December 31, 2009 - International, National and Local News
Matt MacGillivray Reports:
While not of royalty, Majesty, incorrectly identified as Majestic in yesterdays post, the Flint Journal and Michigan Times, has a very special family tree for us at the CPF.
As noted in a post earlier this year by Frank, Majesty was born in 2002 at the 18 King St nest site to the first recorded Toronto nesting Peregrine pair in over 100 years. The parents, Victoria and Pounce-Kingsley, were first monitored more than 12 years ago and were one of the inspirations for the creation of the Canadian Peregrine Foundation. They produced 29 offspring over 8 nesting seasons in downtown Toronto at the King St nest site, one of which was Majesty.
Majesty is the last known living relative of this inspirational Peregrine pair in Toronto. While born in the King St nest site in 2002, Majesty and her siblings were relocated just outside the city in Richmond Hill as a result of the tragic loss of Victoria and Pounce-Kingsley that year.
Now, in 2009, Majesty has moved on to Flint Michigan to continue the cycle with Maize. The family seems strong, having dealt with construction and a nest relocation earlier this year by MDNR.
Special thanks to Barb Baldinger, a Peregrine Falcon volunteer, of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, for correctly identifying Majesty from our previous post.
Posted on December 31, 2009 10:59 am
December 30, 2009 - Burlington - Lift Bridge
Sue McCreadie Reports:
Hello everyone and Happy New Year.
Yesterday Bill and I visited the Lift Bridge. We arrived around 12:30 pm to meet Carol and Kathy from Rochester. We found that the Parking Lot was closed, the area was fenced off and the bridge was reduced down to 2 lanes of traffic . Looks like renovations have started on the Bridge. Let’s hope that the construction will not have an effect on the Peregrines and that all the work is finished prior to mating season.
Carol and Kathy must have some magical powers because we were treated to a great show by Cirrus. Unfortunately, we had not taken the camera out of the car so were unable to capture the action. By the time Bill got back with the camera, all the action was over. Carol did have her camera and hopefully, she will be able to share some of her shots. When we arrived, Cirrus was enjoying a meal on the front face of the Hamilton Tower while Sir begged for scraps from the cables. He eventually left the cables and perched on the very top corner of the Tower. As far as we could tell, Cirrus did not share. While we were watching, we noticed a Gull feeding on the Lake side of the peer. Upon closer examination, it was a headless Pigeon, so we speculated that one of the Peregrines had dropped it. After some preening, Cirrus left the face of the tower and flew directly over our heads and began to harass the Gull. We then realized that it must have been a meal that Cirrus had dropped and was not happy that the Gull was enjoying her catch. Cirrus flew around us and over us and every time she dive bombed the Gull. After many attempts, she drove off the Gull and eventually gave up on trying to retrieve the Pigeon. When we left, both birds we visible on the Hamilton Tower and the beheaded Pigeon was floating out to sea.
Great visit with Carol and Kathy who had to travel all the way from Rochester to get their Peregrine fix.
Posted on December 31, 2009 10:25 am
December 30, 2009 - International, National and Local News
Matt MacGillivray Reports:
It looks as if a 7 year old Toronto Peregrine Falcon named Majestic, has created a family with an 8 year old Peregrine named Barry from Ohio. The pair had a chick earlier this year, named Maize, who has become a bit of a mascot for Flint, and the local Michigan University according to this Flint Journal article which includes great photos and video.
It is great to hear about Canadian Peregrines moving on to create new families beyond our borders.
I have yet to find details about Majestic’s birthplace or parents in Toronto, but will followup with more details if we find them. Until then, here is a bit more information from the Michigan Times about the banding of Majestic’s chick Maize in the summer of 2009, including a great photo of a Peregrine atop the North Bank Centre.
Posted on December 30, 2009 12:29 pm
December 29, 2009 - Port Colborne - ADM Mill
Doug Garbutt Reports:
We still have two crazy active falcons here !!!!!!!!!! They seem to like the snow.
Posted on December 29, 2009 11:15 pm
December 23, 2009 - Toronto - Sheraton Centre
Jan Chudy Reports:
Both adults spent a great part of the day together either on the nest ledge or around the area. It was heart-warming to see them together. As I write this shortly after noon on Christmas Eve, they are both together again. One in the nest box and one on a nearby ledge.
Merry Christmas, Everyone.
Posted on December 24, 2009 1:31 pm
December 21, 2009 - International, National and Local News
Matt MacGillivray Reports:
Jerry Rogers, of Okaloosa County, Flordia, sent us a few pictures of what we can only describe as the bravest squirrel or smartest squirrel we have ever seen.
We concluded that this is the smartest squirrel, because he was able to identify the difference between a Coopers Hawk which will occasionally eat squirrels, and a Sharp-shinned Hawk who generally hunts birds, or much smaller mammals.
This time of year, we get many reports of raptors hunting in backyards. Unfortunately, Peregrine Falcons are not a raptor that you will find in your backyard. Peregrines hunt from perches, or in flight, high above their prey and will mostly hunt other birds. This means you will generally not see them hunting in your backyard.
If you want to see a Peregrine, come out during the fledge season to one of our accessible Peregrine nesting locations, or read about it, or watch our live peregrine cameras to see lots of Peregrine activity up close!
Thanks for the photos Jerry!
Posted on December 21, 2009 3:34 pm
December 16, 2009 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre
Kathy Reports:
Angel and Jack are still on-site braving the cold weather and enjoying the sunshine when it comes. I have not seen any juveniles since I last saw Elena on September 18th. I suspect her departure coincided with Jack’s arrival back on the scene to renew his bond with Angel.
He was sighted daily for approximately 2 weeks at that time and I observed alot of bowing in the nest box together and heard them vocalizing to each other. The last 2 moths I’ve seen Jack visiting the nest ledge at least 2 or 3 times a week for short periods and I’ve observed them hunting the local pigeons together some mornings.
Since Fall migration has ended it has been relatively quiet on the home front and other than humans, no one is alarming the falcons much at this time of year. They are quite tolerant of the window washers and maintenance crews - although Angel does like to supervise the workers, which usually means hovering over them in the air and making them nervous enough so they know who’s territory they are in 
I”m lucky to still see Angel on a daily basis but I suspect as the temperature drops, sightings will be less frequent based on the past two winters observations.
Posted on December 16, 2009 9:48 pm
December 04, 2009 - Toronto - King Street
CPF Postmaster Reports:
Last week, Ranka noted that the peregrines in the King St location are still active, and visible on our King Street webcam feed. With this information, Mark Nash informed us that this pair are still territorial and will be staying all winter this year, again.
Mark explains…
Unlike the “non-urban” peregrine population in other parts of northern Ontario, the southern Ontario urban pairs have historically stayed on territory and on site throughout the winter. This has been consistent with many of our urban pairs since 1995, both at the King Street nest site as well as the 12 other urban nest sites that we are monitoring. These urban guys are a hardy bunch indeed!
While it is unfortunate that we are having camera problems with the MEC and Etobicoke nest sites, my recent visits of the two buildings over the last week has confirmed that the resident adults are also again staying for the winter. Recent reports of the Burlington Lift Bridge pair have confirmed that they are also holding firm on territory and are being seen in the nest box on a daily basis.
All in all although, this is very good news for our southern Ontario peregrine population, as they still have an abundance of food and protection. The migration south is usually a “hi-risk” dispersal for many of the non-urban population and constitutes high mortality, especially for the first and second year aged juveniles. By having adults stay the winter, they too avoid the dangers of this long dangerous roundtrip flight down south. The peregrine wintering grounds in Central and South America are still very dangerous, many birds continue to be poisoned and shot. This makes ups a large part of their mortality.
Sadly, when our peregrines are out of the country, especially in the far south, there is no protection for them as many of these countries have no laws to protect many of our species at risk, including the peregrine falcon.
Thanks for the update Ranka!
Posted on December 4, 2009 2:37 pm
December 01, 2009 - Etobicoke - William Osler
Bruce Massey Reports:
FYI , Over the last month or so I had the occasion to briefly go by Osler Hospital. There was at least 1 PeFa in attendance, couldn’t tell if Male or Female (Driving) and it was on the North Sign.
Have been by Yellow Pages twice ( Mid November - Female In attendance and end of November- Male in attendance).
As with the North York pair I hadn’t seen the Female in a month or so, until the end of the Month were I saw a Female just North of Finch. and the Male since the middle of November.
Finally I was at Bell Building area and had a male sitting on the Corner of the Building by the Nest Box.
Thanx Bruce
Posted on December 1, 2009 7:30 pm
