June 22, 2008 - Toronto - King Street
Linda Woods Reports:
King St. fledglings are doing very well and daily monitoring is no longer required. However, daily observation for the enjoyment factor is certainly welcome. Rain has probably held off the evening airshow, when the adults and juvies take to the air around the nest site, displaying flight skills, along with advanced training sessions for the young ones.
A successful watch thanks to Harry,Zoe,Paul,Jan,Lorne,Judy,Toshiko,King Edward Hotel Staff,Lenny, The Chuba Chub Film Crew, and my cup of morning coffee.
Linda
Posted on June 22, 2008 10:00 pm
June 22, 2008 - Hamilton - Sheraton Hotel
Sarah Washington Reports:
The ledge that is. Wow, time really does “fly” when you are having fun. I cannot believe all 4 chicks have left the nest. Duncan has made some little flights and although not as solid as his siblings, he is doing well. Elstone spent the night at the nest last night alone. The others were on buildings close by. They are all becoming more advanced in their skills. Soon Dad will start taking them on hunting trips and teaching them how to catch food from his talons. It is sad that this time of year is almost over, but I am SO HAPPY to see how they have grown. They have grown into beautiful Peregrines.
Photos by Sarah Washington - CPF Webcam.
Posted on June 22, 2008 7:05 pm
June 21, 2008 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre
CPF Volunteer Reports:
Brete Griffin Of The Peel Birding Class reports:
11am We made it back to Bloor and Islington early(better vantage point from The Longest Yard) We were already watching four Peregrines by then, 2 adults and 2 fledglings. The large fledgling female did a few noisy loops around the towers calling continously as the parents sat and did their best to ignore her. Big Frank was on hand to give us even more detailed info on these birds as well as the four young birds at the nest site on the Burlington lift bridge. The rain held off while the seven of us enjoyed the Peregrine show until we had to leave in the early afternoon.
Frank Butson reports:While I was present we saw one feeding and some short flights. It rained after Brete and the group left,so for a period of time there wasnt alot to report. After the rain,Kathy and I could easily see all 3 young sitting right together on the roof of the Sun Life Finanacial Centre. Kathy and I were treated to some good flying and interactions between Sunny and Screech. With that the official watch ends. All are invited to email their observations to us for inclusion.
CPF: Thanks all volunteer watchers,who took the time to care. Your help always makes a big difference in the lives of these threatened birds. Thanks to all Sun Life Financial Centre staff,local residents and businesses for your help and continued support,you make our efforts much easier and possible. Thanks to the security staff for their help and Peregrine sitting services. Thanks to all interested folks who stopped by to view and learn about your amazing birds. Thanks to everyone who made this years watch such a success.
Reported by Frank Butson.
Posted on June 21, 2008 10:51 pm
June 21, 2008 - Toronto - Sheraton Centre
Linda Woods Reports:
The day was uneventful. Unity spend the day recovering from her ordeal, relaxing, lounging,eating and with a little flapping as possible. She was spent from the day before.
Harry and Zoe did a walk around, but we weren’t seeing all five birds. Zoe mentioned that the adults are going south and then west.
Lily, I assumed was the one was not in view but, by evenings end, She was last seen on the cooling tower of a building that sits between York and University, and Adelaide and King St.
Belle was on the cooling tower railing of 120 Adelaide St. and Unity remains on the ledge. Finally at 6:00 I saw food go into the ledge. Up to now that was a big question of the adults feeding Unity and Lily on a regular basis. It seemed that Belle, was recieving all the attention.
Booth adults were seen cleaning prey on the building nearest Lily, and they did food drops to all juvies.
Posted on June 21, 2008 7:12 pm
June 21, 2008 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre
CPF Volunteer Reports:
I was passing by the nest site today at approx. 5pm and stopped by briefly to see if any of the falcons were in sight. When I arrived one falcon was circling around the buildings - I am not positive if this was an adult or a juvenile. One bird was perched on the roof of the Sun Life building above the nest ledge (I’m guessing this was the male juvenile). When I walked around to the north side of the Sun Life building one of the falcons had come around and landed on a pole on the far north edge of the roof - but I am not sure which bird this might have been. I looked at the nest ledge monitor inside the building and it looked like one juvenile may have been sitting flat and resting in the nest box.
Upon coming back around to Bloor St, I saw one of the juveniles (one of the females I am pretty sure) come around the building and fly up and land on top of the camera. The bird on the roof was still there, so I suspect at least 3 of the 4 were present. If the 4th bird was around I did not see it
Reported by Ian Maione.
Posted on June 21, 2008 5:00 pm
June 20, 2008 - Toronto - Sheraton Centre
Linda Woods Reports:
Today all three were out of the nest, including the Lily.
Unity took her first flight at 08:30a.m and joined Lily on the east mid section of 130 Adelaide St.
They spent some time there and Lily laid down to rest and slid off backwards off the slippery flashing and into the air.
She quickly began flapping to catch herself and circled the building and landed on the lower area of 120 Adelaide.
She stayed there with her sister for most of the day.
No food was brought in from the adults to Lily and Unity. They have been out all day and no food was seen being dropped.
Later in the day Lily flew again circled 120 Adelaide and ended on the “Phoenix” building next door.
At 4:00p.m. we had Lily on the Phoenix, Unity on 120 Adelaide and Belle on the roof of the hotel.
6:50p.m. Unity took off from 120 Adelaide east towards 130 Adelaide brushes off this building , looses height and seems to be out of control, she is not flapping. She crosses York St and collides with 150 York St. and is pushed back across York st. in a steep nose dive.
I’m on the radio to Paul as he is on the ground and heading to that area.
Bird is found on a bench on York St. just south of the Keg.
There are no visible signs of trauma. She is placed in a towel and carried back to the Hotel and into Jan’s rescue carrier.
Poor thing is exhausted. She is placed in a cool dark and quiet place to rest. Mark Nash is called and is on his way.
Back to the street to keep an eye on Lily. Belle has been cruising with one of the Adults and are approaching the nest ledge. Belle misses and circles the area to get height, she tries again and misses. Around they go and off to the east side of the hotel, Belle does the best “Bat Thing” we have ever seen. That has to be a perfect”10″.
Belle hung onto the wall for the longest time ever. Paul thought she had jammed herself into the grout lines of the tiles on the side of the hotel. Belle releases her grip and drops into the area and regains control and one last time for the nest ledge and she misses again, but lands on the window sill outside the release area for little Unity. YIKES!
While Mark, Marion and I were checking Unity out before the Release, Paul noted the Lily was once again on the move along the roof line of 150 York St. Getting dark, and from Paul’s position on the street it is difficult to see.
Release went without incident. Little girl was exhausted and with an empty crop. We did not see any food drop at all today for Unity and Lily.
Last positions of Birds,
Belle, on the 43rd window sill, for the night.
Lily,building on York St.( south east corner).
Unity , back on the ledge.
Linda
Posted on June 20, 2008 10:00 pm
June 20, 2008 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre
CPF Volunteer Reports:
Arrived at work about 7:30 am and 3 young ones were on the roof and taking short trips to and from the condos. Checked on them again about an hour later and Perry was on the roof ledge and Screech and Sunny were flying together and observed them doing some successful talon clasping - was quite wonderful to see - they broke apart and both flew away without fumbling and landed successfully, one on the roof ledge and one on Condo 1.
A short time later the window washers arrived on-site to clean windows on the tower 2 over from the nest tower but mom and dad were not happy and started calling out and all 3 young ones arrived to sit on the ledges while dad stood guard and mom supervised the cleaning staff!
On arrival I got an update from Kathy who had been watching when she could this morning. Shortly after my arrival I had all falcons accounted for. My part of the day was uneventful,more of the same. Good flights and feedings. About 330pm I called Mark Nash to tell him all was well.
Around then Perry went for a long flight with the adults,his first ever. His Mom started bumping him and encouraging some facny flying Perry wasnt ready for. Regarding the title of this post..I thought it sounded better then Perry Causes Falcon Watcher Fits! As his very long flight extended him past his abilities,he looked for a place to land. He missed his first landing,causing him to bump a window,cling to the wall of a condo and then land on The Bell Building. After a brief break there,he took off again,he tried to land on a ledge of the condo,brushed another window and then disappeared around the far condo to the Aberfoyle side. I waited to see if he would emerge between condos. Seemingly he did not. I left right away and began checking all the ledges,roof tops and balconies. Nothing..no sign of him. Now Im in abit of a panic wondering how this revolting development coulda happened. I ran into Baylie and we checked the tv monitor that shows the CPF camera image at All-Trans Financial. There was one falcon there,all flopped out like it was totally spent. Could Perry have made it back?? I didnt think he had but the falcon on the monitor looked small enough to be a male(naturally his back was to us and I had no view of the legs for ID. Before long it was confirmed to be him. That little prankster snuck back into the nest ledge without me noticing. Relief! He did a great job to gain all that height. Fly well my friends!!
Reported by Kathy Majich.
Posted on June 20, 2008 9:14 pm
June 20, 2008 - Hamilton - Sheraton Hotel
Sarah Washington Reports:
What a morning! After sqwaking for over an hour and seeing his parents fly by with food, Baby Duncan finally took his first flight. We were so proud. The unfortunate thing is that when he finally got to the top of the Sheraton, Madame X brought more food for the other 3 on the building next to him. He started crying out again and I felt bad. He was thinking, Mom I finally flew and then you do not feed me?.. It was a nice flight with altitude. Now all 4 are out of the nest. They still have a ways to go yet.
They still need to learn how to hunt and mantle their food. Then of course the aerial fun that we get to watch such as talon touching.
Stay tuned!
Photos by Sarah Washington - CPF Webcam.
Posted on June 20, 2008 4:50 pm
June 20, 2008 - Toronto - King Street
CPF Volunteer Reports:
Thursday I stopped at King St on my way to the Sheraton and found a chick low (to me) on 33 Victoria. After awhile an adult came and sat with her for 15 minutes or so and then left. I thought that was odd - no food drop. One chick was high on Dundee Place. The lower one had found some leftover food since her head was partially visible bobbing up and down (not like pre-take off bobbing). Then she sat on the railing and stayed there. And stayed there.
Paul came down and told me Linda needed help at the Sheraton. I wouldn’t have left with that “low” chick but eventually I suddenly saw a second head pop up right there - and realized they had decided to sleep together even though it was pretty low. So off to the Sheraton I went.
I spent the rest of the day watching the 3 chicks in the Sheraton - not leaving the nest - probably partly due to the windy rainy weather.
I stopped at King St on the way back and found 2 chicks - and Toshiko again - who said she JUST saw the low chick fly to the roof she was on the other day - directly across from where she spent the day - and out of sight. Seems she may have spent the entire day there. Finally she suddenly flew east out of our sight - we ran west to get a view and found she had made it to 1 Toronto roof - which is pretty high and quite an angle to get to! We were happy to have all 5 peregines in sight. Toshiko went to work and I went home.
Reported by Zoe Berger.
Posted on June 20, 2008 7:26 am
June 19, 2008 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre
CPF Volunteer Reports:
With all 3 juvenile Peregrines flying so well,I didnt rush to the site today,arriving at about 10:30am. To my delight I observed Perry on the nest ledge. This is significant,because it marks the final milestone we look for to tell us our fledgling watch is almost done. Knowing now that all 3 young can navigate back to their nest ledge,means they know where home is and have the flight skills to get there. In general this means they are out of our hands. The young Falcons are now in their “teenage” phase. Its dangerous because they belive they know everything and with the speeds they can now reach this can be fatal. A wrong move and they can hit something at speed. We certainly hope this wont happen!
By 10:38am I was able to confirm that all 3 young were present.Perry was confirmed by his red tape as being on the nest ledge.Screech and he were fed. Sunny made an excellent flight with the adults,before landing on the west Tower.
Special thanks today to Kathy for helping me watch and a very kind gentleman who we spoke with yesterday,whose name I did not get. He came up today and handed us 2 very nice pairs of protective gloves to be used during rescues. Undoubtedly this will save us some scars in the future!
I will be on site Friday for several hours,and on Saturday for a few hours midday,then this years Fledge Watch at the Sun Life Financial Centre will come to an end. The falcons will still be there to watch and some exciting things remain to be seen,as the young get more flying lessons and taught what and how to hunt. Many watchful local eyes will mind their Falcons. Please if U observe a Falcon U believe is in trouble call us immediately at 416-481-1233. Any interesting observations U have may also be emailed to us.
Reported by Frank Butson.
Posted on June 19, 2008 9:41 pm
