Author Archives: 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.

Cigars and champagne? …Monday in Bird World

18 December 2023

Good Morning,

We had a bit of a blizzard for a very short period on Sunday. It was quite beautiful – those big flakes dancing down through the branches of the lilacs landing on the ground, covering up all the unsightly shells of the Black-oil Seed. The squirrels were here to get some excellent peanuts, but I saw no Blue Jays. I have not seen Junior or the little one for at least a week. Did they finally leave? along with the last of the geese? The girls are doing splendidly. Their new interactive robot toy is such a hit that each one of them joins in playtime – even Calico! Most of all it is Hope and Hugo tearing around after the laser dot or the feather teaser. I cannot possibly express the joy I feel seeing these three enjoying one another’s company. I feel so blessed. 

I have been told by more than four dozen individuals that there is an international party going on right now. Donations are flowing into the American Eagle Foundation, cigars are being bought, and champagne glasses are clinking – or maybe tea cups. So what is all the fuss about? V3. Yes, one might think that the first bobblehead of the Bald Eagle season would be celebration enough but Gabby and V3 got right down to business today on the streaming cam and the chat went wild. 

They were working on the nest when everything went wild…this leads me to believe that those ruffled feathers on Gabby’s back the other day were from a successful mating, too.

Tails were swishing in the right direction and both eagles seemed pleased – especially Gabby. Eggs in a week?

Lady Hawk captured the moment everyone has been waiting to ‘see’. Gabby is much loved and let us now all hope for the healthiest eaglets for this new pair.

The new little bobblehead at Captiva is as cute as they come. It is too bad that you hatched on the same day as V3 getting his camera groove…you are a darling and we shall watch every bite of fish you eat as you grow into a magnificent eaglet.

Connie is making sure that it has some fish. Oh, my. How is your heart rate? The first little bobble of the year!

Feeding time at Captiva!

Brad is getting some real height to his hovering and we can expect a fledge from the second hatch at Port Lincoln any time! 

‘A’ remarks: “Oh how much do we love Giliath and Bradley? They are still so civilised when mum is feeding them. Loving the aggression Brad is showing defending his food, and both kids were very vocal as they mantled their food to protect it from passing seagulls. Too adorable. I suspect this pair could end up rivalling Baz and Ervie when it comes to competing for fish on this nest – Brad sure won’t be backing down, he’s made that very clear. Mum does her best to maintain some sort of order but there are times when even she has no chance against Brad’s sheer determination. He’s one feisty second hatch that one. I suspect he would have survived with or without a fish fairy! “

‘A’ also reminds us, “At SWFL, the first egg was laid at 9pm on Friday 24 November, with a relatively lengthy gap to the second egg at about 1.45pm on Monday 27 November. I’m not sure when we are due to go on pip watch, but 35 days would make hatch day 29 December, although delayed incubation was practised here apparently, so perhaps 30 or even 31 December is more likely. Certainly, I would like a shorter gap between hatches than we saw between the eggs being laid! I think we all would. F23 was being very diligent about rolling the eggs before settling down last night. It is nearly daylight there now, just after 6am, and F23 has done the entirety of the night shift. She has been tucked and sleeping soundly. No overnight owl disturbances from what I could see. You have big shoes to fill, F23. So far, she is doing a great job. “

At the Kisatchie E3 nest, Alex is not on the eggs incubating them Sunday night. He was on and off during the day. It is very sad. We all hope that Alex will move on after Andria’s death and that we will discover what took his beloved mate from him. 

Alex still has the female protecting him and the nest.

The Redding Eagle cam is up and running.

https://www.youtube.com/live/stCi25eevZg?si=CNcESNh2Sf0_2twC

Wisdom is still dancing and dating and looking for a new mate! 72 years old.

A strong sea eaglet – SE31 flying around Lady and Dad’s River Roost!

A few more images of SE31:

Penguin Colonies are showing some recovery. 

Little-Penguin-colonies-show-signs-of-recovery-BirdGuidesDownload

Remember that one of the simplest things that we can do to help wildlife is to give them water. 

Thank you so much for being with me today. Please take care. See you soon!

Thank you to the following for their notes, letters, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog today: ’A, H, J’, NEFL-AEF, Lady Hawk, Window to Wildlife, Taylor Marcy Hardin, PLO, Brad M, KNF-E3, Sassa Bird, FORE, Friends of Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge, Chang-le Dong, Eagle Cam, Bird Guides, and Birdlife Australia.

Captiva Hatch…M15 protects F23 and eggs during heavy rain…Sunday in Bird World

17 December 2023

Good Morning Everyone,

It was -2 C on Saturday. At one point, it was -8 when I was at the Nature Centre. Yes, I put on the super warm boots and heavier long coat and, with Possum hat in hand, went for a 2km walk. Lots of families were out enjoying the day. I saw only a few Black-capped chickadees flitting around with the woodpeckers and the squirrels. The crisp air was lovely.

This time of year, I like to pop in and check out the new bird books on the shelves. I found one that might interest you – for yourself or a friend. If you need just a little motivation to sit and watch outside or want to record your sightings, this book is for you. It is large enough you won’t be cramped on filling in information yet small enough to stick in your bag along with a pen for your walks. I usually record my findings on eBird, but I will also start to use this diary instead of scribbling on the pages of my Manitoba bird book! 

When I got home, the little boy across the street ‘Teddie’ and his dad had been doing some snow sculpture. Cute!

The girls are fantastic. Well, I think they are. Calico might tell you differently. She was trying to have a nice snooze after breakfast – Calico loves to sleep upside down. Well, Hugo thought Calico’s tummy was the perfect bullseye to jump on. Hugo wanted to play. – Calico wanted to sleep. Dear Calico was so startled that she ran as fast as she could the opposite direction after giving out a hiss!

Missey quickly hid in the large tunnel toy while the commotion was going on.

Baby Hope decided that the safest place was in the basket.

Hugo, of course, was not bothered by any of this. She just went over and started playing with the other tunnel toy! Hugo is utterly fearless. I wonder what the dynamics are going to be in a year?

Baby Hope eventually came out and posed. I cannot take my eyes off her. She is the most precious kitten. I will still be tearing up when she is ten years old marvelling at how she found us after the entire neighbourhood looked and called ‘hoping’ to reunite Calico and her kitten. 

Despite the mishap with Calico, Missey, Hope, and Hugo are having fun together. They are not bored but are getting vast amounts of exercise. The flow of the house from the conservatory through the kitchen, around the island, past the library and into the sitting room is a perfect race track for them to exercise those leg muscles. 

The kittens want to give you a big giggle to start your day off right.

It is so quiet in Bird World that it is actually eerie. There are storms moving through Florida and along the Carolina coast. In the midst of those, Connie and Clive have their first pip. The couple had piled grasses into the nest prior to the arrival of the storm and those eggs are nice and dry. Mum and Dad are soaking! Good luck Connie and Clive. Bird World needs a little bobblehead right now especially since Gil has fledged and Brad is thinking about it!

Video of hatch in progress. If this chick makes it, it will be the first successful hatch of the 2023-24 Bald Eagle season on streaming cam! Fingers and toes crossed.

https://www.youtube.com/live/z5nu6LL74P0?si=jDKWC0HGcSKBdTel

Clive is staying right there with Connie. Both of them are getting soaked, just like M15 and F23.

The hatch came at 0614 Sunday the 17th.

At Southwest Florida, M15 is protecting F23 and their two precious eggs from the storm. What a guy…F23 does not know how lucky she is…yet.

More sightings of SE31 and Lady and Dad providing food down by the River Roost. Also I am reposting information from an earlier post in case you missed it. SE31 had been taken into care and released in the area by the parents.

This has been the most wonderful year at the Parramatta River. To have one sea eaglet survive to be trained by its parents to live a successful life in the wild just makes me tingle all over. We have all shed tears for this nest in the past and I have longed for Lady and Dad to be able to finish what they began as an egg. Let us all hope that 32 is out there someone living their life, too. 

Marri flew up to the ledge of the scrape on Saturday in Australia. Oh, wonderful. 

Xavier has been testing out the new pebbles in the clean scrape.

At Port Lincoln, ‘A’ gives us an update: ”Giliath went on a second flight – only about 90 seconds, from 11:58:29 until 11:59:54, when he demonstrated an impressive backward-flying landing manoeuvre. Brad was very impressed and a little surprised. It’s all happening with this pair. I still think Brad is a couple of days away from fledging. He has not done anything like the amount of wingercising that Giliath did pre-fledge. But we will see. It probably depends on the wind. “

Mum, Gil, and Brad waiting for fish mid-afternoon.

All of us remain hopeful for Gabby and V3 this year.

At the KNF nest, Alex is still doing incubation duty while F1 stands guard and protects the nest! This was Friday but he was still on the eggs on Saturday.

Saturday night and Alex is roosting elsewhere. Maybe with F1. I wonder when his hormones will shut down or he will realise the eggs are not viable? Was it Shadow that incubated for 80 days? Does someone remember?

If there is time for Pepe and Muhlady to have a second clutch, maybe this will work out for Alex and F1. If not, may their bond grow stronger. She is surely a fierce eagle!

Meanwhile, Bella gets friendly with the new male.

Elfruler.com has an article with a lot of data from their research on why Bald Eagle eggs fail. This might give some good insight into what is happening this year on some nests.

LOST-EGGS-AND-FAILED-FIRST-CLUTCHES-OF-EGGS-Bald-EaglesDownload

There is more good news coming for the Albatross. We have Moana returning to NZ and we have the central character of Kalam’s Journey returning to Kauai – and she is not yet 7 years old! She survived! Tears.

Incubation changeover at Taiaroa Head at the Royal Albatross Colony. Get ready for beautiful sky calls.

Cockatoos alter their food to make it easier to eat – looks like my Crows and my Blue Jays!

Polly-Wants-a-Cracker-but-She-Wants-to-Make-It-Easier-to-Chew-The-New-York-TimesDownload

My rescue girls certainly think that this would be the best thing that could happen!

Thank you so much for being with me today. Please take care – and if you are in the path of the storms, stay safe. We want to see you back with us soon!

Thank you to the following for their notes, their photographs, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog today: ’A, H, J’, Cat’s Diary, Gracie Shepherd, Window to Wildlife, SW Florida Eagle Cam, Chang-le Dong, Sydney Eagle Cam, Helen Match, SK Hideaways, Jerinelle Wray, Carol Shores Rifkin, KNF-E3, Deb Stecyk, Elfruler.com, Holly Parsons, NZ-DOC, Lady Hawk, and The New York Times.

Gil fledges at PLO and R5 is spotted!…Good news in Bird World

16 December 2022

Good Morning Everyone,

First up. Gil fledges. What a great flight. Just like a pro.

The girls are doing great. Thank you for all your messages. We are starting a new book. It is all about Wilding. I cannot tell you how thankful I am to the person or article that suggested reading to cats in a soothing voice was a good way to get them to trust you. You might recall that when I brought Calico into the house that was what we did – we had story time 5 or 6 different periods of the day. Gosh, I got to read a lot. She was fed while I was reading and often wound up sleeping on my lap. I did the same thing when Baby Hope joined us. Then, when it was safe, all the others joined in. Now Baby Hugo is in the mix. There is something so ‘moving’ seeing them on the old quilt my grandmother made or sitting in a chair ‘listening’ to the words of the stories. I am forever grateful to have these four beautiful girls in my life and our dear Lewis, bless him. 

It is hard to believe, but I use Uncle Claudio’s trick of the Marigolds to clean the wool fabric on the chairs twice a day doesn’t make a dent in it…there is always cat fur!

Meanwhile, one of Hugo’s aunties suggested applying a little olive oil on those little crusty bits below the eyes. Done! Hugo loves to play. She loves balls with jingle bells and tearing around. I often find her and Hope together with a pile of little toys. It is joyous. 

Hope and Hugo getting ready for story time. They claim the chairs. Hope wants the other wool camp blanket and Hugo always has to have a toy. Missey will be on the table and Calico will be on my lap or the old quilt.

We were all disappointed when the second egg of Pepe and Muhlady broke with no apparent chick inside. The good news is that there is time for them to have a second clutch and it is rumoured that this has happened before, and Muhlady laid eggs again in February. That would be wonderful.

‘H’ is overjoyed and I assume all of you will be jumping up and down with glee. She writes, “R5 (9 months old tomorrow) has been spotted in Palm Beach County, north of Miami-Dade.” Brilliant. Just the kind of good news that we needed today in Bird World.

Wow. Beautiful juvenile.

There is more good news coming from the Royal Albatross colony near Dunedin, New Zealand. Moana, the Royal Cam chick that hatched in 2016, has returned safely and is now banded. With all the challenges the birds encounter flying to Chile and being alone foraging over the high seas, this is simply a wonderful miracle. 

Here is Moana’s story:

Meet-the-Royal-family-Royal-CamDownload

If you missed it, the 2023-24 Royal Cam couple is LGK and LGL.

Also, if you missed it, Trudi Kron reminds us: “From Cody Wayne · ·Andria is being transported to the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine for the necropsy and many of the tests we requested. She will arrive on Wednesday at noon. Preliminary results from various tests should start to come back to us by the end of next week. I will share information as I receive it.”

There is a lot of nest restorations going on at Redding. Just look at that beauty. No chance of an eaglet falling overboard here. Good luck – eggs required!

‘J’ caught some very intimate moments between Gabby and V3. She obviously loves this male eagle. We are always hopeful for them.

Tail swishing.

Eagle affection!

Gabby and V3 have been together both morning and evening. They are a beautiful couple. 

‘J’ also caught a glimpse of the two eggs at Captiva while the nest of Clive and Connie rocks and rolls with the winds of the thunderstorms brewing in the area. The storms will be heavy for the next two days. Let us all hope that chick stays in that egg! The same bad weather will be hitting the SW Florida nest of M15 and F23. Their hatch date is at least ten days away.

They didn’t wait for the weather to pass. There is a pip at Captiva Saturday morning!

Osprey visitors checking out the Captiva nest. They are in for bad weather, too – just a short distance from Connie and Clive.

Since Martin’s disappearance, Rosa has had several suitors. Now another one.

It looks like Alex might have a new mate.

All is well at Port Lincoln. Brad is on the left and Gil on the right. Gil doesn’t even notice the tracker. Well done, Ian Falkenberg! One of the chatters said that Ian Falkenberg practised putting the tracking harness on his chickens before ever applying one to an osplet. If that it true, it is brilliant.

The days observations and fledge and return times for Gil.

At Orange, Marri buzzed the scrape box.

SE32 continues to be photographed. Isn’t this wonderful?

Lastly sad news has come in. Chris Wood has died. It seems it was only yesterday that I spoke to him about a trip to visit The Gambia for next year to observe ospreys. The UK and West African community have lost a formidable supporter of ospreys and a wonderful chap. My condolences to all.

Thank you for being with me today. Lots of good and exciting news. See you soon.

Thank you to the following for their notes, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog: ’A, Geemeff, H, J”, HeidiMc, Sharon Dunne, DOC-NZ, Holly Parsons, FORE, NE-AEF, Window to Wildlife, Gracie Shepherd, Lucille Powell, Dulles-Greenway, PLO, Helen Matcham, Lady Hawk, Eagle Cam, Tiger Mozone, and Bart M.

Friday in Bird World

15 December 2023

Hello Everyone,

Good Morning to all of you. We are just two weeks and a day away from a brand new year – and sometime, between now and then, I hope that we have two healthy hatches at the SW Florida Eagle nest of M15 and F23. They could be the first successful nest of the year with two eaglets.

Before we move on to the other birds and the scant news, I have some more information about Hugo. When you adopt a kitten in Winnipeg, you should be given a file folder of information. That was missing when Hugo was picked up. It came in the post today. So, here are some things that were gleaned.

Hugo was born at the beginning of September. The folder says 5 September, but other information on line said 2 September, and my vet thought that because of her size and teeth development that this had to be the beginning of October. From what I understand, the original family wrote down 5 September as the date the stray cat they took in had her kittens. This original foster family took in a very malnourished stray cat, a Tortie, on the Peguis Reserve north of Winnipeg so that the cat would have a safe place to have her kittens. The family named the cat Grace and she had seven kittens. It is unknown if this was her first litter, but she was very tiny. Hugo had trouble eating. The kittens were surrendered to the adoption agency on the 11th of November. All were very tiny for their age. 

It is not clear what health issues the original situation with the Mum will have on Hugo’s development, overall health, or life expectancy. Right now Hugo is enjoying eating her kitten food, the kitten kibble, and loves the thick kitten milk. She loves to play and is sleeping on one of her favourite teaser toys. She likes being wrapped tight in a blanket and held close. Like all the others, I would not give her up for anything. Today she weighed 1384 grams before her evening meal. On Thursday, she weighed 860 grams so that is a gain of 524 grams or more than a pound. She looks like she might be long. Her eyes are still a little drippy so more Polysporin for Pink Eye. She will have her second round of vaccinations on 28 December and be spayed on the 15th of March -. The vet might be in for a surprise since all the paperwork still indicates that Hugo is a ‘he’ and that ‘he’ will be neutered.

Hope watching Hugo play with the red pom-pom on the tunnel.

It was Hope that first took over Missey’s basket with the little granny square blanket she was given when she was adopted. Now it is Hugo that is moving in on Hope’s territory! I did say that little Hugo is fearless, right?

Missey sits on the back of the sofa or on the wicker and watches them all. More than half the time she is now playing with Hope and Hugo. So nice to see her back to her normal self.

Hugo looking outside to ‘The Boyfriend’ who came for breakfast.

Beautiful Calico. I tear up every time I think about what she went through and how healthy little Hope was. What a miracle.

It was +4 today and what a nice day for a short brisk walk at the nature centre. The squirrels were running everywhere and watching them made me think that they thought spring had arrived. The chickadees were out at the feeders along with a male and female Downy Woodpecker and a White-breasted Nuthatch. The entire place feels empty without the ducks and the geese, though. 

There is good news coming from the Sydney Olympic Forest area for our WBSE family – Mum, Dad, and one fledgling presumed to be SE31.

“December 13: Early morning, both adults were seen at River Roost and SE31 was seen going into the mangroves and heard calling. Then again, at 07:45, SE31 was heard but not seen. Then at last, just after 9am, an adult was seen catching a large fish – grabbing it with one foot – in front of River Roost. SE31 flew out to claim it with loud squeeing, then all three were out of sight in the mangroves. No further observations during the day. 

December 14: Early morning, SE31 was spotted at Mangrove Island – then moving to River roost. This seems to be her home patch now, moving back and forth and sheltering in the mangroves lining the river. It has been a really hot day again. We have no more observations for today – hopefully, our eagles were keeping as cool as they can by the river.”

And the last report from Sydney: ”December 15: Early morning report at 07:30 of SE31 and one adult at the water’s edge at River Roost, then joined by the other adult. Then, at around 09:20, SE31 was seen flying over the wetlands, venturing further and flying right up high, before returning to River Roost – feeling her wings for sure. At around 4pm in the afternoon, SE31 was seen at River Roost, a parent arrived, then shortly after she flew to Mangrove Island. Later, she was seen flying high again, before returning to the River Roost mudflats.”

At Orange, Diamond still is not too pleased that the scrape box was cleaned. Wonder what the rush was? Does anyone know if Marri has returned to the scrape since the cleaning?

At Port Lincoln, it is Gil and Brad on the nest. Both now have names. It has been such a good year at Port Lincoln thanks in full to the foresight and tenacity of Janet, Bazz, and Fran who insisted on an intervention. We can all agree that the research coming off this nest opens up new avenues for thinking when it comes to Ospreys. Give them an international round of applause. For my friend ‘A’, she is overjoyed at the success of this nest. In the past she was hesitant to even go on line to check on the osprey family. Today she wrote, “I just adore this pair SO much. Goliath in particular is wingercising with great concentration. He has been getting air, with some impressive hovering yesterday. I know it’s a wonderful achievement and I should be pleased, and it is and I am, but I will miss these two. I do hope that they do an Ervie and hang around Port Lincoln at least sometimes. I still wonder what on earth caused Zoe to head inland into the desert. It made no sense. But then, much of her behaviour made no sense.”

At the time I am writing, Dad has delivered a partial fish to Mum and the boys. That is fantastic.

They are gorgeous – Gil and Brad.

These are the comparison weights provided by the observation board, Bart M for the PLO chicks:

Giliath (male) –   1445 grams

Bradley (male –  1390 grams

In comparison:

Zoe (female    –   1700 g

Ervie (male)    –   1380 g

Bazza (male)   –  1280 g

Falky (male)    –  1230 g

At Osprey House, George has delivered two fish – one for each fledgling!

‘H’ reports: ”Broken shell overnight first noticed around 0310 (very poor visibility).  Muhlady appeared to move the shell.  When cam view improved, it was evident.  No eaglet seen.  Maybe they will reclutch.  They have been mating.”

The question is this: why are these shells breaking? Is it humidity? were they viable to begin with? 

We should watch for Connie and Clive at Captiva Bald Eagle nest. The wind is picking up. Storms with heavy rain are expected over the weekend on the Barrier Islands in Florida. Let us hope that there is no hatch during this time. Renee posted this information on chat: “PIP WATCH: Starts Saturday Dec. 16, 2023. Due to some delayed incubation, we may not see a PIP until Sunday 17th or Monday 18th.” I would like for this to wait until nice weather not during a thunderstorm.

There are many nests without any eggs yet. Duke Farms is one of those. Dad went missing in the spring, and there is a new male.

The other is NE Florida, ‘The Hamlet’ home to Gabby and V3. These two were busy working on the nest and alerting against intruders.

Indeed, of the streaming cams, there are so many without eggs yet. We might enjoy the spacing this year and get to see those little bobbleheads developing at all stages.

Anna and Louis laid their first egg on the 9th of December. There has not been a second egg. It would have been laid on the 12th. Fingers crossed that this egg is good – especially because of Andria’s death and the loss of the two eggs at KNF-E-1. 

Alex continues to incubate his and Andria’s eggs. The female continues to bury them, and he digs them up. My heart aches for him. At the same time, please do not let these eggs hatch. The only way these eaglets could survive would be if the female visitor fully embraced motherhood. Remember, Harriet and M15’s chicks were at month old when Harriet disappeared last February at the SW Florida Bald Eagle nest.

Suzanne Arnold Horning is always looking out for Big Red and Arthur. This spring, Big Red will be 21 years young.

Plans to genetically engineer the Dodo back to life! Location: Mauritius.

Bird Guides announces, “An audacious plan between geneticists and conservationists to bring back the extinct Dodo has been announced.

Attempts to bring the species back to its former habitat in Mauritius are set to be led by US-based biotechnology and genetic engineering company, Colossal Biosciences, which is pursuing the ‘de-extinction’ of various other species.”

De-extinction-plan-to-bring-dodo-back-BirdGuidesDownload

If you missed the latest Condor Chat with Ventana Wildlife, here you go!

Could you fish in these conditions? Albatross do it every day in the roaring Southern Ocean.

Thank you so very much for being with me today. Take care. See you on Saturday!

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog today: ’A, H, J, L’, Sydney Sea Eagle Cam, Karen Long, PLO, Bart M, Heidi Mc, Osprey House, Superbeaks, Window to Wildlife, Ann Penury, Duke, NE Florida-AEF, KNF E-1, KNF E-3, Suzanne Arnold Horning, Bird Guides, Ventana Wildlife Society, and Holly Parsons.

It is Bradley…Thursday in Bird World

14 December 2023

Good Morning!

Oh, a major milestone was achieved on Wednesday. Hugo ate kitten kibble for the first time (that I have observed). It is wonderful. Her eyes are clear thanks to Polysporin Pink Eye, her tummy troubles are gone thanks to FloriFauna, and she is having so much fun. Life is good. All four girls are getting along, playing – even Calico today! Can you feel my happiness?

Eyes are better this morning! And look at how big she is.

For all who wondered, Hugo is such a sweetie. She lets me bathe her, wash her face and feet – she never complains. She loves being dried with a big fluffy towel. I can’t wait to see if she is so good for teeth brushing and nail clipping. Maybe that will rub off on Hope and Calico. Missey is just as complaint, too. Makes life so much easier.

We plan to keep her name as Hugo. She comes to it and as my friend ‘R; reminded me, ‘Many great women artists and writers had to assume male names at one time or another’…so Hugo it is.

After losing Lewis and then all the issues with getting a little boy that turned out to be a little girl, well, there were times I felt pretty doomed. Hugo was so very tiny and just not doing well. It has to be difficult for her cat mother – 7 little kittens living on the streets hoping for some food and a safe place. What a terrible life for these animals – some that were once pets and left behind or that got out and got lost. There are so many kind people trying to help with portable shelters and food for them. That is the bright side but, gosh, if there could only be a concentrated effort to neuter and spay – area by area – and notching the ears as Geemeff says is done in the UK so identification is easy. It would certainly help.

Missey looking out at the birds in the snow.

Bird World is ‘sleepy’. There is such a huge lull with only a few eagle nests incubating eggs while the others continue with their restorations or establishing their relationship with a new mate.

At Port Lincoln, the fish fairy surprised everyone by dropping four fish on the floor of the barge. It worked. Neither Giliath or #2 got overly excited, and the fish made it to the nest…what more could Port Lincoln want? Their experiment demonstrates that supplementing fish for a nest that suffers from historical siblicide can make a difference. The osplets can become so familiar with humans that they might not even bolt off the nest in an early fledge. It is fantastic.

‘H’ remarks, “All the fish were eaten by the ospreys, gulls did not steal any.  Mum picked up the small trevally around 1207 and fed the kids.”

And we have a name for #2. Bradley. What a great name after a youngster who truly knows and loves these osprey.

 

The boys and their beautiful bling if you missed it.

They are just too good together – V3 and Gabby. Fingers crossed. Could V1 be a donor and V3 a father?

I don’t know about you, but I am glad that the female at KNF E-3 has buried the eggs of Andria and Alex. Most agree that they are unviable and maybe it will help Alex move forward. Tonight those eggs are still buried while I was writing but I did see someone come around and aerate the nest. It looked like the female.

It is a couple of weeks for M15 and F23’s hatch watch. How excited are you on a scale from 0 to 10?

Boone and Jolene are doing a lot of restorations at Johnson City.

Still waiting at Superbeaks – but, I think all is lost for Pepe and Muhlady on this first clutch. Will they go for a second since it is so early in the season?

The camera is back up at Two Harbours. Some have seen Chase and Cholyn. I hope to soon.

Jackie and Shadow were home today working on their nest. They are adorable.

Cilla cleaned the nest box. To my knowledge Marri has not returned since. Hoping to see her again soon.

There is love happening at Taiaroa Head. Some who lost their mates have found love again. Which brings to mind Wisdom. Is she still dancing? Did the oldest banded Laysan Albatross in the world get a new mate? will she lay an egg and raise a chick at 72?

The Royal Couple – LGK and LGL (Lime Green Black and then Lime Green Lime).

I am so pleased to be reading about the bird counts around the world and some of the real success stories. You might remember that there is an Army of Women in Assam that is protecting the Adjutant Generals, a carrion-eating bird that is going extinct because there are no places for nests. Here is some good news: “In the Kamrup district of Assam, the number of Greater Adjutant nests has increased from 28 in 2010 to more than 250, making this the World’s largest breeding colony. Moreover, this once persecuted species has become a cultural symbol, and in the process, has also transformed the lives of local women, who now travel to other villages to raise awareness about the storks.’An excerpt from the BirdLife Magazine, March of the Adjutants by Devathi Parashuram, available in January 2024.”

After the tragic beginning to the Bald Eagle breeding season in the US, we need some good news. You can read more about some success stories here in the updated Red List of Birds by BirdLife International:

The-2023-Red-List-update-reveals-hope-for-birds-in-crisis-BirdLife-InternationalDownload

Have you ever watched Penguin Rescue?

Restoring Condors to the wild by the Ventana Wildlife Society.

There are many reasons to keep cats inside. Killing our beautiful feathered friends is one of them – cats are the number 1 killer of birds.

Killer-kitties-cats-are-eating-2000-species-including-hundreds-that-are-at-risk-Cats-The-GuarDownload

Thank you so much for being with me today. Take care of yourself. We hope to have you with us again soon.

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, articles, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog today: ‘A, H, J, SP’, PLO, NEFL-AEF, KNF-E3, SW Florida Eagle Cam, Johnson City Bald Eagles, Superbeaks, IWS/Explore, FOBBV, SK Hideaways, Sharon Dunne, Lady Hawk, Penguin Rescue, BirdLife International, Ventana Wildlife Society, and The Guardian.

Wednesday in Bird World

13 December 2023

Good Morning Everyone,

The girls are all fine. Hope and Hugo have played and played and that little ginger looks like she is twice as big as she was when she arrived last week. She is getting stronger and more playful every day. Weepy eyes in kittens over 8 weeks old? Polysporin for Pink Eye does the trick. The vet came and gave Hope her booster shots and checked out all the girls. Everyone is so well. Calico is on a ‘diet’ and she doesn’t particularly like it, but I want this wonderful cat who opened up an entirely new world to me to thrive.

There must be a name for Hugo. She is a little tiger and runs like her tail is on fire. She is fearless. Calico might have intimidated Missey (at one time), but never Hugo. I just can’t seem to find a name that fits her because she looks like Hugo to me.

I need to clean her little nose (apologies Hugo – you were so cute in the basket), but she looks so much better today and has now taken Calico’s basket just like Hope took Missey’s. Just look at how clear her eyes are. Oh, and she is so sweet. I will find her after I publish this and get that dirty face clean!

There is still no news of the name for #2 at Port Lincoln. Giliath weighed the most and got the tracker. Dad has brought in a partial fish and that along with some left over fish gave the family a good start to the day.

Mum brought in a whole fish, and Dad brought in a partial on the 13th in Australia. The nest is doing so well. Thanks, Port Lincoln, for daring to be bold! NJ are you listening?

HeidiMc caught the boys and their new bling.

At the nest of Alex and the late-Andria in the Kisatchie National Forest, Alex has tried to incubate his eggs. He has fought off one female who buried the eggs and then he unburied them. Now there are more intruders.

Alex and the female F1 feeling comfortable.

Alex continues to take care of his and Andria’s eggs despite everything.

Andria is on her way to the University of Georgia for her necroscopy.

‘A’ brings us some more news from Cody, “Andria is being transported to the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine for the necropsy and many of the tests we requested. She will arrive on Wednesday at noon. Preliminary results from various tests should start to come back to us by the end of next week. I will share information as I receive it. Thanks for the support.”~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The female eagle is back multiple times this morning, and arrives at the nest while Alex is incubating. The video opens with Alex on the eggs when the female vocalises. Alex responds and he flies off the nest. He returns quickly, and they continue to vocalise to one another as she is above him in the upper branches. Alex resumes incubation and the female flies off. Thirty minutes later, Alex gets up and flies off, and when he returns to the nest, the female drops down as well. She is standing right over the eggs. Alex leaves her with the eggs again and flies to the perch and then off. She looks around for him for a few minutes, then she flies off. Alex returns to the nest and incubates for an hour, then F1 returns again. She lands right in front of Alex – he gets up and moves to the side of the nest and then to the perch branch. The female is alone on the nest, and she just digs a little in the nest, then goes to the side edge and looks. She is watchful, occasionally looking at the eggs. She then flies off. Alex returns to the nest five minutes later to incubate. Alex gets up again and flies off, then returns five minutes later and the female is back, flying in to the nest for a third time! Alex gets up to leave the eggs to her and he flies to the branch. She digs in the nest, pulling up nesting and partially covering the eggs again. Alex flies off – she moves a stick and then is looking for him and she flies off too. Alex returns eight minutes later to incubate! Alex is clearly comfortable in leaving the nest and eggs to F1. He may be thinking she will incubate and this gives him a shift change, but he does not go far and remains close to the nest tree the entire morning. The female has not exhibited any signs of harming the eggs – she was curious about them but seems to want to just bury them and have Alex as a new mate. Time will tell, as we have a 2nd visitor arriving later today to the nest (be sure to watch for my next video update).And here is the footage referred to, showing the second intruder: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8Cw8KDCdvM&list=TLPQMTMxMjIwMjONfz9RFzYohw&index=2 Alex is very vocal in protecting his eggs against this second female.”

Alex is still on the eggs as of this morning.

If my addition is correct, egg #2 must be 37 days old today at Superbeaks. The average for Bald Eagles is 37.5/38 days. Waiting. There is a rumour that there could be a hatch in progress but I cannot confirm this and have seen nothing official.

M15 continues to be the brilliant provider he always was for Harriet and then the kids.

Some are hopeful for Gabby and V3.

Rosa has a new mate at the Dulles-Greenway Nest where Martin has been missing for some weeks.

Pa and Missey have egg #2 at Berry College.

Bella continues to thwart the advances of the male even when he brings nice food gifts.

‘H’ reminds us that Connie and Clive, the Captiva eagles: “Egg #1 is 31 days +10 hours right now.  Delayed incubation, so probably pip watch in 4 days, “hatch watch 5-6 days.” 

The Pittsburgh-Hayes Bald Eagle Cam is now live streaming.

‘A’ brings us news from Orange: “No sign of falcons at the Orange scrape since Diamond visited around 7pm last night (12 December). So she has visited since Cilla’s cleaning and adding of stones, but there was no-one home last night and unusually we have had no visits by any of our falcon family today. Of course the tower cam has chosen this most inopportune moment to completely give up the ghost. It is under warranty but Cilla is waiting for someone to fix it. So we have no news at all, except to say it is hot and humid again today, so the falcons are no doubt keeping cool somewhere, not sitting out in the sunlight on top of that water tower. So their non-appearance is hardly surprising in that sense. Still, we worry. We always worry about them. “

An Ontario falcon is in Michigan!

At the Royal Albatross colony:

Should HPAI come to the California Condors, the quarantine pens are almost finished! Thanks everyone for being so proactive for these amazing birds.

I have never seen a Scarlet Ibis! I thought this was a beautiful tree. Thanks, Geemeff.

Do you live in the Carolinas? Do you get to see the Rufus Red Knot? How much do you know about these amazing shorebirds? Maybe they travel more than we do!

A-Journey-of-9000-Miles-Starts-with-a-Red-Knots-Single-Wingbeat-Defenders-of-WildlifeDownload

Do you know who Margaret Morse Nice is?

The-Life-Stories-of-Birds-How-Margaret-Morse-Nice-Ended-Ornithologys-Long-List-EraDownload

Thank you so much for being with me today. Take care. See you soon.

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog today: ‘A, H, J, PLO, Bart M, Lady Hawk, KNF-E3, Cody Wayne, Superbeaks, Faxinating, Carol S Rifkin, Dulles-Greenway, Berry College Eagles, Marla Harrison, PIX Cams, Linda McIlroy, Holly Parsons, Ventana Wildlife Society, Defenders of Wildlife, Geemeff, and Women in Science.

Two little boys at Port Lincoln…Late Monday in Bird World

11 December 2023

Hello Everyone!

This is the news of the day so I am publishing my blog Monday night instead of Tuesday morning. I will return with my normal morning news on Wednesday.

Before we go to Port Lincoln, I am waiting for the live stream to come up, I can tell you that Hugo has gained a pound and except for some drippy eyes which will be treated with saline solution (thanks Geemeff), she is on the mend. So very happy. Hugo comes to her name but if I had to pick a name for a last kitten, in this instance, it might just be ‘Love’. She has benefited from so much love – at home and from all of you. Her personality is like a Tiger, though. Lots of possibilities! In the end, she may always be Hugo – a reminder of the cosmic joke of trying to add a little boy to this all female mix. I just hope that they are not like female ospreys on a nest!

There is not much that comes close to the banding that it is taking place at Port Lincoln in terms of news. The Calypso Star has just pulled up to the barge. There will be some maintenance on the camera while the chicks are weighed. I understand that permission was not given for Tumby Island’s sat pack to be placed on the second osplet at Port Lincoln so, only one, the heaviest, will get the satellite pack. Everyone is supposing that will be Giliath but we wait to see and then there is the gender reveal (of sorts). Unless it is DNA or behaviour seen, it is never 100%. I understand that the race is very close indeed. I am, however, looking forward to the name. #2 just didn’t work well for this feisty osplet.

Dad spent the banding time on the old barge.

News is coming out of the Seaside chat that the two osplets are deemed to be both males. Remember how civil they have been all year. Think Ervie, Bazza, and Falky. Then think Zoe. Behaviour! I hope to see how correct this is in a few years time. They should hang around Port Lincoln like Ervie and Calypso if they are males. I wonder if Falky was a female – remember how he shot out of Port Lincoln? Just like Zoe.

Giliath got the tracker. No surprise there.

Mum and Dad sure make beautiful babies. Goodness these birds are gorgeous.

The Calypso Star is pulling up. If you ever get a chance to get to Port Lincoln, sign up for one of their charters and have the adventure of your life.

Port Lincoln needs another camera cable so the streaming cam will not be up and running until the late afternoon. Check out the bling when you get a chance! I will include pictures on Wednesday.

Other news is the events at the Kisatchie National Forest KNF E-3 nest that belonged to Alex and his now-deceased mate, Andria. The female has come into the nest and buried the eggs. I understand that Alex has returned and unearthed them. I was hoping that by burying them, Alex could move forward. But, no. She buries them. Alex uncovers and starts incubating. She partially buries them – it is the game of finding the eggs. Alex had a crop drop (I did not see it), meaning he is eating. Yes.

Alex flying off for the quickest break. I hope he is eating.

Alex is back incubating his eggs as the sun sets near Alexandria, Louisiana.

Food gifts are coming in at Southwest Florida.

What is happening at Superbeaks? We should be having a hatch.

Pip watch at Captiva for Connie and Clive!

Cilla cleans the scrape at Orange after Marri returns to it a couple of days ago.

Thank you for being with me. And thanks to ‘A and H’ for keeping me on track, to Port Lincoln, Jewel Lang being mod at Seaside and Bart for conveying news, Lady Hawk, HeidiMc, KNF-E3, Window to Wildlife, Superbeaks, Gris Andriana, and Birdie Cam.

Sadness and Hope…Monday in Bird World

11 December 2023

Good Morning,

I hope that you are all well. I am here a little earlier than I expected because Hugo is doing so well. Our blogs might be a little shorter – one because there is not a lot of news and secondly, Hugo continues to require a huge effort in terms of trying to get her health where it should be. I appreciate your patience and all of your good luck messages – they do mean so much to me!

I took a wee break in-between feedings to go for a short walk and to pick up some solid suet cylinders for the birds. the Starlings continue to come in numbers between 25-35 every day. The Sharp-shinned hawk seems to visit at least once a day and the remainder are two lovely little woodpeckers, Little Red, Dyson and her gang, and a rabbit! Oh, it is so grand looking out when it is so dark and cold and seeing a rabbit eating under the feeders. The Boyfriend has been here and he even had some of the girls’ roast chicken dinner. The Crows are in for a treat tomorrow when they will get some chicken and a lot of bones and skin.

This was Sunday afternoon at the nature centre. As you can see, we have a little bit of snow. I love it when it is white and clean.

I have missed all of you, and I am so sorry to have worried those who did not know I had paused my blog for a few days to take extra special care of Hugo. Miss Hugo. She has been fed every 2 hours from early morning to late night with some FloriFauna probiotics added. She eats kitten food and kitten milk, and tonight, roast organic chicken together with her sisters, Missey, Calico, and Hope. It was like living in the UK again – the Sunday roast!

Hugo has been a challenge. She left the foster home, and she was not thriving. Hugo was sick. It was apparent later that night and earlier the following morning. I have some serious concerns about foster kitten care when there are too many fosters to monitor their health routinely and to be able to observe them individually. My fear, of course, was the three healthy sisters. Hugo was swept off to the vet on Thursday morning. She weighed 860 grams, and on examination, the vet said she was 7-8 weeks old (by her teeth). 860 grams is undoubtedly within the weight range, but Hugo was thin. You could feel her bones. I remain astounded – and will probably talk about this forever – at how healthy Hope was living on the street. Yes, the stray cat’s kitten was healthier than this little one!
Of course, I fell in love with the little boy who turned out to be a little girl. She is a gentle soul that purrs loudly and loves to be carried and nestle on your chest. We will get over her health issues. She is gaining weight, and tonight, she ate more roast chicken than her sisters. She is on the mend, and I even found some time to bring myself – and you – up to date on what is happening in Bird World because of her improvement.

Missey is so happy. Since Lewis died, she has so longed to play, and now she has a playmate, little Hugo. They are enjoying a new tunnel. Hugo is fast and not afraid of anything. She sends Calico and Hope running in the other direction when she hisses at them. It is hilarious that Calico is a street cat (or at least she was for several months). Calico and Hope were a twosome, and Missey was left out, and now – well, it is tears of joy when I see these two. Missey is going to pop up in the centre of the tunnel.

Hugo ate all of that roast chicken! We have gained 180 grams! (She was 860 Thursday morning). We crossed the 1000 gram marker.

Calico got to enjoy some catnip. They all need the same or a special treat just for them. No one wants to feel left out.

Missey staring at Calico enjoying that catnip.

Missey and Hope (Hugo is there somewhere) enjoying the new little robot toy. Hope ran around for about 10 minutes chasing the laser dot. Good exercise. Missey liked the feather toy at the end of the fishing pole.

Beautiful Hope.

Hugo seems to be so much better this morning. She went flying through the house – she is very quick! No hint of any illness just wanting someone to give her breakfast and get on with playing! Calico is officially off her calming medication as it caused her to gain weight. There is enough space, toys, cat trees, food, and love to go around along with story and play time. So hopeful that all will be well and Hugo will be a distraction for Calico when she focuses on Missey.

The 2023 breeding season with the Bald Eagles is starting very rocky. We believe that Smitty is lost. He has not been seen at the NCTC nest of Bella since September 21/22. A young male has been around the nest. Martin at Dulles-Greenway has been missing for at least a fortnight. Andria has now died. Her seizures were seen on the streaming cam, and the last one caused her to fall to her death – some 150 feet. Andria’s body was retrieved, and Cody and Steve will reveal the findings of the necroscopy to all of us. It was a tragedy – a real tragedy. Alex saw Andria’s dead body. Still, his hormones drive him to incubate the two eggs that would have hatched next week. They are believed to be unviable. A short time later, Anna laid her first egg at the E1 nest she shares with her mate, Louis, in the Kisatchie Forest. There are now two eggs at the WRDC nest of Ron and Rose. M15 and F23 continue to incubate their eggs, and, sadly, Pepe and Muhlady lost egg #1 – the cause and circumstances are unclear. These two are great parents, so we all hope they have a super healthy eaglet inside egg 2. A real roller coaster of feelings runs through all that news.

Elfruler Elf put together some information for us to help us understand what is happening at the nest with Alex.

Alex continues to incubate his eggs and fight off an intruder. He will eventually give up – oh, goodness, I hope that these eggs do not hatch. He cannot manage alone at this young age. Maybe if they were a month old like E21 and 22 last year for M15.

Hatch watch at Superbeaks.

Ron and Rose enjoying their incubation time. They now have two.

Ron sees his second egg.

Connie and Clive continue to incubate their two eggs and everything appears to be well. We are a week away from hatch watch for thee two at Captiva.

Poor Gabby. V3 is still working on his technique! I am starting to think that we are going to need a miracle here. Anyone make instructional videos for male Bald Eagles????

I continue to worry about the owls at the nest of M15 and F23.

Pa and Missey Berry have an egg! So happy for these two.

In Australia, at Orange, Holly Parsons had always believed that the surviving eyas was Marri not Barru and it turns out that she was right. Marri has perfected her flying so much that she has now been able to land in the scrape box chasing Mum Diamond out!

SK Hideaways caught Marri returning to the scrape – loud and triumphant.

Cilla has her, too!

At Port Lincoln, fish have been brought in by boat and ringing is upon us. Lots of votes are in guessing the gender (just remember that Calypso was declared a female by those measurements and turned out to be a male – LOL, not unlike Hugo who turned out to be one of the small percentages of Gingers.

Six fish came to the nest from the fairy today. These are the most beautiful osplets. May they fly strong and live long.

These two will be ringed but not while the heavy rain is at the barge – and then only when the bander is available. Perhaps the 12th. Thank you to the Fish Fairies and all who supported them. Look at those two healthy osplets who are going to get their rings and their back packs. And thanks again to Bart for making certain that the information on the observation board was thorough and up to date.

‘A’ comments, “Tomorrow (Tuesday 12 December) is banding day at Port Lincoln. They plan to use falcon hoods to keep chick two’s feisty nature under some sort of control (they fear he might take off someone’s arm otherwise – I do adore that osplet) and are going to leave a nice pile of fish for the family afterwards. Mum escorted the fish fairy’s craft to the barge today. Too funny. I still wonder whether the fish fairy will come to be seen as a friend rather than something to fear on that nest. We will see how the family reacts to the fish being left on the barge nearby after the banding. But certainly mum and the osplets know which side their fish is buttered, so to speak. They know and are coming to love the fish fairies. Still, they are wild birds, and it is very obvious. Those piercing eyes are just amazing, aren’t they? And those crests and the necklaces. Amazing-looking birds. “

Check out the observation board to see who thinks what gender these two are. ‘A’ thinks we have two males, “I think we probably have two males on this nest. I am convinced that our younger hatch is a male. Giliath could be female, I suppose, based on size, but is too laid back in my opinion for a female and the size differential seemed to reduce as the osplets grew older, so that now, there is only a very minimal size discrepancy between them. What is your gender guess? I suppose everyone is reluctant to commit after the Calypso debacle.” — Well, unless we witness later behaviour, or DNA, it will never be 100% certain – using measurements only.

I said male-male on the 17th of November. Let’s see if I get egg on my face. I do not believe Giliath is a male although #2 from its aggression could well be the female, if there is one.

The fear of Bird flu and its impact continues to alarm us after devastating losses over the past two years.

Mass-deaths-of-elephant-seals-recorded-as-bird-flu-sweeps-across-the-Antarctic-Antarctica-The-GuDownload

Please consider taking part in any of the many Christmas Bird counts this year.

Thank you so much for being with me today. Please take care. We hope to see you soon!

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog today: ‘A, B, H, J, L, SP’, Elruler Elf, KNF-E3, Superbeaks, WRDC, HeidiMc, Window to Wildlife, Lady Hawk, Lin Lawson, Helen Matcham, Cilla Kinross, SK Hideaways, PLO, Bart, M, The Guardian, and Audubon Centre for Birds of Prey.

Ron and Rose have an egg, a Juvie seen at Orange…Thursday in Bird World

7 December 2023

Good Morning Everyone,

Everyone has their spot! Gosh, golly. I am taking some time while Hugo is snuggled up in the hammock of the new cat tree, sound asleep. He is doing better this morning. He has eaten and has slept cuddled nest to me both nights he has been here. Poor Hugo. You need to grow!

I must admit that he is so tiny I am terrified of ‘breaking’ him. Getting Hugo to eat is a bit of a challenge – I don’t think I have ever had a cat that didn’t want to eat! So – is it his recent vaccinations? The move from the foster family to here? Is he ill? The latter concerns me. Hugo now has an appointment with the vet today at 12:20. He does not appear to have thrived, so, we are going to see if we can change all that! And get advice on how to do it.

The girls have not fully embraced Hugo. Hopefully, they will once he really finds his legs in the family.

Because of Hugo’s need for attention – and, of course, Calico, Hope, and Missey still need to know they are loved – I am going to take a week off from everything, including writing the blog, to give them full and undivided attention. The banding at PLO has been moved to the 11th or the 12th. We should have more eagle eggs and bobble heads at Superbeaks by the 15th when I return and maybe fledges at Port Lincoln! Thank you for your understanding.

Several events in Bird World have us smiling. The first is that Ron and Rita have their first egg of the 2023 breeding season.

‘H’ wrote: “18:18:04  egg #1.  No one really expected this.  She was hanging out at the nest most of the day however.  We never even saw them mate!”

Wonder who will be next?

Rose is much loved. It did not look like an easy labour.

Also in Florida, it looks like V3 is getting the hang of things up at The Hamlet.

We are at pip/hatch watch at Superbeaks!

Eagles were at Redding on Wednesday.

Urban myths about eagles debunked. Do they really fly above storms?

A juvenile has been seen on the tower in Orange!!!!!!!! Incredible after no sighting for a few days. I feel excited about going to change the Memorial Page. Tears.

And more good news from Orange: “

At Orange, Diamond is sleeping off what looks like a large dinner (she has her usual huge crop), on her ledge and facing into the scrape. News of Barru (or is it Marri?) is good, and comes complete with footage from 6 December and 7 December: 

NEWS 7th December 2023 Cilla Kinross Our fledgling is nothing if not an early riser. In this morning’s video, it is chasing Xavier around just after dawn.  https://youtu.be/0FNHaf2m5rs 6th December Sightings of our one remaining juvenile (still unidentified, sorry) brought some relief to the channel followers as he or she had not been seen for a few days (even in the roost trees). This video covers most of the early morning antics, including a clumsy climb up the tower by the fledgeling and Xavier chasing a magpie.  https://youtu.be/Rw4y0YVRTmo“

At Port Lincoln… Dad arrives with a small partial fish for breakfast around 0810.

There was news on 6 December from Sydney. Thanks, ‘A’:

December 6: Early morning and both adults were reported at River Roost around 7am, with SE31 joining them from deeper in the mangroves as the adults greeted the day with a duet. River activity disturbed the youngster and she took flight, circling over the bay, before returning to land near the adults. She then flew back a little to the west, through the mangroves. She continued to fly about strongly until our team saw a parent deliver a fish at 10:10, which SE31 then ate in the mangroves. Later in the afternoon, around 3pm, both adults were seen at Goat Island.

And more good news on the 7th: “

At WBSE, the ranger report is another good one, with our juvenile being spotted with her parents. Also great to see a juvenile osprey, born and raised nearby, flying so well and looking so good. 

December 7: At 07:30 both adults and our juvenile were at River Roost, with SE31 between the parents, whining at times. I missed the report of a visit by two ospreys to the area yesterday afternoon, just before 5pm. Eagle calling and a brief flight and interacting in front of River Roost. No further action was reported today. A very hot day and more hot weather is expected tomorrow. One eagle was seen at Goat Island later in the afternoon. The picture below shows the juvenile osprey, a neighbour from another bay nearby.”

Horrible.

It is hard to imagine. 3 billion birds gone in 50 years.

The short..

Nearly-3-Billion-Birds-Gone-Birds-Cornell-Lab-of-OrnithologyDownload

The long version.

DECLINE-OF-NORTH-AMERICAN-AVIFAUNA-SCIENCE-2019Download

A beautiful article on the unexpected behaviour of an egret in Birdlife International.

Unexpected-behaviour-of-Western-Great-Egret-BirdLife-InternationalDownload

Do you know someone who qualifies and is interested?

Thank you so much for being with me. See you on the 15th! Until then, please take care.

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, articles, announcements, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog this morning: ‘A, H, J’, Debra Keely, WRDC, HeidiMc, Carol S Rifkin, Superbeaks, FORE, Dulles-Greenway, Holly Parsons, Cilla Kinross, PLO, Sydney Sea Eagles, Raptor Rescue Society, Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Science, and Cris Martin.

Fish deliveries at Port Lincoln…Wednesday in Bird World

6 December 2023

Good Morning Everyone,

I am writing this with the tiniest ginger kitten wrapped tight in a blanket, snuggled on my chest, purring ever so loud. Hugo is a darling. We could not get him until this evening, and I was astonished at how little and fragile he was. It makes it even more phenomenal how healthy and robust Hope was raised as a feral kitten by Calico.

Hugo has both a loud purr and meow. If he wants something you could hear him half a block away despite his minuscule size. He is actually, if you might imagine, about 750 grams. He is not two pounds but was released to us because he will have 24/7 attention. He wants nothing more than to be held and fed and he finds dangling earrings quite irresistible. So for the rest of his life, he may spend it in a woodblock print sling on my chest with his paws hardly touching the ground. Calico and Hope are curious. Missey is paying no mind – yet – to the new family member. Hugo had the nerve to ‘hiss’ at her!

If I were able to show Hugo to my grandmother and say, “Isn’t he the most beautiful kitten you have ever seen?”, her response would be, “‘He sure is sweet.”

Hugo slept nestled next to me all night. He had a roast chicken breakfast with Missey in the conservatory and is now sleeping in a little felted rock. No problems with the litter box. He has accepted drinking water out of a mug instead of a fountain and I am so hoping that he will begin to thrive.

Send all good energy to us as I try to get this kitten to put on some weight!

We had a visitor in the garden today and he or she had some lunch. Looks like the world’s House Sparrow population declined by one. Isn’t this a beauty?

My son sent me a photo of Snowy Egrets in Grenada. A year ago, I was there searching for them in person. Just look at them perched in the mangroves. One of the hotels has a water feature with a huge tree, and the Snowy Egrets would fly in there at night. I was told it was the Caribbean’s largest colony of Snowy Egrets. These are near the north end of the island.

There is good news at Port Lincoln.

‘H’ sent me a note in case I missed it while I was dealing with Hugo: “Did you see the kids eat, both self feeding? Dad brought a whole fish to the nest, Mum flew off. Dad ate the head then left the fish with the kids.  They ate for a long time.  Both were doing a good job, and it was very interesting to watch them interact.  Mum showed up much later and fed the remainder.” 

It was a grand day at Port Lincoln with 2 fish deliveries from Dad, 1 fish from Mum, and the fairy provided a fish. Simply lovely. The trials and tribulations over what to do and when are showing good results from Janet, Fran, and Bazz. When everything is new, it is difficult to figure out what is best…but, as we approach ringing which will take place tomorrow in Australia, things look great. No worries about the parents not stepping up with fish.

I wonder if the mating attempts of any eagle have been watched as closely as those of V3?

V3 and Gabby are making quite the impressive nest.

Lady Hawk caught a more recent mating attempt. He’s trying!!!!!!!!

Dad and the new female were at the ND-LEEF nest on Tuesday. So nice to see them together.

One of the adults, either Hope or Chandler, was at the Port Tobacco Eagle nest as the IR came on Tuesday night.

Blazer and Abby from the Eagle Country nest are getting some serious nest renovations completed.

M15 likes every aspect of being a dad including incubation. Thanks, SK Hideaways.

Well, maybe we might all wish that GHOs were prey items!

Baiba put together some compilation images of Jackie and Shadow waiting for one another.

Pip watch is quickly approaching. Hatch is expected in two days at Superbeaks.

A super article on Osprey success and how some energy companies are working to protect our raptors. Thanks, Sunnie Day for posting this!

Years-of-partnership-and-perseverance-leads-to-historic-osprey-nesting-Kansas-City-District-KansDownload

Geemeff caught the winter beauty around Louis and Dorcha’s home at Loch Arkaig. So still and peaceful.

The Endangered Species Act is 50 years old this month. This article reflects on its impact.

On-the-50th-anniversary-of-the-Endangered-Species-Act-a-threat-looms-Kim-Heacox-The-GuardianDownload

What a great age and how super to see that this youngster and others like him wanting to protect our sea birds.

Remember. Tomorrow is ringing day at Port Lincoln and it could well be the day we have a pip or hatch at Superbeaks!

Thank you for being with me. Please take care. We look forward to seeing you soon.

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog this morning: ‘A, Cris, H, J’, PLO, NEFL-AEF, SK Hideaways, Lady Hawk, ND-LEEF, Port Tobacco Eagle Cam, Baiba, Superbeaks, Sunnie Day and the Kansas City District News, Geemeff, The Guardian, and Albatross Lovers.