Canadian Peregrine Foundation

A Great Day at King Street

January 07, 2012 - Toronto - King Street

Tracy Simpson Reports:

What began as a day trip for Frank, Ann and myself turned into a real gathering at the 18 King St. nest site today.  After meeting up with Ann, we all clambered into my car and headed down to check in on Erin and her mate.  When we arrived, we headed over to Toronto and Court streets and found no birds in sight.  We met up with Harry who had just seen at least one bird on the King Edward and so we waited.  We weren’t to be disappointed as Erin, the resident female, flew in and landed on the Victoria St. side of the nest building.  Ann and I left Frank and Harry watching Erin and went in search of the male.  Following Erin’s glances, we headed over to the St. James cathedral to look around and as we wandered the streets looking up, I lost Ann but somehow found Linda!!  We all regrouped back at Court St. as the male flew in and landed two ledges south of Erin.  There they sat and preened the day away for hours when finally, when we were resting our camera arms, the male took off southeast on what appeared to be a very important mission.  Erin was close behind and the two disappeared from our sights for the remainder of our visit.  All in all it was a day of good company, good weather and a good visit with an awesome pair of peregrines!!

Erin posed quite nicely for several hours as she digested her full crop and napped away.

The male was much more elusive and harder to capture on camera as he elected to sit further back in the shadows.

!!! Both Adults on Site

January 06, 2012 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre

Kathy Reports:

Angel and Jack have been enjoying the mild weather today.   Angel, of course, on her favorite perch and Jack either by the nest box or over on the next ledge.  Neither of them seem to be inclined to do much other than bask in the sun and enjoy the warm air after several days of cold Arctic air.

Centennial Spotted Again At Bluffers Park

January 04, 2012 - International, National and Local News

Frank Butson Reports:

Back in October,CPF volunteer and friend,Ann Brokelman got photos of a Peregrine Falcon we later found out from contacts in Ohio where she was hatched at the East Lakeshore Power Plant, that her name is Centennial. We got the band number back then from photos Ann took at The Rosetta McClain Gardens Raptor Watch in Scarborough Ontario Canada(east end of Toronto).

     Well today Pat and Nancy Anderson were at a park only 2.5km away from Rosetta McClain Gardens called Bluffers Park. It is at the Scarborough Bluffs.  Pat and Nancy sent me their photo and a report of what they observed. They saw the juvenile Peregrine hunting ducks and pigeons. She successfully caught a pigeon near the restaurant. Clearly,Centennial’s black over red band 79/H can be seen in the photo.

Its doubley exciting when a bird that has been rescued makes it. CPF and my Rosetta McClain Raptor Watch friends will be keeping an eye open for more sightings of Centennial.

Thanks to Pat and Nancy Anderson for use of their photo.

We heard from folks in Ohio that plant workers were thrilled to hear about Centennials 2 sightings,and that she is alive and well. It turns out she had been rescued after being blown out of her nest or fledged prematurely. I received 2 messages from Ohio.

From Chad and Chris(who work with the Peregrines in that state and were at Centennials banding.) “Thanks again for the information and pics,  Frank! You thrilled many with it!”

And from Amy C who said “To BIGFRANK,Ann and The Canadian Peregrine Foundation:” Thanks for the info on Centennial - I was at her banding at Lakeshore Power Plant, and then back as a raptor rescuer when she got blown off the nest/took a premature flight a few week afterwards. I’ll let my contact @ the plant know. Chris told me about your post….it made my day”

Here is a photo Amy sent along of Centennial on the day she was rescued

Thanks to Amy for her photo.

Once again we see that banding helps us ID Peregrine Falcons and track them even across international borders. Working together with our friends to the south we find out where our birds end up and what they are doing.

Cirrus Wont Share

December 29, 2011 - Burlington - Lift Bridge

Frank Butson Reports:

Vince Filteau and Sue Adorjan’s  great photos of Cirrus and Mackenzie. These were taken earlier in December. The first 2 photos are from Vince. Sue has graciously provided the rest. Thanks again for sending your sighting and wonderful photos to us and allowing them to be used!

Cirrus

Mackenzie

Mac Eyeing Cirrus’ Kill

Cirrus Doesnt Want To Share

A Perplexed Mac

Can Make Our Cirrus’ Black/Green Band

!!! Green Christmas

December 22, 2011 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre

Kathy Reports:

As I write this, it’s a balmy 7 celcius outside and with the sunshine, it feels even warmer outside.  Angel and Jack were both sunning themselves on the ledge when something caught their eye and off they went together towards the lake.

Across the street there are literally hundreds of pigeons lined up on the rooftops basking themselves in sunlight and I can see flocks of Starlings flitting from tree to tree.   It feels and looks more like Spring than Winter!

Let’s hope when Spring does officially arrive it won’t be looking and feeling like Winter as it has the past 2 years!  Happy Holidays to everyone!

Cirrus and MacKenzie On Site

December 11, 2011 - Burlington - Lift Bridge

Frank Butson Reports:

Thanks to Sue Adorjan for her photo of MacKenzie. Back on Dec 11,2011 Sue was able to get several shots of Mac. With Sue’s photo we could make out his band number and colours.  Cirrus was seen eating a pigeon. A few more photos will be added soon from this excellent sighting.

It is important whenever possible to confirm the identification of resident pairs. This helps us to identify  if or when a change has taken place and keep our records as current and accurate as possible. Thanks to reports and photos like Sue’s and CPF volunteers for all their help in this.

!!! Freddie & Voltaire

December 15, 2011 - Windsor - Ambassador Bridge

Dennis Patrick Reports:

Tuesday afternoon we took a drive down to the Bridge, Voltaire was sitting on the Church Steeple, in a few seconds boom here she was landing on the Tower with a kill. They are faster than a speeding bullet. Freddie then flew in and landed on the “R” of Ambassador with a full crop. Dennis and I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful New Year. Only a few months now and we’ll be back at it once again, checking on the adults and waiting patiently to see those beautiful little Peregrines looking out. Now that we have a tray, it will be fun to watch them doing their exercises in and out of the tray.
Gwen & Dennis Site Co-ordinators CPF

!!! Back on the nest ledge - holding the fort so to speak!

December 14, 2011 - Toronto - Sheraton Centre

CPF Postmaster Reports:

A huge thank you to Jesse for the recent update and photos of activity down at the Toronto Sheraton nest site where our resident peregrines were back on the nest ledge December 14th holding the fort as they say. Our southern Ontario peregrines must be enjoying all of the mild weather we’ve been having,, AND no snow to shovel!!!

Jesse Mighton

!!! Holding tight to the territory! Peeping Peregrines!

November 20, 2011 - Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton

CPF Postmaster Reports:

A big thank you to Julie who has been watching the Yonge & Eglinton peregrines over the past few weeks,, (or should I say, the Canada Square peregrines have been wathing her)? You decide.

Julie writes: I live in the condos at 2191 Yonge at the top, and one of the falcon roosts on a chimney exhaust right outside my suite. Thought you might like some recent pictures.

The first two photos were taken November 20th, and the 2nd two were taken December 11th. South east corner of the building.
Julie

Quest Framed

December 13, 2011 - Toronto - Don Mills

Frank Butson Reports:

Ann Brokelman and Donna visited with Quest this past weekend. Ann sent along these wonderful shots of Quest. You can see her transmitter still. She is still being tracked,and is bopping around between Pickering where she hung out last winter sometimes and her nest at Duncan Mill Rd. Thanks again for these fantastic shots!