May 31, 2011 - Burlington - Lift Bridge
Sue McCreadie Reports:
Today was banding day. Anne Yagi, Biologist with the Ministry of Natural Resources performed the banding . The statistics are as follows:
Lady Lamont - Weighing in at a whopping 1063 grams - Black band 41/X and she will be wearing a red band on her right leg
Lady Nelson - A little smaller at 988 grams - Black band 42/X and she will be wearing a yellow band on her right leg
There were 2 unhatched eggs in the box, which were retrieved for testing.
Now the fun begins. Given their size and estimated age of 26/27 days, the official Fledge Watch will begin in approximately 10 days (June 10th)
Photos will follow.
Posted on May 31, 2011 3:54 pm
May 30, 2011 - Toronto - Mount Sinai Hospital
Linda Woods Reports:
Ranger and Hunter are still in the area and keeping close. Ranger was seen on the east side of Princess Margaret Hospital, while Hunter was sitting on the “Intact” sign at University Ave. They did a fly around together and then returned to their roosting spots. While I was in the area, they weren’t paying much attention to one particular area, to indicate a re-clutch of eggs.
Posted on May 30, 2011 6:37 pm
May 30, 2011 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre
Kathy Reports:
As usual we’ve gone from cold and wet overnight to hot and humid! Expected highs with humidex to hit 40c tomorrow! Today it’s a balmy 34c - so the falcons get a nice break from the misery of the past few weeks.
Both Jack and Angel are here this morning. Jack dozing above the ledge and Angel herding the kids on the ledge. I managed to see one head from the ground - actually from about a half block down the road I could make out a head. Angel then started hopping down the ledge chupping. This is about the time the kids would be out of the nest box and starting to wander down to the other end right under the web cam.
I will be on training all week and sadly will likely miss all the banding activities for the first time…I am hoping to sneak out for a few minutes Friday afternoon to catch a glimpse of them at least! But not to worry as CPF members will be on site to document all the activities!
Posted on May 30, 2011 8:21 am
May 30, 2011 - Toronto - Sheraton Centre
Jan Chudy Reports:
Little Cinnamon looks as though he is making sure he gets his share. Snapped via the web cam at 1:50 p.m. France time.
Posted on May 30, 2011 7:55 am
May 29, 2011 - Toronto - Don Mills
Mark Nash Reports:
It was an exciting day for sure!
By 8:15am this morning the telephone lines and e-mail were burning up the lines as news came in from Bruce that Quest and Kendal at the Don Mills nest site were finally parents.
We met Donna Hayes and Bruce at the Harlequin Head office around 10:30 am in the morning for a quiet celebration and to get a tale of the take as they say.
Quest could hardly stay still with the young hatchling squirming and fussing underneath her for the entire four plus hours that we were there. On two occasions throughout this same time frame, Kendal flew up to the nest tray in an effort to relieve Quest from her nest tray duties, and despite all of his efforts, he was quickly told by Quest that he was not welcomed and he was not allowed to come near the new hatchling. She did her best to conceal it from him. To say the he was very confused would be an understatement!
In an effort to keep his mate happy, Kendal was observed on at least three occasions flying by our window with fresh kills, and we watched him doing the usual prepping and placing them in the usual stash spots. But today, unlike most every day this past month, it was very obvious that was confused by his mates behaviour and he couldn’t figure out why she would not leave the nest tray and come out to the fresh food and eat.
At approx., 3:12pm, Quest started to call out to Kendal, and for the first time today, he broke the usual routine and brought one of the fresh food cache’s directly to her on the nest ledge! She very quickly jumped off her brooding activities, ran over to him and aggressively snatched it from him. She then proceeded back to her young hatchling and we witnessed the very first feeding!
I must admit, after more than 15 years of watching and documenting this same happening over and over hundreds of times at many different nest sites, I can’t remember a feeding ever taking so long,,, especially with only one day old hatchling! Also remembering that at this age - (actually less than 12 hours old), each hatchlings eats less food that it would take to fill a thimble! I should also add, that Quest dis in fact also eat during this same period and was one of the reasons that this first feeding took so long.
In addition, despite the fact that the hatchlings eyes were both still sealed closed, we watched it squiggle and squirm across one third of the nest tray to Quest while she further prepared the food. At one point, the little hatchling tumbled and rolled over onto it back unable to right itself for several minutes. Quest actually twisted her head upside down and continued to feed the little hatchling while it was on its back, even while both its legs and tiny wings were flaying in the air while trying to right itself. The little hatchling actually stopped it efforts to right itself and took several pieces of food from Quest while still flat out on its back!
I was equally as excited to finally be able to use my new camera and lens to capture some photos of the event. Its been a very long time since I have had a decent camera and lens.
By 4pm, Marion and I finally packed up and departed, satisfied that everything was playing out just as should be.
I hope that you enjoy the photos. Please remember they were taken through double pane glass and the obvious distortions are very evident. Only so much can be done to clean them up with photo shop.
Enjoy…
Posted on May 29, 2011 11:46 pm
May 29, 2011 - Port Colborne - ADM Mill
Doug Garbutt Reports:
After last weeks transfer of the young ones from the beam to the nest box, Anne Yagi, Mark Nash & Corrine were back to band the eyases. The small entourage were here at 10 am. Rolf Numsen promptly signed them in and equipped them with the necessary saftey ppe required. After a nice meet & greet with the plant manager Frank Jantz they made their way up to the 12th floor with all gear in hand. It was 10:30 when they reached the top. We are lucky here to have a drop down door in front of the nest box. With a camera in the box & a monitor in our lunch room we were able to know when to drop the door without trapping an adult in the box or dropping it on a young one (via walkie talkie). After the door closed, Mom & Dad were a little upset to say the least. Corrine extracted the young from the box and with Anne’s expertise the young’s sex & age were determined. The 1st was a male weighing in at 556 gms. His band is 50/Y, we named him Max. The 2nd turned out to be a female weighing in at 838 gms. we named her Olivia. Anne & Corrine said both appear to be in good health. By 11:15 the birds were back in their box. Shortly after, Mom was back too. A big thanks to the MNR, CPF & ADM management for helping these rare birds have a chance at survival. Some pics of the day are included.
Posted on May 29, 2011 10:13 pm
May 29, 2011 - Toronto - Sheraton Centre
CPF Postmaster Reports:
They eyases had a late supper today on the far end of the ledge. My favorite capture is Cinnamon heading for bed with a FULL crop!
Regards…Eileen
Posted on May 29, 2011 10:02 pm
May 29, 2011 - Toronto - Don Mills
Frank Butson Reports:
Ann Brokelman sent these shots for posting.
Posted on May 29, 2011 5:24 pm
May 29, 2011 - Toronto - Don Mills
Mark Nash Reports:
We have some great news to report this morning, as I can confirm that Quest and Kandel are parents! At some time during the evening and prior to 8:15 AM this morning, the single egg that Quest and Kendal have been so dedicated too has hatched!
Stay tuned for more of the details and some photos later today……….
Posted on May 29, 2011 9:06 am
May 28, 2011 - Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton
Tracy Simpson Reports:
Since the death of Irving, the resident male at the Canada Square Building last Saturday, we have been on-site each day to monitor the new male that has taken up a position in the territory with the resident female and her brood of three chicks. What follows is the observations of Bruce and Lyn last night and today.
4:53pm May 27 - Male was perched on the north side of Eglinton and the female was in the nest ledge. The male then flew off to the RioCan Building across from the nest site and she joined him on the same ledge. The female tolerates his presence and shares the same roost ledge as the new male. Shortly after, she leaves and flies into the nest ledge with the new male following closely behind. He doesn’t land on the ledge but flies past and lands on another ledge nearby to the nest. The female shows no reaction to his proximity.
5:46pm May 27 - Female leaves the nest ledge and heads south followed by the male. Moments later both adults return with the new male in the lead and her following. They cross over each other over Eglinton Avenue showing no signs of aggression towards one another. The flight resembles more courtship than anything.
5:20pm Today - The new male enters the nest ledge and walks in to where the chicks are located. The resident female follows him in but not aggressively or in alarm. Half a minute passes and the male appears and then leaves the nest ledge. Shortly after, the resident female and new male pair up to chase off a Red Tailed hawk from the area. Bruce was able to see that this male is banded and will make efforts to identify him. The new male has yet to bring food to her or to stash any at the regular cache sites.
6:12pm Today - Both the resident female and new male chase off another potential threat from the territory in a tandem effort. The female heads northeast, catches a pigeon and returns to the north side of the Canada Square nest building to prepare it for the young. The resident female enters the nest ledge and feeds the chicks. She later appears with what remains of the meal, eats some herself and stashes the rest. Still no indication that the male is providing any food for her.
We will continue to be on-site each day and monitor the behavior of this new male and the resident female. Updates will continuously be posted on this change in males and the progression of the relationship between the adults. We will also work to identify this new male and ascertain whether he is actively participating in food providing. Check back for daily updates as this story unfolds.
Posted on May 28, 2011 10:31 pm
