February 24, 2011 - Etobicoke - William Osler
CPF Postmaster Reports:
A short update from last week, as we initially responded to a call from the Ross at the hospital to both investigate and pick-up a deceased Screech Owl that was in the wrong place at the right time. Their territorial peregrines are still very much around and obviously still very protective over the territory.
Sad to say that the little Screech owl didn’t have a chance and was knocked out of the sky and killed with single blow from a stoop from the resident adult female peregrine. We spent most of the day on site this past Thursday (Feb. 24th) at the request of the Hospital to over see the peregrines and some of the work that they are doing on the west and south elevation walls, and can confirm that both adult peregrines are still very much on territory and sticking close to the nest ledge. While the swing stage staff were virtually ignored throughout the day, a passing Red-tail hawk was not so lucky, and took the wrath of their peregrines. The red-tail was quickly dispatched and chased almost out of sight.
We can confirm that the resident adult male is still non other than Hurricane - (a peregrine that was produced at the Toronto Sheraton centre nest site) given the solid Black band that he dawns, but his mate was not about to show us her bands despite all of our efforts to get a view of her legs.
Posted on February 28, 2011 11:37 am
February 22, 2011 - Mississauga - Holcim
CPF Postmaster Reports:
Given the observations of Kris and his friends, it appears that one of the resident peregrines has a solid Black band, telling us that at least one of the resident adults is a Canadian produced peregrine.
Hello CPF,
The Credit Valley Conservation staff and volunteers were conducting a winter raptor survey on January 27, 2011. As part of the survey a day is spent in an urban setting monitoring urban raptors. At approximately 12:42 pm a single peregrine falcon at St. Lawrence cement was spotted on a lamp post along Avonhead Road. Soon there after the second peregrine appeared and landed on a steel structure just behind the peregrine perched on the light post. This second bird has been noted with a distinctive dark breast/belly patch. This patch has been seen on a bird at this location two weeks prior. The first bird perched on the light post left for several minutes and returned with a European Starling in its clutch. The second peregrine with the dark breast then took flight as the first peregrine neared and mid air received the starling then proceeded to its previous perch to dine on the prey. The birds were watched for several minutes; the first bird took flight several times and landed near its dark breasted feeding companion. Note: in one of the photos, if magnified the solid black band on its left leg has a visible capital letter “D” or 0.
Kris
Posted on February 26, 2011 11:53 am
February 21, 2011 - International, National and Local News
CPF Postmaster Reports:
Hello folks at CPF – update on the Saint John peregrines…and, yes, I can confirm the plural.
Spotted two peregrines yesterday at 3:12pm over the Reversing Falls Bridge. The bridge crosses the narrowest point of St. John River where it widens out into the harbour and then flows out to the Bay of Fundy. Incidentally, the Irving Tissue Mill is very close to this bridge. The Falls attracts a lot of sea birds: gulls of all sorts and cormorants (summer), there are lots of rock doves and also different species of hawks, the occasional bald eagle and now the peregrines.
As I was approaching the bridge by car, my attention was caught by a lot of gulls swirling about in the air. I pulled over and parked the car and that’s when I saw two peregrines in silhouette from below. One flew down and levelled out and gave me a very good look at him/her - I could clearly see the “sideburns” on the cheeks and the dark grey colouring on his/her back. I didn’t have binoculars or a good camera (Iphone was useless –Apple designers need to correct that deficiency).
I watched them for about 15 minutes - there were two and they were hunting. I watched one bird “stoop” and dive in an attempt to catch a gull. He/she missed the gull by inches. Quite something to see! I didn’t see the Pefa’s close enough together to be able to say for sure they are a male and female pair.
A good digital camera with movie capability is my next step! I will DEFINITELY get photos. I’m hooked.
Gaye Kapkin
Posted on February 23, 2011 12:00 pm
February 22, 2011 - Windsor - Ambassador Bridge
Dennis Patrick Reports:
Once again after wintering over on-site for the third consecutive year our dynamic duo are becoming very chummy. Ken Ducharme reports more activity around the nest ledge by Voltaire doing some Spring set up on the nest materials.
Get yourselves a really good big sky view of the Ambassador Bridge sign on the Canadian side and keep your eyes peeled for some fantastic aerial courtship displays. Stooping, close quarter high speed chasing playing and flying past each other at such incredible speeds so close it will put a lump in your throat.
Don’t miss out we’re counting down to egg time!!!
All last years trained volunteers are requested if interested to contact us.
Dennis and the Falcon Crazy team>
Posted on February 22, 2011 10:41 am
February 15, 2011 - Burlington - Lift Bridge
Frank Butson Reports:
Recently Sue Adorjan got these great pictures near the Liftbridge again. The first shot is Sir Adam. All others are Cirrus.
Posted on February 15, 2011 11:39 pm
- Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton
Frank Butson Reports:
Reporting for Lyn:
20110215 Yonge-Eglinton Peregrines
I had an exciting day today! I came out of the bank and whilst waiting for the light to change I saw a Peregrine struggle with the reflections in the windows of the Rio-Can building on the east side. The Peregrine had actually flown across the front of the Heart and Stroke building and *softly* into a window, fluttered up and down the window and then flew off over Eglinton Ave. It came back to the same side of the Rio-Can building and did the same thing again before flying across Eglinton Ave and onto the railing on the level below the nest ledge, but on the northeast side of the building. This appeared to be a large Peregrine but not having another one with which to compare it I reserved judgement. The Peregrine sat on the railing for a good ten minutes.
Just as I was about leave for indoors, she took off over the CIBC building on the SW corner of Y&E and along Eglinton east. At a spot one street west of Redpath I saw three pigeons flying above Eglinton Ave and the Peregrine had her sights set on one of them and I saw her grab it!!
I exclaimed aloud *oh wow* which caused two pedestrians to turn around and look along Eglinton but they did not see her. She struggled to fly and gain height to land on top of the CIBC building. She was flying against the wind. As she landed I saw another peregrine fly from the west to land right at the top of the nest building on the NW corner.
I thought I could safely dash home for binoculars as I thought she would eat the peregrine where she was. When I came back she had gone and so had the second peregrine. I searched the two buildings to no avail. However I did find feathers floating on the breeze coming from the west. I searched along Eglinton to the corner of Duplex - no luck! When I looked south from there I found both peregrines on top of the black building over the bus garage. This time I could definitely see the size difference and it was the female who had caught the pigeon. I stood out there in the cold wind for 45 minutes as she plucked feathers and ate, then plucked some more. The male was sitting about 2 metres away from her and periodically he called then settled down again. Eventually, minutes before I left he could bear the strain no longer. He ran along the edge of the building towards the female and grabbed what looked like the pigeon’s head and then flew to another perch on the same building. The female never paused. She continued eating. By this time I was frozen and decided to leave. Both peregrines were pecking away at their spoils. It was a great sighting.
Never go to the bank without binoculars!!!
Lyn
Posted on February 15, 2011 10:20 pm
February 11, 2011 - International, National and Local News
CPF Postmaster Reports:
Further conversations and observations from Gaye, and some research on her behalf, we can confirm that there is in fact at least one territorial pair of peregrines holding a territory in St. John New Brunswick. Thanks to Guye, who was able to resource additional information on the subject,
Gaye writes: Feb. 11th 2011
Hello again! Since we emailed, I’ve been on the lookout for our speedy and elusive friends. I haven’t seen any falcons lately, but I’ve chatted with local birders about peregrine sightings and they assure me that we typically do have a few birds which over-winter here in Saint John. Which was exciting news…
Then, on Saturday, I came across this article and photograph in the “Sightings” column in our local newspaper. And there he/she is - what a wonderful photo! I knew you’d be excited to see this photo and the information.
I’ve also added a little graphic to give you an idea of where the sighting was and the bridges that the article references.
I keep looking!
Cheers,
Gaye Kapkin
Hello CPF
I recently we saw a raptor chasing a pigeon in the King Square area of downtown Saint John, NB. I work on the 4th (top) floor of an office building adjacent to King’s Square and I had a great “front-row” seat. I believe the bird was a peregrine – I wasn’t fast enough to get a camera. This sighting was Thursday Jan. 27th.
Yesterday, when walking my dogs in the same general area, I hear an unusual (ie not the usual gull or crow) bird calls. Looking up I saw two birds – one of which was calling. Again – no camera available! But from the silhouette from below, I’m thinking I saw a pair of falcons.
I’m keeping my close at hand. Hopefully, I can verify if these birds are peregrines or not.
Regards,
Gaye Kapkin
Posted on February 15, 2011 11:55 am
February 02, 2011 - International, National and Local News
CPF Postmaster Reports:
Could there be a second pair of peregrines in Windsor Ontario Canada?
After many e-mail over the past few months, and with a huge thank you to Robert for his determination and persistence, it would appear that there could be another pair of territorial peregrines in Windsor Ontario. He has been watching a water tower at Benjamin and Hanna where there has been allot of raptor activity since October of last year. He recently sent us some video that he shot of one of the birds, along with a couple of observation reports.
While we don’t believe that any offspring has been produced at this site, the presence of a territorial pair holding firm at this site, (and if there is an suitable nesting ledge that they like), it is possible that we may see a new peregrine nest site this spring if the pair stay to the spring.
Robert writes: February 2nd / 2011
Hello again! I captured a little bit of video this morning… put on your headphones because the sound of this particular bird will probably better help you identify it if this is a peregrine.
Follow link to video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJIXsUpcUFY (click the HD 720P link at the bottom right for higher quality video/audio)
Robert.
October 2010 observation:
I don’t know if you’re aware of this but there is a peregrine living underneath the water tower on Benjamin & Hanna.
And if I’m right there might baby falcons up there as well?? I say that because this morning the firefighters were rappel training from the top and the peregrine was getting very very agitated by their presence. It appeared very defensive about its territory.
I know the one has been living there for at least 18 months but it could be longer. I’ll try to capture them on video sometime but they are elusive.
Robert.
Posted on February 14, 2011 1:56 am
February 02, 2011 - Windsor - Ambassador Bridge
CPF Postmaster Reports:
After many e-mail over the past few months, and with a huge thank you to Robert for his determination and persistence, it would appear that there could be another pair of territorial peregrines in Windsor Ontario. He has been watching a water tower at Benjamin and Hanna where there has been allot of raptor activity since October of last year. He recently sent us some video that he shot of one of the peregrines at the at the water tower, along with a couple of observation reports.
While we don’t suspect that any offspring has been as yet, if there is a territorial pair holding firm at this site, (and a suitable nesting ledge that the pair find interesting), we may just see a new family in the works.
Robert writes: February 2nd / 2011
Hello again! I captured a little bit of video this morning… put on your headphones because the sound of this particular bird will probably better help you identify it if this is a peregrine.
Follow link to video - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJIXsUpcUFY (click the HD 720P link at the bottom right for higher quality video/audio)
Robert.
October 2010 observation:
I don’t know if you’re aware of this but there is a peregrine living underneath the water tower on Benjamin & Hanna.
And if I’m right there might baby falcons up there as well?? I say that because this morning the firefighters were rappel training from the top and the peregrine was getting very very agitated by their presence. It appeared very defensive about its territory.
I know the one has been living there for at least 18 months but it could be longer. I’ll try to capture them on video sometime but they are elusive.
Robert.
Posted on February 14, 2011 1:53 am
February 13, 2011 - International, National and Local News
CPF Postmaster Reports:
A short update from Jack from Iowa USA with some great photos again of his white Red-tail that seems to be going strong. The two photos that he sent to us were 6 mgs each in size, and after zoooooming up close, you can clearly see two reddesh coloured tail feathers quite clearly. Given the redness of the two tail feathers, our guess is that this Red-tail is likely a male. Photos taken today, February the 13th about 1:00 PM.…Attached full size, good detail when zoomed.
Life is good…
Jack Textor
IA., USA
Posted on February 14, 2011 1:17 am
