Canada Square Report June 19
June 19, 2012 - Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton
Tracy Simpson Reports:
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