Heat hitting US Osprey Nests…Tuesday in Bird World

9 July 2024

Good Morning Everyone,

‘The Girls’ bring me so much comfort when the days are sad and long. I cannot imagine a world without them or Mr Crow screaming at me or the little squirrels running around the deck and the feeders. They help to bring a sense of calm when things just seem chaotic and well, bloody terrible.

Mr Crow knows precisely where to position himself above the conservatory to see if I am home! Then he begins cawing like I am pulling his tail feathers out for cheesy dogs. I know know that he also knows my car and starts calling the minute I get home if his dish is empty.

Look at Calico’s ears and expression. She is on the foot stool. She knows that Baby Hope is going to pounce any moment! Can anyone find Hugo Yugo?

A year ago, Calico’s kittens were one week old. She was scurrying back and forth from eating at our house to caring from them about a block away under a person’s deck. Only one survived, Baby Hope. I have no idea how many were born as it was impossible to get under the deck. We had to wait til they were older. It was a challenge to socialise Baby Hope but she is now the sweetest thing.

Calico watching the baby birds outside.

The Girls want to send each of you a flower. Our Hibiscus plant is bursting with gorgeous pink.

I am going to start with something to put a smile on our faces – a gregarious third hatch that survived with two brothers, Bazza and Falkey, on the Port Lincoln Nest – because, as chicks, they cooperated. As fledglings, never when it came to fish, but while they were on the nest they were sweet and considerate. It is Ervie. Dear Ervie.

There has been no sighting of Bazza since he left the nest (red band), and Falky was seen some 350 miles north (yellow) which always made me think Falky might have been a female. Other than the one sighting there has never been another word about Falky. We have, however, gotten great joy out of Ervie fishing with Dad at Delamere, sitting on top of the pine tree, and flying back and forth to various other areas around the Port Lincoln barge including his own nest. Thank you for staying so we could see you, Ervie – or being within sight of a photographer! You are adored.

And another happy moment. It is so wonderful to hear that Nox is doing well. Isn’t he cute?

There has been tremendous sadness within the Osprey populations this season, in the same way, that the Eagles had a very bad year. On Monday, I received word of Darling dying, and then one of my researchers, ‘VV’, who monitors 17 nests in Maryland, reported that the season was over. Every chick had died, or the nest had failed. The losses are attributed to a lack of essential fish and very hot weather. And predation or intrusion in one. We are also wondering about other underlying causes. Of those nests, the geese broke the eggs in one; in another, the eggs rolled out. Neither couple laid a second clutch. Only five nests had chicks this year, within those, nine known osplets have perished. The other nests failed completely. 

Many of us are just worn out and wish the end of Osprey season would come so that we could control our emotions. I thought last year was bad in the NE United States but I fear that this year will be far worse along with other nests in the NW.

One has to imagine that so many nests are unmonitored and the losses are there, we just do not see them. The area that suffered the Nor’easter last June is set to have as many deaths this year from the extreme heat and lack of food for the Ospreys. I will include all reports from the area as they come in – probably nearer to the end of August.

Hearing this news just makes it more important that the Menhaden that the Ospreys (amongst others) depend on for the primary food source is protected not depleted by the Canadian company, Omega! Or any other company from any other country. The fishing of Menhaden must stop. How we gather ourselves together to start a movement like Rachel Carson did for DDT I am not sure – it is all politics – but we need a united voice, every little group and each person – to try and provoke change.

They have basically cleared out the lower Chesapeake where so many nests are. So when I report on these little fish and the movement of the ships we need to realise that our ospreys need only approximately 500 fish for a family of three chicks and two adults (figured out by John Williams at the llyn Clywedog nest doing counts of Dylan’s deliveries). These ships take 112M tonnes.

The deaths that you will read about below are attributed to a lack of fish which is hydration for the chicks and then the heat kills the babies off. Think about it. Write to all your representatives…it is an election year in the US.

William Dunn posted the net set. Here it is enlarged – near Tangier Island.

The states that have coastal waters where the Menhaden are being decimated and the wildlife, not just ospreys, dying because of it should get together. New Jersey you should be joining Virginia and so should you Delaware, it seems. And Maryland! Make some noise. Get a different angle on this and embarrass these companies and those people funding and supporting them.

Beaumont brought in a huge fish. Hope ate. I watched. She did not feed the little ones lined up wanting some breakfast.

Sweet little babies with a piece of fish in the nest needing shade and food.

The kids were fed at around 1220.

The chicks at Llyn Brenig in Wales have been ringed, one male and one female.

Chicks ringed at Foulshaw Moss, too, if you missed it.

More great news. As you know, I am a great fan of Isabella Tree and the Rewilding Project at Knepp Farm. She has been the inspiration behind our ‘wild’ urban garden that is full of hundreds of birds, some rabbits, Red and Grey squirrels, along with a few feral cats and a raccoon. Knepp Farm had tremendous success reintroducing White Storks to the south of England after a 600 year absence.

There has been tremendous sadness within the Osprey populations this season, in the same way, that the Eagles had a very bad year. On Monday, I received word of Darling dying, and then one of my researchers, ‘VV’, who monitors 17 nests in Maryland, reported that the season was over. Every chick had died, or the nest had failed. The losses are attributed to a lack of essential fish and very hot weather. And predation or intrusion in one. We are also wondering about other underlying causes. Of those nests, the geese broke the eggs in one; in another, the eggs rolled out. Neither couple laid a second clutch. Only five nests had chicks this year, within those, nine known osplets have perished. The other nests failed completely. 

I am going to literally run through some of the nests that we are primarily concerned about because of the heat today or past performance. Heidi will report on Osoyoos.

Port Ridgefield: ‘BHA’ reports that the Only Bob and adults were alright Monday morning. The cam has been off for the most part so there is no record of fish deliveries or images.

Cowlitz: ‘PB’ has reported to me for the entire day and Dad is keeping up with the fishing despite the extreme heat. Little has had some good feeds and a big crop. Despite the 98 degree temperatures, Dad has been bringing fish to the nest and Little has had a nice crop.

‘PB’ reports that a nice fish came on the nest early Tuesday morning and Little had about 60 bites. Thanks so much ‘PB’. This is a nest that is of real concern in this heat.

Clark PUD: Dad has brought in at least 3 fish during the day. Could not determine size. Only Bob was fed and also did some self-feeding and wingersizing.

Steelscape: Dad was busy bringing in fish while the temperatures were in the high 60s. Those times were 0622, 0843, and 1022. The 0843 was a nice sized fish. The Osplets appear to be alright. Mum was rather frantic looking for dad in the hot winds to deliver fish. After it hit 90, no fish came to the nest. ‘PB’ reports a fish at 1711. All three fighting for bites and Mum, too.

McEuan Park: We have lost another of the original four osplets due to heat and lack of food. Only two oldest left now. Please send positive energy to all of these nests.

Seaside: Bruce has been bringing in nice fish. The kids had a trout and another big flat fish, both in the afternoon. I didn’t check the morning. The nest looks good. It is 93 F at Seaside and Sand Point.

Sand Point: Offline.

Minnesota Landscape Arobretum: Dad is such a good provider. Mum loves her fish but she also fed her only Bob and they did fine on Monday. It was 79 F with 6 mph winds. Oh, many nests would love that! Rains came in the afternoon.

Charlo Montana: Lola is an excellent mother and Charlie has done well to get fish on the nest. Big Bob has been intimidating Little Bob at times but the baby managed to get a crop a couple of times. It is 93 degrees with a heat advisory that extends to Friday. Lola has worked hard to keep her babies shaded.

Loveland:

Colonial Beach: Betty and David doing a good job keeping those two osplets hydrated and full!

Hellgate Canyon: Iris worked overtime to keep her two babies cool on a hot day. Finn brought in fish – not as many during the high temperatures, but nice big fish. The nest is under a heat advisory with temperatures rising to 101 F. Send Iris all your love.

‘H’ report:

7/8 Osoyoos osprey nest:  There were six fish brought to the nest.  The first fish at 0441 was tiny and it was only a 3-minute meal, Little was fed, but I could not see how much.  At 0502 Olsen delivered another whole tiny fish that allowed for a 4-minute feeding, and Little ate 11 bites of fish.  0717 was another 4-minute fish meal, and while Little was not beaked, there was simply no room at the table.  The fourth fish at 0750 was larger, and Soo fed Big and Middle for 10 minutes.  Little was beaked by both siblings a few times, and did not eat.  More than 11 hours passed before Olsen delivered the fifth fish at 1922.  It had been a very hot and sunny day with the osplets just trying to stay in Mom’s shade.  The temperature at 1500 was 101F/38C.  The fish at 1922 was a small headless fish that Soo fed for 7 minutes.  Little was prevented from eating.  

What happened next still boggles my mind, and I am still shaking my head.  Olsen delivered the sixth fish at 2015.  It was headless, but it was the largest fish of the day.  Soo started feeding, and Little was beaked.  At 2020 there may have been an intruder issue and Soo left.  She returned at 2021, but did not resume the feeding.  At 2023 Soo left the nest again.  She returned at 2026 and resumed the feeding.  At 2027 Little appeared to be getting some bites of fish on the opposite side of Soo, but I could not tell how much.  Soo stopped feeding at 2028 and flew off again.  Little and a sibling were trying to nibble on the fish.  Soo returned to the nest at 2037 with a lovely bunch of green and orange leaves.  How nice.  Little had a pretty good PS at 2038.  There was still quite a large piece of fish remaining at the 12-o’clock position on the sticks.  Soo resumed feeding at 2040, Little was beaked.  Soo stopped feeding Big and Middle at 2043, and she left the nest at 2047.  As darkness started to fall, there was still lots of fish remaining.  Little again tried to self-feed on the fish, but was incapable of doing so.  Soo and Olsen both arrived at the nest at 2131, and Olsen had something in his talons, but I could not really see what it was.  No one acted like Dad had just delivered a meal, so he must have brought some nesting material.  A big piece of fish is exactly what was needed for Little to have a chance to eat.  But, it just didn’t work out.  Still shaking my head.  High temperature predicted on 7/9 for Osoyoos is 104F/40C.  It will be sunny with light winds.

7/8 Patuxent River nest:  The big news of the day… Chick #2 ‘Middle’, became the first osplet at this nest to fledge, at 0824.  She made a nice landing back on the nest at 1043. Congratulations Middle.

7/8 Captiva:  Ding ate her two small needlefish on 7/7, and she made several additional attempts to catch a fish that day.  This morning, at 0957, Ding dove into the water below the nest, and she did not return all day.  Perhaps she is exploring, and seeking a better spot to fish.  Ding knows that she is on her own now.  You can do this, Ding.  You are a strong and capable young osprey.  You will find your fish.

Geemeff’s Summary for Loch Arkaig and The Woodland Trust:

Daily summary Monday 8th July 2024

Another day with no fish, and no sighting of Louis on the nest, although he was heard nearby, and seen occasionally by LizB. Dorcha spent a great deal of the day on the nest, fish-calling loudly and getting no response. An intruder was seen circling around in the foreground while Dorcha mantled and alarm-called on the nest – Louis was heard alarm-chipping but wasn’t seen flying after the intruder. Something is still not right with him.  Dorcha paid a visit at sunset looking very damp as if she’d been fishing, but stayed on her perch and it was difficult to see if she’d been successful. She returned unexpectedly even later, and this time she was fish calling but got no response and soon quietened down. She flew off after 11.30pm. No activity on Nest One other than a quick visit by some songbirds. Weather was mostly dry today with a few light rain showers, tonight’s forecast is a clear sky and light winds, with light rain and a gentle breeze tomorrow day time changing to a weather warning for heavy rain in the evening.

00.45 Neither cam has switched over yet. (day cam): Nest One (02.52.46); Nest Two (03.20.53)

Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/dabgX9wS5JE  N1 Three little birds singing sweetly 07.37.40

https://youtu.be/d_21ncEqyMU N2 Dorcha on the nest and Louis nearby deal with an intruder 11.13.20

https://youtu.be/FcIBmfScUJ8  N2 Still no fish from Louis: Dorcha gives up calling and departs 13.49.28

https://youtu.be/VfO3nAk5XNQ  N2 Dorcha pays a sunset visit looking wet – been fishing? 22.13.28 (zoom)

https://youtu.be/Z37mRFWwIW0 N2 Dorcha unexpectedly returns and she’s fish calling 23.08.43

Watch the Loch Arkaig Osprey livestream 24/7 and join in the conversation here:

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/osprey-cam

Betsy and Frederick’s osplets are looking really, really good at the Outerbanks Nest.

Missing Thunder and Akecheta’s eaglets. Oh, they look good. What a wonderful place to be an eagle – even with the DDT. You can get a glimpse here in Lady Hawk’s video:

Archie is getting some rest! Way to go Archie. You were amazing.

Second hatch at Dorset Hobby Nest!

Thank you so much for being with us. Please stay cool, please take care. See you soon.

Thank you to the following for their reports, notes, announcements, posts, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘BHA, Geemeff, H, J, PB, VV’, Port Lincoln, California Raptor Centre, William Dunn, Newfoundland Power, Brenig Osprey Project, Cumbria Wildlife Trust, White Stork Project, Cowlitz PUD, Clark PUD, Steelscape, McEuan Park, Seaside Osprey Cam, MN Landscape Arboretum, Charlo Montana, Pam Breci, Colonial Beach, Hellgate Canyon, Osoyoos, Patuxent River Park, Window to Wildlife, Geemeff and The Woodland Trust, OBX Osprey Cam, Lady Hawk, SK Hideaways, and Dorset Hobby Cam.