Suspense and mystery in K-W!
April 15, 2014 - Kitchener - CTV-Bell Media Tower
Lisa Reh Reports:
There have been many sightings of the K-W pair all winter and this spring, in downtown Kitchener and on the Sun Life tower in Waterloo. They became very active in March around the Waterloo tower. They have also been sighted on last year’s nest on the CTV tower. Presumed to be Caster, the male was observed using the nest box on the tower many times and enjoying lunch on the east side of the Sun Life sign visible from the ladies washroom on the east side. According to Rudy, everything appeared to be normal the week before Tracy and Bruce’s visit. They appeared to be a bonded pair and they were frequently sighted coming to downtown Kitchener to hunt together. Then Rudy noticed that their behaviour changed. Caster was going out of his way to impress the female, trying to coax her into the nest box but she seemed uninterested and irritated by his attentions and flew off to the CTV tower.
After Tracy and Bruce’s visit, on April 1, at 9:15 a.m. two peregrines were flying in tandem around the top of the tower. One of the grins flew straight into the nest box, the other landed on the north side of the tower. On April 2, Caster was sighted at 9:30 a.m. perched on the nest box balcony. He was also sighted perched above the nest box on the adjacent parapet. On April 3, the pair was again spotted sparring for food from the tower. One was flying east carrying a late lunch at 2:30. The 2nd peregrine flew directly at the other grin and then sped north far into uptown Waterloo. A turkey vulture was also spotted an hour later in the afternoon almost bouncing off the corner of the north side of the tower. No peregrines were sighted at the time. There has been much activity around the building this week, but no copulation has been reported.
On April 6, Tony captured the ‘mystery’ female posing for the camera flaunting her unbanded legs. The reported activity this week has been mostly single sightings which is likely the ‘mystery’ female. On April 8, there was a lot of activity sighted by Wendy who has a ‘bird’s eye view’. One flew past her sight with breakfast in it’s claws at 8:30 and a few minutes later feathers were floating down. But alas, there have been no sightings of activity around the nest box like the week before.
We’re keeping our fingers crossed that Caster, our “ladies” man, is going to be successful securing a mate this year!
Photos courtesy of Tony Bergauer
