Category Archives: birding economy

Bon Voyage Mini…Sunday in Bird World

10 September 2023

Hello Everyone!

Saturday was the most gorgeous fall day. It was about 16 degrees C with a beautiful blue sky and some soft puffy white clouds as I travelled north from the City. You could see the geese overhead flying in their standard ‘V’ formation swirling around the fields that have been recently harvested – wheat and flax, mainly. There is something so magical about the rhythm of their lives. They come in late March or April and being heading to their winter homes in September-October. At one of the local nature centres, they fly in by the thousands at dusk (on a good day). Their black silhouettes filling the horizon as the sun begins to slowly set in the West.

One of the best places to see the geese in the afternoon is at Oak Hammock Marsh.

A lone American White Pelican and a Trumpeter Swan with all the geese landing at a small pond by the road.

On the way home there was a beautiful Red-tail Hawk hunting in one of the fields. What a magnificent raptor. No photo…just watched it for a bit and left quietly — we must always remind ourselves that their lives are overtly challenging and any opportunity for a meal should be respected and we should ‘disappear’.

Oak Hammock Marsh is run by Ducks Unlimited and the Province of Manitoba and is an extensive wetland. Being there reminded me that ‘R’ had sent me an article several weeks ago and our discussion about how we need cooperation to protect the birds. What he sent me was about the Excise Tax in NJ – how that comes from the sale of hunting equipment, firearms, permits, etc. goes to help with the conservation of the birds, such as our beloved Ospreys, in the state of New Jersey. We talked about how this could be a blueprint for the future if we want our birds to thrive – and as much as I hate killing of anything, it makes sense. Ducks Unlimited is working across Canada with various groups including some in the province of Alberta to purchase huge tracts of land to protect and restore for wildlife. It is something to think about. In NJ it is called the Wildlife and Sport Fish Restoration Program. Does your state or province promote such a scheme? If not, it might be worth a good conversation!

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All of the kittens behaved themselves. Missey and Lewis continue to be in the main house and Calico and Hope in the conservatory annex. Hope has been enjoying her new rich foods a little too much or it is that plus the stress of coming inside…but the poor little darling is now on kaolin probiotic granules for running poop shots. Hoping she is over this very quickly…she was fine when she arrived! A few images from today…Hope insists on doing everything that Mamma does. She resisted her own little dish of organic chicken and sauce to try and eat with Calico, was on the cat tree and it seems that Calico is an excellent pillow.

Giggles all around today – the cats are eating well and their rooms are disinfected and cleaned twice a day – everything. Gosh, the laundry in making those tents…Calico is off for her surgery on Tuesday and Hope will be, by then, surely she will, friendly!

Thank you Jeff Kear – I had not heard about Alyth putting in battery storage units right under the nose of Harry’s Osprey Nest! Does the need to constrict the use of fossil fuels mean that we should not consider the environmental impact and the location? Was any study done? It is not clear when it comes to the ospreys or other wildlife.

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‘A’ reports on what is happening ‘down under’ – that is where most of the action is currently!

Sydney Sea Eagles: “Dad brought in a very nice fish at 08:33:22 this morning and Lady was quickly shimmying down the perch branch to take control of it. Lady and Dad have a little chat and seem excited by the fish but the eaglets (especially SE32) are more interested in what’s going on in the tree around them this morning. SE31 is first to the table, while SE32 is looking up and around at everything in his expanding world. The view is somehow different from up on his feet perhaps! At 08:39 he finally moves up to the table and his sister courteously moves aside so her brother can have some breakfast! This is so civil, it’s ridiculous. Someone remind these kids they are apex predators! Just before 08:40 Dad flies in with a stick (the parents have been busy building another level of cot railing over the past five or six days, as the two get up onto their feet and start moving around the nest a lot more – now SE32 has joined his sister up off his tarsi). Dad is very engaged in his stick placement and spends considerable time perfecting the front of the nest. So cute. Lady continues feeding SE32, though SE31 is momentarily fascinated by Dad’s manoeuvrings.” 

Royal Albatross: “In New Zealand, Manaaki is on his nest and there is very little wind today, so I am not anticipating a fledge this morning. The wind may pick up during the afternoon. We will see.” 

This video is from the NZ DOC. It shows our young prime hovering nicely! This was three days ago.

Melbourne Peregrine Falcons: “At Collins Street, F22 takes a break shortly after 9am (that time stamp is SO hard to read) and little M22 is soon in to take over incubation. He settles down in his customary jerky manner and then finds he has a spare egg he has failed to cover. So he has to start his enfluffling all over again. Such a sweetie. I love these falcon dads.” 

Port Lincoln: “No third egg at Port Lincoln and I certainly hope there won’t be, given the gap between the first two eggs is 74 hours. A third egg could therefore be as far away as Tuesday. I do hope there isn’t another one. I’m not looking forward to the huge gap between the first two. A third hatch would be so nerve-wracking. We really don’t need that sort of stress.”

There are still only 2 eggs at Port Lincoln.

I certainly agree with ‘A’. A third hatch at Port Lincoln does not need that kind of stress! But then again, we have a new Dad and a new season and anything is possible.

Thanks, ‘A’.

Let us go and check on Diamond and Xavier – Xavier flew in with a nice prey for Diamond’s breakfast, and he then worked hard rolling the three big eggs and trying to fit them under him. He was successful, but gosh, it is a good thing there are not four of them.

‘A’ writes about the intruder that has been bothering Xavier and Diamond: “That intruder is still worrying at Orange, although Diamond and Xavier have things sorted. This morning, the intruder was spotted. Diamond called Xavier to come and mind the eggs. He arrived and took over incubation. Diamond dealt with the intruder (visible from tower cam) and returned to the nest box. All is well. I am SO glad they have this routine. Diamond is twice Xavier’s size and makes short work of an intruder. Any injury to Xavier at this point would be a disaster for the clutch. They know this. We are grateful. But I do wish this intruder would move on. I do keep wondering whether it is Izzi, as the males do tend to move no more than 50 km from their natal nest, from what I have read, whereas the female fledglings spread much further away. It is so funny that Indigo, too, proved impossible to persuade it was time to leave home, so that Diamond and Xavier had to physically bar him entry to the scrape! At least they got rid of him before the eggs were laid, which was only just the case the year Izzi was there. He was persistent in the extreme. I think it was early August before they gently told him “grow up and find your own territory, son!” and moved him on.”

So do we think that this might be Izzi? That would be interesting. (Note that raptors normally engage other raptors of the same gender).

‘H’ sent me a quote today from one of David Gessner’s books on Ospreys. It is so appropriate and she believes it is form the Return of the Osprey but neither of us had the time to dig through the book to find the right page:

  “To love the Osprey is to be constantly open to loss.” 

Mini was not seen at the Patchogue nest after she flew off in the early morning. It is now 2100 nest time, and she has not flown in. Mini, you taught us to persevere, not give up hope, be smart, and figure things out. Safe travels – good winds, a full crop, a good life.

‘H’ brings us up to date on the last two nests she has observed for me. She officially monitored ten nests, but it was always more than that. Over the course of osprey season, the number of eggs grew to over 350 that were monitored. I am very grateful for her help and keen eye and instincts – thank you, ‘H’. You came to Ospreys, naturally.

Kent Island – It seems that Molly may have already started on her journey.  September 9th was the fourth full day without a sighting of our precious Molly.  Both Tom and Audrey were seen in ‘Joe’s tree’ during the day.  At 1800 Audrey came to the nest for a while to dry off after her bath.  And, Audrey flew to the nest at 2300 to spend her third straight night on the nest.

Barnegat Light – There were intermittent periods of live stream buffering throughout the day.  We did not observe Duke delivering a fish to Dorsett at the nest, but Dorsett was seen a few times at the nest and on Duke’s perch.

Louise and Banff are no longer at the Fortis Exshaw Nest. As the sun sets Saturday evening near Canmore, Alberta, not far away from Lake Louise, they have had snow on the 6th! By vehicle, it is 5 hours through the mountains, according to Google. The girls will happen to be sunning themselves in the south.

The two surviving chicks at Osprey House in Brisbane, Australia are doing well.

There is extremely sad news coming out of Big Bear Valley today – confirming losses from several years ago.

I am attaching the article.

Color-Banded-Bald-Eagles-in-Southern-California-UPDATE-—-Bloom-Biological-IncDownload

How has the earthquake in Morocco impacted Ospreys migrating from Europe and the UK? Certainly transmissions might be garbled but what about the environment where they are fishing, living, or flying through?

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A lovely Red-tail Hawk – juvenile – visited the WRDC nest of Rose and Ron yesterday. ‘H’ was the first to alert me and Pat Burke has posted an image.

That’s a wrap for Sunday, September 10. Thank you for being with us. Please take care. See you soon!

Thank you to the following for the notes, comments, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog this morning: ‘A, H, Jeff Kear’, Alyth, Sydney Sea Eagles, NZ DOC, 367 Collins Street by Mirvac, PLO, Charles Sturt Falcon Cam, Kent Island, Wildlife Conserve F of NJ, PSEG, Snow Seekers, Osprey House, Tonya Irwin and Raptors of the World, Pat Burke and Eagle Nest Watchers, Bloom Biological, and The Guardian.

Mini needs our help, tell her story…Monday in Bird World

14 August 2023

Good Morning Everyone,

It has pitched rain – on and off – for most of Sunday. The garden is a sea of greens with a few sunflowers still poking through and the Trumpet flowers basking in the humidity and heat. The climbing roses bloomed again for the second time this summer and it was so nice to see the bees return. Sunday evening, Ring-billed Gulls danced in the thermals over the Conservatory for several minutes while a young Cooper’s Hawk tried its luck for a sparrow snack. Calico has been and gone and back again. Those arrivals and departures remind me of the regularity of the trains in Japan. I have stopped leaving food out because of the wasps – they must not like the rain because we have finally had a reprieve today. Lewis and Missey have been helping me finish with the clearing out of my old office and each discovered, in their own time, that the branches of the apple tree are filled with little birds. They can sit and watch and be only 5-6 cm away! Lewis was delighted. He is loud like some of the osplets…hopefully he will not scare them away.

Mini has been on the nest for Saturday night, most of Sunday, Sunday night and Monday morning. Resting her leg. Tired from lack of fish? Dad brought her a fish early Monday morning. Mini ate a small portion of it, perhaps a quarter. The fact that the parents are bringing food is good. She needs to eat much more. My inbox was overflowing with the news of the delivery. The love for Mini should heal here.

I am, however, worried about Mini. I do not want her to die of starvation on a nest like JJ (or die anywhere of starvation). She needs to eat a lot more than she has.

The archaic laws of the Migratory Bird Act only allow for intervention when a bird is off the nest. What if the injury is such that the bird remains on the nest because they cannot get off? Then help needs to come to them!

Mini’s story needs to be told. If you live in Patchogue, contact the local press and take them to the nest. Tell them about Mini. Tell them of her struggles and triumphs.

For the rest of us, contact them through FB Messaging – e-mail, telephone. Get them to care as much about Mini as we do. You can write it and cut and paste the same story to everyone of the news outlets. The more they receive the more attention Mini will get.

If Mini does require immediate help, all of the attention might just get the help she requires when and if she cannot leave the nest.

I messaged Newsday and ABC7 on FB and told them about Mini. Please contact them – Newsday.com and also News 12 Long Island, ABC 7 New York, Newsbreakcom, Greaterlongisland.com and anyone else that you know. Tell them Mini’s story. Make this as big as Murphy and his Rock. It could save our girl’s life if she does not get fed and is weaker and on the nest.

The Osprey season of 2023 has been anything but normal. Many of us are struggling to find answers to questions because things seem to be upside down and inside out. For example, all of the birds are gone at Loch of the Lowes or so it seems. First and way too early was Blue NC0. Then PF4, the male. Then Laddie LM12 leaving the female PF5. So you ask what is strange about all of this? The norm is for the female to leave early so that she can fatten up for the long migration. Remember she has lost about 1/3 of her body from egg laying to fledging chicks. The male stays on until after the youngsters fledge so that he can get in form. It is not normal for the male to leave prior to the fledglings. The answer might be in the fact that the female fledgling was simply ruthless to Laddie…and we know that she can catch her own fish!

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At Loch Arkaig, Ludo was not seen since 0905 on Sunday morning – the very loud youngster of Louis and Dorcha. Geemeff reminds me that JJ6 Doddie flew out for migration on the 15h of August in 2020 one week prior to his mom Aila (oh, she was a darling). So has Ludo begun his journey? Or is he sitting on the nest screaming for fish as I write this? Ah..Geemeff confirms that Dorcha and Ludo showed up on the nest. Excellent.

There is, of course, the unresolved soap opera at Lock Arkaig’s Number One nest. Geemeff adds: “Not only did the female Affric (152) bring a fish to Nest One where her potential suitor Garry (LV0) was waiting, but it was an eel! A huge, lively eel – never seen one on those brought to either nest before.” Louis did abandon his former nest with the sweet Aila and took up residence with Dorcha when Aila did not return in 2021 at Nest Two. But who will Africa choose? Will it be Garry or Prince or maybe it will be both. Has there ever been a love triangle for Ospreys like the Trio on the Mississippi?

Then, of course, there are all the issues at Loch Garten. Juveniles defending the nest against a two-year-old fledgling from the same nest. The male Brodie appeared at the nest with a fish but no juveniles to take it. Loch Garten has also confirmed that 2C4 got his injury from a stick on the nest and not from KL5. That is a relief. 2C4 has shown up at the nest looking very thin and no KL5. Send positive thoughts.

Many were so upset about what happened to JJ at the FortisExshaw nest that they had difficulty sleeping. I want someone to correct me and tell me that it is not unusual to lose so many fully feathered osplets right at the time they are to fledge! It tears our hearts out. We watch them and get to know all the little details of their lives from the time the eggs hatch to fledge. At 55 days old it seems incomprehensible that one should die of starvation but JJ did. Then Banff had two fish on Sunday and fledged. Louise brought them in. What has happened to O’Hara?

A nest that I had difficulty watching turned around this year with a new set of adults – Collins Marsh. The former couple that raised Malik did not return in 2022 and this new couple have raised two beautiful fledglings. It is a joy to witness. They are both returning to the nest and have had nice bulging crops. This nest really gets gold stars this year along with many others in the central part of North America that seemed to fare better than those on the NE Coast and Florida.

Look at the crop on the one in the top photo. I wish every chick went to sleep at night like that!

Boulder County is another Osprey nest that has to put a big smile on all our faces. Oh, goodness we worried about little three but it grew up and just look at the fledglings. They are returning for regular fish meals – no one appears to be going hungry!

Cowlitz PUD did well this year with a single fledge. For those who do not know this nest’s history, it is full of tragedy. Electra lost chick after chick from starvation and siblicide before (and including) 2021 only to have three beautiful osplets taken by a Bald Eagle in 2022. The power company studied the situation and installed two metal grids on either side of the nest to protect the family. (This design could work to save other nests and the power company should be thanked continually for their forward thing on this matter). The fledgling returns to the nest this year- often on and off. The grids protected the family, and there was enough fish for one. We celebrate that great achievement!

At Oyster Bay, all three fledglings continue to return to the nest – showing us that they are all safe – for fish and togetherness.

A difficult nest to watch was the Bridge Golf Club. The teeny weeny third hatch succumbed to siblicide. There were fears for the second hatch because fish deliveries were so sporadic. It was the time of the ‘great storm upheaval’ in June. The nest’s two osplets survived it all and there were four fish deliveries before the camera went off line (possibly due to the storm in the area Saturday night). These two are doing well.

Sandpoint has struggled with inexperienced parents this year. There were five fish delivered on Sunday and Coco did get some fish to eat. Relief. What was the difference? Mum went fishing!!!!!!!!! We sure wish this would happen at the Patchogue nest – Mum flew to the nest with Mini resting and brought sticks. Mini needs a fish, too.

Many females fish once the chicks have fledged and supplement the fish brought to the nest by dad. This is making all the difference in the world for Coco.

Now for ‘H’s nest news:

Fortis Exshaw – Banff fledged at 56 days of age!  She flew off to the west, strong and gracefully.  Two minutes later she landed on the T-perch, and it was a pretty good landing for the first time. After resting for about thirty-five minutes, she flew from the perch, circled around and made a perfect landing on the nest.  Well done, Banff.  O’Hara landed on the nest to ward off an intruder three times within five minutes starting at 1756.  And, Louise delivered two good-sized fish for her girl on Sunday.  

Osoyoos –  Olsen, Soo and their 49-day-old chick are doing well.  Olsen delivered at least 8 fish to the nest for his family, including one really big one.  The worry for Osoyoos is the prolonged heat wave that will continue through Thursday.  The temperature for Monday is predicted to go as high as 39C/102F.

Forsythe – Ollie is still hanging out at the nest, but is spending more time away exploring, and perhaps following Dad.  Oscar delivered three fish to the nest for Ollie on Sunday.

Kent Island –  Molly had a splendid day!  Just two days after fledging, Molly took several short flights from her nest, and she was treated to lots of yummy fish.  

Dahlgren – D12 was seen on the nest a few times, but her dad was a no-show on Sunday.  Jack may have brought a fish to D12 at another location.  We know D12 can catch her own fish, and she may have, but she did not bring a fish to the nest.  

Patuxent Nest 1  – The juvies, Sib-B and Foster, are still being provided for at the nest by Dad.  I always smile when I see them.

Thanks ‘H’! So happy to see O’Hara back at the nest.

For all those that lost chicks – whether it was a single chick or an entire clutch – due to weather, starvation, or siblicide – some did manage to fledge at least one fledge, and for that, we are joyful.

There is great news about Pat, the fledgling eagle from Dulles-Greenway. Possible release into the wild at the end of August. Smile everyone!

The answer to the ‘hen harrier problem’ is not to move the chicks and the nests but to bloody end, the wealthy going out and shooting birds. At the same time, the government should ban the 15th of August when the super wealthy go out with their guns and shoot defenceless ducks and other feathered friends. They are sitting ducks with nowhere to go while guns blast away. It makes me ill.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/aug/08/scheme-to-protect-hen-harriers-in-england-a-waste-of-money-says-group?CMP=share_btn_link

The camera is back online at Port Lincoln.

WBSE 31 and 32 are bursting. So much prey. Both are eating well. But if you look, you will see that Lady looks soaking. ‘A’ notes: “Lady is a devoted mum. She pays a lot of attention – sometimes, when she is trying to make sure SE32 gets fed, she slows right down with her feeding, giving SE31 very small bites. She keeps a constant eye on whether SE32’s head is back up and is careful to try and give a bite to SE31 just before she loses patience and beaks her brother for getting too many consecutive bites. She really does do her best. This afternoon, when it was raining, she was the best mumbrella ever, spreading her wings right out and flattening her body so that the eaglets were toasty warm and dry, while the rain beaded off Lady’s back and soaked her head feathers, which she shook out periodically. She was on the nest for the best part of three hours, keeping her babies safe on a day that was the coldest in over a year in Melbourne and similar in Sydney – the ‘feels like’ temperature stayed in single digits all day. So she knew that exposure was a danger this afternoon and she protected her eaglets perfectly for as long as was necessary. I love the devotion of these bird parents.”

At Orange, Diamond and Xavier have been bonding and mating and we might be thinking there could be an egg soon.

Someone posted this on FB. Really? No, we want tonnes of fish being brought to every raptor nest, every chick to have a huge crop at bedtime, no intruders, enough platforms for every raptor to raise a family, no illness, no human debris tangling up our friends and cutting into their legs and wings, no predation, no more red tape to intervene when our feathered friends need help….Then we can enjoy that cup of tea!

Of the 324 eggs monitored in 2023 by me and ‘H’, only 76.55% have survived. We will have to wait until the figures for 2024 to have a good comparison. A mortality figure of 4% in ospreys was always believed to be average. This year it is 23.45%.

Thank you so much for being with me today and for helping to spread the story of Mini. Let us hope that some interest is generated for our little gal. Take care. See you soon!

Thank you to the following for their notes, comments, posts, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog this morning: A, Geemeff, H, L, L, PB, Scottish Wildlife Trust, Sue Wallbanks, Mary Kerr, Fortis Exshaw, Collins Marsh, Boulder County, Cowlitz PUD, PSEG, Bridge Golf Club, Sandpoint, FortisExshaw, Osoyoos, Forsythe, Kent Island, Dahlgren, Patuxent River Park, Dulles-Greenway Eagles, The Guardian, PLO, Sea Eagle Cam, and Charles Sturt Falcon cam and Cilla Kinross.

Monster Fish, Mini and more…Friday in Bird World

11 August 2023

We are supposed to have rain over the next week. Everyone knows this and was in a bit of a panic to get outside and be in the nature centre today before it rains for 6 or 7 days. Of course, it never rains all day long. It is like Asia when it looks like the forecast is 100% for all day, but the rains begin, on time, at 1600 and are downpours and then stop. That said, it has been raining for the past four hours…Little Red, the Blue Jays, and all the sparrows continue to eat regardless. I am putting a bit of food out every hour so that it does not get wet for them. They also have seed cylinders, the solid ones inside the lilac bushes.

Calico has a covered area where she can eat (along with a few of her friends if they stop by). She comes on the dot just about every 3 hours. Her fur looks better since the worm and flea/tick treatment. I was reminded by ‘RP’ today that often kittens will follow their mother to find food. Maybe a kitten or two or three will show up! I live in hope because Calico surely has them hidden well.

The new wetlands area begins at the lake. The water is pumped to another pond where it flows downwards, filling all of the pool areas in the park. (All photos taken with iPhone).

I went to count goslings. There were only 14 visible but mostly there were mature Mallards, a few American Goldfinches, Red-breasted Nuthatches, and Black-capped Chickadees. The animals and birds were quiet. Humans were loud. It was nice to have the nature centre garden market open – lots of freshly picked veggies, the profits going to a good cause.

The day continues to be consumed with Mini and her left leg. There are visible two puncture wounds above the ankle and before the knee of the left leg. Did Mini injure her leg stretching it and having someone’s talons caught in hers? A fish fight? We don’t know.

Indeed, any observer knows very little. We can deduce that she is keeping her balance with her wings. She appears to be in some pain. She is still flying and she is hungry. She is not – and I want to repeat this – she is not lethargic. She is not grounded. My friend ‘R’ and I know that if it is a sprain it will heal. If it is a break, it will heal – maybe not the precise way that it would if set in a cast but there is no guarantee that a wildlife rehabber would —- OK and this is harsh — put Mini’s leg in a cast and keep her in residence til late next spring when she could be released. She would not be ready for this year’s migration. This is something that has to be considered. I know that it is hard to watch her but she is alive, eating, flying, screaming for fish.

My reaction to Mini comes out of remembering many others, like Mini, that did not get a second chance. The first one that comes to mind is WBSE 26. We need to take a deep breath, send positive wishes, and not panic but observe.

1530: Fighting with one of those hard to eat fish unless the head has been taken off…it is good practice for our girl to try and open up these fish, though. No matter how frustrating it is to watch. She will have to do it soon enough in the real world without parents.

The two puncture marks above the left ankle before the knee. Two spaced black dots the distance of talons. We do not want these to get infected. (Mini could we ask that you go and stand in some salt water and soak that leg? Salt water aids healing).

You can see the punctures better here.

Mini has been on and off the nest. She has been fish-calling. Flying down from the perch. It was not a bad landing.

Our beautiful survivor.

Gone.

Bobby Horvath has a practice on Long Island. He rescued Pale Male (the 31-year-old celebrity Red-tail Hawk with its nest on one of the most expensive properties in Central Park) and held him as Pale Male was dying. Horvath is willing to come out to help Mini if she is lethargic. Here is the note that he sent ‘L’ and the phone number. Write it down! Bobby might be our best hope that she would get good care instead of being euthanised. But he is busy – like everyone, and please note that he is stressing weak or lethargic – low or on the ground – not on the nest. Please don’t call him otherwise. All the rehabbers are busy. There are strict laws – and we don’t want anyone to get tired of hearing about Mini. We want them to respond when it is necessary. At least one local individual is making trips to check around the nesting area if Mini were to get grounded.

One diagnosis from a trained reader ‘MP’ suggests that this could be a lunated patella (a dislocation). I found an academic paper on this orthopaedic problem.

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Steelscape: The third hatch has a huge crop today. And wait…more news. The third hatch had 3 fish today…and one of the older siblings had a huge crop. All is fine. We can relax. Thanks so much for the images and the report ‘PB’.

Fortis: ‘PB gave me the head’s up early that we would be getting a very good report from ‘H’. There were two whoppers brought on to the nest!

‘H’ writes: “It turned out to be a very good day.  The youngest osplet, JJ, had not had very much to eat for the previous three days.  The viewers were all extremely worried for him.  The day started out with Louise delivering a headless fish, which JJ initially acquired.  JJ had the fish for a couple of minutes and managed to pull off a few bites before big sis, Banff, took it away.  Banff ate that entire fish, but JJ managed to grab the tail.  For JJ’s sake, we knew there had to be another fish delivered soon while Banff was still full, but the next fish did not arrive for four hours.  At 1215, Louise delivered the largest fish to date this season.  It was massive.  Louise initially wanted to hold on to the fish to feed, but Banff took it.  It was a tough fish and Banff had not made much headway, when JJ managed to drag the huge fish from Banff at 1242.  They traded possession of the fish a couple more times before Louise returned to the nest at 1355.  She confiscated the fish and fed JJ!  That’s what we were all hoping she would do.  JJ was fed for 10 minutes before he got the boot from Banff, and then Louise fed Banff.  By 1422 Louise was clearly distracted by something and she stopped feeding.  She was on alert.  At least 1/2 of that huge fish was left, and JJ tried to pull off a few more bites.  Louise flew off the nest at 1456 taking the rest of the fish with her!  She returned at 1535, with the same fish.  There was still about 1/2 of the fish remaining, it did not appear as though Louise had eaten any of it.  Banff claimed the fish at that point and ate until 1608.  JJ then fed for an hour before Banff reclaimed the fish at 1707.  When Banff quit eating again, JJ ate from 1730 to 1808.  Then Banff ate some more, and finally downed the tail of that massive fish at 1821.  That had been a 6-hour fish!  So, there were only two fish delivered to the nest, but the monster fish had provided at least six or seven meals each for JJ and Banff.  JJ had his largest crop in days.  The siblings are 54 days old.  Banff has managed to increase her lift off the nest during her wingers, but has not hovered as yet.  JJ has only achieved a few inches of lift off the nest while wingercising.  During the night of 8/11, the siblings both slept upright and tucked for the very first time.”  

Those are two North American nests I have been concerned about in addition to Mini. The other nest is PSPB Loch Garten and the attacks on the two male juveniles by a male fledgling from that same nest in 2020. Remember the males return to their natal nest area and things are getting crowded in parts of Scotland.

There remain intruders including an unringed female at Loch Garten. The injured chick 2C4’s wing has stopped bleeding. Hopeful he will be fine.

Sadly, the 2020 fledgling KL5 is back again this morning at the nest.

Thankfully all is well at the nest of Louis and Dorcha at Loch Arkaig – and Ludo is as noisy as ever.

Suzanne Arnold Horning found all of the hawks on the Cornell Campus Thursday. So grateful for her diligence and kindness in sharing her images of Big Red and Arthur’s family.

‘A’ reports on the Australian and NZ nests:

Sydney Sea Eaglets: “This morning’s breakfast had to wait for Dad to bring in a fish. Eventually, just before 09:20, he came in with a whole fresh small-medium fish, which Lady fed to the chicks and ate herself. After the breakfish was consumed, Lady headed off. Dad brought in part of a fish (slightly less than half – he had eaten the head and then kept going for a bit longer). He stood there for some time, waiting for Lady to arrive and feed the eaglets, but she never came and the chicks were obviously begging him for food, sitting up at the table and trying to move closer to him and the fish. Eventually, he decided to feed them, and both got quite a few bites before Dad downed the tail, fed the kids a few more bites, then took the remaining morsel to the perch branch to eat himself. So now the nest is again devoid of food and we do need a good feeding day today. I was happy to see that both chicks waking up hungry and waiting for a later-than-usual breakfast did not precipitate bonking behaviour. Both were peaceful while they waited for food to arrive and once it did, there was negligible bonking. SE32 has taken to pushing itself forward, in front of SE31, to ensure it gets fed, and SE31 is allowing it to eat without interference most of the time. SE32 is still wary, and ducks for cover if SE31 does beak it, but the shaking by the back of the neck has largely ceased.”

Royal Cam Albatross: “We are hoping that Manaaki gets his supplementary feeding today – he looks literally flattened as he lies in his nest and seems to be low on energy (or just conserving it). He had built up significant reserves, according to the rangers, and is not on the high priority list but is still scheduled to be fed by today. As every day passes, I worry more and more about his parents.”

I just noted before I closed the blog this morning that the supplementary feeding was given to the Royal Cam chick. This is a great relief to everyone who sat and worried about this little bundle of joy.

Collins Street: “Cameras won’t be back up at Collins Street until the first egg is laid (last year, that was 25 August, so some time in the next two weeks is likely).”

Port Lincoln: “At Port Lincoln, they are on egg watch. To be honest, every time I watch and see mum sitting on the nest, I wonder whether she is laying that first egg. She is in that position now and I am wondering if this is the big moment. Surely, there will be at least one egg on that barge before the weekend is over.”

Orange Falcons: “Orange is as it always is – Diamond with a full crop, Xavier dancing about looking handsome. It’s just after 1pm in eastern Australia. A lovely day in Sydney, Orange and Melbourne, though they are expecting rain in Port Lincoln.”

Wondering about Dmitri and his stork? Excellent post on Thursday from Karla Pilz!

At the nest of Karl II, the three fledglings slept on the nest and then were there for the morning and flew off.

‘H’s other reports!

Kent Island – This Chesapeake osprey family is doing very well, and dear Mollie seems to be very close to fledging.  She hovered high out of sight for several seconds, and for a while we didn’t know if she had fledged.  Audrey and Tom’s youngster is 60 days old.

Barnegat Light – Life is grand for the fledgling, Dorsett.  And, she has shown a definite preference for eating her meals on the utility pole.  Dorsett is 72 days old, and fledged 12 days ago.

The Osoyoos osprey cam was offline for the second straight day.  We miss the ‘O’s and we are anxious to see how they are doing.  The young nestling is 46 days old.

Thanks ‘H’.

Skipping to a couple of other nests before I close for the morning.

Boulder County: All three fledglings were perched for the night and off the nest in the morning. They are being fed off cam it appears and all is well for this family as it prepares to migrate.

At the Dyfi Osprey Centre, they are remembering Monty. Monty was the male at Dyfi from 2011-19. He had three mates – Nora, Glesni, and Telyn. Of their children, 8 have returned as two year olds. A remarkable number and his DNA continues throughout the area….his perch is inside the new Centre.

The Dyfi website adds: “Monty was the breeding male at the Dyfi from 2011 to 2019 and he is arguably the most famous, and loved, osprey in the world!
Monty was unringed so we never knew exactly how old he was or where he came from. We know that he has been around on the Dyfi since at least 2008 and probably 2007, so his year of birth has to be 2005 or earlier…Monty was a fantastic fisherman whose fishing habits have been closely studied.  Two separate scientific studies conducted in 2013 and 2015 have concluded that there is no correlation between the fish species that Monty catches and environmental factors such as tidal phase, temperature, time of day etc. It seemed he was able to catch a fish whenever he (or his family) was hungry and did not need to link his fishing trips to any other factor. Monty’s typical catch was grey mullet but he has been known to bring home some more unusual fish including a long eel-like garfish, a poisonous greater weaver fish and the occasional twait shad!”

The other nest I want to mention is Iris. She is still with us in Missoula and she has not been visited by Louis as much this year (it seems) as in years past. Pe chaps it is the weather and the challenge of feeding the trio and Starr. Iris has had a persistent visitor, a ringed male and here is some information posted on him this morning. Iris is, by the way, not chasing him off.

Thank you for being with me today…please send good wishes to Mini. Take care. See you soon!

I am so grateful to the following for their notes, posts, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog this morning: “A, H, L, MP, PB, RM, RP’, PSEG, Steelscape, Veterinary Quarterly, Fortis Exshaw, RSPB Loch Garten, Sue Wallbanks and Friends of Loch Arkaig Ospreys, Geemeff and The Woodland Trust, Suzanne Arnold Horning, SK Hideaways and Sydney Sea Eagles, NZ DOC, Lady Hawk and NZ DOC, PLO, Charles Sturt Falcon Cam, Karla Pilz and Stork 40, Eagle Club of Estonia, Kent Island, Conserve Wildlife of NJ, Dyfi Osprey Project, and Mary Anne Miller and Montana Ospreys at Hellgate.

Mini’s leg, fosters in Norway…Wednesday in Bird World

9 August 2023

Good Morning Everyone,

It has been a long day of staring at the computer screen, hoping to see Mini, hoping that her swollen leg was better, wondering if she has a fracture or just is sore from a scuffle.

I had a lot of comfort in the three furry balls – Missey and Lewis (inside) and they’re soon to be sister, Calico (outside). Today Calico allowed me to pick her up, cuddle her and rock her back and forth like you might do a baby. At some point she had a family. Something happened. We are hoping that she will want to be a part of our family. I have been unable to locate any kittens. Tomorrow I am going back out with smelly tins of sardines trying to see if I can coax them out – if they are alive and if I can find their hiding spot -. They deserve a home, too. I now know that Calico will wean them and expect them to be hunting on their own. That is so hard to imagine. They will be approximately 40 days old today.

I am not expecting any issues with Lewis and Calico but it could well be a different story with Missey, the Alpha Cat, and the new family member. Hopefully, they will all feel safe, and secure, and have no rivalry like we see on Osprey nests!

Without X-Ray vision, we will not know what is wrong with Mini. I know that each of you is probably having sympathy pains right now. We do know that Mini flew onto the nest late Monday afternoon, and she was visibly having issues with her left leg. She slept duckling style, taking the pressure off that leg and allowing it to rest and heal. She would have been in some pain. She had difficulty holding her fish tight and could not finish it. MP observed that one of the adults came down from the perch concerned. Later a Crow ate the fish that Mini left – and yes, Mini leaving a morsel of fish tells us much. Worrying, of course, does not help. For Mini to get help, she would need to be grounded, just like Middle at Achieva.

Animal Help Now lists three wildlife rehabbers that deal with raptors in the area of Patchogue. This is the information for each of them. Please put it somewhere so if you see Mini fall off the nest, please start calling. STAR would be my first point of contact. If you were also to see Mini struggling on the nest, it might be worth a call. Because Mini is not always on the nest and we are not always able to stay on the screen, it is vital that everyone watches and is alert to an immediate need and has these numbers handy.

Mini is a fighter. She has overcome such adversity to fledge and be the strong osplet she is this is nothing short of heartbreaking. But, let us please send our most positive wishes and hope that what we are seeing is nothing serious.

Mini from 0851-905.

At 1000, the part of the leg above the knee was swollen. Mini was eating but there was some difficulty in holding the fish down tight.

At 1606, that leg looked better to me but it could have been the camera angle.

Keep sending your most positive wishes to our gal. She can do this.

There are a lot of fundraisers and some are extremely worthwhile and others not so much. I want to mention to you the Loch Arkaig annual calendar fundraiser. If you live outside the UK, Mary Cheadle can figure the postage for you. Except the costs of printing, the funds go to The Woodland Trust so that you can see Louis and Dorcha and that the area can be cared for. So think about it! I thought calendars were out of date because of our phones, but mine from last year, with its images of the nest and the chicks, is right here in front of me – being used and reminding me of important dates. You can connect with Mary Cheadle on the Loch Arkaig FB group or through FB Messenger. Please order quickly – read below for the details. Mary raises a lot of funds for the Lock Arkaig nest through her fundraising efforts – it is volunteers like her and at the wildlife clinics that make a difference in the lives of the birds we love so much.

I am just going to scramble through a few of the nests today. My mind really was on Mini and not much else! — OK. The female at Sand Point had me raise my voice once or twice. She has to be starving…well, I hope that explains her behaviour.

Fostering in Norway. The Mum returned to the nest and fed the foster and snuggled with all the chicks. Let us hope this goes well.

Wondering about Newmann, the Great Spirit Bluff male that lost his mate to a GHO attack and raised to fledge his youngsters. He is back near the scrape.

Boulder County: Everyone is eating. Three fledglings in and off the nest. Smile. All is good.

MN Landscape Arboretum: All is fine.

Steelscape: All three fledglings on the nest. Hard to tell how each is doing without witnessing all of them eating.

Sandpoint: Well, the Mum is either ‘starving’ herself, like the chick (probably) or has no maternal instincts. The chick finally got some fish by self-feeding…my heart sank listening to its fish calling.

When was the last time you saw a fully feathered chick in submission because of its Mum?

Cowlitz PUD: Fledgling on nest self-feeding.

Now to move over and check on the nests ‘H’ is checking on!

Fortis Exshaw: “There were two fish brought to the nest, thought to have been delivered by Louise (the video screen is pixelated again!).  The younger sibling, JJ, was able to claim both of the fish and mantled strongly, despite his older sister being stronger, larger, and bossy!.  It was nice to see JJ’s increased level of confidence.  But, big sister, Banff, was not about to make it easy for JJ.  She harassed JJ the entire time he was trying to eat his fish.  JJ managed to maintain possession of the first fish for 7 minutes before Banff stole it.  The fish had been headless upon delivery so it was easier for JJ to tear off bites while continuously having to defend his food.  The second fish was whole, so JJ had to unzip his prize while repeatedly being pestered by Banff.  Banff was able to grab the second fish from JJ after 12 minutes.  In both cases JJ only managed a small crop, and Banff clearly ate most of the fish.  But, being about 1/3 larger than JJ, Banff would understandably need to eat more than JJ.  There is nothing apparent to the viewers to provide a clue as to why more fish are not being brought to the nest, but we would all like to see JJ with a huge crop today!”

 

Osoyoos – Olsen brought seven fish to the nest.  The one at 1746 was a small headless fish that 43-day-old ‘Junior’ grabbed and self-fed, while learning to hold the fish with his talons.  Shortly after Junior ate that fish, Olsen delivered a small whole fish and Junior grabbed that one as well.  This time, Junior was much better at holding the fish while tearing off chunks.  Nice job, Junior!  Note: Thank you to HS for recovering chick 2’s body from the ground and giving him a proper burial.  Very much appreciated.

Forsythe – Oscar brought Ollie two fish on 8/8.  Ollie spent almost the entire day at the nest, taking just a few brief flying excursions.  Ollie cuts such a lonely figure on the nest, and some viewers feel sorry for her.  But, she will most likely spend the next few years of her life leading a solitary existence.  Older sibling Owen has not been seen for five days.

Dahlgren – Jack delivered a whale fish to D12 for dinner.  D11 did not fly in to make a bid, so D12 had it all to herself.  She spent the entire evening eating that fish, and then fell asleep standing on a huge leftover portion, and dreaming of breakfast.

Barnegat Light – It seems that every day there is a new ‘first’ for the fledgling, Dorsett.  On 8/8, Dorsett discovered the utility poles.

Kent Island – We were all very relieved when the livestream returned in the morning after the dangerous storm the previous evening.  Audrey, Tom, and Mollie had all weathered the storm.  And, 57-day-old Mollie self-fed nearly an entire menhaden in the morning.

Thanks so much, ‘H’. Excellent news. Everyone is safe, they are all eating! And to that very kind person who took care of the little osplet’s body – thank you from all of us for your compassion.

At The Campanile, Lou and Annie are bonding!

Kissey-kiss.

The nest of Karl II in the Karula National Forest and Kaia is now empty. All three storklets fledged.

7192 was the last to leave the nest at 06:42.

Karl II is a fantastic father. Here he is with the last feeding of his storklets before they leave the nest. Wishing all of them full crops and safe flights.

Storks have already started their migration in Europe. Many have sadly gotten caught in ferocious storms and died. It has been a tragic year for many species. Sassa Bird posted some images of the Swedish storks killed by the storms.

In North America, Sunnie day reminds us about BirdCast. Check out your region.

At Rutland, everyone is fattening up and preparing for their journeys.

Ludo is quite the character. Louis is such a patient Dad.

At the Sydney Sea Eagles, life is excellent. ‘A’ writes, “

Little SE32 really has turned the dynamic of this nest around over the past few days. The youngster (I suspect a younger brother) has gained tremendously in confidence and this has caused SE31 to largely cease its attempts at intimidation. Occasionally, there is an interaction, but it is as often caused by SE32 as by SE31! The younger sibling is quite prepared to look its older sibling in the eye, drawing itself up as tall as it possibly can and sometimes beaking SE31. Not a great idea, but not at all vicious – more posturing – and certainly an indication that SE32 has decided to stand up for itself. It eats and eats, without any fear of SE31 beside it or behind it. If it is offered a bite of fish, it eats it, regardless of SE31’s position or attitude. It is glorious to watch this little one realising that its sibling was never really trying to hurt it and that all it has to do is stand its ground. So the nest has become a happy place, with both eaglets eating and eating and then eating a little more. So far, both parents are doing some feedings, though Lady is doing the majority. Lady is also doing some fishing sometimes, though Dad is bringing in most of the prey. Yesterday’s fish was MASSIVE. A very long brown fish that fed everyone for the afternoon and much of today. Of course, things could turn on a dime and everything could head rapidly downhill, as we know, but at this stage, both these parents are doing a wonderful job and their eaglets are healthy and active and both eating extremely well. Their major problem is hauling their massive crops around. SE31 eats so much, it falls into a food coma, allowing SE32 to then eat for up to half an hour (or however long Lady is prepared to continue coaxing it to eat more and more and more). Eventually, SE32 is stuffed to the gills and turns away, at which point SE31 often wakes up for seconds. Lady sometimes feeds the pair for over an hour at a time. Very patiently. She is amazing.”

 Thanks, ‘A’.

Mini’s leg doesn’t look worse this morning. Relief. She would like a fish! And she is spunky enough to chase a crow off the nest. Let us hope that she heals quickly and Dad gets a nice fish to her soon!

Thank you for being with me today. Please take care of yourselves. I look forward to seeing you soon.

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, websites, streaming cams, and videos that helped me to write my blog this morning: ‘A, H’, Animal Helps, PSEG, Mary Cheadle and the Friends of Loch Arkaig Ospreys, Rune Age, Ashley Wilson and Peregrine Falcons at Great Spirit Bluff, Boulder County, MN Landscape Arboretum, Steelscape, Sandpoint, Cowlitz PUD, Fortis Exshaw, Osoyoos, Dahlgren, Wildlife Conserve of NJ, Kent Island, SK Hideaways and Cal Falcons, Eagle Club of Estonia, Sassa Bird, Sunnie Day, Gaye Kelly and Osprey Friends, and Sydney Sea Eagles.

JJ finally got some fish…Sunday in Bird World

6 August 2023

Good Morning Everyone,

I hope that you have had a really lovely weekend so far. Here the potatoes in the fibre bags are dying off at the top, signalling they are ready to be dug. Some tomato plants think they are finished producing, while others have substantial green heritage tomatoes waiting to turn red. The pepper plants produced one pepper each, while the cucumber plant gave me two delicious English cokes. This year’s garden winners were the Basil, which grew like a small bush, the thyme, and rosemary. The grape tomatoes were also abundant. There is a ‘feel’ in the garden, like the summer is ending, something that doesn’t happen until September. Everything is still emerald green…it just feels a little ‘off’. It has been a very strange year.

When I first left my urban existence to live on a small acreage in rural Canada, some things did not make sense. Surrounded by big corporate farmers, they had cut down the hedgerows that kept the topsoil from blowing away when the winds were high and the soil dry. This caused them to have to use more fertiliser. The end result of all of that was my pond’s poisoning and my orchard’s death. That was decades ago. It all came back like a tidal wave today when I saw this article on farming and the benefits of hedgerows and fens to bring back wildlife.

There are many simple things that we can do, too including working to create what I call mini-corridors for the birds in our neighbourhoods as well as the other small mammals. Think using native plants in your garden along with bird feeders and sources of water. Create a pathway with your friends and neighbours for the birds and animals to move from yard to yard – thriving. The idea that birds and wildlife can find food readily available in urban centres should become a reality – we destroyed their habitat. Let’s help do something for them.

Country-diary-Simple-farming-measures-bring-in-the-voles-and-nesting-birds-Farming-The-GuardianDownload

There really is not a lot of news in Bird World as fledglings and their mums fatten up in the UK and Europe for their migration. The same thing is happening in parts of North America but there are still chicks on the nest to fledge like those in Newfoundland/Labrador. We all watched in agony as the osplets of Hope and Beau died on the nest but, what we didn’t see – because the nests are not on streaming cams – are the numerous other nests in the region that thrived producing at least two but, often, three osplets this year.

The big worry of the day came from Fortis Exshaw where intruders – at least one female intruder – caused havoc. I will let ‘H’ tell us all about it but, there are intruders everywhere. In Canada, we can imagine that those in the regions hit hardest by the wildfires lost their nest and/or, their mate, and their chicks. Others are floating around. Some are heading south from further places in the north hoping to get an easy fish. Around the Canmore, Alberta area where the Fortis Exshaw nest is there are numerous Bald Eagles, these intruders or floaters, 2 year olds looking for a mate and a nest, and gulls to name a few of those that would love to peck off a free fish from an osprey. They don’t know there are two hungry babies on the nest needing that fish!

But it is not only Canada that is experiencing intruder issues. We have seen this in the US and it is also happening at some of the nests in the UK. Some, like Dyfi, are having visitors – two year olds scouting for nests and mates before migrating.

Just look at that beautiful bird. The genetics running through her is exceptional. Indeed, one of my friends says the measure of the success of the nest and the good DNA – along with a lot of luck – is in the two-year-old returnees. The problem is seeing them!

Another view of this gorgeous two year old.

Here is the information on the Dad, Merin. Interesting bird.

Llyn Clywedog has its share of visitors as has most of the other nests. Hopefully they will land, look, and take off without causing any mischief.

But the news of the day was being made at FortisExshaw and here is ‘H’s report: “What a range of emotions for the viewers of the Exshaw nest on 8/5.  The youngest osplet, JJ, had not eaten in nearly two days, so we were hoping for a fish-filled day.  But, intruders were the theme for most of the day.  Louise and O’Hara were busy fending off intruders, and even when there seemed to be nothing happening, we knew that they were unable to bring fish to the nest.  On at least two separate occasions a female intruder spent some time on the nest.  (The video quality  was still pixelated most of the day, so it made it very challenging to figure out the identities of all the birds.)  The female intruder was actively preventing Louise from landing on the nest.  Then, an amazing move by Louise at 1339 . . the female intruder and O’Hara were both on the nest, when Louise flew in with a fish and landed right where the female intruder was standing, intentionally delivering the fish to the intruder.  The intruder quickly grabbed the fish and flew away, never to be seen again for the rest of the day.  Brilliant idea, Louise . . feed the intruder!  After that, several hours went by without a sighting of any adult ospreys.  We were worried for JJ.  Banff had eaten two fish the previous day.  At 1729 Louise landed with a huge headless fish, and of course Banff grabbed it.  Banff ate for 90 minutes before she finally walked away from a large leftover piece.  Finally after 52 hours, JJ had some fish to eat.  At 1936 Louise brought a very large whole fish to the nest, and Banff ate for a few minutes, but she was still too full.  At 2021 there was a bit of a kerfuffle between the sibs, and Banff stole the remnants of fish #1 that JJ had been working on.  JJ started eating fish #2 at 2046, and ate a pretty good amount of it.  Louise landed with fish #3 at 2054, and Banff ate some of it.  JJ quit eating from fish #2 and went to eat from fish #3.  But, Louise wasn’t done yet . . at 2140 she brought in a large live fish.  Louise started to feed Banff, so JJ returned to eating fish #3, but then he changed his mind and ate some more of fish #2.  There was so much fish that JJ had a veritable fish buffet, lol.  At 2150 Banff stopped eating, so Louise was able to eat from fish #4.  At 2153 JJ quit eating from fish #2, walked over to Mom, and Louise fed JJ.  Then, quite a memorable moment . . at 2154 JJ ate the tail of fish #4.  In my mind, JJ scarfing down that fish tail was symbolic of this family having overcome so many challenges.  Happy tears!  In case you were wondering, only fish #1 and #4 were eaten in their entirety.  Pieces of fish #2 and #3 remain somewhere on the nest.  Louise assumed her position on the T-perch for the night at 2200.  Good night to our beloved feathered friends.  SOD.”

Let’s keep going with ‘H’s reports –

Osoyoos – It was another very good day for the Osoyoos ospreys.  Olsen brought in nine fish for his family.  Olsen’s fishing success is especially remarkable in view of the continuing heat wave and smokey air quality. 

Severna Park – The juvies are still occasionally seen at the nest, and Oscar continues to provide meals for his fledglings.

Forsythe – Ollie spent most of the day at the nest, and Oscar brought her one fish.  To my knowledge, Owen was not seen. 

At the Patchogue nest, Mini had some nice fish. I counted at least three nice ones but there could have been more. She has a perch where she can see Dad coming in or she is on the nest waiting. The older ones do not seem to be coming in for fish – they would be fed ‘off camera’. In normal circumstances, the youngsters may try to fish (but not all do) and most are not proficient in fishing until they are on their own during migration.

Mini flies off at 0741 after eating her breakfast fish which had arrived at 0701.

She was full. You can see that lovely fish tail left on the nest. Dad will find it when he delivers Mini her next fish and he will finish it off.

Mini at 0844.

Enjoying a huge fish at 1503.

Collins Marsh: Both chicks have now fledged! Congratulations to everyone on a super successful season.

Clark PUD: Mum and the two osplets were hot and hungry when a big fish came to the nest. Mum wasted no time taking charge of that fish and all three ate. Well done, Mum!

MN Landscape Arboretum: Numerous small fish hitting the nest which is fantastic….sometimes the chick is not even hungry became they can arrive in such rapid succession.

Sandpoint: Two fish arrived – a small one and a medium one -. Like many nests, this one could use more fish!

Cowlitz PUD: The fledgling had at least two very nice sized fish on Saturday. Fantastic.

Boulder County: Cam 1 is back on line! And you can now return and watch the three fledglings eating beautiful fish with Mum and Dad close at hand.

Dyfi: Even with an intruder, all is well with the fledglings. Nice fish and the weather is improving.

Glaslyn: OH1 and OH2 are waiting for some fish! They are definitely not starving. Aran is a fantastic provider.

Poole Harbour: One chick has a crop and two are eating fish. What a fantastic nest this one is. CJ7 got herself a good mate by waiting.

Loch of the Lowes: The only ones around are Laddie LM12 and the first hatch, the female. I feel sad when I look at this nest plagued by intruders all season. Blue NC0 gallantly defended the nest and her babies so many times. she has not been seen since 15 July, and the second hatch, the male, has not been seen for some time. Is Laddie proving for him off camera?

Llyn Brenig: The crop in the top image and the fish in the second say it all. This nest is doing well.

Loch Garten: Asha and Brodie’s two fledglings waiting for fish, too. Brodie often brings in a late one so that Asha can enjoy some fish with whichever chick hasn’t had fish. They, too, have had their issues with intruders but the nest has been successful.

Loch Arkaig: Geemeff reports that there were so many fish brought to the nest by Louis on Saturday that Ludo could not eat them all. He was full to the gills! The nest even had intruders but hopefully Louis got some fine fish, too.

Finland #1: Fledgling waiting for fish. This is what we are seeing on most nests.

Finland #4. Apila really looks miserable – it is damp and its crop is really empty. This baby has yet to fledge according to the obs board for the camera.

Ilomantsin: All of the chicks have now fledged and all have returned to the nest and have, at one time or another, had a nice fish meal.

Sydney Sea Eagles: ‘A’ reports that SE32 got plenty of fish. “But today, like yesterday, the little one got plenty of food. Dad brought in two fish and mum brought in one, as they were a little smaller than those being caught last week. But there was plenty to go around and although SE32 had to wait its turn, it did end up getting three or four very good feedings for the day. The best position for it is behind SE31, so that it can reach over SE31 for food. Otherwise, if SE31 is behind SE32, it finds the back of SE32’s head just irresistible! …SE32 is becoming a trifle more confident, though it varies from feed to feed.”

SK Hideaways gives us a video of 32 getting lots of that fish!

Cornell Red-tail Hawks: Ferris Akel had his traditional Saturday tour and he found Big Red, Arthur, and L3 who was recently released in the area after being in rehab for around 9 months (please feel free to correct me on the time but it was many, many months).

Arthur out hunting new Holey Cow.

Big Red, our beautiful matriarch who is now 20+ years young.

L3 who is now flying beautifully and has her own red tail!

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

Thank you to the following for their notes, observations, videos, photos, posts, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog today: ‘A, Geemeff, H’, Ian L Winter and the Ospreys of Newfoundland and Labrador, Sally Whale and Friends of Dyfi Osprey Project, Dyfi Osprey Project, Osoyoos, Severna Park, Forsythe, PSEG, Collins Marsh, Clark PUD, MN Landscape Arboretum, Sandpoint, Cowlitz PUD, Boulder County, Bywyd Gwyllt Glaslyn, Poole Harbour, LOTL, Llyn Brenig, RSPB Loch Garten, Geemeff and The Woodland Trust, Finnish Osprey Foundation, SK Hideaways and Sydney Sea Eagles, and Ferris Akel Tours.

WBSE30 is alive…Saturday in Bird World

22 July 2023

Good Morning All!

It was an exciting time in the garden today. The usual suspects were all here but there was a new addition! The European Starlings brought at least one of the juveniles to the garden. It ate in the square feeder, drank in the bird bath, and went into the lilacs to be fed by a parent. Warmed my heart because so many of the Avian families in my neighbourhood bring their babies to the garden to eat and to be safe.

It is very difficult to tell European Starling adults apart – the males and females – just like it is with Blue Jays. This juvenile Starling is gorgeous. The bird book says it is a ‘dull grey-brown’. Well, I don’t think there is anything ‘dull’ about this little beauty.

Just look at the plumage. Under the neck is a soft dark grey collar with a light dove grey trim. Think about the reticula lace ruffs of European royalty in the late 16th century! Not precisely, but think along those lines when you look at the plumage of birds.

So now look at that lovely collar.

Then skip over to the wings and the rump and you begin to get the darkest charcoal, nearly ebony in parts with thicker and more defined outlines on the feathers. This time they almost appear bronze. This is seriously a handsome juvenile.

You can see more of that golden bronze that breaks into a rust when the juvie leans over and the light hits those feathers.

My goodness – what an excellent combination for a fall wardrobe. I worked with a man once that collected all manner of natural objects – well, he collected lots, but he often told me that we have to look to nature for the colours and the patterns. He was right.

The adult trying to find the juvenile in all the thick lilac branches to feed it. This is why I fill those feeders up day in and day out…I could not be more happier to see the adults bringing their babies to the garden. It is a tough world in an urban environment for wildlife. I continue to say that and I hope you don’t get tone-deaf to hearing it. We have taken over their habitat and it is up to us to help them. On the hottest of days that means water – water is hopefully something everyone can spare. But the next time you are tossing food into the bin look and see what you are throwing away. Would a bird eat it?

How did you spend your Friday? I know that many were watching Little Mini to see if she would fledge. Let us hope that she is with us a few more days before flying but, she wants to. Remember. Mini was so tiny we could hardly find her in the nest amidst the big siblings. She appears to be a female which means she has 50% more growth to do than say Three who appears to be a male. Her wings are the span of the nest, she has her tail feathers, now for all of them just to be ‘perfect’ and then, her body will know when to fly. Unless someone knocks her out of the nest or she gets crazy listening to Three ‘fish cry’.

Mini had at least two nice fish and a glorious PS on Friday. The adults do not forget about the chicks on the nest.

Look out below!

As a result of Mini and doing a lot of clearing out, I did not watch the nests on Friday hardly at all. And that is sometimes a good thing. It was not a beautiful day – it was hot and very humid. I still need to get to the nature centre for my daily walk. Instead, I watched Little Red harass Dyson over peanuts. Red squirrels can be very aggressive. I was just screaming at that squirrel who was obviously stashing the peanuts in the wood pile while the others wanted to eat.

Many of you have written in to see what has happened with WBSE30 presumed to have died. Well, she is alive!

There is some nest news and let’s go and see what happened on Friday and early Saturday morning.

Glaslyn: OH2 has not yet fledged – at least not at the time I am writing but it is going to be soon. 0H1 has fledged – both are males.

It was a nasty day at Glaslyn and Saturday morning is even wetter. Happy that 0H2 decided to stay on the nest.

Dyfi: Home to Idris and Telyn. Everyone is soaking wet Saturday morning.

Llyn Clywedog: Every time I think of this nest, I tear up. Dylan and Seren had two beautiful healthy osplets. When I first saw the fish on the nest just there, no one about, my heart sank a bit. thankfully, our fledgling arrived to claim it.

Alyth: The weather is much better and there are three fledglings waiting for fish deliveries!

The last chick did not leave this nest until mid-September and It is confirmed that Dad remained there feeding it all the time. What a fantastic nest.

Loch of the Lowes: Blue NC0 has not been seen for a week. She has not started migration – it is just too early. There have been intruders all season at this nest. I do not believe she would leave two fledglings for this long. Something has sadly happened to her although I hope that she lands on the nest and makes a fool out of me. That would be brilliant and it would be welcoming. Laddie is trying to keep intruders away and be both Mum and Dad. The fledglings are both hungry——and I do mean hungry. Just like they were at Achieva or at Forsythe, currently. He is doing the best he can in circumstances he cannot control.

Blue NC0 and Laddie LM12.

Laddie delivering a fish and the male PF5 got it – he is so hungry having been pushed about by the sister PF4…Two fish so far today – I cannot completely confirm who got the second but I hope that each fledgling got a meal.

Poole Harbour: Food security is paramount for a civil nest. Just look at Poole Harbour!

It is now confirmed that Blue 5H4 did a two-part fledge at 17:13:13 on 21 July. Returned safely. All waiting for their breakfast fish with CJ7 looking on from the perch.

Fortis Exshaw had such a huge fish that I had to post it earlier than H’s report. This nest should simply put a smile on our faces – it and Little Mini and even the Third hatch at Boulder. They are survivors.

‘H’ writes: “Things seemed to have settled for this nest since Mr. O came along eight days ago to help Louise after the disappearance of her long-time mate, Jasper.  Mr. O landed on the nest at 1205 to provide deterrence against an intruder, while Louise was out fishing.  Louise brought four large fish to the nest, and Mr. O brought a few sticks throughout the day.  At 1818 Louise assisted Mr. O with his stick placement.  At least one of the chicks seems to be learning from his stepdad, and has been practicing moving sticks around.”

Forsythe: “Fishing must still be difficult for Oscar and Opal.  There were only three fish delivered to the nest on 7/21, one by Opal, two by Oscar, and the fish were not very large.  Owen, the oldest of the two fledglings, managed to acquire all three of the fish, with nothing left over for Ollie.  Ollie last ate a small piece of fish at 0935 on 7/20.  There has been an increase in aggression on the nest.”


Kent Island – “All is well for Audrey, Tom, and their 40 day old offspring.  Some have been referring to the little one as ‘Junior’.  Junior is simply cute as a button!”

Boathouse – “Life is good on Muscongus Bay for 42 day old Skipper.  Skipper has been learning from his dad, and he is becoming quite adept at rearranging sticks.”

Dahlgren – “The fledglings D11 and D12 seem to be enjoying exploring their new world.  They  both return to the nest for meals, and to sleep.  I am still amazed how peaceful this nest was all season, despite the siblings hatching four days apart.”

Thanks so much, ‘H’.

Tatarstan RU: Eastern Imperial Eagle nest of Altyn and Altnay. G osh those two little eaglets are growing and they are sporting some green bling!

Lesser Spotted Eagle nest of Anna and Andris in Zemgale, Latvia: What a gorgeous baby!

Karl II and Kaia Black Stork Nest, Karula National Forest, Estonia: Three gorgeous storklets waiting for fish in the morning sunlight. Thank you Urmas for ensuring this family has food in a year of drought and few fish or frogs.

News for Waba and Bonus, the two surviving fledglings from Karl and Kaia’s nest of 2022 (Bonus was a foster from the nest of Jan and Jannika):

Dorset Hobby Falcons: One is Self-feeding! That nest is getting smaller as these two fluff balls grow bigger and bigger.

There is growing concern over the kills by goshawks of ospreys. I am reposting a FB post so that you can see this fantastic image of an Osprey’s talons. Notice the curve and the reason for this – it is not for fighting. Ospreys cannot defend themselves with their talons like eagles and hawks can.

Puts a smile on your face. There are many kind people willing to drop everything and help our ospreys.

Sadly the osplets were lost. But like so many of you who saw this earlier and wrote to me – if it was such an iconic nest, why were these chicks not saved like the ones in Nova Scotia? Did the fire burn so quickly? Did no one not see the smoke and get help? Can you imagine those adult ospreys flying above the nest seeing their chicks burned alive? Will the power company put up a new safe platform on a pole nearby like in Nova Scotia?

I have been asked to spread the word about a beautiful white parrot that needs to be located. It belonged to an elderly woman who was ill and could no longer care for her beloved pet. She entrusted the bird to A Tropical Concept Exotic Bird Rescue, who then found an adoptive home. The individual who took the parrot was a ‘flipper’ – get the bird and resell. A Tropical Concept Exotic Bird Rescue wants to find Bella, the white Parrot. She is unusual in that the parrot will say, ‘Bella, Bella, Bella’. If you or someone you know might have seen or had contact with this parrot, there is a $3000 USD reward. It is believed the bird could be in Arizona but, as I know, birds are flown daily so she could be anywhere. They just want to know that she is well cared for. No questions asked. Here is the contact: https://www.facebook.com/atcbirdrescue

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

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog this morning: ‘A, Geemeff, H, J’, Wikipedia, the Spruce, PSEG, Linda McElroy and Raptors of the World, Bywyd Gwyllt Glaslyn, Dyfi Ospreys, CarnyXWild, Alyth, LOTL, Jannet King and Love for the Pool Harbour Ospreys, Poole Harbour Ospreys, Fortis Exshaw, Lisa Lavargna and Ospreys Only, Cherly Scott Trueblood and Birds of Prey, Forsythe, Kent Island, Dahlgren, Boathouse Ospreys, Tatarstan RU Eagle Cam, LDF, Eagle Club of Estonia, Looduskalender Forum, Dorset Hobby Falcons, and Sunnie Day.

Let’s talk tuna

19 July 2023

My intention was to have this information blog for Thursday the 20th of July but, there is so much other news that I feared its importance would be overlooked by osprey news.

In its July-September 2023 journal, BirdLife International raises issues related to the Albatross. One in particular – long line tuna trawlers.

“Fishing Trawler DA.57 – Howth County Dublin (Ireland)” by infomatique is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.*

I want you to look at this image of Manaaki, the Royal Cam Chick at Taiaroa Head, New Zealand and parent, GLY, who has come in for a much anticipated feeding.

Do you watch this cam? Do you know the perils that face these sea-foraging birds? Do you want to change human behaviour to help them?

These are the facts according to a new study that looks at the risk longline fisheries pose to these beautiful sensitive and gentle albatross.

  • Long Line fishing trawlers set out a main line that can extend to 100 km or 62 miles. Now just stop and take in that length.
  • Each line has thousands of hooks that are baited and deadly. The bait is a meal for albatross. The jiggling of the lines in the water mimic the way that fish swim.
  • The albatross that snatch the bait are snagged and dragged under the water as the hooks sink. It is estimated that 160,000 birds die this way every year. They are often decapitated in the process.
  • Every day there are 5000 fishing vessels on the high seas. Of these 1000 are looking for tuna and they set these very long lines with a total of billions of hooks per year. Again try to wrap your head around that.
  • Fishing activity by the Osprey takes place at dawn and dusk when the long line tuna trawlers are setting their lines.
  • Only 3% of the lines are set at night when it is not harmful to the albatross who are not looking for food.
  • Albatross can determine if there is food at a distance of 30km.

The issue is that there is an easy fix and it costs the fishing trawlers nothing – set their lines at night instead of at dusk or in the morning. Other appropriate measures include attaching sparkly lines, often free by many agencies, or using protective hook covers.

But by far and away, the solution is to load the fishing lines at night.

So what can you do to help persuade these fishing companies that they need to change their practices? Stop eating tinned tuna! Write the company an e-mail. You can check on the label of the tins in your local grocery. Find out how sustainable they claim to be – and are they? Remember, only 3% are actually following best practices as they relate to the Albatross.

So…we are now trying to avoid plastic when we can, and we are now going to put that tin of tuna back on the shelf! So when you look at that Royal Cam chick – that cute sweet little fluff ball – you are doing the right thing. Thank you!

BirdLife International, July-Sept 2023, 18.

  • An example of what a trawler might look like. Many are much larger.

Good news at Fortis Exshaw…Friday in Bird World

14 July 2023

UPDATE: THE STORK NEST IS DIMITRI IN BELARUS NOT DMITRI IN RU. MY ERROR!

Good Morning Everyone,

It has been crazy weather with downpours and then suddenly the sun comes out. Great for the garden. The Blue Jays and Sparrows are good barometers of what is happening. They feed frantically before the black clouds and thunder roll in. Today, however, the Blue Jays frightened me – the new fledglings. They would simply not stop getting peanuts and flying despite the pouring rain. One sat on the neighbour’s roof and then flew – it was drenched and reminded me of Yurruga before it perished a year ago at Orange. I do wish they would just perch in the lilac bushes – and today, they could have waited with a Northern Cardinal! It was the first time I have seen a Cardinal in the garden – or, rather, the first time that I witnessed a Cardinal. The bushes are so thick it is impossible to see through them this time of year. My father used to call them ‘Red Birds’ and they would eat out of his hand – fascinated a young child.

In his new book, Reflections. What Wildlife Needs and How to Provide it, author Mark Avery, chooses to start with his back garden. Many of the most recent publications sitting on my desk or pre-ordered are written by well-known individuals who have specifically chosen to ponder the world’s fate through the lens of their own space and the birds they observe daily. Avery bemoans the loss of the Nightingale and its beautiful song at dusk or the Hedgehog while applauding the Red Kite reintroduction. It is a beautifully written book and every time I read someone else’s words about their own garden friends, I return to the view out of my conservatory that gives me so much joy. I hope that you do, too.

This image could be a better quality – apologies. It was starting to rain, and I had to try and miss those pink squares, but there is proof of the Cardinal in the lilacs – taking refuge there from the downpour. Cardinals are familiar birds in eastern and southeastern Canada, but they seem to visit central Canada more often, as the images posted on FB noted. I hope it is the new birdseed I am purchasing from a local farmer – it is all part of a plan to try and exist 90% local and without plastic.

You can see the big drops of water hanging from the branches. it really was a torrential downpour.

The Blue Jays are so fantastic. The little one that sat on the two garden ornaments and made a nest is distinctive and he loves to eat grain, not peanuts – and he loves to splash about in the bird bath. I adore him. Notice that his crest is black with a few light blue steel grey feathers in the front. I can spot him from the others instantly.

One of the adults moulting.

This one loves the peanuts and he is wet from the rain. They must have a spotting scope because the minute I put out fresh peanuts they are there!

This one was not happy with one of Dyson’s kits who wanted a peanut, too.

Recently fledged sparrows are everywhere. If ever there was an explosion of a species in the garden, it is them!

Besides spending much time just observing the behaviour of everyone in the garden and ticking off the list to make sure everyone was accounted for, I went off to the English Garden at our local zoo. The plan was to check on the local Cooper’s Hawk nest but there were so many people in the area that the hawks were silent.

That was not the case with the goslings that I had seen a couple of weeks ago. Someone had given them ‘bread’ despite the signs all over the area and they were fighting for it. Silly waterfowl.

The gosling day care still exists even though the goslings might think they are very independent.

Drying off after coming out of the water.

Then someone began to throw bread and the young ones immediately grabbed it and fled to the water chased by others.

It was quite the afternoon watching everyone.

I did not spend a lot of time watching the nests today. So my report is rather short but I want to start with one nest that both ‘H’ and I have been watching. The news is good this morning coming for Fortis Exshaw. ‘H’ writes, “

Louise brought fish to the nest at 0630, 0750, 0849, 1249, 1545, 1603, 1818, and 1958.  Wow!  In addition to that, a male Osprey gifted a partial fish at 0856, which Louise accepted.  Wow!  There was some minor intimidation from Big toward Middle at the early feeding, otherwise the feedings were tranquil, and both chicks’ crops were stuffed all day.  I noticed something interesting regarding the issue of osplets having a feeling of ‘food security’ when adequate fish are brought to a nest, vs the awful aggression that is a manifestation of ‘food insecurity’ felt by the dominant osplet when food is scarce.  When there is plenty of food for a couple of days, the dominant chick starts to relax.  S/he no longer tries to eliminate a food competitor by prevent the sibling from eating, because it no longer feels that it may starve to death.  But, what struck me watching the Exshaw nest yesterday was that the establishment of harmony at mealtimes may be a two-way street.  The non-dominant chick also starts to relax, knowing that it will survive because of the ample availability of food.  The non-dominant chick at Exshaw, ‘Middle’, simply started to hang back and wait at feedings, and let ‘Big’ eat first.  Not only was Big more relaxed because of the amount of food available, but Middle was more relaxed as well.  This enabled Middle to become more accepting of his hatch-assigned place in the pecking-order, and by not so much as even trying to get a bite of fish and potentially annoying ‘Big’ early in a feeding, Middle aided his own cause.  It’s all about the food.  But, we already knew that.It seems that Louise may have some help.  A male osprey (that I believe was the same one she chased off the nest twice on 7/12), landed on the nest four times.  At his first visit he gifted Louise a partial fish, and she accepted it.  She fed some to the kids and ate some of it herself.  Also at that first visit, the male moved a couple of sticks, and defended the nest.  The male osprey also vocally defended the nest at a couple of his other brief visits to the nest.  At his last visit he was even more vocal toward an unseen intruder, and he flew off chasing said intruder.”—————-

It sure seems like there could be a pot of gold at the end of Louis’s rainbow and for this nest. This is fantastic. I will suggest that Louise accepting the new male indicates that she was well aware – from the beginning – that Jasper is no longer with us.

For those wondering, the new male is not Jasper. The head markings are entirely different.

Both osplets fledged from the nest of Laddie LM12 and Blue NC0 at Loch of the Lowes Thursday morning. The little male flew first – gosh, what a joy that was – and the sister a little later.

I adore Mini. Mini gives me hope and every day that s/he self-feeds a little better gives joy. These days with her on the nest and adults making sure she is fed just is glorious. Today there was a goldfish just for Mini!

Trying to work those wings in a crowd.

Minnesota Landscape: I did not see a whole lot of fish being delivered but the little one is being fed. The rain came to the nest about the same time it began in Winnipeg!

Cowlitz PUD: My continued worry about this nest are the eagles in the area. I hope the protective guards work and that fish continue to come in. If you check on this nest, use the overhead cam view.

Boulder County: Doing Great.

The Bridge Golf Club: Both parents are now fishing and supplying the nest. There were 7 fish deliveries on Thursday. Both chicks doing well.

Charlo Montana: Continues to be offline.

First District Utility: Camera is frozen.

Collins Marsh: Everything is excellent.

Moorings Park: Victor went to bed without the usual fish form Harry. Several times today Victor was caught on camera diving trying to get a fish. Please send this wonderful fledgling all your good luck so that he can get his own fish! He needs to get this well in hand, and now is the time to be practising. Victor, you can do this! (I do wish someone would dump about 20,000 fish in that pond so he had some chance of success!)

Janakkalan: Both osplets doing well.

Dyfi: Both are flapping and hopping.

Glaslyn: Things look fine.

Alyth: Lots of good fish deliveries.

Now let’s get to those other reports by ‘H’:

Kent Island – “The big story is a new arrival to the nest.  Audrey gifted her little chick a stuffed pink octopus!  The nest owner has named the stuffie ‘Molly’.”

Barnegat Light – Daisy delivered one of her specialty bluefish, as hubby Duke was chillin’ out lying next to his kiddo.  At 44 days of age, 09/N is growing up fast.

Severna Park – After #2 fledged in the morning, she skidded to a landing on the nest 5 1/2 hours later.  Well done fledgling! 

Forsythe – There were only two fish brought to the nest on 7/13, both by Opal.  Oscar did not come to the nest.  Opal came to the nest several other times throughout the day, but arrived empty taloned.  There were also only two fish delivered on 7/12, one each by Opal and Oscar, but the first fish was so large that Opal made three feedings out of it.  The mid-Atlantic area has been suffering from a heat wave for a few days, which may be making fishing more difficult as the fish seek cooler, deeper waters.  The siblings are 52 and 53 days old. 

Audubon Boathouse – Life is splendid at the Boathouse platform. Little Skipper is 34 days old.

‘H’ also checked in on McEuen Park in Idaho. Look at how big those three osplets are! Fantastic. Thanks so much, ‘H’.

Waiting word on Dmitri’s surgery. Before he went into hospital, he built a new place for the storklet that he rescued. Incredible man.

For our education – an article on the importance of water and agriculture to our planet and to our birds from the British Ornithological Trust. Indeed, one of the biggest detriments to the stability of our wildlife is the changing methods in agriculture over the past two centuries including deforestation and the use of pesticides and herbicides.

Agriculture-and-nature-inevitably-intertwined-BirdLife-InternationalDownload

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

Thank you so much to ‘H’ for her continued monitoring and to the following for their posts, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog this morning: Fortis Exshaw, Mary Cheadle and Friends of Loch Arkaig Ospreys, PSEG, MN Landscape Arboretum, Cowlitz PUD, Boulder County Fair Grounds, The Bridge Golf Club, Collins Marsh, Moorings Park, Janakkalan and Finnish Osprey Foundation, Dyfi Osprey Project, Bywyd Gwylld Glaslyn, Alyth, Kent Island, Conserve Wildlife of New Jersey, Severna Park, Forsythe ospreys, Audubon Boathouse, McEuen Park, BTO, and Dmitri Storks.

Monday in Bird World

1 May 2022

Good Morning Everyone,

Sunday was a beautiful day on the Canadian Prairies albeit quite windy. It was quiet in the garden this morning but the action picked up as 1700 approached. Thank goodness. I simply cannot imagine a world without birdsong. I wouldn’t want to live in it!

It has also been a very stressful weekend because of the events at the nest of Angel and Tom in Tennessee. Angel is the Leucistic Red Tail Hawk with a new mate, a young male, Tom. The first chick that hatched was unattended by Angel and Tom mistook it for something on the nest and killed it. That is the only explanation I can find, and then, of course, he realised what he had done. He has now been missing for some 36 hours. I believe that the sheer magnitude of what he did is keeping him from the nest, but that does not help Angel, who now has their second hatch to raise. That is nearly impossible. We are also waiting for news of DH18; since there was no update on Sunday, we can assume that DH18 is stable in its subsequent surgery today. This gives me hope. Thank you to everyone who donated to the AEF to help with DH18’s medical treatment. The sheer volume of funds is an excellent indication of the public support for intervention. We need to care and show it sometimes with our wallets or actions – your phone calls, e-mails and screams for someone to help these two eaglets.

We are awaiting word on the condition of DH18. He will have additional surgery today but, it appears that his condition remained stable over the weekend as there were no further communiques from the AEF.

Looking to do some good in the world? Where you donation fully supports the operation? Then look no further than helping the folks in West African clean up the birds that are dying of HPAI. If you go to the crowd funding site and cannot find this project, please go to Sacha Dench’s Twitter feed, find this and click on the image. Anything helps…5 GBP or 24 GBP for a boat to help move the cleaners and the dead birds.

Sasha Dench tells us why it is vital that we chip in now…I can add another one. Even though HPAI is around lurking and can rear its ugly head, this outbreak in West Africa needs to be curtailed well before the Ospreys and other birds return in September. That seems like a long time away. It isn’t. This affects everyone. It is not just Gambia’s problem.

‘A’ writes: “We have a hatch at 1:22:43pm. There’s a good view of the chick at 3:15:59.. Still no sign of Tom. He has not been seen since 3.24 yesterday afternoon. Will he return? Or did Angel’s anger with him when he killed the chick so extreme that he is scared to return? We wait.” This is extremely unfortunate and it may mean the demise of this relationship and nest as Angel cannot take care of herself and protect and feed the little one…well, that is what we would think. We wait as ‘A’ suggests but it is not looking good. The baby cannot thermoregulate and unless it is really warm in Tennessee, which it could be, leaving it would be problematic. ‘A’ notes that it is very out of character for Tom who was there to incubate within a few seconds of when Angel needed a break. So what is going on? Does he feel so guilty about the death of the other baby? In his grief for his actions he chose to leave? or did something happen to him? Let us hope he returns.

Typically, RTH nests are easy to watch but, sadly, this is simply making me ‘ill’.

Lady Hawk captured the hatch on video for us.

By night fall, Tom has not appeared. Angel was said to have dropped her crop. She will be hungry. The little one will need to eat Monday morning.

On Monday morning Angel went to find food, Tom returned and saw the chick. Then Angel appeared quickly..so far. Tom seems not to know what the chick is. Will he realise when Angel feeds the baby? We wait.

Arlene Beech caught Tom’s first sight of the second chick when Angel was away. Tom needs to delivery prey to this nest. Angel is brooding the little one and it does not appear injured by the encounter with Tom.

Arthur was young, like Tom, at the Cornell nest of Big Red when he fathered their first clutch but, that went smoothly as have all the other clutches in subsequent years.

Heavy rain began on Sunday at the Cornell Campus. Big Red was soaked.

The rain got heavier. We should be keeping a close eye on this nest.

SK Hideaways gives us some great close ups of Big Red and Arthur as we are now on pip watch.

So far there does not appear to have been a fledge at Moorings Park. It was windy on Sunday and I thought there might be some good hovering but there was some wing flapping.