May 30, 2020 - Port Colborne - ADM Mill
Marion Nash Reports:
Thanks to the safety support and nest reports from ADM mills staff Eric and Tamara CPF has yet another safe and successful banding completed for 2020.
CPF volunteers Cathy and Mark and ADM staff Eric and Tamara walked up gear and all 7 floors 14 flights of stairs to the nest level and extracted and banded four chicks today while Anne and I stayed on the ground and monitored the adults, tough job lol.
Anne and I watched as the adults took out their anger on a kettle of Turkey vultures who happened to choose the wrong time to float by the nest just as the chicks were being removed for banding. The adults were naturally agitated and in full protection mode. They both took off after the vultures separating and scattering the group. The male dove and struck at least two of them pushing all but one of group off to my right away from the nest while the female struck the other one who was now directly over the nest knocking it out of the sky and down to the roof top of the nest structure. I watched to see if the vulture would recover and saw wing flaps a couple times but nothing more from it so either it flew off the back of the roof out of my sight line, decided to just lay low until she settled down or had succumbed to injury, lesson learned for the turkey vultures 
There were so many bird species flying around and over the mill property so it was great to see that the food source for this family is quite varied and plentiful.
There were two females and two males all very healthy the youngest is 16 days and so cute Mark called him a pocket bird, to those who have ever seen these chicks up close you know what the means lol. The oldest is 22 days old. There are only 2 sites who produced 4 chicks this year this is one of those sites most have at least 1 unhatched egg.
Here is the banding information and names of each chick.
Female 570 grams 18 days old band Z over 51 named Nancy
Female 670 grams 19 days old band Z over 50 named Iris
Male 541 grams 22 days old band 19 over AW named Rufus
Male 440 grams 16 days old band 20 over AW named Mac
Tamara promised to keep us up to date on how the family is doing going forward and Eric said they would be happy to do a more formal banding to allow more staff to be invited next year if or when COVID-19 is no longer a threat.
Posted on May 30, 2020 4:50 pm
May 28, 2020 - Kitchener - CTV-Bell Media Tower
Lisa Reh Reports:
Here’s some more pictures from banding day at the Kitchener CTV nest site.
Photos courtesy of Greg Springett.
Posted on May 29, 2020 10:30 pm
May 29, 2020 - Kitchener - CTV-Bell Media Tower
Marion Nash Reports:
Heather sent in some more great photos from Kitchener banding
Posted on May 29, 2020 11:31 am
May 28, 2020 - Kitchener - CTV-Bell Media Tower
Marion Nash Reports:
Although it was a rainy day we had our marquee to keep us and the chicks dry for banding, not so for John and Matt who climbed the tower to collect the chicks what a great job guys thanks so much! Also a big thanks to Anne Yagi who is now retired from the OMNRF and volunteers her time with CPF to continue to band the chicks and for the support from Dale and Nina Ingrey and Waterloo Nature who not only named Artemis but for further funding support to pay for the bands without their support we would not have any female size bands and Hope could not have been banded this year.
Thank you to CTV for the access support, web cam coverage and monitoring assistance for the Kitchener Nest, it would be impossible to help these birds without their support! If you would like to see the wonderful CTV News coverage and video of the banding please copy and paste this link in your browser.
https://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/baby-falcons-venture-down-from-the-ctv-kitchener-tower-1.4959776?cache=yes%3FclipId%3D89578%3FclipId%3D373266%3FclipId%3D89830
There were 3 chicks 2 male and 1 female. the boys were fairly quiet throughout the banding but the female yelled throughout even in the carrier while she waited her turn. All were healthy, alert and of good weight.
Matt also took the opportunity to clean out some of the prey feathers and mess from the nest witch was great since this pair are not the best housekeepers!!
Here are the names and band numbers of each chick.
Male- 556 grams named Artemis 17 over AW with blue tape. Named by students submitted by Waterloo Nature.
Male- 590 grams named Casey 18 Over AW with yellow tape. Named by the Kitchener Falcon Watch Team.
Female- 826 grams named Hope Z over 49 with red tape. Named by Kitchener CTV News Team.
The young fellow holding one of the chicks in the photos is Riker he helped at the banding table while his Dad Matt was on the tower with to collect the chicks great job both of you and thanks of much!
Also in the photos you will see one addled/unhatched egg with the dead chick inside. So sad but this happens sometimes. You can see the egg was fertile this time but failed to hatch why we can only guess but it could be because it was a cold spring. Most sites have had at least one unhatched egg this year and we will be checking them to see of they were also fertile something worth keeping an eye on.
I would like to thank the Kitchener fledge watch team for all the hard work over the years and wish them well and much success on the 2020 fledge watch, stay safe, stay well and good luck!
Posted on May 29, 2020 9:49 am
May 26, 2020 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre
Cathy Kerr Reports:
Just thought I would share a few screen shots from our webcam at Bloor and Islington. Unfortunately we were not able to band these little ones this year due to Covid . But I am enjoying watching them grow on the webcam -all 4 are growing fast! This morning I was lucky enough to catch a feeding and it was a family affair! Both D’Arcy and Lucky brought breakfast and feed the four of them together . Not sure how good the screen shots post but here they are
Posted on May 26, 2020 5:32 pm
May 21, 2020 - Port Colborne - ADM Mill
Marion Nash Reports:
Banding of the chicks is set for Noon May 30th. Stay tuned for banding information and photos.
Posted on May 21, 2020 10:25 am
May 20, 2020 - Toronto - Don Mills
Marion Nash Reports:
Some shots of Quest and John at banding today.
Posted on May 20, 2020 10:53 pm
May 20, 2020 - Toronto - Don Mills and Eglinton - Amexon
Marion Nash Reports:
A few Outside shots of the banding extraction
Posted on May 20, 2020 10:31 pm
May 20, 2020 - Toronto - Don Mills
Cathy Kerr Reports:
Our second banding! Its also 2 girls and a boy for Quest & Mystery! Welcome: Hope(female, 760g, banded Z/32, Red tape), Seven of Nine(female, 805g, banded Z/31, White tape) and Canuck(male, 605g, banded C/11, Yellow/green tape). Quest was her usual amazing self, buzzing everyone and Mystery was also very present and very vocal. All quiet when we left-beautiful family! Fledge watch begins before we know it!
Posted on May 20, 2020 10:24 pm
May 20, 2020 - Toronto - Don Mills and Eglinton - Amexon
Cathy Kerr Reports:
Another 2 bandings today! First up-Don Mills/Amexon/ICICI-It’s 2 girls and a boy for Jenna & Chester! Welcome: Eleven(female, 720g, banded Z/34, Red tape), Hopper(male, 545g, banded 08/AW, Blue tape) and Rey(female, 630g, banded Z/33, Green tape). The girls were very loud and fiesty, Hopper was a tad quiet but he was also the youngest so…Jenna & Chester were very on full alert and attack-Jenna knocked Marks helmet off and then grabbed his hat on the way back!! She took it-Mark watched as she tried to tear it and then drop it in the parking lot! There! You take my kids, I take your hat lol! Mark was fine and even found his hat after! Mom & Dad were very happy to have the kids back, safe and sound 
Looking forward to a busy fledge watch 
Posted on May 20, 2020 10:12 pm
