Report #3
April 16, 2012 - Stoney Creek
Sue McCreadie Reports:
Bill and I arrived on site around 9am and parked immediately under the communications tower. On our way we stopped in a parking lot about ½ km down the road and with our scope, we were able to confirm that there is definitely incubation in process. Around 10:15, one of the PEFA’s took off alarm calling and returned a short time later landing inside the drum. There was a long conversation between the two of them and for the rest of our time there, one PEFA was in and out of the drum sitting on a transmitter/receiver arm right in centre of the drum. So, we had one bird in incubation mode on the bottom of the drum and one sitting above on the transmitter/receiver arm.
We left at 11:45 for some lunch and returned at 12:45 to find them both still inside. A short time later, one took off kakking after a Red-Tailed Hawk returning at 1:15 and landing inside the drum. At 1:45 a third PEFA entered the territory and again the chase was on. The bird had not returned when we decided to head for home around 2PM as the weather was turning bad once again.
We were able to get some photos today. One bird has a 17/Y black band with the remnants of red tape on its right talon.
A couple of interesting things we found today:
1. There are NO pigeons in the area
2. The drum had a cover on it until this past winter when it was blown off in the wind storm.
Tracy Simpson Reports:
I just looked up that band number as it was so familiar and I am very pleased to tell you that the bird is Craig from the Mississauga Exec Centre hatched in 2010 and yes indeed he had red tape!! This bird, during one of his maiden flights, scared the poop outta Mark when he slammed into the face of MEC 2 and plunged to the ground unconscious. Mark thought initially that he died on impact but when he picked him up (limp in his hands) seconds later the bird snapped to and hissed at him!! If I remember correctly, both boys (Craig and Mark) were equally as shocked by the whole thing. After that rescue, Craig and his brother Wade became star fliers and played a lot of tag around the MEC buildings.