Canadian Peregrine Foundation

DON MILLS FLEDGE WATCH DAY 3:

I arrived to find Tava had flown again and was now down on the 2nd level. We watched him ledge hop all morning.

Simba and Roshan hung out together all day. Simba did some very great practice flights from the top of the nest box right across the ledge… Very smart of him.

Bob, Rob and Ted joined me in the morning. Ted had to leave around noon, Bob left to let his dog out and Rob and Ivy went to get us some lunch.

So I was by myself when Bellatrix came into the nest box.  Tava was directly below, 3 floors down. He hadn’t been fed, so he got very excited. I watched him with wings out looking up, then he was down, a gust of wind took him! Saw him directly below on the walkway. I headed over, towel in hand. I went straight to him, he saw me and took off… Now the walkway is surrounded by glass. So he turned and flew very low down the walkway. A woman came out of the building and was walking away from us. Tava was headed straight for her. I called out.. Miss! Can you please move over… She turned, screamed. And Tava stopped dead in his tracks lol. Of course I say, great! Can you please just stay there while I grab him? She screams noooo and turns and runs away!! I had to laugh.

Now Tava has a clear path and is off low again to the end and stops at the glass. A lovely woman was coming up the stairs so I asked her if she could please wave at him. She did. And I had him! I thanked her for helping me rescue a peregrine falcon.

I checked him over and he looked good. So he had a time out. Meanwhile Rob and Ivy had returned and saw the tail end of the rescue.  Bob returned and we got Tava up to the roof. Mom and Dad immediately alarm called and swooped around but we were quick. And Tava was even quicker… The second we were up the stairs, he was out, called out to his parents and all was good.  Dad brought him a pigeon and we didn’t see him again for close to an hour lol.

Shortly after that, Simba and Roshan were delivered a nice package.

So, it’s 830…all good right? No, Tava decided to make another flight, Mom was with him in a flash and steered him onto the building next door where he first clung to the window before dropping down on the ledge. She stopped him from heading off to the ravine. Great job Bellatrix! She then went and checked on the other two before settling down to watch both ledges.  And there we left them for the night. All high and safe.

Long day, but a good one.

Hoping for some good flights tomorrow… Maybe one from Simba too???

DON MILLS FLEDGE WATCH DAY 2:

And we have a fledge!

I arrived to see parent fly off with the remains of breakfast. All 3 were quiet on the ledge.

Ted, Bob and Rob joined me over the morning. We were watching Mom come in on the nest ledge when Tava jumped on Mom and then both slid off the ledge! Off  Tava went( he had no choice). We lost him behind the trees for a few minutes but up he popped on the Purolator roof!

We watched him there for abit before he took off across the street and landed behind the building across from the nest, first level. Super low.

Ted and Rob had to go so Bob and I settled in to watch. But one photographer stayed a bit longer and got a bit too close. Bellatrix was over like a shot, checked quickly on the ledge with Tava (!) and then swooped… I ran out(we were under cover of a tree) and got him out of harms way and she left. Don’t mess with her kids! Later a poor gentleman was just taking a picture with his phone but got too close and she was there before I could tell him but I got him out of the way and she left. Way to go Bellatrix!

For the next 3 hours Bob and I watched him test out the windows (over and over), pace back and forth, listen to his family and check it all out.

Finally, he was off! Low, past us, behind the bushes and trees. We lost him but were right behind. Quickly checked the roads… And I saw Bellatrix fly over me then back to the corner of the nest building and there he was, one level down from the nest ledge! Way to go Tava!! Fantastic flight. Gained great height and landed well. His siblings were happy to see him, even if it was a level down.

Those two we were so quiet all afternoon, thank goodness. Not easy watching 2 different spots and they cooperated beautifully.

Ted, Rob, Ivy and Mike joined us for the evening.

At one point, Canuck started alarm calling and then flying back and forth, down and around the nest and Tava… I ran to check what the heck was going on… And saw a nice couple walking their dogs in front of the building! Canuck wasn’t having it. I called them across the road. They said that they walked there every day but I explained that there were now  kids in the air so they are now hyper vigilant. Quest was the same way… And she got very close to hitting the dogs. Like mother, like son

Tava rested, then decided to ledge hop back and forth for a while. Unfortunately, at one ledge the occupants noticed him and spooked him. He froze between ledges.  And was still there at dark.

At bedtime, the parents brought food to the kids on the nest ledge but Tava got none. He was in an unsafe spot so perhaps that is why he did not get fed.  Hopefully he will move in the morning and get a nice big breakfast.

Simba and Roshan were stuffed and went to bed happy.

Simba… You’re up tomorrow!?!

Cathy

I’ve started the pictures with Ted’s sequence of Tava’s accidental fledge and then added a few of my own.

DON MILLS FLEDGE WATCH DAY ONE:

We have one boy really ready to go, one boy almost and one girl not ready yet lol.

I started out by myself this morning but was joined shortly by Bob, Rob and Ted. Even Carolyn dropped by to say hi.

It was a very windy, cool day. Roshan, the girl, was very shy as we didn’t see too much of her really. The boys took centre stage. Both made it up onto the nest box - spent most of the day there actually.  They did lots of wingersizing, beaking(so cute), calling for food.  Ted managed to get a couple of great pictures of Tava jumping up the wall lol.

Mom brought in one small package which Tava grabbed and ate himself!

Then finally, at the end of the day, both parents brought in food, mayhem ensued but the kids were stuffed first by Mom and then by Dad.

Even though no fledge, it was a good day.

Don Mills /Amexon update :  on March 26 we saw 3 eggs. We started hatch watch on April 29th. We went up and found 4 eggs, no hatch. Kept checking, no hatch. Now I knew the 3 eggs were definitely not viable any more, but since we did not know exactly when the fourth egg was laid, there was a possibility of a second clutch. Of her knowing that the others were not viable, she laid her final egg later. So I had to know. I decided that I would keep checking until May 31st, then call it. Sally and Rob went on this journey with me. Keeping on checking. On Friday 24th, I pulled into the parking lot and saw one parent land on a letter. So I drove down to check if the other parent was on a letter by the nest. Got my camera out and saw dad land on the nest ledge. With prey! And up popped Nagata, who grabbed it from him, then he also popped down! Hatch! Holding our breath, up we went and saw that lovely sight of a white fluff ball.  I did my happy dance… I’ve been fledge watching here for (now) 13 years… I’m so glad this year is a go!! Nagata sat on those eggs for at least 58 days…

Thanks to Sally and Rob for checking with me and for their great pics!

Lakeridge Health  banding :  It’s a boy for Velcro and Alfrieda! Grandson of Quest and Mystery, and extra special, Marion named Velcro

He is a healthy beautiful chick named Echo. The hospital named him.  Everyone enjoyed seeing him get his bling up in the mechanical room.

Mark Heaton got him out of the nest box and removed the 3 unhatched eggs, which will be sent out for testing.  Echo was nice and fiesty, just how we like them.

Thanks to Mark Heaton once again. And thank you to Andy and everyone at Lakeridge Health Hospital for their continued support.

Echo, male, 595g, X/70, red tape

Enjoy!

Lovely day for MEC banding (Mississauga Executive Centre)… It’s 3 girls and a boy for Midnight and Renegade!!

We headed up to the roof where the swing stage, provided by Skyreach (many thanks!) was waiting and Jay the operator, who has been helping out for many years.   And so was Midnight! She hung around us the whole time, quite chill, watching us. The kids were on the balcony and she kept checking on them. Once the stage started down, she hustled them in the box and in she went too. And never left until the kids were back!  John got them out and safely in the bag, Lucie and I hauled them up and into the building to get their bling.  Thanks to Lucie for overcoming her fear of heights to help me out(and we got to see Midnight up close… A thrill)

Eva did a great job of banding these 4 very vocal, fiesty (VERY fiesty) chicks.  Thank you again Eva!

We were joined by the daycare kids at the end and they were thrilled see Cooper get banded. So cute, one child said that they were chickens lol and another owls (a Raptor at least).. Adorable.

Then it was time to get them home to their mom.  John quickly put them back and done! Another great job John.

Dad finally showed up and we can confirm no bands… Looks like Renegade still reigns!

Alda, female, 905g, 41/AB, red tape

Olympia, female, 850g, 42/AB, white tape

Connor, male, 640g, C/54, blue tape

Cooper, female, 880g, 43/AB, green on yellow tape

We wish these fiesty 4 a good fledge!

Exciting BRAMPTON COURTHOUSE Update from Toivo :

Yesterday I got a call from a Gentlemen named Manu, maintenance supervisor at the Courthouse. We have a HATCH, on Tues 21st. She is still sitting tight so hoping for more.

Great news, thanks Toivo!

And our 2nd banding May 20th was at Etobicoke General /William Osler.  What a great banding! Scott and his family met us and took us up to the nest site. It was behind a door, which had a peep hole… Very cool. We could hear them. Thankfully they were alone and John scooped them out to Mark. And got the door closed as Mom was incoming! She screamed on the other side and her babies were just as vocal… Just how we like them.. Fiesty! John got his first taste of what we do while he is sitting out on the nest ledge… And he liked it lol. All 4 were banded(we do this site on the young side as, when even a few days older they are off the nest tray and can get away and down the ledge where we cannot get them). 3 girls and a tiny boy. Adorable. Then it was quickly and safely back into the nest tray before Mom could get us!

Names are coming…

Female, 685g, 38/AB, red tape

Female, 660g, 39/AB, green on yellow tape

Female, 640g, 40/AB, white tape

Male, 440g, C/53 blue (I told you, tiny but mighty.. VERY vocal and Fiesty)

Thanks to Scott for all the work he puts in for this family!

Safe fledge little ones!

MASTERS banding :

Of course the stars of the show are the 4 chicks(2 girls and 2 boys for Aria and Groucho! ) but… Also stars are our climber John and banders Mark and Eva! They too are volunteers, who gave up their holiday Monday to get these 4 banded. Martin was across on a balcony and got these fantastic shots of what happens before the banding… So bringing you a different perspective!

Thank you Martin for the great pics!

Enjoy!

Aurora, female, 935g, 36/AB, red tape

Orion, male, 630g, C/51, blue tape

Solar, male, 630g, C/52, green on yellow tape

Luna, female, 880g, 37/AB, white tape

Best of luck to these 4 on their fledges