January 09, 2015 - International, National and Local News
CPF Postmaster Reports:
Jan. 8th - 2014
Thanks to John Little for sending in his recent photo of a feathered visitor that ended up in is backyard to dine. A good shot of a Sharpie, roosting after obviously dining on a fresh meal.
At this time of year, the CPF usually gets hundreds of phone calls and e-mail over the winter months telling us that they have another one of our peregrines in their back yard feeding on all of their winter birds that are utilizing their outdoor bird feeders. If this was actually the case, we would have thousands of urban peregrines around,,, (and that of course is absolutely not the case). At this time of year, most all of the Canada’s wild - (non-urban peregrines) are far to the south on their wintering grounds, with only the resident territorial urban adults braving the cold better weather. And even then, our urban adult peregrines don’t hang around backyards or hunt at these low altitudes below the tree canopies.
In this case, John Little identified his feathered visitor bang-on, as an adult Sharpe-shinned hawk - (which is usually the case with 99.99 % of all of the raptors that are incorrectly identified in peoples back yards at this time of the year, especially here in our northern hemispheres).
We do see a few Coopers hawks, a few Rough-legged and Broad-winged hawks, lots of Sharpies and Red-tails and even the odd Goshawk is being photographed and hanging around. Good gracious, if you could fly freely south to warmer weather with an abundance of free food, why on earth would you stay here in these freezing temps???,, but some do stay and tough it out as evident of the hundreds of photographs that are sent into us each year.
Photographer - John Little
January 2015, Meridian, Idaho USA
Posted on January 9, 2015 5:19 am
January 08, 2015 - Toronto - Sheraton Centre
Mark Nash Reports:
Jan 8th - 2014
A big thanks to Connie Adams from the New York Department of Environmental Conservation for sending in some of the photos of Trout that were sent into her from Will Steele. The little male peregrine that was produced at the Toronto downtown Sheraton Centre hotel this past season. This update is a follow-up to our earlier posting of him being spotted in Florida this past December.
We’ve often commented, that peregrines, (specifically that of the juveniles) are not too smart. Hmmmm, Trout’s lounging around on in sunny Florida soaking up the warm mild weather on a sun drenched white sandy beach while most of us here in Ontario are freezing to death in -21 degrees Celsius or -30 Celsius considering the wind-chill factor, expecting another dump of 10cm of snow. Who’s the real dummy here? 
Please Trout,,,,, take us with you!!!!
Here Trout was photographed by Kim Begay last month at the beginning of December 2014 on Honeymoon Island. Nice shots Kim!
Kim writes: I have seen it for the last 6 weeks on and off and was finally able to photograph it on 12/31/14
Posted on January 8, 2015 6:15 pm
January 05, 2015 - International, National and Local News
Mark Nash Reports:
Jan 5th - 2015
Just a quick peregrine update. While on a routine trip out to the bank today,, our attention was once again directed to the underside of the huge water storage tank at Warden and Eglinton here in Scarborough with the familiar black object on the underside of the water storage tank. After a closer inspection, it was clearly identified as a adult peregrine roosting on one of the large support beams underneath of the water tank. Sadly, without a scope or camera on board, and with only my binoculars, I was easily able to identify it as a an adult peregrine, was unable to get a band identification of the mystery falcon due to the distances from our ground position and the height of the roosting peregrine.
The good news, is that it is really easy to see a dark coloured peregrine roosting on any part of the water tank due to its white colour that the water storage tank has been painted, so if you are travelling on Eglinton Ave near Warden Ave, you can easily spot the roosting peregrine when its there.
Looks like I will have to get the camera back in the car so the next time I will be better prepared and will try and get a photo in an effort to identify our mystery peregrine! We would encourage all to visit when you have a chance and maybe you can get an ID on this mystery peregrine. Your observation reports and photos are most welcomed!
Stay tuned…………..
Posted on January 6, 2015 5:31 pm
January 05, 2015 - Toronto - Sheraton Centre
Mark Nash Reports:
Jan. 5th - 2015
Just received some interesting news from Mark Heaton from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forests, in that one of the Toronto Sheraton Centre yearling peregrines has been spotted in Dunedin Florida USA on December 12th of 2014. The report was forwarded to us from Matt Rogosky, from the Bird Banding Laboratory, Patuxent Wildlife Research Center . The young yearling peregrine was identified via its leg bands as being a Toronto Sheraton produced male peregrine named “Trout”. As you may recall, Trout was rescued from the city streets back on June 18th as he obviously was pushed or blown off the nest ledge prematurely and fluttered to the ground. Trout was rescued by CPF fledge watch volunteers and returned safely back to his parents and the nest ledge the next day. I have attached some of Trout’s banding photos along with his rescue photos while he was in the rescue carrier.
Hi, we went to Dunedin causeway in Dunedin Florida today Dec -12th -2014
The young peregrine was easily identified after checking the banding database as:
112604792 - Solid Black band - W over 79, Yellow marker tape, Named Trout, Banded as a Male, at 21 days old at banding - (30th May 2014 ), hatched at the Sheraton Centre nest site - Toronto Ontario Canada
weight - 605 grams at 21 days of age
Matt Rogosky
Bird Banding Laboratory
Patuxent Wildlife Research Center
Posted on January 5, 2015 9:33 pm
December 30, 2014 - Toronto - Rogers Centre
Mark Nash Reports:
December 30th - 2014
Just a quickly update on the roofing activity at the Rogers Centre. After four plus months of waterproofing work, the work had finally been completed and the new CPF nest tray has finally been successfully installed. Looking really good in fact! A short visit for me this morning that lasted only a couple of hours on site, I can honestly say that the install went without a catch and its looking really good! Both resident adults have been active and very much around watching the roof crew finish up the work on their nest ledge.
The green barrier mesh that was installed over top of the nest ledge worked fantastic in protecting the workmen while they were working on this elevation over the past month. While it keep the peregrines out of the nest ledge and protected the workmen, the resident peregrines were never the less observed on many of the other west elevations “supervising” the roofers activities throughout the entire four month roofing project.
The new marine poly-composite materials that we are now utilizing to build all of the new nest trays and nest boxes has really made things much easier for us in the terms of longevity and maintenance free in comparison to the older pressure treated building materials that we once used to manufacture these same nest trays and nest boxes. Admittedly, the new marine poly-composite materials are much heavier and far more expensive in comparison to the same sized wood products, they come pre-coloured, UV and water resistant, and have 25 plus year guarantees that are virtually maintenance free!! No more rotting, re-staining, or fading!! While these new materials are somewhat difficult to fasten together as they must be predrilled and you have to use special fasteners, once completed, they are incredibly solid and long lasting!
The elevated nest tray should also keep the peregrines nesting activities off the new waterproofing membrane and out off the water soaked rain gutter, ensuring a dry, safe nesting place, and will protect the new roof membrane from being scrapped and damaged by the adult peregrines.
The new Rogers nest tray is a typical example of the new style nest trays that the CPF is now building and installing, in addition to replacing most all of the original nest trays and nest boxes as money becomes available to us to replace the aging old nest boxes and nest trays at many of the other existing nest sites. Some of our first nest boxes and nest trays have been in use since we installed them back in 1997!!
Many of these original nest trays and nest boxes are in desperate need of being replaced, as they have succumb to wood rot, as they have become waterlogged and fading bad.
In any case, we are very eager to see how quickly the resident peregrine pair will take onto the new nest tray.
Stay tuned……….
Posted on January 5, 2015 8:50 pm
December 27, 2014 - Toronto - Hearn Power Station
CPF Postmaster Reports:
Dec. 27th - 2014
A big thanks to Mike for sending in some of his recent photos of Peter that he snapped of Peter while out on the spit December 27th - 2014.
Hi,
I was at the Spit on 27 Dec 2014. I went looking for the Purple Sandpiper at the end of Peninsula A but instead I found Peter the adult male Peregrine. His leg is tagged 46Y. Peter was preening the whole time I was there. He’s looking very active and healthy. Here are a few pics.
Mike Dizonno
Posted on January 5, 2015 8:20 pm
December 21, 2014 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre
Tracy Simpson Reports:
Today I met with the painters for the final coat to be applied to the south facing ledge of the east tower. I arrived early and stopped in at Eagle Road and Bloor for a look around in the hopes of spotting the resident adults. Oh I found them alright… …Jack was sitting in O’Connors spot on the camera with a nice crop and looking ready for a nap. As I panned with my binoculars across the ledge at first I wasn’t sure what I was seeing but yes… …that large lump sticking up just above the edge of the ledge was indeed O’Connors head and bulbous crop. I snapped a few pictures from below and checked in on the camera and there she was on the edge of the tray also napping the morning away. I went into the lobby and met up with the crew to get ready for our final ascent on this ledge.
We gathered gear and headed outside to the mezzanine level for our lift. I checked the ledge and saw that Jack had left his roost. I checked the web camera image for O’Connor and she had also left her roost. I scanned around for the two but could not immediately find them so we loaded the stage and made ready to go. It was then I looked up to where we were headed and saw O’Connor sitting on the west arm of the swing stage looking back down at us. Hmmmm.
We began our lift and I watched her as we went. She looked down at us but remained roosting the whole time. As we approached the ledge we stopped and waited for her to move off but she remained quite content to stay there. We went a little higher and still no reaction. We continued to go up a few feet and give her time to acclimatize to our presence and I was at the ready should she come in for a closer look. It was as we were almost at our destination that she decided to take off and flew directly over to the Kingsway on the Park roof to continue roosting.
As the painters set about completing the south face and ledge I continued to watch for Jack and O’Connor. Halfway through our task Jack flew out from the east side of the east tower and around to the west tower Moneris sign. O’Connor followed moments later and there the two remained until our task was complete. It was only as we were descending for the day that O’Connor reappeared to the south and flew out and around the nest tower to the Aberfoyle side of the building.
I will post the camera shots and pictures that I took today shortly so check back soon for some images of the resident adults.
Posted on December 21, 2014 11:34 pm
December 21, 2014 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre
Tracy Simpson Reports:
Post for Saturday Dec 20th
This Saturday was an amazing day for the painting to continue with mild temperatures and sunshine. The ledge that we were now working on was the ledge to the west of the nest ledge that Jack likes to use as a hangout and food prep area. When I arrived, O’Connor was in her favorite position on top of the web camera roosting in the sun and Jack was not in my view. I met with the painters in the east lobby and as we were gathering up gear and setting our game plan, the pigeons on Aberfoyle went wild. I went outside and caught sight of O’Connor out on a morning hunt. Back inside we went and up to the east mezzanine to prepare to lift. We were greeted by a trickle down shower of feathers from above, the hunt most obviously was successful. With a full crop she was now hopefully set for a nap.
Our lift to the top and paint applications went very well without so much as a peep from the resident adults. O’Connor made one flight out to the west and appeared to swoop up to the west tower Moneris sign which is one of her favored roosts. The painters were able to tape off, measure and apply the first coat of paint to this face of the building and make things ready for the final coat to be added on Sunday. All went well and the weather cooperated to make the job run smoothly.
Painting of this ledge will continue Sunday and if all goes well will be completed then.
Posted on December 21, 2014 11:08 pm
December 21, 2014 - Toronto - Don Mills
Bruce Massey Reports:
With the nest camera back online and showing us views of the adult peregrines active around the site, I decided to venture out to do a quick check in. One of the most conspicuous things about Quest these days is that in the camera shots taken of her at the box, the antenna of her transmitter could not be seen at all. I set out to try and confirm whether the female was Quest and if she was now backpack free.
I found her in and around the nest box soaking up the sun and with my scope was able to get excellent looks at her back. I can say without doubt that the backpack harness and transmitter she has been wearing for the past several years is no longer there. Quest was looking quite fabulous, all her feathers sitting neatly preened across her back and chest. I was also able to confirm her recovery band number as Black 96 over Green V as she sat sunbathing. The male was also quite active in the area and the two met at the box a number of times bowing and vocalizing together. I set the scope on the male and turned my attention to the task of confirming his identity.
He spent a great deal of time up on the Harlequin building sitting in the sun and I waited for him to do some stretching and reveal the look I was seeking. At first glance I was able to only see the USFW band and it was covered in blue tape. This was not consistent with Skye, the male that was with Quest this past nest season. I continued to watch and finally got the look that I was waiting for. The band number that I could clearly see was a solid Black Y over 72 with blue tape which turns out to be a bird hatched in 2013 at the Amexon nest site named Lucky.
We are unsure when this change took place and where Skye is currently. We will have to wait until spring to clearly understand whether Lucky or Skye will be Quest’s mate for the 2015 nesting season.
Posted on December 21, 2014 10:53 pm
December 19, 2014 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre
Mark Nash Reports:
Friday December 19th - 2014
A good day,,, and the painting is almost completed at the upper elevations around the nest ledge. We arrived this morning to observe one of the resident falcons perched on top of the nest ledge camera. By the time the swing stage got to the nest level, it had flown off, so I can’t tell you which of the two resident falcons was on the camera.
Throughout the day the falcons didn’t make an appearance, and we got a good safe undisturbed go-round! The second camera was uncovered as the final paint was applied and the painters will not have to return to this particular elevation again as the painting has been completed. One, perhaps two more days on the south side of the east tower, (in particular, the south east ledge that Jack can usually be found roosting and prepping food). His man cave 
I guess you could call it.
Tomorrow, Tracy from the CPF will be attending with the painters to ensure that everything goes safe and well for all. Hopefully the milder weather will hold out that may allow the painters to be able to complete both the first and second coats of black and white paint at this elevation around this ledge. Lets prey it doesn’t rain again!!!!
Stay tuned for Tracy’s report…….
Posted on December 20, 2014 12:00 am
