22 April 2022
There is so much news in Bird World. I simply cannot keep up. At the same time, most of it is all wonderful! That is a good thing. My report will be short. Many things to do after listening to the wonder session with Cal Falcons.
Jackie and Shadow are amazing. While we have rain warnings here on the Canadian Prairies, our beautiful Eagle family in the Big Bear Valley had a horrific snow/ice storm.
Here is a video clip of Jackie and Spirit. What a great Mum Jackie is!!!!!!
This image was taken at 13:45 and things are much improved.
Cal Falcons. Mark May 5-6 as hatch days. Gosh, the Q & A with Sean Peterson and Lynn Schofield was really and truly informative. I learned so much! And I am posting it for you so you can listen if you wish. There were a couple of takeaways from this session that I found quite interesting. The first was that Alden was known to both Annie and Grinnell and was accepted by Annie and Grinnell. He had been seen for 1 or 2 months. Neither of them ever tried to chase Alden off the Campanile. On at least one occasion, Alden brought a prey delivery to Annie while Grinnell was alive. Again, no action by Grinnell. There is speculation that Alden was going to be a ‘nest helper’ for Annie and Grinnell and that is why neither of them were antagonistic or aggressive to him. The second was that a falcon has super eye sight for about a mile. They can spot a prey item. Grinnell was killed within a mile of The Campanile. Annie might have seen Grinnell being killed and that would contribute to her bonding with Alden so quickly.
Here is the link to this session.
Another fish came to the UFlorida-Gainesville at 16:11:37. The feeding finished at 16:47:55. Little Bit got nothing. The problem is that the two big siblings are now requiring more and more food and both are intimidating the wee babe. If another extremely large fish comes on board before night, finger’s crossed. I am not hopeful, however.
In part, one of the biggest issues is how the female stands to feed the chicks. If she would point her head at the rim so that Little Bit could get between her legs or on the opposite side, he might have a chance of some food.
Lena has been calling for a fish delivery. I wonder if she is hoping she can get Little (MiniO) who fledged this morning back up to the nest for some food.
There is absolutely nothing more beautiful than Big Red looking down at her new baby and it looking up to its wonderful Mum.
Iris has been spending time today at the nest just like she seems to do every afternoon.
The winds are roaring around the Channel Islands Bald Eagle nests. Everyone at the West End nest of Thunder and Akecheta are holding on!
It is not nearly as breezy but the wind is blowing and it is wet and dreary at the MN-DNR nest of Nancy and Harry and their two eaglets.
Big and Middle shared a fish at 09:38. These two are looking really good and there is absolutely no rivalry. It is truly wonderful – even when there are not a lot of prey items.
It is Earth Day and this is a very good reminder from Rosie and Richmond!
Wishing Everyone a Very Happy Earth Day. Take care. See you soon.
Thank you to the following for their streaming cams or FB pages where I grabbed my screen captures: SF Ospreys and Golden Gate Audubon, DHEC, Friends of Big Bear Valley, UFlorida-Gainesville Ospreys, MN-DNR, Cornell Bird Lab and Montana Ospreys, Cornell Bird Lab RTH, Captiva Ospreys and Window for Wldlife, Explore.org, and Cal Falcons.
Thanks Mary Ann! I’m so worried now about little in the Florida lamp nest. I wonder if Crow can get permission to rescue it ? The little baby at Big Reds nest is adorable. Thanks for all the pics and updates. Have a pleasant afternoon and take care !
Linda
Hi Linda, I think I discovered that CROW does not work in that area when I was trying to get some help for Legacy when she had the Avian Flu last year. And, sadly, USFWS would not give permission to go to the nest and retrieve Little Bit because they would argue it isn’t a human caused event. Of course it could have everything to do with water pollution, lack of prey, etc. because of humans but it isn’t in their mandate and no one would do it. He is very weak and well, if he does not get a big feed tomorrow, he will sadly be lost to us. I never recall the level of violence at Achieva or even Port Lincoln that I have seen at the Dale Hollow nest and now this one – shaking, pulling, plucking. It is horrifying especially since the older siblings had two ping pong ball sized crops tonight. ——- I love falcons and hawks. Siblicide is so rare with them. —- I am very concerned about the chicks hatching at Achieva when it s so hot. — I may take a short break from Little Bit tomorrow and just watch Big Red. You are so right. That little one is so strong and such a cutie. There should be another tomorrow.