Bruce Massey reports: 0545-1330 Hrs. - Bruce Massey writes that Sunday was pretty uneventful, with the exception of "Storm" continuing lessons in Flight 101, "Skye" still unfledged, and about 4 trips or so in the area where "Datmin" disappeared with no avail.
Saturday June 12, 2004
Bruce Massey reports:
0545-2100 Hrs. - Saturday was pretty uneventful, with the exception of "Storm"
continuing lessons in Flight 101, "Skye" still unfledged, and about 4 trips or so in the area where
"Datmin" disappeared with no avail.
Tuesday June 15, 2004
Throughout the evening Skye ( a.k.a. Screamie McFlappy ) spent her time running
after family members along the roof of the nest building. Regardless of her half full
crop and messy little face, she continued to demand that what was hers was hers and
what was theirs was hers too. Even so, what flights she did make were much improved.
For Storm, today's "school session" was all about recess, coaxing both parents into
aerial games. After both adults were worn out by their children's antics, they
stopped to nap on the nest building allowing me to make an incredible discovery;
they are both unbanded!! Although the female could still be Angel, we have now
confirmed that the male is definitely not Marco. It appears we have a new pair!! Friday June 11, 2004 I noticed on the website that there was a gap in reporting from Bruce that
he lost sight of Datmin early Friday am (11th). Here's the rest of the story -
You probably know that Datmin was rescued from my patio on Tuesday the 8th -
I was not home at the time and was disappointed to have missed his visit.
Well Friday morning I was home and happened to glance out about noon hour
and there was Datmin nicely perched on my little water fountain. He seemed
quite content to be there. I was in touch with Linda Woods who arrived with
the rescue box, etc. We observed him for almost to hours. Just at the point
when Linda decided to capture him up, he flew up on to a chair, then on a
wall and suddenly took off at low altitude in an easterly direction. Then the
search began. I was able to take many photos and am attaching my favourite
ones. Sunday June 13, 2004
I arrived there shortly after 6 AM. Saw 2 birds on top of the Clarica Centre.
Then I proceeded to walk to the spot where we last heard Datmin call near the large pine trees.
I stayed there for a good 25 minutes. Didn't hear him. I then proceeded to walk further down the
trail and eventually made my way back to the neighbourhood where we have been looking for him.
Looked on people's roof tops, front yards. Nothing.
I was so hoping to hear the little guy call to be able to locate where he's at.
Also considering that the humidex for the next 3 days will be in the mid to high 30%. That's
not good.
Anyway, I finally got back to Eagle road and saw one of the adults bring in breakfast
on the roof top. When I left, I had visual of 3 birds. Please keep in mind that I don't have
binoculars... I was there for a good hour with no distractions form the traffic. Saturday June 12, 2004 Skye still does not look like she is ready to fly. She does however make it to the ledges below the roof level and back again to the roof-top but that is the farthest she has gone.
I have not seen her run the length of the ledge and get a little lift. She also enjoys the adult female
to feed her most times but has been seen to pull the food away from the adult.
Storm continues to wow us with his advancement of flight skills. Now we must use
our binoculars to see if we are looking at an adult or a juvenile, except on the landings. It's wonderful to see
Storm keeping up with the adults in flight.
A few games of tag on and then also keep the adults on their "Toes" as well.
Hopefully the weather will hold for early morning and we will be out again for another search.
I'm keeping my fingers crossed and trying to keep positive that we'll found him soon. Friday June 11, 2004
Sure enough, as I looked across the road to the East side of the first Condo, up about
5 stories on a balcony there was an Immature Falcon. It took off before I could break down my
Equipment. My first thought was "Will it make the roof of the Bell Building", and I thought it
did and what I thought I saw was the Falcon flying rapidly to the South West. This was around
the time that my shift ended so I never was able to find the Bird. Thursday June 11, 2004 3:00 is when all the activity picked up. Storm was seen playing tag with adult
female and having a wonderful time chasing. Moments later the adult female and Storm
were seen soaring high and drifting westward.
The adult male came off the building and then one of the other chicks followed.
All of a sudden there was a mass of pigeons and peregrines and the old shell came get in. Who is whom and where went what? Last I recall is one immature and two adults went low across Bloor St. and
the immature landed on a roof-top of a neighbours house. It eventually flew off
very low and fast towards the southeast. We thought we had lost it.Searched the
neighbourhood with no luck. We went back to Eagle Road after about 3 hours looking
8:00p.m. Third Juvenile makes an appearance after the adult female brings food to roof-top for the others.
A great evening for watching the peregrines and seeing Storm do his thing.
Not too sure of which bird did all the flying this evening. But now we have two birds that are staying aloft. 9:30p.m.
All are accounted for on the nest building. Wednesday June 9, 2004
By 9:30 am this morning, Bruce recovered little Datmin AGAIN from the street
level side walk, just in front of the Bell building at the corner of Eagle street and Bloor.
Bruce to the rescue for the second time in two days for little Datmin. Once in
the rescue create, he was held for further inspection to ensure that he had not
sustained any injuries. Again today, the very hot, humid weather was combined
with hugh gusts of wind, and thunder shower warnings being issued by Environment
Canada. Datmin's sister, Skye, was still atop the nest building roof top, sitting
on the retaining wall ledge, and has still not fledged from this spot, after having
to be rescued Sunday night, and placed on the roof.
Due to the high winds, and the fact that we were very concerned about putting Datmin
back to the roof area in the fear that we would scare Skye off, and force
her into the blustery winds, Datmin was once again held over in the rescue box
until a better time presented itself to get him back to the roof.
During the day, Storm flew several times back and forth from the lower ledge
(just below where Skye has been sitting), and Marco and Angel were observed bringing in
food to both Skye and Storm. Tuesday June 8, 2004 Many thanks to Kingsway on the Park Security and the Security at the Clarica Centre
security staff for the assistance once again. I have attached and enclosed photos of
Datmin taken by Mark Nash as he was released to
the nest building roof after coming to the ground as a result of his first flight from the nest. Monday June 7, 2004 "Datmin", (the smallest male), was the last to fledge the nest ledge, and has finally
taken his first flight, sadly without a great deal of success as far as his "stay aloft skills".
By mid morning, Datmin as he was named , floated down to the patio level of the Kingsway on the
Park terrace, where after a "seek and find" exercise by Bruce Massey, was found literally "knocking on
Baylie's patio doors, just outside her condo unit. I had spoken to Baylie by e-mail only hours before
"Datmin" dropped in to pay her a visit, (as she attempted to get out to the Golf course before the
predicted thunder showers were to have hit us).
Bruce was finally able to catch Datmin up, and get him into a rescue box to be later
inspected for any injuries that he might have sustained during the bumps and grinds
with the various windows and concrete corners of the building during his assent to the ground.
Due to the high winds, and the fact that his sister, "Skye" was still on the nest roof building,
Datmin was held until better conditions were at hand before he was released and placed to the
nest building roof top. He was observed with much of the white down feathers still covering
his head and body, and it is likely that the hugh gusts of wind blew him off the nest ledge,
instead of a "planned departure" on his account. We did not want to risk his release to the roof top (some 21 stories up), given the
incredible winds, and the fact that his sister was still on the same room, having been
released there days before, and having still not taken her second flight after she was
rescued from the ground. We were not wanting to "scare Sky off the roof when Datmin
was released", so he was released back to the top roof elevation of the nest building
in the darkness that evening. Monday June 7, 2004 Sunday June 6, 2004 Storm is doing is usual short little flights. Today he went after another little bird
sitting on the west condo tower. As the bird flew away, Storm headed back the nest
building and chased the adult female off her roost.
Skye did very little wing flapping today, she did let her right wing droop on occasion,
but really did not show any interest in leaving her spot today.
On leaving the site tonight, Skye was on the roof-top ledge. south side of the nest building,
sitting on the west corner with her head tucked into her wings. Sunday June 6, 2004
With help from the staff of the Office bar and grill, Kings way on the
Park Security, the Clarica Security, Fraser Shuttleworth, Bruce Massey and the rest
of the CPF falcon watch team, Skye was captured up and released back to the Clarica roof top. Sunday June 6, 2004
As my eye gaze wondered away from the ledge and scanned down the side of the building.....
there, in that nook, between the retaining walls at the front entrance to Clarica Centre, SKYE!
She had taken her first flight and floated down to the mezzanine level.
She was looking very content where she was, roosting and preening and in no hurry to go
anywhere and she may even have had food in her crop.
STORM probably told her about all the good folks across the street!!! and she just had to see for herself.
. Her colouring is much darker than her brother ,STORM and very speckled on the chest.
She was still "in the nook" when I left the site at 2:00p.m. leaving Tracy and Bruce to "wall watching" Saturday June 5, 2004 Friday June 4, 2004 The other chicks finally bedded down at approx 9:PM, after having been fed by the
adult female, and it was quite obvious that they were not going to attempt to leave the nest ledge this night.. As all seemed to be well, Bruce and I ended the shift at approx. 9:15 pm and left for home. See you all tomorrow. Friday June 4, 2004 08:15 : Fledgling # 1 (Storm) takes off from the roof -top and flies over to the east condo tower,
the very top seen only from as far back as Islington Ave. Parents are in a tizzy and start swooping
the roof-top vocalizing as they make repeated dives at the roof-top. It is only after a few minutes
the window washer appears at the edge of the condo roof.
Fledgling # 1( Storm ) takes off and flies towards the nest building and touches down on the roof-top.
He reappears on the edge of the roof where he remained for most of the day.
The other two chicks are watching all the excitement and each tests their wings.
All was quiet until 5:15p.m.
Storm takes off again and this time he flies towards the east condo tower circles back and
is heading towards the west office tower and touches down briefly on the roof-top, takes off
again and heads back to the nest building and settles back into the nest ledge. I guess
he has a lot to tell his siblings about the world "beyond the Ledge" Good strong flight and
maintained height. We all had to take a second look to be sure it was not an adult.
Leaving the area at 7:15p.m. all was quiet and not much activity from the chicks. Thursday June 3, 2004 Wednesday June 2, 2004
"Storm" as he has been named, was the first to fledge this evening. After coming
almost directly to the ground, Storm spent much of his time running around the south side of Bloor
Street causing a huge disruption of the local traffic, and causing quite a scene on the neighbouring side streets.
After receiving a call telephone call from a patron in the Pub, we were dispatched and
on the run once again to respond to call of a downed peregrine. Upon our arrival,
we witnessed the community in action, with close to a dozen concerned citizens surrounding Storm
to prevent him from wandering once again out into the traffic on Bloor Street.
Apparently, Storm crossed Bloor Street at least twice not more than three feet off the ground in
low flight on one occasion, and walking on the ground on the second occasion, in between
the moving cars on Bloor Street. The group quickly moved into action,
stopping traffic, while Storm crossed Bloor Street to the north side.
He was then detained by the surrounding crowd, and detained until we arrived several minutes later.
Uninjured, a little stressed by the entire situation, (and most definitely confused as to what
all the fuss was about), Storm was picked up and inspected for injuries. He was placed in a
rescue box and detained for 30 minutes, while the calls were made to the ministry, and placed
under observation to ensure that all was well. Given the OK, he was taken back to the roof and
released to the care of his parents, (whom I might add were very vocal and not amused at all with
our presence on the nest building roof top during his release).
All went well, and as of darkness, his three other siblings were hunkered down on the nest ledge.
Both parents were last observed on the wall that surrounds the roof top keeping a watchful eye on Storm.
Some photos of the event have been added to the photo
gallery. Tuesday June 1, 2004 Tuesday June 1, 2004
We have some extra great news!! All Trans Financial has given us permission to install
a flat screen monitor above the banking machines, so that the live colour camera image
of the nest ledge can once again be viewed from the east tower lobby.
We are in need of a sponsor, or sponsors to come up with the money to allow us to
purchase the new flat screen monitor that will display the nest ledge image.
The monitor will be on all the time, all year, as the colour TV's were when they
were in the old falcon watch suite.
Sadly, a regular large TV is too big (and heavy) to fit in the space provided above
the banking machines, in addition to the height it must be installed.
We are in need of your support to raise the monies to purchase the flat monitor.
The monies donated to the project, will go
directly to the purchase of the flat screen monitor, and any and all contributions
are tax deductible. Please contact the CPF head office to make your donation.
You can e-mail us or telephone us at (416) 481-1233.
We need your support! Tuesday June 1, 2004 With the support of Oxford Properties, All Trans Financial Services, the
Ministry of Natural Resources, and the many old and new friends on hand to
support their birds, the banding took place at approx. 10:30 am in the lobby of the
east tower of the Clarica Centre. Four wonderful looking, very healthy chicks were brought down form the nest ledge and banded.
Pud Hunter from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources - Aylmer district,
was on hand at the lead of the banding table, while Mark Heaton, biologist with the
Ministry of Natural Resources Aurora district played the villain on the window washers
swing stage to keep the adult peregrines occupied while their chicks were away being
banded down in the lobby. While the huge crowd looked on, each peregrine chick was weighted, inspected,
banded, and feather sampled. We are very thank full for the support of Oxford Properties
who once again allowed us to hold the banding in their lobby, (and the support of their
management team, security, and maintenance staff for their part in the coordinating of
some of the logistics), and All Trans Financial for their kind support, and allowing us to
disrupt their daily activities by holding the banding right out side their flagship offices
in the east lobby. All Trans was kind enough to supply lots of goodies for the audience, and
Oxford was also kind enough to supply beverages to the audience during the banding procedures. THE FOUR PEREGRINE CHICKS turned out to be three males, and one female.
The males were named "Storm", "Kumandol", "Datmin", and the female was named "Skye".
The names were provided by Oxford and All Trans. Our thanks to both district managers from Aylmer and Aurora for their special support of this banding.
Check the photo gallery for photos
of the banding and the chicks. Monday May 10, 2004 6:20 Angel was seen taking off after a seagull flying south. Didn't seem to
be real hunting because she wasn't moving that fast. She showed up on her
perch on the SW corner of the Clarica center above the nest sight. Wednesday May 5, 2004 Monday May 3, 2004 Saturday May 1, 2004
RETURN TO COMPLETE SITE INDEX CPF INFORMATION: | Membership | Adopt a Peregrine | Gift Shop | BIRD INFORMATION: ©
Canadian Peregrine Foundation
Mark Nash reports:
4:00PM to Dusk - It appears we have a new pair!! --- It is not Marco!!
Baylie Kastner reports:
By the time you get this I'm sure you've heard that Datmin paid a return
visit AGAIN today - he was sorry he missed me on Tuesday. Photo's were taken
of his 2nd flight, down to the ground, and once again ended up in my patio
area. I got some great photos before he was rescued by Bruce Massy and
placed into the rescue box. Enjoy.
Guylaine Drolet reports:
I woke up very early this morning and decided to make my way to Eagle road to go look for little
Datmin in the
hope that I could hear him call for his parents.
Linda Woods reports:
STILL NO SIGN OF DATMIN.
Today was mostly uneventful and the quiet time was spent searching for Datmin.
Full area search was done twice if not three times without any sightings. He still
must be hidden in the brush or trees.
One of the adults was seen earlier in the day with prey in it's talons flying over the area
Datmin was last seen. Perhaps they do know the general area he is in. A food drop was not done
and the prey was then taken to the ledge for Skye to eat.
Fraser Shuttleworth reports:
6:30 pm Was across the
road from the Clarica Ceter when the male took off from his Webcam perch
and was making a b-line due west. Skye was still atop the SW corner and
Storm and Datmin where nowhere to be seen. Mom was making lazy circles
around Skye before settling on the ATP sign on the SW face. She stayed there
for about a minute before flying off again.
Linda Woods reports:
The day started out cool, misty, overcast. Not a lot of activity from the young ones.
Later in the afternoon, the usual chase of a Turkey Vulture and gull that insisted on
following one of the adults.
Linda Woods reports:
11:30 - 4:45 p.m. shift - All remained quiet at the Etobicoke site. Datmin being in the
box for a second "go round", Skye staying on the roof-top ledge and Storm
making his usual rounds, ledge to ledge.
When I left the area both chicks were on the roof-top ledge.
Linda Woods reports:
2:00p.m. - 10:00p.m. - Datmin is returned to the roof..
Once again not a lot of activity from the other young ones. Very High winds and very hot
and humid temperatures kept both us and the birds mostly in the shade this afternoon and evening.
Skye, remained on the roof top wall and wandered from one end to the other and once in a while she
would stretched her wings and flap a little giving the appearance of someone on a balance beam. She
made no attempt to test her flights skills again since being released back to the roof top a day earlier .
Waiting for the winds to calm down and the cool of the evening to release Datmin
on the roof.
The release went with out a hitch. The adults certainly did their thing in giving Mark Nash the
what for! All five birds were accounted for on leaving the Etobicoke site at 10:00p.m.
Mark Nash reports for Bruce Massey:
Sadly, Bruce is having computer problems and is unable to get his report in. So, I will attempt to
summarize that important happenings of the AM shift.
Here are more photos of Storm's rescue, taken by Blair McKen, one of the local residents who helped with his rescue
Baylie Kastner reports:
On my way to the dentist - but I can see "fluffy" AKA Datmin on the nest
ledge over by the camera.
Linda Woods reports:
Skye spent the day on the roof-top mainly out of view. She finally made an
appearance around 6:45 this evening when she hopped onto roof-top ledge and joined her bother Storm.
Not a lot of activity from Datmin who still awaits his first flight probably by
the end of the week.
Mark Nash reports:
Evening report: Another exciting evening indeed. To recap, Skye - the juvenile female spent
most of her afternoon and late evening on the patio level ledge just below the
nest building at the Clarica Centre, (approx. 1 floor above street level) overlooking
Bloor Street. Unable to gain altitude, the decision was made that the risk of her
spending the evening in a place where the public might scare her off into Bloor
Street was simply too great, so she was captured up and returned to the roof
top of the nest building. Here are some photos.
Linda Woods reports:
Morning report: SKYE TAKES HER FIRST FLIGHT
On arriving both adults were on the roof-top and two chicks in view on the ledge.
I couldn't identify the chicks as they were very inactive. Later I could hear "chick"
vocalizing and it did not seem to be coming from the nest ledge. I did another walk around the
south side of Bloor Street. When I was in direct line of the nest ledge the vocalizing was a
little louder but did sound like it was coming from the nest ledge.
Linda Woods reports:
12:00 - 7:15p.m. - I picked up the reports after Harry and Paul left for the day.
Not a lot of activity from the young ones today. Storm took his usual little jaunt
over to the condo building and back again. The adults did a little encouraging to
get the young into the air, but they were all content just to lounge around the nest
ledge. Things had been very quiet all day and nothing of great interest to report up
until the time I left the watch site at 7:15p.m. Bruce remained on site until Mark arrival,
as they will close the shift.
Mark Nash reports:
Evening report: Hello all. Another interesting night during the PM shift at the
Etobicoke fledge watch. Storm, the young bird rescued from the streets last
evening, was still on the roof of the nest building when I arrived on shift, but was
flapping and running along the leading edge of the retaining wall on the roof of the
nest building. Both parents were checking on his activities throughout my shift.
His other two siblings, were still on the nest ledge, flapping their wings and
running back and forth along the nest ledge, seemingly very eager to take their first flights.
At 7:100 pm , Storm finally took flight trying to follow his mother as she passed
over his head while he was on the nest top roof. Storm flew with some strong
wing beats, east, with good altitude, passing over the east condo roof, and landing
on the roof of the farthest east condo roof top. There he stayed for over an hour,
trying to reach his mother as she roosted on a tall flag pole atop of the same roof.
Finally, the mother left the flag pole, and flew off to the south and out of my sight.
Moments later, the adult female returned with food, flying into the nest ledge and
proceeded to actually feed the 40 day old chicks on the nest ledge. this of course
was in full view of Storm, who screamed throughout the entire process. Several
minutes later, the adult female left the nest ledge with the food package in hand, and
teased Storm by flying in and around him on the condo roof. After the fourth pass,
Storm finally took flight trying to catch up with his mother. As they passed over the
roof top of the nest building, Storm dropped down in an attempt to land on another
ledge on the south side of the nest building (still some 20 floors up), but
miscalculated
his approach and landing several inches short, and ended up clinging onto the side
of the building, where he stayed for several minutes. Finally, as he let go and falling
down the wall of the building, he finally made contact with the ledge, and managed to
flop onto the ledge itself. There he stayed until dark.
Linda Woods reports:
# 1 OFF AND FLYING !
07:30 a.m. - 7:00p.m. : All birds accounted for upon arriving at Eagle Road. Adults are seen taking
long flights away from the nest building but seen to be keeping in the nest ledge view.
Adult female makes several trips to the nest ledge appearing to encourage the chicks off.
Linda Woods reports:
Day One and our First Casualty,
08:45 - Food to the nest ledge and of course the one on the roof top is very curious as to where its share is.
09:15 - Food drop to the roof top, and the chick is doing a good job letting the feathers fly.
10:15 - At this point all three chicks have been fed with the exception of fledge #2 ( the one in the far right ledge).
Adult female enters the nest area and peers out, perhaps encouraging the two chicks outside the nest ledge to return to the nesting area.
Adults are doing a lot of flying (nest ledge level) south of the nest building. It's a gusty day and they are riding the thermals.
11:00 - Fledge #2 on the far right ledge takes off, heading north and then flies between the nest building
and the centre tower. It is flapping a lot but maintaining height. I lose sight of it between the buildings
and by the time I crossed Eagle Road. it was out of view. It did not circle back, nor did it come around the north side of the buildings.
12:00 - After searching all the nearby rooftops and condo ledges and watching the behavior of
the adults, it appears the chick may be on the north side of the commercial complex.
12:30 - Fledgling #2 was found dead from apparent building impact on the mezzanine level.
Records from banding tell us that the bird's name was " Kumandol " named for the staff at ALLTRANS FINANCIAL in the Clarica Centre.
1:10p.m. - All birds still accounted for. Fledgling # 1 still on the roof top and on occasion
runs the length of the roof flapping its wings and obtaining a little "lift"
and the two chicks still on the nest ledge and the older chick doing a lot of wing
flapping, but little running the length of the ledge. The younger guy still has down on the top of his head, looks like he's wearing a fluffy togue.
4:00p.m. - Very little change in activity, the adults are enjoying this fine weather and are
seen "kiting" over the condo and office towers. The chicks seem to be content flat out where they are and
very little activity from them for the past two hours.
Mark Nash reports:
With many thanks to the community and those that care for their birds, the staff and
the patrons of the Firkin Pub on Bloor Street just across from the nest building for all their
assistance in aiding in the rescue of the first to fledge the Etobicoke nest site.
Checked on the Etobicoke camera this morning , here is a photo of the Etobicoke birds in the “departure” lounge.
Mark Nash reports:
NEWS, NEWS, NEWS!!!!
FLAT SCREEN MONITOR
Mark Nash reports:
Banding Friday May 28th/2004: A great day indeed!! The eight annual banding of the
peregrine falcons chicks at the Etobicoke nest site went off without a hitch.
Fraser Shuttleworth reports:
6:15 PM - Observed Marco and Angel tag teaming a Red Tailed Hawk that was
soaring about 500 m above the Clarica center. Marco saw it first then was
joined by Angel. They were swooping full on and the hawk was doing its best
not to get killed. They chased it to what could have been High Park but I
could not be sure. Bout 2 minutes later Angel came back with Marco showing
up 30 seconds later. Angel landed on top of the SE corner of the Clarica
center and Marco flew off for hunting.
Guylaine Drolet reports:
Just saved this photo. How exciting to see the little fluff balls.
It would appear that we have four chicks!!!
Mary-Helen reports:
I was able to snap a few photos from the
Etobicoke nest camera this
morning, and one of them clearly shows at least three little white heads in
the nest tray with Angel standing over them.
Nicholas Rutkay reports:
I got a chance to see four little heads poking out as Marco left the nest today.
| Archive Index |
Previous month | Next Month
(or choose from selected popular links below)
| Home | News
| Talon Tales | Search
|
| About CPF | CPF Projects |
Project Track-'em | Education Program |
| Webcams | Photo Galleries |
Sightings | Raptor Identification and Photo Gallery |
| Peregrine information | Owls
| Links |