April 06, 2010 - International, National and Local News
Frank Butson Reports:
The good folks in Ohio,Chad and Chris,have once again let us know a Peregrine from Canada was seen and photographed by them. CPF-volunteer Kathy forwarded their information to CPF and Mark Nash of The Canadian Peregrine Foundation found the following information.
“I can confirm after checking our hardcopy banding records that the Black 15 over Black X banded Pefa that you make reference to was named “Marla”,banded on June -2- 2009 at an Etobicoke nest site, identified at banding as a female, weighing 889 grams at approx. 22 days old when banded.”
She has been seen in territorial scuffles with the resident female Peregrine who is now on eggs. More information on the sighting and photos can be seen at http://www.falconcam-cmnh.org/e107_plugins/forum/forum_viewtopic.php?49383.80
CPF is happy to receive reports and confirm identities of Peregrine Falcons. Thanks to Chad and Chris again for their inquiries and the great work they do in Ohio.
Posted on April 6, 2010 2:24 pm
April 05, 2010 - International, National and Local News
Kathy Reports:
Seems our Ontario Falcons have taken a liking to Ohio! Thanks to Chad and Chris of the CMNH Forum for sharing more wonderful news and photos with us!
Ely, Black Band 85/X, born at the King St. site in downtown Toronto in 2008 is the new resident female at the Cleveland Clinic. As of last night she had already laid her first egg!
Photos can be seen here of both Ely, her first egg and her mate Dipper!
http://www.falconcam-cmnh.org/e107_plugins/forum/forum_viewtopic.php?48561.70#post_50872
Posted on April 5, 2010 6:07 am
April 02, 2010 - International, National and Local News
Frank Butson Reports:
Chad and Chris in Ohio,have seen and photographed a young female Peregrine Falcon at their I-80 Ohio Turnpike Bridge Over The Cuyahoga River location.
The resident female,Lara and the male Rocky have been defending their territory.
For two days in a row (Sunday and Monday) Rocky drove out two different first-year female peregrines while Lara was less active. On Sunday, this first-year female perched in the bridge while Lara was in the nest site out of view. Rocky stooped through the bridge past her repeatedly, forcing her to fly out, and then he proceeded to dive on her and grapple with her high up in the air. Lara joined in a little after Rocky was in action for awhile, but she didn’t do much and then she perched in a tree and vocalized as Rocky continued to chase out the intruder. It was a rainy, dark day, but we were able to get one shot that revealed a silver right leg band and a black/black band on the left, so she’s a Canadian bird.
Chad and Chris eventually identified the band number as 32/X.
A CPF volunteer saw this posting by Chad and Chris,and forwarded it to us. Here is what we discovered.
Black 32 over Black X bandedwas produced at the Hamilton Sheraton hotel nest site last year in 2009, banded on June 2nd as a female at approx. 26 days old, weighing 1014 grams (empty crop) and was named Durand.
Photos can be seen at http://www.falconcam-cmnh.org/e107_plugins/forum/forum_viewtopic.php?48559.last as taken by Chad and Chris.
Her parents were Madam X and Surge - (Surge was hatched and produced at the Etobicoke - Bloor and Islington (Sun Life Centre) nest site in 2002.
Posted on April 2, 2010 7:39 pm
March 16, 2010 - International, National and Local News
Frank Butson Reports:
Quest of Rochester (Mariah and Kaver’s last offspring) with her transmitter is tracking at Eglington and Leslie as of March 9th. She flew by here in the Fall and we thouht she’d be back looking for a nest site. CPF staff will be keeping an eye out for her.
In June of 2008,Mark Nash of CPF was down in Rochester helping with the fitting of the transmitter on Quest.
Here is the story of Quests fitting.
Posted on March 16, 2010 1:39 am
March 15, 2010 - International, National and Local News
Frank Butson Reports:
Please come and see us at The Toronto Sportsmans Show March 17th-21st at the Metro Convention Centre in downtown Toronto. For more information see http://www.torontosportshow.ca/
Here are 2 videos of the gang at December’s Toronto Motorcycle Show.
The CPF feathered educators on Friday
http://tinypic.com/r/1zxrz8l/6
Dec.13th Final Show Day feathered educators including Shamus(Seamus) the Barn Owl
http://tinypic.com/player.php?v=68u7o8&s=6
Posted on March 15, 2010 4:59 am
February 11, 2010 - International, National and Local News
Matt MacGillivray Reports:
Did you know that most (if not all) raptors are protected by law? In Ontario, the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act protects hunting, trapping, or disturbing nests of most raptors including Peregrine Falcons. Most Canadian provinces and US states have a similar law. Breaking this law in Ontario can result in a fine up to $25,000 or a year in prison. A similar law, the Canadian National Parks Act, covers National Parks and can issue fines of up to $150,000 for disturbing birds including Peregrine Falcons, Gyrfalcons, Piping Plovers or Whooping Cranes.
If you stick to common sense, you will never be the subject of a Ministry of Natural Resources news story, as Shawn Bowes was earlier this year -
A Thunder Bay man has been fined $2,500 and prohibited from hunting for three years for shooting and killing a bald eagle. Shawn A. Bowes pleaded guilty to charges under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act. The eagle carcass was forfeited to the Crown. Bowes’ firearm was seized by conservation officers and will be returned once his fine is paid.
Court heard that on June 1, 2009, conservation officers investigated a report of gunfire at Bowes’ property and discovered a decaying bald eagle carcass in his yard. Bowes admitted to shooting the eagle in the summer of 2008. The bald eagle is a specially protected raptor under the Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act, and is protected from being hunted or trapped throughout Ontario. Bald eagles are also considered a species of special concern under Ontario’s Endangered Species Act. Justice of the Peace Ray Zuliani heard the case in the Ontario Court of Justice, Thunder Bay, on August 5, 2009.
To report a natural resources violation, you can call 1-877-TIPS-MNR (1-877-847-7667) toll-free anytime or contact your local MNR office during regular business hours. You can also call Crime Stoppers anonymously at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).
News story courtesty of MNR on August 27, 2009.
Posted on February 12, 2010 12:05 am
January 15, 2010 - International, National and Local News
Matt MacGillivray Reports:
CPF received a photo identification request a few weeks ago of this incredible raptor. It was taken near Banff Alberta, (Exshaw to be exact), on January 2nd 2010 by David Mitchell. Any ideas? It’s a tough one.
This photo looks like a lot of raptors, but it is actually a Gyrfalcon. As described by Mark Nash - while not common - (at least here in the east and south), the Gyrfalcon is North America’s largest falcon species. We (and you should see a few of them on migration at this time of year) as they pass down from the far north to the southern areas from wintering. You do actually have resident Gyrfalcons out in the prairie’s in your neck of the woods that hang around in the late fall and winter. They migrate back to the Canadian north for breeding season in the spring. They come in many different colour morphs from jet black to white to gray to silver in colour.
Incredible photo Dave. Thanks so much for sharing.
Photo by Dave Mitchell (copyright)
Posted on January 15, 2010 2:37 pm
December 31, 2009 - International, National and Local News
Matt MacGillivray Reports:
While not of royalty, Majesty, incorrectly identified as Majestic in yesterdays post, the Flint Journal and Michigan Times, has a very special family tree for us at the CPF.
As noted in a post earlier this year by Frank, Majesty was born in 2002 at the 18 King St nest site to the first recorded Toronto nesting Peregrine pair in over 100 years. The parents, Victoria and Pounce-Kingsley, were first monitored more than 12 years ago and were one of the inspirations for the creation of the Canadian Peregrine Foundation. They produced 29 offspring over 8 nesting seasons in downtown Toronto at the King St nest site, one of which was Majesty.
Majesty is the last known living relative of this inspirational Peregrine pair in Toronto. While born in the King St nest site in 2002, Majesty and her siblings were relocated just outside the city in Richmond Hill as a result of the tragic loss of Victoria and Pounce-Kingsley that year.
Now, in 2009, Majesty has moved on to Flint Michigan to continue the cycle with Maize. The family seems strong, having dealt with construction and a nest relocation earlier this year by MDNR.
Special thanks to Barb Baldinger, a Peregrine Falcon volunteer, of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, for correctly identifying Majesty from our previous post.
Posted on December 31, 2009 10:59 am
December 30, 2009 - International, National and Local News
Matt MacGillivray Reports:
It looks as if a 7 year old Toronto Peregrine Falcon named Majestic, has created a family with an 8 year old Peregrine named Barry from Ohio. The pair had a chick earlier this year, named Maize, who has become a bit of a mascot for Flint, and the local Michigan University according to this Flint Journal article which includes great photos and video.
It is great to hear about Canadian Peregrines moving on to create new families beyond our borders.
I have yet to find details about Majestic’s birthplace or parents in Toronto, but will followup with more details if we find them. Until then, here is a bit more information from the Michigan Times about the banding of Majestic’s chick Maize in the summer of 2009, including a great photo of a Peregrine atop the North Bank Centre.
Posted on December 30, 2009 12:29 pm
December 21, 2009 - International, National and Local News
Matt MacGillivray Reports:
Jerry Rogers, of Okaloosa County, Flordia, sent us a few pictures of what we can only describe as the bravest squirrel or smartest squirrel we have ever seen.
We concluded that this is the smartest squirrel, because he was able to identify the difference between a Coopers Hawk which will occasionally eat squirrels, and a Sharp-shinned Hawk who generally hunts birds, or much smaller mammals.
This time of year, we get many reports of raptors hunting in backyards. Unfortunately, Peregrine Falcons are not a raptor that you will find in your backyard. Peregrines hunt from perches, or in flight, high above their prey and will mostly hunt other birds. This means you will generally not see them hunting in your backyard.
If you want to see a Peregrine, come out during the fledge season to one of our accessible Peregrine nesting locations, or read about it, or watch our live peregrine cameras to see lots of Peregrine activity up close!
Thanks for the photos Jerry!
Posted on December 21, 2009 3:34 pm
