Casey is missing
June 16, 2020 - Kitchener - CTV-Bell Media Tower
Lisa Reh Reports:
The fledge watch started with Tony reporting at 7:32: “I am here now and can see Artemis still at the top of the Kings Tower antenna and one of the parents is on the west side of the upper red rung of the CTV tower. Can’t see the other parent or Casey.” At 8:25, Tony checked for Casey from the Sun Life Tower but there is still no sign of Casey on Kings Tower or anywhere.
The last sighting of Casey was around 4:15 yesterday afternoon by Heather, Martha and Paayal. Heather reported: “There was a bit of flying shortly thereafter and it was difficult to see who went where. We split up a bit to try to see the King Street side of the building. I’m not sure any of us saw both chicks at the same time after that.” A ground search began shortly after 9:00. One of the adults was on the CTV tower and Artemis was on the Kings Tower antennae.
Rudy gave an update on Hope around 11:00: “Hope is still favouring her left wing this morning. No release today. The good news is that I gave her a half a pigeon and she ate it on her own with no force feeding required. I will be trying to get an avian vet to check her today if possible.”
Karen reported at 11:26: “Artemis flew along with an adult back to the CTV tower. He landed on the top level on his second attempt. We can’t see him now but Randy has checked and can see him on the middle of the platform near where the hole is. One adult is on the Mount Hope side of the next level. Can’t locate the other adult at present. Still no sign of Casey.”
In the afternoon, the team continued searching for Casey on ground, on the tower and roof tops. Dale reported: “The adults were trying to get him to fly all afternoon. I’m still not sure if he actually did. I looked at the tower from all angles about 3 p.m. and could not spot him. He must have either had a quick flight and come back when I was walking around the buildings and not looking up or he was hidden on top platform the whole time. I also did another check of the grounds around Sun Life, 18 Pine and the apt bldg at 75 York for Casey–no luck.”
Tara and I biked around Strange, Park, Glasgow and surrounding neighbourhoods. We also biked around some of the parking lots around Graffitti Market and the commercial buildings in the area. No sign of Casey.
Artemis was out of sight and Engima went in and out of the nest box a few times. He also perched above the nest box. Artemis showed up at 4:00 on the corners of the top platform, flapped a bit. He was just having a lazy afternoon lying around on the platform. Mystery headed south past Kitchener Collegiate Institute towards a crane and was seen flying with another bird with the same flight pattern of a peregrine. Could it be Casey? Enigma flew in and out and was squawking and calling for the kids from the north side of the tower for quite some time. Tara and I took a look through Mount Hope Cemetery on our separate way homes. A neighbour also searched the sports field perimeter.
More people were on the watch in the evening. At 6:46, Kim reported: “Artemis is still on the tower. Mystery delivered a package about 10 minutes ago. Enigma is back on the nest box platform (where he has been most of the evening). Short flight for both parents. Enigma is back on the CTV tower and Mystery on the Kings Tower antenna. Artemis just took a flight accompanied by Dad, and is now back on the CTV tower. Did not see anything in Mount Hope cemetery.” I walked back through Mount Hope Cemetery just before 7:00, and searched some of the perimeter, no sign of Casey. Still a few watchers out while Enigma flew in and out and Artemis back on the top platform.
The team alerted the Humane Society, Wildlife Haven in case Casey turns up. CTV was going to do a check below the locked up area of the platform.
Photos courtesy of Rudy Kruppa
