May 05, 2011 - Etobicoke - William Osler
Mark Nash Reports:
May 5th - 2011
Doing the rounds today and stopped into the William Osler nest site this afternoon to find the resident adult female still in hard incubation mode. I watched her for close to half an hour again today and she never stirred and inch. Despite the sunny warm conditions, the blustery winds had loose feathers swirling around the nest tray.
As we watched her through the peep hole, she gave us the evil eye quite aware that we were watching her. If looks could kill, I likely wouldn’t be filing this report!
Expecting a hatch soon, so stay tuned…..
Posted on May 6, 2011 3:51 am
April 24, 2011 - Etobicoke - William Osler
Tracy Simpson Reports:
Earlier this afternoon at the William Osler Hospital nest site, Bruce Massey was in attendance for a site check and was treated to a bit of high flying action. Two turkey vultures were circling nearby to the nest building and that was too close for the resident male’s comfort. He was off the building in a flash and the next thing Bruce sees is one of the turkey vultures spiralling down into the nearby valley. Bruce was able to witness Hurricane take two swift stoops at the vulture and although he cannot confirm for sure, may have actually struck the large bird. Needless to say, our resident male Hurricane is defending this nest very well indeed!!!
Posted on April 24, 2011 5:14 pm
- Etobicoke - William Osler
Tracy Simpson Reports:
Out and about this afternoon checking on the status of our nest sites, I made my way over to William Osler to take a gander at Hurricane and his female. Our territorial male has been positively identified as Hurricane but the identity of our female this year has been more elusive. We do know that she is a Black over Green but she has yet to give us the big reveal as to who she is and her origins. Feeling lucky, I pulled out the scope and tripod and got it all set up as I had one of the pair on the north side sitting openly on the H with legs in full view. It was Hurricane and not the female as I had hoped. No matter! I was so pleased to see Hurricane on site again this year as our resident male. It was then off to the control room with the great support of security at the hospital and lo and behold, there she is… …our mother to be lying down on an undetermined number of eggs!! After a brief period of observation it was clear that she had no intertion of moving an inch and revealing what, or in this case how many, lay beneath her. If peregrines could snore she’d be rockin the house!! I will be returning in the days that follow to attempt to positively ID our female this year and see where she is at with eggs. The outstanding staff in security, environmental services and the hospital have been wonderfully supportive of their peregrines and an enormous thanks go out to them. Looks like we are well on our way to another exciting nesting season!!
Posted on March 30, 2011 8:14 pm
March 27, 2011 - Etobicoke - William Osler
Tracy Simpson Reports:
On Sunday, March 27th Bruce Massey attended the William Osler Hospital site to check on Hurricane and his lady at the nest tray. An affirmative ID has yet to be made as to who the grey lady is, but we have confirmed that she bears a Black over Green band on the left leg and a purple USFW band on the right. As that could be from anywhere in the midwest prior to 2008, we await a visual confirmation of the alpha numerics before we can determine who this is.
Bruce’s visit did confirm that the pair at the site definately has family rearing in mind and is actively in and out of the nest tray with much vocalization. We will be closely watching the site for egg laying to begin. Thanks go out to Bruce for his efforts this past weekend.
Posted on March 29, 2011 4:26 pm
February 24, 2011 - Etobicoke - William Osler
CPF Postmaster Reports:
A short update from last week, as we initially responded to a call from the Ross at the hospital to both investigate and pick-up a deceased Screech Owl that was in the wrong place at the right time. Their territorial peregrines are still very much around and obviously still very protective over the territory.
Sad to say that the little Screech owl didn’t have a chance and was knocked out of the sky and killed with single blow from a stoop from the resident adult female peregrine. We spent most of the day on site this past Thursday (Feb. 24th) at the request of the Hospital to over see the peregrines and some of the work that they are doing on the west and south elevation walls, and can confirm that both adult peregrines are still very much on territory and sticking close to the nest ledge. While the swing stage staff were virtually ignored throughout the day, a passing Red-tail hawk was not so lucky, and took the wrath of their peregrines. The red-tail was quickly dispatched and chased almost out of sight.
We can confirm that the resident adult male is still non other than Hurricane - (a peregrine that was produced at the Toronto Sheraton centre nest site) given the solid Black band that he dawns, but his mate was not about to show us her bands despite all of our efforts to get a view of her legs.
Posted on February 28, 2011 11:37 am
September 06, 2010 - Etobicoke - William Osler
Bruce Massey Reports:
Managed to make it out to Ossler 3 out of 4 Days. First of all, Friday Morning I had the Male Adult and both Juveniles but not the Adult Female, first thing. I spent about 2 Hours Total. On Saturday, even though I didn’t do an official check, I happened to be in the neighbourhood and drove by around 1330 Hrs. and saw a Peregrine on the East “ H” sign, however it was too far away to identify as Adult or Juvenile.
Yesterday, I arrived on site around 1700 Hrs for around 2 hours, and only saw the Adult Male not the Juveniles. Today, (Monday) I arrived in the earl AM, but because of the Weather only stayed an Hour or so. Again I only observed the Adult Male and didn’t see any of the other 3.
As only an aside, or a coincidence, over the last 3 days there have been a total of 3 Peregrines through Holiday Beach Hawk Watch, however 2 went through on Sept. 3 and 1 through Sept. 5.
Posted on September 6, 2010 11:15 am
August 22, 2010 - Etobicoke - William Osler
Bruce Massey Reports:
Arrived around 0700 Hrs. Juvenile female vocalizing on SW corner, flew around to North side lost sight of her. Found Male Juvenile on Hydro Tower. Noticed that he seemed to be “Croppy” (Had fed this AM). Female Juvenile flew in from NW about 1/2 hour later. She then proceeded to strafe 3 or 4 gulls on the Ground in the Emergancy Parking Lot. It appears that she doesn’t like Gulls as she chased a single one more time during my Observations.
The male disappeared and the Adult Male showed up with Food, landing on the East Sign and the Juvenile Female flew over snatched the food off Dad and chased him off “Mantling” it as he flew off.
I stayed around for about 2 Hrs. and saw 3 Peregrines, and the only one I didn’t see was the Adult Female.
Posted on August 22, 2010 9:11 am
August 14, 2010 - Etobicoke - William Osler
Bruce Massey Reports:
Spot checked Ossler both in AM & PM for about 6 Hrs Total. In the AM I got there around Dawn and even at that time the Juveniles were very vocal. About an hour later they both went for a 10-15 minute flight and what was so amazing was the Female that was about a week behind her brother kept up so well and not being overwhelmed by him. When I left at 0930 Hrs, Both the Parents had showed up.
In the PM, the parents weren’t visible, but both Juveniles were present. They spent most of their time in the Hydro Tower. They also did another 10-15 min Flight together in the vicinity of the Hospital.
Posted on August 17, 2010 6:27 pm
August 07, 2010 - Etobicoke - William Osler
Bruce Massey Reports:
AM Report- Arrived rather late (0930 Hrs) and found everyone except 1 Adult (Male) located in the Hydro Tower.
PM Report- Arrived around 1800 Hrs and found Female Juvenile on Hydro Tower, and Male Juvenile on Nest Ledge. Around 1830 hrs. the Female made a good flight over to the Hospital, buzzed her brother. The Adult (Female) showed up with a lot of Voclalization from the Juveniles. About 5 or so minutes I watched the Juvenile Male take off to the North and return to the ledge with a bright yellow Package in his Talons ( appeared to be the size and colour of a goldfinch.) About 1930 Hrs. the Female Juvenile was fed a pigeon, the Juvenile Male had a long flight with one of the Adults ending up in the Hydro Tower to the North of the Hospital.
Posted on August 7, 2010 10:00 pm
August 07, 2010 - Etobicoke - William Osler
Bruce Massey Reports:
Arrived around 1430 Hrs and found the Juvenile Female up on the Nest Ledge with her Brother. It was still fairly warm, but finallythe two Juveniles had a good long flight and the Female landed up on the Roof. Other than that, the night was fairly unenventful.
Posted on August 7, 2010 9:48 pm
