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Experts Offer Some "Hope" For Eggs After Peregrine Falcon Father Dies

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Viewers watched the comings and goings of the Peregrine falcon known as E2, his mates and the hatchings of their young on the ledge of the Cathedral of Learning in Oakland via the nest cam.

But two days ago, E2 was found dead in a backyard in Friendship.

The cause of death has not yet been determined, but Bob Mulvihill, an expert at the National Aviary is confident E2 was not hurt by a human.

"Peregrine falcons do fight with one another, and males especially will fight over a territory, and it's not unusual for two males to have a physical contest, sometimes resulting in the death of one of the birds," said Mulvihill.

We first spotted E2 in his nest back in 2007 with his first mate, Dorothy.

Dorothy hatched more than 50 eggs, and then suddenly disappeared last year and is now assumed dead.

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That's when E2 began to advertise.

"That would be by making himself visually conspicuous by flying around and displaying in wide circles and calling. This, to a female, would say there is an unattached male peregrine there, and Hope responded to that," Mulvihill.

Hope was E2's mate for about a year. She is sitting on three eggs right now. She laid the third one Thursday night.

Being a single parent could be a challenge for Hope, but there is always hope.

"There is a possibility that an unmated male may discover her. She may in some way signal that she is absent of a mate, a male may come in, could be interested, would then proceed to help provision, become a stepdad," Mulvihill said.

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