June 12, 2016 - Kitchener - CTV-Bell Media Tower
Lisa Reh Reports:
At the start of Fledge watch at 6:45 today, all birds were on the nest box ledge. One was doing a lot of vocalizations. Today’s cooler temperatures were a welcome relief with a nice breeze. At 7:00 one of the babies is doing a lot of flapping and at 7:15 a lot of vocalizations were coming from one of the juveniles. More vocalizations at 8:00, and a few minutes later Hope (S43) jumped onto the red metal decking vocalizing loudly to the others! A second one wanted to follow and was wing flapping for about 10 minutes but didn’t leave the ledge of the nest box. At 8:20 the wind started to pick up. The juvenile on the platform hopped along the edge. Ziegler (S42) decided to go for it and jumped down to the metal deck to join Hope! Tenor (S49) flapped it’s wings like crazy and after about 5 minutes he too jumped down to join the others on the metal deck of the tower! Casper (S41) tried to go down to the deck at the same time but she didn’t make it at that time.
Just before 9:00 a.m., one of the kids is eating some leftovers in the nest box. One is on the red platform just sitting on the edge and one is at the front of the nest box. No sign of Caster and Mystery. At 1:15, 3 of the kids were once again on the metal platform and one was on the ledge. Tenor was right at the northwest face getting blown around. At 4:45 there was another food drop with 3 of them digging in and one (probably Tenor) on the ledge waiting it’s turn.
At 9:00 p.m. there were only 3 babies seen on or about the nest box. One hopped back and forth from the platform to the balcony on the nest box. Two others were on the nest box ledge. One of the adults came in at 9:25 with a small food drop. The fourth juvenile had managed to get below the platform that the nest box is on, perched on some scaffolding beside the microwave on the east side of the tower. Hoping he will stay put until the morning.
Photos courtesy of Janice Newton & Michael Hilborn
Posted on June 12, 2016 6:16 pm
June 10, 2016 - Kitchener - CTV-Bell Media Tower
Lisa Reh Reports:
It was an uneventful start to the watch Friday morning at 6:00. All 4 babies were sitting at the front of the nest box and Caster was perched above them on one of the railings at the top of the CTV tower. There wasn’t much vocalizing and Mystery was nowhere to be seen. All four juveniles were accounted for at 8:30 am. Shortly after, a small food drop came in from one of the adults with much excitement from the kids. One of the sisters snatched it and took it to the back of the nest box where she hid it from the others. Mystery was at the top of the tower and Caster flew to the small tower. The kids were still screaming until about 8:45 when they went inside to see if they could get a morsel of what was left of the food drop. Mystery took off and circled the tower a few times and then leaves. Caster flew away over the the hospital parking garage. Tenor looked like he was going to go for it a few times as he leaned out but then backed off. Mystery came back with a pigeon around 10:20.
From 12:30 to 1:30 there were a few appearances on the ledge and a bit of wing flapping, but overall pretty quiet and no adults in sight. Things were pretty quiet in the afternoon. At 2:30 and they become more active, with lots of wing flapping on the balcony and inside the box. The activity level went up over the next hour and quieted down again at 3:30.
At 5:00, again there was lots of vigorous wing flapping, much of it on the ledge. Around 5:30, one of the adults showed up with food which caused a lot of excitement. The adult circled the parking lot about half a dozen times before flying off. The young ones spent most of their time on the edge of the box, flapping their wings. There were several very noisy bouts of calling by all four however no adults were spotted. Around 6:50 p.m., one of the adults flew in and landed on the tower on the King Towers apartment building. The young ones got really vocal then but they finally settled down when the adult made no move to take any food to the box. It was very quite at 7:15 p.m.
At this point the kids are still being well fed. In the morning watch, the parents were trying to coax them out, but with all that food it might be few more days before they get braver. The parents will soon be bringing less food to the nest box and will coax them with food from the air.
Photos courtesy of Karen von Knobloch
Posted on June 12, 2016 4:58 pm
June 12, 2016 - Etobicoke - William Osler
Tracy Simpson Reports:
The time has come to switch gears again to our final west end watch at William Osler and we began our full time monitoring this Saturday. Both of the juveniles are looking quite ready with very little down remaining. The female is more advanced than her brother yet both are energetically bouncing around the nest ledge building up their courage and flight muscles. Chessie was very on edge today and I thought it might be the pending flights of her young but this was something more. When I got a look at the resident male through the scope, which is confirmed again to be Casper, I can now understand. He has clearly been fighting as there is a line of feathers on the back left side of his head that are missing so that the down is now exposed. He is flying well and attentive but this evidence of a territorial battle may now explain the loss of two chicks just prior to banding. With Hurricane no longer here and this site being so desirable, the fights have continued well into nesting and chick rearing. The remaining two chicks are looking amazing and Chessie is taking a strong lead in their care. We look forward to first flights any day now.
Posted on June 12, 2016 11:02 am
June 12, 2016 - Mississauga - Executive Centre
Tracy Simpson Reports:
As of Tuesday we had to switch gears and move down to the Islington Bloor site for full time watching leaving MEC in the capable hands of Grace and Winston. We left off with Josally flying like a pro and Olimar catching up quickly. On Tuesdat morning Olimar had flown over to the CIBC lower roof on the west side of Hurontario and his following flight was m ant to get him home. He flew up just short of the ledge and had to circle back losing elevation as he went. He flew towards MEC 4 and fluttered down into a tree where he spent the night getting rained on. By the next day Winston reported that he had made it back up to a window well on MEC 3 and was safely reunited with his brother. Subsequent spot ch CDs had both boys flying well with Olimar still a bit shaky on his landings but at least making good choices.
Bothe Josally and Olimar are well on their way under the watchful eyes of Midnight and Renegade. We will continue to check in on them and provide you with updates. Thank you to Bruce, Winston, Margaret and Grace for keeping an eye on the kids this year. Excellent job everyone!
Posted on June 12, 2016 10:52 am
June 12, 2016 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre
Tracy Simpson Reports:
The overwhelming nature of the west end watches this year has not left a lot of time for posting so I apologize for these late updates. Bruce Massey has been handling all of the watches so far as the primary and I cannot thank him enough for his efforts and vigilance.
More extensive and detailed notes will be coming but for now here is a brief to catch you up.
Tuesday June 7 - Etobicoke watch begins. Just after 6am the first chick takes flight and is identified as Sprucer. He makes a great flight over to the Kingsway condos and stays high. He makes several more flights staying high each time. At 1:45pm Maverick takes flight and heads over to Kingsway condos. Lost her grip on her landing and flew back towards the nest building. Maverick could not handle the high winds and struck the windows of the nest tower. She died on impact and was recovered by Bruce from the mezzanine roof. Sprucer took a few more flights and ended up low on the Good Life Fitness roof for the night.
Wednesday June 8 - Sprucer still on low roof to start the watch and winds still continue to be high. Cheemong took flight and ended up high over on the Aberfoyle side of the nest tower. She flew again back around and struck the tower. She was rescued from the mezzanine level and was unable to stand. Cheering was rushed to rehab and treated for inflammation. Her condition remains guarded. Oakley took flight and safely landed on a lower roof of Kingsway condos. Sprucer took flight and made it back up to roof level. Oakley took another flight and came to ground. Safely rescued and released to the nest building roof at dark.
Thursday June 9 - Sprucer ripping up the skies! Lucky had to attended to him and settle him down.g Oakley only made a couple of flights yet they were decent. Still no word on Cheemong.
Friday June 10 - Both Oakley and Sprucer flying and maintaining height. Sprucer doing very well and Oakley catching up fast. Both over on the roof of the west tower with O’Connor.
Saturday June 11 - Both juveniles spotted this morning at elevation. Watchers continue to check in on their progress.
The Islington and Bloor nest site has always been a challenge for young birds in that it presents a number of first flight dangers, everything from reflective glass windows to balconies and let’s not forget the traffic and ground predators. Those that survive the fledge period at this site often go on to do great things as adults and we are proud to have many young from Etobicoke now nesting elsewhere. For now the watch has been scaled back to spot checks and we will update you as soon as we receive word on Cheemong.
I would like like to thank Bruce Massey for taking the lead this season as well as all the other watchers that contributed their time to this family. Great job folks, we are well on our way.
Posted on June 12, 2016 10:42 am
June 11, 2016 - Toronto - Don Mills
Marion Nash Reports:
June 11th - 2016
Bob was the first one on site this morning and found that Marta had finally left the nest building where she was dangerously low to the sidewalk and roadway. She had flown to the ledge 2 floors down from the rooftop of 240 next door so we were pleased to see she had gained some height. She spent the morning there alone until the early afternoon when her brother Jet decided to drop in to visit his sister and the 2 spent time together playing, snuggling and beak touching it was very sweat but when mom flew over with food it was every fledgeling for himself and he flew off in pursuit of lunch leaving Marta flapping and yelling on the ledge.
2 of the boys got fed on the roof above her and shortly after she took another awkward flight around to the front of the building and landed on the ledge about 1 floor lower but still ok. She had not been fed the day before as the adults refused to bring food to her so low, only 2 floors up from ground again, so she was very eager now, flapping and yelling and running the ledge and we could see she was going to go again so we had the net in hand ready to run to get her just in case. About 15 minutes later she took off across the street towards Harlequin and bumped a window and landed in the parking lot.
We slowly approached to try to catch her but she flew back across the street before we could get close enough to net her and again landed on the ground. We finally caught her in the net and checked her over to see if the window bump have caused any injury and found her to be just fine.
Shortly after we took her back up to the roof just above the nest to be realised just as we had for all 3 of her brothers but this time the bird bolted off the roof and across the street over my head wile I watched from below and Mark watched from the roof flew well out of our site behind 255 Duncan Mill and now the search was on to find her.
Mark and I went looking for her and were joined by her name sake Marta Kline and Cathy Kerr and we looked for her well into the evening and could not find where she had landed so we closed the evening watching the boys flying around like little F16’s hoping that from where ever she had gotten to she may see them and come to join her family but that was not to happen. If she is not back we will have to try to find her again tomorrow.
All three of the young fledgling males are flying like superstars with high altitude flying and soaring, playing tag and chasing both one another and their parents around like pros!
While they are still being spoon fed by Quest, and have allot of things to learn before they will be self sufficient, at least they are able to hold their altitude and stay out of trouble off the ground!!
Posted on June 12, 2016 8:47 am
June 11, 2016 - Windsor - Ambassador Bridge
Marilyn Weller Reports:
After a long and very hot day, around 7:20 this evening, Fledgling 3 decided to try out its wings and took a decent first flight under the bridge. Immediately on launching, one of the parents quickly followed as if to take opportunity if a teachable moment in the sky. An attempt was made to land on a girder beam but the fledgling misjudged and chose a telephone wire instead.
The volunteer team watched from close by until about 10 pm and the fledgling seemed willing to spend the night as a “bird on a wire.” Parents brought food to the others around 9:30 pm and the remaining 2 chicks seemed happy for stay put in the nest for the night.
Paul Gosselin sent a couple a great close ups of #3 sitting on the wire and watching the volunteers.
Posted on June 11, 2016 11:00 pm
June 11, 2016 - Toronto - Sheraton Centre
Linda Woods Reports:
Good Morning, sitting in the shade of the pillar
Posted on June 11, 2016 9:43 am
June 08, 2016 - Toronto - Don Mills
Marion Nash Reports:
Rob sent in some great photos of the fledglings. The fledgling in net is Geddy. All 3 boys have had to be rescued once so far,, and the young female Marta still to take her first flight.
So far, all of the young fledgling males are doing ok, and holding their altitude 
Posted on June 11, 2016 8:04 am
June 10, 2016 - Toronto - Don Mills
Marion Nash Reports:
All 3 bays are now flying very well and keeping altitude and are now chasing each other in air in fun games of tag fun for them but a little nerve racking for us when they dart by dart by together a little too close to the building windows. Marta did take a couple very small flights out off the ledge just a few feet and quickly hooked back towards the building like a child who just jumped into the deep end of the pool for the first time, she lost height each time by one floor. Marta decided it would be much easier to discover more of her world by walking the ledge all the way around the building a few times so like 2 lemmings Bob and I followed her for much of the afternoon hopping she would pluck up the courage try again even Quest tried just before dark to get her to go but not luck. We packed up just as it was getting dark with Marta comfortably sitting on her 2nd floor ledge at the front of the nest building.
Posted on June 10, 2016 11:35 pm
