Bill and I just returned from a visit at the Lift Bridge. Unfortunately, the fog was so thick that we couldn’t even see the nest box, let alone any little white heads.
Although we have no firm evidence of a hatch, ie. little white heads, I’m almost positive we do. Bill and I spent some time at the Lift Bridge this afternoon. Mackenzie was hanging out on the Hamilton Cable Arm, bay side. He landed once on the next box, had what appeared to be a quick conversation, and then returned to the arm. Cirrus appeared to be restless up and down, up and down. She is usually not visible in the nest box. We went down the road by the washroom and she is definitely not laying low. She is up, appears to be mantling and definitely restless. Unfortunately it was quite foggy so we couldn’t get a clear view with our scopes. We will try again when the sky is clear.
We are now able to get to the Lift Bridge as the roads are open again. Yesterday, Bill and I spent some time there checking out the goings on. All is really pretty quiet. Cirrus and Mackenzie appear to be still in incubation mode. We saw a shift change with Cirrus taking over nest duties. Mackenzie was standing guard from the face of the Hamilton Tower. Even if there is a hatch, it will be a few days before we will be able to see the little white heads.
Since the last report, it has been pretty quiet around the Lift Bridge. Full incubation is underway. We have been there for a couple of hours every day. The most interesting thing we have observed is that Mackenzie, has almost always been on the eggs. Yesterday when we arrived Mackenzie was in the box and Cirrus flew in from somewhere under the Skyway. She had a full crop so she had been off enjoying a meal. She flew to the nest box and a great long conversation took place. She won the argument I guess because Mackenzie, reluctantly, got off the eggs and flew to the Hamilton Tower. Within a few seconds Cirrus disappeared inside the box and that was the end of the activity. We packed up and headed for home.
Bill and I spent an hour or so at the Lift Bridge this afternoon. Despite the cold, Dad sat preening on the Cable Arm of the Hamilton Tower. Mom was not visible and I assume that is because she was tucked into the back corner of the nest box.
This is a combination report for March 27th and 28th.
Both days, while we were there over a couple of hours, Dad Mackenzie, was doing most of the incubation duties. Must be a “modern day” Dad. Mom Cirrus, brought him in dinner and dropped it just inside the box. He got up and had what appeared to be a discussion with her and then disappeared again into the back left corner of the box. Cirrus then sat dozing on the front of the box in the sun out of the wind. I guess she is resting up for what’s to come. They were still mating as of March 27th.
Bill and I spent 4 or so hours at the Bridge this afternoon. During this time, not once did we see a bird at the Playpen and there was only approximately ½ hour in total when the nest box was empty. Either Mom or Dad were down in the back left corner of the box. Mating also continues. Following is a recap of what we saw this afternoon:
1. 12:56 pm - There were 2 Peregrines in the air and 1 in the nest box (not sure which one). “Oh oh, an interloper”. Eventually the bird in the nest box entered into the chase and after several hits, the interloper moved on.
2. 1:08 pm - Both birds returned to the Hamilton Hydro Tower and then Mackenzie flew to the nest box and disappeared inside.
3. 2:03 pm - Mackenzie left the nest box screaming to chase off a Red-Tailed Hawk who had entered their air space.
4. 2:05 pm - Cirrus then left the Hamilton Hydro Tower and flew to the nest box and disappeared inside.
5. 2:15 pm - Mackenzie had to chase off another Red-Tailed Hawk
6. 3:15 pm - Cirrus moved to the front of the nest box and Mackenzie went shopping for a food cache under the Skyway Bridge. He returned with what appeared to be a Meadowlark and took it to the front face of the Hamilton Tower to prepare. Mackenzie delivered the meal to the nest box. Mom flew to the roof of the Hamilton Tower with Mackenzie following still carrying the food. Dad returns to the nest box and disappears inside.
7. 3:28 pm - For the first time ever, we observe Cirrus land on the top of a light standard on the QEW. Mackenzie flies over and then they both return to the cable wires where we observe them mate.
8. 3:46 pm – Cirrus flies to the nest box and disappears inside while Mackenzie stands guard from the Hamilton Cable arm.
Saturday March 24th - 2012
Despite the crappy weather, rain, cold winds blazing in from the east across the lake and much colder temps compared to earlier on this week, I ventured down to the Burlington nest site to meet Bill and Sue to gather additional observations on the Burlington lift bridge peregrines.
Unfortunately, due to the traffic congestion I missed Bill and Sue, but did get an opportunity to speak with them by cell phone to get their tale of the take and their observations from earlier on in the day. They report that both adult peregrines have been in and out of the nest box, and on the nest box porch for several hours talking up a storm.
Upon my arrival, I could clearly see one peregrine roosting on the nest box porch.
During the time of my visit, it was clear that the “play-pen” was not being occupied by either of the grins, and no eggs were visible on same.
While only a single peregrine was observed during the time of my visit, I can confirm that there are no eggs on the top of the concrete column under the Skyway bridge that has been referred to as the “Play-pen”.
Interestingly although, an adult peregrine was in fact inside the nest box, scraping and laying down in the nest box. Over a period of 30 minutes, the adult peregrine fussed around in the nest box, moving individual pieces of gravel involved in an ongoing effort to dig a deeper scrape / bowl, and it repeated this action over and over until it finally layed down in the scrape and went to sleep.
Sadly, I was unable to identify the sex of the grin as it was difficult to properly identify it’s size, and at no time did it give me a clear view of either one of its legs to see its legs band colours.
Stay tuned for updated news…….
Thursday March 22nd - 2012
It would appear that only a part of the story of just what the adults have been doing last week on the top of what we nic-named the playpen, atop of the large concrete column under the Skyway bridge.
It seemed odd yesterday that there was noticeable lack of absence of the resident adult female peregrine yesterday around the nest box during our visit. While the fog was so thick and almost impossible to see through it in any direction, it was odd that the resident adult female was only seen once throughout our observation period yesterday.
Typically, when you start seeing only one bird at a time - (at this time of year when egg production should be underway, and when there are both resident adults present holding down a territory), this usually suggests that the other bird is either incubating or tending to egg(s).
Well, it has been confirmed this morning as a result of the observations gathered by our great friends down at the lift bridge. The resident adult female has been spotted laying down involved in what appears to be incubation duties on the top of the “play-pen”,, a spot atop of the concrete column over at the Skyway bridge. This location is on the north side of the canal, - (between the Skyway bridge and the north Lift bridge tower where the nest box is positioned).
It would appear that despite Mackenzie’s best efforts to coax his mate to the nest box this year, that she has had other plans and decided to lay “her” egg(s) on the top of this concrete column over at the Skyway bridge, directly across from the North Tower where the nest box is located!
While the peregrines are still using the lift bridge towers and cables (including the nest box) as higher observation positions and obviously still using the lift bridge and towers as look-outs, food prep stations and roosting spots, it appears that the resident adult female peregrine has decided that the “Play-Pen” location on the concrete column on the Skyway bridge is for what ever reason more attractive this year to lay HER eggs.
Stay tuned……….
Wednesday March 21st-2012
Observations gathered today during our visit were most confusing, as despite all of the resident peregrines activities in and around the nest box last week, there is still no eggs in the nest box, and a noticeable lack of peregrine activity.
Sadly, the fog was so thick throughout most of the day and throughout our visit, it was almost impossible to see anything - (including the south and north lift bridge towers, and even impossible to see the huge spanse of the Skyway bridge at times because of the thick fog).
Finally, in the later afternoon around 4pm, the new resident adult male - (Mackenzie) did appear on the cable wire “pic-nic table” as it has been nic-named with a fresh kill, he proceded to prep it and then flew up to the porch of the nest box while loudly vocalising into the thick fog. Moments later, the adult female appeared on the wire cable, then flew to Mackenzie on the nest box porch, snatching the food from him and returned to the cable wire pi-nic table to eat the food. As quick as she appeared out of the fog, she then flew off towards the Skyway bridge and disappeared into the thick fog.
Mackenzie then left the nest box porch and he too disappeared into the thick fog. Not having much luck seeing the birds due to the thick fog, we departed for home.
Stay tuned……