Rfalconcam Forum

From the website:  Hope laid her first egg of the year, on March 15 at approximately 6:35 am!

She had been seen on camera several times in January 2017; on January 13 she was there chee-upping loudly; Terzo could be heard calling loudly back to her from off camera.  Both birds have been seen on camera, although not for long stretches of time, as recently as February 22,2017.  As always, stay tuned!

Good luck to them!  :thumbsup:

Just read on FB!  :o

At 12:24PM (03/16/17), an unbanded female made a visit to the Pitt nestbox and bowed with Terzo

 :o is right!

Hope came back and is on her egg now.  :stupid:

http://youtu.be/1jNyEarM14Q (http://youtu.be/1jNyEarM14Q) Ever since the female peregrine at Pitt laid her first egg on March 15 lots of people have been watching her on camera. The first question on everyone’s mind that day was, “Why is she shouting?!?”
She’s always been a vocal bird but this is over the top.  People can hear her inside the Cathedral of Learning and as far away as O’Hara Street behind Soldiers and Sailors Hall.  Peter Bell @PittPeregrines said, “She’s so loud you can hear her over all the traffic!”
So why is she shouting?

I don’t know but I can tell you what was happening off camera.

Before Hope began shouting, she and her mate Terzo were communicating softly over the egg and bowing in courtship.  (Note!  This behavior is a happy thing. It is not fighting.)

Indeed, Hope spent a lot of time shouting at the top of her lungs on Wednesday.  Here’s just a tiny dose of her voice.  Kate St. John


Sounds like what Quest does according to Ann B, they scream for no reason, (that we know of)!  :wub:

This are only calls to her male. She is no aggressively.

Hope laid #2 egg yesterday!

Hope the other female moved on!!

 :2thumbsup:

egg #3 has arrived!!!!!   6:59 am

 goodnews:

 :clap:

4 eggs   :heart: :heart: :heart: :heart:

Let's hope the horror of last year is not repeated, and that they all survive to fledge. 

              :ditto:

Exactly what I've been thinking about.  Keeping positive thoughts!

 :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

New blog by Kate with a warning:

Caution!  Don’t watch the eggs hatch at the Cathedral of Learning if it upsets you to see a mother kill her young.  Again, we don’t know if Hope will do this, but she might.

http://www.birdsoutsidemywindow.org/2017/04/20/meanwhile-a-caution-across-town/?platform=hootsuite (http://www.birdsoutsidemywindow.org/2017/04/20/meanwhile-a-caution-across-town/?platform=hootsuite)

 

Sadly, Hope has consumed the 1st eyas that hatched..looks like a repeat of last yr, so far.  :crying:

Oh dear God.

What the H is going on? Why sit for so long just to eat them??? Nope, I will not watch!! She's a strange girl!!
She needs help!!  :crying:

 :o

Sometime overnight there was a hatch at the Cathedral of Learning and Hope is brooding the eyas.

From FB

When they post now, they turn off all comments to that post! Can't blame them as people like me would be putting up a  :crying: smiley!  "They say, "if you don't like that she eats her eyas, don't watch"!

Who would watch????  :(

I recently cautioned viewers about watching the Cathedral of Learning falconcam because the female peregrine killed and ate some of her young last year as they hatched.  I didn’t know if she would repeat this behavior. Last evening she did.

The first sign that Hope would kill the hatchling was around 6:15pm when she picked up and carried the hatching egg (above).  Carrying is not normal.  Half an hour later she killed and ate the chick and its eggshell.

Hope and her behavior were new to us last year.  We didn’t know if she killed and ate some of her young because she was under many stresses:  a new home at the Cathedral of Learning + loss of her mate + finding a new mate + other females challenging her while she was incubating the eggs.

This year none of those stresses apply.  None of them.  And yet Hope killed and ate her first hatchling last evening.

Last year one chick survived.  This morning it appears that Hope has spared the second chick.
But the chicks and eggs aren’t safe yet.  The remaining two eggs might succumb and last year when a second chick hatched successfully, it died within a week.  It appeared that Hope starved it.

We don’t know why Hope does this but we now know it’s not a one-time event.  She may have done this all her adult life but there was no camera at her former nest site, the Tarentum Bridge, where she fledged 0-to-2 young per year.

What’s next?

A Caution to Viewers:

Again, do not watch the Cathedral of Learning falconcam if it upsets you to see a mother kill her young.  The Gulf Tower in downtown Pittsburgh has a beautiful peregrine family with three chicks.  Please watch the Gulf Tower falconcam to learn about normal peregrine behavior!

A Caution to Commenters:

Though this situation resembles reality TV in which viewers can vote someone on or off the island, it is not a “voting” situation.  If commenters become worked up and demand/request action in emails or phone calls to “those in charge” it will end the show.  Literally.  It will shut down the camera.  That’s what happened when commenters went over the top at the Woods Hole Osprey-cam.

Normally I do not edit readers’ comments but this situation is not normal.  If you post a comment that could inflame others, I will edit it or trash it.

Though I am not watching Hope closely (I don’t want see her kill her young), I do want the camera to stay up.

 Kate St. John

I agree that they should keep the cameras rolling IF someone from the National Aviary is studying Hope to determine what is causing this behavior.  If no one is watching for a scientific reason, then I think they should turn them off.  But then again, it's not my business.

A third chick has hatched and Terzo was right there apparently to ensure it lived..that's one smart tiercel. 

That's good! He protected the lone eyas from her last yr.

Kate's blog said two had hatched.  She had eaten the first one and was brooding the second.  So if this was a third hatching, what happened to the second one that she was brooding? Did she kill that one as well? Poor Terzo, he must be so confused.

Well there are two alive and one egg left, one she killed.. So already doing better this year with 2 alive...for now. 

Hopefully she doesn't starve them like last yr.

I checked in here before coming to work as this cam is blocked at work.  Terzo was with babies and both looked good, healthy and equal in size just about and both heads came up for food..though dad didn't have any.  They had just switched I guess and then he settled down on them.

Thanks, carly.  I feel so sorry for Terzo. 

Baby 3 hatched overnight and is doing well.  Seems like hatching at night or with dad around is the key to survival here.  All should hopefully go well now.

 :phew:

Thank goodness for Terzo, from what I've read - he seems to be around quite alot so perhaps he sees he is needed!

Banding day today at Pitt.  Two girls and a boy.   :2thumbsup:

 :thumbsup: :thumbsup: :thumbsup: and I wish there was a fourth thumbs up.  :(

:clap:

 :heart: :heart: :heart: 

From Pitt Peregrines FB page.. :crying:

Sad news to share.  The male fledgling struck a window this morning, one of the dangers associated with urban nests.  He did not survive.  

Unfortunately this is an all too common fate.  However, even with nests at natural sites, only ~60% of fledglings survive their first year.

Fly free, little one.  :sorrow:

 :crying: :crying: :crying:

Too bad they all can't survive!  :(

Sadly, another one of the peregrine falcon fledglings from this year’s nest at the University of Pittsburgh Cathedral of Learning has died. Female 08/BR Bl/Gr, 1947-07039, was found dead at the Pittsburgh airport on July 9, apparently struck by an airplane. She was banded on May 16 at about 21 days of age by Dan Brauning, and fledged on June 7 or 8. She had just a month of “freedom” before meeting her untimely end.
As you know, the male, 09/AP Bl/Gr, died of a window strike at the SEI building on the Pitt campus on 6/16. That leaves just one surviving fledgling, female 07/BR. At least we hope that she is still alive. Since she fledged a month ago, she could be just about anywhere, but if she is observed again, please let us know.

OMG!!! It's awful to lose 2 from 1 nest! 

(Thinking of Charlotte)  :heart:

 :kleenex:

 :crying: :crying: :crying:

 

                                   :sorrow:

March 7, 2018

The first egg has arrived at the Cathedral of Learning nest for Terzo and his mate.

(https://picload.org/image/daolwiaw/pittsburgh-mar-7-1a.jpg)

I hope Terzo is there when all the eggs hatch this year, or if not, I hope they all hatch at night.

It is snowing in Pittsburgh, and the Monster of Pittsburgh has laid her second egg:

(https://picload.org/image/daopagda/pittsburgh-mar-9-4a.jpg)

 :2thumbsup: Thanks for all the updates Alison!  :clap:

I was kinda shocked when I got the tweets, 2 eggs already! They don't waste any time!

Terzo and his mate have their third egg:

(https://picload.org/image/daldclwr/pittsburgh-mar-12-1a.jpg)

 :clap: :clap: :clap:

"Hope"-ing for success!!!  :thumbsup:

 :thumbsup: Hope all goes well here this year.

https://www.birdsoutsidemywindow.org/2018/04/09/caution-for-hatch-day/ (https://www.birdsoutsidemywindow.org/2018/04/09/caution-for-hatch-day/)  Caution For Hatch Day

A word from Kate, (just in case Hope repeats herself)  :o

I REALLY hope everything goes well this year.  :(

Sometimes a eyas is too weak to hatch and dies in the egg. Then eats the female this egg.

Not with this female Annette, they were not weak and unresponsive, they were quite feisty.  The male saved the remaining ones, he is learning to be there for the hatches and then she calms down.

Yes, the only way Hope's hatches have survived hatching since she's been at this nest on camera is if Terzo is there at hatch time or if the egg hatches at night. Otherwise, she perceives it as either a threat or prey. Also, Terzo is generally a good provider, so it's not that she's starving.

Hope killed and ate her first hatch...again...

https://www.birdsoutsidemywindow.org/2018/04/17/bad-news-again/ (https://www.birdsoutsidemywindow.org/2018/04/17/bad-news-again/)

 :'( Oh my goodness, this is such a sad mystery. What has to happen in Hope's brain that in that instant of hatching she sees them as either a threat or as prey? And why does that switch in her brain not go on if they hatch in the dark or if Terzo is there for the hatching? It is so sad and so strange.

It's no mystery to those of us that have some background in environmental studies and the damaging effects of Supersites on humans and other species.  What the mystery to me is why they haven't trapped her and removed her from the site so she can be tested .  

She's like the canary in the coal mine but no one is listening again.  

Someone online said she killed the second one at 9 am.

Just read this on Kate's FB page..such a sad situation.  Hopefully, Terzo will intervene with the remaining eggs as they hatch.  :crying:

Terrible! 

Trying to verify but I have to run into meeting but it's on Pitt Peregrines and they are pretty reliable but it was a poster that said it was happening.

Kate has just confirmed and updated her blog:

UPDATE at 9am: She killed and ate #2. 

True. I have no doubt that the cause is environmental, but I am interested in what is actually happening in her brain, and why and how it is turned off so that, if the chick survives past hatching, she becomes a normal mother. 

There's a pip in egg 3 they say, poor kid  :(

Yes and that's what those type of chemicals do - they can actually alter the DNA of a species.  Something is definitely different in her 'wiring' and it would be fascinating to find out. 

She has issues!!  :scaredblue:  I don't watch that cam anymore! She needs help!

NOT NORMAL!!!  :crying:

Sad to think it's where Beauty was hatched, too.

Yes, but Dorothy wasn't a Cannibal!!  :crying:

Terzo was on eggs when number 3 hatched so it's alive!!! 

I hope Terzo can save the little one. That girl has a screw loose!!  :whistle:

Thank goodness for Terzo! I feel badly for him every year. He must be so confused. Here's hoping this one lives.

Kate said this happens else where, I would like to know more about this......NOT RIGHT!!

Between this nest and DeMortel....it's enough to drive a person who just "ADORES" falcons...mad!  :crying:

Wednesday April 18, 2018, 7:40am:

Yesterday was hatch day at the Cathedral of Learning nest but it was not a happy day.  As the female peregrine Hope has done in the past, she killed and ate some of her young as they hatched.  The status right now is:

April 17, 8:10am: As the first egg began to hatch, Hope picked up the chick, killed and ate it. Her back was to the camera.
April 17, 9:07am: As the second egg began to hatch, Hope opened the egg, killed and ate the chick in full camera view.
April 17, 1:35pm: Terzo was on the eggs. Hope arrived and chirped for him to leave.  She opened the 3rd egg, picked up the chick and carried it, but did not kill it.  Hope eventually brooded the chick and the remaining egg.
April 17, 4:55pm:  Early evening: Terzo brought food. Hope fed the chick.
April 18, 6:20am:  Nest exchange at dawn. Terzo arrives with food. Hope feeds the chick. Then Terzo broods. 1 egg remains.

Why does Hope kill and eat her young?

We don't know.  This is such a rare occurrence that there's no guidance from similar peregrine nests -- they just don't do this.  Meanwhile every idea we come up with is a guess.  I prefer not to wade into the guessing.

Unusual behaviors:

Yes, Hope kills and eats her chicks but there are two unusual habits that accompany it:

Hope opens the egg.  The hatching rule for all birds is this: Chicks must open the eggs themselves. At other peregrine falconcams notice that the mother watches but does not touch the shell until the chick has forced open the two halves.  Later the mother eats the shell (which is normal). Raptors beaks are sharp and could damage the chick. Normal mother raptors do not use their beaks on the eggs.
Hope picks up and carries the chick.  Normal peregrines don't pick up their hatchlings. When a chick is outside the scrape (nest bowl) the mother uses the underside of her closed beak to pull the chick back to her.  Hope uses her closed beak to arrange the eggs but she breaks that rule when they hatch.
 

Why doesn't Terzo stay at the nest and prevent this from happening?

The rule at peregrine nests is that the mother bird is totally in charge.  The father bird defers to her.

A corollary is that the mother bird is always present and in charge at hatching time.  She calls all the shots, including timing of the first feeding.

The father bird may communicate that he wants something to be different but it's her decision.  When Hope tells Terzo, "It's my turn to be on the nest!" he has to leave.  When he tells her "An egg is hatching" she takes over.  This is the way of the peregrine.

What next?

We don't know what Hope will do with the last egg so these warnings still apply.

A Caution to Viewers:

Don't watch the eggs hatch at the Cathedral of Learning if it upsets you to see a mother kill her young.


Remember when DC watched (Orion) (?) hatch? He didn't call Beauty and he was kinda surprised!! No one really knows why she eats her young, not even the experts but OMG, it sure is traumatic!!

 Terzo has saved a few of the babies by being there at the right time - it may not have been 'intentional' but it made the difference between life and death.  And last night again another saved by hatching overnight...which also seems to save them.  So if it's daylight and she's on her own - she kills them.  If Terzo is around or it's night they live.  Go figure.


https://www.birdsoutsidemywindow.org/2018/04/19/two-chicks/ (https://www.birdsoutsidemywindow.org/2018/04/19/two-chicks/)

Yep, and here is the moment, showing DC's "deer in the headlights" look. True, he didn't call for Beauty, but I believe she was on Mercury and he was looking right at her, as if to say "I didn't break it! Honest!"

I remember well!! So cute!! I was just on my way to Rochester that day!

Come to think of it, DC was the same age at Orion's hatching that Aria is now. He didn't have a clue.   :D

The same thing happened in 2006 with M&K. It was the first time an egg hatched under Kaver. He pulled an eggshell out from underneath him with wide eyes. That was the year that Mariah was so badly injured. Before that she was always on the eggs when they hatched.

The situation at this nest site is so sad.

2 females for Hope & Terzo!  :clap:

https://www.birdsoutsidemywindow.org/2018/05/11/two-female-peregrine-chicks-banded-at-pitt/ (https://www.birdsoutsidemywindow.org/2018/05/11/two-female-peregrine-chicks-banded-at-pitt/)