It is the middle of the week and it continues to be another heat wave on the Canadian Prairies – 30 C. There is also another problem – the smoke from the wildfires is set to envelop our City from 1600 Tuesday to 0700 on Wednesday. Right now, the garden ‘looks’ empty but in the midst of the thick lilac bushes, I can see Little Red eating on the solid suet cylinder along with various types of sparrows. A Black-capped Chickadee was sitting on the line for the cable company. On the deck, Calico has turned up again! She appeared, out of nowhere, around 1700 last evening and a big feed was put out for her. She was ravenous. Calico is a really gorgeous cat. She has been living under the deck since last fall. At times I wonder if she has an irresponsible owner. She has had her breakfast and lunch and is lounging in the darkest depths of the garden where it is cooler. She has an insulated house under the deck and food. She appears to have no interest in coming into the house and Lewis and Missey might not like that either.
The sky is now a light pink-grey colour. Solid. If I go outside, it is very smokey. You can smell the wildfires that are being fanned by the high winds. The smoke has driven the animals into the garden where they are eating frantically. All of the squirrels are here, more than 100 sparrows of various types.
In the middle of all this is a small fledgling Blue Jay. It had drinks from the low bird bath and then snuggled up with a pair of very old bird ornaments that my youngest son made eons ago. Then poof, it was gone. I put seed and a very shallow bowl of water down on the ground. Junior and Mrs. know their baby is in the garden. They survey the area from the hydro line and then fly into the garden. Now where is this little one? It was healthy and hopping. I did not see it fly but it had to get to the deck somehow.
They must be so frightened by the smell of the fire.
Oh, and I found the little one. In the corner eating peanuts before it hoped across the back lane and under its nest tree.
Let’s start with something a little fun. Geemeff made the cutest video of Aran feeding Elen and the chicks. Oh, I do adore this Glaslyn nest!
The other day ‘A’ gave us a wonderful narrative of Deyani with the pinecone. Lady Hawk made a video of those moments. Enjoy! Thanks, ‘M’ for sending me the link!
The good news is that Mini had one good feed. The bad news is that Mini was aggressively attacked several times. Mini did not give up though. He waited, listened, watched and tried to get food whenever he could.
On Tuesday morning, Little Mini had a bit of a feed off the 1019 fish. At 11:33 Mum found an old piece of fish tail and Little Mini horked it down. Thanks, Mum! She knew her baby was hungry.
At 1327 another fish comes to the nest. But will Little Mini get any fish? No.
At 13:48 Little Mini did a terrific PS! This tells me we are not dealing with hydration issues.
I have never figured out how to put in those arrows and circles. Apologies. But here is Little Mini’s PS falling…that swirling line attached to the longer straight line to the left over by the pole. Yeap. That is Little Mini’s PS falling down to the ground…wonder who or what might be under there. Now that is a healthy PS!
At 1403 Little Mini has a big crop and is hoping for some fish.
At 1610, Little Mini has a nice crop.
It is now 1720 and three little fish have landed on the nest…obviously intended for the three big siblings to each have their own and self-feed. Will Mini get anything? No. So why not bring in four fish? Or was it coincidence?
Mini is slowly dropping its crop. We need several big fish this evening. Fingers crossed.
Mini looks over longingly at 1736 when Dad comes in with another small goldfish—none for Mini. Maybe this was to be the fourth fish for Mini. Oh, those big siblings.
By 1806, Mini has completed dropping its crop.
Another fish came on the nest at 1819. Big attacks Mini and Mini does not get any of the fish. Will there be a late big fish and will Mini get some? There is another fish at 2023. Maybe Mini will get some. I really hope so.
At 20:37 Mini is at Mum’s beak screaming for fish. Mini gets fed. Mum has been feeding bony fish all day and she is still feeding Mini at 2109! There is no fish left. Well, tears and tears. One good and one great feeding for Tuesday.
‘L caught an early fish – at 0535 and there was our Mini right up there getting fed by Mum while the bigger sibs were ‘waking up’. There was another fish at 0848 and Mini had enough room left from the earlier feed to eat again. This is, indeed, a grand start to Wednesday for our Mini – a full crop Tuesday night, a fuller crop Wednesday morning. Now watch this little one grow before your eyes!
Mini is still eating at 0642.
0907
In his 1991 article, L Scott Forbes (Forbes, L.S. Hunger and food allocation among nestlings of facultatively siblicidal ospreys. Behav Ecol Sociobiol29, 189–195 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00166400) states: “Previous studies of food allocation among nestlings of siblicidal birds have focussed on the proximate link between food and aggression. However, food sharing among sibs (and brood reduction) need not involve aggression. Here I examine the role of hunger (defined operationally in terms of the amount of food eaten recently) within the broader framework of passive and aggressive food-sharing among nestlings of facultatively siblicidal ospreys (Pandion haliaetus). Feeding among brood members was hierarchical; senior, dominant sibs ate more when hungry, leaving a smaller residual share of food for junior sibs. Senior sibs did not become more generous at large meals (i.e., the prospect of a large meal did not quell the selfish tendencies of senior sibs). That individuals ate more when hungry indicates a proximate link between food and the allocation of resources among siblings. Overall, aggression was infrequent and seemed to be used when junior sibs contested food allocation at meals. Aggression was diminished and food allocation was skewed toward the junior sib in broods with artificially exaggerated hatching intervals, suggesting that senior sibs were more generous when their dominant status was not threatened.” —–We have learned much since 1991 and aggression is not just about food but, at the Patchogue nest, it certainly began when the food supply began to diminish and now the senior siblings are flexing their dominance to eat. On a positive note, Mum has been much more receptive to finding food for Mini since Tuesday morning after a bit of a hiatus starting on Sudan.
AND…
‘H’ reports on Mini at the Forstythe Nest: “Feeding 1627 to 1705, large partial fish. Wasn’t it the old Timex commercials that said: “Takes a licking, and keeps on ticking” ? Well, that’s Mini, for sure. Same scenario, Mini takes punishment from Little, but keeps coming back to Mom whenever possible during a feeding. And, a large fish will always increase the chances of Mini’s success. Mini was at the table a few times during this feeding, including a long private feeding at the end. Total bites for Mini = 59. Total for the day for Mini = at least 311 bites. Good fishing day for Oscar.” That is good news for our other Mini. (more on Forsythe below).
At the Pitkin County Open Spaces and Trails Osprey nest at Emma, Colorado there are three osplets. What a surprise…in the midst of watching so many nests sometimes certain ones get ‘lost/forgotten’ and certainly Emma did. There was concern that the eggs might not be viable and the last time I checked there were two eggs…now there are three chicks in the reptile phase!
The two oldest chicks hatched on 31 May and the third on 2 June. There has been periods of little fish as per a posting on FB.
Here they are today.
Mealtime was, however, pleasant!
The third hatch at the Boulder Colorado Fairgrounds Osprey platform got some fish. It stayed still – playing possum – until the two oldest ate and then went up and had some nice fish. Relief. It had been raining hard most of Tuesday morning.
‘H’ has been monitoring the Forsythe nest for me and this is her report for Tuesday up until the time indicated…just look at that last feeding for Mini. Wow.
Here goes:
Feeding 0733 to 0750, large whole fish –
Little beaked Mini tight away. At 0736 Little beaked Mini even though Mini was behind the line. No opportunity for Mini to eat. Bites for Mini = 0.
Feeding 0903 to 0910, small headless fish –
Mini got 4 bites, then was beaked by Little. At 0904 Little beaked Big, and Big retaliated, but this beaking frightened Mini who tucked. Big sent Little into ‘timeout’. So they were then positioned [4,1,2], and Mini ate. At 0909 Little came up from behind and beaked Mini. Mini tucked briefly, but did not move away, stood his ground, and continued to get bites! At the end of the meal, Little beaked Mini. Total bites for Mini = 36.
Feeding 1031 to 1043, large whole fish –
Positioned[4,1,3,2]. Big beaked Little, so Little dropped back. Mini ate. By 1036 positioned [4.,1,2,3]. Mini ate. At the end of the meal, Little beaked Mini. Total bites for Mini = 52.
Feeding 1151 to 1158, small partial –
Little beaked Mini right away away from the feeding line. Mini stayed there. When the feeding was over, Little beaked Mini. Bites for Mini = 0.
Feeding from 1235 to 1415, huge whole fish (probably actually constituted 2-3 meals)
Well, rather than recite the play-by-play of who bonked who and how many times, suffice it to say that Little beaked Mini several times. Big beaked at Little a couple of times, Big beaked Mini once, Middle beaked Mini once. They each were fed to being full, left the table and came back to the table several times, including Mini. Mini would always come back, and there were a couple times when Mini had a private feeding. Total bites for Mini = 164, from that huge fish.
H, 13 June 2023
‘H’ reports that it was a beaking fest at the Barnegat Light Osprey Platform and that it was started by Little! Not very smart.
Tom and Audrey have one hatch at the Chesapeake Conservancy. This one came on the 12th. W ill there be others? Looks like there could be another pip.
Still three eggs at South Cape May. F or a moment – in my state of tiredness and bewilderment (at Patchogue), I thought I heard a chick.
Cowlitz PUD had a nice fish and one of those small goldfish, too…oh, sometimes the fish are so small. The chick seems to be fine and Electra is getting some fish, too…not huge amounts but they are eating.
Big was at the Achieva Nest hoping for some fish and looking to perch for the night. Last news was that Middle was doing well in care.
The camera is down this year at the DuPont Centre, Mispillion Harbour Ospreys. Someone just posted a short video clip showing the couple with three osplets. Oh, I would love to know if this is the same couple from last season. That Mum loved the colour yellow and would bring in all manner of decorations but only in yellow. t hanks, ‘H’ for your keen eye in finding this video.
Bety and Bukacek’s storklets get banded!
R4 and R5 are still hanging out together around the nest tree at the WRDC. Look at the tree between the nest and the house.
One of the fledglings from Thunder and Akecheta’s new nest has made its way to the old West End nest Tuesday afternoon.
Thunder keeping an eye.
Some of you have been concerned about the Surrey eaglet – part of the Dave Hancock Foundation nests. Here is a video update on the little one who appears to have some mobility issues. Great news.
“Recorded June 12 2023, 7:04 pm – as some of you know, younger eaglet SR8 at our Surrey Reserve bald eagle cam nest seems to be having some issues with his right leg, though it doesn’t usually keep him from getting to the food, or standing up to his slightly older and more than slightly larger sibling. We are hoping this spunky youngster will thrive, and I’m always happy when an expert has some promising comments. Please read the forum post that goes with this video – link is https://forum.hancockwildlife.org/vie… (Note – we don’t know the gender of either eaglet; I’m using “he” for simplicity, and because male eagles are normally smaller than female eagles, and SR8 is quite a bit smaller even though less than a day younger, and generally getting plenty of food.)” ~JudyB
Big Red’s Ms are fine after the intervention to clean out the 50 plus maggots out of their ears. They are hopping, flapping, and self feeding. They must feel a whole lot better. Thanks, Cornell!
There is a reason that Jackie and Shadow at the Big Bear Valley Bald Eagle nest are loved by more than 9000 people. Just look.
Does M15 have a potential new mate?
So sad…Savanna died protecting her four eyases from the GHO struck on the 12th. Thanks ‘SP’.
Newmann continually calls for her. Let us hope that he can raise these four to fledge.
Just look at this Cromer eyases! With hawks and falcons we blink and they are ready to fledge! And what an interesting place.
Do you follow the latest on the Chichester Falcons from the UK, too? Here is their latest newsletter. Thanks, Janet Shaw.
At the Olympic Park in Sydney, we are waiting for eggs. ‘A’ reports: “
At Olympic Park, dark is falling at around 17:30 and dad is mating with Lady on the branch behind the nest. She really is not just receptive to but openly encouraging mating, obviously very keen to get some eggs laid in that nest. The pair is protecting the nest and nest area most of the time now, including one or both of them sleeping in the nest tree overnight. (Sometimes, dad will sleep in a tree nearby, but Lady’s early morning vocals bring him in very quickly for a bonding/mating/nest-checking session.) We all feel the heightened sense of expectation – eggs any day, perhaps any hour! As it nears 6pm, Lady is tucked and sleeping on the branch behind the nest. Dad is presumably somewhere very close by.”
Oh, there is so much going on. Soon we will be watching Diamond and Xavier and anticipating the camera coming back on for the CBD Falcons in Melbourne.
Thanks for being with me this morning. Fledge will be soon for Deyani and the Ms. Be sure to check in on their cameras. Take care. Looking forward to seeing you soon!
Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, newsletters, and streaming cams that help to make up my blog this morning: ‘A, H, Geemeff, JS, L, M, SP’, Geemeff and Bywyd Gwylld Glaslyn, Lady Hawk and Window to Wildlife, PSEG, Pitkin County Open Spaces and Trails, Boulder County Fairgrounds ospreys, Forsythe Ospreys, Conservancy Wildlife of NJ, Cowlitz PUD, Achieva Credit Union, Mlady Buky Storks, Heidi McGru and the WRDC, IWS, Hancock Wildlife, Cornell RTH, FOBBV, Carol Shores Rifkin and the NEFL and SWFL Eagle Cam Club, Steven Smith and the Peregrine Falcons at Great Spirit Bluff, Sydney Sea Eagle Cam, Raptor Resource Project, SK Hideaways and Cromer Falcons, and the Chichester Newsletter.
Oh, Sunday was a beautiful day – much cooler with a super breeze. A nice day to be out in the garden – it has really been neglected. The tiny tomatoes needed picking and the w—- hole hanging to—–mato plant needed a good spray with Magnesium Sulphate (Epsom Salts). Did you know that about a 1/4 of a cup in a gallon container – mixed well – and sprayed on the leaves will rejuvenate them if they are yellow with green veins. Try it! Planted three oak trees for the future and three more peony plants for me. The bees have really been visiting the climbing rose-s and the rest of the garden is quiet except for Junior, one grey squirrel, and some sparrows. Talk about lonely – missing those critters.
————————————————————————————-
With the Ms safely back in their nest and everyone talking about ear parasites, how much do we really know?
Everything you did and did not want to know about nest parasites and maggots in the ears of hawks!!
Taking a wee bit of a break from the ospreys to check on some of the other nests that we like to follow such as the Black Storks in the Karula National Forest in Estonia of Karl II and Kaia (the foster parents of Bonus). Oh, they are adorable. There has been or had been some difficulty with getting food as the Blue Herons were taking the fish from the baskets provided by Urmas. The chicks are hungry and for the first time it has been noticed that Karl II was pulling on both chick 4 and 3…perhaps to do a brood reduction due to poor foraging. This is highly unusual. I do not know of Karl II ever initiating an attempt at brood reduction. He must be very concerned about the foraging and the ability of him and Kaia to provide for four on the nest. This is so sad. Urmas has worked hard to supply the fish baskets for the storks but, he cannot stop other species from feeding. They are also hungry.
When they were feeding, Kaia put the food down in front of storklet 1. Parents want at least one of their offspring to survive when times with food shortages are intense. So many nests of all species have food shortages this season.
The only eaglet at the Bucovina Gold Eagle nest in Romania appears to be doing well.
Oh, the love-life dramas of single male Ospreys. W6 needs a mate at Keilder Forest and he would be a fantastic catch. Read about his latest escapades!
There is much concern at the Kielder nest 2 where the third chick has hatched and it is 75 hours younger than egg 2! The record at Kielder is 100 hours. Please send this nest your best wishes…we are all nervous already.
‘H’ nest updates at Barnegat Light: “Another feeding observed, 1517 to 1530 -Little was late arriving to the table as s/he was sleepy. The three siblings ate side by side without any bonking. At one point Big accidentally knocked Little flat on his back, but Little recovered and went back to Daisy for more bites. Little had a total of 30 bites, and some of them were pretty big ones. Later, per the chat: feeding at 1646 “They eat so nicely” “All three in a food coma”
Hatch for Tom and Audrey at Kent Island! ‘H’ reports that this baby was out of the shell around 0330 and that if it is egg 1, it was 42 days old – H was told that Audrey’s eggs tend to hatch at the far end of the scale.
Tom sees his baby for the first time. (This is new-dad, Tom – all ospreys at this nest are named Tom and Audrey).
Dahlgren looks good, also. “Feeding 1413 to 1455, very peaceful, both Osplets well fed. Ya, know, at 4 days apart, this nest is just a pleasant surprise. It still amazes me.”
At the Forsythe nest, Mini is getting battered by Little. Like Mini at Patchogue, it has missed out on a number of critical meals on Sunday. There were ten fish deliveries and ‘H’ counted that Mini got 159 bites of fish. I remember dancing when I counted 97 bites for Tiny Tot Tumbles. Mini will live to see another day but Little appears to be getting much more aggressive…going after Mini which tells me the third hatch is a female, most likely.
‘H’ complete report to give you an idea of how a nest is watched when we think siblicide could become an issue: “Feeding 0818 to 0829, small partial fish – Mini was up front and did not get any bites from Opal before s/he was beaked by Little. Crazy Little beaked big at 0820, and was beaked back. Little did make it back to eat, but Mini never even made an attempt to get back to the feeding line. Total for Mini = 0I’ve noticed that the attacks on Mini by Little the past day or so have become more violent, and include the biting, and last longer. Oh, geez.Feeding 1236 to 1251 – medium whole fish. Over 4 hours since the last fish.Little beaked Mini at the start. Mini in submission. I took until 1248 for Mini to get into a good position [3,1,2,4], but then Middle beaked Mini ! Total for Mini = 0Feeding 1340 to 1353 – medium whole fishMini wasn’t even up at the feeding line, but at 1342, Little reached back and beaked Mini, and again at 1345, and 1346. At 1346 Big Beaked Little. By 1348 Mini had found a safe spot to try to get fed, between Middle and Big, but Big beaked Mini ! Mini never came back. Bites for Mini = 0Feeding 1456 to 1501 – small partial. Mini was not bonked at all, but s/he seems timid of all of them now. Big only had a couple bites and dropped out. Mini held back, sort of between and behind the other two. Mom reached out and gave Mini one bite. Total bites to Mini = 1 Feeding 1529 to 153230 – small fish piece. Poor Mini scrambled across the nest to get to Mom first, and got two bites, before Little caught up with him and beaked him. Total for Mini = 2 bites. Feeding 1608 to 1615 – small fish. Mini first to Mom’s beak, but is soon bonked by Little. Things shuffle around a bit, Mini gets back to the table, then positioned [4,1,2,3], and Mini got some bites. Total bites for Mini = 17. Feeding 1647 to 1654 – small partial. Once again Mini rushed over to Mom, received one bite, then was beaked by Little. At 1652 Little tried to reach between Middle and Little, and Little beaked Mini. Total for Mini = 1. Feeding 1749 to 1803 – partial fish. Mini was bonked by Little at the beginning. At 1752 Mini wasn’t even close by, but Little just had to beak him again. At 175942, Mini got its first bite. Only Middle was still nearby, but at that point Mini got nearly a private feeding. Total bites for Mini = 36. So far, today, 10 feedings (I sent a report on the first two earlier). There may be another feeding this evening, I’ll check in the morning. Total bites for Mini so far today = 159.” How sad it is that your birth order has such an intense impact on your life (as it often does with humans, too). — The feeding for Mini did not change with other deliveries on Sunday night. Mini went into submission even though there was fish left that Mum ate. It is not looking good for this fourth hatch at all.
At the Patchogue Osprey platform, Mini is as keen as Mini at Forsythe for fish but has been often locked out due to the Big ones barging in or the intimidation that comes now from both Big and Third. Thankfully, Mini is older, wiser, and waits and watches…and I am certain that this Mini is a female.
Mini at Patchogue stretching and flapping its wings after finally getting a fish feed. Mum fed the three for over an hour. It is unclear how much was left of that bony fish when Mini got its ultimate time to eat by itself in peace. But, Mini did get some fish.
In the UK, Louis turns up with a late night fish snack for Dorcha. So sweet…and the talon tapping osplet slept through it!
Oh, how I have been missing Jackie and Shadow. Popping in and what a surprise. Our gorgeous Big Bear couple were on the nest! ‘B’ tells me this is an unusual low-lying cloud on the mountain obstructing the view. These two are looking good and they are protecting their territory and taking care of that nest!
Today has been a different posting…I will do a quick sweep of some of the Osprey nests but not all of them. My concerns are with Forsythe and Patchogue. We will go back to tracking the daily happenings of most of the nests for Tuesday.
Patuxent I appears to be good today. Nice crops on both osplets.
Loch of the Lowes: Despite having to defend the nest, literally, from intruders, Laddie managed to get a big fish in and both of the osplets had bulging crops. Blue NC0 had to help Laddie defend…go away intruders!
Dyfi Ospreys: It was raining in Wales. Telyn had been a keen mumbrella for the two. Dry and fish in the nest. Thanks, Idris!
All is well at Glasyn with Elen and Aran and the two osplets.
Poole Harbour: Three itchy Reptilian Bobs for CJ7 and Blue 022. All is good.
Manton Bay: All is well, feathers are coming in – you can see the shafts. But the condensation doesn’t let us get a very good look at Blue 33 and Maya’s three Bobs.
Llyn Clywedog with Dylan and Seren Blue 5F: All good.
Llyn Brenig: As far as I can tell-without watching closely-, all is OK.
Loch Arkaig: Louis brings a large whole fish to Dorcha and chick for breakfast. Well done, Louis.
Boulder County Fairgrounds: My concerns are growing for the survival of the third hatch. Is anyone watching this family closely? Any comments? Hatch dates are May 26, 27, and 29 but that little one appears to be struggling. Please correct me if I am wrong!
In Germany, at the Fischadler web scale, the trio are doing great. T he third hatch just barrels in and pushes its way through the two bigger siblings to get fish. Way to go!
‘A’ watched Deyani yesterday for us and reports, “Deyani had an interesting day, with three breakfasts between 07:10 and 07:33, then nothing until shortly after 7.30pm, when dad brought in a partial rabbit for dinner. As occurred yesterday, the food brought to the nest was about half what they had been bringing up until that point. So it is obvious that over the past two days, the parents are preparing Deyani for fledge – she does presumably need to lose a little bit of weight before she can fly (power-to-weight ratio, spoilt, greedy only chick and all that). Today (12 June) will be the first day of fledge watch – I am not ready, but it appears Deyani is, and Angel and Tom certainly believe their hawklet is on the verge of taking the plunge. The chick is SO curious. I will miss her antics on the nest. Today, she had an epic battle with a pine cone, which landed on the nest with quite a big ‘thud’, obviously from high in the tree. (Had it landed on Deyani, she would really have felt it, I suspect, from the sound dit made and the size of it.) The hawklet had no idea what it was, and initially gazed at ity in astonishment. She then became concerned it may be alive. The tentative approaches with her talon, followed by kicks and other attacks on the pine cone were just TOO funny. Watch her from 5.59pm as she hangs onto it tightly with her right talon and attempts to pull pieces off the pine cone (or defur it). She also had an entertaining moment when a Daddy Long Legs crawled across the pine cone and up the tree. She was entranced as she watched its progress.”
Darling Luna visits the scrape giving us a really good look at how much those chicks of Lou and Annie have grown since fledge.
Birdlife Malta is concerned about changes to EU laws that had allowed for the creation of biodiversity spaces – the Restoration Lawls – and a move by politicians to delete or water down what is in existence. If you live in the EU, speak up!
That said, I know that each of you is interested in so many things, and a new essay in Emergence Magazine might interest you. It is about migrations. The writing is fantastic. Have a read “Creaturely Migrations on a Breathing Planet”.
Thank you so much for being with me today. I hope that you found something of interest – and that you will always look out for the birds. See you soon!
Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to create my blog today: ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘H’, Parasitism in Hawks, Looduskalender Forum, Eagle Club of Estonia, Bucovina Golden Eagles, Lady Hawk and Bucovina Golden Eagles, Kielder Ospreys, Barnegat Light, Dalhgren Ospreys, Forsythe ospreys, PSEG, Geemeff and Friends of Loch Arkaig and the Woodland Trust, FOBBV, Patuxent River Park, LOTL, Dyfi Ospreys, Bywyd Gwylld Glaslyn, Poole Harbour Ospreys, LRWT, CarnyXWild, Llyn Brenig Ospreys, Boulder County Fair Grounds Ospreys, Fischadler Web Cam, Birdlife Malta, SK Hideaways and Cal Falcons, and Emergence Magazine.
Sunday was an overcast day with the feeling that rain could start anytime. It didn’t. The garden feeders were busy! Unfortunately, the squirrels have figured out two different ways to get on the table feeder, causing issues with the birds. Still, they waited and watched. Mr Crow is also afraid of the feral cat that visits and, as a result, has not been quick enough to feed well today. Silly boy. Today they also marked the first day for the White-throated Sparrows to be in the garden this season. In a few days, there could be fifty or sixty of them. If all goes to plan after they arrive, the Orioles will eat oranges and Grape Jelly and pay no mind to Dyson and her gang.
So proud of itself!
Mr Blue Jay watched and waited til he could get a turn at the feeding table.
Your smile for the day…
So far it has been a good Sunday at the nest of Angel and the Baby. This was the posting of the prey delivery and feeding. It is windy and the weather could turn stormy. As I am writing this there has been a feeding at 12:53 with a partial piece of rabbit that Tom delivered. A second feeding began at 2:07:40. ‘A’ has sent me the entire time stamps for the action at the nest. Here they are: “Time stamps for today (7 May) at Angel’s nest. Spoiler alert: Tom brought in some food around lunchtime, which was enough to feed the hawklet three times. Okay, time stamps: 07 02 45 Angel up, wing stretch,head scratch,BJS buzzing her. 08 32 31 Angel up and spots something. And the BJs spot her. 08 39 44 She leaves. 08 41 01 She returns. 10 05 59 After a big wing stretch Angel leaves.10 15 42 PTZ camera Angel flies by on her way back to the nest. 11 46 25 Angel aerating the nest and some preening. 12 52 15 Tom in with part rabbit?. 12 53 30 PTZ feed starts. Some leftovers for later. 2:06:50 RTH5 falls over, gets up after a struggle. 2 07 40 PTZ Second feed starts. 12 51 Angel up.big wing and leg stretch and preening. RTH5 Preening itself. 3 22 00 PTZ Start of third feed. 3 41 44 Angel swallows a lump of fur/skin. 6 06 55 One For the PS fans. This chick is the most adorable little thing ever. The way Angel looks down at it with sheer unadulterated adoration is just precious. I love this chick way too much!”
Thank goodness for small miracles. Angel sure can use them. Let us hope that the storms and potential winds and tornadoes do not hit this nest. This couple needs to find prey and keep it coming so that the baby can develop properly. It sure looks like a hardy little one.
There is something magical about the way that Red-tail Hawks look at their chicks. Big Red is the same. You simply melt at the love in those eyes.
Arlene Beech caught the prey delivery for us.
The weather turned with heavy rain and thunderstorms. Angel is keeping her baby snug and dry.
The situation is also good at Achieva where Jack brought in two fish almost at once. Big Bob ate its own fish while Mum fed Middle. Smiling. Both osplets are safe and find and it is probably that the Bald Eagle wanted the fish and not the osplet! If it had been younger, yes.
Barbara Snyder reports on FB that Mum brought in one of her big catfish and Dad brought in another fish – so another double delivery – Sunday evening that is keeping this nest happy. This is wonderful news for Achieva. These two have their juvenile feathers and well, we don’t want to lose either one of them!
Sadly, the first delivery at Lake Murray did not come until late in the afternoon. Kathryn observed that Mum went out to possibly find fish several times but returned empty handed. Little Peanut did not get any food and this osplet does not look well to me. As Kathryn notes it is also not being clever. I think we should brace ourselves for a sad ending for this very tiny third hatch.
No food for Peanut this morning. It is so very slow and sad to see a sweet baby die of starvation. Only a miracle will help this wee one.
I will add a few articles, once in a while, or postings that discuss siblicide so that we educate ourselves. In 2012, Dr Erick Greene, the Professor at the University of Montana associated with the Osprey Research Project and Iris’s Nest, wrote this post for Montana Ospreys FB Group. It focuses on the amount of food brought to the nest. Other research studies suggest that the oldest or most dominant (usually the same) are getting the majority of food, so siblicide makes no sense. Hopefully, you will enjoy and learn from the articles coming up, and they will provide much to think about as you watch the nests that are getting ready for osprey hatches.
Siblicide – part IV
Siblicide occurs in MANY species of birds and other animals, including all hawks and owls, egrets and herons, kingfishers, pelicans, boobies, cranes and some others. Although it may seem cruel, it is an adaptation that allows the parents to raise the maximum number of healthy and vigorous young under fluctuating and unpredictable food supplies. When there is enough food to go around, all the chicks thrive; when food is limited, only the number of chicks that can be supported survive. So siblicide is a self-adjusting mechanism that matches the number of chicks with the available food.
This is what siblicide is and why it occurs. It is a completely natural part of Osprey biology (and the biology of many other species). However, this does not mean it is easy to watch – it is quite disturbing to watch a chick kill its sibling. Last year fishing was so tough that about 95% of the Osprey chicks starved to death around Missoula. While we were saddened and disturbed to watch the two chicks in the Hellgate nest die last year, we rejoiced that Iris and her old mate were able to raise one very robust and healthy chick in such difficult circumstances. This is something not many Osprey pairs were able to do. If there was not siblicide, all three chicks would have starved to death last year. Nature can be “red in tooth and claw,” even within a family. Even though siblicide may seem cruel to you, there is some sort of comfort in a system that allows the Osprey parents to raise healthy chicks even when times are tough. This is part of the reason we still have thriving Osprey populations.
Some of you may wonder why we don’t take the smallest chick from this nest and put it in the Dunrovin nest. We are not allowed to interfere with this natural part of the Osprey cycle. Our research permits and animal care permits (that are very strictly regulated) would not allow us to do this.
We are giving you this information to let you know about a natural and expected part of Osprey biology, and prepare you in case the smallest chick does not make it. So what can we expect at the Hellgate nest this year? The third chick is definitely running from the back of the pack, but the new male is a fantastic provider! I just watched carefully and saw the smallest chick get absolutely stuffed with part of the large trout the male brought in (Tuesday, 26 June 2012 about 1115). This is a good sign, and if the male continues to be such a good provider all three chicks may make it! Think pure thoughts.
Erick Greene of Project Osprey
That was 2012 and much has been learned since then. I hope to enlighten us more in the coming weeks.
Oh, I wish I could wiggle my nose and transport Peanut to the Moorings Park Osprey platform after Abby and Victor fledge…those two are helicoptering. Fledge (their first flight) could happen at any time!
Moorings Park has gone all out with good cameras and a split screen so we can see all the action.
Jackie and Shadow were bringing in sticks and working on their nest in Big Bear Valley on Sunday.
A little windy up at the Glacier Gardens Bald Eagle nest where eggs are being incubated. Looks like some branches have been trimmed so that the camera view of the new nest (as of 2022) is much better. Thanks, Glacier Gardens.
Adults with nice crops keeping a watchful eye over the energetic Cal falcons. That big female sure likes to be out of the scrape. I do not envy Lou and Annie when these three start running around!
Annie has been chasing them about to feed them. SK Hideaways caught it for us.
The Decorah eaglet was really hot today, using panting to help stay cool. Little sweetheart. Doesn’t look like they have had any of those bad storms (yet). Hopefully not.
Whenever you see a nest with three equally healthy raptors on it, just smile. As you are all aware it is not easy. The three at Denton Homes are thriving.
The three at Dulles-Greenway are equally doing well. It is difficult to see if the river is flooding and hard for Martin to get fish but there does not appear to be a shortage of prey. There is also not a shortage of plastic bags! The one black one on the side fooled me one day…at first glance I thought it was one of the eaglets hanging on for dear life!
We have a reminder from Liz Bracken. You will recall that Blue NC0 and Laddie LM12 laid the first egg with Blue 33 and Maya quick on their talons. Well, we will be on hatch watch for both of those nests starting on the 11th…yes, that is 3 days a way.
Blue 33 keeping Maya’s he3ad dry in the drizzle.
It is my favourite nest and it always will be. Steady and reliable. Big Red and Arthur, the Red-tail Hawks calling the Cornell campus in Ithaca, New York their territory.
M2 working its way out of that shell.
If Big Red and Arthur’s kids go hungry there is something very wrong in the world.
Big Red tucking M1 in and we can see M2’s egg tooth working away.
Cuteness!
It started raining at the nest of Big Red and Arthur Sunday evening. Big Red seems to always know and she gets her chick/s fed to the brim and then plunks down on them so they are dry and warm.
M2 is here and already being fed! It is sitting in its shell!
Lots of baby falcons about these days….tis the season!
It is just a gorgeous landscape at the Charlo Montana Osprey platform of Charlie and Charlotte. One egg as of yesterday. Thanks, Loretta!
‘H’ reports sad news coming from Hob Osterlund in Kauai. Not large pieces of plastic, tiny micro plastic that will impact all the seabirds including the Royal Albatross, too…what a shame we cannot get a handle on this nasty stuff that is everywhere.
Murphy’s baby is continuing to do very, very well.
Chase and Cholyn’s eaglet at Two Harbours was so full today from eating half a considerable fish that it could hardly walk on the nest. Check out the last image of the three; Mum had a huge crop, too! It was a fish fest day!
‘H’ reports that there is a second egg at Kent Island Ospreys this morning. ‘H’ and I are keeping our eyes on the ospreys at Osoyoos in the hope of identifying them to see if it is Soo and/or Olsen or a new pair.
This sub-adult eagle got a second chance at life because of a rehabber!
For everyone who reached out to help on the Dale Eagle chat and felt shunned and ‘well, abused’, there are some changes coming.
Thank you so much for being with me this morning. Take care. See you soon.
Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, tweets, videos, and streaming cams that helped to make my blog today: ‘A’, ‘H’, Loretta, Kathryn, Terry Tempest Williams, Window to Wildlife, Arlene Beech and Window to Wildlife, Achieva Credit Union, Lake Murray Ospreys, Moorings Park Ospreys, FOBBV, Glacier Gardens Eagle Cam, Cal Falcons, SK Hideaways and Cal Falcons, Raptor Resource Project and Explore.org, Denton Homes, Dulles-Greenway, Liz Bracken and Friends of Loch Arkaig FB, LRWT, Cornell RTH, Manchester NH Falcon Fans, Charlo Montana, Hob Osterlund, World Bird Sanctuary, IWS and Explore.org, and Terry Carman and Live Nests and News.
Wednesday was a tough one. Thursday was better, but there are still two worrisome nests – Achieva’s and Angel’s. When it gets too much – and it does for everyone, we need to step back and change what we are doing. There has been no food for the little one at Angel’s for a day, and the little one has only had a few bites. I do not expect it to survive and, as of this morning, I, too, will step back.
It is true – go out and spend some time in nature, go for a walk, say hello to people you don’t know…at the end of all, you feel better. That is precisely what I did – a spin or two around the pond, stopping to chat with everyone along the way. The Wood Ducks are back.
Not in any great numbers, about five males and a couple of those sweet little females. There were a handful of Mallards and several hundred Canada Geese. It was sunny and dry, and everyone was happy to be outside.
There is green grass coming and some vegetation growing quickly so they can feed.
In the garden, Dyson sees me. She knows that I am taking her photo. Isn’t she lovely?
The table feeder is becoming more popular as the birds get used to seeing it in the garden.
While Dyson and the Starlings were eating peanuts, the Crows were assembling in the big tree in front of my house. It was planted in 1902 so 121 years old. I will not start about our City’s tree trimming policies! Normally when the Crows gather they are here to escort the GHO out of their neighbourhood!
Specific events tell me spring is here, and hopefully, there will not be any more snow. The first is the arrival of the Canada Geese, then the Dark-eyed Juncos and Blue Jays. The second is the opening of the local farmer’s market. There are a few ingenious farmers who have built greenhouses, not to grow flowers like the Dutch arrivals in our area in the 1950s but, to grow – strawberries. The farmer’s market opened yesterday, and those berries had not only the aroma of a ripened berry in a field but the most delicious flavour. Well done to those trying to figure out how to grow things locally that might be otherwise flown in from thousands of miles away – and have no taste and be polluting the planet. The third is the arrival of all the annual flowers and herbs to be planted in flower boxes or gardens. Today was a celebration of all of those – the geese at the pond, a trip to the farmer’s market and a box full of herbs and, instead of a hanging basket of flowers, a Tiny Tom Hanging Tomato vine. How will it do? All of this helped to wash away the anger and some of the sadness over the death of DH18.
In celebration of these spring rituals, the kittens and I will enjoy a lovely little Japanese sponge cake with strawberry buttercream filling.
Do you know Aldo Leopold? He was talking about biodiversity and stewardship of land before any of the more recent environmental movements. He died in a fire in Wisconsin helping a neighbour in 1948. He was a professor at the University of Wisconsin but loved escaping to his weekend refuge without modernisation. I love his sense of humour. One time during a flood – and you have to understand that his cabin is the family escape from the world of humans, Leopold writes, “There are degrees and kinds of solitude. A n island in a lake has one kind; but lakes have boats, and there is always the chance that one might land to pay you a visit..I know of no solitude so secure as one guarded by a spring flood; nor do the geese, who have seen more kinds and degrees of aloneness than I have. ..So we sit on our hill beside a new-blown pasque and watch the geese go by. I see our road dipping gently into the waters, and I conclude with inner glee that the question of traffic, in or out, is for this day at least, debatable only among carp.” (27)
Leopold observes, “Conservation is getting nowhere because it is incompatible with out Abrahamic concept of land. We abuse land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us. When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect.” (xviii) I highly recommend his little book, A Sand County Almanac. Essays on Conservation from Round River. Written like a diary, Leopold says of March, “One swallow does not make a summer, but one skein of geese, cleaving the murk of a March thaw, is the spring.” (19) Leopold takes you through the months, and he loves his spring geese. It is more than just Leopold’s close observation and love of all things wild. He stops to make us think about the value of our land and why some, like trophy hunters, will never be able to understand those of us in the minority who see the word of living things connected and sacred. “…our bigger-and-better society is now like a hypochondriac, so obsessed with its own economic health as to have lost the capacity to remain healthy. The whole world is so greedy for more bathtubs that it has lost the stability necessary to build them, or even to turn off the tap…Perhaps a shift of values can be achieved by reappraising things unnatural, time, and confined in terms of things natural, wild, and free”. That was written on the 4th of March 1948 right before his death. It could have been written yesterday. Today, the situation with DH18 continues to weigh heavy on my mind and I would substitute in much of the quotes of Leopold the term wildlife instead of land…we think we own it, it is a commodity that we can abuse…that kind of thinking has to stop.
Our smile for the morning comes from the Cal Falcons and the food tug-o-war caught by SK Hideaways. Then marvel at how well falcons tend to feeding three chicks! Most of the time (Angel and Tom excluded) falcon and hawk nests are incredibly energetic and full of laughs.
Right now we need all these precious joyful moments that we can garner. It has been a ‘depleting week emotionally’ for all of us.
Check your clocks. Banding is taking place at Cal Falcons between 0830-0900 Pacific Time. The cameras will be off during the banding. A video of the event will be uploaded after. There will also be the annual Q & A session with Sean and Lynne (see further down for details) tomorrow.
The Australian Raptor Care and Conservancy has provided an update on SE30! Oh, she is doing well. This is the kind of news we want and need. Thanks, ‘H’.
George Smith gives us an update on the Rutland Ospreys. Quite a good read and happy to see that Maya and Blue 33 are attempting to raise their fourth set of four osplets. Wrap your head around that one. Some nests cannot manage even two! But four sets of four. Super couple! Some of their fledglings are out chasing down nests and mates. Have a read!
Thanks for posting some successful rescues. We all know about Dr Sharpe but there are also other rescues for monofilament line as well as non-human caused issues. CROW was at Captiva last year with the Osplets. CROW intervened when E17 and E18 at SW Florida had conjunctivitis. There are so many more. In the incident below, the eaglet appeared to have half its body ‘stuck’ to the nest. It was removed because it was weak..information below. It was successfully released after this 4 May 2012 intervention. Thanks, Deb.
M15 still gets my vote for ‘Dad of the Year’ for Raptors. E22 knows precisely when there is a food delivery and is on it!
There are a lot of Peregrine Falcons hatching in the world and the first one at Cromer Peregrine Falcons is here.
You can watch this white little fuzzy with its pink beak and toes here.
Today is banding day at Cal Falcons. There is a Q & A scheduled. You can go to YouTube and search for Cal Falcons 2023 Banding Q&A. You can get a notification to watch it live and they always archive the event if you miss it. For me, it looks like it is at 1300 but if you live in California, I bet that time is 1100.
We are all aching for Angel and her baby. Tom has not provided any prey today. He has not been seen. Angel has left the little one for long periods of time – once an hour – to go hunting but came back to the nest empty taloned. Whether or not Tom is still around or if the prey in the area is so limited is unclear. The little one cannot thermoregulate its temperature, and it should be fed much more often than is happening. At the same time, Angel is also hungry. The chick’s last meal was Thursday morning.
It is dusk and Angel has left the baby again to go hunting. I hope she finds some food for them. The possums and other creatures often come out at dusk. Oh, I hope she finds some food. Remember, I told you that this situation is very dire and it is. Unless Tom steps up and begins to deliver prey regularly it will be difficult, if not impossible, for Angel to feed the two of them and provide security and warmth. The area is obviously not prey rich like that of Big Red and Arthur. It is heartbreaking.
Angel did not have any food when she returned. Many believe Angel is at a disadvantage as the prey can see her coming since she is leucistic rather than camouflaged. This creates a huge problem if that is the case. Tom is not helping. Please send your good wishes…I wish some food would drop from the sky. The forecast does not look good. Rain for 5 days in a row at the nest…we could easily lose this baby. Personally, if I owned the land this nest is on, I would put out a prey table now!
If this year has already been too much for you, you might want to step away from this nest. Come back on Monday and see how things are going.
We are really waiting for a pip and a hatch at Big Red and Arthur’s nest on the Cornell campus. The changeovers have been swift. These two work like a well-oiled and cared for machine. There is little time to even get a glimpse of those eggs.
When Big Red lost her mate Ezra, everyone thought she was ‘nuts’ picking such a young mate as Arthur. Well, she wasn’t. He is an uber hunter and wooed her with the number of squirrels he could catch! I know there is a lot of chatter about how young Angel’s mate Tom is but, I just don’t think it is that. There is either hardly any prey to be had in the area, he is not the father of the chick so really has not much interest, or he is just a dud.
Cute little Arthur.
Big Red.
You may recall that a group at Cornell University worked diligently to get the windows on campus fitted so that bird strikes do not happen. Several of Big Red’s fledglings have been injured or died. Now there is movement in other places to ensure that birds are safe. Thanks, ‘S’ for sending me the latest news on what is happening in Washington, DC. This needs to go international.
This is the weather at Big Bear Valley today for Jackie and Shadow.
The eagles did a nest check.
Looking for a US Osprey nest to watch? You cannot get any better than Moorings Park. Victor and Abby still have up to seven fish meals a day. Neither has fledged although they are spreading their wings!
Achieva is a tough Osprey nest in the US to watch. It is on my list of not recommended nests. At the present time, food is also scarce and Big Bob, number 1 is acting like Zoe at Port Lincoln. Jack delivers the fish, Big takes it and neither Diane or Middle get anything to eat. As we know, there is a drought in the area that is causing canals to dry up and fears of wildfires. This means that all those Ospreys are fighting for little fish.
These beautiful osplets have their juvenile feathers and they need more fish. It is always a problematic nest but with climate change and so many ospreys in the St Petersburgh area, the competition for fish could become ruthless and many ospreys might not survive. They might have to move further north. Let us hope that both survive to fledge.
Little Decorah Hatch – DH2 – is doing fantastic. What a crop…the joys of being an only nestling.
The crop on Chase & Cholyn’s only eaglet is equally as large at Two Harbours. And check out those thighs!!!!!!!!
Precious trio to Martin and Rosa continue to thrive at Dulles-Greenway.
There is good news coming out of SF Bay Ospreys!
The winds at Loch Arkaig were so intense on Thursday that Louis was literally blown off the nest while incubating. Thankfully, he returned, unharmed. Geemeff caught it on video:
There is some concern and a little bewilderment at the Osoyoos Osprey platform in British Columbia. The nest was that of Soo and Olsen. ‘H’ sent the history of the nest in terms of egg laying: “Egg laying history for Osoyoos Osprey Cam: 2016- Apr26. 2017- May 14 (late because they had to wait for Canada Geese goslings to exit the nest) 2018- Apr 28. 2019- May 5. 2020- May 2. 2021- Apr 29. 2022- May 6.” No one knows for certain if the male at the nest is actually Olsen. Some believe it is a new male. It is now 4 May and I actually wondered, last season, if Soo and Olsen might lay their eggs earlier to try and avoid the sheer magnitude of the heat in the area. That is certainly not the case and, as of this evening, the nest is not ready.
Fellow Canadian, Deb Stecyk who administers the Bald Eagles 101 FB Page has posted the following call for action following the death of DH18. Many of you will recognise our request for simple emergency numbers under the streaming cams. Some of you will recall the sheer panic two years ago when the foster osplet fell off the Patuxent River Park platform. ‘S’ and I phoned – her halfway around the world to try and get help. The park office was closed but thankfully a staff member checked and returned with a canoe – just in time as the tide was going to start to go out. Deb’s is a good plan and a good protocol. We need to work towards finding a rapid response for all the raptors that are on streaming cams now – and it needs to be universal.
One of the two eaglets at Duke Farms has ‘officially’ branched on Thursday. Congratulations! They have both done so well this season.
Tom and Audrey at the Chesapeake Conservancy Nest have their second egg. It was laid 74 hours after egg 1.
As the coronation of King Charles III approaches, Australia’s gift is a donation of 10,000$ to help save a beloved parrot of South Australia. “The government has pledged $10,000 to help conserve the critically endangered “shy and rarely seen” species in honour of the monarch, on behalf of the people of Australia.” Will the king’s views on conservation influence any changes towards wildlife, biodiversity, land management, etc in the UK? We wait.
There is lots of good news out there in Bird World. I am getting so excited to see the Cal Falcons banded and to see the list of names the children select so we a vote. Of course, waiting for Big Red and Arthur’s first hatch of 2023 is agonising. So, all of the nests are doing well but Angel’s and Achieva where Middle really needs some fish and so does Mum, Diane. Again, Angel’s baby needed feedings every few hours, not a few bites in a day. Angel is extremely hungry as well. Send her your love.
Thank you for being with me today. Please take care. See you soon!
Thank you so much for their notes, posts, tweets, videos, and streaming cams that helped to make up my blog today: ‘S’, ‘H’, ‘A’, Geemeff, Cal Falcons, SK Hideaways and Cal Falcons, George Smith and the LRWT, Deb Stecyk, MN Bound Eagle Family, Gracie Shepherd and SW Florida Eagle Cam, Cromer Peregrine Falcons, Window to Wildlife, Cornell Bird Lab RTH, American Bird Conservancy, FOBBV, Moorings Park Ospreys, Achieva Credit Union, Raptor Resource Project and Explore.org, IWS and Explore.org, Dulles-Greenway, SF Bay Ospreys, Geemeff and Loch Arkaig, People’s Postcode Lottery, and the Woodland Trust, Duke Farms, The Guardian, and the Australian Raptor Care and Conservancy.
Thank you so much for being here with us today. We hope that the week is starting out well for each and every one of you!
Mr Crow and a friend have returned. He has been yelling at me all day. It is unclear whether he wants his cheesy dogs or his cat kibble but he is making quite a ruckus right above my head as I write this. The first Common Grackle of the year has appeared in the garden along with the normal array of Dark-eyed Juncos, Sparrows, European Starlings and woodpeckers. I can see Little Red running through the lilacs to get to the suet while Dyson and the gang are hovering around on the ground. They much prefer the Black Oil seed when they have finished all the peanuts.
Hatchery Mum and Dad and DH2 give us another cute moment with their family portrait from Sunday. Isn’t it beautiful? That adorable little eaglet. So precious after the tragedies of last year with HPAI.
The award for the most diligent mother of the week has to go to Sally at Moorings Park who is always feeding her osplets, Abby and Victor, even at 11pm!!!!!!!
On Monday morning, the new unringed female, nicknamed ‘Dot’ at the Glaslyn Osprey platform, will be given an official name! She has now been with Aran for more than a week. It has been a joy watching the two get acquainted and bond; this is terrific news. Wonder what the name will be?
New nesting material is in and Aran has perfected handing over the fish to his new mate. All we need are some lovely eggs in that nest now!
The new female is named Elen. “Our new Glaslyn female now has a name! She will be called Elen, named after Yr Elen a mountain in the Carneddau range in Eryri (Snowdonia). As you will be aware, Aran is named after Yr Aran another mountain in Eryri.”
Their story unfolded quickly as Elen laid her first egg this morning at 10:37! What a brilliant start with a new name, too.
Dorcha has laid her second egg at Loch Arkaig with her mate Louis.
Sasha Dench is in Guinea. She has discovered why water and climate change are important to the Ospreys that migrate between the UK and West Africa. Have a listen. You will learn a lot about how our changing world impacts everything! We are all interconnected.
Flo left the Captiva Osprey nest around noon on Sunday. She looked down at the only egg that – well, it would take a miracle if it was viable – and flew off. Angus has returned to the nest. He is on the perch in the last image. The couple was seen together in the nearby trees. Their bond is essential. They can begin again next year. It was a rough season for everyone at Captiva this year.
The situation at Dale Hollow continues to weigh heavily on people’s minds and our hearts. The American Eagle Foundation and the Tampa Raptor Centre offered expert climbers to go to the site and remediate the issue. The nest is on public land, US Army land, accessed by a road through private property.
There is more news coverage of what is happening to the eaglets and letters are now going out to everyone who wrote advocating for the eaglets. I want to thank each of you from the bottom of my heart to the tip of my tiny toe for taking the time – for your love and your caring for our wildlife. You could just as easily close your eyes and ignore everything. You didn’t. We may not win this one, but we cannot give up. In an ideal situation, that monofilament line comes off. River breaks it and removes the mess from the nest. That is the perfect solution. If that does not happen, and it hasn’t yet, we must seek help for those who cannot ask for it themselves. I am so proud to be in such excellent company as all of you.
I have just opened my evening’s e-mail to find a host of similar letters and notices of television news coverage in Tennessee. We owe it to the eaglets not to give up. I have said that twice. It is crucial. Everything takes longer than we want. Bureaucracy takes time – and nothing happens on the weekend. Not even for Dr Sharpe!
Here is the letter going out to those who contacted Tennessee Wildlife Resources. Thank you to everyone who sent me their copy. It takes an army! Last year when I posted letters on my blog, DH labelled them as ‘fake news’. The letter below is not fake – many of you will have received the same one from the official.
Thank you for sharing your concerns. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) was notified of an eaglet tangled in fishing line by viewers of a Dale Hollow live eagle camera on Friday, April 22. TWRA staff who received the notification immediately contacted Agency staff responsible for wildlife conservation. The Agency also notified our partners at the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the American Eagle Foundation about the eaglet.
TWRA is actively monitoring the situation and is in communication with federal wildlife authorities. Although no longer listed on the federal list of endangered or threatened species, both bald eagles and golden eagles are protected by the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Due to their federally regulated status, the US Fish and Wildlife Service is the agency with oversite and authority in cases of eagles in distress.
Federal laws prohibit the disturbance of eagles and their nests, which includes any substantial interference with normal breeding, feeding, or sheltering behavior. Any rescue attempt would be considered a disturbance of natural behavior, and therefore requires federal permitting to take place. Additionally, only individuals who have been properly certified are allowed to climb to eagle nests for the safety of the individual and the eagles.
Disturbing the nest, even for a rescue attempt, comes with significant risks. Nestlings may be startled by human activity near the nest and prematurely jump from the nest before they are able to fly or care for themselves. This could result in the death of both nestlings. Adult eagles can also become territorial or defensive of the nest, and attack humans who attempt to approach the nest.
Live wildlife cameras serve as an important education tool for members of the public to safely view nature. However, from time to time, the public may see the disturbing footage of sick, injured, orphaned, or otherwise distressed wildlife as part of the natural course of events. Unfortunately, the eaglet in this situation was tangled in a piece of litter. TWRA always encourages individuals enjoying the outdoors to properly dispose of any trash to prevent injury to wildlife. Littering on public property carries varied offenses ranging from misdemeanor to felony charges.
This is a developing situation, requests for additional information should be directed to the agency with jurisdiction, the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Federal officials are aware of the situation and any additional decisions or action on the issue will be made by the US Fish and Wildlife Service with the full cooperation of TWRA.
Respectfully,
Emily Buck Director of Communications and Outreach Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency 5107 Edmondson Pike, Nashville, TN 37211
Because of you more news agencies are picking up the story. Why not be the heroes and help the eaglets?
More news this morning:
As of this morning, DH18 is still in the same position on the nest it has been for days with the entanglement materials underneath it – in other words, DH18 continues to be tethered to the nest. River dropped the fish and was dealing with intruders.
I would love to be posting all those amazing images of the Es but they belong to the photographers that took them. Please head over to the SW Florida Eagle Cam FB page to see what the Es and M15 are doing off camera. They are amazing!
Vijay caught the breakfast delivery on Sunday! Listen to those eaglets as they know M15 is on his way!
It is Sunday afternoon in Iowa and all eyes are on every twitch that Mother Goose is making.
Mother Goose was up for her evening break but was not gone very long at all.
It is 0715 and there is a big pip and a crack in one of the Goose eggs at Decorah! Yippeeee. Thanks ‘A’ for the head’s up.
‘H’ reports that R4 had a good feed yesterday. Continuing good news for this eaglet at Miami.
Nesting is also beginning at the Osoyoos Osprey Platform in British Columbia.
You have to love the Cal Falcon feedings. Two for you and then two for you and wait, yes, two for you. As ‘H’ reminds me I have always said if you want a peaceful nest watch the falcons and the hawks! And just imagine – it is not long until we have pip watch for Big Red and Arthur!
Great video by SK Hideaways of this little number three – feisty!
Wondering which egg is which of Big Red and Arthur’s? Cornell tweeted their ID.
Sunday was happy hatch day for two California Condors. One is one of my all-time favourites, Phoenix 477. He is the mate of Redwood Queen, the mother of Iniko (with Kingpin, who died in the Dolan Fire). Phoenix got his name because he also survived a tragic wildfire. He and Redwood Queen raised #1174 in Pinnacles (a new nest for them) in 2022.
Karl II and Kaia continue their bonding and getting their strength back after their long migration from their winter homes in central Africa.
The Pitkin County Osprey Platform had its second egg today. The nest is located on a platform in Roaring Park Valley, Colorado. Last year both osplets were pulled off the nest when nesting material attached to them was attached also to the female. One died and the other survived to be released this spring.
One of those heart warming stories that we would like to see happen everywhere! The leg of the eaglet was lodged in the nest material. The AEF came to the rescue.
There is lots of wing flapping going on at the Duke Farms Bald Eagle nest. Not branching yet. Soon.
The plumage is not nearly that of Duke Farms but the Dulles-Greenway Eaglets are standing very well on that nest. Just look at those healthy eaglets. Three of them!
Haven’t checked on Cassidy and Sundance at Farmer Derek’s GHO nest for awhile. Gosh, they are looking out to the world beyond that nest today.
A visitor came to the Achieva Osprey nest Sunday. The distinctive heart-shaped head looks like the head of Tiny Tot Tumbles hatched in 2021. She was the third hatch many believed had died of starvation on the nest at least three times. She did not and became not only the dominant chick but also the defender of this nest against adult birds during the summer of 2021. It sure looks like her head with the narrow white stripes and the dark heart!
The osplets at Achieva had one fish on Saturday, and Jack delivered a fish at 2009 on Sunday. The eldest continues its aggression due to a shortage of fish in the nest. We must remember that Mum, who feeds the chicks, is also hungry. This nest remains very precarious.
There is good news coming out of the KNF E1 nest of Anna and Louis. Trey has been on the nest jumping about. Way to go, Trey!
Kathryn has reported that Lake Murray had its third osplet hatch Sunday afternoon!
Jackie and Shadow continue to visit their nest in Big Bear Valley. We will all look forward to the late fall and the next breeding season for them. Regardless of eggs, chicks or not, it is always good to see Jackie and Shadow!
Congratulations to Llyn Brenig on the second egg of the 2023 season laid Sunday afternoon.
Continue sending your best wishes to the nests with issues – Achieva and Dale Hollow. Tomorrow keep Bald Canyon in your thoughts as an attempt will be made to rescue the eaglet that fell from the nest. We hope that it is still alive.
Thank you so very much for being with me today as we flitted about the nests that we have been watching. There are positively some many things happening internationally in Bird World that it is hard to keep up. I hope at the beginning of the week to check on all those UK Osprey nests closer and also the ones in Finland. Take care all. See you soon!
I want to thank everyone for their notes, their tweets, posts, videos, and streaming cams that helped to make up my blog today: Kathryn, A, H, B, L, S, T, J, W, WRDC, Osoyoos Osprey Cam, Raptor Resource Project and Explore.org, Moorings Park Ospreys, Bywyd Gwylld Glaslyn, Mary Kerr and Friends of Loch Arkaig, Conservation without Borders, Windows to Wildlife, Sylvia Jarzomkowske and Bale Eagles Live Nests and Cams, Nicole Norment Whittemore and Bald Eagles Live Nests and Cams, SW Florida Eagle Cam, Vijay and SW Florida Eagle Cam, Decorah Goose Cam, Cal Falcons, SK Hideaways and Cal Falcons, @CornellHawks, Ventana Wildlife Society, Eagle Club of Estonia, Sydney Wells and Bald Eagles Live Nests and Cams, Carol Craig and Osprey Friends, Albert Li and Big Bear, Duke Farms, Dulles-Greenway Eagles, Farmer Derek Owl Cam, Achieva Credit Union, KNF-Ei, Llyn Brenig Ospreys, and FOBBV.
It is a balmy ‘summer day’ on the Canadian Prairies. The temperature was 12 C with a blue sky and winds of 19 kph. It was a perfect day to go to the park and check on the arrival of the Canada Geese.
Several Ring-billed Gulls were enjoying the water. Ring-billed Gulls have white markings on their outer wing feathers. You can see these in the image below. They also have pale eyes with a red eye-ring. I like to think of them as celadon eyes, that coveted green-grey glaze from China. There is also a black band on the end of the yellow bill.
There were geese everywhere…at least 75 in a small area around the pond.
In the garden, there has been much joy with the arrival of the first European Starling around 1700. Also, there were three Blue Jays today. Last year, we had Junior and the three babies. Will there be another arrival tomorrow? We wait to see if four return from migration to join the Dark-eyed Juncos and the arrival of the Starlings.
This is the older Blue Jay, Junior.
Blue Jays are incredibly picky over peanuts. They test and shake each one for its weight. No sense in using all that energy for an old dried-up nut. Smart. About 1/3 of the peanuts in the ‘new’ bag appear not good enough to make the cut.
A blurry photo of the first European Starling for the year.
This woodpecker prefers this type of feeder while his friend is at the log suet feeder.
Migration counts continue across southern Manitoba where I live. At one site in part of an afternoon, 825 Red-tail Hawks, 130 Bald Eagles, and 3 Golden Eagles flew over. Fantastic.
The giggle for the day comes from Sharon Pollock!
The two little falcons are adorable. Lou doesn’t quite seem to know what to do but he is bringing in prey items, thankfully. Things work out. Maybe there will only be two!
‘A’ notes “Lou is a bit nervous of the little ones – as I mentioned, he trampled through the scrape and trod on one of the chicks’ heads today when retrieving prey from the back corner! He may have a bit to learn on that front. But Annie has it covered, and as long as he keeps the pantry full (which it seems he is doing so far), he will be doing his job. After all, he will be way too tiny to brood chicks for very long! What a cutie. And those little white fluffy babies with their tiny beaks open wide whenever they hear mum e-chup. Oh how gorgeous are they? Don’t you just want to snuggle them up? Well, no, that would upset Annie greatly, but you know what I mean. Such darling little creatures.”
SK Hideaways gives a good video of these two darlings!
Well, it doesn’t get much better. Murphy abandoned his ‘rock baby’ to care for a little eaglet that needed a parent. It was an experiment and it looks like it has worked.
The little eaglet gets a parent and Murphy gets to share his love. Win-win.
Wild Bird Sanctuary has just done a late posting. It is fantastic. Looking for a place for a donation, however small or large. Think of donating specifically for Murphy and the eaglet at Wild Bird Sanctuary!
Bella and Smitty’s little only eaglet is doing very well indeed. Check out the crop and it is going to have a second meal right away. There are so many advantages to eagle parents having only one to care for.
Meanwhile, at the Manton Bay nest of Blue 33 and Maya, the couple now have their third clutch of four eggs! The couple previously fledged two clutches of four eggs. They are heading for a record. These two are not going to let anyone else get the Super Couple award! Better put some more stock in Rutland water! Thanks, Geemeff!
Our beautiful couple need all the rest they can get during incubation!
At Glaslyn, it appears that Aran and the unringed unidentified female osprey have also come to an understanding. Aran has been sky dancing and bringing fish and she is at the nest. She is a beauty, too. Like Murphy and the eaglet, Aran is lucky that this young lady chose him when Mrs G did not return from migration.
Oh, it was wet from all the wind and storms but as the day progressed, things began to dry out a little in Wales.
Telyn and Idris have been having some discussions. It was believed Telyn laid an egg but I see no evidence of this. It was storming badly and both ospreys took to the ground so they would not be blown about. I hope Telyn did not lose her first egg of the season.
It has been a bit miserable for Dorcha and Louis up in Scotland at Loch Arkaig, too.
Gracie Shepherd posted a sweet screen capture of E21 and 22 sitting together near the pond. Oh, how we are going to miss these two. M15 has done an amazing job teaching them and they have certainly experienced more than most. Each knows how to defend a nest!
I have received word from Sassa Bird that my favourite white-tailed Eagle, Milda, whose nest is near Durbe in Latvia, has a pip in her egg! Milda is gorgeous and she has had a very tragic two years after losing her long-time mate, Ramos, just when she had laid her eggs in March 2021. We are hoping for a wonderful year for her and her new mate, Voldis.
Wondering what happened at Centreport, New York with Mum? Well, she is incubating two eggs with D3.
Cape Henlopen had a tragic 2022 season. There is a new platform this year and hopefully a new couple. Heidi McGrue brings us news of a visiting osprey. Fingers crossed.
One of the reasons that we love Jackie and Shadow so much is the fact that they love each other sooooooo much. Today Shadow brought in a massive fish just for Jackie in the nest. We know both of them would have liked to have had a replacement clutch. Might they still? We wait. Regardless, they are adorable and every day brings another giggle and smile.
Things continue to go well at the Moorings Park Osprey platform in Naples, Florida. Yes, Abby can eat a lot of fish but, we can assume that because she is a female she needs that for her extra growth in body mass and feathers.
It seems that Indigo has left to find his own way in the world. Diamond blocked him from the scrape on Saturday and he could be heard or it was thought. May he have a long and productive life full of adventure and prey.
A good way to end a great day is an update from Dr Sharpe and his team at the Channel Islands. He goes through all the nests and, of course, gives an update on Thunder and Akecheta. You get to see the most beautiful landscape – and yes, there are at least two eaglets in Thunder and Akecheta’s nest. You can see them!
Dale Hollow and Achieva, brief report: River brought in a small fish to the nest on Wednesday around 0900 despite being chased by intruders. One of those intruders sadly ate part of DH19’s body that had been left on the nest. It was a male. Many hope that River will accept him as her new mate – he did not harm 18 and 19. Then he could help raise the eaglets. That would be wonderful!
Harriet, Jack and the two surviving osplets at Achieva have eaten well. A visitor landed on the nest while the adults were away. I presume Harriet is out fishing!
The Ventana Wildlife Society is being so pro-active in the battle of HPAI with the goal of it not wiping out the Big Sur and Pinnacle Condors. Our hearts break for the Arizona condors losing a battle against this deadly disease.
In addition to the measures taken since 2022 to prevent the spread of HPAI, we are now working closely with partners to develop even more contingency plans. This week, we raised $80,000 in support of the purchase of 10 quarantine pens which will arrive in two weeks. SPCA for Monterey County has approved the temporary use of their land on which to setup these pens. Once placed, these pens can be used for treatment, vaccination (when available) and even safeguarding healthy condors from HPAI. We are especially thankful to our partners at SPCA for Monterey County for their collaboration.
These new quarantine pens will be crucial in the fight against this disease, but we still need support for our staff to care for the flock. We will be sure to keep you updated as we know more.
Kelly Sorenson
Ventana Wildlife Society, 12 April 2023
Here is a story that shows you that hard work and persistence – and believing – can pay good dividends when it comes to our raptors.
While the UK is gleeful over the success of the restoration projects for the Ospreys in North America, citizen scientists are needed to help understand the impact of climate change on birds. You can be one of those that help. Read the article and please do a daily count and send to eBird. Thanks to my eagle-eyed daughter for this one!
Thank you so much for being with me today. I am checking on Milda but no word of a hatch for our Latvian WTE yet. She is rolling eggs and being coy. Take care, everyone. See you soon.
Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, and streaming cams where I took my screen captures that helped make up my blog today: ‘Geemeff’, ‘T’, ‘J’, ‘A’, Sassa Bird, SK Hideaways and Cal Falcons, Sharon Pollock and Orange Australia Peregrine Falcons, World Bird Sanctuary, Deb Stecyk and NCTC, Bywyd Gwyllt Glaslyn, Dyfi Osprey Project, Friends of Lock Arkaig and the Woodland Trust, Gracie Shepherd and Raptors of the World, Latvian Fund for Nature, Rob Schwartz and Bald Eagles of Centreport, NY, Heidi McGrue and Raptors of the World, FOBBV, Moorings Park Ospreys, IWS, Dale Hollow Eagle Cam, Achieva Credit Union, and Ventana Wildlife Society.
Spring really has arrived. It was a balmy 14 degrees C here on Tuesday with a clear blue sky and bright sun. The same weather promises for today. Yipppeeee. When the weather is good, I encourage all of us to get outside. Even if you sit on a chair and let the sun warm your face. It is all beneficial. Make a habit of it!
The snow is melting and causing some local flooding, the geese, Cormorants, and pelicans fly overhead and it is a great day to be outside and appreciate all the effort the migrants have made to get here. A bald eagle flew low on the road, banked and landed on the ice at one of the lakes. I stopped and found it had spotted some carrion, likely a dead goose.
Other geese were finding open areas of water.
Geese are very territorial as they begin to prepare for nesting. I did not have my long, long lens on the camera. I am about 10 metres away, and he is still warning me off!
The staff have all of the goose and duck boxes full of fresh straw just waiting for new occupants.
Meanwhile, at home, all Lewis can do is dream about another Dove landing on the roof! Lewis makes Missy tired…he is still very much a kitten!
Missy prefers the Japanese snacks!
Ospreys move nests. Yes, they do. In fact, at Kielder Forest some have kept people guessing as to whether they would stay or go. The male at nest 1A White YA disappeared last year. Now the female has left that nest and moved to another. Kielder is putting out a call for female ospreys! Know anyone?
The remarkable story of a rock, an eaglet, and Murphy! From World Bird Sanctuary continues in the most positive way:
There is good news coming out of CROW. After treatment, Connick’s blood is clotting normally. Now they are trying to figure out why he had the loss of so many primary feathers. Thanks, CROW!
Annie and Lou’s little eyas is such a cutie pie. Cal Falcons caught the first feeding on video for us.
As I write this, it is 19:14 at The Campanile. Annie is giving us a good look at her sweet baby.
Lou meets his baby.
Annie even allows Lou to have a couple of incubation duties. Fantastic. Thanks SK Hideaways!
Ah, thank you, Annie for showing us the two little ones!
DHM and DHD have a precious little one, too – DH2.
At Dulles-Greenway, Martin and Rosa are doing such a fantastic job raising the three. ‘A’ comments today: “The three at Dulles Greenway have the most GIGANTIC crops. Three chicks in total food comas, mama looking down at her babies. She has fed them and fed them and I have rarely seen larger crops in my life… The youngest is just a firecracker. Always has the biggest crop on the nest. Always front and centre at meal times. Just the sweetest little eaglet. I have seen little or no bonking on this nest. The three just lie around, growing and playing, and eating like small peagles (pigs/eagles).”
The eaglets were fed several times in a row always crop dropping. This is a wonderful nest to watch. If you haven’t checked in on them, please do.
There are terrific storms hitting the UK. It was particularly windy and rainy in Wales so much so that Idris and Telyn at the Dyfi nest took to the ground instead of staying in the trees or nest. Poor Telyn. She was readying to lay her first egg.
The weather in Wales is very wet. The new female at the Glaslyn nest beat Aran there on Wednesday. Mrs G is now well past her return date, sadly. She left a fantastic legacy of ospreys and will always be remembered and loved. Glaslyn will no doubt be issuing a lovely memorial once they are sure Mrs G is not returning.
‘T’ writes: “What a wonderful day for the cameras and watchers in the Baltic countries! Karl II is back! Kaia is not too far. Osprey Teo is back in Latvian nest. And!! A new camera is already installed on Kergu’s nest. So more black storks we will see in Estonia. Kergu is on a bird map with Karl and others.” This is wonderful news. So many storks have been slaughtered in Malta and Lebanon- such sadness. Now will cute little Teo get a mate this year?
Karl II wasted no time getting from Moldova to his home! Fantastic.
Here is the video of Karl II’s arrival!
Welcome home, Teo!
Everyone loves SP chick in New Zealand. I have promised ‘A’ to put in this cute video and I kept forgetting amidst the drama of the hatch at Cal Falcons. Here we go! What a cutie pie. Life is good with our little gardener.
Everyone reading my blog knows I love ducks and look forward to their arrival. Here is a lovely short article on the Gadwall and why we should appreciate these little non-flamboyant ducks more.
Checking on Dale Hollow and Achieva: River brought in at least three nice fish for DH17 and DH18 and herself. Everyone ate well. Still, River had to warm off intruders while feeding her babies. She is doing well. Continue with your best wishes.
There also appears to be an issue of a possible nest takeover at Dale Hollow. Intruders have been about and landing. A floater? A take over? We can only watch and wait.
When I last checked, Jack had delivered two flounder to the Achieva nest in St Petersburg and both osplets as well as Jack and Diane had eaten well. Relief. Again, like Dale Hollow, send positive positive wishes to this nest also.
In fact, my count was wrong. Jack brought in five fish today!
This is a short report on what is happening in Bird World. All nests are good except those I worry about – Achieva and Dale Hollow. We take them one day at a time. Shadow continues to get in the nest cup, hoping for a spring miracle – the first male eagle to lay an egg! While he and Jackie are otherwise as affectionate as ever. Eggs are being incubated, eaglets fed, and Ospreys in the UK are either incubating or working on nests. Send them all your good wishes as we wait to see if either of the remaining two eggs will hatch at Cal Falcons.
Thank you so much for being with me today. Take care everyone. See you soon!
Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, tweets, and streaming cams that helped make up my blog today: ‘A’, ‘T’, Kielder Forest, Wild Bird Sanctuary, CROW, C White and the Captiva Island Eagle and Ospreys, Cal Falcons, SK Hideaways and Cal Falcons, Raptor Resource Project and Explore.org, Dulles-Greenaway, Bywyd Gwyllt Glaslyn, Estonia Eagle Club, Latvian Fund for Nature, Lady Hawk and NZ DOC, The Guardian, Dale Hollow and Barbara Snyder and Achieva Credit Union.
The big news of Saturday was the return of Iris, the oldest Osprey in the world, to her nest at Hellgate Canyon in Missoula, Montana. 13:48.
Well, this is really something to celebrate. She looks good. No doubt she is off catching a whopper that she will have on the Owl Pole – and yes, that is precisely what she did although she ate it somewhere else and came back with a nice crop.
Oh, Iris. It is so nice to see you.
We have been waiting for two specific mates to appear in the UK. Mrs G at Glaslyn (she is pretty late) and Dorcha. Dorcha arrived this morning. Louis will not be lonesome! Thanks, Geemeff. But where is Louis? He has been making restorations since his arrival and has not been seen since yesterday morning (Saturday). Send best wishes! Maybe Dorcha’s voice will call him to the nest! (Oh, this doesn’t feel right).
I am receiving news from ‘T’ that Karl II has landed at his nest in Estonia. As of early morning him and Kaia were only 203 km apart in their flight. Waiting for images! How wonderful.
Happiness in the form of two fledglings at the SW Florida Bald Eagle nest of M15. On the branches together, in the nest together, doing some nice little beak kisses, playing at the pond. All calm until Dad brings in the evening meal, and we know what will happen if that does happen.
Meanwhile, M15 is still getting attacked when he brings food to the Es.
‘A’ notes that ever since the three GH owlets played on the Es nest they are taking liberties. Now attacks during the day caught by Lady Hawk.
An excellent (and frank) presentation by Connor on what happened to Connick and what the future might hold for him.
Jackie and Shadow continue teasing us about whether there will be a replacement clutch. It would be nice, but it is also good to see them. Both look very healthy!
Oops…no, we don’t hide the Osprey eggs, Florence! Some people colour eggs from the store and try and hide them, but, no, Florence, not Ospreys! Sadly, one of the eggs stuck to Florence when she got off the nest at Captiva and was out of the egg cup. Angus tried to roll it back in but to no avail. It is just fine. One of the other eggs will be viable, if not both. Young couple. Honestly, they do not need three to look after the first time! Thanks, ‘H’, for alerting me to this incident.
Blessings happen in mysterious ways. Not sure which egg is outside the nest cup, and this will impact the pip watch if it is the first one laid. They still have two! Two is plenty. Two is more than enough for a young first-time couple.
Mrs G is quite late, and the hope of her returning to her mate, Aran, and her nest at Glaslyn, where she is the matriarch of the UK Ospreys, is dwindling.
Aran needs a good mate. I hope the sky dancing he has been doing attracts one.
I often get asked for nest recommendations. There are so many favourites, but I also look for stable nests with rewind and good cameras that are on YouTube. I also highly recommend UK Osprey nests. The only incidence of siblicide was last year at Loch of the Lowes. Mrs G has not returned as of today. That takes Glaslyn off my recommendation list for first time watchers. Then there are the goshawks and that takes away Poole Harbour. I love Foulshaw Moss but there is no rewind and you have to go to another site. I also love Llyn Clywedog but, my top three would be Blue 33 and Maya at Rutland Manton Bay. This couple has raised two sets of four osplets. They are a super couple! The pond is stocked. Last year they raised three big females. The second is Maya’s daughter, Telyn, who has her nest in Wales with Idris at Dyfi. She is also a super Mum. Third, and these are in no particular order, is Loch Arkaig with Louis and Dorcha. There are many others but, I would start with those three.
So far the three at Bald Canyon are doing well. Send out positive wishes. It is hard raising three.
Nice crops for the two eaglets at Pittsburgh-Hayes.
Mum at Pittsburgh-Hayes had to defend the eaglets against a racoon. Have you noticed how raccoons are increasingly becoming a problem? Some nests might require baffles. Thanks, ‘A’.
Only eaglet at US Steel, USS6, is doing well too. What a little cutie.
DH2 at the Decorah Hatchery appears to be fine. What a little cutie.
All three lined up like little angels at Dulles-Greenway. Reminds of Bazza, Falky, and Ervie. Wonder if Martin and Rosa have three little boys?
Two happy eaglets at Duke Farms!
One precious little eaglet for Bella and Smitty at NCTC doing well.
Like US Steel, NCTC, Chase & Cholyn have one perfect little nestling at Two Harbours.
Rose and Ron worked together and Rose is growing into being a fantastic Mum for R4 and R5. Just look at the two of them with their really dark thermal down and wisps of white Mohawks. And, we can’t leave out the clown feet!
The new Peregrine Falcon residents at San Jose City Hall have an egg! As ‘H’ points out, the male still has his juvenile plumage!
Mother Goose is beautiful first thing in the morning and as the sun sets on Decorah, Iowa.
Abby and Victor can make a lot of noise. When they see Harry coming, they can get so loud. This is what makes Sally so wonderful. She feeds those babies – during the day and at night. An incredible Mum. This made a difference for Victor!
The owlets of Bonnie and Clyde are huge. ‘P’ asked me what type of tree the nest is in. It is an Oak tree. I am just not 100% certain of the variety of Oak.
It looks like they are having a great conversation.
We have been expecting the sadness at Dale Hollow and Achieva. As many chatters aid, the two little ones are no longer suffering. That is surely a blessing.
Yesterday, the third hatch at the Achieva Osprey nest of 2023 was added to the 2023 Memorial Wall. He died at 15:52:03. Thanks Barbara Snyder for a picture from when we were hopeful. I have listed the cause of death as starvation/parental neglect. Yes, it happens.
The third chick at Dale Hollow passed. Cause of death starvation/siblicide. It is unclear if DH18 will survive. It has not had food for a couple of days. Thank you ‘AM’ for letting me know.
‘H’ reminds me that we are awaiting the arrival of Tom at the Chesapeake Conservancy Osprey Platform. The latest he has returned is 31 March. This could be worrisome.
Thank you so much for being with me this morning. There is much good news to celebrate today. It is hoped that the two nests, Dale Hollow and Achieva, will stabilise. Please take care. See you soon.
Thank you to the following for their notes, their videos, posts, and streaming cams that helped make up my blog today: ‘AM’, ‘T’, ‘A’, ‘H’, Geemeff, Montana Osprey Project and Cornell Bird Lab, Geemeff and Loch Arkaig and the Woodland Trust, Looduskalender Forum, SW Florida Eagle Cam and D Pritchett, Terry taipan and Bald Eagles 101, Lady Hawk and SW Florida Eagle Cam, Window to Wildlife, FOBBV, Jackie Morris and Glaslyn Osprey Group, Dyfi, IWS and Explore.org, PIX Cams, Decorah Eagles, Dulles-Greenway Eagles, Duke Farms, NCTC, WRDC, San Jose City Hall, Goose Cam Decorah, Moorings Park Ospreys, Farmer Derek, Barbara Snyder and Achieva Credit Union.
There are many holy days that some of you will be celebrating. As I write, this is Good Friday. Both Ramadan and Passover are with us, and Easter is on Sunday, with Eid al-Fitr on 20-21 of April in Canada. Whatever holiday is yours – even if none of them is – I hope you have had time with loved ones or outside listening to birds. Whatever it is that makes you peaceful and happy.
I promised some images of Missy and Lewis. They love water! The new shower is very exciting. They want to walk all over the wet floor and lick the water from the walls. They are simply fascinated!
Missy is growing. This is a bed for a very large dog. The two are usually inseparable, and to be able to sleep together, they required this 4′ x 4′ bed. Missy’s legs are thick and stocky, and her fur is about 7.5 cm long or 4 inches. She takes up a lot of room in that bed!
‘A’ commented that I had not been my usual jovial self. Oh, she knows my every mood! I haven’t been so happy. Is it the storms and the worry over whether or not any good tress will be left for the Eagles? Is this the beginning of a long series of events that will ultimately destroy their habitat? I worry about the raptors and the impact of humans over the past fifty years of their lives.
At the same time, I try to find the same joy that the Bald Eagle parents at Decorah did. Their first chick hatched and dead in the nest, and a solid second hatch burst into the world. Mum standing there with prey ready to feed it. Life goes on just like spring follows autumn and winter.
Life outside my conservatory window is teeming. Mr Woodpecker has been here around his usual time with the regular troop of sparrows and squirrels. Later, Mr Blue Jay and Mr and Mrs Woodpecker will arrive for their evening meal, and then the Chickadees will come. It is reassuring. Even Little Red is paying more visits, having discovered the suet. Everyone, including the sparrows, needs the fat and head there before going to the Black Oil Seed.
Then this image of Spirit and Jackie popped up on the screen. Oh, what a fantastic eaglet! Watching Jackie, Shadow, and Spirit last year was a blessing. If we get another chance this year, fantastic. If not, I am so glad they are visiting the nest so we can see they are alright. Maybe with HPAI, it is a blessing. We never know. My grandmother used to tell me there is a reason for everything; you might never know why things went one way instead of another.
A link to an exciting moment was sent to me by ‘MB’. Last year a Tawny Owl fostered chicks, but this year, one of her own eggs hatched. Luna is away and we get to see that little owlet come into our world and then Mum arrives. So exciting.
But my mood is also curtailed because of the growing impact of HPAI, now confirmed to be the cause of three condor deaths in Arizona.
Here is a copy of the 2022 UK Report on HPAI – what to expect and what can be done. This terrible disease continues to impact the raptors and it is good to know a little bit about it and what we can continue to expect.
Then there are the two struggling nests: Dale Hollow and Achieva and the realisation that the egg Jak and Audacity have been incubating could not be viable. So sad for these two. I continue to wish they could somehow be foster parents. Put DH19 in there and see what happens! Of course, that is sheer lunacy getting an eaglet from Tennessee to California. No one would do it, but I do like to fantasise sometime.
In Canada, the Geese and Raptors are returning to their spring and summer breeding grounds. Sometimes, they pick unusual spots to lay those eggs.
In the UK bird enthusiasts are celebrating the return of the Bittern, thought to be on the edge of extinction.
It is so hard to imagine the difficulty that single raptor parents have in finding food and defending their nest. River has had to deal with fishing tournaments and bad weather amongst having at least 25 other bald eagle nests in the area. Today, Friday, has so far been a bad day for the nest with a piece of road kill coming in and DH17 being the only one fed with 18 and 19 pecking. Oh, how I wish she could get a big catfish on that nest. Or two of them but I fear the holiday weekend will hamper any fishing she might do. My heart breaks for her. How long have her and Obey been mates? She is grieving hard and now she is left with three eaglets, not one or two but, three, to care for in very difficult circumstances. I understand that a few from Dale Hollow will go out and search again for Obey.
River will feed 17 first. She needs one of the three to survive, and 17 is big and strong at the beak. She is not allowed the luxury of being able to bring in enough food, perhaps, to keep all three alive. We wait and hope for a miracle. 17 ate again tonight and has a crop. 18 and 19 had nothing that I could see.
It is unlikely that the searchers will find Obey. ‘A’ and I chatted about where birds go to die and what happens after Harriet disappeared. Birds die for many reasons – old age, injury, and disease. Injury would include all manner of collisions with human structures and also with attacks by other birds. I was told once that raptors if they know they are dying, will see secluded places like forests, dense bushes, and tree hollows – just like my cat Duncan wanted to hide when she had rodenticide poisoning. They want to be alone and quiet. Many hoped Harriet would be found injured and taken care of, but her body was not found, and neither has Obey’s. There are reasons for this. Birds are light in weight. Their bodies decompose very quickly if scavengers do not get to them first. We know that carrion eaters quickly find dead animals and consume them – that is their job. Other animals also eat birds and raptors. Even the feathers are eaten by rodents and insects or used for nesting material. I had no idea til I looked at this question carefully that feathers contain calcium that is good for the food chain. That is why we hardly ever see a dead bird unless it collides with our window or vehicle at a specific moment.
I can see that the third hatch at Achieva has not been fed. Chatters say Diane is ignoring it. This is typical behaviour for Diane, who did the same thing in 2021. The difference was Tiny Tot Tumbles, who went without food for 12 days (not straight, but hours added up) and survived to become the dominant osplet on the nest. This little one is not as strong and feisty. Eventually, Diane had to give in, and she fed Tumbles after dark lots of catfish while the others slept. That got Tumbles strong and kept her alive. Sadly, I believe we are in for heartbreak today at this nest. Despite terrible beaking, the third tries to get to Mum, but nothing…nothing.
So if I knew I would be an osplet and could pick a US Mum, it would decidedly be Sally at Moorings Park who feeds til everyone is full and even gets up and feeds the osplets in the middle of the night to help stop the beaking. Sally is a marvel!
Here is Victor stretching. How beautiful. Two osplets, Abby and Victor, will fledge from this nest if nothing untoward happens between then and now. At one time we worried for Victor but, the great parenting meant all the difference to this little one. Look at his cute talons! Can talons be cute?
Blue NC0 is incubating two eggs at Loch of the Lowes. She does well with two osplets. Hoping no more eggs! We lost the third hatch at this nest last year to siblicide. As far as I know, it was the only instance of this behaviour in the UK.
Maya and Blue 33 also have two eggs at Rutland’s Monton Bay Osprey platform.
One of our readers is visiting Rutland today. Oh, how I hope they get to see the ospreys!
Idris and Telyn continue to work on their nest at Dyfi in Wales.
With the death of DH1 and the arrival of strong DH2 everyone waited to see if Deborah Hatchery Mum (DHM) would feed her baby and – of course – she did! What an excellent feeding.
A little fluffy treasure. What a loving image.
Chase and Cholyn’s only surviving egg has hatched! Congratulations Two Harbours!
Fishing line at the nest of the Es in Fort Myers. Will wait to see how this plays out.
Tonight, E21 and E22 are sleeping together in Dad’s spot at the nest tree. What a beautiful sight.
There was concern that the two siblings would be attacked by the GHOs and that is precisely what happened. Here is the report.
‘H’ reports that there were three hits. Despite this, both Es were seen flying around the pasture Saturday morning. All is well.
Everything is A-OK at Duke Farms, too. Gorgeous juvenile feathers and huge feet on those eaglets sleeping next to Mum.
Everything is also fine at the Dulles-Greenway Bald Eagle nest of Martin and Rosa. This would be a good eagle family to be a part of!
One good place to find solace is watching birds incubate eggs. (It can also be terribly boring). They are so dedicated. Big Red and Arthur are no exception and this will be one nest you will want to watch when the pips begin!
The only anxiety I have ever had is the weather, and Big Red can be encased in ice and it is okay. She is incredibly devoted. Three eyases…four eyases. No one goes hungry. She has had only one eyas not fledge and that was K2 who had a beak/jaw issue. She was taken into care but did not make it. That was in 2021. Last year, Big Red and Arthur raised four. L4 is still living and hunting in their territory. (L1 died when it hit a glass breezeway at Cornell and L3 is in care to be released. L2 left the territory and as noted, L4 is still there).
Catching up with Karl II and Kaia. Karl II has crossed over in Ukraine. His battery is only operating at 16%. They are working their way home to Estonia. Safe travels as you enter Ukraine.
Kaia also has a low battery. She has just crossed into Moldova. Waba continues to be in Sudan. No transmissions from Bonus and I am fearing he is lost to us.
Heidi Mc has worked hard on the Mispillion Harbour FB Group, videos, and the history of the nest. The goal was to increase awareness of the ospreys living along the coast of Delaware. Unfortunately, the recent storms have knocked out the camera. Heidi is hoping that the staff will be able to repair it before the Ospreys nest. So, keep checking!
We are still waiting for Iris to return to Hellgate Canyon in Missoula, Montana. Star returned to the Baseball Park the other day, and Louis arrived today. Come on, Iris! We hope you made it through winter. In the UK, Aran and Louis continue waiting for their mates, Mrs G and Dorcha. Mrs G typically arrives before 1 April, but Dorcha often doesn’t arrive until 11 April. Mrs G is the oldest UK Osprey and may no longer be with us.
Louis is working on the nest but Aran has been seen sky dancing so there could be a potential female mate in the area for him. That would be lovely. He is a fantastic mate!
The latest on Murphy and the foster eaglet.
11 April is pip watch for Annie and Lou. Please mark your calendars for the Campanile Peregrine Falcons.
Thank you so much for being with me today. Please take care. See you soon!
Thank you to the following for their notes, videos, tweets, posts, and streaming cams that helped make up my blog today: ‘MB’, ‘H’, CBC London, Heather Calk and FOBBV, Robert Fuller, Ventana Wildlife Society, fws.gov, BTO, The Guardian, Dale Hollow Eagle Cam, Moorings Park, LOTL, LRWT, Dyfi, Raptor Resource Project and Explore.org, CIEL, Marti Lord and SW Florida Eagle Cam and D Pritchett, Carol S Rifkin and NEFL and SWFL Eaglecam Watchers Club, Duke Farms, Dulles-Greenaway, Cornell RTH, Looduskalender Forum, Bywyd Gwyllt Glaslyn, Terry Carman Live Nest Cams and News.
There are good things happening all around us. The Robins are arriving in gardens around the world. Storks are settling into their nests in Europe. Most of the ospreys are in their nests in the UK. There is much to be thankful for and today, Murphy, the Bald Eagle incubating Rock Baby gets a foster eaglet. It is a win-win for both of them! Let us hope that they take to one another. This is both our giggle and our good news story for the day!
The ‘Make You Feel Good’ video is from Geemeff and wow. The Osprey nest collapses and it is quickly replaced!
Peregrine Falcons are hatching in Japan and this is a reminder that we are now only four days from pip watch for Annie and Lou at Cal Falcons.
Jackie and Shadow continue to tease us and many of those chatters are hoping for Easter eggs in that nest up at Big Bear.
There was only one egg and USS6 hatched on the 5th of April at 23:38. The egg cup is so deep and Mum keeps aerating that nest but, there is a little cutie pie in there.
It is a little soggy at the Pittsburgh-Hayes nest but the two eaglets are doing just fine.
Rosa and Martin have the three sweetest little eaglets. Thank you for posting this comparison, Sassa Bird.
So much nesting material has been brought in. Martin must have found a buy one get two-free sale! ‘A’ has noted that there is some beaking that has happened at Dulles-Greenaway.
It is mid-afternoon on Thursday and the three eaglets at Dale Hollow need some food. They have picked off everything from that old catfish and racoon heads that they can. ‘A’ notes that both 17 and 18 have attached 19 and that the little one did get a tiny bit of food before bed Thursday. River is constantly aware of intruders at or near the nest and this is such a problem for her bringing food. Send every good wish you have to this nest.
Ospreys continue to arrive at Kielder Forest.
Everything is fine at the nest of Big Red and Arthur on the grounds of the Cornell Campus. Arthur is getting some good incubation time this year.
Nih Red’s cere is a lovely chrome yellow. Looks nice and healthy!
There are eyes on several osprey nests and one of those is that of Iris at hellcat Canyon in Missoula, Montana. April 7 is her favourite day to return from migration. Did she survive this year? We wait.
Those precious three eggs.
One of those great nests is Moorings Park Ospreys. Abby ad Victor are growing longer tail feathers! They are gorgeous.
Just look at that gorgeous peach in the plumage of Abby.
If you saw it, your eyes were not deceiving you. Yes, these are the three owlets from the Pritchett Property on M15 and the E’s nest! Gracie Shepherd got it on video.
Waiting for Iris.
Waiting to see about that pip at Decorah. Yes, we have a hatch. Welcome DH2.
Here is that hatch captured by Paul K – this is the most spectacular hatch that many have ever seen. DH2 literally bursts out of the shell, a strong and healthy eaglet. Fingers crossed.
DH2 is healthy and ready for prey!
There are two very feisty bobbleheads at Bald Canyon. Oh, goodness they are active!
At Jak and Audacity’s nests, it is unclear if that precious egg #7 is viable. Oh, how I wish they could get a foster eaglet like Murphy.
We are waiting for Dorcha to return to Loch Arkaig. Louis was early this year and he has been doing some restorations and did some sky dancing on his return to the nest. Come on, Dorcha. We don’t want Louis to be Lonesome Louis, again.
Geemeff provides us an explanation of sky dancing, “Soon after his arrival at the nest, the male starts sky-dancing over the nest. During this aerial display the male flies sharply up rapidly beating his wings and often carrying a fish or nesting material. At a height of several hundred feet the bird hovers with tail fanned and talons dangling. He then dives down to varying distances and quickly ascends to repeat the hover several times, often uttering a creee or cheeerk call. The sky-dance display is preformed frequently before the arrival of the female and continued less frequently after her arrival. The sky dance seems to have two functions, a territorial display and to advertise for a mate.” (New York Wild)
There are also second eggs for Maya at Rutland and Blue NC0 at LOTL. Something wonderful to celebrate. Thanks, Geemeff.
Geemeff sent a video of Maya popping her egg out! She notes that poor NC0 was grunting and it looks like Maya just sends the eggs out like they peas being shelled!
I love waterfowl and Coots are right up there. Every time I read about them I learn something new. Did you know?
Older chicks can swim faster to dinner, which is first come, first served. But parents mete out justice to the early arrivals. Mom takes a big chick by the head in her bill and shakes it around like a dog with a rope—an act called “tousling” that doesn’t quite communicate its vigor. Lyon calls it “spanking.” The chicks “scream blue murder,” but punishment is calibrated to deter without harming them, Lyon says. This way smaller chicks get to eat, and more chicks survive overall.
Bay Nature
Read the entire article here. You will learn something new, too!
The mystery is now solved. How many eaglets were Mr President and Lotus feeding? Well, it is now confirmed that the National Arboretum couple has two eaglets in their new nest. There are their little heads in the image below!
Bad weather hit Fort Myers late on Thursday and one of the Es, on the branch, is soaked.
M15 continues to deliver fish and teach the Es what they need for survival. SW Florida is doing very well. Harriet would be overwhelmed at the amazing job her mate has done to raise their last two eaglets.
Things continue to look bleak at Achieva. I saw only one small fish come in at Dale Hollow. We can only hope that there is a turn in all of this. I urge caution, especially if you are watching Achieva today.
Thank you so much for being with me today. We are now 3-4 days away from pip at Annie and Lou’s. That will be such a joyful moment. Take care. See you soon!
If you would like to receive Bird World news in your inbox, please subscribe.
Thank you to the following for their notes, videos, posts, tweets, and streaming cams that helped to make up my blog today: ‘A’, ‘H’, Geemeff, Sydney Wells and Bald Eagles 101, WHDH, Japan Peregrine Falcons, FOBBV, PIX Cams, Sassa Bird, Dulles-Greenaway, Kielder Ospreys, Cornell RTH, Moorings Park ospreys, Gracie Shepherd and SW Florida Eagles and D Pritchett, Montana Osprey Project and Cornell, Raptor Resource Project and Explore.org, Paul K and Raptor Resource Project, IWS and Explore.org, Geemeff and Friends of Loch of Arkaig and the Woodland Trust, Bay Nature, Friends of the National Arboretum, and SW Florida Eagle Cam.
