affordwatches

Quest/Kendal and Feeding Time For Eyas

June 08, 2011 - Toronto - Don Mills

Frank Butson Reports:

Ann Brokelman sent along these great photos from her visit today.

Thanks Ann for these tender moments. We are all looking forward to the June 21st Banding!

Posted on June 8, 2011 3:13 pm
Observation for Toronto - Don Mills
Eyas Under Quest Quest Looking At Kendal For Food Feeding Time For Harlequin Beak To Beak Feeding Quest Off To Get More Food Kendal and Harlequin

Quest and Kendal Taking Care Of Eyas

June 08, 2011 - Toronto - Don Mills

Frank Butson Reports:
Report From Ann Brokelman
Went to visit the Peregrines this morning at 9:45.  No sign of Kendal until later
Quest was sitting with eyas under wings.  At 10:15 eyas was fully visable and signs of Quest looking for food for baby.
Quest flew off for 5 minutes and came back with food - but as soon as she left Kendal came on nest.
The eyas went quickly under his belly.  No signs of any problems.
As soon as Quest returned Kendal took off.
She proceeded to feed the eyas for over 20 min.
I went downstairs and could hear the eyas calling for food.
Quest is a wonderful mom and very patient.
Kendal was sitting on the same building with no food.
Photos soon.
Posted on June 8, 2011 1:01 pm
Observation for Toronto - Don Mills

!!! Lady Ga Ga and Spitfire

June 08, 2011 - Windsor - Ambassador Bridge

Dennis Patrick Reports:

Where do I start???? Monday, June 6th was such a wonderful day. First I would like to say a big Thank You to Centerline Equipment Rental and Sure Seal Roofing for their continued support. Also, Dan Reaume, Chris and John from the Ambassador Bridge Company. Mark and Marion Nash from CPF. Pud Hunter, our Bander and Catherine and Stephanie who assisted Pud with the banding. I’m sure I’m missing someone but stay tune for more details and pictures when Dennis has the time to do the reporting. I hope I did the correct spelling for the female name. Both of the young ones were healthy and loved it when I spritzed them with a little water. It’s amazing how that calms them down. Thank you everyone, it’s a great thing for Windsor to see the interest in these beautiful creatures that are now on the Ambassador Bridge. If you would like to volunteer to watch these birds please email us at wpfw2011@gmail.com
Gwen

Posted on June 8, 2011 11:06 am

!!! Windsor Banding

June 08, 2011 - Windsor - Ambassador Bridge

Frank Butson Reports:

Lady Gaga doesn’t like these bands 

Photos http://www.windsorstar.com/entertainment/Lady+Gaga+doesn+like+these+bands/4902509/story.html

Peregrine chicks at Ambassador Bridge banded for science

 
By Sharon Hill, The Windsor Star June 6, 2011
 

One of two peregrine falcon chicks are seen during a banding ceremony under the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor, Ont., on June 6, 2011.

Photograph by: Jason Kryk, The Windsor Star

WINDSOR, Ont. — Lady Gaga is in Windsor.

The squawking chick that was carefully removed from the peregrine falcon nest at the Ambassador Bridge Monday was dubbed Lady Gaga and the joke is she might not like her new jewelry. It’s an aluminum leg band.

“She sang at us the whole time. Very vocal,” Marion Nash of the Canadian Peregrine Foundation said after fending off the chick’s dive-bombing parents so the 23-day-old ball of fluff could be banded.

Nash said she’d been hoping one of the peregrine nest sites in Ontario would agree to a name that’s memorable.

“I think it’s awesome,” she said of the Lady Gaga tag. “People will like the bird because of the name. She could be X over 7, but that’s impersonal.”

Peregrine falcon watchers under the bridge will know her by the red tape — with binoculars they could spy her 64-X black Canadian Wildlife Services band. The aluminum bling is her U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services ID.

Also getting the leg jewelry Monday was a smaller 668-gram male peregrine falcon chick named Spitfire in honour of the city’s two-time Memorial Cup winning hockey team. He has yellow tape on his band.

It’s the third time Freddie and Voltaire, the nesting peregrine falcons at the Ambassador Bridge, have had chicks. Last year’s trio were banded and named Windsor, Bridgette and Lancer.

There were three eggs this year, but one unhatched egg was likely eaten by the female adult.

Bander Pud Hunter of the Ministry of Natural Resources said the successful peregrine falcon parents are a good sign for the birds and people. The peregrine falcon population plummeted during the use of the pesticide DDT and they’ve been making a comeback thanks to recovery programs and the banning of DDT. They were endangered but in Ontario are now listed as threatened.

Hunter said of the 81 peregrine falcon territories in Ontario, 51 have nests with young. That’s up from zero in 1980, he said.

Dennis Patrick, the site co-ordinator with the Canadian Peregrine Foundation-Windsor Watch, said volunteers were concerned at first because the hatchings were late this year and other sites have been reporting fewer eggs.

Patrick said Ambassador Bridge officials have been supportive. The bridge allowed a nest tray with pea gravel to be placed on the ledge, which is about 80 to 90 feet above ground and just below the bridge deck. The box boosts the chances of successful hatches. Patrick said he’s hoping to see four or five eggs next year.

“It’s the difference between sleeping on boulders to going to a Sealy Posturepedic mattress.”

Centreline donated a lift Monday to get bridge workers and Nash up to the nest. Nash, as she’s done for about 17 years, acts as the bad guy. With a helmet and a broom for protection, she distracts the adult falcons, who flew within three feet of her Monday.

She lowers the chicks in a bag to officials below who band them. The squawking chicks are calmed by their first taste of water as they get weighed and banded.

Nash stays up at the nest and when the chicks are placed back on the ledge, the parents feel they have successfully driven away the predator.

Hunter said the Windsor area could support another nesting pair which usually have to trade cliffs for tall buildings in an urban setting. The three youngsters from last year could be anywhere in North America or even South America now — peregrine means wanderer — and aren’t ready to mate.

Seventy to 80 per cent of chicks die before turning a year old but if they survive, peregrine falcons can live 12 to 15 years in the wild.

Mark Whelan, 50, of Windsor was waiting beneath the bridge Monday to see peregrine falcon chicks up close for the first time.

“I think it’s great that we have this in Windsor. I think it adds a nice element to urban living.”

Video of Lady Gaga and Spitfire:

http://www.windsorstar.com/videos/news/video.html?embedCode=B4YmZpMjpHceA2g_uQCtvajm3Lzkc5wy

Volunteers will be watching the nest from dawn to dusk in the next few weeks when the birds could make their first flight. To join the group email wpfw2011@gmail.com.

© Copyright (c) The Windsor Star

Read more: http://www.windsorstar.com/entertainment/Lady+Gaga+doesn+like+these+bands/4902509/story.html#ixzz1OhE6TlbH

Posted on June 8, 2011 10:57 am

Everyone watching!

June 03, 2011 - Ottawa - Delta Ottawa City Centre

CPF Postmaster Reports:

Good Morning!
Looking out my office window, (Albert Street) watching one of the falcons perched on the ledge of the Delta. He/she has spent the last couple of days in the same spot. Seems to be enjoying breakfast at the moment.
Such a beautiful site!!
Louise

Posted on June 8, 2011 4:03 am

!!! Brampton photos of Milton and Truss!!

June 07, 2011 - Brampton - Courthouse

Mark Nash Reports:

A huge thank you to Winston for allowing us to post his great photos and observation report of Milton and Truss. Wish I was there!!!
Winston writes:

Hi Mark,

Good to hear that you are aware of the Brampton peregrines and that you are taking steps to communicate their presence.
I would love to help with photos or banding should the opportunity arise. I work close to the courthouse and could even help out on my lunch hours.
I am submitting some pictures from the last two days that I give permission to use. The ones of the Killdeer are from yesterday, the kill was dropped off at the Northwest corner, then the adult quickly flew off and today a not so friendly American Kestrel forced one of the peregrines from its perch and actually south down Hurontario towards the 407.
Good luck, and keep up the good work!
Winston

Posted on June 8, 2011 3:51 am
Observation for Brampton - Courthouse

!!! Brampton nest site update! Currently incubating two eggs!

June 08, 2011 - Brampton - Courthouse

CPF Postmaster Reports:

We have finally been given permission to post the photos e-mailed to us from the folks at the Brampton courthouse where Milton and Truss are currently incubating at least two eggs.
A big thank you to the property manager for all of their support and photos.
Stay tuned, more news to follow………

Posted on June 8, 2011 3:02 am
Observation for Brampton - Courthouse

!!! Peregrine visits residents in Leamington Ontario

June 05, 2011 - International, National and Local News

CPF Postmaster Reports:

Date: Sun, 5 Jun 2011
Today is Sunday June 5, it is 3:04 pm and there is a peregrine falcon sitting on the balcony 12th floor railing.. It has been sitting there all day just looking around. Very beautiful bird. My daughter is on the 11th floor on another building and she is taking pictures of it.
We are in Leamington, Ontario, Canada. Down by Windsor where one of the other sightings recently was.
Anita

Posted on June 8, 2011 2:54 am

Windsor Banding Day:The Extraction

- Windsor - Ambassador Bridge

Frank Butson Reports:

On June 6th,2011 2 healthy chicks were banded,Lady Gaga and Spitfire . Prior to their banding they had to be removed from their nest. This is a short video of CPF’s Marion Nash removing the chicks before they are banded.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mx5gFdhpzpo

Posted on June 8, 2011 1:46 am

!!! Still lots of fluff

June 07, 2011 - Toronto - Sheraton Centre

Linda Woods Reports:

Photo captured this morning to back The previous posts observations. Still lots of fluff yet, perhaps with tomorrow’s heat she’ll pick it all out.

Sunshine, green tape

Posted on June 7, 2011 9:10 pm
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