June 22, 2013 - Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton
Marion Nash Reports:
Arrived this morning to find only 1 chick on the nest and mom brought food into her an entire pigeon.. I went off to look to the other girl, Ramjet is likely high so I was not too worried about him.
I found dad on the CIBC building on the corner of Young and Eglinton so I figured he had her in site and yes I found Tinia on a low building on Young street across from the nest so we moved over to that area to keep an eye on her.
Tinia spent most of the day there and flew off at about 5:00 PM just as I had looked and I did not see what direction she went, mom and dad took a dive low over the CIBC so I assumed she was there and waited to see if she would pop up on the leading edge but she did not so the search was back on
again.
I sent Lyn back to Duplex to keep an eye on Imagine still in the nest just in case and to see if Tinia shows up there while I hit the bricks and walked down the street to get security at Canada Square to get me back up to the 15 floor so I can scan the rood tops.
Max from Peregon Security met me at the lobby of the nest building and we went up to the 15 floor to look for her but she was not in site on CIBC so it was back to the street and a walking search of the back alleys east of and behind CIBC.
About 45 minutes later Lyn radioed me to say she had all 3 chicks back at the west side of the nest building 2 at nest level and 1 at the 4th floor patio level so back I went.
Sure enough there was Tinia running back and forth the patio ledge just like the little male did last year. We hoped that she would try to fly up to the lower building between the TVO building and the nest site as it was getting late and would soon be dark but it was not to be and she will have to spend the evening there the other 2 were settled down high above her and Mom and Dad perched themselves in site of her for the night.
Hopefully she can wait for me to get there before she takes flight in the morning.
Posted on June 23, 2013 7:48 am
August 05, 2013 - Kitchener - CTV-Bell Media Tower
Lisa Reh Reports:
On June 22,
Rudy saw a food drop at about 8:00 a.m. Geraldine, Andy and Lisa were also at the sight between 8:00 and 10:00 and observed a pigeon drop before it poured. Dale observed, “Statler and Miss Fran perched on the King’s Towers aerial and then flying in the area for a couple of flights. It appeared that one of the young males was flying near the Sun Life building and then disappeared. Don’t know where Caster and the other juvenile were. I saw Caster and one of the kids giving a red-tailed hawk a hard time at the corner of Moore Avenue and Union Street at exactly noon today. Caster made a number of close passes at the hawk while Junior cheered from the sidelines. The red tail made a safe and hasty exit.” Debbie and Jon watched in the evening the 3 falcons above the main building of the hospital: 2 on the aerial, and 1 just lying down on the roof. Karen and Chris sighted 2 of the fledglings on the Kings Tower earlier in the day.
Posted on June 22, 2013 10:34 pm
June 22, 2013 - Toronto - Sheraton Centre
Linda Woods Reports:
This afternoon/evening Gurdy and one of the males were seen in the same area as before the heavy rain.
While I kept an eye on the one that looked like it was going fly further south, three Mallard Ducks flew north on University Ave and hooked at right at Richmond. Perhaps they were heading for City Hall and the Jazz Festival. When this juvie scooted out of my view, I repositioned and caught sight of what I think was a second juvie. Repositioned again to a higher elevation and found two juveniles on the roof of 150 York St. And that’s where they stayed for the entire time.
I repositioned back to ground level, for a better view. One flew south and landed on the roof across the street, while the other stayed. Both adult were sitting on the corners of 130 Adelaide and paying no attention to either of juveniles. Unfortunately we have not seen the third juvenile for a few days now. We were holding out hope that it might reappear today, but there has been no sign of it so far.
Posted on June 22, 2013 9:48 pm
June 22, 2013 - Toronto - Sheraton Centre
Harry Crawford Reports:
Day 8 - morning shift.
I spotted Gurdy and her brother first thing when I arrived at York
and Adelaide. They were vocalising and could clearly be heard from
street level. One adult was with them. One chick and one adult
were on the building south of The Dominion of Canada Insurance. The
other chick was on the building to the east that has TD in it. The
birds made brief flights between the buildings and finally settled
down an hour later. The adult flew to the nest area and remained
there for the rest of the morning except for one trip to check on
the two chicks. The other adult and chick were not seen during the
morning.
Posted on June 22, 2013 12:32 pm
June 22, 2013 - Toronto - King Street
Linda Woods Reports:
Ana, took her first flight early this morning. Adults were seen sitting on the roof 18 King St looking over towards the King Edward Hotel. Both Ana and Cosmina were found, on the upper areas of the hotel. That’s where they were when it started to pour. Looks like Cosmina looking for shelter from the rain, but she hopped down below the roof line and out of sight. More later.
Posted on June 22, 2013 12:16 pm
June 22, 2013 - All Reports
Marion Nash Reports:
Arrived this morning to find all birds just where we left them the evening before and settled down with my coffee to wait for the family to wake up. some people read the paper or watch the morning news but at this time of year I have no idea what is going on in the world of humans it’s all about the birds.
9:58 Finally Imagine jumped down to the open level below the *nest ledge*, followed shortly thereafter by Tinia so the girls have left the playpen as we call it and are on the porch just below the nest, just minutes later the fun started.
Haven who was siting out of site of the chicks on the old nest ledge flew out and past them. I believe to check on them and as she did they started yelling and Stomin joined her.
Someone flew or shall I say soared to the south west corner of Canada Square and dropped down to it was it. Ramjet who was on the ledge to the left of the nest is no longer there was it him? or was it one of the girls as I can only see 1 of them now did one of the girls fly or is she just backed up where I cant see her?
When dust had settled and two girls were still on level below the nest it was determined that Ramjet had made the flight.
12:10 Haven flew off antenna due east - Stormin flew to old nest.
12:14 Stormin stooped on pigeon old bus bays to FIVE feet off the ground immediately in front of me but missed not the all youngsters yelling for food. Another dive same area and her got a small bird and by 12:18 took in small food parcel and Tinia took it and the tug of war started with her sister who is bigger than her by the way , Tinia won and hopped off to the opposite corner to eat.
12:20 Stomin took another bird in front of me and dropped that off for Imagine.
6:50 in the evening Haven flew to the two females and dropped a parcel, much squawking brought Ramjet who had been hiding in the shade most of the day into view on the Canada Square roof.
7:00 Ramjet hopped his way along the roof to the area overlooking the nest and level below.
7:59 Stormin circled above Canada Square several times showing his son and then flew south to the antenna atop 2180 Yonge.
8:01 Ramjet flew. He climbed over the black building, (2190 Yonge) circled back high over Canada Square and then came down to the roof off the building on top of Canada Square.
8:03 Ramjet flew again circled over Canada Square a couple of times, again over 2190 Yonge and then circled UP AND OVER Rio-Can/
He circled Rio Can once, then back over Canada Square, dropped behind it reappeared and then made straight for Rio Can and landed on the roof!
This entire flight during which he flapped and soared was just about two minutes. Haven flew to check on him.
8:10 Stormin flew in circles four or five times over Canada Square gaining height even more and was joined by Dad for a few circles when Dad flew to the top of the Quantum Condo.
8:17 RJ came off Rio Can circled gaining height again flew to almost the top of quantum 2 condo at 2191 Yonge (54 storeys) then dropped down to the roof of Quantum 1 condo at 2181 Yonge 39 storeys.
8:21 RJ flew again circled over Canada square and to Quantum 2 and brushed a wall, fell four floors, recovered, flew, circled and then flew back to Quantum 1 roof same spot where we left him at the end of the watch feeling a little proud of himself. He has got it! now it’s up to his sisters and I hope the do as well perhaps 1 of them will take flight tomorrow.
Stay tuned I hope I got this up intime for your morning coffee.
Marion
Posted on June 22, 2013 7:43 am
June 21, 2013 - International, National and Local News
Mark Nash Reports:
June 21st-2013
Very good news indeed!!
After much speculation and allot of confusion about the two little hatchlings at the Don Mills and Eglinton nest site, (referred to the ICICI nest site because of the their large sign that is located at the top of the building wall facing out towards Eglington), we have finally been able to positively confirm that BOTH hatchlings are in fact still much alive, still on the roof and looing very good indeed!
At 3:30pm this afternoon, I was able to brake away fro the Duncan Mills fledge watch for an hour and get down to the ICICI nest site to do a detailed investigation and help out Imra and Cathy. With the support of the Amexon Management group and the great security team, I was able to get to the roof again (the first time since banding) to see just what is going on with the hatchlings.
In short, seconds as I popped my head up to scan the upper roof area, I was face to face with both young hatchlings standing side by side on the leading edge of the south area of the roof, obviously catching both of them in a rather heart warming brother and sister moment,, and I couldn’t have predicted or chosen a better time to do a site visit! Both Lucky and his much larger sister Am-E were standing side by side touching beaks. While you all might find this this bazar or unbelievable, those that have ever spent any time on the fledge watch, know only too well what I’m describing.
We usually see this behaviour after one of the hatchlings has flown off and has been away from the nest and the other siblings for a period of time, and when the fledgling is finally able to return back to the nest and its siblings, they actually go through this excited greeting behaviour to one another and if you didn’t know better, you would swear that they were actually kissing each other given all of the beak to beak touching that goes on immediately after one has returned back to the nest. I will let you decide what is actually happening, but we have documented 17 years of this behaviour year after year, and this behaviour is consistent at all of the nest sites. Nice to have 17 years of data (and some very close-up views with thanks to the video cameras and the video recording and tapes that we have been able to record).
In any case, both hatchlings are fully feathered with the brown juvenile flight feathers, (not a spec of white down remains) and we’re all pretty sure that both hatchlings (lets now call them juveniles, and likely both fledglings) as we highly suspect that they the female hatchling may have also taken her first flights!
Please remember that the distances from our ground observations to the upper roof area is extreme and its very difficult to get any clear identification of the chicks given the height of the upper roof top. Add that they have the entire roof top - and the entire circumference - (360 degrees access to the leading edges for the roof), its incredibly difficult to follow them around the rooftop (especially when they can drop out of sight behind the roof top retaining wall, and then suddenly reappear second later on the opposite side of the roof. ITS A VERY LARGE BUILDING AND A HUGE ROOFTOP SPANSE!
We know that the little male - Lucky has been flying around with incredible skill, chasing his parents around in the air between the two office towers as both Irma and Cathy have witnessed some incredible games of “tag” and “catch- me-if -you- can” games with Lucky and his father. This evening, Winni was able to help out with her husband to relieve Irma and Cathy who have been on the fledge watch at ICICI for 12 hours a day for the past 7 days, (and this is in addition to running back and forth from the ICICI nest site to help me on the fledge watch up at the Duncan Mills nest site)!!
Both Cathy and Irma had taken a week of their vacation off just to help us on the various fledge watches!!! I can tell you that both of them will be returning back to work FOR A REST after what we have just put them through!!!!!!! Absolutely superstars!!!!
In any case, Winni reports this evening from her first evening on the watch:
As the first day of summer arrives, it seems that our fledgings at icici are getting more active too.
Cathy started her watch early afternoon and I met up with her at around 2:30pm to see where the little brother Lucky and sister Am-E were usually seen. While Lucky the little superman’s flying seems to be improving, Cathy was quite concerned about baby sister Am-E since she have not been seen for a few days.
I had to go back to office so i could not stay with Cathy but i plan to go back for the evening watch.
Around 6:45pm, i got a call from Cathy (thanks Cathy), that Mark Nash had gone up to the roof earlier and was able to see both brother and sister staying side by side.
When Alan and me arrive at ICICI at 7:00pm, we could immediately spot something on the building roof across from the De Beers sign.
With delight, we first saw Lucky showing off some wings. Then, we saw that there was another bump right next to him. When the bump moved around, we confirmed that it was another juvie. We also found dad and mom at the same time near by, so we have all 4 falcons in sight. Perfect to know that everyone is safe.
For the next 45 minutes, all they did was hanging around the ledge, flipping their wings with no real actions. Then, both disappeared from view until around 8:25pm when Lucky decided to open his wings again and let the wind carried him across to the De Beers building.
He flew smoothly and landed ok on the second top ledge. He kept looking back at his sister as to encourage her to come over too. The sister looked over the ledge many times and she definitely looked curious.
Around 9:00pm, things started quieting down. Little sister went back deeper into the roof and we did not see her again before we close our watch at 9:30pm. She has not fledged yet but looks like she will be ready soon. Maybe tomorrow will be the big day for her!
Winnie & Alan
Posted on June 22, 2013 1:33 am
June 21, 2013 - Toronto - Don Mills
Mark Nash Reports:
June 21st - 2013
You wouldn’t believe me even if I had the energy and time to get it all written down! I can hardly believe what we have all just been through in the last 96 hours!!
In short, both of the young fledglings at the Duncan Mill road nest site are still both alive, and a little healthier, wealthier, and hopefully wiser! They have survived to live another day, and as the old saying goes, what doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger,, - (or something like that) - I think?.
Carina successfully rescued after colliding with the window and Luna flying like a pro!!!
Story to follow.
Today started out like most days during the fledge watch, alarm goes off at 4:00am, hit the snooze five or six times, and finally into the shower, shave utilizing the wet razor, while drinking the morning coffee simultaneously. Find some clean cloths in the darkness, grab your stuff and rush out the door.
On the way into the fledge watch, you grab another coffee at Tims, and pray that you can get on site before any real light comes up so that your fledglings are in the same spot that you left them five hours ago.
The mobile phone rings, and the person on the other end of the line explains that there is a injured falcon trapped behind their glass balcony several miles away from you current position (in the opposite direction to which your going). Out of cigarettes, Darn!!!, now your really rushing, but the hope that this report actually pays off and the missing fledgling might be found! A quick U-turn, (hope that there is no cops around) and 20 minutes later having gone in the wrong direction, your at the location where you might just get lucky, find your missing fledgling and save a life to day.
Up to the callers apartment, out on the balcony, you find a young recently fledged American Kestrel half covered with white down that is huddled down in the corner looking pretty terrorized. You quickly realize that its not the bird that that you had hoped to find. Then comes the long explanation to the caring folks that its not the fledgling that your looking for! Scoop it up and get it to the upper roof area so its parents can find it.
Back in saddle again, finally on your way to your original destination. Now the light has come up and your stress level is elevated another few notches. Finally on site, park, get your bins, out the car door and walking around to view the last known location of the fledglings that you left them at them at five hours ago.
Crap!! There both gone!! Your stress level has now climbed another five notches! 40 minutes later and what seems like several miles of searching, you have finally located both of the fledglings. Thank god!
Back to the car, unload the rescue carrier, brake-out the radios, grab the rescue towels, the folding chair. Don’t for get your coffee! More than several trips back and forth from the car to the set up position. Crap, forgot the binoculars, no there’re around your neck!! Back to the set up location. By this time, both fledglings are gone again and the search is on - AGAIN!!!
Stress level, up a few more notches! Crap,, forgot to get cigarettes!! 20 minutes later again, you have finally located the two fledglings again, one high and one low. Everything OK again!
10:30am, fledglings are screaming around all over the place, sustained flight, but really getting fast and really reckless!! Parents are also stressed! Your stress level is elevated yet again!
Moring traffic is heavy, everyone is speeding and in a huge hurry to get to their destination! The fledglings are speeding around, high and low, around the buildings - in and out of sight! Hope that some help arrives soon. Your stress is elevated yet again!
The stage is now set for an accident waiting to happen, and your pray that you can get through another day without any further mortality! Patty arrives, thank goodness there is help. Thanks Patty!!!!
Sun Life centre calls - Bloor & Islington, bird down! Call fledge watch team and give directions as to where the bird was last seen.
10:45am, both fledglings are again out of sight, and your worst fledge watch nightmare becomes a reality, as you are greeted by Sally and Karen carrying a towel, followed by the amazing Harlequin Rescue Squad as I have am now calling them!
Carina, one of the young Duncan Mills fledglings has crashed into the window on the east side of the Harlequin building and dropped like a bag of potatoes several stories to the ground. the collision with her hitting the window is so loud inside the building, alerts workers two floor up and one floor down.
Carina, rescued, (in the bag, safe and sound as we say). Quick examination, (although initially stunned by the collision), no broken bones, no blood and now she’s really got an attitude! Good news!!! Healthy and lots of fight!! A short hold over in a darkened quiet place (with air conditioning I might add), to allow her to calm down and de-stress. One final check and a detailed physical examination to ensure that other delayed signs of trauma has not manifested, and with ground watchers in place, she’s released back on the nest building roof.
Quest and Kendal both on hand to supervise her release. Not exactly happy campers I might add.
Back to the sidewalk, and the phone rings, another fledgling down at another location and bird needs to be rescued. Damn, that’s three birds now down so far today at two other locations.
Rob does rescue of downed fledgling at the Etobicoke Sun Life Centre fledge watch for Bruce, as Bruce has been pulled to go to the MEC fledge watch to closely monitor yet another young fledgling that is not doing so well and looking like it going to need to be rescued a fifth time. Tracy has had to leave the MEC fledge watch and get back to the William Osler fledge watch as the young hatchlings there are ready to go.
Call Tracy at the Osler fledge watch to call the vet to advise him that we are bring in at least one, (maybe two) injured fledglings that are in need of care. He’s now rushing in to accept that emergency.
Phone rings, Kitchener calling, CTV needs to attend their roof top to do emergency repairs to their roof top air conditioner, looking for advice as to how to proceed. Call Rudy at Kitchener fledge watch and advise of some potential challenges. Consult with CTV as to the procedures and protocols so they can get repair people and other tradesman to the roof. Fledge watch team back in place just in case fledglings are spooked and come to the ground.
Luna at Duncan Mill flying well, (all over the place)! Holding her altitude and now gaining altitude without much effort. Landing high on other roof tops and demonstrating some really good landings, (well, in a matter of speaking), she not crashing into things on her landings.
Cathy calls from ICICI nest site, one juvenile,, little Lucky, (now ledged) doing good, while his sister still not fledged but very active on the roof ledges atop of the nest building.
Marion calls from the Canada Square fledge watch at Yonge and Eglinton, first fledged, down low and looks like another rescue in the making.
Carina stays on the roof for the balance of the day and night. Further checks from the Eagles nest (Donna’s office at Harlequin) from elevation to see if we can see Carina is still OK as we have not seen her since her release four hours earlier. On the second check at around 9am, we finally spot her still on the nest building roof struggling to get enough momentum and height to get up to the ledge of the roof top retaining wall. But, still looking really good, lots of energy and very active indeed.
Management group calls from the Yellow pages nest site in Scarborough, young juveniles are ramping up and fears of fledging - (likely falling or getting blown off the ledges as they are now running the ledges). Call David who is expected to be on site soon to organize and coordinate fledge watch team.
Bruce calls and we arrange a meeting place to pick up one of his injured (not so active) rescued fledglings that Rob rescued from Etobicoke earlier. She is unable to stand, blood soaked mouth and very laboured breathing. He’s delayed, as he still another earlier rescued fledgling that he needs to get back to the roof top at the Etobicoke Sun life centre nest site.
Stay tuned, there’s plenty more to come…….
Posted on June 22, 2013 1:29 am
June 21, 2013 - Toronto - Sheraton Centre
Linda Woods Reports:
This afternoon after what seems like a long time, Both Gurdy and one male have been spotted. Gurdy was seen on the roof of the Hilton and one male on the roof of DBRS. As I wasn’t sure who it was I was watching last evening. Not sure who the male is. But that is a good thing, means they are too high to see the bands. All we need now is to see the third and then there will be no question. Seems they are flying well. The young male was fed around 6:30p.m. As I waited for them they seem to settle in where they were and as soon as I settled in, they took off. I only caught sight of one bird heading south of the Adelaide, but I’m sure they flew together. No more sightings of any birds after that. They are really flying well this year. I think because of the cooler weather and more wind.
Posted on June 21, 2013 11:30 pm
June 21, 2013 - Toronto - King Street
CPF Volunteer Reports:
Paul was on hand to witness the reappearance of Cosmina. She reappeared sometime early this evening with Windwhistler and Erin in tow. Earlier Zoe thought she had heard a second juvie screaming, but it was short and distant. I was there for a short time and thought I heard it as well, but thought it was just ambient sounds from traffic. YEAH! Wonder where she was all this time. One more to fledge, just in time for the heat to creep into the city.
Posted on June 21, 2013 11:22 pm
