An area check around noon today, and I didn’t see any peregrines in the area. I couldn’t even spot Rhea Mae or Tiago. I think they are must be tucked away in the shade. I’ll return later, perhaps they’ll reappear in the evening.
Sukura and Kenya remain in the area . This morning and afternoon, Sukura had a meal on 1 Toronto St. Later Kenya was seen flying towards 18 King. They are both good flyers and frequently seen playing tag, chase with talon contact with each other. Lots of vocalization!
A huge success today with two healthy hatchlings banded, a new nest tray installed with lots of nest substrate, hatchlings moved from the window ledge to the new nest (old nest cavity), and both parents attending the chicks!!
A big thank you to ALL involved today, as Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Ontario Power Generation, Canadian Peregrine Foundation, Niagara Parks Commission Police staff, and with John Millar and support rock climbers assembled at 9am this morning at the old Ontario Power Generation station down in the Niagara Gorge, we were all poised for a full day of activities and jobs to complete.
Like a well choreographed play and a solid game plan, 11 people organized and set into motion the days activities. Rock climbers setting up lines and ropes, banding table and banding equipment was being set up, safety instructions delivered and reviewed, over all game plan reviewed, nest tray fabrication underway and 210 pounds of pea-gravel being mixed and poured into the buckets, the days events were all completed with a overwhelming sense of accomplishment.
With the rock climbers down over the wall into the gorge, the two very healthy and very feisty hatchlings were extracted from the window ledge on the side of the OPG station wall, raised in the carrier to the upper roof elevation and were weighed, sexed and banded successfully by Anne Yagi and support staff of the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources.
Both hatchlings were identified as females, and they were named Lady Millar and Lady Phinney, and were examined and deemed healthy and cleared to be returned back to their parents and the new nest cavity.
While the hatchlings were being banded, the rock climbers re-positioned themselves to the old nest cavity to await the nest tray and pea-gravel substrate that would be lowered back down to them.
Measurements of the nest cavity were relayed back to the Mark Nash of the CPF via two way radio communications so that a nest tray could be prefabricated and assembled, then lowered via rope back to the climber down the wall face where they were holding their position awaiting to install it.
MNR support staff were preparing the buckets of pea-gravel and OPG staff were providing the necessary distractions to keep the resident adult peregrines away from banding team and the climbers.
By the end of day, and without incident, and thanks to the incredible efforts by all on both sides of the border, a new nest tray and nest substrate had been installed, the two hatchlings had been sexed, banded, examined, named, and returned to the new nest cavity, the banded resident adult has been identify. By Saturday morning, both resident adults were attending and feeding both of their offspring in the new nest.
A huge thank you to the Rochester group - (now nick-named the RFW,, - (the Regional Falcon watchers) who travelled from Rochester New York to Niagara Falls, Buffalo New York to provide the valuable observations from the Niagara Falls New York side of the falls,,,, that were able to visually confirm that both parents were in attendance and were already involved in feeding the hatchlings in the new nest cavity.
Another huge thank you to the Buffalo New York Department of Conservation - (NYDEC) staff, and to both Jackie and Connie of the DEC for providing all of the critical information and logistics on the birds activities, and to John for all of his photographic work that both confirmed the nesting activities of the peregrines and pinpointed the original nest site.
A great collaboration and incredible support by all those involved that has made this day such an incredible success!!
An outstanding group of people!!!!
Tonight, my wife Rose & I went on a bike ride out to the lake to check on the young falcons. We were able to see both along with Mom & Dad. The young were showing off their newly learned flying skills (alot in tandem). I guess they were not too hungry as they did not appear interested in the smorgasbord of birds available in their airspace. Makes us feel good that these guys still have a shot at survival & if they learn the necessary hunting skills, they will be on their way to having a family of their own one day.
At the watch this morning from 9am to 2;30. Bruce took over
From 9:30 to 10:00 all 3 were on the building across from Harlequin.
Female calling for Kendall to get food
At 10am he took off and shortly after he sat in his normal corner by Donna`s office and prepared the bird for Harlie
Took it in to the nest box, and left and not seen again
harlie played with the food, pouncing on it, flapping the wings, going up and down the ledge. Finally settled down for a rest
Quest on building most of the day, every time Harlie went up to her she left.
After his nap he found Quest again and had a Harlequin moment. Oh so sweet.
Then took off to the end of the ledge at theother end.
From 11:30 on very quiet.
Ann
At 4 P.M. we took a bird into the Vet’s office so she could have something to eat. The lady on duty said that she would give it to Lady Gaga around 6 P.M. because of having surgery on her leg this morning. She was awake and looking at us when we saw her. She is being well taken care of so we left there feeling somwhat better than yesterday. It’s always sad to see such a wonderful creature in a cage rather than flying like she has been doing. We’re thankful that she is looking so good. Will keep you updated as time goes on.
Gwen & Dennis Site co-ordinators for CPF
Both Sukura and Kenya have been spending their daytime away from the nesting area. I see them flying as far east as Jarvis. In the evening they return to the nesting area, camping out on near by buildings. The adults are seen in the late evening circling high above the area, before returning back to 18 King St area.
A spot check on the Sheraton trio late this afternoon. I arrived to see one adult and one juvenile. The juvenile was on the cooling tower of 120 Adelaide, while the adult moved from 130 Adelaide over to the north east corner of the Hilton. Not sure which juvenile was on the cooling tower. I stayed for about an hour and the juvenile was still in the direct area of the cooling tower. No others were in my view at this time.
A camera check this morning found one on the nest ledge.
Good News, we just got a phone call from the Vet that Lady Gaga made it through surgery doing well, at the moment she is resting.
Gwen & Dennis Site Co-ordinators CPF
Tonight around 8pm, there was a full lift of the Bridge. It was not just one freighter, but it was up for two. The girls have been spending a great deal of time on the upper railing of the bridge watching pigeons. Well tonight, when the bridge was up for such a long time, we were unable to spot the girls. David Williams took a walk under the bridge and lo and behold he discovered one of the girls (we were unable to identify her) was enjoying a pigeon right on the roadway. As the bridge started to descend, Mourad Jabra ran up the stairs and starting clapping and yelling. Thank goodness it was enough to scare the bird off the road. As we all drove out of the parking lot at around 9:15 pm, we all made sure that we drove over the pigeon hoping that it would be damaged enough to deter the juvie from trying to get at it again. We’re not certain where the pigeon came from; perhaps it was the first kill for one of the girls.
Pretty scary. First time we experienced something like this.