July 09, 2012 - Scarborough - Yellow Pages
CPF Volunteer Reports:
On both July 9 and July 11, I dropped by the Yellow Page nest site after work for quick checks on the peregrine falcon family.
On July 9, 2012, all the way while I was still driving towards the building, I could make out the shape of two peregrine falcons on the west side of the building. As soon as I parked my car and went to the field across from YP, both of them disappeared. I stood there for about 15 mins with my camera and binoculars and just when I started doubting myself whether I really saw two peregrines, I saw a juvie poking its head and body out from the top level ledge. He was there less then 10 seconds before i could focus and take a good picture.
Then I realize another juvie just showed himself up near the right shoulder ledge on the same side. I was able to take more pictures of it and identify it as Albus. Albus was preening himself and staying at the ledge for about 5 minutes and then retreat to the corner again.
On July 11, 2012, as soon as i arrived at the parking lot, I saw the two fledgelings circling the top of the building chasing each other. Their flying skills have improved. Both were having a good time playing and chasing, talon tagging. There were a few attempts when they came closer to the pyramid top of the building and I think trying to land on those pipings lining the edges (just like Reuben and Linn like to do) but failed. Every time when they could not landed properly, they managed to gain a little bit of altitude and change direction, circle around the top and try again. They are very persistent and did not give up. It took them a few tries to sucessfully landed and I am very pleased.
Both of these fledglings are very elusive and definitely like to play hide and seek with us. So I feel very lucky on both occasions, being rewarded with appearances of little Paul and Albus.
Winnie
Posted on July 12, 2012 12:36 am
July 10, 2012 - Kitchener - CTV-Bell Media Tower
Tracy Simpson Reports:
I met Marion at 5:30pm for the closing shift at the Sun Life Financial nest site on this beautiful, cool evening. The resident male was on his favorite perch on the east side of the building and the female was not in view. Just after 6pm, the male took of his perch and flew several times back and forth across the eastern face of the building before landing on the retaining wall at the top of the concrete pillar section of the building we watchers refer to as the playpen. This is the area that we believe the juvenile is now spending most of his time playing, exercising and staying in the shade. At around 6:30pm, the male took off east on what appeared to be a serious hunt and disappeared from our sight. Within 10 minutes, the resident female appeared on one of the uprights that hold the Sun Life Financial sign but didn’t stay there for long. Minutes later she was up on the “playpen” retaining wall in the exact place the male was sitting and she was looking down onto the roof. She then left and headed north on a hunt but returned moments later without prey. She flew straight onto the roof, remained for a few minutes and the flew back up to the top of the retaining wall.
As we sat watching and talking about the site, a pure white pigeon flew in from the north, glided just beneath the resident female, banked up and over the roof and then circled around to the north again. We chatted at the brave act the pigeon had just made and then forgot all about him. Within 30 minutes the pigeon had returned for another go and this time the female would have none of it. She took off of her perch and flew directly at it as the pigeon moved south of the building and as she reached it, Statler banked to the left and flashed talons and the pigeon rolled to evade her. They both broke away from one another; the pigeon carrying on south and the female returning to the retaining wall. It was as if her flight at it was just to give a clear message that it was annoying her and to “get lost, silly pigeon or become food”. After this little event, the pigeon did not return!!
As the sun was setting and we began to pack up for the night, Statler, the resident female was perched high on the concrete pillar playpen wall and the male had yet to return. We look forward to seeing the family tomorrow as the juvenile should now be approximately 37 days old; just right for a first appearance!
Posted on July 11, 2012 9:26 am
July 10, 2012 - Toronto - Hearn Power Station
CPF Volunteer Reports:
Hello Mark
Its Bill here. I was at the hearn this evening and spent a few hours watching the young juveniles and all three are doing well. The adult resident male “Peter” brought in food twice in and hour and half. Seems to like the other building just east of the Hearn, at least today anyway. Also one of the oung ymales disappeared and came back with food no calling or adult male around ,from a distance looked like it was dancing on the roof got my bins out and saw it fly around the corner with what appeared to be a small bird in its talons.
Just wondering if it caught that himself and if its posable at this stage??? Anyway just thought I would let you know all seems well so far. So far they look like they are all doing well. Talk to you soon,
Best, Bill
Posted on July 11, 2012 1:26 am
July 10, 2012 - Kitchener - CTV-Bell Media Tower
Mark Nash Reports:
July 10th - 2012 - Morning and afternoon update:
A slow day on the watch today and for the most parts, very uneventful with the exception of the Turkey Vultures visiting in the later afternoon.
Arrived at 5am, signed in and in position at 5:15 am. Pretty slow day for the most parts, but both resident adults in view and semi active all day. Finally at 6:30am the adult male observed bring in food to the east elevation and transferred to Statler - (the resident adult female). After what seemed to for ever, she finally disappeared onto the roof area out of our view with the food.
Finally again at 1:30pm, food was once again delivered to the adult female - (Statler) and takes it onto the roof area and disappears from our view. Several minutes later she returns to our view roosting on the upper roof area without the food, and quite obviously not cropped-up with food herself. For the most parts of the day, both adults were quite visible, taking only short flights around the nest building and roosting in their usual spots.
The only days real excitement came when a couple of Turkey Vultures wandered into the territory and got a little too close to the nest building.
At approx. 3pm, Statler, (the resident adult female) escorted a Turkey Vulture out of the territory, stared yet another down as it passed through, and later, at approx 4pm, the resident adult male was observed attacking one of the Turkey Vultures with a full body contact hits from above.
Needless to say, Turkey Vultures (among many other avian intruders these days) are no longer welcomed! The final days score remains: Turkey Vultures zero, peregrines three!
I’ve finally been able to go through some of the hundreds of photos that I have been taking and although we have not yet been able to get the resident adults band number, we have been able to identify the band colours. He is dawning a Black over Red recovery band on one leg and a purple USFW band on the other leg.
Sadly, the photos thus far are not the greatest, but bear in mind that we are stationed several hundred yards from the nest building and the birds are 20 stories up at roof level. I have several hundred photos still to go through, and maybe I will come accross something decent. lots more to come!
Still, the young hatchling has not yet come to any of the upper rooftop leading edges to show himself. Soon although, as he will gain more confidance and will appear. Then the fun will begin!!!!!!!
Stay tuned………
Posted on July 11, 2012 12:55 am
July 09, 2012 - International, National and Local News
Mark Nash Reports:
July 9th - 2012
Two fledglings peregrines were observed wandering around on the ground at 7:30 am in the morning, guarded by several members of the local community until CPF was notified. Bruce and Kathy from the CPF to the rescue!
Well, it seems that every year over the past several years we have discovered a new nest site that has evaded detection and is only discovered when fledglings start appearing on the ground. This year is no exception! Today, reports started flooding in to the CPF head office phones, mobile phones and e-mail of a report of two young falcons wandering around on the roadway narrowly being missed by on coming vehicle traffic. A huge thank you to Randy and his family who spent most of the day protecting and guarding the two fledglings until CPF was finally notified and dispatched to the site at that ICICI building in the Eglinton Ave east and Don Valley Parkway.
What really adds injury to insult, (at least for us), is that we have been getting reports of peregrine activity in this area for the past six plus years. For this same period of time, we have spend many hours each year and never have we seen been able to find a nest site. This is the first year that we have had evidence of actual nesting activity and offspring being produced.
Again thanks to Randy’s persistence with the many telephone calls that he made with most everyone not given him much attention and assistance, he was finally forwarded to the Toronto Wildlife Centre in Downsview, who identified his photos as peregrines and then called the CPF.
With an incredible story to follow of the days events by all, the two young fledglings were eventually rescued from the roadway. A huge thank you also goes out to Bruce and Kathy from the CPF who responded so quickly and managed to facilitate they rescues.
More of the story to follow. Here are some of the many photos that were sent into us by Samantha, Dominic and Randy.
Stay tuned for additional details of the rescue, banding and release back to their parents!
Now a new fledge watch!! HELP!!!!!!
Posted on July 10, 2012 11:54 pm
July 09, 2012 - Toronto - Don Mills
Ann Brokelman Reports:
Last night Monday July 9 I stopped at the Don Mills site with Patty Gale. The 5 falcons were having a wild night.
Got out of my car to see Blaze hit the window at 240 Duncan. Bounced up and attacked Mira again for the food in her talons. Then Amora got in on the act and was attacking Blaze.
Over and over they were after one another. Mira dissappeared to the back of 220 with food. Blaze and Amora were screaming for food. Amora took off across the road just missing the pink building and landed on
a hydro pole at the back road. Blaze Took off after Kendal. Quest was sitting on top of 220 eating.
Amora took flight again and flew back on top of the 220 building with Mira. Lovely to see the two girls together. Amora took off again towards the pink building and bounced feet first off the building.
Blaze took off and tried to land with Mira who blocked him. He went backwards and finally landed at another location. All five were full of beans.
NO one was hurt. When it started to rain I left.
Donna Hayes saw all 5 birds this morning.
One note is that Quest spend the whole day yesterday till 5pm in her nest. Today she did the same.
Posted on July 10, 2012 9:18 pm
July 10, 2012 - Ottawa - Delta Ottawa City Centre
CPF Postmaster Reports:
Tuesday, July 10, 2012 — 4:35 p.m.
Good afternoon everyone
Diana is perched on the SWcorner of the Delta Ottawa City Centre hotel rooftop. No sign of the male adult at this time.
Take care,
N. McKenna
Posted on July 10, 2012 8:28 pm
July 10, 2012 - Windsor - Ambassador Bridge
Dennis Patrick Reports:
We know it has been a while since we did any posting but it has been too hot for us and the four youngsters. All four of them are doing well, they are doing things that we have not seen before in the other years. A few days ago we were there and one of the four landed on the ground and literally walked up to the four pigeons that were standing there. What was it thinking?!?! Finally the four pigeons flew off and then the little Peregrine did the same. Last evening when we were pulling into the parking lot we could hear them and two kids were chasing Voltaire because she had food in her talons. By the time we got parked the two kids were on the ground again with feathers flying like crazy. One of them finally flew away but one stayed there and ate while Voltaire was on the side of the Bridge watching very carefully to make sure the chick was going to be o.k. Finally it flew off and landed under the Bridge with its crop very full. Voltaire landed on the ground, picked up the leftovers and flew up and finished the rest of the bird. Viper, General Brock, Twitter and Eddy are doing quite well and it is always fun to watch them especially when they are flying around together. They really enjoy it when it’s not too hot. We just Thank all of our Volunteers for keeping watch over our four little Peregrines. We have a wonderful team this year, without all of you it would be hard to follow all four of these little ones.
Gwen & Dennis, Site Co-ordinators CPF
Posted on July 10, 2012 9:45 am
July 09, 2012 - Kitchener - CTV-Bell Media Tower
Tracy Simpson Reports:
This afternoon, Marion and I joined Mark at just after 2:00pm and found that the female had been pretty stationary all day on top of the northern retaining walls that surround the roof. It wasn’t long after we arrived that the adults started to become more active with the male arriving shortly after 2:15pm to his favorite perch on the east side of the nest building. He didn’t stay more than 10 minutes before launching off to the east on a serious hunt. Just before 3:30pm, Tony Bergauer from Bentall Kennedy called Mark to let us know that the female had swung into the west side of the building and looked to be prepping lunch. I grabbed the scope and camera and headed around the building to the west side on John St and found Statler, the resident female, on top of one of the parapets and indeed she was handling a rather robust pigeon. After a good half an hour of prepping with some bites for herself in between, she came around the building, circled twice and then took food into the ledge but this time entering from the King St. side of the concrete column. Five minutes later, she exited the roof from the east side and hadn’t any food with her. She took to the air and headed due west out of the territory flying high. By this time the resident male had returned and was perched once again in his favorite spot on the east wall.
All of a sudden, at 4:40pm, the adult male wakes up from napping and bolts down the ledge several feet before dropping in onto the roof out of sight. Two minutes later, the female flew in and took up position in the spot the resident male had just left. Approximately 10 minutes later, the adult male came up off of the roof and was now roosting on the northern side of the building facing King St. It looked as though they had the juvenile corralled with one adult to the right of him and one adult to the left. Both adults were looking down at the roof into the corner of the concrete column that runs up the height of the building with a look that said, “Whatever you are doing, just cut it out!!” The adults remained in their positions for the next hour with one eye closed and one eye always on the roof!!
Just after 6pm, both adults took to the air. The female left the east face and the male quickly filled in that position. The female took her flight around the building and landed right on the east side near to the concrete column before dropping down onto the roof. After a good half an hour on the rooftop, the female left and flew up to the north facing Sun Life Financial sign and found a good roosting spot on one of the girders that holds the sign. After another hour of roosting and preening, the adult male took off on another serious hunt to the east and the female flew around to the top of the concrete column. The resident male returned shortly but without any food and landed on the top of the east facing section of louvers; a ledge that is just too perfect! There the adults remained as I headed out of Waterloo. Given the interest by the adults today in the rooftop area and their actions around it, I believe it won’t be long now before the juvenile male makes his first appearance!!
Posted on July 10, 2012 1:09 am
July 09, 2012 - Ottawa - Delta Ottawa City Centre
CPF Postmaster Reports:
Monday, July 9, 2012 — 4:35 p.m.
Good afternoon everyone,
We have a full house this afternoon at the Delta. I can see two falcons on the Delta Ottawa City Centre hotel rooftop. A large falcon (Diana) is perched on the SW corner (facing inward) and the smaller falcon is perched in between the 1st and 2nd NE pillars (facing outward).
Take care,
N. McKenna
Posted on July 9, 2012 11:47 pm
