!!! Discovery fledges !!!
June 14, 2021 - Kitchener - CTV-Bell Media Tower
Lisa Reh Reports:
It was a cold and rainy fledgewatch today, as Wendy started the watch. Discovery was on a sill, one down from the runway! Which means he had his first flight, either late last night or early this morning. Care was on the roof and Faith flew to the dark green awning on the left hand side below the runway. All 3 juveniles have flown this morning. Two were perched on the windowsill below the runway and one made it back up onto the runway after missing the first time and ended up hanging in the mesh. The hospital has installed mesh all along the outside bricks as they are deteriorating and falling down - not the best material for a fledgling falcon.
Compassion was still being held as more watchers showed up for the release. It was still very rainy. At this point Care was on a fifth floor balcony, Discovery wet and uncomfortably perched on the windowsill below the runway. Faith on the dark green awning on the left side of the building. Just after 9:00, one of the adults flew off the cross to the east and the other was on the SE railing. At 9:10, Faith received a food drop. At 9:15 Compassion was released on the right side of the roof by the yellow railing and stayed on the corner in the rain. The adults made a big fuss and swooped around numerous times. Just after 10:00, Compassion made the move crossing the entire top ledge of the hospital to get to the adult perched on the south east corner. At 10:22, Discovery flew back to the left side of the hospital and tried to land where Compassion was but ended up on the runway underneath him and landed nicely.
At 11:15 Care had a lovely flight, circled around, and made it back up to the runway and landed well! At 12:30, Mom brought a starling to the green awning where two babies were now sitting. She then flew over to the right side of the runway to prep the food and Compassion flew over after her.
The evening watch was a bit quiet, except at one point both parents flew with 3 of the youngsters flew with them in front of the hospital. Discovery was hanging out on the sill opposite Pleasant Ave for most of the evening and looks like he might stay there for the night. Faith flew to him but hit the window pretty hard, but she recovered and flew back. The 3 little ones were all on the ledge and Discovery on the sill when the watch ended.
Photos courtesy of David von Wahl, Rudy Kruppa and Karen von Knobloch
