Love in high places: Cathedral of Learning welcomes new falcon pair

For decades, peregrine falcons have called Pitt’s Cathedral of Learning home. Learn about this year’s pair.

The majestic Cathedral of Learning in Pittsburgh is once again preparing to welcome its high-flying residents—a pair of peregrine falcons.

For over two decades, these remarkable birds, known as the fastest animals on Earth, have made this architectural landmark their breeding ground, marking a spectacular conservation success story.

New falcon pair expected to nest at Cathedral

Bird watchers have observed a new pair of peregrine falcons courting near the Cathedral, with experts anticipating their settlement this month. According to Kate St. John, a dedicated bird watcher and blog author, if the courtship is successful, egg-laying should begin in mid-March, with hatchlings expected in late April and first flights in early June.

“The first female and male that nested there had 43 young that fledged from there,” St. John told The Pitt News. “We are on the fourth male and female pair since 2001.”

The Cathedral of Learning in Pittsburgh. (Kevin Albright/CC BY-SA 3.0).

Conservation efforts and monitoring

The Cathedral’s falcon monitoring program, established in 2002, represents a collaborative effort between the National Aviary, Pitt Cathedral of Learning Management, and the Pennsylvania Game Commission. A nesting area was created near the 36th floor, complete with a FalconCam that will begin streaming on February 1.

Recent preparation work included cleaning the camera lenses and nesting area, tasks that must be completed before the breeding season begins. As St. John explained, “We want to go out there before the season because we won’t be allowed out there again until late June, or in fact July. We don’t want to disturb them enough that they leave due to human disturbance.”

Recovery from near extinction

The peregrine falcon’s journey from endangered species to recovery exemplifies successful wildlife conservation. Patricia Barber, an endangered bird specialist at the Pennsylvania Game Commission, explained that DDT exposure was the primary cause of their population decline in the 1970s. The chemical caused eggshell thinning, leading to widespread breeding failures.

The Cathedral of Learning, resembling a natural cliff face, has proven ideal for the territorial falcons. “The Cathedral of Learning is like a gigantic cliff. It’s so tall they can see any birds coming that might challenge them or birds that they might like to eat,” St. John said.

Through persistent conservation efforts, including habitat protection and reintroduction programs, peregrine falcons were finally removed from Pennsylvania’s endangered species list in 2021. Barber emphasizes the broader significance of this success: “It’s really critical for these species and for all the species in our environment that we protect the ecosystems that they depend on. We want you and future generations to be able to go out and see peregrines, or at least know they’re out there.”

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This story was generated in part by AI and edited by The Keystone staff.

This article first appeared on Good Info News Wire and is republished here under a Creative Commons license.

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