4 August 2026
Hello Everyone,
What a change! On Monday morning we woke up to much cooler temperatures. It was a high of 20 C. We had short periods of gentle rain, and for once, Toby, Don, and I got to spend much of the day outside. One other surprise was that the cool weather meant that the Blue Jays – who had been missing from the garden – returned along with the five Crows. They ate 6 gallons of seed today plus another 2 gallons of peanuts. That is about three times the norm. On those hot days, they must have just hidden in the shade, eating little ’til the weather changed. Poor darlings.
I am writing this Monday night, and I am looking forward to going for a ‘car ride’ tomorrow with Don, Ann, and Toby to the farm where we get our summer produce, eggs from real free-roaming chickens, and flowers. I have been having them delivered, but it will be so nice to be in the country for a change!
It has been a difficult year in Bird World. I know that everyone is feeling so sad and worrying so much for Jackie. Many of you have written to me wondering if they are treating Jackie with Iron. I do not know the answer to that, but knowing the exceptional work this rehab centre does, it is certain that they are doing everything they can to not only treat her but also avoid any harm as they wait for tests to be rushed. Is it a toxin? A parasite? No one knows right now, but Jackie is critically ill, and she needs all the positive energy that we can send her.
Could a pole accident save a chick and make sure it survives?
UPDATE: The osplet was electrocuted. The charge went through its chest from its foot. The osprey is being treated. Check the Virginia Osprey Foundation for the latest developments.
The fledgling at the Colonial Beach osprey platform had a wee bit of an accident and wound up hanging from a pole for 2.5 hours fighting. Help came as soon as it could, and the fledgling was on the way to the rehabber, where it was discovered that it had an injured leg and foot. All I could think of was maybe this was a stroke of luck if the injuries are not that bad – this baby will be fed, it will be safe, and its injuries (if not too bad) will be treated. It might survive because of the pole accident when other fledglings are being found dead all around that region of the US.
Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Monday 3rd August 2026
There were two surprises today – Affric 152 paid her first visit this season, landing on Nest One. Garry coy-mantled but Aurora chased her off the nest. And Dorcha brought a fish! Only her third this season, but unfortunately Amber grabbed her foot instead of the fish and in the melee Dorcha flew off dragging Amber overboard and dropping the fish. Amber returned unhurt moments later but the fish was lost to the forest floor dwellers. Intruder Ospreys overflew Nest Two and were chased by Dorcha while the chicks watched. In between, Garry brought two fish for Aurora taking the Nest One tally to one hundred and ninety one, and Louis brought three fish, which together with Dorcha’s fish took the Nest Two tally to three hundred and sixty nine. The weather wasn’t as wet as forecast but tonight’s forecast is for heavy rain with a low of 13°C, changing to light rain showers with a high of 19°C tomorrow.
Today’s videos:
https://youtu.be/YGitEX7G88w N2 All three females on the nest but it’s Amber who gets fish one 05.29.07https://youtu.be/n7F-EGtAgk8 N1 Garry stays to do some nest work when Aurora leaves with fish one 09.03.36https://youtu.be/SI1Db7bo9to N2 Amber and Juniper tussle over fish two – Amber wins 11.00.57 https://youtu.be/9Kq8nVLcVWU N2 Dorcha allows Juniper to take fish three so she can have the rest of fish two 12.01.29https://youtu.be/io_C1DD1I50 N1 Garry’s second fish is a perch 18.10.48 (zoom) https://youtu.be/TcTamECyupo N2 Dorcha reacts furiously to Intruders overflying the nest 19.38.44https://youtu.be/_MLbBCGL1yQ N1 Affric 152 pays her first visit this season 19.38.59https://youtu.be/HSlUdtJ8XKM N2 Dorcha brings a fish! But in the melee it’s dropped 20.45.40
You’re invited to 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
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I have discovered two things this morning. The first is very important. Many people who watch osprey nests do not understand the impact of the industrial fishing by two Canadian companies (Omega Protein) out of Reedsville, Virginia, on the entire ecosystem in that region. Please help educate people about the taking of millions of tonnes of menhaden and how it is causing many species to disappear from the area.
This is a good group to follow: Menhaden- Little Fish, Big Deal FB group. The fault lies directly with the State of Virginia, which allows this while the other states ban gill-net industrial fishing. There are people working tirelessly to stop this practice, and they need our help. There are currently campaigns and hearings.
Please read and circulate David Gessner’s article:
It is, as I have said every day, time for action, not observation!
We will discuss the second issue tomorrow!
Meanwhile, we have a fledge at Blackbush. The third hatch has taken to the skies this morning. Yahoo! This nest in Prince Edward Island might fledge a full clutch of four. Fantastic!
Wensi is self-feeding and sometimes having a tug-o-war with Iris. This is educational. Wensi has no sibling to fight for food, so Iris is teaching him to be persistent. https://youtu.be/mlhQreA_pQA?
We are off for our outing shortly. Please have a wonderful day. We will see you late tomorrow.
Thank you so much to Geemeff and Pam Breci, those who posted information on FB and images, Cornell Bird Lab, and the owners of the streaming cams that allow us to monitor the lives of these raptors.
