June 18, 2013 - Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton
Marion Nash Reports:
The 2 girls are still on the nest and have not jumped down to their brother on the nest balcony yet.
Ramjet has yet to fly but is doing a lot of flapping and lifting off perhaps today or tomorrow he will get coordinated and brave and take his first flight at least he got a tid pit of food from mom at about 4:00 PM since his sisters got everything yesterday.
Posted on June 19, 2013 7:18 am
June 17, 2013 - Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton
Marion Nash Reports:
Early this morning the little male Ramjet marked with white tape on his band jumped down off the nest to the ledge below we call the nest balcony where he spent the entire day running back and forth flapping close to the edge.
The 2 girls did a little flapping and popped up when ever the parents were in site but for the most part remained quiet.
Ramjet will likely take his first flight soon stay tuned.
Marion
Posted on June 18, 2013 6:39 am
June 17, 2013 - Toronto - King Street
CPF Postmaster Reports:
Attention all fledge watchers and peregrine enthusiasts! The fledge watches have started and we need your help!
June 17th - 2013
As some of you may be aware, we are currently eyeball deep in 7 different fledge watches that are now running simultaneously, and needless to say, we are incredibly stressed for manpower to cover all of the fledge watches. Never in the 17 years that we have been running fledge watches have we ever had this many fledge watches occurring all at the same time.
This in addition to having so many nest sites to deal with where the hatches have all happened within such a short period of time, thus having all of the young fledge at the same time.
While the season has only just started, we have already rescued and saved 9 fledglings from the ground and returned them back to the rooftops and nest ledges back to their parents care.
That being said, we need your support to join us in the streets at one of many nest sites here in the GTA.
You will see members of the fledge watch team in the streets at the following nest sites:
Please bear in mind that we are limited in volunteers currently at some of these sites and you may have to do some searching for us as some of these sites have vast areas to cover.
Please join us and help us help your young peregrines make it through this challenging time.
Ongoing fledge watches:
Toronto Sheraton Centre hotel nest site - downtown Toronto - Bay & Queen
MEC nest site -1 Robert Spec Parkway - Huriontario and Hwy # 403 Mississauga
225 Duncan Mill road nest site - Don Mills
ICICI nest site - Don Valley Parkway and Eglinton Ave East, Toronto
Etobicoke Sun Life centre - Bloor & Islington - Etobicoke
18 King Street nest site - Victoria Street & King Street - Downtown Toronto
Canada Square nest site - Yonge & Eglinton - Toronto
Kitchener CTV - King Street - Kitchener Ont.
William Osler Hospital - Hwy # 27 & Humber Valley Blvd - Starting June 20th
Starting end of the week: June 22nd:
Scarborough Yellow Pages - 325 Milner Ave & Progress Ave
Posted on June 18, 2013 2:27 am
June 14, 2013 - Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton
Tracy Simpson Reports:
I was out at 3:30 pm today and saw a bit more action than before.
Haven was on the wall north of the nest looking down on her charges on Canada Square. I saw a little head pop up, then down, then up again.
Stormin flew in from the west and went directly to last year’s scrape ledge where he chupped, had a scratch, spent some time at the back and finally on the edge, in the shade out of the sun.
In addition to the head I saw a wing pop up and flap then disappear. The little head watched in astonishment!
Stormin flew to Rio-Can and perched whilst Haven spread herself out on that wall with wings hanging over both edges! Shortly thereafter Haven flew to the mast atop 2180 Yonge St, followed by Stormin. They flew together and back over Canada Square where they perched temporarily on the tall mast on that roof. Haven flew to Rio-Can and perched and about a minute later Stormin flew from the mast, chupping madly as he made his way west, over the crane further down Duplex Ave and was gone. Five minutes later Stormin was back on RC on the south west corner. He flew off and back a couple of times and then was gone.
Haven too had left her perch.
Roughly 5minutes late someone did a *flyover* the nest and headed east.
A couple of minutes after that Haven flew onto the north side of the tall condo, followed by Stormin. They were there for all of two minutes when Haven was off again! She flew to the west side of the condo, appeared to brush one of the windows, flew behind the condo and then north up Yonge St. Haven was gone for ten minutes and returned to her perch above the scrape. I wonder if she was trying to get Stormin to hunt ?
Stormin had followed her to the east side of the condo and disappeared. Fifteen minutes after his departure he was back on RC three floors from the top. Barely two minutes after his return I spotted three Turkey Vultures east of the tall condo, making lazy circles. They were circling upward until I guess they found the breeze they needed to take them south west. As they emerged over the tall condo Stormin woke up and gave an alarm call. I looked at Haven who appeared unconcerned and continued her preening. The turkey vultures disappeared. The wind was at two levels and blowing in absolute opposite directions. I know this because there were two levels of cloud moving in the exact opposite direction!
A few minutes later a fuzzy head popped up followed by a second one. The first fuzzy head stepped onto the edge and I could see a patch of fuzz amid the *Big bird* dark feathers on its rump. There were bits of fuzz on the wings and the head and then of course those delightful little *peregrine plus-fours* in fluff - the legs. One of the youngsters was exercising his/her wings by stretching and flapping - then was still.
Haven found a stash on the ledge next to last year’s scrape and plucked feathers from it and had a bite to eat.
As Haven chupped and flew towards the nest Stormin also took flight and homed in on a *kamikaze* pigeon so I missed whether Haven had a food parcel and took it to her young. Stormin dived on the pigeon which nearly had a heart attack as it jinked and dived down the side of the black building and onto a ledge there. Storming tried twice to get onto the ledge but eventually flew to the top of that building and looked down. Five minutes later he flew over Canada Square and then onto the big mast atop that building where he perched for a mere two minutes. He launched into flight and immediately went into a stoop over Eglinton Ave and the corner, which is now blocked off for construction. He was so low he just scooped over the scaffolding, did a fast turn and came back over Eglinton Ave with a bird in his talons. It was not a pigeon but may have been a sparrow as there are plenty around there. He landed on the NW corner of the black building where he plucked the feathers off. Seven minutes later Stormin flew over my head with the food parcel and disappeared northwest of me. It was simply to gain height, as a minute later he was back and flying onto the ledge. His offspring mobbed him and took the food to the back of the ledge out of my sight. He remained on the edge for a minute before flying off to a perch on RC.
Haven was back on her wall above the ledge and that is where I left them all. As I was walking to the bank Haven flew to the second ledge south of the concrete wall. She must have left the food there when she flew off earlier. So, today, it was Stormin who brought in food for the youngsters.
Lyn
Posted on June 14, 2013 12:12 am
June 13, 2013 - Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton
Tracy Simpson Reports:
Two short Canada Square reports in one
June 8th
I was out for about an hour. Two minutes after my arrival Haven flew off Rio-Can onto Canada Square and perched on the wall to the north of the scrape. Two minutes later I spotted one eyas on the edge looking up at Haven. Shortly thereafter Haven flew to the east side of Rio-Can where I had seen Stormin disappear. The eyas then looked down and I could see the wheels turning as it backed off the edge and disappeared back into the scrape area. Haven checked on the youngsters a couple of times and eventually as I was leaving she settled atop that north wall on Canada Square.
June 11th
I was out for an hour and a half today. When I arrived at 6pm both adults were on the south face of Rio-Can. There was no sign of the youngsters whilst I was there. Haven flew over the scrape to check on the little ones and perched again on Rio-Can. Twenty minutes later Stormin flew east and also returned to his perch.
At 6:40 Haven flew to the Canadian Tire logo on the west wall of 2180 Yonge to her stash. I saw her struggle with a *big bird*which turned out to be a pigeon. She plucked feathers for five minutes before picking up the pigeon and carrying it to the ledge below the scrape where she continued plucking. She also ate some of the pigeon. Fifteen minutes later Haven picked up the pigeon and flew out and over the Y/E intersection where she circled twice, gaining height before flying onto the scrape ledge. She went right to the back of the ledge and was there until I left thirty minutes later.
These youngsters had better become more active and soon if they are to fly sometime next week which will be in the 35-37 day mark after the first hatch!
Lyn
Posted on June 13, 2013 5:54 am
June 05, 2013 - Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton
Marion Nash Reports:
Banding day - June 5th 2013
I apologise at the outset for the omission of some names.
Our thanks to all of the people who were instrumental in making this happen this year, namely:
Neil Armstrong and Cameron from Northam Realty Advisors provided space for the banding to take place and who take an active interest in the peregrine pair and their growing family at Canada Square.
Mark Heaton from Ministry of Natural Resources was responsible for banding the peregrines and another person from a different department in MNR also in attendance.
The intrepid Steve, from Solar Window Cleaning, who was responsible for extracting the young from their nest ledge. He worked solo this year, his third on the ledge!! One hand on the rope as the other fended off the attacks of an irate Haven and Stormin who dived on him incessantly. This year Steve only donned a *hoodie* as part of his defence – no helmet!!
Mark and Marion Nash, from The Canadian Peregrine Foundation, organised the banding.
Bruce, from Paragon Security, let us into the building.
As spectators there were more people from Northam Realty and a couple of CPF volunteers, Zoe and Lyn.
Haven and Stormin produced three youngsters again. This year the mix is two females and one male.
Haven provided a pigeon for their breakfast this morning and Stormin apparently provide some desiccated *piece of something* as an intended snack later on.
The young were extracted and replaced without incident and Steve, although subject to many *near misses*, came away unscathed.
We have the young male named Ramjet, black band, number W over 65 and white tape.
One female named Tinia, black band, number Y over 67 and red tape.
The second female, Imagine, black band, number Y over 68 and blue tape.
After the banding I went to my usual perch from which I observe the nest. Haven sat on that ledge for two hours watching her brood. I went to the bank and when I came out Haven had left.
All three are very healthy young peregrines. In a few short weeks we will once again begin the fledge watch as the youngsters take to the air.
Lyn
Photos to come
Posted on June 6, 2013 11:44 am
June 05, 2013 - Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton
CPF Postmaster Reports:
June 5th - 2013
Banding Day Successful.
Details and photos to follow.
Posted on June 5, 2013 12:03 am
June 02, 2013 - Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton
CPF Volunteer Reports:
Just a couple of minutes after I arrived to observe the peregrines I had action and a front row seat. I was watching a pigeon flip-flop flying, as they do, west along Eglinton Ave, through the Yonge and Eglinton intersection when a peregrine homed in on the hapless bird. Haven hit the pigeon and I saw feathers literally flying. Unfortunately she did not get a good grip on the pigeon which ducked and swerved and Haven swooped on it again and missed. By this time the pigeon was so low it was almost on the sidewalk and disappeared from sight.
Stormin had appeared at the time Haven made her second attempt on the pigeon – not sure if he was there for support or to find out how it was supposed to be done.
The two of them flew over and around Canada Square for a couple more minutes before disappearing on the east side of the Rio-Can building. Haven then flew to the Canadian Tire logo on the west side of 2180 Yonge St. This is something new, utilising the flat top of the logo. Stormin was in close attendance and perched on the mast on the same building. They both flew back to the east side of Rio-Can and shortly thereafter Haven flew onto the nest. She did not fly onto the edge of that ledge but rather hovered slightly above the ledge and dropped down.
Haven was there, hidden from view, for about ten minutes before she hopped onto the edge, then back down again and once more back to the edge before flying to the south face of Rio-Can. Shortly after that Haven flew to the wall just north of the nest where she preened.
Stormin flew over Canada Square from east to west, turned and flew south through the gap and between the two Condos and was gone. Haven just ignored the whole exhibition and continued preening. Stormin came back over the taller of the two condos, over Yonge street, flying west at a rate of knots and disappeared somewhere over the crane at Duplex and was gone.
Next I saw of him he flew in from east of Canada Square again, weighed down with a food parcel and landed on the northwest corner of the concrete wall on Canada Square. Haven saw him long before I did and was airborne as he landed. She chupped at him very loudly and attempted to take the food and both disappeared from view. Haven reappeared, victorious, with the food parcel in her talons and she settled down on the corner and tucked in. Stormin was slightly nonplussed and flew east of Rio-Can again. Haven picked up her food parcel and flew to the same level as the ledge below the nest but on the northwest corner where she continued attacking the food. She flew back to the Canadian Tire logo where I assume she stashed the bird she had been eating. Stormin followed her, just checking to see what she was up to. Both flew back, Stormin to RC and Haven to Canada Square. It was raining at that point so I came home.
Lyn
Posted on June 2, 2013 1:08 am
May 27, 2013 - Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton
CPF Volunteer Reports:
I was out at 4:50pm and there was no-one to see ! Right on time at 5:00 pm Stormin flew south on Yonge Street and across the intersection onto the nest ledge, north end. He had a large food parcel which he dumped on the ledge. In no time flat Haven had hopped over to him, taken possesion of the food and in a *loud voice* chupped her thanks to him. Stormin was a tad perplexed and sort of shuffled his feet, ducked his head and flew to the Rio-Can south face across the road.
Haven stood in place for about a minute before tightly gripping the food in one foot, flying off the ledge, doing a fast turn and heading back to the ledge closer to where her chicks were. Again she paused before half flapping and dragging the food to her eyases, She disappeared from view and that was it for 20 minutes when she flew to Rio-Can and sat below Stormin. He was sleeping and remained in that *Stormin slouch*.After roughly fifteen minutes Haven did a *recce flight* over the nest to check on the young ones and flew back to RC. She was only there for a minute before flying to the nest and disappearing from sight. I stayed for another half hour but there was no more movement from anyone. So I left.
Lyn
Posted on May 28, 2013 9:20 am
May 14, 2013 - Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton
Tracy Simpson Reports:
Yesterday I met up with Cameron from Northam Realty Advisors to confirm the presence of the first wee one at Canada Square. Upstairs on the ledge the winds were quite strong and Haven was covering her precious little package of hatchlings from the cold. We could clearly see the spent egg shell and the fluff of one or possibly two little chicks underneath her. In this cold and snappy weather, there was no way that she was giving up even the slightest of looks at her new family. Back outside I met up with Lyn and shared the great news of the hatchlings with her. We sat for a while on the watcher perch and watched Stormin on the south side of the Rio Can trying to preen in the gusty winds. Just as he would get his feathers all together the wind would come along and blow them out of place again. He gave up on his preen attenpt and took off on a recon flight over the nest ledge to see if Haven needed anything. He immediately circled back to the Rio Can as I am sure she gave him the “not yet” look. He stayed on the Rio Can for a while and then flew over to the nest building, retrieved a cache from the ledge next to Haven and flew around to the north side to prep. Lyn and I joked at how he was chowing down on the whole thing and not sharing and at that we parted company for the day. Just as I returned to my car and was driving north on Duplex, who should fly in but Stormin with the first dinner package of the day. He and Haven exchanged the food and a few choice words before he was shooed off the ledge so she could feed. He clearly wanted to do it himself but Haven would not allow him to do this yet, they’re too little. Congratulations Canada Square on your recent hatch and we look forward to the days to come with these little ones!! I have added a few pictures and tried to avoid the reflection of stuff in the glass. The little red bits are reflections from my sweater, sorry about that!
Only 37 days to first flights so if you haven’t signed up for the Fledge Watch yet please do at raptor4@peregrine-foundation.ca !!!
Posted on May 14, 2013 12:46 pm
