April 03, 2013 - International, National and Local News
CPF Postmaster Reports:
April 3rd-2013
No eggs as yet, but soon!!
Another quick stop into see what’s going on with the ICICI peregrines produced some very encouraging news! While it appears that the pair have not settled down on any eggs or involved in any incubation activities as yet, its not from the lack of trying. During my time spent on site, the pair were involved in some serious courtship activities including multiple copulations while the resident adult male was involved in some incredible hi-speed ariel courtship displays.
Sadly it was impossible to identify just who the resident adults are given the extreme height of the building roof top where the birds spent most of their time during my visit. The adult male spent allot of his time both flying around vocalizing to his mate, copulating with her, then flying back into and on and off of the nest ledge e-chupping and calling out to her trying to coax her down to the nest ledge. His nest ledge interests and attention differs from the one that the peregrines were successful in producing offspring on last season, in that he is trying to coax his mate onto the upper ledge that faces east looking out onto the Don Valley parkway as opposed to the ledge that faces north towards Eglinton Ave.
We were although able to confirm several weeks ago that the NEW resident adult male at the ICICI Don Mills and Eglinton nest site is in fact banded and identified by his leg bands as being a bird produced at the Canada Square nest site her in Toronto at young & Eglinton, and he was named Chester! His female mate was NOT banded and we of course have no idea who is or where she is from. Both resident adults from last year were un-banded and we had no idea as to their identity .
At one point the noise from the two vocalizing was so loud that it had people down in the parking lot looking up to the rooftop area trying to identify what and where all of the noise was coming from.
While the female never did attend the nest ledge during my visit, it is quite obvious that the adult male had chosen his preferred nesting spot. Eggs are not far away!
Stay tuned……….
Posted on April 4, 2013 12:00 pm
March 10, 2013 - International, National and Local News
Tracy Simpson Reports:
Bruce Massey and I were out this weekend checking out a few nest sites and decided to stop by on Saturday at ICICI at Don Mills and Eglinton. Both male and female were on site and were quite active. I managed to get several pictures of both adults and when I got home and looked at them, I was able to confirm that the female was unbanded which is consistent with last year but the male appeared to be banded. Upon closer inspection of the photos, I could see that this male had a solid black Ontario recovery band and a silver USFW band. Unfortunately I could not clearly read the alpha numeric reference on his band that would identify him.
Today Bruce and I returned with one mission in mind; identify the male that had taken over this site. Bruce was quick with the scope and confirmed that the new resident male was wearing a solid black band bearing the identification 95 over Y. We both knew this band… …IT’S CHESTER!! Chester was hatched in 2011 at the Canada Square nest site to Haven and Irving and was seen last spring briefly courting Quest at Duncan Mill Road. Here he was looking very adult and behaving as the master of this territory! Shortly after identification, he flew up to the nest ledge and joined the unbanded female, disappearing into the ledge. He flew out of the ledge a few minutes later over to the DeBeers buidling landing on the “S”. There he stayed until his mate emerged from the ledge and flew up to the top of ICICI and perched on the northeast corner calling to him. It didn’t take long before Chester flew over and mated with her confirming for both Bruce and I that he was in control of this nest site.
We are unsure when this change in adult males occurred but we can say for certain that Chester is now the resident male. We look forward to the coming nesting season with much anticipation. More pictures to follow.
Posted on March 10, 2013 11:00 pm
February 05, 2013 - International, National and Local News
Tracy Simpson Reports:
I took a moment yesterday to swing past both the William Osler Hospital nest site and the Hilton Garden Inn hoping to catch sight of a peregrine. At the hospital, there were none to be seen and so I headed straight for the Garden Inn. When I arrived I did my usual check of the alt Hotel and Caroga Drive hotels but not a bird to be found. As I made a second pass, I found an adult female on an antenna at the Hostopia building that is bordered by Viscount Rd on the east and Airport Rd on the west. This building is one of three where the resident adults are periodically seen and today this female was all over it. I pulled in for some pictures and a confirmation of who this bird was and it was indeed Chessie. There was no sign of Claire, the resident female up until recently, and there was no resistance to Chessie’s presence in the territory. Casper was not in sight but Chessie was nonetheless sticking tight to the Hostopia building. Again today, her head was swivelling madly about as she checked the airport, then the Hilton Garden Inn, the airport, Garden Inn… This went on for quite some time and then like a shot, she was off and flying on a mission towards the 427 highway. I drove around with the hopes of seeing her and as I travelled along Fasken Drive and was about to go under the highway to the other side, a raptor approached from the south. The bird landed on the light standard by the bridge and I quickly pulled over. A juvenile RT hawk. I was snapping a few pictures when a feathered bullet whipped past the hawk and scared the feathers right off of it. While I managed to photograph the hawks reaction, Chessie was moving through way too fast to be in focus! She didn’t make any serious attack on the bird but it moved along anyways. Chessie then flew back to the Hostopia building and remained on the corner as I left. She made some good and strong flights today and looked excellent in the air even though she was not relaxed at all. I did not see Casper but I will continue to monitor things at these sites as spring approaches.
Posted on February 6, 2013 9:53 am
February 02, 2013 - International, National and Local News
Tracy Simpson Reports:
Bruce and I made our way next down to the Hilton Garden Inn as this site is inextricably tied to the William Osler Hospital as Casper, the resident male identified here last year, has been seen regularly seen at the Hospital with Chessie as of late.
Upon arrival, I searched all of the usual spots that Casper and Claire, the resident female, hang out on. Nothing. I was driving east on Caroga Drive for another pass around the area and found Casper sitting on a light standard at the end of the road. I pulled over and snapped several pictures while Bruce got a scope view of him. This was clearly Casper. He has a solid black recovery band marked 35 over Y that Bruce was able to confirm. He sat roosting on the light standard for a while and then out of nowhere comes a kestrel that attempts to knock Casper right in the head. Unamused by this, Casper takes off in hot pursuit across the 427 towards the east. He returns in a few minutes and flies up to his favorite roost spot on the Hilton Garden Inn.
Bruce and I alter our positions for a better look at Casper. Up to this point there is no sign of Claire. Not unusual as she tends to use the Hilton more so in the evening. A quick scan of the area and we found the female on the same light standard that Casper had just left. Bruce and I again reposition and I begin to take pictures. In reviewing the images, I can clearly see a bright red blood stain on the undertail feathers of this female near her left leg. This was Chessie. The stain on her undertail feathers confirms without a doubt that this bird was at William Osler half an hour before we located her here. It was quite cold and blustery and for the most part her bands were covered but she did reveal her silver USFW band. Claire is banded black over green with a PURPLE USFW band. This was not Claire but Chessie. Chessie sat for quite some time on the light and then as I dove into my car for a warm up of the fingers ( this always happens to me ) she was off like a shot towards the Holiday Inn across the 427 and we could see her stooping something twice before turning back and flying to our side of the highway. She flew over towards the other Hilton hotel, stooped again and then went low out of sight. Casper didn’t move off of the Garden Inn and remained roosting in his corner. I drove around the neighborhood and found Chessie on a TV style antenna of a one story commercial business that was at best 20 feet off of the ground. She stayed on that antenna until it was too dark to take any more pictures and I left her sitting there looking very uncomfortable and uneasy. I was able to get a shot of her band that confirms that this is indeed Chessie with a black over green 49 / AD. At no time did she approach or land on the Hilton Garden Inn but did keep Casper in her sights.
So, to sum up. Hurricane is not at the William Osler Hospital. Casper is. Now Claire is not at the Hilton Garden Inn. Chessie is. It would appear that two adults from two separate sites have relinquished control of their territories and the two that remain in the area, Casper and Chessie, are working to sort out where they want to be. Bruce and I will be staying on this. Where are Claire and Hurricane? Where will this potential new pairing end up? More questions than answers I’m afraid.
Posted on February 4, 2013 11:24 am
January 14, 2013 - International, National and Local News
Tracy Simpson Reports:
As recent events have tied this site with the William Osler Hospital, I am trying where possible to monitor both for activity by the peregrines in the area. As I drove to the site I could see two birds on the antenna of the Holiday Inn on Airport Road. This is just opposite the Hilton Garden Inn, is a perfect sightline for the Hilton and alt Hotels and is an area that Claire has been seen defending. As I approached the site, both birds flew off to the east and I followed one as it travelled. The bird came down low near the Doubletree Hotel on Dixon Rd and was definately on a hunt. I located the bird and it was an enormous female Red Tailed hawk. Usually when the RT hawks sit on the Holiday Inn, Claire gives them all she’s got to move them off as this is a hunting area for her. I have on several occasions watched her stooping on any loafing raptor on this roof. She must have been out of the area to allow this disregard for her territory.
I drove back along Dixon to Airport Rd and saw two sizeable birds whipping through the Hilton Garden Inn area towards the airport. I cannot say what species they were for certain, but flight style suggests peregrine. I checked the Caroga Drive hotels and the alt Hotel but no peregrines were to be found.
I will be attempting to include the Viscount Road area in my site checks as often as I can as the sites are only 4km apart. I have posted a map showing the distance as the peregrine flies. So far, no sign of Claire or Casper at the site or in the area but this is not unusual for the peregrines or at this time of year in general. I will keep you posted.
Posted on January 15, 2013 10:05 am
January 12, 2013 - International, National and Local News
Tracy Simpson Reports:
After visiting the William Osler Hospital and finding the male from this site over there, we drove straight to the area and began an extensive search of the buildings and environs for any sign of Claire, the resident female. We searched the alt Hotel, the Hilton Garden Inn, Marriot and Hampton Hotels to no avail. After combing the area, the only evidence that was to be found of peregrines in the area was the relatively new white wash found on the alt and Hilton hotels.
The lack of a sighting in and of itself means little as she could be out hunting or in an area where she cannot be seen. Given recent events at the William Osler site, we will be watching Caroga Drive and Viscount Road areas to see if Claire is re-sighted and whether she has another suitor.
Posted on January 14, 2013 11:31 am
January 06, 2013 - International, National and Local News
Frank Butson Reports:
Please read this article. An active Bald Eagles nest was destroyed with Ministry of Natural Resources permission. This is in Haldimand County, a spot in Ontario where endangered Bald Eagles nest as well as threatened species the Short-eared Owl.
http://www.chathamdailynews.ca/2013/01/11/pov-no-room-for-eagles-in-green-energy-act
Posted on January 6, 2013 11:05 pm
December 23, 2012 - International, National and Local News
Frank Butson Reports:
Our friends in Buffalo have been to check up on Gleig and Diamante, their local pair of Peregrine Falcons. They were found with all normal. Work is to be done on the roof their and that is why the extra monitoring. Vicki and Roger sent along a lovely picture of Gleig near the nest and Diamante all fluffed up against the wind. Thanks for the reports!
Posted on December 23, 2012 8:33 pm
- All Reports
Ann Brokelman Reports:
Many thanks to Michelle for spotting a peregrine eating close to her place of work. Tonight I received a call that the peregrine was eating a pigeon at Action Car and Truck Accessories and quickly turned around to go to location with camera. It is now 4:45pm and getting dark fast.
Michelle was at the door waiting but unfortunately the peregrine had flown off. Went out the door to see the peregrine eating the bird across the street on a hydro pole.
Snapped a few shots but with little light didn’t hold much hope. I had one shot that showed the band 79 over H - enought to confirm that it is Centennial.
A couple of shots. Will hopefully get Centennial during daylight next time.
Posted on December 17, 2012 8:43 pm
December 15, 2012 - International, National and Local News
Tracy Simpson Reports:
After visiting with Freddie and Voltaire at the Ambassador Bridge, Bruce and I travelled north through town to check out the area for the new pair that arrived in Windsor this spring. They did successfully produce at least two young but have since changed their site of interest. Initially their focus was on a communications tower at the Windsor CBC and so we checked that out first. Nothing. Around we go to park on Riverside Drive for a look at their other hangouts; the Hilton, the Chrysler building and Caesars. Snake eyes… …nada. Bruce and I then started a scan of the Detroit side of the river. The crossing at this point is very narrow and we were able to easily scan the buildings and rooftops of the Detroit skyline for sitting grins. We had to keep in mind that there is a nest in Detroit on Michigan Ave at the AT&T building and so we might see active grins, but not necessarily the ones we seek. This building was readily visible from our vantage point. Funny enough, the unbanded female at AT&T Detroit is paired with a male named Bud-z. He and Freddie share the same parents ( Fury and *7/X ) and share a hatch site in Ohio but from different years; Freddie was hatched in 2001 and Bud-z in 2000. I guess Freddie’s following in his older brother’s talon steps.
After 20 min Bruce picks up a flight on the Detroit side near the Millender Apartments of a single bird that could indeed be a peregrine. This bird flew south through the city towards the four Renaissance buildings and was followed by another bird. Definately peregrines. The pair circled around the four buildings and then like a shot, powered across the Detroit River and landed on the Chrysler building sign. We repositioned and found the female on the H and the male was already off and gone. After a minute or two we relocated the male at the Hilton flying around the rooftop. He located a cache on the SW side and then flew over to the Chrysler building to eat. We were able to confirm without a doubt that the male is unbanded. The female, who sat digesting her own enormous crop, was sitting back enough on the sign to hide her legs. When she stepped forward, we were able to see that she is banded with a Black over Red recovery band and a purple USFW. As the evening light was not the best, we were unable to read the recovery band clearly. What I can tell you is that this bird has very distinct streaking on her chest up into her crop area making her readily discernible from the male. The two sat together on the Chrysler sign for quite some time during the evening. The male was napping here and there but the female was watching the Detroit side of the river very intently. Even though she was cropped up, after 30 min the female flew off and decided to harass some pigeons on the neighboring buildings and we saw some great flights from her. She returned to the Chrysler building and the two sat close together for the next while. As dusk was approaching, the female began to vocalize and both her and the male took off after something right over our heads. We later discovered a very nervous Coopers hawk that had been hunting the lakeshore which was put down in a tree by the pair. Both the male and female did not return to the Chrysler and a scan of the area did not reveal their location.
This pair loves the Chrysler and Hilton buildings as evidenced by not only their presence but by the amount of whitewash on both buildings. The pair are also caching food on the Hilton, hunting the area and defending this section of the lakeshore. I look forward to learning who this new girl in town is and seeing where they decide to nest next year.
As a side note, on the Google Earth map I added direct lines of flight and the Chrysler building is 1.8km from the Detroit AT&T nest site and 2.7km from Freddie and Volaire.
Posted on December 15, 2012 10:06 am
