June 20, 2011 - Toronto - Don Mills
Mark Nash Reports:
The banding day is tomorrow and we will all have to cherish the days gone by as the young hatchling has finally taken its first steps out of the nest tray and now on to the ledge. Getting more independent as each day goes by, they grow so quickly and soon all of the fluffy white will be disappearing beneath the brown juvenile flight feathers.
I have been saving some of these shots to post as a reminder that moments like this should never be forgotten as life passes us all by so quickly. In this case, hatch to fledge, from fluffy cotton ball white to full size juvenile fledgling brown (first flights) in 40 days!
Enjoy.
Posted on June 21, 2011 12:28 am
June 18, 2011 - Toronto - Don Mills
Mark Nash Reports:
Just a quick up-date to let everyone know that all is well at the Don Mills nest site with Quest and Kendal having settled down after the brief set up of the swing stage equipment preparing for the banding on Tuesday of next week.
As you see while looking at the web camera, both Quest and Kendal have resumed regular routines despite the rope that now hangs in front of the nest ledge. Remember that the rope is nothing more than an inanimate non-human object and one that is not perceived as a threat of any kind.
The hatchling is growing fast and it will be very interesting to see if we have a male or a female baby.
Stay tuned…….
Posted on June 19, 2011 11:18 am
June 17, 2011 - Toronto - Don Mills
CPF Postmaster Reports:
This is just a quick notice to let everyone know that has been following and watching Quest and Kendals nest site that on Friday morning, and throughout the day, the window washers will be on site to set up the swing stage and other equipment necessary to facilitate access to the nest ledge on Tuesday for the banding.
While you might see ropes hanging in front of the nest ledge, they will not casse any harm to the birds. The ropes will be nothng more than a temporary distraction from their duties.. Quest and Kendal will settle back into thier regular routines as soon as the window washers stage is set up and the human activity is off the roof area.
It is necessary to set most of this equipment up well in advacence to ensure that everything is working fine prior to the day of the banding. Any unknown equipment challenges on Tuesday would cause un-necessary delays and/or cancellation of the banding altogether.
Posted on June 17, 2011 5:01 pm
June 08, 2011 - Toronto - Don Mills
Frank Butson Reports:
Ann Brokelman sent along these great photos from her visit today.
Thanks Ann for these tender moments. We are all looking forward to the June 21st Banding!
Posted on June 8, 2011 3:13 pm
June 08, 2011 - Toronto - Don Mills
Frank Butson Reports:
Report From Ann Brokelman
Went to visit the Peregrines this morning at 9:45. No sign of Kendal until later
Quest was sitting with eyas under wings. At 10:15 eyas was fully visable and signs of Quest looking for food for baby.
Quest flew off for 5 minutes and came back with food - but as soon as she left Kendal came on nest.
The eyas went quickly under his belly. No signs of any problems.
As soon as Quest returned Kendal took off.
She proceeded to feed the eyas for over 20 min.
I went downstairs and could hear the eyas calling for food.
Quest is a wonderful mom and very patient.
Kendal was sitting on the same building with no food.
Photos soon.
Posted on June 8, 2011 1:01 pm
June 02, 2011 - Toronto - Don Mills
CPF Postmaster Reports:
We received an update from Donna this afternoon in that she witnessed Kendal finally bringing in food to Quest on the nest ledge!!
While Kendal has been in overdrive hunting mode since their humble beginnings providing enough food to his mate to stock a small butcher shop, he has been a little “slow to the go” to bring the food directly into the nest ledge while Quest has been brooding mode.
In true male peregrine fashion while his mate has been incubating the egg(s), Kendal has been stockpiling the cache spots with mountains of fresh food,, and eventually figured out that he too must help out with the domestic duties and has been routinely assisting her with the incubation duties.
This “shift change”as we say, allows Quest to take a break from her incubation duties to stretch her wings and eat some of the food he’s been stashing for her. Up until now, Quest has not allowed food to be brought directly into the nest ledge,, (and for good reason)!
She instinctively knows that food on the nest ledge, (especially at this time now that there is a young hatchling in the nest), attracts unwanted scavengers and other predators, in addition to the various parasites that would be attracted to the nest ledge by the presence of food, so they rarely bring food directly to the nest ledge or eat on the nest ledge itself at this particular stage of the family rearing process.
Now that the egg has hatched, and a tiny new hatchling is present, the female becomes even more protective, as she must switch from egg incubation mode into brooding mode. She must now be extra careful to keep her new hatchling warm but not to hot, covered and concealed, but must be careful not to suffocate the young hatchling, and she must also be careful so as not to crush the tiny hatchling.
Until the hatchling(s) are much older, they can not regulate their own body temperatures, and a single hatchling does not have the benefit of other siblings to help stay warm.
As such, the adult female’s actions and routines change, as she is very cautious not to leave the young hatchling exposed to the elements or any un-wanted attention.
The male must also change his routine after the hatch when the chicks(s) are very small, in that he must bring food directly to his mate on the nest ledge so she can stay brooding and feed the young hatchling(s).
Over the past few days, Quest has allowed Kendal several opportunities to take a peak at his new family member, but has for the most parts been very guarded and only allowed him short supervised visits.
Most recently, she allowed Kendal a short ‘un-supervised” visit to the nest tray, but only after he didn’t respond quick enough to her demands to bring food to her on the nest ledge so she could feed the hatchling.
She was forced to leave the nest tray and the young hatchling alone with Kendal while she retrieved her own food. During this brief 2 to 3 minute encounter, Kendal was observed touching the hatchling several times with his beak and showed an intense curiosity. A very tender family moment indeed!!
Quest quickly returned to the nest ledge with food and Kendal was asked to leave! Quest proceeded to feed the young hatchling.
Stay tuned…………
Posted on June 2, 2011 11:53 pm
May 29, 2011 - Toronto - Don Mills
Mark Nash Reports:
It was an exciting day for sure!
By 8:15am this morning the telephone lines and e-mail were burning up the lines as news came in from Bruce that Quest and Kendal at the Don Mills nest site were finally parents.
We met Donna Hayes and Bruce at the Harlequin Head office around 10:30 am in the morning for a quiet celebration and to get a tale of the take as they say.
Quest could hardly stay still with the young hatchling squirming and fussing underneath her for the entire four plus hours that we were there. On two occasions throughout this same time frame, Kendal flew up to the nest tray in an effort to relieve Quest from her nest tray duties, and despite all of his efforts, he was quickly told by Quest that he was not welcomed and he was not allowed to come near the new hatchling. She did her best to conceal it from him. To say the he was very confused would be an understatement!
In an effort to keep his mate happy, Kendal was observed on at least three occasions flying by our window with fresh kills, and we watched him doing the usual prepping and placing them in the usual stash spots. But today, unlike most every day this past month, it was very obvious that was confused by his mates behaviour and he couldn’t figure out why she would not leave the nest tray and come out to the fresh food and eat.
At approx., 3:12pm, Quest started to call out to Kendal, and for the first time today, he broke the usual routine and brought one of the fresh food cache’s directly to her on the nest ledge! She very quickly jumped off her brooding activities, ran over to him and aggressively snatched it from him. She then proceeded back to her young hatchling and we witnessed the very first feeding!
I must admit, after more than 15 years of watching and documenting this same happening over and over hundreds of times at many different nest sites, I can’t remember a feeding ever taking so long,,, especially with only one day old hatchling! Also remembering that at this age - (actually less than 12 hours old), each hatchlings eats less food that it would take to fill a thimble! I should also add, that Quest dis in fact also eat during this same period and was one of the reasons that this first feeding took so long.
In addition, despite the fact that the hatchlings eyes were both still sealed closed, we watched it squiggle and squirm across one third of the nest tray to Quest while she further prepared the food. At one point, the little hatchling tumbled and rolled over onto it back unable to right itself for several minutes. Quest actually twisted her head upside down and continued to feed the little hatchling while it was on its back, even while both its legs and tiny wings were flaying in the air while trying to right itself. The little hatchling actually stopped it efforts to right itself and took several pieces of food from Quest while still flat out on its back!
I was equally as excited to finally be able to use my new camera and lens to capture some photos of the event. Its been a very long time since I have had a decent camera and lens.
By 4pm, Marion and I finally packed up and departed, satisfied that everything was playing out just as should be.
I hope that you enjoy the photos. Please remember they were taken through double pane glass and the obvious distortions are very evident. Only so much can be done to clean them up with photo shop.
Enjoy…
Posted on May 29, 2011 11:46 pm
May 29, 2011 - Toronto - Don Mills
Frank Butson Reports:
Ann Brokelman sent these shots for posting.
Posted on May 29, 2011 5:24 pm
May 29, 2011 - Toronto - Don Mills
Mark Nash Reports:
We have some great news to report this morning, as I can confirm that Quest and Kandel are parents! At some time during the evening and prior to 8:15 AM this morning, the single egg that Quest and Kendal have been so dedicated too has hatched!
Stay tuned for more of the details and some photos later today……….
Posted on May 29, 2011 9:06 am
May 28, 2011 - Toronto - Don Mills
Tracy Simpson Reports:
Bruce Massey attended the 220 Duncan Mill Road nest site today to check in on Quest and Kendal, our resident pair, and the single egg that they are caring for. Incubation was still underway and Bruce witnessed the stashing of much food by the pair in preparation should this egg hatch. If we do have a hatch at the site, this will be the fattest chick on record given all of the food that is ready and waiting!! We will be checking in on them each day and reporting on the progress of the nest site as a hatch is due any day now.
Posted on May 28, 2011 9:23 pm
