14 January 2024

As we anticipate peregrine nesting season at College of Pittsburgh’s Cathedral of Studying, let’s have a look again ultimately 12 months’s highlights. Effectively truly “low lights.” The nest was not profitable final 12 months however the purpose why provides us hope for excellent issues for 2024.

Pitt Peregrine Highlights in 2023 (click on the hyperlinks for extra element)

The 12 months started on the Cathedral of Studying with Ecco and Morela, the resident female and male. We hoped for a primary egg round St. Patrick’s Day, 17 March.

In early February Morela appeared distracted, clearly checking the sky throughout a courtship session on the sixth. The distraction continued.

By 21 March Morela had not laid an egg, but she disappeared for 4 days so I puzzled if there was a feminine challenger for the nest. When Morela returned on 25 March the intruder didn’t keep away. For 4-5 weeks Morela tried with out success to put an egg.

By Might Morela was egg sure and more and more sick. She disappeared eternally on 12 Might.

On 14 Might a banded feminine peregrine, new to the Cathedral of Studying, confirmed up on digital camera. Carla hatched on the Indiana Michigan Energy Heart (IMPC) Constructing in Fort Wayne, Indiana in 2020 and flew right here on her personal. Carla was named when she was banded (Black/Blue S/07).

Although it was too late to begin a household in late Might, Carla and Ecco have strengthened their pair bond ever since. This 4 minute video from 30 July, sped as much as double-time, reveals the pair bowing for an prolonged interval. Discover that there was no sound on the video final 12 months. I promise there can be sound this 12 months!