Cyril Crocker (pictured above holding a recently banded Peregrine Falcon) has released an in-depth 2025 newsletter with results of all bandings, recaptures and banded birds killed elsewhere in 2025. Nice summary of American Kestrel Nest Box Program with 50 birds banded with equal number of males and females at 25 each. The Newsletter contains insights into the decline of raptors over the years. There were no Rough-legged Hawks banded in 2025.
A nice write up into the longevity of banding shacks and the replacement of station 5 this year using modern supplies (like a steel roof) and a slight relocation. Catherine Manshot put together several nice charts showing the decline in birds banded per hour over 20 years dropping from 1.1 bird an hour to the current .5 bird an hour. She also has some very in-depth info over the last 20 years. This provides some proof to the decline of birds of prey. Charlie Fowler had the good fortune to catch a Sharp-shinned Hawk that had a Motus tag on it, originally banded 5 months earlier at Braddock Bay Research Center.
A nice review of the banding of 3 osprey chicks at Lake Margaret is of interest and shows cooperation between city and Parks department.
One final nugget revealed in the newsletter was the creation of Hawkcliffbanding.ca, a website that has been up for two years and was never mentioned at our meetings. The site has all the newsletters of the banders going all the way back to 1970, including their 25th and 50th anniversaries. The website also has an amazing photo gallery going all the way back to 1969 with Marshall Field and John Lemon.
Thanks to all who participated in putting together the Newsletter and Website, both offer current and historical insights into the Hawk Banding in our neighbourhood.
