Very hot here in Toronto, one of the young girls has found shade in the nest tray this afternoon.
Yesterday I had the opportunity to stop in at the Yellow Pages nest site to check in on Linn and Rueben and their three little fly boys. When I arrived, I had Paul ( Panagiottis ) on top of the dome of the kitchen being very silly as he was going under and then over one of the beams and kept it up for about 10 minutes as if it was a game. Rueben was on the nest building on the southeast corner watching Paul misbehave. Moments later, another juvie flew up and landed on the Investors Group sign on the south side of the building and he had something with him; a little tidbit. After taking a look through the scope, this was Albus showing off his green tape.
Back on the building, Linn had arrived with food and was busily plucking it on the east side of the nest building. Rueben was calling to her like a juvenile and was chasing her for a tidbit. It was almost a courtship type behaviour and was quite cute. With food now in at the nest building, Paul flew from the kitchen to the very top of the nest building where the parents usually go to get a break from the young ones. Ha!! He made a flawless landing!! Albus was on the southeast corner of the nest building now as well after flying over from the Investors Group sign. What I could not find was Eagan, the little male with red tape. I waited and watched as Linn finished off her meal, not sharing this one, and was now sitting on the uppermost southern granite ledge. Still no Eagan. While at this stage, with him flying very well last week and making excellent landings on and around the nest ledge, he is a strong flighted juvenile. Even so, there is still much trouble these kids can get into as they explore the world outside the nest ledge. Typically, this little tyke certainly loves his naps and may have been already fed and asleep. Given that my time there was brief, just over an hour, and I may have missed his feeding and nap, we will err on the side of caution and be out for site checks this weekend to see where Eagan is hiding.
Thanks to Lyn for her continued monitoring of Stormin, Haven and their family. Posts got behind with the craziness of fledge watching. This catches us up.
Canada Square Peregrine report 20120627
A day of lessons for the fledglings – at least that is how it appeared to me! When I arrived at 12:30pm I saw both fledglings on the Canada Square building. One was on the old nest ledge and the other was in the shade of the fifth wall, southern end at nest level. Simcoe took off west along Eglinton but returned a minute later chasing Haven who circled Rio-Can and Heart and Stroke and went back through the gap between the apartments and the RC building and on to the old nest ledge. Haven flew and Simcoe stood around debating what to do. He soon decided to fly west along Eglinton again and off he went. This time when he returned he was chasing Haven who came in from somewhere south on Duplex over the old TTC garage, over Eglinton and through the gap between the apartments and RC again!! They both disappeared.
It was about this time that Solar woke up, stretched her wings and as Haven flew into the area over the old TTC bus bays Solar went to meet her. Solar was putting as much energy into her flying as her squawking as she chased Haven who had a food parcel!!! Then right in front of my eyes an attempt was made to pass the food parcel to Solar who dropped it. Oh my word!!! I saw this little scrap falling, falling, falling and then Haven swooped round and recovered it, flew up to Solar and said for heaven’s sake grab it! By this time Haven was almost at stalling speed to allow Solar take the food and SHE DID!! Haven flew to the old nest and Solar struggled a bit, flew over Eglinton, circled around Canada Square gaining height and flew onto the roof of Canada Square from the south end. It looked like a hard landing but little Solar was fine as she dragged the food to the edge where she proceeded to eat it!
Simcoe in the meantime had flown in and was on the old nest ledge, then onto the 4th ledge over, squawking his protest at no food. Simcoe sneaked onto the 3rd ledge over and Stormin flew in and sort of bumped him off the nest height onto the lower ledge before flying to RC. Simcoe launched and mom flew into the picture and the chase was on. He chased Haven twice around the RC and H&S Block, through the gap and then he was gone. Stormin flew then and met Haven and the two of them flew high over the Bell building and Solar was still eating! I left for a while at about 1:15pm.
Shortly after my return at 5:30 Simcoe showed off. He flew over the Yonge Eglinton intersection doing short loops and some sort of flip (much like pigeons when chased by peregrines) before landing on RC at the top. When Haven flew in the chase was on and then flew around Canada Square, Rio-Can and Heart and Stroke. Simcoe had had enough and he landed, first, on the north-west corner of Canada Square and then the antenna. He left the antenna and circled Canada Square twice, gaining height before landing on RC at the top near Solar.
Haven made a food drop and a *fight* ensued. one was *winging* the other out of the way. The one who lost flew over the apartment building and landed back on the top ledge. The other fledgling was plucking feathers madly and eating whilst the sibling patiently waited to the side.
I left at 7:38, very proud of my little peregrine!
Lyn
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Canada Square Peregrine report 20120628
I went west along Eglinton before returning to watch the peregrines. At that stage there was a swing stage on the north face of the black building. When I returned a half hour later, there was no-one on the swing stage. I sat and looked for Simcoe and Solar and found both of them huddled together in the shade of the fifth ledge south of the concrete wall on Canada Square. Then I spotted Haven on 2180 Yonge under the TVO sign. I wondered if there was any need to be concerned so called Marion. No need to be alarmed!
Solar became active at 3:30, exercised her wings, walked along the ledge she was on and very sportingly showed me her *no tape* band!! Then she flew all along the west side of Canada Square going north, then east a bit, gaining height and circled back and landed on the Canada Square antenna!
Simcoe too was very sporting and showed me his *yellow tape* before settling down in the shade. He then just dropped off the edge and flew more or less the same route that Solar had taken and also landed on the antenna. He walked towards Solar and then lay down, just his tail was visible. Both of them, in the right light, seem to be developing Haven’s colouring.
Two hours and ten minutes later Solar, (ID’d by size), flew around Canada Square with Haven and then went south and landed on the antenna on 2180 Yonge. A beautiful landing on the second rung down! Shortly after that Solar took off and went south and out of sight.
Simcoe appeared on the Canada Square antenna and appeared to have a little difficulty balancing out in the open as he tilted back and forth a couple of times. He decided to go back where he had been, hidden, and settled down again. Haven made a *recce* flight into the area, down to where the pigeon nests area on the black building she briefly settled on the black building. She then flew across Eglinton through the gap and around RC. Lance spotted her on the west side of RC before flying along Eglinton Ave and settling on the Bell Canada building. She was there but a minute when she launched herself and next thing we knew she was carrying a huge food parcel. She had caught a pigeon in my blink of an eye and flew to the top of the CIBC building at the corner of Yonge and Eglinton. We saw feathers fly!! We think she had something to eat before the fledglings caught up with her. Twenty three minutes later she flew to the top of Rio-Can with a food parcel and proceeded to partake of more of the pigeon. Lance spotted that.
Simcoe flew in a bit later and took the food from Haven who flew off then. A while later Solar flew onto the antenna on Canada Square, squawking madly. As no-one took any notice of her she flew to the top of RC but was not quite high enough to land so she circled back over Canada Square and finally made it to the roof near her brother. This time it was Solar’s turn to wait in the sidelines until her sibling had finished eating.
Haven made a fast entry to the area by going into a tight stoop over the old TTC bus bays, over Duplex and then swooped out of it and circled back over 53 Division and over the apartment building. By this time Simcoe had moved and Solar was tucking into the remains. Eventually she moved to the south-east corner of the roof and sat. Simcoe flew and we saw him atop the wall at the south-east corner above Solar. That was the extent of today’s activity. Caroline left just after eight and I left shortly after that.
It is very encouraging to see people looking to the skies, searching for the peregrines. We are still seeing a number of new people, almost daily, who come up and ask what we are looking at. Their interest is piqued as they drive or walk by and see our *eyes to the sky*!!
Thanks Maggie, Lance and Caroline for your company today.
Lyn
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Canada Square Peregrine report 20120629
I sat outside 53 Division this afternoon for simply ages and no peregrine was in sight. Then, thank goodness Pierre spotted movement on a ledge. Pierre has spent time at Duncan Mills checking on Quest and Kendal and thought he would pass time at this site today.
The peregrine on the ledge was Solar, who gave us a beautiful wing stretch before her hysteria when Stormin made a food drop! My word, the excitement!!! She grabbed the food parcel and ran to the back of the ledge.
Haven flew in and landed on the south face of Rio-Can, top floor. Later on Simcoe flew in and landed on RC. So I did see the whole family today, albeit at different times.
At one point we had three in the air, Stormin, Solar and Simcoe. Stormin and Solar did one talon touch and then she landed on the antenna on top of Canada Square. Simcoe flew in after her and also landed on the antenna. Solar was co-operative and showed her *tapeless band*, just the silver reflected in the light. Simcoe was not so generous and kept his band out of sight.
Haven made quite a few flights today, once the heat of the day had passed. A number of times she came in from behind 53 Division and circled Canada Square or the Yonge-Eglinton intersection or went around the RC and Heart and Stroke building. Simcoe in the mean time had flown from the antenna and temporarily disappeared but he put in another appearance and flew over 2180 Yonge, over Canada Square and landed on top of RC. Solar was still on the antenna, sometimes hidden and sometimes not. Finally she flew and went directly to RC, the south west corner and made it first go, a bit wobbly but the height was fine. Both fledglings were on the RC roof ledge at the point when I left for a break at 6:30pm.
When I returned twenty minutes later I saw only one fledgling on the RC roof and Haven was sitting on the Canada Square roof. Later, I heard squawking from RC and saw a peregrine flying from the south. It circled over Canada Square and then landed on the antenna. Haven flew to the roof of the black building, disappearing from sight and the fledgling on the antenna flew to RC roof. Later on I spotted one of the fledglings, whom I think was Solar (by size), flying over Rio-Can and practising her flying and some kiting! She sort of went backwards when kiting; I guess the breeze took her. It looked a bit odd until she flapped and moved forward again.
A few minutes later Haven circled the area twice and landed on the south east part of the RC roof with a food package. Solar was most excited and flew in and hit the edge of the roof, fluttered, circled back and around and this time made it onto the top of that south east part of the roof. Haven flew off. A bit later Simcoe, on the RC roof looked as if he had something to eat. I saw a few feathers fly, not many. By this time Haven was on the top of the wall on the south west side of RC, resting. Solar finished eating and flew over to her mother and almost knocked her off her perch then both flew off. Solar was high and flew south west-ish over 53 Division and back east until she was back on the south east corner of RC. Little did I know that Haven was back in that spot and when Solar appeared Haven took off with the food parcel and flew to the south west corner of RC. Simcoe made a mad dash for his mom, squawking and wing flapping to get there before Solar. He was successful! Solar flew off, circled Canada Square and the antenna and then flew back to the RC roof to await her turn.
Haven flew to the old nest wall and sat for a few minutes. Her crop was bulging nicely!
When I left at 8:06pm the two fledglings were sitting on the RC roof and Haven was also on RC six floors down from the top.
Lyn
Tonight Janice M and I went to see the falcons. At 5:30 we saw Quest and Blaze on the east side of the 404. Blaze was chasing Quest and you could see him screaming. They circled the apartments a couple of times then we lost them.
At the site there was no sound at all. We decided to walk the building. 240 Duncan we found Amora on the east side facing the woods. She pointed us to another peregrine in the sky. Kendal was coming in with food.
Amora took off and flew after dad screaming. Janice and I watched an amazing ariel food exchange at the front of the building. Then Kendal took off with a juvenile chasing him.
We are not sure if the food was dropped by Amora or Mira took off after Kendal.
Amazing amazing amazing
Ive just come home late last evening and am only now internet capable again. Plans when fledge watching change. So Tracy didnt have to take me each morning to the watch and could get a little extra sleep before going to work,we decided Id stay in Toronto for a few days with my mother and go to the watch from there. The time for this plan was coming to an end when 3 things happened all in a day on June 15th.
Windward was on a low roof on June 14th. Baylie had noticed her early in the morning. She let me know and I did a search of the Bell building at Eagle Rd and Bloor. I saw nothing and figured Windward had flown off. She was flying reasonably well Id thought so wasnt too worried. In the past fledglings had made it from this roof back to the nestledge. Later that day I was alerted to her presence above me. She was it turned out on that very roof still. I moved to a spot I could see her better and track her if she flew. I was joined by a couple who had called the Ministry Of Natural Resources office in Aurora as they had seen the bird on the roof from about 630am in the morning and thought it may be in distress. They were told CPF was doing a watch and someone should be on the scene(all of Baylie,Kathy and I were there..later Rob and still later Angie). We chatted and I gave them our direct numbers to call. I thanked them for their care and concern and actions they took. Community support in this area is fantastic.
After watching her for much of the day,Windward took flight. Kathy was walking away and I called to her . Windward made a reasonably good flight but didnt gain much altitude,she went between the condo and the Sun Life Centre, through to Aberfoyle. We searched to no avail. Kathy and Rene went into their offices at ADP and from the 17th floor were unable to see Windward anywhere. They checked rooftops and balconies as well as they could. At ground level the search was on in the park and of the balconies of nearby appartments and condos. We just couldnt relocate her. Seeing that neither O’Connor nor Jack was terribly upset,we accepted that she would pop up someplace. By evening she had not so Tracy did another search but came up empty.
The next day we still were not seeing Windward. Kathy went to the Aberfoyle side for another look around. She came running back waving frantically for me to come. Men working on a condo on Aberfoyle spotted Windward trapped on a glass balcony and having seen us searching the day before and spoken to us,knew to let us know. Many thanks to Omer Apacik and Fatih Apacik of EFES Painting for their help in locating Windward. She kept bumping the glass in attempts to get off the balcony and was in danger of hurting herself. Omer and Fatih held up their work so we could safely make a rescue. Kathy and I went to One Lomond Drive and spoke to a very helpful security guard from Paragon Security, who upon hearing our need to rescue Windward immediately contacted Property Manager Annette Van Rooyen. (sorry I missed the security guards name). Annette and Kathy figured out which unit the bird was stuck on the balcony of and Annette set to helping us gain entry. Baylie had come with our rescue carrier. We quickly arrived and found Windward on the balcony, still making failed attempts to get off,continuing to bonk herself. After a very quick look around, I went out on the balcony and rescued Windward. Annette and Baylie readied the cage as I did a quick assessment of how Windward was. She was fine,with no signs of injury..no blood in her mouth or nose, no droopy wings. We thanked everyone for their part in the rescue and showed a few residents Windward before taking her to Sunlife and the comfort of security. I must thank Annette Van Rooyen of Brookfield Residential Services again for all her help with this rescue. Without the co-operation of local property managers,security,building staff and residents we could not do what we do. I credit all of you for this. Windward was released later that night under darkness and continues to do well.
Later in the day our hearts sank. As Angie and I watched, Regatta made a flight off of the Kingsway On The Park condo. She flew well and strong and was gaining height when she flew right into the reflective glass of the Sunlife building. Angie and I heard the sickening thud when Regatta crashed head first into the window, all the way down at ground level and across 6 lanes of traffic. We immediately began across the road as Regatta spiralled down to the mezzanine level of the building. We proceeded to security hoping against hope that she was only knocked out and would be okay. Security took us to the roof to get Regatta. Angie climbed a ladder to a hatch opening to the roof and retrieved Regatta. Sadly her neck was broken on impact and we could only recover her lifeless still warm body. She looked perfect, so beautiful, such a hard thing to accept. Kathy, Angie and I took a little time to regroup as I called Mark Nash to inform him of the sad news.
In situations like this we can only take solice in the fact that we did all we could as quickly as we could. That everyone who had to play a part did and that maybe next time it wouldnt be in vain. We have to hold onto all of the many sucesses of not only the season but other rescues past. We cant save every Peregrine chick, but we sure try!!!
We began to watch the family again,hearts abit heavy but we were there to help the rest of the family. As we watched the chicks and spoke with very interested passersby, it wasnt a falcon that needed help, it was me! A fellow whose name I wish I knew stopped and asked if I was standing in blood? I answered no but when I looked down at my left foot I discovered I was very wrong. Without being graffic, I was bleeding profusely. I hadnt felt a thing and were it not for this concerned stranger I dont know how long it would have continued. He called an ambulance for me and waited for it to arrive. It seemed to be taking awhile so he recalled just as it was making the corner. Only once the EMTs had things under control did he leave and carry on with his Friday night. I owe this fine unknown person my thanks. I was taken to hospital and after Xrays and examination the ER Doc fixed my foot up. (details not necessary to the story). 10 days later I got the stiches out and am fine. It could have been very serious had I not gotton help. At 1am a very tired Tracy collected me from the hospital and dropped me at my mothers. Special thanks to Tracy too. You may have figured out from so many of our postings she is somewhat of a Super Woman, going so far above and beyond the call of duty that she could soar with the very Peregrine Falcons which she helps so tirelessly.
Thanks to everyone who helped rescue Windward,recover Regatta and helped and cared for me.
A feisty rescued Windward.
June 29th - 2012
A quickly update on Peter’s progress with his three new family members. Peter as you are aware was produced at the Hamilton nest site is still coping well with three fledglings now out on the loose. His female mate is still in rehab but is doing well and we expect that she will be able to be released back to her family some time in the very near future. She is currently in a large flight aviary still dealing with some minor swelling on her wing wrist and still dealing with discomfort.
The three fledglings are still being observed on a daily basis by Desmond, one of the CPF volunteers who has been doing spot checks on them throughout the week.
Now that things have settled down a little for us, we are going to try and get some of the many photos that have been taken over the past months of the Hearn nest site - (in addition to the back log of updates and photos from many of the other nest sites). There are hundreds of photos that have been submitted for the Hearn nest site alone, (and thousands of other photos that have been submitted from all of the other nest sites over the past months). As such, we will be posting a few at a time as we get them all categorized, resized and finally posted.
As for this back-logged update, we are posting some of the great photos sent into us by Ann Brokelman who has been monitoring the Hearn nest site for the CPF for many months.
These shots clearly demonstrate just how protective of their nest site and territory they are. And in particular, how defensive and protective they are about their secret caches of food. On this day, a Turkey Vulture thought that the resident territorial peregrines were hosting a free buffet at the Hearn nest site given all of the secret food stashed around by Peter. Well, I think that the photos say it all. NO FREE FOOD HERE! Needless to say, Mr/Mrs Turkey Vulture required a change of its “under-down” after this rather hostile encounter with Peter and his mate! The TV and has not been invited back!
Enjoy these great shots!!! Thank you Ann!
June 29th - 2012
A huge thank you to Rob for taking this “One in a life time shot” and on the very opening day of Canada Day weekend while out doing some site observations at the Etobicoke Sun Life centre today.
Rob writes:
Happy Canada Day weekend! I thought you might like this shot taken of little Euro from the Sunlife nest site today during my spot check of the fledglings.
Have a great long weekend!
Rob
June 29th - 2012
One juvenile falcon sitting / resting on window ledge E Wing facing West Sir Charles Tupper Bldg - Heron & Riverside.
Seems the juvenile flew from the nest located above the Taxation Data Centre Heron Rd - made it’s way across the street to end up resting on the window ledge - not sure if he / she is injured = Mom and Dad did manage to hunt down a pigeon - prepaired it on roof to feed it’s young a few floors below - one camera is set on the dead pigeon - waiting for mom & dad to return -and another on the juvenile. Also to note Both Mom and Dad don’t appear to have any leg bands / tags visible.
What a beautiful bird - Hope the young one is OK .
June 29th - 2012
One juvenile falcon sitting / resting on window ledge E Wing facing West Sir Charles Tupper Bldg - Heron & Riverside.
Seems the juvenile flew from the nest located above the Taxation Data Centre Heron Rd - made it’s way across the street to end up resting on the window ledge - not sure if he / she is injured = Mom and Dad did manage to hunt down a pigeon - prepaired it on roof to feed it’s young a few floors below - one camera is set on the dead pigeon - waiting for mom & dad to return -and another on the juvenile. Also to note Both Mom and Dad don’t appear to have any leg bands / tags visible.
What a beautiful bird - Hope the young one is OK .
Good morning,
(Friday, June 29, 2012) — (7:10 a.m.)
I was walking up Wellington Street as per my usual morning routine when I spotted a falcon once again in the reflection of the Constitution Square, Tower 1 building. It was perched on the SW corner of the Delta Ottawa City Centre hotel rooftop. By the time I reached Queen Street, it had flown around the hotel and was observed flying over Queen Street. It was making impressive swoops and dives much to my amazement. It did one final fly by and was headed north up and over the Marriott hotel. What a sight it must have been for anyone looking out of their hotel window at that moment. I’d certainly appreciate observing Diana from that vantage point.
I hope that everyone enjoys a festive Canada Day weekend!
Take care,
N. McKenna
