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June 20, 2013 - Toronto - Don Mills
Mark Nash Reports:
June 20th -2013
Both Luna and Carina have fledged and holding their altitude!!
While I would love to give everyone a detailed account and blow by blow explanation of todays happenings, I must admit, even I couldn’t get it all in without writing a small book, but with 16 hours a day in the streets on the fledge watch, there is simply not enough hours in the day, and no time to sit around indoors on the computer.
I can only describe the days events today as nothing short of spectacular! The two young fledglings have clearly demonstrated their new found ability to spread their wings and take flight! Both Luna and Carina are both now actually flying, and more importantly, holding their altitude and looking like real flighted birds!!!
While they are far from looking like their parents with regards to having any real skill in their flights, they are learning very quickly indeed. Quest and Kendal have both been keeping a very close eye on the two girls as they have flown around from building to building while investigating their new found world, which is now being viewed by the fledglings in 3D as opposed to the 2D world that they were stuck in while a captive audience on the nest ledge.
Clearly, the young fledgling have become real “birds”!
While their landings are another story, (Oh my goodness, some real bumps and grinds), the two young fledglings are at little risk of coming to the ground and needing to be rescued at this point. this is in no way to suggest that they still can’t get into trouble and need our assistance as we have long since learned over the past 17 years while on the fledge watches, they are at least now capable of some sustained flight and able to escape some perceived dangers by simply flying away.
There were several tender moments observed today between Quest and the two girls as she fed each of them several times throughout the day - “beak to beak” on various elevations on several of the office building roof tops and ledges. Kendal is doing a great job in keeping the food coming in and is keeping his distance from his two daughters while staying out of Quests way as she does most all of the real baby sitting.
Remembering that his time will come once the fledglings have become more stable in their flight, Kendal will be one that will do the larger percentage of the detailed flight training with the kids, and Quest will take a back seat during much of this process.
A huge thank you to all that have joined us on the watch, as even I must admit, the 16 hour days are starting to take their toll on my ability to keep both of the fledglings in my view, especially now that they are both so mobile. If I only had wings myself!!
Sadly, the third fledgling named Kimani has still not surfaced and has not been found. We can only hope she will reappear.
Stay tuned……….. more to come.
Picture supplied by Cathy Kerr of Quest and Luna taken during one of the feedings today.
Great shot!!
LOVE when the cams catch them in flight!
