Rfalconcam Forum

http://www.aviary.org/cons/falconcam_cl.php (http://www.aviary.org/cons/falconcam_cl.php)

Sometime over night she laid it.

 :clap:

That's Beauty's Mama, right?

Here's Kate St. John's bird blog.  The 2nd post down shows Dorothy standing next to her 5 eggs.  Thanks to Kathy B for bringing this to my attention.

http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/

Way to go Dorothy!   :clap:

 :wow:

Yeeha!  She's gonna need to contact Mariah and Kaver for some pointers on raising so many! :clap:

I hope she has better luck contacting them. I guess if ya speak Falcon.   :wave:

The peregrine eggs at the University of Pittsburgh began hatching tonight.

Here is Dorothy and E2’s first chick, just hatched at 11:20pm, in a nighttime snapshot illuminated by infrared light.

The chick has flapped and moved its wing as Dorothy bends over it (red arrow).  Its head is resting on the eggshell.  We could even hear it peeping on the webcam.  See more pictures below.

Happy Hatch Day!

 :yes: :yahoo:

More aunts and uncles for "our" little ones to be.   :clap:

3rd hatch for Dorothy   :hatch1: :hatch1: :hatch1:

Beauty's mom has 5 kids now!!  :hatch1: :hatch1: :hatch1: :hatch1: :hatch1:  :o

Also, this was on the site of Gulf and Cathedral

For those who love bluebirds, the sight of a house sparrow eyeing a bluebird box is both maddening and frightening.

House sparrows are cavity nesters, just like bluebirds, but they are far more aggressive.  They are so territorial that they’ll claim multiple boxes and exclude all others from nesting even though they can’t possibly use them all. What’s worse is that male house sparrows will kill adult bluebirds inside the nest box and peck the chicks to death as part of this territorial behavior. 

Many are the sad stories of house sparrow attacks and dead baby bluebirds.  Beakless Bluebirds and Featherless Penguins by Sister Barbara Ann tells of the success she had in raising two beakless bluebirds who survived an attack thanks to her care.  Not everyone has the time or skill to do this.

As bluebird monitors will tell you, there is no real way to exclude house sparrows because they are nearly the same size as bluebirds.  The only effective method is to trap every house sparrow and remove it. It is illegal to trap native birds without a permit, but house sparrows are non-native and invasive.  They can be trapped and removed.

There are many Internet resources that explain how to do this.  Try the Bluebird Society of Pennsylvania and Sialis.org for starters.

Right now is bluebird nesting season.  It’s time to trap this house sparrow.

Hey you, House Sparrow!  Get away from that box!  Don’t you even think of it!

I didn't know this...wow, Sparrows are bad and there's so many of them.

Beauty's mom is feeding her 5 babies right now....so cute.

http://www.aviary.org/cons/falconcam_cl.php (http://www.aviary.org/cons/falconcam_cl.php)

And she's making sure all get fed... :2thumbsup:

I was just watching the cam.  She was having a hard time keeping all 5 covered, they are getting big and becoming mobile, sneaking out from under her wing.   She got up and left and returned a minute later with lunch.    They are all standing up screaming.   Neat that this cam has sound!

That is one big pile of "EYASES"   :2funny:

Dorothy has them all lined up on May 4th (captured by Mick on the CMNH forum)

I'm having visions of the Sound of Music....

 :hysterical:  :2funny:  :rofl:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bRjbWV7T-s

Thanks, Shaky! Somehow I don't think Dorothy's version would be quite that harmonious just yet....

"The hills are alive with the sound" of kakking?

Kak, a deer, a female deer
Kak, a drop of golden sun
Kak, a name I call myself
Kak, a long, long way to run
Kak, a needle pulling thread
Kak, a note to follow Sew
Kak, a drink with jam and bread
That will bring us back to Kak (kak-kak-kak)

I think we should be able to award multiple karma for that one :notworthy:

Not to be a stickler, but the true pefa version would have to be:

Kak, a note to follow Kak

 :laugh:

Definitely multiple karma!

D'OH! I can't believe I missed that one.

Beth Fife of the Pennsylvania Game Commission holds a peregrine falcon chick, one of five that received medical checks and bands on the 40th floor of the Cathedral of Learning after being brought in from the nest.

http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/ (http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/)  Check out Kate's blog and watch the 2 videos.. Apparently 1 got bumped out of the nest. All is well though and WOW have they grown.  :o

I was just watching them and Dorothy is on her second feeding in 5 minutes...1 juvie was screaming so much, Dorothy shoved a feather in his mouth to shut him up....and it did. He went Pa-too-E and spit it out and started screaming again. They are NOISY!!!!

The videos are precious-- as are their expressions!!!!

I'll say they've  grown!  So busy  watching ours I have neglected to check out everyone else.Thanks  Donna. :thumbsup:

Pitt Peregrine Fledge Watch Update #3

Published by Kate St. John under Peregrines

News from today’s lunchtime Fledge Watch:  We saw the best flying to date!

    * Happily we were able to count all five young peregrines.  Two have flown and three were still lounging and flapping on the nestrail.
    * One fledgling had his first off-the-building adventure.  He flew to Heinz Chapel and, after a few passes at it, he landed on one of the knobs on the steeple.
    * Dorothy and E2 demonstrated soaring over Schenley Plaza.  It was nice to see them closer.
    * Shortly after the soaring demonstration, the second fledgling flew off the Cathedral of Learning and soared very high before returning to the east side of the roof.

Come on down to the Schenley Plaza tent and watch the young peregrines learn to fly.  I won’t be there after work today but there will still be a group of folks who know these peregrines and can help you find them on the parapets.

p.s. at 4:30pm:  A severe tunderstorm is coming through soon … so no Fledge Watch right now.

Late in the day, two big thunderstorms came through Pittsburgh and dropped more than 2″ of rain.  During the first storm, one of the Pitt fledglings was still perched on Heinz Chapel steeple where he got very wet but was otherwise unaffected, as you can see from Peter Bell’s photo taken just after the rain.







The Pitt peregrines are learning fast.  By lunchtime yesterday (Thursday) three out of five had flown from the nestrail.

Last evening we saw one of the juveniles land on the lightning rod and pursue his parents whenever they returned to the Cathedral of Learning.  Dorothy tested him with a practice prey exchange, but he flunked and she had to re-catch the meal he nearly lost to the ground.

from Kate's blog!

 :clap: :yes: :thanx:

We've seen that before!

At the University of Pittsburgh:
For the past week Pitt’s young peregrines have been shuttling back and forth between St. Paul’s Cathedral and Heinz Chapel – if they’re on campus at all.  The “kids” are now at the stage when one or more go off on their own to explore the area, returning only to chase their parents and whine for food. 

Three is the highest number of juveniles I find at any one time and only if their parents are nearby.  This morning two juvies chased Dorothy when she tried to capture a pigeon near the Community of Reconcilation tower.  The pigeon escaped because it heard them coming — Dorothy with two whining kids in tow.

After spending a week at St. Paul’s Cathedral, Pitt’s young peregrines returned to campus yesterday.  I found three of them perched on Heinz Chapel steeple while their parents claimed the heights of the Cathedral of Learning.

It was a role reversal, but one I could understand.  The “kids” have been on the wing for two weeks and they fly so well now that they can chase their parents everywhere.  In fact, they do.  Dorothy and E2 made it clear yesterday that for the moment they wanted to be left alone.  To emphasize her point Dorothy was roosting.

I’m amazed at how quickly young peregrines learn.  Only eleven days ago they were clambering on the 25th floor roof when Kim Thomas captured this photo of Green Boy with open wings and cocked tail.  He was ready to glide from his little hill of roof tiles and seems to be telling himself,  “One, two three, go!”

Now the Pitt youngsters are beyond this “toddler” stage and the Gulf Tower chicks are about to enter it.  Soon the Gulf chicks will be practicing on a roof Downtown.

One… two… three… Go!

   Kate's blog entry.

Kate St John's Blog


I don’t know about you but I’m going through peregrine withdrawal.

On campus the Pitt peregrines are really hard to find.  Though I’ve seen the adults carrying prey and know they’re still feeding their young, the “kids” are not hanging out near the Cathedral of Learning.

So what are they doing?

They’re learning to hunt.  If they don’t master it, they’ll starve.  If they aren’t really good at it, they can’t feed a family.

The lessons happen in the air:

    * The adult peregrine catches a bird (in this case a pigeon) and carries it in its talons to the vicinity of its youngsters.
    * The youngsters are always on the lookout for a possible meal and immediately chase the adult, shouting for food.
    * When a youngster catches up, the adult rises up and dangles the pigeon.
    * Sometimes the juvenile flips upside down, raises his feet and catches the prey as his parent drops it (shown here).  Sometimes he dives for it as it falls past him.
    * The lesson is always noisy.  The juveniles shout the entire time, even after catching the prey.  

Thankfully Chad and Chris Saladin saw this lesson in Ohio and were able to capture it on camera.

Look at the surprise on this youngster’s face!

I wish our peregrines would do this while I’m watching.

(photo by Chad+Chris Saladin)

.



p.p.s.  Chad & Chris reminded me that the birds in this photo are Maddy (adult) and Michelin (juvenile).  Maddy was born at Pitt and nests on the I-480 bridge in Cleveland.  Michelin landed on a pile of old tires when he fledged – hence his name.  He’s all grown up now and nests at the lake near Cleveland.

p.s.  At this time of year the adult peregrines occasionally visit their nest (here’s why).


  At Pitt, you might see Dorothy sleeping at the nest

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dw6PnaEuId0&feature=player_embedded (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dw6PnaEuId0&feature=player_embedded) Multiple fledging at Gulf Tower

Can you believe that photograph? I don't remember ever seeing the whole prey bird so clearly in a food transfer shot. And I don't know if that's surprise or what on the face of that juvenile, but something is going on.
I assume lots of noise.
Chad and Chris are way, way too much...thanks for posting that, Donna.

dale

WOW...that is an absolutely AWESOME pic!!! 
Suzanne

I loved reading all about Dorothy and her little family..
I am in such "falcon withdrawal" myself these days while worrying about our little boy Jemi.
 :falcon:

 :clap:  That is one terrific shot!    :clap: :bravo:

We had a little peregrine excitement at the University of Pittsburgh yesterday.

Around 3:00pm Tony Bledsoe called to tell me that he was outdoors by the Cathedral of Learning and he could hear our peregrines chirping-cacking.

It’s unusual for them to make noise in the fall.  As we remarked on this over the phone Tony saw why they were making noise.  ”There are three peregrines.  They’re chasing each other!  This might be a fight.”

Indeed a third peregrine had arrived on campus and the two residents were chasing him away.  Tony saw a lot of chasing but nothing dangerous.  Eventually two of the birds — both males — flew off to the south.  Dorothy stayed at home to await further developments.

At 3:15pm I took my binoculars to the west window at WQED and tried to find the peregrines on the Cathedral of Learning.  One of them was perched at the southeast 38th floor corner, E2’s favorite spot.  As I watched he took off and flew toward me, pumping hard to chase a bird I couldn’t see to my east.  Whoever it was got the message and left.  E2 banked above Central Catholic and returned home.  Within a minute both he and Dorothy were prominently perched atop the Cathedral of Learning, warning all other peregrines to stay away.

Later Dorothy stopped by the nestbox, scuffed at the gravel, and perched at the lookout.  Waiting and watching.

October’s the time when arctic peregrines migrate through Pittsburgh and the mid-latitude falcons wander to find a territory.  Dorothy and E2 are vigilant this month, defending the home front.  They have no intention of losing their territory.

Beauty's momma

by Kate St John.

Thank you Donna for posting this!! Exciting  :happy: :notworthy:

http://www.aviary.org/cons/falconcam_cl.php (http://www.aviary.org/cons/falconcam_cl.php)

http://www.aviary.org/cons/falconcam_gt.php (http://www.aviary.org/cons/falconcam_gt.php) Gulf Tower

Things are picking up in the webcam world! :tired:

caught on Valentine's Day, Beauty's mom (Dorothy and E2 bowing)  :heart:
also caught in the act on Valentines day, Dori & Louie from gulf Tower.  :heart:

 :thumbsup:

Love it !!!!

Interesting Blog from Kate St. John.  She watches and writes about Beauty's mom, Dorothy's nest site.  Thanks to Kathy B for bringing this to my attention.   :wave:

http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2011/03/03/familiarities-on-the-cliff/comment-page-1/#comment-12606 (http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2011/03/03/familiarities-on-the-cliff/comment-page-1/#comment-12606)

Dorothy laid her first egg on Sunday (3/13).  Looks like Beauty will have a new brother or sister soon.   :clap:

Kathy B sent me the link to Kate St. John's Birdblog.  Be sure to go down one blog post to see pics of Dorothy with her first egg.

http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/ (http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/)

Wow, I'm so not with it yet. Thanks for the news Carol. Gonna be a hectic season with all these cams!

Beauty's mom right now.

Looks like she's ready for egg #2

http://www.aviary.org/cons/falconcam_cl.php (http://www.aviary.org/cons/falconcam_cl.php)

Meanwhile, back in Pitts. Dorothy is trying to push out #2.

She's still at it, should come sometime tonight...I hope! She's been squatting since last night.

Dorothy just laid her 2nd egg!  Video to follow...

 :star: :star: :clap:

I usually don't watch there,  but after Donna's note I was curious ...guess I got lucky!

Dorothy lays her second egg of 2011 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7IkjbJqObvE#)

On a side note, a few minutes before she laid the egg she "lightened the load".  I remember Beauty did the same last year on the side perch rail.  Just keeping notes since we haven't had a chance to watch live streaming video of egg laying in Rochester before.

Oh POOH, I have been watching since last night and on and off all day, even tonight! I go away for a while and it happens. Thanks Ei, great catch!! Go Dottie!!!

 :wave: Thanks Ei!  :2thumbsup:

#3 for Dorothy!!!  :2thumbsup: :2thumbsup: :2thumbsup:

 :star: :star: :star: :clap:

#4 for Dorothy!! Last night at 9pm

 :star: :star: :star: :star:  Go Dorothy!  ;D

#5 for Dorothy    :bow:  :bow:  :bow:  :2thumbsup:

 :star: :star: :star: :star: :star:  :2thumbsup:

Might want to keep an eye out here, a new female has been challenging Dorothy for the nest and eggs are due to hatch this week.  The fact that the new female challenged her 4 times last week and a few times already this week is not encouraging.  She likely senses an opportunity as most would have given up and left by now.  I'm worried especially given Dorothy's age that the new female may succeed in weakening her and taking over.  E2 has been helping drive her off but she keeps coming back.

Live stream is not working for me on either site. I hope all goes well for Dorothy. Not a good time for this to happen.  :(

 :scaredblue:  Oh no!  :pray:

First hatch for Dorothy & E2!

SWEET! Thanks Ei!

And the intruding female hasn't been seen lately.

I was relieved to read that  :wub:

Phew!!

is dorothy related to beauty, other than birthplace???

Dorothy is Beauty's mom!  :2thumbsup:

 goodnews:

how great dorothy and beauty mother and daughter :clap:

Dorothy just fed the chicks, looked like 4 little heads to me!

All 5 have hatched now...wow..she's awesome  :notworthy: :notworthy:

 ;D :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:

Sad news tonight, one of Dorothy's eyases has died.

http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/ (http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/)

Ahhh, poor baby. Sad.  :( Thanks Carly.

 :( E2 gave it every opportunity to come out of it but no luck. Heartbreaking!  :heart:

Poor sweet baby :(

Kathy Borland was doing rounds today (July 4) as a security guard for CMU when she heard there was a dead hawk on Henry Street behind the Software Engineering Institute.  When she got there she found it was a peregrine, one of Dorothy and E2′s brood who hatched this spring at the Cathedral of Learning.

Kathy got in touch with me, I got in touch with the PA Game Commission’s Beth Fife and then I went to see the bird.

It was “Yellow Girl,” the one we saw so close on Heinz Chapel on June 6.

“Yellow Girl” apparently hit a window on SEI around 1:15pm with so much force that it completely broke her neck.  Kathy found her face down on Henry Street with her wings spread.  She probably died instantly.

Poor Yellow didn’t know what hit her.  She may have been chasing pigeons and thought the window was the sky.  Alas.  There was nothing we could do.

As I said before, if you want to save birds do something about windows! 

Windows kill.

(photo of deceased juvenile peregrine “Yellow,” black/green, 72/AE, by Kate St. John)

This is so very sad. D*# windows!

Fly free, little sweetheart :( These damn windows

 Such heartbreaking news! I know it's probably too late and very expensive but it should be mandatory to bird-proof the windows. Maybe some day when all the birds become extinct from window strikes and Wind turbines.  :(

That poor juvie.  :crying:

 :crying: :crying:  Fly free little one.

Oh dear - yet again! WHAT is to be done about the windows??? I fear that the answer is: Nothing.

How is this bird-proofing possible? NOT criticising this idea, just wondering how it could be done. It would be wonderful if there were a simple solution. We have found (and this is only anecdotal) that the silhouettes we have of raptors on two "suspect" windows has worked very well, esp during the fledging season this year. But would big buildings do this?

And re "when the birds become extinct"... An old Irish birder of my acquaintance used to say "Ah, that's what we need to do... keep 'em rare, then they might care."

 :crying:  Every loss is a tragedy and as far as I'm concerned there's waaaay too many! People need to wise up!  :heart:

I think there is something that can be put on windows to make them less reflective.  When I was in Canada a few years back, if memory serves me (and it doesn't always :devil:)  I thought there was mention of this or of a special type of window. 

probably won't do any good but if you live in a city that is building new buildings, contact someone in charge to hint they need to use bird friendly windows

I thought I remembered a thread from earlier this year about this...from CPF news via Big Frank via Donna...

http://rfalconcam.com/forum/index.php?topic=4768.msg39698#msg39698 (http://rfalconcam.com/forum/index.php?topic=4768.msg39698#msg39698)

http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2011/10/07/is-it-spring/ (http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2011/10/07/is-it-spring/)  Dorothy and E2 bonding at the nest!

 ;D It's a Beautyful thing to see!   :thanx:

In Youngstown a “job opening” for a resident female peregrine was filled last month by this bird.

Dorothy’s son, Stammy, and his mate Stellar had nested in Youngstown since 2005 but Stellar died last summer.

Peregrines in need of a good nest site go wandering in the fall and those in need of a mate advertise their availability.  I’m sure Stammy hoped a female would notice him in Youngstown — and one did. By early November peregrine watchers saw Stammy courting with a new lady.

Last Monday Chad and Chris Saladin stopped by Youngstown for a look and identified her as Strike, hatched in 2009 at the Cleveland Terminal Tower nest.

Chris wrote, “Strike spent this nesting season in the Cuyahoga Valley National Park at the Station Road Bridge nest site. She and McKinley had two chicks, but both chicks died in the nest. We saw Strike fly into the nearby CVNP Turnpike Bridge nest territory, where she had a couple skirmishes with the resident female, Lara, and hadn’t seen Strike since. ”

I’m glad that Strike found Stammy.  I hope their 2012 nest is a great success.

Strike

From Kate St. John's blog

 :clap: Good for her she is a beautiful falcon!  ;D

It is wonderful news that Strike has shown up again, and that she is now with Stammy. This year Stammy lost not only his beautiful long-time mate Stellar, but two of their three juvies, Jurist and Marshall.

Strike is the last daughter of SW and her former mate Buckeye. We lost this great tiercel on November 17, 2009.

 goodnews: :yes:

from fb, Dorothy arrives in nest!

Thanks Donna!  :heart:

Dorothy

Dorothy is snoozing at the nest. I think her first egg is due in the next 10-15 days.

Fro Kate St John

Dorothy/Beauty

 :heart:

I thought Beauty had more salmon color than that.

Sometimes she looks white! IDK

OOpsss! A little "straightened"...  :hyper:

http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2012/05/23/three-boys-no-girls/ (http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2012/05/23/three-boys-no-girls/) Kate's blog.  Read it all here.

3 boys for Dorothy. No girls.

They captured Dorothy also!

That site is blocked me at work but can't wait  get home and see and read about it.  They captured her last year too and she escaped out the window or something didn't she?!

I guess she flies right into their arms!! Feisty woman!!

http://www.post-gazette.com/video/?bctid=1653250748001 (http://www.post-gazette.com/video/?bctid=1653250748001) A clip from the banding yesterday

The Beautyful ones mom!  :heart:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cS8S1tw5SY8# (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cS8S1tw5SY8#) 2010, Bumped out of nest by sibling.  :(

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ha6sflrFOmA# (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ha6sflrFOmA#) How he got back in!   :D

I remember this, thought I'd post it again

I remember that too! They looked at him like "where'd you come from?"  :rofl:

http://youtu.be/l2dRmT4CtLo (http://youtu.be/l2dRmT4CtLo) Well, another one of Dorothy's kids fell off the nest ledge yesterday and is 2 feet down.

“Careful there,” says Dorothy.  Well, he wasn’t… but he’s OK.

Yesterday morning one of the three Pitt peregrine chicks lost his balance on the nest rail and fell into the gully two feet below.  Whoops!

Don’t worry.  He’s in a safe place.  This has happened before. This nestling is younger than Green Boy in 2010 so Dorothy and E2 may decide to feed him in place.  There’s a lot of room under the nest and there are pathways to even larger open zones where he can eventually walk up the bulwark and return to the nest.  He’s probably finding fallen food down there, too.

So now we’ll wait and see what happens.  When you hear scuffling on the falconcam and no one’s moving, remember our explorer under the nest.

From Kate's Blog

 :surprise: Oopsy!  ;D

The expression on her face is priceless! :D

he flew back up to the nest from below! Way to go!!

 :clap:

http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2012/06/01/on-the-ledge-soon-to-fledge/ (http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2012/06/01/on-the-ledge-soon-to-fledge/) Read about the 3 greedy boys!! LOL

I guess Dorothy forgot to teach them to share!  ;D

Falcons at Pitt
June 2, 2012 12:16 am
Share with others:


I saw the photo of the peregrine falcon chicks at the Cathedral of Learning (May 24). As an alumnus of the University of Pittsburgh, I am disgusted by Pitt's inappropriate encouragement of falcon breeding.

Falcons are vicious creatures that kill for a living. Because of them, squirrels are no longer seen outside the main library in Oakland or about the Pitt campus. Those falcons are also responsible for killing native songbirds. I much prefer robins, wrens, bluejays and cardinals to falcons, which will also eat puppies and kittens.

Predatory birds have no proper place in urban areas, and institutions of higher learning do not have a legitimate concern with encouraging their breeding.

JOSEPH FORBES
South Side

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/opinion/letters/falcons-at-pitt-638625/ (http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/opinion/letters/falcons-at-pitt-638625/) add your comment, I sure did!!

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette  (This guy needs help)

What a whack-a-doo! Squirrels?  Puppies & kittens?  :stupid:

Whack-a-doo is right, we shouldn't encourage breeding of stupid people either is what I'd say to him.

I saw the photo of the kittens at the Cathedral of Learning (May 24). As an alumnus of the University of Pittsburgh, I am disgusted by Pitt's inappropriate encouragement of cat breeding.

Cats are vicious creatures that kill for a living. Because of them, squirrels are no longer seen outside the main library in Oakland or about the Pitt campus. Those cats are also responsible for killing native songbirds. I much prefer robins, wrens, bluejays and cardinals to cats, which will also eat puppies and falcons.

Predatory cats have no proper place in urban areas, and institutions of higher learning do not have a legitimate concern with encouraging their breeding.

SHAKY ORBES
Mouth Side

I'm not even going there! (http://i276.photobucket.com/albums/kk20/anjabrouns/Cats%20and%20Kittens/funny3.gif)

Another whack-a-doo!   :eyecat:

Shaky is more accurate than Joseph. 

Yes I own a cat.

Yep, that's what Cats do, unfortunately!  :(

Maybe so but he hates cats.  Who doesn't love a beautiful cat!?

I have a cat too.

Doesn't Shaky have a cat/s?  ;)

 :laugh:

http://youtu.be/SFuvDtGj6fE (http://youtu.be/SFuvDtGj6fE) By Peter Bell

A breezy day allowed for some spectacular kiting by Dorothy and E2, the resident peregrine falcons at the Cathedral of Learning. At times, they would hover nearly motionless.

We're all part of Mother Nature's food chain.  Some are prey, some are predators.
That doesn't make them "good" or "evil".
Carol
WV

I agree Carol! Cats are predators, they can't help it but as a Cat & Bird lover, I do get upset when a cat has a bird in it's mouth or a lion has taken down a baby Bison, or an Eagle catches a rabbit...etc. Wish they were all herbivores!

I wouldn't mind so much if they caught them because they were hungry like Donna's lion or hawk. House cats kill just because they can. That is why my little girl isn't allowed outside. (though she still caught and killed and English sparrow long story)

My own three are 100% indoor cats, although one is from the little outside family I feed.  I see the remains of maybe four to five birds a YEAR around the yard. I purposely don't feed the outside guys a large amount, so that if anything happened to me they wouldn't be left high and dry.  We have many many birds around here, including Mrs. Robin who visits me and plays with the water whenever I am watering plants/trees with the hose.
Carol WV

Kate StJohn

Pitt Fledge Watch excitement! Dorothy attacked an immature Bald Eagle passing over Schenley Plaza! She won. Go,Dorothy!

 :thumbsup:

Great pics posted on Kate's blog:

http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2012/06/07/peregrine-versus-bald-eagle-guess-who-wins/ (http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2012/06/07/peregrine-versus-bald-eagle-guess-who-wins/)

Karen Lang just posted this sad news to CMNH:

Received bad news today one of our juvies is dead. He hit a window very hard, at least it was fast.

http://www.falconcam-cmnh.org/e107_plugins/forum/forum_viewtopic.php?64070.20#post_68166 (http://www.falconcam-cmnh.org/e107_plugins/forum/forum_viewtopic.php?64070.20#post_68166)

No matter how good they were flying, it still happens. So sad. Thanks Carly.  :(  Fly Free!

Poor juvie!  :crying:

 :( :heart:

Blue is dead, By Kate St John



If you look closely at the mark on this fifth floor window of Craig Hall you can see it’s the shape of a bird with long wings.  In fact it’s the shape of a peregrine, one of the young peregrines who hatched at the Cathedral of Learning this spring.

Sadly, “Blue” died instantly at 9:15am when he hit this window and broke his neck.  His imprint tells the tale.

At 9:20 I received a call from Anne Marie Bosnyak who works next door at the University Technology Development Center.  Someone in her building had seen the accident happen.  Using binoculars from a second floor window, they could see his body on Craig Hall’s lower roof.  They weren’t sure if it was a peregrine… but they thought so.

Even though I knew he was dead I rushed over to Anne Marie’s office to make sure.

Poor Blue.  He didn’t know what hit him.  He saw the endless sky reflected in the glass.  He thought there was a gap that he could fly through but it was an illusion.  All mirrors.

   :crying: :crying:

As I’ve said before, windows kill.

Windows kill more birds than windmills do.

Sadly, they kill young peregrines.

(Awful, just awful), hope this can be avoided in the near future. Fly Free little Blue.

Fly high and free, Blue.  :crying:

 :crying: :heart:

Oh sweet baby :( :crying:

I hate these glass windows! :snarl: It kills so many birds!  :crying:  :frustrated:

Need to get the FLAP program going in all states. So many windows to cover, will be impossible and most will probably not comply unless it's mandatory. They need to come up with a new window when they make and install, have a coating, decal on it already. Millions of little guys die too. Just a shame. Lights out during migration should also be mandatory.  :(

From Kate's Blog



To put things into perspective… yesterday’s news about Blue’s death was sad but not unusual.

Juvenile peregrine falcon mortality is high.  Nearly two thirds don’t live to be one year old.  Their often quoted mortality rate is 62.5%.

Scientific research bears this out.  Marcel Gabhauer published his doctoral thesis on peregrine falcons in 2008 having studied urban and rural, wild-born and hacked birds in Ontario since 1995.  His findings showed that nest survival from hatching to fledging is high (95.8%) but first year survival is dramatically lower.  Of the chicks he was able to track for a year, only 36.5% of the wild-born birds and 31.6% of the hacked birds survived to their first birthday.  Only one out of three makes it.

My experience with the Cathedral of Learning peregrines is similar though I’m unable to track them for a year.  Each summer since 2008 at least one juvenile Pitt peregrine has died in Pittsburgh.  Interestingly, I didn’t begin to hear of the Pitt peregrines’ deaths until 2008 when my blog made me known as The Peregrine Lady.

Monitoring juvenile peregrines is a roller coaster experience. Dorothy and E2 know this much better than I do.  Yesterday evening I found them where I expected them to be – on the Cathedral of Learning on the side facing the scene of Blue’s accident.  E2 was gazing in that direction. Dorothy was in her mourning nook, a place she only uses just after one of her youngsters has died.

This dip in our roller coaster won’t last long.  The demands of the remaining juveniles will perk up Dorothy and E2.  The Pitt peregrines’ success stories will keep us going with Dorothy’s “kids” across the eastern U.S:

    Louie (2002) in Downtown Pittsburgh
    Stammy (2003) in Youngstown, Ohio
    Hathor (2003) in Mt. Clemens, Michigan
    Belle (2003) at the Univ. of Toledo bell tower
    Maddy (2004) at the I-480 bridge near Cleveland
    Beauty (2007) in Rochester, New York
    Rufus(2007) in Warren, Ohio
    Unnamed male (2008) at the Tarentum Bridge in 2010. (Not confirmed in 2012.)
    Unnamed female (2009) in Wrightsville, Ohio.
    And Henry — who hit a window on Henry Street last year — is thriving in Ohio!

 

After reading this, I  :notworthy: :clap: :bow: to our Beauty!  She has been through so much in her short life.   She is a strong PeFa and I hope that she and  Doc.ca have many more young here, and continue the legacy that Mariah and Kave began. 

Very much like Kate's blog. Thanks for posting, Donna.

Marcel was with CPF for many of the early years of his study as a volunteer.

Brought tears to my eyes to read how Dorothy has a mourning spot for her babies that have passed. They don't have emotions?! I absolutely believe that they do!!!  :heart:

Marcel was a very informative guy. Miss all his reports.

I agree look how O'Connor acted when her little one died.

 

Yes, he was an active member of the Kodak Birdcam discussion board for several years and was instrumental in publishing satellite tracking data for Hafoc and Skye.

And, for the geeks among us, I found his doctoral thesis...

BREEDING, DISPERSAL, AND MIGRATION OF URBAN
PEREGRINE FALCONS IN EASTERN NORTH AMERICA (http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=2&ved=0CE0QFjAB&url=http%3A%2F%2Fdigitool.library.mcgill.ca%2Fthesisfile32584.pdf&ei=yC3vT6edIITn0QHj0Pn6Ag&usg=AFQjCNHz6MdtohDhBjKYUsyP4zz9_aCCnQ)

Thanks that will be quite the read but worth it Im sure. I never tire of learning new and interesting facts. I will have to scan in a paper I hand out at my raptor watch which is only a list based on many raptor books published over the last 50 years about where our birds of prey migrate to. A friend Colin collects old raptor books. He is closing in on 80 years old and taught me so much of what I know about raptor ID and he put it together. Sorry no timeline for that but it shall be done.
  Its great what cameras and boards can teach us.

Dorothy at nest. Today

Jan 3

Jan 3

E2

From fb

Yay-nice to see where Beauty was born! Haven't looked there in a long time!! Thanks Donna!  :heart:

Aww. so nice to see Dorothy, and the pics of Quest at nest.  Means the longer daylight is starting to stir up te hormones.    May all stay safe.     

Some of our staff had the opportunity to go to the Cathedral of Learning in Oakland yesterday to help with the installation of the new Falcon Cam! Check out this shot of Dorothy flying by taken by our own Mike Faix!!

GREAT PIC!!!

Beauty is a chip off the old block!  :heart:

The real pic! They were installing a new cam and Dorothy was not too happy!



From Kate St John

Dorothy at nest

Courtship



E2

from fb

 :heart:  :2thumbsup:  :heart:

  Dorothy & E2 cam.  http://www.aviary.org/cons/falconcam_cl.html (http://www.aviary.org/cons/falconcam_cl.html)

Fixed the link, thanks nycbird!  :bow:

Beth over at BCAW just reported First Egg for Dorothy and E2!  :bow:

Wow-kinda early isn't it!?  :heart:

I checked last year MAK and her first egg was on March 20th so she's a week early this year.   :handshake:

 :clap: Go Dorothy!! E2 TOO!!

Well alrighty then! Thanks Carly!!  :2thumbsup:

New still wet egg!!  :clap:

From fb

Cool!  ;D

Is this Dorothy?  Beauty's mother?

 :heart: The one and only!  :wave:

Yay! Hopefully another new sib for Beauty!   :clap:

http://youtu.be/8vDVT0C9Ocs (http://youtu.be/8vDVT0C9Ocs)

By Kate St John!  :heart:

Love it!  :heart:

New egg for Dorothy while I was out.  SGB has it down as of 12:07 pm today!  :notworthy:

 :star: :star:  :heart:

 ~3 eggs for Beauty's mom~  (http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r32/djweeds/3eggsdorothy_zps4d53949e.jpg)

 :notworthy: :notworthy: :notworthy:

What a great mom she is, and she taught her daughter well! :clap: :clap: :clap:

Dorothy is one of the great falcons.

Yesterday evening there were still two eggs, which were being kept well covered:

(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa393/falcoperegrinus1/March%202013/pittsburghmarch1810a_zps9a0d01c7.jpg)

(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa393/falcoperegrinus1/March%202013/pittsburghmarch1813a_zps083d8484.jpg)

Today:

(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa393/falcoperegrinus1/March%202013/pittsburghmarch192a_zpsfdb1ca76.jpg)

(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa393/falcoperegrinus1/March%202013/pittsburghmarch194a_zpsf64e5d6a.jpg)

 :star: :star: :star:  3 more stars on the way!  :heart:

As per SGB:  According to Kate St. John, Dorothy laid her 4th egg, Thursday, 9:20 pm at Cathedral of Learning..

Yep looks like 4!  :star: :star: :star: :star:

On Twitter, they're saying Dorothy might have a 5th egg!  They're waiting for her to move for a count!

Yes, Dorothy and E2 have a fifth egg!

(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa393/falcoperegrinus1/March%202013/pittburghmarch242a_zps2735409f.jpg)

Holy cow! Not bad for an "old woman"!

She's 'scary impressive'  :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow: :bow:

 :star: :star: :star: :star: :star: :2thumbsup:

Yippee!   :the_wave:

Nice blog today about Dorothy & E2 shift changes...

http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2013/04/15/its-my-turn (http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2013/04/15/its-my-turn)

with 2 cute videos

http://youtu.be/C7scIuWMVVw (http://youtu.be/C7scIuWMVVw)

http://youtu.be/utq2_ZgkO6c (http://youtu.be/utq2_ZgkO6c)

Kaver was the Master.

Yes he was  :heart:

That was fun-love the music!  :clap:

The Grandkids  By Kate St. John

I’m counting the grandkids before they’ve hatched but here are three of Dorothy and E2′s grandchildren from Shaker Heights, Ohio.  They’ve been laid in a bowl of moss beneath two floodlights.

These eggs are especially sweet to me because I watched their father closely when he was young.

Perhaps you remember Henry, too, born at the Cathedral of Learning in 2011.  Shortly after his sister Yellow died when she flew into a window, Henry hit the same building.  Stunned and wobbly he flew home to recuperate.

Though he was old enough to start hunting on his own, he must have looked ill.  Dorothy and E2 brought him food and continued feeding him for weeks afterward.  He begged loudly when they “weaned” him later.

That fall Henry left town and was not heard of until April 29, 2012 when he appeared in Shaker Heights at a site abandoned by the previous peregrines because of human disturbance.  Henry was still a juvenile but he claimed Tower East as his own.

This spring Henry attracted an unbanded female and courtship ensued.  Pretty soon it looked like Dot and Henry were nesting, but where?

With help from building maintenance, Chis Saladin explored Tower East a week ago and found the nest with two very protective parents.  Here’s Dot in the foreground with Henry flying behind, shouting and swooping.

Photo courtesy C & C

By now there may be more eggs and, if this improvised site works, baby peregrines next month.

Congratulations, Henry and Dot.  And congratulations to grandparents Dorothy and E2 who are expecting their own eggs to hatch any day now.

A big thank you goes to “Bobbytimewarp” and Chad+Chris Saladin for keeping an eye on Henry, Dot and their nest.

For more news of Henry and Dot see the Ohio Falcon Forum for Tower East.

Henry and Dot's nest by C & C

 :thumbsup: great news!

 :2thumbsup:

Do We Have A Pip?

Published by Kate St. John under Nesting,Peregrines

Pip in one egg at the Cathedral of Learning (photo from the National Aviary falconcam at University of Pittsburgh)

Look!  I think I see a pip in that second egg.

If I’m right, hatching can’t be far behind!



I find the difference in the colors of the eggs fascinating!

 :thumbsup:

hope its not like Beauty's eggs last year the ones that didn't hatch faded in color. Did these start out different colors?

I haven't been watching here consistently, but failed eggs generally fade after they're due.

That's not always true either Ei, remember the rotten egg (so we thought), in Columbus?? It was not incubated for a long time, then she laid some more and "Surprise", that white faded almost rotten egg hatched?? That was quite a surprise!

I don't get this cam from work but BCAW just posted a photo of Dorothy and there is egg shell laying in front of her.  Looks like Beauty has a new sibling this morning  :clap:

 :hatch1:  Hurray for Dorothy and E2's little one!  Thanks for spreading the word, Carly. 

Posted on Twitter:

@PittPeregrines: @Rfalconcam Beauty's getting some new brothers and sisters today!

They're tweeting another is hatching!

(http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r32/djweeds/2fordorothy_zps2e437fe9.jpg) (http://s140.photobucket.com/user/djweeds/media/2fordorothy_zps2e437fe9.jpg.html) Looks like 2 to me! They were just fed!   :thumbsup:

Congratulations to Dorothy and E2 on their two beautiful little chicks!

(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa393/falcoperegrinus1/March%202013/pittsburghapril257a_zps97596800.jpg) (http://s1195.photobucket.com/user/falcoperegrinus1/media/March%202013/pittsburghapril257a_zps97596800.jpg.html)

E2 came to see the chicks:

(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa393/falcoperegrinus1/March%202013/pittsburghapril2514a_zpsc0b9473b.jpg) (http://s1195.photobucket.com/user/falcoperegrinus1/media/March%202013/pittsburghapril2514a_zpsc0b9473b.jpg.html)

(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa393/falcoperegrinus1/March%202013/pittsburghapril2514b_zpsebf8c204.jpg) (http://s1195.photobucket.com/user/falcoperegrinus1/media/March%202013/pittsburghapril2514b_zpsebf8c204.jpg.html)

(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa393/falcoperegrinus1/March%202013/pittsburghapril2515a_zps20862753.jpg) (http://s1195.photobucket.com/user/falcoperegrinus1/media/March%202013/pittsburghapril2515a_zps20862753.jpg.html)

(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa393/falcoperegrinus1/March%202013/pittsburghapril2516a_zps4266b26f.jpg) (http://s1195.photobucket.com/user/falcoperegrinus1/media/March%202013/pittsburghapril2516a_zps4266b26f.jpg.html)

(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa393/falcoperegrinus1/March%202013/pittsburghapril2518a_zps17a33447.jpg) (http://s1195.photobucket.com/user/falcoperegrinus1/media/March%202013/pittsburghapril2518a_zps17a33447.jpg.html)

 ;D

http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2013/04/26/eggs-potential/ (http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2013/04/26/eggs-potential/)  Nice post on Egg Potential by Kate. 1st of 2 parts.

Thanks Kate and Donna!  :thumbsup:

Dorothy has not been allowing a look at the chicks for the past while, but we have an escapee:

(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa393/falcoperegrinus1/March%202013/pittsburghapril267a_zpsb07a9dc5.jpg) (http://s1195.photobucket.com/user/falcoperegrinus1/media/March%202013/pittsburghapril267a_zpsb07a9dc5.jpg.html)

(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa393/falcoperegrinus1/March%202013/pittsburghapril268a_zps4007114d.jpg) (http://s1195.photobucket.com/user/falcoperegrinus1/media/March%202013/pittsburghapril268a_zps4007114d.jpg.html)

Trying to go back under Mom's feathers, but hasn't managed it yet:

(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa393/falcoperegrinus1/March%202013/pittsburghapril2610a_zpsfea62d54.jpg) (http://s1195.photobucket.com/user/falcoperegrinus1/media/March%202013/pittsburghapril2610a_zpsfea62d54.jpg.html)

(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa393/falcoperegrinus1/March%202013/pittsburghapril2611a_zps3931a966.jpg) (http://s1195.photobucket.com/user/falcoperegrinus1/media/March%202013/pittsburghapril2611a_zps3931a966.jpg.html)

She has been sitting tight! That was cute Alison, thanks!!

In the pics I posted above, the chick appeared to be active and moving around, but I think something has gone far wrong here. I hope I'm wrong.

(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa393/falcoperegrinus1/March%202013/pittsburghapril2612a_zps57c3d019.jpg) (http://s1195.photobucket.com/user/falcoperegrinus1/media/March%202013/pittsburghapril2612a_zps57c3d019.jpg.html)

(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa393/falcoperegrinus1/March%202013/pittsburghapril2616a_zpsb66e9aee.jpg) (http://s1195.photobucket.com/user/falcoperegrinus1/media/March%202013/pittsburghapril2616a_zpsb66e9aee.jpg.html)

(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa393/falcoperegrinus1/March%202013/pittsburghapril2618a_zpsb61d0eb6.jpg) (http://s1195.photobucket.com/user/falcoperegrinus1/media/March%202013/pittsburghapril2618a_zpsb61d0eb6.jpg.html)

(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa393/falcoperegrinus1/March%202013/pittsburghapril2619a_zps125a10f2.jpg) (http://s1195.photobucket.com/user/falcoperegrinus1/media/March%202013/pittsburghapril2619a_zps125a10f2.jpg.html)

(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa393/falcoperegrinus1/March%202013/pittsburghapril2620a_zps87405c50.jpg) (http://s1195.photobucket.com/user/falcoperegrinus1/media/March%202013/pittsburghapril2620a_zps87405c50.jpg.html)

(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa393/falcoperegrinus1/March%202013/pittsburghapril2621a_zps36306039.jpg) (http://s1195.photobucket.com/user/falcoperegrinus1/media/March%202013/pittsburghapril2621a_zps36306039.jpg.html)

(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa393/falcoperegrinus1/March%202013/pittsburghapril2622a_zps3c70c136.jpg) (http://s1195.photobucket.com/user/falcoperegrinus1/media/March%202013/pittsburghapril2622a_zps3c70c136.jpg.html)

(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa393/falcoperegrinus1/March%202013/pittsburghapril2624a_zpsfd08060e.jpg) (http://s1195.photobucket.com/user/falcoperegrinus1/media/March%202013/pittsburghapril2624a_zpsfd08060e.jpg.html)

(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa393/falcoperegrinus1/March%202013/pittsburghapril2625a_zps990914f9.jpg) (http://s1195.photobucket.com/user/falcoperegrinus1/media/March%202013/pittsburghapril2625a_zps990914f9.jpg.html)

(http://i1195.photobucket.com/albums/aa393/falcoperegrinus1/March%202013/pittsburghapril2626a_zpseb41706d.jpg) (http://s1195.photobucket.com/user/falcoperegrinus1/media/March%202013/pittsburghapril2626a_zpseb41706d.jpg.html)

I saw this earlier-doesn't look good.

 :pray:

Kate StJohn I've been looking hard at chick#2 for about a day & have reached the conclusion that he (the small one) has a developmental problem. His movements are odd/uncoordinated. He moves out of the nest zone, a dangerous activity for a chick this young. D has tried to move him back but there must be something about him that puzzles her. (I've seen that look on her face.) Meanwhile Chick#1 is just fine.   :(

This AM, it looks like Dorothy's little one didn't make it and no other eggs have hatched.  :(

1 out of 5 for Dorothy and E2

http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2013/04/28/just-one-now/ (http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2013/04/28/just-one-now/)  Kate St John wrote about the little one that died. Never saw a chick like this, having seizures.  So very sad for them.  :crying:

  Fly free little one!

 :crying: :crying:

Fly free, little one. :(

Oh, how heartbreaking.    :crying: :angel: :angel: :angel: :angel:

It is very sad that Dorothy and E2 have lost one of their little chicks. Poor little baby. It is also sad that the other eggs have not hatched for this great pair of peregrines.

I know E2 is Dorothy's grandson and wonder if incestuous relationships result in higher incidences of birth defects in birds like it does in humans. Polly and Algo in Montreal are mates/siblings and I think their nest failed 2 yrs ago and their eyas died last year, if I remember right.

I remember someone saying it doesn't matter if they are related but now I'm thinking they may have to re-think that! Very strange things happening so far in the egg world!

 :crying:

seizures make me think of neurotoxins, maybe something in  the food chain. Hard to tell with out tests and I doubt if that will happen..

You know I said to MAK last night, there may be something out there they are eating, which in turn affects the eggs. A new study may be needed. I said it felt like DDT all over again. Jeez, I hope not.

Kate says it's Dorothy's old age.

Makes me wish even more that the DEC would make public the results of the tests they did on Beauty and Dot.ca's egg that didn't hatch last year. 

http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2013/04/29/what-happened/ (http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2013/04/29/what-happened/)

What happened by Kate St John. She talks about the chick that died and the 3 unhatched eggs.

I just took a glance at the webcam and it looked like to me that there was more than 1 baby under Dorothy.   She moved and they are covered again.   I'm at work and can't see the live feed, just the still picture.    I can't remember how to save a picture to post.

She has pulled the deceased baby under her-I think that's what you might be seeing.

We are worried about PCBs here.  However, our female at 101 Hudson could be very old.

I just saw one baby sitting up being fed and 3 shiny unhatched eggs.   Christiane

E2 removes the deceased baby today:

http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2013/04/29/things-are-getting-back-to-normal/ (http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2013/04/29/things-are-getting-back-to-normal/)

Read that earlier and liked the part, he distracted Dorothy with prey, when she left the nest, he took out the deceased! Smart E2.

Oh, what a good dad and mate E2 is.  Bless him.

 :heart:

Sweet pics!  :heart: :heart:

Never realized before how much Beauty looks like her mother!

Sure does-both being equally Beautyful!  :heart: :heart:

She does and they are!

Sticking this here: Sad news by Kate St John

Disappointment at Two Bridges

Yesterday Dan Brauning and Art McMorris of the Pennsylvania Game Commission ventured out in PennDOT bucket trucks to band peregrine nestlings at two Pittsburgh area bridges:  Tarentum and Westinghouse.

Observers Rob Protz at Tarentum and John English at Westinghouse had pinpointed the locations on the bridges where the peregrines were nesting so Art arranged the site visits with PennDOT.

PennDOT was very helpful and the bucket trucks were impressive.  Unfortunately the news was not good.

At Tarentum, pictured above, Art McMorris leaned back to look into the nest hole but there were no nestlings, just one abandoned egg.

At Westinghouse there was one nestling too young to band and handicapped by convulsions and a deformed beak.  Not good.

This was not what anyone expected. Such a disappointment!

The adult peregrines will continue at their respective bridges, as shown below at Tarentum, but there won’t be a fledge watch at either site.



:(

Oh how sad. Dorothy's baby appeared to be having seizures and was thought to be handicapped too before it died this year.  :(

 It's a boy for Dorothy and E2

I believe his name is Solo!!   :clap:  22 days old and 605 grams



vitals all good

Bling

Dorothy  :heart:

Solo, not a given name, just a nickname. They don't name the babies there.

Yay for Dorothy and E2!  :clap:

Article with video about Dorothy and banding of eyas:

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-city/aging-falcon-succeeds-with-her-42nd-chick-688114/ (http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-city/aging-falcon-succeeds-with-her-42nd-chick-688114/)

Little Solo is a fiesty one and so very cute  :wub:

Quite vocal!

Beautys' little brother-Solo   :heart:

Where does it say his nickname (I know they don't name their chicks) is Solo?  Beauty sure has LOTS of brothers and sisters!!

They don't name them, it was on fb, it's what they gave him as a nickname. Saw it yesterday.

Is this year Dorothy's only single hatch season??

2 hatched but one did not survive

From Kate St. John about another Pitt nest...

http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2013/05/30/fledged-for-a-ride/ (http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2013/05/30/fledged-for-a-ride/)

Reminds me of Lily on the bus!! lol

Yup...

Very sad news from Kate St. John:

http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2013/06/14/sad-news-pitts-only-fledgling-is-dead  (http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2013/06/14/sad-news-pitts-only-fledgling-is-dead)

Fly free, Silver Boy.  :sorrow:

No, no, no, I can't believe it! Oh that poor little guy. See, this is why I don't like fledges! Poor Dorothy and E2. Fly Free little guy! When I saw this my heart sank!  :crying:

 :(  Fly free, little one.  The only fledge there this year!  Silver Boy, Rest in peace. 

Oh, this is terribly sad.    :'(

Oh, little one :crying:

 :sorrow:   Beautys' little brother is flying free with all those who passed before him.  :crying:

So sad!  :crying:

 :crying: :crying: :(

Very touching article about Silver Boy and his parents in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette :(


http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-city/car-kills-springs-lone-falcon-fledgling-in-oakland-691745/ (http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-city/car-kills-springs-lone-falcon-fledgling-in-oakland-691745/)

 :( :heart:

What a nice write up on Dorothy and her life at Cathedral. Thanks jeanne.

In the face of such a tragedy this beautifully written article once again shows the emotion of these  peregrine parents as they mourn and grieve the loss of their offspring. I have never doubted it. RIP Silver Boy. May you fly free at the Rainbow Bridge.

Such a poignant article, such special creatures these PEFAs are and we are so much more enriched for having known them.  I hope Silver is with Unity and others flying free.  Thanks for posting the article.

A great article, although some of the comments were pretty crude-such is life.  Thanks for posting!

The Key to a long life, peregrine Dorothy has the answer: by Kate St. John

Though juvenile mortality is high, birds are amazingly long-lived if they survive to adulthood. What’s the key to their longevity?

In 2011 scientists at the National Evolutionary Synthesis Center in Durham, NC crunched 27 years of data on more than 1,200 birds to examine mate selection, fertility and aging.  They used the rich data set on blue tits, a bird similar to our chickadees, studied on the island of Corsica since the late 1970′s.  Aging was easiest to see among female blue tits because their fertility dropped if they lived long enough.  They laid fewer eggs and laid them later in the season than females in their prime.

Interestingly the study found that females remained in their prime longer if they had good mates.  Their fertility did not wane so soon, they aged more slowly.  This was especially true for the ladies whose mates became fathers at an early age.

The good males were better helpers during the nesting season.  They shared parenting duties and were solicitous for the females’ well-being.  They brought food to their ladies and eased the burden of nest building, incubation and child rearing.  The team’s scientists conjectured that the males who became fathers at an early age were not only more experienced at this but were also healthier.

The good mate scenario sounds a lot like Dorothy and E2′s relationship.  Every nesting season we see E2 on camera bringing food to Dorothy and the kids, begging to take over incubation duties, and sometimes refusing to give them up.  Even in the off season, those of us who watch this peregrine pair see E2 bring food to Dorothy throughout the year.  What a guy!

The key to a long life is a good mate.

Dorothy says, “Thank you, E2.”

  Dorothy, photo by Peter bell

(http://i140.photobucket.com/albums/r32/djweeds/1DorothyBeauty_zps48e3ffb1.jpg) (http://s140.photobucket.com/user/djweeds/media/1DorothyBeauty_zps48e3ffb1.jpg.html)Dorothy/Beauty

 

 :heart: :heart:

It's probably more prevalent than we know and I realize they have no idea that they're related but E2 being his grandmother's mate kind of creeps me out.

Me too, as I was a bit creeped out when I learned that Archer and Mariah were mates for a short time.

Kate St. John's blog this morning

http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2013/12/29/take-me-to-the-river/ (http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2013/12/29/take-me-to-the-river/)



photo by Michelle Keinholz

The partial band read looks like this might be Dorothy