I'm Tired - Part One

It's been a busy couple weeks although anyone reading this might think it has been a busy couple months since I have not blogged since April.  Eventually I will backtrack and get to some older bits but let's get right into this one now...

I'm tired.  Aren't we all?  They say if you're an adult and you aren't tired, you're not doing it right.  There is some truth to that I think.  My fatique right now is a good one I suppose.  It started off a couple weeks ago with the yearly peregrine falcon fledge watch at our local site in Etobicoke.  I found myself waking up at 5:30 AM for a few weekday mornings, being at the watch by 6 AM, and spending on average 3 to 3.5 hrs monitoring.  I was basically relieved by fellow watcher Bruce who certainly is a blessing to the birds with his devotion to them.  It was nice seeing Bruce through the watch as it had been a couple years now since we last hung out.  Covid is part to blame, needed at other falcon nest sites is another.  My good friend Lucie who lives down the street from us also joined at the site from mid-day through the end.  We had a few visits throughout as well.  It's nice to have a few dedicated people that I can call friends, and our friendships developed a lot because of the falcons.

Anyway, one morning I was diverted from our nest site to assist at another one not too far from us up in Rexdale at William Osler hospital.  It was reported that a bird had been sitting on a low fence near the old emergency entrance.  Of course by the time I arrive the bird had gone elsewhere.  Ain't that the way?  A maintenance worker who had called in the bird met up with me and we searched the grounds.  We managed to locate a couple other birds but had no idea if either was the bird we were looking for.  The birds are banded, they have temporary tape colours on their legs but this man unfortunately did not see the tape as the bird was sitting and covering it's legs.  One of the birds was high up, so probably not the one we were looking for.  Another was on an upper walkway not nearly as high up, but still at least 25 to 30 ft above ground.  Was this the bird?  I called Marion at CPF to discuss this bird and where it was.  I thought it was in an okay spot but was looking for some reassurance.  After sending a couple photos and a short video to Marion, she felt we need not worry about this bird.  I told her I would do a couple walks around the building and hopefully get all 4 kids before I had to leave (note, it was Angie's birthday).

A walk around the most southern part of the hospital had me definitely find the bird we were looking for.  He was on a low ledge about 6 ft above my head.  A great view but out of my reach.  As I looked at this bird and tried to figure out what I was going to do, an audience was gathering behind me.  A lot of admirers, to the bird of course, and a lot of chit chat and questions.  I have said it more than a few times that I need Angie with me at these watches just for public relations.  She can answer the questions and I can try to do the rescue.  It was nice to see all these people who were aware of the birds and had care and concern for them.  One thing they really need though is an education on fledge watches and all that goes with it, from the young getting into trouble to the rescues we sometimes have to do, oh and when we just need to monitor and assess a situation and not necessarily have to grab the bird.

Here is the juvenile peregrine falcon that I found.  What a beautiful bird!

I had someone offer to help.  I still hadn't a real plan in mind on how to grab this bird.  She went inside to get a large towel and thankfully the crowd dispersed as these people were about to start their shift.  Now it was just me and the bird.  We're looking at each other.  I tried to throw my towel up at it and hope that it would lose balance and come down to my feet.  The bird quickly backed up and the towel came back down to me.  Before I had another shot it left the ledge, flew right over my head and did a long flight southeast across the parking lots and then landed on someone's house quite some distance away.  So no rescuing this bird but seeing it fly like this told me that it didn't need rescuing.  The girl returned with the towel, I explained what had just happened and told her it should be fine and find it's way back here later in the day.  Then I got in my car, paid for my parking (hospital parking isn't cheap!) and was heading out.  Suddenly there was the same girl flagging me down.  I stopped, rolled down my window and she says "remember how you told me to look for coloured tape on the birds' legs?  Well I just found a falcon leg."  I said "What do you mean a leg?"  She's like "Come, I will show you, there's a leg on the walkway with green tape".  I park the car again and follow her to the leg.  It turned out to be a pigeon leg that had a green band on it.  PHEW!  Well, shitty for the pigeon but falcons have to eat too.  She was relieved to learn what this was as well.  As I was saying goodbye, she mentioned to me that the falcon we were after was in the same spot a day earlier.  I said "interesting" and left it at that other than telling her it flies well so to just keep an eye on it.

Here's a pigeon with a leg band so you get the idea.

This turned out to be an exhausting morning as I didn't expect to be up at Osler today, especially when I was already down at our Islington and Bloor site by 6 AM.  I decided to take the day off from work and spend the afternoon and evening with Ang.

The next morning I am up early once again, and had it in my head to go up to the hospital for a quick head check of the birds before going to our site.  What the woman said to me about this one being in the same spot for a couple days now had my overthinking brain tell me that maybe it's not strong enough to get back up to the roof tops with its family.

As I left the house and started driving, my brain said "go to Issy and Bloor first".  I don't have arguments with myself so I just went with my inner voice and rerouted down to our site first.

After scanning the roof tops and looking for our falcons (only spotting one), I did a walk around the buildings, checking every nook that I know of where they could be if they came down.  I used all the reflective glass to my advantage, scoping the upper mezzanine level that I cannot access without permission.  Everything looked clear.  I had circled my way around all the towers and was content that nobody was on the ground when suddenly I heard angry robins just up the road at the condos adjacent to the nest.  I followed the sounds and it was there that I found this bird.

A juvenile peregrine falcon sitting on a ledge just over the entrance to an underground parking garage.  Hoo boy!  The bird watched me as I watched it.  I snapped a couple photos with my mobile device as I assessed the situation.  I carry my camera way less during fledge watches these days.  It's too heavy and restricting, plus I just don't take as many pictures these days.  Funny I say that and here is another picture of the bird.  HA!

I think I will do a cheat here and just copy my post about the moment that I put on social media later that day.  Sorry to anyone who read that post.

Here we goooooooo! First falcon rescue of the year at our Islington and Bloor nest site.

I found the bird around 6 AM this morning sitting near a ramp to an underground parking area just east of the nest tower. He was eye level with me from the sidewalk but shrubs and a metal railing separated us.

I walked around to the ramp and from here he was above my head. Great! I should mention that I hadn't had a coffee yet.

I figure this is my best spot to try and catch the bird. Fight or flight. Let's see where this goes.

I try to jump up and get my towel over him. First shot was a fail. Now the bird is totally pissed at me. Wings flaring out, hissing and spitting at me. I try the towel again. I get it over him this time but he quickly gets out before I can climb up and grab him.

There was a pause. We're making eye contact. I swear he gave me a big "F you man!" and then flew over my head, gliding down the ramp and into the underground as the door was open. Wonderful! What fresh hell are we going into down there?

Bird is quickly inside the underground, disappeared around the corner and I'm in hot pursuit. Good thing the ceilings are really low down there and he went straight to a dead end.

We had our flight moment. Now it was time to fight. This wasn't my first falcon rescue so his intimidating tactics didn't scare me off. In seconds I had him in my arms.

It was a long walk back to my car where I had the carrier. Why are they never down near where I park?

He's having a time out and will be released a little later today.

Let's hope we never meet again Iike this, eh little one.

So far, so good with this bird not needing another rescue.  Her name is BIP.  Now you may be wondering what the heck is a BIP.  I sure was when I was told that was her name.  BIP stands for Bloor Islington Place.  Ahhhhhhhhhh, I get it now.  Okay, the name isn't as dumb as I thought.

I look forward to the falcon fledge watches every spring but they are exhausting, especially when you still have to work 40 hours.

Oh, I almost forgot, I went back up to Osler after rescuing BIP and I found all 4 young high up on the hospital roof and the building just over from it.  Those birds are all doing very well.

If you're in the mood for another read about the falcons, Bruce reminded me of this blog I did years ago when I was at a watch at William Osler all by myself, and a first for me to be with 4 young falcons all taking their first flights that morning.  Link here.  Funny how it is the red taped birds there that I have the most interaction with.  The first photo of this blog is RED from Osler years ago and the one I went up to find turned out to be RED as well.  We usually call the birds by colour during the watch instead of saying "BIP" and not always sure what colour tape that named bird has on.

I will be back very soon with I'm Tired - Part Two.

Cheers!