Congrats on your 20,000 post, Donna!

Hamilton Falconwatch News Updates

BROCK GIVES US A SCARE - TWICE!!

Tuesday, July 23, 2013 - Falconwatch Coordinator Rachael Belford reports: On arriving at 09:00 I was informed by our faithful volunteers that none of the birds had yet been spotted, so I settled in for what looked like a quiet day while the girls were off exploring. Although both chicks were spotted on the Sheraton roof around 09:20, and Laura and an adult performed an aerial food transfer around 10:40, I still was not expecting much. This changed suddenly at 11:10 with a call from the people at RBC saying that a falcon had crashed into a window on the 15th floor of Stelco and was on the ledge! I rushed down in a panic to find a flustered looking Brock. At first her eyes were closed and she was holding her left wing in an awkward position. Two members of the Rescue Team arrived quickly and together we watched, knowing that a physical rescue from her then current position was impossible. After a further bit of rest Brock stood up and began to stretch, first the right wing and then the left. After the stretch both wings were in their proper positions and only a few feathers were out of place – she was OK! The picture shows Brock on the ledge. A huge thank you goes out to everyone at Yale and RBC who alerted us to this incident and were incredibly helpful throughout!


At 13:40, Brock left the 15th floor of Stelco and returned to the Sheraton roof. Laura joined her sister for the majority of the afternoon, and both chicks were seen circling and chasing each other over the city. After a nap Brock joined Laura on the window washing beam and let us get this picture. At 19:05, Laura landed on Standard Life with food, probably from an aerial transfer. After this she and Brock were generally quiet but at 21:00, just as we were packing up for the day, they took to the air together with a lot of noise. The pair seemed to be fighting as they disappeared east down King Street. A few minutes later a man came rushing up to tell us that a bird was on the ground. We hurried over and, sure enough, there was Brock - on the floor of a parking garage where they were power washing floors and walls!! We got the water stopped and after a couple of tries got Brock under control and into a rescue box. Although Brock was quite feisty, because this was the second incident of the day it was decided to take her for another medical assessment. We will let you know how she is doing as soon as we hear, likely by mid-afternoon.

Strange they would be fighting after getting along so well in the nest despite their age difference.

July 1st Apollo 3 is Rescued at Second Time
July 01, 2013 - Etobicoke - William Osler

Tracy Simpson Reports:

I thank you for your patience as I am continuing to catch up on all of the past stories at the William Osler Hospital watch. On the holiday Monday July 1st, I arrived at the hospital and found Apollo 3 in the same spot that Bruce had left him the night before at close of watch. He was on the low roof of the Medical Center and spent the bulk of the morning running the edge, jumping back out of sight and then coming to the edge again. He wanted to fly but was holding back. His three siblings, Maverick, Aura and Blizzard, each took turns flying down to visit and encourage him which incurred a reprimand by Chessie. She didn’t want her kids on that low rooftop but was allowing it so long as Apollo 3 had yet to fly. By the afternoon he finally took a flight that took him around low over the emergency entrance and over the mechanical area on the south side. I did not see where he landed but I could tell that it was low and down at the southwest corner. I circled the hospital several times to no avail and waited for the parents to give me some kind of a clue.  Both Hurricane and Chessie were paying great attention to the southwest corner and so I returned to check it out.  There was a chance that the male could have ended up on the mechanical roof on the south side and so I contacted security for assistance.  They were amazing in helping me by checking out areas on their rounds that were blind spots to me on the ground.  We were able to locate Apollo 3 and seeing him closely now it was clear that the left wing was drooping seriously.  I rescued him from the southwest corner of the hospital and contacted Mark Nash regarding setting up a vet visit for him.  Mark Heaton of the OMNR was notified and we were off to the raptor centre for the night.  The other three siblings were flying very well.  As I was leaving, Hurricane was sitting above Apollo 3’s last known location with Blizzard and Maverick nearby.  Aura was in the tower with Chessie watching from afar.  Many thanks to the folks in security that helped make this rescue possible.  Were it not for their assistance I might not have found him so readily.  Also, a big thank you to Winston who joined me for the evening watch and was instrumental in helping to find and rescue Apollo 3.  We will keep you updated as to his condition and the results of his vet visit.

Posted on July 23, 2013 9:19 am
Observation for Etobicoke - William Osler


This was just posted-Chessie's from CT in Buffalo.  No update yet on how Apollo3 is-didn't sound good though. 

Bobbin, that little sneak, went off with Mr Bobbin and had kids!!   Here she is!!

Bobbin! Yes we were sure she would breed with the new tiercel this year & here's the proof. We heard a few days ago from our friends at the BTO & Worcester Wildlife Trust that a female with the ring T2 had been spotted with two chicks. This was backed up yesterday with excellent photos by wildlife photographer Pete Walkden. We won't disclose the site but less than 35 miles away. Great to see her doing well, interesting to see of she returns to Worcester later in the year?

I'm so happy for her, guess the male didn't like the Spire! Go Bobbin!!!! A natural nest!! 

What great news! Everyone wondered if she wasn't nesting somewhere and what a beautiful natural setting it looks like! Thanks!

Toronto Don Mills
July 23, 2013 - Toronto - Don Mills

Ann Brokelman Reports:

Stopped in on Don Mills on the way back from a meeting.  Only had a short visit.  First saw Carina on the ledge of 240 SW corner eating something large.  Quest flew by me as I watched from Harlequin.  I could hear a second juvenile calling from the back of 240.  Just as I was going to look for the juvenile Quest came in with more food and landed on the ledge with Carina.  Carina crop was huge but she wanted the food mom brought in.  She chased her and grabbed the food. Quest moved ahead, Carina over and over followed her on the ledge. Finally she knocked Quest off the ledge and the food went flying in the air.  Quest lost her dinner.  Carina continued to eat the left overs on the ledge.  At the time I left Carina and Luna were on 240 and Quest was on 220.


http://www.peregrine-foundation.ca/w/2013/07/sightings/toronto-don-mills-2/

Glen Stewart post via email I received today:

Helping Bridge Falcons Get a Start in life
by stewartfalcon
 

http://news.yahoo.com/feds-falcons-recovered-no-more-chick-rescues-133858209.html#!

This story ran yesterday in papers across the country and Canada. After a couple of years of trying to get good cooperation from state and federal wildlife authorities in Sacramento I was left with the one recourse of going to the press.

The feds were a little demeaning in their characterization of fuzzy chicks that are cute but that nest failure is a natural part of life. We know for a fact that some structures we put up are particularly bad for fledging falcons. They don't slip and fall--they fly well and land poorly EVERY time they fledge. The problem on the underside of a bridge is that they do not get a second chance. We know that to be the case. I am willing to spend precious program money on the capture, rearing, and release, post-release monitoring (for eight weeks with help from volunteers and collaborators) to give these young a chance at a successful start in life.

The US Fish and Wildlife Service has said no to a permit for that humanitarian act. The interesting thing is that the peregrine falcon is a state of California fully protected bird--only 13 birds are listed. Why is the federal government dictating management strategy to the State? If the State agrees with this management strategy why are developers and construction workers made to accommodate this fully protected species and climbers made to avoid routes with nesting peregrines while bridge fledglings are squandered?

The State and Feds can't have it both ways. They have an inconsistent management strategy that at times favors peregrines to the great inconvenience of many, and at times completely ignores the well-being of peregrines causing their death.

Our elected officials are very good at asking pointed questions of agency officials. I suggest you ask yours to inquire about the topsy turvy management approach to peregrine falcons--a fully protected species just taken off the California list of endangered species in 2009. Why, we should ask, do they prefer to see them fledge into the sea when I would happily move them to a safe release site.

 

Every one of these pictures has a pefa in it...

         

I see them all! 

If it hadn't been for Joyce's tweets I never would have know to look at all!

I wouldn't either! Tough to spot those dots!

Every one of these pictures has a pefa in it...

         

I see them all! 

Posted on Harlequin:


Weathering the Storm
Last Friday, our peregrines had a really rough night. Toronto had a bad rainstorm, and Kendal, our adult male, was thrown into a window. He was rescued and is currently receiving care at the Toronto Wildlife Centre (TWC). He has head trauma and multiple fractures. It is unclear at this stage what the outcome will be, but the TWC is giving him outstanding care and we continue to hope for the best.

After the storm, Quest was spotted but, for a few days, Carina and Luna were missing. We are happy to report that both of the young peregrines were spotted late yesterday and again this morning—fighting over breakfast, no less!

Please stay tuned for more updates on Kendal's condition. We would also like to take this opportunity to extend our immense gratitude to the TWC as they care for him. The TWC is a registered charity supported primarily by donations and has grown into Canada's busiest wildlife centre. For more information on the TWC, or to donate, please visit, www.torontowildlifecentre.com.

Harlequin encourages anyone who wishes to learn more about peregrines, pledge support or discover what they can do to help this threatened species to visit the Canadian Peregrine Foundation at www.peregrine-foundation.ca

http://sakerlife2.mme.hu/en/content/webcam-1

They have a hatch! HUH? Must be different then Peregrine Falcons.

http://youtu.be/ZtlHjy-HuMM

2nd clutch??

These are Hobbies nesting there now.  The lone Saker Falcon chick fledged a while ago.

They share  nest?? This is confusing? 

From Ferenz on BCAW-The Saker chick fledged June 12th.  The Eurasian Hobby Falcons took over the box after they left -they're May/June breeders.  They have their first hatch!

 

http://sakerlife2.mme.hu/en/content/webcam-1

They have a hatch! HUH? Must be different then Peregrine Falcons.

http://youtu.be/ZtlHjy-HuMM

2nd clutch??

These are Hobbies nesting there now.  The lone Saker Falcon chick fledged a while ago.

Cass' mother, Hathor and Unity's mother, Belle are full sisters-both hatched in 2003 at the Cathedral of Learning. Cass was Dorothy's granddaughter and Beauty's niece.   

From FB:

Canadian Peregrine Foundation

We are saddened to report that there has been another casualty of the storm on Friday. Yesterday I was at MEC and able to confirm that the remaining juvenile, Ashley, was alive and well on the Morguard building but was frustrated in that I could not find the resident adults. It would appear that on Saturday, Cass banded Black *S over Green *D was found deceased at the MEC complex. She was picked up and taken to the Mississauga Animal Services who then called our office to inform us of the retrieval. A very sad day for MEC and I will be keeping an eye open for the presence of Sante in the territory.

 Fly free, Cass.

http://www.peregrine-foundation.ca/w/2013/07/sightings/duck-under-glass-well-sort-of-finger-licking-good-ok-talon-lick-in-good

!!! Duck under glass - (well sort of)! Finger licking good - (OK, talon lick-in good)!
July 19, 2013 - Scarborough - Yellow Pages
CPF Postmaster Reports:

July 19th - 2013
What’s better than fresh Duck for breakfast or (maybe last night’s dinner) for young fledglings Loki & Neira.
Found at the foot of Wynn Fitness Building 10 Milner Business Court closest to the building referred to as the “Kitchen�.

Alex Mitchell

I'll let you all go to the link to see the picture...if you dare!

Oh, I just saw his in CPF! Yuck! (Love your new avatar, Ei! Rosetta?)