Canadian Peregrine Foundation

!!! ICICI Don Mills Nest site - Eglinton & DVP - July 18th

July 18, 2012 - International, National and Local News

CPF Postmaster Reports:

July 18th - 2012
Our Boys at Don Mills/Eglinton

Well I have had an interesting morning. Our boys are doing very well and judging by their behavior enjoying the slightly cooler weather.

I arrived about 7:45 and all was quiet with Dad on his favorite S and one boy above him on the roof of DeBeers. His brother was on the southwest side of the ICICI Bank also on the roof ledge. The quiet ended in about 10 minutes when Mom arrived with a food parcel and brought it to the juvie on Bank roof. His brother joined him in a flash arriving from his perch on DeBeers. I think it was a light breakfast as there was no napping after the meal and instead there were numerous flights by both in the vicinity of the two buildings. Then Ben decided to have a rest on Moms favorite perch! I just happened to be looking at him with my binoculars and got a great view of him jumping up with a look of horror when Mom came in and almost landed right on top of him! She let him know in no uncertain terms that this was HER perch and he should go find his own! It was so funny!

Anyway, I could have watched all morning but I had to get home and put my tired feet up so I tore myself away. Tomorrow is supposed be a little cooler than today so I am sure they will be more active then too.
Have a great day, Irma

!!! Peregrine watch withdrawls - We’re all still here, and watching!!

July 24, 2012 - Kitchener - CTV-Bell Media Tower

CPF Postmaster Reports:

July 24th-2012
I was at the site on Tuesday night (July 24) at about 7:00 p.m. A number of fledge volunteers showed up just after me, since they were going into peregrine watch withdrawals. Karen, Lisa, Steve, John, Debbie, Geraldine, and myself were watching for any sign of the grines. No one seemed to be around until at 9:20 p.m. I noticed one of them coming back to the building. At first we thought that it was Jr., since he flew in from King Street side and tried to get onto the parapet but glided down, he did it again and failed. squawking the whole time. The third time he landed on the parapet just above the louvers and everyone clapped. It was getting quite dark so what we didn’t realize was that it wasn’t Jr., but one of the adults carrying a large package of food and, had a hard time getting on the roof. We realized a few seconds later that now Jr., was on the parapet on the right side and being very vocal. He dropped from the parapet, did some flying around for about 20 seconds and then safely landed on the louver area where we think Caster flew down to the louver roof while we were watching Jr. The vocalizing stopped! Dinner time.

Tony

!!! Four in view

July 27, 2012 - Toronto - King Street

Linda Woods Reports:

At 9:45 this morning, four peregrines in view, playing chase over the roof of the King Edward Hotel. Three peregrines  still favour the scaffolding of upper areas of the Hotel possibly indicating that those three are juveniles. It’s great to finally see them all again, after not seeing them for a long time. Wonderful day for flying!

!!! All four doing great

July 27, 2012 - Windsor - Ambassador Bridge

Dennis Patrick Reports:

On his way to Cruise night last evening Dennis stopped by the Bridge to check on the four kids. He met some of the Volunteers that are so good to have on a team and the report he got was Viper, General Brock, Twitter and Eddy are all doing great. A big Thank You to all of our team members you are the best.
Gwen & Dennis Site-Co-ordinators CPF

William Osler Youngsters Doing Great!!

July 26, 2012 - Etobicoke - William Osler

Tracy Simpson Reports:

I stopped in at the William Osler Hospital site for a check up on Tuesday evening and found my two little “book ends” down at the southwestern corner of the hospital enjoying the last rays of the day.  One good thing I have learned about these two is that right now, wherever Ossie goes, Tobi follows.  So If I find one I can very quickly find the other.  They are like two little peas in a pod!!  They have expanded their area of adventure to include all aspects of the hospital grounds and the hydro towers to the north and south.  Pretty so I expect them to follow Hurricane over to Humber College and take their training even further afield.  I know in the evenings though, I can always find them at home!!

Acknowledgements and Grateful Thanks

July 26, 2012 - Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton

Frank Butson Reports:

Acknowledgements and grateful thanks!

As I have written my last official report for the 2012 Canada Square nest activities it is once again time to write my thanks. Not in any particular order but as I remember the kindnesses and courtesies received.

Grateful thanks to Neil Armstrong of Northam Realty Advisors Limited and his remarkable team, for their invaluable help during the entire nesting, hatching and fledging period. The monitoring of the nest and the updates received, in the early stages of nesting were invaluable for later co-ordination of banding and fledge watching.

Thanks as always to Mark Heaton of the Ministry of Natural Resources for banding the young peregrines. This is an invaluable service in helping to build and maintain a history of the peregrines. Without this help we would have no idea who was nesting where, nor how many young they produce annually.

Thanks also to Solar Window Cleaning and the gentleman who first extracted the chicks from the nest for banding, faced the wrath of an irate and extremely protective mother, Haven. She dived on him time and time again whilst her chicks were being banded and whilst he placed a nest tray and pea gravel on the ledge for the nestlings’ return. He continued to face Haven whilst replacing the chicks in their new nest tray. This was his second year out on the ledge!!

Thanks to Paragon Security and their staff who helped us innumerable times and in many ways when searching for missing peregrines or when it was necessary to put them back out after dark. Their courtesy and co-operation was much appreciated.

Many thanks to those at 53 Division. We spent many hours on the wall outside the building and were met with only interest, kindness and courtesy from those in the station. The shade in the afternoon at this location and our *perch* made the fledge watch a great deal easier than it would have been had we stood in the sun for those interminable hours. Thanks, too, for your interest in the peregrines and the *history* of this site.

Thank you Marion, of Canadian Peregrine Foundation, for rescuing *my* two babies. You and I sweated together in some really hot and humid weather. Thanks for the introduction to the lovely pick-me-up-in the-heat – yogenfruz!

Grateful thanks to both Frank and Tracy for posting my reports on a regular basis. Your help has been invaluable and really is very much appreciated!!

Thanks are also due to Ron and Carmella for our morning *shade and perch* in front of their home and for allowing the use of their garage drive for the CPF vehicle when in the area. Your courtesy and interest is much appreciated.

Thanks to Maggie and Lance for the company on those many days you also spent in the heat, after work, before work and on your days off! It was much appreciated. Thanks also to Diarmaid (Dermot?) who popped by frequently to catch up on the news of the Peregrines.

Thanks to Caroline who spent time helping out during the watch and to Pierre for his occasional company.

Those in the community who stopped by to inquire what we were doing or to check up on the peregrines deserve many thanks as often you stopped on your way to or from work or shopping. Your interest is appreciated.

I really hope I have not omitted any thanks or acknowledgements! If I have done I sincerely apologise.

I hope to see you all again next year at nesting, hatching and fledging time.

Lyn

Many thanks to Lyn for all her help all year round with reporting on the Peregrines. Volunteer help like yours is essential to the operation of CPF and to your Peregrines.

Catch Up Reports

July 26, 2012 - Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton

Frank Butson Reports:

Canada Square Peregrine report – catch up again.

July 17th

I saw a peregrine high up and flying over the top of the tall condo. This proved to be Haven. She did not stay more than five minutes. Once she had flown I saw Solar and Haven around the side of Rio-Can. Solar then turned and flew east over Canada Square and was gone. Thirteen minutes later she flew from the east to the north-west corner of RC where she landed. Two minutes later she was gone from sight, however a few minutes after that, I spotted her on the louvered part of the roof. She began a walk along that which did not last. Solar took off and flew around and over RC and went into a stoop over the Yonge/Eglinton intersection before flying south on Yonge, around 2180 Yonge and then up to the antenna atop that building.

Solar was very unsettled. I heard no squawking but I wondered if she was looking for family? Ten minutes after landing on the 2180 antenna she flew again. She came north, flew over Canada Square and then back south of 2180 and was gone, again!

There was one more flight from south of 2180, up and over Canada Square, over the old TTC bus bays, circled back over Canada Square and once more south on Yonge to the antenna on 2180 Yonge. She landed on the far side of the antenna and was out of sight. I had spent an hour waiting and watching for peregrine activity and that was the sum total of it so I went home.

July 18^th

I was out at 3:30 pm, earlier than usual, and found Haven on the old nest ledge on Canada Square. Another peregrine was on the level below the nest but north of the wall at the old nest and this proved to be Solar. At 3:45 Haven had disappeared but Solar was still on the lower level. She was hunkered down in the last bit of shade as the sun moved. At 4:38 pm Haven re-appeared on the old nest ledge, she had been *hidden* away in the shade and I guess had taken a nap. At this point Solar flew west of Rio-Can and was gone from sight. Ten minutes later Haven was gone from view again. Two minutes after that I heard squawking coming from the RC roof and sure enough there was Solar. Ten minutes late Solar flew to the nest ledge. I saw Haven *running* with Solar after her and then Haven just took off for RC where she perched 9 floors down.

Three minutes after that encounter, at 5:02pm, Haven flew to a *stash* on the level below nest level, one south of the new nest! She began pulling feathers from the bird she had stashed there and began eating but it was short-lived. At 5:06 pm the little glutton must have seen the feathers and launched herself from the old nest, did a short turn over the old TTC bus bays and found her mom on the level one over from the nest. She landed next to Haven and basically stole the bird Haven was eating. Haven flew back to RC whilst Solar claimed possession by mantling over the prey. What a cheeky little bird she is!!! She plucked feathers and ate until 6:02 at which point she flew to the same height as the old nest but on the north side of Canada Square.

I left two minutes later and as I did Haven flew to the *stash* area to see if there was anything left!! Poor mom, she scratched around and I am not sure whether she found much. She did appear to be pulling at a bit here and there.

July 25^th

I was out along Eglinton sometime between 6:00-6:30 pm this evening and saw two peregrines fly onto the old nest ledge on Canada Square. They disappeared to the back but a minute or so later one hopped down onto the lower level and sat at the edge. I was without binoculars so could not tell who they were but I believe them to have been Haven and Solar. Naturally it began to rain so I went into the mall and shopped.

At 7:15 pm I returned to observe and found Haven on the south Face of Rio-Can. At 7:31 Haven flew south along Duplex avenue in a *sort of stoop*, circled behind the black building and then flew north in the gap between the black building and 2180 Yonge. She flew west of Canada Square then north over the Y/E intersection and was gone.

At 7:43 pm both Haven and Solar appeared from the north of Eglinton, talon touched in the vicinity of NE corner of Canada Square before both flew east and out of sight. I sat for another twenty minutes before the rain came and I left.

I have not seen Stormin and Simcoe for well over a week and Solar is flying well. She still appears to be quite dependent on Haven for food but I am sure that will change.

As you can see my reports are rather sporadic. So this will probably be my last *official* report for the peregrines, this year, although I will continue to check on occasion and if there is anything to report I shall do so.

Lyn

A Quick Stop at Etobicoke Sun Life

July 25, 2012 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre

Tracy Simpson Reports:

Yesterday I stopped in at Etobicoke Sun Life to check up on O’Connor, Jack and their three young fledglings.  When I first arrived, the nest ledge was empty and so I set up at Eagle Rd. and Bloor for a while in the hopes of catching someone coming home.  I wasn’t to be disappointed when Olympia came flying in and screamed at the pigeons on the rooftop to just get in her mouth and be done with it!!  A couple of half hearted stoops at one of them was all that she was in to at the time and she spent the rest of her stint at home soaring beautifully above the buildings.  After she disappeared to the south, I went on a hunt for others.  I went north off of Aberfoyle onto Lomond and found Windward, her red tape very visible, hanging out on the west side of the most westerly tower of Sun Life just below the Canadian flag.  She hung out there for a while and then took off and flew recon around the building rooftops also looking for a bit of dinner.  She didn’t seriously stoop anything but her flights were also quite impressive.  Great control and beautiful soars.

I left shortly thereafter before catching sight of the adults or little Euro, the only male, who I am sure was out and about with Mom.  I will check back again in the coming week to see if I can spot anyone else at home.

!!! I’m a big boy now! Now let the games begin!

July 22, 2012 - Kitchener - CTV-Bell Media Tower

Mark Nash Reports:

July 22nd - 2012

By 6:30am this morning, little Jr. was clearly showing that his level of confidence had more than doubled since his return back to the nest level. Both Statler, Caster and Jr., were observed in the air all at the same time playing “catch-me-if-can” with Jr. Statler flew around with a small food package in her talons, with Jr., in hot pursuit. While the event only lasted less than a few minutes, it was a first very important lesson. One of the many that will now be able to take place now that Jr., has learned how to get back to the nest ledge level on his own. After a short game of catch-me-if-you-can, Statler eventually flew back to the upper roof area, landed and fed Jr. on the roof.

One of the criteria in which we follow with regards to the duration of a fledge watch, is the fledglings ability to hold their altitude and stay off the ground - (no longer needing to be rescued). The second important criteria, is the fledgling(s) ability to actually return back to the nest ledge level - (regardless of the its height), on their own steam. 50% of the fledglings flight challenges are physical - (building muscle mass, coordination, excessive baby fat & weight), and the other 50% of their problem is their lack of confidence.

Given that both of these things can take some time for the young fledglings to learn, little Jr., seems to have demonstrated proficiency with both. As such, the organized fledge watch will close at the end of the day today as a dawn to dusk monitoring will no longer be necessary. Its up to Statler and Caster and Jr., now!

That being said, Jr., is still going to have to be spot checked periodically throughout the next week as he can still get into trouble.

For the next 6 to 10 weeks, little Jr., will still be solely dependant on his parents for food and protection while they are teaching him all of the necessary life skills that he will need to survive as a peregrine that will be on his own. Come late Sept./Oct., he will succumb to the ergh to migrate and leave the home territory and his parents. He will be on his own for the next two to three years until he matures and starts looking for a mate and territory of his own to settle down in and begins raising his own family.

The next entry should have the results of the Sun Life’s “name the chick” contest, and we should be able to announce the fledglings name!

Stay tuned for more updates, lots of photos, and the announcement of his name!

!!! Elusive!

July 25, 2012 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre

Kathy Reports:

That’s the best word to describe this family over the past few weeks.  I did hear the kids yelling 2 or 3 times last week in the early morning but no sightings.  I saw O’Connor a total of 2 times, once perched on the web cam and the other time sitting by the nest box.  Jack was seen on the ADP sign one day as well.

Otherwise they haven’t been visible.  This morning I did a turn around the block and no luck seeing or hearing anyone.  I do know they’ve been training and hunting south of out territory and I’m assuming all is going well..as they say, no news in this case is good news!