September 27, 2012 - Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton
Frank Butson Reports:
Lyn Reports:
Canada Square Peregrine report 20120927
I was out today after 4pm and found one of the peregrines sitting on the old nest ledge! I waited and a few minutes later saw another peregrine fly over 53 Division, along Eglinton W and then north.
Several minutes after that the peregrine came flying back and landed beside the one perched on the old nest ledge. They appeared to be the same size so I assumed adult and juvenile females. They both moved to the back of the ledge out of sight.
I waited for some minutes and was rewarded with Haven’s flight to the southwest balcony railing of Canada Square where she remained for a couple of minutes before flying to 2180 Yonge where she landed on the north east corner under the TVO sign. I left to fetch binoculars.
As I was somewhat delayed in returning there were no peregrines to be seen. Patience paid off and at 5:07pm I spotted a peregrine fly north to south across the west side of Canada Square as far as 2180 Yonge and back to make a perfect landing on top of the northernmost wall above the old nest site.
From the size of the bird I thought this was one of the females. I spent an hour and forty five minutes trying to get colour on her. At 5.28pm I believe Haven flew over my head outside 53 Division and was gone, behind me. A quick flight and I barely had time to get the binoculars up.I am sure I saw a buffy chest. The female above the old nest had the sun warming her back.
When she turned slightly a couple oif times I believe I saw a pinky-rusty coloured neck and darkish brown breast. I believe this was the juvenile female.
Maggie joined me for a bit and after we both left I glanced up to see that the bird had flown. A quick search showed her on the northwest corner of 2180 Yonge. From there she flew to the southwest corner of Canada Square which is where I left her.
Lyn
Posted on September 29, 2012 1:27 am
September 01, 2012 - Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton
Frank Butson Reports:
Its great to get reports throughout the year. They let the community know that we are still watching, keeping an eye on their birds.
Lyn sent along this report to me:
I was out and about on Saturday September 1st and walking east along Eglinton when about three blocks from the intersection I looked up at Canada Square and noticed a *difference* on the balcon wall below the nest ledge. I watched it and the closer I got the more I believed I was seeing a Peregrine. At Duplex I was convinced. The bird had it’s back to the sun and was sitting under the railing. I charged home to pick up the binoculars and returned to find the bird still there ! I watched her for a long while before noticing another Peregrine sitting on the old nest ledge left of the concrete wall.
The Peregrine under the new ledge flew after sitting down on the balcony wall, wings out for a minute or two, then doing the amusing little pigeon-toed run along the wall to the side up against the concrete wall. I finally identified her as Haven. She looked really lovely. When she flew she dipped down from the balcony flapped a couple of times, swung over the black building and up to the ledge beneath the TVO sign on 2180 Yonge.
The Peregrine on the old nest ledge was Stormin. He kept to the shade and preened and scratched off and on the whole time I watched him. But he was not flying in the heat of the day 2:30 to 3:30 pm.
Good to see them in the area.
Lyn
Posted on September 3, 2012 4:52 am
August 07, 2012 - Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton
Bruce Massey Reports:
As I was making my way home in the evening, I came across Eglinton and when I was coming up to the Canada Square building I saw one juvenile flying above the nest building. I couldn’t stop and check whether it was Simcoe or Solar but I can confirm that one young one is still hanging around.
Posted on August 7, 2012 4:50 pm
July 26, 2012 - Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton
Frank Butson Reports:
Acknowledgements and grateful thanks!
As I have written my last official report for the 2012 Canada Square nest activities it is once again time to write my thanks. Not in any particular order but as I remember the kindnesses and courtesies received.
Grateful thanks to Neil Armstrong of Northam Realty Advisors Limited and his remarkable team, for their invaluable help during the entire nesting, hatching and fledging period. The monitoring of the nest and the updates received, in the early stages of nesting were invaluable for later co-ordination of banding and fledge watching.
Thanks as always to Mark Heaton of the Ministry of Natural Resources for banding the young peregrines. This is an invaluable service in helping to build and maintain a history of the peregrines. Without this help we would have no idea who was nesting where, nor how many young they produce annually.
Thanks also to Solar Window Cleaning and the gentleman who first extracted the chicks from the nest for banding, faced the wrath of an irate and extremely protective mother, Haven. She dived on him time and time again whilst her chicks were being banded and whilst he placed a nest tray and pea gravel on the ledge for the nestlings’ return. He continued to face Haven whilst replacing the chicks in their new nest tray. This was his second year out on the ledge!!
Thanks to Paragon Security and their staff who helped us innumerable times and in many ways when searching for missing peregrines or when it was necessary to put them back out after dark. Their courtesy and co-operation was much appreciated.
Many thanks to those at 53 Division. We spent many hours on the wall outside the building and were met with only interest, kindness and courtesy from those in the station. The shade in the afternoon at this location and our *perch* made the fledge watch a great deal easier than it would have been had we stood in the sun for those interminable hours. Thanks, too, for your interest in the peregrines and the *history* of this site.
Thank you Marion, of Canadian Peregrine Foundation, for rescuing *my* two babies. You and I sweated together in some really hot and humid weather. Thanks for the introduction to the lovely pick-me-up-in the-heat – yogenfruz!
Grateful thanks to both Frank and Tracy for posting my reports on a regular basis. Your help has been invaluable and really is very much appreciated!!
Thanks are also due to Ron and Carmella for our morning *shade and perch* in front of their home and for allowing the use of their garage drive for the CPF vehicle when in the area. Your courtesy and interest is much appreciated.
Thanks to Maggie and Lance for the company on those many days you also spent in the heat, after work, before work and on your days off! It was much appreciated. Thanks also to Diarmaid (Dermot?) who popped by frequently to catch up on the news of the Peregrines.
Thanks to Caroline who spent time helping out during the watch and to Pierre for his occasional company.
Those in the community who stopped by to inquire what we were doing or to check up on the peregrines deserve many thanks as often you stopped on your way to or from work or shopping. Your interest is appreciated.
I really hope I have not omitted any thanks or acknowledgements! If I have done I sincerely apologise.
I hope to see you all again next year at nesting, hatching and fledging time.
Lyn
Many thanks to Lyn for all her help all year round with reporting on the Peregrines. Volunteer help like yours is essential to the operation of CPF and to your Peregrines.
Posted on July 26, 2012 4:57 am
July 26, 2012 - Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton
Frank Butson Reports:
Canada Square Peregrine report – catch up again.
July 17th
I saw a peregrine high up and flying over the top of the tall condo. This proved to be Haven. She did not stay more than five minutes. Once she had flown I saw Solar and Haven around the side of Rio-Can. Solar then turned and flew east over Canada Square and was gone. Thirteen minutes later she flew from the east to the north-west corner of RC where she landed. Two minutes later she was gone from sight, however a few minutes after that, I spotted her on the louvered part of the roof. She began a walk along that which did not last. Solar took off and flew around and over RC and went into a stoop over the Yonge/Eglinton intersection before flying south on Yonge, around 2180 Yonge and then up to the antenna atop that building.
Solar was very unsettled. I heard no squawking but I wondered if she was looking for family? Ten minutes after landing on the 2180 antenna she flew again. She came north, flew over Canada Square and then back south of 2180 and was gone, again!
There was one more flight from south of 2180, up and over Canada Square, over the old TTC bus bays, circled back over Canada Square and once more south on Yonge to the antenna on 2180 Yonge. She landed on the far side of the antenna and was out of sight. I had spent an hour waiting and watching for peregrine activity and that was the sum total of it so I went home.
July 18th
I was out at 3:30 pm, earlier than usual, and found Haven on the old nest ledge on Canada Square. Another peregrine was on the level below the nest but north of the wall at the old nest and this proved to be Solar. At 3:45 Haven had disappeared but Solar was still on the lower level. She was hunkered down in the last bit of shade as the sun moved. At 4:38 pm Haven re-appeared on the old nest ledge, she had been *hidden* away in the shade and I guess had taken a nap. At this point Solar flew west of Rio-Can and was gone from sight. Ten minutes later Haven was gone from view again. Two minutes after that I heard squawking coming from the RC roof and sure enough there was Solar. Ten minutes late Solar flew to the nest ledge. I saw Haven *running* with Solar after her and then Haven just took off for RC where she perched 9 floors down.
Three minutes after that encounter, at 5:02pm, Haven flew to a *stash* on the level below nest level, one south of the new nest! She began pulling feathers from the bird she had stashed there and began eating but it was short-lived. At 5:06 pm the little glutton must have seen the feathers and launched herself from the old nest, did a short turn over the old TTC bus bays and found her mom on the level one over from the nest. She landed next to Haven and basically stole the bird Haven was eating. Haven flew back to RC whilst Solar claimed possession by mantling over the prey. What a cheeky little bird she is!!! She plucked feathers and ate until 6:02 at which point she flew to the same height as the old nest but on the north side of Canada Square.
I left two minutes later and as I did Haven flew to the *stash* area to see if there was anything left!! Poor mom, she scratched around and I am not sure whether she found much. She did appear to be pulling at a bit here and there.
July 25th
I was out along Eglinton sometime between 6:00-6:30 pm this evening and saw two peregrines fly onto the old nest ledge on Canada Square. They disappeared to the back but a minute or so later one hopped down onto the lower level and sat at the edge. I was without binoculars so could not tell who they were but I believe them to have been Haven and Solar. Naturally it began to rain so I went into the mall and shopped.
At 7:15 pm I returned to observe and found Haven on the south Face of Rio-Can. At 7:31 Haven flew south along Duplex avenue in a *sort of stoop*, circled behind the black building and then flew north in the gap between the black building and 2180 Yonge. She flew west of Canada Square then north over the Y/E intersection and was gone.
At 7:43 pm both Haven and Solar appeared from the north of Eglinton, talon touched in the vicinity of NE corner of Canada Square before both flew east and out of sight. I sat for another twenty minutes before the rain came and I left.
I have not seen Stormin and Simcoe for well over a week and Solar is flying well. She still appears to be quite dependent on Haven for food but I am sure that will change.
As you can see my reports are rather sporadic. So this will probably be my last *official* report for the peregrines, this year, although I will continue to check on occasion and if there is anything to report I shall do so.
Lyn
Posted on July 26, 2012 4:53 am
July 21, 2012 - Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton
Tracy Simpson Reports:
A huge thanks to Lyn for some great updates on the Canada Square family!!
Canada Square Peregrine updates
My reports are short these days and not daily as the youngsters are flying further afield and seem to come *home* when they want food or companionship.
July 12th
I saw Solar only. When I saw her she was on the Rio-Can building squawking madly. She flew to the north-west corner of of Canada Square, on the edge outside the old nest ledge but same height. She seemed quite excited and squawked quite a bit. I did not see any peregrine on the ledge with her nor did she appear to be taking food. I could not see anyone in the air either. Perhaps she was simply hoping someone would notice her. She had a flight over the top of Canada Square, sort of back to RC and then decided to fly north on Yonge. I left then. It was early evening and I had intended returning later but never did.
July 14th
I heard a call at roughly noon. I did not check to see who it was as the call was short and sweet.
At 5:30 pm I went outside and sat looking for the peregrines but there was no-one around. Five minutes later Stormin flew up Yonge and landed on the east side of Rio-Can. There was no squawking, nor was there any mad flight so I guess there were no youngsters around.
At 6:15 pm I had the binoculars up and was looking around, hoping to see one of the birds when I spotted a *large* bird on an aerial wayyy south. I think it must have been at or close to Davisville. Because of the *size* of the bird I am wondering if it was a Red-tailed hawk, one of the ones from Mt Pleasant Cemetery. It disappeared after ten minutes.
At 6:35 pm I saw a peregrine fly to the east side of Rio-Can, then up and over the top of Canada Square, east from there and was gone. I was unable to see any band or tape colour but simply from the size of the bird I am assuming this was Solar. The body was *dark* so definitely a juvenile.
July 15th
Maggie and I walked up Duplex after the rain and Maggie spotted a peregrine on the level below the new nest. This was a very bedraggled and wet bird. When we reached our *observation post* outside 53 Division we were able to see colour as she had turned to face the world. This was Haven.
Later on a youngster flew into the area and landed on the south west corner of Canada Square. From the size I am again assuming this to be Solar. I could not see and band and there was no colour on the peregrine. It started spitting again so Maggie and I went our separate ways.
July 16th
Through the haze of sleep at 6:00 AM I heard a squawk from someone. Another longer squawk at 6:30 AM. I chose not to check on who it was. My eyes don’t work that early in the morning!
I went out at 6:30 pm, looking for a newspaper and found Solar and Stormin flying around the Yonge/Eglinton intersection. They talon touched and played *chase me* or perhaps *follow me* and dipped and dived. There was a marked size difference between the two. The juvenile being bigger than the adult whose colour I could clearly see when he turned to talon touch makes me believe Solar and Stormin were playing. After a few minutes over the intersection and on Yonge they went north up Yonge and were gone.
There was one peregrine sitting on the old nest ledge on Canada Square and eventually I got colour to confirm this was Haven. She was very still for simply ages. Then she preened a little and returned to her sitting still.
Pierre joined me and we chatted a bit. We saw one of the youngsters fly in from the south, over the gold building, across Duplex and then west and south. I honestly am not sure who this was. I think I said it was Solar because of the size. It was getting dark at this time, around 8:49 pm and so size was difficult for me to judge.
Shortly after this, Haven flew from the old nest ledge to Rio-Can where she sat for a few minutes. Stormin flew onto the top of the south west corner of Rio-Can.
Haven spent only three minutes on Rio-Can before flying wayyy south and was gone from view. Stormin was very alert before suddenly going into a stoop up Duplex Avenue ending up near 500 Duplex before coming back empty-taloned. He was perched on the west side of RC at the corner about three floors down for just a couple of minutes before disappearing.
It was dark at this point so Pierre and I left.
Lyn
Posted on July 21, 2012 9:21 am
July 13, 2012 - Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton
Tracy Simpson Reports:
A huge thank you to Lyn for continuing to keep an eye on Solar and Simcoe at Canada Square. I apologize for the delay in this posting as I missed this one in my halfasleepness.
Reports from Lyn for July 8th to July 10th
Sunday July 8th
I was out at 4:36 and could only see one little head in the shade on the ledge below the nest on Canada Square. Twenty minutes later, by the size of the bird, Solar stood, stretched her wings and flew. She flew over Canada Square, in front of Rio-Can and then down to 2180 Yonge and up the east side of Canada Square and was gone.
Later on Haven flew in and settled briefly on the top of the tall condo before flying over RC and also disappearing.
Ten minutes after Haven left I spotted a youngster on the south west corner of Canada Square. I could not tell who it was but there was much squawking emanating from its beak. When it flew to RC and then south to 2180 Yonge I could see by size that this was Solar again. The squawking should have been the clue. There were a couple more flights and I think they were all Solar. It has become difficult to tell the difference between them by their flights as they both are flying well now.
Monday July 9th
I spotted both juveniles. One was on the roof of Rio-Can and the other had settled on one of the window uprights on the south face of Rio-Can, six floors down. There was a bit of squawking and shortly thereafter Simcoe flew west whilst Solar just watched from the roof. There was some quite interaction between father and son. I left for a few minutes and on my return Solar had disappeared from the roof. She did put in a brief appearance when she flew to the east side of RC and disappeared. At that point I left for the evening
Tuesday July 10th
5:57 AM – please note the time - I heard squawking and then silence. As it was early and a short-lived activity I did not get out of bed!
I was out at 6:20 this evening and all I saw were two juveniles on top of Rio-Can. There was also a wing on the roof and from the size I am guessing a pigeon wing. Solar was just finishing up her evening meal when I arrived and I saw the last few feathers fly. All was quiet. Simcoe just sat. Both the juveniles were *full to busting* by the looks of them and not ready to do anything but digest their respective meals. I spent an hour hoping for some activity but then called it quits. I spotted Stormin on the side of Rio-Can when I left and he was all ruffled as he preened.
A couple of pictures attached showing their puffed up chests and full crops!
Lyn
Posted on July 13, 2012 11:06 pm
July 08, 2012 - Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton
Frank Butson Reports:
Thanks as always to Lyn for her observations and todays great shots of the many faces of Solar.
Canada Square Peregrine report 20120707
As I exited the Yonge/Eglinton shopping mall I spotted a peregrine on the north side of Canada Square. I waited patiently for her to show her band, which she did, silver no tape, and then I knew it was Solar. She was very diligently preening.
I moved to my usual seat outside 53 Division and spotted Stormin in hiding on the old nest ledge right up against the concrete wall. Shortly thereafter I saw a peregrine fly towards Rio-Can and I assumed this to be Haven but on reflection I think it was Simcoe. There were no missing feathers!!! He landed on RC. During this period Stormin took off and I missed it so have no idea which direction he took.
Haven flew in a few minutes later carrying a food parcel. She flew to the north-west side of Canada Square and landed just above Solar, who had moved over. Simcoe flew in squawking madly and landed near Haven and almost bumped her over. He really is a little hooligan J Haven deposited the food of the day and flew off. Much to my surprise Simcoe did NOT eat. He moved off into the shade near the wall. Solar did not fly up to the nest ledge level but she was quite vocal. I think both of them must have been full!
Simcoe flew off and back and landed next to Solar. Shortly after that he took off again and circled seven times in the Y/E intersection and once in the Duplex/Eglinton intersection before flying south to 2180 Yonge and then back to the northern antenna on Canada Square.
He could not settle and was off again just as Haven flew in to the old nest ledge, followed by Simcoe. Haven moved out of sight on the ledge and then Simcoe did the same at which point Haven flew off. Throughout all this Solar continued to squawk.
Simcoe flew again, high over RC. Then Solar launched herself and she too flew high-ish. She flew a number of circles over Eglinton and Duplex and when she was in front of RC Simcoe came onto the scene and dived at her. They attempted a talon touch and it was Solar who flipped and presented the talons. They did not connect though. Eventually they both disappeared and I came inside. A few pictures of Solar attached.
Lyn
Posted on July 8, 2012 8:12 am
July 05, 2012 - Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton
Frank Butson Reports:
Lyn had plenty of action today. Timing is often everything.
Canada Square Peregrine report 20120705
My observation today was barely an hour and sixteen minutes long.
When I arrived I spotted Stormin on the antenna atop 2180 Yonge. A few minutes later I heard squawking from a hungry young peregrine and searched all the known spots for their perching. I finally found a youngster on the antenna on top of Canada Square. I am not sure this was the one squawking though. Shortly thereafter Stormin flew and I lost track of him.
The next bit of activity was when the pigeons on top of the CIBC building, across Yonge, scattered. This was indication of something afoot. I checked the top of that building and sure enough on the south west corner of the brown part on top of the roof was a peregrine. Just from the size I believed this to be young Solar. I did not at any point see band colours. The peregrine on the Canada Square antenna was Simcoe.
I saw a small bird almost drop all of its feathers when it flew up to the roof where Solar was sitting. No exit was made any faster than that one! This particular roof is a favourite perching area for the pigeons at Yonge and Eglinton and as pigeons do, one flew up to the same level as Solar but far end from her and landed on the roof. I could almost hear the hysteria when this pigeon realised it was perched within feet of its foe! Wing flaps were wild and uncoordinated as it almost fell off the roof in its attempt to make a fast getaway. Solar just looked at it in astonishment.
Fifteen minutes after this Simcoe could stand it no longer and flew from the antenna to the east over Eglinton Avenue where he actually chased a pigeon!!! He missed but scared the living daylights out of the pigeon, which I think is still on its way to the Maritimes!!! Haven then launched herself from a hiding spot and showed Simcoe, who was still in the air, how it should be done. She chased another pigeon over Yonge Street and close to the CIBC building but she also missed and this second pigeon has migrated to the United States!
Solar seemed to be plagued by pigeons as another one landed on the same roof level as she was and began walking towards her! When the pigeon realised the big bird was a peregrine it turned tail and walked VERY fast from Solar. As Solar had just seen her brother and mother in action and she figured out that pigeons were for eating, she began stalking the pigeon in a very hurried manner. This unnerved the bird which dropped to a lower level of the roof.
Ten minutes after that and after a number of stretching exercises and runs along the roof ledge Solar lifted off and flew to Rio-Can where she PERCHED ON ONE OF THOSE WINDOW UPRIGHTS. She did this with ease!!! I was so impressed. A couple of fellows from 53 Division were talking to me when this happened and I told them it was the first time I had seen this happen this year.
Haven flew from the east side of Canada Square, along Eglinton West and up Duplex and west again. This set up more squawking from Solar! A mere few minutes after this Haven returned with a pigeon in her talons and one of the fellows saw her food parcel and exclaimed *she has a pigeon and is going to transfer it in midair*!!! This is exactly what happened.
On seeing Haven return with food Solar launched herself and flew directly to Haven who by this time was over Yonge near the CIBC building. Solar, squawking madly, of course, made and missed one attempt but Haven knew she wasn’t ready and did not release the pigeon. On the second try Solar did grasp the pigeon and as Haven let go we saw Solar visibly drop a bit in height and her little wings flapped madly as she struggled to maintain height and move over the CIBC where she went to the roof. We all breathed a sigh of relief. I told the chaps that they were very lucky to have seen what they did!
Haven’s persistence and lessons are definitely paying off!
We saw three attempts on different pigeons lives, Simcoe’s in flight, Haven’s in flight and Solar’s on footJ
I saw Solar land on one of those window thingies and then finally the transfer of a pigeon to Solar.
A very good day and well timed on my part!
Lyn
Posted on July 6, 2012 8:06 am
July 04, 2012 - Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton
Frank Butson Reports:
Canada Square Peregrine report 20120704
A short report from a *sticky* mid Toronto.
I went out late as it was so hot. I think the peregrines found it so as well. Three minutes after I arrived I saw a small low flying peregrine fly from somewhere on the west side of Canada Square around the north end to the east and gone. Two minute after that I spotted a small peregrine come back to the west side of Canada Square, low, flying at fourth floor level, and land on the ledge between the black building and the concrete below it.
I thought oh that must be *dad* but had the binoculars up just in case. Thank goodness I did for after twenty minutes of staring the right leg emerged in a stretch and I could clearly see the yellow tape on the band. That yellow really shows up in some light! So I was watching Simcoe. He sat there for a total of thirty eight minutes admiring his handsome self in the reflective glass.
After that he flew north of the building, again at fourth floor level! He circled upward over the east side of Yonge street going as far as the Bell building. He really seemed to struggle for height as I next saw him on the south side of Canada Square a little higher but nowhere near roof top level of the building. He disappeared after that and I saw a large peregrine fly off the south face. A few minutes later I heard calling and determined it to be from the north of the building but never did find out who was squawking. I walked south a little to keep in the shade and looked at the Heart and Stroke building where I saw two peregrines. These were Stormin and Haven, feeling the heat. They had their wings slightly spread and did not budge. By this time I was feeling the heat and opted for the indoors. So I saw three out of the four but I am sure the squawker was Solar in hiding somewhere. I shall check again tomorrow and see who I can find.
Lyn
Posted on July 5, 2012 12:00 pm
