- Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton
Frank Butson Reports:
Lyn Reports: I braved the hot and humid weather and went out at 5:30pm looking for the Peregrines.I looked skywards and found two youngsters on the Southwest corner of the RioCan building.
When I arrived at the EMS ramp (between old and new bus bays) I was not able to see the youngsters on the RioCan building but did see the third youngster - BRACE YOURSELVES -
fly/flutter/fly onto one of the concrete things between windows on the Heart and Stroke building - second floor from the top!!!!!! This was a female (I saw her fly later and the size indicated the sex to me).
One of the youngsters flew from the RioCan building across and in front of the Heart and Stroke (H&S) building, saw the sibling, flew close but did not try and land and after several more flights back and forth ended up on the Southeast corner of the H & S building.
I saw Mom fly in and land on the top level of the RioCan building. Things were still for a bit then there was more flying and the level above the third balcony south of the concrete slab/wall was used .
There was a bird on that ledge and feathers were flying every which way! Mom flew in and out and another of the youngsters flew in then I lost track of who was coming and going! Eventually two of the youngsters flew around to the Northeast end of the TTC/nest building and one youngster flew South to land on the railing around the antenna at the Southwest end of the TVO building.
I also saw one of the youngsters come in for a landing on the nest building .It flew in very carefully, with plenty of wing fluttering, slowed almost to a standstill and landed!
All in all a lovely 3/4 hour spent watching them. Every day they have more and more control. Lyn
Posted on July 4, 2010 11:47 pm
July 03, 2010 - Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton
Mark Nash Reports:
While the “kids” maybe away from the house (or off the nest ledge) at the moment, its only for a short time. The resident adults still have the hardest part of their job still to come.
Ongoing protection, feeding and training the “teenagers” to fend for themselves is a huge task for the two resident adults.
So far, the three remaining fledglings seem to be doing quite well, staying aloft and away from the windows. The very good news: Is that each of the juveniles have all brushed up into the windows, and unlike many other birds, the young peregrines actually learn the dangers of the windows, and if they hit them softly and don’t injure themselves on these initial collisions, they do learn to stay away from glass.
This is an important lesson learned, as they will soon be picking up incredible speeds as they get older and more experienced, and if they have not learned the “window lesson “ early in their flight development, collisions with the windows at advanced ages usually results in serious injury or most often mortality due to the speeds that the juveniles are now travelling. We actually hope that they experience the “window lesson” early in their maiden flights, as they are slow and sloppy in their flights, and usually hit them softly at this stage.
For the next 30 to 60 days, the juveniles will be utilizing the nest ledge and still sleeping there most nights. Far from independent and able to feed them selves at this point, the youngsters have much to learn now that they can fly.
The adults will have to teach them many of the life skills that the juveniles will have to learn to survive to adulthood, or should I say, just survive another day)!!
Remember that by mid September, thousands of years of hard wired instincts will have the young juveniles head south on a migration and with upwards of an 80% mortality and many perils and risks, the juveniles will need all of the help that they can just to survive their first year.
The adult parents have their job cut out for them while teaching the juveniles how, what and where to hunt food, and how to recognize and escape from all of the “bad guys” out there. At this point, even their landings are terrible, as it takes allot of practice just to brake and coordinate a good landing!
Even after the juveniles have learned what to hunt (where and how to hunt it), there will be many trials and errors (misses and failures) before they are actually able to catch anything them selves, and this will take some time to hone their hunting skills. During this entire period, they will still be dependant on their adults parents for all of their food.
Stay tuned, and look to the skies, as the best viewing is yet to come!!
Posted on July 3, 2010 9:08 pm
- Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton
Frank Butson Reports:
Please enjoy this overview of the Yonge and Eglinton Fledgling Watch.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tmp0liSv9II
Posted on July 2, 2010 10:06 pm
July 02, 2010 - Toronto - King Street
Mark Nash Reports:
A huge thank you to David and Thomas Charnock for sending in this photo of one of the young juvenile peregrines from the Toronto downtown King Street nest site that dropped in for a visit on thier window ledge. Now flighted and holding their altitude and investigating their new world in 3-D, the young fledglings should be visible and making regular appearances throughout the summer as they learn the ways of urban living.
Keep your camera’s and binoculars handy, as the best peregrine watching is yet to come!
Posted on July 2, 2010 11:55 am
- Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton
Frank Butson Reports:
Cyclone,Typhoon and Tara black band 22/X are all flying well and high now. On June 30th we found all 5 Peregrine Falcons on the RIO building,Mom,Dad and 3 kids. Many strong high flights were made by all 3 juveniles. We saw Typhoon brought food,which he snatched away and took to the roof to eat. The adults put on amazing flying displays,kiting and going into dives while hunting.
July 1,all 3 juveniles again were flying high and well. The young Peregrines were making many long strong flights and making good landings. Their range is increasing with their flying abilities. Mark,Lyn and I spent a great deal of time trying to get the band number of the adult male. Both Mark and I could clearly see the Black over Green band with a number 8 over N,M,H or the number 4. Our best possibly view was hampered by glare from the sun. This bird has a black iodized US Fish and Wildlife band. We are hoping that in combination with the information that this male has an old healed injury to his right wing allows for an ID.
With all 3 young Peregrines flying so well,the official dawn to dusk fledge watch has come to an end. We will spot check the site over the next several weeks to see all is well and possibly get the other band number. We thank all of the volunteer watchers,especially Lyn for all her help,all the security and maintanence staff involved in rescues and releases,property managers for access and in general making it all possible and the many neighbors and members of the public who took interest and stopped for information and helped in rescues. Thanks to Toronto EMS and 53 Division Police as well. When all these parties work together in co-operation,Fledge Watches go amazingly well and aid their threatened Peregrine Falcons. We hope to be back same time next year!
Posted on July 2, 2010 5:59 am
July 01, 2010 - Burlington - Lift Bridge
Sue McCreadie Reports:
This evening out of nowhere, we spotted Brant trying to land on the cable wires. To our surprise, he was carrying a bird in his talons. Was this the first successful catch? I think so, because there was absolutely no sign of Mom and Dad nor the typical screaming when Mom or Dad deliver dinner. As a matter of fact, Mom and Dad had not been seen for most of the day. Sister Diana rushed out to meet Brant screaming but she soon realized that he was not sharing.
Posted on July 1, 2010 8:55 pm
July 25, 2010 - London - TD Tower
CPF Postmaster Reports:
Hi…
I live on St. Bees Close in north London about a km north of University of Western Ontario.
This past Friday June 25, 2010 about 6 pm, a peregrine falcon (not sure of sex) was in the middle of the street, with a young starling in its talons and about 10 adult starlings standing and swooping down on it to try and get it to let the youngster go.
Quite a sight and very unexpected.
Jim Durham
Posted on July 1, 2010 12:21 pm
June 30, 2010 - Etobicoke - William Osler
Mark Nash Reports:
Hi Mark & Matt
I was able to get a couple of pics through the peep hole of the chicks today. Still one egg left to hatch, fingers crossed.
Photos to follow.
Joe
Posted on July 1, 2010 9:58 am
