Etobicoke - William Osler

William Osler Adults in a Bonding Moment

September 26, 2011 - Etobicoke - William Osler

Tracy Simpson Reports:

During my tours in the Etobicoke area delivering Project School Visit, I was able to drop in on the William Osler Hospital site and check in on Hurricane and O’Connor, the resident adult pair.  The three juveniles, Rain, Wind and Storm, were not to be seen but the adults were both in attendance when I arrived.  O’Connor, the female, was in the hydro tower keeping vigilant and Hurricane was inside the nest tray located behind the “H” sign looking like he’d lost the house keys ( or something to that effect )!!  Hurricane was looking down into the tray, then around it, then back at O’Connor in the tower and finally down at his feet.  He looked as though if he didn’t find what he was looking for and quick, that he’d be sleeping in the dog house tonight!!  It would seem that this resident male really gets “empty nest syndrome” quite strongly and with a mate like O’Connor ( all business and tough as nails! ) he wouldn’t ever want to misplace one of the kids!!  It would seem that he has forgotten that he and his mate successfully raised three young this year ( with the help of the CPF volunteer Fledge Watch team during the rescues of Wind and Storm ) and that they have already reached independence!

Almost as if to reassure him, O’Connor left the tower 5 minutes after Hurricane began his search and flew two recon flights of the hospital roof before landing on the sign above him.  He greeted her with a series of ee-chups and bows at which time she joined him on the ledge where they sat together for a good ten minutes.  As I left, both adults had left the ledge and were now perched opposite one another on the east facing “H” of the hospital.  Both adults at this site are still regularly using the hospital as a night roost and rest spot and will continue to hold the territory long after the young have migrated.  Although they won’t defend it as vigorously as a few months ago, I suspect that O’Connor and Hurricane will remain a strong presence for now.  I look forward to seeing more of these two as my school program bookings continue to keep me very busy in the west end of the city.  Congratulations to the William Osler Hospital for another successful year and a heartfelt thank you to all of the staff at the hospital and in security for making it possible!!

A Great Observation of the William Osler Family!

August 28, 2011 - Etobicoke - William Osler

Tracy Simpson Reports:

A great observation made by Toivo at the William Osler site.  I have seen O’Connor, the resident female, doing this exact same thing during the Fledge Watch this summer.  Every once in a while she would go across the street where a plastic owl is attached to the roof of a low rise building and make sure that the “owl” stayed right where it was.  I think she was encouraged that she had sufficiently frightened it as it never seemed to move!!  It would stand to reason that O’Connor’s offspring have picked up on her meticulous territory cleaning habits and took a run at it themselves!!  Thanks Toivo for another great observation!  Here it is:

I was in Woodbridge about 3 k up hwy 27 from the Osler site. I saw a bird dive bombing something. I will always investigate this. I drove around a building and got to observe a peregrine stoop maybe 5 times at a plastic owl on the corner of the industrial building across the street from me.  I would think this would be one of the Osler juveniles. Quite funny to watch.  

Toivo

Parents at William Osler Enjoying the Day Without Kids

- All Reports

Tracy Simpson Reports:

Frank and I took a trip this evening at 6:00pm to the William Osler Hospital site to check in on the family of falcons there and found Hurricane, the resident male, on top of the east facing “H” and O’Connor, the resident female, on her usual southeast corner of the nest ledge.  A quick check of the nest tray and hydro towers revealed no juveniles in the area at the time and the adults actually looked rather relaxed.  Half an hour after our arrival, both adults left their perches and were soaring above the roof of the hospital.  A moment later, O’Connor took off and headed to the northeast with intent and power and so Frank and I tracked her with our binoculars as she remained in our sights.  Hurricane took off and joined her and left Frank and I wondering what she was up to.  A moment later, she broke off her flight and circled back towards the hospital as Hurricane continued northeast and disappeared.  O’Connor was gone for at least 20 minutes or more before she reappeared on the southeast ledge she likes to call home.  Hurricane had also returned and was back on the east facing sign consuming a recent kill he had made while he was gone.  As the sun set, there was no appearance by any of the juveniles and both adults had settled in for the night. 

While the young falcons may be flying further afield in preparation for a successful migration, both parents are still using the nest site as a night roost and feeding station and will continue to defend the territory although not as vigorously as they would with juveniles present.  The adult pair will also be spending more time away from the nest site hunting and feeding but will return to it periodically throughout the day and each evening.  The juveniles will also continue to periodically use the nest site as a roosting spot; an observation of this behaviour seen recently at the Toronto Sheraton nest site. 

At almost all urban nest sites, the adults remain on territory even in the winter as prey is abundant in the form of pigeons and other small birds and the buildings provide microclimates where they can escape the winds and cold of winter.  The juveniles, on the other hand, will be leaving this fall for the south, following the smaller birds that they prey upon.  Over the next week, we will be making a trip out to Islington and Rexdale where the adult female likes to take the young to train, as evidenced by our sighting of Wind giving some gulls a go at that intersection, and see if we can spot any of the juveniles practicing their skills.  Check back as we watch the progress of the young ones training for their big flight!!

William Osler Juveniles Sighted and Doing Well!!

July 25, 2011 - Etobicoke - William Osler

Tracy Simpson Reports:

Over the past few days, I have had the opportunity to stop in at the William Osler Hospital site and check in on the progress of Wind, Rain and Storm.  I was able to spot all three of the juveniles in the hydro towers that run on a north / south line right past the hospital.  The two females, Wind and Rain, occupied one tower while wee Storm watched his sisters from the next tower north.  All looked very well and what flights I was able to see were strong and controlled.

I must admit that I have a strong affinity for this site as O’Connor and Hurricane, the resident adults, never fail to delight and surprise me with their behaviours and often leave me shaking my head about the amazing things they are up to.  Today, it was Wind, one of the female juveniles, that had me jumping for joy.  I was in the Islington and Rexdale area in the Sears Parts and Service parking lot when I noticed that a large group of gulls that had been loitering about had taken to the air and were wheeling about excitedly.  Seconds later, Wind made her appearance as she stooped a pigeon just to the west.  She unfortunately missed that meal but continued to head west with all the confidence of her mother O’Connor.  I was amazed to see that she actually was taking a run at gulls; a typical behaviour of O’Connor.  Wind is no where near capable at catching or defending against such a large bird and many a peregrine wouldn’t even try, but it was exciting to see her take her best shot and that O’Connor has passed on her ”take no prisoners” attitude to her young!!!   Good try Wind!

Site Check on Wind, Rain and Storm at William Osler

June 23, 2011 - Etobicoke - William Osler

Tracy Simpson Reports:

We arrived on site to once again find no one visible. I am one day older and one day wiser so I decided to wait and watch for juveniles to make their appearances. It was a good choice as the two females were on the northeast corner of the nest building roof and had just popped up from a nap. Storm was clearly visible in the nest tray and seemed quite happy to not have to “share the bed” with two big clunky sisters. The females are gaining much greater confidence and control with their flights and are back and forth to the tower and the building roof quite readily. By noon, the rain was moving in and the juveniles got to experience their first good shower. They thoroughly enjoyed it and spent the rest of the time preening their new feathers; Storm on the nest ledge, Rain and Wind on the roof. We left the site as we were called away to two other site checks and upon our return, all three juveniles were now sitting on the east facing “H” sign which is Hurricane’s favourite spot. He has been displaced from that spot by his kids and now is perching on the nest ledge to the right of the sign.  The juveniles at this site are doing very well now and we are going to reduce this site to check ins and help out at the other fledge watches around Toronto.  As we were set to close down, I hoped out of the truck to find O’Connor grappling on the ground with an adult Canada goose.  This goose had just been walking through the parking lot minding its own business when it was grabbed by the back by a Peregrine falcon!!  The look on the face of the goose was pure shock and it stayed still for quite some time before beginning to wander over to the grassy hill again.  O’Connor watched it from the top of the light post and let it be for now.  It would appear that walking geese ( not flying, she leaves those alone ) now need to be added to O’Connor’s list of unwelcomed guests in her territory!!  As we finally pulled out, all three juveniles were now sitting on the east facing “H’ enjoying their view from above.

All Three Juveniles Doing Well at William Osler

June 22, 2011 - Etobicoke - William Osler

Tracy Simpson Reports:

When I arrived, Hurricane was on the nest ledge looking confused and O’Connor sat firmly in the tower at the ready as usual. I saw no sign of ANY of the juveniles and of course began the search of each face of the building in turn. I found Storm by his “little screamies” on the northeast corner of the roof and so that left two to find. I circled the building; nothing. I circled the berm on the outskirts of the property; nothing!! I looked to the parents for some guidance and they consistently led me back to the northeast corner. O.K. A different perspective was needed. So across the street and far away I go to get a better angle of the building. I see Storm jump up on the northeast corner and then go back down onto the roof out of view. Then another larger juvenile jumps up onto the corner ( huge and dark ), that would be Wind. That’s two. I circle the building 4 more times and come back again to that northeast corner. There’s one bird ( lighter and a bit smaller ) which turns out to be Rain. Seconds later the other two turkeys pop up and the three are now sitting shoulder to shoulder and laughing their beaks off at how wet I am!! At 11:30am, O’Connor brings in a huge pigeon for lunch and all three juveniles take their fill. Now energized, Storm takes off for some flight time. His landings are now excellent on the nest ledge, the roof top and everywhere else he wanders. His harassment of his parents in their favourite roosting spot has their feathers somewhat ruffled. Both females have now made it to the rooftop; Wind from the nest ledge and Rain from a 4  ^{storey windowsill. The two girls will still have to work a bit more on control and landings to really excel at this flight thing.}

During the afternoon I took some time to dry off as best as I could and I was glad for the break given that by 7:00pm, it was absolute madness. O’Connor flew over to the antenna just above the three juveniles and sat there staring which incited much silliness and screaming. In moments, the first female was off and heading for the hydro tower. A successful landing was celebrated by Rain as she reached the top platform of one of the tower spires. Storm flew over to join her there and Wind, who now sat on the rooftop alone, refused to be outdone and abandoned by her siblings. She took off and flew towards the tower only to veer off at the last minute and head for the stack on top of the nest building roof. No sooner had she touched down than Storm came over and chased her off. This set off a series of events that was pandemonium!!

Wind takes to the air and circles around to the tower but cannot land as Rain is in the runway. Storm is hot on her tail as this game of chase is fun. Wind circles back around the north side of the building and she appears above it in a really beautiful soar. She tries for the stack again. Storm cuts her off and forces her back off the building. Rain is now in the air headed around to the north. Storm chases her. Wind tries for the hydro tower again. Storm is back and turning her away so she aborts the landing. Wind has been airborne for over a minute now. Rain comes back around the south side of the building heading for the tower. Storm’s on it!! I look into the tower and see one bird land, one leave and one soaring and I have no idea who is who anymore. Two juveniles cross over in the air. One to the tower and one to the west side of the building. I’m running to see where birds have gone. Two in the tower, one has disappeared around the other side of the building. I go around the entire building and find a bird on the west facing ledge. I am now soaking wet for the second time and I still don’t know what’s going on! The parents wait until everyone is settled and then leave feeling very proud of their kids and are off to hunt for the three now flighted juveniles. I head to my truck soaked and exhausted only to find all three kids in the tower. THEN ALL THREE EXPLODE OFF AT THE SAME TIME!!! All I can say is that I count five heads that won’t stop moving around but still add up to five and they’re all happy dance screaming!! Now that the juveniles are all airborne, I have relegated myself to head counts as no one bird is settled long enough to readily identify. By tomorrow, some of the newness of flight will wear off for these young and I will be able to tell much more readily who is doing what and how well.

Wind and Rain Both Out of the Nest

June 21, 2011 - Etobicoke - William Osler

Tracy Simpson Reports:

Bruce was on site at first light to check on the two girls’ progress in navigating their newly discovered airspace. Rain was still on the west side of the building on the windowsill just beneath the nest ledge, Wind had left the roof and was now on the low mechanical building on the south side and Storm was all over the place screaming about how happy he was to be flying. When Frank and I arrived, Storm had gone down to the lower mechanical roof to visit with his sister Wind and the two of them were having a flapping good time. Rain was still on the western side of the building and Frank positioned himself to witness her coming off from and heading around the building to be with her siblings. When I arrived later that afternoon, there were two juveniles on the lower mechanical roof and one up on the roof of the nest building. It was clear that it was Storm on the roof as his little scream is hard to miss. That meant that Rain had sneaked around and evaded the watchful eyes of Frank to land on the mechanical roof with her sister. As the evening progressed, the two females were getting rather excited to fly again and Storm had been down to visit them both quite regularly. Wind finally took off from the low roof and circled the entire building gaining altitude as she went. She finally ended up on the northeast corner at the nest ledge and was so jubilant to be back, she dropped where she stood and napped the night away. Rain also made a flight attempt from the same low roof and wasn’t as successfully in gaining height as her larger sister. She landed on the north face of the building on a 4^{th floor window ledge. She managed to tuck herself up against a pillar separating the windows where she finally fell fast asleep. Storm wasn’t quite done for the day as he gathered up his courage and made a try for the tower that he fell off of during his initial fledge. You can only imagine how loudly he screamed when he successfully landed on the top of the tower, joining his parent in their favourite perching spot. O’Connor and Hurricane were so pleased to see Storm succeed that they stuffed him with food as he sat on their tower. Storm eventually flew back to the roof and then made another “cheater” drop down back flap flight to the east facing “H”. It is clear now that the resident adults have no haven left away from the kids; Storm has now made it to all their personal perch sites!! Storm ended the evening by returning to Wind on the nest ledge and slept next to her. With Wind and Storm “home” and Rain settled in for the night, Frank and I left the site ready to return early tomorrow morning.}

Wind Fledges at Nightfall

June 20, 2011 - Etobicoke - William Osler

Tracy Simpson Reports:

A hectic time at William Osler is an understatement of events at this fledge watch. With Wind deciding to fledge at 9:45pm last night and ending up on the low roof near the emergency entrance, we needed to be on site as early as possible to witness her next attempt. Frank and I were here by 6:00am and counted the two youngsters on the nest ledge but there was no sign of Wind. After a couple of searches around the building and perimeter, I decided to sit down and let the parents tell me what I needed to know; where is Wind? Within 10 minutes they had pointed out the general area and I was able to find her in a pine tree on the northeast corner of the building. We took up positions nearby and it wasn’t long before she took flight low to the ground and bumped a first floor window. I was able to corral her into a corner and catch her up. I must say that this is one enormous female not to mention that she has her mother’s temperament!! Paladin Security staff witnessed the rescue and assisted by retrieving the carrier from their office and holding it steady while Wind was placed into it. After a quick exam, she was in security cooling off and awaiting release that night. Back outside Storm and Rain, the other two juveniles, were excitedly flapping about the nest ledge and Storm was feeling braver by the minute to take another flight. At 7:15am, an adult brought food into the southeast corner of the nest ledge for Rain. Storm, who was sitting on the roof retaining wall, was so wound up by the sight of food that he made an attempt for the nest ledge by coming off and back flapping down to a safe landing on the northeast corner. After a frenzied feeding, Storm and Rain retired to the nest tray for a nap. The rest of the day was spent watching Storm take short flights out to the roof and back to the ledge using his “cheater” drop down flight. At 4:55pm Rain decided that she would try her first flight and successfully circled the building and came to rest on the window ledge two floors below the nest ledge. She made a second attempt to gain some elevation and only achieved one floor higher on the same side. The two flights and her efforts to balance on the narrow ledge took enough out of her that she now required a nap!! She spent the rest of the evening right up to nightfall on the window ledge peering in at the people inside.

At nightfall, after a complete health check, Bruce Massey and I took Wind to the rooftop for the release. Upon opening the carrier door, she raced forward and stopped in the doorway of the carrier which she amply filled. She stretched out her wings and every feather on her stood straight up as she defended HER carrier!! I reached in to pull the towel out ( with Wind firmly attached ) and she dove for my hand. She then bolted out and attacked the wall before realizing that she really meant to go after me but by that time I was already making my way through the door into the stairwell. She really is her mother’s daughter!! We will be back early in the morning to make sure that her flight off of the rooftop is a good one.

Quiet Day at William Osler - Storm Still the Only One Fledged

June 19, 2011 - Etobicoke - William Osler

Tracy Simpson Reports:

It would seem that there is a rash of quiet days happening at all of the nest sites today including William Osler.  For this watch that is quite an unusual happening but a bit of a relief for tired watchers.  Bruce Massey was on-site this morning at around 6:00am and saw Storm take several flights out and around the perimeter of the hospital with landings on the roof retaining wall being “a six out of ten”.  Storm did manage to get back to the nest ledge before Frank and I arrived this morning and we had all three birds present on the east side ALL DAY LONG!!  At 12:00pm, O’Connor was off her tower perch and circled around to take out her second Red tailed hawk in a week to the west of the hospital.  This attack was not as ferocious as the last as this bird was moving away from the hospital unlike the first RTH that was moving towards it.  Hurricane attacked a gull lopping through about half an hour later that had us hoping we would be seeing some flights today.  O’Connor went down low onto the three storey roof of the medical building again today.  I observed this behaviour yesterday but was unable to understand what it was that she was doing.  Bruce observed the same thing this morning but was able to confirm what activity was drawing her there; squirrels!!  She was clearing the low roofs of squirrels!!  With all of the feathered and furred creatures of interest removed, I waited with anticipation for the adults to wind the juveniles up and encourage flight.  I was disappointed when at 1:30pm, O’Connor arrive with an enormous pigeon that she took to the northeast corner.  She was met by Wind who took the food and hid behind Mommy bird in the hopes of having her fill first.  She got her wish as O’Connor warned off the other two until Wind had eaten.  Once full, O’Connor left for the tower to allow the other chicks to join in the feast.  I was amazed that during the entire feeding, the resident female never stopped alarm calling even though no threat was discernible.  I think she was telling them to mind their manners!!  At 5:12pm, O’Connor returned to the nest ledge, picked up the remains of the meal and beak fed Storm.  Since then, these juveniles might as well have been gargoyles as they haven’t moved an inch!!  I hope that by tomorrow, the resident adults attempt to incite flight again and not let the chicks linger as they are now heading into their mid 40 days of age.  I think they are so spoiled here by Hurricane and O’Connor that they don’t want to leave!!  We’ll see if tomorrow either of the females takes their first flight.

William Osler Adults Trying Everything to Get a Fledge!!

June 18, 2011 - Etobicoke - William Osler

Tracy Simpson Reports:

After the return of Storm to the nest ledge today, the resident adults allowed the chicks a bit of sleep time before launching a “fledge now” campaign that was relentless.  Hurricane and O’Connor tried every trick in the “Book of Fledge” that they know to no avail.  There was a feeding at 4:o0pm by the female.  She flew up to the eastern “H” and fed herself first before landing on the southeast corner with the remains of the meal.  She was immediately mugged by Storm who then began to self feed.  O’Connor allowed this to go on for a minute until Rain grabbed the food and made a mad dash for the tray.  O’Connor flew off the ledge, came around and landed right in front of the sprinting Rain which stopped her dead in her tracks.  The resident female then plopped one massive foot on the food and mantled up which backed Rain up a good 2 feet immediately.  Seeing this behaviour from his young, Hurricane stooped the ledge and screamed at the chicks for treating O’Connor that way which had the effect of flattening them on their tummies to the ledge.  They got in trouble all right!!  The female then took the food over to them and proceed to feed as long as they remained polite.  By 5:00pm, the chicks were sound asleep and O’Connor flew in to wake them up.  She tried to tease them out with touch and go’s but that didn’t work either.  Hurricane then tried a food fly by which only made them scream louder.  Both parents then retired to the southern “H” sign for a tactical meeting and the three juveniles attempted to eavesdrop from the southeast corner.  At 7:30pm, O’Connor flew in and wound the chicks up while Hurricane pulled out all the stops; food fly bys, come soar with me flights, through the ledge “fuzz buzzes”, touch and go’s and every tease out that he could think of.  He finally gave up and headed over to the tower and just screamed back at them!!  Now at 9:33pm, Hurricane has taken up his position on the northeast corner which has only served to wind them up again and at a time where I can barely see them.  I believe food just arrived in the form of a small package that will hopefully keep them down for the night.  I look forward to seeing what tactics the adults employ tomorrow.  I think its going to be a busy day!!!