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)

 Monday, March 9, 2015
+4 C / 39 F
10:00 AM
Sunny 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.

Spring Mating 3-8-15

Cirrus steal dinner from Mackenzie.  A Tug of War. 3-8-15

Spring Mating 3-9-15

Spring Mating 3-9-15

3 comments:

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  2. Susan, Lovely and informative blog. I photographed the pair mating on the morning of Thursday March 5, 2015. You can view three shots of the mating sequence here:

    https://www.facebook.com/pages/Stephen-J-Stephen-Photography/334013883471217

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    Replies
    1. Thank you. Beautiful photos on your Facebook page.

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