Twice today we were at the Lift Bridge and it would appear that Mom is in incubation mode. She was laying down in the back corner she uses when incubating. Dad was sitting beneath her on the old nest ledge. This is the first time we have witnessed this, this year.
On March 8 and March 10, we spent a few hours at the Lift Bridge. Yesterday, Dad plucked a pigeon out of the air and as we watched he flew by Mom showing off screaming the whole time. He circled the Hamilton Tower and finally managed to gain enough altitude to land on the roof of the tower where he prepared his meal. Pretty amazing to watch for such a little guy. Mom was sitting in the Hamilton Hydro Tower, paying very little attention to him. After having his fill, he took to the air once again, circling and screaming and then finally deposited the remains under the Skyway Bridge for a snack later. We have been able to confirm both band numbers. Mom is still Cirrus, Black K/Green 83 and Dad is Mackenzie Black 29/Y.
Yesterday, February 5th, Bill visited the Lift Bridge. As he walked towards the Pier from the Beach Parking Lot, Mom was sitting on the very bottom beam of the Hamilton Hydro Tower. She was looking directly down at him chirping. I guess she was sitting there digesting lunch as her crop was full.
Today, February 6th, we dropped by again. It was cool -6 degrees, but both were visible sunning themselves. Dad was mostly sitting on the old nest ledge and Mom was sitting on the corner of the nest box. They both took to the air, getting the pigeons up and moving. When they returned, Mom went to the nest box and Dad followed mating with her. Spring is in the air at the Lift Bridge!
On Wednesday as I made my way back from Fort Erie, I decided to stop in at the lift bridge and see how Cirrus and MacKensie handled the rainy days of Sandy. I found Cirrus in the hydro tower on the Hamilton side digesting a huge crop! It was great to see her. I set my sights to spotting MacK when all of a sudden, they both burst out of the hydro tower and were on the attack. Attacking what I am not sure as whatever it was, it was tucked in under the Skyway and out of my sights. Moments later they both landed by the nest box on the bridge cables but MacK wasn’t to stay there long. He was off again screaming like the wind and swooping the same spot on the bridge. I tried to locate what it was that was so offensive but to no avail. MacK gave up the attack after a few dives and headed off on a mission to Burlington. Within 5 minutes, he was back in the Hamilton hydro tower looking really ticked off. Before I left he had settled into a peregrine version of calm and Cirrus stayed firmly plunked down on the cabling. Great to see the pair at home!!
As I was passing through yesterday, I decided to stop at the Burlington Lift Bridge nest site to check up on Cirrus and MacKenzie and see whether any juveniles could be found. The last time I visited the bridge, I was shut out as not a peregrine could be found. I had high hopes that today I would find someone.
At first I scanned the entire bridge and found no birds in sight. Blam goes the horn. A laker is coming through. A crowd of fishermen gathered to watch the ship while I continued to look for peregrines. After much scanning and many “blams” from the laker, I found Cirrus relaxing in the nearest hydro tower on the Hamilton side of the canal. A few more “blams” and the bridge was on its way back down. I watched Cirrus through the noise and movement of the bridge and am amazed at how accepting she is of the activity and sounds. I turned around to check the Skyway for loafing pfals and saw one come across the harbour and swoop up for a landing on the north side of the Skyway. I walked the canal up to the north and looked back up at the bridge. Lo and behold, I found MacK on the only piece of rebar sticking out of the concrete bridge. Sneaky!! I like it!! A great perch to hunt from and hide from the kids!!
I left Cirrus in the tower to continue to digest her rather large crop and MacK on his perch watching the harbour. So nice to see them both.
After leaving Stoney Creek, Bill and I headed to the Lift Bridge. We found Mackenzie sitting on the front face of the Hamilton Tower. Cirrus was no where to be seen. We searched all of her ususal spots, but no luck. We sat down in the shade and a short time later, both birds flew to the old nest ledge on the Burlington Tower and disappeared down inside. There is still no sign of the kids. We were happy to see Mom and Dad so we headed home to the air conditioning.
Just shortly after we returned from the Lift Bridge this morning, we received an e-mail from our friend Nils Foss about a downed falcon on the Toronto Bound Skyway. At just about the same time as I was reading the e-mail, Marion Nash from CPF called after having received the same report. Bill and I headed out immediately to do a drive by. Of course we found it in the left shoulder where there is no room to stop. We drove the Skyway again to see if we could get a band number. No luck. We headed to the Lift Bridge and with the help of Clare, we were able to get in touch with the Ministry of Transportation who were kind enough to dispatch a vehicle to pick up our bird. When we met up with them on Eastport Drive, we were so sad to see that it was little Port Hope.
We want to thank Clare from the Lift Bridge, the Ministry of Transportation and the fellows from TWD Road Maintenance who retrieved little Port Hope.
Fly free precious little one.
June 23rd - 2012
On Saturday June 23rd, 2012, around 5 P.M. I saw one of the adult Peregrine falcons landed on a cable over the lift bridge with a prey. Port Hope and Carrey started competing for the prey. Port Hope got the prize and flew from the lift bridge to Skyway bridge and back with cry of victory 
Kind regards,
Alina
I’m sorry to report that the last time anyone has seen Crock Pot Jimmy was on June 18th. I’m afraid that he is MIA. We are hopeful that he has strayed away from home and will return when he gets really hungry.
Carrey and Port Hope are doing just fine. With the high winds and hot weather of the last few days there has not been too much activity except when Mom and Dad bring in food.
Port Hope has been seen chasing pigeons around the tower and through the Lift Bridge structure.
We will continue to monitor the site. David, Rob, Barry and Bill and I continue to do daily checks.
The kids are doing great. They are fairly quiet until an adult brings in a food package and then all heck breaks loose. The kids come from everywhere screaming. Successful food hand offs have been observed as well as lots of talon touching and games of tag. After one successful food drop, we saw Crock Pot Jimmy take the meal to one of the beams of the Burlington Tower. Port Hope and Carrey followed. It was heartwarming to see them all share the food.