20 April 2026
Peregrine falcons are incubating at many sites in Southwestern Pennsylvania and eggs have already hatched at Tarentum Bridge. Here’s a summary of the latest news.
Map legend: Dark blue=bridge sites, Red=building sites, Pale blue=no success in 2025
Site List and latest activity. Yellow=fledglings last year. Bold=recent update. Scroll to see entire spreadsheet
Activity in the region:
Cathedral of Learning, Univ of Pittsburgh:
Carla and Ecco’s eggs are due to hatch some time soon between the 24th and 28th of April. Watch the National Aviary falconcam and you may be the first to see it!
East Liberty Presbyterian Church steeple:
Alas! On 8 April Ed Moore confirmed what peregrine monitor Adam Knoerzer had suspected. The nest has failed because it blew away in a storm in late March. Read all about it here: East Liberty Peregrines’ Nest is Gone
Downtown Pittsburgh, 3rd Avenue:
On 3 April Jeff Cieslak confirmed that this year’s pair at the Third Avenue Downtown nest is the same as last year: Terzo and the dark female.
He also confirmed they are incubating!
Eckert Street / BRUNOT ISLAND / McKees Rocks Bridge, Ohio River:
On 2 April Jeff confirmed a courting pair of peregrines at the Brunot Island RR Bridge. His photos show that the male is the same one he spotted at the West End Bridge over the winter. This male has the same distinctive “backwards” bands (silver on the wrong leg).
The pair did a prey exchange and the chocolate brown female flew away with the meal. Is she immature or could she be another, darker version of the Downtown female?
Sewickley Bridge, Ohio River:
The Sewickley Bridge pair is incubating so while one is in the nest the other is off duty. Jeff photographed both of them on 3 April.
Tarentum Bridge, Allegheny River:
Happy news at Tarentum Bridge!
On 16 April 2026: She appears to be feeding hatchlings. The timing is right. I estimated tomorrow the 17th as a possible hatch day.
— Facebook update from Dave Brooke 16 April 2026
Duck Hollow, Monongahela River: 1 peregrine seen on 11 April 2026. No photos.
Westinghouse Bridge, Turtle Creek, Monongahela Watershed: No news since 10 March 2026
I-70 Bridge, Speers, Washington County, Monongahela River: Surprise!
After so many years with no reports from the I-70 Speers/Belle Vernon Bridge, a peregrine was seen there last Sunday. Nicklas Hostetter must have been driving by when he saw it: https://ebird.org/checklist/S324182139.
A Big Thanks to Jeff Cieslak who has monitored the majority of these sites(!) and for allowing me to use his photos.
Any word regarding the former peregrine nest at the Freeport bridge near the mouth of Buffalo Creek? I think nestlings were confirmed there 5-10 years ago.
Sean, I’ve heard no news from that bridge since 2023 and that report was of only one adult present. The lack of news may be that no one is watching or that I never find out via eBird or any other means. This is the same situation at the Graff Bridge Rt 422 over the Allegheny at Kittanning.