1 August 2025

Streaming has ended for the season at the National Aviary falconcam, but just before it ended …

On 21 July all three of this year’s young peregrines had been gone from the Cathedral of Learning for more than a month when — Surprise! — a very loud juvie chased Ecco to the nest.

Apparently tired of fending for herself, Yellow arrived on the scene to demand food from her father. But like all good peregrine parents, Ecco would not feed her. She complained bitterly. “I don’t wanna grow up!”

Things went back to normal for a while but six days later, on 27 July, Ecco and Carla arrived at the nest for a bonding session. They had to leave abruptly when a noisy youngster showed up off camera. It was probably Yellow.

Eventually Yellow will get the hint, leave the area and finally grow up. I can imagine Carla telling her, “May you have many children just like you.”

p.s. News from Downtown: I’m happy to see the Downtown peregrines are controlling the airspace.

eBird Checklist S258389927
Wed 9 Jul 2025, 12:24 PM
One Oxford Centre, 426–518 4th Ave, Pittsburgh US-PA (40.4383,-79.9986)
Reported by: MONTGOMERY BROWN
1 Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)

The falcon was “harassing” a drone that was 350-400 feet off the ground. After about 30 seconds, the drone operator appeared to realize this and flew the drone off toward the Monongahela.