O’Connor and Hurricane Home for the Weekend
November 13, 2011 - Etobicoke - William Osler
Tracy Simpson Reports:
On our way back to the CPF Raptor Centre last night, Frank and I popped in to see if Hurricane and O’Connor were home at the hospital. When we initially pulled up, we couldn’t see a bird anywhere. Scanning O’Connor’s hydro tower, we located her sitting near the back section which is usually Hurricane’s spot. Moments later she flew off to the nest ledge and grabbed something that she had stashed there; an enormous pigeon!! She took off and flew around ( with no trouble carrying that huge package ) to the north side “H” with Hurricane, who came out of the nest tray, in hot pursuit. We repositioned ourselves to the north side and found O’Connor gorging on this huge pigeon while Hurricane sat on the opposite side of the “H” sign begging like a juvenile for a taste. He tried everything to get a bite; whine like a child, cutsie head flipping and finally patient waiting like a good boy. O’Connor would not be moved by any of these actions and continued to eat her meal with vigor. Hurricane took off and landed on the northeast corner of the building where he could still see her and allowed her to finish her meal in peace seeing as there was no way he was getting any. Once done, there was some displaying, ee-chupping and fly bys before the two of them took off out of our sights. I cannot stress enough how big and humungatoid a bird O’Connor really is. Sitting next to Hurricane, the pair are obviously very different in size. Its like looking at a cow and a kitten playing together!! Yes, I called her a cow!! Look at the pictures and see why!! All joking aside, O’Connor is a formidable female and its no wonder that she commands the site at William Osler. She has incredible breadth to her chest and a visibly powerful torso. She is truly a member of the warrior class of falcons.
