Hunter and Ranger Busy at Mount Sinai
April 28, 2012 - Toronto - Mount Sinai Hospital
Tracy Simpson Reports:
This past Saturday Frank, Linda and I spent several hours down at the Mount Sinai Hospital site watching Hunter and Ranger’s activities around the building. We started off our day at a higher elevation where we could see the nest tray located on a ledge on the east face of the building. While they had initially shown interest in the tray, we were able to determine that there are no eggs in the tray and that their interest is in the ledge to the right of the one with the tray. We immediately found both adults; one on the chosen ledge and the other on a building to the north by the “Intact” sign. It was easy to pick out that the one near the Intact sign was Ranger as she is one big bird! We then took our observations down to the street at which time Hunter became very active. Ranger flew into the chosen ledge and disappeared in the back corner out of our view and Hunter flew up to take her place on the other buidling. He sat there for quite some time and was joined later by Ranger. With the pair on the same building, we had another peregrine enter the territory which Hunter immediately went out to address. Ranger stayed right where she was until a fourth peregrine joined the fight and the battle continued to the north. Shortly thereafter, both adults returned. Ranger went back into the ledge and Hunter sat several ledges south of her in the last rays of the day. We were treated again to some activity as Hunter went of in pursuit of lunch and brought a fair sized pigeon down onto the lower roof of the Toronto General Hospital. He consumed his share and then flew across the street to invite Ranger to take her fill.
It is hard to say what exactly they are attending to in the corner of that ledge but they are certainly showing great interest. We are still seeing both birds periodically together and so a full clutch of eggs is not likely at this time. We hope that the pair can have a successful year this season which would make it their first ever. It has been a decade of trying for Hunter, 12 years old now, and Ranger who turned 11 years old this year. We wish them the best of luck this season and hope that 2012 is their year. Check back soon as there are many pictures from the day to follow.