June 24, 2011 - Scarborough - Yellow Pages
Mark Nash Reports:
June 23 & June 24 - 2011
Its been a busy couple of days and there has not been enough time in the day (or night) to do many postings given all of the time we’re spending in th streets doing some very long days and not getting much computer time.
Friday June 24 was the busy day at Scarborough Yellow Pages nest site when Kathy reported from Scarborough Yellow pages that Striker - 97 over Y first took his first flight ending up on an upper ledge around to the south east side of the Yellow Pages building. There his spent most of the day running back and forth across the ledge much to the delight of the occupants in the office suite.
Paul and Michelle later attended the office suites on the 11th floor to get a better look at him where they were able to confirm that despite his rather loud and hard impact with the glass prior to him falling down the face of the building where finally ended up on the ledge, that he was alright. Michelle and other office occupants took some great photos.
Marion and I arrived just shortly after 4pm to relieve Kathy and Michelle and witnessed several small feedings by Linn and Reuben. At approx. 7pm, with gusty and constant winds prevailing most of the day, little Jet - 98 over Y was actually blown off the nest ledge rim and was swept into the air. With little wing flapping going on at all, Marion watched in horror as he fell almost straight down the side of the building and was finally caught by the first ledge some 6 stories down. Thank goodness he at least opened his wings during his decent as they softened his fall.
Moments later, he did appear from the back of the ledge and spent the balance of the evening running back and forth on the ledge screaming to his parents for food as they soared around overhead.
Striker later took his second short flight gaining a little altitude as he round the building to the north west side and landed on yet another ledge at the same level as his brother Jet, but sadly not a connecting ledge. By dark, the two fledglings bedded down for the evening.
Rihannon - 53 over X stayed in the nest ledge all day with very little flapping through out the day, and received several feedings from her parents.
We closed the watch down at 9:45pm looking forward to returning in the morning to continue the watch.
Stay tuned…..
Posted on June 25, 2011 9:22 am
June 23, 2011 - Niagara Falls
Mark Nash Reports:
A big thank you to Jacquie Walters for her report and John Shiposki for his great photos from New York State for getting this great news and fantastic photos to us!
Jacquie writes:
Hi Mark,
I am one of Connie Adams’ seasonal technicians out of the New York DEC office in Buffalo. I have been watching the Niagara Falls nest site from Terrapin Point all spring and am happy to report that you have peregrine hatchlings! This was a very late nest. I am pretty sure the female is still “Diamond” from Ohio. She is a banded sub-adult anyway, still has quite a bit of brown on her. She laid her first egg back in April. There was a fight with an interloping pair that I watched for three hours on 4/12. After that, on 4/14, I saw one egg in one of the windows she had been frequenting. This egg never received much attention from her. It sat in the scrape un-incubated until the week of 5/22 when one of our volunteers reported seeing two eggs in the nest. When I went there on 6/6 I counted three eggs, and on 6/10 I counted 4. One of these was the first egg that by now was old and white-colored. There must have been four there previously, but I just couldn’t see them all, because when I went there on Monday 6/20 there was a hatchling in the nest along with 2 eggs! It really was one of the best feelings seeing that little white ball of fluff in there. I didn’t see that old, white first egg, but maybe it was behind the others or underneath her. She was pretty tight on the nest the whole time I was there and I only got good looks under her when she got up to change positions.
The male is not banded, though John Shiposki, who has been photographing the NF PEFAs for many years, is certain that it is the same male since 2003. We have no way to be sure, obviously, but John recognizes him based on some feather patterning and behaviour. He does seem to be an experienced male PEFA. He kept trying to get the female into the old nest hole under that window during early spring, but she seemed to prefer the window “box” instead.
I emailed Anne Yagi last week, so she probably already told you about this nest, but I just wanted to send you an email to let you know what has been going on there. I will be heading up there tomorrow morning (the best time to get a clear view into the scrape) to see if all the eggs have hatched. This site has been my favourite to watch. They are so observable and it has been fun finding all their favourite perches and food caches. I have even seen the male taking baths in the old spillway on the bottom of the OPG builing! He wades into the water up to his abdomen and dunks his whole head in, shaking the water down his body. It is a funny thing to watch a Peregrine taking a bath like a robin or a crow.
Let me know if you need any other info. I attached pictures of the nest location and the hatchling. Hope to see you on banding day!
- Jacquie Walters
Posted on June 25, 2011 8:50 am
June 22, 2011 - Toronto - King Street
CPF Postmaster Reports:
Yesterday we had an unusual experience. We’ve seen quite a number of falcons from our windows since moving here in 1983. On Tuesday, June 21, 2011, about 6:45 a.m. I saw a falcon on the roof of the office building (26 Wellington St. East) adjoining ours. It became apparent that this is a new bird this spring – he still has soft white feathers of the newborn – and that he is learning to fly. Every once in a while he peers down to the ground, then flaps huge wings as he hops along the edge, back and forth. Occasionally he stops this routine and just rests a while. You know, it is quite a drop to the ground if he can’t stay afloat in the air.
We went out about 11 a.m. to the blood lab for my blood test and then had lunch in the cafe in our building. We returned to our apartment about 1:10 p.m. to find the bird still on the roof, with the same old routine. He looked to be scared to death.
We phoned Polly to get information about falcon watches. She called the Peregrine Foundation. The bird has a red band on his right leg (every once in a while he’d seem to try to tug it off). He remained on the roof until about 8:30 p.m. when he took off with a great flap of wings. He circled around in great swoops and landed on the roof of the St. Lawrence Theatre. He stays there for about half an hour and then disappears in the twilight. At one point in the evening one of his parents circles high above and then swoops down almost hitting his head – then disappears. A member of the Foundation says the parent is attempting to give the youngster guidance on how to return to the nest, a few blocks away. The bird had no food or water for about 14 hours, but finally he finds the courage to fly. We felt like cheering!
This morning we learn from the Foundation that he has been rescued (netted, actually) in the alley behind the Spaghetti Factory restaurant and was returned to his nest about 10:30 last night. Perhaps in the coming months and years he’ll come around to see us again. His red band will be a clue that he’s the chap who gave us many anxious moments one day. Incidentally, he has a name. It’s Kenya.
Posted on June 25, 2011 1:55 am
June 24, 2011 - Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton
CPF Postmaster Reports:
Canada Square update June 23rd - 2011 - Day watch observations:
Bruce had a busy early morning ! He arrived just before 7:00 a.m. to find both fledglings on the Canada Square building. Sometime early this morning the first juvenile to fly must have found his way back up to the level below the *nest ledge*. A little later Luke flew from the ledge, on Canada Square, to the north Minto tower and landed on a balcony behind the glass barrier on the 32nd floor. Just when Bruce thought that young fledgling peregrine was trapped, he finally managed to jump onto the railing and eventually ended up one floor down, once again trapped behind the glass. His mom sat guard over him for ages and flew just before the second storm came in.
Bruce and I walked over to the Minto building to try and gain access to effect a rescue but were unable to at that point. After a couple more attempts, in between rain showers, I went home briefly and when I returned Bruce had gone to rescue Luke.
Canada Square kindly allowed us to put Luke in a secure, quiet and dark spot until he could be released back onto a ledge at the nest building.
The watch continued, between showers, over Buzz who was quite happy with his perch on Canada Square. We also kept an eye on Chester who is left on the nest ledge.
When the adult peregrines were not perched due to rain they flew a number of sorties, keeping tabs on the young and hunting. Buzz had been fed on the ledge he was on and was not inclined to move too much – so we thought!
He had been exercising his wings later in the afternoon and was right at the edge but always settled back and relaxed, except for the last time. He flew off the north face of Canada Square around to the west side and was doing well over the roof at which point the female had reached him and encouraged him to land on the roof, which he did. He had several flights, one of which was quite lengthy and actually took him as far south as the south Minto building where he flew gently into a window, fluttered down a couple of floors, recovered and with help and encouragement from mom actually flew back onto the south eastern end of the Canada Square building.
After losing a fair bit of height he made it all up in one flight, without a rest!!! Extra pairs of eyes, from a couple who are extremely interested in our birds, helped us keep tabs on who was where!! Thanks folks!
He eventually ended up on the Rio-Can building for the night. Mom was just below him on one of the window uprights.
Tracy was instrumental in releasing Luke back to the nest building but not without a few surprises. She took him to the lower balcony, one floor below the nest ledge on the Canada Square building, and had just stepped out when this vision came at her out of the dark! Mom had seen the activity on the balcony, probably remembered banding time, and just flew at Tracy who managed to get inside in the nick of time. On the second attempt Luke was released successfully without further incident. I will leave Tracy to fill in the gaps J
So final count was; Luke on the balcony waiting for morning light and Chester on the nest ledge both on Canada Square, Buzz on the top level and mom one below him on Rio-Can. I cannot remember where Tracy said the male was. All safe and accounted for and no-one injured after all their adventures!!
Cheers
Lyn
Posted on June 24, 2011 11:54 pm
June 24, 2011 - Toronto - King Street
Linda Woods Reports:
Kenya is still at large and has not been seen. Today, I saw a juvenile on a 10th floor roof area next to the nest building. This area being low in comparison to the nest building next door. It was there all day. It took flight at dinner time and flew east between buildings, low, but made it up to the corner of # 1 Toronto St. I made my way up to a higher elevation to ID this juvenile and it turns out to be Sukura, not our missing male, Kenya.
We are all keeping a look out for the little guy.
Posted on June 24, 2011 10:13 pm
June 24, 2011 - Toronto - Sheraton Centre
Linda Woods Reports:
Sunshine was having a good time today chasing the adults. Cinnamon and Kate are still on the ledge.
This evening afternoon, lots of flapping and running of the ledge,by both Cinn and Kate. This evening around 7:15 a small food drop was made, both Cinn and Kate grabbed it from the adult and dragged along the ledge until Cinn gave up. Kate chowed downed on a small sparrow, while Cinn sat on the ledge and was looking south east. 10 minutes later, another food drop of a second sparrow was made, Kate grabbed that and puffed out her feathers and mantled with the food in her beak. Cinn took this opportunity to get at the left overs from the first drop. Later, I went back to see if Cinn had a crop, Kate had snuggled under the camera, and Cinn was having his fill on the left overs from the second food drop. I did a roof scan of the building across the street. One adult on 120, Sunshine was off with the letter “S” where she was earlier. Back for a last nest check of the night, both Cinnamon and Kate were tucked under the camera.
Annie and I closed the watch for the night at 9:15p.m.
The Sheraton Centre Hotel is host to a huge event for the Bollywood International Film Awards. The hotel stated that there were expecting 4000 people to attend. It looked like it with line ups down the street to get into the event. I had to have special escort by security to get to security to sign out for the night.
Posted on June 24, 2011 10:09 pm
June 24, 2011 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre
Kathy Reports:
It was a quiet morning for the kids with all the rain but this afternoon as I left the site Mom and two of the kids were after a pigeon. The two juvies weren’t really stooping full stop but they were giving it a shot and one of them came dangerously close to the traffic in the road but pulled up before he got into trouble.
They are all flying quite well and staying high but now comes the equally terrifying next step of learning to hunt. They have to learn to stoop and come out of one without hitting the ground or traffic and learn to manoeuvre around the glass buildings without crashing into them. An urban juvenile has alot of challenges to overcome and we humans can only watch in awe and terror as their parents teach them the next important steps on the road to independence.
Posted on June 24, 2011 4:21 pm
June 24, 2011 - Toronto - Sheraton Centre
Harry Crawford Reports:
From City Hall at 7:15am, nothing was seen on the north facing roof
ledges. Before I left home, two chicks were on the nest ledge.
From 120 Adelaide, the two chicks [Cinnamon and Kate] still on the
nest ledge. Sunshine was on various south logo letters and spent
most of the morning there [one visit into the nest ledge]. No
adults were seen in the morning so there was likely no food drop.
Cinnamon did a bit of flapping but not the usual amount for a prior
to a launch. Kate moved around but did not run or flap. I left Zoe
and the site at 11:30am.
Posted on June 24, 2011 3:00 pm
June 24, 2011 - Toronto - King Street
Marion Nash Reports:
Kenya was missing all day yesterday he must have took off sometime in the very early morning.
I walked the downtown core for hours as far south, west , east and north as I thought he might have gone and looked in every alley I could find every balcony I could see every roof top edge and nothing. I went to the roof top of the king Edward, 18 King and Pauls terrace and scanned all the roof tops for blocks and nothing.
At the end of the day yesterday I went home feeling like I had done a marathon and worried as to where he had gotten to.
Thankfully he was found by Linda Woods right next door to the nest building on the roof top about 10 floors up he must have been tucked in yesterday and had not come out to the edge of the roof and it is one of the few roofs I could not get a site line on.
Hopefully he keeps high will keep you posted.
Posted on June 24, 2011 2:05 pm
June 24, 2011 - Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton
CPF Postmaster Reports:
Canada Square report Thursday June 23rd 2011.
I arrived today and Bruce came in shortly thereafter. One youngster was on the ledge directly below the nest ledge, just sitting. The male was on the top of the third wall south of the nest and there was no sign of anyone else UNTIL we saw a fledgling on the NE corner of the cinema building (black building). We had one FLEDGLING and one *LEDGLING*. Not for long.
The first bird to fly took off over that black building towards Yonge Street and with that Bruce also took off. He had the youngster in sight for quite some time until it flew between the two Rio-Can buildings. Bruce came back to *base camp* to catch his breath. The adults were flying in different directions at times and the female did land on the nest ledge. That is when I saw the youngest flap his wings.
After a short respite Bruce saw juvenile number two fly onto the same cinema building but down the Duplex Ave side and towards the South end of the building. In between short, sharp, showers we watched number two make his way up to the north end of the building. He walked along the northern ledge a couple of times. The weather cleared and Bruce went looking for juvenile number one.
Juvenile number two thought this an opportune moment to fly from the north end of the cinema building to the south and he accomplished this very well. However, on reaching the south end and applying the brakes his momentum carried him over the edge and there was nothing under him. He recovered very well and kept flapping and flew over Duplex, over some of the trees and homes, behind the Police Station, over Eglinton and the Bell building and Hydro building. He kept going east, over Duplex again, and right onto a fifteenth floor balcony of the apartment building. I called Bruce and as I did so the peregrine and Bruce materialised at the same time. The juvenile had jumped back onto the railing of the balcony. Both the adults had flown to Duplex Avenue when the juvenile disappeared there. They flew off. However shortly after that the female flew back and perched atop the antenna on the hydro building. She stayed there until number two flew again, over the building at the corner of Duplex and Eglinton, gained height and got himself back onto the ledge below the nest ledge on Canada Square!! He stayed put, thank goodness. Did not quite make it to the same spot from which he had left hours earlier, but back to the same height!!
Number one was found when he flew - gently – into the south face of Rio-Can about four floors up. He fluttered down a floor and flew back around the corner to the east side of that building. We think he is between the two towers on the low roof above the mall.
This all took place over a period of five and a half hours and for most of that time Bruce was on his feet keeping an eye on, or looking for, number one.
Bruce thinks I am to blame for this activity today, because he claims that yesterday I said *I just hope we don’t have two fledge at once*. I, of course, deny all knowledge of that conversation 
Cheers
Lynn
More to come… stay tuned…….
Posted on June 24, 2011 1:11 pm
