With thanks to Tracy Simpson of the Canadian Peregrine Foundation, here is the answer to Howie's question.
Of note it was Tracy who looked after the 5 chicks at CPF Raptor Centre.
The nest site in question is at 18 King Street East. In 2002, a
Japanese film crew were following Kingsley and Victoria raising a
clutch of 5 on the east side of the building. Thanks to observations
by volunteers and the film footage that confirmed the situation, it was
discovered that Kingsley was not attending. Victoria was left to feed
and care for 5 nestlings on her own. She was filmed hunting day and
night and by this time, the grim news of Kingsley's death had been
discovered. Victoria continued to struggle to feed her young and keep
up with their care. During the close watch that the CPF was
conducting on this site, it was observed that she ( Victoria ) was no
longer feeding. She hadn't been seen for quite some time ( several
hours ) and concerns about her were being voiced. After a 24 hour
period with no feedings witnessed, the rooftop and alleyway search was
on and the MNR was contacted regarding the chicks. Victoria was found
dead on a rooftop nearby completely emaciated. The MNR and the CPF
conducted a rescue of the 5 chicks who were all now wasting quickly and
they were taken to our avian / raptor vet Dr. Markus Luckwaldt for
examination. After the exam and rehydration, all 5 chicks were
brought to the CPF raptor centre and were fed every two hours until
they had regained their weight and strength. After a recheck to
confirm that they were all in excellent condition, the CPF set up a
hack / release box on the roof of the Richmond Hill Town Hall for the
next phase of their lives. The 5 were banded and named ViKing,
Spirit, Majesty, Valour and Hope. The bars on the front of the hack
box prevented them from leaving prematurely and food was dropped
covertly into the box through an access tube daily as these 5 were
feeding well on their own. At fledge age, the bars were removed and
each chick in turn exited onto the landing platform. Over the next
few weeks, all 5 learned to fly and hunt on their own by virtue of
their instincts and imprinted on one another during their time in the
hack box and their experiences at the Town Hall as flighted birds.
Food was continually provided until the chicks were seen to be no
longer dependant on the augmented supply and fending for themselves.
Of the famous 5 that were Kingsley and Victoria's last brood, one
still survives to this day; Majesty. She was sighted in Michigan in
2003 with a male as the pair were hanging around the University of
Michigan in Flint. Although she has struggled over the years with
hatching eggs due to site choice and weather conditions, Majesty and
her mate Barry continue to raise young to this day in Flint, Michigan.
In 2012, she hatched and raised 3 beautiful chicks on the Northbank
building and is the only known survivor to breed from the last brood of
PK and V.
Tracy Simpson
