May 03, 2011 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre
Kathy Reports:
It poured rain all day today and it was cold, a truly miserable day for bird watching if you’re not a bird!
My timing was off a seconds this morning - as I arrived Jack was climbing into the nestbox and Angel quickly flew over to the next condo. I saw feathers flying and assumed Jack had brought her breakfast so decided to cross the street to get a better view of her eating..well as soon as I’m in the middle of traffic she immediately flies back to the ledge and I missed her talons to see if there was food as I was keeping an eye on traffic.
She climbed into the nestbox with Jack…I waited for the usual departure but nope he stayed in the box with her. I thought okay something is up…I could clearly see both of them..his tail feathers as he was laying down and the top of her back. Waited another 5 minutes and still he did not depart. Most curious…but I was going to be late for work and it was wet and cold so in I went.
Two of us checked every 45 minutes to 1 hour alternating and Jack was on site every single time…Angel stayed hunkered inside the nestbox. When I left the office, I stood in the pouring rain for 25 minutes under my umbrella and Jack stood with me on his usual perch …sadly I gave in first and left.
So to conclude..I know something is happening up there but can’t say for certain yet . It’s expected to continue pouring all night and drying out for the morning. Hopefully I will get some more clues or something conclusive tomorrow. Rhae Mae started incubation about a day before our nest and she had a hatch first thing this morning so we should be on track for one today or tomorrow as well.
Posted on May 3, 2011 4:37 pm
May 02, 2011 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre
Kathy Reports:
Arrived on site at 7:15 in the midst of a flurry of pigeons flying for cover! Jack was clearing air space on the condo roofs and then Angel actually got off her eggs and joined him. I was a bit concerned as it was rainy and cool and wondered if perhaps we could have an overnight hatch ? After a few minutes Angel returned to the nestbox and I could see she was laying with her back high..another good sign.
Jack, however was not done. He patrolled every tower in the vicinity and chased off anything with wings. At one point he started dive bombing 3 Canada Geese who were 3 towers over!
Finally he settled on one of the back buildings to keep watch. It wasn’t until awhile later that I saw the window washer adjacent to the nestbox ledge that I realized that was what had them upset. It never occurred to me that there would be someone up on the roof in the rain. Sadly he still has the entire side of the building that is next to the ledge to complete so I expect more upset parents tomorrow. Let’s hope they can get the job done before eggs hatch in the next few days. When I left an hour ago Jack was still there keeping one eye on the building and ready to pounce.
Posted on May 2, 2011 4:29 pm
May 02, 2011 - Toronto - Sheraton Centre
Mark Nash Reports:
I was lucky this morning at 10:20 am to catch a shift change and get a great view of at least three of the eggs, but slow to the go to save a copy the shot. Seconds later, while I was trying to save the great photo I had captured, one of the resident adults flew back onto the ledge and returned to the nest tray to cover up the eggs. Sadly. my first photo was lost during my scramble in an effort to copy save it, but I was able to sucessfully save a second photo showing a tiny view of the exposed eggs in the nest tray as the adult attempts to cover them up and carry on with their incubation duties.
Although there has not been a hatch as yet, its getting close!!
Stay tuned………….
Posted on May 2, 2011 10:56 am
May 02, 2011 - Toronto - Don Mills
Frank Butson Reports:
CPF volunteer,Ann Brokelman sent along more fantastic photos of Quest and Kendal. Ann also reports seeing the pair mating. This was on April 30th. Thanks again to Ann for these images.
Posted on May 2, 2011 5:46 am
May 01, 2011 - Toronto - Mount Sinai Hospital
Linda Woods Reports:
Ranger has been clearly identified as the resident female peregrine falcon setting up house at Mt.Sinai Hospital. A wonderful opportunity for Tracy to snap this photo and make a positive ID.
Ranger was hatched in Rochester, N.Y in 2001 and is the grand-daughter of Toronto’s first ever nesting peregrine falcons from King St, Pounce Kingsley and his mate Victoria.
Ranger’s mate has not been positively Identified as yet, but Peregrine Falcons mate for life, indications are that her mate is still Hunter, who was hatched in Columbus, Ohio in 2000. Ranger is wearing red and black bands on the left leg. Hunter wears green and black bands on his left leg.
Nesting behaviour continues, and we are continuing to monitor and observe. Hopefully soon we will have photos of the nest itself. Mother Nature has to bring us some warm weather and sunny skies to allow the adults a little time away from the nest.
Thank you to the staff at Mt.Sinai and Princess Margaret Hospitals for their ongoing support and updates.
Posted on May 1, 2011 7:21 pm
May 01, 2011 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre
Kathy Reports:
Jack gave Angel a nice long break this morning that lasted over an hour. She ate a nice breakfast he gave her, gave herself a pedicure, did her hair, had a nap, chased a seagull off and watched the world go by.
He is sticking close to the nest site today and was there the entire 2 hours I was and was still there when I left on this Day 30 of incubation.
Posted on May 1, 2011 12:55 pm
