Rare white falcon spotted at Scarborough shopping mall

[carly]

Photo and article in today's Toronto Star...!

http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/1286192--rare-white-falcon-spotted-at-scarborough-shopping-mall

[Donna]

Photo and article in today's Toronto Star...!

http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/article/1286192--rare-white-falcon-spotted-at-scarborough-shopping-mall

I wonder if this is the same one Ann, Patty, BF and others are seeing?

Ann's pics

[carly]

Sure looks like it.  What a gorgeous bird!

[Kris G.]

Beautiful Falcon!

[carly]

Frank has posted an update on this Gyrfalcon, including a tussle with a peregrine falcon!  Apparently the owner has been out there and wants his bird back!

November 12, 2012 - International, National and Local News
Frank Butson Reports:

I was up to check this bird out a few times in the past several days. It is thriving, hunting pigeons at the mall/plazza. It catches 2-3 each day, so is eating very well. It is in very good health(to see it at least). It has some local competition, with a Coopers Hawk that hunts the same pigeons, a local Redtailed Hawk that hunts  the hydro field just north of the plaza and apparently a Peregrine Falcon who it had a tussle with on Sunday afternoon.

Leslie provided this account of the interactions of the Peregrine and the Gyrfalcon.

�

When we came back at 4:15 pm, the bird was perched on a white pole on the Bell building. It took off and all of a sudden an adult Peregrine Falcon started to attack it. The Peregrine would fly above the Gyrfalcon, then fold its wings and dive at the other bird. We could hear the Peregrine screaming at the Gyrfalcon. It would dodge the Peregrine and after a while it tried to grab the Peregrine. This had all the birders there oohing and aahing. The birds separated for a while, with the Peregrine on a hydro tower and the Gyrfalcon on a pole on the Bell building. It looked like a stand-off, with the Gyrfalcon continually looking towards the Peregrine. Then, the Gyrfalcon took off and pestered the Peregrine. We watched until it was hard to see them anymore. Wow!�

As I understand the owner has been to the site and hopes to get back his bird.  I will try to follow this story and report what the conclusion is. Lets hope for the best outcome for all the birds concerned.

[Dumpsterkitty]

November 12, 2012 - International, National and Local News
Frank Butson Reports:
It has some local competition, with a Coopers Hawk that hunts the same pigeons, a local Redtailed Hawk that hunts  the hydro field just north of the plaza and apparently a Peregrine Falcon who it had a tussle with on Sunday afternoon.

Isn't this Linn's neighborhood?

[Carol P.]

November 12, 2012 - International, National and Local News
Frank Butson Reports:
It has some local competition, with a Coopers Hawk that hunts the same pigeons, a local Redtailed Hawk that hunts  the hydro field just north of the plaza and apparently a Peregrine Falcon who it had a tussle with on Sunday afternoon.

Isn't this Linn's neighborhood?

Yes, Linn and Rueben are in this area, nesting on the Yellow Pages Building in Scarborough.  When she first showed up there, she was seen on the Bell bldg, which has a hack box on it.  Tybropa-Cree and his siblings were hacked from this box.

There is a very good chance that the adult Peregrine is either Linn or Rueben.  This is not good news!  

[carly]

Well crap, it's only 1 mile in distance according to Google Maps.  I am going to email Frank.

[Dumpsterkitty]

Well crap, it's only 1 mile in distance according to Google Maps.  I am going to email Frank.

Thanks. I remembered Linn was first seen at the Bell building hack box, just wasn't sure how close it is to Yellow Pages.

[carly]

Well crap, it's only 1 mile in distance according to Google Maps.  I am going to email Frank.

Thanks. I remembered Linn was first seen at the Bell building hack box, just wasn't sure how close it is to Yellow Pages.

I'm so sorry, I don't know Scarborough at all and it never occurred to me it would be so close to them as it's so big out there.  I would never have posted it here if I had known as I know how much Linn means to you.  I emailed Tracy too, I'm sure they will look out for them - they always do.

[Dumpsterkitty]

I'm so sorry, I don't know Scarborough at all and it never occurred to me it would be so close to them as it's so big out there.  I would never have posted it here if I had known as I know how much Linn means to you.  I emailed Tracy too, I'm sure they will look out for them - they always do.

Don't apologize! I can only speak for myself, but I'd rather know, even if the news is worrisome, than to not know at all!  I have faith Linn & Reuben will be OK...and the gyrfalcon too.

[carly]

I still feel bad, I know what it's like to worry and be too far away to do anything to help.  Frank emailed back and asked me to relay this message:

The closest nest is the new one at ICICI Building. Linn and Rueben could see the Bell Building, but unlikely theyd bother with the bird, though it is ranging to the east and west a good distance.

The owner has been present and is going to try to capture the bird. There will be people watching constantly and most of them I know personally. They know to call right away if anything happens. Please tell the girls not to worry.

Frank

[Carol P.]

Don't feel bad at all Carly!  I never meant to make you feel that way.

I'm glad you posted this information.  It's better to know what's going on, than not to know.

I totally trust Tracy and Big Frank and the other CPFers to keep an eye on the situation.

It may not be Linn or Rueben at all.

My hope is that all the birds involved will be safe.   

[carly]

I know you didn't Carol.  I did more research and emailing and Linn and Rueben are much further from this little guy - I think I didnt' google accurately, it is the other pair at ICIC he's likely met up with as Frank said.  Not that that makes the situation any less precarious.

I didn't realize the Gyrfalcon was just a juvie apparently - what a sad situation, I feel bad for him too.  If he stays free he will have to learn to be a wild falcon on his own and there are no others like him here to meet up with and enjoy his freedom with.  I hope the owner can get him back, much as I'd like to see the little guy free..I suspect his life wouldn't be easy here as this is not his natural environment.

[Carol P.]

I know you didn't Carol.  I did more research and emailing and Linn and Rueben are much further from this little guy - I think I didnt' google accurately, it is the other pair at ICIC he's likely met up with as Frank said.  Not that that makes the situation any less precarious.

I didn't realize the Gyrfalcon was just a juvie apparently - what a sad situation, I feel bad for him too.  If he stays free he will have to learn to be a wild falcon on his own and there are no others like him here to meet up with and enjoy his freedom with.  I hope the owner can get him back, much as I'd like to see the little guy free..I suspect his life wouldn't be easy here as this is not his natural environment.

Ahhh, I didn't realize the Gyr was a juvie.  A very sad situation.  I feel really bad for him too.  He certainly seems to be hunting well thankfully.  Although if he wasn't, it might be easier to capture him if he was hungry.  Hope it all works out.