Caster and Statler Have Three Chicks in Waterloo!!
- All Reports
Tracy Simpson Reports:
Yesterday Bruce Massey and I took a trip out to Waterloo to visit with Caster and Statler and what a day it was!! When we arrived at around 2:30pm, before we could even get out of the car Statler had flown in with food for the little ones at the CTV tower. We raced over to the high school steps for an elevated view of the feeding and saw one, no wait two, oh yes three heads!!! What has now made it easier to see the wee ones is not only their much larger size but also the dark feathers just now coming in on their faces. That contrast made three heads very easy to see from the steps as they reached up and fought over the food that Statler was providing. After they ate all she had to offer, the chicks flopped down in a pile and were now completely out of view. Statler flew out of the nest and up to a low antenna to roost, but where was Caster?
We scanned the area and known perches for the dynamic man but were coming up empty… …wait, what’s this!… …HE’S IN THE NEST BOX!!! Bruce and I spun around like tops to face the Waterloo Sun Life building and set the scope on the box. There he sat, roosting the afternoon away in the quiet shade of the box that the CPF along with the amazing folks at Waterloo Sun Life and Bentall Kennedy Property Management Group installed in the fall. Caster! He was at home and loving it. This was great news and confirmed what our 17 years of experience had shown us time and again. A new pair in a newly colonized area will often use several different ledges and buildings, sites and spots until they find that perfect location which is most supportive of success. While they may have tried something different this year at the CTV tower, it is not uncommon and one thing is clear; that they are interested in the new nest box and are even now using it for rest and shade. Caster remained in the box napping on and off (an excellent sign of comfort) before taking off to the east. He returned shortly with food and the wee ones were fed again at 3:30pm. Now they’re really full!
For the next hour and a half, Caster and Statler flew tandem soars together, roosted on and off the antennas near the kids and exchanged vocal chups and whines. During that time Caster continued to fly up to the nest box on the Waterloo Sun Life roof (at least 4 or 5 times) and twice entered right to the back and into the shadows. At 5pm, Statler left her antenna perch and was off in hunting mode leaving Caster in the territory to watch the kids. By 5:30pm, Statler had returned with food for yet another feeding of the chicks. Each in turn got tenderly addressed after which Statler flew up to a low antenna to roost. Now the chicks were really full!! She sat for a few minutes relaxing and we turned to see that Caster had left the box. Statler was watching activity to the north that had really peaked her interest. She leaned forward with chin feathers all puffed out which made me think she was watching her mate. She kept leaning further and further forward and although I was anticipating her to fly, she just kept leaning. Finally, the head bob that told me she was going to go. Off she flew to the north and over the hospital roof but to where? We tracked her as she continued to fly and out of the corner of my eye, in came Caster from the east to the nest box. I said to Bruce that it would be an awesome way to end the day to see them both up there. HA!! STATLER FLEW RIGHT TO THE BOX AND MET CASTER THERE!! We now had both adults on the nest box at the Waterloo Sun Life building and there was an exchange on the landing platform. Now up to this point, we had only seen and confirmed Caster entering the nest box over half a dozen times throughout the 4 hours we were watching and so this was mind blowing and awesomely exciting news!! After a few minutes, Statler flew back to the tower and her chicks with, you guessed it, more food. The chicks were fed a fourth time at 6:15pm and flopped down stuffed to the max for a good nap.
How to sum up a day like this… …three chicks for Statler and Caster at the CTV tower that we could confirm by scope and photograph. This was fantastic. Caster was amazing to watch and he clearly is delighted with the new nest box on the Waterloo Sun Life and is using it regularly. The two times that he went into the depths we could see him scraping and showing keen interest in using this box in the future. He spent the entire 4 hours we were there inviting Statler to join him there by roosting on it and in it, “bond affirmation” mating with her (3 times) and bringing food to the box for her. Once the kids were well looked after and stuffed, the skies were safe and clear and the work of the day almost done, she happily joined him at the nest box. Bruce and I took our leave at this point, elated to have been a part of such an awesome, positive day for Statler and Caster. Congratulations Waterloo, the best is yet to come!!!
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