June 12, 2008 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre
CPF Volunteer Reports:
6am-930am Diana reports that all 3 young are still on the ledge,despite some initial worry one may have flown. There was lots of flapping and calling.
All young Peregrines were seen many times hanging over the ledge doing their best to give gathered watchers fits.
10:40am I observed both adults seriously chasing a Redtailed Hawk. They hit it several times,before the lucky Redtail escaped with its life.
11:05am Adult Male Peregrine nabs a European Starling from the air over Bloor Street..a first for me to witness. The Turkey Vulture may have learned from yesterdays attack,and passed over the area very high.
At 2:05 as Baylie,Ian and I looked on,a child left a local restaurant with a balloon,which she promptly left go of. As it drifted towards the Sunlife Centre,we mused ..would the Peregrines attack it? Soon enough we got our answer as the adults began to alarm call and then took flight to chase this intruding black balloon. Quickly they realized it was no threat and returned to their perches,watching over their young.
3:25 A pigeon was caught but was stashed for later.
9pm Mark Marion and I see a final feeding,our cue to shut down the watch for the night.
Reported by Frank Butson.
Posted on June 12, 2008 10:41 pm
June 12, 2008 - Toronto - King Street
Linda Woods Reports:
At 06:45a.m I found the two female chicks still in the nest area, and Dougal still in the far north ledge.
Adults were in the area, and all was quiet. That was pretty much the entire day. It started out as a gray day, but the winds picked up and the sun came out. The volunteers did a lot of watching the ledge with not much happening. The girls flapped about a bit, but nothing to remark. Dougal, whom already experienced the magic of flight, did get restless on occasion, but I think that was when food was in view.
This evening at 7:00p.m. Dougal took off again from the ledge headed due east towards on One Toronto St.Kept his height and with short rests between jaunts he was to One Toronto St. #33 Victoria St. a brief encounter with the nest building wall, that threw him off balance which then took him to the cooling towers of the King Edward Hotel. Eventually he ended up on the west side of the hotel, on a thin ledge just below the Chimney. By 9:00p.m. he looked like he was settled for the night as he had his head tucked into his wings. Now that King St. has had it’s first fledge, we are now seeing a lot more of “running of gulls” by the adults.
Photos by LW.
Posted on June 12, 2008 7:00 pm
June 12, 2008 - Toronto - Sheraton Centre
Linda Woods Reports:
A quick check on the Sheraton birds and all is well. Belle, of course had taken up her position on the lip of the nest tray, while Unity was busy preening and Lily was napping.
The daily checks on this site will increase in frequency as the chicks get closer to fledge dates which is very soon.
Volunteer observers are still required,especially if people work in the offices in and around the hotel.
Once the young birds start to fly, we will be needing the assistance “eyes in the sky” to help with spotting the young flyers when they go out of sight from volunteers on ground level.
This would be most helpful in the evenings and week-ends, as well as during office hours.
pls contact me at Linda@peregrine-foundation.ca, if you are available to participate.( binoculars are very helpful for this)
Linda
Posted on June 12, 2008 7:30 am
June 12, 2008 - Toronto - Four Seasons
Harry Crawford Reports:
This morning at 7:10am, both Ranger and Hunter were seen on the CIBC building. Ranger was on the west logo and Hunter was on the ledge just under her. They were in the same location when I checked at 8:04am but by 8:25am they had moved to the middle ledge on the west side with Ranger feeding. Hunter made an appearance on the west side of the building at 5:48pm. He has been seen daily on this building for the past couple of weeks.
Reported by Harry Crawford.
Posted on June 12, 2008 7:10 am
June 11, 2008 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre
CPF Volunteer Reports:
Again today none of the 3 young Peregrines took to the air. Alot of flapping and running the ledge was seen in the afternoon. A few feedings were observed one at about 815am the other as “the kids were being put to bed”. Mark,myself,Baylie and new volunteer Diana watched and passed on information to many passerby,local residents and local business patrons. The young spent a great deal of the evening sitting on the edge of the ledge. About 12:50pm,the female adult took after a Turkey Vulture. She hit it at least 5 or 6 times,more as warnings then trying to kill it. She chased it around for at least 10minutes as the Vulture circled while being attacked. Finally it disappeared to the west over a big construction crane. Never a dull moment.
Reported by Frank Butson.
Posted on June 11, 2008 10:36 pm
June 11, 2008 - Toronto - King Street
Linda Woods Reports:
Day One of the fledge watch and we have our first flight.
Although not witnessed, I estimate that it might have taken place around 10:00a.m.as I had just returned from checking on the Sheraton site.
Dougal the male and estimated to be 36 days of age took his maiden flight over to 33 Victoria Street. Throughout the day he was running the south edge of the building, jumped down onto the flat of the roof and back up again. And when he was finished,exploring he laid down facing the nest ledge.
At 3:00p.m. food was brought in by the adults and he was fed. His sisters still on the nest ledge were seen on occasion, but not a lot of activty from them. Some flapping and a little vocalizing but nothing too exciting yet.
6:45p.m. Dougal decided to take a go at it and took off, heading towards the nest building and the nest ledge.
He missed by a foot and ended up doing the “bat” thing on the wall,just under the nest ledge level.
Paul kept an eye on Dougal and reported that after his initial contact with the wall, he clung on and then pumped his wings really hard trying to get airborne for those few more inches. He tried again and with a little breeze and a lot more pumping he managed to scratch his way back up to the nest ledge level and pull himself up and over the lip of the far north ledge. WHEW! He sat for a while and then laid down on the ledge.
Good Flight and recovery.
Hope his sisters were watching this.
Linda
Posted on June 11, 2008 10:00 pm
June 11, 2008 - Toronto - Sheraton Centre
Linda Woods Reports:
A quick “look see” at the Sheraton and try to get the cameras going again. Unfortunately, that was short lived, although the Osler Camera seems to be sending an image the black and white camera is still not wanting to cooperate. The images from the Osler camera are current, even though the clock is off by an hour.
Arriving this morning I found all three at the far east end of the ledge tucked in behind the Osler camera, asleep. Belle is loosing her fluff quickly and the other two seem to be about the same.
I didn’t see the adults, during my brief stay. Off to the King St. site to begin the watch there.
Posted on June 11, 2008 9:45 am
June 11, 2008 - Hamilton - Sheraton Hotel
Sarah Washington Reports:
Well the chicks have experienced some nasty weather this year. However they are no worse for wear. They are getting so big. You can now tell who the eldest and youngest are. They are flapping and stretching their wings. The more they do this, the stronger they will be when they fly. Madame x has had a lot of beaks to feed and she is handling the pressure very well. She even takes time to make sure the little ones get their food as well. Surge is always around keeping his eye on things and escorting red tail hawks out of the area.
Photos by Sarah Washington - CPF Webcam.
Posted on June 11, 2008 9:43 am
June 10, 2008 - Toronto - King Street
Linda Woods Reports:
I dropped by the King St. nest site again this evening. All is quiet. The three youngs ones have been seen flapping and testing their wings for short but brief periods. I haven’t seen them “run the ledge” yet. Earlier today both adults were in view. One on the roof top of 18 King St. and the other adult was on the south shoulder of the nest building.
The fledge watch begins tomorrow, with light monitoring. The male will be 36 days of age on Wednesday and should be ready to go by Friday.
Anyone interested to see the fledglings, can drop by the King St. Volunteers should be in the vacinity of Court and Toronto Sts. or King St. and Leader Lane. Both areas are one block east of the Yonge and King St. subway.
Linda
Photos by LW from the CPF Webcam.
Posted on June 10, 2008 7:04 pm
June 10, 2008 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre
CPF Volunteer Reports:
I started the fledge watch today and much as expected,there were no flyers. On arrival one very wet female adult Peregrine sat atop the building. All 3 young flapped abit and preened out what few downy white feathers still exist. A feeding was observed at 8:15am,and another small food package was brought in around noon. The young stood on the edge of the ledge,contemplating their next big step. The adults spent their time standing guard. The female chased several gulls from the area. A few local people stopped by to see how the family was doing. Action filled reports will follow in the coming days.
Reported by Frank Butson.
Posted on June 10, 2008 5:53 pm
