Canadian Peregrine Foundation

!!! Lazy Hazy Days Here

May 29, 2012 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre

Kathy Reports:

It’s been so hot the past few days, I’ve not seen the little ones at all.  No doubt they are at the back of the ledge in the corners trying to stay cool.

O’connor has certainly come to life since last week’s banding.  I see her out and about a lot and I’ve heard her yelling while clearing pigeons from the rooftops a few times.   I was lucky enough to see both her and Jack the past few days so all are present and accounted for.

I was also pleasantly surprised to see O’connor fly to and land on top of Condo Tower one this afternoon.  She had largely been avoiding them since her arrival here and I was a bit concerned as that is the perfect place to land for the fledglings on their first flight.  So it’s good to see she’s familiarizing herself with the buildings.

For those of you that were not able to attend the banding- we have 3 girls and 1 boy this year.  Their names are Olympia, Regatta, Windward and our little guy is Euro!

!!! Flapping has started

May 29, 2012 - Windsor - Ambassador Bridge

Dennis Patrick Reports:

Yesterday evening we were there for close to three hours. Before I forget again I saw the coloured band on Twitter when we were there on Sunday. Then yesterday we saw Viper and Twitter again. The other two we just couldn’t see their bands but just by looking at them we could tell which one Eddy was because he still is the smallest but getting bigger everyday. Both Twitter and Viper were doing a lot of flapping yesterday. Voltaire and Freddie seem so much more relaxed this year, we really believe it’s because of the nest tray. All four were walking around and getting in and out of the nest tray very easily. The time we were there Voltaire brought in a food package and then left but in a few minutes she came and fed all four of the chicks. When we left it was so dark we could only see Voltaire sitting on the edge of the nest tray. Thank You again to CPF and the Ambassador Bridge company for their wonderful work on the Banding day.

Stormin and Haven Taking Care of Business

May 29, 2012 - Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton

Frank Butson Reports:

Canada Square Peregrine report for 28th May 2012

I arrived at 5:22pm and had only five minutes before some action took place. Stormin ( as I later found out) flew above the Rio-Can building and the west over 53 Division Police Station. A few minutes later he was back and flew north over the Yonge-Eglinton intersection. Three minutes later he was back and flew high over 53 Division again and was gone. Twenty minutes later he was back, flew over the nest, quite high and then soared high over RC again only to disappear once more. At least I was seeing him today!

Then it was Haven’s turn and she left the nest ledge at Canada Square and flew to the Rio-can building where she perched seven floors down for a few minutes and then flew west. She was back in a minute and flew over the nest then to RC where she perched and preened for a bit. Fifteen minutes later she flew over the nest and back to her perch on RC. Shortly thereafter she flew over the nest again and back along the west side of RC and between RC and the apartment building and was gone from sight, but not for long. Two minutes later she perched on the wall south of the nest before flying low across Eglinton avenue and flushing the pigeons which hang around at the entrance to the mall. She disappeared from view on the east side of RC. However, she got what she set out for ands three minutes later she had a pigeon firmly clasped in her talons! She struggled a wee bit but managed to fly onto the RC roof where she had a bit to eat.

Whilst she was busy I heard a peregrine call from the west and who should come flying in but Stormin and with his OWN food parcel. I could not tell what it was but it looked pretty substantial He flew over the corner where Haven was eating and then disappeared over the RC roof.

Haven then flew from the roof, with her pigeon, around the east side and disappeared for ten minutes. When she reappeared it was without the pigeon and she landed on the wall north of last year’s nest, Shortly after that she flew to the wall at the nest site. At the same time Stormin was flying around on the east side of RC. Haven remained on her wall above the nest for a half an hour. She flew east of the RC and three minutes later was perched five floors down on the RC building. Another half an hour went by and then Haven flew to the nest and disappeared from sight. That was at 8:00 pm. I left at that point. I was very pleased to see both adults today. In my two and a half hours I did not see any food go into the nest.

Lyn

!!! Flying and Fabulous Father

May 29, 2012 - Mississauga - Executive Centre

Frank Butson Reports:

Janet made a few big flights today, keeping her altitude and going long distance both. She made it back to the nest building eventually.

Tracy will edit this part..As we arrived,all 3 falcons were in the air. Janet being harrassed by the new female and Sante protecting Janet. By the time we parked things had momentarily settled. Soon Janet took off again. She headed behind the MEC complex and ended up on a red bricked condo at the corner of Shipp and Rathburn. She landed on a windowsill. There she sat for many hours. By now Tracy had left for a Mississauga school visit so I watched Janet. She wasnt active so I sat down briefly out of visual contact with Janet. I checked several times and she was still there. I saw Sante go to check on her and when we both looked neither her father or I could see her! Ugggh she had flown. I had no idea where. I began scouring every building I could see starting with her last known location. Nothin! Tracy called to say she was on her way back and wanted an update. Frustrated I gave her answers that she was less than happy with.  Finally, while I had been scanning the building she left a fellow saw me looking from his condo unit and came out to the street. He told me it was his windowsill that Janet had rested on and which direction she flew. He said towards the condo across the street. So I went there. I  still couldnt see her. Then I saw 2 falcons on the same ledge at MEC 3.  It turned out it was the new girl and Sante. Back to looking at the other condo. Finally I took the long walk down Rathburn and the backside of the condo where I found Janet! Pheew!! I called Tracy with the good news who by now had arrived and was doing a car search. As I was telling her, she was just down the road at the intersection and spotted Janet too.  Crisis over, Tracy had to get gone to school 2.

Janet stayed atop the condo for several hours. Around 4pm she flew again. Out of my site around the corner. Bruce had just arrived on site and he was relayed the message that Janet was coming his way. He looked up and saw her arrive back at MEC 1. Yeah!! She made it home.

During her stay on the first condo, Sante was trying to bait her off with food. 2 times the new female tried to interfere with this. Sante gave up on the food idea and seemingly came up with his plan of attack..literally. I know we sometimes give human thoughts to Peregrines to explain their actions, but tell me this doesnt sound like Sante was running interference?  He would hover almost in Janets face as if to say ok get ready. Then he made a beeline for the new female where she was perched. He dove at her,stooped her and made contact with her forcing her to duck and cover on the ledge she was on. Not once but at least 3 times he repeated the whole process. My interpretation was that he was keeping the new female busy, giving Janet the chance to fly undisturbed.

 Sante was very very agressive with the new female. He attacked her several times, all over the MEC complex of 4 buildings. He gave suck a display of flying.  As stated in other postings, he is really using alot of his energy to do all of this and I do hope as do we all that he looks after himself too.

As the day started to wind down, Mark arrived and he, Tracy and I discussed the days happenings. Mark was chasing answers about Rogue the resident female that is in rehab. Im sure he will post soon with what he has learned. We sat chatting at MEC 3 when we got a call. Security had a double banded bird down and dead. Our hearts jumped to our throats as Tracy and I went over. Indeed they had a band on both legs of a very dead bird. Fortunately it was a Peregrine meal rather than a Peregrine. It was a banded pigeon! We thanked security for the call and told them to keep calling as the next time it could indeed be an injured (or worse) Peregrine. We are glad they are so vigilant in their inspections of the properties and know to call us ASAP. Thanks again for the call!

Tracy and I will be onsite again today, hoping to see more great flights by Janet and there incase the new female does cause Janet to get into trouble. This dynamic is both high drama and very interesting personally to watch unfold as this is a new experience for me. What a chance to observe what goes on when a resident adult female is (potentially)replaced.(photos to come)

Looking Good

May 28, 2012 - Toronto - Sheraton Centre

Linda Woods Reports:

Striking a pose in front of the camera. This juvie is looking good.

!!! Both Adults on site

May 28, 2012 - Toronto - Mount Sinai Hospital

Linda Woods Reports:

Today at 11:15,  I stopped by the Mt.Sinai site for a quick look around. I found both adults in the area. One was on the north facing signage of Alliance Insurance building, south of the Hospital. The second adult was on the north west corner of 505 University, across the street from the Insurance building. I stayed for about 45 minutes and didn’t see any interaction with the ledges of Mt. Sinai. I think they both just getting out of the direct sunlight.

Janet Back on the Nest Ledge and the Watch Continues

May 27, 2012 - Mississauga - Executive Centre

Tracy Simpson Reports:

The watch at the Mississauga Executive Centre continues with Janet, the remaining female juvenile, having returned to the nest ledge as of last night from the rooftop where she was released and she is now running the ledge like an expert. While she has not made an attempt to take her second flight, she travelled most of the nest building today by hopping from ledge to ledge and running the length of it while flapping most of the way. All this under the watchful eye of Sante, the resident male and Janet’s father who currently has his talons full dealing with not only the loss of his resident female who still remains in rehab (her condition unknown) but also with a new female on site as of yesterday at about 3:oopm. This is a banded female and we were able to confirm that she has a black over green band on her left leg and a purple USFW band on her right.

The adult female is attempting to court the resident male who has no interest in her given that he has a dependant juvenile on the nest ledge at this time. Whenever the male catches food for the chick, this new intruder chases him for it and he is spending an incredible amount of time attempting to dodge her and eventually deliver it to his young. When he is not hunting or dodging her as he attempts to feed, his is actively chasing and stooping her to in an effort to run her out of the territory to protect his young. This is what the male spent most of his day and certainly all of his energy doing. The strain upon this male, without the aid of his female, is enormous and he is struggling to stay on top of things. Sante did manage to feed young Janet at least three times today with the last feeding at around 7:00pm.

We will be back down on the watch tomorrow as we are very concerned about the reaction this new female will have to the fledging of the final juvenile at this site. While the juvenile remains on the ledges it would appear that she is safe as her Dad is roosting beside her (when he gets the opportunity to roost) and stayed by her side each time he was sucessful in bringing her in food.  It is quite interesting that he remains so close to her during each of the feedings.

I cannot stress enough that without the assistance of the resident female, the male is having to work that much harder to feed, defend and direct his chick. He is doing an admirable job at it but it is without doubt draining him. Check back for a more detailed update on the progress of this situation.

We would also like to welcome Suzanne to the watch team and look forward to the updates in the future that she will provide.

!!! Big, Bigger, Bigger and Biggest

May 27, 2012 - Windsor - Ambassador Bridge

Dennis Patrick Reports:

All four of our wonderful chicks are present and accounted for says Ted our early morning chick Watcher. We were there last evening and they were all out of the nest box, resting at first but later all stood up except one of the bigger ones, she just looked like “I’m too hot to stand up so I’m going to lay here until it’s feeding time”. Voltaire came in with food and all three that were standing were fed first then the chick that was sleeping decided it was time for her to be fed as well. Even though we have a scope it is still hard to see the colors on their legs. As long as we see all four of them we’re happy. Thank You Ted for liking the early morning shift.

Quest and Kendal defend their territory Don Mills

May 27, 2012 - Toronto - Don Mills

Ann Brokelman Reports:

Haven Very Active

May 26, 2012 - Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton

Frank Butson Reports:

Canada Square report Saturday May 26 2012.

I arrived at 5:09 pm and having cleaned up a bit of the litter left by others I sat down to observe the peregrines. However, before the peregrines put in an appearance I spotted a turkey vulture flying really high from the north east to south east.

Concentrating on the turkey vulture I missed the arrival of Haven. I did see her take off from the south face of Rio-Can and circle over the building five or six times until she disappeared behind it. Five minutes later I saw Haven on the scrape ledge and then disappear to the back on the south side of that ledge. Fifteen minutes after that she left the ledge and flew to Rio-Can with the remains of a meal in her talons. She appeared undecided about what to do. She was there for a minute and then picked up the remains in her talons again and flew to the building below the mast at 2180 Yonge where she flew to the second window ledge and deposited (stashed) the food. Having ensured it was secure she flew to the fifth wall/upright on Canada Square before flying back to RC.

Ten minutes later Haven flew back to the nest and disappeared to the back, this time on the north side of the ledge. Half an hour later I was chatting to someone and missed who it was I saw fly behind RC and disappear again. Fifteen minutes after that I saw Haven fly from the south straight to RC with a food parcel. I assume she has picked up her stash from the mast building at 2180. A couple of minutes later she flew to the nest ledge and disappeared again on the north side.

Twenty minutes later Haven appeared at the edge, bit at something bloody, dropped it onto the ledge below her and flew to the RC building. Over the next few minutes she flew to the wall above the nest ledge, dropped onto the ledge and walked to the back, came to the edge again and sat there for thirty minutes at which point I left.

I did not see Stormin at all during these few hours.

Lyn

I was glad to hear that Herb had dropped by to introduce himself to Lyn as he will be part of the fledge watch team at Canada Square in a few weeks when things get going there.