After many attempts for a colour photo of Rhea Mae and Tiago’s four eggs, finally this morning around 11:15. It was a quick hand off of the nest, not even enough time to snap a second photo of either adult.
So here it is, the fab four.
Made a quick pass through North York Nest area, from Sheppard to Finch with no luck in finding them. However it was such a nice day, I didn’t mind not finding them but I am sure they are there.
On a whim, I decided to check the Eglington area. When I was doing the Christmas Bird Count for a Club I belong to just before Christmas, I was driving through the area, and thought I had seen a Peregrine in the area. After walking up from Davisville, much to my surprise I found a Male Peregrine perched on the Antenna on the Bof M Building on the SW corner of Yonge & Eglington. I observed the bird for an hour or so, in the hope that it would reveal a possible nest, but all it did was make several Hunting Flights and returned to the above Antenna.
On my second Quick Check I went to the Sheraton Center to check on the Peregrines. When I got to Adelaide & York , nothing was visible but again checking my trusty Blackberry I was able to access the Nest Cam and see one of the Birds Incubating the Eggs in the nest box.
Made a quick check of the various “Subway” nest sites. Started off with the King St Nest. Much to my surprise, it was raining when I got off the Subway, and as I walked over to the Nest site and found one of the Adults perched on the Roof of the Nest Building.
Dropped by Mississauga Executive Center briefly, and found the Male on the NE corner of 2. Using my Blackberry, I checked the Nest Cam and found the Female Incubating the Eggs. The good news is that both the Male & Female are on the same Page and both are taking on the business of Incubation together.
On my way home from Burlington, I stopped off at the Cement Plant at Clarkson. When I got there I had one Bird (Female) flying over the Plant between the Silos and the Main Plants. A second bird (Male) joined with the above Bird. At first I thought I had a pair that were at the Breeding Flight stage. That was until much to my surprise, a 2nd Male joined In. The strange thing is that the intensity of the Battle wasn’t as intense as some I have witnessed in the past. This was more like what I have seen on a couple of occasions over the years, not that I can confirm this, but my impression was that this was a returning Young Bird from former Years. The Adults are not trying to drive the Interloper out and even kill them, but to just drive them from the Territory. The Female seemed to be the aggressor and the battle continued for the better part of an hour & half. During this time, the Stoops were spectacular, Oflten they would start somewhere around the tops of the Silo, and cumulated almost at Ground Level, they also used up most of the entire Property. They also seemed to take “Time Outs” and it was obvious that they were getting very warm, as they would rest with their wings slightly hanging out. I left the area around 11:15 Hrs. when things seemed to quiet down.
Arrived early, but didn’t see them for about 40 minutes. I went over to the Boat Launch Area and when I returned to the Car to put up the Scope, the Male appeared at the Nest Box facing in. After about 10 minutes, the Male was Looking about and the Female came in, and she had obviously been eating. She went immediately onto the Nest, and displayed the obvious Incubation Activity (Being very careful and when lying down rocking back and forth). The Male flew overhead and landed in one of Hydro Towers a couple of Times. I will try to get down there sometime around the 1st weekend of May to see if there is a Hatch.
After seeing them individually through the Winter, I finally saw them come together around the 1st of March. As a pair they seemed to spend most of there time up around the North American Center at Finch & Yonge. Even at one point I observed them Breeding. They started to work themselves South, and this past weekend I found them hanging out around Condos & Office Towers on the East Side of Yonge just East of Mel Lastman Square.
Unfortunately, it seems like to date, they are acting similar to last year, in that they can’t seem to decide where to Nest.
Based on the best observation reports that we have received, it would appear the Niagara pair are involved in full time incubation activities as of March 24th at the old Ontario Power Generation in the Niagara Gorge (on the Canadian side). Nesting in the same place, it appears that the pair are currently incubating an undisclosed amount of eggs. If this is the case, and everything goes as planned, a hatch is expected some time during the week of April 26 to May 2nd.
Stay tuned…….