Life of Pittsburgh's Peregrine Falcons
Captured on WPC Web Cameras

There is much to see in the coming weeks at Western Pennsylvania Conservancy's Web site (paconserve.org). Web cameras have been set up at both the University of Pittsburgh Cathedral of Learning and the Gulf Tower nesting sites. Typically, the Gulf Tower peregrines are about two weeks ahead of the Pitt birds. The Gulf Tower female has laid two eggs so far, while her counterpart at Pitt has not commenced the egg-laying period.

Below is a general calendar of the peregrine falcon breeding cycle that will be visible online:

Courtship
Although the peregrine falcon adults are present year-round they more regularly frequent the host building and also perform aerial displays of circling and diving high over the city near the nest. Courtship-feeding also takes place at this time where the male feeds his mate. This behavior might occur on camera. At times a peregrine might be perched at the nest, but just at the edge of the camera's view.

Nest site selection
The adult falcons spend more and more time at the nest as egg-laying approaches. Courtship continues with some displays in the nest box of "bowing" and chirping. The female falcon creates a "scrape" or depression in the gravel of the nestbox where she will later lay the eggs. As the season progresses, especially the female spends some of her non-hunting time at the nest.

Egg-laying

Egg-laying takes place over a period of about a week. Eggs are generally laid every other day. The average size clutch is 4 eggs, but up to 6 are possible. Typically, the females at the two nest sites are not on the same schedule, with the Gulf Tower eggs laid about 2-weeks ahead of the Pitt female's schedule.

Incubation and Hatching
At the end of the egg-laying period the female begins an approximate 30-day incubation period and only leaves the nest when the male delivers food to eat - at which time the male sits on the eggs. The eggs tend to hatch over a period of 1-2 days.

Feeding young
Once the young hatch the female keeps them warm for the first week and she feeds them food (other birds) the male brings. The female then joins the male in hunting and together they bring food to the chicks. As the chicks grow they begin moving around the nest more and more, and also begin feeding themselves.

Preparation for first flight
In week three of life the chicks show more and more signs of dark feathers growing on their wings and tails. During week 4 and 5 the young are moving around the nest and occasionally out of the camera's view. As the feathers grow the young begin to flap their wings and build muscle strength. At this time the chicks jump out of the box onto perches and nearby walls and are often out of the camera's view. Male peregrines take flight first, at about 38-40-days of life, with the young females leaving a few days later.

After first flight
Once all of the young are on the wing they occasionally return to the nest site where some of the feeding takes place by their parents, while they themselves are learning to hunt. Upon leaving the nest box, perching, feeding and roosting will take place at a variety of places away from the camera as the young eventually range further and further away from the nest.

Until next courtship
The young leave Pittsburgh by the end of the summer, while the adults remain in the city and only occasionally return to the nest until the nesting cycle starts anew.

WPC Volunteer Kate St. John has been instrumental in making both cameras a reality. In addition to the Web cameras, a television has been installed at the Gulf Tower in the "Cool Beans" store front window near the entrance on Seventh Avenue.

Click here to view the Pitt site.
Click here to view the Gulf Tower site. Please allow about thirty seconds for the camera images to upload.