William Osler Chicks are Named!!
July 16, 2012 - Etobicoke - William Osler
Tracy Simpson Reports:
Today’s watch began at 6am with the two juveniles on the southeast corner and the adults sitting together in the tower. This is a distinct shift in the adults pattern of roost sites and may indicated that a fledge is close. By 6:30am, Hurricane flew into the ledge with food and Chessie was hot on his tail. She took the food off of Hurricane and then proceeded to share it with her chicks. The second feeding of the morning was right on time with Chessie coming in at just after 7:30am with a small package. Of course the two juveniles had a massive fight over it!! First the female snatched it from Chessie and took off down the ledge. Her brother was not to be fooled by this diversion and tore off after her and successfully removing the food from between her feet. He headed down the ledge in the other direction. Now faster, she was able to catch up to him and the tug o war was on!! Ross from William Osler Environmental Services came out to check up on the kids and he had a big announcement for us. The chicks have official been named!! The juvenile male is Ossie and the juvenile female is Tobi. Congratulations to the William Osler Hospital staff and your falcon family!!
By 9am we were joined by Mark Heaton of the OMNR and the Ontario Stewardship Rangers who came to assist us for the morning. I conducted a training session for the Rangers on Fledge Watch protocol, equipment, safety and rescues and then we settled in for some serious action… …nothing, nada, zero. After the two feedings early on in the morning and with the mounting heat of the day, the young ones baffed out and fell asleep in the nest tray. There they stayed for the bulk of the morning until the 12:30pm feeding came in. The fought and screamed and ate but back to bed they went. They finally woke up at 2:30pm and romped around the eastern and southern ledges With lots of touch and goes being done by both parents in an effort to incite a first fledge. Food came in shortly after 4pm and was delivered directly to Tobi who lost it to Ossie who was then reprimanded by Hurricane and had the food taken away who then got in trouble from Chessie who took it and gave it back to Tobi!! And so the food merry-go-round continues with this family and is quite the spectacle to watch!!
The rest of the evening was very active with a lot of flapping, wing exercising, and running of the ledges. The last feed of the day for Ossie and Tobi came in at 8:30pm and was generous enough to send them off to bed.
I will be back on site tomorrow to follow the progress of the two young ones as the parents are indicating that the time has come and Ossie is ready for flight school!!