June 20, 2010 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre
Mark Nash Reports:
Its been a long long day indeed. After closing off the watch out at MEC and then having to release the fledgling female back to the their roof top, Marion and I proceeded to the Etobicoke nest site and attended the Etobicoke Sun Life Centre to do a quick examination of both Dot-Ca and Mercedes to ensure that they were Ok before their release back to the nest building roo top.
With a huge thank you to the Sun Life security team who have been kind enough to once again baby sit the downed fledglings and provide a safe cool down space, and their assistance getting us all to the roof, both fledglings were released under the cover of darkness without innocent.
With thanks to Marion for her assistance as releasing two birds at the same time to ensure that neither one of them has time to bolt off the roof really does require two people. A huge thank you to Frank, Baylie, Kathy and all of the fledge watch team for all of their efforts and work needed to complete the safe rescue of these two fledglings!
Posted on June 21, 2010 2:24 am
- Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre
Frank Butson Reports:
Yesterday,DotCa spent his night on a balcony,on arrival he was still on the balcony. With the help of security at Kingsway On The Park and Baylie,I was able to rescue DotCa and after a holding period for observation he will be released under darkness tonight. He was fine.
When we arrived,Blackberry had had a wonderful flight above the buildings with Mom,getting abit of advanced flight training. While he still hasnt mastered A-1 landings,he is certainly the star flyer.
On arrival,Mercedes the youngest of the 3 Peregrine Falcon chicks was on the nestledge. Late in the afternoon he took flight. His flight was decent but he ran into troubles,first landing on a balcony which had a pigeon net on it which he was briefly tangled in. When he disentangled himself at most 3minutes later,he flew again to the top of 2 Aberfoyle. There he sat on the head of a plastic owl. This caused a problem when a strong breeze blew him off. He flew again,landing on a balcony. After initial difficulties with access to rescue him,a gentleman came down having been called by his neighbors to ask us to remove the bird from the balcony. We explained thats exactly why we were there and the folks were very receptive and helpful to us in rescuing Mercedes. Thank-you to Mr and Mrs Girouix for allowing us to help Mercedes,it was greatly appreciated. Mercedes was also fine,with a real attitude. He did not like being rescued. He will also be released this evening .
Many thanks to everyone involved in todays watch and rescues. Citizens,security at Kingsway On The Park and volunteers all played a role in these 2 sucessful rescues,which make such a big difference in the survival of the Peregrine Falcon.
Posted on June 20, 2010 9:54 pm
June 19, 2010 - Burlington - Lift Bridge
Sue McCreadie Reports:
Linda Cherriere Reports:
Barry and I arrived sometime before noon hour and were not sure if both juv’s were present. I’d see one then see maybe another in a different location but not both at the same time. So I had a very uneasy feeling for the next few hours until later in the day when Mom caught a pigeon and took it up to the playpen. A Juv popped up and then I checked on the other spot where I new Dianna flew to and she was still there. Yyyyyeeeeeeeeeess! Both accounted for. We left around seven and there wasn’t much flying going on. Perhaps the higher temperature had something to do with it. An Osprey flew by on the lakeside and got dive bombed shortly after we arrived this morning.
Posted on June 20, 2010 9:22 pm
June 20, 2010 - Toronto - King Street
Linda Woods Reports:
This morning, one juvie was seen on the south peak of # 1Toronto St.
The remainder of the day little action was seen. Malik must be venturing to new buildings and a little further away, no or little activity is seen during the day. The heat also must be keeping them out of view.
This evening, viewing from Front St, sightings of peregrines at various times had, an adult on the east side Scotia Tower, one was seen landing on CIBC, another time had a peregrine on different spots on the east side of One King St. Don’t know if I was seeing both adults and juvies, or adults from King St and the Sheraton.
From Leader Lane, one adult on Dundee Place, while Zera was on the south corner of the nest building. Shortly after Paul departed, the second juvenile came into view. It appeared to have come off of the press building area and over to the King Edward Hotel, while the adult had moved from Dundee Place over the north corner of the nest building and very vocal juvenile had not moved off it’s perch on the south corner of the nest building.
That’s good news, two juvies and one adult at 8p.m.
Also, the Kestrals must be fledging at this time, lots of “keet, keet, keet” in the neighbourhood of Front St
Posted on June 20, 2010 8:46 pm
June 20, 2010 - Mississauga - Executive Centre
Mark Nash Reports:
A fledge watcher’s worst nightmare. Upon my arrival this morning, there were absolutely no birds in sight including the absence of both resident adults. After walking around the four MEC properties for over 2 hours searching every nook and cranny, every parking lot, and all of the surrounding roadways, nothing was found! Finally around 11AM, the resident adult female flew in from the south and landed on the nest box landing platform. She stopped, looked down into the ledge below the nest box and flew off to the north. Nothing in the nest box itself, but something was obviously noticed below as that was the reason she flew over in the first place,,, to check on someone!
By 11:30am, Marion and Kathy arrived to help in the search. Moments afer their arrival, one juvenile finally popped up from the ledge below the nest box, flapped its wings, rushed along the upper ledge to the corner of the nest ledge and dropped down again out of our sight. Neither Craig or Joe has been sighted since their release back to the nest building roof top last night.
After a two plus search of all parking lots, parking ramps and the surrounding roadways and buildings, trees, and the creek on both sides of Robert Spec parkway, not even a single resident bird of any kind was kind enough to help me with warning or alarm calls that would have tipped me off of a downed fledgling. So the wait continues in the hope that mom or dad will give us some help as to where the fledglings may have grounded themselves.
Stay tuned………
Posted on June 20, 2010 11:53 am
June 19, 2010 - Mississauga - Executive Centre
Mark Nash Reports:
For the most parts, an uneventful evening with the exception of the blustery winds that never let up, right up until darkness. At the close of my shift, the last male “Wade” was still visible on the nest box and his sister “Xuan” - (pronounced Soon) had disappeared into the darkened nest box.
Their falcon follies started later in the evening than usual with Wade running up and down the nest ledge flapping and charging his sister as he threatening to fly on more than a dozen occasions, even as darkness set in. Finally at 9:40pm he finally settled down and allowed me a few stress free moments
Finished the watch at 9:50pm when it was too dark to the nest ledge. Back into the building and one final check of the two boys “Craig and Joe” prior to their release back to the roof of the nest building. A final quick examination and a little water for both juveniles to assist in their re-hydration and it was back to the roof top of the nest building for their release. While I must admit, I was the only one that really needed the re-hydration as the hot humid past 14 hours in the streets had me feeling like a clammy old rag. The cool air conditioned environment where the two boys had been resting in their rescue carriers was far from uncomfortable! Oh my goodness, it was nice to finally get into some cool air!!
Utilization of the cover of darkness for their release made it much easier to get two birds back to the roof without causing them a panic flight at my presence during the release, and for the most parts all when well. Well at least for the birds.
I can’t say that everything went just exactly as I visioned it, as trying to release both birds at precisely the same time (while ensuring that both birds were removed from the rescue carriers exactly at the same time was easy), but the job got done.
(Funny how they fuss going into the rescue carriers in the first place, and fight like heck to stay in the rescue carriers, refusing to come out! After sustaining ripped and torn pants and numerous punctures to both of my legs, during this release, I can tell you that both birds have plenty of fight and lots of energy!
As I quickly departed the roof area and headed for the roof hatch to make my exit, both juveniles seemed very satisfied that they had been successful in “kicking my butt” (which they did), my final observation of them before closing the hatch had them standing side by side mantling and hissing at me like a couple of vipers with looks that could kill. I know that I won’t be on their Christmas card list this winter! I prey that we won’t meet again anytime too soon!
Stay tuned………..
Posted on June 20, 2010 8:30 am
June 19, 2010 - Windsor - Ambassador Bridge
Dennis Patrick Reports:
The youngsters tonight were engaging each other in locked talon swing arounds. The wind was right so we had some excellant aerial displays. 30 or 40 feet over head and all around JUST above tree top
I want to say thank you to our watch team whom without I can honestly say this report would be shy a couple of Falcons.
The displays are great late afternoon and evening. Several talon to talon aerial hand offs of food. You can see the youngsters grow in maturity and confidence every day. Voltaire the female really layed down the law tonight and clamped down on the no fly zone. She climbed several times right past a gull and stooped and chased and drove the gull off. Thank you to all the volunteers who came to meet under the Bridge where this first started 3 Years ago. I have many pictures to post and I will try to do so.
I have to post from my shop to send some other photos from some guests. You’ll enjoy them I’m sure.
This link will help with some shots on Jerry’s site site. http://www.pbase.com/gerald_f_peltier/peregrine_falcon
When I was worried about whether I was on the numbers with the birth date of the first hatch Jerry came down and did some facial shots that we could compare with some facial aging guides and put my mind at ease. Special thanks from the watch team Jerry thank you again for your help.
Dennis Patrick
Windsor Watch Team
Posted on June 20, 2010 12:25 am
June 19, 2010 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre
Frank Butson Reports:
Finally 2 of our 3 boys took flight. We are sure one was Blackberry. He flew first as Kathy and I watched. He sailed over the condo on Aberfoyle and went to the roof of One Lomonde. From there he made a good flight gaining altitude landing on the window ledge of the appartment across the road. From there to the rooftop of Kingsway on the Park. From there to the 2nd tower of the Sunlife Centre(over the section where the nestledge is!). Finally Blackberry made a brilliant flight which Kathy witnessed,where he made it back to the nestledge. This is a benchmark at watches as getting back to the nestledge,shows a controlled flight.
The 2nd fledge we arent entirely sure who it is. Kathy thinks it was Mercedes. He flew well and ended up ontop of the Sunlife Centre. He was on the roof ledge walking along,when a gust of wind took him off. He flew well,but his landing was not so good. He missed 3 attempts to land before coming to rest on a balcony. He is safe for the night there. If he remains there in the morning we will attempt a rescue. The 2 young on the ledge were fed and we left around 930pm. Thanks to all our helpers today,including Baylie,Terry and Elizabeth Shiels ,Sandra and Bob and security at Kingsway On The Park.
Posted on June 20, 2010 12:20 am
June 19, 2010 - Mississauga - Executive Centre
Mark Nash Reports:
A very quiet day today with just a little rain this morning, and then blistering hot, clear sky and hot and humid. Upon my arrival, the juveniles were actually on the top of the nest box lounging around without a care in the world. Then around 1:30pm, mom came in to the nest ledge and straight into the nest box. If I hadn’t had my eyes fixed onto the nest box at that very moment, I would have missed her for sure. Moments later, the juveniles all jumped down onto the nest box landing platform and entered the nest box. A minute later, mom appeared with the food that she had flown in with and I watched her feed each of the juveniles beak to beak.. A very tender moment indeed. Then I watched her consume the balance of the huge white pigeon that she had been feeding her hatchlings.
At around 3pm, little “Craig” took his first flight. Sadly, with the high winds, he was carried across the street and slammed into the glass about half way up MEC 2, and fluttered down the glass to the side walk area. I was able to quickly scoop him up while he lay dazed on the concrete. Seconds later, he was awake and very alert, with no signs of any serious injuries, just stunned after his impact. A quickly examination for broken bones and serious trauma, and he was put into the rescue carrier for a quick hold over to cool down and de-stress. He will be released back to the nest building if he checks out OK after his second examination.
Stay tuned….. See attached photos.
Posted on June 19, 2010 4:24 pm
June 18, 2010 - All Reports
Frank Butson Reports:
Once again our 3 boys stayed put on the ledge without flying. Several times they clung perilously to the edge of the ledge,flapping,but just couldnt committ to that last step and leave go. Mom turned the area into a no fly zone,keeping the airspace clear for take-off. Over the course of the afternoon,she took a serious run grabbing a Ring-billed Gull before letting go,diving at and hitting at least 4 times a passing Turkey Vulture and most amazingly,a Great Blue Heron was seen passing by,by Ian,Marion and I,only to be attacked by Angel. When she got close the Great Blue Heron realized it was in trouble and went into a quick,steep dive itself,hit once by Angel over the intersection of Aberfoyle and Bloor. The Great Blue Heron resembled a “lawn dart” as it dove. None of us had ever seen such a dive! Kathy,Marion and I left around 830pm,after a feeding took place after 8pm,repeating the fledge watchers lament..tomorrow for sure they fly! With bad weather coming,we may be speaking those words again Saturday night?
Posted on June 19, 2010 5:11 am
