June 15, 2009 - Windsor - Ambassador Bridge
Dennis Patrick Reports:
Special message to Linda one of our spotters who had to go out of town. Junior looked great!!! Safe and Sound!!
I was down at the bridge shortly after 5:00 this morning. Our little guy was sitting up on the beam we left him on last night squawking allot!!
Freddie came back with food did a couple of fly a rounds the beam junior was on and then landed on the beam, let junior get close to the food and then flew to the abutment. Our little guy got the drill and beautifully flew up to where Freddie was. Not to the nest ledge but 1/3rd the way up on the west side. It was the best controlled upward flight I have seen yet!!!!!!!!!!!! Of course Voltaire gave Freddie the boot and fed junior herself. Our female was also fed and it appears that by the time junior gets his flying skills up she will probably be good to try. Junior exhibited strong flying skills on Sunday just some control issues. I looked at some Sunday photos and the only way I can describe Juniors flying is he looks like driving a car with the emergency brake on “tentative and thus short on the inbound landing”.
Caroline and Bob HB are at the Bridge now if you want to join in just head down and enjoy helping out.
We’ll keep you posted.
D&G & “The Falcon Crazy Team”
Posted on June 15, 2009 12:40 pm
June 15, 2009 - Windsor - Ambassador Bridge
Dennis Patrick Reports:
At 6:05 am we arrived at the nesting site and were only able to see and hear one young falcon on the nesting ledge of the Ambassador Bridge but were able to hear the calls of another coming from a different location to the west. After a few minutes of tracking the noise I finally spotted the fledgling on the roof of a 3 story apartment building at the corner of Indian and University . The first feeding we observed was by the female parent (Voltaire) at about 8:30 am.
Mary Lou Thompson (Lou)
and Ken Hawkins(Hawk)
This is the report I couldn’t get out to you from Saturday.
D&G
Posted on June 15, 2009 8:21 am
June 14, 2009 - Toronto - Sheraton Centre
Linda Woods Reports:
The past two days have been crazy with three juveniles in the air.
One juvie had taken flight and flew south along York St., about 20 stories up. As the bird came to the intersection of King and York Streets, it flew into Standard Life Building, with it’s the gold tinted windows. The bird attempted to land on the window pane. It slid down the glass about two stories, and was bumped off the glass by another window frame and launched into the air, loosing altitude and continuing west along King St. By the time I got to the intersection, I had lost track of it., but it did maintain the lower height . A search of the area turned up nothing, but a very relaxed bird sitting on the Starbucks at Adelaide St. I wasn’t sure if this was the same bird but it was suspect.
Yesterday we had three accounted for until 8:00p.m. when they started the peregrine watusui and then we could only find one. And she was an easy find, for she hadn’t left the nest ledge.
Liberty remains home bound at this time. She occasionally has bursts of flapping and some screaming, but I think she is content to have the place to herself. (more leg room in the box)
This morning, after day light, Bruce and Harry had counted three with one still AWOL. All three birds stayed put for most of the day. Liberty remaining on the nest. Osler we assume, for he enjoys his jaunts between the Sheraton roof top, 390 Bay St., the Hilton Hotel and 130 Adelaide. And Stormin who likes the intersection of York and Adelaide.
The fourth bird remained elusive ( Sandy-Links ) who was last seen attempting to return to the nest ledge. at 8p.m. Friday night and missed the landing.
Today, Zoe and myself relieved Harry and Bruce for the day. We had three juvies in sight and accounted for, one on 120 Adelaide, one on the nest and one on the Dominion of Canada Insurance Company on the south side of Adelaide Street, between York St. and University Ave.
All afternoon, I thought I could faintly hear juvie screaming as Zoe and I sat in the courtyard terrace of 130 Adelaide. But then again who could hear anything over the roar of tour buses, air conditioning fans, exhausts fans, helicopters and the events in the area.( After 8 days of peregrine watching, everything sounds like a juvie screaming.)
Paul came on site to relieve Zoe, and I filled him in on the days activities.
About 7:00 p.m the two juvies started flying. Osler back and fourth from 130, 120 Adelaide to the Hilton. And the second ( unidentified as yet ) from the insurance building, through the Hilton Courtyard and back again.
It was then I heard the screaming again. Paul confirmed that the bird on the Dominion Of Canada Insurance Company was not moving it’s lips at the time I was hearing the screaming. The tall buildings, I thought, may be the sound was reverberating of the walls like a megaphone and coming out the south end of the building. I took walk south on York St and the screaming was louder. I radioed the screaming to Paul who could not hear it from the Corner of Adelaide and York St. He said the the bird he had in view was not moving.
Paul and I switched positions and moments later, Paul discoveredi the missing juvie. I believe this is the bird that took the brush off the Standard Life Building. This bird was tucked in the narrow ledge and absolutely hidden. Thank goodness for the screaming. I was also very aware that the screaming could bring in the adults. As I am always careful now to look over my shoulder when searching out a screaming juvie.
Did you know the adults can chase you down a street as well off a neighbouring roof top? Yup , they can and they do.
The bird on Pearl St. needs to be observed, this is a tight corner boarded by tall buildings with reflective glass. Liberty is still unfledged, Osler is doing well, and the bird on Starbucks, whom I think is Stormin has strong, but low flights in this area.
Posted on June 14, 2009 11:50 pm
June 14, 2009 - Windsor - Ambassador Bridge
Dennis Patrick Reports:
What a day!!!! Our little male earned both frequent flyer miles and frequent walker miles! Hats off to a great falcon crazy team effort. This little fellow had everyones heart in their throats and all of us running around in circles.
Steve a falconer friend of Jerry the photographer reviewed the pictures and he feels our little guy will be flying like the blazes within a couple of days.
I’m not sure who has worse blisters the falcon or us????
I would also like to welcome all our new friends that stopped in today and chatted. It was great to see so many of our experienced birding community stop in and help out today as well.
We left our little buddy hunkered down on one of the cross beams. Hopefully he’ll be right there when we return at first day light. To you other photographers send in those afternoon and evening shots. We love to seee them all and I will post them as well.
D&G & “The Falcon Crazy Team!!!!
Posted on June 14, 2009 11:01 pm
June 14, 2009 - Toronto - King Street
Linda Woods Reports:
The King St. Peregrine Falcon Fledgling Watch begins this week and once again volunteers are required. Volunteers are needed to spot check and relieve other volunteers for breaks and meals. Or if you are crazy like the rest of us, jump right in and stay for a few hours. Bring your binoculars and note pad. Experience with bird watching is not required but helpful. Keen observations skills are a great asset. A hurry up and wait type of experience when watching peregrines fledge. But when they get flying, a wonderful air show, usually in the evenings.
Drop by the 18 King St. area, 1 block east of Yonge St. CPF volunteers can be located around the intersections of Toronto St., Court St., King Sts.
Just look for the people with the binoculars and scopes. Drop by, say hello and /or relieve a volunteer for a 1/2 hour lunch or dinner break.
CONTACT : Head Office 416-481- 1233 and leave a message
Posted on June 14, 2009 10:50 pm
June 13, 2009 - Ottawa - Delta Ottawa City Centre
CPF Volunteer Reports:
One little chicklet seems to be gaining courage as time goes on. It has been seen often right out on the end of the ledge. There has been wing-flapping and more movement along the ledge. In fact, Diana was seen to bring food to the northern end. No one could see who was there to receive it, so it could be both, or just our little adventurer. I will feel better once we get to see both chicklets up on the ledge at the same time. For now, we have to be content with hearing both voices.
Maybe Sunday will be the day to see both. At any rate, it certainly will be a day for more sightings of our intrepid chicklet who seems to be determined to master its wings.
Posted on June 14, 2009 2:55 pm
June 13, 2009 - Burlington - Lift Bridge
Mark Nash Reports:
Although the afternoon was a quiet time at the bridge, the resident adults were very active in and around the nest territory. The juveniles are still showing a lot of fuzzzzzy down on their heads, but its coming off fast. The bridge tower face around the nest box is coated with white down that has been coming off the hatchlings. The resident adult female has been very active, with several food packages, (mostly pigeons) having been brought in this afternoon and evening.
I arrived at around 2:15 pm and was created by the group along with Barry and his wife Linda among several other on lookers. Bill and Sue returned after having been on site most of the morning and early afternoon. We got the tent cover set up with the chairs and a small table and I signed in with the bridge staff.
It was nice to see everyone again. I was able to see some of the fantastic photos that Bill and Barry had taken earlier in the week of the adult peregrines defending their territory against an adult Bald eagle that won’t be coming back anytime too soon!!
Fantastic shots of the resident adult female peregrine showing absolutely no fear as she stooped and dived bombed this poor adult bald eagle right out of sight. It was chased and dive bombed viciously as the camera’s at ground level snapped away. Other observations recorded of this new resident adult female attitude , commenting that she is “anal” about protecting her territory. Nothing is left alone in the surrounding air space. She aggressively pursues and attacks even the passing gulls that are caught off guard as they casually wonder by the twin towers. There is definitely a declared “no fly zone” that is aggressively enforced!
By dusk, both of the adult peregrines were displaying an unusual behavior (one that the group had been observing for weeks) of the two adults flying very close to the underside of the upper concrete support span of the sky way bridge, but not actually landing. It would almost appear that they are looking for something, perhaps looking for bats clinging to the warm concrete or larger insects?? We watched this new pair carry on with this unusual behavior over a 10 to 15 minute time frame and must admit can’t figure out what there so interested in. Time will tell.
By darkness, things were very quiet and as they should be. Hatchlings in the box, parents on the roost.
More to come,,, Stay tuned…….
Posted on June 14, 2009 2:38 pm
June 13, 2009 - Windsor - Ambassador Bridge
Dennis Patrick Reports:
Our little male joined the first air born!!!
Sorry Lou, if you sent me an email I had you send it to my work email so I have to wing this. Thanks for the hot dogs too. Lou was first on the scene this morning and found our little male had made his first flight and ended up on an apartment roof two buildings south west of the nest ledge. When we arrived there was some wide eyed hystaria oh and the birds were pretty noisy too!!!
So we basically watched the little fella run around get fed numerous times and then this evening he took a shot at flight again. He headed for the Ledge but only made it half way up the abutment. He tried to bat out but lost his grip on the cement wall and dropped off the wall and flewBack across University and landed on the cross beam on the bridge. The parents seemed relieved that he was off the roof and so were we.
Our female youngster is still behind and pretty lethargic but not a point to worry.
I was amazed at the speed at which both parents were at the males side the instant the little guy was under way. Freddie and Voltaire are superb parents. I am waiting for some more shots to come in but these will get you started.
Dennis and Gwenster and the whole “Falcon Crazy Team”
Posted on June 13, 2009 11:44 pm
June 10, 2009 - Etobicoke - William Osler
Emma Stainton Reports:
I arrived to nest site at 3pm. I got sight of the female fly over and land on the hydro tower across from the nest site. She proceeded to preen for 20 minutes ( a well deserved break, I’m sure). I was able to spot two of the chicks, but they appeared to be tucked in on the ledge, most likely taking a nap.
Suddenly, the chicks began to cry and I saw the male come in to view. He appeared to be carrying a food package and proceeded to fly over to the female on the hydro tower. He landed underneath her and began to “ee-chup”, signalling that he had food to hand off. The female retrieved it from him and took it to feed the chicks. My view was still slightly obscured by the ledge, but the female appeared to be feeding them. The male stayed on the hydro tower during this time. Eventually, the female left the chicks and took off headed west.
The male then went and sat on the north east corner of the hospital, with the chicks in his sight line. He then began to preen and roost. One of the chicks began whining and slowly approached him, scaling the edge of the ledge. That was a slightly tense moment. Eventually, realizing that “Dad” didn’t have any food, the eya returned to their siblings.
Later, the female came in. She appeared again to be feeding the chicks, but again, my view was not entirely clear. I have a photo of this event, in which the three chicks, the female and male are together on the ledge that I will try to post later. (The male left immediately afterwards).
In summary, I was able to see all three chicks and see both male and female bring in food. So it would appear all is well at this nest site.
I left the nest site at about 5:30.
Posted on June 13, 2009 10:34 am
June 12, 2009 - Ottawa - Delta Ottawa City Centre
CPF Volunteer Reports:
I was not downtown yesterday, I am doing both days in this posting.
From time to time we can hear the little ones calling and calling every time they see a parent, to let them know they are hungry!!!!! It is fun to see new volunteers as they suddenly realize what a calling chicklet sounds like, and that they can hear this over the dulcet tones of rush hour traffic!
Our volunteers have been treated to a superb display of Connor chasing a pigeon in and around all the buildings in this area, eventually joined in this effort by Diana. Although they had to call it off (pigeon 1, peregrines 0), Diana did shortly after produce breakfast for her chicklets. 1 chicklet has been seen up on the ledge with occasional wing-flapping. It has also been seen at times simply sitting and taking in lots of new sights and sounds, its little head bobbing and turning from side to side, up and down. It is so cute doing this. We hope its sibling joins it up there soon.
We can hear both calling and are getting anxious to see both, especially to see what genders we might have. I hope they take their time with fledging as they have heavy bodies to keep up in the air!
Paul Leger and Jorgen Rasmussen have recently taken photos for our album. Thank you, both.
I am sure Connor was a little upset tonight. He dislikes hot air balloons. We had a few pass overhead this evening.
Cheers, Eve
Posted on June 13, 2009 9:39 am
