June 27, 2009 - Toronto - King Street
Linda Woods Reports:
Today at 09:30 Spec took his first flight! He flew over to the King Edward Hotel, lower level and that is where he was when we closed the sight at 9:30p.m.
His siblings including Alpin are flying well, amazingly well. Sometimes we have to take a second look to confirm it is a juvenile and not an adult.
Mollie, the oldest female sibling is missing two tail feathers. How ? we don’t know, but she seems to compensate for the difference. And she is identifiable when in the air. It’s great that we can still see them in the area. I hope they stick around to encourage Speck as he tries to catch up with his siblings.
Posted on June 27, 2009 10:33 pm
June 27, 2009 - Windsor - Ambassador Bridge
Dennis Patrick Reports:
Junior the male chick is resting comfortably after a nasty tumble during the Vicious Thunder Storms we had on Thursday evening.
The family has not left to wander aimlessly around the region. Despite reports other wise. Two of our dedicated volunteers who are actually following what is going on at the Bridge found Junior grounded and with due protocol rescued the little fellow after that terrible storm.
We are all thankful that Ray and Toni listened to their hearts because of their love of the birds and went down just to see how the birds were doing. Gwen and I had been there in the morning but had other obligations going on when Junior needed to be rescued.
Gwen and I are totally thankful for Ray and Toni finding Junior, keeping their heads and most probably saving his life.
I will give you more information as I have it on Junior.
The chicks are not officially banded or named yet and the male will be named only in the event that he gets better.
There is still every reason in the world to go watch these birds dazzle you with their flight displays. We hope and pray that they stay loosely together as a couple around the bridge all winter again.
To the untrained eye you would say they have left but in actual fact they are hanging around in the same places they did before the hatch was announced and the commotion began.
As I said the Peregrines are not en route to sunnier climes and Junior is not on his way to South America he is resting quietly.
So lets put our thoughts and prayers into his convalescence.
I can’t thank our volunteers enough who are still faithfully daily keeping an eye on the birds. Ray and Toni just happened to be the implements that were in the right place at the right time but that began with their hearts being in the right place at the right time first.
So keep looking up and never assume you know it all. How can you learn anything that way? True genius is knowing that “the more you learn the less you know”. This is a book in the writing it is still in the works. I am thankful for the opportunity to be involved with such marvelous birds and the marvelous people who truly love the peregrine falcon.
Dennis and Gwenster and the “Falcon crazy Team”
P.S. I posted a couple stoop shots and some watchers!!
Posted on June 27, 2009 9:30 am
June 26, 2009 - Ottawa - Delta Ottawa City Centre
CPF Postmaster Reports:
Arriving at 6am, Both chicklets were on Tower 1, hoping for breakfast. Tailer spotted Connor and followed him around Tower 1 and heading south. Nihei started to beetle westward along the north side, and disappeared inside. A few minutes later, Diana delivered breakfast to Tailer on Tower 2. She then went to the antenna on the Carlisle. Soon, Tailer flew to join Diana, but she left as soon as he arrived. For a while Connor was on the southwest corner of the Crowne. There may have been a food drop to Nihei near the northwest corner of Tower 1.
Just after 7, Tailer went flying with Diana, twisting and turning in the air. What a superb flyer! She eventually gave up but he continued for a few more minutes.
Closer to 7:30 Nihei suddenly appears at the northwest corner of Tower 1, bathed in shining gold from the early morning sun. She is so beautiful. Of course, I had not my camera at this moment, but will hold it in myself always.
Within a half hour, she was on her belly, sleeping. Her parents were on the antenna of the Carlisle, flying off and on a few times. She awoke and showed us a few wing-flaps. This kind of activity went on most of the day.
We had a few exciting times when someone would say that Nihei had flown to this location or that location. As we needed confirmation by sighting Tailer at the same time, all eyes were turned upwards. Unfortunately none of these times worked out as we soon would see a head on Tower 1, Nihei every time. She went to the southwest corner only once, staying north most of the day. Tailer was everywhere, including the top of Tower 3 for the first time. He is in and out of the ledge on the Crowne and in and out of the wires of the antenna on Tower C, all with no trouble!
We had some rain around noon, but the really interesting time was the thunderstorm this evening. The sound of it was resounding, as if it were right next to us. After the storm was over, we looked for our chicklets, and there they were, up on Tower 1 together, looking like a pair of drowned rats! They were so disheveled, and appeared to be grooming each other’s heads.
As we left, we were not sure Nihei was fed again, much to her dismay. If they would withhold her food, she would probably be in the air now. There is such a thing as over feeding your children….
Eve Ticknor
Posted on June 27, 2009 1:35 am
June 27, 2009 - Toronto - Sheraton Centre
Linda Woods Reports:
Late this afternoon, it was reported that all 6 members of the Sheraton Centre Hotel peregrine family were seen in the area in and around the hotel.
This is exciting because now the air shows will begin in the early evening. Hunting , flight skills will be demonstrated by the adults,so the young can learn. Also the adults will take the juveniles on long soaring flights encouraging them to fly higher and higher. Eventually you may even see a few of them on the Scotia Tower.
Posted on June 27, 2009 12:22 am
June 26, 2009 - Toronto - King Street
Linda Woods Reports:
This morning, as predicted, Alpin the juvenile who was originally discovered sitting on a window sill on Wellington St. did eventually come to ground. Bruce was on hand to assist the young bird. It was gently placed into a pet carrier and transported to a cool quiet place, away from curious on lookers, noise and disruption. This gives the bird time for stress levels to drop and return to normal. Before it’s release back to the nest building, Mark Nash did an examination and found the bird to be in “peregrine” spirits with no signs of apparent injury or distress.
It was released in a safe area on the upper elevations of the nest building, where protection from the elements is available. It also allows to adults to see the bird at first light.
Speck is still un-fledged had a full spoon feeding around 7p.m. It seems that as soon as the church bells chime for the arrival of the 7th hour, food comes to the nest ledge. Just like clockwork, every evening give or take a few minutes. Speck remains on the nest. He did show a lot of enthusiasm and had us convinced that he might have flown this evening, but nope. He’s still there.
We also noticed that one of the juveniles is missing at least one or two tail feathers. We think that this bird might be Mollie. She is flying well at this time. The other two are doing well. Some wonderful flying skills are being displayed. One flew over # 1 Toronto St towards Church. As it approached halfway, it stopped in the air and flapped one wing and was turning on the spot. Very funny and very interesting technique to turn. But it worked and the juvenile continued back to the nest building area. They are also picking up speed and following the adults. To fast for us to track on foot. We just wait until the circle back to us.
All are doing well from the view point of the sidewalks. Hope this continues.
Any reports of peregrines in need of assistance, please contact the Canadian Peregrine Foundation, who are on site to assist.
Posted on June 27, 2009 12:15 am
June 26, 2009 - Burlington - Lift Bridge
Sue McCreadie Reports:
Things are pretty quiet at the Lift Bridge. It would appear that the girls are trying to stay cool as for most of the day, no one was visible. No one on the Hydro Tower, no one under the Skyway and no one on the face of either tower. Finally, early this afternoon there was some flying back and forth between the two towers and then all went quiet again. After our dinner break, we found Cirrus sitting quietly under the Skyway. All of a sudden both girls joined her. This was the first time that we have seen them make that trip. There was lots of vocalizing for Cirrus’ attention. The funniest part of all this was that Cirrus was sitting about 2 feet away from 3 pigeons, who were keeping an eye on her. As we left this evening, Sir had finally appeared and was having a nap on a ledge on the Burlington Tower, with Truss above him and Maple below him. Cirrus had gone on a mission towards Burlington.
Posted on June 26, 2009 10:04 pm
June 26, 2009 - London - TD Tower
Jan Chudy Reports:
At various times through the morning, I could only find one juvenile. At 3:55 I was fortunate enough to witness a juvie, sadly I could not identify it, flying lovely lazy, wide circles south of the Sheraton. It flew several circuits and then landed on the south side of the Sheraton roof. I have observed over the last few days that the juvies seem to return to the Sheraton area around 3:30 or 4 and this day proved no exception. I was very happy to clearly identify all four juveniles at 4:10. One remained on the south wall of the Sheraton roof, one was on the east side of 120 Adelaide, one was on the east side of 130 Adelaide, and one was eating on the roof of the art deco building on the north side of Adelaide. By 4:30, two were on the south side of the Sheraton roof, one was on the “r” of centre, even though the sign was lit!, and the fourth was on the SE corner of 120. A great way to end the afternoon.
Posted on June 26, 2009 5:10 pm
June 25, 2009 - Ottawa - Delta Ottawa City Centre
CPF Postmaster Reports:
With the day so hot, it is little surprise that our Nihei is still atop Tower 1. As the air started to cool down a bit this evening, she became a bit more active and beetled around the edge faster than before. Let’s hope this is the prelude to flying tomorrow.
Tailer seems to like the antenna on the Carlisle Building the best. He is often found there. He spent time there with his mother several times today. He also had lessons in catching food dropped by Connor and never missed a beat! At one time today, he went to the top of the antenna with his wings out straight, feeling the wind, and appeared to rise up in the air with no effort of his wings.
The parents are still trying incentive flying to get Nihei off the Tower. I wish they would stop feeding her until she flies. Right now she has little reason to fly since she gets most of what she wants by sitting on the ledge of Tower 1.
I think she will soon try her wings out again, especially as we are very short of volunteers, many shifts have no one signed up. However, when she goes, let’s hope she does it right……….
Eve Ticknor
Posted on June 26, 2009 9:47 am
June 25, 2009 - Toronto - Sheraton Centre
Linda Woods Reports:
Warm weather again has the juveniles seeking the shade. Three juveniles confirmed in view later in the afternoon sitting on adjacent buildings of the Sheraton Hotel. We have not seen the entire family at the same time. This is a little concerning but not unusual. The heat keeps the birds down in the shade and with the wild weather may have kept the older bird independent from the others. Observations continue on a daily basis.
As the juveniles continue to advance their flying skills and the instinct to hunt ,will take the young birds a little further away from the nest during the day. Advancing flying skills can also have the birds end up in strange places, and sometimes into areas where they need human intervention. As they did a couple years ago going down chimneys, airshafts and even into buildings. They still can brush, bumped, collide with windows and be pushed to the ground. Sometimes injured.
It is at this time that the local community is a great help by reporting to us, peregrines that have come to ground, hit windows, or into areas that wildlife should not be normally. The tall buildings of the downtown cities make it impossible for the volunteers to see what is occurring on the flats of the roofs, or at every corner. Here we rely on the maintenace staff, security and office staff who have wonderful views to call when seeing peregrines in distress, whether it be on a tall roof top or on a busy sidewalk.
Volunteers are always at the ready to come and assist when ever possible. We also encourage the community, with our direction to assist us when possible or however possible. Every little bit helps and CPF appreciates every little bit.
As with any charitable organization, we are always looking for volunteers to come out and participate in any way that you can.
Many thanks for all those who continue to send in reports, and observations. This helps us tremendously keep track of the fledglings.
Please send downtown sightings or concerns to the Canadian Peregrine Foundation head office.
Posted on June 25, 2009 11:08 pm
June 25, 2009 - Toronto - King Street
Linda Woods Reports:
Well, it seems like a repeat, Speck remains at home, unfledged. He was spoon fed this morning around 9:30 probably because the heavy thunderstorm soon to move into the area. Flapping and a little running of the ledge were seen again today. Two others are flying well and keeping to the immediate area and taking to the air with the adults.
One juvenile that had fledged on Saturday was reported to CPF through email to be sitting on a window ledge on Wellington St. East. Many thanks to Doris from Royal & Sun Alliance for contacting us with this information. It is greatly appreciated. Sometimes these birds get into tight little places that can go unseen by ground volunteers.
Alpin was identified by Doris was sitting on her window ledge apparently from the last evening. This afternoon after the thunderstorm, and a little damp, Alpin took flight and headed east along Wellington Street and came to rest on a three story building at the corner of Wellington and Leader Lane. He sat there for a while mingling with some of the local pigeons, a single sparrow, and a tenasous gull. Uncomfortable with the reception he moved north along this roof line and back and finanlly settled on the north side vent. I wasn’t comfortable with the bird being on these old roofs because of the local raccoons. Alpin took a little leap and headed to the window sills on the other side of the alley, a little lower but in a safer place for the night.
This is the time now, that the juveniles will get themselves into trouble. Advancing flying skills and the instinct to chase prey have them ending up in all sorts of strange places and low lying window ledges of the downtown core. Flying lessons with the adults, airshows in the evening will take the juveniles a little further away from the nest during the day, but they tend to return to the nesting area for the night.
As for Speck, maybe he missed that class on Estimated Time of Departure. Generally, males will take first flight at 36 - 40 days of age. Speck will be 42 days of age on Friday. ( an estimate )
Posted on June 25, 2009 10:36 pm
