This morning as I walked by the King St. nest site, one adult in view sitting on the ledge. It’s been a while that either adult was in full view for an extended period of time.
Incubation continues, and one can now see the adults as the sit on the eggs, through the web cam. Still not sure how many eggs as yet. Hopefully soon.
A quick visit hoping for a photo opportunity, with no luck. Both Rhea Mae and Tiago are hanging tight for incubation. I’ll have to try another day for a picture of the 4 eggs.
Both adults are in attendance.
Early this afternoon while watching the nest ledge, three Turkey Vultures floated over the immediate area. I was sure, that one of the adults would come scooting out of the ledges and start diving at the three intruders. One of the trio dropped very close to the University and Elm St intersection, while the other two continued on over Bay and Gerrard Sts.
Not single attack on the vultures by either peregrine and the three drifted over towards the south east. By the time they were out of the area, the shade had moved onto the nesting ledge and I really could not see clearly, if one of the peregrines had returned to the nest ledge.
I made my way to University Ave, one peregrine had appeared from the north side of the Mt.Siani and set down on the 5th ledge. It remained in the same spot for a long time. I eventually left the area with no change.
A great day for bird watching.!
With the unseasonably hot and humid temperatures we’ve been experiencing this long Easter weekend, we have observed many of the adults standing over top of the eggs, but not laying down tight on them at the nest sites that are not sheltered from the direct sun light. Attached to this update is a serious of shots taken over a half hour period where the adult female has stood up in an effort to not over heat her clutch of eggs. AT the Toronto King Street nest site, the nest site is exposed to the early morning sun throughout the day until the afternoon time when the sun is then blocked by the building as the it settles to the west.
Unfortunately she has again this year laid her clutch directly under the camera and slightly off the camera’s view.
Second Egg appeared this morning. Third Egg expected Monday.
Chad and Chris in Ohio,have seen and photographed a young female Peregrine Falcon at their I-80 Ohio Turnpike Bridge Over The Cuyahoga River location.
The resident female,Lara and the male Rocky have been defending their territory.
For two days in a row (Sunday and Monday) Rocky drove out two different first-year female peregrines while Lara was less active. On Sunday, this first-year female perched in the bridge while Lara was in the nest site out of view. Rocky stooped through the bridge past her repeatedly, forcing her to fly out, and then he proceeded to dive on her and grapple with her high up in the air. Lara joined in a little after Rocky was in action for awhile, but she didn’t do much and then she perched in a tree and vocalized as Rocky continued to chase out the intruder. It was a rainy, dark day, but we were able to get one shot that revealed a silver right leg band and a black/black band on the left, so she’s a Canadian bird.
Chad and Chris eventually identified the band number as 32/X.
A CPF volunteer saw this posting by Chad and Chris,and forwarded it to us. Here is what we discovered.
Black 32 over Black X bandedwas produced at the Hamilton Sheraton hotel nest site last year in 2009, banded on June 2nd as a female at approx. 26 days old, weighing 1014 grams (empty crop) and was named Durand.
Photos can be seen at http://www.falconcam-cmnh.org/e107_plugins/forum/forum_viewtopic.php?48559.last as taken by Chad and Chris.
Her parents were Madam X and Surge - (Surge was hatched and produced at the Etobicoke - Bloor and Islington (Sun Life Centre) nest site in 2002.
Chad and Chris in Ohio,have seen and photographed a young female Peregrine Falcon at their I-80 Ohio Turnpike Bridge Over The Cuyahoga River location.
The resident female,Lara and the male Rocky have been defending their territory.
For two days in a row (Sunday and Monday) Rocky drove out two different first-year female peregrines while Lara was less active. On Sunday, this first-year female perched in the bridge while Lara was in the nest site out of view. Rocky stooped through the bridge past her repeatedly, forcing her to fly out, and then he proceeded to dive on her and grapple with her high up in the air. Lara joined in a little after Rocky was in action for awhile, but she didn’t do much and then she perched in a tree and vocalized as Rocky continued to chase out the intruder. It was a rainy, dark day, but we were able to get one shot that revealed a silver right leg band and a black/black band on the left, so she’s a Canadian bird.
Chad and Chris eventually identified the band number as 32/X.
A CPF volunteer saw this posting by Chad and Chris,and forwarded it to us. Here is what we discovered.
Black 32 over Black X bandedwas produced at the Hamilton Sheraton hotel nest site last year in 2009, banded on June 2nd as a female at approx. 26 days old, weighing 1014 grams (empty crop) and was named Durand.
Photos can be seen at http://www.falconcam-cmnh.org/e107_plugins/forum/forum_viewtopic.php?48559.last as taken by Chad and Chris.
Her parents were Madam X and Surge - (Surge was hatched and produced at the Etobicoke - Bloor and Islington (Sun Life Centre) nest site in 2002.
With much debate over the last 24 hours, (due in part to bad lighting conditions and shadows), trying to decide if there was an egg in the nest box,, Linda was able to capture some good photos of the MEC nest box with one of the adults (believed to be the resident male) holding on to the single egg that was layed yesterday. Today, it appears that the birds are actually doing some incubating - (but not full time as yet). We suspect that given the much warmer temps., (and humidity we’re experiencing), as well as this being only the first egg, the adults will not be on the egg full time yet.
Typically the female will not start her full time incubation (or full time cooking as we say) until the second last egg is produced. This is also to ensure that the eggs will all start to hatch around the same time. Of course much depends on the fertilization / copulation with the male.
With colder temps., the adults will spend much more time on the egg(s) to prevent them from getting too cold.
We are being by our weather man that we are going to see 25 plus degree temps., for the next several days so we don’t expect to see the adults on the egg(s) full time cooking during this short heat wave.
We are hopeful that the new female at MEC (who ever she may be) will continue with her egg production and we’ll be seeing more eggs over the next few days.
It is worth noting that territorial battles have been ongoing over the past three weeks at the MEC with two adult females squabbling over the nest site and territory.
The poor little adult male has been trying to stay clear and distant of all of the fighting and has been trying to convince a female (any female) into the nest box. Its been quite funny to see him trying to keep the piece and stay focussed on the what he feels is the task at hand (courtship and copulation), as he’s been very stressed throughout the entire period.
Most of the recent observations have been of the adult male in the nest box with the single egg, as it would appear that he is so happy to finally see a victor and an egg, he’s been beside himself!
In the photos that Linda was able to snap today, this poor little guy appears to be holding onto the single egg for all he’s worth!
Stay tuned……….
I’ve been watching the webcam for the past few days, and today there’s a change. Looks like MEC has their first egg of the 2010 nesting season. I haven’t seen a peregrine in the nest tray, but sure looks like an egg.
Mom has been sitting the nestbox or in the nestbox the past 4 mornings so things are looking positive here! This morning she is practically velcroed to the side of the box looking quite lethargic. I haven’t seen her do much flying the past 4 days other than to the condo tower or an alternate ledge when Jack comes in with food for her. Most telling is she hasn’t been on the web cam perching like she normally does. Jack was also here when I arrived.
Edit to add: 10:00 am - Mom is laying down the nestbox now. Jack has been by to drop off food and she did get up and eat but then returned immediately to the nestbox.
Edit to add: 1:50 pm - After an hour of observation on lunch - I witnessed an actual shift change. Jack had been dozing on the building ledge and mom was flat in the nestbox with only her tail or her head bobbing up once in awhile. Suddenly some vocalization on both parts and Jack flew to the nestbox, mom got out and flew over to another ledge to partake in some lunch. Jack replaced her in the nestbox and he was also laying down after a bit of shuffling! This a sign of incubation and usually means at least 3 eggs are in the nest - however as we have no camera access at this point, it’s only an assumption. Given the balmy temperatures today, there is no reason to have to keep the eggs warm should there only be one or two but I will keep observing over the next few days to firm up these observations given last weeks false alarm!