Canadian Peregrine Foundation -- Ottawa Archives: July-Sept 2001

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July - September 2001

Thursday September 27, 2001
Arlene Williams reports: For the better part of this cloudy or sunny day - the weather did not know whether to rain or shine - Horizon was perched on the northwest corner of the Crowne Plaza Building ledge. She would occasionally jump down to check to see if there was a reserve of food on the lower part of the ledge area, but she would very quickly surface, as their was no such cache. And I did happen to notice that she had, as of this morning, polished off that reserve (dead pigeon carcass) which was located in the cubby hole on the north side of the Crowne Plaza building. I am not quite sure if I saw Connor today, as I do not remember noticing two birds on a given occasion, so I would say that Connor was not apparent today. On occasion I would notice that, I think it was Horizon, doing a contour of the Crowne Plaza building and she was as spectacular as ever. She certainly is a sight to behold when she is in flight. My she is and they are a magnificent sight and we should all feel privileged that they continue to call Ottawa home.

Wednesday September 26, 2001
Arlene Williams reports: 9:50 am - Yesterday, I had noticed that Horizon had stashed away a pigeon in the cubby hole area, which is located on the north wall of the Crowne Plaza Hotel building. Well this morning, I guess she had not had her breakfast as yet and she decided to start plucking the dead carcass and have a morning snack. While she was doing so, Connor originally had landed on the ledge area on the west side of the building and then minutes later decided to relocate to the east side of the Crowne Plaza Hotel building. Seems Horizon got wind of his presence and decided to terminate her morning meal and then proceeded to relocate and perch on the northeast corner of the ledge area, keeping him well in view and away from her catch. As we all know by now, she is not only very territorial of surroundings, but of her catches and does not like to share. So again, Connor must fend for himself and fly off to bring home the bacon, so to speak, for himself.

10:25 am - Both birds have decided to leave the roost on the ledge area and head off for parts unknown on this cool, but sunny day.

Monday September 24, 2001
Arlene Williams reports: 10:15 am - Good news. I thought that possibly Connor would have headed south by now, but he is perched on the southwest corner of the Crowne Plaza Hotel building ledge. His beloved - Horizon - is perched on the northwest corner of the building, as well. It is so nice to think that I will get a chance to enjoy them both for a little longer, before Connor decides to head south. The weather today is a little hazy in the distance, but the sun is shining brightly and I guess they are both enjoying the last remaining days of this wonderful sunlight and warmth of these nice fall days.

Stephanie Carriere comments: Now that Connor has visited some of the heated roosts that Horizon used last winter, he just may stick around with her. Well, maybe not WITH her necessarily, but within their territory.

Marcel Gahbauer comments: It's possible that Connor may yet decide to give up migration, but if old habits persist, he will likely head off to points unknown within the coming weeks. It will be interesting to see how long Connor hangs around this year, considering that in general bird migration appears to be as much as two weeks ahead of normal. In 2000, Connor was seen as late as October 9, and in 1999 the last sighting of him was on October 20.

Arlene Williams reports: 4:15 pm - It is raining heavily at this time and both Horizon and Connor are perched on the northeast and southeast corners of the Crowne Plaza Hotel building ledge.   Both are sitting next to a pillar, respectively 3 and 6, and are trying to shelter themselves somewhat from the rain.

4:22 pm - Horizon has caught herself a baby sparrow and is now plucking away the feather on the northeast corner of the ledge area.    Regrettably it looks like the baby sparrow that had been hopping/bopping, believe it or not, along on the lower/exterior part of the ledge area about an hour or two ago and I had wondered if either Horizon or Connor would eventually see it bopping along the outer side of the building.   Well, I guess that Horizon finally noticed the baby bird as it seem to be doing a tour of the Crowne Plaza Hotel building and figured that it would be an easy catch and she would not have to travel in the rain to satisfy her meal time entrée. Needless to say that she is not sharing with Connor and if he is hungry, he will have to fetch and find his own dinner time meal.

4:30 - She has just completed a minor cleansing of her beak area by rubbing it up against the support structure which separates the ledge area from the top of the Crowne Plaza Hotel building.    She plucked off a hanging feather from between her talons and then decided to go back to her prey and just sit beside it until such time as she feels the need to feast on her evening meal.

Saturday September 15, 2001
Arlene Williams reports: 3:30 pm - I just happened to be in the office at this time and looked across from my 20th floor vantage point to see that Horizon, in all her glory - although a little scruffy looking - perched on the northeast corner of the Crowne Plaza Hotel ledge area. She looks like she was having a snooze and then when I picked up my binoculars, lo and behold, did she not turn her head in my direction. She looks smaller than usual and I almost thought that it might be the juvenile peregrine which someone had seen last month sometime in the downtown core area. However, I went to another window on the other side of the building from my vantage point and I did confirm that it was indeed Horizon perched on that corner. From that vantage point, I also noticed that Connor was perched on the opposite end of the ledge area (southeast corner), so I guess they are staying somewhat close together until such time as it is his time to go south and she is left to guard the fort, so to speak, for the winter months.

Marcel Gahbauer reports: I also happened to be downtown today, and saw that Connor was still on the southeast corner of the Crowne Plaza ledge as of 4:20 pm.

Wednesday September 12, 2001
Arlene Williams reports: 12:15 - 1:00 pm - Horizon was perched on the Crowne Plaza Hotel building and was walking back and forth on the ledge area between the northwest and southwest corners. She certainly looked quite magnificent and appears no longer to be moulting.

3:15 pm - 3:26 pm - Connor, it appears, has now decided to perch on the same spot as his beloved had done earlier in the day. He has his back to my office and is facing south on the corner ledge area. It is almost like he knows that I am watching him as he turns his head in my direction when I have my binoculars in hand.

Monday September 10, 2001
Arlene Williams reports: 1:22 pm - Horizon is perched on the northeast corner of the Crowne Plaza Hotel building and is preening herself. She is plucking and removing old feathers from beneath her wings, as well as her belly area. I see the feathers swirling in the wind. Connor had joined her earlier this morning on the same corner, but he is nowhere to be found at this point in time.

Sunday September 9, 2001
Phil Maillard reports: 8:30am. I arrived at the Crown Plaza this morning to hear Horizon chittering quite loudly; she then landed very close to the south east corner of the hotel. she was quite vocal for several minutes at which time Conner responded. She then circled around tower B at which point I lost sight of her. I did not see Conner but it was great to hear both of them at the same time!

Monday September 3, 2001
Anthony Dale reports: At about 9:00 a.m. a heavily streaked immature peregrine was atop the north side of the office building on the northeast corner of Slater and O'Connor. It sat on top of the middle one of the ten or so main columns which forms the north (i.e. rear) facade of the building. It was alert and seemed to be looking for prey. I didn't have my binoculars in the room but the distance wasn't great and it stayed in place for a good few minutes. It eventually dropped off the building and flew rapidly to the west, across O'Connor Street, at about 9:10 a.m.

Marcel Gahbauer comments: This is the first report we have had of a young peregrine in downtown Ottawa since the death of this year's chicks in June. This bird may be the same one seen on a few occasions recently near Britannia Park, or could be a different one entirely. Anybody else seeing an immature peregrine (brown and heavily streaked) is encouraged to send in reports to marcel@peregrine-foundation.ca.

Saturday September 1, 2001
Phil Maillard reports: 9:20 am. Horizon is perched on the south-east corner of the Crowne Plaza, facing inward. I watched her for a few minutes at which point a pigeon flew very close to her. She must not have been hungry because she did not pay any attention to it. Yet again, I turn away momentarily and she disappears. 12pm Horizon is again on the same corner as this morning, facing north. I was hoping to see Conner today but he is no where to be seen.

Friday August 31, 2001
Eve Ticknor reports: Last evening Phil and I went downtown in the evening for a checkup on our dynamic duo..... Horizon was perched near the southeast corner with her back towards the east. A few minutes later Connor flew by and went around towards the back of the hotel (north side) and out of sight.

We walked up Albert for a look and couldn't find him. All of a sudden Horizon flew away and seemed to be heading for the river. We lost sight of her until it was nearly dark, which at this time of year wasn't a very long wait. She landed on the northeast corner giving her loud chitter, which I usually associate as her greeting or food exchange with Connor. He wasn't in sight, nor did there seem to be any food. She left and we didn't see them again.

Thursday August 30, 2001
Arlene Williams reports: 1:17 pm - It appears to be Horizon who is perched on the northeast corner of the ledge area of the Crowne Plaza building. She has been there for well over an hour now and seems quite content to remain. It is just a beautiful day today, so I think that she is just relaxing and taking in the scenery in the downtown core area No sign of Connor as yet today.

4:15 pm - Horizon has been perched on and off of the ledge area of the Crowne Plaza hotel building between pillars two and three on the northwest side of the building for approximately an hour now. She seems to enjoy basking in the bright sunlight and related warmth from the sun. During that time, I did see that Connor had completed a tour of the hotel building and ultimately must have landed on the south side of the building, which I cannot see from this vantage point.

Wednesday August 29, 2001
Arlene Williams reports: 10:00 - 10:30 am - On this bright sunny, but cool day, Connor was perched atop the Crowne Plaza ledge area and was situated between pillars two and three on the north/southwest side of the building. He obviously is going through a further molting process, since he was looking quite dirty and bedraggled. There was no sign of Horizon.

Last week on Wednesday, August 22nd, 2001 on or around 3:00 pm, both Horizon and Connor were situated on the northeast side of the ledge area on the Crowne Plaza Hotel building. Horizon was plucking a newly caught pigeon, while Connor was about one pillar down to the south watching the plucking process. She obviously was not about to share her catch with her beloved and it would be up to him to find his own afternoon delight. Another case where Connor is expected to fend for himself as is the case whenever Horizon has made a kill. About a half an hour later, she took off for parts unknown with catch in talons. She certainly rules the roost, so to speak.

1:20 pm - Lo and behold, her highness (Horizon) has returned and is perched atop the northeast corner of the Crowne Plaza Hotel building ledge area. She is not looking as bedraggled as her mate - Connor - but is somewhat thinner, it appears, than when she was in the brooding and nurturing mode. She is such a magnificent creature and I have missed her and Connor during my holidays. It is becoming a little more overcast at the moment, but she seems content to perch there for awhile. Connor appeared to have been flitting to and fro between the Place de Ville towers just minutes ago, so maybe he will be seen shortly along side his mate. The ledge area on the northeast side could do with a good cleaning, since there a many feathers stuck to the cement blocks due to recent and past kills.

Thursday August 23, 2001
Marcel Gahbauer reports: This morning I happened across a juvenile peregrine falcon patrolling the Ottawa River in the Britannia area. I watched from the shore as the peregrine flew back and forth across the rapids, periodically landing on some rocks just barely sticking out of the water near the upstream end of a small island. There were at least 200 gulls in the area too, but they seemed to ignore the peregrine, as did the mallards which were just a short distance downstream. They may have sensed though that the peregrine didn't have hunting on its mind, as it seemed to be more preoccupied with playing in the breeze than searching for prey. I unfortunately couldn't get a clear look at the peregrine's legs to see whether it was banded or not.

Saturday August 18, 2001
Phil Maillard reports: 3:30pm Horizon is perched on the north east corner of the Crowne Plaza. I watch her for about 5 minutes at which time she flies off going east. She then lands on the south west corner of the Marriott hotel. {something I have not seen her do very much this year}. She is eating something, maybe a catch she left there earlier. She then lives up to her species' reputation as being the fastest animal on earth. I turn my attention from her briefly and she is gone!

Monday August 6, 2001
Phil Maillard reports: 7:45pm. I can see Horizon circling Tower C on this very warm evening. She then goes behind the Crowne Plaza and reappears above Minto Place. At that point I lost sight of her. I waited for a few minutes hoping to catch sight of her again but to no avail. No sign of Connor either.

Friday August 3, 2001
Nathaleigh McKenna Rochon reports: (8:35 a.m.) I am walking towards Albert Street and look up in search of Horizon and Connor. I catch a glimpse of an adult falcon leaving its perch near the 3rd, SE pillar of the Crowne Plaza Hotel. It takes off towards the west and is in fact contouring the Crowne Plaza Hotel. I am standing here spellbound looking at this magnificent bird bomb diving the area on the rooftop where is was perched moments ago. Horizon or Connor (I cannot accurately identity the falcon from my location) repeats this attack three times before taking off towards Lebreton Flats. I am now across the street from the Crowne Plaza Hotel and wait to see if the falcon will return. I do recall seeing a dark round shape (the size of someone's head) in the same area where the falcon was comfortably perched before being disturbed. Someone might have invaded our falcon's territory and subsequently subjected to a fierce display of aggression that truly indicated that this territory belongs to Horizon and Connor. It is always a privilege to admire our falcons in their day to day routine. I for one never cease to be amazed and honoured to share in their lives.

Arlene Williams reports: 11:00 - 11:30 am - Yes, there was someone on the Crowne Plaza Hotel ledge and that person was hooking up the appropriate gear for the window washing gear to be affixed to the upper ceiling area of the ledge. Just previous to the actual installation of the gear, Horizon was reacting in the same manner as Nathaleigh had seen earlier this morning. She was contouring the building a number of times and appeared to be much more agitated and aggressive. I had someone in my office and they were wondering which bird it was and why it was flying so aggressively, then we spotted the lines.

1:30 pm - Unless I am losing my marbles, it appears now that the ropes have been removed. Someone or something is playing games with my mind! No sign of Connor during this am or early this pm.

Wednesday August 1, 2001
Arlene Williams reports: 5:45 pm - 6:30 pm - Horizon and Connor were flying in unison at approximately 5:45 pm pm this evening, heading west, until Horizon spied her favourite roost and deviated from her flying precision with Connor and took off for that vacant spot. She has been perched there for approximately three quarters of an hour and is just enjoying the view and basking in the remaining sunlight. Connor, on the other hand, took off towards Lebreton Flats and has not been seen since. However, I did see him perched, momentarily, on the northeast corner of the Crowne Plaza Hotel building at approximately 4:00 pm this afternoon. No sooner had he landed but something caught his eye and then he flew off.

I am sure that Horizon will now frequent the northwest corner of the Crowne Plaza Hotel building as the singular window washer has removed his ropes and window washing stand.

Thursday July 26, 2001
Arlene Williams reports: 5:50 pm - I had not seen Horizon for days now, but this evening, poor Horizon wanted to perch on the northwest corner of the Crowne Plaza Hotel building and she is running into an old familiar obstacle - the window washer's rope - which is affixed to the upper portion of the ledge area on the hotel building. It is reminiscent of days gone by when she was protecting her biological and fostered chicks or just her territory. She is less aggressive on her aerial displays as was her previous behaviour when her chicks were there or when she actually saw a human being invading her territory. She is swooping high and low in hopes that this monstrosity will soon disappear and she can again bask in the late afternoon's sunlight on that northwest corner. I don't know how much longer that singular window washer will be hanging around (pardon the pun), but I am sure that Horizon would like to see its removal, as soon as possible, so things can go back to normal. No sign of Connor, but I am sure he is not far from his beloved.

Wednesday July 25, 2001
Arlene Williams reports: Yesterday I briefly saw Connor as he perched momentarily on the northeast corner of the Crowne Plaza Hotel during the lunch hour. I guess they are both avoiding the Crowne Plaza Hotel building for the next while as the window washers have set up on the northwest side of the building. I have not seen hide nor hair of Horizon, so I guess she is lapping up the high temperatures and bright sunlight from another spot in the city, possibly in and around Tunney's Pasture.

Thursday July 19, 2001
Arlene Williams reports: 11:30 - 12:00 - Horizon is perched on the northwest corner of the Crowne Plaza Hotel building and is basking in the warmth of the sun and high temperature. She is facing south and inward to the hotel building, while occasionally preening herself. No sign of Connor

2:30 pm - 3:30 - Horizon came back to roost on the northwest corner and was just enjoying the view and, on occasion, she would look in my direction. I always enjoy when she gives me the privilege of looking directly at my vantage point, so that I can discern more about her appearance and characteristics from Connor, as sometimes it is quite difficult for me to distinguish between the two if they are not immediately facing me, even though Connor is more slight than her. Speak of the little darling and who appears on the ledge between pillars two and three but Connor. Maybe he has missed his beloved or is just there to check things out. Regardless, Horizon then jumped down to below the ledge area and seems almost in search of something, but appears not to have been lucky on that front. Connor then jumped down, as well, and for a few minutes it gave me cause to think that maybe they were both experiencing a moment in time to when the chicklets were both there and required feeding, as they both seemed to be in search of something, but nothing ultimately was found. Could it be that they were just being inquisitive about those ever familiar surroundings, which had not been frequented too often in the past few weeks, or were they searching out tidbits from snacks previously devoured or were they just experiencing a lingering smell related to their deceased chicks. That is something that will remain unknown to all of us on the workings of their minds. Both peregrines, respectively, then flew off in the direction of west toward Lebreton Flats/Tunney's Pasture.

Wednesday July 18, 2001
Arlene Williams reports: 11:42 am - Horizon has been perched on the northwest corner of the Crowne Plaza Hotel building for well over an hour now and due to her moulting appears to be somewhat thinner than in the past month. She is facing east and is directly across from my vantage point, so I have a spectacular view of her magnificence. She is occasionally preening, while she is watching over the downtown core area. Connor is nowhere to be seen.

11:54 am - Well lo and behold I mixed up my birds and it is Connor who is perched on the northwest corner of the Crowne Plaza Hotel ledge and that is why the bird looked somewhat thinner. Horizon is tucked away enjoying a lunch time snack in the cubby hole located between the northeast and northwest side of the Crowne Plaza Hotel building. That spot on the side of the north wall used to house the illuminated sign for the Skyline Hotel when the hotel was up and running in that building. That area is also used by the peregrines to tuck away a snack or two.

2:25 pm - It appears that the peregrines have switched perches and now Horizon is located on the northwest corner of the Crowne Plaza Hotel ledge and Connor is located in the cubby hole on the north wall of the building. Connor had just been feasting on a fresh kill and appears to be fully satiated at the moment. Neither one seems to be in a hurry to move from their spots other than to change places and feed. Horizon is currently preening and the odd feather floating in the wind seems to draw her attention away from the task at hand.

5:15 pm - It appeared to be Horizon who has just flown in from the Lebreton Flats area and she has now landed on the first level down, northeast side, of the the Constitution Building, Tower 1.

5:30 pm - Connor has also just flown past my window and has since perched on the northeast corner of the Crowne Plaza Hotel building ledge. The wing span on Connor is just unbelievable and quite a sight to behold as he performs his aerial ballets. He is currently facing north and looking almost directly into my office. Sometimes I think he knows that I am here and watching his every movement while he is perched on the ledge area. He has since turned his back on me and is now facing south and inward to the hotel building, but is constantly moving his head to and fro to ensure he does not miss a thing. He just finished preening himself and it is so cute, as he has a feather stuck to the side of his beak and is not in much of a hurry to get rid of it. Horizon has since flown away from Tower 1 of the Constitution Square buildings. There are bloody tidbits remaining in the cubby hole area along the north
wall of the Crowne Plaza Hotel building, so I guess dinner will be munched on from that shredded carcass.

Monday July 16, 2001
Nathaleigh McKenna Rochon reports: (8:10 a.m.) Horizon is perched on the SE corner of Place de Ville, Tower C. She is facing north and keeping a steady watch towards that part of the
city. I have not seen Connor on this sunny July morning.

Friday July 13, 2001
Arlene Williams reports: 10:18 am - I was beginning to think that I would never see Horizon again, as I have not seen her for over a week. Nathaleigh has been the privileged one this week in the early hours. On this overcast morning, Horizon in all her splendour is perched on the northeast corner of the Crowne Plaza Hotel building and she is facing east. Her plumage looks somewhat in disarray and does not seem to have her usual upright stance and perkiness. I hope that she is well, but maybe it is just because of the weather and possibly she has not performed her usual preening atop one of her favourite perches.

11:02 am - 11:45 am - Horizon is still perched on the northeast corner of the Crowne Plaza Hotel facing east. She had flown away for about ten (10) minutes, but quickly returned. She has done a little preening, but is just sitting there enjoying the view. I guess there will be no spectacular aerial ballets today, as she seems content to rest on her laurels and view all other activities from her preferred vantage point.

Marcel Gahbauer comments: Several people have commented that Horizon and Connor have been seen less frequently since the death of this year's chicks almost three weeks ago. Eve Ticknor has commented that the adults may be undergoing their moult at this time, which could account for this behaviour. Peregrines moult their feathers every year, and during this period they are less apt to fly, since flight is more energetically demanding when they don't have a full set of feathers. With the need to provide for hungry youngsters now eliminated, the adults may be moulting somewhat earlier than usual. This would also explain the scruffy appearance of Horizon described by Arlene above. Once Horizon and Connor have acquired a full set of new feathers later this summer, they will likely be in sight more often again.

Tuesday July 10, 2001
Nathaleigh McKenna Rochon reports: (8:10 a.m.) Horizon is visiting an old haunt this morning. She is perched on the NW corner of the Standard Life Building rooftop. She is a striking vision on her urban cliff. Horizon is keeping a steady watch towards the south of the city.

Friday July 6, 2001
Nathaleigh McKenna Rochon reports: (1:40 pm) It is cold and windy this afternoon. I am walking towards the Crowne Plaza Hotel and hear a distinctive cry from above. Horizon is near the first SE pillar of the Crowne Plaza Hotel. She is either communicating with Connor whom I cannot see or is disturbed by something that is too close to her territory. She takes off her perch and heads towards the rooftop of Place de Ville, Tower B. She does not land but remains near the ledge of the rooftop before deciding to contour the building and head back towards the hotel. She is seen flying smoothly around the NE corner of the hotel and head towards Lyon Street. She returns high above Albert Street. She is a magnificent huntress with striking plumage. I am spellbound by the image of her wings spread wide as she tames the wind. She is once again near Place de Ville, Tower C. I can still hear her cries of distress as she heads off towards the south of the city. I think a late lunch might be served shortly.

Thursday July 5, 2001
Arlene Williams reports: Again this morning, Horizon is perched on the northeast corner of the Crowne Plaza Hotel building ledge and is facing inward towards the hotel building, itself. No sign again of Connor and this will be two days in a row, if by the end of the day, that I have not seen him. Horizon just seems to be there contemplating her next move and how she will fill her day. She is basically stationery and just moving her head left and right to see what, if anything, is going on about her.

Wednesday July 4, 2001
Arlene Williams reports: 12:59 pm - Horizon has been perched on the northeast corner of the Crowne Plaza Hotel ledge, facing south, for well over an hour now. She is occasionally preening, but otherwise motionless. I have not seen Connor at all today, but I imagine he is off somewhere in search of food or enjoying the scenery. I am sure that Horizon has since forgotten the tragedy of a week ago Sunday and is now just getting on with her every day routine, as is Connor.

Tuesday July 3, 2001
Brenda Sharpe reports: I was treated to a wonderful aeronautic display this morning. One of the falcons (Horizon I think) is sitting on the north east corner of Constitution Square, apparently having a snack; Connor was beside her momentarily and then did a graceful swoop right by my window. He has now gone off in search of his own breakfast!

Nathaleigh McKenna Rochon reports: (1:45 p.m.) A gentle rain is falling as Horizon enjoys the fresh air on this cloudy day. She is perched on the NE, 2nd from the top corner perch of Constitution Tower 2. She is facing north and keeping a steady gaze towards a single window washer making his way down Place de Ville Tower A. He is also looking straight ahead at our fierce huntress.

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