May 24, 2012 - Mississauga - Executive Centre
Tracy Simpson Reports:
Yesterday was the beginning of the full time Fledge Watch at the MEC site with a full crew taking shifts. I took the first shift early in the morning and at 7:10am, just as I was sitting at the lights to turn in, the phone rang. Marion was calling with another juvenile down in front of the nest building. Security reacted quickly and picked the bird up, placing it in a box in their fire room on the main floor. I was absolutely speechless and couldn’t even put together a sentence with Marion on the phone. She called Toronto Wildlife Centre for me and I went in to assess the young one.
When I walked in, security met me at the door and we immediately went to check on the bird. It was Skyreach. He was on his belly, eyes closed, feet cold and his breathing was shallow. We packed him up in the rescue carrier and I headed out to my car to get ready for transport to help. In the parking lot, I met up with Toivo who was helping with the morning shift. After a quick moment of orientation, I was off to TWC with Skyreach.
I arrived as they were unlocking the door and they immediately took him in for assessment. First step was an x-ray that gave us the news we never want to hear. It was clear that Skyreach had broken both of his legs at the upper joint and they were not in a position to be pinned and so beyond repair. It would appear that sometime just before I arrived, he had attempted a flight and then turned back to the nest building. Poor judgement and a bad head wind took him too fast into the building which broke his legs when at the last minute he put them up to absorb the impact. He fell straight down to the ground and landed flat on his chest as he could not use his legs. He suffered internal injuries that caused bleeding to occur. It was then that TWC and I discussed the fact that this bird would never stand properly again given the location of the leg breaks and that the internal injuries were still an unknown as to whether he would survive them. The call was made to let Skyreach go and with permissions given by the MNR and recommendations by the TWC vet, Skyreach was euthanized.
Two birds, two days, two losses, way too tragic.
I cannot thank enough Jennifer and her teammates on security at MEC. She has been amazing over the past two days as with all of the staff at the Oxford Property Management Group and security. It is through your help over the past decade that we have so many successes to celebrate. Thank you so much everyone.
I was at a loss as to why these young ones were doing this, this was not normal first flight behaviour for this site, and so I was down to close the watch last night and think. Something was motivating this. Something was not right. It was last night as Mark, Marion and I closed the watch that we believe we now know why. Check back for the full story and details by Mark Nash.
Posted on May 24, 2012 9:00 am
May 23, 2012 - Burlington - Lift Bridge
Sue McCreadie Reports:
Barry and Linda Cherriere:
Barry and I stayed at the Bridge until around 4:30ish. The babies got a feeding around 1:30. So, it seems like things are all quiet for now.
Posted on May 24, 2012 8:47 am
May 23, 2012 - Toronto - King Street
Frank Butson Reports:
Today 4 chicks were banded. Here is a short video clip taken by a member of the extraction team.
http://www.youtube.com/embed/vNFmbWnLDI8
Photos and a full accounting of the banding will follow soon.
Posted on May 23, 2012 11:59 pm
May 23, 2012 - Port Colborne - ADM Mill
Doug Garbutt Reports:
Yesterday upon arriving at work, I noticed a 3rd egg. The falcons are now in full incubation mode. This is not an easy go for our resident male as yesterday in the early morning there was quite a spectacular aerial combat display. An intruding male tried to take over the nest box. I don’t know for sure who was the victor but we’re hoping it was Buffalo Bill. We’ll try to confirm. The important thing is that Trillium is still incubating the 3 eggs. If it works out, they should hatch around the 21st of June.
Posted on May 23, 2012 9:17 pm
May 23, 2012 - Burlington - Lift Bridge
Sue McCreadie Reports:
Today was banding day. Anne Yagi, Biologist with the Ministry of Natural Resources performed the banding. We are happy to report that we have 3 healthy boys. Statistics are as follows:
Jimmy - Black Band 83/Y - wearing a green tape on his right leg - weighing 669 grams - 24 days old.
Port Hope – Black Band 84/Y - wearing a yellow tape on his right leg – weighing 636 grams – 24 days old
Carrey – Black Band 85/Y - wearing a red tape on his right leg – weighing 686 grams (with a full crop) – 22 days old
Given that they are all males, the Official Fledge Watch will begin on May 31st.
Let the fun begin as they fledge and learn to fly and hunt. Thanks to PWGSC and the Lift Bridge Staff for their support.
Photos to follow.
Posted on May 23, 2012 2:04 pm
May 23, 2012 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre
Kathy Reports:
So for years I’ve read Tracey’s updates on this new female O’Connor that described how fierce and wild she was and for weeks now I’ve been seeing this quiet, docile …albeit rather large female just napping or laying around the ledge hanging out with her kids.
Fast forward to 15 minutes ago while out on lunch break. I saw Jack perched on the cam and sure enough O”Connor’s head in the nest box just hanging out. All of a sudden she rips out of the nestbox screaming her head off and I turn my head and spot a Turkey Vulture flying right over the condo tower across the ledge.
She just attacked that bird with a vengenance and chased it right down the street, …pausing only to gain more altitude and dive back on it. At one point she drove it right into the side of the condo towers down the street and I saw it hit the side of the building and drop altitude significantly. I thought he was a goner until I saw him flying low and straight out of the territory and she was still on him until I couldn’t see anymore!
I’m thinking now this is a girl that doesn’t waste energy..she saves it for a worthy oponent!
Posted on May 23, 2012 1:12 pm
May 23, 2012 - Windsor - Ambassador Bridge
Dennis Patrick Reports:
After our exciting day last Friday Dennis and I have been going down to the Bridge everyday and watching the four chicks. They are so well organized when it comes to their feeding time. Yesterday, when we arrived there they were all lying down except one, if I didn’t know any better I would have thought that there was just one but then the other three decided that it was time to move around. Eddy was so cute, he was hiding behind the other three but would look out around the side as to say “peekaboo here I am”. Thank You to Mark, Marion and CPF staff, TD Canada Friends of the Environment, Sure Seal Roofing, Falcon Performance Team, The Windsor Star, ATV, CTV, CBC and the Ambassador Bridge. If we left anyone please forgive us. Of course the MNR Bander, Pud Hunter and crew. Photos to follow.
Gwen & Dennis, Site Co-ordinators CPF
Posted on May 23, 2012 6:47 am
May 22, 2012 - Mississauga - Executive Centre
CPF Postmaster Reports:
May 22nd-2012
We have sad news to report. The first young juvenile took its first flight today, but sadly it was not a planned first flight. Ledge hopping had the juvenile named Jennifer - (banded Black 56 over X) come up short from one ledge to the other and a guest of wind had it in the air in a panic flight struggling to hold its altitude. In an effort to catch some air, it turned and with a tail wind slammed into the windows of MEC #1 and died on impact.
56 over X was picked up by Bruce and brought back to the CPF Raptor centre for holding until it can be transferred to the OMNR at our next meet. MNR has been notified.
The other two MEC siblings are all doing fine and still on the nest ledge.
Posted on May 23, 2012 1:39 am
May 22, 2012 - Niagara Falls
CPF Postmaster Reports:
May 22nd-2012
First pic - male about 8-9 windows to the left of aerie Is his name Onyx? I have been calling him Gorge’s George because I didn’t know if he had a real name.
Second pic - mama Diamond finally let us see her little babies! She too seems very impressed with them, don’t you think?
Vicki Kadow & Roger Johnson
Posted on May 23, 2012 12:17 am
May 22, 2012 - Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton
Frank Butson Reports:
Canada Square Peregrine report May 22 2012
It was a hot and muggy day today and I think the peregrines felt it as much as I did. There was not a lot of activity – much the same as on Sunday.
I was out mid-afternoon and walked down to a store along Eglinton West. When I stopped at the light at Duplex and Eglinton I checked the nest and saw the back of a bird which I later figured to be Stormin. On my return from shopping I saw Haven fly west to Oriole Parkway area and then south. As I approached the Duplex intersection I saw Stormin fly south for a way then turn west.
I returned about a half hour later and Haven was on the ledge. She went for a short fly about and came back to the ledge. I missed her take off into the blue yonder but saw her another half hour later preening, cleaning and stretching on the ledge.
Again she went for a fly about, south in front of the condos and circled back over the mast at 2180 Yonge, over Canada Square and onto the top floor of the Rio-Can building. There she sat for twenty minutes before flying east, turning and coming back along Eglinton, over the *Gold building* at the corner of Duplex and Eglinton and then through the gap and over the cinemas at Yonge Eglinton Centre. She circled around and came back to the ledge for one minute before taking off again. I left at that point.
Lyn
Posted on May 22, 2012 11:41 pm
