July 24, 2011
Good afternoon
Rhea Mae has spent quite a bit of time today on the nest ledge. And we had a special treat…Tiago stopped by as well for a moment of bonding! Credit for the capture of Rhea Mae & Tiago goes to Donna-another of the Rochester gang!
Regards-Eileen
July 24th - 2011 PM Close
By 9:30pm, Courtney had taken her second flight of the day, ending up on a ledge on the norht west side of the courthouse almost level to that of her nest ledge! A decent flight around the courthouse for the south east ledge, (and with a little nudge from her mother during the flight, she was steered around from crossing Hurontario Street, and made it back to the nest building.
Having been fed three times throughout the day and evening, Courtney’s excitement had finally worn off and she settled down for the evening.
July 24th - 2011 AM Watch report
0545- Upon arriving on site, I immediately went on Walk about, given the long and very detailed update I received from the Evening Crew the night before. After an enjoyable walk around the building, seeing an Adult on a South East Antenna and an enjoyable walk on the West side of Hurontario (Seeing the stashed pigeon on the Northwest balcony level) and the Adult (Female) that came in to prepare it. As I finally got back to the Parking Lot and saw Courtney revving up on the South East Corner ledge @ the same height as her release level.
0605-Courtney flew North along the ledge, tried to make it to the roof above (The parents favourite) she didn’t quite make it (Did hear the audible Impact) and then tried to make the roof on the East/West wing & missed that And came down on The original release ledge.
0615-Mom into South East corner of ledge, but made no attempt to feed her.
0630-Courtney sleeping
0835-Courtney up and preening.
0930-Courtney active, under Moms Eye.
0945-Courtney settled down, Mom on Watch, Dad not visible.
1040- Courtney occasionally vocalizing. No sign of Mom or Dad.
1050-Dad into Ledge w/Courtney and started to Feed on Food Scrap @ Corner. Dad busted by Mom and he flew to East facing roof and ended up on South facing roof. Mom kited around for awhile and then flew over to South East Ledge called to Courtney and when she didn’t fly took her some she had previously stashed.
1130-Courtney still down on Ledge. No sign of Parents.
1200- Some gulls flying overhead, got Courtney’s attention, made a brief appearance & then Dad brought in food. Courtney grabbed it so Fast and I think Dad tried to grab it back, but all he had was a single Primary Feather.
1215-Dad no longer @ same position.
1230- Courtney up on East side of Ledge.
1240- Mom in w/food took it over to Dad who was hiding in his favorite corner. He flew out to East and back & then circled 2-3 times over the entrance. Mom left pigeon remains there & then proceeded to go over by Door where there seems to be another stash. Courtney has moved over to be as close to parents as possible. She is also showing signs of attempting to join parents.
1310- Courtney back down out of sight.
1345- Mom agitated, Turkey Vulture to East on Direct Line over Nest Building. She flew out circled, came back and tried to get Dad to help, when it was obvious that he wasn’t going to do anything she flew out South East alarm calling which was enough to convince the TV to swing out of the way to the South. She then flew back an berated the Male for not helping.
1445- All quiet, and the evening watch crew arrived and we spent an pleasant hour or so visiting. Nothing much happening w/the Birds except the Male did a fairly low high speed pass after a Crow over top of us.
1645-Left Evening Watch in the capable hands of the evening watch crew.
At 6pm I saw 1 adult and 1 juvenile at the building at Markham and Neilson. Within 5 minutes the male juvenile was off with the female juvenile following him. They darted across the road towards the photo lab. Flying so fast it was hard to keep them in sight. Over the road again and towards the 401. Back and forth they went. Looked behind me at the yellow pages building to see the third juvenile sitting at the peak of the building. He was screaming and screaming for food. I then noticed the adult had left. At 6:30 you could hear all 3 juveniles screaming and the race was on to the fitness centre to see what mom had brought. The one male got the food and the other two sat on the ledge screaming. Suddenly the male with the food took off with the other 2 juveniles following again. He landed on the hotel. So did the other ones. The last I saw of the 3 little screamers was them flying around the temple on Markham Road. They were flying from one top to the next. Man are they fast, beautiful and fun to watch. Ann
Sunday July 24th - 2011
A quick look at the Toronto Sheraton nest ledge via the colour camera this afternoon and we were able to take a quick snap-shot of the one of the adults back hanging out on the nest ledge as he/she is seeking a little shade and safe quiet time space.
As we have long since learned, the nest ledges that have a back stop with over hanging cover and side walls offer the peregrines an ideal place to go where they are sheltered from view, one that allows them a safe space from prying eyes (and any perceived dangers from above). Truly a “safe house and place” that offer a stress free environment from the big city rat race.
In addition, as you can see in the photo, he/she has tucked themselves behind the ledge, and a shady place to escape the hot midday sun!
For the most parts this afternoon, the fledge watch was uneventful and a very quiet evening with the exception of the rain and Courtney’s single flight around 6:45pm.
Around 6:46pm, young Courtney took her second flight of the day. She again bolted from the Library Courthouse roof where she had earlier flown to, and immediately lost altitude almost coming to the ground. Amazingly, she was able to get some air and gained some altitude as hooked around to the south further away from our view.
Out of nowhere, Truss, - (mon) appeared in our view and was in hot pursuit of baby Courtney. In a few seconds, Truss has intercepted Courtney and managed to literally herd her around in the air and turned her back northbound. While Courtney struggled to hold her altitude, a few gusts of air made all the difference in the world. Courtney caught a break, as the quick moving air allowed her to gain some incredible altitude and she was able to make a decent landing back on the courthouse building,, - two thirds up - on one of the courthouse’s upper south elevations.
There she stayed on the ledge until dark.
Heavy dark clouds rolled in and for the most parts, and they stayed for the balance of the afternoon and evening. We got several good soakings of rain that has us running to the cars to cover. The rain although was most welcomed, as it cooled down the air temps and the hot pavement that surrounded us. The rains cooling effects was incredibly welcomed!!
It was quite obvious that the peregrines were equally as delighted with the rain, (well,,, at least Courtney and Milton), as they were both observed running around on their perspective ledges flapping in the rain in quite an animated fashion.
Courtney was especially animated through the first two periods of rain, (unlike the her behaviour a day ago when she was far less amused by getting wet in the short little spits of rain that we had received). This time, she was observed with wings open, bobbing up and down trying to dip herself in some water puddles that has obviously collected on her ledge.
I was equally as surprised to see Milton’s behaviour during the rain, as he was the most animated of all. We don’t often see “wild” adults acting like kids playing in the water! He flapped both wings while simultaneously running around in short circles bobbing up and down during the first two short downpours. He was absolutely hilarious! If I’m to understand it correctly, this is the very first rain that we have received in a month, and with this unbearable heat and humidity over the past week, its been oppressively hot in the streets on the fledge watches!
We didn’t see Truss during this period so we don’t know what she was doing at this point.
By the end of the day, Truss fed Courtney at least three times (if not four times) throughout the day. It is worth noting that while we have all seen Milton do some hunting and food caching, Truss seems to be doing the most all of the hunting these days! Her preferences seems to be pigeons, as we are constantly seeing her struggling in the air with huge pigeon kills as she returns to the Courthouse. This is not surprising, as Truss was produced at the Burlington Lift bridge nest site, where her mother dined (and fed Courtney and her other siblings as a young hatchlings) almost exclusively with pigeons. The Burlington lift bridge, in addition to the Skyway bridge has thousands of pigeons, and we have watched the adult peregrines at the bridge over the years “shopping” for pigeons amongst the steel girders of the two bridges.
At one point, we observed the adult peregrines actually hovering outside of the large hole openings of the bridges steel girder undercarriage, (going from hole to hole like shopping down the ails in a supermarket), then diving into the holes, reappearing with young pigeon squabs. In addition, we have long observed both adults working/ hunting in the steel undercarriages of both of the bridges rousting out the pigeons.
Truss has learned this from her mother at the Burlington nest site, and obviously teaching some of these same things to Courtney. It looks like “pigeon” will remain a big part of Courtney’s diet, and something that she will likely teach her own hatchlings should she survive to adulthood and raise her own family.
0515-Arrived @ Courthouse, all quiet.
0530- Heard Courtney vocalizing, and found her @ North end of Nest, she was also attended by an Adult (Female??) On the top roof.
0545- Mom in w/food, Courtney grabbed it, Mom made a low stoop about the height of Building to East of Courthouse (ServiceOntario).
0600-Courtney finished food and back up on Southeast Corner of Middle Ledge.
0615- Courtney off to try for exact same ledge as yesterday with exactly the same results. The only difference was that she was around 60′ East and with the added angle she did a gentle carom off the Marble and today she landed on the top roof instead of the one she landed on yesterday.
0630-Mom chases a pigeon and either tags it or it hit the East side of the Courthouse and followed it down to a lower level roof. She has been back there a second time & I haven’t seen her remove it, so I would call it a stash. Tivo arrived and I heard some more detail of Courtney’s escapades last evening.
0645-Mom up South East Corner of Middle Ledge, ( Vocalizations loosely Translated “Aw not Again, were did she go”. She then grabbed the remainder of the pigeon Courtney had for Breakfast and took it down to Her. After feeding for 5-10 minutes Courtney lay down flat for a nap, The two feedings must of made her “very sleepy”. I don’t know what Dad’s excuse was but even he was napping on & off.
0745- Things pretty static, all 3 falcons visible on East side of Courthouse. Dad occasionally stooping to clear pigeons around East Entrance or flying over Courtney to keep her alert.
0805-Mom finally chased Dad, she seems fairly adamant that “It’s no excuse to not have the “Honey Do” list continued on with even though it’s Saturday and he just wants to “chill” and work on his Tan.
0845-Courtney back eating some left over Pigeon.
0900-Courtney active, finally flew Down to Lower Roof (same place she spent most of yesterday). She looked like she was getting a good dose of sun, so she was looking for shade. Mom & Dad still in same positions.
1050- Courtney in same position, Mom finally picked up pigeon and transported w/some difficulty to Northwest Corner, ate some and the flew back to East side of Courthouse. She flew saw the Male resting and flew up and screamed @ him. Reading his beak I would say the reply was “Whatever” flew 50′ or so and when she disappeared he flew back & went to sleep.
1055- Just saw the funniest ever, 2 pigeons flew into land on the metal Flashing in the area where I suspect Courtney is. What I saw brought a new meaning to the Term “Touch & Go”. They no sooner touched that Flashing then they did the quickest 180 degree Turn I’ve ever seen.
1115- Dad got busted, Mom rousted the Two pigeons mentioned above and then busted Dad for resting.
1130- Dad moved around to Northeast Corner of Courthouse.
1200- Dad back, Mom in same place, no sign of Courtney.
1230- Dad only one visible, did a walk about, no sign of Mom or Courtney.
1300- Brief glimpse of Courtney up & flapping, 1st Time since 0900 (4 Hrs).
1400- Courtney up again. Mom very vocal.
1445- Things settling down. Courtney back out of sight.
1500- Mom agitated, at one point she chased off the pigeons near Courtney and in doing so passed by me @ head height no more than 6-8 feet away and I would guesstimate around 100 Mph.
1600-Courtney appears on Ramp that leads from rooftop above toward courthouse entrance. Very interesting watching a juvenile navigate an angled surface, she almost slipped off when turning.
1615-Mom made one attempt to lure Courtney off with Food, with no luck
1645-Evening Watch crew in, filled them in with Day’s happenings and headed home.
Thanx Bruce
Sent from my BlackBerry device on the Rogers Wireless Network
Yellow Pages
Stopped in at 12 noon. Heard one screaming while in the car. Young female soared right by me - see attached photo. Male joined her in flight. Both headed to the photo buiding and dissappeared. Total quiet within 5 min. I stopped on my way home from shopping 5:00pm to see the male with the yellow band sitting right on top of the yellow pages screaming. So all 3 were accounted for. No sign of any adults.
Friday July 22nd - 2011 - Afernoon and evening fledge watch report:
Despite the neat and humidity and the short cooling affects of the rain, Courtney was not too pleased at all about getting wet and she spent a lot of time on the Library roof of the courthouse aggressively trying to shake off the rain.
By 5pm, she did one last big roust -(big shake) and it would be her downfall - literally! As she puffed up and rousted, she lost her balance and tumbled off the leading edge of the roof. Before she realized what had happened, she was airborne!!
With a gusty west wind at her back, she was blown south east, and struggled to hold her altitude, and flew south east over the parking lot gaining a little altitude with the tail winds behind her. She ended up landing on a roof top in the very place that Winston (one of the fledge watchers) actually works.
For the next several hours, Courtney spent her time on the roof top meeting some of the other - not so nice local avian inhabitants! I can tell you that she gained some very important and valuable life skills and lessons during her brief visit!
First she was attacked by the resident adult Kestrels, who mercilessly dived bombed and stooped her on several different sorties.
Then there was the small roving horde of gulls that took several runs at her while she was on the roof.
Throughout this same time period, both of her parents watched from a far with only a casual interest of the ongoing events from their roosting spots on the Courthouse, and didn’t seem to shed much concern at all much to the dismay of Courtney.
Poor little Courtney was although very not very happy about this situation, and was observed on several occasion frantically running around the rooftop to avoid her new “not so nice less accommodating feathered neighbours”.
Around 6ish in the PM, we were most surprised and delighted to have Bill and Sue show up from Burlington to join us in the fledge watch thank goodness they stayed into the darkness to close of the watch for the day.
Shortly after Bill and Sue arrived, Truss, (the resident adult female) flew in with a huge white pigeon, landing on one of the courthouse upper ledges, and proceeded to pluck and prepare it. Over the next 20 minutes, the courthouse courtyard sky above the main entrance was filled with hundreds of white feathers. It looked like a mini snow storm as the feathers filled the air and floated down to the sidewalk.
Eventually, Truss made three to four overhead flights and several “touch and go’s” with food in hand out to Courtney’s position on the rooftop, each time flying back to the courthouse roof in an effort to encourage Courtney to take flight and return back to the courthouse. While Courtney was certainly motivated (and hungry), she spent most of the time running around chasing mom on the rooftop, screaming at the top of lungs. Truss finally gave up and returned to roost on the courthouse ledges with the food package in hand.
Shortly after these events, a far more intimidating and dangerous avian neighbours showed up to harass poor little Courtney! A small family of crows took a serious run at Courtney on the roof. In seconds during this event, we observed one of Courtney’s parents (believed to be Truss), was suddenly in the mix as Courtney was forced into flight by the crow attacks. The crows were quickly dispatched by the adult peregrine, (very quickly indeed), and Courtney was escorted in the air by one of her parents,,, almost corralled, as she flapped frantically while struggling to hold her altitude.
Both Courtney and parent flew back north west around and finally over the courthouse parking lot, where Courtney ended up making a terrible (but never the less successful) landing back on the courthouse library rooftop. While she did try and make it to the upper elevation just above the rooftop where she fell off earlier, she once again she came up short in her height and approach - (as she simply ran out of breath and energy), and hit the face of the wall and dropped down on the lower roof elevation like a bomb that had just been dropped out of an air-plane. Moments later, she emerged from the centre of the roof top looking no worse for ware. Another learning experience!
Again, Truss made several airborne fly-overs and quick touch-and-go’s with food in hand in an attempt to coax and tease Courtney back into the air to gain more altitude and a higher ledge elevation, but is was simply not to be. Finally, Truss finally give in, and eventually landed on Courtney’s roof top location and gave her s small bit of the white pigeon that she had been flying around with for all of this teasing and coaxing.
By 8:30pm, and with heavy overcast and darkening skies, we believed that all of the excitement was finished for the day. Both adults had moved to their evening roosts, and Courtney seemed to settle in for the night. Light was fading, and darkness was settling in.
Well, a quiet relaxing evening to end the days fledge watch was not to be!!
At 8:45pm, Truss make one last fly over Courtney and she flew around the south end of the courthouse library roof and disappeared from our view around the west side. Suddenly, without any indication, Courtney bolted into the air from her roof top position and flew around the south end of the courthouse out of our view - in the same direction that her mom had moments ago flown,, BUT with no where near the same altitude or speed!
We toooo bolted, running across the court parking lot to the south and them around to the west out to Hwy #10 / Hurontario street where she had hooked around to.
After several minutes searching the upper west site courthouse roof and ledge elevations, (we did find Truss roosting on an upper ledge elevation on the west site of the courthouse overlooking Hurontario St),,, Courtney was no where to be found.
A mad panic scan of the trees, lawn area and the bushes on the west side of the entire courthouse property was completed with no indication of Courtney.
Finally, in desperation, we then focused out attention and scanned the west side property and parking lots of Hurontario Street, and low and behold, Courtney was located standing on the roof top of an unmarked Peel police car in the darkened parking lot of the police station.
We all rushed into action, Bill and Sue back to the courthouse to get the rescue carrier, one to get a rescue towel, two into th police station to alert the police what we were planning to do, and one to alert George - (courthouse security).
Now all assembled in the darkened police parking lot, we were able to distract Courtney long enough to allow one of us to slip in being her and get a jacket over top of her and capture her up from the roof top of the police car. Successes, she’s in the bag as we say, safe and sound!!
Ater her rescue, Courtney was taken into the Peel police station to briefly show her to the desk staff who had assisted us out in their parking lot with the rescue, and then back to the courthouse where she was examined for injuries and later released back to the upper east ledge on the Brampton courthouse - (the same elevation where we had released her three days ago when she was rescued from the ground).
A huge thank you to all involved, as without everyone’s help, this evenings events could have ended up with quite a different outcome, one that may not have worked out so well!!
Attached photos taken by Winston who was on the watch with us during the earlier events when Courtney was beiing “entertained” by the other avian neighbours.
Stay tuned………….
Friday July 22nd - 2011 - Pm watch report:
On my way home from the Brampton Fledge Watch I spent some time at the Don Mills nest site.
As I arrived I faintly heard Harley calling from what sounded like the West side of Harlequin. After gearing up, I walked around the rear & West side of Harlequin and the same for the Nest Building. As I came between 220 & 240, Harley came in from the West, missed a landing but landed OK top of the North side. The way she was screaming I knew there was an adult around and sure enough Kendall was on the top of the West side of Harlequin.
Harley, chased Dad a couple of more times until he finally flew over to the “Thales” building, leaving Harley on the Southwest corner of Harlequin . Having not seen Quest as of yet, I started to check the surrounding building especially the Westin Hotel, a favourite of the adults. The usual side they’re on is the East side, but this evening I found Quest on the West side. I checked her out w/ my Bins but she was facing me but I was unable to see her PPT.
Thanx Bruce
Sent from my BlackBerry device on the Rogers Wireless Network
Friday July 22nd - 2011 afternoon and evening report.
Bruce reports:
0545 Hrs- Arrived on site, Both Male & female in attendance. Courtney popped up a few minutes later.
0615- Female disappears, but male still in attendance. Went to Coffee shop for some water and saw Female on Northwest Antenna of Court House.
0645- Saw both Male & Female do some “Flight Invitations” by crisscrossing over Courtney. Also met Tovio, and caught up on some of the happenings around the site since I had done the initial Observations & ID’s. At this time also saw Dad & a juvie American Kestrel (AK) in a Half Hearted Air Battle. Dad really wasn’t into it and broke it off around the Service Ontario Building.
0730- Observed 1st Feeding by Female, (Small Package).
0745- Male & Female with an In Air Transfer of a Food Package
0815- Female into ledge w/Courtney, pretty sure left Food Package.
0830- Took a quick break, both adults absent. Courtney out of sight.
0900- Contacted by an Inside Watcher-she confirmed Where Cortney was.
0915- Courtney woke up, was a little farther to the East than I had thought. She made her way to West end of ledge.
0920- Courtney attempted to fly ti SouthEast Corner @ the same level. She just about made it, however she didn’t manage to get her second foot on and llost her balance, and slid face first 40 or so feet down the Wall. After heading South and not seeing I headed East towards a little Hillock just East of the East Building. About halfway there I saw her (Typical Female, looking at herself in the mirrored glass) @ about the same time one of the Office watchers came down & pointed out where she was.
0940- Courtney came out to East end briefly but then headed back into the shade.
1100- Noticed Male had returned to his position on lower roof ledge South of the Courthouse entrance. Looks over & can’t find Courtney @ original preflight ledge. Am pretty sure won’t see Courtney if she Is tucked up in corner in the shade.
1115- Female flys in & joins Male, both vocalize & male flys to original ledge. Some Vocalization, and am pretty sure Male would be able to see Courtney. He flew directly over where I think she is and headed South coming back about 10 minutes later to the SouthWest corner. Female stayed on above Roof.
1400- Situation pretty much the same until this time when AK came in after the Female & spent about 10-15 min Dive Bombing her silly.
1630-Situation pretty much the same until this time, except when Courtney had a couple of Friends (Pigeons) drop down to her level to visit her and the pesky bug that kept bothering her.
1700- Relieved by Pm watch crew.
Sent from my BlackBerry device on the Rogers Wireless Network
Postmaster update:
In an effort to explain today’s events with so much that has happened, I’m going to have complete the report in several updates. There are many loads of photos and observations stil to come in.
Further details and photos to follow, stay tuned……
Friday July 22nd - 2011 - 9:30AM Fledge watch update:
Bruce reports this morning from the Brampton courthouse fledge watch that baby Courtney has made her first real flight attempt despite the heat and humidity and while unsuccessful of any great feats of flight and only about 30 feet or so from where she had been, she has managed to stay off the ground this time and has made it to yet another ledge on the south east side of the Brampton courthouse.
While the heat and humidity is not as debilitating as yesterday, (it’s only 34 degrees Celsius with a Humid X feeling like 38 degrees) OR equivalent to 93.2 degrees Fahrenheit in the shade, its still toooo hot!!!
We’re told that we should have some cloudy periods today that should prevent the sun from heating up the concrete and road tar from bubbling up again today. No more melted tires!!
Stay tuned………..