July 10, 2014 - International, National and Local News
Mark Nash Reports:
July 7th - 2014
Some really great news to report! During my spot check of the young Scarborough fledglings on Monday, I received a telephone call from Ann who reported reading a report of peregrine activity in Oshawa by the president and CEO at the Lakeridge Hospital.
By the time I got home that evening, I opened e-mail communication from the President and CEO of Lakeridge Health Oshawa with a report and suspicions of territorial peregrine activity at the hospital. After reviewing his photos that he attached to his e-mail, it was easy to re-confirm that his feathered visitors were indeed peregrines, (peregrines that are known to us), and his report of the harassment by two adult peregrines that his maintenance staff had received earlier while conducting roof inspections suggested that something else was going on other than just territorial behaviour.
A site visit was scheduled for the afternoon of July 10th.
Thursday July 10th - 2014
I met with Kevin and several senior members of the hospital staff and we proceeded to one of the north upper roof elevations to investigate further. Moments after our arrival to the roof , we were immediately met by two very vocal and rather annoyed adult peregrines that were already airborne, stooping and diving at our presence. I was directed to a lower elevation and quickly scanned the rooftop with nothing unusual to report. Despite not seeing anything after clearly seeing 98% of this very small roof elevation, the adult peregrines were far tooo upset with me to just be protecting a territory or food caches, so I asked if the latter could be moved to take a look at the other end of the roof.
The latter was repositioned that allowed me a view of the last few feet of this particular roof elevation where my original view had been partially obstructed by a chimney that exited from the top of the roof. It didn’t take but a second once the latter was repositioned to see the tiny secret that the chimney was hiding. A single small young peregrine hatchling was observed, looking quite healthy and very alert indeed!
The resident adults were photographed by all and hopefully we will be able to confirm their identity via the leg band identification as both adults are in fact banded. The larger female dawns a Black over Green leg band and the adult dawns a Solid Black leg band, with Yellow tape overtop of his silver leg band.
We suspect that this pair is the very same pair that attempted to nest on the Oshawa City hall back in April of this year that we were monitoring, where three eggs were produced. Sadly, the pair abandoned the nest ledge and their three eggs the following week after our site visit as a result of a heavy rain and wind storm moved in that drenched the ledge with water and high winds. Typical of most commercial urban rooftops, with the lack of suitable nesting sub- straight, and water accumulation are among some of the many reasons the peregrine nests fail in these environments. Unfortunately, we were unable to secure the necessary funding support we needed that would have allowed us to manufacture a suitable nest box and get it installed in time to prevent this inevitable outcome.
The nesting Oshawa city hall peregrines were both identified via their leg bands by the photos that I was able to take during my site visit. Both of these peregrines are know to us as the same pair that Rob photographed in Whitby back in January of this year.
We have confirmed that the resident nesting adult female at the hospital is in fact the same female that attempted to nest at the Oshawa City hall back in April of this year. The adult female peregrine was hatched in 2012 in New York State in the USA. She dawns a Black over Green leg band – 73 over AW and she was named “Alfrieda”,,,, named after one of the architects of the Central Terminal in Buffalo NY USA where she was produced.
Her solid Black banded male mate - band # 63 over X with Yellow tape overtop of his silver USFW band on the other leg is one that we banded on May 24 2012, produced at the Canada Square nest site. ** We have not confirmed that this is the resident male at the hospital as yet.
If it is in fact the same male, he was named “Simcoe”, (and was produced at the Canada Square nest site at the Yonge & Eglinton nest here in up-town Toronto). You can see the history of the Canada Square nest site on the CPF web site at - http://www.peregrine-foundation.ca/w/c/sightings/toronto-uptown-yonge-and-eglinton
Given the age of young Hospital hatchling, there remains a very short window of opportunity to get it safely banded. Thank goodness for Kevin and the hospital team for all of their incredible support and cooperation, and the dedication and amazing support of Mark Heaton from the Ministry of Natural resources, as I was able to coordinate in part a banding time for this Saturday!! Scramble, you bet,, but by Saturday morning, the little peregrine hatchling will be named, examined for it health, banded and returned safely back to its parents.
Stay tuned for additional news, as its going to come fast and furious given the rather short time this has all taken place!
Posted on July 10, 2014 11:51 pm
July 01, 2014 - International, National and Local News
Marion Nash Reports:
Yesterday, June 29, while surveying for odes, I had a female Peregrine Falcon buzz low over my head in a stoop. She pulled out of her dive just above water level, hoping to kick something up from the wetland. She was unsuccessful. This is only the 2nd time I’ve seen a “summer” Peregrine in almost 30 years of living in Haliburton County.
Lochlin is a tiny hamlet located SW of Haliburton, along Gelert Rd (Cty Rd 1). The large wetland complex is located on Ritchie Falls Road, about 1.5 km from Gelert Rd.
Cheers,
Ed Poropat
Haliburton, ON
Posted on July 1, 2014 8:54 am
June 13, 2014 - Burlington - Lift Bridge
Sue McCreadie Reports:
Ghent is doing well. Flying high and landing pretty good. While I wasn’t able to go the Lift Bridge today, Bill was there a couple of times to check on Ghent. We have already witnessed some talon touching with Cirrus. Today, Mackenzie brought in lunch. Bill witnessed a food exchange with the first live prey that we have observed. Ghent was accurate with his catch and flew well with it. He took it to a cross beam on the Burlington Bridge tower to prepare and eat. Great Job Ghent.
Posted on June 13, 2014 10:41 am
May 22, 2014 - International, National and Local News
Marion Nash Reports:
Wed evening I was going to my Birthday dinner.
Wed things were unsettled all day, whomever was visible was antsy. Then at 6pm I once again saw an male interloper driven off to the East, Midnight came off the ledge to join in but stopped at the BoM for a moment then straight back and in on the ledge. Male returned in 5 minutes and was very agitated. Thats is twice I have seen an intruder and I suspect there have been other incursions into their territory.
Then thurs morning at 645am she came off the ledge with no male to take over , she went to a corner 50 ft away and picked at a stash, she kept opening her wings and finally took off and twice approached the ledge before settling and going in CARRYING a small piece of food. Ten minutes later he returned with a kill and they did a midair exchange, he went in and she went to John st to eat! I believe that indicates Feeding and a hatch occured either Wed or early Thurs. This fits with my estimate of when incubation started and when a hatch would occur.
Grace maria and I are very excited!!!!
This morning there was a 7am exchange …. and while watching her eat we talked to construction workers arriving for work and told them we would update them if they would keep their eyes open for us.
Toivo, Grace & Maria
Posted on May 23, 2014 12:42 pm
May 01, 2014 - International, National and Local News
CPF Postmaster Reports:
March 8th - March 22nd - 2014
A big thank you to Bryton for his permission to post his photos sending in his Bald Eagle photos and observation report and to Rudy for hooking us up with Bryton.. We can only hope that the Wind farm industry isn’t looking, and that this Bald eagle nest doesn’t end up suffering the same fate as another bald eagle nest did in south western Ontario last year when the province of Ontario approved the destruction of an active bald eagle nest site in south western Ontario, and permitted the cutting down of a large tree that held a bald eagle nest to make way for yet another windfarm project. Shame to all those that were involved in that action, and their total disregard for our species at risk and our environment.
The attached photos have been cropped as they were way to large to post, so you are seeing a blow-up and small portion of the existing photos that Bryton sent us. Thanks Bryton!
Bryton reports:
The first time I saw the eagles they were sitting in a Silver Maple tree beside the river. That was around March 8th.
The second time I saw them was with the camera. There were some other people with cameras as well. The adult bald eagles were working on their nest, bringing large sticks to nest around March 22nd.
I have only seen them one more time since then. They were circling around the top of the Grand River. I have not seen them in the nest site since, so I am not sure if they are still there or not. They are building homes close by and there is a lot of traffic.
The bald eagles are close to the round-about on Fountain St and Blair Road in Cambridge.
Posted on May 1, 2014 12:48 pm
April 28, 2014 - Toronto - Don Mills and Eglinton - Amexon
CPF Postmaster Reports:
Monday April 28th - 2014
A quick site visit to the Don Mills nest site revealed what we were all suspecting, full time incubation is well underway and four eggs!!
While the Don Mills pair are now into their third year of nesting, they have chosen to set up house on the east column top of 250 Ferrand Drive instead of the sister building at 150.
For the past few weeks, the pair have been observed coming and going from a ledge on the top of an east facing column on 250 Ferrand Drive and obviously decided to utilize this new spot to lay and incubate their eggs.
The timing of my visit was perfect, as I caught the two involved in a shift change and was easily able to snap a few photos of resident adult moving onto the eggs. The best news, is that they are in hard incubation with 4 eggs and we’re all pretty excited about this news. Sadly, although, I was not able to get an identity of either resident adult birds given the speed of the shift change and my viewing angle.
Stay tuned,,,,,,,,,,
Posted on April 28, 2014 2:28 am
April 22, 2014 - International, National and Local News
Robert Williams Reports:
During winter birding outings on the Stoney Creek mountain, we observed a peregrine on a pole at the quarry on 10th road. Unfortunately it would not cooperate and show its legs, so we couldn’t get band information.
We kept checking back periodically, with no more luck until an early April birding report. Sure enough, we could see that there were in fact two peregrines at the quarry, having taken over the raven nest, (and the ravens were still at the quarry too). Again, though, despite repeat trips back we couldn’t get close enough to the birds to see if they were banded. They were certainly copulating and seemed to be in incubation as well.
Good news finally though, Tracy Simpson was apparently able to get a shot of the female showing her bands and identifying her as Athena, formerly of the Stoney Creek Fruitland site. Still hoping to id the male and see if Craig has joined her there, or if she has a new partner.
Posted on April 24, 2014 8:31 pm
April 07, 2014 - International, National and Local News
Tracy Simpson Reports:
Yesterday Bruce and I went out to the ICICI nest site at Don Mills and Eglinton for a check in on the progress being made by Jenna and Chester towards hatching young. When we arrived, we checked in with security first and then made our way out to the parking lot. After a quick scan we located Chester right away on the Foresters sign where he was roosting on the R; Jenna was not in sight. We set up to watch Chester and see where he was going to go when he moved. He came off of the sign heading straight for us and when he got over the parking lot he flew past the east side of 250 Ferrand and then circled back landing on the DeBeers sign. There he sat preening for about 15 minutes before he was off heading back to the Foresters building. He landed in the O and I must say retrieved a substantial cache from the back of the letter. It looked more gull sized than anything and he began to chow down. After eating his fill he flew back over to the DeBeers building and right up into the east ledge. He disappeared into the ledge being very vocal and about 1 minute later, he was out and on the DeBeers sign once again where we were able to confirm his band number. All of Chester’s attention was focused on the DeBeers building at 250 Ferrand, sister building to ICICI, and so we kept our eyes glued to his every move. He stayed on the sign a little longer this time before he was in the air and back over to the east ledge of DeBeers. He disappeared into the back of the ledge for several minutes but this time it was Jenna, the unbanded resident female, that came out to the edge of the ledge and took flight. She didn’t go very far, just around the corner to the sign, where she took up position showing off her very full crop. I think Chester must have muscled her out of there insisting that it was his turn to incubate.
The great news is that Chester and Jenna are in full time incubation. The interesting news is that the have decided to switch it up and change buildings. They are on the exact same ledge as last year but instead on the sister building to ICICI. We aren’t sure when they went down on the eggs full time but we believe that given recent observations that they may in fact be a good week into it.
Pictures to follow.
Posted on April 7, 2014 8:12 am
March 30, 2014 - International, National and Local News
CPF Postmaster Reports:
March 30th - 2014
Amexon Nest site - Don Mills & Eglinton - (ICICI)
While I know that I likely over reacting, it was never the less somewhat disturbing after spending several hours at the Don Mills nest site at Eglinton Ave and Don Mills Road having not seen either of the two resident peregrines anywhere. After more than an hour of sitting and watching the nest building and nest ledge, we decided to take a tour around the neighborhood to check all of the usual roosting spots and leading edges of most all of the other buildings from various viewing spots, and each turned up negative. No peregrines anywhere to be found!!
After talking to security, they did inform us that their grins were very vocal several days earlier, and could be herd from the ground level, so we know that have been around.
What was also somewhat disturbing, was the lack of “fresh” white-wash staining under their usual roosting spots. Hmmmm?
Thinking positively, we hope that they are already involved in full time incubation on the nest ledge, and the non-incubating adult was simply off hunting or roosting in a non-typical spot.
Time will tell, (and a whole lot more observations are needed)!!
Any assistance with observations if you have the time to get out and spend some time watching would be most appreciative!
Posted on March 30, 2014 10:34 pm
March 28, 2014 - International, National and Local News
Tracy Simpson Reports:
Had a surprise visitor at the CPF Raptor Centre last night. As I sat in my car watching the snow, above the treetops bombed in a hunting peregrine! Only one bird in the 14 years I’ve been at the barn caring for these birds has done this... …Hurricane. I am now desperately wanting to get down to the William Osler nest site and see if he is in fact home. The picture is not good as I was caught completely by surprise and it was taken during the snow falling (hence the white dots on the bird).
Posted on March 28, 2014 7:15 am
