6 March 2025
There’s lots of peregrine information in southwestern Pennsylvania proper now as mated pairs put together to nest. Our earliest couple is already on eggs on the Tarentum Bridge.
Tarentum Bridge, Allegheny River:
On Tuesday 4 March Dave Brooke noticed the grey lump of a peregrine’s head laying low within the nestbox. This place normally signifies incubation is in progress, notably if the fowl doesn’t transfer round.
Final yr the Tarentum Bridge feminine laid eggs roughly 21 February so it is vitally possible she’s on eggs proper now at this location:
Cathedral of Studying, Univ of Pittsburgh:
Ecco and Carla are on the Nationwide Aviary falconcam a number of instances a day now as they courtroom and put together their nest. Yesterday their third courtship session lasted 5 minutes and Carla puttered on the nest for greater than eight minutes. The size of each actions signifies how shut they’re to nesting.
This 2+ minute video is only a small a part of their courtship yesterday. There’s a fade-to-black transition when Carla begins puttering.
Look ahead to eggs within the subsequent two weeks on the Nationwide Aviary falconcam at Univ of Pittsburgh.
East Liberty Presbyterian Church, Pittsburgh:
On 4 March Adam Knoerzer captured proof that the peregrines at East Liberty Presbyterian Church are planning to nest. Look intently and you’ll see the male fly in and mate with the feminine on the steeple.
Sewickley Bridge, Ohio River:
Glad information on the Sewickley Bridge! Yesterday, 5 March, I needed to run an errand in Sewickley so I ended by the Chestnut Avenue boat ramp (within the rain!), noticed a peregrine on the nestbox and advised Jeff Cieslak. After the rain ended Jeff discovered each peregrines at residence, one within the nestbox and one on the pier close to the nav mild. Woo Hoo! Thanks, Jeff, for requesting this nestbox final yr and due to PennDOT for putting in it.
Spruce Run Bridge, Ohio River:
Jeff Cieslak checked for peregrines alongside the Ohio River all through February. He discovered the feminine at her Spruce Run residence on the eleventh and what appears to be each of them on close by Neville Island on the twenty fifth.
Eckert Avenue / McKees Rocks / Brunot Island, Ohio River:
The “Eckert Avenue peregrines,” who didn’t nest at Eckert Avenue final yr, have so many locations they might select to nest that they’re onerous to maintain monitor of. Final month Jeff Cieslak discovered one hanging out on the Alcosan smokestack and the opposite on a close-by energy tower.
Jeff’s images point out the male is in immature plumage. Although younger, there are data of male peregrines breeding at this age so we’ll have to attend and see what occurs.
Westinghouse Bridge, Turtle Creek close to Monongahela River:
On 25 February Dana Nesiti discovered each peregrines at residence on the Westinghouse Bridge. He suspects that courted close to the scrape as effectively although he couldn’t see tit.
PEREGRINE SUMMARY FOR SOUTHWEST PA: Listed below are all of the potential websites and newest sightings. Assist fill within the blanks by visiting one in all them.
