July 22, 2009 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre
Kathy Reports:
A helicopter just flew over the nest site building at quite a low altitude - actually thought it was going to land on the rooftop, that’s how low it was flying. Needless to say you never saw so many birds panic so fast in your life - pigeons were dispersing everywhere!
With one exception…our resident falcon Mom! She just kept sitting on her cam dozing as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened. Dad, on the other hand was a flying machine - scanning the perimeter and making sure the offending intruder had left his territory. Of course he did all this, after the chopper had flown off! My guess is, he was probably dozing on his usual perch and the loud noise woke him up!
Did see Elena early this morning have her breakfast on the ADP sign but all has been quiet until this brief interlude with modernity!
Posted on July 22, 2009 12:41 pm
July 18, 2009 - Toronto - Sheraton Centre
CPF Postmaster Reports:
Good morning!
I caught the attached picture this morning. I can’t tell who it is, but it’s definitely a juvie.
I don’t think it’s Sandy (who was seen there Wednesday)…I’d think her red tape would stand out even in the shadows. She was at the nest end a few minutes earlier, but I didn’t hit save in time. At any rate, it’s good to see the youngsters still around and doing so well.
Ei
Rhea Mae follower since she was an egg 
Posted on July 21, 2009 12:34 pm
July 20, 2009 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre
Kathy Reports:
Both mom and dad spotted this morning, mom on the nest box and dad under his sign partaking in breakfast as I could see a flurry of feathers floating down. No sign of the kids as of yet. They will be venturing out further and further from home now and exploring the world.
Posted on July 20, 2009 9:38 am
July 19, 2009 - Etobicoke - William Osler
Bruce Massey Reports:
Spent around 10-12 Hrs at the William Ossler Nest Site over the last 2 days. Did 2 AM Shifts, and 1 PM. Unfortunately, most of the Observations were in the first Hour of the Morning, when the light was bad. However, saw what I thought was the 2 Adults, and at least 1 of the Juviniles, Apollo. I however did not see the Female Juvinile, Katarina. This however, wasn’t all that surprising as she was the best of the 3 Juviniles, she never came to ground, and on her first flight she didn’t come to the ground, instead she made it back to the nest in 5 flights the same day. Another reason I’m not worried is that each day the Female Adult left by 0600 Hrs. and wasn’t seen again and I suspect was keeping a eye on Katrina.
That said, Apollo definitely has an Attitude, he started Sunday by rousting some gulls over by the Plaza to the North of the Hospital. The gulls were not amused. Anyway, stand by for future observations from this site.
Posted on July 19, 2009 6:44 pm
July 11, 2009 - Burlington - Lift Bridge
Mark Nash Reports:
We have some very sad news to report regarding Maple’ situation. We have received news from the vet that Maple’s illness was too far advanced and that she has passed away during the night.
We would like to thank everyone that was involved in the rescue of Maple, and to all those that submitted your photos and observations, as it was most appreciated. They told a huge story. With the combined observations of her activity over the past days, it has been quite evident that Maple was very sick indeed.
As we suspected, based on the combined photo evidence and the visual observations of her overall body condition and behavior, we expected that her prognosis was not going to be good. Maple suffered from a number of challenges,,, in particular an avian ailment / illness called Trichomoniasis, commonly referred to as “Frounce or Tric” in raptors. It is this along with several other complications that lead to her death.
Avian trichomoniasis is principally a disease of young birds. The severity of the disease depends on the susceptibility of the bird and on the pathogenic potential of the strain of the parasite. Adult birds that and recover from the infection may still carry the parasite, but they are resistant to re-infection. These carriers do not show obvious signs of infection. Trichomoniasis is caused by contaminated food, in particular and likely in this case, from pigeons.
In young birds, the early lesions appear as small white to yellowish areas in the mouth cavity, especially the soft palate. The lesions consist of inflammation and ulceration of the mucosal surface, and increase in size and number and extend to the esophagus, crop and proventriculus. The lesions may develop into large, firm necrotic masses that may block the lumen. Occasionally, the disease may spread by penetrating the underlying tissues to involve the liver and other organs. Without a close examination of the subject, the lesions are often very difficult to detect in their early stages.
How to Know When Birds are Infected
In most cases, there may be little indication that the bird is infected, and death may occur quite suddenly. In other cases, infected raptors may stop feeding, lose weight, look ruffled and dull, and be unable to stand or maintain their balance for periods of time. Death may occur within a week of infection as the disease can spread very quickly. Milky white fluid or yellowish cheesy coloured material may accumulate in the mouth and crop, and this material may exude from the beak. A pendulous crop may develop.
How to Know if Birds are Infected with Trichomoniasis
Characteristic yellowish-white nodules in the oral cavity – (mouth), esophagus and crop strongly suggest trichomoniasis. The infection is confirmed by finding the organism during microscopic examination of the yellowish fluids, cheesy material or the lesions. By the time most birds start to exhibit signs of the illness, the infection has already taken a strong hold over the bird, and young birds with an already weakened immune system, they typically succumb to the affects of the illness.
Despite the end result, it was well worth everyone’s efforts and time spent for her both her rescue and to get her to the vet, as Frounce can be successfully treated with antibiotics and the bird can survive if caught / treated early enough. Sadly, there was no way of helping Maple until she came to the ground, as attempting to trap her in this environment, (with the addition of two attending parents) was not an option. Sadly, by the time that her condition was recognized, (given the advanced stage of her illness), it was too late for antibiotics to effectively deal with the illness.
Posted on July 18, 2009 1:10 pm
July 09, 2009 - Burlington - Lift Bridge
Mark Nash Reports:
With a huge thank you to all who were involved in bringing Maple’s situation to our attention, as the calls started approx. 6:30 am this morning alerting us that something was not well with one of the young fledglings. The bridge staff reported that a young peregrine had come down to the lower hand rail on the lift portion of the bridge - (only several feet away from the passing traffic), and that it was unable to gain any altitude over the corse of several short and very weak flights.
By 7:15 am, the first photos arrived via e-mail, and despite that they may have appeared to simply look like a normal sleepy bird, they told a quite a different story. The fledgling juvenile was identified as Maple, and with the combined observation reports of her activity this morning, it is quite evident that Maple is very sick and in need of emergency medical attention.
The morning was filled with numerous calls and conversations with the avian vet, OMNR, the bridge staff, Sue and to Bruce who were all advised of the situation in anticipation that sooner or later Maple would be coming to the ground and the need to get her to emergency medical attention would be necessary.
Later this morning, Barry called and confirmed our worst fears as he described his observations of Maple’s activities and behavior over the previous two days. These observations combined with the earlier photos submitted of Maple pointed to a very sick bird indeed, with a suspected avian illness called Trichomoniasis, commonly referred to as Frounce or Tric in raptors. While this type of illness can be successfully treated with antibiotics, it requires that early diagnosis be made and that treatment be administered as soon as possible. Bruce was dispatched and arrived on scene at the bridge less than fifteen minutes before Maple came to the ground. A huge thank you to Bill and Sue, Barry, the Burlington bridge staff and all that were on hand and involved in the co-ordination and rescue of Maple!
Maple was quickly scooped up and placed in a rescue carrier and on route to the avian vet. She was admitted right away upon her arrival.
We will have to wait for the news on her condition.
Stay tuned…..
Posted on July 18, 2009 12:30 pm
July 15, 2009 - Toronto - Sheraton Centre
Jan Chudy Reports:
Checking in at 8:45, I found an adult in the nest box and a large juvenile (!) on the SW corner of the Canada Life building on the ledge under the letters. As I checked again at 9, it appeared that the juvenile “dropped” off the ledge, so off I went to Canada Life to check it out. Many thanks to Gavin Miller for checking all the appropriate ledges - no juvenile found, and no news is good news. Gavin did say he heard a peregrine screeching at around 6:30. As I walked back to the office, I found an adult on the east DBRS logo, on top of the “D”. At 11, I spotted an adult on the standpipe of the Sheraton nest ledge. At 11:55 I spotted a large juvenile on the west side of the elevator housing at 100 Adelaide. I thought I would go down to the street to see if I could see the tape colour but it had gone. However, as I walked around I found a large juvenile on the north side of 120 Adelaide. I carried on to a better vantage point and found two adults on the north logo of the other hotel. At 12:30, the juvenile took off fast going north. A few minutes later a large juvenile had arrived on the SW corner of 85 Richmond - same bird??? The two adults remained on the north logo. A few minutes later the juvenile went off south and landed on a window ledge on the west side of the red brick building which is the back of the Bell building. It was two levels down from the roof. I checked the adults and they were in the same location and when I looked back, the juvenile was gone. At 1:35 checking again from my office, I spotted a juvenile flying around south of the Sheraton. She then went to the SW corner of 130 Adelaide. She obliged by standing tall and I managed to clearly see the tape attached to her leg on banding day - RED - it was Sandy! She then toook off south down York. At 1:45 checking from the west windows, I spotted a large juvenile eating on the east side of the Exchange Tower roof. When she finished eating, she walked to the SE corner and cleaned off her beak! She then took off to the south, landed on the west side of the westerly building of the TD Centre and then off again. From 3:15 to 5:15, both adults were in view on various locations of the Sheraton, either the nest ledge or the letters.
Posted on July 15, 2009 7:03 pm
July 14, 2009 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre
Kathy Reports:
Angel was not around that I could see for most of the morning however the male was on the nestbox ledge for approximately 15 minutes by himself this morning preening. By lunchtime mom was back on her web cam perch and the male had resumed his wandering ways and was nowhere to be found.
Mackenzie, Perry and Elena were all on-site this morning. I was lucky enough to spot them sharing a meal on one of the office towers from a meeting room I was in earlier. I also observed them all playing tag and chasing each around the roof tops. Very nice to see them all together and thriving!
Posted on July 14, 2009 7:11 pm
July 13, 2009 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre
Kathy Reports:
Male adult falcon sitting on the next ledge over to the nest ledge in his usual spot for the past 15 minutes for the first time I’ve observed in over 2 weeks. Angel is on her perch on top of the cam and all is calm.
Juveniles all spotted this morning at various times yelling and eating like all teenagers do !
Posted on July 13, 2009 3:01 pm
July 09, 2009 - Burlington - Lift Bridge
Sue McCreadie Reports:
Bill arrived at the bridge around 8:30am and was greeted by Barry who was already on site. Over the last couple of days, Barry had noticed that Maple did not appear well. She had a very large crop and was refusing food from Cirrus. You could see her trying to vocalize, but there was no sound. The Bridge Workers advised them that Maple was sitting on top of the Control Tower. After three attempts of walking and flopping her wings, she managed to get to the top of the bridge where she remained until approximately 3:00 pm. We watched her and she appeared disheveled and slept most of the time. She made a feeble flight and landed on the top rail of the bridge on the lake side and then again to the Burlington Tower. She spotted Cirrus at the Play Pen and managed a flight to her with a difficult landing. Cirrus shortly thereafter appeared with a meal which she took the bridge abutment above the boat parking lot. Maple, tried to follow but could not gain the height she needed and came to the ground landing on a parked car of some fishermen. An attempt was made to pick her up but she took off again, heading for the canal and this time landed on top of another vehicle that was parked by the canal. This time the rescue was successful by John and Barry and Bill with the rescue box. She was wrapped in a towel and immediately transported to the Toronto Wildlife Centre by Bruce Massey. Bruce had arrived about 10 minutes before the whole melee started. We are grateful that Bruce was on site so that we didn’t have to wait for him to get through Toronto QEW traffic. We are anxiously waiting to hear about “our” girl. Thanks to everyone who was involved in the rescue. Boy, Falcon Watching can sure be stressful.
Posted on July 9, 2009 8:20 pm
