The Canadian Peregrine Foundation

TORONTO HOME PAGE ARCHIVES

November - December 1999

Monday November 1
Harry Crawford reports:    Mandy was on the bottom of the 'B' of the south facing Bay sign briefly at 7:50am.   She settled on the top of the west CIBC logo at 10:15, remaining there until 12:10pm.  At 1:15 she appeared on the north west corner of the CIBC building and remained there until 1:45.  At 3:35 she was on the south east corner of 77 Bloor West briefly and then took off straight down Bay Street.  Spike wasn't seen today.

Tuesday November 2
Harry Crawford reports:   There was a light rain in the area with increasing strong winds. Mandy was on the bottom of the 'B' of the south facing Bay sign from 7:50am until 3:20pm when she relocated to the bottom of the 'y' on the same sign.  She was still there at end of light, 5:05pm.  Spike was on the south Radisson Plaza from 11:20am until 2:40pm when he relocated to the south side of the CIBC building.  He remained there until 3:20.   He was on the top of the 'h' of the south facing Bay sign, near Mandy, between 3:50 and 4:45.

Thursday November 4
Harry Crawford reports: Mandy was seen briefly on the Bay building at 8:40am and from 9:40 to 10:20.  She moved over to the Radisson Plaza and stayed there until 11:55 and reappeared at 1:25pm.    At 2:30 the Radisson Plaza was testing their generator which caused a lot of smoke.   Mandy moved to the Bay building and stayed there until 3:35.  An unidentified peregrine was flying above Yonge and Bloor at 4:45, probably Mandy.

On Wednesday, Mandy was seen briefly on the Radisson Plaza between 7:55am and 8:10.    She was briefly on the Bay building at 9:45. There were workers on the roof of 55 Bloor West most of the day.

Saturday November 6
Harry Crawford reports:    Spike was seen on the west side of the CIBC building between 9:50 and 10:40am.   He was later seen briefly on the Bay and CIBC buildings at 3:20 for about ten minutes.  Yesterday, Mandy was seen briefly on the top of the 'y' of the south facing Bay sign at 7:05am.

Sunday November 7
Katherine Rich reports:   At 1:05 pm I spotted a kestrel over St. Mary's Street, flying north and unfortunately, quickly out of view.   Very soon after, two peregrines appeared in the same vicinity, soaring high over the Royal Ontario Museum and the U of T campus west toward St. George St.  I thought that the smaller and darker of the two might be Spike, and the other most probably was Mandy.  However, at that time I called Harry Crawford to learn what he had seen today, and he reported that Mandy had been perched on the Bay sign at one of her usual posts for most of the day, including the time of my sighting.  After comparing each of our day's sightings and times, we speculated that it is possible that there were three peregrines in the immediate area this afternoon.  The two that I was watching eventually flew away in different directions, the larger straight south and the smaller one in a north westerly direction toward Bloor and Avenue Rd.

Harry Crawford reports: An unidentified peregrine was on the top of the south facing CIBC logo at 6:40am (first light).  It disappeared before it could be identified.  At 7:45, Mandy appeared on top of the dot of the 'i' of the south facing Radisson Plaza logo.  She remained there until 9:40 when she relocated to the bottom of the 'B' of the south facing Bay logo. She remained there until 3:40pm and then disappeared.  At 4:35 she was on the south facing CIBC logo, staying there until 4:55.

Spike was seen on the south east corner of the roof of 77 Bloor West at 8:40am.  He immediately took up various positions on the CIBC building until 9:40.  A kestrel took over his 77 Bloor West spot as soon as he left.  Spike was seen flying around throughout the day. He caught something and stored it on top of the 'd' of the Radisson Plaza sign.  At 2:20pm he retrieved the prey and took it to the south west corner of the same building and ate it.   He wasn't seen after that.

Monday November 8
Jennifer Barr reports:  Just in case you were wondering what Victoria's been doing with herself lately right now she seems to be having a lot of fun playing in a wind current north of the First Canadian Place.    She's been flying around here for about 15 minutes now.  Several times she has let the wind push her almost all the way over (upside down).  It looks like she's having a great time - it's almost like watching an otter play!

Marcel Gahbauer reports:   Several people have asked me recently whether in fact Victoria and Kingsley are still around Toronto, since there have been no updates posted on them lately.  This is our fault!  Both are very much in evidence, and Bruce Massey has been spotting them quite regularly.   Within the past week or so, Victoria and Kingsley have actually spent quite a bit of time back in the old neighbourhood at King and Victoria, and Kingsley was even back on the nest site itself, on the east side of 18 Victoria.  We'll try to remember to keep updating the activities of this pair more regularly, and as always, we welcome reports from anyone else who has sightings of them.

Harry Crawford reports:  Mandy was on the top of the 'y' of the south facing Bay sign at 6:55am, leaving as soon as there was enough light to navigate. She was seen briefly on the west side of the CIBC building at 12.15pm.  She was also circling above Yonge and Bloor at 4:45pm. There were workers on the CIBC building all day and the swing stage was in use.

Tuesday November 9
Harry Crawford reports:  Today there were workers on 55 Bloor West as well as the Bay.  The Bay swing stage was in use.  However, Mandy appeared on the west side of the CIBC building at 9:05am.    She immediately dove on a couple of small birds that were passing by.    Unsuccessful, she landed on the top of the west facing CIBC logo remaining there until 12:15pm.  She made a brief pass above the Bay swing stage at 9:45, checking out the intruders.

Wednesday November 10
Marcel Gahbauer reports: Over the past few months, I've received a few scattered reports of a peregrine being seen in Scarborough, in the area of McCowan Road and Highway 401.  More often than not, the bird seems to frequent the buildings east of McCowan on the south side of the highway, but on at least two occasions it has been spotted over by the Scarborough Town Centre complex to the west.

I have had only one brief look at this bird, as I was driving west on the 401 at 100 km/h.  It happened to fly across the highway just in front of me, only ~5 metres up.    Despite the proximity, I couldn't get a good look at it because of the speed at which I was going.  My impression though, was that it was likely an adult female.    If anyone has more information about this bird, or sees it in the future, I would appreciate receiving any reports.

Harry Crawford reports: Mandy appeared briefly on the west side of the CIBC building at 7:50am.  She reappeared on the same side of the building at 9:20, this time on top of the logo.  Spike hung around the south sides of the CIBC and Bay buildings between 3:15pm and 4:15pm.

Thursday November 11
Harry Crawford reports:  At 6:50am Spike was seen on the 'y' of the south facing Bay sign. He disappeared from view at 7:15.  Mandy arrived on the south side of the CIBC building at 7:30am, moving to the west side at 10:30. She remained there until 11:05.  Spike reappeared at 8:55, preferring the top of the 'h' of the south facing Bay sign.  He remained there until 10:30.  During this time, the swing stage was in use just below him, with cables swinging back and forth.  At 10:30 he moved to the top of the west facing CIBC logo and remained there until the lunch hour.  Mandy was on the ledge below him for about half an hour.

At 4:15pm Mandy was on the south side of the CIBC building.  At 4:40 she moved into one of the concrete slots above her.  She had to face in because she is too big to turn around.  She remained there until end of light, 5:15pm.

Friday November 12
Marcel Gahbauer reports: It seems that putting up the report on Wednesday served as a bit of good luck!  I finally saw the Scarborough peregrine for a second time this morning, but unfortunately again I was driving past at high speed and unable to stop. All I could gather from the quick glimpse I got was that it was large and dark - very likely a female, and either a juvenile or a richly coloured anatum adult.  One of these days I'll have to figure out how to see this bird while standing still...

Sunday November 14
Harry Crawford reports:  At 7:30am Spike spent 15 minutes on the top of the south facing CIBC logo.  He reappeared on the south facing Bay logo at 9:35 remaining on various letters until 2:30pm.    At 11:35 Mandy joined him on the Bay logo and stayed there until 12:25.   Both were seen on the south facing Radisson Plaza sign at 2:30 for 10 minutes.   Spike moved to the south facing Bay sign and remained there until 4:10.

On Saturday, Spike was seen briefly on the south facing Bay logo at 10:15am.  On Friday, Mandy was on the top of the west CIBC logo between 7:25am and 9:00am.

Monday November 15
Harry Crawford reports: Mandy spent the morning, between 7:20 and 12:45 on the second 's' of the south Radisson Plaza sign.   Spike joined her between 10:45 and 12:45, preferring the 'R'.  At 1:40pm Mandy was on the bottom of the 'B' of the south Bay sign.  She remained there until 2:20.   At 3:05 she was on the east antenna of the CIBC building with Spike hovering in the strong winds above her.  She was on the Bay logo at 3:55 and moved over to the south side of the CIBC building, remaining there until 4:45.  She then moved into one of the concrete slots and was there until 5:15pm, end of light.  Spike was on the 'B' of the south Bay logo at 4:55 also remaining there until end of light.

Nancy van der Poorten reports:  Today for the first time since August, I saw two peregrines, presumably Kingsley and Victoria, back at the old haunt, the Sheraton Centre. One of them landed a few times on an antenna on the Sheraton Centre. They were both playing in the breeze, seemingly enjoying each other's company, and doing a bit of light sparring. What a lovely sight!

Tuesday November 16
Harry Crawford reports: Mandy spent most of the day on either the Radisson Plaza or Bay buildings.  She was first seen at 6:55am and last seen at 4:10pm. Spike appeared in the same locations at 10:00am and disappeared around 3:15pm.  He was back on the top of the 'h' of the south facing Bay sign between 4:40 and 4:55.

Wednesday November 17
Harry Crawford reports: Spike was on the south logo of the CIBC building at 6:50am and remained there until 7:05.   He was back on the south facing Bay sign at 9:25, remaining there until 9:45.   Mandy took on various locations of the Bay and Radisson Plaza between 8:50am and 12:05pm. She reappeared briefly on the top of the west CIBC antenna at 4:15pm.

Thursday November 18
Harry Crawford reports: Spike was seen on the 'h' of the south facing Bay sign at 6:50am remaining there until 7:15.    He was back in the same position at 7:50 and disappeared at 9:00.  He was seen briefly on the south ledge of the roof of the same building at 9:25.  At 3:40pm he moved into a slot on the south side of the CIBC building and remained there until the end of light around 5:00pm.  Mandy hung around the 'B' of the south facing Bay sign between 7:50am and 10:35am.

Friday November 19
Harry Crawford reports: Spike was still in the same slot on the CIBC building at first light, 7:00am.  He flew away as soon as there was enough light. He likely spent the night in the slot.  He was seen on the south side of the CIBC building between 3:35pm and 4:35, briefly visiting one of the slots.  The last sighting of Spike was at 4:45pm.  For about 15 minutes, he was on the south east corner of the Bay roof.

Saturday November 20
Harry Crawford reports: At 10:20am a Red-tailed hawk flew south along Bay street, apparently unchallenged.  Mandy appeared later, at 3:45pm and stayed around the CIBC and Bay buildings until 5:00pm.

Monday November 22
Harry Crawford reports: Mandy was seen in the vicinity of the CIBC building between 7:35am and 9:25am.  Spike appeared briefly at 4:45pm in one of the south concrete slots of the same building.  On Sunday, Mandy was seen briefly on the south side of the CIBC building.  A bit later, at 4:50, Spike was in one of the concrete slots on the same building.

Tuesday November 23
Harry Crawford reports: Mandy was seen on and around the CIBC building from 7:05am until 4:30pm.  As has been lately, there is maintenance work going on on most of the buildings in the area.  At 2:25 Mandy made a close pass at some workers on the south side of 55 Bloor West who were replacing windows.  She also made a brief appearance on the south east corner of 77 Bloor West at this time, returning to the CIBC building a short time later.  Spike was flying around above the CIBC building at 9:40am.

Wednesday November 24
Harry Crawford reports: At 8:00am Spike was seen eating on the south east corner of the Bay roof.  Mandy appeared briefly on the south side of the CIBC building at 3:55pm.  Spike was back, this time on the south side of the CIBC building at 4:10pm.  He moved into one of the concrete slots at 4:30 and stayed there until end of light at 5:05.

Thursday November 25
Harry Crawford reports: Mandy appeared on the top of the 'a' of the south facing Bay sign at 7:15am, relocating to the bottom of the 'B' at 8:45.  She remained there until 12:45pm.  At 2:50pm she was seen soaring high above Bay and Bloor, slowly moving southward.  Spike moved into one of the south concrete slots of the CIBC building at 4:05pm, remaining there until 5:05, end of light.

Friday November 26
Harry Crawford reports: Both Spike and Mandy arrived on the west side of the CIBC building at 8:40am.  Spike remained there until 2:45pm; Mandy until 4:05pm, when she relocated to the south side of the building.  At 4:25 she moved into one of the concrete slots and was still there at 4:40 when the view was obscured by steam.

Saturday November 28
Harry Crawford reports:  At 9:20am Mandy was on the south east corner of the Bay roof.  She moved over to the Radisson Plaza logo at 10:45, returning to the Bay building for a brief visit at 12:40pm.    At 3:50pm Mandy was on the bottom of the 'B' of the south facing Bay logo, relocating to the south side of the CIBC building at 4:10.  At 4:45 she moved into one of the concrete slots and was still there at end of light at 5:10. It now seems likely that she, and possible Spike keep warm this way. The slots have small openings into the mechanical floors of the CIBC building.

On Saturday, Mandy was on the south side of the CIBC building in a concrete slot at 4:35pm.  She was still there at end of light at 5:05pm.

Monday November 29
Harry Crawford reports:    At 7:15am it appeared that Mandy was still in the concrete slot on the south side of the CIBC building.  She disappeared around 7:35, returning to the south side of the CIBC building at 9:40 for a brief visit.  She was on the bottom of the 'B' of the south facing Bay sign remaining there until 4:35pm when she relocated to the south side of the CIBC building.  She was in a concrete slot by 5:05pm, end of light.

Tuesday November 30
Harry Crawford reports:  Mandy was on the south facing Radisson Plaza logo at first light, 7:10am, remaining there until 9:30.  Spike arrived on the same logo at 7:50am and was out of view by 8:15.  He appeared on the south facing Bay logo with Mandy, remaining there until 12:15pm.    Mandy remained there until 3:15pm when she moved to the south side of the CIBC building.  She moved into a concrete slot at 4:50pm and was still there at end of light at 5:05pm.

Wednesday December 1
Harry Crawford reports: At 8:05am Mandy was on the bottom of the 'B' of the south facing Bay sign, remaining there until 12:35pm.  She was later briefly seen circling north of 44 Charles West at 3:15pm.   At 4:20 she was on the south side of the CIBC building by 4:20pm and moved into a concrete slot at 4:40.  She was still there at end of light, around 5:00pm. On Thursday, Mandy arrived on the south side of the CIBC building in a concrete slot at 4:30pm, remaining there at least until end of light.

On Friday, she arrived on the south side of the CIBC building at 3:45pm but the light was so bad I couldn't see if she moved into one of the slots or not.  On Saturday, Mandy was seen on the south east roof of the CIBC building at 3:40pm.  She moved to the south east ledge at 4:30 and disappeared from view at 4:50pm.

Friday December 3
Bernard Hellen reports: Saw a peregrine falcon (confirmed sighting by three different people) at the corner of Queen St. W. and Spadina  in Toronto at 12:30 pm Friday, December 3rd. He/She was atop a very high television antenna so it was not possible to identify details, however the bird looked to be an immature or female. Definately not a male in full blue/grey plumage.

Sunday December 5
Harry Crawford reports: A Red-tailed hawk, maybe Bruce Massey's Whitey, was soaring slowly southwards down Bay street at 9:45am.  She wasn't challenged.  At 3:50pm Mandy appeared on the south slot of the CIBC building.  She was still there when the light failed, around 4:50.   The amount of maintenance going on in the area may have disturbed the peregrines and forced them to move to other locations, hopefully temporarily.

Monday December 6
Harry Crawford reports: At 2:15pm both Spike and Mandy were on the south facing Bay logo. Spike left shortly later while Mandy hung around until 3:45pm.  There were no sightings on Tuesday.

Wednesday December 8
Harry Crawford reports: Mandy was seen around the Bay and CIBC buildings most of the day -- from 8:15am until 5:00pm.    At 4:55 Spike was on the east CIBC antenna and Mandy on the west one.   Shortly after, one peregrine flew away while the other one moved into a south concrete slot.

Thursday December 9
Harry Crawford reports: Today was interesting!  At 7:15am a peregrine was on the 'y' of the south facing Bay logo.    It disappeared at 7:40.  At 2:50pm I thought I saw Spike and Mandy playing around the CIBC building.  Mandy was diving on Spike who was in the middle of the south CIBC roof.  I thought the interaction was 'a little rough' so I took the scope out.  It wasn't Spike who was on the roof.  The intruder was a hawk of some sort.  It looked more like a Swainson's hawk than a Red-tailed hawk.  The head area was very dark.  From the mid chest down, it was much lighter, almost white.    It was just sitting there preening.  Mandy attacked from both the front and rear.  By 3:05 the hawk was gone.

Friday December 10
Harry Crawford reports:  At 11:05am Mandy was seen briefly on the south east corner of the Bay roof.  She reappeared on the top of the 'y' of the south facing Bay logo at 3:35pm, remaining there until 4:10.

Saturday December 11
Harry Crawford reports:  Mandy was in view from 7:35am until 4:10pm on various locations of the CIBC, Bay and Radisson Plaza buildings.  At 4:15 an intruder was on the top of the 'y' of the south facing Bay logo.  The Red-tailed hawk was repeatedly attacked by both Spike and Mandy, eventually driving the hawk away in about five minutes.  Mandy was back in the area immediately after (not sure where Spike went) and settled into a south CIBC slot at 4:55, remaining there until end of light at 5:10pm.

Sunday December 12
Harry Crawford reports:  Mandy was on the CIBC building most of the day, visible from 9:50am until end of light at 5:10pm.  She took a break and was seen soaring high above Bay and Bloor at 1:50pm.    She was in a west slot 3:25pm and moved to a south slot at 3:55pm, remaining there until end of light at 5pm.

Monday December 13
Harry Crawford reports:  Mandy once again spent most of the day around the CIBC and Bay buildings.  She was visible between 7:30am and 4:40pm. The one unusual thing she did this time was to spend the time between 12:15pm and 3:20pm balanced on the very top of the east CIBC antenna.    She closed out the day in a south slot on the CIBC building at 4:40.

Tuesday December 14
Harry Crawford reports:  Mandy spent today, from 7:40am until 4:55 end of light, around the CIBC building.  Spike made an appearance between 9:15am and 3:20pm in various positions on the same building.    Mandy settled into a west slot of the CIBC building at 4:00pm.

Friday December 17
Harry Crawford reports: Mandy was seen on the south side of the CIBC building at 3:15pm. She remained there until 4:55 when she moved into one of the concrete slots.   Sightings for Wednesday and Thursday are almost identical to this.  The peregrines may be getting warm air from the vents in the mechanical floor that these slots are adjacent to.

Saturday December 18
Harry Crawford reports: Mandy was on the top of the west CIBC logo at 7:35am, taking up various positions on this and the Bay buildings until disappearing at 9:50am.  She was back at 2:50pm and moved into a south facing CIBC slot at 4:00, remaining there until end of light at 5:00pm.

Spike arrived in the same area as Mandy at 8:30am, remaining until 3:10pm.  Around 4:00pm three hawk-like birds were seen high above Sherborne and Bloor.  Mandy didn't appear to take notice.

Sunday December 19
Harry Crawford reports: Spike arrived on the west side of the CIBC building at 7:25am and remained in the area until 4:10pm.  Mandy joined him on the west side location at 9:45am and also disappeared at 4:10pm.

Monday December 20
Harry Crawford reports: Mandy was on the top of the west CIBC logo at 7:35am and remained in the area until 10:20am.   Spike arrived at 10:20am and joined Mandy for some aerial acrobatics before disappearing.  He was back at 4:10pm, moving into a south CIBC concrete slot.

Tuesday December 21
Harry Crawford reports: Mandy started on the 'R' of the Radisson Plaza south logo at 10:00am, moving to the south facing Bay logo at 11:30.  She relocated to the CIBC building at 4:15pm and into a south slot at 4:30, probably for the night.

Wednesday December 22
Harry Crawford reports:  At 3:00pm Mandy was flying eastward, high above Bloor.    By 3:15 she was on the bottom of the 'B' of the south facing Bay logo.   At 4:15 she moved into south CIBC slot for the night.  All day today, workers were removing the south Radisson Plaza logo.  The new signage at street level indicates that this building is now Marriott run.  Hopefully they will put up a new logo to accommodate the falcons.

Thursday December 23
Harry Crawford reports:  Mandy spent 20 minutes on the bottom of the 'B' of the south facing Bay logo at 7:50am.    She was on the south side of the CIBC building at 3:20pm, moving into a concrete slot at 4:25, presumable for the night.

Friday December 24
Harry Crawford reports:  Mandy was in the vicinity of the CIBC and Bay buildings all day starting at 7:50am and ending when she moved into a concrete slot at 4:25pm.  One unusual thing today was that she spent just over an hour (starting at 2:25pm) on the very top of the east CIBC antenna.

Sunday December 26
Harry Crawford reports:  Today, both falcons preferred the south facing Bay logo.  Mandy was seen between 1:20pm and 4:35pm.  Spike was in the same area between 1:45pm and 4:10pm.  Yesterday, Mandy was only seen when she moved into a south facing CIBC slot at 4:30pm.

Monday December 27
Harry Crawford reports:   Mandy was seen in various locations on the CIBC and Bay buildings continuously between 7:25am and 4:45pm when she moved into a CIBC south facing concrete slot.  Spike was in the same area most of the day also, being seen from 9:20am until 3:40pm.

Tuesday December 28
Marcel Gahbauer reports:  Yesterday the Toronto Ornithological Club carried out the 75th annual Christmas Bird Count in Toronto.  This year a record was set for the number of peregrines seen on the count, at five - Spike and Mandy at Yonge & Bloor, either Kingsley or Victoria at Toronto City Hall, Toby at the Clarica Centre in Etobicoke, and an unfamiliar female at York Mills and Bayview in North York.  We hope this new record will be broken again in 2000.

Wednesday December 29
Harry Crawford reports:  Mandy started out the day at 7:35am on the south facing Bay logo. She remained there until 12:30pm.  Spike joined her briefly between 8:30 and 8:50am.  Mandy returned and settled into a south facing CIBC slot at 4:05pm.  Yesterday, Mandy was only seen when she moved into a south facing CIBC slot at 4:45pm.

Thursday December 30
Harry Crawford reports:  At 7:20am both Spike and Mandy were on the top of the 'y' of the south facing Bay sign.    They remained there until 11:30.  Mandy returned to the same spot at 3:25pm, remaining there until 4:25 when she moved into a south CIBC slot.  Spike appeared on the south east Bay roof corner at 3:55pm, disappearing at 4:25.

Friday December 31, 1999
Harry Crawford reports:  Mandy was seen flying slowly above Bay and Bloor, moving to the east at 9:20am for about ten minutes.  She was on the south east roof of the CIBC building at 3:55pm and moved into a south facing concrete slot at 4:10.  She was still there at end of light at 5:05pm.

 

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