Pitt Peregrines: One Fledged, One To Go

Hope flies by her fledgling: "I'm looking at you" 29 May 2018 (photo by Peter Bell)
Hope flies by her fledgling: “I’m looking at you” 29 May 2018 (photo by Peter Bell)

News from Tuesday May 29, 2018:

When I arrived at Fledge Watch I saw a peregrine on the parents’ favorite perch — a stone peak at 38SE on the Cathedral of Learning — but it wasn’t one of the parents. Through my scope I saw a dark brown juvenile. He’d made his first flight when we weren’t watching.  Of course.

Juvenile peregrine on 38SE stone peak at the Cathedral of Learning (photo by Peter Bell)
Juvenile peregrine on 38SE stone peak at the Cathedral of Learning (photo by Peter Bell)

He was the only one visible for about an hour.  Then his brother appeared on the wall above the nest (on the “railing”).

Pitt peregrines: two juveniles near the nest -- one flown, one to go (photo by Peter Bell)
Pitt peregrines: two juveniles near the nest — one flown, one to go (photo by Peter Bell)

Meanwhile their parents, Hope and Terzo, put on a flight show, swooping together, circling the building, climbing and diving.  “Here’s how to fly!”

They flew close to their youngsters, “Come on out here!”  In Peter Bell’s photo at top, Hope looks at the fledgling as she flies by.  Below, he shouts and flaps like crazy when she approaches, but he stays put.

Young fledgling flaps his wings as his mother flies by (photo by Peter Bell)
Young fledgling flaps his wings as his mother flies by (photo by Peter Bell)

 

When we left at 1:30p, all four birds were still in their places: the parents in flight and the two youngsters as circled in John English’s photo below.

Two juvenile peregrines, one flew and one to go (photo by John English)
Two juvenile peregrines, one flew and one to go (photo by John English)

Michelle Kienholz stopped by after work and the birds’ positions hadn’t changed.

Perhaps the second juvenile will fly today. Stop by Schenley Plaza for Pitt Peregrine Fledge Watch today — May 30, 2018, 11:30a to 1:30p — weather permitting.  We won’t be there if it’s raining.

UPDATE, May 30, 2018, 2pm:  As of 2pm the youngster who fledged yesterday was flying well and perching in many places at the top of the building.  His brother was still on the railing and hadn’t flown despite great encouragement from his parents. In the photo below: #1 Fledgling lounges in the gutter of the Babcock Room roof, #2 is still on the railing and Hope flies overhead dangling food at them.  No one budged.

Two juveniles and one parent peregrine at Pitt, 30 May 2018 (photo by Peter Bell)
Two juveniles and one parent peregrine at Pitt, 30 May 2018 (photo by Peter Bell)

UPDATE, May 30, 2018, 5pm:  At 4:30pm one of the youngsters was so tired he took a nap on top of the nestbox.

Pooped out young peregrine takes a nap on top of the nestbox, 30 May 2018, 4:30pm (photo from the National Aviary falconcam at Univ of Pittsburgh)
Pooped out young peregrine takes a nap on top of the nestbox, 30 May 2018, 4:30pm (photo from the National Aviary falconcam at Univ of Pittsburgh)

 

(photos by Peter Bell (Pitt Peregrines on Facebook), except where noted as John English (Pittsburgh Falconuts on Facebook))

Information about the stone peaks. They are actually called merlons.  38SE is shorthand for 38th floor, southeast corner — which is a gross approximation since the corner points south.

7 thoughts on “Pitt Peregrines: One Fledged, One To Go

  1. Thank you so much for the beautiful pictures and commentary. I hope both of the youngsters are flying with their parents very soon. Thanks again.

  2. I’m sitting in Schenley Plaza, none of the birds are visible. I walked around the whole of the cathedral, checking as best as I can, and didn’t see any perched here or there. After doing this, scoped the falcon cam and nothing doing there, either. Maybe this means something, maybe it doesn’t—you’re the peregrine person!

  3. Now we can take deep breath&. look forward to next year..Hopefully all goes well for the “boys” as they journey on….Thanks Kate for your dedication to these beautiful birds..

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