Quest has been all over her first egg, laid yesterday, allowing us very limited views of it. She has just recently left it for a moment giving us a full view of her first of 2015. Thank you Quest for letting us have the opportunity for a peek at the egg. The second should be along soon.
Quest has been in the scrape “meditating” for a few days now and the arrival of her first egg was expected by sharp eyed cam watchers. While difficult to see, the first egg is definitely in the scrape and Quest is staying tight to the nest bowl for now. Congratulations Duncan Mill Road on your first egg of 2015.
As of Sunday Or Monday full time incubation is underway. Cirrus is down in her usual spot at the back of the box.
I checked the camera this morning and caught the adults in the midst of a change. Just before the male came in I was able to capture a cam image of the four eggs now in the nest bowl. Congratulations to MEC. We look forward to the potential hatches to come.
March 23rd - 2015
Thank you to Olga for snapping this shot via the Toronto Sheraton web cam of the two love birds on the nest ledge talking up a storm!
Hmmm,, I think that its serious!
Stay tuned………
Tonight there was a report from Paul Patoine as follows: Paul was at the bridge this evening and saw three falcons flying around and two of them were fighting. He has also seen Voltaire in the nest quite a bit in the last few weeks.
Looks like there is competition for the Ambassador Bridge nest. Could be Freddie is trying to reclaim his territory or perhaps another Peregrine vying for space. If we spot any bands, we’ll be sure to post an update. For those with scopes in the Windsor-Essex area, any help spotting identifiers would be greatly appreciated.
On another note, there have been sightings of copulation activities between the unbanded male and Voltaire over the past week. Hoping we have a nest with several viable eggs soon!
March 23rd - 2015
A quickly update to Bill and Sue’s earlier observation and suspicions based on the peregrines behaviour that the Burlington Lift Bridge peregrines have laid eggs.
We have just moments ago had a confirmation from the staff down at the Burlington Lift bridge that the peregrines are in fact currently on two eggs!
Congratulations are in order for sure for all!
Stay tuned………….
March 23rd - 2015
Some great cam shots sent in from Laura of the peregrine interacting on the nest ledge. That being said, we are all quite concerned with regards to the overall health of the resident adult female here at the Toronto King Street nest site.
As many of you are aware, she has been observed laying down on the nest ledge off and on for several months now. While this may not seem to many as being anything more than a peregrine just snoozing or relaxing,, this type of activity and behaviour for an adult peregrine that is not producing, incubating or brooding eggs and offspring is not normal in a healthy adult peregrine.
While it is absolutely true that adult peregrines “periodically” lay down for a number of reasons - (some of which are mentioned above), a healthy adult peregrine for the most parts, remains standing upright for their entire lives, even when they sleep.
Older / advanced aged, (which is the case for Erin, the resident adult female at this nest site) can take its toll along with the many factors that cause them discomfort, and they start laying down. Sickness also could be the cause, with a weakened immune system.
Lastly, one that has never been investigated or proven, is depression. Remembering that both Windwhistler and Erin have been mates at the King Street nest site for well over 12 years now, and also remembering that both of these birds never migrated and left this nest site (or left each others side in all of this time). They have never been apart or left the territory in over plus 12 years.
Hmmmm, could Erin actually be pining for her old mate Windwhistler?
I guess we’ll never know that answer to that question,, but time will soon tell more of the story if she refuses to accept or mate with her new suitor,, or worse?
These most recent photos taken today may be (in part) telling the story!
Stay tuned………
Saturday March 21st - 2015
A couple of quick shots via the Harlequin camera of Quest and Sky chatting it up in the nest box this afternoon. Looks like some serious discussions going on!
Lots of copulation being observed, so we expect to see eggs sometime very soon!
Stay tuned………
A check of the cam this morning revealed egg number three in the nest bowl. While we expect a fourth by Monday, incubation begins today in earnest. In just over a month we will hopefully be watching the first young hatching out. Congratulations to MEC. You’re well on your way.
