January 22, 2012 - Scarborough - Yellow Pages
Tracy Simpson Reports:
On our way back to the raptor centre, Frank and I stopped in at the Yellow Pages nest site to check in on Linn and Rueben, the resident pair. We scanned the building and the known roost spots for the pair but no one was visible. I have often seen Linn, the female, hunting at the buildings just south of the 401 as the pigeon population there is robust and there are several buildings to use as cover for a surprise attack. We’ll try again in the coming weeks and hope to catch them at home.
Posted on January 23, 2012 12:39 am
November 11, 2011 - Scarborough - Yellow Pages
Frank Butson Reports:
While poking around the internet,I found this article posted at e! Science News. So all will see it,it is being posted on each of our nestsite pages. This is too important to miss.
The original article can be seen here: http://esciencenews.com/articles/2011/04/18/new.pollutants.detected.peregrine.falcon.eggs
Here is what it says:
New pollutants detected in peregrine falcon eggs
Flame retardants are chemical compounds added to fabrics and plastics to keep them from burning easily, but these can be toxic. Now a team of researchers from Spain and Canada has detected some of these emerging pollutants for the first time in peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) eggs in both countries. “The presence of ‘dechlorane plus’ and other related, chlorinated compounds used as flame retardants have been detected for the first time in the European biota (flora and fauna of the region)”, explains Ethel Eljarrat, co-author of the study and scientist at the Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Studies (IDAEA-CSIC, Spain).
The researchers have found these substances in peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus) eggs in both Spain and Canada. The flame retardants are often added to textiles, electronic circuits and other products to inhibit or resist the spread of fire, but can be transferred to the environment.
In nature these compounds are “bioaccumulating and bioconcentrating” all along the food chain, as evidenced by the research published in the Environmental Science & Technology journal. The international research team for this study was led by Begoña Jiménez of the Institute of Organic Chemistry (CSIC, Spain), and Environment Canada researchers, Kim Fernie and Mehran Alaee.
Having received the relevant permits, eggs that had failed to hatch from various active falcon nests in Canada and Spain, were collected. The collection involved 13 eggs from Spain (five in Guadalajara – a territory representative of an inland habitat of the Iberian Peninsula - and eight in Bilbao - representing a coastal environment), and 12 eggs from Canada (Great Lakes Region and Eastern provinces).
The levels of some of the measured contaminants have been found to be somewhat higher in Bilbao than in Guadalajara, and the authors believe this may be due partially to the difference in the falcons’ diet: more aquatic in the former and more terrestrial in the latter. In fact, if fish is highly contaminated, peregrines would accumulate more of the harmful substances. While peregrine falcons do not eat fish, they prey upon other birds, some of which may eat fish.
Selecting the peregrine falcon was no accident. This species was endangered in many areas of the northern hemisphere due to the use of organochlorinated pesticides, particularly DDT, though when this was prohibited in the 1970s the populations recovered. Furthermore, falcons are at the top end of the food chain and accumulate substances carried by their prey.
Highest levels in the Canadian samples
The results reveal that the concentrations of ‘dechlorane plus’ and some of the other chlorinated halogens were “significantly higher” in the Canadian falcons’ eggs than in those of Spain. The reason for this could be that the industry that has manufactured these compounds for decades (although they are now also produced in China) is located in New York State close to the area where samples were collected. In addition, the use of these compounds has generally been higher in North America than Europe.
The researcher acknowledges that the effects that these flame retardants may have on the falcons’ eggs or on their development are still unknown, “but their detection is a first step”. These are emerging pollutants, which comprise both those which have appeared more recently and those that have been used for a long time but are just lately the subject of environmental interest.
Other flame retardants, including some brominated flame retardants, have already been confirmed as toxic endocrine disruptors, and their use has been prohibited in some of the commercial mixes in Europe and America. Furthermore, they are candidates for inclusion on a list of Persistent Organic Pollutants to be eliminated, a list compiled by the Stockholm Convention which includes other pollutants such as DDT or dioxins.
This study forms part of the doctoral thesis submitted this month by the researcher Paula Guerra from IDAEA on “The analysis of emerging halogenated flame retardants and their impact on the environment and on humans”. All of the eggs were analyzed by her during her exchange studies at Environment Canada.
A research group at IDAEA led by Damià Barceló has also confirmed the presence of these compounds in sediment and fish in the rivers of the Ebro basin (Spain). Source:FECYT-Spanish Foundation for Science and Technology
Posted on November 11, 2011 6:02 am
July 31, 2011 - Scarborough - Yellow Pages
CPF Postmaster Reports:
Hello Mark
I want to thank you so much for taking this most excellent picture of Linn and allowing me to use it. All the Rochester Watchers who saw this picture said the same thing; “OMG! It’s Mariah!”
It took me awhile to find the picture I took of Mariah that I knew would be a most wonderful comparison picture. I plan on making a shirt with this picture on it and offering it to others.
Thank you much!
Take care and hope to see you soon.
Carol
Posted on August 5, 2011 1:02 am
June 29, 2011 - Scarborough - Yellow Pages
CPF Postmaster Reports:
June 29th - 2011
Pics of Baby Striker from Scarborough YPG Building, June 29
Sorry for the late posting, as there was many e-mail that got lost in the volume of incomming e-mail during the various fledge watches. There is many more to come!
These are pics of Striker who had flown down to the second floor and was calling to Mom and Dad for some help. The last picture is of Myself and 2 others holding the fledglings . I am actually holding striker 2 weeks before I shot these pics. **(Tim is on the left).
Tim Burnie
Posted on July 28, 2011 11:22 am
July 24, 2011 - Scarborough - Yellow Pages
Ann Brokelman Reports:
At 6pm I saw 1 adult and 1 juvenile at the building at Markham and Neilson. Within 5 minutes the male juvenile was off with the female juvenile following him. They darted across the road towards the photo lab. Flying so fast it was hard to keep them in sight. Over the road again and towards the 401. Back and forth they went. Looked behind me at the yellow pages building to see the third juvenile sitting at the peak of the building. He was screaming and screaming for food. I then noticed the adult had left. At 6:30 you could hear all 3 juveniles screaming and the race was on to the fitness centre to see what mom had brought. The one male got the food and the other two sat on the ledge screaming. Suddenly the male with the food took off with the other 2 juveniles following again. He landed on the hotel. So did the other ones. The last I saw of the 3 little screamers was them flying around the temple on Markham Road. They were flying from one top to the next. Man are they fast, beautiful and fun to watch. Ann
Posted on July 24, 2011 10:55 pm
July 23, 2011 - Scarborough - Yellow Pages
Ann Brokelman Reports:
Yellow Pages
Stopped in at 12 noon. Heard one screaming while in the car. Young female soared right by me - see attached photo. Male joined her in flight. Both headed to the photo buiding and dissappeared. Total quiet within 5 min. I stopped on my way home from shopping 5:00pm to see the male with the yellow band sitting right on top of the yellow pages screaming. So all 3 were accounted for. No sign of any adults.
Posted on July 23, 2011 10:26 pm
July 20, 2011 - Scarborough - Yellow Pages
Ann Brokelman Reports:
I arrived at the Yellow Pages building at 6:00pm to see Linn sitting on the NE corner and one juvenile eating on the S centre side.
Within 15 minutes the activity started. One male was hovering on the top of the building, the female joined in. They played catch me if you can, talon touching, the speed was incredible. Stooping at each other, turning right, then left then straight down. For appr 10 minutes the two juveniles played around the building. They then moved to the building on the south side (beyond the parking lot), I was surprised to see both of them sitting on the light stand right above me. It was the female (red tag) and Jet. Well they looked at me but didn’t go anywhere. Suddenly the 3rd male peregrine juvenile joined them and went on the attack. That got all three up and playing over the parking lot and then toward the 401. They were over the highway for a good 3 minutes chasing, diving, playing. They then moved to the building to the east of the photo lab and were seen diving at each other and landing on the top of the building. They were still having a heck of a good time when I had to leave. I stopped in after going to a meeting 8:15pm and no sign of them.
I tell you that is what you call amazing, fantastic and totally wild. You need to go and watch this behaviour as it is really too hard to describe but well worth the drive to Scarborough. I was so busy watching the peregrines I almost stepped on a ground hog.
Posted on July 20, 2011 9:03 pm
July 04, 2011 - Scarborough - Yellow Pages
Marion Nash Reports:
Ann Reports
Wow action with all three juvenile peregrines
They were all talon touching and flying together.
Not great shots but fun to watch.
Posted on July 5, 2011 10:10 am
July 02, 2011 - Scarborough - Yellow Pages
CPF Postmaster Reports:
July 2 - 2011
It’s amazing how a week can change things at one location.
With a free evening, I headed down to the Yellow Pages nest sight with camera in tow and was this aviation enthusiast treated to some spectacular flying by all the young ones and their parents.
At first it was what appeared to be dad and the red banded chick practicing food exchanges.
Then along came another chick from the nest building and, much to my surprise, the two chicks started impersonating mom and dad doing mock food exchanges with each other while flying through the air!
Both young ones eventually landed on the Investor’s Group building where, while only sitting for a minute, one of the juvie’s didn’t really like my presence and just like mom and dad started screeching at me before taking off towards me while the other bird, still sitting on the ledge, watched with amusement.
It was at this time that the young peregrine landed on the top of the high arch on the eastern side of the Investor’s Group building and, lo and behold, mom was sitting on the little bar jutting out to the north. Dad was on the south west corner of the Investor’s Group building after stooping at a red tailed hawk which was across the street at the Orthodox church. The third juvenile then appeared out of nowhere and landed on the north east corner of the building due south of the Investor’s Group building.
With sunlight quickly diminishing at about 8:15pm, the female then abandoned her perch with the juvenile who was sitting at the top of the arch flying directly behind her towards the Yellow Pages building. They reached the building and then proceeded to circle the building 4 times before both came to a landing on the antennae on the eastern side of the building.
During this time, the male and the other 2 juveniles remained perched on the Investor’s Group building and the building adjacent to it.
At approximately 8:30pm there was a boisterous sound from the Yellow Pages building where mom returned to the building with a fresh kill. She circled the building and landed on an open antenna with the juvenile then landing on the same antenna to consume the kill. Feathers could be seen flying everywhere from the antenna.
When I left the area at about 8:45pm, the adult female and one of the juveniles were on the Yellow Pages building and the adult male and 2 other juveniles were on the 2 buildings to the west.
It was a perfect evening, and all flights seen were not only strong but lengthy, showing that the skills of their parents have definitely been passed on to these young.
Attila Papp
Posted on July 4, 2011 11:48 am
June 26, 2011 - Scarborough - Yellow Pages
Mark Nash Reports:
For the most parts, today was quite uneventful, with the exception of the last 2 hours of the day - from 7pm to 9:30pm. Arrived early in the morning around 7am to find both Jet and Striker on the same upper concrete ledge on the west side of the building that I left them on last evening.
At approx. 10:30 am, Rhiannon finally took her first flight, out and back only to land on a lower ledge on an upper elevation on the south west of the building, several floors lower than the nest ledge itself. She remained there until shortly after 3pm when she finally took a second short flight down to her brothers ledge and never flew again for the balance of the day. She appeared quite content to be with her two brothers. Striker on the other hand made several good flights from ledge and gained altitude on several occasions, finally with one of his last flights that put him back on the same ledge that he started from joining his two siblings.
All three of the fledglings spent most of the balance of the day together with various spirts of playing with each other, with allot of sleeping and laying down to relax beside one another. Some intimate family moments wee observed with allot of beak touching and huddling up to one another on many occasions.
Reuben (the resident adult male) was absent for most of the day again today, disappearing once again to the south west with only the occasional short visits to the nest building only to fly off again and out of sight disappearing for hours.
Linn on the other hand, was never out of sight of the fledglings with the exception of a few very short hunting forays all within my eyesight that yielded a few small kills, which she did bring in into the building throughout the day, but only offered two of the tiny kills to the kids. She did allot of teasing trying to coax them into flying, but no-one was budging. It is worth noting that neither of the resident adults made any pigeon kills at all, as all of the kills have been much smaller birds. As a matter of fact, there has been a noticeable absence of pigeons everywhere in and around of the Yellow Pages facilities!!
Unlike the last four days of this fledge watch, when all of the young falcons have for the most parts been completely in-active and down for the evening by 8 pm, this was not to be the case this evening. The “falcon follies” only just started by 7:30pm with all of them very active screaming to their parents for food, running back and forth flapping on the ledge. A lot of threatening to fly, but it was only Striker that did some short flights from ledge to ledge in an attempt to pursue mom as she moved her observation position around the on the north and west site of the building,, always just slightly out of reach.
By 9pm, everyone was once again laying down and retired for the evening and all activity seemed to stop. We stayed until 9:30pm when we were convinced that nothing was going to happen and close the watch down for the evening.
Stay tuned……
Posted on June 27, 2011 3:32 am
