May 13, 2013 - International, National and Local News
Tracy Simpson Reports:
A huge thank you to Doug Smith for finding us and giving us some great observation reports that allowed us to do a follow-up on his report of territorial peregrine activity in Brantford Ontario. Thanks Doug, Well done!! Bruce and I arrived in Brantford at 5pm and headed straight for the church. As we drove into town, there were very few tall buildings in the area and this section of Brantford is a mix of commercial main street strip stores and residential. The Grace church is about .5km from the Grand River and is surrounded by houses. There is a parkette across the street and we set up there. Pulling up to this church I expected maybe Kestrels and was blown away to find a female peregrine on the back side of the church. She was roosting on a lower ledge of the bell tower that is a tall square tower. After 20 minutes she took off to the east and circled back with a male in tow. The male passed her in the air and reached the tower roof first. He had food. She took the food from him and they copulated. He took off back to the east and out of view. She flew out and back to the bell tower and ate. She has a purple USFW on her left leg and has a black over red recovery band reading 32/X. Her name is Rosie and she is a 2011 hatch from the Macomb County Building in Michigan and is daughter to Nick and Hathor at that site. I got a shot of them mating and the male had a solid black recovery band on his left leg and silver USFW on the right; Canadian born. We waited to see what Rosie would do after eating and she flew off to the east after the male. We walked east into a commercial section of town and found a few more churches and buildings that we scanned. We found the male on another church closer to the river and he was soaked. He must have taken a bath in the shallow section of the river. We were able to read his band and I photographed it. It is solid black 50/X and it is Skye, banded in 2010 at Etobicoke Sun Life and is from Angel’s last brood before O’Connor took over the site. He stayed on the church in the sun drying and we took a look for Rosie but couldn’t find her. As we were running out of light, we headed down to the river where a local resident said he saw them flying and looked around. The bridge that spans the Grand River has some amazing recessed areas that could easily be used by nesting peregrines. The Grace church bell tower is the tallest thing around but they actually can’t get into the open spaces in the tower as its chicken wired from the inside to keep birds out. The only option would be the roof of the tower. I can’t say for sure if they are nesting or not but they are definately bonded and copulating. The focus of their activity appears to be the Grace church. Bruce and I will go back for a good day of recon before things get really busy and try and figure out where they intend to end up.
Posted on May 13, 2013 1:42 pm
May 11, 2013 - Etobicoke - William Osler
Tracy Simpson Reports:
Bruce and I arrived this morning at the William Osler site to check on Hurricane and Chessie as we knew they were so close to a hatch. We hadn’t even parked the car when both adults came howling off of the ledge and out to the southeast. We finally got a look at what they were chasing and the Turkey vulture flying through was now beating a hasty retreat. We raced in to meet security and headed up to take a peek at the tray before the adults returned and covered up again. When we got upstairs and found Chessie had returned to the tray and was attending to a minutes old hatchling that was still pink and wet!! She worked to move the shells aside and then quickly covered the little one and its unhatched siblings. We were also able to confirm that William Osler has four eggs this year!!!! Congratulations William Osler, Hurricane and Chessie!!!
Posted on May 12, 2013 2:50 am
May 11, 2013 - Windsor - Ambassador Bridge
Dennis Patrick Reports:
12:15pm feeding time I observed Voltaire feeding 3 babies.
Paul
Posted on May 11, 2013 12:35 pm
May 10, 2013 - Toronto - Don Mills
CPF Volunteer Reports:
Quest and Kendal now have three little mouths to feed with one more egg to go!! A very exciting capture by one of our international camera watchers and great news for 220 Duncan Mill Road!!
Posted on May 11, 2013 8:58 am
May 10, 2013 - Mississauga - Holcim
CPF Volunteer Reports:
We just received word from the great staff at Holcim that Caspian and Storm are the parents of three little ones with one to go!! This is excellent news and we look forward to the hatching of the final egg. Congratulations Holcim for another fantastic spring hatch!!!
Posted on May 11, 2013 8:47 am
May 10, 2013 - Etobicoke - William Osler
Tracy Simpson Reports:
I have been visitng Chessie and Hurricane this week often looking for signs of the first hatch and although the first little one hasn’t quite arrived yet, we are due for a hatch here at William Osler. Hurricane has been his usual great self demonstrating his unique babysitting style once Chessie is out of eyesight. He sat for a good 5 minutes on the edge of the nest tray on Wednesday glancing over his shoulder and visually checking on the kids while preening and stretching in between. Chessie was stretching and preening on the southern “H” and when she flew back around to the east tower, Hurricane darted back into the tray like his tail was on fire!! Yesterday he was on the eggs again when I arrived but this time he was not to be moved. He sat on the three eggs diligently and every few minutes would wiggle down and adjust his position. Bruce and I will be stopping by this morning to check whether the first chick has emerged.
Posted on May 11, 2013 8:42 am
May 10, 2013 - Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton
Tracy Simpson Reports:
This past week I have been down to visit Haven and Stormin at Canada Square in the hopes of catching sight of the first hatch. While it hasn’t occurred quite yet we are so close!! Yesterday Haven was on the three eggs napping away and was suddenly compelled to partially stand and reach for some rocks to pick. She picked and shuffled and picked and shuffled until now she was off the eggs and in the corner nibbling on the wall. This is the exact same behaviour that Marion and I witnessed Quest doing at Duncan Mill Road just hours before her first hatch. She settled back down on the eggs but not before looking down at them and giving them a good talking to. This could mean a hatch today and by Monday I will be in touch with Cameron from Northam Realty Advisors for news on whether the signal we received today was indeed correct and the first chick has arrived. A big thank you to Cameron and Neil from Northam Realty Advisors Ltd. for being great hosts and watching over the pair. Don’t touch that dial, we are moments away!!!
Posted on May 11, 2013 8:28 am
May 10, 2013 - Bowmanville - St Mary's Cement
Tracy Simpson Reports:
Here are a few more pictures of the St. Mary’s resident adult male Legacy that I was unable to post before. After a few trims and adjustments they are ready for you. Enjoy!
Posted on May 11, 2013 8:13 am
May 10, 2013 - Toronto - Sheraton Centre
Kathy Reports:
Skygirlblue over at BCAW got this photo that shows three little heads being fed this afternoon. Photo has been lightened by her so you can distinguish their little heads!
Posted on May 10, 2013 4:40 pm
May 10, 2013 - Toronto - Sheraton Centre
Kathy Reports:
6:14 am and Rhea Mae just got up to take food from Tiago and in the far bottom corner I can see two little heads so far!
Posted on May 10, 2013 6:17 am
