10 December 2024
Good Morning Everyone,
Morning Update: Sad news coming from Melbourne. One of the CBD fledglings was found deceased on the 28th floor of a nearby building in Melbourne. Thank you, Heidi.
Challenges for urban falcons:
Peregrine falcon fledglings face many challenges in urban environments, including:
- Flying into buildings: Fledglings can collide with large, glass buildings, especially if they’re inexperienced.
- Falling from ledges: Fledglings can fall off ledges and get injured, killed, or lost.Their parents may not be able to hear them in the city.
- Predators: Fledglings on the ground are vulnerable to predators like dogs, people, and cars.
- Starvation and dehydration: Fledglings can starve or become dehydrated.
- Wind gusts: Fledglings can get caught in wind gusts.
- Pesticides and chemicals: Fledglings can be harmed by ingesting prey contaminated with pesticides or by exposure to flame retardants.
- Avian flu: Fledglings can contract avian flu.
- Competition: Fledglings face competition with other falcons.
Peregrine falcons are natural cliff-dwellers, but tall buildings in urban areas can simulate the rock ledges they prefer.However, urban environments can be dangerous for these birds. (AI generated answer to question)
Oh, the snow came down Sunday, covering everything. The garden received between 25-30 cm. Most of us have forgotten when we last had this amount of snow. Thankfully, a lovely young man will be here Monday evening or Tuesday morning to shovel for us. He came and now it is Tuesday morning and it is snowing again!
The snow did not daunt the garden birds and animals. Brock came at 1720 for his dinner – thankfully, we cleared the area where he eats earlier. My heart aches for all the domestic pets dumped, just like this snow! More and more reports come in daily in our city about abandoned pets. If you know anyone considering getting a ‘pet’, whether a dog, cat, rabbit, parrot, budgie, hamster, etc, help them understand that the vet and food bills are high. Pets are not just fun; they are a responsibility for life – to care for and love.
The Guardian is publishing an article on Monday about the trafficking of exotic animals including these two gorgeous toucans. The horrific things that humans do to animals to make a profit. If you see exotic animals posted on social media sites for sale, please take the time to phone the authorities and alert them. You can save the life of one or more wild animals that did not ask to be stuffed in a box or a suitcase without food or water to be sold to someone so that they can have ‘something unique’. This practice reminds me of the egg and animal collectors who set up private zoos and curiosity areas eons ago.
The big news continues to be the arrival of the first egg for Gabby and Beau on Sunday. Beau saw his egg and then did his turn at incubation. Oh, we have to hope that this year he will be the perfect mate and care for these precious eggs. Gabby has been waiting since Samson disappeared to be a Mum again.
Beau on incubation duty!
Gracie Shepherd gave a great overview of the events!
Beau sees their egg for the first time. https://youtu.be/MwtLmgHhPu4?
Let us all send good positive energy so that all goes well at this nest.
Tonya Irwin posted an image of Anna who laid her first egg at the Kistachie Forest nest with her mate Louis a year ago. We lost both eagles in 2024 – what a sad year it was.
The Majestics continue the work on their nest in Decorah, Iowa. https://youtu.be/MwtLmgHhPu4?
Harvie and Ellie were at their nest on the property of Farmer Derek in Kansas.
Thunder at the West End on Monday.
Jackie and Shadow continue playing with sticks at their nest! https://youtu.be/PI42-LsoJsQ?
Two fish come into Port Lincoln early. One from Mum and the second from Dad. Kasse took the first fish and didn’t share a pinch of it. Wilko gets the second. Mum needs some fish!
I hope the fairies come. It is a gusty day and Mum and Dad need to eat. Indeed, the family needs a good chow down.
Kasse with her fish.
Wilko with his fish.
Dad comes in with a partial fish at 1030 and Kasse takes it! Let’s hope that there are many more fish today.
The day at Port Lincoln ended well with everyone having a good feed before lights out. Kasse is exceptional at holding on to fish and not letting Wilko get them!
Another posting from South Australia. This time I am including this posting because of the fish. Look at the size. Massive fish.
Kielder Ospreys has some exciting news coming form Jean-marie Depart in Senegal.
‘B’ has sent us a lovely article that appeared about Annie and her falcon family. I know you will enjoy it. Thank you, ‘B’.
Sunnie Day posts images of the new platform at the Venice Golf and Country Club.
Looks finished! The cam is up and running. All we need are ospreys.
Continued use of rodenticides in Scotland is causing uneasy question periods.
Bird World continues to be rather quiet. We wait for Kasse to fledge and for some more eagle eggs.
Calico’s First Tip of the Day. Calico knows what it is like to have a loving family and be dumped. We are so grateful that she and Baby Hope are living with us, that they are safe, warm, and with full tummies when they go to sleep at night. Each of us wishes that all kitties could be so fortunate. Calico wishes it more than anyone as she knows what it is to be hungry and cold.
Calico’s Second Tip of the Day. So many issues for outdoor animals. Spread the word in how to care for them in the winter if you find one in need of help.
Calico’s Third Tip for the Day is about feeding birds in the winter!
Thank you so much for being with us today. Please take care. See you soon!
Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, images, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘B, Heidi’, Peregrine Falcons Melbourne, Lucy M Rowland, The Guardian, NEFL-AEF, AEF Nest Cam Highlights, Gracie Shepherd, Denton Homes, Farmer Derek and Kansas Bald Eagle Cam, IWS/Explore.org, SK Hideaways, Port Lincoln Ospreys, Bart M and the PLO, Peter Zach, Kielder Ospreys, nbclosangeles.com, Sunnie Day, VGCCO, Raptor Persecution UK, Hungry and Homeless Cat Rescue, Lo Thomas, Tamarack Wildlife Centre
