On Banding Day just before we arrived Canuck was defending his turf from a skunk who was wondering around across the street. He was missing later in the day and we joked that he may have been sprayed and is now having a bath. Thanks Ted for sharing the photo.
FLEDGE WATCH DON MILLS DAY 5: Valkyrie is off the ledge! Unfortunately, it wasn’t his idea… The day started early with both on the ledge, hungry. Complaining loudly. Finally Mom brought a small package which Lorelei grabbed immediately. Valkyrie found a tiny bit left behind. Bob joined me with Ted and Rob not far behind. Bob mentioned that noone had tried to ledge walk… Shortly after Valkyrie tried.. And slipped off, fell, recovered and flew out over the Purolator lot, around and behind the building across the street, right behind us. Bob headed back there while I headed to the front where I saw him come through the buildings, low. He crossed the street and I lost him due to the trees. Rob and I headed over, with Bob not far behind. Rob and I headed beside the parking garage and Bob went up.. And found him there. Rob and I went up at one end, Bob at the other. Could he jump up on the low retaining wall and maybe fly the short distance to the nest building? Nope. He tried to fly across the garage but got no height. Bob had gone down to the bottom of the ramp, I yelled down he needed rescuing. Valkyrie decided to try the stairs.. I headed over to cover his exit and Bob waited at the ramp. He went down a couple of steps, flew… Right at Bob!! He put his net up (he was headed to the road!) and Valkyrie went down, jumped into the flower bed where Bob put the net over him. Great job Bob! I got him into a towel, then into a crate for a much needed rest and time out. He spent a few hours in the nice air conditionined building, where our wonderful security guard Mano took great care of him until Mark and Marion got there. Now Quest had been on the copper building so she saw the whole thing go down. She knew we had him. Never moved or looked for him. Until Mark and Marion got there. Then she went up to the top of the building and was peering down on the roof area where we always released her kids! Time to get him up there lol. He was checked over by Mark, given a go ahead to be released. Bob and Mark put him up there…under Quest’s watchful eye. She never said a word. Her boy was back. Meanwhile, Lorelei was looking for her brother.. She checked out the same ledge, started to do the same thing but changed her mind and got back, whew. Then she was hungry. And boy did she complain, loudly. Demanding… Took a little tantrum and jumped up on the nest box! That took her mind off her tummy lol. She spent most of the rest of the day up there. Just as well as rain and thunder rolled through. Valkyrie did not pop up… He had had a stressful day so not surprised. Lorelei finally got her way, and got beak fed by her Mom. And so the day ended. It’s supposed to rain all day tomorrow, so we’ll see what the kids do with that!
FLEDGE WATCH DON MILLS DAY 3: No fledge… But a nicer day at least! And as there was much less food, both of them were very hangry and did lots of ledge hopping and flapping… We’re almost there. There was more nipping of Mom’s toes and tail, lots of complaining lol. Ted joined me for abit in the morning, hoping for the fledge shot, then had to go. Rob joined me not long after until he left for his lunch. Ted popped back for a quick visit. He got to see a food exchange with Quest taking it to the roof of 240 to eat. Then he was off. Canuck also showed the kids how to land on the building above us. Good teachable moment, he did it a couple of times. Mark and Marion joined me late afternoon and Rob and Ted came back as well. No flight but enjoyed watching Quest tease the kids with food by eating it one ledge over! They were not impressed. But as the night started to fall, Canuck brought food to Quest who then took the kids their nighttime snack. All good. We’ve got thunderstorms on and off tomorrow, plus air quality warnings again ugh. But hopefully they will be able to fly anyways!
FLEDGE WATCH DON MILLS DAY TWO: Still on the ledge… But to be fair, it was extremely windy and smokey today… Just awful. We wore masks and visibility was poor. Mom and Dad made at least 4 feedings and Quest was on the ledge with them more than usual so I think they wanted them to stay put! It was fun watching their interactions. I especially found one of Valkyrie nipping at his mom(she nipped him back lol).. It reminded me of my cats… One starts licking the other… They either lick them back(and start playing) or they take off. Quest’s face was hilarious and then she took off! Cute. So, we wait another day… Tomorrow’s weather looks much clearer thank goodness.
FLEDGE WATCH DON MILLS DAY ONE: As our pair are now 37 days old, we started fledge watch even though they really weren’t ready… So much fluff! And they aren’t really doing much.. Not up on the ledge or nest box. Need more wingersizing. But they are definitely close. The weather is not helping either. Thunderstorms yesterday and today. Rained on and off most of the day. Finally stopped by evening. But then the smoke blew in from the north. Ugh. Not again! Yup, warning out for tomorrow. They didn’t get fed as much today so that made for some hangry kids! Especially Lorelei! She complained loudly to her Mom and nipped at Mom’s toes a couple of times … Then she went in the corner and pouted lol. So Mom brought her food and beak fed her even! Bob and Ted joined me in the morning. Bob left first, then I had to go do a quick errand, I returned in time for the thunderstorm. I was going to leave but Valkyrie decided now was the time to do a big boy move and hang out on the ledge. Ugh. I had to stay. Ted left shortly after. But we all came back for the evening and were joined by Rob and his wife. The kids weren’t going anywhere and the smoke was bad so I called it. I did stay after just to be sure… And when I saw Quest come in with the bedtime snack (beak feeding them both!), home I went! Weather is supposed to be better tomorrow so… Let’s hope we get one in the air tomorrow… Or at least do some ledge hopping lol.
Just wanted to share some great pictures that Rob Chann and Ted Duncan took yesterday of our family! I stopped by a couple of times yesterday and Rob informed me that all good in the morning, he had even seen Canuck chase a turkey vulture out of the area! Good Dad. Then he and Ted were there in the evening and I joined them. They had seen Canuck bring in food, prep it and hand it off to Quest. I saw the tail end of that. Then both parents watched from across the street and seemed relaxed. So all good, I’ll check on them today (from the car… Lots of rain and thunder today!). Thanks again to Ted and Rob for the wonderful pictures.
Cathy
PRE FLEDGE CHECK ON QUEST AND CANUCKS KIDS : Well, more drama.. What a year for our girl. First, the kids are fine. But our fierce girl Quest had to battle that intruder again. Bruce called me to let me know that Ann Brokleman had been there taking photos when the intruder flew in. She told Bruce that the “Intruder took a good 6 swipes and then started again after a 45 min break. Landed in nest and was pushed off by Quest. Intruder took off towards 401.” The intruder that Sally and I had been seeing had come from the south… Could this be the same female?? I would not be surprised. Ann sent Bruce a couple of pics(from her phone of her camera). Great captures! You can see the intruder is unbanded. I had so hoped that she had moved on. I headed over(I had to!) and Bruce had just gotten there… No adults but we saw both the kids. I snapped a couple of pics to make sure they were there, so not the best but you can sure see all the fluff still on them. Fledge watch won’t be starting for a few days. And with the thunderstorms they are calling for on Monday and possibly Tuesday, might be later in the week. I’ll be checking in every day to check on their progress and to see how our girl is doing.
PRE FLEDGE CHECK ON QUEST AND CANUCKS KIDS: Sally and I stopped by yesterday to see how Lady Lorelei and Valkyrie were coming along. It’s amazing how much they have grown… Also amazing that they will be ready to fledge next week!! Super cute!
