Bowing and Bathing at the Pitt Peregrine Nest

Morela and Ecco, 23 Sept 2021 (photo from the National Aviary snapshot camera at Univ of Pittsburgh)

23 September 2021

Though courtship season is four months away and egg laying won’t begin until March, Morela and Ecco have been cementing their pair bond by bowing at the Cathedral of Learning peregrine nest nearly every day. Sometimes one remains at the nest to preen.

On Wednesday 22 September it was warm and windy as a line of storms approached from the west. When Ecco and Morela bowed at 11am, Morela became distracted. “What’s that?”

“What’s that?” says Morela on 22 Sep 2021 (photo from the National Aviary snapshot camera at Univ of Pittsburgh)

Ecco stayed behind to catch some sun on his back.

Ecco opens his wings in the hot sun, 22 Sep 2021 (photo from the National Aviary snapshot camera at Univ of Pittsburgh)

Late in the afternoon the rain began in Oakland in small shower-like drops. Morela opened her wings to bathe.

Morela begins to bathe in the rain, 22 Sep 2021 (photo from the National Aviary snapshot camera at Univ of Pittsburgh)

Watch the pair’s activities in this 2-minute video: Bowing and bathing at the Pitt peregrine nest.

Check the snapshots here to see if the peregrines are on camera.

(photos from the National Aviary snapshot camera at Univ of Pittsburgh)

One thought on “Bowing and Bathing at the Pitt Peregrine Nest

  1. Tomorrow night is the Pitt Homecoming fireworks and laser show. 9 PM. Must be scary for the Morela and Ecco. Hope they stay safe.

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