A Bird We Call “Lucky”; A Long Weekend Rescue Story
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Tracy Simpson Reports:
I was on my way to the CPF head office on Friday and almost turned around. Nest sites to check in on and so much field work to do I didn’t have time for admin work, but I was close so I stopped in anyways. This was the beginning of a rescue operation that were it not for pure luck and several groups working together, it would not have ever happened.
Shortly after arriving at the office, I received a phone call from a gentleman named Dale Kurt, a Branch Manager for Orkin PCO Services, who was calling to report a peregrine falcon in trouble. It would seem that this bird had somehow fallen into a cooling tower and become trapped. Dale had already been on the phone with several other agencies in an attempt to make contact with someone who could help rescue the bird but was unable to make a connection with anyone that could help. Mr. Kurt remembered the CPF from our activities at southern Ontario peregrine nest sites and called our office that afternoon. I was luckily there to answer the call as I was just about to head out into the field to do nest site checks.
According to Dale Kurt, the cooling tower the bird was trapped in was one of several that are a part of the roof system at Rogers Centre in downtown Toronto. On Wednesday May 18th, the staff at Rogers Centre completed an inspection of the tower and found the trapped bird. It was quite fortunate that this maintenance inspection came when it did as the bird had literally just fallen in. Wayne Sills, who works for Rogers Centre and coordinates the staff efforts to keep the mechanics in tip top shape, contacted Dale at Orkin PCO Services to let him know of the discovery of this bird and that the peregrine was clearly unable to fly back out of the tower on its own. Dale headed down to Rogers Centre and met up with Wayne who then took him up through the building to the trapped birds’ location. Knowing that he was looking at a protected species at risk, Dale decided to contact the OMNR regarding a rescue effort and later that afternoon called me.
Throughout my conversation with Dale, it was clearly going to have to been a joint rescue effort as I have never been introduced to the folks at Rogers Centre and I would require access to non-public areas of the building. Dale and I met down at the shipping docks where we were joined by Wayne Sills of Rogers Centre, gathered our needed equipment and headed up to security. I must say that the folks at Rogers Centre were absolutely amazing in guiding and accomodating this rescue effort and they are to be commended for their efforts. An elevator ride, two ladder trips and a few little access hatches later Dale, Wayne and I stood face to face with a very confused sub-adult female peregrine falcon. I have to tell you that Dale is one quick guy with a net!! In less than 60 seconds, the bird was in a rescue carrier and on her way down.
We contacted the OMNR to let them know that we had rescued this female and that she was in need of rehydration, food and rest and then took her back to the CPF Raptor Centre for treatment. In debriefing the situation, we all have realized that on the Friday of a long weekend, that were it not for Wayne Sills and his staff at Rogers Centre, Dale Kurt at Orkin PCO Services and the CPF staff all working together, this bird would not have been found, rescued and cared for. And that’s why her nickname is “Lucky”!!
Continuing along the theme of being the most lucky peregrine falcon that I have ever met, it turns out that “Lucky” was hatched at the Buffalo Statler Tower nest site in 2010 and was one of 5 chicks hatched that year. Due to access issues, the birds could not be banded except for one, the only one to come to the ground and needing a rescue, and she now wears the Black over Green 65/AW that has identified her!! A huge thank you to all that have participated in this grand rescue of a very Lucky bird!! Check back soon for release photos as she is healthy, rehydrated and ready to go!!! Good luck Lucky!!
