2 Ossie and I

Ossie and I came across a ledge of a well-known hotel. He looked my way to ask if I would be happy raising our family here. High above the ground, we cozied up on the ledge and watched the whole city from our new home. Other falcons were here before us and have raised their own families in the exact same nesting spot. We nest in gravel, which is different than the nest of a backyard bird. I laid four red coloured eggs and kept them warm with my body. My eggs would take thirty-five days to hatch.

Spring was here and my chicks had arrived. Looking at them, my heart felt sheer joy and pride. They were the sweetest little white fluff balls with the cutest beaks. When the chicks were a little over two weeks old, the humans came and took them away. I flew around in panic looking for them. I felt so very scared. They returned home wearing funny bracelets. That means the humans had banded them. It also happened to me once. These bands are made of plastic or metal, and have different colours. Each has a unique number which helps to identify each bird. It also helps keep track of each bird’s movements and life history.

I noticed the same familiar faces on the streets below. They would watch us every day for weeks. Each one was wearing a bright yellow vest. They were the Hamilton Falconwatch. Every year, these caring volunteers have been looking out for us. They have made sure that our chicks are safe and have made a difference in helping our species do well. Once we were close to extinction due to a human-made chemical called DDT. Canada has banned it, and our species is doing much better. We are now a species of concern, but we still need the help of humans.

The humans of Hamilton Falconwatch named our boys Ainslie, Lisgar, Lawrence, and Gage. They have named them all after a park or neighbourhood in Hamilton. Ainslie is the oldest. Lisgar is very chatty and we can hear him from far away. Lawrence loves to cuddle with his brothers. And Gage, he’s the youngest and most little.