Bicyclists have towed any number of things behind their bikes -- children, pets, camping gear. Carl Hildebrandt, 56, of Squirrel Hill added one more item to that list. (Today)

Nestled among the woods of South Park is a quiet stretch of land known as Jack Coates Memorial Field. Unlike other grassy patches in the park, this one has a landing strip down the center. Most days the gates leading up to it are locked with access limited to day hikers and mountain bikers who traverse the trails that cross and surround it. (08/29/2010)

One minute it's a pigeon picking debris off the sidewalk, the next it's a feathery splatter of red surrounded by a startled onlookers. Peregrine falcon at work. Virtually extinct 50 years ago, the fastest animal on Earth was in a population tailspin, and by 1975 the North American peregrine population was 324 nesting pairs. (08/29/2010)

Remote-control model airplane piloting is a relatively inexpensive sport to get into. Model kits can be purchased online or in hobby stores and range in price from $25 to more than $3,000. Some hobbyists build their planes from scratch, but most purchase what are called ARF kits (Almost Ready to Fly) in which the planes come covered and decorated. (08/29/2010)

Roger Patterson of rural Allegheny County writes: "Late this summer I have noticed what appear to be tent caterpillar tents in my lilac bushes. I'm fairly certain these are not the tent caterpillars we normally get in the spring. These late summer munchers are white and hairy. Their tents are similar, and they seem to kill the branches they inhabit. (08/29/2010)