Canadian Peregrine Foundation

MEC. The First Look

April 26, 2015 - Mississauga - Executive Centre

Tracy Simpson Reports:

Here is the first look at the new little one for 2015.

The First Hatch at MEC Has Arrived

April 26, 2015 - Mississauga - Executive Centre

Tracy Simpson Reports:

A few of us early birds were up checking cams and we discovered that the first hatch at MEC has now arrived.  Just before 5am the resident adult female, Midnight, can be seen pulling aside an eggshell.  We have been waiting all morning for a truly good look at the first of 2015 in Ontario but she is not budging.  She may actually have a second working its was out into the world right now.  I have attached the camera image of the egg shell before dawn and what little peeks we’ve had so far.  Congratulations MEC and great going Midnight.  After many battles and male changes, lost clutches, bad weather and bad luck in downtown Brampton, Midnight has hatched her very first egg.  Such great news.

!!! Allot of new exciting events and happenings to report from Lake Ridge,, stay tuned,,, your gonna like it!!

April 24, 2015 - Oshawa - Lakeridge Hospital

Mark Nash Reports:

April - 2015
I apologize for the lack of recent news and happenings from the Oshawa Lake Ridge hospital nest site, but we have been incredibility busy trying to stay ahead of the peregrines with regards to all of the work that we’re been involved in while out in the field this spring. We have manufactured, delivered and installed three new nest boxes and two new nest trays all in time for the nesting season,, and as you might imagine, its been a very hectic time indeed!
The birds wait for no-one!

Remembering that while we are a Federally chartered Canadian Charity, (a non-profit organization), we are for the most parts, a volunteer run organization, one that receives absolutely no funding or financial support from any form of government, and as such, we are solely dependant on the support of the community through sponsorship support, contributions and tax deductible donations from the private sectors to do what we do.

That being said, in short,, here is a very short update on the Oshawa peregrines,,, - (until we can organize our field notes and get them chronologically posted).

There is renewed territorial activity of the peregrines at the Oshawa Lake Ridge Hospital site, - (although the pair remained territorial on and around the hospital all winter long, and never did migrate)! As such, the CPF manufactured a custom made nest box that was later installed by the hospital staff just in time to catch the peregrines involved in courtship. Copulation between the pair was observed and later, the resident adult male was successful in convincing his mate to use the new nest box! Given the recent observation reports, we believe that the pair have in fact now laid egg(s) and involved in full time incubation of same,,, (in the new nest box)!!!

Stay tuned for more detailed notes and the full story to follow…..

Full time incubation is well underway at the CTV Kitchener nest box!

April 24, 2015 - Kitchener - CTV-Bell Media Tower

Lisa Reh Reports:

Dale from Waterloo Region Nature, observed that after the 3rd egg was laid on April 2, Mystery seemed pretty intent on full-time incubation. The fourth egg was laid on Saturday April 4th and full time incubation likely started then. According to Dale’s calculations, the hatch could be around May 7-9 or about 32-35 days after full-time incubation started.

Thanks to our friends at CTV, it will be an exciting time this year to witness the activities in the nest box. Already, the expectant parents have been observed numerous times switching off incubation duties. On April 13th and 15th, Caster was observed taking the afternoon shift. Mystery switched off with him after a few hours at almost the exact same time of day at 3:30. On April 20th & 21st, Mystery was hanging around the Sun Life King Street sign at around 11:30, preening and looking around while Caster was in the nest box and he was on the eggs for at least a couple of hours. Both adults have been hanging about on the Sun Life signs and also have been seen on the King’s Towers media tower. This chilly week, the dutiful parents are keeping those eggs toasty warm!!

Its 4 eggs for Jenna & Chester!

April 23, 2015 - Toronto - Don Mills and Eglinton - Amexon

Cathy Kerr Reports:

As reported by Bruce & Tracy, our resident pair have changed locations again this year!  Mark & I were up to check on the roof conditions and to confirm nesting this afternoon.  Jenna was brooding and wouldn’t let us have a peek at the eggs, but the window washer(!) told me this morning there were 4 again this year.  As Mark first peeked over, Chester was over in a flash to warn us(quite nicely I thought!) not to get too close!  I even managed to get a peek in and a couple of pics of our lovely Jenna before I got my warning!! All looks good–as Bruce & Tracy saw incubation activity on the 30th of March, we could be looking at a hatch as early as next Friday May 1st, according to my calculations!!  I know I am excited!!  I attach a couple of pics–not the best as it got quite dark while we were up there(cold & windy too–anybody else sick of this??)

!!! Sorry, no egg yet at King

April 22, 2015 - Toronto - King Street

Linda Woods Reports:

On further examination of the image taken from the web cam early this evening, it was determined that I was not looking at an egg, but looking at the malar stripe of Erin herself.

Play of light and hopeful wishing can play tricks.

It’s still early in the nesting season and still time to put down eggs.

Keep watching and please send in observations as we do expect an egg any day.

!!! No hatch as yet,, but should be soon!

April 22, 2015 - Burlington - Lift Bridge

Mark Nash Reports:

April 22nd - 2015
A big thank you to Scott and PWGSC for checking in on the peregrines for us and sending us some of the photos taken through the peep-hole in the side of the nest box. While we can not confirm that there has been a hatch as yet, we can confirm that mom is looking pretty good and still remains down hard on her incubation duties.
She wasn’t giving much up, but did briefly give Scott a very quick look at two of her unhatched eggs.

Stay tuned………

!!! Waiting for Confirmation

April 22, 2015 - Toronto - King Street

Linda Woods Reports:

I’ve enlarged the image and it sure looks like a first egg for Erin and her new mate Stormin.  Lets’ hope for more. Now with the first egg, perhaps they’ll stay at home for a change .  They really had us wondering if she was going to have a nest this year.

!!! Could this possibly be an EGG!

April 22, 2015 - Toronto - King Street

Linda Woods Reports:

Here’s hoping an egg at King St

Cross your fingers. Confirm in a few minutes

!!! We have just received observations and evidance that there just maybe nesting peregrines at the OPG Nanticoke plant!!

April 20, 2015 - Nanticoke OPG

Mark Nash Reports:

April 20th - 2015

A big thank you to Linda and her collogues who were down a the Nanticoke Power generation station this past week (while cleaning out some of the swallow nesting boxes) for their observation report of peregrine activity. Linda reports that a peregrine was observed flying with food, then going into a area of the facility to a potential nesting spot,, (one that we suspected several seasons ago that a pair of peregrines attempted to nest).

Linda and her collogues will be back down to the plant again later this week and will take a more detailed look for additional activity and evidence of nesting.

From her reports, it does indeed appear that a food drop was being done to an incubating peregrine in a concealed nesting spot.
Stay tuned for further updates…..