June 13, 2016 - Kitchener - CTV-Bell Media Tower
Lisa Reh Reports:
The girls were on and around the nest box when the fledge watch started at 6:15 a.m. today. At a little after 8:00, one of the adults made a food drop and the 3 girls made a fuss at the edge of the nest box. Tenor (Y49) was halfway down on the tower, far below the nest box where he was last night. His white tape is no longer on his silver band. He hopped back and forth a bit changing positions and flew about 10 feet to the centre platform still half way down the tower. At 9:25, one of the adults flew by towards the hospital and Tenor then circled back and around and landed on top platform of the Bell Media tower! Well done Tenor!! The girls and the people on the ground watching all cheered for him! Caster was on the top platform looking on during all the ruckus. The girls spent the morning coming and going from the nest box and cruised around the platform that the nest box is on. A black squirrel ventured up the tower twice and both times the parents came out of nowhere to ward off the intruder. Mystery even flew right into the centre of the tower stairs and swept her wings at the squirrel.
At 12:25, Tenor flew from the Bell tower for his second flight over to the King’s Towers! He tried to land beside the red light but miscalculated and flew around the tower and successfully landed in the same spot. He moved around the tower and slipped out of sight.The 3 girls were still on the nest box looking on. At 12:50, one of the adults flew to the King’s Tower antenna with a meal for Tenor but it didn’t appear that he had a meal. At 12:55, Tenor took flight for the third time and landed back on top of the Bell tower!!! It was a rough landing and he fell a short distance to the white platform, but he made it! Exhausted from his flight, he passed out on top of the platform for a sleep. Meanwhile, Mystery was eating her meal on the King’s Towers.
Mystery brought a food drop for Tenor on the top platform at a little after 2:00. Finally, Tenor is the first to feed and doesn’t have to wait for this big sisters to get their fill before he eats! The girls made quite a fuss. Mystery continued to vocalize to the youngsters, first from the smaller CTV antenna, and then from the King’s Towers antenna with a few flights back to the nest box. At one point, Tenor moved to finish his lunch on the upper platform and Mystery swooped down from above, snatched his lunch away and took it over to the King’s Towers roof, all the while encouraging him to come and get it. He declined, as did the girls, although there was a bit of wing stretching going on, as well as hopping around on the lower platform. Caster showed up about 4:00 and also tried to encourage some flights, but all stayed put. Mystery, Caster, and Tenor were all on the top platform, and the other three young were on the nest box ledge at 4:40.
Between 6:15 and 6:45 p.m., one of the adults was on the top platform with Tenor, 2 of the girls were in the back of the nest box and one on the ledge of the nest box. Shortly before 7:00, both of the adults had taken off and one of the girls took her first short flight to the top of the nest box to join Tenor! At 8:45 p.m., Tenor and his sister were still on the top platform and the 2 of the girls were looking out from the nest ledge.
Photos courtesy of Karen von Knobloch
Posted on June 14, 2016 12:13 am
June 13, 2016 - Etobicoke - William Osler
Tracy Simpson Reports:
I opened the watch today and all was quiet on the ledge at first. The kids were just waking up and getting animated and Chessie was in the tower watching. Casper was on the southern H keeping vigil there. All seemed to be nice and calm when Ramses had other plans. At around 9am he took to the air running. Seriously folks, he was running down the ledge, got airborne and forgot to stop his feet from running! He flew out over the south employee parking lot maintaining his height and headed back for home. He was one floor short of the nest ledge and so he swung out around the east parking lot. This time he was starting to drop height as he was tuckering out pretty quick. He tried for the nest ledge on the east side but was only half way up. He flumped into the wall and fluttered down to the ground. I was so not ready for a rescue but I ran over to where he stood. Chessie was stooping me (not terribly close but enough to say get lost) and in one grab I had him in my hands. I cradled him in my hand and tucked him against me with his tail sort of under my arm and marched him into security to get the rescue carrier. Uh oh. Security was on patrol. Ok. I’m sure I have something in my car. I found a bankers box full of stuff that I needed to take out and Ramses watched as each item came out in turn. The box now empty I just needed to find the lid. Oh no. No lid. Ok. I have a thick towel. I draped that overtop and headed back into security where I met up with one of the guards. We were able to transfer him over into the rescue carrier and all was well. Ramses was so furious at me for our little walkabout all gathered and tucked that when he went into the carrier he wanted back out to get a piece of me! He was in fine shape and has his mother’s attitude.
Back outside Chessie was somewhat upset. She kept stooping and hovering over the last place she saw him and finally landed on the light post closest to his last location. She stayed there for almost 15 minutes and then finally returned to the tower. She kept checking the area for him for the next hour and then took some rest. Sahara on the other hand was bee bopping all over the ledge. She was testing her wings and building up strength. Bruce took over for me in the afternoon and until close saw much the same as I did. Sahara remained on the ledge but she was ready. Really ready. I came back at dusk and took Ramses back up to the roof for a release and he was quite ticked off. He looked great and so out the door we went. It took me about 5 minutes or so to find him a good spot out of the howling winds and then it was time. A flick open of the door and a hiss from little man and it was done. I will be back at dawn as Bruce has warned me that Sahara is beyond ready for first flights and Ramses is anxiously awaiting the daylight to return home. Some photos I took of Chessie today are attached.
Posted on June 13, 2016 11:52 pm
June 13, 2016 - Toronto - Don Mills
Cathy Kerr Reports:
I dropped by Harlequin this morning but only saw two juvies flying by so I went back this evening and was very very happy to see all 4 hanging out at 240! Achilles & Jet were together on the top ledge, with Geddy right below them and then our Marta one below that!! Quest flew in and stirred them up. She got Achilles & Jet off the ledge and the three of them did some great flying-esp. Quest-wow! She was showing them a thing or two!! Just amazing!
The first pic is Marta, then Achilles & Jet, then Geddy,and I had to show Marta snoozing(of course lol) then the boys again!
Posted on June 13, 2016 10:56 pm
June 13, 2016 - Etobicoke - William Osler
Tracy Simpson Reports:
Thank you to the great folks at William Osler who each year hold a naming contest for their feathered family. The names selected are always unique and creative and this year is no exception. Our female with red tape is named Sahara and the wee male with blue tape is Ramses. Excellent choices for these two amazing young birds!
Thanks again to William Osler for putting two delightful names to their wee faces.
Posted on June 13, 2016 10:44 pm
June 13, 2016 - Windsor - Ambassador Bridge
Marilyn Weller Reports:
Gordie has been doing some beautiful flights this evening. He does seem to enjoy landing on the bridge handrails though! He took a few flights where he was chasing his parents around and eventually landed quite well on the top ledge of the bridge side abutment. Voltaire brought in a nice package to reward him.
Westview was perched in a tree beside the building he was released on last night. Eventually he climbed the tree and got back on the roof. From there, he took a flight towards the church and landed in a tree. He has moved now to another tree.
Ariel has been perched high up in a tree by the church. She seems to have a nice vantage point for watching the others.
Ojibway, (female), is being released onto the roof tonight and number 5 (still unnamed), is still in the nest, enjoying all the room!
Paul and Denis are keeping eyes on tonight’s release to make sure all goes well. Very long days for our team!
We sure need lots of eyes watching these guys this year! Many thanks to those who are spending long hours keeping track of all our fledglings!
Posted on June 13, 2016 9:57 pm
June 13, 2016 - Toronto - Don Mills
Marion Nash Reports:
Cathy Ker reported this evening all 4 on east side of 240 waiting on dinner, all is good!
Posted on June 13, 2016 9:27 pm
June 13, 2016 - Toronto - Don Mills
Marion Nash Reports:
For the Duncan Mill Rd. site followers
Posted on June 13, 2016 10:06 am
June 12, 2016 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre
Mark Nash Reports:
June 12th - 2016
Moments ago, we just received a telephone call from Lisa at the Toronto Wildlife Centre and update on Cheemung, the young female fledgling that collided with the Sunlife tower out at the Etobicoke nest site earlier this week on one of its maiden’s flights. Cheemung was rushed to the Toronto wildlife centre for treatment and care, but alas, she has succumb to its injuries and died.
Despite a spinal fracture and two pelvic fractures having being diagnosed, it had appeared that her injuries were slowly healing and there was a good chance that she may have pulled through, but sadly although, she passed away shortly after 11pm this evening.
Posted on June 12, 2016 11:40 pm
June 12, 2016 - Windsor - Ambassador Bridge
Marilyn Weller Reports:
Whew! This was quite the weekend! After the first two fledges on Thurs/Friday, we continued to have some new efforts by the young thru the weekend. The 3rd to fly is one big bird. She seemed to struggle with gaining altitude and was the one on the wire Saturday night.
Today, number 4 joined in the action and took a lovely, long flight along and under the bridge. She landed on the ground for a bit and was able to get back to a fence rail.
Many thanks to the team who endured Saturday’s stifling heat and who came back today to spend hours and hours watching the many antics! The efforts of many great volunteers are keeping our fledglings as safe as possible and we couldn’t do this without many people pitching in to help.
This has been a strange year without the normal banding done when these guys are still little and fluffy. We all feel the desire to get some kind of band on our birds while dealing with the conflicting desire to let nature alone and not interfere. So far, we have a rescued one fledgling on the ground in a yard where there was evidence of dogs onsite, one from the roadway of the Ambassador Bridge, one who was in a precarious location by a parking area, and one in the grass and trying to approach University Avenue.
We have been working with our friends at Erie Wildlife Rescue who have been graciously providing care and vet checks to ensure the well-being of our birds. We are also very fortunate to have the ongoing support of our friends at the Ambassador Bridge Corporation who have been responding to our calls of “bird in danger” and are at the site tonight with their truck/lift, helping the team release 3 fledglings to the rooftop across from the bridge.
Tomorrow morning, there will be 3 falcons on a rooftop, anxious to try flights again. Anyone who has some free time will be much appreciated coming down to help watch and protect.
Thanks everyone! You all are an amazing and dedicated team!
Posted on June 12, 2016 10:31 pm
June 12, 2016 - Toronto - Don Mills
Marion Nash Reports:
June 12th - 2016
Not to much flying today with the strong wind gusts but the good news is that we found Marta!!
When we first arrived we found only one fledgling on the back upper ledge at 240 and had only one quick fly through by Quest. We could not hear any squawking when Quest flew through but there was a huge event with relay racing going on at the back parking lot of the Harlequin building with hundreds of children and adults and lots of noise so we likely could not have heard them anyway. We focused again on a massive ground search for Marta in the direction and area that we last saw her fly off too, but no luck.
With all the noise from the event the sound was bouncing off the buildings and echoing all over and Quest and her boys seemed to be keeping some distance or perhaps it was just too windy so Mark and I decided to go and get some breakfast and come back.
While we were eating Kathy and Irma came to help out and parched themselves in a spot beside Harlequin out of the worst of the wind to keep an eye on the nest building and 240.
Mark and I arrived shortly after and just as we did we saw Quest fly in and land on an upper ledge of the east side of 240 and join one of her chicks who ran over to her wings flapping with excitement. As soon as we parked I went over to have a look at who was on the ledge with her while Mark went over to talk to Kathy and Irma to get and give updates. I was not there for long when I saw Quest on yet another ledge the fledgling I had seen with her was still in the same spot and another fledgling was on a lower elevation.
I pulled out my camera hoping to get some shots of the leg bands on the 2 fledglings to get a band tape colour and see how we had there but again with the wind they were back from the edge and I just could not get a view of their bands. As I looked at both of them I could see that the one on the top ledge was larger than the one lower down so I was quite sure in my mind that it was Marta, if only I could get a look at that band!!!
I radioed over to Mark and the girls to let them know what I was seeing and Irma and Kathy came over to have a look with me bringing with them the spotting scope. We were not long together when Quest flew off her ledge past and got Marta up and moving and we were able to get a good look, It’s red shouted Irma she’s home!
I managed despite the gusty winds and my excitement to snap a quick picture and was able to confirm that yes it was indeed her. We stayed watching her for a short time until Quest came in and fed her and like Marta had always done before she ate and plopped down for a nap.
With Marta found and no more flying from anyone Kathy and Irma headed home and Mark and I closed off the day. There were a few flights by at least 2 of the boys over to the Tridel building and 1 short flight from Marta out half way to Tridel and then back to the upper ledge of 240.
By darkness, we had all four fledglings in view, all high and out of danger!!!
Posted on June 12, 2016 9:54 pm
