March 05, 2015 - Hamilton - Sheraton Hotel
CPF Postmaster Reports:
February 28th - 2015
A big thank you to Robert Secord for sending in some of his photos and his observation report of a peregrine falcon that he was able to photograph today. He was also lucky enough to get some clear photos of the peregrines coloured leg band number, and as a result, we have been able to get a identity on the bird!
The Black band number 23 over X in Roberts photos turns out to be a 2010 produced peregrine falcon, banded as a female who was produced at the William Osler Health Care Centre – (Etobicoke Hospital) nest site in Etobicoke Ontario. Her name is “Athena”, and her mother is non-other than O’Connor – her father is Hurricane. Both O’Connor and Hurricane have very long detailed histories of their own with lengthy detailed family trees.
Thank you Robert for sharing!!!!
Robert Writes:
I had the privilege of seeing this peregrine today February 28, 2015 at Eastgate Mall on Centennial Parkway in Hamilton, Ontario. I am wondering if you can identify it from the attached leg band photo and tell me more about this bird. Look forward to hearing from you in regards to this peregrine falcon.
Thanks
Robert Secord
Posted on February 28, 2015 9:05 pm
February 24, 2015 - Windsor - Ambassador Bridge
Kathy Reports:
A friend on Facebook linked me to an article about a falcon pair that have been hanging around Fremont, Ohio for the past year. The female was confirmed as Gwenis, born in 2013 to Freddy and Voltaire. The ONDR is keeping an eye out to see if they attempt to nest in the area this year.
The article can be found here: http://www.thenews-messenger.com/story/news/local/2015/02/23/will-fremont-falcons-nest-babies/23912965/
Posted on February 24, 2015 7:15 am
February 23, 2015 - Toronto - King Street
CPF Postmaster Reports:
February 23rd - 2015
Thanks to Olga for sending in her snap-shot of the web cam view of the 18 Toronto King Street nest ledge. The night photo she was able to capture clearly shows one of the adults laying down on the nest ledge in the nest bowl. Has egg production started????
We’ll have to visit again in the day light to see what’s happening!!!
Stay tuned……
Posted on February 23, 2015 6:19 pm
February 20, 2015 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre
CPF Postmaster Reports:
February 20th - 2015
Despite the record cold temps here in southern Ontario, and the on-going painting of the building at the lower elevations, its life as usual on the nest ledge as clearly seen via the nest web cams! A quick peek, and a quick snapshot, finds one of the resident adults on the nest ledge eating a fresh kill for the morning breakfast.
Pigeons beware,, its still not a safe place to be if you are a pigeon!!
That being said, we have confirmed reports of both O’Connor and Jack being the resident adults on site with no evidence of any territorial challenges having been observed of late. While the season is still very early, and with the southern wintering over migrant peregrines not yet on their way back from the far south wintering grounds, their still is plenty of time for drama when the season starts to heat up!!
Lets hope that Jack stays a little closer to his Etobicoke Bloor & Islington territory this spring to help O’Connor guard and watch over the territory! As many of you know, Jack has had a girlfriend at another nest site in west Etobicoke for several years now, and has been successfully producing offspring at this other nest site simultaneously. He has been double-timing it with both O’Connor and another adult female at the other nest site and has so far been successful in his efforts in holding two different nest site territories, both with young having been produced at same!!
Again, time will tell as to whether he will be able to keep this up for much longer given all of the recent competition and territorial squabbles that have been observed of late!
On another note, we have been successfull in building the new nest tray that will eventually replace the other nest tray that is in much need of replacement!
With a huge thank you to the new building management who sponsored and funded the new nest tray!
Our visit to the nest ledge last fall while we spent some time with the painters on the swing stage, gave us a great opportunity to inspect the aging nest tray. While it has held-up well for the past 17 years, it is in much need of being replaced! We were able to get a few more screws in it and topped it up with some pea-gravel, we will realize that it must be replaced soon, as it has succumb to the harsh elements over the last 17 years, and is starting to show signs of rot.
We’re hoping that we will be able get a ride with the window washers early this spring before the nesting season to replace the old nest tray with one of our new and improved models. We are now building all of the new nest boxes and nest trays out of the new marine poly-composite material that already comes pre-coloured at the manufacturing process and no-longer needs to be re-stained every few years!! The new marine composite material is UV and water resistant!!
This new composite material is better than the older pressure treated material, and even better than the cedar material that we once used. While the new material is very expensive, very heavy and very difficult to work with, weighting twice the weight of the equivalent sized wood boards, having to pre-drill everything and requiring special fasteners and screws, its a material that comes with a 25 year warrantee and will not succumb to the harsh weather elements that all of the nest boxes and nest tray have had to deal with. Also remembering, that access to most of the nest ledges is expensive and complicated due the fact that we require other professionals, outside equipment and operators to get us to many of the nest ledges. Both timing and the weather also presents some challenges for all to be able to get to the nest ledges to do any maintenance on the nest ledges.
Stay tuned……..
Posted on February 20, 2015 11:19 am
February 20, 2015 - Toronto - King Street
CPF Postmaster Reports:
Friday February 20th - 2015
A quick peek at the web cams this morning and we found the Toronto King street nest ledge active with both resident adult peregrines hanging out on the nest ledge despite the bitter cold temps that we’re been experiencing here in southern Ontario. With daily high temps only reaching -22, and with the blustery winds bringing the temps down to the -30’s, I can’t understand why our resident urban peregrines aren’t flying south to some warmer temps, (at least not for a short holiday until the cold artic air loosens it grip on us). We have already broken record low temps here in southern Ontario that date back to the 1930’s in addition to the several sustained cold temps for days (weeks) at a time!!
Well, I guess home is still always home regardless,, a safe place to be, and the peregrines see it the same way! Spring is in the air despite the cold, as the days are getting longer, with longer periods of light, and we will soon see some intense pair bonding between the adults.
With that being said, we have not been able to confirm who the resident adult is at the Toronto King Street nest site this year, with earlier reports of Windwhistler having been replaced by another adult male. Windwhistler, (a.k.a. Spike) who was produced at the Etobicoke Bloor & Islington nest site back in 1998, some 16 years ago, is / was the longest standing resident adult male on any occupied nest site here in Ontario. He is also the oldest resident adult male peregrine occupying a nest site that we have on record.
It is also interesting, that CPF’s original video / DVD presentation, “Life on the Ledge” that features the life of a peregrine family raising offspring on an urban hi-rise ledge was filmed via the CPF web camera the same year that Windwhistler was produced. We see him as young nestling growing up on camera. This is the same video presentation that we use and distribute to all of the schools for our Project School Visit program.
In any case, only time will tell as we get closer to spring, when both resident adults will be spending far more time on the nest ledge and we may be able to get a band ID to identify the Who’s Who’s at the nest!
Posted on February 20, 2015 10:10 am
February 18, 2015 - Hamilton - Sheraton Hotel
CPF Postmaster Reports:
February 18th - 2015
A quickly update on Surge as his stay at the Owl foundation has lasted a little longer than expected given the minor complications with the damage he sustained to his upper mandible. While he is doing quite well and seems to be enjoying his stay, its going to be a few weeks before he will be able to be released back to the wild.
That being said, we have been able to confirmed a partial identification of the new male suitor that has been quite active around the Hamilton territory nest site, presumed to be the same male that had it out with Surge and led to his injuries. Madam X (a.k.a. - Run-around Sue) on the other hand, the long standing resident territorial adult female has not shown the new male suitor any hospitality as yet, but its only a matter of time before her hormones change as spring is almost in the air,,, (at least for peregrines anyway).
Despite the record cold bitter temps that we have all had to endure throughout the month of February, our urban resident peregrines see this as just another cold day.
With longer days, increased photocell and sunlight, we are already seeing renewed activity on most of the nest ledges, with pair bonding already underway with many of the resident urban pairs. There have been several conflicts and change-overs of mates at several of the urban nest sites, and we are diligently working on identifying the new suitors at same.
There are two new nest territories that we may be able to report soon, (as soon as they are actually confirmed as being full time occupied territories) that has created allot of excitement. Time will tell,,,,,,
Stay tuned……….
Posted on February 18, 2015 10:22 am
February 16, 2015 - Burlington - Lift Bridge
CPF Postmaster Reports:
February 16th - 2015
Well, if you ever thought that the resident peregrines at the Burlington lift bridge nest site were not aggressive at this time of year, think again! A call from the Burlington Lift Bridge staff yielded some updated news on their resident adult peregrines that have been quite active over the winter months.
Today, despite the record bitter cold temps and blustery winds, there were battles going on down in Burlington at the Burlington lift bridge. Sadly, a Red-tailed hawk ventured toooo close to the territory and the resident peregrines acted with lightning speed in dispatching the poor Red-tailed hawk.
As a result, the Red-tail hawk was injured and grounded by the resident peregrines, and the quick action of the Bridge master in getting emergency help from the local Animal Control may have resulted in saving the Red-tails life. The Hamilton Animal control responded and retrieved the injured Red-tail despite it being a provincial holiday.
While we have not had any news as yet as to injured Red-tails disposition and fate, it was rescued safely due in part to the quick action of the Burlington Lift Bridge - Bridge master and the local animal control! These guys are great!!!
Posted on February 16, 2015 10:49 am
February 13, 2015 - Toronto - Don Mills
CPF Postmaster Reports:
February 13th - 2015
A quick check of the various web cams, and we find the resident adults spending a little more time on the nest ledge these days despite the bitter cold record temps that we have been experiencing here in southern Ontario. With -20 daily temps, and -30 with the wind-chills, its been just toooo cold to get out and do much!! But the peregrines on the other hand, its just another cold day in the life of an urban peregrine it would seem.
While we can still confirm that Quest is still the resident adult female on site, (even know that he has finally ditched her back-pack radio transmitter), there is still a big question as to who the resident adult male is these days. Recent squabbling observed last month clearly indicated that a new suitor was on territory and Sky was not being seen at all.
Again, only time will tell as the days get longer, and the birds will be spending more time in view of the camera on the nest ledge.
Stay tuned………. Keep watching, and don’t forget to send us some snapshots if you happen to see a band number ID!
Posted on February 13, 2015 10:42 am
February 09, 2015 - Toronto - King Street
CPF Postmaster Reports:
February 9th - 2015
A huge thank-you to Laura Cote for sending in her photos and observation report of the resident peregrines from the 18 King Street nest site. Despite the bitter cold record temps, its still life as usual on the urban nest ledges and surrounding buildings that make up a peregrines territory.
Taken from # 1 Toronto Street, one of the typical roosting and eating spots of the 18 King Street peregrines,,, (with the King Edward Hotel in the back ground), one of the local resident peregrines was photographed by Laura roosting on the upper elevation shortly after it finished its breakfast.
Unfortunately, the photos weren’t quite close enough (and of course the subject was cooperating nor staying around long enough) to get a band identification and an ID on the peregrine,,, but now that Laura is focused, she just maybe able to get an ID when the bird(s) return.
The one Toronto street building has long since been a regular roosting and eating spot of the 18 King street peregrines, and the balcony itself has garnered some incredible opportunities to view and photograph the resident peregrines over the past 20 years.
Remembering back in the early days, way back in 1995 when the peregrines first came to the 18 King Street nest building and successfully nested and produced Toronto’s first peregrine falcon hatchlings making history and causing global excitement, the building management of the day allowed the CPF to utilize the then same vacant office suites as a fledge watch command post, where we watched and documented Toronto’s first nesting/producing peregrines!
Today, some 20 years later, the 18 King Street nest site is still occupied by a resident pair of peregrines, and has produced peregrine babies each and every year since 1995!!!! It remains Toronto’s oldest continuously producing peregrine nest site, still making history as of today!!
While it is true that several different adult peregrine individuals have occupied and produced offspring at the 18 King Street nest ledge since Pounce-Kingsley and Victoria’s arrival back in 1995, this nest site remains a historical nest site! Each and every year since 1995, we have been banding the offspring at the King Street nest site, hosted by the various building management groups and even the King Edward Hotel in their old grand ball room,,, (which by the way has seen royalty and many very famous people in years since past)!!
Laura writes:
Hi there,
I work in the building across the street (1 Toronto St/top 15th floor) and the King St falcons often perch on our ledge to hunt pigeon. They often bring the pigeon back up here and eat it!
Yesterday I caught the first sighting of 2015 and it was amazing.
Thought I would share my photo. Hopefully this attachment opens, if not let me know.
Thank you,
Laura
Posted on February 9, 2015 12:22 pm
