October 21, 2010 - Toronto - Sheraton Centre
Frank Butson Reports:
Oh his way to The Rosetta McClain Gardens Raptor Watch,my buddy Murray Shields checks the watertower at Warden and Eglinton. 2 days ago Murray spotted a Peregrine there and got some nice photos of it. While the band couldnt be read,Im sure given the proximatey to the sighting in September,and because this Peregrine has the same blue tape,that it is very very likely Stormin.Stormin,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 had spotted Stormin on Sept 21,2010. Thanks for the great photos Murray.
Posted on October 22, 2010 9:12 pm
October 22, 2010 - International, National and Local News
Frank Butson Reports:
So far this fall migration season,over at Rosetta McClain Gardens in Scarborough,we have seen a total of 72 Bald Eagles. Our previous high total was 46,so this has been an amazing season. They are inflight along the Lake Ontario shoreline,where we count all raptors from late August until the end of November. Most seen are juvenile Bald Eagles…this years young. Included in this post is a video by Walter Fisher of a Bald Eagle seen October 19th. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mIAWVkQF3_Y
and a great shot of a passing Bald Eagle by Mike Zidino.
Posted on October 22, 2010 4:57 am
- International, National and Local News
Frank Butson Reports:
My friend,Lee Ellis sent these great photos of Saturdays Peregrine Falcon release at Rosetta McClain Gardens Raptor Watch in Toronto Ontario Canada. Canadian Peregrine Foundation’s Mark Nash and I carry the Peregrine down to be released. Marion Nash sets the Peregrine Free. The Peregrine takes flight. Lands briefly on the fence and then takes to the sky! Thanks for these great shots Lee!
Posted on October 18, 2010 11:11 pm
October 16, 2010 - International, National and Local News
Frank Butson Reports:
On Friday,Marion Nash called me while I was at the raptor watch I run(Rosetta McClain Gardens Raptor Watch). She asked if Id be interested in a Peregrine being released at the watch. BOY WAS I!!
The Peregrine had been rescued in Brampton after hitting a building and getting stuck on a glass balcony. It was taken to Toronto Wildlife Centre,where it was treated for a smacked up cere(nose) and swollen orbital ridge(above the eye). All other appropriate checks were done at TWC and after 8 days of rehabilitation and observation,the last 2 in a flight pen,the tundrius,adult,male Peregrine(unbanded) was ready for release. The Peregrine was transferred to CPF on Friday and was released on Saturday. A good group of my raptor watching friends had gathered,and after a little hesitation,the Peregrine took flight. He paused briefly for a look out over Lake Ontario and then began to circle. He flew higher and higher and abit further out. What a site to see this marvelous bird regain his freedom. To our complete delight and amazement,a 2nd Peregrine soon joined him. They circled together,before both resumed their southward journey. What a thrill!! Thanks to Mark and Marion for thinking of my watch site for the release. It is something those gathered wont soon forget! Here is a video I put together,and a few photos. Friends will send some pictures in the next few days,so I will add them to the site and to the video! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LeKm806sDdU
Posted on October 16, 2010 10:32 pm
October 15, 2010 - Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton
Frank Butson Reports:
Lyn Reports:
Yonge –Eglinton Peregrine report 20101015
I left 53 division Police station and whilst waiting for the lights to change I looked up to the * 2010 nest ledge* and spotted a *bird* on it. Of course I missed the light change as I stared at the bird attempting to identify whether it was a peregrine or not. When it flew I could see that it was indeed a peregrine, large-ish so I believe a female. I had no binoculars with me and with dusk descending, colours were difficult to see.
The peregrine flew from the nest ledge in front of the RioCan building, in front of the Heart and Stroke building and across Yonge and Eglinton to the southeast corner and land on the CIBC building right at the corner of Y&E. After a minute or two spent catching up to the bird I saw that it was feeding; feathers flew in every direction and were simply picked up by the wind. From the size of the wing feathers I think it may have been a pigeon. I could see long primaries. I spent twenty minutes in the *breeze* watching it eat. While it was eating another peregrine flew from somewhere behind me, across Y&E and over the CIBC building in a south-easterly direction and was gone. When the peregrine on the roof had finished, it wiped its beak on the edge of the roof and stood around for a few minutes pondering its next move.
It flew back across the Y&E intersection, along Eglinton to the mast at Duplex, changed its mind and flew back whence it had come. Then it turned once more gained height and flew to the top set of windows on the RioCan building and settled on one of the window uprights. That is where I left it as I was cold by this time.
In flight I could not detect any *bend* in the shoulder/wrist area so I am sure it was not dad.
Frank’s addition:The adult male has a kink in its wing,from an old healed injury,so I am sure Lyn is correct about it being the female.
Posted on October 15, 2010 9:39 pm
October 08, 2010 - International, National and Local News
CPF Postmaster Reports:
With a big thank you to Cynthia Head for sending in a great photo and a report of a not so typical happening in this end of the city. The photo illiterates a great shot with one of our Toronto produced juvenile peregrine falcons with a very fresh pigeon kill as it stands on the kill on the roadway (of course in traffic). Another huge thank you to an unidentified lady that stoped and parked her vehicle in front of the young not so long ago fledged juvenile to protect it from the rush hour traffic while it carried on with meal.
Over the years, we see allot of these happenings in and around the urban nest sites where we are involved in the many fledge watches. Sadly, many of the young fledglings are not so lucky with their with interaction with the local automobile traffic. In this case, it appears that the quick thinking and actions of the unidentified lady likely saved this young peregrines life.
Lets hope that this young juvenile learns NOT to repeat this same action in the future to avoid becoming another casualty in our streets.
Posted on October 14, 2010 5:52 pm
October 06, 2010 - International, National and Local News
CPF Postmaster Reports:
With a big thank-you to Andy McLachlan for his photos and observation report of a feathered visitor that dropped in for a quick pigeon snack behind the Toronto City hall much to the delight of the MANY onlookers.
Although not a peregrine falcon as earlier suspected, the juvenile Coopers / Sharpe-shinned hawk was not bothered at with all of the excitement that it was causing.
Posted on October 14, 2010 4:25 pm
October 14, 2010 - New York - Buffalo
Frank Butson Reports:
This just in…The Owl Foundation,has a visitor from the United States! Meet “Frightful”, a young male Peregrine Falcon recovered in Burlington. Frightful is recovering from road rash and severe bruising to the underside of his right wing. He’s still very sore, but is enjoying the space and quail he’s receiving in his flight training complex. Frightful was banded at Buffalo Central Terminal this past spring.
Posted on October 14, 2010 1:14 pm
October 03, 2010 - Windsor - Ambassador Bridge
Frank Butson Reports:
An Ont Birds report on October 3rd mentioned quickly that both adults were on the bridge and looking well. Its always great to hear.
Posted on October 5, 2010 2:51 am
