Burlington - Lift Bridge

getting fed at least

May 19, 2009 - Burlington - Lift Bridge

Robert Williams Reports:

When I arrived at the bridge this evening, both adults were sitting on the ledge of the south tower, opposite the nest box and spent most of the evening away from the scrape.

The chicks got fed twice tonight:  once about 7:30pm the female took off from the tower, made a few attempts at the local pigeons without success, and then flew off past the Skyway and CCIW.  She returned very shortly carrying a small meal package to the nest where she stayed out of sight for a long time, longer than five minutes before returning to the south tower.

Less than an hour later, the male left the tower vocalizing, and flew to one of the ‘picnic tables’ (small platform on the overhead wires) where he spent some time plucking a cached food item, then carried it to the top of the south tower.  A few minutes later he flew to the nest box with some of the food, followed by the female who remained with the food, while he returned to the south tower.  Again, she stayed on the scrape out of sight for longer than five minutes, before joining the male on the south tower, carrying some remains.

I spent much of the time trying to get band shots, unsuccessfully, and didn’t manage a glimpse of the little ones on the nest, but soon enough they’ll be wandering around the edges in full view.

!!! We have some history on the new adult female!

May 19, 2009 - Burlington - Lift Bridge

Mark Nash Reports:

With a huge thank you once again to Juanita, we have some history on the new adult female at the Burlington Bridge nest site..  Black K over Green 83 was hatched in Dayton Ohio USA in 2006 from a nest site on the At&T building.  Her name is Cirrus.

The Hunt Was On

May 18, 2009 - Burlington - Lift Bridge

Sue McCreadie Reports:

Bill and I arrived at the Lift Bridge around 11:00am and departed around 3:30pm.  Those hours were spent trying to get a look at the female’s band.  Mom spent a great deal of time hunting and unfortunately, was not successful.  We witnessed three attempts on the local pigeons.  She did her hunting from atop the Hamilton Bridge Tower or the Hamilton Hydro Tower.  “Sir” finally managed to get something (which we missed) and delivered it to the nest box.  “Mom” immediately flew to the nest and commenced feeding.  Throughout our stay Bill was snapping photos in the hopes of getting a band number.  We can only confirm that the black band definitely shows K.  The green appears to be 83, but not definite.  This would mean that this is the same female that had her bands photographed in March.  She stuck her leg right out at us, but the camera lens just wasn’t quite strong enough.   We have one shot of a tiny white head appearing over the back edge of the box while “Mom” was feeding them.  The eyases were left unattended for most of the time we were there.  When we left, “Mom” was in the nest box and “Sir” was standing guard from the face of the Hamilton Tower.

Tomorrow is another day.

Nothing Much Today - Way Too Cold and Windy For Any Action

May 15, 2009 - Burlington - Lift Bridge

Sue McCreadie Reports:

Great news that “Sir” Adam Beck has been identified. 

Bill and I arrived at the Lift Bridge around 1:00 pm.  Mom had the kids tucked in the back corner of the nest box and was keeping them well protected and hidden.  There were no little white heads visible.  “Sir” was standing guard from the face of the Hamilton Tower.  Mom left the nest box at one point and dove on one of the resident pigeons.  It was an almost, but unfortunately not successful.  She quickly returned to the nest box and disappeared out of site. 

Sorry, once again no photos today but tomorrow is another day.

!!! The Territorial Adult Male has been Identified at Sir Adam Beck!

May 13, 2009 - Burlington - Lift Bridge

Mark Nash Reports:

With a huge thanks to Bill and Sue for getting the adult male’s band number (Solid Black band 01 over V), we finally have an identity on the new adult male at the Burlington nest site.  Its non-other than Sir Adam Beck, produced at the Toronto King street nest site in 2006.  Named by one of our sponsors (Ontario Power Generation), banded on June 9th/2006 at 32 days old, weighing in at 650 grams.

Now the focus is on the adult female to get a positive ID on her.  She continues to brood her three new hatchlings and making it difficult to get any detailed views of her leg band numbers.  we suspect that it is the same female that was photographed earlier in March and in May of this year as having a Black over green band K over 83.

Time to warm the cameras up folks………  Stay tuned………..

Another Happy Day at the Lift Bridge - Chick Number 3

May 13, 2009 - Burlington - Lift Bridge

Sue McCreadie Reports:

Bill and I arrived at the bridge around 1:15 pm.  One adult was in the nest box and the other on the old nest ledge.  At 1:35, “Dad” picked up prey from a “picnic table” and commenced cleaning.  I guess ‘Mom” thought he was taking too long because at 1:41 she tore out of the nest box and stole the prey right out of “Dads” talons.  She went right to the nest box and commenced feeding the young.  The feeding lasted until 1:52 when “Mom” left the nest box and deposited the remains on the Hamilton Hydro Tower then returned to the nest box.  At 2:52 “Dad” stood guard on the corner of the nest box while “Mom” stretched her wings with a couple of circles around the tower.  She then retrieved the prey from the Hydro Tower and commenced the next feeding. 

Location – Location - Location

Mom remained in the nest box until 4:05, when a third falcon (by size I would guess another female) made an appearance and both “Mom” and “Dad” took chase.  The intruder was quickly driven off and “Mom” returned to the box while “Dad” stood watch from the Hamilton Hydro Tower.  They remained there until we left at 5:00 pm.

We are pleased to report that a third “little white head” appeared over the edge of the box today.  It appears to be quite a bit younger as it was doing the head bob while the others appeared stronger. 

We were also able to see through the scope that “Dad” is sporting a black band with what appears to be:       01 over V.

Oh Happy Day - We Can Confirm At Least Two Chicks in the Nest Box:

May 12, 2009 - Burlington - Lift Bridge

Sue McCreadie Reports:

Bill and I arrived at the Lift Bridge around 12:15 and saw an adult sitting upright in the nest box.  At 12:20 Mom took off  (I assume it was her) and returned at about 12:27.  At 12:30 Dad (I assume) delivered a pigeon to the nest box.  Mom did a little more cleaning, ate herself and then all of a sudden two little white heads appeared over the edge of the box and Mom started to feed them.  The feeding continued until 12:45.    At 1:20, Dad landed on a ledge just below the nest box with a Baltimore Oriole in his talons.  He cleaned it, ate part of it and then carried the rest to a storage spot on the face of the Hamilton Tower.  I guess he was going to save it for the next feeding.  Mom remained in the nest box, out of sight for the remainder of our visit.  From their size, I would guess that they were hatched on maybe Friday or Saturday.

Perhaps there are more than 2, but we are sure happy to be able to confirm 2.

Unfortunately, still no photos to share.

Happy Mother’s Day - Lunch is Served

May 10, 2009 - Burlington - Lift Bridge

Sue McCreadie Reports:

Bill and I visited the Lift Bridge for about an hour this afternoon.  That was about all we could take as the strong winds blowing off the harbour made it quite uncomfortable.  “Dad” must have known that it was Mother’s Day as he delivered lunch to “Mom” in the nest box.  We thought for sure when we saw the meal delivered that we would see some little white heads popping up looking for food.  No such luck.  After her meal, Mom settled down once again onto what we hope are viable eggs while Dad stood guard from the face of the Hamilton Tower.  Again, no photos to share today.

!!! Suspected New Adult Female

May 10, 2009 - Burlington - Lift Bridge

Mark Nash Reports:

While the photos were taken some weeks ago, (and the thanks of Euan Reid who gave us permission to post these photos), he was able to catch several shots of this adult female on site copulating with the territorial male at the Burlington lift bridge.   While the coloured marker band digits on the bottom of the band are still a little hard to read, it does appear to be a Black K over a Green 83.  We are waiting for some additional information on this band and should have something posted soon, stay tuned………

The question still remains,,, is this the current female at Burlington????  We are hoping that you can get your cameras warmed up to capture the ID’s and confirm the “who’s who” this year at the Burlington Bridge nest site.

Do We Have A Hatch or Was Mom Just Restless In the Warm Sun????????

May 07, 2009 - Burlington - Lift Bridge

Sue McCreadie Reports:

Bill and I were at the Bridge today from about 11:00 am to 1:00 pm.  From our observation spot, we were able to get a look into the nest box with our scope.  We kept watching for some little white heads to pop up but nothing was visible.  I think it was Mom in the box and she was certainly restless.  She did not lie still for a second.   She was up and down, forward and backward, constantly on the move.  Dad was on the Hamilton Hydro Tower when we arrived, but he took off towards Hamilton and did not return for a good half hour.  He did a flyby of the nest box and then landed on the corner.  Mom was not prepared to relinquish her duties so he took off again and landed on the face of the Hamilton Tower.  When we departed, he was still there standing guard. 

Sorry, no photos today (but not for the lack of trying).