June 18, 2014 - Windsor - Ambassador Bridge
Mark Nash Reports:
June 17th - 2014
Sorry for the delays in getting these banding photos posted as we have been running all over the province involved in peregrine bandings and with ongoing fledge watches at 7 different nest sites, its not given us any time to get in front of a computer and an internet connection. We’re now all in the streets on the fledge watches doing some very long hours dawn to dusk.
Oh my goodness, with 14 peregrine bandings completed in less than three weeks all over southern Ontario and some 1700 plus photos to edit, downsize and organize and then get posted to the many nest site nest web pages, its been a very hectic time.
So, here are some of the Windsor banding photos taken from nest ledge during the extraction of the hatchlings for banding.
Enjoy.
Posted on June 18, 2014 8:20 am
June 13, 2014 - Windsor - Ambassador Bridge
Marilyn Weller Reports:
Yesterday, Windsor Peregrine Watch Volunteers and other interested members of the public watched as Mark Nash from the CPF, with the help of the Bridge Corporation, extracted 4 healthy chicks from the nest tray under the Ambassador Bridge. Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources Biologist, Anne Yagi and staff member Catherine Jong, weighed, measured, and then banded our 4 beautiful babies, (3 females, and 1 male).
The first female was named Shi Bi Ke Si by the folks from the Algonquin Pikwakkanagan First Nation’s Mindiwin Manido Daycare and the name means Falcon. She weighed 832 gms and was 24 days old at the time of banding. Shi Bi Ke Si has a Red Tape band for easy identification during the fledge watch.
The second female was named Maya for the late poet, Maya Angelou. Maya weighed 950 gms and was 26 days old at the time of banding. She has a Yellow Tape band for spotting.
The third female was named Sojourner, after Sojourner Truth who was an African-American slave woman who fought for her freedom and was abolitionist and feminist. Sojourner weighed 940 gms and was 26 days old at banding. She has a Blue Tape band for easy identification.
The lone male was named Lancaster by the Bridge Corporation for the Lancaster Bomber flown during WWII. Lancaster weighed 682 gms and was 25 days old. He has a White Tape band for easy spotting.
Best estimates are that fledge flights will begin within the next week or so. The Windsor Peregrine Watch Team will need volunteers to assist in watching for flights and keeping our babies safe. Team members park in the faculty and student parking under the Ambassador Bridge and keep watch on the nest site from sun-up to sun-down daily. Any blocks of available time from new or existing volunteers will help keep our Peregrines safe. To get involved, speak with any of the volunteers.
Posted on June 13, 2014 11:17 am
June 09, 2014 - Windsor - Ambassador Bridge
Marilyn Weller Reports:
Plans are underway for banding of the 4 chicks at the Ambassador Bridge nest site in Windsor this Thursday. We are grateful for the support our site receives from the Ambassador Bridge Corporation, the Canadian Peregrine Foundation and the Ministry of Natural Resources without whose support, banding would not be possible.
Posted on June 9, 2014 8:45 pm
June 09, 2014 - Windsor - Ambassador Bridge
Marilyn Weller Reports:
Taken from a FB entry today by the
Peregrine Falcons Southeast Michigan
Interesting day of Peregrine Patrol for Chris Becher and Barb Baldinger! After our busy, exciting Friday of banding in both Mt. Clemens and Warren, we decided to take our scopes and stools to just sit at the marina of the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club and watch the tower for peregrine falcon activity. After an hour of seeing only pigeons go in and out of the space where the falcons were possibly nesting, we talked to the Harbor Master. He said they have been gone for over a week…. Disappointing!
We moved on to the “Nine Mile Tower” (Shore Club Apartments & Marina) in St. Clair Shores. There was a peregrine falcon sitting on the balcony of one the penthouse apartments. Time to meet the management! From the security guard at the gate of the Shore Club Apartments & Marina to the general manager, everyone was very nice and knew all about the peregrine falcons. We were escorted to a vacant penthouse apartment on the 26th floor and went up the spiral stairs to the bedroom level. There were two peregrine falcons! One flew off right away, but the other just stood on the balcony rail and looked at us. We read her black/red, 20/W band and checked the Midwest Peregrine Society data base. Her name is Theresa, from St. Mary’s Hospital in Chicago, Illinois. She was hatched and banded in 2012. The male returned and we saw from his black, 22/V band that he is General Brock, hatched and banded in 2012 at the Ambassador Bridge. This is the same pair that had been seen at the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club earlier this season. There was no sign of nesting on the balcony, so we were guided up the stairs and ladder to the roof. No nesting there either, but WOW, what a view! Since they are both young birds, we hope they stay around and nest at one of the locations next year.
Posted on June 9, 2014 8:39 pm
May 30, 2014 - Windsor - Ambassador Bridge
Marilyn Weller Reports:
Paul has now spotted 4 chicks in the nest here. This will guarantee a very action-packed fledge-watch for 2014!
Posted on May 30, 2014 6:40 pm
May 29, 2014 - Windsor - Ambassador Bridge
Marilyn Weller Reports:
Windsor Volunteer, Paul, called to report that he has spotted 3 Peregrine chicks in the nest at the bridge! Very exciting news. I believe that they are about 10-12 days old now.
I’ll let you know when I have news about banding. We will need to begin the fledge-watch fairly soon.
Cheers,
Marilyn
Posted on May 29, 2014 9:39 pm
May 29, 2014 - Windsor - Ambassador Bridge
Marilyn Weller Reports:
Volunteer Paul called to report that he has spotted 3 chicks in the nest here in Windsor! We believe that they are about 10 days now.
Posted on May 29, 2014 10:40 am
May 20, 2014 - Windsor - Ambassador Bridge
Marilyn Weller Reports:
Windsor volunteer Paul reports that he saw 2 beaks receiving food from Voltaire tonight. Still can’t see any heads but we have at least 2 chicks so far!
Posted on May 20, 2014 8:11 pm
May 19, 2014 - Windsor - Ambassador Bridge
Marilyn Weller Reports:
Over the past 5 days, numerous volunteers are reporting seeing feeding behaviour from Freddie and Voltaire. We have not been able to spot any babies yet but recognize the feeding activities indicating the presence of chicks in the nest. We should be able to count heads soon!
Posted on May 19, 2014 10:12 am
May 15, 2014 - Windsor - Ambassador Bridge
Marilyn Weller Reports:
Paul and I stopped by the bridge this evening and Paul had the scope to assist in viewing the nest. Voltaire was moving around more and facing west instead of east tonight. Paul thinks he saw her bobbing her head in a way that looked like she might be feeding a chick. No baby heads spotted but she isn’t lying down facing east as she has been for the last few weeks. I think we may have at least one chick now.
I would think with the rapid growth of chicks, if there is one hatched now (or more), we should be seeing heads and hearing cries very soon.
Will keep you posted as more news develops.
Cheers,
Marilyn
Posted on May 15, 2014 6:49 pm
