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We had a perfectly miserable time of it tonight. From the time of my arrival about 7 p.m., Yellow Boy and Dad had been missing for over an hour, and Peter was looking for Yellow Boy while Becky kept an eye on the others from the top of the parkade. Red Girl was on top of the Extension Building on my arrival, Blue and Mom were on Windsor Tower. Peter returned - no sign of Yellow or Dad. Then, it started to rain, not rain, but pour. I went to look for Yellow again as Peter was fagged out, but no sign of him, and when I returned to the parkade, Peter went out again, and it just continued to pour, we could not see anything, we were beyond soaked. Then, Red Girl decided to leave her perch, she hovered around College Plaza, thought about landing on Windsor, but gave it up and headed back behind the Extension Building, and we could not see her anymore, so I went down to look for her. She was perched on the back, and finding her was the best news we had tonight. Meanwhile, Blue flew over to the CSB and Mom went to the top of the heart institute. I got back to the parkade, and shortly after Red Girl took off and headed for the CSB, where she safely landed on the top corner, which were so happy to see. Then, some guy apparently goes out on the roof of the CSB, and mom went into full alert mode, swooping and screeching. All I could think of was Scout, and what if some some janitor was up there with a broom, so this was an awful moment. While this was going on, and what was especially worrisome, is that Dad did not appear, as he usually does, to help out with the attack. Where was he? Then, the guy left the roof because shortly after, we saw someone looking out the window one story down, but by this time Mom had disappeared. It was now almost dusk, we were all soaked, cold, and miserable, and now Mom, Dad and Yellow were missing. Peter was down on the ground looking for mom, we were all desperate for a sign of the missing falcons, we could hardly see by this time as it was dusk. As I left, Peter was still on the ground, and Becky was trying to see any sign of them before it got really dark.
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Carol, Peter and I had a great evening watching the CSB falcons put on a show. When we arrived to relieve Bev, Becky and Barb, only a few of the falcons were accounted for but they all were located in a relatively short time on various buildings within sight of the parkade. Yellow went out for a good flight and ended up on a ledge on a distant apartment building, Red stayed put where she was when we arrived, on a roof east of the parkade. Bev spotted one of the adults behind one of the apartment towers. Blue was sitting on the Maz. The other parent was on the antenna on College Plaza (if I remember their places correctly). Mom flew to the Maz and appeared to be defeathering supper. Then the falcons all decided to go in different directions without filing any flight plans. They were on the Maz, the CSB, nearby apartment buildings, office buildings, and then out of sight. Bev spotted Red and Blue on the jut of the CSB. They flew from there to the roof of the Maz only disappear from sight again. We could hear Red screeching from the roof. One of the parents flew up and quite possibly fed the brood. Things got quiet and we played the waiting game. Eventally, one chick popped up on the roof ledge facing us, then another, and then a third. We had all three chicks sitting on the edge of the Maz roof, all in a row. Mom sat on the aerial at the end of the CSB jut. Dad flew in and landed on the corner of the Maz, making the occasional fly-past trying to teach something to the chicks ... possibly high-speed turns. Then things got interesting. The Stars Air Ambulance helicopter landed on the roof of the Maz. The chicks did not budge. Dad did another fly-past and returned to his perch on the Maz. All the while Mom was watching from the aerial. Then four bald eagles strayed into the territory, and both parents put the run on them hitting them several times - the first aerial combat I've witnessed. The police helicopter circled around for about 20 minutes to the north-east of our location partly over the river and partly over the Garneau area. The kids decided it was time to play. Yellow and Red jumped over each other before taking flight with Yellow trying to tag Red. As Peter predicted, she turned the tables on him and he became the target. They flew around the CSB and over the Maz several times before settling down. Blue flew between the two buildings and settled on the pillar directly above the nest box. Red cam back and settled on the ledge below the nest box. Yellow disappeared, but later ended up on a window ledge on College Plaza where he tucked in for the night. Blue did some thinking and stepped into the nest box where it looked like he would settle for the night. Red flew from the CSB to College Plaza where she landed perfectly on one of the aerials. She flies really high now. Mom was on the tall aerial at Windsor Apts. We hadn't seen Dad by the time we left but if he was true to form, he was nearby and would soon tuck in for the night. All in all, a fun evening. I haven't seen him do it, but Peter teels me Blue is a strong flyer; he just needs to get into the air more often. 
what a night
to Jean for taking all those great pictures and then sharing them with bev for posting here. (Agree with Beth -- I hope Jean knows we would love to have her join BCAW!) Bev, you are such a trooper to spend so much time on watch and then coming home to write up your report and post pictures. 
Thanks for all the great reports everyone!! It is fun to read all the action. Four eagles vs one peregrine....just try and get near when the kids are fledging! I hope everything is going well today.
I knew she was a church goer when I married her but she definitely prays alot at this time of year. Mind you she is married to me so she has to pray to be able to survive her life with this old guy.
