!!! Lucifer is the first to fledge - A walk on the pier - (and during the pouring rain)!
June 08, 2015 - Burlington - Lift Bridge
Mark Nash Reports:
Monday June 8th - 2015
A quick summary of some of the days events, and hoping to recant it correctly as I only have bits and pieces given that I have been in the Kingston and Trenton area for the past two days delivering the Canadian Peregrine Foundations project School visit. A big thank you to Barry and his wife Linda for spotting the first Burlington fledgling and calling for support as Lucifer - (banded Black B over 11 with Blue tape) as he was named was discovered on the south side of the canal standing on the concrete pier during the bouts of the pouring rain, and for Bill and Sue for being able to get there in time to do the rescue and retrieval.
Another big thank you to the guys at the bridge for keeping little Lucifer safe and sound (and for getting me to the north roof tower to eventually do his release), until I could get there this evening to do an examination and release. I must admit, this was one of my longest days so far this season with having already completed three presentations at two separate schools in Trenton Ontario today, then rushing back to Toronto to drop off little Nova to the CPF raptor centre in Vaughan, and onto Burlington to deal with little Lucifer 
With almost 400 kms and an 18 hour day logged for me today, it must be peregrine season alright! The best news, with the combined efforts of all, little Lucifer was successfully rescued and released back to his parents under the cover of darkness to the upper roof area of the north tower - (the nest tower). Despite the cover of darkness that allowed me to successfully release him - (and prevented him from bolting into a panic flight and off the roof), there was enough light to have both parents in flight overhead and quite aware of our presence on the upper roof area.
Thank goodness for hard hats and the protection of the roof hatch door that provided us with just enough protection to do the tower release and get away in safety, as both adults were quite aggressive in their efforts to convince us to get out of their air space!!
Little Lucifer was successfully released back to his parents care without incident. For me, back to Toronto and finally home after two very long days on the road and although its after midnight, finally a sit down home cooked supper!
Fingers crossed that his next flight has him staying off of the ground (and out of the water) and out of danger!
