!!! A slow day on the watch fore the most parts, but not for three Turkey Vultures!!
July 10, 2012 - Kitchener - CTV-Bell Media Tower
Mark Nash Reports:
July 10th - 2012 - Morning and afternoon update:
A slow day on the watch today and for the most parts, very uneventful with the exception of the Turkey Vultures visiting in the later afternoon.
Arrived at 5am, signed in and in position at 5:15 am. Pretty slow day for the most parts, but both resident adults in view and semi active all day. Finally at 6:30am the adult male observed bring in food to the east elevation and transferred to Statler - (the resident adult female). After what seemed to for ever, she finally disappeared onto the roof area out of our view with the food.
Finally again at 1:30pm, food was once again delivered to the adult female - (Statler) and takes it onto the roof area and disappears from our view. Several minutes later she returns to our view roosting on the upper roof area without the food, and quite obviously not cropped-up with food herself. For the most parts of the day, both adults were quite visible, taking only short flights around the nest building and roosting in their usual spots.
The only days real excitement came when a couple of Turkey Vultures wandered into the territory and got a little too close to the nest building.
At approx. 3pm, Statler, (the resident adult female) escorted a Turkey Vulture out of the territory, stared yet another down as it passed through, and later, at approx 4pm, the resident adult male was observed attacking one of the Turkey Vultures with a full body contact hits from above.
Needless to say, Turkey Vultures (among many other avian intruders these days) are no longer welcomed! The final days score remains: Turkey Vultures zero, peregrines three!
I’ve finally been able to go through some of the hundreds of photos that I have been taking and although we have not yet been able to get the resident adults band number, we have been able to identify the band colours. He is dawning a Black over Red recovery band on one leg and a purple USFW band on the other leg.
Sadly, the photos thus far are not the greatest, but bear in mind that we are stationed several hundred yards from the nest building and the birds are 20 stories up at roof level. I have several hundred photos still to go through, and maybe I will come accross something decent. lots more to come!
Still, the young hatchling has not yet come to any of the upper rooftop leading edges to show himself. Soon although, as he will gain more confidance and will appear. Then the fun will begin!!!!!!!
Stay tuned………
