12 March 2026
Hello Everyone,
It is ‘lazy’ Thursday, a day in pjs with only walks with Toby and nothing more – no house cleaning, no extensive baking or cooking, and very little time spent on a screen. It is -2 C, but it is windy, and it feels like -14 C. We are expecting snow in three hours! Yes, more snow. The Girls and Toby have quickly caught on to Thursdays.
Toby is not modest. He will sometimes turn on his back on walks when some of his favourite – and very trusted people – stop to chat.
Missey and Hugo Yugo are really beginning to hang out more and more together.
I want to share with you the best video that Heidi has created since I have known her. It is a montage of R9 and R10 with a focus on R10’s fledge. We get to see the brothers follow one another with their eyes, some rivalry, and some great flying. There is a dual feeding in there and some humour, but it is also a great historical document of the Dade County nest. https://youtu.be/jNsQaARNK-Q?
SK Hideaways captured Monty and Hartley’s first egg! This is really exciting, as you know, there is a diminishing population of falcons in parts of California due to HPAI. https://youtu.be/IjFb8_sj-lU?
My favourite White-tailed eagle, Milda, has laid her first egg in Latvia! I have followed Milda for years, and I miss her mate Ramis from eons ago. The link to Milda’s camera is here: https://www.youtube.com/live/3wSd4iXrCw0?
It is spring in Latvia. Our friend Sassa Bird sent me a short video of the birds and birdsong in their garden in Latvia yesterday. It gives me hope that spring is coming to us! And our friend AK in Japan sent me a gorgeous photo of the Japanese White-Eye and the first plum blossoms.
There is some sadness looming. At the Golden Gate Audubon nest of Richmond and Rosie, Rosie is very late in her arrival. I fear I will have to add Rosie to the Memorial Wall. There is another female osprey taking some interest in that beautiful nest that Richmond has prepared.
Here is Richmond working on that nest: https://youtu.be/XxSY1Er3z7U?
I think it is interesting that Richmond is back working on a nest at the Whirley Crane instead of the light pole.
There is also good news in so many places.
I am so proud of the effort to save Moon Camp. The fundraiser “Save Moon Camp” campaign has now raised over $1.1 million in just a few weeks. Managed by the Friends of Big Bear Valley, this initiative aims to raise $10 million by July 31, 2026, to purchase and permanently protect 63 acres of bald eagle habitat near Big Bear, California, from a proposed luxury development.
My inbox has been bursting since E26 fledged. It was a beautiful flight – perfect and several returns. Everyone said that F23 would be so proud of her beautiful eaglet. I totally agree. It really was a tearful moment. M15 will indeed take care of his juvenile very well and teach them everything they need to live in the real world – including, I hope, NOT flying to get roadkill.
The snowstorm is coming. It is about an hour away, and it is time for me to keep my promise to Toby for a walk. Take care, everyone – thank you, as always, for being with us today. A big thank you to Heidi and SK Hideaways for their great videos. To the owners of the streaming cams, thank you for allowing us into the lives of these amazing birds. Thank you, Sassa Bird, for your images, and thank you, AK, for allowing me to share your photos of the Japanese White Eye with everyone in Bird World.
