MEC Today. All Three Have Fledged and Two Troubled by Trees
June 07, 2015 - Mississauga - Executive Centre
Tracy Simpson Reports:
I arrived this morning at just after 6am as Ieva was spending the night in a tree near MEC 3. I wanted to be there as early as I could in the hopes that with a bit of food teasing by the parents that she would be encouraged to take her next flight. When I pulled in behind MEC 3, I could see and hear Hawkeye up on the northeast corner of MEC 1. Adrianna was nowhere in sight and I wasn’t sure which tree Ieva had spent the night in so I began the walk. I started at MEC 3, circling the building and checking for little big brown grounded birds. Being sleepy and dopey (no coffee yet), I walked right past Ieva without even seeing her and therefore wasn’t sure that she was still treed. I continued on to MEC 1 and did my perimeter walk and still nothing. On to building 2 after which I decided to head back to 1 first and what should I see coming up the driveway but a peregrine youngster sitting on the base of a free standing gate staring at the creek. Adrianna!! I ran into a couple of the amazing guys from Garda Security and they said that she had been seen just a minute ago walking past the front door of 1. Brat. I tried to sneak the towel up and over the railing and steer her back over towards the building for a rescue but she had other plans. She flew straight through the dangling towel, up the creek and then banked towards Hurontario. I ran around the back and up the street looking for signs of Adrianna and I didn’t have to look far. Across the field on the north side of the building, almost at the creek, sat Midnight in the top of a dead tree alarm calling like mad. Thanks mom for the heads up! I bushwhacked over to her location and started my search. All the little birds were having a fit right where I was standing and then suddenly moved off east towards the creek. I followed. I broke through the brush and on the other side of the creek Adrianna was trying to gain purchase in a tree on the far side and it looked like she was going to lose her bid to stay off of the ground. I made a quick decision… …oh, man… …and down INTO the creek I went. I waded across (ankle deep) to the Adrianna tree and she suddenly stopped her descent and latched onto a branch about 20 feet up. Ugh! I watched as she settled in and once stable I slopped over to MEC 3 for another look at the Ieva tree. Yup! There she was! Watching me running around in my wet shoes looking for her. Great, I have all three girls. My conundrum now was how to watch all three at the same time. Reinforcements weren’t due to arrive for several hours. I decided to set up watching Ieva as it also allowed me to keep an eye on Hawkeye. The small neighborhood birds had found Adrianna and I could hear the ruckus from where I sat. Until Margaret arrived I continued to spot check Adrianna and otherwise stayed close to Ieva and Hawkeye.
When Margaret arrived I set her up on Ieva and I went to watch Adrianna. Bruce got there shortly after Margaret so I set her on Adrianna and Bruce on Ieva while I went for a much needed change of shoes. The day for the most part was spent with the two girls in their respective trees dealing with branches in the way and adjusting to their new locations. Shortly after I left Adrianna took her next flight heading straight home and landed on the MEC 1 overhang. She flew off of the overhang and ended up in some shrubbery where Bruce made the rescue. In the meantime Hawkeye was getting fed and getting it all!
Ieva took much longer to take the next brave step and fly out. By the time she was ready to go Winston had arrived and taken up position near her tree. She came down around 8pm after a short flight to the windows where she grabbed onto the frame and did the bat thing for a minute or so and then came down in a flower bed. Winston went for the rescue but she deeked him out and that gave Bruce the chance he needed to sneak up from behind and towel her.
Given that we already had Hawkeye on the retaining wall of MEC 1 and we didn’t want to cause a panic flight, we decided that the two girls would be going up on MEC 3. We placed each in their own corner on the roof catwalk ad were free and clear of the visible roof when Midnight began to alarm call. One of the girls had made their presence known and mom was over like a shot! Fortunately Winston and I were long gone before she got there. Midnight sat on the southwest corner of MEC 3 sounding the alarm and staring at both of her girls that had gone from treetop to rooftop right under her nose. By the time we left all had settled in and become quiet.
A big, huge, happy thank you to Margaret, Bruce and Winston for their help today. I couldn’t have done it without you. Tomorrow morning I will be down as early as I am able to to see what nonsense we get up to next! Two on the roof of MEC 3 and one on MEC 1. All three girls in view and out of the nest. Excellent job everyone!!