The Canadian Peregrine Foundation
OTTAWA HOME PAGE ARCHIVES July - September 2003 |
Monday September 29, 2003
Gabriela Williams reports:
I saw one peregrine on the southeast corner of the Crowne Plaza this morning
at around 8 am. It was either Connor or Solitaire (dark and "small") and I wasn't able to follow up.
I usually get to see them on the west ledge in the morning (about once a week), since that's my route to work.
Sometimes it's Horizon, sometimes Connor and Solitaire, but never all together.
Friday September 19, 2003
Eve Ticknor reports:
I passed through the downtown this afternoon and had a good look at our
adult falcons resting on the west side of the Crowne Plaza Hotel, near the
north end. Connor was right on the corner and Horizon was a bit further
south from there.
Monday September 1, 2003
Phil Maillard reports:
Solitaire is sitting on the south-east corner of the crown plaza on this beautiful
morning. I watch her for about 10 minutes and she appears quite relaxed, preening herself.
Wednesday August 13, 2003
Arlene Williams reports:
12:42 pm - Currently perched on the northeast corner and facing east is what
appears to be Connor, but it could also be Horizon, as I cannot determine
which one from a side view, although the feathers appear to be quite dark on
the backside and from what I remember of what Eve Ticknor told me, Connor's
feathering is much darker than that of Horizon. And on the northwest
corner is our famous offspring - Solitaire - looking somewhat bedraggled,
but cute nonetheless. No sign of the third in our famous group of adorable
peregrines. I must say that Solitaire seems to prefer the northwest corner
as both today and yesterday, with sun shining in the background, she has
spent the majority of the day occupying that particular spot on the Crowne
Plaza Hotel building ledge area. Solitaire is currently facing inward and
is not enjoying a view of the southern or western part of the city. I
guess with the heat and humidity today and of late, she and her dad have
decided not to wear themselves out by flying around and overexerting
themselves.
Wednesday July 30, 2003
Mark Nash reports:
Thanks to the support of the T.D Canada Trust, Friends of the Environment, we have a new
camera atop the Constitution Square. we are working on the hook ups, the computer, internet
connections, and other hardware to get live images as soon as we can. Although we are too late
for this season, we will be ready for next years peregrine season.
Many thanks to Peregrine Protection once again, along with Oxford Properties and all the staff
for their support and help to make this happen!
Tuesday July 29, 2003
Dear friends, Your eyes are urgently needed to help spot a Timneh parrot
who escaped his owners in Ottawa last weekend, Saturday July 19.
Luigi, who looks like the picture I have attached (although he probably will have plucked some breast and back feathers), escaped Saturday the 19th of July on Howden Street which is located in the Woodroffe/ Meadowlands area. He was spotted on the evening of the 22nd on a house rooftop across from 120 Elvaston Street, which runs off Craig Henry Drive. Although he seems to hang around the ''Woodroffe'' area, please know that parrots travel great lengths for food and shelter.
We'd be grateful if you would keep your eyes peeled when you are outside, especially the three branches, rooftops, bird feeders and the skies. Listen to unusual outdoors sounds, like repetitive ''human-like'' whistles, or repetitive spoken words like: hello, how are you?, what are you doing?, give me a kiss, Sue, Luigi and Luigino. Luigi says a variety of phrases, he speaks English and Italian. Please report ANY information/sightings over the upcoming MONTHS and leave your contact information to:
Susanna Erasmo (819)994-1914 (Hull office number with voice mail) or Nathalie Paquin (819)243-5419 (Home number with voice mail)
Timneh's are more or less the size of a pigeon, they are completely grey with a darker tail and bare patches of white skin around the eyes. Captive birds who escape tend to hang out with birds of the same size, abilities and looks. He may try to befriend crows and hang out with them.
Tuesday July 29, 2003
Eve Ticknor reports:
Nancy Scott saw Solitaire and Horizon downtown around 1pm today. While our
chicklet sat on the nest ledge corner, her mother flew back and forth
between the hotel and the Minto, seemingly agitated. Somewhere nearby there
must have been some work being done, too close for Horizon's comfort...
Thursday July 17, 2003
Eve Ticknor reports:
I was downtown briefly yesterday and saw our chicklet on the east ledge,
resting. Today I spent a bit more time downtown with a girl from the NCC,
observing while the blasting was started at LeBreton Flats. Needless to
say, our peregrines weren't disturbed by that activity. Technology is so
good now that we didn't even know it had happened until we were called to
find out the reactions!
The great news, that's just what was happening, as Solitaire was observed up moving around and taking flight.
Monday July 7, 2003
Marian Bird reports:
Around 9:30 this morning I spotted Solitaire on top of the Delta Office
Towers, sitting quietly overseeing her soundings. One of the parents was
close by on the northwest corners of the Crown Plaza. I briefly heard the
cries from the other parent and started to look around. I spotted one
soaring high above, near the Constitution Building. He or she may have
been agitated by the workmen finishing up the work on the removal of the
Canadian flag from the Constitution building.
Sunday July 6, 2003
Phil Maillard reports:
9:40 am. Conner has just landed on the roof of the Ottawa Technical high school, that
is one place I've never seen him land on before. moments later, Solitaire lands very
close to the top of the government building almost directly across the street and she
is doing allot of vocalizing. When she doesn't get a response from her father she
flies off heading south east and ends up on one of the lighting rods about half way
down on the south side of tower 1 of the constitution square. During all this,
Horizon remained on the south west corner of the crown plaza. At one point, I saw
Rosanne who had been watching
all the activity so we were both able to see Solitaire's great flying abilities!
Friday July 4, 2003
Nathaleigh reports:
7:45 a.m. - It is a drizzly morning here in downtown Ottawa. I am at
Kent/Slater Streets and can see in the distance a falcon perched directly on
the NE corner of the Crowne Plaza Hotel. The falcon is facing inward and
cuts a striking silhouette on its urban cliff.
Thursday July 3, 2003
Eve Ticknor reports:
DAY 13 - FINIS!
We have arrived at the end of what we can do for Solitaire. She no longer
seems to need us!
When we arrived this morning she had flown to the Constitution Square Tower 1 sometime since last night at 9. After dining on something small, she then flew "home" around 10, home being her west side nest ledge! She was then reported to have flown southeast and out of sight, so a search began again, for quite a while. Eventually she was found, on her ledge, having been hiding out of sight of those on the ground!! Her only interest was more food, which she did get a couple of more times during the day.....
She never left the ledge again today! Connor chased off an as yet unidentified raptor, possibly a buteo, that had been flying nearby! Some of us watched 2 species of butterflies, a Mourning Cloak and another which I will try to identify as well. You can see what an exciting day our last one was...
Although Solitaire has not done as much flying as I would have liked, she flew very well when she did, and exhibited excellent recovery skills and landing skills. I believe her reluctance to spend more time flying is due to being an "only child". Those who have siblings have competition, incentive and someone to "play" with, and she had none of these. I feel she will do well and I have, therefore, decided to close our Falcon Watch and let our hardworking volunteers have a well deserved rest (including the Co-ordinator)!
Many thanks to all! Solitaire will still be visible to those downtown and I will continue to check on her from time to time, and will post updates when I do.
Wednesday July 2, 2003
Eve Ticknor reports:
DAY 12 - Our next to last day has just finished. That is right! Solitaire is doing
well and doesn't need our attention anymore, although I expect I'll see some
of you downtown once in a while to check up on her progress...
Solitaire had rather a quiet day, unlike her parents. Perhaps she was tired out from all her flying yesterday along with her first experience of the Canada Day fireworks! She was very close to them and the lights along with the noise and echo from nearby buildings must have been scary for her.
She ate around 8 am and again near 5:30 pm. The last dinner was comical. First Horizon brought a large pigeon to Solitaire who was now on the roof of the Crowne Plaza. After she finished eating and had moved away, Horizon came back and flew off with the remains, while Solitaire complained loudly. Horizon ate her fill right above those of us sitting in front of 350 Albert. When she finished, Connor tried twice to fly over to get his share with no luck, of course. Then, when she was ready, Horizon left and he rushed over, grabbed the rest, and flew back to the southeast corner to eat his share!
Earlier Connor was seen chasing off 2 Common Ravens who were merely passing by the area. What a difference in size!
Tuesday July 1, 2003
Eve Ticknor reports:
DAY 11 - I hope you had a Happy Canada Day! I'm not so sure Solitaire did,
though.....
She spend a quite day atop the Crowne Plaza Hotel, surveying her "new" world. She was fed twice, flapped a bit, but remained out of sight, or only just in sight for most of today, but with both parents not too far away.
Connor, especially, was agitated this morning, with good reason. We had the Snowbirds, the Sky Hawks and their 2 helicopters, several small planes flying around over the Hill, and 2 planes with advertisements streaming out behind them! It's in his "job description" to watch for danger from the sky, and what's a poor little (even if he is fierce) peregrine to do against all these intruders, so he moved around and stayed quite unsettled until early afternoon when things quieted down, at least until this evening.....
Horizon tried several times to do some incentive flying over her daughter's head, but it didn't work. And, so, we waited.... and waited.......
Around 6pm, Solitaire suddenly flew over to the Minto and had a perfect landing on a very small stack on that roof What a beautiful sight! She then flew to the eastern side of the Crowne Plaza Hotel. It started to rain and during this time, she flew out of sight, and was discovered on top of the round restaurant on the Marriott Hotel. Finally she ended up on the north side of Tower B. Time to pack up our things./p>
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