June 27, 2021 - Toronto - Don Mills and Eglinton - Amexon
Cathy Kerr Reports:
Sally reports:
We arrived this morning to find Flynn two ledges higher than where we left her last night. Fantastic! Did a walk and drive about to see if we could see Logan but no luck (we remain hopefull the parents know where his is and we see him this week).
Returning from our Logan search, we found Flynn on the Intel building across from where we’d last seen her, but, she was lower and definitely wouldn’t be fed that low. We checked her for a full crop but no, definitely hadn’t been fed a big breakfast before we arrived. After a couple of hours, with the heat rising, and Flynn hunkered down in a tiny patch of shade, we headed out to get lunch.
When we returned she was still there, screaming for food whenever a parent flew over. She eventually flew over to the Good Life parking garage roof, a little higher, and when she finally flew over the large parking lot, to her nest building, it was quite a nice high flight. If she’d landed successfully she would have been high enough for a rewarding feed. It was windy though, and Flynn didn’t pull up and consequently hit a window quite hard. Too hard to drop to the ledge and stay put. She rebounded and flew around to a much low ledge. Damn. Too low to be fed.
She also stayed there for a long time, and had us a little worried because it was a while before we saw her stretch her wings after her window smack. She ran back and forth whenever she saw the parents, and eventually attempted to fly but literally flapped to the ground. Cathy almost had her but she flapped and ran into an alcove and Cathy scooped her up. She hissed and bit through the towel which was a good sign (still had some sass!). Into the carrier she went. OK, roof top much better than a very low ledge, and the easiest roof for us to access was the old nest building. We didn’t expect to see her hop up on the roof ledge before close. We just hope she’s reunited with her parents and gets fed.
I can’t believe it’s “only” day 3 of this fledge watch. It feels much longer, probably because we’ve had very long days and closed the last two days worried. We also have a new female at this site to observe, very young (her first year as a mom) and Chester is deferring to a new partner. I think Cathy and I have been fledge watching about 10 years, but we have been fortunate that this site has had the same pair until this year. Gone is the usual predictable behaviour of the adult pair.
Thanks as always to the security staff at this site who have been so very supportive, and escorted us up to the roof today.
Come home Logan, wherever you are, and fingers crossed for Flynn.
Posted on June 28, 2021 12:02 am
June 26, 2021 - Toronto - Don Mills and Eglinton - Amexon
Cathy Kerr Reports:
Many thanks to my friend and fledge watch buddy Sally for writing up tonights report!
Sally reports:
Cathy and I arrived by 8am, resigning ourselves to a long day and hoping for clearer skies than the previous day. Thankfully our wishes came true. Very windy at times but clear overall.
Flynn was where we left her, still in the tree. A relief. Cathy moved to check the nest ledge and food was brought in to Logan around 9:30. All good there, we could both focus on Flynn’s wrestle with the pine needles.
After quite some time she finally moved UP to a more open branch, and bopped up and down in the wind, finding moments to preen and rip out the last remnants of fluff. Finally up on top of the branches, she could stretch her wings unhindered.
Alarm calling from parents alerted us to not one, not two…SIX turkey vultures, enjoying the thermals, and coming over our way and a little too low for Chester and Milli’s liking. Off they shot to “escort” the curious visitors out of Amexon building site. It worked for a little while but back came two, persistent and very low. Lower than the roof building and making for the nest ledge! That brought the parents back over and Cathy joined them below, yelling up at them to “get away! stop that!” Which subsequently brought a passerby jogger out of the Eglinton sidewalk tree border to check all was OK (much to our amusement later, but apologies to Mr Jogger if he thought a human was in distress!)
OK TVs off, all quiet (even the birds harassing Flynn). She eventually made an awkward flappy flight (literally a hop skip) to the nest building, hanging on to the wall doing “the bat flap” before coming to rest on a ledge below. Phew. Now if the forecasted storm came over she’d be safe on a ledge (lucky for us, that never happened but the wind really picked up at times and this no doubt prevented Flynn from attempting to fly across to another building). She screamed for food whenever she saw a parent fly over. Two days without food now. A very HANGRY juvie!
At some point we needed to check on the nest ledge. Mark and Marion joined us for a while and Cathy took the opportunity to move to the best spot for nest ledge watch. Nothing. We spent the late afternoon and evening taking turns checking the ledge, and walking around the immediate area where we saw the parents flying over. By dusk we realized that another accidental fledge must have happened. Turkey vulture spook? Crazy high wind? We don’t know but the parents made regular flights over a particular area and we closed the watch figuring they know where Logan is. As the darkness came we drove up and down our fave viewing spots hoping to catch sight of Logan. Fledge watchers always do stuff like this because we hate to not know! Even though we know by dark a juvie is tucked in somewhere, and you won’t hear a peep.
Tomorrow we hope to find Flynn on the same ledge, making a flight, and Logan getting himself out of a suspected pickle and accounted for. It’s not the first time we’ve closed a watch here with a peregrine in a precarious spot, but if Logan is like his half sister, Tardis, he’ll navigate his way home to a rewarding feast.
Tomorrow’s weather forecast looks decent.
Posted on June 27, 2021 12:46 am
June 25, 2021 - Toronto - Don Mills and Eglinton - Amexon
Cathy Kerr Reports:
DON MILLS/AMEXON FLEDGE WATCH: DAY ONE
I arrived to see a parent fly up above the next ledge to join other parent, and heard one of the kids…seems ok. But after an hour, I started to worry–I should have seen Flynn by now. She was up yesterday and looking good…please tell me she did not fledge without me lol. Both parents had mostly stayed put above the nest ledge-even when a heron flew through! Very unusual for Dad. But I was glad he let it go through. By now Dad had done a couple of unusual flights just part way round to the north end of the building and back. Hmmm. Two and a half hours and Logan finally showed his cute little head. But that was it. Now I was fairly certain Flynn was no longer on the nest ledge. Dad did another flight part way round and then back over to the Intel sign. Ok. Now I’m worried. I did a walk about, no Flynn on the ground or any ledges or roof tops. But I knew Milli & Chester knew where she was. Only I figured if she was high, one of them would be with her. I kinda figured she was in trouble… Thankfully Sally joined me to help look for her. I’ll let her tell the rest of the rainy, damp day…
Sally reports:
I joined Cathy this afternoon, for the rainy portion lol. We watched from our usual spot and eventually saw Logan pop his fluffy head up, seeming to enjoy the rain. Still quite a lot of fluff!
Cathy was concerned she hadn’t seen Flynn pop up all morning, and still no sign of her as we watched from the car while the rain continued. The parents were up high, and earlier Chester had flown out and round part of the nest building and back again, a few times. Cathy thought this probably indicated that the parents knew where Flynn was. We took a slow drive around the immediate area to check rooftops and back yard fences and gates, and all sides of the office towers beside the nest building. Nothing to see, so then we parked, grabbed the umbrellas and went to check the scrub and treeline that separates the houses, condos and office buildings from Eglinton Avenue and the DVP access ramp (near where Chester had flown over). The songbirds were quite restless in a couple of spots , including the hilarious WAAAAAHS of the cat birds! Cathy’s hunches are usually correct. She was positive Flynn was somewhere nearby. So we walked around, observing the agitated birds, and as we rounded the nest building below the cluster of pine trees yep, Cathy found Flynn. Yay! and Uh Oh! She was on a fairly low tree branch next to her nest building. Not far from the lowest ledge, but it was raining and she’d be wet and no doubt lacking in confidence to make any move. Hmmm did she accidentally slip or get blown off early this morning? Thankfully she seemed OK, just wet and not able to maintain a comfortable footing on the slippery narrow branch, causing her to turn around and do a side shuffle from time to time lol. We brought our chairs and umbrellas over and sat out the rain with her until dark. When the rain eased up for a bit, she fluffed and stretched out her wings, turned around, and around…checking out the views. Don joined us briefly and brought us some food. No food for Flynn alas, but we could hear the parents calling above, and saw them bring food in for Logan, almost right above her. We closed the watch, disappointed that Flynn didn’t come to ground so we could safely contain her until a roof release. Hopefully we will find her tomorrow safe and sound. Current weather report for that area is a brief dry spell in the morning.
Posted on June 25, 2021 11:49 pm
June 24, 2021 - Toronto - Don Mills and Eglinton - Amexon
Cathy Kerr Reports:
DON MILLS /AMEXON : Fledge watch starts tomorrow! I have been keeping an eye on these two, Flynn and Logan.. They really haven’t been seen much. Saw Flynn this evening for the first time on the ledge… Dad was flying over and that got her up lol. Logan was only seen (head shot only ) when Milli came in and took the food Away! Chester chased /went with her for a bit but then went back to sit above the kids. The pictures are from the past week or so… Flynn’s fluff is mostly gone,but girls fledge later so… We’ll see what tomorrow brings… The weather forecast is absolutely awful for the next week (rain)… Let’s hope they are wrong…
Posted on June 24, 2021 11:21 pm
June 21, 2021 - Greater Toronto - Private Residential 1
Marion Nash Reports:
Their beautiful little boy was banded today and named NOAH (C/20). Unfortunately because there was just one baby this year, banding was not possible unless there was a rescue. Today that happened! The pictures and commentary are credited to Martin Dekkers. Thank you Martin!!
The fledge watch team is ready and waiting to help NOAH if help is needed.
About the rescue, Marlene writes:
“Mark Nash from the Peregrine Foundation rescued Noah from the Juliette balcony - was pretty feisty and Mark had to work at it. Then Mark Heaton, CWS bander and CPF volunteer arrived with his son River and they banded him - due to the high winds, we will not return to the roof until early evening - likely 7:30 - 8. Fledge Watch will start again in the morning following the schedule - and we will maintain until the fur on the top of his head disappears and he has been flying and returning to the nest site - hopefully no more rescues for him”
Martin writes:
“We had no sooner left the roof and he managed to fly down all the way to the pond area behind 284. Had some people watch to ensure he did not go into Coyote territory while Marlene retrieved the crate. In the meantime, when approached he climbed the fence with his claws and sat on the top rail. Then flew, apparently quite eloquently, into one of the trees on the golf course. A whole group of people spent time looking into the trees but alas did not spot him. We wish him well and hope to see him in the morning somewhere!!!”
Fingers crossed keeping NOAH safe until he’s flying well. Great team watching out for him! Cheers, Lucie
Posted on June 21, 2021 11:31 pm
June 20, 2021 - Toronto - Mount Sinai Hospital
Bruce Massey Reports:
Arrived Saturday morning early to find both juveniles Had fledged. One Male (Kelly- Named by a member of the Public), and 1 Female, found on the Rehab Hospital Roof (Named - Bresa. - Spanish for Breeze) Named by me). Kelly did well, and was active throughout the day. Bresa not so much. Until 6:00 PM. She stayed on that rooftop. After that she made a series of Flights attempting to get back to the Nest Ledge. She didn’t make it, but gained a lot of flight experience. Mom finally had enough and she put her to Bed on one of the lower ledges for the night.
Kelly also spent the night on Ledge, but this was one window level under the Nest Ledge Level.
Posted on June 20, 2021 11:19 am
June 19, 2021 - Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton
Marion Nash Reports:
When Bruce arrived this morning he was able to find 2 chicks on the nest building and believed they were Nathan and Coco but once again Ayala was playing hide and seek so he whet on the search but no luck. With the overcast it was impossible to see tape colors you need them to show the tape band and the sun has to be shining on them.
When the rain started to come down hard and having no place he could take cover and watch the birds he decided to head home for a while until it let up. We used to duck inside the Police station when it rained but it’s closed to the public now due to COVID. When he arrived back after the rain again he had 2 fledglings only.
Mark and I arrived for the night shift and Bruce was again out on the hunt for Ayala and 2 chicks were on the nest building.
When Bruce joined us he told us that he had also not seen Haven (mom) all day. I know Haven well enough that she would not be away that long unless she was keeping an eye on one of her chicks so if we find Haven we would find Ayala.
By 8:00 PM Haven finally flew in from the north landing on the RioCan building and was joined by Nathan who came off the nest building yelling for food and the other fledgling ( Coco or Ayala) was still on the nest building also yelling for food. Remember we still had not confirmed a band color for that girl yet.
Meanwhile since Haven had flown in from the north Bruce decided to take a look for Ayala north on Young perhaps Haven had been watching her there somewhere.
While Bruce was on the search Mark and I saw Haven fly south on a hunt and minutes later return with a food package and another fledgling was following her. She landed on the RioCan building and gave the food to Nathan the other fledgling following her landed beside them.
Now we have all 3 chicks. The chick on the nest build tried to fly over to the RioCan building to join them several times but just could not make the top. On her 3rd try she was again too low and bumped the windows for a 3rd time and managed to cling to a window frame then flew off towards the nest building looking like she was going to try for the 4th time to circle back to RioCan but Haven knowing she was not ready for that flew out to her and bumped on her back and put her down on the nest building for a safe landing.
Based on what we had seen over the last few days we now think the chick on the nest build who could not make the landing on RioCan was Ayala. She is flying well now and will eventually get that last bit of altitude she needs to keep up with her siblings, the other 2 are a day or 2 ahead of her in skills.
With no fear of any of them not getting off the ground if they came down we are now switching over to spot checks at this site and moving on the Mount Sinai fledge watch.
Posted on June 19, 2021 10:46 am
June 17, 2021 - Kitchener - CTV-Bell Media Tower
Lisa Reh Reports:
Wendy took the early shift and reported: “All four juveniles have flown this morning. At one time all four were on the roof at the right. Several food drops have been made; currently two are still on the roof and two are on the awning feeding. It’s a little quieter this morning.” At 8:20 Kim and Mary Ann joined the watch. It was still fairly quiet. Mom and Dad were on the antenna, three juvis were on the right side roof and one on the left side of the runway. A bit of flying off and on this morning.
Karen reported at 11:24 that “Care, Compassion and Discovery are tucked in the left corner of runway level. Faith is on the upper right building tucked against the wall. One adult did a quick flight and the other has been gone for quite a while.” It was a pretty quiet afternoon.
Photos courtesy of Karen von Knobloch
Posted on June 18, 2021 12:33 am
June 16, 2021 - Kitchener - CTV-Bell Media Tower
Lisa Reh Reports:
Kim started the cold morning watch early and at 5:15 and reported that all were in the air! Two flew back to the building. A food drop was served just before 6:00. Three juvis were on the runway and one stayed on the roof. Dad came in a bit later and landed on the cross. A few minutes later the juvi that was on the roof flew to the cross and assumed Dad’s place.Mom dropped more food at 8:30.
Sandye reported at 11:00 a.m. that “there has been quite a bit of flying by one juvenile in particular and now a second one has joined in. At one point there were two young and both adults flying around.”
Wendy’s 5:00 p.m. update: “All 4 juveniles were on the runway in the right corner. Then Faith took off for a couple of long soaring flights. She was accompanied for the second flight by Dad, who at one point struck a turkey vulture who flew too close and sent feathers flying! The pair soared high up, and Faith was able to successfully land on top of the tower at the highest vantage point of the hospital. As Kath and I were leaving she took off again. It was a beautiful show! Someone stopped me in the parking lot and asked what we were looking at. He had seen us several times, and thought we were looking up at loved ones in the hospital since we couldn’t visit them. I told him we were looking at loved ones, since we have definitely formed attachments to the peregrines :-)”
Jamie ended the watch with this report: “Interesting night. Faith soared circles high up and distant for over 30 minutes. The kids were feisty. Some wrestling on the roof and in the air. They were not happy when Mom appeared after being absent for several hours with no food. Finished the night with two on the cross after driving dad off and two on the roof.”
Posted on June 17, 2021 11:46 pm
June 17, 2021 - Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton
Marion Nash Reports:
Canada Square update on Ayala.
Bruce just got a call from Jody at Security Ayala has been found. She is sitting on the AC chiller at the upper parking near the entrance alive and well. Both her and Coco are still low so it’s going to be an interesting afternoon and evening. The good news is we know where she is and so does security and the parking attendants so the more eyes on the better.
Posted on June 17, 2021 11:54 am
