Latest news with #FalconCam
CBS News
8 hours ago
- General
- CBS News
3 young peregrine falcons on Pitt's Cathedral of Learning fledge the nest
Something Good: Carla, the peregrine falcon laid her first egg of the year Something Good: Carla, the peregrine falcon laid her first egg of the year Something Good: Carla, the peregrine falcon laid her first egg of the year The three young peregrine falcons that hatched on top of Pitt's Cathedral of Learning this spring have fledged the nest. The National Aviary says the three siblings will continue to hang around the nest as they grow comfortable flying and hunting on their own. Before the juveniles fledged, viewers of the National Aviary's FalconCam could see them taking turns on the edge of the nest box, exercising their wings as they prepared for their first flights. Later this year, after they've gained all the skills they need to survive on their own, the young falcons will take off. Since the birds were recently banded by the Pennsylvania Game Commission, scientists will be able to track their next moves. "Whether they remain local or move to another bridge, cliff, or skyscraper rooftop in Pennsylvania or another nearby state, we should be able to tell where they end up, when they mate, and if they are surviving and thriving in their new homes," the National Aviary said on its website. (Photo: Mike Faix) Viewers of the FalconCam have been watching Carla and Ecco's chicks since they hatched at the end of April. While Ecco has been at the Cathedral of Learning since 2020, Carla first appeared in 2023, and the couple had their first brood last year. Those two chicks were also banded. Peregrine falcons were formerly endangered in Pennsylvania because of the use of the agricultural pesticide DDT. Banding the chicks helps scientists study the behavior of falcons while determining the current status of their populations.
CBS News
21-05-2025
- Science
- CBS News
3 peregrine falcon chicks banded at Pitt's Cathedral of Learning
The three peregrine falcon chicks born in the nest on Pitt's Cathedral of Learning were banded on Wednesday, helping scientists study the species that was considered endangered in Pennsylvania for decades. Patricia Barber, an endangered bird biologist with the Pennsylvania Game Commission, climbed the Cathedral of Learning's ledge to take the three chicks from their nest and place small, lightweight bands with identifying numbers on their legs. Viewers of the National Aviary's FalconCam have been watching Carla and Ecco's chicks since they hatched at the end of April. While Ecco has been at the Cathedral of Learning since 2020, Carla first appeared in 2023, and the couple had their first brood last year. Those two chicks were also banded a year ago to the day. Peregrine falcons were formerly endangered in Pennsylvania because of the use of the agricultural pesticide DDT. Banding the chicks helps scientists study the behavior of falcons while determining the current status of their populations. (Photo: Mike Faix) "The Peregrine Falcon was removed from our state's threatened and endangered species list in 2021 after more than 40 years and yet we continue banding at the Cathedral of Learning nest for the immense educational value it provides," Barber said. Barber said Oakland residents can see the peregrine falcons soaring overhead, and thanks to the National Aviary's FalconCam, more people are interested. "The more information we can track and share, the more invested in the well-being of all birds these audiences become," Barber said. After successfully banding the chicks two years in a row, the National Aviary says it's excited to see what comes next year. "What another important day for the birding community!" National Aviary ornithologist Robert Mulvihill said. "We (at the National Aviary) are greatly moved by this additional opportunity to orchestrate the banding of THREE additional Peregrine Falcon chicks. Banding is so vital to the continued plight of the Peregrine Falcon species. The data we receive from this banding will help us continue to track the bird's movements, survival rate, mating history, and other aspects of biology that make our job that much easier."
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Peregrine chicks have hatched on the DNR FalconCam in downtown St. Paul
May 16—ST. PAUL — Four newly hatched peregrine falcon chicks are now visible on the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources' popular FalconCam , available online at . The DNR Nongame Wildlife Program's camera is in a nesting box in downtown St. Paul and will once again provide an intimate look at peregrine falcons raising their young. The female of the nesting pair laid four eggs between March 31 and April 9, and all four hatched over Mother's Day weekend, the DNR said in a news release. In these initial weeks, the female will be the primary parent, brooding and feeding the chicks, with the male providing support. Online viewers should watch the camera for feedings, which will provide the best looks at the chicks. Birds are the primary prey for peregrines, and they will feed the chicks their catches, which could be as large as ducks. As the chicks grow, they will become more active. "DNR webcams provide a connection to the wildlife all around us," Jessica Ruthenberg, Nongame Wildlife engagement supervisor, said in a statement. "This window into the world of nesting birds is just one way to engage people of all ages in our mission to conserve at-risk wildlife." In related news, Grand Forks once again is contributing to the ongoing peregrine falcon recovery, as well. In an email to subscribers of the Grand Cities Bird Club's email list, Tim Driscoll of the Urban Raptor Research Project said an unbanded male returned March 13 to the nest box on the UND water tower and an unbanded female returned March 20. "There were a couple of other peregrine falcon visitors, but these two held the nest site and are currently incubating eggs," Driscoll said in his email. He estimates the eggs will hatch on or around May 20. The recovery of peregrine falcons is a Minnesota success story, the DNR said in its FalconCam news release. While still a species of special concern in Minnesota, they were once on the brink of extinction. Minnesota populations were restored with the help of falconers, the Midwest Peregrine Society and the DNR Nongame Wildlife Program. Donations — — to the Nongame Wildlife Fund supported the restoration project and continue to benefit Minnesota's rare and vulnerable wildlife. More information about peregrine falcons in Minnesota and the effort to restore them is available on the DNR website at
Axios
30-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
Snag a chance to cuddle up to Richmond's falcon chicks
A few lucky locals can meet the newly hatched Richmond peregrine falcon chicks through a now-open raffle from the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources. Why it matters: It's a rare chance to get up close and personal with these aerial predators while they're still babes. Plus, there's beer! This is Richmond, after all. The big picture: DWR has been breeding peregrine falcons in downtown Richmond for 25 years, and since 2017, they've run the Richmond Falcon Cam livestream of the nest, which sits atop Riverfront Plaza. This year, DWR is partnering with folks from Richmond's own Triple Crossing Beer brewing — who happen to be big Falcon Cam fans — for the raffle. Triple Crossing's flagship IPA is also called... Falcon Smash. Plus: Spring is prime hatching time, Three of four chicks this year have hatched as of press time. How it works: The raffle will allow three winners to join biologists on Banding Day, when they give each chick an ID band about 30 days after hatching. The winners get an invitation to Banding Day, a DWR swag pack, a DWR and Triple Crossing collaboration T-shirt, and a Triple Crossing Brew Day tour at the Fulton location.
CBS News
24-04-2025
- General
- CBS News
First peregrine falcon chick hatches in Pitt's Cathedral of Learning nest
It's Take Your Kid to Work Day, and the peregrine falcons nesting on Pitt's Cathedral of Learning apparently got the memo. The National Aviary says Carla and Ecco's first chick hatched Thursday around noon. And it seems like a second wasn't far behind. A peek at the aviary's FalconCam showed two little birds around 1 p.m. (Photo: National Aviary) While Carla is hanging out in the nest with the newborns, the aviary says viewers can expect to see dad Ecco dropping in with some food. There are a total of four eggs in the nest, laid between March 16 and March 25. The aviary says peregrine falcon clutches typically consist of four eggs, with an incubation period between 33 to 34 days. Last season was Carla and Ecco's first together, and there was plenty of excitement. Two chicks hatched, fittingly, on Earth Day. They laid a total of four eggs, one failed to hatchthough the third chick died and one egg failed to hatch. Last year, the chicks got lightweight bands with identifying numbers placed on their legs, which will help scientists study the behavior of peregrine falcons while also keeping an eye on the status of their population. The Pennsylvania Game Commission says peregrine falcons used to be endangered in the commonwealth because of the use of the pesticide DDT, but they were removed from the state's threatened and endangered species list in 2021. The aviary's FalconCam livestreams the nest, which is high up on the southeast side of Pitt's Cathedral of Learning. Viewers can watch Carla and Ecco's family grow this year on the aviary's website.
