!!! Rescuing Merry !!!
June 22, 2014 - Kitchener - CTV-Bell Media Tower
Lisa Reh Reports:
At first light, Merry is still on the balcony displaying lots of vocalizations. He appears to be more motivated to get off this balcony but the reflective glass appears to be confusing him. He’s up on the brown ledge and is trying to use it as a run way to get a lift off. Mystery was on the Park and John Street parapet overlooking that balcony, she gracefully banked off that ledge westwards. At 9:10, 2 turkey vultures were flying around Park Street by the hospital and one of the adults attacked them quite a few times. They moved closer to the nest site and then got the message that they maybe should move AWAY from the nest box. A tiny bird chased the falcon. Helia flew from the right parapet to the nest box, walking along the ledge and then flew to the left parapet. She is becoming quite a graceful bird.
After consulting with Mark today it was suggested that we give Merry some food as there is no evidence that the adults are feeding him on the balcony. At 7:30 Rudy brought some quail over and fed it to him. Merry was easily caught and Rudy checked him over to make sure he wasn’t injured. He seemed only to have one slightly tender spot on his chest. He had been flying in the balcony but he kept on hitting the windows which is why it was decided to capture him and get him up to the rooftop. At 9:00, Merry was released onto the roof and went straight to the nest box where Mystery was. Mystery swooped around the building numerous times screeching the entire time. Merry appeared on the ledge below the nest box. Caster came in from the east shortly after. One of the adults came in directly on front of Merry on the ledge and enticed him off (and Helia) too! They passed the food morsel but Merry didn’t get it, it looked like Helia snatched it from him. Merry was then flying too low again and hit the windows again on the park st side. Tony, Rudy, Helen, Janice and I went up to the 5th fearing the worst. We found him right away but he was still struggling to land, he brushed the windows again. Then he flew out over the construction site and tried to land on a lower parapet on the 5th but hit the cement and slid down. We last saw him flying across park st but still at a low level. We all did a ground search until just before 10 but couldn’t find him. Mystery was still screeching and flying when we left. Let’s hope he has found a safe place to roost tonight.
Photos courtesy of Janice Newton and Lisa Reh.
