June 21st at Etobicoke Sun Life - Lizzy and Big Frank are Rescued
June 21, 2013 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre
Tracy Simpson Reports:
With all birds flighted and staying high yesterday June 20th, Bruce moved down to the MEC nest site to help monitor a bird that clearly did not have her act together. After 4 rescues of Ashley at MEC, there was concern that she might come down again regardless of the numerous health checks that she passed with flying colours. I was at William Osler with four young ones ready to go and so today’s watch at Etobicoke Sun Life was handed over to the amazing watchers Kathy, Baylie, Rob and Angie with support from the local community. In the early morning, Kathy started the shift before work with a head count and was alerted by a local resident that a young one was in a flower garden at the Kingsway on the Park. Kathy immediately ran over and found Big Frank on the sidewalk below the flower bed looking good but confused. She scooped him up completing her first solo rescue. Excellent job Kathy!! With little Big Frank now in security cooling off, Kathy returned to the watch post. With all of the juveniles now flying, the challenge was to identify who was who and complete head counts. Not easy when they’re in and out and all over the place. Kathy finished her spot check of the morning with all three birds accounted for and headed to work. In the early afternoon, Mark Nash received a “Peregrine 911” call from the security at Etobicoke Sun Life that a falcon has been reported in distress on the mezzanine level between the Center and East towers. It would appear that one of the juveniles had flown after Kathy left and had struck the center tower. I was called by Mark and we immediately put the rescue team into action. I called Bruce at MEC and dispatched him immediately to the site. I then called Rob and Angie who were at a grocery check-out before their shift check and asked how close they were. Angie immediately told Rob to drop her in the driveway and bolt! Rob reached the Sun Life building first and called me. I sent him in to security who then took him up to the mezzanine level. It was Lizzy. She hadn’t been there long as she was right outside the Goodlife Fitness and was noticed quickly by a member who alerted security. I had Rob call me once he had eyes on her and describe what he was seeing. She had clearly struck the building but was alert and responsive. She was hot, spreading her wings out and appeared to be injured. I walked Rob through what he was to do as this was his first rescue and he pulled it off like a pro. Congratulations Rob on a job well done!! Lizzy was now safely in the air conditioning in security and Bruce had now arrived. The first thing we always do with an injured bird that is safely contained and stable is allow them to calm. I know that sounds counterintuitive but in reality, they need to calm down first as stress alone could do so much more damage especially in such a high strung species. Bruce quickly assessed both birds with a visual check looking for signs of bleeding and consciousness as well as assessing their breathing and posture. Little Big Frank checked out, Lizzy was semi-standing but she was definitely stable and alert. He then allowed them time to calm and cool. While little Big Frank smelled a bit off as he had spent some time in the gardens of Kingsway, he was otherwise good to go. Lizzy on the other hand was definitely injured and the calls went out to set the next path of action. We contacted our avian and raptor specialist Dr. Markus Luckwaldt of the Greenwood Park Animal Hospital to arrange for Lizzy to attend. As it was now late in the evening it was recommended that, given her current stable condition, that she be brought the following morning which would give her further opportunity to settle and calm in preparation for the exam. She was to be monitored throughout the night to ensure that her condition remained stable. Bruce released little Big Frank to the rooftop of the nest building and then took Lizzy to Mark and Marion Nash who took over her care and monitoring through the evening and overnight. Mark and Marion then coordinated with Dr. Markus Luckwaldt to take her to the clinic for her exam in the morning. At the close of the evening, Lizzy was calm and quiet, alert and responsive, cooled down and under full observation and care with Mark and Marion. Good job everyone and many thanks for your quick actions to save little Big Frank and Lizzy today. First and foremost, a huge thank you to the security team at Etobicoke Sun Life for their quick action alerting us to her condition and location. You folks are amazing!! We would also like to thank our volunteers for the fantastic job of rescuing these two today especially Kathy, Rob, Angie, Bruce, Mark and Marion. What a team!!