October 28, 2011 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre
Tracy Simpson Reports:
Frank and I arrived at the Sun Life building at approximately 3:00pm today to find Angel sitting on the nest building enjoying the full sun of the afternoon. She was roosting on the southern most corner, taking her time preening her feathers and digesting the rather large crop that was visible. We looked for Jack but there was no sign of him in the area. Kathy joined us shortly after we arrived and shared her wonderful observations from yesterday of Jack and Angel in some amazing flights together. This time of year it is so nice to see the adults, without kids in tow, enjoying the spring like feeling in the air and reconfirming their commitment to each other.
Posted on October 28, 2011 9:08 pm
October 27, 2011 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre
Kathy Reports:
Seems something is in the air here these days too. Today I went out for a break and heard two birds making happy sounds, they sounded like the juvenile falcons when they play so I looked up and to my surprise it was our resident pair. They were playing tag and doing some cool flying maneuvers together.
At one point, it was almost as if they were one bird as they covered each other and flew around together doing loops..it was very cool to watch. They were making sounds I can’t really describe, it wasn’t the usual echupping sequences I hear between them..it sounded almost like happy chirpping…silly birds 
Posted on October 27, 2011 5:02 pm
October 26, 2011 - Toronto - Don Mills
Mark Nash Reports:
A big thank you to Margaret who has been watching the activities of Q & K very closely for us over the past week. For a third straight day this week, (Monday, Tuesday and today,, Wednesday), both Quest and Kendal have been very active both on the nest ledge, but also inside the nest box itself!!
Many photos and observations have been streaming in over the past three days to let us know that it is very obvious that the pair approve of their net nest box. A huge thank you to Donna Hayes for her personal support in helping us with the funding to do the nest box modifications and to get the get nest box up to the nest ledge.
It would almost appear that Kendal is trying to convince Quest that “he made the nest box himself” - “just for her”!! Funny boy!!
A big thank you to the management staff and security’s support at 220 Duncan Mill Rd. in allowing us permissions and access to get the new nest box in, and a HUGE thank-you to Solar Window washing management and staff for their support in getting the old nest tray out, and the new nest box in on a weekend!!
We also want to thank the great folks at the Genesee Valley Audubon Society for their donation of the nest box itself!! An interesting history behind this nest box, as it was originally made by them - for the CPF - way back in 2002 in memory of Pounce-Kingsley and Victoria from the Toronto downtown 18 King street nest site, and sent to the CPF.
Sadly, despite our best efforts to get the nest box installed in many different locations over the years, it sat in our inventory awaiting an ideal home. With some modifications to conform to the height and depth of the Don Mills nest ledge, and some appropriate coloured stain to blend into the building colour,,, it was and is perfect!!!
As with any nest site modification, the final celebrations are always left until the peregrines give us their sign of approval. Well, we can now officially celebrate, as it would appear that Quest and Kendal approve of their new digs indeed!! For the past three days, they have been hard pressed to get out of it!! As I type this observation report, I am watching the live video image and can still one of the peregrines roosting on the upper concrete stub to the right of the nest ledge / nest box,, keeping a very close eye on the new nest box.
A final comment. In addition to the new nest box obvious benefits, it also allows the office occupants behind the nest ledge to open up their blinds and let the sun light in, knowing that they will not be disturbing or causing the peregrines any stress during the egg laying, incubating and brooding period nest season. The new nest box has walls and a roof that will allow Quest and Kendal a stress free “go-round” while egg laying, egg incubation and early brooding of their young from human disturbances during these critical periods.
A big thank you to the great office staff and owners that kept their blinds closed / down this past season that allowed Quest and Kendal’s sucesses.
Posted on October 26, 2011 4:31 pm
October 25, 2011 - Toronto - Sheraton Centre
CPF Postmaster Reports:
We had a very nice visit this afternoon with Rhea Mae and Tiago. They were on the ledge for quite a while with a bit of close bonding!
Nice to see!!
Regards-Eileen
Posted on October 26, 2011 3:28 pm
October 24, 2011 - Toronto - Don Mills
Frank Butson Reports:
Thanks to the camera at Harelquin Enterprises,we caught both Quest and Kendal at,in and around their new nestbox. This is very significant,as this is the first time this has been observed. This should ensure that Quest and Kendal stay at the site and enjoy the benefits of their new digs.
Posted on October 24, 2011 5:28 pm
October 17, 2011 - Brampton - Courthouse
Tracy Simpson Reports:
I was in Brampton on Monday of this week delivering our Project School Visit and took my lunch at the Brampton Courthouse to look for one of our newest families. I was pleased to find both Truss and Milton on the east side of the courthouse staying out of the blustery winds that we have been experiencing over the past few days. Although there was no sign of Courtney, that is to be expected as juveniles are now moving through to the south as reported to me by Frank and Ann from their hawk watch site. Both adults were perched and preening the entire time I was there; Truss on the railing by the access door to the ledge and Milton on the northern corner of the same ledge. I look forward to seeing more of these two as I continue to visit Brampton this week.
Posted on October 19, 2011 12:23 am
October 19, 2011 - Toronto - Don Mills
Tracy Simpson Reports:
This past Sunday, a great team of folks gathered together at the 220 Duncan Mill Road nest site to install a new nest box for Quest and Kendal!! As we organized our equipment and efforts, we looked for the adults on the surrounding buildings and noticed that both of them were not in the area. While Marion and Frank manned the camera in the Harlequin offices across the street, Mark, Bruce and I carried the new box over to the nest building where we joined the two awesome gentlemen from the Solar Window Washing company. A quick trip upstairs to the roof level and in no time we were tied off and ready to go!!
The removal of the old tray and installation of the new box, complete with roof, landing platform and fresh gravel, could not have gone any smoother!! For this successful event we have so many people to thank. Paul Melady at Berkley Property Management Inc., the Board of Directors of MTCC 918 and the staff that manage the building have been wonderful supporters, allowing us access to their building and roof to make the exchange. Donna Hayes, Patricia Cake and all of the amazing staff at Harlequin Enterprises Ltd. for graciously allowing us access to their suites to monitor the installation and take photographs ( they are coming very soon!! ). The two awesome gentlemen from Solar Window Washing that did what would be for me impossible; headed over the edge and down to the nest ledge for the tray / box swap out. Last but never least, the volunteers with the CPF that took the pictures, carried the gear, built the box and hauled it up the stairs; Marion, Mark, Bruce and Frank!!
It would seem that the efforts that everyone has made is beginning to now pay off. Today both Quest and Kendal attended the site and were sitting on the concrete pieces that extend from the building; Kendal above and Quest level with the nest ledge. They sat for over an hour on these perches that were one pillar to the right of the new nest box. Neither bird showed any concern about the change in scenery as they both sat preening the day away. After about an hour, one of the adults decided it was time to check this new house out and landed on the nest ledge no more than a foot or two away from their new home. We believe that it was Kendal that took this first tentative step towards “home ownership” and sat looking over the new digs!! It will be interesting to see which of the pair will enter the box first as Quest was born and raised in a box in Rochester, New York and at one time was squabbling with other females at other nest sites for THEIR box!! We have no doubt that Quest and Kendal will take on to and enjoy their new home and hopefully raise many a family in it. Congratulations Quest and Kendal on the new upgrade!!
Posted on October 19, 2011 12:17 am
October 15, 2011 - Etobicoke - William Osler
Tracy Simpson Reports:
Today we had lunch with “The Girls” and as they were heading back home, they wanted to stop in and visit peregrines on their way. We gave them directions to the William Osler Hospital site and after all of the tales we’ve shared with them about this fabulous pair, they wanted to see them for themselves. They report:
When they arrived on site, both O’Connor and Hurricane were on the east facing “H” sign of the hospital, each on a corner facing one another. The two of them sat in the lee of the winds enjoying an evening roost without the kids. Carol remarked on how sweet and pretty O’Connor looked up there with her dapper male, Hurricane. Needless to say, I have insisted they come back for the 2012 Fledge Watch to see this pair in action and witness what wonderful peregrine parents they are!!
The three young have been away from the nest site for quite some time, fine tuning their skills in preparation for their great flight south. As Frank has reported to me from his hawk watch, many peregrines are on their way and I suspect that Wind, Rain and Storm have headed towards the border by now. We wish them a good journey and look forward to seeing them possibly raising families of their own someday!
Posted on October 15, 2011 7:08 pm
October 15, 2011 - Mississauga - Executive Centre
Tracy Simpson Reports:
After many days and lots of long, hard looks Frank and I have now confirmed, without a doubt, the band number of the resident female at the Mississauga Executive Centre!! This female wears a Black 8 over Red 8 band on her left leg; both top and bottom digit being rotated 90 degrees to the left. Following up on our discovery, we contacted Barbara Loucks of the New York DEC and she identified her conclusively as a having hatched at the Statler Tower building in Buffalo, New York in 2008. We immediately shared the news with Connie Adams, the bander of the chicks that year in Buffalo, and found that although banded, she was not named. As we sat having lunch today with our friends from Rochester that we affectionately refer to as “the girls”, we were remarking how the horizontal 8 was just like a symbol for Infinity; and thus she was named!!
From our documentation, Infinity arrived at the MEC site in spring of 2010 as nesting season was starting. The resident female, Tessie, who was the victor in the battle last year that prompted the fostering of the 3 chicks ( see MEC 2009 for the full story), and an unbanded male were deep in the throes of courtship The two adult females locked talons over several days and Infinity won the site that year. She paired with the unbanded male and produced 4 healthy young; three males and one female. This year, she continues to be the resident female at this site and has again paired with the unbanded male, easily recognized by his paler back and white chest. They were not succesful this year in producing any young from their three eggs but continue to reassert their bond with one another with next year’s nesting season in mind. As more information about this Statler Tower female who we now call Infinity comes in, we will be posting it here so check back soon for all of the details!!
Posted on October 15, 2011 6:36 pm
October 11, 2011 - Windsor - Ambassador Bridge
Dennis Patrick Reports:
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone. Dennis and I went down to the Bridge on Saturday to check on our family of Peregrines. We saw Freddie sitting on the beam. We stayed there for a while hoping to see the other two but nothing. Freddie had a full crop. Then we went to Holiday Beach to see all of the other birds flying over and there we saw a Peregrine flying over not stopping for anything. I watched until it flew out of sight. It was so good to see another Peregrine.
Have a great week.
Heep Looking Up!!!
Gwen & Dennis, Site Co-Ordinators for CPF
Posted on October 11, 2011 10:12 am
