Burlington Lift Bridge Fledge Watch Begins With a Bang!
June 04, 2014 - Burlington - Lift Bridge
Tracy Simpson Reports:
Today we officially began the Fledge Watch for the lift bridge as Ireland, the oldest chick, reached 37 days of age today. Bill and Sue, David and Rob all held the fort and started off with what looked like a relatively straightforward and simple day. Exercising, eating, stretching and napping all on the agenda. Just before 1pm, Ireland decided that Cirrus, who was roosting not far away, was in need of his attention and so it was that wee Ireland tried to jump over to her and got caught up in the wind. When his epic flight took him flapping his heart out in a tail wind right out towards lake Ontario (I’ll let Bill and Sue tell the story as they witnessed it) it ended with him on the lake side area of Burlington and out of sight of everyone. He was fully escorted by both parents who then returned shortly to the lift bridge without Ireland. MacKenzie then disappeared while Cirrus kept close watch over Ghent who was still in the box. Bill searched everywhere for the fledgling for several hours while Sue watched the parents and scanned the area but still no sign of Ireland. They continued to search up until around 5:30pm which is right around when I arrived. When I arrived, I sat down for a few minutes and watched Ghent ramping up in the nest box. He was at the edge of the box now, something he hadn’t done up to this point, and flapping wildly but still no sign of Ireland. MacKenzie was on his roost on the Burlington tower just below the nest box and he kept looking straight down. Cirrus was on the Skyway abutment that she favors on the Hamilton side and I attempted to triangulate just where they were looking. When David and Rob arrived a few minutes later, David and I headed over to the Burlington side of the bridge for a ground check while Rob watched from the parking area for signs of Ireland. We searched for several hours and checked every tree, girder, hole and beam. Nothing. We watch as Cirrus sat in the Hamilton tower looking very unhappy about us roaming around down there and MacKenzie kept his vigil above. We decided around 8pm to reconvene back at the parking lot and when we arrived, things got crazy. MacKenzie was now out on a hunt. He was flying in and around the bridge looking for a meal when Cirrus also took to the air. Cirrus picked out a pigeon flying over by the Skyway and took off in mad pursuit. MacKenzie joined her and they tag teamed the pigeon but it evaded them. More stoops and dives put the pigeons in chaos and it was pandemonium! As we watched a bird came low over the canal heading in towards the harbor with MacKenzie hot on its tail. I called out “two males” and Rob was already on it. He followed the path that the two were on and watched MacKenzie bump the other male down into a tree on the Burlington side near the Canadian Centre for Inland Waters. When it landed it the tree we could see clearly that this was an uncoordinated juvenile!! Great job Rob!!
With Ireland now in our sights I headed over to see if I could get a clear line of sight on him. I was joined by Bill and Sue and we assessed his position and safety. He was now hunkered down in the nook of a tree about three quarters of the way up. The tree was quite bushy with a lot of very small branches so there was no way of getting him out. It was there that we left him as he was now settled in and our light was almost gone.
A frantic day that ended with Ireland being found. Phew. I must say that the Burlington team is amazing in the effort they put in on Ireland’s behalf and I can’t thank you enough! Bill and Sue, David and Rob all did an amazing job and together we have at least got his location nailed down at the close of the day. The first boy is out and Ghent is not far behind!! Hopefully we find Ireland high and safe this morning!!
If you have time to spare we could use your help down at the Burlington Lift Bridge Fledge Watch. This afternoon Bill, Sue and David will be holding tight and checking in on Ireland and this afternoon into the evening Bruce, Rob and I will be there as well. If you can come down and assist we would be so grateful!
