July 02, 2014 - Toronto - Sheraton Centre
Linda Woods Reports:
After reading Harry’s report from this morning, I was a little more optimistic this afternoon. It wasn’t long after arriving that I spotted Olivia on a building south of the Hotel. She turned and I was able to see her coloured band. The other three enjoy their air games, chasing the adults. I hope we still see them sitting all together again, but for now they like their individual hiding places.
Posted on July 2, 2014 8:46 pm
July 01, 2014 - Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton
Marion Nash Reports:
I had a good two hours with the peregrines today. I arrived at 5:45 pm and there was no one about! But things began moving a few minutes into my watch.
Firstly, one juvenile popped up on the top ledge 4 south of the big wall on Canada Square. Next up were two flying together and I still had *solo* in view on the ledge, so I had the three juvies again today!
I am assuming that the two together were Equinox and Linden simply because they have been flying together almost since fledging. The little chappie on his own must have been Chinook.
All three juvies gave a wonderful exhibition of their progress in flying and I would say they have mastered flying 101 and 102 and are now working on flying 103. Their flights are all strong! Equinox and Linden are now flying *at speed* and zipping around all the buildings in the area, the two condos, Rio-Can, 2180 Yonge, over 2190 Yonge and of course all over and around the home building Canada Square. They dive on one another, tag each other and practise their talon touching although I had a really scary moment today! The two little daredevils talon GRABBED over Rio-Can and continued flying latched on to one another over the apartment building on Duplex Avenue getting lower and lower until finally letting go. Then they zipped around some more and later on did the same thing over the north end of Canada Square and Y/E intersection although not for as long!
Malik challenged them to some flying competition. In spite of their progress he still outmanoeuvres and out flies them. You can see when he puts on a spurt, they are just left fluttering in the breeze. He did have all three in the air at one time and there is still a difference in skill between Chinook and the other two but Chinook has improved tremendously since last week! He is maintaining altitude and choosing to fly lower then climbing. He circles around for a climb to a higher perch and does well. I think it was a bit breezy higher up today because all seemed to struggle flying due west. When they flew east it looked so easy!
Haven was nowhere to be seen for quite a while but she did eventually come flying in from the east with a food parcel. Hysteria and pandemonium in the air over Canada Square!! One juvie tried twice to take the food from her and missed but Haven hung onto it. Then on the third attempt he took it, flew halfway across the roof of Canada Square and landed somewhere out of view.
One of the two older ones is practising stoops now, not chasing anything but his wings were back and he went into a dive albeit a short one. One of them also amused me by doing a sort of *roll over* defence thing even though there was no-one ton whom he could present talons. It looks really funny, as if he is tumbling.
One was on the very top *spire* of the north west corner of the tall condo when his brother climbed and just bumped him off.
One of the boys popped up on Canada Square and he had a huge crop! I am guessing he was the one who grabbed the food parcel from Haven without so much as a please or thank you. His chest bulged so much he looked like a wannabe starlet.
All three juveniles were in the air again before I left. They flew at different times, over different places and to different spots but all were high. None of them struggled to fly, except when flying west.
Lyn
Posted on July 2, 2014 8:24 am
July 01, 2014 - Scarborough - Yellow Pages
Mark Nash Reports:
July 1st - 2014
All three high and now flying!!!
Well, its been a very busy 24 hours and apologize for the very late posting and update on my part. I actually fell asleep at the computer on Tuesday night and woke-up with the telephone ringing at 6:30am from one of the other fledge watch teams. Its been a long time since I’ve actually slept sitting upright hung over my computer!!! Talk about aching!!! I don’t recommend that you try this !!
Well, there is not much I can say at this point as its really old news now that a day has passed since this outdated report, and the fact that I actually missed the best of what happened with my having been called away from the Yellow Pages fledge watch to go and do another rescue of a down fledgling from another nest site out in Pickering.
The three hatchlings have now all fledged and aside of the usual bumps and grinds, they are all out of the nest! The two girls, (Petra-Fire and Tormey) have only taken one flight each - out and immediately turned and returned back to the building ledges), have both survived their maiden voyages!
Lorne, the little male is doing short flights from the various elevations on the nest building and starting to build allot of confidence. It won’t be long before he starts doing some much better flights. Linn, their mom, is withholding food from the two girls and Lorne is getting the lions share of the food for sure, obviously being rewarded for all of his efforts. The two sisters are constantly screaming for food, not two days without food!!
Talk about motivation by the parents!! Despite their withholding food, both Linn and Ruben are keeping a very close eye on all three fledglings, and I must say that they are really an experienced well tuned parents! They have really got their act together and really working well together in comparison to some of the other less experienced pairs that I have watched this season. As you know, some of the other nest sites have new mates (along with experienced mates), and although they all have been outstanding in their efforts at family rearing, you can still see a huge difference with an older experienced pair at family rearing.
A big thank you to Cathy, Dave and Marion for all their efforts today as they were the ones that were going a little crazzzy with most of the activity this evening during my absence at the other nest site.
I have attached some of the other rescue photos from this afternoon just to let you all know that I really was called away for another rescue. Sadly, we can say where the nest site is as we do not have permission to make the nest site public. The photos have been cropped to cut out the backgrounds to protect the identity and location of the nest site.
Stay tuned, more to come………
Posted on July 1, 2014 11:54 pm
July 01, 2014 - Toronto - Sheraton Centre
Linda Woods Reports:
This evening, I had three juveniles making flying around the south side of the hotel making stops on various roof tops. At one time I had three clearly in view and could I.D them through the colour tape. Buzz, Ralphie and Trout were all together. How nice. Unfortunately, Olivia has not been seen since midday. She could be on a lower roof level, but both Bruce and I looked and could not spot her.
When I was looking north along York St at King St. Two individuals were walking along the south roof line of the Sheraton Hotel. They approached the area just above the nest area and west facing logo. They are not connected with any Wildlife Association or Ministry of Natural Resources and they are certainly not with CPF.
. The individuals were, male and female both wearing black clothing, the male carrying a camera with long lens. I have seen this couple illegally on the roof of the King Edward Hotel as well.. Security at both locations have been notified.
This activity stirred up a lot agitation from Rhea Mae and Tiago. Lots of vocalization from the adults in turned agitated the juvies into flight. That is not what I wanted to see at that time of the evening, just as the young ones are settling down and finding a safe place to rest for the night. Who knows where Olivia is now after all that. I am not pleased. I hope both individuals got the” what for ” from Rhea Mae.
Mark Nash has been informed and will be in communication regarding this activity.
Posted on July 1, 2014 10:24 pm
July 01, 2014 - Windsor - Ambassador Bridge
Marilyn Weller Reports:
We are pleased to report that Dave spotted Maya perched atop a student dorm building 2 blocks east of the bridge! All are now accounted for.
Posted on July 1, 2014 3:25 pm
July 01, 2014 - Toronto - Sheraton Centre
Harry Crawford Reports:
Morning Spot Check: By 11:30 Alex and I had the three boys on the
top of one of the taller buildings. Two were then seen playing tag
and touching talons. Olivia was on the roof of a four story
building staying put.
Posted on July 1, 2014 1:47 pm
July 01, 2014 - Windsor - Ambassador Bridge
Marilyn Weller Reports:
Lancaster continues to stun the volunteers with his beautiful and skillful flights. He has been very encouraging to Sojourner and Shi Bi Ke Si and keeps close watch of them, flying alongside to show them how it’s done.
Maya was last seen yesterday afternoon and despite numerous walk-abouts by many volunteers, we have not seen or heard her since yesterday. We’re trying to remain optimistic that she has found her way to a tree or nearby building.
Sojourner entertained the team this morning when she flew to the ground and splashed around in a puddle for a wee bath! She flew with Lancaster in attendance, up to a beam when she had enough splashing.
Shi Bi Ke Si launched for her first flight yesterday, stayed put for the day and tried again this morning. She had trouble gaining altitude and came to the ground between the bridge and road. We managed to walk beside her, guiding her to the fence and she quickly figured out how to climb up a chain link fence! Pictures are of Shi Bi Ke Si.
Posted on July 1, 2014 1:17 pm
July 01, 2014 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre
Baylie Kastner Reports:
We just had a deluge. I looked out of my window and saw a very wet juvenile on the roof of the nest building and Mom perched on the camera keeping dry.
Posted on July 1, 2014 10:31 am
July 01, 2014 - International, National and Local News
Marion Nash Reports:
Yesterday, June 29, while surveying for odes, I had a female Peregrine Falcon buzz low over my head in a stoop. She pulled out of her dive just above water level, hoping to kick something up from the wetland. She was unsuccessful. This is only the 2nd time I’ve seen a “summer” Peregrine in almost 30 years of living in Haliburton County.
Lochlin is a tiny hamlet located SW of Haliburton, along Gelert Rd (Cty Rd 1). The large wetland complex is located on Ritchie Falls Road, about 1.5 km from Gelert Rd.
Cheers,
Ed Poropat
Haliburton, ON
Posted on July 1, 2014 8:54 am
July 30, 2014 - Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton
Marion Nash Reports:
I believe I saw all three but at different times – you be the judge ?
I arrived at about 5:15 pm and there was not a peregrine to be seen! I am not surprised because right at the corner of Eglinton and Duplex was a huge crane. It was not busy when I arrived but obviously had been through the day and became busy again after I had been there about twenty minutes.
Around 5:30pm Haven flew in from the east over the Bell building, over the Y/E intersection, west of Canada Square and over the bus bays, 2190 Yonge, 2180 Yonge and up to the top level on that building. One of the juvies popped up and grabbed the food parcel which Haven was carrying. For a moment I thought it was Haven snatching the food !! It was so similar to her actions with Malik. No please or thank you, just GRAB! He disappeared from sight.
Seven minutes later there were two juveniles in the air and I assumed they were in addition to the one with the food. They flew west to east around the south condo and back and one landed on the antenna on top of 2180. He teetered there a minute as I think it was a tad breezy. His wings were out for balance but eventually he flew. Two youngsters then alit on the antenna and managed a firm hold. They sat for many minutes before flying off.
The next thing I knew was a peregrine flying at high speed around 2180 and up to the railing around the antenna level. This was one of the JUVIES!!!
Later on I was able to identify Linden from the yellow tape on his band! That really stands out in the sunlight! He must have had something to eat because he wiped his beak on the ledge. One juvie flew from the Rio-Can area to over 2180 and beyond then back to land on the railing around the antenna at 2180. Was a slightly clumsy landing but again I think this was due to a slight breeze. He disappeared off the railing and a little later two juvies popped on the edge.
A few minutes later I was enchanted to see one of them just lift off a bit and practise kiting and the touch and go *landing* where they hover above something, drop down and touch it then kite or move on to the next spot where they can repeat this performance. This little chappie had it down pat! Then he flew. The second one on the ledge just stood where he was and held on whilst the wind whistled past his open wings. I left him entertaining himself thus.
Lyn
Posted on July 1, 2014 8:49 am
