I am very happy to report that we have 3 healthy babies. They were banded by MNRF on May 25, 2015.
We have:
Male - Lucifer - weighing 666 grams - banded black B/11 with blue tape
Male - Wellington - weighing 676 grams - banded black B/10 with red tape
Female - Stella - weighing 975 grams - banded black K/24 with yellow tape
They should be taking their first flights sometime this week. Unfortunately, due to the construction on the Lift Bridge, the Skyway and with the pier and parking fenced off. Bill and I have advised the Canadian Peregrine Foundation that we will not be doing the watch this year. We feel it is better to not know than to see a bird go down and not be able to do anything about it. That would be heartbreaking for me.
Wednesday 3 June 2015
Monday 16 March 2015
Monday, March 16, 2015 - If I Were A Betting Woman, I Would Say We Have An Egg or Eggs!
10:30 AM to 11:30 AM
+4 C / 39 F
Clear and Sunny
Cirrus and Mackenzie
Photos copyright of Bill McCreadie
1:00 PM to 2:30 PM
+3 C / 37 F
Overcast and Foggy
Someone (mostly Cirrus) never leaves the corner of the nest box and Mackenzie spends quite a bit of time inside the box. Hmm, is he checking on eggs or is he working on the scrape? However, they are definitely not finished producing eggs as they are still mating and hard incubation has not begun.
When Bill arrived at the bridge this morning around 10:30 AM he found an adult in the Hamilton Hydro Tower. It was alarm calling and made several rushed trips towards the Skyway Bridge. We have no idea what was so upsetting as it was out of sight. When the danger had passed, the adult came back to the corner of the nest box and it turned out to be Cirrus. When she landed on the box, Mackenzie exited the box where he had been the whole time. He flew around the bridge and came back and copulated with her.
While we watched this afternoon, we heard lots of calling and saw Mackenzie deliver a meal to the roof of the Burlington Tower. He prepared it a little as we saw lots of black feathers flying. He then delivered it to Cirrus in the next box with great vocals. Cirrus didn't appear too interested so he removed it and took it to one of the picnic tables. He then took off under the Skyway and appeared to stash it up on to one of the Skyway light standards. He returned to the Hamilton Hydro Tower where he watched Cirrus. A short time later, he circled the bridge and copulated with Cirrus again.
+4 C / 39 F
Clear and Sunny
Cirrus and Mackenzie
Photos copyright of Bill McCreadie
1:00 PM to 2:30 PM
+3 C / 37 F
Overcast and Foggy
Someone (mostly Cirrus) never leaves the corner of the nest box and Mackenzie spends quite a bit of time inside the box. Hmm, is he checking on eggs or is he working on the scrape? However, they are definitely not finished producing eggs as they are still mating and hard incubation has not begun.
When Bill arrived at the bridge this morning around 10:30 AM he found an adult in the Hamilton Hydro Tower. It was alarm calling and made several rushed trips towards the Skyway Bridge. We have no idea what was so upsetting as it was out of sight. When the danger had passed, the adult came back to the corner of the nest box and it turned out to be Cirrus. When she landed on the box, Mackenzie exited the box where he had been the whole time. He flew around the bridge and came back and copulated with her.
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| Mackenzie Leaves the Nest Box |
While we watched this afternoon, we heard lots of calling and saw Mackenzie deliver a meal to the roof of the Burlington Tower. He prepared it a little as we saw lots of black feathers flying. He then delivered it to Cirrus in the next box with great vocals. Cirrus didn't appear too interested so he removed it and took it to one of the picnic tables. He then took off under the Skyway and appeared to stash it up on to one of the Skyway light standards. He returned to the Hamilton Hydro Tower where he watched Cirrus. A short time later, he circled the bridge and copulated with Cirrus again.
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| Mackenzie Brings Food |
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| Mackenzie and Cirrus Discuss Food |
Tuesday 10 March 2015
Sunday, March 8, 2015 - Mating Season is in Full Swing
+1 C / 33 F
12:30 PM
Sunny and clear
Cirrus (confirmed by band number) and Mackenzie (still
not confirmed)
+4 C / 39 F
10:00 AMSunny and clear
Photos copyright of Bill McCreadie
Finally, above zero degrees for 2 days in row. The canal is no longer frozen over. Just the odd ice flow is making its way out to the lake. The water fowl are once again busy diving for food and the Trumpeter Swans are visiting daily so they can drink and bath. YAH!!!
Cirrus and Mackenzie are very busy in and around the nest box. Cirrus is not straying too far. Mackenzie is in the box working on the scrape
while Cirrus is standing watch from the corner of the nest box. There is a fair bit of calling going on
between the two and lots of mating taking place. When will be have our first egg???
We were able to confirm Cirrus' band number but have not been able to confirm that Mackenzie is the male. We are working on it. Cirrus is now 9 years old being born in Dayton, Ohio in 2006 and Mackenzie was born in Etobicoke, Ontario in 2009 making him 6 years old this year.
Keeping our fingers crossed for a successful nesting this year.
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| Spring Mating 3-8-15 |
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| Cirrus steal dinner from Mackenzie. A Tug of War. 3-8-15 |
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| Spring Mating 3-9-15 |
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| Spring Mating 3-9-15 |
Saturday 17 January 2015
Friday, January 16, 2015 - Spring is in the Air
-6 C/ 21 F
1:00 - 2:00 PM
Sunny, Clear and Windy
Cirrus and Mackenzie (not confirmed as yet)
Photos copyright of Bill McCreadie
Despite the cold windy day, Bill took himself off to the Lift Bridge to see what he could see. Both Cirrus and Mackenzie were very visible. We have not been able to positively identify them as yet this year but we are working on it.
The mating ritual has begun. Mackenzie seemed to be working on the scrape inside the nest box while Cirrus watched from the corner. I guess he is trying to prove to her that he will be a good provider again. You can see just the tip of his head and yellow beak in this photo.
There appeared to be something in the area that was upsetting them and both birds took off and climbed until they were just specks in the sky, kakking as they went. Nothing could be seen with the naked eye. Several times they took off towards Burlington in hot pursuit of something that couldn't be seen.
Stay tuned, I'm sure we will have lots to report in the days to come.
1:00 - 2:00 PM
Sunny, Clear and Windy
Cirrus and Mackenzie (not confirmed as yet)
Photos copyright of Bill McCreadie
Despite the cold windy day, Bill took himself off to the Lift Bridge to see what he could see. Both Cirrus and Mackenzie were very visible. We have not been able to positively identify them as yet this year but we are working on it.
The mating ritual has begun. Mackenzie seemed to be working on the scrape inside the nest box while Cirrus watched from the corner. I guess he is trying to prove to her that he will be a good provider again. You can see just the tip of his head and yellow beak in this photo.
There appeared to be something in the area that was upsetting them and both birds took off and climbed until they were just specks in the sky, kakking as they went. Nothing could be seen with the naked eye. Several times they took off towards Burlington in hot pursuit of something that couldn't be seen.
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| Mackenzie takes off |
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| Mom watched from the cables |
Monday 7 July 2014
Monday, July 7, 2014
Photo copyright of Bill McCreadie
Well, I would have to say that the 2014 Fledge Watch at the Burlington Lift Bridge is over. We have not seen Ghent since June 23. Here's hoping that he is well on his way to independence. The photos below are the final ones that Bill got of him on June 23. As this Fledge Watch has taken up so much of our time, we now wonder, "What will be do for the remainder of the summer?"
Fly high and fly free little one. Hopefully we will hear about you nesting in your own territory some day.
Hope those of you who have followed along as we have watched from mating, to incubating, to growing, to banding and to fledging have enjoyed the journey.
Well, I would have to say that the 2014 Fledge Watch at the Burlington Lift Bridge is over. We have not seen Ghent since June 23. Here's hoping that he is well on his way to independence. The photos below are the final ones that Bill got of him on June 23. As this Fledge Watch has taken up so much of our time, we now wonder, "What will be do for the remainder of the summer?"
Fly high and fly free little one. Hopefully we will hear about you nesting in your own territory some day.
Hope those of you who have followed along as we have watched from mating, to incubating, to growing, to banding and to fledging have enjoyed the journey.
Tuesday 24 June 2014
Tuesday, June 23, 2014
A Peregrine Falcon Growth Chart
As some of you who have been following my Blog are new to Peregrine Falcons, I thought you might find it interesting to see the growth chart of a baby Peregrine. As we watch these amazing creatures from day one to fledge, it is no wonder that we care so much.
As some of you who have been following my Blog are new to Peregrine Falcons, I thought you might find it interesting to see the growth chart of a baby Peregrine. As we watch these amazing creatures from day one to fledge, it is no wonder that we care so much.
Sunday, June 22, 2014
Big Frank's Bench Dedication at Rosetta McClain Gardens in Scarborough, ON
On Sunday afternoon, Bill and I attended the Bench Dedication for Big Frank Butson. Frank founded the Hawk Watch at Rosetta McClain Gardens in the fall of 2004. He arrived at the park daily before sun up and left at sun down. He made many friends and introduced many to the bird watching habit. It has been a year since he passed away and about 30 or so Hawk Watchers and friends joined together for this dedication. It was amazing to see how many folk he had touched during his years at this Hawk Watch.
In addition to the Raptor Watch, Butson was also a dedicated volunteer with the Canadian Peregrine Foundation. Bill and I had spent many hours with Frank while he assisted us at the Burlington Lift Bridge Falcon Watches in it's early days. Frank was a fixture for weeks at a time at the various Falcon Fledge Watches across the GTA area.
RIP big guy. You will be missed by many.
On Sunday afternoon, Bill and I attended the Bench Dedication for Big Frank Butson. Frank founded the Hawk Watch at Rosetta McClain Gardens in the fall of 2004. He arrived at the park daily before sun up and left at sun down. He made many friends and introduced many to the bird watching habit. It has been a year since he passed away and about 30 or so Hawk Watchers and friends joined together for this dedication. It was amazing to see how many folk he had touched during his years at this Hawk Watch.
In addition to the Raptor Watch, Butson was also a dedicated volunteer with the Canadian Peregrine Foundation. Bill and I had spent many hours with Frank while he assisted us at the Burlington Lift Bridge Falcon Watches in it's early days. Frank was a fixture for weeks at a time at the various Falcon Fledge Watches across the GTA area.
RIP big guy. You will be missed by many.
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