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Cathy Kerr Reports:
We have the best security people at our site! I got a call early this morning(woke me ) saying a peregrine was down…I was on my way in no time. The security guard at 250 had pulled into his parking spot this morning and saw one of our babies on the lowest level retaining wall. He called me and there I found her, Tardis! More than likely a slip and fly but we will never know. Bruce had just arrived so we both did the rescue…but not before she took one look at us approaching and slipped around us and was on the run lol…then flew low through the garage, thru the gate and landed on the wheel chair ramp, directly below the nest! Bruce and I worked together and had her scooped up in no time…she is a fiesty one…biting through the towel, hissing and kicking…just the way we like them. Full of piss and vinegar lol. We popped her into a crate and after a discussion with Marion Nash, it was decided that Bruce and I would release her back up onto the nest building roof. It has a high retaining wall, shade and a place for her to rest up and more importantly, her parents could find her there. The release went smoothly–Jenna and Chester didn’t even know we were there. By the time we got down, Mom had already flown over and found her, and so had Kepler! In no time it seemed, he had popped down to see her. And around 11:30, Mom flew to the retaining wall directly above the sign…and within minutes, up popped Tardis! She chased Mom off and then made her way across to above the nest…and it was her turn to look down onto the nest and see her brother there…he spent the afternoon siesta there as did Tardis…she never moved from that spot. Then around 3:30 or so, Kepler flew up to see his sister…lots of beaking and sweet moments between them. Kepler decided he would show his sister how fun it was to fly–and boy did he put on a show! Was great to watch…Tardis enjoyed it as well I am sure, but she decided she had quite enough today and stayed put for the night. Kepler chose the letters for bed again tonight.
Jenna and Chester had a big day today as well, they both chased and attacked a turkey vulture(he won’t be coming back–he really got it) and then we watched in amazement as a Cooper’s Hawk flew low and through the parking lot going east…couldn’t believe he made it without notice from the parents. But then he pushed his luck…he flew back through and this time Jenna went after him–whacked him a good one….doubt he will be coming back either. Good job by the parents, keeping their babies safe.
Thanks to Lucie, Sally, Mark and Marion for joining me today….great to have the extra eyes! Maybe tomorrow we will get to see our girl fly….
And thanks to Lucie for her great pics!
Posted on August 1, 2019 12:01 am
July 30, 2019 - Toronto - Don Mills and Eglinton - Amexon
Cathy Kerr Reports:
Bruce braved the rain this morning… Tardis enjoyed the rain on the ledge and Kepler played in the heavy downpour on the roof above her! I arrived as the rain was ending and relieved Bruce. I got to see Kepler make his first attempt at the letters..He was going after Mom.. Missed (both) and ended up on roof above the nest again. Dad joined him on the other side so I enjoyed seeing the whole family in one place for the rest of the morning. Kepler decided that the nest ledge would be a good place to spend siesta time and joined his sister there for the afternoon. I found some shade and was delighted to see both siblings pop up at the same time–lots of beaking-adorable! Tardis then popped down again and stayed there while Kepler was visiting. As soon as he left, she popped up but was quite subdued, it was quite hot today. But Kepler did not disappoint me-lots of flights..one in particular, he was heading back to the nest ledge where Tardis was waiting, dead centre, Kepler was headed right for her when he missed, touching off the window right below her! She was watching-probably thinking, no way I am doing that!!! He flew out and right over and landed, quite nicely on the “S” of Sony -way to go Kepler, another milestone, done. As night was approaching , Tardis got fed and was visited by both parents, even a little beak feeding by Mom. Kepler meanwhile tried to go to his top floor bed but missed and clung to the wall for a minute lol–peeked up at the ledge, decided nope, and flew back out then back onto the top floor, made it nicely. I thought that was it for him but no, he decided he would rather spend the night on the “Y” of Sony, like a big boy. He whined for a bit but then pancaked down for the night. Dad flew over to the nest ledge, popped down and grabbed the uneaten portion of Tardis’s dinner and flew off with Mom in pursuit. They flew in front of Kepler and around the building twice, but he was tuckered out so Dad ate it! Another great day for Kepler…let’s hope the cooler weather tomorrow will entice Tardis to ramp it up a bit 
Posted on July 30, 2019 11:55 pm
July 29, 2019 - Toronto - Don Mills and Eglinton - Amexon
Cathy Kerr Reports:
A hot one! Bruce opened the watch again. Saw Tardis briefly, some flapping before down into the nest again. But Kepler did not disappoint! Dad headed off east to hunt and Kepler decided to join him! He was heading for the blue glass condo on the other side of the DVP but couldn’t quite make it, so settled for the wee bit closer brown condos, about 5 balconies down! (it too is on the other side of the DVP) Way to go Kepler, that is quite a milestone…. And from there he flew over to the blue condo… Where dad kept an eye on him. Dad then decided he should head home and enticed him with a meal. Kepler didn’t seem to go for it and Bruce list sight of him. I was arriving at this point and I saw a parent on the ICICI sign and the backside of a peregrine going down onto the rooftop above parent. I drove in and as Bruce was leaving, Kepler flew in to the top floor of 250!! Home!! And there he pancaked out for the rest of the morning!
I took a break from the heat while our family was having their afternoon siesta. I met up with Lucie later in the afternoon and we headed for shade and to watch Tardis. With Kepler doing so well, we do not have to worry about him–we will enjoy watching him fly and learn from his parents. And since Tardis is not very active, we can watch him now lol. Tardis is up and flapping more but still not quite ready. Sally joined us in the evening-Kepler did a few short flights and was waiting to be fed…we were just talking about his amazing feat this morning, when off he went, quite low out and over the DVP, heading for the blue condo. But he was way too low and kept going lower…we lost sight of him near the hotel. We saw a parent fly up(Kepler had probably seen parent and went after them for food) and circle around high, near the 3 brown condos and then fly back to 150. We searched but could see no sign of Kepler, but there are so many buildings and balconies over there. Dad flew up above the nest ledge, prompting Tardis to scream for food. Then we saw a parent flying back from the brown condos—so high and soaring-beautiful–but wait, a few wing flaps, soaring again, then landing with that landing only juvies make!! Kepler was home!! What a beautiful flight back, quite effortless…amazing flying by our little guy–We really don’t have to worry about him at all :) The watch ended with Kepler flying out and back onto his nighttime ledge, where he got fed by Mom, and Tardis sitting waiting for her dinner which did not come…Mom and Dad want her to fly ….as much as we do lol…will tomorrow be the day? Stay tuned….
Lucie has contributed her pictures to this post. Enjoy!
Posted on July 30, 2019 12:02 am
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Cathy Kerr Reports:
DAY 3 FLEDGE WATCH:
Bruce opened the watch today(thank you Bruce for letting me sleep in!). Tardis actually popped up for a whole 15 minutes…sitting at the back of the ledge but its a start!! Kepler made a few flights and made it to the roof!!! A big accomplishment!! Just before I got there, he flew to the roof of 250 and out of Bruce’s sight. And there he remained for the next 4 hours lol. Bruce headed home and a few hours later, Sally joined me.
Pretty quiet in the afternoon until Kepler appeared on the roof near the nest (after resting on west side of the roof after his morning rooftop flights). At one point he peered down at Tardis and exchanged greetings with his sibling.A few more flights, each one more controlled with improved landings, the goal appearing to be getting to the nest. He made it back to much fanfare from Tardis! They had quite the reunion–was very cute. Food was dropped off and at one point a flash of bright yellow revealed a poor goldfinch, still intact and two unimpressed (hangry!) juvies not happy to have a ready to eat meal!
Kepler snuck out above us and decided to stay on one of the nest building ledges for quite some time. His behaviour indicated he found a meal! As evening closed in we saw less of Jenna, but towards the end of the watch she flew quickly east, then a while later back westward, back to Foresters. We assumed she might be hunting, but then wondered if she was on alert, considering the intruder who is probably still in the area (and would explain her behaviour)
We closed the watch with all four in view. Tardis on the nest ledge, Kepler on the top ledge of intel building. One parent on the intel sign (an eye on the kids and a view to the east) the other on the foresters roof with 360 view. Maybe Tardis will ramp it up and fly tomorrow night? Tune in tomorrow!
Posted on July 29, 2019 12:10 am
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Cathy Kerr Reports:
What a day! Bruce arrived early to find Kepler had flown back to the nest building, 3 floors from the top! Bruce left briefly and we both arrived to find him back on 150, top floor! Good job Kepler! He then kept flying! He batted more than once but landed up each time! Bruce left but Sally joined me shortly after and enjoyed watching Kepler fly…not always pretty but he kept going, learning as he went. There was one flight were he was losing height and it was Dad’s turn to be the hero and bumped him up!! Great job Dad! The wind gusted him low and to the back of 150 but he came back and landed high again. Mark and Marion joined us for the evening. Kepler was very hangry lol and flew again and again–he was trying to get back to the nest ledge(where Tardis was eating). He didn’t make it but was close–right next to it and Mom finally fed him….and then he was down for the night. A very tired peregrine but a strong one…I don’t think I have ever seen so many flights from a newly fledged peregrine in one day before…there were at least 12 flights today from the little guy!! Tardis popped her head up a couple of times but that was it…Its Khalessi all over again ….Going to be a long week..but at least I can enjoy watching Kepler keep on going!
Posted on July 27, 2019 11:54 pm
July 26, 2019 - Toronto - Don Mills and Eglinton - Amexon
Cathy Kerr Reports:
A long day but a good one! Started off quiet, but Dad started trying to get Kepler ready to fly, flying in and out, showing him how! Lovely to see! But then alarm calls started, Mom and Dad were on high alert but then settled down but lessons ended. Lucie joined me in the afternoon and we finally got to see Tardis! Well his head anyways lol. Peeking over.. Very cute! But then Mom alarm called again and this time we saw the intruder! And Dad was after it in a flash.. Chased it off… But then Mom was on high alert for the rest of the afternoon while the kids snoozed. Sally joined us for the evening and then around 630, we had just talked about X flying at dusk last year, when off Kepler went!! Off the ledge and straight out, heading over to the DVP!! In a shot, Jenna was after him! She bumped and turned him back, then flew with him, bringing him over to the other building! Where he slightly batted on the wall, then dropped down onto the second floor from the top ledge!!!!! It was amazing to watch… Jenna saved him! He checked out his ledge, looked in all the windows and rested. Both babies got fed and settled on their ledges for the night!! Looking forward to seeing some more great flying tomorrow… And maybe all of Tardis? Lol
Posted on July 27, 2019 12:33 am
July 23, 2019 - Toronto - Don Mills and Eglinton - Amexon
Cathy Kerr Reports:
I’ve been stopping by this nest site often to see how things are going and saw one of the babies pop up first on Sunday but couldn’t id. Yesterday either, but he was up looking out on his big new world! Today, he finally showed me his bling!! Its Kepler,as I thought it would be. Still lots of fluff on him. Fledge watch starts Friday officially but I will be stopping every day to check on their progress and hope to see Tardis up there soon!!
Posted on July 23, 2019 10:58 pm
July 22, 2019 - Toronto - Don Mills and Eglinton - Amexon
Marion Nash Reports:
Hello little one! Stopped by tonight and was happy to see one of our babies hop up on the ledge! Lots of fluff still on the little guy but it won’t be long now! Fledge watch starts later this week! Stay tuned!
Posted on July 23, 2019 12:30 pm
July 11, 2019 - Toronto - Don Mills and Eglinton - Amexon
Cathy Kerr Reports:
Banding Day at DON MILLS /AMEXON yesterday!! Meet Kepler (male) and Tardis (either a large male or a small female, a larger female band was put on him to be safe… Time will tell ). Kepler was banded 04 over AW with blue tape(unfortunately he was banded first as the blue should have gone on Tardis ). Tardis was banded Z over 30 with red tape. Many thanks to Mark Heaton, Eva Bobak and Marion Nash for doing the banding!
While we were in at the banding, Mark Nash and John Millar were braving the heat and Jenna and Chester! AND exciting news, a nest tray was installed on the nest ledge!! Mark built it this week, and we got permission from the building management to put it up! Many thanks to Ashling and Amexon!! Then Mark and John had to haul the almost 100 lb tray and 3, 88 lb bags of pea gravel, up to the roof, in that heat, and then lower it down to the nest ledge! Lucie was on the ground and got some fabulous pictures, which she has shared a few with us, thank you Lucie! Hopefully, Jenna and Chester will like it . Kepler and Tardis were returned to the nest ledge and put in the nest tray. Kepler immediately bolted out and tucked in the corner, Tardis stayed put lol. I took some pictures (thank you Lucie for lending me her camera to capture that!). Great day! Fledge watch starts in two weeks !!!! Can’t wait!
Posted on July 13, 2019 12:03 am
July 02, 2019 - Toronto - Don Mills and Eglinton - Amexon
Cathy Kerr Reports:
We got a call from the great management at Amexon - their HVAC system was down and their workmen had to fix it, yep, on the roof! And they wanted our help to keep workers and birds safe.. Good people. The guys were really great, respectful of the birds. Chester came flying over to check us out, was pretty chill actually–thankfully where they had to work was not right by the nest ledge. Then up popped Jenna! She sat there checking us out…and stayed there for the 3 plus hours they were there working!! The guys were very impressed lol. I left to pick up my dog and came back as they were finishing up. They said Jenna had just “disappeared” moments ago–I said she probably was down feeding her kids! I popped my head over and saw her feeding two beautiful bobbleheads ❤️❤️! She echupped for Dad(who was nowhere to be found-I had already checked) but I was out of there in less than a minute…she had had enough disruption, I am sure. But way to go everyone involved…from the guys, to mom and dad, who stayed calm. And so glad to see two healthy babies!!
Posted on July 2, 2019 9:56 pm
