Canada Falcons: All but those hatched in Rochester

[Donna]

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!

Thank you Carly, what a guy!

[carly]

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.

[carly]

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.

[carly]

 Incubation is Underway
March 21, 2014 - Burlington - Lift Bridge
Sue McCreadie Reports:

-3 C / 27 F

9:00 am – 11:00 am

Sunny and clear

Although it was only -3C, it sure felt a lot colder. There was a cold wind from the Bay. As it was the first full day of spring, we didn’t expect to see the canal full of ice once again.

When we arrived, we could only spot Mackenzie who was hunting from the very top of the Hamilton Hydro Tower. The migration of Red-winged Blackbirds was continual and he made many dives (I lost count at and was unsuccessful every time.

All of a sudden Mackenzie started a ruckus and took off after another juvenile Peregrine. Mackenzie had some very harsh words for the Juvenile. When the coast was clear he returned to the Hydro Tower.

On our last two visits, there has been a Juvenile in the area.

Mackenzie started ruckus number two, and this time Cirrus emerged from the nest box. She had been in the nest box the whole time, laying down in her usual back corner not visible from the parking lot. Mackenzie and Cirrus took off after another Juvenile Peregrine. The two of them were very aggressive towards it and guided it out of the territory. There is no way of knowing if this is the same juvenile. They both returned and Cirrus disappeared inside the nest box and Mackenzie took up his spot on the very top of the Hamilton Hydro Tower.

A short time later, ruckus number three. This time a beautiful Red-tailed Hawk tried to fly over the canal. Cirrus was out of the nest box again, and she and Mackenzie were on its tail. The interesting thing about this is, there was another adult Peregrine in the mix. All three Peregrines gave chase. We have no idea where the third bird came from or where it disappeared to. Cirrus returned to the top of the Burlington Hydro Tower and Mackenzie to the top of the Hamilton Hydro Tower. It makes me wonder if we have another female in the area looking for a nest site. Neither Cirrus or Mackenzie attacked this bird, they all worked together to escort the Red-tailed hawk out of town.

When they were certain that all was clear Cirrus returned to the front corner of the nest box, where Mackenzie joined her and mated with her. Cirrus then disappeared inside the nest box and Mackenzie returned to the Hydro Tower.

After another attempt by Mackenzie on the Red-winged Blackbirds, he gave up and flew to the bay side of the Skyway Bridge. We think he landed on the base of one of the light standards. He was gone for a while and when he returned he went right to the nest box and delivered a small food package to Cirrus. I guess he had given up on hunting and went to his stash. Cirrus left the box and went to one of the cable plates (we know them as picnic tables) and Mackenzie took over the nest duties.

My guess is that we will have a hatch on or about April 22nd. The estimated hatch date last year was April 25th.

[carly]

First egg for Jack and O'Connor this morning sometime between 7:00 and 8:00 am!! 

[patsy6]

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!

Thank you Carly, what a guy!

Okay, I'm confused.  Dot.ca and Skye's mom is Angel, correct?  Is "TR Mom" Angel? If not, do we know what happened to Angel? 

[Dumpsterkitty]

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!

Thank you Carly, what a guy!

Okay, I'm confused.  Dot.ca and Skye's mom is Angel, correct?  Is "TR Mom" Angel? If not, do we know what happened to Angel? 

TR Mom is unnamed...and Jack's second scrape. Angel was displaced by O'Connor. She was seen alive after the takeover, but I don't think she was banded so her current whereabouts are unknown.

[patsy6]

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!

Thank you Carly, what a guy!

Okay, I'm confused.  Dot.ca and Skye's mom is Angel, correct?  Is "TR Mom" Angel? If not, do we know what happened to Angel? 

TR Mom is unnamed...and Jack's second scrape. Angel was displaced by O'Connor. She was seen alive after the takeover, but I don't think she was banded so her current whereabouts are unknown.

Ah, okay, got it now.  My goodness it's hard to keep track of all these pefas!  Thanks, Ei.

[Donna]

Etibicoke, 1st egg. Posted by Linda Woods! 

[carly]

Etibicoke, 1st egg. Posted by Linda Woods! 

That's Jack and O'connor as I posted above. 

[Donna]

Etibicoke, 1st egg. Posted by Linda Woods! 

That's Jack and O'connor as I posted above. 

Yes it is!!   

[Kris G.]

First egg for Jack and O'Connor this morning sometime between 7:00 and 8:00 am!! 

 

[MAK]

 

[carly]

Battle for the Territory at William Osler
- All Reports
Tracy Simpson Reports:

This past weekend I was out at the William Osler nest site to check in on Chessie and see who the resident male is at this time.  Last year Hurricane went on vacation for the winter and in his stead, Casper from the Viscount Road territory spent the winter with Chessie as his mate Claire had also left.  This past winter was a repeat of the previous season with Hurricane gone at William Osler, Claire gone at Viscount Road and the remaining adults, Casper and Chessie, keeping company.

When I arrived I didn’t have a bird in sight and then bombing in from the southeast came a male and female.  The two went directly to the nest ledge and tray and were vocalizing wildly!  A minute or two later, the male came whipping out of the tray and was off to the east in pursuit of something.  Off in the distance he met his quarry and it was in fact another male peregrine.  I could see that they were locked in battle over the residential neighborhood, grabbing each other and tumbling in the air.  They disappeared below the horizon and a minute later, a bird came flying back to the site and the ledge.  It took me about 20 minutes to get a look at the band and it was indeed Casper.

Who was this challenger?  Is Hurricane back and looking to re-claim his site?  I will be out there this weekend to check on just who is who and whether eggs have arrived yet.

[carly]

Buffy and Legacy at St. Mary’s Cement
March 27, 2014 - Bowmanville - St Mary's Cement
Tracy Simpson Reports:

On the road with Project School Visit I had the pleasure this week of spending time in the Bowmanville area.  Yesterday I finished early and took a moment to stop in at the St. Mary’s Cement nest site to check in on Buffy and Legacy after this long hard winter.  I met up with staff who helped get me out to the site and when I first arrived, I couldn’t see anyone.  It wasn’t a minute when Legacy came bombing in with food and Buffy was hot on his tail.  She almost landed on top of him, snatching the prey and taking it up top to dine.  Legacy sat one level below her and watched her eat, vocalizing occasionally, and cleaning his talons.

Thank you so much to the staff at St. Mary’s for taking a moment with me to check in on the pair.  I will be back soon to see what progress they are making towards nesting.