Author Topic: McKenzie Seeds - 2017 / Sol & Hurricane (Read 25274 times)

burdi · « **Reply #110 on:** October 08, 2017, 20:15 »

Thank you for the update, RCF. Hopefully all of the McKenzie Seeds Peregrines stay safe during their migration.

RCF · « **Reply #109 on:** October 05, 2017, 18:37 »

October 5 2017

Here is an update on the McKenzie falcons.

The last time I saw Missy was August 25th, she was perched on the north side roof of the McK bldg.

Sol's been gone since about September 15th. That last time I saw him he was eating on the very top of the clock tower in the early morning. He had his fill and shared the rest with Hurricane.

Hurricane left about a week earlier than usual. The last time I saw her was September 27th perched on the east Scotia sign. I took this photo on September 26th.

Shocka88 · « **Reply #108 on:** August 06, 2017, 23:48 »

Thanks for the great pictures, RCF. I plan to be in Brandon later this week so will have to try & spot them.

RCF · « **Reply #107 on:** August 06, 2017, 10:17 »

Just an update on our little family of peregrines. Missy seems to be doing well, she likes to hang out on a Co-op Feeds elevator about six blocks north of the McKenzie building. It is right beside the river, a great spot for hanging out.

Hurricane

Sol

RCF · « **Reply #106 on:** July 25, 2017, 19:03 »

This morning Missy was harassing Sol on the tower.

This afternoon she was napping on the louvered ledge on the Scotia bldg.

RCF · « **Reply #105 on:** July 25, 2017, 18:56 »

Photos from the last few days

Missy chasing Sol

Napping in the gutter on the McK bldg.

Hanging out on the Scotia bldg.

burdi · « **Reply #104 on:** July 20, 2017, 20:10 »

Nice to see that Missy is getting around and flying so well.

She sure is a beauty!

BirdLover · « **Reply #103 on:** July 20, 2017, 18:47 »

Again, great pics, RCF! Thanks for keeping an eye on Missy.

RCF · « **Reply #102 on:** July 20, 2017, 18:35 »

This morning I found Missy on the Scotia Bank Building up above the Sign preening. Later after work she was on the McKenzie building in the spot Hurricane usually likes to perch.

Up until then I hadn't seen her fly but it wasn't long before she took off and did a couple of circles around the McK bldg and ended up on the Scotia Bank bldg. She found something to eat over there and then flew back to the McK bldg.

Mom and Dad were over on the communications tower.

Sol

Hurricane

The Peregrine Chick · « **Reply #101 on:** July 20, 2017, 11:43 »

Quote from: burdi on July 19, 2017, 22:40

For those who haven't read the latest tweets - the McKenzie Seeds chick has been nicknamed "Missy" (as she isn't banded).

As with all the peregrines, it is easier to name them when you are chasing them all over heck's half acre - that's why I call the male chick at the Radisson "little brother" (until the voting ends of course) and why as RCF has been keeping an eye on the chick this year, she nicknamed her "Missy". We believe by its size that its a female, and in all probability we are right, but we don't really know because injury and illness blew our window to band the tot. And without a band, there is no way to know if she survives to turn up somewhere else, we just need to keep our fingers crossed and enjoy the photos RCF is managing to get of her. So far Missy seems to be doing everything right, which is nice to see, Hurricane and Sol haven't had many chicks together so its nice to see one thriving.

Shocka88 · « **Reply #100 on:** July 20, 2017, 01:16 »

Great news & great photos......thx RCF.

burdi · « **Reply #99 on:** July 19, 2017, 22:40 »

For those who haven't read the latest tweets - the McKenzie Seeds chick has been nicknamed "Missy" (as she isn't banded).

burdi · « **Reply #98 on:** July 19, 2017, 22:27 »

Wow! Great photos, RCF.

Thank you for all of them.

RCF · « **Reply #97 on:** July 19, 2017, 19:28 »

This girly is back over at the McKenzie building this evening.

She was laying down on the walkway between the two buildings when I found her. She had been hopping back and forth from the walkway to the Annex bldg and yelling.

burdi · « **Reply #96 on:** July 19, 2017, 18:57 »

Nice to see this single chick fledged well. Way to go, Missy!

The Peregrine Chick · « **Reply #95 on:** July 19, 2017, 14:35 »

Thanks for the great news RCF!!

susha · « **Reply #94 on:** July 19, 2017, 09:57 »

Hurray! Another successful fledge

Thanks for keeping us up to speed, RCF!

RCF · « **Reply #93 on:** July 19, 2017, 09:50 »

I guess this girly has officially fledged! She was about a block away on a building east of the McKenzie building this morning.

BirdLover · « **Reply #92 on:** July 18, 2017, 11:43 »

She sure is a beauty!

GCG · « **Reply #91 on:** July 18, 2017, 05:51 »

The amazing photos you share with your posts makes it seem I am seeing what you are seeing. Thanks RCF!

RCF · « **Reply #90 on:** July 17, 2017, 18:05 »

Well, she wasn't on the nest box roof or even in it this morning, she was on the south pillar. I did not see her after work but Hurricane and Sol were both perched at the bottom of the clock tower so I would imagine she is on the lower roof somewhere.

The Peregrine Chick · « **Reply #89 on:** July 17, 2017, 00:27 »

Nice to see her up there - and since she doesn't get to run around on the roof to strengthen her muscles and doesn't have siblings to play with and chase, I'm glad she's got the extra room in and on the nestbox! She does look good up there

RCF · « **Reply #88 on:** July 16, 2017, 18:34 »

The chick was on the roof of the nest box today,we never saw her get up there or get down. She did however lay down up there.

RCF · « **Reply #87 on:** July 16, 2017, 18:27 »

Quote from: BirdLover on July 15, 2017, 12:46

Just wondering, RCF if you have seen anything going on at the other sight that was a potential nest?

I haven't seen a falcon out there since April but there could be one and I never saw it. There was a raven's nest on one of the stacks and we were out there today and saw five of them frolicking with each other.

Short Video of the Ravens ~ https://youtu.be/KZO4H39GVRI

Moonstar · « **Reply #86 on:** July 16, 2017, 09:20 »

great photos RCF. They make my heart stop when they are flapping on the edge o the box like that

RCF · « **Reply #85 on:** July 15, 2017, 17:22 »

Out on the nest edge practicing! At one point it looked like she was trying to get on the broomstick (perch bar) but it is a fair jump down maybe 8 inches. The perch bar used to be on the top board before the new nest box was installed, the chicks used to just walk onto it. We watched Luck from 2009 make it bounce up and down when she was wingersizing!

BirdLover · « **Reply #84 on:** July 15, 2017, 16:01 »

Quote from: The Peregrine Chick on July 15, 2017, 13:15

Quote from: BirdLover on July 15, 2017, 12:46
Just wondering, RCF if you have seen anything going on at the other sight that was a potential nest?

At the last report I had, the Tower site was quiet. We've moved the nestbox to a new spot which might be a bit more attractive but I suspect not. Next year though it looks as though we will be able to get the box up as high as we can get it - hopefully that will make it much more appealing! Fingers crossed at least. Perhaps one of Hurricane's chicks will return to town and decide that's the place for them .. who knows!

Thanks, TPC! That would be exciting to have another nesting pair in Brandon.

The Peregrine Chick · « **Reply #83 on:** July 15, 2017, 13:15 »

Quote from: BirdLover on July 15, 2017, 12:46

Just wondering, RCF if you have seen anything going on at the other sight that was a potential nest?

At the last report I had, the Tower site was quiet. We've moved the nestbox to a new spot which might be a bit more attractive but I suspect not. Next year though it looks as though we will be able to get the box up as high as we can get it - hopefully that will make it much more appealing! Fingers crossed at least. Perhaps one of Hurricane's chicks will return to town and decide that's the place for them .. who knows!

BirdLover · « **Reply #82 on:** July 15, 2017, 12:46 »

Just wondering, RCF if you have seen anything going on at the other sight that was a potential nest?

The Peregrine Chick · « **Reply #81 on:** July 15, 2017, 09:31 »

She is a nice looking bird I'm sorry real life conspired to prevent us from banding her - it would have been cool to see what she may have gotten up to in he future. But she's safe and she has her future in front of her and that is really all that is necessary - the rest is a bonus.

dupre501 · « **Reply #80 on:** July 14, 2017, 23:37 »

She is at the Mohawk stage.

RCF · « **Reply #79 on:** July 14, 2017, 17:19 »

July 14 6:30 am

She still has quite a bit of fluff on her back.

The Peregrine Chick · « **Reply #78 on:** July 14, 2017, 15:24 »

This chick is doing very well - no real rush to leave the nestbox which is unusual for a solo but which bodes well for her!!

Thanks for the photos RCF!!

dupre501 · « **Reply #77 on:** July 14, 2017, 12:20 »

Thanks RCF! Nice pictures.

BirdLover · « **Reply #76 on:** July 13, 2017, 18:33 »

Great shots, RCF! Thanks

RCF · « **Reply #75 on:** July 13, 2017, 18:06 »

July 13 2017

6:30 am

4:15 pm

Mom & Dad across the street

BirdLover · « **Reply #74 on:** July 10, 2017, 20:33 »

That is one gorgeous bird!

Thanks for the pics, RCF.

RCF · « **Reply #73 on:** July 10, 2017, 20:11 »

July 10 2017

The Peregrine Chick · « **Reply #72 on:** July 09, 2017, 21:03 »

Quote from: RCF on July 09, 2017, 15:32

Quote from: The Peregrine Chick on July 09, 2017, 14:14

if we can still slip in a banding we will, if not, we will wish her (yup, I think it is a female too) a nice, boring fledge in a few more weeks!

I think it's too late to band, the chick is 32 days old today. Normally they are banded at three weeks old (21 days), is that not correct Tracy?

Banding can be anytime after 21 days old as that is when feet tend to be full grown - but we can band up until fledging. We prefer the 21 to 25 days that way we are at least 10 days away from fledging for any males in the bunch. As this chick is a female, she's still 10 days away from fledging likely but we don't want her to do anything stupid as we go up the ladder, so she'll likely stay bandless this year.

RCF · « **Reply #71 on:** July 09, 2017, 15:32 »

Quote from: The Peregrine Chick on July 09, 2017, 14:14

if we can still slip in a banding we will, if not, we will wish her (yup, I think it is a female too) a nice, boring fledge in a few more weeks!

I think it's too late to band, the chick is 32 days old today.

Normally they are banded at three weeks old (21 days), is that not correct Tracy?

The Peregrine Chick · « **Reply #70 on:** July 09, 2017, 14:14 »

Looks like we likely won't be banding the lone chick at McKenzie Seeds this year - to be able to access the chicks safely for both the chick and for us, we need to have the whole team in place and unfortunately, two of our crew are working their ways through injury and illness, so I suspect that we will miss the window we need to band safely. Not ideal, but it hasn't happened before in Brandon so I guess we were about due. We've had to skip banding a few times elsewhere, but the Brandon trip is always so much fun that it seems we have always managed to pull it off. RCF is keeping us supplied with photos of the tot (bit tot) and if we can still slip in a banding we will, if not, we will wish her (yup, I think it is a female too) a nice, boring fledge in a few more weeks!

Pam · « **Reply #69 on:** July 09, 2017, 13:58 »

Great photos, thanks, RCF!

Shocka88 · « **Reply #68 on:** July 07, 2017, 00:18 »

Thanks for a look at Hurricane & Sol's huge chick......definitely well fed!

susha · « **Reply #67 on:** July 06, 2017, 19:58 »

Thanks for the great photos RCF!

RCF · « **Reply #66 on:** July 06, 2017, 11:05 »

Quote from: dupre501 on July 06, 2017, 10:32

Nice photos RCF!

I'm placing my bet on female.

That would be my guess also!

dupre501 · « **Reply #65 on:** July 06, 2017, 10:32 »

Nice photos RCF!

I'm placing my bet on female.

The Peregrine Chick · « **Reply #64 on:** July 05, 2017, 23:51 »

Holy cats RCF that chick looks ginormous

how much food must Hurricane and Sol be stuffing into that child of theirs - enough for four chicks?!

birdbrain · « **Reply #63 on:** July 05, 2017, 20:02 »

Yes thank you for the pictures. I love seeing the chicks looking out at the world, i try to imagine what is going on in that head! So amazing how they go from such a helpless tiny creature to this magnificent bird in such a short time.

RCF · « **Reply #62 on:** July 05, 2017, 18:07 »

Here are some from this morning. Hurricane was in feeding about 6:30 am.

GCG · « **Reply #61 on:** July 05, 2017, 16:54 »

You're right RCF. The chick does look like a little masked marauder.

BirdLover · « **Reply #60 on:** July 05, 2017, 14:45 »

Great pics, RCF! Thanks

RCF · « **Reply #59 on:** July 04, 2017, 19:28 »

July 4, 2017

RCF · « **Reply #58 on:** July 03, 2017, 20:03 »

From today

GCG · « **Reply #57 on:** July 02, 2017, 14:41 »

Beautiful photo, RCF!

RCF · « **Reply #56 on:** July 02, 2017, 14:32 »

A night time view from across the river.

GCG · « **Reply #55 on:** June 30, 2017, 14:21 »

Quote from: BirdLover on June 30, 2017, 12:53

Quote from: The Peregrine Chick on June 30, 2017, 00:03
Quote from: GCG on June 29, 2017, 04:40
These photos are amazing RCF! Bandit would be a great name for him/her! TPC???

It's a lovely name, but already taken here in Manitoba I'm afraid

Han or Hannah Solo?

single chick....not a bad name, TPC! If it is male and like RCF describes wearing a mask, Lone Ranger?

??

RCF · « **Reply #54 on:** June 30, 2017, 13:22 »

Quote from: GCG on June 29, 2017, 04:40

These photos are amazing RCF! Bandit would be a great name for him/her! TPC???

I called the chick that because it looks like it has a mask.

BirdLover · « **Reply #53 on:** June 30, 2017, 12:53 »

Quote from: The Peregrine Chick on June 30, 2017, 00:03

Quote from: GCG on June 29, 2017, 04:40
These photos are amazing RCF! Bandit would be a great name for him/her! TPC???

It's a lovely name, but already taken here in Manitoba I'm afraid

Han or Hannah Solo?

The Peregrine Chick · « **Reply #52 on:** June 30, 2017, 00:03 »

Quote from: GCG on June 29, 2017, 04:40

These photos are amazing RCF! Bandit would be a great name for him/her! TPC???

It's a lovely name, but already taken here in Manitoba I'm afraid

GCG · « **Reply #51 on:** June 29, 2017, 04:40 »

These photos are amazing RCF! Bandit would be a great name for him/her! TPC???

The Peregrine Chick · « **Reply #50 on:** June 28, 2017, 23:57 »

I like the photo of Sol and Hurricane - Ty is like that with his mates, he sits/hangs out closer to them than our other males.

dupre501 · « **Reply #49 on:** June 28, 2017, 23:31 »

Great photos!

RCF · « **Reply #48 on:** June 28, 2017, 19:32 »

Hurricane and Sol & one Little Bandit

RCF · « **Reply #47 on:** June 27, 2017, 17:15 »

Quote from: dupre501 on June 26, 2017, 23:51

Took a trip into Brandon on Saturday.
The pigeons are a couple of stories down from Hurricane.

Great photos Dupre!

GCG · « **Reply #46 on:** June 27, 2017, 15:29 »

Quote from: The Peregrine Chick on June 27, 2017, 14:31

Oh I do like the photos with the pigeons ... very cheetah and gazelle on the Serengetti

She's lulling them into a sense of security.

The Peregrine Chick · « **Reply #45 on:** June 27, 2017, 14:31 »

Oh I do like the photos with the pigeons ... very cheetah and gazelle on the Serengetti

GCG · « **Reply #44 on:** June 27, 2017, 14:27 »

Thanks for clarifying this view for me, dupre. I do remember and so miss this area. Also miss the live cam in Brandon. Will you and RCF be present at banding time?

dupre501 · « **Reply #43 on:** June 27, 2017, 12:21 »

Nope! It's all in the angle.

I'm on the ground and the pigeons are on the small wall of the area where the second nestbox is (below the nest box where they hatch, but so that TPC and company don't have climb the ladder again after banding the chicks). You've seen the area in TPC's photos from previous years where the chicks run around and flap their wings.

GCG · « **Reply #42 on:** June 27, 2017, 05:20 »

Ok dupre! Please tell me you are a whiz at photoshopping.

Great photos.

dupre501 · « **Reply #41 on:** June 26, 2017, 23:51 »

Took a trip into Brandon on Saturday.

The pigeons are a couple of stories down from Hurricane.

BirdLover · « **Reply #40 on:** June 25, 2017, 19:39 »

Quote from: RCF on June 25, 2017, 17:44

Quote from: BirdLover on June 25, 2017, 17:35
Hey RCF, where do you observe/photograph the nest box? Are you still able to get to the parkade roof?

Hey Birdlover, How's It going?

I take photos from a block away near were the buses are on 8th Street. The parkade charges for parking now Mon to Fri until six pm, so I don't go there often. I have a better view from 8th Street or even from 7th Street.

You get those pics from the street?

Oh, it's going well. How about you?

Doreen · « **Reply #39 on:** June 25, 2017, 19:37 »

I see all your pictures RCF.

RCF · « **Reply #38 on:** June 25, 2017, 17:44 »

Quote from: BirdLover on June 25, 2017, 17:35

Hey RCF, where do you observe/photograph the nest box? Are you still able to get to the parkade roof?

Hey Birdlover, How's It going?

I take photos from a block away near were the buses are on 8th Street. The parkade charges for parking now Mon to Fri until six pm, so I don't go there often. I have a better view from 8th Street or even from 7th Street.

BirdLover · « **Reply #37 on:** June 25, 2017, 17:35 »

Hey RCF, where do you observe/photograph the nest box? Are you still able to get to the parkade roof?

RCF · « **Reply #36 on:** June 25, 2017, 17:21 »

Here is a rare occurrence and I was surprised to see Hurricane on the perch bar. She was only on it briefly...maybe seconds. I think they liked it better when the perch bar was attached to the top boards and not underneath it. It was moved when the new nest box was installed.

carly · « **Reply #35 on:** June 25, 2017, 14:50 »

What a cute baby

RCF · « **Reply #34 on:** June 25, 2017, 09:50 »

Quote from: GCG on June 25, 2017, 09:18

Quote from: Jazzerkins on June 25, 2017, 08:07
I can see it, RCF.

I too see 6 photos posted June 23rd. Cute little chick.

Those ones are from Flickr, no issues there!

I checked back to some of my previous posts and I can see some of the photos but not all....very strange!!

photosbydennis · « **Reply #33 on:** June 25, 2017, 09:24 »

I can see them all RCF...nice work. Cheers !

GCG · « **Reply #32 on:** June 25, 2017, 09:18 »

Quote from: Jazzerkins on June 25, 2017, 08:07

I can see it, RCF.

I too see 6 photos posted June 23rd. Cute little chick.

RCF · « **Reply #31 on:** June 25, 2017, 08:11 »

Quote from: Jazzerkins on June 25, 2017, 08:07

I can see it, RCF.

This is very weird because it's from Photobucket.

Jazzerkins · « **Reply #30 on:** June 25, 2017, 08:07 »

I can see it, RCF.

RCF · « **Reply #29 on:** June 25, 2017, 08:02 »

I can see this photo...anyone else?

The Peregrine Chick · « **Reply #28 on:** June 25, 2017, 00:49 »

Rant away RCF - you definitely have grounds for it!
That is just not ethical of Photobucket - free accounts are free so long as you follow their rules (space allowed, kinds of photos) and you most certainly do!

RCF · « **Reply #27 on:** June 24, 2017, 14:54 »

Quote from: GCG on June 24, 2017, 14:41

Quote from: RCF on June 24, 2017, 11:05
Quote from: newchick on June 24, 2017, 10:50
Wow, that's sad RCF. I was wondering what happened to the pictures. Is there another way to post pictures (free) to the forum?

Yes, Flickr has free photo sharing.

Do you have a link to your photos on Flickr, RCF?

No, I do not...sorry.

GCG · « **Reply #26 on:** June 24, 2017, 14:41 »

Quote from: RCF on June 24, 2017, 11:05

Quote from: newchick on June 24, 2017, 10:50
Wow, that's sad RCF. I was wondering what happened to the pictures. Is there another way to post pictures (free) to the forum?

Yes, Flickr has free photo sharing.

Do you have a link to your photos on Flickr, RCF?

RCF · « **Reply #25 on:** June 24, 2017, 11:05 »

Quote from: newchick on June 24, 2017, 10:50

Wow, that's sad RCF. I was wondering what happened to the pictures. Is there another way to post pictures (free) to the forum?

Yes, Flickr has free photo sharing.

newchick · « **Reply #24 on:** June 24, 2017, 10:50 »

Wow, that's sad RCF. I was wondering what happened to the pictures. Is there another way to post pictures (free) to the forum?

RCF · « **Reply #23 on:** June 24, 2017, 10:16 »

I have a Rant!

I have been browsing for answers and I think photobucket is holding my photos hostage. I went to the photobucket.com/p500 site and it wants $399.00 for a year. That ain't happening!!

I am not the only one that this is happening to, it's a free account and I have at least 75% of unused storage for my photos. They may have been hacked! So until they resolve it I won't be able to use photobucket. I can upload photos there but not share them! I will use Flickr instead.

Jazzerkins · « **Reply #22 on:** June 23, 2017, 20:06 »

Great pictures, RCF. Thank you.

The Peregrine Chick · « **Reply #21 on:** June 23, 2017, 19:39 »

Quote from: RCF on June 23, 2017, 18:52

I think Photobucket is having issues so I used Flickr and modified my post. Hope it works and you can see them now!
Technology got to love it!

Photos look great RCF - thanks!
And I'll check to make sure it wasn't something on our end ... but your photos worked before ... but you are right, technology loves to screw with us

Had a look at all the admin side and there is nothing blocking or limiting photos except in size and nothing blocking linking to third party photos like yours and Dennis'
Will have a little hunt around and maybe ask the tech folks on the forum software support forum (yes, forum's have forums) ..

RCF · « **Reply #20 on:** June 23, 2017, 18:52 »

I think Photobucket is having issues so I used Flickr and modified my post. Hope it works and you can see them now!
Technology got to love it!

Jazzerkins · « **Reply #19 on:** June 23, 2017, 18:20 »

Yes, I would also like to see the little one. Hopefully the pictures can be re-posted.

The Peregrine Chick · « **Reply #18 on:** June 23, 2017, 18:00 »

In case anyone besides me is having problems seeing RCF's photo, I've sent her an email

Wanna see the Brandon Baby ....

RCF · « **Reply #17 on:** June 23, 2017, 16:39 »

Looks to be only one chick that I could see this afternoon. Hurricane had been in to feed, she wasn't in there very long maybe five minutes. The chick wandered around for a bit and then disappeared.....probably back napping!

Hurricane

The Peregrine Chick · « **Reply #16 on:** June 09, 2017, 13:45 »

Have been able to confirm what RCF was seeing - first hatch for Sol & Hurricane at McKenzie Seeds. No photos I'm afraid. The chick is small and there are three eggs so we hope a couple more will hatch out in the next few days. More news as we have it!

The Peregrine Chick · « **Reply #15 on:** June 08, 2017, 09:24 »

Thanks RCF - knew you'd get the evidence it there was any to get!! Well done

carly · « **Reply #14 on:** June 08, 2017, 05:16 »

Congratulations on getting the photo evidence and on the hatch(es)!

Shocka88 · « **Reply #13 on:** June 07, 2017, 23:24 »

Great news RCF.

Thx so much. I was in the city yesterday & knew it was about hatch time but didn't have time to take a look. Sigh!

Your pics are amazing!

RCF · « **Reply #12 on:** June 07, 2017, 21:43 »

It looks like we have a hatch from the behavior of Hurricane and Sol.

In with prey

Sol leaving

Hurricane feeding

Hurricane out with remnants

Hurricane

The Peregrine Chick · « **Reply #11 on:** May 29, 2017, 12:17 »

Quote from: Kinderchick on May 29, 2017, 11:45

Is that the nestbox? Won't that loose mesh bother the PF's? $:-\$

No, not the nestbox (thankfully!) - that is the window where we usually hang the camera for the nestbox. Last year the window that is usually in the front blew/broke off last year (gods, I think it was only last year). To replace the whole window structure was not something we could do at the time and not without approval, so we installed chicken wire to keep the ever-present and ever-invading pigeons from getting inside. Mostly it worked, or at least until the wire got mangled.

We have some other plans in the contemplation phase to deal with our pigeon problems but they are on the back burner until it quietens down some.

Kinderchick · « **Reply #10 on:** May 29, 2017, 11:45 »

Is that the nestbox? Won't that loose mesh bother the PF's? $:-\$

RCF · « **Reply #9 on:** May 18, 2017, 20:54 »

Good to hear about the four eggs! Hurricane is certainly consistent with her egg laying.

I was down there today and noticed the mesh was pushed out of the window that conservation looks out to see into the nest box. I guess the next time they need to look there will probably be more pigeon droppings to step through. The pigeons are notorious for finding holes that they can get into.

The Peregrine Chick · « **Reply #8 on:** May 17, 2017, 11:55 »

https://twitter.com/mbperegrines/status/864886000547491840

Had to help contractors navigate around the building a bit today so Conservation took the plunge and braved the pigeon-infested tower window to check the nestbox for eggs. Report is that there are 4 eggs and all look fine though 2 may be a bit smaller than the others. Size doesn't indicate viability - Mistral's egg was very small. Will be interesting to see how many hatch - Hurricane has a habit of laying four eggs and hatching out 3 chicks. Last year there were only 2 but that was Sol's first year in town which might have been a factor.

Moonstar · « **Reply #7 on:** May 09, 2017, 14:36 »

So glad to hear Hurricane is back. Thanks for the updates RCF. Really, really appreciated.

dupre501 · « **Reply #6 on:** May 09, 2017, 12:29 »

Thanks for the update!

RCF · « **Reply #5 on:** May 08, 2017, 20:02 »

The first day we saw Hurricane she and Sol were already getting down to business.

I do believe they have eggs and are now incubating them.

RCF · « **Reply #4 on:** May 08, 2017, 19:50 »

April 8, 2017

Sol is back but the female that was here is not banded.

They harassed the ravens a bit but really never bothered them much. The female would dive bomb a fake owl that someone put up on another building to keep the pigeons away. We found this very amusing!

Anyway Sol and the unbanded female were doing what peregrines do for three days. The next day April 12th, Hurricane was here and the other female was gone. When we saw Hurricane that day she didn't look like she had any feathers out of place. So not sure if there was a fight between Hurricane and the unbanded female or not. This is the same day Tracy and Dennis came to empty the sticks out of nest box.

Unbanded female

Hurricane

RCF · « **Reply #3 on:** May 08, 2017, 19:19 »

Earlier in the year we had noticed that ravens had tried to build a nest at the very top of the clock tower. I would imagine it would be way too windy for that. On April 7th I noticed the peregrines nest box was full of sticks and twigs. The ravens abandoned that probably because they couldn't get in after filling it up.

Anyway the ravens are still nesting on the opposite side of the McKenzie building on one of the fire escapes. They also have three chicks which are almost old enough to fledge.

RCF · « **Reply #2 on:** May 08, 2017, 18:42 »

On April 8th we saw two peregrines at the McKenzie building. The day before that on April 7th we saw a pair of peregrines out at the Tower Nest. They were harassing ravens that were trying to nest on one of the stacks. We went back the next day and have been checking periodically and have not seen another peregrine out there since.

So we figured that the birds we saw at the Tower were more than likely the peregrines we saw at the McKenzie building on April 8th.

The Peregrine Chick · « **Reply #1 on:** March 25, 2017, 14:01 »

Heard from RCF and Brandon is still a peregrine-less but as she reminded me, the Brandon birds tend not to return until the first week in April. Smart bird obviously. Right now it is 6C but feels like 0C because the wind is gusting from 40 to 60 kph. Looking at the longer-term forecast, the temps in the first week of April are supposed to be (and feel) between 8-14C - whoo hoo. Only good thing about today's less than nice weather to be out hunting for peregrines (hard to photograph in this kind of wind!!) is that the wind is from the south. Tomorrow too, so who knows who might turn up in the next couple of days. In the meantime, RCF will be keeping an eye out/open for our first returnees out in Brandon.