June 04, 2011 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre
Kathy Reports:
Yesterday was banding day for our little threesome! Angel was her usual fierce self and Jack did show up a few times to cheer mom on and give her some vocal support.
All three weighed 700 grams and all were estimated to be 27 days old. Because they fell in the 650-750 range it took a bit of measuring to determine between female and male although vocalizations or lack thereof certainly added to the final verdict!
We have two girls - Skye and Hera, both of who seemed to have inherited their mother’s vocal powers! And our quiet one was deemed to be male and named Jupiter!
Posted on June 4, 2011 1:24 pm
June 03, 2011 - Toronto - Sheraton Centre
CPF Postmaster Reports:
June 3rd 2011
I caught this picture of the eldest female (can’t quite tell between green & blue tape on cam) showing off her wings this morning. Aren’t they just magnificent!
Regards-Eileen
Posted on June 4, 2011 11:51 am
June 03, 2011 - Toronto - King Street
Linda Woods Reports:
Today was the big day for our two peregrine hatchlings at 18 King St. East.
Here is a brief outline of today’s event with much more detailed information and photos to follow as soon as it is made available.
Mark Nash of the Canadian Peregrine Foundation emceed the event with many tenants, dedicated volunteers and The Toronto Council Fire of the Native Cultural Centre, were in attendance to see these wonderful birds.
The weather could not have been better. Clear skies, warm temps and light winds made for the perfect day.
As the swing stage made it way to the nest ledge, both peregrine adults made sure of their territory with swoops and stoops and vocalizations.
Two young ones were temporarily removed from the nesting area to be banded by Mark Heaton, Senior Biologist of the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources.
One female and one male both received identification bands placed on the left leg.While a silver US wildlife band was placed on the right leg of both birds.
Full of white downy fluff, the two tolerated the painless banding very well with little vocalization. They were given names provided by a school children in Japan in memory of the devastating earthquake and Tsunami that occured a few months ago.
Many thanks to Sandra Celli of Avison and Young, along with Slate Properties for being long time guardians of the historical 18 King St. nest site. Special thanks to John Mederios for his unending support for the volunteers.
Photos to follow. Keep Tuned
Posted on June 3, 2011 8:47 pm
June 03, 2011 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre
CPF Postmaster Reports:
The young hatchlings will be banded today at 2pm. The banding event will be held in the lobby of the east tower. Observation reports and photos will follow later today after the banding event.
Stay tuned……
Posted on June 3, 2011 8:06 am
June 03, 2011 - Toronto - King Street
CPF Postmaster Reports:
The young hatchlings will be banded today at 10am. Observation reports and photos will follow later today after the banding event.
Stay tuned……
Posted on June 3, 2011 8:03 am
June 02, 2011 - Toronto - Sheraton Centre
CPF Postmaster Reports:
A rare moment at midnight, one of the resident adults stands on guard on the nest ledge.
Posted on June 2, 2011 11:59 pm
June 02, 2011 - Toronto - Don Mills
CPF Postmaster Reports:
We received an update from Donna this afternoon in that she witnessed Kendal finally bringing in food to Quest on the nest ledge!!
While Kendal has been in overdrive hunting mode since their humble beginnings providing enough food to his mate to stock a small butcher shop, he has been a little “slow to the go” to bring the food directly into the nest ledge while Quest has been brooding mode.
In true male peregrine fashion while his mate has been incubating the egg(s), Kendal has been stockpiling the cache spots with mountains of fresh food,, and eventually figured out that he too must help out with the domestic duties and has been routinely assisting her with the incubation duties.
This “shift change”as we say, allows Quest to take a break from her incubation duties to stretch her wings and eat some of the food he’s been stashing for her. Up until now, Quest has not allowed food to be brought directly into the nest ledge,, (and for good reason)!
She instinctively knows that food on the nest ledge, (especially at this time now that there is a young hatchling in the nest), attracts unwanted scavengers and other predators, in addition to the various parasites that would be attracted to the nest ledge by the presence of food, so they rarely bring food directly to the nest ledge or eat on the nest ledge itself at this particular stage of the family rearing process.
Now that the egg has hatched, and a tiny new hatchling is present, the female becomes even more protective, as she must switch from egg incubation mode into brooding mode. She must now be extra careful to keep her new hatchling warm but not to hot, covered and concealed, but must be careful not to suffocate the young hatchling, and she must also be careful so as not to crush the tiny hatchling.
Until the hatchling(s) are much older, they can not regulate their own body temperatures, and a single hatchling does not have the benefit of other siblings to help stay warm.
As such, the adult female’s actions and routines change, as she is very cautious not to leave the young hatchling exposed to the elements or any un-wanted attention.
The male must also change his routine after the hatch when the chicks(s) are very small, in that he must bring food directly to his mate on the nest ledge so she can stay brooding and feed the young hatchling(s).
Over the past few days, Quest has allowed Kendal several opportunities to take a peak at his new family member, but has for the most parts been very guarded and only allowed him short supervised visits.
Most recently, she allowed Kendal a short ‘un-supervised” visit to the nest tray, but only after he didn’t respond quick enough to her demands to bring food to her on the nest ledge so she could feed the hatchling.
She was forced to leave the nest tray and the young hatchling alone with Kendal while she retrieved her own food. During this brief 2 to 3 minute encounter, Kendal was observed touching the hatchling several times with his beak and showed an intense curiosity. A very tender family moment indeed!!
Quest quickly returned to the nest ledge with food and Kendal was asked to leave! Quest proceeded to feed the young hatchling.
Stay tuned…………
Posted on June 2, 2011 11:53 pm
June 02, 2011 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre
Mark Nash Reports:
A quick visit today to do a final check on the Etobicoke Sun Life hatchlings before their big day tomorrow, and all is well. Once again, the extreme change in weather had the two hatchlings huddled together with the temps substantially cooler today with no humidity and blustery winds.
While the sun was shining and blue skies, the wind chill factor at 24 stories up had us all dawning jackets and looking for cover behind the building walls to get out of the gusty winds.
The resident adult female was on guard, holding on tight to the upper roof ledge flashing just above the nest ledge.
We’re all looking forward to the banding tomorrow
Posted on June 2, 2011 9:57 pm
June 02, 2011 - Hamilton - Sheraton Hotel
Tracy Simpson Reports:
Frank and I were able to attend the Hamilton Sheraton Hotel banding today and there were three chicks in this latest family. They are;
Pigott - Female - 914 grams - Black 43 over Black X - red and green tape
Thomson - Male - 650 grams - Black 51 over Black Y - yellow and blue tape
Gore - Male - 671 grams - Black 82 over Black Y - yellow and green tape
It was a great day and we were happy to be able to attend!!! Congratulations Madame X and Surge!!
Posted on June 2, 2011 8:20 pm
June 02, 2011 - Toronto - Mount Sinai Hospital
Linda Woods Reports:
This morning as I was walking north on University Ave, approaching Elm St. I caught sight of a Turkey Vulture high tailing it off the University Ave building of Sick Children’s Hospital. It flew low past the south side of Mt.Sinai Hospital. I kept my eyes to the sky and Ranger was in hot pursuit chasing it out of the area. I think the peregrines may have grounded the bird since it was flying so low. I believe the bird made a safe getaway while, both Hunter and Ranger did regular patrols coming back to the east elevation of Mt.Sinai. No indication that Ranger and Hunter have laid a new clutch of eggs.
Posted on June 2, 2011 6:58 pm
