A St Patrick’s Day Gift

photo courtesy of RCF

The luck of the Irish was with our spotter RCF today. She noticed a complete lack of pigeons at McKenzie Seeds today which is a clear sign that something is up at the building. In the past it has meant people working on the building, or more likely now as the building is awaiting renovation, unauthorized visitors doing unauthorized (and inadvisable) things. Fortunately it was the third option a week earlier than last year … one of the peregrines had returned. Hurricane is not known for her early arrivals so it would either be Wingo Starr, Hurricane’s Moorhead hatched mate from the last couple of years or a new bird – either of which was possible as Wingo has turned up a bit earlier than her in the past and it wouldn’t be the first time that a not-yet-identified female has turned up to check out the nestbox. RCF’s luck held and our returnee showed more than a little leg – he showed her his entire leg band and confirmed his identity. Wingo Starr is back in Brandon for his third year. Now the wait for Hurricane begins, though her return is far from guaranteed. Hurricane is our oldest bird in the province having hatched at the Radisson in 2007. She did well last year with three chicks, so who knows what the next couple of weeks will bring us from down south.