May 30, 2013 - Kitchener - CTV-Bell Media Tower
Tracy Simpson Reports:
This past few weeks has been nothing short of a whirlwind banding tour with nest sites all coinciding with one another and so bandings followed suit. We have been all over the southern province ensuring that our juveniles produced in Ontario are identified and protected as they learn to fly and leave in the fall to head south. Now that we are through the bulk of the bandings, its time for a little catch up.
On May 30th, the CPF attended the Waterloo CTV tower to band the offspring that were produced by Statler and Caster in the communications drum on their tower. It all began with many phone calls and meetings with the engineering staff, human resources staff and management at CTV as well as the team from Bell Mobility that manages antenna on the tower to first determine whether the chicks could be safely accessed for banding. We were joined by John Miller, seasoned extractionist and certified high angle rescue instructor, and the plan for decent to the drum was put in place. We then worked with Anne Yagi, bander and biologist for the OMNR VIneland / Guelph district, to arrange a date based on the safe age window for banding and the schedules of not only herself but the Species at Risk biologist as well. Once that piece of the puzzle fell into place, we then worked with CTV to work out the time and media coverage of the banding event and all was set to go. If this looks like a ton of work, it is!! Thanks go out to Marion Nash who made incredible efforts behind the scenes to arrange everything. The invitations went out and it was on!!
The banding took place in one of the studios of CTV where we were joined by Bell Mobility staff, CTV personalities and local watchers from last year’s successful nesting season. John Miller and his back up climber from Bell Mobility ascended the tower and brought down three healthy hatchlings to the studio for the live noon broadcast. Your three hatchlings are:
Arnie 643 gram male 21 days old R/50 White tape
Big Al 647 gram male 24 days old R/51 Green tape
Miss Fran 866 gram female 23 days old S/29 Yellow tape
The three newest members of the Waterloo community were then returned to their nest and parents Statler and Caster could now relax. At first, during the extraction, it was Statler who did all of the defending of the nest as Caster was off hunting out of the territory. When he arrived back on site he was furious to find his “wife and kids” all vocalizing and wondering where he’d been! He arrived just as the chicks were being returned to the nest drum and did some awesome flights around the tower as Statler took a break on a nearby antenna.
A great job done by Mark, Marion, John Miller, Anne Yagi and her OMNR assistants, CTV, B ell Mobility and a host of others. It was also great to see all of the watchers joining us for the event. It was great to see Rudy, Tony, Dale, Kellie and so many others it would another whole page to name. Thanks to all who joined us. The Fledge Watch is ready to begin on Wednesday June 12th when the oldest chick is 37 days of age so dust off your binoculars and come on down for the next phase of support for this family.
Posted on June 8, 2013 11:07 am
June 08, 2013 - Windsor - Ambassador Bridge
Dennis Patrick Reports:
What a handsome little Hercules, we put back onto the roof across the street from the nest site again yesterday morning at 11 A.M. he looked so full of life and even bigger. Freddie and Voltaire at first just watched him then with all of the squaking from all three of the chicks they both at different times flew in and landed near Hercules to welcome him back. Lots of noise from all three chicks. At 12:10 P.M. Voltaire flew in with food, fed Hercules first then flew up on the nest ledge to feed Gwenis and Tecumseh. They were all very quiet after that big feeding. Then at 3 P.M. back Voltaire came again with another food package for Hercules, he was quite happy with that feeding as well. At 4:45 P.M. Hercules decided that he would fly again, did quite well in his flying skills, landed on the abudment across the street. Walked around to the other side where we had Volunteers watching him and others watching what was going on with the other two still in the nest box. Crazy thing is Hercules just missed his third feeding of the day because as he flew off the building Voltaire flew in with another food package. Thank You to Paul, Larry, Maureen, Mark, Mike, David, Denise, Marliese and Marilyn for helping to Watch during the day and evening. Also to the Ambassador Bridge Company for again coming over with the lift to put Hercules back on the roof top yet again. When we left late in the evening Paul and Mike were still there keeping Watch on Hercules. Stay tune for more news. Gwenis and Tecumseh did a lot of squaking yesterday but stayed on the nest ledge. We believe it was too cold for them to want to fly. : )
Gwen & Dennis
Posted on June 8, 2013 7:58 am
June 07, 2013 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre
Kathy Reports:
If you’ve been checking out the kids via the web cam you can see how much they’ve changed over the past week as we approach the time for them to take the big leap off the ledge. Fledge watch is expected to start early next week!
O’Connor is currently feeding the kids while Jack is perched on top of the building on the corner.
Posted on June 7, 2013 11:40 am
June 07, 2013 - Toronto - Don Mills
Marion Nash Reports:
Today is Banding Day. See you soon little ones!
Posted on June 7, 2013 7:56 am
May 29, 2013 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre
Tracy Simpson Reports:
On Wednesday May 29th at the Etobicoke Sun Life nest site, 4 healthy chicks joined an excited community in the lobby of the east tower where they were sexed, weighed and banded. They first required a ride from their 19 storey nest down to the lobby that was generously provided by the amazing staff at Skyreach Window Washing and CPF staff extractionist Kathy Smith. As the stage ascended up, the resident female O’Connor was ready for them and was very vocal about their approach to her ledge. The swing stage and CPF staff handled this girl with the utmost of care and expertise as the growing crowd in the lobby watched the event on two 60 inch colour monitors provided by Sony, one of the sponsors of the new web cameras. The banding here was an a amazing opportunity to highlight the installation and connection of two brand new web cameras at Etobicoke Sun Life that was handled, supported and provided by Damar Security Systems and Sony Canada. After the web camera that was installed in 1998 failed to produce images 2 years ago, the CPF has been working diligently to establish new technological partnerships and we are proud to have the support of both Damar and Sony providing such an incredible image. The chicks were gingerly removed from the nest ledge and sent up to the roof to Mark Heaton, Aurora District biologist of the OMNR, who then brought them down for the main event. In the east tower lobby, the chairs were full, a table of coffee and snacks were set and the entire delivery of this event was organized and sponsored by our fabulous nest site hosts Etobicoke Sun Life managed by Oxford Properties represented by Peter Zuk and his support staff. Introductions to the ceremony were made and the list of thanks to supporters long during which we took the opportunity to highlight the care of this species at risk by our avian veterinarian team at the Greenwood Park Animal Hospital represented by Dr. Markus Luckwaldt, Dr. Sam Munn and his wife Kirsti Munn. It was great to have Kirsti out representing one of the key supporters involved in the continued success of these birds. The table set, the crowd ready and it was now time for our stars of the day to make their first appearance. Each chick was brought out and banded in turn and the CPF was honoured to have the assistance of Audrey Tobolka from the Minister’s office at the banding table and most importantly the Hon. David Orazietti, Minister of Natural Resources, who addressed the crowd and participated in this most important monitoring and protection action for the Peregrine falcon. We are pleased to introduce to you, the Etobicoke Sun Life family of three females and one male;
Big Frank male 23 days 760 grams S over 39 white tape
Lizzy female 22 days 785 grams S over 38 yellow tape
Layton female 25 days 945 grams S over 40 green tape
Shania female 24 days 905 grams no band red tape
Beginning on June 10th, the work with this family will continue as the Fledge Watch program begins with the local community support of the CPF volunteer watch crew including Kathy, Baylie, Dianne, Rob, Angie and Bruce that will be there to assist the young family as they take their first awkward flights. Thank you to all that have helped make this fabulous event possible as we continue to offer our support and protection for the still recovering Peregrine falcon in Ontario. Congratulations everyone!!
Posted on June 6, 2013 11:53 am
June 05, 2013 - Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton
Marion Nash Reports:
Banding day - June 5th 2013
I apologise at the outset for the omission of some names.
Our thanks to all of the people who were instrumental in making this happen this year, namely:
Neil Armstrong and Cameron from Northam Realty Advisors provided space for the banding to take place and who take an active interest in the peregrine pair and their growing family at Canada Square.
Mark Heaton from Ministry of Natural Resources was responsible for banding the peregrines and another person from a different department in MNR also in attendance.
The intrepid Steve, from Solar Window Cleaning, who was responsible for extracting the young from their nest ledge. He worked solo this year, his third on the ledge!! One hand on the rope as the other fended off the attacks of an irate Haven and Stormin who dived on him incessantly. This year Steve only donned a *hoodie* as part of his defence – no helmet!!
Mark and Marion Nash, from The Canadian Peregrine Foundation, organised the banding.
Bruce, from Paragon Security, let us into the building.
As spectators there were more people from Northam Realty and a couple of CPF volunteers, Zoe and Lyn.
Haven and Stormin produced three youngsters again. This year the mix is two females and one male.
Haven provided a pigeon for their breakfast this morning and Stormin apparently provide some desiccated *piece of something* as an intended snack later on.
The young were extracted and replaced without incident and Steve, although subject to many *near misses*, came away unscathed.
We have the young male named Ramjet, black band, number W over 65 and white tape.
One female named Tinia, black band, number Y over 67 and red tape.
The second female, Imagine, black band, number Y over 68 and blue tape.
After the banding I went to my usual perch from which I observe the nest. Haven sat on that ledge for two hours watching her brood. I went to the bank and when I came out Haven had left.
All three are very healthy young peregrines. In a few short weeks we will once again begin the fledge watch as the youngsters take to the air.
Lyn
Photos to come
Posted on June 6, 2013 11:44 am
- All Reports
CPF Postmaster Reports:
June 6th - 2013
Just to re-confirm to all, banding of the Duncan Mill Road peregrine hatchlings will take place again this year on Friday June 7th - 2013 at the corporate head offices of Harlequin, located at 225 Duncan Mills Road. A meet and greet will start at approx. 9:30am with banding to take place at approx. 10am.
Please remember that that this banding time is an approximate time only! As you all know, we are working with wildlife along with many other logistical items and the safety of all involved in this process is our first and foremost concern.
We have only just now notified Quest and Kendal of our intentions, and as you might have expected, I can not post their reply! 
Hope to you see all there!
Posted on June 6, 2013 10:47 am
June 06, 2013 - International, National and Local News
Mark Nash Reports:
June 6th - 2013
We have finally been able to book and confirm a banding date for Wednesday June 12 at 9am.
While this will be the first official banding for the ICICI nest site, it will not be a public style event due to time restrictions and other logistics.
If you remember from last year, by the time we actually had a confirmation of nesting peregrines at the ICICI building, reports were flooding in from local members of the community the same day that two young peregrine fledglings were already on the ground running around the roadway. Local members in the community had been doing their best to herd the two young grounded fledgling peregrine falcons away from local traffic until help arrived. We scrambled manpower from five other ongoing fledge watches to mobilize CPF volunteers to get down to the ICICI location do the rescues!
The young fledglings were successfully rescued by Kathy and Bruce from the CPF and were taken to the Canadian Peregrine Foundation raptor centre to meet with Mark Heaton from the Ministry of Natural Resources so he could band the young fledglings. Later that evening, the two young fledglings - (named Ben and Len) were banded and returned back to the ICICI rooftop nest site to be reunited with their parents.
We will be posting all of the banding photos and other details of the banding, including their names, weights as soon as time permits.
Stay tuned………..
Posted on June 6, 2013 10:20 am
May 29, 2013 - Mississauga - Executive Centre
Tracy Simpson Reports:
On May 29th, the two Mississauga Executive Centre chicks were banded and named in front of a great crowd of onlookers. Two females were weighed and introduced to the community and they are;
Catherine 24 day old female 935 grams S over 37 yellow tape
Ashley 25 day old female 975 grams S over 36 red tape
Meanwhile Cass and Sante, the resident adults, were outside dealing with the swing stage operators and extractionist. Cass positioned herself on the Dejardins sign and gave those on her ledge a good talking to. Sante was on MEC 2 and waited for Cass to spring to action but you could see she was unsure just how to attack this long metal thing at her ledge. This is Cass’s first nest and first year at this site so she was sizing things up before launching. Sante took off over to MEC 3 and pushed Cass off of the sign and the parents did a great job thereafter of letting the operators on the stage know how they felt about it. After the banding was complete and the two girls were back home, Sante flew over and checked on the kids while Cass sat on MEC 2 and waited for Sante to return and report. As we left, the family had settled back into “peregrine normal” and all was well. A job well done by the resident adults!
Many thanks must go out to the Mississauga Executive Centre falcon supporters and the list is long! We would like to thank Colliers International property management group for their continued support of the pair, MEC building management staff Sante, Manny and Marco for all of their efforts, Garda Security staff, the tenants at the MEC complex of buildings, Mark Heaton and the OMNR, and the local volunteer supporters in the community. To the Skyreach Window Washers and CPF staff Kathy Smith we must also heartily thank you for putting together such a successful extraction, monitoring of the adults and return of Catherine and Ashley to their home at MEC 1. This is the 13th year since MEC 1 was first colonized and there are so many success stories that we have shared about this peregrine site with the world. Today’s banding event was another chapter in the continuing story of that success and we are grateful to all that made it possible.
The fun begins on June 10th as the Fledge Watch for Catherine and Ashley will begin. If you are interested in supporting these two lovely ladies as they take to the air for the first time, please send us an email at raptor4@peregrine-foundation.ca.
Posted on June 6, 2013 10:04 am
June 06, 2013 - Scarborough - Yellow Pages
CPF Postmaster Reports:
June 4th - 2013
We have finally been able to book and confirm a banding date for the Yellow Pages nest site.
The banding date is Wednesday June 12th at 11am in the lobby. Hope to see you all there!
Posted on June 6, 2013 9:51 am
