affordwatches

DON MILLS SPOT CHECK

June 29, 2024 - Toronto - Don Mills

Cathy Kerr Reports:

DON MILLS SPOT CHECK :  Thanks to Ted for keeping an eye on our kids and getting some great shots.  Here are just a few… More to come!


DON MILLS CHECK

June 24, 2024 - Toronto - Don Mills

Cathy Kerr Reports:
DON MILLS SPOT CHECK:
Mike was over to see the family at Don Mills yesterday morning and is happy to report all 5 seen. And doing well!
Thanks Mike for the update and pictures!

DON MILLS SPOT CHECK

June 15, 2024 - Toronto - Don Mills

Cathy Kerr Reports:
I am very lucky to have two great friends and photographers who are keeping me up to date on our family at Don Mills.  Ted and Rob have sent me so many fantastic photos.
The kids are doing absolutely amazing (I’m not biased at all, lol ). So wonderful to see them learning and getting stronger.
Thank you again Ted and Rob!
There are lots of pictures from both of them and they are amazing! And more to com

END OF WATCH DON MILLS

June 08, 2024 - Toronto - Don Mills

Cathy Kerr Reports:
DON MILLS END OF WATCH :
And another year done! All three are in the air and doing well.
Sally and I started the morning throughly enjoying watching all 3.  Rob joined us a little later in the morning.
We received a call from Lucie asking for help at MEC, so, as all 3 were good here, Sally and I headed out, leaving Rob and Ivy to finish the day and our fledge watch.
And boy did the kids not disappoint. So many flights.  Rob reports that they got to see Mom bring in a live bird to Roshan, who clearly did not know quite what to do with it(this was Mom’s attempt to teach her where her food comes from). The bird flew off with Mom in pursuit and Roshan not far behind. She was so excited she brushed the glass on the building across the street but she was ok.  Looks like the prey lived to see another day and Roshan learned a couple of lessons.
Dad did a lot of hunting… Mom brought in prey(dead this time) to the nest box and Tava grabbed it and flew off to the west, with Mom in pursuit. Before you knew it, Mom had the package and took it back to the nest ledge and fed it to Simba and Roshan.  Canuck had a heart to heart with Tava on another building lol.   Lots of teachable moments that’s for sure.  They have so much to learn in the next few months in order to survive.
Rain moved in and Rob called it a day.  He shared some fantastic pictures… Thank you again Rob!
A long watch but a successful one.  I want to thank our great fledge watch team,Bob, Rob, Ted, Sally (even though away, remotely supporting!),  newcomer Mike who joined us this year and Ivy! Great job everyone, couldn’t have done it without all of you!
And the great support from our nest building and their security… Ramesh and Mano, thank you so much for all your help again this year!
I sure missed Marion, it will never be the same without her and we sure missed Mark but I thank him so much for his advice and help when needed even though he is grieving.
We will continue to spot check and report on our little family here. Stay high, stay safe Tava, Simba and Roshan

DAY 10 FLEDGE WATCH

June 07, 2024 - Toronto - Don Mills

Cathy Kerr Reports:
DON MILLS FLEDGE WATCH DAY 10:
I arrived early and found Roshan in almost the same place. She had moved slightly, a good sign. I was settling in when the boys were in the air, lots of playing, screaming, chasing Mom. Lovely.
I was joined by Mike and he saw the tail end of it and actually saw the boys over on the roof of the Thales building! Another milestone! Excellent.
We waited. We checked her progress every hour ( we didn’t want to disturb her). Finally we could see her wings flapping from across the street. Mike set up a ways down to watch the other side as it looked like she was going out westward. And she did! Flew out, over the low roof and then east, over the trees, the road, tried for the garage, touched off that, turned, gained height going for the roof of the building (across from the nest building but at the back), missed, hitting the glass lightly (she pulled up.. Excellent). She dropped, brushed the concrete, recovered low and flew to the pine trees, landing low, right at the branch by the stop sign! Wow. But was she really low. And the Robin’s were dive bombing her.  But she climbed up over the next few hours. Actual climbing at times, then hopping from branch to branch, then little flights from branch to branch. I said girl, you are so ready to fly! Rob had joined us by then so got to see this. And did I mention that it had started to rain? And Thunder? She was still while it rained and then moved when it stopped. She finally made her way to the top, eyed the nest building and away she flew! Up, up up, and around out of sight. We ran and found her next door, north end, on the ROOF!! Way to go Roshan!!  And then it poured. But she was home! And high.  So we decided to get out of the rain ourselves and we went home for some lunch to return after the rain stopped.
It rained most of the afternoon and into the early evening. Roshan was on the nest building when I returned. The boys across the street. It started to pour just as Dad brought in food. Three fledglings were on him and the food. Roshan won but just started to eat when Simba snuck over and stole it! Brat! He took it  down on the roof and ate while the other 2 watched.
Once the rain had stopped, and lots of preening done, the boys decided that it was time to play! Ted joined me and we watched the show. Boy it is fun… Ted saw them over at the Thales building again!  Then one of them came back and tried to get Roshan to play. Fly bys, swooping. She said no!  Thankfully the other brother came back and more play ensued. Finally, they settled down with one brother beside Roshan, and so much beaking! So cute.
And there I left them, called it an early evening as I was up a little early today.
Looking forward to seeing Roshan fly tomorrow!
Cathy
Thanks to Rob for his as always great pictures (a few of my not as good pics as well lol)

DAY 9 FLEDGE WATCH

June 06, 2024 - Toronto - Don Mills

Cathy Kerr Reports:
DON MILLS FLEDGE WATCH DAY 9:
And she’s in the air!
I arrived and did not see Roshan. All of a sudden there was a huge alarm calling over the copper building… There were 4 peregrines in the air, alarm calling. Parents quickly put the boys on the building next door and continued to dive bomb. I headed over, checking ledges and ground along the way. I headed into the building and found the very nice security guard. He had been on the roof doing his rounds and got a good up close and scary look at the parents.  I explained the situation and all good. Plus he’d keep a eye out for wayward fledglings.
I was going to do the rounds looking for Roshan when I saw Mike. He said Roshan was on the same ledge, I looked and sure enough there was a head. Ugh.
I then headed to my car, when our maintenance guy said hey, there was a fledgling next door 3rd level. Now, we had just seen the boys come in for a feed on the roof so… And son of a gun, there was Roshan! He said she was there when all the alarm calling was going on. So it was one of the boys on the ledge! Fooled us lol. So she made a fairly good first flight. We watched her there(joined by Rob) for a few hours when she took off, low but gained amazing height trying to get across up to the roof of the nest building beside her brother but she just missed, dropped then went around to the front of the nest building and landed on the sw. corner, 3rd floor. Not bad!  She ledge walked one over and spent the next 4 hours there. Dad brought lunch. All good.
Until she slipped off(possibly a wind gust??) and dropped to the ground. She was facing the dreaded forest, so I got by her to try to stop that. It worked but she turned and flew up the driveway, across the street, just missed being hit by a truck and disappeared down the street.
Bob, Ted, Mike and his wife, and I were off after her. But she was nowhere to be seen. Everyone took a different route from there. I turned and went back the way she went, cause I just knew she was there. I listened and the neighbourhood birds told me where she was. A tree! I looked and there she was tucked right in surrounded by branches and leaves. Oh Roshan. What a pickle she was in.  We settled in to wait but she never moved for the next 4 hours, until dark. Now Sally (who was back and joined us) and I had been here before with Tardis. And she got herself out of the same type of jam years back.  So, Roshan… Your turn
I planned to be back at dawn the next morning.
Day 10 next…
Thanks to Ted, Rob and Taufik for the great pics

DAY 8 FLEDGE WATCH

June 05, 2024 - Toronto - Don Mills

Cathy Kerr Reports:
DON MILLS FLEDGE WATCH DAY 8:
Another day done, one still a ledge potato!!  Well, at least she was up on the ledge today lol.  She got fed well this morning, had visits from Mom, and both her brothers.  She excitedly watched them flying but sadly, just did not feel up to flying yet.  Maybe she knew that a big storm was supposed to come through tonight and that  the ledge seemed like a safe bet.  Really hope she goes tomorrow.
But the boys!  Well they continue to entertain us.  Lots of great flights, picking up speed and skill.  Oh and lots of play and chasing poor Mom…and each other.  The screams as they chase each other!  Rob missed it today as he could not join us but Mike, Ted and Bob were keeping me company throughout the day.
Looking forward to seeing more great flights and hopefully, some from Roshan.
Cathy
Thanks to Ted for his series of pics and to Taufik for sharing his pics

DAY 7 DON MILLS

June 04, 2024 - Toronto - Don Mills

Cathy Kerr Reports:
DON MILLS FLEDGE WATCH DAY 7:
Wow, 7 days already!  I wish I could say that they were all in the air, but they are not!
I arrived to find Roshan on top of the nest box! Yay,  tick that box off!  Mike was there and had found everyone.  Roshan had so much more confidence this morning-hopping off the next box and then back on, lots of wingersizing and running up and back on the ledge.   I thought maybe….
Ted and Rob joined us.  The boys were in the air and having fun.  They returned to the next ledge for some sibling time…all three on the top of the nest box.  So cute.
Then the boys were off and Roshan decided to try to ledge walk…oh Roshan, so wish you hadn’t done that!  She slipped and went down but saw the ledge below and went for it.  Very unladylike and very clumsily she went(lots of pictures to prove that!).  I thought that she had dropped down onto the ledge but when I saw Ted’s pictures, I realized that she actually turned and hit the ledge.  No wonder she spent the rest of the afternoon down,  Now she did get right up and then ledge walked to the next ledge( we knew from Tava’s experience that it was a bit larger ledge there).  I observed her and saw that her legs were good, her wings were fine and could wingersize like mad when she wanted lol.
So while we watched an empty ledge(Bob had joined us by now), the boys and Mom & Dad put on an amazing aerial show!  Chasing, circling, thermals, more chasing and a few boys spats!  Absolutely fantastic-cannot believe how good they have gotten in such a short time!!    Bob, Ted and Rob had to go, so missed it unfortunately but Mike and I were thoroughly entertained.    Tava even did a food exchange with Dad–and right in front of me!  It was just the best!  To think just on Sunday he hit that glass and was in a carrier…it is a wonderful feeling.
Now he had that prey from dad, he mantled it and Dad left.  Then Simba flew over–and stole it from him!!  After all that hard work lol.  Simba rules I guess.
It was time for a rest.  Rob and Ted returned and saw a few good flights.  Roshan stayed where she was and did not get fed, much to her disappointment.  And our boys picked the same building to spend the night, this time one window apart.
Hopefully Roshan will get her mojo back and get in the air tomorrow.  And I know the boys will continue to entertain us!
Enjoy the pics from Ted, Rob and Mike!

DAY 6 DON MILLS

June 03, 2024 - Toronto - Don Mills

Cathy Kerr Reports:
DON MILLS FLEDGE WATCH DAY 6:
Mike arrived on site first this morning-rode his bike a long way!!  He found Roshan on nest ledge and both boys on the building next door eating something.  Then Tava flew to the roof of the nest building, with Simba next but he did a lap around the building and then landed next to Tava–good job boys!  The boys were having a bit of a tussle so Mom did a flyby with a few words-you tell them Mom!
I then arrived.   Simba made beautiful fight over us and landed again beside Tava.  Doing great!  Simba flew off again, over us then looped around and landed on the upper roof of the nest building–well done,  This was to become a “hot spot” for the boys during the day!  So many flights.  We were joined by Ted, Rob and Bob.
Mom came in to check on Roshan–3 times!! and was chased off by a screaming girl each time lol.  She went to check on Tava who was now on the roof across the street and she got the same reception- obviously no one had been fed  But lots of food came during the day to everyone.  Mom was beak feeding Roshan in the nest box—Mom! She’s never going to leave the ledge if you continue this!
There were so many flights, I cannot remember them all.  Simba is just amazing, Tava! Tava is finally landing properly- maybe that knock yesterday did him some good!  We found the imprint on the window he hit.  I have included it in today’s pictures.  Ugh.
There were 2 flights that he came dangerously low on- very odd but with his parents help, he got out of them nicely.  A bit reckless maybe??  Hopefully he learned a lesson.  Both Canuck and Bellatrix continue to impress me.  They are so attentive to the kids.   Hopefully this will continue with Roshan, as she will be so behind the boys when she does fly.  Her down is disappearing nicely but she is not very active.  She is a cutie though and when she is up, I am enjoying watching her.
The boys chose to sleep on the same building but different levels tonight.  And I mean chose.  These two are flying so well already.  Tava has landed on the dreaded copper building and checked out the railings his parents love to sit on.  Need Simba to do the same so that isn’t a problem.  Every other building they have explored–poor Mom and Dad are getting chased off of all of them!!
It was a good day.
Enjoy the great pictures from Rob, Ted and Mike
Would be great if Roshan would fly tomorrow!

DAY 5 TAVA DOWN AGAIN

June 02, 2024 - Toronto - Don Mills

Cathy Kerr Reports:
DON MILLS FLEDGE WATCH DAY 5:
Oh where to start… Tough day but all ok in the end…
Both boys were on the roof of the nest building when I arrived. So great to see. It started raining.. And Tava flew off.. Mom said nope! Back you go! His landings are really not good at all.  Roshan is finally sitting on the ledge! And so much fluff is gone, huge difference from yesterday. Since it was raining, I went and got myself breakfast!
The rain finally stopped, I was joined by Mike, then Bob and then finally, Rob and Ivy…. and the boys revved up.
I’m sorry but so many flights I don’t remember them all but here are the ones I remember most .
Simba is amazing. Great flights, decent landings. You can almost see him calculating what he’s going to do. So one flight, he went across the street, landed then off again and as he was trying to get home, in came Tava(brat!)! He was after Simba , over him and caused Simba to land on the top of the window, 2 levels down from the nest ledge. Tava continues on across the street and Mom has joined… She went to him, talons out, scolding him! She did not touch him, just read him the riot act…. And then came back and did it again! Boy, was she pissed lol.
Unfortunately, things went down hill from there for Tava. He flew off, attempting to land on the nest building roof, missed, recovered, headed out over the hill, turned and tried again. Missed again, recovered, headed out again over the hill, turned but then decided to try to land on the building across from the nest building, which he has landed on 4 times before, but still hit it, fairly hard, and came down at Bob’s feet. I scooped him up and into a carrier for a time out. A long time out to make sure he was ok.  Bob and I were very upset. We do not like to see a flighted bird come down. So he spent a few hours there.
Roshan got fed and hung out on the ledge. Simba did some great flights.
Then it was time to check Tava out. We had him throughly checked over and whew, he was given the green light to be released!
Simba was now on the roof so… Uh oh. But Bob had a talk with him lol and he obliged and flew across the street, landing 3 floors down on that narrow ledge.
We took that as a sign and hurried Tava to the roof and his release. He looked back at us peeking at him(Rob said he was thanking us but I don’t think that was what he was thinking lol) and he was off. By the time we got down to the street , he was up, then he flew next door, top level! Best landing he’d done yet. Then when dad landed around the corner, he flew over to him, same level! Pretty darn good. And there he was at dark.
Roshan was on the nest ledge still and Simba decided that the tiny ledge was a good place to spend the night! We’ve seen fledglings do it before, so I know he’s going to be just fine.
So, Roshan,  you are up! Come on girl.. Tomorrow is good weather (Tuesday and Wednesday are calling for thunderstorms so… ) let’s get going! I have to get back to work lol.
Looking forward to a less stressful day..
Cathy
Pics from Rob and Mike (thank you, thank you). I am too tired to look at my pics from the morning but I will share my cell phone pics of Tava.