July 24, 2014 - Kitchener - CTV-Bell Media Tower
CPF Postmaster Reports:
July 24th - 2014
Voyager update:
Some sad news.
Marion reports this afternoon:
I was in contact with the Owl foundation today to get an update on Voyager and was told that she was examined on July 22nd. She had serious injuries to her “wrist/hand” or metacarpal bone,, it was completely destroyed in addition to the server bruising on her radial ulna. They contacted the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and got the approval to put her down. She was put down yesterday - (July 23rd - 2014).
As an adult wild bird with such serious injuries they felt she would not have done well in captivity and would not be able to fly up to perches. Sadly, we agree the only humane thing to do was to euthanize her. They said she was 762 grams at intake and was very thin.
Posted on July 24, 2014 2:47 pm
July 22, 2014 - Toronto - Rogers Centre
CPF Postmaster Reports:
July 22rd - 2014
Well, tisssss the time of year when we have to deal with all of the goofy fledglings as they get into other kinds of other new trouble. At this stage of their development, they have now survived collisions with the windows and buildings, managed to hold their altitude and no longer need to be rescued from the ground. So, you think that their all going to be ok now, right,,, WRONG!!
A typical example of the “kids” getting into other trouble. Remembering, that the only life skills they have, is what their parents have been able to teach them so far, this in addition to the things that they themselves have experienced so far, (the things that haven’t already killed or injured them so far)! Going down ventilation shafts after food was obviously not part of the lessons. But juveniles will be juveniles, and that’s exactly what happened to little BJ.
So, the little fledgling that was named “BJ” by the Rogers centre staff after BJ the Blue Jays Birdie mascot,, - (banded by the OMNR several weeks ago after being rescued by CPF when she came to the ground below the Rogers centre nest),,,,,, - chased a pigeon across the Toronto Renaissance Hotel rooftop, (the same hotel that is attached to the Roger centre itself), and like many careless inexperienced children, slipped and fell down into a ventilation shaft, falling down several floors within the building and ended up inside the mechanical and boiler room within the hotel.
This situation is one that is not a isolated incident, as it brings up a not so distant memory of yet another juvenile fledgling peregrine falcon from the Toronto Sheraton Hotel nest site several years ago that ended up trapped in the mechanical room at the Zurich building, just south west of the Toronto Sheraton hotel. (That rescue took two entire days to capture her up and involved five CPF staff members)!
Thank goodness for the quick and caring actions of Alex, one of the hotels engineers who spotted the young peregrine high up on one of the pipes and was quick to call the CPF. Arrangements were make to accommodate the CPF, and both Mark and Marion from the CPF drove down to the Renaissance Hotel in an effort to rescue her.
Upon their arrival and being escorted to the upper mechanical room, the young juvenile peregrine was finally located (only after about 20 minutes of searching the upper pipes with a flashlight, up some 15 plus feet high up within the large mechanical area). With Alex’s assistance along with several members of engineering staff ,, and some very tall ladders, the young peregrine juvenile - “BJ”, was eventually netted and recovered safely.
After a quick examination, BJ was deemed quite healthy, un-injured and cleared for immediate release. So, over to the Rogers Centre after a quick call to Dave McCormick, the Manager of Engineering at the Rogers Centre. He made arrangements to receive Mark and Marion, and was met by Lee who took them up to the Rogers Centre roof on the walkway above the nest ledge so that BJ could be released back to her parents care. A familiar location that Mark has been earlier where BJ was released after her first rescue.
It is worth noting, that upon their arrival to the upper roof area, they were delighted to see two of the other fledglings chasing one of their adult parents for food, so we know that at least two of the other three fledglings have survived. There were four hatchlings produced at the Rogers centre nest site this season.
BJ flew strong right out of the carrier without missing a wing beat and out of their view behind one of the roof retaining walls.
Sadly, we were unable to verify an exact hatch date in time (and get the age of the hatchlings in time to arrange a banding). We were able to band little “BJ” as she was named when she ended up needing to be rescued several weeks ago.
A huge thank you to the Alex and all of his team at the Renaissance Hotel, and to the great folks at the Rogers centre who have been more than accommodating to both the nesting peregrines and the CPF in our efforts to deal with this peregrine nest site.
Another big thank you to Edna, one of the residences of the condos to the west of the Rogers Centre that overlooks the nest ledge, who supplied the photos of the nest ledge and the four hatchlings that were produced at the Rogers centre nest this season.
Posted on July 23, 2014 12:23 am
July 21, 2014 - International, National and Local News
Mark Nash Reports:
July 21st - 2014
Territorial dispute ends up with some injuries! A 2013 Rochester female named Voyager has some injuries!
We do have some sad news to report. Yesterday, I was contacted by the Kitchener Waterloo humane society with reports of a downed peregrine that we assumed might be one of the young fledglings that was produced at the Sun Life nest site this season, and with only one surviving fledgling, we expected the worst. There is good news and bad news to share.
The good news, I asked for a photo of the birds leg bands to confirm the peregrines identity, and it turns out to be a sub-adult female, banded with Yellow and Red tape over its Silver USFW band and a Black 95 over Green BA. Its not one of the resident KW peregrines!!
The bad news, is that the peregrine has some serious injuries to the wing & wrist along with other obvious evidence of punctures very consistent to wounds sustained in battles with another raptor. The sub-adult peregrine female turns out to be a peregrine produced in Rochester New York in 2013, one named Voyager, dawning a Black 95 over Green BA coloured leg band.
Rudy Kruppa from the CPF was kind enough to pick up Voyager from the KW Humane society and drove her to team members of the Owl Foundation that met him half way in between the long drive between Kitchener and Vineland. We are waiting for updated news on her status.
We have our fingers crossed for her.
A huge thank you to the KW humane society for calling us so quickly and to Rudy for picking her up and driving her to medial assistance so quickly!!
Again, another fantastic team effort of caring people!!!!
We are waiting on reports from the KW group as to the status of the resident adults at the KW nest site to see if there were any life sustaining injuries with them.
Fingers crossed that there was no serious injuries sustained on their end.
Posted on July 22, 2014 11:46 pm
July 21, 2014 - Kitchener - CTV-Bell Media Tower
Mark Nash Reports:
July 21st - 2014
Territorial dispute ends up with some injuries! A 2013 Rochester female named Voyager has some injuries!
We do have some sad news to report. Yesterday, I was contacted by the Kitchener Waterloo humane society with reports of a downed peregrine that we assumed might be one of the young fledglings that was produced at the Sun Life nest site this season, and with only one surviving fledgling, we expected the worst. There is good news and bad news to share.
The good news, I asked for a photo of the birds leg bands to confirm the peregrines identity, and it turns out to be a sub-adult female, banded with Yellow and Red tape over its Silver USFW band and a Black 95 over Green BA. Its not one of the resident KW peregrines!!
The bad news, is that the peregrine has some serious injuries to the wing & wrist along with other obvious evidence of punctures very consistent to wounds sustained in battles with another raptor. The sub-adult peregrine female turns out to be a peregrine produced in Rochester New York in 2013, one named Voyager, dawning a Black 95 over Green BA coloured leg band.
Rudy Kruppa from the CPF was kind enough to pick up Voyager from the KW Humane society and drove her to team members of the Owl Foundation that met him half way in between the long drive between Kitchener and Vineland. We are waiting for updated news on her status.
We have our fingers crossed for her.
A huge thank you to the KW humane society for calling us so quickly and to Rudy for picking her up and driving her to medial assistance so quickly!!
Again, another fantastic team effort of caring people!!!!
We are waiting on reports from the KW group as to the status of the resident adults at the KW nest site to see if there were any life sustaining injuries with them.
Fingers crossed that there was no serious injuries sustained on their end.
Posted on July 22, 2014 11:37 pm
July 21, 2014 - Oshawa - Oshawa Activity
Mark Nash Reports:
July 21st -2014
2:38pm
One of the parents just brought her a meal, (Swiss Chalet) 
and is sitting beside her on the same ledge, the other parent is 2 stories above watching.
Thx,
Ken
1:36pm
Hi to all,
Salveo has taken her first flight, she is now sitting on a parapet ledge 2 stories below the roof where we captured her for banding.
The parents are both flying on the other side of the hospital, again they could be hunting.
Very cool.
Ken
Posted on July 21, 2014 1:55 am
July 16, 2014 - Toronto - Sheraton Centre
Linda Woods Reports:
Wednesday evening, three of the four juveniles were in view south of the Sheraton. Lots of tag playing and lots of very long flights. At one point the three were so high in the sky, you would not spot them unless you had tracked them skyward. Amazing, and flying effortlessly on the wind. They all returned to the area of the Sheraton and continued to chase each other.
Posted on July 16, 2014 7:56 pm
July 16, 2014 - Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton
Marion Nash Reports:
On Sunday morning, July 13th, at 7:01 I heard the squawking of a hungry youngster. It did not last long so I assumed he was fed. At 8:17 the same morning I again heard squawking. I was not awake enough to go and check. Just before 6:00 pm I went out. I was treated to the sight of and adult and juvie over Rio-Can (RC). Very soon after that Haven flew over RC and then Canada Square with a small food parcel. Haven was not giving that over easily and flew back to RC where she deposited it and the juvie took it. Haven eventually settled on the south face of RC. A juvie flew over Canada Square and south towards Davisville and was gone from view. Twenty minutes later Malik and a juvie were flying all over the top of RC, the Y/E intersection and Canada Square. They were quite high and circled and swooped for a few minutes before disappearing from view. I have no idea how many juvies I saw or whether it was the same one. All flights were strong.
Fast forward to today, July 15, when I heard a juvie squawking at approximately 2:00 pm. I eventually was out at around 6:00 pm. I did not have long to wait!! I had a wonderful private viewing of what the three, (3, count them) juvies can do.
The show started off quite slowly with one juvie flying in from the west, over 2190 Yonge and then to 2180 Yonge where he circled the antenna and played *touch-and-go* unsuccessfully and circled to try again. Three minutes later there were two juvies in the air over RC. One had just been kiting or hovering and the second one flew in at huge speed and they both turned and talon touched. Because of the speed and quick turn I thought that may have been an adult but it was a juvie. The two of them flew together over the Y/E intersection and Canada Square and south to the antenna atop 2180 Yonge.
Malik then entered the equation and flew over the tall condo, was joined by the twosome and all three flew back over Duplex Ave and somewhere west. Malik then took off and the *twosome* were left in his dust. They knew they were *bested* and simply kited where they were, back over 2180 Yonge. That was a temporary arrangement. A third peregrine flew in and I thought *oh dad is back*. Not so !!
For another twenty minutes I had three juveniles in the air, together and apart. Haven flew through the airspace once and went south. The three juvies then played every conceivable game they could, all in the airspace above Rio-Can, Canada Square, the Y/E intersection, the old bus bays, Duplex Ave and the Police Station. I had a front row seat to all this. They swooped and dived on one another at heart stopping (for me ) speeds. They turned and presented talons, sometimes just two and sometimes all three juvies. How they did not become entangled I don`t know. They practised hovering and kiting and did a few touch-and-goes. One little chappie was at the antenna on 2180 and had his wings spread doing a touch-and-go, I think, but he was near the end of one of the right jutting rods and kept moving right and more right and I knew what was coming! He *fell off* but of course just flew as if nothing untoward had happened.
The three also played tag or catch-me-if-you-can. Again I emphasise this was at great speed. Thank goodness they were high. There was a breeze on the ground and I think they found something they liked over the high buildings and simply used the wind to their advantage. Everything was so effortless! Rio-Can appeared to be the predominant playground of choice today until they flew up Duplex to number 500 where they played on the antenna a bit before disappearing altogether.
They are poetry in motion in the air now. Much of the *flap- flap* flight has disappeared and they fly almost effortlessly. They know to keep their height and they do!
Lyn
Posted on July 16, 2014 11:01 am
July 15, 2014 - Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton
Marion Nash Reports:
Simcoe was busy defending the nest as Tracy and Kathy from CPF collected the little hatchling at the Oshawa Lakeridge hospital nest site this past weekend. The hatchling was named “Salveo”, (which means in good health) in a name the chick contest by the Hospital staff later that day. You can see the yellow tape on Simcoe’s band that I placed overtop of his Silver USFW band at his banding. Many thanks to Tracy from the CPF for the being able to capture some great pictures of Simcoe.
Marion
Posted on July 15, 2014 2:15 pm
July 14, 2014 - Oshawa - Oshawa Activity
Tracy Simpson Reports:
On Saturday the CPF pulled together quickly to band the single young female chick hatched at the Lakeridge Hospital. The resident adults, Alfrieda from the Central Terminal nest site in Buffalo and Simoce from Canada Square here in Toronto, were in fine form giving Kathy Smith and I a good talking to. They came in several times but not too close as they are new to this and have some confidence building to do as productive parents. Still they were very active and did a great job.
Salveo, the single female chick, was banded downstairs and represents a new generation in the Windwhistler and Erin family tree. She is the great great granddaughter of this famous Toronto pair still nesting to this day at 18 King Street East, both now at the age of 16. Congratulations Lakeridge on your successful hatch and we look very forward to the future with Alfrieda and Simcoe.
Posted on July 14, 2014 6:41 pm
July 13, 2014 - Hamilton - Sheraton Hotel
CPF Postmaster Reports:
Sunday July 13th - 2014
A big thank you to Lucie and Richard Kirchknoph who ventured down to Beachville Ontario this weekend to investigate a report of nesting peregrines.
Their efforts paid off as they were able to identify the resident adult male via his leg band number and identify that the resident adult female is also banded with a solid Black leg band, telling us that they are both Canadian produced peregrines. Reports of the peregrines having produced offspring this year have been coming in this past week and we have some some good news to report thanks to Lucie and Richard.
Hi Guys
Good investigation guys!!
The Pefa that you reported having a solid black band number turns up in our banding data base as:
A peregrine named “Joe” that was produced at the Hamilton Sheraton Hotel in 2010
He was a very small underweight male – weighing in at only 492 grams at banding, banded at 23 days old, on May 31st – 2010
His mother is Madame X and his father is named Surge.
Surge was produced at the Etobicoke nest site (Bloor & Islington in Toronto) in 2002
Madame X was produced at a nest site on a bridge in Pennsylvania USA in 1999.
Posted on July 14, 2014 2:47 pm
