8 Might 2024
A great deal of information from peregrine falcon nests within the Pittsburgh space. Listed below are the highlights.
Tarentum Bridge, Allegheny River:
Yesterday on the Tarentum Bridge Dave Brooke discovered the peregrine chicks exploring the ledge and exercising their wings. Their estimated hatch date was 1 April so these three would have been 36 days outdated yesterday.
Peregrines at Tarentum Bridge, 7 Might 2024 (video embedded from Dave Brooke on YouTube)
Dave Brooke additionally wrote:
Views from the Tarentum Bridge Park are glorious. The fourth spent the entire time I watched on the ledge of the nest field. Mother fed the three then retreated to the railing of the again pier. I’ve not seen the male in additional than a month.
— e mail from Dave Brooke on 7 Might 2024
The fourth chick is no less than two days youthful than the others so it hadn’t reached the ledge strolling stage. In the meantime, even when the male is absent as Dave suggests, this has not adversely affected the chicks’ development and growth as you possibly can see within the video.
These kids haven’t fledged but but it surely received’t be lengthy earlier than they’re gone. Go to the Tarentum Bridge for nice appears at this peregrine household. Click on right here for a map.
Cathedral of Studying, Univ of Pittsburgh:
Yesterday’s Day-in-a-Minute (really 90 seconds) exhibits the 2 chicks sleeping, consuming and motoring to the entrance of the nest.
Why can we see them sleeping with one leg prolonged? It was sizzling yesterday with a excessive of 81°F! The chicks are carrying down coats however their uncovered legs are naked pores and skin that permits them too cool off.
Tune in to look at them on the Nationwide Aviary falconcam at Univ of Pittsburgh.
East Liberty Presbyterian Church, Pittsburgh:
We had a scare on 29 April in regards to the East Liberty Presby peregrines after I obtained a report from Elizabeth Rudzki (@ZoomingBio) that she noticed an grownup peregrine strike a window in Shadyside. The fowl was shocked, paused on the bottom, then flew away earlier than she may retrieve her rescue tools.
I requested Adam Knoerzer whether or not he’d seen each adults on the church and by 2 Might he confirmed that each are current. Whew! The male is proven perched on the steeple above.
Downtown Pittsburgh: On 29 April 2024 I went to Mt Washington once more to take a look at the Third Avenue nest by way of my scope. (No photograph, alas.) The feminine was standing up within the nest space, maybe sheltering younger from the solar. If that’s the case, they should be on the entrance of the ledge within the subsequent two weeks. Go to Third Avenue quickly to see if my hunch is right. Click on right here for info and instructions.
Clairton Coke Works, Monongahela River:
Dana Nesiti obtained this photograph from USSteel on 25 April that confirms peregrines are once more breeding efficiently at Clairton Coke Works. The pair skipped final 12 months however raised three younger in 2022. Click on right here and scroll down to examine their nest in early June of 2022.
Spruce Run Bridge, Ohio River:
Jeff Cieslak confirmed on 1 Might that each peregrines are nonetheless current on the Spruce Run Bridge although they don’t appear to be breeding, maybe as a result of the male remains to be in immature plumage.
Rt 40 Bridge, West Brownsville, Monongahela River:
Fred Kachmarik checked on the Route 40 bridge in West Brownsville and located each grownup peregrines at house. He wrote:
Two adults flew into the bridge screaming. It seems as if this 12 months’s scrape could be very close to final 12 months’s. There are in all probability eggs or nestlings however I’ll wait till a future go to to confirm it.
PEREGRINE SUMMARY FOR SOUTHWEST PA: This desk lists all of the potential websites butmany of them aren’t breeding websites. Assist fill within the blanks by visiting certainly one of them.
