The Canadian Peregrine Foundation

March 29, 2007
Mark Nash reports: First Egg Spotted at the Nest

We’ve received good news from Hamilton this past week. As of March 29th Madame X is currently incubating at least one egg in the nest, and likely more. Given the colder temps, she has been very consistent with the other three southern Ontario nest site females that also have eggs in the nest in that she has stayed very tight to the egg(s) and it has been difficult to see if there are any other eggs present. Fortunately, the nest cameras allow us to see more than most, where as we used to have to depend on the adults behavioral changes to tell the story. This involved a very skilled eye, and a seasoned observer that really understands the various behavioral differences of the birds activities to understand what happening in the nest. Hurrah for the web camera’s, as they take most of the guessing out of the equation and provide a very dependable and accurate tool that helps us all with the management of the nest site.

Tuesday June 5, 2007
Audrey Gamble reports: Banding Day!

Many thanks to all of you who have called and written to ask about the chicks.

As many of you know two of our chicks became inactive last week and then disappeared from view. We contacted authorities and continued to monitor the nest throughout the weekend. It was supposed that the chicks had died although the cause was unknown. The biologists from Ministry of Natural Resources reported yesterday that they had seen cases of respiratory tract infection at other peregrine nests this spring and that a chick in Port Colborne had died as a result of such an infection. This type of infection is caused by a naturally occurring organism that is commonly present in pigeons. Like all things in nature there are cycles when a variety of conditions come together to allow an infection to flourish. There was no evidence of the missing chicks yesterday, so no examination can be done to determine why they did not make it. It is quite possible that they had the infection. Peregrines are known to remove perished young from the nest and that is probably what happened here.

With the day already off to an unusual start, we got a huge surprise when, for the first time at this site, the largest chick jumped up onto the west end of the ledge when John Millar, our expert climber, descended from the roof. This is a tricky situation because one doesn’t want to scare the chick off the ledge or cause it harm. John corralled the smaller of the two and it was decided to leave the second chick be and wait for her to get safely down in the nest before we would try again to catch her. The first chick was brought inside the hotel and weighed and banded. Her overall condition was fairly good and although smaller than her sister, she had a reasonable body weight. Notable were her blue feet* On examination she was seen to have spots in her mouth and throat that would indicate the type of infection in question. MNR biologists decided that she should go to specialists at the Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) in Guelph for treatment for her infection.

*Usually by the time the chicks are banded their feet have already turned from blue to the yellow characteristic of the adults. Falcon Watchers particularly remember Harvard, one of the male chicks in 2005. Harvey still had his distinctive blue feet long after fledge

After a short wait a strategy was devised to capture the bigger sister who by this time had tucked safely back into the nest. A long handled swimming pool net (courtesy of the Sheraton) was lowered to the east end of the ledge to block the nimble girl from taking a running jump onto the ledge and the climber made his second descent to the west end where she was sitting. John safely caught the imp and she was brought inside for her turn. She had a healthy body weight and looked to be in good overall condition with livelier behavior than her sister. On examination she was seen to have minor symptom of the infection and the biologists decided to return her to the nest so as not to further disrupt the adults and risk having them abandon the nest.

One of the treats for HCPP on banding day is to give the chicks their names that will go on their official banding record. Special names had been selected for the brood and circumstances yesterday made us postpone naming them. However, the way the day unfolded, the girls seem to have suggested their own names and we have called them ‘Blue Foot’ and ‘Jump Up’. Thank you to all who sent terrific name suggestions our way.

We are keeping a close eye on ‘Jump Up’ and judging by this picture from this afternoon it may not be long before she does it again. We hope the best for ‘Blue Foot’ in Guelph and share your wishes for her speedy return. We will pass along information as it becomes available.

Sunday May 13, 2007
Lyle Camier reports: As of May 13, there are now 4 chicks on the scrape on the Hamilton Sheraton Hotel and looking very healthy.

Saturday May 12, 2007
Mark Nash reports: Fourth hatch!!

With many thanks to Edward and his persistence watching the monitor this evening, we has reported seeing that a forth egg has hatched, and the happy pair now have four young hatchlings at the Hamilton Sheraton hotel nest site.

Thursday May 10, 2007
Lyle Camier reports: Three hatched!!

We have received some additional news regarding the Hamilton nest. There is definitely 3 chicks hatched so far and still one 1 egg yet to hatch at about 3:00 pm today.
Still keeping an eye on them.

Tuesday May 8, 2007
Mark Nash reports: First hatch!!

We have received great news today just after 11am that the first egg has hatched at the Hamilton Sheraton hotel nest site.
Congratulations Hamilton!!

Monday April 30, 2007
Mark Nash reports: With a huge thank you to Norm from the Kentucky Fish & Wildlife for his spectacular photos of Cootes. A you may remember, Cootes is a local gal that was produced at the Hamilton Sheraton nest site, and has settled down in Kentucky USA with a mate. The happy pair are currently incubating their eggs, and these photos were taken just before the hatch as she roosted directly above the nest box. Cootes and her mate have returned to the Spurlock power station in Maysville, Kentucky. She has settled into the nest box we built for her and her mate last summer and has proceeded to lay and incubate 4 eggs. We are very excited and wanted to let you know the good news.

Thursday April 5, 2007
Norman reports: Cootes is back!

I wanted to let you know that Cootes (92/H) has returned to the Spurlock power station in Maysville, Kentucky. She has settled into the nest box we built for her and her mate last summer and has proceeded to lay and incubate 4 eggs. We are very excited and wanted to let you know the good news. I we try to take some digital photographs on my next visit in late April.

Friday June 23, 2006
Mike Street reports: At 09:32 today, Friday, Webster was standing on the edge of the ledge. Less than 30 seconds later she was in the air making her way across King St. to a good landing. We await further events.

What a morning! At 05:11 Albion 'greeted' the first Falconwatcher of the day with a wing wave. A minute later she was airborne, flying strongly over the Art Gallery of Hamilton and the Hamilton Wentworth School Board building all the way back to the south-west corner of the lower roof on Standard Life. A short time later she flew out over King St. and back to the upper roof of Standard Life. Both adults came in to check her out, then Surge went to the south-east corner of that roof and urged her to come over to - FOOD! - her first in almost two days. The other chicks were not happy to see their sister eating while they were not. Around 06:40 Albion tried to fly to the roof of the Sheraton but didn't quite make it. Surge came in quickly and flew below her as she went back to Standard Life. At that point the local American Kestrel - gutsy, but dumb - flew in and started making passes at Albion. Surge, who had just flown to the Stelco building, came roaring back and chased the kestrel away. And that was just the 5-7 shift!

Wednesday June 21, 2006
Melanie Whalen reports: Albion (we're pretty sure) [was] flapping at the edge of the nest ledge at 11:33 this morning. [...] 30 seconds later, there are only two chicks in the nest. Way to go Albion!!!! At last report she had flown to the roof of the Hamilton Convention centre, back to the Sheraton, then to the Fairclough Building and finally fluttered down to a back roof between the convention centre and Hamilton Place. Maybe she's heading for a stage career?

Wednesday June 21, 2006
(The Webmaster reports:) Audrey Gamble sent us an e-mail concerning Surge, a male peregrine who was produced at the Etobicoke nest site in 2002. He is currently in Hamilton, as can be seen from Audrey's story (reproduced below). You can also see excellent photos of Surge in the 2005 Burlington Photo Gallery, as he was the resident male at that nest site last year.

Please let Etobicoke's falcon lovers know that Surge is well named and has grown into a prime tiercel. Hamilton falconwatchers are delighting in getting to 'know' our new bird. He is fast, funny and fierce. A small sleek bird, he steals into one's view without a hint and leave you wondering how long he's been right in front of you! He's a devoted father who helps Madame X shield the girls, Albion, Webster and Sherman, from the hot sun. His stealthy flight and the perfect peregrine slate blue gray of his back and allow him to hide in plain view on Hamilton's downtown buildings. His lightning surges of speed and power startle prey and falconwatchers alike. All in all a real treat to watch.

Friday June 2, 2006
Audrey Gamble reports: Banding day arrived as a bright and pleasantly cool reprieve after the heat wave of the early week. Fans of the falcons watched via webcam and live on monitors as climber John Millar dropped down to the ledge and carefully gathered the three chicks into a carrying bag. The precious cargo was hoisted to the hotel roof and taken inside the hotel by veteran MNR biologist Anne Yagi. Inside the chicks were weighed, banded, gendered and named. For the first time at the Hamilton Sheraton nest all the chicks are female. In keeping with the Hamilton Community Peregrine Project's (HCPP) custom of giving the birds names with distinctly Hamilton flavour, the girls are called ALBION, WEBSTER and SHERMAN after local waterfalls. Hamilton is situated on the Niagara escarpment, one of the reasons the peregrine falcons found us so early in their recovery, and is blessed with over 60 waterfalls and cascades in our immediate area.

Mother peregrine Madame X, another of Hamilton's natural wonders, kept our climber company on the ledge while the youngsters were inside. The new male, dubbed Mr. E., made a couple of passes and kept guard from the adjacent Standard Life building. This allowed HCPP volunteers to finally got a good enough look at Mr. E' s bands so that we were able to trace him as 'Surge' from Etobicoke's 2002 brood. While in the hotel, the chicks were uncharacteristically quiet, no doubt due to the fact that they had been sleeping like babies on full tummies until the climber's arrival. Hamilton Naturalists' Club Falconwatch Coordinator Melanie Whalen was pleased to meet her charges for the first time and with luck it will be the last time she sees them so close up! The banding went smoothly and the girls were back in their beds in short order. Madame X and Surge kept guard to make sure all was right with the world and things soon got back to routine for the babies. Eat and sleep, sleep and eat.

All in all, a successful day and three more robust, healthy, and oh, did I mention cute, peregrine chicks to launch. First flights for the fluffy trio are anticipated between June 15 and 20.

Tuesday May 30, 2006
Mark Nash reports for Rudy Kruppa: I thought you all might be interested in this update now that we have confirmed the identity of at least one of the territorial peregrines that has been gracing the skies in downtown Kitchener Ontario these past 5 weeks.

While the pair has been very active in the Kitchener downtown core, they are not currently nesting as best as we can tell at this point. Their presence has been very apparent over the past 10 days as the increased e-mail communications of their activities has more than doubled. They have been difficult to identify due to the height of urban landscapes involved.

It has been confirmed that the adult territorial male is non other than “Dundas”, a one legged peregrine that was produced at the Hamilton Sheraton Hotel nest site in 2004. At some point after his fledge and disappearance / dispersal of the Hamilton Sheraton Hotel territory, Dundas was first observed at the Lime Ridge Mall in upper Hamilton –missing one of his legs. Not only has this little bird beat the odds and survived the past 3 Ontario winters on territory on the Hamilton Mountain area,,, it now appears that he has taken up residence and attracted a sub adult female companion. It looks like he has once again defied the odds, (given this bird’s obvious disability/handicap).

While is still very difficult to positively identify this male Pefa without reading the black coloured band number, we are not aware of any other “one legged” peregrines in the neighborhood. We have allot of colour video footage that was shot of this bird and submitted by a member of one of the local Hamilton TV/cable networks, in addition to the many independent observations and photos that have been submitted over the past two years. Dundas has quite a following indeed!!

This is a “tough little bird indeed”, as the last report that we had received on Dundas was approx. 10 weeks ago from Hamilton, where he was observed stooping on, and successfully killing a large pigeon. While he struggled to carry this very large prey to the shopping centre plaza rooftop, he was observed feasting on it atop of the plaza roof shortly after landing. Minutes later, he was both observed and photographed leaving his fresh kill, and chasing off two adult crows that had taken an interest in his meal. One of the crows was knocked to the ground in a spectacular hit. The crow was recovered by the observer, but had obviously died on impact as a result of Dundas’ strike. Dundas was observed returning to his kill on the plaza rooftop corner and finished his meal.

For the first winter, Dundas was constantly being observed and photographed in the Mall area eating his kills at ground level, - anywhere and everywhere! At one point he was observed eating on the sidewalk, twice in the street/roadway and actually disrupted the flow of traffic – (much to the delight of the many motorists and those who came to Dundas’ aid as they stopped the traffic in an effort to protect him). Numerous reports were submitted by local Hamilton residents and business community members as they watched Dundas eating in the mall parking lot on a bench, apparently not able to carry his prey to safer elevations. This past year - 2005, Dundas has been routinely observed carrying his kills to higher elevations without any problems.

You can see some of the video footage shot of Dundas as a juvenile on the CPF web site pages at the 2005 Hamilton Photo Gallery. It is a large download, but well worth the wait to see this little peregrine.

This just goes to show us, that some of these birds have an incredible ability to overcome and adapt. We are monitoring the situation very closely, and will continue to update.

Photos by Ruda Kruppa

Tuesday May 9, 2006
Mark Nash reports: Reports are streaming in to announce that the second hatchling has just arrived in the Hamilton nest site.
Very exciting indeed!

Monday May 8, 2006
Mark Nash reports: First Hatch!!

Congratulations Hamilton!!!
We have just received word tht Hamilton nest site has just had their first egg hatch on May 8th/2006. Looking forward to a successful season again.
Its peregrine season indeed!!!!!!!!!

Wednesday March 29, 2006
Mark Nash reports: First Egg!!
We have received good news from Hamilton, as the report indicates that they have there first egg spotted as of this morning. We have been told that they turned the webcam on this morning and there was the first egg in the nest. Madame X seems to be moving around allot in the frames from the webcam. More are expected on their way! Congratulations Hamilton!!
I will keep you posted!

Wednesday February 8, 2006
Amanda Johnston reports: I have seen Madame X roosting on the CIBC building in downtown hamilton. I have seen her off and on for almost 2 weeks. When I first saw her I got so excitied! It seems a little early but maybe with the warmer tempatures she is confused. I believe I also saw her at the nest site as well. I work in the stelco tower so I have a perfect view to the site.

Monday January 30, 2006
Brandon Holden reports: Dundas is still around, and appears to be doing just fine!!
I did see Dundas, the one-legged Peregrine at Limeridge Mall in Hamilton about 2 weeks ago.

Wednesday January 11, 2006
Chris D'Aguilar reports: After many months of no sightings, there has been a very vocal female showing up all around the downtown core. I have heard, and then seen her chasing pigeons east of the city core around Wellington and Main Street last Friday and then again today around the CIBC tower down town today.

I am assuming that it is Madam X returning to the territory, but can not be sure. This is the earliest that I can recall hearing Peregrines in downtown. They are usually very quiet and roosting here and there until at least late February.

Thursday September 1, 2005
Mark Nash reports: With fall just around the corner, reports have been streaming in that things have got very quiet at many of the urban nests sites, and with the absence of the juveniles, it is nice to see at least that many of the urban adults are still on territory, with reports of many of them still spending time on the nest ledges.

Now independent, and hunting on their own, it would appear that many of the juveniles have either moved on, or have dramatically expanded their hunting areas taking them farther away from the home territories. We remember years past, while very closely monitoring some of the peregrine nest sites, we witnessed the adults on more than one occasion actually chasing their offspring out of the territory as October moved in. It is believed that the adults reach a point that they will simply no longer tolerate the harassment for food from their offspring, (in addition to sharing the territory with the kids), and "encourage" their young to move on. Sooner or later, the urge move on overwhelms them, as in the peregrine release sites that we have been doing over the years, the juveniles simply stop returning to the hack boxes for the food being provided by the hack site attendants.

Wednesday August 3, 2005
Bruce Massey reports: Decided it's time to check on Dundas and and see how he was faring. I got up there about 0600 hours and circled the mall. I found Dundas down at the end of the mall near the Bay Store. He then flew over to the corner of the radio station for half an hour. After that, he flew to the top of 30 ft. Hydro pole in a schoolyard bad and I spent an hour so observing him.

This time, he had not fed, and was what looked like he was trying to clear a pellet. The school yard he was in, connected into a playground at another school yard. There was plenty of small birds and pigeons around, in fact I was amused to watch two immature Robins sitting on a line sounded off their alarm calls. He was sitting on a 4 in. by 4 in. piece of wood so bad he seemed very comfortable was able to move around easily. He did however, have to use his wings to keep his balance. Also, he has adapted to being able to perch on his stump. He was actually able to do it for about five minutes. By 0900 Hrs the heat was starting to get oppressive, and since Dundas had some shade and I didn't, I headed back to Toronto.

Wednesday July 6, 2005
Chris D'Aguilar reports: This year we had a hatch of four chicks from four eggs. All left the nest at the normal times and progressed well. Unfortunately one day, while chasing each other and their father, one of the Chicks, Canso had an impact with a window at the Standard Life Building and died instantly.

The watch this year was another success, with some really great people; some new and some from before. It is always a joy to meet them all. We had two rescues and were able to give two chicks second chances.

The chicks can still be seen from time to time soaring in the sky. They are wondering further and further away. This season seemed to have gone by very fast.

Tuesday June 7, 2005
Bruce Massey reports: While I was up at Kortright, I saw a newspaper article referring to Dundas, the Hamilton bird that had part of one of its legs amputated last fall. In the article, it referred to Lime Ridge Mall as the location of the bird. After a little bit of searching on the Internet, I managed to get a map printed off on how to get to Ridge Mall.

After stopping off at Burlington Bridge (See the report), I headed in to Hamilton, to attempt to get to the top of Hamilton Mountain. I finally found the mall at about 0715 hours. After making one circle of the mall, I was about to extend my circle, when I heard some seagull's alarm calling. Much to my surprise, looking under the main sign, was a peregrine Falcon. While I set my scope, unfortunately the bird laid down and didn't move for about an hour. From what I did see for that hour, the bird was very healthy i.e.: feathers and general disposition, it seemed bright and alert. At the end of the hour, when it did get up, for the first time observed the amputated leg, the bird seemed to have adapted to the loss. It balanced itself well enough to void over the edge, and when it had to move, it appeared to put the full weight on the amputated leg. I was very curious to see if it had eaten the A.M. That took about another hour until the board turned around and I couldn observe it's crop. When it did turn around, it was obvious that the bird had eaten.

In the three hours of observation, I saw nothing but a strong healthy bird, alert, well fed, and with the exception of the amputation, what I would expect to see of a first-year bird. Unfortunately, I did not observe any hunting, or feeding, which I hoped to do.

Thursday May 19, 2005
Mark Nash reports: Great news indeed.
4 chicks now on the Hamilton Sheraton hotel nest site!

Wednesday May 11, 2005
Mark Nash reports: Hatch - 2 chicks!!!
Hello All
We have just received news that it appears that there are at least two chicks hatched at the Hamilton nest site - so far!! Congratulations Hamilton!!

Monday April 25, 2005
Mark Nash reports: Jackson found dead!!

A call received by the CPF head office today was from a lady named Tracy, who reported some very tragic news about a dead peregrine she observed on the roadway in Mississauga Ontario.

She said she was driving south on Winston Churchill Blvd, south of Eglinton, and saw what she believed was a dead peregrine in the middle of the road (150 meters south of Eglinton). The lady stated she does work for "Bird Studies Canada," but in what capacity was not stated. She did know her birds, though. Maya was called and asked if she could investigate. Maya was just about to head into class, but took the time to go and check it out. (Thank-you Maya)
Maya called me back with the sad report, that in fact it was one of our "known" peregrines.

The band number has been confirmed and identified as a two year old male peregrine named "Jackson," produced at the Hamilton Sheraton nest site in 2003.

Jackson has been very active and territorial at the St. Lawrence nest site, where, it would appear, he replaced "Nate" after his death several weeks ago. Stay tuned....................

Thursday April 21, 2005

Wednesday April 13, 2005
Mark Nash reports: We have received great news that there are now four eggs in the Hamilton nest site.
Good news indeed. Congratulations to the Hamilton pair!!

Tuesday April 5, 2005
Mark Nash reports: After some "real time" having been spent by Armando at the St. Lawrence Cement plant nest site in Mississauga, Ontario, the new territorial male has finally been identified, thanks to all of Armando's dedicated efforts.

Following the death of Nate less than a month ago (the past territorial male on site for the past five plus years ), a new male has finally been identified by confirmation of his band numbers.

This new St. Lawrence male was named "Jackson." He was produced at the Hamilton Sheraton Hotel nest site, hatched in 2003, and banded at approx. 29 days old on June 6th/2003. He weighed 653 grams at banding. Jackson was one of three young peregrines hatched, having one other smaller brother named Bold, and a very big 1002 gram sister named Hunter.

Tuesday March 22, 2005
Tammy Hendsbee wrote to us with a great story about Dundas. Her letter is reproduced, with her kind permission, below:
Dear CPF, I thought you might be interested to know of the frequent sightings I have had of "Dundas". Funny thing, I do home care for a living and travel across the Lincoln Alexander everyday. While at a visit with a client she was telling me about what her daughter had experienced with a Peregrine Falcon. As she was telling me the story I asked where abouts she was (because it sounded like the same area) to get the recording. I immediately responded "thats him". As it turns out...I have learned that this must be "Dundas". I travell across the "Linc" everyday at approximatley 7:30 a.m and then again at any where from 1400hrs-1500hrs. I usually see him right in the area of the exits off the Linc between Upper Gage and Upper James. Sounds like he has made this vicinity his little home (I have also seen him around Upper James and Hester Street area a couple times). I have seen him many many times for the last few months. During my work week I will usually see him way up on a lamp post but, just on Monday (March 21) he was flying around quite graciously in the same area. Now because I heard about the one foot I really tried to see if he only had one leg and I am sure he did have only the one (it was difficult driving). Often when in my car if I have a passenger I will say to them "keep your eyes open and you will see my bird up above" lol ha ha! This has been very interesting I hope you enjoy! I know I do!!!! Tammy Hendsbee

Saturday March 12, 2005
Webmaster's note: Video footage of Dundas, taken by Beth Barron, has been added to the Photo Gallery. Thanks very much to Beth for providing us with this great clip.

Sunday March 6, 2005
Mark Nash reports: Over the past months, we have received many reports of the one footed peregrine, with some great observations and photos from several members of the community. Many confirmations of the band number have been confirmed, with several photos clearly showing the black band number that ID's this small male peregrine as Dundas, from the Hamilton nest site.

These past couple of days, Beth Barron has been reporting to us with some additional observations, and some spectacular photos taken from the live video that she recorded of Dundas. While it has all saddened us to see this poor little peregrine with this type of disability, it appears that so far, he is doing just fine despite the odds against him. Dundas, unlike many of the first year juveniles produced in Ontario did not leave the territory and migrate to warmer places this winter, and has remained in town. Despite the bitter cold, scarce food supply, other avian predators, and missing his right foot - including the loss of all of his toes - he has so far defied all of the odds and seems to be doing very well indeed. While we have no idea as to the cause of his injury (the total loss of his right foot, including all of his toes on the right foot), it appears that he has no problem of catching food - and as pictured, - being able to bring down full size pigeons!!! To have a small male complete this task (with two feet and all toes) is quite amazing, as a adult pigeon is a large size prey for a male peregrine (especially a first year juvenile bird, with only one foot)!!

Stay tuned...............
Mark Nash
CPF

Thursday March 3, 2005
Chris D'Aguilar reports: The pair were circling North of Market and Caroline Streets today. There was lots of vocalizing and talon clutching. There is quite a big difference in size between the very large female and the very small male.

Tuesday March 1, 2005
Chris D'Aguilar reports: They're baaacccccckkk! The sightings have been infrequent during the winter, but both overwintered here. They are back regularly now and quite vocal. I always know that spring is not far away when I hear the falcons.

Sunday February 20, 2005
Beth Barron reports: I observed Dundas (a male notable for his missing right foot) only a few feet from a busy road at Upper Gage and Fennell in Hamilton, Ontario at 4:15pm. He quickly tore apart the carcass of what I believe was a pigeon. People were walking by on the sidewalk and I was able to get about 10 feet away from him. I happened to have a video camera with me and took about 10 minutes of video of him. He still has all of his right leg but has lost about 3/4 of his foot as there is still some yellow apparent on the leg. He was banded on his left leg and used his tail and wing for balance as he ate. I'm no expert on birds but I believe he looked to be in good condition.