Comments on: Update on Gulf Tower peregrines and CMU red-tails http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2009/07/16/update-on-gulf-tower-peregrines-and-cmu-red-tails/ A Bird Blog with Kate St. John Thu, 09 Feb 2012 18:53:51 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.4 By: James http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2009/07/16/update-on-gulf-tower-peregrines-and-cmu-red-tails/comment-page-1/#comment-7893 James Thu, 23 Jul 2009 17:17:02 +0000 http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/?p=8690#comment-7893 It's for sure a peregrine falcon, maybe he lives somewhere else and hangs out there. I got a close look at him once while he was sitting on a garage roof. You can see him calling and circling sometimes in the evening as well. Correction on the street, St. Augustine's is on 37th Street. It’s for sure a peregrine falcon, maybe he lives somewhere else and hangs out there.
I got a close look at him once while he was sitting on a garage roof. You can see him calling and circling sometimes in the evening as well. Correction on the street, St. Augustine’s is on 37th Street.

]]> By: Kate St. John http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2009/07/16/update-on-gulf-tower-peregrines-and-cmu-red-tails/comment-page-1/#comment-7888 Kate St. John Wed, 22 Jul 2009 16:51:45 +0000 http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/?p=8690#comment-7888 I wonder if it is an American kestrel. They are smaller than peregrines but with the same "mustache" mark. They're cavity nesters and will nest inside buildings (church steeples!) and in boxes. Check here for a picture of the kestrel: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Kestrel/id I wonder if it is an American kestrel. They are smaller than peregrines but with the same “mustache” mark. They’re cavity nesters and will nest inside buildings (church steeples!) and in boxes. Check here for a picture of the kestrel:
http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/American_Kestrel/id

]]> By: James http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2009/07/16/update-on-gulf-tower-peregrines-and-cmu-red-tails/comment-page-1/#comment-7886 James Wed, 22 Jul 2009 15:52:12 +0000 http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/?p=8690#comment-7886 there's a young falcon possibly living in the bell towers of St. Augustine's church on 38th Street in Lawrenceville. he's usually sitting on the crosses in the early morning. any one have any information on this one? there’s a young falcon possibly living in the bell towers of St. Augustine’s church on 38th Street in Lawrenceville. he’s usually sitting on the crosses in the early morning. any one have any information on this one?

]]> By: Anne Curtis http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2009/07/16/update-on-gulf-tower-peregrines-and-cmu-red-tails/comment-page-1/#comment-7871 Anne Curtis Fri, 17 Jul 2009 05:35:40 +0000 http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/?p=8690#comment-7871 "My" hawk at CMU gave me a scare 3 days ago. As Liffey-the-dog and I were walking in the inner quad, I saw her up by the floodlights on that god-awful pressed concrete building. She was sitting up prettily, and appearing very predatory. By the time we walked in front of Hamerschlag (sp?) Hall and turned back, she was looking more like a roosting chicken, sitting forward on her chest. She was making awful "kreee-ing" sounds all the time. As I sat and watched, she draped one wing over the edge, continuing to call, and looking much like the woman in the intros to Masterpiece Mysteries, the one who's on top of the column and dangling her red scarf! Dying Diva? Insult to injury--two pigeons roosted on the roof nearby. I thought maybe she was doing a decoy-thing to lure them to her, but she just lay there, kree-ing all the while. Shortly, another hawk materialized and distracted me. When I looked back, "my" hawk had disappeared! So she was just trying to convince mom/dad that she couldn't fend for herself? How like a teenager! Such joy! Anne “My” hawk at CMU gave me a scare 3 days ago. As Liffey-the-dog and I were walking in the inner quad, I saw her up by the floodlights on that god-awful pressed concrete building. She was sitting up prettily, and appearing very predatory. By the time we walked in front of Hamerschlag (sp?) Hall and turned back, she was looking more like a roosting chicken, sitting forward on her chest. She was making awful “kreee-ing” sounds all the time. As I sat and watched, she draped one wing over the edge, continuing to call, and looking much like the woman in the intros to Masterpiece Mysteries, the one who’s on top of the column and dangling her red scarf! Dying Diva?

Insult to injury–two pigeons roosted on the roof nearby. I thought maybe she was doing a decoy-thing to lure them to her, but she just lay there, kree-ing all the while. Shortly, another hawk materialized and distracted me. When I looked back, “my” hawk had disappeared! So she was just trying to convince mom/dad that she couldn’t fend for herself? How like a teenager!

Such joy! Anne

]]> By: Heather Jacoby http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2009/07/16/update-on-gulf-tower-peregrines-and-cmu-red-tails/comment-page-1/#comment-7869 Heather Jacoby Thu, 16 Jul 2009 22:12:25 +0000 http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/?p=8690#comment-7869 Earlier this year, a red-tailed hawk took a LARGE rat from behind the trolley tracks in Castle Shannon. GOOD RIDDANCE! We love our hawks! Yesterday, I saw three hawks soaring over Beechview. It was quite a site. Then, I came home to Castle Shannon and saw two circling overhead. One was quite loud, but other than that, they came close but with no sign of aggression/territoriality. I'd been waiting for a clash. Earlier this year, a red-tailed hawk took a LARGE rat from behind the trolley tracks in Castle Shannon. GOOD RIDDANCE!

We love our hawks!

Yesterday, I saw three hawks soaring over Beechview. It was quite a site. Then, I came home to Castle Shannon and saw two circling overhead. One was quite loud, but other than that, they came close but with no sign of aggression/territoriality. I’d been waiting for a clash.

]]> By: Marge http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2009/07/16/update-on-gulf-tower-peregrines-and-cmu-red-tails/comment-page-1/#comment-7868 Marge Thu, 16 Jul 2009 21:58:50 +0000 http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/?p=8690#comment-7868 There have been quite a few I have seen over the past few months perched here and there along Highway 79, many on the light poles or signs, especially around Wexford and Cranberry and also up near Grove City (also 422 has its share and one in particular likes to perch on light poles at the exits off 422). We had quite a few I got pics of that seemed to like to sit in the tops of trees and watch the cars go by or wait for scraps from the stores behind our bypass up in Allegheny Township between Leechburg and Vandergrift/Apollo last year and also on Melwood Road around Pounds turkey farm (wonder why?)... There have been quite a few I have seen over the past few months perched here and there along Highway 79, many on the light poles or signs, especially around Wexford and Cranberry and also up near Grove City (also 422 has its share and one in particular likes to perch on light poles at the exits off 422).
We had quite a few I got pics of that seemed to like to sit in the tops of trees and watch the cars go by or wait for scraps from the stores behind our bypass up in Allegheny Township between Leechburg and Vandergrift/Apollo last year and also on Melwood Road around Pounds turkey farm (wonder why?)…

]]> By: faith Cornell http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2009/07/16/update-on-gulf-tower-peregrines-and-cmu-red-tails/comment-page-1/#comment-7867 faith Cornell Thu, 16 Jul 2009 19:33:08 +0000 http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/?p=8690#comment-7867 we had had a red tail hawk here for a few days;(Bridgeville) squirrel population seems to have diminished which is quite good. Too many for this tiny spot of seed that I provide for the birds. And yesterday during the windy part of the day he was very high & semed to be enjoying soaring but probably looking down alot also. Faith C. we had had a red tail hawk here for a few days;(Bridgeville) squirrel population seems to have diminished which is quite good. Too many for this tiny spot of seed that I provide for the birds. And yesterday during the windy part of the day he was very high & semed to be enjoying soaring but probably looking down alot also. Faith C.

]]> By: Kate St. John http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2009/07/16/update-on-gulf-tower-peregrines-and-cmu-red-tails/comment-page-1/#comment-7866 Kate St. John Thu, 16 Jul 2009 14:44:19 +0000 http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/?p=8690#comment-7866 I don't know how many are here. What I can say is that they are a species that's doing well and Pittsburgh has good habitat for them. They prefer hunting along edges - which is why you see them near roads - and they seem to have adapted to being around people. I don’t know how many are here. What I can say is that they are a species that’s doing well and Pittsburgh has good habitat for them. They prefer hunting along edges – which is why you see them near roads – and they seem to have adapted to being around people.

]]> By: Steve V http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2009/07/16/update-on-gulf-tower-peregrines-and-cmu-red-tails/comment-page-1/#comment-7865 Steve V Thu, 16 Jul 2009 14:30:35 +0000 http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/?p=8690#comment-7865 Kate, do you have any quick-rough estimate at the metropolitan hawk population? I saw one yesterday afternoon circling the Allegheny River BLVD / Highland Park Bridge area during the PM rush-hour. thanks! Kate, do you have any quick-rough estimate at the metropolitan hawk population? I saw one yesterday afternoon circling the Allegheny River BLVD / Highland Park Bridge area during the PM rush-hour.

thanks!

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