January 15, 2014 - Mississauga - Holcim
Tracy Simpson Reports:
During my trip out to Mississauga yesterday, my destination took me very close to the Holcim nest site and so I decided to do a quick site check on Storm and Caspian. When I arrived, I found Storm up on the top of the plant preening but he didn’t stay there long. He was off like a shot into the heart of the plant chasing lunch. He returned 10 minutes later without a visible crop so I don’t think he was celebrating a successful hunt. Instead he decided to take a break in the sun and do some feather cleaning. While I was there, Caspian did not make an appearance but I feel certain that she was down by the lakeshore somewhere. Storm kept looking off towards the waterfront and occasionally would flip his head at her roosting somewhere nearby.
It was great to see Storm on site and we look forward to another successful nesting season at Holcim in 2014.
Posted on January 15, 2014 12:44 pm
July 25, 2013 - Mississauga - Holcim
Tracy Simpson Reports:
Yesterday I had the pleasure of attending a summer camp in Mississauga for a presentation with our educational birds that was fairly close to the Holcim nest site of Storm and Caspian. I decided to head down and see if any of the young boys were visible and when I first arrived, no one was home. I circled around to the west side of the plant and I could clearly hear a peregrine calling but was unable to locate it. Back I went over to Avonhead Road and set up to watch for a bit and was not disappointed! I first found Hope (blue tape) on the east side of the nest building on the edge of the ledge looking east and howling. There must have been an adult or sibling out that way as it had Hope’s full attention. He made a few acrobatic flights back and forth along the east face before settling in one spot briefly. There he continued to call and it wasn’t long before a second falcon appeared. This bird was also a male and was flying like a fighter jet. He came in and stooped Hope which encouraged him into the air and the two were now chasing each other through the plant. This was Liam (white tape) and he was clearly making a nuisance of himself. Hope was not going to put up with this and the chase was on. Moments later both males were soaring above Avonhead Rd and a third falcon was in the mix. This bird was the same size as the boys, was definitely an adult and therefore must have been Storm. Liam and Hope chased him relentlessly and he finally zipped back into the heart of the plant and expertly disappeared before either of the boys could catch up and see where he went. The two boys continued to chase one another and I finally lost sight of them in the heart of Holcim.
While I didn’t see Hurricane Hazel (red tape) or Caspian, it would seem that the family are exploring more out to the east which is where I am sure the two were. In my brief visit it was great to see Liam, Hope and Storm and I look forward to visiting again soon.
Posted on July 25, 2013 9:44 am
July 23, 2013 - Mississauga - Holcim
Tracy Simpson Reports:
I received word from Margaret, one of our amazing watchers from the MEC site, that she was down at Holcim on Tuesday and managed to catch sight of one of the juveniles. She snapped off a quick picture and by the white tape that is visible, it was Liam. Margaret is regularly in the area and has been checking up on the family from Avonhead Rd whenever she is down there. Thanks so much to Margaret for the update and good to see Liam out and about.
Posted on July 25, 2013 9:43 am
June 11, 2013 - Mississauga - Holcim
CPF Postmaster Reports:
June 11th - 2013
While we haven’t received any updates of the young hatchlings since their banding, we have received some photos that Marg was able to get after one of her visits to Holcim on June 11th.
Marg writes:
I went by Holcim today and caught two of the boys living on the edge… Looks like things are heating up!
Marg Nelson
Posted on June 11, 2013 8:07 pm
June 03, 2013 - Mississauga - Holcim
Tracy Simpson Reports:
June 3rd - 2013 - Banding Day
On Monday June 3rd, we had the wonderful opportunity to band the three chicks at the Holcim Cement plant surrounded by excited plant staff. Armando and Barb at Holcim having been keeping an eye on the resident adult pair Caspian and Storm as they laid and incubated eggs throughout the spring and hatched three young ones in early May. Once we knew we had a hatch, Barb Smith was quick to set the arrangements in motion, alerting Mark to the hatch dates so that we could book our extractionist, John Miller, for a day within the safe age window to band. We then coordinated with Mark Heaton, Aurora district OMNR biologist, to set it all up and it was underway.
When we arrived, John Miller got set up for the extraction while Caspian took off to the west on a hunt. Storm then flew out to the east but didn’t go far on a hunt of his own. As the extraction began, it was Storm that took the initiative and was all over it!! He did an amazing job as Caspian was well out of the sightline and earshot so was unaware what was taking place. Storm flew out to the west, found her and told her what we were up to. Boy was she mad!! She joined Storm in the defence of the ledge and the pair did an awesome job being healthy and feisty parents. The three young chicks were taken to the banding station and we were well underway. Your three Holcim chicks are;
Hope 665 grams 25 day old male R/46 Blue tape
Liam 665 grams 25 day old male R/47 White tape
Hurricane Hazel 675 grams 25 day old male R/54 Red tape
So many thanks must go out to the Holcim staff that have for so many years looked after their peregrines so well. Thanks to Barb Smith for arranging everything, Mark Heaton of the Aurora District OMNR for banding the chicks, Mark and Marion Nash for the behind the scenes arrangements and safety checks, John Miller for the extraction and all of the plant staff that joined us. Congratulations Holcim on a happy and healthy threesome and being our first site with all boys this year!!
Pictures soon to follow.
Posted on June 3, 2013 10:44 am
May 30, 2013 - Mississauga - Holcim
Tracy Simpson Reports:
On Monday June 3rd, the CPF will be celebrating the success of Storm and Caspian at the Holcim Cement banding event . The banding will be taking place at the plant and is therefore not open to the public to attend but we will post all the names, news and photos for you to enjoy! News to follow the banding so check back soon!
Posted on May 31, 2013 12:03 am
May 09, 2013 - Mississauga - Holcim
CPF Postmaster Reports:
May 9th - 2013
Another good shot just in by Armando, this time showing mom feeding her three new family members.
Posted on May 15, 2013 11:33 am
May 07, 2013 - Mississauga - Holcim
CPF Postmaster Reports:
May 7th - 2013
I visited the Holcim plant yesterday and at first didn’t see any peregrines but when I turned around to leave I noticed that one had landed on the “nest ledge”. It stayed there for a few minutes then did a fly by around the plant and landed again on the nest ledge. It then disappeared onto the level where the nest is and went out of sight. A peregrine then appeared and did another pass around the plant and landed under the structure where the nest is. There must have been a food cache there because it picked up some food and then carried back and forth then stashed it again. I think it was the male Storm because it has bands on both legs. I don’t have a scope so did the zoom zoom on my camera and this was the best I came up with.
It was great to see him again and now I know of another place I can look for them. Definitely out of sight for the naked eye.
I will be out that way again on Friday so will check in then to see what I can see.
Marg Nelson
Posted on May 15, 2013 12:59 am
May 13, 2013 - Mississauga - Holcim
Mark Nash Reports:
May 13th - 2013
A huge thank you to Armando for sending us these most recent photos of Holcim’s newest family members.
While I have been away in northern Ontario for the past 9 nine weeks, allot has been happening during my absence.
Some great shots arrived this morning that tell the story.
Armando writes:
Hi Mark,
Just a quick note to confirm (I think) from this image that we have 4 chicks. From the best that I can see in the pic looks like 4 little bodies. 
We are monitoring them daily.
Enjoy
Armando
Posted on May 13, 2013 2:32 pm
May 10, 2013 - Mississauga - Holcim
CPF Volunteer Reports:
We just received word from the great staff at Holcim that Caspian and Storm are the parents of three little ones with one to go!! This is excellent news and we look forward to the hatching of the final egg. Congratulations Holcim for another fantastic spring hatch!!!
Posted on May 11, 2013 8:47 am
