Canadian Peregrine Foundation

Latest From Canada Square

January 30, 2012 - Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton

Frank Butson Reports:

Latest report for the Canada Square peregrines, Jan 30th 2012.
Lyn Reports:
I was out and about and went south across Eglinton Ave and checked for the peregrines - not a feather to be seen.
I then went on a couple of errands north of Eglinton Ave and when I was coming back down Yonge street I saw one of the peregrines all fluffed up and sitting on the railing, north east corner, one floor below the nest level on Canada Square. I looked for and found the mate sitting on the highest *window upright*, on the east face of the Heart and Stroke (H & S) building. I had some business in a bank and endured the long line up. When I came out the bird from Canada Square had gone but the one on H & S was still there. I carefully scanned the top of the H & S building and saw the *missing* peregrine tucking into a late lunch. The mate just sat on the perch it was on and was all fluffed up not even bothering the bird who was eating.
Unfortuntely, I of course was out without binoculars. Because it was such a grey day I was unable to get colour on either of the peregrines. Nor was I able to get a size difference as both of them were fluffed against the wind and cool air.

Cheers
Lyn

King St Pair in the Area

January 29, 2012 - Toronto - King Street

Tracy Simpson Reports:

After visitng the Holcim site, Frank and I went down to King St to check in on Erin and her mate.  The male has yet to show us who he is but not for lack of us trying.  Erin was sitting on the retaining wall above the nest ledge and we didn’t have a sight on the male.  She took off after a few minutes and we decided to get a slice of pizza.  Looking out the window as we ate, in flies the male!  Gulp goes the food and we grab our gear for a look.  He drops down into what Linda told me is called “the shoulder” on the northeast corner of the building and emerges a good half hour later all messy.  He had obviously stashed lunch up there.  He sat for some time, even through a quick snowfall that he didn’t like, before taking off to go visit his lady.  She was on the Dundee building digesting her own large crop.  He came back and landed on the top of 20 Toronto St. where I was able to get the scope on him.  In the failing light, I was only able to get one positive look as he took off.  This male has a solid black Canadian band on his right leg.  We’ll be back to try again on a nice sunny day to try and definatively identify the mate of Erin.

The man of mystery relaxes after a quick snack.

Holcim Pair Hanging Tight

January 29, 2012 - Mississauga - Holcim

Tracy Simpson Reports:

After the weekend we had last weekend, we decided to try our luck again with the Holcim pair.  When we arrived, the female was on one of the buildings right in the centre of the property.  Within a couple of minutes, the starlings that were lounging along the east side took to the air and we looked for a potential culprit.  Next thing we see is the male perched above the female in the same area of the plant.  After a few fairly good looks, I can say for sure that he is a Canadian born and bred boy as his solid black band was clearly visible.  We went down to a local park to check out some of the offshore wildlife, figuring that the pair might move in our absence.  By the time we returned, they were still sitting in the same spot as we left them looking like a pair of gargoyles. 

Peregrine Falcon In St Catherines

January 25, 2012 - International, National and Local News

Frank Butson Reports:

All is Well Here

January 27, 2012 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre

Kathy Reports:

After a few cold days and some wild rain that turned to snow this morning, the sun has come out and it’s spring like again?!  I hadn’t seen the falcons all week as they were likely somewhere warmer and out of the wind.

As soon as the sun came out I ran outside and sure enough both adults were there on the ledge bowing and chupping to each other!

Stormin and Haven Spotted

January 24, 2012 - Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton

Frank Butson Reports:

Lyn Reports:Canada Square Peregrines, Tuesday, January 24 2012.

I was heading south on Yonge street towards the Yonge-Eglinton intersection yesterday, when I saw a peregrine fly east from the intersection over the buildings on the north side of Eglinton Ave east. I hurried down to the intersection but missed it over the building. I stood on the corner staring along Eglinton east and saw three small birds fly across Eglinton, north to south and they were hurrying! Continued watching after they had gone and saw the peregrine giving chase.

  I hung out at the corner a few minutes longer to be rewarded with the sight of a peregrine, carrying lunch, struggling against the wind, trying to land on the south east corner of Rio-Can where it had its meal. A second peregrine was in the air diving on the feeding bird and circling both the Rio-Can and Heart and Stroke buildings as well as flying over the Canada Square building. A brief sighting but the two peregrines are still definitely in the area.

Cheers

Lyn

Peregrines Spotted At Tommy Thompson Park

January 21, 2012 - International, National and Local News

Frank Butson Reports:

A friend posted a few photos on a local birding board, so I contacted him for a story and use of his photos. Colin Marcano has sent us the following photos and report of 2 Peregrine Falcons he saw at Toronto’s Tommy Thompson Park(Leslie Street Spit), on Saturday Jan 21st .  One photo Colin got shows the band 46/Y, black over black which belongs to a Peregrine named Peter who was banded at the Hamilton Sheraton Hotel, in June of 2010.  Peter has been spotted at “the Spit” before . The 2nd Peregrine is a female,who there is no ID on.  Colin told me that he found both Peregrines perched for about 30minutes,before they headed off to the northwest.  Its always great news to get band information and to know Peter has a potential mate is even better.

Careful inspection shows Peter’s band number above.

Other photos by Colin can be seen at www.colinmarcano.com

Gryfalcons In Alberta Canada

- All Reports

Frank Butson Reports:

Recently a friend sent me a few photos a friend of his took. Ron Kube has generously allowed us to use his fantastic photos of Gryfalcons, he has taken between Feb 2010 and Jan 2012, in Alberta, Canada.

This is an adult gray phase Gryfalcon.

Immature Gryfalcon

Thanks to Ron for use of his great photos!

Site Check at Yellow Pages but No One Home

January 22, 2012 - Scarborough - Yellow Pages

Tracy Simpson Reports:

On our way back to the raptor centre, Frank and I stopped in at the Yellow Pages nest site to check in on Linn and Rueben, the resident pair.  We scanned the building and the known roost spots for the pair but no one was visible.  I have often seen Linn, the female, hunting at the buildings just south of the 401 as the pigeon population there is robust and there are several buildings to use as cover for a surprise attack.  We’ll try again in the coming weeks and hope to catch them at home.

A Swimming Coopers Hawk at Whitby Harbour

January 22, 2012 - International, National and Local News

Tracy Simpson Reports:

All of my posts are peregrine related but this is a story that needs to be told.  Frank and Idecided on a day of peregrine site checks with some birding in between and so we stopped in at Whitby harbour for a look-see.  When we got out of the car, we were greeted by a Trumpter swan on the sidewalk which had Frank’s attention while I quickly scanned the water.  I heard a splash, caught some movement and approximately 30 feet from the shore, a dark figure in the water was flailing about as if in distress.  I put up my binoculars to get a good look only to see a female Coopers hawk, latched on to a gull, attempting to swim to shore with its kill. 

I called to Frank and drew his attention to the near drowning hawk.  The hawk continued to try and take the kill to shore but she was soaked, freezing and losing the battle.  She started to sink.  We pieced together that the bird caught the gull by surprise and the momentum and weight of the prey took them both into the water.  I started to try and calculate how deep the water was and the strength of the current as I really considered going in after it.  Just then it let go and burst out of the water just barely making it to the shore.  Thank godness that it did as I was heading into the water and didn’t really want to in the middle of January.  We watched the bird as it sat on a low branch over the water and the bird was actually thinking about going back after the gull as it was now floating towards it.  The bird finally made for shore and after the chill really got to it, the bird flew across the road and into a tree.  By the time we left, the bird was almost completely dry and was resting in the sun.  It would seem that this weekend, Frank and I were destined to see things that either of us would have never believed otherwise!

High and dry is where she plans to stay for the night.  No more swimming in winter!!