May 14, 2014 - Mississauga - Executive Centre
Tracy Simpson Reports:
This morning I headed down to the MEC site to be there for Mason’s dawn adventures as this seems to be his most active time of the day. When I arrived, the sun was just beginning to come up and he was still perched where I left him last night on the southwest corner of MEC 3. He was vocal and bouncy from 5:30am right up until the adults began to tease with food. Oh dear, here we go…
At 6:15am, Mason made the decision to follow Rogue over to MEC 4 where he knew she had a stash of something over there. His take-off was tentative but once in the air he flew very well all the way to MEC 4 and stopped just short of the concrete backstop that he learned about yesterday. He received a full escort by both adults and landed on the top of the window column fairly well. He scrounged around for scraps but there were none to be had. This called for a nap. He slept for about 30 mins and was up bouncing around by 6:45am. Mason started with just flapping and exercising but quickly graduated to ledge hopping in his renewed search for food. On one of his ledge hops, just before 7am, he was off and in the air.
Once airborne he decided to try for the nest building and flew out towards MEC 1. At the last minute he veered off and attempted to go to MEC 2. Rogue flew with him and tried to steer him back to MEC 1 but by this time he had lost some altitude and flumped into the windows just below the nest ledge. He recovered immediately and tried to go to MEC 3. Flump… …more windows brushed up against. He recovered and tried for MEC 4. Yup, another flump into the windows and each time losing a bit more altitude. By this time he had been in the air for a good 2 minutes and he did a great little set wing soar back towards MEC 2. I was now down at the bus stop at the end of the MEC 1 driveway as I was sure he was coming down to a lower elevation. He turned and made one last attempt for MEC 4. I stood there and now could not help myself. I started talking quite loudly to him telling him to cut it out and pump his wings like mad. The two people at the bus stop thought I was utterly mad and talking to the clouds when all of a sudden… …flump! Right into the windows of MEC 4. This time he was quite exhausted and his confidence deflated. He fluttered down and landed on the sidewalk just outside the Paradise Cafe at MEC 4.
I raced across the street and found Mason sitting on his bottom on the sidewalk looking tuckered out and deflated. He surely intended this adventure in flight to be pretty cool and get him home in time for breakfast. I scooped him up, walked him over to MEC 1 and placed him in the rescue carrier. As I walked past the people at the bus stop they just managed a smile at the cloud talking lady that now had a hissy little bird in a towel.
After 10 minutes I checked on our young Mason and he was just fine. He hissed at me and demanded immediate release but that was not happening. After a rescue we always hold a bird for a period of time and examine them for potential injures before releasing them. Mason would have to wait for the afternoon shift with Mark to take another shot at making a good impression.
While this adventure in “window washing” sounds quite scary, this is the best thing that could have happened to him. Most of the young fledglings that do not get early experience with windows and learn that they are a solid object potentially can strike them later on when they are overconfident and flying much faster. Mason’s experience has taught him a very valuable lesson that will go a long way in helping him succeed at earning his wings. While stressful for us watchers, a slow flump against a window is a blessing compared to a full on strike. A great lesson learned today Mason!!
Grace took over for me monitoring Mason throughout the day and watching the behavior between the adults as they work out this new relationship. Bruce is there now with Mason and Mark and they are preparing for his release on the MEC 1 roof. Great job everyone and thanks to all for their support of the MEC family, in particular Colliers International for hosting the pair and Garda Security along with MEC staff for all their support.
Look for a follow up report of Mason’s release very soon!!
Posted on May 14, 2014 5:53 pm
May 13, 2014 - Mississauga - Executive Centre
Tracy Simpson Reports:
I headed down to the MEC site last night at 3pm for the closing shift to relieve Margaret and Grace who were holding the fort watching Mason. After his first flight in the morning that Mark witnessed, Grace and Margaret saw two more flights leaving from MEC 3, circling around and landing back in the same spot. Both flights were good strong ones with the last one having the best landing so far.
A little later we were joined by Shannon who will be out watching Mason this weekend and we filled her in on all of his great adventures. After bidding goodnight to Grace and Shannon, Winston arrived and we set in at MEC 1 for the close of the evening. I received several calls about the coming storm and so Winston and I were ready for the potential high winds that were predicted. Mason was still on MEC 3 on the southwest corner and was up and down into the well in between naps.
At around 7pm, the male flew in with food to Mason with Rogue right behind him and the fledgling began to have his fill. The male flew off to the nest box but Rogue remained with Mason and was looking west alarm calling. Winston and I were trying to figure out what she was all upset about and as we turned around to look all we could see was a wall of black headed our way, fast!! We grabbed our stuff and dove for cover under the overhang of MEC 1 just as the cold front hit and it was not as bad as it looked. Mason sat in the brief rain that we experienced and enjoyed a bath while we watched the rain come down.
Mason stayed quite settled on the southwest corner of MEC 3 for the rest of the evening and right at dusk Rogue arrived to tuck him in. Given that he had already had three flights yesterday and was looking to get home, I decided that I needed to be here at dawn for his next great adventure. With that I took my leave and the whole family settled in for the night.
A great big thank you to Mark, Grace, Margaret, Shannon, Winston and all of Mason’s fans at Garda Security and MEC for a great day of watching. Your support has been so tremendous and I can’t thank you enough.
Posted on May 14, 2014 5:13 pm
May 14, 2014 - Toronto - King Street
Kathy Reports:
It is with particular joy that I announce first hatch at King Street! Erin and Windwhistler are both 16 years old this year and are without a doubt a very special pair!
Thank you to DEF from BCAW for catching the first hatch! DEF also said that Windwhistler was so excited that he came in with food twice in 10 minutes for the baby!
Posted on May 14, 2014 4:26 pm
April 28, 2014 - Toronto - Don Mills and Eglinton - Amexon
Mark Nash Reports:
Monday April 28th - 2014
A quick site visit to the Don Mills nest site revealed what we were all suspecting, full time incubation is well underway and four eggs!!
While the Don Mills pair are now into their third year of nesting, they have chosen to set up house on the east column top of 250 Ferrand Drive instead of the sister building at 150.
For the past few weeks, the pair have been observed coming and going from a ledge on the top of an east facing column on 250 Ferrand Drive and obviously decided to utilize this new spot to lay and incubate their eggs.
The timing of my visit was perfect, as I caught the two involved in a shift change and was easily able to snap a few photos of resident adult moving onto the eggs. The best news, is that they are in hard incubation with 4 eggs and we’re all pretty excited about this news. Sadly, although, I was not able to get an identity of either resident adult birds given the speed of the shift change and my viewing angle.
Stay tuned,,,,,,,,,,
Posted on May 14, 2014 11:48 am
May 13, 2014 - Toronto - Don Mills
Marion Nash Reports:
To everyone watching the Duncan Mill Rd. falcon family.
Banding day for the chicks is set for May 28th at 10:00 AM at the Harlequin office. Should be fun to watch as sky the new father might just give our volunteer rock climber something to remember him by. Keep an eye on the web cam May 28th.
A very big thank you to Harlequin for once again hosting the banding!!!
Posted on May 14, 2014 11:10 am
May 13, 2014 - Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton
Marion Nash Reports:
Lyn was out today and got these shots while the adults were off the eggs. Looks like one of the chicks is piping and should hatch soon later today of tomorrow.
Posted on May 14, 2014 10:48 am
May 14, 2014 - Toronto - Sheraton Centre
Kathy Reports:
Thank you to Kitty who captured this great photo of 4 babies being fed by mom this morning!! Congratulations to RM and Tiago!!
Posted on May 14, 2014 7:44 am
May 13, 2014 - Toronto - Sheraton Centre
Marion Nash Reports:
On May 30th at 2:00 PM The Canadian peregrine Foundation and The Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources will be banding this years baby peregrine falcons produced at The Sheraton in the Pinnacle Room on the 43 floor of the Downtown Toronto Sheraton Hotel.
If you are interested in attending please call Marion Nash at The Canadian peregrine Foundation at 416-481-1233. There will be limited space available for guests and everyone must be added to the list who wishes to attend.
We are looking forward to seeing all our Falcon friends and admirers and of course the new additions to Toronto’s Falcon Family.
For those who can’t attend 
you can watch some of the action on the web cam.
Posted on May 13, 2014 9:13 pm
May 13, 2014 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre
Marion Nash Reports:
The banding of the Etobicoke Bloor and Islington Peregrine Falcon chicks is set for 2:00 PM May 28th in the lobby of the east tower by the All Trans Financial. We will start the ceremony at 1:30 with introductions and short explanation of the procedure before the chicks are brought down from the nest ledge high above.
Come out to watch your falcon babies get their bands and their names all are welcome get their early to get up close.
Posted on May 13, 2014 9:01 pm
May 13, 2014 - Mississauga - Executive Centre
Mark Nash Reports:
Tuesday May 13th - 2014
MEC fledge watch AM report:
AT my arrival shortly after 5am, I located the three peregrines right away, with little Mason back up onto the top of the retaining wall at MEC #1 / the nest building. All of the three birds were wet and not looking too amused at their wet body conditions.
Tuesday May 13th - 2014- Am & Afternoon watch:
Shortly after 6:15 am, Mason finally took his first short flight in an effort to get closer to his mom who was perched and roosting the top of the glass columns on MEC #3. With a constant south wind in his face, and a direct line of sight flight, he didn’t have of a much of a problem with this short flight and only really lost 15 or feet of elevation. The landing was far less graceful, and his flight ended rather abruptly!
Had it not been for the solid concrete wall that he face planted into, he would not have been able to stop for sure! He literally bounced off the solid concrete wall (via his face), and flopped down onto the top of the column ledge out of my view!
Oh my goodness, I caught myself talking to myself out loud,, Well that’s gotta hurt!!! OUCH would be an understatement!!!
Seconds later he reappeared and I saw him stand up and come out to the leading edge of the column, shaking his head, then a big roust, and finally perched and roosting on one leg as if nothing had happened. Well, a hard headed peregrine (in a addition to his feisty attitude), quite a mix! Mom watched the entire event (including his collision with the concrete wall) and simply watched the entire event unfold without any reaction!
With both Grace and Marg in attendance and Mason in good hands, and Mason seemingly content is his present position on MEC #3, I was able to slip out around 3:30pm to attend to other CPF business.
Posted on May 13, 2014 7:01 pm
