June 14, 2008 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre
CPF Volunteer Reports:
Another hot and humid day! Today we were blessed with several early morning volunteers,Diana was joined by Bayley, Kathy, Sandra and Renee(sorry if I left anyone out). They arrived to find Screech still in place on the Bell Canada building on Eagle Rd. Spurred on by her father, she took flight with him and the pair went south, disappearing from the view of the observers. The adult returned but no Screech was to be found. Immediately all volunteers went into search mode walking the neighborhood hoping to see or hear Screech in a frontyard tree or on a roof but no luck. I arrived about 10am and was updated.
Shortly after Kathy and I did a once around the block but no luck locating her. We listened for alarm calling birds or calls of a juvenile Peregrine, but nothing. Concerned and a little and very disheartened we returned to Eagle Rd. Over the course of the day we watched where the adults flew, hoping to locate the young one based on where the adults paid the most attention.
Mark Nash arrived and after updating Mark,he suggested that parents likely knew the whereabouts to just wait at this stage.
Mark, acommpanied by Hugh Forbes, a local resident got ready to release Sunny and Perry. Mark put coloured tape over the USFW band for easier ID while Hugh held the falcon(after a quick lesson from Mark). Hugh got his purple Peregrine Heart for the tallon prick he received during this process.(Perry has red tape, Sunny has Yellow) The 2 then went through the procedure of releasing Perry and Sunny to the roof of the Sun Life Centre. Almost immediately Sunny flew to the roof of the 2nd condo. She made a good confident flight..the first of many today. She ended up at the end of the day,back on the nest building roof. Perry decided he needed a rest and by sticking to the nest building roof, he was fed at least 2 times by the parents. Sunny eventually made her way back to the nest building. Suddenly a bird flew from the direction of the first condo. Low and behold via scope, Mark confirmed that it was Screech. We now had all 3 newly flighted falcons back on the roof of the Sun Life Centre. We saw several feedings and just before we left, all chicks were fed again, settling in for the night. Special thanks to the kind gentleman who brought Mark and I sandwiches, blueberries and strawberries for our dinner. We really enjoyed that! Throughout the course of the day we spoke to several passersby, local residents and Longest Yard patrons. We enjoyed passing on information amd sharing telescope views with each of you and thank you all for your interest. Screech’s return was the best news of the day, she must have made wonderful flights to get back home atop the nest building. Sunny flew confidently several times as well. Marion and I enjoyed a rather uneventful evening. With much thanks to the Paragon staff for the over night falcon sitting and all the volunteers for another terrific day!
Reported by Frank Butson.
Photos by Mark Nash.
Posted on June 14, 2008 10:54 pm
June 14, 2008 - Toronto - King Street
Linda Woods Reports:
Here are pics of where the first female fledge from King St. ended up. The picture with the yellow pipe, is where is landed on her maiden flight. She spent the first night out on this area under the pipe.
Saturday I got back up to a higher area and found her out of that area closer to the cooling towers where she will eventually be able to fly out.
Linda
Photos by Linda Woods
Posted on June 14, 2008 10:33 pm
June 14, 2008 - Toronto - King Street
Linda Woods Reports:
No changes today. Dougal Dougally continues to fly very well, he even bumped an adult out of the loevered area. He has return to the nest area each night so far. One sister remains unfledged, and is not really doing a lot of flapping yet. But she is working on it.
The female that fledged yeserday, remains on the cooling tower roof area. She has made her way north and it is now just a matter of time, that she makes her way to the cooling tower and she’ll be able to lift off from there.
Can’t be sure if the cooling tower bird has been fed. There is certainly evidence of meals in the area where the bird is.
We saw a few running of the gulls, but not as intense as last night.
It was basicaly a very quiet evening.
Posted on June 14, 2008 9:00 pm
June 14, 2008 - Toronto - King Street
Mark Nash Reports:
I live at 7 King Street and today was an active day on top of the King Edward hotel for Falcon sightings.
I saw one of the fledglings feeding early afternoon then settled down for a rest.
Then around 5:00pm another one was sitting on the corner, see attached pictures. She is still there and it is after 10:00pm.
I hope you enjoy the pics.
Posted on June 14, 2008 5:29 pm
June 14, 2008 - Toronto - Sheraton Centre
Linda Woods Reports:
I found these two just lying around doing nothing. The heat has returned and they head for the shade. The third was tucked in the back. They are growing up so fast.
Posted on June 14, 2008 2:30 pm
June 13, 2008 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre
CPF Volunteer Reports:
Talk about dejas vue. The fledgling Peregrine Falcon had been standing for hours on a narrow ledge between the awning of the nest building on Bloor Street West and a vertical wall, fairly close to the ground. This was where he stumbled on his first attempt to leave the nest. There he spent much of his time watching his reflection in the glass as if this ‘other’ bird was a sibling and as soon as it made a move he would follow suit. But eventually it became obvious that he was going to have to take the initiative. I was not overly worried because the logical thing would have been for him to simply flutter into the narrow corner beneath him where he could be easily rescued. But a picture kept popping into my head, of him diving into the Bloor Street traffic with me in hot pursuit. I had kept brushing this picture away as being fanciful.
All of a sudden he made his move! And it was not into the corner as I had anticipated!
With plenty of forward thrust but insufficient room for wing spread, he lurched forward, fluttering into traffic. I believe I had the gumption to check the traffic, but I wouldn’t swear to this. I know for sure that I held up my hand as I raced into the street and must have made an impression on the drivers because the vehicles slowed down and the way just opened up (King Canute style); and, while the fledgling narrowly brushed a windshield on the way, he came to a steady stop in the middle of the side street and stood remarkably calmly, if somewhat dazed, while I scooped him into the towel Glowing with success, and to the chorus of “Well done”, and “Good job” from passersby, I called the fledgling watch team, “I got him, I got him”, which came through to them on the two way radios as gobbeldy gook as, in my excitement, I had cut my walkie talkie off. . But they could tell from my joyful voice what had happened and were there to pop the fledgling into a carrier to be checked for possible injury (none observed) and ultimately released from the top of the nest building to resume his ongoing “Becoming an accomplished Peregrine Falcon 101” lessons.
Afternote: I can only imagine what a drug “high” feels like, but cannot believe it could come anywhere close to the glow I felt in rescuing that marvelous creature. Thank you Peregrine Foundation for giving me this fantastic experience.
Diana Karrandjas
A HUGE THANK YOU to Diana for her successful efforts in saving Perry’s life and giving him another chance in life!!! Thank you for being there!! You have truly made a difference in this little guys life!
Mark Nash - CPF
Reported by Diana Karrandjas.
Posted on June 13, 2008 6:21 pm
June 13, 2008 - Toronto - Sheraton Centre
Linda Woods Reports:
A quick visit to the Sheraton and found the three dancing around on the nest ledge. I think they were enjoying the breezes. The youngest still has a lot of down, while the other two are looking more and more stream lined.
They are a gorgeous group of falcons. Fledge time is quickly approaching.
Posted on June 13, 2008 2:00 pm
June 13, 2008 - Toronto - King Street
Linda Woods Reports:
When I arrived on the King St. site today, I could not find Dougal, he had taken off from his night time spot. There were a few new volunteers on site today and they had the best day. Both Lorne and Judy saw Dougal go back into the nest ledge and saw thier first fledging of his sister.
Me, I missed both events, cause I was looking at the adults sitting near by. Dougal has been out and back and flights are strong and maintain height. Landings are that of a juvenile. His sister took off and flew low over the King Edward Hotel, where she will spend the night. The youngest sibling is still unfledged and will have the company of Dougal for the night. We continued to see running of gulls by the adults, which is always entertaining to see the flights skills of an adult peregrine.
It was certainly a good day.
Linda
Posted on June 13, 2008 10:45 am
June 13, 2008 - Hamilton - Sheraton Hotel
Sarah Washington Reports:
Well Friday was a nice morning for the chicks. I was impressed with all the flapping and somewhat nervous seeing them right on the edge..any time now. The little one Duncan, still has quite a bit of down on him so he still needs to work that out. The other 3 are looking more and more like that of their parents. You know when the Parents are coming in as the kids start sqwaking like mad! It is music to my ears. Any day now 1 should be up in the air.
My heart goes out to the Mississauga site that had their first fatality.
Posted on June 13, 2008 7:36 am
June 13, 2008 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre
CPF Volunteer Reports:
Early Shift: Diana reports that on her arrival,2 birds had flown. They must have flown at first light. This is a trying time for watchers,as we dont know the birds whereabouts. Experience has taught us that if we have searched the most likely areas and not found them,they will likely pop up safe and sound. By 930am this was the case,Sunny popped up first on the condo next to the nest building,as I updated Mark on what was going on. Almost as soon as I hung up,the 2nd Perry appeared atop the 2nd condo. 2 successful flyers!! They had kept their altitude well.
1030am Screech made her first flight. She made a good strong flight to the closer wall of the 2nd condo. Bravo all 3 made good first flights!
All good things must come to an end though. Sometime between 930am and 1pm,Perry had flown again,coming to rest between a wall and the Sun Life Centre marquee,which is quite low. He was safe and unhurt. We are thankful for a condo resident and the phonecall from the consierge telling us about this bird. Bayley was present watching it when I arrived to help her. By then Terry and Elizabeth Shiels had also arrived to watch and say hello. I meanwhile had been with Screech,who had made her 2nd and 3rd flights by now. Flight number 2 had been from the condo,with some loss of altitude,landing awkwardly in a balcony pigeon screen. She quickly extricated herself and sat on the ledge of someones balcony. Upon leaving there,she made a very long flight which was highlighted by a brush with a Sun Life tower office window and eventually an exhausted Sunny went into a steep decline towards the residential area behind Bloor Street. I was worried she’d be in a private residences yard,but luckily she landed on a rooftop,very visible. Ian and I watched her,as an American Crow buzzed her. The adult female Peregrine came in with a purpose,not only attacking the Crow,but very nearly Ian. He told me he heard her wings beat twice,as she sped past him. An event that Ian said he shall not soon forget.Thanks to Renee also for helping watch and refilling my waterbottle between trips back to her office.Eventually she made her way to the top of the Bell Building by 9pm when a local resident alerted us to her. She stayed there as the terrible thunder and lightening storm began for the night. Are U confused yet? Just wait there’s more! While I was watching Perry,I got a call from Mark Nash. He had received a call from security and one of the young falcons had come to the ground near the Aberfoyle entrance to the building. I packed up and headed over to find a small group of people who were keeping an eye on her. I was very pleased to see she was in a spot that was easy to rescue her from. There was a wall behind her and on each of 2 sides. This made throwing my towel on her and scooping her up very simple. WOOOHOOO my first rescue,to a little applause from those gathered. One of the security staff went and got the carrier and I put a feisty unhurt Sunny in the box.
Mark Nash arrived,Bayley offered to treat us to dinner so the 3 of us left,while Diana who had returned watched Perry close up. We soon got an excited call from Diana on the radio,saying Perry had flown and she had got him. That sounded simple…but Diana at risk of life and limb had run onto Bloor Street into traffic after Perry had bumped an SUV. He was very nearly rundown by another car but fast acting Diana had already scooped him up! Way to go Diana..her first rescue too! Later Mark Nash did a medical check on both birds and determined as we’d beleived,that both Sunny and Perry were fine and good to go back to the roof under darkness. Enter the big storm,so we decided with lightening,strong winds and lotsa rain to wait till early morning to release the birds.
Our thanks to all security,staff and local residents who played such an important roll today and always in helping to locate and rescue their Peregrines.Well done to you all. Alls well that ends well…the day was as hectic and in some parts confusing as my report!
Reported by Frank Butson.
Photos by Frank Butson.
Posted on June 13, 2008 4:59 am
