31 July 2026
We were all excited when we learned that Uno would be provided with fish so that he could survive to fledge. Without parents and no food, he would have perished.
Sadly, after eating three fish yesterday, Uno was found dangling by a talon from the nesting material, dead this morning. I am so very sad to bring this devastating news to you. It seems like all I have done is cry this year. I wish each one of those tears had been a fish to feed a little one.
My heart – and I know yours, too – is very heavy right now.
Please scroll down for the update.
https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/united-states/new-jersey/?fbclid=IwY2xjawTZ7QFleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFrbUQ5QkJFb080SjM4V1hVc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHuPEV8iaIFMCGt-spFkfW53eSM8s1QN7Wqgfu9kPDAc1kiP_mWhMbItPj_Hm_aem_O_QijsTxJO1qeBZKGAfIiQ
Thank you to the New Jersey Wildlife Conservation and Nature Conservancy for trying. The South Cape May Nest had its adults disappear, leaving this only surviving osplet on its own with no food and no hope for any – and then the fairies came.
I will not speculate if the fish came too late. I am glad that they reached out with fish and tried to save this little innocent.
Thank you to Pam Breci – for the note and for loving this baby so much.
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Published by maryannsteggles
I went to the UK as a Commonwealth Scholar in 1990 and received my PhD from the University of Leicester in 1993. After three decades of university teaching, I retired to devote my time to the study of raptor behaviour. I am particularly interested in Ospreys and am working on a long term project on third hatch survival and siblicide in these raptors. My blog is a result of a fascination with my local wildlife and the desire to encourage others to love and care for birds! I live on the Canadian Prairies and prior to the pandemic travelled a lot. I am questioning the use of aviation fuel at the moment as we all strive to help our planet. My early research was in politics and art including British public statues exported to Southeast Asia and Vietnam Resistors that contributed much to Canadian ceramics. Books and articles were published on those subjects over a period of 3 decades. Now I am working on books for children so they can learn about the challenges our raptors face.
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Hello Mary Ann
This is very sad indeed! I don’t understand what happened. I was so thankful the fish fairy came. I hope they run an autopsy.
Linda
The fish fairy might have come too late and Uno’s organs might have already begun to shut down. it is indeed a tragedy.