June 20, 2011 - Windsor - Ambassador Bridge
Dennis Patrick Reports:
Dennis and I were at the Bridge Saturday, Sunday and again this morning at 6 A.M. Freddie and Voltaire are staying close to Lady Gaga and Spitfire, seems like they know something that we don’t!! Lady Gaga and Spitfire are very happy with their new nest box, it’s fun to watch them jump up on the edge of it and then jump down again. This morning they were flapping their wings like they were going to fly. At one point this morning Freddie flew towards the truck and chased a Mourning Dove away from the top of the fence. The family of four are very enjoyable to watch. Stay tune for more reports.
Gwen & Dennis
Site Co-ordinators for CPF
Posted on June 20, 2011 8:47 am
June 19, 2011 - Toronto - King Street
Mark Nash Reports:
I spent the better part of the day today on site in an unofficial start to the King Street nest site fledge watch and had a very enjoyable day indeed. Sakura and Kenya spent most of the day playing together on the nest ledge with allot of laying down to escape the hot day sun and a lot of running up and down the nest ledge in between the sleeping and screaming at mom and dad for food . Not a hole lot of flapping, but they still have a full head of fluffy white down. Mom brought in food at 4pm and despite Kenya’s smaller size in comparison to his much bigger sister, he snatched it from mom and ran over to the corner, mantled over it and proceeded to eat it.
While big sister made several attempts to get a few bites, Kenya would have having nothing of it. After Kenya finished the small offering, Sakura made every effort to pick what was left off the bones was still interested to snuggle up with her piggy brother and the two them layed down together for the balance of th afternoon. I spent the balance of the day doing my best to photograph the resident adults with some success at least with the resident adult female.
She did most of the hunting throughout the day with several birds having been caught and all but two of the catches were actually eaten by mom well of sight of the hatchlings view. I watched her stash at least three freshly caught birds. The good news is that I was able to photograph the resident adult female on several occasions as she flew around over my head. On two occasions, she flew over to my location to get a closer look at what I was doing, and on a second occasion she landed less than 60 feet from my observation position allowing me to get some good close-up shots of her band number. She dawns a Black sideways 8 over a Red sideways D - (both rotated 90 degrees counter clockwise)
The resident adult male was spent most of his day going after other avian intruders including any that just happen to fly by or near the nest ledge. At one point he jumped off the roof of the nest building and dropped straight down the building wall in an incredible dive on an unsuspecting gull that just happened to fly by the nest building. The resident adult male dove so quickly, I was unable to keep the camera trained on him!! He literally chased the gull south so fast I could hardly get a site line on him, let alone keep the camera trained on him.
All I can say about the resident adult male, is that he has what appears to be a solid Black band - (that would suggest that he is a locally produced bird). At 8:30pm, the resident adult female brought in food to the nest ledge and both hatchlings shared in the offering without any squabbling. They were fed by the adult female in a very tender family moment for close to 30 minutes. By 9pm, both hatchlings were once again lying down together side by side and obviously down for the evening.
I got some great photos that I have attached with this posting. Later in the evening I met with Linda at the Toronto Sheraton watch and finished the evening with them and departed for home at dark.
Stay tuned, back again tomorrow……
Posted on June 20, 2011 2:47 am
June 19, 2011 - Scarborough - Yellow Pages
Mark Nash Reports:
A quick spot check on the hatchlings this moring and all seems to be well and its getting close to their first flights. All three of the kids were still in the nest ledge laying down to escape the hot moring sun with mom roosting on the metal flashing of the nest ledge.
Sadly, no pictures today but they will soon be up on the nest ledge and the fun will soon begin.
Stay tuned….
Posted on June 20, 2011 1:52 am
June 19, 2011 - Toronto - Sheraton Centre
Linda Woods Reports:
After taking over the watch from Zoe, and keeping an eye on William. I ventured up to the 43rd to have a birds eye view of the movements. Around 3:30p.m. Sunshine did a food exchange with Rhea Mae! At 6:15p.m., Keeping my eye on William and scanning the roof tops, I saw some movement on the upper level of 120 Adelaide St. At first I thought it was Sunshine, but saw that it was looking a little unsteady. A close look at the glowing red tape on the leg band confirmed it was Cinnamon! SURPRISE! Good landing. He wandered about that area, before settling down on the north west facing silver strut, where he laid down for the night. Kate had a good chow down and the entire nest ledge to herself for a short time, before Sunshine returned to the nest ledge.
William remained on the lower structure of the Sheraton Hotel, and that is where, hopefully he will be in the morning.
Good Luck Harry!
Posted on June 19, 2011 10:29 pm
June 19, 2011 - Etobicoke - William Osler
Tracy Simpson Reports:
It would seem that there is a rash of quiet days happening at all of the nest sites today including William Osler. For this watch that is quite an unusual happening but a bit of a relief for tired watchers. Bruce Massey was on-site this morning at around 6:00am and saw Storm take several flights out and around the perimeter of the hospital with landings on the roof retaining wall being “a six out of ten”. Storm did manage to get back to the nest ledge before Frank and I arrived this morning and we had all three birds present on the east side ALL DAY LONG!! At 12:00pm, O’Connor was off her tower perch and circled around to take out her second Red tailed hawk in a week to the west of the hospital. This attack was not as ferocious as the last as this bird was moving away from the hospital unlike the first RTH that was moving towards it. Hurricane attacked a gull lopping through about half an hour later that had us hoping we would be seeing some flights today. O’Connor went down low onto the three storey roof of the medical building again today. I observed this behaviour yesterday but was unable to understand what it was that she was doing. Bruce observed the same thing this morning but was able to confirm what activity was drawing her there; squirrels!! She was clearing the low roofs of squirrels!! With all of the feathered and furred creatures of interest removed, I waited with anticipation for the adults to wind the juveniles up and encourage flight. I was disappointed when at 1:30pm, O’Connor arrive with an enormous pigeon that she took to the northeast corner. She was met by Wind who took the food and hid behind Mommy bird in the hopes of having her fill first. She got her wish as O’Connor warned off the other two until Wind had eaten. Once full, O’Connor left for the tower to allow the other chicks to join in the feast. I was amazed that during the entire feeding, the resident female never stopped alarm calling even though no threat was discernible. I think she was telling them to mind their manners!! At 5:12pm, O’Connor returned to the nest ledge, picked up the remains of the meal and beak fed Storm. Since then, these juveniles might as well have been gargoyles as they haven’t moved an inch!! I hope that by tomorrow, the resident adults attempt to incite flight again and not let the chicks linger as they are now heading into their mid 40 days of age. I think they are so spoiled here by Hurricane and O’Connor that they don’t want to leave!! We’ll see if tomorrow either of the females takes their first flight.
Posted on June 19, 2011 8:05 pm
June 19, 2011 - Burlington - Lift Bridge
Sue McCreadie Reports:
Paul Reynolds Reports:
5:45 am this morning Dad was in his usual spot on the old nest ledge and no one else was visible . On walking down the pier I looked back as lady Lamont flew across to the Burlington tower landing on the cable arm Bay side. Dad had moved across to the Hamilton tower roof and Mum appeared flying up to the top of the Hydro tower Burlington side. She made a long dive towards Burlington but came back empty, settling on the top of the Hamilton Hydro tower.
But now Lady Lamont was screaming “I’m hungry” so she then went foraging for food on all the picnic tables, flying to each one. The landings were pretty good. Seems like she has done this before. When I left at 8:30am Lady Lamont was on the bay side cable arm Hamilton tower maybe I should say in the cable arm. All the time I was there I only saw three birds, Lady Nelson was hiding some place.
Bill and I just returned after spending 3 hours at the Bridge. The two girls were laying around on the Hamilton bay side cable arm. Mom did a couple of flybys which was enough to get them screaming but not enough to get them up and moving. Very little activity today.
Posted on June 19, 2011 3:56 pm
June 19, 2011 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre
Kathy Reports:
I was on site this morning from 9 am until 12:30 pm to check on our family. All 5 were there when I arrived and Jupiter was soaring and gliding with Jack. It’s amazing how small and quiet she was at banding and to see her now, she’s huge and loud!! And wow can she fly! She is far exceeding both her brother’s in skill. In fact after soaring, gliding, dipping and ledge hopping..she flew right into the ledge and knocked Angel right off the web cam!! That takes an amazing amount of skill as it’s a small space and she’s done it already!
Her landings are very good as well, very measured and controlled and not clumsy at all. You can see that she really understands how to use the wind to her advantage and she made some amazing flights both with her parents and on her own.
The boys on the other hand didn’t do much the entire time I was there. Both were on the second ledge and other than crying for food and napping - they weren’t going anywhere. Mom tried several times to entice them off the ledge but they weren’t having any of it. Before I left, one of the boys did finally fly over to the condo but it took him a bit of time to get up his nerveand that’s understandable as both of them spent time quite low and it generally takes a few days for them to regain their confidence.
Jack was here most of the morning and in fact this year he has been here to support Angel and his offspring during fledging and you can see the difference it’s made compared to last year when he was not around very much at all. With both parents here, they can keep tabs on which kid flew where and provide assistance if they require it. We can see by Mackenzie’s performance in Burlington that it really makes a difference. Those unique hunting and flying skills he’s dazzling all the folks with down there largely come from Jack. He’s quite the little guy our Jack so I”ll wish him a Happy Falcon Father’s Day 
Posted on June 19, 2011 3:36 pm
June 19, 2011 - Toronto - Sheraton Centre
Harry Crawford Reports:
At 7:20am, I found Kate and Cinnamon on the nest ledge, visible from
120 Adelaide. A short time later, Sunshine appeared on the roof,
just above the nest ledge. She hopped down to the ‘S’ and started
to make her was over to the ‘t’ of Centre. Apparently, one of the
adults had stashed prey there. Sunshine started to clean the prey!
Feathers were going everywhere.
As much as I would have liked to stay and watch, this was an
opportunity to go up to the 43rd floor of the hotel and see if I
could spot our missing William. After checking a dozen or more roof
tops, I found him on the south ledge of the lower level portion of
the Sheraton Centre. I quickly went down to the courtyard south of
the hotel and began watching. When Zoe arrived, she continued
watching William while I went back to the front of 120 Adelaide to
watch the nest ledge in case one of the remaining two fledged.
This could be an interesting and challenging day for Zoe and the
afternoon crew.
Posted on June 19, 2011 2:46 pm
June 18, 2011 - Toronto - Don Mills
Mark Nash Reports:
Just a quick up-date to let everyone know that all is well at the Don Mills nest site with Quest and Kendal having settled down after the brief set up of the swing stage equipment preparing for the banding on Tuesday of next week.
As you see while looking at the web camera, both Quest and Kendal have resumed regular routines despite the rope that now hangs in front of the nest ledge. Remember that the rope is nothing more than an inanimate non-human object and one that is not perceived as a threat of any kind.
The hatchling is growing fast and it will be very interesting to see if we have a male or a female baby.
Stay tuned…….
Posted on June 19, 2011 11:18 am
- Port Colborne - ADM Mill
Doug Garbutt Reports:
After days of anticipation & thinking geewiz this guy is good to go, Max took the big jump at precisely 2:25 pm today. His 1st flight took him around the tower on the 12th floor where the nest box is. He lost altitude curving around to the 8th floor roof where he landed. It’s a good spot as there’s lots of room to practice flying without too many hazards. It’s the same roof Olivia landed on after her 1st flight yesterday. She already seems like a pro flyer & is trying to show Max the ropes. All the while the young ones were having fun & practicing on the roof, Mom was watching from above. It’s hard to keep track of what is happening but when I left late today Olivia & the 2 adults were accounted for. I’m sure Max found a safe spot to spend the night. I’ll check tomorrow.
Posted on June 18, 2011 10:32 pm
