July 26, 2012 - Etobicoke - William Osler
Tracy Simpson Reports:
I stopped in at the William Osler Hospital site for a check up on Tuesday evening and found my two little “book ends” down at the southwestern corner of the hospital enjoying the last rays of the day. One good thing I have learned about these two is that right now, wherever Ossie goes, Tobi follows. So If I find one I can very quickly find the other. They are like two little peas in a pod!! They have expanded their area of adventure to include all aspects of the hospital grounds and the hydro towers to the north and south. Pretty so I expect them to follow Hurricane over to Humber College and take their training even further afield. I know in the evenings though, I can always find them at home!!
Posted on July 26, 2012 9:14 am
July 22, 2012 - Etobicoke - William Osler
Tracy Simpson Reports:
Today was a site check day rather than a full time watch at William Osler given the heat and the ability that the juveniles are now showing. Yesterday I was treated to a great show of skill by both Tobi and Ossie and felt very confident, after I watched the two leave the footprint of the building, that they are safe at this point.
Winston was by the site in the early evening and was able to witness some incredible flights between the two youngsters and managed to capture some amazing pictures. Here are his observations;
Today I visited EGH between 3-4:30pm and was delighted to see the two juveniles having a blast. It looks like they’ve taken their game of tag to the air and they really put on a show. For birds that have been flying for less than a week they seem to be quick learners. The two have no trouble gaining altitude or landing. Still not as sure footed as their parents but I am especially surprised at the control of their landings. Aside from Tobi grabbing the side of the hospital just above the H sign, she still stuck the landing by the way, no real evidence that these guys are as new to this as they are. I stayed until 4:30 when the two parents had left for over 15 minutes and both chicks were fast asleep. Less than 15 minutes after that, the skies opened up. I assume the rain was enough to wake up Ossie who was sleeping on the power lines and force him to find cover but I was gone by then.
Thanks Winston for the great pictures and observations.
I arrived just after Winston left and we literally just missed one another. I found Tobi on the nest ledge and Ossie on the retaining wall of the roof on the east side. They stayed very relaxed and quiet for the most part until Chessie made an appearance in a tower to the south. That got the two juveniles to their feet and screaming like the wind. Chessie came in to the hospital area without food and started a chase in the air with her kids that was nothing short of spectacular. The three would together go whipping around the hospital and then out over the valley to the west, talon touching, diving and flipping. They came back a few minutes later and were all three soaring over the nest building only to go back into the dive and roll routine. They must have stayed in the air a full 5 or more minutes in this display of aerial finesse before the two youngsters finally settled down .
This watch has been a treat to be a part of and there are so many people to thank for its success. A huge thank you to the staff at the William Osler Hospital for being an incredible host building to this family, the folks at Paladin Security for all their assistance and all of the people who visited with us daily to ask about their peregrine family. I would also like to personally thank the OMNR Stewardship Rangers for braving the heat and coming out with us and a very special thank you to Bruce Massey, Marion Nash and Kathy Smith who’s great friendship and support made this success possible!! Way to go Chessie and Hurricane!!
I will be stopping in and doing site checks throughout the next few weeks so watch for more stories and photos on the progress in training of Tobi and Ossie.
Posted on July 23, 2012 11:22 am
July 21, 2012 - Etobicoke - William Osler
Tracy Simpson Reports:
I arrived on site just before 6pm to relieve Bruce of his last full time Fledge Watch shift of the season. As you can see by his posting, he had lots of action today with both juveniles flying really well. I found Ossie napping on the northern “H” sign and Tobi eating on the nest ledge. I couldn’t readily see the adults but I could hear Chessie calling softly in the tower. As Bruce pulled away from the site, I settled in for some great flights that he had been telling me about and warned me that I would find impressive. No one moved. Tobi was flat out on the nest ledge snoring, Ossie was sitting on the north side preening and the adults were in the tower chatting about next year.
Bruce and I both agree that with what we have been seeing here from Tobi and Ossie, that the full time Fledge Watch will be scaled back as of tomorrow. I will be in and on site tomorrow for a less intense version of the Fledge Watch and I will be back to check up on the family throughout the week as I will be starting my west end nest site rounds on Monday.
Posted on July 23, 2012 9:54 am
July 21, 2012 - Etobicoke - William Osler
Bruce Massey Reports:
Today it was my turn to open the William Osler Fledge Watch and hold the fort until the afternoon. I arrived at 6:30am and found Tobi on the south “H” sign and could hear, but not see, Ossie in the tower. Tobi left the sign and made for the north facing side of the nest ledge, missed the landing and ended up in the tower. After 10 minutes, Ossie flew to the retaining wall of the roof and landed neatly on the southwest corner. By 7am, Hurricane was coming in with food and had Chessie on his tail. This time it was Ossie who was the recipient of the morning feed while Hurricane flew up to the north corner of the nest building and Chessie flew up to the tower. At this point, Tobi made several flights around the hospital and looked like she wanted to go to the south “H” sign but finally settled down in the tower.
Once Ossie had finished eating, the two juveniles were actively flying back and forth between the tower and the nest building and landing very well. Ossie flew out to the northeast and out over the residential area taking longer flights than he has up until now. I went into the hospital for a brief moment and when I came out I checked the tower… …no one there. I could distinctly hear distant vocalizations and so I scanned north and found a bird in a tower to the north about 1/3 of the way up to Finch Ave. I walked up to the tower and found, much to my surprise, found both juveniles preening madly in the distant tower. I can confirm now that both of the young have explored beyond the footprint of the nest building. It wasn’t long before Hurricane flew up and joined the juveniles to the north and they all enjoyed a family moment together. At around 8:45am, Chessie flew over to the nest building with food and Ossie came off of his perch to take part in the feeding. Now fueled on pigeon power, Ossie was making short, quick flights from the tower to the roof and back to the northern tower, finally settling on the tower across from the nest ledge. Tobi finally decided to leave the tower to the north and head back to the nest building and on the way was stooped by her older brother!! This started a game of tag that lasted a good five minutes before both juveniles retired to their separate perches; Tobi to the hospital hydro tower and Ossie one tower north.
The next feeding was brought in by Hurricane at 11:15am and this time he brought it in to Tobi in the tower, at first with a touch and go and then straight over for the exchange. She took the food from Dad and flew with it over to the nest ledge. This was a good flight and landing considering that she had a bit of drag and weight and one foot was occupied. At around noon, Chessie was alarm calling and was off in defense of her site. I could see the intruder very high and it was another falcon about the same size as Chessie, another female perhaps. Just after1pm, Ossie and Hurricane did a “flight school” tandem flying demonstration that was rather impressive. Later on in the afternoon, I was treated to a kiting demo by Tobi over top of the hospital in a good, strong sustained wind. She handled the wind very well and landed safely. At first I thought this was Ossie but once she had landed I was able to confirm the red tape over her USFW band. Just after 5pm, Hurricane was in with another package and it looks like Tobi was the recipient this time. She ate her meal on the nest ledge while Ossie, after flying to the tower to beg for food unsuccessfully off of Hurricane, flew to the north “H” sign for a nap.
Posted on July 23, 2012 9:53 am
- All Reports
Tracy Simpson Reports:
What a difference a day makes. With all of the activity by the juveniles over the past few days, the parents have been standing on their talon tips. Today you could sure see a change in everyone as the young have graduated from phase 1 flying school.
At first light, Ossie was on the east side of the retaining wall on the roof, Tobi was on the southern “H” sign, Hurricane was on his antenna and Chessie was in the tower. At 7am, both adults took off to the south and 10 minutes later, so did Ossie!! Hurricane was making his way back with food, Chessie on his tail, and Ossie flew well off the hospital property to meet them both in the air. Hurricane continued on and out-flew them both to land on the southern “H” with a good sized package for Tobi. She grabbed it off of him and then squealing with her mouth full, turned and started to pluck. Ossie didn’t see the pass off and so continued to chase Hurricane in the air. The two did a brilliant tandem flight/chase around the hospital fefore Ossie realized that for one, Dad had nothing, and two, that he couldn’t keep up to the incredible skill of Hurricane. He aborted the chase and headed straight for sis who was physically concealing the food and at the same time telling everyone she had it. Ossie landed on the sign beside her and two went into their little food fight routine. Both fledglings enjoyed a good feed when all was said and done and the two sat next to each other and promptly both fell asleep.
What made the morning so interesting was that Chessie was much more relaxed. She flew from the tower over to one of the antenna for a moment, then flew down to the nest ledge just below the sleeping chicks. They screamed at her, each with only one eye open, just in case it might get them something. She flew off moments later and landed on the east side of the nest ledge. She made her way down to the nest tray, jumped in onto the edge and took a long nap. Hurricane sat in his favorite spot on the northeastern antenna and napped himself. Marion and Kathy arrived to a chorus of peregrine snores and relieved me for the midday shift. They were joined by the third and final crew of Ontario Stewardship Rangers and the OMNR biologist they are working with. Marion gave them the full training on how and why we Fledge Watch and how to rescue a bird that comes down. Then everyone settled in for some action.
ZZZzzzzzzzzz… …family still sleeping with the odd flight here and there for the bulk of the midday shift. At 2pm, Marion and Kathy handed over control of the ship to Bruce to close off their final full time watch shift of the season. I can’t say enough thank yous to both Marion and Kathy for braving the heat and relieving me so that I could head off to work. They are both amazing troopers and great friends!!
Bruce set up and was settled in for some good afternoon action. ZZZzzzzzzz… …right up until I called at 4pm to say that I was out of work and on my way. That’s when another food package came in to Tobi and of course Ossie was looking for a little snack himself. After eating, the family of four again settled in for more of a quiet time, enjoying the break in the heat we have been experiencing.
After taking care of our educational birds at the CPF Raptor Centre, I met up with Bruce who was feeling the ZZZzzzzz’s himself. Just as he was leaving, Ossie left the tower and made his way over to the nest ledge. There was something a little different about this flight, more speed. He overshot the landing a little but made it none the less. By 8pm, he had flown back to the tower and again had a really good head of speed on him and had to break rather than “J hook” up. I told him to slow down a little but he just ignored me. Tobi now came out of the nest tray where she had been napping and flew over to the tower to join him. With darkness now settling in, the pair of juveniles made their way back to the nest ledge for beddy-time .
Posted on July 21, 2012 9:15 am
July 19, 2012 - Etobicoke - William Osler
Tracy Simpson Reports:
I arrived on site at just after 6:00am to find that Tobi had flown off of the nest building roof and was now sitting squarely in the tower in Dad’s seat!! She was at the very top of the first spire on the top horizontal beam and looking quite proud of herself. She sat there preening and roosting for quite some time during which Ossie came over to visit several times. He was landing with a really good “J hook” and right in beside Tobi which shows great control and accuracy. The pair spent the rest of the morning in the tower together with Ossie occasionally trying to encourage his sister to join him back over on the ledge. At 9am, Marion and Kathy arrived for the day shift and took over watching our little “screaming 747”. Tobi started getting active around 10am and made a flight back to the building roof top that looked really good. From there she flew back over to the tower and made the landing again. She continued back and forth from the roof top to the tower several times and then just around 1:00pm, headed for the nest ledge and made it!! Tobi was now back home and received a feeding for her efforts. Then she made an excellent flight around to the north and disappeared from view. Marion and Kathy went to have a peek at where she ended up and found her on the north “H” sign!! This is a very important feat both for her confidence and for her coordination in breaking, steering and landing. Very good indeed!! Ossie was all over the place flying from the tower to the roof and then to the nest ledge. He made lots of great flights around the circumference of the hospital with fairly good landings at all stops. At around 2pm, Bruce arrived for the early evening shift and all was quiet for the first half an hour. Tobi received a few small feedings throughout the early evening and it wasn’t until 5:30pm that Ossie received his package. Not for lack of trying though. When I arrived Tobi was on the northern “H” sign and Chessie flew in with a rather large package of pigeon. In her excitement and fervor, Tobi grabbed it out of Chessie’s mouth and lknocked Mom backwards off of the sign. One of those, “ I love you, now leave!!” Ossie just couldn’t handle watching her eat all the grub anymore and flew over to join his sister on the sign. She was not in the mood to share and tried her best to shut him out but Ossie is a tenacious little man and was able to grab a corner of it. Just as they have done in past days, they each started from the outside and worked in towards one another before the squabbling broke out. No Lady and the Tramp love story here, pandemonium until the last scrap was gone!! After 20 minutes, Ossie took off to see what Dad was up to and Tobi started a preen session that would last a good hour. As the color was draining away from the night sky, Ossie was on the north side of the nest ledge, Chessie was in the tower, Hurricane was on top of the antenna and Tobi was flat out snoring on the north “H” sign.
A really big day for Tobi and excellent flights by Ossie. I can’t wait to see what tomorrow brings!!
Posted on July 20, 2012 9:05 pm
- All Reports
Tracy Simpson Reports:
I started the watch at 6:30am with little Ossie on the retaining wall of the roof on the south side and Tobi sitting on the southeast corner. This is the typical “launch pad” for this site and where many a juvenile have fledged from. Ossie was incredibly vocal on the top of the roof and ran back and forth along the ledge trying to garner the attention of the resident adults. At 7:48am, Hurricane flew in to the east ledge to Tobi and dropped off a small package of food. While she was working on it, Chessie flew in at 7:49am and dropped off another larger package. All I could think was, “Are you kidding me? If you spoil her she’ll never leave!” All the while this was going on, Ossie was freaking out on the roof as he could see food going in to his sister and not up to him. He ran all the way down to the southeast corner, bumped into a lightning rod and hissed at it, then stood directly above Tobi and screamed. Sister dear didn’t care too much for having her younger brother hanging out above her and at 8:23am, left! She flew out over the parking lot with much flapping and then glided beautifully for a few seconds as she banked around and made for the tower. She landed half way up and attempted to grab on but the momentum that she had and the baseball sized crop that she sported pitched her forward and she hung upside down for about three seconds. She let go and tried for another rung but was not able to grab on and so she was off again. I was instantly out of my seat, abandoning my coffee and all other sundries, and heading towards the tower. Chessie came in and guided her down to the roof of the Medical Centre building which is only three stories but Tobi made the landing well. Within seconds Tobi was up on the eastern edge of the roof surveying her new environs and wondering how she got there. Chessie flew up to the northern “H” sign where she could watch her and Ossie ran around the roof of the nest building and stood on the north edge just above Mom. Marion and Kathy arrived and took up the watch post which allowed me to retrieve my first coffee of the day. When I got there, it was full of bugs and leaves so after 5 days of 16 hours each I took the bugs out and drank it anyway, a sure sign of a seasoned fledge watcher!!
A noon feeding came in to Ossie and Tobi remained on the lower roof screaming her opinion. Tobi remained on that roof for the bulk of the day and after Bruce arrived for the late afternoon shift, she took another flight. Tobi tried for the tower and was unable to make a solid landing so she flew west over the parking lot and made for the low roof of the emergency entrance of the hospital. She banked around after aborting that landing and headed back towards the Medical Centre but instead ended up in a tree by the road. She stayed for about half an hour and then took another try at the medical building but the branches of the tree stopped her from getting a good launch and so she snowflaked down to the road. Bruce went over and she moved out of the road into the staff parking lot where she tried for the top of a car. Bruce was able to corral her, capture her up and into a rescue carrier she went. Ossie was now flying very well and making excellent landings on the nest ledge and the tower with the “J hook” up to the landing.
At dark, Bruce and I went and met Meghan at Paladin Security who took us up to the roof for the release. I took her to a dark, quiet corner and opened the carrier door that she amply filled. I slowly pulled out the towel the Tobi had be “killing” all afternoon and she came with it right up until she was at the door. She then grabbed onto the door and refused to come out!! Finally she let go and out she came. She stood on the towel and ripped at it several times in an effort to punish it for her time in the carrier and then walked hissing into the corner!! All is well and I’ll be back in the morning to see where her next flight is going to take her.
Many, many pictures to come soon!!
Posted on July 20, 2012 8:40 pm
July 18, 2012 - Etobicoke - William Osler
Tracy Simpson Reports:
A brief report of yesterday’s highlight…
Tobi, the juvenile female, took her first flight yesterday and successfullylanded on the roof of the medical centre building. Subsequent flights took her too low and she came down in the roadway where Bruce was able to rescue her. She was released a little wiser and a lot hissier last night on the roof of the hospital thanks to Paladin Security and a special thanks to Meghan for all her help.
All full report and pictures will follow shortly as I continue to struggle with internet access. We’ll have a detailed day to post for you this evening!!
Posted on July 19, 2012 7:44 am
July 17, 2012 - Etobicoke - William Osler
Tracy Simpson Reports:
I started the watch today at 6:30am to a chorus of screams coming from the nest ledge. True to their schedule, the resident sub-adult female, Chessie, and her mate Hurricane were exchanging food and bringing it in to Ossie and Tobi. Both chicks took part in the feeding and were quite happy to play during the cool of the morning. A second feeding was in the offing at 7:30am that the male took full advantage of and finally a third feeding in the morning at 8:30am that came in to the female. With both chicks now cropped up and happy, they bounced on down to the northeast corner and around the bend to the northern “H” sign where they spent the better part of the morning. This side of the building provides ample shade during the high heat of the day. Kathy and Marion arrived at 9am to take over the watch and were joined by Mark Heaton of the OMNR and a second group of Ontario Stewardship Rangers. As the day was heating up, neither the chicks nor the parents were very motivated to move and slept through the morning. At around noon, Marion and Kathy witnessed a feeding and that further baffed out the chicks and they trundled back off to bed. Bruce arrived at 1pm to relieve Kathy and Marion and the chicks were each behind their own “H” sign napping. Very little activity was seen until at around 4pm when Hurricane flew in and woke the chicks up. He didn’t stay but instead went off the ledge, made a few excellent swoop passes and came back up to the nest ledge with a sparrow. Tobi swiped it off of Hurricane and ate a bit, but not all, as Ossie was in like a flash to steal it away and take off down the ledge. It would seem that this has now become the norm at feeding time between these two. Ossie ate what remained of the prey and very soon after… …fledged!!! His first flight off of the southeast corner took him north towards the medical center where he turned back. He flew low over the emergency room parking lot and then swung back and landed on the 4th floor window ledge on the east side. He ran the ledge a bit and stayed for about an hour. Just after I arrived, he burst off of the ledge and made for the tower. Well if the little brat didn’t stick the landing and make it!! Ossie had landed about half way up the tower on the spire closest to the hospital. He was very uncomfortable and looking to leave so it wasn’t long before flight number three. He headed for the nest building, flew right over our heads, and pumping as hard as he could, MADE IT TO THE NEST LEDGE!!! Bruce and I high fived in the parking lot while Ossie was doing the same with his sister whom he happened to land beside. Phew!! The most amusing part of all of this is that the adults were off site hunting at the time and both of them missed the whole thing. When they returned, the chicks were right where they left them and they were none the wiser. It was all over by 6pm when Winston arrived to spell of Bruce and close the watch with me. The chicks for the most part were calm and relaxed with a bit of play about. Winston and I waited for the evening feed to happen and right at 9pm, both adults flew in with food. This had the chicks on their feet and howling and in all the excitement, off goes Ossie from the southeast corner flying west along the building. He banked north at the western corner and disappeared from our sights but looked to be really high. Winston and I circled the building several times as it was now almost dark to make sure he wasn’t on the ground or low and to figure out where he had gone. Hurricane was on the southern “H” sign and Chessie was now flying circles around the building and being very vocal. As far as she was concerned, her little man had flown for the first time. She landed on the southwest corner and was looking down the ledge and as we came around to the southeast side, she flew to that corner as well. In the near dark, I could make out Chessie with one chick each to her right and left. I could also hear the vocalizations of three distinct birds. It would seem that Ossie landed on the west ledge and ran all the way down the south ledge to home. For a first day out, Ossie is fantastic and this is not the norm. As fledglings begin to explore the environment beyond their home ledge, their inexperience leads them into all kinds of dangerous situations. Even though he has done well today, Ossie still has a lot to learn and much trouble that he can still get into. We will certainly be watching him for a while yet!!
There are lots and lots of pictures to come soon!!!
Posted on July 19, 2012 7:39 am
July 16, 2012 - Etobicoke - William Osler
Tracy Simpson Reports:
Today’s watch began at 6am with the two juveniles on the southeast corner and the adults sitting together in the tower. This is a distinct shift in the adults pattern of roost sites and may indicated that a fledge is close. By 6:30am, Hurricane flew into the ledge with food and Chessie was hot on his tail. She took the food off of Hurricane and then proceeded to share it with her chicks. The second feeding of the morning was right on time with Chessie coming in at just after 7:30am with a small package. Of course the two juveniles had a massive fight over it!! First the female snatched it from Chessie and took off down the ledge. Her brother was not to be fooled by this diversion and tore off after her and successfully removing the food from between her feet. He headed down the ledge in the other direction. Now faster, she was able to catch up to him and the tug o war was on!! Ross from William Osler Environmental Services came out to check up on the kids and he had a big announcement for us. The chicks have official been named!! The juvenile male is Ossie and the juvenile female is Tobi. Congratulations to the William Osler Hospital staff and your falcon family!!
By 9am we were joined by Mark Heaton of the OMNR and the Ontario Stewardship Rangers who came to assist us for the morning. I conducted a training session for the Rangers on Fledge Watch protocol, equipment, safety and rescues and then we settled in for some serious action… …nothing, nada, zero. After the two feedings early on in the morning and with the mounting heat of the day, the young ones baffed out and fell asleep in the nest tray. There they stayed for the bulk of the morning until the 12:30pm feeding came in. The fought and screamed and ate but back to bed they went. They finally woke up at 2:30pm and romped around the eastern and southern ledges With lots of touch and goes being done by both parents in an effort to incite a first fledge. Food came in shortly after 4pm and was delivered directly to Tobi who lost it to Ossie who was then reprimanded by Hurricane and had the food taken away who then got in trouble from Chessie who took it and gave it back to Tobi!! And so the food merry-go-round continues with this family and is quite the spectacle to watch!!
The rest of the evening was very active with a lot of flapping, wing exercising, and running of the ledges. The last feed of the day for Ossie and Tobi came in at 8:30pm and was generous enough to send them off to bed.
I will be back on site tomorrow to follow the progress of the two young ones as the parents are indicating that the time has come and Ossie is ready for flight school!!
Posted on July 19, 2012 7:37 am
