May 17, 2013 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre
Mark Nash Reports:
May 17th - 2013
A great sunny day with no wind, and we were finally able to get some detailed shots of the new hatchlings at the Etobicoke Sun Life nest site. It appears that I arrived just a the right time, in that O’Connor was out getting food and the nest ledge was un-attended for a short period of time during my observation period.
I was finally able to snap a few shots of the hatchlings, and while not the best of shots, I can confirm at least three hatchlings in the nest tray, with the possibility of a fourth hatchling that was huddled in the middle of the group. Jack was of course no where to found and again I got lucky with an un-interrupted period to get the shots and complete my observations.
We have some very special news that we will be reporting next week and hoping that you all will stay tuned, as its very exciting indeed!!
We are also working on a banding date of Wednesday May 29th around 2pm. There is allot to coordinate but so far its looking pretty good for a banding event May 29th.
Stay tuned…………..
Posted on May 18, 2013 12:44 pm
May 16, 2013 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre
Kathy Reports:
Beautiful sunny morning and O’Connor is for the first time in a few weeks on her favorite cam perch. Jack is above her on the building and both are focused on the ropes hanging off the condo building right across from them…it’s window washing day!
When I came in earlier, I caught what looked like the end of a feed as I could here her chupping and making up and down motions as if she was feeding someone in the nest box. How ever many are up there, they would now be old enough not to have to be covered and it’s going to be a gorgeous warm day for them.
Otherwise it’s been quiet and calm here the past week..save for the odd TV group coming through.
Posted on May 16, 2013 8:23 am
May 09, 2013 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre
Tracy Simpson Reports:
With nest sites throughout southern Ontario all hatching eggs this week the Fledge Watch program will be in full swing throughout June at multiple sites and all at the same time this year. This critical positive intervention program that was pioneered by the CPF in Ontario has been in operation since 1996 and each year has supported the offspring of nesting pairs with resounding success. Were it not for the stewardship efforts and the gift of time from all of our volunteers, many of the Ontario hatched resident adults that are currently producing young of their own would not be alive today. This message is a call to you to join us in June for one of the most incredible things we get to experience supporting this species at risk.
What do you need to be a Fledge Watch volunteer? Well, I’m glad you asked; two things. The first would be the generous gift of your time during the month of June for which we are all so grateful. Whether you can spare an hour, a day, a week or every waking moment, it all contributes to the success of the program, the survival of the inexperienced peregrine offspring and the ongoing monitoring efforts of the Canadian Peregrine Foundation. The second thing that you will need is the sincere desire to be a part of something so amazing that it will be one of those memorable experiences that you will never forget. I won’t tell you tales here, there are days that are slow. These are the days that are filled with learning more about the birds, stories, camaraderie, training and connecting with the local community; all rewarding in their own right. There are also days where its absolute pandemonium and we all wish the fledglings would just stop moving for all of one second so we can count heads and catch our breath. Regardless of the type of day it is, I can say this from my personal experience and it is a sentiment that all of our watchers both new and seasoned share. You will go home knowing that you helped make a difference in the life of a species at risk in Ontario and that you have given each and every juvenile at your chosen watch site a chance at survival that they otherwise wouldn’t have. It is incredibly rewarding knowing that your presence made all the difference in the world.Â
Last year the Fledge Watch teams collectively rescued 21 juvenile peregrine falcons from imminent mortality and gave them a second chance at life. If you would like to be a part of one of these critical support teams this June, we would love to hear from you. Please send us an email to raptor4@peregrine-foundation.ca with your name, a contact number, your site of interest and a general indication of the time you can share. We will be following up with you with further details about the site you are going to attend and the expected start date for that watch. Fasten your seatbelts and return your trays to the upright position for lift off in June!! As always it promises to be one amazing flight after another!!!
Posted on May 9, 2013 1:23 pm
May 07, 2013 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre
Kathy Reports:
6 Turkey Vultures just came into the territory and that was enough to get O’Connor out of the nest box and join Jack in defending the nest ledge. The TV’s were quite brazen and came right over to the building and then the chase was on. Tandem attacking by our falcons as they paired up to give them a thumping and move them out of range of the nest ledge. It was quite the sight to see! Â
No inuries but the TV’s got the message.
Posted on May 7, 2013 1:38 pm
May 07, 2013 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre
Kathy Reports:
11:05 am and Jack arrived with a package of food to the nest ledge. O’Connor took it and flew over to the condo tower. Jack sat by the nest box a minute and then went into to it and not even a minute later O’Connor was back with the package in her talons and Jack jumped out and she went in.
It’s been challenging to ascertain what is going on up there this year. O’Connor is a ‘master of discretion’ and isn’t giving up anything voluntarily.Â
Unless she’s suddenly decided to start dining al fresco - I’d say she’s feeding something up there!
Lots of excitement yesterday as several people witnessed and heard both Jack and O’Connor taking on a pair of Red Tail Hawks who have been hanging around the towers.
Posted on May 7, 2013 11:22 am
May 04, 2013 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre
Tracy Simpson Reports:
A great big thank you and “good job!!” goes out to Kathy for her notice of the change in Jack’s behavior a few days ago and the change in O’Connor’s yesterday. I travelled out to Eobicoke and went to a higher elevation for a look at whether I could see evidence of a hatch and although I couldn’t see shell fragments or little ones, I am 99.99999% sure a baby came yesterday. O’Connor was semi standing in the tray and looking sooooooo uncomfortable. The feathers down her spine were each standing on end and she was in brood mode. She was not willing to share what she hid beneath her and Jack was definately keeping an eye on me. He did several silent stealth fly-bys and 4 pigoens decided that it was wise to hide behind me cause I would make a good sheild.  I did manage to get a not so great shot of him as he tried for a sneak up. (Thanks O’Connor for the heads up that he was coming, I owe you one.) I will be back to watch for first food in and more hatches here in Etobicoke. Congratulations Sun Life, I think you’ve got your first hatch!!!!!!!!!!!
Posted on May 4, 2013 9:31 am
May 03, 2013 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre
Kathy Reports:
Spent my lunch observing the pair just now. All was quiet the first half hour with Jack preening on the web cam but facing the direction of the nest box. O’Connor wasn’t moving the first half hour when suddenly I saw her back arch up, she did a 180 flip in the nest box and I could clearly see her breast now. Her head was going down as if she was looking beneath her and then back up again. She was still moving around quite a bit when I left.  Hopefully we’ll have some good news to share with everyone over the weekend !
Posted on May 3, 2013 12:50 pm
May 02, 2013 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre
Kathy Reports:
2:00 PM:Â
Quick afternoon check and all is still quiet so far today. NO sign of Jack and couldn’t even see a wing tip peeping out over the nest box lip. I did however notice 2 pigeons on the nest ledge perched under the cam!! That tells me ‘no hatch’ yet - I doubt O’Connor would be that tolerant or she’s saving them for ‘dinner 
Posted on May 2, 2013 2:48 pm
May 02, 2013 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre
Kathy Reports:
At 7:15 am - Jack was on eggs and O’Connor was perched on the web cam. Now O’Connor is tight on the eggs, can’t even see her wing tips peeking out from the nest box.
Yesterday Jack spent most of the day here and was still on eggs when we left the site around 6 pm. That’s the most time I’ve seen him spend here since egg production started. Stay tuned!
12:59 pm - Very quiet here compared to yesterday. Jack arrived back on site from his other nest a little while ago and is now on the cam. No signs’ of anything unusual thus far.
Posted on May 2, 2013 7:52 am
May 01, 2013 - Etobicoke - Sun Life Centre
Kathy Reports:
Jack landed on the ADP sign about 5 minutes ago! Those of you that follow this site know that’s the signal..a hatch is imminent as he doesn’t spend much or any time at all there outside of nesting season! Eyes will be peeled now for additional signs.
10:30 am and O’connor refused a break and Jack left.
11:15 : Jack was just seen and heard clearing air space and going after a Red Tail quite aggressively as it came over our building. I saw him dive on it several times. He’s over on a nest ledge now just around the corner from the nest. No visible signs of anything happening as yet from the nest box - not from the ground at least.
2:15 pm: O’connor is out on a break enjoying the great weather. I haven’t seen her out there soaring like this in a very long time. She’s making donuts around all the rooftops and clearing them as she goes..but in a lazy manner, there is no aggressiveness to her actions. She flew out into the residential area and flew around and just soared with the winds we are having.  That might be another sign that nothing has happened yet as females generally like to stay close when a hatch is taking place.
Posted on May 1, 2013 9:46 am
