July 01, 2012 - Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton
Frank Butson Reports:
Canada Square Peregrine report Canada Day !!! July 1 2012
I had misgivings at the end of the watch about the number of peregrines seen off and on. My concern was the two fledglings. Had I seen both? After reviewing my notes and giving it some thought I believe I did see the two young ones.
It all started off very slowly and I came home for about an hour before returning to the outdoors. I had seen only one young one before going in and I think this may have been Solar but I am not sure.
On my return to the watch I found Haven on the top floor of Rio-Can. I also saw a youngster flying high over RC and 411 Duplex, then east a bit and back over RC to disappear. I think this was Simcoe. There was much flying and circling around over the buildings, Canada Square, RC, Black building and 2180 by the peregrines and in the mix I saw Stormin (his tatty feathers told on him) and Simcoe (his fancy and sure flight ID’d him).
Haven, on RC stretched her wings, changed her position and carried out a few other actions and then she flew over 411, up Duplex and over and beyond 500 Duplex and was gone. At about this time there was serious squawking and it was not coming from Rio-Can. It sounded as if it was coming from Canada Square but I could not for the life of me find the peregrine. I searched the roof top and the antenna, the north west corner and old nest ledge and even this year’s nest ledge and come up with zip. Simcoe, sitting on the top of RC was paying no attention to the squawking. When he flew down between the black building and 2180 Yonge the squawking continued and two minutes later I found Solar. She was tucked into the shady part of the ledge NEXT TO the nest ledge and was still calling when I spotted her. So I did see the two young ones. The light was just right and I saw her silver band.
Simcoe flew overhead from behind 53 Division to the east and beyond Heart and Stroke and was gone again. He appeared later on the Canada Square roof and moved right to the edge.
Haven flew around the side of RC to H&S and Stormin circled over Yonge and Eglinton intersection before going east of H&S. Simcoe flew south off the Canada Square roof and circled back onto it before flying off again and eventually ending up on 2180 antenna. He did not land on the large one but chose to perch, precariously, on one of the straight pole things to the left of the antenna, then hopped to the next one.
Haven was doing more flying around the Y/E intersection and then she silently dropped down to the ledge where the pigeons congregate on the black building at the concrete level. No luck there so she flew through the gap, up Yonge street east of Canada Square, circled in front of H&S several times and then flew onto the old nest ledge.
One of the males flew down between the black building and 2180 Yonge again which sent Solar into squawking mode again. Haven had her back to the world on the old ledge, Stormin was on RC seven floors from the top and Solar was also sitting on her same level with her back to the world. As no-one paid any attention to Solar she flapped her wings and walked her ledge then flew. She came over the old TTC bus bays, turned south and also flew between the black building and 2180 Yonge and a bit more south before turning and flying back to land on the opposite side of the wall from Haven, near the old nest ledge. Fifteen minutes later she flew off that perch, out over the bus bays and back onto the third ledge south of the concrete wall. When I left I had Haven on the old nest, Stormin on RC and Solar on the third ledge on Canada Square. I have no idea where Simcoe was at this point.
Pierre had joined me again and spent some time observing the peregrines. I saw the moon rise over the corner of the black building – it was huge, white and not quite full. Beautiful
Lyn
Posted on July 2, 2012 1:09 pm
July 01, 2012 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre
Frank Butson Reports:
Thanks to Baylie for these great shots. Sorry they are posted so late. The little point and shoot digitals take some great shots even at long range. We look forward to even more next fledge season.
Posted on July 1, 2012 9:15 pm
July 01, 2012 - Toronto - King Street
Linda Woods Reports:
At 7:30p.m., two juveniles are seen playing chase in and around 18 King St., while two peregrines on Dundee Place watch. One peregrine on Dundee Place is an adult, but I can’t see if the other is an adult or the third juvenile. Nice to see them flying so well.
Posted on July 1, 2012 8:17 pm
July 01, 2012 - Mississauga - Executive Centre
Tracy Simpson Reports:
After over a month of resistance, it would appear that Sante, the unbanded resident male, has accepted the companionship of the new banded female on site. When I arrived, I found the female, her identity yet to be discovered, on top of the nest box napping in the heat of the evening. There were no other peregrines on site and she was giving me ample looks of her Black over Green recovery band!! Unfortunately the winds last night were so powerful around the MEC buildings that the scope was shaking like a feather in a tornado!! I could see the band and even see the white markers that make up her identity but the scope would not focus for a view. Pictures I attempted to take were equally as blurred which only fuelled my determination to see her band!! After half an hour, she took off and flew around the back of MEC 2 and I moved positions from MEC 3 to MEC 1. When I arrived, Sante was up on one of the ledges and was relaxing now that he was home. The female flew in and buzzed him which drew him into the air and they both flew straight into the nest box for a chit chat.
Up to this point, Sante had been attacking and attempting to drive out this new female in an effort to protect Janet, his last remaining chick. He drew Janet away from the site over 3 weeks ago ( smart guy ) for training and she has since been sighted on balconies in the Hwy 10 and Eglinton area. Sante regularly disappears throughout the day to that area and I suspect that is to continue with his training duties with Janet.
After weeks of trying to evict this female, it would appear that Sante has finally given in and is allowing her access to the territory without a fight. This most certainly has been a bizarre year at MEC with all of the changes and activity. I will be back out to the site very soon to confirm the sightings of Janet and to get this female’s band number so check back with us soon!!
Posted on July 1, 2012 5:26 pm
June 30, 2012 - Etobicoke - William Osler
Tracy Simpson Reports:
After the wonderful time that we had at the banding of the William Osler Hospital’s new family, I decided that I would make a quick stop in to check up on Chessie, Hurricane and their lovely two. Hurricane was on the nest ledge in almost the exact same position as when I left on Tuesday!! It would seem that when he is told to watch the kids, he takes it very seriously. ( He was trained by O’Connor! ) He sat with his back to the tower and every few seconds would glance down the ledge to where the chicks lay in the tray napping. He was sitting so still for the half an hour that I was there that I thought, he’s sleeping I bet. Sure enough, I changed my angle of view and caught the man himself napping away!! More than once he glanced down at me with my camera as if to say, “Please don’t tell the wife!! She’ll have my tail feathers!!” I assured him that his secrets safe with me. Chessie was offsite the entire time I was there so he can easily get away with a snore here or there!
Check back soon as we update you on the progress of the chicks as the watch draws closer!!
Posted on July 1, 2012 5:12 pm
July 01, 2012 - Mississauga - Holcim
Tracy Simpson Reports:
First let me apologize for missing this most important posting. Between working and the 7 different watch sites over the last 32 days I have been attending, this one I was sure I posted by sadly and embarrasingly was missed. My most sincere apologies folks.
On June 20th, Mark Nash received a call from Holcim Cement from a gentleman, Mark, who works at the plant who told us that Emmalina had once again come down to the ground. This time she landed right in front of staff and after a moment or two, began walking towards them. Her eyes were watering and it would appear that she had gotten into something. Mark and Armando immediately rescued her and after closer inspection, noticed that she had dust all over her face and in her nares. The two jumped to action and began washing her face and eyes with saline solution and then flushing very well with water. Once cleaned up, she was placed in a rescue carrier, left with security and the call was placed.
Mark Nash called me and asked if I could go out and take a look at Emmalina and ascertain whether she was in need of medical attention. I dashed out of work and arrived at the site at approximately 5:30pm and went in to take a look at the young bird. When I initially lifted up the towel on the carrier, she hissed and lashed out as a healthy peregrine does but on further examination, her eyes were still watering from her contact with the dust and we decided to take her to Toronto Wildlife Centre for evaluation by their vet. When she arrived at TWC, she was once again washed and treated for dust and throughly examined. The dust that she had made contact with had caused a chemical-like burn to the soft tissues of her eyes, nasal cavities, mouth and throat. She was hydrated and today remains at the TWC under close watch as she heals from her latest adventure. We will keep you informed as to her progress as the updates come in.
Posted on July 1, 2012 5:05 pm
July 01, 2012 - Toronto - King Street
Linda Woods Reports:
As I made my way back to the King St area from the Sheraton nest site, I saw one of the King St adult peregrines chasing a Turkey Vulture in the area of Richmond St and Victoria St’s. When I arrived at the King St nest site, Erin was on the nest ledge. No other peregrines in view at that time.
Posted on July 1, 2012 2:26 pm
July 01, 2012 - Toronto - Sheraton Centre
Linda Woods Reports:
No peregrines in view when I did a quick visit to the nest ledge and area of the Sheraton. As I returned to street level and walking eastward towards and looking towards the King St nest area, I saw one on the King St adults on the tail of a Turkey Vulture and chasing it out of the area.
After I returned, Rhea Mae is caught on camera. The shade has moved onto the nest tray and perfect place to watch the skies and get out of the direct sunlight.
Posted on July 1, 2012 2:23 pm
July 01, 2012 - Stoney Creek
Sue McCreadie Reports:
Bill and I just returned from spending a couple of hours at the Stoney Creek site. When we arrived, we spotted Athena amongst the steel in the tower. She took a couple of short flights. Once she was gone for about 15 minutes and we expected to see her return with prey. She came back with no prey, landed in the tower and sat preening. While she was gone, we were certain that we heard another falcon in the tower. We searched from all angles, but were not able to locate Craig. We decided that we should go down the road to get a site line into the drum, and sure enough, there sat Craig. He loves his drum and is making certain that no one gets anywhere near it.
Posted on July 1, 2012 1:56 pm
