March 06, 2010 - Burlington - Lift Bridge
Sue McCreadie Reports:
Yesterday, Bill and I tried to get to the Lift Bridge to check on the birds. We were unable to get anywhere close. The normal parking lot and driveway was still closed by the workers doing the Lift Bridge repairs and the walkway on the beach side was closed because of the Hydro work going on. There were men standing on the roof of the Burlington Tower directly above the nest box so I’m not certain that the maintenance work in the Tower has been completed. As of Friday, I would have bet my last dollar that the chance of a successful breeding season was slim to nil.
Today, we made another attempt to check on the birds and we were able to access the pier from the beach side of the road. The gate to the normal parking lot is still filled with work trailers and the gate was locked. I am happy to report though that it appears that the repair work on the Bridge has been completed as all 4 lanes on the bridge are open once again.
We arrived around 10:00 am and spent a few hours watching. When we arrived, Cirrus was sitting on the Hamilton Hydro Tower and Sir was sitting on the cables close to the next box. Sir did a few flybys of Cirrus chirping and I assume begging for food. He then flew to the nest box and disappeared inside. I guess Cirrus was curious and flew over to check it out. With that they both took the air and did a couple of circles around the Burlington Tower. He then landed on the nest box and she landed on the buffer housing on the Hamilton Tower. Eventually she took to the air and disappeared from our sight behind the Burlington Tower. After a short time, we could see her returning with prey in her talons. She landed on the Burlington Hydro Tower and proceeded to prepare her meal. I guess Sir was out of her line of vision as he continued to sit on the nest box.
We are assuming that it is the resident pair of Cirrus and Sir Adam Beck. We were able to read a partial band of Black K/Over Green ?? (Cirrus is Black K/Green 83). Were we unable to read the bands of the other bird.
If Ontario Hydro would hurry up and finish their work, perhaps a successful breeding season is not out of the question.
Posted on March 6, 2010 9:07 pm
March 01, 2010 - Burlington - Lift Bridge
Robert Williams Reports:
It’s that time of year again, the nesting cycle is starting up! I’ve had a report that the pair of peregrines were copulating on the overhead wires in the middle of the bridge. With all the work and fuss down at the bridge, it’s good to see this, and I’ll keep my fingers crossed that they will stick around and nest successfully at this site again this year.
Posted on March 3, 2010 10:40 pm
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.
Posted on January 12, 2010 4:17 pm
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!
Posted on January 11, 2010 10:50 pm
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.
Posted on January 6, 2010 9:20 pm
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
Posted on January 1, 2010 10:49 am
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.
Posted on December 31, 2009 10:25 am
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.
Posted on November 19, 2009 2:24 pm
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.
Posted on November 17, 2009 9:54 pm
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!
Posted on November 3, 2009 11:14 am
