I hope you are all well – and, please, stay that way. New masking restrictions are coming into play in various provinces in Canada as this new Covid variant takes hold. I slept almost all Friday curled up with Calico in the conservatory. Oh, what a loving cat she is. I wouldn’t take a million dollars for her and Hope! Or Missey and Lewis. Several have written about wanting to adopt Hope. I could never separate her and Calico. Their story makes me believe that magical things can happen.
The pair of them continue to play like kittens, and we count the days until I am well and can manage the four to ensure their lives together, living in the open, are safe for all. They all deserve it. Hope watched the Blue Jays cracking open the Black Oil seeds at the table feeder and the leaves blowing across the garden and deck. We have started a new book – new to them anyway. The Meaning of Geese. I read it in the winter and came to love the Siberian geese in parts of the UK. As our geese fly in to fatten up and head South, it is a good reminder of how wonderful these birds are. I hope they like it!
We are heading to the 1st of October in Orange, and we are on ‘pip’ watch for Diamond and Xavier. Should the first laid egg be fertile and viable, we should be seeing some action soon. We are holding our breath.
I will raise many eyebrows, and some of you will yell at me, but I hope that Diamond and Xavier have one strong hatch. Let’s see another Izzi in this scrape – not a strong first hatch and a weaker second one with feather development issues.
Keep your eyes on Orange.
Elain did ‘Highlights of Prince Manaaki’ for all those missing that cute little bundle of fluff who turned into a Royal Albatross. Loved watching him garden!
Expecting to see one of the Sea Eaglets interested in that parent branch shortly.
‘A’ has been watching them but had missed the singing, “I found the sea eaglets ‘singing’ with their parents the most adorable thing. Thank you so much for drawing my attention to that. Of course, as it happened at 05:25 and was not something that I picked up while scrolling through the footage, I would have missed it otherwise. Aren’t they looking beautiful? As I have mentioned over the past fortnight, the world beyond their nest has been fascinating to them, especially SE32, and I am truly hoping this will make them less fearful of the currawongs and crows. They are both much larger birds than the blue jays that bothered Angel.
It is hot in Melbourne, and it is not even 0900. Why didn’t someone do something about the sun on that scrape? or remove that scrape box altogether?
A noticed this, “Poor mum is doing the morning shift at Collins Street and she has been panting since before 9am. Tonight, our clocks go forward an hour, meaning the shadow will not hit the scrape until an hour later than it is currently doing, and this will gradually get worse as time progresses. Today, mum is absolutely baking. It is SO hot out there. I hate to think of what it will be like in three or four weeks time when those babies have natal down rather than thermal down and the parents are going to have to shade them for at least three hours each day. Not sure how dad is going to manage that when he is already having problems brooding the four eggs (though he is valiant in his efforts and always finds a way somehow).”
The sight of the eyases almost roasting last year still haunts many of us.
It is going to be 30 degrees today, which means it will be a lot hotter on that ledge. Sending out positive thoughts to our lovely Melbourne Couple.
At Port Lincoln, the oldest egg is now 24 days old. We still have a ways to go before hatch!
Egg dates: 6, 9, and 12 September.
Looks who is back fishing at Delamere.
A rallying call to vote for the Peregrine Falcon as Australia’s 2023 bird of the year. Remember go to The Guardian to vote!
A really quick check at some of the Bald Eagle nests – almost without exception, the Bald Eagles are busy readying their nests for next season.
Pepe and Muhlady paid an early morning visit to Superbeaks.
Jackie and Shadow returned after 1800 to work on their nest at Big Bear Lake on Friday.
Baiba catches that first stick delivery by Shadow in video.
Life is still – seemingly – unsettled for Gabby at NE Florida. No confirmation of who came to the nest on Friday.
Raining hard at ‘The Hamlet’ and no one knows who is on or off the nest.
Anna is still having trouble with her injured leg at the KNF nest that she shares with her mate, Louis.
Connie and Clive are working on their nest at Captiva. Wishing them a good year.
Checking on our Black stork family from Estonia, Karl II and Kaia almost took the same flight path – like almost identical – to get to Bursa, Turkey.
Kalvi is in Bulgaria.
Waba continues to fish on the Danube River in Romania.
The RSPB’s State of Nature (in the UK) report is out and it makes for some very grim reading. The main threats to wildlife are: “The changes in the way we manage our land for farming, and climate change were the biggest causes of wildlife decline on our land, rivers and lakes. At sea, and around our coasts, it was as a result of unsustainable fishing, climate change and marine development.”
Do you have a garden? Do you have friends or relatives that do? Have they given away all the cucumbers and zucchini they can to their friends and still have more? What about that kale? Wildlife Rehab Centres always need fresh vegetables for their patients. Your local wildlife rehab clinic will be so grateful for the food gifts.
Thank you for being with me today. Cameras will be turned on Saturday at SWFlorida! Go and watch M15 and his new mate kick off a new season. Take care of yourself. See you soon!
Thank you to the following for their notes, videos, posts, photos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me: ‘A’, Charles Sturt FalconCam, Elain and NZ DOC, Sydney Sea Eagle Cam, 367 Collins Street by Mirvac, PLO, Pam Hewstone and Friends of Osprey Sth Australia, The Guardian, Superbeaks, FOBBV, Baiba and FOBBV, NEFL-AEF, Tonya Irvin and KNF E-1, Looduskalender, and the RSPB.
Wednesday afternoon I was feeling so poorly that I wasn’t even certain I would make it to send off even a smidgen of a newsletter. Covid is making its way around the world. This new strain is everywhere. My tip is to make a little preparation kit – ensure you have a good working thermometer, cough drops (my throat was the first sign), whatever you use to bring down a fever, and pet food if you have pets or birds. Pick up those free Covid testing kits. Get in some easy-to-make comfort foods however you define them. I promise you that you will not feel like eating anything, so make sure you have some things that will spur you into eating. Put cold bottles (glass) of water in the fridge. Drink them, and drink lots of tea! With lemon and honey, I scraped some fresh ginger, which helped the throat. But most of all, sleep. Permit yourself to fall asleep at any time of the day.
Hope cannot get enough play time. She doesn’t understand why my energy is so low! Right now she would rather fly around the conservatory – over the table, under the chair, up to the top of the cat tree, down to the purple chair – she has a route. Oh, what energy! Our little butter ball kitten isn’t a butterball anymore.
The kittens have not liked this. There has not been the usual 5 or 6 story times during the day which also include little snacks and treats. But, I tell them that things will be back to normal soon!
One of the bright spots of the morning was looking out and seeing a beautiful sunflower, one of the last growing, a present from the birds and squirrels. This beautiful yellow flower could not have opened up more opportunely!
‘J’ sent a note saying that there are beautiful pictures of the Centreport Eagles on FB – better than on the live cam. Check them out. Schwartz was interviewed about the return of the Bald Eagles to Long Island.
Ervie continues to do some long flights during the day. Oh, Ervie. Boston Island was far enough!!!!!!!!
Ernie’s older sister, Calypso, is taking fish to a nest. Everyone is hopeful that this might signal that her and her mate will be thinking about breeding next season.
Hartley and Monty didn’t want to be left out of the bonding videos! This coming season will be their second together. Can’t wait.
Rosa has checked out the new Dulles-Greenway nest after the old nest collapsed at the end of the breeding season this year. It looks like one or all of the three juveniles from last season have been around the nest at one time or another.
It was raining on the Sydney Sea Eagles when they woke to a new day. Several hours later, everything was starting to dry. ‘A’ remarks, “In Sydney, the sea eaglets are miserable. Soaking wet and not enjoying it. They woke early, shortly after 5am, and SE32 began gnawing at nestovers (there appeared to be a leg bone involved). He was getting lots of small bites off the bone and was getting great practice at self-feeding, but not enough to challenge SE31 when the breakfish arrived around 06:15. She claimed the headless fish immediately, leaving SE32 to closely watch her as she self-fed.”
‘A’ continues, “Today was a learning day at WBSE. SE32 started the day shortly after 5am, self-feeding on what looked like a leg bone. He was pulling off lots of very small pieces but at least he was learning. Two part fish were then brought in by around 7am, and SE31 ate most of both. SE32 did manage to steal a fish from his sister a couple of times, but continually tried unsuccessfully to swallow it whole, so she always managed to steal it back. He did get a couple of bites in the process, at one point holding a part fish down really well and pulling several large bites off it, but his sister was more accomplished and is self-feeding like an adult. Then, at around 10am, mum brought in half a fish and tried to feed SE32, who proceeded to steal the fish from mum but then lost it to SE31. Eventually, around 15:12 a nice fish was brought in and SE32 was fed most of it. SE31 tried to push in about eight or nine minutes into the feeding but mum was very determined to feed SE32. I am convinced she was trying to ensure SE32 got fed (she had tried to do that with the part fish around 10am but he had been a little too ambitious, stealing and then quickly losing it). Poor little eaglets were absolutely soaked from before dawn today. It was miserably wet in Sydney.”
Our first-time Mum at the MN Landscape Arboretum nest lost two osplets, and well, she could have had the one survivor die as well, but she figured it out, and Dad is making sure that their only baby is fit for migration. Six fish on Wednesday. Six. What a Dad. One beautiful survivor. It reminds me a bit of Hope. If Calico had only enough milk for one, Hope was the survivor – the Mini.
There has been a fledge and a return at Osprey House in Australia. Nine weeks and 2 days old. Two self-feeding, one fledge. Doing well.
At the Charles Sturt University Falcon scrape in Orange, Australia, ‘A’ notes, “At Orange, poor Xavier has just lost the argument over the eggs and has reluctantly got up and left at Diamond’s insistence. As is usually the case, Diamond has returned with a respectable crop. Oh Xavier is SUCH a handsome falcon. The moon is almost full tonight – 98.3% apparently. It will be 100% at three minutes to eight tomorrow evening (Friday 29 September) in eastern Australia. Diamond is silhouetted in the moonlight. We are within two days of pip watch. I cannot believe the time has gone so fast. Again, I hope no more than two of those eggs hatch. There is still a while to go at Port Lincoln (at least two and probably two and a half weeks). Collins Street is about a week ahead of Port Lincoln, so perhaps ten days till pip watch.”
Remember. Falcons and hawks develop much faster than eagles and ospreys. Here is an image chart for the development. You can compare the images to the eyases at Orange.
Falco is continuing to live around the area of Central Park where he escaped from his enclosure at the zoo. Bruce Yolton tracks the urban hawks of NYC in his blog. Here is his latest short video on this beautiful Eurasian Owl who has defied the odds and survived.
Some information on Eurasian Owls – maybe you have never heard of them!
The general rules of spotting an injured bird! Please don’t give water or food unless told to do so. Get a box with a blanket and air holes. Dark and safe. Keep warm. Get to the clinic asap.
Remember: If you can pick up a raptor, it is ill and/or injured. Get help.
‘H’ brings us up to date with what is going on at Captiva!
The Captiva Eagle Cam went live yesterday evening (if you don’t already know).
Also, the Captiva Osprey cam was struck by lightning, and may not be up until November. This is a link to a short video from Conner explaining a few things about the Captiva nests cams.
Looks like there is some action at the WRDC nest this morning. Thanks, ‘H’. Love watching them move around those big sticks for the rim!
Protecting nature. It isn’t being well cared for where I live. The public has to let its voice – no matter where you live – be heard. We are heading for a provincial election on the 2nd of October. Will anything change?
Would you happen to know what the American Flyways Initiative is? If not, educate yourself as to why these major migratory routes and all the land and water along them need protection (and improvement to habitat).
Think Mini. Think all of the ospreys, hawks, and other raptors and songbirds that you love. These flyways are the transport corridors from their winter to summer homes and we must protect them.
Tonya Irwin has issued a long correction on FB stating that the female who was injured on the E1 nest with Louis is not Anna. I hope that this is not a ‘bad’ sign for our beloved female.
Thank you for being with me today. Take care, everyone! Stay safe
Thank you to everyone for their notes, articles, videos, and streaming cams that helped me write my newsletter this morning: ‘A, H, JJ, J’, CBS NewYork, PLO, SK Hideaways and the San Jose CH Peregrine Falcons, Dulles-Greenway, Sydney Sea Eagle Cam, MN Landscape Arboretum, Osprey House Environmental Centre, Charles Sturt Falcon Cam, CDN Peregrine Foundation, RSPB, Bruce Yolton, The Peregrine Fund, The Global Bird Rescue, HeidiMc and the WRDC, The Free Press, and Birdlife International.
Oh, it was a lovely fall day on the Canadian Prairies. The windows were flung open to let out all the stale air. Watching Hope listen to the sounds of the birds in the garden was incredible. She watches every leaf that flies over the conservatory’s roof – she wants to play. What a happy little kitten she is. Today is day 14 – it has been two weeks since Calico’s spaying. Had I felt better, Hope and Calico would have begun the second round of integration into the household on Tuesday. I don’t want anything to go sideways, no hiccups, since I am not on top of my game with this Covid. Calico, Missey, and Lewis had learned to live together. Calico is protective of Hope, which can potentially cause a problem. But soon….I continue to think of the osplets on the nests. There is enough space, enough food, and enough attention for all of them. Enough toys and treats! There will be an uncomfortable few days, and the pecking order will be established and life will settle into a routine.
Hope. She is nothing short of a Mini-Calico with her black tear in the left eye, a single spot of white on her black, and her lovely disposition. I will bore you and I am sorry but I cannot look at the two of them without feeling a little overwhelmed – in a good way – that Hope found us and Mamma and baby were reunited.
As the sun was setting on Big Bear Lake, Jackie pays a visit! So very nice to see you.
Mini did not come to the Patchogue nest on Tuesday that I am aware. Many wonder why she has not migrated. Migration depends on a food source and it is obvious that Mini still has plenty of fish in the area to eat. There are rumours that the bay is full of Snapper and other fish. Why would she leave for something uncertain? Eat up! Get fat! Then go.
This might be of interest to you. Many North American Ospreys from the NE US fly over Cuba beginning in mid-September. This article points out that there are also large numbers in October.
There has been ongoing worry about Karl II, the patriarch of the Karula National Forest Black Stork Nest Ian Estonia. His tracker stopped transmitting in Ukraine. This happened last year in an area where the cell service was disrupted because of the war. Now, Karl II has sent data!!!!!!! He is alive. Oh, thank goodness.
The time has flown by. We are approximately three days from the hatch at Orange!!!!!!!! We will enjoy these little fluff balls before things start to crack at Melbourne.
While Diamond and Xavier wait for their three eggs to hatch, Annie and Lou are doing some serious beak bonding in The Campanile in California.
The might Mum, F22, at Collins Street.
SE31 and 32 – gorgeous. The plumage. They are working those wings, self-feeding, and getting ready for their fledge in October.
Dad taking his turn incubating while Mum returns from her break anxious to get back to her three eggs.
Ervie went over to Boston Island. He certainly seems to be exploring lately. Wonder what he had in his picnic?
Anna, who was injured, and Andria are at their nests at the Kisatchie National Forest Monday night.
An Osprey landed on the perch at Achieva where it seemed to be drying its wings in the wind.
At least five fish were delivered to the fledgling at the MN Landscape Arboretum Nest on Tuesday. Dad and Lil’ Arb are still around. The weather is good, the fish seem plentiful, and why not? Just like Mini – eat the fish where you are before flying off to points unknown!
It appears that Coco has left the Sandpoint nest and she and Dad, Keo, are on their way south.
Beautiful morning at Superbeaks. If you haven’t, add this Eagle nest in Central Florida to your watch list.
Exciting news of the Black-browed Albatross being spotted in the UK. This is an extremely rare event.
Thank you for joining me today for a little snippet of the happenings in Bird World. We continue to monitor those few nests that still have juvenile Ospreys being fed by parents and, of course, are getting ever so excited about the lead-up to hatch at Orange. For me, though, the big event will be the sight of a tiny osprey in the nest at Port Lincoln. Those little ones with soft grey down and black eye lines melt the heart. Is it OK to hope we might have a better year with this new Dad? Only time will tell.
Take care everyone. Stay safe! See you soon.
Thank you so much to the following for their posts, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to compose my newsletter today: FOBBV, Journal of Raptor Research, Looduskalender, Charles Sturt Falcon Cam at Orange, SK Hideaways and Cal Falcons, 367 Collins Street by Mirvac, Sydney Sea Eagles, PLO, Tonya Irwin and KNF Eagle Cam Fans, Achieva Credit Union MN Landscape Arboretum, Sandpoint, Superbeaks, and Yorkshire Wildlife.
I did not go anywhere exotic. I rarely left my home and garden, and it was a joyful week – full of time with Hope trying to socialise this bundle of joy, calming and reassuring Lewis, petting and reading to Calico and Missey, and writing two articles. There was also time to do what was intended – begin writing up the report on the 2023 Osprey breeding season data forms, focusing on the deaths and why they occurred. I needed the cats to balance off the sadness. Sometimes, you can see the birds waiting for their mate to return, and they don’t. Or the babies starving on the nests because society has yet to understand our need to care for them. If we are to survive, the birds, the animals, and the insects need to as well. As I mentioned before the break, the cats have taught me to live in the moment, enjoy, be thankful, and not dwell on the past or the future so that it wrecks ‘the now’. Still, there is an obligation to do what can be done to make the lives of those around me – the neighbourhood community cats, the garden animals, or the birds – as good as possible. Having travelled the world many times, missing what is right at one’s doorstep is easy. For me – now – ‘there is no place like Home’. I am as joyful watching the Blue Jays flit into the little covered feeder for peanuts as I would be walking along the waterfront in Kuching or Penang.
There was also another cat tree to put together. Poor Missey has been looking out a small window with bins full of birdseed stacked one on the other and a wicker basket with a blanket at the top. But this cat tree is nothing like the solid one I have had for two decades. It was obnoxious to assemble with the holes and screws not always lining up easily. Tip: If you have the funds and know someone handy with wood, get them to build you a solid one out of good plywood. You can take it to a local upholster to get it covered. At the end of the day, Missey prefers the wicker basket on the bins. Of course. My house looks like I have opened a cat daycare centre at times. Too funny, but it is driving me a little nuts, so there will be some consolidation this week!
Before checking what happened while I was away, Geemeff sent me a link to the BBC1 programme on Birds of Prey. Ospreys are about halfway through the 57 minutes, and the couple is Brodie and Asha from Loch Garten. But don’t just skip ahead because you will miss the most beautiful landscapes, and the images of the raptors are extraordinary. Enjoy.
Saturday: Mini shows up at the nest and spends about an hour. She looks good. She is putting more weight on that leg. It was windy due to Hurricane Lee’s outer bands. She hung onto the nest tight. This image of Mini is going on a mug. I want to see this magnificent bird every morning and wish her well. Thanks, ‘H’ for the alert.
Mum L came to feed Manaaki. She looked for him twice. Bittersweet moments for these dear parents.
Upcoming announcement:
Sunday: It seems that a nest of Ospreys is causing trouble for some organisers of a Green Man Festival in Wales. Let us hope that this does not result in any harm to the platform or any birds.
Ervie travelled and might have met his sister, Calypso.
Ron and Rose began making changes to their refurbished and refortified nest in Miami-Dade County.
PG&E put up a new pole and nest for ospreys in the SF Bay Area. We need more of this!
Many Ospreys are still in Canada and have not started their migration. Lucky is well known in the Newfoundland Virginia Lake area.
Sea Eaglets enjoyed another ‘eel meal’.
Monday:
Mini visited the nest again Sunday evening at 2018 (17 September). It was already dark. Her leg looked to be bothering her. I wonder if the water has been rough and fishing hard? Mini will be 4 months old, 123 days.
My Mini mug arrived. She and I will have morning coffee together. The screen capture images work well for digital printing on items. The company I used said it was not a high enough resolution, but I told them to print it anyway. The image turned out lovely.
This will be the last sighting of our dear girl. She has come to the nest to say goodbye. Soar high for decades, dear one. May your crop always be full, may your leg heal, and may you thrive. You gave us such joy and showed us what determination can do.
Thunder and Akecheta were together at the West End.
Gabby arrived at the NE-Florida Nest early. She looks out on her territory and its uncertain future. V3 was last seen on the 16th of September. He has been missing for two days now.
Tuesday: Black Storks flying over the Straits of Gibraltar.
Hope is growing and changing. She is no longer ’round’.
Calico loves her cuddles and still wants a story whenever I am with them. It is such a great way to get them used to your voice.
Cuddle time with Mamma and Baby Hope.
How did Avian Flu or HPAI impact the breeding season? News from the BTO gives us insight.
Has HPAI impacted breeding raptors?
Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) has been in the news because of its all too obvious impacts on our breeding seabird colonies and wintering goose populations. However, the disease has affected a wide range of bird species, including birds of prey. Because raptors tend to be more dispersed and often inhabit remote locations, there has been concern that the impact of HPAI on these species could have been underestimated.
BTO Scotland staff Mark Wilson, Anthony Wetherhill and Chris Wernham were commissioned by NatureScot to examine Scottish Raptor Monitoring Scheme (SRMS) data for any evidence of an impact. The team compared SRMS data from the 2022 breeding season with equivalent data from previous years, assessing whether there had been significant changes in reported numbers or breeding success of raptor pairs, and whether any of the changes detected were likely to be caused by the HPAI outbreak.
The analyses provided strong evidence for declines in breeding success consistent with impacts of HPAI on the productivity of Golden Eagle and White-tailed Eagle in 2022. These impacts were evident in most of the Scottish regions where these eagles breed but, for both species, they appear to have been greater in areas where pairs had access to coastal and marine habitats, indicating a possible link to predation and scavenging of infected seabirds and waterfowl.
Other factors that could explain the differences observed between 2022 and other years, particularly in breeding success, include variation in weather, prey availability and survey effort. Of these, the weather recorded in 2022 may have contributed to the observed differences but seems unlikely to entirely account for all of them.
The work, which has been published as a NatureScot report, highlights the valuable role played by coordinated monitoring of our raptor populations.
BTO, e-mail of 19 September 2023
And in Melbourne…
At Patchogue, a local enthusiast and lover of Mini, Isac, said on Tuesday when he went checking, “just saw an osprey crossing from the creek to the lake and have a fish in her talons. I think this our lil 4”.
Do you live in Alabama?
M15 and F1 are getting serious. Androcat brings us the action.
It is a beautiful poem to the Welsh Ospreys…completely written by AI.
Black Storks on the move. No data from Bonus and no new data from Karl II.
One of Atlantic Canada’s favourite male Ospreys, Lucky, is still providing fish to his chicks.
The fledgling from the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum nest was still home.
CORRECTION TO INFORMATION I WAS GIVEN: The male at the Arboretum nest is not 21 years old. Here is the correct information: “This male is G/B MS….a five year old that was hatched in 2018 on a nest in Carver Park.”
RUTLAND WATER, home to many ospreys but my fav male Blue 33 and Maya fledged their 250th Osprey chick in 2023. Congratulations. The event is being celebrated widely and there is even a BBC Radio Programme on the 22nd of September.
Mini has not returned to the nest since Sunday the 17th. That was three days ago. A local believes they saw Mini fishing.
SE 31 and 32 are getting more steady on their feet.
It’s scandalously hot on F22 at the 367 Collins Street nest. Question: Last year, we witnessed the effects of the hot sun and heat on the eyases. So why was the scrape not taken down in that area or, instead, why wasn’t a shade put on it like at the other end?
Thursday: Mark Avery gives us a brief update on Bird Flu in the UK.
“In 2023, up until 17 September, 46 species have tested positive. The last month has seen just one addition – 4 Pheasants in Moray. Here’s the list: Gannet, Cormorant, Shag, Fulmar, Mute Swan, Whooper Swan, Pink-footed Goose, Greylag Goose, Barnacle Goose, Canada Goose,Mallard, Teal, Moorhen, Coot, Black-headed Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Herring Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Kittiwake, Roseate Tern, Common Tern, Arctic Tern, Sandwich Tern, Little Tern, Razorbill, Guillemot, Puffin, Curlew, Ringed Plover, unspecified heron (!), Grey Heron, dove/pigeon, Wood Pigeon, Pheasant, Red Grouse, Sparrowhawk, Goshawk, Buzzard, Kestrel, Peregrine, Tawny Owl, Barn Owl, Reed Warbler and Carrion Crow.”
What is happening at the NEFlorida Bald Eagle nest of Gabby? V3 has not been seen in some days and I fear that the tragedy of Samson has beset a potential mate for Gabby. Will there be a clear partner before breeding season in 2023? or will all be lost due to territorial disputes?
Friday: New studies on migration with relation to Black-tailed Godwits and Red Knots reveals much about how young birds travel to their winter homes.
There has been chaos at the scrape of Diamond and Xavier due to the persistent presence of a young female falcon. Diamond has engaged with the female, and as of today, Friday, the nest is calm and back to normal. We need Diamond safe. She is not a youngster and she is incubating eggs.
Here is the video of that moment! This must be very unsettling for Diamond and Xavier.
Lotus and Mr President have been photographed together at the Washington Arboretum Bald Eagle nest.
Ervie is exploring more territory.
The Pritchetts are getting ready for a new season with M15 and his young and beautiful new mate. I hope that they have many successful years – even a decade – together raising little eaglets that spend time at the pond.
Saturday: Ervie is flying inland.
Gabby has been working on the nest with the new visitor. There has been no sightings of V3 and the AEF says they have not seen any fights on camera. There now could be two suitors. ‘As the Nest Turns’ has begun. Poor Gabby. The AEF is labelling them A1, A2, etc. Gabby prefers the smaller A1 and not A2. Hoping that V3 was just run out of the territory but, what a way to start the year.
Now Anna has been injured. She returned to the KNF E-1 nest – limping with a head injury. None of this is good…. but let us hope it is all minor with Anna.
Jackie and Shadow have been seen together in the tree on cam 2. I still love the diamonds that appear on the nest when the sun is just rising at Big Bear.
SE31 and 32 have changed significantly over the past week. Just look at that plumage. My friend, the late Toni Castelli-Rosen, loved the plumage of the White-Bellied Sea Eaglets. The two are much more steady on their feet and they are flapping their wings. Beautiful eaglets.
Dad has been working on the ND-LEEF nest. The new female has also been present. (Home of ND17, that wonderful third hatch survivor that went into care at Humane Wildlife Indiana – finally!).
Eagles at Duke Farms.
Calico has come out of her operation in fine form. She has been playing like a kitten for the past 3 days, and Hope loves it. They both seem to have springs on the pads of their feet. What joy it is to see Mamma and Hope play together. After, they can often be found sleeping side by side on the top of their makeshift tent where they can look out at the garden animals.
The bells will be ringing in New Zealand as the first two Royal Albatross have returned for the 2023-24 breeding season!
This short article explains this much-anticipated event.
‘A’ is very excited and provides more details and a video explanation of the ringing. ” Meanwhile, the official ringing of the bells in nearby Dunedin to welcome the returning toroa will occur this Monday, 25 September, at 13:00 local time (in the US on Sunday 24 September at 3pm Hawaii time/6pm PST/9pm EST). Here is a brief explanation of this beautiful tradition: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uanfnBN6OPI&t=36s. How adorable is the little girl?”
Sunday: Lady and Dad reinforce the side rails as SE31 and 32 become more active in the nest!
Ervie got home safely!
Speaking of getting home safely, V3 has returned to the NEFlorida Bald Eagle nest of Gabby. He is a little worse for wear in places. Will Gabby show up? Will V3 take the prize? We wait.
Pepe and Muhlady are working on their nest in Central Florida as are many other eagle couples throughout North America.
Akecheta was visiting the West End nest.
This is disgraceful! You can look no further than the driven grouse estates. This is precisely what Hamza was referring to when discussing the persecution of the Hen Harriers in Scotland!
Thank you so much for being with me this morning as I ate back into Bird World. I hope each of you had a good week and are enjoying the crisp autumn air. Take care. See you soon!
Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to write my newsletter over the past week: ‘A, H, Geemeff, L’, Geemeff and BBC1, PSEG, Sharyn Broni, Conservation Without Borders, The Sunday Times, PLO, WRDC Pam Kruse and SF Osprey Cam with Rosie and Richmond, Ian Winter and Ospreys of Newfoundland and Labrado, Sydney Sea Eagles, IWS/Explore.com, NEFL-AEF, Birdlife, BTO, Karen Lang and Orange, Australia Peregrine Falcon, 367 Collins Street by Mirvac Alabama Coastal Briefest. Androcat and SW Florida Eagle Cam, Dyfi Osprey Project, SK Hideaways, Looduskalendar, Twin Cities Metro Osprey Watch, Mark Avery, Inatra Veidemane and Bald Eagles in the USA, Hakai Magazine, MI McGreer, Karen Long, Gracie Shepherd and Raptors of the World, Katie Phillips Conners, Tonya Irwin and KNF-E1, FOBBV, ND-LEEF, Duke Farms, The Royal Albatross Centre, Superbeaks, Sharon Dunne and Royal Cam Albatross Group NZ, and Raptor Persecution UK.
The happenings in Bird World – in terms of our beloved Ospreys – are getting thin. Most have left their nests and are returning to their winter destinations. It has been a privilege to watch these amazing families struggle in some very challenging conditions to survive. The joy that even a single survivor on a nest brought to us – seeing Dorsett catch a fish and hang out by the beach after fears that the entire clutch would be lost. Witnessing the loss of the Lake Murray osplets to a GHO or others die for mysterious reasons like those at Marder’s. And then seeing a survivor like Mini – . It was like being on a roller coaster – the 2023 Osprey breeding season.
Thank you for your really good wishes for Calico. She is healing nicely. We have not resorted to the Victorian Collar – well, I tried it when I saw her licking but she was not having that and in the end the stress and her trying to tear it off might have caused more damage. I learned from Geemeff that Olive Oil will keep skin around the incision from drying out which is the root cause of the licking -when that skin dries it pulls. I also picked up some antibiotic cream. Calico is such a lovely girl – she rolled on her back and let me apply those as if she completely understood that I was trying to help her. I cannot tell you how much I adore this cat.
Hope is a live wire and wants only to play. Missey wants to play with her but Calico is not so happy to share so we are going to wait. Hope is also beginning to lose that ‘fat’ little face of a kitten. She is 74 days old – nearly 11 weeks. She has such big legs! She is cute, quick, and fun and is less and less afraid of people every day.
Hope loves this feathery teaser that her Auntie in Scotland got for her. It brings her out of her hiding spots in an instant!
Hope is a whirlwind. She must just make Calico tired. You might be able to tell that the conservatory has been turned into a cat play room complete with the table being turned into a hiding spot with thick comforters on the floor and heavy quilts and Rajasthani block prints as cover. It is hopefully a happy safe plade for these two as they acquaint themselves to life indoors. I got a giggle this morning. Geemeff sent me a saying, “Dogs have owners, cats have staff.” Isn’t that the truth? I am getting ready to go and do ‘maid duty’ after having already done ‘room service’. I would not change anything.
Calico has discovered that from the little house on the cat tree she can control Hope having access to that tummy tum.
This old cattier has been fun for more than a dozen cats since a couple of local men – a carpenter and an upholsterer – made a few of these around 2006. They are heavy duty – 3/4″ plywood construction and the carpeting can easily be replaced in the bits that get the. most use.
Missey and Lewis grew too big to run and play in the lime green tunnel. Hope loves it and the crinkle sound the fabric makes.
‘H’ has a surprise in her three reports this morning…a wonderful surprise.
Osoyoos – What a surprise … After the livestream was down for 14 days, it went live on 9/13 … for 4.5 hours, then the feed went down again. So, what did we learn? The fledgling is still there. She was on and off the nest several times. And, she looks fabulous! She is quite plump and healthy looking. That is just wonderful. We did not see either of her parents.
Kent Island – Audrey made an appearance early in the morning when she landed on a pole at a nearby dock. She stayed perched there for some time, but we are not sure how long, as the camera panned back to the nest. We did not see her the rest of the day, which was somewhat unusual of late. The past several days, Audrey had been seen a few times in Joe’s tree or on the dock. We will monitor, but it is possible that we may have seen Audrey for the last time this season.
Barnegat Light – Duke was seen in a couple of different trees throughout the day. Dorsett was not seen or heard. There were no significant live streaming issues on 9/13, so technical difficulties cannot be blamed for the lack of Dorsett sightings. The last time we saw Dorsett was the morning of 9/11. There was a beautiful sunset over Barnegat Bay … a poignant moment in time … missing Dorsett. “You be safe out there, girl.”
Visitor at Loch Arkaig! Not an Osprey. Beautiful.
More visitors to Louis and Dorcha’s nest at the midnight hour.
A fledgling having a wonderful fish meal on the Kallavesi Osprey nest in Finland! These sightings are getting rare as the urge to leave the natal nest and breeding grounds grows stronger.
Keo brought Coco three fish today at Sandpoint. T here was no sign of Keke and she might have begun her migration.
Mum was eating a nice fish on the perch at Boulder County Fair Grands Osprey nest. No sign of the fledglings while I was checking.
The Patchogue Nest is empty. Locals have seen ospreys but they have not come to the nest and there is no confirmation that they are Mini or members of her family as there are other nests in the area. I did find this short video clip showing Mini having dinner with her siblings. A nice memory.
The Osprey platform at Seaside is quiet.
Caught Swoop on the nest at Dunrovin.
Now that Pat has been released from being in rehab, is it possible that all three fledglings from the Dulles-Greenway Nest were home?
Is there anyone that isn’t excited about what is going to happen on the Sw Florida or the NE Florida Bald Eagle nest this year?
M15 has his new beautiful lady.
Gabby and V3 are going to try and raise a family together this season. It is exciting – new beginnings for two of our favourite eaglets who lost their mates last year.
The most beautiful sunsets come from the Superbeaks Bald Eagle nest in Central Florida.
Checking in NZ and Australia:
Royal Albatross Colony, Taiaroa Head, NZ: ‘A’ notes: “In New Zealand, there are strong onshore winds currently and the chicks are taking this perfect opportunity to practise their flying. UQ is doing wonderfully well but Manaaki really does have some way to go when it comes to technique. He is currently down the hill, out of sight, having hovered out over the edge and down a bit. He really has little control over his skills yet, unlike UQ who looks very close to departure. And as I said, Quarry has not been seen on the hilltop for several days. We will get another report tomorrow on who has left the colony. There are currently two fledged chicks who have landed on the water in the bay. The rangers are keeping a close eye on these two, as if they become waterlogged they will be unable to take off again and will eventually drown. The rangers will rescue them for a second take-off attempt if this becomes necessary.” She continues, “Manaaki is still there, as is UQ, though it appears Quarry has left. We are not sure whether she was at the chick count yesterday so she may be elsewhere on the headland but we suspect she has fledged. Heart in my mouth every time I turn that tab on. It won’t be long now for Manaaki. He is 236 days old today (average age at fledge 240 days). I presume you are aware that this is the only mainland northern royal albatross breeding colony in the world, so it is a very special privilege to be able to watch them and to know the rangers are doing everything possible to protect this magnificent species. I will be interested to see the contents of the boluses this season, especially Manaaki’s of course. I suspect they will be largely the same, though it could vary based on where the parents have been foraging.”
‘A’ brings another update: “They have rescued the two fledged chicks who landed in the bay. They picked them up from a boat and took them back to their nest areas, from which they can make another attempt at fledging.’
Alison
367 Collins Street: ‘A’ knows someone who works near the Falcon’s scrape and she writes: “They can hear the Collins Street falcons all day at work, and the screeching noise is becoming very familiar. Any city dwellers would have been woken early this morning, as F22 was up and calling loudly for food before 05:55, leaving the ledge and presumably heading for the food stash. She has a large feather stuck to her face, on the right side of her beak, which looks so funny. The falcon version of bed head I think. The eggs were left unattended for just over 62 minutes before M22 arrives to incubate. He hardly has time to settle before mum is back, still with the facial feather and still shrieking. Dad does a classic GCW dive off the ledge and mum settles down. It’s 08:40 and M22 is back on the eggs at the moment. He has been for nearly an hour now, and he is breathing through his mouth already in the morning sun. Remember that in a couple of weeks’ time, it will be only 07:40, with daylight saving starting on 1 October (clocks will go forward one hour at 2am on the Sunday morning). It is currently 17 degrees and I can hear F22 arriving back on the ledge. She is noisy. Dad dives off the ledge, probably to get away from the ear-splitting screeching.”
“After leaving M22 to look after the eggs from around 10:30, F22 did not return until nearly 12.20. During that nearly two-hour period, little dad took a very short break of perhaps two or three minutes but that was well after the shade had completely covered the scrape. There were times when he was panting so fast, his little body looked like it was vibrating. If the parents are suffering like this at this time, what will it be like in six weeks, when the temperatures will be up to 8C higher and the shade won’t cover that scrape until well after midday. (Remember daylight savings puts the clocks forward an hour, so what is now 11am will become 12 noon, which is the last thing that scrape needs.) And of course the sun is moving further south, meaning the shade will take longer and longer each day to reach that scrape. It is worrying me a month before the eggs hatch….”
Like ‘A’, so many wish that a sun shade was placed over the end of the ledge where the eggs are like the other side because of the escalating heat in Melbourne at this time of year.
Orange Peregrine Falcons: Cilla Kinross has published the prey deliveries and a comparison to earlier times so that we can see that the drop off in deliveries this time of year is natural.
In New Zealand, the mainland colony of Kakapo is growing. These are historic moments -. Let us hope that the Kakapo will once again thrive – as in both numbers and quality of life – on the main island of New Zealand where they once lived. For those who do not know the history of the Kakapo and their extinction, here is a brief article to acquaint you with that sadness.
I have included this before but, let’s all remember! Don’t let those pumpkins go to waste. Tell your family and friends. All those pumpkins turned into Jack-O-Lanterns are great food sources for wildlife. It can make a difference in their lives – food. Life saving food.
You can do something to help lots of wildlife with your pumpkins, old apples, etc -.
I checked on Karl II’s family – all are still travelling, but there is no transmission yet from Karl II, and there is also no transmission from Tweed Valley’s Poul. Keep them in your most positive thoughts.
Thank you so much for being with me today. Take care!
Thank you to the following for their notes, videos, postings, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog this morning: ‘A, Geemeff, H’, Osoyoos, Kent Island, Wildlife Conserve F of NJ, Geemeff and the Woodland Trust, Finnish Osprey Foundation, Sandpoint Ospreys, Boulder County Fair Grounds, D Lambertson and PSEG, Seaside Ospreys, Dunrovin Ranch, Sassa Bird and Bald Eagles I the USA, Ana Boone and SWFL Eagle Ca, NEFL-AEF, Superbeaks, NZ DOC, Holly Parsons and Albatross Lovers, 367 Collins Street by Mirvac, Cilla Kinross and Orange Peregrine Falcons, and Kakapo Recovery.
Sunday started off cool, and it warmed up but the day was mostly cloudy. So, to me, it felt cooler looking out than it actually was. Small raindrops have just started falling late in the evening. The Blue Jays are still coming to the garden for water and seeds as are the Sparrows. Migration is in full swing, and only time will tell if the Blue Jay family is staying for the winter or will leave for part or all of it. The six Crows in the Crow family are still here- they will probably remain all winter just like the Chickadees. Canada Geese continue to fly overhead as are the Pelicans – all of them leaving for parts warmer and in the South.
Audubon has a wonderful tool to learn about migration. Migration is remarkable and now that the birds are leaving I am already longing for their return next spring. Nature continues on despite all that is thrown at it.
Today was the day Hope came out of her shell. Geemeff suggested a feather teaser toy. Little Hope loves to play and right away she was in the middle of everything. I got a small stroke on her head! This kitten has the sweetest face. One miracle for the day. Next play time I will try to grab her with Geemeff’s instructions firmly in mind to let her loose so she isn’t frightened – and knows she can get away. Fingers crossed. Calico goes in for her surgery on Tuesday and I hope to have this little one all friendly by then.
Calico is very protective of Hope. While she weants to return to the main part of the house I have left the door open and Calico will not leave without the baby who remains, at this time, hesitant.
Little Mini-me. I continue to marvel at the miracle – the moment is so clear – when I looked out and saw this wee kitten eating at the feeding station. It was beyond my hope that these two would be reunited. No wonder Calico doesn’t want her out of her sight.
Lewis and Missey are much more used to the ‘smell of Calico and the presence of Hope – through glass. They are all fed at the same time and there has been lots of tasty meals to cement the idea that Calico and Hope bring ‘good things’ not bad ones! Constant companions. Constant washing and playing. Lewis and Missey are both now a year old.
Let’s start off with something fun – the season highlights from Loch Arkaig! Louis, Dorcha, Ludo and various visitors delighted us day in and day out throughout the 2023 breeding season in Scotland.
News has just come in from ‘H’ that there are now four eggs at Melbourne! Oh, little M22 has going to have his work cut out getting those big eggs under for incubation! Egg #4 laid at 07:48:52.
‘A’ gives us a prey update: “At about 09:09:48 M22 lands on the ledge with a small bird, calling F22 as he arrives. For a couple of minutes prior to this, we have watched small feathers floating up, from where M22 is obviously preparing the prey at a lower level. He chups and waits. When F22 does not appear, he plucks the bird a little more, then heads with it, still chupping, up to the scrape. He seems to want to feed his eggs! He plucks the bird a little more, and at 09:11:30 flies off with the prey, presumably to leave it in one of their stash spots for mum to retrieve. Dad returns to incubate at 09:13:39. He has a little difficulty settling down on four eggs but he manages. This pair is adorable.”
I went to check and Mum is home. No fear! After last year I worry all the time about this nest.
Liznm caught that fourth egg being laid at Melbourne for us.
Mini has not been seen at the nest since the morning of Saturday 9 September. Mum has appeared a few times (or it is believed to be Mum). I have an inbox full of concerned letters wanting help for Mini but, in truth, we do not know if Mini needs help. Wildlife rehab clinics do not have the resources to search Patchogue for Mini. Indeed, every clinic that I know relies heavily on volunteers. If someone were to find Mini and get her to a clinic – if that clinic knows her story and any in the area should – they would recognise her. But, for now, we only know that Mini is not coming to the nest. Dad has been seen on the antennae by the lake where he fishes and Mum might or might not have come to the nest once or twice. That would be typical osprey behaviour before departing for migration. The fact that Mini has not come to the nest does not mean she is grounded, nor is she dying and starving. The absence of evidence is not evidence.
The only thing that could be done at this point is for a local search party to comb the area for Mini. That is a huge task but it would be worth it just to check and for everyone to know that she is not grounded.
Five fish were delivered to the Sandpoint Osprey Platform today. Coco was deliriously full of fish dinners!
‘H’ sends her report on Kent Island and Barnegat Light:
Kent Island – The fledgling, Molly, has not been seen for almost six days. Audrey spent the night of 9/10 on the nest, and she flew off at 0630. She was not seen on camera for the rest of the day, until she landed on the nest just before 10 pm. Audrey spent the night of 9/11 at the nest. Tom was not seen on camera on 9/10.
Barnegat Light – There was frequent and prolonged buffering of the live stream on 9/10. But, we were able to observe a fish delivery from Duke to Dorsett at 0725, and we saw Dorsett on the nest with a partial fish at 1828.
Thanks, H’!
‘A’ sends her down under report from down under – thanks A:
Sydney Sea Eagles: “It is now nearly 12:30 and Lady and Dad have spent this morning bringing in more and more nesting material .Check out how much fresh greenery there is on that nest. And that’s not counting the two gigantic branches (one at the front, one at the back) that have been brought in and carefully arranged so far this morning. It is phenomenal. They are doing a total spruce-up and a little renovating – it is a DIY fest up there this morning. The eaglets, of course, would prefer some breakfast, but I think the parents are bringing in the extra cot rails for the reason discussed yesterday (two much more mobile chicks now up off their tarsi and motoring around that nest) and all the fresh greenery and talonfuls of dry leaf material are being brought in because of the day of rain they had there over the weekend (or was it Friday). Anyway, they’re freshening up and drying out the nest. They have both been aerating today and yesterday. So I’m pretty sure that’s the reason for this sudden obsession with bringing in nest materials.
Hopefully, there will be some food soon, though I have reached a level of confidence about this nest that leaves me unconcerned about major problems even if food is late and/or short today. Obviously, we would prefer them to get two good meals a day but they do need to learn that life in the wild is not all home-delivered meals at the drop of a twig. So either way, I am sure all will work out fine and lunch will come soon.”
Xavier and Diamond: The intruder is still causing issues for the couple. Diamond had to leave the scrape to defend the territory. This is not a good thing.
Port Lincoln: Dad was on the nest with Mum. Oh, I hope these two only have two eggs!!!!!!!
Dad2 doing incubation duties. The chat group notes that the eggs were not incubated for 41 minutes which should not be an issue.
But ‘H’ has just sent me a giggle: Is this Dad 1 or is it Dad2? Fran Solly and Bazza are starting to think it is Dad1?!
‘A’ is missing our little prince and he isn’t gone yet! She writes, “
Omigod, talk about heart in my mouth. I checked the albatross cam and not only was Manaaki’s nest empty but the camera was giving us the view of the bay from his nest. For a moment there, I thought he had fledged. Then, I saw a little flash of white far down on the hillside and sure enough, up he came. He had had a practice flight down the hill and had to walk a lolng way back up. The wind has really picked up this afternoon (it is now nearly 4pm) and it is hovering and flapping time. Scary. Every time I watch this, I wonder if it is going to be the last time, as it was that day I watched QT in the storm. Sudden. And possibly permanent. Stay with us just a little longer sweet boy. Another week to get rid of that remaining fluff. Just one more week.
Manaaki was fed about three hours ago (13:23). We think the parent had come in earlier and that this was the second feeding today. The weather really changed three or four hours ago. The rain started teeming down and the wind really picked up. It sounds like a gale on the tab now. We believe that in all the excitement this has caused, it is possible that Quarry has fledged. UQ has been hovering a lot this afternoon, and although he is still obviously carrying too much down and has not yet perfected his flying technique (paddles are still hanging down and he hasn’t worked out how to hold them up yet), there is a fear among chatters that he will leave today. If he does, there is the danger he will ditch in the bay and become waterlogged. I’m sure they keep a close eye out for chicks that do that – I have heard talk of them being rescued for a second fledge attempt. So we watch, we wait. The wind is encouraging all the chicks, but hopefully, Manaaki’s feedings today will keep him at home a little longer. As I type, both Manaaki and UQ are still at home, Manaaki on his nest and UQ a little downhill from Manaaki (where he has been for most of the day, rather than on his nest higher up the hill – he likes Manaaki).”
At SWFlorida, home to M15 and his new mate, bonding is happening! We have a fish offering.
In the letterbox: A few letters have arrived since the posting of the death of two of the fledglings – Stormy and Simba – from Big Bear Valley in previous years. It is hoped that FOBBV might be able to find out what happened to the two siblings. Readers have expressed concern over the deaths of the eaglets and the many non viable years for our beloved Jackie and Shadow. Every year we struggle with them and, of course, it was such a delight when Spirit fledged. The difficulties that Jackie and Shadow face in terms of eggshell hardness and viability of offspring in the nest might be directly related to the historical DDT that was intensely sprayed on Big Bear Lake. Of course we are aware of the issues in the Channel Islands.
The heartache that we feel for these two Bald Eagles and they are much loved by thousands and thousands, is directly due to human causes.
From a previous blog ‘Why Do Some Eagles Have Wing Bands’: “
It all goes back to DDT and the near extinction of the Ospreys, Bald Eagles, and other birds from the United States. Sea life has been impacted and so have humans. After World War II DDT was used to eradicate for mosquitoes in the US. Various areas received high amounts of this toxin. It wasn’t just the spraying but also the illegal dumping of hundreds of thousands of tonnes that has caused harm. Indeed, the waters off Catalina Island, for one, became a dumping ground for DDT.
In 2020, an article appeared in the Los Angeles Times about the finding of the rusting barrels of toxins leaking near Catalina Island. (The scientists were looking for methane). The author says, “As many as half a million of these barrels could still be underwater right now, according to interviews and a Times review of historical records, manifests and undigitized research. From 1947 to 1982, the nation’s largest manufacturer of DDT — a pesticide so powerful that it poisoned birds and fish — was based in Los Angeles.”
“DDT is so stable it can take generations to break down. It doesn’t really dissolve in water but stores easily in fat. Compounding these problems is what scientists today call “biomagnification”: the toxin accumulating in the tissues of animals in greater and greater concentrations as it moves up the food chain.” The birds at the top of the food chain, often referred to as the canaries in the coal mine are the Ospreys who eat the fish and the Bald Eagles.
This is a fantastic read. I urge you to take the time so that when you hear about the impacts of DDT you will understand the history and the harm.
In 1980, there was a reintroduction programme of Bald Eagles into the Santa Catalina and San Clemente Islands. Even until 2001, the eggs were removed and fostered and the chicks banded. Between 1980-86, 33 Bald Eagles were released on Santa Catalina. These birds grew to adulthood even breeding but due to the DDE levels, the eggshell thickness was still compromised. You might recall that Jackie and Shadow at Big Bear have problems with thin eggshells today. Big Bear Lake was heavily sprayed with DDT and it is residual in the soil. The tagging program can be seen with the tags on Thunder and Akacheta. Their chicks, should they hatch and survive, will be banded as part of the continuing study.
From the findings of scientists now, the number of barrels of DDT in the waters of this area rusting and leaking are growing. In April of 2021, more were found.
For those who would like to go back to the 1970s when the alarms were being sounded by various individuals including Rachel Carson, a good read is The Silent Spring. I would hope that most local libraries would have copies. As you can see, the storage and long life of DDT and the fact that it does not break down in water, is a continuing concern for all the wildlife and humans around the Santa Catalina Island which is now controlled by the US Navy.
There continue to be warnings about humans eating the fish from Big Bear Lake:
A group of concerned individuals is working towards a united presentation to see what can be done about the proposed battery storage facility at SSEN Alyth where Ospreys Harry and Flora have their nest. This is one of the revised plans for the site that shows the battery storage right up to the nest.
This is very discouraging. Flora has left the nest on previous occasions when there were disturbances.
Sue Wallbanks posted this article. It is a good read for anyone who wants to understand how disturbances can cause issues at raptor nests.
The beautiful Black Eaglet had breakfast compliments of Dad. Lady Hawk comments: “The Selati eaglet has another good day of eating compliments of Dad bring in a Rock Hyrax! The eaglet is enjoying the morning sunlight and spreads out its wings as it lies on the nest sunning itself (and keeping cool) 🙂 Mom flies in right after Dad but the eaglet claims the prey and mantles it and will self feed on it for quite some time. Finally Mom takes over and finishes up the feeding and the eaglet gets to swallow the pelt down. i did edit out a lot of the feeding since it went on for so long. Great job! Mom will then fly off leaving a very contented chick.”
These Black Eagles live in the Slate Game Reserve which is part of the Greater Kruger National Park in South Africa. Their proper name is the Verreaux Eagle. Only one of two eggs hatched at this nest in 2023. This is the time line, and we expect this eaglet to hatch in less than 3 weeks.
First egg laid on 15 May 2023 🥚
Second egg laid on 19 May 2023 🥚🥚
Egg cracked by parent on 6 June 2023 ✖️
Chick hatched 29/30 June 2023 🐣
Fledgling flight expected from around end September 2023
Verreaux’s eagle is one of the larger eagles of Africa. It measures 75 to 96 cm (30 to 38 in) long with an average weight of 4.19 kg or 9.2 lb. Its wingspan is 1.81 to 2.3 m (5 ft 11 in to 7 ft 7 in). The Verreaux Eagles like others has reverse bisexual morphism – the female is larger than the male. The adults are the most gorgeous slate grey but some are the deepest ebony. Their cere is a remarkable yellow when they are healthy. There is also white plumage which is a great contrast and causes the birds in flight to stand out. That white is on their back, their rump and the upper-tail coverts as well as part of the scapular. The white can only be seen looking up when the birds are flying, not when they are perched. The legs are covered with deep black feathers. The juveniles appear as in the image above.
In the Kistachie National Forest near Alexandria, Louisiana, Louis and Anna from the E-1 nest are busy making nestorations!
Thank you so very much for being with me today. Take care everyone. See you soon!
I am very grateful to the following for their notes, comments, questions, letters, videos, posts, and streaming cams that help me to write my blog today: ‘A, Geemeff, H, L’, Audubon, Geemeff and the Woodland Trust, 367 Collins Street by Mirvac, Liznm and 367 Collins Street by Mirvac, PSEG, Sandpoint Ospreys, Kent Island, Wildlife Conserve F of NJ, Sydney Sea Eagles, Charles Sturt Falcon Cam, PLO, NZ DOC, Real Saunders Photo, LA Times, Tapa Talk, The Guardian, Office of the EHHA, US Dept of the Interior, SSEN Alyth, Livia Armstrong and BESS Battery Storage, NatureScot, Lady Hawk and Selati Eagles, Open Verse, and the KNF Eagle Cam E-1.
Whew! What a day. ‘The yet-to-be-named kitten’ was let out of the kennel in the Conservatory, allowing her to run around with Mamma Calico. It brought tears to my eyes seeing Calico lick her kitten for the first time in 10-11 days. Of course, the kitten loved being with its Mamma and wanted to suckle immediately! Then, it wanted to play with Mamma’s tail. What a sheer delight to see the wee one following Calico around copying everything she did. It is like a Mini Calico – at first glance, it is hard to tell which is which. They are six months apart in age, but Calico took such good care of her single surviving kitten that it is plump and robust and Calico is still trying to put on some fat. Thanks also to the neighbours who have their feral feeding stations this one was in good health when I trapped her.
Calico loves the cat tree, and she quickly found Lewis’s favourite spot – the little house. The kitten could not stand it and kept jumping up and around, trying to get in with Mamma. I have, at times, wondered how happy Calico is to see her baby. Still, I made her a promise, and I am still tearful that I was able to follow through. To see the two of them on a chair together, cuddling and washing, brings so much joy. I still have to pinch myself to realise that everything worked out. The lesson for all of us is never to give up! To not lose ‘hope’.
Calico washing her kitten for the first time in 10 or 11 days.
Mamma is very protective. Lewis and Missey will be staying in the main part of the house while Calico and baby are in the Conservatory for the next week. Then we will try them in a few rooms. Thank you ‘Geemeff’ for all the tips. We appreciate them!
Promises should never be made. A friend in Berlin and I were talking about this. It caused such anxiety that promise. T he night when Calico wanted to come into the house and leave the dark deck where these two had been living, I promised her I would find her kitten if it was alive. No one had seen the kitten. Everyone believed that a white kitten that had been found in the area was Calico’s wasn’t. It was simply too young. So what did happen to Calico’s kitten? Flyers, walking the streets, putting food under the deck where the kitten was born, stopping people on the street, and postings to FB groups netted nothing. From now on, there will be no more promises. It will simply be that I will do my best to make something happen – but, no promises.
I almost was going to name the kitten ‘Promise’ but ‘J’ pointed out that the word has a negative connotation because of the anxiety it caused me. After many fantastic suggestions, the name finally just came when Calico and her kitten were having ‘story time’. Her name is Hope. Hope is something that each of us needs in our lives.
Hope loves to play with toys. The tiny little crochet ones with the catnip inside which cling to their ever so sharp nails appear to the favourite for the moment.
Meanwhile, Missey and Lewis are, as always, together. They seem to nap more since they are a year old. Missey has slowed down more, but Lewis still loves having someone to play with and run through the house. Perhaps Hope will join the midnight romp.
Trips to the park to check on the ducks and geese have been neglected lately. It was time for me to get moving before they are all gone. The afternoon was beautiful. The leaves are turning quickly. You can see the yellow kissing the tops of what was once emerald-clad trees.
The small garden at the park is still beautiful. There were lots of bees and butterflies feeding on the flowers and this Mallard leading the way.
Many of the gardens have been planted for bees and butterflies with a nod to plants that are more drought tolerant.
On the island where most of the ducks and geese were having their afternoon nap, the trees have really turned yellow.
This goose was not being very nice to the two female Wood Ducks.
Others were napping on the warm walkway.
There is something marvellous about being outside. It was a lovely walk and it felt so good to sit with the warm sun on my face enjoying the geese and the few ducks that were meandering around. The kittens were all having their ‘nap’ time while I was away. They didn’t even notice I was gone! Fresh air not ‘sardine’ air was most welcome.
Taking this lovely walk and spending much time with the four kittens did not allow me to spend the hours required to give you a good run down of the nests. Today’s report is, thus, a little thin.
Patchogue: Observing their crop is one way to know if a raptor has been eating. Some also look at the amount and force of the ‘poop shot’ or ‘ps’. The proper term is guano. “To most people, bird poop is just something they scrape off the windshield of their cars, but it’s more important than we may think. In fact, droppings were once a very important commodity in the United States. Buying and selling bird poop is not as featherbrained as it may seem either. This stinky substance, referred to as bird guano, was sailed around the world during the 19th century to be sold as the principal agricultural fertiliser in the United States. (Natural History Museum)
Mini has been eating. One of the chatters has been keeping track of Mini’s ‘ps’. Here is the times from ElizaG: “10:13pm, 11:17pm 1:10am, 3:13am.” Mini flew off to the lake and returned to the nest at 19:19 (thanks, L for the alert). She is resting that leg, thank goodness.
She put the weight on her right leg, not her left. It seems to be the typical pattern where the leg is giving her trouble at the end of the day.
Good Night Mini. SOD.
Wonderful news comes from John Williams at Llyn Clywedog. He had spotted an Osprey and thought it was Dylan (of Dylan and Seren at the Llyn Clywedog Nest) but it wasn’t. It was another unringed male and it turned out that this male had a nest with a female Blue Z5. Now she is rather special because she is the daughter of one of my favourite ospreys, Tegid Z1. Monty’s boy. Blue Z5 hatched in 2020. She is the granddaughter of Monty. Turns out the couple raised one female chick to fledge, ringed as Blue 7B9. She weighed 1670 grams. What a fantastic surprise and another osprey family for the forms. John tells us about it in his blog.
A family portrait of Dylan and Seren and the two fledglings this year. The one was sadly killed by the goshawk when there was a fish delivery and the hawk attacked the nest directly while Seren was feeding.
Mum is still home at the Boulder County Fair Grounds Osprey Nest in Colorado. So is Dad!
The fledgling at Minnesota Landscape Arboretum (the only one of three to survive) is being well fed.
Keo delivered at least three fish for Coco at the Sandpoint Nest on Wednesday. Mum Keke is still home and there was relief when she did not fight her osplet for the food. Keke should be out fishing! And preparing for migration.
The Cowlitz PUD cam was buffering so bad, but there is at least one osprey still home at that nest. The protective grids worked well! Spread the news.
For all the nests that are emptying out, good winds, safe travels and full crops. See you next year Idris and Telyn!
‘H’ brings her reports for us – looks like Molly might have started her migration!
Kent Island, 9/6 – “We had not seen Audrey since 8/29. Today At 0645, Audrey landed on the nest with a large common carp. Audrey must have had to dive deep for that one, because she was soaked to the bone! Audrey nibbled on the fish, but she was waiting for Molly. When Molly didn’t arrive, Audrey ate more fervently. Soon, some crows started to harass Audrey, so Tom flew in to the rescue. Tom stayed on the nest for about 25 minutes helping to ward off the unwelcome visitors, and he was later seen eating his own breakfast on the back of an Adirondack chair. Audrey would eat some, then wait some, and by 0830 Audrey was still holding a large portion of the fish. She was waiting for her girl to appear. By 0910 Audrey had completely consumed the fish, but she still stood on the nest, seemingly waiting for Molly. Molly never arrived to claim the fish her mom had brought for her. Audrey flew away at 0953. We have not seen Molly since she flew away from the boat lift at 0745 on 9/5.”
Barnegat Light, 9/6 – “Dorsett was a bit more of a homebody, staying at the nest or on Duke’s perch much of the day. Duke delivered three fish to Dorsett. She took the first fish (a whole black sea bass) to eat on top of a flag pole across the cove. But, when she returned an hour later, she did not have as large a crop as one would expect, so she may have let part of the fish fall to the ground. Dorsett chose to eat her next two fish at the nest.”
The Sea Eaglets had an early breakfast for a change! As I am writing no other food has come to the nest but ‘A’ spots another one of those great eels that Lady has been bringing to the nest. “After a nice breakfast of leftover eel, the eaglets went the rest of the day until Lady brought in another of her giant eels soon after 15:36. Immediately, SE32 is up to her beak and pecking at the eel. Lady immediately starts feeding him. SE31 waits next to SE32 but further from Lady’s beak for her turn to eat. There is no attempt to push in or intimidate SE32, who is eating fast and with great confidence. This eel means that there is now plenty of food here for everybody. These are nice big eels that Lady has been catching. She returns with them intact, panting a little but not particularly wet, and she is not gone long. Once again, it was as though she made a decision that food was required now and she went to get it, returning within 10 minutes or so with this eel. Perhaps this mid-afternoon feeding schedule is not so much teaching the eaglets about food availability in grown-up life as a wild sea eagle as it is Lady deciding she cannot wait any longer for Dad to bring home the bacon, as it were. She has definitely been doing extra hunting over the past few days, and it makes me wonder whether Dad’s advanced age is starting to tell, so that now the two eaglets’ appetites have increased dramatically, he is finding it difficult to hunt for four alone. Just a thought. It is an explanation that would fit the facts equally well.”
At Taiaroa Head, ‘A’ remarks: Manaaki is tucked and fast asleep on his nest. But our gorgeous little man is almost ready to leave us. Look at his hovers during flight practice this morning: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBFx_GGakhM&t=5s. Look how strong his wings are getting, though he is still working on his balance. He is almost on his way, just as soon as he sorts out those face-plants! We need to enjoy every moment, because once he leaves, it will be at least four or five years (and up to eight years) before we might be lucky enough to see him again. If he comes home at all, Manaaki will return to that same headland. He will land, after all that time and up to a million miles, within 40 or 50 metres of the nest where he was born. He has been imprinting its location over recent days. I am not sure if he has cast his pre-fledge bolus but I know the rangers are picking them up all around the colony and Manaaki is one of the oldest couple of chicks there. I think he is within a week of leaving, but they can surprise us and fledge early if the winds are right, so the time is nigh. QT was 220 days when she fledged, remember, while Manaaki is 230 days old. On this headland, the two females (NTF and Quarry) are definitely ahead of the two males (UQ and Manaaki) in their flight skills.”
Are you watching multiple eagle nests and wanting to keep up with what is happening? Elfruler has a calendar that spans decades with a space for this year.
We will be looking to see if there are further eggs at 367 Collins Street and Port Lincoln Osprey Barge today.
Thank you so much for being with us today. Missey, Lewis, Calico and Hope remind you to please put out water and to also turn off your lights at night for the migrating songbirds. Take care. See you soon!
Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog today: ‘A, Geemeff, H, L, PB’, PSEG, John Williams, George Green and the Clywedog Osprey Group, Boulder County, Pam Breci and The Joy of Ospreys, Sandpoint, Kent Island, Wildlife Conserve F of NJ, NZ DOC, Dyfi Osprey Project, and Sydney Sea Eagles.
Well, I could not possibly have anticipated what was going to happen but look who showed up at the feeding station today? Just like her Mama Calico.
Yes, the kitten that we could not find. Someone is going to help me trap her! I am not sure that Calico will be pleased. LOL. The kitten is about 62 days old.
This lovely young woman came over with the trap, smelling Sardines, everything to try and get this young lady into the kitten cage and feel safe. Wish us luck!
Calico watching out the garden doors as the trap is being set for her baby. Ironically, Calico’s baby is almost the same size as she is!
Today, Missey and Calico spent the entire day together in the main part of the house with Lewis in the conservatory. They all had poached chicken. We live in hope that soon all three will be integrated along with the kitten, perhaps.
It is 2130. The woman who loaned me the trap is on her way to help me transition the kitten to a kennel. Yes! We have the kitten. It took about three and a half hours. Overjoyed. Overwhelmed.
Osprey World just gets more quiet as the remainder begin their journeys with the last few Dads on the nest feeding chicks.
Harry has been feeding Chirpie again at Alyth today.
Aran was still at Glaslyn.
Blue 022 was seen around Poole Harbour. He left for migration last year on 10 September. No sign of CJ7 or the trio.
Dad brought at least three fish before 1400 to the Minneapolis Landscape Arboretum fledgling on Monday.
Swoop is still at Dunrovin!
Dad is still delivering to Coco at Sandpoint. At least two fish arrived on Monday early in the day.
Bruce is still delivering at Seaside. Oh, they get so excited. I am not sure the kittens are more afraid of the falcons than the ospreys when the latter are screaming for fish arrivals!
One adult on the perch at Boulder. I have not see the juveniles getting fish for several days at the nest.
Fish is still being delivered to an Oyster Bay fledgling.
Fish is being delivered to the Collins Marsh nest in Wisconsin. The juveniles are flying off with their meal!
Di Bennett and Tweed Valley report on the locations of both Poul and Glen. Will Poul stay in Morocco or continue heading south?
Want to know more about migration and how climate and changes in land use in West Africa are impacting UK birds? Have a read.
Mini was at the Osprey platform in Patchogue this morning. She is still favouring that left leg. This time she looked hungry and flew off early to try and get some fish from Dad.
At 1900 Mini flew to the perch. She was coming from the left side of the brewery. She has both feet extended and appears to be drying off her feathers.
The left leg appears to be giving Mini some issues as she holds it up. Hopefully our gal will slow down and rest that leg on the nest.
Good night, Mini.
‘H’ brings us up to date on Molly and Dorsett:
Kent Island – Molly flew to the nest early in the morning, but she didn’t stay long. She was then not seen on cam for almost twelve hours. At 1830 Molly flew to the nest, and it was nice to see that she had a huge crop. She seemed to have a lot to say, but she didn’t stay long at that visit either. SOD’s, Molly.
Barnegat Light – Duke brought four fish to the nest for Dorsett. What a good Dad! Around 1830 Dorsett landed on the nest, and she was holding her right foot up a bit. When she placed the right foot on the nest we could see a small bloody wound on one of her toes. It seemed to be a minor injury though, as it did not affect her ability to handle the fish Duke delivered at 1901. She held the fish with her right foot and eventually flew across the cove with the fish.
Gabby and V3 were at the nest in The Hamlet near Jacksonville working for the new season. Gosh, it is so nice to see them! Some worry that V3 might not be up to the job this year but, let’s wait and see. He is a year older and these two look to be bonded. We have no idea what they have been up to off camera.
Thunder and Akecheta were at their old West End nest in the Channel Islands on Monday.
On the Cornell Campus, Big Red and Arthur are up on the ledges of Bradley. So good to see them!
The Sea Eaglets had an early fish breakfast Tuesday morning! Yippeee. ‘A’ reports: “
At WBSE breakfast was early for a change, with Dad bringing in a medium-sized whole fresh fish shortly before 06:39. Lady was straight in. SE32 was slow to get up. Lady started eating herself while SE31 dealt with a PS (medium sized, a little thin but way healthier than yesterday’s) and then headed for the table, where she got the first bites just before 06:41. By 06:42, SE32 is on his feet. He too deals with a (healthy) PS before heading closer to the table. Lady is still feeding SE31. Through most of the feeding, Lady fed first one, then the other. SE31 ate more than SE32 but that was largely because SE32 could not be bothered making a huge effort. When he decided he did want to eat, he quickly shuffled further forward to get himself into prime position and then proceeded to eat a dozen or two bites consecutively. He had another similar bout of eating at the end of the feeding, eating most of the last dozen bites or so. Both eaglets had smallish crops after breakfast, though SE31 had a larger one than SE32.
Dad brings in another fish soon afterwards, at around 10:52. It looks like a big one. Lady takes a moment or two to arrive at the table, as does SE31. And although SE32 has been sleeping on the table, he is not eager to jump up and rush to start eating. He takes his time. The fish is on the large side of medium and Dad has already eaten the head (and a little more). :Lady takes a couple of minutes to start feeding the eaglets, and by the time she does, at 10:55:20, both are ready and waiting, up at the table, and 0SE32 gets the first bites. This pair are very civilised at meal times over the past week. I have not seen any intimidation of any kind, let alone beaking. They have been absolute angels at the dinner table. SE31 waits patiently until it is her turn for a bite or two, at 10:57. Lady then feeds SE32 almost exclusively. He eats fast and with confidence. He is getting a lot of food in a short period of time. It is after 11:00 when SE31 gets her next proper bite. Lady then feeds the two alternately for a few bites, then returns to feeding SE32.
Throughout this, SE31 is extremely patient. At no point does she try to steal a bite, push in front of SE32 or in any way intimidate or bonk him. She just waits beside him while he eats. When she is offered a bite, she takes it, but that is all. SE32 has had by far the best of the first half of the feeding, but as the feeding wears on and his crop enlarges yet further, he is less enthusiastic about taking every bite and leaves many of those he is offered for his sister. Over the second half of the feeding, SE31 gets more of the food. By the time the feeding is over, both eaglets have very healthy crops indeed. Both have eaten well, Lady has had a good share of that fish herself, and there was no dispute at all between the eaglets. This nest is just lovely to watch. Even on the days when a single large meal is brought in, no-one really seems to go hungry and there is never any type of unpleasantness between the eaglets. They just play and sleep and snuggle. And wait patiently. SE31 is getting really good up on her feet now and is really enjoying practising her walking and wingercising. SE32 is quite a few days behind, as he spent a while cowering while SE31 was growing into her changing body, as it were. He will catch up soon, but for now, he is still very ungainly and often needs his wings for balance.”
Mum and Dad incubate their egg at 367 Collins Street for a few minutes. Looking for egg 2!
Xavier and Diamond are incubating their three eggs at Orange.
At Port Lincoln, mating continues – not always successful.
‘A’ reports that there is action in NZ. Four of the Royal Albatross chicks have now fledged. She also adds, “Poor UQ chick has come down from his hilltop nest to sleep next to Manaaki (who was asleep when he arrived, so may be surprised to see him there when he wakes up). I am pretty sure UQ is seeking either safety in numbers or simply a safer distance between himself and Miss NTF higher up the hill. She is a very pushy and precocious female and has made UQ’s life more than a little difficult, given he is a somewhat shy and reticent albie. He gets on well with Manaaki, though, so obviously feels better down there than up on his hill. So cute, the two of them. As I said, there are two male and two female chicks whose nests we can see (or almost see) around Manaaki. Miss NTF has taken a fancy to the camera, which Manaaki regards as his, so there have been several altercations over the camera, with much clacking of beaks. She thinks she rules the hilltop but Manaaki has other ideas. These four have been an absolute joy to watch these past seven months, each with a very distinctive personality (and, as I mentioned the other day, each currently has a very different ‘hairstyle’ in regard to where each chick wears their remaining fluff – one of the chatters did a cartoon of all the chicks with all their hairstyles about a week ago – very accurate and just TOO funny).”
The third osplet at Osprey House in Australia has died of siblicide.
Thank you so much for being with us today. Take care all. See you soon.
Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog today: ‘A, H’, Alyth, Bywyd Gwylld Glaslyn, Jeff Kear, Mary Kerr and Glaslyn Osprey Group, Poole Harbour Ospreys, MN Landscape Arboretum, Dunrovin Ranch, Sandpoint, Seaside, Boulder County, PSEG, Collins Marsh, Tweed Valley, Scottish Wildlife Trust, Kent Island, Wildlife Conserve F of NJ, NEFL-AEF, IWS/Explore, Suzanne Arnold Horning and Cornell Hawk Chatters Club, Sydney Sea Eagles, 367 Collins Street by Mirvac, and PLO.
Thank you so much for being with us today. Summer is winding down. People are taking the last of the holidays and our Osprey nests (among others) are almost going quiet. The hummingbirds and Blue Jays continue to come to the garden so neither has started their southern journey and soon, many more species will join them. The house is quiet as the kittens continue to learn the smell and sound of one another. Despite fall nipping at our heels, it is expected to be 34 degrees in southern Manitoba on Saturday.
Calico has settled into a routine and is playing more and more. Tonight, for the first time, she went onto the Ladybird blanket and fell asleep before I finished reading. She goes to the vet on Friday, and I hope for an all-clear to allow her into the rest of the house. Lewis is curious but a wee bit jealous, and Missey is pretending she doesn’t notice anything. We will see. Missey is the Alpha cat.
Calico’s book of the month recommendation. [I took the rug out because of putting cat food down, and neither Calico nor I like this bloody old floor – a remnant of long ago.]
Anyone want to play?
Nite, nite.
There is good news coming out of the meteorologists regarding Idalia. She is now degraded to the strength of a category 2 hurricane. But the new track has changed and the eye is headed decidedly northwest and will not hit Fort Myers or St Petersburg as a category 3 or 4 hurricane. There will still be lots of water but the sustained winds are no where what was earlier predicted. This does not mean that Idlia is not dangerous – every storm is dangerous!
Notice how far that white cone area extends northward. We want all our migrating birds to sit quiet. And to all my friends in the path of this storm, please stay safe. You are on our minds and we are sending out positive wishes.
Hurricane Franklin’s cone will veer east and should be no threat.
The winds of Idalia can clearly be seen impacting the Bald Eagle nest of Connie and Clive at Captiva on the Barrier Islands.
Let’s check on Fortis Exshaw since it has been one of the problem nests. Thanks ‘H’ for your report! “Fortis Exshaw – The intruders were on the nest or perch a few times throughout the day, but most of the time, the nest was empty. We did not see Banff. She did not come to the nest, and we did not see her being chased around. We may have seen less of the intruders today due to the fact that they had not been concerned with Banff. There were a couple of brief osprey chases seen in the distance, but they could have involved the intruders and another osprey. Some thought that they heard Banff’s voice in the distance a couple of times, just briefly, but it was difficult to say. It seems that Banff may have finally learned to stay away from the nest, and the entire area that had become hostile and dangerous for her. This is a good thing, and a necessary lesson for her to learn. It seems as though Banff has received a year’s worth of education since she fledged on 8/13. The last time we saw Banff on 8/28, she was well. We will be watching and listening for Banff today. “
Today I wanted to see who was home in the UK, but first, let us deal with a tragic death. CK7 was an eleven-year-old osprey from Tweed Valley who died in Wales. His tracker indicated that he had stopped. The search in difficult terrain has not revealed the corpse, but people will continue to search. Our hearts go out to Di Bennett and the team at Tweed Valley. CK7 had been in the wildlife hospital after being trapped in netting. He was released on the 10th of August at St Mary’s Loch. Everything looked perfect, and it appeared that he had set off on his migration. Then something strange happened, and he reverted course and headed to Wales. His tracker indicated a stationary position on the 18th of August.
Here is the latest news from Di from Tweed Valley.
Rutland Manton Bay: Both Maya and Blue 33 were on the nest and it looked like they still had some intruders.
Dyfi: Cannon is 98 days old and Seiont is 96. Everyone is wondering if both of them will be home to mark a century. It would be the first time for this nest that both fledglings stayed 100 days before making their departure.
Glaslyn: Aran and the two fledglings, OH1 and OH2 were home.
Poole Harbour: I observed both Blue 22 on the nest and Mum, CJ7, who had delivered a fish. 5H3 was also there. There could be other fledglings about and I just did not see them – indeed, I imagine all three are home. CJ7 may leave first.
Llyn Brenig: I caught a glimpse of one fledgling -7B5-and another on the perch but I cannot confirm if they are one and the same.
At Patchogue Mini flew in at 0619 screaming for a fish and promptly flew off towards the lake.
Here she comes!
Gorgeous. One of the reasons that I advocate for Darvic rings and trackers on special birds like Mini is to find out how their lives unfold – good or bad. This young lady is simply beautiful. She is being fed off nest by Dad. The latest news from Hawk Mountain does not indicate a big swing in Osprey migration yet. Thank goodness due to the weather south of Mini!
A few raindrops falling as Mini was perched for a bit.
Hawk Mountains migration count to 29 August 2023.
Boulder County: All fledglings home. Eating well. Two with a fish at one time and the one without has a nice crop already.
Sandpoint: Three fish delivered on Tuesday and one took over 2 hours to finish!
Thank you ‘H’ for your other reports.
“Forsythe – Once again, there was no sign of Ollie. And, for the second day in a row, Oscar made a brief stop on the nest, perhaps for the last time. He just wanted to make sure that his girl was not still around. You are a really good Dad, Oscar.”
“Barnegat Light – Dorsett’s latest favorite hangout is the utility pole at 22nd street. And, she doesn’t miss a thing from that vantage point, lol. Dorsett saw Duke flying across the bay with a fish and she was back on her nest at 24th street within seconds to grab the fish from her Dad.”
“Kent Island – Molly had been waiting a long time, and Tom arrived with a nice dinner fish. Molly must be eating off the nest, as she has been seen with a crop sometimes when she arrives at the nest.”
“Osoyoos – There is plenty of fish, and the young fledgling seems to be luvin’ life.”
Moving to Australia:
First up, Ervie. Our dear Ervie!
Port Lincoln: With no eggs at any of the South Australian Osprey nests that I am aware, there is plenty of time for Mum and the new Dad. They will certainly go down as trying!
Sydney Sea Eagles: It is raining and the camera has been on and off but the little eaglets are doing just fine – both of them.
The Godwits are arriving in Australia from Alaska! Just think about that.
Godwit ID for UK birds. It is the Bar-tail that flies from Alaska to Australia.
They make history flying from Alaska to Australia.
More little osplets hatch in Australia!
In Orange, Xavier loves to have his egg time. Diamond arrives with a huge crop and her chest feathers looking all fluffy. Xavier takes his time giving up his shift.
Lots of excitement with the Royal Albatross chicks in New Zealand.
Thank you so much for being with me today. Please take care. Stay safe!
Thank you to the following for their notes, comments, posts, videos, reports, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog this morning: ‘A, H, M’, Noaa, Window to Wildlife, Tweed Valley, LRWT, Dyfi Ospreys, Bywyd Gwylld Glaslyn, Poole Harbour Ospreys, Llyn Brenig, PSEG, Hawn Mountain, Boulder County, Sandpoint, FortisExshaw, Conserve Wildlife of NJ, Osoyoos, Kent Island, Forsythe, PLO, Pikorokoro Miranda Shorebird Centre, BTO, Sydney Sea Eagles, Wildlife at Osprey House, Charles Sturt Falcon Cam, Lady Hawk and NZ DOC.
It was another beautiful day – it is decidedly fall. I can look out the conservatory’s windows and see the sky between the branches of the 100+-year-old Maple trees a block away. They are so tall that they dominate everything. Thankfully, they are Maples as the old Elms are being cut down. On my walks, I cringe when I see the orange spray paint – a solid circle and a line underneath means the tree is diseased and is due to be cut down. All of the trees in front of my house that the squirrels used to leap to the ones on the other side (they formed a huge canopy) so they did not have to run across the pavement will be gone before winter. The Re-Leaf programme has already planted a Snowflake Hawthorn in place of one of them, and I am due two other trees in a few weeks to go on my property. A friend is also donating some small trees they thinned from their property. So the forest behind my house – the garden area – is growing and will continue to do so. The intent is to have it so thick that mowing is never required but, primarily, so the birds have a thick shelter, a sanctuary.
Calico is adapting wonderfully. We have played with toys, and had meals, she has slept on my lap while I was reading, and she is eating well. No one in the area has seen kittens or a kitten – during the day or at night. Everyone was asked when they were walking their dogs or working in their garden this evening. One lovely lady is leading the late-night search for them for another 5 or 6 days. Then we will all rest easy. They will continue to be vigilant. We all noticed that the food left under the deck – very smelly fish- had not been touched and a hungry kitten would have wolfed it down. Sad.
I suddenly discovered that I had a lot of time on my hands and could sit, sip tea, and read, sometimes with Calico and sometimes alone. Missey and Lewis – believe it or not – are not especially lap kitties. I am hoping they will change their ways. They adore being ‘together’ – that relationship is, for them, paramount. So far, everyone is happy, and this transition will be slow and steady…I am happy to have Calico safe with Lewis and Missey in the house. She is no longer hiding under her tent in my old offie but, is sleeping in the open on the large pet carrier with a soft blanket that my lovely neighbour made long ago for another rescue kitten, Duncan. Duncan loved watching Ladybirds and often had to be stopped from eating them! They dominate the pattern.
Thanks ‘JE’ for sending me the link to this rescue by PSEG Long Island.
We have this rescue but we also have trouble at Centrepoint. Can you help by writing in to help save the eagles of Centrepoint? Here is the information – thanks ‘J’ for sending this in:
18 August at 02:27 · “Last year we fought for the rights for the eagles to keep their territory as they found it. Today the Town of Huntington approved the beginning of construction of the first of many projects that are in direct view of their nest. I failed the people who adore both the eagles and the the town of Centerport. The Huntington Town Boards, Council, Zoning board and more including our elected officals failed us all. They promise it all before we vote, made by certain officals in the town, the inter-connections from the town officials for these construction projects is disgusting and wrong. The abuse of power must end. There I was thinking they were looking out forthe people who voted for them.. What a fool I was. Poor eagles…Didn’t sleep much last night knowing that these projects being SOO close to our eagles nest could spook the eagles from Centerport – so I compiled a list of Names and Phone numbers / email addresses of those you can contact…Let these caring individuals know what we think. If you send an email to ANY of these people be sure to “CC Andrew Raia” He is the town clerk and it forces the town to make your email part of the record. Please only like this post if you’re willing to send emails to these people. This way I know if 3 people or 300 people make the effort. Thanks all..”
TOWN OF HUNTINGTON 100 MAIN STREET, HUNTINGTON, NY 11743 GENERAL SWITCH BOARD: 631 351-3000. HOURS: 8-4
KEITH BROWN, NY STATE ASSEMBLYMAN 12TH ASSEMBLY DISTRICT 631 261-4151 (COMMACK OFFICE) BROWNK@NYASSEMBLY.GOV
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It was a very touching moment when Tina Moore retrieved the body of JJ, Jasper and Louise’s second hatch at Fortis Exshaw, and buried him by the big rock by the lake. What a kind and generous individual. RIP JJ – soar high in the thermals above the pond.
The intruders have been relentless.
Poul Blue 2E3 fledged from Tweed Valley. He was fitted with a tracker and this is his amazing journey so far. A goshawk killed his sister Sacha after she fledged. So, he is ever so important. He is doing so well….safe travels!
What a beautiful place for an Osprey nest – Charlo Montana. Fledglings still at home, still fish calling!
At the Glacier Gardens Bald Eagle nest, Hope flew off at 0659 this morning. She made several trips back and forth to the nest including eating some prey!
At 1106:
Final sighting of Dorcha at Loch Arkaig. 17 August.
Final sighting of Louis at Loch Arkaig. 24 August.
And when will the final sighting of Mini be at Patchogue? She was on the perch Sunday morning, the 27th of August, but as of 1437 Manitoba time, she has not reappeared.
‘R’ has been watching Mini since her injury – very closely – and he notes that she has been using her leg much more and putting weight on it and wonders if “she tore a ligament since her knee only appears to buckle in a single direction?” We won’t ever know, but it does appear that she will recover, and that is excellent news.
Mini returned to the nest perch at 16:26.
Mini flew back to the nest around 1700 and was, surprisingly, joined by Mum, who might be coming to check on her nest and say goodbye before migrating. Most females appear to stop – however briefly – at their nest before leaving, even if they have been out and about in the territory for several days or weeks before their departure.
Mini is doing very well. Mrs J Johnson on the chat reports that Mini has developed new skills including mashing the fish with her beak to eat it and now eating with both her right and left feet. We know she scratches her head with her left leg. She had a crop when she landed in the afternoon, so she is being fed off nest. I bet Dad would love it if all of them were down where he caught the fish to save him from flying through town.
Maya and Blue 33 were still home on Sunday. They had a juvenile intruder about. It seems none of the nests have been left undisturbed this year.
At the Fortis Exshaw nest, ‘H’ brings us the latest on the tragic events unfolding at this nest near Canmore, Alberta. “It was an emotionally stressful day for the viewers. We heard Banff calling and approaching the nest at 0647. She was being chased. Banff landed at the far side of the nest, and planted her talons firmly on the back of JJ’s body, and she tucked a bit. Banff knew that she was about to be struck. And she was. One second after Banff landed she took a hard hit on her back by the big female intruder. The intruder held on to Banff as they went over the edge of the nest, and Banff briefly held on to JJ. JJ’s body fell to the ground, and it appeared as though the intruder was still holding on to Banff as she flew over the pond. For a short while, we heard Banff weakly calling in the distance. Ugh, poor Banff. We had previously witnessed the intruder pair attempting unsuccessfully to remove JJ from the nest on a few occasions. Well, now JJ’s body was on the ground. And, what about Banff? Was she alright? It was a very long day waiting for any sign of Banff. Meanwhile the new ‘owners’ of the nest were frequently on and off the nest. The female ate a fish on the t-perch, and was briefly joined on the perch by the male. A viewer that lives nearby arrived at the nest shortly after 1000. ‘TM’ was there to look for Banff, and to bury JJ’s body. We all watched as TM buried JJ near the pond. It was very moving. Thank you, TM for your compassion, and for giving sweet JJ a proper burial. While TM was at the nest area, she felt confident that she heard Banff’s unique voice coming from across the river. She spotted an osprey in a tree, but wasn’t quite able to make it out to be a juvenile. Before she left, TM again heard Banff calling. Throughout the afternoon we thought we heard Banff calling in the distance. And then . . at 1725 we heard Banff’s voice, and it was getting closer, and louder . . Oh please don’t land on the nest Banff! The female intruder landed on the nest with her intruder alert . . yes, that’s right, Banff is now the intruder at her natal nest. Then sweet Banff quickly flew by and buzzed the nest from behind the camera, and she was screaming at the female: “I am still alive you crazy bird!” Haha! The female intruder really did have a look of amazement on her face, lol. We were thrilled and relieved to know for sure that Banff was alive and well. Banff is an amazingly strong and resilient fledgling. “It may not be possible for us to see you any more, Banff. For your safety, you should not come back to the nest.”
‘H’ also reports on Forsythe noting what I have – there is not much to report! “Oscar brought one fish to the nest for Ollie. Ollie flew to the camera pole at 1033, and she was not seen the rest of the day.”
One of the fledglings was on the perch at Wolf Harbour in Alabama on Sunday afternoon.
Fledgling or fledglings going to the Seaside Osprey nest on Sunday also.
Dad continues to bring fish to the fledgling at the MN Landscape Arboretum nest.
At the Bridge Golf Club, both fledglings are still coming to the nest for fish. It is reported that there were four delivered on Friday and three on Saturday. So far, one fish has been delivered on Sunday that I have seen.
Harry continues delivering lots of fish to the third hatch at Alyth. Indeed, the most activity over the weekend is these incredible Dads flying back and forth from their fishing spots to the nest to fatten up their chicks so they can migrate. Then, the Dads will need a few days to care for themselves. They are real athletes. Those legs must be ever so strong and muscular.
There is a fledge at Sandpoint – and a return! Well done, Coco.
The goshawk is still about at Poole Harbour and it makes me nervous. One fledgling died last year when it was dragged off this nest by the hawk.
Sadly, there might not be any eggs this year at Port Lincoln. Mating attempts are not very productive. He is young! It might be good for Mum to have a year off – but there is still time for eggs. It is Australia, not North America and Eastern ospreys do not migrate.
Spoke too soon…maybe.
The three fledglings at Boulder County Fair Grounds spent the night together on the perch and were there at the nest during the day wishing for fish.
A giggle from the Dyfi nest today!
Have you wondered about Flaco, the Eurasian Owl that escaped from the Central Park Zoo? Robert Yolton catches us up on some of Flake’s latest comings and goings. I don’t always post on Flaco, so please go to Robert’s blog – you will learn much about urban hawks!
Andor visited after being in the water at the Fraser Point nest on the Channel Islands Sunday. He dried off quickly in that beautiful California sun.
Mum and Dad were on alert at the Sydney Sea Eagle nest in the Olympic Forest. Possums and other intruders kept them busy. SE31 and 32 are doing well. They are standing strong, their beautiful feathers are coming in, and they are delightful.
We are expecting the second egg for Diamond and Xavier today.
SK Hideaways caught that second egg! Congratulations Xavier and Diamond.
Please keep all of our friends – feathered or not – in your positive thoughts as Idalia heads for Florida.
Thank you so much for being with me today. Take care of yourself. Looking forward to seeing you soon!
Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, tweets, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog this morning: ‘A, Geemeff, H, J, JE, PB, R’, Fortis Exshaw, Forsythe, Geemeff and Tweed Valley, Charlo Montana, Glacier Gardens, Geemeff and The Woodland Trust, PSEG, LRWT, Wolf Harbour, Seaside, MN Landscape Arboretum, Bridge Golf Club, Alyth, Pam Breci and The Joy of Ospreys, Anne Ryc and Love for Pool Harbour Ospreys, PLO, Boulder County, Marissa Windic and Friends of Dyfi Osprey Project, Sydney Sea Eagle Cam, Charles Sturt Falcon Cam, SK Hideaways and Charles Sturt Falcon Cam, and Sunnie Day.
