June 22, 2011 - Toronto - Sheraton Centre
Linda Woods Reports:
Not a good start to the day. CPF received a call stating that a banded bird was found near the base of the tall buildings on Bay St. in downtown Toronto. I was dispatched to investigate and it is confirmed that the young bird is indeed, William from the Sheraton Toronto Nest Site. Don’t have much more information regarding his collision.
Later in the day, another call was received and once again I was dispatched to the “Keg” on York St. Cinnamon had come to the sidewalk! Quick thinking and mindful staff of both the Keg and Oxford Properties who knew what to do. They carefully place Cinnamon in a box and secured the area until I could get there. Zoe and Annie retrieved the rescue carrier and delivered to the site and I transferred Cinnamon from the cardboard box and into the top of the line pet carrier, that Jan Chudy donated to the cause a few years ago. On quick examination there didn’t appear to be any injuries. I gave him a little water and he was placed in a cool quiet area to rest. Mark Nash arrived on site to do a full examination, and my goodness… CUTE as a button, he’s a doll. Mark did a final full examination and Cinnamon was good to go back to the nest ledge to join his sister, Kate. That was completed by 11:00p.m.
Sunshine continues to do very well. It appears she may be venturing further away from the nesting area. She didn’t return to the nest ledge for the night, but was seen earlier in the evening.
Kate remains on the nest unfledged. She still has a little more fluff on the top of her legs. I was surprised.
Photos coming and will be posted
Posted on June 22, 2011 12:29 am
June 21, 2011 - Windsor - Ambassador Bridge
Dennis Patrick Reports:
First we would like to Thank Bess, Collette and Denise for being at the Bridge yesterday watching Lady Gaga and Spitfire. Also, our good friend Daren who was there from 8 A.M.to 5:30 P.M. watching out for us because he enjoys these wonderful creatures. He loves to race his motorcycle so why not watch the Peregrine Falcon. We were back there again this morning about 6:30 A.M. Voltaire was on the beam. Lady Gaga and Spitfire were in the nest tray then Freddie came in with food, lots of vocal. When we left Lady Gaga was still standing on the nest box while Spitfire was lying down in the corner, I guess having a nap after breakfast. Thank You to Todd Pepper a friend from HBMO and local birder extrodinaire who has volunteered to watch for us early morning.
Gwen & Dennis
Site Co-ordinators for CPF
Posted on June 21, 2011 10:18 am
June 21, 2011 - Toronto - Sheraton Centre
Mark Nash Reports:
Sadly we have tragic news to report this morning with regards to William, the young fledgling from the Toronto Sheraton Hotel nest site. I received a call at 6:50 am this morning where the caller reports seeing a large brown bird hit the windows high up in the concrete canopy and they watched lifeless bird fall to the street level out of their view. Moments after the first call, just after 7am, I received a second telephone call for a CPF supporter, and a friend who actually works with the Solar Window washing company, the great folks that support us with all of their services to get us and the Ministry of Natural Resources to many of the nest ledges so the young hatchlings can be removed for banding. In fact, the second caller was non other than Steve who was one of the Solar window washers staff on the swing stage to assist with the Toronto King street banding. He was able to retrieve the dead bird from the sidewalk before it was trampled or run over by traffic and take some photos for us to help properly identify the bird. He was also able to box the bird for us and hold it over for us to pick it up later today. Sadly, the deceased peregrine is identified by it s leg band as being William from the Toronto Sheraton nest site.
Sadly, one of the many dangers of urban living that we all have to deal with,,, (for us it’s the traffic and all of the congestion), for the young fledgling peregrines it the windows and the concrete. We alway hope that the young fledglings actually had some minor hits and bumps with the glass and concrete early in their fledge, as the first week of their flights sees them much slower in their flights, and they are lucky enough to have some minor hits and bumps (and survive), they learn to stay away from these dangers.
If they are unlucky enough not to have some minor hits and bumps early in their first flights, and they start making contact the second week, they are usually way toooo confident, and have already built up incredible speeds in their flight, and contact with windows at this stage usually results in very serious injuries and mortality.
That being said, all of the young fledglings are highly influenced in their first flights with the gusty winds that surround our hi-rise office towers, and given their inexperience to dal with these conditions, they are often blown around off course at these high altitudes.
A grim reminder that live in the fast lane, especially for a young fledgling peregrine learning to fly is not a easy task. The good news, is that the larger percentage of the urban peregrine hatchlings do survive (some time with a lot of help from us in the streets), and many have gone to survive that are now adults nesting in other cities producing their own families.
For all of the CPF fledge watch volunteers, you should be very happy to know that you have saved far more than we have lost over the past 17 years that we have all being doing the fledge watches, and remember that we can only do what we can do. The rest is up to the birds and a little luck!
Th photos attached are a little graphic and caution is advised when reviewing them.
Posted on June 21, 2011 10:16 am
June 20, 2011 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre
Mark Nash Reports:
Today started out like any other day at this time of year with the phone ringing off the hook and several calls on the go at the same time, two people on hold and everyone has a peregrine baby in their back yard! Pigeons, American kestrels, Coopers hawks and Sharp-shinned hawks all seem to invade the city at this time of year!
Then there’s the real peregrines, and a flurry of calls from Etobicoke about a fledgling named Jupiter down on the deck not looking to well. A quick scramble and another serious of calls to ask Kathy to cover off the Yellow pages watch, shuttle Marion to take over the King Street watch, and run out to Etobicoke Sun Life nest site at Bloor & Islington to find out what has happened.
More call on the mobile while on the road again from Tracy and Frank out at the William Osler watch with another downed fledgling needing to be rescued from the ground and in harms way.
Bruce calls to update me on the Canada Square Yonge & Eglinton birds, still on the ledge, no fledge yet. More calls from Linda at the Toronto Sheraton watch, two missing fledglings and situation frantic.
Two more calls from Bloor & Islington, downed fledgling limping badly, and not looking well. No longer active. Update on the go from Marion at King Street, young male missing - gone from the ledge and searching. Yellow pages update from Kathy, relayed to me by Marion on yet another call, hatchlings up and down from the nest ledge, never seen all at the same time, so unsure if one or two have actually fledged. Can’t tell as never is there two or more hatchlings been seen at the same time.
Arrival at Etobicoke, and search all lower terraces,, no bird found! After 30 minutes of searching with the assistance of Sun Life security, I finally hook up with Kathy and talk to Baylie on the phone. Up to the fifth floor with Kathy, she points out the downed fledgling in the corner of the upper terrace on the east side of the east tower, not looking too active at all. It’s Jupiter, one of the fledglings that was flying so well only days before,,, with strong flights and able to sustain and gain lots of altitude, and able to get back to the roof top and nest ledge!!
Three more telephone calls, Bruce is leaving Yonge & Eglinton nest site to relieve Tracy at William Osler nest site so she can go to CPF raptor centre in Woodbridge to feed our own birds.
Harlequin calls in panic, young hatchling is out of the nest tray on the ledge at the Don Mills nest site and can’t get back in. Marion calls with update from King Street nest site downtown, little male hatchling “Kenya” is still missing and now all King Street watch crew is very worried! Searching all roof tops in open vents and air cooling pools.
After another 20 minutes of observations from Kathy’s office, it is quite obvious that Jupiter will never make any altitude from this position encapsulated on all four sides by hi-rises and tall retaining walls, and only just feet from the ground and busy Bloor Street. After discussing a game plan, rescue is in motion with Kathy and Baylie assisting. Back to security for their assistance through a serious of door ways, internal hallways and finally up the latter and through a roof hatch to the lower terrace area. Across the roof, down another latter and across yet another lover roof elevation and Jupiter is finally spotted. Cell phone rings out with two more incoming calls. Message beeper going,, can’t answer these ones at the moment! With Kathy and Baylie on the upper Kingsway on the park terrace (actually lower than Jupiter’s position) with towels in hand to distract her, I was able to approach Jupiter from behind and drop the net. Got her!!
Back to security at the Sun life Centre to examine Jupiter for injuries and other obvious signs of trauma. Two more phone calls, phone ringing off the hook and message indicator beeping. Can’t answer now, bird in hand - literally! After a very detailed examination, Jupiter checks out just fine and seems to have come to life!! Lots of attitude, alert and very aggressive indeed! Just what we want to see.
Back in the carrier for safe keeping and hold over until release back to the roof under the cover of darkness. Siblings on the roof and can’t release Jupiter at the risk of scaring her siblings in a panic flight off the roof into potential harms ways at this early stage of the fledge for them.
Sun life security babysitting Jupiter until I return at dark to release her.. Catch up on telephone messages while I dash across the city in rush hour traffic from Etobicoke to Yonge & Eglinton to check on hatchlings at the Canada Square nest site given Bruce’s absence. Birds OK, still on the ledge.
Not quite sue what actually happened that got Jupiter grounded, but likely over confident in her new flight skills, she collided with a window and stunned herself. I am very glad it happened this soon after her first flights, early in the fledge, as the juveniles are slow and usually hit softly the first couple of times.
If they don’t experience soft hits and brush ups with the windows in the first week of the fledge when they are usually very slow, a hit with a window in the second week of their flights, usually spells a very fast and hard hit that ends up in far more serious injuries and mortality. Unlike most other birds, peregrines learn by their mistakes and don’t repeat them. They learn whet windows are all about if they survive hits with windows early in their lives.
Three more telephone calls, one from OMNR asking if I can run to the Don Mills nest site to obtain copies or photographs of documents they need to be able to proceed with the Don Mills nest site banding tomorrow. No way, tooo much traffic and not enough time to get there before they all leave the office for home.
Security calls from a building across the street from the Yellow Pages nest site telling me a downed hawk looking bird on the ground under a tree and looks badly injured. Holly crap!! No one else is available!! Further detailed conversation and very lengthy call with the caller, its decided that the downed bird is actually a pigeon,, not a raptor at all! Everyone has a peregrine in their back yard don’t you know!!
Marion calls from King Street nest site, she reports that have found Kenya,,, he safe on a rooftop and although much lower than the nest ledge, he has some altitude and in a safe spot.
Back to Bloor and Islington to the Sun Life nest site by 9:15 pm and Jupiter is examined one last time for any signs of trauma or injuries just to make sure she is OK before she is released. Every thing is good. Up to the roof of the nest building under the cover of darkness, where MOM is waiting. Boy is she not so happy with my presence!!! A quick release of Jupiter and I’m ducking and dodging to get back to the roof hatch and get out of her way…quickly!!
On the road again on route downtown to the King Street nest site to pick up Marion and try to get home. Cell phone rings again,, it’s now 10:30 pm,, Tracy update me as to her fledgling’s release and everything went well.
Home by 11pm, eat quick, and start updates and web postings. Its now 1:58 in the morning and I can’t stay awake any longer. Most of the 12 postings and my own report has been done.
Banding at the Don Mills nest site tomorrow and back in th field on the fledge watches.
By the end of July, most of us will be part of the walking dead club, suffering from “falcon neck” as we say. It’s an annual ailment that comes and goes at this time of the year during the fledge watches.
Just another typical day and usual happenings on the fledge watches.
Stay tuned………….
Posted on June 21, 2011 2:57 am
June 20, 2011 - Toronto - Don Mills
Mark Nash Reports:
The banding day is tomorrow and we will all have to cherish the days gone by as the young hatchling has finally taken its first steps out of the nest tray and now on to the ledge. Getting more independent as each day goes by, they grow so quickly and soon all of the fluffy white will be disappearing beneath the brown juvenile flight feathers.
I have been saving some of these shots to post as a reminder that moments like this should never be forgotten as life passes us all by so quickly. In this case, hatch to fledge, from fluffy cotton ball white to full size juvenile fledgling brown (first flights) in 40 days!
Enjoy.
Posted on June 21, 2011 12:28 am
June 20, 2011 - Brampton - Courthouse
CPF Postmaster Reports:
Spent almost 2 hours watching today and Milton & Truss continue to bring food to the nest and keep it there for several minutes. Of the three trips I witnessed today, twice the visits were 10 minutes long and another was 6 minutes. There is a lot of soft vocalization when the food is present at the nest site. Normally, when the adults are eating away from the nest, they do not vocalize. This could signal chicks?!
Milton and Truss were very active hunters today; both returning from trips with meals. Truss was especially active today, heading Northwest to attack a flock of pigeons a few kilometres away. I could only make out the action through the lens; she bombed a Turkey Vulture who was too close to the action. Once she returned to the courthouse, she immediately began looking for targets and soon she took off again; returning with what looks like a Starling.
Winston
Posted on June 20, 2011 11:49 pm
June 20, 2011 - Toronto - King Street
Marion Nash Reports:
Expecting that today could be the day one of the chicks would fledge I arrived at the site at 2 pm and found Sakura on the ledge flapping and screaming for mom and dad to bring food but did not see Kenya.
In about 45 minutes mom came in with food which Sakura quickly grabbed form her and jumped back down in the nest ledge to eat and all the while I heard screaming from a chick which I assumed was her brother trying to get his share.
I was told by other watchers that Kenya seemed to be a little lazy and often stays down on the ledge until the early evening or perhaps he does not like the hot sun so I was not too concerned that I had not seen him yet.
By 4 pm Paul and I were getting nervous about why he had not appeared yet even for a moment and I decided to go up to the mechanical room at the nest building to check the monitor to see if he was alright and nope he was not there.
I went over to the King Edward hotel and asked security to get me up to the roof as I had seen the parents hanging around the roof on and off all day and sure enough there he was sitting with his mom with a nice full crop of food.
Paul had been out to check on the kids earlier that day and had not seen him then so we expect he fledged sometime in the early morning. At dark he was still on the King Edward roof and his sister still on the nest ledge and after being fed by mom was tucked in for the night.
Posted on June 20, 2011 11:30 pm
June 20, 2011 - Toronto - Sheraton Centre
Linda Woods Reports:
Stinkers. As soon as you have them they disappear.
When I arrived on site and nest check was in order. Kate and Sunshine were on the nest ledge. Zoe and Harry had Cinnamon on the lower area of 130 Adelaide and that is where I found him and ID’d him with the red tape. I never saw William.
Cinnamon finally mustard up the courage to fly again around 7:45p.m. Flew south towards Lombard Place , across the street from where he was. He appeared on the north pinnacle of this building. Not being able to see this area from 43 I made my way to the ground and met up with Vanessa and Sharon. I positioned myself to the east of this building, While the two other ladies stayed to the west. Combination of radio issues and distraction from the adults circling above. Cinnamon moved out of our view. By the time we repositioned again, he was no longer in sight. He could very well be still there and hopefully with William who I have not seen since last night. Not seeing any of the juvies, I made another nest check. Kate was not in view, I hope she didn’t take off. Sunshine had made her way back to the nest ledge for a chow down (no surprise) Rhea Mae and Tiago were on the cooling area of 120 Adelaide St.
Posted on June 20, 2011 10:53 pm
June 20, 2011 - Port Colborne - ADM Mill
Doug Garbutt Reports:
The last time I was able to confirm that we still had 2 young OK after their fledges was Saturday night. Today I was able to confirm that at 11:15 am there were 2 active young peregrines here. Turns out Max made his way all the way up to the top of the 12 floor roof! You can’t get any higher than that here at our facility. When I left tonight he was actually back in the nest box. That was at dusk & he was crashed out on the ledge. I’m sure he is spending the night there. Olivia likes the steel beams to roost on, as do the adults. Our fingers are crossed that progress continues.
Posted on June 20, 2011 10:05 pm
June 20, 2011 - Toronto - Sheraton Centre
Harry Crawford Reports:
I arrived on scene (City Hall) at 7:30am. Cinnamon and Sunshine
were were they were when Linda left last night. Kate was still on
the nest ledge but William was not on the lower Sheraton building.
I was concerned that Kate might take flight so I stayed at the front
of 120 Adelaide. Good thing - William appeared later on the west
side of the ‘Phoenix’ building. All four juveniles were seen by
8am.
Zoe arrived shortly after. She remained watching William and Kate
and I took up watching Cinnamon and Sunshine from ‘the rocks’ on
York St. William quickly moved around to the south side of the
building and eventually up to the roof (we think). We tried to view
from all angles from the street to no avail so I went up to 43. The
view from the men’s washroom doesn’t cover the whole ‘Phoenix’
building. The view should be better from the women’s washroom - no
I didn’t!
While I was up there, Sunshine took a pass at Cinnamon, likely to
get him to fly. He eventually tried to get back to the roof above
him from the top of the pillar, missed the landing and took off over
to the Bell building, landing on the east-west segment between the
north and south buildings. I came down and met up with Zoe who was
watching a juvenile peregrine on the penthouse of the north Bell
building. This was a big bird! This had to be Kate. So when I
left before lunch, we probably had Sunshine, sleeping on the north
west corner of 130 Adelaide, William somewhere on the ‘Phoenix’
building and Kate and Cinnamon somewhere on the Bell complex.
This is going to be one complicated afternoon and evening. Good
luck Zoe, Annie and Linda.
5pm update. There are now two juveniles on the nest ledge. Kate may not have fledged after all. Stay tuned to Linda’s update this evening!
Posted on June 20, 2011 4:18 pm
