Outdoor Ontario

Birding Reports => Toronto Reports => Topic started by: Rob'in'To on June 19, 2013, 03:54:17 PM

Title: little Big Frank fledged
Post by: Rob'in'To on June 19, 2013, 03:54:17 PM
Hi everyone,

As some of you are aware, a young Peregrine Falcon at the Etobicoke Sunlife nest site was banded and named after a friend to many...  Big Frank.

Well, at approximately 6:30am today, he took his first flight off the nest ledge some 20 stories above Bloor Street.  He had quite the brief and scary adventure.  It all started off good, he got nice height at take off, but upon exploring, he hit a window, lost altitude, got stuck on a window ledge at the adjacent condo, then got stuck on Pigeon netting, and from there took flight across Bloor Street, never gaining any further height and pretty much ended up right near what we call "Frank's Bench", a TTC bench at Bloor and Eagle.

I was not there for this but a friend was, and quickly scooped little Big Frank up before he tried to take off running and may have ended up in the morning rush hour traffic.

So far 3 of the 4 Falcon chicks have fledged and every one of them has been rescued from the street.  This watch season at the sites already under way in the GTA has been something else.
Title: Re: little Big Frank fledged
Post by: Rob'in'To on June 19, 2013, 03:55:31 PM
He will be returned to the roof top most likely this evening after an examination.  Currently he is in a carrier, having a time out from this ordeal.

We released one of his sisters last night about 8:30pm.
Title: Re: little Big Frank fledged
Post by: Rob'in'To on June 22, 2013, 08:34:41 AM
Frank was rescued a second time Friday morning.  He was found sitting on some steps along Bloor Street near Aberfoyle.  He was picked up, examined and released about 10pm that night.
Title: Re: little Big Frank fledged
Post by: Bluffs Birder on June 24, 2013, 12:08:21 PM
Great to hear that little Big Frank is out and having fun.  Thanks for sharing the information Rob.

Walter
Title: Re: little Big Frank fledged
Post by: Rob'in'To on June 24, 2013, 03:51:48 PM
Its been an exciting and very stressful week and a half.  I have so much to tell, gotta find the time to tell it.

But here's a very cropped pic of our little Big Frank way atop Sunlife Sunday evening.  You can just see his white band.

(http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk187/lilevl13/bf_zps8a824fd5.jpg) (http://s280.photobucket.com/user/lilevl13/media/bf_zps8a824fd5.jpg.html)