June 04, 2015 - Hamilton - Sheraton Hotel
Mark Nash Reports:
June 4th - 2015
Banding Day!
Hamilton Sheraton Hotel banding success!
A good day this morning and a huge thank you to John Millar, CPF’s volunteer climber who gave up another day of his holidays for the sixth time so far this year to do the extraction of the young peregrine hatchlings that were produced at the Hamilton Sheraton Hotel. Another big thank you to the Hamilton Sheraton Hotel management for both hosting the banding and for allowing the banding to be held in their Guest Club Lounge again this year!
Another thank you to Anne Yagi and the Vineland district office of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forests for coming in again this year to band the young hatchlings.
Both resident adults were on hand to voice their opinion and object to the procedure but none were the worse for ware and their daily life returned back to normal once the two hatchlings were returned back to the nest ledge. Just another routine day for the resident peregrines defending their nest and territory from intruders,, with a happy ending having successfully scared off the intruders! 
All in all, a good day with two very healthy female peregrine hatchlings having been successfully banded and brought back to their parents. Their particulars are as follows,,
The first female - 728 grams, female, Black banded K over 28, named McMaster, with White Tape
The second female - 730 grams, female, Black banded K over 29, named Barton with Yellow Tape
You can see the video footage from the CPF helmet cam at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCSHlNQ5LCbkTPps432yxEaQ
Posted on June 4, 2015 9:17 pm
May 17, 2015 - Hamilton - Sheraton Hotel
CPF Volunteer Reports:
May 17th - 2015
By all accounts, it would appear that their has been a second egg that has hatched as there are now at least two little white fluffy hatchlings being observed in the nest at the Hamilton Sheraton!
Posted on May 17, 2015 3:36 pm
May 15, 2015 - Hamilton - Sheraton Hotel
CPF Postmaster Reports:
May 15th - 2015
Very excited to report that it would appear that Ossie and Lily have had their first hatch as a pair down at the Hamilton Sheraton hotel! Congratulations Hamilton and Ossie and Lily!
That being said, given the date and the age of the this first hatchling, the optimum banding time frames will be between June 2nd and June 12th.
Stay tuned for more news…..
Posted on May 15, 2015 12:28 pm
April 08, 2015 - Hamilton - Sheraton Hotel
Tracy Simpson Reports:
The new pair at the Hamilton Sheraton Hotel have laid their first egg today, April 7th, and are well on their way to starting a family this season. Congratulations to Lily and Ossie on your first egg.
Posted on April 8, 2015 12:54 am
March 16, 2015 - Hamilton - Sheraton Hotel
CPF Postmaster Reports:
March 16th-2015
Well, it would appear that its change-over time at many of the southern Ontario urban nest sites, weather the causes are due to injuries, deaths and / or territorial disputes or simply hostile take-overs,,, (among the most recent causes),,, there are a number of other new boys and girls in town taking over some of the existing occupied territories.
Spring is in the air!!!!
Most recently, as a result of the ongoing territorial disputes and squabbling at the Hamilton Sheraton nest site, (and with the injury and replacement of Surge), we quickly noticed that the long standing resident adult female - (Madam X,,, a.k.a. Run-Around-Sue) had disappeared from the Hamilton Sheraton nest site and been replaced with a new adult female dawning a very unique Green over Black leg band configuration!!
What makes this particularly interesting, is the fact that the Green over Black leg band that has been observed being on this new Sheraton female is actually upside-down! The Black should be on the top and the Green should be on the bottom. The band was obviously put on the bird at banding upside down. This is of course very important when it come to the birds identification and origin.
The Black over Green aluminum bands were issued to the Michigan State Wildlife authorities by the Federal United States Fish and Wildlife in the USA along with a complete serious of consecutively numbered Black over Green aluminium leg bands,, and this particular alpha-numeric sequence falls in sequence with the other bands both issued and used in Mich. state in 2010.
This being confirmed by our friends at the MDNR in Michigan USA, the leg band number is Black *P over Green *E. As such, this band number is recorded to have been placed on a 2010 produced female banded peregrine that was both produced and banded in Grand Haven, Michigan USA.
Her name is Lily!
I am to understand after talking with the CPF head office this afternoon, that Tracy Simpson has a far more detailed report to post with regards to her site observations of the events and timelines.
Stay tuned……………….
Posted on March 16, 2015 6:51 pm
March 12, 2015 - Hamilton - Sheraton Hotel
Kathy Reports:
Thanks to Charles Gregory from Hamilton Falconwatch who provided us with this very clear photo of Ossie’s black band, Tracy from the CPF was able to confirm it is indeed Ossie. He was hatched in 2012 at our William Osler Etobicoke site and banded O / 8 by Mark Heaton of the MNR, using a rare three character band.
Posted on March 12, 2015 2:38 pm
March 11, 2015 - Hamilton - Sheraton Hotel
Kathy Reports:
The Hamilton Falconwatch Team has tentatively ID’d the new tiercel hanging around Madame X. With Tracy Simpson’s help they were able to match a O/8 to a young 2012 bird banded at William Osler in Etobicoke.
Hamilton, say hello to Ossie! Based upon a slightly blurry look at leg bands this afternoon, we have tentatively identified the new male at the Hamilton nest as a bird that was banded in 2012 at the William Osler Hospital in Etobicoke. His parents were Hurricane (male) and Chessie (female). This is “tentative” until we can get a clearer look at the bands, to be sure that the upper character is the letter “O” and not the number “0″ (or something else), as it is the former that identifies him as Ossie. So for now, that’s what we’ll be calling him. Welcome to Hamilton, Ossie!
Posted on March 11, 2015 5:36 pm
March 08, 2015 - Hamilton - Sheraton Hotel
CPF Postmaster Reports:
Thursday, March 5, 2015
We must apologize for all of the late postings and update’s as there has been so much to report and post over the past ten days, we have been a little backlogged trying to get everything posted.
It is with great sadness that we must report that Surge has died. As you may recall, back on January 24th, Surge was retrieved from the ground near the HMCS Haida in Hamilton after suffering from injuries consistent with those similar to fighting with another raptor, in addition to a cere and upper mandible injury consistent with that of a collision with a much harder object - (likely occurring as he made contact with the ground).
Surge was transported by the Hamilton Animal control to the Owl foundation for care and up until a few days ago was doing very well indeed. He was recently taken to the OVC, (the Ontario Veterinary College in Guelph) for an examination and assessment with regards to a new complication that developed and unfortunately died the following day at OVC during a physical examination.
It has not been determined as yet as to the cause of his death.
Mean while, back at the Hamilton Sheraton nest site, the unidentified male peregrine that has been hanging around the Hamilton Sheraton nest site is still being observed on a very regular basis, although Madam X has still not given him mate liberty status as yet, but its only a matter of time now with spring in the air, longer daylight hours, increased photocell and elevated hormone levels, we expect that she will give in and accept him as a mate. (This is of course if he stays, and comes up with all of the right moves)!
Stay tuned………….
Posted on March 5, 2015 2:35 am
March 05, 2015 - Hamilton - Sheraton Hotel
CPF Postmaster Reports:
February 28th - 2015
A big thank you to Robert Secord for sending in some of his photos and his observation report of a peregrine falcon that he was able to photograph today. He was also lucky enough to get some clear photos of the peregrines coloured leg band number, and as a result, we have been able to get a identity on the bird!
The Black band number 23 over X in Roberts photos turns out to be a 2010 produced peregrine falcon, banded as a female who was produced at the William Osler Health Care Centre – (Etobicoke Hospital) nest site in Etobicoke Ontario. Her name is “Athena”, and her mother is non-other than O’Connor – her father is Hurricane. Both O’Connor and Hurricane have very long detailed histories of their own with lengthy detailed family trees.
Thank you Robert for sharing!!!!
Robert Writes:
I had the privilege of seeing this peregrine today February 28, 2015 at Eastgate Mall on Centennial Parkway in Hamilton, Ontario. I am wondering if you can identify it from the attached leg band photo and tell me more about this bird. Look forward to hearing from you in regards to this peregrine falcon.
Thanks
Robert Secord
Posted on February 28, 2015 9:05 pm
February 18, 2015 - Hamilton - Sheraton Hotel
CPF Postmaster Reports:
February 18th - 2015
A quickly update on Surge as his stay at the Owl foundation has lasted a little longer than expected given the minor complications with the damage he sustained to his upper mandible. While he is doing quite well and seems to be enjoying his stay, its going to be a few weeks before he will be able to be released back to the wild.
That being said, we have been able to confirmed a partial identification of the new male suitor that has been quite active around the Hamilton territory nest site, presumed to be the same male that had it out with Surge and led to his injuries. Madam X (a.k.a. - Run-around Sue) on the other hand, the long standing resident territorial adult female has not shown the new male suitor any hospitality as yet, but its only a matter of time before her hormones change as spring is almost in the air,,, (at least for peregrines anyway).
Despite the record cold bitter temps that we have all had to endure throughout the month of February, our urban resident peregrines see this as just another cold day.
With longer days, increased photocell and sunlight, we are already seeing renewed activity on most of the nest ledges, with pair bonding already underway with many of the resident urban pairs. There have been several conflicts and change-overs of mates at several of the urban nest sites, and we are diligently working on identifying the new suitors at same.
There are two new nest territories that we may be able to report soon, (as soon as they are actually confirmed as being full time occupied territories) that has created allot of excitement. Time will tell,,,,,,
Stay tuned……….
Posted on February 18, 2015 10:22 am
