May 08, 2014 - Scarborough - Yellow Pages
CPF Postmaster Reports:
May 8th - 2014
A quick site visit to see how our love-birds are doing at the Scarborough nest site on Milner Ave and was lucky enough to catch a shift change. I have attached some photos of the 4 eggs that Ruben and Linn have kept so secret. Linn was just on her way in as I snapped my last photo and actually had an opportunity to snap a couple of photos of her in the air as she flew into the nest ledge.
Funny, the reflection of the eggs in the glass that might suggest that there is more than four eggs, but don’t be fooled, there are only 4 eggs in the clutch or maybe not 
Didn’t stay long as you might imagine and was able to avoid any scolding from Linn!
Enjoy,,
Stay tuned……..
Posted on May 9, 2014 11:48 am
May 16, 2014 - Scarborough - Yellow Pages
Mark Nash Reports:
Friday May 16th - 2014
I was finally able to check back with the Yellow Pages nest site today and there is still no hatch. It must be real close given when we observed 4 eggs having been laid.
Upon my arrival, I found Rueben (the long standing resident adult male) on the nest ledge and could only see three un-hatched eggs. The small over hang in the corner blocks a portion of the view so the forth egg may have been there, but I just couldn’t see it. Seconds later, we were dive bombed very aggressively (and very silently) by Linn (the long standing resident adult female) that seemed to come out of know where!!
Wow, silent and quick would be an understatement, as the pair had Paul, Marion and myself all heading for the door to seek shelter, and very quickly indeed!! Linn had stooped us more than a half-a-dozen as we made our way to the access door to exit the roof to escape her view!
I did manage to get a few shots of the pair and was able to blow the photos up to confirm both of their identities via their leg band numbers and can confirm that it is fact both Linn and Rueben. In Linn’s usual style, she didn’t make a sound throughout, (nor did Rueben) as they both stooped us simultaneously coming only inches from our face and heads!
Stay tuned for additional updates very soon ……..
Posted on May 1, 2014 2:01 am
April 17, 2014 - Scarborough - Yellow Pages
Marion Nash Reports:
Checked the nest and there are now 4 eggs likely laid last Friday April 11th.
Stayed tuned for hatch.
Posted on April 21, 2014 11:11 am
March 30, 2014 - Scarborough - Yellow Pages
CPF Postmaster Reports:
Sunday March 30th - 2014
Some exciting news today, in that we have confirmed that there maybe part-time incubation underway, (if not full-time) at the Scarborough Yellow Pages nest site. After several hour of roaming around Toronto’s east end to get some additional nest site updates, we ended our day at the Scarborough Yellow Pages nest site and found Ruben (the resident adult male) high up on the upper elevation of the nest site building (south side) in the middle of a preen-feast, looking rather dapper indeed!
For the next few hours, Linn (the resident adult female) was no where to be found as we circled the building on numerous occasions with no luck seeing her. Then, just as 7 o’clock passed and the sun setting to the west, out pops Linn from a ledge on the upper south west column, (south east facing ledge) directly in our view from the south YP parking lot.
As she exited the ledge, it was obvious that she had food in her clutches and she proceeded to fly around to the east, then around to the north side of the building out of our view. Ruben took flight and pursued her. They both returned moments later coming around from the west side of the building, with both of them returning to the same ledge that Linn had appeared from earlier.
At this point, both birds disappeared down into the ledge itself and out of our sight. Some 15 minutes later, Ruben re-appeared from the ledge, spent several minutes looking down into the ledge where Linn had disappeared, and then flew up to an upper ledge elevation on the west side of the south east column, where he stayed until we left.
Linn never did re-appear from the other ledge, and it would appear that she might be involved in at least part-time incubation, (if not now involved in full time incubation).
We will be doing another site visit later on in the week.
Stay tuned……..
Posted on March 30, 2014 6:21 pm
March 27, 2014 - Scarborough - Yellow Pages
Tracy Simpson Reports:
Coming back through the city from Bowmanville, I decided to take a break from driving and stop in at Yellow Pages to check in on Linn and Rueben. I found Rueben almost right away on the southwest ledges of the building sunning himself. Up that high all I could see at first was a white dot that was out of place on the dark building and the binoculars revealed a preening Rueben. I scanned around for Linn and couldn’t find her at first but a check of her favorite roosts helped me to locate her. She was also sunning herself on the Investors Group sign and pushing down a nice crop of food.
I was able to confirm Linn’s band number, Black 91 over Green V, and get a few photos of the lovely lady up on the sign. We look forward to season with the pair and will be watching to see what ledge they choose to nest on this year. Not the best photos but I hope you enjoy.
Posted on March 27, 2014 8:03 am
January 26, 2014 - Scarborough - Yellow Pages
Bruce Massey Reports:
A quick update on the resident adults at the Yellow Pages nest site. I was out this morning and found both adults sitting on the ledges. They were too far in for a confirmation on their identities but I believe they are Linn and Rueben.
Posted on January 26, 2014 12:04 pm
July 24, 2013 - Scarborough - Yellow Pages
Bruce Massey Reports:
I was out at the Yellow Pages nest site to check in on Linn, Rueben and the kids over the past few days. On Saturday after the storm, I did have both adults confirmed but there was no sign of any juveniles. Tuesday when I arrived, I checked in with security and learned that the juveniles hadn’t been positively identified since last Thursday. I set out for a recon walk of the area and was able to spot one juvenile on a building in the territory. I set up my scope and waited for a view of the tape colour that each of our banded young ones has over the USFW band and my patience paid off. I was able to positively identify Neira by her red tape healthy and screaming for food. During my visit I was unable to sight Loki but it may have just been my timing. Yesterday I was back on site and again had Linn, Rueben and Neira who was actively chasing around the local resident birds. As hard as she tried, and there was one good stoop, Neira still came up empty taloned each time. Loki did not make an appearance yet but he is such a great flyer that he is most likely exploring further afield and it may take a few visits to catch him at home. We will be back to check in again and look to spot little Loki and will keep you updated on how the family is progressing.
Posted on July 25, 2013 8:22 am
July 19, 2013 - Scarborough - Yellow Pages
CPF Postmaster Reports:
July 19th - 2013
What’s better than fresh Duck for breakfast or (maybe last night’s dinner) for young fledglings Loki & Neira.
Found at the foot of Wynn Fitness Building 10 Milner Business Court closest to the building referred to as the “Kitchen”.
Alex Mitchell
Posted on July 22, 2013 11:13 am
July 06, 2013 - Scarborough - Yellow Pages
Mark Nash Reports:
July 5th- 2013
Sorry for the lack of updates and postings as we have still been in the field on the watch at several other nest sites and had to mobilize our available manpower and resources to other areas of most need.
That being said, we are still very active doing spot checks in between the ongoing watches at nest sites where we have just finished the intense fledge watches and the Yellow pages nest site has not gone unchecked.
While we’re back to extremely hot and humid weather conditions, (with several days of back to back pouring rain, smog alerts and blistering sun thrown into the mix), the two young fledglings are still flying well, holding their altitude and now terrorizing their poor adult parents in the air in their quest for attention and food!
During the heat of the day, both of the adults are finding it MUCH harder to find hiding places to avoid the constant pursuit of the fledglings!! The good news, is that we have documented many air food transfers with each of the fledglings diving and stooping and now catching the food offerings that the adults are offering them, and we are now seeing the fledglings starting to chase some of the resident birds in the neighbourhood.
While they not capable of actually catching any live prey as yet, they are now trying - really hard!! The cat and mouse games, and the catch-me-if-you-can games between the two fledglings is just incredible to watch!!!
The spurts of actions lasts 15 minutes at a time, with an hour of rest and recharge periods, you can now see them very active throughout the entire day, all day now. How they deal with this extremely humid and hot weather is beyond me, as it has been almost debilitating for the rest of us here at street level especially with all of the heat radiating off the concrete surfaces that surround us!
Bring your camera’s out folks, as the show is absolutely spectacular!!
Posted on July 6, 2013 12:48 pm
June 29, 2013 - Scarborough - Yellow Pages
Mark Nash Reports:
Saturday June 29th - 2013
Once again, I can’t tell you how much 48 hours can make a huge difference some time. that is certainly the case out here at the Scarborough Yellow pages nest site. I arrived this morning to find the little fledgling - (named Neira) roosting on the upper ledge of the kitchen building as we have nick-named it, - (its actually the Investors Group building), with her brother (named Loki) above her yet again on the upper most elevation.
Both juveniles were roosting quite comfortably and preening as if the this roost was one that they had been using all their lives! Linn, (their mother) was on the opposite side of this elevation clearly on guard. Ruben was located on the upper most point of the nest building looking over his territory with all of his family in full view.
Throughout the morning and early afternoon, the young fledglings made several incredible flights back and forth between the two buildings and never lost a single foot of altitude in any error and although they both have some learning to do with regards to skilled landings, both fledglings landed on their intended targets.
Loki on the other hand, is now chasing both his parents around in the air, circling-up to gain altitude like a “big-boy” and looking like an adult!!
By 1pm, it was quite apparent to me that neither of the fledglings are at much risk of coming to the ground because they can’t hold their altitude. For the most parts, our job is done her at ground level and the rest is now up to Linn and Ruben to teach their fledglings the ropes and the necessary like skills that they will need to help them survive from here on in.
I have officially terminated the full time fledge watch, but we will be doing spot checks at each nest site for the next few weeks to check up on the fledglings progress.
It is this time (over the next four weeks that the GREAT PHOTO OPPORTUNITIES EXIST, as the parents are going to teach the young flacons what to hunt, how to hunt it, and the their is some incredible aerial display going to happen. The Yellow Pages nest site is one of those unique sites in that the building is surrounded by lots of unobstructed open air and the photo opportunities to catch some of this incredible things that are about to take place once the fledglings are fully flighted.
Stay tuned…………,,, - (some photos to follow this observation report).
Hope to see you all out there with your cameras!
Posted on June 30, 2013 11:25 am
