July 06, 2011 - Windsor - Ambassador Bridge
Dennis Patrick Reports:
After watching Lady Gaga and Spitfire doing so well in their flying skills it’s sad that we have to report that Lady Gaga has a fractured leg, we took her to a Vet this morning and he took an X-ray of both legs, it was very easy to see the fracture. As of right now she will be operated on tomorrow. It was sad to see Spitfire, Voltaire and Freddie last evening when we picked her up and the look on our faces was even sadder. We will keep you posted.
Gwen & Dennis, Site Co-ordinators for CPF
Posted on July 6, 2011 4:48 pm
July 04, 2011 - Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton
CPF Postmaster Reports:
Canada Square report July 4th 2011
When I arrived to look for the peregrines I found one youngster on the level below nest level, north of the wall on Canada Square. From subsequent activities and behaviours I chose to believe this was Chester! Later on a second juvie flew to the south west corner of Canada Square and then flew to the same level as his brother where he *picked at things* - mostly feathers!
Fifty-four minutes later the one I thought to be Chester began exercising his wings as he walked up and down the ledge. That done he took a long nap! He had a few more tiring exercise bouts resulting in naps before finally flying to the top of the chimney on the Bell building at 50 Eglinton east. As he landed there one of his brothers flew in and joined him.
The female flew onto the level Chester had left and also *picked at things*. A juvie joined her but she flew off with a feather in the talons. She returned moments later, deposited the feather and flew onto the Rio-Can building.
I did see three juveniles this evening; one was still on the Bell building and I found two on the TVO antenna. I saw the adult female. There was an occasion when two peregrines were seen way over near Redpath. I reckon one was definitely smaller than the other but who they were for sure I can’t say.
As I left the area I saw the adult male fly in from behind me, head around the east side of Canada Square, over the TVO building to land on the west side of it where he began plucking feathers from the bird in his talons. I walked across Yonge and a little east looking for any bird on the top of the Heart and Stroke building and found one. When I walked back, some 12 minutes later, to check on the male on top of the TVO building he was in the same spot, eating. I left at that point.
The peregrines are flying further afield and roosting in many different spots now. The two adults must have a job keeping an eye on them. However, I think they are still using the nest ledge, north of the wall, for occasional meals.
Lyn
Posted on July 6, 2011 1:34 pm
July 05, 2011 - Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton
CPF Postmaster Reports:
Canada Square report July 5th 2011
On my way from the bank to my observation spot on Duplex Ave. I spotted one juvenile atop the south eastern corner of Rio-Can and two juveniles in the air. The two in the air disappeared.
Fifteen minutes later one of the juveniles reappeared from behind one of the condo buildings, flew behind it then over it and headed north for a short distance. Then it turned west and *came straight at me*, wings tucked, in a stoop for a short while, pulled out of the stoop, opened his wings, turned south and did a perfect eight toed landing on the ledge north of, and just below, the nest ledge on Canada Square. I was very impressed.
There was some flying today, although I found it muggy it was cooler and judging by the flag on the 23rd floor balcony of the apartment building it was breezy up there. The juveniles proved that they are able to *kite* and did so, a number of times, over the Rio-Can building and Canada Square. Even the adults indulged in some exhibition flying.
Later on two of the juveniles indulged in a little more *kiting* and in the talon touching but without the actual contact. On one of these exercises of theirs a really dozy and unsuspecting gull flew from south to north up Duplex. The two juveniles saw this as a chance to have some sport and BOTH went after the gull who was startled out of its reverie and changed direction to west. The juvies were game and gave chase but really had little idea what to do except try and chase the bird. The gull was flying for dear life and was gone in a hurry leaving the juvies in mid-air with nothing to do. For a split second I thought they might even stop flying and come to earth. Fortunately they stayed aloft and flew to the Rio-Can building to perch.
Mom flew in from the south with food package. She flew over the south west corner of Rio-Can and *baited* the juvie who squawked madly as he became airborne and followed her ……. are you ready for this????…….. before taking the food from her in mid air!!!!! I watched it all through the binoculars and I can say, apart from the noise from the juvie, it was a perfect hand off!! He was higher than Rio-Can and turned and dropped onto the south west corner where he finally kept quiet!!! Obviously he was eating. I was very impressed!
Mom stooped the balcony below the nest ledge a few times before perching on the wall north of the nest. A few minutes later she flew to ledge south of the nest and spent an hour and half there. I left and she was still in the same spot.
Today I saw all five peregrines. The male was seen on the TVO antenna before he disappeared.
Lyn
Posted on July 6, 2011 1:08 pm
July 03, 2011 - Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton
CPF Postmaster Reports:
Canada Square report for July 3rd 2011.
I was only out for just over an hour today during which time I saw the five peregrines. It was pretty warm out and there was not much activity from them.
When I arrived I found the female on the ledge below the nest on Canada Square. She then flew off with a pigeon, circled around and landed on the nest level ledge north of the wall. She plucked feathers furiously and then ate for 30 minutes. A while later the male flew in to the same ledge with a food package and I heard him give a call. It took a minute before one of the youngsters responded by flying in and tucking into the food. I think this was also a pigeon.
There was only one major flying event by a juvenile who flew to the top of the shorter condo tower. Attempting to perch on one of the vents on the roof was tricky but he managed it. Other than that nothing extraordinary took place.
When I left the mom was on the south face of Rio-Can. I think two of the juveniles may have been on the Rio-Can roof and the third one was on the Heart and Stroke east face roof.
Lyn
Posted on July 6, 2011 12:55 pm
July 02, 2011 - Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton
CPF Postmaster Reports:
Canada Square report, Saturday, July 2nd 2011.
I was rudely awoken this morning to the raucous demands of a hungry peregrine. I know the call so did not even get out of bed!
When I arrived to look for the birds this afternoon there was an adult on the TVO antenna and a juvie was eating on the north west corner of the TVO building. I also saw the female on the second ledge south of the nest on Canada Square. There was some activity from the peregrines but not a whole lot during my three hour stint.
Two juvies flew to the TVO building, one successfully aiming for the antenna and the other for the railing around it. He forgot to put on his brakes, landed on the railing and flew right off and landed on the roof. I saw him at the edge a few minutes later. The juveniles flew longer distances today and are maintaining their height although at times some of the landings were a bit dodgy but they made it! The long flights were made from the TVO antenna east around the two condo complexes and up onto the east face of Rio-Can. One long flight was up over the TVO building, over Canada Square, up Duplex to the antenna at 520.
At one point I had no birds in sight until I stretched my legs and found three of them on the antenna up Duplex at 520.
I saw all five peregrines today and I can no longer *suggest* that one or any other is Chester.
At 7:55 p.m. one of the juvies flew north up Duplex, turned around and came back over 411 and onto the top ledge of the Rio-Can building. He landed about midway along the ledge. At 7:57 he flew and I looked to see why and found two people on that ledge (it must be a proper balcony) at the north west end of it. They appeared startled so I really do not think they knew the juvie was there. They disappeared shortly after the juvie flew.
At 8:15 I had lost sight of all the peregrines so I left but did walk across Yonge Street and look back at the Heart and Stroke building. I spotted too peregrines, one on a window *ledge* and one right at the top.
Lyn
Posted on July 6, 2011 12:49 pm
July 01, 2011 - Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton
CPF Postmaster Reports:
Canada Square report for Friday, July 1st 2011. Happy Canada day everyone!
I went out late today and for simply ages there was not a peregrine to be seen. Sulking because I wasn’t out earlier??
I saw three young today; two who were really flying high, way over the tall condo tower and the little one which I think is Chester. I also saw mom taking someone for a flying lesson – could this have been young Chester being shown that he can fly higher than he has been? There was nothing out of the ordinary today.
One feeding took place on top of Canada Square and as far as I could see only one juvenile partook of the offerings. One was on the TVO antenna and one sitting on the Canada Square roof whilst the third one ate. Later on I had two juveniles on the Canada Square antenna, one juvenile and one adult on the TVO antenna. There was some flying around and switching of positions.
I saw a turkey vulture fly north to south. Actually it did not fly it simply glided! No effort involved really but for an occasional wing tip flip or flap.
Mom flew in late about 8:30 with food and sat on the NW corner of the TVO building. The little chap on that antenna flew in, squawking madly, was not really high enough and hit the roof top but flew away. Mom in the meantime started the feathers flying and Chester (I am sure it was him) flew in again and this time landed on the roof and tucked into the food parcel. Mom flew to the antenna on TVO.
After fifteen minutes the juvenile was still eating and mom was still perched on the antenna. I left at that point.
Lyn
Posted on July 6, 2011 12:47 pm
July 06, 2011 - Toronto - Don Mills
CPF Postmaster Reports:
Toronto – Don Mills – Harlequin sighting – July 6, 2011 – 11.15 am
Harlequin was very active on the webcam this morning, running back and forth along the nest ledge and stretching her wings. On each pass she seemed to get closer to the edge, looking over, and on one occasion I caught a flash of what might be Quest or Kendal’s wing, encouraging Harlequin to make the leap.
I was able to capture a few screen shots from the webcam, one of which was Harlequin jumping off the nest ledge onto the smaller ledge at the right. She has now jumped out of frame completely, and the webcam is showing an empty ledge.
It looked like more of a jump than a fledge, but Harlequin has expanded her horizons nonetheless.
Photos attached (apologies for the poor quality – I was making screen grabs from the webcam)
Meg Langley Grainger
Posted on July 6, 2011 12:44 pm
July 05, 2011 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre
Kathy Reports:
Sky and Hera are both doing well so far, lots of flying, playing tag and chasing mom around the buildings whenever they can. She starts it all herself though!
Today Jack was by for a little bonding at the nestbox and while Angel did oblige him for a few minutes, she seemed to be more interested in playing with the boys. After a few minutes of bowing and scraping with Jack, she promptly left him on his own - much to his astonishment - and took off, flying over the next rooftop to rouse the boys and engage them in some tag and chase.
It was great to see them all having so much fun. The heat of the past few days means they have been pretty scarce during the day but I’m happy to report that both are doing fine so far!
Posted on July 5, 2011 7:10 pm
July 04, 2011 - Scarborough - Yellow Pages
Marion Nash Reports:
Ann Reports
Wow action with all three juvenile peregrines
They were all talon touching and flying together.
Not great shots but fun to watch.
Posted on July 5, 2011 10:10 am
July 04, 2011 - Toronto - Don Mills
CPF Postmaster Reports:
Kathy Smith reports today after spending some time at the Don Mills nest site today that baby Harlequin is progressing just fine and as we can all see by the Harlequin web camera, she is growing very quickly and will soon be taking her first flights!!
Quest & Kendal have been outstanding parents, as witnessed again today by Kathy’s observations of Quest as she tried to shelter baby Harlequin from the hot sun . There was some great family moment witnessed today with mom and daughter on the nest ledge!
We are looking for fledge watch volunteer support for this nest site, and will very soon be planning to hold the fledge watch training for all of those who are interested in participating.
Those that are interested are asked to come to the CPF web site and fill out the volunteer application form at: http://www.peregrine-foundation.ca/volunteerform.html
Please indicate that you are interested in the Don Mills fledge watch in the additional information or comments section. Please ensure that you have left us your telephone numbers so we can call you back with details of the fledge watch training sessions.
We will be starting the fledge watch Friday July 8th in the later afternoon - (early evening).
Hope to here from you soon.
Posted on July 4, 2011 1:42 pm
