June 16, 2011 - Toronto - King Street
Linda Woods Reports:
Sukura and Kendal are still at home on the nest ledge. Sukura is darkening very fast now that we finally have warm weather. Little evidence of fluff on her. She no longer has the white haze. Kendal still looks like he has fluff across the top of his head. This evening, one adult in view sitting on the Spire of the church, while Sukura and Kendal sat on the nest looking outward. Minimal flapping, no vocalization. At 8p.m. both Sukura and Kendal went behind the nest pillar and out of my view. At the same time the adult on the Spire was gone. I don’t know where the adults are camping out for the night, but tucked in where they still have a view of the nest ledge. All was quiet for the most part and I closed the watch for the evening at 8:45p.m.
Posted on June 16, 2011 9:50 pm
June 16, 2011 - Toronto - Sheraton Centre
Linda Woods Reports:
Sunshine continues to impress all of us with her wonderful flight skills. Zoe reported today, the Sunshine made it up to the KPMG signage to join an adult , but didn’t stay long. The others are still enjoying meals at home, with not a lot of activity late this afternoon.Some vocalization when the adults come into view. Cinnamon still has evidence of white on him. Kate is looking more and more like Sunshine as she matures and darkens. I think this might be the weekend for another fledge.
Posted on June 16, 2011 9:43 pm
June 16, 2011 - Etobicoke - William Osler
Tracy Simpson Reports:
Although we didn’t have a fledge occur today, it was still an exciting time at the William Osler Hospital nest site. All three of the chicks were on the east side of the building at the nest tray today and spent the better part of their time there. A small feeding was brought in by Hurricane, the resident male, at approximately 1:30pm that he dropped and left for the young to consume on their own. A great deal of flap-hopping ( flopping more like it ) went on by all three until Bruce Massey arrived. The resident female O’Connor spent the majority of the time patrolling the air space within a two to three kilometre radius around the nest building while Hurricane held the fort on the hydro tower. Hurricane is clearly becoming impatient with the young juveniles lack of interest in flight. Bruce watched as Hurricane did a fly through of the nest ledge as the chicks were all sleeping and buzzed them so closely as to put them all on their feet immediately. During one of O’Connor’s forays, I happened to look up to the north and at about a 1 or 2 kilometre distance I could see a perfectly round and large red balloon. It occurred to me that the balloon might be an atmospheric survey balloon and I wondered whether O’Connor had seen it. Seconds later I got my answer as I watched a bird stoop the balloon, it deflated and then fell to the ground out of my sight. While I can’t confirm for certain that it was O’Connor, I have no doubts in my mind whatsoever. After the deflation, she returned to her perch on the hydro tower within 5 minutes and came in from the direction that the balloon went down. I can safely say that this year the resident female here has given me more than my fair share of “I can’t believe it” moments.
At 6:07pm, Hurricane came into the nest ledge with a rather large package of food for the young. Bruce and I were once again astounded at the ferocity with which the chicks approached him and then quickly mugged him for the food. Hurricane just stood aside and looked back at O’Connor who was overseeing the entire event from the hydro tower with a very confused and helpless look. When she offered no assistance, he wrestled the food back from the young and began to beak feed each chick in hyper drive!! I’ve never seen a head move so fast!! Moments later Hurricane accepted the futility of his efforts and abandoned the package with the young. At 6:49pm, O’Connor flew in and took the remains of the package and fed herself while the chicks sat 4 feet away and vocalized. They made no move to rush the female, they just stood and watched. Within 5 minutes, O’Connor took the food over to the young and began to beak feed them in the most polite, calm and organized fashion. It was such a stark contrast to what Hurricane experienced that Bruce and I wondered if we’d been out in the sun too long and were seeing things!!! After being cropped up as full as can be, the three juveniles settled in for a nice, long nap. A big thank you to all of the William Osler Hospital staff and security for their interest and support of this family of falcons!! Hopefully tomorrow will be the big day and the first of our young will take flight.
Posted on June 16, 2011 9:30 pm
June 16, 2011 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre
Kathy Reports:
Jupiter is doing exceptionally well and looks to be quite large when flying with mom so her flight skills are quite impressive to say the least!
Hera is doing well, had a bit of trouble with two landings and ended up batting up the side of the wall but he was only inches from the roof. He then let go and circled around and went into the ledge near the nest ledge! Jupiter flew right into the nest ledge a few minutes ago.
Skye has decided to visit the former retaining wall Hera was on yesterday, he lost height after leaving the window ledge and fluttered down to the low rooftops. He’s now perched on the wall watching traffic and Frank is watching him!
Posted on June 16, 2011 1:02 pm
June 15, 2011 - Etobicoke - William Osler
Tracy Simpson Reports:
Today was a day of peregrine “hide and seek” as the three juveniles made efforts to escape the heat of the day. Upon arrival, I searched the ledge and was only able to locate two of the young and so began the rounds of the building in search of Storm, our little male that was not in my sights. After circling the building 4 times, Bruce Massey arrived and we were witness to the resident female O’Connor doing a low fly through on the southern side of the hospital above the building mechanical area. Bruce and I thought that maybe Storm had fledged and ended up on a low roof and we set out to confirm whether he was actually there. Of course it turned out the the little one was hiding behind one of the “H” signs on the south side and that O’Connor’s fly through was to let a goose know that its presence at “her hospital” was inappropriate. By this time we had confirmed that each juvenile had found its very own “H” sign to hide behind and stay out of the heat; Rain on the north side, Wind on the east side and Storm napping away on the south side.
At 4:00pm Hurricane flew into the south side ledge and Storm went ultrasonic with the screaming. At this point O’Connor flew over to modify his behaviour with a stern “quiet!!” and that lasted until she left the ledge. Storm mobbed Hurricane until he brought food over and spoon fed the little one. It is very apparent that the parents are now weaning the young and attempting to encourage them to take their first flights. Both adults now sit on the hydro tower to the east and perch about a foot apart. They are also doing fly bys with food in an attempt to tease the youngsters to the air but so far to no avail. The evening closed off with some very silly behaviour from Wind and Rain as the two would pounce on each others tails when the other wasn’t looking and Storm was happy just to nap away the evening as all the running after Dad and hyperdrive screaming had tuckered him right out. I certainly expect to see a fledge any day now and will be keeping you up to date on events as they unfold.
Posted on June 16, 2011 11:59 am
June 16, 2011 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre
Kathy Reports:
Apologies for the lack of updates, we’re spending early mornings and long days at the site. Last night when Frank left the site Hera was on a 5th floor balcony of the condo behind the nest site building and this morning he’s back on top of the world! He must have made an early morning flight and gained some unbelievable height to make it back home!!
Jupiter fledged at dusk and she’s flying around like a champ and has already been back and forth to both condo building rooftops and back on top of our building three times. Skye fledged at 6:15 as I arrived and is on a 15 floor window ledge, he had a great flight and was heading for the Centre Sunlife tower when Mom jumped under him and steered himaway from it as the window washing crew was heading out on the roof. He then turned and attempted to circle back towards the condos but lost a bit of height and grabbed onto to the window ledge where she has been for the past 2 hours. He’s only 2 floors below the roof though so hopefully he can make it back up. The ledge is a bit narrow though so it will be tricky turning himself around without losing his balance - he tried to flap through the window a few times but has quickly realized that isn’t going to work!
Both Jack and Angel are on site and clearing pigeons from the rooftops and encouraging all three to fly.
Posted on June 16, 2011 9:53 am
June 15, 2011 - Brampton - Courthouse
CPF Postmaster Reports:
June 15th - 2011
Twice today both the male and female were perched next to each other away from the nest; thus leaving it unprotected. Luckily neither time was more than 10 minutes and both times involved food. First the male was hanging out on the East side, new behaviour - is typically near the nest on the West side, but then the female showed, vocalized, and he slowly but surely made his way on to the nest. She then flew off after some pigeons and out of sight. Later in the day I found the male flying over the nest area then he settled on the roof. He was joined by the female, who had food with her. There they stood for a few minutes before the male spotted a Starling and went after it. The Starlings are constantly flying near the nest and never attracted any attention. This was a long time coming but the hunt was unsuccessful. Once the male returned from his hunt the female returned to the nest.
Winston
Posted on June 16, 2011 12:58 am
June 15, 2011 - Toronto - Sheraton Centre
Linda Woods Reports:
Do you ever get the feeling you are reliving the same day over and over. No new fledges. Sunshine is doing very well and has no shame returning to the nest ledge for potential meal hand outs. Early in the evening she had a meal delivered by Tiago, on the roof of 120. A little brown bat flew around the courtyard around the same time. Not a lot activity seen from the unfledged chicks. We decided to leave and check the King St nest site. On our return. Sunshine was sitting on an upper window ledge. This was confirmed by a camera check. She didn’t stay there long as food was delivered to the nest ledge and Sunshine flew off the window ledge and back into the nest ledge. That was about all the excitement for the evening.
We closed the watch for the night at 9p.m.
Posted on June 15, 2011 10:32 pm
June 15, 2011 - Toronto - King Street
Linda Woods Reports:
The King St pair are growing fast. Not so long ago, they were little white fluffs and now they are just about raring to go. Lots of flapping and running on the ledge, testing their wings and getting a little lift. This evening another check of the nest site I found it eerily quiet. Adults were no in view and not in the usual spots. A camera check found both juveniles sitting in back of the ledge . I guess and adult came into view and the pair were flapping and running the ledge. They settled quickly. Back to the ground level, I didn’t see the adults in the area. Both have some white on them but they are maturing very quickly.
Posted on June 15, 2011 10:25 pm
June 15, 2011 - Port Colborne - ADM Mill
Doug Garbutt Reports:
I’m surprised these young didn’t fledge today. They are in such good shape & so frisky that I thought they would have tried. Lots of flapping, taunting each other also grooming until they have almost no downy feathers anywhere. It was a perfect day weatherwise for an attempt but neither of them took the opportunity. Perhaps they will try tommorrow (in the rain). I’ll keep you posted!
Posted on June 15, 2011 8:19 pm
