Peregrine News from Other Nests, 1 June

Two of three chicks at Tarentum Bridge, 30 May 2021 (photo by Dave Brooke)

1 June 2021

It’s All Peregrines All The Time with news from three other peregrine nests in the Pittsburgh area.

Allegheny River, Tarentum Bridge:

The chicks at the Tarentum Bridge are more advanced (older) than any other nest we’ve been monitoring, close to a week older than the Pitt peregrines. When Dave Brooke stopped by to see them on Sunday 30 May he found only two of three. His photo above is a screenshot from the video he mentions in email below. See Dave’s video here.

I only saw 2 young ones today. Perhaps the other fledged. You can’t hear it in this video, but the reason they are looking up is one of their parents was flying overhead calling.

— email from Dave Brooke, 30 May 2021

Monongahela Watershed: Westinghouse Bridge

Adult flying in to the Westinghouse Bridge, 28 May 2021 (photo by Dana Nesiti)

Dana Nesiti stopped by the Westinghouse Bridge on Friday 28 May and saw four members of the peregrine family. The adults flew together and perched on the bridge, then two youngsters peeked out of the nest area. The chicks appear to be close in age to the Pitt peregrines.

Adults flying together, Westinghouse Bridge, 28 May 2021 (photo by Dana Nesiti)
Female peregrine at Westinghouse Bridge, 28 May 2021 (photo by Dana Nesiti)
Unbanded male peregrine at Westinghouse Bridge, 28 May 2021 (photo by Dana Nesiti)
One of two chicks to make an appearance at Westinghouse Bridge, 28 May 2021 (photo by Dana Nesiti)
The other chick at Westinghouse Bridge, 28 May 2021 (photo by Dana Nesiti)

Downtown Pittsburgh:

Two adult peregrines perched at Lawrence Hall, 30 May 2021 (photo by Jeff Cieslak)

On Sunday afternoon 30 May four of us met on Third Avenue to view the Downtown peregrine family. Jeff Cieslak and his wife arrived from Mt. Washington where Jeff photographed three chicks and one adult during a feeding. John English and I could hear that feeding but saw nothing.

Three youngsters at the Third Avenue nest, Downtown Pittsburgh, 30 May 2021 (photo by Jeff Cieslak)
Adult feeds a youngster at the Third Avenue nest, Downtown Pittsburgh, 30 May 2021 (photo by Jeff Cieslak)

Eventually I noticed one adult on the gargoyle at Lawrence Hall (photo above)) and Jeff’s wife saw the second one on a window ledge. The windowsill peregrine appears to be Dori.

Adult male at Lawrence Hall, 30 May 2021 (photo by Jeff Cieslak)
Dori dozes at Lawrence Hall, 30 May 2021 (photo by Jeff Cieslak)

At Pitt the young peregrines are so restless that one walked off the nest — and back again — yesterday afternoon. Visit Schenley Plaza any time this week to see them fledge. I’ll be there for Fledge Watch on June 2, 4, 6, 11:30a-1:00p. The watch is weather-dependent. If it’s pouring or thundering the Watch will be canceled.

Meanwhile, there are seven other peregrine sites in southwestern Pennsylvania at least four of which are active. Have you checked them out? Leave a comment if you have news.

  • Monongahela River: Speers Railroad Bridge, Washington County
  • Ohio River: McKees Rocks Bridge, Allegheny County
  • Ohio River: Neville Island I-79 Bridge, NO PEREGRINES DUE TO CONSTRUCTION
  • Ohio River: Ambridge-Aliquippa Bridge, Beaver County, NO PEREGRINES?
  • Ohio River: Monaca Railroad Bridge, Beaver County
  • Allegheny River: 62nd Street to Aspinwall Railroad Bridge, NO PEREGRINES?
  • Allegheny River: Rt 422 Graff Bridge Kittanning, Armstrong County

(photos by Dave Brooke, Dana Nesiti and Jeff Cieslak)

2 thoughts on “Peregrine News from Other Nests, 1 June

  1. We stopped by the Monaca RR bridge yesterday (5/31), there were no PEFAs. This is probably the fourth time in the past month or so that I have stopped there with no sightings. Scanned all of the cranes and other bridges in the confluence area, but no luck.

  2. Now that we know what we know, you can clearly see the heart shaped pattern on Terzo’s cheek in the photo where’s he’s perched on the gargoyle at Lawrence Hall!

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