B and DC were just at nest together bowing.  DC left, B remains.  4:40 pm.

Hamilton - Part Deux

MADAME X POSITIVELY IDENTIFIED!

March 7, 2014 - While working on setting up the camera for this year's nesting season, we chanced to catch sight of the two adults, and captured this photo of them perched on the ledges along the front of the Sheraton Hamilton Hotel. A bit later on, Madame X landed on the nest ledge closest to the camera and we were able to zoom in, check her bands and verify her identity. We will verify Surge's bands at the first opportunity.

Our webcams will be in operation as soon as our internet connection is fully setup and working.

Hamilton Falconwatch!

IT'S ALMOST TIME!!!!!!


March 4, 2014 - In a few short weeks Madame X and Surge will once again begin nesting atop the Sheraton Hamilton Hotel. Positive identification of the birds will be made once we have our webcam up and running (soon!), but for now we are presuming that we still have our old resident pair, Madame X, back for her fourteenth year, and Surge, back for his nineth season.

In 2013 Madame X and Surge hatched two chicks, both girls - Laura and Brock, named for heroes of the war of 1812. Laura flew strongly from the very beginning, but Brock had some troubles, and needed to be rescued twice in the first few weeks. Both birds soon mastered the skies above Hamilton, were taught the essentials of hunting, and left the area in September. You can read more about their adventures in the History section.

Last year was an excellent one for webcam photos. Once they started flying, the chicks returned often to rooftops close to the camera, so that we had some amazing shots, including some rare close-ups of their behaviour and development throughout the fledging period. Our thanks again to the TD Friends of the Environment Fund for ther generous funding for that new camera, installed in 2010, which has made all this possible. We look forward to capturing more beautiful moments this season!

Our FalconCams will be reactivated within the next week (once again, with the generous support of Worldline / Fibernetics), and we will be on the lookout for courting and nesting behaviour. We can expect to see eggs in late March or early April.

Madame X was hatched on a bridge on Pennsylvania Route 309, the Cross-Valley Expressway in Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania. Banded as a hatchling on 7 June 1999, she was known to the falcon watchers in Northeast PA as 'Runaround Sue', a name suggested after she was found running along the expressway guide wall one morning. We are keeping the folks in Pennsylvania posted on Madame X's progress.

Hatched and banded in Etobicoke in 2002, Surge spent at least part of the 2004-2005 seasons trying to establish a nest at the Burlington Lift Bridge. In 2006 he replaced the male at the Sheraton nest and has been in Hamilton since.

Many birds exhibit a trait called 'site fidelity'. If at least one of a pair that used a nest site in the previous year return, and if there have been no significant physical changes to disturb either the nest itself or the birds generally, they will use the same nest site over and over again, year after year. Peregrine Falcons are known for site fidelity. This will be the nineteenth year the same nest site on the Sheraton Hamilton Hotel has been used.

How is Jack's other nest? Has he been over there?

He still goes back and forth.  I emailed Mathew about a month ago just to make sure TR Mom survived the winter and he said she is doing fine.   I do see him heading out that way on a daily basis and I often see O'Connor on her own a few hours a day.  Once they chose a spot for nesting, I expect I'll hear more.  Last year they had construction at his other site so they were late nesting...we'll see what this year brings!

Some good news to report though!

!!! First Observed Mating of 2014!!
March 07, 2014 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre
Kathy Reports:

Today started off at -12c and as the sun came out warmed up to plus 3 celcius!  It’s a glorious day for humans and falcons alike!

Jack and O’Connor spent much time basking in the sun and flying around today.  As I was leaving the office at 3:30 I couldn’t find them anywhere so I headed for the subway and as I hit the corner of Bloor and Islington I could hear them.  I looked up and there they were on the corner of the Moneris building - where I observed the first mating I’ve seen of this season.

Much later than previous years but not unexpected due to the frigid temperatures.  We’re not out of the woods yet but the week looks to be milder than it’s been in a long while!

Thank you for the report, Carly.  How sad for little Maverick.   I wonder what happened that caused his death so young, and at the site where he was hatched. 

I wonder too.  Perhaps he never left at all and due to the frigid winter has been there frozen all these months.  Maybe with Hurricane gone and the new male in, some sort of altercation occurred or he got caught in the crossfire.

Back again at 12:59..he must be above her somewhere.

Beauty is back on deck, must be warmer there today?  It's nicer here today too..only minus 12 instead of minus 30...balmy  

10:32 am, no stream at work but falcon just landed by the cam on deck if anyone is watching. Oh two now, one on deck and one in nest box bowing.  Looks like B in the box 

   Happy Birthday Donna! 

Sad News to Report; Maverick Has Been Found Deceased
March 06, 2014 - Etobicoke - William Osler
Tracy Simpson Reports:

I am the worst when it comes to reporting sad news and I can never find the right words yet this is an important update so here goes.

On Friday of last week, February 28th, I received a call from Ross with Environmental Services at the William Osler Hospital.  He informed me that he had located a deceased bird on the medical centre rooftop and that the bird was banded with a solid black recovery band marked R over 55.  I knew right away but confirmed it nonetheless that this was Maverick hatched last year at the William Osler nest site.  I drove down and met Ross and the two of us went up to the rooftop for a look.  When we exited the door I saw the bird down in the middle of the east side of the rooftop and it was without a doubt little boy blue Maverick.

After removing him from the rooftop I took a good look at him and it was evident that he’d been there for some time.  How long I can’t say but certainly his passing was not recent. I was incredibly shocked by this as he was the star flyer of the family this past season being the first to fledge and returning to the nest ledge within hours of his first flight.  He never once came to the ground or required a rescue and he was witnessed hunting like a pro with his father Hurricane around the hospital grounds.  The last time I can confirm his presence was on July 23rd when I was able to get a photograph of Maverick and his two sisters as they sat on the western ledge.  I believe that I also have pictures from later in August so what happened to him and when it occurred is truly unknown.  Thank you very much to the folks at William Osler for keeping an eye on the family and supporting them so well.  While this is a sad loss to report at this time, we look forward to the coming season with great anticipation.   

Falcon back on deck, can't tell who?  

I hope he stays safe, he's doing good so far.  He must be outside on the perimeter watching DC go back and forth.  Smart little dude.

I knew he'd be back-she's too beautyful to resist!!!   

I knew it too..lol 

He's back!  Just as I posted and as quick as that he's gone again!