December 21, 2014 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre
Tracy Simpson Reports:
Today I met with the painters for the final coat to be applied to the south facing ledge of the east tower. I arrived early and stopped in at Eagle Road and Bloor for a look around in the hopes of spotting the resident adults. Oh I found them alright… …Jack was sitting in O’Connors spot on the camera with a nice crop and looking ready for a nap. As I panned with my binoculars across the ledge at first I wasn’t sure what I was seeing but yes… …that large lump sticking up just above the edge of the ledge was indeed O’Connors head and bulbous crop. I snapped a few pictures from below and checked in on the camera and there she was on the edge of the tray also napping the morning away. I went into the lobby and met up with the crew to get ready for our final ascent on this ledge.
We gathered gear and headed outside to the mezzanine level for our lift. I checked the ledge and saw that Jack had left his roost. I checked the web camera image for O’Connor and she had also left her roost. I scanned around for the two but could not immediately find them so we loaded the stage and made ready to go. It was then I looked up to where we were headed and saw O’Connor sitting on the west arm of the swing stage looking back down at us. Hmmmm.
We began our lift and I watched her as we went. She looked down at us but remained roosting the whole time. As we approached the ledge we stopped and waited for her to move off but she remained quite content to stay there. We went a little higher and still no reaction. We continued to go up a few feet and give her time to acclimatize to our presence and I was at the ready should she come in for a closer look. It was as we were almost at our destination that she decided to take off and flew directly over to the Kingsway on the Park roof to continue roosting.
As the painters set about completing the south face and ledge I continued to watch for Jack and O’Connor. Halfway through our task Jack flew out from the east side of the east tower and around to the west tower Moneris sign. O’Connor followed moments later and there the two remained until our task was complete. It was only as we were descending for the day that O’Connor reappeared to the south and flew out and around the nest tower to the Aberfoyle side of the building.
I will post the camera shots and pictures that I took today shortly so check back soon for some images of the resident adults.
Posted on December 21, 2014 11:34 pm
December 21, 2014 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre
Tracy Simpson Reports:
Post for Saturday Dec 20th
This Saturday was an amazing day for the painting to continue with mild temperatures and sunshine. The ledge that we were now working on was the ledge to the west of the nest ledge that Jack likes to use as a hangout and food prep area. When I arrived, O’Connor was in her favorite position on top of the web camera roosting in the sun and Jack was not in my view. I met with the painters in the east lobby and as we were gathering up gear and setting our game plan, the pigeons on Aberfoyle went wild. I went outside and caught sight of O’Connor out on a morning hunt. Back inside we went and up to the east mezzanine to prepare to lift. We were greeted by a trickle down shower of feathers from above, the hunt most obviously was successful. With a full crop she was now hopefully set for a nap.
Our lift to the top and paint applications went very well without so much as a peep from the resident adults. O’Connor made one flight out to the west and appeared to swoop up to the west tower Moneris sign which is one of her favored roosts. The painters were able to tape off, measure and apply the first coat of paint to this face of the building and make things ready for the final coat to be added on Sunday. All went well and the weather cooperated to make the job run smoothly.
Painting of this ledge will continue Sunday and if all goes well will be completed then.
Posted on December 21, 2014 11:08 pm
December 21, 2014 - Toronto - Don Mills
Bruce Massey Reports:
With the nest camera back online and showing us views of the adult peregrines active around the site, I decided to venture out to do a quick check in. One of the most conspicuous things about Quest these days is that in the camera shots taken of her at the box, the antenna of her transmitter could not be seen at all. I set out to try and confirm whether the female was Quest and if she was now backpack free.
I found her in and around the nest box soaking up the sun and with my scope was able to get excellent looks at her back. I can say without doubt that the backpack harness and transmitter she has been wearing for the past several years is no longer there. Quest was looking quite fabulous, all her feathers sitting neatly preened across her back and chest. I was also able to confirm her recovery band number as Black 96 over Green V as she sat sunbathing. The male was also quite active in the area and the two met at the box a number of times bowing and vocalizing together. I set the scope on the male and turned my attention to the task of confirming his identity.
He spent a great deal of time up on the Harlequin building sitting in the sun and I waited for him to do some stretching and reveal the look I was seeking. At first glance I was able to only see the USFW band and it was covered in blue tape. This was not consistent with Skye, the male that was with Quest this past nest season. I continued to watch and finally got the look that I was waiting for. The band number that I could clearly see was a solid Black Y over 72 with blue tape which turns out to be a bird hatched in 2013 at the Amexon nest site named Lucky.
We are unsure when this change took place and where Skye is currently. We will have to wait until spring to clearly understand whether Lucky or Skye will be Quest’s mate for the 2015 nesting season.
Posted on December 21, 2014 10:53 pm
December 19, 2014 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre
Mark Nash Reports:
Friday December 19th - 2014
A good day,,, and the painting is almost completed at the upper elevations around the nest ledge. We arrived this morning to observe one of the resident falcons perched on top of the nest ledge camera. By the time the swing stage got to the nest level, it had flown off, so I can’t tell you which of the two resident falcons was on the camera.
Throughout the day the falcons didn’t make an appearance, and we got a good safe undisturbed go-round! The second camera was uncovered as the final paint was applied and the painters will not have to return to this particular elevation again as the painting has been completed. One, perhaps two more days on the south side of the east tower, (in particular, the south east ledge that Jack can usually be found roosting and prepping food). His man cave 
I guess you could call it.
Tomorrow, Tracy from the CPF will be attending with the painters to ensure that everything goes safe and well for all. Hopefully the milder weather will hold out that may allow the painters to be able to complete both the first and second coats of black and white paint at this elevation around this ledge. Lets prey it doesn’t rain again!!!!
Stay tuned for Tracy’s report…….
Posted on December 20, 2014 12:00 am
December 17, 2014 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre
Mark Nash Reports:
December 15th & 17th - 2014
While the weather has not been very cooperative with rain, fog, rain and more rain, it obviously hasn’t prevented the local resident peregrines from carrying on with their day to day routines.
Painting has been held up for the past two days because of heavy fog and constant rain and we have not been able to proceed since Monday of this week. I guess we shouldn’t complain, as it has been seasonally mild, almost warm in comparison to the past to weeks and thank goodness its not been snowing!
While both of the peregrines were not seen on Monday when painting resumed, today, (Wednesday Dec. 17th), I had a brief opportunity to take a peak through one of the web camera’s via my smart phone, and snapped and saved a photo of one of the resident peregrines roosting on the nest tray. Sadly, I couldn’t tell who it was - (O’Connor or Jack) due to the small screen shot on my older smart phone.
For those of you e-mailing us regarding the other camera, we still have it covered with protective plastic to protect it from the second coat of paint that still needs to be applied to the elevations around it.
Stay tuned, I will back with the painters tomorrow if the weather improves while they finish up the painting at this elevation, and will remove the plastic camera covering from camera number two.
Stay tuned………..
Posted on December 17, 2014 3:09 pm
December 13, 2014 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre
Mark Nash Reports:
Saturday Dec. 13th - 2014
Finally, the bad weather let up, gaving the painters an opportunity to get back to their painting tasks (at least for a few hours today) and they were once again hurrying along to get paint applied. Moments after getting to the lower roof elevation where the swing stage was waiting, it was quite obvious that both the resident peregrines - (Jack and O’Connor) were already very actively involved in a territorial dispute with a pair of Red-tailed hawks.
High above the Bloor & Islington centre office towers, we witnessed both resident peregrines diving and stooping on a pair of Red-tailed hawks as we watched the Red-tails twist, turn and rolled up side down in an effort to avoid being struck by the two diving and stooping peregrines. This is NOT a good neighbourhood to be flying around at any time of the year, especially if your another raptor!!
It didn’t take long for O’Connor and Jack to force the two adult Red-tails out of the territory and out of sight! That being said, this provided an ideal opportunity for us to get into the swing stage and allowed the painters to get on with the painting given that both the resident peregrines were distracted and obviously very busy to the south west while chasing off the two Red-tailed hawks. For the next four hours we had a peregrine-free time frame that allowed the painters to carry on with their painting activities at the upper elevation.
Sadly, just when all was going well, the paint compressor failed and ceased to function that ended their peregrine-free opportunity to carry on with their painting activities.
After more than a hour trying to get the paint compressor to function properly, the painters had to call it a day and we returned to the lower level and quit for the day.
Back on Monday next week.
Stay tuned………
Posted on December 13, 2014 2:10 am
December 09, 2014 - Toronto - Rogers Centre
Mark Nash Reports:
December 2014 Update
Just a quickly update to let everyone know that all is going as planned with the roofing activity almost completed! As you may know, we have been working closely with the Rogers centre management and the roofing company over the past year to ensure that both the workmen and peregrines remain safe during the on-going roofing activities on the Rogers Centre.
With the final water-proofing stage almost complete, (now at the nest ledge itself), we are almost ready to install the new nest tray as soon as the new water protective membrane has been installed. We are all pretty excited about the new nest tray, as it will offer the peregrines a dry elevated nesting spot within the ledge that should provide a ideal place for the peregrines to continue their nesting and family rearing activities. It will also keep the peregrines out of the rain gutter and away from the cold barren water soaked concrete, in addition to keeping the peregrine off of the new protective roof membrane.
The new nest tray was manufactured by CPF with the sponsorship support of the Rogers Centre and was delivered by CPF to the Rogers Centre several weeks ago during my one of my many visits visit. During this time, the new green protective mesh barrier was installed to cover the nest ledge entrance and offer a protective barrier to the roofers, allowing them to safely work within the nest lest ledge itself out of sight of the resident peregrines during the final stage of the roof work. Both resident adults did NOT migrate this fall and are still very active on site!
Both resident adult peregrines have been on site throughout the past four plus months during their roofing activities, and the peregrines aggressiveness has intensified as the roofers have gotten closer to the south west corner (the actual nest ledge).
We are very pleased that both the Rogers centre and Specified Roofing has been working very closely with the CPF over the past year to ensure that both the peregrines and workmen are protected during the roofing process.
CPF will be on site again to be part of the nest tray install to ensure that it will installed correctly.
Stay tuned……………….
Posted on December 9, 2014 12:24 pm
December 08, 2014 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre
CPF Postmaster Reports:
December 8th - 2014
Just a quickly update to let everyone know that everything is well out at the Etobicoke nest site with both the building painting activities and the peregrines. For the past week, the Canadian Peregrine Foundation has had a staff member on site working with the painters to ensure that both the painters and the birds are safe. Mark Nash from the CPF has been on the window washers swing stage providing cover and protection for the two painters and ensuring that the peregrines are not hurt during the painting process. As many of you have been watching both locally and on the CPF’s nest camera, the entire exterior of the three office towers of the newly renamed Bloor and Islington Place are being painted, including that of the upper elevations,, including the nest ledge itself.
Other good news is that the nest tray has been serviced - (in part), with some additional pea-gravel having been added to the nest tray, and allot of the old debris has been removed. We also took this opportunity to take critical measurements so that the new nest tray can be manufactured and will be installed next year. While the nest tray has served the peregrines well, it is in much need of replacement. Remembering that we installed this nest tray back in 1997!!
It is worth noting that we have now seen both Jack (the resident adult male and the resident adult female - O’Connor throughout). O’Connor was on hand today to express her opinion of our activity in and around her nest ledge. In typical O’Connor fashion, and with the silence and stealth we have known to expect of her, she appeared out of nowhere, stooped and dive-bombed us a half a dozen times this afternoon, with several toooo-close for comfort dives, making contact with the broom on several occasions.
As you know, the straw broom is utilized to provide an elevated target, one that allows the peregrines an easy soft target allowing them to vent their aggression out on, while protecting the other humans on the swing stage, thus allowing them to carry on with their work activities throughout any attacks.
While the use of a straw broom worked quite well as we expected, O’Connor still managed to have us all ducking below the safety of swing stage rails throughout most of her aerial assault, as she is simply just toooo fast to get out her way!!!
She was convincing enough to have the painters hurry along to get the nest ledge area completed in record time and quickly move out of the nest ledge area!! As you may have also noticed, both cameras were covered up and wrapped in plastic to protect them from any paint over-spray that might have got onto the camera lens.
We have several more days (weather permitting) to complete the painting at this elevation. Remembering that there are still two other ledges at this elevation that heed to be painted, in addition to the areas above the nest ledge level. The remaining ledges are the ledges that Jack uses as a regular butcher block to prepare food and a roosting spot. I expect that we will also receive an additional scolding when we are at this elevation.
The great news, is that the nest ledge looks good, and the pale white colour is not intrusive at all.
Stay tuned,,
Posted on December 9, 2014 11:18 am
December 05, 2014 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre
Kathy Reports:
The Bloor Islington center is currently doing building maintenance which involves water proofing and painting the exterior of the buildings - including the nest ledge area. You will notice today that the nest box is being covered up - don’t panic, this is just to protect the box from any paint residue. The cams will also be covered up and may be offline for a few days as they complete their work.
CPF staff are currently on site and will be monitoring the falcons during this time to ensure that there are no issues.
Posted on December 5, 2014 11:19 am
December 05, 2014 - Mississauga - Executive Centre
Kathy Reports:
Some of you have noticed that the web cam has been down for a few weeks. The MEC is experiencing some technical issues with it’s internet service and we are awaiting a resolution from their technicians before the cams are back online.
The falcons are well and CPF is keeping an eye on events out there. Stay tuned, we hope to have the camera back and up and running soon!
Posted on December 5, 2014 11:16 am
