University Times

The lone peregrine chick that hatched at the Cathedral of Learning nest this season  died July 18 at an emergency veterinary clinic.

The Animal Rescue League (ARL) Shelter & Wildlife Center posted the news Monday on Facebook:

“After weeks with little change to its status, the bird experienced a sudden drop in weight — despite routine hand feedings & daily weight monitoring. After discovering signs of a respiratory illness on Saturday morning, a staff member rushed the falcon to an emergency clinic in Cleveland to see avian specialist Dr. Jamie Lindstrom. … While receiving top-notch care at the hospital, the falcon passed away. Dr. Lindstrom felt strongly that the illness was linked to the animal being developmentally delayed, immunosuppressed, & a failure to thrive & diagnosed him with a chronic pulmonary obstructive disease. Unfortunately, there was nothing further that any of the doctors could do.”

The fledgling, recently confirmed to be male, was taken to the ARL wildlife center on June 25 after being found outside Hillman Library, unable to fly. (See July 9 University Times.)

This is the third consecutive year that Pitt peregrine parents Dorothy and E2 have had no surviving offspring. In 2014 Dorothy laid one egg, which did not hatch. In 2013, two of five eggs hatched. One chick died in the nest; the other fledged, but was killed in traffic on Forbes Avenue.

—Kimberly K. Barlow