FalconCam on top of Pitt's Cathedral of Learning returns for another season

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) — Punxsutawney Phil says we're in for six more weeks of winter, but when it comes to the peregrine falcon nest on top of the Cathedral of Learning, the National Aviary says it's ready for spring. 

The aviary's FalconCam is back for another season, giving thousands of viewers a look into the nest of peregrine pair Carla and Ecco. 

Last year was Carla and Ecco's first together, and there was plenty of excitement. While eggs usually hatch two to three days apart, two chicks hatched, fittingly, on Earth Day. They laid a total of four eggs, though one failed to hatch and the third chick died. 

In May, the Pennsylvania Game Commission placed lightweight bands with identifying numbers on the chicks' legs, which will help scientists study the behavior of peregrine falcons while also keeping an eye on the status of their population. 

Peregrine falcons used to be endangered in Pennsylvania because of the use of the pesticide DDT, but the Game Commission says they were removed from the state's threatened and endangered species list in 2021. The Game Commission says livestreams like the FalconCam help engage the public and teach them more about the birds. 

While those two chicks have since fledged the nest, Carla and Ecco are back and ready for another year. 

"Stay tuned as we hopefully gear up for new, exciting developments and adorable hatchlings from Carla and Ecco in 2025!" the National Aviary wrote.

You can watch the adventures of Carla Ecco on the aviary's website.