This is where I've been spending many of my afternoons and evenings the past couple of weeks. In a parking lot, in downtown Hamilton.
Volunteering my time to look up, mostly towards the Sheraton Hotel, because that is where we have a family of peregrine falcons. That ledge under the 'N' has been a nesting site for about 20 years now, though this year there is a new pair of parents - Lily aged 5-ish and Ossie aged 3-ish. We think because of his age this may be Ossie's first time as a father. He's doing a great job. They have two young ones named McMaster and Barton (following a tradition of naming the chicks after local landmarks). There are cameras positioned so everyone can get a glimpse of the family... until the chicks are ready to attempt to fly, at least. Which they did this week.
but, actually it is only one falcon (in this case McMaster) and what we have begun to call 'the iron falcon'. From a distance, it fools everybody!
Next door at the top of the Standard Life Building, on a pole contraption that is used for the window washers, sits Barton.
Also keeping watch (but with a high powered scope as well as binoculars) inside the Stelco Tower is the falconwatch co-ordinator. I hope to get to go up and see the view that she sees next week. But she can't see everything, which is why we are on the ground. 
Because, also sticking close to the chicks are the parents, one of whom is sitting at the corner of the Stelco Tower right below where she is. This is my first year volunteering, but already, especially when the light is right, it is getting easier for me to spot them. Here's hoping for safe flights and no dangerous crashes or falls onto the traffic below. We have a rescue box handy, but none of us really wants to have to use it.
something for Saturday's Critters
and Our World Tuesday
Hello, great post and sequence of photos on the Peregrine Falcons. I am glad to see the new family is doing well. Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Wishing you a happy 4th of July weekend!
ReplyDeleteit is exciting to have this family - last year there were no chicks
DeleteAnd here I thought that you were checking out Ford Falcons. Tom The Backroads Traveller
ReplyDeleteI'd forgotten all about those cars. these falcons are better at coasting, I think ;)
DeleteVery cool!
ReplyDeleteI wonder why they like the ledge under the 'n' more than the 'S' and the 'r'?
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Who knows why they choose their favourite spots! Apparently peregrines are loyal to a nest site, which is why the older pair kept coming back year after year, and when the new younger ones showed up and deposed the older male and later the older female, they stayed with the site. It's certainly more convenient for the cameras.
DeleteA lovely find and shots. Have a great week ahead.
ReplyDeleteThanks. I'm surprised at how good a zoom this little point and shoot has!
DeleteWonderful that the birds are protected and watched over. Since they have grown and fledged you ay have more to watch over in a year or two.
ReplyDeleteWe hope to have many more in the years to come!
DeleteThanks for linking to this post from the later one... Since I missed this while we were migrating ourselves. It is just wonderful to read the whole saga, even backwards. ;))
ReplyDeleteI'm glad you came to read this one, too!
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