!!! Some sad news to report.
June 24, 2014 - Toronto - Don Mills
Mark Nash Reports:
June 24th - 2014
Sorry for the delays in posting as we have been dealing with some glitches and challenges with the posting system on the CPF web site at the server where the CPF web site is hosted, and I have not been able to get my postings up to the CPF web site.
A huge thank you to Matt, the CPF web master who has been working overtime to deal with the challenges we have been experiencing with the reporting system on the CPF web site over the past 96 hours. Fingers crossed that the problems are finally fixed. Unfortunately , we have lost some of the most recent postings and observation reports that some of the fledge watch coordinators have posted, but at least its seems that we are back up and running with the reporting system again.
That being said, I am sorry to have to report that we have lost one of the young fledglings at the Duncan Mill nest site. Sadly, little Rainbow-Dash collided with one of the building windows and died instantly on impact.
It is quite sad, as I had only just sat down to get eat a toasted western sandwich and fries in the restaurant at 225 Duncan Mills road when my mobile phone rang with the bad news. One of the young fledglings had just collided with a window on the east side of 225 and was laying on ground outside of the shipping and receiving doors. This terrible news comes only minutes after I snapped a photograph of the four fledglings with my cell phone while they were on the upper roof elevation on the east corner of 225 Duncan Mills road.
I was quite excited that I was able to catch all four fledglings in the same frame, all at the same time, and relished in the moment that all four were doing so well and that I was able to catch them all together. Also, knowing only too well that in a few weeks, this type of shot would likely not be possible as they will become more independent and competitive, and will rarely be all together in such close proximity.
Although not a good photo at all, it was the happening that was quite heart warming to see.
Well, Rainbow Dash’s death is a very grim reminder that although the fledglings are all flighted and now able to hold their altitude, (and no longer in need of our assistance to be rescued from the ground),, they are still inexperienced immature young birds, and they are still going to make allot of mistakes and make some bad decisions, especially when it comes to judging speed vs distances vs braking.
Now over-confident with their new flight skills - (or better said, the lack thereof flight skills), it is historically at this time of the fledge period that we see a higher percentage of mortality, most often as a result of the young fledglings colliding with windows and automobiles as the juveniles are now building up allot of speed and get really careless that usually results in accidents. Hmmm, sound familiar?
I attended the parking lot moments after receiving the telephone call, meeting up with Sally and others that had gathered around Rainbow-Dash. She was collected and will be delivered to MNR on our next meeting with them.
