June 27, 2014 - Scarborough - Yellow Pages
Mark Nash Reports:
Friday June 27th - 2014
A quickly update from Dave who was out at the Scarborough nest site most of the afternoon checking on the three hatchlings, he reports a slow day for the most parts - likely given the heat and humidity. He observed only one food drop and feeding of the hatchlings on the nest ledge around 4pm, and then all of three chicks settled back down and disappeared back out of his view on the nest ledge.
I arrived much later after shortly after 7pm after doing some fledge watch time early this morning out at the William Osler fledge watch, meeting with Mark Heaton from the OMNR to band the young female fledglings that I had rescued two nights ago from the Rogers Centre nest site - (a big female they named “BJ” - (after the Blue Jays), and re-banding the young fledgling that Bruce Massey had rescued the night before from the Toronto Sheraton nest site.
I was successfully able to release the two peregrine fledglings back to their parents at the Rogers centre and the Toronto Sheraton Hotel earlier with the help of the Rogers centre staff and Linda from the downtown Toronto Sheraton fledge watch.
I must admit, everything at the Scarborough Yellow pages nest site was disturbingly quiet when I arrived!! Absolutely no one is my view, (no adults, and no chicks)!!
Just after 9pm, finally one of the adults finally flew in from the west and landed on the upper elevation of the building. Moments after, one of the chicks appeared on the outer leading edge of the nest ledge, flapped a few times, and as quickly as it appeared, it disappeared back into the nest ledge out of my view. Well, very uneventful indeed!!
By 9:30pm, darkness was moving in and no activity was observed. I closed the watch for the evening and was able to pick up Marion from the Kennedy subway station arriving from her fledge watch day at the Canada Square nest site at Yonge and Eglinton.
Wow, a very busy, very long day for all!
See you all tomorrow……..
Posted on June 27, 2014 11:14 pm
June 27, 2014 - Windsor - Ambassador Bridge
Marilyn Weller Reports:
Here is the link to yesterday’s great coverage of the first fledge flight in Windsor this year. Lancaster stayed high and did great in the sky!
Thanks to CTV Windsor for some great shots and promotion on the Windsor site!
http://windsor.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=388587
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/life-video/video-ctv-windsor-baby-falcons-take-flight/article19356034/
Posted on June 27, 2014 9:32 pm
June 27, 2014 - Windsor - Ambassador Bridge
Marilyn Weller Reports:
Hi Folks,
Denise and I relieved Ted this evening. A small feeding and lots of flapping but no new flights.
As Denise and I were preparing to leave, we discovered that Lancaster was sitting on a cross bar opposite the nest. He appears to have walked along the lip of the beam and out opposite his sisters. He seems quite content there so we’ve packed up for the night.
I’m forwarding Maureen’s great report below. Hope some of you can make it out this weekend. We need people as the chicks are looking very ready.
Cheers,
Marilyn
A quiet day under the bridge. After having had some adventure, Lancaster seemed content to stick around the nest today. Cathy found him this morning on top of one of the university buildings (I think), he flew back onto the pipe and then into the nest. He hopped up onto the thin girder just above the nest, stayed there for a good while before joining the others down below. He had not had another flight as of 3:00.
Maya still looks ready to fledge, and today Shi Bi Ke Si was more active and visible, lots of wing flapping as she sat on the edge of the nest. First time I was able to see her leg band. Sojourner is keeping to herself, usually in the back or to the left of the nest.
It’s almost as though Lancaster is telling them “this flying isn’t all it’s cracked up to be - if you stay in the nest, you get fed!!”
And get fed they did, around 1:30, Voltaire came in and dropped off a good sized food package. She did not stick around and feed them. Everyone ate.
Freddie has been coming and going, he still spends time under the M on the bridge. I saw fewer fly-bys by both parents today, and there were no fly-bys with food.
Fingers crossed we get another flyer soon!
maureen
Posted on June 27, 2014 9:29 pm
June 27, 2014 - Hamilton - Sheraton Hotel
Kathy Reports:
The new resident female in Syracuse has been identified as Pigott, banded 43/X in 2011 at the Sheraton Hamilton nest site. Her parents are the legendary Madame X and her mate Surge!
Pigott had been in Rochester for 2 years where she attempted to nest unsuccessfully and had disappeared earlier this Spring. It’s wonderful to hear that she’s found a home and a mate and together they have raised one beautiful female offspring.
Posted on June 27, 2014 6:40 pm
June 27, 2014 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre
Kathy Reports:
Beautiful day here in the city. Saw and heard both Skyla and Sunni flying around with Jack and yelling their heads off. He’s giving them some flying lessons up over the rooftop. Great to see them both doing so well, may it continue!
Posted on June 27, 2014 11:42 am
June 26, 2014 - Mississauga - Holcim
Marion Nash Reports:
The chicks have fledged and one of them checked out something you will immediately recognize. Kind of a Kodak moment! The other is one of the adults - she visits one of our electricians at the main stack. She visits him almost every time he is up there and sits just feet away - very calm and curious. The photo was taken from just a couple of feet away. Enjoy!
Barb Smith
Holcim (Canada) Inc.
Posted on June 27, 2014 7:33 am
June 26, 2014 - Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton
Marion Nash Reports:
Where do I begin? Last night when we left Haven had her eye on Chinook but he was hidden from us.
This morning Marion beat me to it and found Chinook sitting as pleased as punch on top of one of the old bus bays. He spent at least five and a half hours there during our watch. He sat up, lay down, ran along the short edge of the bus bay and then walked down the length of it out of our sight. He kept us on our toes, literally, because at times we had to stand on tip toes to see him.
Most of the morning Haven was sitting on Canada Square looking down on him and Malik was sitting at the fourth floor level watching him. Several times both Haven and Malik showed Chinook how easy it was to fly around 2190 Yonge, (black building) or onto the top of the black building. Chinook was having none of that. He stuck to his guns and either lay down or went walkabout on the bus bay roof.
Equinox was having his own problems at the time. He flew round and round the bus bay area and then attempted to land on Canada Square but he was not high enough. He knew what to do, though, and flew back out and circled three or four more times and Malik saw this and went to his aid but by that time Equinox had enough height to land back on the ledge he had left. Bravo Equinox!!
Then Linden tried coaxing Chinook off the bus bay. Linden flew down low over Chinook and up to the top of 2190 Yonge. Then he circled higher and higher over the bus bays and Duplex Ave and on to the top of Canada Square. There was still no reaction from Chinook other than following his brother’s movements with his eyes.
The other fledglings were given food and Malik even had pigeon meal right in front of Chinook but still he would not fly! There was a period when we did not see him on his walkabout or lying down and so Marion went walkabout looking for him.
She went up to the top parking level behind 2180 Yonge and looked out over the bus bays but no Chinook. He was eventually located by Marion near the cooling tower in the lot. So Marion suggested that I join her as there was a shady spot to sit and watch him. I packed all our gear and like a pack horse traipsed to the parking lot and just as I approached the cooling tower Marion told me that he had flown and she was in hot pursuit. Off she went! The little blighter eluded Marion and took off we knew not where. So we returned to our vantage spot to *regroup* as it were and see if we could locate him by either the parents actions or by sound.
There is way too much sound distortion in the area so although we could hear calling it was difficult to pinpoint the direction from which it emanated.
There was also a lot of activity from the four other peregrines.
Marion went to the apartment building to see if Chinook could be spotted on the roof of 2190 Yonge but to no avail. We did wonder, though, whether the feathers floating around behind one of the structures were indicative of his presence even though he was not actually spotted. Marion went for another walk up to the parking lot to do a search but this time there was no luck. He was not to be found. On Marion’s return I asked her to check the peregrine which had been sitting with his back to us for the longest period. We had thought this was Malik. However when he turned around he looked like a juvenile. Marion confirmed this for me. It did not clear up the number of peregrines we had seen in the last few hours but there is the possibility of all five being around and we just not able to identify them. It is relatively easy to identify Haven as she is so richly coloured and she is a larger bird than the others. In flight she has a missing primary feather and a tail feather! Malik is also relatively easy to identify as his chest is so white and he too has a missing tail feather. The problem arises when trying to identify the fledglings. I have had the greatest difficulty seeing the colour of the tape on the bands and only very occasionally have I been able to say with certainty what the colour has been.
Tomorrow we will continue our search for anyone missing.
Lyn
Posted on June 27, 2014 7:19 am
June 25, 2014 - Kitchener - CTV-Bell Media Tower
Lisa Reh Reports:
Tony & Rudy were on the watch at first light this morning. Helia was near the nest box. Caster brought in what appeared to be a dove for breakfast. Caster dropped the fresh package on the parapet and Helia picked and flicked feathers until 7:30. Helia was still on the parapet at 9:15.
At 11:45, all 3 were accounted for. Helia was on nest box, one adult was on the King St. sign and one adult was flying high overhead. Between 12:30 and 1:00, Helia was on the top right corner of the nest box, lying around like a lazy teenager. Just the tip of her wing and tail could be seen sticking out over the edge. One of the adults flew around the Park St. side of the building and out of view. All afternoon, Mystery was visible on the “n” in Sun from the 19th floor women’s bathroom. At 4:00, Helia was perched on the Union St. parapet beside the red light while one of the adults kept an eye on her from the nest box.
Helia was eating with one of the adults on the King St. parapet to the left of the sign when I arrived at 8:15 for the evening watch. While she continued to tuck into her supper, there were some fabulous flights by Caster and Mystery around the top of the building. Janice joined me around 9:00 and the adults swooped around and around and enticed Helia to join them. There was a lovely breeze giving them lots of lift. Helia stood at the edge of the parapet just holding her wings open feeling the wind until she lifted off. They took her up and around and out over the parking lot. Just spectacular watching the 3 of them dance together. They all landed and then flew again and then repeated the pattern again and again. There were too many flights to count! It was just spectacular. We left them at 9:30 after they had all landed at various vantage points on the top of the tower. Helia is getting incredible flight training from her parents. Awesome flying Helia!!!
Posted on June 27, 2014 12:40 am
June 24, 2014 - Kitchener - CTV-Bell Media Tower
Lisa Reh Reports:
There was a lot of vocalizing on the tower when Janice started her watch at 6:45 a.m. She witnessed one of the parents fly by the nest box and enticed Helia to follow. Breakfast was served in mid air with Helia catching the food package.
At around 10:00 a.m. there was a report that one of the grines had hit the 18th floor windows at the corner of King and John Streets. It was a light hit and the grine was able to take off and the bird was not seen to fall. Needless to say, the fledge watch team were anxious all day for Helia’s welfare. At 12:30, Helia was vocalizing by the nest box while one of the adults swooped around the tower. Between 1:30 and 2:00, Helia was in Caster’s spot in front of the nest box. She hopped onto the roof and out of view just in time for Karen who took up the watch at 2:00. Within 10 minutes she reappeared on the cement ledge below the nest box. Around 2:30, she started squawking. An adult flew around the building and landed on the King St. sign just on top of the ‘n’ in Sun. Both birds stayed for the rest of Karen’s watch while a thunderstorm brewed up. At 4:00 p.m. it looked like Helia was still sitting below the nest box. At 5:45 p.m., Helia was on the ledge of the nest box at looking a little wet as the rain persisted until after 6:30.
Photos courtesy of Karen von Knobloch.
Posted on June 27, 2014 12:38 am
June 27, 2014 - Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton
Linda Woods Reports:
Sheraton’s last fledgling came to ground level this afternoon. What a surprise that must have been for all the foot traffic in the busiest part of the downtown core. Oliver, who we are thinking is really Olivia was late in fledging which had us thinking that perhaps at banding being youngest was really female. Hard to say at the time of banding as the weight and size did not fully point to either male or female.
There were no injuries and a beautiful bird to say the least. Olivia will be kept overnight and examined on Friday by Ministry of Natural Resources biologist.
The other three were not in view this evening, probably camped out in the shade and exploring areas beyond our view from the nest area. I’m sure they’ll come closer to home for the night as they always do.
Many Thanks to Marcy and Security Staff of the Financial Building on University Ave for alerting us to the grounded peregrine.
Toronto Sheraton Guest Services and Toronto Sheraton Hotel Security for once again assisting our volunteers.
Posted on June 27, 2014 12:14 am
