June 17, 2013 - Toronto - King Street
CPF Postmaster Reports:
Attention all fledge watchers and peregrine enthusiasts! The fledge watches have started and we need your help!
June 17th - 2013
As some of you may be aware, we are currently eyeball deep in 7 different fledge watches that are now running simultaneously, and needless to say, we are incredibly stressed for manpower to cover all of the fledge watches. Never in the 17 years that we have been running fledge watches have we ever had this many fledge watches occurring all at the same time.
This in addition to having so many nest sites to deal with where the hatches have all happened within such a short period of time, thus having all of the young fledge at the same time.
While the season has only just started, we have already rescued and saved 9 fledglings from the ground and returned them back to the rooftops and nest ledges back to their parents care.
That being said, we need your support to join us in the streets at one of many nest sites here in the GTA.
You will see members of the fledge watch team in the streets at the following nest sites:
Please bear in mind that we are limited in volunteers currently at some of these sites and you may have to do some searching for us as some of these sites have vast areas to cover.
Please join us and help us help your young peregrines make it through this challenging time.
Ongoing fledge watches:
Toronto Sheraton Centre hotel nest site - downtown Toronto - Bay & Queen
MEC nest site -1 Robert Spec Parkway - Huriontario and Hwy # 403 Mississauga
225 Duncan Mill road nest site - Don Mills
ICICI nest site - Don Valley Parkway and Eglinton Ave East, Toronto
Etobicoke Sun Life centre - Bloor & Islington - Etobicoke
18 King Street nest site - Victoria Street & King Street - Downtown Toronto
Canada Square nest site - Yonge & Eglinton - Toronto
Kitchener CTV - King Street - Kitchener Ont.
William Osler Hospital - Hwy # 27 & Humber Valley Blvd - Starting June 20th
Starting end of the week: June 22nd:
Scarborough Yellow Pages - 325 Milner Ave & Progress Ave
Posted on June 18, 2013 2:27 am
June 17, 2013 - Toronto - Don Mills
Mark Nash Reports:
June 17th - 2013
The Fledge watch has started!!
In typical peregrine fashion, (and without any warning) days before the official scheduled fledge watch was scheduled to start,, the first young peregrine hatchling has become a fledgling, (well, sot of)! The young hatchling stumbled and fell off the ledge! Not a planned event at all!
In the middle of running around to all the east end nest sites with extra rescues carriers, towels, CPF ID badges and radio’s to accommodate the needs of volunteers that will be needed to cover 4 more fledge watches that are soon to begin, my i-phone lit up like a x-mass tree shortly after 1pm this afternoon with incoming e-mail, text messages and phone calls all at the same time!
In short, “panic attack”!! One of the young hatchlings at the Don Mill Road nest site had just slipped and accidentally fallen off the nest ledge and once airborne, attempted to hold its composure and made a feeble attempt to hold its altitude and tried to fly.
Well, for all those of you that been on fledge watch, you may already have some ideas as to the outcome of this type of event. The good news, no mortality, successful rescue and finally returned back to the roof elevation to its parent care! Another one safely rescued! That makes 9 successful rescues so far this season, and we’ve only just begun!!!
Ongoing fledge watches happening now at:
MEC nest site, Downtown Toronto Sheraton Centre hotel nest site, Toronto 18 king Street nest site, ICICI Don Mills & Eglinton Ave east nest site, Canada Square - Yonge & Eglinton nest site, Etobicoke Sun Life nest site - Bloor & Islington nest site and Kitchener CTV nest site.
Fledge watches already completed this season: Burlington Lift Bridge and Windsor Ambassador bridge nest. site.
Witnessed by Margaret at the Harlequin head office, the hatchling (named Kimami - Banded - Black Y over 71, Blue tape) jumped into action making the necessary calls to get help. Moments later, the “Harlequin rescue squad” were in the streets and on the search in her last know position. They eventually found her on the ground at the base of the building in the rear parking lot.
As Margaret reports:
Hi Mark… here is the details you’d requested…
Kimami actually fell off the ledge while practising her flapping. She was standing in one place flapping and went right over the edge. Looked like a loss of balance at the wrong time. Would have been 3 or 4 minutes after 1pm, as I emailed while phoning Chris. She only fell about a foot or 18 inches, then started to flap… a pretty strong flight staying at the 5th-6th floor level and swooping east to the end of the building, then north between addresses 220 & 240. She was headed toward the ravine when she went out of my sight.
While on route to Duncan Mills road, I was able to reach Cathy Kerr on her mobile phone who was down at the Don Mills nest site on the fledge watch. She scrambled into her car and rushed to Duncan Mills road.
Upon her arrival, (and several more calls to her relaying messages and other communications received from Harlequin), she finally hooked up with the gals from Harlequin who had already found the grounded hatchling. With towel in-hand, (and a text book retrieval and successful rescue), Kimami was safely scooped up without incident.
She was held until my arrival, examined for obvious injuries and other trauma. After a short hold over to further examine Kimami for any delayed unseen trauma or injuries, she was later released back to the upper roof top elevation of the nest building and back to her parents care. Both Quest and Kendal were on hand to vocalize their disapproval of my roof top presence, and Kimami was successfully released without further incident. Moments later, she was observed up on the upper ledge of the roof retaining wall screaming for her parents attention. Quest eventually gave in and finally joined her on the roof ledge, and in a very heart warming real family moment, the two touched beaks. Shortly after, Quest brought in food for Kimani.
Interestingly, Kimami’s two other sisters (thank goodness - still on the nest ledge) didn’t get any food this evening.
A huge thank you to Margaret, Christine, Sally, Donna, and all of the Harlequin team for jumping into action to quickly, and to Cathy Kerr for her quick actions and rescue!
A big thank you also goes out to the management group and security at 220 Duncan Mill Road for giving us access to their facilities that allowed us to get Kimami back to the roof and her parents!
What a GREAT TEAM!!!!
I know that I have forgotten the names of the other Harlequin gals who sprang into action and mobilized in the streets to locate Kimami, and must apologize. Its been a long day, (combined with my absence of memory), a little sleep depravation and old age 
Sadly, you can expect to see less colourful and less detailed reports from here on in, as 16 hour days, 7 days a week in the streets on the various fledge watches over the next few weeks will be taking their toll.
I will do my best to report (in short) the hi-lights of the days events on the various watches that I am involved in.
A big thank you to Sally for the photos supplied with this posting.
Stay tuned… the craziness has just begun……..
Posted on June 18, 2013 1:07 am
June 08, 2013 - Toronto - Don Mills
CPF Volunteer Reports:
A collaborative affair at 220 and 225 Duncan Mill Road
This a joint affair as Quest and Kendal are *tenants* of 220 Duncan Mill Road and Harlequin Enterprises hosts the banding at 225 Duncan Mill Road. The joint operation has worked well for the peregrine pair and their young over the past three years!
Grateful thanks to the employees of Harlequin who made a wonderful donation to the Canadian Peregrine Foundation.
Grateful thanks to Harlequin for their sizable donation.
Our thanks also go to the following people for their roles in today’s proceedings. I apologise in advance if I have missed some of the names.
Donna Hayes of Harlequin for making space available to host today’s activities at 225 Duncan Mill Road
Shanaz, building manager, of 220 Duncan Mill Road for continuing to host the peregrines and who *renews their lease* every year.
Mark Heaton of Ministry of Natural Resources who has been banding the peregrines for many years
Craig Brown also from the Ministry of Natural Resources
Mark and Marion Nash of the Canadian Peregrine Foundation, who orchestrate the bandings
David who assisted Marion with recording the vital statistics of the three young ones
The many people who showed up to share in, and support, the event
The *Rochester contingent* who take an active interest in *their bird* Quest
The many fledge watchers and volunteers from CPF in Toronto.
Last but certainly not least, the *villain* of the day, rock climber and trainer of some of the chaps who *serve and protect us*, John Miller. He is the man who often *lives life on the edge* in the city, extracting the young peregrines from their ledges on banding days. Without his invaluable help many bandings would not have been able to proceed. Not only does John *go over the top* when making an extraction but he also sits on the ledge, whilst the youngsters are being banded, and has to deal with an irate pair of peregrines intent on doing him damage for his part in the proceedings! Quest was not a happy mom while John was up there today! Our thanks to you John!
First to be banded was Luna, 28 days old. Her black band number is Y over 69 and she has yellow tape for easy spotting
Next was a very feisty Carina, 26 days old. Her black band number is Y over 70 and she has red tape for spotting.
Last was Kimani, also a feisty little female. Her black band number is Y over 71 and for easy identification she has blue tape.
All three females are hale and healthy!
Good luck to the fledge watchers this year. When being weighed these three presented their talons, grabbed gloves and hung on whilst shouting their disapproval.
Lyn
Posted on June 8, 2013 11:20 am
May 09, 2013 - Toronto - Don Mills
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.
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 1:26 pm
