Etobicoke - William Osler

William Osler Naming Contest Now Closed and Kids Have Their New Names!!

July 21, 2013 - Etobicoke - William Osler

Tracy Simpson Reports:

With the William Osler name the chick contest now officially closed we thank all of you that participated in voting for the names that the birds will now currently enjoy.  The names of the birds and the tape colors that they are associated with are as follows. The first fledge, little blue tape, is officially named Maverick. Our second fledge, who became affectionately nicknamed Roxy red, is now most fittingly named Aura.  Our second female who was flying like a trooper on her second flight with white tape is now named Blizzard. And finally our little male with yellow tape, who enjoyed napping in the residential area eavestroughs on his first flight, shall be known as Apollo 3.  Congratulations all of the folks that participated in the contest and especially to the family at William Osler. Thank you so much one and all for participating in such a wonderful and important contest.  As I continue to catch up and update you on posts I will now refer to all of the fledglings by their official names.

June 30th William Osler Report - Little Yellow Watch Continues

June 30, 2013 - Etobicoke - William Osler

Tracy Simpson Reports:

I started the watch today with three of the juveniles on the rooftop retaining wall of the hospital and little Yellow on the lower roof of the Medical Center.  While I was not concerned about the other three at all, it was this little man down low that I was waiting to see take flight.  For the better part of the morning, he stayed on the low roof flapping, preening and napping and it became apparent that something was not 100% right with him.  He appeared to have a droopy left wing.  I watched as he would have bouts of flapping like mad and all seemed well but when he drew his wings in, the left was not being held up in the perfect position that it should.  His siblings Red, White and Blue continued to take flights around the hospital and spent a lot of time visiting with Yellow on the Medical Center roof.  Throughout the rest of the day leading into the afternoon, Yellow remained where he was but was very active back and forth along the leading edge of the roof.  I was dispatched to Etobicoke Sun Life to take over watching down there and Bruce replaced me at William Osler.  He watched as little Yellow flapped and ran the roof and concurred with me that the left wing was just not right somehow.  He could flap and move the wing just fine and yet holding it up was not comfortable.  In the late afternoon, Yellow took flight off of the Medical Center roof and ended up on the lower mechanical roof on the south side of the hospital.  He took another flight that took him around the building and on to the 7^th floor window ledge where he remained for quite some time resting during which his wing droop was most evident.  A third flight caused him to lose some altitude and end up on the 4^th floor window ledge where he remained for the rest of the evening.  Little Yellow is certainly being encouraged by both his parents and his siblings to continue to try and regain his elevation to the nest ledge or roof top and he is giving his all to get there.  We will continue to monitor his progress as he makes his way home and watch his left wing condition for changes or improvements in functionality. 

June 29th at William Osler - Yellow Missing and Then Found

June 29, 2013 - Etobicoke - William Osler

Tracy Simpson Reports:

I started off the morning at William Osler watching as little Blue was really getting his act together flying.  He was following Hurricane as he travelled off site, flying to the north tower and trying out some new moves.  Red was catching up quickly to the skill level of her brother Blue but staying a little closer to home.  She did make a few forays to the south tower but beyond that, stayed close to home base.  What I found a little odd is that she also spent time on the east side of the low Medical Center roof looking towards the residential area behind the hospital.  White was quite content to fly from roof to ledge, ledge to “H” sign and then back to the roof again.  She did take one flight out to the east tower and landed like a pro before joining her sister on the Medical Center roof.  What were they looking at?  Blue eventually joined them and I now had all three on the same roof.  Ok.  What’s up.  I circled the hospital several times looking for Yellow but he was nowhere to be found.  Then the light bulb went on in my head.  It’s him they’re watching just as they had before when he ended up on the residential roof.  Hurricane and Chessie were both in the east tower looking down and to the north, Blue was now on the north tower looking back towards his parents and the two girls were on the east side of the Medical Center.  They had him, but I didn’t.  I searched the berm, the tower, the residential rooftops, the trees and everywhere else that was bordered by the family.  They had him contained, but where? Chessie took off to the hospital, circled back and made a low stoop of a set of trees on the berm.  Ok.  There somewhere.  But my search was not fruitful.  I called Bruce over from MEC to assist me as the eye infection I was sporting was making it incredibly difficult to see.  I needed his eyes, literally!!  Bruce arrived and we did a slow walk again around the area that the family seemed to be interested in and still no luck.  We decided to sit down on the berm and await a sign, a movement or anything that would reveal his location.  I went inside to get us some water and as I was headed in I said to Bruce, “Just you watch.  He’ll be sitting right above our heads in this willow.”  When I came back Bruce was grinning, almost laughing at my approach.  It would seem my statement was more prophetic than I thought as little Yellow was fully concealed in a short willow tree 10 feet to our left.  While I was gone he moved away from the trunk a foot into Bruce’s sightlines and bingo, we had him.  Due to the slope of the berm and tightness of the branches we could not even conceive of a rescue.  We waited for him to either extricate himself to the air or the ground.  To our surprise, he made his way to an opening and took flight.  He flew low over the emergency parking, gained elevation and landed on the low mechanical roof to the south.  Out and up!!  Great!  He took several more flights that Bruce monitored as I raced down to MEC to help locate a missing Ashley.  He took his final flight to the low roof of the Medical Center where he was greeted by his family.  He spent the night there resting up for his next big adventure tomorrow.

June 28th Report - Quick Check In

June 28, 2013 - Etobicoke - William Osler

Tracy Simpson Reports:

We are finally getting caught up as the watches are winding down to spot checks.  Here come the updates!! 

June 28th

I wasn’t able to spend a great deal of time at the site today as I was needed for a “Peregrine 911” at the Mississauga Executive Centre but made a point of stopping in for a head count.  When I arrived it was late in the afternoon and I literally had enough time to count and go.  I circled the hospital a few times before I could get eyes on all of the youngsters with certainty as Blue and Red are now leaving the property and following the parents on their forays.  As important as this is for them to learn the fine art of hunting, I`m sure it created some challenges for the adults as the kids followed them screaming as they went.  No chance of a stealthy approach there!  I found Hurricane in his favourite spot in the tower, front and centre looking the proud father while Chessie was somewhere out of view.  Two of the young ones were on the northeast corner of the nest ledge napping away while one female was on a rooftop antenna and one male on the retaining wall of the roof at the west end.  All was calm and quite during my brief visit and I will be back to check on the family tomorrow.

Three Just Rockin’ and Yellow Catching Up Quick

June 27, 2013 - Etobicoke - William Osler

Tracy Simpson Reports:

There comes a point during fledge watch where the juveniles are doing so well there is very little risk of them coming to the ground and needing assistance. We call this Fun Day. These are the days where we watch the juveniles in their training with the parents as they roll and turn, lock talons and make incredible food transfers in midair. This would describe today’s observations very well. Red and White, who have now caught up in their skills to their little brother blue, were exacting their revenge on little brother, chasing him around the hospital and trying to grab him by the tail as he flew. He screamed and howled that this, not liking it one bit and the parents just sat in the tower watching as their four children trained and played around the territory.  The adults ignored little Blue’s woeful cries of unfairness as they knew quite well that he had it coming. Yellow seem to be doing quite well catching up and keeping up to his older siblings. He made several flights in and around the territory and at one point flew with his brother Blue north to the next Hydro tower across Humber College Boulevard. Hurricane wasn’t too pleased with this but he let it pass for now. His kids were growing up and he had to let them explore the extent of their world. He flew over to the nest ledge and entered the nest tray behind the H sign. Chessie flew over and joined him, addressing his empty nest syndrome with a loud and boisterous chup fest. The two enjoyed a moment alone to rebond and share a quiet moment in their nest tray.  Even though today was just a quick check-in, I can say from what I’ve observed that this family is well on their way to another successful year.

All Four Accounted For and Doing Great

June 26, 2013 - Etobicoke - William Osler

Tracy Simpson Reports:

With all four kids accounted for and doing well last night, I decided to attend the watch at the hospital a little later in the morning. I received a phone call from Ross Bartlett, who works at Environmental Services for the hospital, that last late last night little yellow had come down once again. He fluttered down into the fenced off area of construction materials and became trapped behind the fence. He was found by security who then called our head office to inform us that the bird was down. Unfortunately we are not in the office during fledge season as we are all out at various watches in the field did not receive the call immediately. Security called Toronto animal services for assistance who attended the site and released the bird from behind the fencing. After receiving this report from Ross I immediately attended the site and went looking for all four juveniles. I photographed each bird in turn confirming their tape colors and all four juveniles were on-site, up high and looking well. Both adults were also in attendance sitting in the Hydro tower watching me as I followed their kids around the hospital. All looked well and I settled in to my watch station to complete observations until dusk. Blue, red and white are all flying incredibly well. Blue, being the more experienced of the juveniles, spent the evening harassing his sisters relentlessly. Once these girls get caught up in their flight skills, little blue is going to have two big sisters that are going to want a little bit of payback. Little yellow spent much of his time around the perimeter of the hospital staying high and landing fairly well. Just like all juveniles as they begin to learn, there’s a lot of skewed landings, near misses and fumbles as they experience flights for the first time. It takes practice to gain control like the parents have, but these kids are learning very quickly.  I left all four of them this evening sleeping off an enormous pigeon dinner courtesy of mom.

July 4th and 5th Apollo 3 Visits the Vet; A Sad Tale

July 05, 2013 - Etobicoke - William Osler

Tracy Simpson Reports:

After the long weekend the Greenwood Park Animal Hospital was booked solid for appointments and so with Apollo 3 safe and stable, we set up the earliest appointment that we could.  When we arrived, Dr. Markus Luckwaldt. avian specialist and experienced raptor expert, was preparing for the exam for our little Apollo 3.  The first step was the physical examination to determine the condition of his left wing.  After the physical exam it was clear that the wing bones were not broken but that the left elbow was not responding to movement as it should.  It was very loose, almost uncontrolled.  When the x-rays were ready we went through them checking all of the bones for signs of a fracture.  His keel, tripods and long bones were all intact.  When we compared the joints of both wings, it was clear that the left elbow was damaged.  In the x-ray you could see that the joint had dislocated and was overlapping.  Dr. Luckwaldt sent the x-rays off to a collegue at OVC, another raptor specialist, for confirmation of his diagnosis of a dislocated elbow and to discuss the injury.  Both vets concurred that Apollo 3 had dislocated the elbow of his left wing, torn all of the connecting ligaments that could not be surgically reconnected ( too small to hold a stitch ) and that he would never regain full control of his wing below the elbow.  He would never be able to fly properly.  The recommendation was made that Apollo 3 be euthanized as he could never be released as a fully functioning peregrine falcon meant to fly with control and precision at high speeds.  We contacted Mark Heaton of the OMNR with the diagnosis and recommendation and on July 5th, the CPF stood by Apollo 3 as he was given a painless and dignified end to his life.  I am saddened to have to report this to you as this is an unfortunate loss for the William Osler nest site.  Both Bruce and I agreed that his flights with the wing in that condition were uncontrolled and he was bound for an accident much more serious than we cared to imagine.  He was unable to gain altitude, control his landings and he was clearly in pain.  Decisions such as these are very difficult and never made lightly but are so important.  I am grateful that we were able to be there for him, recognize the injury and rescue him.  I am also incredibly grateful for the support and care of the Greenwood Park Animal Hospital and the expertise of Dr. Markus Luckwaldt in determining his injury and recommending a course of action based on the best interest of Apollo 3 both now and in the future.  With the sad loss of this little man we now turn our attention to the remaining members of the family; Blizzard, Aura and Maverick.  These three juveniles are doing very well and continue to have our support as they learn the fine art of peregrine flight.  Thank you to Winston, William Osler staff and security, Greenwood Park Animal Hospital and all of you for your support of this family.

Roof Top Peregrine Party at William Osler

June 25, 2013 - Etobicoke - William Osler

Tracy Simpson Reports:

This morning’s watch started with all four kids up on the rooftop of the hospital running around in circles. What had got them all going was the fact that mom had just flown in from the west and she had huge pigeon dinner in her talons.  She flew up to the Hydro tower to prep the meal and as she did the screaming and running became quite the spectacle. Blue could contain himself no longer. He flew off of the retaining wall of the hospital roof and made for the tower and the meal that mom had. Dad met him out in the air and the two swooped up together to the tower and landed next to mom. Little blue screamed and screamed in the hopes that food would be placed in his open mouth but that was not meant to be.  His sisters, red and white, believing that their little brother was going to get the entire meal for himself collectively lost their patience and flew off of the roof over to the low roof of the medical center. Little yellow remained on the retaining wall of the roof on the northeast corner screaming his heart out. Once the meal was prepped the adult female flew over to the roof the hospital and the party got started. Now all four kids were up on the retaining wall on the east side of the roof and fighting like cats and dogs over the meal that mom had just brought.  After all crops were filled, four juveniles came together with much beak tapping and reuniting with little yellow after his return to the roof last night following his rescue. The remaining portion of the day was spent with lots of flapping, running of the ledge and a few flights by the three more experienced juveniles. Little yellow decided to spend much of his time flying from one side of the roof to the other practicing using his wings. My last headcount of the evening at 9:15 revealed little yellow on the northwest corner and his three siblings down on the northeast corner. All kids appeared tucked in and ready for a night of sleep after a raucous day.

White and Yellow Both Fledge Gives New Meaning to Double Trouble

June 24, 2013 - Etobicoke - William Osler

Tracy Simpson Reports:

The morning started out relatively calm for a falcon family with all four kids on the nest building just hanging out and attacking each other for fun and exercise.  The bouncy crew made their way around the nest ledge until finally I had one on every corner of the building.  I positioned myself as best I could and waited for food to be brought in.  When Hurricane arrived with breakfast he drew three off their corners running and screaming and little blue took to the air.  He chased Hurricane as best as he could but their is no catching this master of the air.  Blue finally gave up and landed on the nest ledge with his screaming siblings knocking two of them over in the process.  After a spirited battle over breakfast blue, red and white trundled off to the southwest corner for a nap and yellow opted for the northeast corner for himself.  All was quiet until suddenly the threesome were bolted awake and in the air.  Now only two of these kids are flighted and so I had to figure out which one was white and where was she going.  I walked around the hospital twice and found her on the low roof of the medical center looking furious that she was now here instead of home.  She bounced, ran and wailed for the next hour and a half in the heat but it didn’t bring the building any closer.  Finally she decided to go for it, determined as she was, and she flew around to the south side of the hospital landing on the low mechanical roof.  She didn’t stay long and her next flight went out and around the parking lot, a swoop back up to the south side and she grabbed the nest ledge with two talons.  Flapping like mad she managed to haul herself up onto the ledge just as little blue came bombing in.  He knocked her off of the ledge and she was airborne again.  This time she made for the tower and landed very neatly in the back section.  Triumph!!  This was a perfect time for me to now get out of the heat for a brief moment and inside I went for a cool down.  When I returned, I began to count heads again and could only find three.  Grrrrr.  I could hear this wee voice calling from the tower but could only see white, mom and dad.  Wait…  …at the very top!!  Here stood little yellow and boy was he proud of himself!!  Just then Hurricane flew in and the whole place erupted.  Blue was in the air heading towards Hurricane, red came off the ledge and cirlced the roof while white stayed in her place in the tower and wailed.  Hurricane headed for a landing next to yellow and in his excitement, yellow slipped off and began to fly north off of the property.  Once again, demonstrating that this is very purposeful, Hurricane went above yellow and steered him down before he could leave the property and thus leave Dad’s protection.  I ran over and found yellow sitting on the roof of a house in the residential neighborhood behind the hospital.  Lovely.  He ran screaming and jumping along the rooftop for the next hour before flying over to the next house.  Now he was pretty tuckered out and when all else fails, take a nap in an eavestrough!  Oh yes, with his butt squiggled down into the eavestrough of the house, he laid down on the roof and went to sleep.  Good timing as white was quite determined to get home.  She had been ramping up for the last half an hour and then without so much as a peep she was off.  She headed straight for the nest ledge and like a pro, landed on the ledge with a splash and skid.  I’m surprised any of these kids have tail feathers left with these sandpaper butt skid landing techniques but its working to get them home and that’s all that matters to them right now.  Yellow was now awake and running the new rooftop that he found himself on.  He decided to try another hopscotch to the roof next door and missed the edge.  He was now sitting on a shed looking quite miffed.  I raced over and met the homeowner in his driveway and we were off into the yard to see if we could help little man.  He tried for the rooftop of the house from his position on the shed and narrowly missed an open, flaming and very hot BBQ.  Phew.  He ran between the house and the shed and forced me to make a very ungraceful and squishy rescue.  Yellow was going home.  After a cool down we took him upstairs for the release.  When I took him out for his exam he was quite nasty for such a cute little thing and after trying to grab my face several times we got through the exam and all was well.  He was unceremoniously released to the roof and chased me back a few steps before I was gone.  You are Hurricane’s son for sure little one!!

Pictures will follow at the end of tledge watch as I haven’t the opportunity to process them yet.  Time is tight but I will post highlight pictures soon.

The Little Red Dodger Makes It Home

June 23, 2013 - Etobicoke - William Osler

Tracy Simpson Reports:

Bruce and I started out the morning at William Osler when only robins dare to be awake. Bruce arrived just before I did and found little miss red tape in the same tree that we left her last night. She took a flight back towards to hospital and almost made it to the medical centre roof but fell short and came to the ground. Bruce moved in for the rescue but she ducked the towel and deeked around him coming to rest on the low mechanical roof of the hospital. There she remained for much of the morning flapping and running the roof. When she finally took that next flight she hooked around over the parking lot and landed on the east tower with her mother. She wailed away telling the world of her accomplishment.  Landing in the tower is such a huge confidence booster for the young at WIlliam Osler and it looked as though she was well on her way to being a coordinated juvenile.  While all of this was going on, little boy blue was testing out his new found freedom in the air.  He would make short flights out from the nest ledge and back.  Then it was time for swoop ups to the roof and back to the nest ledge.  Boy, he was really getting the hang of this.  His two siblings, white and yellow, were still on the nest ledge but were exploring it to its full extent.  They were running the circumference of the hospital chasing one another as well as any inanimate object they could find.  Around the supper hour, Cass came whipping in with a pigeon in her talons and the family of four erupted in celebration.  This drew little miss red off of the tower to the nest ledge in an awesome flight that mimicked her brother blue’s landing.  Not pretty but a successful slide along the ledge using the louvers as a backstop.  Her sister white immediately joined her for some beak tapping and mutual preening and the two girls were inseparable for the rest of the night.  Two flighted and two left to go.  I can’t wait to see what tomorrow will bring.