June 03, 2010 - Windsor - Ambassador Bridge
Dennis Patrick Reports:
Smooth as silk, flawless are the best descriptions we could use.
The chicks are all very healthy. The three chicks were named Bridgette, Windsor and Lancer. Pud Hunter (MNR) over saw the banding assisted by Amelia (MNR).
The team spirit and support for the survival of these peregrines was contagious.
The Windsor Peregrine Watch team worked behind the scenes for months to make this a reality. Great job team you made this come together!!!! Special thanks to Phil Frame and the Ambassador Bridge crew whom without this would not have been possible.
For many great pictures of the Peregrine couple on the Ambassador Bridge go to our team photographer’s sight Jerry Peltier.
http://www.pbase.com/gerald_f_peltier.
Windsor Star link.
http://www.windsorstar.com/technology/Falcon+chicks+named+tagged/3080703/story.html
Posted on June 3, 2010 7:27 am
June 01, 2010 - Windsor - Ambassador Bridge
Matt MacGillivray Reports:
An incredible video of the Peregrine banding that occurred on May 27th by Jason Kryk of The Windsor Star. Mark Nash talks about the banding process and conservation efforts of the CPF while you get a fantastic overview of the entire banding process.
You can’t miss this video.
Can’t view the video? See the photos here - http://www.windsorstar.com/news/windsor/Gallery+Peregrine+falcons+banded/3079299/story.html
Posted on June 1, 2010 1:08 pm
May 17, 2010 - Windsor - Ambassador Bridge
Dennis Patrick Reports:
We’ve been 98% sure we had three chicks and have been struggling to be able to see for that last 2% to make us 100% sure that we had three chicks hatched. Well tonight Lou, Ken, you were right as we watched they all lined up along the nest ledge and waved!!!! Special thanks to Nicko who stuck with us in the rain and helped us 100%confirm the third hatch!! No doubt we have three chicks and they are growing like weeds!!!! They are getting huge. We should have some really good pictures over the next few days.
The maturity and confidence and team work of Voltaire and Freddie is light years ahead of last year!!! We are gased at the possibilities!!
Dennis and Gwenster and the whole Windsor Falcon Watch Team.
Posted on May 17, 2010 8:07 pm
April 20, 2010 - Windsor - Ambassador Bridge
Dennis Patrick Reports:
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED for our watch team. There is a work shop on May16th @ The Canadian Super store on Walker Rd. between 1 to 4.
If you are interested in more information or know that you would like to volunteer to watch the Peregrines take their first flights then send your email to:
windsorperegrinewatch@yahoo.ca
At 7:00 PM last night Freddie came out of no where with a food package. Voltaire accepted and flew to the pipe and ate. She then flew to the steeple and preened herself for an hour. At 8:11 Voltaire relieved Freddie on the nest and went into dark on the nest.
Voltaire was very relaxed more so than we have seen her when she left Freddie on the eggs. The changing of the guard only takes about 20 seconds so you really have to keep your eyes peeled.
Again any questions feel free to contact the above email.
We are not sure yet how many eggs the two have laid but we are hoping for four.
Posted on April 20, 2010 4:29 pm
April 09, 2010 - Windsor - Ambassador Bridge
Dennis Patrick Reports:
Freddie and Voltaire our Peregrine couple wintered over at the Bridge site.
We have noted some vagrant traffic showing interest in the real estate. They were escorted out of the Freddie ZONE!!
As of the beginning of April Voltaire has been displaying what appears to be “cooking” eggs or seriously incubating eggs.
At this time we do not know how many she is “cooking”.
Freddie is very attentive and on the scene.
Dennis
Posted on April 9, 2010 11:47 am
September 14, 2009 - Windsor - Ambassador Bridge
Dennis Patrick Reports:
Our adult birds are protecting the nest ledge vigorously. Since junior mysteriously disappeared we have been monitoring the site EVEN CLOSER. NO JUNIOR!!
Any information on what happened to Junior please contact us. Any information will be treated in total confidence.
The adults have settled into a daily rhythm but they are on the nest ledge it self far more than last year at this time
WE will be at Holiday Beach this weekend the 19th and 20th of Sept. for Hawk Fest to answer questions and just hang out with our peregrine friends.
Oct. 4th 1-5:00 PM we will be at the Grove Gallery to raise awareness of the Peregrines plight.
Victoria the owner of the Gallery will be hosting the event at her gallery The Grove Gallery. I will be posting more info.
Again any information on what happened to Junior please contact us.
Please continue to go down to the bridge site. You will not be disappointed if you love to see peregrines. In the evenings even after work 6:00 Freddie is always active hunting and so is Voltaire. They fly over head with total authority!!!
I have some other great shots but have been unable to upload them so hang in there.
D&G and the falcon crazy team.
Posted on September 14, 2009 8:24 am
August 10, 2009 - Windsor - Ambassador Bridge
Dennis Patrick Reports:
Our resident pair of peregrines is making it VERY-VERY-VERY Clear that they are not going any where. Both of them are roosting not 50 yards from the nest at most times. They go on the nest ledge and off the nest ledge, back into the corner of the nest ledge. From University Avenue you can hear them SO LOUD. I think there parent clocks are still running that they should be caring for young. If there was ever any doubt that they were going to hang on to that nest ledge even though they lost their young..PUT IT OUT OF YOUR MIND. You can relax!!!
I wanted to post this to put your minds at ease but have some very disturbing news to post about Junior our little fella. D&G
Posted on August 12, 2009 8:48 am
July 02, 2009 - Windsor - Ambassador Bridge
Dennis Patrick Reports:
Junior has been resting and we hope for x-rays to be done.
I know we are not supposed to make assumptions only report but it sure seems like Voltaire and Freddie are still chut-chut-chutting looking for junior.
Freddie has been seen just sitting on the nest ledge looking around and calling. The cooler weather has brought on some great flying displays. Fast stooping and swooping. Just beautiful. It appears exactly as we had thought all along Voltaire and Freddie have no intentions of going anywhere and haven’t budged from the abutment.
Very vocal up in the beams and on the pipe they love to roost on. Some of the ruckus sounds like when it was feeding time for junior but no Junior.
Voltaire has been doing rigorous cleaning and moving around on the nest for extended periods of time.
Both are really displaying dominance over this nesting site, with no intention of giving ground to any vagrant peregrines.
The evening displays especially when the wind has a Northern element to it are dazzling.
The pair are managing and maintaining the nest ledge very actively.
We wait anxiously on Juniors health.
D&G
Posted on July 2, 2009 8:34 am
June 27, 2009 - Windsor - Ambassador Bridge
Dennis Patrick Reports:
Junior the male chick is resting comfortably after a nasty tumble during the Vicious Thunder Storms we had on Thursday evening.
The family has not left to wander aimlessly around the region. Despite reports other wise. Two of our dedicated volunteers who are actually following what is going on at the Bridge found Junior grounded and with due protocol rescued the little fellow after that terrible storm.
We are all thankful that Ray and Toni listened to their hearts because of their love of the birds and went down just to see how the birds were doing. Gwen and I had been there in the morning but had other obligations going on when Junior needed to be rescued.
Gwen and I are totally thankful for Ray and Toni finding Junior, keeping their heads and most probably saving his life.
I will give you more information as I have it on Junior.
The chicks are not officially banded or named yet and the male will be named only in the event that he gets better.
There is still every reason in the world to go watch these birds dazzle you with their flight displays. We hope and pray that they stay loosely together as a couple around the bridge all winter again.
To the untrained eye you would say they have left but in actual fact they are hanging around in the same places they did before the hatch was announced and the commotion began.
As I said the Peregrines are not en route to sunnier climes and Junior is not on his way to South America he is resting quietly.
So lets put our thoughts and prayers into his convalescence.
I can’t thank our volunteers enough who are still faithfully daily keeping an eye on the birds. Ray and Toni just happened to be the implements that were in the right place at the right time but that began with their hearts being in the right place at the right time first.
So keep looking up and never assume you know it all. How can you learn anything that way? True genius is knowing that “the more you learn the less you know”. This is a book in the writing it is still in the works. I am thankful for the opportunity to be involved with such marvelous birds and the marvelous people who truly love the peregrine falcon.
Dennis and Gwenster and the “Falcon crazy Team”
P.S. I posted a couple stoop shots and some watchers!!
Posted on June 27, 2009 9:30 am
June 25, 2009 - Windsor - Ambassador Bridge
Dennis Patrick Reports:
You might ask “why is Nick’s Auto Clinic in our post”?
Nick’s place is in the shadow of the Ambassador Bridge and he is an avid supporter of the Ambassador Bridge Peregrine Falcons and our volunteers.
When we were pulling 16 hour days during the fledge watch and needed a rest or a rest room, Nick was a God send and I felt we should say thank you. He was also on stand by if we needed a cool place to keep a fallen chick.
He also rescued a couple of chicks!! He gave Caroline a jump start when her and Gwen were sitting in the car in the pouring rain and drained the battery. Thank YOU!
He is right where Sandwich Street turns into Riverside Drive and University Ave. Right at the “Y”
The youngster dropped a hand off of food this morning almost had it but chased it to the ground and mantled and then flew up onto the top ledge of the abutment. I didn’t think he would fetch grounded food, I was wrong. We checked on the family before the fire works and then after and they didn’t seem to be bothered.
The youngsters flights are showing more and more control and he is chasing the adults for food which will lead him to make his own lunch! They are making him pluck some of the food packages as well.
D&G
Posted on June 25, 2009 12:17 pm
