May 14, 2015 - Toronto - Mount Sinai Hospital
Linda Woods Reports:
In all the years I’ve been watching Toronto Peregrines, I’ve never seen them make a direct and successful hunt for prey, until today.
Stopped by Mt.Sinai to check on Hunter and Seven. All was quiet until around 11:30a.m. Hunter flew east along Gerrard Street towards Bay St. He made contact with a small bird, probably a sparrow. Snatched it out of the air and carried it back towards Mt. Sinai. Seven then appeared on the 6th ledge and flew towards the area where Hunter had the prey. She grabbed the food and headed to the south area Mt. Sinai. Hunter then flew into the 6th ledge and disappeared out of my view.
Incubation continues for the single egg.
Posted on May 14, 2015 6:06 pm
May 13, 2015 - Toronto - Mount Sinai Hospital
Linda Woods Reports:
As reported to me from Mark Nash;
Mark Nash visited Mt. Sinai today to confirm the presence of at least one egg. Seven was seen incubating at least one egg on the 6th ledge . She got up off the egg briefly to investigate but did not come off the ledge. She returned moments later to continue incubation. Hunter was on hand to keep watch, but didn’t get too excited as Mark lowered to camera to the ledge. Everything went well.
Many thanks to staff at Mt. Sinai for their continued support.
With success there will be a link to video for everyone to view.
https://www.youtube.com/results?filters=week&search_query=canadian+peregrine+foundation&lclk=week
Posted on May 13, 2015 10:18 pm
May 12, 2015 - Toronto - Mount Sinai Hospital
Linda Woods Reports:
Again today spent some time at Mt. Sinai Hospital peregrine site, as I have done so every day for the past few weeks. Today, a change in behaviour from Hunter. Usually I see a hand off of the 6th ledge and the adult finds a place to rest before heading out and out of view. Today, Hunter was unsettled. He would visit the 6th ledge and take off and sit on a nearby roof. Minutes later he would return to the 6th ledge, walk to the back and come out again and take off. He would then sit for a few minutes and return to the 6th ledge. This is very encouraging and it would fit a time line of nesting behaviour. Perhaps a hatch is close if not already. Just have to wait for food to go in and stay in. As the weeks progress it is very encouraging to see that behaviour from both Seven and Hunter has been maintained. Unlike years past, they would get to a certain point of ‘incubation” and then both adults would be seen flying in the area and not returning to the chosen ledge. Here’s hoping for a successful year for Hunter and his new mate Seven.
Posted on May 12, 2015 5:26 pm
May 09, 2015 - Toronto - Mount Sinai Hospital
Linda Woods Reports:
Saturday May 9 Noon.
Arrived just in time to look up and see Hunter enter the 6th ledge. I waited for a minute and it wasn’t long before Seven came into view, and flew off towards to east side University Ave. They are very fast and quiet about it. This is very positive for continued nesting activity.
Posted on May 9, 2015 2:49 pm
May 01, 2015 - Toronto - Mount Sinai Hospital
Linda Woods Reports:
Nesting activity continues for “Hunter” the male and “Seven” the female.
This morning the male delivered food to the ledge. Not sure if this was just a bite to eat for the incubating female, or if it was meant for a feed, but positive behaviour either way, indicating that incubation is continuing.
This evening another hand off of the ledge occurred around 6:30, giving the female time to stretch her wings and hunt for herself. Hunter was quick to take his turn at incubation and disappeared into the back of the ledge and out of sight.
Posted on May 1, 2015 8:32 pm
April 22, 2015 - Toronto - Mount Sinai Hospital
Mark Nash Reports:
April 20th - 2015
After being able to confirm that the resident pair are in fact Ranger - (the long standing adult male at the Mt. Sinai hospital nest site), and his new female mate - Lucky “Seven” as she was named, who was produced at the old Ontario Power Generation plant nest site on the Canadian side in Niagara Falls Ontario, it has become quite obvious that the pair are involved in full time incubation activities on the upper east elevation, in the centre (middle) ledge.
Sadly although,,, this is NOT the ledge that we installed the nest tray on several years ago for Ranger and Hunter! WE know that there is not allot (if any) suitable nesting sub-straight on these ledges,, (thus the reason for installing the nest tray years ago),,, but you just never know,, peregrine have managed to successfully incubate and hatch eggs in some really inhospitable nest ledges.
We have alerted our old friends at the Mt. Sinai hospital and arranged a site visit next week that will allow us to lower down a portable “wireless” camera down to the lower ledge from the upper roof area that we use to peek into these types of ledges where we can’t get visible sightlines from other elevations to see what’s going on.
Stay tuned for more news updates on the pair………
Posted on April 22, 2015 11:43 am
April 04, 2015 - Toronto - Mount Sinai Hospital
Linda Woods Reports:
It appears the Hunter and Seven are setting up house keeping on the east ledge of the hospital. Very consistent courtship behaviour observed, with copulation and a ‘hand- off” of the “nest’ area. They could be in the early stages of egg production, as they are paying attention to one particular ledge. Unable to confirm the presence of eggs, as this is a difficult area to get a sight line into the ledge itself. Observations will continue for behavioural changes in the adults to indicate full time incubation of eggs. Exciting, as this would be the first nest for the female Seven.
Posted on April 4, 2015 5:19 pm
June 04, 2014 - Toronto - Mount Sinai Hospital
Linda Woods Reports:
Both adults were not in view when I dropped by for a quick visit. As I waited a very large Turkey Vulture floated through the area. I thought for sure this would bring some activity to the area. One adult came to the east side of the Hospital from the east. They did not give chase or pursue the low flying Vulture as it floated westward. Soon after both adult peregrines were in view on the east side of both Mount Sinai and PMH.
Posted on June 4, 2014 6:57 pm
May 23, 2014 - Toronto - Mount Sinai Hospital
Linda Woods Reports:
A quick visit to Mount Sinai today just before noon. I found the adult peregrines sitting on the south facing ledges of the hospital. This is disappointing as it points to the very real possibility that there are no eggs this year.
Posted on May 23, 2014 5:38 pm
May 17, 2014 - Toronto - Mount Sinai Hospital
Linda Woods Reports:
Saturday May 17th - 2014
I spent some time at Mount Sinai. I arrived just before 10:00am.
On my arrival I had the female flying south on University Ave heading towards the Zurich building, she then turned east and out of sight. The male appeared and landed on the cubby holes on the south side of Mount Sinai.
I waited, thinking they were in the hunting mode. The female reappeared and landed on the south east corner of the hospital, the male then fly up to her and copulation was seen. He flew off, and she joined him in flight. They flew circles over University Ave at Gerrard St. gaining height and drifting eastward towards Yonge St. They were so high I needed binoculars to track them as they drifted to the southeast, and out of my sight.
At no time did either of the adults pay any attention to the 2nd ledge, (or any of the ledges for all that matter). I left the area an hour later, with only the male in view. He had returned and was on the 6th ledge.
This may be an indication that either there were never any eggs, or the eggs have failed. We will never know, since we are not able to visibly see that particular area of the east side.
Observations will continue.
Posted on May 17, 2014 12:50 pm
