Outdoor Ontario
Birding Reports => Toronto Reports => Topic started by: Anonymous on November 30, 2008, 03:51:27 PM
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So it's Sunday afternoon and with the weather being the way it is I decided that photography and bird watching just wasn't a choice activity. As such I was driving around to various locations picking up supplies for a project that I'm working on here in Scarborough. En route was the Yellow Pages nesting site which I helped out on the fledge watch for, and so I always keep my eyes peeled for any activity.
Sure enough there was.
The female, named Lawrie, was stooping over the Investors Group building repeatedly as I approached from the North. Wondering just what the heck was going on, I made the quick left onto Milner Ave. and then the quick right onto whatever street that is and pulled into the parking lot. Hopping out of the car, I stood there watching and listening. She was stooping, talons extended, and screetching at the top of her lungs just like she was when she was protecting the nest ledge from intruders. I watched her do this for about 5 minutes before she departed and went back to the Yellow Pages building and sat on an Western facing antenna.
I knew there was something up there, probably a Red Tail that just wanted to rest on the roof while it was flying around. Then it appeared - a female snowy owl took off from the roof and flew North. Lawrie took off in hot pursuit, stooping at the owl repeatedly until they were out of visual range.
For those who don't know Lawrie, she is a very aggressive female who has taken out Turkey Vultures (as in killed them - personally witnessed), and has spent the better part of this year chasing Red Tails, Ospreys, and Sharpies away from her nest site. She has already greeted members of the Canadian Peregrine Foundation during banding day. She truly is a sight to behold in the skies if you have the chance to see her.
Cheers for now, Attila
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Attila: What an incredible sight you saw today. I hope the snowy got out ok as Lawrie is so protective of her area. Has your heart slowed down yet? Ann
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... the Yellow Pages nesting site ... Investors Group building ...
Where are these buildings?
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Nope, Ann, and it won't for a very long wile. I'd like to think that it was the first time the Snowie came through the area and really didn't know what it was in for when it was just passing through. After the incident, I highly doubt it will be coming back into the area. I've read reports of Peregrines actually taking out Snowies but up until today it was only a passing thought. As of today I will never count anything out when it comes to Peregrines.
David - you'll find them on the South East corner of Markham Rd. and Milner Ave. in Scarborough, although at this point you'll only find the Peregrine around guarding her roost on the Yellow Pages building.
A full fledge report on the nest site and the birds activity on the surrounding buildings can be found here -> http://www.peregrine-foundation.ca/tops/yptop.html (http://www.peregrine-foundation.ca/tops/yptop.html)
Cheers, and have a nice day.
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Thanks Attila. Did you send in this recent sighting? (I know it takes them a while to update.)
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I'm going to upload onto the report site this morning David.
Hope all is well with you and be careful driving out there, roads are treacherous!
Attila