!!! Close Monitoring of New Male and Resident Female at Canada Square
May 28, 2011 - Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton
Tracy Simpson Reports:
Since the death of Irving, the resident male at the Canada Square Building last Saturday, we have been on-site each day to monitor the new male that has taken up a position in the territory with the resident female and her brood of three chicks. What follows is the observations of Bruce and Lyn last night and today.
4:53pm May 27 - Male was perched on the north side of Eglinton and the female was in the nest ledge. The male then flew off to the RioCan Building across from the nest site and she joined him on the same ledge. The female tolerates his presence and shares the same roost ledge as the new male. Shortly after, she leaves and flies into the nest ledge with the new male following closely behind. He doesn’t land on the ledge but flies past and lands on another ledge nearby to the nest. The female shows no reaction to his proximity.
5:46pm May 27 - Female leaves the nest ledge and heads south followed by the male. Moments later both adults return with the new male in the lead and her following. They cross over each other over Eglinton Avenue showing no signs of aggression towards one another. The flight resembles more courtship than anything.
5:20pm Today - The new male enters the nest ledge and walks in to where the chicks are located. The resident female follows him in but not aggressively or in alarm. Half a minute passes and the male appears and then leaves the nest ledge. Shortly after, the resident female and new male pair up to chase off a Red Tailed hawk from the area. Bruce was able to see that this male is banded and will make efforts to identify him. The new male has yet to bring food to her or to stash any at the regular cache sites.
6:12pm Today - Both the resident female and new male chase off another potential threat from the territory in a tandem effort. The female heads northeast, catches a pigeon and returns to the north side of the Canada Square nest building to prepare it for the young. The resident female enters the nest ledge and feeds the chicks. She later appears with what remains of the meal, eats some herself and stashes the rest. Still no indication that the male is providing any food for her.
We will continue to be on-site each day and monitor the behavior of this new male and the resident female. Updates will continuously be posted on this change in males and the progression of the relationship between the adults. We will also work to identify this new male and ascertain whether he is actively participating in food providing. Check back for daily updates as this story unfolds.