7 May 2023
Oh, goodness. It was just a gorgeous day on the Canadian Prairies. A little coolish for some but delightful. It was a good day to start on the planting boxes and it seemed it was none too soon to get the Vermillionaires for the hummingbirds. Only 12 plants left at the nursery. Gracious…it is only 6 May. Normally we do not plant until Victoria Day weekend, the third Monday in May, for fear of frost.
Before we go any further, our first giggle of the day.
And then..cuteness. More to come on M1 but just look at this cutie only 2 hours old.
As the hummingbirds are arriving from their migration (depending on where you live), it is imperative that if you provide the sugar water for them that you do so safely. Make it at home, do not purchase it at shops as it could harm them. Here is the recipe that is going wild over the Internet.
It is impossible to say how delighted I am to see Angel’s little one RT5 is so strong! That chick did not eat for over 30 hours…talk about some good DNA brewing in there.
Tom brought in some prey for Mum and the baby on Saturday. Progress. This along with the groundhog on the nest should keep them for a day or two. Had slipped out to the garden centre and returned to see this – thanks SK Hideaways! This made my day so much happier.
Angel’s baby had a nice big crop before going to sleep again tonight. Oh, how grand. Continue to send this nest your most positive wishes, please. Angel will need food tomorrow unless that Groundhog is still lurking about in the egg cup! I would like to hope that the visit by Tom with prey today was an indication that he will provide for his family but, that remains to be seen.
No food left on Sunday so Angel will have to go hunting if Tom doesn’t deliver. The Blue Jays are continuing to dive bomb.
‘H’ reports that a Bald Eagle was at the Achieva nest. Did it want to take Middle or was it after the fish Diane had? Diane flew off in pursuit, and both chicks are fine now. I am thinking it might have just wanted that big fish- regardless of what the motive is with a drought and fish scarcity, fish is needed and, of course, we want Middle safe. Gracious. Just when you think you can relax! This is all this nest needs and it could be Jack and Diane have been dealing with this predator for some time.
Loretta reports that the first egg of the season has been laid at the Charlo Montana nest of Charlie and Charlotte on Saturday at 14:30. The weather has been nasty up in Montana. The rivers are flooding and the ospreys are having to find places where the water is lower with fish so they can eat. I had so hoped this egg would wait..but, the osprey are never on our schedules.
Despite the flooding where Iris usually fishes on the Clark Fork River, she has definitely found a spot. She arrived at her nest in Missoula’s Hellgate Canyon with a large crop Saturday evening.
Iris has been on her nest – and please take a look at this nest as it is the finest osprey nest I have ever seen – and she is due to lay eggs shortly. The fence has been put around her platform in the parking lot to protect her. We all know how this will turn out, so take a deep breath, let it happen, and then wish our lovely Iris, the oldest living osprey in the world, a lovely summer fishing for herself and having a relaxing time. Star and Louis can be chasing after fish and chicks!
Kathryn reports that even though Peanut had a good feeding today at the Lake Murray Osprey platform, there is strife there since the older sibling began getting its Reptilian plumage. She reports, “Yes I was shocked to see this today because every feeding I’ve seen has usually just been mild but today the big one was really poking Little’s head multiple times. Every time little picked his head up, big struck him back down. Almost made me nauseous to watch. Middle stayed away mostly and towards the end middle was picking on little as well. It looked like little had a crop and the parents are good at providing food. So hopefully this doesn’t continue.”
The Osprey nests are unpredictable. If there is going to be anxiety, it almost starts with the change of plumage at 8 or 9 days. Peanut is so tiny. We just have to take this nest a day at a time and hope.
Big Bob at Lake Murray reminds me a bit of Zoe. She is so large and is quite the dominant female. Just take deep breaths. She will always eat first. She will always have the most significant crop, and she will not care who else eats. She is the boss. Just look at her, and you will understand the problem entirely on this nest.
It looked as if Peanut might have had an eye injury yesterday. If he makes it he will sure be one tough character. Just look at her.
At 1333, this was the progress of the hatch for Big Red and Arthur.
All dry and ready to say hi to the world. Welcome M1!
Hello Mama!
There are three eggs at Cowlitz PUD in Washington State. The utility company put in metal bars to protect the osplets this year from the Bald Eagle. Maybe Achieva will need to do something, too! Last year all three of the healthy – and I want to say thriving babies – were taken within a 48 hour period by a Bald Eagle.
Everything is fine at the Moorings Park Osprey Platform in Naples, Florida. Both Abby and Victor are self-feeding as well as being fed by Sally. There is the split screen in preparation for fledging!
At the Dahlgren Osprey nest, Jack has brought in another large toy but I did not see any fish brought in for Harriet on Saturday. Do they also have a problem with flooding and intruders or murky water? Anyone know?
The golden glow of the sun on Audrey at Kent Island or Chesapeake Conservancy osprey Platform and her two eggs. Will the new ‘Tom’ turn out to be a good provider? We wait.
The little baby eaglet at Decorah is 29 days old today. It has its pin feathers coming in and is far from that fluffy bundle I was cooing about a few days ago. They grow so very fast.
Martin and Rosa’s triplets are simply adorable in their juvenile plumage. That ebony-espresso colour is divine.
We are going to be very busy when fledge watch arrives as Pittsburgh-Hayes is about the same age as Dulles-Greenway.
US Steel eaglet is so cute with its precious dandelion mohawk.
Megan McCubbin’s first book is getting ready to be released. There is an interesting conversation with her that forms an article for The Guardian, posted below. I have ordered the book and will keep you posted!
I positively love Hen Harriers and could give a toss about a few people going out in the country with rifles grouse hunting – until they start having the gamekeepers of these hunting estates killing off the Hen Harriers. This makes me absolutely ill. It is, of course, highly illegal but the UK has to get ‘real’ about the fines and jail time if it is to have any impact.
Thank you to everyone who contributed to help clean up the HPAI outbreak in The Gambia. Total funds raised are 1050 GBP out of the desired 1500.
I wanted to have a blog that focused on many things wildlife rehabbers do today using technology. Due to using the computer for a limited time (I have another week to go to please my ophthalmologist), I am behind, but I will get there!
Thank you for being with me today. Send positive wishes to all the nests! And take care of yourself. See you soon.
Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, tweets, and streaming cams that helped to make up my blog today: ‘H’, Loretta, Kathryn, Ali TD and Friends of Dyfi Osprey Project, Hummingbird Whisperer, Window to Wildlife, SK Hideaways and Window to Wildlife, Achieva Credit Union, Owl Research Institute and Explore.org, Montana Osprey Project, Lake Murray Ospreys, Cornell RTH, Moorings Park Ospreys, Dahlgren Ospreys, Raptor Resource Project and Explore.org, The Guardian, Dulles-Greenway Eagle Cam, PIX Cams, and UK Raptor Persecution.
