15 January 2023
Pitt peregrines Morela and Ecco keep on the Cathedral of Studying yr spherical however haven’t been lively at their nest on this month’s gloomy climate. Subsequent month actual courtship will start and so will the Nationwide Aviary’s Reside Falconcam. It’s exhausting to imagine the primary egg of the yr is simply two months away.
To get within the temper for the 2023 nesting season right here’s a slideshow of final yr’s profitable nest, a recap of highlights, and the Prime 4 movies from the Nationwide Aviary falconcams.
Pitt Peregrine Highlights, 2022
- The yr started quietly with a little bit of snow.
- Ecco and Morela courted in February and March. Morela laid 5 eggs:
- First egg: 3/18/2022, 08:31am
- Second egg: 3/20/2022, 20:09 = 2.5 days later
- Third egg: 3/23/2022, 04:40 = 2.4 days later … started incubation
- Fourth egg: 3/26/2022, 06:32 = 3.1 days later
- Fifth egg: 3/30/2022, 19:08 = 4.5 days later
- Hatch Day: 3 of the 5 eggs hatched on 26 April. The 4th hatched on 3 Might. The fifth by no means hatched.
- The fourth chick hatched late and was weak from the beginning. It died on 7 Might, 4 days after hatching.
- The remaining chicks grew up into totally feathered juveniles by the top of Might.
- The chicks had been banded on 26 Might by Patti Barber of the PA Recreation Fee. This was the primary time Morela and Ecco ever witnessed a banding. Morela was fierce (at prime)!
- When the chicks started ledge strolling Yellow Woman fell within the gully. Purple Boy got here down to go to her. She jumped again up a few days later.
- We had enjoyable at Fledge Watch in early June.
- Purple Boy was discovered lifeless on the Allegheny County Airport on 28 June simply 23 days after he fledged.
- Each feminine chicks are loud! Yellow Woman demanded a handout and Silver Woman screeched all day on 6 July. Finally they left house for good.
- Ecco and Morela molt in July and August.
- And so they stay at Pitt year-round.
26 April 2022: Pitt Peregrine Chicks on Hatch Day, 4pm Feeding
28 Might 2022: Ooops off the nest! One of many chicks falls within the gully.
31 Might 2022: Again within the nest! Yellow Woman returns from the gully.
6 July 2022: Screeching all day … in July! Silver Woman calls for a handout.
(slideshow photographs by The Nationwide Aviary falconcam at Univ of Pittsburgh, Mike Drazdzinski at Univ of Pittsburgh, John English, Jeff Cieslak)