November 17, 2012 - Toronto - Sheraton Centre
Tracy Simpson Reports:
Yesterday Linda, Bruce and I attended the Toronto Sheraton nest site as the new camera seemed to be stuck as of Nov 14th. After investigating the connections and Linda working with the hotel staff, a flip of a switch later and we were back!! Thanks to go to Linda for catching the glitch and getting it done and Bruce for all his help!!
Posted on November 18, 2012 11:26 am
November 12, 2012 - International, National and Local News
CPF Postmaster Reports:
November 12th - 2012
It would appear that the little immature male Gyrfalcon escapee has attracted allot of attention here in Scarborough over the past week and the media frenzy continues with most of the local major newspapers and TV networks that have been out to cover the story.
In addition to the local and national news coverage this little guy has attracted, many of the local birding community and local photographers are making Scarborough one of their regular stopping spots to get a peek.
In this case, (and unlike many of the other escapee falconry birds that we have dealt with), this little male immature Gyrfalcon seems to be holding his own food wise with the abundance of the available avian food sources in the neighbourhood. Lets just say, this is not a good place to be pigeon these days!
With a huge thanks to Ann and Big Frank, we have had allot of recent photos sent in that we would love to share with you. Sadly, no-one has been able to get close enough to read any of the falcons leg band numbers, so it identity and its true owner still remains a mystery.
In this case, given that the Gyrfalcon was produced in captivity and is privately owned as evident by the much smaller breeders type leg bands on its legs.
Even the much larger government issued silver and the coloured recovery marker leg bands are difficult to read even with a decent spotting scope, the tiny breeders bands and the identifying digits etched on them is almost impossible to read unless you have them in your hand.
In some of the photos attached with this update, you can see one of the two small breeders type leg bands, and even with a great deal of magnification and allot of photo-shop colour correcting and sharpening of the image, it is still impossible to see (let along read the band number identification).
Given the abundance of “easy prey” with several very large resident flocks of pigeons in the neighbourhood, it would appear that our little escapee will be want NOT for food that’s for sure!
Given its species, (a Gyrfalcon), it should have no problem with the winter weather conditions that are sure to follow over the next few months. This bird is very well adapt to handle most anything that our southern Ontario winter weather can throw at it,, especially given the huge benefits of the urban landscapes where our resident urban peregrine falcons are now flourishing.
As we know, most all of our resident urban adult peregrines don’t migrate south and spend all year on their territories here in southern Ontario. You can visit most of the CPF nest cams throughout the winter months and regularly see the resident territorial adults still hanging out on their nest ledges all winter long.
It will be interesting to see just how long this little Gyrfalcon will remain in the area.
Stay tuned…..
Posted on November 14, 2012 3:20 pm
November 13, 2012 - Toronto - Don Mills
CPF Postmaster Reports:
November 13th - 2012
Over the past week it would appear that the aluminum cladding work has resumed on the south elevation of the nest building at 220 Duncan Mill Road and things seems to be progressing.
While Quest and Kendal have not been seen over the past week, there is no doubt that they are hold up in their usual winter roosting spots watching from a safe distance as their nest ledge gets a new look.
Photos captured over the past 10 days have revealed quite allot of progress with regards to the aluminum cladding work on the south faces of the building.
Stay tuned, as its only a matter of time that Quest and Kendal make their weekly appearance to inspect the recent improvements. LOL
Posted on November 14, 2012 2:31 pm
November 13, 2012 - Brampton - Courthouse
CPF Postmaster Reports:
Tuesday Nov. 13th - 2012
At around 2:30pm today I found Milton at the top of one of the communication towers above the courthouse.
As I got closer I could see him moving about on his perch. Today I forgot the camera at home but did have my bins so I pointed them at Milton and after a few seconds he was off. I tracked him for a second with the bins when I noticed a second PG!
I brought down the bins long enough to see a cop a few feet from me, staring at me and probably thinking I was crazy but I didn’t have time to explain since I saw the two Pefa’s chasing after a flock of about 7 pigeons.
The flock split and well amid the chaos I’m not sure who went where but there was some serious diving going on by both Pefa’s and fastest of all, one pigeon. I had to look twice as I’ve never seen a pigeon dive for its life before; super fast! Neither PG wound up catching anything and the two flew east BVR.
If I remember correctly there were pigeons on the courthouse as I approached and when it was over there was but one. All the attacks and diving took place over the courthouse parking lot with nobody but myself paying any attention to all the drama above.
Aside from being super lucky to have witnessed two Pefa’s hunting ‘together’ I am most surprised at Milton. This is the first time I’ve ever seen him go after pigeons. It is also notable that they hunted the pigeons from the courthouse which I have not seen since the Courtney’s fledge watch and that was Truss, not Milton.
Unfortunately, everything happened so fast that I don’t even have a clue if the other Pefa was a juvenile or adult let alone banded. I hope I would have recognized if it were a juvenile but seriously, I wasn’t expecting to see two Pefa’s in my bins at the same time!
Can’t wait for tomorrow!
Winston
Posted on November 14, 2012 2:16 pm
November 11, 2012 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre
Tracy Simpson Reports:
I met up with Kathy and Bruce at the Etobicoke Sun Life nest site to check in on the resident pair. A third falcon has been sighted in the area and had O’Connor in a bit of a tizzy ( an understatement ) and we wanted to confirm the identification of the resident pair and that all was well.
When we first arrived, no falcons to be seen. We searched around the nest building and the other towers but still not a peregrine to be had. All of a sudden a bird flies in from the west and lands on the nest ledge. Chup, chup,chup… …and gone as quick as it came. Too fast for a look. We waited around for a return and it wasn’t long before the three of us began to wander about. Bruce spotted a falcon coming in from the west and landing on the west tower with food. Looked to be a rather large female. As we repositioned the bird took off and flew behind the nest building and was somewhere on the Aberfoyle side. Off we all go to Aberfoyle and when we reached Lomond, Kathy spotted a falcon on the center tower eating. Bruce met up with us and from his angle, he could see two falcons on the same ledge.
Back in the Lomond TTC parking lot we were able to see the two falcons together on the ledge. One was eating, the other waiting patiently for a turn. Sound familiar? In O’Connor’s way of thinking, ladies always go first. We gathered up the scopes and were able to confirm that the female was banded Black over Green with a Purple USFW band, the same as O’Connor. We had to wait for a repositioning of the male for a positive look. The female flew off to the Moneris sign on the west tower facing northwest and the male took over eating the rest of the pigeon that was caught.
The female was perched on the dot in the I of Moneris and was watching the skies to the northwest. After finishing his meal, the male flew several circles around the west tower and eventually landed on the lower portion of the S on the same sign. They sat together for a while and then something triggered O’Connor to take off into the air and fly several circuits around the west tower. She then landed on the top curve of the S while the male roosted on the bottom of the curve. It was almost sweet to see the two of them together like this reasserting their bonds. We were able to get a great look through the scope and confirm that the male is indeed Jack with a three character Black band on his right leg and Silver USFW on the left. A unique configuration that only a few falcons have as almost all are banded with the recovery band on their left leg.
Jack took the S in Moneris to mean sleep and so he napped away occasionally sharing O’Connors fascination with the northwest. At times the two looked in that direction together with great intensity and they are absolutely keeping their eyes on something. As we were leaving for the day, Jack took off to the northwest and did something absolutely bizarre. He flew over to a nearby apartment building and I watched him swoop up and disappear near the top of the apartment and then reappear. He repeated this again and then on the third swoop up… …he just disappeared!! Kathy and I piled into my car and off we went to check out just where Jack disappeared to. Lo and behold, here he sat on a ledge no bigger than a slice of cheese in a corner where a concrete balcony met the wall. Got ya!! Given the amount of mutes on the wall and the reports Kathy has received from a friend in one of the neighboring buildings, Jack is making this spot his new pad. A place to hang out where he can be alone with his thoughts! Given the bonding and closeness that we witnessed today, I would bet those thoughts are of a prosperous spring!!
Posted on November 13, 2012 11:00 pm
November 12, 2012 - International, National and Local News
Frank Butson Reports:
I was up to check this bird out a few times in the past several days. It is thriving, hunting pigeons at the mall/plazza. It catches 2-3 each day, so is eating very well. It is in very good health(to see it at least). It has some local competition, with a Coopers Hawk that hunts the same pigeons, a local Redtailed Hawk that hunts the hydro field just north of the plaza and apparently a Peregrine Falcon who it had a tussle with on Sunday afternoon.
Leslie provided this account of the interactions of the Peregrine and the Gyrfalcon.
”
When we came back at 4:15 pm, the bird was perched on a white pole on the Bell building. It took off and all of a sudden an adult Peregrine Falcon started to attack it. The Peregrine would fly above the Gyrfalcon, then fold its wings and dive at the other bird. We could hear the Peregrine screaming at the Gyrfalcon. It would dodge the Peregrine and after a while it tried to grab the Peregrine. This had all the birders there oohing and aahing. The birds separated for a while, with the Peregrine on a hydro tower and the Gyrfalcon on a pole on the Bell building. It looked like a stand-off, with the Gyrfalcon continually looking towards the Peregrine. Then, the Gyrfalcon took off and pestered the Peregrine. We watched until it was hard to see them anymore. Wow!”
As I understand the owner has been to the site and hopes to get back his bird. I will try to follow this story and report what the conclusion is. Lets hope for the best outcome for all the birds concerned.
Posted on November 12, 2012 5:53 pm
November 12, 2012 - International, National and Local News
Kathy Reports:
A rare white Gyrfalcon has been spotted and photographed in Scarborough as per this article in today’s Toronto Star. Photo included..what a magnificent bird!
http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/1286192–rare-white-falcon-spotted-at-scarborough-shopping-mall
Posted on November 12, 2012 10:47 am
November 08, 2012 - Windsor - Ambassador Bridge
Dennis Patrick Reports:
Yesterday afternoon we spent time watching the two sites, the Ambassador Bridge and the one near the River where there has been sightings of another pair. We didn’t see any Peregrines at all, so we stopped by Nick’s Auto Garage and he was very excited to tell us that he hears Freddie and Voltaire most everyday. His garage is so close to the Bridge that sitting in his parking lot it’s quite easy to see it. It’s nice to see the nest tray cleaned so now we just have to wait for Spring and the courtship to begin.
Gwen & Dennis Site Co-ordinators CPF
Posted on November 8, 2012 3:22 pm
November 08, 2012 - Toronto - King Street
CPF Postmaster Reports:
November 8th - 2012
While now in the shade as the afternoon sun sets in the west on the opposite side the nest building, home is still home, and a safe place to be! For a third day this week, we have been watching activity on the Toronto downtown King Street nest ledge by at least one of the resident adult peregrines.
Posted on November 8, 2012 2:32 pm
November 08, 2012 - Toronto - Sheraton Centre
CPF Postmaster Reports:
November 8th-2012
A quick check of the Toronto Sheraton nest cam by Nona that caught the two love birds back on the nest ledge spending some quality time with each other. They must be as excited as we are to finally get some sun light as it has been rather dark and gloomy with constant cloudy overcast and rainy weather.
Thank you Nona for sending in these great screen shots!
Posted on November 8, 2012 2:19 pm
