June 19, 2011 - Burlington - Lift Bridge
Sue McCreadie Reports:
Paul Reynolds Reports:
5:45 am this morning Dad was in his usual spot on the old nest ledge and no one else was visible . On walking down the pier I looked back as lady Lamont flew across to the Burlington tower landing on the cable arm Bay side. Dad had moved across to the Hamilton tower roof and Mum appeared flying up to the top of the Hydro tower Burlington side. She made a long dive towards Burlington but came back empty, settling on the top of the Hamilton Hydro tower.
But now Lady Lamont was screaming “I’m hungry” so she then went foraging for food on all the picnic tables, flying to each one. The landings were pretty good. Seems like she has done this before. When I left at 8:30am Lady Lamont was on the bay side cable arm Hamilton tower maybe I should say in the cable arm. All the time I was there I only saw three birds, Lady Nelson was hiding some place.
Bill and I just returned after spending 3 hours at the Bridge. The two girls were laying around on the Hamilton bay side cable arm. Mom did a couple of flybys which was enough to get them screaming but not enough to get them up and moving. Very little activity today.
Posted on June 19, 2011 3:56 pm
June 19, 2011 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre
Kathy Reports:
I was on site this morning from 9 am until 12:30 pm to check on our family. All 5 were there when I arrived and Jupiter was soaring and gliding with Jack. It’s amazing how small and quiet she was at banding and to see her now, she’s huge and loud!! And wow can she fly! She is far exceeding both her brother’s in skill. In fact after soaring, gliding, dipping and ledge hopping..she flew right into the ledge and knocked Angel right off the web cam!! That takes an amazing amount of skill as it’s a small space and she’s done it already!
Her landings are very good as well, very measured and controlled and not clumsy at all. You can see that she really understands how to use the wind to her advantage and she made some amazing flights both with her parents and on her own.
The boys on the other hand didn’t do much the entire time I was there. Both were on the second ledge and other than crying for food and napping - they weren’t going anywhere. Mom tried several times to entice them off the ledge but they weren’t having any of it. Before I left, one of the boys did finally fly over to the condo but it took him a bit of time to get up his nerveand that’s understandable as both of them spent time quite low and it generally takes a few days for them to regain their confidence.
Jack was here most of the morning and in fact this year he has been here to support Angel and his offspring during fledging and you can see the difference it’s made compared to last year when he was not around very much at all. With both parents here, they can keep tabs on which kid flew where and provide assistance if they require it. We can see by Mackenzie’s performance in Burlington that it really makes a difference. Those unique hunting and flying skills he’s dazzling all the folks with down there largely come from Jack. He’s quite the little guy our Jack so I”ll wish him a Happy Falcon Father’s Day 
Posted on June 19, 2011 3:36 pm
June 19, 2011 - Toronto - Sheraton Centre
Harry Crawford Reports:
At 7:20am, I found Kate and Cinnamon on the nest ledge, visible from
120 Adelaide. A short time later, Sunshine appeared on the roof,
just above the nest ledge. She hopped down to the ‘S’ and started
to make her was over to the ‘t’ of Centre. Apparently, one of the
adults had stashed prey there. Sunshine started to clean the prey!
Feathers were going everywhere.
As much as I would have liked to stay and watch, this was an
opportunity to go up to the 43rd floor of the hotel and see if I
could spot our missing William. After checking a dozen or more roof
tops, I found him on the south ledge of the lower level portion of
the Sheraton Centre. I quickly went down to the courtyard south of
the hotel and began watching. When Zoe arrived, she continued
watching William while I went back to the front of 120 Adelaide to
watch the nest ledge in case one of the remaining two fledged.
This could be an interesting and challenging day for Zoe and the
afternoon crew.
Posted on June 19, 2011 2:46 pm
June 18, 2011 - Toronto - Don Mills
Mark Nash Reports:
Just a quick up-date to let everyone know that all is well at the Don Mills nest site with Quest and Kendal having settled down after the brief set up of the swing stage equipment preparing for the banding on Tuesday of next week.
As you see while looking at the web camera, both Quest and Kendal have resumed regular routines despite the rope that now hangs in front of the nest ledge. Remember that the rope is nothing more than an inanimate non-human object and one that is not perceived as a threat of any kind.
The hatchling is growing fast and it will be very interesting to see if we have a male or a female baby.
Stay tuned…….
Posted on June 19, 2011 11:18 am
- Port Colborne - ADM Mill
Doug Garbutt Reports:
After days of anticipation & thinking geewiz this guy is good to go, Max took the big jump at precisely 2:25 pm today. His 1st flight took him around the tower on the 12th floor where the nest box is. He lost altitude curving around to the 8th floor roof where he landed. It’s a good spot as there’s lots of room to practice flying without too many hazards. It’s the same roof Olivia landed on after her 1st flight yesterday. She already seems like a pro flyer & is trying to show Max the ropes. All the while the young ones were having fun & practicing on the roof, Mom was watching from above. It’s hard to keep track of what is happening but when I left late today Olivia & the 2 adults were accounted for. I’m sure Max found a safe spot to spend the night. I’ll check tomorrow.
Posted on June 18, 2011 10:32 pm
June 18, 2011 - Toronto - King Street
Linda Woods Reports:
Received a report that an adult at another nest site, took out a weather balloon. This morning, view from south of the King St nest site, I could hear an adult sounding off. I looked skyward and saw an adult peregrine in climbing, flapping to gain height. Off towards the east was a small blue balloon that was floating upward. I did a nest ledge check around noon and both Sukura and Kendal were still there.
Posted on June 18, 2011 10:22 pm
June 18, 2011 - Toronto - Sheraton Centre
Linda Woods Reports:
Lots of activity from Sunshine, she is rocking the skies. She returns numerous times to the nest ledge looking for scraps or new handouts. This evening she spent some time on the letter “T” of the Sheraton signage, with food. Just before dark we heard lots of screaming , when Sunshine flew into view with Rhea Mae behind her. Sunshine was not going to bed! They flew in front of the Sheraton, Sunshine turned south Rhea Mae behind her. I guess it was a game. Rhea Mae kept on her until Sunshine returned to the nest ledge and Rhea Mae went to 130 Adelaide.
Food drops to the ledge throughout the day. I did numerous nest check and every time, I only saw Cinnamon and Kate, confirmed by band colours. At one time both of them were on the other camera housing lined up as if they were waiting for take off. At that time, Sunshine was in the far end nest ledge around the corner picking at crumbs, left over from a food drop. I have scoured the area looking at every roof top, window ledges. I have even checked the “Keg” both the menu and roof. No sign of William. When the adults have been flying food over the area, there has been no screaming from beyond the nest. Sunshine spends a lot of time on 120 Adelaide, both upper and lower roofs and usually on the north east side.
Marion and I have kept a close eye on the activiy of the adults and they don’t seem to be indicating the whereabouts of William. Perhaps he’ll show up tomorrow.
Posted on June 18, 2011 10:17 pm
June 18, 2011 - Etobicoke - William Osler
Tracy Simpson Reports:
After the return of Storm to the nest ledge today, the resident adults allowed the chicks a bit of sleep time before launching a “fledge now” campaign that was relentless. Hurricane and O’Connor tried every trick in the “Book of Fledge” that they know to no avail. There was a feeding at 4:o0pm by the female. She flew up to the eastern “H” and fed herself first before landing on the southeast corner with the remains of the meal. She was immediately mugged by Storm who then began to self feed. O’Connor allowed this to go on for a minute until Rain grabbed the food and made a mad dash for the tray. O’Connor flew off the ledge, came around and landed right in front of the sprinting Rain which stopped her dead in her tracks. The resident female then plopped one massive foot on the food and mantled up which backed Rain up a good 2 feet immediately. Seeing this behaviour from his young, Hurricane stooped the ledge and screamed at the chicks for treating O’Connor that way which had the effect of flattening them on their tummies to the ledge. They got in trouble all right!! The female then took the food over to them and proceed to feed as long as they remained polite. By 5:00pm, the chicks were sound asleep and O’Connor flew in to wake them up. She tried to tease them out with touch and go’s but that didn’t work either. Hurricane then tried a food fly by which only made them scream louder. Both parents then retired to the southern “H” sign for a tactical meeting and the three juveniles attempted to eavesdrop from the southeast corner. At 7:30pm, O’Connor flew in and wound the chicks up while Hurricane pulled out all the stops; food fly bys, come soar with me flights, through the ledge “fuzz buzzes”, touch and go’s and every tease out that he could think of. He finally gave up and headed over to the tower and just screamed back at them!! Now at 9:33pm, Hurricane has taken up his position on the northeast corner which has only served to wind them up again and at a time where I can barely see them. I believe food just arrived in the form of a small package that will hopefully keep them down for the night. I look forward to seeing what tactics the adults employ tomorrow. I think its going to be a busy day!!!
Posted on June 18, 2011 9:40 pm
June 18, 2011 - Burlington - Lift Bridge
Sue McCreadie Reports:
When Bill and I returned after dinner this evening, things were still quiet. All of a sudden Lady Nelson spotted Dad under the Skyway Bridge dining. The screaming was not getting her anywhere and the desire was too strong for her to control. She took off, made a great landing on the Skyway beam and immediately grabbed the food away from Dad. He took off and left her there to finish it.
At around 6:40pm, Mom flew by Lady Lamont who was sitting on a picnic table. She was carrying a great big juicy pigeon. Just like Lady Nelson, the screaming was not doing her any good. Mom continued to entice her with flybys. Finally Lady Lamont took to the air and the first food transfer took place. Lady Lamont made the catch but unfortunately, was not able to hang on to it.
When we left at 7:30pm both juveniles and Mom and Dad were hanging out on the wires. The kids were still screaming for dinner.
Flights are strong and landings are definitely improving. What will tomorrow bring?
Posted on June 18, 2011 8:51 pm
June 18, 2011 - Etobicoke - William Osler
Tracy Simpson Reports:
Last night after a time out in the rescue carrier, Storm was given a health check and released to the roof to give this flight thing another try. I can tell you that this little guy has his mother’s charm as he attempted to foot and bite me continuously throughout the release process. This morning, Bruce Massey was on site by 5:00am and could clearly see young Storm donning his yellow tape on the retaining wall of the roof. He had a slight crop visible so the adults had been in to feed him at first light and his sisters, Rain and Wind, were still on the nest ledge and working up the confidence to try flight for themselves. Throughout the morning, Storm remained on the retaining wall and often jumped down to the roof and back up again. It would appear that his confidence had been a little shaken by his ineffective landings and he was happy to remain right where he was. I should tell you that Hurricane, the resident male, has absolutely run out of patience for the lack of flight time by his young. Just after 12:00, he took to the air and circled around to the west. As Storm sat on the edge of the wall on the east side facing out, Hurricane came bombing in behind him and buzzed right over top of his back by no more than an inch. It was a clear attempt to spook him off the ledge. The chick was caught by surprise and ducked at the last minute; the plan had failed ( drat!! ). Within a half an hour, Hurricane tried a different tactic; a series of stoop bombs that were close enough to the juvenile to instigate flight but Storm had the fine art of ducking down to a science. Both parents then tried the “come fly with me” soar about and still no movement by Storm. That was it, O’Connor had just about had it!! Off she went and returned with a huge package of fresh food that she took to the “H” on the north side. Storm ran the perimeter of the wall until he was positioned just above her and she took off leaving the food displayed in front of him on the sign below. Irresistible!! Within minutes he was airborne, circled around the east side and successfully landed back on the roof on the south face. He ran the ledge until he was right above the eastern nest ledge and made an attempt to fly out and into the ledge; not happening, must adjust trajectory. A second try and some “put the breaks on” back flapping and he was in to the nest ledge!!! The running, screaming and jubilant Storm raced over to his sisters, tapped beaks and then passed out cold on the ledge. Good job Storm for making it home!!
Posted on June 18, 2011 7:33 pm
