!!! PM Observation. Confusing indeed! Could the same adult male be servicing two different nest sites?
May 20, 2009 - Scarborough - Bell
Mark Nash Reports:
Yet another site visit this evening to the Scarborough Bell site produced yet more confusing information. Marion and I spent several hours this evening wathing Linn hanging tight around the Bell building with no particular interest in any part of the building. She was observed having just finished her diner and with a huge buldging crop. No male was observed or present during this period. Bruce called during this same time frame from the Scarborough Yellow pages nest site and did have both adults in his view at the same time. He reports that the adult territorial male at Yellow pages may in fact be Ruben as the USFW band colour is pinkish in colour and not silver as earlier suspected. This would confirm that Rueben is still Lawrie’s mate and the territorial male at this nest site,, AND is the same male that was observed several days ago by Marion, Bruce and Kathy at the Scarborough Bell site copulating with Linn! It was obvious that Linn is not incubating any eggs as yet, as during this observation period she was observed roosting on a ledge well into the darkness and was not down incubating…. It might appear that we have yet another male “servicing” two diferent females at two different nest sites as with Whindwhistler from the 18 King Street nest site and the Toronto Sheraton nest site. Remembering that he was servicing both these nest site for several years and responsible for fertilizing both sets of eggs at these two nest sites for several years in a row. Talk about double duty!
Stay tuned, as this could get very interesting indeed!!
We stayed until it was too dark to see clearly and watched Linn settle in for the night on the upper east ledges of the building.