Comments for Outside My Window http://www.wqed.org/birdblog A Bird Watcher’s View of the World Mon, 12 May 2008 07:14:24 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0 Comment on Messy nest! by Kate StJ http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2008/05/09/messy-nest/#comment-1185 Sun, 11 May 2008 00:53:20 +0000 http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2008/05/09/messy-nest/#comment-1185 The parents are quite close, but not in camera view. There are many nearby perches: the nestbox roof, the bulwark opposite the nest (Karen and I call it the nestrail), the architectural keyhole opposite the front perch, many perches on the building within earshot that are just around the corner or just above the nestbox. Peregrine parents are quite vigilant. The parents are quite close, but not in camera view. There are many nearby perches: the nestbox roof, the bulwark opposite the nest (Karen and I call it the nestrail), the architectural keyhole opposite the front perch, many perches on the building within earshot that are just around the corner or just above the nestbox.
Peregrine parents are quite vigilant.

]]> Comment on Messy nest! by Libby Strizzi http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2008/05/09/messy-nest/#comment-1178 Sat, 10 May 2008 15:34:28 +0000 http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2008/05/09/messy-nest/#comment-1178 Messy Dorothy, funny stuff. Kate, a question -- what's to prevent something from swooping in & grabbing one of those little guys for a quick snack? I presume one of the parents must be keeping an "peregrine" eye out for such an invader -- is one parent always real close by? Messy Dorothy, funny stuff.
Kate, a question — what’s to prevent something from swooping in & grabbing one of those little guys for a quick snack? I presume one of the parents must be keeping an “peregrine” eye out for such an invader — is one parent always real close by?

]]> Comment on Best Bird in Ohio by JoAnne http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2008/05/08/best-bird-in-ohio/#comment-1175 Sat, 10 May 2008 12:55:12 +0000 http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2008/05/08/best-bird-in-ohio/#comment-1175 Spring before last, about this time of year, a prothonotary warbler showed up at my feeders on the back deck. I live somewhat near Beechwood Farms and do volunteer work there, too, so I immediately called them. Brian came out to confirm the sighting, then called the county's official record person, who also came out. Brien spent all day on my back deck and took many photos of this fiesty little guy, since the bird was quite co-operative and come very close. This male stayed around for over 10 days, and we had hoped he was planning on nesting here. We had even installed a bluebird box down by the pond, but no luck. Perhaps he could not find a lady to share his domain, or the habitat was not just right, so he moved on. I count myself very fortunate to have had this unusual encounter, and have looked for a return each year, without luck. Spring before last, about this time of year, a prothonotary warbler showed up at my feeders on the back deck. I live somewhat near Beechwood Farms and do volunteer work there, too, so I immediately called them. Brian came out to confirm the sighting, then called the county’s official record person, who also came out. Brien spent all day on my back deck and took many photos of this fiesty little guy, since the bird was quite co-operative and come very close. This male stayed around for over 10 days, and we had hoped he was planning on nesting here. We had even installed a bluebird box down by the pond, but no luck. Perhaps he could not find a lady to share his domain, or the habitat was not just right, so he moved on. I count myself very fortunate to have had this unusual encounter, and have looked for a return each year, without luck.

]]> Comment on Messy nest! by Shannon Platt http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2008/05/09/messy-nest/#comment-1139 Fri, 09 May 2008 23:31:36 +0000 http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2008/05/09/messy-nest/#comment-1139 I was taking a look at the two webcams tonight just after you posted this, and you can see a difference in housekeeping between Tasha 2 and Dorothy. At Tasha 2's nest, you can barely see a feather unless you look very hard. With Dorothy, it looks like a pigeon just exploded in the nest. I was taking a look at the two webcams tonight just after you posted this, and you can see a difference in housekeeping between Tasha 2 and Dorothy. At Tasha 2’s nest, you can barely see a feather unless you look very hard. With Dorothy, it looks like a pigeon just exploded in the nest.

]]> Comment on Who is he? New male peregrine at Univ of Pittsburgh by Kate StJ http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2008/04/02/who-is-he-new-male-peregrine-at-univ-of-pittsburgh/#comment-1112 Fri, 09 May 2008 11:26:45 +0000 http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2008/04/02/who-is-he-new-male-peregrine-at-univ-of-pittsburgh/#comment-1112 Don't worry! The parents are there. They're just out of camera view. After peregrine chicks are about a week old they are able to regulate their body temperature so their parents don't have to keep them warm. In addition, the chicks become a little more independent, can hold their heads up and begin walking around. The chicks at Gulf Tower have reached that point. Their parents are out hunting for food or perched near the nest watching their kids - but out of camera view. The camera view is SMALL compared to the size of the area! At Pitt the chicks are 10 days younger so the parents are visible more often. Soon you will see less of the parents at Pitt too. So, don't worry. Just as our infants go from being helpless to walking, talking and then off to school, these baby birds are growing up. We give our children more independence as they grow up, at first watching them from across the room, then from across the ball field (Little League!). Peregrine parents do the same. Don’t worry! The parents are there. They’re just out of camera view.

After peregrine chicks are about a week old they are able to regulate their body temperature so their parents don’t have to keep them warm. In addition, the chicks become a little more independent, can hold their heads up and begin walking around.

The chicks at Gulf Tower have reached that point. Their parents are out hunting for food or perched near the nest watching their kids - but out of camera view. The camera view is SMALL compared to the size of the area!

At Pitt the chicks are 10 days younger so the parents are visible more often. Soon you will see less of the parents at Pitt too.

So, don’t worry. Just as our infants go from being helpless to walking, talking and then off to school, these baby birds are growing up. We give our children more independence as they grow up, at first watching them from across the room, then from across the ball field (Little League!). Peregrine parents do the same.

]]> Comment on Who is he? New male peregrine at Univ of Pittsburgh by Holly A Cranmer http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2008/04/02/who-is-he-new-male-peregrine-at-univ-of-pittsburgh/#comment-1105 Fri, 09 May 2008 01:32:20 +0000 http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2008/04/02/who-is-he-new-male-peregrine-at-univ-of-pittsburgh/#comment-1105 Just let me say that I am waiting to see a parent return to the Gulf Tower site before I can retire for the evening....it is 9:20 EST....as I have periodically checked during the day, the Cathedral site baby falcons seem to have more parental attention....what is going on with the Gulf Tower....a single parent now working overtime to feed them?....I noticed your added commentary today about both parents leaving the chicks alone, while hunting.....still concerns me that the tending seems disproportionate....Thank you for this enchanting website! Just let me say that I am waiting to see a parent return to the Gulf Tower site before I can retire for the evening….it is 9:20 EST….as I have periodically checked during the day, the Cathedral site baby falcons seem to have more parental attention….what is going on with the Gulf Tower….a single parent now working overtime to feed them?….I noticed your added commentary today about both parents leaving the chicks alone, while hunting…..still concerns me that the tending seems disproportionate….Thank you for this enchanting website!

]]> Comment on Who is he? New male peregrine at Univ of Pittsburgh by Paul http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2008/04/02/who-is-he-new-male-peregrine-at-univ-of-pittsburgh/#comment-1102 Thu, 08 May 2008 23:22:51 +0000 http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2008/04/02/who-is-he-new-male-peregrine-at-univ-of-pittsburgh/#comment-1102 Thanks for the the info. I find myself spending a lot of time watching, at home and even at work. Thanks for the the info. I find myself spending a lot of time watching, at home and even at work.

]]> Comment on Who is he? New male peregrine at Univ of Pittsburgh by Kate StJ http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2008/04/02/who-is-he-new-male-peregrine-at-univ-of-pittsburgh/#comment-1100 Thu, 08 May 2008 22:09:56 +0000 http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2008/04/02/who-is-he-new-male-peregrine-at-univ-of-pittsburgh/#comment-1100 The 4th egg won't hatch, nor will the two unhatched eggs at Gulf Tower. For more information, see my other peregrine blogs about the eggs and chicks, plus pictures and comments at: http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/category/peregrines/ The 4th egg won’t hatch, nor will the two unhatched eggs at Gulf Tower.
For more information, see my other peregrine blogs about the eggs and chicks, plus pictures and comments at:
http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/category/peregrines/

]]> Comment on Who is he? New male peregrine at Univ of Pittsburgh by Paul http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2008/04/02/who-is-he-new-male-peregrine-at-univ-of-pittsburgh/#comment-1099 Thu, 08 May 2008 21:58:11 +0000 http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2008/04/02/who-is-he-new-male-peregrine-at-univ-of-pittsburgh/#comment-1099 So can someone tell me whats up with the 4th egg. Will it ever hatch? Also there are still two eggs at other nest not hatched. Thanks. So can someone tell me whats up with the 4th egg. Will it ever hatch? Also there are still two eggs at other nest not hatched. Thanks.

]]> Comment on Why do they nest near us? by Amy F http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2008/05/05/why-do-they-nest-near-us/#comment-1098 Thu, 08 May 2008 19:32:14 +0000 http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2008/05/05/why-do-they-nest-near-us/#comment-1098 I wouldn't have been able to concentrate at all, either. She seems to have such an expression of bright-eyed interest in this photo! "Hi, what are you doing in there?" As for this young lady and the rest of last year's unaccounted-for fledgelings, I hope that no news continues to be good news. I wouldn’t have been able to concentrate at all, either. She seems to have such an expression of bright-eyed interest in this photo! “Hi, what are you doing in there?”

As for this young lady and the rest of last year’s unaccounted-for fledgelings, I hope that no news continues to be good news.

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