July 05, 2014 - Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton
Mark Nash Reports:
The best is yet to come!!! Photographers get your camera’s!!!
Remember that the family rearing process is far from being over, as its now dads turn. Over the next 30 plus days, the adult males will be doing most of the flight and hunt training with the fledglings, leaving the resident adult females some time to themselves to catch up on some most needed sleep and de-stress time. WE often see the adult females on the nest ledges doing some est box or nest tray rearranging and sleeping.
The fledglings will still be completely dependant on the adults for food, protection and support for the next 30 to 60 days as they will be staying very close to home around the nest buildings.
We often forget that the fledglings (I guess we can call them juveniles now, as they are the equivalent of teenagers in their mind set), still have no idea that they have actually been eating birds, as their food has been prepared by their parents. Many of the food packages have already had their heads removed, and with many of the feathers already having been removed, and as such, the juveniles have had no idea what they have actually been eating!
Of course its birds and only birds, but the young peregrines must be taught this!
They must be taught how to chase, stoop and dive for things and encouraged to chase their parents for the food. They must be shown what to hunt, how to hunt, how to catch it and how to kill it and then how to prepare it. The fledglings still have a long way to go before they are actually able to catch food themselves!
For the next few weeks, its all fun and games (at least for the fledglings),, but they are actually be taught important life skills that will prepare them for survival on their own this fall.
The fledglings, (juveniles) will succumb to a couple of thousand years to migrate in the fall and they will be on their own.
Most all of the resident territorial nesting adults at our southern Ontario urban nest sites will NOT migrate, and they will stay on territory all year. The adults have learned that you they can survive in the city all year long, (urban adaptation), and have figured out that there is an abundance of food around all year long, ideal habitat, no predation and lots of warmth from the buildings, especially from that of the illuminated signs that they roost on.
But the young of the year will go! Being creatures of habit (almost to a fault), what they know, they deal with,,, what they don’t know, they avoid! So its up to the parents to teach them as much as they can over next two months so the fledglings have the necessary life skills to be able to survive on their own. The fledgling juveniles typically migrate south to central and southern America for the winter months and have a very long trip south with many dangers.
Also remember, that the peregrine has more than an 80% mortality rate until it reaches breeding age (typically between two and three years of age), with the higher percentage of this mortality happening in the first year of their lives.
For all of the photographers out there, this is the best opportunity for some incredible photos of the adults training the fledglings over the next 30 plus days!! This is the time to really enjoy your peregrines,, so get out there with your cameras and spend some time with them!
Posted on July 5, 2014 12:01 pm
July 05, 2014 - Mississauga - Executive Centre
Mark Nash Reports:
The best is yet to come!!! Photographers get your camera’s!!!
Remember that the family rearing process is far from being over, as its now dads turn. Over the next 30 plus days, the adult males will be doing most of the flight and hunt training with the fledglings, leaving the resident adult females some time to themselves to catch up on some most needed sleep and de-stress time. WE often see the adult females on the nest ledges doing some est box or nest tray rearranging and sleeping.
The fledglings will still be completely dependant on the adults for food, protection and support for the next 30 to 60 days as they will be staying very close to home around the nest buildings.
We often forget that the fledglings (I guess we can call them juveniles now, as they are the equivalent of teenagers in their mind set), still have no idea that they have actually been eating birds, as their food has been prepared by their parents. Many of the food packages have already had their heads removed, and with many of the feathers already having been removed, and as such, the juveniles have had no idea what they have actually been eating!
Of course its birds and only birds, but the young peregrines must be taught this!
They must be taught how to chase, stoop and dive for things and encouraged to chase their parents for the food. They must be shown what to hunt, how to hunt, how to catch it and how to kill it and then how to prepare it. The fledglings still have a long way to go before they are actually able to catch food themselves!
For the next few weeks, its all fun and games (at least for the fledglings),, but they are actually be taught important life skills that will prepare them for survival on their own this fall.
The fledglings, (juveniles) will succumb to a couple of thousand years to migrate in the fall and they will be on their own.
Most all of the resident territorial nesting adults at our southern Ontario urban nest sites will NOT migrate, and they will stay on territory all year. The adults have learned that you they can survive in the city all year long, (urban adaptation), and have figured out that there is an abundance of food around all year long, ideal habitat, no predation and lots of warmth from the buildings, especially from that of the illuminated signs that they roost on.
But the young of the year will go! Being creatures of habit (almost to a fault), what they know, they deal with,,, what they don’t know, they avoid! So its up to the parents to teach them as much as they can over next two months so the fledglings have the necessary life skills to be able to survive on their own. The fledgling juveniles typically migrate south to central and southern America for the winter months and have a very long trip south with many dangers.
Also remember, that the peregrine has more than an 80% mortality rate until it reaches breeding age (typically between two and three years of age), with the higher percentage of this mortality happening in the first year of their lives.
For all of the photographers out there, this is the best opportunity for some incredible photos of the adults training the fledglings over the next 30 plus days!! This is the time to really enjoy your peregrines,, so get out there with your cameras and spend some time with them!
Posted on July 5, 2014 12:00 pm
July 05, 2014 - Etobicoke - William Osler
Mark Nash Reports:
The best is yet to come!!! Photographers get your camera’s!!!
Remember that the family rearing process is far from being over, as its now dads turn. Over the next 30 plus days, the adult males will be doing most of the flight and hunt training with the fledglings, leaving the resident adult females some time to themselves to catch up on some most needed sleep and de-stress time. WE often see the adult females on the nest ledges doing some est box or nest tray rearranging and sleeping.
The fledglings will still be completely dependant on the adults for food, protection and support for the next 30 to 60 days as they will be staying very close to home around the nest buildings.
We often forget that the fledglings (I guess we can call them juveniles now, as they are the equivalent of teenagers in their mind set), still have no idea that they have actually been eating birds, as their food has been prepared by their parents. Many of the food packages have already had their heads removed, and with many of the feathers already having been removed, and as such, the juveniles have had no idea what they have actually been eating!
Of course its birds and only birds, but the young peregrines must be taught this!
They must be taught how to chase, stoop and dive for things and encouraged to chase their parents for the food. They must be shown what to hunt, how to hunt, how to catch it and how to kill it and then how to prepare it. The fledglings still have a long way to go before they are actually able to catch food themselves!
For the next few weeks, its all fun and games (at least for the fledglings),, but they are actually be taught important life skills that will prepare them for survival on their own this fall.
The fledglings, (juveniles) will succumb to a couple of thousand years to migrate in the fall and they will be on their own.
Most all of the resident territorial nesting adults at our southern Ontario urban nest sites will NOT migrate, and they will stay on territory all year. The adults have learned that you they can survive in the city all year long, (urban adaptation), and have figured out that there is an abundance of food around all year long, ideal habitat, no predation and lots of warmth from the buildings, especially from that of the illuminated signs that they roost on.
But the young of the year will go! Being creatures of habit (almost to a fault), what they know, they deal with,,, what they don’t know, they avoid! So its up to the parents to teach them as much as they can over next two months so the fledglings have the necessary life skills to be able to survive on their own. The fledgling juveniles typically migrate south to central and southern America for the winter months and have a very long trip south with many dangers.
Also remember, that the peregrine has more than an 80% mortality rate until it reaches breeding age (typically between two and three years of age), with the higher percentage of this mortality happening in the first year of their lives.
For all of the photographers out there, this is the best opportunity for some incredible photos of the adults training the fledglings over the next 30 plus days!! This is the time to really enjoy your peregrines,, so get out there with your cameras and spend some time with them!
Posted on July 5, 2014 12:00 pm
July 05, 2014 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre
Mark Nash Reports:
The best is yet to come!!! Photographers get your camera’s!!!
Remember that the family rearing process is far from being over, as its now dads turn. Over the next 30 plus days, the adult males will be doing most of the flight and hunt training with the fledglings, leaving the resident adult females some time to themselves to catch up on some most needed sleep and de-stress time. WE often see the adult females on the nest ledges doing some est box or nest tray rearranging and sleeping.
The fledglings will still be completely dependant on the adults for food, protection and support for the next 30 to 60 days as they will be staying very close to home around the nest buildings.
We often forget that the fledglings (I guess we can call them juveniles now, as they are the equivalent of teenagers in their mind set), still have no idea that they have actually been eating birds, as their food has been prepared by their parents. Many of the food packages have already had their heads removed, and with many of the feathers already having been removed, and as such, the juveniles have had no idea what they have actually been eating!
Of course its birds and only birds, but the young peregrines must be taught this!
They must be taught how to chase, stoop and dive for things and encouraged to chase their parents for the food. They must be shown what to hunt, how to hunt, how to catch it and how to kill it and then how to prepare it. The fledglings still have a long way to go before they are actually able to catch food themselves!
For the next few weeks, its all fun and games (at least for the fledglings),, but they are actually be taught important life skills that will prepare them for survival on their own this fall.
The fledglings, (juveniles) will succumb to a couple of thousand years to migrate in the fall and they will be on their own.
Most all of the resident territorial nesting adults at our southern Ontario urban nest sites will NOT migrate, and they will stay on territory all year. The adults have learned that you they can survive in the city all year long, (urban adaptation), and have figured out that there is an abundance of food around all year long, ideal habitat, no predation and lots of warmth from the buildings, especially from that of the illuminated signs that they roost on.
But the young of the year will go! Being creatures of habit (almost to a fault), what they know, they deal with,,, what they don’t know, they avoid! So its up to the parents to teach them as much as they can over next two months so the fledglings have the necessary life skills to be able to survive on their own. The fledgling juveniles typically migrate south to central and southern America for the winter months and have a very long trip south with many dangers.
Also remember, that the peregrine has more than an 80% mortality rate until it reaches breeding age (typically between two and three years of age), with the higher percentage of this mortality happening in the first year of their lives.
For all of the photographers out there, this is the best opportunity for some incredible photos of the adults training the fledglings over the next 30 plus days!! This is the time to really enjoy your peregrines,, so get out there with your cameras and spend some time with them!
Posted on July 5, 2014 11:58 am
July 04, 2014 - Scarborough - Yellow Pages
Marion Nash Reports:
June 4th - 2014
I can’t think of a slower day, especially for fledglings that are now 50 plus days old!! Its been over a week now on the Scarborough fledge watch and we don’t seem to be any further ahead :-), at least with the two young female fledglings, - Tormey and Petra-Fire!
Petra was released back on the roof top today as she checked out healthy and fit after being rescued from the ground yesterday by Marion and Michael. Given that there were other fledglings on the upper roof elevation and fearing that we may spook the others into a panic flight if she was released at this time, Petra spent the evening in a carrier at security. A wise decision anyway, so she could be observed much closer to ensure that she had not been injured in her hard meeting with the concrete. A hold-over is always a wise idea to insure that undetected traumas don’t manifest. A final examination was completed prior to her release.
After her release, she decided to have a restful day sitting up on the roof top all day long. Her sister, Tormey also sat like a gargoyle most of the day having not left the ledge she had flown to yesterday. Even Loran spent a lazy day with only a couple short flights, but for the most parts all three juveniles and both parents didn’t do allot of flying at all. Can’t figure it out, it was a great day, much cooler from the debilitating heat and humidity that we have all been through this past few days!
There were constant cool breezes all day and what we would have expected to be perfect flying conditions for all, but this was not the case today. While the little fledgling male (named Lorne) is flying very good, the two girls have yet to take their first real flights away from the building.
Linn - (Mom) went after a gull today with some spectacular stoops and dives seemingly without any provocation and chased it clear out of sight to the south east of the nest building. Don’t know what was up with that, as over the past week while we have been on the fledge watch out here at Yellow Pages, both adults have not given any of the gulls any attention, even the ones that were flying only several feet above the building rooftop.
At one point earlier on in the week, a gull repeatedly stooped one of the young fledglings right in front of the adults, and they didn’t give it a second look and just watched the gull stoop the juvenile.
Otherwise it was a very quite an uneventful day on the watch for all of us. It was so slow today, we are all starting to count windows on the building to keep us occupied and awake 
We’re all going to compare window counts later on this weekend. Oh my goodness, HELP US STAY AWAKE!
We were joined by Patty for a couple of hours this afternoon who was able to get a few photos with her new 500mm lens. Michael also joined us for a short time today who brought out his 800mm lens to snap a few photos of the fledglings.
By 8pm, it was quite apparent that everyone was tucked in for the evening and absolutely no activity was observed by the time we closed the fledge watch shift down for the evening. We all departed by 9:05pm and departed fro home.
A big thank you to Dave and Bonny for coming out and helping us at the fledge watch today, and to Paul from Petra for getting us to the upper roof elevation to release little Petra-fire back to her parents.
Stay tuned, we’ll be back out again tomorrow…..
Posted on July 5, 2014 11:29 am
July 04, 2014 - Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton
Marion Nash Reports:
I sat out for over two hours today and had brief glimpses of the Canada Square peregrine family. I was lucky enough to see all five at once !
Malik was on Rio-Can (RC)when I arrived but flew shortly after that. Haven flew in and perched. A few minutes later Malik returned and the two of them spent almost the two hours there. A juvenile flew from somewhere at the north end of the apartment building at 411 Duplex Ave went around the east side of RC, south and circled over Canada Square before flying back to RC.
The *twosome* then took to the air briefly and disappeared over RC.
Finally I had Haven and Malik still on RC and the *twosome* in tandem, with the third one close by over RC. I saw brief interaction between the solo flier and one of the *twosome* - they talon touched and then one of them flew up Duplex Ave to the apartment building at 500 Duplex. I know I always have the number wrong but it is the first tall building on the west side above Eglinton. The little guy flew to the antenna on top if the building.
There was a brief lull in activity and then I saw another juvie flying to the same building, join the juvie there and they flew together.
That was it. A brief encounter in the late afternoon. I was chatting to a friend and when I looked up later on, both Malik and Haven had flown so I came home.
All three juvies are flying well and when flying with the wind they are fast! Thank goodness they do that above the buildings!
Lyn
Posted on July 5, 2014 10:06 am
July 05, 2014 - Toronto - King Street
Tracy Simpson Reports:
As our oldest couple in southern Ontario, when I was down on the watch I wanted to take a moment during the lull to take a few pictures of them. I was fortunate enough to have the pair together in the St. James spire and I was able to really see the enormity of Erin. Her size is so impressive and with Windwhistler there to compare her to, she really stands out as an impressive female.
While the shot isn’t the best given the height of the spire but I wanted to share now that I have a moment to go through some of my photos.
Posted on July 5, 2014 9:51 am
July 04, 2014 - Windsor - Ambassador Bridge
Marilyn Weller Reports:
Maureen reports:
Today I spent just two hours at the bridge. Shi Bi was high on the ledge, seemingly content. She was joined briefly by Maya and Sojourner; Lancaster landed higher up the bridge, denying a great photo op with all four in a row. Three of the four flying very well, in and out of the bridge. Mom and dad flew by but did not stick around.
Seeing how three of four are not in danger, and Shi Bi is able to fly and was on a high ledge, I made the executive decision to not stick around today. Yesterday Shi Bi did not leave that ledge, it was sort of boring watching and waiting and nothing happening. From the evening reports I am pretty confident Shi Bi can fly and land up high, certainly the other three are not having any issues.
Lancaster continues to be a good big brother, sitting with Shi Bi on the ledge and trying to entice her to fly off with him.
The CBC radio reporter dropped by briefly, just to take pictures, and I think got decent shots of all four on the east side of the bridge. The kids were compliant today. Kerri was with me today, she also got some good picks, we left just before noon.
Now the fun starts, as we can watch for pleasure, without too much worry!
maureen
And from Marliese:
I had just about the same experience in my morning stint. I took over from Cathy at 8 . Although she and Mike reported lots of flying and feeding around 7 , it was the other 3 that did the flying. Shibi was getting a suntan so I did not have much worry on my solo watch. Kerri arrived at 9:30. so I was happy to leave a bit early to get to my 10 appt. I did not leave the sign because I made the same executive decision as you that there would be little activity and little worry to come back for this afternoon. I may drop in tonight and touch base with Marilyn.
It’s Marilyn’s call when we put closure to the scheduled observations. I will be out of town for a week as of monday morning. I plan to drop in sat and sun morning for about an hour and perhaps sunday night. I will take down the calendar signs and notes. ‘
I will contact Cathy to collect her sign.
Perhaps Marilyn could contact Dan at the Bridge to let him know we are shutting down and he could get his staff to collect the pilons. Don’t know if we were supposed to put them away every night. I guess there is no hurry to return the stop signs. I have not seen the women drivers of the truck for several days.
I am so relieved that Shi Bi seems to have gained confidence in her flying and landings. Let’s hope that is the end of our panic for her.
Marliese
I came by after dinner and got to see some fun chases by Maya, Sojourner, and Lancaster. Shi Bi was being lazy and hanging out on a high ledge although she did do some great flights around.
Since all 4 are flying well and seem to be mastering their landings, I would suggest that the need for vigilant watch shifts is behind us for this year. Hurray!!
Heart-felt thanks to all of our dedicated watch team. We’ve gladly added some new members to the team this year and are very grateful for their commitment of time and energy keeping the kids safe!
Now we can sit back and enjoy the antics of flight school.
By the way, I printed up some nifty “Falcon Watch Volunteer” signs for our cars. I have a stack in my car so I’ll be glad to pass along so you don’t get hassled when you’re at the bridge this summer.
Thanks again and keep your eyes toward the skies!
Marilyn
Posted on July 4, 2014 9:04 pm
July 04, 2014 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre
Kathy Reports:
Thanks to Tracy who alerted to me to the fact that both Sunni and Skyla were at home on the nest ledge this afternoon. I managed to grab this capture of the two of them. I’ve been hearing them more than I’m seeing them when I’ve been out checking. Both seem to be doing well!
Posted on July 4, 2014 4:47 pm
July 04, 2014 - Toronto - Sheraton Centre
CPF Postmaster Reports:
July 3rd - 2014
Thanks to Doreen for sending in some good web cam shots of the Toronto Sheraton that has RM spending some quiet time back at home on nest ledge. The fledglings are all out terrorizing their new world and the both adults are now able to take a few moments throughout the day catching up on some well deserved sleep and relax time!!
Although the family rearing process is far from being over, its now dads turn. Over the next 30 plus days, the adult male (Tiago in this case) will be doing most of the flight and hunt training with the fledglings, leaving RM some time to her self to catch up on some most needed sleep and de-stress time.
Remember that the fledglings will still be completely dependant on the adults for food, protection and support for the next 30 to 60 days. We often forget that the fledglings (I guess I can call them juveniles, as they are the equivalent of teenagers now), still have no idea that they have actually been eating birds as their food sources have been prepared by their parents. Many of the avian food packages have not even had heads, and with many of the feathers already removed, and the juveniles have had no idea what they have actually been eating! Of course its birds and only birds, but the young peregrines have no idea that’s what they have been eating up until this point. They must be taught.
They must be taught how to stoop and dive, catch food packages, and encouraged to chase their parents for the food, shown what to hunt, how to hunt, how to catch it and how to kill it and prepare it. The fledglings still have a long way to go yet before they are actually able to catch food themselves!
For all of the photographers out there, this is the best opportunity for some incredible photos of the adults training the fledglings over the next 30 plus days!! This is the time to really enjoy your peregrines,, so get out there with your cameras and spend some time with them!
While the Toronto Sheraton is a difficult nest site given all of the traffic and hi-rises to get the great shots, there are many other urban nest sites that offer unobstructed air space around the nest sites that offer incredible opportunities to get some really great photos of the adults training the fledglings. Its all going to happen around the nest sites themselves. Remember, for the nest 30 to 60 days, this is still the safe place and HOME for the juveniles and although they may stray from the nest site during the day while they are investigating their new found world, they will be back each morning and evening to get food.
Hmmmm, (for those of you that have teenagers, does this ring a bell)??
Teenagers are always back home for food, laundry, extra money, keys to the family car,,, and the list goes on and on). Thank goodness the resident adults don’t have to do their laundry 
!!
Stay tuned…………..
Posted on July 4, 2014 10:20 am
