Im Back..an update

[carly]

Thanks for the updates Frank and especially for the photos of Jack and Angel 

[BIGFRANK]

How I spent my Saturday! http://www.peregrine-foundation.ca/w/2011/11/sightings/mec-the-last-four-days-this-is-a-must-read/
Sunday Tracy and I returned to MEC to be sure Infinity was fine and that the intruder was nowhere in sight. She is fine and no sign of the interloper.
We also went to another site and found both male and female there. The male was chasing pigeons. What will next week bring?? Stay tuned,its never boring around here!

[jeanne]

How I spent my Saturday! http://www.peregrine-foundation.ca/w/2011/11/sightings/mec-the-last-four-days-this-is-a-must-read/
Sunday Tracy and I returned to MEC to be sure Infinity was fine and that the intruder was nowhere in sight. She is fine and no sign of the interloper.
We also went to another site and found both male and female there. The male was chasing pigeons. What will next week bring?? Stay tuned,its never boring around here!

BigFrank, so glad Infinity is ok!  Wow, what a time you all have! 

[Donna]

How I spent my Saturday! http://www.peregrine-foundation.ca/w/2011/11/sightings/mec-the-last-four-days-this-is-a-must-read/
Sunday Tracy and I returned to MEC to be sure Infinity was fine and that the intruder was nowhere in sight. She is fine and no sign of the interloper.
We also went to another site and found both male and female there. The male was chasing pigeons. What will next week bring?? Stay tuned,its never boring around here!

BigFrank, so glad Infinity is ok!  Wow, what a time you all have! 

That story is unbelievable! Thanks so much BF & Tracy, good job!

[MAK]

Those guys from CPF are the best! 

[BIGFRANK]

Thanks for the kind words and glad U enjoyed the report. Tracy may have to take up writing for Harlequin  Here is a shot of the happy couple I took,such as it is.

[BIGFRANK]

Not Everytime Can Be A Success
Tracy and I were at CPF office when Marion answered the phone to Mark. He had gotton a call from Burlington Liftbridge where a Peregrine was reported in the water! None of us were close enough to do a thing,but luckily we could dispatch local fledge watching couple Bill and Sue. They were on the road immediately. The bird was staying afloat sort of flapping and swimming by doing so. Bridge staff were at waters edge trying to help. This is a busy shipping lane,entering the water was not an option and a tide was going out. They did their best. Bill and Sue arrived,the bird had been pulled in. While we were thrilled it wasnt one of the resident pair of Peregrines,Cirrus or Mackenzie,the poor Redtailed Hawk didnt make it. Cirrus took the Redtail down. We all felt badly at the outcome,but either way that is nature. Natural enemies fight and sometimes one doesnt make it.
 We will always make our best efforts to save any bird of prey and get it to care.Not every rescue has a great result.

[Donna]

Hey, you gave it your best shot at a rescue! Poor RTH  . Thanks for trying.

[MAK]

As always CPF to the rescue! They sure do a good job up there in Canada! Too bad for the hawk!

[BIGFRANK]

So...what have we been up to? Well...we helped move CPF head office downstairs,a real task with a safe and ancient heavy..well built file cabinents. All survived the move with just a few lingering aches and pains. Tracy took me with her so I could see a friend at an in store event,where she talked and displayed Seamus the Barn Owl and Max the Harris Hawk. It was very well attended with the stores estimate of about 70 people,it was a real full house! As the store had linked us in their emails to frequent shoppers,many at the presentation had been following Tiago and Rhea Mae. We got a new bird feeder and  soon we hope to see some winter visitors.We did a pick up of food for our birds of prey too that week.
  I went down to Toronto for a few days to visit my mother and do some local birding. Weather wasnt great for it but I got in a few good walks and saw several birding buddies,so had a good time.  The raptor watch I started in 2004 finished up on the 30th,and it was a record year!! Im so thrilled Walter kept it going in my abscence this season. http://raptorwatch.blogspot.com to check results out(tons of great photos there too)
There is other news,but that must wait abit. Have to wait until its posted on CPF site.
 

[Donna]

Congrats BF, awesome records you all broke. So many raptors, (I can't even fathom that many). Great pics, great blog. Good luck with your next project. Thanks for all you do!   

[BIGFRANK]

Truely Donna thanks...the watch will continue next fall,likely with me at the helm again. I still get excited whether I see a Sharpshinned Hawk or an Eagle. I really enjoy introducing new folks to birding. My philosphy from day one is that if I can show people a bird,then they may care or even be moved to action! Not unlike myself,who had no idea most of these birds existed let alone that I could  see them in the city of Toronto,if I say Red-shouldered Hawks are in decline in Ontario,what does that mean to you if U never heard of them? never seen one and probably never will?? really why would U care? BUT if I can show them one,now its real. Maybe they will be moved to action...simply voting a different way and in best cases passing on the word and maybe volunteering someplace? Never know who could be inspired and what great or small things they may go on to do. Folks from my watch have connected with others they otherwise wouldnt have. Now they inform others,some volunteer with CPF in various capacities,others with other wildlife organizations,that is my reward!
 All winter we watch for owls and over wintering ducks,as well as other small winter visitors. It makes the cold harsh winter a little more bearable. Of course I'll help out at the barn when I can and we will be monitoring and gettting ready for another nesting season with CPF,so while we all slow down abit,there are still few dull moments.
I encourage people to get involved who can with  their local Christmas Bird Counts(just search the net for one in your area),project feeder watch if that is something in your area?(bird studies Canada ) and later in the winter (Feb) The Great Backyard Bird Count. Its a fun way to learn and contribute to science.

[BIGFRANK]

Hi gang it was Santa Parade day and Parade of Lights in Schomberg Ontario,where we live. The town gets right into it and its quite a happening! Christmas On Main St

[MAK]

  Love the lighted trucks! Thanks Big Frank! 

[Donna]

You guys sure "Do it big" in Canada. My kind a Parade! Thanks BF!