July 27, 2016 - Toronto - Don Mills and Eglinton - Amexon
Cathy Kerr Reports:
I arrived to find MacGyver had flown back to the nest bldg, down one floor. Soon after Mom came over with breakfast-they had a lovely talk and then Mom left to let him eat! He then lay down for a nap-something he does very well lol. He stayed there til almost 3pm !! Lucie and Bruce had joined me earlier, so I left for a bit of a break. They reported shortly before 3 he flew off and over to the rooftop of ICICI-he missed the ledge and landed on the roof. He popped up on the other side! I arrived back just as he had flown back to the DeBeers rooftop!! Wow! Not great landings but keeping that altitude!! Irma then joined us and Bruce went home. It wasn’t long til he flew back to the ICICI rooftop. We observed the parents flying around him, over and around–wasn’t sure what that was about, until we heard the thunder. Big drops started down as we ran for cover-we were very fortunate to have access to the DeBeers bldg and sat at the window at the back where we could see the ICICI bldg and watch MacGyver throughout the storm and boy did it storm. Mom had landed on the rooftop with MacGyver and Dad was on the ledge below him. He was on the very corner-Mom & Dad had been trying to get him safe. But, as most kids do, he didn’t listen very well. He stood facing out and it was pouring and oh so windy!! Mom must’ve said something, as he went to turn to her and was blown over-down onto the rooftop!! Lucky bird! He did pop back up shortly after but now he hunkered down, just as his Mom was doing. And that is how he stayed for the rest of the storm. All good. After shaking the water off, Mom flew over to the upper level. Dad had already flown off. So then MacGyver had a bit of fun flying back and forth, trying to land by Mom. A few bats, a few misses and he made it!! Ran screaming for Mom and off she flew over to the Sony sign lol. So there he settled, high and dry, for the night! All and all, a very good day!!
I am attaching a few pics that Lucie got today!
Posted on July 27, 2016 11:48 pm
July 26, 2016 - Toronto - Don Mills and Eglinton - Amexon
Cathy Kerr Reports:
What a day! I arrived to find Mom, Dad but saw no baby on the ledge. Hmm, sleeping like last night? I sat to observe. Mom & Dad weren’t worried- Dad even flew to nest ledge, looked down and popped down even-and out! I sat below Mom-I put my bins on her and she was looking down at me lol. So I waited..but it didn’t feel right so I started making the rounds, checking the ledges, the grounds, shrubs , you name it. And it was hot lol. No sign. I did that 3 or 4 times. Ugh. It was almost noon now,I called Irma, she said she would be there in a flash. I headed out again, bins on ICICI west side, turned and there he was! On a rooftop of a house across the street! Called Irma back-found him! Called Bruce, who was on his way. Thank goodness, as he started to fly from rooftop to rooftop to rooftop. He finally flew back over to north side of the ICICI bldg-only 2 floors up. Whew. I was joined by Bruce & Irma and we were talking about old TV shows and we decided to call our little boy MacGyver! And his adventure wasn’t over! Irma had just left, when people started pouring out of the building-fire alarm!! Poor MacGyver-all those “aliens” and fire trucks and firemen!! He was a little startled at first but then just stretched and lay down lol! He was a star! Everyone was taking pictures and talking about him lol. So, false alarm over, the “aliens” gone, he decided to fly back over to the roof tops! But he didn’t stay long and headed back to ICICI, round the back and ended up on the top of an evergreen tree!! There he wobbled back and forth for abit before heading over to the top of the parking garage! And there he started to whine. After a short bit, Mom came in with a bite to eat-I for one was surprised she fed him there but he was sure happy! Mom and son had a lovely chat first before eating-so cute. Mom sat on a light fixture in the middle of the parking garage rooftop while he ate. She then flew over and sat near him, trying to convince him to fly. No go. Poor Mom & Dad, something alarmed them on the rooftop garage and they were screaming and diving at something! It went on for quite some time and they were really rattled after that. He stayed there for almost 4 hours and they were not happy about it. Finally, at 8:20 he mustered up the courage to fly and he went over to ICICI, batted and slid down onto the 10th floor ledge, not a pretty landing but he made hight and did well. Happy parents, happy fledge watchers-Irma & I were cheering-we even had a few people in the parking lot clapping!!! All in all, a good day!!
Its really late, I have a ton of pics from today..I have singled a bunch out-I usually pair them down but, well, I am too tired lol. So here’s a bunch. The adult in the pics is Mom Jenna!
Posted on July 27, 2016 12:06 am
July 25, 2016 - Toronto - Don Mills and Eglinton - Amexon
Cathy Kerr Reports:
The day started damp & cool, believe it or not. Our baby did not do too much other than whine for food ALL morning. He did finally flap and hop abit in a little fit, so they gave in and fed him at noon. Then it was a food coma for most of the afternoon–too hot for anything else! Bruce gave me a break from the heat for a couple of hours and watched him sleep mostly–little bit of flapping but that was it lol. Irma joined us at 5 and Bruce headed home. Things were quiet, so we couldn’t believe it when Mom brought him MORE food around 530!! We didn’t see him for the longest time and I guess Mom was wondering too as she flew over and into the nest–a few minutes later she emerged with food in beak, took it to 150 and ate ! We thought the little one hadn’t eaten until he popped up–with the hugest crop!! He wasn’t up for long before down into the nest he went…and we did not see him again lol. Two poor vultures made the wrong decision to try and travel thru-while Dad chased one off to the southeast, Mom took care of the other. And that poor thing didn’t know which way to go and Mom sure smacked it down, a few times, until it figured out go east!! And off it went to meet up with his buddy way off to go way, way around lol
As we were packing up to leave, Mom went over to check on her baby, or maybe just to say good night lol. He still didn’t pop up lol. Think we all will be surprised if he goes tomorrow but one never knows…..
Posted on July 25, 2016 10:06 pm
July 23, 2016 - Toronto - Don Mills and Eglinton - Amexon
Cathy Kerr Reports:
I have been watching on and off for over a week for a peek at our chick and on Wednesday he/she finally peeked out at the world! As we only had one chick hatch this year, the MNR would not band a single chick, so we do not know the sex–yet. We will have to go by observations, or if, at fledge time, the chick comes to ground. On Friday the little guy finally got up the courage to hop up on the ledge and is now observing his bigger world.
Today he did more of the same, tho this evening after about an hour and a half Dad came home with dinner and that FINALLY got him moving! Took a real hissy fit lol. So Dad flew over, showed him his dinner and took it back over to Mom to prepare! When Mom got it over to him, he hopped down into the nest ledge and reached up and grabbed it from her -hungry baby! I then left him eating, and Mom & Dad watching him from the other building.
I’ll be back out tomorrow to check on things, with full fledge watch starting on Monday! Let the fun begin 
Posted on July 23, 2016 10:46 pm
June 28, 2016 - Toronto - Don Mills and Eglinton - Amexon
Mark Nash Reports:
June 28th - 2016
We have some terrible news to report about Mac,, the new resident adult male with Quest at the Duncan Mills nest site.
Sadly, we have just received a call from Lisa at the TWC that an adult peregrine with Red tape, banded with a Black Canadian Recovery band W over 78 was just received from the Toronto Animal Services moments ago after being picked up from the streets on Bayview Ave., with multiple bone breaks and fractures along with severe internal trauma. Black W over 78 turns out to be McKinney,, Quests mate!!
Unfortunately Mac, (McKinney) had to be put down, as there was absolutely no way of saving him given the extent of his injuries and internal trauma.
McKinney,, (or Mac as he was nick-named), was produced at the Don Mills and Eglinton nest site at the Amexon building in 2014. Mac re-appeared out of the blue late this season where he replaced the existing resident adult male (Sky) at the Duncan Mills nest site where Quest and Sky were already involved in full time incubation of four fertile eggs.
Incredibly, Mac, assisted Quest with both with her incubation duties of the four eggs, and then adopted the hatchlings and assisted with feeding and raising them as if they were his own!
We were all waiting and closely watching with baited breath to see if Mac would continue on with the role as a father. He proved himself and proceeded to both assist with the feeding of the four hatchlings and then carry on with the other parental duties throughout. He has in fact been flight training the four fledglings as we documented during the fledge watch several weeks ago!!
Sadly, it looks like Quest is now on her own once again to finish the flight training of her four fledglings and to teach them to hunt, (a role that is usually undertaken by the adult male).
We will be watching closely again to see if Quest will be able to keep up with the demands of her four fledglings again this season!
As you may recall, the same thing happened to poor Quest several seasons ago when her long standing mate “Kendal” was found injured and Quest was left to raise her four fledglings on her own for the balance of the season. Kendal was not able to be returned back to the wild given the severity of his injuries.
Quest was successful as a single parent that year, (although two years younger),, but there is no reason to believe that she should have any problems this time, so long as she herself stays out of the traffic and clear of the buildings!!!!
Posted on June 28, 2016 12:29 pm
June 24, 2016 - Toronto - Don Mills and Eglinton - Amexon
Cathy Kerr Reports:
Irma and I are happy to report we have a chick! And there is still one egg, with a possible pip in it! Fingers crossed! Irma and I went up to the roof 2 weeks ago to find we had lost one egg but Jenna & Chester were still sitting on 2 eggs. So we headed back up today to check out the nest site. When I first peeked over I saw Mum sitting on what I thought was a chick but I had to duck quick as I looked up to see Chester heading straight for me!! Irma got the broom up over me quick and I took my camera and looked over –Mum had gotton off the chick and egg and was glaring at me but I was able to get some good shots of the baby!! Irma then went up to have a peek, Mum was back with her baby, so she got some great shots of our beautiful Jenna and her baby! We are waiting to hear from our experts Mark & Marion for an estimate of the age of our little one! Fledge watch is going to be a late one this year
Posted on June 24, 2016 10:49 pm
May 30, 2016 - Toronto - Don Mills and Eglinton - Amexon
Mark Nash Reports:
May 30th -2016
A sight visit today yielded an exciting new update for the Don Mills and Eglinton peregrines! Despite abandoning their first egg that was laid on the south facing ledge of 250 Ferrand Drive, the Don Mills pair have re-clutched with three new eggs, but this time on the same north facing ledge that the pair were so successful last season in 2015.
The resident adult female was down hard in incubation duties and only briefly stood up to adjust herself when I was lucky enough to have the camera poised and aimed at her. Three new eggs were observed. Based on Cathy’s and Erma’s recent observations of a week ago, and compared with observations recorded two weeks ago,, it would appear that this new clutch of eggs is about two weeks old.
The resident adult male was on hand to strongly disapprove of my presence and it wasn’t long before I was “encouraged and herded to the exit door” and forced to leave the roof!!
The first egg, laid many weeks ago, remains unattended and abandoned on the south upper ledge elevation and is completely white sun drenched and broken at one end.
Lets hope that the pair are more successful with this new clutch!
Stay tuned……………..
Posted on May 30, 2016 11:02 pm
May 02, 2016 - Toronto - Don Mills and Eglinton - Amexon
Mark Nash Reports:
May 2nd - 2016
After having received several disturbing observation reports from Kathy regarding the Don Mills pair, ie: seeing both resident adults off and away from the nest ledge for long periods of time, (for many hours at a time),, this in addition to also seeing the pair copulating again and going to other ledges altogether,, we all concluded that something was not right and we need to get back to the roof to check things out.
Well, this afternoon, I was finally able to get back up to the roof of the nest building and take a detailed look at all of the ledges, including the nest ledge.
As we suspected based on Kathy’s observations of the peregrines recent activities, (and what I observed during my site visit today), it has became quite apparent that the pair have in fact abandoned the original nest ledge on the 250 Ferrand Drive nest building leaving a single egg unattended. The egg was dull and lacked luster and sheen, and very consistent to the sort of appearance that an egg would look like that had been exposed to the elements for some time - (many days unattended). This is also consistent with Kathy’s observations of the pair.
The peregrines are now showing allot of interest as they are now being observed on the original nest ledge over on the 150 Ferrand Drive building, where they successfully produced young several years ago. For what ever reason, they have apparently decided to move to another ledge,, abandoning their first clutch of egg(s).
Unfortunately, we were never able to confirm just how many eggs that the resident adult female had laid in her first clutch, as she was down hard in full time incubation mode when I did my earlier site visit.
We will be monitoring the situation closely in an effort to figure out just what the birds are doing now.
Stay tuned………..
Posted on May 6, 2016 3:19 am
March 30, 2016 - Toronto - Don Mills and Eglinton - Amexon
Mark Nash Reports:
March 30th - 2016
As a result of my site visit yesterday, I am delighted to confirm that the resident pair are in fact tending to eggs and involved in full-time incubation. While it took some searching, I was finally able to locate their “new” nest location. While it is still on the 250 Ferrand Drive building,, the pair have changed ledge yet again,, and this time have set up house on the south facing lower ledge! *See attached photos
Chester was on hand (actually overhead) to let me know that he was watching my activity very very closely!
This could spell some good or some bad news for the fledglings,, depending on how it shakes out at fledge time! Now, the ideal place to be to observe the nest ledge is further south on Ferrand Drive, (at the Library). With spotting scope or binoculars the overall nest ledge is in plain view. **See attached photos
Posted on March 31, 2016 7:07 pm
March 30, 2016 - Toronto - Don Mills and Eglinton - Amexon
Bruce Massey Reports:
Yesterday I stopped by the Amexon site to try and identify the resident adults and the nest ledge of choice this year. The male was out and active all over the Sony and Infor signs and I was able to confirm his band number. His solid black Ontario band is 95 over Y with a silver USFW. This is Chester hatch at the Yonge and Eglinton site in 2011. The female was photographed by Ann Brokelman over the weekend and is unbanded which is consistent with Jenna who has been resident female for the past several years.
I stayed and watched for several hours but Jenna did not make an appearance. Chester was doing fly bys of several of the ledges and was paying no particular attention to any certain one of them. I will be back today to try and witness a shift change and determine which ledge they have chosen this year.
Posted on March 30, 2016 9:41 am
