June 27th - 2012
Good morning CPF
Just to keep you posted. All 4 peregrines at Hearn are doing well so far. First feeding this morning was at 0532hrs. Cheers!
Desmond
June 28th - 2012 - 3:00 - 3:44pm
Hello CPF
Diana is presently sitting on the ledge between the pillars to her nest and I can see another falcon sitting on the corner of the South East corner of the Delta.
They both sat like this for at least 40 minutes. Diana has just dropped down from view into her nest. The other falcon is still sitting on the same South East corner at the Delta.
Tanya
Just shortly after we returned from the Lift Bridge this morning, we received an e-mail from our friend Nils Foss about a downed falcon on the Toronto Bound Skyway. At just about the same time as I was reading the e-mail, Marion Nash from CPF called after having received the same report. Bill and I headed out immediately to do a drive by. Of course we found it in the left shoulder where there is no room to stop. We drove the Skyway again to see if we could get a band number. No luck. We headed to the Lift Bridge and with the help of Clare, we were able to get in touch with the Ministry of Transportation who were kind enough to dispatch a vehicle to pick up our bird. When we met up with them on Eastport Drive, we were so sad to see that it was little Port Hope.
We want to thank Clare from the Lift Bridge, the Ministry of Transportation and the fellows from TWD Road Maintenance who retrieved little Port Hope.
Fly free precious little one.
June 27th - 2012
Good morning,
I work across the street from the Crowne Plaza / Delta and just noticed a second falcon flying around. For a few minutes it was perched off of the mid-section of Tower C while Diana was perched in her usual spot between the pillars to her nest. Diane is also flying around this morning. I can’t tell if this is a new peregrine or if it is Connor. His front seemed to be mostly all white.
Hope this helps,
Tanya
June 27th - 2012
A great day at the William Osler Health care centre in Etobicoke Ontario this morning as two very healthy young hatchlings were successfully weighed, sexed and banded. William Osler’s newest family members were identified as one male and one female.
We are waiting on the Hospitals name the hatchling contest to assign them their new names and will report this information as soon as we have the winners of the contest and their names.
A huge thank you to the William Osler staff who hosted the banding and to Mark Heaton and the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources for banding William Osler’s newest family members.
Again a big thank you to the Rochester gals who were able to attend and all of the CPf staff and volunteers that were on hand to assist.
Stay tuned for photos and further details of the banding………..
An interesting day for me ! I was not out early. I went shopping and at 12:35 pm I was sitting in front of 53 Division in the sun. One fledgling was sitting up on the old nest ledge and the other was on the fifth wall lying down. Shortly after I arrived the one on the old nest ledge flew west along Eglinton. From the smooth wing action, ability to climb and some speed I believed this to be Simcoe. I lost him but not for long as he soon came back chasing Haven and not quite catching her and of course squawking madly! The two circled the Rio-Can and Heart and Stroke buildings and zipped through the gap between the apartment building and RC. They both flew to the old nest and Haven took off immediately. Simcoe looked a bit surprised, gathered his thoughts and took off in the same direction again!
Haven flew back from a different direction: from south on Duplex over the old maintenance garage (brick building) up through the gap between the apartment building and RC all the while chased by a squawking Simcoe again! It was at this point that Solar awoke from her nap on the wall, stretched her wings, looked around, squawked and took flight just as Haven was returning from somewhere around the side of H & S. I had a ringside seat for the next event!!
Haven flew over the old TTC bus bays as Solar came to meet her. Both were a bit lower than usual and Haven had a food package in her talons. She turned slightly to give advantage to Solar and Solar understood what was going to happen but her reflexes were not that good this time around and the food parcel *free floated* for six or so feet before Haven swept in and caught it!!!!! Solar was still chasing her mom and squawking so they tried again. This time Haven was almost at a stalled speed to allow Solar to catch up with her and the transfer was successful!! Haven flew off to the old nest ledge and Solar flew over Eglinton to the intersection, gaining height, around Canada Square and onto the roof, from the south, where she looked as if she came in for a hard landing. But she was fine. She dragged her food to the edge and ate.
Stormin came in to see what was going on with all the noise Solar had made and landed on the antenna on top of Canada Square. Simcoe, recognised only by flight, also arrived and landed on the old nest ledge. Haven had also flown to the old nest but had flown off again.
A few minutes passed and Simcoe flew to the fourth ledge over from the nest, one level down, before flying to the third nest ledge. He was looking for scraps I think. Stormin flew onto the same ledge and in flying in sort of bumped Simcoe off to the level below. Stormin then flew to RC. Simcoe launched himself again, protesting the favouritism of Solar being fed. Haven flew in front of him and the chase was on. Haven was flying fast and Simcoe did his best but was unable to catch her. They went twice around the RC and H&S buildings again and through the gap between the apartment and RC. When next I saw Haven she was flying with Stormin and Simcoe was nowhere to be seen. I checked on Solar who was still eating and at this point, around 1:30 pm I left.
I returned at 5:30 pm to find Stormin on top of RC and no-one else visible. Five minutes later Stormin flew around to H&S and possibly beyond. Five minutes after that I spotted a fledgling on the roof ledge of RC. This youngster walked all the way along the edge to the south west corner of RC. Much later Simcoe (again identified only by what I believe his flight pattern to be) came into the YE intersection and Canada Square to show off. He did funny little tumble-turns (I don’t know how to describe them), quick turns, fast down and ups, as if on a roller coaster and a few other little tricks before landing.
Roughly 10 minutes later Haven flew in and Simcoe again gave chase, squawking of course! Once more they went, around the two towers and through the gap. Haven seems to be teaching him to go around the buildings at speed and not necessarily at height either as some of their flights have just skimmed the gold building. Simcoe had had enough of this exercise and he landed on the south west corner of Canada Square. Haven disappeared and Simcoe flew to the north west corner of the building and finally to the antenna on the top! I lost sight of Simcoe on the antenna after a few minutes but later did see him fly from there, circle over Canada Square twice, and to the top of RC next to Solar.
Some twenty minutes later Haven flew in and made a food drop on the roof. She was, of course, mobbed! The two fledglings had *wings and words* and one came out the victor with the spoils. One of the fledglings left the ledge and flew over the apartment building and back to the ledge. I think this was Simcoe. Feathers were flying and then whoever had the food tucked in! The other fledgling, Simcoe, was off to the side but began to sneak his way forward to the food and of course Solar. There were more *wings and words* and I am not sure who was the victor but someone was eating whilst the other waited. Eventually both disappeared from the edge and I assume they were further onto the ledge.
Caroline, who had been there off and on since around 3:30 pm left at about 7 and I went shortly after that.
My timing was great today! I had listened with envy to a chappie telling me the story of a food transfer he had seen high up in the Scotia tower. Now I have seen one myself. I know he did not see the food drop and be caught by one of the peregrines involved in the transfer he saw 
Yesterday, with different players there was an unsuccessful attempt at a food drop; today a successful one.
Lyn
I arrived at about 8:50 to find only Haven and Stormin and one wingtip in view. I assumed that because of the wind and possibly the coolth that the fledglings were lying down. Haven flew between Canada Square and Rio-Can several times before there was other activity. Eventually Solar was up and preening and Stormin flew between RC and Heart and Stroke. Young Simcoe finally put in an appearance and landed on Canada Square. Haven swooped down on him twice and he flew. He went to H & S and attempted to land on a window sill which did not work. He fluttered at the window for a moment or two then flew off to the southern end of Canada Square. Haven flew to Rio-Can. Haven tried to entice Simcoe into more flight by flying here and there but to no avail.
At some point Solar flew to Canada Square without my seeing her. She flew off Canada Square to RC where she brushed a window and then flew south to the southern end of Canada Square where she landed on the balcony south west corner.
After Marion left I moved up to the wall outside 53 Division where I had just settled in only to discover that Solar was not on the corner. I picked up and packed up my gear and trotted down to the end of the block and found her sitting on the same balcony wall but out of the wind! After that there was not much activity.
It was hard for the peregrines to fly in the wind, especially hard for the fledglings so everyone stayed put.
An hour and a half later Solar flew high towards RC but circled Canada Square and actually landed on the antenna on Canada Square. She almost overshot her mark, almost was tipped off by the wind BUT she landed and hung on!! Shortly after that she flew around the YE intersection, gained height and landed on RC roof ledge with one or two *tilts* but otherwise no problems!
I think Simcoe then flew off RC and took the wind south. He really sped by, down Duplex Ave, turned and headed back up Duplex. This was a struggle in the wind and he had dropped in altitude. Clever chap flew over the old TTC bus bays where there was less wind, regained his height, turned again and flew up to the roof ledge of RC!!!
Stormin flew in with a food parcel and I did not see who managed to get it but I do believe it was Solar. Stormin was MOBBED by a crowd of two hungry fledglings! After that there appeared to be a bit of a skirmish as all I saw was wings, wings and more wings!
Simcoe flew south, around Canada Square and back on to RC. Later he chased Haven when she flew. We had three in the air at one point and I was trying to figure out what was happening as there was plenty of diving and chasing. I thought, erroneously that two were hunting a pigeon (the third peregrine)!!! Not so. Maggie said *three peregrines* and we both watched carefully. Stormin had a food parcel, very visible, in his talons. Simcoe was chasing him and at one point Stormin turned and I think was attempting to transfer it to Simcoe but Simcoe was not fast enough. Haven was flying as *support team* to one or both of them. Was she there possibly to grab the food if it fell when being transferred? There was no transfer and Stormin land on the roof ledge of RC with Simcoe almost landing on top of him. Solar was not left out and charged over. I am not sure who managed to get the spoils this time but again I think it was Solar. Both Haven and Stormin flew off
When we left at 7:00 pm a very satisfied Solar was sitting digesting her meals!!!
Lyn
A day full of surprises!
My eyes did not want to open but I eventually managed to get going in the morning.
Caroline’s report was that Solar had flown, and not just that, had flown well!! I checked the area and found Haven on Rio-Can, Stormin on the black building, one fledgling on the top of the stairwell shaft at 411 Duplex and one fledgling on antenna at 2180 Yonge. Surprise!!!
There was a flurry of activity from the two fledglings and one returned to the antenna on Canada Square and the other to the antenna at 2180 to roost.
Later on another bout of flying around was initiated by Simcoe when he went east with Haven then south on Yonge in front of the two condo`s, around the mast on 2180 Yonge, back over Canada Square to RC roof where he landed. When Haven flew he tried to catch her but he is just not fast enough yet! Solar saw all this activity and joined the fun. She however was a bit slow starting and in trying to *catch up* she flew around the antenna at 2180 Yonge and then directly to the RC roof where she *crashed* and disappeared from sight. She reappeared a few minutes later and called. She had made a long flight, made a turn and had increased her altitude whilst flying back and was high enough to land on the roof. No mean feat. Her flight was a tad fluttery but she had the stamina to climb and do the distance. T say I was astounded is to understate the case!!! I was very impressed. There was more flying to come when Haven landed on the black building. Stormin and Solar also flew to the black building which was a change in altitude for Solar.
She again did an about turn at the height of the black building roof and flew to RC with Stormin at her side. She gained some height while Stormin veered her away from RC. He landed and Solar continued flying, making a long turn around the east side of Canada Square and reappearing on the south end! With this flight she come full circle and just a bit lower than when she set off.
There was another flight between Canada Square and Rio-Can when the fledgling circled the intersection twice, gaining height and made a fluttery landing on RC roof. Stormin then flew to the nest ledge, flew off and was gone!
Haven flew high over RC and over 411 Duplex with Simcoe (Marion determined it was him by his flight pattern) in hot pursuit. For the next two hours there was much flying, first by Haven and then by Stormin. Any time that one of the adults appeared near the Rio-Can building Solar squawked. I think this was just a lesson for the fledglings to get out and fly. Haven flew some more and this time was *chased* by Simcoe. Haven landed and when Simcoe arrived she flew.
At 1:43 pm we had two fledglings on the ledge at the roof on RC. About two hours later the fun began again when an adult flew and Simcoe chased that adult. Solar had had enough and was staying perched. The rain came so Caroline and I dashed into the YE mall for a half hour until it was over. When we returned the fledglings were still on the roof ledge. Both Haven and Stormin were not to be seen.
Stormin dropped off a food parcel and I really think that Solar took it! The peregrine left *looking on, longingly* appeared small and I therefore assumed it was Simcoe. Once Solar had eaten, and was sitting in the corner with a bulging crop, Simcoe went over to the remains and picked at them.
Haven reappeared on the scene at Canada Square with a pigeon. She landed on the nest level but southern end where she proceeded to pluck feathers. Once this was done she began to eat. Simcoe, in the meantime, had been squawking for food whenever he saw an adult move! He even flew to the opposite end of the RC roof ledge so that if anyone did fly in to him with food he WOULD get it before Solar had managed to come all the way across. However this arrangement did not last long. He flew back close to Solar, waited and eventually was really ticked at not having any food that he flew and disappeared around the side of Heart and Stroke. After he had flown, Haven flew to the roof with a food parcel and was quite astonished to see that after all his squawking he was not there. Solar of course dived in and grabbed the food. We looked for Simcoe around the city block bounded by Yonge, Orchardview, Duplex and Eglinton to no avail.
I left at 9:30 pm and I could only see Haven and Solar. Simcoe and Stormin were not visible to me.
It was good to see Stormin fulfilling his parental duties for longer periods of time.
Lyn
As I have been going through some of the pictures that I have taken recently, I have to admit that the boys at the Yellow Pages nest site are super cute. Panagiottis ( Paul ) has is quite a character as he bee bops around and plays with both his siblings and his parents. Eagan is a bit more laid back but is always up for a game of tag and little Albus is so cute as he tries to be like his Dad. I hope you enjoy some of the pictures and there are more to come so check back soon!!
Now that I am back at my computer, I have about 8 billion photos to go through and post to the various pages of the 8 sites that I have been at watches for. ( Good gracious!! ) The evening that I spent at Hearn was overcast and rainy but I managed to snap a few pictures of the three juveniles; Tiny, Dark One and Dolly. Enjoy!!
