Thanks Frank!

A blog long overdue here...

Back in December I had been thinking about our old friend Big Frank. It was the 2 year anniversary since I last saw him. I had every intention on sort of reliving our last outing the week of the anniversary, if not the exact day. And with that, I also had every intention on seeing the last bird we saw together too... a Northern Saw-whet Owl. Through the early part of the winter, I had some luck in seeing 4 Saw-whets, and one had shown up in the area where Frank and I had seen one. Hell, it was even being seen in the same freakin' tree!

So, it was looking pretty good to do this with ease but of course life got in the way, busy with this and that, work, bad weather, loafing on the internet one morning and whatever other excuses I can muster up a couple months later. I was being very bad with the putting things off even though it was pressing in my brain to get out there and do this. Notice I used the word "intention" a couple times? Yep, good intentions aren't all that good if you don't act on them. I am making it sound worse than what it is because the actual day was a Wednesday so it was only Monday and Tuesday that I was messing around.

Little secret about me, I can be a bit of a procrastinator at times. Shhhhhh...

Anyways, true story here.

With my loafing and whatever those first couple days of the week, Wednesday December 17th is now here and I really want to leave the house and go seek out a little Saw-whet Owl. It's never a guarantee with wild animals on whether they will be presenting themselves or not, but it was worth a try, and even if I didn't find one, it would be nice to relive some of the morning Frank and I had out. I still laugh at his statement on the bird that day... "what a fucking little sweetheart!" I have his voice saying it in my head anytime I think of that. And of course I put a few Lamb of God cds in the truck as Frank states "that shit is gonna rot your brain".

I had been in semi-regular contact with Toronto Wildlife lately about a Red-tailed Hawk I picked up some weeks earlier. I am always curious on the animals I bring in to the centre. This Hawk was healing well and there was a potential release coming up soon.

So, this morning, I am on the phone with them once again about the bird and at the end of our conversation, I was asked if I would be interested in transporting 4 Northern Saw-whet Owls to the Owl Foundation. As some know, I am a volunteer driver both with Toronto Wildlife and The Owl Foundation. They were going to put a "shout out" to the list of volunteers but since they had me on the phone, they thought why not ask me and maybe save keying out an email and waiting for a reply? It would be for the next day. How could I say "no"?

It was later in the morning now, later than I had liked, I still needed to shower and get ready for work. I probably could have made a quick sweep of an area before work to look for a Saw-whet but didn't. I kinda took this as a sign from Frank, like "Here ya go Rob! Thanks for thinking of me."

And with that, the next morning I was up and at it bright and early, picked up the little Owls and headed to The Owl Foundation in Vineland. It's just over an hour drive one way. The radio is kept off but I don't mind. I take in the sights around me as I roll down the highway. It gives me time to think. My imagination flows on things like doing this blog. The memories of my friendship with Frank come back. And I am excited to be visiting The Owl Foundation once again, full of high hopes that all these Owls are going to come out fine in the end.

Truck full of Owls

I arrive at TOF. We get all the Owls in the house and then Kathy invited me in for a coffee and some Christmas treats (week before the big day). "Hells to the yes!" for the invite. Annick and Stacey were in the office with her, all having lunch. It was cool to sit back and shoot the shit with them since we rarely see them throughout the year, or for very long. The annual open house has them all running ragged. And most of the drives for the Owls, have had us drop the birds off and leave moments later.

We had some good chat, story telling and not just about Owls.

Lunch ended and I was about to leave when it was suggested that I could watch Annick and Stacey do their initial observations of the Saw-whets if I was interested. "Heck ya!" I recon 3 years of volunteer driving is probably why I was able to experience this, add our annual sponsoring too (just saying).

I met up with them downstairs and watched them go over each bird, checking the eyes, weight, fat content, etc. It was great! I always forget how small those birds are until I see them in hand. Of course I didn't have my camera with me. Damn! I tried a few cell phone photos but nothing came out worth sharing. Oh well, the pictures in my mind from this memory are way better anyway.

It was mentioned a few times about Angie not being here. Will she be envious? Will she kill me? Maybe force me to sleep on the couch for a week? LoL! It was all good fun. Everyone knows she's very passionate about this stuff but also a full supporter when it's just me doing the drives. She's there in spirit.

We had some further discussions about 2015 and how Angie and I can help in other ways. It's not easy for us with the distance and the fact her and I work opposite shifts. We need our quality time too. But time will tell and I'm sure one of us will be blogging about it when/if it happens.

Unfortunately Kay was unavailable but I was happy to see her best buddy Big Bird on the way out.

It was a great run for both Toronto Wildlife and The Owl Foundation. Call me crazy but I believe Frank had some part of this. Thanks Frank!

An update on the littel Owls... 3 are still at The Owl Foundation. Sadly one passed away.

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Wooly... Snowy!

I was on my way home from work last night and I saw my fourth Snowy Owl.  He was sitting on the guard rail along highway 401 just over highway 410.  It freaked the heck out of me, just wasn't what I thought I would see mere feet from the truck and eye level.  Just like others I have seen over the years along the 401, it's the bird that escapes a photo because it's just plain suicidal to try and do such things on a busy highway, never mind it being dark...  and I didn't have my camera.

And last week, exactly one week from last night, I had a re-visit with a Snowy Owl near where we live.  I assume its either the second or third bird I saw.  It could be another but since I don't know for certain (I count birds in each area).  So unless I see 3 in one day here, I won't be adding them to my list from this spot.

It was a cold blustery morning, -21c with the wind chills but the sun was shining and I wanted to get out for a bit.  We just had some snow recently and I was hankering for a winter photo or two. 

The outing was pretty quiet, saw a couple Hawks hunting off in the distance and that was it.  No Cardinals, Jays, Juncos, Woodpeckers, Chickadees, nothing.  I was nearing the end of my trek as work would be beckoning soon.  I decided to check one more path quick, a very short path I might add.  I came up empty once again.  And as I turned around and started to walk back to the truck, I noticed a Wooly Bear atop a pile of snow and ice cleared from the path.  How could I miss this creature the first time around, passing it only minutes earlier?  He just stands right out against the blanket of white!

I should have taken the Wooly Bear's photo on the snow mound but easily you can see these colors of black and reddish brown would scream at you from a snow pile.

I put the Wooly Bear in my pocket, thinking he was dead, and I could put my macro lens on him when I got home later.  And as I was standing myself upright from this, I happened to look to my left and see a funny mound of snow to my left.  And that's what I said to myself, "what an odd snow pile".  As I focused my sights on it, eyes watering from the wind, I realized it was a Snowy Owl!

Here he is, shot is cropped and was a full zoom with the 500mm.

We weren't very far from each other, maybe 60 ft?  I took a couple photos and then the bird took flight.

He landed on a fence nearby and I thought I would take one more try at some photos.  If he flew once more, I would walk away.

The best approach to wildlife is not direct in my opinion.  Actually Big Frank told me this the other year we were out viewing a Snowy Owl north of Toronto.  "Don't walk right at them.  You gotta try and walk away from them but move closer".  It's hard to explain here being first thing in the morning and working on my first coffee.  But for this bird, here is what I did...

I crossed the small field he was in, because I wanted to be on the other side with the sun behind me (better for a photo).  I did like a half circle, moving away from the bird as I made my way over to the other side.  He watched me, looked elsewhere, watched me, and so on.  Once I was on the other side, the bird lost interest in me probably because he lost most sight of me.  The fence he was on was atop this small hill.  I worked my way up the side of the hill now, slowly and quietly.  Even when I got to the top, we still had some distance between us, once again probably 60 or 70 ft, but we'd be eye level.  There were some small conifers here that I hoped to use as a shield in my sneaky attempt for another photo op.  And it worked!  He was aware of my presence, probably long before I got a view of him again.  But since I wasn't in his face or making aggressive moves towards him, he allowed me some time with him.  And I was thankful for that.  And I don't abuse such a moment.

In the next six or seven minutes, I took some photos, played with my settings, waited for some clouds to roll by and took some more photos.  The bird looked in my direction, he'd look away, and so on.  And then I left him where he was...  grinning from ear to ear.  It was an awesome moment with such a  majestic bird and I was ready to go to work and take on all the nonsense of the afternoon with a smile.

I missed the poop shot here...

Here is the Snowy Owl as I left him...

I guess you guys forgot about the Wooly Bear in my pocket, eh?  Haha!  I almost did too.  When I got back to the truck, I pulled him out of my jacket pocket and set him on the centre console.  A few blocks from home, the little creature work up on my toque.  I half suspected he would with the heat but still another part just thought he was dead. 

I was texting Angie about him, and she did some research.  They have quite the remarkable story which I will share another time.  But I put him out back in one of the bird houses full of wood shavings to go return to his winter slumber.  I plan to check up on him come mid-March or so.  Google the Wooly Bear or wait until the Spring when I blog about him.

The holidays are just about upon us.  I want to thank everyone who has read my blogs the past year; the good ones, the sad ones, the long ones, whatever.  I wish all the best, to you and yours, through the Christmas season, into 2014, and beyond!

Cheers!

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Farewell Frank

On Wednesday May 22, 2013 I lost a very good friend. Peregrine Falcons "Jack" and "O'Conner" lost the guardian of their yearly children. And the world lost a great man overall... Frank Butson aka: Big Frank

A great photo of Frank with Alex the Great Horned Owl courtesy of Ann Brokelman


Its going on a week now since he passed and I, like many others are shocked, saddened, at a loss and trying to deal with this in our own ways depending on our relationship with the big guy.

I had spoken with him on Tuesday evening, mere hours before his passing. We had a lengthy conversation over the phone and some good laughs at stupid male stuff. I try to find comfort in reflecting upon that last conversation with him and know I made him smile and laugh so close to his death. We all knew his health wasn't great but I had no idea how "not so great" it was. Guys in general don't talk about stuff like that. As I think about our chat that night, I am picking away at it, and really there was a moment near the end of our talk that Frank let me know he needed help. I made a promise to him about something that sadly now I cannot keep; which was to come see him a little more often, perhaps once a month for a few hours.

I live in the west end of the city, Frank lived in the east end. So between work schedules and that traveling across the city bit, we didn't hang out nearly as often as I wished we did. But we kept in pretty regular contact through Facebook, emails and telephone conversations. I know that's really not enough for any relationships but one does the best they can with what they can. I worked 4 days a week for a couple years which enabled us to hang out a little more. Come June each year, and the Peregrine Falcon fledge watches started up, we would catch up quite a bit watching the Etobicoke Sunlife nest site of Jack and O'Conner. I'd meet Frank in the morning along Bloor Street and we'd spend a few hours, sometimes the whole day, watching the chicks so many floors above us. A lot of the time it is like watching paint dry, there isn't a whole lot going on than watching the young go back and forth across the ledge, squawking a lot and occasionally making our hearts beat faster when we think they are about to take that first leap. Of course in most cases it doesn't happen for a number of days after the watch has begun. So we'd have a lot of time to shoot the s**t about anything and everything. The bird chat only goes so long and then the personal stuff starts to flow over time.

Frank was such an easy going guy. He liked most people right off the bat, just don't be an idiot and you had him at "hello". Frank and I are very much alike in that sense. So it was easy to see why we hit it off as friends from the get-go. And for the sake of the baby Falcons, we had to. Couldn't have a couple guys watching these birds that didn't like each other, could we?

The Etobicoke Sunlife Peregrine Falcon fledge watch is going to start up again in about 2 weeks. I can't deny the fact that this is going to be a tough time for me out there putting in time where possible to watch over the baby Falcons. There are some steps to a small Bell building across Bloor Street from Sunlife that we sat at for part of the day. And when the heat came on with the sun, we found shelter for some time at a bench on Bloor. Three years now we've been using that bench during the watch and Angie and I pass it often throughout the year calling it "Frank's bench". I always wanted a photo of Frank and I sitting at that bench, maybe with our bins pointed up to the nest ledge or something. I kick myself now for not asking Angie or someone else present to take the photo for me.

I guess this shot I took the other day, after Frank's passing, is suiting for what I know I will be feeling at times during the watch, the times when nothing is happening, and if it's only me present... empty


Going back to where it all began, Angie and I knew of Frank through a Southern Ontario Birding message board. We would read his posts back in those days and he stood out from so many others. You could sense his passion for the birds and wildlife in general. He was a knowledgeable guy and his writings came out friendly and to the point. A few years later, Frank posted about an upcoming nature trip with a new company called Authentic Canadian Tours called "The Eagles and Owls Tour". Angie and I jumped at the chance to get out and possibly see some birds in a new area and to also meet Big Frank and whoever else hopped on the bus. Well who knew that the outcome would effect our lives so much! We met our host, founder of Authentic Canadian Tours, and now also a good friend of ours Murray Shields. Ann Brokelman is another from that trip. Then there's Peter and I don't know how to say or spell his last name. A kind man we enjoy seeing every now and then at the Rosetta Hawk Watch during Fall migration. And of course, we got to meet Frank as well, who happened to start the Rosetta Hawk Watch some years ago. Here's the blog link.

And it didn't stop there. A few months prior to this trip, I took a nature walk about the Kortright Centre in Vaughan, Ontario. I had never been there before so it was exciting to explore this new area. I had a trail map with me and there was a building marked on the map that said "Falcon Centre" or something, which I soon learned was the Canadian Peregrine Foundation. I fell in love with an Owl at the centre, a European Eagle Owl named "Boo". Somehow this was brought up on the Eagles and Owls tour, and lo and behold, Frank and the gang had associations with CPF. That Spring we came out to the Sportsman Show and helped CPF display their educational birds of prey. We met another good friend of ours nowadays, Tracy Simpson, who is the mother to all CPF's birds. And we met founders Mark and Marion Nash. Angie and I both got to hold Kyla the American Kestrel for starts, which was such a thrill. And more so for me, because I am not one for being the centre of attention... so sitting in a chair with Kyla while hundreds upon hundreds of onlookers stopped to talk to us, take our pictures, was so out of my comfort zone. But I didn't give a shit, I was with a beautiful little Falcon.

Angie and I became volunteers with CPF at the barn, helping Tracy where we could with general chores like cleaning pens. We spent many hours that Spring with Tracy at the barn and heard so many stories from her. Tracy has got to be THE BEST story teller I've ever met. She has so much emotion in her tales, you just hang right on through every word.

And moving ahead another year or so, I'm up at the CPF barn with Frank, Tracy, Ann and Donna when next thing I know, Tracy is bringing Boo out to me. I was a glowing mess having Boo on my hand! You could'a called me bad names, you could'a kicked me in the groin, I wasn't feeling nothing but pure joy hanging out with an Eagle Owl. Boo is such a character, and it's his eyes that got me when I first saw him. He was in a darkened corner, enjoying the shade, so he was so hard to see at first, but those orange eyes... you just can't miss them.

Boo and I that afternoon courtesy of Ann Brokelman


We went to the Rosetta Hawk Watch that fall and were happy to meet Peter from the first trip again. And another name that stands out is Frank's co-watcher/counter... Walter Fisher. Another name from the infamous Southern Ontario Bird board I spoke of earlier. Frank and Walter have been friends for a long time. We now visit the watch once or twice every fall not just for the birds but it's quite the social gathering and nice to see all these east end birders we've gotten to know. There is quite the list of names and you all know who you are if you happen to be reading this. And through CPF and Falcon fledge watches, we also met more people, some of which we now call our friends as well. You guys also know who you are. :)

So, through Frank, a lot of good has happened to us. Yes, I'm speaking mainly for me through this blog... hey, it's my blog! :P

Funny thing is a few I've communicated with since Frank's death have all reflected upon their first meeting with him and have similar stories of the good that came into their life because of him. Frank was the real deal, a genuinely good guy and whether you knew him well or just slightly, you didn't forget him.

I wish I could share all the goofy talks we had but I can't. It's stuff, as I hate to say, we are taking to our graves. I know if I knew Frank 25 years ago, we would have been friends back then. Both being nature nuts, respecting the wildlife and planet... and both loved a good party back then. Our musical tastes were similar although he always told me about my listening to Lamb of God in truck, in his exact words, "that shit is gonna rot your brain". But he never asked me to change the disc if it was on. Usually I'd ensure it wasn't in the player, but if it was, there'd be some joke about it.

Its sad to think that the last time I saw Frank was back in December of 2012. The 17th to be exact. I picked him up at Islington subway and we went birding, Owling, whatever in various parts of the west end. He's seen so much of the east, time for me to get him around to some of my fave spots in the west. I took him to an area where I knew of a Northern Saw-whet Owl that had been hanging out. Of course there's no guarantee of seeing certain wildlife when out, we just went with it, and enjoyed whatever happened to come our way. But luck have it, we spotted the little Saw-whet in a small cedar tree. And Frank's first words were "What a fuckin' little sweetheart!" He was quite happy to see one of these Owls again as it had been a few years since his last sighting. I know some are thinking, "come on Rob, what's with the potty language?" It's just guy talk. Sometimes, like in this moment of viewing such a pretty teeny tiny little Owl, the f-bomb is required to give emphasis on the moment, the bird. No, this Owl, who you may know as Sammy (see my blog) wasn't just a sweetheart, indeed a little more UMPH was needed to describe him.

Don't believe me about the Saw-whet? See for yourself. Dare I say it again? "What a..."


Frank looked at Sam for not much more than a minute, just gazing at him, and he was thrilled to see him. But Frank kept quiet, and contained his excitement. He then took a few photos over the next minute or so and then met me where I was waiting at the path. I told him "no rush" but he said he had his moment, got a few pictures, thanked me and no need to linger. That's Frank for ya, just like me, and some of my other friends, we know when to walk away and leave the wildlife be, especially Owls. On our way out, we passed the Saw-whet's grove of trees again and I asked Frank if he wanted another peek. He said as much as he would like to, it wasn't necessary. He didn't even worry about what his photos looked like, he was just happy with the moment he had. We wandered around other places, then grabbed coffee and sat alongside of Highway 50 and blabbed about who knows what for the next hour. It was nearing time for me to get home, so I dropped him off at the subway, wished each other a Merry Christmas since it was soon upon us and away he went. How the hell could I have known that was the last time I would see him? As I said, we kept in regular touch through the winter and were making plans to meet up again. *sigh*

There are a lot of good people in the world but not everyone do we connect with because of varying interests. And of course, there are a lot of assholes in the world because of varying interests or the simple fact that is what they is and nothing is gonna change that, not even a kick in their backside to smarten up. When you have good people around you, enjoy your time with them, because you just never know when that day is coming and you will never see them again.

RIP Frank. See you on the other side. Just imagine the view of the birds he has up there right now.

Here is Frank on that last day we went out, hand feeding the Black-capped Chickadees. All the wildlife touched his heart, even Earth's tiniest.

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