June 26, 2011 - Toronto - Don Mills
Ann Brokelman Reports:
June 26
Stopped by today from 2:30pm to 3″45pm.
Very little activity. Little Harlie came to the front of the ledge a couple of times, see photos.
Quest was crying for Kendal
Kendal was sitting on the NE side of the building preening himself
Quest started to preen also
Little harlie took a nap.
What a beautiful baby.
Posted on July 15, 2011 9:50 pm
July 15, 2011 - Toronto - Don Mills
Ann Brokelman Reports:
4:30pm at the falcon watch Harlequin was on the side of 220 building with Quest just below her. Quest flew towards the valley. Harlequin within a few minutes also flew off - she went to the front of 220 and did a circle around it landing briefly on 240. She returned to the same spot on 220 with food. Small package.
She took off again and went around 220 and somehow landed up on top of 250 building. She was wandering around the top when we noticed she had a large package of food. She tore out feathers, and ate her fill. Crop full. She flew off again and landed on the H on the Harlequin Building.
In the distance Bruce and I saw both kendal and quest soaring together. They were a long distance away. When Carol and I left Harlie was sitting on the back of 250 building with Bruce watching.
Posted on July 15, 2011 9:38 pm
July 15, 2011 - Toronto - Don Mills
Mark Nash Reports:
July 15th - 2011
A quickly update on Baby H’s progress.
Given her incredible progress and strong flight skills thus far, there it is not likely that baby Harlequin will come to the ground and in need of rescue. She has clearly mastered basic flight skills and holding her altitude has not been a problem at all. In fact, she has been able to far exceed the height of all of the surrounding buildings in the neighbourhood and has learned to land without the use of a concrete backstop :-))
With a few bumps and grinds along the way, it is not likely that she will be making any more contact with windows or solid concrete walls any time too soon. Quest and Kendal are giving her their undivided attention all day long,, - (well at least when Quest is not nagging Kendal and he’s not hiding out over at the Westin hotel) 
Intense monitoring is no longer needed, and for the most parts, its up to Quest and Kendal to teach her the ropes so to speak. While monitoring will continue, a dawn to dusk monitoring effort will not be necessary and we can back off. I would still encourage everyone to keep their eyes to the skies, as the best part of the process is about to begin!
As the parents increase their daily training of Baby H, the aerial displays are going to be fantastic to watch. Baby H has allot to learn to prepare her for all of the life skills that she will need for a long migration south come September. She will migrate alone in the fall without her parents.
Quest and Kendal will likely stay and winter over on or close to the nest site - (or at least hopefully in their “Don Mills territory”). Historically, most all of the “urban nesting adults” here in southern Ontario stay on territory all year-round, and never leave. The juveniles are still heavily influenced by the instinct to migrate south. The urban adults have learned to adopt and hold on to their established territories all year long.
In contrast, most ALL of Ontario’s peregrine population, including both the adults and juveniles migrate south for the winter. Only the “urban adults” stay.
Please keep watching as we welcome any and all observation reports that we can continue to post, as Baby H has a huge following, and we’re all interested to know how she doing!!
Sadly, we must divert all available mobile resources that can help - to one final fledge watch that is in need of our assistance out at the Brampton Courthouse where one young hatchling is about to take her first flights. As always, we are still available 24/7 on our mobile phones for any emergencies.
I can’t express my gratitude enough to Donna, Melanie, Patricia and all of the wonderful people at Harlequin who have opened their doors and hearts for us and the birds . To the building management of 220 Duncan Mill Rd, their board of directors, tenants and security staff for your support and understanding,, and to all of the CPF fledge watch team and community members that been there for both the CPF and the peregrines, you to be commended for your support.
Finally, last but not least, to the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and the Aurora district staff that have gone way above the call of duty, before, during and after hours to support us all!
How could we ever fail with such a great team!!!!
In the next few days, I promise that we will get the missing field notes and incredible pictures posted that we are so behind on, so stay tuned for some incredible photos and further updated news of the happenings to follow in the days to come.
Stay tuned…………….
Posted on July 15, 2011 4:27 pm
July 15, 2011 - Toronto - Don Mills
CPF Postmaster Reports:
Friday July 15, 2011-8:00 a.m.
Good Morning All
Murray and I just left the Don Mills nest site. Daddy Kendall was sighted back hanging at the Westin Hotel. Harley was on the pink building and then Quest was observed flying in to the nest building and Harley flew over to her. Quest was on the very far left of 220 and Harley was 2 ledges over in front the of the nest box. Every one is in view and accounted for!
Have a great day.
Debbie and Murray
Posted on July 15, 2011 9:53 am
July 14, 2011 - Toronto - Don Mills
Mark Nash Reports:
July 14th - 2011 PM watch report.
Once again today, the watchers had many updates of the days activities with Murray and Debbie starting out the day this morning around 7:30am while on their way to work, and Murray continued to do spot checks throughout the day right up to 9pm. Caroline was out around the mid day and Bruce shortly after 2:30pm until after 7pm.
Marion and I joined Bruce and closed the watch around 9:15pm with Murray and Debbie and Caroline.
Baby H made many strong flights today and is well ahead of others fledglings at this age!! With just under a week out of the nest ledge, she is doing incredibly well and was back to the nest ledge today for he first time.
While she has long since gained much higher altitudes than the nest ledge level earlier in the week, this is the first time that we have seen her actually back on the nest ledge (the very one with the nest tray) since her departure. It is at this time in the watch that we usually tone down the intense monitoring and street watch, as this action of returning to the actual “nest ledge itself” is a huge mental boost of confidence builder for the fledglings.
At this time in her development, one of the only things that the fledglings lack, is the confidence, as she is more than capable in holding her altitude and able to escape any perceived dangers. She can actually fly now like an adult big bird 
Today, Baby H made some soft hits and bumps to the windows and concrete walls of the building, which is exactly what we were hoping for! At this stage of her flights, she is still slow and cumbersome, and these hits are usually soft,,(which they were),, and these minor collisions are “leaning experiences” , ones that will not be repeated in the future.
The young fledglings do in fact “learn” through these minor bumps and grinds with windows and concrete walls at these early stages of their flights,, and avoid them in the future. It is our hope during the fledge watches is that the young fledglings have these bumps early in the first flights while they are still slow and cumbersome, and these bumps are usually nothing more than learning experiences that rarely result in serious injuries. Several weeks out of the nest, and the fledglings get over confident and are now building up a great deal of speed in their flights, and their recklessness usually results in far more serious injuries (and even mortality) if they start hitting windows and concrete walls. You know what they say,, “Speed Kills”,, and for a young fledgling peregrine, this holds very true when you start hitting solid objects!
This evening, we watched Baby H take a run at a Starling that passed by below her while she was roosting on the east side of the upper ledges of the nest building, and although she never came close to actually catching it, she did make the attempt to chase it. The Starling flew into the cover of the trees to the north of the nest building and Baby H quickly veered away from the thick branches and tree cover. She has also learned that these areas are not good places for peregrines! Her landings are almost adult like now, no longer hap-hazzard “do drop ins” and it appears that she’s got it!!
This evening, both Quest and Kendal were absent at bed time when darkness fell, and Baby H was noticeably stressed. She made several flights around over the three buildings unable to locate her parents. She finally landed on the upper south face of the nest building and was more than restless as she was very unsettled and noticeably stressed as she scanned the air and buildings to locate her parents. She stood up and layed down more than a dozen times frantically looking around for her parents before she finally layed down. She tucked herself in tight to the building wall, but was still very alert while looking around with her neck and head scratched out trying to get a sight line on her parents. We left just as darkness fell also feeling a little stressed that neither of the adults were anywhere to be seen in any of their usual roosting or hiding spots, and that they had been absent from any of our views for more than 40 minutes.
This was baby H’s first real night alone! Another lesson!
Stay tuned……
Posted on July 15, 2011 9:39 am
July 13, 2011 - Toronto - Don Mills
Mark Nash Reports:
Wednesday July 13th - 2011
PM watch report:
A quickly update that combines several peoples observations, as there are so many fledge watch observations notes being sent in that I simply can’t keep up.
A huge thank you to all that have been spending time with us the streets on the Don Mills fledge watch, as without your support and presence, there could have been many lonely days and nights in the streets, and the fledge watch could have been incredibly more challenging given Baby H’s advanced flying skills and movements.
While baby H has not come to the ground and so far has not needed any “ground support”, her incredible activity has kept us all scrambling and running around the neighbourhood to keep an eye on her. Thank GOD that this nest site is not in a cluster of hi-rise office towers as baby Harlequin would have had us all expiring in the streets trying to keep up with all of her activity.
The heat and humid X over the last few days has been almost debilitating!
A huge thank you to all of the Harlequin staff that have been out to help, along with Murray and Debbie who have been dropping out in the early morning hours before, during and after work every day! Another huge thank you to Bruce, Carol, Ann and Caroline who have also been in the streets every day putting in some long hours on the fledge watch.
Bruce reports that he witnessed a mid-air food transfer with Quest and Baby H and something incredible to see so early in a juveniles first week of flights!! Late in the evening around 8pm, Marion and I witnessed Kendal in a long horizontal stoop on a hunting mission with Baby H in tow trying to keep up with her fathers incredible speed.
While Kendal was unsuccessful in his efforts to make the kill, Baby H was with him the entire time participating, and this was clearly a “hunting lesson”, and not a real determined focussed hunt. Maybe Kendal might have actually been successful if only Baby H had not have been screaming through the entire session Lol
Baby H’s landings our almost adult like, as she is no longer “ dropping in from above” in the typical juvenile fashion!! While she has still not been able to land on the rim of the huge satellite dish on the roof top of 220 Duncan Mill Rd,,, she is still trying! Practice makes perfect as they say, and we’re all looking forward to seeing her accomplish this.
Quest is still nagging Kendal mercilessly all the time, and even I’m feeling bad for him!! This evening, Kendal brought in two packages of food, one being delivered to the nest tray. Quest rushed in screaming and snatched it from him and flew off with Baby H following. Moments later, Quest appeared screaming at him again. Kendal flew off with Quest chasing him to the south west. Several minutes later, Quest returned an took up a roosting position around the north side of the nest building and appeared to be eating the package of food that she had earlier snatched from Kendal. No food for Baby H.
Moments after that, Kendal reappeared and tucked himself on a window ledge on the west side fo the nest building, quite obviously hiding from his mate. He stay there tucked in close to the window for close to 20 minutes. Then,,, Quest was observed flying high around he nest building and spotted him, and the screaming started!!! Quest pursued Kendal once again screaming at the top of her lungs and off he fly to the south with Quest in pursuit.
A half hour later, Kendal returned with yet another food package landing on a ledge on the south face of the nest building. Before the poor guy could even turn around after making his landing, Both Quest and Baby H were all over him, and the food was snatched from his mouth before he even knew what had happened to him. While Quest and Baby H flew of in a chase, Kendal spent several minutes on the ledge in what could best be described as “bewilderment” and shock!!
We were all shocked!!,,, and so was he!!! Not more than two minutes has passed, and Quest was back on the same ledge where Kendal was still standing, again screaming at him. Kendal flew off again to the south east and was not seen again by 9:30pm when we closed off the watch for the evening.
It is well worth noting, that you can almost set your watch by Kendals this activity around this time of the evening, in addition to Baby H going to one of the upper window sills and laying down to indicate to us that she is finished for the day. Quest takes up a roosting position and becomes completely in-active as well and you know that the days activities are over!
Marion and I packed up around 9:45pm and departed for home.
Posted on July 14, 2011 12:31 pm
July 13, 2011 - Toronto - Don Mills
Ann Brokelman Reports:
At the Toronto Don Mills location many of us were treated to some great flying by Harlequin. She was soaring in the sky. Moving from building to building.
The best part for me was when Quest fed her on the ledge. Makes you remember Harlie is still a young falcon.
Ann
Posted on July 13, 2011 10:11 pm
July 12, 2011 - Toronto - Don Mills
Mark Nash Reports:
July 12 - 2011 PM watch
The great news is that the evening watch documented Baby H flying incredibly well, as she is mastered adult like landings, gaining altitude and staying aloft for much longer flights! She is plucking her own food,,, but still looking to mommy Quest to actually feed her half of the time. The other half of the time, she mantles over the food given to her by Quest and aggressively protects it. No sharing with mom!
Quest continued to nag Kendal throughout the evening tonight, and even I’m getting mad at her!! This poor little guy just can’t seem to escape the constant nagging. Oh my goodness!
On another note, I have finally got a chance to down-load and post some of the photos that I was able to shoot of Quest yesterday. It appears that all of the constant “picking” and “preening” that I’ve been noticing has clearly been for more than just general hygiene.
Quest has been working on her radio harness as most of the lower abdomen straps have been ripped and torn away and is now quite visible and flapping loosely. While this presents no danger to Quest, we just may see the satellite radio transmitter and the remaining harness falling off over the next week or so.
For all of the watchers, we are asking you all to also closely watch Quest where ever she is visible, as we expect that the solar powered radio transmitter just may be falling off sooner than later, especially if Quest keeps ripping at the harness. Also take note that the harness that I outfitted Quest three years ago is pinkish red coloured and is not quite visible.
Please also keep your eyes peeled on Quest where ever she may be, as you just might see the transmitter falling off. We are very interested to recover the transmitter and return it to the DEC.
Stay tuned and please advice………
Posted on July 13, 2011 5:18 am
July 12, 2011 - Toronto - Don Mills
Bruce Massey Reports:
Arrived @ 1615 Hrs., initially saw no Peregrines. Started Walking West & after 5 or so Minutes and observed Quest then Harley fly into the top level of the Harliquin Building. I went behind the Nest Building, and after watching Harley do a good Flight (2-3 min) which included some Kiting, she made about a “9″ landing on the top roof Level of the Rose Coloured Building just to the East of Harliquin.
Murray showed up a few minutes later and filled me in on the days happenings. By now, Harley had flown on to the rear of the Harleqin Building so I followed her and set up in the shade of the Parking Garage. Soon after that Kendal came from the East and teased Harley stupid, all but landing on top of her with the food. That said it was an impressive flight display, all done with subtle movement of wings and tail no wing flapping.
A bit later, with no parents in area (At least that I could see) Harley decided to explore on her own. There was I would guess a 10-15 kph gusting wind and she kited w/ a little bit of trouble, got some height and then headed out to the West finally came to land on the 3 storey building with the White top. As I was walking over to check I was pretty sure that she flew a quite a good speed back by the Nest Building. I continued over to the Building anyway, and didn’t find her. I finally found her on the North Side of the Harliquin Building @ roof height.
I was relieved by Mark & Marion and left around 1915 Hrs.
Thanx Bruce
Sent from my BlackBerry device on the Rogers Wireless Network
Posted on July 13, 2011 3:58 am
July 12, 2011 - Toronto - Don Mills
Ann Brokelman Reports:
Enjoy a few photos of Harlequin, Kendal and Quest over the past few days.
Ann
Posted on July 12, 2011 8:16 pm
