Peregrine Highlights … and When Will She Lay an Egg?

Morela looks ready to lay an egg, 23 April 2023, 6:18am (from the National Aviary falconcam at Univ of Pittsburgh)

23 April 2023

Around 6:15am today I was sure Morela is about to lay an egg so I waited to make an announcement … but she left the nest. Still no egg. Stay tuned at the National Aviary Falconcam at the Cathedral of Learning just in case.

Meanwhile most of the region’s peregrine pairs are on eggs. This update will be brief.


Cathedral of Learning, Univ of Pittsburgh:

Ecco has been doing everything he can to prompt Morela to lay eggs, including bringing her tasty morsels for every meal. On 13 April he stored a woodcock on Dr. Alan Juffs’ air conditioning unit and returned to pick it up.

Ecco returns to pick up the American woodcock he cached outside Dr. Alan Juffs’ window (photos by Dr. Alan Juffs)

The pair bows frequently. In this photo he seems to be saying, “Please, Morela.”

Ecco whispers, “Please lay an egg, Morela.” 21 April 2023 (from the National Aviary falconcam at Univ of Pittsburgh)

This 24-hour timelapse video from 21-22 April shows how often they bow and that Morela is spending the night at the scrape. We are all … all … waiting.

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

Downtown Pittsburgh:

Dark plumage peregrine brings food for to the nest at Third Avenue, 14 April 2023 (photo by Jeff Cieslak)

On 14 April Jeff Cieslak photographed a nest exchange Downtown on Third Avenue. Yes, one is still the brown bird I saw earlier in April. Jeff photographed the other one, too, and found out it’s banded. No reading on the bands yet.

Banded peregrine flies from the Third Avenue nest, 14 April 2023 (photo by Jeff Cieslak)

Eckert Street near McKees Rocks Bridge, Ohio River:

Nest exchange at Eckert Street, 13 April 2023 (photos by Jeff Cieslak)

At Eckert Street Jeff photographed a nest exchange on 13 April and the male attacking a red-tailed hawk on 10 April keeping the area safe. Yup. On eggs.

Eckert male peregrine attacks a red-tailed hawk, 10 April 2023 (photo by Jeff Cieslak)

West End Bridge, Ohio River:

Peregrine at the West End Bridge, 7 April 2023 (photo by Jeff Cieslak)

New peregrine site! Jeff staked out the West End Bridge until he confirmed a pair is lurking there.

Peregrine flies by the bridge abutment, 7 April 2023 (photo by Jeff Cieslak)

One of the birds is banded! Again no read on the bands yet.

Banded peregrine at the West End Bridge, 7 April 2023 (photo by Jeff Cieslak)

Jeff made a map of where to watch.

West End Bridge peregrine viewing (Google map marked up by Jeff Cieslak)

Westinghouse Bridge, Turtle Creek:

Peregrine at Westinghouse Bridge, 16 April 2023 (photo by John English)

John English photographed a peregrine snoozing on 16 April. We think this pair is still on eggs.

Clairton Coke Works, Monongahela River:

NO PEREGRINES HERE. Last week Dana Nesiti found out that despite many checks on the quench tower no peregrines are nesting at USS Clairton Coke Works.

For all the news and sightings, check out this summary.

(photos from the National Aviary falconcam at Univ of Pittsburgh, Dr. Alan Juffs, Jeff Cieslak, John English)

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