Peregrine falcon chick at Cathedral of Learning about to be banded, 20 May 2026 (photo by Mike Faix, National Aviary)

21 May 2026

Yesterday morning four peregrine falcon chicks were banded at the University of Pittsburgh’s Cathedral of Learning by Patti Barber, Endangered Bird Biologist from the PA Game Commission (PGC).

This is the third year Carla has nested at Pitt so she knew it was Banding Day when she heard us indoors. Carla began kakking and strafing the area long before Patti Barber went out on the ledge to collect the chicks.

Carla protecting her chicks on Banding Day, 20 May 2026 (photo by Mike Faix, National Aviary)

Soon Ecco joined her, visible as a checkmark shape in the sky above Carla.

Carla and Ecco kakk and fly to drive humans away from their chicks on Banding Day, 20 May 2026 (photo by Kate St. John)

Indoors, the chicks were given health checks (they’re very healthy), weighed, and given two leg bands: a black/green color band that can be read through binoculars and a silver USFW band.

Banded chick at Cathedral of Learning, 20 May 2026 (photo by Britta Moletz, National Aviary)

Since male peregrines are one-third smaller than females, the chicks’ weight determines their sex and the size of band to use. Weighed in the bag, females are generally 1000g or more and males are 700g or less. Of the four chicks, one was clearly male, two were clearly female and one was borderline so it was given female bands.

Patti put colored tape on the silver USFW bands so we can identify the birds by color on the falconcam. The colors and sexes are:

• Red = male
• Blue = borderline. “sex undetermined” Given female bands in case it’s female
• Green = female
• Yellow = female

Female chick “Yellow” shows her USFW band with yellow tape, 20 May 2026 (photo by Mike Faix, National Aviary)

Patti collected and returned the chicks in colored bags, red, green, blue and orange. Watch how quickly they calm down after Patti leaves.

By the end of this month the chicks will turn from fluffy white to dark brown, then leave the camera view before they fledge. Watch them on the National Aviary falconcam at the Cathedral of Learning, then join me for Fledge Watch at Schenley Plaza in the first week of June. Stay tuned for specific dates and times.