5 January 2024
Good Morning,
Hugo Yugo went to the vet on Thursday and she had an excellent report. Not a single problem and she is now a good weight for her age and she is getting some adult teeth. Vet Kate thinks she is going to be a super small kitten. It was nice to see Hugo Yugo with lots of energy while she was at the clinic – she is awesome.
Wrestling in the conservatory with Hope. Look at Calico’s face. She is so glad not to be a part of this action.
The plumbers were here all day. They are terrific and got all new drains and vents and a new WC installed, etc. Hugo found a pile of old towels destined for the clinic and she snuggled in. I think the vaccinations made her a little tired. All of the cats were so good. They were sequestered so as not to get outside and the best of the lot were Calico and Hope. Missey and Hugo Yugo were their curious selves. Hugo Yugo is getting nice little ginger tufts of fur on the tips of her ears.
All had a special late dinner to thank them for being so patient during the plumbing ordeal.
You need to be part of the Big Bird Count. Go to the Cornell Lab or Audubon and sign up! We need accurate counts of birds in winter to help understand declines and increases in populations. Thank you!
Looks like M15 brought in an Egret for lunch after the family had finished the rabbit.
Here is that Egret delivery by Faxinating.
F23 catches her own fish and brings it to the nest. M15 removes the Egret carcass. E23 is doing fantastic.
From the behaviour, it sure looks like C10 is a female at Captiva. She still rears her long neck and head and C11 still plummets down on occasion. Little male?
Gabby is on territorial protection duty it seems. Gabby is doing all the incubating as far as I can tell on Thursday.
Ravens and Jackie and Shadow at Big Bear. Video of the busy day at the nest at the end.
Looks like Mum at Pittsburgh-Hayes.
At Port Lincoln, Brad found some leftover fish in the nest and had a nice breakfast. Gil was not bothered.
They see Dad.
The day so far at Port Lincoln.
‘A’ sends us good news from the Parramatta River. We can all sleep easy. SE31 is really catching fish and providing for herself. It really is OK to sit there and cry your eyes out. We have been waiting for years to see this miracle happen.
Here is the latest: “January 4: The first report of our juvenile today was just after 7am, flying into Juvenile Roost. Then at 9am, she was seen catching a fish, then eating it. Wonderful sighting. At around 10:30am, she took to the air, joining an adult circling above, higher and higher and over Ermington. Then back again when a parent, we think Lady, brought in an even bigger fish – with the young one squeeing eagerly when going to take it from the adult. SE31 has eaten well today. Our juvenile is growing and gaining in experience, flying and soaring strongly, and now has been observed catching her own fish. Late in the evening, both adults were seen at Goat Island.”
The video of WBSE31 catching a fish!
‘A’ also reports: ”Thought you would want to know that BOK came in today (4 January) to relieve WYL. Such a relief to all. I am not sure whether they will replace the dummy egg with the real one again now – I presume they will.”
Diamond looking out as a falcon flies down from the tower. You can see them if you squint! (light grey form half way down Diamond’s chest in green area).
BirdGuides Review of the week:
If you have cried over the plight of the Manatees in Florida, a new report is giving hope. Not raptors but I know many of you are concerned. We will take all the good news we can get the beginning of 2024!
Some good news I you are not a fan of wind turbines killing our birds.
“In Petit-Pressigny, in South Touraine, the PROJECT FOR EIGHT WIND TURBINE MASTS WAS REJECTED by the Versailles administrative court of appeal DUE TO THE PRESENCE OF A BLACK STORK’S NEST NEARBY.”
We close on a bit of a sad and confusing/conflicting note. Anna’s body should not have been incinerated without being signed off. Also it only takes 2-3 days to get the HPAI rush results so what is going on? The author is right to be frustrated…good gracious.
Bird Flu has now been detected in a Polar Bear.
On the plus side – we will soon be on pip watch for Dade County with Ron and Rose and Berry College with Pa and Missey! ’H’ reports that Superbeaks looks promising for a second clutch. Fingers crossed.
Thank you so much for being with me today. Take care. We look forward to having you with us again soon.
Thank you to the following for their notes, videos, posts, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog today: ’A, H, J’, Cornell Bird Lab, SW Florida Eagle Cam, Faxinating, Window to Wildlife, NEFL-AEF, FOBBV, Baibai, PIX Cams, PLO, Bart M, Eagle Cam, NZ DOC, Charles Sturt Falcon Cam, Bird Guides, and The Guardian.
Hello Mary Ann and all,
Every time I see Hugo, I can’t help but think what a runt ‘he’ is 😁. Thanks for the nest updates, we are expecting 5-6 inches of snow in PA, hope all keep warm. Go well.
Oh, Hugo Yugo is so tiny but the amount of energy. I hope she never grows.
How tragic that such a mistake was made concerning Anna’s body. With inconclusive Avian flu results, we’ll never know now. Also, I’ve wondered about why, if Anna and possibly Andria, had Avian flu, why their mates didn’t also get sick. ???
That is a good question. One answer might be that they ate the infected birds and their mates didn’t. We know from a couple of years ago that some females feeding chicks died with their chicks because of HPAI and the males didn’t. It is possible it is not HPAI for Anna but another cause. See Sunday 7 January blog.