4 March 2024

Egg laying season is arising quickly on the Cathedral of Studying peregrine nest the place Ecco and Carla are courting regularly.

Yesterday they held three lengthy courting periods that included bowing, ee-chupping, and nest preparation. The ee-chup name sounds totally different for female and male peregrines. Ecco’s voice is squeaky whereas Carla’s voice is tough and barely decrease in pitch. She’s the one which makes the “huh” sound. You’ll be able to hear the distinction on this 6-minute video. Extra info on what they’re as much as is described beneath.

After bowing, Ecco left the nest so Carla may make preparations on her personal. To limber up she stretched her proper wing and leg.

To “construct” the nest, Carla put her chest towards one fringe of it and kicked the gravel out together with her toes. The nest itself is a bowl within the gravel, known as a scrape, for holding eggs in order that they don’t roll off the cliff. Peregrines don’t use sticks to construct their nests.

After digging Carla puttered round on the gravel floor, swallowing small items of gravel to assist digestion. Birds add gravel to their gizzards to grind the meals. Be taught extra about How Birds Chew on the hyperlink.

And when she was accomplished Carla flew away.

A number of weeks from now, after Carla lays her next-to-last egg, she’ll keep on the nest to incubate.

Within the meantime keep tuned for eggs coming in March or early April on the Nationwide Aviary Falconcam on the College of Pittsburgh.