affordwatches

Shift Change at 10:20AM, no hatch as yet, but very close!

May 02, 2011 - Toronto - Sheraton Centre

Mark Nash Reports:

I was lucky this morning at 10:20 am to catch a shift change and get a great view of at least three of the eggs, but slow to the go to save a copy the shot. Seconds later, while I was trying to save the great photo I had captured, one of the resident adults flew back onto the ledge and returned to the nest tray to cover up the eggs. Sadly. my first photo was lost during my scramble in an effort to copy save it, but I was able to sucessfully save a second photo showing a tiny view of the exposed eggs in the nest tray as the adult attempts to cover them up and carry on with their incubation duties.

Although there has not been a hatch as yet, its getting close!!
Stay tuned………….


More Quest And Kendal Photos

May 02, 2011 - Toronto - Don Mills

Frank Butson Reports:

CPF volunteer,Ann Brokelman sent along more fantastic photos of Quest and Kendal. Ann also reports seeing the pair mating. This was on April 30th. Thanks again to Ann for these images.


Kendal Leaving Nesttray Kendal Takes Flight Quest Comin At Ya Giving A Profile Quest Landing Lunch Quest Quest Preening

!!! Ranger Is The Resident Female

May 01, 2011 - Toronto - Mount Sinai Hospital

Linda Woods Reports:

Ranger has been clearly identified as the resident female peregrine falcon setting up house at Mt.Sinai Hospital.  A wonderful opportunity for Tracy to snap this photo and make a positive ID.

Ranger was hatched in Rochester, N.Y in 2001 and is the grand-daughter of Toronto’s first ever nesting peregrine falcons from King St, Pounce Kingsley and his mate Victoria.

Ranger’s mate has not been positively Identified as yet, but Peregrine Falcons mate for life, indications are that her mate is still Hunter, who was hatched in Columbus, Ohio in 2000. Ranger is wearing red and black bands on the left leg. Hunter wears green and black bands on his  left leg.

Nesting behaviour continues, and we are continuing to monitor and observe. Hopefully soon we will have photos of the nest itself.  Mother Nature has to bring us some warm weather and sunny skies to allow the adults a little time away from the  nest.

Thank you to the staff at Mt.Sinai and Princess Margaret Hospitals for their ongoing support and updates.


!!! Incubation Continues..

May 01, 2011 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre

Kathy Reports:

Jack gave Angel a nice long break this morning that lasted over an hour.  She ate a nice breakfast he gave her, gave herself a pedicure, did her hair, had a nap, chased a seagull off and watched the world go by.

He is sticking close to the nest site today and was there the entire 2 hours I was and was still there when I left on this Day 30 of incubation.

Angel Runs Off A Turkey Vulture

April 30, 2011 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre

Frank Butson Reports:

Long time Bloor and Islington Falcon watcher Terry Shiels sent this along to me.

HI FRANK;

THIS AFTERNOON A TURKRY VULTURE VENTURED NEAR THE NESTING BOX AND HOVER FOR A MINUTE OR SO.
 
THAT MINUTE MUST HAVE SEEMED AN ETERNITY AS THE FEMALE PERIGRINE BOLTED OUT OF THE BOX AND ASSUALTED THE TV.  SHE HARRASSED THAT TV ALONG BLOOR ST. THEN NORTH OF THE OFFICE TOWERS THEN SOUTH OF THE TOWERS AND FINALLY THE TV HEADED NORTH OF THE TOWERS AND SHE LET HIM GO.
 
IT WAS AN AFTERNOON OF DEAD SILENCE TO ALMOST HAVOC.  WE TRULY DID NOT KNOW BEFORE HAND THAT SHE WAS IN THE NESTING BOX W ITH THE EGGS, BUT WE ASSUMED AS MUCH BECAUSE THE TV FLEW AROUND FOR SOME TIME BEFORE SHE BOLTED OUT.

All Is Quiet

April 30, 2011 - Burlington - Lift Bridge

Sue McCreadie Reports:

Bill and I spent an hour or so at the Lift Bridge today.  Sir spent the whole time sitting on the Hamilton Hydro Tower.   We couldn’t spot Cirrus anywhere and we could see no movement in the box.  From this observation we would assume that Cirrus is still in full incubation mode, hunkered down in the nest box out of sight.   Hopefully, we will see some action soon.

A Pair at Holcim but Nesting Unconfirmed

April 30, 2011 - Mississauga - Holcim

Tracy Simpson Reports:

Bruce Massey was on-site at Holcim today with the hopes of catching some action from the peregrines in the area.  While they certainly are present and accounted for, Bruce was unable to secure band numbers on either birds or locate a ledge of interest.  We will continue to monitor the site and report on any nesting activity should this pair decide to set up house.

April 30th Missing Post - Brampton Territorial Male Identified

April 30, 2011 - Brampton - Courthouse

Tracy Simpson Reports:

Here is the post that was dropped when we updated our posting system regarding the identification of the territorial male at the Brampton Courthouse dated April 30th. 

Bruce Massey was on-site today and was able to make a positive identification of the male.  It is the bird known as Milton that was hatched at the Gulf Tower in Pittsburg in 2002.  This male and his young mate, Truss from the Burlington Lift Bridge in 2009, are still holding the territory but their status as a nesting pair is still in question.  While copulation was witnessed by Bruce last week, the adults are being seen off of the ledge at the same time most often.  There was a period today where both birds entered the ledge and “discussed the situation” but it is apparent that incubation is not underway at this time.  With the change over of the female from an unbanded one reported earlier to now being Truss has certainly disrupted cycles and timing at this potentially new site.  We will continue to monitor and update as we follow the pair this season.

Sad news from 220 Duncan Mill, an Egg Goes Missing

- All Reports

Tracy Simpson Reports:

Bruce Massey was on-site at the 220 Duncan Mill Road location that Quest and Kendal have chosen to make their new home.  He spent the better part of the afternoon watching the pair and was able to see a changeover in adults.  When the male stood up to let Quest on, it was clear that there is only one egg left in the tray.

While sad news, the pair is still looking after the single egg that remains and defending it from any dangers.  This new and inexperienced pair are learning the ups and downs of parenthood and are eager to continue with family rearing of the remaining egg.  There is still a great deal of room for optimism as the resident pair continue to work towards a successful hatch of their egg.

Egg Count at MEC.

April 28, 2011 - Mississauga - Executive Centre

Tracy Simpson Reports:

I was on-site at the Mississauga Executive Centre today in an attempt to fix the camera.  I was able to get a look at the monitor and see that the resident pair is now in hard incubation on three eggs.  Marco with Oxford Properties and I made all attempts to swap out the downed computer for the new one and restore the camera image to the website but ran into difficulties with the internet connection.  We have one cable attachment to repair and we should be up and running, hopefully, on Monday.  A huge thanks to Marco for his assistance in helping me to locate the problem!! 

I did take a moment to try and identify our banded resident female but the winds were too strong even though I had her clearly in the spotting scope.  I will make another attempt to identify her on Monday once the camera is repaired.