May 26, 2012 - Mississauga - Executive Centre
Frank Butson Reports:
Where to begin? How about at the beginning? On arrival at 730am, Bruce met me and explained what he had seen already Saturday morning. Janet was on the retaining wall of the roof of MEC #1(the nest building) and she had just been fed. As Janet seemed to have a crop already when Bruce arrived at 530am, he suggested she had been fed once already. Not long after my arrival, Janet dropped her meal and it came to rest just below where Sante found and ate it. From there the day becomes a blur. A new volunteer Herb joined me and by 1pm there wasn’t much different position wise than upon his arrival. Thanks for the help Herb it was much appreciated. We look forward to your invovlement at Canada Square. About 3pm things got very interesting!!
Zooming in a 3rd Peregrine joined the fray. The bird flew directly into the nestbox and Sante(the resident male) defended his box. Over the course of many hours,it was determined that the “extra” Peregrine was female. Sometimes she and Sante seemed to get along and be courting. Other times it seemed she was being a pest and she was being dealt with accordingly. There were chases where Sante struck at her,while at other times she would stay in the nestbox for hours. She was not aggressive towards the young Peregrine Janet. Towards the end of the evening Janet deliberately moved towards the new Mom looking for food. Prior to Janet being fed her evening meal, the new gal, kept harrassing Sante for food. Each time Sante flew with food,she would bug him for some. With great effort Sante would evade her keeping the meal for Janet.
A million things went through my head as to the origins of this bird. I was very tired and knew I wouldn’t remember what I had seen, so began calling my own phone and leaving me updates. My impression was that the bird was banded and it turns out she is. Tracy and I both observed a US Fish and Wildlife band and Tracy got the top colour of part of the recovery band. Tomorrows goings on will be watched very closely, with an eye to how the new female treats Janet, especially once she tries to fly again. Later in the day we will use a scope to try to figure out the full identity of new female.
The birds really made Tracy look smart. She had speculated that an intruder female may have caused the premature fledging of the other 2 chicks, leading to their deaths. While there really isn’t a way to determine this, it certainly seems plausible. Keep watching for more news.
Posted on May 27, 2012 4:10 am
May 26, 2012 - Mississauga - Executive Centre
Frank Butson Reports:
Bruce was on site today by about 530am as we all anticipated Janet’s first flight. At about 830am as Tracy and I drove up, Bruce called and let us know she had fledged to a low roof,after a few bumps of windows. She was fine and safe. That was awesome news after whats gone on at MEC the last several days. Bruce gave me abit of orientation as to where Janet was and he was off.
Janet was on the roof of the daycare centre at MEC. The staff was told if the Peregrine came down in the outside play area,dont be scared just move the kids away and Id be in immediately to rescue it. We didnt have to test that plan as Janet just moved around on that rooftop from 830am until after 6pm. The local American Robins,Goldfinches and even Barn Swallows kept calling and diving at poor Janet. I got a work out going from side to side of MEC 1 as Janet was very active. It was easy to see she was suffering no ill effects from her first forray into the air(and down!!). Around 6pm I noticed the Robins hadnt been noisy in awhile,so I thought maybe our little friend had vacated unseen off the back or the roof. I did one pass and nothin. I rechecked the roof. Nothing again. Back to behind MEC 1, now I hear and see Robins alarm calling. Ok Janet is around somewhere, but where?
I looked in several trees near where the Robin sounded off from. I looked in an adjoining field in the tall grass. I looked into a sunken area surrounded by cement. All were negative for a baby Peregrine. I then turned and heard a Robin sounding off again. I spotted where it had flown to and low and behold there was Janet!! She was on a low wall again. This time only 12ft or so high and too close for comfort to Hurontario St’s busy traffic. Tracy had arrived back by now and she took up position on the Hurontario side of the wall,in hopes of trying to discourage Janet from flying towards the dangerous road. It worked! Janet decided to fly towards me. She brushed a window and fell to the ground only a few feet from me. As I approached she took off running. She was headed for several deadends so I wasnt too worried. Tracy came running up and said she had her so I sort of just corralled Janet towards her. Janet ran somemore before trapping herself against a wall. Tracy slowly, expertly gathered Janet up and the rescue was made! Yeah Tracy! Janet was hissing at us immediately as we went in to contact MEC security for our rescue carrier. Josh from Garda Security, promptly got the carrier and Janet was put in. Thanks to Josh!
Janet was held until dark when Mark Nash arrived. After giving her a once over it was clear Janet was just fine and was released to the roof. Thanks to Danial from Garda Security for helping us release Janet back to a very happy father we have named Sante.
Personally I must also thank Holly for the kindness of bringing me several waters on such a hot day. Also thanks to Jennifer from Garda Security for providing me with a chair to watch Janet from while she stayed so visible in one place. Both of you were very kind and it was greatly appreciated. Thanks also to Toivo for helping with the watch for a few hours. Extra eyes and bodies gave me a good break .
Posted on May 26, 2012 2:06 am
May 25, 2012 - Burlington - Lift Bridge
Sue McCreadie Reports:
Port Hope, Jimmy and Carrey.
Posted on May 25, 2012 7:48 pm
May 24, 2012 - Mississauga - Executive Centre
CPF Postmaster Reports:
May 24th-2012
Eyeball deep in bandings for the past week from Windsor to Burlington to Toronto and Mississauga it has been difficult to get caught up on all of the happenings, as our days start at 6am and we’re still going at 3am trying to collect all of the banding photos, observations notes, and answer the hundreds of e-mail and telephone calls that are coming in each day! We’re all living off our mobile phones and in our vehicles as we have all been on the road, (in the field as they say), we have not been able to get into the office now for days. But we are checking messages and doing outr best to answer them as soon as we can!
And now with overlapping fledge watches, four more bandings to attend, and several more to schedule and coordinate, its been and going to continue to be unbelievably busy!
MEC nest site update:
For the past three days now, we have also been trying to find out additional details on an unbanded adult peregrine that was injured and rescued by the City of Mississauga animal services very close to the MEC nest site on May 22nd. Had it not been for the great staff and a call from the City of Mississauga alerting us of this rescue, we would have never known about it.
We applaud the efforts and quick response of the Mississauga Animal Services and their staff for their support and cooperation with this matter. Their quick response time in the rescuing of this injured peregrine was outstanding.
Unable to make direct contact with CPF, and in an effort to seek further assistance for the injured peregrine, the Mississauga Animal services were able to reach a licenced rehabber, who eventually picked up the injured peregrine.
As the story unfolds, the injured unbanded adult female peregrine falcon was picked up from the Mississauga Animal services and taken to the Grimsby area in southern Ontario.
By the time we tracked down the bird (and identified the rehabber), the fledge watch team out in the streets at the MEC nest site had quickly realized that there was no attending female at the MEC nest site, and the adult male was obviously doing over-time and in warp drive trying to attend to his new young hatchlings in the nest box by himself.
With no support from his adult female mate, (noticeably absent from the scene), the resident adult male has been struggling to both feed himself and provide food for his young hatchlings, in addition to trying to defend both the territory, himself and his fledglings.
After our investigation of the situation, and having finally being able to make contact with the out of town rehabber, it would appear that the adult injured female peregrine in their possession has not been seriously injured, and the apparent diagnosis after examination of x-rays taken the day after she arrived at their facility, have concluded only minor non-life threatening bruising and some swelling and inflammation to her wrist - on her left wing).
We are being told that the adult peregrine is apparently eating well, and without any further problems or any complications other than those described above.
During our telephone conversation, answers to our questions regarding the birds condition were unusually guarded and then contradictory. In addition, the name of the bird’s veterinarian and their professional prognosis were left unanswered. We were left with far more questions than answers.
It was also explained to us that the bird was being given Metacam for its pain and wrist inflammation.
Meloxicam - (a.k.a. Medacame) is wildly used in the industry for all kinds of animals, (dogs, cats, and birds) and its use would be consistent with this type of described injury, a medication and treatment we know only too well.
The question remains, and begs to be answered: Why this Grimsby rehabber with knowledge that the bird was (at least at the time of pic-up from the Miss. Animal services) was clearly injured and in distress, proceeded to further risk this animals situation by neglecting or ignoring to make contact with far more local, readily available experienced medical personal in the same rehab business, (and one that is well known to them),, in an effort tto seek out triage or professional medical assistance to stabilize the patient prior to an anticipated long distance travel some distance away from its resident territory / district, and in this case, out of town?
There are many additional questions needed to be asked before this matter will be satisfactory closed.
In any case, we hope to provide you with a further update on the bird’s status, and very eager to see or have wildlife officials review or obtain a hard copy veterinarians report with proper diagnosis and prognosis in addition to proof of professional treatment,, and hope that she will not have to spend more time than is necessary in rehab, and able to be returned back to her native territory, her hatchlings and her mate.
Photos attached to this posting were taken by the City of Miss. Animal Services prior to the bird leaving their facility.
Stay tuned…….
Posted on May 25, 2012 5:52 am
May 24, 2012 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre
CPF Postmaster Reports:
May 24th - 2012 - Banding Day
The banding was a huge success this afternoon with the support of the OMNR Aurora district office, the Sun Life Centre management group, Sun life security and maintenance staff, Oxford Properties, Sky Reach, Peregrine Protection, TD Friends of the Environment and the many CPF volunteer team members and community members who were hand to assist that made the banding so successful.
Four very healthy hatchlings were sexed and banded and returned to their parents without incident in record time!
Hatchlings particulars:
– 785 gram female – 21 days old, - named Olympia, – Banded with a Black band S over 05 – with Yellow tape
– 825 gram female – 23 days old, – named regatta, – Banded with a Black band S over 07 – with Blue tape
– 775 gram female – 23 days old, - named Windward, - Banded with a Black band S over 12 – with Red tape
– 570 gram male, - 23 days old, - named Eurd, - Banded with a Black band R over 40 – with Green tape
Photos by Baylie.
Posted on May 25, 2012 3:45 am
May 24, 2012 - Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton
Frank Butson Reports:
Further report on the Canada Square Peregrines - May 24 2012.
I returned to watch the peregrines at 4:10 this afternoon but neither bird was in sight. Some action began a half hour later when a peregrine flew from the east side of Rio-Can, south along the nest ledge on Canada Square, beyond 2180 Yonge Street and was gone. About fifteen minutes later I happened to glance at the NW corner of Canada Square roof and as I did so a peregrine flew south of 2180 Yonge Street again. There was also a flight behind the two condo buildings and finally at 5:34 I identified the peregrine as Stormin when he finally sat on the mast at 2180 Yonge.
I spotted Haven on the nest ledge when she did her little hop, jump and wing flap on the ledge before disappearing to the back. Stormin in the meantime was quite active and flew in from the west, over Canada Square around the back of Rio-Can and was gone for ten minutes at which point he flew in from the east. He went south again as far as 2180 Yonge then turned and flew back to the big mast on top of Canada Square where he perched for a while. He seemed to have a bit of difficulty balancing in the breeze but managed to stay perched. He made many more of these flights and when I took photos of Haven on the ledge she was just watching him as if to say * the banding is over and I chased all the baddies*.
Eventually Haven flew to the south face of Rio Can where she sat with wings spread a bit. I think she may have been a bit hot and wonder if she had been sheltering the youngsters from the sun and heat all afternoon.
Stormin was still playing the silly boy and flying around and about, landing on the RC roof on the west side then circling RC and eventually coming to roost on the roof above Haven. When I checked the photos I could see her looking up at him. He was staring into space. Not sure what he thought he could see but he eventually took off.
Haven was a bit cooler, I think, because her wings were closed and she cleaned her feet. She stretched one wing, then the other and flew straight to the nest ledge on Canada Square and disappeared from sight. I left at that point.
Lyn
Posted on May 24, 2012 11:37 pm
May 24, 2012 - Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton
Frank Butson Reports:
The banding of the three Canada Square Peregrine Falcon chicks was a great success, again.
Many thanks to:
Neil Armstrong and his wonderful staff, of Northam Realty Advisors Limited. Their monitoring of the scrape and the updates received are very much appreciated.
The gentleman from Solar Window Cleaning who has faced the wrath of Haven for the second year!! No faint heart is he, as he extracted and later replaced the chicks whilst Haven chattered at, and attacked, him! Am I correct in believing him to be Steve McGough?
Mark Heaton, from Ministry of Natural Resources who arrived solo today but who had help from some of the folks in the audience.
Also in attendance were several Torontonians, one for the first time, and the intrepid visitors from Rochester who came to see several bandings and visit and check on a number of their Rochester Peregrines who have settled in Toronto.
The stars of the banding need introducing:
Simcoe - 440 grammes - 17-20 days old - black band 63 over X - yellow tape
Solar - 395 grammes - 16 days old - black band R over 38 - blue tape
Brisk – 385 grammes - 17 days old - black band R over 39 - red tape
They all dutifully had their first few drops of water and were quiet whilst tasting this *wet stuff*. One feisty little youngster even had the nozzle in his beak for a brief moment. They still had messy faces from a recent feeding.
Whilst the banding was underway those on *the outside*, fending off Haven, placed a brand new nest tray on the ledge and filled it with pea gravel. We hope it will be put to good use in future years. Note the broom in the photo is used only to ward off attack,they DO NOT strike the birds or “baseball” swing at them.
At the end of the banding I went outside to my usual perch to see if there was any activity from Haven and Stormin. I could only see the very top of an adult head on the ledge but there was no other sight or sound from them. After a few minutes I left.
My apologies if I have omitted any acknowledgements.
Lyn
Posted on May 24, 2012 4:04 pm
May 23, 2012 - Toronto - Sheraton Centre
Tracy Simpson Reports:
Today Rhea Mae and Tiago’s 4 healthy little hatchlings were banded, sexed and weighed at the much anticipated banding ceremony. Two boys and two girls rounded out the day and full details with pictures will be following shortly!! Congratulations Toronto Sheraton Hotel!!
Posted on May 24, 2012 9:33 am
May 23, 2012 - Toronto - King Street
Tracy Simpson Reports:
The banding at the 18 King St. East nest site was a phenomenal success as the 4 healthy hatchlings were banded, sexed and weighed. There were many great folks in attendance and a wonderful day was had by all. The full story with pictures and info is coming soon so check back in!!!!!!!!!!
Posted on May 24, 2012 9:30 am
May 24, 2012 - Mississauga - Executive Centre
Tracy Simpson Reports:
Last night as Mark, Marion, Bruce and I attended the MEC site to ascertain just what was happening we realized in the 5 hours that we were there, that the resident female had not attended or been seen at all.
We now know without a doubt that the resident female adult has been injured and has unfortunately been taken out of the jurisdiction and sent to a rehabber. The CPF is currently and actively pursuing all avenues available to get information on her physical condition and her status for release. Full details to follow.
Posted on May 24, 2012 9:28 am
