July 26, 2011 - Brampton - Courthouse
CPF Postmaster Reports:
As I have been saying, the best is yet to come. Going through all of the photos takes alot of time, viewing, selecting, cleaning them up, re-sizing them, and finally getting them posted. So far, over 800 photos just on my end, and there is only so many hours in the day to get throught them.
Atteched are only just a small sampling of what I’ve been able to come up with so far. far more to come.
Stay tuned…………
Posted on July 26, 2011 2:13 pm
July 26, 2011 - Toronto - Sheraton Centre
CPF Postmaster Reports:
July 26th - 2011
Another quick update from Eileen with several snap-shots from the web camera at the Toronto Sheraton nest site as both Cinnamon and Sunshine continue to frequent the nest ledge. It is very nice to see them still doing well, as we had some serious concerns with regards to baby Cinnamon given that he was so small and so far behind in age from his other siblings.
We all tend to forget that although the the fledgelings are far more independent these days and not frequenting the nest ledge every day, they are still looking to their adult parents for food and protection, and any “hand-outs” are always most welcomed!!
In addition, the nest ledge is still the only safe place they have known, and its still home until the juveniles migrate in the fall.
As we have already long since documented year after year over the past 17 years while intensely monitoring these urban nest sites here in southern Ontario, - (and a huge benefit of having the nest cameras), all of the resident peregrines, especially that of the resident adults frequently utilize their nest ledges throughout the entire year,, - spring, summer, winter and fall.
Its still home don’t you know.
Posted on July 26, 2011 12:59 pm
July 20, 2011 - Brampton - Courthouse
CPF Postmaster Reports:
July 20th - 2011 Photo of Courtney
Thank you to some of the court staff for this great photo of Courtney on the ledge “from the inside” - taken July 20th - 2011
We rarely get shots like this from the ground, and it’s nice to see a good close up shot of the young falcons while they are still on the ledge. These close up shots help us understand both the health of the young peregrines as they tell us a lot about the young peregrine’s condition.
Thank you for all of your support, as it’s nice to know that we are not alone while down in the streets.
Posted on July 26, 2011 12:36 pm
July 26, 2011 - Brampton - Courthouse
CPF Postmaster Reports:
Tuesday July 26th - 2011 - AM watch report:
Toivo reports this morning’s that Courtney is doing allot of short flights this morning while pursuing mom in the air around the courthouse building.
Courtney is no longer stuck on the ledges, and has both the confidence and basic flight skills to fly around and chase her parents at will. (Now the parents have got their hands full)!! Very few places to hide where the kid(s) can’t find you. 
:-)
It is at this point that there is going to be some incredible aerial flight displays, as the parents should be starting to coax Courtney into the air with food in the many games of - “if your want food, come and get it”,, and come and “catch it”.
Over the next few weeks, the parents will have to train Courtney how to chase and catch things in addition to the many other flight skills before she will be taught “how and what to actually hunt”.
There will be many lessons of tag, touch and go, catch the food in mid air before it hits the ground that I drop for you, aerial food transfers and many other important lessons. The best is yet to come!
Remember, even after Courtney is fully flighted, she will still be solely dependant on her parents for food and protection for the next 30 to 60 days before she will ever be able to actually catch anything on her own.
At this point, Courtney still has no idea yet that the other birds that surround her are even food!!
She still has a long way to go and allot to learn, but its now time to bring out your cameras, as you are going to see some incredible training seasons over the next two months!!
Now that Courtney can sustain flight and able to hold her altitude, are fledge watch in the streets is almost completed, as she is not likely to find herself on the ground in need of rescue. While we will be monitoring and spot checking her progress over the next few weeks, it’s now up to the parents to do their part of the job as our job is almost done.
We would encourage any and all to continue to come out when you can, as we’re not kidding with regards to the “best is yet to come”! Don’t forget to bring your camera’s, binoculars and spotting scopes!
Photos from Winston.
Stay tuned…….
Posted on July 26, 2011 11:45 am
July 25, 2011 - Brampton - Courthouse
Bruce Massey Reports:
July 25th - 2011 - PM Watch report:
We were rewarded this evening during the afternoon and evening fledge watch with a continuation of the morning and early afternoons events with Courtney demonstrating some incredible flights. It is obvious that she no longer has problems gaining altitude as she was able to achieve and gain altitude with some skill and confidence without any problems.
While the constant north west breezes aided her in most of her flights, she is learning very quickly how to utilize her tail and wings to her advantage and made several good flights from the lower ledges on the courthouse around the building to the upper roof elevations. On two occasions, she had flights where she soared with her parents around the courthouse building far above the roof level and almost looked as if she knew what she was doing
Both Milton and Truss spent some time with Courtney in the air during several sustained flights and it appears that both parents are doing allot to encourage her to stay in the air for longer periods when she is actually airborne.
Milton does although seem to be much less involved with the day to day events compared to Truss, in comparison to other nest sites where the adult males are much more involved. Also, Truss seems to be doing the larger percentage of the hunting.
Courtney still seems to be clumsy as she is still tripping over her feet and slipping off the leading edges of the various elevations, but nothing more or less than we would have seen from a young peregrine at this stage.
She did have several slight minor bumps with the concrete edges of the walls on two of her approaches while trying to make landings to the upper elevations, but once again, nothing out of the ordinary. These soft bumps are good learning experiences, ones that will not be forgotten.
By the end of day, Courtney was still flying around from different spots on the upper roof elevations and has clearly shown that she has gained the confidence that she needs to stay aloft. Her strong flights are showing a huge improvement over yesterday’s.
It would appear that Courtney has actually figured out that she is a bird, and can actually fly!!
Stay tuned……..
July 25th - 2011 - AM Fledge watch report:
0515 - Arrived in a torrential Thunder storm (So heavy, that I could barely see a fire truck pulling out a 100 yds. ahead of me. ) Had to wait in car for 15-20 minutes for it to subside.
0545 - Went to last known location of Courtney (North West Corner of Courthouse). Only saw one of the Adults (I think the Female) on top of one of the antennas, but no sign of Courtney. I started out on what turned out to be 2 circuits of the, one in close paying particular attention to bushes & Trees on the West side and a second one from a distance out, checking ledges & rooftops. Adult was still looking West so I crossed checked around the Police Station, and the Plaza. I stopped into the Coffee shop and as I stepped out I saw an Adult (Female) stoop low to the South, roust about 20-25 gulls and continue South & West and land in the tall Condo Antenna. This was an atypical enough behaviour that I followed and started to scan the lower elevations of the plaza. Much to my surprise I saw a familiar shape. Much to my surprise Courtney (An appropriate name apparently) was perched over the Front Entrance of the Provincial Traffic Court (It was measured to be roughly a 1/2 Kilometer away). Mom was still on the antenna. By this another watcher (Toivo) had arrived and we set up to keep Tabs on her.
About 20 or so minutes before Toivo had to leave to go to work, Courtney was flushed off her perch by a crow and it chased her across the intersection but had second thoughts when Mom stooped it from the Condo Antenna. It Turned away & Mom caught up w/Courtney and encouraged her up to the roof level @ the South end of Nest Building. Courtney’s landing wasn’t the best and she did tap the Metal @ the back but it was a light Tap.
0900 - Mom flew over to the Release Ledge and brought back some food to the Southwest side of the ledge, Courtney ran as fast as possible, snatched the food off Mom, who flew off.
0910 -I took a break and I found the adult Male on the Door railing facing East & Courtney was in her fathers favourite spot doing her fathers favourite thing “sleeping”.
1010 - While catching up on my notes, glanced up to see Courtney flying South and then West. She didn’t come back around, but she was keeping her Height and I figured she had to have slipped into a ledge and she would pop up eventually.
1200 -Decided to take break @ Coffee Shop. Iced Tea & 2 Red Velvet Cupcakes)
1230 - Called by Sherry she had found Courtney, on the East Side on a ledge @ 6th Floor Level, tucked against the wall.
1240 -Confirmed above Report, she stayed that way pretty well through the afternoon. Occasionally she would be vocal, flap her wings, but she would settle down. Her parents alternated being near her.
1630 -Mom went low over Service Ontario building, this were the Crows were hanging out.
1700 -Just as I left, Courtney made a very good flight to the upper roof of the Courthouse. The landing wasn’t all that great (She Flared Up & landed a foot or so on the Roof).
Thanx Bruce
Sent from my BlackBerry device on the Rogers Wireless Network
Posted on July 26, 2011 12:01 am
July 24, 2011 - Burlington - Lift Bridge
Sue McCreadie Reports:
Bill and I have spent some time over the last few days at the Brampton Court House helping out with the Fledge Watch. We thought you might be interested to see a current photo of Truss and her baby Courtney. She is a troubled child. Two rescues in 3 days and one from the top of an unmarked police cruiser in the parking lot of the Police Station on the West side of Hurontario Street. It never gets easy. Today, Truss is a beauty. What a thrill to see one of our Burlington Lift Bridge girls go on to raise a family of her own.
Posted on July 25, 2011 6:36 pm
July 24, 2011 - Brampton - Courthouse
Sue McCreadie Reports:
Bill and I have spent some time over the last few days at the Brampton Courthouse helping out with the Fledge Watch. We thought you might be interested to see a photo of Truss as a baby when she was rescued on her first flight at the Burlington Lift Bridge on June 18, 2009. Then look at her today! Isn’t she beautiful? What a thrill to see one of our Burlington Lift Bridge girls go on to raise a family of her own.
Posted on July 25, 2011 6:33 pm
July 25, 2011 - Toronto - Sheraton Centre
CPF Postmaster Reports:
Monday July 25th - 2011 - 11AM
We have only just received some bad news from Toronto Wildlife this morning regarding little Kate from the Toronto Sheraton nest site. In a telephone call this received this morning, we are told that Kate passed away early Saturday morning in her sleep.
While the results of the blood work that was done for blood parasites came back negative and the serious of chest x-rays didn’t show any real clear evidence of Aspergillosis,, Aspergillosis is highly suspect given her condition. She was very much underweight and simply had no energy or fire as we say. The young birds are especially vulnerable as they have yet to develop strong immune systems to fight off all of the usual nasty ailments they are exposed to while they are still growing and developing.
To explain Aspergillus in short:
Aspergillosis is a respiratory disease of birds caused by the fungus Aspergillus, which is found almost everywhere in the environment.
A. fumigatus is the most common species of the fungus to cause disease, although A. flavus, A. niger, and others can also cause problems. Aspergillus grows readily in warm and moist environments. The microscopic spores of the fungus become airborne, poor ventilation, poor sanitation, dusty conditions, and close confinement increase the chance the spores will be inhaled.
Usually, the fungus does not cause disease, however, if a bird does not have a healthy immune system, it can cause illness. Predisposing factors include other illnesses, stress, poor nutrition, poor husbandry or unsanitary conditions, another injury to the respiratory system (e.g.; airborne pollutants).
The combination of the number of spores in the environment and the presence of predisposing factors determine which birds are most at risk of disease.
Aspergillus is everywhere; it grows on everywhere, including on living tissue. Every speck of dust and dirt has spores of at least one species of Aspergillus. A bird does not usually succumb to the disease when it has a strong immune system. Over time it has built up antibodies strong enough to wage a proper war against the spores. But, a weakened immune system or ingestion of a huge amount of spores is what causes this disease. Every animal with lungs breathes in thousands of Aspergillus spores every day.
The spores cannot grow in the lungs of a healthy body, but a diseased lung can easily become a host. Aspergillosis can consume a bird with a weakened immune system. Poor nutrition, another illness, anxiety, loneliness, old age, unsanitary conditions or disturbed soil can also bring on this illness. A constant and gradual exposure can create a chronic (long term) infection and the causes are all too commonly found in places you would never expect.
Given the hot dry conditions we’re been having, this is an ideal environment for the airborne spores to spread around in the dry air.
We are truly saddened to receive this news this morning, and it’s very nice to see that little Cinnamon (another one of the Toronto Sheraton juveniles that we believed might not have made it given his small size and underdevelopment) that he is going strong today!!
Posted on July 25, 2011 1:19 pm
July 25, 2011 - Toronto - Sheraton Centre
CPF Postmaster Reports:
July 25th - 2011
A huge thank you to Donna from Rochester NY who was monitoring the Toronto Sheraton web camera this morning and cought some interesting activity.
Donna writes: Watching the cam this am - July 25th, and I found these two young Scavengers playing on the nest ledge . So nice to see them back at the nest and doing so well.
Donna
At the same time, Eileen from New York State e-mails and writes:
Good morning!
An extra special treat this morning…2 juvies on the ledge! Again, captured by Donna. So, the big question is… Was Kate released from care? Or was it Sunshine and Cinnamon? Only CPF knows for sure!
Whoever it was, they look beautiful!
All the best-Eileen
Donna
Posted on July 25, 2011 1:10 pm
July 25, 2011 - Windsor - Ambassador Bridge
Dennis Patrick Reports:
Saturday, Dennis and I were down by the Bridge for quite awhile in the extreme heat, we saw Freddie resting on the beam while Voltaire was cleaning the nest tray and doing a lot of preening. No sign of Spitfire.
This morning we got to the Bridge at 6:20 A.M. just in time to see Spitfire fly in with a full crop and land on the West side of the Abudment, ten minutes later he flew off again to the West. At 6:45 A.M. he flew up to the cable between the “B” and “R” of Bridge then as we were leaving at 6:50 he flew back onto the Abudment again. Spitfire is flying and landing with confidence, what a relief.
Gwen & Dennis Site Co-ordinators CPF
Posted on July 25, 2011 8:25 am
