January 30, 2012 - Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton
Frank Butson Reports:
Latest report for the Canada Square peregrines, Jan 30th 2012.
Lyn Reports:
I was out and about and went south across Eglinton Ave and checked for the peregrines - not a feather to be seen.
I then went on a couple of errands north of Eglinton Ave and when I was coming back down Yonge street I saw one of the peregrines all fluffed up and sitting on the railing, north east corner, one floor below the nest level on Canada Square. I looked for and found the mate sitting on the highest *window upright*, on the east face of the Heart and Stroke (H & S) building. I had some business in a bank and endured the long line up. When I came out the bird from Canada Square had gone but the one on H & S was still there. I carefully scanned the top of the H & S building and saw the *missing* peregrine tucking into a late lunch. The mate just sat on the perch it was on and was all fluffed up not even bothering the bird who was eating.
Unfortuntely, I of course was out without binoculars. Because it was such a grey day I was unable to get colour on either of the peregrines. Nor was I able to get a size difference as both of them were fluffed against the wind and cool air.
Cheers
Lyn
Posted on January 30, 2012 11:49 pm
January 24, 2012 - Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton
Frank Butson Reports:
Lyn Reports:Canada Square Peregrines, Tuesday, January 24 2012.
I was heading south on Yonge street towards the Yonge-Eglinton intersection yesterday, when I saw a peregrine fly east from the intersection over the buildings on the north side of Eglinton Ave east. I hurried down to the intersection but missed it over the building. I stood on the corner staring along Eglinton east and saw three small birds fly across Eglinton, north to south and they were hurrying! Continued watching after they had gone and saw the peregrine giving chase.
 I hung out at the corner a few minutes longer to be rewarded with the sight of a peregrine, carrying lunch, struggling against the wind, trying to land on the south east corner of Rio-Can where it had its meal. A second peregrine was in the air diving on the feeding bird and circling both the Rio-Can and Heart and Stroke buildings as well as flying over the Canada Square building. A brief sighting but the two peregrines are still definitely in the area.
Cheers
Lyn
Posted on January 25, 2012 4:04 pm
November 20, 2011 - Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton
CPF Postmaster Reports:
A big thank you to Julie who has been watching the Yonge & Eglinton peregrines over the past few weeks,, (or should I say, the Canada Square peregrines have been wathing her)? You decide.
Julie writes: I live in the condos at 2191 Yonge at the top, and one of the falcon roosts on a chimney exhaust right outside my suite. Thought you might like some recent pictures.
The first two photos were taken November 20th, and the 2nd two were taken December 11th. South east corner of the building.
Julie
Posted on December 14, 2011 3:36 pm
December 01, 2011 - Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton
Tracy Simpson Reports:
Today we have both an update and some news regarding the resident pair at the Canada Square Building. First off, a check in with the pair as reported by Lyn:
Two peregrines were spotted on top window uprights of the Rio-Can building, south face. All fluffed up against the wind they were in the full sun and looked cold. No activity from them but I did not stay out in the cold for very long!
Lyn
Thank you Lyn for keeping an eye on Stormin and his female!!
In the news department, the unbanded female that has been resident here for the last 3 years has been given a name by Neil Armstrong and his amazing staff at Northam Realty Advisors Ltd. Their team has decided to call her Haven, a most incredible name for this bird!
Thanks go out to the buidling management for their efforts to name their adult female and Lyn for her continued vigilance of this pair.
Posted on December 2, 2011 1:00 pm
November 23, 2011 - Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton
Frank Butson Reports:
Reporting for Lyn
A short report today, 20111123
 I crossed over Eglinton from the bank and saw the female peregrine making a bee-line for something low along Eglinton and then she swerved behind the Bell Canada building. I waited for a few minutes and saw her return to her perch on the south face of the Rio-Can building. She sat for a minute or two and again swept off the perch, over the corner of the Canada Square building, over Yonge Street and then she reappeared from behind the CIBC building on the corner. Again she returned to her perch and at this point I went inside - I was freezing!
Posted on November 24, 2011 7:13 am
November 11, 2011 - Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton
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.eggsÂ
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
November 09, 2011 - Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton
Frank Butson Reports:
Lyn sent me this report today.
Wednesday November 9th 2011
I was out today just before the drizzle started and noted a peregrine atop the wall north of the nest ledge. I also saw a dot on the TVO antenna.
I dashed home for my binoculars and returned to check on the Peregrines. Fortunately they were still in their same places. I had the female on the Canada Square building, on the wall north of the nest, and assume that the dot on the TVO antenna was the male. The female had just finished eating. Whilst I was watching them it began to drizzle and both birds hunkered down right out in the open!
I have seen one or other of the Peregrines over the past few months. So it was nice to see the two of them albeit some distance apart.
Cheers
Lyn
Posted on November 9, 2011 9:17 pm
August 24, 2011 - Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton
CPF Postmaster Reports:
Today Wednesday August 24
I heard Chester squawking so I went out and sat in my usual spot after I had checked all likely perches in the neighbourhood. No-one was around. One of the peregrine followers came up to me and said he had just seen the youngster sitting on the front of the CIBC building on the Yonge street entrance. When I finally got there he had moved to the balcony level on the northwest side of the Canada Square building. I watched him for a bit and then he flew up Yonge street and was gone. I walked up Yonge for a bit but did not see him. On my way back to Y&E I saw a large peregrine fly onto the west face of the Heart and Stroke building. I wasn’t able to get colour then. When I was back at the Y&E corner I found a second peregrine six floors below the top bird. I managed to get colour on both birds at that point. I saw both the female and adult male. They must have been watching and as soon as Chester disappeared they returned to some of their favourite perches. It was very windy out and I guess the west face of the building afforded them the best protection.
They are still around!
Posted on September 24, 2011 12:20 pm
August 17, 2011 - Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton
CPF Postmaster Reports:
Peregrine Report
Wednesday August 17,
I spent an hour outside 53 Division watching Chester and his mom. I am convinced the *squawker* is Chester, the youngest! Mom was on the south face of the Rio-Can building and Chester was on the railing around the antenna on the TVO building. Mom flew over Chester and tried to get him to fly with her but he said no. He flew south and at the time he flew, I saw a bird heading towards him just dive to earth and then Chester reappeared on the railing. I am not sure if he was *hunting* that bird or not – the bird thought so, though!
Mom flew over Chester a number of times. He did move to please her and landed on top of the tall Condo building. They eventually did some flying together but Chester would find a perch and sit and squawk. He really is reluctant to become independent. Then to my absolute horror I saw mom ON a balcony and then to double the horror Chester landed on the balcony railing and hopped down to the balcony as well! This was on the tall condo building. I was not a happy camper. After three long minutes of messing around on the balcony, first one then the other flew!
At the end of the observation period when they re-appeared after a disappearance mom was carrying a package. Chester was squawking madly and followed her in to the balcony level on the south face of Canada Square. He landed a bit away from her. Mom flew, again with the package, to the building under the TVO antenna. She looked back at Chester but did not call him. Mom left the package and flew off and whilst I was writing Chester also flew. I left at that point. I don’t know if Chester found the package or not.
Posted on September 24, 2011 12:18 pm
September 13, 2011 - Toronto - Canada Square Building - Yonge and Eglinton
CPF Postmaster Reports:
Canada Square update Sept. 13th - 2011
This morning, very early, I heard young Chester squawking insistently and persistently. I have not heard that for a while now. I did not go out because these days by the time I am outside the peregrine has usually gone.
However, I was out for a stroll this afternoon and from way up Yonge street I could see *at least one* peregrine flying around the Canada Square building. By the time I reached the intersection of Yonge and Eglinton I determined there were three peregrines flying around the building. They gave me a wonderful display for about ten minutes, talon touching, chasing, swooping and even a few dives before disappearing north. I wish I knew where they went as there are not many tall buildings in the direction they took.
I definitely saw the resident adult female this afternoon as one bird was much larger than the other two. I believe one of the peregrines was Chester and the third possibly the adult male. I did not have my binoculars so was unable to get any colour on any of them.
This evening just as I began to write this I, again, heard Chester calling. My word but he is loud!! I did go out but by the time I was outside the peregrine had gone or was holed up somewhere roosting for the night.
So I believe both adults are still around and one of the youngsters who I believe to be Chester, the youngest.
Lyn
Posted on September 22, 2011 11:47 am
