Jun 03 2010
Wednesday Fledge Watch and Storms
Here are some photos from yesterday’s Fledge Watch and the subsequent thunderstorms.
Traci Darin sent pictures of Fledge Watch. In this collection, one of the parents watches his “kids” from the lightning rod, three of the five youngsters lounge on the nestrail, and a fledgling tries his wings on the edge of the 38th floor.
Late in the day, two big thunderstorms came through Pittsburgh and dropped more than 2″ of rain. During the first storm, one of the Pitt fledglings was still perched on Heinz Chapel steeple where he got very wet but was otherwise unaffected, as you can see from Peter Bell’s photo taken just after the rain.
Meanwhile at the Gulf Tower nest, you can see the lightning and hear thunder in this archived video.
And to give you an idea of the storms’ intensity, here’s a photo Donna Memon took from Mount Washington as the second storm moved east of town. That lightning was probably hitting Squirrel Hill.
(photos by Traci Darin, Peter Bell and Donna Memon)
Beautiful photos, Traci and Donna! Thanks for sharing them. So glad that Kate and the peregrine watchers got to see them before the storms hit. How attached am I to all 10 chicks? As I wrapped up yard work and ran into the house because lightning was all around me, my first thought was, “Gosh, I hope the chicks are all okay.”
Another great photo. Thanks, Peter for sharing so many of the wonderful photos you have taken, and for sharing your observations on the chat while you were there in person.
Ditto Jennie’s comments. She took the words out of my mouth!
I had a great time at my first Fledge Watch! It was so exciting, with lots of action from all 7 in the family!
It was wonderful to meet Kate and more in person, including Donna, Traci, Karen and Peter. (and others too) I am aka Jetta.
Hi Kate,
Video and chat both down at COL.
Guess we need a reboot again
John
Akela-PA
Thx Traci, Donna, Peter, Mary for wonderful photos….I missed the action on Wed. …DARN. But thanks to you guys I get to see it online. My thoughts during the bad storm last night were of our little ones. After just one day’s experience flying, that was pretty scary.
Hello all,
Check the Aviary website for the latest news. The Pitt streaming cam is now “off” for the season. See http://www.aviary.org/cons/falconcam_cl.php
I think we all were worried first about the chicks during the storms – I know that’s what I first thought of and from the other comments, you all did too. Funny how we have all come to consider them as our own and wonder how they were able to raise other chicks without our watching and worrying. Glad to see that the one on the Heinz Chapel made it through ok – I was particularly worried about her/him. Wonder how he was able to hold on during all that wind! Sad to see the empty nest and silent video.
Since we can no longer check out the Pitt peregrines via streaming cam, I decided to check out the ones at the Gulf Tower. Their nest is full of weeds! And the babies still have white fluff. They are quite a ways behind the Pitt chicks. I guess so — the last egg hatched May 11, just 3 + weeks ago. They probably won’t fledge for another 2 – 3 weeks, right Kate? So we can still get our peregrine chick fix over at the Gulf Tower. Great series on the Pitt chicks’ fledging and making it through the storm.
Libby, you’re right about the Gulf chicks fledging in 2-3 weeks. Their nest will be “weeded” next week when they’re banded.
I have not been able to get to Fledge Watch, so I am grateful to Kate and all of you for you for your descriptions and comments on the fledglings and their progress. Like others, I thought about the chicks during the storms and was so happy to see the pic of that little one firm on the Heinz Chapel spire. Amazing. It is sad to see another season of the COL web cam end, but nice to know we still have Gulf Tower.