!!! Flight training begins! & Arnie’s first flight!!!
June 16, 2013 - Kitchener - CTV-Bell Media Tower
Lisa Reh Reports:
The fledge watch witnessed some spectacular flying today as Big Al took at least 7 flights by mid afternoon and was flying fairly confidently even against strong winds! In the morning Caster took him out and fed him and then took refuge in the nest box to keep a look out from a distance. Statler was teaching him some more advanced manoeuvres. Arnie and Fran were safely in the drum in the early afternoon with Statler on the right hand corner of the platform keeping watch.
In the late afternoon, when Jon and Debbie started their watch, Caster was in his favourite perch in the nest box on Union Street. Statler and Big Al were on the roof of the communications tower as Arnie and Miss Fran were busy in the nest flapping wings, hopping around, and feeding on leftover food. Big Al took off for some test flights, each time successfully returning to his starting point. Caster flew from the nest box to join in the fun. Meanwhile, Arnie and Miss Fran watched attentively, flapping their wings hard in the drum. The parents started to get a little more active, making occasional hunting trips. An osprey flew over and away towards the Grand River. The parents gave chase and attacked it repeatedly. Eventually both parents left to go shopping for dinner. Arnie flew south out of the nest at 4:48pm, flapping hard!!! Within seconds, Big Al flew out too, and together they turned and flew back to the tower. Arnie landed perfectly, perching half-way down, and Big Al joined him. There was a good deal of screeching. It was quite a transition for Arnie from couching it in the drum to balancing himself on a metal bar with nothing underneath. Big brother Al helped him out by showing him the finer points of balancing.
Big Al was out for a flight again, and after playing with Caster for a few seconds, Statler returned with a banded pigeon. Big Al went straight to the kitchen, the platform above the drum, and feathers began to fly as dinner was prepared. Statler mouth fed Big Al, and then left him to dine alone for an hour until a rather brave and greedy seagull tried to interrupt his meal. All was well at 9:30 p.m. when the fledge watch ended, with all birds safe and accounted for. What a grand day for the family and for the fledge watch team!!!
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