Canadian Peregrine Foundation

Stormin Snackin

- Toronto - Sheraton Centre

Frank Butson Reports:

Being a CPF volunteer,it doesnt get much better than this! 

I walked out my side door,on the way to raptor watch at Rosetta McClain Gardens today at about 8am. What to my wonderous eyes did appear but a Peregrine Falcon eating a Northern Flicker atop a neighbors tv anetena,at Hollis and Birchmount. Immediately I set to trying to get the band number. First I noticed the obvious it was an adult. I realized it was a male.  Saw coloured tape over the USFW band,which was blue. CPF puts coloured tape over the USFW bands,when the young are banded so we can more easily identify which young Peregrine is which at fledge watch time.  Thought I read one band number but on review of the photos the band number is 30/Y Black background White letters/numbers,which means Canadian..confirms its one CPF banded.  I did a quick search and this Peregrine is Stormin,who was banded on May 28th,2009 at The Sheraton Hotel in downtown Toronto. Stormin had been spotted at the Leslie Street Spit(Tommy Thompson Park) earlier this spring and photographed  April 22 of 2010. I watched as Stormin devoured the Flicker,before ummm getting to flight weight if you know what I mean,and taking off to the west. Likely spotted again about an hour later by my friends,Pat and Nancy at Warden and Danforth. The photos are abit bloody so dont look if you are gentile.  Rest assured I was able to see in that and other photos the band numbers/letters.

!!! Renewal

September 14, 2010 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre

Kathy Reports:

Angel and Jack have been busy renewing their pair bond for the past week.  This is typical behaviour at the end of nesting season - a way of reaffirming their commitment to the site and to each other.  So lots of echupping and time in the nestbox  bowing and scraping when he is here, otherwise Angel is perched on her cam enjoying the cool Fall air and Jack is off at his other site.

It was very sad to hear that our little Blackberry did not make it.    Fly free little buddy!

Excellent Osprey action photo with fish out of water by Michael Irwin!

September 14, 2010 - International, National and Local News

Mark Nash Reports:

I caught this Osprey fishing at Balsam lake a couple of weeks back…..feel free to use it.

Michael Irwin

!!! More sad news to report! Blackberry has been found dead.

August 25, 2010 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre

CPF Postmaster Reports:

While we don’t have any details as yet of little Balckberry’s demise, we have received sad news from OMNR Guelph district of a dead juvenile peregrine falcon havaing been reported to them wearing a black band 14 over Y. After a quick check of this years banding details, the band has been confirmed belonging to Blackberry, produced this year at the Sun Life centre nest site at Bloor & Islington in Etobicoke.
We hope to get more details and will post it as the information becomes available.

!!! Cleaning up the neighbourhood!

September 09, 2010 - Toronto - Mount Sinai Hospital

CPF Postmaster Reports:

While the resident adults have been difficult to observe over the past weeks, it doesn’t take long to realize that the peregrines are still very active and on site. With thanks to Wayne and a good photo of the typical evidence of peregrine activity, you can see that the fresh remnants of a recent meal.

!!! Sad news from Mississauga at the Holcim nest site.

August 11, 2010 - Mississauga - Holcim

Mark Nash Reports:

We have received some sad news from the Holcim nest site in Mississauga as the news of yet another one of this years juveniles didn’t make it. Sadly, it appears that the little juvenile named Holcim suffered fatal injuries as a result of him coming to the ground. While sad news to report, its also nice to know that his other siblings are all doing quite well and have stayed high and out of trouble. While the urban landscape can offer a very hospitable environment, safe from the usual dangers that exist for a young peregrine in the wild, it can also be a very dangerous environment with unique challenges, and the young of the year still have much to learn.

It is nice to know that while mortality is expected at every nest site, it is much lower at the urban nest site given the human intervention that is provided by the many staff and volunteers at each nest site during the fledge watches that are on hand to offer assistance and rescue some of the birds that take a little longer to hone their flight skills in an effort to stay aloft.

A huge thank you to Armando and the great staff and management team at Holcim for their incredible foster care and stewardship of their nesting peregrines, as this nest site has been a huge success overall year afer year since the peregrines first set up house.

Each year the Holcim nest site has produced and successfully fledged offspring that have survived to adulthood and some of the know survivors are now nesting and producing their own offspring in other parts of the country (both here in Canada and the USA).

!!! Sad news to report, Nihei from 2009 has died.

August 19, 2010 - Ottawa - Delta Ottawa City Centre

CPF Postmaster Reports:

I am sad to report that our Nihei of last season has died. She had been found badly injured in Saint-Germain-de-Grantham, Quebec last September 9th. She was brought to a wildlife clinic with multiple fractures (scapula & coracoid ) and was cared for by a vet there. Unfortunately she contracted a bacterial infection and died. At least she was with caring people when she died.
Eve

Eve Ticknor

!!! Ossler-Labour Day Weekend Updates

September 06, 2010 - Etobicoke - William Osler

Bruce Massey Reports:

     Managed to make it out to Ossler 3 out of 4 Days.  First of all, Friday Morning I had the Male Adult and both Juveniles but not the Adult Female, first thing. I spent about 2 Hours Total.  On Saturday, even though I didn’t do an official check, I happened to be in the neighbourhood and drove by around 1330 Hrs. and saw a Peregrine on the East  “ H” sign, however it was too far away to identify as Adult or Juvenile.

     Yesterday, I arrived on site around 1700 Hrs for around 2 hours, and only saw the Adult Male not the  Juveniles.  Today, (Monday) I arrived in the earl AM, but because of the Weather only stayed an Hour or so.  Again I only observed the Adult Male and didn’t see any of the other 3.

    As only an aside, or a coincidence, over the last 3 days there have been a total of 3 Peregrines through Holiday Beach Hawk Watch, however 2 went through on Sept. 3 and 1 through Sept. 5.