Im Back..an update

[MAK]

  Never a dull moment for you 2 eh Big Frank!? 

[Donna]

Well, there's one for the books!! Gee BF, never a dull moment, (indeed), with you 2!   My heart was pounding reading that!! Glad the Hawk was OK.

[jeanne]

Wow Big Frank!  Also shows how juvies/sub adults get into trouble when looking for food!

[Dumpsterkitty]

Big Frank-I saw your report about Peter from Hamilton Sheraton at Tommy Thompson Park http://www.peregrine-foundation.ca/w/2012/01/sightings/peregrines-spotted-at-tommy-thompson-park/ and I have a question.  Is the female unbanded?  Or was he unable to get a read on her bands?  Thanks!

[BIGFRANK]

The female is unbanded. They are a pair. Have mated this past year,but as the place they chose is private property we cannot yet tell where. They had 3 chicks fledge. The pair is being well monitored.  Please respect that we cannot give full information yet.

[Dumpsterkitty]

The female is unbanded. They are a pair. Have mated this past year,but as the place they chose is private property we cannot yet tell where. They had 3 chicks fledge. The pair is being well monitored.  Please respect that we cannot give full information yet.

Thanks!  I know there are a few private property nests around Toronto and I'm happy there are many willing to play host to a scrape.  I was just wondering if we knew who she was!

[BIGFRANK]

A post-snowfall walk for pretty snow pictures led me to a fun sighting on Friday.  As I walked down the road near Duffin Marsh, just around the corner from home, I saw a ripple in the water. I waited and watched. Soon I saw a Muskrat surface. It swam towards the shore, where I saw 2 more before finally seeing a 4th. I watched as they swam and ate. I was happy to leave them undisturbed. Here is a short video I put together of them. http://youtu.be/AUj0dghtlLw 

[Donna]

Now that's a pretty cool family you found there BF, thanks, nice to see something different! 

[Bobbie Ireland]

I liked that, BF! But here's a thing: Is a Muskrat the same as a Groundhog? (I need to know this before 2 February, you understand...)

[BIGFRANK]

Nope not even close. Ground hogs can be a way bigger and not ratty looking tail! Groundhogs dont do water much. They are plant eaters.

[~Ruth]

nice informative video and fun to watch

[BIGFRANK]

Tracy and I were into the barn early to meet with a few guests. We brought several of our feathered educators out to meet them too. Here are a few of my shots of Seamus the Barn Owl and Bubo(Boo to his friends) the Eurasian Eagle Owl.

[Kris G.]

Beautiful Owls.  What happened to them that made them educational birds?

[BIGFRANK]

See Seamus' story here on the Canadian Peregrine Foundation website http://www.peregrine-foundation.ca/programs/education/edbirds/seamusphoto.html (and some good photos)
 Boo's story can be seen here http://www.peregrine-foundation.ca/programs/education/edbirds/bubophoto.html Enjoy. None of our birds are injured in any manner. They are all human imprints.

[Kris G.]

Thanks for the stories, BF.  It's always interesting to read about how or why they became educational birds.