Two little boys at Port Lincoln…Late Monday in Bird World

11 December 2023

Hello Everyone!

This is the news of the day so I am publishing my blog Monday night instead of Tuesday morning. I will return with my normal morning news on Wednesday.

Before we go to Port Lincoln, I am waiting for the live stream to come up, I can tell you that Hugo has gained a pound and except for some drippy eyes which will be treated with saline solution (thanks Geemeff), she is on the mend. So very happy. Hugo comes to her name but if I had to pick a name for a last kitten, in this instance, it might just be ‘Love’. She has benefited from so much love – at home and from all of you. Her personality is like a Tiger, though. Lots of possibilities! In the end, she may always be Hugo – a reminder of the cosmic joke of trying to add a little boy to this all female mix. I just hope that they are not like female ospreys on a nest!

There is not much that comes close to the banding that it is taking place at Port Lincoln in terms of news. The Calypso Star has just pulled up to the barge. There will be some maintenance on the camera while the chicks are weighed. I understand that permission was not given for Tumby Island’s sat pack to be placed on the second osplet at Port Lincoln so, only one, the heaviest, will get the satellite pack. Everyone is supposing that will be Giliath but we wait to see and then there is the gender reveal (of sorts). Unless it is DNA or behaviour seen, it is never 100%. I understand that the race is very close indeed. I am, however, looking forward to the name. #2 just didn’t work well for this feisty osplet.

Dad spent the banding time on the old barge.

News is coming out of the Seaside chat that the two osplets are deemed to be both males. Remember how civil they have been all year. Think Ervie, Bazza, and Falky. Then think Zoe. Behaviour! I hope to see how correct this is in a few years time. They should hang around Port Lincoln like Ervie and Calypso if they are males. I wonder if Falky was a female – remember how he shot out of Port Lincoln? Just like Zoe.

Giliath got the tracker. No surprise there.

Mum and Dad sure make beautiful babies. Goodness these birds are gorgeous.

The Calypso Star is pulling up. If you ever get a chance to get to Port Lincoln, sign up for one of their charters and have the adventure of your life.

Port Lincoln needs another camera cable so the streaming cam will not be up and running until the late afternoon. Check out the bling when you get a chance! I will include pictures on Wednesday.

Other news is the events at the Kisatchie National Forest KNF E-3 nest that belonged to Alex and his now-deceased mate, Andria. The female has come into the nest and buried the eggs. I understand that Alex has returned and unearthed them. I was hoping that by burying them, Alex could move forward. But, no. She buries them. Alex uncovers and starts incubating. She partially buries them – it is the game of finding the eggs. Alex had a crop drop (I did not see it), meaning he is eating. Yes.

Alex flying off for the quickest break. I hope he is eating.

Alex is back incubating his eggs as the sun sets near Alexandria, Louisiana.

Food gifts are coming in at Southwest Florida.

What is happening at Superbeaks? We should be having a hatch.

Pip watch at Captiva for Connie and Clive!

Cilla cleans the scrape at Orange after Marri returns to it a couple of days ago.

Thank you for being with me. And thanks to ‘A and H’ for keeping me on track, to Port Lincoln, Jewel Lang being mod at Seaside and Bart for conveying news, Lady Hawk, HeidiMc, KNF-E3, Window to Wildlife, Superbeaks, Gris Andriana, and Birdie Cam.