PA / Pittsburgh - Cathedral of Learning - 2009-22

[burdi]

First hatch at Pittsburgh!

Link to update from Kate St. John:
http://www.birdsoutsidemywindow.org/2016/04/29/first-peregrine-egg-hatched-at-pitt-2/

Live Cam: http://www.wildearth.tv/cam/cathedral-falcons

[Alison]

I saw Terzo take his turn incubating on at least two different occasions today:

 

[RCF]

There is a fourth egg this afternoon.

[The Peregrine Chick]

That is a beautiful male ... love his white breast - doesn't look like there is a single speckle on it!

[Alison]

The new male has now been given a name. From Kate St. John's blog:

In Pittsburgh, the tradition for naming a newly arrived adult peregrine is this:

The primary nest monitor names the bird for his/her own convenience using these two rules. If the peregrine was named at banding that name is preferred. Otherwise the primary monitor names the bird.

N29 did not receive a name on Banding Day so it was my job to decide what to call him.  After many hours of deliberation and repeated consultations with my fellow peregrine monitor, Karen Lang, …

the third male peregrine to nest at the Cathedral of Learning has a name:  Terzo.

Terzo means “third” in Italian.

p.s. In Italian it’s pronounced Tare-tzo. It rhymes with “scherzo.”

The new male is very handsome. I think this is a good name for him. First Erie, then E2 (originally meant to be a temporary nickname, denoting Erie 2), and now the third male, Terzo.

Photo from the blog.



http://www.birdsoutsidemywindow.org/2016/03/29/his-name-is-terzo/

[The Peregrine Chick]

Got this report through a group of banders I chat with ...

The mystery new male PEFA at the nest in Pittsburgh (on the Cathedral of Learning on the Pitt campus) was banded as a nestling in Cincinnati in 2013.  He appeared on the scene on March 23, and his bands were read on the nest cam two days later.  It will be very interesting to see what happens from here.  The female is still sitting on three eggs from her previous mate, who was killed on March 16.

His coloured band is black/red, N over 29.  Not in the Midwest database so they had to chat with the banding lab and put the call out to peregrine banders.

[Alison]

A little bit about E2 and hope on the news:

http://www.wtae.com/news/cathedral-of-learnings-peregrine-falcon-eggs-in-potential-danger-after-bird-found-dead/38606898

[Alison]

Dorothy's long-time mate E2 and Hope settled in, and on March 13 Hope laid her first egg. She laid the second egg on March 15, and a third egg on March 17.

But on March 16, there was terrible news. E2 was found dead. From Kate St. John's blog:

Yesterday afternoon, March 16, a woman in the Friendship neighborhood of Pittsburgh found a dead peregrine falcon face down in her backyard.  Because he was banded we learned he was E2.

E2 hatched at the Gulf Tower in 2005, the son of Louie and Tasha. He arrived at Pitt in November 2007 after his predecessor Erie had disappeared.  He was 11 years old.

Last seen on the Cathedral of Learning falconcam at 12:37pm on Tuesday, March 15, E2 died less than a mile and a half from home.  He had a broken right wing and leg and blood in his mouth.  We don’t know what happened but it appears he was hit broadside. (*)

When E2 last visited the nest there was only one egg.  Hope laid her second egg 4.5 hours later.  Though she sometimes sits on the eggs, she may have not begun true incubation.

At this point in the nesting cycle — egg laying — E2 brought food to her every day, mated with her, and cached food on the cliff.  His custom was to visit each egg after it was laid.  He did not visit the second egg.

By now Hope has figured out that he won’t be coming home.

Hope will begin to hunt for herself again.  For a while, she’ll protect the eggs but not incubate them.  Eventually she’ll advertise for a mate by circling above the Cathedral of Learning.  If a new mate arrives in the next few weeks, the pair will bond and she will lay a new clutch two weeks later.

http://www.birdsoutsidemywindow.org/2016/03/17/e2-found-dead-in-friendship/

Hope has been doing a fair amount of incubating. At the moment, she is on the eggs for the night and is asleep.

There has been no indication that there is a new male around. With massive injuries to his right side, and internal injuries, I believe it is most likely that E2 was hit by a vehicle. Poor little guy; it is so sad to lose him in this way, and even more so with Hope in the middle of egg laying.

E2 was always a wonderful mate for Dorothy, loyal, faithful and completely supportive. He was a great tiercel.

[Alison]

2016 NESTING SEASON

On November 30 of last year, the great matriarch Dorothy was displaced by another falcon. The new female is Hope, from the Tarentum Bridge nest. She is banded black/green 69/Z, and was born at the Benjamin Harrison Bridge in Hopewell, Virginia in 2008. Since she is from Virginia, she has a green federal band on her right leg.

I don't know whether or not Dorothy survived, and as far as I know no searches were done to see if she might be injured somewhere in the vicinity.

An article on Dorothy at the time she went missing:

http://www.post-gazette.com/local/city/2015/12/04/Peregrine-falcon-Dorothy-missing-from-eyrie-at-Cathedral-of-Learning/stories/201512040312

[Kinderchick]

I'm so sorry to hear of the passing of this beautiful little peregrine falcon, Silver.

[Alison]

Heartbreaking news this afternoon. We have lost Dorothy's beautiful little son, Silver. He had been in rehab at the Animal Rescue League. He was not injured, but was thought to have other problems. It is too long, and too sad, a story to go into at the moment.

From the Animal Rescue League:

Peregrine Update: It is with heavy hearts that we must share the news of the passing of the Peregrine Falcon we accepted from the Cathedral of Learning. After weeks with little change to its status, the bird experienced a sudden drop in weight - despite routine hand feedings & daily weight monitoring. After discovering signs of a respiratory illness on Saturday morning, a staff member rushed the falcon to an emergency clinic in Cleveland to see avian specialist Dr. Jamie Lindstrom. Dr. Lindstrom is renowned for his knowledge & experience with wild birds, having authored numerous academic articles & speeches, as well as serving in leadership roles in several avian organizations. While receiving top-notch care at the hospital, the falcon passed away. Dr. Lindstrom felt strongly that the illness was linked to the animal being developmentally delayed, immunosuppressed, & a failure to thrive & diagnosed him with a chronic pulmonary obstructive disease. Unfortunately, there was nothing further that any of the doctors could do. The staff of the Animal Rescue League thank you for your support & well wishes throughout this process. May the Peregrine's spirit fly, free of the burdens that plagued him during his short life.

Silver . . . so very beautiful . . .

 

I know that Silver had unlimited courage, beauty and spirit and was such a little fighter. He tried his hardest to survive. His parents, especially his Mom, Dorothy, gave him the greatest devotion and dedication anyone possibly could, every minute of every day.

He touched so many lives in his far too short life, and he will never be forgotten. 

[GCG]

This is great news, Alison. That is one very cute chick. Thanks for sharing.

[Alison]

One very special little chick:

 

[Alison]

Dorothy laid a total of four eggs, and she and E2 incubated the eggs faithfully.

On May 10, the first chick hatched, confounding all the experts who had been trying to write Dorothy off for the last couple of years. I think there is still one chick, but have not had a good look at the chick today so far.

I hope everything continues to go well for this great pair and their chick.

[Alison]

Today, Dorothy laid her third egg. The best part is that Dorothy, now sixteen years old, looks good. She looks healthy again, and her plumage is in good condition.

 

E2 on the eggs; he is noticeably smaller than Dorothy.