Wednesday March 1, 2000
Harry Crawford reports: Mandy was first seen on the top of the west facing CIBC logo at 6:45am. She moved down to the west ledge at 8:20 and left the area at 9:15am. Spike spent the time between 7:15am and 9:25 on the west CIBC ledge also. Both peregrines were circling high above Yonge and Bloor at 3:10pm. Mandy ended the day by moving into a south CIBC slot at 4:30pm.

Thursday March 2, 2000
Harry Crawford reports:  Both Spike and Mandy spent most of the day on the south facing Bay sign. Mandy was there first at 6:45am, disappearing at 7:00pm. They were both there from 10:10am until 4:45pm when they both took up positions in south facing CIBC slots. They made a few trips for food and at 3:25pm were seen circling 44 Charles St. West.

Friday March 3, 2000
Harry Crawford reports: At 6:30am both Spike and Mandy were on the south facing Bay sign. Spike disappeared at 6:45 and was back at 8:30 remaining this time until 10:50. Mandy also left at 10:50. They were both back at 12:45pm. Spike moved into a CIBC south slot briefly at 2:05pm and moved to the south ledge at 3:45. Mandy moved to the south side of the CIBC building at 2:30pm. They then moved into south CIBC slots at 5:25pm. Mandy could still be seen there at 6:20 -- her tail usually sticks out a fair amount. They continue to spend a lot of time in close proximity of each other now.

Saturday March 4, 2000
Harry Crawford reports: Mandy was on the south facing Bay sign between 6:45am and 7:20am. Spike was on the same sign between 6:55am and 7:15. Mandy appeared in the same area briefly at 1:00pm and 2:40pm. Mandy moved into a south facing CIBC slot at 5:40pm.

Sunday March 5, 2000
Harry Crawford reports: At 9:05am Mandy was seen briefly on the south east corner of the CIBC building. She reappeared on the south Bay logo at 10:45, disappearing at 2:55pm. She was back at 3:20pm and stayed until 4:40pm. Spike arrived on the south Bay logo at 12:30pm and also stayed until 4:40pm. He made some spectacular dives in the area at 3:40pm.

Monday March 6, 2000
Harry Crawford reports: Mandy started out on the 'y' of the south facing Bay sign at 6:30am. She moved to the CIBC building at 6:55 and was still there at 9:45 when I had to go out. She reappeared briefly on the east CIBC antenna at 11:10am. Spike was on the south facing Bay sign with Mandy at 6:40am. He relocated to the south side of the CIBC building at 6:35am and was gone from view at 7:05am. Mandy was on the south east corner of the CIBC building at 5:05pm before moving into a south slot at 5:20pm.

Tuesday March 7, 2000
Harry Crawford reports:  Mandy appeared on the south east corner of the Bay roof briefly at 7:35am.  At 9:05 she was on the 'y' of the south Bay logo eating fresh prey.  She was gone by 10:00am.  At 5:15pm she moved into a south CIBC concrete slot and could still be seen there at 6:30pm.   There have been quite a few crows in the area lately.

Wednesday March 8, 2000
David Charnock reports: The pair of falcons are back at the box on the 43rd floor on the hotel . First noticed them in the area last week but they have now clearly staked claim to the ledge. As I type this mail one of the birds is sitting on the box . Looking forward to another good year. Good luck to the window washers!!

Harry Crawford reports: There weren't too many sightings today. Mandy was seen briefly in a dive from the south east corner of the CIBC roof at 6:25am. Her direction was north east. She appeared on the west CIBC antenna at 7:45am; was on the north west corner of the same building for a half hour at 10:35 and finally, circling the CIBC building at 4:05pm.

Thursday March 9, 2000
Harry Crawford reports: Mandy was seen briefly on the south east CIBC roof at 8:45am.  She was on the north west corner between 9:10 and 9:55.  She joined Spike for some flying exercises north of 44 Charles West, ending by heading east towards Yonge and Bloor.  Mandy was in a south facing CIBC slot briefly at 10:55 and was later seen chasing a gull above Bloor at 12:55pm.  She gave quite a chase that lasted about 3 minutes.  The gull got away.

It seems that Spike was more successful today.  There was a starling sized bird stuffed in a concrete CIBC slot, half way up the south side of the building.  Its back was dark and chest quite white. Spike was on the foot of the south facing CIBC logo between 3:45pm and 4:10 when he flew south over the Manulife Centre.  He reappeared on the south side of the CIBC building at 4:20, remaining there until 4:45pm.

Patricia Maitland and Ian Burns report:  The best sign of spring:  from our backyard at Queen & Jarvis today, we watched 2 peregrines (Victoria & Kingley, we presume) harrass & eventually knock out a small bird over what seemed like the Yonge/King vicinity.  Great to have nice enough weather to allow watching them again.  

Friday March 10, 2000
Marcel Gahbauer reports:  GREAT NEWS!   Spike has been identified, and is none other than Windwhistler - hatched in Etobicoke in 1998!  Thanks to Sharon Jocelyn and others at BBDO in the CIBC tower, the leg bands on the male were finally read, and they identified him as Windwhistler.  This is an incredible local success story, as Windwhistler now joins his brother Marco as the only peregrine hatched in the Toronto area to return to the city to establish a territory.  Mandy continues to be elusive, but we hope to figure out her identity eventually too.  In accordance with the tradition established by Pounce-Kingsley, the male here will be officially known as Windwhistler-Spike.

Harry Crawford reports:  At 9:30am Mandy spent 10 minutes on the west side of the CIBC building.  Both Mandy and Windwhistler-Spike were on the same spot briefly at 1:40pm.  Windwhistler-Spike was back in the same place between 2:15 and 3:10.  Mandy was in a west CIBC slot between 2:50 and 3:10.  She returned and moved into a south CIBC slot at 5:35pm. At this time Windwhistler-Spike was circling above the CIBC building.

Saturday March 11, 2000
Harry Crawford reports: Both Mandy and Windwhistler-Spike were on the south side of 77 Bloor West for 15 minutes at 7:20am.   Windwhistler-Spike returned to this area at 8:50 with prey and was seen eating until 9:15.  He was back on the south west corner of 77 Bloor West briefly at 5:30pm.

Sunday March 12, 2000
Harry Crawford reports: Windwhistler-Spike was seen eating on the top of the 'h' of the south facing Bay sign at 8:40am.  At the same time Mandy was soaring above Yonge and Bloor, eventually heading off towards Avenue Road and Yorkville.  Windwhistler-Spike moved to the south side of the CIBC building and remained there until 9:20 when the helicopter arrived to move a condenser to the roof of 77 Bloor West.  At 12:45pm both peregrines spent a few minutes soaring above the St. Patrick's Day parade which was moving along Bloor West.

At 2:50pm Mandy was walking along the south roof edge of 77 Bloor West.  She then moved down onto the roof area, out of view.  A few minutes later she joined Windwhistler-Spike for a spectacular display of flying.  They used the air space above Bloor West between Yonge and Avenue Road.  At one point they both took off after a gull, unsuccessfully.  By 3:15pm Windwhistler-Spike was on the south east corner of the CIBC roof.  Around this time he must have removed the prey that had been stored in a mid level south CIBC slot for the last few days.  Both peregrines were on the south Bay logo between 4:55pm and 5:35pm.

Monday March 13, 2000
Harry Crawford reports:  Both peregrines spent most of the day around the CIBC and Bay buildings.  They appeared restless and didn't stay in one location very long.  They spent a lot of time on the edges of the roof of both buildings and a fair amount of time chasing each other, circling the two buildings below roof level.  This is not the normal observed behaviour.  Mandy was first seen at 6:25am and last seen at 4:50pm.  Windwhistler-Spike was in view at 9:25am and last seen at 2:40pm.

Patricia Maitland reports:  Another update and good news. This morning around 10 a.m., Ian Burns saw one of the falcons (Victoria, he thinks) perched proudly on the ledge of the old site at King & Victoria (east facing). 

Tuesday March 14, 2000
Harry Crawford reports: Mandy and Windwhistler-Spike were seen circling the CIBC building at 8:15am.  At this time a kestrel, likely female, passed the Manulife Centre heading east towards Yonge and Bloor.   There was no interaction with the peregrines.  Mandy then took off west and landed briefly on the roof area of 77 Bloor West. Windwhistler-Spike took off to the north west at a great height. Mandy then returned to the CIBC building and yet again back to 77 Bloor West, this time to the south east corner of the roof.  She left at 10:00am when workers appeared on the roof of the building to the south of 77 Bloor West.  She was on the north west corner of the roof of the CIBC building between 11:05am and 11:40.

Thursday March 16, 2000
Harry Crawford reports:  Mandy was seen on the south east corner of the Bay roof for 10 minutes at 6:50am.  At 9:10am she was circling the CIBC and Bay buildings at window level.  She fluttered up against one of the non window panels on the south side of the CIBC building, recovered her composure and continued circling.  At 9:15 she sat briefly on the south east corner of the CIBC building.  She returned to this spot at 10:00am for 15 minutes.

At 5:20pm Mandy was on the south west corner of 77 Bloor West.  The workers on the roof just south of her location had left for the day. At one point she extended both wings in a stretch -- a magnificent sight!  She moved off at 5:40pm.

Yesterday there was a brief sighting of Mandy on the north west corner of the CIBC building at 5:45pm.

Katherine Rich reports:  I continue to have brief sightings of our 2 peregrines on an almost daily basis.  They are always in flight, usually over the University/Avenue Rd./Yorkville areas, or appear to be flying on the 31st floor level around, then behind, and out of my view here @ 55 Charles W.

Today at approximately 5:45 p.m. Harry Crawford called to alert me to Mandy's presence on the southwest corner of 77 Bloor West.  I observed her perched there, stretching her wings and looking around, for about 5 minutes.  I had, in turn, called my friend Mary in the Manulife who has a more southern view of the area, so she was also enjoying the sighting.  At 5:50 Mandy left her perch and flew south straight toward my building and disappeared, seemingly to the west.  I checked my other windows...no Mandy.  Mary called back and said that she was watching Mandy on the uppermost ventilation stack of my building, where she stayed for a minute or two before apparently dropping down to the roof level where she remained out of sight for another 2 or 3 minutes.  Mary observed Mandy fly from the roof to the north, and we both then watched her land on the southwest corner of the Four Seasons Hotel where she was soon feeding on something.  It is most likely that it was a previous kill as neither of us observed prey in her talons as she flew. 

Another peregrine soon landed on the same corner very close to Mandy, remained there very briefly before flying away to the east.  Mandy remained on the Four Seasons until 6:02 p.m.

Friday March 17, 2000
Harry Crawford reports:  Windwhistler-Spike was on the south facing Bay logo between 6:10am and 6:25am.  He reappeared in the same location at 10:00am remaining there until 10:30.  Mandy appeared on the south facing Bay logo at 11:00am and disappeared from view at 12:30pm.  At 3:45 Windwhistler-Spike was briefly in a west CIBC slot and then joined
two other peregrines circling the Yonge and Bloor area.  This group worked their way south along Yonge.  There was no aggression or chasing observed.

Katherine Rich reports:  Mandy was seen again today on the southwest corner of the Four Season's Hotel.  She arrived at about 5:10 PM and remained there off and on for about 45 minutes.  I could not tell if she was eating or perhaps cleaning her feet, but she was clearly involved in an activity which involved a kind of bobbing up and down movement.

Jennifer Barr reports: I just thought that you'd like to know that there are two peregrine falcons sitting on the Sheraton Hotel nest ledge right now and that they have spent a lot of time either there, 390 Bay Street and 130 Adelaide this week.  If you were to turn on the camera right now I think you'd see a peregrine standing on the nest box.  At least one of them was on the nest box yesterday too, and on Tuesday Victoria was back at her usual spot on the northeast corner of 130 Adelaide eating a pigeon.  She likes to pluck them first.

Saturday March 18, 2000
Mary Prokipochuk reports:  At 3:10 PM a dark colored peregrine falcon was spotted 110 Boor West (south side) flying between that building and the next, sometimes below the level of the top floor and through the alley.  The bird then moved back and forth about 4 floors from the top of the building, flying parallel and very close to the glass on the front side.  Three times, although he swerved into the glass, he made only  brief contact.  He was perched on top of 110 Bloor West as I had to be on my way.

Katherine Rich reports:  This morning I was privileged to enjoy a great sighting of a peregrine who I suspect may have been Mandy.  At 9:30 am she was perched on the northwest corner of the Manulife building, facing the sun.  I was able to see the markings very clearly.  This was a large peregrine, quite light in markings, with a light breast and very white neck.  Because she was so illuminated by the sun, the markings may have appeared to be lighter than they actually are.  She remained there for 30 minutes, reappearing on the same spot a few times over the next two hours.

At 12:25 PM a peregrine was again perched on the southwest corner of the Four Seasons, remaining there until 1:46.  He or she appeared at and disappeared from that spot at about 10 minute intervals for the next hour.  I did not observe where the bird went during the absences.  At 4:20 PM, what appeared to be the same peregrine returned to the spot and remained there until 4:55 PM, to return again at 5:05.  Another peregrine was spotted soaring high above the Four Seasons at 4:30 PM.

Sunday March 19, 2000
Harry Crawford reports:  At 12:55pm Windwhistler-Spike flew east above Yorkville to the Yonge and Bloor area and then back west again over Bloor.  At 1:15 both he and Mandy were soaring above the CIBC building and ended up on the north roof ledge out of view.  At 1:50pm Mandy was on the top of the west CIBC logo for a brief time.  There were no sightings on Saturday.

Katherine Rich reports:  A very unique sighting.....a peregrine who looked very much like Windwhistler-Spike was soaring and diving to the south and southwest over Bay and Charles at 5:10 PM.  As a medium rain fell, he attained high altitude over the Manulife building and then dove 3 to 4 times straight down over the intersection to a level of about halfway down the building.  It is not likely that this was hunting behavior as there were no other birds in sight.  He flew around the building once and then returned to the inverted 90 degree angle cut on the southwest corner of the building, repeatedly flying straight into the corner, seemingly trying to land against the windowless flat concrete side of the building.  He did this three times and then flew back around the Manulife to the north and east and out of my view.  I have not seen any of the peregrines behaving in this manner before...it was quite an unsettling sight.

Monday March 20, 2000
Marcel Gahbauer reports:  Last Thursday, OMNR biologist Mark Heaton paid a visit to the Sheraton Hotel to check on Victoria and Pounce-Kingsley.   He was happy to discover that they have already scraped a depression in the nest box, and both adults were in the vicinity.  They have apparently been terrorizing maintenance staff working on another part of the roof, and it would appear that in a very short period of time they have left their winter haunts over by King and Yonge, and returned full time to the Sheraton.  We look forward to another successful nesting season here, and the Sheraton Hotel is also delighted to have their special guests back.   Watch for an announcement about the launch of the Toronto Webcam soon!

Harry Crawford reports:  At 7:40am Windwhistler-Spike took off from the south roof ledge of 77 Bloor West and headed south above Bay.   Seconds later, Mandy took off from somewhere on the roof area of 77 Bloor West and followed Windwhistler-Spike down Bay.  At 12:30pm both peregrines again headed southwards from the 77 Bloor West area.

Thursday March 23, 2000
Harry Crawford reports:  Windwhistler-Spike was seen briefly on the south edge of the Bay roof at 4:35pm.  The only other recent sighting was of Mandy on the west side of the CIBC building at 7:40am for a few minutes on Tuesday.

Friday March 24, 2000
Harry Crawford reports:  Windwhistler-Spike was on the south west corner of 77 Bloor West at 5:25pm.  He moved into a west facing concrete slot at the CIBC building at 6:00pm.

Sunday March 26, 2000
Harry Crawford reports:  At 2:10 pm a large very dark peregrine was on the foot of the west facing CIBC logo.  It moved into a south slot at 2:15 for a short time and then moved off to the north.  It was likely female and was not Mandy.  Using the scope, I couldn't discern either immature or adult banding of any sort -- the front appeared solid.  At the same time, 2:15pm, I spotted the white peregrine in a south CIBC slot. It was small, likely male.  With the aid of the scope, I couldn't see any banding in the chest area -- it was pure white.   This is obviously the peregrine that Katherine saw earlier this month and the one Sharon has seen in the last few weeks. At 2:50pm Windwhistler-Spike was on the foot of the west facing CIBC logo for a few minutes.

Monday March 27, 2000
Harry Crawford reports:  Windwhistler-Spike alternated between the CIBC building and the south west corner of 77 Bloor West between 6:35am and 7:55am.  Mandy was seen briefly at 7:35am on the south east corner of 55 Bloor West.

Tuesday March 28, 2000
Marcel Gahbauer reports:  What a difference a week makes!   Today Bill Green and I visited the Sheraton Hotel to connect the computer in the maintenance room in preparation for broadcasting the live images from the Toronto Webcam.   After a couple of hours of playing with dozens of wires, cables, and telephone cords, we finally figured out how to get the entire technological monster properly connected.  (Note: the webcam is however not yet broadcasting because we are awaiting a second phone line).

Unfortunately, all our effort may have been for naught.   Once we had the webcam working on our computer screen, we could see that there were no peregrines anywhere on the nest ledge.  And although we couldn't see the nest ledge as such, we did have a view out of adjacent windows, and we observed no activity during the two hours we were there.  Jennifer Barr indicated to me via e-mail yesterday that Victoria and Kingsley have not been active near the Sheraton Hotel for the past week.

On a whim, we checked out the old 18 King Street location, and sure enough, there was Kingsley, perched on the edge of the ledge just a few feet from the pillar behind which the peregrines nested from 1995 through 1997.  For the most part he faced that pillar, and repeatedly made a bowing motion toward it, suggesting strongly that Victoria was behind it.  Just as we were leaving the area, Victoria flew overhead, and Kingsley disappeared from sight.  This behaviour suggests there may already be one or more eggs at this location.

We will attempt to observe the 18 King site more closely in the coming days to determine whether they are in fact nesting there.  If that is the case, it will likely not be possible to provide video monitoring of them this year - it would seem they may have outsmarted us...

Harry Crawford reports:  At 8:40am Windwhistler-Spike was seen briefly on the north west corner of the CIBC building.  At 3:40pm both Windwhistler-Spike and Mandy were circling the Yonge and Bloor area and eventually headed west along Bloor.  They were flying fast and close, touching talons at least twice.

Wednesday March 29, 2000
Harry Crawford reports:  Windwhistler-Spike was briefly on the south east corner of the CIBC building at 7:25am.  At 12:20pm it appeared that Windwhistler-Spike and Mandy were circling the CIBC building.  One landed on the west side and the other, on the south side.  Windwhistler-Spike moved into a south CIBC slot and then to the top of the 'B' of the south
facing Bay sign at 12:30pm.  Mandy was then seen eating something small on the top of the south facing CIBC logo.  While all this was going on, a pair of raptors was seen descending from a high altitude towards the north.  They came down and circled the CIBC building. At first, I thought they were kestrels but as they approached the building, they could only be peregrines.  They flew towards the north east part of the building and probably landed out of view. Windwhistler-Spike was seen eating a small object on the top of the south facing CIBC logo at 5:40pm.

Friday March 31, 2000
Harry Crawford reports:  Windwhistler-Spike was on the top of the 'y' of the south facing Bay sign between 4:35pm and end of light at 6:55pm.  Mandy was seen on the south east corner of 77 Bloor West for 10 minutes at 6:05pm.  There were no sightings yesterday.

Saturday April 1, 2000
Harry Crawford reports:  Windwhistler-Spike was seen on various corners of the roof and ledge of the CIBC building between 6:05am and 8:05am.  At 3:35pm a red-tailed hawk flew east to west above Bloor Street disappearing near Avenue Road.  He was approximately the height of the CIBC building.

Sunday April 2, 2000
Harry Crawford reports:  Mandy was first seen in a south CIBC slot at 7:15am.  At 7:25 she was on the south west corner of the CIBC roof.  Windwhistler-Spike and Mandy were seen briefly mating.  Mandy remained there until 8:00am. Windwhistler-Spike took over the same location between 8:25am and 8:50.  He was seen on the south west corner of the Bay roof between 2:05pm and 2:25pm.  At 4:00pm an unidentified peregrine was seen moving north above Yonge Street, heading from Bloor.  It was gaining altitude as it disappeared.

Tuesday April 4, 2000
Harry Crawford reports:  Mandy was on the south side of the CIBC building between 9:35 and 10:05am.  She was on the east CIBC antenna between 12:40 and 1:20pm.

Wednesday April 5, 2000
Marcel Gahbauer reports:  We still don't know for sure just what Pounce-Kingsley and Victoria are up to this spring.  Over the past several days, Bruce Massey has seen them quite regularly near the old 18 King Street East nest site.  However, both are still being seen together, which suggests that they are not yet incubating eggs.  Nonetheless, the chances are increasing that this is the nest site they will choose for this spring.  We will keep monitoring the situation.

Thursday April 6, 2000
Harry Crawford reports:  Windwhistler-Spike and Mandy were slowly circling high above 77 Bloor West at 6:50am.  Mandy was seen later at 7:10am on the south west corner of the CIBC building.

Friday April 7, 2000
Harry Crawford reports:  Between 12:30 and 1:20pm a red-tailed hawk sat on the south roof edge of the CIBC building.  It was unchallenged and eventually took off, flying south along Yonge.  Mandy appeared on the top of the 'B' of the south facing Bay logo at 4:35pm, remaining there until 5:30.

Saturday April 8, 2000
Alan Kirschbaum reports:  On Thursday, I saw a peregrine land on the tallest tower of the Whitney Block. The Whitney Block is the old building beside the Legislature. The peregrine was not there for long, even with out binoculars it was clearly a peregrine. I took my new binoculars in on Friday and was rewarded immediately, a peregrine was sitting on the Mowat Block (the tallest building in the area). I had a seat and enjoyed the view. Some people came by and while interested in what I saw, they where used to seeing peregrines and said that they hung out by the Legislature. So at lunch I walked across the street to the Legislature to see if they were right. I walked around the building and when I was between the Whitney Block and the Legislature it happened. I was on the grass and surrounded by starlings and pigeons. They could care less that I was there, when suddenly they exploded towards the Legislature. I looked up and saw a peregrine warping out towards the Hydro building. The birds heard the peregrine before I did. It was moving so fast that I could barely see it with my binoculars. I saw it near the Hydro building, but it was not alone, there was another peregrine with it. Just when I thought that was it, it come back. This time I had a clear view with my binoculars, but I had a hard time keeping up with it. In what seemed like seconds it was back in the Yonge and Bloor area. I can see why they are called the blue bullet. I know what I’ll be doing at lunch from now on.

Sunday April 9, 2000
Harry Crawford reports:  An unidentified peregrine was on the foot of the west facing CIBC logo at 4:55pm.  It appeared to be male but not Windwhistler-Spike as there was very little white around the neck area.   It was only around for a few minutes. Yesterday Windwhistler-Spike was on the south facing Bay logo between 2:25pm and 3:20.

Monday April 10, 2000
Harry Crawford reports:  Between 7:20 and 8:10am Windwhistler-Spike was on the south side of the CIBC building.

Thursday April 13, 2000
Harry Crawford reports:  Between 6:25 and 7:10am Mandy was on the north east corner of the CIBC roof.  She was also seen on the east antenna of the same building between 10:55 and 11:10am.  During this time, workers were seen on the roof of 77 Bloor West.  Roof replacement continues on the condominium directly south of this location.

Saturday April 15, 2000
Harry Crawford reports:  A call from Katherine Rich this morning alerted me to Windwhistler-Spike's arrival in my viewing territory.  He was on the south west corner of the CIBC building at 11:15am.   Mandy came by shortly after, fluttered against the west side of the CIBC building about half way up, and seemed to retrieve Windwhistler-Spike.  They both flew west did some amazingly fast flights using the whole area between Varsity Stadium and Yonge Street, and three blocks north and south of Bloor.  There was no touching like previously -- just fast formation flying.   My last view was at 11:35 when they went south, behind 44 Charles West.

At 12:55pm a kestrel passed by the north side of 44 Charles West, heading east -- still no sign of the Manulife kestrels, let alone our duck.  Windwhistler-Spike came back at 2:30pm and circled the area of Yonge and Bloor for a few minutes.  This was repeated at 5:20pm.  At 6:20pm Windwhistler-Spike was seen relocating from a south facing CIBC slot to a west facing one.

Sunday April 16, 2000
Harry Crawford reports:  Windwhistler-Spike was seen midway up the west side of the CIBC building at 7:55am.  At first I thought he was feeding but instead, he was setting up a cache of food.  He left what looked like a sparrow and a larger, dark bird with white patches.  Both were still feathered.  At 4:35 he was back and ate the cache.  He was finished and disappeared by 4:55pm.

Monday April 17, 2000
Marcel Gahbauer reports:  Last week we received a report from window-washers on the Four Seasons Hotel (at Avenue Road and Bloor) that there was a peregrine egg on a ledge of the building.  Mark Nash of the Canadian Peregrine Foundation and Mark Heaton of the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources went up to investigate later in the week, and found that there was indeed an egg present - but that it was broken.  Perhaps the shell was too thin to withstand incubation, or maybe there is some other explanation - it's hard to tell. 

Nonetheless, the good news is that the peregrines here are at least attempting to nest.  I say the peregrines, because their identity is now in question.  Presumably the male is still Windwhistler (who may or may not be the same bird as Spike).  But the female observed last week at this location was an immature, which means she could not be the same bird that we have been calling Mandy.   It seems things just keep getting more and more confusing at this location!

We will keep a close watch on this area over the next couple of weeks, and hope that the female lays more eggs, and that they fare better than the first.

Harry Crawford reports:  Mandy was seen in a west CIBC slot at 7:10am.  She remained there until 8:30 when she joined Windwhistler-Spike on the foot of the west facing CIBC logo.  By 9:35 Windwhistler-Spike was gone, followed by Mandy at 10:05am.  Mandy (although I am not quite sure) was on the west side of the CIBC building between 11:35am and 1:50pm.  Windwhistler-Spike appeared briefly on the mid west side of the CIBC building at 4:50pm.

Alan Kirschbaum reports:  A peregrine was back at queens park this morning.  It landed at the same spot as it did last week (tall tower of the Whitney block).  It was zipping around the towers so fast it was hard to anticipate where or when it would turn up. 

Tuesday April 18, 2000
Harry Crawford reports:  Mandy was seen in a west CIBC slot between 6:50 and 7:15am. Windwhistler-Spike was on the west side of the CIBC building briefly at 9:55am.  He was on the top of the west CIBC logo between 1:45 and 2:05pm.  All of these locations have a clear view of the Four Seasons Hotel.

Wednesday April 19, 2000
Harry Crawford reports:  At 12:10pm Mandy was slowly circling above Yonge and Bloor with prey in her talons.  She was removing the feathers while circling, letting them fall to the intersection below.  Ten minutes later she landed on the south east corner of the CIBC building.  Through the scope it looked like an adult female and not the imm that has been around the area lately.

Thursday April 20, 2000
Harry Crawford reports:  An unidentified peregrine flew from the roof area of 77 Bloor West heading north west at 8:15am.  It had a small object in its beak -- probably a sparrow.

Friday April 21, 2000
Katherine Rich reports:  This morning at 11:05, Harry Crawford called and alerted me to the presence of a peregrine on the roof of 55 Bloor West, whom he identified as Mandy.  From my 31st floor view , it appeared that she was digging around on the surface of the roof, and Harry and I speculated that she might have been scratching around in the stones.  I went up one floor to 32 in order to get a closer view and witnessed my first peregrine falcon "bath".  There was an inch or two of puddle in which she was hopping around, dipping her head into the deepest part, and splashing the water backwards onto her back and wings. She continued these ablutions for a minute or so, flew to the southern ledge of the roof where she stretched her wings and preened.  She then flew south and west, landed on the southwest corner of 77 Bloor where she remained for 2 minutes and then flew northeast and out of my view.

I continue to enjoy brief almost daily sightings of Mandy and two smaller falcons as they move against the sky around the Bay/Charles/Bloor/University area.  When their altitude diminishes, it is very difficult to follow them against the trees and buildings, even with a good pair of binoculars, as they are so fast and well camouflaged.  I have occasionally seen two peregrines together in flight and neither one has been Mandy.

Bruce Massey reports:  Around 8 am this morning, I observed Windwhistler-Spike and the immature female around the Four Seasons Hotel.   Both repeatedly visited the easternmost ledge on the north face of the building.   This ledge cannot be viewed from inside the building, nor from other nearby buildings.  Their behaviour suggested that there may be nesting activity at this site, but it's impossible to know for certain at this point.

Harry Crawford reports: At 10:00am Mandy (or I think it was Mandy) appeared on the foot of the west facing CIBC logo.  She remained there until 11:00 when she flew over to the roof area of 55 Bloor West.  I then passed the sighting off to Katherine Rich. At 12:40pm Mandy was back on the foot of the west facing CIBC logo and remained there until 3:10pm.

Saturday April 22, 2000
Marcel Gahbauer reports:  Over the past couple of weeks, several observers have reported Kingsley and Victoria flying to and from the east side of 18 King Street East, and retreating behind the pillar upon arrival.  The evidence very strongly suggests that they are nesting at this location this spring, and chances are that they have already been incubating for roughly two weeks.  However, it's very difficult to get an angle to see into the nest ledge, so we may have to wait until the chicks hatch and begin moving around a bit to confirm the nesting attempt and learn how many chicks there will be.

Harry Crawford reports: At 10:05am a falcon that looked like Mandy was in a slot mid way up the west face of the CIBC building.  She was only there for 10 minutes.  Spike appeared briefly on the north west corner of the CIBC building at 11:35.  An unidentified peregrine was soaring high above Bay and Bloor at 1:30pm and above Yonge and Bloor at 1:40pm.

Sunday April 23, 2000
Harry Crawford reports:  A female peregrine was circling above 77 Bloor West at 7:10am.  She flew over to 55 Bloor West and then back to the south west corner of 77 Bloor West.  She moved to the Renaissance Plaza (Bloor and Avenue Road) at 7:20 where she was joined by a male.  One of them was removing the feathers from prey.  Both were gone at 7:35am.  At that time a pair of peregrines were on the CIBC building, remaining there for five minutes.   I can't say if they were the same birds or not.  At 6:50pm a male peregrine was in a west facing CIBC slot.  There was also kestrel activity in the area most of the afternoon.

Katherine Rich reports:  There was a lot of peregrine activity in the area this morning with two birds in the air around 55 Charles at various times starting at around 10;00 am and continuing for the next hour.  A few minutes before 11:00 am, they were spotted flying in the general vicinity of Bay/Charles/Bloor.  They were definitely flying together and appeared to be "playing" in the air, circling each other and swooping and diving as they flew around the Manulife Building two or three times.  At 11:03 each settled onto an upper corner of the Manulife and remained there for about 10 minutes.  The bird on the southwest corner may have been Spike, mature, dark winged with a greyish breast.  His "cheek" markings were very white and quite pronounced.  The other peregrine, perched on the northwest corner, was larger and much lighter, likely an immature female.  I am sure that I have not seen this lighter bird before today.  The two flew off together in a northerly direction at about 11:13.

Monday April 24, 2000
Marcel Gahbauer reports:  Bruce Massey called me this afternoon to report that he observed both the male and female peregrines active around the north side of the Four Seasons Hotel this morning.  For a while he lost sight of Windwhistler - only to spot him just overhead, flying away from Jesse Ketchum Park with a pigeon in his talons!

Harry Crawford reports:  Slowly circling the CIBC building in the predawn light at 6:00am were a pair of peregrines.  It was one of those rare and beautiful sightings where you just stood there and watched in awe.  The female made a number of passes at the tops of both antennae but didn't land.  Mandy used these as perches many times.  At 6:15am the male was on the north west corner of the CIBC roof, remaining there until 6:30.  At 6:45 the male was on the south west corner of 77 Bloor West, then moved back to the CIBC building 10 minutes later, circling it high above.

At 5:50pm the pair were playing tag back and forth above 55 Bloor West and the CIBC building.  They touched talons several times and were rarely far apart.  This activity was observed for about 10 minutes.

Katherine Rich reports:  At 11:45 am I observed a pair of peregrines mating.  They were on the rungs of an antenna on the northeast corner of the Four Seasons Hotel.  After two encounters, the male appeared to land on the northwest outermost corner of the building roof (I have a very restricted view of all but a small tip of that corner).  The female remained on the antenna for a few minutes and then flew away to the west.  It is this observer's opinion that this courtly and shrewd male peregrine knows a good hotel when he sees one.

Monday April 27, 2000
Harry Crawford reports: At 6:05am a female peregrine was on the top of the west facing CIBC logo.  She moved over to the top of the east CIBC antenna 6:50 and disappeared shortly after.  She was back on the top of the west facing logo again at 8:15am, remaining until 8:40.  I couldn't get a good look at her since she faced away at all times.  At 3:00pm a very dark female peregrine was briefly on the north west corner of the CIBC building.  This is likely the same bird that was seen in the morning.  Both male and female peregrines were circling above the CIBC building for about 15 minutes at 5:50pm.

Friday April 28, 2000
Harry Crawford reports:  At 8:30am a male peregrine was briefly on the north west corner of the CIBC building.  The same male visited the south east corner of the roof of 55 Bloor West at 3:05pm.  During the day, workers started to put up the south facing Marriott sign on the former Radisson Hotel.

Saturday April 29, 2000
Harry Crawford reports:  A male peregrine with prey in its talons flew from west to east above 55 Bloor West and then flew back west, out of view.

Sunday April 30, 2000
Harry Crawford reports:  At 6:00am both a male and female peregrine were on the CIBC building.  The female remained on the top of the east antenna, disappearing at 6:15.  The male was on the north west corner of the building and disappeared at 6:20.