July 23, 2011 - Scarborough - Yellow Pages
Ann Brokelman Reports:
Yellow Pages
Stopped in at 12 noon. Heard one screaming while in the car. Young female soared right by me - see attached photo. Male joined her in flight. Both headed to the photo buiding and dissappeared. Total quiet within 5 min. I stopped on my way home from shopping 5:00pm to see the male with the yellow band sitting right on top of the yellow pages screaming. So all 3 were accounted for. No sign of any adults.
Posted on July 23, 2011 10:26 pm
July 22, 2011 - Brampton - Courthouse
CPF Postmaster Reports:
Friday July 22nd - 2011 - Afernoon and evening fledge watch report:
Despite the neat and humidity and the short cooling affects of the rain, Courtney was not too pleased at all about getting wet and she spent a lot of time on the Library roof of the courthouse aggressively trying to shake off the rain.
By 5pm, she did one last big roust -(big shake) and it would be her downfall - literally! As she puffed up and rousted, she lost her balance and tumbled off the leading edge of the roof. Before she realized what had happened, she was airborne!!
With a gusty west wind at her back, she was blown south east, and struggled to hold her altitude, and flew south east over the parking lot gaining a little altitude with the tail winds behind her. She ended up landing on a roof top in the very place that Winston (one of the fledge watchers) actually works.
For the next several hours, Courtney spent her time on the roof top meeting some of the other - not so nice local avian inhabitants! I can tell you that she gained some very important and valuable life skills and lessons during her brief visit!
First she was attacked by the resident adult Kestrels, who mercilessly dived bombed and stooped her on several different sorties.
Then there was the small roving horde of gulls that took several runs at her while she was on the roof.
Throughout this same time period, both of her parents watched from a far with only a casual interest of the ongoing events from their roosting spots on the Courthouse, and didn’t seem to shed much concern at all much to the dismay of Courtney.
Poor little Courtney was although very not very happy about this situation, and was observed on several occasion frantically running around the rooftop to avoid her new “not so nice less accommodating feathered neighbours”.
Around 6ish in the PM, we were most surprised and delighted to have Bill and Sue show up from Burlington to join us in the fledge watch thank goodness they stayed into the darkness to close of the watch for the day.
Shortly after Bill and Sue arrived, Truss, (the resident adult female) flew in with a huge white pigeon, landing on one of the courthouse upper ledges, and proceeded to pluck and prepare it. Over the next 20 minutes, the courthouse courtyard sky above the main entrance was filled with hundreds of white feathers. It looked like a mini snow storm as the feathers filled the air and floated down to the sidewalk.
Eventually, Truss made three to four overhead flights and several “touch and go’s” with food in hand out to Courtney’s position on the rooftop, each time flying back to the courthouse roof in an effort to encourage Courtney to take flight and return back to the courthouse. While Courtney was certainly motivated (and hungry), she spent most of the time running around chasing mom on the rooftop, screaming at the top of lungs. Truss finally gave up and returned to roost on the courthouse ledges with the food package in hand.
Shortly after these events, a far more intimidating and dangerous avian neighbours showed up to harass poor little Courtney! A small family of crows took a serious run at Courtney on the roof. In seconds during this event, we observed one of Courtney’s parents (believed to be Truss), was suddenly in the mix as Courtney was forced into flight by the crow attacks. The crows were quickly dispatched by the adult peregrine, (very quickly indeed), and Courtney was escorted in the air by one of her parents,,, almost corralled, as she flapped frantically while struggling to hold her altitude.
Both Courtney and parent flew back north west around and finally over the courthouse parking lot, where Courtney ended up making a terrible (but never the less successful) landing back on the courthouse library rooftop. While she did try and make it to the upper elevation just above the rooftop where she fell off earlier, she once again she came up short in her height and approach - (as she simply ran out of breath and energy), and hit the face of the wall and dropped down on the lower roof elevation like a bomb that had just been dropped out of an air-plane. Moments later, she emerged from the centre of the roof top looking no worse for ware. Another learning experience!
Again, Truss made several airborne fly-overs and quick touch-and-go’s with food in hand in an attempt to coax and tease Courtney back into the air to gain more altitude and a higher ledge elevation, but is was simply not to be. Finally, Truss finally give in, and eventually landed on Courtney’s roof top location and gave her s small bit of the white pigeon that she had been flying around with for all of this teasing and coaxing.
By 8:30pm, and with heavy overcast and darkening skies, we believed that all of the excitement was finished for the day. Both adults had moved to their evening roosts, and Courtney seemed to settle in for the night. Light was fading, and darkness was settling in.
Well, a quiet relaxing evening to end the days fledge watch was not to be!!
At 8:45pm, Truss make one last fly over Courtney and she flew around the south end of the courthouse library roof and disappeared from our view around the west side. Suddenly, without any indication, Courtney bolted into the air from her roof top position and flew around the south end of the courthouse out of our view - in the same direction that her mom had moments ago flown,, BUT with no where near the same altitude or speed!
We toooo bolted, running across the court parking lot to the south and them around to the west out to Hwy #10 / Hurontario street where she had hooked around to.
After several minutes searching the upper west site courthouse roof and ledge elevations, (we did find Truss roosting on an upper ledge elevation on the west site of the courthouse overlooking Hurontario St),,, Courtney was no where to be found.
A mad panic scan of the trees, lawn area and the bushes on the west side of the entire courthouse property was completed with no indication of Courtney.
Finally, in desperation, we then focused out attention and scanned the west side property and parking lots of Hurontario Street, and low and behold, Courtney was located standing on the roof top of an unmarked Peel police car in the darkened parking lot of the police station.
We all rushed into action, Bill and Sue back to the courthouse to get the rescue carrier, one to get a rescue towel, two into th police station to alert the police what we were planning to do, and one to alert George - (courthouse security).
Now all assembled in the darkened police parking lot, we were able to distract Courtney long enough to allow one of us to slip in being her and get a jacket over top of her and capture her up from the roof top of the police car. Successes, she’s in the bag as we say, safe and sound!!
Ater her rescue, Courtney was taken into the Peel police station to briefly show her to the desk staff who had assisted us out in their parking lot with the rescue, and then back to the courthouse where she was examined for injuries and later released back to the upper east ledge on the Brampton courthouse - (the same elevation where we had released her three days ago when she was rescued from the ground).
A huge thank you to all involved, as without everyone’s help, this evenings events could have ended up with quite a different outcome, one that may not have worked out so well!!
Attached photos taken by Winston who was on the watch with us during the earlier events when Courtney was beiing “entertained” by the other avian neighbours.
Stay tuned………….
Posted on July 23, 2011 2:29 pm
July 22, 2011 - Toronto - Don Mills
Bruce Massey Reports:
Friday July 22nd - 2011 - Pm watch report:
On my way home from the Brampton Fledge Watch I spent some time at the Don Mills nest site.
As I arrived I faintly heard Harley calling from what sounded like the West side of Harlequin. After gearing up, I walked around the rear & West side of Harlequin and the same for the Nest Building. As I came between 220 & 240, Harley came in from the West, missed a landing but landed OK top of the North side. The way she was screaming I knew there was an adult around and sure enough Kendall was on the top of the West side of Harlequin.
Harley, chased Dad a couple of more times until he finally flew over to the “Thales” building, leaving Harley on the Southwest corner of Harlequin . Having not seen Quest as of yet, I started to check the surrounding building especially the Westin Hotel, a favourite of the adults. The usual side they’re on is the East side, but this evening I found Quest on the West side. I checked her out w/ my Bins but she was facing me but I was unable to see her PPT.
Thanx Bruce
Sent from my BlackBerry device on the Rogers Wireless Network
Posted on July 23, 2011 11:32 am
July 22, 2011 - Brampton - Courthouse
CPF Postmaster Reports:
Friday July 22nd - 2011 afternoon and evening report.
Bruce reports:
0545 Hrs- Arrived on site, Both Male & female in attendance. Courtney popped up a few minutes later.
0615- Female disappears, but male still in attendance. Went to Coffee shop for some water and saw Female on Northwest Antenna of Court House.
0645- Saw both Male & Female do some “Flight Invitations” by crisscrossing over Courtney. Also met Tovio, and caught up on some of the happenings around the site since I had done the initial Observations & ID’s. At this time also saw Dad & a juvie American Kestrel (AK) in a Half Hearted Air Battle. Dad really wasn’t into it and broke it off around the Service Ontario Building.
0730- Observed 1st Feeding by Female, (Small Package).
0745- Male & Female with an In Air Transfer of a Food Package
0815- Female into ledge w/Courtney, pretty sure left Food Package.
0830- Took a quick break, both adults absent. Courtney out of sight.
0900- Contacted by an Inside Watcher-she confirmed Where Cortney was.
0915- Courtney woke up, was a little farther to the East than I had thought. She made her way to West end of ledge.
0920- Courtney attempted to fly ti SouthEast Corner @ the same level. She just about made it, however she didn’t manage to get her second foot on and llost her balance, and slid face first 40 or so feet down the Wall. After heading South and not seeing I headed East towards a little Hillock just East of the East Building. About halfway there I saw her (Typical Female, looking at herself in the mirrored glass) @ about the same time one of the Office watchers came down & pointed out where she was.
0940- Courtney came out to East end briefly but then headed back into the shade.
1100- Noticed Male had returned to his position on lower roof ledge South of the Courthouse entrance. Looks over & can’t find Courtney @ original preflight ledge. Am pretty sure won’t see Courtney if she Is tucked up in corner in the shade.
1115- Female flys in & joins Male, both vocalize & male flys to original ledge. Some Vocalization, and am pretty sure Male would be able to see Courtney. He flew directly over where I think she is and headed South coming back about 10 minutes later to the SouthWest corner. Female stayed on above Roof.
1400- Situation pretty much the same until this time when AK came in after the Female & spent about 10-15 min Dive Bombing her silly.
1630-Situation pretty much the same until this time, except when Courtney had a couple of Friends (Pigeons) drop down to her level to visit her and the pesky bug that kept bothering her.
1700- Relieved by Pm watch crew.
Sent from my BlackBerry device on the Rogers Wireless Network
Postmaster update:
In an effort to explain today’s events with so much that has happened, I’m going to have complete the report in several updates. There are many loads of photos and observations stil to come in.
Further details and photos to follow, stay tuned……
Posted on July 22, 2011 11:51 pm
July 22, 2011 - Brampton - Courthouse
CPF Postmaster Reports:
Friday July 22nd - 2011 - 9:30AM Fledge watch update:
Bruce reports this morning from the Brampton courthouse fledge watch that baby Courtney has made her first real flight attempt despite the heat and humidity and while unsuccessful of any great feats of flight and only about 30 feet or so from where she had been, she has managed to stay off the ground this time and has made it to yet another ledge on the south east side of the Brampton courthouse.
While the heat and humidity is not as debilitating as yesterday, (it’s only 34 degrees Celsius with a Humid X feeling like 38 degrees) OR equivalent to 93.2 degrees Fahrenheit in the shade, its still toooo hot!!!
We’re told that we should have some cloudy periods today that should prevent the sun from heating up the concrete and road tar from bubbling up again today. No more melted tires!!
Stay tuned………..
Posted on July 22, 2011 12:19 pm
July 21, 2011 - Brampton - Courthouse
CPF Postmaster Reports:
July 21st - 2011 - PM fledge watch report
After this mornings brief activity, the rest of the day played out as you might have expected with the extreme heat and humidity (almost 50 degrees Celsius with the humid X). For theos that are still unfamiliar with the Celsius temperature scale, this equates to almost 120 degrees Fahrenheit in the shade,, and there was very little shade!
While the constant west breezes prevailed throughout most of the day and early evening, we all know now what it would be like being in a convection oven set at 120 degrees Fahrenheit for 12 hours! The day could be best described as brutal surrounded by all that hot concrete radiating all of the heat back at us!!!
Both resident adults were absent from our view most of the day, hiding out from the blistering sun in shady out of the direct sunlight places around the courthouse and Baby Courtney was for the most parts very in-active as well, with very little movement on the same ledge that she has been on for the last two days since she was rescued from the ground. She did play some “hide & seek” trying to avoid the odd watchers from behind the windows of her ledge until the great folks at this level closed their blinds to avoid scaring her. The court folks have been great!!
The parents did in fact feed her in the early morning, and brought in a small food offering later in the day. Around 5:30 pm, both parents did show up and spend several hours on the upper ledge just across from Courtney, with Truss, (the resident adult female) calling to Courtney in an effort to motivate her to fly over to “their ledge” to the left of the courthouse mail entrances.
Courtney did a little ledge running and some flapping during this early evening period, (and lots of screaming at the her parents in typical juvenile fashion), but for the most parts, she spent most of the day lounging around the ledge, laying down spread eagle, wings flat out and legs stretched out on the ledge in an effort to cool herself down.
By 9:30 PM, both adults had flown off out of our view, and Baby Courtney had once again laid down on the rear back portion of the nest ledge and out of our view for the night.
I’ve posted some great photo shots courtesy of Winston, one of the fledge watch crew that he was able to snap throughout the day and early evening. Both adults in flight, and Baby Courtney on the ledge. There is another shot of Baby Courtney on the ledge with showing a good view of her head, with the allot of white down feathers and fluff still very apparent. Talk about a Mohawk haircut 
By 10pm, we departed for the evening.
Stay tuned……..
Posted on July 22, 2011 11:31 am
July 21, 2011 - Toronto - Sheraton Centre
CPF Postmaster Reports:
July 21st - 2011 - 10:30 PM
While a little eerie looking with the glowing eyes, the Toronto Sheraton nest camera is still telling a story and producing a live updated image throughout both the day and night.
Meg happened to catch some night shots and writes:
Happened to take a peek at the Sheraton Centre webcam last night and caught one of the adult falcons relaxing on the nest ledge. Couldn’t see the bands to confirm whether it was the male or the female. Screen captures attached.
Meg Langley Grainger
Posted on July 22, 2011 10:36 am
July 22, 2011 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre
Kathy Reports:
Angel was visible this morning hanging out in the shade and sadly I could hear that a juvie was back and crying for food. He must have cried for 15 minutes straight. I tried to locate him but he must have been on one of the roof tops as no other falcon was visible. After the overwhelming heat of the past several days, it’s disheartening to hear one of them back home and begging for food like that. Hopefully he succeeds in catching himself some food soon as Angel didn’t seem swayed by his pleas.
2:20 pm update: Was just outside for about 15 minutes as I heard a juvie crying again. One of the boys is on the ADP sign and crying on and off but no parent is in sight that I could see anywhere. I watched him for a bit and came back and got my binoculars to check on him. I couldnt’ see a bulging crop on him but he looks healthy from my vantage point. He has his wings down to cool off which is understandable given it’s another brutal day out there. I will check on him again before I leave just to ensure he’s okay but the fact that’s he so high up and coud land on that difficult space is a good sign.
Maybe he’s just complaining about the heat
5:25 Update: When I left the office, our little juvie was dozing on the the ADP sign and Angel was next to the nestbox, she seemed relaxed about him being there so I’m encouraged by that and hopefully it’s just the heat that he’s finding challenging. Mom doesn’t seem bothered by him being home and made no attempt to chase him away at all. Expected to start cooling down a bit on Sunday.
Posted on July 22, 2011 10:09 am
July 21, 2011 - Toronto - Sheraton Centre
CPF Postmaster Reports:
July 21st - 2011
Good afternoon
What a treat to log in and see Rhea Mae visiting the nest ledge this morning! Looks like she just had a tasty meal!
All the best-Eileen
Posted on July 22, 2011 9:51 am
July 21, 2011 - Port Colborne - ADM Mill
Doug Garbutt Reports:
This morning it was already 23 degrees at 6:00am when I arrived at work on my bicycle. You would not know it though as the strong winds off Lake Erie made it not feel so bad. The falcons took advantage of the winds to kite & do a little talon tagging. There were 3 togeather but with them up so high, from my viewpoint I couldn’t positively I.D. if there were 2 juvies & 1 adult or 2 adults & 1 juvie. It sure looked & sounded like there were 2 juvies. I also saw 1 juvie back in the nest box today, a rare sight indeed. Couldn’t see the coloured tape on the USFW band but I’m pretty confident that it was Olivia. To watch these birds fly is simply amazing.
Posted on July 21, 2011 9:18 pm
