Raptor Day in Toronto

[Anonymous]

Started out to work today and saw 1 raptor sitting on the antenna on the SW corner of McCowan and Sheppard.

At Kennedy and Sheppard the pigeons were flying everywhere.  Sure enough, the disturbance was soon located in the form of a raptor on the antenna on the building once again on the SW corner of Kennedy and Sheppard, along with a red tail hawk trying to soar above the pigeons.  Majestic, really.

While exiting the car at Don Mills subway station there was a red tail soaring above the condos on the south side of Sheppard Avenue accross from the station.

Finally, at about 4pm this afternooon, while at work at Yonge/Sheppard, I looked north to see a red tail soaring through the air.  It then started a "sprint" and moments later it became evident why.  The peregrines that nested in the area are back, and they stooped the crap (literally) out of that red tail which on several occasions tried grabbing the 'grines with its talons by flipping over on its back.  I watched this go on for what seemed to be an eternity, until I lost sight of the red tail below the tree line.  I then saw the 'grines return to the Yonge/Sheppard location.

Spring is definitely here, and I can't wait to see more of this activity soon!  You can't get more action packed than this!

[BirderBill]

There was a much publicized pair of Peregrines on the Milner Office complex in Scarborough, south of Sheppard.  I have seen a pair on the condo towers near the Scarborough Town Centre, as well, though.
I am keeping my eyes peeled for the Turkey Vulture return, which should be soon.  There is usually a pair that nest on the "Bally Fitness" building at Dufferin and Finch.  Ironic, when you think about it... they're probably waiting for somebody like me to have a cardiac in the Gym!

[Anonymous]

You mean Lawrie and Reuben just east of Markham on Milner.  I had the priviledge of watching them and their chicks all last summer as part of the fledge watch program.  The pair that you see at the Town Centre are the same pair as their hunting range is quite huge.

Sharpie in the area has become very active again and I've seen him chasing starlings and others around the area.

[BirderBill]

The pair at the Town Centre seemed to be nesting on the condo... not just passing through.  It was a year or two earlier than the "Milners".  Could be they moved up to Milner and settled in there, or would another pair be so close to the Milner ones?

[Anonymous]

Same pair actually.

Yellow Pages tower is more conducive to chick raising - better ledges for nesting and flight training, and they don't have to worry about what used to be the "Consilium" towers which really had no supportive ledges.

Attila

[Anonymous]

Updating this thread with the following:

Saw 4 separate snowies at a single site today all just before the sun went down.  I managed a couple of shots (not that great - in the photo section) but fading sunlight and increasingly overcast skies made it hard.  I'm amazed to see them here in this weather, but it would appear that their food supply is doing very well at the location I found them in.

Large numbers of Turkey Vultures are returning to the city now and today I saw at least 15 of them.

The birds that I mentioned earlier in this thread at Kennedy/Sheppard may be an actively breeding couple, as I've seen them everyday together on the same antenna every time.  I'll be doing a better survey of the area on foot in the next week and hope to find a nest site for them.

The peregrines in the Yonge/Sheppard area have been defending their turf more aggressively and on Friday I had almost the whole office watching as 2 turkey vultures were escorted unwillingly from the area.

The sharpies are going through their aerial ballets, pouncing on sparrows and starlings that are within talons reach.

Look for increased raptor activity as the breeding season is upon us and courtship displays continue to take flight.

[Howieh]

So the snowy owls are still around, but where? I still haven't seen one in two years of birding!