Hey, After a year and a half of false-dawns and near-misses, I was finally able to confirm nesting Peregrine Falcon in the north Lime Kiln / Crusher this morning - with the male delivering a Mourning Dove through an opening at the top of the structure, and accepted noisily by the female.
Juveniles seen last fall hanging around the quarries were almost certainly fledged from this site, which is the tallest structure in this part of the county and gives a commanding view of the quarry and river valley both east and west. Directions - from Ingersoll Road take Domtar Road 150 m north, over the river, then turn right to the parking area. The two Lime crusher towers are directly north. The nesting birds are at the top of the north tower. This provides the 1st breeding record for this species in Oxford County - unthinkable a few decades ago but now joins Bald Eagle and Osprey as ''new'' local breeders and part of a very select group of local success stories. Sadly, while these 3 species seem to be doing far better than in the past, a great many other bird species have clearly declined or disappeared from the county altogether. The starkest examples of this are American Kestrel [almost entirely gone from the county centre as farm practices become ultra-efficient] and Ruffed Grouse, now confined to only the richest and most extensive woodlands in the county, and likely detrimentally affected by the surge in Wild Turkey numbers. Cheers, James Holdsworth, Biological Consulting Services 14 Marian St, RR#1 Woodstock, On, N4S-7V6 [519]537-2027 226-228-1428 [cell] - note - NEW [email protected] _______________________________________________ ONTBIRDS is presented by the Ontario Field Ornithologists - the provincial birding organization. Send bird reports to [email protected] For information about ONTBIRDS including how to unsubscribe visit http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdssetup Posting guidelines can be found at http://www.ofo.ca/site/page/view/information.ontbirdsguide
