Wood-warblers, belonging to the large family Parulidae, are beautiful, dainty birds unique to the Americas. The family has 115 species spread between North, Central, and South America and the Caribbean—56 species can be found in the United States and Canada.
Of those 56 species only two nest in cavities: the prothonotary warbler in eastern North America and Lucy’s warbler in the West.
The prothonotary warbler (Protonotaria citrea) is arguably the most gorgeous of all the wood-warblers with a glowing yellow head and chest and gray wings and tail. As a woodland swamp specialist, he prefers to breed where old trees stand in water and woody shrubs overhang it. A great example of his habitat can be found at Conneaut Marsh–McMichael/Brown Hill Rd in Crawford County, PA.
The prothonotary male arrives in the spring ahead of the females and chooses several potential nest sites. He sings from the opening to claim his territory and attract a mate.
p.s. According to Wikipedia, the Francis Beidler Forest in South Carolina has the densest known population of prothonotary warblers and is currently home to more than 2,000 pairs. A good place to look if you’re nearby.
Two of the 5 barred owl fledglings at Frick Park, 11 June 2025 (photo by Charity Kheshgi)
12 June 2025
When Charity Kheshgi and I visited Frick Park last weekend to see the barred owl fledglings we thought we saw three youngsters at the same time but we doubted ourselves. Barred owls (Strix varia) usually have only one or two youngsters per year. Yesterday we went back to see them again and saw FIVE youngsters, an unusually high number.
Charity arrived at the Hutchinson entrance ahead of me and saw five fledglings. By the time I arrived one had flown off but at the end of our stay the mother owl came in with prey and all five crowded round for a bite to eat. It was only a chipmunk, not a full meal for a family of five, so as soon as it was gone she left to find more.
Enjoy Charity’s photos and videos of the owl family. Eventually they attracted a crowd of humans.
Barred owl fledlging tries to cast a pellet, 11 June 2025 (photo by Charity Kheshgi)
"Who's that?"
Mother owl with 4 fledglings grabbing for prey
5th fledgling is just off camera. All 5 mob their mother!
One of the "kids" is about to grab and go
Five barred owl fledglings at Frick Park + mother, 11 June 2025 (photos by Charity Kheshgi)
Barred owl fledgling, Frick Park, 11 June 2025 (video by Charity Kheshgi)
Two barred owl fledglings look at the paparazzi, Frick Park, 11 June 2025 (video by Charity Kheshgi)
The family is hanging out near the Hutchinson entrance. Your best bet for finding them is to listen for upset songbirds.
Barred owl fledgling “branching” at Frick Park, 7 June 2025 (photo by Charity Kheshgi)
10 June 2025
Great horned owls stole the show in Schenley Park from March into April. Now Frick’s own barred owl family has two fledglings branching and flying this month.
UPDATE as of 11 June: There are FIVE fledglings!
Barred owls (Strix varia) have lived in Frick Park for about five years and though they missed nesting last year they have two five fledglings this spring. On 7 June Charity Kheshgi and I met at the Hutchinson entrance to go find them.
The first clue for me were the sounds of upset robins and blue jays which we followed to the general area. Once there Charity and my Merlin app could hear the call of a barred owl juvenile. We waited for it to make a move.
Eventually one, then two, fledglings awkwardly flapped and branched from tree to tree.
Barred owl fledgling, Frick Park, 7 June 2025 (photo by Charity Kheshgi)
The youngster with the dark face perched where we could see it between the leaves.
Barred owl fledgling (dark face), Frick Park, 7 June 2025 (photo by Charity Kheshgi)
Charity captured video of the youngster calling. Can you hear it? Because of upper-range hearing loss I cannot hear any of it but I can see the bird open its beak to make the call.
Barred owl calling,7 June 2025 (video by Charity Kheshgi, 7 June 2025)
If you go looking for these owls, listen for upset songbirds to “tell” you where the birds are hanging out. You’ll have a big advantage finding them if you can hear their high-pitched calls!
p.s. On 7 June Charity and I saw three owls at once but the third was very obscured by leaves. We thought it was a 3rd fledgling but was it an adult? A short time later we saw an adult and only two fledglings. Michelle Kienholz has watched this family for months and confirms there are only two youngsters.
Mother peregrine at Tarentum, Saturday 24 May 2025 (digiscoped by Kate St. John)
1 June 2025
Lots of news today at the peak of Peregrine Season in Southwestern Pennsylvania. This report is “double-long.”
Cathedral of Learning, Univ of Pittsburgh
The Pitt peregrine chicks are getting closer to First Flight but yesterday was certainly not the day. As you can see from Saturday’s slideshow and Day In A Minute video below, they felt comfortable flapping on the green perch but none of them took the next step of walking away from the nestbox.
Male peregrine chicks fly at a younger age than females because their lighter weight makes it easier to get airborne. The Cathedral of Learning male is three days younger than his sisters so he will probably be ready for takeoff when they are.
UPDATE! Jeff Cieslak visited Third Avenue on Friday and found four, yes 4, peregrine chicks at the Downtown Pittsburgh nest. This crew looks as close to fledging as the Pitt peregrines. It’s going to be a big week.
Four peregrine chicks at Third Avenue nest, Downtown Pittsburgh, 30 May 2025 (photo by Jeff Cieslak)
Jeff also saw Terzo watching the sky …
Terzo near the Third Avenue nest, Downtown Pittsburgh, 30 May 2025 (photo by Jeff Cieslak)
… and his mate watching the nest from across the street.
Female (mother) peregrine at Third Avenue, Downtown Pittsburgh, 30 May 2025 (photo by Jeff Cieslak)
I stopped by on Saturday when it was cold and gray and saw only one chick and his mother dozing at the ledge edge.
One chick plus female peregrine at Third Avenue nest, Downtown Pittsburgh, 31 May 2025 (photo by Kate St. John)
East Liberty Presbyterian Church, Pittsburgh
In May three chicks were confirmed at the East Liberty Presbyterian steeple. Based on this 23 May photo my guess is that they will fledge around 17-22 June. Exciting days ahead!
Three peregrine chicks at East Liberty Presbyterian Church steeple, 23 May 2025 (photo from Ed Moore)
Adam Knoerzer also reports that the male (father) peregrine is noticeably busier this spring now that he is feeding three chicks instead of the one last year.
Male peregrine flying with prey to East Liberty Presbyterian Church steeple, 26 May 2025 (photo by Adam Knoerzer)
The male takes a break to warm up in the sun.
Male peregrine takes a break in the sun at East Liberty Presbyterian Church, 26 May 2025 (photo by Adam Knoerzer)
Sewickley Bridge, Ohio River
The Ohio River is so high with heavy rain that the Sewickley Bridge nestbox has been hard to observe. Jeff Cieslak found a less than ideal place to stand on 26 May for this glimpse of the three chicks. Lots of rain in West Virginia in the past couple of days means the Ohio River will stay high into this week.
Three chicks in Sewickley Bridge nestbox, 26 May 2025 (photo by Jeff Cieslak)
Tarentum Bridge, Allegheny River
Dave Brooke is keeping tabs on the Tarentum Bridge peregrine family where he notes that the three youngsters fledged on or after 24 May but still hang out at the bridge. They are very photogenic.
Juvenile peregrine flapping atop the nestbox, 31 May 2025 (photo by Dave Brooke)All three juvenile peregrines at Tarentum Bridge, 29 May 2025 (photo by Dave Brooke)
I stopped by on 24 May and was able to digiscope a youngster picking at a bone and his mother perched in the superstructure (at top) — so far the best digiscoped photo I’ve ever taken of a peregrine falcon.
Juvenile peregrine eating at the Tarentum Bridge, 24 May 2025 (digiscoped by Kate St. John)
Westinghouse Bridge, Turtle Creek near Monongahela River
On 24 May Dana Nesiti watched the parents at Westinghouse Bridge call to chick(s) in the scrape. Eventually one chick came to the ledge edge.
One chick appears at the ledge edge, Westinghouse Bridge, 24 May2025 (photo by Dana Nesiti)
SUMMARY FOR SOUTHWEST PA
Southwestern Pennsylvania peregrine sites are listed in the table below. Help fill in the blanks ed below by visiting a site near you. Leave a comment if you find anything!
Male chick from Pitt peregrine nest on Banding Day, 21 May 2025 (photo by Kate St. John)
24 May 2025
On Thursday I wrote about the Pitt peregrine banding on 21 May — see story & photos here — but I did not include a photo of the unusual prey item Patti Barber found at the nest. It was the skull of an American woodcock (Scolopax minor), a “timberdoodle.”
I have never seen a woodcock in the city and certainly not in Schenley, the nearest park to Pitt’s campus. Schenley’s habitat is not suitable for woodcocks but they do court, and therefore breed, at North Park’s Upper Field.
American woodcock among fallen leaves (photo from Wikimedia Commons)
In spring and fall American woodcocks migrate at night, passing over the City of Pittsburgh on their way.
I imagine this one was flying above the Cathedral of Learning one night when the peregrines saw it lit by the building lights and flew up to get it. Yes, peregrines do hunt at night if there’s abundant prey and enough light to see it.
Prey item from Pitt peregrine nest: American woodcock collected on Banding Day 21 May 2025 (photo by Kate St. John)
At study published in 2006 documented peregrines hunting at night at the Empire State Building and in 2019 Jeffrey Ward took a video of one hunting in the 911 Tribute Lights in New York City. See the details at the links below:
If this woodcock was attracted to the Victory lights the lights would have cycled and released him within the hour. But with three hungry mouths to feed, the peregrines didn’t wait that long. 🙂
Patti Barber hands first female chick to Kate St. John, 21 May 2025 (photo by Kim Getz)
22 May 2025
After yesterday morning’s downpour, three healthy chicks were banded at the Cathedral of Learning peregrine nest. Two already looked much larger than the third and their weight confirmed it(*). Two females and one male.
Both parents, Carla and Ecco, have experienced Banding Day in prior years so they knew what was coming when they heard us talking indoors. Carla circled ahead of time and watched us through the blinds. Soon the PA Game Commission’s Patti Barber retrieved, banded, and weighed the chicks while Carla and Ecco continued their vigil. The chicks were returned to the nest within half an hour. Here are the highlights:
Carla, Downtown Pittsburgh behind her (photo by Mike Faix, National Aviary)
Someone is watching us (photo by Jeff Cieslak)
Ecco (photo by Jeff Cieslak)
Carla circling and shouting (photo by Jeff Cieslak)
Carla (photo by Jeff Cieslak)
Carla (photo by Jeff Cieslak)
Meanwhile, Patti Barber, PGC, collects the chicks (photo from the National Aviary snapshot camera)
Carla at the nest without chicks (National Aviary snapshot camera)
First female chick (photo by Jeff Cieslak)
First female chick (photo by Mike Faix, National Aviary)
The handoff. (photo by Britta Moletz, National Aviary)
Bands on second female chick (photo by Mike Faix, National Aviary)
Patti Barber, PGC, holds male chick (photo by Jeff Cieslak)
Patti Barber w/ male chick (photo by Kate St. John)
Delivering chicks back to the nest (photo by Kim Getz)
Releasing chicks at the nest (photo from National Aviary snapcam)
Banding visit is over (photo from the National Aviary snapshot camera)
Carla has the last word (photo by Kim Getz)
Normally I take a lot of photos during the event and blog about it on the afternoon of Banding Day but my hands were busy at the banding. Patti asked me to hold the chicks while she banded them, a new experience for me. Photos at top and below.
Kate St. John holds female chick on Banding Day at Cathedral of Learning, 21 May 2025 (photo by Megan Hinds, National Aviary)Kate St. John holds female chick while Patti Barber prepares bands (photo by Jeff Cieslak)First female chick maxes out the scale, 21 May 2025 (photo by Mike Faix, National Aviary)
For ease of identification on camera, Patti Barber put colored tape on the chicks’ USFW bands.
These baby birds are in for a surprise this morning.
Today is banding day for the peregrine falcon chicks at the Cathedral of Learning. The event is closed to the public (the room has a very strict occupancy limit!) but you’ll see some of the action on the National Aviary falconcam.
The first hint will be the sound of “kakking” as Carla and Ecco react when Patti Barber of the Pennsylvania Game Commission goes out on the ledge to retrieve the chicks. Carla may even jump into the nest to guard her youngsters.
The chicks will receive health checks and leg bands and be returned to the nest in less than half an hour.
Stay tuned for photos from the event and an update on who’s who.
p.s. Expect to see wet birds and wet people! More than 1.8 inches of heavy rain are expected today in Pittsburgh and we are under a 24-hour Flood Watch. Here’s our radar just before 7am. The Cathedral of Learning is in the center of the map, just under the “tt” in the word Pittsburgh.
This week we have news from seven peregrine nests in the Pittsburgh area: Pitt’s Cathedral of Learning, Downtown, East Liberty Presbyterian Church, Sewickley Bridge, Monaca-East Rochester Bridge, Tarentum Bridge, and Westinghouse Bridge. (UPDATES at 5pm from Downtown Pittsburgh and Monaca-East Rochester Bridge.)
Cathedral of Learning, Univ of Pittsburgh:
The Pitt peregrine chicks are 21 to 24 days old today. As they grow up, Carla makes sure everyone gets his/her fair share of food. She fills up the big sisters first, then focuses on the smallest chick (probably male). If a pushy big sister snatches the little guy’s food, I’ve seen Carla take it back and give it to him.
Three chicks, one adult at Third Avenue peregrine nest, as seen from Mt. Washington, 18 May 2025 (photo by Kate St. John)
Today from the Mt. Washington overlook I saw three chicks in the Third Avenue peregrine nest in Downtown Pittsburgh plus one adult perched above them. They appear to be about the same age as the Pitt peregrine chicks so they will probably fledge around the same time in early June.
East Liberty Presbyterian Church, Pittsburgh:
Female peregrine on the East Liberty Presbyterian steeple nest, 29 April 2025 (photo by Adam Knoerzer)
This week the Pittsburgh Falconuts Facebook page has a photo of three chicks and an unhatched egg in the East Liberty Presbyterian Church steeple nest. Confirmation at East Liberty, hooray!
Sewickley Bridge, Ohio River:
Sewickley Bridge, Feb 2025 (photo by Jeff Cieslak)
Great news! Gene Henderson digiscoped the nest yesterday during a 7:48am feeding at the Sewickley Bridge. He counted 3 chicks and got photos of both parents, embedded below from eBird. So we have confirmation at Sewickley!
The male perches on top of the bridge …
… while the female feeds their three chicks.
Monaca-East Rochester Bridge, Ohio River:
Monaca East Rochester Bridge, 2012 (photo by PGC WCO Steve Leiendecker)
Today Jeff Cieslak visited the Monaca-East Rochester Bridge and noted a peregrine perched nearby as if watching its nest. He investigated and found two chicks perched in the under-structure of the bridge at one of the peregrines’ typical nest locations.
Chicks at the Monaca-East Rochester Bridge, 18 May 2025 (photo by Jeff Cieslak)
Dave Brooke predicts the three peregrine youngsters at the Tarentum Bridge will be ledge walking this weekend. Visit the Tarentum Boat Ramp under the bridge or the riverside park. Click here for the map.
Westinghouse Bridge, Turtle Creek near Monongahela River:
Peregrine circling near the Westinghouse Bridge, 17 May 2025 (photo by Dana Nesiti)
Dana Nesiti saw activity at the Westinghouse Bridge yesterday that indicates there are young in the nest. He saw a peregrine circling above the bridge, then watched food arrive and the male and female trade places. Their favorite move when they leave the ledge is to jump up to the handrail and both of them did it yesterday. Notice the size difference and their toes/talons.
Male flies out of the scrape to the handrail. Look at those toes! 17 May 2025 (photo by Dana Nesiti)Female flies out of the scrape to the handrail. Look at those talons! 17 May 2025 (photo by Dana Nesiti)
Rt40 Bridge West Brownsville, Monongahela River:
Pair of peregrines at Rt.40 Bridge over the Monongahela at West Brownsville, week of 12 May 2025 (photo by Regina Mowl King)
News from West Brownsville, PA was troubling in March when one of this peregrine pair was found injured and sent to rehab. But now in May, Regina Mowl King reports there’s a pair at the bridge, seen in the photo above. Do they have a nest with young? Wait and see.
SUMMARY FOR SOUTHWEST PA:
All the peregrine sites are listed in the table below. Except for those mentioned above, there is no recent nest news from any other site. Help fill in the blanks below by visiting a site near you. Leave a comment if you find anything!
Remember when we watched Schenley Park’s great horned owls from late winter into early spring? Great horned owl fledging season is long past but woodland “earless” owls have just reached fledging time in Europe and North America. Let’s take a look at the family life of two species.
Tawny owls in Europe (Strix aluco) and barred owls in North America (Strix varia) are in the same genus Strix, the “earless” owls that inhabit forests, parks and suburbs. They resemble each other in appearance and breeding behavior. Both nest in tree holes, on snags or in structures such as nest boxes.
In the U.K. tawny owls reached hatch time in early to mid-April. This video posted on 17 April by Robert E Fuller shows three eggs hatching at a tawny owl nest in Yorkshire, UK.
By late April, tawny and barred owlets were half grown. Here’s an evening feeding early this month at the Wild Birds Unlimited Barred Owl nestcam in Indiana. As the video begins you can hear one of the parents hooting.
This month barred owlets in North America’s mid latitudes are “branching” before they fly. This 7-minute video shows a barred owlet doing some risky maneuvers in the trees.
Usually we can’t see the chicks during feedings at the Pitt peregrine nest but yesterday evening at 6:30pm Carla stood in the back of the nestbox and faced the camera while all three chicks stood in a row to grab food from her beak, and from each other. See their 10 minute feeding in the video below. Here are some things to notice.
The two larger chicks are 17 days old, the smallest is 14 days old. At this point their size difference is a good indication of sex: the two largest are probably female, the smallest is probably male.
Notice that the small chick grabs the food before his sisters can and sometimes has a tug of war with one of them. In a couple of weeks, just before they fledge, I bet he’ll grab the entire meal and mantle over it.
Near the end of the feeding when the sisters are not hungry they move away and Carla feeds the small one exclusively.
