guess how they got there?
p.s. The Downtown peregrines haven’t forgotten about the Gulf Tower. One stopped by last Thursday, July 16, in this photo from Ann Hohn at Make-A-Wish.
Peregrine at the Gulf Tower, 15 July 2015 (photo from Ann Hohn)
(weeds photo from the National Aviary falconcam at Gulf Tower; peregrine photo from Ann Hohn at Make-A-Wish)
‘Dad’ and his mate ‘HE’ in Norfolk, Virginia, 2015 (photos by Mike Inman used by permission)
In a recent Peregrine FAQ I described how peregrine falcons are not social creatures like we are. In fact most raptors don’t hang out with their relatives, so that siblings from different years and birds separated by more than one generation can’t know that they’re related.
Since they don’t know their relatives, how do raptors avoid interbreeding? By traveling.
Young raptors naturally disperse far from home and females typically travel twice as far as males, thereby mixing the gene pool. Here’s how far some of Pittsburgh’s peregrines traveled from where they were born:
Downtown Pittsburgh: Louie dispersed 2.3 miles, Dori traveled 93 miles from Akron, Ohio
Cathedral of Learning: E2 dispersed 2.3 miles, Dorothy traveled 450 miles from Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Neville Island I-79: Beau dispersed 10.7 miles, Magnum traveled 79 miles from Canton, Ohio
Bald eagles are much more social than peregrines. They fish and roost together in early winter but when it comes time to breed they disperse far and wide. Close interbreeding among bald eagles is rare.
That’s why it was such a surprise to discover that this year’s pair nesting near Norfolk Botanical Garden is father and daughter.
The male is not banded but he has a unique tiny black dot in his left iris, called an inclusion, that’s visible in good photographs. This identified him as the 25-year-old male that used to nest in the Garden.
His mate is banded with the code “HE,” a band she received six years ago when she was a nestling at Norfolk Botanical Garden. Yes, she’s his daughter.
Their close relationship was reported this spring by the Center for Conservation Biology (CCB) that monitors bald eagles in Virginia and banded “HE” in 2009. CCB’s blog article provides details and photos.
It’s unusual for a female to settle so close to her birthplace but this location has had many challenges. After the old female was killed by an airplane at nearby Norfolk International Airport in 2011, eagles were no longer allowed to nest at the Garden. The male and all his potential mates were harassed away. Nine nests were destroyed. All the females left. The male didn’t nest for three years. (Click here for the story.)
Unusual as this pairing is, the good news is that he finally found a mate, they found a safe place to nest, and together they fledged one eaglet on May 29.
It all worked out in the end.
(photos of the NBG pair courtesy of Mike Inman, inmansimages.com)
p.s. As part of their monitoring efforts CCB recently identified a female bald eagle with an unusual story. Click here to read about ‘Dolly’, born at the Birmingham (Alabama) Zoo to injured, unreleasable parents, she now nests along the James River in Virginia.
Video screenshot of peregrine falcon “Silver” at ARL Wildlife Center, 8 July 2015 (courtesy ARL Wildlife Center)
Late yesterday afternoon the ARL Wildlife Center posted a short video and this update on their Facebook page. Click here or on the photos to see the video.
Peregrine Update:
It’s a boy! X-ray reports have revealed that the falcon is a male. We have also received the results from initial blood tests which have all been normal. We are still waiting for the reports from the lead test, but the bird is gaining weight & his flight feathers continue to grow. We will continue to provide public updates on the peregrine as soon as new information develops, but are unable to respond to individual inquiries about this patient.
Video screenshot of peregrine falcon “Silver” at ARL Wildlife Center, 8 July 2015 (courtesy ARL Wildlife Center)
NOTE: As you can see, my news cycle is typically 13-15 hours later than ARL’s Facebook posts. For up-to-the-minute news from ARL, check their Facebook page at Animal Rescue League Shelter & Wildlife Center. Their page is public. You don’t have to join Facebook to see it.
Peregrine at Westinghouse Bridge, 3 July 2015 (photo by Dana Nesiti)
With access denied to private property under the Westinghouse Bridge(*) we’re exploring public property to see the peregrines who nest there.
Over the weekend Dana Nesiti tried two locations at the East Pittsburgh-McKeesport Boulevard Bridge. The sidewalk (topside) is the closest and shows off the birds from a different angle.
Here he captured some great shots of the adults in the sun.
Peregrine lifting off, Westinghouse Bridge (photo by Dana Nesiti)Peregrine lifting off, Westinghouse Bridge (photo by Dana Nesiti)
… and this one of Storm on the catwalk perch.
Peregrine at the Westinghouse Bridge, 3 July 2015 (photo by Dana Nesiti)
The youngsters were hard to see on Friday but by Saturday they were ledge walking far and wide on the big arch. With my scope, John English and I could easily see one walking and squawking for food.
On Sunday they made practice flights.
Young peregrine practice flight at Westinghouse Bridge, 5 July 2015 (photo by Dana Nesiti)
And seemed to be train spotting. 😉
Young peregrines (pre-fledge) at Westinghouse Bridge, 5 July 2015 (photo by Dana Nesiti)
As you can see, “topside” is closer to the action.
(*) NOTE! The place where we used to stand under the Westinghouse Bridge — and the access to it — is owned by Norfolk Southern Railroad (NSRR) and we are not allowed on it. DO NOT go there. NSRR is closely monitoring the site.
2015 Pitt peregrine fledgling checked by vet (photo courtesy ARL Wildlife Center)
Peregrine Update from Animal Rescue League Wildlife Center, 1 July 2015, 11:40am via Facebook … for the bird known as “Silver”:
“Wildlife Center staff took the falcon to be examined by Dr. Robert Wagner yesterday evening. A complete physical examination was conducted. The formerly missing primary feathers are almost completely grown, but our licensed rehabilitators & the veterinarian agree that the bird displays neurological deficits. A blood sample was taken to gain insight on these inconsistencies. A test is also being conducted to rule out lead poisoning. Supportive care will continue as the test results are pending. The falcon will continue to be treated by Wildlife Center staff.”
(photo courtesy Animal Rescue League Wildlife Center Facebook page. Click on the image to visit their Facebook page)
Storm attacks the banders, 22 June 2015 (photo by Dana Nesiti)
A week ago two peregrine nestlings were banded at the Westinghouse Bridge. This coming weekend we’ll hold a Fledge Watch. That’s how fast they mature and fly.
Banding Day, June 22, was the most excitement Pittsburgh Falconuts had seen for a very long time. The mother peregrine, Storm, put on quite a show when the PA Game Commission’s Dan Brauning came to town to band her babies.
The only way to reach the nest was by using PennDOT’s bucket truck but that didn’t make it easy. Storm lived up to her name by frequently attacking the three men in the bucket, screaming at them the entire time.
Storm hits a man in the bucket truck (photo by Thomas Moeller)
She was full of tricky maneuvers and soon made a direct hit on somebody’s helmet. We gasped as it fell 240 feet to the ground. My heavens, she knocked off his head! Whew… not really.
Storm knocks off a helmet as the bucket approaches her nest, 22 June 2015 (photo by Thomas Moeller)
The closer the bucket came, the harder she pushed.
PGC’s Dan Brauning holds out his hand to fend off Storm as she attacks (photo by Dana Nesiti)
Dan Brauning gave her something to hit — his hand.
Storm, the hand, the broom. Yikes! (photo by Dana Nesiti)
She screamed non-stop for half an hour until the banding was done and the men climbed back into the bucket. With her quiet at last on the catwalk railing, Dan Brauning took a moment to congratulate her.
After the chicks are banded, Dan Brauning has a heart-to-heart talk with Storm (photo by Thomas Moeller)
As the bucket left the scene, Dan held up two fingers. V for victory? No, he means “2 chicks in the nest.” 1 male, 1 female.
Two chicks (photo by Thomas Moeller)
Applause, applause! And we all went home.
Stay tuned for the Westinghouse Bridge Fledge Watch schedule this coming Fourth of July weekend. –> I don’t have dates and times yet because Westinghouse site monitor John English broke a rib last Friday. Oh no! Get well soon, John!
UPDATE July 2, 2015:
Fledge Watch has been canceled because Norfolk Southern Railroad doesn’t want us under the bridge. That area is their property.
Pitt peregrine chick at Animal Rescue League Shelter & Wildlife Center, 25 June 2015 (photo from ARL Wildlife Facebook)
The Animal Rescue League Shelter and Wildlife Center posted this on their Facebook page at 2:30pm today, June 25.
This morning, thePA Game Commission brought a Peregrine Falcon fledgling from its nest(*) in Oakland to our Wildlife Center for care. We have admitted it for medical evaluation, which will occur over the next several days. The bird does not have appropriate flight feathers and may have some neurological issues. It will remain under our care until decisions can be made in the bird’s best interest.
The Animal Rescue League will provide further updates on the falcon’s medical condition and the future treatment plan once this is determined.
If you would like to donate to help support the care of the falcon, please do so by visiting our website at www.animalrescue.org/donate and type “Falcon” in the notes section.
The bold emphasis above is my own but it’s true: If you want to help Silver, donate to the ARL Wildlife Center. They are a non-profit organization and do really good work!
And, please, no visits or calls. The Wildlife Center will provide updates as they have news.
p.s. * Slight correction to the text above: Silver was not brought literally “from the nest” but from his landing place near Hillman Library in Oakland. Here’s what happened.
“Peregrine Update: The Peregrine Falcon we received yesterday is settling in at our Wildlife Center. Upon initial exam, the bird was found to be dehydrated and thin. There are missing flight feathers, but new feather growth is apparent. In addition, one of the bird’s feet is noticeably weaker than the other. The bird has an appointment with a specialty vet on Tuesday & we will pass along any information that is discovered at that time. To be clear, our hope & goal is to rehabilitate the falcon so that it may eventually be returned to the wild. Long term goals, treatments, and plans will be developing as our Licensed Wildlife Rehabilitators work alongside the Veterinarian.”
