June 10, 2012 - Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton
Frank Butson Reports:
Canada Square Peregrine report for 20120610
I thought I would check on the peregrine activity a little earlier than usual and arrived at 3pm. Nothing was stirring so I settled in for a wait. Six minutes after arrival I detected faint movement on the ledge and saw one very hot little bird lying flat out with one wing extended over the ledge. I could identify with that!!! He sat up, lay down then disappeared. Fifteen minutes later he reappeared, turned around once, extended one and a half wings and settled down facing west, seemingly exhausted from his efforts.
Twenty minutes later Stormin came breezing in circled above Canada Square and then swooped in to the OLD nest ledge, investigated the back and flew off.
Then it was Haven’s turn. She came in from somewhere north and flew south down Yonge street and was gone. A couple of minutes later she reappeared and twice circled the Canada Square building before flying to the east side of Rio-Can where she landed. Stormin followed her and landed briefly then flew south past the nest and beyond 2180 Yonge. Haven flew east, circled back past the nest and then flew south on Yonge past 2180 Yonge. I saw the two of them circling south of 2180 for about a minute and then they were both gone.
Forty minutes later Haven flew in and landed on the edge of the nest level. I could not tell if she had a food parcel or not but I heard the eyases squawking their excitement as they ran and flapped towards her. Then she left. All was quiet on the ledge and the little ones disappeared from view. Haven circled Canada Square and then settled on RC again. A couple of minutes later she was airborne again, southwards past 2180 once more and was gone. At some point she sneaked back to the east side of Rio-Can because she flew from there to the east side of the tall condo, high up and perched but not for long. She was back to RC four minutes later and this time she settled on the south face; now in shadow. I had one brief sighting of a little *fuzzhead* and that was it. Half an hour later I left, Haven was still on the RC building. No sign of Stormin.
Lyn
Posted on June 11, 2012 3:20 am
June 10, 2012 - Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton
Frank Butson Reports:
Canada Square Peregrine report for 20120609
Both Haven and Stormin were active today but not interacting with one another.
When I arrived at 5:37 Haven was on the Canada Square nest ledge with her back to the sun. Shortly thereafter she flew to Rio-Can and perched 7 floors from the top. Stormin flew in, perched on the NW corner of Canada Square, called once and then flew to the nest ledge, landed and took off up Duplex Ave and disappeared. Soon after that he was back, coming in from the east along Eglinton he frightened a gull silly! The bird gave a loud squawk and accelerated out of his way in mad panic! Stormin was not interested and simply flew over the nest ledge circled the Canada Square roof and eventually landed on the mast on 2180 Yonge.
Two minutes after that Haven flew south to 2180 Yonge and landed on the second to last balcony where she did a funny walk along the railing from the south end to the north end of the balcony, hopped out of view for a minute, reappeared and hopped out of view again. Stormin craned his neck in her direction but I doubt he could see her. Haven did not find what she was looking for and flew south. She put in another appearance flying towards the nest but veered east and disappeared.
At 6:00pm there was brief action on the ledge in the form of one pair of wings up and then down and Haven was back on RC four floors from the top.
Twenty three minutes later Stormin flew from his perch on the mast, went south and was gone for a few minutes before reappearing over Eglinton east and the Bell building amongst others. He was gone for forty minutes . I saw him fly from over the roof of RC, and into a stoop over Duplex Ave and west and was gone again. Two minutes later he was flying over the nest and back to the mast on 2180 Yonge. Several minutes later he flew around the north side of the tall condo building, circling lazily several times and climbing until he was finally high enough to perch on the topmost point on the northwest corner of the building. Two minutes later he flew north east into a stoop over Eglinton and the Bell building and behind that. One minute later he was back with a bird in his talons and went to the east side of Canada Square where he disappeared. He obviously was not going to share and twenty minutes later he landed on the nest ledge and took off immediately. I did not see whether he dropped off any food.
By this time the eyases were waking up. One did brief peregrine calisthenics and then just sat. He was joined by his brother who was intent on showing how the exercises were to be done. He kept me entertained until 8:00pm! Stormin went into a third stoop from somewhere over Canada Square and over the low brick building next to the black building down Duplex. A few minutes later he was back on the mast. Through all this, an hour and fifty three minutes, Haven sat on the south face of RC.
At 7:53 Haven flew to the wall at the nest and perched there. The youngster who had been exercising really showed off for his mom! Those little wings moved. At one point he rested and was on the edge, looked over and thought *ummmmm, not going there* and hopped back down onto the ledge. At 8:02 all action stopped. The eyases had disappeared to the back, Haven was still above the nest and Stormin on the mast so I left. I did see all three youngsters today. Whilst one was sitting watching his brother exercise I saw a pair of wings flip up and then disappear.
Lyn
Posted on June 10, 2012 6:17 am
June 06, 2012 - Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton
Frank Butson Reports:
June 6th - 2012
Frank Butson Reports:
Canada Square Peregrine report
Two minutes after I arrived today Haven flew in from the south somewhere and made several lazy spirals over the black building, Canada Square and Yonge/Eglinton intersection before disappearing on the east side of Rio-Can.
Five minutes later she flew in with a food parcel and today she stood on the edge of the ledge and fed her eyases. I saw one little head for a brief second before it was gone. Once she had finished feeding them she disappeared to the back of the nest and then flew to the RC building and perched 7 floors from the top.
Twenty five minutes later Haven flew back to the nest ledge and ate some of the leftovers. Whilst she was busy eating I saw ONE HEAD AND ONE WING at the back of the nest. This is my first time seeing the youngsters active in the nest this year.
Once she had finished eating Haven sat on the edge with her back to the sun. She did turn around for a few minutes but then turned her back on us again. Half an hour later, Haven flew off the nest to RC and perched, briefly, six floors from the top, before flying to the wall/upright at the nest.
At7:24 pm Stormin put in an appearance from the east side of RC building, flying east a bit before turning around and flying west again to gain height to perch three floors from the top on the south face.
I was not paying attention and missed Haven’s flight to RC but did catch her flight from that building and I saw her go into a stoop over the black building before disappearing. Shortly thereafter Haven flew from around 2180 Yonge and up the west side of that and the black building with a struggling bird firmly clasped in a talon. She perched seven floors from the top with the still squawking bird. It uttered a few peeps later on and then Haven *dispatched* it before plucking feathers from it and flying to the nest ledge where she once again perched on the edge and fed the eyases. This time I saw a whole head with gaping maw as Haven fed them!
Once she had finished she flew to RC, perched briefly and flew to the wall/upright at the nest.
Finally I saw two heads and some wings going through their exercises. I have been waiting for this for ages.
Stormin put in a last and brief appearance before disappearing behind the RC and presumably going up Yonge. I saw one head and one wing and then I called it a day, leaving Haven perched on the wall.
Lyn
Posted on June 9, 2012 2:27 am
June 03, 2012 - Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton
Frank Butson Reports:
Canada Square Peregrine report June 2 2012
After very little activity on Thursday and no observation yesterday, due to the rain, I thought I should get out and check on the peregrines.
When I arrived at 5:10 pm Haven was sitting on the wall above the nest on Canada Square and Stormin was on the south face of Rio-Can. It was very cool out and both peregrines looked *chilly* and fluffed up against the weather. After twenty minutes of no activity, the sun came out and that was Haven’s opportunity. She flew off. Two minutes later, she was on the northwest corner of the *black building* over the TTC garage, plucking feathers madly from a pigeon. It was the feathers floating in the breeze which alerted me to her whereabouts. Shortly thereafter she grabbed the food parcel and flew south off the black building before turning and beginning to climb back to the height of the nest ledge. It was a bit of a struggle but she managed.
Stormin kept his distance and ten minutes after Haven had disappeared on the nest ledge he flew to the northwest corner of the black building in the hopes of finding scraps. All he managed to find were some feathers. He took off alongside the building flying south, around the bottom end of it and out of sight.
Fifteen minutes later I was still looking for him and heard chup-chup-chup twice. It appeared to come from the nest but I was not sure. I scanned all around but could not see the reason for the chatter.
Eight minutes later Haven flew to the south face of RC, followed by Stormin who perched one floor higher than she was. I did not see him fly from the nest but I wonder if he had arrived at the nest when I heard the chup-chup-chup? Haven did not stay long before flying to the ledge on one of the windows on the concrete wall on the west face of Canada Square. It appeared to me that she had a drink of water. Is this possible? I guess there were little collections of water left in places after the rain from yesterday. Haven then returned to the RC building, same perch. Once more her stay was short lived and she flew back to the wall at the nest. Stormin flew around the RC building and headed north on Yonge Street. It took almost half an hour for Stormin to return and when he did he sat right at the top of the southwest corner of Rio-Can. Haven spent the whole time on her perch on Canada Square above the nest. At 7:15 I left them in those same places.
BIGFRANK’s note: Its very possible Lyn saw Haven drink some pooled water. Peregrines dont need to drink water, they get their moisture from the blood of prey, but they will drink water infrequently and also bathe.
Posted on June 3, 2012 2:44 am
June 02, 2012 - Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton
Mark Nash Reports:
As the banding photos continue to come in.
Posted on June 2, 2012 12:34 am
May 30, 2012 - Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton
Frank Butson Reports:
Canada Square peregrine report 20120530
My timing is good ! As I arrived this evening one of the peregrines flew south. Two minutes later Haven landed on the window ledge on the top floor of Rio-Can. A few minutes after that Stormin flew over the Canada Square roof, circled the Yonge/Eglinton intersection and disappeared southwards. Haven remained put for a few more minutes and then she took flight, circling RC twice before disappearing northwards.
I thought she would be gone for a while so was not ready for her re-appearance three minutes later when she went straight to the ledge. Without the binoculars I could not see if she had a food parcel or not. A minute later Stormin flew in and also landed on the ledge and disappeared to the back. His stay was short-lived as I saw a flurry of wings as he was *chased* off the ledge by Haven who had a beak full of food. I could not tell whether he had brought it in and she took it or whether he was attempting to take it and she stopped him. He flew to RC and sat 5 floors from the top.
Five minutes later Haven flew to the fifth wall/upright south of the nest and sat for a couple of minutes before flying to the wall/upright at the nest.
Stormin had been sitting like a proud peregrine - upright – but it proved too much for him and after about twenty minutes he relaxed and lost his posture.
Ten minutes later Haven flew to RC and sat 2 floors from the top. She was restless and after a few minutes she flew back to the wall/upright at the nest. Half an hour later Haven flew east and disappeared from my view. Two minutes after that Stormin flew in more or less the same direction but not as far. A few minutes later Haven circled over Y/E intersection and headed east again. It was not long before she returned and circled RC again. Her circling takes her between the RC building and the apartment building and I am sure she tries flushing the pigeons off the balconies!! She did that twice before flying back to the wall at the nest. Stormin returned and perched on RC. After ten minutes they both flew off and I decided to call it a day as it was surprising chilly.
Lyn
Posted on May 31, 2012 5:27 am
May 30, 2012 - Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton
Frank Butson Reports:
Canada Square peregrine report 20120529
As I arrived at 5:22pm a peregrine flew from somewhere south and around to the east side of Canada Square. Then Haven flew in from Duplex Ave, across Eglinton and straight onto the wall/upright at the nest. She checked on the eyases and then flew south – waaaaay south and disappeared.
Ten minutes later Stormin flew onto the Rio-Can building and sat one floor down from the top. Because the peregrine was so high I thought this was Haven. However when he slouched down into a comfortable position I knew it was Stormin. Another ten minutes passed and Haven flew in from the north, along Duplex ave. She flew in front of the south face of RC and found Stormin slouched on his perch then she circled RC and Canada Square a couple of times before disappearing on the east side of RC. All the while Stormin continued to slouch where he was.
A few minutes later Haven returned flew over RC and then landed on the roof where she proceeded to pluck feathers from a food parcel. There were feathers flying everywhere in the breeze and Stormin ignored the whole exercise. Three minutes later Haven flew to the nest ledge with the food parcel and disappeared. Stormin stayed where he was and later on he preened a bit. Twenty minutes after landing on the ledge Haven flew from it, circled back over it, briefly landed on the wall/upright, checked the eyases and then flew south beyond 2180 Yonge and then west.
Stormin’s preening session left him a mite exhausted and he was back to slouching for a few minutes before leaving his perch and flying onto the northwest corner of the RC building. He sat for two minutes and then I heard him call chuk-chuk-chuk three times. I saw him fly up Duplex Avenue and was gone. So I left too at 7:00 pm
Lyn
Posted on May 30, 2012 12:19 am
May 29, 2012 - Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton
Frank Butson Reports:
Canada Square Peregrine report for 28th May 2012
I arrived at 5:22pm and had only five minutes before some action took place. Stormin ( as I later found out) flew above the Rio-Can building and the west over 53 Division Police Station. A few minutes later he was back and flew north over the Yonge-Eglinton intersection. Three minutes later he was back and flew high over 53 Division again and was gone. Twenty minutes later he was back, flew over the nest, quite high and then soared high over RC again only to disappear once more. At least I was seeing him today!
Then it was Haven’s turn and she left the nest ledge at Canada Square and flew to the Rio-can building where she perched seven floors down for a few minutes and then flew west. She was back in a minute and flew over the nest then to RC where she perched and preened for a bit. Fifteen minutes later she flew over the nest and back to her perch on RC. Shortly thereafter she flew over the nest again and back along the west side of RC and between RC and the apartment building and was gone from sight, but not for long. Two minutes later she perched on the wall south of the nest before flying low across Eglinton avenue and flushing the pigeons which hang around at the entrance to the mall. She disappeared from view on the east side of RC. However, she got what she set out for ands three minutes later she had a pigeon firmly clasped in her talons! She struggled a wee bit but managed to fly onto the RC roof where she had a bit to eat.
Whilst she was busy I heard a peregrine call from the west and who should come flying in but Stormin and with his OWN food parcel. I could not tell what it was but it looked pretty substantial He flew over the corner where Haven was eating and then disappeared over the RC roof.
Haven then flew from the roof, with her pigeon, around the east side and disappeared for ten minutes. When she reappeared it was without the pigeon and she landed on the wall north of last year’s nest, Shortly after that she flew to the wall at the nest site. At the same time Stormin was flying around on the east side of RC. Haven remained on her wall above the nest for a half an hour. She flew east of the RC and three minutes later was perched five floors down on the RC building. Another half an hour went by and then Haven flew to the nest and disappeared from sight. That was at 8:00 pm. I left at that point. I was very pleased to see both adults today. In my two and a half hours I did not see any food go into the nest.
Lyn
Posted on May 29, 2012 5:15 am
May 26, 2012 - Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton
Frank Butson Reports:
Canada Square report Saturday May 26 2012.
I arrived at 5:09 pm and having cleaned up a bit of the litter left by others I sat down to observe the peregrines. However, before the peregrines put in an appearance I spotted a turkey vulture flying really high from the north east to south east.
Concentrating on the turkey vulture I missed the arrival of Haven. I did see her take off from the south face of Rio-Can and circle over the building five or six times until she disappeared behind it. Five minutes later I saw Haven on the scrape ledge and then disappear to the back on the south side of that ledge. Fifteen minutes after that she left the ledge and flew to Rio-Can with the remains of a meal in her talons. She appeared undecided about what to do. She was there for a minute and then picked up the remains in her talons again and flew to the building below the mast at 2180 Yonge where she flew to the second window ledge and deposited (stashed) the food. Having ensured it was secure she flew to the fifth wall/upright on Canada Square before flying back to RC.
Ten minutes later Haven flew back to the nest and disappeared to the back, this time on the north side of the ledge. Half an hour later I was chatting to someone and missed who it was I saw fly behind RC and disappear again. Fifteen minutes after that I saw Haven fly from the south straight to RC with a food parcel. I assume she has picked up her stash from the mast building at 2180. A couple of minutes later she flew to the nest ledge and disappeared again on the north side.
Twenty minutes later Haven appeared at the edge, bit at something bloody, dropped it onto the ledge below her and flew to the RC building. Over the next few minutes she flew to the wall above the nest ledge, dropped onto the ledge and walked to the back, came to the edge again and sat there for thirty minutes at which point I left.
I did not see Stormin at all during these few hours.
Lyn
I was glad to hear that Herb had dropped by to introduce himself to Lyn as he will be part of the fledge watch team at Canada Square in a few weeks when things get going there.
Posted on May 27, 2012 4:15 am
May 24, 2012 - Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton
Frank Butson Reports:
Further report on the Canada Square Peregrines - May 24 2012.
I returned to watch the peregrines at 4:10 this afternoon but neither bird was in sight. Some action began a half hour later when a peregrine flew from the east side of Rio-Can, south along the nest ledge on Canada Square, beyond 2180 Yonge Street and was gone. About fifteen minutes later I happened to glance at the NW corner of Canada Square roof and as I did so a peregrine flew south of 2180 Yonge Street again. There was also a flight behind the two condo buildings and finally at 5:34 I identified the peregrine as Stormin when he finally sat on the mast at 2180 Yonge.
I spotted Haven on the nest ledge when she did her little hop, jump and wing flap on the ledge before disappearing to the back. Stormin in the meantime was quite active and flew in from the west, over Canada Square around the back of Rio-Can and was gone for ten minutes at which point he flew in from the east. He went south again as far as 2180 Yonge then turned and flew back to the big mast on top of Canada Square where he perched for a while. He seemed to have a bit of difficulty balancing in the breeze but managed to stay perched. He made many more of these flights and when I took photos of Haven on the ledge she was just watching him as if to say * the banding is over and I chased all the baddies*.
Eventually Haven flew to the south face of Rio Can where she sat with wings spread a bit. I think she may have been a bit hot and wonder if she had been sheltering the youngsters from the sun and heat all afternoon.
Stormin was still playing the silly boy and flying around and about, landing on the RC roof on the west side then circling RC and eventually coming to roost on the roof above Haven. When I checked the photos I could see her looking up at him. He was staring into space. Not sure what he thought he could see but he eventually took off.
Haven was a bit cooler, I think, because her wings were closed and she cleaned her feet. She stretched one wing, then the other and flew straight to the nest ledge on Canada Square and disappeared from sight. I left at that point.
Lyn
Posted on May 24, 2012 11:37 pm
