July 20, 2024 - Toronto - Don Mills and Eglinton - Amexon
Cathy Kerr Reports:
Sally, Rob and I arrived early the next day. We found Lerxst on a letter, very quiet. Where were the other 2? We scanned high, no sign. Then, there, very low on a ledge we saw Gideon! What was she doing there? Not long after up popped Peter- he had been pancaked down. There they sat next to each other for quite some time. Peter finally flew off but came back and tried to get Gideon to join him but she wasn’t budging. And there she sat, moving a little bit but not much, all morning. We figured she must’ve had a bump. We all left and came back in the late afternoon to check on her. She had flown and was now on the north side of the building, a few floors up from the morning, but still low. And there she stayed for a few hours. She finally flew off west, low over the trees, out of sight. I was pretty sure I saw her go behind the condos but the boys were over there as well. Sally had to leave then. It was getting late but Rob and I were determined to find her. We drove around the condos, scanning balconies etc. I pulled behind one and looked up… What was that bump? My trustee P900 lens zoomed in-peregrine!! Ok now to try and get further back for an ID.. Without getting kicked out lol. We found a spot… I said that I recognized that face after watching it most of the day but I need proof. And she finally obliged and lifted that red band up for me! Way to go girl… She was feeling just fine now… At least 20 floors up.
All good, time to go lol.
Thanks Rob for his fantastic pictures!
Posted on July 31, 2024 6:00 pm
July 16, 2024 - Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton
Cathy Kerr Reports:
CANADA SQUARE NEWS:
We heard from Krista, a long time watcher of this site, that she saw Haven, our long term resident female here, last week!! Such wonderful news. Her mate was also seen. Bruce has been dropping by on and off, but did not see any peregrines at those times. There is still a lot of construction going on in the area which could have contributed to, along with Havens age, no chicks this year. Krista will keep us updated on our amazing Haven!! Thanks Krista.
Posted on July 22, 2024 3:28 pm
July 17, 2024 - Toronto - Don Mills and Eglinton - Amexon
Cathy Kerr Reports:
DON MILLS/AMEXON SPOT CHECK : Last Wednesday, Rob, Ted, Sally and I all checked in on the kids. All was great, all 3 seen and seem to be doing well. Ted got some great shots, which I am including here.
Thanks so much Ted!
Posted on July 22, 2024 3:21 pm
July 11, 2024 - Toronto - Don Mills and Eglinton - Amexon
Cathy Kerr Reports:
DON MILLS /AMEXON SPOT CHECK :
Ted stopped by last week while in the area and caught this failed attempt at an exchange by Gideon. She had only be flying for 4 days when this was shot so… Mom Nagata saved the food, and brother Lerxst joined in after.
Lots of pictures but it really shows the training that Holden and Nagata put the kids through.
Thanks so much Ted for the great pictures!
Posted on July 15, 2024 2:19 pm
July 12, 2024 - Greater Toronto - Private Residential 1
Cathy Kerr Reports:
Martin Dekkers reports:
Hello everyone, my fellow photographer, Maggie Pawlak managed to get some fabulous photos of Luna and Aurora in a food hunt dispute.
Maggie reports, Luna was carrying a small bird and then right away Aurora showed up and wanted to intercept it.
Luna was faster and got away with her meal but they put quite a show of their maneuvers and tactics learnt from Aria.
All the youth are still here hunting and making noise like no other babies before them.
Thank you Martin for the report and Maggie for sharing her pictures.
Posted on July 15, 2024 1:51 pm
July 07, 2024 - Toronto - Don Mills and Eglinton - Amexon
Cathy Kerr Reports:
DAY 6 & 7…DON MILLS/AMEXON :
And our watch is over….
DAY 6 was a very long day of watching Peter walk the ledge and sleep. The day before he must of had a bump, as yesterday he didn’t do much. But day 6, he was so much better. Lots of energy, he looked good but there is that confidence issue. And I thought, another day wouldn’t hurt lol.
We saw the rest of the family briefly when they would fly around to check on him. On one such visit, Lerxst landed on the sign. A neighborhood small blackbird took a run at him… He fled, crying, with the bird chasing him. It was so funny to see.
Bob and Rob spent the day with me watching mostly nothing. But as Rob says, we got lots of great pictures of our little guy!
DAY 7
Rob and I arrived to find(as I knew we would ) Peter was off that ledge finally! Yayy. Now to find him.
We headed out to the front.. Found 2 on each building. I asked Rob to id the juvies on one, while I checked out the other building. Mom and Dad were very chill. The fledglings were complaining loudly… And I heard one answer from the building the parents were on! 3! Rob yelled got Lerxst and Gideon…. And I started my check and found our little Peter on the roof!!! Way to go Peter!
So, now we settled in to watch the fun. And boy did we have fun watching. Bob joined us for a bit, Ivy came by and caught some of the action, and Sally was back, and feeling better, so she joined us for the evening fun.
It was quite obvious that Peter had been fed, Gideon must have had a bit as she was better behaved but Lerxst definitely did not. He made a few flights looking for food but by now it was siesta time. And hot.
We all had a nice time in the shade, relaxed, knowing that fledge watch was over, enjoying our last day.
Bob left and boy did he miss a show! Sally arrived tho. There were so many flights, but a few stuck out.
Have you ever heard of a peregrine tantrum? Well, we saw one. Lerxst had been flying back and forth. Then I guess he’d had enough. Screaming the whole time, he flew. Over to the other building, buzzing it(very deliberate), zooming back and past dad, then back and back to the nest building. Hit off it, again very deliberate, back over, fly by again then back to the nest building, did a FLIP (still screaming) in the air (wow & Rob got the pic! ) and headed west. Well, Mom had had enough. She was after him, turned him, escorted him back and deposited him firmly on the roof! We were laughing saying that he needed a little time out!! Wow, was he mad.
A short time after this, Mom flew in with food and took it to Gideon on the top level. Absolutely no way said Lerxst, he was after it in a flash and he got it. Gideon could only watch. She eventually snuck a few pieces from him, but got a good feed once he was done.
In the meantime, Mom fed Peter on the roof until… Alarm calling! And she was off to join Dad, going after an intruder. Another fledgling!! Again ugh. Not sure if it’s the same one as Wednesday(unbanded again) or Sunday but… Boy did it go the wrong way. It came from the east this time, came around and so close to the buildings. Thank goodness our kids stayed put. They eventually chased him south and out of sight . Hope it’s ok.
While Mom and Dad were out of sight, about 6-8 crows came in! We watched nervously and were relieved they stayed low. And even more relieved to see Mom and Dad return.
Now it was close to dark. Time to pack up. Right? Gideon was on the top floor. The boys were across on the rooftop. Mom. Dad. Settled. Then Peter decided to fly. At 9pm. Over to the other rooftop. Ok. Nice. But no, off he went again. Losing good light, and stamina, he repeatedly missed the rooftops, going back and forth, determined not to end up on a ledge, but he had no choice in the end and we all exhaled, a collective sigh of relief.
He landed on the top floor with Gideon at the other end. Ok we can go now. Everyone left but me. I had to have one last look. Then Lerxst decided, at 9:20pm, to head over to his siblings. Ugh. But he landed, a little wonky, about 3 feet from Peter! And now they were done at last. And I could go home. Excellent job kids!
A great watch
.. No rescues, everyone accounted for. Lovely.
I want to thank building management for their continued support. All the maintenance people and security who keep an eye out for our family (and us!). A special shout out to Ean and Paul.
And of course, my team, Rob, Bob, Bruce and Ted, great job guys! You are the best!
And always a thanks to Mark for his support when I needed it. Marion, you are missed.
Look for our spot check updates…. Fly well little ones, hope to see you come home at some point in the next few years
Posted on July 10, 2024 3:59 pm
July 05, 2024 - Toronto - Don Mills and Eglinton - Amexon
Cathy Kerr Reports:
DAY 5 DON MILLS/AMEXON :
And we are all fledged! Yep, Gideon and Peter took the plunge today…
I got a call from security on my way there-fledgling down in the parking lot on a car! Oh dear… Poor car lol. I got there to find Peter. Security tried to distract him, but he saw me and was off, straight down the parking lot, gaining altitude. Over the street (thank goodness), through the park to land on a house rooftop. Well, not too bad. Ok. Bruce met me there and set up to watch him.
I headed back to check out the other two. Saw Lerxst on the Canada protection sign right away. Then I saw a parent with food… Heading for the nest ledge. I saw her holding onto it on the ledge, talking. Hmmmm… Not normal but then she flew out with it and over to the 2nd level down… And gave it to Gideon!!! Way to go girl… Excellent height for a first fledge. And there she stayed until after siesta time.
Now Peter. I had to leave for an hour for a work commitment. Bruce was watching him and Ted had arrived, so he was watching Gideon. Just after I left, Peter went over the roof (he’d been doing that back and forth for a while). When he didn’t come back, Bruce checked and yep, he was gone. Bruce did a walk about but no luck. I got back and did a drive around, scanning ledges etc. No sign. But we knew he’d show up
.. And he did! Back of the building, low down in the corner, pancaked. He stayed there until dark. We don’t know how he landed, but I suspect it was a bit bumpy. Hope to see him flying high tomorrow.
Gideon meanwhile showed off by flying to the rooftop - a few times. Lerxst was thrilled to see her up there and joined her. So sweet
A good day.
Posted on July 9, 2024 8:46 pm
July 03, 2024 - Toronto - Don Mills and Eglinton - Amexon
Cathy Kerr Reports:
DON MILLS/AMEXON : DAY 3 & 4
It’s been a couple of very hot, humid days! And no further fledges… Gideon and Peter are a couple of ledge potatoes!! But Lerxst is doing great..lots of firsts. The biggest one being making the letters! Day 3 he made the B, on the north facing BANK sign and Day 4, he chased Mom off of the intel sign, making a perfect landing. And spent the night there too.
He also flew across the top of the nest ledge (twice) and did his controlled jump down to the nest ledge 2 more times!! Very impressive. Lots of great flights too.
We also saw a juvie enter their territory (I witnessed this Sunday night as well) and Mom and Dad escorted him out, firmly. Ted has shared his pictures of this… They are wonderful. You can see the juvie is unbanded. (much to my relief… I was worried it was one of the Don Mills boys!). Hopefully he got the message and will not be returning.
I added a few of my pics as well.
Another hot, muggy day tomorrow. Sure hope we have another fledge in spite of the weather.. They are ready… They just don’t know it yet
Posted on July 9, 2024 8:36 pm
