Euthanise wounded wildlife? Maybe not…Friday in Bird World

4 September 2026

Hello Everyone,

Toby and I are just back from the hospital – it is late on Thursday. In some ways, Don has improved, but he is still fighting infections, and they have changed his antibiotics. We are all hoping that he responds to the new antibiotic.

Toby was good, and everyone noticed. He sat in the chair by Don’s bed and licked his ‘daddy’s’ hand. If I asked Don to put his hand out for Toby, he responded positively, and he knew that Jaine had visited him yesterday. He said she made ‘good cookies’.

One of the most positive things that happened is that Ann and I were able to communicate with Don’s brother about how wrong the hospital was to assume Don was an ‘invalid’ when he was home! That was the assumption. They now know that he walked no less than 3 km a day. That is the total for Toby’s walks, but there are additional walks at the nature centre and parks. There was also an issue with his normal medications not being given. That is now fixed. Some steps forward. One thing I have learned over the past week is that we have to advocate for our loved ones. Don’t assume doctors and nurses know everything about them; they need to, to provide the best possible care! They have many patients, and there are long-held beliefs about people with Alzheimer’s and dementia that are not always true. I am so fortunate that Don is in a very caring hospital and they listen, think, and advise.

Your continued prayers and good energy are so welcome.

Geemeff is having a marvellous adventure. Still, they are finding things for me to share with you. The former vet at Wildlife Haven was a strong advocate against euthanising animals. She believed, based on her observations, that wildlife can overcome many challenges and live normal lives. Think of a three-legged deer (or dog or cat). Here is a wonderful story about a raptor with a broken wing that has survived for three years in the wild.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crerw2nj81zo

I also received a wonderful article from Connie Dennis, founder of the Nova Scotia Osprey FB group (along with her husband, Dennis) and author of the adorable book, Pickles. This is about the plight of the two osprey nests at the Eastern Passage where construction crews are dismantling old fuel containers (think toxic).

Advocates keep eye on ospreys as DND removes old fuel tanks in Eastern Passage – Halifax Examiner https://share.google/33SRa31FyUGf96b7o

‘So much more than beautiful birds’: Advocates keep eye on ospreys as DND removes old fuel tanks in Eastern Passage – Halifax Examiner

Halifax Examiner

Thanks, Connie. Everyone needs to step up in our quickly changing environment to help the ospreys (and all wildlife). They are often targets at the whim of people who are in too much of a hurry to do something.

At the Osprey Environment Centre, Hope has already lost two of her three chicks this year because of her mate, George. George takes the fish that Hope catches for the surviving chick, and Hope is struggling to feed herself and the chick. I have not seen this in the time I have been researching ospreys. Has anyone else?

In stark contrast to what is happening to Hope, Iris has had a magnificent year with her new mate, Clark. Their only hatch, Wensi, is big and strong! But, the question on everyone’s mind is: when will Iris depart for her migration? Lucille Powell posted the dates supplied by the Montana Osprey Project’s files:

She is still in Missoula. Because it is early September, she is nearing the time when she typically departs for her annual southward migration to warmer winter climates. You can watch live updates and check her current status on the Cornell Lab Hellgate Ospreys page.

Clark is delivering fish to a screaming Wensi! The cam operator is giving us some great images of this miracle chick.

There is an excellent update on Snow, the Traverse City eaglet, whose nest slipped and it fell.

Ospreys are now fishing in the ocean at the Outer Banks. With the Super El Niño coming for 2027 and droughts in areas that they migrate to (Central and South America), let us hope that they adapt quickly.

Dads still hanging with their kids in Wales.

At Glacier Gardens, eaglet Compassion has fledged.

Smile. Lady kept feeding 38 til it had a crop so big observors wondered if it would pop! Wonderful.

News coming out of Cornell: Suzanne Arnold Horning writes:

“Last nite we had a very strong line of storms pass through NY state. We did spot one of the Ps on the antenna at Barton Hall but I forgot to share last nite.

Tonite we were quite relieved to find both Ps on campus. One was on the hillside on a pole beyond the smoke stacks. The other P was perched on top of Sage, calling away and giving us a Big Red stare.

I love that the Ps are still on campus and have not left the parental territory!

It’s a hot and humid day on the Canadian prairies. I wonder what is in store for us with the Super El-Nino coming. I am having to fill all of the water sources for the birds (and change and clean them) several times a day.

Now that a toxic spray is approved for use on US peanut plants, I wonder what I will wind up feeding the squirrels and the Corvids??? Currently the Corvids are enjoying some juicy cheesy dogs that Ann sent home with me for them!

Here’s the link and make sure you get a tissue: https://youtu.be/Iww4OzdMNFg?

We have our purple on – Jackie was so loved.

Take care. See you soon.

Thank you to Geemeff and Connie Dennis for sharing great links to stories that should mean a lot to all of us. Thank you to Bald Eagles Live Web Cams & News for the tribute to Jackie, and to all who posted stories and images on FB, and to the owners of the cams that allow us to see these incredible birds.