This evening at 8:10p.m. One adult on the north east corner of the King Edward Hotel. Second adult on # 1 Toronto feeding a juvie. Light is too flat after the rain, but I hope it’s Dundee getting a meal. That’s all in my view.
Also three fledgling Ketrals sitting on top of the construction crane on Church St.
I’m sorry to report that the last time anyone has seen Crock Pot Jimmy was on June 18th. I’m afraid that he is MIA. We are hopeful that he has strayed away from home and will return when he gets really hungry.
Carrey and Port Hope are doing just fine. With the high winds and hot weather of the last few days there has not been too much activity except when Mom and Dad bring in food.
Port Hope has been seen chasing pigeons around the tower and through the Lift Bridge structure.
We will continue to monitor the site. David, Rob, Barry and Bill and I continue to do daily checks.
A tough evening with a very good ending
Arrived at Harlequin to introduce my daughter Julie to Quest and Kendal and family.
We enjoyed watching them running the building and doing some flying. All five in sight.
Amora was sitting on top of the building with Mira and Blaze going after each other on the next level up on building.
Quest and Kendal were soaring together above us. Beautiful. Mira and Blaze started to play touch talon and soaring and chasing.
Dean a neighbour from Harlequin was watching from his car. Suddenly the two youngster were chasing each other, one took off in front of Harlequin and one around the east side and right into the window. At this time we had no idea who it was.
Dean, Julie and I started to search for the youngster. Julie was checking the bushes when a peregrine jumped up and lifted up his wings at her. Julie used her iphone and took a shot and called for me. Dean called as well. It was Blaze.
He then flew very low to the ground and kept going across the parking lot and over the two road and disappeared. The search was on again. Two youngsters were seen then a third landed at the building to the west of the nest.
He was bobbing but landed ok. He then flew to nest building, lost his landing and dissappeared behind nest building. Note: That Julie and Dean were trying to following him on foot while I was watching to see if he came to the front. At this time he dissappeared from sight. Tracy arrived thank goodness and took charge. We located 4 peregrines but it was now dark and we couldn’t see the tages on the two juv. Tracy was pretty sure that one was blaze. We all had to leave as we couldn’t see anyting. But thanks to Tracy that he went down but was able to fly at least 3 times, his eyes ere open when seeing Julie, and preening on the first roof she felt he had a good chance.
Dean and Julie meet this morning at 6am and were able to account for 3 juveniles and 2 adults. Blaze was being fed with Mira and Amora was back on the corner building.
I want to thank Dean and Julie for their support and for their ability to follow the peregrines even as it got dark. The security guard who found a drink for us, the heat was horrible. Tracy who pulled us together and kept us hopeful and Mark who talked me throught this by phone.
Wednesday June 20th - 2012
The fledge watch started out at 6:30 am this morning with Kathy Smith from the CPF on site and all three hatchlings still in the nest ledge in full view. With this hot and humid stuff again today, Oh my goodness, it is debilitating out here.
Pressed and stressed for time with not enough hours in the day and night to be in the streets on all of the ongoing fledge watches, its been very difficult to get any computer time to get the huge back log of updates and photos posted with fledgling peregrines falling and resident adults from the sky all over the place, so I have to be short and sweet.
Alerted by Big Frank that one of his collogues having been passing the nest site, saw a fledgling in the air on a direct flight path downward to the south east of the Yellow Pages parking lot.
More telephone calls on the mobile as the young fledgling peregrine ends up on the ground in the roadway on one of the main arteries of the rear parking lot. Paul from Petra security and Vivian from the CPF watch team rushes to the grounded birds location and holds back the on-lookers and reroutes the vehicle traffic around the downed fledgling until others can get to the rear parking lot to do the rescue.
Kathy holds position to keep her eyes focussed on nest ledge on the remaining two hatchlings,, now up on the nest ledge flapping looking like they are going to go.
The grounded young fledgling is Panagiotis - banded Black R over 42 and is successfully rescued and retrieved from the roadway without incident.
Later in the evening, the young peregrine is again examined for any injuries or trauma usually associated with grounding on hard services and is cleared to be released back to its parents.
Successful release under the cover of darkness with the fledge watch team still in place in the now darkened parking lot waiting just in case the released bird takes a panic flight back into the air at release, everything goes exactly as planned. The fledge watch finished for the evening with the two un-fledged hatchlings still on the nest ledge and one other very happy fledgling back to elevation and in its parents care.
So far, 22 young fledglings have been rescued and /or pulled from the streets so far this season since the fledge watches started!
Stay tuned, you can bet there will be far more to come……..
We have noticed in this very hot weather the best time to see the four chicks flying around is early mornings and late in the evenings then the flight show really goes on. Last evening Voltaire was sitting on the first A of Ambassador then flew down and chased away a Great Blue Herron. At one point a food package was brought in and Twitter decided it was hers alone so she went into a corner with her back turned to the rest of her siblings and ate well, later we could see her on a beam with a very full crop. They really enjoy flying under and over the Bridge which of course for us it’s heart stopping. Freddie and Voltaire are always around watching Viper, General Brock, Twitter and Eddy. They really are good parents.
Gwen & Dennis Site Co-ordinators CPF
On arrival at 8:50 this morning there was one fledgling on top of Canada Square having a wonderful feed. Poor little Solar was squawking madly AND he was on the level below the nest ledge!! His first step towards fledging!! Haven was on the balcony below the nest
I saw Haven fly but did not see where she went. Shortly after that I saw feathers flying madly from the ledge at the foot of the black building where it meets concrete. I checked but was unable to see anything. I assumed Haven was preparing a food parcel. I was wrong because I found her sitting serenely on top of the black building. She had an interesting few experiences which were different for me.
First she flew to the youngster on the black building ledge, checked on progress and then flew to the fourth floor wall on Canada Square where it meets the black building. She landed away from the wall and walked very quickly towards the wall in which I think she saw her reflection. She put her beak to the wall and then lift a talon and *scratched* the wall. She did that a number of times before flying further back along the wall on the other side of the greenery. After looking up she again flew to the fledgling which was on the black building ledge. She took away his food, flew to the top of the black building and ate it herself. Once she had finished eating she flew to the nest level and sat on the fourth wall away from the nest.
Stormin flew to the *pantry* - old nest ledge then flew north up Duplex Avenue and west and was gone from view.
Later on Haven flew to the old nest ledge and the fledgling on the roof dropped to the new nest. Haven then flew to the tall condo and was chasing pigeons but was out-manoeuvred when the pigeons land on the balcony! Some of them do learn. Haven was playing favourites today! She caught a pigeon over the bus bay area and prepared it on the Canada Square roof before feeding the fledgling who dropped into the nest, not the poor squawking and starving baby on the level below! Haven flew to the balcony below the nest then circled south before returning to the balcony below the nest ledge. Finally I identified the fledgling on the black building by his red band; Brisk. That left Solar on the level below the nest and Simcoe on the nest ledge!
Simcoe showed us what a young peregrine can do if it really decides on something. He flew high and beautifully today. He soared like a professional. He flew above Canada Square and to the top south west section of Rio-Can where he just touched the wall, recovered immediately and continued flying. He flew another circle Just as Haven flew over Heart and Stroke with a large something white in her talons. Both disappeared over RC.
Later in the afternoon Haven flew south directly over the nest and although Solar squawked madly he was so pooped he did not stand up.
The next time I saw Simcoe he was flying with his mom! Not playing tag or practising anything but flying and they were high! Simcoe landed on RC and had a rest in spite of Haven diving on him. Later on both he and Haven flew together with Stormin; lovely big lazy circles. Stormin returned to his perch on RC and both Haven and Stormin flew over him but he was having none of that! He was tired and stayed put.
The next time I spotted Brisk he was on the fourth floor balcony wall stalking pigeons who simply kept moving away from him. He slipped on the black parts of the balcony so he simply jumped to the concrete floor and walked along there out of our sight but by following the pigeons gazes and the third pigeon which arrived I could tell he was still stalking them. Sure enough when he figured he was close enough he jumped back on the wall and pigeons scattered everywhere.
A while after that Haven fled to the ledge where Brisk had been fed, looking for another juicy plump pigeon. No luck. Our intrepid little hunter flew around and then she took in a food parcel, big one, to the ledge below nest level. Both youngsters mobbed her but I believe Solar got the prize and tucked in. Brisk also managed to get some food. Haven flew to the level; below the nest ledge and was ignored by the youngsters. She was there for some time and eventually flew to the RC building, stayed a short while and flew back to the nest where she sat on the wall.
At 9:15 Haven decided it was bed time and flew to RC. At 9:33 she flew back to the nest ledge and that is where we left her.
One more fledge to go and I think it will be soon.
Lyn
Canada Square Peregrine report 20120619
From a very hot and muggy mid city!!
When I arrived Haven was on the balcony below the nest and Solar was on the nest ledge. This little peregrine has NOT yet jumped to the level below the nest like the other two did. Simcoe was on the top south west corner of the Heart and Stroke building. A half an hour later Simcoe flew and Stormin was in the air above him. They landed one after the other on H & S. All the while Haven was very aware of them and she was watching. We did not see Brisk but thought that he was still on the balcony below the nest.
I went to get cool and when I came back Marion reported that Simcoe had left the H & S and was perched on the antenna on the Canada Square roof. That is a tricky landing but he made it!! Whilst Marion was taking a turn to get cool Simcoe practised his *landing on antenna* trick. He had his wings out and let go to the perch very briefly and grabbed it again before he floated away. Brave boy!!!
Eventually he flew south over 2180 Yonge Street, turned west a bit and flew straight over the black building and onto the H & S again. He made a rather ungainly landing, teetering back and forth before disappearing face first onto the roof. His flight was quite impressive because he used his wings well, flapping nicely and then GLIDING a short distance without any loss of altitude!! The he flapped again almost as if he had thought *oooh better do some work to keep aloft*! However, he tried the gliding again, for much longer, before finally flapping to his funny landing.
Twenty minutes later a squawking gull got my attention. It flew west of Canada Square and was escorted out of the territory by Haven. She did not alarm call but she definitely chased it! Once it was far enough away she broke off the pursuit. Haven fed Solar. I saw her land on the nest ledge where she was rushed by Solar who then disappeared and kept quiet. Haven flew then. I needed another *cool break* and when I returned I found that I had left my notebook behind. So events are sketchy. Marion also took a *cool break* and there was not a lot of action whilst she was away. Every time Simcoe saw one of the adults in the air he squawked. This caused Solar to stir and squawk. When the adults took a break there was quiet. I did not see Brisk at all during the day when I was present. I voiced ummmm, concern about this and asked if I could go and look for him. Marion agreed.
So I trotted off to security and with the great help of Reynaldo from Paragon Security I went to the balcony level where we had left him last night. He was not there! Then the search began and Reynaldo went to each office on the west side of the building. Not a thing. We did, however, see Haven on the ledge looking right at us!!! She had not been there when I left to go in search!!!! We managed to go right around, to all the balcony space and examine it. Still nothing.
Reynaldo asked if I wanted to go to the nest level and after conferring with Marion we went up. We started at the nest and worked our way around. Again, there was no peregrine, except Solar, on the nest. We did see an upside down dead gull which explains a lot of Haven and Stormin’s constant visits to that spot!! When we were in the centre office on the north side – this is far from the nest; past the whole concrete wall, a single balcony and a wrap around balcony – who should find us but Haven. The window had blinds which were down but open and Haven stood outside staring in. She had her head slightly lowered and wings slightly out. I took one look at her and said to Reynaldo *let’s go!* So we did. He then wondered if Brisk had possibly gone to the fourth floor. Again I conferred with Marion and along we went. Haven was back on Rio-Can so I told Reynaldo that if she came flying down he was to get inside. I looked around the southern end of that level and saw nothing. Haven could clearly see it from where she was and she stayed put on RC. So it was over and out and no peregrine. I walked back very disheartened. Checked all the nooks and crannies I could find around the construction area and next to the TTC Garage and came up empty handed.
On my return Marion informed me that Haven had caught a gull!! She had really struggled to get any height with it and kept going down, before, with tremendous effort, she landed it on the CIBC building – red brick – at the corner of Yonge and Eglinton. Apparently Stormin had been willing to help but Haven chose to carry it herself. I have no adequate words to describe this valiant little hunter and provider. She just amazes me.
I think Maggie spotted *a bird* at the corner of the building where Haven had landed the gull. It was a peregrine, BUT, which one ? I tried taking a picture of his band but the distance was just too great so I decided to get closer. The blighter flew before I was close enough for a snap. Failure again! By the time I was back at *our perch* the little bird was on the black roof. Third strike for me when I said to Marion *mom is on the building*. Marion said that is Brisk!! She saw red; red tape on the band!! He was home. I left early tonight so am not sure where the birds were by the time Marion, Tracy and Maggie left.
Lyn
Marion and Bruce arrived this evening to give Dundee the once over, the what now and the how now. After he was given the go ahead, Dundee was released to the north service side of the nest building under the cover of darkness. He wasn’t having any more of this and scooted out of carrier.
The heat is to continue tomorrow, so the north side will give him some shade if he decides to hang out for a while. I’ll check on him in the morning.
June 19th - 2012
It would seem that for the next few days during this heat wave and the oppressive humidity that our two best friends will continue to our cars air conditioning and a steady supply of Advil - (pretty typical for most of us at this time of year anyway) 
Despite the heat wave and humidity reaching 36 plus degrees C - (over 95 degrees F for us old imperial folks), with the combined help of the many supporters, local volunteers, the great Harlequin staff and the CPF fledge watch team, we had a pretty good idea on the whereabouts of the young fledglings positions throughout the entire day and evening. They didn’t escape our view for very long! Ha Ha, we’re good!!!
Most notability today given that so much has been happening with the “kids”,,, they have learned - (at least in part) what shade is all about and have hiding out in some shady spots to get out of the blistering sun. Like most all young children (and some adults I have met), they have limited attention spans and even hiding out in the shade to cool off has been short lived.
Now that all of the fledglings are actually flighted, they have been back together again off and on all day. Several times Quest came in with food (mostly to the nest building roof top) and we watched all of the fledglings come together and had mom feed them beak to beak. Quite a tender family moment for sure!! * See photos
While Amora is still not as confident as her two other siblings in their flight, by the end of the day she was taking some longer flights from roof top to roof top between 220 and 225 roofs.
Mira and Blaze on the other hand are rocking!! Actually pretty scary given that they are now building up allot of speed (and still 50% of their landings are terrible)!! Learn by experience!
This is typically the time that they end up sometimes crashing into stuff (very hard) as they are unable to judge distances and don’t understand their speed and can’t operate the “air-brakes” proficiently enough to stop them in time. Lets hope that they settle down. This is similar to the 16 year kid, one that has just got their drivers licence and the keys to the parents car for the first time,, BUT the car is a Porch!
On three occasions today when the fledglings were hiding out in the shade and couldn’t be seen, Quest was back into the nest box almost appearing to be pinning for babies again. While she didn’t actually lay down, she just stood upright gazing out into the airspace.
(Maybe she was actually thinking and wondering when all this stress is going to be over and have a quiet time house - back to herself again)?
All of the birds were noticeably hot and panted all day trying to cool off and get oxygen. I really felt sorry for them as both adults really struggled for the most of he day to hold their altitude in this bad air.
Late in the afternoon and early evening, it got a little cooler (but don’t kid yourself, not by much), but enough to given the birds some decent air and less direct sun to do some flying around. Still bad landings, and allot of shortness of breath, all three fledglings were airborne playing some short “catch me if you can games”, and “tag your it”. Lots of recharging in between flights.
By the end of the day, all of the fledglings were back on the nest building in various places, but all in view.
Given by what I have seen today and their activities and ability to hold their altitudes and able return back to the nest ledge itself (and all of the upper roof elevations), we can conclude our full time dawn to dusk fledge watch.
We will remain watching with daily spot checks but must depend on you to carry on with periodic checks to ensure that they are not getting in trouble. They can still run into challenges as they investigate their new world and can still get trapped behind glass balconies and run into windows that may bring them to the ground.
We must also remember that despite the fact that the juveniles are now flighted, they are solely dependant on the adult parents for food, support and protection for the next 30 to 60 days until they are trained to hunt, shown what to hunt, then able to successfully hunt, and that they will still be returning to the nest box / ledge and the nest building and roof top for security and their parents protection. This is still their home, and at this point the only one that they know!
We are counting on your support (as are the birds) for your support to further watch out for them.
We are, and remain on our mobile cell phones on a 24/7 call and not too far away.
Photos to come.
Stay tuned…………………………
This morning at 8:45 I received a call from the film crew of “Flashpoint” to say they have seen one of our fledglings on a retaining wall on their film set. I gathered my things and off I go. Paul met up with me at the location and low and behold it’s Dundee!, Sitting on the retaining wall to the underground parking, watching people come and go. We quickly toweled him and transported him to the cool dark comfort of the rescue box at the nest site. He looks good, no apparent injury at this time. We’ll let him ride out the heat in the A/C comfort , recheck him and he will be released late this afternoon, if he is good to go.
Big, thanks to David Walsh and the film crew of “Flashpoint” for the keen eyes and alerting me to Dundee’s whereabouts.
More to come…
