June 25, 2013 - Toronto - Sheraton Centre
Harry Crawford Reports:
Day 11 - morning check.
From the west side of University Ave. at 8:15am, I spotted one chick
on the Exchange Tower and the other one on Sun Life at 200 King
West. These buildings are higher than the ones they were on in
previous days. This was just after the storm. A bit later, they
were gone and one was seen heading north higher than the Sheraton
Centre. A check of Sheraton 43 saw the two adults, one on 120
Adelaide and the other circling just east of there. Terry sent us a
webcam photo taken at 9:40am showing two adults and a chick on the
nest ledge.
Posted on June 25, 2013 1:30 pm
June 22, 2013 - Mississauga - Executive Centre
Tracy Simpson Reports:
This evening Bruce and I switched sites and I made my way down to the Mississauga Executive Center to spend the evening with Ashley and see whether she was up for making an appearance. When I arrived I initially circled all of the buildings looking for the best angle of the roof retaining wall at MEC three. I settled on the back parking lot as far back as I could go at MEC two and I settled in to await her grand appearance. Bruce had mentioned to me that Ashley hadn’t been seen all day but that he still believed that she was up on the roof of MEC three and that she had yet to fly. I located the parents from my watch position, Cass was on the east side of MEC three and Sante was perched on the J in Jevco at MEC four. For the next 15 minutes Cass flew in lazy circles soaring above the southeast corner of the MEC three building but no Ashley. The female took off on a hunt and returned 10 minutes later labouring as she flew with a rather large pigeon. She took the pigeon up to the retaining wall of MEC three to the exact corner she had just been circling above and sat there with her prize waiting forAshley . The response came but not from the expected location. Ashley finally popped up on the east side of the MEC three building going to one of the concrete ledges at the top of the building. The female flew over bringing the pigeon to Ashley and attempted to draw her off with it. When that failed a bit of a tug-of-war ensued and Ashley was the victor claiming the meal for herself and mom flew off to the retaining wall above her daughter to monitor the mealtime. It’s nice to know that I’m not the only one Ashley’s playing these kinds of disappearing tricks on.
Posted on June 25, 2013 11:32 am
June 22, 2013 - Mississauga - Executive Centre
Bruce Massey Reports:
I have definitely caught MEC fever. I started out this morning’s watch down here looking for Miss Ashley on the MEC3 building retaining wall. She made a brief appearance in the morning and then jumped back down onto the catwalk hidden from view for the bulk of the day. This is been the challenge and the frustration of the watch here at the Mississauga Executive Center and especially with Ashley. Both the rooftops and the ledges within the complex allow the juveniles an opportunity to get down out of view and disappear for hours on end. Ashley was obviously enjoying the opportunity to explore her new world and take advantage of the many nooks and crannies to take a nap, sit and preen or just relax. So instead of watching Ashley today we were spent most of our time watching the adults. They spent most of their time roosting on adjacent buildings but didn’t spend a lot of energy nor paid a lot of attention to the building where Ashley sat. This began to worry me. Did the adults see her? Did they know that she was there? Where in fact was she? Was she on the catwalk or did she drop down into the larger tower space that is on the roof of MEC three? This is what the watchers have been dealing with with Miss Ashley for the past week. She disappears for hours at a time and sometimes even a full day stressing the watchers on the site wondering where she is, what she’s doing and whether she’s behaving herself. After a brief appearance this morning and then not seeing her all day I placed a call to Tracy to give her an update on where Ashley is at and expressed my frustrations and concerns. She knew exactly what I was thinking and what I was going through as she has gone through the exact same thing with Ashley for over a week now. It would appear that the loss of her sibling Catherine meant the competition for food and care no longer existed and therefore she had very little incentive to do much. And that’s what she’s been doing for over a week now, not much. Tired and frustrated with the little bird who could but wouldn’t, Tracy and I decided to switch sites and she came down to close the MEC watch while I took over for her at William Osler. I would like to thank Margaret, Katherine and Shannon for all of their help in watching Ashley and their continued faith in her as she works up her courage to take another flight.
Posted on June 25, 2013 10:41 am
June 21, 2013 - Etobicoke - William Osler
Tracy Simpson Reports:
Today was my first full day at the fledge watch at William Osler hospital and it couldn’t have happened at a better time. Shortly after I arrived here early in the morning the little male with blue tape decided to take his very first flight. All was calm on the nest ledge with all four juveniles napping and relaxing after having a big morning breakfast . The little blue tape male made his way down to the southeast corner of the nest ledge, typically the launch pad for fledges, and began to flap heavily. He stopped briefly, looked around and then he was in the air. It happened just that fast. He flew out over the north parking lot, circled back and landed quite dramatically on window ledge on the north side of the hospital. His next flight came very quickly and took him back out over the north parking lot where he circled around to the east and tried to make for the nest ledge. It was not meant to be and he landed low on a window ledge on the east side of the hospital. Back on the nest ledge, his siblings were wailing their encouragement as the little male made yet another attempt at a flight. This flight took him directly east and he looked to the tower to be his next landing spot. At first he attempted to grab a couple of Hydro wires and hang on but he was unable to get a proper grip. He circled out behind the tower and with assistance from Hurricane he was able to make a safe and happy landing in the East Hydro tower with his parents. He was so excited at his accomplishment for the next 45 minutes all this little boy could do was scream and scream and scream. His siblings sat on the nest ledge looking out at their brother now sitting in the Hydro tower. They were quite intrigued by the fact that he had somehow made it over to mom and dad hangout. As elated as he was to be out and flying, he wasn’t quite done yet. After a good little rest the little male took off from the Hydro tower and headed towards the nest building. He pumped as hard as he could, flapping as madly as he could with his ultimate goal straight ahead of him. He managed to get the height that he was looking for maybe just a little too high. The louvres at the back of the nest ledge became his backstop and he was finally and happily home. He ran down the ledge to join his siblings on the northeast corner and they greeted him with some of the loudest screaming I’d heard yet. It was all said and done by 11 AM, the first fledge out and back home and the rest of the day was spent preening, eating, sleeping and playing along the nest ledge and the south side of the hospital. Chessie and Hurricane were doing an outstanding job at controlling their bouncing brood . Any time one of the juveniles went down the ledge and out of their view Hurricane would chastise them and demand their quick return. What I found quite amazing is that the juveniles actually listened to their parents and would return to view very quickly so that mom and dad knew exactly where they were. Of the remaining unfledged juveniles, the most active of the bunch is the little female with red tape. She spent a great deal of time on the southeast corner hanging on for dear life and flapping madly and it looks like she’s probably going to be the next to fledge. I closed the evening with all four juveniles the northeast corner of the hospital and they were all vocalizing quite loudly for such a late hour at night. I look forward to tomorrow and the flights yet to come here at the William Osler hospital.
Posted on June 25, 2013 8:53 am
June 24, 2013 - Scarborough - Yellow Pages
Marion Nash Reports:
One of the babies was reported by CPF Volunteer Cathy Smith to have taken flight today but lost attitude and has landed on the first floor level above the entrance below the nest. It’s late in the day just before dark and he has settled down to sleep so will have to keep a close eye on it as it may come to ground Tuesday.
CPF Volunteer Dave Currie said that another had slipped off the nest and fluttered down to the ledge just below the nest but no problem as that happens a lot at this site and he/she is just fine and still high.
There has been lots of flapping over the last couple days and the fun is just starting so if anyone is interested in putting in some volunteer hours call the office and let us know 416-481-1233 leave your name and number and we will get back to you.
Marion
Posted on June 25, 2013 8:20 am
June 24, 2013 - Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton
Marion Nash Reports:
Not too much flying today it was just too hot.
As always I spent my birthday on the street watching the falcons, that’s Ok as they are as much my family as my human family are and I was treated to some nice show off flights from all at about 8:30 AM on and off for a couple hours with both girls flying around Young and Eglinton and over top of the nest building with Mom and Dad and the boy took a short flight and went back to his favourite shade spot on the corner ledge beside the nest ledge, at least all now have there wings and are flying very well.
Mom and Dad chased off a Turkey Vulture mid afternoon and soon after a Gull who tried to land on the roof top close to Imagine but they too were hot and did very little flying today.
Both Mom and Dad have been staying very close to the chicks this year and taking flight with them each time one took off and when 1 of them went out of site one of the parents would go and sit next to or very close to that chick so it was easy for us to find them.
They did a little hunting and feeding today but the kids were not all that interested even in food in this heat as they did take the food but not much screaming, I didn’t see the parents eat much today either.
For the next few days we will continue to spot check the kids but will wind down the all day watch as the worst part is over. The fledgelings are keeping their altitude and have learned how to recover from a missed landing , all have bumped windows and are learning to avoid them.
Now the truly amazing flights and fun will begin with the chicks flying together with the parents and learning all they need to know to make it in the world of falcons on their own so it’s up to Mom and Dad now but we will keep you posted on what we see in out spot checks and are on call just in case.
The Guards at Paragon security Canada Square have a rescue carrier and have been coached on how to do a rescue and have been part of every release back to the ledge over the years so they will keep an eye open for any problems for us as usual Thanks Guys for all your help!!!!
Lyn and I also want to thank 53 Division police for being so accommodating over the years letting us use the property as our watch location where we set up outside their window on Duplex, letting us use the washrooms, come in and sit in the air conditioning to cool down and helping us rescue Tinia they were and have always been great with us and ask about the birds every day.
Sorry there have been no pictures but we did not have a photographer volunteer at this site this year when things settle down at the other sites maybe we can get out and take a few.
Marion
Posted on June 25, 2013 8:01 am
June 24, 2013 - Niagara Falls
Mark Nash Reports:
June 24th - 2013
A huge thank you to Jacquie from Buffalo USA and our great friends from the south who have been doing their best keeping a close eye on the young hatchlings at the Niagara falls nest site.
Jacquie writes:
Hi Mark,
Sorry we got cut off earlier! I wasn’t able to get you back to you after being cut off, cell service can be very frustrating at the best of times!!. I just wanted to send you a quick note and update in case you get a chance to check your email tonight. Here are some photos of the little guy that fell today after slipping off the window ledge while on one of his maiden flights trying to get back to the nest ledge.
Four of the young hatchlings can officially now be called fledglings, as all of the young have taken their first flights and left the nest ledge. While three of the four appear to have successfully made it to the upper roof top of the old power house, one has not been so lucky and has lost altitude and now much lower, dangerously close to the water down at the base in front of the power house very visible from our side.
I have attached some of todays photos that can give you an idea of where he is currently located.
Good luck!
Jacquie
Posted on June 25, 2013 7:28 am
June 24, 2013 - Toronto - Don Mills
Mark Nash Reports:
June 24th - 2013
Today was one of the hottest days in the year so far with almost record high temps and debilitating humid-x!
Despite the heat, both fledglings were more active than you might have expected today with Luna really demonstrating her ability to not only hold her altitude, but she is now investigating the world around her.
While Luna is still a typical fledgling, (with some good landings, and some not so good landings), she clearly has mastered sustained flight and no longer of high risk of coming to the ground and needing to be rescued- (provided of course that she stop crashing into windows)!! By the end of the day today, she had flown much farther in sustained flight almost out of sight to the west having landed on the roof top of a large gray rooftop. Quest closely followed her and the two of them they spent more than 30 minutes together perched on the roof top far out to the west. Satisfied that Luna was not in any trouble, Quest later left her on the roof and eventually flew back to the nest building and watched over Carina.
Throughout the day, Luna had half a dozen very good flights to some of the surrounding upper roof top elevations clearly demonstrating that she has gained the confidence and mastering controlled flight. On one occasion, she ending up on one her flights miscalculating her landing, and slipping down into one of the balconies on the copper/pink coloured building next to 225 Duncan Mill road building. After spending 15 minutes out of our view down in the enclosed balcony, she finally re-appeared on the leading edge of the balcony and eventually flew out no worse for ware.
Throughout the day, Kendal brought in several very fresh kills, and for the first time this season, I witnessed his hunting skills and incredibility ability to simply take a pigeon out of the sky with little effort as he simply passed over the pigeon while in flight and snatched it out of the sky.
Carina on the other hand, (while still holding her altitude) has not yet regained her confidence after colliding with the window several days ago, and although has made a half a dozen short flights from building to building (between the 220 and 240 Duncan Mill road buildings), she is still sticking very close to the nest building preferring to favour the 240 Duncan Mill road building ledges. She has yet to gain any real altitude beyond the mid way elevation. Both fledglings have been fed today and Quest and Kendal have been very attentive indeed.
It has been incredibility funny to see the two mindsets of the adults over the past week, as Kendal brings continues to bring in fully feathered - unprepared kills (several have been very much still alive) and deliver them to the fledglings. When Quest has sighted him, she has quickly flown in screaming at the top of her lungs and snatches the unprepared food offerings from both Kendal AND the fledglings and flies off with the food to properly prepare it, then returns to feed the fledglings with the prepared food.
On several occasions, Kendal has slipped in un-noticed by Quest, and simply dropped fresh kills and unprepared food offerings, (some have been retrieved cashes) and simply dropped them off in front of the fledglings and flown off. Luna has now figured out what to do them and is starting to eat on her own, while Carina is still confused as to what to do them. She screams, jumps around on the them until Quest attends and feeds her beak to beak.
By the end of the watch today, both Luna and Carina were perched on the window ledges (one atop of each other (on separate window ledges) on the east side of the 240 Duncan Mill road building. Both Quest and Kendal had flown over to the Thales building to the south east and remained there until dark. Luna had lied down on he ledge was hunkered down for the night while Carina remained standing tucked into the corner of the ledge.
A huge thank you to Donna Hays and all the Harlequin staff for their incredible support, Sally, Karen and others that have have given up their lunch hours and brakes to come out in support, and to Murray and Bob who have also been out covering my back and helping out on the fledge watch,,,, and to Fred from the Redborne Realty management group and their security that has been incredibly supportive and understanding with us invading their facilities and roof tops to do releases. A big thank you to Berkley property management group, their security team, the board of directors and business owners at 220 Duncan Mill road for allowing us accesses to their facilities.
A GREAT TEAM INDEED!!!
Stay tuned……
Posted on June 25, 2013 7:02 am
June 24, 2013 - International, National and Local News
Mark Nash Reports:
June 24th-2013
As I didn’t get a chance to spend much time at ICICI today, here is what was reported:
Irma reports(from this morning):
Good news is I had eyes on all four at once! Am-e appeared on her usual ledge corner but now she turtle walked half-way over to the other corner where the light is (North from her corner). No more tough love either as Mom flew over and sat on the light and watched her. She greeted Mom but didn’t scream as if she is hungry so I suspect she was fed early this morning. Superman went over to see his sister too and landed on the roof. At one point she had flapped her wings while she was walking on the ledge but I think it scared her so she jumped down off the ledge. That’s when Mom and Bro flew over and I imagine Amy and Superman had a lovely little reunion once again with Mom facing them and watching closely. After not seeing either for the next 20 mins, it was time for me to leave. Seems she still doesn’t really want to fledge. Irma.
Bruce did the 3:30-7:30pm shift and reported that he saw Mom, Dad and Lucky flying about but only saw AM-E peek her head up once. So we wait another day……
Cathy
Posted on June 25, 2013 5:52 am
June 24, 2013 - Toronto - King Street
Linda Woods Reports:
A long hot day today in the city, the air not ideal for those learning to fly. Anastasia came to the ground sometime this afternoon confirmed by her red band and her numbered MNR band. She was picked up and placed in the rescue carrier and taken to a cool area to rest. She was released next to the nest area after dark. She’s looks good , healthy big bird.
Cosmina continues to impress the watchers with her flying skills. Another hot day tomorrow and for much of the week.
Posted on June 24, 2013 11:15 pm
