July 28, 2016 - Toronto - Don Mills and Eglinton - Amexon
Cathy Kerr Reports:
MacGyver is flying well-keeping his altitude and perfecting those landings! He chased his Dad and even made it back to the nest- always a milestone! Bruce & I watched him on that nest ledge most of the afternoon, mostly snoozing(as he really likes to do lol)-we thought he was going to roll off when he lay down with wing AND tail hanging over the ledge but he stayed balanced! Bruce headed off and Irma joined me and we saw some good flying, a feed and of course, some more snoozing! Though I would have loved to get him banded, I am glad he has stayed high and safe- Jenna & Chester have done a good job with this one! We are now winding down the fledge watch and I will be doing mostly spot checks for the next while. I am looking forward to seeing some great flying and watching Mom & Dad teaching MacGyver his survival skills!
Posted on July 28, 2016 11:24 pm
July 27, 2016 - Toronto - Don Mills and Eglinton - Amexon
Cathy Kerr Reports:
I arrived to find MacGyver had flown back to the nest bldg, down one floor. Soon after Mom came over with breakfast-they had a lovely talk and then Mom left to let him eat! He then lay down for a nap-something he does very well lol. He stayed there til almost 3pm !! Lucie and Bruce had joined me earlier, so I left for a bit of a break. They reported shortly before 3 he flew off and over to the rooftop of ICICI-he missed the ledge and landed on the roof. He popped up on the other side! I arrived back just as he had flown back to the DeBeers rooftop!! Wow! Not great landings but keeping that altitude!! Irma then joined us and Bruce went home. It wasn’t long til he flew back to the ICICI rooftop. We observed the parents flying around him, over and around–wasn’t sure what that was about, until we heard the thunder. Big drops started down as we ran for cover-we were very fortunate to have access to the DeBeers bldg and sat at the window at the back where we could see the ICICI bldg and watch MacGyver throughout the storm and boy did it storm. Mom had landed on the rooftop with MacGyver and Dad was on the ledge below him. He was on the very corner-Mom & Dad had been trying to get him safe. But, as most kids do, he didn’t listen very well. He stood facing out and it was pouring and oh so windy!! Mom must’ve said something, as he went to turn to her and was blown over-down onto the rooftop!! Lucky bird! He did pop back up shortly after but now he hunkered down, just as his Mom was doing. And that is how he stayed for the rest of the storm. All good. After shaking the water off, Mom flew over to the upper level. Dad had already flown off. So then MacGyver had a bit of fun flying back and forth, trying to land by Mom. A few bats, a few misses and he made it!! Ran screaming for Mom and off she flew over to the Sony sign lol. So there he settled, high and dry, for the night! All and all, a very good day!!
I am attaching a few pics that Lucie got today!
Posted on July 27, 2016 11:48 pm
July 27, 2016 - International, National and Local News
Cathy Kerr Reports:
Lucie reports:
I was thrilled that Cathy Kerr wanted to accompany me to Beachville so we did a road trip on Saturday, July 2!
My contact from Woodstock had informed me that the juveniles took their first flight just a couple of days earlier!
The weather was super, just the right mix of sun and cloud. It can get hot sitting in the parking lot, so some cloud cover is refreshing. Being a long weekend, it was also pretty quiet. You could hear the humming coming from the hydrator, a sound I’ve come to consider as quite soothing.
When we arrived around 1:30 we found both juveniles chilling out on the hydrator tower where they stayed ALL afternoon.
Just the occasional wing flapping and some vocal activity.
Joe and Virginia were always close by and provided us with some entertainment as they chased after a bald eagle that was passing overhead. A bald eagle .. awesome!! The fact that it was pretty high up didn’t matter and still warranted those warning calls from the parents.
We left around 5:00 to grab some dinner and when we returned about an hour later, the kids were scampering around on the low-rise maintenance building. They stayed on the roof for pretty much the rest of the evening. More wing flapping, dinner served, a little exploring and and then a stroll along the top of the long building.
Finally! We were able to witness a take off and flight! How wonderful! And then they disappeared, landing somewhere out of our sight. We we called it a night around 7:30.
We look forward to going back soon and hopefully witnessing some hunting lessons.
Posted on July 27, 2016 10:44 pm
July 26, 2016 - Toronto - Don Mills and Eglinton - Amexon
Cathy Kerr Reports:
What a day! I arrived to find Mom, Dad but saw no baby on the ledge. Hmm, sleeping like last night? I sat to observe. Mom & Dad weren’t worried- Dad even flew to nest ledge, looked down and popped down even-and out! I sat below Mom-I put my bins on her and she was looking down at me lol. So I waited..but it didn’t feel right so I started making the rounds, checking the ledges, the grounds, shrubs , you name it. And it was hot lol. No sign. I did that 3 or 4 times. Ugh. It was almost noon now,I called Irma, she said she would be there in a flash. I headed out again, bins on ICICI west side, turned and there he was! On a rooftop of a house across the street! Called Irma back-found him! Called Bruce, who was on his way. Thank goodness, as he started to fly from rooftop to rooftop to rooftop. He finally flew back over to north side of the ICICI bldg-only 2 floors up. Whew. I was joined by Bruce & Irma and we were talking about old TV shows and we decided to call our little boy MacGyver! And his adventure wasn’t over! Irma had just left, when people started pouring out of the building-fire alarm!! Poor MacGyver-all those “aliens” and fire trucks and firemen!! He was a little startled at first but then just stretched and lay down lol! He was a star! Everyone was taking pictures and talking about him lol. So, false alarm over, the “aliens” gone, he decided to fly back over to the roof tops! But he didn’t stay long and headed back to ICICI, round the back and ended up on the top of an evergreen tree!! There he wobbled back and forth for abit before heading over to the top of the parking garage! And there he started to whine. After a short bit, Mom came in with a bite to eat-I for one was surprised she fed him there but he was sure happy! Mom and son had a lovely chat first before eating-so cute. Mom sat on a light fixture in the middle of the parking garage rooftop while he ate. She then flew over and sat near him, trying to convince him to fly. No go. Poor Mom & Dad, something alarmed them on the rooftop garage and they were screaming and diving at something! It went on for quite some time and they were really rattled after that. He stayed there for almost 4 hours and they were not happy about it. Finally, at 8:20 he mustered up the courage to fly and he went over to ICICI, batted and slid down onto the 10th floor ledge, not a pretty landing but he made hight and did well. Happy parents, happy fledge watchers-Irma & I were cheering-we even had a few people in the parking lot clapping!!! All in all, a good day!!
Its really late, I have a ton of pics from today..I have singled a bunch out-I usually pair them down but, well, I am too tired lol. So here’s a bunch. The adult in the pics is Mom Jenna!
Posted on July 27, 2016 12:06 am
July 25, 2016 - Toronto - Don Mills and Eglinton - Amexon
Cathy Kerr Reports:
The day started damp & cool, believe it or not. Our baby did not do too much other than whine for food ALL morning. He did finally flap and hop abit in a little fit, so they gave in and fed him at noon. Then it was a food coma for most of the afternoon–too hot for anything else! Bruce gave me a break from the heat for a couple of hours and watched him sleep mostly–little bit of flapping but that was it lol. Irma joined us at 5 and Bruce headed home. Things were quiet, so we couldn’t believe it when Mom brought him MORE food around 530!! We didn’t see him for the longest time and I guess Mom was wondering too as she flew over and into the nest–a few minutes later she emerged with food in beak, took it to 150 and ate ! We thought the little one hadn’t eaten until he popped up–with the hugest crop!! He wasn’t up for long before down into the nest he went…and we did not see him again lol. Two poor vultures made the wrong decision to try and travel thru-while Dad chased one off to the southeast, Mom took care of the other. And that poor thing didn’t know which way to go and Mom sure smacked it down, a few times, until it figured out go east!! And off it went to meet up with his buddy way off to go way, way around lol
As we were packing up to leave, Mom went over to check on her baby, or maybe just to say good night lol. He still didn’t pop up lol. Think we all will be surprised if he goes tomorrow but one never knows…..
Posted on July 25, 2016 10:06 pm
July 24, 2016 - Toronto - Don Mills
Cathy Kerr Reports:
On the way home from my spot checks at ICICI, I have been dropping by Harlequin to see if I could find anyone home. Yesterday, not a bird in sight. So quiet 
. This morning I found an adult peregrine on the Thales building(the only one around). I didn’t think it was Quest, but I took some pics(he didn’t cooperate and show me his legs lol) and sent them off to Mark for confirmation. Mark agreed. A few hours later, Mark contacted me-Quest was on the cam, in the nestbox preening! I hopped in the car and headed over. And there she was! And the unbanded male was still on the Thales building. Unfortuanately, no juvies were seen
I snapped a few pics of Quest(she is so photogenic lol) and observed for a bit. She started squeeing softly at first. Then got a bit louder. This went on for a bit-was she calling the kids? The New Guy(NG)? Finally she flew over to 240, first to Kendal’s corner, then to the SE corner of the building where a meal was waiting for her. She called and NG answered, then she ate. When she finished, she flew back to the nestbox and NG flew over and sat across from her on the Harlequin building. Quest then started echuping, and NG called softly back. So, I guess the courting has started!
The first 3 pics are of NG, the rest are Quest!
Posted on July 24, 2016 9:50 pm
July 23, 2016 - Toronto - Don Mills and Eglinton - Amexon
Cathy Kerr Reports:
I have been watching on and off for over a week for a peek at our chick and on Wednesday he/she finally peeked out at the world! As we only had one chick hatch this year, the MNR would not band a single chick, so we do not know the sex–yet. We will have to go by observations, or if, at fledge time, the chick comes to ground. On Friday the little guy finally got up the courage to hop up on the ledge and is now observing his bigger world.
Today he did more of the same, tho this evening after about an hour and a half Dad came home with dinner and that FINALLY got him moving! Took a real hissy fit lol. So Dad flew over, showed him his dinner and took it back over to Mom to prepare! When Mom got it over to him, he hopped down into the nest ledge and reached up and grabbed it from her -hungry baby! I then left him eating, and Mom & Dad watching him from the other building.
I’ll be back out tomorrow to check on things, with full fledge watch starting on Monday! Let the fun begin 
Posted on July 23, 2016 10:46 pm
July 15, 2016 - Windsor - Ambassador Bridge
Marilyn Weller Reports:
One of our volunteers, Denis Dupuis, sent this link to a video clip of Voltaire, feeding Westview. In the perimeter, watching dinner time, is another of the young, Ariel.
https://youtu.be/fZ3EqjN2qvw
Thank you, Denis, for this great clip!
Posted on July 15, 2016 11:07 pm
July 14, 2016 - Toronto - Sheraton Centre
Harry Crawford Reports:
Let sleeping birds lie. Singleton is still at home and taking a nap in the incredible heat. It is almost 3pm.
Posted on July 14, 2016 2:54 pm
July 14, 2016 - Toronto - Sheraton Centre
Harry Crawford Reports:
Just before noon today, both Rhea Mae and Singleton appeared on the Sheraton nest ledge.
Posted on July 14, 2016 11:46 am
