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May 8, 2010 - Milton - Falcon Release Report Photos & Video

On May 7 2010, our resident male (now referred to as Milton) was ready to be released. On May 29 2009 he was injured here while defending his territory. (May 29/09 post here)



What's happened since then:


His injury left "Mom" having to hunt, feed 3 young, and defend the nest on her own. She did fine in 2009, successfully raising 3 young.

In July 2009, a new male started appearing on the scene. July 3rd he was ID'd as Jack, the adult male mate of Angel at the Bloor & Islington nest.

The prognosis on "Milton" was not know for many months, but he was busy recovering and heading towards eventual release. He spent the past 11+ months recovering with the help of The Owl Foundation, who run an excellent Owl (and birds of prey) rehabilitation facility.

This spring, Jack was spotted courting with our female, impressing her with food offerings. He was also spotted mating with our female... A LOT. On the very same days he was here, he was also spotted at his original home mating with Angel at Bloor/Islington.

At the current time, the first hatch has taken place at Bloor & Islington. Jack is helping out at that nest.

Our female is believed to be incubating eggs, and Jack is assisting here with that.

So, at the time Milton became ready for release, a falcon soap-opera has already been unfolding, and is about to get more complicated.



The Release of Milton


The day was interesting from beginning to end. I met Mark Heaton (MNR) at the Credit Valley Conservation offices and we left for Vineland in a Government of Ontario hybrid Ford Escape, which was cool.

We arrived at the Owl Foundation, where Milton was ready to be retrieved from his holding area. He had been sharing a zone with a juvenile Peregrine and he too was ready for release.

Milton was captured from within his pen, and then received a check-up, a little filing of his upper beak to "give him teeth", and he was then placed in a carrying box. The second falcon was also added to a separate chamber of the box.

We departed for Rattlesnake Point (Halton/Milton area), where the MNR wanted to visit a cliff face where falcons are believed to have nested in the 1960s.

Playing Peregrine calls using a loudspeaker, we watched for reaction from any resident falcons. No reaction was noticed so the release continued.

Milton was released and flew nicely out of our line of sight. The second falcon was released some time later at a separate location, Mount Nemo, another cliff face.


I know I'm "preaching to the choir" to most who read this blog, but I'm going to say this anyways. This year, the politics and climate here at the building are disappointing, even embarassing. So is the apathy from many on this issue, though there are a handful of folks trying to help which is much appreciated.

Since I learned of the board and management's position regarding the falcons, I've frankly wanted to (and likely will) just monitor the nest as I can and report to the MNR where needed, and otherwise enable the building to do as they wish and bury their head in the sand.

During Milton's release I was reminded that anyone that doesn't appreciate what we're trying to do with these falcons is really missing out on something special. There's drama, educational value, a connection with nature, and a feeling that we're helping where we can.

Mark Heaton mentioned to me today that releasing falcons is a "pinnacle of the year" for many MNR biologists, a reward for so much leg work that gets done. I can fully relate.

I'll be honest, Milton is my favorite falcon. He's got character, he's a gorgeous Peregrine, and he's had his ups & downs, which we've followed him through. I've spent countless hours watching him and his mate, which has been its own soap opera. He and his mate were a good team, and it was a big letdown when he got injured. It was also tough not to know if he'd survive. Needless to say releasing him from rehab was exciting!

For the release, I wore my black RCAF hat on purpose. I figured if Milton had ever looked at me in the past (undoubtedly - we've eyed each other quite a bit actually), I was likely to have been wearing that hat. So I wore it for the release, perhaps to keep him from clawing my face off, perhaps to remind him where he should go after release.

Long story short, these are wild birds and sometimes they need our help. I'm proud to have been able to help with the release, and I'm thrilled to see him return to the building so soon after release.

What happens next is up to them. I suppose I hope Jack goes home and Milton makes amends with his mate. Time will tell.

HUGE thanks to Mark Heaton and the MNR, and also to The Owl Foundation, who volunteer their time and effort and nursed our man Milton back to health.



The release video is in the video library, click here to view.



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