July 21, 2011 - Brampton - Courthouse
CPF Postmaster Reports:
July 21st - 2011 - PM fledge watch report
After this mornings brief activity, the rest of the day played out as you might have expected with the extreme heat and humidity (almost 50 degrees Celsius with the humid X). For theos that are still unfamiliar with the Celsius temperature scale, this equates to almost 120 degrees Fahrenheit in the shade,, and there was very little shade!
While the constant west breezes prevailed throughout most of the day and early evening, we all know now what it would be like being in a convection oven set at 120 degrees Fahrenheit for 12 hours! The day could be best described as brutal surrounded by all that hot concrete radiating all of the heat back at us!!!
Both resident adults were absent from our view most of the day, hiding out from the blistering sun in shady out of the direct sunlight places around the courthouse and Baby Courtney was for the most parts very in-active as well, with very little movement on the same ledge that she has been on for the last two days since she was rescued from the ground. She did play some “hide & seek” trying to avoid the odd watchers from behind the windows of her ledge until the great folks at this level closed their blinds to avoid scaring her. The court folks have been great!!
The parents did in fact feed her in the early morning, and brought in a small food offering later in the day. Around 5:30 pm, both parents did show up and spend several hours on the upper ledge just across from Courtney, with Truss, (the resident adult female) calling to Courtney in an effort to motivate her to fly over to “their ledge” to the left of the courthouse mail entrances.
Courtney did a little ledge running and some flapping during this early evening period, (and lots of screaming at the her parents in typical juvenile fashion), but for the most parts, she spent most of the day lounging around the ledge, laying down spread eagle, wings flat out and legs stretched out on the ledge in an effort to cool herself down.
By 9:30 PM, both adults had flown off out of our view, and Baby Courtney had once again laid down on the rear back portion of the nest ledge and out of our view for the night.
I’ve posted some great photo shots courtesy of Winston, one of the fledge watch crew that he was able to snap throughout the day and early evening. Both adults in flight, and Baby Courtney on the ledge. There is another shot of Baby Courtney on the ledge with showing a good view of her head, with the allot of white down feathers and fluff still very apparent. Talk about a Mohawk haircut 
By 10pm, we departed for the evening.
Stay tuned……..
Posted on July 22, 2011 11:31 am
July 21, 2011 - Toronto - Sheraton Centre
CPF Postmaster Reports:
July 21st - 2011 - 10:30 PM
While a little eerie looking with the glowing eyes, the Toronto Sheraton nest camera is still telling a story and producing a live updated image throughout both the day and night.
Meg happened to catch some night shots and writes:
Happened to take a peek at the Sheraton Centre webcam last night and caught one of the adult falcons relaxing on the nest ledge. Couldn’t see the bands to confirm whether it was the male or the female. Screen captures attached.
Meg Langley Grainger
Posted on July 22, 2011 10:36 am
July 22, 2011 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre
Kathy Reports:
Angel was visible this morning hanging out in the shade and sadly I could hear that a juvie was back and crying for food. He must have cried for 15 minutes straight. I tried to locate him but he must have been on one of the roof tops as no other falcon was visible. After the overwhelming heat of the past several days, it’s disheartening to hear one of them back home and begging for food like that. Hopefully he succeeds in catching himself some food soon as Angel didn’t seem swayed by his pleas.
2:20 pm update: Was just outside for about 15 minutes as I heard a juvie crying again. One of the boys is on the ADP sign and crying on and off but no parent is in sight that I could see anywhere. I watched him for a bit and came back and got my binoculars to check on him. I couldnt’ see a bulging crop on him but he looks healthy from my vantage point. He has his wings down to cool off which is understandable given it’s another brutal day out there. I will check on him again before I leave just to ensure he’s okay but the fact that’s he so high up and coud land on that difficult space is a good sign.
Maybe he’s just complaining about the heat
5:25 Update: When I left the office, our little juvie was dozing on the the ADP sign and Angel was next to the nestbox, she seemed relaxed about him being there so I’m encouraged by that and hopefully it’s just the heat that he’s finding challenging. Mom doesn’t seem bothered by him being home and made no attempt to chase him away at all. Expected to start cooling down a bit on Sunday.
Posted on July 22, 2011 10:09 am
July 21, 2011 - Toronto - Sheraton Centre
CPF Postmaster Reports:
July 21st - 2011
Good afternoon
What a treat to log in and see Rhea Mae visiting the nest ledge this morning! Looks like she just had a tasty meal!
All the best-Eileen
Posted on July 22, 2011 9:51 am
July 21, 2011 - Port Colborne - ADM Mill
Doug Garbutt Reports:
This morning it was already 23 degrees at 6:00am when I arrived at work on my bicycle. You would not know it though as the strong winds off Lake Erie made it not feel so bad. The falcons took advantage of the winds to kite & do a little talon tagging. There were 3 togeather but with them up so high, from my viewpoint I couldn’t positively I.D. if there were 2 juvies & 1 adult or 2 adults & 1 juvie. It sure looked & sounded like there were 2 juvies. I also saw 1 juvie back in the nest box today, a rare sight indeed. Couldn’t see the coloured tape on the USFW band but I’m pretty confident that it was Olivia. To watch these birds fly is simply amazing.
Posted on July 21, 2011 9:18 pm
July 21, 2011 - Toronto - Sheraton Centre
Linda Woods Reports:
A surprise this morning to see a juvenile on the nest ledge this morning. It’s Sunshine, the juvenile!
We already have too much sunshine today with the record breaking heat and humidity. Today Toronto reach 38 degrees C. by 2p.m. and the day is not over, with the humidity it felt more like 49 degrees C. We have not had any rain for almost 23 days, so there are no puddles for the peregrines to stomp around in for cooling.
Sunshine remained on the nest ledge hunkered in the far corner in the shade. I hope there was a breeze up there. She was still there well into the afternoon.
Posted on July 21, 2011 7:17 pm
July 21, 2011 - Brampton - Courthouse
Mark Nash Reports:
Thursday July 21st - 2011 - AM Fledge watch update:
Early this morning, Toivo reports that baby Courtney was doing allot more flapping and getting the wing exercise and muscle building that she needs to prepare her for her first flights, but sadly, this is not the day to do this with the heat alerts and debilitating humidity and heat.
We have already received many telephone calls and e-mail reports of Baby Courtney laying down flat on her belly with her wings stretched out looking very much like she is in serious distress.
While this is in part correct, she is not injured and this behaviour is quite normal. During the extreme heat and humidity, one of the only few ways for a non-flighted juvenile peregrine to cool itself down, is to lie flat down on it belly and scratch there wings out. The gravel and dirt substrate on the ledge actually helps cool down their body temperature, and with their wings spread out, this increases the cooling processes to help them bring down their core temperature.
While the adults have the option of flying off into a shady spot, and/or fly off to find pools of water on the various surrounding roof tops, the un-flighted juveniles don’t have this option, so they do the next best thing in an effort to cool themselves down.
On yet another note, we are asking that all occupants of the office suites that are directly behind Courtney’s position to close their blinds so that this human activity doesn’t further stress her out and further raise her body temperature. While she is an urban produced peregrine and will soon learn that people behind windows looking at her presents no threat or danger and she will eventually become at ease with this activity, she is still learning. Her stress is compounded with this extreme heat and humidity and the last thing that we would want to happen is to scare her off the ledge again given that she is not able to fly yet.
We are on site, and will be monitoring the situation closely.
It appears that we will all get a break from these temps later this evening and tomorrow.
Stay tuned………..
Posted on July 21, 2011 11:22 am
July 20, 2011 - Brampton - Courthouse
Mark Nash Reports:
Wednesday July 20th - 2011
Today’s watch for the most parts was very uneventful with little Courtney spending much of her time on the same ledge that she was released back to the night before. We believe that she didn’t actually “fledge” from the nest ledge given that she is still a little too young and still really not able to fly as yet.
Her activity - (or lack there of) might confirm this, as she did very little flapping today and spent most of her day trying to hide out from the onlookers behind the windows that came to get a view of her from inside the building.
The heat and humidity would be best described as brutal today with absolutely no relief from the blazing sun. Both of the adults were very inactive today as well, as it was obvious that they too are having some challenges with the high humidity. Mom did feed Courtney today later in the day around 5pm.
It wasn’t until the usual “falcon follies” time - (after 8pm) when all of the activity usually starts,, around 8:30 pm, Truss - (the resident adult female) went after a low flying pigeon driving it to the ground, and proceeded to catch it literally “on the ground” at the south end of the courthouse grounds close to the south wall. Truss struggled to get altitude while carrying the huge pigeon (still very much alive) while in her clutches. She flew only several feet above the ground around the east side of the courthouse directly in front of our position to the north over the Swiss Chalet and had to circle around back around the courthouse building in an effort to gain altitude.
It happened so fast, and so spectacular, (and so close), none of us grabbed our cameras as we were jockeying for position just to see the event! Finally, Winston was able to think quickly as Truss landed on the east courthouse ledge and was able to snap a quick photo despite the poor lighting conditions.
At one point, it looked like Truss was not going to make it with he heavy package, but refused to let it go!! At another point, we thought that she was going to be hit by cars as she was so low over the busy roadway to the north of the courthouse. She finally hooked around the courthouse building again, finally gaining some altitude and was able to make it to one of the lower courthouse ledges on the east elevation.
As she landed, the pigeon was flapping frantically while still her clutches, and Truss held it firm while she herself panted and gasped for air after this long flight to reach the ledge. Despite the fact that peregrines have an incredible ability to process air in their lungs, this high humidity causes everyone challenges,, including the peregrines!
After several minutes of trying to catch her breath, Truss finally put the pigeon out of its misery and proceeded to pluck and prepare it. While she did take a few mouthfuls of the pigeon for herself, she did not eat it, AND did not bring any of it to Courtney!!
Baby Courtney watched the entire event and happening from her elevated position on the courthouse ledge, but made no attempt to call out or vocalize to mom, which is very odd indeed!
After the pigeon was plucked and prepared, Truss flew off - without the pigeon-,, and landed on the upper courthouse roof directly above Courtney and roosted for about ten minutes or so. Truss then flew off to the south east upper courthouse roof (still in direct eye sight of the Courtney) and stayed there until darkness fell. For the most parts, baby Courtney remained very in-active and throughout the entire day, and by 9:30pm she had disappeared from our view, moving back further onto the ledge and settled in for the night.
Satisfied that everyone was settled down for the evening, we closed the fledge watch down for the evening and departed around 10:30pm.
It is also worth noting that Milton was not seen for the most parts throughout the day.
Also, I have added some of the photos that were taken yesterday during the physical examination of Courtney before she was released back to the ledge. It is very important that a physical examination be done to ensure that Courtney had not sustained any brakes or fractures before she is released back to the upper ledges. She checked out just fine, with allot of “attitude”and very feisty! Just what we wanted so see!!
Posted on July 21, 2011 9:58 am
July 20, 2011 - Scarborough - Yellow Pages
Ann Brokelman Reports:
I arrived at the Yellow Pages building at 6:00pm to see Linn sitting on the NE corner and one juvenile eating on the S centre side.
Within 15 minutes the activity started. One male was hovering on the top of the building, the female joined in. They played catch me if you can, talon touching, the speed was incredible. Stooping at each other, turning right, then left then straight down. For appr 10 minutes the two juveniles played around the building. They then moved to the building on the south side (beyond the parking lot), I was surprised to see both of them sitting on the light stand right above me. It was the female (red tag) and Jet. Well they looked at me but didn’t go anywhere. Suddenly the 3rd male peregrine juvenile joined them and went on the attack. That got all three up and playing over the parking lot and then toward the 401. They were over the highway for a good 3 minutes chasing, diving, playing. They then moved to the building to the east of the photo lab and were seen diving at each other and landing on the top of the building. They were still having a heck of a good time when I had to leave. I stopped in after going to a meeting 8:15pm and no sign of them.
I tell you that is what you call amazing, fantastic and totally wild. You need to go and watch this behaviour as it is really too hard to describe but well worth the drive to Scarborough. I was so busy watching the peregrines I almost stepped on a ground hog.
Posted on July 20, 2011 9:03 pm
July 20, 2011 - Brampton - Courthouse
Mark Nash Reports:
Wednesday July 20th - AM fledge watch report:
I received an update this morning from Toivo from the Brampton fledge watch that Courtney is doing well and still on the upper court house ledge where she was released last night. Truss, (the resident female parent), was roosting one ledge level above Courtney - (eating) and was in attendance and watching closely over her. Despite Courtney’s screaming at Truss to convince mom to give her food, (and mom did not give in), Courtney is doing just fine.
Remember that the adults are starting to wean Courtney to both help her loose some of her excessive weight and the baby fat, and also ti encourage her to start taking her first flights.
There is much to teach her before the young peregrines get the urge to migrate in September. She like most all peregrine juveniles, will migrate south in the early fall, and will be on their own without their parents guidance or protection.
Stay tuned…………
Posted on July 20, 2011 2:50 pm
