Outside My Window

Peregrine in northeastern Ohio carrying a bat as prey, March 2026 (photo by Chad+Chris Saladin) 29 May 2026 Happy Friday! Here’s a selection of peregrine resourcefulness in Ohio, California, and London (UK). Bats fly. Peregrines capture prey in flight. Peregrine “Gusto” in northeastern Ohio caught a bat in his talons. (at top) Defend the kids! Diane Wu captured a mother peregrine chasing a brown pelican away from her nest by hitting its enormous beak 5 times! video embedded from Diane Wu…

Common nighthawk in flight, Tower Grove Park, MO, Oct 2020 (photo from Wikimedia Commons) 28 May 2026 The common nighthawk (Chordeiles minor) is my Spark Bird, the species that got me hooked on birds when I was only 10. That was a long time ago when gravel roofs were still common and so were flying insects(*). Since then nighthawk populations have declined precipitously. Lack of flat roofs, pesticides, increased predation and loss of habitat are noted factors of their decline. Further unstudied…

Glen Hazel bald eagle nest: Adult returns after eaglets have died, 18 May 2026 (photo by Dana Nesiti) 20 May 2026 This month brought very sad news when both eaglets at the Glen Hazel bald eagle nest became extremely ill and passed away on 17 & 18 May. Eaglet G3 and mother at Glen Hazel bald eagle nest, 17 May 2026, 4:11pm (screenshot from PixCams Glen Hazel Bald Eagles live stream) Later that day Tamarack Wildlife Center addressed many questions about the eagles’ illness and next steps (see…

Foxglove beardtongue outside Phipps Conservatory, 22 May 2026 (photo by Kate St. John) 26 May 2026 This month tall stands of white flowers are blooming in many Pittsburgh gardens including Schenley Plaza and at Phipps Conservatory. Chosen for its beauty, foxglove beardtongue (Penstemon digitalis) has a weird name and an important characteristic: Deer don’t eat it. Originally native to the Mississippi River basin it’s been planted widely in eastern North America. According to Wikipedia it is now…

Carla flying at Cathedral of Learning with Schenley Park in the background. 21 May 2021 (photo by Jeff Cieslak) 25 May 2026 The Pitt peregrines live so close to Schenley Park that when they leave the nest the park is their backdrop. Next Sunday 31 May I’ll combine Schenley and peregrines in two back-to-back outings: 8:30am: Schenley Park Bird and Nature Walk. Meet at the Schenley Park Visitor Center. 11:00am: Pitt Peregrine Fledge Watch. Meet at the Schenley Plaza tent. (Note: This may be one…

Pitt peregrine chicks at 4 weeks old, 23 May 2026 (photo from the National Aviary falconcam at Univ of Pittsburgh) 24 May 2026 As of Saturday 23 May, the Pitt peregrine chicks reached the age of four weeks old. Here’s a look at their development in the past week in a day-by-day slideshow from the National Aviary’s falconcam at the Cathedral of Learning. The age span is 22 to 28 days, date span is 17-23 May 2026. As you watch the slideshow notice how the chicks change from mostly white to very…

Birding at Presque Isle State Park, Charity Kheshgi , 15 May 2026 (photo by Kate St. John) 23 May 2026 On May 15-16 I went birding with Charity and Kaleem Kheshgi at Presque Isle State Park where we saw many birds featured in Seen This Week: Warblers and Ducklings. It was chilly and cloudy when we paused at a lagoon on the lakeshore. Charity found no birds in the distance but it sure was beautiful. At lunch we stopped at a picnic table near the rental boats and a red-winged blackbird arrived to…

Two red-tailed hawk chicks at their nest in Schenley Park, 20 May 2026 (photo by Dana Nesiti) 22 May 2026 While the Pitt peregrines were being banded on 20 May, Dana Nesiti was filming a pair of red-tailed hawk youngsters less than a mile away at their nest in Schenley Park. On that day the Pitt peregrine chicks were 23-25 days old … Patti Barber (PGC) holds one of the Pitt peregrine chicks on Banding Day, 20 May 2026 (photo by Aimee Obidzinski, Univ of Pittsburgh) … and the red-tailed hawk…

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…

Four peregrine chicks at the Pitt peregrine nest, 19 May 2026, 1:40m (photo from the National Aviary falconcam at Univ of Pittsburgh) 20 May 2026: Another installment in All Peregrines, All The Time. The peregrine family at the Cathedral of Learning is in for some excitement today. Carla and Ecco’s four chicks will be banded this morning. Just after 9:00am Patti Barber of the Pennsylvania Game Commission will venture out on the Cathedral of Learning ledge. Don’t be shocked when you hear the…

Both parents and four chicks during Week 3, 14 May 2026 (photo from the National Aviary snapshot camera at the Univ of Pittsburgh) 19 May 2026 As of last Saturday, 16 May, the Pitt peregrine chicks were three weeks old. Here’s a look at their development to reach Week 3 in a day-by-day slideshow from the National Aviary’s falconcam at the Cathedral of Learning. The age span is 15 to 21 days, date span is 10-16 May 2026. As you watch the slideshow notice how fast the chicks are growing. There’s…

Eaglet G3 and mother at Glen Hazel bald eagle nest, 17 May 2026, 4:11pm (screenshot from PixCams Glen Hazel Bald Eagles live stream) 18 May 2026 Yesterday morning at 10:48am the younger of the two eaglets at the Glen Hazel bald eagle nest (GH4) died of an unknown illness which is affecting the older eaglet (G3) and mother eagle “Mom” as well. Eaglecam moderator “eaglestreamer” posted this update yesterday: MAY 17, 2026 (Joint statement from Tamarack, PixCams and the Glen Hazel eaglecam team)…

Pitt peregrine chicks at 3 weeks old, 16 May 2026 (photo from the National Aviary falconcam at the Univ of Pittsburgh) 17 May 2026 By mid May, southwestern Pennsylvania’s peregrines have chicks that are growing by leaps and bounds. This year we don’t have as many known active nests due to lack of observers and lack of reports on eBird. There are probably more than the four sites (yellow highlights include one failed nest). Maybe the solo peregrines reported at West End Bridge/North Shore area…

Bay-breasted warbler, 13 May 2026 (photo by Charity Kheshgi) Cape May warbler, 13 May 2026 (photo by Charity Kheshgi) Common yellowthroat (female), 15 May 2026 (photo by Charity Kheshgi) Chestnut-sided warbler, 13 May 2026 (photo by Charity Kheshgi)

Lucy’s warbler at nest hole in Arizona (photo from Wikimedia Commons) 15 May 2026 Of the 56 species of wood warblers in North America, only two nest in cavities: the prothonotary warbler in eastern North America and Lucy’s warbler in the West. Last June I wrote about prothonotary warblers. Prothonotary Warbler (Wikimedia) Now let’s explore the nesting habits of the West’s cavity nesting warbler. Lucy’s warbler on mesquite (photo from Wikimedia Commons) Lucy’s warbler (

Pitt peregrine chick heads back to the shade while her sibling watches, 13 May 2026, 11:48am (photo from the National Aviary snapshot camera at Univ of Pittsburgh) 14 May 2026 Yesterday the peregrine chicks at the Cathedral of Learning added motoring to their daily eat and sleep routine. Last week they began moving around at the back of the box but yesterday all four traveled the entire nestbox surface. Carla watched them from the safety of the green perch. Carla watches a chick walk to the…

BirdCast’s Live Migration snapshot at 12 May 2026, 10:50pm EDT (from birdcast.org, Univ. of Illinois, Purdue & Cornell Lab of Ornithology) 13 May 2026 While we slept 3.88 million birds flew over Allegheny County last night! BirdCast’s Migration Dashboard as of 5:20am shows a huge jump in migration. portion of screenshot: BirdCast Migration Dashboard for Allegheny County, PA. Data for the night of 12 May 2026, 5:20am Here’s the rest of BirdCast’s Migration Dashboard for Allegheny County, PA…

Harris’s sparrow at Southside Riverfront Park, 11 May 2026 (photo by Steve Gosser) 12 May 2026 Yesterday I went birding twice: In the morning to find the Lincoln’s sparrows (yes, I saw two!) and in early afternoon at Bigbee Field with Jeff Cieslak to watch the Downtown peregrines through my scope. Meanwhile far below us at Southside Riverfront Park, Dan Wyrostek was taking a break at a picnic table when he saw an incredibly rare bird, a Harris’s sparrow, the first one ever recorded in Allegheny…

Lincoln’s sparrow, Sept 2023 (photo by Steve Gosser) 11 May 2026 Compared to the brightly colored warblers passing through this week, a Lincoln’s sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii) doesn’t attract a lot of attention but I’d dearly love to see one. I know they’re here because there were six reports scattered across Allegheny County yesterday including one bird at Schenley Park and three at Homewood Cemetery. Even when they’re present they are hard to find and that’s part of their allure. [Lincoln’s…

Four chicks during a feeding in Week 2, 6 May 2026 (photo from the National Aviary falconcam at the Univ of Pittsburgh) 10 May 2026 As of yesterday, Hatch Day was two weeks ago at the Pitt peregrine nest. Let’s look at their Week 2 development in a photo-per-day slideshow from the National Aviary’s Cathedral of Learning falconcam. The date span is 3 May to 9 May 2026. 8 days old. 5/3/2026. Second down begins. 9 days old. 5/4/2026

Black-capped chickadee on a cattail in the wind, Maumee Bay State Park, 7 May 2026 (photo by Charity Kheshgi) 9 May 2026 Happy World Migratory Bird Day! Here are just a few of the birds Charity Kheshgi and I saw this week in Ohio. More to come in the days ahead! It’s time to get outdoors. p.s. The black-capped chickadee is non-migratory but he still counts. Blackburnian warbler, Magee Marsh, 8 May 2026 (photo by Charity Kheshgi) Northern parula, Magee Marsh, 8 May 2026 (photo by Charity Kheshgi)

Sandhill crane parent with two colts, Magee Marsh, 7 May 2026 (photo by Charity Kheshgi) 8 May 2026 Sandhill cranes (Antigone canadensis) hatched a few weeks ago at Magee Marsh in northwestern Ohio. We found two colts following their parents on Thursday 7 May. Sandhill colt watches its parent find food, Magee Marsh, 7 May 2026 (photo by Charity Kheshgi) “Colts?” They’re called colts because they’re born with long, strong legs and able to walk within 24 hours of hatching. Two sandhill crane…

Black-necked stilt, Marin County, CA (photo from Wikimedia Commons) 7 May 2026 Black-necked stilts (Himantopus mexicanus) are delicate-looking shorebirds that, according to official range maps, are absent in eastern North America other than the Atlantic coast. However, they are so raucous that it’s hard not to notice them at Howard Marsh in Curtice, Ohio. Black-necked stilts at Howard Marsh, Ohio, 6 May 2026 (photo by Charity Kheshgi) (Lesser yellowlegs in the background) The stilts first…

Molted feathers at the Pitt peregrine nest, 28 April 2026 (photo from the National Aviary falconcam at the Univ of Pittsburgh) 6 May 2026 Early last week many of us noticed a long feather at the nest. Where did it come from? Not from prey. On Tuesday 27 April, Carla preened vigorously and pulled it away from her wing. Video segment from the National Aviary falconcam at the Univ of Pittsburgh, 27 April 2026, 5:00pm 24 hours later the discarded feather was near the chicks as Carla fed them. A…

Hooded warbler in southwestern Pennsylvania (photo by Steve Gosser) 5 May 2026 Today we’re on our way to Magee Marsh, Ohio where we’ll be birding early before The Biggest Week in American Birding begins 8-17 May 2026. It truly is the “Biggest Week” as it draws 80,000 to 90,000 visitors to the area each year. The colors on this eBird Hotspot map show why it’s such a popular birding place. The redder the color, the more species seen. The hottest spot of all (center of the map) is Ottawa National…

Massive pet goldfish found in the wild at Presque Isle, Erie PA, 2025 (photo of Corey Ketchum/USFWS holding a goldfish found during an electrofishing survey in Presque Isle, PA. Photo by Matt Basista/USFWS) 4 May 2026 This goldfish looks familiar. Someone didn’t want it or couldn’t keep it anymore so they dropped it off in the nearest waterway to let it “swim free.” Big mistake. The goldfish above was found at Presque Isle State Park but I’ve seen them this big in Schenley Park’s Panther Hollow…

Carla shelters her chicks at 1 week old, 2 May 2026 (photo from the National Aviary falconcam at the Univ of Pittsburgh) 3 May 2026 Hatch Day at the Pitt peregrine nest was just over a week ago so now’s a good time to see how the chicks have grown. This slideshow from the National Aviary’s Cathedral of Learning falconcam displays one photo per day from 25 April through 2 May 2026. New hatchling is wet. Hatch Day 4/25/2026 1 Day Old. 4/26/2026

Solomon’s seal in bloom at Enlow Fork, 28 April 2026 (photo by Kate St. John) 2 May 2026 Four of us visited Enlow Fork (State Gamelands 302) on 28 April, two days after Wheeling Creek Watershed Conservancy held their Enlow Fork Spring Fling. Many flowers were at their peak but our yo-yo weather caused many others to bloom early and those were past their prime. Four of the best flowers are pictured here: Solomon’s seal (Polygonatum sp.) Foam flower (Tiarella sp.) Fire pink (Silene virginica)…

Mother opossum with full pouch (photo from Wikimedia Commons) 1 May 2026 Marsupials are unusual mammals whose young are born in an undeveloped state and complete their development inside their mother’s pouch. Australia has many marsupials including kangaroos and koalas but north of Mexico, North America has only one. The Virginia opossum (Didelphis virginiana) is the northernmost marsupial in the world. This week Dana Nesiti saw an opossum crossing a gravel trail and published it in slow motion…

Asian jumping worms on the sidewalk in Oakland, March 2024 (photo by Kate St. John) 30 April 2026 We’re used to watching out for pests while turning over the soil but here’s one you may not recognize. Asian jumping worms (Amynthas agrestis) are an invasive species that writhe and jump unlike our relatively placid earthworms. Earthworms benefit the garden but Asian jumping worms ruin the soil. If you have them, get rid of them! Here’s a quick video from Syracuse, Onondaga County, New York that…