UK Ospreys arriving, Flaco’s necropsy released…Tuesday in Bird World

26 March 2024

Good Morning Everyone,

Monday was my birthday, and I had a grand time with the most marvellous homemade Opera cake by my talented daughter. I took the day off – for the most part – from the birds. Today, it is full of information on Flaco and the perils that the Ospreys in the US are facing, plus more information on the impact of Avian Flu. Please read this information. I urge you to join Michael Academia and me in asking for a moratorium to be put in place for the fishing of Mahaden. There is only one nest that I am concerned about. Duke Farms continued to have prey delivery and sibling rivalry issues until this morning. Please see the latest narrative by Allison at the bottom.

We will start today, however, with the necroscopy of Flaco, the Eurasian Owl, that had been at the Central Park Zoo for some 13 years before his cage was vandalised and he escaped into the Central Park and Great Manhattan area where he lived for a year before colliding with a building. Please read the entire article. The summary of the findings are: “Bronx Zoo veterinary pathologists determined that in addition to the traumatic injuries, Flaco had two significant underlying conditions. He had a severe pigeon herpesvirus from eating feral pigeons that had become part of his diet, and exposure to four different anticoagulant rodenticides that are commonly used for rat control in New York City. These factors would have been debilitating and ultimately fatal, even without a traumatic injury, and may have predisposed him to flying into or falling from the building.”

We have also been waiting on the news about Andria who, after having at least two seizures, fell out of her nest on 8 December 2023 and died. Andria’s necroscopy report has also been released today. Andria was the mate of Alex at the E3 nest in the Kisatchie National Forest in Louisiana.

Michael Academia has asked me to spread the word about the horrific impact that a shortage of Manhaden will have on success of Osprey nests along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the US. I am absolutely more than happy to do this as this is something we know can be remedied and benefit our beloved fish eating raptors. The key is to stop the fishing. Not stop the overfishing, but stop all fishing o Manhaden. Chinese commercial fishing trawlers are depleting the stocks. (They are also overfishing in AustralAsia to the detriment of the seabirds including the Royal Albatross).

In 2023, we – ‘H’ and I – identified both weather events and the lack of Manhaden as the primary reasons that osplets starved on the nests in the NE US. I was also extremely critical that supplementary fish were not provided – and I am certainly thinking that it might well be time to set up ponds just for the ospreys. Why not ponds on golf courses? They need water features anyway and we now know that the photography of ospreys is in high demand – especially when they are catching fish – that there is great money to be made. That should be enough to entice some entrepreneur to help them – and line their pockets at the same time.

Other threats continue including Avian Flu which is now impacting the Penguins.

Telyn, the mate of Idris, arrived in the dark Monday early evening at her nest in Wales. Arrival time was 1929.

Geemeff caught the arrival of handsome Blue 022 at the Poole Harbour nest.

Lloyd Brown brings us the latest on Rita, the former mate of Ron at the WRDC nest who injured her wing and is now in Marathon, Florida.

There are now three eggs for the new couple at the Syracuse Red-tail Hawk cam on the campus of SU in New York.

These two at Decorah North should put a smile on anyone’s face.

Hope and Chandler are really spoiling their only eaglet. What a treat. Like all nests send positive images that both parents stay safe and prey is plentiful.

The two osplets at Moorings Park, like the two Decorah eaglets, melt one’s heart. Harry brought an enormous fish to the nest and one of the osplets got dragged a bit. Thankfully this little one was not injured!

‘MP’ reports that the Mum at J B Sands Wetlands who had an issue with her right leg or talon has not been seen for at least two days, but, thankfully, was on the top of the tower Monday evening. Dad finally brought in prey after showing JBS20 some food in the nest. It could have been like the WRDC where Ron and Rose tried to get R6 to self-feed. JBS20 did have a nice meal late on Monday.

The situation at Duke Farms continues to be dire. Please send positive energy. It appears to me that the male is no longer with us and that the female is having some difficulty not only with getting prey, but also with having food to feed herself and Leaper and leave some for Jersey. Jersey has had only a few bites of prey since Friday.

When nests like Bluff City or Duke change, after starting out so successful, it is good to stop and look at the exceptional ones like the West End. ‘A’ gives us her wonderful narrative of this Channel Islands wonder: “Meanwhile, as I turn on to the West End cam, I see a bunch of huge teenagers. Who are they and what did they do with those cute chicks? Oh wee WE is SO adorable. Check out the mid-afternoon feeding (from 15:10) being doled out by mum. The three actually appear to grow in front of your eyes during the 20 minutes or so of the feeding. There is some bonking on this nest and some chatters actually worry about wee WE!!! No need to have concerns about that little one. Bold and clever. Just too cute for words. I  adore wee WE – my favourite of the season so far (though little Willow was obviously also very special to me because I’m such a sucker for the tiny younger chicks). The two older chicks are the main instigators (Nessy may be the second hatch but that neck has always given it an advantage, so hatches one and two are very evenly matched indeed) but sometimes the little one starts a rumble it cannot finish. It has learned to duck, and tends to stay below the level of its bonking siblings. If it does end up the victim, it ducks and tucks quickly, then gets back to the table at the first opportunity. It has no hesitation in reaching over and in front of its siblings to get bites. All three look very strong and healthy. Thunder is fabulous and you know my feelings towards Akecheta. A dad right up there with the very best. An M15 in fact, and you know what a huge statement that is. But watching him with two three-hatch clutches has been very stress-free viewing. To me, that clearly indicates a good food source and excellent parents.”

Thunder knew precisely how to deal with the rivalry in the nest. Whenever it began, no matter when—even during a meal—she sat on the eaglets. That and plenty of prey brought by Akecheta put an end to the nonsense. It was simple and effective. I am surprised other nests do not use this as a behaviour-changing strategy.

Arthur and Big Red are incubating their three eggs – the last laid on the 23rd of March during a snowstorm in the dark. Cute little Arthur has a prey item for his much loved mate waiting for her return.

Monty and Hartley have their second egg. ‘SP’ says it was an easy labour!

PA Country Bald Eagles have three eaglets in their nest. They have had four in the past but three is actually quite unusual. Most eagles only lay two eggs.

Swampy and Meadow in Eagle Country continue to thrive.

Mason and Dixon at Superbeaks nest in Central Florida can now be seen over the edge of the other camera (side view). They have grown so much thanks to Pepe and Muhlady.

Bartlesville Oklahoma’s Sutton Centre has its first Bald Eagle hatch for 2024.

It is hatch watch for Liberty and Guardian at Redding. Three eggs were laid on Feb 15, 18, and 21. One broke, but which one is unknown. Egg #1 would be 40 days today, so it may be the one. Egg #2 would be 37, and Egg #3 would be 34. Fingers crossed for this devoted couple.

At Glaslyn, everyone is delighted as Elen arrived home this morning!

Blue 022 has been waiting for his mate CJ7 and she has arrived home to Poole Harbour safely. All is well.

As all of you know, I believe in intervention where it is warranted and can save lives of our precious birds. As our planet warms and the climate of various regions changes – including where I live where the temperature is expected to rise and the winters I recall but are rapidly changing will change even more – we will be called to help. Port Lincoln did that this past breeding season. As ‘A’ reflects, “The fabulous progress of Giliath and Bradley is testament to their actions – the pre-fledge period made it perfectly clear that, when required, the parents stepped up their fishing, even though there was a plan in case they didn’t. But they did fish, contrary to the dire predictions of the naysayers, and they certainly have taught their offspring to do the same. I do hope someone is writing up the Port Lincoln experiment for a scholarly journal, because we are sick of people telling us we shouldn’t ‘interfere’ to mitigate the hugely negative impacts of our interference in their habitats. What convenient hypocrisy that is. No interference when it comes to helping the birds but interference a plenty when it comes to destroying their food sources and habitats.”

This is why, when I look at where this post began, with a dire look at the lack of fish to feed the ospreys in the Atlantic region of the US, we must look at not only halting the fishing, but helping nests that can be helped in a manner like that undertaken at Port Lincoln. Barneghat Light might have had an entirely different outcome last year when the June storm hit. Cape May Meadows might not have lost all its chicks and the male – or at least the chicks – and how many others did we watch where a week of fish deliveries might have meant all the difference? Some will tell you that we do not need any more osprey researchers or that there are too many ospreys. I hear there are too many sparrows and European Starlings, but their numbers are plummeting – and, without knowing it, the same can happen to our magnificent raptors. Instead of waiting for that day, let us see what we can do to help. Whether it is habitat protection, wetlands creation, the final lid on the use of rodenticides, the refusal to use plastic, cleaning up the river bank, donating clean old sheets – whatever you can, please do it and get your friends and family to join in. Let us look up with pride and know that we helped. We were part of the solution, not the problem.

Duke Farms: “Mum woke up and immediately stood up at 06:19 and left the babies on their own to go hunting for food. Jersey is still alive this morning and appears to be clinging on, just. Leaper woke him up with a bonking as mum was preparing to leave. Thank god it was just a grab of the back of the neck and a bit of twisting. Not much at all, perhaps because she could tell the little one was almost gone. Bonking is not necessary. 

Just before 06:53 Jersey stands up and tries to flap his little wings. He is a little unsteady but that may well be because of the wing-flapping (he’s only three and a half weeks old). But he’s standing and stretching a little, which is a good sign. He’s not yet lying on the nest, dying. Oh mum, please bring back a fish big enough for the whole family. By 06:40 they are cuddled up together, sleeping. 

And at 07:01:37, mum is back!!! She has a good-sized fish and it is whole. She has not eaten any of it herself. Leaper of course immediately begins thrashing Jersey. Mum stops this by beginning to feed Leaper. The IR light goes off. Jersey is huddled over, back to the food, with Leaper leaning over him to feed, meaning that Jersey is unable to move or even stretch out towards mum. This is a good-sized fish. It should feed both chicks and a bit for mum. But will Leaper allow Jersey to eat anything? Will Jersey get the courage to try and eat? 

07:05:45 and Jersey tries to get onto its feet as Leaper moves towards mum. Just before 07:07, as we see Leaper’s crop expanding, DAD lands on the nest with some nest material. Not much use dad. This is precisely the moment we could have done with a second fish but omigod are we glad to see him. 

The feeding continues after Leaper puts in a very prolonged attack on Jersey. Dad leaves. The attack continues. Leaper is shaking the little one by the scruff of the neck like a rag doll. Jersey is hanging limp and appears to be avoiding real injury.; has done another assault on Jersey (07:07+) There is still some fish mum appears to have fed about two-thirds of it to Leaper (she may have had a few bites herself but not many or much). 

Shortly after -7:13 Jersey raises his head. He’s facing away from the food, but Leaper, now with a giant crop, turns to attack him yet again. It’s only a token peck, but Jersey tucks again. Mum searches for dropped pieces to eat herself. The fish is finished. Leaper has a giant crop. Jersey has not eaten a single flake. Mum has had a few bites but must still be very hungry. 

BUT DAD IS BACK. Let’s pray he brings in something else very very early this morning, otherwise, this will all come too late for Jersey. He is still looking fairly alert and is moving. I have not seen a PS this morning so far though. I am hoping he can make it through the day and that enough food will come in today to save his life, but it’ll be touch and go. Boy is dad a welcome sight. Maybe, just maybe, he is back in time….. Talons crossed for little Jersey. 

We watch in hope.” Then….”Shortly before 8am, and having moved away towards the feeding zone and away from Leaper, Jersey suddenly realises that mum has left some fish on the nest. He heads towards it, which alerts Leaper, who gets up, looks around and considers an attack..She does a couple of crop drops. Jersey moves towards the rails, away from Leaper, and looks over to the food. 

Leaper considers her options. She is VERY full. She flaps her wings, stretches, and turns away from Jersey, who cringes slightly but is still on his feet next to the leftovers,  which are SO close. He is keeping an eye on Leaper and is aware of her every move. He is very scared but he wants that food so badly. Leaper flaps and stretches again, moves two steps closer to Jersey but then stops a step away. Jersey prepares to tuck and turn away but Leaper stays where she is, so Jersey considers turning back towards the food. 

Eventually, just after 08:02, Jersey turns to the food. Leaper ignores this. Jersey examines the food wondering what to do next. Leaper turns to look and Jersey huddles over the top of the fish! Leaper turns away again. aJersey has a little nibble on the fish. Leaper is again interested, and flaps, disturbing Jersey. But Leaper is full, and again settles, allowing Jersey to resume his self-feeding efforts. He is getting quite a few small pieces. Leaper is totally uninterested, on the other side of the nest and facing in the other direction. JERSEY IS EATING. On his own. A life skill being learned early through sheer necessity. But this fish is open and an easy starter kit for the new self-feeder, which is such a blessing this morning. 

Oh he’s doing such a good job, holding the fish down and pulling off pieces. Go baby!!!”

Thank you so much for being with us today, and thank you to those who sent me the news. I am always so grateful. I am also so appreciative of Allison, who watched the Duke Farms nest when I needed a break. Take care all. See you soon!

Thank you to the following for their notes, letters, videos, articles, reports, images, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘A, Geemeff, H, J, MA, MP, SP’, WCS News, University of Georgia – Vet Medicine, The New York Times, The Bay Journal, BirdLife International, Dyfi Osprey Cam, Poole Harbour Ospreys, Geemeff, SU-RTH Cam, Raptor Resource Project/Explore.org, Ondabebe, Moorings Park Ospreys, JB Sands Wetlands Tower Cam, Duke Farms, Cornell RTH, SK Hideaways, PA Country Farm, Eagle Country, Superbeaks, and Sutton Centre Bartlesville.