Bill arrived at the bridge around 8:30am and was greeted by Barry who was already on site.Over the last couple of days, Barry had noticed that Maple did not appear well.She had a very large crop and was refusing food from Cirrus.You could see her trying to vocalize, but there was no sound.The Bridge Workers advised them that Maple was sitting on top of the Control Tower.After three attempts of walking and flopping her wings, she managed to get to the top of the bridge where she remained until approximately 3:00 pm.We watched her and she appeared disheveled and slept most of the time.She made a feeble flight and landed on the top rail of the bridge on the lake side and then again to the Burlington Tower.She spotted Cirrus at the Play Pen and managed a flight to her with a difficult landing.Cirrus shortly thereafter appeared with a meal which she took the bridge abutment above the boat parking lot.Maple, tried to follow but could not gain the height she needed and came to the ground landing on a parked car of some fishermen.An attempt was made to pick her up but she took off again, heading for the canal and this time landed on top of another vehicle that was parked by the canal.This time the rescue was successful by John and Barry and Bill with the rescue box.She was wrapped in a towel and immediately transported to the Toronto Wildlife Centre by Bruce Massey.Bruce had arrived about 10 minutes before the whole melee started.We are grateful that Bruce was on site so that we didn’t have to wait for him to get through Toronto QEW traffic.We are anxiously waiting to hear about “our” girl.Thanks to everyone who was involved in the rescue.Boy, Falcon Watching can sure be stressful.
Between storms today, Bill and I decided to make another trip to the Lift Bridge.We arrived just around 6:00 pm.Barry had stuck it out through the storms and was able to point out where the juvies were hanging out.In a flash, Sir appeared carrying dinner in his talons.He took it to a picnic table to prepare.Maple and Truss watched in the hopes that he would share.We jumped onto the scopes and low and behold, Sir had delivered a Budgerigar.Unfortunately, another downpour started and we didn’t actually see who got the bird, but we are pretty sure that Sir did not share.We sure hope that the owner didn’t witness the wrath of Sir as he swept in and grabbed the family pet.
Throughout the downpour, Truss and Maple remained on the wires.They were just like drowned rats.
Things are pretty quiet at the Lift Bridge.It would appear that the girls are trying to stay cool as for most of the day, no one was visible.No one on the Hydro Tower, no one under the Skyway and no one on the face of either tower.Finally, early this afternoon there was some flying back and forth between the two towers and then all went quiet again.After our dinner break, we found Cirrus sitting quietly under the Skyway.All of a sudden both girls joined her.This was the first time that we have seen them make that trip.There was lots of vocalizing for Cirrus’ attention.The funniest part of all this was that Cirrus was sitting about 2 feet away from 3 pigeons, who were keeping an eye on her.As we left this evening, Sir had finally appeared and was having a nap on a ledge on the Burlington Tower, with Truss above him and Maple below him.Cirrus had gone on a mission towards Burlington.
Just one of the many days at the Burlington Lift Bridge with all hands present, (and this day actually had some sun included)! While very organized, there were many eyes to the sky documenting almost every minute of the young peregrines activity. I must say that these little peregrines must be the most photographed stars in southern Ontario!
A small collection of some of the incredible folks that came out to help and stand by their peregrines!
Bill and I arrived at the Lift Bridge around 8:00am this morning.After many miserable cold and rainy days, summer has DEFINITELY come to the Lift Bridge.It was an absolutely glorious day to Falcon watch with lots of sun and a lovely breeze from the lake.
This morning, Bill and Reiner helped Mark Nash pack up and he headed for home.We have now been left to our own devises.Thank you Mark for helping to make our Falcon Watch successful.We always learn so much when you are with us.
Things seem to be progressing nicely.We have witnessed the first lessons in talon touching.Cirrus was doing the teaching as Sir was nowhere to be seen.Truss and Maple are doing really well in the flying and landing department.Many flights were observed today between the two towers and the Hamilton Hydro Tower.Unfortunately, we still have not witnessed any food packages being delivered to the Juvies.I’m hoping that it is taking place early in the morning before our arrival.
Another terrible day at the Lift Bridge —- Rain, rain and then more rain.
Throughout the afternoon, Truss made great strides in her flying ability.She was here, there and everywhere.Gaining great height and making great landings.Cirrus decided that it was time to teach her daughter a new lesson.Truss was sitting on the cables close to the Burlington Tower and Cirrus got her attention with a juicy fresh pigeon.Cirrus circled her several times with the prey and then landed on the cables next to Truss and passed the meal over to her.It was quite a balancing act for Truss with pigeon in one talon and balancing with the other.She just didn’t know what to do.Mom took off and circled around her and then landed on the closest picnic table.Next thing we knew, Truss was in the air and carried her prey in talons to the picnic table and enjoyed her meal.Truss had passed Lesson 1 with flying colors.
Now on to Maple.At 5:04pm, just as we arrived back from a quick bite to eat and a warm up, Maple left the nest box.She flew with great height to the roof of the Hamilton Tower.She quickly flew off again, did a circle and then landed again.Cirrus escorted her on the maiden flight and then she carried on to the Hamilton Hydro Tower to keep watch.At 5:15pm, Sir flew into the nest box with a small food package and got the surprise of his life when he found no one there.Cirrus didn’t waste any time getting to the box.She grabbed the food from him and she immediately distributed it to both girls, Truss on the Burlington Tower and Maple on the Hamilton Tower.Sir continued to stare for a bit into the empty next box wondering — what just happened, she was here and hour ago.
When we left tonight around 9:00pm, Maple had managed to walk her way around the roof of the Hamilton Tower and was sitting on one of the light standards over Eastport Drive.Truss was tucked into a ledge on the face of the Hamilton Tower.Hoping all will be well as it is once again raining in our neck of the woods.Hopefully, tomorrow will be better.
An early morning Report from Paul Reynolds. Thanks so much Paul for the great update.
Hi Sue,
As promised, my report for this morning.
I arrived just after 6:00 am. Scanning the nest ledge I spied only one chick Maple was still at home. So I started to check out the bridge structures for Truss and at that moment Mum appeared on the wires. She left the wires in hot pursuit through the bridge structure going towards Burlington after five or six pigeons and she returned with 1, climbing to the wires. It was then that I heard Truss calling and I found her on the roof of the light house. After a short while she flew to the hand rail on the bridge. At this time the bridge sounded for a lift as the Hamilton Energy Boat was on its way in. I was pleased that Truss took the easy way up this time, when the bridge reached the top she flew over to the other side of the bridge landing on the bridge structure under the hand rail. Mum joined her but on the hand rail above her. Truss then flew the short distance to the wires. The bridge descended leaving mum and daughter on the wires. All this time mum didn’t let go of the pigeon. Truss was coaxed off the wire and did a circuit landing on the roof of the south tower; mum went to the hydro tower. Sir dad came in from Hamilton with a small package and delivered it to Maple then stayed. After a while mum left the tower and Truss followed her to the north tower settling on the first pick-nick table, they both sat for a short time then Truss decided to go south again With mum and dad joining her on either side. She landed on the lake side cable arm but didn’t stay long, going north again she landed on the wires were she spent the night two nights ago. All the time I observed mum she carried that pigeon. For 45 minutes she carried it, enticing the young ones to fly.
Definitely a better day weather wise at the Lift Bridge, but unfortunately still no sign of Berl.
When we arrived at 8:00am, we found that Truss had spent the night on the cable where we had left her last night.A meal was eventually delivered to one of the picnic tables and Truss did a tight rope walk over to it.After eating, she lay down flat and went sound to sleep for a couple of hours.The last 48 hours must have been very trying for her.At 2:30pm, she got up the nerve and flew to the next picnic table.She seemed to be searching the storage caches for something that Mom and Dad may have left behind.At 2:40pm, the bridge went up, and she took that opportunity to move to a picnic table on the lake side.Then at 2:45pm, she took flight and landed on a ledge on the buffer housing, a very narrow ledge I might add, a little shakily, but she did make it, displacing Mom while she was at it.A short time later, she got up her nerve and took flight to the roof of the Burlington Tower.She walked the edge and then in the blink of an eye, with a leap of faith and a wing flutter landed back in the nest box where she happily greeted her sister Maple.She was so happy to be home that she just flopped in the nest box.
Maple is hanging tight and doesn’t seem to want anything to do with flying.I guess Truss must have told her what happens when you come to the ground.Maple spent the afternoon, lazing around the nest box.She seemed happy to enjoy the space all to herself.
Around 6:00pm, Sir dropped off dinner to the next box and it was shared by both sisters.
When we left this evening around 9:00pm, both Truss and Maple were sitting on the edge of the box.Hopefully they will stay put till morning.
The weather for tomorrow is not sounding very good, so it may be another very long, wet day. Let’s hope the weather man is wrong.
