Bruce reports
As of Thursday May 28th there are 2 hatchlings in the nest.
May 27th - 2015
Just a quickly update, with both Toivo and Grace reporting that although the waiting for something to happen is driving every one a little crazzzy, (watching peregrines incubate for over a month is kinda like watching paint dry),, both resident adults are still very active in their shift changes as they continue to incubate their eggs.
Based on their best guess, (based on when we believe that the pair started their full-time incubation), we are expecting a hatch by early to mid next week.
Marion reports that the property manager had another opportunity to take a closer look through the office suite window and they have confirmed that there are still four eggs and none have hatched as yet.
Given the odd unseasonal temps., going up and down like a yo-yo, many of the resident adult females have been sticking pretty tight to their eggs during the incubation , (and during the early stages of them brooding new hatchlings),, and as such, its been very difficult to see much of anything.
Toivo and Grace also report that the American Kestrels are back (also nesting) and they have been watching both families of falcons - (the Peregrines and Kestrels) involved in several intense territorial disputes! One moment the resident adult female Kestrel is seen both harassing, dive-bombing and chasing the resident adult Peregrine, than moments the tables are turned, and the peregrine is now stooping on and chasing the Kestrel!
Mother-hood full of hormones!! Its breeding season alright!
This has been going on for several weeks now!
With two sets of falcons in the same territory, (both nesting a hopefully producing offspring), one of the last places on this planet that you would want to be if you were a bird, is anywhere near this territory and these two falcon families!!
Stay tuned for additional news as it become available……….
May 27th - 2015
We are delighted to confirm that we have been able to secure a date for the OPG Pickering banding! While there are still allot of details to be ironed out, we can confirm that June 15th will be the banding date.
For the obvious reasons, this banding will be closed to the public due to security reasons and restricted access, but we will although have lots of photos and updated news of the banding and updated news of the young hatchlings.
For the past two seasons, the Canadian Peregrine Foundation has been working very closely and in partnership with the great folks at the OPG Pickering facility while dealing with their resident nesting peregrines and we have some very exciting news and great stories to tell with regards to the history and happenings of their nesting peregrines, in addition to some of the great folks that have been working tirelessly behind the scenes to both accommodate, protect and support their resident nesting peregrines!
We are delighted to report that their resident peregrines have successfully hatched and produced three baby peregrine hatchlings this season and we’re all looking very forward to seeing them up close at the banding.
Stay tuned for lots of great stuff to follow ………………….
Stay tuned……..
May 27th - 2015
We are happy to report that we have been able to coordinate and confirm a banding date and time for the Oshawa Lake Ridge Hospital peregrines. The banding will take place on June 15th at 9:30 am sharp.
The plan will be to meet at 8:30am to set-up, with a meet and greet from 9am to 9:30am, and hopefully to commence the banding by 9:30am sharp!
Further details will follow in the next few days as arrangements are made.
Stay tuned…
May 27th - 2015
We have finally been able to coordinate and book the Canada Square banding for June 10th at 11am.
The plan will be to meet at 9am for set-up and start banding at 11 sharp. This requires additional set-up time given the additional resources needed in consideration to the physical location that the peregrine have chosen to nest on this year.
This banding is not open to the general public and by invitation only at the request of the property manager, in part due to the limited space that we have to conduct the banding. All CPF fledge watch volunteers are invited.
Please stay tuned as we will get the details, photos, video and particulars of the banding as soon as we can there after.
May 27th - 2015
A quickly update, we have been able to confirm a June 5th banding date for the William Osler Hospital peregrine hatchlings!
The plan is to meet at 9am for set-up, and to start the banding process for 9:30am.
This is a closed to the general public banding due to the restrictions of space and time constraints.
Stay tuned for all of the banding details, photos, video and updated news.
May 27th - 2015
A quick note to let you know that we have finally been able to book and confirm the banding date and time for the Toronto Sheraton Centre hotel peregrine hatchlings. The set-up time is 1pm in the Pinnacle Room on the 43rd floor of the Toronto downtown Sheraton Centre hotel, 123 Queen Street west, across from the Toronto City Hall. There will be a meet and greet at 1:30pm, with banding to commence at 2pm sharp!
We welcome your attendance and hope to see you all at the banding!
May 25th - 2015
Banding Day - May 25th - 2015
Todays banding went very well indeed despite the feisty attitude of the three young hatchlings! While this is only the third banding so far this season, these three hatchlings were just down and outright nasty with LOTS of attitude!! Actually, just the way we like to see them!!!
The two males weighed in at 676 grams and 666 grams, with the larger female weighing in at 975 grams!
So we have the female named Stella - banded K over 24 with Yellow Tape,
Wellington banded B over 10 with Red Tape,
and finally little Lucifer - banded B over 11 with Blue tape - (guess who weighted 666 grams) 
While up in the tower, I was able to get another close look at the resident adult male, and was able to reconfirm his band number Black 29 over Y
A big thank you to Clare and Jerry at the bridge and the PWGSC for accommodating and hosting the banding with all of the construction and limited access.
With the hatchlings clocking in at 26 to 28 days old, we can expect that they should be fledging and taking their first flights sometime in the next 6 to ten days.
Its going to be a very interesting watch indeed this year with 10 bandings still to complete and overlapping many of the fledge watches due to start between now and over the next three weeks.
Going to need lots of eyes and support as this site is going to be a huge challenge this year given that we are spread so thin with manpower and resources with all of the fledge watches and overlapping bandings!!
We are working with PWGSC and the contractors on site in an effort to iron out a site access protocol should any of the fledglings come to the ground in need of support.
May 28th - 2015
Kathy Smith of the Canadian Peregrine Foundation with the support and assistance of the lads from Skyreach Window Washing did the extractions of the chicks and stayed up[ on the stage during the banding keeping the adult falcons occupied so they wouldn’t know the chicks were actually gone Job well done!
At the banding table the master bander Mark Heaton much to their delight invited special guests to come up and assist him by holding the chicks while he put their bands on. 4 healthy male chicks were banded this year and we hope the little guys fledge well.
here are the weights and band information for each.
1st 445 grams named Mel band Y over 10 with white tape on silver band
2nd 510 grams named Glider band number Y over 11 Blue tape
3rd 520 grams named Ferris band number Y over 12 Yellow tape
4th 575 grams named Ninja band number Y over 13 Red tape
We are looking for volunteers to assist us with the fledge watch when the babies take their first flights so if you are interested in coming out to spend some time in the streets with us please log into our web site and click on volunteer application and let me know you are interested in helping out with the Etobicoke Fledge Watch!
Thanks go out to CBRE property management for hosting the banding for all the wonderful support of the Etobicoke falcon family.
Yesterday the swing stage was set up for tomorrows banding so do not be alarmed by the ropes you see in front of the nest. The banding will start at 10:00 Am in the lobby of the East Tower all are welcome to attend.