Peregrine Quest! March 10, 2pm, Downtown

Vicinity of Downtown peregrine nest (photo by Kate St. John)

Want to help monitor the former Gulf Tower peregrines this spring?  Meet me downtown at 2:00pm on Sunday March 10 and I’ll show you where they live.

When the peregrines did not return to Pittsburgh’s Gulf Tower last month and when I heard very few reports of them I worried that they’d chosen yet another nest site.

I went downtown yesterday to check and am happy to report that they plan to use the same site as last year.  I found both birds nearby.

Here’s Louie perched across the street from the nest, roosting during a mini snow squall.
There's a peregrine in this picture (photo by Kate St. John)

This smaller image is the same one, digitally zoomed and cropped.
Peregrine perched on windowsill of Lawrence Hall, 24 Feb 2013 (photo by Kate St. John)

 

And here’s Dori at the nest site, digitally zoomed.

Peregrine perched at nest site, 24 Feb 2013 (photo by Kate St. John)

My photos aren’t sharp because I don’t have a zoom lens.  If you do, you’ll get a nice portrait at this distance.  These birds are closer and easier to see than the peregrines at Pitt.

Come on Downtown on I’ll show you where to look for them.

Meet me at the Market Square Starbucks in downtown Pittsburgh (click here for map) on Sunday, March 10 at 2:00pm.  In less than an hour I can show you the ropes.

Bring binoculars or a camera.  We’ll walk 3.5 blocks to the site and do a short walking tour of other perching spots.

This event will happen rain or shine.  Dori will lay her first egg within two weeks of our visit so there’s no time to lose.

Sunday bonus: On-street parking is free in many places on Sundays.  For instance, along the Boulevard of the Allies at Point Park University.

Hope to see you March 10!

(photos by Kate St. John)

7 thoughts on “Peregrine Quest! March 10, 2pm, Downtown

  1. Kate, I am sad, as I am sure many others will be that they are not returning to their original nest site, but they are safe and still doing their thing! That is the main thing!

  2. I hope to be there. I did a quick cruise through downtown yesterday afternoon but no one was flying — and I couldn’t exactly look at windows while driving!

    1. Couldn’t obtain permission for a camera … yet… and ran out of time … So no camera there this year.

  3. I’m happy that if you can’t have a cam, at least you know where they are nesting. That way at least you can do a fledge watch and help them out if required. Such a wonderful pair and glad they are still together!

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