The Canadian Peregrine Foundation

Tuesday February 5th, 2007
Eve Ticknor reports: Today there were 2 adult falcons on the south face of the Coats Building around noon. As it was snowing, I couldn't tell who was who but they were a pillar apart. It looked as if 1 was eating. Spring is coming..............

Wednesday Jan 2, 2008
Louise reports: 0900: Connor has been spending some time wheeling around on the east and north side of NDHQ. I have been watching him flying at about the 15 to just above the 19th floor.

I have never seen him this low before.

Wednesday December 12, 2007
Nadine reports: This morning I watched both falcons on top of the Crowne Plaza. One was having breakfast on the southwest corner and the other was pretending not to care on the southeast corner. I wish I could tell them apart but I believe it was Diana who was eating and not sharing. Now they are both napping. We had thought he had gone down south but he is still here. Nice to see.

Saturday November 3, 2007
Eve Ticknor reports: Today Phil Maillard and I found Both Diana and Connor on the west face of the Coats Building at Tunney's Pasture. Connor was in a corner just above the top window at the north end of the west side while Diana was on top of the 3rd column from the same end, same side. I had seen Diana there a few days ago, but not Connor at that time.

Thursday June 28, 2007
Eve Ticknor reports: Addendum to end of Falcon Watch
I just had to tell you of today’s adventures! Several volunteers and friends have been passing by 400 Albert and surrounding streets and have all seen and heard Skylar and his parents in the sky.

This evening I was talking with Heather, the owner of the scrumptious SconeWitch when we heard lots of falcon screaming. Looking up, 4 birds were flying around just above us. 4? There are only 3 falcons, so do we have another intruder? No! One becomes a pigeon, being chased by Skylar, who is being encouraged by his parents! Wow! The pigeon escaped. It is bit too early for Skylar to be a successful hunter, but he is already having practices. Joan saw 2 pigeons earlier today, 1 turning out to be our brown hunter-to-be! He is really getting around.

Anyway, I digress. Back to the scene above, for the loss of the pigeon is not the end of the story. Diana had been clutching a piece of pigeon, just for this occasion. Skylar saw it and immediately flew after her. She dropped it, and, and, he caught it in midair! These kind of lessons do not usually happen so fast for a chicklet, who have flying lessons first. To continue, once he had his food, Connor came by and grabbed it from him and continued flying. His son then flew after his father, and grabbed it back, turning towards the roof of Constitution Square to eat “his” catch! We were in awe…… Soon we say Diana arrive at the southwest corner of the Crowne. Connor was seen later, with Diana, diving at someone on the roof of the Minto, at least I presume it was someone out of sight to us.

Our little chicklet is the fastest learner of all our past babies. He is still young and tires easily, and can be seen by some flopped on his belly, asleep. He is not dead! He is just recharging his batteries. I don’t think we have ever had a chicklet who doesn’t want to stop flying. Others may wait a day, or 2, or more between flights, but not this one.

I know I and others will be down again and again to watch the fearless one up where he belongs.

Wednesday June 27, 2007
Eve Ticknor reports: What a hot day to be out falcon-watching! We are getting short of volunteers for some shifts, but those who have come down are being treated to the wonderful sight of our baby flying! I know some of you have missed seeing this as there are rest periods during the day but you have been performing a valuable service to our family as being there “just in case”.

Around 9 this morning, all 3 peregrines were seen on the Carlisle antenna, Skylar’s favourite perch, possibly as his father is usually seen there………. A little after 11 he flew after Connor and right back to his antenna. Watchers saw a beautiful flight! Again he flew off after an adult and back again. It is wonderful to see him master those heights. With the winds of late, landing on those lofty bars is not easy.

He has been seen flying to the antenna on the Queen Elizabeth Towers, to Tower C, to the Constitution Square, to the Carlisle, and around again, at different times during the day and evening. He is clearly enjoying the wind, and his wings. At last he knows what those appendages can do for him and he now wants to travel. As he practices takeoffs and landings, and makes longer flights here and there, he will be doing what a falcon should!

He was certainly resting somewhere for a while this afternoon as he wasn’t seen for quite a while. The suddenly there he was, on “his” antenna…….. Connor was seen making flights overhead, looking for him. Wow! He makes it looks so easy, just floating in the air, sometimes stationary. Those of us grounded where wishing we had wings so we could join him. And then, there was Skylar, on the north end of the Minto. He flew around and around, then around to the back of the Minto and out of sight. Diana appeared with food in a bit, but didn’t know where he was. She, and a large pigeon, sat on the antenna at Carlisle, looking everywhere. She spotted him and made a few passes over the Minto, enticing him up. It worked. He flew up, screaming, and joined her. As they flew behind Constitution Square, we could see Skylar trying hard to grab the pigeon from her talon! I have not seen a chicklet try this so soon into the fledging period! Soon Diana was seen on the Tower 2 of C Sq, alone and without food…..

Around 8:15, we saw both of them on his antenna, he looking down at her calling for food, and looking at him in the scope, he hadn’t eaten much, so maybe he didn’t get the pigeon from her, or just a little of it. He tried a few perches there, up and down, but when he reached her, she left! He then flew to Tower C, while she went back to the antenna.

Around 8:45, he was flying again, back to the antenna, Diana flying off upon his arrival. He flew after her, but it was evident he was running out of steam. He tried for the nest ledge and landed on a window sill 3 floors below. He tried again and just missed the roof. Then he tried Tower C, but fell short again, in the indented part, just below the roof. He is obviously getting tired, so Diana came in and guided him to the Constitution Square Tower C roof, coming up under him to make sure he got enough height! We were in awe of the very evident care she showed at this time. In light of his previous flights, I think the continued flights and heat and wind sapped some of his energy. When we left, Diana was watching from his antenna while he stayed on Tower 1. Connor was not in sight, but we think he was seen on the east side of the Crowne.

And so it ends. This is always a hard decision. He no longer needs all of us, but it is hard to stop watching and waiting for the next flight. I know some of us will still go there, passing by to and from work, or making the trip in case he can be seen. We have achieved our goal, and once more our volunteers can be proud, of our chicklet, and of each other! We thank all of you, and thank all the supporters who called or came by for updates and hoping to be lucky to see one of our falcon family! Please keep your sightings coming, especially by email, so we all can share in Skylar’s success and adventures. You should be able to see him and his parents, having lessons up to September when he will join other juveniles on migration south, while Diana and Connor stay “at home”.

Tuesday June 26, 2007
Eve Ticknor reports: Skylar in the sky! I finally am seeing a bit of flying from a confident little falcon who seems to enjoy the feel of the wind and has finally realized what his wings can do. Of course, he still has to be coaxed off a perch from time to time……

The heat hasn’t been affecting our falcons as it has us. It must be the winds at their elevation. Lucky them! Melanie and later, Claire, both did shifts on their own today, unusual, and I am very glad there were no complications such as a downed chicklet for them. It seems as if Skylar’s taking to the skies has senet a message that we are not needed. Until I see a few key goals accomplished and see more flying, we are not quite done, although I think we will only be going another day or 2.

Both adults have been flying here and there at different times of day, perhaps to show their chicklet how easy it is. I have certainly seen Connor doing just this.

Skylar spent the night on the Minto where we left him last evening, but had moved to the Carlisle by morning. His parents vocalized a lot over the Carlisle Building but he wasn’t seen until early afternoon! He took to the air shortly after and headed north between the Minto and Constitution Square, with Diana just behind him. He flew up to the top of the antenna on Tower C! Both his parents joined him up there, to the delight of Lene, Marc and Bev Peterkin. He must have gone to the Delta a bit later as Diana brought food to an out-of-sight bird on the roof there.

I arrived along with Barb, Nancy, Scott and Mary to find that our chicklet hadn’t been seen for a bit. However very soon he was visible on the Carlisle antenna. Connor made a few attempts to show how easy flying is, but no dice. When Skylar was ready, and he will choose when he is ready, he flew over the roof of the Crowne Plaza Hotel, and made a great landing on the southeast corner of Tower C! Connor didn’t like him near the edge, and after flying back and forth between Tower C and the Crowne, he went and pushed Skylar back from the edge, probably with some food as incentive. I remember Horizon doing this occasionally, too.

After running along the edges for a bit, he flew back to the Carlisle antenna. Suddenly there was a terrific racket from Diana and both adults were flying around and over Tower C. It was evident neither had seen Skylar leave! Diana was screaming at Connor as if to say, “You were supposed to be keeping an eye on him”! Watching the adults flying and soaring around the antenna of Tower C, was so beautiful, so breathtaking! All of a sudden, Connor spotted him on the other antenna and flew to join him. Soon Diana joined him and as we left, all 3 were on the Carlisle antenna, together. How I wished I had Chris’ camera for a family photo. There will never be an opportunity as this. All of us, now joined by Joan and Doreen, stood and stared for a long time. This is what it is all about. This is why I do this.

I should mention a very nice article in today’s (Tuesday) Metro publication. It also contained the lovely photos Chris took of Skylar from inside Constitution Square. Thank you, Tim Wieclaski!

We will continue Wednesday and maybe into Thursday, but I think we will not be needed after this. I know a few of us will still go down to watch as our little chicklet is given his flying lessons by devoted parents.

Monday June 25, 2007
Eve Ticknor reports: This has been quite a day for our little Skylar. He was found still on the balcony of 101 Bay Apartments at 6 this morning and was still there well after 7, having been left alone by considerate construction workers!

Just before 8 this morning he left the balcony and headed towards Constitution Square. AS Chris and Jim screamed NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!, he bumped into it twice. Tried the Crowne Plaza Hotel 3 times, tried Tower B, and finally landed on an air grate at Sparks and Lyon, exhausted. However there was still lots of life left in him. He escaped the first capture attempt but was unable to do so the 2nd time. Chris got him with the help of another man who has followed our falcons over time here.

Now placed in the rescue box, Bill was on his way to band him, while Melanie stood on the curb, ready to turn away anyone wanting to park in “Bill’s spot”! Now, why can’t someone do that for me when I need it……….? Yvon Morin gave them a room for the banding and, with Jim, Jeanette, Kaarina ,Mary, Chris and others looking on, Melanie held a very strong and loud Skylar while Bill put on 2 bands, weighed and measured him. He is finally officially a male! He was then returned to his nest ledge while Frank, Lene and the volunteer already there watched to be sure he would not take off so soon. He didn’t! Many thanks to the staff of the Crowne for helping get Skylar home.

Our very tired chicklet slept for a while, on his belly, which alamed some onlookers ( offices nearby), who weren’t aware that young falcons sleep on their bellies. I had a call that he had died!! I was so glad to explain about sleeping positions.

He seems to have been bitten by the flying bug as soon he “floated” off the ledge and up to the roof (words of Mary, Marian, Ann and Claire, the volunteers who saw him). Just after I arrived (5), he flew straight and steady over to the roof of the Minto Suites. He spent time exploring the north end, had a food drop and a nap. He moved along until he met up with the end of the ledge and the giant flag on the west side. For a while all we could see was his shadow! He had been watching Connor as he flew overhead and around to show his son how it is done. He spent a long time looking at his father who perched on the Queen Elizabeth Tower antenna. Joan kept watch from inside the stairwell there where she had a clear view of Skylar. Gordon, Scott, Mary, Joyce and I also watched from various streets nearby. When we left around 9 pm, he was still there, having had Diana visit his location a few times, probably with food.

Sunday June 24, 2007
Eve Ticknor reports: This has been a very long day! Skylar spent the day still on his ledge at the Constitution Square. He reminds me of Solitiare who was a good flier but who chose to wait 2 days between each flight……. Another similarity was the attention and multiple feedings during the day. Usually the parents withdraw much food at this time to encourage their youngster(s) to exercise more and to fly. Well, not here! Skylar received 5 small meals during the day, between long sleeps. All hi had to do was flap his wings and cry lots and loudly and food was delivered.

The adults would sometimes land on a ledge above him and stare down at him, or sit across on the other tower, or on the Crowne. At one point, Diana had a starling which she started to pluck, then stopped and dangled it from her beak, to entice him to come to the very next part of the ledge. He declined by crying even more loudly and flapping his wings a lot. Twice this happened and then she hopped over and gave it to him! Connor also had turns at bringing food to him. By this evening, Diana brought what would be his last meal of the day, and personally fed each bite to him in view of all! How spoiled can you be?

The adults would sometimes be seen on the Carlisle antenna, the Crowne or Constitution Square. Connor had his daily gull chase, complete with screams from both. He didn’t try for leftovers as the meals for Skyler were very small to begin with, making me wonder if some of them were his own leftovers!

This evening we had a bit of rain and our chicklet didn’t like it. He ran back and forth along his ledge and hopped over to the other part, as his parents had tried to get him to do earlier. He slipped several times and we thought he would finally fly due to slipping off, but no. As the rain stopped, so did he. And again we waited as we had been doing all day.

There were many people to talk with during this long day, especially patrons from the Baton Rouge who watched us while dining, and came over to satisfy their curiousity so they could go back and tell others while they ate. The temptation is to make up stories and one of us did briefly! One man came over last night and asked the usual question, and Chris just looked at him and said we were doing a survey to find out how easily it would be to make people look up………. John and Eliane, back from BC came by to catch up, and Joan joined us in the rain and for our last part of the day. And……..

Suddenly our chicklet was off and away around the corner, tried landing on an apartment building, but wasn’t high enough, so went around the corner and landed on the edge of a balcony, right across from 400 Albert!! At this point we decided to call it a night.

Saturday June 23, 2007
Eve Ticknor reports: Arriving before 6 this morning was an eyeopener as to weather. It was so cold the mitts and multiple layers came on and stayed on most of today, courtesy of stiff gusty winds.

Gilles, Mary, Chris T, Joan and I met and decided where to continue our search. Chris went to the roof of Constitution Square while Mary went with Joan into the SAT Building. Gilles did a street patrol while I stayed back in case anyone else showed up.

Suddenly Joan spotted our errant chicklet, on a window ledge on the 8th floor of the Marriott, west side! We spent the next few hours taking turns watching him to see where he would go. Jim O’Neil showed up as did Langis. Diana and Connor still did not know where Skylar was, although they did fly over the Mariott once or twice. At one point Connor sat on the antenna of the Carlisle Building, looking around. Someone in the Marriott stuck his head out the window for a better look at Skylar whereupon Joan went in to ask Security to stop that, which they did. Eventually some volunteers had to leave and Christine, Joyce and Scott took over.

Around 11, Skylar decided to move, and move he did. He tried for Tower C, but landed on the middle of the side where he caught one of his talons. Struggling helped to free his foot and he went to try the Crowne Plaza Hotel’s east side. He didn’t quite make it to the ledge, so he continued over to a lower ledge of Constitution Square, the 11th floor level of Tower C. Diana immediately flew in right next to her baby and checked to see if he was alright. Once she did that, she left, hoping he would follow. NOT!

He was HUNGRY and let her know on and on and on. What a screamer he was. Both Diana and Connor flew around trying to entice Skylar to move but he wasn’t giving in. Diana kept on far longer than her chicklet was willing. By now we were joined by Phil, Marian, Chris E, Bill, Suzanne and Gillian.

I went up with Security to the 11th floor of Constitution Square, right to the office where Skylar was trying to get through the glass that he couldn’t understand was solid! It was so good to see him so close. His feet were fine, so the talon that had been caught was uninjured. He was very tired, eyes closing, tucking his head into his back feathers, rousing to look around to cry for food and tucking his head back. I took photos, of course. Then back down to the street.

After a little while Diana flew over to a nearby ledge to pluck a pigeon for Skylar. He still wouldn’t leave his ledge so she moved closer. No dice! She gave in and brought it to him. As I had realized she might do this, I went up again with Security and was able to photograph and observe both mother and son. By now it was more obvious that Skylar is a male! This was confirmed as well by Bill and Marian, up in the adjoining tower, who watched Skylar and Connor together. Being on the other side of a pane of glass with Skylar was so special!

When Diana brought the pigeon, he grabbed it from her and mantled it, covering it with his wings to shield it from her in case she wanted it back. She complained and her sent her such a look that she shot off the ledge, screaming, and those below had a moment of fright, thinking it was Skylar leaving…….

Again, shift changes, and Lorraine, Jordan and Claudette joined me. Before she left, Mary came to tell me of a group of people who rushed out of Constitution Square to tell her that 2 birds had been fighting and they were both dead! Once they described what happened, she explained about the mantling. They still insisted the birds were dead. Again, she explained that young peregrines flop on their bellies to sleep. Still they were concerned about the dead bird with its feet in the air! Patient Mary! This time she told of the pigeon Skylar had eaten up there. At last they were feeling better about what they saw.

There was more enticement flying during the evening. Skylar looked ready to fly again, so some of us stayed longer. Chris T had joined us by now. Connor was above the little doorway on the south face of the Crowne and Diana was on the southeast corner of the ledge. However, he was still on the ledge when we did leave. It will be interesting to see if he is still there in the morning, or will have moved………..

Friday June 22, 2007
Eve Ticknor reports: Well, this was the day!

This will be very short as the first part of today was the same as yesterday, and the day before, etc. Eating, napping, running, flapping seemed to be Skylar’s activities while the adults alternated between resting and incentive flying or ledge-hopping. The latter is done by Connor. He would take a little food to part of the ledge away from Skylar who would run for it, just to find Connor had flown to another part of the ledge, and so they would go up and down, and then Skylar had earned the food and a nap.

This evening, they started around 5:45. The difference this time was Skylar who was actually lifting off the surface of the ledge while fly-running along. Several times we saw this happen and I told Gilles and Scott it was time to go over to Queen St. As soon as they did, they saw Skylar leave the northern end of the ledge, flap-fall down maybe 10 feet, regain its wings and fly with strong beats and gaining some altitude. Around the east side of Tower C, and…………………….

Where did Skylar go????? The search was on! I started to call a few people, especially Melanie who had all the phone #s. Once she received the message, she left work for home and called everyone she could! She is so good at this!! We went in different directions, looking high and low, and in between, included flowerbeds and ramps. No luck! Searchers included Gilles, Scott, Gillian, Lorraine and Jordan, Doreen, Claire, Marian, Lynn, Ashley and baby Patrick, Joan and Gordon ( who is not yet an official volunteer). Joan went home, got her Justice pass and went off in her buildings for better looks at others. Eve went up in the Marriott for the same. Getting inside the hotels is difficult right now, being filled with grads! We stumped up and down all streets in the area, passing all those ribs on Sparks……. Some of us gave in. We have to keep our strength up, right? As for Connor and Diana, they did not know where their falconette was and were obviously upset. From time to time, they would fly around, with food, and, upon returning to the ledge, call and call, or sit and look constantly around.

We closed down after 9pm, to resume at 6am. Send up all those good vibes, prayers, etc for Skylar who is (hopefully) spending the night alone, but safe, ready for more adventures tomorrow. We will certainly be ready. Many, many thanks to all who came out tonight at a moment’s notice! It is really appreciated. We will see some of you in the morning, along with others. Get your rest now. You will need it!

Thursday June 21, 2007
Eve Ticknor reports: When Lorraine and Josee arrived at 6am, Diana was on the constitution Square and Skylar was on the ledge where it spent much of the day as before, running along the ledge, flapping its wings, stretching, preening and occasionally eating. When, oh when, are you going to fly?

And, then, there was much commotion involving both adults! What was going on that they were flying around screaming? Oh, yes, I had forgotten about the men who attach a giant flag to the Constitution Square. This involves 2 men who, once the roof attachments are done, go down the outside, each on a single rope, to clip the flag on to wires on the side of Tower 1. Josee was so worried she went to tell Security to clear them off the roof. It was not to be. Those men do this every year and refuse to wear helmets…….

Doninique called me about the same. I am not worried. If those men get hurt by our falcons, so be it. They chose it. This will be happening for the next couple of days. Meanwhile it is business as usual for Skylar.

The next shifts also watched the spectacle, and Skylar, of course. Our chicklet kept on. It is probably the fastest runner of all chicklets we have watched. The adults would do teasing and incentive flybys from time to time. Several times someone would stop breathing or give a tiny scream as the wings flapped on the corner.

This evening gave Scott and Kaarina their first shift and lots to see. There were periods of lots of activity between the adults and their offspring. At times all 3 were visible on the Crowne, at different spots. I have still not been able to accurately compare Skylar to Diana to find out if we have a male or female.

I was hoping the first flight would not take place today as we had several times of fierce gusts of wind. At one time, our sandwich board went flying, as did many of our flyers ( down Albert St). Scott grabbed the scope before it went, then handed it to me and dove for the flyers, landing on his stomach on the sidewalk, on many of the flyers.

We had visitors today! Gordon comes by most evenings and was there to help with the sandwich board. But we had a new visitor, a young groundhog! It was behind the barrels outside the Sconewitch. Clearly it was not starving, although there was no sign of a mother, nor a home / hole. As I was about 2 feet away and it was not scared of me, I wondered if it had been raised by a human, then discarded, or had gone off course from the land around the Hill or Supreme Courthouse…… As suddenly as we saw it, it was gone.

And, so, we ended our day without seeing first flight, and, so ended the year’s longest day! Happy Solstice!

Wednesday June 20, 2007
Eve Ticknor reports: I would like to introduce you to Skylar! His name was suggested by Marian Bird. Well done, Marian! I pulled the name out of my Falcon Watch hat tonight after putting in all the names I received. Thanks to all the volunteers who made the suggestions. There is always next year…….

It is amazing to think that we have been here for 4 days already…… Someone today was looking into one of the spotting scopes at Skylar and observed that all the months seemed to have melted since the last one he had been looking at. I know what he meant.

Newcomers, Heidi and Owen, started their day at 6 with Chris, Lorraine and Josee. Naturally they were so taken with our family that they are joining us! Skylar was visible first thing and many times throughout the day. Connor arrived with prey, which was promptly removed by Diana. She is slowly learning, thought she still lets Connor get away with his own ideas of feeding. Young falcons are deprived of food and showed incentive flying and teasing from time to time to encourage exercising and flying. Yes, they do get to eat eventually, more so if Connor is around! Dominique arrived to take over the shift. She is so helpful, usually doing this shift on her own! We thank you!

Around 10:30 there was a scare as Skylar disappeared and was thought to have taken its first flight. Immediately a search was commenced. Josee was summoned from the East block, along with 2 of her colleagues. Scott who showed up off schedule joined in. Soon it was apparent that the errant falconette was hiding behind a column and had stayed home all the time. It is good to know that emergencies can be dealt with! Wing-flapping was evident from time to time. There was even a visitor who had taken part in the Bay of Fundy Peregrine Falcon Introduction Program in the ‘80’s Soon Melanie, Christine and Josee were on shift. Yes, Josee who stayed until 9pm! She is in love with Skylar!! Anyway, they had quite the excitement, and none of it connected with the falcons. There was a car accident at Bay and Albert involving the restaurant at the corner. Melanie called 911. Soon police,emergency vehicles and an ambulance were there, and Christine was called on for a witness statement! If only our falcon parents knew what we volunteers have to go through for their offspring…… Our baby has proven to be the fastest runner on the ledge, at least compared to its previous siblings. We have seen amazing speed with such confidence. Wow!

Dinner was served just before 6pm. Babies sleep right after eating, right? NOT! Skylar was up again in a couple of minutes. A lot of time was spent preening. Just got to get rid of those down feathers…… Our chicklet moved along the ledge, stopping at times for more preening, but basically quiet, for the evening we thought. Well, Diana decided to provide incentive by showing up near Skylar, then moving when he reached her, up and down the ledge until she had enough and went to the southeast corner. The little falconette ran as fast as those little legs could travel. Finally it was seen on the southwest corner, peeking around to where its mother was. A couple of times both were close together, and just when I thought I’d have a clear look at them for the size comparison, Diana would leave. As much as all of us were looking, we all think we have male. Josee said, “Of course it is a male. That’s why I am in love”!

Tuesday June 19, 2007
Eve Ticknor reports: Today’s Report is going to be shorter. I didn’t get down to our base until 5 pm and left it around 7 pm because I had an Orientation for new volunteers. Yes, we really did find some new ones, and there are a few more coming! We still have gaps but finally they are filling up.

The weather today kept everyone rather subdued. Hot and humid just don’t do it for activity. It seems that our chicklet feels the same way! According to the log, it would seem that it didn’t get fed today, at least until tonight. The adults flew around from time to time and their offspring did his wing-flapping and moving along the ledge at times, but it sounds as if the day was a quiet one.

At first, when I arrived, all was quiet, very quiet. Langis was just leaving and Nancy Scott and Barb Chouinard arrived shortly after that. Lorraine stopped by and signed up for a few more shifts. All that was more than we observed from above…….. Connor suddenly arrived with a kill, no idea what, and landed on the southwest corner. We all thought he would pluck it a bit and feed his baby. NOT! He proceeded to eat it himself, so fast and looking around as if Horizon was on his shoulder! Not much vocalization from chicklet, but a steady stream of ***** from Diana who was on the southeast corner, leaning out to watch him! Finally she had enough and flew to his corner. But he wasn’t ready to give in, so he flew with it around the hotel, with Diana on his tail. Eventually one landed on the southeast corner and the other on the north side of the Constitution Square. After some time, one finally brought some food to the by-now-very-hungry chicklet!

I left for the Orientation, so will update myself tomorrow evening when I go down again. We have some enthusiastic new volunteers, Hooray! They had good questions and comments and most of them bought our spiffy hats! These are being sold for #15 to volunteers only! I do have more………

Monday June 18, 2007
Eve Ticknor reports: Being a working woman, I didn’t arrive at the Falcon Watch base until this evening, only to be greeted by Mary, saying “I’ve been having heart attacks”! And I knew just what she had been saying.

Apparently our chicklet has been having a busy day….. When Melanie and Josee arrived at 6am, it was already on the ledge, preening. It was at the southern end but was ably moving up and down the ledge, hoping for breakfast. The adults were doing several “fly-by’s” but their offspring wasn’t tempted. It had breakfast on its mind! Finally that wish was granted a bit after 8am. Such a long time to one so little!

Dominique took over for the next shift and spent her time watching much preening going on. This is necessary to get rid of the fluffy white down to make room for the brown feathers needed for flight. Sometimes we look in the scope to see a blizzard coming down from a part of the ledge! The adults spent some time on one or another of the very tall antennas in the area, eventually coming down to rest on the ledge either side of the chicklet.

Phil watched the chicklet moving up and down the ledge, doing wing-flaps and generally getting stronger for its first flight. We are so hoping for this event to not happen right away, and for all to go well, of course.

Mary arrived and our chicklet seemed to go into high gear, just for her! She watched, forgetting to breathe, as it came right to the outside edge, trotted to the southwest corner ( right on the corner, Eve!), flapping and moving around, all with total confidence. Some say that these birds do everything by instinct and reactions are only learned behaviors. Well, I, and others, have seen enough over the years of doing this, to believe that there is some thinking, and personality showing up. This chicklet has shown confidence from the first time I saw it on the ledge. Again, tonight, after I and Chris Traynor joined Mary, it seemed to feel quite at home up there, inspite of having seen little of the world it will soon be flying over.

Diana tried but missed a pigeon and sat, waiting for Connor to produce. There was a lengthy wait…….. Around 8pm she suddenly flew straight west and we were sure she had seen Connor approaching, which was true, as shortly both of them arrived, flying fight into the ledge where their baby was waiting. Lots of screaming accompanied this, mostly from Diana. Connor flew over to Constitution Square and sat on the railing above the corner while his mate sat on the ledge screaming at him, non-stop! All of a sudden, she flew over and bumped him off and sat on the corner while he flew to the northern end of the ledge, hopped inside, probably to check for leftovers, a trait we have seen in him over the past 10 years, and back to sit on the corner.

As the chicklet was quiet, and both parents showed no sign of moving, we decided to pack up.

Sunday June 17, 2007
Eve Ticknor reports: At long last I am ready to start! It seems like a long time since I have heard the cries of little falcons and am looking forward to this aspect of the Falcon Watch. Up to now time has been spent planning, contacting building managers, getting flyers and business cards printed at Staples, worrying if they will be done on time, locating all the equipment in my home ( here and there), putting together my checklist, conversing with Melanie about scheduling, passing on any emails from volunteers, new and regulars……… Did I mention trying for a few hours sleep?

And, then, a 5am alarm goes off and I realize it is time! One last look at the checklist and I’m off. I love arriving early downtown. It is relatively quiet. Not this time as a pair of Ring-billed gulls are on the roof next to us, loudly courting! They sound like Elks in rut! I sign the key out and get the equipment out of my car, with Roseanne’s help. Soon Phil bikes in and it’s like old home time. The adult peregrines are active, flying about and on and off the ledge for a bit. Then they are off for food. Shortly Diana brings something in her right talon, but as soon as she touches down on the southern end of the ledge, she is off across the street to the northern end of Constitution Square, plucking and eating whatever it is. And then, and then, up pops our chicklet! We get a super look at it, from shoulders up. It looks browner than I expected and seeing it on the ledge is also sooner than I expected. It was up for about 15 minutes, until Diana brought in breakfast. Then no more seen or heard from for several hours, at least from our chicklet. Of course, Connor is nearby and he can’t resist coming to look for leftovers, his favourite!

Shift changes. Marian arrives and Roseanne leaves, while Phil stays a while. Around noon we can see all 3 falcons on the ledge, Diana near the north, Connor at the south and chicklet a column from Dad. Everyone is preening, in fact a LOT of preening went on at all times today! This chicklet seems very confident while it is visible, moving along the ledge at times, very alert and curious, and not always upset if its parents are on the ledge without food. Eventually the chicklet goes out of sight to sleep for a while. Mid-day is siesta time for all.

During this time we watch the rest of the wildlife around us. Phil has gone, as has Marian, while Mary has arrived. It is so good to see these friends again! Near us are the usual House Sparrows, Pigeons and Starlings. This time we have a pair of House Finches in constant motion between the tree and wires, lots of lovely singing. 3 young squirrels are on the veranda roof, 2 black and 1 gray. Is there a mother? We didn’t see one. A couple of Monarch butterflies flutter by. Visitors stop by. Some are ones we see each year, like Jane, who says a prayer to St Francis for out falcons daily! Others are new to us, some from other cities and provinces. A few have watched falcons in Toronto and Hamilton and are delighted to see ours as well. Dominique and Elsa join us for the next shift. Mary stayed longer. It is hard to stop sometimes. One might miss something……..

And, then, siesta is over and activity resumes. We see our chicklet again, further up the ledge, almost at the middle. Suddenly it is entirely on the ledge and backing towards the outside! We all hold our breath! It backs to the edge and evacuates before heading in again. This one seems more advanced than I had thought. I am now thinking it is 34 days old instead of 33. I am also leaning towards male, thought I need to see it next to Diana for a size comparison. Males tend to fledge earlier than females and this one appears to be headed that way. We have seen some very vigorous wing-flapping several times today!

The last volunteer change was around 6 when the Marshalls left and shortly after Chris Traynor showed up for a while. He left around 7, when I had decided to close for the night. Too bad. He should have stayed. Chicklet appeared on the very northwest corner! Soon his mother brought dinner and all grew quiet. And so Day 1 comes to an end.

I am apprehensive about tomorrow and the coming days as we have many shifts with no one scheduled. It is quite possible that our chicklet will fledge, successfully or not, without any of us to see. My hope will be to get a call from someone working down in the area who will see what happens. Sometimes work gets in the way of life!!

Wednesday June 6, 2007
The Postmaster reports: We are delighted to report that we have been able to free up another Canadian Peregrine Foundation colour video camera with more powerful zoom capabilities, along with full pan and tilt features. While this replacement camera is not new, it has served it purposes very well and clearly demonstrated it abilities while it was actively monitoring another site. This camera will replace the existing one that is currently focused on the Ottawa peregrines nesting on the Crowne Plaza Hotel ledge. The camera will still be hosted by the Constitution Square and Oxford Properties across the street, as it is with their sponsorship support that will allow this new camera to get up and running. As you know, the peregrines have been very difficult to catch on camera due to the different nest locations on the two different ledges that they chosen over the years. While the existing camera was an ideal resource when we had it mounted on the Crowne Plaza ledges, it still lacked the magnification to capture the birds on the nest ledges which is an entire city block wide/long, and one that is concave. In addition, the pillars make it very difficult to work with given the angles that we have to work with.

It is our hope that this new camera can be adopted to the existing camera hardware, and that it will provide a much closer more detailed view of the birds activity. Every effort will be made to ensure that any down time is minimal. Fingers crossed, stay tuned………..

Friday June 1, 2007
Linda Woods reports: I can finally see a little white puff ball, sitting by the pillar.
Congratulations Ottawa. Looks like Mom is keeping a close eye on this one.

Tuesday May 22, 2007
Eve Ticknor reports: We are delighted to report that we have 1 chicklet this year, hatched last week on the 15th of May. Although Diana is still brooding her 2nd egg, I doubt it will hatch and expect her to stop brooding it soon to concentrate on raising her sole chicklet.

Tuesday May 15, 2007
Mark Nash reports: Hatch confirmed!!

We have received news and confirmation that at least one of not more of the eggs have hatched!
Congratulations Ottawa!!!

Thursday April 26, 2007
Eve Ticknor reports: A good photo taken of Diana on the Constitution Square, northwest corner around 4 pm today. I was about 10 - 12 feet away. Her plumage shows some anatum colouring.

Thursday April 12, 2007
Rosanne Coltess reports: Yesterday afternoon, it seems that Diana [was] sitting all afternoon in/on the nest. I also noticed mid-afternoon, that the male was sitting kiddy corner to her (looking in on the nest he would have been on the left-front corner. The nest is in the right deep inside right corner).

Today I noticed that there is still a falcon on the left, but I can't see anything on/in the nest. It and appears to be very deep as well.

Tuesday April 10, 2007
The CPF Postmaster reports: We are to understand that the adult female Diana has finally been observed involved in incubation activities on the west side ledge of the Crowne Plaza hotel, between the second and third pillar from the north end. This is the same nesting spot as last year.

Congratulations Diana!

Sunday April 1, 2007
Phil Maillard reports: 11:55 am
Conner is at the north-west corner of the Crowne Plaza and Diana is one pillar down from that corner. There is a fair bit of vocalizing. At one point Conner disappears inside the nest area while Diana stays right where she is.

Friday March 30, 2007
Mark Nash reports: The courtship action is in full swing around the Crowne plaza hotel in Ottawa these days with Connor and Diana being observed in copulating and egg fertilization.
It is only a matter of time before they settle down to egg production and incubating activities.
A recent photo of Diana was sent in by Eve Ticknor that gives a good clear view of the new adult female. The photo was taken of Diana while she roosted on the south west corner of the Crowne Plaza Hotel.
Thank you Eve.

Tuesday March 27, 2007
Rosanne Coltess reports: my office is directly across from the Falcon's nest. This morning at approximately 10:30 I witnessed one of the birds sitting on the nest.
The birds was appeared to be busy grooming or fixing the nest. I could not make out for sure because I have a glare coming from the lights in the office here.
The bird is not longer there, but I assume it will return! I will keep you posted on what is happening

Friday February 23, 2007
Postmaster reports: The increased activity of peregrine activity around the urban nest territories has dramatically increased over the past two weeks. We are getting allot of reports from Ottawa, Hamilton, and Toronto observers. It appears that the urban pairs are pulling in much closer to the nest ledges these past two weeks. (Lets hope that they are telling us that real spring weather is really only just around the corner)!!

Monday January 28, 2007
Eve Ticknor reports: Phil Maillard and I were in the vicinity of the Crowne around noon today. We observed Connor with a fresh kill on the southwest corner of the ledge. Diana was not in sight, though. About a half hour later we passed by the same area and Connor was not in sight, either.

Monday, December 18, 2006
Phil Maillard reports: Yesterday at 2 pm both Conner and Diana landed briefly on the east side of the Crowe, then flew off with Diana circling once around the hotel, then Conner joining her where they when flew over Tower B, then both were flying close to the antenna on Tower C, {they were both almost at a complete stop riding the thermals} they when flew in front of the hotel a few times and then they landed on the antenna of the Carlisle building, I don't recall ever seeing both on that antenna at the same time. They both flew off and I watched Diana fly to the west where I lost sight of her and Conner. They are such magnificent fliers that it is always a thrill to watch them seperately and as I was lucky today, fly together, just enjoying each other's company!

Thursday October 12, 2006
Eve Ticknor reports: Peregrine Mortality
I had a call from Kathy Nihei this morning who realized that no one likely had called me. She was right. It seems that Odyssey has died! The bird was brought to her Oct 1st having been hit by a car in Vanier. It was limping, favouring the right leg. Bev Bryant, a volunteer for Falcon Watch and the Wild Bird Care Centre, told Kathy of the same limp our Odyssey had during the Watch. That and the right age and being male was why Kathy, and Tracey Poulin, his surgeon, decided it most likely was Odyssey.

He had bad fractures of his right wing, fractures to both the radius and ulna. The MNR was called and the decision was to operate to fix the wing, and then to send him to Ray's Little Reptiles and Raptors for educational purposes! He died during the surgery, on Oct 5th. The MNR will be coming by this week to pick up his body, which will go to Guelph for necropsy.

Although the bird could have been any juvenile passing through, I do think it is probably Odyssey. How unfortunate! A loss of a good flyer. He was underweight, around 500 gms, and I think he was probably chasing prey when he was hit. At least for Diana, she had a successful nesting season and we hope she will again. She has not been seen for a while now, either due to exploring her new home or migration.

I should add that while this is sad for us, this is also not unusual. Being a great flyer is not the only thing a young peregrine needs to accomplish for survival. It also needs to know how to follow prey, as in looking where one is going at the same time as where the prey is going, and moving cars are a tough part of this. Remember, he was hatched a month later than our others, so had a bit less time to practice lessons before moving around on his own.

In spite of this event, the Falcon Watch was a success and we did make a difference, as we always do! We gave him a very good chance and it was up to him and nature once he left us.

Monday October 9, 2006
Phil Maillard reports: Connor is perched on the south-east corner of the Crowne Plaza. He must be molting as he is looking rather scruffy. I see no sign of Diana and I am assuming she have gone south for the winter. I am hoping that I am wrong and that someone will see her.

Sunday September 3, 2006
Phil Maillard reports: Yesterday at 11:10 am Conner was between the first and second column near the south west corner of the Crowne Plaza. I watch him for some 20 minutes hoping to see him fly or see Odyssey or Diana but no such luck. Has anybody seen Diana recently? i am wondering, like alot of us, if she is going to stay here for the winter or head south.

Thursday August 24, 2006
Harry Crawford reports: A quick check at 11:50am found two peregrines on the Crowne Plaza. One was on the east nest ledge and the other was on the west side, same level. Since I didn't have binoculars with me, I couldn't tell if one of them was Odyssey, the male chick. Both birds were facing into the building.

Thursday August 17, 2006
Nancy reports: I was driving down Chamberlain today about 11:45am between Bronson and Bank St. when a falcon almost ran into my windshield. The two passengers in my car said it was a falcon. All I remember is an odd looking bird that was brown with white spots. I noticed your website and thought you might like to know.

It was an odd behaviour for a bird. It came from the green space between Chamberlain and the Queensway, swooped down right in front of my car, almost got hit (I thought I heard a tick of a hit) and manoeuvred its way off to the side and flew back to the same space it came from.

I just noticed the new picture of Odyssey on your website. My coworkers agree that it looks like him! Definitely brown underneath and speckled with white spots.

I hope this helps you to watch over them. Thanks for caring for these birds. I had no idea they were in Ottawa.

Wednesday August 16, 2006
Anne Gladman reports: Around 4 pm yesterday, with a lot of chirping to announce his arrival, Odyssey landed on the north west corner of the Crowne Plaza to eat a good sized chunk of something. He looked pretty healthy and happy. I don't know where he got the food, but he was enjoying it. I left work before he flew on.

Sunday July 30, 2006
Eve Ticknor reports: Day 15

Update from Chris Traynor from this evening.

It is 8:20 PM. Do you know where your chicklet is? Well right now he is sitting almost at the top of the radio antenna on the Queen Elizabeth Towers. He is on the topmost crossbar looking quite comfortable. Maybe he takes after Connor with his love of antennas. I certainly don't ever recall seeing a chicklet so high so soon.

What a monkey!

Saturday July 29, 2006
Eve Ticknor reports: Day 14

What a day! Odyssey was on the Carlisle Building when we arrived this morning at 6 am and stayed there for hours. This was no surprise as he had kept us waiting for days on end between flights. This was a day when volunteers who were not on shift showed up at various times. It is amazing how some people "get the bug" and just have to keep on coming to find out the latest about our baby. And, Thank God they do!

He did his usual, popping up and down along the ledge, disappearing, reappearing, sleeping, eating; all that little fledglings do at this stage. Little did we know what he had in store for us. His new name is "Monkey"! Connor was busy defending the area from intruders like innocent crows! Diana checked on him, as did Connor. Gilles, Jim, Dave and Jorge and I took turns keeping an eye on our lofty chicklet. I was so pleased to learn that our Jorge is the engraver who did the peregrine stamp this year for the Canadian Postal Service! It is beautiful! I know since I bought one when it came out. We have so many interesting volunteers.

Shift change at 9 am brought us Mary, Marian, Lene, Christine and Steven. Actually, I am not sure just when the changeover took place as some stayed longer and some came earlier. Connor brought lunch and we expected a long nap - not so. Just before 2 pm, Odyssey took to the air and headed west. Nearly everyone ran, hoping to keep him in sight. So much for leaving at 1 pm for the new shift. Marian was the lucky one to spot him, high on the top of Queen Elizabeth Tower. An adult landed on the aerial just above him. As we were not sure if he was really there, I called John Ayres to see if he could see him as he lives in the next Tower. Little did I know that he would actually climb up the side of his building to have a look! And, yes, he did see him. Amazing that he did not become a victim of Connor.

Diana brought food to Odyssey. When he did not eat all of it, she took to feeding him, beak to beak! Really, Diana, he didn’t need spoiling now that he is a "big boy." When he stopped before she was ready, she tore off a bone and followed him over to the edge where she shoved it in his beak. He appeared not to know what to do with it!

Did I mention rain? Odyssey was asked by his parents to move off the Tower before it rained. Of course, he didn’t listen. They landed beside him, flew over and around him, to no avail. So Connor sat on the antenna above him, while Diana was on the ledge not too far away. And the rain came. She flew to the nest ledge for cover. Connor stayed in the rain on his perch. And Odyssey, he ate his way through the storm! He tried to tear off a piece of his food, but forgot to stand on it while he did. He bit into it and all I saw were flapping wings and flailing feet. Seven times he tried but didn’t get the hang of it. No worry, he will eventually learn.

Nap time, right? Not! Suddenly he was in the air. Chris and Marie had left for dinner and Nancy Scott and I were watching. We started to follow but lost him. Then I saw him. He had landed part way up the huge aerial on the Queen Elizabeth Tower, a very difficult maneuver as it has many cables keeping it upright. He landed, with much screeching and flapping, on a small round end of an upright spoke! Wow! His wings were flopped over rods and he looked very awkward, but he had made it. We have never had a chicklet like him, and certainly never one who made this landing. It is obvious that his leg injury is not getting in his way.

And, then, he was off again. Nancy and I started running and searching again. Thankfully Chris and Marie joined us and we looked everywhere, hoping the adults would give us clues from their behavior. Never mind, we had Nancy, super sleuth. "There he is," and sure enough, there he was, on the west side of the Minto building near the big Canada flag. Great - now we can relax. Once again, our chicklet had other ideas and he took off. After some looking, he made it back to the Queen Elizabeth Towers. And there we left him for the night. Monkey, indeed! He is trying to make up for the 6 days he made us wait.

And, now we realized, he did not need us anymore. He was up where he belonged and had shown us today that he was absolutely comfortable up there. Those appendages on either side have wonderful uses! The 2006 Falcon Watch is now officially over, although many volunteers will still be found downtown walking around, looking up and listening, hoping to catch a glimpse of our proud chicklet - or is it we who are proud?

I know I am, both of our little falcon, of his parents who are so attentive and ready to teach him so much, and of our volunteers who gave of themselves time and time again. We made new friends and reaffirmed our connections with long-time friends. Our little chicklet would not be where he is today without our volunteer crew. Know that you made that difference!

I will be putting together my final report over the next few weeks, along with a lengthy list of people to thank. Right now, a shower and sleep come to mind. THANK YOU!! And, God bless each of you for your support and contributions to our efforts!

Friday July 28, 2006
Eve Ticknor reports: Day 13

Whomever said 13 is an unlucky number never met Odyssey! Although he was on the Delta this morning, he didn’t want to stay away from home any longer. He called his parents over and over but no luck, though he saw Connor fly over him once. He flapped from one end of the ledge to the other. Finally he simply took off and flew towards home, with us on the run, especially fleet-footed Chris! Odyssey started to gain height as he went, but not enough. It is a very steep climb for a little one near to the ground as he was. He then veered towards Constitution Square and gently hit the side at about the 10th floor level ( not bad, eh?). He landed on the sidewalk. Ok! However this bird has a different take on logic than most of us. He decided to cross the road to the other sidewalk........ He ran a few steps, took to wing ( not at all high), and landed on the other sidewalk where Chris was ready for him! Thank goodness the buses were still at the end of the block.......

We examined him and determined that there was no injury to his foot and maybe it was a strained muscle in his leg. We decided to return him home as his wings were strong and he had enough stress for this trip. Another trip in the elevator. Maybe that is where he was headed when he crossed the street! While waiting for the door to be unlocked, I gave him some water. He seemed to like that, but then vocalized loudly for MEAT.

Once we were back on the ground, we saw him plop down for a sleep, tail out and wing tips upwards ( T-bird style). Diana soon came with a pigeon but he saw nothing. Then he suddenly saw her and, WOW, he was off like a shot, all appendages and body parts moving fast, each in a different direction, and screaming all the way. He reached his mother, grabbed the food and disappeared inside the ledge, leaving Diana rather stupified! 10 minutes later, he was up on the ledge, his crop so full that he was in danger of falling forward! Back to sleep. The rest of his day was spent alternating between sleeping and calling for his parents, who prudently stayed mostly out of sight. No dummies there........

The fun comes when I go home, early for a rare time. According to Chris and Suzanne, he flew to the Delta and out of sight until someone went to the penthouse of the Crowne Plaza Hotel and saw him on the roof! Yea! He then flew off again, intercepted by Connor and Diana and maybe directed towards the Carlisle Building on Laurier, and there he was when everyone left for home. Our little Odyssey is living up to his name, and is now up high where he belongs! This is what we have been waiting for and some will sleep better tonight knowing he is aloft. I can’t wait to see him there in the morning! If there is any more to this story, I’ll fill you in tomorrow, or come by and see for yourselves.........

Thursday July 27, 2006
Eve Ticknor reports: Day 12

Could be called “Life on the Ledge”, for that is where Odyssey spent the day! He was tucked in by a window when we arrived. Given the light rain, that was about the best protection he could find, but he got his first taste of the wet today! We did share in his discomfort this morning, of course. Eventually, after the rain stopped and the heat began to rise, he started out along the ledge from one end to the other and back again, with rest stops between forays.

He was so cute when he lay down for a sleep at the end of the ledge! His tail hung down over the end and the ends of his wings stuck up like fins on cars from “yesteryear”. I suspect he didn’t get much sleep last night, his first away from home. Soon he was up again, and very restless. Sure enough, he flew over to another ledge, this time over the door to the Delta Hotel. It was at the same level as where he just had been but the flight and landing were good. Adrian stopped by with fantastic photos of Odyssey! And, Nat of the Delta crew invited my up to an empty room for a view of Odyssey that I didn’t expect - he was right outside the window! I checked out his feet, especially his right one. I couldn’t see anything wrong. He had all his toes and none were swollen. I took photos for our biologist to be sure. I think he may have strained or sprained his foot or a joint. He was moving faster today with his hop-flap way of traveling along! By mid afternoon he was finally calling! Silent Sam was losing his reputation! And the best part is that Connor heard him and responded! Connor had earlier retrieved some food from his cache and had been waiting on the nest ledge for some sign of his son. Well,he got it and soon could be seen flying around and around overhead with food in his talon, trying to entice Odyssey to fly up higher.

It didn’t work this time as Odyssey was last seen still on the same ledge at the end of the day. I am sure Connor will try again to convince him to try to fly upwards tomorrow. It is so nice to know that our little bird is a bit less lonely now. As for us, tomorrow comes quickly! We had a few volunteers show up extra to their shifts to see if we needed help, and to check in with Odyssey! We have been educating many people today about falcons, especially our own. I will never cease to be amazed at all the people who live and work in the area who still do not know about our falcon family who have been right next to them for 10 years............. Someone commented on all the wildlife in the city and why didn’t they see it before today...... ARRRRRGGGGHHHH!! I am glad a few are now on their way daily with a totally different viewpoint about their world. We had a few very nice compliments about the good we are doing, which makes it all worthwhile. cheers to everyone! Yawwwnnn!

Wednesday July 26, 2006
Eve Ticknor reports: Day 11

We started out as usual, watching Odyssey up on the ledge. When I came, he was on the southwest corner. He spent much of the morning preening. I realized he was more restless than yesterday and wondered if the urge to fly had suddenly come back to him. He was brought food around noon. This time it was dropped to him and the adult flew to another part of the ledge. We didn’t see what he did as he was inside the ledge and out of sight for the monitor. Soon he hopped back up on the ledge. Around 1 pm, I was watching him, as were the other volunteers who were positioned around the area. Sure enough, without any preparation, or notice to us, he was off! He flew in a northwesterly direction, over the Delta and out of sight, of course! We all ran ( yes, Phil) to that area and searched high and low for him, hoping that he had not met with death...... I received a phone call that he was on the Delta - OfficeTower! Sheena Pennie, of Deltamedia saw him land on the terrace outside her office. She and Cristiane Doherty, called me up to their office and out on their terrace to see him. the call said, “You may think I am crazy but I think I have your bird up here and he is limping”. Of course I didn’t think she was crazy. It was Odyssey! As I watched him for a while, I could see the limp, which we had been seeing for a few days. He did stand on both feet rather well but limped when he moved along the ledge. First he had to get up to the ledge and that was higher than the one on the Crowne, so it took 3 tries to jump there, but jump he did. After watching him, I decided to go on the ledge below him for a bit better view. I was trying to see his right foot without alarming him. Bob Prankie of Morguard took me there, to the offices of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters, where I was allowed to go on their terrace. I did get closer to him but he had changed position and I couldn’t see his foot. I decided to go to street level as that was where the need would be when he flew again.

Word was spread and helpful volunteers started to show up to keep watch. We have a core of wonderful volunteers who come aside from their shifts, ready to stand on sidewalks for hours on end in the sun, to sign up for more shifts, to help in any way they can, and I am eternally grateful for them! We also have some very new volunteers who arrived for the first time and have found themselves explaining to the police that they are really ok and “Would you like to see our falcon”?. Bless you, too! All of you make such a difference at a time like this.

From now on, we will mostly be in positions where we can see Odyssey, or nearly, and ready to run if he decided to fly elsewhere, just in case he comes down and needs to be rescued again. If he does, he will go into the rescue box and transported to medical assistance for his foot. If he does not come down, we hope he will gain height with each flight! His parents have now started looking for him, and “Silent Sam” is not going to call them. Not only is he quiet by nature, aside from visits to the doc, instinct will tell him to stay quiet so as not to alert a predator. It will be up to him to get higher, or to break his code of silence to alert his parents. For now it looks as if he will spend the night on the Delta.

Tuesday July 25, 2006
Eve Ticknor reports: Day 10

Our little Odyssey is showing no signs yet of taking his next flight! It has been 5 days since his last and we are getting a bit concerned. He is not making mad bouts of wing-flapping on the ledge, or off, which he should be doing now. He is definitely favouring his right foot and I, and others, have seen him using his left wing and occasionally his tail, as a prop.

This evening I was watching him on the monitor, which is much clearer with the sunlight shining on the west side. He looked better than earlier, when he looked like a little Buddha sitting on the back of the upper ledge. Maybe he reacts better to late the afternoon sun........ Unfortunately it isn’t urging him to fly any better.

He has been fed several times today, each followed by inactivity, no surprise there! Connor is still doing the lion’s share of the feedings. This afternoon, Diana landed on the southwest corner, vocalizing as she arrived and continued doing so for the next 15 minutes, non-stop. It was obviously directed towards Connor! When he did not react, she flew to another section of the ledge, this time between Connor and Odyssey, and again vocalized at Connor! I wondered if she is getting frustrated with Odyssey’s inactivity and blaming Connor. She is much more laid back than Horizon and it seems as if Connor is taking charge this year. Her instincts, while not honed in, are telling her that she should be in charge, not her mate. However, she does not yet show the strength of character of her predecessor and has not made her position clear to him. After “yelling” at Connor, she dangled a piece of meat in her beak, dropped it on the ledge and dangled it again. She appeared to be showing it to Odyssey as if to say fly and get this. He didn’t, of course!

We saw Diana bring in a pigeon this morning from the west. As she arrived, Connor flew over to take it from her but she was not letting go, so he grabbed a piece of it and flew to feed Odyssey anyway! He continues to amaze us with his parental attentions, so different from all the past years, including the first part of this year. I think some of this may stem from taking over as caregiver for Storm last year after Horizon’s accident. We get to see all sorts of people passing by, especially with all the hotels around here. Well, tonight there is some sort of Marilyn Monroe Convention at the Crowne. A flock of them walked past to go to a restaurant here. Definitely birds of a different feather! He does seem a bit perkier this evening. Maybe he revels in the spotlight ( sunlight) that hits his ledge in the early evening.......

Sunday July 23, 2006
Eve Ticknor reports: Day 8

How time flies when we are having fun, not! Waiting is a hard game for many of us. We are eager to see Odyssey fly, and at the same time we are fearful of the outcome. ....
He is still up on his ledge. He had breakfast fed to him by Diana and Connor ( not at the same time), then was observed pulling a bit of meat off bones by himself, so maybe he is finally is getting it. He does wing-flaps once in a while and naps a lot. Now and then he does a wing-wave, probably feeling the wind.

There has been some question of a possible injury to his right foot. John Ayres has been calling in his reports from his lofty perch in the Queen Elizabeth Towers. He observed that Odyssey has been favouring his right foot, which concurs with some of our sightings, but John has a better level to see than ours as we are below and miss some of what Odyssey is doing. We are, of course, guessing as to the nature of this, such as stepping on some of the debris up on the ledge and getting a cut, a splinter, a bruise.... We can only guess and keep our fingers crossed. Lorraine thinks I should go on the roof of Constitution Square to check on Odyssey and having the adults after me will provide some entertainment! I think not! We have had passersby comment on Connor choosing to perch on the ledge with his back out, so he is facing inwards. “ He can’t see anything that way”. He proved again that no matter where he is, he can be ready in a minute! He suddenly jumped off and flew rapidly in a westerly direction, calling warnings all the way. We saw that he was after, yet again, another Osprey! He flew around it several times and escorted it away from his family.

Our adults have spent time away and often we cannot see them. Gilles saw both on the antenna of Queen Elizabeth Towers this afternoon, so they are still in sight of their offspring. They could be back here in seconds! While waiting, we get to watch House Sparrow families with cute fledglings, still with yellow gaping mouths, begging from anyone including older fledglings. There is a wall next to us with a pipe that has a tiny hole that lets out 1 drop of water at a time. Just enough for a sparrow to drink. They flutter and cling to the wall, each taking a turn at the “fountain”. Nearby we get a crow family with teenage voices. They come by in early afternoon for a short while, then fly off, youngsters in hot pursuit of 1 or both parents! Then there is the leaping squirrel, flying off a low roof to grab a leafy branch. Yesterday it just grabbed it by 1 paw; today it missed altogether!

Back to Peregrines..... A couple came by to tell us of a pair in London, and we now have a copy of an article of fledglings near Manchester, England from a volunteers. Now if Odyssey could see that, maybe he could get some incentive. He has been moving along the ledge this evening, occasionally slipping his right foot nearly off the edge. Why walk when you can fly? We try sending these thoughts aloft!

Saturday July 22, 2006
Eve Ticknor reports: Day 7

Well, for a day that started out rather dully, we had a better afternoon. No, no flying yet........
Connor snacked on a bit more of the budgie this morning, and gave the last bit ( we think) to his son this afternoon. We never knew a budgie could last that long! Mostly everyone rested today. We didn't see Odyssey until 8:30, when he showed himself up on the southwest corner. Being quiet was not anything new for him. He looked all around, sometimes going inside but mostly staying on the ledge.

Odyssey seems not to have had much in the way of self feeding lessons! We have seen Diana feeding him. I seem to remember the other chicklets having to tear their own meat after a bird, or small piece, would be dropped in by a departing parent. This one has been seen doing a little of it once in a rather long while.

Around 2:30 Diana teased Odyssey with food, first by feeding him a little and flying over to Tower 1 with the rest, then feeding again and flying it past him. It didn't work! The best was yet to come. Odyssey was crying a lot this time, though not loud enough for us to hear clearly. Connor apparently was concerned as he found something in the south cache and brought it to Odyssey. The surprise was Connor feeding his chicklet, and continuing to do so in spite of Diana's attempts to disuade him! Twice she jumped him and he flew out and around and back to Odyssey to continue feeding him. Diana gave up and allowed this. It was 4:45 by the time everyone was ready to rest! Connor has not spent such time with any of his offspring, except for Storm after Horizon was euthanized. It was wonderful to see, especially to see him defying Diana....... Just before 9 pm, Odyssey again got a meal, a really big one! That should keep him at home tonight!

Needless to say, Odyssey has not flown today. Yesterday's shock was stressful enough. However, he may well try his wings again tomorrow. Better on a Sunday than to start again in traffic on Monday. Let's hope he can get a bit of flying in before that!

Friday July 21, 2006
Eve Ticknor reports: Day 6

Amazing what 6 days mean in our lives now! Our baby is not a baby any more. He has taken his first flight, and his second. He has also met humans face to face and find us not a pleasant prospect! Some of us arrived between 5:30 and 6 am to find Odyssey nowhere! What a way to start out our day..... We spent the next 7 hours searching for a bird that ended up being right under our noses. I know some of you in London and Hamilton can attest to that.

I sent volunteers out in different directions to search streets, balconies, ledges, walls, trees, etc while Melanie and I took care of rooftops and high spots. She went up into the penthouse level of the Crowne Plaza for a panoramic view of the area and checked down on all roofs nearby as well as ledges, including the one Odyssey spent the night on. At least we think he stayed there all night. As she couldn't see all of the ledges, she then went on the roof of Tower 2, Constitution Square to check things out from a different direction. Still no luck. I did the rounds ( literally) in the Merlot, the Marriott's revolving restaurant. thank goodness it was not moving while I was there. Lisa Armstrong of the Marriott was very helpful, having done this with me in the past.

The Minto was not as welcoming, though. Melanie checked out the tops and wells on Place de Ville Towers A & B. I had a call to check an area across from the Constitution Square, with no luck. Melanie had a similar call a bit later. Steve had just arrived and I told him he had to find Odyssey, and he and Melanie went off to check out the call, Sure enough, they found him, thanks to Oscar. He was on an area right above the entrance to an underground parking lot. He was on a tiny ledge over the ramp! One slip and he would not have survived! She and I put him in our rescue box ( Thank you Mr Bill!) and we took him out to the Lynnwood Animal Hospital. They are so obliging there, putting us in before others so we could care for our fledgling and to get him back home. Remember I said he has been the quietest chicklet of all we have had? Well, he made up for it during his examination! His lungs are just fine, thank you! Melanie held him while Dr Tracey Poulin checked him out very carefully. A clean bill of health. He weighed in at 601 Grams, male for sure, though I had no doubts of that for some time. He was a little under par but having not been fed for many hours is probably why.

Upon our return, we took him into the Crowne for his return upstairs. Stephen Fumerton at the desk was ever so helpful and soon we were headed upstairs where we were met by a man who unlocked doors for us. Connor and Diana were right by the door when we put their son out. All was very quiet again. I am sure we had a very tired little chicklet after such adventures. After resting for a while, Connor went hunting and brought home dinner to his son, a green Budgie!!! Though Odyssey mantled it and started, he didn't eat it and we think he was too tired. I am sure he will later.

Let's hope that when he takes his next flight, he tells us where he will be going! We had many people asking about him and some came to help, not all volunteers. It is so nice to know others see what a difference our group can make in the lives of our falcons, and in our city. I have seen changes on some who never would have paid attention to any kind of wildlife in a city. Now they are interested, look forward to seeing us, and get interested in other forms of wildlife, too.

Day 7 is coming up fast. I know the Bible says it is a day of rest, but Peregrines do not know that........... See you at 6 am, yawnnnnnn

Thursday July 20, 2006
Eve Ticknor reports: Day 5 - ODYSSEY HAS FLEDGED!!

First our update;
Our chicklet is 36 days old today. We are in a holding pattern, waiting for the launch, hoping it waits until the weekend ( less traffic), encouraging it to exercise more, and thing to remember to breathe when it does on the outside of the ledge! You would think we would get used to this and relax more with each year, but I find each year it is as if we start again. Each chicklet is different, their exercising is different and their launching is different. So, once again, we go through the same agonies, just as if we were the ones prepared to jump!

Breakfast was served first thing today, so there was a period for rest after. Our chicklet was again on the north end, on the edge. He would go inside for a rest, to pick at something, to preen, to nap........ Suddenly he was on the outside peering over the edge, toes hanging over. What he is standing on is metal flashing, slippery to my mind. Next came a bout of wing-flapping and he turned a bit at a time while flapping! that is always where we stop breathing, new volunteers scream, “He is slipping, he is going, oh no”! and we “old hands” try to look nonchalant and tell them nothing is going to happen yet. Relax”.

Much of today was quiet, as before. We are now taking up another station on the side of the Crowne where our chicklet is, then having to change sides as he moves to the other end. At least this was we hope to be ready when the moment comes. There is a monitor in the lobby of Constitution Square and we do check it from time to time to see where our little, or not-so-little, one is. We can also tell as long as Connor is on the ledge, since he will not let a chicklet get more than a foot closer to him, and will immediately fly to another part of the ledge. This is due to being punched off the ledge when Solitaire was being raised. Somehow being hit by your bigger-than-you daughter isn’t much fun.... Heat is building up and that may be why there is less activity from our falcons, aside from normal rests. We are due for another thunderstorm. The wind helps some.

Connor did bring his son some unknown food later on. Diana has shown herself to be an ‘absentee’ mother, keeping sort of out of sight for long periods of time. Today she hung out on a sensor on Tower C, then over to sit in the north cache, then...... She likes to sit on those projections much more than her predecessor did.

I was thinking of Horizon today, a year after we lost her. We find ourselves comparing her with Diana, where she had favourite perches, her interaction with Connor, her general behaviour and periods of absense. It feels as if Horizon is giving Diana tips on keeping Connor in line, and reminding her to bring in pigeons as Connor seems to bring in only small birds. Some of us have to think twice before saying Diana as we are automatically starting to say Horizon! Christine showed up all of a sudden with a soggy plastic bag bundle which she asked me to take to the Wild Bird Care Centre for her. It was a pigeon that 2 people rescued from the canal. They saw it flailing around in the water and got it out. While she called them to say I wouldn’t be there before closing, I packed my things and left with this soggy bird in my lunch bag! Fortunately by the time I got there, it had begun to pick up. I left it there, sitting in a topless aquarium under a heat lamp. Talk about a bad hair day!

Then I was off to friends for dinner. Thank goodness they are understanding as I received THE phone call while on my way. They hustled dinner for me after which I left to join the few volunteers watching our chicklet.
He left the southern end of his ledge of the Crowne Plaza Hotel around 5:30 pm and had a short, slightly rocky ( windy) flight to a ledge on the Constitution Square Tower 1. He landed about 2 levels up from the street. It is a small square covered with gravel and with windows on 2 sides. He took exception the other bird sharing his new ledge....... Eventually he moved to the outside corner where volunteers could see him from across the street. Diana did bring him something to eat. She flew around to Tower C for a bit, coming back once or twice to check on him. When we all left, after 9pm, it was getting dark and he was still there. We’ll see where he is in the morning........

As for his name, His mother is named after a Goddess, Diana the Huntress, so Odyssey is appropriate for her first child. Phil Maillard, who suggested this name, was also thinking of a long trip, such as the Ancient Greek, Homer, made. And so, our little Odyssey has begun his long trip in life and we will hope that his name will bring him good luck and long life! Thank you to all who sent in name suggestions! They were well appreciated. There is always next year........

Wednesday July 19, 2006
Eve Ticknor reports: Day 4

Cool enough this morning to wear sweaters or jackets! This makes a nice change for us. Hot coffee and tea was in order by the first shift. Melanie got a very nice breakfast from the Sconewitch next to us. The rest of us were in danger of drooling! On to the falcons....
We, or rather they, had a quiet day for the most part. We keep remarking on how quiet and calm our little one is proving to be. There were several times when we had all 3 peregrines in sight on the ledge. I had fun trying to see if the volunteers could tell which adult they were looking at, or which was which when they were close together but with each facing in a different directions so the volunteers couldn’t see all of each one. As both have similar colouring, it can be hard at times.

Tuesday July 18, 2006
Eve Ticknor reports: Day 3

I am so glad it cooled down today! It must have been rather disturbing for our chicklet to spend a night with the thunderstorm we had, with all the lightening so close. I remember thinking that when we had Solitaire who was faced, quite literally, with July 1st fireworks when she spent a night on Tower B’s north side...........

We have not had much excitement today but our little guy is progressing quite well, shedding much of his down and doing his exercises. He seems to be a well-behaved and relatively quiet, unlike most of our previous chicklets. It is quite refreshing! He will cry out if he sees an adult coming in, but if it continues, he stops and waits. Today he did a new thing. He went to the southwest corner and then to the wall and peeked around it to see his parent on the southeast corner! This morning both adults became agitated and giving warning sounds. Connor took up a post at the southwest corner while Diana flew to the northwest corner of Constitution Square. I found that 2 men were taking down the huge Canadian flag on that building. Everyone soon calmed down. A little after 7am, Diana took food to our chicklet, now on the corner vacated by his father and we got to watch her feed bits of it to her son. It is the first time we saw her do that. She did it again this evening.

I did say son. I have been watching all of them and was leaning towards male. Then I saw the size difference when Diana was feeding him. The London crew asked for a male in Ottawa to balance out their Pinks and now we seem to have obliged. Of course, if this one decides to grow more, we will have to revise our thinking.......
By the way, my little Downy Woodpecker of last night, is at the Wild Bird Care Centre and doing just fine. X-rays showed it may have had a minor collision with a car as it had a bit of injury near its spine but no permanent damage. Other than lots of rehydrating and feeding, it is recovering and may be released near the Centre in a day or 2.
Our day ended quietly with chicklet on the ledge and his parents nearby. It has been so nice to see many of our friends stopping by, especially those living in the area who follow the tales of our family from year to year! We make new ones each year and I am still surprised to find people living very close to the Crowne who still have no idea there are falcons as neighbors! How great the feeling of spreading the word!

Monday July 17, 2006
Eve Ticknor reports: Day 2

What a hot, sultry day! It seems as if this weather is made just for us......... When I arrived at 6 this morning, our chicklet was already on the ledge, near the southwest corner, facing outwards. It was patiently waiting for breakfast, a good thing as that meal was not delivered until after 11 by Connor, and it was the size of a Starling! Just a nibble for a developing chicklet! I did see Diana try for a pigeon but just missed it as it dived into some hole on a roof.

Connor and Diana each had turns on the Bradson Tower antenna, and once on Tower C antenna. Much of today the adults were out of sight somewhere, for long periods of time, singly or together. I suspect it was too hot to stay at home and no one, including their baby, was inclined to much activity. Our chicklet has spent a lot of time preening and picking out all those itchy down feathers. It appears to be comfortable with the ledge, even walking along outside the columns as it would go from one end to the other and eventually back again.

I have spent some time trying to watch our youngster and rarely see all of it at a time, especially with an adult for size comparison. Nevertheless, I am leaning to a male. It looks more like Connor’s size and has been doing more wing flapping and moving around with confidence than I would expect a female to do at this age. I will keep on and sooner or later we will have a better comparison.

Around 3:40 this afternoon, Diana flew onto the southeast corner of the Crowne with a pigeon. She spent a lot of time plucking it and eating lots before she finally flew around and gave it to her baby. this one does not seem to spend as much time napping as Solitaire, our other “only child” did, nor do the adults seem to bring in as much food as they did for her. Once in a while when one of us can go see the monitor, we can see the chicklet standing inside the ledge with its wings ajar, hot like we are!

In closing, a few notes of interest not falcon-related; A tour bus from the states drove around the block here early this morning and went around again 2 more times. It was empty and the front, that usually says where it is going to, had the following: “I am lost. do not follow me.” It still did that this evening with lots of people inside it. Also, I was asked to help a woodpecker yesterday that had been seen lying on the sidewalk. However when I got there, it was gone. I looked everywhere but no luck. Well, tonight a passerby commented on whether or not we helped other birds and pointed to the street right in front of us and there was the woodpecker! I rushed out and grabbed it before it could be run over! It is a male and possible a recently fledged one, or a sick one. It didn’t try to fly, although it struggled a bit in my hand while nancy went to get a Tim Horton’s Timbit box for it. I again gave it some more water and closed up the box ( plenty of air) for it to rest in relative darkness. I’ll take it to the Wild Bird Care Centre later.
Stay tuned for more Chicklet Chronicles!

Sunday July 16, 2006
Eve Ticknor reports: Day 1

Well, here we are - Day 1 of this year’s Falcon Watch!
We have only 1 to look after this year, which is just as well as we are sorely short of volunteers. Diana was much later nesting than Horizon and we have found many of our volunteers on holidays, or on different schedules....... I am already contemplating hanging a hammock in the trees down here!

We have had several opportunities to watch Diana and Connor flying around, making it look so effortless. Melanie and Phil joined me at 6am for first watch. That was the only time of day that was close to being cool! City streets are good for trapping heat. I hoped that life on the ledge was cooler. Our chicklet could be seen from time to time running and flapping along the length of the hotel, on the inside of the ledge. We could see this on the monitors on the ground floor of Constitution Square. They have been quite helpful in monitoring the development of our baby.

Suddenly a fuzzy white head popped up on the northwest corner very briefly and disappeared again! Our first view of it, and its first view of a larger world. All was quiet for a while again. This afternoon was a different story. Our brave little chicklet of 32 days, decided to spend most of the afternoon and evening on the upper ledge! It even moved down the whole length, ending up at the south west corner. Granted, some of this was done from the inside, but done nevertheless. Everytime it saw a parent, we could hear the screams for food! Typical child...... This is probably the earliest any of our chicklets have shown themselves on the upper ledge, and to seem so comfortable there! We did see some wing flaps in the evening.

At one point both parents peeled off the ledge giving their gravelly warning sound. I knew it was either someone on the roof nearby or another bird in the area. Sure enough, it was an Osprey, merely floating overhead. It wasn’t attacked, but was escorted on its way. At another time, Connor gave the same service to a Ring-billed Gull, who screamed all the way! He has proven his guard-keeping abilities!

It was good to see “old” friends come by to greet us and get updates. Jane brought me a book on St Francis, copies of my past news articles and a nice donation! She always says a prayer daily for our peregrines, so we are in good hands. Others stopped to chat and get looks through our scopes, and then came back later for more. Can’t get enough of our lovely falcons! Diana finally brought the last meal of the day, a dark pigeon. Chicklet had been screaming every time a parent passed by without dropping off dinner. True to form, Connor arrived to try to steal some. Diana came back and took it from him. She plucked it more and redelivered it to her child. I have the feeling that she may not have prepared it enough for it, learning as she goes. She is proving to be a good mother and I could swear Horizon is looking over my shoulder, giving Diana tips from afar........Thank you, my girl. You are not forgotten!

Towards the end of our first day, Connor spent some time flying around the antenna on Tower C, apparently keeping an eye on a flock of about 40 birds swirling around above him. As far as I can tell, they were Purple Martins, not a flock I have ever seen there before. Perhaps there was some hatch of insects over the river.
And so ended our first day. We are hot, tired, and so happy to have spent a day in what feels like home again

Thursday July 13, 2006
Phil Maillard reports: 7pm
After watching the monitor in Tower 2 for about 20 minutes, Diana flies in and starts moving around in the nest area. She is picking at some left overs and doesn't stay very long. Then their little one who is not so little anymore starts to move around. he/she is getting quite big now and is starting to show quite a bit of brown coloring on its back. As it walked around the nest area it started flapping its wings!! that was really exciting to see. it then moves out of camera range forwards the north-west corner.

Next Conner comes in and lands on the north-west corner and only stays for about 10 seconds, then he is off and disappears around the marriott hotel. After a minute or so i see both Conner and Diana flying around the Crowne very close to each orther. they are magnificant to watch as they circled the hotel twice! Conner then lands on the south-east corner and Diana on the south-west side. She is vocalizing alot and Conner is eating something and is not paying her any attention.
She must of not liked this because she then flies to were he is and he takes off!
"I'am here, I'am here, let the birds sing and the bells ring, I'am here"
Foghorn Leghorn

Monday July 10, 2006
Eve Ticknor reports: There are now 2 monitors at Constitution Square carrying the CPF camera image! One is inside tower 1 across from the Security Desk. The 2nd is in the window, facing outward, of Tower 2. Go have a look and see our chicklet as it is rapidly growing into a big falcon!

Sunday July 9, 2006
Eve Ticknor reports: I was downtown today with Phil Maillard. We were in the lobby of Tower 1, 360 Albert St to watch the monitor for a glimpse of our little one. For some time we saw nothing, until noon when Diana flew in with lunch.

Suddenly from out of camera sight, ran a little, but much bigger, chicklet! As Diana gave it bits of whatever she brought, it ate voraciously with much bobbing of its head as it swallowed. The picture is somewhat fuzzy so we did not have a clear view but we could see the feathering coming in and watched as it moved around. I think some of the fuzziness is due to the plastic bubble it is in. Since it stays out on the roof all year around, I think the plastic is beginning to break down........

Once Diana had finished feeding her baby, she moved off and it went back towards the south end, out of camera sight. Just as we were leaving, Connor flew in to the northwest corner. He started moving down the ledge towards the feeding area in true Connor behaviour! The chicklet could be seen running and wing-flapping its way up to the northern end, and out of sight.

Once we were outside, we again were treated to the sights and sounds of the adults. Connor was now at the southwest corner and Diana was on the east ledge. She flew out and around to Connor and sent him off the corner. He flew up to the other end whereupon she flew there, too. He finally ended up in the middle, watching his mate as she went flying, soaring around over the nearby rooftops, back and forth, obviously enjoying the wind! How beautiful! She is certainly as big as Horizon. It will be interesting to find out if we get the visual sizing of the chicklet as it starts to spend more time on the outer ledge near a parent. That will not happen until next week.
Keep your eyes turned upwards, and your ears tuned upwards as well any time you are in the area of the Crowne!

Friday July 7, 2006
John Clark reports: I’ve been watching the CPF camera image of the nest site on the large TV screen at the Constitution Square across from the hotel at 11:00 a.m. today and saw that the chick is getting quite large and turning colour. Mom or dad was there as well.

Sunday June 18, 2006
Eve Ticknor reports: Chris Traynor and I were on the roof this morning for a check on our family and are pretty convinced we have just 1 this year. Diana appears to still be incubating an egg, but less seriously than before the arrival of her chicklet. She kept trying to tuck the baby under her and we had the impression that that egg might be in the way. After this length of time, that egg will not be hatching. I expect her to give up on it very soon and concentrate on her baby. the chicklet looks just fine, wiggling its tiny wings when trying to move under its mother. To see such a fierce and magnificent falcon interacting so gently with her baby is quite moving!

Thursday June 15, 2006
Eve Ticknor reports: I was up on the roof this afternoon with Bob Boisvert and we had a look. I still cannot tell if there is another chicklet or not. It was too windy to get much from the scope and I didn't want to wait to see if Diana would change position. For Bob it was a thrilling experience. He was delighted to see life from the peregrine's level and snapped photos all over. We agreed to try again on a less windy day next week. Well, after we parted, Yvon ( building Operations Manager) showed up and I found myself on the roof again with him. We went right up to the camera location so I could see where it was aimed. Connor was still on the southeast corner watching us, as he had done when Bob was up with me earlier. The Canadian Peregrine Foundation camera has a good aim. The lighting wasn't good and the distance, of course, is a bit far, but I think it will work.
The camera will be hooked up to a monitor in the lobby of Tower 1, across from the Security Desk. A 2nd one may be put in an outside facing window, but not until the Soccer craze is over (July 9th), as that is the 2nd monitor!
As for the internet, we are getting closer to the hookup and I will certainly broadcast it when the moment has arrived......

Wednesday June 14, 2006
Eve Ticknor reports: This afternoon ( 5ish) I, again, climbed up to the roof to play voyeur, with success! As I watched Diana, she kept shifting and looking down and, sure enough, there was the top of a fluffy white head. The debris along the ledge kept me from seeing more but Diana's position tells me that the other egg has not yet hatched. It should be very soon, though.....

I had been up Monday afternoon and noticed her behaviour was different, restless. Bob Boisvert let me know today that ladies looking over from their offices in Tower C also noticed Diana's changed behaviour. My guess is that the hatch took place within 24 hours of 5pm today. By tomorrow or Friday we should have the other egg hatched.
Stay tuned!!

Saturday June 3, 2006
Phil Maillard reports: Yesterday at 4:35 pm Conner is keeping an eye on the nest area from the north-west corner of the hotel. After a few minutes, he slowly flaps his wings a few times and jumps into the ledge area and there is some vocalizing. He then flies out and lands close to the south-west corner.
He is not content to stay there and lands on the light fixture on the west side of Tower C. { i don't recall ever seeing him land there}.
Incubation continues

Wednesday May 24, 2006
Eve Ticknor reports: Gilles pointed out that the fledging will be in July, not June........Thank you for seeing that error!

I went up on the roof this afternoon, around 5pm. Although I didn't get a clear view, being a bit limited on time, I was able to see part of 2 eggs! Our female stood up and turned around, turning her eggs, but was never off them completely for me to get a clear view. I'll go up again soon, weather dependent, of course!

Ottawa's new female has a name!
Congratulations to Marie Clausen, whose name suggestion of Diana was pulled out of the name box! Diana the huntress! She bears the name of a Greek Goddess. I'm sure she will live up to it........

Sunday May 21, 2006
Phil Maillard reports: 3:10 pm
Conner has just landed midway on the ledge between the south-west corner of the Crown Plaza and the south-east corner.He stays there for quite a while. When i come out from getting some coffee, he is still there.
Yesterday in the early afternoon he landed on the exact location,and seems quite relaxed, preening and eating some cache of food.

Thursday May 18, 2006
Eve Ticknor reports: Ottawa Female has finally be found - INCUBATING!

Hello to all of you!
I am pleased to tell you that our new female is now brooding on her nest which is located between the 2nd and 3rd columns from the northwest corner of the Crowne Plaza Hotel. As I have not been up more that once a week, I am making an educated guess that she probably started brooding around the 15th of May. That means a hatch around the 17th of June and fledging around the 23rd of June, all things being equal!!!

Wednesday May 10, 2006
Allan Ferguson reports: The peregrines are at last year's nest site on the north west corner of the Crowne Plaza Hotel every day now. I am not keeping a log anymore because they are present every day now. I am on the 14th floor of Constitution Square so I can't see whether there are eggs up there. The female just chased a few pigeons away from the nest area which suggests to me that 1) she is not hungry and 2) may have something worth protecting.

Monday May 8, 2006
Eve Ticknor reports: I went up on the roof again today and saw both Peregrines but no sign of a nest. Connor was on the southeast corner of the Crowne while his mate was on the west side near the 2nd column from the north. Both were resting.

Saturday May 6, 2006
Phil Maillard reports: 1:45 pm.
Conner is perched on the south-west corner of the Crown Plaza.I watch him for about 20 minutes; no sign of his mate.

Monday May 1, 2006
Allan Ferguson reports: "Love is in the air". The couple were spotted mating on the west side of the Crowne Plaza Hotel at about 8:30 this morning. Connor stays in flight while the female remains perched for the event. The female has been hanging out all morning on the western ledge whereas Connor tends to come and go. No sign of actual nesting activity at the Crowne Plaza venue.

Eve Ticknor reports: I spent about 40 minutes on the roof of Constitution Square Tower 1 this afternoon. I got up there around 5:45 and both falcons were on the west ledge. Connor was at the northwest corner and his mate was on the gravel near the 2nd pillar. As I walked closer to the north end of the roof, they both flew off the ledge and around the Crowne Plaza Hotel. they circled over me and then up to the southwest corner of Tower C where they mated briefly. Connor then went back to the same corner of his ledge and preened while she stayed up on Tower C and simply looked around. After a while, Connor flew down and around to the north cubby where he plucked something and disappeared. The female stayed where she was. When it was apparent that no more activity would be happening while I was there, I left. When I reached the street, both were out of sight.

I have had several reports of activity in the last 2 days but I can confirm no nest, no eggs, no chicklets at this time. If they do make a nest in the near future, it will most certainly be on the west side of the Crowne. They have shown interest in that area, in spite of activities elsewhere.

I will check again shortly.

Saturday April 29, 2006
Phil Maillard reports: 10:10 am.
Our female has just landed on the north-west side of the Crown Plaza. I watch her for several minutes at which time Conner comes flying in and lands on the same side between the fifth and sixth pilllar, he is also vocalizing. He then flies between the fourth and fifth pillar, then is off again and joins our female and they mate.

Conner then goes back to his position between the fouth and fifth pillar. He doesn't stay there very long when once again he mates with out female.

Wednesday April 26, 2006
Bill Coderre reports: Both Connor and his mate were perched on the east side of the Crowne Plaza at noon on April 26th.

Saturday April 22, 2006
Eve Ticknor reports: Around 2:30 this afternoon, Phil Maillard and I were driving down Slater St just east of the Crowne Plaza Hotel and suddenly saw both Peregrines flying overhead! It was good to see both, although it would therefore seem that there is not a nest, yet. They disappeared over the Constitution Square Tower 2 and Place de Ville Tower B, not to reappear to our eager eyes...... There could be a nest elsewhere, ie Booth St, which is worth checking out. The female would not be starting full incubation until all her eggs are laid, usually a day or so apart, but usually mating takes place very near the nest site, so??

Wednesday April 19, 2006
Phil Maillard reports: 9:30 am.
A peregrine was just taken off from the building at 275 Slater st. i quickly lose sight of it.
5:30 pm.
The same bird i saw last saturday is again perched on the north-east corner off the building at Slater and Kent. i watch for a few minutes; it then takes off and lands on the south-east corner of the Crown Plaza. It vocalizes briefly then is quiet. i can see no sign of Conner.

Tuesday April 18, 2006
Eve Ticknor reports: Photo taken of one of the adults around 6pm looking over to the southeast corner of the Crowne Plaza Hotel from Tower 1 of Constitution Square.

Saturday April 15, 2006
Phil Maillard reports: 10:50 am
There is a large, dark, Peregrine perched on the north-east corner of a building at 275 Slater St. {corner of Kent} I watch her for about 10 minutes at which time it flies off out of sight. I walk up a block to get a better view of that corner and i see it take off again from the rooftop. No sign of Conner at this time.

Thursday April 13, 2006
Cathi Harris reports: My office faces the ledge of the northwest corner of the Crown Plaza. I saw two falcons flying in formation three days ago, and two days ago one of the falcons flew to the ledge with a pidgeon kill that it then proceeded to eat.
This was around 2:30 in the afternoon.

Monday April 10, 2006
Lisa McPhail reports: My office faces east over Kent St. I regularly watch a falcon fly by right outside my window. On Friday I saw a pair of birds on top of a building on Kent & Slater 'engaging in mating activity.' At first I thought I was going to see the bird fly in for a kill, as he was swooping and flapping around, but then realized it wasn't a pigeon but a larger bird just sitting on the corner of the building.

Monday April 3, 2006
Allan Ferguson reports: For the past week, the peregrines have been present at and around the Crowne Plaza Hotel. I have noted one or both of them as being in the vicinity on March 25, 27, 28, 29,30, 31, April 2, and today, April 3. They are spending lots of time on the west side of the Crowne Plaza and I am pleased to note that they seem to be focusing on the area where the nest was located last year...the northwest corner just under the overhang. Today, the pair seem to be spending their time together. When one decides to stretch it wings, so does the other. I'm watching one soar as I type this update.

Saturday March 25, 2006
Phil Maillard reports: 4 pm.
A peregrine has just landed on the north-west corner of the Crown Plaza and has gone inside the ledge area. There is then alot of vocalizing from within. Abouty 10 minutes later, Conner flies out and over to the Constitution square building,{tower1} on the north-west side. LadyBird is now between pillar 1 and 2 on the Crown Plaza, north-west end. Conner stays where he is for about 10 minutes, then flies off south west and i loose sight of him
A few minutes later, LadyBird then takes up the corner just where Conner was. As i leave some 20 minutes later, she is still there.

Saturday March 11, 2006
Phil Maillard reports: 3:25 pm. i am reasonally sure it is LadyBird perched on the north-west corner of the Constitution Square building {tower 1} on this warm, spring like day.

Thursday March 9, 2006
Allan Ferguson reports: "When in Ottawa, the Peregrines stay at the Crowne Plaza Hotel."

Peregrines spotted on and around the Crowne Plaza on March 3rd (both male and female throughout the day), March 6th (just the female at 2:15 pm on the south east corner), March 8th (one Peregrine on west ledge at 9:00 to 11:00 am and at sight of last year's nest at 2:00 pm.), March 9th (both male and female mostly on west ledge throughout the day -- wind with freezing rain from the east)

Wednesday March 1, 2006
Allan Ferguson reports: I have some very encouraging news. For the past two days, there have been two peregrines hanging out at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. It seems that both of them were taking turns picking at the remains of a kill on the south east corner of the building. For most of the time, they seemed content just to perch and preen in the sun. They both favour the southern side of the building to take advantage of what little warmth there is in the sun. At one point yesterday, it looked like the Battle of Britain with the two of them showing off their aerial abilities. I assume one of them is Connor. The other one may or may not be "Ladybird" because the tell-tale salmon colour of her breast is not as prominent as what I recall from before.

Bernie Ladouceur reports: Monday, I had what I assume was Connor on the SE corner of the Crowne Plaza;
Tuesday, I saw what I thought to be a large, therefore probably female, Peregrine perched in the middle of the south side of the Crowne Plaza, near the top - it appeared especially wide across the upper back, and appeared to have fairly pale(blue-grey)back;
This morning at about 9:40 a.m, I had what I assume to be the same two birds interacting with each other near the SW corner of the Crowne Plaza. The female appeared to have a kill and landed on the SW corner. Connor(?) almost landed beside her and then flew to the SE corner. The size difference was quite apparent.

Thursday February 23, 2006
Allan Ferguson reports: This morning at about 8:30, one peregrine flew by and then landed on the north west corner of the Crowne Plaza Hotel for about 5 minutes. It was like he was checking out last year's nesting location. Could he be thinking about where to raise this year's hatch? With a little luck, there might be a new nest in the same place this year.

Monday February 20, 2006
Eve Ticknor reports: John Pratt has been seeing an adult Peregrine on a nearly regular basis from his office at 580 Booth St ( 14th floor). He says it flies by from the vicinity of 615 Booth St. It may be on a food patrol or may have been using this area as a temporary roost.
Please start reporting any sightings more often now, as in the next few weeks we should hopefully be seeing our pair around the Crowne. Horizon and Connor used to be seen together around mid March. We'll see how it is with the new female.

Friday February 17, 2006
Allan Ferguson reports: One peregrine made an appearance this afternoon at about 2:00 pm. Conner perched for a short period of time on the south wall of the Crowne Plaza hotel...not a great day for flying...wind west 50 km/h gusting to 80. Temperature falling to minus 12.

Thursday February 16, 2006
Allan Ferguson reports: 10:30 a.m. - wind and snow/sleet from the east. On days like this, I know that Connor will hang out for a good part of the day in his favourite spot on the west side of the Crowne Plaza and, true to form, he was there for most of the morning and part of the afternoon.

Friday February 10, 2006
Allan Ferguson reports: 11:09 am - one peregrine spotted on the south east corner of the Crowne Plaza.

Wednesday February 8, 2006
Allan Ferguson reports: 10:00 am - one peregrine was perched on the south wall of the Crowne Plaza with either a tiny kill or part of a larger one.

Thursday February 2, 2006
Allan Ferguson reports: One peregrine flew by at 8:30 am and later one was perched about 15 floors up on the South wall of Tower C Place de Ville.

Tuesday January 31, 2006
Allan Ferguson reports: 8:30 am & 11:30 am, Connor spotted on west side of the Crowne Plaza (rain from the east)

Monday January 30, 2006
Allan Ferguson reports: 8:40 am to 2:40 pm, Connor on west side of Crowne Plaza (freezing rain from the east)

Saturday January 28, 2006
Eve Ticknor reports: This afternoon, around 2pm, I had a brief glimpse of one of our falcons. It was coming around the west side of a red bricked apartment building at 570 Laurier. It was flying slowly with wings and tail outspread. Unfortunately that was all I had time to see as I was in traffic. In spite of turning and pulling over to the side of the road, I lost it immediately and could not refind it. Against the blue sky it was a beautiful sight!

It will be another month or so before we re seeing any signs of courtship. At least that used to be the timing. With a new female, we may see new behaviours and timings........ Keep those eyes upwards and your ears opened!

Friday January 20, 2006
Allan Ferguson reports: 10:40 am - one peregrine (again, probably the female) spotted on the same Place de Ville south wall perch.

Friday January 13, 2006
Allan Ferguson reports: 9:00 am - one peregrine (possibly the female with salmon/tan coloured brest) spotted on the Place de Ville south wall perch (about 15 floors up)

Friday January 6, 2006
Allan Ferguson reports: 10:20 am - one peregrine (maybe Connor) with kill in the same spot on Crowne Plaza.

Thursday January 5, 2006
Allan Ferguson reports: 2:10 pm - one preregrine (maybe Connor) with kill on south west corner near top of Crowne Plaza.

Wednesday January 4, 2006
Allan Ferguson reports: 8:30 am - one peregrine (maybe Connor) spotted on the western perch (about 15 floors up) of Place de Ville western tower.

Tuesday January 3, 2006
Allan Ferguson reports: 10:25 am - one peregrine (maybe Connor) spotted on the south west corner near top of the Crowne Plaza.

Friday December 16, 2005
Allan Ferguson reports: I was beginning to think that the peregrines had left the area because the last time I spotted them together was December 1st. One was on the southeast corner and the other was on the southwest corner of the Crowne Plaza Hotel at about 8:30 a.m. Both were enjoying their own respective kills at the time. What a pair! Since then, I have only spotted a single bird on December 6th and 7th. I think it was the male on both occasions and today, with the wind and the snow coming out of the east, there he is again perched on the west side of the Crowne Plaza.

The weather today is stormy (Snow at times heavy. Snow at times mixed with ice pellets early this morning. Snow and ice pellet amount 15 to 25 cm. Temperature steady near minus 7) so it makes sense that this bird would take refuge on the west side of the building. He will probably stick around for the better part of the day. I will update this note if the other happens to show up but I doubt that it will.

Sunday November 20, 2005
Eve Ticknor reports: This afternoon I found our falcons on the Coats Building. It was around 3pm and at first I saw only LadyBird on the north face atop one of the columns. Then she flew around to the east side and when I got there she was on one of the lights and Connor was tucked into a corner above the windows, as he used to do with Horizon. It is a bit strange not to see her now but our new female sits as majestically on top as her predecessor used to so. Her salmon-coloured breast should make it easier for others to tell who is who next spring.

Tuesday November 15, 2005
Allan Ferguson reports: The peregrines spent most of the day perched on the west side of the Crowne Plaza. Seeing as the snow, drizzle, and freezing rain was coming from the east, this was a pretty good idea on a day like today. One of the birds grabbed a pigeon for lunch at about noon. It was a real chore flying back to the ledge with that big pigeon in tow.

Monday November 7, 2005
Allan Ferguson reports: 9:10 a.m. I am on the 14th floor, north side of the western tower of Constitution Square. I have not seen the male for quite some time so this morning I am pleased to see that both male and female are present. The male is perched on the southeast corner of the Crowne Plaza Hotel and the female is perched on a little pipe that is located a little more than half way up the south side of the westerly tower of Place de Ville. That little indented perch seems like it is becoming her favourite these days.

Sunday October 30, 2005
Phil Maillard reports: 1 pm. LadyBird is perched near the south-east corner of the Crown Plaza. after a few minutes she flies to the north-east corner. Yesterday i also saw her on the south east corner. no sign of her mate either day.

Sunday October 23, 2005
Phil Maillard reports: 11:45 am. both Conner and LadyBird are on the west side of the Crown Plaza. One near the north end, Conner i believe, and LadyBird closer to the south end. Also, yesterday around the sametime both were on the west side,not that far from one another. its a cool and rainy day today so i don't think our pair will be flying very much.

Saturday October 8, 2005
Phil Maillard reports: 12:45 pm. Conner is perched on the south west corner of the Crown Plaza and Ladybird is a little ways down from him between the fourth and fifth column. i watch them for about 15 minutes and they are both seem quite relaxed; each one preening.

Sunday October 2, 2005
Phil Maillard reports: 9:40 am. Conner has just landed on the south west corner of the Crown Plaza. he is greeted by a lot of vocalizing from within the nest area and i can see LadyBird close to the north end. He then flies close to her and disappears inside the nest area. more chittering and LadyBird is now close to the south west corner. Conner flies out and lands very close to her. no sign of the female that was spotted by Eve.

Saturday October 1, 2005
Eve Ticknor reports: We know that peregrines pass through our city on migration and I have had several reports lately to that effect. However I have had several messages and calls about a 3rd peregrine and lots of vocalizations, etc. Today I had the chance to go down for a look around 5pm. When I arrived, LadyBird was on the southeast corner of the Crowne Plaza Hotel and Connor was flying around. And then I saw the reason for his activity and vocalizations. There was another female on the antenna of Tower C! She is more like Horizon in colouring than LadyBird who has a salmon sort of wash to her breast. This new bird was giving Connor a hard time! I watched for over 1/2 hour as he flew around and around, trying to get her to leave but she was having none of that. She kept looking around and ducking a bit when he flew over her head but didn't move otherwise. I went to the bank for a minute or 2 and they all were gone, or so I thought. Suddenly there was Connor trying to chase the new female away! They flew around for a bit, then went out of sight. LadyBird was on the north side of Constitution Square during this last bit.

I now think she is the one in all the latest messages I have received. For those wondering why Connor is the only one putting up the attack, it is in his job description, to defend his mate and his territory. From losing a mate to suddenly be presented with 2, his work is cut out for him now! Keep watching and sending in your reports. It will be interesting to see what happens over the next while.......

Sunday September 25, 2005
Phil Maillard reports: 10:15 am. i arrive at the Crown Plaza and seeing nothing, decide to wait for a few minutes. About 10 minutes later either Conner or LadyBird lands on the west side of the Crown, then another appears from the nest area and there is a lot of vocalizing. this goes on for at least 20 minutes, then it is quiet for a few minutes. now there is one bird very near the north-west corner and one between the third and forth pillar.

Friday September 16, 2005
Eve Ticknor reports: This morning John Ayres watched our falcons on the west ledge of the hotel. Both were apparently sitting together for a while after not being seen for a few days. A bit later on Connor was still on the ledge while his new mate was on the side of Tower C.

Saturday September 10, 2005
Eve Ticknor reports: Hello! Although I saw no birds this morning, Phil and I decided to wait a bit and then there they were! Both Connor and LadyBird flew in from a north or northeast direction and landed on the west side of the Crowne. They landed a pillar apart, chittering loudly and disappeared inside the ledge. After a couple of minutes, she flew off in a northwesterly direction and out of sight. He preened a bit, flew to the north end and inside. Then he suddenly appeared on the northwest corner and spent time plucking something and eating it. Afterwards he picked up the carcass and dropped it inside, coming back put to clean his bill and take a rest.
We're going back later this afternoon to see if she comes back and will hopefully get a better look at her.......

Once again I was out to see our new falcon. This time it was around 4:30pm. No one in sight. While talking with friends, loud falcon conversation was heard and both our falcons flew into sight. First Connor landed on the southwest corner while our LadyBird flew around and landed on the southeast corner! Connor, to no one's surprise, then flew to the northwest corner and hauled out leftovers which he tore into as if he had never eaten........ She sat for a bit, seemed to see something west of here and took off. Eventually Connor stopped eating and flew between Tower C and the hotel and out of sight. By 6 neither one had returned so I left. Both Phil and Mary stopped for a while, as did a few others who wondered about the falcons. It was as if we had not stopped the Falcon Watch!
Maybe I'll have more luck tomorrow.......

Friday September 9, 2005
Eve Ticknor reports: Greetings on such a beautiful day! I have been downtown 3 days in a row, around 4:30, and have seen no one. However today I was blessed with the sight of 2 falcons on the Crowne Plaza Hotel!

Connor was on the southwest corner and there on the southeast corner was an adult female!! As I got my scope out of the car, she vanished, of course. It was to windy aloft to take my scope to the roof (Tower 1), so I went up with only my bins. By that time, Connor was on the southeast corner, giving a call similar to the greeting call he and Horizon used to make when getting together. After seeing me he gave more of a complaint or soft warning call but didn't disturb me at all. I went right up to the front rail for a better look. He looks a bit scruffy and his white wasn't his best, normal for this time of year. As I went to the west side of the roof, I realized that the adult I had seen was now at the northwest end of CPH. She was very puffed up so a good look was only marginal. Her malar striping was very thick and her breast seemed a bit lighter than I remembered on Horizon. But the clincher was a peek at what I am sure is a band on her right leg, just peeping out from her feathering on her leg! Taking into account the angle of the sun at what was now 5pm, my quick glimpse made me think I saw red! If so, that would mean a fostered chick in some nest in the past.

I plan to go up again over the weekend for a better look, assuming she is more visible to the roof. I would also like to ask Chris Traynor to take his scope up to help with the possible identification of our ladybird...........
So, stay tuned!!

Monday September 5, 2005
Phil Maillard reports: 3 pm, Storm is near the north west corner of the Crown Plaza. Conner then comes flying in and and lands near the south west corner. Storm then starts to vocalize. Conner takes off around the hotel and lands on the eastside, only staying there briefly, then is off circling the antenna of tower C. he lands near the top and only stays there for a few minutes. he flys back around and lands on the south west corner Storm once again starts to call out but Conner is not paying her any attention.

Saturday September 3, 2005
Phil Maillard reports: 2:50 pm
Storm has just landed close to the south-west corner of the Crown Plaza and she is vocalizing. she then takes flight and i lose sight of her behind the Constitution Square building. she flys back around and lands on the east side of the Crown. Then she is off to land on tower B. At this point it starts to rain quite heavily and Storm remains just where she is, getting soaked. she starts to move around flapping her wings. After several minutes, she flys back to the nest area on the west side and out of the rain.

Thursday September 1, 2005
Mark Nash reports: With fall just around the corner, reports have been streaming in that things have got very quiet at many of the urban nests sites, and with the absence of the juveniles, it is nice to see at least that many of the urban adults are still on territory, with reports of many of them still spending time on the nest ledges.

Now independent, and hunting on their own, it would appear that many of the juveniles have either moved on, or have dramatically expanded their hunting areas taking them farther away from the home territories. We remember years past, while very closely monitoring some of the peregrine nest sites, we witnessed the adults on more than one occasion actually chasing their offspring out of the territory as October moved in. It is believed that the adults reach a point that they will simply no longer tolerate the harassment for food from their offspring, (in addition to sharing the territory with the kids), and "encourage" their young to move on. Sooner or later, the urge move on overwhelms them, as in the peregrine release sites that we have been doing over the years, the juveniles simply stop returning to the hack boxes for the food being provided by the hack site attendants.

Tuesday August 23, 2005

Saturday August 13, 2005

Thursday July 28, 2005
Eve Ticknor reports: Having returned from Vancouver yesterday, I went down to see our falcons today. Around noon, there were none in sight. However later, around 6pm, I saw Storm on the northwest corner of the Crowne Plaza Hotel, plucking a kill.
A couple of hours later, while Phil and I were talking and looking around, I spotted Connor on the antenna on the Carlisle (Bradson) Building. He was behind a triangular structure under the radial arms, east side. Small wonder no one has seen him. For all I know, he has been in such a place all along.
I am sure he won't go anywhere until Storm has migrated. Adults don't usually leave, if they are going to, until their offspring have left. It remains to see if he stays here or not this winter.

Sunday July 24, 2005
Phil Maillard reports: 2 pm. i hear a lot of vocalizing and Storm has just flown out of the north west corner of the Crown Plaza. she looks very well and flies with the confidence of an adult. she heads north east towards the river and i lose sight of her.

Tuesday July 19, 2005
Eve Ticknor reports: Our beloved Horizon was euthanized July 14, 2005. Her injuries were of a severity as to prevent her from having a good quality of life. She died peacefully and with dignity, as I had hoped. We will miss her, as will many of you, and I thank you for your ongoing support and kind thoughts for her and her progeny. She raised 19 chicklets during her 9 years with us. Her spirit will live on, in each of us, and I am quite sure that she will be looking over my shoulder during the next Falcon Watch in Ottawa!

Linda Woods reports: I'm so sorry to hear about Horizon. My condolences to the Ottawa crew. I know she will be missed by the community.

Nathaleigh McKenna Rochon reports:

You can never be replaced Horizon and your memory will live on in our hearts and in the precious chicklets that were fortunate to learn from such a formidable huntress. You leave behind a legacy of hope, strength of character and fierce loyalty to face the future with courage and determination. It has been such a joy for all of us to a part of your magnificent life.

Be at peace dear friend! We are all fortunate for having had the opportunity to see life through your eyes! You were and will always be important and special to all of us!

Sunday July 17, 2005
Phil Maillard reports: There is a large, dark bird perched on the north-west corner of the Crown Plaza. It is facing away from Mary Hurley and myself but I am guessing it is Storm. we cannot get a better look because it left when we turned away for a moment,, we stayed around the area for awhile but couldn't see anything.

Saturday July 16, 2005
Phil Maillard reports: 1:30 pm
I arrive at the Crown Plaza and there are no birds in sight. I wait for a while at which time I walk around the hotel and there is Storm, perched on the north-east corner, preening herself. it is very warm and muggy today so I don't expect to see much flying. No sign of her father.

Wednesday July 13, 2005
Mark Nash reports:

Sad news regarding Horizon!

We have just received not so good news about Horizon's situation. The reports from the MNR, after a second opinion from the medical staff at OVC, with regards to her injuries, are consistent with that of her original report from Dr. Roscoe. It would appear that her chances are slim for recovery being sufficient enough for her to be released back to the wild.

We are waiting for the news as to what has been decided as to her fate.

We have been flooded with requests for an adoption certificate for Horizon and we will put together a certificate for her - for which ever way it goes.

To all of those that have called and e-mailed, we will make every effort to do a certificate for Horizon over the next few days.

On a much brighter note, we are very glad to hear that Connor is keeping up his usual great fatherly duties and we hope all goes well for Storm. We are all very hopeful that Connor will find another mate and bring her back home to Ottawa.

Saturday July 9, 2005
Phil Maillard reports: Mary Hurley and myself can see Storm, she has just landed on the light fixture ledge on the south face of the Crown Plaza. She is also eating prey {maybe a pigeon} She looks very healthy and big! i was hoping to see Conner but no sign of him.

Friday July 8, 2005
Eve Ticknor reports: I saw Storm just before lunch today and she looks well. She was roosting on the ledge, on the east side of the hotel. She was next to the 4th column from the north end. She certainly wasn't starving! I had a message from Mark Nash and here is most of it:

Horizon was quiet and actually travelled very well. At each gas stop (x2), I offered water to re-hydrate, which she was very eager to accept, then lashed out in typical peregrine fashion after the fact. Very healthy attitude as you know.

She was very alert throughout the entire trip and stood up for most of the ride. She did in fact "roost" on one leg on three occasions and closed her eyes in an effort to catch some sleep. Seemed very much calm throughout. The fact that she was actually roosting in typical peregrine form is a very good sign indeed, as sick, stressed out, peregrines do not exhibit this behaviour at all.

The OVC staff were on hand waiting for our arrival and Horizon was admitted right away.

As far as a commercial breeding program, I'm not sure what is on their minds or where she would go, as that is up to the MNR. It would also depend on the extent of her injuries (and how she heals up). Keeping a bird with some of these types of injuries in any captive environment - where they are unable to hold their wings up from dragging on the ground - can cause all kinds of other medical problems down the road. It sometimes requires that special housing, with special pen furniture, be used to accommodate birds with these disabilities. Let's hope that her situation turns out much better than that.

While it may appear that she might never fly again, we all still have all of our fingers crossed that this is not the case, and she can be repaired, and eventually be released back to the wild to fly free again.

SHE'S A TOUGH ONE AND A FIGHTER AS YOU KNOW!!!

The rest is up to the vets and the OVC.

There is an article about her in the Citizen. As is often the case, it is skewed in places to catch the readership. I will continue to send you information as I get it.

Thursday July 7, 2005
Mark Nash reports:

Tragedy in Ottawa!
Horizon has been injured!

I met with Melissa, a biologist from the Kemptville district of the OMNR, this morning to pick up Horizon and transport her to OVC in Guelph for further treatment. Mixed with many emotions, and some teary moments in the car during this longer than long drive, I was a little overwhelmed with many sad thoughts of all of the mortality we have all gone through over the past six months. Many would say it was silly, while others have said that after ten years of this, you should be used to it by now. Well I can tell you that I'm not! And I can tell you that I will likely never get used to it.
Greeted by the medical staff at OVC, I was assured that everything that could be done would be done, to insure that Horizon would be cared for to the best of everyone's ability while she was in their care. Despite Horizon's injuries, they are not life threatening, and she was just as "feisty" as you might expect.

Eve Ticknor reports: Horizon is on her way to Guelph to be seen by a specialist. I have seen her x-rays and can tell you all that she will not be flying again. Her wing fractures are too severe for that. We hope she will be entered into a breeding program once she has healed from her injuries. She will be missed by all of us. She is as feisty as always. Connor will be looking for her for some time, I am sure. However he will continue to look after Storm and will give her the much needed lessons for her life ahead. As for next year, we can only wait and see. Perhaps he will find another mate and stay here

Wednesday July 6, 2005
Marion Nash reports: To say today was a bad day at the office is an understatement. I received a phone call early in the afternoon from Debbie Beattie, Administration Assistant, Research and Statistic Division Department of Justice Canada in Ottawa). “I’m calling to inform you and request your assistance to help one of our Peregrine Falcons that has been injured. I have a workman from ProTac here. His name is Mat and he was doing repairs up on the roof. He says the bird has a broken wing - it’s outside a door next to my office and is on the roof of the East Memorial Building at 284 Wellington Street,” she said.

I was about to give the contact name and numbers for the Ottawa watch but was told they had already called the numbers given and there was no answer. She asked could we please send someone soon, as the bird was bleeding. I knew the Ottawa Falcon watch had concluded and it would not be easy to get in contact with anyone in such short order, so the responsibility was now on me. Following the Ministry of Natural resources protocol, I contacted Melissa Thompson, one of our MNR area biologists for the Ottawa area, to dispatch someone immediately.

I knew that 1 of the 2 chicks hatched this year had already been lost on the 2nd day of the watch and had not yet been found so it was just not acceptable to me to wait for too long before the bird was picked up. Thanks to Melissa’s quick actions in dispatching Chris Traynor to the bird’s rescue, we were able to get the bird before she fell victim to any predator or to her injuries. The bird was taken to The Lynwood Animal Clinic and Dr. Robin Roscoe, an Avian Specialist in the Ottawa area that looks after the Peregrine Falcons when medical care is needed. I also called the Wild Bird Care Centre in Nepean to give them a heads up just in case.

I put in my own calls to the Falcon watch coordinator for Ottawa and left messages hoping that this would turn out to be a false alarm and end up being a pigeon or some other bird. I asked everyone to please let me know how it worked out and what happened. Waiting for word is the toughest thing for me, sitting in the office hoping someone would call me with some good news before I head home, but I was not to receive the call before I had to go. I got the news from my husband Mark Nash later in the evening and was shocked to find out that it was Horizon - Ottawa’s Adult Female. She may have been injured in a territorial battle with another female Peregrine that has been seen in the area and has been chased off by both adults, but since the Falcon watch was over no one knows for sure.

So we ask that if anyone sees another female Peregrine in the area to report it ASAP as the other fledgling may be targeted also. Pud Hunter, area biologist for the MNR Almer District, had called Mark with his concerns for Horizon and was trying to arrange transportation to The Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, but was having some logistic challenges, so Mark offered to transport the bird himself, since she was now out of immediate danger and stabilized. Melissa Thompson, from the Ottawa District MNR, could bring the bird to Brockville tomorrow, Mark said, since we both have to be there for the Charleston Lake Peregrine Hack Release anyway, and I will take the bird from there straight to Guelph. Pud called the Veterinary College to prepare them for her arrival and requested them to do whatever is required to save this bird, but he, like myself, felt very concerned about the possible outcome.

Mark reminded Pud and later me that Pounce Kingsley had suffered a broken wing when he was a fledgling and survived to raise his own family in Downtown Toronto for many years and that the Veterinary College would do everything possible to ensure her injuries were treated to allow the bird to be released back to the wild. I have spent time on many Urban Falcon Watches and have been part of the rescue of many fledglings but this is never something you get used to. Dealing with it is so upsetting and though I may not spend as much time on the street as other CPF Falcon watch volunteers, I remind myself that I am still on the watch, so to speak, as I am sometimes the first to get the call for help. I am hoping, as I know many of you are, that Horizon pulls through this and will eventually return home where she belongs, so keep this in mind: she is a tough bird with loads of spunk and that gives her a edge a fledgling would not have. If there is another female in the area, though, we really need to know, so we hope everyone in the Ottawa area will keep an eye open and let us know. We will keep you posted on Horizon’s condition as we get the reports and will continue to do whatever we can to help as always.

A very big thank you to all who were there to help save Horizon!

Marion Nash
1-888-709-3944 or marion@peregrine-foundation.ca

Friday June 24, 2005
Eve Ticknor reports: Day 14
Our last official day of the Falcon Watch for 2005. It is a day of mixed emotions for some volunteers who find it hard to stop each year. We enjoy so much watching the falcons flying. The adults make it look so easy, soaring up high, almost stationery up there at times. And the joy when one of the chicklets joins them in the evening for a short bout of flying is what we are here for. The fact that Storm never needed us is a bonus.

Today we are concentrating on the behaviour of the adults in case one of them is going in a particular direction more than once. If the direction is repeated a few times, we are in hopes that we may find Littlefoot in that area...... Juvenile falcons seem to adopt a few rooftops as their home,and maybe he did as well, just somewhere out of our sight. I feel that he is not in this area but further away. Connor has been seen going south a few times so we will cruise that area, as well as checking west and east of here. If Littlefoot is still dependent on his parents for food and they are not feeding him, he cannot last much longer. There is a possibility that instinct may kick in and he will learn on his own to hunt. Unless we find him, or someone reports seeing him, we may never know.

We saw some awesome flying by the adults tonight! Storm was heard from somewhere on top of Tower C, but didn't show herself to us until shortly before we were to pack up, and then, just a bit of herself. What is also awesome are our volunteers, and others who supported us in many ways. I will be submitting a final report in a few weeks. Thank you to all!!

Thursday June 23, 2005
Eve Ticknor reports: Day 13
Where is Littlefoot? That is the question on everyone's mind. We have never had a chicklet out of sight for so long!

Storm is doing very well. She stays up high most of the time. At times she can be seen flying to another building, occasionally aborting with a rapid recovery, and a parent close by her side much of the time. She is being fed often, and was actually seen refusing a delivery from Horizon! It would be better for her to cut down on the amount she is eating. Adults don't eat nearly so much..... Just before noon, Tony Beck confirmed the band number on our juvenile as that of Storm - 82 over H, not that I had doubts, but it is better to be sure.

Horizon and Connor were bust today, warning off people on the roof of the Constitution Square who were working on the Canada Day Flag! This activity should continue for a few more days. I don't envy those who are working on it.

Our Falcon Watch is coming to a close as Storm certainly doesn't need us, and never has. We will do all shifts tomorrow and end at 9pm, 14 days in total. However we will maintain an informal watch for at least the weekend as several volunteers want to continue to search for Littlefoot. As of tomorrow morning we will shift our attention from Storm to the adults in hopes that their behaviour may give us a clue to his whereabouts, if they know where he is and are feeding him. So far most of their attention is on Storm but they do fly away from time to time and we have thought it was to search for food. Maybe it was for other reasons........

To give us a boost, I am doing a very brief phone interview on site tomorrow morning for Ottawa Morning, CBC Radio1! They really have been supportive! I want to ask people in our area to keep an eye out for him and to call me if they do. Keep your fingers crossed!

Wednesday June 22, 2005
Eve Ticknor reports: Day 12
Coming downtown after work, having missed most of the day with Falcon Watchers, I revel in glimpses of flights of our falcons. Horizon and Connor take to the air together most evenings and their skill is amazing, their flying so beautiful! This evening they were joined by their daughter, Storm. She is improving with each day.

Tuesday June 21, 2005
Eve Ticknor reports: Day 11
We started out the day at 6am with both chicklets in sight, just where they were last night when we left. That was the last time things were that way.......

Monday June 20, 2005
Eve Ticknor reports: Day 10
It's nice not being cold any more.....
When I arrived around 5:45am, I heard Connor giving his warning calls. Suddenly he burst into sight from behind Tower 1, Constitution Square, chasing 3 crows! They soon left the area, minus a few feathers each! Both chicklets were where we left them last night, Littlefoot on the East Memorial Building, and Storm on the window ledge of the 151 Bay St apartments. Horizon flew over there with food to entice her but no luck. Then she took to buzzing an apartment balcony near Storm. There was a man on the balcony, probably thinking he was going to enjoy his coffee before going to work. Instead he gets an irate falcon flying back and forth inches away from the railings! Shortly after that, she brought a pigeon to Storm who spent a long time plucking and eating it. Lightfoot had to wait until mid morning for his first meal. He spent some time walking around the ledge of his home away from home. The meal he finally had was the rest of his sister's pigeon, which Horizon came and took from one ledge to the other! He didn't fly anywhere until early afternoon when he flew back and forth from East to West Memorials and back again.

Storm, meanwhile, flew south past the Queen Elizabeth Towers and landed on 467 Laurier, then north where she flew into the side of Tower 1, leaving a dusty imprint of her wings and body. From there she gained altitude and disappeared for some time. One of our past chicklets had left the same kind of imprint when he flew into another side of the same building and did very well afterwards, leaving on migration in the fall, so seeing her flying later on confirmed to me that she was just fine. No worries. An hour later she was found on the north side of 151 Bay. Early evening saw more food deliveries and more flying, especially from Storm. At one point she tried landing on her brother's building! Once again she made it up to the top of Tower C.

It was fun to watch her flying in and out from the west edge way up high, a little at at time all along from one corner to the other and back. Then she flew southwest out of sight. When she came back she tried the side of Tower C, about 1/3 of the way down the west side and then flew off to be soon found on the north side of the Delta Offices, on a window ledge 2 from the top. My guess is that she was simply tired from a marathon of flying on her 2nd day. There was speculation that she and Littlefoot had changed places since trying to land part way up a building side seemed more his style, but we could not come to a conclusion for that theory.

And so each was left to spend the night where they were. Sometimes it is hard to leave when they are in different places, but most likely they would not be flying again tonight.

Sunday June 19, 2005
Eve Ticknor reports: Day 9
Well! What a difference a day makes......... We're flying - all of us! The morning started out fairly quiet, as usual. We thought the weather was improving and then the cold returned until this afternoon. The clouds and sun seemed to take turns up in the sky.

The sparrow I took home with me was still alive this morning and I brought it with me here to feed every 20 minutes, though it took very little. Around 9:30 I brought it to the Wild Bird Care Centre. I called after 12 to find out if they would be able to save it, but no. It had many too many internal injuries.

Meanwhile Storm was wing-flapping and being ignored. She flew over to Tower 1 of Constitution Square for a bit, then over to the top of Tower C where she received lunch! She flew again, this time over to the roof of Minto Place! Her flying is superb, strong and steady (hear that Nic?). She was rewarded with another meal, unlike her brother. She eventually left the Minto and flew over the Delta, doubled back with a parent and disappeared, at least to our eyes......

Littlefoot, still on the window ledge, was bussed by his parents who were attempting to dislodge him, without success! Finally he left there, flew towards the Delta and disappeared also! Both out of sight to the watchers, but not to the adults. their behaviour gave a clue to what area we might find them in, far apart, of course.

Finally Littlefoot was found, on the roof of the West Memorial ( Veterans Affairs), corner of Sparks and Lyon! He was walking around the top, back and forth, still restless. He attempted a return to his home, but landed briefly on the window ledge of the 23rd floor. I say briefly as the parents immediately brushed him off there! He flew south, out of sight, then back north to the East Memorial Building where he was when we left after 9pm! Shortly before we left, one of the adults chased a gull north on Lyon right at street lamp level! Guess who won that race? Back to Storm. Gilles finally spotted her on the Minto, again, about mid range on that side. Apparently she was too close to a robin's nest as suddenly she was chased away by the male Robin! She flew over the bank, right over my head! I found her on a balcony about 9 floors up on the apartment building right across from our bank and Falcon Watch headquarters, and that is where we left her tonight!

Saturday June 18, 2005
Eve Ticknor reports: Day 8
At last a day without rain! It's nice to dry out somewhat.....
I thought we'd see another flight from Littlefoot today but not so. He and his sister, Storm, did wing-flapping and running along the ledge interspersed with eating and then resting. Several times we thought the time had come as the wing-flapping was so vigorous that we could see a foot lift off the ledge, but then all quieted down again each time. Both chicklets do spend some time close to each other, though not as much a last year's. They always seem to be together at the end of the day as well as at times during the day and occasionally can be seen giving a bit of assistance with preening.

There were several food drops throughout the day that appeared to be mostly pigeons. On a couple of occasions, Connor would take some of it and go off with his prize! He did chase away a gull and both he and Horizon flew off twice to chase something we couldn't see. Once Horizon appeared to buzz someone on the roof of Constitution Square and pushed Littlefoot off into the ledge as if to keep him safe from someone there. However a phone call I received around then from John let us know no one was seen from their vantage point.

Some of us added House Sparrow to our monitoring list! One was brought to us, found in a flower basket or pot at the Crowne. It was an injured fledgling who had lain there for over 4 hours! The Security person thought it was proper to leave it for the parent and didn't know what to do once he realized they weren't coming to it. Although we gave it shelter (in a nest of kleenex in a bag, tucked inside my jacket - on me), we couldn't get it to take water or food and it may not last the night. If it does, I'll take it to the Wild Bird Care Centre.
We are promised to have increasing warm temperatures starting tomorrow and, lucky us, to have high humidex by Monday!!

Friday June 17, 2005
Eve Ticknor reports: Day 7
A fairly quiet day. I'm sure much of that was due to the rain - again! There were 2 main food drops, probably pigeon. Both adults flew in for brief visits, either to check for leftovers or perhaps to encourage activity. I suspect there is some activity going on inside the ledge where we cannot see. We do see wing-flapping from time to time on the ledge where they are visible, usually at the north end. No flights today..... They sometimes seem subdued by the rain, as we do.

We are certainly doing our part with Public Relations! People stop by our "home base" to check each day on the progress of the chicklets, or to find out what we are looking at. Most of them are really interested and love looking in my spotting scope! A few of us were over to the next block, in front of the Delta, to get a better view and to be ready in case someone took off from that corner. We generated lots of interest for both employees and guests who came out for looks and information. The only interference came from all the flags flapping in the wind, cutting off some of our view!

I think people do not know that activity can go on during rain and that, unless it is raining too hard, falcons can fly then, and sometimes do, especially the chicklets. They do not see the water in the way we do. Our volunteers are prepared for all kinds of weather! If no one flies, it is still important to document all activity, such a wing-flapping, to know at what stage the chicklets' strength is at.

Hopefully it will dry up soon as I am sure we'll be running down one of the streets here over the weekend!

Thursday June 16, 2005
Eve Ticknor reports: Day 6
Some of us are beginning to feel like ducks with water dripping down all the time. At least the temperature is down from last week. A short while later we were looking for jackets!

Both chicklets were on the ledge first thing, making their way towards the south end, towards Connor. As soon as they came within crying distance, he flew off to Tower A. Horizon flew in with something small around 8am. The next while was alternating with wing-flapping and resting or crying out for food. Can't these children ever get full? All kinds of stuff happens when I have to be at work. A CBC cameraman showed up for photos but decided to come back as he couldn't get pictures that viewers could see. then another peregrine flew overhead and there was a brief contact over the antenna on Tower C! Both of ours were able to chase it away in a few minutes! How does one relax from this activity? Chase off a gull, of course.......

But we topped all that when Littlefoot took his first flight! Around 5:20 this evening, I looked up and saw him leave the ledge. Chris and Marie started running with Nancy right behind them. Our intrepid little flyer tried to land on the roof of the Crowne Plaza Hotel but missed. He then turned to Tower C but saw there was no landing place. He started to drop but recovered and flew up to his ledge at the north end. Amazing! We have never had a chicklet return to its starting point, especially a ledge under an overhang!

At one point, Horizon appeared to have something on her belly that looked like a wound. Of course we thought of the earlier peregrine visitor. Then it looked as if some feathers had been ripped out. Finally we thought of the simpler idea of blood from preparing a bird to feed her youngsters. We'll keep an eye out for the next few days to be sure.

Wednesday June 15, 2005
Eve Ticknor reports: Day 5
What a wet life we are leading now..... It was pouring when I arrived before 6am! Both chicklets were making their way down the ledge towards their father who flew across the street as soon as they came closer than he wanted. There was lots of wing-flapping for a while by both. They finally got a small meal just before 8am.

There was wing-flapping off an on all day but no flying yet. That's ok! Chasing a bird in the rain isn't much fun. You get to know just how much waterproofing you do or do not have...... We have done that before, like last year! There was thunder, lightning and heavy rain which must have been very interesting to 2 youngsters who have much to learn about their new world.

There was much activity later on in the afternoon, running along the ledge and wing-flapping, along with exercising their vocal chords! We had the joy of fire engines (3 of them) for the building next door! The noise and flashing lights did nothing for me, nor did it capture the attention of our feathered family, who tend to ignore much of what happens below them.

Finally in the evening we were treated to Connor having a flight, mostly gliding along on wind currents, until he perched on an arm of the antenna on Tower C. A bit later on, just after another dose of rain, Horizon took her turn at flying. She just floated around. It seems so easy! Our last view was of her, with Connor tucked in near the center of the antenna.

Tuesday June 14, 2005
Eve Ticknor reports: Day 4

Both our chicklets have ventured to the southwest end and are moving back and forth now. At 7am they are still hoping for breakfast...... We've seen Connor but not Horizon so I imagine she might be hunting. Our volunteers are now wearing safety vests and carrying gloves, a towel and a radio and will be ready to chase if a chicklet takes off.

I had a great start to my day, with a live interview by Lucy van Oldenbarnaveldt (not too sure of the spelling!) for Ottawa Morning on CBC Radio! It was pouring when I arrived and set up but by the time she was here it had stopped. We had 10 minutes so I showed her a few things about our set up and a look through the scope before we started. It went very well. Too bad I didn't get to hear it!

From time to time Littlefoot has given his watchers near heart attacks by doing his wing-flapping right at the edge of his ledge, so his foot slips on occasion! After all these years, my heart wants to stop as well.... The vigorous exercise is just what he should be doing, just not so near. He will be 37 days old tomorrow and males tend to fledge between 37 and 39 days.

Storm, on the other hand, seems more laid back, waiting and being seen less often. Since she is so big, she could have a harder time of fledging as it takes more strength to keep the heavier body up in the air. I'm quite content to have her wait! Females generally fledge between 40 and 42 days.

There have been several food drops today, especially late afternoonish. Once I watched as Horizon fed a possible Littlefoot on the ledge. I would have expected he would be feeding himself by now. We have to remember that there is no way to tell just which one we are looking at unless they are side by side so we can see the size difference. We are generalizing that the more active one right now is the male.

Keep your eyes and ears open now as whenever a chicklet takes off, it is in the blink of an eye! Stay tuned! We appreciate all the visitors who stop by, some to find out what we are looking at and others to get daily updates.

Monday June 13, 2005
Eve Ticknor reports: Day 3

We're getting into a bit of a stressful time now, both from a chicklet and a volunteering aspect....... I, of course, have my mind here rather than at school and envision all sorts of things happening. I am not always able to answer my cell phone so some messages are delayed. Fortunately we have some great volunteers this year who are very competent!

Anyway, 2 of our new volunteers started out the day on their own and did well. They were very observant and proved to be faithful recorders as well. I'm sure they are glad the chicklets aren't quite ready for flight yet.... Littlefoot seems more active on the ledge than Storm, his sister, but that is normal since females tend to wait longer and fly later than males. I'm not convinced yet that this will happen this year. At one point there was a chicklet on the corner of the ledge, flapping his wings (it most likely was Littlefoot), looking as if he would take off at any time. He isn't ready yet so we fervently hope he still practices daily!

The rest of the day has been rather quiet. A few peeps from Lightfoot later on and eventually a brief sighting of Storm. Just when we decided to close up, it rained, but just a bit. It will most likely create more humidity tomorrow!

Great news! I will be interviewed in the morning on the Ottawa Morning Show on CBC (91.5 FM), on location! Each bit of publicity just might get our falcons known better, and might get another volunteer.

Sunday June 12, 2005
Eve Ticknor reports: Day 2

Another hot, humid day! On occasion there was a little breeze...... There seems to be less of the food drops than yesterday, at least we didn't see any until mid morning when Connor came in with a pigeon. We could see feathers flying from a ledge on Constitution Square's Tower 2 before some was brought over to the Crowne. Early this morning Lorraine and I saw Horizon try to catch a Starling fairly low down in our area, but she failed.

To the delight of all present, Littlefoot made his presence on the ledge a little after 11:30! We could see his face, looking all around with a bobbing motion, so curious. A few minutes later Storm joined him! She actually made it further out so we saw more of her, but with the same head movements as her brother. They are so cute doing this! They stayed up for this a little while and want back in. From time to time 1 or the other would appear for a bit. We did get to see some wing-flapping from each, though!

This is what we have been waiting for. The "twins" should be visible more often each day now and we need to see much more vigorous wing-flapping and moving from 1 end of the ledge to the other and back. Those who haven't experienced this will find themselves in some heart-stopping moments as the exercising increases to the point where we anticipate a chicklet leaving the ledge.........
As evening draws near,, the air becomes more bearable! The adults are more likely to go for a fly around before it gets dark. But not tonight....

Saturday June 11, 2005
Eve Ticknor reports: Day 1

A rather quiet day for the start of our Falcon Watch. It is so hot and humid that our birds were affected like the rest of us! Gilles and I arrived around 5:30, actually the best time of day, comfortwise. We got the equipment out of my car and settled down to watch the adults. There was a small food drop around 5:40am. Neighbors started coming by to greet us and check on the falcons, saying they had been looking for us again. We have had quite a few passersby stop to find out what we were doing. One couple came over from the Crowne, saying they were sure we must be watching falcons. They came from Nottingham, England, and had a pair of Peregrines living there! We are in front of the Alterna Bank and have a bakery / cafe right next to us with delicious food....... We also have a family of 6 baby squirrels who live in the roof of the cafe. From their size, we are sure the mother has vanished. They seem to be finding seeds and look as if they are doing well, so we'll enjoy the entertainment for now. The highlight of the day was this afternoon, watching Connor escorting a Turkey Vulture out of "his" area! As if a vulture wanted live chicks...... My scope has once again proved to be a hit, drawing in curious visitors!

Friday June 10, 2005
Eve Ticknor reports: Banding Day
We had a great banding event today at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. It was nice to see some of you at the ceremony! The first chicklet is a male weighing in at 700 g and is 32 days old. His name is Littlefoot, named by staff at the CS Alterna Savings Bank. The second is a female, Storm, weighing in at 1040 g (!) and is also 32 days old. She was named by an 11 year old volunteer who has been extremely keen on falcons for over a year now. Our Falcon Watch starts tomorrow and I hope to see many of you there over the next few weeks!

Saturday June 4, 2005
Eve Ticknor reports: I was on the roof of Constitution Square briefly this afternoon, around 3pm. I could see both of our chicklets. They are upright and walking around now. Their plumage is in the process of changing from white to brown. They are quite big now, too. Horizon flew over me to let me know she was there and not to approach, which wasn't my intention. She flew to perch on a railing of Tower 2 to watch me. I was there only long enough to see the chicklets and left.

Sunday May 29, 2005
Eve Ticknor reports: I made a very brief visit to the roof this afternoon and saw our very large fluffy white chicklets near the nest area, leaning on each other in rest while Horizon was perched on the ledge nearby watching them, and then me!

Saturday May 28, 2005
Eve Ticknor reports: This afternoon, Phil Maillard and I went to the Crowne plaza to see if any of our falcons were in sight. At first they weren't. A bit later on (mid afternoon) we walked around the corner to Lyon St and saw Connor fly away from the ledge over the Queen Elizabeth Towers, to hunt we thought. Suddenly Horizon also flew in his direction and out of sight. The reason soon was apparent as 3 birds came into view! It was plain that our birds were escorting the other one out of the area, and in fact to the river. My guess is a female peregrine by size and flight. She was showing no signs of challenging and I think she was merely passing by, but naturally too close for Horizon's comfort! At least they made sure she kept on going, only returning to the ledge once she was gone way past the Marriott. They made no attempt to attack her, mot likely to preserve their energy for when it is really needed....... Then Horizon flew around while Connor perched on the ledge right near his chicklets. She went out of our sight, behind the Minto, possibly to the ladder up there to keep watch for the intruder. Quite the exciting afternoon for us "lowly" viewers!

Friday May 27, 2005
Webmaster's note: It has been confirmed that the Ottawa chicks will be banded on June the 10th at 9 am.

Friday May 20, 2005
Eve Ticknor reports: I was going to have a look at our chicklets today but after being downtown, decided not to. When I arrived, Horizon was on the northwest corner of Constitution Square, having lunch. She then went to the Crowne and perched on the southwest corner of the ledge. With Connor at the northwest end, the "bookends" made it clear that brooding was finished and they were on full alert! We'll have to wait until the banding to get any more updates! i'll let you know when that is.

Monday May 9, 2005
Eve Ticknor reports: We have A Hatch!!
I was on the roof this afternoon, having been away for the weekend. I last looked at the nest Thursday afternoon. Today there are 2 fluffy babies! Connor was trying to get comfortable during his turn at the nest. He couldn't seem to accomplish that and kept moving around, trying in vain to tuck in both babies and the other 2 eggs......... I"ll be up again tomorrow and will send another up date.

Thursday May 5, 2005
Eve Ticknor reports: I was up on the roof both yesterday and today to check on the eggs (from my usual distance across the street). We still have eggs. Yesterday was so windy and chilly that the "sitter" was not moving off during the visit.
Today I was hardly set up before a dozing Horizon stood up to turn her eggs...
I will be away this weekend so my next visit will be after work on Monday unless I get back when it is still light enough on Sunday.........
Hatching time is getting much closer!

Thursday April 21, 2005
M. Arlene Williams reports: Hello everyone, this message is from M. Arlene Williams, who formerly worked at Transport Canada and was located directly across from the ledge area of the Crowne Plaza Hotel and where our infamous duo are located.

Was in my office environment this afternoon for a short while and noticed that Horizon is brooding behind pillar #2 on the northwest corner of the ledge area. The nest is directly beside a grey cement elevated block and nearer to the back of the lower ledge area. She has been brooding, according to my former coworkers for a while now and I did see Connor delivering some miniscule morsel of food for Horizon to feast on while fulfilling her motherly duties. Connor then flew off in the direction of the Gatineau Hills and, I am sure, will return shortly to take on his time on the nest.

Miss my vantage point, but do not miss the bureaucracy of the work environment (Federal Government - oh - what a shape our Government is in at the moment).

Bye for now and I will ensure to check on the progress of our mother to be on the official Peregrine website.

Have a GREAT day, everyone

Thursday April 21, 2005

Sunday April 17, 2005
Phil Maillard reports: 10:20 am

Eve and myself are on the roof of the constitution square building, tower 1. Conner is at the moment incubating the eggs. I can see 3 of the 4 from my vantage point. Conner delicately moves the eggs while hardly moving himself. Horizon has landed on the south-east corner of the Crown Plaza and is well aware we are both here. She seems relaxed but after a while, she starts to vocalize at which time we leave. I must add that Eve has found parts of a catch on the roof area, the head of a Common Flicker! plus, some feathers from one, also, some feathers from a downy woodpecker.

Thursday April 14, 2005
Eve Ticknor reports: I finally had a good look at the eggs as Horizon arrived to change brooding duties with Connor. We have 4 large eggs! I cannot see each whole egg but can see the upper 1/2 of the eggs behind the cement slab.

Wednesday April 13, 2005
Eve Ticknor reports: Today, with Chris Traynor and Marie Clausen, I can say that we have 3, and maybe 4, Grade A large!

Monday April 11, 2005
Eve Ticknor reports: Incubation has started.
We have eggs!

Horizon, our resident Peregrine Falcon, is on her nest! She is on the west ledge, between the 2nd and 3rd column from the north end. She is between 2 boards and just south of a ventilation cap (shaped like on overturned bushel basket). This may present a challenge for those of you in Tower C, but please give it a try and let me know if you can see her.

I estimate her start date as this past Friday or Saturday, so hatching should take place around the 11th of May. Given the commencement of construction at Kent and Albert, I am glad she is on the west side.......

I hope to find out how many eggs over the next couple of days and will keep you informed.

Saturday April 9, 2005
Phil Maillard reports: 11:10 am. Conner is perched on the south-west corner of the Crown Plaza. I watch him for only a few minutes, then he flys off, heading south-west. No sign of Horizon right now.

Saturday April 2, 2005
Phil Maillard reports: Both Eve and myself can see a peregrine on the south west corner of the Crown Plaza who is probably Horizon. we check back a few hours later and she is still there on this rainy, cool day. no sign of Conner.