affordwatches

BMO FIELD PAIR

March 11, 2024 - Toronto - Rogers Centre

Cathy Kerr Reports:
BMO Field Visit: Last weekend Sally and I finally went down to check out the BMO pair that was first reported last year. We were very interested to see if they were banded or not. Unfortunately, not. Sally suggested calling them Bea and Moe… What do you think
Hear is Sally’s take on our day(thank you Sally… Sorry it’s a little late)
From Sally:
Today exceeded our expectations!
We set off for BMO Field to see if we could find any evidence of peregrines in the area, based on the sightings reported last year.
Because it’s so quiet this time of year, we had no trouble meandering around the stadium, stopping at a north west parking lot to scope out the structure. No luck.
We then drove as close as we could, aiming for the southeast lot. As we drove up we could see an adult perched on a long horizontal steel lighting standard (that juts out from the top of the east grandstand). Soon we saw a second adult flying around a large sign across the road. Alarm calls could be heard and sure enough, they were agitated that a raven was perched close by (on top of a post with multi-sided billboard advertising). We were treated to territorial dives and swoops, as they persistently drove the ravens away. At one point a cyclist was surprised at two large birds almost clipping him, (the raven aimed for the shelter of a low shrub with a peregrine at its tail).
Lucie arrived with her scope and camera and we all enjoyed defensive flights overhead as gulls and ravens were confronted and escorted away from the building by two angry peregrines.
We can also confirm they enjoy perching on nearby Hotel X, but didn’t seem as agitated about keeping other birds away from that structure. One was seen prepping food there(we think the male, while the female perched below, as we had seen mating  earlier, so courtship and bonding well underway). But, any birds coming near the BMO structure, were not tolerated. We will return to try and confirm if the nest is on the BMO structure, or perhaps the sign across the street. We laughed when we spotted a raven fly into the grandstand and emerge with what looked like a small parcel of food. A stolen peregrine food stash? We think so because a peregrine bullet shot by in pursuit soon after.
The wind was icy cold, so after a couple of hours we decided to go north to check on ICICI and Duncan Mill Rd nest sites.
We were thrilled to see both adults close together at each location. Stay tuned…

Ruby’s Second Rescue

July 02, 2023 - Toronto - Rogers Centre

Marion Nash Reports:

We received a message on Facebook from Ray that he had a falcon on his balcony with bands on number 31 over AB for 4 days and that it may be injured. It was Ruby from the Rogers Centre who we just banded and released a few days ago.

Mark called and spoke to Ray and he got the full story. She was not injured she like many other fledglings was confused by the glass balcony fronts and was stuck. Apparently one of her parents was feeding her there because he could see the leftovers and many poops. There was also one a parent above her on the roof.

Mark was confident this was someone he could teach how to do a balcony rescue so he went through the procedure with Ray who was keen to help. Because the balcony has a passthrough to his neighbours balcony it took another day for her to come back to his aside so he could rescue her and today was the day.

Here is his message back to us and photos of Ruby on his balcony. There is another photo of her on another building with one of her parents after the release see round photo.

Great Job Ray and Thanks So Much!

Ray’s report
Hi Mark, so I have some good news. Good news is that I did the towel maneuver and got 31AB to a platform I made on the railing. She was pretty scared and shaking but she eventually took flight and had no problems flying. She went straight to the rooftop of another building nearby. She is screaming out for her parents who are circling and have landed on a nearby building.


Day 12 on the watch at Don Mills

June 17, 2023 - Toronto - Rogers Centre

Marion Nash Reports:

June 17th
Mark and I took over for Cathy who had to make a trip to Ottawa. When we arrived in the morning Lightfoot was no longer on the 2nd floor ledge where Cathy had left her last night and we could see 2 chicks on the top of the roof assuming they were Paige and Gordon. Mark and I thought Lightfoot might be down and we would have to start scanning the ground.

We saw a photographer with a long lens watching the nest ledge and we stopped to talk to him. His name was Mike and he told us he saw Lightfoot take off from the 2nd floor and fly quite well over to 250 and land on the east 7th floor ledge.

We drove over to the east side of the parking lot to get a better advantage point of that side of the building and park in the only small sliver of shade available to start the morning watch.

However I could not get enough of a view of the 7th floor because the Good Life Fitness parking garage obscured half of that ledge. I walked past the garage over to the east side of 250 but cold not see her there at all. I know if they lay down flat close to the window the ledges are just deep enough to conceal a chick from the watchers on the ground so I needed to get higher. I hiked up the stairs of the garage to the 7th floor and top level of the open toped garage but no luck she was not there.
I then scanned all the roof tops of the buildings to the east I saw Mike walking the ground looking all over for her too. I decided to look at the nest building and see if she might have made it back there somewhere on one of the ledges and saw the adults and 2 chicks and what I thought might be a wing tip of a third chick. I had to wait a while to confirm it was her but she finally adjusted her wings and I could see her there having a snooze. I had both adults and 3 chicks confirmed all on the roof top phew all is ok. Now I can send an update text to Cathy who was quite worried about her Lightfoot and now I could go back down to where Mark parked who had set up our chairs to watch for the day.

Since Lightfoot had taken 2 good flights today and had gained altitude making it back to the roof of the nest building I felt she was no longer in any danger of being grounded but would like to see at least one more flight from her before we can make her a check mark.

Mike came over and talked to Mark and I and I gave him the update that all 3 chicks were on the roof. While Mark and Mike talked I saw Mom and Gordon fly together Gordon yelling at her and stooping her and begging for food. Mom put up with it for another minute before banking right and making a fast stoop and hooking around the building out of sight and Gordon landed back on th roof beside his sister Paige. Lightfoot finally got up from her snooze and all 3 spent the rest of the morning and afternoon on the roof. At about 3:00 PM Mom flew in heading for Lightfoot and she took flight to meet her mom in the air a very short but good flight together and mom again hooked right around the building and Lightfoot turned back to the building and landed on the roof a good landing for a newly fledged chick.

By early evening hunger and sunburned we called it quits for the day and will scale back the watch to spot checks daily for a few days.

I did not bring my camera today so the only photo I have of the 3 chicks is from my cell phone but you can see the 3 bumps on the roof top Lightfoot on the left laying down Paige just under the roof vent in the middle and Gordon far right.


Ruby’s release June 16th

June 17, 2023 - Toronto - Rogers Centre

Marion Nash Reports:

Last night Mark and Lucie released Ruby back to her parents at the Rogers Center.The security Operations staff were very helpful and everything ent well. The adult peregrines were not even aware they were there so the release was fairly uneventful. She was released from the carrier and she quietly sat where she was placed until they left the roof to be found safe and sound by her parents in the morning.

June 15th Rogers Center Fledgling.

June 16, 2023 - Toronto - Rogers Centre

Marion Nash Reports:

We got a call from Toronto Wildlife and just after the banding at Bloor Islington Place Tracy Simpson our raptor center manager informed us they have one of the Rogers Center Peregrine Fledglings that has been in rehab for 3 days and is ready to go. We contacted Lucie who was happy to go and pick up the fledgling from TWC and take it ti Mark Heaton to have it banded. We also contacted Glenn from Environment and Climate change Canada who went to Marks home as well and did a small blood sample for their study on environmental toxins. It turns out to be a female at 815 grams and about 45 days old. Her band number is 31 over AB and she has red tape on her silver band her name is Ruby. Mark Nash spent much of the morning trying to contact The Rogers Center but the numbers and contact people we had on file were no longer in service and no longer working at Rogers Center. It took a while but we did find new contacts who were happy to help and Ruby will be released by Mark Nash and Lucie tonight as soon as it gets dark. Another successful rescue and banding and hopefully release. more on her release tomorrow.


2 Chicks Confirmed

June 24, 2022 - Toronto - Rogers Centre

Harry Crawford Reports:

I arrived at Rogers before 10 this morning and shortly spotted a male juvie who flew over to the east ledge towards the north end.  A while later a larger bird joined him.  I thought it was his mother.  I moved closer and saw that it was his sister.  Paul and I were down Wednesday morning and saw the girl but also later thought we saw a smaller one but were not sure.  Hence today’s trip.  We saw mother and daughter take up the outside of the south elevator shaft facing Rogers.  Mom was a flew levels below the girl.  I’ll try to upload a few photos that Paul took.  Notice the American band on mom’s leg.  We didn’t get an opportunity to see if the other leg was banded.


Mom Mom & Girl on tower

Active Site

June 21, 2022 - Toronto - Rogers Centre

Harry Crawford Reports:

I  got to the Rogers Centre around 10 this morning.  In the past, all I’ve seen are the adults.  But to my surprise, I had a female juvie above the Rec Room sign.  I’ll try and back down there in a couple of days to see if there are more.

Grand Slam

November 22, 2020 - Toronto - Rogers Centre

Marion Nash Reports:

Report from USA on Grand Slam produced at the Rogers Center and banded in 2018 was seen October 31st at CHITTENDEN COUNTY, VERMONT, USA He was trapped at a banding station and released. Another Canadian Survivor!

!!! Rogers Centre peregrines…… maybe nesting!!

April 04, 2019 - Toronto - Rogers Centre

Mark Nash Reports:

April 3rd - 2019
Again some very encouraging news with regards to the Rogers Centre peregrines. Recent observation reports with regards to the Rogers centre peregrines have yielded some very encouraging news indeed!

It might appear by all counts that the Rogers Centre peregrines are in fact still nesting on the centre again this season,, and down on egg(s) involved in full time incubation….. This time further north on the facilities east side, in one of the other ledges.

They are obviously trying to put some distance between themselves and the ongoing maintenance and repair work that is happening on both the south west and south east corners of the facility.

These birds are obviously very determined!!
Stay tuned for more news as we get it………

Nest site Summary of 2018

September 05, 2018 - Toronto - Rogers Centre

Marion Nash Reports:

I know you have all missed keeping track of your local peregrine families but there is good news.

We now have someone to help with the web site and can post all the latest news.

Here is a quick summery of the 2018 nesting season, banding events and fledge watch. If you notice that I have not posted any information about the Bloor and Islington nest site it is because the nest failed this year. O’Connor the adult female has been replaced by a new female who although did lay eggs they did failed to hatch. We are not sure if O’Connor was killed by the new female in a territorial battle or if she has moved to an as of yet unknown location, hopefully the later is true.

Fledge Watch
although the fledge watchers were kept very busy by the fledglings and preformed many rescues we are happy to say that of the 41 chicks banded this season there were only 4 lost and 1 injured.

1 of the chicks lost produced at the Burlington Bridge nest was very sick with Trichominiasis a protozoan infection too advanced to save and who passed during extraction from nest.

The Second loss was Gigi from the Mississauga MEC nest site who unfortunately hit a window and died on impact.

The 3rd was Sun from the Toronto Downtown Sheraton Hotel nest who had gone missing for over a week and although our watchers made a tremendous effort to find him they began to expect by the end of the week that he passed. Unfortunately he was later found dehydrated and starving he was taken into rehab but passed same day.

I also got a report yesterday that one of the fledglings from 220 Duncan Mill Rd. Was found over the September long weekend in Hamilton with an injured wing. It turns out it is Loki identified by his band number X over 85. x-rays have been taken and shows a broken wrist so we are waiting on a report from the vet to see if this break is operable.

One other injury happened this year to the Adult male Lucifer in Kitchener at the CTV nest site and has been in rehab. Lucifer had a broken with that was operated on and he is now in flight pen to work the wing, His mate Mystery managed to keep her 4 chicks fed and protected but this is where the 4th loss comes in one of the chicks hopped off the nest box onto the tower where he spent a day or 2 and disappeared he was never found on the ground so we assume he was grabbed by and owl during the night. Hopefully all goes well for Lucifer and he will be released back to his mate soon.

Banding Events 2018

We are looking for funding to buy bands for next year as the Federal government is not longer supplying them to the Provinces and the Province of Ontario did not budget for them. If you are interested in supporting the banding program and help protect our Ontario produced falcon chicks please kindy make a donation to The Canadian Peregrine Foundation. You can send a cheque to the foundation at 25 Crouse Rd. Suite 20 Toronto, Ontario M1R 5P8 or go on line and click our donation button on the front page of the web site at www.peregrine-foundation.ca Canada Helps.

This year there were several unhatched eggs and most of the chicks hatched were male. The weights at banding age for most of the chicks was also low compared to pervious years.

May 22nd 2018
Mississauga MEC

Female-GIGI
band Z21

William Osler Hospital

Male-Indy
band X14

May 23rd 2018
Windsor Ambassador Bridge

Male-Hermes
band Y59

May 24th 2018
Hamilton Sheraton Hotel

Male-Lawrence
band
Y50

Male-Ainslie
band Y51

Male-Gage
band Y52

Male-Lisgar
band Y60

May 25th 2018
Oshawa Lakeridge Hospital

Female-Ripley
band Z22

Burlington Lift Bridge

Male-Cooper
band Y61

Male-Jackson
band X13

May 29th 2018
220 Duncan Mill Rd.

Male- Thor
band X83

Male-TT
band X84

Male- Loki
band X85

Male- Velcro
band X87

June 5th 2018
Canada Square

Male-Petrus
band X95

Male-Bart
band X97

Male-Ricklin
band R14

June 5th 2018
Rogers Centre

Female-Diamond
band Z23

Male-Grand Slam
Band Z24

Male-Homer
Band X94

June 5th 2018
Toronto Downtown Sheraton Hotel

Male- Geoff
Band X15

Male-Sheraton
Band X92

Male-Sun
Band X93

June 6th

OPG Pickering

Female- Millidarry
Band Z25

Female-Candu
Band Z26

Male- Chadwick
Band R15

Male-Cobalt
Band Z27

June 6th 2018
Scarborough Yellow Pages

Male-Alfa
Band R16

Female-Sierra
Band Z67

June 8th 2018
ADM Mills Port Colborne

Female- Mongolia
Band Z59

Male-Brandon
Band X03

Male- Macaroon
Band X07

female-Red Velvet
Band Z63

June 20th
Mount Sinai Hospital

Male-Chase ( banded when rescued during fledge)
Band X05

2 other chicks not banded ( believed to be male)

June 27th 2018
Don Mills Amazon

Male-Professor X
Band X04

Female- Chalaza
Band- Z38

June 28th 2018
Kitchener CATV Tower

Female-Eos
Band Z39

Female- Sadie
Band Z40

Male-Monarch
Band X12

Male-Mercury
Band W92

There were also 2 Quarry sites that produced chicks as did the Mississauga CRH Cement plant but due to bad logistics this year we were unable to get the age of the chicks in time to band. Hopefully we will get the information a bit quicker next year and if we are able to raise the funds needed to continue to band your chicks.

I will post some photos soon