Canadian Peregrine Foundation

Adult Sighting at the Brampton Courthouse

September 01, 2011 - Brampton - Courthouse

Tracy Simpson Reports:

Thank you so much to Toivo and Grace for their continued observations at the Brampton Courthouse! 

Well I have only had a couple of confirmed sightings of Courtney in the last couple of weeks. One was quite impressive as she climbed a thermal till I could barely see her with binoculars. She was back on a ledge later that day. Milton and Truss have been around or on the building regularly, roosting and relaxing.  On Sunday August 28th, I stopped today and found another adult female peregrine on a ledge. I went and got Grace to confirm this. She agreed. All light grey all the way down the back, but a very large buff patch on the top of the head,larger than Courtney’s.  We could not see if she was a banded bird.  A male came in and buzzed a pigeon, she rose to follow him but not really in an aggressive manner. The male left and we watched him climb a thermal till barely visible, then he drifted SW. This struck me as migratory behavior , so I  dont believe it was Milton.

                                                                                                                                             Toivo and Grace

Courtney’s Training Progressing Well at the Courthouse

August 10, 2011 - Brampton - Courthouse

Tracy Simpson Reports:

I apologize for the late posting here but a big thank you to Winston who continues to watch over young Courtney!  Here is his observations and photos from August 10th. 

Although witnessed a few times before, Courtney’s flights with mom or dad were relatively short. Today hopefully marks the beginning of aerial training. Courtney stayed a loft very long, chasing mom all over the courthouse airspace this morning. There was a near collision between mom and baby but mom turned last minute to avoid a crash. Fun stuff to watch for all those in the area!!  This evening I witnessed Courtney fly out to an incoming dad and take the food he was bringing back in mid air. She then took the kill to a ledge and began plucking the feathers, then consuming the food.
 

Courtney Still Hanging at the Courthouse

August 16, 2011 - Brampton - Courthouse

Tracy Simpson Reports:

Mom and dad are harder to find than before but Courtney is often hanging on the courthouse. Mornings often find her facing Hurontario and afternoons over the main entrance or above the underground parking entrance. Courtney now flies more often however she has yet to regularly use mom and dad to practice her aerial skills; at least after 10am most days.
On Monday afternoon, mom was up high in the sky near the courthouse, flying around with 3 swallows, but Courtney was only interested in flying from ledge to ledge along the courthouse. Soon enough mom was gone and baby found a ledge to rest.
Judging by her size, Courtney is still eating well but without any adults present most of the time it is difficult to catch food transfers. Courtney is not flying well enough to suggest that she is hunting for herself although there have been reports of her unsuccessfully going after pigeons.

Cirrus and Mackenzie Are Hanging In

August 30, 2011 - Burlington - Lift Bridge

Sue McCreadie Reports:

Yesterday, Bill and I spent some time at the Bridge.  For the first time in a couple of week, we were able to spot both Cirrus and Mackenzie.  Both birds were under the Skyway taking it easy.  No sightings of Lady Lamont or Lady Nelson.  I hope they are safely on their way South.

!!! Peregrine Falcons in Timmins, Ontario!

August 30, 2011 - International, National and Local News

Kathy Reports:

Thanks to a fellow falcon friend over at BCAW for alerting me to this article!

Three peregrine falcons have been confirmed at Xstrata Copper Kidd Creek Mine.   As per the article this is the first documented case of a breeding pair in Timmins district since the population in Ontario began to recover.

Article and photos here:

http://www.thedailypress.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3277712

!!! Spitfire doing well

August 29, 2011 - Windsor - Ambassador Bridge

Dennis Patrick Reports:

Friday we decided to check on the family of 3, Spitfire was sitting on the cross beam under “E” of Bridge. Ten minutes later he flew off, Freddie and Voltaire flew in on the nest together she looked like she was doing house cleaning again while Freddie just watched her. Twenty minutes later, Freddie flew onto the beam and Voltaire flew onto the pipe. It was great to see the whole family again and we hope that the three of them keep on staying safe.
Thank You everyone that helped us this year in watching Freddie, Voltaire and Spitfire. Hope to see you again next year and now with the new tray we are hoping for more eggs. Have a great fall and winter.
Gwen & Dennis Site Co-ordinators CPF

Parents at William Osler Enjoying the Day Without Kids

- All Reports

Tracy Simpson Reports:

Frank and I took a trip this evening at 6:00pm to the William Osler Hospital site to check in on the family of falcons there and found Hurricane, the resident male, on top of the east facing “H” and O’Connor, the resident female, on her usual southeast corner of the nest ledge.  A quick check of the nest tray and hydro towers revealed no juveniles in the area at the time and the adults actually looked rather relaxed.  Half an hour after our arrival, both adults left their perches and were soaring above the roof of the hospital.  A moment later, O’Connor took off and headed to the northeast with intent and power and so Frank and I tracked her with our binoculars as she remained in our sights.  Hurricane took off and joined her and left Frank and I wondering what she was up to.  A moment later, she broke off her flight and circled back towards the hospital as Hurricane continued northeast and disappeared.  O’Connor was gone for at least 20 minutes or more before she reappeared on the southeast ledge she likes to call home.  Hurricane had also returned and was back on the east facing sign consuming a recent kill he had made while he was gone.  As the sun set, there was no appearance by any of the juveniles and both adults had settled in for the night. 

While the young falcons may be flying further afield in preparation for a successful migration, both parents are still using the nest site as a night roost and feeding station and will continue to defend the territory although not as vigorously as they would with juveniles present.  The adult pair will also be spending more time away from the nest site hunting and feeding but will return to it periodically throughout the day and each evening.  The juveniles will also continue to periodically use the nest site as a roosting spot; an observation of this behaviour seen recently at the Toronto Sheraton nest site. 

At almost all urban nest sites, the adults remain on territory even in the winter as prey is abundant in the form of pigeons and other small birds and the buildings provide microclimates where they can escape the winds and cold of winter.  The juveniles, on the other hand, will be leaving this fall for the south, following the smaller birds that they prey upon.  Over the next week, we will be making a trip out to Islington and Rexdale where the adult female likes to take the young to train, as evidenced by our sighting of Wind giving some gulls a go at that intersection, and see if we can spot any of the juveniles practicing their skills.  Check back as we watch the progress of the young ones training for their big flight!!

!!! Spending the night at home

August 13, 2011 - Toronto - Sheraton Centre

Linda Woods Reports:

This image captured, Saturday evening. Looks like one of the juveniles has returned to spend the night at home.

!!! Areal training begins?

August 10, 2011 - Brampton - Courthouse

CPF Postmaster Reports:

Aug. 10th - 2011
Although witnessed a few times before, Courtney’s flights with mom or dad were relatively shot. Today hopefully marks the beginning of areal training. Courtney stayed a loft very long, chasing mom all over the courthouse airspace this morning. There was a near collision between mom and baby but mom turned last minute to avoid a crash. Fun stuff to watch for all those in the area!!
Winston

!!! Courtney is investigating her new world.

August 09, 2011 - Brampton - Courthouse

CPF Postmaster Reports:

Tues Aug 9th - 2011

Raining this morning, both adults were on the west facing window ledge ,40 feet apart out of the rain. Courtney was rooftop on an antenna. In a half hour four times she took short flights right at the pigeons, sending them scattering away.
She seems to like the rain.
Late this evening I arrived to see her out over the parking lots, dipping and turning all by herself, just practising.
At about five to nine she left an antenna to meet Milton coming in. He kept going right over my head and right by the courthouse, North with Courtney in pursuit. I watched till I had to use my binoculars to keep track. Courtney kept pace for over a kilometer, past Steeles. Then she turned west and you cound see her flagging, slower wingbeats and losing altitude coasting. Milton turned amd followed her west. I estimated her destination to be at Shoppers world. So I drove up there and cruised the parking lots checking out the rooflines in the fading light. No sign of her , but I may have spotted Milton on the roof of a nearby apartment. I did not see Truss this evening.
I will check , starting at the courthouse in the morning.
Toivo