23 June 2024
The day before today morning when the warmth index was once 96°F, Carla sunbathed for 20 mins on the Pitt peregrine nest. Her fanned tail displays us why she was once doing it. Now not handiest does sunbathing kill feather lice, it eases the discomfort of molting. Carla is molting her tail feathers two at a time.
Carla started her sunbathing consultation after she and Ecco bowed in brief over the scrape. She may have stayed longer however her teenager “Blue” confirmed up. Carla and Ecco are each fending off their “children” so as to cause them to unbiased.
Carla and Ecco bow on the nest, 26 June 2024 11:26am
After bowing, Ecco leaves.
Carla on the point of depart
Blue is at the nestbox roof
“Blue” on the nest
(footage from the Nationwide Aviary snapshot digital camera at Univ of Pittsburgh)
This summer time you may see songbirds having a look shocked to your garden or roof. They’ll be molting too.
Aaaaaah, that feels excellent.