January 09, 2015 - International, National and Local News
CPF Postmaster Reports:
Jan. 8th - 2014
Thanks to John Little for sending in his recent photo of a feathered visitor that ended up in is backyard to dine. A good shot of a Sharpie, roosting after obviously dining on a fresh meal.
At this time of year, the CPF usually gets hundreds of phone calls and e-mail over the winter months telling us that they have another one of our peregrines in their back yard feeding on all of their winter birds that are utilizing their outdoor bird feeders. If this was actually the case, we would have thousands of urban peregrines around,,, (and that of course is absolutely not the case). At this time of year, most all of the Canada’s wild - (non-urban peregrines) are far to the south on their wintering grounds, with only the resident territorial urban adults braving the cold better weather. And even then, our urban adult peregrines don’t hang around backyards or hunt at these low altitudes below the tree canopies.
In this case, John Little identified his feathered visitor bang-on, as an adult Sharpe-shinned hawk - (which is usually the case with 99.99 % of all of the raptors that are incorrectly identified in peoples back yards at this time of the year, especially here in our northern hemispheres).
We do see a few Coopers hawks, a few Rough-legged and Broad-winged hawks, lots of Sharpies and Red-tails and even the odd Goshawk is being photographed and hanging around. Good gracious, if you could fly freely south to warmer weather with an abundance of free food, why on earth would you stay here in these freezing temps???,, but some do stay and tough it out as evident of the hundreds of photographs that are sent into us each year.
Photographer - John Little
January 2015, Meridian, Idaho USA
Posted on January 9, 2015 5:19 am
January 05, 2015 - International, National and Local News
Mark Nash Reports:
Jan 5th - 2015
Just a quick peregrine update. While on a routine trip out to the bank today,, our attention was once again directed to the underside of the huge water storage tank at Warden and Eglinton here in Scarborough with the familiar black object on the underside of the water storage tank. After a closer inspection, it was clearly identified as a adult peregrine roosting on one of the large support beams underneath of the water tank. Sadly, without a scope or camera on board, and with only my binoculars, I was easily able to identify it as a an adult peregrine, was unable to get a band identification of the mystery falcon due to the distances from our ground position and the height of the roosting peregrine.
The good news, is that it is really easy to see a dark coloured peregrine roosting on any part of the water tank due to its white colour that the water storage tank has been painted, so if you are travelling on Eglinton Ave near Warden Ave, you can easily spot the roosting peregrine when its there.
Looks like I will have to get the camera back in the car so the next time I will be better prepared and will try and get a photo in an effort to identify our mystery peregrine! We would encourage all to visit when you have a chance and maybe you can get an ID on this mystery peregrine. Your observation reports and photos are most welcomed!
Stay tuned…………..
Posted on January 6, 2015 5:31 pm
December 30, 2014 - International, National and Local News
Mark Nash Reports:
December 30th - 2014
Just a quickly update on the roofing activity at the Rogers Centre. After four plus months of waterproofing work, the work had finally been completed and the new CPF nest tray has finally been successfully installed. Looking really good in fact! A short visit for me this morning that lasted only a couple of hours on site, I can honestly say that the install went without a catch and its looking really good! Both resident adults have been active and very much around watching the roof crew finish up the work on their nest ledge.
The green barrier mesh that was installed over top of the nest ledge worked fantastic in protecting the workmen while they were working on this elevation over the past month. While it keep the peregrines out of the nest ledge and protected the workmen, the resident peregrines were never the less observed on many of the other west elevations “supervising” the roofers activities throughout the entire four month roofing project.
The new marine poly-composite materials that we are now utilizing to build all of the new nest trays and nest boxes has really made things much easier for us in the terms of longevity and maintenance free in comparison to the older pressure treated building materials that we once used to manufacture these same nest trays and nest boxes. Admittedly, the new marine poly-composite materials are much heavier and far more expensive in comparison to the same sized wood products, they come pre-coloured, UV and water resistant, and have 25 plus year guarantees that are virtually maintenance free!! No more rotting, re-staining, or fading!! While these new materials are somewhat difficult to fasten together as they must be predrilled and you have to use special fasteners, once completed, they are incredibly solid and long lasting!
The elevated nest tray should also keep the peregrines nesting activities off the new waterproofing membrane and out off the water soaked rain gutter, ensuring a dry, safe nesting place, and will protect the new roof membrane from being scrapped and damaged by the adult peregrines.
The new Rogers nest tray is a typical example of the new style nest trays that the CPF is now building and installing, in addition to replacing most all of the original nest trays and nest boxes as money becomes available to us to replace the aging old nest boxes and nest trays at many of the other existing nest sites. Some of our first nest boxes and nest trays have been in use since we installed them back in 1997!!
Many of these original nest trays and nest boxes are in desperate need of being replaced, as they have succumb to wood rot, as they have become waterlogged and fading bad.
In any case, we are very eager to see how quickly the resident peregrine pair will take onto the new nest tray.
Stay tuned……….
Posted on January 5, 2015 8:50 pm
December 09, 2014 - International, National and Local News
Mark Nash Reports:
December 2014 Update
Just a quickly update to let everyone know that all is going as planned with the roofing activity almost completed! As you may know, we have been working closely with the Rogers centre management and the roofing company over the past year to ensure that both the workmen and peregrines remain safe during the on-going roofing activities on the Rogers Centre.
With the final water-proofing stage almost complete, (now at the nest ledge itself), we are almost ready to install the new nest tray as soon as the new water protective membrane has been installed. We are all pretty excited about the new nest tray, as it will offer the peregrines a dry elevated nesting spot within the ledge that should provide a ideal place for the peregrines to continue their nesting and family rearing activities. It will also keep the peregrines out of the rain gutter and away from the cold barren water soaked concrete, in addition to keeping the peregrine off of the new protective roof membrane.
The new nest tray was manufactured by CPF with the sponsorship support of the Rogers Centre and was delivered by CPF to the Rogers Centre several weeks ago during my one of my many visits visit. During this time, the new green protective mesh barrier was installed to cover the nest ledge entrance and offer a protective barrier to the roofers, allowing them to safely work within the nest lest ledge itself out of sight of the resident peregrines during the final stage of the roof work. Both resident adults did NOT migrate this fall and are still very active on site!
Both resident adult peregrines have been on site throughout the past four plus months during their roofing activities, and the peregrines aggressiveness has intensified as the roofers have gotten closer to the south west corner (the actual nest ledge).
We are very pleased that both the Rogers centre and Specified Roofing has been working very closely with the CPF over the past year to ensure that both the peregrines and workmen are protected during the roofing process.
CPF will be on site again to be part of the nest tray install to ensure that it will installed correctly.
Stay tuned……………….
Posted on December 9, 2014 12:24 pm
August 17, 2013 - International, National and Local News
CPF Postmaster Reports:
Although a very late entry, (I must apologize), as just I found this e-mail and attached photos that had obviously been captured and filed away in one of my anti-spam folders!! Sadly, I have only just discovered this particular folder and going through it now. With more than 135 e-mail, its going to take me some time to get through it all,,, but there is some really interesting stuff!!!!!
This particular observation report was sent in to us almost a year ago to this very date, and was sent via the authors I-phone. The very short note included a report of an adult pair of peregrines hunting on a beach in Saskatchewan Canada last year in August of 2013. The pair were actually observed “fishing”!
While the pair were unsuccessful in actually catching a live fish themselves during this observation period, - (with more than a dozen attempts diving into the shallow water after small feeder fish),, they did manage to find a rather large (but very fresh dead fish) that has washed up on the beach. So fresh in fact, that the gulls had not yet discovered it. Although, I’m sure if I was a gull, that I would be hanging around with a determined pair of adult peregrines in hunting mode!
While this type of happening would be something that you would expect to see out in British Columbia with the Peales sub species of the peregrine falcon, it is not something that you would see with our interior peregrine subspecies…. Then again, the anatum sub-species as we knew it is really no more given all of the cross-breeding that has happened, so, you never know now. Clearly this pair doesn’t look at all typical of the Peales sub species of the peregrine falcon as we know it, but you never know now what linage this pair have come from?
The Peale’s Falcon, Falco peregrinus pealei, is one of the original three North American subspecies of the Peregrine Falcon. This race was first identified by the ornithologist Robert Ridgway in 1873, named in honor of Titian Ramsay Peale, and like the original three north American peregrine sub-species, is (or was) quite distinct in its appearance. The Peale’s peregrine sub-species are the largest subspecies of “Peregrines” anywhere in the world and cold only be found in the western coast lines of the northern parts North America.
The final photo, pictures the adult male standing on the dead fish, almost to suggest that he is trying to deceive his female mate in believing that he had been successful in his efforts 
lol
Hmmmm, interesting behaviour indeed! Cormorants beware!!
Enjoy.
Posted on August 12, 2014 4:40 pm
July 27, 2014 - Hamilton - Sheraton Hotel
Mark Nash Reports:
Sunday July 27th - 2014
The Beachville territorial female has been identified! Its Rihannon from the Yellow Pages nest site!
Wow, Lucie and Richard are determined!!! Great works guys as all of your efforts have paid off!!
Lucie texted me Sunday with some great news, in that she and Richard attended the Beachville Quarry site again this weekend determined to get the identity of the territorial female that has hooked up with Joe - Black banded 48 over Y, the little 2010 Hamilton produced male who they earlier identified a week ago on one of their earlier visits. Well, their efforts have paid off, as they were able to identify the territorial female via its leg bands, - (Black 53 over X).
After checking the banding database, Black 53 over X turns up to be a peregrine named Rihannon, a female peregrine produced at the Scarborough Yellow Pages nest site in 2011. Her parents are Linn hatched 2007 from Rochester NY USA and Rueben, hatched in 2003 from Wisconsin USA.
During their visits over the past month since the peregrines were reported, we have found no evidence of them having actually produced offspring this season as we would have seen fledgling juveniles still hanging around at this time in the season. As we know, the fledglings are solely dependant on their adults for food, training and support for 2 to 3 months after they fledge,, and there is no evidence of any fledglings.
That being said, our fingers are crossed that the pair will stay (or return if they migrate) and produce offspring next season………..
Posted on July 28, 2014 7:29 pm
July 24, 2014 - Kitchener - Sun Life Centre
CPF Postmaster Reports:
July 24th - 2014
Voyager update:
Some sad news.
Marion reports this afternoon:
I was in contact with the Owl foundation today to get an update on Voyager and was told that she was examined on July 22nd. She had serious injuries to her “wrist/hand” or metacarpal bone,, it was completely destroyed in addition to the server bruising on her radial ulna. They contacted the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and got the approval to put her down. She was put down yesterday - (July 23rd - 2014).
As an adult wild bird with such serious injuries they felt she would not have done well in captivity and would not be able to fly up to perches. Sadly, we agree the only humane thing to do was to euthanize her. They said she was 762 grams at intake and was very thin.
Posted on July 24, 2014 2:47 pm
July 22, 2014 - International, National and Local News
CPF Postmaster Reports:
July 22rd - 2014
Well, tisssss the time of year when we have to deal with all of the goofy fledglings as they get into other kinds of other new trouble. At this stage of their development, they have now survived collisions with the windows and buildings, managed to hold their altitude and no longer need to be rescued from the ground. So, you think that their all going to be ok now, right,,, WRONG!!
A typical example of the “kids” getting into other trouble. Remembering, that the only life skills they have, is what their parents have been able to teach them so far, this in addition to the things that they themselves have experienced so far, (the things that haven’t already killed or injured them so far)! Going down ventilation shafts after food was obviously not part of the lessons. But juveniles will be juveniles, and that’s exactly what happened to little BJ.
So, the little fledgling that was named “BJ” by the Rogers centre staff after BJ the Blue Jays Birdie mascot,, - (banded by the OMNR several weeks ago after being rescued by CPF when she came to the ground below the Rogers centre nest),,,,,, - chased a pigeon across the Toronto Renaissance Hotel rooftop, (the same hotel that is attached to the Roger centre itself), and like many careless inexperienced children, slipped and fell down into a ventilation shaft, falling down several floors within the building and ended up inside the mechanical and boiler room within the hotel.
This situation is one that is not a isolated incident, as it brings up a not so distant memory of yet another juvenile fledgling peregrine falcon from the Toronto Sheraton Hotel nest site several years ago that ended up trapped in the mechanical room at the Zurich building, just south west of the Toronto Sheraton hotel. (That rescue took two entire days to capture her up and involved five CPF staff members)!
Thank goodness for the quick and caring actions of Alex, one of the hotels engineers who spotted the young peregrine high up on one of the pipes and was quick to call the CPF. Arrangements were make to accommodate the CPF, and both Mark and Marion from the CPF drove down to the Renaissance Hotel in an effort to rescue her.
Upon their arrival and being escorted to the upper mechanical room, the young juvenile peregrine was finally located (only after about 20 minutes of searching the upper pipes with a flashlight, up some 15 plus feet high up within the large mechanical area). With Alex’s assistance along with several members of engineering staff ,, and some very tall ladders, the young peregrine juvenile - “BJ”, was eventually netted and recovered safely.
After a quick examination, BJ was deemed quite healthy, un-injured and cleared for immediate release. So, over to the Rogers Centre after a quick call to Dave McCormick, the Manager of Engineering at the Rogers Centre. He made arrangements to receive Mark and Marion, and was met by Lee who took them up to the Rogers Centre roof on the walkway above the nest ledge so that BJ could be released back to her parents care. A familiar location that Mark has been earlier where BJ was released after her first rescue.
It is worth noting, that upon their arrival to the upper roof area, they were delighted to see two of the other fledglings chasing one of their adult parents for food, so we know that at least two of the other three fledglings have survived. There were four hatchlings produced at the Rogers centre nest site this season.
BJ flew strong right out of the carrier without missing a wing beat and out of their view behind one of the roof retaining walls.
Sadly, we were unable to verify an exact hatch date in time (and get the age of the hatchlings in time to arrange a banding). We were able to band little “BJ” as she was named when she ended up needing to be rescued several weeks ago.
A huge thank you to the Alex and all of his team at the Renaissance Hotel, and to the great folks at the Rogers centre who have been more than accommodating to both the nesting peregrines and the CPF in our efforts to deal with this peregrine nest site.
Another big thank you to Edna, one of the residences of the condos to the west of the Rogers Centre that overlooks the nest ledge, who supplied the photos of the nest ledge and the four hatchlings that were produced at the Rogers centre nest this season.
Posted on July 23, 2014 12:23 am
July 21, 2014 - International, National and Local News
Mark Nash Reports:
July 21st - 2014
Territorial dispute ends up with some injuries! A 2013 Rochester female named Voyager has some injuries!
We do have some sad news to report. Yesterday, I was contacted by the Kitchener Waterloo humane society with reports of a downed peregrine that we assumed might be one of the young fledglings that was produced at the Sun Life nest site this season, and with only one surviving fledgling, we expected the worst. There is good news and bad news to share.
The good news, I asked for a photo of the birds leg bands to confirm the peregrines identity, and it turns out to be a sub-adult female, banded with Yellow and Red tape over its Silver USFW band and a Black 95 over Green BA. Its not one of the resident KW peregrines!!
The bad news, is that the peregrine has some serious injuries to the wing & wrist along with other obvious evidence of punctures very consistent to wounds sustained in battles with another raptor. The sub-adult peregrine female turns out to be a peregrine produced in Rochester New York in 2013, one named Voyager, dawning a Black 95 over Green BA coloured leg band.
Rudy Kruppa from the CPF was kind enough to pick up Voyager from the KW Humane society and drove her to team members of the Owl Foundation that met him half way in between the long drive between Kitchener and Vineland. We are waiting for updated news on her status.
We have our fingers crossed for her.
A huge thank you to the KW humane society for calling us so quickly and to Rudy for picking her up and driving her to medial assistance so quickly!!
Again, another fantastic team effort of caring people!!!!
We are waiting on reports from the KW group as to the status of the resident adults at the KW nest site to see if there were any life sustaining injuries with them.
Fingers crossed that there was no serious injuries sustained on their end.
Posted on July 22, 2014 11:46 pm
July 13, 2014 - International, National and Local News
CPF Postmaster Reports:
Sunday July 13th - 2014
A big thank you to Lucie and Richard Kirchknoph who ventured down to Beachville Ontario this weekend to investigate a report of nesting peregrines.
Their efforts paid off as they were able to identify the resident adult male via his leg band number and identify that the resident adult female is also banded with a solid Black leg band, telling us that they are both Canadian produced peregrines. Reports of the peregrines having produced offspring this year have been coming in this past week and we have some some good news to report thanks to Lucie and Richard.
Hi Guys
Good investigation guys!!
The Pefa that you reported having a solid black band number turns up in our banding data base as:
A peregrine named “Joe” that was produced at the Hamilton Sheraton Hotel in 2010
He was a very small underweight male – weighing in at only 492 grams at banding, banded at 23 days old on May 31st – 2010
His mother is Madame X as she has been called and his father was named Surge.
Surge was produced at the Etobicoke nest site (Bloor & Islington) in 2002
Madame X was produced at a nest site in Wilkes-Barre in the USA in 1999 and was nick-named – “Runaround Sue”
Posted on July 14, 2014 2:45 pm
