May 14, 2014 - Windsor - Ambassador Bridge
Marilyn Weller Reports:
I’m writing from the bridge where I’ve been watching for the past hour. It looks like Freddie was in the nest when I arrived but Voltaire flew in and took over so he left. He sat on the girders under the bridge and ate a bit and has been gone now for about 30 minutes.
I haven’t seen any evidence yet of any chicks and am still hoping to see Freddie return with a fresh kill. It might be evidence of chicks if he takes food to Voltaire and she begins feeding. There could be chicks that aren’t visible above the nest tray but it sure looks like she is lying on eggs.
Will keep you posted of any news. Should be any time now!
Cheers,
Marilyn
Posted on May 14, 2014 7:59 pm
May 08, 2014 - Windsor - Ambassador Bridge
Marilyn Weller Reports:
Paul has been checking mornings and evenings, and I joined him again tonight, watching for signs of hatchings. So far, Voltaire remains on her eggs and Freddie is keeping close watch. We should have babies very soon. Today would have been a beautiful day for a first chick to emerge, but we’ll have to continue waiting for now.
Posted on May 8, 2014 7:48 pm
May 07, 2014 - Windsor - Ambassador Bridge
Marilyn Weller Reports:
Greetings! We received the following news today that General Brock, hatched in Windsor in May of 2012, has been sighted nearby in Michigan:
Hello My Canadian Friends,
One of your male Peregrine Falcons may possibly be nesting on the tower at the Grosse Pointe Yacht Club in Grosse Pointe, Michigan. Chris Becher of the MDNR and I identified a male with the all black band of 22/V. He is General Brock, hatched at the Ambassador Bridge in Windsor, Ontario and banded on May 18, 2012. This is the same falcon that local birder, Tom Heatley saw on October 21, 2012 at the North Marsh of Lake St. Clair Metropark in Harrison Township, Michigan.
I had hoped to give you the identity of the female with him, but at this time, we only know that she is banded. We have not been able to confirm if they are nesting, so I will let you know when we find out.
Barb Baldinger
MDNR Peregrine Falcon Volunteer
The Windsor Falcon Watch Team is grateful to our friends in Michigan for this great news!
Posted on May 7, 2014 7:41 pm
April 20, 2014 - Windsor - Ambassador Bridge
Marilyn Weller Reports:
Excited to report that Viper (hatched in 2012 to Freddie and Voltaire) now is attending to 2 eggs in her new nest in Lansing, Michigan! Thanks to the folks in Michigan who have been posting pictures and updates from their webcam onto Facebook. Here is the link to their site:
https://www.facebook.com/LBWLPeregrineFalcons
Meanwhile in Windsor, Voltaire has been staying on the nest and is keeping her eggs well cared for.
Posted on April 20, 2014 11:34 am
April 15, 2014 - Windsor - Ambassador Bridge
Marilyn Weller Reports:
Viper has successfully nested in Lansing, Michigan and has laid her first egg. She successfully fledged in Windsor in 2012 and is one of the many strong, beautiful Peregrine offspring of Voltaire and Freddie.
Posted on April 17, 2014 7:40 pm
April 11, 2014 - Windsor - Ambassador Bridge
Tracy Simpson Reports:
This morning we were able to confirm that Viper, hatched to Freddie and Voltaire in 2012, is vying for a nest box in Lansing, Michigan at the Board of Light and Power nest site. She is one of several birds that are now actively seeking out “property rights” to the box as many different birds have now been captured on camera view (as many as four or more!!). During the past few days, it has been Viper that has been seen as the regular female attending the box so she may have won the day for the 2014 season.
Her band number was clearly photographed by Dina and posted at BCAW for help in identifying her. Looking back through our banding records and pictures we can say for sure that this is Viper, banded solid black 22 over W in 2012 at the Windsor Ambassador Bridge. A huge thank you to Kathy and Dina for sharing this news and helping us to get camera shots for identification! If Viper stays and nests in Lansing she will join 6 other Ontario females now nesting in Michigan.
Congratulations to the Windsor team, the Board of Light and Power and to all that are watching this new pairing unfold across the border. The first two pictures are from Viper’s banding in 2012 and the second two are from the Lansing Board of Light and Power that were posted on BCAW. Enjoy!
Posted on April 11, 2014 10:31 am
April 06, 2014 - Windsor - Ambassador Bridge
Dennis Patrick Reports:
Good morning,
Stopped at the bridge this morning around 8:45 and Voltaire was down in the nest tray. After about 10 minutes, she moved to the edge of the tray and Freddie landed on the western uppermost ledge with a fresh kill. He cleaned the carcass and brought it in next to the nest tray. Voltaire flew out and has been perched on the pipe under the bridge ever since. Freddie stayed next to the nest for a few minutes and then flew to Voltaire and copulated. He returned to the nest and sat facing into the nest for about 10 minutes before returning to Voltaire for another round of copulation. Now is on the steeple, perhaps praying for strong offspring.
After another 10 minutes or so on the steeple, Freddie flew into the nest and sat in the tray. He was clucking a lot and Voltaire remained on the pipe. Shortly after, he flew around and returned to Voltaire for another pairing and then returned to the steeple.
Freddie flew off towards the river and Voltaire has been perched on the pipe in the sunshine. She has been facing me for a while and while I don’t know Peregrine reproductive anatomy, it sure looks like there is a couple of egg shape protuberances at the top of her breast area. Can’t seem to find anything online about where the eggs emerge from but sure looks like egg formations there.
Voltaire returned to the nest for a while again and Freddie came back with more food. He’s been a very busy bird this morning.
It’s 11:30 now and I’m going to get warmed up and on with the day.
Cheers,
Marilyn
Posted on April 6, 2014 6:55 pm
!!!
April 05, 2014 - Windsor - Ambassador Bridge
Dennis Patrick Reports:
Saturday morning at 8:45 am from volunteer Marilyn: Forwarding some exciting news from Paul and Karen! I’m at the bridge now and Voltaire is on the nest box. No sign of Freddie. We should have chicks in about a month!
Friday evening around 8:30 pm from volunteers Paul and Karen: Paul just called from the Ambassador Bridge to say that Voltaire is
sitting in the nest. He was very excited.
Soon the fun will begin in Windsor!
Posted on April 5, 2014 1:04 pm
March 30, 2014 - Windsor - Ambassador Bridge
Dennis Patrick Reports:
On Sun, Mar 30, 2014 at 9:38 AM, <mloonweller@yahoo.com> wrote:
Good morning everyone,
I’m writing from the bridge this morning. Got here about 30 minutes ago and Freddie was perched atop the Assumption Church steeple keeping an eye on the world and Voltaire was on the pipe under the bridge. No action from either one.
After waiting about 30 minutes, Freddie took a leisurely flight under the bridge, circled around and flew in to Voltaire for copulation purposes. She seemed to be ready and waiting for him. Spring is in the air!
After the brief encounter, Freddie flew to the bridge and has been enjoying the sunshine perched just to the east side of the nest box but in the small area blocked from the nest by a steel beam and concrete. Seems to be enjoying the “afterglow” of his efforts.
The watch will begin soon!
Cheers,
Marilyn
Posted on March 30, 2014 11:26 am
March 27, 2014 - Windsor - Ambassador Bridge
Dennis Patrick Reports:
Yeah good news I am so excited I have to share. Like I do everyday I go on the web site to look at the nest sites. Yesterday I noticed the adult Peregrine lying down so this morning I checked again and all I saw was an EGG!!!!!
Have a great day
Dennis & Gwen Gidge Patrick
Posted on March 27, 2014 7:55 am
