!!! Getting close!
May 01, 2010 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre
Kathy Reports:
Yesterday was approximately Day 30 by my count of heavy incubation here at the Etobicoke nest site! As if to back up my calculations - Jack for the first time since last years chicks were here was perched in his old signage spot most of yesterday so I know something is up! He spent quite a bit of time here yesterday for the first time in quite awhile.
This morning I arrived on-site at 8:25 am. Jack was on his old perch and Mom was in the nestbox. Usually you can’t see her from the ground due to the height and depth of the nestbox but this morning I observed her tail and head flipping around quite a bit which tells me she is not laying very flat like she normally does.
Jack spent his time watching, clearing the pigeons and anything else he didn’t like the look for about a half hour which included me!! He actually flew over to where I was across the street and down the road and circled low above me three times which was quite intimidating.
He went back to his perch for awhile, satisfied that I was sufficiently cowed - which I must say I was! Then he flew out to the south, back and forth a few times as something must have caught his eye and the last time he came back with something in his talons. He then flew to the front ledge and was in the process of preparing Mom’s brunch when a poor misguided pigeon was attempting to land on the ledge and he just grabbed it in midair and that was that! That’s the second time I’ve seen him do that and it’s just spectacular to see! He then took his new catch and flew by the nest ledge and then headed towards the direction of his other nest site!
At 9:36 he arrived back at our site, swung around and grabbed his previous catch and went to present it to Mom, a few chups were exchanged and she took the offering and flew out of sight to the rooftop to enjoy her meal.
She took close to a half hour to enjoy her meal and then returned to the webcam, a few more chups to dad and she settled into cleaning her talons and giving herself a good preen which is how I left her at 11:00 am and Jack was still in the nestbox so she’s had a good break this morning!