!!! The Rescue of Perry
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.
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