Bird Cams Around the World

Is this the same cursed location where last year's chick hit the windows ?

What a terrible loss, little Green Girl. They come so far and the parents work so hard , for them to be lost. It's one of those things that can't be explained to my satisfaction. Anyway, I am very sorry for you guys. You do all that is humanly possible to save them.

Yes, it is the heart institute that is causing all the problems for our young chicks. Before they put that building there, there wasn't a problem. It is practically jutted right up against the CSB, where the nestbox is located, plus it is right in the flight path for the chicks to get the necessary "swoop" they need. I curse the day they put up this ugly, underused, in-your-face building. I don't know if the biologist is considering moving the nestbox, he hasn't said. This whole area is just a mass of concrete now, whereas before we used to have lots of green space. Because of this, I don't know where he could safely put the nestbox.

To elaborate further on the three remaining chicks and our experience last night, I should have said that Red Girl stayed where she was, which was on the 9th floor of the Windsor Tower, the whole time we were there. It was her brothers that kept us on the go after the death of Green Girl, as Yellow Boy and Blue Boy both left the top of the heart institute and went over to Windsor Tower, then Yellow flew behind this building, we could not see him anymore, so I went down to look for him, then when I located him, he took off again, and went around to the CSB, but I could not see this from the ground; meanwhile, Blue Boy flew from the heart institute to Windsor Tower, and back again. They both settled down eventually, one on the CSB ledge, and one on Windsor Tower. By this time, dad was on top of Windsor, and mom had taken off, perhaps to get food for Red Girl, who had kept up with her screeching, as she had not been fed all day, but I think it was also very likely that mom went to look for her chick. She still had not returned by the time I left. I don't know what will happen today; Bev will be down there this morning, Peter later, and Carol and Bob this evening, and I hope things go well. Both Blue and Yellow are good flyers; it is Red Girl I am worried about.

Very sad news indeed.

I went down with Bev this morning and helped her out till noon. We located the three birds. Blue and Yellow were on the extension building and Red we couldn't find. We were worried as she was quite low. Fortunately we have a woman (Jean) who lives in Windor Towers on the 20th floor. She could see everything. She found Red on the back of College Plaza way up high. This was good news as we were afraid that she could not get up. She eventually flew around and on top of the CP. Dad fed Blue and Yellow and then mom brought in a bird, which was de-feathered by both her and dad. Dad then took it up to Red who had a good feed. Blue and Yellow both flew. Yellow, being the stinker her is, tagged Blue and almost knocked him into a building. Blue recovered as he has become quite the flyer. Red eventually ventured out and again did really well until Yellow decided to tag her. She almost got to the top of the Clinical Sciences building when Yellow tagged her and knocked her down. Fortunately she recovered and landed on the extension building. Before I left to go to my real job, one of the chicks, I believe Red but not sure, made it up on CP and hid in the corner as it is getting fairly windy. When I left all was well with the world. Bev is not feeling that great but that is to be understood. I'll be back there tonight to relieve her and hopefully that will be the end of our tragedies and we'll see the great flying of which these birds are capable.

On a side note, mom chased two eagles out of the area this morning. After a few tags by mom they left quite rapidly. Bev also apologizes for not posting as she was tired and then when she heard the news was too upset to post.

With regards to the MAZ building, I don't believe that the biologist will move the nest box. I have talked with him on this very matter and he assured me that it wasn't really his decision. It was more the falcons decision. They nested there before there was a nest box and have been nesting there for years since the nestbox was put there. To move it now, may only put the young ones in more danger as a good chance exists that they would just nest on the roof as they have in the past. This would subject the little chicks to the elements, and possibly drowning. I don't know what the complete answer is to the MAZ building, but the whole front of the building and part of the back is glass. The parents have done a remarkable job of steering their young ones away but chicks are chicks and they do what they do. We just have to do our best and hope that it all works out. What the best answer is, I don't know but I doubt that it would be to move the nestbox. (Just my take on the situation).

I am so sorry everyone of you great watcher it is terrible that that building had to be put there

Hoping the remaining 3 avoid this area.

Good reports today, thankfully. Jean is a good source to look from her vantage point. Yellow, you need to stop pestering your brother & sister.

good evening everyone.

Before I start, i want to reiterate what Peter said. You do not just relocate a nest box. Falcons chose where to nest. They chose this site many years ago, not the biologists. The box was put up, like Peter said , to prevent eggs getting too wet or chicks drowning, from no protection from the elements. We have seen this at other sites. Yes, things were better before the building, and I am not happy with it either, but in the big scheme of things, the adults are getting better and better at trying to get the kids adjusted to this . I work hard with the people at this building, and we take baby steps. Maybe one day we will figure out a solution.
We deal the hand we are given and fly with it.

Tuesday July 19, 6am to 7pm

This day was stressful from the moment I arrived until I left. On Monday night when Peter left he did not have RG in sight. So Tuesday morning I went looking. I had 3 in sight but none were RG. They all got fed , so when I heard this loud screaming, I followed the noise. And there she was, on a ledge behind the clinical science building. RG has a loud voice.I watched her , as I was confident , that if she waited long enough ,she would figure how to get out.
Low and behold , she lifted her wings and flew straight above me to the top of the extension building. Great form. From there she tried to get back up on lower roof of Maz but could only get up 2/3 of the way. and this is how her day went. she would glance off it gently and come down on the roof of the extension , or suite building. She finally ended up on the 9th ledge from the top , of College plaza. RG tired 4 times to get up and I was worried that one time she would hurt herself. She did not get fed all day and still was not fed when Peter left at dark. We have to trust that the adults know what they are doing. I guess it was fast track weight watchers

GG had not flown since her great flight MOnday morning. So she finally flew again late morning. she came so low down , I could have touched her and she went out between Windsor park and College Plaza. Off I went with the box as I was sure a rescue would have to be made. I could not find her and I had phoned Peter to come and help. He spotted her on an aprtment building on Whyte Avenue. the little stinker. Why she went the way she did , we will never know. It is puzzling. I also phoned my daughter to come out and help so her dad could get back to work. Kristy watched her most of the afternoon. She flew back into the area and tried to get back up to lower roof of Maz. Almost made it once but glanced off it and ended up flying to extenison building. She then flew again and went out same way. She ended up on another building on Whyte Avenue. We were very puzzled with her behavior. But Kristy said she looked so please with herself.
she got lower every time she flew. she finally ended up on Suite building not far far from extension.

I felt so bad for these two girls. they tried and tried and could not make it up.they were big and just did not have the strength yet. I told Peter ,when he came, that he would probably end up rescuing one ,or both of them. Never did I think that one would not make it .

Now I know some would say, Bev, this is life. And I do know that this would have happened whether we were there or not, but when you watch for 13 hours every day, and then see their personality develop, you just do not come out feeling that life is fair. I am crushed, as Peter and I were hoping to get them all out of here this year. I know others reported on the evening so I will not.

Just after GG expired a beautiful rainbow came out. Pete took a picture, and so I know that she is in good hands. We were a sad household last night

I will write about today in next reply.

Wednesday, july 20 6am to 6pm

Pete graciously came with me this morning and stayed till noon. I was afraid to go today as Red was still so low.
When we got there , we had BB and YB in sight and as Peter said , they were playing tag. But they tagged each other just as they were going to land So of course they were not sticking any of their landings. The ended up on Extension building.

We could not see RG anywhere and just as we were going to go and look to see where she was, our good friend Jean phoned , and she saw her on east side of College plaza, 2 ledges down.

WOW!!!!! Great height and position. I truly feel that GG sent an Angel to lift RG up. At that moment , the tears just flowed.

Rosemarie and I went up to Jeans apartment , while Peter stayed below to watch. RG would have to get around a corner, to get back out. I watched form one window and Jean and Rosemarie watched from another. As soon as she moved ,I phoned Peter to be prepared to watch. What form she had. She swung out and came back and raised herself to the top of the College plaza. and all was right with the world she truly had an angel with her .

AS Peter said , the boys were fed on Extension and RG was given a meal herself.

I am going to try and post some of Jeans picutres as they are great.


RG had some great flights but YB wanted to play ,so she could not land where she wanted and as a result she wound up on extension building. Peter said that YB would get his when she gets stronger. All 3 ended up on extenison for a bit . She flew off at one point and the wind carried her way out East , but Dad flew after her and brought her back. She then flew up to the top ledge of College plaza and spent a good part of day there. It was too windy to fly. Well for everyone but YB , who was just awe inspiring to watch. A stinker but quite the flier.

I will not write much more , as I will let the others report their action.


but today was a much better day. We did have a juvenille intruder and that was a bit hairy for a bit. I think it was the juvenile female from Bell.

I am grateful that Peter stayed with me this morning, to settle my inner fears. Jean brought down soup at lunch. I am taken her home with me

So I guess, sometimes life is not fair. We do the best we can and some days that is just not enough. But as Gord said , we did save one when we rescued RG. Some say it is nature , but hitting glass is not natural for these wonderful birds of Prey. But for the most part , they are doing well , and their survival rate is better than in the wild.

so life is not perfect, never will be and every day I am blessed by learning more and more about these precious falcons .

The others will report about tonight. I will try and get a few pictures going. Be right back

Thanks you bev. for the report. When we lose a juvie, I always ask, why didn't they get a chance? Why was their life taken? What harm could it have done to let them survive? I can't dwell on it though, otherwise I wouldn't be able to watch the cams at all and would miss out on so much love and beauty that I see in the falcons. I can't imagine how much harder it is for you getting to know them in person. I'm certain that I am not that strong. Again, I am very sorry.

Thanks ljames, and others who have expressed their sorrow.

I am not strong, and that is why it takes a toll on me. I just try to rationalize it all, and that is the best we can do. I have lots of support and that also helps me .

here are the first of pictures, courtesy of Jean, who gets an up close and front seat performance
RG on ledge at College plaza

RG

GG (so gorgeous) when she came down on building on whyte

These are also from Jean, as seen form her apartment
RG in flight as she leaves ledge


the boys on extenison building


RG leaving ledge

I am so grateful to Jean for e-mailing me her pictures as we never see things from this view
Blue on left ond YB on right

RG flying down to join the boys

all 3 together on extension building

RG at top of College plaza