Formerly endangered falcons calling Tarentum Bridge, U.S. Steel Clairton Works home

Youngsters of the formerly endangered peregrine falcon are popping up at usual places like the Tarentum Bridge and an unexpected location — the U.S. Steel Clairton Coke Works.

The peregrine falcon was removed from Pennsylvania’s endangered and threatened species list last year. In the 1970s, exposure to pesticides, especially DDT, caused the near extinction nationwide of the charismatic raptor, known as the fastest animal alive.

The coke works’ falcons are raising three young on a tower in the middle of the plant, said Pennsylvania Game Commission Warden Doug Bergman.

Bergman said the new nest is in the most highly industrialized area of the dozen monitored in the region, he said.

“If the habitat is there and the birds are trying to nest, they will find it,” Bergman said. The height of the tower — along with the bountiful supply of pigeons is working for the birds, he said.

The birds are nesting on a ledge about 110 feet up a 180-foot “quench tower” that cools hot coke with river water, said Mike Rhoads, plant manager at the Clairton Works. The falcons are not exposed to the tower’s steam or heat as their nest is on the side of the tower, he said.

Steelworkers found the nesting birds this spring when they working on the tower, Rhoads said.

“The falcons are incredible birds,” he said. “We have enjoyed the opportunity to observe them in the facility.”

It seems that formerly endangered raptors are comfortable nesting at two of three U.S. Steel Mon Valley Works facilities along the Monongahela River. A pair of bald eagles are in their third year of nesting at the Irvin plant just across the river from the Clairton plant, which is documented on a live webcam.

“The fact we have two raptors that were on the endangered list nesting and thriving on U.S. Steel property is amazing,” said Don German, plant manager at the Irvin Works.

Rhoads said, “We are very happy that eagles and falcons are now nesting in Mon Valley Works facilities.”

At the Tarentum Bridge

Meanwhile, in Tarentum, at the Pittsburgh’s Cathedral of Learning and elsewhere, falcons are up to their old nesting habits.

There are about a dozen known sites where peregrines have nested in the region on mainly bridges and tall buildings, according to the game commission’s peregrine monitor Kate St. John, author of the blog “Outside My Window.”

This week, three young falcons were confirmed walking around their nest box on one of the Tarentum Bridge’s piers by Dave Brooke of Harrison, a volunteer commission monitor.

“You can see the peregrine falcons year ‘round at the Tarentum Bridge, but you have to get lucky,” Brooke said.

One of the best times to see these dynamic flyers is in early spring when the young falcons begin to fledge and learn to fly. They often scream for their parents to feed them.

The game commission on Thursday banded the three young falcons in a nest atop the University of Pittsburgh’s Cathedral of Learning, according to St. John’s blog.

The National Aviary offers a free live stream of the cathedral peregrines on its website.