Category Archives: animal rights

Saturday in Bird World

17 February 2024

Good Morning Everyone,

It is never a good morning after we lose a raptor, and waking up on Friday and finding that Lusa had died during the night was incredibly sad. Indeed, all went to bed after seeing her/him eat feeling much more optimistic about the situation at Captiva.

At the same time I was reading a note about Lusa, Hugo Yugo was vomiting, had diarrhoea, and was lethargic. She was fine when she went to bed but, by morning, he was not playing and didn’t want any treats – sure signs that something was not right. We spent the afternoon at the vet. It is a long weekend in Canada, the vet clinics are packed, and we have to go to a different vet than we usually use. After tests for any poisons (they came back negative), she had an IV for hydration and an injection to calm her stomach and had the Flora-Flora powder to sprinkle on her food. If she does not improve, then we move to X-rays, etc. The diagnostic end of it all. For Hugo Yugo to not eat is unsettling, just like with Lusa. For her not to play is just not right. Again, the same goes for the eaglet. Our condolences go out to Lori Covert, the folks at Window to Wildlife, but most of all Clive, Connie, and Cal.

When Connie and Joe lost Hope and Peace to rodenticide poisoning in 2020-21, it was a real tragedy. The parents knew what had happened. They stood over the dead body of their second eaglet in quiet disbelief. The eaglets had consumed less than a whole rat, but it was a designer poison, and Lori has spent years trying to get people to stop using rodenticides on the island. Joe never returned to the nest after the mourning period. And I will say it clearly and loud – he felt guilty for bringing that rat to the nest that killed their kids. Ask Marc Bekoff, Professor of Avian Behaviour at the University of Colorado at Boulder – animals have feelings. They care. They are sentient like we are.

So far, Cal looks good. They cannot, for safety and legal reasons, remove the body of Lusa. The adults might try to shove the body off the nest, even carry it and drop it in the ocean, or Lusa might wind up as part of the nest. There is no fear of Cal eating its sibling (yes, I have had multiple questions about that). I would have concerns if Lusa had highly pathogenic avian influenza. But that seems highly unlikely because Cal is doing so well. We saw siblings die close together on other nests if it was HPAI.

Connor stated that getting on a nest after four weeks is hard because the other eaglet might get spooked and jump off. That is the last thing we want to happen to Cal. So keep sending positive energy to this nest – it would be grand if Connie and Clive fledged an eaglet this year. With Connick having issues and falling off the nest last year and now going to the Smithsonian, it has been a while since Mum Connie saw a baby fly free.

Angel and Tom are both at their nest. The Blue Jays are apparently not bothering Tom but are aggravating Angel. If they continue to come to the nest, the camera will go live.

I have not done a lot of nest checking today so this post could be ‘slim’. I did head to Eagle Country to check on Swampy and Meadow. Indeed, all of the eaglets that have survived on the nests this year are a miracle. There were so many incidents of DNH…

Blaze was on the nest feeding his eaglets and did a splendid job of it. Both got lots and lots to eat! Gosh, Dad was very even-handed in that feeding. Those two are getting their thermal down. See how dark they are getting, and the soft, fluffy baby down is coming off., Darlings. Just little darlings.

A little bit of a mohawk coming.

E23 is looking good at SW Florida. Just keep all good wishes coming to every nest with babes – we never know what can happen. I am not saying this to worry you, but rather to appreciate those who are healthy and to stay vigilant should something be amiss.

It is very hard to see the eaglet at JB Sands Wetlands, but there are many watching and fingers crossed for this one to fledge. JBS20 certainly does take up more nest space than it did a few weeks ago! Only eaglets have the advantage of having all the food to themselves.

The only eaglet at WRDC continues to grow and thrive, but only after we had to hold our breath a few times. What a year it has been! We will not forget it soon, for all the wrong reasons. That said, the streaming cam is down, and, of course, right before that happened, R6 was fed another pigeon with bands on its legs. ‘H’ tells us, “The cams went down about 4.5 hours ago.  R6 ate another pigeon band this afternoon, and we are supposed to be on pellet-and-band watch!  Not only that, but the pigeon had a band on each leg, and we were also waiting to see which eagle would eat the other band!  Rose ate a pigeon band on 2/11.’

I don’t know about anyone else but seeing these healthy eaglets eat leg bands and nappies and possibly poisoned rats is getting to me. We have so few eaglets this year…ah. Each is precious.

We are a day away from hatch watch at Superbeaks. Pepe and Muhlady should be hearing their chicks inside the shell. Oh, let us hope these eggs are viable. They are such good parents and just got on with life and had a second clutch. Fingers crossed along with toes.

Jackie and Shadow are looking pretty confident. We are now 12 days away from the hatch at Big Bear. You best get the worry beads, the stomach upset medicine, or whatever works for you. This will either be the day we leap out of our roofs in happiness or sit and fill a bucket full of tears. I am thinking of eaglets this year…the champagne is ready.

A look at how Friday went for Jackie and Shadow.

You need to get your votes in! This is the news from Cal Falcons about naming The New Guy.

“After over 200 suggestions and hundreds of votes, we have our four finalists:

Archie, after Archie Williams
Galen, after John Galen Howard
Morgan, after Julia Morgan
and
Mulford, after Walter Mulford

Vote for the winner here before Monday at 5pm:

https://bit.ly/NewGuy2024

Here’s a little more about each of our candidates:

Archie Williams was a successful Cal athlete and engineer. He won gold in the 400m race at the 1936 Olympics, became a highly decorated pilot and instructor, and was an influential teacher in California High Schools. Archie Williams High School is named in his honor.

John Galen Howard was one of the most influential architects at UC Berkeley. He designed many of the most iconic buildings on campus, including the Campanile, where Annie and New Guy live! He also designed Sather Gate, California Memorial Stadium, and many other buildings.

Julia Morgan was the first woman to earn a degree in Civil Engineering at UC Berkeley. She became a prolific and celebrated architect. You can see her work on campus in the form of the Greek Theatre. However, her most well-known design is Hearst Castle.

Walter Mulford was a long-time forestry professor at UC Berkeley, serving as the first Dean of the School of Forestry (now a part of the College of Natural Resources). He encouraged students to gain hands on experience outdoors and founded the Forestry Field Camp in Plumas National Forest.”

Please go and vote. Thanks SP for all that great information!

Wow. Talk about a miracle. Have a look at what happened to this crushed falcon egg! We see these when there is high humidity…and we hold our breath. This gives hope.

When I get sad, I always head to the Royal Albatross Colony. Why? Because I know that the NZ DOC Rangers do everything in their power to ensure that these chicks fledge!

Look at this cutie.

The two osplets at Pelican Bay appear to be doing rather well.

Thunder and Akecheta taking turns incubating their three eggs. Oh, I so hope that this nest is full of little eaglets just like at Big Bear.

One egg at Sauces. Dr Sharpe will be conducting a survey of the nests on the Channel Islands on the 24th according to the moderator of chat. We should be able to find out more about the other nests that we cannot see on cam after that visit.

No egg at Two Harbours for Chase and Cholyn, yet.

Andor and Cruz were both working on the Fraser Point nest – between the camera going on and coming off.

I missed this great video shot with the Centreport Bald Eagle Mum a few days ago. Stunning footage!

At Redding, Liberty proudly stands above her egg delaying incubation and awaiting the arrival of the second egg.

Fireworks. Anyone reading my blog knows that fireworks are dangerous for wildlife as well as for domestic pets. Why we as a society continue to allow millions of dollars to literally go up in smoke is beyond me when there is so much to be done for the environment, wildlife, human health, education, and housing. So, the fact that there are plans for a firework display in a nature reserve in Spain is incomprehensible.

‘Incomprehensible-Madrid-plans-huge-firework-display-on-nature-reserve-Spain-The-GuardianDownload

For a smile, a close up of that Puffer Fish that Bradley was eating on the ropes on the 16th at Port Lincoln.

Thank you so much for being with me today. Please send your good wishes to all the nests and, also, to little Hugo Yugo. She is just not herself yet. She ate a few bites of food and then wanted in her carrier to be alone and sleep. I do worry about her so much. After losing Lewis, I am perhaps a bit sensitive, but Hugo Yugo has had such a rough start in life and she is so tiny – well…I am concerned.

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, screen captures, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘A, H, J, SP’, Window to Wildlife, Heidi McGrue, Jenna Lynn Dorsey, Eagle Country, SW Florida Eagle Cam, JBS Wetlands, WRDC, Superbeaks, FOBBV, SK Hideaways, Cal Falcons, Elite Falconry, Royal Cam Albatross/NZ DOC, Sharon Dunne, Ildiko A Polk, FORE, the IWS/Explore.org, PLO, and The Guardian.

E23 self-feeds…Wednesday in Bird World

14 February 2024

Hello Everyone,

It is the middle of the week. ’The girls’ hope that the week has been kind to you and that you got some nice little treats along the way. They were hoping that Valentine’s Day might have something special in store for them – and I did. It isn’t what they were expecting! Dental Wipes. Yes. Only Missey will let me trim her nails and brush her fur and teeth without bother. Brushing Calico’s teeth is like trying to kiss an enraged lion. So, Dr Green suggested dental wipes. The container reminds me of those Clorox cleaning wipes. You pull up a sheet, twist it around your finger, and attack from back to front. It was recommended that I cut one sheet in 4s and do all the girls – and it worked. Now, if this and the chewy stick toys keep us from having a dental cleaning in a year or two, it will be worth it. The wipes must taste good. No one complained! They got a few dental treats after as a reward and we have a special Valentine’s Day story for later today.

Meadow and Swampy are doing great. It appears we have gotten past the bonking stage. Abby fed those two so they couldn’t hold another fish flake. Mum managed to clean up some of that piled-up prey, as well. What a wonderful relief. Swampy and Meadow are lookin’ good.

Early morning and Jackie is calling to Shadow. There is prey on the edge of the nest and both continue to be ever so careful around those precious eggs. 15 days til hatch. Wonder how many people will be watching? 8500? 10,000? This is the most watched Bald Eagle nest – and people around the world are hoping for a big miracle this year that will test Shadow’s hunting abilities!

Jackie and Shadow continue to make the news!

The day for Bella and Scout started out with a blizzard on Tuesday. The snow tapered off during the day and began to melt at the NCTC Bald Eagle nest. The nest is 75 miles NW of Washington, DC, in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia along the Potomac River.

No eggs yet for Irvin and Claire at the US Steel Bald Eagle nest in Pittsburgh. Ever wonder how Irvin got his name? The nest is located at U. S. Steel’s Mon Valley Works Irvin Plant in West Mifflin, Pennsylvania.

They are on egg watch at the Pittsburgh-Hayes Bald Eagle nest. But no egg as of 1700 Tuesday.

Fish dinner all day long or R6 at the WRDC nest of Ron and Rose.

R6 wants to play with Rose.

E23 self-feeds on the bunny after being fed by F23. E23 is six weeks and one day old today.

Getting a plucking lesson.

The little eaglet at JB Sands Wetlands still has most of its soft down. Growing thought. Much easier to spot in that nest!

Bonnie and Clyde, the Eagles not the GHOs, of the Cardinal Land Conservancy have their first egg!

The West End camera of Thunder and Akecheta is now up and running again.

Too much bonding? New Male has trouble getting out of scrape?

Hartley and Monty have eggies on their mind, too.

The Wakefield Peregrines are getting active.

The recent court cases in Scotland have made people sick beyond belief at the non-custodial sentences handed out for the killing, selling, and laundering of Peregrine Falcons and their eggs. People are fighting to save the species while those profiteering from it are laughing. 

The author of the article below remarks, “In early 2021, Police Scotland had begun an investigation of its own, after reports of a man bragging to friends about how much money he was making from taking wild peregrine falcon chicks.

High-status racing falcons can sell for up to £250,000 in the Middle East, according to the National Wildlife Crime Unit (NWCU). The UK exports more live raptors than any other country, and the United Arab Emirates is the largest importer.”

‘Its-soul-destroying-to-find-nests-have-failed-inside-the-battle-against-Scotlands-falcon-thieveDownload

Giliath is all about town. He would do well to follow Ervie and Dad!

Lewis loves bones and he should be excellent at incubation and rolling those eggs once they arrive. Way to go Lewis!

At the Captiva Osprey nest, we have Jack and I think it is Lady Friend #7. But I could be wrong! It feels like a revolving door on this nest!

It doesn’t matter how big or old they are, eaglets still like to be fed by Mum. Cal and Lusa are not except at the Captiva Eagle nest of Connie and Clive.

The Dahlgren nest of Jack and Harriet is back .

Here is the link:

Arthur has been busy bringing sticks to the nest he is fixing up for Big Red. Expecting eggs after the middle of March.

‘L’ sent me a link to a great image of Flaco, the Eurasian Owl, venturing out around Manhattan.

This is making many uneasy. The lowest recorded number of wintering birds in Spain in 40 years.

Donana-records-lowest-wintering-bird-numbers-in-40-years-BirdGuidesDownload

For my parrot and budgie readers, here is a new article on some viruses that are threatening the health of one parrot, the Orange-bellied. They are considered to be critically endangered.

These gorgeous parrots live in the South of Australia and Tasmania but only breeds in Tasmania, as I understand it. Here is eBird’s description: ”Small grassy-green parrot that feeds on the ground. Bright green and yellow with blue wings and yellow lower belly with a central orange patch, yellowish throat, and thin mid-blue line between eyes. Compare Blue-winged Parrot (olive-green), Rock Parrot (duller olive-green) and Elegant Parrot (yellow-green, more distinct yellow patch in front of eye). Migratory, breeding in tree hollows on button grass moors in southwest Tasmania in summer, and wintering on saltmarsh in coastal Victoria and South Australia. Critically endangered and the subject of substantial conservation efforts. Calls include a soft buzzingchatter and a high-pitched, thin “ziiiit.”

The Government of Tasmania states : “The OBP is one of the most threatened birds in Australia. The wild population, measured at the start of each breeding season, did not exceed 35 birds between 2010 and 2018. According to the criterion of the Recovery Plan, the wild population is neither​ stable nor increasing. The wild population is not viable without supplementation from captive bird releases to the wild. Recent breeding seasons have provided some hope with 77 birds returning to Melaleuca in 2022, the largest ​number of returns recorded in over 15 years!.”

“The OBP breeds only within Southwest Tasmania, with the known breeding population concentrated in the Melaleuca region. Birds typically begin to arrive at Melaleuca in late September. Nests are occupied from mid-November and nesting occurs in artificial nest boxes, or where available, hollows of eucalypt trees (typically Eucalyptus nitida). Pairs do not mate for life. The female stays in the nest for several days before the first egg is laid and clutches average 4.6 eggs (range 1–6). Only the female incubates the eggs during the 21-day incubation period. After hatching, the female remains on the nest for 10 days, being fed by the male. After the 10 day brood period, the chicks are fed by both parents before fledging at four to five weeks of age. Fledglings are fed by both parents until the adults depart on the northern migration in February–March. The fledglings typically depart between March and April. Juveniles are also individually colour banded (using leg bands) from nest boxes each year which forms the basis of population studies.”

Orange-bellied-Parrot-faces-new-threats-BirdGuidesDownload

Sometimes, there are big bonuses for charities. Conservation without Borders is seeking your help to get them an injection of much-needed cash! Make sure you vote. I will post the link as soon as I have it available.

Thank you for being with being with us today. Take care. Have a wonderful day and we will see you soon!

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, graphics, streaming cams, articles, and videos that helped me to write my blog this morning: ’L, J’, Eagle Country, FOBBV, Kristen Hulk, NCTC, PIX Cams, WRDC, SW Florida Eagle Cam, Carol Shores Rifkin, JB Sands Wetlands, CLC, IWS/Explore, SK Hideaways, @wfldperegrines, The Guardian, Raptor Persecution UK, PLO, Gracie Shepherd, Window to Wildlife, Bridgette Schwurack, Dahlgren Osprey Cam, @CornellHawks, Manhattan Bird Alert, BirdGuides, Government of Tasmania, and Conservation without Borders.

Tuesday in Bird World

13 February 2024

Good Morning Everyone,

Monday was warm on the Canadian Prairies. At 0 degrees C everything is melting. It is damp and icky. The beautiful white snow is gone and is now puddles of brown coloured muck – salt and sand mixed together. Oh, gosh, golly. I want winter back!

Dyson and the kits were at the feeders loading up on peanuts. There were some sparrows and the Starlings. I didn’t see the little Reds, but I wasn’t always looking. The peanuts were, however, cleared up in record time, so they must have been scurrying about! 

I spent the day taking apart and putting ‘back’ together an IKEA Billy Bookcase—a word of advice on these flatpack bookcases. If you do not intend to move them, get a bottle of wood glue, put glue in every hole and then attach it. Then, being careful, glue that back on as well. I hope never to have to do this again! The three will never be moved – not during my lifetime! As a result, the blog is a bit short today. At least you cannot hear me yelling! The ‘girls’ were very patient today—such little sweeties. 

Annie and the new male are getting rather chummy and bonding more in the scrape on Monday. Cal Falcons has decided to name him, too. Details under the image.

Flaco, the escapee Eurasian Owl, appears to be doing just fine. Remember. Flaco could die from eating a rodent that had ingested poison. All of the wildlife that feed on the rodents in Manhattan could! Including the Red-tail hawks in the area. Indeed, many of them have and it is very sad. It is time to end this practice and let the raptors take care of them!

Here is the link to the streaming cam at Mt Ibuki in Japan, home to a pair of Golden Eagles. ”According to current trends in census size and reproduction, the Japanese golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos japonica) is at risk of extinction this century, leading the Japanese government to recognize the subspecies as endangered. It is now the focus of national conservation efforts.” 

Last year the only surviving Golden eaglet sadly starved. It caused great concern particularly since the raptors are considered to be greatly endangered.

 

Japanese-Golden-Eagle-Conservation-ScienceDownload

Jackie and Shadow continue to be ever so careful when they are getting on and off the eggs or doing the old switcheraroo for incubation duties.

I thought maybe they were not going to eat on the nest, but Jackie proved me wrong as she nibbled on that piece of fish.

We are now 16 days away from hatch watch for Jackie and Shadow and their three eggs at Big Bear.

Thanks Abby and Blaze! We really cannot see those darling eaglets now!

We are expecting the second egg for Sally and Harry at Moorings Park on Valentine’s Day. 

At first glance, I thought this was Ervie on the light, but it is Bradley. There are his beautiful leg tags. 

These are the reports for a day ago. Both fledglings are still coming to the barge for fish. But, read the report. It looks they are each trying to fish as well. Fantastic.

PLO posted some stats for Giliath. The posting below shows you how far he has travelled and the places around the nest. Well done, Giliath. You are doing fantastic.

This is the information for Gil’s older brother, Ervie:

“2024.02.13 – Port Lincoln Barge – Ervie – October 2023 to January 2024.

The satellite tracking data for Ervie for the time October 2023 to January 2024. At a broad scale view, clearly the dense clusters of points shows his preference for fishing including the Port Lincoln Grain Terminal, grain silos, between Stenross boat facility to the Moreton Bay fig tree, Delamere and northern shore of Proper Bay (adjacent greyhound Road) and Boston Island. I have over layed same data from October 2022 to January 2023 and almost identical pattern of movements. Not surprising his avoidance of the Porter Bay Barge nest during the 2023 breeding season. Elevation data shows his movements and distance covered over the 4 months = 3,364km and an average height of 58 meters. This Osprey is also now in his third year and appears to be a most competent hunter.”

The new male at Dulles-Greenway replacing Martin is named Lewis! Oh, Lewis! (Fabulous name…you all know why.) Lewis has big talons to fill. Martin and Rosa had no trouble raising three eaglets. Let’s see what happens this year. We are on egg watch.

It is so lovely to see Mum at Duke Farms not buried under snow.

An eagle was at the ND-LEEF nest quite early.

Liberty and Guardian were both at their Redding nest working away. I have to admit I am really nervous when I see that high water below them.

Rose and Ron should be very proud. They have such a beautiful eaglet this year in R6.

The Little Miami Conservancy Bald Eagle Cam is live with Bette and Baker. This nest is near Miami, Ohio – not Florida. Both were on the nest Monday working away. 

Here is the link to their streaming cam:

Beau has learned to incubate and stay the course. 17 hours. He has also done some other long stints. My goodness how I wish he had done this earlier when there was a chance this egg was viable…good practice for net year.

We are all looking forward to Rosie’s return, but none more so than Richmond! Condolences, Richmond, on the loss in the Super Bowl. Maybe next year for the 49ers.

BirdGuides Review of the Week for Birds in the UK.

Review-of-the-Week-5-11-February-2024-BirdGuidesDownload

How can we protect the raptors if the sentences handed out mean nothing to those convicted? More on the pair that laundered the Peregrine Falcons and their lack of a custodial sentence. They make the rules protecting wildlife a joke – and they know it and continue to abuse the systems that offer meagre protection.

Commentary-on-the-staggeringly-inadequate-sentencing-of-Timothy-Lewis-Hall-convicted-for-illegal-Download

It is beautiful, and soon we hope that Aran and Elan will be there, right before our eyes, in the Glaslyn Valley.

Word has come that the camera for Jak and Audacity might get repaired.

I missed it. It was Otepoti’s Birthday and every Kakapo deserves to have their birthday celebrated! If you do not know about the Kakapo, I have included the Kakapo Recovery Brochure below this posting. 

A fantastic book also arrived in the post last week, waiting for my attention. Written in 2010 by Alison Ballance, Kakapo. Rescued from the Brink of Extinction, it includes everything you would want to know about these evasive flightless parrots. It did not include any further information about Otepoti, sadly, as he was born 5 years after its publication. Thanks, ‘J’ for the recommendation! 

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

Thank you to the following for their posts, articles, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog today: ’J’, Cal Falcons, Kathy Robles, Conservation Science, Japan Golden Eagle Cam, FOBBV, Eagle Country, Moorings Park, Mike Wood, PLO, Bart M, Dulles-Greenway, Duke Farms, ND-LEEF, FORE, WRDC, Little Miami Conservancy, Jerinelle Wray, SF Bay Ospreys, BirdGuides, Raptor Persecution UK, Bywyd Gwylld Glaslyn, Gracie Shepherd, and Kakapo Recovery.

Meadow gets a good meal…Tuesday in Bird World

6 February 2024

Good Morning Everyone,

Another grey miserable day that chilled you to the bone regardless of the warm temperatures! It is time for rain jackets and puddle boots. Hard to believe. Wishing for snow.

It was another day of ‘Who is going to be the Queen of the Cat Tree’. It is all hard play and goes on from morning to night with the ‘top cat’ changing regularly. On Monday morning, Baby Hope was enjoying having a relaxing time on the top rung of the cat tree after breakfast. Then…she looks down, and who does she see? You guessed it! Hugo Yugo has arrived to disturb the peace. 

Ouch! Hugo Yugo is fearless and is fortunate that Baby Hope has a very sweet disposition. 

Baby Hope decides all she wants to do is get away or is she going to try to take over from another position on the cat tree?

The winner – for now,

While I was out, ‘L’ sent news that Meadow was being fed well today. Yahoo! Sometimes it is just those first few days for the oldest to set dominance and the beaking stops. This is fantastic. I was almost afraid to look.

Poor Jackie and Shadow. They cannot get a break from the horrific weather that is in California that is causing major flooding and mudslides. Pouring rain and now rain and snow mixed on Monday.

The deadly storm is slowly moving out of the area. 

Bay-Area-Weather-Deadly-storm-exits-region-leaving-damage-behindDownload

It started off west at the nest of M15 and F23 in Fort Myers before the weather changed and little E23 could sun itself and dry out.

You can see the dramatic change in the plumage in the image below. Notice the quills holding the blood feathers for the tail and the few white dandelions left on the top of the head. The beak is becoming a shiny ebony, and the yellow legs, feet, and the mandible indicate this is a healthy little eaglet. 

E23 has attempted to do some self-feeding after finding some prey hidden in the nesting material.

M15 flew in with a big fish. ’J’ caught some screen captures of F23 feeding little E23 his lunch.

D Morningstar caught some good close ups of E23 – she was 36 days old on 5 February and is 37 today. Time passes so quickly. Look at the plumage and then look at those fuzzy babies at Eagle Country. What a difference a month makes.

The same weather system went through Captiva before hitting Fort Myers. Cal and Lusa are trying to stay warm and dry under Connie, but to no avail. They are way too big. What sweeties. After drying off, look at them both standing so tall and strong on those beautiful chrome yellow legs.

It was wet at the WRDC nest of Ron, Rose, and R6. Heidi Mc caught Ron being a ‘Dadbrella’. Way to go! Looks like there is still some coot left on the nest too, but catch R6’s crop! What a cutie.

At the Captiva Nest of Jack (and formerly of his mate Ruby who is MIA), it seems the male might have a new partner - just in time for breeding season we hope. She accepts his fish gift – that is a good start.

It looks like it could be just two eggs for Jack and Diane this season at Achieva. Fantastic!!!!

At JB Sands Wetlands it was sunny. I could not tell what was in the pantry but the little eaglet is being well taken care of. 

Did Ervie meet his brother Giliath when they were both out looking for fish?

More tracking for Ervie. Have to say it – Ervie is the ‘Rock Star’ of the Port Lincoln Osprey barge. Sorry, Gil and Brad.

I am getting so excited for Osprey season to begin that I can hardly think of anything else. Tiger Mozone posted an older video of Henry and EJ. It shows Henry returning from migration to discover EJ on eggs – not his! So what does Henry do? Watch.

Oh, don’t you just love Osprey behaviour!

Angel, the Leucistic Red-tail Hawk, is back at her nest! Window to Wildlife gives us the good news: “Angel is back! In late January Angel was seen on her nest while our team was out doing some routine maintenance and upgrades to the cameras for the upcoming season. The new upgrades will include better low-light viewing with infrared floodlights for a better viewing experience of Angel’s amazing nest!There is still some work to be done before the streams can go live, so stay tuned for more updates and an announcement of when that will be! We’re looking forward to another fantastic season and hope you’ll stop by the streams!”

Eagles at the ND-LEEF nest on Monday.

At the NE Florida nest of Gabby and Beau, Gabby had an unexpected visitor on Monday – A1. He even went into the nest bowl. Some worried that Beau had been injured in a fight with A1, but Beau did return later all talons in tact.

Bonnie has spent much of the day on the nest on Farmer Derek’s property in Kansas. We are expecting her to begin laying eggs in 2 or 3 days. Normally, Bonnie lays two eggs with successful hatches in past years, and both are fledging. They grow fast!

It sounded like thunder. The rain began in a gentle way and then really began coming down. I hope Monty and Hartley are safe and dry – and, I am wondering why they just don’t sit out the storm inside the scrape where it is dry. Any thoughts?

In Port Lincoln, Gil and Brad each had a fish on the 5th. Today they are both waiting, taking turns, to see who will be the lucky one on the nest when din-dins arrive.

Canada Geese are loud and the one who landed on the Decorah nest is no exception.

What does your City do during migration? Is it switching off the lights like a number of growing urban centres?

Why is switching lights off important? Let’s check.

Birdcast says: ”Light attracts and disorients migrating birds, confusing and exhausting them as well as making them vulnerable to collisions with buildings, not to mention other urban threats like cats and toxins.”

Popular Science gives us more information:

Switching-off-the-lights-could-protect-wild-birds-Popular-ScienceDownload

USFWS: 

Dim-the-Lights-for-Birds-at-Night-U.S.-Fish-Wildlife-ServiceDownload

Audubon has their own article on their Lights Out Programme – and there are hundreds more on the Internet. Educate yourself and your City! Save the birds.

Lights-Out-Program-AudubonDownload

When I adopted a Kakapo in 2022, I adopted Rangi. He is a very special Kakapo – at least 51 years old. His story is really worth a read – it unfolds in the posts below. Rangi is very special.

Here is the full text. It is very interesting. ”The known population at the time was just 90 ahead of another breeding season on Whenua Hou. Ranger Chris Birmingham was out checking the location of females when he heard booming from an unidentified male. As soon as he noticed the old metal leg tag, he knew this was an extra special find. Excitement passed through the team on the island and the bird was soon undergoing a full health check, sampling, and having a transmitted fitted. That night the team matched records to the tag number confirming it was Rangi, one of four males missing since their first release. Ranger Chris wrote a new database entry adding, “words cannot express the joy I feel at finding this guy!”

Genetic data shows Rangi fathered Wendy, Zephyr, Sarah, Adler, Merty and Ralph; making him a grandfather to 17 (including @Sirocco), and great-grandfather to nine. 

He hasn’t bred since 1981, but Rangi still booms in season and has been maintaining his bowl site recently. His exact age is unknown but he would be at least 51 now. He lives amongst dense supplejack vines making it tricky for rangers when it’s time for his annual health checks. Elusive yet crafty, he has been known to sneak quietly through the undergrowth to circle back behind rangers that are following him. Rangi is known as the artful dodger after all!”

Last but never least – we often hear the names of men who made a difference in the world of birds. But what about the women? This is a previously published article that is always good to visit again to remind ourselves that everyone can contribute! What a wonderful list of amazing women.

Seven-Women-Who-Made-the-World-Better-for-Birds-and-People-AudubonDownload

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

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, articles, screen captures, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog this morning: ’A, H, J, L’, Eagle Country, FOBBV, The Mercury News, SW Florida Eagle Cam, Visa, D Morningstar, Window to Wildlife, WRDC, Heidi Mc, Achieva Credit Union, JB Sands Wetlands, PLO, Tiger Mozone, BBC Report, ND-LEEF, Gracie Shepherd, Farmer Derek Owl Cam, All About Birds, San Jose City Hall, Bart M, Rosieanne B, National Audubon Society, BirdCast, Raptor Resource Project/Explore, USFWS, Audubon, and the Kakapo Recovery.

Waters continue to rise at Redding nest of Liberty and Guardian…Monday in Bird World

5 February 2024

Good Morning Everyone,

It was another warm not so nice day on the Canadian Prairies. Everything is shades of grey and brown. The snow is all dirty and the sky had no blue in it. Even the kittens just wanted to sleep! I felt the same way. A good book, a cup of ‘real’ hot chocolate (made with the best melted chocolate and hot milk) would have made the day perfect.

Missey was up and about and finally found the felted rock that Hope was playing in yesterday and used it as a pillow!

There were not a lot of birds in the garden. The European Starlings came around noon along with a few sparrows. The squirrels were about eating peanuts and a lone female Downy Woodpecker showed up at the suet.

The Eagle Country nest has bothered me. Perhaps I am a bit more sensitive after losing the baby at JB Sands or nearly losing R6. So of course, just take this as concern.

This is why I am worried about Meadow at Eagle Country. Swampy eats well and attacks Meadow who is calling for food. Abby does not feed Meadow. It is true that Meadow does not require as much food as Swampy. S/he is younger. It is the fear put into the little one not to eat that is the issue. Let’s keep an eye and send positive wishes.

It is not a gentle attack. Swampy twists Meadows neck and makes sure it doesn’t get up. 

A wee bit later, Meadow doesn’t even bother to raise its head.

It is impossible to tell – because of that deep cup – whether or not Meadow got any of the subsequent small feedings. Mostly I see only one head. If you have additional information, please send me a comment.

Checking in on Connick. Thanks, ‘H’ for finding us an update.

Report of an Osprey in South Africa – and Geemeff notes this is just as far as you can go in the country. ”This bird was sighted at Langebaan, which is very near Cape Town, about as far south as you can get in Africa! Not ringed. Female, judging by the necklace, and is that juvenile plumage? Difficult to tell in that light.” 

The Langebaan Lagoon is a large salt water lagoon, regarded as a wetland of international importance, protected by the West Coast National Park (formerly called the Langebaan National Park), 100 km north of Cape Town.Langebaan is 16 km long and no wider than 3 km at any point. All that lies between it and the Atlantic Ocean is the Langebaan Peninsula, 15 km long and 2 km wide, peppered by large granite outcrops known as Vlaeberg and Konstabelkop. All of the literature says that it is a birdwatching paradise.

“Langebaan lagoon, West Coast National Park” by Winfried Bruenken (Amrum) is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.5.

The students at the University of Florida-Gainesville have their osprey cam back up and running after the light stand was changed out last year. There was a big fundraising campaign and it all came together well. We can once again watch Talon and Stella raise their chicks. 

Here is the latest news form the website: ”Watch the osprey family raise another family! The nest is located on a light pole behind the SW Rec Center on UF Campus. Thanks to HdonTap for streaming the live feed, UF’s SW Rec center for allowing the camera to go back up, and a host of people from UF’s IT and Facility Services that helped to install the new camera and get things working. It truly took a village to get this up and running (again)! Special shout out to Wally Sanchez from IT that helped to troubleshoot the camera! A generous gift from Wild Goose Farms in Umatilla, FL provided the needed funding for the equipment. We continue to accept gifts of support for ongoing maintenance and management of the camera, and we are grateful for the support from our generous donors!To date, I have seen Talon (the male) and Stella (the female) on the nest as of January 30th. In fact, Stella just arrived January 30th – much to the delight of Talon! Talon (the father) and Stella (the mother) built a new nest in the same location (in 2023) after the bank of lights were switched out for more efficient LEDs. Professor Mark Hostetler, who is an urban wildlife ecologist in the Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation at the University of Florida, has been watching with earnest to see if they would rebuild. He helped direct a few structures on the new lights to entice them to rebuild the nest (nicknamed The Cheap Seats or Home Plate). In 2022, we had over 70,000 viewers from around the world (see https://wec.ifas.ufl.edu/extension/ospreycam/). We really got to see the osprey family daily (and nightly) activities. Your contributions were much appreciated.”

It looks like Sunday will be a much nicer day for Jackie and Shadow. You can still hear a lot of wind and branches cracking in the distance.

For the only eaglet at JB Sands Wetlands, life looks good.

So far only two lovely Osprey eggs at Achieva! 

No egg at Moorings Park. They have surprised everyone.

Flaco is fine and exploring and moving into the beginning of his second year of freedom in The Big Apple.

Cal and Lusa are enjoying a huge amount of fish on Sunday along with another feathered water bird. Sometimes it is interesting to try and identify the prey if you do not know what it is.

E23 is such a sweetie. Little squees…M15 and F23 could not be prouder. 

R6 continues to grow and change plumage with what appears to be no ill effects from ‘the event’.

There was a bit of excitement at the WRDC nest a little later…

It makes me really sad. Gabby and Beau are still incubating the very unviable egg. He is getting lots of practice and if they survive for another year, let us hope that they return and raise some chicks in late 2024.

Pa and Missey are back working on the nest at Berry College. Will there be a chance of a second clutch?

‘H’ found some lovely photos of Annie and her new mate at The Campanile on moon_rabbit_rising. You can see them here: 

https://www.instagram.com/moon_rabbit_rising/?fbclid=IwAR3EYeEjI6Pio3aySb3TeNiUd0A8YcM9TZBVdyUu1VuU540OlHynlXRSSKo

The Peregrine Falcons have returned to their scrape in Harrison, PA. 

Falcon-WireDownload

The Kakapo Recovery are celebrating!

I find the albatross and the nests that they build to be so fascinating. Are these up high to protect if there is any flooding? 

“The Chatham albatross nests only on The Pyramid in the Chatham Islands. Using aerial photography, in 1998, scientists estimated that there were between 3,200 and 4,200 pairs nesting.” Let’s see if we can find out what their numbers are today.

“PROTECTION / THREATS / STATUS:  
The Chatham Island Albatross suffers harsh weather conditions during the breeding season. Severe storms can kill adults and chicks. Outside this period, storms may destroy the vegetation on the breeding grounds and remove the soil necessary for nest-building. In addition, they have very restricted breeding range. 
When at sea after the breeding season, they are threatened by longline fisheries off the west coasts of South America, and oil pollution throughout the winter range.
Translocation of chicks to a protected area in the SW corner of the Chatham Islands is underway between 2014 and 2016, in order to enlarge the breeding range of this species. 

The Chatham Island Albatross is listed as Vulnerable. The global population is estimated at 11,000 mature individuals, equating to about 16,000 individuals in total (counts 2008 – 2011).”

At the Midway Atoll, Wisdom was seen dancing and attempting to find a mate. The USFWS has not seen her since and has determined that she is not breeding this year and has returned to sea. There is news about other Laysan Albatross here along with the story about Wisdom.

The White-tail Eagles are arriving home in Kemeri National Forest in Latvia. Akacis was there on the 30th of January.

In Finland, a gorgeous White-tail eagle visited the Osprey nest at Seal.

Milda has been visiting her nest in Durbe County with a new male (?). I must check and find out what has happened to Voldis!

There is now some exciting news coming in from the ND-LEEF streaming cam in St Patrick’s Park, South Bend, Indiana. 

At Port Lincoln, Bradley got the first fish that came in – a gift from Mum at 1303. It took 100 minutes for Bradley to finish that fish!!!!!!!!!!!

Calypso has visited the TulKa nest – let us hope that he gets a new mate for the coming year after losing his mate to electrocution.

The weather remains problematic at the Redding nest of Liberty and Guardian. The water appears to be rising. How will the heavy rain, winds, and flooding impact the nest? (it is believed to be in a dead tree) The water has risen significantly since yesterday. Sending positive wishes to Liberty and Guardian.

Newcastle is installing homes for the Kittiwake on their new Tyne Bridge. Maybe other countries and cities should consider this for all birds that need homes. Think Swift Bricks, too!

Kittiwake-hotel-installed-on-Tyne-Bridge-BirdGuidesDownload

What are the pollutants that are currently causing much harm to our birds. A current article in the BTO news gives us some clear insights into the problems.

Birds-and-pollution-BTO-British-Trust-for-OrnithologyDownload

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

Thank you to the following for their notes, videos, photos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog today: ’Geemeff, H, J, J, R’, Eagle Country, Audubon Centre for Birds of Prey, @derfonteinfenie, Openverse, UF-Gainsville, FOBBV, JB Sands Wetlands, Achieva Credit Union, Moorings Park, Paul Briber, Window to Wildlife, International Crane Foundation, SW Florida Eagle Cam, WRDC, Chao-Hwa Chen, NEFL-AEF, Mary Louise Ripley, Biruta Lapa, Dept of Environmental Protection for PA, PLO, Bart M, moon_rabbit_rising, Kakapo Recovery, Gill Winter, Friends of Midway Atoll, Arlene Beech, Finnish Osprey Foundation, Carol Mandis-Beadle, FORE, BirdGuides International, and BTO.

Friday Morning in Bird World

2 February 2024

Good Morning Everyone,

It is Ground Hog Day. It is Falco’s ‘Freedom Day’ in New York City. I wonder how much more winter we will all have.

Many debate whether Falco is free or if he is really in danger. All of the wildlife in New York City are in danger from rodenticides, not just Falco. He will never have an Eurasian Owl for a mate and he has now been ‘free’ for precisely a year. He will probably never be caught and returned to a sanctuary. I think Mark Avery would agree with me that he will live his life just like the other birds in the Central Park area and, I hope it is long like Pale Male.

Hugo Yugo had her appointment with Dr Green. The vet staff could not believe she was the same kitten from a month ago! She has gained another pound, and everything is A-OK. She is now about the size of a small tissue box.

I would like to get the 2024 Memorial Wall up and running. For some reason, it is now showing up – even though my system says it is. Lou is number 2. ’J’ sent some lovely images of Lou to be included.

The Atmospheric River that is bringing 2 inches of rain to the San Francisco area has brought heavy snow to the Big Bear Valley which is east of Los Angeles.

What Jackie woke up to on Friday. Hoping that Shadow can find some food for them in this heavy snow.

The nests with eaglets are doing fine. Let us all hope that the surviving one at John Bunker Sands thrives. There was some concern that an owl might have come on top of the girders last evening – please go away!

‘MP’ sent me these great shots of Dad bringing in this enormous fish. Incredible and great screen captures! Thank you.

Eagle County has the award, so far, of the deepest egg cup. It is impossible to see that eaglet.

R6 appears to be fine. Let us hope that the huge pellet included all the materials from the nappy and that not lasting damage is done to this precious little eaglet.

From the looks of Rose’s beak, the family quite enjoyed that water fowl.

Congratulations! Another second egg…more eaglets the end of the first week in March! This time for Frances and Franklin in Tennessee.

E23 is quickly coming into its own and losing those dandelions on the top of its head. 

Nice big fish are coming on the nest for Cal and Lusa. Cal has lost almost ever hint of the baby down she hatched with…Today, Cal potentially saved Lusa’s life when a piece of fish got stuck in his throat.

Lusa begins to choke about half way through the video at 2:53ish.

A little later the worry beads were out again as the pair of them climbed up on the rails!

Scout is bringing in food gifts to Bella – this time it was a squirrel.

In Australia, Gil and Brad are doing fine…so civilised with those fish.

‘A’ confirms that the 0647 fish was the only one: ”There has been only one fish brought in so far today at Port Lincoln, by Dad at 06:47, which Giliath ate (it is now 5.45portpm local time). Bradley ate in the middle of the night, finishing off Giliath’s fish from last night. But so far, that has been it for the day, unless either lad has caught something for themselves (if so, they have been smart enough to eat it away from the nest). Giliath tried catching a fish, unsuccessfully, at 14:12:59, and both boys spent a lot of time off the barge today, so one or both of them may have got a fish. “

WBSE 31 fooled everyone. She is back down on the Parramatta River by the adult’s River Roost.

The new male is trying hard to woo Annie!

Gorgeous Molis are hatching on the island of Kauai!

Do you watch the Manchester NH Peregrine Falcon scrape? Here is some news that might interest you.

Always something exciting happening at the Dunedin Wildlife Hospital. This is where those very intelligent but pesky Kakapo sometimes wind up – and get excellent care. Here is a rare penguin.

I am reading another book on avian behaviour. It is my area of interest. This one focuses on the science of the behaviours and some good examples and images, but it is heavy on the science. There is a reason for that! People still believe that birds are not intelligent and do not have feelings. They believe they are not sentient beings like humans. Why might that be the case? Well, it would change everything, wouldn’t it? The welfare of animals would come to the forefront!

Full-article-Belief-in-Animal-Sentience-and-Affective-Owner-Attitudes-are-linked-to-Positive-WorkinDownload

Here is the book…I did not find it as engaging as some of the others I have read (I happen to like Bekoff’s books but there are no illustrations and this one is choked full of beautiful ones), but I totally understand the need to ‘prove’ with evidence the points being made. It is very good at that – and I did enjoy it very much.

If the man who sold the falcons in Scotland thought they were sentiment beings, would he have engaged in that practice? We will never know. He did get a find that might stop him in the future, but I would have liked to have seen it much higher with a custodial sentence alongside.

Man-fined-for-illegally-selling-peregrine-chicks-in-Scotland-–-Raptor-Persecution-UKDownload

No egg at Moorings Park, yet.

Remember – the last is never the least. I am always grateful to my friend, Sassa Bird in Latvia, for ‘fixing’ any issues related to reporting about their wildlife. Certainly, the articles that I read about Golden Eagles would lead one to believe they were more than there are…so, here we go. Thanks, Sassa. ”In 1955, the white-tailed eagle disappeared as a nester in Latvia,[3] but since the beginning of the 1970s, when the first inhabited nest was found, their number has grown significantly thanks to protection measures. The number of nesting birds has reached 100-150 pairs. In the last ten years, their number has increased by more than 30%.” They continue, “In Latvia, according to modern systematics, there are 3 species of the eagle genus: the golden eagle (Aquila chrysaetos), the royal eagle (Aquila heliaca) and the steppe eagle (Aquila nipalensis).[3] The last two species have been observed only a few times: the golden eagle twice,[4] and the steppe eagle only once.” Much appreciated. We need to fix some of the sights on the Web and their information. 

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

Thank you to the following for their notes, screen captures, videos, articles, posts, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog today: ’A, B, J, MP, SP’, Bruce Yolton, FOBBV, Neil Laferty, JB Sands Wetlands, Eagle Country, WRDC, Trudi Kron, SW Florida Eagle Cam, Window to Wildlife, Ondabebe, Deb Stecyk, PLO, Bart M, SK Hideaways, Pacific Rim Conservation, Anne Pardo, Dunedin Wildlife Hospital, Taylor & Francis Online, Nathan Emery and Amazon, Raptor Persecution UK, Moorings Park, and Sassa Bird.

Bird Flu…and more…Tuesday in Bird World

30 January 2024

Hello Everyone,

Oh, goodness. It might as well be summer in Winnipeg – it sure feels like it at +3 C. Snow is melting, the sand and salt mixed with it for driving are really gross when this happens, and we have no idea what boots or coat to wear anymore. The children were squeeing like E23 as they rode their toboggans/sleds down the big ramp onto Devonian Lake at Ft Whyte this afternoon. It was marvellous. The smell of spring in the air (it is just teasing us – have no fear, winter is still here) was invigorating.

It was a lovely walk at the nature centre. I am reminding myself that the geese will be returning the middle of April and all of these shades of grey will be green. Beautiful green.

On the way home I was tempted to pick up a small bundle of tulips, but, thankfully checked and tulips are highly poisonous to cats. That would not do at all. I think flowers would not be safe anyway – not with Hugo Yugo and Baby Hope tearing about.

Baby Hope is loving to be stroked on her back and always flops in the kitchen – first – even before Hugo Yugo – when it is time for breakfast. She is one of the most darling cats I have ever had the pleasure to share my life with.

Thanks to Auntie ‘R’s suggestion, Hugo Yugo will have no more stained eyes. Her wipes arrived this evening (after these photos).

Hugo Yugo is getting ready to pounce on Hope. Look at those claws – and for such a little thing!

These two play ‘Who is the Queen of the Cat Tree’ all day long.

Size does not seem to matter. You will notice Baby Hope’s big strong legs and feet -just like that Dadpa of hers. Hugo Yugo wins about half the time – she does it through speed and persistence.

Missey took a clue from Calico and decided to sleep in a pile of blankets instead of entering the battle of the tree with those two.

There has been a wonderful sighting in The Gambia of two Rutland fledglings from 2022. 

If you have been confused about whether there is 1 egg or 2, 1 hatch or 2 at the JB Sands Wetlands area, you are not alone. We know there is at least one hatch and it appears that there are two! The dates are inconsistent but what matters is this – two healthy eaglets being fed. Watch for that!

Definitely feeds and Dad on the nest quite a bit. I have only been able to see one head, but there is that metal support in the way. There could be a second behind it! 

There are two of them! Observers had written that they had observed bonking, but I got my first sight of the pair this evening.

If you go to the web page, you can hear a recording of the eaglet – very clearly – from the nest. I should point out that some of the information on that site is frustrating. How do they know how old the eagles are? Are they sure? They are not banded? The dates of the hatch and the number of eaglets have been confusing. Thanks ‘AE’ and ‘MP’.

https://www.eagles.ntree.org/

Finally, here’s a great news story where the Ospreys won. Thanks, Geemeff. A festival has lost its site due to breeding Ospreys and this time, I am told that there are too many watchers so that any fears of their nesting site being disturbed should dissipate. The watchers are on it!

Green-Man-festival-loses-Gilestone-Farm-site-due-to-nesting-Ospreys-Wales-OnlineDownload

Marri is still flying around the scrape on the campus of Charles Sturt University in Orange, Australia. This is fabulous news. Gosh, Marri looks like a super strong flyer. 

Shadow needed to see if there was a second egg! They are certainly having a discussion!

If you missed it, the tandem feeding by M15 and F23 for E23 resulted in one HUGE crop!

This is why Barb Henry wants a slower speed on the roads in front of the nest of M15 and F23. Can you sign her petition? The name is in bold below. Do a search on change.org

The two eggs of Olive the Hummingbird have hatched. They are named Dusk and Dawn. When will they fledge? Here is the link to their camera! 

Olive is the most famous Allen’s Hummingbird in the world because of the streaming cam. ”Allen’s Hummingbirds coppery orange and green overall. Adult males have a coppery tail, eye patch, and belly that contrasts with their bronze-green back and deep reddish orange gorget. Females and immatures are bronze-green above with paler coppery sides. They both have bits of bronze spotting on their throats, though females have more spots and a small patch of reddish orange in the center of the throat.” (All About Birds)

“Allen’s Hummingbirds sip nectar from flowers such as bush monkeyflower, Indian paintbrush, columbine, currant, gooseberry, twinflower, penstemon, ceanothus, sage, eucalyptus, and manzanita. They get their protein by capturing small insects in midair or picking them off plants.” (All About Birds)

We should be concerned about these beautiful hummers. ”Conservation. The biggest threat to the Allen’s Hummingbird is habitat loss within its limited range. Partners in Flight considers it a species of concern, as its population decreased by 83 percent between 1970 and 2014.” (American Bird Conservancy)

Missey and Pa Berry have been making restorations to their nest on the grounds of Berry College in Georgia. Their two eggs for 2024 failed. Will they lay a second clutch? There is not much hope, but the eagles can fool us.

HeidiMc gives us a glimpse at the first fortnight at the WRDC nest for R6. You can find it by searching on YT for Dade County Eagles: ‘R6’ – The First Two Weeks. Sorry, I cannot post it here. Here are three screen snaps from her video:

Poor Gabby. She is still incubating. I wonder if she knows that Beau did not stay on the nest when she was gone for 25 hours? Samson certainly stayed for much longer and the eggs hatched. Just wondering.

E23 continues to be well-fed and thrives. The nest is a marvel, and the eaglet is well camouflaged. Tucked tight under Mamma F23 Monday night.

We get a glimpse of the two eggs at Big Bear when Shadow delivers fish – and on Monday, he delivered two for Jackie! I am watching. They are set to get rain and snow, but will they get as much as some parts of NE California that are expecting atmospheric rivers?

Precious diamonds on our beloved Jackie as she tends those two delicate eggs.

At Port Lincoln, Gil got the first fish of the day. It was a large whole one from Dad that came in at 0644. Brad was on the nest, but did not attempt to interfere. Gil ate every last flake – it took him 49 minutes!

More fish came in for both lads…and yes, Bradley did get some decent fish!

It is something no one was talking about. Lou. Lou has been missing from The Campanile since the 5th of January. Everyone at Cal Falcons hoped this marvellous male would return to Annie, but it now appears that is not going to happen. She is bonding with a new male. Poor thing – she has been through so many mates over the last four years. Lou. Alden the wonder who came and saved the eggs. And, of course, beloved Grinnell. We must assume that the life of a male in this territory can be quite short – whether it is through hunting accidents, territorial disputes with other males, or the current spate of HPAI. Dear Annie. We hope you get a good one that is here for years to come. 

This is the current statement by Cal Falcons:

“Alright, after a long, very quiet period on the tower, we have some happenings to report:

– Lou was last seen at the tower in early January.

– Annie has been less frequent on camera for the past few weeks as well

– In the past couple of days, we’ve noticed that Annie has been “chatting” with someone offscreen.

– This other falcon showed up on cam for the first time today. It is definitely not Lou.

– The new male today spent time in the nest box and hanging out near Annie leading up to…

– Copulation for the first time this year!

Looks like the next breeding season is abruptly kicking into high gear. We expect that we will see more courtship behaviors over the next few weeks before eggs being laid in early March.

As for Lou: there’s still a chance he may show back up. We don’t know he’s gone, but it certainly was not a typical time for a male falcon to leave the territory willingly. There are a number of reasons to see territory turnover, including being displaced through competition.”

Raptor populations are still experiencing relatively high mortality from Avian Influenza. It is certainly possible that Lou, like several other Peregrine Falcons in the Bay Area, contracted that disease. For more info check out this Q&A from last year: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gg_WbObYi7g”. Thanks SKHideaways.

HPAI has had devastating effects on chicken farmers in California- these are just the newest figures. 

New-Sonoma-County-bird-flu-cases-affect-more-than-500000-birds-in-biggest-outbreak-yetDownload

HPAI has now hit the Penguins in Antaractic. This could be horrible as it is so contagious.

“Researchers have previously raised alarm about “one of the largest ecological disasters of modern times” if bird flu reached remote Antarctic penguin populations. The birds are currently clustering together for breeding season, meaning the disease could rip through entire colonies if it continues to spread through the region.

King penguins are the world’s second-largest penguin, at about 3ft tall, and can live for more than 20 years in the wild. The suspected case was recorded on South Georgia island in the Antarctic region, according to the latest update from the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (Scar). A gentoo penguin was also suspected to have died from H5N1 at the same location.”

First-penguins-die-in-Antarctic-of-deadly-H5N1-bird-flu-strain-Antarctica-The-GuardianDownload

As I was writing about the more recent reports of HPAI, I was simultaneously recalling my reporting of the two White-tail Eaglets dying in the nest in Estonia. Dr Thijs Kuiken, Professor Virology, from the University of Erasmus in Rotterdam got in touch – he wanted the findings from the necroscopy and wondered if I had the contact information for the vet doing the necroscopy. I did and sadly, yes, it was HPAI. HPAI normally occurs in the fall, not in new hatchlings in the spring. This was terrible news. Then we have the cases in Eastern Canada and the rest is history. As one friend says, ‘What a mess we have made.’

Bird Flu explained in simple language by Dr Kuiken:

Professor-of-virology-Thijs-Kuiken-about-the-Bird-flu-ConvergenceDownload

Eagles have been at the US Steel nest. The camera panned around to the river. It looks high to me.

Cal and Lusa were again well-fed at the Captiva Eagle nest. For a bit, I worried..and then the fish came on the nest. Cal ate more form the first bit but the second feeding came from a really large fish and all is well for Lusa, too.

Notice how dark C10 and C11’s plumage is today. Then look at E23 who is just starting to get the juvenile feathers on its back.

Still waiting for that egg at Moorings Park.

Cornell wants to remind you to please take part in the great bird count that is coming up in a fortnight.

World Bird Sanctuary is asking everyone to support the ban on lead ammunition and any other lead in sporting equipment. There have been far too many patients suffering – and they are only one wildlife rehabilitation centre. Please support petitions banning lead and take the time to write to your state and federal or Provincial and federal representatives in both the US and Canada.

Want to know what the effects of lead poisoning are? Have a read.

Effects-of-lead-from-ammunition-on-birds-and-other-wildlife-A-review-and-update-PMCDownload

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

Thank you to the following for their notes, screen captures, videos, articles, posts, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog today: ‘A, AE, Geemeff, H, J, MP’, Tom Fleming, JB Sands Wetlands Eagle Cam, Wales Online, Helen Matcham, Cali Condor, Lady Hawk, Olive’s Streaming Cam, Berry College Eagle Cam, Heidi Mc, NEFL-AEF, SW Florida Eagle Cam, PLO, Bart M, SK Hideaways, Cal Falcons, The Guardian, Thijs Kuiken, PIX Cams, Window to Wildlife, World Bird Sanctuary, Moorings Park, Cornell Bird Lab, and the National Library of Medicine.

John Bunker Sands Eagles have first hatch, hunger at the WRDC…Saturday in Bird World

27 January 2024

Good Morning Everyone,

Yesterday, the 26th, I ate a very special cake for my late Dad. It is his birthday. He had two favourite cakes – a fresh Coconut and, the other, a fresh Orange Cake. Some who live in the Southern US might be familiar with these – a nice white layer cake (sturdy and only handmade) filled with either freshly grated coconut with a buttercream frosting or freshly grated oranges mixed with some sugar, spread liberally between 5 or 6 layers, and let to sit.  If anyone is responsible for my feelings for abandoned animals, it is certainly him. Happy Birthday, Dad.

Hugo Yugo would have loved to have some of that cake. My goodness that little cat can get into the most trouble without even trying. She is sooooo curious. This coming week, she goes back to Dr Greene for her check-up. I think the vet will be pleased. 

Watching bird videos with Hope.

Hope is very patient with her little sister.

‘The Boyfriend’ enjoyed the Friday evening feast of organic roast chicken. The neighbourhood rallied around and showed their love for him – and the others – when it appeared that one individual would call the pound. I am joyful and grateful to live in an area with such compassion for animals.

Congratulations to the John Bunker Sands Wetland eagles on their first hatch of the season!

‘M’ sent me the video of Mum joyously calling Dad to tell him about the egg.

Jackie has been taking good care of the first egg at Big Bear laid on Thursday the 25th. Shadow brings his gal a nice fish lunch at 11:01. Mark your calendars for a Leap Year pip/hatch. Shadow actually brought in three fish on Friday for Jackie. Way to go….the reason nearly 10,000 people love this couple and wish them success this season. They are adorable.

If Gabby’s egg is to be the miracle of the breeding season, it should show signs of a pip Friday and hatch on Saturday or Sunday.

There seems to be a prey problem at the WRDC nest. For unknown reasons hunting seems to be difficult. Ron has not brought prey for a week, and Rose seems to be having a prey drought the past couple of days herself.  Both parents seem healthy, but I’m sure they are hungry.  We have not seen Rose with a crop, and Ron ate some of the fish on the nest yesterday.  They have run out of scraps for Rose to feed R6. The eaglet ate well Thursday, and had a small crop after a morning scrap feeding early Friday. PS are still okay.

Late afternoon on Friday. There is still no food delivery and everyone is getting worried, even if they are not saying it. Something is very much amiss here. 

Rose flew in after dumpster hunting with a child’s pull-up nappy and what appeared to be a piece of red meat (an organ) attached. R6 was fed. We must remember that eagles are carrion eaters. Their stomachs are made to digest the most horrible dead, maggot-eaten prey. Hopefully, this will keep R6 from starving, but imagine that the eagles have to eat garbage in one of the wealthiest neighbourhoods in Florida. Rose was plucking the plastic off the nappy. Then Ron flew in with a partial fish at 1730. What a relief. It was left on the nest and rightfully so – Rose doesn’t know when the next meal will come and R6 did eat – whatever it was.

We all need to learn something from Port Lincoln. They dared to provide fish for the family during the crucial period when one or both of the osplets might have perished. Their plan worked. It did not stop the adults from bringing fish to the nest. Five fish have been arriving daily, on average, for the fledglings, Gil and Brad. Three individuals with big hearts realised that it was time to help – so I say to those who are the administrators of the WRDC nest: the feral cats in my neighbourhood have more empathy and food than these beautiful eagles at the WRDC. Tonight ‘The Boyfriend’ had his normal organic chicken dinner. So, please, Help the eagles! Get them over the hump.

When we know there is a crisis, it is our duty, if we can in any way, to help the animals through the rough patch. Weather, overfishing, loss of habitat and thus loss of prey can now be linked to humans. There is your cause for intervention.

Rose appears to be feeding R6 some of the fish. Remember – these parents are hungry, too. They will protect the territory, feed themselves, and then feed the eaglets. Let us hope that tomorrow is a much better day and that the wind, or someone, gets this nappy and its plastic off this nest.

Here is the incident in question in video.

It appeared that R6 ate some of the plastic from the nappy…those stomach acids should do the trick. At the same time, the darling almost choked. 

We know that our beautiful birds around the world hunt in landfills. The storks of Western Europe, the General Adjutants in Assam, etc. What a testament to our mismanagement of the land that the animals and fish they need to survive are not abundant. One of the big threats to all of our birds, eagles included, is the growing abundance of plastic – as trash, as microplastics, fishing lines, etc. and now nappies.

The live stream went down at 2050 Friday night and returned at 0915 Saturday morning. The plastic has been removed from the nest with permission from USFWS. I hope that some fish were delivered as well. 

It appears that Ron has been able to deliver a fish Saturday morning. Let us hope that the dry spelling in prey at this nest is over. And then Rose brought in a big fish. Lovely!

Royal cam chick is being fed and weighed. 

Unfortunately, the amount of food the Royal Cam chick is getting is not sufficient and the Rangers – doing great diligence – have switched chicks with another family. They do amazing work, the NZ DOC rangers – everything they do is to ensure that these chicks survive to fledge. Swooping chicks, supplemental feeding, misting, you name it, they do it. Let us hope this attention to the care of these endangered seabirds spreads to other nests throughout the world.

The Royal cam chick was returned to the nest!

No shortage, so far, of prey items at SW Florida. E23 does get impatient and wishes Mum would get those bites a bit quicker to its beak!

Clive keeps the fish coming in at Captiva. These two are adorable, Cal and Lusa. Some think the plumage patterns on their backs look like turtle shells while others see them as bulls eyes.

Do you know what Doris Mager’s contributions to Bald Eagles was? If you do not know the name, have a read – and even if you do, refresh your memory!

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Here is Condor Chat in case you missed it on Thursday. The missing birds will be added to the Memorial Page for 2023 in the new few days.

Dr Sharpe is out fixing cameras at the Channel Islands nests! Retired? Doesn’t seem so.

Please join various wildlife groups – such as Cornell and Audubon – for the great Bird Count on the 16th of February. The more that count, the more we know about the declines and gains in bird populations.

Bird Count is on this weekend in the UK and will there be winners such as the Waxwing? We wait to see.

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Concern for the population of seabirds in the United Kingdom is growing.

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Want to know more about the winter bird visitors to Scotland and their migration? Have a read!

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We are 7 weeks and counting til the Ospreys return to the UK.

Thank you so much for being with me today. Please send positive wishes for a good prey day at the WRDC and if you can produce a miracle for Gabby and Beau, please do so! Take care everyone. See you soon.

Always free. You can unsubscribe anytime. Normally one post a day. No ads, no spam.

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, articles, zoom chats, photographs, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog today: ‘A, M’, John Bunker Sands Wetlands, FOBBV, Marylu Pitcher, WRDC, Eagle Goddess, NZ DOC, Lady Hawk, Sharon Dunne, SW Florida Eagle Cam, Window to Wildlife, Saturday Evening Post, Audubon Magazine, Ventana Wildlife Society Condor Chat, Gracie Shepherd, National Audubon Society, and The Guardian.

Royal Cam chick returned to Mum…Wednesday in Bird World

24 January 2024

Good Morning Everyone,

Your smile for the day comes from Auntie ‘H’ who modified a Scott Metzger cartoon:

Perfect! I couldn’t wipe the smile from my face all day. 

The weather is warming up and tomorrow it is forecast to be either 1 or 4 degrees C. That is ‘plus’. My plan is to go out for a long walk at one of our provincial parks before things get too soupy. Today it was a jaunt around a local forest and a walk through The English Garden at our zoo. The air was so clean and fresh. Everyone was friendly and smiling and saying ‘hello’.

In the house, the girls had a ball watching their bird video. Baby Hope was extremely animated and determined to catch one!

Cornell and NZ DOC made a short video of the return of the Royal Cam chick to the nest! What a cute little fluff ball! Look at the loving eyes of the parent as they see their chick for the first time. Precious.

Royal Cam chick (like all the albatross chicks) has been checked and re-checked and has been fed at least twice.

Gabby is still incubating that egg! And V3 is there on the branch, cuts healing on his feet, from protecting her and the nest. These two have had a real time of it this year and, sadly, we know what Gabby probably does, too – there is no little eaglet. I feel so sorry for her. Two years without a chick – 2023 and now 2024. 

At SW Florida, E23 is being left alone more and more, even at night. This morning the eaglet was spreading its large wings. I held my breath thinking about the GHOs…maybe they are too busy with their own nest to worry about the eaglet! Let’s hope.

E23 is growing so fast! All that good food – and what a variety this wee one has had. The mohawk is there, clown feed, and there were some nice close ups of the ‘blood’ feathers today. 

Blood Feather Information: 

“When a feather is pulled out or falls out during a normal moult (a normal loss of feathers), a new feather is stimulated to start growing right away. As the new feather, also called a pin or blood feather, emerges from the skin’s feather follicle, it looks like a spike, quill or much like the feather shaft itself. This new feather has a blood supply flowing through it and is encased by a keratin (type of protein) coating or feather sheath. The base, where the feather is developing and being nourished by blood, is a dark blue color. On smaller feathers such as those around the head, the base may be a red or pink color. Some pin feathers may be sensitive, and birds may not enjoy being handled while moulting. As the feather continues to grow, the tip will mature first as the blood recedes back down into the follicle. The bird will gradually preen off the keratin feather sheath from the maturing feather tip and the newly formed feather will emerge.” (VCA Animal Hospital)

At Captiva, C10, Cal, had a crop that looked like it could pop any time. Connie was busy ensuring C11 had a good fish meal, too. Isn’t she lovely? Both eaglets have thrived, although I must say I did worry about C11, Lusa, during the storm.

Connie sleeps on the rim of the nest while her babies dream about fish breakfast.

The only true fluffy little eaglet right now is R6. Rose stays right on top of her keeping her warm and dry in case a storm hits Dade County. Little R6 is growing and stretching. It is much easier to see it being fed from that nest cup than it was even yesterday.

There is the first egg, laid on Monday the 22nd, at Duke Farms for Mum and her new mate.

At Port Lincoln, Bradley and Giliath were caught on video following Mum and Dad fish begging.

Good News coming from Senegal: Blue 497, the oldest chick from Mrs G’s last brood in 2022, has been seen and photographed. Congratulations, Glaslyn. This is the first time it was seen. Blue 2H2 from Rutland was seen the other day and Blue 5F our grand Mamma from Clywedog was photographed in her usual spot. We are getting close to really dreaming about their return – is it really less than 60 days now?

It looks like Wisdom wasn’t just dancing, but is breeding again on the Midway Atoll. Fingers crossed for our oldest albatross ringed in 1956 – she is at least 73 years old!

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Tim Mackrill has written a new book on Ospreys. I wonder if it will beat my favourite, most reasonably priced, packed full of great information and photographs he wrote for the RSPB? You can pre-order now. Published by Bloomsbury, there are 150 photographs, and it will be out on Leap Year Day. I have an order and will tell you how it compares to the earlier RSPB version! (Thanks, Geemeff).

Here is the publisher’s description: 

If you do not live in the land of peat burning, you might not fully understand why it is important not to burn it – these are huge carbon sinks. Here is a document in simple language that all of us can understand – who is burning the peat and why they should stop.

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‘J’ sent me the summary of the Raptor Resource’s Project tracking Golden Eagles. What a treat.

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I have a wee bit of a winter cold and am going to tuck it in early tonight. The newsletter is, thus, shorter than expected. I know you will understand.

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

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, photographs, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog this morning: ’A, Geemeff, H, J’, Cornell and the NZ DOC, Holly Parsons, NEFL-AEF, SW Florida Eagle Cam, VCA Animal Hospital, Window to Wildlife, WRDC, Duke Farms, PLO, Raptor Resource Project, Raptor Persecution UK, and Bloomsbury Publishing.

Blue KWO makes Birders Bird of the Year list!

19 January 2024

Good Morning Everyone,

Mamma Calico and Baby Hope wish each of you a very wonderful Friday.

They had fun playing with the Chinese chair – Hugo Yugo and Missey – while Baby Hope looked on, wanting to enjoy her bird video.

Oh, it was an odd morning. It felt like the air was full of water. All of the seeds were frozen together although there was nothing more than the humidity. No new snow. The squirrels were all out – Dyson and her kits and the two Reds. The Blue Jays were here along with the various sparrows. I did not happen to see the Crow or the Starlings. Of course, ‘The Boyfriend’ arrived at 0900, 1200, and 1658. He is, like Calico, a creature that is attune to time, but does not wear a watch.

The girls ‘helped’ me put together a new desk. After 25 years, it was time to get a longer one to spread all of my books and papers about it. I broke my desire to not buy anything in January. Fortunately, I did not fall into the right after Christmas sales and the discount on this desk was too deep to ignore. I had a gorgeous one with a glass top in my office when I was teaching and helping direct the School of Art, but my one at home was much smaller. Of course, it had to be put together! The base is heavy metal, and they did not drill any pilot screws, not one. What a job to keep everything straight and then try to drill a pilot screw and not go through the top. Ridiculous! Now I know why it had such a discounted price! Can’t imagine what the folks who paid full price felt when they had to fight trying to get those screws into holes under a piece of 1 inch metal tubing. It is now together, and I love it, but I am glad you could not hear me when I was trying to get those screws tight. Hugo Yugo was in there like a rocket, supervising every second. 

Geemeff sent me the news and I am jumping up and down for both Blue KWO and my friend, Michael St John in Barbados, that spotted this Scottish bird – and wasn’t sure what he was looking at. How in the world did this osprey get to the Caribbean from the UK last fall? We might never know that secret but Blue KWO continues to thrive on the island and has been seen with another osprey! Might we have a bonded couple?

I’ve shared below the announcement two recent images that Michael took. One with Blue KWO and her ‘friend’ (potential mate) and another of her with a nice catch. Michael has gotten to see her catch fish twice. How lucky! And how lucky he spotted that blue band. 

This is so exciting. I remember the day I got Michael’s note and posts went out everywhere trying to find out all the information that we could about the bird. Many did not believe that an osprey could get from the UK to the Caribbean – but, well, there is the proof. There are also other birds on the island that should be in the south of England but are basking in the beautiful blue skies of the Caribbean. I wonder how grateful they are?

Well, I couldn’t be more happy. Well done, Michael St John! May Blue KWO’s crop always be full and may it be a long and productive life on your island.

At the NE Florida nest, Gabby was on and off the egg. She missed Beau bringing her a fish present, which he ate on the nest himself. She must have been hungry to have left the egg unincubated….maybe she knew Beau would be there and take over? We have about a week or nine days to go (I think by my bad math) to see if this egg is viable.

It is day 27 (if my math is correct) – so 9 days. 27 January we should be watching for a pip. With Beau’s delivery of a fish to the nest, I really would like to see these two get a chance to raise a little one this year. A change of heart for me…they have worked so hard and Beau has come such a long ways in his journey to adulthood.

Beau did not incubate the egg.

Gabby has been gone almost two hours. Beau is waiting and watching for her.

Gabby is back at 1537.

Rose has turned out to be a great Mum over at the WRDC nest. R6 has had Coot and an Ibis to eat today! What a little cutie pie.

Meanwhile, in Fort Myers, M15 and F23 decide to blanket little E23 with its huge crop (so big the eaglet can hardly move) with nesting material! SK Hideaways caught it on video.

Clive had the nest full of fish today! C10 and C11 had the biggest crops. They could not have felt any hunger! Notice that almost all the white down dandelions on their heads are gone. You can see the pin feathers coming in – everywhere -and they are now completely covered by dark thermal down. Both ate well today. No worries at all. 

Please send your positive wishes to Lori Covert who owns the land that the Captiva eagle and osprey nests are on. Her house has flooded from all the rain and there is ongoing issues with the wiring. 

‘A’ sends us the past reports for two days at Sydney—SE31 is sure a beauty:

January 18: It was a fine early morning and our juvenile was seen on the island at 7:30am, flying around a bit and then on the exposed mudflats nearby. Then after a short fly about, she disappeared into the mangroves behind River Roost. No adults were seen before this. Then later, at 9:30am, she was seen picking at bits of rubbish on the mudflats. Sometimes there may be dead fish for scavengers. However, human rubbish may cause injuries. There were no more reports until just after 4pm, when one adult was seen on River Roost, but SE31 was out of sight.

January 19: At 7:30am, no eagles were seen at the river. Shortly after, we spotted SE31 hidden in branches on the island. At 8:15am, she was seen flying low over the mudflats in Ermington Bay, behind the island. She was possibly hunting and flushed out other water birds – ibis, herons, ducks. As the tide was going out, more of the mudflats were exposed and we saw her picking at scraps on the mudflats. She spent some time flying about the island, swooped several times on one circuit by an angry magpie. We feel she was eating at one stage, though prey was not identified. At 9:30am, neither adult had been seen. I returned at 12:10pm, and finally saw her fly from low at River Roost to a higher branch. Finally, just after 6pm, one adult was seen down on the river, but SE31 out of sight.

At Port Lincoln, Dad comes in with a fish at 0946. Brad decides to chase Dad off the nest and Gil grabs the fish. Go figure!

I love Jackie and Shadow in the morning…thank you, SK Hideaways for these diamonds!

There is concern that neither egg at Berry College is viable. The average for hatch of Bald Eagles is approximately 36.5 days. Egg one is 42 days old today and egg two is 39 days.

On the 17th, the Decorah North Female (DNF) caught a pheasant and had a fantastic lunch on her snowy nest.

The smallest penguin visits the Royal cam nest in New Zealand.

A flock of over 100 Cedar Waxwings photographed in Oklahoma. This is a double ‘wow’.

Mark Smith caught an Osprey catching a very poisonous Manowar Jellyfish. 

The Cattle Egret is a common sight in the Caribbean. They are often around the cattle in Grenada and I have photographed them for many years. They are characters like Hugo Yugo. Today, the numbers in the UK have grown since 2008. Here is why.

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A new approach in Mongolia is protecting the last Dalmatian Pelicans. BirdLife International tells how what is happening.

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In case you missed it, ‘R’ has reminded me of the video at the end of the article on the Billion Dollar mouse. It is roughly 20 minutes long and is full of personal recollections that we think you will enjoy. 

This is the link: Vimeo.com/285024252

Please cut and paste.

Thank you for being with us today. Please take care. We look forward to seeing you again soon!

Thank you to the following for their notes, articles, videos, photographs, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog today: ’A, Geemeff, J, MSJ, R’, NEFL-AEF, WRDC, SW Florida Eagle Cam, SK Hideaways, Window to Wildlife, PLO, Chickiedee64, Raptor Resource Project/Explore.org, NZ DOC, Janice Blanton, Mark Smith, The Guardian, BirdLife International, Vimeo and Birdlife International.