TORONTO RESIDENTIAL, ONTARIO ~ 2010

skygirlblue · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 3:18 pm **Posts:** 64784

DANG!!!

SusanE · **Posted:** Tue Feb 23, 2010 8:55 pm

Well . . . :hmmmm

SusanE · **Posted:** Fri Mar 05, 2010 3:55 pm

March 1 update:

Back in falcon-land, either the falcons just wait until I come out and look at them, or they're gettin' busy way more than I care to know. Either way, I headed out for a quick dog walk at 1PM and witnessed another mating episode.

Mom was inside the ledge (south end) and Jack was on the edge. I couldn't see Mom but was hypothesizing that perhaps she was on eggs already. A few minutes later, Mom flew out, made a nice graceful circle and landed on the peak of the building. Jack followed suit and hopped on his mate for a quick ride, then took off as usual.

At this point, clearly they're in gear. It's difficult to see what's happening within the ledge, so I'll be keeping an eye out for one/two falcons and watching for hints that they may be incubating. We're debating a new camera at this second ledge but given the current activity it may not be safe to install anything at this point.

More news as it happens...

kittenface · **Posted:** Wed Mar 10, 2010 11:48 pm

Here are a few updates
http://www.asic.ca/falconcam/

Mar 8, 2010 - Mom & Jack at the usual nest ledge - video
A quick update from the past few days, though I confess I wasn't here so I
really don't know what was happening.
Friday (March 5) at around 5PM I witnessed a mating at the south
end of the property. Over the weekend I'm sure this continued,
but again I don't know.
This morning, I didn't spot any falcons around the buildings,
which I thought was odd.
In the early afternoon, I caught Mom over the remote video feed,
and ran up and managed to record some high quality video. While I was there,
Jack showed up for a few seconds, and departed. Mom stayed for a
while and was next spotted flying around with Jack.
**New for 2010** - Video Library
http://www.asic.ca/falconcam/
I've only just assembled it, but will be adding this year's video to one
page for easy access. I will add it to the left menu in the next day or so,
but in the meantime, click here to view the latest video featuring Mom & Jack

Mar 9, 2010 - Wow, year #3! + new site look
At the end of the day yesterday, Mom & Jack were hanging out at the south end,
as usual. I forgot to mention, but yesterday when I was visiting the other ledge,
I saw Mom nosing around in the corner, perhaps contemplating some scraping?
I wish... I truly hope they decide to nest where they usually do...
It's hard to believe that we're heading into the 3rd year since the falcons
appeared here. I can still remember my first brief email to
management at the time, saying "by the way, I think we have Peregrine
falcons on the building"...
This was followed a day later after speaking to the falcon people with
another note to management - "I'm sorry, I'm not sure what we've just
gotten ourselves into"

This site originally started as a quick photo gallery to show folks what kind
of birds we were looking at. Many site revisions later, we've got piles of photos,
an ongoing observation log, and have run video feeds 2 years in a row.
We've also witnessed quite the wildlife soap opera, from abandoned nests
to second clutches, fledge watch, rescues and injuries, and the loss of our male
(still in rehab). Quite an adventure indeed, and a great
community-building pastime too!
Anyways, I can ramble on but I won't. I just wanted to mention we're heading
into year 3, and for the new nesting season I just refreshed the site with a
new design I was sitting on since last summer. Hope you like and in the weeks
to come it should start to get more interesting around here!
Mar 10, 2010 - Evaluating real estate options?
This morning at the south end there was a lot of racket. Jack circled in a
few times with a small food offering, perhaps trying to impress Mom with his
flying skills, or maybe the meal wasn't prepared to Mom's liking.
They both departed from the south side and and voila, guess who shows
up on the remote camera, yes, Mom. She proceeded into last year's nest ledge,
taking a close look in the corner we know so well. Jack also came by and also
checked the corner.
Photos from remote video cam, I hope this means they're still considering using
the "regular" nest ledge.

bev. · **Posted:** Thu Mar 11, 2010 1:45 am

Well, we are in trouble with two nests . i hope things work out. I will be optimistic.

SusanE · **Posted:** Thu Mar 11, 2010 9:20 am

Thanks to Mathew for those ground reports of the happenings and to kittenface for posting them here.

Here is the link to Mathew's newly designed web page--> http://www.asic.ca/peregrinefalcons/ It looks great!

carly, this situation between the nests is so frustrating. They sure are giving us some drama.

SusanE · **Posted:** Sat Mar 20, 2010 6:03 pm

Updates from Mathew:

Mar 12, 2010 - Friday update

It seemed oddly quiet around here since yesterday morning. At 5PM I happened to see Mom sitting in this miserable weather on the "regular" nest ledge. I also saw her nosing around in the corner, not sure if there's a scrape being made there or not but obviously she knows that she's put eggs there in the past.

As of 6PM, Mom is still sitting on the edge of the nest ledge. I only mention this because it's nearly dark and this seems odd, I rarely see birds here once the sun sets...

Mar 15, 2010 - Gettin Busy at the South Side!

Today activity has picked up a bit, well the mating has anyways.

This morning I spotted a falcon nosing around the "usual" nest ledge again. In the early afternoon, I was out walking the dog and managed to witness an interesting mating. Mom flew out to a high tree perch, and soonafter Jack flew over and a quick mating took place. This was cool to see happening in a tree, more natural than on a building ledge.

At 5PM I was treated to another quick performance, this time back at the south side ledge.

Mar 19, 2010 - Friday update

This week it's become more clear that the south side will be the nesting location for 2010. Two falcons are being seen regularly at the south end, and a lot of noise is being heard as well.

Without an observation camera it's tricky to gauge what's happening at the ledge so unfortunately, guesswork is going to have to be used in the weeks to come.

Still no word on installation of a camera, but it won't be any time soon. Electricians are non-responsive, and while I have 2 cameras I could put into an environmental housing, the wiring needs to get sorted out first. No ETA on that, but it likely won't be before we have a noisy nest full of activity.

SusanE · **Posted:** Fri Mar 26, 2010 1:43 pm

Updates from Mathew's Blog

Mar 20, 2010 - Some Saturday shots

Both falcons were seen at the south side today. For quite a while Mom was on the top perch while Jack (I assume) was down a few levels. Jack is a bit yappy, calling out when he sees flocks of seagulls, while Mom seems unphased

Mar 24, 2010 - Peculiarly quiet

As of 5:00PM, I haven't seen or heard a falcon so far today. No birds seen at either the "new" or "old" nest ledge whatsoever. It seems worth noting.

Window-washing started a today a fair ways from the south end, I don't think it's related at all.

730PM - Mom has returned to her favorite south-side peak perch for sundown, not sure where she was hanging out all day.

Mar 26, 2010 - Confirmed (again) - Jack is [still] a dirty dog! + Zero Eggs

The past few days, I've been talking with some folks that monitor the Bloor/Islington nest, and we've been trying to sort out some confusion. Both here and there we've had reports in the past week+ of what may be additional tiercels (males) in the area. Yesterday we were performing forensic audits on photos, concluding that at least one bird seen at Bloor/Islington appears to be Jack.

This morning at 1145AM, I decided to check and see what mischief might be happening here at the ledge. Upon stepping out I immediately heard a lot of vocalization and grabbed the camera even though I couldn't see anything.

Sure enough, a falcon flew out of a ledge (Mom), and headed for some trees off in the distance. I had a feeling I knew what was next and sure enough another falcon left the ledge a few minutes later.

Upon review of the photos, it was Mom that headed to the tree first, followed by Jack. A mating took place "au-naturale" in a tree which is cool. Jack flew back to the ledge following the mating episode which took longer than I've seen in the past.

So, Jack is here, Jack is there, clearly he's busy everywhere! The question remains as to whether or not we've got additional males in the area, which is possible given the timing is right for falcons to be migrating back northwards for the summer.

130PM update - leveraging the presense of window-washers and absense of birds this aft, I can confirm that there are zero eggs on any of the south ledges. In fact, there's hardly any evidence of a scrape. Just logging it for the record.

Beth · **Posted:** Fri Mar 26, 2010 5:11 pm

Thank you Susan :loveshow:

for all the updates!

SusanE · **Posted:** Fri Mar 26, 2010 6:41 pm

Thanks for the update, Carly. Well, so far Jack is keeping up, but when he has to hunt for two nests . . . well . . .

SusanE · **Posted:** Sat Mar 27, 2010 8:46 am

This is SO interesting. I'm glad that you (Carly) and Mathew are able to communicate about the two nests and are keeping such good notes. From what you said, maybe Jack CAN take care of two nests.

obxbarb · **Posted:** Mon Mar 29, 2010 10:46 pm

Wow, I can't believe Jack can continue like this for long. He is truly a playboy extraordinaire among the falcon community. 8-)

SusanE · **Posted:** Fri Apr 02, 2010 6:07 pm

Mathew reported yesterday on his blog that Jack is still being seen and mating is being observed but there do not appear to be any eggs here yet. At his "other" nest (Etobicoke) there appears to be incubation activity.

SusanE · **Posted:** Mon Apr 05, 2010 8:42 am

Check out Mathew's post

. He thinks there may be eggs, and that they have been laid on the 3rd ledge down rather than the 2nd ledge down. Unfortunately no cam yet.

kittenface · **Posted:** Tue Apr 06, 2010 9:11 pm

Apr 6, 2010 - Exciting News from Ohio!
Alot more info

http://www.asic.ca/peregrinefalcons/

It's very exciting to report the latest news received today from abroad!
Through the underground network of falcon fans around North America,
news has been received about Ms. Marla, one of our offspring from
the 2009 nesting season!

bev. · **Posted:** Tue Apr 06, 2010 11:37 pm

that i s just last year right. Last summers bird ,you mean. One of the ones we watched .
I hope she is O.K. they had to deal with so much last year, and I do not like the apple cart to be stirred up.
We had a male juvenile try and take site at Weber last year bu they finally got rid of him. Yo would think they would wan tot jsut have fun for a year eh!!1
and you are so right Mathew.this is why banding is important.

I would sure like to hear of some of our Edmonton birds making it somewhere else.

thanks KF for posting this

catwoman · **Posted:** Tue Apr 06, 2010 11:39 pm

I love hearing survival news like that, Kittenface! I wonder if its just the red tape that doesn't fall off cause Red in Wilmington still has hers from 2008!

SusanE · **Posted:** Wed Apr 07, 2010 9:00 am

Thanks for posting that news of Ms. Marla. Hope she was not seriously injured and just moves on to find her own unoccupied nest.

skygirlblue · **Joined:** Sun Jul 26, 2009 3:18 pm **Posts:** 64784

Boy, Cleveland must be a Mecca for falcons...as always, C & C's photography is outstanding...and she sure looked fierce!!!

Beth · **Posted:** Wed Apr 07, 2010 11:44 am

Thanks for the updates, Cleveland-Ohio ~ super highway for falcons.

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TORONTO RESIDENTIAL, ONTARIO ~ 2010

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