Outdoor Ontario
Photography => Ontario Birds => Topic started by: Rob'in'To on May 30, 2013, 10:47:41 PM
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On Wednesday May 29, 2013, the Canadian Peregrine Foundation and the Ministry of Natural Resources banded 4 baby Falcons at the Etobicoke Sunlife building nest site. One male, actually the only male in the bunch, was named "Big Frank" in honor of their fallen guardian. This site was monitored during the fledge watch mostly by Big Frank.
(http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk187/lilevl13/baby-3_zps6793c6ca.jpg) (http://s280.photobucket.com/user/lilevl13/media/baby-3_zps6793c6ca.jpg.html)
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This season's fledge watch will begin somewhere around June 8th or 10th (not exact on the date just yet) and will run for approximately 2 weeks, from dusk to dawn. If you live in the west end of the city and have some time, come check out the watch, and maybe spare an hour or two to help keep an eye on the young Falcons. Or just to give a senior watcher a break to pee or grab some lunch, etc. The nest is about 14 stories up so binoculars would help. And it's right on the subway line if you come from the other end of town. A lot of days a lot of nothing goes on, then other days, you could be on the edge of your seat unsure what those curious chicks might do. Most times we are watching from the south/east corner of Bloor Street and Eagle Road. There is metered parking all around the area too.
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webcam of the Sunlife nest...
http://www.peregrine-foundation.ca/Web_ ... /index.htm (http://www.peregrine-foundation.ca/Web_Cams/Etobicoke/index.htm)
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Nice tribute to Frank.......sure he will be smiling about this new named one
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Hoping he watches over the little Falcon. :)
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now that is a lovely tribute
:)
Egret
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Lovely and fitting tribute.
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This story was mentioned at Big Frank's funeral today and I am sure his great work will continue in all of us who volunteer to protect our feathered friends. With Frank's departure, there will ba a void in the hours needed to fill fledge watches. If you ever thought about it; try it. It usually is worth the time if you have it to spare.
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Islington and Bloor as mentioned, was Frank's main nest site. By early next week, the watch will have started. It's going to be thin for volunteers. I can only commit a couple hours about 3 week days, and probably 4 on Saturdays/Sundays. Another steady volunteer who works in the area has a lot of extra duties this time around and won't be able to get away from the office nearly as much. A lot of people in the area are well aware of the birds which helps. There should be a senior watcher there through much of this, but it's difficult for one person to monitor 4 chicks once they get moving around.
Anyone interested, much of the watch is done from the corner of Bloor Street and Eagle Road, by the Bell building, across from the Longest Yard from early morning until sunset.
We were there for a short while yesterday, even though the chicks aren't moving around much yet. We had our coffee and breakfast on the Bell steps, enjoyed watching Jack and O'Conner put on some flight shows, flush some Pigeons and then Jack caught one, paraded above a bit before he disappeared to clean the kill, eat some and return with the rest for the young.
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Oh... Big Frank the Falcon has a white tape band around one leg. The colored tape helps for quick identification of the young birds as they fly around instead of trying to get a fix on the ID coded band.
Here's a couple pics of the adult action high above us.
(http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk187/lilevl13/f1_zpsae351008.jpg) (http://s280.photobucket.com/user/lilevl13/media/f1_zpsae351008.jpg.html)
(http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk187/lilevl13/f2_zps00caf48f.jpg) (http://s280.photobucket.com/user/lilevl13/media/f2_zps00caf48f.jpg.html)
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Great tribute to Frank I now only hope to see him one day all grown up
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Us too! :)