QC / Montréal - Turcot Interchange-River's Edge Church - 2012-19

[bcbird]

That documentary was very moving to watch.  Thank you for posting it.
 
The photography of the peregrines is breathtakingly beautiful.
 

[The Peregrine Chick]

Algo, Polly & Turcot
CBC Short Docs video documentary


click on photo to view documentary


Two resilient peregrine falcons make their home amidst the chaos of urban development and gentrification in Saint-Henri, a Montreal borough in the midst of massive change.

Algo, Polly & Turcot is a fable about two peregrine falcons.

Algo and Polly have lived in Saint-Henri, a borough of Montreal, for five years. They live beneath the Turcot interchange, a massive highway structure that stands in the heart of Saint-Henri.

But the Turcot is set to be demolished, then reconstructed. The steamroller of urban development will inevitably squeeze the two peregrines out of Saint-Henri — and they’re not the only ones.

Algo and Polly’s story echoes the tale of some of the featherless residents of St. Henri. In the past, this was a buzzing, working-class neighbourhood, home to factory workers and their large families.

“When I started working, somebody said, ‘Oh you're from Saint-Henri. That's the slums,’” remembers one resident. Legendary comedian Yvon Deschamps, also originally from the neighbourhood, remarks, "We were poor in Saint-Henri, but we didn't know it."

Today, the neighbourhood of Deschamps’ youth is almost unrecognizable. “I don't have any friends that went to school with me that are still in the area. No, nobody,” says another resident.

Those who did stay are now surrounded by a new urban landscape: trendy barber shops and wine bars, cold pressed juice shops and luxury apartments. Algo, Polly & Turcot documents the rapid transformation of this working-class enclave into what it is today — an overpriced, posh hub for a new class of hipsters and urban professionals.

Flying above this changing cityscape are Algo and Polly, who are in just-as-precarious a position as these older human residents. As the Turcot interchange is torn down, piece by piece, their unavoidable fate closes in on them. On multiple occasions, the Ministry of Transportation has installed nesting boxes for the falcons in other locations, but Algo and Polly refuse to move. They’re making do with what’s left, moving into the last little hole that construction workers haven’t yet covered.

“I can’t do anything about it. Unless I move out,” a long-time Saint-Henri resident says. But Algo and Polly haven’t left. Against the cacophony of construction, against their forced expropriation, against all odds — Algo and Polly have remained.  Soaring above decaying buildings and luxury condos alike, they are the witnesses — and the symbols — of a city in flux.


source: http://www.cbc.ca/shortdocs/shorts/algo-polly-and-turcot
youtube video:  https://youtu.be/p7C17tqpMOo

Thank you to Dennis & Dennis' friend for passing along this story ... which lead to finding the story about Spirit as well ...

[The Peregrine Chick]

2017 NESTING SEASON

[Kinderchick]

Thanks, RCF. Very sad to see Polly keeping vigil over her sick & dying juvenile. :'( There is speculation that it may have contracted trichomoniasis but are waiting for the necropsy results. I think that Polly has the potential to be a good mother so maybe she'll have better luck next year.

[RCF]

Aw... this is very sad. :'( I was rooting for these two. Where are the videos, Elaine? I followed the link that you have posted to BCAW but wasn't sure where to locate the videos.

Try these links

http://www.peregrinefalcon-bcaw.net/viewtopic.php?p=195414#p195414

http://www.peregrinefalcon-bcaw.net/viewtopic.php?p=195692#p195692

[Kinderchick]

Aw... this is very sad. :'( I was rooting for these two. Where are the videos, Elaine? I followed the link that you have posted to BCAW but wasn't sure where to locate the videos.

[Elaine L]

I am very sad to report that Polly and Algo's chick died.  Rick at BCAW reports that they have no way of knowing what happened, if it was a natural death or something else.  He has posted videos of Polly lying next to her dead chick, for those of you who can stand to watch. 
http://www.peregrinefalcon-bcaw.net/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=1049&start=0

[SusanE]

Yes, thanks TPC.   I always appreciate hearing your opinion. 

[The Peregrine Chick]

Ever since Algo and Polly have nested, I've wondered something, so here is a question for TPC or anyone else who may know:

Are there any health considerations for the species when a brother and sister mate and produce young?  Or, for that matter, a mother & son such as at Winnipeg?  (Not that we could do anything about keeping them apart.  )

There isn't as a general rule.  Nature has a way of taking care of problems.  If there is some underlying genetic weakness, then the chicks won't survive (5 to 7 out of every 10 chicks die in the first year), in the meantime, a pair learns what to do and when one or the other doesn't return, that experience helps when they get a new mate.  If there isn't an underlying weakness, then the adults add to their experience and the kids continue to contribute genes to the pool.  Ivy had two mates prior to Princess - Jules was his preceding mate and they couldn't produce chicks to save their genetic heritage and they are totally unrelated (Jules isn't related to anyone here).  As soon as he was paired with Princess, its been 4 chicks each year and not problems.  Since Jules hooked up with Beau, four eggs every year and if she would refrain from nesting in "evil spots", then she would be working her way through the teens by now.  So Nature takes care of her own one way or another.

Does that help?

[SusanE]

Ever since Algo and Polly have nested, I've wondered something, so here is a question for TPC or anyone else who may know:

Are there any health considerations for the species when a brother and sister mate and produce young?  Or, for that matter, a mother & son such as at Winnipeg?  (Not that we could do anything about keeping them apart.  )

[RCF]

Looks like they have just the one chick. 

Published on May 20, 2012 by Rickd5689

Nidification 2012 de Polly et Algo / 2012 Nesting Season of Polly and Algo
http://youtu.be/WRFqC9j8sqQ

Algo et juvénile / Algo and Juvenile 15h51 pm 20/5/2012
http://youtu.be/W8LIagDPzfA

[Elaine L]

The only problem here is that Algo has been two-timing Polly, and Polly has been some time and energy chasing the other female out of the territory.  I think Algo's father is Jack, the other two-timer in Toronto.

[Kinderchick]

Hooray for Polly! She finally has her own chicks and doesn't have to snatch one of her mom's chicks!

[RCF]

Polly and Algo have two chicks and there has been a bit of drama here.
posted by Rick D.

http://www.peregrinefalcon-bcaw.net/viewtopic.php?p=186920#p186920

[The Peregrine Chick]

POLLY and ALGO, Turcot Exchange:  Rick D. reports that Polly (the daughter of Roger and Spirit from two seasons ago), and her mate, Algo, have eggs at their nestbox on the Turcot Exchange.  Hatching is expected late April or early May.  See videos dated April 15 at BCAW: http://www.peregrinefalcon-bcaw.net/viewtopic.php?f=36&t=1049&start=0.