22 May 2024
Good Morning!
My report is relatively short for today. There are hatchings out in Osprey World, eggs wanting to be laid, names given to new partners, and rain and high winds causing nests to collapse. Tuesday was full of drama and concern.
It was a cool day with the promise of a drop to single digit temperatures again. That sent me outside to check on the goslings that are around the nature centre – if there are any. I spotted five. There were lots of songbirds and I sat for two hours just soaking in the sun and listening. It is a good way to clear one’s head.
‘Something’ is going on in Osprey World. Last season, 2023, ‘H’ and I had no difficulty entering the data for 340 eggs. This year, I had hoped to get 500. Despite efforts to add new nests, there are only 266 eggs. Some of those are non-viable, like the ones in Severna Park. Some nests have adults but they have not laid eggs this year, like Barnegat Light. Others with three eggs have had only one chick hatch. For a bit, I will focus on ensuring that all entries are correct and each nest is accounted for. I would also like to ask your help again. It is impossible for ‘H’ and I to monitor every nest. We would not be standing if we even attempted half of them. If you have news of an osprey nest with eggs and I have not mentioned that nest, please let me know. If you see a hatch, let me know! Please. If you are monitoring a nest and you see there are issues, please let me know. Is anyone watching the Danville or Smallwood nests? Your help is critical to us getting the right figures. Thank you so much – and do not worry if you think someone else might have told me, tell me again anyway!!!!!!
Well, there were 4300 votes cast and Iris’s new mate is to be Finnegan! We can call him Finn. How delightful. A new era in the golden years of Iris’s life is opening up. And gosh, golly, am I wrong? Louis is staying away. I cannot wait to see these babies after all those years I said I didn’t want Iris to have to care for chicks. Dr Green feels that Finnegan will be a great provider for Iris and the chicks – and I agree with him.
Tragedy hit the Denton Homes nest in Iowa on Tuesday. Storms swept through the area and blew the nest off. All three eaglets are reported to be alive, but their condition has not been released at the time I am writing.
While we cannot predict where bad weather will hit, we have seen many nests tumbled by the weight of rain or blown off by winds, hurricanes, as in SW Florida, or general erosion. Sometimes, the eagles take care of these issues. Eaglets have died from nests being blown off or crumbling. The weather is not going to get better. Climate scientists tell us the storms will get worse. For those nests on streaming cams, would it not be a good idea to have an annual nest clean-up and reinforcement time when the birds are away? Remove all human debris. Check for weak branches. Consider a plan to reinforce the nest with wood. Nests that have cameras have access – cameras have to be maintained annually. In some cases it is impossible, but where it is, let’s consider helping our raptor families.
And guess what? Denton Homes was right there rebuilding the nest for The Majestics – they didn’t even blink an eye but got to work. First eaglet is OK. They are checking on the second. Let’s hope all three are fine. Mum and Dad will be anxious to have their babies back but right now, hats off to this marvellous company who showed they cared.
Wingsof Whimsey has the video:
Well, we knew it would happen and no preventative measures were taken during the off season at Lake Murray. Last night the GHO took darling Little. Shame on the person who did not take the time to put up those protective grates. My heart is broken this morning.
Idris and Telyn have their first Bob at the Dyfi Osprey nest in Wales! He is a cutie pie.
And it looks as if there is a pip in the second egg – and maybe on in the third at Dyfi.
We await the arrival of Bob Two at Dyfi.
Dylan and Seren’s Big Bob hatched on the 20th of May at Llyn Clywedog in Wales.
There is a pip for Louis and Dorcha at Loch Arkaig – at the same time, the Tawny Owl has struck again. This is not good. Thanks ‘Geemeff’ for this images.
Louis and Dorcha have their first baby for 2024 and Geemeff says it has doubled its size and is going to keep these two busy!
Meanwhile, at Rutland Manton Bay’s Osprey platform, Only Bob is doing exceptionally well after being tossed out of the egg cup and hit by a stick! Only Bob is in the Reptile phase. Notice the dark oily black on its head.
This is a nest that normally produces 3 or 4 chicks and this year we have only one.
The ‘dark’ male is wooing Blue NCO with lots of fish at Loch of the Lowes. Will our girl accept this new male to replace Laddie?
At Frenchman’s Creek the fish are disappearing. The fledglings continue to is it the nest and fresh fish are being brought in. I have seen two fledglings on the nest at a time but never three. Has anyone seen all three?
‘H’ reports that Captia had a brilliant Tuesday! “5/21, Captiva Ospreys: This family had a great day. Jack brought 7 fish to the nest for his family, and most were quite large. CO7 and CO8 had their crops filled many times throughout the day.”
‘MB’ reports that the nests of Coots in the canals of Amsterdam have plastic and other human garbage as 50% of their building materials. That is so sad. And entirely unnecessary!
Eagle Country put out a season wind up for Abby and Blaze.
The first year I watched the Golden Eagle nest Bucovina Wild in Romania, there was a prey shortage. It appears that this could be the case again this year. Second eaglet killed for food. Hoping the only eaglet will survive.
When I checked on Little at Lake Murray, he was right up at Lucy’s beak ready for some of the new fish delivery.
Later, I spotted Little with a nice crop.
The new male at Maryland Western Shore Old Town Home, Arthur, is a really good fisher. All three osplets are doing well.
The size difference at Patchogue is noticeable. Good thing these are experienced parents. Another nest – this year with two osplets, last year their fledged four.
Outerbanks has two chicks. They look alright. Frederick brought in five fish which Betsy turned into seven feedings! Way to go.
No feeding behaviour at Port of Ridgefield in WA yet.
Storks are being encouraged to breed in Korea and the news coming below is simply excellent – the first successful breeding attempt in Jeonnam. “South Jeolla Province, also known as Jeonnam, is a province in the Honam region, South Korea, and the southernmost province in mainland Korea.” Congratulations. The information below appears under the screen. I used Google Translate:
“When I looked through the telephoto lens, I saw the mother stork flapping its wings. Three baby storks hatched from eggs were also confirmed in the nest. It is believed that the stork couple that mated last winter laid eggs around March.
[Cho Ki-seok/President of Muan Animal and Plant Protection Association: I think they started building nests last winter (I think). They mated, laid eggs, and are now hatching. ]
The ring attached to the mother stork’s left leg to track its destination is clearly visible. Of the 23 pairs released by the Stork Ecology Research Institute last year, 16 pairs successfully hatched, and one of them appears to have built a nest in Naju.
This is the first time in 53 years that a successful breeding stork has been discovered in Jeonnam. It is analyzed that the population of storks has increased and their habitats have gradually expanded through the stork restoration project that began in 1996.
[Dr. Kim Soo-kyung/Yesan Ecological Park Wild Return Research Team: Storks that go down to winter in Jeolla-do are seen every winter, but this is the first time a breeding stork has been found in Jeollanam-do since the resident storks disappeared in 1971. ]
It appears that multifaceted measures are needed to ensure the stable habitat of storks, which are designated as a natural monument and a globally endangered species.
(Reporting: Go Ik-soo KBC, Video reporting: Park Do-min KBC, Screen provided by: Yesan Ecological Park, Production: Digital News Editorial Department)
The reverence for cranes and storks is widely held throughout all parts of East Asia.
At the ‘Hopeless’ nest in Newfoundland, Hope and Beaumont have their second egg on Tuesday, 21 May.
A potential tragedy is happening at the Amersfoort falcon scrape when Smallie got out of the scrape. ‘PB’ reports that it is raining and Mum is in the scrape with the other two. Smallie is believed to be in a covered area. — It has been a tough year for our birds. Send all good wishes for parents to feed Smallie, for him to get back in the scrape, or for human help to come.
Wednesday morning. Three in the scrape. I cannot see Smallie.
In San Jose, Monty and Hartley are doing dual feedings.
It was nice to see Larry and the chicks at Alcatraz today. It is a huge natural area for a scrape and often times they are not on the camera!
Mother and grandmother Annie looks over her new Fab Four at Cal Falcons.
The torrential rains occurring over much of Western Europe are having a devastating impact on the stork nests with many babies dying. This nest has one storklet (and they are lucky to have one) and more garbage than we should ever want to see.
The New York Times carries an article today on how the people of India are coping with the extreme heat. I am wondering how our feathered friends will fare? India is home to more birds than I have ever seen in one place. What will happen to wetlands? water? small animals that are prey for the larger raptors?
Thank you so much for being with me today. Do take care! We hope to see you soon and please – send me all the news!
Thank you to the following for their notes, comments, posts, articles, images, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘A, Geemeff, H, MB, PB’, All About Birds, Denton Homes, Wings of Whimsy, Heidi McGrue, Dyfi Osprey Project, Llyn Clywedog, The Woodland Trust, LRWT, Scottish Wildlife Trust, Frenchman’s Creek, Eagle Country, Bucovina Wild, Lake Murray, Maryland Western Shore Old Town Home, PSEG, Port of Ridgefield Ospreys, SBS News, Amersfoort Falcon Cam, SK Hideaways, Parks Conservancy, Cal Falcons, EN DIRECTO, and The New York Times.
