2 May 2022

Yesterday the three chicks at the Pitt peregrine nest were five days old, growing fast, and eating often — as many as five times yesterday. At this age their weight has doubled since they hatched.

Morela and Ecco feed them frequently in the late afternoon. At the 3:35pm feeding a blue jay was on the menu (above) but it had to be plucked and the nest got messy. This feeding was hard to see on the streaming falconcam because Morela’s back was in the way.

An hour later Morela stood to the side with an easy view as she fed the chicks in this 12 minute video. Listen for the chicks’ begging sounds and Morela’s “chupping” that encourages them to eat.

As soon as they eat they fall asleep. Morela tucks them in.

Nite nite.

There are still two unhatched eggs at Morela and Ecco’s nest. The reddish one is past its due date and probably won’t hatch. The whitish egg is due to hatch tomorrow, 3 May … but maybe not.

UPDATE AT 1:30PM: (Proving me wrong again) egg#4 just hatched!

Watch the chicks grow at the National Aviary falconcam at Univ of Pittsburgh.

Check out the week-by-week development of peregrine chicks at this FAQ.

(photos and video from the National Aviary falconcam at Univ of Pittsburgh)