July 09, 2011 - Toronto - Don Mills
Bruce Massey Reports:
Saturday July 9th - 5am report
Took over from Anne B & Carol @ 1430 Hrs. Quest @ Nest Tray, Harlie @ East End of Building in some shade. Had around 2 hours of peace & quiet and then Quest flew low past Harley and then looped around to land @ roof level and then called to wake up Harley, and boy did she ever wake her up. For the next 15 to 20 minutes this girl vocalized she was faint w/hunger, all her feathers were be slowly pulled out one by one etc etc. Meanwhile Mom had gone & got a food package & after eating a little herself brought the rest in for Harlie.
After that, there was around 4pm or so hours of flapping (Good Coordination, a little lift) disappearing around the East Corner. The determining factor was that the adult/s (Quest) were absent until the last feeding @ around 2000 Hrs. After this Harley went over to a column in the middle of the building and laid down facing inward. (Yahoo, an early night). Around 1/2 hour later a TTC Bus w/noisy brakes had her up again and finally around 2130 Hrs she had settled on one of the concrete pieces sticking out of the middle of the building. I left soon after that @ 2140-2145 Hrs releaved by Mark and Marion,, and Dennis and Gwen who came in from Windsor Ontario - (CPF chaptor coordinators from the Windsor Ontario nest site).
Thanx
Bruce Massey
Sent from my Black Berry device on the Rogers Wireless Network
Posted on July 11, 2011 1:46 am
July 09, 2011 - Toronto - Don Mills
CPF Postmaster Reports:
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strong>Saturday July 9th - 2011
Murray and I did 2 drive byes yesterday (Sat July 9) before arriving at 2:30 ish to help out with the fledge watch. At 2:18 we watched nervously as she did her second flight. A little scary, but definitely exciting. We were worried she was going to go in the valley, but she turned around and mommy Quest and daddy Kendall were in the vicinity watching. Very awkward landing, but ok.. Have learned lots of info from Mark and Marion of the CPF and Bruce the bird man. Stayed till approx 8:15pm after all of the birds seemed to settle down for the evening and met lots of wonderful dedicated people.
Will be back tomorrow!!
Debbie & Murray
Posted on July 11, 2011 1:27 am
July 10, 2011 - Toronto - Don Mills
Ann Brokelman Reports:
Today at the watch Harlie decided it was time to test my nerves. Both Debbie and I are still shaking.
First thing first. Thank you To the Canadian Peregrine Foundation and all their fledge volunteers who do this day after day after day, year after year. You have nerves of steel and man I admire the lot of you. Mark Marion Bruce Tracy Frank Lyn and Kathy (the only ones I know) you are totally amazing. Thank you thank you thank you.
I arrived today at the watch and Bruce and I enjoyed watching Baby Harlequin fly around the Harlequin building and then land on top of the building.
Baby Harlie was amazing.
Murray and Debbie arrived
3 hours later was a different story. .
Harlequin was chasing the adults on the Harlequin roof - even taking short flights in the air. Kendal did a food drop to Harlie and then Quest came and took it away. Harlie ticked off. She chased mom all over the roof.
Now come the time that apparently I screamed
As Harlie was chasing mom she slipped off and fell head first from the top of the building spinning around. LUCKILY mom and dad peregrine falcon were there to help her adjust her flight and change her direction and truly saved their baby. Now the fun part they started to chased the baby and the baby chased the parents, around and off around and off. Lots of great action and amazing flights by all three of them. Meanwhile I am standing there with my towel on my shoulder, camera off to the side and going OMG OMG. Goosebumps galore and man no nerves of steel with this gal. Bruce comes over and is laughing at me. Both Debbie and I were speak less (oh yes really Murray and Carol)
Bruce took my towel and waved it at me and told me I was fired as photographer since i forgot about the camera during all this amazing action. lol
So that was the end of my little adventure at the fledge watch today. I really admire all the people who can handle this work.
Ann
PS both Quest and Kendal are great parents - they lead and guide the baby all over the place. Could have been a different outcome if not for the parents. Great work mom and dad.
Again you guys at CPF are amazing. Thanks
I am off to take some Valium and rest for the evening. No photos today lol
Ann Brokelman
Posted on July 11, 2011 12:59 am
July 10, 2011 - Windsor - Ambassador Bridge
Marion Nash Reports:
First reports of lady GaGa’s leg fracture repair were very good and we all felt quite hopeful that she would heal well and be able to return to her family quickly.
It was then just a matter of where she would be housed and cared for during her short recovery.
After discussing this with the Ministry it was decided to bring her to the CPF Raptor centre in Vaughan where she would receive round the clock care for the weekend until a final decision and direction from the OMNR could be made on Monday.
As always all raptors rescued and retrieved by CPF who have sustained injury are taken to the CPF’s Avian vet Dr Markus Luckwaldt at the Amhurst Veterinary Hospital who has extensive experience with raptors for further examinations.
Dennis and Gwen CPF’s chapter coordinators made the long drive up to meet us at Dr. Luckwaldt’s office in Scarborough where she could be further examined to make shure there are no other unseen/unknown illness or injury we would need to be aware off while in our care and to make a post operative examination of her leg.
The doctor decided to take full ex-rays of her wings to make sure there were no other breaks or small fractures there that could not be seen, then examine the rest of the body and if clear of any other injuries proceed with a prescription of broad spectrum antibiotic for further treatment during her healing period.
The leg post operative ex-ray was very good well done for sure it showed the pins that were placed in the fracture of the Tibia Tarces just below the knee. Unfortunately the wing ex-rays gave us some truly bad news . Lady GaGa had 3 other bad fractures on both wings called trypod fractures one in the right coracoid this bone was also dislocated the other fracture was in the clavical on the left wing the prognoses for repair was not good.
Sadly it was deemed that the surgery required could never repair the damage well enough for survival in the wild and one of the fractures so bad as to actually be inoperable.
Her medical reports will be given to the Ministry on Monday where we will await their recommendation and final decision.
She is being well taken care of and is bandaged up to support her wings, she was tube fed since she can’t eat on her own, hydrated and given pain medications by Dr Luckwaldt. She is resting well in a cool quiet pen of her own at our centre under the watchful eye of our raptor centre manager Momma Tracy.
We want to thank both Dennis and Gwen the CPF’s Windsor chapter coordinators and the Falcon Watch Teem for the fast action and tremendous support given to Lady GaGa and her family. We would also like to thank Dr. H.J Sweetman of the Downtown Veterinarian Hospital and DR. David Howarth of the Brack Animal Hospital who came to her aid so quickly. What a wonderful extended family the Windsor Peregrine’s have of which we are so proud to be a part of. You are all heros and we salute you for all you have done.
When I think back over the years on all that has been done I recall lessons of humanity and past battles that were won, but for this one family there is still more to do so onward into battle go the mighty few. Keep up the fight Windsor and Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!
Look for further updates.
Posted on July 11, 2011 12:23 am
July 08, 2011 - Niagara Falls
Mark Nash Reports:
All photos by Mark Nash of the Canadian Peregrine Foundation.
Photos showing that there is a new resident female, banded with a Black 42 over a Red H, indicating that the resident adult female is still “Diamond“,,,, a 2009 bird, produced in Canton Ohio.
Posted on July 10, 2011 3:56 pm
July 10, 2011 - Toronto - Sheraton Centre
Linda Woods Reports:
An area check around noon today, and I didn’t see any peregrines in the area. I couldn’t even spot Rhea Mae or Tiago. I think they are must be tucked away in the shade. I’ll return later, perhaps they’ll reappear in the evening.
Posted on July 10, 2011 3:43 pm
July 10, 2011 - Toronto - King Street
Linda Woods Reports:
Sukura and Kenya remain in the area . This morning and afternoon, Sukura had a meal on 1 Toronto St. Later Kenya was seen flying towards 18 King. They are both good flyers and frequently seen playing tag, chase with talon contact with each other. Lots of vocalization!
Posted on July 10, 2011 3:41 pm
July 08, 2011 - Niagara Falls
Mark Nash Reports:
A huge success today with two healthy hatchlings banded, a new nest tray installed with lots of nest substrate, hatchlings moved from the window ledge to the new nest (old nest cavity), and both parents attending the chicks!!
A big thank you to ALL involved today, as Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, Ontario Power Generation, Canadian Peregrine Foundation, Niagara Parks Commission Police staff, and with John Millar and support rock climbers assembled at 9am this morning at the old Ontario Power Generation station down in the Niagara Gorge, we were all poised for a full day of activities and jobs to complete.
Like a well choreographed play and a solid game plan, 11 people organized and set into motion the days activities. Rock climbers setting up lines and ropes, banding table and banding equipment was being set up, safety instructions delivered and reviewed, over all game plan reviewed, nest tray fabrication underway and 210 pounds of pea-gravel being mixed and poured into the buckets, the days events were all completed with a overwhelming sense of accomplishment.
With the rock climbers down over the wall into the gorge, the two very healthy and very feisty hatchlings were extracted from the window ledge on the side of the OPG station wall, raised in the carrier to the upper roof elevation and were weighed, sexed and banded successfully by Anne Yagi and support staff of the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources.
Both hatchlings were identified as females, and they were named Lady Millar and Lady Phinney, and were examined and deemed healthy and cleared to be returned back to their parents and the new nest cavity.
While the hatchlings were being banded, the rock climbers re-positioned themselves to the old nest cavity to await the nest tray and pea-gravel substrate that would be lowered back down to them.
Measurements of the nest cavity were relayed back to the Mark Nash of the CPF via two way radio communications so that a nest tray could be prefabricated and assembled, then lowered via rope back to the climber down the wall face where they were holding their position awaiting to install it.
MNR support staff were preparing the buckets of pea-gravel and OPG staff were providing the necessary distractions to keep the resident adult peregrines away from banding team and the climbers.
By the end of day, and without incident, and thanks to the incredible efforts by all on both sides of the border, a new nest tray and nest substrate had been installed, the two hatchlings had been sexed, banded, examined, named, and returned to the new nest cavity, the banded resident adult has been identify. By Saturday morning, both resident adults were attending and feeding both of their offspring in the new nest.
A huge thank you to the Rochester group - (now nick-named the RFW,, - (the Regional Falcon watchers) who travelled from Rochester New York to Niagara Falls, Buffalo New York to provide the valuable observations from the Niagara Falls New York side of the falls,,,, that were able to visually confirm that both parents were in attendance and were already involved in feeding the hatchlings in the new nest cavity.
Another huge thank you to the Buffalo New York Department of Conservation - (NYDEC) staff, and to both Jackie and Connie of the DEC for providing all of the critical information and logistics on the birds activities, and to John for all of his photographic work that both confirmed the nesting activities of the peregrines and pinpointed the original nest site.
A great collaboration and incredible support by all those involved that has made this day such an incredible success!!
An outstanding group of people!!!!
Posted on July 10, 2011 3:03 pm
July 09, 2011 - Port Colborne - ADM Mill
Doug Garbutt Reports:
Tonight, my wife Rose & I went on a bike ride out to the lake to check on the young falcons. We were able to see both along with Mom & Dad. The young were showing off their newly learned flying skills (alot in tandem). I guess they were not too hungry as they did not appear interested in the smorgasbord of birds available in their airspace. Makes us feel good that these guys still have a shot at survival & if they learn the necessary hunting skills, they will be on their way to having a family of their own one day.
Posted on July 9, 2011 9:56 pm
July 08, 2011 - Toronto - Don Mills
Marion Nash Reports:
At the watch this morning from 9am to 2;30. Bruce took over
From 9:30 to 10:00 all 3 were on the building across from Harlequin.
Female calling for Kendall to get food
At 10am he took off and shortly after he sat in his normal corner by Donna`s office and prepared the bird for Harlie
Took it in to the nest box, and left and not seen again
harlie played with the food, pouncing on it, flapping the wings, going up and down the ledge. Finally settled down for a rest
Quest on building most of the day, every time Harlie went up to her she left.
After his nap he found Quest again and had a Harlequin moment. Oh so sweet.
Then took off to the end of the ledge at theother end.
From 11:30 on very quiet.
Ann
Posted on July 8, 2011 4:44 pm
