Fledge Watch Update, 3 Jun

Two Pitt peregrine chicks on the nestrail, 2 June 2021 (photo by Charity Kheshgi)

3 June 2021

Pitt peregrine news as of 3 June 2021, 7:30am:

  • We had fun at Fledge Watch yesterday with good looks at the adults and three chicks on the nestrail. Thanks to all who came out to watch.
  • The adults stooped at prey several times. Exciting!
  • At least one adult was always present at the Cathedral of Learning, waiting and watching for the chicks to fledge.
  • Morela no longer has a right shoulder feather that sticks out. Alas, her easy-to-identify marker is gone.
  • None of the peregrine chicks fledged yesterday. I know this because fledglings do not return to the nest; they sleep where they land. All four chicks slept at the nest last night.
  • If the forecast is correct, Friday 4 June Fledge Watch will be canceled because of rain and lightning. If the forecast is wrong I’ll be there.

Fledge Watch 2 June 2021 in photos.

Morela watches from the roof, 2 June 2021 (photo by John English)
Ecco delivers lunch; two chicks get excited, 2 June 2021 (photo by Charity Kheshgi)
Ecco watches from a merlon, left of the nestrail, 2 June 2021 (photo by Charity Kheshgi)
A chick looks upside down as his sibling flap-walks, 2 June 2021 (photo by Charity Kheshgi)

From our vantage point at the tent, the rooftop equipment nearly obscured Morela on the lightning rod. Can you see her?

Adult on the lightning rod, almost obscured from this angle (photo by John English)

We moved to the lawn for a better look. Then I got talking … (That’s me on the far left.)

Fledge Watch 2021 (photo by John English)

Last night all four chicks slept in the nestbox …

… and were raring to go this morning!

Raring to go on Thursday morning, 3 June 2021 (photo from the National Aviary falconcam at Univ of Pittsburgh)

The last one perches near the exit ramp. It won’t be long now.

Last chick at the nest, 3 June 2021, 7:49am (photo from the National Aviary falconcam at Univ of Pittsburgh)

Stop by Schenley Plaza between the raindrops to watch the peregrines. Keep looking up!

(photos by Charity Kheshgi and John English)

9 thoughts on “Fledge Watch Update, 3 Jun

  1. I guess the one I thought was flying off at around 7:30 last night was just hopping off the nest while flapping without actually flying away. Still kind of exciting, though. 🙂

  2. Great blog, Kate. Wonderful pics. I have been enjoying for sure. Just not posting a lot, Tough to type with a broken dominant arm. I fell down “and went boom” two weeks ago.

  3. Do you think the chick that has remained in the nest is okay? I know that she is female and one day younger, but she seems to often stay to the back of the nest, usually laying down or with her head facing the corner. Just a gentle soul?

    1. Cheryl, the last chick looks fine to me. She’s eating well and tussles with her siblings sometimes. No worries.

  4. Why were the chicks not banded this year? I don’t know enough to tell the males from female, but I noticed no “braclets”.

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