!!! Baby H is flying great!!! Afternoon report.
July 12, 2011 - Toronto - Don Mills
Bruce Massey Reports:

Arrived @ 1615 Hrs., initially saw no Peregrines. Started Walking West & after 5 or so Minutes and observed Quest then Harley fly into the top level of the Harliquin Building. I went behind the Nest Building, and after watching Harley do a good Flight (2-3 min) which included some Kiting, she made about a “9″ landing on the top roof Level of the Rose Coloured Building just to the East of Harliquin.

Murray showed up a few minutes later and filled me in on the days happenings. By now, Harley had flown on to the rear of the Harleqin Building so I followed her and set up in the shade of the Parking Garage. Soon after that Kendal came from the East and teased Harley stupid, all but landing on top of her with the food. That said it was an impressive flight display, all done with subtle movement of wings and tail no wing flapping.

A bit later, with no parents in area (At least that I could see) Harley decided to explore on her own. There was I would guess a 10-15 kph gusting wind and she kited w/ a little bit of trouble, got some height and then headed out to the West finally came to land on the 3 storey building with the White top. As I was walking over to check I was pretty sure that she flew a quite a good speed back by the Nest Building. I continued over to the Building anyway, and didn’t find her. I finally found her on the North Side of the Harliquin Building @ roof height.

I was relieved by Mark & Marion and left around 1915 Hrs.
Thanx Bruce

Those photos are fabulous!  Wonderful to see Harlie flying too!

New article on Quest up today at CPF, Mark says her transmitter is coming off as she's been picking at the harness.  You can see in the photo's it is and he's asking us to be observant so they can retrieve it when it falls off!!

http://www.peregrine-foundation.ca/w/2011/07/sightings/pm-watch-report-baby-h-is-doing-incredible-and-quest%e2%80%99s-radio-harness-is-coming-off/

Oh wow, now she picks at it. Must be itchy after 3 years....like a cast. We had 3 very very good years of tracking her. Wonder if she and Kendal will stay the Winter or move around. I'm sure he's thinking right now where to go, (on his own), with all that nagging she's doing. Maybe he's having 2nd thoughts!! I would.

I went down to Rhea Mae & Tiago's neighbourhood again today to have lunch with Zoe, a fellow fledge watcher and now a new friend.  We were in the little courtyard across the street, below the Sheraton Hotel, a good place for watching for peregrines, but I/we saw zip!  I guess it was way too hot and humid for the RM/T family and they were all hiding in the shade...hopefully closer to the lake, where it is always cooler!

After Zoe returned to work, I walked over to 18 King Street East, another downtown Toronto peregrine site to the east.  It's not very far and I walked through that small but wonderful Cloud Gardens on my way.  It was so cool in there under the abundant trees, with the luscious foliage.

 [ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cloud_Gardens ]

I stayed for a while, before I trundled on.  At King E. I saw one beautifully white breasted adult on the south end of the nest site ledge and one juvie, a little smaller and tawny in colour, at the opposite end.  Both very still, in the shade, trying to keep cool, I presume.  While wandering around, looking for the other juvie and adult, I heard a demanding kakking, but couldn't locate the source, with the moderately tall buildings around...  Bet someone wanted some food!  But, although I couldn't see the peregrine responsible, it was great to hear!!

Anne in Toronto

I think this was asked but I'm asking again. What is the distance from Sheraton and King St? I can't believe 2 nests that close and no one enters each others air space? Look at B and U, 5 miles apart!!

http://timesfreepress.com/news/2011/jul/12/freedom-soar/ story and cute video

Oh she is so beautiful..well, all 3 are!! Thank you Ann!!

CBC News

A young peregrine falcon found injured last week by Windsor, Ont., birders has died.

The raptor, known as Lady Gaga, had to be destroyed after specialists determined her injuries were extensive and inoperable.

At first, it seemed the recently hatched chick, who lived with her family on a bridge between Windsor and Detroit, Mich., would fly again after a vet put two pins in her broken leg and pronounced her on the mend.

But before Lady Gaga could be returned to the family's nesting place atop the Ambassador Bridge, she was sent to the Toronto area for a more detailed examination.

There, specialists discovered wing fractures that had not been noticed by the Windsor volunteers who are working to ensure the survival of peregrine falcons.

"What we didn't realize was that a peregrine falcon doesn't show pain or make a lot of noise or racket or anything when it's in pain," Dennis Patrick, the site co-ordinator for the foundation, said Monday,

Further surgery was ruled out, and the raptor was put down, he said.

Lady Gaga's brother Spitfire and parents Voltaire and Freddie continue to thrive at the busiest border crossing in North America. The parents were first spotted on the bridge in 2008.

Peregrine falcons have been making a slow recovery since the late 1970s after nearly being wiped out by pesticides.

  Fly Free 

BOO!!!

'Tis good, isn't it? I want his job!

I'll be your assistant and carry your camera!! 

Excellent story from start to finish!! Thank you Bobbie!

Oh definitely Ei, I was being a nut!!

It's the same old story, same old song and dance, my friends! 

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/discoblog/2011/07/11/avian-airways-snails-get-around-in-birds-bellies/ story

Researchers in Japan have now learned that a certain land snail, Tornatellides boeningi, can quickly travel great distances by hitching a ride in the guts of birds.

That's amazing, I never heard of one!! Thanks Bobbie.

Mirta said, "don't worry about it, it is a beautiful and safe spider. It is a female Argiope".  Yay!  I just need confirmation after my brown recluse encounter last year :-)

I like the female part but Beautiful!!! Oh Mirta!! I'd be running from that girl! I used to pull weeds with my bare hands....NO more since I picked many up and ran running screaming. They hide in them weeds!! 

MAK and Ei - for some strange reason, I am off this Friday, and I would LOVE to meet you at Wild Wings.  I have never been there  -  even though I don't think I live all that far away! 

Wild Wings might be a possibility but I can drive myself!

Cool!  Once we firm up a time we'll figure it out!

Wait for me, guys - wait for me!!!!

I loved Wild Wings, I had the Junco's eating out of my hand. I was thrilled.