Good Evening Everyone,
There is some news coming in after I was away for all the day so I am sending out what would be my Saturday newsletter Friday evening.
Yira fledged at 0734. Prior to this, the female 2024 hatch of Xavier and Diamond had been ‘losing’ it in the scrape box. She was running, pulling at fluff, flapping her wings, and attacking the parents. She watched them fly and lure her. And she appeared to fly well. Here are some images from before that first flight:
The moment before she flew. She is strong and determined. It looked like the best fledge. Go girl!
Send good wishes for her survival!
Here is the video: https://youtu.be/igkrrKnhMjI?
There was a parent in pursuit as Yira flew down over the trees and circled back.
A magnificent flight!
It is Friday, and it is time for the second instalment of the Poole Harbour 2024 year for CJ7 and Blue 022 and their four chicks!!!!!!! https://youtu.be/HTsguUDXPPs?
It was historic. Never in the last 600 years did they have four chicks in an osprey nest in Poole and it is rare in other parts of the UK as well. It is also a challenge for all four to survive. CJ7 and Blue 022 worked together from the start to provide fish for this fast growing family. In the middle of the screen with its soft down – ever so tiny 5H6 – aside its big siblings already into the Reptilian phase. No one believed 5H6 would survive, but survive she did. What a scrapper.
I get lots of news. Many are from wildlife rehabilitation clinics that have patients that have survived or died. They send reminders for us and the first one is from World Bird Sanctuary in St Louis. It is still migration – we still have birds here to leave – and they have had so many window collisions. Please spread the word:
Window strikes are one of the most common causes of injury we see in our patients and are responsible for the deaths of millions of birds each year. Depending on the current lighting and angle, windows can look like more sky or a reflection of the surrounding woods rather than the hazard they are. You can help prevent window strikes by putting anti-collision decals on your windows. These decals are minimally visible to humans but reflect UV light making them more visible to birds. They are now available in a huge range of designs so you can choose a pattern that suits your style. Click the button below to see the various types of decals.
If you witness a bird colliding with a window, swiftly containing it is crucial for its survival. Many birds seem to recover and fly away shortly after the impact, only to succumb to their injuries days later. Gently place the bird in a box or pet carrier and keep it in a quiet, dark area while reaching out to a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. Even if the bird appears uninjured, a licensed rehabber can treat hidden injuries and monitor its recovery to ensure it’s safe for release.
California Condors are always on my mind. So few people are making such a huge difference to increase the numbers of these very endangered carrion eaters. The Ventana Wildlife Society has a fundraiser where every dollar you send is matched with some more on top of that. Here is the letter from the Director with the information in case you are interested.
At Collins Street, F23 spent the night with her last remaining chick in the scrape. https://youtu.be/3KDeB74gSZg?
Oh, dear. Mum brought in a tiny little part of a fish early on Saturday and by noon Dad had brought nothing. Fish Fairies please come! Kasse had none.
A reminder from Toronto.
One of my favourite wildlife rehabbers in the world – A Place Called Hope. It reminded me that we must have hope and believe in the birds. I wish someone had believed that Garrama had something to give to the world. Why isn’t there a service that addresses the right of physically challenged raptors like we have for people? (A reminder to put Garrama on the Memorial Wall – oh, geese. That is hard!)
Beau and Gabby continue to discuss the comfort of their nest in Northeast Florida.
Thank you so much for being with us today. ‘The Girls’ are all fine. Hugo Yugo recovered completely and is now trying to find the next string, cord, or cable that she could chew and swallow so she would get all the attention again! The Boyfriend has much competition. We watch for him to get his bowl outside but there are now 8 cats at the feeder, an increase in a week of three. The Starlings are still here along with the Crows and Blue Jays, but not as many Sparrows. They still keep me busy – and of course, smiling. We walked today in the forest with the chickadees and took my good friend with us. It is always a treat. At the end of doing that ‘forest bathing’ there is nothing in our minds but happiness and hope.
Take care everyone. I will be back Sunday morning.
Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, articles, images, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post: ‘A, J’, Charles Sturt Falcon Cam, SK Hideaways, Birds of Poole Harbour, World Bird Sanctuary, Kelly Sorenson and Ventana Wildlife Society, 367 Collins Street by Mirvac, Port Lincoln Osprey Cam, Bart M for the Obs Board at PLO, Toronto Wildlife Centre, A Place Called Hope, NEFL-AEF.
Mary Ann, thank you for your kind and honest words regarding Garrama. I’m also devastated and100 % with you. He was such a brave and feisty little bird and then humans decide “You wont be able to fly well so we put you down.” I will never understand something like that. I can only imagine how many birds with deformed spines are out there and somehow found ways to survive. And when I read “It was the best for him” in the Orange chat or in the FB group, I could instantly puke (pardon my French). Sometimes you have to question the persons who watch over these nests – scientists or not. Only good thing is: Garrama obviously didnt know about his spine deformation and just took off…fly high, little one!
Dear Dirk, Thank you so much for your letter. When I was born, my father had a three-legged dog. That dog did not know it wasn’t like all the others. In our neighbourhood, there is a three-legged cat and a deer! One of many. I was very moved by the new vet, the young woman from Arizona, who wants to give them all a chance. She very loudly and proudly said during the summer tour of Wildlife Haven, that the vets and scientists do not know enough. Wildlife rehabilitation is relatively new to farming medicine, etc. I find, sadly, that there are some places that will give the birds a chance and others who act quickly without waiting. Our dear little Garrama was, unfortunately, the victim of a quick needle. As you say, fly high, little one. — I am now concerned about Yira. The adults are not acting like they are training a fledgling so she is either hiding near a tree, sick and/or injured or grounded or has hit a building —– unless a wind took her 200 miles away. I fear she died yesterday. We will have to wait and see. The survival rate might be higher in those high rises in Melbourne. Who would have thought?