July 03, 2009 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre
Matt MacGillivray Reports:
Kathy, and her boss Chris, have graciously donated a fantastic computer to power the Etobicoke Sun Life nest site into the 2010 nesting season (and beyond!). It’s a significant improvement to the previous computer, that I would guess is anywhere from 3-6 years old, and really wanting to retire. Thank you so much Kathy and Chris!
As luck would have it, the camera started misbehaving as soon as we got the computer up and running, but it’s there and ready to go! With this new machine, we’re hoping to get much faster refresh times on the camera feed, and more frequent snippets of video as we’ve seen from the MEC site (which also recently had a computer upgrade).
Mackenzie's greatful for the donations from Kathy and Chris (image credit Baylie Kastner)
It’s through generous donations like this, that the CPF keeps webcams up and running throughout the season. It is also through donations like this that the CPF is able to provide better images and more video.
Thanks so much for your generosity Kathy and Chris! It is very much appreciated.
Matt.
Posted on July 3, 2009 2:11 pm
July 03, 2009 - Ottawa - Delta Ottawa City Centre
CPF Postmaster Reports:
Hello all, I know some have been worried about the lack of Nihei sightings but this morning at 11:15 I spotted two young falcons playing about the south west corner of Place de Ville “C”.
Chris Traynor
Eve Ticknor
Posted on July 3, 2009 12:05 pm
July 02, 2009 - Ottawa - Delta Ottawa City Centre
CPF Postmaster Reports:
Connor, Nihei and Tailer photos taken by Chris Traynor.
Tailer, Nihei and Diana taken by Eve Ticknor
Eve Ticknor
Posted on July 3, 2009 10:57 am
July 02, 2009 - Burlington - Lift Bridge
Sue McCreadie Reports:
Between storms today, Bill and I decided to make another trip to the Lift Bridge. We arrived just around 6:00 pm. Barry had stuck it out through the storms and was able to point out where the juvies were hanging out. In a flash, Sir appeared carrying dinner in his talons. He took it to a picnic table to prepare. Maple and Truss watched in the hopes that he would share. We jumped onto the scopes and low and behold, Sir had delivered a Budgerigar. Unfortunately, another downpour started and we didn’t actually see who got the bird, but we are pretty sure that Sir did not share. We sure hope that the owner didn’t witness the wrath of Sir as he swept in and grabbed the family pet.
Throughout the downpour, Truss and Maple remained on the wires. They were just like drowned rats.
Posted on July 2, 2009 9:45 pm
July 02, 2009 - Etobicoke - William Osler
Mark Nash Reports:
This morning we received some good news from Toronto Wildlife Centre with regards to Magarita. The vet has indicated that her injuries are not life threatening and with a few weeks of convalescent care, she should be ready to be released back to the wild and her family. Margarita will be transferred to the CPF raptor centre where she will spend the next few weeks recovering.
Stay tuned……
Posted on July 2, 2009 11:12 am
July 02, 2009 - Windsor - Ambassador Bridge
Dennis Patrick Reports:
Junior has been resting and we hope for x-rays to be done.
I know we are not supposed to make assumptions only report but it sure seems like Voltaire and Freddie are still chut-chut-chutting looking for junior.
Freddie has been seen just sitting on the nest ledge looking around and calling. The cooler weather has brought on some great flying displays. Fast stooping and swooping. Just beautiful. It appears exactly as we had thought all along Voltaire and Freddie have no intentions of going anywhere and haven’t budged from the abutment.
Very vocal up in the beams and on the pipe they love to roost on. Some of the ruckus sounds like when it was feeding time for junior but no Junior.
Voltaire has been doing rigorous cleaning and moving around on the nest for extended periods of time.
Both are really displaying dominance over this nesting site, with no intention of giving ground to any vagrant peregrines.
The evening displays especially when the wind has a Northern element to it are dazzling.
The pair are managing and maintaining the nest ledge very actively.
We wait anxiously on Juniors health.
D&G
Posted on July 2, 2009 8:34 am
June 30, 2009 - Ottawa - Delta Ottawa City Centre
CPF Postmaster Reports:
This is our last day, and it has been a strange one. Other than seeing the adults sitting here and there, I had little sightings of any falcons. I’d see one on the west side of the Crowne and 1 on the Carlisle antenna. Tailer was seen once in a long while, but didn’t do any of his usual flying overhead as he did yesterday. Once Diana took him over the river for lessons, perhaps in hunting. As for Nihei, she has been out of sight all day.
I did get to watch a few passes overhead by the Snowbirds, and to have some cake passed out to all who work in Constitution Square, for Canada Day. As I was on my own for most of today, I was delighted to see Marian who gave me a much needed lunch break. Brian and Nancy came for their shifts. I was glad to see Jorgen, Mary, Bernie and Christine who all stopped by, and who also tried to look for Nihei.
I omitted a report that Nihei was seen last evening trying to land on the Carlisle antenna with her brother but missed so she returned to Constitution Square.
I took Jorgen up to the roof of Tower 2 to look for Nihei. In spite of searching all roofs possible, we didn’t see her. Diana and Connor came after us only when we approached the northwest side, near Tower 1. Once we moved away, they left us. However, we checked all possible angles including the roof. Was she there, or did they think she was there?
And, so we left tonight, knowing we did our job, but still wondering where our chicklet is. Some of us will still go down and check on our falcon family from time to time. I know those working down in the area of our Watch will keep on looking for her and will let me know when they see Tailer and Nihei.
Until next June, Eve
Posted on July 1, 2009 1:33 pm
July 01, 2009 - Etobicoke - William Osler
Mark Nash Reports:
I received a telephone call this morning regarding Magarita’s diagnosis and the results of her x-rays. The x-rays clearly showed that Magarita has sustained a fracture to her keel and it is this reason that she is unable to sustain flight and hold any altitude. At some point during one of her many landings, she has obviously hit something very hard, (likely one of the concrete ledges). One of the many challenges and problems when the eyrie is located on unforgiving concrete ledges, the unskilled juveniles often land hard when returning to the nest ledge and often use the concrete back walls to brake their first incoming / return trips back to the building ledges. Unlike more natural cliff nesting sites that typically offer a far more forgiving and much softer landing strip, the hardened concrete ledges can sometimes be a disadvantage for the young fledglings when returning to the nest ledges for the first couple of times until they learn how to land properly. Landing for the fledglings is skill that must be learned over time by trial and error, and is one that takes allot of practice.
Magarita is being put on a general antibiotic and pain medication, but sadly must be held over for a short time for her injuries to heal. Otherwise, her overall condition is very good and she is expected to recover. The vet will be doing yet another physical examination of her tomorrow and will advice us further as to her condition.
Stay tuned…..
Posted on July 1, 2009 11:13 am
June 30, 2009 - Toronto - Sheraton Centre
Jan Chudy Reports:
Checking in at 8:50, I found a juvenile on the north side of the superstructure on the DBRS building and a juvenile on the east side of the Sheraton roof. They remained in those locations for a short time. At 9:30 only one juvenile was visible on the NE corner of the Sheraton roof. A short time later an adult flew by my window at eye level - beautiful! At 11:40 I spotted an adult feeding two juveniles on the SW corner of the Thompson building roof. One was Osler (white tape visible) and the other was a female but I couldn’t see the tape. At noon the adult had gone, Osler was sitting quiety at the back of the pillar and his sister was wrestling with the remaining food - finally the band was clear to see - Sandy! Through the early afternoon two juveniles were spotted in various locations. Checking the neighbourhood at 3:30, one juvenile was on the NE corner of 120, one was on the east side of 120 and one was on the SE corner of 120 and an adult was in the nest box on the Sheraton ledge. At 4 the juveniles were in the same locations. At 4:35 an adult starting flying by my window - several passes at eye level and finally showed his underside - yes, his underside - Tiago’s black band was clearly visible, A colleague and I watched for several minutes as he circled higher and higher and went more north - very high over Bay and Charles - then he came back to the south and passed over First Canadian Place. At 5 one juvenile was on the NW corner of 130 Adelaide, one was on the SE corner of 120 Adelaide and one was on the NE corner of the elevator housing of 100 Adelaide. All juveniles are flying well and have no problem with various altitudes.
Posted on July 1, 2009 10:11 am
