Where do Downtown Pittsburgh’s peregrines spend their time? Lori Maggio found out.
Lori walks to work on Smithfield Street and has a good view of Downtown Pittsburgh along her way. From July 14 through September 30, usually at 7:15am, she recorded the peregrines’ locations whenever she found them. This came to 27 days of observations since Lori didn’t walk every day and the peregrines weren’t always visible.
55% of the time Lori found a peregrine perched on the Lawrence Hall gargoyle at the Boulevard of the Allies facing Smithfield Street, below. This is a very reliable place to find a peregrine falcon if you’re early Downtown.
Most of her other sightings were in the six-block area bounded by Forbes Avenue, Grant Street, the Boulevard of the Allies, and Wood Street. Lori saw a peregrine at the Third Avenue nest site four times and heard the pair e-chupping once. By the way, the Third Avenue nest site is inside that six-block zone.
Here are photos from some of Lori’s recent sightings, September 26-30, 2016.
The roof edge of the Huntington Bank Building:
A window ledge at Huntington Bank:
A porch railing at Lawrence Hall:
And on September 28 when Lori saw a peregrine on the Gulf Tower falconcam, she walked over to take its picture:
Great work, Lori! Now we know where to look for these elusive birds.
(photos by Lori Maggio)
Nice work, Lori M. !!!
Thank you both, Kate and Lori, for posting/taking the pictures of our downtown peregrines. I’m assuming they are Dori and Louie? I especially like the picture of the PEFA on top of the gargoyle. Really nice.
how wonderful to have positive evidence they are there! Many thanks to Lori and Kate
Wow, thank you so much! This is so nice to know. I work downtown and when I have free time I love to walk around and take pics. I appreciate the info Lori and Kate!
Kate, just now (10/7/16 @ 1:35pm), I saw two peregrines on the Pitt cam bowing and chirping. Is it too soon for mating season, or is this just a territorial thing? I took a screenshot but don’t know how to attach it. 🙂 I couldn’t make out the bands on either bird.
SW, it is normal for them to bow throughout the year. It strengthens their pair bond.
At 1:45 both Paragons where at the scrape
2 o’clock both peregrine falcons are in the scrape they did the Boeing and vocal to each other terzo doesn’t stay in 4 long time it is beautiful to watch them
12:02 p.m. Monday October 24th there is 1 falcon at the scrape