Back on 8 April 2020 when I wrote Wailing In The Dark And Rain, I described how a male peregrine was wailing before dawn at the Cathedral of Learning while Morela paused to listen. I know that wailing means “I want [unknown something] to change” but my guess on the unknown something was wrong. I now think the wailing meant, “I want you (my rival) to leave.”
Since at least 25 February, Terzo and an unbanded male peregrine have been vying for ownership of the Cathedral of Learning in a contest that wanes and intensifies. In mid-March Terzo would reclaim the Cathedral every morning and evening, even if the unbanded male was present all afternoon. Now I’m not so sure.
Without @pittpefaALERT I’m unable to find extremely short visits to the nest — Terzo tends to pop in for 15 seconds — but on Wednesday April 15 several of you saw Morela courting in the 2 o’clock hour. (Thanks for the heads up, everyone!)
Both visits were with the unbanded male peregrine who looks like the challenger we’ve been seeing since February. The first courtship sequence at 2:18pm was relatively brief, lasting less than two minutes.
Here are two snapshots of the unbanded male showing his left cheek. Sometimes it resembles Terzo’s though the lines are not as crisp.
Later the pair courted at 2:50pm for five minutes.
And here are two more snapshots of his blurry right cheek.
Well, that explains it. The ongoing contest is probably the reason why there are No Eggs This Year. Neither male has fully claimed the Cathedral of Learning and, thus, Morela.
I’m sure there’s more to come. Watch the National Aviary falconcam at the Univ of Pittsburgh to see what happens next.
And let me know what you see!
(photos and videos from the National Aviary falconcam at Univ of Pittsburgh)
Thanks for the updates Kate. With all that’s going on this would have been a great year to watch a “normal” nesting season, but I still feel lucky for any chance to watch these wonderful birds. Has anyone been able to observe what’s happening downtown?
Downtown has been hard to monitor so we have no reports. The coronavirus shutdown has changed the neighborhood: Point Park is not running in-person, there’s rarely any parking available due to stalled construction, and I hear there are a lot of homeless people on the street because the nearby shelter has to social distance.
But you had posted video or Morela & Terzo Doing the Deed!!!!!!!
Peregrines are monogamous but more loyal to their successful nest site than to a former mate. When there’s a changeover in ownership, the remaining two birds mate with each other and raise young. It’s explained in more detail here https://www.birdsoutsidemywindow.org/peregrine-faqs/question-fidelity-to-their-mates-and-fighting/
My three questions: If Morela has been mating with both males, wouldn’t there be fertilized eggs? And if so, can she choose not to lay them? If they’re not laid, does her body absorb them? Thanks!
Pam, fertilized eggs depend on the level of interaction between the male & female peregrine. Their interaction triggers egg production; if there’s not enough of it, there are no eggs. It’s impossible to know if Terzo and/or the new guy have spent enough time with Morela to trigger eggs but my guess is ‘no’ since they are so busy chasing each other.
Regarding egg bound: From experience with Dorothy in 2014 I know that she did not “lay” the deformed egg in the nest but passed it elsewhere. If Morela had a malformed egg she would have passed it off camera.
Anyone missing baby birds can tune into the Hays Eagle nest cam. The two chicks are at the funny awkward stage, staggering around. They have enormous beaks, sort of like puppies with huge paws to grow into. Both parents are very attentive
One of the birds was there from @7:25pm to 7:55pm tonite. It may have been the unbanded male. Called for at least 5 mins but no response.
Liz, Rob Protz sent me a webcam photo of Morela at the nest at 7:51pm … so it was her.
FYI. Unbanded bird, looks male?, at scrape alone at 5:30p on 4/20
6:24pm, 4/20/2020 I think that was (and is) Morela.
At 7:07 pm on 4/22, Morela and Terzo were in the nest for a very brief bow, literally seconds. Morela e-chups alone, calling for somebody to join her, and this is the first I’ve seen or either Terzo or the unbanded male with her in more than a few days.