!!! Still in the area, flying lessons

June 22, 2009 - Toronto - Sheraton Centre

Linda Woods Reports:

Apollo pt.2; the Release

June 20, 2009 - Etobicoke - William Osler

Tracy Simpson Reports:

This has been an exciting day indeed!  Apollo’s first flight garnered much attention from curious onlookers that were equally as excited as we were to see him take that first big step towards becoming a man!  A crowd had gathered as we watched the resident female O’Connor fly in and count how many chicks she had left to fledge from the ledge.  One, two…  …hey, where’s three?!  Initially, mom had joined Apollo on his maiden voyage but she had now lost sight of him.  O’Connor sent up the call to the resident male Hurricane to get his act in gear and look for Apollo.  After circling the building several times, Dad took off to the west to hunt, Mom stayed on the ledge with the remaining juveniles and we began to get ready for Apollo’s release on the roof of the building.   

The remaining few hours of drizzly, wet daylight were spent with Mom feeding the two chicks left to fledge.  Katarina and Margherita ( the two chicks on the ledge ) had made their way around to the northwest corner of the building.  After a good feeding, they lay down for a nap and much to our surprise, slept next to an uneaten piece of food!  They were so full they left it until after they had slept off some of their earlier dinner, a testament to how incredibly well cared for these chicks are.  After having a good chuckle over the enormous crops on the two girls, Bruce Massey and I headed off to security to start the release process for Apollo.  This is a co-ordinated effort involving CPF, building maintenance and site security and this could not have been possible without the help of the amazing hospital staff.  At dusk, after a thorough examination to make sure he was healthy and hissy ( just as they should be ) Apollo was released onto the northeast corner of the roof without a hitch.  Thanks so much to Bruce Massey, Emma Stainton, KathySmith and all of the hospital and security staff at William Osler that made this successful rescue and release possible!!

!!! Two positively, three maybe

June 21, 2009 - Toronto - King Street

Linda Woods Reports:

Apollo Has Landed!

June 20, 2009 - Etobicoke - William Osler

Tracy Simpson Reports:

We have lift off!!  At approximately 4pm today, the first flight off of the nest ledge was our dear little Apollo ( I just knew he would be first! ).  He made all attempts to reach the hydro tower to the east and was maintaining altitude fairly well until he actually reached the lower teir of the tower.  Due to the misting rain that had been falling all day, the tower was unexpectedly slippery for the young fledgling to get a good grip, so off he went again around to the north side of the building.  He finally came to rest on a ledge two stories below the one he had just left.  His two siblings were above on the nest ledge watching while the chick ( Apollo ) walked back and forth on this smaller window ledge and even had some pictures taken of him from inside!  With mom close by encouraging him, juvenile Apollo was in the air once more.  He came around to the east where he tried to get back up to the nest ledge, doing what we call “the bat”  ( clinging on and flapping ) a few times before finally losing altitude and coming to the ground.  A great first try!!  Bruce Massey walked over and scooped up the juvenile just as I pulled up with the rescue box.  We took a quick once-over to make sure he was alright ( he looked fantastic! ) before placing him in the rescue carrier and escourting him to security.  He now sits in a dark, quiet and safe place until this evening when Bruce and I will put him back up on the roof of the nest building.  Stay tuned…   …”Part 2; The Release” to come!!

Imitation the Greatest Form of Flattery

June 19, 2009 - Etobicoke - William Osler

Tracy Simpson Reports:

Once again, the three juveniles were ledge running most of the evening.  Much to my chagrin, they have now found that there is a FOURTH side to this building.  They have had me running circuits all night!!   They are certainly gearing up for take off any day now.  The one chick, known as Apollo and donning a blue band, was the most active of the bunch, running up and down the ledge so fast that I was worried he would fledge without really meaning to!!  Several feedings were had throughout my watch ( 4 to be exact! ) with mom showing impatience with them on the final snack of the night.  Dad ( Hurricane ) brought the food in, dropped it and left it to the chicks to self serve.  Katarina, our little one with a red band,  grabbed the food and made a dash for the nest tray.  Apollo, our chick with the blue band, jumped in front with wings spread, blocking all escape with the food.  Katarina turned around only to find her big sister Margherita standing right in her face like a little brown tank.  That’s when mom flew in, took the food and generously fed each one a share.  Satisfied, the three juveniles made their way over to the northeast corner where Apollo, the male chick, did something that made me absolutely laugh. 

Dad, the resident male known as Hurricane, often sits right on the northeast corner ( literally on the edge ) with his back to the east.  It would appear that Apollo decided he wanted to be like Dad tonight so he wandered up to the corner and very gingerly “pawed” at the edge.  When he felt sure of his footing, he took a step forward and shuffled around using little baby steps until he was in the exact same position that Dad always sits.  He was so proud of himself that he did a huge rouse of his feathers, wiggled his tail and then sat up straight as an arrow as if to say, “Look at me!!  I’m a big boy now!!”.

Jumbo Jets!

June 18, 2009 - Etobicoke - William Osler

Tracy Simpson Reports:

The three juveniles are having a great time today exploring!!  They have now realized that there are 3 sides to this ledge instead of just two.  As I approached the building from Highway 27, I could see two of the three young on the west side of the building.  In a flash, they flew/ran back down the southern ledge to the southeast corner where the resident female O’Connor was waiting.  O’Connor and her mate Hurricane have taken such good care of these chicks that she is turning her little juvenile “fighter jets” into “jumbo jets”.  At 7:07, they were fed ( spoon fed at that! ).  Then 7:37, another feeding!  Oh my gosh, 7:57 more food comes in!  You would think that they would be so full that they couldn’t move.  Wrong!!!  One minute the three chicks are standing together ( I would swear they were coming up with a plan ) and in a flash, one goes to the west, one to the east leaving one on the south that dipped behind the sign and out of sight.  I didn’t know which way to follow!  By 9:00, O’Connor had come in to land on the southeast corner as she does every night and called her three chicks to bed.  Boy can they run!  Especially when mom gives the call.

Maple Takes Flight – Truss Learns a New Lesson

June 20, 2009 - Burlington - Lift Bridge

Sue McCreadie Reports:

Another terrible day at the Lift Bridge —- Rain, rain and then more rain. 

Throughout the afternoon, Truss made great strides in her flying ability.  She was here, there and everywhere.  Gaining great height and making great landings.  Cirrus decided that it was time to teach her daughter a new lesson.  Truss was sitting on the cables close to the Burlington Tower and Cirrus got her attention with a juicy fresh pigeon.  Cirrus circled her several times with the prey and then landed on the cables next to Truss and passed the meal over to her.  It was quite a balancing act for Truss with pigeon in one talon and balancing with the other.  She just didn’t know what to do.  Mom took off and circled around her and then landed on the closest picnic table.  Next thing we knew, Truss was in the air and carried her prey in talons to the picnic table and enjoyed her meal.  Truss had passed Lesson 1 with flying colors.

Now on to Maple.   At 5:04pm, just as we arrived back from a quick bite to eat and a warm up, Maple left the nest box.  She flew with great height to the roof of the Hamilton Tower.  She quickly flew off again, did a circle and then landed again.  Cirrus escorted her on the maiden flight and then she carried on to the Hamilton Hydro Tower to keep watch.  At 5:15pm, Sir flew into the nest box with a small food package and got the surprise of his life when he found no one there.  Cirrus didn’t waste any time getting to the box.  She grabbed the food from him and she immediately distributed it to both girls, Truss on the Burlington Tower and Maple on the Hamilton Tower.  Sir continued to stare for a bit into the empty next box wondering — what just happened, she was here and hour ago.

When we left tonight around 9:00pm, Maple had managed to walk her way around the roof of the Hamilton Tower and was sitting on one of the light standards over Eastport Drive.  Truss was tucked into a ledge on the face of the Hamilton Tower.  Hoping all will be well as it is once again raining in our neck of the woods.  Hopefully, tomorrow will be better.

!!! From The Buffalo News

June 21, 2009 - International, National and Local News

Frank Butson Reports:

Wayward peregrine falcon chick leads to discovery of another nest

Bird fanciers hail peregrine discovery as feather in their cap

A peregrine falcon chick that ended up on a barge in the Niagara River led to the discovery of a fourth nest — and another family of five — in this area. “It’s getting crowded in Peregrineville,” Joel Thomas, wildlife administrator for the Erie County SPCA, said Friday. That discovery is another feather in the cap of bird enthusiasts and wildlife experts who have watched three diminished species of raptors — the peregrine, bald eagle and osprey — begin returning to Western New York.

“We are thrilled with the discovery of another pair of nesting peregrine falcons in this area,” said Connie Adams, a senior wildlife biologist with the state Department of Environmental Conservation. “The presence of this new nesting pair is tremendous evidence of this species’ comeback and reaffirms the success of restoration efforts.”

“That bird has made an incredible comeback,” Thomas agreed.

Crews doing maintenance work on the South Grand Island Bridge found a chick on their barge last week and took it to the SPCA to be checked out. Initially, wildlife authorities assumed it was the offspring of peregrines nesting in a man-made box on the north bridge.

But after questioning the crews, authorities learned there was a natural nest — concrete rubble on a girder below the bridge deck. The location is ideal, Adams said.

“It’s incredibly protected from the elements. It’s protected from predators — aerial and ground predators,” Adams said. “But the first step is a doozy.”

Once the chick, a male, got a clean bill of health, Thomas and Adams returned it to its nest, which also contained two female chicks. Female peregrines typically are larger, and, in this case, they were twice the size of the male, Adams said.

Just hours later, the same male chick was spotted splashing around near the riverbank.

“When he fell the second time I thought, ‘They are pushing him out,’ ” Adams said. Most likely the reason is competition for food.

As a result, the male chick is being cared for at the SPCA until next week, when it will be transferred to a wildlife rehabilitation facility until it can survive on its own.

The region is home to six known pairs of peregrine falcons, which have produced 13 chicks this year. According to the DEC, the Buffalo area has the largest urban peregrine falcon population in upstate New York.

Other known nests are at the University at Buffalo South Campus and Statler Towers in downtown Buffalo, both of which are manmade. Another pair of falcons often is seen in the Niagara Gorge.

Peregrine falcons still are on the state’s endangered list, after the effects of pesticides virtually wiped them out in the Eastern United States in the 1960s. Last year, there were 67 territorial pairs documented statewide, according to the DEC.

“We would have to be able to document certainly more than 67 pair, which is not enough to make you feel secure,” Adams said.

The national endangered designation was lifted in 1999.

While the DEC, like wildlife agencies nationwide, bands chicks to monitor their movements, the mother of the South Grand Island Bridge brood doesn’t have one. It may be that she was born in a nest that wasn’t accessible to wildlife authorities, Adams said.

Cliff-dwellers, peregrine falcons once nested predominantly in the state’s mountain ranges. Now they roost in what Thomas described as “21st century” nesting grounds: high-rise buildings and bridges.

“They are actually quite common now, which is a good thing,” Thomas said.

The peregrine falcon is enjoying a rebirth in Western New York, but it is not alone. The area also has seen a return of ospreys with nests on Grand Island and Town of Tonawanda.

And bald eagles, which were so close to being extinct in New York in the 1970s that state officials asked that any sighting be reported and documented, are routinely seen south of Buffalo.

!!! Sad News but we’re up 100% over last year

June 20, 2009 - Windsor - Ambassador Bridge

Dennis Patrick Reports:

Dear Peregrine Community,

I am sorry to inform all of you that late Friday the little female chick died peacefully at Wings Rehab from a type of fungus infection. We believe this to be the first reported case of such an infection at Wings Rehab.

Obviously this outcome is far from what any of us hoped for our peregrine family and our first Peregrine Watch.

However, it is important to put this sad news into perspective: the rate of mortality for young peregrines in their first year ranges from around 60% to over 80%.

The fact that one out of two chicks on our Watch not only survived, but seems to be doing very well is a success. This first Peregrine Watch has been a learning experience for everyone involved, and we all did a good job under very challenging circumstances. We have learned so much that can be applied to future Watches. Look how far we’ve come! As a community we went from no peregrines, to a pair of peregrines checking out the nest site but without a successful hatching, to having 3 eggs but only 2 hatch, to having 2 young make their way into the world, and one chick doing extremely well. Now Voltaire & Freddy can focus all their attention on the young male, and that is a good thing.

Once again, Dennis & I thank you for your commitment, passion, and concern regarding these young peregrines. We do plan to apply lessons learned from this year’s Watch, and we sincerely hope that you will consider being part of this important effort in the future. And of course, we hope our family of peregrines will grace us with their presence next year.

Dennis Patrick
Gwenster
CPF Site Coordinator

Caroline Biribauer
Friends of Watersheds Organizer
Essex Region Conservation Authority

P.S. We will be reviewing our picture archive history to see if we can I.D. when little missy started to exhibit.
We wil forward our findings on this disease to all our fellow net watchers.

The two shots of the female chick flapping were on June 10/09. Do you see anything?

Ottawa Fledge watch - day 14

June 20, 2009 - Ottawa - Delta Ottawa City Centre

CPF Postmaster Reports:

I wonder sometimes just how much time we have put in staring at a building just in case a chicklet shows itself……  If you had asked me that 13 years ago, when I became involved with this venture, I would have said not much time.  Now I know different!