Pip Watch at Pitt Peregrine Nest

Ecco with 5 eggs at Cathedral of Learning peregrine nest, 21 April 2022, 5:28pm (photo from the National Aviary falconcam at Univ of Pittsburgh)

22 April 2022

Hatching at the Cathedral of Learning peregrine nest begins next week (or sooner!) but we don’t know what day it will be. Since a chick can take as long as 72 hours from hammering to hatch, today is not too soon to start Pip Watch at the Pitt peregrine nest.

The most obvious sign that hatching is underway will be a pip (hole) in one of the eggs. I zoomed the snapshot camera for a closeup of the eggs. The National Aviary’s streaming falconcam shows the action.

We will not be the first to learn that a chick’s been busy. His parents can hear his hammering and his vocalizations inside the egg. When Morela traded incubation duties with Ecco recently, I saw her fidget over the eggs for longer than usual and vocalize softly.  If she heard a chick “peeping” inside the egg her own chip calls would stimulate the chick to vocalize in return. They can have a “conversation” through the shell.

Want to know more about the process? Check out this vintage article. Watch for a pip at the links above.

Note: The snapshot camera receives a new photo every 10 seconds but does not automatically refresh. You must manually refresh the page.

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

5 thoughts on “Pip Watch at Pitt Peregrine Nest

  1. Will be a busy nest. The PA falcon cam now has 5 new babies. Littlest one is a week younger then 1st one. Hope it has a strong will to fight for food, so tiny yet. Love all the peregrine nests, such beautiful birds and great parents.

    1. Joann, not yet as far as I can tell. I believe the 5th egg is still intact.

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