Rhea Mae has just returned to the nest tray and has been lying down for about 20 minutes and continues as this is posted. Keep watching.
Saturday March 24th - 2012
This morning spells some good new for Quest and Kendal, as Bruce is making the rounds gathering observations at the Don Mills nest site. Now confirmed by all that it is Quest and Kendal, they were both observed going in and out of the nest box both today (and all this week), with lots of love in the air!
Mating was observed between the pair on numerous occasions throughout the week and we expect that egg production is very close indeed!
Hopefully we will see some addition postings and pictures from the many folks that are observing the two love-birds so we can give you some great shots that they have been seeing.
Stay tuned………..
This morning we received a call from Bruce Massey reporting that on-going building work was underway at the Canada Square nest at the Yonge & Eglinton nest site, with cables / ropes hanging down from the roof area that were laying directly over and in front of the nest ledge where the peregrines nested in last year.
While both resident adults were visible throughout his observations, neither of the adult peregrines were observed going near the west elevations where they had previously nested and produced offspring last year.
As a result of the mornings observations, the resident adults gave him no indication that nesting activity or eggs were being attended too at this time.
Stay tuned for more information……….
Saturday March 24th - 2012
This morning, Bruce reports seeing a lot of activity around the Yellow Pages nest site with both resident adults defending the territory and lighting up the skies with ariel flight displays. During his observations, neither of the resident adults gave him any indication of a nesting spot or indication of any incubation activity, but this is not to suggest that they haven’t laid egg(s).
Given that they were both involved in territorial disputes (and already airborne), they could still have laid one or more eggs by this time and were simply not on the nest during his observation period.
We will be monitoring the situation closely over the next week and hopefully have something more concrete to report.
Stay tuned………
We stopped by the Bridge yesterday evening and Freddie was very active, first he was on the pipe then flew over to a beam actually flying all around under the Bridge. Voltaire was in the nest box, everytime Freddie flew around she would lift her head up then we could see her.
We are still looking for volunteers, if you would like to watch these amazing creatures please email us at wpfw2012@gmail.com
All you need is a good heart, love of these birds and a pair of binoculars and if you want to totally relax bring a lawn chair.
Gwen & Dennis Site Co-ordinators CPF
Thursday March 22nd - 2012
It would appear that only a part of the story of just what the adults have been doing last week on the top of what we nic-named the playpen, atop of the large concrete column under the Skyway bridge.
It seemed odd yesterday that there was noticeable lack of absence of the resident adult female peregrine yesterday around the nest box during our visit. While the fog was so thick and almost impossible to see through it in any direction, it was odd that the resident adult female was only seen once throughout our observation period yesterday.
Typically, when you start seeing only one bird at a time - (at this time of year when egg production should be underway, and when there are both resident adults present holding down a territory), this usually suggests that the other bird is either incubating or tending to egg(s).
Well, it has been confirmed this morning as a result of the observations gathered by our great friends down at the lift bridge. The resident adult female has been spotted laying down involved in what appears to be incubation duties on the top of the “play-pen”,, a spot atop of the concrete column over at the Skyway bridge. This location is on the north side of the canal, - (between the Skyway bridge and the north Lift bridge tower where the nest box is positioned).
It would appear that despite Mackenzie’s best efforts to coax his mate to the nest box this year, that she has had other plans and decided to lay “her” egg(s) on the top of this concrete column over at the Skyway bridge, directly across from the North Tower where the nest box is located!
While the peregrines are still using the lift bridge towers and cables (including the nest box) as higher observation positions and obviously still using the lift bridge and towers as look-outs, food prep stations and roosting spots, it appears that the resident adult female peregrine has decided that the “Play-Pen” location on the concrete column on the Skyway bridge is for what ever reason more attractive this year to lay HER eggs.
Stay tuned……….
Wednesday March 21st-2012
Observations gathered today during our visit were most confusing, as despite all of the resident peregrines activities in and around the nest box last week, there is still no eggs in the nest box, and a noticeable lack of peregrine activity.
Sadly, the fog was so thick throughout most of the day and throughout our visit, it was almost impossible to see anything - (including the south and north lift bridge towers, and even impossible to see the huge spanse of the Skyway bridge at times because of the thick fog).
Finally, in the later afternoon around 4pm, the new resident adult male - (Mackenzie) did appear on the cable wire “pic-nic table” as it has been nic-named with a fresh kill, he proceded to prep it and then flew up to the porch of the nest box while loudly vocalising into the thick fog. Moments later, the adult female appeared on the wire cable, then flew to Mackenzie on the nest box porch, snatching the food from him and returned to the cable wire pi-nic table to eat the food. As quick as she appeared out of the fog, she then flew off towards the Skyway bridge and disappeared into the thick fog.
Mackenzie then left the nest box porch and he too disappeared into the thick fog. Not having much luck seeing the birds due to the thick fog, we departed for home.
Stay tuned……
Captured this image at 10:55 am today. Not sure what is on the menu.
A sharp eyed and quick photo snapping member managed to capture this shot of Rhea Mae and Tiago discussing the nest season to come at 9:30 this morning. From the looks of it, an egg can’t be seen as of yet but they are sure getting ready! Thanks to Patty for the snapping the image this morning!
Yesterday I left work at 3:30 pm. There was only 1 egg in the scrape. This morning when the sun came up, there were 2 eggs in the scrape. Full incubation has not yet begun so we are hoping for more.