Windsor - Ambassador Bridge

Hercules walking about

June 09, 2013 - Windsor - Ambassador Bridge

Dennis Patrick Reports:

Hercules came off the ledge this morning (Sunday June 9th). Vicki, Paul and Mike said he flew low along the church grounds and then managed to come back and land on the metal box next to the walk light. He came across the street into the grass and we coaxed into the fenced area under the nest. He’s able to get onto the lowest ledge but hasn’t been able to get to the next ledge.

Banding Day at Windsor Photos are Here

May 31, 2013 - Windsor - Ambassador Bridge

Tracy Simpson Reports:

Thanks to the great reports from Dennis and Gwen on the progress of the young family of three!  One of the young has already fledged and been rescued twice by the team in Windsor and so this post on the banding information is a little late to the party but nonetheless important.

Really only a week ago, three healthy juveniles were banded on May 31st at the Windsor Ambassador Bridge.  Due to the local OMNR bander having retired, the first order of business was to try and arrange for another OMNR biologist from another district that has their permit to band come out and join us.  We must thank Anne Yagi for stepping up to the plate who was joined by Catherine Jong, Species at Risk biologist of the Alymer district office.  They were an exceptional team working together to make this happen.  Once we knew that a bander was available, we immediately started making calls to the Windsor Ambassador Bridge and the Windsor team of volunteers to try and pull together the event.  The bridge was quick to put together the lift truck and staff to accomplish the task and we are so grateful to the Windsor Ambassador Bridge Company for making this happen.  Then we were joined in this effort to organize the event by retired co-ordinators Dennis and Gwen who put in such an amazing effort to pull together the tent, tables, invitees and press which we know is no easy feat.  Our sincerest gratitude to Dennis and Gwen for such an outstanding job done and a testiment to the great group of volunteers in Windsor.  At the event, we were joined by CTV, the Windsor Star and Windsor CBC News who were surrounded by the watchers of Windsor as well as a gathering crowd there to witness the banding.  Marion Nash braved the lift to the tray where Voltaire was there waiting for her.  She was very vocal, active and defending like a great mother does and was quickly joined by a very annoyed Freddie.  The pair were fantastic in their defence which is something that we always like to see in the resident adults as a show of strength and committment.  Freddie was whipping Mach 10 over, under and around the bridge while Voltaire sat on the ledge and gave Marion the stare down. 

Back at the banding tent the three chicks had just arrived and all was set to go.  Your three Windsor stars, as gratefully reported by Dennis and Gwen earlier are:

Hercules          714 grams           27 day old male          R/48          Yellow tape

Tecumseh        677 grams          25 day old male          R/13          Blue tape

Gwenis             1016 grams         29 day old female      S/25          Red tape

The three healthy and feisty chicks were then returned to their parents and another good days work came to a close.  Again, huge thanks go out to the Windsor Ambassador Bridge for their quick organization of the lift and the park space, Dennis and Gwen, watchers extrodinaire, for arranging the tent, tables, press and invitees, Anne Yagi and Catherine Jong for their coordination and efforts to get the banding done.  Not to forget Heather and Erica, Anne’s daughters, who helped out at the event like pros!  Congratulations Windsor on a job well done.

NOTE:  My photo conversion software made the pictures all come out not as sharp as they should be.  Sorry about that Windosr.  I wiil fix and repost them shortly as you all looked so great!!

!!! Oops

June 09, 2013 - Windsor - Ambassador Bridge

Dennis Patrick Reports:

After looking at what I put on our site last night I forgot to put is that report was from the Team Member, Marliese. Hope you can forgive me, Gwen
Hope to see everyone for a short meeting this afternoon at 2.

!!! Hercules still staying off the ground

June 08, 2013 - Windsor - Ambassador Bridge

Dennis Patrick Reports:

This is an email we received tonight from Marliese, Thank You to all who were there today.

We had a pretty quiet day. Herculis stayed on the ledge north of the concrete pillars pretty much all day; still there at 8 tonight. Between Paul, Mike, Marilyn, Maureen and myself as well the odd drop ins we had the whole day covered. Voltaire came by and fed him. Nothing happening with the other two.

!!! Flies again!!!!!!!!

June 08, 2013 - Windsor - Ambassador Bridge

Dennis Patrick Reports:

What a handsome little Hercules, we put back onto the roof across the street from the nest site again yesterday morning at 11 A.M. he looked so full of life and even bigger. Freddie and Voltaire at first just watched him then with all of the squaking from all three of the chicks they both at different times flew in and landed near Hercules to welcome him back. Lots of noise from all three chicks. At 12:10 P.M. Voltaire flew in with food, fed Hercules first then flew up on the nest ledge to feed Gwenis and Tecumseh. They were all very quiet after that big feeding. Then at 3 P.M. back Voltaire came again with another food package for Hercules, he was quite happy with that feeding as well. At 4:45 P.M. Hercules decided that he would fly again, did quite well in his flying skills, landed on the abudment across the street. Walked around to the other side where we had Volunteers watching him and others watching what was going on with the other two still in the nest box. Crazy thing is Hercules just missed his third feeding of the day because as he flew off the building Voltaire flew in with another food package. Thank You to Paul, Larry, Maureen, Mark, Mike, David, Denise, Marliese and Marilyn for helping to Watch during the day and evening. Also to the Ambassador Bridge Company for again coming over with the lift to put Hercules back on the roof top yet again. When we left late in the evening Paul and Mike were still there keeping Watch on Hercules. Stay tune for more news. Gwenis and Tecumseh did a lot of squaking yesterday but stayed on the nest ledge. We believe it was too cold for them to want to fly. : )
Gwen & Dennis

!!! Hercules fledged

June 06, 2013 - Windsor - Ambassador Bridge

Dennis Patrick Reports:

After a totaly unanticipated and unobserved fledge.
Thank You to Paul for some quick detective work through the grounds keepers at the University of Windsor which led to finding Hercules. Thanks to some quick work by the MNR we were able to retrieve Hercules, he is the one with yellow tape, a quick trip to Dr. Sweetman’s and he will be released to the wild.
Special thanks to Kim the lift operator for the Ambassador bridge
Calling all volunteers because we thought his two siblings for sure were going to fledge first so it’s show time. We need early morning help, mid morning help, we need mid afternoon help and evening help. Just bring a lawn chair, binoculars and an open heart and these birds will sure fill it. Gwenis and Tecumseh appear well and flapping like crazy. Lets hope we don’t get a repeat of last year where big sister knocks little brother off the ledge over and over.
So come on down.
Dennis and Gwenster
(still retired but thanks for all the help)

!!! Hercules took flight

June 05, 2013 - Windsor - Ambassador Bridge

Dennis Patrick Reports:

This morning around 8am Hercules left the landing and flew to the U of
Windsor grounds. He was picked up by the Humane Society and will be
released this evening.
Paul

!!! Tecumseh, Hercules, Gwenis

June 04, 2013 - Windsor - Ambassador Bridge

Dennis Patrick Reports:

Wow, what a beautiful Friday, May 31 was for Banding the three Chicks. Thank You to Paul and Larry for helping us set up the tent, tables and Thank You to the Ambassador Bridge Company for cutting the grass. While we were setting up lots of noise was going on with the Peregrines, while Freddie was sitting on the ledge below the nest, Voltaire came in with a food package and they were all a very happy family.
Thank You to Mark & Marion Nash from CPF, Anne Yagi, Management Biologist who did the Banding and her two daughters, Heather and Erica. Also, Catherine Jong, Species at Risk Biologist. Of course we can’t forget members of the Windsor Team that came to observe and help where possible. We have Tecumseh, 25 days old, 677 grams, R over 13, Blue Tape, Hercules, 27 days old, 714 grams, R over 48, Yellow Tape, and Gwenis, 29-30 days old, 1016 grams, S over 25, Red Tape. We wish them all a healthy and very productive lives. Now the Team Members will be on Watch for the next few weeks to see what the three chicks will be doing.
Gwen & Dennis

!!! All three doing great after the Banding Day

June 01, 2013 - Windsor - Ambassador Bridge

Dennis Patrick Reports:

11 am saturday, June 1, the day after banding.
Saw Voltaire with all three babies on the ledge, OUTSIDE the nest box, feeding when I arrived; ; it appeared the babies were feeding themselves, picking at stuff on the ledge rather than being fed; feeding lasting about half an hour; Voltaire flew to pipe and Freddie on guard duty on the girder; when I left the 3 babies were still sitting on ledge, didn’t go back into nest. This is the report we received from Watcher, Marliese Thank You.

!!! Babies out of the nest box

June 01, 2013 - Windsor - Ambassador Bridge

Dennis Patrick Reports:

This afternoon I observed the three babies, Gweniss, Tecumseh & Hercules walking about on the butcher’s block. I can see the difference in size between Gweniss and her two brothers.
Paul