June 28, 2011 - Ottawa - Delta Ottawa City Centre
CPF Postmaster Reports:
Good afternoon everyone,
Tuesday, June 28, 2011 — 12:10 p.m. — 1:00 p.m. ~ An adult is perched on the ledge of the Delta Ottawa City Centre rooftop. It is in front of the 4th pillar from the SW corner. I can hear the falcon vocalizing from street level. It seems agitated and can be seen moving around on its perch. At times I observe the falcon preening and then it returns to its post. I observe a turkey vulture flying above Lyon Street and a raven can be seen heading up Kent Street. Speaking of ravens; I observed an unkindness of ravens at about 11:30 a.m. this morning. They were hanging out on the rooftop of a building on Laurier Street.
The falcon never left the rooftop but kept a watchful eye towards the busy skies above its urban cliff. By the time I left it had retreated to inside the ledge and out of sight.
Take care and keep smiling!
Ciao,
N. McKenna
Posted on July 1, 2011 1:11 pm
June 27, 2011 - Ottawa - Delta Ottawa City Centre
CPF Postmaster Reports:
Good afternoon everyone,
Monday, June 27, 2011 — 12:10 p.m. I am walking towards the Delta Ottawa City Centre on this glorious summer afternoon. I spot a familiar figure on the rooftop near the 3rd pillar from the SW corner. Just as I pull out my camera Connor spreads his wings and takes to the skies clears the Delta Ottawa Hotel and Suites and heads towards the NW of the city.
12:45 p.m. — I head back towards the hotel in the hopes of catching a glimpse of our falcons but come up empty-handed. I can see a pair of turkey vultures soaring above Bank Street. I have a feeling that these are the same vultures that I’ve seen on a few separate occasions soaring above the Minto Buildings.
Take care and keep smiling!
Ciao,
N. McKenna
Posted on July 1, 2011 1:07 pm
June 30, 2011 - Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton
CPF Postmaster Reports:
Canada Square report, Thursday, June 30th 2011
I went to the bank before walking over to my favourite perch from which to observe the peregrines. I looked south and north at Yonge Street and found two out of three juveniles. One was sitting on a wall on the Canada Square building and the other was sitting on the roof of the Heart and Stroke building. They were in the shade! This was at 4:05 p.m.
Things became a little active after 4:46 p.m. when one of the juvies flew to the south west corner of the Rio-Can building. After looking at him for a few minutes my eye caught another youngster on the ledge on the west face of the building. I searched for number three but to no avail. However, I did find a pigeon on the same ledge about three window widths away from the juvie. The peregrine on the SW corner sort of buzzed his brother and this gave the pigeon a fright so it immediately launched into flight. It flew south over Duplex Ave., and in hot pursuit was the juvenile from the SW corner. It really was no contest as the pigeon was flying for its life and the peregrine was simply chasing it. Once over the cinema building the pigeon did a few swoops and dives and disappeared and the juvie flew west.
For the next few minutes two juveniles were in the air practising their tag and talon touch skills, over Canada Square, over both of the condo buildings and one even went into a slight stoop towards his brother! Then there was a heart stopping moment for me. I was not sure whether to run and hold out my t-shirt or just stand and hope things were okay. Running was out of the question so I stayed and watched the two juveniles *playing tag and talon touch* and then they grabbed talons and began a fall! My heart was in my mouth as they fell about three floors. Fortunately they were high to begin with and as the one squawked his protest they let go and flew in different directions! Pheeeew!
Maggie and Lance kept me company for a long while and after seeing one of the juveniles landing on the north west corner of Rio-Can Lance suggested that it might be Chester! We all had a look and agreed with him. The landing had been *Chester-like*, a bit unsteady and barely high enough!
Once Lance had left and gone to the mall, Maggie and I saw an adult come in with a pigeon and attempt to fly to the top of Rio-Can but just did not quite make it and flew out, circled and came back with the same result so it flew to the north side of Canada Square and landed on the top ledge there. One of the juvies flew in with a great flurry of wings but did not stay there and flew to the roof. After much activity from the other peregrines it finally hit Chester (NW corner of Rio-Can) that something was happening and he flew north over 411 Duplex round to the east side of Heart and Stroke and eventually ended up on the antenna on top of Canada Square.
At roughly 7:30 p.m. I had one juvenile on the north ledge, two juveniles on the antenna and mom feeding on a different pigeon from the one dropped earlier. The adult male flew in much later and went around the side of Rio-Can and was gone from sight. After this there was a pause in action and then two of the juvies flew, did a half hearted tag and talon touch and disappeared around the side of the Rio-Can building. Eventually mom flew too and actually looked as if she was about to land on the south face of the Rio-Can building but changed her mind and flew along 411 Duplex and out of sight. I chose this moment of no action to call it a day and left. It was a very satisfying afternoon. The two older juveniles are flying strongly and Chester is now able to get the height needed to fly well above the Rio-Can building.
Lyn
Posted on July 1, 2011 1:00 pm
June 29, 2011 - Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton
CPF Postmaster Reports:
Canada Square report, Wednesday, June 29th 2011
I arrived today and Bruce was just a few minutes behind me. He immediately set off on his walkabout to look for the peregrines. Said he was going to check all the nooks and crannies again.
Just after he left I spotted a juvie on the building which has the antenna on it, atop the TVO building. The little chap was right at the north east corner right in the sun – flat out! Once in a while he he got up looked about and settled down again. Similar behaviour to yesterday.
Gradually different peregrines became active from different spots: one from the east side of the Canada Square building and a couple of them from east of the TVO building. I was also treated to a *game * of tag and talon touching by two of the juveniles who are flying quite well now. There was more to come!
At exactly 5:09 p.m. I had five peregrines! There were two which I had followed all the way from around the TVO building. over Canada Square to the east side of the Rio-Can building, two were in the air over the TVO building and Chester was the little peregrine taking it easy in the sun near the antenna on top of the TVO building. We finally knew where Chester was!!
We had a great deal of activity from the two older juveniles, who did the tag and talon touch thing again honing their skills for later use in hunting. They eventually settled in different spots and mom brought in some food and baited the youngster who was on Canada Square but he did not fall for it. However his brother who had been on the Rio-Can building flew at and after his mom squawking madly! He followed her all the way south of the TVO building and attempted to take the food from her. Further activity resulted in one peregrine flying to the Rio-Can building and one flying south to end up on the antenna above Chester!
FINALLY we saw Chester fly. He headed for the Canada Square building, south end roof, but just did not have the height and *hit* the side of the building and fluttered down onto the southern ledge. Ten minutes later Bruce confirmed he was okay and at the south west end of the ledge whilst the other two juvies were at the south east end of the same ledge. With that Bruce left for the day and so did Maggie who had been there to enjoy some of the aerial displays.
I chose to stay on. What a performance all put on for me!!!
The female flew to the north end of 411 Duplex apartment building, set all the pigeons to flight and came around the east side of Rio-Can with a pigeon in her talons. One of the juvies appeared and followed her east of Canada Square and tried to take the pigeon from her. She tried to get onto the ledge but did not make it and flew back towards Rio-Can still with the youngster trailing her and squawking madly.
Half an hour later the two older juvies put on another display for me. They flew from the antenna on top of the TVO building, squawking madly, east of the 411 Duplex building, south to the antenna on TVO and over the shorter of the condo towers, tagging and talon touching all the way ! The two juvies eventually landed on top of the condo. One of the juvies flew from the short condo and made a soft contact with one of the windows on the northern condo. He fluttered a couple of floors but was in control and flew away behind that building.
Chester flew to the top of the concrete wall near the nest ledge and sat there for a bit. Nine minutes later he flew towards the Rio-Can building, climbing beautifully but just not high enough to reach the roof. He had soft contact with the ledge and fluttered down a window but flew off over Canada Square, in front of the condo and to the antenna on TVO where he had another soft contact with the antenna and fluttered to the roof top. He walked over to the west ledge and flew from there, over Canada Square to the east side of Rio-Can and missed his perch on the top of the south east corner, flew out and landed on the antenna on top of Canada Square. Who said Chester can`t fly? He flies well enough just can’t land too well yet!! After another aerial display I saw mom drop food on top of Canada Square, sit on the antenna for a few minutes and then leave. One of the older juvies enjoyed the meal.
At 9:00 p.m. one of the juvies flew in from the south west to the taller of the condo buildings and flew into a glass balcony *wall*, fluttered down a couple of floors but was okay and flew off behind the building.
The juvie who had been enjoying dinner on top of Canada Square flew south, circled back and flew into a wall on the tall condo, fluttered down then onto a balcony where he landed on a railing and slipped off. He flew to Rio-Can and back to the same condo and attempted to land on a ledge. He was successful but only spent a couple of minutes on it before flying back to Rio-Can. I checked and Chester was still on the antenna atop Canada Square. I waited a while and finally left at 9:20 p.m. when I felt that everyone was settled.
Lyn
Posted on July 1, 2011 12:56 pm
June 28, 2011 - Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton
CPF Postmaster Reports:
Canada Square report Tuesday June 28th 2011
I arrived at 1:30 and found a youngster on the ledge below the nest ledge on the Canada Square building. He was lying flat and so I went for one of Bruce’s walkabouts. A half hour later, coming in from Yonge Street, I spotted the adult male on the roof of the east face of Rio-Can building and the youngster in the same position on the ledge. Just as I got back into position, outside the Police Station, the adult male flew to the antenna on the TVO building. Five minutes later he flew southwest and at the same time a juvenile flew onto the roof, south face, of Rio-Can
There was movement on the ledge and I saw the juvenile stretch one wing and then the other, turn his back on me and do his business, twice! Shortly thereafter he went right into the corner, disappeared from view and I assume went to sleep.
A few minutes after that the female flew over the youngster and then up or down the side of the ledge three times. All he did was squawk. The youngster on the Rio-Can building flew to the Canada Square building, no doubt expecting food but there was none to be had.
Later on I was quite excited as I was so sure I saw five peregrines ALMOST at the same time. Three of them took to the air from somewhere on the east side of Canada Square and flew south past the smaller condo building. I then quickly turned to check the ledge and the one peregrine was there and I caught a fleeting glimpse of what I think was the female on the balcony railing below the nest ledge. When I looked back to find the peregrines in the air I saw only two. So now I don’t know if I saw four or five peregrines. It was exceptionally gusty today so there was not much flying and only in between gusts.
Much later the female flew over Canada Square near the youngster on the ledge, four times. He only looked at her but made no effort to even stand up. Almost three hours after I first arrived, the youngster on the ledge wound up his wings and flew onto the antenna on top of Canada Square. He was really hidden from view. I did not see him leave there as I was indoors at the time.
The female later gave us a display of her aerial prowess. She makes it look so easy. She did a number of touchdowns and takeoffs on the tall condo, the antenna atop the TVO building and the antenna on top of Canada Square.
Bruce did a number of walkabouts and saw different mixtures of adults and young but never five at the same time.
The weather changed and rain came in so Bruce and I packed it in sometime after 7:00 p.m.
Lyn
Posted on July 1, 2011 12:52 pm
June 30, 2011 - Brampton - Courthouse
CPF Postmaster Reports:
June 30th - 2011
Friday saw Milton return with a pigeon. Moments after landing, Truss flew out of the nest area, snatched it away from him and flew off to another part of the roof to feed. Once she was done she took the kill to the nest. Sadly that was all the action I managed to catch today.
Winston
Posted on July 1, 2011 12:40 pm
June 29, 2011 - Brampton - Courthouse
CPF Postmaster Reports:
June 29th - 2011
This morning I saw what looked like a food transfer between the two adults. I was far away and did not see any food but am pretty sure. A perched Truss walked over to Milton, who had just landed near by at a cache site, and then made a b-line to the nest. The two could be seen perched near the nest most of the AM.
The afternoon had two Turkey Vultures wander too close to the nest. Truss was with the chick when Milton took off after the TVs. Shortly after, Truss bolted out of the nest area screaming. One TV made a hasty exit but the one that Truss was chasing couldn’t get away fast enough for Truss’ liking and was attacked. Both TVs survived and Truss returned to the nest area for some preening.
Winston
Posted on July 1, 2011 12:35 pm
June 28, 2011 - Brampton - Courthouse
CPF Postmaster Reports:
June 28th - 2011
Today’s sunny weather did provide for more activity as both Truss and Milton were out and about near the nest site. Today was very windy and although I did get several good looks at the pair, sadly I did not witness any food entering the nest site. At one point, Truss left her perch (which was sheltered from the wind) then hit the full force of the wind as she flew West. She quickly decided to land, and the closest location was the nest. Once down, a lot of vocalization was heard, presumably the chick begging for food. Truss left the nest shortly after landing. Earlier in the day Milton was found near the roof on the East side of the building on an exit door to a narrow ledge several stories up. It was the kind of door you wouldn’t want to open from the inside if you were being chased; or for that matter if there was a Peregrine on the other side.
Winston
Posted on July 1, 2011 12:22 pm
June 27, 2011 - Brampton - Courthouse
CPF Postmaster Reports:
June 27th - 2011
Finding Truss and Milton has been difficult over the last few days as rain and hunting demands have kept the parents busy. Truss was out of sight until today when she was spotted looking down over the nest site. Milton has been more visible but even he has been hard to find of late; presumably off hunting. Luckily today I was able to spot both of them in their usual location near the nest together. Prior to this week, it was easy to see the pair carrying food to and from nest and cache sites. Lately, I have been either unlucky or the rate of activity has decreased.
Winston
Posted on July 1, 2011 11:58 am
June 28, 2011 - Mississauga - Executive Centre
CPF Postmaster Reports:
June 28th - 2011
Sadly, for the first time since the MEC nest site was established, the resident adults were unsuccessful in hatchling there eggs this season. While this is sad news, there is some good news to report. Unable to do regular site visits as often as we would have liked since the last egg disappeared from the nest box because all of the on-going fledge watches and overlapping bandings, we have received a observation report from Katherine reporting that both the resident adults were spotted sitting on the nest ledge around 4pm today.
This is good news indeed, as it appears that both adults are still hanging in tight to the nest box and holding the territory.
Thanks Katherine for the update!!!
Posted on July 1, 2011 11:55 am
