June 12, 2023 - Toronto - Don Mills and Eglinton - Amexon
Cathy Kerr Reports:
FLEDGE WATCH DON MILLS/AMEXON DAY 6:
Sally reports:
Monday was, as predicted, horrible heavy rainy weather. Cathy had Gordon still on the same ledge, his siblings on the nest ledge and took a break to meet me to grab some lunch. Returning to the site, with rain still falling, we couldn’t see Gordon. The usual guilt set in that all fledge watchers deal with: The time taken to wait and watch and the awful timing of needing to leave your chair and then not knowing what happened. It was so windy around the building and fog had settled in, making for very poor visibility. We alternated driving around, walking, searching and watching in the car (rain) and hoping he was pancaked on the ledge. But it was becoming obvious he was not there. The parents weren’t searching and the rain kept every winged creature hunkered down for quite some time (no hunting and food brought in either).
Eventually, when the sky cleared, the nest area came to life again. Birds flying about, and Holden and Nagata flew around and off to get food. We resumed our walkabout. At one point, Holden came to corner of the nest building and dropped in food. We had heard what sounded like a juvie a little earlier…could Gordon have possibly gained that much elevation? This corner is incredibly windy and watching the parent lift up in that area, we allowed ourselves a little hope. We waited and watched. With Cathy there I took a walk out onto Eglinton which gives a great view of that corner but without my camera, my binoculars could only make out a couple of little shapes poking up above the edge.
We needed to get back to focus on the two girls who were now up on the ledge. Yay, finally Lightfoot was in full view. No flights from the girls so we closed the watch trying to feel hopeful but disappointed we couldn’t confirm Gordon’s location.
Posted on June 14, 2023 1:38 am
June 11, 2023 - Toronto - Don Mills and Eglinton - Amexon
Cathy Kerr Reports:
FLEDGE WATCH DON MILLS/AMEXON DAY 5:
Catch up time! Sally reports:
Sunday began with more waiting, and some rain. Anticipating another day of trying not to doze off we decided to break and return when siesta time was over (otherwise we would be snoozing with the birds!).
Bob arrived before Cathy and I and was fortunate to to see a fledgling suddenly flapping down down down then lifted up by a parent and guided onto a low ledge on the nest building, facing north (perhaps a slip/accidental fledge). Cathy arrived to the news, confirmed Gordon on the ledge and I joined Bob and Cathy shortly after. Gordon didn’t do much and we had him and his siblings in sight. Paige made an appearance on the ledge, we got her band colour, and the elusive Lightfoot showed us her head from time to time. We closed Sunday with Gordon on the low ledge.
Posted on June 14, 2023 1:33 am
June 12, 2023 - Scarborough - Yellow Pages
Marion Nash Reports:
We went to check on the nest site to see how Yorgos is doing and figure out when we will start the fledge watch at Petra formally Yellow Pages Building nest. . We could not see the chick for hours and no feedings at all. We decided to go up and checked on all the ledges and could not find him. He was nowhere on the ground and not on the building. He would not be ready to fly yet so sadly we assume he was taken by an owl at night when the adults were unable to defend. Such a shame as he was the only chick.
Posted on June 12, 2023 11:50 pm
June 10, 2023 - Mississauga - Executive Centre
Marion Nash Reports:
Scuttle took a flight but hit a window too hard and did not survive. So the only survivor at this point is Dragon Heart however, Just after 2:00 PM Dragon Heart flew, tried for the west side if MEC 1, came down around the loading doc then flew over and hung on the Nursery stairs for a minute. She flew past Bruce and came down but he managed to catch her up and if she is ok she will be released tonight by Mark. Hopefully Se stays high and away from windows.Hopefully see photo of her in the carrier. Mark Successfully released her on the roof of the nest building tonight. You sure have to have some seriously thick skin to do this job. Thanks to Bruce and Lucie for being there for these chicks.
Posted on June 10, 2023 10:47 pm
June 10, 2023 - Toronto - Don Mills and Eglinton - Amexon
Cathy Kerr Reports:
FLEDGE WATCH DON MILLS/AMEXON : DAY 4! Well wish I could say Gordon, at 39 days old, flew today but nope! He seemed so excited to see his sisters finally join him… Guess he’s waiting for them! Long day for us tho! Rob & Ted joined Sally and I this morning to get some pics (hoping for that fledge shot!), so it was nice to have company. Holden and Nagata treated us to some lovely flying.. Showing the kids what they will be able to do one day. After Ted and Rob left it quieted down. Dad did take down, and I mean down, a poor turkey vulture. I did finally get a picture of all 3 chicks together. And Paige finally got up on the ledge and showed us her band. Not a peregrine but Sally saw a Sharp-shinned hawk dive into the bushes(very low) and flush around 50 black birds and such into the air, then fly low practically at her, then into the bushes at the back with his dinner. So that was cool. So, will Gordon fly at 40 days? Or will Paige beat him to it? Bets anyone lol?
Posted on June 10, 2023 10:39 pm
June 06, 2023 - Mississauga - Executive Centre
Cathy Kerr Reports:
UPDATE MEC : From Bruce
It started unexpectedly last Friday as I went out to do a Assessment. Didn’t see much, until one of thr Gardiners found a Juvenile on the Ground. It turned out to be Scuttle(”Yellow”) . She was rescued and released Friday/Saturday morning.
She finally popped up during the Evening Shift.
SAD NEWS: On Monday as I was driving to MEC, I received a Call from MEC Security that a Juvenile had been found deceased @ around 5:30 AM. It turned out to be Rana.
On Tuesday evening just before leaving I checked the Nest Ledge and much to my surprise there were 2 Juveniles on it. Sometime through the day, Scuttle had snuck back to the Nest unseen and joined her sister Dragon Heart.
On Thursday Afternoon Scuttle came down again & was put back on Nest Building.
Thanks Bruce for all your time at MEC and this report.
RIP little Rana
Posted on June 9, 2023 11:26 pm
June 09, 2023 - Toronto - Don Mills and Eglinton - Amexon
Cathy Kerr Reports:
FLEDGE WATCH DON MILLS/AMEXON : DAY THREE
Well, they are all still up there lol. The day started out very promising. Even though it rained a fair bit in the morning (much needed), smoke was gone and Gordon seemed raring to go. Lots of ledge running, flapping - a few slips but he recovered. Parents definitely not feeding much… Hungry kids! But just after the rain stopped, people arrived right below the nest ledge and set up a Barbeque. Music, people, then a kid with his dog off leash chasing a ball… Parents said no way and kept Gordon on that ledge. Sigh. Party wasn’t over until 3. Sally had joined me by then and we watched mostly just Gordon now, waiting for food. It was brought in a tiny piece at a time. And the girls got it lol. When mom landed, he went after her… He had her by her toe!!! Later when dad tried to bring in food, mom swooped in and grabbed it from him and was off! It was quite funny, tho Gordon didn’t think so. He finally got the scraps from the last of the days food drop and down he went for the night. Those girls hardly showed.. Just the one in the morning. It’s going to be a longgggg watch.
Pictures thanks to Sally
Posted on June 9, 2023 11:23 pm
June 08, 2023 - Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton
Cathy Kerr Reports:
Some great news from Anderson, Indiana - Raptorette, 2019 hatch from Canada Square, Haven’s daughter has 4 more chicks this year! Two boys and two girls!! Always great to hear of our “kids” doing so well. Thanks to Jeff Timmons for keeping us posted. And the cute pic!
Posted on June 8, 2023 11:30 pm
June 08, 2023 - Toronto - Don Mills and Eglinton - Amexon
Cathy Kerr Reports:
FLEDGE WATCH DON MILLS/AMEXON : DAY TWO
Another smokey day(I had to sit in my car to watch, my eyes were so bad), tho the afternoon was a bit better. No fledge yet. Another day of watching Gordon get more comfortable on the ledge and pull more fluff from his body. His sibling that I believe is Lightfoot showed up about the same as yesterday, so maybe we do have 2 girls lol. The other girl we believe (Sally joined me in the evening again) was peeking over the ledge with Lightfoot. But since no legs, no ID. Parents got upset at one point as someone was on the roof of the other building but it was over quick. They sat and stared at that spot from the nest building for quite a while lol. They showed the kids a lot of flying again and even did a food exchange right in front of them… Very cool to watch and very impressed with these parents and their teaching skills. Tomorrow is calling for more smoke and much needed rain, though not the best for first fledge(or fledge watchers lol). We will see what the day brings!
Posted on June 8, 2023 11:27 pm
June 07, 2023 - Toronto - Don Mills and Eglinton - Amexon
Cathy Kerr Reports:
FLEDGE WATCH DON MILLS/AMEXON : DAY ONE
A quiet, though smokey, day. I was happy to finally see Gordon (and ID him) up on the ledge! And his sibling was just behind him(I believe it’s Lightfoot but have no proof lol), which was a big improvement over the past few days Sally and I have been checking on them. Only heads peeking over. Gordon did lots of flapping and even walked along the ledge. He still has lots of fluff on his tush but is almost ready to go. The girls(or is it one girl, 2 boys??? Time will tell) , well one especially, are going to be a while. Unless accidental… Holden and Nagata were also excited to see them up… They did some great training flights, showing them how its done and where to go. Nagata took on a turkey vulture that got too close… He’s not coming back any time soon! It was lovely to see the parents flying and being playful with each other. Sally joined me for the evening but it was pretty quiet after their dinner. Feedings are definitely less but these kids seem to be very well fed… They aren’t screaming for food or going at the parents for it… Or else they’re very well behaved! So that’s the official day one done… Hopefully the smoke from the forest fires will be better tomorrow (let’s hope for rain so they can get them under control, or out!). And maybe a fledge tomorrow
Posted on June 7, 2023 10:27 pm
