June 28, 2013 - Scarborough - Yellow Pages
Mark Nash Reports:
June 28th - 2013
Rain, Rain, and more rain, but despite rain, these birds don’t seem to notice (other than being wet of course). Shortly after 5pm, the rain finally slowed down to a drizzle and the adults started into hunting mode and several meals were brought in, but now without Loki persistent harassment’s. This little guy just didn’t give it up throughout most of the day and was very active in between the short periods of rain.
No one told him you shouldn’t be flying around like this in the rain, (or he was simply not listening)! KIDS!!
He spent allot of his day dive bombing his sister and both of his parents in addition to chasing them around out to most of their hiding spots out at the Investors Group building to the west - (the building that we call the kitchen) where the parents often prepare the food just before its brought in to the nest building.
Just before the “falcon follies” typically around 8pm, the rain had completely stopped, and Ruben flew over head with a piece of food with Loki in hot pursuit. I saw the first mid air food drop for Loki, and he was in the right position to catch it. Out of nowhere, Linn suddenly appeared at warp speed and snatched the food out of the mid air just feet prior to Loki actually being able to catch it!!
Talk about “peeved-off”!! The little male fledgling chased his mom to no avail, as she easily escaped his pursuit and eventually flew off to the nest building and gave the food to his sister still on the ledge that she had earlier fledged to.
By 8:20pm suddenly, every thing stopped! Both of the juveniles had tucked them selves back onto the building ledges out of my view and both adults had taken up a roosting spot on the Yellow pages building obviously finished for the evening. It was actually quite spooky that all activity simply just stopped!
By 9:15pm, the heavy overcast really made it dark and almost impossible to see the upper corners and building ledges and I closed the fledge watch for the evening.
Many thanks to Winnie for coming out and keeping me company this evening, as it was a very long wet lonely day for the most parts, as the rain obviously scared most people away. Oh yes, right, I just found out that this is a long weekend, Canada Day weekend!
Sorry, no pictures today, just didn’t have the opportunity to get the camera out given all of the rain.
Stay tuned……..
Posted on June 28, 2013 11:54 pm
June 28, 2013 - Scarborough - Yellow Pages
Mark Nash Reports:
June 28th - 2013 - AM Report
In one of theos rare opportunities when I have some time in the field at a fledge watch, I will attempt to do a mid shift report. Now pouring rain, much cooler in comparison to the terrible heat and humidity of the last three days, it would appear that the young ones here at the Scarborough Yellow pages nest site have recharged and have lots of energy. Darn!!!!! Not today!!!
At this stage of the fledge watches, (now into week four for some), and just about the time when we’re all looking for an excuse to convince ourselves and others that the juveniles won’t fly (or fledge) in the pouring rain, I thought I would share a quick story to let all of the non-fledge watchers know what’s shaking this morning in a heavily overcast dark and gloomy pouring raining day on the fledge watch at at least one of the nest sites.
As for peregrines (both the adults and the juveniles), they simply didn’t get the memo or the text to tell them that you should not be flying in the rain! It is quite obvious that the peregrines are not reading the same books that we have all been reading. Peregrines live in the outdoors and typically don’t have a house and roof over their head to protect them from the elements. We have long since learned that they will do what ever they want to do, when they want to do, and any time, every day rain or shine. It’s just another day in the life of a peregrine.
Early this morning, the “Lady in Red” - the unfledged female Neira at the Scarborough Yellow pages nest site jumped into the air and took her first flight. Well, not really what you would call a “real flight” in bird terms.
Quickly losing altitude, (little Neira as she has been named), did some serious window washing with her wings on she slid down five stories of windows as she made a desperate to grab onto numerous window frames as she fluttered five floors down. She eventually caught a little air,, (and that only happens when you actually spread your wings open), and fluttered to the rooftop on one of the four corner columns.
Still 3/4 the way up on the building, she still has allot of altitude and no worse for ware after her ordeal.
For the past three hours, she has been running the leading edges in an effort to get closer to her parents that have strategically placed themselves in a high position on different parts of the upper portion of the building that has allowed them both a clear view of each of the fledglings position.
Little Loki, the young fledgling male, is still high, and despite the pouring rain, takes a couple of shorts flights this morning while chasing his dad Ruben around with a fresh kill that he has just brought in to an upper ledge on the nest building. At one point, BOTH parents attended and both beak fed him on separate occasions on the same ledge. Quite heartwarming actually!
Shortly after the feeding, Loki and dad were observed and photographed roosting one above each other on the same corner only 6 feet apart of each other chilling out and having a father and dad moment. It’s now really pouring rain and you hardly see across the parking lot!! Its starting to flood this portion of the parking lot!!! Time to move again!!!!
Where’s my boat!!
Stay tuned………..
Posted on June 28, 2013 12:52 pm
June 27, 2013 - Scarborough - Yellow Pages
Mark Nash Reports:
June 27th - 2013
Despite another really uneventful day in the field on the fledge watch again today with regards to any the young peregrines doing anything spectacular, (or anything at all) for all that matter,, it was still a good day on the other side of the coin in that both hatchlings (one now fledged and tearing up the skies -(named Loki) and his sister - (named Neira) is still on the nest ledge, BOTH of them are still visible and very much alive!
The extreme heat and humidity has finally dissipated and although no one’s running around the block as yet, you can actually breath now without looking like you have just showered! Overcast all day, light breezes and NO SUN!!! Thank Goodness! The “easy-bake” over finally turned off!
Three days of intense observations from dawn to dusk has paid off and there appears to be a real pattern unfolding, now almost predictable, (at least at this stage of the young peregrines development). By 8:30pm each day, both parents have settled down and no longer very active. Linn brings the last food in for the day to the nest ledge and drops its off. Loki, returns to the nest ledge prior to this event and is already waiting with his sister on the nest ledge for the food to arrive!
By 8:45pm, quiet is an understatement, as both of the young peregrines are settled down for the night! It is quite obvious that Linn is drawing them (or at least Loki) back to the nest ledge each night with food at the same time each night and has tucked them in so to speak, just prior to darkness falling. Both adults have once again taken up their roosting positions after the final food drop and become very inactive indeed. The young have disappeared in behind the nest ledge lip and are not seen again for the balance of the evening. Its almost like Linn has set a “curfew” for the kids, - be home by 8:30pm or miss out on supper! Now that’s some experienced parenting!
I consulting with Marion who has historically been doing the Yellow Pages watch over the past years, she recants that this is exactly the same behaviour that she has documented for several years at the Yellow pages fledge watch! After reviewing her field notes from the previous years, I can confirm without any doubt that this is exactly the case! History has once again repeated itself at this nest site!
The highlight of the day, (or should I say the evening) was Ruben’s last hunt. Given the obvious lack of any pigeons in the immediate area, (it appears that the peregrines have cleaned out the neighborhood of local pigeon populations), Ruben is having to travel much further beyond the visible territory to find his choice of food. Just as the CAA had finished boosting my battery, (yes, sleep depravation is taking its toll as I left my car lights on all day and killed my battery), Ruben suddenly appeared from the south east chasing a pigeon almost over our heads and deliberately forced the pigeon into the side of the nest building windows about half way up the building.
The pigeon hit the office building window at an incredible speed (and with a very loud bang) and either killed itself on impact or knocked itself out cold on impact. It actually bounced off the window after its collision and Ruben caught it on the re-bound as it bounced of the window back into the air. Absolutely incredible! He caught it without missing a single wing beat!!!
Both Dave and I watched in amazement as the event unfolded!! Ruben never missed a wing beat, and grabbed the lifeless pigeon and simply carried on around the north side of the building with the lifeless pigeon in his clutches. While he did struggled to hold his altitude with the huge pigeon in his clutches, he was able to gain enough altitude and flew around to the west to the “kitchen”,, (atop of the Investors group building as we have nick-named it), where both adults have historically over the years taken their food to prepare it.
Unbenounced to us, Patti had dropped in and was positioned on the north side of the building watching the peregrines. She later hooked up with Dave and I in the back parking lot and showed us a incredible photo that she had taken of Ruben struggling to hold his altitude with a huge pigeon in his clutches as he flew over to the Kitchen.
Hopping that Patti will send us the photos so you can see the incredible size of the pigeon in comparison to Ruben’s small body size.
We closed the fledge watch down for the evening by 9:20pm with all four birds in sight and tucked in for the evening.
Stay tuned……….
A foot note: The young female hatchling - (named Neira) dawns RED coloured marker tap - (thus her nick-name) - “The lady in Red” and the young male fledgling - (named Loki) dawns BLUE coloured marker tape, thus his nick-name the Boy in Blue.
Photos submitted by Patti -now added!
Posted on June 27, 2013 11:28 pm
June 26, 2013 - Scarborough - Yellow Pages
Mark Nash Reports:
Wednesday June 26, 2013 Yellow Page Evening Watch
I arrived at YP around 7:30 pm to share space with Mark Nash, David Currie and our peregrines. Apparently, apart from some exciting excellent flight demonstrated by Loki yesterday on Tuesday, nothing much happened today. Mark and David were watching Loki sitting next to Niera in the nest ledge the whole day!
This brother and sister pair do really like hanging out with each other. They have been in the nest most of the time Tuesday and today. And they like to sit side by side with each other too. I must have more than 200 photos of them sitting next to each other. Because they are sitting so close to each other, most of the photos either show a head and a tail next to each other, or a combination of wings or head or tail, or back. You get the idea.
One minor note is that a budgie came visit the building this afternoon. I cannot get a good shot at is since it is too small and is hiding near the first floor canopy where Loki has landed on Monday. It was a pale yellow + while coloured budgie, if any of you know an owner missing a budgie with that description, please act fast. I feel bad for the budgie and pray it will stay safe.
Winnie
Posted on June 27, 2013 9:07 am
June 24, 2013 - Scarborough - Yellow Pages
CPF Postmaster Reports:
Monday June 24, 2013 Yellow Page Evening Watch
Loki taking his first flight tonight
Loki is the star of today! Loki was still at the top horizontal ledge (the same place we left him on June 23 night) running around like crazy when I arrived afterwork at 7:15pm to join David Currie and Kathy for a short watch. The mischievous baby Loki is very fond of practising his high beam balancing skill right on the ledge edge or corner.
Then with a blink of an eye, Loki slipped/fell off the horizontal ledge, landed on the first floor canopy. He fully took advantage of this extended space to run and test fly. On a few occasion, we saw him lifted off and in air during his run/fly practice. Just when we thought that we would have an easier evening, Loki took flight towards the east back side of the building and disappeared. Kathy, David and me sprinted into hot pursuit of him. Not seeing him on the ledge, we searched for him on ground for about 10 minutes but to no avail. Then Kathy and me got a call from David, that Loki had shown himself up on the other first floor Canopy, right underneath the next ledge, on the other side of the building. What a relief!
What is also interesting is Loki had definitely took a leap of faith to reach the other end of the canopy because there is this space of about 15 ft to 20 ft at least that the canopy is disconnected.
His new position gave us some closer photos we have ever taken on him since his banding. Isn’t he cute and getting handsome?!
Winnie
Posted on June 27, 2013 9:01 am
June 26, 2013 - Scarborough - Yellow Pages
Mark Nash Reports:
June 26th- 2013
The heat and humidity have been absolutely debilitating for most of us that have had to be in the streets for 14 plus hours a day! As we finish week three of overlapping fledge watches, the stats are looking pretty good despite the overall lower production this year.
It was a very slow day on the watch at Yellow pages today, having the two young juveniles spending most of the day on the nest ledge, with the exception of the Loki, the little male fledgling who only made two flights all day, each time returning back to the nest ledge to join his sister Neira.
While they were strong, high flights around the building at the upper roof areas, it was obvious that the humidity was affecting all the birds. The adults would be best described as very inactive themselves, as they spent most of their time on the nest building itself throughout the entire day with only a a half a dozen flights themselves.
The young female juvenile - “Neira” has yet to take her first flight and seems very happy to stay in the nest ledge with not allot of flapping going on at all in comparison to many of the other hatchlings that we have watched at other nest sites this season while on the fledge watch. Linn, the resident adult female is keeping her young close to the building and although there was only three feedings today, she brought all of the food directly into the nest ledge itself. One of the reasons I’m sure that Loki is returning (and or) spending allot of his time back on the nest ledge.
Again this evening, by 8:30pm, both of the young had eaten their third meal and they were tucked down into the nest ledge and activity simply stopped by 8:30pm.
The real only excitement if that’s what you would call it, was at the end of the day when I noticed a while coloured bird on the leading edge of the lower canopy cover just above the Progress street entrance. While it took me a few moments to identify the little bird through my binoculars, it was identified as small yellow Conure or Budgie! We watched it for over an hour pace back and forth along the leading edge of the roof overhang, where it finally settled in and eventually tucked itself in the corner close to the wall as darkness fell.
Obviously someone’s Conure or Budgie that had escaped it owners. We can only hope that it will stay low and be able to escape undetected as its bright yellow colouring doesn’t offer it any camouflage, especially given its lack of any cover on the open rooftop. It did appear to have a quite a full crop so it would appear that it has found food and not starving. See several of the many photos that I was able to take.
A big thank you to Lori, Dave and Winnie who spent time with me today on the watch throughout the day as without them I may have slept the entire day away and missed all of the excitement - lol
At 9:00pm. I closed the watch for the day as it was very obvious that the juveniles were hunkered down in the nest ledge, with both parents high on their roosting spots also settled down for the evening.
I’m now off to the ICICI nest site at Don Mills and Eglinton to meet up with Cathy to do a release of the young fledgling female that Bruce had rescued and retrieved from the ground earlier today.
Stay tuned…..
Posted on June 26, 2013 11:57 pm
June 25, 2013 - Scarborough - Yellow Pages
Mark Nash Reports:
June 25th- 2013
My first day at the Yellow pages was rewarded by some spectacular flights by Loki - (the juvenile male) later on in the day just after the heat and humidity dissipated. All morning, I played “ring-around-the rosy” for hours searching all of the ledges and grounds around the building before I finally located the two juveniles.
Despite Kathy’s news the night before that the little juvenile male had fallen from the nest ledge and struggled in flight to a much lower elevation - the canopy roof just above the main entrance and was dangerously low. It was expected that his next flight would be to the ground, and in need to being rescued from the street or roadway.
The good news, is that this was not the case, as that the little male (named Loki) was finally located high up on the third highest elevation of the building, and is flying like a pro! He make several very long flights out to the west, followed very closely by his mom (Linn) and I watched her escorted him back only to land way up high on the Yellow pages upper roof area of the building. On his third and longest flight out and back to the nest building, it was obvious that he was not going to make upper building ledge and I watched for the second time this season on the fledge watch, the adult female 9this time his mom, named Linn) actually fly under him and “shunted” him upwards from underneath while in flight as they approached the ledge. This was enough to push him upwards avoiding collision with the concrete wall and he made a perfect landing on his targeted ledge!
Through out this period - (and the entire day up to dark), his younger sister - (named Neira) flapped away from the nest ledge, which she had obviously never left, - (and still yet to take her first flight and fledge).
For Loki’s last flight of the day around 8:20pm, he returned back to the nest ledge to join his sister and the two went through the usual prolonged greeting routine of touching beaks.
By 8:50pm, Linn was observed bringing in food to the nest ledge and we watched the two siblings enjoy a evening meal together. By 9pm, both of the juveniles has disappeared back into the nest ledge and tucked down out of sight. Both adults were roosting on their usual spots high above the nest ledge on the upper Yellow pages building rooftop.
As darkness fell, I closed the days watch and headed for home.
Posted on June 26, 2013 3:13 am
June 24, 2013 - Scarborough - Yellow Pages
Marion Nash Reports:
One of the babies was reported by CPF Volunteer Cathy Smith to have taken flight today but lost attitude and has landed on the first floor level above the entrance below the nest. It’s late in the day just before dark and he has settled down to sleep so will have to keep a close eye on it as it may come to ground Tuesday.
CPF Volunteer Dave Currie said that another had slipped off the nest and fluttered down to the ledge just below the nest but no problem as that happens a lot at this site and he/she is just fine and still high.
There has been lots of flapping over the last couple days and the fun is just starting so if anyone is interested in putting in some volunteer hours call the office and let us know 416-481-1233 leave your name and number and we will get back to you.
Marion
Posted on June 25, 2013 8:20 am
June 23, 2013 - Scarborough - Yellow Pages
CPF Postmaster Reports:
June 23rd - 2013
Alan and me arrived around 4pm to join David Currie on the watch. David had picked the perfect corner that is away from the sun and give us the best view of the nest ledge. For most of the afternoon, the siblings were just hiding from the edge. We got some occasion wing flapping and heads popping up telling us that both hatchings were still here. Usually for a few minutes Brother Loki would practise his wings, then he would go very quiet, probably worn himself out in the very hot and humid weather. A lot of times, we also had both parents, Linn and Reuben sitting very close.
Then around 6:40pm Loki was up again near the edge but then he fell off the nest ledge very fast without much preparation, down 8 stories onto the next horizontal ledge. We were very nervous for the next 10 minutes until we saw a little head popping up on the far side of that lower level horizontal ledge. He was actually ok! Guess he was delighted that there are so much more running space for him now that he definitely took advantage of that, flapping his wings and running back and forth the entire length of the much longer ledge.
Niera got fed by Dad on the nest ledge once. A rain storm was rolling in around 7:15pm. Then for a split seconds, we saw one bird got bump, went up into the air for a foot or so, then marginally landed back on the ledge.
Another bird sort of had flown away. That one just touched base on the ledge fell off again and sort of flap its wings to fly away.
Although they both flied pretty ok, we could not see Niera anymore, so as soon as the rain stopped, we took a perimeter walk to check if it was her that was fell off and flied away.
Luckily when we finished the walk and went back to our watching area, sneaky Niera showed herself again. We were so glad to see her safe on the ledge. However, she is definitely progressing since she kept looking at brother Loki on the lower ledge and she is also trying some of the wing-ercises. Both Loki and Neira stayed where they are for the rest of the night until 9pm. Both probably will try something new in the next few days!
Hopefully more watcher volunteers can come for the next few days since these two babies are getting very ready for some exciting fledging experience.
Winnie & Alan
Posted on June 24, 2013 12:51 am
June 22, 2013 - Scarborough - Yellow Pages
Mark Nash Reports:
June 22 - 2013
Young were on ledge all day from 10:00am-7:00pm Parents both seen flying between nest and building across the street. Food was brought to the nest 3 times in the time I was there. Young were vocal when parent were there although fairly silent most of the day. Young were observed flapping there wings on several occasions but neither fledged.
David Currie
Posted on June 23, 2013 12:47 pm
