William Osler Adults in a Bonding Moment
September 26, 2011 - Etobicoke - William Osler
Tracy Simpson Reports:
During my tours in the Etobicoke area delivering Project School Visit, I was able to drop in on the William Osler Hospital site and check in on Hurricane and O’Connor, the resident adult pair. The three juveniles, Rain, Wind and Storm, were not to be seen but the adults were both in attendance when I arrived. O’Connor, the female, was in the hydro tower keeping vigilant and Hurricane was inside the nest tray located behind the “H” sign looking like he’d lost the house keys ( or something to that effect )!! Hurricane was looking down into the tray, then around it, then back at O’Connor in the tower and finally down at his feet. He looked as though if he didn’t find what he was looking for and quick, that he’d be sleeping in the dog house tonight!! It would seem that this resident male really gets “empty nest syndrome” quite strongly and with a mate like O’Connor ( all business and tough as nails! ) he wouldn’t ever want to misplace one of the kids!! It would seem that he has forgotten that he and his mate successfully raised three young this year ( with the help of the CPF volunteer Fledge Watch team during the rescues of Wind and Storm ) and that they have already reached independence!
Almost as if to reassure him, O’Connor left the tower 5 minutes after Hurricane began his search and flew two recon flights of the hospital roof before landing on the sign above him. He greeted her with a series of ee-chups and bows at which time she joined him on the ledge where they sat together for a good ten minutes. As I left, both adults had left the ledge and were now perched opposite one another on the east facing “H” of the hospital. Both adults at this site are still regularly using the hospital as a night roost and rest spot and will continue to hold the territory long after the young have migrated. Although they won’t defend it as vigorously as a few months ago, I suspect that O’Connor and Hurricane will remain a strong presence for now. I look forward to seeing more of these two as my school program bookings continue to keep me very busy in the west end of the city. Congratulations to the William Osler Hospital for another successful year and a heartfelt thank you to all of the staff at the hospital and in security for making it possible!!