Looking back at 2023

1 January 2024

Happy New Year Everyone,

Before I begin, I am grateful that a miracle happened in the Kisatchie National Forest before midnight. I think it would have made the list. Send positive wishes to Anna so that she can be helped, if help is required.

It is that time of year when everyone is making resolutions – for me, though, I want to reach out and thank you for being a part of my life. My spirits are so uplifted just knowing that there is this huge ‘family’ scattered around the world that loves wildlife. Thank you for being compassionate, empathetic beings who are doing whatever you can to make this world a better place for all living beings. 2024 will be better because you are in it. 

May our beloved feathered friends have their crops and pantries full of prey, may they soar and fly high in good health and may all the hatches fledge and thrive.

Happy New Year!

The girls want everyone to find the magic in the little things that are often overlooked.

Calico is grateful for a warm bed, lots of cuddles, and most of all, story time.

Baby Hope (yes, she does look so much like her Mamma) is so happy to have sisters to romp with – and she loves having some of Baby Hugo’s kitten milk!

Missey is enjoying the warm sunshine pouring in the catservatory. She is not so grateful for Calico but she sure loves Hope and Hugo. 

Hugo (aka Handful) is happy there are no obstacles between the catservatory and the sitting room so she can run and slide. The most fun is chasing Missey’s tail, stealing Calico’s food, and playing chase on the cat tree with Baby Hope.

I wonder where Hugo could be?

Baby Hugo is grateful to have Missey as their Mamma.

Thank you to absolutely everyone who sent in their best moments (and some very sad ones) for the 2023 Bird World season.  We received 401 moments. There were events that moved you to tears of joy while others brought us to our knees in agony. Two very special nests stood out to our Bird World community and they were SW Florida and Patchogue. Number 1 and 2 were almost tied in terms of numbers! Indeed, they were separated by only – and I do mean only – four mentions. (I am including a few comments – time just flew by and I did not get to include a quote form everyone and for this I apologise).

Ranking at the very top was SW Florida, Fort Myers, Florida, home at the beginning of 2023 to Harriet and her mate, M15. On the 2nd of February, Harriet disappeared. She did not return and is presumed deceased. It was what came after that was the miracle of the year that moved 97% of you.

“M15 stepping up to raise E21 & E22 as a single parent til fledge.” “Harriet & M15. Our Queen is gone. And while writing that I start crying again. She was the Queen of the Bald Eagles for me”. “I already adored M15 for the incredible bird he is, but he stepped up not just one notch, but a whole bunch of them. He is Super-Dad.” “That the amazing M15 was able to raise his last eaglets with Harriet to fledge all by himself, keeping them well-fed, all the while fighting off intruders.” And then taking M15 into the future, “The pairing of M15 and F23 (with grand hopes for a fruitful result and tears of joy).”    ”M-15’s resilient and inspiring single parenthood of E-21 and E-22.”

On the 10th of October, M15 looks into the eyes of F23. They are now a bonded pair waiting to lay their eggs which are now hatching as I write this. Everyone agreed that M15 had ‘picked’ the right one! – The hatch of their first chick was right up there in terms of bringing us to our knees – in a joyful way! What a wonderful way to end a year that saw so much sadness.

“Oh, gosh, Mary Ann — it’s the last day of 2023 and right under the wire there is a new highlight of the year for me: the arrival of precious E23 and first-time mom (right?) F23 learning what to do!  I swear, in watching the replay of the first that E23 was revealed, poor F23 just stared at it and I could see her thought bubble: “Now what do I do !??”  They are so cute!”

Patchogue Ospreys, Patchogue, Long Island, New York came in second. It doesn’t matter what you called her – Little Bit, Little Mini, or Tiny Dancer’, the Patchogue 4th hatch almost tied with M15 for the top glorious most happy event of the 2023 season. The first thing this tiny little osplet did was to survive. Then she fledged and then, sadly, she injured her leg. We last saw her in September and I would like to believe that this tenacious strong unyielding fledgling is alive and catching fish somewhere. Her will to live was simply impressive.

“Lil’ Bit, the 4th hatch at the Patchogue Nest. Surviving against all odds, even with a bad leg and fledging.” “The survival to fledge of Mini at Patchogue, a tiny, tiny osplet who used every bit of his/her cleverness, resourcefulness, and tenacity to survive while facing competition and potential aggression from much larger siblings.” “No one believed that Little Mini had a hope in hell to survive.” “Tiny Dancer was an inspiration to all of us.” [More at the end].

“This is a good moment from Patchogue, NY nest on 7/26/23 with mom or dad, I can’t say which, bringing Mini a fish with a sibling coming in for a bite? This the life of birds going on all around us with most of us unaware. The sibling coming in reminds me of Wizard of Oz seen with the flying monkeys.”

“Patchogue, NY 5/26/23 Mom and dad feeding all the chicks. It’s unusual to see 4 hatched chicks and then to see both parents feeding together. This dad must be a real family dad.”

The Fish Fairies at Port Lincoln, South Australia came in third. The Port Lincoln has, historically, made everyone nervous who watched on the streaming cam. We celebrated the year that Bazza, Falkey, and Ervie lived and fledged and agonised over the deaths of the little ones such as Tapps as well as Little and Middle last year. What made the distinct difference this year was the hard work and persuasion of Janet Forster, Bazz Hockaday, and Fran Solly to feed these ospreys – to provide supplementary fish – until banding (and after if required) so that the chicks could thrive and fledge. Their good intentions worked out well as both Gil and Brad fledged and are now growing stronger and flying well. Mum and Dad have stepped up with the fish and everyone should be smiling.

“that the Port Lincoln Osprey nest was peaceful this year, thanks to the compatibility of the two boys — Gil and Brad — along with the generosity of the fish fairy.” “We need some happy news. Like your PLO ospreys! I couldn’t watch in the past, but this year, thanks to the fish fairies, it was a pleasure. (Another heartwarming situation for your list!!)” “Couldn’t watch this nest. That changed with the supplementary fish.” “It was a wonderful year at Port Lincoln barge thanks to those fish fairies.” ”The advent of “fish fairies” leading to the successful fledging at Port Lincoln.”

White Bellied Sea Eagle nest, Sydney Olympic Park, Australia came in fourth: Finally a fledge at the White-bellied Sea Eagle nest that survived to be raised and trained by Lady and Dad. How hard it has been to watch Lady and Dad work on the nest, care for the eggs, feed the chicks, only to have them chased out of the Sydney Olympic Forest by the Pied Currawongs. While we might not know what happened to WBSE 32 this year, we have been fortunate for the BOGs and their photographs to witness the development of SE31. It has brought tears to our eyes and smiles to our faces. Finally, just finally, Lady and Dad can actually finish the raising of their eaglet. Sheer joy. I only wish that our good friend, Phyllis, had lived long enough to see this season. She so loved these little sea eaglets.

“That SE31 is thriving and remaining close to home (for now) under the watchful eye of Lady and Dad, who have in past years not been able to train their young to be eagles.” 

Barnegat Light Ospreys, New Jersey came in fifth: Return of Duke at Barnegat Light after the devastating storms in June along the coast. A severe storm hit the Chesapeake Bay region in June. Many nests lost their entire clutch. Several lost at least one adult. One of those hit was Barnegat Light, the home to Duke and Daisy and in 2023 their three chicks.

“Duke’s return to the nest after he went missing for several days during the June storm.  We were so worried that he had died.  During his absence, two of his offspring died from starvation.  When Duke flew in and landed at the nest on 6/25, it was truly one of the happiest moments of the year, and brought tears to my eyes.  I could ‘hear’ all of the viewers screaming and jumping up and down!”

Cornell University’s Big Red and Arthur came in sixth. Big Red hatched in 2003 seven miles from the Cornell Campus. Arthur is her second mate (Ezra was her first). It is believed that she has been raising little hawk lets since 2005. The streaming cam on the Cornell Campus has been active since 2012 documenting the life in her nest. She has fledged every hatch except for one, K2, who had a mouth injury/disease. That is a stunning record. She has raised in 2022 four chicks! Four.  

“The 20 year old Red-tail Hawk at Cornell raising another clutch of eyases to fledge with her partner, Arthur, ranks right up there with jumping up and down joy.” “Big Red is like what the US Postal Service used to guarantee – delivery in any kind of weather. She is there caked in ice, drenched in pounding rain, caring for eggs and feeding her chicks. She has only had one chick not fledge in what? At least 19 years of breeding. She should get a medal.” “Big Red is my hero.”

Fortis Exshaw Nest, Alberta, Canada came in seventh: Banff, the incredibly strong fledgling from the FortisExshaw Nest near Canmore, Alberta. When the 2023 season started, there was wildfire smoke all over the region with hundreds of fires burning – many of those fires destroying raptor nests and sending eagles and ospreys into other territories as intruders. Near Canmore, Alberta was the nest of Louis and her mate, Jasper. Jasper went missing on the 7th of July after bringing a large fish to the nest. Louise was left to defend the nest while also being mother to the chicks.

“There was so much hardship and sorrow for the osprey family last season.  The fledgling Banff overcame many obstacles, including her mom Louise being evicted from the nest, and a couple of intruders that literally tried to kill Banff several times.  Despite all of the adversity, and with the help of her mom, Banff made it to migration.  The last time we saw Banff on the T-perch before she flew out of our lives, I was crying tears of joy.  Banff’s strength, fortitude and resilience brought many of us joy…and hope.”

“8/1/23 Fortis Alberta. Banff, and her sibling who perished from food starvation, where just 30 days later was the last time she was seen. Chat said they both hatched on the same day.”

Karula National Forest, Estonia: The home of Black Storks Karl II and Kaia and their originally four storklets came in eighth. ”The unselfish acts of Urmas and the fish baskets that saved this family touched me beyond belief. If all the world was so generous and kind there would not be catastrophic loses of wildlife.”

Glaslyn Osprey Nest came in ninth. “At the Glaslyn Osprey Nest, the pairing of Aran with Elen and the very successful raising of two feisty and healthy osplets to fledge after the death of Mrs G brought me to tears on my knees.”

Poole Harbour, the nest of Blue 22 and CJ7, came in tenth: ”The survival of three chicks and none succumbing to a goshawk was a real treat this year in southern England.” “We held our breath when anyone talked about the hawks being near the nest. We worried that there would be a repeat of 2022. When they all left safe we tried.”

The Lock Arkaig fan club kicked in and one ardent supporter included all the videos in chronological order for us. My goodness – Louis has always been one of my favourite male ospreys. I do miss Aila (but I am warming up to Dorcha). This year’s Ludo was quite the character (reminds me of Hugo – maybe names that rhyme like that should not be handed out!). So here goes, a year of joy and triumph from egg to fledge at Loch Arkaig which came in eleventh.

I’ve put them in chronological order rather than ranked by favourite.

2nd April: Just before 12.26.54, a familiar call was heard off camera, and then an Osprey landed on Nest Two – Louis is home!
https://youtu.be/aVLR5ysKOJU

6th April: Louis is heard skydancing before arriving on the nest, what a joyous sound.

10th April: the reunion of Louis and Dorcha – Dorcha brings her one and only fish to the nest. For the rest of the season, only Louis provides.
https://youtu.be/2I51i5kIVa0

21st April: first egg!
https://youtu.be/_aOu-EIRKIE

22nd April: the stunning moment when a Golden Eagle visits the nest. First ever sighting although it’s know a pair nests in the Loch Arkaig area.
https://youtu.be/iVpqJIxEVCE

4th May: Comical moment as Louis is blown off the nest in a gale.
https://youtu.be/CMPNawu15bo

23rd May: Dorcha valiantly fights off a persistent attack by a Tawny Owl. One of the eggs is lost over the side but she saves the other two.
https://youtu.be/rvztzDEpikI

31st May: first feed and dad’s first look at the new chick

18th July: LY7 gets high – proper helicoptering!
https://youtu.be/mmcV4tRItZk

19th July: Ludo LY7 fledges!
https://youtu.be/9SyP31iXLbc

The WRDC nest of Ron and Rose, Miami came in twelfth:  “On 5/7/23 Rose was relieved at the nest in the morning by Ron at 06:35.  Rose and Ron were raising 54 and 52 day-old eaglets.  Later, Rose failed to return.  For over two days we waited, and we worried.  OMG, did we ever worry!  Rose is very much loved.  She finally flew in to land on the selfie branch on 5/9 at 16:32, 58 hours after she had last been seen.  She looked frantic, tired, hungry, and her face was very soiled.  There are some who thought that Rose had gone off for some sort of a ‘spa vacation’.  But, but not me… I never thought that.  I believe that Rose had some sort of issue that had prevented her from returning.  Of course, we will never know.  Perhaps silly to say because they are ‘just birds’, but the sight of Rose landing on that branch was one of my happiest moments ever.”

Coming in at thirteen was the rescue of Middle at the Achieva Credit Union Osprey Nest in St. Petersburg, Florida. After many days and much worrying over whether or not Middle would succumb to starvation right on the nest after falling off a few times, Middle was grounded and picked up by Birds in Helping Hands. Middle made a full recovery and to my knowledge has been released back into the wild.

Rutland Manton Bay: Other worthwhile memories included: a’My moving memory is Rutland Osprey. # 4 died soon after, but when I heard about the 250 th chick fledge, I thought it was a great achievement.” 

Some of the more heroic moments come from the rescues and I was touched when BG wrote that for them the glorious events of 2024 included: “All the heroes who find injured wild birds and decide to act on their behalf. All the rehab centers, professionals and kind folks who despite the challenges of wild life injuries and limited resources, and emotional toll, continue to save our precious wild life heritage.” I could not have put it better myself.

There were some incredibly sad moments in 2023. The Memorial Page lists them except for Smitty that I still need to add. It was a horrific year for Ospreys in the NE United States. Some of our favourite Bald Eagle families struggled with thin egg shells due to the persistence of DDT in the food chain and land. A few had a silver lining. They included – in no particular order:

Tom sadly killing his first hatchling and then becoming a good provider on “Angel the Leucistic Red-tailed hawk nest.”

MN DNR, Minnesota, USA. The nest collapse resulting in the sad loss of the eaglet. 

Dale Hollow Bald Eagle Nest, Kentucky: DH18-The unnecessary and devastating death due to no help with the monofilament line wrapped around and cutting DH’s legs.  3 May 2023. The eaglet was rescued by the AEF and subsequently taken to the University of Tennessee where it underwent surgeries to try and heal the damaged tissue from monofilament line cutting through its legs on the Dale Hollow Bald Eagle Nest. The eaglet suffered from fast spreading necrotic infection and had to be euthanised. Parents were River and Obey. Obey disappeared and River had to try and raise her three eaglets on her own.

Karula National Forest Black Stork Nest, Estonia: Karl II dying during migration was also devastating. There are so many that touched me. Died 2 October 2023 from the electrocution on a power pole in Turkey after completing 3318 km of his migration to his winter home. Near to the Yazibelen Günes Enerji Santrali.

The death of all three osplets at Lake Murray due to predation. 

The death of several male Bald eagles with established mates and nests: Martin, Duke Farms male, and Pittsburgh-Hayes male.

Sauces. Eight eggs laid and Jak and Audacity wanting so much to have a family.

The failure at Big Bear this year. My heart wrenches for Jackie and Shadow.

The predation of Sasha at Tweed Valley then no word of the sibling, Poul, after arriving in Africa.

The death of the RTH Pale Male on 17 May 2023. Severe Renal Failure due to old age, 33 years. Died in the arms of Bobby Horvath.

Mrs G not returning from migration to the Glaslyn nest.

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As ‘H’ so aptly reminded me, “Joy…amongst all of the incredible sadness.   Of course there is joy whenever an osplet, eaglet, hawklet, or eyas fledges…”

‘H’ is so right. Just to reach fledge is a challenge. Then the first year is even more so. Let us all gather our collective energy and wish the best for those who survived in 2023 and for all those who will live to fledge in 2024 the very best. 

‘MP’ adds: With the strength like these birds have shown what can’t we accomplish?

For us, let us resolve to treasure every moment that we have, to find the beauty in the most simple things, and to help our feathered friends in any way that we can. Just imagine if every single person took care of the area where they lived what a remarkable world we would create for all the wildlife. We would all sleep better and with a big smile on our face. 

Happy New Year Everyone!

*******As I write this we are awaiting news on the eagle that has been retrieved from the Kisatchie National Forest. It is 20:39 CDT Sunday 31 December. This is the latest from ‘H’: ”About 173030, seen on canopy cam, an eagle flies low left to right, but intruder F was perched in the nest tree, and came down and swooped and hit the first eagle. The eagle hit some branches and lower brush and then was seen walking on the ground.  Tonya, et al, thought the first eagle may have been Anna.  So, Cody searched with the cam.  He and Steve went out in the dark and found the eagle on the ground, ‘she’ ran from them, but had “some balance issues.”  They got her, and Cody said it was Anna.  More definitive ID will be done ASAP. 

Send all your positive wishes for Anna. Cody and Steve will make sure she gets the best possible care.