Comments for Outside My Window

Comment on Wilmington: Is the Fighting Over? by Kim Steininger

Kim Steininger — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 10:42:56 +0000

You’re right Kate, we don’t know who the female is yet. The male is the same bird from previous years though.

There will be a naming contest as soon as there’s more activity in the nestbox!

Comment on Wilmington: Is the Fighting Over? by Kate St. John

Kate St. John — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 10:22:40 +0000

The resident male is banded — I believe with black/red which is a less common color combination nowadays. Peregrine watchers in Wilmington know the resident male is still in charge of the nest because the one they see on camera has black/red bands.

I don’t know whether the male has been fully identified yet and, if so, whether he was named. As regards the new female, I bet they don’t know who she is yet.

Comment on First peregrine egg at Gulf Tower, 3 at Pitt by Kate St. John

Kate St. John — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 10:13:17 +0000

Vocalization is part of courtship. The female solicits mating by giving the Whining Call — in essence she calls him to “Come over here!”

I am sure that the amount of noise we hear varies a lot and depends on how far away the mate is, how soon he arrives, and in this situation how close the birds are to the listener (microphone). Calling probably varies from individual to individual and may change as the pair becomes more accustomed to each other (number of years they’ve been together). It might even vary as the same individual ages.

I am not sure if this amount of vocalization is normal for Tasha. I will ask those who have been able to hear her from inside the Gulf Tower for the last several years.

p.s. Though we can see the nest because of the infrared light, it is dark for Tasha. She can’t see if Louie is nearby so she must call. Sometimes it’s just a contact call (“Are you there? and he replies, “Yes.”) Or, if she just laid an egg she may be calling Louie to come see it. (Ever since I’ve been watching peregrines on webcams I’ve noticed that the male comes to see the new egg shortly after it’s been laid.)

Comment on Wilmington: Is the Fighting Over? by Anne Curtis

Anne Curtis — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 05:26:27 +0000

Just a follow up to MJB’s post. She wrote the birds were described as “female” or “male”. Are they banded and/or identified so they can be (or could have been) traced? Anne

Comment on First peregrine egg at Gulf Tower, 3 at Pitt by Traci

Traci — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 03:47:06 +0000

I have a question, Kate –
I have the Gulf Tower webcam up as I work, it’s around 11:40pm, and one of the falcons has been calling over and over since 10pm. Tasha was on her eggs, then got off, and this calling has been happening ever since. It’s not a desperate call – nor does it sound like a warning. It’s simply a repititous pattern of a series of calls, over and over.

Do you have any idea what it’s all about? Did it also happen at the Cathedral before all the eggs were laid there? Dorothy has been incubating and it’s basically been silent over there all evening. Is this something the females do, until all their eggs are laid?

I did hear this pattern a few nights ago at the Gulf, but I didn’t have the webcam up for this length of time.

Since we didn’t have sound last year – it adds a layer of mystery.

Comment on First peregrine egg at Gulf Tower, 3 at Pitt by John English

John English — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 01:01:25 +0000

Kate,
I find I can watch the cams at http://www.pixcontroller.com/WebCam/WebCam.htm
and not have to go through WildEarth. WooHoo! Just look at the top menu.
Finally got to see our guys and gals and kids-to-be.

Comment on Coming Soon to a Lake Near You by Barbara Simon

Barbara Simon — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 17:47:16 +0000

I just saw 13 buffleheads on the Monongahela River at lunchtime today 03/19/2010.
The location was the riverfront park at the bottom of 18th street, South side, Pittsburgh, PA. The were keeping close together, and if one of them faced upstream they all did. They all went into shore together, they all swam back out together. I think there were 4 females, but it truly was hard to tell. Sincerely, Barb Simon

Comment on Anatomy: Throat by Diane

Diane — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 16:46:00 +0000

I am so pleased that Anatomy lessons will continue. They are well-written and informative.

Comment on First peregrine egg at Gulf Tower, 3 at Pitt by Peter

Peter — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 14:39:38 +0000

Now how’d I miss that post! Thanks for the tips. Unfortunately that’s the opposite side of the cathedral from what I can see from up by Soldiers and Sailors. A little warmer though and an afternoon on the plaza sounds like a grand plan.

I appreciated the comment about seeing them sit on the antenna atop the cathedral too. I would have sworn I saw one land there, but without being sure I was actually seeing the peregrines I wasn’t certain. Thanks for keeping up this blog.

Comment on Urban Kestrels, New York by Cory DeStein

Cory DeStein — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 01:56:49 +0000

There was a nesting pair of kestrels in Blawnox near my nursing school. They offered me hours of amusement during hours of dull classes!