Stopped by at lunch today to see if the juvenile was still in the area. Quest was sitting on top of the Harlequin building preening.
No sign of juvenile or Kendal.
Ann Brokelman reports:
A visit to the nest today. What we originally thought was Kendal having a wonderful time soaring around the nest and showing off for Quest, turned out to be a juvenile that was banded black over black with green tape over his USFW band. This was learned only after studying pictures. Unfortunately all we could see of the colour band was the rivets and where the band was gathered, so no ID can be made. There are a limited number of birds this could be, and we will be trying to locate this bird again for a positive identification.
Quest was very busy preening beside the nest ledge.
The Guest did a beautiful fly by for Donna and I and then was gone.
What a thrill.
I was checking up on my e-mails and received an update from the great folks at Harlequin Enterprises that Quest and Kendal have been in the territory today and talking up a storm to one another. They have been flying around the nest building and I managed to capture a shot of Quest sitting next to her nest box enjoying the sunshine. With the unseasonal weather we have been having lately, love seems to be in the air at many of our nest sites including Quest and Kendals!!!
Quest at home enjoying the sunny weather.
Ann Brokelman and Donna visited with Quest this past weekend. Ann sent along these wonderful shots of Quest. You can see her transmitter still. She is still being tracked,and is bopping around between Pickering where she hung out last winter sometimes and her nest at Duncan Mill Rd. Thanks again for these fantastic shots!
While poking around the internet,I found this article posted at e! Science News. So all will see it,it is being posted on each of our nestsite pages. This is too important to miss.
The original article can be seen here: http://esciencenews.com/articles/2011/04/18/new.pollutants.detected.peregrine.falcon.eggs
Flame retardants are chemical compounds added to fabrics and plastics to keep them from burning easily, but these can be toxic. Now a team of researchers from Spain and Canada has detected some of these emerging pollutants for the first time in peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) eggs in both countries. “The presence of ‘dechlorane plus’ and other related, chlorinated compounds used as flame retardants have been detected for the first time in the European biota (flora and fauna of the region)”, explains Ethel Eljarrat, co-author of the study and scientist at the Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Studies (IDAEA-CSIC, Spain).
The researchers have found these substances in peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) eggs in both Spain and Canada. The flame retardants are often added to textiles, electronic circuits and other products to inhibit or resist the spread of fire, but can be transferred to the environment.
In nature these compounds are “bioaccumulating and bioconcentrating” all along the food chain, as evidenced by the research published in the Environmental Science & Technology journal. The international research team for this study was led by Begoña Jiménez of the Institute of Organic Chemistry (CSIC, Spain), and Environment Canada researchers, Kim Fernie and Mehran Alaee.
Having received the relevant permits, eggs that had failed to hatch from various active falcon nests in Canada and Spain, were collected. The collection involved 13 eggs from Spain (five in Guadalajara – a territory representative of an inland habitat of the Iberian Peninsula - and eight in Bilbao - representing a coastal environment), and 12 eggs from Canada (Great Lakes Region and Eastern provinces).
The levels of some of the measured contaminants have been found to be somewhat higher in Bilbao than in Guadalajara, and the authors believe this may be due partially to the difference in the falcons’ diet: more aquatic in the former and more terrestrial in the latter. In fact, if fish is highly contaminated, peregrines would accumulate more of the harmful substances. While peregrine falcons do not eat fish, they prey upon other birds, some of which may eat fish.
Selecting the peregrine falcon was no accident. This species was endangered in many areas of the northern hemisphere due to the use of organochlorinated pesticides, particularly DDT, though when this was prohibited in the 1970s the populations recovered. Furthermore, falcons are at the top end of the food chain and accumulate substances carried by their prey.
Highest levels in the Canadian samples
The results reveal that the concentrations of ‘dechlorane plus’ and some of the other chlorinated halogens were “significantly higher” in the Canadian falcons’ eggs than in those of Spain. The reason for this could be that the industry that has manufactured these compounds for decades (although they are now also produced in China) is located in New York State close to the area where samples were collected. In addition, the use of these compounds has generally been higher in North America than Europe.
The researcher acknowledges that the effects that these flame retardants may have on the falcons’ eggs or on their development are still unknown, “but their detection is a first step”. These are emerging pollutants, which comprise both those which have appeared more recently and those that have been used for a long time but are just lately the subject of environmental interest.
Other flame retardants, including some brominated flame retardants, have already been confirmed as toxic endocrine disruptors, and their use has been prohibited in some of the commercial mixes in Europe and America. Furthermore, they are candidates for inclusion on a list of Persistent Organic Pollutants to be eliminated, a list compiled by the Stockholm Convention which includes other pollutants such as DDT or dioxins.
This study forms part of the doctoral thesis submitted this month by the researcher Paula Guerra from IDAEA on “The analysis of emerging halogenated flame retardants and their impact on the environment and on humans”. All of the eggs were analyzed by her during her exchange studies at Environment Canada.
A research group at IDAEA led by Damià Barceló has also confirmed the presence of these compounds in sediment and fish in the rivers of the Ebro basin (Spain). Source:FECYT-Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology
A big thank you to Margaret who has been watching the activities of Q & K very closely for us over the past week. For a third straight day this week, (Monday, Tuesday and today,, Wednesday), both Quest and Kendal have been very active both on the nest ledge, but also inside the nest box itself!!
Many photos and observations have been streaming in over the past three days to let us know that it is very obvious that the pair approve of their net nest box. A huge thank you to Donna Hayes for her personal support in helping us with the funding to do the nest box modifications and to get the get nest box up to the nest ledge.
It would almost appear that Kendal is trying to convince Quest that “he made the nest box himself” - “just for her”!! Funny boy!!
A big thank you to the management staff and security’s support at 220 Duncan Mill Rd. in allowing us permissions and access to get the new nest box in, and a HUGE thank-you to Solar Window washing management and staff for their support in getting the old nest tray out, and the new nest box in on a weekend!!
We also want to thank the great folks at the Genesee Valley Audubon Society for their donation of the nest box itself!! An interesting history behind this nest box, as it was originally made by them - for the CPF - way back in 2002 in memory of Pounce-Kingsley and Victoria from the Toronto downtown 18 King street nest site, and sent to the CPF.
Sadly, despite our best efforts to get the nest box installed in many different locations over the years, it sat in our inventory awaiting an ideal home. With some modifications to conform to the height and depth of the Don Mills nest ledge, and some appropriate coloured stain to blend into the building colour,,, it was and is perfect!!!
As with any nest site modification, the final celebrations are always left until the peregrines give us their sign of approval. Well, we can now officially celebrate, as it would appear that Quest and Kendal approve of their new digs indeed!! For the past three days, they have been hard pressed to get out of it!! As I type this observation report, I am watching the live video image and can still one of the peregrines roosting on the upper concrete stub to the right of the nest ledge / nest box,, keeping a very close eye on the new nest box.
A final comment. In addition to the new nest box obvious benefits, it also allows the office occupants behind the nest ledge to open up their blinds and let the sun light in, knowing that they will not be disturbing or causing the peregrines any stress during the egg laying, incubating and brooding period nest season. The new nest box has walls and a roof that will allow Quest and Kendal a stress free “go-round” while egg laying, egg incubation and early brooding of their young from human disturbances during these critical periods.
A big thank you to the great office staff and owners that kept their blinds closed / down this past season that allowed Quest and Kendal’s sucesses.
Thanks to the camera at Harelquin Enterprises,we caught both Quest and Kendal at,in and around their new nestbox. This is very significant,as this is the first time this has been observed. This should ensure that Quest and Kendal stay at the site and enjoy the benefits of their new digs.
This past Sunday, a great team of folks gathered together at the 220 Duncan Mill Road nest site to install a new nest box for Quest and Kendal!! As we organized our equipment and efforts, we looked for the adults on the surrounding buildings and noticed that both of them were not in the area. While Marion and Frank manned the camera in the Harlequin offices across the street, Mark, Bruce and I carried the new box over to the nest building where we joined the two awesome gentlemen from the Solar Window Washing company. A quick trip upstairs to the roof level and in no time we were tied off and ready to go!!
The removal of the old tray and installation of the new box, complete with roof, landing platform and fresh gravel, could not have gone any smoother!! For this successful event we have so many people to thank. Paul Melady at Berkley Property Management Inc., the Board of Directors of MTCC 918 and the staff that manage the building have been wonderful supporters, allowing us access to their building and roof to make the exchange. Donna Hayes, Patricia Cake and all of the amazing staff at Harlequin Enterprises Ltd. for graciously allowing us access to their suites to monitor the installation and take photographs ( they are coming very soon!! ). The two awesome gentlemen from Solar Window Washing that did what would be for me impossible; headed over the edge and down to the nest ledge for the tray / box swap out. Last but never least, the volunteers with the CPF that took the pictures, carried the gear, built the box and hauled it up the stairs; Marion, Mark, Bruce and Frank!!
It would seem that the efforts that everyone has made is beginning to now pay off. Today both Quest and Kendal attended the site and were sitting on the concrete pieces that extend from the building; Kendal above and Quest level with the nest ledge. They sat for over an hour on these perches that were one pillar to the right of the new nest box. Neither bird showed any concern about the change in scenery as they both sat preening the day away. After about an hour, one of the adults decided it was time to check this new house out and landed on the nest ledge no more than a foot or two away from their new home. We believe that it was Kendal that took this first tentative step towards “home ownership” and sat looking over the new digs!! It will be interesting to see which of the pair will enter the box first as Quest was born and raised in a box in Rochester, New York and at one time was squabbling with other females at other nest sites for THEIR box!! We have no doubt that Quest and Kendal will take on to and enjoy their new home and hopefully raise many a family in it. Congratulations Quest and Kendal on the new upgrade!!
Drove past the nest site to see Quest in the nest box and Kendal on a pillar above nest. Both look healthy.
No sign of Harley.
Ann
Went for a drive at 4pm tonight and popped in at the Harlequin site. No sign or sound of any peregrines but in the distance on top of antenna I could see a large bird. Drove over to the apartments at 20 Graydon Rd (east of Don Mills Road) to see Kendal on top of the antenna. Under him on the roof top were dozens and dozens of pigeons. Supper right under him.
