Manitoba Falcon Cam Forum
Manitoba Peregrines => Radisson Peregrines => Topic started by: photosbydennis on January 26, 2015, 07:51
-
Another 1 1/2 months and it will be time to start checking...then it starts all over again ;D
-
I can't wait to see who comes back. And then there is the waiting; the hatching; the feedings; the almost unbearable cuteness; the nail biting at fledge time ...! ;D 8)
-
Another 1 1/2 months and it will be time to start checking...then it starts all over again ;D
Is it almost time for the countdown timer to be posted? It sure helps me to revvvv up!
-
The countdown timer is at 61 days now.
http://www.species-at-risk.mb.ca/pefa/blog/ (http://www.species-at-risk.mb.ca/pefa/blog/)
-
And thanks to you, bcbird, it is now in my favorites. :)
-
Thanks for the link BCBird. It is now on my desktop so I can check in often. Can't wait to see "our" birds again.
-
The countdown timer is at 61 days now.
http://www.species-at-risk.mb.ca/pefa/blog/ (http://www.species-at-risk.mb.ca/pefa/blog/)
Awesome, I was wandering if it was up yet.! Can't wait for another season of cuteness to start! ;D
-
42 days and counting!
-
According to my numbers..." 1st. " bird back will be in 31 day's...just my thought ;)
-
HEY people!!! - There was a BIRDIE sitting on the West Nest Box this morning at 11:50am! Good sized bird, light breast - wish I had my binocs!! ...... Who could it be????? :o
-
Oh exciting! I had a report from someone over at the Hydro building about a week ago that he had seen a falcon fly over the Newport Building and then swoop over Portage Avenue and then the Air Canada Building. So I've been looking. But all I've seen so far is what look like crows sitting on the Hydro letters. I assumed that was what he saw (he vehemently denies it was a crow though). So maybe!
-
Anyone out there remember the earliest one of the birds did appear in the spring? I believe the people who have seen a bird are correct and someone could be back already even if they are just passing through.
-
I think they were later last year (Good thing, brutal weather) - I remember a March 19th arrival a few years ago - seems a bit early now, but it's getting a lot warmer so who knows! Hopefully Tracey has her CAM on the nest and can have a look, maybe tell us if it was a Peregrine or not - and if so, maybe who is might be? :)
-
:) On one hand this is wonderful news. On the other hand, Tracy will be shutting the Forum down (temporarily) tomorrow for maintenance. I will checking frequently in hopes that someone has a positive sighting. I think the first to arrive last year was at the West Winnipeg site, Beatrice???? ;D ;D
-
Definitely a BIRDIE sitting on the Radisson box now. And it's a large bird.
-
Definitely a BIRDIE sitting on the Radisson box now. And it's a large bird.
Thanks for sharing ritebird and welcome to the forum. ;)
-
Really?? A peregrine at the nestbox?
-
Welcome ritebird :)
-
Definitely a BIRDIE sitting on the Radisson box now. And it's a large bird.
Thanks for sharing ritebird and welcome to the forum. ;)
Ahhhh - Sounds like the same birdie as yesterday!!!! - Who is it??? - Not even sure it's a Peregrine yet - need Tracy to check in!! 8)
Welcome Ritebird!!!! :)
**Shoot, I just read that the CAMS are all down - so Tracy won't be able to identify the Birdie on the West Nest just yet - Will bring my binocs tomorrow and if he/she is there when I switch buses at MTS Centre - will try and get a better look!! :)**
-
Really? Could it be a peregrine?
EXCITING!!!
-
I will be in the downtown area tomorrow, as well. Will bring my binocs for sure! :D
-
Does a maintenance really need to be done now, especially when it's, one of the most, exciting times of the season? Could it wait, or no?
It's just that..., who's who, where is who, who's going where with whom, and doing what with whom, will be happening soon, and who knows where with who and whom... :D
It was unfortunate, the forum maintenance did not happen during the slower winter months, but it's understandable, and respected with work schedules etc.
it's just that, all of the members, and locals, are going to be, "on watch", for the return of the peregrines. It is an exciting time for everyone involved...just sayin' and sharin' - from the good ol :-X.
The lookout and walkabouts begins... ;D
-
Cameras folks!! Cameras!!
Need to see birdie - doesn't matter how blurry or long distance it may be!
We are hoping that the connection to the cameras will be back this weekend but no guarantees - in the meantime - take photos with your cameras, phones, ipads, whatever. Once the connection is back up we'll see if we can see anything on the recorder (which continues even when the connection is down) and maybe we can get an ID that way.
Well done Ballywing for the good eyes and Cooper for keeping her ear to the ground!
-
As for the forum, we'll keep it live for a bit longer - will see what I can do in the off-hours until I can't and then we'll shut her down for as little time as possible.
-
Okay. I have now seen the birdie! He or she is on the Manitoba Hydro Logo facing east. At least she/he was from about 1:30 to 2:00 p.m. I did valiantly try to take several photos with my phone, but the worth of them are doubtful unless we're trying to prove there is a blob on the Hydro logo. :D
I haven't figured out how to get the pictures out of my phone to send anywhere though so... OH, maybe I'll get the user manual and figure it out this evening.
-
Just posted one of the pics on Twitter for those who follow me there.
-
;D My thanks to all for any and all info on our PF's Thank you TPC for holding off on upgrades. Excitements builds.
-
I have some spare time tomorrow and was thinking about heading downtown to see what I could find in the way of birdies. Maybe around 10:30, and then to Boston Pizza for a bit of a nosh.
If anyone is interested in joining me, let me know either here or by pm and we'll arrange a set time and place.
-
;D My thanks to all for any and all info on our PF's Thank you TPC for holding off on upgrades. Excitements builds.
Well said, gemcitygemini! I hope our early bird cooperates with the paparazzi and TPC can determine who is here. ;D
-
Okay. I have now seen the birdie! He or she is on the Manitoba Hydro Logo facing east. At least she/he was from about 1:30 to 2:00 p.m. I did valiantly try to take several photos with my phone, but the worth of them are doubtful unless we're trying to prove there is a blob on the Hydro logo. :D
I was downtown Friday btw 2:00 & 2:30 PM. Looked around, but unfortunately, didn't spot a PF. :(
-
12:15-12:25: Peregrine falcon perched on the west nest box. Woo hoo! It is a glorious day! 8) ;D
-
Great news Sparkster! What a thrill to see and on such a glorious day :)
-
Saw him/her too!! - No camera!! :( - Big bird - very light - almost looks completely off-white but can't be if it's a Peregrine. If they'd turn around in a circle so we could see all of them, it would be handy!! :P Whoever it is got to town nice & early this year - probably getting in first DIBS on the BEST NEST in town!!! :)
-
What great news that a PF is back in town. Just have to have it ID'd now. Wouldn't it be wonderful if it was Princess?! Here's hoping. :D
-
What great news that a PF is back in town. Just have to have it ID'd now. Wouldn't it be wonderful if it was Princess?! Here's hoping. :D
Couldn't agree more, Kinderchick!
Here's hoping the weather stays warm also. ;)
-
great news . Hope it is one of your favorites :)
man, I am not ready yet in Edmonton. they are usually a tad bit later
-
More great news - Radisson cameras are back online. A big thank you to Eye-Spy and the folks from Shaw!!!
Yes, peregrine back. Yes, looks like one of our resident birds - Smiley we think - band is black over green with a W. Haven't had a chance to see the numbers on the green yet but it is looking more and more likely that it is him. Interestingly, his behaviour is calmer this year, less itchy-n-scratchy always preening. More like an experienced resident male, which of course he is, but now he is looking more like it. Bit early for Princess' return but if she holds to tradition, sometime in the next 10 days. Having said that, she's an older lady and she may not make it back so we'll have to wait and see I'm afraid.
Cooper - your spotter friends were quite right, there was a bird back last week - first sight of him at the box was on March 10th. I've got some short video clips downloaded and will put them up on YouTube this evening. We had some other visitors this winter too and I'll post their clips as well.
-
0940h CDT
Bird sitting on the north side Rogers sign on the "s" preening.
He seems not to like to sit in the sun. He doesn't (at the moment) visit the nestbox in the afternoon, just mornings and evenings. Same thing on the east side - last year and so far this year - he doesn't sit in the sun on the Radisson sign.
And he's been making a mess on the nestledge - lots of prey remains and feathers. He seems to have a preference for light (white/almost white) pigeons - there are a few wing sets lying there.
-
Like Angel wings :)
I missed you TPC!
-
Like Angel wings :)
I missed you TPC!
Exactly like angel wings ... fitting since they are ex-pigeons.
Sorry I was so absent this winter - lots of new work at the job that funds this little obsession of mine (ours?)
-
1440h CDT
Bird is on the east side nest ledge making a huge mess of plucking a mid-afternoon meal. Too many feathers to even see what the prey bird was.
I can't tell if it is the bird we think is Smiley though that is the most likely. I'm using the spycam and looking down 16 floors but right before the bird flew away it almost seems like there is a pattern on the back of the bird's head but it could just be the shape of the head as it moved in the shade. And no, the pattern (if there is one) isn't light enough to be Princess' and I only saw or thought I saw something for a couple of seconds before the bird bolted. So far neither Dennis nor I haven't seen any other birds in town during site checks or on-camera so likely still just the one bird at the moment and my eyes are playing tricks on me.
No confirmation of the Radisson bird's band number but we got close this afternoon thanks to Dennis!
-
Exactly like angel wings ... fitting since they are ex-pigeons.
Sorry I was so absent this winter - lots of new work at the job that funds this little obsession of mine (ours?)
I think everyone understands that you must spend lots of time at your paying job so that once the birds arrive, you have 24hours a day to spend on this obsession of ours ;D
-
Say "thank you Dennis" ... he's the one that spotted a second bird downtown at the Radisson "talking" to the bird we believe to be Smiley.
I had a look on the recorder and a) couldn't see any bands, b) think the bird might be a male looking at his size both with the skycam and the ledge cam and c) noticed the bird has a hook shape on the hood pattern on his left side - only bird I remember with that kind of hook is Cowboy but that isn't a guess or even a suspicion of who this bird is, just that I remember Cowboy having a hook shape on his hood. Really do wish these birds would be "share" their bands a bit more - the rest of the world is selfie-crazy, why can't these birds be too? ::)
We'll keep watching ...
-
Both birds are still at the Radisson.
If our first bird is Smiley (and it is likely), he's larger than Ivy or Trey so it may be that the second bird is female and maybe just not as large as Princess or Joli, but more like Beatrix in size. The second bird is definitely not Princess, it/her head is completely dark and not Joli as the second bird has a whiter breast than Princess or Joli.
I'll post some screen captures.
-
First Radisson Bird - maybe Smiley
(http://www.pbase.com/speciesatrisk/image/159482982/medium.jpg) (http://www.pbase.com/speciesatrisk/image/159483002/medium.jpg)
-
Second Radisson Bird - best shots so far
(http://www.pbase.com/speciesatrisk/image/159482986/medium.jpg) (http://www.pbase.com/speciesatrisk/image/159483003/medium.jpg)
("second" bird is on the left, "first" bird on the right)
-
Please, please be Princess! If it is Beatrice, maybe she is just resting for the short hop to WW. Or, she is just visiting her place of birth. After all, "Be it ever so humble, there is no place like home".
-
Smiley has "dated" all the women in town so until there is actually an egg in "his" nest, this year's mate could be anyone.
And I'm not sure Beatrix will make the run to downtown, she was pretty comfortable/confident out in West Winnipeg and has the whole place to herself. Joli nests so close to the Radisson that the draw of the Hotel is, I suspect, almost more than she can resist if there isn't a female on-site.
-
LOL! TPC.
-
Has the cam gone live yet? I can only see the black screen.
-
Smiley has "dated" all the women in town so until there is actually an egg in "his" nest, this year's mate could be anyone.
It sounds like the peregrine falcon version of The Young and the Restless! ;) Oh well, they keep us all guessing. I am just so happy that some of them are back and the camera is operational so that TPC can post photos and keep us updated.
-
So much activity, so early in the season... very promising :D
-
Has the cam gone live yet? I can only see the black screen.
Sorry GCG, the cam will go live in May just before hatching. However, I have access via a backdoor which is useful for IDs at this time of the year.
-
We have a third bird at the Radisson - by size a female and definitely not our "first" or "second" bird at the Radisson - this bird has a gold pattern on her head and yes it does look like Princess but she's not the only bird with this pattern, so before breaking out the champagne, let us at least get a look at the colour of her leg band if she has them.
The new bird is a bit muffed up (loose white undercoat feathers showing - more than just windblown) and is preening and scanning around from a perch at the end of the east-side sign at the moment. Might be that there has been a bit of a dispute over this nestsite - if it is Princess, she's not above fighting for her Hotel, she fought Joli for it.
I'll see if I can get some photos ...
-
1917h CDT
Bird on the very top of the Hydro Building roof (not the solar chimney) at the south end. First time I've seen a bird there this year. The male had food in his talons at the nestbox and kept looking back at the Hydro Building (hence while I looked) .... ooops, avert your eyes ... canoodling on the Hydro Building. Very quick so likely a practice canoodle which makes sense since we've only had a second bird downtown for a day. If it is Smiley, you can't say he's disinterested ... ::)
-
Wouldn't it be nice to have Princess & Smiley back - though I wouldn't mind seeing Ivy - but probably better not to at this point - there'd probably be a fight! :-\ If it is Princess, hope she's ok after her possible tussle over the penthouse suite. Princess & Smiley did well last year - but hopefully this time their chicks won't disappear so quickly after fledging! That was a little (a lot) disappointing to lose sight of them so soon :)
-
1035h CDT
Two birds that I can see at the Radisson - male on the Hydro Building (dot of the I) and female on the N in Radisson on the east side sign.
Male has a black/green band, still haven't clearly confirmed band number but pretty sure the two digits that have been hardest to read mean it is Smiley.
Female too has a black/green band, is fully grey (no brown which is common in younger birds) and has speckles high up on her breast. None of these things are unusual in the Midwest, but not so common up here. I'm thinking it is Princess but I need to look at her band.
Or they have to sit still long enough for Dennis and one of the Wowzer cousins to get the number for us! But it is early days yet, not even the end of the month so we are weeks ahead of ourselves!
-
1115h CDT
Still male watching the west side of the Hotel, female watching on the east side. Makes me think they are making sure no one has a chance to slip in.
-
1240h CDT
Looks like the female is resting up after her migration, she is still on the east side sign napping .... She hasn't moved all morning ...
-
Third Radisson Bird - haven't seen 2nd bird since "third" arrived
(http://www.pbase.com/speciesatrisk/image/159497477/medium.jpg) (http://www.pbase.com/speciesatrisk/image/159497479/medium.jpg)
note the pattern on the back of the bird's head and how high the speckles come up on the breast
-
Although I have seen the male bowing on the nestledge twice, he's mostly been displaying in the nestbox. Hopefully his poor housekeeping/messing dining habits will make the ledge unpalatable for any female to nest on and we'll have them safely back up in the nestbox again this year.
(http://www.pbase.com/speciesatrisk/image/159497474/medium.jpg) (http://www.pbase.com/speciesatrisk/image/159497480/medium.jpg)
(http://www.pbase.com/speciesatrisk/image/159497476/medium.jpg) (http://www.pbase.com/speciesatrisk/image/159497512/medium.jpg)
(the male mid-meal)
-
Bleh!! :P
-
Bleh!! :P
Hopefully that is exactly what this year's Radisson female will say as well :D
-
Those ruffling feathers are doing a great job of hiding those bands on that pretty female... ;)
-
BAH!!!! - Don't even THINK about nesting on the East Ledge Birdies!!! :(
-
1317h CDT
Looks like One and Three will be our resident pair - she hasn't moved since before 10am and he just came in for some on-camera canoodling ... and no, didn't manage to catch it, too surprised :o and it was too quick
-
Looks like the Artis sign will be popular again this year .. I think the female is awaiting her suitor there ... or she's just enjoying sitting in the sun ...
-
I have a close up video of the male eating in the nestbox ... too graphic to put on the YouTube channel with a warning you think?
-
As long as the meal is deceased, nothing's too graphic, imho :)
-
so you are thinking Princess and Smiley ???
-
so you are thinking Princess and Smiley ???
I'm thinking Smiley - his band colour is right and there is a W on it, but of course am not sure until I see his band ;)
The female I'd like to be Princess but wishing may not make it so. The head, breast and band colour look good though.
Keep your fingers crossed that we manage to get a clean image soon.
-
Himself arrived at the nestbox about 0430h this morning and stayed for 2 hours then took off. Haven't seen her on either side this morning and nothing on the recorder. If it is Princess, this is not unusual for her, she often doesn't hang out at the nestbox until much closer to nesting. I've also not seen either of the birds much on the nestledge, hopefully this is an indication that the nestbox is preferred this year.
-
1415h CDT
Male bird is on the east side sign napping, another bird, female I assume, is on the north side Artis sign. I think "she" is the drier of the two, or maybe that is just how it looks from a distance.
Light is too low and dark today to get band numbers - even if they were cooperative, just not enough contrast to be able to see the details. Maybe tomorrow, or Thursday or Friday or ... we'll keep working at it.
-
1200h CDT
Female is on the slash under the R on the east side sign. Male (?) is on the nestledge right up against the wall where there is no snow. Not sure why he is there, he's not scraping ... he might be on a meal but I'm not sure.
-
1249h CDT
Hard to be sure with the winds downtown but I think the female is eating on the south lower edge of the Hydro roof.
-
I saw one bird sitting on the ledge of the Sterling Bldg (south side, Portage) around 11:15 this morning.....
-
one bird meaning one falcon, for sure.....back to me, though, so no clue as to id.....
-
I've been going through recordings today and I'm pretty comfortable saying that our resident male at the Radisson right now is Smiley from last year. Haven't been able to duplicate the perfectly focused band photos of Dennis, but he did a little dance in the box and I'm pretty sure I saw all the numbers on his leg band.
One down, one to go. I'd be surprised if the female turns out not to be Princess though ... just so many of her classic feather patterns and I know the band colour is correct, but like always, she doesn't come anywhere near the webcams before she starts nesting. Pretty sure we will have to rely on Dennis and one of the Wowzers to confirm her identity.
-
Sure hope we have Princess back, she's such a great mom.
I forget how nerve wracking the spring is each year. We fret and worry like an expectant father pacing in the delivery room.
-
Smiley is back in the nestbox - nice looking scrape in the back of the box.
The female hasn't shown much interest, but it is early days yet ...
Here are the arrival dates from last year in case they are of interest ...
March 23 - Princess @ Radisson
March 27 - Beatrix @ West Winnipeg
April 2 - Hart @ Radisson
April 6 - Beau @ West Winnipeg + Brooklyn @ McKenzie Seeds
April 9 - Hurricane @ McKenzie Seeds + Smiley @ Radisson - Hart moved to Logan
April 12 - Joli @ Logan
April 19 - Ty & Paris @ Selkirk
April 20 - first bird (no ID) @ Brandon Tower
April 26 - second bird (no ID) @ Brandon Tower
-
1215h CDT
Smiley is on the nest ledge and I'm trying to catch sight of the female's band number as she is sitting close to the spycam - Trey's favourite spot on the slash under the R. It is pretty sheltered there and she is in a patch of sunlight. Don't know if she has just had a meal but there is blood on her cere. She looks fine, can't see all of her but nothing looks amiss. Given that there was a bit of a set-to in the WW nestbox yesterday afternoon, might be there was one here as well. If there was a bit of a barney here, it didn't happen in/at the nestbox or at least not while there was enough light to see anything - I've checked all the recorders. I suspect this is Princess and if it is, then she looks much better than she did a couple of years ago when we know she had a knock-down-drag-out with Joli in the west side box. So with all of that, entirely possible just a the last remains of a messy meal and not something more sinister.
-
1237h CDT
Okay, my retinas have been seared. I was zoomed into the female on the Radisson sign and suddenly there was canoodling up close and personal. Feathers filled the screen!!! Now she has turned around and I have likely lost my chance (this time) to get a look at her leg band - it is on her left leg and that is tucked in under the sign now. Probably a good thing, let's my eyes and mind recuperate from the close-encounter of the romantic sort.
-
1255h CDT
She's on the west side on the nestbox edge in the sun - he's on the slash under the R on the east side preening.
-
Oh man TPC. I'm standing by wondering when in the heck this ID will finally happen. That gave me a good chuckle.
-
Okay, female was on the nestbox and the wind was blowing still just enough to make the camera shake so no luck reading her band. Then off she went. Shortly after, in popped Smiley with the gift of a meal and she didn't follow him back so off he went as well. Found her a few minutes later over on the east sign devouring her gift. She was facing the camera and her coloured band is on her left leg so all she had to do was move over about an inch and I would be able to read the band. But she was so enthusiastically eating I didn't get so much as a peek. Then she turned and walked away along the slash, cleaning her beak as she went. Fortunately, she turned and settled again and I could just make out one letter on her band so I zoomed in again and just waited ... for her to move or for the wind to blow her feathers out of the way, didn't matter which. And then it happened, up she stood and I got a good, long clear look at her band and I rejoiced! Then I realized why I was getting such a good look ... :o ... thank you Smiley for distracting her with another romantic encounter! Fortunately this time all I could see was her beautiful bloody yellow feet. Very familiar feet - all hail, the Princess has returned. ;D
-
I am so happy to read that Princess has returned :) ;D
-
Wow, your persistence paid off! What an amazing bird, how old is she? Great to hear she safely returned.
-
... all hail, the Princess has returned. ;D
WOW!!! That's absolutely wonderful news! ;D
-
As I'm sure I've said before, it feels like a miracle every year she returns! :-*
-
Wow, your persistence paid off! What an amazing bird, how old is she? Great to hear she safely returned.
Princess is a 2002 wild-hatch from Minneapolis. She has hatched 36 chicks over 10 years: 3 each year with Trey, 4 each year with Ivy except the last when they had 3 and 2 her first year with Smiley. Of those 36 chicks only 5 (if I recall) have failed to fledge and only 2 who died at fledge age and only 1 before breeding age. These are just the birds we know about. Of her 28 remaining chicks - 8 are/have nested somewhere in Canada or the US.
-
So thrilled our Princess has returned for another year of watching!!
Love the way you write, TPC.....always brings a smile and great visuals!!
-
Your diligence has paid off TPC. Smiley's too! Thank you. Princess is home. With Smiley, she was being coquettish. A lady's gotta do, what a lady's gotta do.....
-
So thrilled our Princess has returned for another year of watching!!
Love the way you write, TPC.....always brings a smile and great visuals!!
I agree. It often feels like I am watching the actual birds, great narration!
-
Welcome back Princess & Smiley!
:-* :-*
-
I guess there really is something wonderful about the east nest ledge - or at least wonderful to peregrines because Smiley, who grew up in a box on a water tower is diligently making a scrape on the nest ledge. ::) He does seem to prefer the nestbox however and he guards it off and on through the night and first thing in the morning.
Princess has been to, and into, the nestbox quite a few times for this early in the nesting season and he does have one delightful scrape there so it is much too early to tell for sure, but think happy western thoughts just in case!
-
I am so happy to read that Princess has returned. Wonderful news!
-
I guess there really is something wonderful about the east nest ledge - or at least wonderful to peregrines because Smiley, who grew up in a box on a water tower is diligently making a scrape on the nest ledge. ::) He does seem to prefer the nestbox however and he guards it off and on through the night and first thing in the morning.
Princess has been to, and into, the nestbox quite a few times for this early in the nesting season and he does have one delightful scrape there so it is much too early to tell for sure, but think happy western thoughts just in case!
Wonderful that Princess has returned, but the east ledge? This is *not* good news. The west penthouse nestbox is much more luxurious, Princess, and you can't beat that lovely afternoon and evening sun (never mind the roof to protect the babies)!
-
east nest ledge, ??? who wants a cheap motel when you can have the penthouse...
-
Early days yet and he does very much prefer the box ... with luck Princess will decide at her age she doesn't need to be nesting on something so hard (there is almost no gravel there) and open.
-
1500h CDT
Princess is in under cover in the nestbox out of the snow ... she did this last year too and the year before when she got into the big fight with Joli. Why is this so noteworthy you ask? Princess prefers the great outdoors. All our males spend time in the nestbox during and after the breeding season - Ivy most of all. Princess is fine in the outside part of the box but she has never shown much desire to get under cover. Last couple of years she's been doing it - in fact has slept in the box overnight - particularly after the fight and I chalked it up to her feeling a bit vulnerable. May also be that she's figured out that she's old enough that she doesn't have to get cold or wet if she doesn't want to. And today, she doesn't want to.
-
You just stay in that lovely penthouse, Princess.
it has been said before, Nest on the West!
-
1525h CDT
Been having a wee look at some video from this morning and I think the nestbox is pulling ahead of the nestledge in terms of appeal this year. Princess actually got into the box just after 11:30am and has been there most of the time since. Mostly she's just been napping out of the wind but she's also been playing with the scrape and picking at pebbles (sound familiar?). She left for about a half hour and in came Smiley and he just nestled himself into the scrape that I rewound the tape to make sure there wasn't an egg there ... there wasn't but you'd never be able to tell by his behaviour. Keeping his scrape warm? If it works to keep Princess in the nestbox for her family, have at it Smiley!! When Princess did come back she yelled at him (that sounds familiar too doesn't it?!) and ran him out. She played with the scrape a bit more, rearranged some more pebbles then came down to the camera end to nap again. And now she's out from under again and perched on the box edge.
I'll see if I can find some time to download/upload some video in the next day ...
-
1655h CDT
Well, Smiley is once again providing unusual food ... looked like the hind quarters of a cottontail rabbit ...
Princess was under cover in the nestbox and didn't come out until he had eaten most of what he'd brought then she took it from him and left the box ... I assume to eat it but ...
-
1655h CDT
Well, Smiley is once again providing unusual food ... looked like the hind quarters of a cottontail rabbit...
The hind quarter of a cottontail rabbit?! Really?! Are you kidding us, TPC? I thought PF's didn't chow down on furry mammals. Sure hope it wasn't the Easter Bunny! :o
-
Princess yelling at Smiley, yup, sounds just like our lovely peregrine mama. ;D
-
The hind quarter of a cottontail rabbit?! Really?! Are you kidding us, TPC? I thought PF's didn't chow down on furry mammals. Sure hope it wasn't the Easter Bunny! :o
Nope, not kidding. I thought the timing was ironic too.
Some populations of peregrines include mammals in their diet - tundra peregrines most certainly do because there are often more mammals than birds to eat in an area. Some populations in arid areas will include snakes for the same reason. Peregrines who nest near bat hibernacula will prey on them because of proximity and the large number of bats rather than lack of birds - but that is not a population, those are individual birds. Anatum peregrines on the Prairies and US Midwest are a population, and as a subspecies and as a population they are bird killers - waterfowl and water birds primarily, which makes sense because this area is the continental breeding grounds for a huge number of these species - proximity and an exceeding large number of prey species defines what they prey upon. But like the individual birds that hunt bats - there are always outliers who will not be exclusive and it looks like Smiley is one of those.
It may be that Smiley spent time where small mammals were more abundant than birds and he got good at hunting for them. Hunting for small mammals in an urban environment is not an easy or safe thing to do for a peregrine - getting close to the ground at the speeds they hunt at is more than a little bit dangers. It has occurred to me that perhaps hatching/growing up in Grand Forks gave him many more opportunities to hunt "low" safely. Would be interesting to know if other Grand Forks offspring do the same, but not many of his sibs have survived to nest elsewhere and I'm not sure if any of them are at a nest with a camera - I most certainly wouldn't have known what he can hunt if I hadn't been able to watch on-camera.
Smiley may be our most interesting hunter, but other pairs do/have had personal preferences as well - Madame wouldn't eat pigeon during the nesting season, she'd feed her kids pigeon but she wouldn't eat it, I think because she was here year-round and in the winter had to eat them. When we used to have peregrines nesting in south Winnipeg near St Norbert, the largest part of their diet was seagull off the river. When we had a pair nesting at the Provincial Legislature (only happened once, they couldn't handle the stress from the Radisson) Blue-winged Teal off the river were their primary prey. And both Beau & Jules and Beau & Beatrix have been dining heavily on blackbirds in the last two years. And RCF can attest that sora rails and pied-billed grebes are very popular at McKenzie Seeds - more so than at other sites in the province - they are hunting them off the floodplain and the nearby marshes (i.e., Douglas Marsh)
-
Smiley & his exotic takeout
(http://www.pbase.com/speciesatrisk/image/159627644/medium.jpg)
sure looks like a rabbit foot to me ...
-
Yes, it does. If he sticks to the park areas, he should be safer I guess.
-
The hind quarter of a cottontail rabbit?! Really?! Are you kidding us, TPC? I thought PF's didn't chow down on furry mammals. Sure hope it wasn't the Easter Bunny! :o
Nope, not kidding. I thought the timing was ironic too...
Holy moly! Well, I just learned a whole lot of new stuff about the eating habits of a variety of peregrine falcons. Thanks for your most informative post, TPC. :-*
-
wow I also didn't know they had such a variety of meals. No wonder the easter bunny didn't come to my place ;)
-
Glad to see another season is on the way. But, Easter bunny never came to my house to. :(
-
Had a little brown bunny in my back yard - but no Easter treats. Maybe he was running for his life!
-
With this post all bunnies should be afraid, be very afraid. Turn tail and run!
-
Princess has been back for 3 weeks now and she and Smiley are familiar with one another so there wasn't as long a "getting to know you" period as last year so I'm keeping an eye on both sides of the Radisson for the first egg. Not sure when it will happen but at least Princess isn't avoiding the nestbox which is often a positive sign that she has ruled out the nestbox for this year.
Also, watched them canoodling on the nestbox edge last night .... surely if it is good for canoodling it is good for raising chicks?
-
This morning Princess has been hanging out on the nest ledge right where she has nested in the past. Smiley is on the sign above. Two hours ago Smiley has been working on the scrape in the nestbox though - hard to know where they are going to nest. Yesterday they both defended the roof/box when we had to drop by to clean the in-box camera. Hopefully they are just hanging out out of the wind, at the moment the closest weather station is showing winds gusting from the NNW downtown - that makes the nestbox much windier than the east side sign and the nestledge. I've noticed that Princess has done a bit more comfort seeking the last couple of years, she's actually spent time in the nestbox getting out of the wind - that is something she never did before, she used to only tolerate the nestbox when she had eggs/chicks to tend.
-
There is a 70% chance of precipitation starting in a couple of hours, if she is considering using the nestledge, maybe that will encourage her elsewhere. She's napping so can't tell if she has an egg laid already and this camera we can't record from, we can only watch in real time.
-
1143h CDT
No egg on the nestledge - Princess is sitting on the ledge now. Not sure where Smiley's gone off to, but a male American Kestrel was parked on the bottom of the R loop on the east side sign. Kestrels often take dive bombs at the peregrines when they are in residence - most often when they are on antennae but they have been seen doing it to them on the ledges as well ...
-
Seems the wind is annoying someone, we have either Smiley or Princess tucked up on the H of the Manitoba Hydro sign - way way out of the wind there. Not sure I've ever seen one of our birds sitting there ... have any of our downtown fledgewatchers seen any there? Like to know if perhaps this is a new spot for Smiley or just a "get way of the wind" location for either of the birds. Watching small behavioural changes can help to understand the dynamic of a new pair and Smiley and Princess still qualify as a new pair this year.
-
1247h CDT
Found our other bird up on the southeast corner of the top roof of the Hydro Building. I think by the size it is Smiley which would put Princess on the sign.
-
Here's hoping Princess chooses the west nest box!
-
Here's hoping Princess chooses the west nest box!
talons crossed ;)
-
Good news today - nesting season has begun. Princess laid her first egg.
Unfortunately, she did it on the east-side nestledge.
-
This is wonderful news, TPC. Unfortunately, the wrong nest. All I can pray for is a summer without severe rains like the one in August. Two hours of horrendous downpours that comprised our sewers and underpasses. So bad, that our basement had sewer backup which resulted in major, major restorations. $$$$ But that was yesterday and yesterday"s gone. I look forward to following Princess and Smiley no matter where they may be. ;D ;D Now I look forward to the cams going live.
-
Good news today - nesting season has begun. Princess laid her first egg.
Unfortunately, she did it on the east-side nestledge.
I can't for the life of me understand why she'd prefer that bad, bad nestledge.
Happy about the egg though.
-
I can't for the life of me understand why she'd prefer that bad, bad nestledge.
I think her hardwiring is showing ;) It really is just like a wild nest site. One of the nice things about this site (perhaps the only nice thing) is that it is warm in the morning and shaded in the afternoon which if we have a hot spring is nice for the chicks when they are young.
-
Well now. I know that everyone prefers the west. But as Tracy said, the east is good because the chicks do not get the hot sun during the afternoon and evening from the west.
I agree. The east is a great place to fledge from and there is great camera access to the nest. Not as close up and personable as the west, but we take what we are given.
Princess is a great and experienced mother. Let's just enjoy her decision.
-
Well I agree with most of that Bccs but the fledging still makes me twitch I'm afraid ... :-\ ... I have had some ugly retrievals from the east side over the years. Having said that Ty, Tupper and Vesper did well even though Vesper went down. Hopefully Hillary and Tenzing did too but no way to tell of course.
If folks haven't seen this, GCG found this recently - Artic rain threatens baby peregrine falcons (http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/north/arctic-rain-threatens-baby-peregrine-falcons-1.2450721) - I think this may be the only science done on this topic, though if you spoke with any project they would say the same thing but that is anecdotal reporting rather than scientific evidence
Princess is experienced and can get the job done under just about any circumstance in almost any location. Rain is an issue as there is no protection on the ledge. So fingers-crossed for a dry spring folks.
-
Awww... I'm disappointed that Princess chose the East nest. No protection from the rain, that's for sure. And you won't likely be able to band her chicks either, will you TPC? Ah well, at least she's back in town, which is more than we could have hoped for at her age. And it's good news that her egg laying ability is still in tact. :)
-
Awww... I'm disappointed that Princess chose the East nest. No protection from the rain, that's for sure. And you won't likely be able to band her chicks either, will you TPC?
Does this mean you will have to rappel down from the roof in order to band them? It would be nice if MTS or Manitoba Hydro would offer their "cherry picker" trucks. Banding them from the East nest can't be fun for you, TPC.
-
No idea what we are going to do about banding - maybe, maybe not. Getting up there is time and weather sensitive and is only possible if equipment is available. Unfortunately, 13/14 storeys is too high for a cherry picker. We will wait and see how they do and as we get closer to the banding date (first half of June) we'll make a decision.
Let's not count our chicks before they are even laid - particularly on a day with a wind warning for southern Manitoba
From Environment Canada as of 0402h CDT this morning.
Within the Red River Valley, southerly winds of 60 km/h with gusts to 90 km/h are expected to develop later this morning. Locally reduced visibility in blowing dust is also possible due to the very dry surface conditions. Winds should begin to ease later this afternoon. Damage to buildings, such as to roof shingles and windows, may occur. Loose objects may be tossed by the wind and cause injury or damage. Be prepared to adjust your driving with changing road conditions due to high winds. Wind warnings are issued when there is a significant risk of damaging winds.
-
0910h - Smiley has been on guard with the egg - he's on the drainage cap, egg in scrape.
0913h - Princess arrived and Smiley is now standing over the egg - not sure if he's protecting it or just continuing with his bowing activities.
0914h - Smiley left the nestledge, Princess really getting blown around on the ledge edge - camera is shaking as well.
0919h - Princess is standing over the egg now ... too soon for a second egg I think, so I think she's just keeping egg 1 company.
According to the U of Wpg's weather station, winds and gusts have been increasing pretty steadily since 0700h. Strongest gust so far was at 0906h, wind speed was 20km/h, gust was 64km/h
-
Gallery for the Radisson Birds has been started and can be found here http://www.pbase.com/photosbydennis/peregrines_2015
-
This is the WORST news ever!!! :o ....Just cannot believe it!! ...Princess, I love you - but right now I'm so mad >:( - What a terrible choice - maybe you've gone senile :'(
-
I have to agree with TPC, she is a wild wild bird. As she gets older, her hardwiring is probably stronger. Long term memory etc.
Let's hope for the best. We've seen tragedy and triumph at this site.
Good luck Tracy!
-
Yes TPC, I now remember that in 2008, the fireman had to rappel down from the roof. :'(
-
I just want to say how happy I am for Princess and Smiley to have their first egg, even if she did choose the east-side nest ledge:)
-
1351h CDT - egg has rolled northwards ...
-
Where the egg was laid yesterday and where it has been blown to today by 1400h CDT
(http://www.pbase.com/speciesatrisk/image/159752145/medium.jpg) (http://www.pbase.com/speciesatrisk/image/159752147/medium.jpg)
-
maybe she will rethink her decision. we have seen them change locations before. Sherraton back in 2007 or 2008, the year before Rhea mea. left eggs and laid on other end
Think positive.
-
"Well I agree with most of that Bccs but the fledging still makes me twitch I'm afraid ... "
I understand the uneasiness at the choice of the nest this year.
But I do think that is a pretty good place for the kids to fledge from.
1. There are many buildings that are the same height or just a bit lower than the nest ledge.
2. Getting back to the ledge will be easier as they do not have to attain the same height as the
nest box.
3. There are fewer buildings the same or even close to the height of the nest box, making it a
bit more strenuous to get back there.
There are pros and cons to each site.
All I am saying is that it's not a death sentence for the chicks to be hatched and raised on the east.
-
Great news that we have our first egg!!!
I have to add, I am also not all that fond of the east nestledge either, but, Princess chose that spot, and there is nothing we can do about it. There are reasons for everything.
There have been many successful fledges from this site - with many watchful eyes (a bonus for the phanatics: more watchers = more involvement)
It's human nature for our brains to bounce back to 2008, it was a very wet season - uncontrollable, but we need to let that go.
The birds don't remember that, this is nature, and nature will take its course.
We will all be watching holding our breaths when the wind blows, and when the rain comes, but, these Falcons will do what they do best. And we have Princess, she is by far, one of the best in the business and she will protect to the best of her ability.
And...another season begins!!!
-
Smiley and/or Princess have rolled egg 1 back into the scrape and have added a sibeggling to this year's new family :)
So far, Princess is laying right on schedule. If there are four eggs, likely egg three will be laid on Saturday and incubation will begin and we will have a full house by Monday.
-
;D This is great news TPC. I was worried that is she tried to lay the second egg yesterday in the wind, she would have had to lay it three times. Phew!
-
Gotta love our Princess! ;)
-
this is good news.
when my daughter goes there on business I will have to send her there to take a gander for me.
-
Still just two eggs here.
If Princess lays a third egg tomorrow, depending on how warm it is (forecast is for a high of 17C), they may put off the start of incubation until later in the day. Looking at the forecast for Sunday and Monday, I suspect she will park herself on however many eggs she has at that point: Sunday the temperature drops to a high of 9C with an 80% change of rain. Sunday is cooler (high of 6C that feels like 0C) with 60% chance of mixed precipitation (rain/snow).
Will be interesting to see what happens ...
-
Has the camera's been activated yet?
-
Has the camera's been activated yet?
The cameras are on all year, but the public FalconCam doesn't go live until just before the eggs hatch.
CBC has changed some of its web content software so they are working on getting the video to stream, hopefully we will have more information by the end of the month. If Princess lays tomorrow and begins incubating then, we have just over a month until the eggs hatch so just after the Victoria Day weekend.
-
So great to know that Princess if back, laying eggs -- sorry that she chose that east ledge (I know it makes almost everything much more difficult for you, TPC) and will definitely have my fingers crossed firmly when fledge time comes along.
-
Still just two eggs as of 0900h CDT today.
Right now Princess is on the slash on the sign right above the nestledge and Smiley is parked on the nestledge edge guarding his kids-to-be
-
Haven't been able to see how many eggs Princess has as of this morning - raining too much. What I can see is one soggy bird clamped down on however many eggs she does have.
(http://www.pbase.com/speciesatrisk/image/159792082/medium.jpg)
This is what the nestbox looks like right now - scrape is at the far end as usual. And also how much rain as of 1130h CDT - enough to have puddles on the nestbox ledge.
(http://www.pbase.com/speciesatrisk/image/159792079/medium.jpg) (http://www.pbase.com/speciesatrisk/image/159792080/medium.jpg)
Have had to pull back on the telephoto now, there is enough water on the camera that a huge droplet has formed on the environmental case and I can't see through it. Fortunately, the rain hasn't been able to get inside since we installed this unit back in 2006. (thanks Eye-Spy!!)
-
What a lovely clean, DRY nestbox..... Princess, what were you thinking??? >:( Next couple days - Snow, Rain, COLD .....sigh.... :(..... TPC, any chance of getting a Tupper-bin on the ledge this year? I remember it made all the difference last time it was used. Never fails in June we have huge downpours ...???
-
What a lovely clean, DRY nestbox..... Princess, what were you thinking??? >:( Next couple days - Snow, Rain, COLD .....sigh.... :(..... TPC, any chance of getting a Tupper-bin on the ledge this year? I remember it made all the difference last time it was used. Never fails in June we have huge downpours ...???
Getting up there is the problem. If we put a tuppernest there then we have to get back up there to remove it - it wouldn't survive there over the winter and would be a hazard once it broke down to both the chicks and pedestrians. Last year we couldn't get up even once in order to band the chicks. But we are going to keep an eye on opportunities and keep our options open. Princess and her eggs aren't in danger at the moment so let's not look for trouble before some looks like it might be on the way ;)
-
Haven't been able to see how many eggs we have since the weather turned colder - as predicted, Princess parked herself on the eggs and the two of them have been velcroed to them ever since. Last year they had three - given that she didn't immediately begin incubating after egg 2, I suspect we have at least three eggs. We are using the spycam at the moment so we have no recording function so at some point Dennis or I will catch a shirt change and we will get the final count.
-
Because Princess and Smiley are much closer in size than Princess/Trey or Princess/Ivy, I'm not sure who is on the eggs - I think Princess though. Whoever is on the nest, the other one is tucked up under the eves on the Sterling Building. (Pam's favourite perch ;))
-
Got to love their dedication. Good luck, little eggs. :-*
-
this is off topic here I know, but in a way news worthy here.
So far Miss Edmonton has not returned to Weber but we confirmed Saturday , with Gord, that we a 2013 female from U of a. Green band girl. This is Radissons daughter , so Princess and Treys granddaughter.
I am just thrilled . The story behind this is :
Green girl was such a strong flier. And 2.5 weeks into fledge she was found not far from the University area, by a bridge. We had been looking for her all day , when a friend of mine phoned me and said she heard about a falcon that had been rescued. so I phoned around and found where it was and sure enough it was green girl.
Gord was out of town and so she ended up in the hands of another rehabber. . So when Gord could finally pick her up he took her home, bathed her and got her feathers preened right etc.( Gord loves these guys). And then after observing her, he decided to release back into U of A area, even though she had been away for awhile.
We knew RAdisson would not accept her back. I t was away from area too long and that is how RAdisson rolls :-*. A great mom but tough love.
So we went up with Gord to roof of the jut of Clinical science, and let her go on her own steam.
Yup, Radisson tangled with her. We thought at first play but nope. She chased her off. We went and found Green girl on back of campus and later on in evening she came back. Radisson saw and just kept diving at her.
We looked and looked and we think we saw her once after that. But Gord said to me., Bev, that girl is a Diva if I ever saw one and she will be back here to nest at one of our sites. Well here sh e is for now, at Weber with Do1
here she was at baning and when we released her
(http://i1303.photobucket.com/albums/ag145/peterfull/2013%20petes%20picks/UOFABANDING_007-1_zpsd9386e53.jpg) (http://s1303.photobucket.com/user/peterfull/media/2013%20petes%20picks/UOFABANDING_007-1_zpsd9386e53.jpg.html)
before release
release
(http://i1303.photobucket.com/albums/ag145/peterfull/2013%20petes%20picks/GREENRELEASE_037-1_zps8bb928ce.jpg) (http://s1303.photobucket.com/user/peterfull/media/2013%20petes%20picks/GREENRELEASE_037-1_zps8bb928ce.jpg.html) (http://i1303.photobucket.com/albums/ag145/peterfull/2013%20petes%20picks/GREENRELEASE_036-1_zps43ce0d78.jpg) (http://s1303.photobucket.com/user/peterfull/media/2013%20petes%20picks/GREENRELEASE_036-1_zps43ce0d78.jpg.html)
(http://i1303.photobucket.com/albums/ag145/peterfull/2013%20petes%20picks/GREENRELEASE_035-1_zps7d8ad076.jpg) (http://s1303.photobucket.com/user/peterfull/media/2013%20petes%20picks/GREENRELEASE_035-1_zps7d8ad076.jpg.html) (http://i1303.photobucket.com/albums/ag145/peterfull/2013%20petes%20picks/GREENRELEASE_034-1_zps572dea42.jpg) (http://s1303.photobucket.com/user/peterfull/media/2013%20petes%20picks/GREENRELEASE_034-1_zps572dea42.jpg.html) (http://i1303.photobucket.com/albums/ag145/peterfull/2013%20petes%20picks/GREENRELEASE_031-1_zps0d9f177d.jpg) (http://s1303.photobucket.com/user/peterfull/media/2013%20petes%20picks/GREENRELEASE_031-1_zps0d9f177d.jpg.html)
-
all these pictures were not supposed to go in as I know you do not want too many but I cannot find modify button. you used to have one
here are 2 of her now
(http://i1303.photobucket.com/albums/ag145/peterfull/2015%20birds%20etc/WEBER_016.jpg-1_zpsvxzztgiv.jpg) (http://s1303.photobucket.com/user/peterfull/media/2015%20birds%20etc/WEBER_016.jpg-1_zpsvxzztgiv.jpg.html) (http://i1303.photobucket.com/albums/ag145/peterfull/2015%20birds%20etc/WEBER_007.jpg-1_zpsy0jjcah8.jpg) (http://s1303.photobucket.com/user/peterfull/media/2015%20birds%20etc/WEBER_007.jpg-1_zpsy0jjcah8.jpg.html)
(http://i1303.photobucket.com/albums/ag145/peterfull/2015%20birds%20etc/WEBER_006.jpg-1_zpshngtfixt.jpg) (http://s1303.photobucket.com/user/peterfull/media/2015%20birds%20etc/WEBER_006.jpg-1_zpshngtfixt.jpg.html) (http://i1303.photobucket.com/albums/ag145/peterfull/2015%20birds%20etc/WEBER_003.jpg-1_zps838pg7yp.jpg) (http://s1303.photobucket.com/user/peterfull/media/2015%20birds%20etc/WEBER_003.jpg-1_zps838pg7yp.jpg.html)
I thought you would be as thrilled as me
-
Thank you so much for sharing this information and the photos, bev! :)
-
Thanks Bev! Nice to get updates on the grandkids.
Interesting that Radisson wouldn't let her back - T-Rex/Madame, Trey/Madame and I think maybe Trey/Princess have all had chicks be away for quite a while and had no problems after they returned.
-
At 5:05 pm. Winnipeg time a gust a wind blew the bird right off the eggs...not sure just who was on duty and went for a ride...but we have 3 eggs ;)
-
well that was convenient Photo ;D
-
Thanks Bev! Nice to get updates on the grandkids.
Interesting that Radisson wouldn't let her back - T-Rex/Madame, Trey/Madame and I think maybe Trey/Princess have all had chicks be away for quite a while and had no problems after they returned.
I think if there had been siblings around but when Green went missing they had no one for over 2.5 weeks.
at least with siblings around they are used to food begging from them
Just my thought
-
Because Princess and Smiley are much closer in size than Princess/Trey or Princess/Ivy, I'm not sure who is on the eggs - I think Princess though. Whoever is on the nest, the other one is tucked up under the eves on the Sterling Building. (Pam's favourite perch ;))
Saw that bird on the Sterling bldg. this morning! It did used to be a favourite spot for Princess (and yes, Tracy, for me!).
-
At 5:05 pm. Winnipeg time a gust a wind blew the bird right off the eggs...not sure just who was on duty and went for a ride...but we have 3 eggs ;)
(http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy320/Blondechik_2010/Thumb%20upj.jpg)
-
1000h - Princess is on the eggs with her head tucked into the wall.
Interestingly, the winds here right now are light. At the University they are being clocked at up to 5 km/h with gusts up to 7-8 km/h. According the Beaufort Scale, this is a light breeze = ""Wind felt on exposed skin. Leaves rustle. Wind vanes begin to move."
Why "interestingly", because the wind on the east side of the Radisson is more than that. The webcam is shaking and Princess' feathers are getting muffed up. The wind is from the south east so it is blowing right up the canyons made by the buildings downtown and right over the nestledge. It also explains why Princess' head is up against the wall - she's sitting broadside to the wind so that she isn't flipped off the eggs. If the wind were higher, she'd be lying flat with her head into the wind.
-
These birds always amaze me.
-
These birds always amaze me.
Agreed. :)
It would amaze me more if she would choose the nestbox for 3 years in a row! ::) :D
-
These birds always amaze me.
Agreed. :)
It would amaze me more if she would choose the nestbox for 3 years in a row! ::) :D
Oh well, she chose the ledge - birds will be birds.
-
Oh well, she chose the ledge - birds will be birds.
True but I just keep remembering her sleeping in the nestbox when it was snowing, something that I've never seen her do - only other time was when she was injured a couple of years ago. While she was napping, I thought, smart bird, taking better care of herself as she's getting a older especially since raising chicks doesn't get any easier just because you are older and more experienced. With help from Smiley, she'll do well, it would just be nice for it not to be quite so hard on her.
-
1327h - checked out Princess on the eggs and thought "why is it snowing"? Then I realized that the snow were feathers. Smiley is on the sign slash prepping food - by the enthusiasm, I suspect it might be for him and that he's a very hungry bird. It was a Northern Flicker.
-
Oh well, she chose the ledge - birds will be birds.
True but I just keep remembering her sleeping in the nestbox when it was snowing, something that I've never seen her do - only other time was when she was injured a couple of years ago. While she was napping, I thought, smart bird, taking better care of herself as she's getting a older especially since raising chicks doesn't get any easier just because you are older and more experienced. With help from Smiley, she'll do well, it would just be nice for it not to be quite so hard on her.
It would be nice for her to be able to relax and unwind, but... we all know how stubborn our Princess is! ::)
-
It would be nice for her to be able to relax and unwind, but... we all know how stubborn our Princess is! ::)
do we ever!!! ::) ;D
-
Her stubbornness is probably a big reason why she is so successfull ;)
-
All day I have been trying to get a peak at the eggs but absolutely no luck. Now Princess is tucked up asleep in the shade with her head under her wing. May have to try again tomorrow!!
-
Sounds like Princess is feeling pretty relaxed.
-
Her stubbornness is probably a big reason why she is so successfull ;)
I do agree with you on that, moka! ;)
-
Lovely warm morning in the sun for east facing nestboxes/nestledges but no, Princess will not take a break to enjoy the sun and let her eggs get a tan. Beatrix is doing it in West Wpg right now so why can't her mom!!!!
I'm pretty confident I saw parts of three eggs in the last shuggle - but I think perhaps there may be four there because of where they eggs were in relation to each other, it seemed to me that there should have been one more. Hopefully with the warm weather today, she will get her butt up and off and stay off for a few minutes ::)
-
Do you think she senses the wind increase? Maybe at her age, she doesn't like the wind beneath her wings! ::)
-
Do you think she senses the wind increase? Maybe at her age, she doesn't like the wind beneath her wings! ::)
too cute
-
Is the camera live at the Radisson or is it off.?
-
Is the camera live at the Radisson or is it off.?
The webcam does not go on until a week before hatching - and that won't be until the Victoria Day weekend. Sorry, couple more weeks to wait.
-
Poor Princess (you won't hear me say that too often) - her eggs did not want to cooperate as she was trying to corral them under her - round and round she went, tuck all the time and still the little terrors kept escaping out from under her!!
-
Poor Princess (you won't hear me say that too often) - her eggs did not want to cooperate as she was trying to corral them under her - round and round she went, tuck all the time and still the little terrors kept escaping out from under her!!
They sound like little terrors ;)
-
More photos have been added to this gallery http://www.pbase.com/photosbydennis/peregrines_2015
Cheers !
-
Finally I can confirm that Princess and Smiley have four eggs on the nest ledge this year.
They had the same number last year but only two hatched so we'll have to see how they do this year!
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CECZhwMUsAAI_6A.jpg)
-
Well - look at Princess go! 4 eggs! Great news!
-
For an elder, Princess sure has staying power : 4 EGGS :D
-
yah , us old gals are just as good as ever LOL
-
1420h
Princess is off enjoying some free time right now while Smiley is hanging out with the chicks :)
-
CBC FalconCam is Live
There is a new link (http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/cbc-manitoba-s-falcon-cam-is-back-for-another-season-1.3069671) and a new look to the page.
Don't forget to update your bookmarks
-
;D ;D ;D The cam is live! Thank you CBC. Thank you TPC! Thank you all!
-
If we so choose to post on the cam site, is twitter the only way? I don't do twitter. ?? ??? ???
-
Looking good, Princess! ;D
-
CBC FalconCam is Live
Was just watching the CBC news on TV & heard the Falcon Cam at the Radisson is now live streaming!
So I ran straight to my computer & sure enough, there is Princess on her eggs! :D Looks very windy up there. Camera is swaying in the wind.
-
Happy Dance! Now we all can get our (many times) daily fix.
-
Yesssss.....thank you to everyone involved in getting the live streaming up and running. Looking forward to another season of falcon watching! :D
-
If we so choose to post on the cam site, is twitter the only way? I don't do twitter. ?? ??? ???
The twitter roll on the cam page isn't for comments, it is a running narrative to keep viewers up to date on what is going on. Particularly when the chicks hatch and everyone worries that they are not getting enough to eat ;) And I don't answer questions on/via Twitter, it is just too too much work and this forum works so much better. So don't worry GCG that you "don't do twitter" :D
-
Yesssss.....thank you to everyone involved in getting the live streaming up and running. Looking forward to another season of falcon watching! :D
Biggest thanks should go to Eye-Spy, this year he's the big hero at the Radisson.
-
Biggest thanks should go to Eye-Spy, this year he's the big hero at the Radisson.
You da man, Eye-Spy! Muchas gracias! :-*
-
??? Not sure I saw right, but Smiley took flight and Princess was heading toward the eggs, before she resumed her position, I thought I saw only three eggs. Could be I missed the fourth, but is there four or three? It was in the last few minutes TPC. And I too, want to thank Eye Spy for his expertise for everything he has done to allow us to once again see our Radisson Royals. Is Brandon close? ;)
-
I have the cam on but was not watching when Smiley left gemcitygemini. There were 4 eggs confirmed by TPC, so I’m wondering if the egg shaped spot in the middle of the nest is possibly the missing egg. Princess has been facing what appears might be an egg (for some time now), so she probably would have fetched it back - unless the egg is damaged. (Possibly it was cracked and stuck to one of the parents before falling off.)
-
??? Not sure I saw right, but Smiley took flight and Princess was heading toward the eggs, before she resumed her position, I thought I saw only three eggs. Could be I missed the fourth, but is there four or three? It was in the last few minutes TPC. And I too, want to thank Eye Spy for his expertise for everything he has done to allow us to once again see our Radisson Royals. Is Brandon close? ;)
All four eggs are still there - one of the eggs is a bit lighter coloured than the rest - or at least 1/2 of it is.
All is good.
I really want to say "yes" the Brandon cam is close to getting back online but still in a holding pattern. Fortunately Hurricane and Brooklyn are a bit later than the rest of the gang so fingers crossed.
-
Pulled this off the recording (love having the new cam - now I can check the recordings again!!!!)
(http://www.pbase.com/speciesatrisk/image/160043060/medium.jpg)
What looks like one humpback or gi-normous egg is in fact, one normally coloured egg and one the lighter coloured egg.
-
Pulled this off the recording (love having the new cam - now I can check the recordings again!!!!)
(http://www.pbase.com/speciesatrisk/image/160043060/medium.jpg)
What looks like one humpback or gi-normous egg is in fact, one normally coloured egg and one the lighter coloured egg.
This image pulled off the recording was probably when gcg saw Princess returning to the eggs - so no cause for concern about a missing egg. Thanks TPC.
So far I have only peeked at the cam a couple times, and only to find Princess sitting on the eggs. Now I will also recognize that white shape in the middle of the nest is likely just a stone or something (if it should remain there).
-
I really want to say "yes" the Brandon cam is close to getting back online but still in a holding pattern. Fortunately Hurricane and Brooklyn are a bit later than the rest of the gang so fingers crossed.
This sounds hopeful. Sure would be nice to see our Brandon birds on cam again!
-
This image pulled off the recording was probably when gcg saw Princess returning to the eggs - so no cause for concern about a missing egg. Thanks TPC.
Actually this is a close up of the eggs and Smiley coming to relieve Princess who had been on duty for most of the day. I'm making the clarification so folks can get a sense of Smiley's size on the ledge with the new camera - we are a little further away than the cams at he box .
-
This image pulled off the recording was probably when gcg saw Princess returning to the eggs - so no cause for concern about a missing egg. Thanks TPC.
Actually this is a close up of the eggs and Smiley coming to relieve Princess who had been on duty for most of the day. I'm making the clarification so folks can get a sense of Smiley's size on the ledge with the new camera - we are a little further away than the cams at he box .
Guess I had the case of the possible missing egg on my mind.
-
And the lighter and what appears to be an xl egg distracted me and I couldn't pull my eyes away. Thanks for clarification TPC and burdi. :)
-
This image pulled off the recording was probably when gcg saw Princess returning to the eggs - so no cause for concern about a missing egg. Thanks TPC.
Actually this is a close up of the eggs and Smiley coming to relieve Princess who had been on duty for most of the day. I'm making the clarification so folks can get a sense of Smiley's size on the ledge with the new camera - we are a little further away than the cams at he box .
Guess I had the case of the possible missing egg on my mind.
Uh-oh, while looking back on the forum I’m noticing what happened here TPC. Initially I somehow failed to read your reply #22 at 17:54 (which clearly explained that all was good with the eggs), and instead I immediately focused on your photo of the eggs! Then, when you explained what appeared to look like one egg was actually two - I thought this might have been an explanation by photo. Sorry to cause confusion.
-
After looking in on Princess, I checked the CBC weather and see scattered showers today, however, for tomorrow it is a different story as shared by John...............
"Here’s your checklist for Thursday… downspouts at the house, umbrella, rubber boots for the kids (or adults if you wish). By Thursday evening, 15-20mm mostly in the southeast including the Red River Valley. Friday dries up and warms up slightly. Saturday starts with sunshine but more rain moves in for the afternoon, evening and overnight. That rain continues on Sunday but I do see some late day clearing. Sunday’s high is in the single digits".
He says umbrellas, or in the case of Princess..Mumbrella! With her wingspan, these eggs/chicks? will not get damp or wet.
-
Usually Princess' eggs take over 30 days to hatch, so our best estimate is Victoria Day or later, so chicks should miss most of the rain over the next few days. As for how much rain is too much for the eggs on this nestledge, this I don't know I'm afraid. But interestingly, the building itself provides protection - particularly when it isn't constant rain rather periods of rain which is apparently what is on the forecast for tomorrow in Winnipeg. Likely the only ones getting wet tomorrow will be Princess and Smiley ...
-
Weather forecast is for about ~1 mm per hour all day and into the evening. This is considered a light rain. As I recall, two years ago we had a similar rainfall the day the first chick was hatched and though that chick died (Princess didn't want to get off and feed for good reason) Tenzing and Hillary did just fine.
Just checked weather records and on May 30, 2013, the first Radisson chick hatched and we had 16.4 mm of rain followed by another 23.2 mm on the 31st according to weather data collected at the Forks. The sun came out on June 1st and Tenzing and Hillary hatched out that day.
According to the weather station at the University of Winnipeg, we have had 11mm of rain since midnight. They are also forecasting that the POP will drop about dinner time, drop again to probably no more rain about 9pm and then the rain will be gone by 3am. No rain tomorrow. A chance of rain on Saturday afternoon and then it drops through Sunday and it is forecasted to be sunny, no rain from Monday (18th) through to the following Wednesday (27th).
So soggy and wet for the rest of today ... and maybe a bit more sog on Saturday and then good weather for the first few days after hatching.
-
Poor Soggy Princess
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CE-dpbyUIAEa3zd.jpg)
(not even going to mention her choice in nest sites this year)
-
Checking with the spycam from above (not the view you see on the CBC page), the water in the south end of the ledge has drained almost completely - still raining lightly but there is just a small puddle against the outside wall which is as far away from where Princess is parked as you can get on that ledge.
-
Poor Soggy Princess
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CE-dpbyUIAEa3zd.jpg)
(not even going to mention her choice in nest sites this year)
That is one ferocious, stubborn mama. She does live with her soggy choices and protects her eggs above all else.
-
I'll see if I can't put together a slide show of her parked on these eggs since light this morning ... won't be until later however, work and all that ;) ;D
-
...and while you're at it, please translate for me the following message I received from Princess a few minutes ago." @%&*#?$&?@". Thank you! ::)
-
LOL, love it ;)
-
Poor Soggy Princess
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CE-dpbyUIAEa3zd.jpg)
(not even going to mention her choice in nest sites this year)
Princess Sweetie, if you only choose the nice, dry, covered nest box. ::) :o
-
...and while you're at it, please translate for me the following message I received from Princess a few minutes ago." @%&*#?$&?@". Thank you! ::)
Ha ha ha ;D well gemcitygemini, since Princess sent that message to you, she’s likely saying she should have listened to your advice.
Certainly TPC is the expert interpreter, but with my guess there could possibly be some cursing here, along with - what?, why is there not a roof above my head?, and furthermore - why did I forget to check for a roof? Then … through her tears ... she may be thinking of that lovely scrape Smiley had prepared inside the box.
I feel so sorry for Princess while she tries to keep the eggs dry. :( Maybe if it had rained like this just before her first egg arrived, perhaps she might have been more inclined to choose the box.
-
I feel so sorry for Princess while she tries to keep the eggs dry. :( Maybe if it had rained like this just before her first egg arrived, perhaps she might have been more inclined to choose the box.
If only Burdi, if only. Like the West Winnipeg birds, Smiley and Princess started keeping the empty scrape warm/dry even before the eggs came ... not as in incubating eggs velcroed to the scrape warm/dry, rather, when it was cold or wet, they would lie down in the scrape. Smiley did it in the nestbox too this year. And Princess napped in the nestbox this year when the weather was less than hospitable - didn't seem to endear the box to her. Don't know why she went for the ledge this year but there you go. As I said, Ty and Beatrix did the same thing (keeping an empty scrape warm) in their nestbox too. Not something I've seen our peregrines do here - interestingly it was Smiley and Ty who started it and those two are so distantly related they didn't learn it from a relative in common. Always something new, often surprising with these birds.
In any case, tomorrow looks to be rain free so everyone will dry out as well the nestledge. Then apparently a high probability of rain on Saturday afternoon, not so high probability on Sunday during the day and still Monday is the start of sunny, rain-free weather. (Environment Canada's forecast has a bit less rain forecast). In any case, keep your fingers crossed that this weather system doesn't stall over us!
-
All the eggs look fine on-camera and neither Princess nor Smiley seem to have any concerns about them.
Saturday looking a bit better - only a 50% chance of rain in the afternoon, but rain almost guaranteed for the overnight.
Sunday looks much worse - 100% chance of rain (not news I know) but the temps are dropping enough that there may be rain/snow overnight. Yikes!
Monday is cooler (single digits) but dry and then Tuesday 10C, Wednesday 18C and Thursday 21C and Friday 23C. Much better for hatching
-
All the eggs look fine on-camera and neither Princess nor Smiley seem to have any concerns about them.
Saturday looking a bit better - only a 50% chance of rain in the afternoon, but rain almost guaranteed for the overnight.
Sunday looks much worse - 100% chance of rain (not news I know) but the temps are dropping enough that there may be rain/snow overnight. Yikes!
Monday is cooler (single digits) but dry and then Tuesday 10C, Wednesday 18C and Thursday 21C and Friday 23C. Much better for hatching
Thankfully the weather today is nice and sunny.
I don’t like the sound of this forecast, but good to read it may improve before hatching. It’s also expected to be windy on Sunday … brrr! … cold for our birdies on eggs. Hope they're wrong about the weekend.
-
I feel so sorry for Princess while she tries to keep the eggs dry. :( Maybe if it had rained like this just before her first egg arrived, perhaps she might have been more inclined to choose the box.
If only Burdi, if only. Like the West Winnipeg birds, Smiley and Princess started keeping the empty scrape warm/dry even before the eggs came ... not as in incubating eggs velcroed to the scrape warm/dry, rather, when it was cold or wet, they would lie down in the scrape. Smiley did it in the nestbox too this year. And Princess napped in the nestbox this year when the weather was less than hospitable - didn't seem to endear the box to her. Don't know why she went for the ledge this year but there you go. As I said, Ty and Beatrix did the same thing (keeping an empty scrape warm) in their nestbox too. Not something I've seen our peregrines do here - interestingly it was Smiley and Ty who started it and those two are so distantly related they didn't learn it from a relative in common. Always something new, often surprising with these birds.
Thank you TPC. Very interesting to read about the behaviour of Ty and Smiley.
-
WEATHER FOR THE VICTORIA WEEKEND
Today (Sat, May 16) - Increasing cloudiness. High 22. UV index 5 or moderate. Tonight - Cloudy. Rain beginning this evening. Risk of a thunderstorm late this evening and overnight. Amount 15 to 25 mm. Wind becoming east 30 km/h late this evening. Low 10.
Sun, May 17 - Rain. Risk of a thunderstorm in the morning. Amount 20 to 30 mm. Wind north 20 km/h becoming northeast 60 gusting to 80 early in the afternoon. Temperature falling to plus 5 in the afternoon. Night - Rain or snow. Windy. Low minus 1.
Mon, May 18 - Flurries. Windy. High plus 3. Night - Clear. Low minus 2.
Tue, May 19 - Sunny. High 9. Night - Clear. Low plus 2.
Environment Canada Weather Warning for Southern Manitoba (http://weather.gc.ca/warnings/report_e.html?mb9#91632316625241576201505160501)
-
Usually Princess' eggs take more than 30 days to hatch after incubation has begun - usually 32 to 34 based on her recent record. Incubation typically starts with penultimate egg, so for us/them that was about April 18th. That should mean the first chick should hatch after this weekend's nasty weather has passed through. But, it was cold when they started laying their eggs and all our birds were keeping them warm during laying, which isn't the same as incubation but I can't say for sure it won't shorten the count a bit. We will just have to see.
Lots of rain and snow is forecast. The snow isn't an issue and neither will the rain be if it is spread out over time - what we don't need is a deluge all at once. Light and constant is annoying but would be better for the birds. Winds are from the north are cold but the building should help protect the nestledge - and the wind should blow the rain which might help reduce the amount that hits the ledge as well. As with the incubation count, we will just have to wait and see I'm afraid.
Enjoy the day today folks, Princess and Smiley will be doing the same before they batten down the hatches until Monday/Tuesday.
-
My fingers are crossed. man, my daughter and her family should be in Winnipeg today and I was hoping for some decent weather for them. But we are all hardy Canadians LOL
I did not realize we were so close to hatch here
-
a quick exchange and then Princess right back. tried to get a good look at eggs. will look at my recording later
-
I did not realize we were so close to hatch here
Over the years and over all the pairs we have had, the Victoria Day weekend is about the time when our first hatches generally occur.
-
Never fails - I can't even watch :'( :'( >:(
'WEATHER WARNING' - Southern Manitoba
'50-70mm of rain is expected with strong winds, risk of freezing rain & ice pellets, and potential for 10-15cm of snow by Monday Morning.'
-
Checked the weather radar and it looks like there will be patchy rain between 1900 and 2100 ... that's as far into the future the radar can forecast so will be keeping an eye on it this evening and tomorrow.
The radar maps for Brandon today looked horrible but according to a local weather monitoring station there hasn't been any rain. Hopefully that will the be case here too!
-
4:21 today no one on eggs so got a good look at the 4 of them. Cool
-
I see only 3 eggs, and it's after 5, and still no one one incubation duties, kinda worried. :-[
-
I wish I knew how to insert a picture, then I could show the 4 eggs I saw earlier. ???
-
4:20pm - 4 eggs
but jus t before 5 when falcon left it looked like 3 eggs but one i s hiding
-
I will post. it was about 7 minutes before eggs were covered. no worries
be right back
here is picture around4pm
(http://i1303.photobucket.com/albums/ag145/peterfull/2015%20birds%20etc/manitoba%20may16-1_zpsvvkjadyx.jpg) (http://s1303.photobucket.com/user/peterfull/media/2015%20birds%20etc/manitoba%20may16-1_zpsvvkjadyx.jpg.html)
and this is what was before 5 and after ( it looks like 3 at firstglance but one is right behind on left)
(http://i1303.photobucket.com/albums/ag145/peterfull/2015%20birds%20etc/manitoba%20may16-2_zpsrrbqxrxj.jpg) (http://s1303.photobucket.com/user/peterfull/media/2015%20birds%20etc/manitoba%20may16-2_zpsrrbqxrxj.jpg.html)
so still 4
-
I did not realize we were so close to hatch here
I didn't either!
Thank you for the new link to the cams, PC.
-
Looks like the heaviest rains will be about midnight then they will drop off over the next 3-4 hours to about 1mm/hr, which is annoying but generally not a problem for the peregrines ... fingers crossed ...
-
Steady, Heavy rain right now, I fear for the ledge flooding. :'(
-
Princess is holding tight to her eggs. Cam sure is blowing.
-
she/he looks dry so rain must have stopped but is windy
-
a quick exchange and cam blurry because :-* of wind but when eggs were alone you could see gravel was dry where eggs are
-
a quick exchange and cam blurry because :-* of wind but when eggs were alone you could see gravel was dry where eggs are
Thanks for the update Bev. I'm one of those glass half full type. ;D I think that all is going to be fine. No need for worry until something happens.
-
Now I am going to say it ... stoopid bird ... nestbox nice and dry ... ledge wet and windy ...
Chosen Nestsite
(http://www.pbase.com/speciesatrisk/image/160090608/medium.jpg)
UnChosen Nestsite (this year)
(http://www.pbase.com/speciesatrisk/image/160090606.jpg) (http://www.pbase.com/speciesatrisk/image/160090607.jpg)
what is worse is that the west-side skycam and the east-side spycam and ledgecam are all "hanging" so affected more by the wind than fixed cams. The skycam right now is barely moving in the wind and of the three, it is the highest, so the wind has swung around and the west side is more protected than the east at the moment. There is always weather that sucks but this bird has the most uncanny ability to chose the worst site on the years with the worst weather! I guess she can't be perfect at everything :'(
-
Okay, weather geek stuff for those who are interested ...
Had a look at the weather since midnight and the wind has been clocking around all the points, unfortunately, least often from the west which would be best for the ledge. Winds are currently gusting 25-50 km/h and have been since midnight. At 1126h a gust of 51.3km/h recorded from the east. Winds aren't expected to decrease until into Monday ... would be nice if they clocked a bit more west, that would provide the birds with a bit of respite. For those who are unfamiliar with the compass points downtown, the Radisson is angled a bit and faces NNW, so the north wind has a clear shot at the nestledge (and can be funnelled by the canyons formed by the buildings downtown) and is why the nestbox is much more protected than it seems it should be when there is a north wind.
Total rain since midnight = 21.08 mm (as of 1145h) - highest precipitation rate was 8.6mm/hr at 0206h, fortunately it has be generally decreasing since then. Rain stopped downtown at 0440h with a little drizzle between 0520 and 0620h. No precipitation recorded since then. Looking down from the skycam, the streets below are dry with the occasional wet spot (not puddle) that I can see.
More rain forecast for about 1500 through 2100 when temps are expected to have dropped enough for the rain to become snow. Chances of snow will decrease to about 30% by 0800h Monday and the risk of any type of precipitation continues to decrease so likely just overcast and cold (single digits above zero). Winds should drop from 40km/h overnight Monday. Daytime temps will rise starting Tuesday, lots of sun and very little wind is forecast for the next week. (Yippee!)
-
Perhaps the STARS ambulance could transport them to this nest. If only!
-
cam on other ledge right now ??
-
Agreed TPC - Love ya Princess...... but....STOOPID!! :(
-
cam on other ledge right now ??
Sometimes when we are watching the ledge the world narrows down to a 4ft by 4ft patch of gravel. Saw Smiley sitting on the edge of the nestbox and it was hard to reconcile the conditions in one 4x4 square with the other other when the only difference is west vs east.
Nothing wrong on the ledge, just the same old, same old until it a) gets warmer and/or b) the chicks start hatching. ;)
-
Oh my goodness, Princess, why did you make such an unfortunate decision, again?
Perhaps in her later middle age, she is yearning for the days of her youth, or perhaps feeling some instinctual species memory of the wild, pre nest box days. At least she nevers lets up the fierce protection when the weather chips are down.
For how long would Princess be likely to let Smiley on the eggs over this stretch?
Or, how long can Princess remain on duty, before needing to attend to her need to eat?
-
Man oh man I hope nobody hatches out today! Princess is looking pretty fluffed up - hopefully that's just as she tries to stay dry. If a chick comes now, then there could be a repeat of last year... :'(
-
thanks TPC. You had been just talking about that ledge and thought something was wrong
princess has been relieved today. I keep my tape up so I an come and check
-
Can't believe I'm saying this, but I would prefer snow ...
-
I think an egg is outflorting , cr---
snow would have been better
will check my tapes later but fingers crossed here
she is doing her best but surrounded by water
keep praying folks
-
poor girl just cannot keep them all under
-
I would rather now than when they hatch
-
Can't believe I'm saying this, but I would prefer snow ...
Just saw the cam. This is not what I thought I would see. I, too, would prefer snow. Here in our neighborhood, we had this heavy rain but it has passed by. Will await your posts, TPC.
3:25, heavy again.
-
This is horrible
-
all eggs floating
she is trying to get them back under. I am just in tears here and must walk away for a bit
-
Very upsetting to see how quickly the situation has become so very bad.
-
I was just looking at the the cam and it does appear there is at least one egg floating around. :'( I hope I am wrong as it is very hard to see. Keeping everything crossed that all will be well.
-
I see three floating
-
I now see three eggs away from Princess in the water. She is looking restless, as if almost standing up and frequently shaking her head. How wet and cold will she let herself get?
-
All four are visible now.
-
Now all 4 eggs are floating around. TPC - what are the chances of having hatching now? I am so sad for Princess and Smiley :'(
-
Princess is an amazing and nurturing falcon. She remains diligent and continues to persevere.
-
This is so sad to watch.
-
Princess is now standing on the ledge looking at the water.
-
Eggs can tolerate some water but I don't know for how long.
Given it is cold out there, likely not long.
Stranger things have happened but I am not hopeful.
-
TPC, thanks for switching the cam to the west nest site. What we were seeing was so very hard to watch. :'(
-
Thanks for moving the cam view TPC. Very stressful to watch. Would've been much worse if the chicks had hatched. Then Princess wouldn't have budged and all would very likely be lost anyway.
-
Is there time to re-nest, if the eggs aren't viable?
-
I am praying for a miracle. I have seen plenty this year.
-
Is it too late in the season for Princess and Smiley to try again?
-
Very good to not be still looking at that ledge.
-
Very good to not be still looking at that ledge.
Yes, I couldn't watch. The memories of the Lost Chicks were strong.
Hoping for the best, but with a heavy heart . . .
-
Well - that's it - until that deadly ledge is somehow taken out of commission for nesting - I'm out - Can't watch this year after year. :'(
-
This is nature - happens to so many nests that we don't see. That's what I kept thinking when we lost the TLC. The birds will move on though and that's the good news. No grieving for them.
-
4:20pm - 4 eggs
but jus t before 5 when falcon left it looked like 3 eggs but one i s hiding
Thanks for the thought.
-
I will post. it was about 7 minutes before eggs were covered. no worries
be right back
here is picture around4pm
(http://i1303.photobucket.com/albums/ag145/peterfull/2015%20birds%20etc/manitoba%20may16-1_zpsvvkjadyx.jpg) (http://s1303.photobucket.com/user/peterfull/media/2015%20birds%20etc/manitoba%20may16-1_zpsvvkjadyx.jpg.html)
Thanks, it was tough to see the 4th.
and this is what was before 5 and after ( it looks like 3 at firstglance but one is right behind on left)
(http://i1303.photobucket.com/albums/ag145/peterfull/2015%20birds%20etc/manitoba%20may16-2_zpsrrbqxrxj.jpg) (http://s1303.photobucket.com/user/peterfull/media/2015%20birds%20etc/manitoba%20may16-2_zpsrrbqxrxj.jpg.html)
so still 4
-
Well - that's it - until that deadly ledge is somehow taken out of commission for nesting - I'm out - Can't watch this year after year. :'(
I know how you feel, but really it's not year after year.
2008 was the last flooding, now it is 2015.
I'm looking forward to the rest of this year and next year.
-
Is there time to re-nest, if the eggs aren't viable?
I hope so Liz. I know other species of birds re-nest. But P.F.'s not sure.
-
:'( :'(
-
What a disappointment, thank goodness this doesn't happen every year.
This comment may be wrong to some, but, I'm thankful they were just eggs as there is less emotional attachment to eggs.
I just wanted Princess to let go and fly away.
Tomorrow will be another day for the birds.
-
:'( :'(
-
What a disappointment, thank goodness this doesn't happen every year.
This comment may be wrong to some, but, I'm thankful they were just eggs as there is less emotional attachment to eggs.
I just wanted Princess to let go and fly away.
Tomorrow will be another day for the birds.
those were my thoughts exactly.
-
What a disappointment, thank goodness this doesn't happen every year.
This comment may be wrong to some, but, I'm thankful they were just eggs as there is less emotional attachment to eggs.
I just wanted Princess to let go and fly away.
Tomorrow will be another day for the birds.
those were my thoughts exactly.
Yes Allikat, you said it well. Thank you.
-
Something we should all remember is that this type of "tragedy" is a fact of nature. These are wild birds and they lose their young and eggs all the time, from many causes. Wild birds cannot be forced to nest where they do not want to no matter what humans want or think. Keep in mind the many, many successful hatches and fledges we have been honored to witness at this site. All that said, my heart hurts for Princess and Smiley this year. :'( May they successfully nest again.
-
for those who think the ledge is always a disaster. our RAdisson was hatched on th sledge by Princess
Out in the wild the cliffs are not perfect either. Some o four biologists are reinforcing areas where they are finding them nesting, to give them a better chance but they still can get lost in flash flood.
And I know it is a long shot but just maybe one will make it. who knows for sure. I never say never.
-
To answer a question - is it too late for Princess and Smiley to re-nest? The answer, technically, is no. Do I think they will? No. Generally if nests are lost early in incubation there is a chance they will re-nest but this is too late in the cycle I think, particularly with an experienced bird like Princess.
Only good thing is that Princess and Smiley will have the summer to rest and recharge. Ty in West Winnipeg is a good example of what can happen after a tragedy - he and his sibs were from Princess' and Trey's 2009 nest on this same ledge. And to be honest, Princess is an older bird, I would prefer to see her come back next year ready to rumble rather than go through all it takes to raise chicks again this year.
And yes, Jazzer is correct, every year, there are peregrines around the world nesting on cliffs (and other places) that go through this same thing. The downside of saving the peregrine is that every loss is personal.
-
To answer a question - is it too late for Princess and Smiley to re-nest? The answer, technically, is no. Do I think they will? No. Generally if nests are lost early in incubation there is a chance they will re-nest but this is too late in the cycle I think, particularly with an experienced bird like Princess.
Only good thing is that Princess and Smiley will have the summer to rest and recharge. Ty in West Winnipeg is a good example of what can happen after a tragedy - he and his sibs were from Princess' and Trey's 2009 nest on this same ledge. And to be honest, Princess is an older bird, I would prefer to see her come back next year ready to rumble rather than go through all it takes to raise chicks again this year.
And yes, Jazzer is correct, every year, there are peregrines around the world nesting on cliffs (and other places) that go through this same thing. The downside of saving the peregrine is that every loss is personal.
So well said, Tracy.
I have to remember how many chicks were raised and thrived on this ledge.
I am so sad for the birds and for all of us who follow them with love.
This loss just makes the successes that much more poignant.
We have to stay engaged, even though it's so difficult.
We should have at least some of the staying power of our Princess and you too, TPC.
-
I don't post on this site often, but I do follow everyone's comments and am appreciative that you are all there. I want to express by extreme sadness and condolences at the loss of the chicks. Especially, to Tracy. It is super hard, but certainly harder on those humans who are so invested in their lives. :'(
-
I for one will say here for princess.
Is she still on the ledge TPC
-
The rain has stopped for now, but the temperature has dropped considerably.
The wind has picked up and it is quite dreary here. Tonight does not look any better.
Today has been a sad one for all of us. But nature will do as it sees fit.
None of us would have been aware of what happened today without the dedication of many and the technology that allows us to be a part of the beauty and sadness of it all.
We are so incredibly lucky to be able to have access to the intimacy of the Peregrines and their ups and downs. Thank you.
-
Thanks everyone ... tough day for everyone, peregrines and phanatics alike.
Will have to see what tomorrow holds .. been talking to lots of folks, here, there and everywhere ... so this will be my last post for this evening. Tomorrow will come with snow, wind, whatever and we will just have to see what the peregrines are up to. I'll see if I can't track Princess and Smiley down by camera.
As for what the birds will do next, I think I know, but they have surprised us before so I'm not going to speculate. They may not always know "best" but they know way more than we do, so we'll just leave them to do their thing ... it is there show after all, we are just the audience and occasionally stage hands.
One last thing - I figure you all have heard enough about today's events but I will be on Information Radio (CBC Radio One) at 0810h tomorrow morning. I can't think that there will be anything you haven't all heard or already know but I thought I would mention it nonetheless.
Night all ...
-
I am so sorry that Princess & Smiley have lost all of their eggs. Princess is such an amazing bird, hanging in there for as long as she did with these gale force winds & rain. I'm sure that she only abandoned her eggs when she knew there was no hope. And as someone has said, better now than after they have hatched. That would be much more difficult to watch, particularly for young school children. Still, very sad. :'(
-
Today must be very difficult for anyone directly involved with these falcons. TPC, thank you for all you do for our peregrines - while trying to remain positive. Those four precious eggs of Smiley and Princess were so close to hatching ... :'(
-
I just listened to you on CBC Radio, TPC and very much appreciated your explanation as to why you cannot simply block off the east ledge site so Princess will not nest there. A lot of us do not know the ins and outs of Peregrines the way you do. I was not aware that the birds use the east ledge for activities other than nesting and that by closing off this site, it may discourage them and they may possibly move to a location other than the Radisson. In all the years the PFs have been in Winnipeg, there have been many times they have successfully nested on the east side and unfortunately two times have been disastrous. These are wild birds and they will decide where they want to nest. Humans are not in control. We are just the "visitors". Even though so many of us love these birds, we have to accept the fact that they do what they want, not what we want. Thanks for all your hard work, TPC, Eye-Spy,Dennis, and all the others involved in the Project. I, for one, appreciate it.
-
Just an update for folks, I have seen both Princess and Smiley today and they look fine from what I could see - didn't see them for very long.
Weather is suppose to remain cold today but clear off this afternoon (late this afternoon?).
-
Heard your interview this morning on CBC's "Information Radio" show, TPC. As usual, very good interview. And as Jazz has previously said, from your explanation as to why the east nest ledge cannot be blocked off, I now fully understand. We certainly don't want to risk the possibility of our downtown PF's moving elsewhere. Thanks for your explanation, TPC. :-*
-
I've had one pm about this, so I thought I would post as well.
Yes, the nestledge is dry this morning - a wee bit snowy, but no puddles or water that I can see.
There is more snow in the WW nestbox right now.
-
Has Princess tried rounding up the eggs or does she realize that they're lost...?
-
Has Princess tried rounding up the eggs or does she realize that they're lost...?
I can't say what she knows I'm afraid Susha but the eggs haven't moved from where they were when the ledge dried out last night.
Does that answer your question? :-\
-
Unfortunately, I guess it does. I was hoping she'd at least try to gather them up and settle. She knew it was hopeless... :(
-
Yes because if Princess believed the eggs to be viable, she'd be on them, n'est-ce pas?
-
Yes because if Princess believed the eggs to be viable, she'd be on them, n'est-ce pas?
I don't know ... in doing research on eggs and getting wet during incubation I found an article about a chicken whose coop got flooded who then went back on the eggs for a few days and then abandoned them. Figure it is like when it is a normal year and one egg doesn't hatch but the adults keep incubating it anyway until at some point, they just know and it gets pushed out of the way.
-
Glad to hear P&S are ok....... later in the week they'll be basking in the sun & warmth.
My reaction yesterday was purely emotional - was mad - needed to count to 10 - or maybe 1000 before posting! :P
That said, I still hate that ledge - but hopefully the idea that Tracy had of just removing the gravel and making a smooth surface will deter nesting, but still be good for hanging out!!
Hope to hear the other Wpg nests ended up better after yesterday's monstrous weather. 8)
-
Maybe this was covered during the Info Radio interview, or another time, but would it be viable to place a proper nest box on the east ledge? This was done at another site so wondering if it would work at this site.
-
Maybe this was covered during the Info Radio interview, or another time, but would it be viable to place a proper nest box on the east ledge? This was done at another site so wondering if it would work at this site.
It wasn't included in the interview but it has been brought up before and the problem is that we don't have access to the ledge and anything we put there has the potential to hurt someone or cause major damage if it were to blow off or become damaged and blow off. Not to mention it would like be a hazard to the birds before that. We check our nestboxes spring and fall each year give that our weather can be so extreme. So while it seems the simplest idea, it has a few problems ... like everything on this darn ledge!!
-
Glad to hear P&S are ok....... later in the week they'll be basking in the sun & warmth.
My reaction yesterday was purely emotional - was mad - needed to count to 10 - or maybe 1000 before posting! :P
That said, I still hate that ledge - but hopefully the idea that Tracy had of just removing the gravel and making a smooth surface will deter nesting, but still be good for hanging out!!
Hope to hear the other Wpg nests ended up better after yesterday's monstrous weather. 8)
You just vented what we all felt. We know you're not a quitter ;)
The idea of removing gravel sounds very interesting.
-
Of course, didn't hear interview.
but glad you are seeing Princess and Smiley.
-
Link to CBC News article:
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/winnipeg-s-peregrine-falcons-lose-eggs-nest-in-rain-and-wind-1.3077980
(http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/winnipeg-s-peregrine-falcons-lose-eggs-nest-in-rain-and-wind-1.3077980)
-
Thanks for sharing this burdi.
-
Maybe this was covered during the Info Radio interview, or another time, but would it be viable to place a proper nest box on the east ledge? This was done at another site so wondering if it would work at this site.
It wasn't included in the interview but it has been brought up before and the problem is that we don't have access to the ledge and anything we put there has the potential to hurt someone or cause major damage if it were to blow off or become damaged and blow off. Not to mention it would like be a hazard to the birds before that. We check our nestboxes spring and fall each year give that our weather can be so extreme. So while it seems the simplest idea, it has a few problems ... like everything on this darn ledge!!
That's too bad. :( Darn that ledge.
-
I know that it is now "old news", but I am so sorry for Princess, Smiley, and all of us that the eggs were lost in the horrible weather on Sunday. It is such a disappointment. :'( I hope that Princess will be back next year and has success.
-
For those of you needing a fix ;) (and we all do)
This is Princess this morning ...
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CFX8G82UgAARFa0.jpg)
Will see if I can get a nice close-up of Smiley when he next visits the nestbox
-
Thanks for the fix. She looks good.
I imagine that her having the summer off, will help her health and stamina.
-
I must admit, I'm just happy seeing her dry!
-
Great to see her royal highness basking in the sun!
-
Starting about 1100h, Princess began an orgy of preening in the sun on the Radisson sign.
I think she is very much enjoying her day-in-the-sun.
-
Thanks for sharing this, TPC! :)
-
For anyone who happens to be downtown, the Hotel has window cleaners working on the building - this is their last day there apparently. So, if you are downtown and you see the peregrines defending the building and the nestledge, don't be surprised, that is to be expected - it is still "their" building and still "their nest" despite the events of the weekend, the switch just doesn't flip off in this kind of situation.
-
For those of you needing a fix ;) (and we all do)
This is Princess this morning ...
So nice to see Princess enjoying a day in the sun.
She sure deserves it! :D
-
thank you TRacy for photo of Princess. I am glad sh e is dry also. I was talkin g to my daughter and sh e said, mom it was rain and hail and sleet and high winds for 24 hours.
WE jsut do not see it all on cam. Poor girl
-
I was off line since May 14, but I knew there was some bad weather in the forecast for Winnipeg. I was so sad this morning when I read about Princess & Smiley's eggs. I agree, it was better that this happened before the chicks arrived, although again very sad because the hatch dates were so near. :'( Even though we know that it's mother nature and we have no control, and that this is something that can happen, it is so heartbreaking to our human emotions.
-
For those of you needing a chick fix, get onto the Elk River site.
Live and with sound.
Here's the link
http://www.greatriverenergy.com/aboutus/environmental/birdcam.html
-
Hi Tracy,
What happen to the eggs now?
Does Princess and/or Smiley get rid of them?
-
Hi Tracy,
What happen to the eggs now?
Does Princess and/or Smiley get rid of them?
that will be up to Princess and/or Smiley. They may leave them there and when they aren't around something may come in and take them off or Princess or Smiley may break them and remove them themselves. If folks are really interested, I can post here what happens ... but only if folks are interested in my doing this.
-
I am definitely interested, and have been wondering the same thing for a few days.
-
Post for me as well whatever happens to those eggs on the ledge. I'm curious.
-
I'm completely comfortable with knowing what will happen with the eggs.
I welcome new information as it's important to learn something new everyday.
-
... Princess and/or Smiley...may leave them there and when they aren't around something may come in and take them off or Princess or Smiley may break them and remove them themselves. If folks are really interested, I can post here what happens ... but only if folks are interested in my doing this.
I would be interested in hearing what happens to the abandoned eggs.
-
I would be curious also as to what happens to eggs. Are they going to ledge at all.
-
What happens to the eggs is part of the story.
I'd like to hear that part.
-
Me too.
-
What happens to the eggs is part of the story.
I'd like to hear that part.
Yes, I agree. It is part of the life (that we see) of Princess and Smiley.
-
I would like to know also.
-
I'm definitely interested!
-
Okay, sounds like most folks want to know so I'll post about it when it happens. :)
-
Okay, sounds like most folks want to know so I'll post about it when it happens. :)
We're a curious bunch. All peregrine information is good.
-
Please do, I'm very interested as well.
-
I too would like to know.
-
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CFoocqCUkAEuYdA.jpg)
Smiley napping at the Hotel this afternoon.
I tried to get a photo of Princess but she was sitting in the sun and it was too bright, made the whole image too washed out. Will wait until she comes to roost in the shade later today.
-
Can't help but think how lovely this warm clear weather would have been for newly hatched chicks.. :-\ - Oh well, nothing to be done about it. 8)
-
I agree, ballywing. Still sad not to have Radisson chicks this year. But at least Princess & Smiley can relax now & enjoy our warm, sunny weather. :-\
-
Just because Smiley and Princess have lost their eggs doesn't mean we don't have an interest in how they spend their summer, so I will continue to post updates and photos when I can catch them on cam.
I'm particularly partial to napping peregrine photos, something about a predatory bird that is the fastest thing on two wings sound asleep, sitting up, 30 storeys above the ground is one of those really cool things about nature. Like mountain goats frolicking on ledges the size of postage stamps (https://youtu.be/TtUz514rXKo), sperm whales sleeping like bats (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HengPojNgbM) and antifreeze frogs that hibernate in Alaska (https://youtu.be/CraGaGFnMDs). But sometimes the goats don't make the jump, bad things happen to whales and sometimes there just isn't enough antifreeze for an Alaskan winter. And sometimes peregrines lose their eggs or their young.
We don't often get to see what adult peregrines do when they are empty nesters, mostly they are busy getting ready for migration. Now with Princess and Smiley we will see what they do with a few months of leisure time, likely still in downtown Winnipeg so they don't lose control of the Radisson, and then they will migrate, perhaps earlier than the rest, perhaps later - something to look forward to finding out.
And we get to eat our cake too, because yes, we do have other active nests and we can look forward to their adventures as well.
A little bit of everything for everyone.
-
Just because Smiley and Princess have lost their eggs doesn't mean we don't have an interest in how they spend their summer, so I will continue to post updates and photos when I can catch them on camera.
And we get to eat our cake too, because yes, we do have other active nests and we can look forward to their adventures as well.
A little bit of everything for everyone.
Thanks for posting this, TPC. My interest is strong in knowing what they do as you say, empty nesters. I often look at the CBC cam hoping I catch one or the other sitting there. I hope CBC keeps it running. You never know how often you may catch a view of them.
-
One of the three eggs is now up against the outside wall on the nestledge ... it was with the rest when the sun set last night, by sunrise this morning it was about 3 feet away ... can't tell who or what moved it ... winds weren't enough I don't think (the winds can be markedly stronger a few storeys above the ground downtown) so perhaps one of the adults during a visit at night. The Radisson peregrines often visit the nestbox and nestledge in the middle of the night - we've made note of these night time visits over the last few years with the webcams, not just with Smiley & Princess but with Ivy and Trey as well.
-
One of the three eggs is now up against the outside wall on the nestledge ...
Thank you for posting about the ledge TPC, but besides reading about what is happening - I would greatly appreciate being able to view the ledge cam as well, since that was their nest.
Watching a tragic event on any live bird cam is difficult, and at times I’ve had to turn away; although, I’ve also found that watching how the birds deal with grief was often healing, (and always a learning experience).
I would like to see how Princess and Smiley are handling their particular situation, and also if they might begin to show signs of nesting again.
Is anyone else interested in having the ledge view?
-
Few more photos have been added to the Radisson Gallery at the link below.
http://www.pbase.com/photosbydennis/radisson_2015
Smiley was definitely the aggressive one as Princess sat and watched from her perch...this was all pre-nesting as we thought they had for sure picked the west-side box.
-
photo is great as usual .
I love watching our adult peregrines also. especially in a wind. they soar and soar . what a sight
I will keep coming here to get updates
now to check on other Winnipeg sights
-
One of the three eggs is now up against the outside wall on the nestledge ...
Thank you for posting about the ledge TPC, but besides reading about what is happening - I would greatly appreciate being able to view the ledge cam as well, since that was their nest.
Watching a tragic event on any live bird cam is difficult, and at times I’ve had to turn away; although, I’ve also found that watching how the birds deal with grief was often healing, (and always a learning experience).
I would like to see how Princess and Smiley are handling their particular situation, and also if they might begin to show signs of nesting again.
Is anyone else interested in having the ledge view?
If the birds visit the ledge for eating and occasionally hanging out I would be interested in that view. I have yet to catch anyone visiting the nest box on the roof.
-
;D I knew my persistence would pay off. One of our Radisson Royals sitting in the edge of the nestbox. Sorry, back to the cam! ;D
-
I have been watching now for over 40 minutes. I will be checking more often. TPC, do you see them more often here or on the ledge? Well, back to the cam.
-
;D I knew my persistence would pay off. One of our Radisson Royals sitting in the edge of the nestbox. Sorry, back to the cam! ;D
(http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy320/Blondechik_2010/winnipeg.jpg)
-
:) Thanks for the photo, RCF! Yes, that's pretty much what I watched for about 50 minutes. Well worth it!
-
...One of our Radisson Royals sitting in the edge of the nestbox...
I wonder which one it was?
-
Being curious, I again checked the cam. Yes, we have somebirdie there. Apparently, early daylight may appear to be a time to check. Will start checking.
-
As of 6:55 when checking...that is Smiley sitting at the nest box.
-
http://www.cbc.ca/player/Wildlife/ID/2665006623/ Hello Smiley!
I'm watching Smiley through this link. The date below is incorrect. This IS live. I don't know when he leaves and will be watching an empty nestledge.
-
Smiley has left the building. Will have to check back later or again in the AM.
-
Both Princess and Smiley just seen in the nest box...didn't stay long and they were both off to ???
-
Well "Hello", birdie! I think it is again, Smiley. Thanks Dennis for identifying our visitor.
-
He's inside, not on the edge.
Still there! On the ledge and occasionally inside, including out of site. Can this be Princess? TPC? Dennis? Just checked. I didn't see anybirdie. Sadly, I must tear myself away. I have tickets for Martin Short at Club Regent. Time to get ready. Tomorrow, I can watch again for awhile, until it is time to get ready for Jersey Boys. Might leave early and hope to see someone at the Radisson. Has anyone else been watching the cam?
-
Few more photos have been added to the Radisson Gallery
As always Dennis, you’re photos are beautiful.
Thank you.
-
Has anyone else been watching the cam?
I’ve been checking here since the cam was switched to the nest box on May 17 (during the downpour), but the only bird I’ve seen (to the best of my knowledge) has been Smiley; however, today there’s been a change.
Princess made a surprise appearance (though brief), and Smiley has been sitting on the edge practically all day! He may have been fixing up the scrape during his ventures inside the box - but I couldn't see what was going on in there. (I'm curious to know where Princess spent most of her day.)
All in all, today actually reminds me of what Smiley was doing earlier this season - before Princess laid the first egg on the ledge ...
-
I have been unable to connect to the cam. Anyone else having the same problem?
-
No, it came right up for me and there is a birdie perched on the box edge right now.
(http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy320/Blondechik_2010/wpg.jpg)
-
Thanks, RCF! I am now able to connect. PHEW! I was worried. Your new photo motivated me.
-
12:05 PM and somebirdie sitting on the edge of the nest box.
-
Looks like Princess.
(http://i803.photobucket.com/albums/yy320/Blondechik_2010/princesss.jpg)
-
TPC - Thanks for zooming in on the nest box! (Lots of extra eye strain trying to see the birds from a distance.) I was just thinking about how you used to change views on the nest box in previous years - for instance - sometimes we would see the length of the ledge alongside the box, and sometimes a close-up view looking towards the right side of the box, but still being able to see the entire length of the box.
(By the way I’ve been reminiscing about our McDermot in 2012.) ;D
-
For anyone who has been watching the box for the last couple of hours ... I think we had a visitor ... bird at the north end of the box was definitely Smiley, he had a wander into the nestbox and was doing some scraping and I could see his leg band. However, the bird that was on the south end, I'm pretty sure he (by size) had a silver band on his left leg. I suspect it is one of ours, most projects only put coloured bands on the left leg, we have done both. This isn't the first time a second bird has turned up at the nestbox since Princess and Smiley lost their eggs, however, I couldn't be positive (until now) that it wasn't Princess as I had to use the box-ledge cam which meant I could only see both birds from a great distance (in relative terms) and couldn't gauge size accurately enough to be sure. It would explain Smiley's reaction - couldn't be sure at the time as it was a very quick visit, but it makes sense now ...
-
Had a look through the recording and beside our little visitor, both Princess and Smiley have been in the nestbox ... doing a little head bowing and e-chupping to each other at the site of Smiley's spring nestscrape.
This isn't unusual after the chicks have left the nestbox so it likely isn't re-nesting behaviour.
I'll see if I can't download some video for folks who need a Smiley and/or Princess fix :)
-
For anyone who has been watching the box for the last couple of hours ... I think we had a visitor ... bird at the north end of the box was definitely Smiley, he had a wander into the nestbox and was doing some scraping and I could see his leg band. However, the bird that was on the south end, I'm pretty sure he (by size) had a silver band on his left leg. I suspect it is one of ours, most projects only put coloured bands on the left leg, we have done both. This isn't the first time a second bird has turned up at the nestbox since Princess and Smiley lost their eggs, however, I couldn't be positive (until now) that it wasn't Princess as I had to use the box-ledge cam which meant I could only see both birds from a great distance (in relative terms) and couldn't gauge size accurately enough to be sure. It would explain Smiley's reaction - couldn't be sure at the time as it was a very quick visit, but it makes sense now ...
While continuing to check late last night I presumed it was Smiley who was still sitting on the edge - till about 0230 hrs. I haven’t had a chance to see much since then, but thanks for this interesting post about a visitor.
TPC near the end you mention it would explain Smiley’s reaction, but sorry I’m not quite understanding. What was his reaction?
-
While continuing to check late last night I presumed it was Smiley who was still sitting on the edge - till about 0230 hrs. I haven’t had a chance to see much since then, but thanks for this interesting post about a visitor.
Smiley is the bird you see sitting on the box the most and he is definitely the one who parks himself on the edge overnight and early in the mornings. I've only seen the visitor twice - once today and once when I wasn't sure if it might be Princess but I thought not.
TPC near the end you mention it would explain Smiley’s reaction, but sorry I’m not quite understanding. What was his reaction?
Smiley's reaction to the visitor was not exactly what I was expecting had it been Princess, but also not a full-on territorial defence. And as the whole thing was over in less than a minute, hard to be sure what was happening even when you are able to review it on the recorder.
-
Thanks, TPC! for the last few days, I have been enjoying the Radisson cam and the visitors.
-
There is a visitor enjoying its quiet time.
-
;D Smiley left for a time. Must have gone for a "bite" to eat....... ???
-
Princess is napping in the nestbox at the moment ...
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CGXBTfEUgAAbSPg.jpg)
-
Thanks for this photo, TPC. Have I ever missed this view! :)
-
Smiley? is again on duty at the nestbox. I'll certainly miss watching chicks this year, but it is nice to know I'll be able to see our Radisson Royals. :)
-
Smiley and Princess have been at the nestbox pretty much all morning - since before 0400h.
They disappear for short periods then return then disappear again. Princess is spending a lot (for her) time right inside the nestbox just hanging out and doing a bit of scraping. The scraping is not unusual post-nesting behaviour, the hanging out inside is I think her age showing a bit - she gets to nap without having to be on constant alert. She most certainly did not do this after she lost her chicks in 2008. Interesting - smart bird who changes her behaviour to maximize her downtime.
T-Rex had at least one cubby hole where he used to do the same thing. I found it by accident when I was meeting with folks who had American Kestrels nesting in the cornices of their building. Just happened that I was in their offices and he landed across the street and walked in under an overhang and curled up and went to sleep in the middle of the day. He was another smart bird.
-
Video of Princess and Smiley from this morning
https://youtu.be/VsvKWM6SQBQ
-
Video of Princess and Smiley from this morning
https://youtu.be/VsvKWM6SQBQ
Thank you for this video, TPC! Ain't love grand?
-
Cute video. Such a clean nest box. :) Mind you I would prefer it to be full of the mess the little ones make.
-
Great video! Thank you for giving us this glimpse.
Princess looks fairly comfy in that nestbox, doesn't she. Hope she remembers that next year!
-
Video of Princess and Smiley from this morning
https://youtu.be/VsvKWM6SQBQ
Lovely video of these 2 love birds, "out on a date, waltzing!" ;D
Thanks for posting it, TPC. :-*
-
For anyone who thinks that Smiley has more rufous colouring on his breast this morning - you are correct :)
Sometime between 0550 and 0620 either he had a very messy meal (and the stain went right up under his chin) or he had a disagreement with something - perhaps a peregrine as we know there is at least one other bird in town, perhaps as many as three. That's not including the Logan and West Winnipeg birds. I suspect breakfast based on his behaviour before/after but usually he isn't that messy an eater :-X
-
Video of Princess and Smiley from this morning
https://youtu.be/VsvKWM6SQBQ
Really enjoyed your “Princess & Smiley - Still in Love” video TPC.
Thanks so much for sharing. So sweet to see! :)
-
Somebirdy is getting some shut eye right now...
-
Princess napping this afternoon in the nestbox
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CGwsybDUkAApdsX.jpg)
-
Smiley napping & watching the world from the box edge right now
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CGxSpC_U8AAol1H.jpg)
-
awe. they are so beautiful and handsome.
so glad you can see them
-
Here are some pictures of poor bedraggled Smiley being a good solider guarding the nestbox in the rain just before noon today ...
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CG1MCXOUIAAddLl.jpg) (https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CG1M3KeVIAAeqt8.jpg)
-
There's a falcon on the nest box right now, I do believe it's Smiley.
-
Smiley is on the box at the moment, having a preen in the sun ... seems very interested in something, may not be there long ...
-
I was wondering who was there. Looks like he is there a lot.
-
Smiley is on the ledge on the north end. That seems to be his favourite spot.
-
He was sittin' there for quite some time! Nice to see him hangin' around. ;D
-
Just saw somebirdie pecking at stones and seemed to be distracted. Flew away quickly from inside the box. As that happened, another came from inside. Still there.
-
Just saw somebirdie pecking at stones and seemed to be distracted. Flew away quickly from inside the box. As that happened, another came from inside. Still there.
Princess is usually the one rearranging the pebbles and nibbling on/at the wood ...
-
Lovely day in the nestbox - Smiley has been hanging out looking beautiful on the edge of the box most of the morning. Princess has been hanging out as well - couple of waltzes with her man and a nice long (2hr+) nap on the box edge.
-
It's been very interesting to watch these two this year of being child-free. I check in often during the day and evening and other than the hottest part of the afternoon, someone is always there. Calmly and quietly keeping watch over their territory. And I wonder again, why Princess chose the ledge to lay her eggs when she seems so comfortable here... ???
-
Did Princess choose the east nest ledge or was it Smiley who chose it for her, by making a scrape? ???
-
In the end, the female always has final choice where she lays her eggs. From other years in the WW area, we know that Beau made scrapes in nest boxes and Jules laid her eggs in imaginary scrapes instead. The year they had their first chick, two of the eggs never hatched as they were cracked,probably from rolling on the hard surface she laid them on. TPC then added a tuppernest and we had the one chick.
-
I have been thinking about Princess, spending so much time in the nest box and wondering if perhaps that is where she likes to go for her "me time". Maybe it is smelly, and messy, and noisy with all of the chicks and she would prefer to look after the chicks elsewhere and keep her special place pristine and for herself. Maybe that is why she lays her eggs on the next ledge sometimes? ;)
-
Both Princess and her predecessor Madame have nested on the ledge so can't entirely blame Princess for poor decision-making, but certainly, she has nested there more often than Madame ever did. And Princess was hatched in a nestbox - not sure about Madame, it was a long time ago and the records are sketchier but I suspect she did as well.
Can't even blame the men in their lives because Trey was Madame's mate and Princess' mate - T-Rex was only Madame's mate and he started the ball rolling back the year Trey hatched. Ivy was from the box and Smiley came out of a nestbox so they don't have memories of the box, they just make scrapes wherever they find a suitable spot. Having said all that, right now it is Princess that is encouraging Smiley to make scrapes on the ledge - when he arrives he is stuck to the nestbox like glue and when she doesn't show interest, then he follows her and will make scrapes on the nestledge in order to please her. He did this last year and this year - this year she chose the ledge. With Ivy, in the 4 years they were together, she used the nestbox for the first three years, ledge (Tenzing & Hillary) for the last.
Why she chooses which may have something to do with their scrape making skills perhaps? I don't know - certainly Trey made lovely scrapes and Ivy was a digger, his scrapes looked like craters in the nestbox, she used to smooth them out a bit once she started incubating. Smiley's scrapes are good but they aren't as deep or perhaps as big as Ivy's and Trey's were. Perhaps it is a combination of the scrape itself and the area it is in, perhaps the ledge is bigger and his scrapes are more symmetrical there? Maybe the years Trey's and Ivy's scrapes on the ledge were chosen the ones in the nestbox were too close to the back wall and therefore weren't symmetrical or or or or? Couldn't say, it really is up to the ladies in their lives I'm afraid. I should say that she is far from the only female that alternates between nest locations at a particular site or within a territory, at least she sticks to the same building, makes it so much easier when it comes to cameras!
Or perhaps she just likes to keep us guessing.
-
Lovely day in the nestbox - Smiley has been hanging out looking beautiful on the edge of the box most of the morning. Princess has been hanging out as well - couple of waltzes with her man and a nice long (2hr+) nap on the box edge.
Any more observations on the defunt eggs and what may have happened to them?
-
Lovely day in the nestbox - Smiley has been hanging out looking beautiful on the edge of the box most of the morning. Princess has been hanging out as well - couple of waltzes with her man and a nice long (2hr+) nap on the box edge.
Any more observations on the defunt eggs and what may have happened to them?
One egg is still on the ledge for sure - can see it at a distance as it has lightened in colour. Can't see the other two that survived the deluge - I would expect that they were removed by someone or something. Never did know what happened to egg four, it just wasn't there after the rain.
-
Somebirdie just went into the box, Not sure who. That would be what I would do with today's weather forecast, hot, humid AND windy! Gasp! For me, another bad allergy day.
-
A severe thunderstorm watch is in effect. Hope the Royals take cover.
Severe Thunderstorm Watch in Effect
Winnipeg, MB, Canada
June 13, 2015 02:44 pm
Severe Thunderstorm Watch in Effect
A severe thunderstorm watch is in effect for Winnipeg and its surrounding areas.
A cold front coming across the Red River Valley Saturday afternoon will combine with a warm and humid airmass that could create some severe storms.
-
A soggy Princess napping & drying out in the nestbox
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CHalR1mUEAApuLN.jpg)
-
Seems to me, that Smiley and Princess are hanging out longer than in other years after their chicks have fledged. Now that could be because they lost their chicks early in the season, or perhaps it is the difference between Smiley and Princess as a pair and Trey and Princess as a pair. Or perhaps he is taking his cues from her and she is older now and more willing to take it a bit easy where she is comfortable. Whatever the reason, it is nice to still see them around so much on-camera.
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CHoNdQsVEAAVonS.jpg)
-
So accommodating of these two to stick around for us to enjoy :-*
Where will they go when they leave us, TPC? Is it possible that they'll hang around the Radisson territory until it's time to migrate?
-
Princess napping earlier today in the nestbox ...
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CHtyUiwUEAEkfkD.jpg)
She's back napping now in fact
-
So wonderful for CBC to allow us to watch our Radisson Royals. Thank you!
-
Smiley has spent most of the day at the box enjoying the sun and not too hot temperatures
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CHyqKSPUMAEmmNs.jpg)
This is his impersonation of what he does to the birds he catches ::) :-X ;D
-
Smiley was at the box before the rain started but now it seems that they are both off keeping dry somewhere else ...
-
Princess & Smiley waltzing in the nestbox this afternoon ...
https://t.co/EXjRTYzqI9
-
Princess and Smiley this afternoon at the Radisson ...
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CIDgNc5UcAAKPN2.jpg) (https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CIDSLbCVEAAhzWh.jpg)
-
Princess & Smiley waltzing in the nestbox this afternoon ...
https://t.co/EXjRTYzqI9
Nice! Looks like it maybe a bonding ritual for future relationship.(?)
-
It's really good to know that they are extremely relaxed and look quite comfy!
-
Princess finding a shady place to hang out this afternoon ...
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CITB-TfUsAAmsez.jpg)
-
love seeing them
stinker. why could not get comfy here before LOL :-*
-
Little video from yesterday ... https://t.co/AhggqORJly
-
:-*
-
Princess and Smiley are still using the Radisson as their home base. She is actually inside the nestbox for a couple of hours a day, napping and scraping and then she and he visit the nestbox off and on throughout the day and evening (mostly mornings and evenings) and he sleeps, eats, preens on the box edge for hours. All great things to see. And I must admit, it is nice to see them both relax and rested. And while I miss not having chicks at the Radisson to watch, I am glad she didn't renest. I would prefer to see her again next year and I know that with each year, the chance of that decreases.
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CI6zfW_UwAAONga.jpg)
Smiley napping at the nestbox this morning after an epic preening session
-
This morning there was someone at the nestbox continuously from before 0500h until after 12noon. Now it is sunny on that side so don't expect to see anyone there until it gets a bit cooler.
In the meantime, obviously Beatrix comes by her culinary interest in bugs genetically ...
youtu.be/HYIExon1eAU (http://youtu.be/HYIExon1eAU)
(the brown flying things are bugs, not feathers which is what I thought they were originally)
-
Princess this morning ...
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CJP5YJxUcAAnE3N.jpg)
-
Does :) know he has his own emoticon?
-
Does :) know he has his own emoticon?
LOL! That's a good question, gemcity. Made me chuckle. ;D
-
Smiley & Princess waltzing just a few minutes ago ....
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CJ0wqY9UYAAaoFH.jpg)
-
was looking for news . where is everyone
-
Close to 11:00 A.M. and thought I would check for a view and happily I can say Princess is there on the nestledge enjoying the soft breeze before the sun and heat take over. :)
-
so nice to check the cam and see Princess, I think, taking a nap on the ledge. :)
-
When the rain arrived this morning, Smiley was none too pleased to have his leisurely morning routine interrupted - but there was nothing leisurely about his departure as the rain began!!
https://youtu.be/BrKshJyKNOg
-
:) Hello Smiley! For me, it's been a few days since I have seen anybirdie at the nestbox.
-
I haven't been able to log on often, but I want to thank everyone for their comments and descriptions of events. :)
-
With cooler temps in store for Winnipeg this week, I hope we will be able to see more visits from Princess and Smiley.
-
:) Somebirdie in the nestbox enjoying our cooler (finally) temperatures.
-
TPC, can you move the camera view to show the ledge of the nestbox?
-
TPC, can you move the camera view to show the ledge of the nestbox?
For whatever reason, the ledge cam (the fixed cam at the end of the nest ledge) won't talk to the CBC player - just shows a test pattern. If I zoom out from the nestbox, we get a lot more besides the box and the ledge and it can be too busy to "see" what is going on sometimes. Let me know what folks would like to see ... not sure we will get to leave the cam running for much longer ...
-
Princess in the nestbox this afternoon - she's been there for the last couple of hours napping
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CLg2bVnUsAEZ1ou.jpg)
-
Thanks TPC. I would prefer this view over none at all. At least we can see our Radissons for now.
-
I enjoy being able to watch Smiley and Princess at their nestbox, and to see they are well. :)
-
I like the nestbox view. As gemcity has said, much better than no view. :)
-
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CLxVpkfUEAASFYR.jpg)
Princess back in the box doing some housecleaning today during the rain and wind.
She's getting to be quite a homebody ... ::)
-
??? I hope she is not preparing for retirement.
-
??? I hope she is not preparing for retirement.
Me too ...
-
Now, if she would only be such a homebody when it's time to lay her eggs. :-\
-
Princess today hanging out at the nestbox when it was shady & there was a bit of a breeze
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CMTnJpMVEAEMnRr.jpg)
-
Thanks for again sharing, TPC! Always happy to catch a view.
-
as I look at Princess, I see RAdisson and as I look at Green girl at WEber I see them both.
I do hope Princess rests well and has a great migration. She is gorgeous
-
Happy to see the view from the nestbox ledge. Hope CBC isn't ready to turn off the cam. With cooler temps, finally, maybe there will be more activity by Smiley and Princess. Thanks for this camera view, TPC!
-
I like to keep check on Smiley and Princess through the cam, but it is not working. A message says the selected item is not currently available.
Please check into this TPC. ???
-
I too saw that yesterday and again this morning. Hope to see it up and running later.
-
Still receiving the same msg. Have you heard if CBC is still going to run the cam, TPC?
-
Still receiving the same msg. Have you heard if CBC is still going to run the cam, TPC?
Nope, believe they are done for the season. Usually they turn it off when the chicks stop visiting the nestledge/nestbox which as you recall was pretty much as soon as they fledged. Other years, the kids have hung around a bit after fledging and CBC has been happy to leave it up for a while longer. Considering we lost the eggs in May, we got an extra 2 months out of partnership this year but because all the birds around town are visiting their nestsites less, there is less to tweet about and there are probably much fewer visits to the webcam and so now was the time to shut it down.
No worries only 8 months until the cam (hopefully cams) come back online again ;D
-
Eight months, :P
We are so lucky to have all this access. Thanks.
-
Finally a storm to break the humidity ... well, maybe not this big a storm ...
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/COFQvR7VEAAxQWc.jpg)
-
We certainly have had a few nasty storms here in Winnipeg lately - and more to come, I hear. I hope all of our PF's are fairing well, or have at least left town for a more pleasant climate. :P
-
Haven't seen Princess in a few days and then I saw a female on the nestbox edge and I wondered if it might be the West Winnipeg melee female ... but no, it was Princess have a very long, luxurious preen in the setting sun. Nice to see her here still, she tends to migrate early and it seems this year that fall is coming sooner than we'd like and likely the peregrines will leave sooner than we'd like ... :'(
-
glad you saw her.
I think the falcons know something we do not. Brrrrrr
-
Again, hadn't seen Princess in more than 10 days when suddenly Smiley was doing his happy dance with a partner ;D
Video - https://youtu.be/9Y6B9Wl7Blw
-
That was a nice long look at Princess with her speckled crown in the last half of the video.
I enjoyed her leisurely looking over of the scrape, and then felt myself choke up a bit as she continued to steadily look at the cam.
Was she making us a promise for next year?
I hope so!
-
Again, hadn't seen Princess in more than 10 days when suddenly Smiley was doing his happy dance with a partner ;D
Video - https://youtu.be/9Y6B9Wl7Blw
How wonderful to see Princess & Smiley enjoying each other's company one more time! :D
-
That was a nice long look at Princess with her speckled crown in the last half of the video.
I enjoyed her leisurely looking over of the scrape, and then felt myself choke up a bit as she continued to steadily look at the cam.
Was she making us a promise for next year?
I hope so!
Aww ... I hope so too bcbird.
How nice to see them looking so happy before leaving on a very long journey south!
I really enjoyed the video TPC.
-
Beautiful video! You can almost see her thinking "I know you're watching me".
-
Thanks for posting this video, TPC. Our Radisson Royals are showing us their encore performance and possibly taking their season ending curtain call. Bravo! Princess and Smiley. :)
-
Today finally got a look at the band number of our occasional visitor to the Radisson ... none other than Joli from Logan ... and she looks very comfortable here ...
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CRJVmDTUAAAA50k.jpg)
-
Sorry, forgot to mention that Smiley has been doing the dance with Joli in the nestbox but they are very short, a few seconds and then he's off again. With Princess he danced longer.
We tend to forget, now that Princess and Smiley are together, that in fact, Smiley has courted Joli pretty much every year he's been in town ...
We think that Smiley has been visiting the Logan territory as well ... his breast is bright white at this time of the year, Joli's has gone much more salmon/rust coloured. It's part of the colour changes related to the pre/post nesting season - some change colours more than others and at different times.
-
What a great picture! Thanks for posting it. Interesting info. about Joli and Smiley.
-
Love the picture ;D
-
Terrific picture!
-
Today finally got a look at the band number of our occasional visitor to the Radisson ... none other than Joli from Logan ... and she looks very comfortable here ...
(https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CRJVmDTUAAAA50k.jpg)
This has to be the sweetest pose I've seen of Joli, and the colouring on her chest looks so pretty.
-
The lovebirds are still around as of this afternoon ... https://youtu.be/Dqo849-b8Uk
-
:) Thanks for sharing, TPC! Happy to hear somebirdie is still around.
-
The lovebirds are still around as of this afternoon ... https://youtu.be/Dqo849-b8Uk
Now Remember for next spring Princess, this is the preferred local for the nest!
-
The "lovebirds" were Smiley and Jolie. If only Princess was so attached to the site.
-
Getting ready to move in when the inevitable happens and Princess doesn't return from the tropics :'(
-
Love the picture, what beautiful colours!
-
hi Tracy, I know this isn't the place but sent you a message and wasn't sure if you're checking messages yet.
Someone is asking on a US site to ID a pefa that's showed up in 'Manitoba'. I've asked if this sighting is recent as I know it's early for your birds but if it's Manitoba then the bands would be yours and not out east.
Never mind got the story, she's living in Manitoba but she saw Durand (from Hamilton, I thought that number was familiar..lol) at the Columbus site. She saw my post and replied so we've sorted it out.
-
No worries Carly. And yes I am checking messages already ... :D