Quiet Day at William Osler - Storm Still the Only One Fledged
June 19, 2011 - Etobicoke - William Osler
Tracy Simpson Reports:
It would seem that there is a rash of quiet days happening at all of the nest sites today including William Osler. For this watch that is quite an unusual happening but a bit of a relief for tired watchers. Bruce Massey was on-site this morning at around 6:00am and saw Storm take several flights out and around the perimeter of the hospital with landings on the roof retaining wall being “a six out of ten”. Storm did manage to get back to the nest ledge before Frank and I arrived this morning and we had all three birds present on the east side ALL DAY LONG!! At 12:00pm, O’Connor was off her tower perch and circled around to take out her second Red tailed hawk in a week to the west of the hospital. This attack was not as ferocious as the last as this bird was moving away from the hospital unlike the first RTH that was moving towards it. Hurricane attacked a gull lopping through about half an hour later that had us hoping we would be seeing some flights today. O’Connor went down low onto the three storey roof of the medical building again today. I observed this behaviour yesterday but was unable to understand what it was that she was doing. Bruce observed the same thing this morning but was able to confirm what activity was drawing her there; squirrels!! She was clearing the low roofs of squirrels!! With all of the feathered and furred creatures of interest removed, I waited with anticipation for the adults to wind the juveniles up and encourage flight. I was disappointed when at 1:30pm, O’Connor arrive with an enormous pigeon that she took to the northeast corner. She was met by Wind who took the food and hid behind Mommy bird in the hopes of having her fill first. She got her wish as O’Connor warned off the other two until Wind had eaten. Once full, O’Connor left for the tower to allow the other chicks to join in the feast. I was amazed that during the entire feeding, the resident female never stopped alarm calling even though no threat was discernible. I think she was telling them to mind their manners!! At 5:12pm, O’Connor returned to the nest ledge, picked up the remains of the meal and beak fed Storm. Since then, these juveniles might as well have been gargoyles as they haven’t moved an inch!! I hope that by tomorrow, the resident adults attempt to incite flight again and not let the chicks linger as they are now heading into their mid 40 days of age. I think they are so spoiled here by Hurricane and O’Connor that they don’t want to leave!! We’ll see if tomorrow either of the females takes their first flight.
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