News from the two on-camera peregrine nests in Pittsburgh:

Cathedral of Learning:

The Pitt peregrine youngsters began flapping this morning before dawn.  Soon they’ll walk off camera and up to the take-off zone where they’ll spend a couple of days building their wing muscles.  They won’t be visible on camera but you can see them from Fledge Watch– June 2 to 6.

• Visit the Events page for the Fledge Watch schedule, cancellation updates (when needed) and information on parking, food & maps at Schenley Plaza.
• Here’s a photo and description of where the young birds go off camera before they fly.

Gulf Tower:

This morning at dawn I saw one peregrine youngster perched at the nest.  She flew shortly after this snapshot.

Last night I was in a long meeting and didn’t see a comment posted to my blog until nearly 11p (4 hours after it happened).  In the comment John wrote, “Right now there is a Peregrine on Grant street by the Federal building. Animal control is there. It is banded. This is as of 6:30pm 6/1.”

The young peregrine was probably standing on the sidewalk and needed human assistance to get up to a high perch and start over.  The bird was already in good hands when John posted the comment so I’m not worried.  I will hear more eventually and post the update here.

UPDATE, 8:15am: This morning Lori Maggio looked for the fledglings and says she may have seen all three, though she’s not sure.

(photo from the National Aviary falconcam at Univ of Pittsburgh)