Ever since the Pitt peregrine nestling jumped to the green perch, online watchers are a-buzz with this question:
When will the Cathedral of Learning nestling fly?
Answer: We don’t know.
It’s always difficult to predict Fledge Dates. Though the rule of thumb says they fledge 38-45 days after hatch, the timing depends on age, sex and physical condition. Some break the rules, as did the early males this month at Neville Island Bridge and Downtown.
This year’s Pitt nestling is even more challenging to predict because:
- The chick has (or had) delayed development. At 19-days-old it had 14-day-old feather growth. Will it fledge 5 days late? We don’t know.
- Fledge dates are earlier for male nestlings than for females because the males are lighter weight. Is this bird a male or a female? We don’t know.
Thoughts on the bird’s sex keep fluctuating. The size of his legs/feet say he’s male (males have smaller feet), but when we see she’s nearly the size of Dorothy now we think she’s female.
And none of this matters anyway. The bird will fly on its own schedule.
At the Cathedral of Learning here’s what peregrine chicks do as they approach Fledge Date:
- First adventure: Nestling “Ledge Walks” off camera and/or explores below the nest. You can’t see him but he has not flown yet. (Online video watchers, for you the bird will simply disappear. Click the links to see pictures and videos showing what actually happens.)
- For several days: More adventures back & forth to the nest. He has not flown yet.
- At some point: Leaves the nest for a nearby ledge and doesn’t return. On the day this happens he has not flown yet.
- A couple of days after Step 3 the nestling flies for the first time and lands up high on the Cathedral of Learning.
WARNING: During this period curious people can scare the chick into premature flight that will end his life in a crash. No close view or photo is “innocent.” If you’re in Pittsburgh, stay away from the nesting area. You don’t want to be the one who scared the chick and killed him!
Online watchers, you will know the bird will fly in a few days when you don’t see him on camera anymore. Your watching will end long before the bird flies.
In Pittsburgh our watching will be extended as we view the peregrines from Schenley Plaza and later watch the juvenile on campus into the month of July.
Pittsburgh Peregrine Fans, come on down to the Schenley Plaza tent and I’ll show you where to look. Watch Dorothy and E2 do flight demonstrations and prey exchanges! See Dorothy beat up turkey vultures, even bald eagles! Click here for the calendar. p.s. I won’t be there in rain or thunder.
(photo from the National Aviary falconcam at University of Pittsburgh)
I wish I was not in SC —-
🙂
…. you wrote, just in time :
” First adventure: …”
DONE !
🙂
Thank You !
Thank you so much for all the info you post and the updates!!! Love this little falcon and hope the best for him/her. Thank you for posting the nest box diagrams and info previously. That was very helpful and reassuring that the chick has places to go, and exercise, before actually fledging. I will miss watching him/her! Dorothy has been such as good mom for her age.
Either I missed the naming or some people have just named him/her Fuzzy/Silver? I think it should be “miracle” for all its gone through to even be here today. But that’s just me! It will be sad when the chick is off camera, but then maybe I’ll be able to get something done around here LOL!
This was one of the first Falcon cams I’ve ever watched and have been for years now. I didn’t even know what a Peregrine Falcon was back then.
Thank you again…
from Debbie in Michigan
…. and the “Ledge Walks” post is awesome.
Thank you.
Instead of wanting to be a fly on the wall, I’d like to be a fly on a ledge walk…:) Isn’t the concrete kind of hot to be walking on?
What this precious one is she’s a miracle & I call her the MiraclPefa. God bless her as she continues her journey towards fledge
I know his/her name was changed to Silver at banding. Many of us called the chick Fuzz or Fuzzy. We have now started calling it Silver/Fuzz or Silver/Fuzzy, S/F for short. My question is on the bands on it’s left leg. Top band is Black with what looks like 43 on it. Is that because S/F is Dorothy’s 43rd chick? Bottom band is Green with what looks like BR on it. What would that mean? What do the different colors mean?
Connie, Silver is a temporary name. Here is all the information on naming here in Pittsburgh: http://www.birdsoutsidemywindow.org/2015/06/01/all-about-names/
This chick happens to be Dorothy’s 43rd to have lived this long. (2 died in the nest.) When the chick flies it will be her 43rd fledged chick. It is merely coincidence that the band is Black/Green 43/BR. This is a ‘female peregrine’ band issued from the banding authorities to the PA Game Commission. There is a set for male peregrines and a set for females. PGC uses the bands in numerical order based on sex. Since this chick’s sex was unknown, a female (larger) band was used. #43/BR came up in sequence for females on the day this chick was banded.
Thank you so much Kate. I appreciate you clearing up the numbers and letters. Would there be a time that the Game Commission will be able to tell S/F’s sex or will they have to wait to see which may mate with it?
I notice that Silver seems to favor her right foot and tucks it up under her. Is this common behavior. This is the first time I’ve watched a falcon nest.
Mari, peregrines can stand on one leg & it doesn’t mean anything.
Did the weather cooperate yesterday so that fledge watchers could see activity at the Cathedral? From watching the Pix camera, I noticed that Silver was off screen at one point and then came streaking back into view so your #2 above is happening. Observed lots of wing flapping, too. Remaining hopeful that this little one will fledge successfully.
Pa Gal, go to Pitt Peregrines on Facebook to see photos of out & back
Thanks, Kate, great pictures!
I just checked in to see Silver and maybe he is down on porch under him because I can’t see him. Does anyone know if he has graduated to the next level?
Yes, LuAnn, the chick ledge-walked a little yesterday and is probably trying it again today.
Hi Peregrine lovers,
I have enjoyed watching this chick overcome obstacles and mature. I continue to be impressed with Dorothy’s dedication as a mom. Even when her kids are bratty and biting her feet, she doesn’t get rattled. Since the chick overcame so many obstacles and may be Dorothy’s last chick (due to her age), wouldn’t it be nice to name it Vicky (if femaie) or Vincent (if male). These names mean “triumph.” I so hope this baby goes on to keep Dorothy’s genes alive. She is one awesome bird!
I have some neat screen shots I can forward if anyone would like to see them.
Cindy, here is the information on how we name the birds in Pittsburgh http://www.birdsoutsidemywindow.org/2015/06/01/all-about-names/
Kate, you posted this just in time. Today, I checked in and chick was out of sight. I would have worried, but I know it has to be stretching and exercising on the ledge, etc. Dorothy is on the green perch watching over her baby!
Post on Facebook Pitt peregrines says Silver is on the ground. Does that happen often when the nest is so high?
Looks like he’s back in the nest…screaming his head off 🙂