Fly For Food

Three peregrines in one photo, 30 May 2018 (photo by Peter Bell))
Three peregrines in one photo, 30 May 2018 (photo by Peter Bell))

May 31, 2018:  includes 2 photos from yesterday’s update.

We were treated to quite an airshow yesterday at Fledge Watch.

Fledgling #1 made his first flight on May 29 and was flying so well on his second day out that we sometimes mistook him for an adult.  He circled the Cathedral of Learning many times and soared into the wind.  He also used many perches — the northwest roof merlon, a spot above the yellow lights, the Babcock Room roof and gutter.  He even joined his brother on the railing in hopes that food would arrive.  It didn’t.

Hope and Terzo circled, swooped and dove. They exchanged prey in mid-air.  They put on the best flight show we’ve seen for years but youngster #2 wouldn’t budge.  Hope even pulled food from the cache area and dangled it from her talons as she hovered over him.  He shouted and flapped his wings … and he stayed put.

The yellow circles below show their locations while this was going on:  #1 in the Babcock Room gutter (left), Hope hovering above, #2 on the railing.

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)

If you can’t imagine how #1 got into the gutter, here he is as he makes that decision.

Fledgling #1 on the Babcock Room roof, 30 May 2018 (photo by John English)
Fledgling #1 on the Babcock Room roof, 30 May 2018 (photo by John English)

By late afternoon one of them — probably #2 — was so tired that he slept 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)

Fifteen minutes later he was awake and ready for more.

Pitt peregrine youngster is ready to go, 30 May 2018 (photo from the National Aviary snapshot camera at Univ of Pittsburgh)
Pitt peregrine youngster is ready to go, 30 May 2018 (photo from the National Aviary snapshot camera at Univ of Pittsburgh)

We’re in for rain and thunderstorms for the next four days.  Fledge Watch is over.

But life doesn’t stop for the Pitt peregrines.   #2 will fledge. The two juveniles will improve their flying skills. They’ll learn to hunt and by early July they’ll leave home.

Long life to both of them. (Don’t try anything dangerous near glass!)

 

(photos by Peter Bell (Pitt Peregrines on Facebook) and John English (Pittsburgh Falconuts on Facebook). see captions for details)

6 thoughts on “Fly For Food

  1. Thank you so much for the update and the terrific pictures! What a treat to watch the falcon falcon family all together. I wish them all long lives. Hopefully we will be able to enjoy peregrines at the Cathedral for many years to come. Thanks again.

    1. What an exciting day! I so wish I could have seen Hope and Terzo putting on a show! Thank you for educating us all on the lives of these beautiful birds.

      Kate, we met on Sunday and you were so kind and generous with your time. Thank you!

  2. It is a relief to see these two youngsters beginning a new episode of their lives. Beautiful birds that hopefully will have their own families some day. Hopes for safe flights.

  3. How exciting for you all! What an interesting year it’s been. Thank you for all of your time and energy you put into these birds Kate, it’s appreciated!

  4. Four days of rain and thunderstorms? The Arts Festival must be in town.
    Hopefully there will be more photos of the fledglings once the sun comes back out!

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