June 26, 2015 - Toronto - Sheraton Centre
Harry Crawford Reports:
By 8:10am, I had both adults and the juvenile in view. It looked just like yesterday with a couple of very small early feedings. By 9:30am, the adults had disappeared from view. A check from Sheraton 43 couldn’t spot them either. Sandy spent most of the rest of the morning lying down out of view. Briefly, around 11am, Rhea-Mae went into the nest ledge and left quickly. Sandy made an appearance and made a couple of brief vigorous flapping attempts. I passed the watch to Alex at lunchtime.
Posted on June 26, 2015 3:52 pm
June 26, 2015 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre
Tracy Simpson Reports:
Bruce opened the watch with Rob and Roger and had all four boys up high to start the morning off. These little guys are all flying so well now that it’s hard to keep track of them all. O’Connor has the distinct honor of being the chasee as Ferris and Mel harassed her all morning. While she may have looked annoyed I think she was really enjoying herself. This being Lucky’s first nesting season he is also learning that the training of these brats is now his responsibility and it’s making for fun times. All four juveniles at one time or another have spent time back at the nest ledge and are continuing to use the nest tray and ledge for naps and snack spots. As of Bruce’s log out at the site at 2pm, with all four boys flying high and well, we have officially scaled back the full time watch to spot checks.
I must say that the team of watchers at Islington and Bloor this year have been absolutely outstanding. I would like to thank CBRE Property Management, the always amazing Paladin Security Team, John and staff at The Longest Yard, Bruce, Rob, Roger, Trish, Marion, Baylie and Bob for their support of the family his year. One rescue and lots of great and amazing experiences!! As a result of your efforts we have once again completed a successful fledge watch. The boys, Ferris and Mel in particular, are thriving thanks to all of you. Great job everyone! I will soon post highlight photos of our time with the family and spot check reports will continue to be posted.
Posted on June 26, 2015 9:11 am
June 26, 2015 - Etobicoke - William Osler
Tracy Simpson Reports:
Thursday, oh Thursday. Benny kicks off the morning by kicking tail?? Wow! After I watched this crazy stunt I checked the location of our other young ones. I have Sven sitting nicely in the tower having stuck the landing perfectly. Winston was on the roof line singing and young Peggy, youngest of the four, still in her spot on the nest ledge. The boys that at one time used to run around like busy little ants on the ledge were now jack rabbiting all around the Osler property. The focus of the day for the boys was the tower. All day long. In and out of the gridwork and always landing smartly on target. At one point Winston made his first tower landing and Benny went over to congratulate him… …by biting him. Don’t know that this should be adopted as a formal greeting but Winston did return the gesture. Not to be left out, when Sven had his tower time Benny bit him too. All is fair I guess. Of the three boys Benny the jet was the boldest taking all opportunities to chase adults and harass all moving objects including a poor butterfly just minding its own business. Remember Benny, butterflies are friends not food and besides that, they taste terrible. Peggy spent most of the day off and on sleeping and preening. She is very close to first flights and when she gets airborne these bratty brothers better just look out. Bruce arrived around 2pm and took over the watch from there. Things were quite quiet and there was some weather moving in. Just before the rain Mom brought some food into the south sign. Two of the the boys went over and got food. Winston however tried to do what his brother did, float up to the rooftop by just using the wind. It wasn’t quite as smooth but he still got the same result. When the rain hit, the female was the only one that stayed dry. She did however have a shower as she was flapping her wings and running up and down the ledge.
After the rains, at first heavy and then the later showers, there was some rest followed by some flights by the boys. Peggy spent her time exercising and sleeping.
The boys made the tower numerous times. There was only one bobble, but the bird recovered and landed at the southwest corner of the nest ledge. With the parents on the tower and on the South H sign, the juveniles tucked themselves in at the east end of the building and I left for the night.
This wonderful Friday morning started with the three boys getting into everything; the tower, antennas, tag games, H signs and Hurricanes personal space. Peggy is now sitting on the southeast corner with her back out ready to go. I expect that a first flight for her will happen today. Check back later for an update on her progress.
Posted on June 26, 2015 8:45 am
June 26, 2015 - Etobicoke - William Osler
Tracy Simpson Reports:
So Wednesday Benny was on a mission to tear it up. He had been flying amazingly well all morning and was now bored. Sven and Winston were on the north side of the nest ledge and Peggy was on the northeast corner. Benny landed on the ledge next to Sven and walked in between him and the back wall. Benny then lunged forward at Sven and pushed him off of the ledge. Sven was shocked to be in the air and he looped out over the north parking lot and made it up to the roof. Next was Winston. Benny ran down the ledge to his brother and pulled the exact same stunt except this time Winston struggled to get up to the roof, circled around and finally made rooftop on the south side. Benny didn’t dare try that stunt with Peggy as she would have just pulverized him. She’s a tank and will move of her own will thank you much. Sven took another flight as he was miserable on the roof and wanted to go home. I should preface this by saying that Sven still has a head full of down and of the three boys was the least ready for this. Sven’s flight got him what he wanted which was home to the ledge. It wasn’t pretty as he threw himself at the louvres and bounced onto the nest ledge rather than landing smartly. He shook it off and went back to bed. Winston ran the rooftop screaming all morning. My tough guy on the ledge, wee Winston, was now a chicken outside of his comfort zone. Peggy was unimpressed with it all until she realized that food was going to them and not her. Still, she was unmoved. Sven did yet another flight back up to the roof and when Bruce arrived, Sven and Winston were on the roof, Peggy on her corner of the nest ledge and Benny the jet was on the north H taking daddy’s spot on the couch.
Bruce took over at 2 o’clock with all 4 birds accounted for. It was pretty quiet for about an hour or so but as the afternoon cooled down then there was some action. The two boys that were evicted by their brother in the morning started to rev up. Occasionally Peggy would pop her head up but for the most part she dozed until 5:00 or so. Brother Benny had joined his sister for a nap for an hour or so. The two roof boys, Sven and Winston, revved up and started to doing laps and lengths. Benny joined them, but he did more adventurous flights with an occasional flight out and back from the roof. Then it got really hard to follow the boys when Chessie and Hurricane got involved. They generally sat on the northwest antennas and the boys, mostly Sven and Benny, would fly up and chase the parents off them. When Benny did it the first time, he knocked Chessie clear off much to her surprise. Chessie was unimpressed and returned the favor by hovering over top of Benny as he sat on the antenna but he didn’t budge. At one point I had Benny, Sven and an adult on 3 separate antennas. Winston was also doing well with flights and landings but did have a tiny wobble in some of them. He missed an attempt at the ledge and ended up on the 10th floor window below. Mom made several attempts to encourage him off but he was too busy looking at himself in the window. Finally mom encouraged him back up to the ledge and Winston walked around back to the north side. That essentially was the night, with all the chicks showing up on east ledge and tucked in by 8 o’clock.
By Wednesday morning Benny the jet had his big shoes on and was behaving more like an adult than a 43 day old chick. He was on the north H and suddenly began to alarm call. He took off and started to chase a Great Blue Heron over the emerg parking lot. He made one grab at its tail and then circled back to the roof. Like father like son. More updates on Thursday’s adventures to come!
Posted on June 26, 2015 8:17 am
June 25, 2015 - Kitchener - CTV-Bell Media Tower
Lisa Reh Reports:
At 10:00, Janice saw one of the juveniles fly from the front of the Sun Life building and back to the hospital roof, vocalizing and flapping like crazy. Karen at 10:15, sighted one adult on Sun Life, 3 juveniles on the CTV tower and one on the H level of the hospital roof. It looked like Chroma as Karen got a glimpse of her yellow tape.
At 12:30, Caster was perched in his favourite spot on Sun Life and took off a minute later on the hunt down over the parking lot close to Park St. He flew over the parking lot on the Mount Hope St. side with 4 tiny birds chasing him! I could hear some juveniles screeching when he got towards the hospital. I only sighted one juvenile on the CTV tower on the Pine St. side. It was standing up and was holding it’s right wing down over the platform. This behaviour of drooping wings is often observed when they are resting. It was hot out and likely the kids are all hunkered down during the hottest part of the day. The juvenile on the tower went out of site on the platform when I left at 1:00.
David was on the watch at 6:30 and sighted two juveniles on the hospital roof above the H sign. One juvenile circled the hospital then flew towards the Sun Life tower and out of sight. A little bit before 7:00, a mallard flew by. A juvenile landed on the hospital antenna. About 10 minutes later the juvenile flew off of the antenna and joined its siblings above the letter H. Karen and Chris, were on the watch by then and Chris sighted all 4 juveniles together on the hospital roof. One of the adults was on the Sun Life building. The fledge watch team have not observed any flights from Chroma this day to assess her flights.
At 8:45, Karen and Chris watched Reggie take off and fly towards the Sun Life building! He landed on top of Sun Life and took off and landed a few times!! He knows how to put on the brakes by holding up his wings. Reggie soared around the top of the building a few times and then he flew over to Belmont Avenue and even did a dive towards some seagulls! This little guy’s flying skills are getting stronger and more confident each day. Eventually he came in and joined his siblings at the hospital. After a little while, he flew back to the CTV tower. A few times a parent came in during all the action but there were no food drops. Little Reggie is the superstar on this day!!
Photo courtesy of Karen von Knobloch
Posted on June 26, 2015 1:07 am
June 25, 2015 - Toronto - Don Mills and Eglinton - Amexon
Cathy Kerr Reports:
I was out by 5am and found Lilly right where we left her-yay!! She started squeeing quietly and up popped Morgan! They eyed each other for awhile and then after a light fly around Lilly, off she flew. Then the gulls started buzzing her-poor Lilly! Mom was watching from the Forrester building when a juvie chased her off and back to the ICICI roof, screaming and even bumping poor Mom.Lilly finally flew up to the top roof of 411 and there she was above the 411 sign. After going back and forth, slipping abit and jumping, off she flew–all the way over to the building beside Forrester!! She stayed there, screaming at Mom, who was back but not for long as she got tired of the noise and left. Lilly stayed there for a few hours. Meanwhile, Mom, Dad and a juvie flew off and over the 411 bldg. Mom & Dad returned. Then I see a juvie(Morgan) soaring above 411 and then lands, preening away. That got Lilly off the roof and she flew back to the top roof of 411-not a pretty landing but I thought it was amazing!! Morgan did too-she wheeled off her perch and comes around to hover and then land perfectly, right beside her sister(who had now popped up). Kisses all around-so cute! They stayed together for the next couple of hours til Morgan took off for abit. Lilly decided it was time to try for the ICICI roof-didn’t make it(darn) and returned to the 411 roof. That seemed to shake her confidence abit as she didn’t try it again. At siesta time, all three siblings got together on 411!! I’m thinking, so adorable….until that brat Horton decided he wasn’t so happy with Lilly’s return and starting buzzing her–the first time he did it he knocked her down! After that, she would duck! Morgan had enough of that and went after him–the chase was on, fast and furious. Sally and Lucie joined me at this time–it was something. After abit I headed home for my own siesta. While I was gone, Sally and Lucie informed me that Mom finally intervened and shut Horton down. Leave your sister alone!! It quietened down quite abit. Mom brought in a HUGE meal, that they all shared. When I returned, they were finishing it up–Mom even had a bite!! Around 8pm, everyone but Lilly was back over at the nest site. She looked like she might come over but she ended up popping down on the roof and we lost sight of her. Mom & Morgan were calling her to come over but no. We finally drove over to look for her but no luck. Irma will be over first thing tomorrow morning and hopefully will have eyes on our girl.
I am attaching a few pics I took yesterday before we released Lilly
Posted on June 25, 2015 11:29 pm
June 25, 2015 - Toronto - Sheraton Centre
Linda Woods Reports:
Evening two of the Fledge Watch had Sandy doing much of nothing. Sitting around enjoying the view. Rhea Mae and Tiago did not visit her this evening, no food drops, no flight training, but they did have her in view most of the time. She did show some ambition when Rhea Mae and Tiago took a” couples flight” over the east side of the hotel, but that was short lived, and Sandy quieted down and no more activity for the remainder of the evening.
At the close of the evening shift, adults had Sandy in view as she moved away from the open slots and settled down for the night.
Posted on June 25, 2015 10:23 pm
June 25, 2015 - Toronto - Sheraton Centre
Harry Crawford Reports:
Today is the first full day of the Sheraton watch. By 8am, I had Tiago on the northeast corner of 130 Adelaide W, with Rhea-Mae on the northwest corner of the same building. Sandy showed herself 10 minutes later on the nest ledge. About 9am and again a half hour later, it looks like Rhea-Mae made a very small food drop near the nest box. Sandy disappeared for 10 minutes each time. Sandy spent a lot of time out of view, probably lying down.
Later in the morning, Sandy could be seen flapping but standing in the same position - not running and flapping. This happened briefly twice. Around 11am, Rhea-Mae made two quick trips from 130 Adelaide to the nest box area. I’m not sure what this was about as it wasn’t a food drop. Sandy appeared unconcerned. When I got home at lunchtime, the webcam showed Sandy lying down just east of the big pipe.
Posted on June 25, 2015 2:58 pm
June 24, 2015 - Kitchener - CTV-Bell Media Tower
Lisa Reh Reports:
Just before 9:00 this morning, Tony was alerted that Chroma was on top of the 19th floor balcony at Sun Life, where Merry was trapped for a few days last year. Janice and Tony checked on her at various times during the morning. A Sun Life employee on that floor reported that Chroma was on her side. When Janice investigated, Chroma was lying down against the glass and it did look like her left wing was sticking up in an awkward position. She was alert and looking around. At 11:30, I saw an adult circling the upper tower and went up to see how Chroma was doing. When I got there, she was hopping back and forth along the ledge where the mirrored glass is and was trying to jump through, hopping up into the glass. The window is very confusing for young falcons as they can see through it to the landscape below but they can’t get through to the other side. They also see their reflection in the glass and it looks like another falcon so they try to reach them. Luckily, Chroma figured it out and hopped over to the open balcony away from the mirrored glass and the reflections. She seemed to be holding her right wing down lower than normal. She hopped onto the metal ledge under the railing and sat there for a few minutes looking down. Tony and Janice were at street level on Union Street and could see her from there. Just before 12:00, she dropped off the balcony out of my sight. Tony saw her drop and Janice was pretty sure she flew towards the hospital, and the flight was strong. A minute later there were two juveniles flying high above the hospital roof. In the blink of an eye, things change quickly and it’s easy to miss what is going on. With no one completely sure whether Chroma flew or dropped down, we did a rooftop scan. Tony took a walk on the 5th floor roof, as I scanned from the higher floors to see if she fell down to a lower level. Chroma could not be seen anywhere. We put out an alert to the fledge watch team to try and find her.
David arrived at 1:00 and was joined by Kim at 1:30. One juvenile was on the top platform of the CTV tower. Reggie, landed on the top too, and started preening. Karen arrived shortly after that and had sighted a third juvenile tucked into the hospital roof on a lower level. It was pretty quiet other than an osprey flying by at 2:00. At 3:15, Caster flew by with Ginnie hot on his heels. Ginnie and Redbud played tag for a bit. One bird was above the H, one was on the Kings Tower antenna and Reggie was on the CTV tower. Karen checked her images and could see that it was Chroma on the hospital ledge! What a feat for this tough girl! Not only did she make it up to the top of the Sun Life building, but she managed to fly back with, let’s hope only some sore wings and perhaps some bruising. Chroma’s crop looked empty so she probably hadn’t eaten for a while. One of the adults came in with a package and Redbud got it. Mystery was around and Ginnie was trying to fly over the moon!
At 7:00, Janice was back on the watch and saw one juvenile on the CTV tower and one on the hospital antenna. Rudy joined the watch at 7:10 just in time to see one of the adults come in with a food package. The juvenile on the hospital antenna pursued the adult with the food package and caught it in mid-air! Nicely done!! There was some vocalizing from the hospital roof but no one else was in sight. At 7:40, one of the juveniles flew down from to the emergency entrance roof and out of sight. Another juvenile was sighted at the front of the hospital.
Karen was back on the watch at 8:00, and sighted three out of the four juveniles. At 8:30, Mystery and Caster were on top of Sun Life on the Union Street side, Caster in his favourite perch. I joined up with Karen a few minutes later and all 4 juveniles could be accounted for. Reggie was on the CTV tower, Ginnie on the highest part of the hospital antenna, Redbud on the rooftop with the big H, and Chroma on the lower level of the hospital roof below Redbud! It did look like Chroma was holding her right wing down a little lower than normal, her shoulder lowered. She stretched out her left wing over the hospital ridge. At around 9:00, the 3 other juveniles all went back to the CTV tower. Chroma took flight a few minutes later. She looked like she was struggling and couldn’t get the height that she needed to make it to the 2nd level platform to join the others on the tower, so she circled back and landed a little higher than she was before, mid way up on the hospital antenna. Reggie joined her there shortly after as if to give her some encouragement. With her back to us, again she held her wings down and stretched them out again. Reggie flew back to the CTV tower to the very top to join the others. At about 9:30, one of the adults flew onto the antenna below Chroma with a food package to try and entice her to leave her perch for a bite to eat. From Karen’s observations today, she hasn’t eaten for a while. The adult flew back to the CTV tower, dropped the food off for the others and then flew off towards the Sun Life tower. Chroma remained on the antenna when we left her at about 10:00. Hopefully, all she needs is a good nights sleep and some rest for her tired wings.
Photos courtesy of Janice Newton, Tony Bergauer & Karen von Knobloch
Posted on June 25, 2015 1:17 am
June 24, 2015 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre
Marion Nash Reports:
Had 3 birds in view when I arrived to relieve Bruce at 2:00 and Glider was one of them on the nest building/East tower nest ledge level so I sat down to keep an eye on him since he was the newest flyer.
By 2:30 he had enough of being alone and took flight again directly to his 3 brothers on the West tower
and there they stayed for about an hour before 2 flew to the centre tower 1 to the east tower and all on the Aberfoyle side out of my site. I was able to identify the 1 I had left in view as Mel so I walked over to Aberfoyle to find Glider to keep my eyes on him.
For the rest of the afternoon and into the evening I watched lots of great flights from all 3 brothers in my view and several flights from Glider chasing mom around for food and finally flying back around the east tower, I checked the web cam on my phone and saw that he had made it back to the nest.
Mom fed him at about 7.20 and a third feeding for Ferris who did some flying today but not nearly as much as the others guess he was just too full!
At about 7:30 all flew back over to the Bloor St side of all 3 towers all about the same time so back to Eagle Rd and Bloor I go.
All 4 boys in site 2 on the west tower one on the centre tower and 1 on the nest ledge.
I was joined by Winston who was I guess feeling empty nester after finishing up a long and challenging fledge watch at the Mississauga MEC site and by Trish.
All was quiet long enough for me to have a salad on the patio at the Longest Yard Restaurant where I could keep an eye on the boys. No sooner did I finish my salad and pay the bill the “Falcon Follies” began and I had Fledglings flying all over the place one of the did the bat miniver on the concrete wall just above the nest, another flew into the nest landing on the camera like the adults do, one flew onto a narrow window ledge on the condo beside the nest building too small to stay on then flew off and hooked back to the roof top of the centre tower.
A few more flights from parents and kids and they all settled down all up high all safe,time for bed.
Posted on June 25, 2015 1:15 am
