July 21, 2011 - Port Colborne - ADM Mill
Doug Garbutt Reports:
This morning it was already 23 degrees at 6:00am when I arrived at work on my bicycle. You would not know it though as the strong winds off Lake Erie made it not feel so bad. The falcons took advantage of the winds to kite & do a little talon tagging. There were 3 togeather but with them up so high, from my viewpoint I couldn’t positively I.D. if there were 2 juvies & 1 adult or 2 adults & 1 juvie. It sure looked & sounded like there were 2 juvies. I also saw 1 juvie back in the nest box today, a rare sight indeed. Couldn’t see the coloured tape on the USFW band but I’m pretty confident that it was Olivia. To watch these birds fly is simply amazing.
Posted on July 21, 2011 9:18 pm
July 19, 2011 - Port Colborne - ADM Mill
Doug Garbutt Reports:
Just when I think there is only 1 juvie left here, 2 falcons streak by just squawking their heads off. I’m not sure if it is a juvie & an adult or 2 juvies. They are gone in a flash & I can’t capture it on camera. Not only that but the sky does not allow me to see any distinctive coloring of the birds. Today I saw Mom carrying a food package in full flight, one of the young was following her closely & snatched it out of her talons. I have attached a photo of what I believe to be Olivia landing high atop the grain elevator next door to our facility this evening.
Posted on July 19, 2011 10:08 pm
July 17, 2011 - Port Colborne - ADM Mill
Doug Garbutt Reports:
Last night I saw the 2 adults & 1 of the 2 young falcons all togeather, so I know for sure that there is still 1 juvie here. I could not positively I.D. the young one but if I had to guess I thought it might be Olivia by the size. I was out again today & watched as one of the young was practising it’s hunting skills & made several near kills but he had no success while I was watching. I say “he” because again, judging by the size I thought it could be Max. At any rate, there is still at least one young falcon here. I tried to get some pics but didn’t have much luck. I have attached the best one I was able to get.
Posted on July 17, 2011 2:33 pm
July 14, 2011 - Port Colborne - ADM Mill
Doug Garbutt Reports:
I’ve been trying to get a head count here but I’m not having much luck. Last night I had the 2 adults in my view. Dad was preparing a bird while mom watched. Out of my view, I could hear the unmistakable sound of a young one. Mom came & took the food package from dad & left my sight. Normally the 2 young are actively flying & squawking. We have not heard much of that the last 4 days. Perhaps 1 of the young has left. Early this morning when I arrived at work, a falcon was hunting. It appeared to be a juvie although I did not have my binocs. We’ll keep watching & keep you posted.
Posted on July 14, 2011 10:02 pm
July 09, 2011 - Port Colborne - ADM Mill
Doug Garbutt Reports:
Tonight, my wife Rose & I went on a bike ride out to the lake to check on the young falcons. We were able to see both along with Mom & Dad. The young were showing off their newly learned flying skills (alot in tandem). I guess they were not too hungry as they did not appear interested in the smorgasbord of birds available in their airspace. Makes us feel good that these guys still have a shot at survival & if they learn the necessary hunting skills, they will be on their way to having a family of their own one day.
Posted on July 9, 2011 9:56 pm
June 28, 2011 - Port Colborne - ADM Mill
Doug Garbutt Reports:
I have not had a chance to get out to the mill for the last 2 days so I was happy to be able to see the 2 young ones putting on quite an air show. The winds were very strong here all day long & when I got down to the lake they were even stronger which made great conditions for the new flyers. They took advantage by kiting around the sky hardly having to flap their wings at all. They were also tormenting the odd seagull or pigeon. In fact, as I watched Olivia through binoculars I noticed she was coming right at me and seemed to be getting rather close. I took my binocs away from my face just in time to see her stoop about 30 feet above me. All the time, Mom was watching from afar. I tried to get some pics but didn’t have any luck. I’ll try again tomorrow.
Posted on June 28, 2011 9:03 pm
June 22, 2011 - Port Colborne - ADM Mill
Doug Garbutt Reports:
It’s hard to keep tabs on what’s going on here but today I was able to see all 4 falcons (2 young, 2 adults) at the same time, so I know 100% for sure that both young ones are still alive & active. On my lunch break yesterday I thought I would go up to the 6th floor roof to try & view the young from a spot below where they hang out. Mom did not like my presense & dive bombed me & came about 5 feet away so I promptly left the area. The adults are always watching the young & taking very good care of them. So far, so good. Let’s hope it continues as we have had bad luck here the last two years. I’ll try to get some pics for my next post.
Posted on June 22, 2011 9:53 pm
June 20, 2011 - Port Colborne - ADM Mill
Doug Garbutt Reports:
The last time I was able to confirm that we still had 2 young OK after their fledges was Saturday night. Today I was able to confirm that at 11:15 am there were 2 active young peregrines here. Turns out Max made his way all the way up to the top of the 12 floor roof! You can’t get any higher than that here at our facility. When I left tonight he was actually back in the nest box. That was at dusk & he was crashed out on the ledge. I’m sure he is spending the night there. Olivia likes the steel beams to roost on, as do the adults. Our fingers are crossed that progress continues.
Posted on June 20, 2011 10:05 pm
- Port Colborne - ADM Mill
Doug Garbutt Reports:
After days of anticipation & thinking geewiz this guy is good to go, Max took the big jump at precisely 2:25 pm today. His 1st flight took him around the tower on the 12th floor where the nest box is. He lost altitude curving around to the 8th floor roof where he landed. It’s a good spot as there’s lots of room to practice flying without too many hazards. It’s the same roof Olivia landed on after her 1st flight yesterday. She already seems like a pro flyer & is trying to show Max the ropes. All the while the young ones were having fun & practicing on the roof, Mom was watching from above. It’s hard to keep track of what is happening but when I left late today Olivia & the 2 adults were accounted for. I’m sure Max found a safe spot to spend the night. I’ll check tomorrow.
Posted on June 18, 2011 10:32 pm
June 17, 2011 - Port Colborne - ADM Mill
Doug Garbutt Reports:
This morning when I arrived at work at 6:50 am there was only 1 young one in the box. Olivia at 43 days of age decided to take the big jump. She may have left late yesterday or early this morning. During my lunch break I took the opportunity to try and locate her. I was able to do so. Camera in hand, I managed to get a few photos of the new “free of the nest box” falcon. She appears to be able to get around pretty good as she 1st landed on the roof then flew up to a higher dust filter then around to the other side of our facility landing on a beam high up at the 10th floor level of our grain elevator. These are baby steps but she did very well on her maiden flight. We always worry about them ending up in the Welland Canal. I should mention that when she was on the roof that (like at the Burlington site), Rocky racoon was spotted. Perhaps that is what inspired Olivia to move to the other side of the building. Her brother Max is still stuck in the box. He looks ready to go and we think tomorrow will be his turn. Mom & Dad are not feeding him much.
Posted on June 17, 2011 5:37 pm
