It is late. I have been worried about Toby all day. As you are aware, he has HGE, and he had some blood in his stool this morning. I am not panicking, just monitoring and worrying, aka wringing my hands. It is entirely possible that it is the raw tenderloin from his birthday dinner; this is what the vet is thinking. I am overly sensitive since he had to spend four nights in the emergency vet clinic in late December, and I almost lost him! The Girls and Toby are often the glue that holds my life together when my husband’s dementia gets the best of me.
Toby had a wonderful birthday. New slush suit, sweaters, and hopefully a few indestructible toys! Please send him your good wishes. I hope everything is alright tomorrow, or it will be a rush to the emergency vet.
There is so much news in Bird World that I cannot keep up with all the happenings.
There are now three of the cutest little osplets at the nest of Harry and Sally at Moorings Park. Harry is one super dad and fish are plentiful.
Sally had some fish for herself when the babies were sleeping.
I am partial. I am so glad that osprey season is here – with all the bonking, the siblicide – the works. Those cute little bottoms with that light down, the dark line by the eye to protect them from the glare so they can see to do those amazing dives, even that ugly oily phase with the copper coloured feathers! Bring it on!!!!!!!!
After a 21-hour absence, Jackie (who scared the life out of many of us) has returned safely to the nest. Then she left again, leaving Shadow to incubate the eggs. Is there a female intruder in the area? I hope not. I hope she is just taking a much-needed break.
That cute Only eaglet at Duke Farms is getting its thermal down. Are there even a few pin feathers coming in??? There is enough food for several eaglets – there are no worries at this nest.
Mr North is not with us but we have the first egg for Mrs DNF and the New Male at the Decorah North Nest today.
Bluff City now has two little eaglets for Frances and Franklin at the ETSU nest. OK. Baby eaglets are also adorable!
One eaglet has hatched at the Kansas City nest of Ellie and Harvey and the second one is on pip watch. The first hatch has been named Osage.
There are now 52 new baby Kakapo. ‘J’ writes: “There are now just as many chicks, as there were adults 30 years ago when the recovery project started!!”
Another osprey nest with a couple arriving. The PKS nest – a new one to me but it is all over FB. It is the Pine Knolls Osprey Nest in North Carolina. Here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/live/7-wS9I-fj1w?
We all miss Annie and her mates at The Campanile. It seems unthinkable that no falcons are breeding at that magnificent site. ‘B’ has sent me the following note with links to articles. I urge you to read them to understand only one of the dangers that all of our avian friends face. “I thought you might be interested in this article on the impact of avian flu on Peregrine Falcons in the SF Bay Area, which appeared on the SFGATE website::
(SFGATE is a digital news site owned by Hearst. Hearst also owns the San Francisco Chronicle newspaper, but SFGATE operates independently of the Chronicle.)
The article discusses results of a study conducted by a team of scientists from several institutions, where among other things they monitored occupancy of 47 known Peregrine Falcon nesting sites in the greater Bay Area. The decline of Peregrine population since the avian flu arrived in wild birds in the state in 2022 is reflected by the observation that nearly all of the 47 nest sites were occupied each year between 2000 and 2022, but in 2023 only 65% of the sites were occupied, and only 36% were occupied in 2025.
Here also is the abstract of the scientific study that the SFGATE article is based on:
Heidi reports that Marilyn has returned to the Old Town Home Osprey nest in Maryland.
‘PB’ sent me a note that there are now four eggs at the Fort St Vrain Bald Eagle nest.
Thank you so much for being with us for this quick post. We will be back on Monday. In the meantime, take care of yourselves.
Thank you to ‘B, H, J, PB’ for their letters and all the great information and articles they sent. Thank you to the owners of the streaming cams and to the authors of FB posts for generously spreading the information of happenings on the nest!
First, some good news, the eldest fledged at the Dade County Bald Eagle nest of Ron and Rose today.
Ospreys are arriving! Word has come from Viki that one osprey has landed in Indian Creek; they do not normally arrive until after St Patrick’s Day. The couple are at the Danville nest, and Heidi sends word that ospreys are arriving in Colonial Beach.
The IWS nest challenge is underway. Many of us have received merchandise and I am happy to say that at least two of us have been asked to name an eaglet.
Funds continue to come in to purchase the land known as Moon Camp near Jackie and Shadow’s nest to keep it out of the hands of developers. In a blink of an eye, or so it seems, nearly $750,000 of the 10 million needed has been raised. Congratulations to everyone.
I remain saddened by the death of F23 and the continuing controversy over the COD. In the end, it doesn’t matter if someone shot her because it is illegal. If she died because of a road accident and somehow managed to get herself into a garden known to her, then that is a different story. It is possible for eagles to have an injury and fly and later die as we have seen many who fall, hit their head, and die of a concussion later. I do not have enough information to comment other than it is simply a sad day for M15, E26 and all who loved this young mother.
I have lots of news to share but I am simply worn out. We will be celebrating Toby’s first birthday hopefully this week – it is tomorrow. Thankfully he can’t read a calendar. I found a photo of him just after he had arrived and managed to climb the cat tree for the first time.
His birthday wish is a box of Kleenex all to himself with no interference. I don’t think so.
Thank you for being with us today. Please take care. I hope to be back at the weekend or Monday.
Thank you to the owners of the streaming cams and those who post information on FB. My blog would not be the same without your generous sharing.
Heidi brought me the good news: “Moorings Park had their first hatch at 12:45 this afternoon.” She noted that the first hatch had its very first fish dinner at 1504 while the second egg was hatching!
Sally is incredible at delayed incubation!
Oh, it’s nice to have some good news!
‘B’ also sent a story from the LA Times. They write: “Cute story in the LA Times today on “How two Big Bear eagles became social media’s hottest love story”.
I really hope it helps raise funds to purchase the land around the nest of Jackie and Shadow!
Thank you for being with us. Take care. See you tomorrow when there will be two — or could there be three?
Thanks, Heidi, for the heads up and to ‘B’ for the very cool article on Jackie and Shadow. If you are a member of The Joy of Ospreys FB, there is a video of the event. Thank you to Moorings Park for the streaming cam that lets us into the lives of Harry and Sally and their osplets.
The collective trauma of our neighbourhood over the death of a very long time resident in a house fire continues to rock each of us as the house continues to be demolished. I have had little time to focus on the birds in our nests choosing instead to walk with Toby and Don in the warm sunshine of a -5 C Monday.
The sky is blue. The birds were singing. The Girls do not know what has happened, but Toby is acutely aware that something is wrong. I find myself continually fascinated by a canine’s ability to ‘read a situation’. There is an acrid smell in the air even though the plumes of smoke have now dissipated. Toby could tell I was ‘upset’. It reminded me of a show I saw once where a blind lady was buying a new house and the final decision belonged to her service dog who happily approved one house – tail wagging happily – while running in circles in and out to remove stress at another.
So I am still not 100%. My issue was that it brought back the death of our dear friends across the street in their house fire. Both houses were story-and-a-half, timber-framed, built in 1902. The residents at both houses were friends; the latest victim was the best man at Bert and Joanne’s wedding. So there is a lot of history and everyone who loved plants and gardening got advice from Jim. There is a spot between my house and the lovely young woman next door on the boulevard. A tree in the summer ‘Jim’s tree’ will be planted there. She also created a neighbourhood emergency contact form so that no one ever has to search again for contact information in case of an emergency!
The big news of the day is that it appears F23 is missing. I ask, is this again? Barb Henry posted images of F23 the other day when people thought M15’s partner was missing, but, as I understand it, Barb Henry and others have been unable to locate F26’s mum today. M15 is doing a magnificent job of bringing prey to the nest and sometimes being allowed to feed his only eaglet, who has now branched to the Attic. Flight is nearing! M15 can handle this, as you all know. Some might say this is ‘a piece of cake’ after raising month-old eaglets to fledge when Harriet disappeared. If I hear anything, I will let you know.
As you know, my granddaughter now lives north of Sydney, Australia, and it is hot in Australia. The summer was a scorcher. The Guardian writes about how this is impacting wildlife.
Boone and Jolene welcomed their second chick, JC27, Monday morning. Congratulations! Boone is a great provider.
All is well at the Winter Park Bald Eagle nest of Brutus and Peanut.
It was gulped rodent and leftovers for the owlets of Owlvira and Hoots Monday morning.
Eaglets at Dade County Bald Eagle nest of Ron and Rose continue to explore branches of the nest. They are also observing plucking!
Duke Farm’s only is a sweetie!
And the countdown to osprey return begins. It is approximately 37 days until Iris is expected to land on her nest on the parking lot in Missoula, Montana’s Hellgate Canyon area.
I am expecting many ospreys to land in the UK at the end of March. We wish for everyone to return safely.
Big Red and Arthur continue to work diligently on the next. Eggs in the next fortnight possible!
Pip watch at Moorings Park osprey nest of Harry and Sally. Keep your eyes on that camera! Don’t you love the sound of an osprey thanking her mate for bringing her a fish?
Sally is acting like something is happening. She keeps talking to Harry!
Toby says there is nothing like tearing up Mum’s dish towels on a sunny afternoon!
Thank you for being with us today. Please take care. We will see you soon.
Thank you to The Guardian for its reporting and to the owners of the streaming cams who allow us to look into the lives of our favourite raptor families.
Toby and I were woken up by the phone pinging and pinging around 2330 Saturday night. It wouldn’t stop. What was going on? Turns out the two-story woodframe house at the corner, home to our neighbour Jim Russell for 27 years, was on fire. It went up in flames so quickly that the fire and police personnel could not get into the structure. We still do not know if our neighbour was in the house at the time. Jim was a brilliant eccentric. He had studied math at Cornell and came to Canada in the late 1960s, as I recall. Paramedics and fire crew are still there as little blazes continue to flare up. I am tired. Toby is tired. We were up til 0300 worrying if Jim was in the house and remembering, with great sadness, our neighbours, Bert and Joanne, who died in a house fire across the street in 2011. They were our dear friends. We bought our house form them and Don helped Bert when Joanne was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. Memories came in like a tsunami.
I know you will understand when I say that this posting will be short.
There have been a lot of rumours about the Bald Eagle nests this season, with the latest one being that Shadow had disappeared. Shadow is fine. It was confirmed that he was on the eggs last evening, even though the posting said he was MIA. Please check the cameras and exercise caution – there are too many ‘alternative facts’ floating around that cause worry and anxiety.
Thank you SK Hideaways for sending me your videos!
SK Hideaways Videos Week of 22 February 2026
Channel Island California Eagles Livestreamed nests: ~ Fraser Point ~ Santa Cruz Island ~ Cruz & Andor ~ Sauces Canyon ~ Santa Cruz Island ~ Audacity & Jak ~ Two Harbors ~ Catalina Island ~ Cholyn & Chase ~ West End ~ Catalina Island ~Residents in flux
Fraser Point ~ Cruz & Andor Courtesy Institute for Wildlife Studies | explore.org | Fraser Point Eagles Cam Ops Nest Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OY4V_AppZ6s Cruz Lays 3rd Egg ~ No Muss, No Fuss Once Again (2026 Feb 26) Cruz rose at 00:42 and laid her third egg at 00:43:28 ~ she wanted to get back to sleep. And sleep she did until she gave us a split-second peek of all three eggs at 06:58. Wishing Princess Cruz and Andor success with this full clutch. Video: https://youtu.be/t4C95kIBhbs
Princess Cruz Lays 2nd Egg ~ Quick & Easy (2026 Feb 22) A very easy labor for Cruz as she laid her second egg. Congratulations, Cruz & Andor! Video: https://youtu.be/AurPv3UFB1M
Two Harbors ~ Cholyn & Chase Courtesy Institute for Wildlife Studies | explore.org Overlook Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yx7RKxpyzQ Eagle Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5T2eHM8tcI Cholyn Does Bedtime Egg Roll ~ Chortles Wispy Lullaby (2026 Feb 27) After a day of textbook nest changeovers, Chase retired to his night perch and Cholyn settled in for overnight incubation. After she carefully rolled the two precious eggs, she called out in her unique wispy chortle. Because we’re hopelessly sentimental, we like to think that lovely music was a bedtime lullaby. Whatever it was, it was glorious. Cholyn Lays Egg #2 Early and Quickly Cholyn was a few hours earlier than expected and laid egg #2 quickly and easily. Congratulations Cholyn & Chase! (2026 Feb 26) Video: https://youtu.be/5Qnqo5nnXcg 28-Year-Old Cholyn and Chase Welcome 1st Egg of the Season🎉(2026 Feb 24) In their 23rd season together, 28-year-old Cholyn and Chase welcomed their first egg. Cholyn fooled fans for a few nights before laying this first egg, but, of course, she had her own schedule. Congratulations! Video: https://youtu.be/q3g9NCeN04E
FOBBVCAM Eagles ~ Big Bear Valley, CA ~ Jackie & Shadow Courtesy FOBBVCAM | Friends of Big Bear Valley Nest Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4-L2nfGcuE Wide View Cam (Cam 2): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41eq4VzCYc4 Live Recap & Observations https://bit.ly/3Md8TSz Shadow Snortles to Jackie’s Mating Call ~ Obliges Then Brings Fish (2026 Feb 28) When Jackie called Shadow to the Cactus Snag, he was quick to respond. Turns out it was a mating call. Having taken care of business, Jackie returned to the nest to await her feesh brunch, which Shadow also provided. Together they are a power couple ~ super partners, providers, and parents. Video: https://youtu.be/aoE-OV3sUeE
Jackie Delivers Egg #2 of Second Clutch ~ Congrats Jackie & Shadow! (2026 Feb 27)Jackie laid egg #2 of her and Shadow’s second clutch in the early evening. The 4-minute labor brought Jackie’s signature tea kettle sounds and another perfect egg. All good wishes to Jackie and Shadow for success with this second clutch. Video: https://youtu.be/FKRbz02gZG0
Jackie Lays Egg #1 of Second Clutch ~ Shadow Checks on Jackie, Meets Egg 🥰(2026 Feb 24) Jackie and Shadow welcomed the first egg of their second clutch. Wishing them a successful outcome. Video: https://youtu.be/2xmOylatUyg
JBS24 is in full Clown Feet and thriving (2026 Feb 26) At 4-1/2 weeks, JBS24 is shedding some of that natal down, sprouting pin feathers, and sporting some rather impressive clown feet. Great to see this little one doing well and progressing as expected. Video: https://youtu.be/wDCEsLT-XTU
San Jose CH Falcons ~ San Jose, CA ~ Hartley and Monty Hartley & Monty Display Every Courtship Behavior Known to Falcons (2026 Feb 22) Hartley and Monty are very focused on their upcoming nesting season. They had conversations, mated (twice), and pair bonded in the nest box. Monty provided the piece de resistance when he delivered a food gift, which Hartley happily tugged away from him and flew off. We’ll be looking for eggs in the very near future! Video: https://youtu.be/LwwsKn4-vS4 Courtesy San Jose City Hall Peregrine Falcon Cam Ledge Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pp9TisLmLU
At the Winter Park Florida Bald Eagle nest, Peanut (aka Tiny Tim) is anything but tiny. Looks like a ravenous female to me that second hatch that survived some pretty challenging bonking early on. Peanut really took lessons and was doing a grand job of self-feeding on Saturday.
At the Johnson City nest, Baiba caught Boone feeding his little one JC26 for the first time. https://youtu.be/BYRwO0l-qfE?
From all of us – we wish you a great end to the weekend and a wonderful week. I will be back with you on Friday.
Thank you so much to SK Hideaways for sharing their video list, to the owners of the streaming cams where I took my screen captures – thank you for allowing us into the lives of these amazing birds.
Concern is growing over F23, the mate of M15 at the SW Florida Bald Eagle nest. She has been an incredible mate and mum and E26 is nearly ready to fledge having branched a few days ago.
This is what the Pritchett Family have posted:
Screenshot
I have to say that when I saw this, my heart sank. The only good thing is that M15 is well prepared, having raised two eaglets from one month to fledge after Harriet went missing.
There is no word about Mr North either and Mrs DNF and MU are in the nest.
Jolene and Boone have their first hatch at the Johnson City ETSU nest.
Another egg:
Honestly, I am having trouble keeping track of all the eggs being laid, branching, hatching – thank goodness the ospreys are not arriving yet in the UK.
Brutus and Peanut ate well on Saturday. Peanut? Peanut might be bigger than Brutus by the time they fledge.
The kids at Dade ate well, too!
Ferris Akel found Big Red and Arthur today on his tour. This is a great way to end this short post. Send best wishes to all the raptor families but a little more for F23 to return home safe.
On the Canadian Prairies, it is cold. Was -28 C this morning and Toby took one sniff of the freezing air and decided that ‘going on the potty pads’ was what was going to happen this morning. He’s very good. He might be able to win at darts!
We are moving my office, clearing boxes, and waiting for a new Magic Mouse from Apple to arrive. Toby and Hugo Yugo are having a nice nap in the conservatory.
In the garden, the European Starlings are gathering in mass.
Thank you so much for being with us today. We are tired from moving tonnes of boxes. I think Toby and I will have a wee nap before a big mug of tea. Take care of yourself. See you soon with the new Kakapo chick hatch count!
Thank you to Ferris Akel for chasing after Big Red and Arthur, the Pritchett family for their streaming cam and website announcements, the owners of the other streaming cams and those who post on FB and keep us up to date. You are greatly appreciated.
Well, actually it is Valentine’s Eve and Toby and I are up and I am sending this out to everyone as he is going for a grooming early. I hope to have a nice walk with Don in the English Gardens while Toby is being washed and blow dried. It is hard to describe how fast his hair and nails grow, but he is healthy and that is all that matters!
Geemeff sent me Explore.org’s Valentine tribute to the animals on their screens to share with you:
We hope that you are having a day full of love or full of memories of great love.
We loved the VERY young dad, Gimbir, and what is there not to adore about this one very special peregrine falcon fledgling – now a juvenile – at the Charles Sturt University falcom scrape. Girri is amazing. Many of you have been waiting for years – really since the time of the beginning of the cam – to be able to see one of Diamond’s fledglings survive like Girri is doing. She is living her best life chasing parents around wanting food. I love it.
Gimbir has his ‘mature’ plumage now and he is such a darling. Let’s send him a valentine kiss, too!
Red-shouldered Hawk has been causing misery to Willow, the GHO incubating eggs at the Eagle Country nest, who is incubating eggs. https://youtu.be/k3OhNDmqKlA?
Valentines should also go out to Window to Wildlife and those who facilitated the removal of the human debris on Connie and Clive’s nest at Captiva. Quinn is fine!
Ah, and send them some love – two of my favourite Eagle parents, Gabby and Beau and their kids Eve and Kai. Both can stand up straight!
Royal Cam chick is growing and growing. Those NZ DOC Rangers need a virtual hug for all the great work they do keeping the Albatross safe! Last weighing on video: https://youtu.be/k3OhNDmqKlA?
There has been some intense sibling rivalry on the Kisatchie E1 nest of Anna and Louis II. Let us hope that it passes and that prey will be plentiful and settle the nest.
First egg for Bonnie and Clyde at the Cardinal Land Conservancy Bald Eagle nest.
There are three eggs on the new Dale Hollow Bald Eagle nest of Amonette and Franklin.
Calico wants everyone to remember that osprey season in the UK and Europe starts in about a month. To get everyone warmed up, here is the Juniors of Hurst Lodge School singing the Osprey Song during Osprey Week in 2015. https://youtu.be/KoOQK6ejuXY?
Thank you for being with us today. I will see you again on Monday. Take care of yourselves. I hope that you can get outside for some fresh air and bird song.
Thank you to everyone who wrote articles, FB posts, and created videos. I am extremely grateful to you and your amazing talents. They make my blog much better and to Geemeff and others who send me wonderful bird news! I am thankful.
