Canadian Peregrine Foundation

Brampton… …oh Brampton!

March 19, 2013 - Brampton - Courthouse

CPF Postmaster Reports:

The CPF volunteer nest site monitor team was out on Saturday doing nest site checks and decided to cruise the Brampton corridor and look in on the happenings.  Excellent reports and photos have been coming in from Toivo and Winston, our local watch team members, and it looks like things are as confusing as ever!!  Both Winston and Toivo have been seeing peregrines at both the Brampton Courthouse and the George St. condo!  During March break at the courthouse, there appeared an unbanded male and an unbanded sub adult female that investigated the area.  Milton and Midnight were both focussed on the downtown core at this time.  Then the unbanded adult male took off and was replaced by Milton who was vocalizing with the sub adult female.  By Friday, Tracy found and positively identified both Milton and Midnight in downtown and there were no peregrines present at the time at the courthouse.  On Saturday, Bruce Massey was out in Brampton for the day and positively IDed Milton at the courthouse alone without a female and Bruce later watched him take off north.  He drove to the downtown core of Brampton and found him at first on John St., then on George St and later flying over to the BDC building and the Rose Theatre.  During this entire watch period that Bruce spent there was no sign of Midnight but he believes that Milton could see her wherever she was roosting. 

Theories…  …there are many.  It would appear that migrant peregrines are making their way through and checking out potential nest sites.  The Hwy.10 corridor has always been just that, a peregrine highway that they jet through on their way to nesting.  We are unsure who will stay and maintain a territory but it would seem that Milton and Midnight prefer the downtown area and yet Milton is still trying to hold onto the courthouse territory as well.  Will he succeed?  Will Milton run two nests at the same time?  We will continue to watch and update you with the latest news from Brampton as everyone begins to settle in for the nesting season.  A big thank you to CPF volunteers Toivo and Winston for your observations and photos!!  Pictures to come!

Incubation???

March 17, 2013 - Burlington - Lift Bridge

Sue McCreadie Reports:

Twice today we were at the Lift Bridge and it would appear that Mom is in incubation mode.  She was laying down in the back corner she uses when incubating.  Dad was sitting beneath her on the old nest ledge.   This is the first time we have witnessed this, this year.

Both at the Ledge

- Toronto - King Street

Linda Woods Reports:

Both King St peregrines are seen on the ledge. Erin is lying down behind the pillar at 2:50 p.m. This is the second time I have seen her do this. We are getting close.

Mackenzie Enjoys His Pigeon

March 10, 2013 - Burlington - Lift Bridge

Sue McCreadie Reports:

On March 8 and March 10, we spent a few hours at the Lift Bridge.  Yesterday, Dad plucked a pigeon out of the air and as we watched he flew by Mom showing off screaming the whole time.  He circled the Hamilton Tower and finally managed to gain enough altitude to land on the roof of the tower where he prepared his meal.  Pretty amazing to watch for such a little guy.  Mom was sitting in the Hamilton Hydro Tower, paying very little attention to him.  After having his fill, he took to the air once again, circling and screaming and then finally deposited the remains under the Skyway Bridge for a snack later.  We have been able to confirm both band numbers.  Mom is still Cirrus, Black K/Green 83 and Dad is Mackenzie Black 29/Y.

Linn at Home at Yellow Pages

March 10, 2013 - Scarborough - Yellow Pages

CPF Postmaster Reports:

Yesterdays warm weather had all of the peregrine pairs very active at their respective nest sites and Yellow Pages was no exception.  At first there wasn’t a bird to be seen and at te end of the observation period just as the spot check was winding down, in flies Linn to the Wynn Fitness building rooftop.  She scoured the sign on the south side looking for a snack but came up empty.  She then flew over to the Investors Group building and found a pigeon stash on the south sign.  Back over to the Wynn Fitness building for a snack she went.  After completing her meal, she flew up to the centre of the roof insisting on taking her prey remains with her.  It was there that she decided to roost in the late day sun.  Rueben was absent from the site today but it was clear that Linn could see him from her current location as she kept looking west and flipping her head in invitation.  We look forward to more from this pair as spring takes over.  Photos courtesy of Tracy Simpson.

HUGE NEWS!! NEW MALE TAKES OVER ICICI NEST SITE!!

March 10, 2013 - International, National and Local News

Tracy Simpson Reports:

Bruce Massey and I were out this weekend checking out a few nest sites and decided to stop by on Saturday at ICICI at Don Mills and Eglinton.  Both male and female were on site and were quite active.  I managed to get several pictures of both adults and when I got home and looked at them, I was able to confirm that the female was unbanded which is consistent with last year but the male appeared to be banded.  Upon closer inspection of the photos, I could see that this male had a solid black Ontario recovery band and a silver USFW band.  Unfortunately I could not clearly read the alpha numeric reference on his band that would identify him.

Today Bruce and I returned with one mission in mind; identify the male that had taken over this site.  Bruce was quick with the scope and confirmed that the new resident male was wearing a solid black band bearing the identification 95 over Y.  We both knew this band…  …IT’S CHESTER!!  Chester was hatched in 2011 at the Canada Square nest site to Haven and Irving and was seen last spring briefly courting Quest at Duncan Mill Road.  Here he was looking very adult and behaving as the master of this territory!  Shortly after identification, he flew up to the nest ledge and joined the unbanded female, disappearing into the ledge.  He flew out of the ledge a few minutes later over to the DeBeers buidling landing on the “S”.  There he stayed until his mate emerged from the ledge and flew up to the top of ICICI and perched on the northeast corner calling to him.  It didn’t take long before Chester flew over and mated with her confirming for both Bruce and I that he was in control of this nest site.

We are unsure when this change in adult males occurred but we can say for certain that Chester is now the resident male.  We look forward to the coming nesting season with much anticipation.  More pictures to follow.

Nobody Home

March 10, 2013 - Stoney Creek

Sue McCreadie Reports:

Bill and I spent a couple of hours, both yesterday and today,  at the Stoney Creek nest site.  Unfortunately, we couldn’t find either Athena or Craig.

Chessie and Casper Have Made a Choice

March 09, 2013 - Etobicoke - William Osler

Tracy Simpson Reports:

I stopped in several times over the past few days to check in on Chessie and Casper and see if they have decided on where they intend to nest this year.  Both adults were present at the William Osler Hospital and I was treated to some aerial courtship displays and vocal exchanges.  Late in the afternoon on Friday, Casper took off on a hunt and returned to the nest ledge with food for Chessie which she gladly took.  He then entered the nest tray and began to enlarge the scrape while she ate her prize on the northern “H” sign.  On Saturday, the pair were again in fine form as the courtship displays continued and the eastern nest ledge was amply explored by both adults with Chessie finally settling in on the edge of the nest tray for a nap.  It would appear that the pair have chosen the hospital as their site of choice leaving the Viscount Road territory now void.  Glad to see that they have settled and focussed their attention.  Photos to be posted soon.

Quest and Kendal Working it Out

March 09, 2013 - Toronto - Don Mills

Bruce Massey Reports:

Yesterday I was joined by Tracy Simpson at the 220 Duncan Mill Road nest site as Quest and Kendal were both on site and their behaviour was a little odd.  In the morning when I first arrived, Kendal was shadowing Quest wherever she went and was almost harassing her.  By the afternoon when Tracy arrived, the tables had turned and it was Quest that was now instigating the chases.  While the activity was all on friendly terms, it was clear that Kendal had pushed his luck with Quest and she was now annoyed with him.  Twice he flew in to mate with her as she sat on the Harlequin building calling him and twice he seemed to abort at the last minute.  Finally she’d had enough of his half hearted attempts and chased him off of every perch he landed on.  It was clear that she wanted him to focus and he was more interested in attending to the nest bowl than her.  She set him straight by the late afternoon and the pair settled in at the nest site.  All photos courtesy of Tracy Simpson.

Craig and Athena Still Call Fruitland Rd Area Home

March 03, 2013 - Stoney Creek

Tracy Simpson Reports:

A delayed post but important nonetheless, I stopped by Stoney Creek to check on Craig and Athena a week ago and was pleased to find both on site.  I initially located Craig in the tower which was a challenge as he blended so well with the structure.  He was roosting the afternoon away and at first glance, no sign of Athena.  I was about to leave the site when I glanced down the road at Taylor Steel and found Athena roosting on an air vent above the shipping door.  The door opened a few times while she was there and trucks exited which garnered her attention.  Otherwise she was quite happy roosting there.  I couldn’t help but notice how much she looks like her mother, O’Connor from the Etobicoke Sun Life site, as she clearly claimed the vent she roosted on as hers.  She flew off of the vent after 20 minutes to the roof of Taylor Steel where she landed briefly before heading over to the tower to join Craig.  Last year, the pair were unsuccessful in hatching eggs and we will watch the progress of this pair this season to see where they choose to nest and whether they succeed.