Outdoor Ontario
Birding Reports => Toronto Reports => Topic started by: Rob'in'To on July 25, 2013, 08:32:46 AM
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Anyone recall the quick blast Mother Nature gave us last Friday afternoon? A way shorter storm than the heavy rains a few weeks ago but far more damaging with the 100k winds not just with property but with some Falcons.
It is believed Kendal, the adult male from the famous Harlequin nest site, got tossed around in the winds and was found on someone's property in the Victoria Park and Ellesmere area early Saturday morning. He was rescued by Toronto Wildlife Centre and is currently in their care with a fractured clavicle and a fractured coracoid. Lets hope he heals well and quick and returns home to his family at Duncan Mills Road.
Toronto Wildlife also admitted a second Falcon within hours of Kendal on Saturday. This one was an unbanded juvi that an individual found laying on the sidewalk in the downtown core.
Sadly, another Falcon in Mississauga wasn't as lucky. Her name was Cass. She was the adult female at Mississauga Executive Centre, just east of Square One. Saturday morning she was found dead on the steps outside the building she called home. Possibly another bird that got tossed around in the strong winds.
I can't imagine how many other birds this storm affected, not just Falcons.
But in happier news, little "Big Frank" is doing great. He had a pretty rough go of things after first fledging from the Etobicoke Sunlife nest site and twice in mere days was rescued (picked up off the sidewalk). He even disappeared for 4 days after his second release which got everyone panicky but then he suddenly just appeared again. I like to think he had himself a time out and built up his confidence after the man handling by humans twice in a week.
And lastly, I made my first Peregrine Falcon rescue a number of weeks ago with the smallest girl at Islington and Bloor, her name is Lizzie. She was in pretty rough shape after a window collision. But determination on her part, the care of her family along with the care from a few people, she returned home and is doing great. I guess it's been about 3 or 4 weeks since she was released back to her family and we are seeing her frequently high atop the buildings. Yesterday she was observed via the web cam sitting on the nest ledge with her brother little "Big Frank". You all have no idea how happy I am seeing this image. I have much catching up to do with all this via blogs in the coming weeks.
Here is Lizzie doing a leg stretch while Frank chills in the nest box.
(http://i280.photobucket.com/albums/kk187/lilevl13/betterlizzie_zps74516a54.jpg) (http://s280.photobucket.com/user/lilevl13/media/betterlizzie_zps74516a54.jpg.html)
It won't be long before all the little ones do what instinct tells them to do and get migrating. We can only hope to hear news of one of these birds in a few years setting up a nest site somewhere in North America.