Burlington - Lift Bridge

Get Out Of My Territory

April 14, 2010 - Burlington - Lift Bridge

Sue McCreadie Reports:

Today, Bill and I spent a little time at the Bridge.  We arrived early afternoon and started our search.  We found one adult on the face of the Hamilton Tower and the other was nowhere to be seen.  After a while, the bird from the face of the Hamilton Tower took off on a mission to Hamilton.  We lost sight of him (assuming it was Sir) at he headed across the bay.  A short time later, out of the corner of my eye, I noticed a low flying Turkey Vulture approaching from under the Skyway.  In a flash, we saw and heard a peregrine screaming towards it.  In short order, the Turkey Vulture disappeared behind the trees.  Cirrus (assuming it was she) had made her presence know and even though she appeared so tiny beside the Turkey Vulture drove him out of her territory.  She immediately returned to the nest box and disappeared inside.  I think it is very safe to assume that full time incubation is ongoing.

!!! Burlington Bridge-Confirmed Incubation Activity

April 02, 2010 - Burlington - Lift Bridge

Bruce Massey Reports:

Arrived early, but didn’t see them for about 40 minutes.  I went over to  the Boat Launch Area and when I returned to the Car to put up the Scope, the Male appeared at the Nest Box facing in.  After about 10 minutes, the Male was Looking  about and the Female came in, and she had obviously been eating.  She went immediately onto the Nest, and displayed the obvious Incubation Activity (Being very careful and when lying down rocking back and forth).  The Male flew overhead and landed in one of  Hydro Towers a couple of Times.   I will try to get down there sometime around the 1st weekend of May to see if there is a Hatch.

Happy Easter

April 04, 2010 - Burlington - Lift Bridge

Sue McCreadie Reports:

“Good morning Sue, at the pier this morning Sir caught a Grackle took it to the south tower, mum came off the nest box took the offering from Sir.  Sir then went to nest box taking over nest duties from mum she stayed on the south tower and was sleeping when we left this morning.   Happy Easter ”

!!! First Egg confirmed!

March 26, 2010 - Burlington - Lift Bridge

Mark Nash Reports:

We have received great news today confirming that there is one egg in the nest box and both adults are attending. The adult female spent much of her time today sitting tight on the single egg, likely due to the high winds and colder wind chill temps. Observations also reported that the adults were also involved in further courtship activities and copulation on the nest box ledge.
Stay tuned…hopefully more to come.

Incubation Has Begun

March 24, 2010 - Burlington - Lift Bridge

Sue McCreadie Reports:

We spent a little time at the Lift Bridge today.  One adult was enjoying a meal on the face of the Hamilton Tower and the other was nowhere to be seen.  We went down the road by the washrooms and with the scope were able to see that one adult was in the nest box.  After a while “she” got up and moved around and appeared to be re-arranging the eggs.  “She” stood with her back to the outside and was mantling what I assume are eggs.  We were hoping to see a shift change, but “she” settled down again and all you could see were the tips of her wing feathers above the edge of the box.

 ”She” assuming it was the female.  We were not able to identify either bird.

STILL HANGING IN

March 06, 2010 - Burlington - Lift Bridge

Sue McCreadie Reports:

Yesterday, Bill and I tried to get to the Lift Bridge to check on the birds.   We were unable to get anywhere close.  The normal parking lot and driveway was still closed by the workers doing the Lift Bridge repairs and the walkway on the beach side was closed because of the Hydro work going on.  There were men standing on the roof of the Burlington Tower directly above the nest box so I’m not certain that the maintenance work in the Tower has been completed.  As of Friday, I would have bet my last dollar that the chance of a successful breeding season was slim to nil.

Today, we made another attempt to check on the birds and we were able to access the pier from the beach side of the road.  The gate to the normal parking lot is still filled with work trailers and the gate was locked.  I am happy to report though that it appears that the repair work on the Bridge has been completed as all 4 lanes on the bridge are open once again.   

We arrived around 10:00 am and spent a few hours watching.  When we arrived, Cirrus was sitting on the Hamilton Hydro Tower and Sir was sitting on the cables close to the next box.   Sir did a few flybys of Cirrus chirping and I assume begging for food.  He then flew to the nest box and disappeared inside.  I guess Cirrus was curious and flew over to check it out.  With that they both took the air and did a couple of circles around the Burlington Tower.   He then landed on the nest box and she landed on the buffer housing on the Hamilton Tower.  Eventually she took to the air and disappeared from our sight behind the Burlington Tower.  After a short time, we could see her returning with prey in her talons.  She landed on the Burlington Hydro Tower and proceeded to prepare her meal.  I guess Sir was out of her line of vision as he continued to sit on the nest box. 

We are assuming that it is the resident pair of Cirrus and Sir Adam Beck.  We were able to read a partial band of Black K/Over Green ?? (Cirrus is Black K/Green 83).  Were we unable to read the bands of the other bird.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

If Ontario Hydro would hurry up and finish their work, perhaps a successful breeding season is not out of the question.

!!! Spring in the air again?

March 01, 2010 - Burlington - Lift Bridge

Robert Williams Reports:

It’s that time of year again, the nesting cycle is starting up!  I’ve had a report that the pair of peregrines were copulating on the overhead wires in the middle of the bridge.  With all the work and fuss down at the bridge, it’s good to see this, and I’ll keep my fingers crossed that they will stick around and nest successfully at this site again this year.

Cirrus and Sir Hanging In

January 12, 2010 - Burlington - Lift Bridge

Sue McCreadie Reports:

We were at the Lift Bridge this morning and in spite of all the working going on, both birds were visible.  One was on the nest box and the other on the ledge below.  With the pier being fenced off, it is difficult to get a good photo, and to tell who is who, but we were happy to see both birds.   However, the pigeons seem to have been scared off.  From the lake side of the pier, not 1 pigeon was visible.

Overcast, windy and perhaps a few degrees below zero (Warning - Peregrine Feeding)

January 11, 2010 - Burlington - Lift Bridge

Matt MacGillivray Reports:

Female Pefa feeding on Rock dove on the concrete pier below the Burlington lift bridge at approximately 12:00pm EST.  Was soon joined by male Pefa, which made slow approach and picked up the discarded head before flying off.  Female ate the bulk of the dove and flew off with the remainder of the carcas while an adult Herring Gull chased after. After a brief chase sequence, the female landed on the overhead wires.

Female has black over green band on left leg, and reddish/purple band on right leg. At first it appeared this bird had Black K over Green I…but on further inspection, i believe the “I” is a scratch on the band. Another view has what may possibly be a (Black K Green 83)?

Male bird has black ”01″ over “V” on the left leg and a silver band on the right.  There may be another digit beside the 0. Unfortunately i was not able to capture a better view before the male took flight.

Observation and Photos by Peeter Musta, on December 30th via ONTBIRD.

Incredible Photos Peeter!  This kind of contribution is fantastic.  Keep them coming!

A Whole Lot of Work Going On

January 06, 2010 - Burlington - Lift Bridge

Sue McCreadie Reports:

Bill and I took a quick trip to Buffalo this afternoon and while driving over the Skyway, we noticed a couple of large cranes in use.  I was sure that Sir and Cirrus would not be happy about this.  On the way home, around 3:00 pm, we stopped by the Lift Bridge.  To our surprise, the cranes had nothing to do with the work going on at the bridge but it was the Hydro, doing some work on the towers.  We found one bird on the nest ledge, but we were not successful in seeing the other one.

Here’s hoping that all this work does not have an effect on the 2010 season.  We will keep out eyes peeled.