July 23, 2012 - International, National and Local News
CPF Postmaster Reports:
July 23rd - 2012
The Boys this morning
Well I dropped by the site this morning for about a half and hour and saw both boys flying about together. Also saw an adult and was sure it was Dad at first but then I saw an aerial food exchange between adult and Ben and then I thought it might be Mom. I am still not sure which it was. Was very good to see feathers and fluff flying off the roof as Ben prepared his own meal! He was on the southeast roof of the ICICI building.
It was already so hot and muggy and so I left just after that. Oh, I almost forgot-Ben was able to fly with his food parcel to the DeBeers top window ledge and back to ICICI roof as he was deciding where he wanted to have his meal. Impressive that he could fly so well with the extra weight of the food and with one talon occupied with the food! Len was on the southwest side of ICICI at this point squawking for Mom to bring his something too. She was out hunting I presume as I didn’t see her (or was it Dad) after the food exchange with Ben.
I’m really not worried about Dad yet as like Kathy said, he is probably out re-establishing his territory now that the kids don’t need so much attention. He must have many places to perch and spend the night.
Have a good evening, Irma
Posted on July 27, 2012 12:14 pm
July 18, 2012 - International, National and Local News
CPF Postmaster Reports:
July 18th - 2012
Our Boys at Don Mills/Eglinton
Well I have had an interesting morning. Our boys are doing very well and judging by their behavior enjoying the slightly cooler weather.
I arrived about 7:45 and all was quiet with Dad on his favorite S and one boy above him on the roof of DeBeers. His brother was on the southwest side of the ICICI Bank also on the roof ledge. The quiet ended in about 10 minutes when Mom arrived with a food parcel and brought it to the juvie on Bank roof. His brother joined him in a flash arriving from his perch on DeBeers. I think it was a light breakfast as there was no napping after the meal and instead there were numerous flights by both in the vicinity of the two buildings. Then Ben decided to have a rest on Moms favorite perch! I just happened to be looking at him with my binoculars and got a great view of him jumping up with a look of horror when Mom came in and almost landed right on top of him! She let him know in no uncertain terms that this was HER perch and he should go find his own! It was so funny!
Anyway, I could have watched all morning but I had to get home and put my tired feet up so I tore myself away. Tomorrow is supposed be a little cooler than today so I am sure they will be more active then too.
Have a great day, Irma
Posted on July 27, 2012 11:35 am
July 22, 2012 - International, National and Local News
Bruce Massey Reports:
I stopped in Sunday morning at the new Don Mills nest site to check up on the progress of Ben and Len. One adult was perched on the west side of the Forester building, another adult was on the southwest corner of the nest building and not one juvenile was in sight. I wandered up to Eglinton to check the TSM building and other rooftops in the area but still no sign of Ben and Len. I made my way back down to the nest building and could hear juveniles food begging. Lo and behold, up pops both Ben and Len on the DeBeers building on the ledge on top of the windows. This ledge is the exact same height and layout as the nest ledge and is the spot where both boys decided to lay down for a nap. They didn’t move from their spot but rather stayed put and begged the parents to come to them! As you can imagine, at this stage with both flying very well, the parents were unamused.
Posted on July 24, 2012 9:02 am
July 23, 2012 - International, National and Local News
Frank Butson Reports:
Thanks to Samantha for this exciting news.
Took a few minutes before heading up to the office this.morning at the ICICI building and got to witness mama falcon dangling her kill in mid air while Ben (blue band?) swooped down under her and successfully grabbed it while she dropped it. Our babies are growing up! What an amazing sight!
Posted on July 23, 2012 11:03 am
July 19, 2012 - International, National and Local News
Frank Butson Reports:
Don Mills and Eglinton site. Reports from Cathy and Ann.
This week Ben has been seen fly well. He has been taking over parent roosting stops but staying close to the two buildings. Len has being seen flying back and forth between the 2 buildings but yet to show any real flying skills.
We’ve been a little short on watchers due to the heat and availability. Irma and Cathy are stopping in to check on them in the mornings and Ann in the evenings.
Anybody able to keep an eye out please lets us know what you are witnessing.
Thanks
Kathy Smith
Posted on July 19, 2012 6:19 pm
July 14, 2012 - International, National and Local News
Kathy Smith Reports:
As of today, both the juvenile males, Ben and Len, have returned to the nest building roof which is a great sign of strong flights and good coordination. At 5:45am, Bruce dropped by for a quick look and found Ben & Len on nest building and Dad on De Beers before he was off to William Osler to start the watch there. I arrived at 7:00am to find Ben on the DeBeers building and Len still on nest building. Shortly after arriving, the was a feeding in to the young ones and all seemed well. By 8:00am, Anne and Donna arrive and watch Ben flying well back and forth between buildings but Len had yet to leave the nest building . It would seem that between the heat, humidity and his adventure on the TSM building yesterday that he is quite happy to stay where he is for now, especially when food keeps coming in!! The resident adult female here is quite the huntress as she regularly brings in pigeons for the juveniles and flies up to the top of the building with this large package with more ease than not. We will continue to watch as Len gains more confidence and catches up to Ben in his flight training.
A huge thank you to all of the volunteers who have come out in support of this nest site on such short notice as we are all still on other watches in Waterloo and Etobicoke. Thanks to Randy, Winnie and Alan, Kathy, Bruce, Cathy from Foresters, Ann, Donna, Patty, Murray and Irma. Sorry if I have missed anyone. Please know that we are so grateful for all of your support!!
Posted on July 15, 2012 8:53 am
July 13, 2012 - International, National and Local News
Bruce Massey Reports:
When I arrived at 2pm, Len was on the TSM building on the north side of Eglinton and Ben was on the northwest sign of the nest building. Ben took off up to meet Len on the TSM building but landed just above the height that Len was at. The resident adult female flew in and gave Ben some food that he messily enjoyed and what remained of his meal, he accidently dropped over the ledge to Len. Lucky for him there was still a bit left!! A maintenance worker, unaware that the fledglings were up there, entered the roof area and both juvenile males took off. Ben went high over the area and was soaring beautifully with both adults. Len headed back over to the nest building and successfully landed on the roof!! This being Len’s big adventure for the day, he dropped down into the shade and laid down for a nap until 6pm. It was about that time that Ben flew off the TSM building where he had been napping and flew out to the west. The adult female was on the Foresters sign watching as he flew but didn’t move. After a good hour, I still hadn’t seen Ben return but watched as the resident female was paying great attention to an apartment building to the west. I scoped the building and found Ben sitting on top of a chiller unit where he stayed and roosted until later in the evening. The adult female then flew off of the Foresters building and over to ICICI. She was screaming and fluttering like a chick as she then flew over to DeBeers and back again in reaction to the arrival of the resident male. She and the resident male exchanged a package that she then took up to Len at 7pm for a feeding. At 7:30pm, Ben flew over to the nest building but botched the landing. He quickly recovered and flew over to DeBeers, did a bat attempt on the ledge and fluttered down to the top window ledge for a nap. At 8pm, the adult male returned with more food and did a few fly bys to tease Ben off of the window ledge but he showed no interest. He then took the food to Len on the roof of the nest building and the family settled in for the night.
Posted on July 15, 2012 8:43 am
July 13, 2012 - International, National and Local News
Kathy Smith Reports:
Arriving at 7am Len was still on 411 building north of Eglinton. Ben was nowhere to be seen but parents content, one on each of the sister buildings. Ben must be close. Cathy and Irma arrived shortly after 7 to help in the search. After exhausting all efforts we decided to just keep an eye on Len since Ben was doing so well yesterday and is probably close. By 8 am mom feeds Len and later Ben shows up resting on signs with dad. Mom around the corner. Mom retrieves food from 411 building and brings to Ben and now on North side of nest building and parents on east. Len starts crying for food which goes on for a couple of hours. Len attempts a fly to the nest ledge but falls short and struggles to hold on to the glass but quickly corrects and goes back to the 411 roof. Later Ben joins him on the 411 / TSM building but on the mechanical room level. Mom brings Ben food to Len’s dismay and when he is done he tosses his leftovers down to Len who eagerly attacks. That’s when all breaks loose as Ben takes to the skies and the parents join and with a beautiful display of his new ability to catch the thermals and circling and soaring. I look down to see what Len is doing to see someone on the roof which started the uproar and Len is nowhere to be seen. At this point Bruce had joined me and saw Len fly back to the nest building. Bruce then went across to 411 building to let them know of the situation. They were more than happy to help out and remain off of the roof unless absolutely necessary. When I left, dad was on DeBeers and mom on ICICI, as far as we know Len was on the roof and Ben must be close. Ben has proven to be a strong graceful flyer and Len is still to show his grace.
Posted on July 13, 2012 11:11 pm
July 12, 2012 - International, National and Local News
Bruce Massey Reports:
Ann and Donna were out at the Don Mills nest site last night helping to watch over our recent fledges here. They managed to snap off a few pictures that I hope you will enjoy of Len, Ben and the unbanded adult parents.
Thanks to Ann for sharing these fantastic photos!
Posted on July 13, 2012 3:49 pm
July 12, 2012 - International, National and Local News
Bruce Massey Reports:
I arrived at the site at 2pm and was updated by Kathy as to the mornings adventures. I found Len in the same place on the north side of the ICICI building and Ben was out of my sight on the DeBeers ledge. Just after 3pm, Len came off of the nest building and flew straight across Eglinton to the TSM building where he made a safe landing on the roof. The parents were ecstatic and the adult female brought food over to Len for his accomplishment. By 4pm the resident male had flown over and made a few passes at Len but that is where he was determined to stay for now.
Ben now took to the air and flew over to an apartment building near the Science Centre with both parents in tow. He landed on a balcony and popped down in; a bad spot for a peregrine!! I spent the next hour and a bit working on a rescue off of the balcony and as I was waiting for access, Ben popped up on the balcony rail!! He took off and flew to the top of the nest building and was well out of balcony danger for now. Ben then flew over to the TSM building and joined his brother Len there. The two juvenile boys celebrated a huge reunion with much vocalization, head flipping, beak tapping and playing. Very touching indeed. Both resident adults now joined the boys on TSM and brought food with them. It looked as though the parents intended to feed the two up so that they would stay right where they were for now with multiple food packages going over to the juveniles. At one point, a flock of swallows had targeted Len for dive bombing and the resident female flew in and drew them off. She flew around the TSM building with a full swallow escort but she didn’t seem to mind as they were now leaving Len alone. I was joined by Randy, Ann and Donna for the evening and we all were fortunate to witness this wonderful family moment.
I will be back out tomorrow for the afternoon shift and I look forward to seeing how Len’s flights are progressing!
Posted on July 13, 2012 9:23 am
