December 04, 2009 - Toronto - King Street
CPF Postmaster Reports:
Last week, Ranka noted that the peregrines in the King St location are still active, and visible on our King Street webcam feed. With this information, Mark Nash informed us that this pair are still territorial and will be staying all winter this year, again.
Mark explains…
Unlike the “non-urban” peregrine population in other parts of northern Ontario, the southern Ontario urban pairs have historically stayed on territory and on site throughout the winter. This has been consistent with many of our urban pairs since 1995, both at the King Street nest site as well as the 12 other urban nest sites that we are monitoring. These urban guys are a hardy bunch indeed!
While it is unfortunate that we are having camera problems with the MEC and Etobicoke nest sites, my recent visits of the two buildings over the last week has confirmed that the resident adults are also again staying for the winter. Recent reports of the Burlington Lift Bridge pair have confirmed that they are also holding firm on territory and are being seen in the nest box on a daily basis.
All in all although, this is very good news for our southern Ontario peregrine population, as they still have an abundance of food and protection. The migration south is usually a “hi-risk” dispersal for many of the non-urban population and constitutes high mortality, especially for the first and second year aged juveniles. By having adults stay the winter, they too avoid the dangers of this long dangerous roundtrip flight down south. The peregrine wintering grounds in Central and South America are still very dangerous, many birds continue to be poisoned and shot. This makes ups a large part of their mortality.
Sadly, when our peregrines are out of the country, especially in the far south, there is no protection for them as many of these countries have no laws to protect many of our species at risk, including the peregrine falcon.
Thanks for the update Ranka!
Posted on December 4, 2009 2:37 pm
November 25, 2009 - Toronto - King Street
Frank Butson Reports:
Glenn Steplock Reports: Was thinking of you guys when I finally saw my friend outside the window this morning. It has been a very long time since I last saw the Peregrines. This one was large (female) and was perched on the north side of King Street on an RBC sign, it took off towards 25 King St with prey in the Talons. All around 9:30am.
Posted on November 26, 2009 2:01 am
June 30, 2009 - Toronto - King Street
Linda Woods Reports:
At various times through out the day, all four juveniles were seen in the direct area of the nest building. As they develop advanced flights skills, humorous landings do occur, as seen by volunteers this morning. A slight misjudgement had one juvenile land on top of another pushing it off it’s perch and into the air. They seem to prefer the spire this year, I am waiting to see the entire family on the church in the coming days.
Posted on June 30, 2009 8:49 pm
June 29, 2009 - Toronto - King Street
Linda Woods Reports:
Although Mollie has two missing tail feathers, she is doing well at pestering her brothers. Lots of “tag” today and this evening. They seem to get really active this evening, perhaps the heavy rain and thunderstorms kept them from burning off energy.
They do enjoy the spire of St. James Cathedral and use it as a “home” to launch themselves to chase the each other. Late this evening, I could see them flying back and forth and eventually, two set down on the north side of the # 7 condos on King St. One adult on Dundee Place over looking the two on the condos.
Posted on June 29, 2009 9:12 pm
June 28, 2009 - Toronto - King Street
Linda Woods Reports:
Spec’s second flight was seen by Harry and Bruce today around 09:30. He took off north and ended up on the roof of the office building at Court and Toronto Sts. He sat there the entire day and decided to take a third flight, well after Zoe left for the day. Zoe and Bruce waited through the rain but Speck was content to stay put. His siblings were showing amazing flights skills. Two were seen chasing and pushing each other in mid air using thier talons, amazing to see.
Spec took off on his third flight and headed towards the nest building, he aborted that flight and circled back bouncing off one building, then headed north on Toronto St. batted on the south facing windows and headed east over the Rosewater Supper Club. He came to rest on the building beside the Courthouse. The other juvies are now seen on the spire of the church and flying over King St. Spec took again, after a lie down, and headed south over King St and landed on the Gooderham condos at Colborne St and Church (pizza pizza area ) The last flight took him off the roof of that building and gain height. He ended up on a window ledge of the condos at 92 King St. He was higher now, but then another juvie came flying in off the spire and knocked him off. The last we saw of him, he was headed east in the King and Church area. Paul and I searched the church, church yard and surrounding building and ledges all the way over to Jarvis St. No luck.
The only sightings of a juvie was at 9p.m., one was on the south-east corner of # 33 Victoria St. and we don’t know if that was him. We were loosing the light quickly as heavy rain was moving in. Paul and I called it for the night.
Good flying by the other Juvies.
Posted on June 28, 2009 10:10 pm
June 27, 2009 - Toronto - King Street
Linda Woods Reports:
Today at 09:30 Spec took his first flight! He flew over to the King Edward Hotel, lower level and that is where he was when we closed the sight at 9:30p.m.
His siblings including Alpin are flying well, amazingly well. Sometimes we have to take a second look to confirm it is a juvenile and not an adult.
Mollie, the oldest female sibling is missing two tail feathers. How ? we don’t know, but she seems to compensate for the difference. And she is identifiable when in the air. It’s great that we can still see them in the area. I hope they stick around to encourage Speck as he tries to catch up with his siblings.
Posted on June 27, 2009 10:33 pm
June 26, 2009 - Toronto - King Street
Linda Woods Reports:
This morning, as predicted, Alpin the juvenile who was originally discovered sitting on a window sill on Wellington St. did eventually come to ground. Bruce was on hand to assist the young bird. It was gently placed into a pet carrier and transported to a cool quiet place, away from curious on lookers, noise and disruption. This gives the bird time for stress levels to drop and return to normal. Before it’s release back to the nest building, Mark Nash did an examination and found the bird to be in “peregrine” spirits with no signs of apparent injury or distress.
It was released in a safe area on the upper elevations of the nest building, where protection from the elements is available. It also allows to adults to see the bird at first light.
Speck is still un-fledged had a full spoon feeding around 7p.m. It seems that as soon as the church bells chime for the arrival of the 7th hour, food comes to the nest ledge. Just like clockwork, every evening give or take a few minutes. Speck remains on the nest. He did show a lot of enthusiasm and had us convinced that he might have flown this evening, but nope. He’s still there.
We also noticed that one of the juveniles is missing at least one or two tail feathers. We think that this bird might be Mollie. She is flying well at this time. The other two are doing well. Some wonderful flying skills are being displayed. One flew over # 1 Toronto St towards Church. As it approached halfway, it stopped in the air and flapped one wing and was turning on the spot. Very funny and very interesting technique to turn. But it worked and the juvenile continued back to the nest building area. They are also picking up speed and following the adults. To fast for us to track on foot. We just wait until the circle back to us.
All are doing well from the view point of the sidewalks. Hope this continues.
Any reports of peregrines in need of assistance, please contact the Canadian Peregrine Foundation, who are on site to assist.
Posted on June 27, 2009 12:15 am
June 25, 2009 - Toronto - King Street
Linda Woods Reports:
Well, it seems like a repeat, Speck remains at home, unfledged. He was spoon fed this morning around 9:30 probably because the heavy thunderstorm soon to move into the area. Flapping and a little running of the ledge were seen again today. Two others are flying well and keeping to the immediate area and taking to the air with the adults.
One juvenile that had fledged on Saturday was reported to CPF through email to be sitting on a window ledge on Wellington St. East. Many thanks to Doris from Royal & Sun Alliance for contacting us with this information. It is greatly appreciated. Sometimes these birds get into tight little places that can go unseen by ground volunteers.
Alpin was identified by Doris was sitting on her window ledge apparently from the last evening. This afternoon after the thunderstorm, and a little damp, Alpin took flight and headed east along Wellington Street and came to rest on a three story building at the corner of Wellington and Leader Lane. He sat there for a while mingling with some of the local pigeons, a single sparrow, and a tenasous gull. Uncomfortable with the reception he moved north along this roof line and back and finanlly settled on the north side vent. I wasn’t comfortable with the bird being on these old roofs because of the local raccoons. Alpin took a little leap and headed to the window sills on the other side of the alley, a little lower but in a safer place for the night.
This is the time now, that the juveniles will get themselves into trouble. Advancing flying skills and the instinct to chase prey have them ending up in all sorts of strange places and low lying window ledges of the downtown core. Flying lessons with the adults, airshows in the evening will take the juveniles a little further away from the nest during the day, but they tend to return to the nesting area for the night.
As for Speck, maybe he missed that class on Estimated Time of Departure. Generally, males will take first flight at 36 - 40 days of age. Speck will be 42 days of age on Friday. ( an estimate )
Posted on June 25, 2009 10:36 pm
June 24, 2009 - Toronto - King Street
Linda Woods Reports:
Today, Spec is estimated to be approximately 40 days of age. Hatched between, May 12 - May 15 he still has not fledged. Today’s heat would keep anyone in the cool comfort of home. He spent a good portion of the day in the shade of the pillar. This afternoon, all four juveniles were seen on the nest ledge. OH GREAT, which one is which. Spec has a little white remaining on his backside. Little flapping today, more fanning of the wings to cool off.
Early this evening, not much activity from any of the falcons. Just a laze about kind of day with the heat. Today’s High 32 degrees C not including the humidity.
Fledge Watch will resume tomorrow, hopefully Speck will take flight at a reasonable time.
Posted on June 24, 2009 7:51 pm
June 23, 2009 - Toronto - King Street
Linda Woods Reports:
This evening from 5:30p.m. - 8:00p.m. all 6 peregrines were in view.
5:30, four peregrines on the east facing ledges of the nest building and two were on the north west corner of the KEH.
8:p.m.
Lots of flapping and head bobbing from Speck who is still “in the nest” I think he may go sooner than Friday. perhaps tomorrow.
He has a little white on the underside of his back, but his brother took flight with the same amount.
At 8:00p.m.
Adult on the roof of 18 King St and one on the spire. Speck was seen moving about the nest area and flapping on occasion. He is looking to see where the others are.
Three juveniles are now seen, on # 1 Toronto Street and are flying from one building to the next.
Adults are out of my line of sight.
Posted on June 23, 2009 8:25 pm
