!!! New Nest Tray installed!
March 11, 2002 - Toronto - Mount Sinai Hospital
Linda Woods Reports:
Monday March 11, 2002
Linda Woods reports: 06:45 Windwhistler on the east side of Mount Sinai, 2nd ledge and Mandy on the 7th ledge cleaning prey. 07:15 Both adults on the 2nd ledge, east side Mount Sinai.
Marcel Gahbauer reports: Last week, CPF director Mark Nash built a nest tray for installation on the east side of Mount Sinai Hospital. This morning, several of us gathered to put it in place. Representing the Canadian Peregrine Foundation were Mark, myself, Linda Woods, and Bruce Massey. Providing us access and assistance on behalf of Mount Sinai were Simon Stengs, Manager of Building Operations, and Alan Roy, Project Manager of Building Services. The most critical member of our team was Brett Harris from Solar, who climbed down from the roof to the nest ledge and installed the tray for us.
After assembling, we brought the tray and six 18-kg bags of gravel to the roof, while Brett assembled his gear. In the midst of this activity, Mark was whisked away to CBC radio to do an interview on Lightning, as well as our activities at Mount Sinai - it was a hectic morning to say the least! As we prepared our gear on the roof, both Windwhistler and Mandy came in to inspect us briefly - Mandy flew overhead several times then headed off to the east, while Windwhistler actually perched at the southeast corner of the roof for a few minutes to observe before flying away to the southeast.
By around 9:30 we were in action, lowering the nest tray to Brett for placement on the third ledge from the north end of Mount Sinai (on the east side). We had discovered earlier that there is a vent along this ledge which allows air from inside the building to exit - this source of warmth may account for the peregrines preferring these perches during the winter. The box was placed away from the vents, so that it will not be an issue when the weather turns warmer.
As we prepared to lower the gravel, we realized it was coarser than we had expected. As we stood at the edge of the roof contemplating what to do, we spied a large pile of gravel at the construction site across the road. Alan grabbed a pail and agreed to go down to investigate and bring back some of the gravel if it was of an appropriate type. As luck would have it, the gravel was small and smoothly rounded - an ideal substrate for the peregrines to nest in.
While at the ledge, and also on his descent past a lower ledge, Brett observed some of the prey remains left behind by the peregrines. Not surprisingly, pigeons were the most common, but other species were represented too. One long-beaked individual may have been a woodcock.
We are hoping that the peregrines will soon inspect and adopt their new nest tray, and that it will help contribute to a successful nesting season. Photos from the installation will be added to the website within the next week. Our thanks to Simon Stengs and Alan Roy for taking time out of their busy schedules to help us with the installation, and to Brett Harris for doing the job none of us envied - descending to the nest ledge to put the tray in place while the rest of us enjoyed the safety of the roof.