Burlington - Lift Bridge

Cirrus and Sir Hanging In

January 12, 2010 - Burlington - Lift Bridge

Sue McCreadie Reports:

We were at the Lift Bridge this morning and in spite of all the working going on, both birds were visible.  One was on the nest box and the other on the ledge below.  With the pier being fenced off, it is difficult to get a good photo, and to tell who is who, but we were happy to see both birds.   However, the pigeons seem to have been scared off.  From the lake side of the pier, not 1 pigeon was visible.

Overcast, windy and perhaps a few degrees below zero (Warning - Peregrine Feeding)

January 11, 2010 - Burlington - Lift Bridge

Matt MacGillivray Reports:

Female Pefa feeding on Rock dove on the concrete pier below the Burlington lift bridge at approximately 12:00pm EST.  Was soon joined by male Pefa, which made slow approach and picked up the discarded head before flying off.  Female ate the bulk of the dove and flew off with the remainder of the carcas while an adult Herring Gull chased after. After a brief chase sequence, the female landed on the overhead wires.

Female has black over green band on left leg, and reddish/purple band on right leg. At first it appeared this bird had Black K over Green I…but on further inspection, i believe the “I” is a scratch on the band. Another view has what may possibly be a (Black K Green 83)?

Male bird has black ”01″ over “V” on the left leg and a silver band on the right.  There may be another digit beside the 0. Unfortunately i was not able to capture a better view before the male took flight.

Observation and Photos by Peeter Musta, on December 30th via ONTBIRD.

Incredible Photos Peeter!  This kind of contribution is fantastic.  Keep them coming!

A Whole Lot of Work Going On

January 06, 2010 - Burlington - Lift Bridge

Sue McCreadie Reports:

Bill and I took a quick trip to Buffalo this afternoon and while driving over the Skyway, we noticed a couple of large cranes in use.  I was sure that Sir and Cirrus would not be happy about this.  On the way home, around 3:00 pm, we stopped by the Lift Bridge.  To our surprise, the cranes had nothing to do with the work going on at the bridge but it was the Hydro, doing some work on the towers.  We found one bird on the nest ledge, but we were not successful in seeing the other one.

Here’s hoping that all this work does not have an effect on the 2010 season.  We will keep out eyes peeled.

Cirrus Puts On A Show

December 30, 2009 - Burlington - Lift Bridge

Sue McCreadie Reports:

The link below will take you to some video that Carol from Rochester took of Cirrus trying to retrieve her Pigeon from the lake.  Great shot Carol.  Unfortunately it was a sunnier day.  Please come and visit again soon.

http://www.youtube.com/user/WanderingFalcon#p/a/u/0/qJtFeXpQebA

A Great Show by Cirrus

December 30, 2009 - Burlington - Lift Bridge

Sue McCreadie Reports:

Hello everyone and Happy New Year.

Yesterday Bill and I visited the Lift Bridge.  We arrived around 12:30 pm to meet Carol and Kathy from Rochester.   We found that the Parking Lot was closed, the area was fenced off and the bridge was reduced down to 2 lanes of traffic .  Looks like renovations have started on the Bridge.  Let’s hope that the construction will not have an effect on the Peregrines and that all the work is finished prior to mating season. 

Carol and Kathy must have some magical powers because we were treated to a great show by Cirrus.  Unfortunately, we had not taken the camera out of the car so were unable to capture the action.  By the time Bill got back with the camera, all the action was over.  Carol did have her camera and hopefully, she will be able to share some of her shots.  When we arrived, Cirrus was enjoying a meal on the front face of the Hamilton Tower while Sir begged for scraps from the cables.  He eventually left the cables and perched on the very top corner of the Tower.  As far as we could tell, Cirrus did not share.  While we were watching, we noticed a Gull feeding on the Lake side of the peer.  Upon closer examination, it was a headless Pigeon, so we speculated that one of the Peregrines had dropped it.  After some preening, Cirrus left the face of the tower and flew directly over our heads and began to harass the Gull.  We then realized that it must have been a meal that Cirrus had dropped and was not happy that the Gull was enjoying her catch.  Cirrus flew around us and over us and every time she dive bombed the Gull.  After many attempts, she drove off the Gull and eventually gave up on trying to retrieve the Pigeon.  When we left, both birds we visible on the Hamilton Tower and the beheaded Pigeon was floating out to sea.

Great visit with Carol and Kathy who had to travel all the way from Rochester to get their Peregrine fix.

A Meal on a Picnic Table

November 18, 2009 - Burlington - Lift Bridge

Sue McCreadie Reports:

Bill and I dropped by the Lift Bridge this afternoon around 3:00.  After a quick look around, we spotted Sir on the cable arm of the Hamilton Tower and Cirrus on a picnic table.  It wasn’t long before Sir flew to the picnic table and we realized that Cirrus was plucking a recent catch.  A few chirps from Sir would indicate that he was begging for a meal.  Bill was able to catch a few photos of the pair.

Pittsburgh Pete at Mountsberg Raptor Centre

November 17, 2009 - Burlington - Lift Bridge

Sue McCreadie Reports:

Bill and I visited Mountsberg Raptor Centre today to photograph Pittsburgh Pete.  We are happy to report that as he cannot be released into the wild we felt he is in a good place.  He is being well cared for and was sunning himself on a perch in the enclosed ring.  Amy from Mountsberg reports that he is settling in quite nicely, but still has a little way to go to be totally comfortable around people.   As far as she can tell, he has not had a seizure since September.  Below are a couple of photos from our visit.  Amy told us today that he has a distinct scar from his injury and that his crop fills to the side not to the front as normal.

!!! Pittsburgh Pete has a home!

November 03, 2009 - Burlington - Lift Bridge

Kathy Reports:

Update on Kate’s Blog on Pete and it’s good news!  Here is the link to the article complete with a recent photo! 

http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2009/11/01/pittsburgh-pete-has-a-home/

And here is the link to his new home where there is a nice write up introducing Pete.

http://mountsbergraptorcentre.blogspot.com/2009/10/pittsburgh-pete.html

A big thank you to Kate, Judy and the Mountsberg Raptor Centre for keeping us updated on Pete and ensuring that he has a home and will be cared for!

Sir and Cirrus are Hanging In

October 18, 2009 - Burlington - Lift Bridge

Sue McCreadie Reports:

Bill and I stopped by the Lift Bridge this afternoon to see what we could see.  After searching the Hamilton Hydro Tower and under the Skyway, with no luck, we decided to check out the other favourite spot, the face of the Hamilton Tower.  Low and behold, there sat Mom and Dad just a few feet apart.  (We are assuming it’s Mom and Dad as we didn’t get a look at any bands.)   Mom appeared to be standing guard and Dad was enjoying himself preening.  The pigeons were everywhere, so I guess neither were hungry as there was no hunting taking place.  Looks like the adults are going to stay for the winter.

!!! Update on Pittsburgh Pete

August 25, 2009 - Burlington - Lift Bridge

Kathy Reports:

I found this article on a great site run by Kate St. John down in Pittsburgh.  The site is called ‘Outside My Window’ and not only does she report on the falcons there but on various other species and wonders of nature!  I thought longtime time fans of Pete would like to know how he is faring.

Here in Kate’s own words is the update and I’ve included the link so you can all see a current photo of him and keep track of his progress!

Pittsburgh Pete, as he was nicknamed in Canada, has been through a lot in his three years.  He was born at Pittsburgh’s Gulf Tower in 2006 and flew to Burlington, Ontario where he nested successfully at the Lift Bridge in 2008.  At the end of that nesting season he was gravely injured by a rival peregrine.  He recovered from that injury but was attacked again, lost his nest site and nearly lost his life.  He ended up in rehab last November at the aviary of Judy Bailey, an Animal Control Officer for the City of Hamilton, Ontario. 

Though he’s received the best of medical care Pete has never fully recovered from his injuries.  He has no detectable head or wing injury but he has seizures so he can’t be released into the wild. 

As soon as his health improved Judy tried to find Pete a permanent home but it was hard to place him because of his seizures.  His luck turned recently when Mountsberg Conservation in Flamborough, Ontario said they would take him for their Bird of Prey education program if he will sit quietly on the glove.  All Pete has to do is learn a new skill and get clearance from Canada’s Ministry of Natural Resources.

To be an educational bird Pete needs to accept human contact from his trainers and tolerate humans nearby, so Judy is teaching him how.  She writes, “He took to being tethered remarkably well!  The day after I jessed him, he walked about a foot to my glove, latched on with one foot and ate the quail. By the 3rd or 4th day he hopped onto the glove and ate. Within a few days I was able to pet his feet, legs and belly. He’s not thrilled but he tolerates it. He will still get a bit antsy, at times, when I get close to the perch/booth, however, he quickly settles and eyes the glove. He’ll get very vocal with me at times!!  …Incidentally, I have not witnessed a seizure since he has been tethered!!”

This is great news because Pete’s future hangs on his ability learn these lessons.  I think he can do it.  Pete’s a very resilient bird. 

http://www.wqed.org/birdblog/2009/08/14/pittsburgh-pete-learns-a-new-skill/