Some brief peregrine news from Pitt and Gulf.
The young peregrines at Pitt are now flying well enough to chase their parents when food arrives. They’re beginning to try aerial food exchanges, the first step toward learning to hunt. They’re also visiting other buildings. Today I saw them at Heinz Chapel and Webster Hall. I’m sure they’ll visit the steeples at St. Paul’s Cathedral soon. At lunchtime Karen Lang saw five peregrines flying at the same time, likely four juveniles and one adult.
The juveniles at Gulf Tower are branching out too. Sharon Leadbitter saw two of them eating on the Koppers Building roof. Folks in the Oliver Building may soon have a young peregrine or two perched on their window sills.
The hot weather makes birds less active. As you can see from Barb Becker’s Gulf Tower picture, the juvies nap when it’s hot. Peregrines can cool off faster if their legs are cool so this one is drooping his leg in the shade. Because he’s young, he doesn’t care how silly he looks.
(photo of a Gulf Tower juvenile peregrine by Barb Becker)
Thanks for this funny interesting picture of life as a young falcon. And thanks for the update on the ones being seen up there.
Hmmm – I’m in the same pose on my couch. Only I have a fan blowing.
Great pic 🙂
Great photo, Barb, and thanks for the latest, Kate! In this heat and humidity, the juvie has the right idea.
Great info!!! Such an exciting and fun time to be watching the skies.
Anyone know which one it os? I see a green band (I think)
Love the picture, Barb! How lucky you get such a close look. Thanks for the update. I was doing the same as the the peregrines and staying pretty inactive myself. Had barely seen one since Tuesday. Then finally last night about 6pm, there were two of the Pitt kids that came off the Cathedral one after the other and circled over the space between Heinz Chapel and COL. Both of them screaming the whole time. Not sure if they were yelling at each other, or if mom or dad was hanging out nearby out of my sight.
And sure enough, this morning on my walk in to work I checked out the area again. No birds until I hear that screaming juvenile’s call. An adult landed on Heinz. Kid comes following after and tries to land a few rungs down…but FAILS. Crash, not steady standing here…oh no, falling off, and I better just keep flying. SO he circles around twice yelling for food before the adult has had enough and flys over to St. Paul’s. I didn’t see the little one on St. Paul’s but the adult was very interested in something below it. My guess, the kid followed him over and was trying to get comfy after another tough landing on the St. Paul’s steeples. I plan on checking again this afternoon and maybe several of the kids will be over there tomorrow morning.
Poor juvie will become self-conscious after he gets broadband (not leg-band), and sees your website. No more ungainly, un-falconly poses…
Our office moved from the Oliver Building to the North Shore.
I feel like I lost a perk!