18 April 2026
Hello Everyone,
It is time for one of those ‘heart-to-heart’ chats with everyone who ‘only’ watches US Osprey nests. You have wrung your hands and cried when the baby died at Moorings Park. You have torn your insides out watching Achieva with the first baby dying, Jack not delivering enough fish, and now Mum having to fish because she is starving. Will Middle make it? We don’t know. It is difficult to watch osplets starve on a nest. Each of us wants every nest and every chick to thrive.
I study osprey mortality. The rate and cause of death vary from region to region. When I began my study, the top COD was siblicide – one sibling killing another. Normally, this is triggered by a lack of food, but there have been some exceptions due to food and dominance. I doubt if anyone watching the nest with Zoe at Port Lincoln (or Solly, also at Port Lincoln) will forget the eldest female eating and eating – much more than seemed possible and then killing her two siblings. Port Lincoln obtained permission to supplement the feed for the chicks on the nest in subsequent years. At Achieva, Mum is desperate. It is hot, and she leaves for only about ten minutes at a time to try her hand at fishing. She normally brings back a catfish, her legs wet. This is a huge risk for these young babies due to heat and predators, but when everyone is starving, what other choice does she have?
It is the last of the fish. Little will get nothing. Big got most of two fish.
Little had 64 bites of fish – Heidi is counting – . Still, Jill is fish-calling and fish-calling. She knows they are in danger of losing Little. She’s a good Mum.
We do not know why Jack does not deliver more fish. I have not kept up with the weather and drought conditions in the region this year. But heat and drought certainly impact fishing. Intruders taking fish from ospreys is another cause. Simple lack of fish is another – again, I wish I knew this area better. For years, there has been speculation that Jack might even have another family to feed. We simply don’t know, and speculating doesn’t change the situation.
Achieva has always been a nest where I remember the difficult year when Tumbles triumphed. Heidi and I sat up and each of us counted every bite that baby got. We monitored when Diane changed her mind and brought in a catfish at dark when the older two were sleeping and fed her baby. Tumbles was her nickname and she was feisty and smart. She ate off the old bones hidden deep in the nest. She scrambled around the rim to get to Mum’s beak to get some food. She squeezed into tight spaces to get bites so the older, much bigger siblings couldn’t get her. It was horrible to watch. At least five times, we thought Tumbles was a ‘goner’. Once, she had no fish for 79 hours. But she was a survivor. Out in the real world, ospreys cannot be timid. There is too much competition for so little in so many places in North America. So when you see a Tumbles, you always remember them – the drive to live was exceptional.
Each nest offers us a learning experience, whether it thrives or struggles. But often, our personal lives leave us emotionally worn out. We can’t stand to see another one starve to death, so below I have some recommendations for highly successful nests.
Nothing came.
In contrast, Sunnie Day reports on the Moorings Park chat: “8 fish today. 9:44, 10:38, 1:08, 2:42, 3:15, 4:19, 5:02,, and 6:31. All from Harry.” That is what needs to be happening when the chicks are bigger at Achieva. (And it won’t, believe me).
My recommendations: The first one is the Dyfi nest of Idris and Telyn in Wales. Idris is known as ‘Daddy Longlegs’. He delivers whoppers. He feeds Telyn. They are great parents. Then there is Dylan and Seren up at Lyn Clywedog. That reservoir is stocked annually with 45,000 fish (or so I was told several years ago). Then there is Poole Harbour, with CJ7 and Blue 022. They are going after some record for raising four osplets over and over again. There are others, including Rutland’s Maya and Blue 33, but there have been accidents with fish, and we have had a little one die now and then. They remain super parents still.
Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Friday 17th April 2026
There is only one story of any note – the return of Louis, the dominant male of Loch Arkaig since 2017. As hopes started to fade due to his exceeding his previous latest arrival date by nearly a week, he arrived in a blaze of glory onto Nest Two at 17.57.42 this evening. Dorcha, his mate since 2021, wasn’t around and he landed without his usual soft chirrup so who’s to say they hadn’t already met up earlier in the day. We’ll never know but what is certain is that all of us watchers are thrilled, amazed and delighted to see Louis home safely and looking so well. In other news, the potential rival male JJ4 wasn’t seen today, and Garry LV0 was quickly sent packing when he intruded on Dorcha today. He returned to his own nest, Nest One, on a surfboard, and didn’t bring any fish for his mate Aurora 536 so his tally remains at fifteen fish to date. How quickly will Louis overtake that? It will be great fun to watch. Welcome home Louis!
Today’s videos:
https://youtu.be/eYlsi09qH-w N2 Garry LV0 is sent packing when he intrudes on Dorcha 12.56.33
https://youtu.be/V1lhpRuez_4 N1 Surf’s up! Garry rides in on a surfboard 15.11.48
https://youtu.be/MPRFalo0lZ0 N2 LOUIS! Welcome home! (short version) 18.57.42
https://youtu.be/eQjTgjzbehc N2 The triumphant return of Louis (long version) 18.57.42
https://youtu.be/oKMfFQfufoQ N2 Is Dorcha aware of Louis’ return? 19.33.07
Bonus watch – our last look at Louis before he left on migration 2025. Fortunately, not our final glimpse of him!
https://youtu.be/uxqhDYAhY-I 21 August 2025 (slo-mo zoom)
Blast from the past, this day in previous years:
https://youtu.be/d3Y9CGoYsvY N1 Bold Hoodie takes advantage of Aila’s absence 2020
https://youtu.be/UPtm4jmy9Zo N1 Louis finally manages to subdue a tricky stick 2021
https://youtu.be/mZYG9XNCof8 N2 How to tell Louis & Dorcha apart 2022
https://youtu.be/NIeUiK4R_r8 N2 Noisy helicopter gets Louis & Dorcha’s attention 2023
https://youtu.be/GITGVoOkg2o N1 & 2 Hercules caught on both nest cams 2023 (split-screen zoom)
https://youtu.be/n974C1G3zig N2 Moody cloudy sunset 2023 (time lapse)
https://youtu.be/SGa5_hOLmmg N2 The second egg arrives! 2024 (zoom)
https://youtu.be/oJc06aWLkAg N1 Garry LV0 brings fish but no one comes for it 2024
https://youtu.be/DUPOg7KJH_U N1 Affric calls for fish but Garry brings a branch 2024
https://youtu.be/94MaMt_CENM N2 Dorcha carefully tends the egg 2025
https://youtu.be/CnwSIqV7HJ0 N2 Dorcha nibbles the first fish before leaving Louis to egg-sit 2025
https://youtu.be/d4JCzUL6RlA N1 Garry LV0 brings bedding and stays to survey his territory 2025
Why not come and join the lively community at Woodland Trust’s Osprey forum, it’s friendly, free and everyone’s welcome:
https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/osprey-cam
Champagne corks popped around the world when Louis touched down. Louis has lost no time making up for being late. Fish and mating continue….eggs in a week?
SK Hideaways Videos, 10-16 April 2026
John Bunker Sands, Combine, TX
Courtesy John Bunker Sands Wetland Center Eagle Cam
Eagle Tower Camera 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wdo7BzUU_g
Eagle Tower Camera 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEDb2KqvvyQ
JBS24 Fledges ✈️ No Branching Required 2026 Apr 16
Video: https://youtu.be/zTOaO_i_Pow
JBS24 Prepares to Fledge ✈️ Seems in No Rush 🐢 2026 Apr 11-12
Video: https://youtu.be/ajdSObK-Yl0
Fraser Point Eagles, Santa Cruz Island, CA
Courtesy Institute for Wildlife Studies | explore.org | Fraser Point Eagles Cam Ops
Nest Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OY4V_AppZ6s
Even when Sasha, Zuma & Ryder sport bulging crops, Cruz & Andor keep the snacks coming 😅 2026 Apr 15
Video: https://youtu.be/KG85oPVrqHI
FOBBVCAM Eagles, Big Bear Valley, CA
Courtesy FOBBVCAM | Friends of Big Bear Valley
Nest Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4-L2nfGcuE
Wide View Cam (Cam 2): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41eq4VzCYc4
LIVE Recap & Observations https://bit.ly/3Md8TSz
Jackie & Shadow had their talons full with snow, predators, and 2 growing fluff balls ~ 2026 Apr 14
Video: https://youtu.be/as3C9WW-3ho
Heads No Longer Bobbling 😵💫Chicks Mind Manners for Dad Shadow 🐥🐥 2026 Apr 10
Video: https://youtu.be/BcgiDxD_LZM
Two Harbors, Catalina Island, CA
Courtesy Institute for Wildlife Studies | explore.org | Two Harbors Eagles Cam Ops
Overlook Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yx7RKxpyzQ
Eagle Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5T2eHM8tcI
Cholyn and Chase ~ Sole Soulmates 🥰 3-1/2 Minutes of Bliss ✨ 2026 April 11
Video:https://youtu.be/rNskNmlWX70
San Jose CH Falcons, San Jose, CA
Courtesy San Jose City Hall Peregrine Falcon Cam
Nest Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBSxPjy5sow
Ledge Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pp9TisLmLU
Roof Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQLhmV6bP6o
Monty’s 3 a.m. visit bought him a 9-1/2-hour egg shift ⏰ 2026 Apr 10
Video: https://youtu.be/y6QpOcGr21Q
Third egg of the season for Wendy and Richmond came today! Here is the video: https://youtu.be/IxX39moYIYY?
Oh, the comings and goings at Iris’s nest. I cannot keep up with it! Nor can I tell Louis from one of the visitors – or maybe it is just Louis every time I check!
So many things are happening. Pip watches here and there…Peanut is back on the nest, Lola has an injury on her wing from the owl, etc. It is hard to keep up! We have been cleaning out a room today and had a short, brisk walk. The temperature with the wind was -15 C. Not so nice. But it was a good day. And I can tell you that the alarms work! Don got up this morning and decided to go outside. The siren went off. Yes, it did give him a bit of a fright, which I think will make him think twice about touching that door!!!!!!!!! It is nice not to have to take keys any longer but my real hope is that spring arrives soon.
Take care everyone.
Thank you to everyone who has been writing to me about Achieva – ‘MP, PB’, to Heidi for keeping on top of the bite count there, to SK Hideaways for their videos, to Geemeff for the daily summary and to everyone who posted images and information on FB, gosh, I am grateful to you. Thank you so very much. As always, we are grateful to the owners of the streaming cams that allow us to witness the lives of these raptor families.
Thank you Mary Ann for these updates. I’m worried about the Achieva nest too. Don’t someone actually supplement feed there in the past ? If they could just put it on the ground and maybe mommy Osprey would get it for her and the little ones. I look forward to the other European nests !
Thanks and have a good and Blessed Sunday!
Linda
I know this about Jack and Achieva nest, when Diane was there the last year Jack brought a lot of fish after the eggs hatched. The female today waited to give any bites to #2 until the small end of the tail had been reached. #2 didn’t have a crop when the food bites were gone.
Growing raptor chicks, including ospreys, require more food relative to their body weight than adults, and a brood of chicks can require a higher total volume of food than a single adult needs to survive. By contrast, an individual adult osprey typically needs only one 10-inch fish per day to maintain its own body weight. Mom may not be getting what she would like, but she gets pretty near what she needs. It would take longer for her to lose anything formidable, weight wise, than a chick would by not getting what they need. Chicks grow from hatchlings to full-sized juveniles in only a few weeks, requiring high-protein diets to support rapid structural development. I would think mom knows this and would feed a little more to chick #2 than she does. All she needs to do is stop eating sooner than she does and feed #2. After chicks fledge mom can then go and start to build herself back up. I’ve seen osprey moms do this. They feed their chicks first, and then what’s left they take,
Also, the achieva nest didn’t have but two chicks hatch this year. There is no middle. Jack has so disappointed me. He didn’t even show up but twice yesterday, once withOUT a fish, and second with a small pathetic fish that he ended up taking with him when he saw mom had already obtained a fish herself.
We all wish Jack success with great fishing from here-on-out.