Category Archives: birds

Wednesday in Bird World

9 April 2025

Hello Everyone!

I’m so delighted to hear that spending time outdoors with the birds and enjoying the fresh spring air has truly lifted your spirits. Thank you for sharing this wonderful news with me!

Calico has been sitting with me as I dream about changes to the garden area. The first decision involves the two medium-sized wooden boxes. We still need one for the logs for the wood burner, but the other has Brock’s name all over it. I’m planning to convert it into a nice and cozy space for him, which will be perfect when the weather gets chilly in the fall. We can add a heating lamp for the winter along with straw bedding.

I realize that I need to spend more time outside, whether it’s sitting, reading, or walking. Just like I recommend to each of you.

Let’s check out what is going on with our Ospreys!

Dyfi Osprey Nest: Idris and Telyn have their first egg of the 2025 season. Yippee!

Aran has not returned to the Glaslyn nest from his migration. At April 9 I am getting concerned, but still hopeful. There has been a visitor reported on the nest on UK Osprey Info: “Glaslyn Nest visitor, Blue KS6 DINAS Hatched Dyfi Osprey Project 2018, Parents Unringed Monty and Blue 3J, Breeding Male at a FoTo Private nest in the area. Put in a brief visit.”

Hellgate Canyon: Iris works on the nest while waiting for dear Finnegan to return. I sure wish young Finnegan would hurry up so Iris doesn’t have to do all the heavy lifting.

Loch Doon: First egg!

Russell Lake, Nova Scotia: Oscar has been home for awhile and today he woke up to snow! He might wish he had stayed with Ethel and the kids where it is warm.

Thanks Connie and Don for the update! And helping Oscar stay warm!!!!!!!

Loch Arkaig: Geemeff sends us the day’s summary:

Woodland Trust Loch Arkaig daily summary Tuesday 8th April 2025
An exciting day today which saw the return of that interesting pair Affric Blue 152 and her mate Prince. They landed on Nest One shortly before noon, Prince made a half-hearted mating attempt but merely slid off and the two stood quietly on the nest until something alarmed them and they left in a hurry. But not for long – they circled round, visible in the distance behind the knolls, and returned to the nest a few minutes later. No mating attempt this time as Affric landed on the cam post and when she jumped down to join him, she was calling for fish. Prince made no move to go fishing so she departed with him following a few moments late. It’s great to see them back safely – now, will they decide to stay on this nest, or return to their usual nest at Bunarkaig? And where is Garry Blue LV0 who favours this nest and would dearly like to find a mate – we’d all like to see him paired up too. Over on Nest Two, Louis and Dorcha continued with their usual routine of mating, bringing nesting materials – some of which actually stayed on the nest – and fish deliveries. Louis delivered two fish today and like yesterday, the second was a huge trout, so his tally now stands at fourteen. Tonight’s forecast for the Inver Mallie area is clear skies and light winds, and sunshine tomorrow with a potential high of 

20°C.Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 21.21.21 (05.26.08); Nest Two 21.33.45 (05.40.56)
Today’s videos:https://youtu.be/PIiENRMFbtE N2 Dorcha moves in and grabs fish number one from Louis 07.20.52https://youtu.be/cULExhyJn2s N1 Welcome back! Affric 152 & Prince arrive 11.47.48 (zoom)https://youtu.be/I6GhPq9RQEo  N1 After a hasty departure, Affric & Prince return to the nest 11.51.18https://youtu.be/cSkecFnZ3i8  N2 Louis swoops in with a whopper trout 17.25.20
Bonus read: All about Loch Arkaig, and the Mile Dorcha that gave our Dorcha her name:
https://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/speanbridge/locharkaig/index.html
Blast from the past, this day in previous years:
https://youtu.be/YADMDipmet0  N1 Aila gets the brush-off 2020
https://youtu.be/9DmoNXRo4u4  N1 Louis nearly pulls Aila off the nest 2020
https://youtu.be/MOwOw_Okoq4  N2 Magic rainbow diamonds 2022 (Artistic Ospreys)
https://youtu.be/uBJT3Gullpc  N2 Louis’ one and only visit – Dorcha’s not home yet 2023

https://youtu.be/rWdpjJV1mFg N2 Louis chases an intruder 2024 (zoom)
https://youtu.be/cU7dI1sudXs  N2 Louis pole vaults onto the nest 2024
https://youtu.be/in2K_CSR5Mg  N2 Intruder Osprey overflies Dorcha on the nest 2024

Come and join the friendly community at Woodland Trust’s Osprey forum, it’s fun, free and everyone’s welcome:

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/osprey-cam

Loch of the Lowes: Without a mate, Blue NC0, the former resident female on this nest with her mate, LM12 Laddie who died in 2024, has lost her nest to the Dark Male and a new unringed female.

Want to access five Finnish Osprey nests at once? Check out this page: https://www.saaksilive.fi/live/kaikkikamerat/

This evening I found an owl on nest 4. Gosh, it looks like a Great Grey. Do they have those in Finland? (I need to find out!)

Charlo Montana: Two ospreys on the nest. I understand that they are not Charlie and Lola.

Achieva Credit Union: Family portrait – Jack, Jill, and Only Bob.

Heidi has one report for us this morning:

4/8 – Dewey Beach osprey nest (Dewey Beach Lions Club):  Congrats to Dewey and Liona on their second egg, laid at 14:13.

Bald Eagles:

‘J’ reports that Denton Homes has its first hatch of the 2025 season.

John Bunker Sands Wetlands: We have our first fledge at this nest on Tuesday and a safe return. https://youtu.be/n69Y9aXgMwc?

Fort St. Vrain: The triplets appear to be doing alright. The fourth egg is 37 days old today, and pip watch will be on. Like so many that have written to me, I, too, would just as soon it doesn’t hatch!

NE Florida: Three fish arrive in less than a blink! Enough for everyone.

FOBBV: Bulging crops. Sunny and Gizmo have no idea how special they are to their parents. What a magnificent year so far.

Duke Farms: The triplets will be ringed tomorrow! We will get to find out what gender these three precious ones are.

Big Bear Valley: Sunny and Gizmo are wooly and their juvenile plumage is coming in.

Wing slaps amongst siblings? https://youtu.be/mj-nCnpx_QU?s

Trempleau Bald Eagles: Pip watch begins today! And guess what? There is a pip.

Bluff City ETSU: Lots of prey coming to the nest. Both eaglets are doing really well.

NCTC: Scout and Bella’s three eaglets are glorious. Scout loves feeding his chicks, and he attempts to help clean the nest.

Channel Islands Eagles: Dr Sharpe has been wanting to retire, and now he is. My goodness. We have come to rely on him to ‘save’ those beautiful babies gripping the side of a cliff after falling. What would we have done without him? Calico encourages each of us to send him a thank-you message for his incredible efforts, perhaps mentioning a particular moment that touched you. The address is: Dr Peter Sharpe, Institute for Wildlife Studies, PO Box 1104, Arcata, CA 95518.

The IWS posted the following message: “After 27 years Dr. Peter Sharpe is retiring from the IWS Channel Islands eagle recovery program. Dr Sharpe’s efforts were instrumental in bringing bald eagles back to the California Channel Islands, but the true hallmark of a successful program is when the torch is passed to a new generation. To that end, we are excited to announce IWS’ new Eagle Project Lead, Erin Weiner.

Erin comes to us from California State University, Long Beach, where she achieved an M.S. in Biological Sciences while completing her master’s thesis on the effects of wildfire on mammal communities in fire-adapted California ecosystems. In addition to her research, Erin is passionate about science education and has spent many hours sharing her knowledge of the natural world with fellow scientists, K-12 students, and members of the public. She is excited to work with the unique and special Channel Islands Bald Eagle population, fulfilling a lifelong dream of contributing to wildlife conservation and management in her home state of California. Welcome Erin!”

Peregrine Falcon eggs crushed! Don’t even get me started…I would like to step on this individual as he did those precious eggs. There are way too many people that it is alright to kill animals or their hopes for having a family. How would this person feel if someone trampled his child?

Peregrine falcon eggs smashed in St Albans Cathedral live streamDownload

Calico is a bit put off today. Look at her ears. The City is cutting down trees – the homes of her friends. It is also nesting season and they should not be cutting anything down and Calico has lodged an official complaint.

I grew up in a time when we believed that both individually and collectively, we had the power to make a meaningful impact. Recently, I heard an inspiring individual emphasize the urgent need to stand up for our convictions and take action now. An article in The Guardian powerfully highlights this call to action, focusing on the critical issues of wildlife conservation and extinction.

It’s up to each of us to help save life on Earth – I love this challenge | Bob Brownhttps://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/apr/09/its-up-to-each-of-us-to-help-save-life-on-earth-i-love-this-challenge?CMP=share_btn_url

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

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, comments, images, articles, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘Geemeff, Heidi, J’, Dyfi Osprey Project, UK Osprey Info FB, Montana Osprey Project, Connie and Don Dennis and Ospreys of Nova Scotia FB, Geemeff and The Woodland Trust, Loch of the Lowes, Finnish Osprey Nests, John Bunker Sands Wetlands, Fort St Vrain, NEFL-AEF, Duke Farms, FOBBV, IWS, BBC, FOBBV, SK Hideaways, Achieva Credit Union, Bluff City-ETSU, NCTC Bald Eagle Cam

Iris is Home…Monday in Bird World

7 April 2025

Hello Everyone,

What a way to wake up on a Monday morning seeing the osprey, the oldest osprey in the world, land on her nest in Missoula Montana’s Hellgate Canyon. And, yes, it is OK to cry a bucket full of glad tears!!!!!!!!!!!!

It is the beginning of the week, and recent days have been challenging. I hope my blog and our beloved raptors’ lives bring some rays of sunshine into your life. Going for a walk or just sitting outside can help make worries melt away. So, I encourage anyone who needs it to do so! All of us, including The Girls, Brock, Dyson, Junior and the Mrs, Mr and Mrs Crow, Little Red and the Mrs, and all the others, send you much positive energy. Get out! Turn the news off for a day! Enjoy all that nature has to offer.

I am still waiting for some very important ospreys to land on their nests and in some cases sooner than later! Elen is already falling for Teifi’s fishing skills. Get home Aran! And, of course, today, I am going to be keeping an eye out for Iris. Charlo Montana still has highlights on its streaming cam so we wait.

But before we look at the nests, ‘PB’ has just sent me the following and I am in tears: “18:19 Shadow brought in fish and had fishing line stuck on his beak. He is trying to shake it off and flew off looking frustrated. You could see the Shiny clear line.”

This is worrisome. Looking for some news for FOBBV and hoping all is well.

Oprey News:

Heidi’s Osprey News:

4/6 – Mispillion Harbor osprey nest (Delaware):  Congrats to Della and Warren on their first egg of the season. Della laid the egg at 14:15, and it was ten days earlier than the first egg last year.

4/6 – Carthage osprey nest (Tennessee): Congratulations to  Mom and Dad on their first egg of the season, laid on the same date as in 2024.  Mom and Dad lost their nest and only osplet last May during a strong storm.  They have started to rebuild, and everyone is hoping these ospreys can fortify the nest to make it stronger. Best wishes for this lovely pair.  

4/6 –  Maryland Western Shore osprey nest: The live stream was down for nearly three days.  When it resumed this evening, we saw that Marilyn and Arthur now have 3 eggs. Congratulations!

Thanks, Heidi!

Teifi has settled in, and there are many fish coming to the Glaslyn nest for Elen. Will Aran return? Will he have to fight for his territory against this younger male? Those fish were two flounder and two mullet.

‘L’ sent us Isac’s posting for the Patchogue Ospreys. You will recall that PSEG moved the nest. No sighting of the birds today. Thanks, L.

There is an osprey on another Long Island nest checked by Isac.

Pitkin County: Our osprey couple has returned! Vocoholic has the arrivals on video: https://www.youtube.com/live/ZLAKZwYtrVk?

Border Osprey Report:

WAITING PATIENTLY – Border OspreysDownload

RSPB Loch Garten: An osprey briefly landed on the nest. Some believe this might have been Asha. Waiting for confirmation.

Alyth SS: An unringed female, not the resident mate of Harry, Flora, has been on the nest. Two mating attempts on Sunday.

Balgavies Loch: There is an osprey at the loch on Sunday.

Tweed Valley Nest 1: Unringed female lands on the nest on Sunday.

Dyfi: Idris and Telyn. Beautiful. Waiting for that first egg.

Llyn Clywedog: Gorgeous Dylan and Seren!

Birds of Poole Harbour: Waiting for that first egg for CJ7 and Blue 022 any moment.

Green Ledge Light Preservation Society Ospreys, Long Island: Osprey arrived on 4 April. Waiting for the second and confirmation of who returned first.

Danish Osprey Cam: The male has returned. Waiting for his mate.

Achieva: Fish on the nest, family portrait, and a new baby that seems to be fine so far.

Collins Marsh: New camera platform was going up on March 15 but things still seem to be wonky.

Great Bay Estuary: Two ospreys on the nest today.

Oceanside MNSA: Third egg laid on Saturday April 5.

Golden Gate Audubon: Richmond and Rosie have two eggs. Will there be a third laid today?

Geemeff sends us her daily summary for The Woodland Trust and Loch Arkaig. Thank you, Geemeff!

Woodland Trust Daily summary for Loch Arkaig Sunday 6th April 2025

The glorious weather continued today, unlike this day last year when Storm Kathleen blew in and blew Dorcha off her perch. There was much merriment with sticks – again! We can expect more of these classic sticky situations as they prepare the nest ready for the eggs which could be less than two weeks away, especially after this morning’s marathon mating sessions. The only action on Nest One was when Dorcha turned up, possibly chasing an intruder out of her territory, but Louis confined himself to the loch and Nest Two, delivering four fish which takes his tally to ten. The weather forecast for Inver Mallie, which includes the nest area, is set fair for a few more days.

Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One  21.19.38 (05.31.15); Nest Two 21.33.32 (05.44.58)

Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/fMzkjVtbH0I N2 Dorcha grabs the first fish of the day after a tussle 06.26.34

https://youtu.be/2TrKItSxR3o N1 Unringed Osprey visits – it’s Dorcha! 11.37.03

https://youtu.be/pVw-5InEmdM N2 Comings & goings: Dorcha finally gets fish number two 11.38.03

https://youtu.be/DEkObqLTA-g N2 Dorcha grabs fish number three immediately 18.11.52

https://youtu.be/gypEolHWuXg N2 The Sabre Dance as performed by Louis & Dorcha 19.33.24 (Classic Ospreys – Khachaturian)

https://youtu.be/RseZ58O–VI N2 Fish number four – Louis keeps hold of his fish supper 20.30.21

Bonus watch – WT’s virtual tour of Loch Arkaig:

https://arkaigtour.woodlandtrust.org.uk

Blast from the past, this day in previous years:

https://youtu.be/OvVG5MBBjd4  N1 Welcome home – Aila announces her arrival!   2020

https://youtu.be/j_2zRRZeJQY  N1 Together again: the reunion of Aila & Louis 2020

https://youtu.be/L68RvTIrm5o  N1 Bonkers! Louis & Aila get down to business 2020

https://youtu.be/jNmLwYAdLsA  N1 Who does a flypast? 2021 (Slo-mo zoom)

https://youtu.be/oGYDu5iSZUk  N2 Louis brings his lunch and unusually stays to eat it  2023

https://youtu.be/jBls1Jwbkhw  N2 Hooded Crow is chased away by Dorcha & Louis 2024

https://youtu.be/beIyi7Q9FIc  N2 Fish number two, precarious handover in a gale  2024

https://youtu.be/Uz2YCaJzWLo  N2 Poor Dorcha is blown off by the wind  2024

https://youtu.be/y8Jxs3sbhS4  N1 A Barn Owl visits 2024

Come and join the friendly community at Woodland Trust’s Osprey forum, it’s fun, free and everyone’s welcome:

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/osprey-cam

Bald Eagles:

NE Florida: Brodie just goes higher and higher at the NE Florida nest of Beau and Gabby. Will it be true flight tomorrow? https://youtu.be/cYTuJVPT8K4?

Fort St Vrain: Third egg hatches. One to go.

HPAI – Avian Flu is not letting up. Thousands of game birds culled in North Yorkshire.

Thousands of gamebirds culled at breeding facility in N Yorkshire after bird flu outbreak – Raptor PDownload

Thank you so much for being with us. Take care of yourself. Please go for a walk. Smell the spring air. We hope to see you soon.

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, comments, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘Geemeff, Heidi, J, L, PB’, Cornell Bird Lab/Montana Osprey Project, FOBBV, Bywyd Gwylld Glaslyn, By the Patchogue Nest, Volcoholics and Pitkin County, Rosie Shields and The Border Ospreys, RSPB Loch Garten, Alyth SS, Balgavies Loch, Tweed Valley Ospreys, Dyfi Osprey Project, Llyn Clywedog, Birds of Poole Harbour, Green Ledge Light Preservation Society, Danish Osprey Cam, Achieva Credit Union, Collins Marsh, Great Bay Estuary, Oceanside MNSA, Golden Gate Audubon, Geemeff and The Woodland Trust, NEFlorida-AEF and SK Hideaways, Fort St Vrain, Raptor Persecution UK< Mispillion Harbour, Carthage, Maryland Western Shore

Sunday in Bird World

6 April 2025

Good Morning Everyone,

It is +5 on the Canadian prairies, and spring is almost here! The House Finches have arrived along with the Dark-eyed Juncos. We have had several new woodpeckers over the past couple of days at the suet cylinders, along with the garden regulars. They are all accounted for, and that is a good thing! Brock was here twice today. He is not afraid of me any more. He will sit on the chair until I put his food in the dish. Isn’t that just a marvellous change!?

Now, please tell me you have been outside. Did you smell spring in the air? Are you watching for the hummingbirds migrating through? How about the ducks? Have you seen any? I can’t wait to tell you about the first ducks’ arrival at our local park’s pond. Will they be Mallards? or Wood Ducks?

Ferris Akel’s Saturday Tour went through Wildlife Drive – the first time this spring. There were beautiful shorebirds, at least one Sandhill Crane, but Ferris thought it was guarding a nest, and ducks – ducks of many species.

Oh, I am getting so excited. It doesn’t bother me that the geese poop over everything. It is so nice to see them home. This year there will, undoubtedly, be less due to bird flu which has hit the species hard. We will be grateful for each and every one that made it back alive!

One of our favourite nature centres, Oak Hammock Marsh, is getting a real makeover. They have been renovating for the past two years. We could head out there for a walk to see who is on the water. The new building is not open yet, but the trails are, and the ice should be melted. Then, of course, the American White Pelicans should arrive at Lockport by the end of the month. There is a lot to look forward to.

Ferris says that the rust colour on the back and wings of the cranes is from the soil.

There is not a lot of activity in Bird World. As of Saturday morning, 30 well-known ospreys had not returned to the UK. The weather has been bad along the migration route, and we need favourable winds, but by the 12th, I will start to worry. I am watching the Montana Ospreys, especially Iris and Finnegan, and looking out for Aran. Many are also watching the Russell Lake nest of Oscar and Ethel, who have been raising osplets there for about 15 years. Oscar is waiting for his gal to return. VV constantly checks on 15 nests in the Maryland area while Heidi monitors a long list of US nests. We will know soon enough who has returned and who hasn’t. Send good positive energy to all of them.

Ospreys are arriving at Kielder Forest. Mrs PC8 from Nest 2 was there on Saturday. Here is their latest news.

Latest news _ Kielder OspreysDownload

Iris’s train passes behind her nest, which she shares with her new mate, Finnegan, at Hellgate Canyon. Please come home, Iris! Your favourite date is April 7th – that is tomorrow, Monday.

A reminder of Iris’s – and our – remarkable year at this nest with hopes for another. https://youtu.be/iKSGv30eaDc?

Harry waits for Flora at Alyth SS.

Geemeff sends us the daily summary for The Woodland Trust and Loch Arkaig. Thank you, Geemeff!

Woodland Trust Daily summary for Loch Arkaig Saturday 5th April 2025

Another day of settled weather, and Louis took advantage of the good conditions to deliver four brown trout, taking the season’s fish tally to six. There were many mating encounters and an amusing interlude with sticks, and so far the season seemed to be progressing normally. Dorcha was on the nest when Louis brought the fourth fish at 20.36 but made no move to take it, and she departed without it about 15 minutes later, leaving Louis standing there clutching the fish in his talons. However, in a surprising change to the usual pattern, he then appeared to fall asleep, hunched over his fish near the edge of the nest, and at the time of filing this report (23.00), he was still there looking as if he might spend the night on the nest. No activity on Nest One today.

Night cam switches on (day cam):

Nest One (05.33.14); Nest Two (05.51.56)

Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/HPXA4EJ5uQc N2 Louis arrives with the first fish, half a brown trout 06.43.50

https://youtu.be/15LM_bVIrGk N2 Comical stick incident! 10:24:26 (Classic Ospreys)

https://youtu.be/23B3e0Ncpeo N2 Fish number two arrives and departs – Dorcha is indignant! 12.16.52

https://youtu.be/YNVCK5SBrn0 N2 Louis delivers fish number three and throws sticks overboard 17.28.45

https://youtu.be/XcSY3N_XTQ4 N2 Louis arrives with fish number four but Dorcha’s not interested 20.36.42

Bonus watch – WT video showing the construction of Nest Two: 

Blast from the past – this day in previous years:

https://youtu.be/000ExVIHdTk  N1 He’s back! Welcome home Louis! 2020

https://youtu.be/MqCZOPYRBMw N1 Louis brings a big stick 2020

https://youtu.be/GiXhBTMjfdI N2 A Great Tit (Parus major) visits 2022

https://youtu.be/xfg_jzAnuCU  N2 Louis does a lovely long loop as he leaves 2023 (zoom)

https://youtu.be/s45fByu5-ZE  N2 Louis swoops around in front of the nest before landing with a fish 2023

https://youtu.be/b7XBOsBjZHU  N2 Fishy tails! Louis eats all his dinner 2023

https://youtu.be/_tcny1NvSfs  N2 Louis sky-dances at dawn 2024

https://youtu.be/onRZQMzzFec N2 Two fish arrive within seconds 08.22.22 & 08.22.35! 2024

Come and join the friendly community at Woodland Trust’s Osprey forum, it’s fun, free and everyone’s welcome:

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/osprey-cam

The Wildlife Trusts present 

Wild LIVE: Ecocide – should destroying nature be a crime? 

Free online discussion Tuesday 15 April 2025 from 18.30 to 20.00 GMT+1https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/eve

nts/2025-04-15-wild-live-ecocide-should-destroying-nature-be-crime

A pilot study to examine the impacts of releasing non-native gamebirds (pheasants & red-legged partridges) into the Cairngorms National Park is due to begin this spring:

Pilot study to examine impact of releasing non-native gamebirds in Cairngorms National Park

Louis and Dorcha:

Heidi’s Osprey Nest News:

4/5 –  Smallwood State Park osprey nest (Maryland):  Congrats to Mom and Dad… Mom laid egg#3 at 08:03.

4/5 –  Dewey Beach osprey nest (Delaware, Dewey Beach Lions Club):  I just love this wonderful osprey couple.  Mom seemed ‘eggie’ today, so I was not surprised to see her lay the first egg at 19:15.

4/6 – Venice Golf Club:  The third baby hatched overnight, and three bobbleheads were seen at the first feeding this morning.

A great opportunity for some special person or persons! Check out the Osprey Leadership Foundation! Please apply if you fit the criteria – this would be fantastic and I know some of us ‘oldies’ would have loved to have had this chance.

Osprey on nest 4 in Finland! This is Nuppu and Nemo’s nest – I have not seen any confirmation of this osprey yet. Will keep checking.

‘J’ sends news that Traverse City Bald Eagles have their second hatch.

At Beau and Gabby’s nest in NE Florida, Bodie had a nice fish meal. Later, she soaked in the sun and wind with Juvie and went higher up the branches.

Bodie goes higher! https://youtu.be/cYTuJVPT8K4?

It is, sadly, not going to be long until Bodie flies off the nest. She is doing a lot of flapping.

E03 at the Kistachie National Forest E3 nest enjoyed three fish deliveries on Saturday.

Scout and Bella’s triplets seem to be doing just fine at the NCTC nest.

Betty Lou is growing!!!!!!! Jak and Audacity are truly proud parents!

Angel the Leucistic Redtail Hawk and Tom: There has been no activity since the entry below, when Angel flew off the nest. I do not believe we should count on this couple raising any eyases on this nest this year. This is not to say they do not have another nest in their territory.

4/2/20257:49:08 AMAngelleaves

‘J’ sends us news of other eagle nests: “Watching the bobbleheads at Fort St. Vrain. Just wonderful. So young they can’t do real damage to each other yet, so it’s „safe“, and fluff balls are so cute. One obviously was contemplating hacking the other, but before he could take action, he fell over on his back, feet up in the air – I can’t help it, I snorted. Too funny.

There’s a pip, so number three is on its way.

Denton Homes confirmed by youtube chatters, two little Majestics!

Unfortunately the new hatch at Falconshire Raptors seem to have died, Skye stepped on it several times according to the charts. No official confirmation yet. https://falconshireraptors.com/blog/“

Are we truly the only animals that destroy their home by tossing our garbage everywhere? It sure looks like it. We know the birds find everything – the safe and the dangerous – that we toss. Here is an article about it.

From burger wrappers to masks, bird nests tell story of throwaway culturehttps://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/apr/04/from-burger-wrappers-masks-bird-nests-story-throwaway-culture?CMP=share_btn_url

Thank you for being with us today! As you enjoy the rest of your weekend, I encourage you to step outside, even just sitting in a chair by your back door. Nature truly has a remarkable ability to heal and can lift our worries, even if just for a moment. Look up at the sky and let a smile spread if you see a goose honking and flying overhead or glimpse a hummingbird.

Embrace the beauty around you and let it rejuvenate your spirit. There are lots of worries in the world. I do not know anyone who is not anxious. We will benefit from stepping outside and listening to our feathered friends or going for a short or long walk with a friend or family member. Nature heals. We need to take better care of it – and our spirits.

Thank you for being with us. Take care everyone. See you soon! And according to WordPress there are benefits to you hitting the ‘like’ button if you enjoyed this posting but for the life of me I am not a social media pro and have no idea what they are!

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, comments, images, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘Geemeff, Heidi, J’, Ferris Akel Tour, Kielder Forest, Montana Osprey Project, Alyth SS, Geemeff and The Woodland Trust (Loch Arkaig), Osprey Leadership Foundation, Traverse City Bald Eagles, NEFL-AEF, SK Hideaways, Kistachie National Forest E3, IWS/Explore, Window to Wildlife, The Guardian, Smallwood State Park, VGCCO, Dewey Beach

Friday in Bird World

4 April 2025

Good Morning Everyone,

Thursday was a gorgeous day. +5 C. Sunny. We spent the day out in the country away from the city taking in the spring air.

Animals are really important to one’s well-being. My husband thrives around them. We brought carrots for the goats today. Isn’t this little one with its blue eyes just a darling? One of our favourites.

And we brought our own goose home! She will no longer lure ducks or geese to their peril and doesn’t need food!

At home, Calico spent the afternoon watching the birds fly in and out of the garden. We are so grateful she is inside with her daughter, Hope. My heart pangs thinking of her ever living outside in the harsh weather.

I always welcome your e-mails. Don’t stop sending them. It keeps me connected with people of like minds who love the birds and who cry with them throughout the joys and the sorrows.

‘JB’ writes: “I know you got hundreds of emails but I still wanted to add mine. When Dorcha arrived, I was happy for her, but it also low-key, unofficially confirmed in my mind that maybe Louis really was gone since he usually arrived first. But I was still planning to hold onto hope for one more day. Perhaps he was taking an extra rest, esp after last summer. But I still couldn’t shake off that realization that Dorcha arrived FIRST. I was riding the subway to work and was actually feeling really sad thinking that this world is without Louis and how strange it felt, when I saw someone post on the Woodland Trust chat about an osprey on the nest but not being sure who it was. I couldn’t believe it when I saw it on the livestream. It really is a miracle! The fact that any bird can keep coming back year after year is already a miracle, but especially Louis! So many of us, myself included, had doubts. But this shows to never count an osprey out!

And so now I wait with baited breath for Iris’s arrival. I created another drawing. It’s meant to be cheeky and silly, Iris looking at the calendar with anticipation and packing her best summer feathers, some fish jerky, and Finnegan’s love letter to her over the winter. Haha, it gives me a good chuckle.

Hooray for Louis and Dorcha!”

‘JB’s art to go with this letter!

We are all waiting while crossing toes, fingers, eyebrows, and hoping beyond hope to see our Queen land on her nest. Thank you, ‘JB’.

Geemeff sends us the news for today from The Woodland Trust:

Woodland Trust Daily summary for Loch Arkaig Thursday 3rd April 2025:

The day started with owls hooting and the dawn chorus starting up before day cam switched over, but the best music was the sound of Louis skydancing. However when he landed on the nest at 06.22, he ignored Dorcha who had made herself available by raising her tail almost vertically. But it was only a short while later that he departed, circled round, and came back to the nest for a full-on mating with Dorcha at 06.48. The pair spent the rest of the day popping on and off the nest, mating, nestorising and generally showing typical behaviour of newly returned Ospreys. Louis brought the first fish of the season around 5pm but Dorcha wasn’t there to get it. When he returned with it later, she was on the nest and took it from him, however her nicely filled out crop suggests he’s either giving her fish off-nest, or she’s fishing for herself. That single fish kicks off the start of the daily fishing report, with Steve Q expertly crunching the numbers. New volunteers are encouraged to sign up, it’s easy and you don’t need to know much about fish species, so if you’d like your very own Fish Counter badge, please send Deb a message. In other news, a Buzzard touched down on Nest One. S/he mantled protectively on the nest but arrived with empty talons, and no other bird was seen, at least not on nest cam, so its behaviour was interesting. George WTS put on his Press Officer hat, and the return of our Ospreys made the news, link to one article in the bonus section.

Night cam switches on (day cam):

Nest One 21.10.23 (05.39.11); Nest Two 21.27.26 (05.53.18)

Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/j2Sum_Ko7Lc N2 Dorcha’s keen but Louis isn’t! 06.22.48

https://youtu.be/xMhCZ5qGTqQ N2 Finally – successful mating 06.48.31

https://youtu.be/hzODfj11JQ4 N1 A Buzzard visits mantling over its empty talons 15.32.48

https://youtu.be/zMMO3WcJR_Q N2 First fish of the season arrives but Dorcha’s not there 16.57.54

Bonus read – the return of the Arkaig Ospreys makes the news:

https://news.sky.com/story/famous-osprey-louis-returns-to-nest-in-scotland-after-illness-13340970

Blast from the past, this day in previous years:

https://youtu.be/09TOby_yPfU  N1 A Woodpecker visits 2021

https://youtu.be/-BwfbQolDAE  N2 Aerial antics: ACrow chases a Buzzard near the nest 2022 (slo-mo zoom)

https://youtu.be/_Er_85c3FZU  N2 Louis brings a fish supper but Dorcha’s not home yet 2023

https://youtu.be/XRUIQug73eo N1 Louis touches down briefly on his old nest 2024 (slo-mo repeat)

https://youtu.be/dZWAEwRxHGA N2 Dorcha accepts fish number three at the second offering 2024

https://youtu.be/NKWmX-eR-94  N2 Successful mating 2024

Come and join the friendly community at Woodland Trust’s Osprey forum, it’s fun, free and everyone’s welcome:

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/osprey-cam

‘J’ sent us an interesting opportunity for someone who might want to visit Oklahoma.

Wild Heart Ranch

9h  · 

Our spring tee shirt logo! I will have them on our store later today! We have youth sizes up to 3X!
That’s Raegan flying over Greg’s head! 😃

The Wild Heart “Bed and Baby Experience”

It is PRIME CABIN STAY TIME! If you have ever wanted to spend a few days helping to feed the babies, but live too far away to volunteer, OR you live local enough to drive but don’t want to start out volunteering doing dishes, floors and laundry, NOW IS THE TIME TO BOOK A CABIN!  The “Cabin experience”; 18 or older, all access to Wild Heart, you start out feeding whatever animals you would like to help with so long as it is safe for you and the animals. We invest one-on-one time teaching you to feed babies even though we may never see you again. (which isn’t often the case) In exchange for our time, your cabin rental helps fund our staff to care for the babies! Once you are experienced (with us) and do not require supervision, we give you winter rates for your stay!  Our cabins are fully equipped, cozy, comfortable and convenient. They are small, but you won’t be spending a lot of time in them. You are here to experience the magic of Wild Heart and that lives in the clinic and on the land! 😃

We have three cabins to choose from:
Raptor Cabin: Queen bed $350 for one night, then $300 for any additional nights
Retreat: (available Friday & Saturday nights) Twin bed+futon+loft, laundry, stove top and large shower $300 one night, then $200
Lodge: Full sized bed $250 one night then $200

All cabins have kitchenettes with fridge, microwave, coffee maker, toaster, all your linens, showers, TV, a place to sit and store your belongings. They are adorable and we are very proud of them. 

Now is the BEST TIME EVER to rent a cabin because we have a larger staff so you can count on more attention and less chaos. We have recently invested in upgrading and renewing our cabins AND we have Dava assigned to tending our cabins so they are spotless and perfect for your stay. She misses NOTHING!  Text Susan at 918)600-8237 and she will call you when she is back at her desk and get you booked! We book only to our Facebook followers and our monthly donors now get fall and winter rates YEAR ROUND! Raptor $250/200, Lodge $150/100, Retreat $200/150. COME SEE US!
Annette

Osprey News:

Loch Arkaig: I can’t stop smiling. Louis and Dorcha. Home.

Dyfi: Beautiful Idris and Telyn.

Llyn Clywedog: Stunning. Dylan and Seren are both home from migration.

Glaslyn: Elen waiting for Aran. Aran, come home!

Hellgate Canyon, Missoula:

Goitzsche Wildnis: J Castnyer comments on the day: “Zeus has done a great job rebuilding the nest from four badly placed sticks and, right now, what he is doing is providing a large amount of loose material not just to cover possible cracks, but to provide comfort to the nest and for Fjona to feel at ease. Males like Zeus are a treasure, on the level of the mythical Monty (Wales) and Teo (Latvia) or an Idris (Dyfi) or a Dylan (Llyn Clywedog).”

Zeus has done a great job rebuilding the nest from four badly placed sticks and, right now, what he is doing is providing a large amount of loose material not just to cover possible cracks, but to provide comfort to the nest and for Fjona to feel at ease. Males like Zeus are a treasure, on the level of the mythical Monty (Wales) and Teo (Latvia) or an Idris (Dyfi) or a Dylan (Llyn Clywedog).

Eschenbach: Concern expressed over the new female’s immaturity at the nest. Joan Castnyer: “We are not on the right track. The new female is strong and has character, yes, but at the same time she is (rather than young) quite immature. She does not spend much time in the nest and (what is more worrying) does not respond to Herbert’s attempts to mate, as you can see in the video. It is possible that this year no young chicks will fly from this nest and that moving Hermine will turn out to be a mistake. We will remain attentive and confident.”

Boulder County: No eggs yet for Mum and new Dad.

Rutland Manton Bay: Maya reveals egg as she gets up for early night stretch.

Birds of Poole Harbour: Beautiful CJ7 and a couple portrait with her mate, Blue 022.

AlythSS: Harry is home!

Kielder Forest Nest 7: Both ospreys back live! https://www.youtube.com/live/bJONIQs4Sfg?

Threave Ospreys: Egg on nest 1.

Farm Field: Not sure that Heidi will include this in her report:

From Heidi:

Achieva osprey nest:  Jack has a new mate this year, named Jill.  Jill laid two eggs, but egg 1 did not hatch.  Egg 2 hatched overnight 4/4, and our first sighting of the little baby was at 07:08.  Congratulations to Jack and Jill!

Bald Eagles:

‘J’ writes that we have new hatches!

Fort St Vrain: So far twins out of those four eggs! FSV52 and FSV53

Big Bear: Is Sunny practising for her maternal duties in the future? https://youtu.be/H6zU37pL8Kk?

Sunny and Gizmo are so adorable.

Fraser Point: Andor and Cruz’s two eaglets are adorable.

Sauces Canyon: Jak and Audacity could not be more proud of their little Betty Lou.

Kistachie National Forest E3: A nice fish on the nest for 03 who is looking good.

Big Red and Arthur, Cornell’s darling Red-tail Hawk couple make the news: https://youtu.be/3QjjH2DEh2E?

In Hertfordshire, a hawk was harrassing villagers. Now it has been caught.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/apr/03/flamstead-man-catches-hawk-that-had-been-attacking-villagers-for-weeks?CMP=share_btn_url

Geemeff sends us more news:

Good news for all UK wildlife – and us humans too. But a great pity the authorities not only failed to act to clean up our rivers, but appealed the decision when they lost to the charity Fish Legal who took them to court for failing in their duty. They lost – again! It’s cost us tax payers a fortune in court fees which would have been better spent starting the clean-up.

https://preview.mailerlite.io/emails/webview/510835/150736527066924323

A call to action:

Protections are being dismantled, but public lands and waters belong to you, whether it is a National Wildlife Refuge, National Park, Forest, Marine Sanctuary or Marine Monument. Your tax dollars provide a way for you to safely visit, hunt, fish, birdwatch, swim and hike. These lands and waters are where native wildlife have reared their young for millennium and are now protected in perpetuity for the specific purposes laid out by Congress in their establishment.

Call to Action!

Thank you so much for being with us today. Take care everyone. We hope to see you again soon.

Thank you to the following whose comments, notes, images, videos, articles, and streaming cams helped me to write my blog today: ‘Geemeff, Heidi, J, JB’, Geemeff and The Woodland Trust, Wild Heart Ranch, The Woodland Trust and Loch Arkaig, Dyfi Osprey Project, Birds of Poole Harbour, Bywyd Gwllyd Glaslyn, LRWT, Llyn Clywedog Osprey Cam, Montana Osprey Cam, Joan Castnyer and Goitzsche Wildnis and Eschenbach Osprey Cams, Boulder County Fair Grouds Osprey Cam, Farm Field Ospreys, SK Hideaways, FOBBV, IWS/Explore, Kistachie National Forest, WENY TV News, The Guardian, Achieva Credit Union, Fort St Vrain, Alyth SS, Kielder Forest, Threave Castle, Jeff Kear and UK Osprey Info

Thursday in Bird World

3 April 2025

Good Morning Everyone!

Well, I am over the moon with the arrival of Louis and Dorcha at the Loch Arkaig 2 nest on Wednesday. I mean, seriously, this is magical. I couldn’t believe it and then I couldn’t stop smile and quietly giggling to myself. Just like the miracle eagle babies in the US, it just doesn’t get much better than this in UK Osprey World!

‘The Girls’ divide themselves into couples.

Hugo Yugo and Missey are always together. Always.

Calico and her only surviving kitten, Baby Hope, are likewise always together. Hope waits for Mum to finish eating before she eats – just as she did when she was a kitten.

I am showing it again just for you to get the idea. Hope is very good friends and plays with Hugo Yugo and she doesn’t mind Missey. Calico and Missey are not pals. They do not like one another and so, today, I am off to get some more of that diffuser that should make them ‘love one another’. Wish me luck!

While they are curious about the feral cats and tolerate Brock, they do not like the new ones that are arriving. To keep the stress down for them, the plan is to move the feral feeder to the back of the garden area away from our garden door. I can still keep an eye to see if Brock is coming and if he needs our help.

This blog contains the mention of Louis’ arrival home at least three times. Here are the videos in case you missed them. This in response to the more than 400 e-mails of you with tears in your eyes and the following from one of our long time Bird World friends. ‘B’ writes: “Oh, thank goodness!!  Thank you Mary Ann!  It has been such a difficult year, with the loss of Annie and Archie, and Thunder and Akecheta, E24 and E25, and (so far) the loss of Chase and Cholyn’s eggs at Two Harbors.  We have to be thankful for every blessing we get with Jackie and Shadow at Big Bear, Audacity and Jak at Sauces, Bodie at NE Florida, and now the return of Louis (Louis the Legend!!) and Dorcha at Loch Arkaig.”

‘B’ is so right. There are miracles and blessings and each day with our feathered friends has to be treasured and never taken for granted. We love them dearly.

Welcome home Dorcha! Resident female Osprey returns to Loch Arkaig Nest Two 2nd April 2025 (zoomed):13.58.57 An Osprey call is heard off camera – is it Louis? Sounds like him. I boosted the audio the better to hear the call. 14.04.19 An Osprey lands with a chirp – but it’s Dorcha, not Louis! Welcome home! 

14.06.20 She departs, flying lochwards and disappearing into the distance. Where is Louis?

Welcome home Louis! Resident male Osprey returns to Loch Arkaig Nest Two 2nd April 2025 (zoomed):19.43.55 An Osprey comes unseen from the cam side and lands on the cam post with a thunk and a soft cry. 19.47.30 The Osprey takes off, circles round, heads back to the nest  

19.47.44 It lands – it’s Louis!! Welcome home, it’s so good to see you.

https://youtu.be/8WyDfBGdXgYTogether again! The reunion of the resident Loch Arkaig Ospreys Louis and Dorcha 2nd April 2025:

20.11.35 Louis is on the nest and starts displaying, flapping his wings 20.12.00 Dorcha arrives and is reunited with Louis Louis starts coy-mantling, she just stands there quietly 20.21.54 Dorcha leaves, Louis remains behind and starts nest prep, doing some nest scraping 20.46.57 Louis leaves for the night

Heidi’s US Osprey Report:

4/2 – Venice Golf Club: Congratulations to Mom and Dad on their first hatch.  The baby hatched sometime overnight.

4/2 –  Brevard County:  Mom was very secretive, but the first baby hatched at approximately 13:30.

Updates to the hatches from Heidi!

4/3 – Brevard County: A pip was first seen 4/2 at 21:00, and the second baby was out of the shell 4/3 by around 00:30.

4/3 – Venice Golf Club: The second baby arrived sometime in the overnight hours.

4/3 – Havre de Grace osprey nest: The first egg of the season was laid this morning at 06:59.

Heidi asked me to make a correction: CORRECTION:  PLEASE CHANGE DATE OF Maryland Western Shore egg #2 to  4/1.

And I missed this one from Heidi!

Kent Island: 3/30 – Kent Island, Maryland (Chesapeake Conservancy):  ‘Tom’ arrived home on the same day that he returned last year. Nice to see you, Tom.  Tom is waiting for Audrey, who is currently a week past the date that she arrived last season.

Mary Ann’s Osprey News:

Rutland Mantou Bay: Maya lays her first egg on 2 April.

Golden Gate Audubon: Richmond and Rosie welcomed their first egg of the 2025 season on Tuesday 1 April.

Loch Arkaig: If you missed it, Louis and Dorcha are home. More from Geemeff below but I had to mention it twice. My inbox flowed with over 400 e-mails about this fantastic couple. We all remember Louis and Aila and their triplets during the pandemic. We miss Aila, we embraced Dorcha, and then we worried ourselves to death that Louis might not return this year. Well, he fooled us and I hope that he has recovered from whatever ailed him last season.

Glaslyn: Elen is home waiting for Aran. Now we have a visitor, a male.

Cowlitz PUD: Electra arrived at the nest on 30 March.

Goitzsche Wildnis : J Castnyer writes: “If yesterday it was Herbert, from the Eschenbach nest, who brought a red fish to the new couple, today Zeus did the same to the one from Goitzsche Wildnis. Very attached to the claws, yes. There was a moment of tug-of-war between him and a Fjona who was very interested in the teak, not only because of the color, but because of the appetite it had.” From this it would appear that the original Fjona has not returned but I hope this is just my misunderstanding. Stay tuned for clarification.

Here is that ‘red fish’ that Herbert brought to the Eschenbach nest yesterday:

Geemeff’s Daily Summary for Loch Arkaig!

Daily summary Wednesday 2nd April 2025

What an eventful day – apart from the Really Dark Female (RDF) turning up on Nest Two this morning, the main action took place in the afternoon and evening. Louis and Dorcha have returned! We heard Louis’ characteristic call off-camera then an Osprey arrived, but confusingly, it was Dorcha! Looking a little hollow cropped but otherwise in good shape. She left and the nest stayed empty as the light started to fade but then a chirrup was heard and a wingtip seen from someone up on the cam post, then the Osprey departed, flew off, circled round and landed on the nest – it was Louis! He is looking in magnificent shape with a nicely rounded crop. He stayed on the nest looking around then suddenly started displaying and the reason soon became obvious when Dorcha arrived. Their reunion was quiet, no noise, no mating attempts, just some coy-mantling from Louis, with Dorcha not calling for fish as judging by her crop, she’d eaten since first appearing on the nest. Had she caught her own fish, or had she met up with Louis earlier and he’d given her a fish off-nest? We’ll never know, but what is certain is the resident pair are both safely home, and the nest cam community is absolutely thrilled. And for a bonus, the weather cooperated too.

Night cam switches on (day cam): 

Nest One 21.10.08 (05.41.53)

Nest Two 21.23.55 (05.58.36)

Today’s videos, all Nest Two:

https://youtu.be/GdxCrcgFs9w  First visit by an Osprey – and it’s the RDF! 10.35.35 (zoom)

https://youtu.be/0at1Hn1OO68  Welcome home Dorcha! 14.04.19 (zoom)

https://youtu.be/8WyDfBGdXgY Welcome home Louis! 19.47.44 (zoom)

https://youtu.be/drkXe1oXJ6E  The resident pair are reunited 20.12.00

Bonus link – several members of the community have kindly made donations to celebrate the return of our Ospreys, here’s the link if you’d like to join in: https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/support-us/give/donation

If you prefer to show support in other ways, you can buy from Woodland Trust’s shop: https://shop.woodlandtrust.org.uk/

Or become a member: https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/support-us/woodland-trust-membership/

Or link your Nectar points and donate them to WT: https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/support-us/join/nectar/

Blast from the past, all from this day last year:

https://youtu.be/jKAmWUAhVTY Dorcha stars on BBC Breakfast TV 

https://youtu.be/xopDMmwwx2E Louis delivers the first fish of the day

https://youtu.be/GVX93Gmg5KI George on BBC Radio Scotland 

https://youtu.be/ziFi6Kiqclc Prince brings another fish to Nest One 

https://youtu.be/5eWslEsf8-A Freeze frame comparison of the stranger with Garry LV0 

Come and join the friendly community at Woodland Trust’s Osprey forum, it’s free and everyone’s welcome:

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/osprey-cam

Bald Eagle News:

‘J’ sends news that we have a pip/hatch underway at Fort St Vrain in Colorado!

Big Bear: Sunny and Gizmo just cannot stop growing. Snow has started falling but let us all wish that this nest misses any big storms heading for the north of California. https://youtu.be/3rTqyFDnlXE?

More cuteness from the FOBBV Cam: https://youtu.be/CLYP4TJXuYs?

NCTC: It might have been horrific year for Bella last year, but this year is an entirely different story. Bella and Scout’s triplets are doing very well.

John Bunker Sands: The kids are really wanting to fly! https://youtu.be/R06mn7eepQQ?

Other Birds:

Cornell Red Tail Hawks: I reported that Big Red laid her third egg Wednesday morning. Oh, I love this 22 year old incredible Mum and dear Arthur. Here he nudges her off the eggs so she can have a break and he can have some incubation time. I always wonder if Arthur senses that she is more tired than she was 8 years ago? And he is really stepping up to help. Love them. So glad to have the privilege to watch them raise another family. https://youtu.be/ih0pGF7rguQ?

Great Spirit Bluff: Newmann and Elaine have their third egg on 2 April.

‘T’ sends us a video of the Imperial Eagles in RU welcoming a new breeding season.

https://vk.com/feed?w=wall8472470_5332&z=video8472470_456239537%2F8c0732251b6beea12d%2Fpl_post_8472470_5332

Calico’s Tip for the Day: Please read this and educate everyone you know.

I don’t want to end the blog on a negative note so I am putting this article here. I want you to pause and think about how many billions of animals we – humans – kill in the factory farms across the world and the inhumane conditions those animals live in. Now, the EU is allowing the shooting of doves. Seriously? I get an ‘acidic’ stomach just thinking about this. What is wrong with people?

Turtle doves to be shot for sport again across Europe as EU lifts hunting banhttps://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/apr/02/turtle-doves-to-be-shot-for-sport-again-across-europe-as-eu-lifts-hunting-ban?CMP=share_btn_url

Huge storms heading east from Arkansas could impact many of our beloved birds. Stay safe everyone.

Always nice to see a utility company helping our beloved raptors:

Utility company trying to help nesting Ospreys find suitable nests and prevent electrocution and / or power outages:

Eversource Hoping To Help Ospreys Establish Proper Nesting In Chatham

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

Thank you to the following for giving me help with my blog today: ‘B, Geemeff, Heidi, J, T’, Geemeff and The Woodland Trust, VGCCO, Brevard County, LRWT, Kent Island/Chesapeake Conservancy, Golden Gate Audubon, Jeff Kear and Byryd Gwylld Glaslyn, Cowlitz PUD, Geemeff and The Woodland Trust, FOBBV, SK Hideaways, NCTC, John Bunker Sands Wetlands, Great Spirit Bluff Ospreys/Explore, Joan Castnyer, Eschenbach Osprey Platform, Goitzsche Wildnis Osprey Platform, SK Hideaways, The Guardian, CapeCod.com, Kaitlin Wright Meterologist, RU Imperial Eagle Cam

Wednesday in Bird World

2 April 2025

Good Morning,

Jackie and Shadow’s kiddos have been named: Sunny for the oldest and Gizmo for the youngest. Thanks 3rd graders!

Loch Arkaig: Gemeff writes that Louis and Dorcha might be home. Just waiting for confirmation from the Woodland Trust.

Ospreys are like buses – wait for ages and then two come along at once!

This is how Dorcha’s arrival happened:

13.58.57 An Osprey call is heard off camera – is it Louis? Sounds like him. I boosted the audio the better to hear the call.

14.04.19 An Osprey lands with a chirp – but it’s Dorcha, not Louis! Welcome home!

14.06.20 She departs, flying lochwards and disappearing into the distance. She’s quite hollow-cropped, I imagine she’s gone fishing. Perhaps already made an attempt judging by the green gunk on her right foot.

https://youtu.be/0at1Hn1OO68 (zoomed)

Think he is home!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And earlier, we had the first Osprey visit – the Really Dark Female (RDF) who’s visited before.

https://youtu.be/GdxCrcgFs9w (zoom)

Louis video coming now – he stayed a few secs then flew off lochwards

I had not planned on sending out a post this morning, but Geemeff drew my attention to something and I think that it is something that we have to prepare ourselves for – the fact that Louis and many other beloved ospreys might not return this year.

I know that readers sometimes do not click on links and you might have missed this one in my Tuesday blog. Geemeff suggested that I pin it in print because people are concerned about whether or not Louis (or any of the others not already home) will return. George writes for the Woodland Trust:


“It is clear that Louis suffered some kind of illness last year that saw him perched in a tree for days on end when he would ordinarily have been fishing. While he did recover before the end of the summer it is likely that when he migrated he was not as fit as he has been in past years.

We believe he was two or three years old when we first saw him in 2017 so that means that while by no means ancient he is now getting on in years. There are a few individual outliers that live to 20 and beyond but the typical lifespan seems to be 10-15 years. He is in that zone now.

Migration is tough in either direction, We do need to prepare ourselves for the possibility that Louis might not make it back this year.

It is also important for everyone to process the fact that wild lives don’t tend to end neatly. If Louis does return this season he may be vulnerable to another younger male kicking him off the nest. Or his fishing abilities may go into decline. Remember that the beginning of his breeding career with Aila began with chick mortality because the pair were inexperienced. His middle years have seen him mature into an excellent father, but we can expect a tough time for chicks hatched in his declining years.

That is just how these things go. While it is upsetting for us to see chicks fail, it is natural.

It could be that he arrives back in fine fettle in the next week or two and we have a successful season. But we have to accept that might not be the case.”

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/osprey-cam/?ht-comment-id=24047912

We hope that they all return. We wait and see.

Geemeff also sent this announcement that has a stale date. There is going to be a great Q & A on Eagles this Thursday. So check it out.

Thank you, Geemeff!

CROW is asking for your help.

‘RP’ sent us another cute little bird nest idea! Thank you.

We have some ospreys arriving and we have some that need their mates to come home NOW!

Kielder Forest: W6 is home!

W6 arrives, with fish offering! _ Kielder OspreysDownload

Cowlitz PUD:

Llyn Brenig:

Mispillion Harbour: Heidi keeps a close eye on these Delaware ospreys.

UFlorida-Gainesville: Sadly, that sinking hole we noticed has resulted in the loss of all three of Stella’s eggs with her new mate. Here is the announcement:

“April 1 2025: Hello Osprey fans! I have sad news to report. From the recent heavy rains, a hole opened up in the bottom of the nest and all three eggs fell through and were lost. Tragic and I am truly sorry this has happened to the osprey pair. This event happened once before at the old location of the osprey cam at the original UF ball field. We will keep the camera on in April to see if they repair the nest. I don’t think Stella will lay more eggs this season as she has laid four already. Ospreys are resilient and most likely will be back again to nest.”

Fraser Point: The intruders in the Channel Islands just don’t seem to let up. What a worry especially with two little ones on the nest. Stay safe Mama Cruz. And below is the announcement of the name for one of the nest’s eaglets!

High Spirit Bluff: Poor Newmann. He is a fantastic Dad and now he has yet another mate.

Kisatchie E3: ‘MP’ sends some news: “Today, three nice size fish came in so far… The eaglet is doing a good job tearing food apart as long as dad zips it open. The problem is mom comes in and interrupts her/him and takes it away which the eaglet isn’t happy about. I guess mom has to eat too. So, at eight weeks and five days it’s one day at a time. “

NEFlorida: Just look at Brodie! Isn’t she amazing? I don’t want her to fledge just yet.

NCTC: Scout and Bella’s triplets appear to be doing quite well.

Little Miami Conservancy: The kids are doing very well.

John Bunker Sands Wetlands: They are still on the nest, but they are itching to fly. The winds on this nest will certainly pick them up and send them off to soon. It has been a very special nest to monitor this year.

Foulshaw Moss: Blue 35 has returned to her mate White YW at their nest in Cumbria. I can’t wait for the season to start.

Maryland Western Shore Old Town Home: Heidi writes:
3/1 – Maryland Western Shore osprey nest: Marilyn and Arthur have their second egg, which was laid shortly before 10 pm on 3/1.

Cornell Red Tail Hawks: Oh, grand. Big Red laid egg 3 this morning!

Spring is coming! The arrival of certain birds signals the awakening of the land, the trees, the bushes, the flowers. For me it is the arrival of geese but for others, it is the Redwing.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/apr/01/country-diary-twittering-squalling-redwings-speaks-only-spring?CMP=share_btn_url

Thank you for being with me. I am very grateful for all the news that was sent in today. Take care all. See you soon.

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, images, videos, and streaming cams that helped me send this blog off to you today: ‘Geemeff, Heidi, MP, RP’, The Woodland Trust, Raptor Resource Project, CROW, Elaine Buckner, Pam Breci and Cowlitz PUD, Jeff Kear and UKOsprey Info FB and Llyn Brenig, Heidi McGrue and Mispillion Harbour, Gracie Shepherd and IWS/Explore (Fraser Point), Diane Lambertson and High Spirit Bluff, Kistachie E3 Bald Eagle Nest, NEFlorida-AEF, Little Miami Conservancy, John Bunker Sands Wetlands, The Guardian, Maryland Western Shore Old Town Home, Cornell Bird Lab

Monday in Bird World

31 March 2025

Good Morning Everyone,

It was a bit of a cool Sunday on the Canadian Prairies, but we managed our first extensive walk at the nature centre of the spring. The trails were half snow and half ice with the geese gathering at Devonian Lake.

Goose prints on a small pond.

Nearer to home, there were ‘four’ grey squirrels announcing spring had arrived along with the two reds. Both Crows were present as were the Blue Jays. It felt good seeing them all in the garden filling themselves with cat kibble, peanuts, black oil seed, and cracked corn.

‘AM’ sent me this glorious image of spring’s arrival in Japan and graciously allowed me to share it with all of you. There is nothing more beautiful than the first blossoms of spring whether they are the cherry blossoms in Japan or the crocus popping its head up out of the snow in Manitoba. I cannot wait! Thank you so much, ‘AM’.

On the campus of Cornell University, Big Red laid her first egg of the 2025 season on the 27th of March and her second on on Sunday, the 30th. https://youtu.be/ZO-_WY0dmXA?

Arthur got to see that first egg. https://youtu.be/RCChvBTKMVs?

The second egg arrives. https://youtu.be/KdZvseg9-As?

SK Hideways has it for us, too! https://youtu.be/57OPmltd5b0?

Big Red hatched in Brooktondale, New York, a mere seven miles from the Cornell Campus in the spring of 2003. She was ringed in October of that same year. It is not clear how many eggs Big Red has laid or chicks that have fledged. She has been ‘on camera’ since 2012 but she would have been breeding well before that – in fact, probably seven years prior she would have had her first fledge.

Her current mate is Arthur. When Big Red bonded with Arthur, he did not even have his red tail, but he proved to be a great provided wooing her with his squirrel deliveries. Cornell All about Birds says, “The male, Arthur, was named in honor of the founder of the Cornell Lab, Arthur A. Allen. He was first spotted on Cornell University campus as a fledgling in 2016. He is unbanded and has a paler chest, head, and nape than Big Red. The pair first spent time together in April 2017, after Big Red’s previous mate, Ezra, had died. The hawks completed their first breeding season together in 2018.”

Her previous mate was Ezra.

Big Red is internationally known. She is so loved.

Bald Eagles:

Big Bear Valley: They could not be cuter even with their blood feathers growing in. Two little miracles. Look at that chrome yellow gape (the corner of the mouth). You want to see a bright yellow-orange known as chrome yellow. Look at the feet of the adults, too. The deeper in colour, the more healthy the eagles. These two have their thermal down with the cutest of hints at their nestling life in the form of the dandelions still remaining on the top of their heads.

Little Miami Conservancy: There are now two hatches with some bonking going on within the nest!

WRDC: R7 fledged Saturday. BOGS caught sight of him/her later perched on a nearby pine tree.

News has come to me that the Bald Eagles in Alaska are starting to nest. We will be keeping an eye on the Glacier Gardens nest.

‘J’ writes: “The first of the three Centerport chicks hatched on the 29th.

Osprey News:

Tweed Valley Nest 2: Mrs O has arrived home.

Loch of the Lowes: Blue NC0 might have a new mate. https://youtu.be/nizNtoTncDs?

Llyn Clywedog: Gorgeous Seren 5F sent Dylan into doing a loud sky dance on her arrival over the weekend. Geemeff comments, “Dylan arrived on the nest at 15.34, then must have seen Seren in the distance because he suddenly flew off and loud skydancing was heard nearby before she landed at 15.36.

Welcome home Seren!”

https://youtu.be/kOVwSEKRqY4

Hellgate Canyon: Waiting for Iris and Finnegan.

Boulder County Fairgrounds: Mum and new male are on the nest.

Moorings Park: Ozzie is one of the cutest and sweetest little osplets. Feathers coming in. Full crop!

MNSA Koolpix Osprey Nest: First egg of the 2025 season laid on Sunday.

Collins Marsh Osprey Cam: Their FB posting says: “Osprey cam update…yes this is the current view of the camera…the inside of the tower! This past week the camera was brought down for maintenance, and in the coming days a new mount will be installed to help us maintain it for years to come. The birds will be back soon, last year they arrived on April 6th, so keep watching!”

Osprey House Environmental Centre, Australia: Parents George and Hope and their 2024 fledgling Marina were on the nest on Sunday together.

Rocky Lake/Waverley, Nova Scotia: Both ospreys are back.

Severna Park: First egg of the 2025 breeding season has been laid.

Balgavies Loch: An osprey has arrived. No confirmation of identity.

Wensleydale Osprey Platform: An osprey is there!

Heidi reports:

3/31 –  Barnegat Light osprey nest:  Duke arrived at the nest this morning, on the same date that he returned last year.  Hey there, Duke!

Other Birds:

The Black Storks are reaching their nests in Estonia – and I hope they will also be arriving safely in Latvia, soon. Kergu is due to arrive at his nest today! Looduskalender Forum gives us the following information on this magnificent Black Stork: “Kergu Black Stork nest was found in 2022, but it has been there for longer. Probably even fallen down, and rebuilt again on the branches of the same aspen tree. During installation of camera I noticed that nest is only partly supported by the branches, so added some kind well visible exoskeleton to keep it more stabile (perhaps). In the end of March 2024 it seems quite good, but still, not fully safe.

Nest site is situated in Pärnu county, near wind farm development area. That was the reason to track Kergu, male stork who nested here last year, as well as reason to install webcam. There are proposed some mitigation measures, like preparing better feeding conditions in other sectors of home range. Hopefully results of those measures will be visible also through webcam in time. The measures are at the moment in planning stage, yet. So if somebody has ideas for mitigation measures in that situation, those would be valuable to analyse in current situation.

Kergu has rings (incl. left leg 7047) since childhood, he has been ringed in 2011 as one of three chicks in nest situated about 10 km of current Kergu nest. Three chicks fledged in Kergu nest in 2022 and they were in good condition during ringing. Female in this nest we did not know, most probably she was without of rings. In 2023, here we did not see female in nest. Kergu refreshed nest properly, few times neighbour male Nurme visited the nest as well as not ringed immature individuals. But in general Kergu was in nest alone, listening neighbour bird species, like woodland owls, passerines, etc.”

The nest is waiting! Pictures by Urmas.

Latvian Golden Eagle: Spilve laid her second egg on Sunday.

Port Lincoln Ospreys: “Ervie has been checking out the northern end of Boston Island but always returns to the main wharf to sleep.”

“Giliath obviously loves the town life as he just doesn’t want to go anywhere else.”

“Kasse also loves the town life of Tumby Bay”

Wilko is MIA. They are hoping he will check in soon.

Thank you so much for being with us today. Please take care. We look forward to having you with us again soon.

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, comments, images, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘AM, Geemeff, H, J’, Cornell Bird Lab, SK Hideaways, FOBBV, Little Miami Conservancy, Tweed Valley, UKOsprey Info, Geemeff, Llyn Clywedog and CarnyXWild, Montana Osprey Project, Boulder County Fairgrounds, Moorings Park Osprey, Looduskalender Forum, LDF, MNSA Jay Koolpix Cam, Collins Marsh Osprey Cam, WRDC, Port Lincoln Ospreys

Sunday in Bird World

30 March 2025

Good Morning Everyone,

Thank you so much for being with us today. Our thoughts were with the people of Myanmar today as they dig their friends, family members, and even strangers out of the rubble of the 7.7 earthquake with their bare hands and any tools they can find. At last count more than 1600 people were declared dead. My son and I have friends there and in Bangkok – our condolences to all who lost a loved one.

If you are in the UK, Happy Mother’s Day! And to all our feathered friends there – to you as well!

Saturday was breezy and a bit chilly, but it turned out to be a day for restocking the cupboards. Before we left, Brock came to the garden door requesting another dish of roast chicken! He sure loves his roast chicken.

He is getting less frightened of me. I tap on the glass twice. That alerts Brock that I am coming outside with additional food for him. A year ago he would have run under the deck and waited for me to return to the house locking the door. Now he will sit about 30-45 cm away (12-15 inches) waiting. He suns himself on the rug and never rushes to leave. He is more comfortable. Brock has been coming to the garden since 2022 with Calico. His life is not easy but he is fed and now, thanks to a reminder by Geemeff, he is getting his de-worming treatment.

The Crows have been coming to the big table feeder for cat kibble. They are here every day. Soon I will need to make sure that there is ‘meat’ available for them as there will be babies to feed. [Taken through the conservatory window with the iPhone].

Just a warning. Today’s post will be shorter than normal. I had trouble with Meta (Facebook) and the posting of Saturday’s blog. I suggest that you subscribe so as not to miss any news. The blog is free and will always be free. I do not send any ads, and I will never ask for any subscription fees. You can cancel anytime. Usually, there is one post per day.

Geemeff sends us news:

Set backs and successes of raptor re-introduction in Northern Ireland:

https://www.msn.com/en-ie/news/uknews/the-revival-of-ireland-s-birds-of-prey-and-the-flight-from-conflict-to-conservation/ar-AA1BT9aV

How many dead Ospreys is OK?

https://www.pressreader.com/uk/western-mail/20250328/281968908489499

Geemeff also sends us the arrival dates for dear Louis at Loch Arkaig and comments on the current state of UK ospreys;

“Speaking of arrivals, Dylan is missing Seren, and Elen is missing Aran. And we’re missing Louis & Dorcha. They arrived last year on the 28th and 30th March respectively, but that was the first time in March. All previous years have been April arrivals. I wish they’d hurry up and arrive, Maya is looking very eggy, any day now she’ll produce the UK’s first egg and we don’t even have either bird back, or even Garry LV0.

Here’s Louis’ dates:

 2017 10 April  

 2018 6 April    

 2019 4 April   

2020 5 April  

2021 11 April  

2022 11 April  

2023 2 April 

2024 28 March”

We wait in anticipation.

Osprey News:

Russell Lake, Nova Scotia: Oscar returned Saturday morning. He has already been fishing and being watched closely by Don and Connie Dennis!

Baseball Park Ospreys, Missoula, Montana: Star, the mate of Louis, has arrived.

Steelscape, Washington: Both adults are back on the nest.

Seaside, Oregon: Bruce and Naha have both returned on the 24th and 26th.

Smallwood: The first egg was laid Sunday morning.

Cowlitz: Osprey was on the nest on Saturday.

Lake Murray: Lucy and Kenny. There were originally three eggs and now there are only two. ‘H’ adds: ” It was noticed 3/29 at 00.45 an egg looked like it had a big dent, and Lucy moved the egg with her beak.”

Western Maryland Shore for Old Town Home: Marilyn laid her first egg on Saturday.

Llyn Clywedog: Seren Blue 5F has joined Dylan at their nest in Wales. Welcome home lovely girl. Dylan did a sky dance on her arrival. Oh, this couple is wonderful.

Achieva: Jack has disappointed me in his fish deliveries for his new female mate. Diane, his former mate, had to supplement the fish for the chicks and well, the eggs haven’t even hatched. There is a lot of competition and no doubt Jack has problems with gulls, other ospreys, and eagles for whatever he catches.

Baseball Park, Missoula, Montana (yes, again): Louis has now arrived and so both Star and Louis are on the nest! Thanks, Dr Greene!

Boulder County Fairgrounds: Dad has been missing. Mum has a new mate, it appears, who has brought her a fish and then there is an intruder. Thank you Noland MacDonald!

Dyfi: The DOP says, “Dyfi Osprey Project

odspSoertn8hc7cm27ul26gm7tc917h0li5gum9al04fc46a9fhc8cig4i94  · 

Happy Mothers Day to Telyn today – and indeed all mothers.

Telyn will be 12-years old in a few weeks and has bred successfully at the Dyfi nest since 2018, raising 18 youngsters to migration age in that time.

​​That’s a 2.6 average offspring to migration age per year – twice the UK average.

Telyn is the daughter of Maya who is still breeding at Rutland Water and is cousins with Glesni and Blue 24.”

Bald Eagles:

FOBBV: Shots were heard and startled the family. https://youtu.be/GtNy3chinF0?

There were reports, perhaps over a week ago, of lights seen and shots heard by individuals watching the John Bunker Sands Wetlands Bald Eagle nest near Dallas. This is a very frightening thought.

Other Birds:

Despite a high number of deaths, there were still record numbers of Sandhill Cranes in Nebraska. Thanks, ‘PB’ for the article.

 – https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/record-high-736000-sandhill-cranes-flock-to-nebraska-during-spring-migration-peak-with-no-signs-of-bird-flu-despite-concerns-180986317/

‘J’ sends me the post of our local wildlife rehabilitation centre, Wildlife Haven. (It is one of Calico’s favourites because of Dr Tess who is helping that turtle with its soft shell and her confidence in wildlife to adjust to their own physical challenges).

Thank you so much to all those that contributed to help my blog to be even better than it could be by my hand alone: ‘Geemeff, H, J, PB’, msn.com, pressreader.com, Connie Dennis and Ospreys of Nova Scotia FB, Montana Osprey Cams, Pam Breci and Steelscape Ospreys, Seaside Ospreys, Lake Murray Ospreys, The Smithsonian Magazine, FOBBV, Wildlife Haven, Nolan MacDonald and Boulder County Fairgrounds, Dyfi Osprey Project, Llyn Clywedog and CarnyXWild, Maryland Western Shore Old Town Home

Saturday in Bird World

29 March 2025

Hello Everyone,

I really hope you enjoyed that video of the turtle escaping Liberty and Guardian’s nest in Redding, California that was in the post Friday morning. That was one lucky turtle!

It snowed in Winnipeg. Then it snowed some more! The measurement in the garden was 43 cm. Our young man was not around so we did the shoveling which really took a lot of time – and energy. It was also chicken Friday so ‘The Girls’ and Brock had their Friday chicken dinners.

‘J’ sent me some news that raises some interesting questions. A real mystery is happening at the Pittsburgh-Hays Bald Eagle nest. Long time ‘Dad’ disappeared last year and is in the Memorial Pages. A new male appeared. Now ‘Dad’ has returned after more than a year, according to reports!!!!!!!

Was he injured and in rehabilitation and released, returning home? How do we know he is the original ‘Dad’? There are no bands that I am aware. We have not been able to find out any further information.

Osprey News:

Russell Lake, Nova Scotia: Oscar has arrived safely home! YEAH.

Oak Tree Nest, Threave Ospreys: Both ospreys are on the nest and working hard!

Loch of the Lowes: Does Blue NC0 have a new mate?

Foulshaw Moss: White YW is very popular. His mate Blue35 has not yet returned, but there are two unringed unidentified females trying to get his affections! Thanks J Kear and UKOsprey Info for the post.

UPDATE: Blue 35 is back!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fort Calhoun: ‘PB’ is keeping a close eye and notes an arrival.

Hellgate Canyon: Iris and Finnegan will have a lot of work to do when they return to their nest in Missoula. Iris traditionally returns on the 8th of April.

Birds of Poole Harbour: No one is going to mess with CJ7 and ‘her’ nest!!!!!

Dyfi Osprey Project: Idris and Telyn enjoying being back together.

HEIDI’S OSPREY REPORT:


3/29 – Moorings Park: Sally was struck by a GHO at 01:10, but she was not knocked off the nest.  To my knowledge, there has not been a GHO problem at that nest before.  Fingers crossed that Ozzie will stay safe.  Little Ozzie is only 20 days old.


Bald Eagle News:

NEFlorida: The juvenile visitor that has been adopted by Beau, Gabby, and Bodie has been officially named ‘Juvie’.

US Steel: Tiny little bobblehead.

Little Miami Conservancy: Hatch on Friday! https://youtu.be/wkamoBLssKQ?

The baby’s first meal: https://youtu.be/qge26cRb4fE?

Baby’s first day: https://youtu.be/uf8vF8EyVQw?

NCTC: A bold owl sat near the nest while a meteorite flew by! Bella and Scout kept that owl at bay. https://youtu.be/UFfi8QFlj94?

Kansas Bald Eagles: Kanza is still the Only Eaglet. That egg is non-viable. Lucky Kanza! All that good prey just for you.

Big Bear Valley: Full crops for Jackie and Shadow’s kiddos. They are adorable. Little miracles. The two were having quite the little spat. Almost like Baby Hope and Hugo Yugo play fighting. Well, Daddy Shadow was on the nest. It was obvious he got tired of it, didn’t like them fighting, and went over and put an end to it. Yes, eagle parents to intervene. Some actually just sit on the eaglets (or osplets) to stop fighting/bonking.

Sauces Canyon: Betty Lou is the sweetest little eaglet.

Kisatachie National Park E3: ‘MP’ sends us good news: “The parents on this nest had some good luck today. They brought in a small fish first thing which chick got to tear a part. The second fish was a big bloody one without the head which dad eat, the head that is. Mom came in behind him and took it to feed chick and herself. Then, a great big Catfish was on the menu for the day. Although, no one in chat knew what it was because the parents brought it in bit by bit or piece by piece. Then, at the end of the day, the great big head was brought in which no one knew until she turned it over and then we could all see it was Catfish head. The pieces brought in were theorized as chicken filets up until then. Even the rangers thought that they had stolen them from some camp site.

So all ate good today.”

This is great news, thank you.

If you missed the March Ventana Wildlife Society Condor chat, here it is: https://youtu.be/0dPEFVWD6Ak?

Wishing all of the new little bobbleheads full crops and a safe fledge.

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

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, images, news, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘H, J, MP, PB’, PIX Cams, Pittsburgh-Hayes Eagle Cam, UKOsprey Info, Woodland Trust (LOTL), Foulshaw Ospreys, OPPD Fort Calhoun, Osprey Research Project/Hellgate Canyon Ospreys, Birds of Poole Harbour, Dyfi Osprey Project, NEFL-AEF, Little Miami Conservancy, NCTC, Deb Stecyk, Kansas Bald Eagles, FOBBV, IWS/Explore, Kistachie Forest E3 Eagle Cam, PIX Cams, Ventana Wildlife Society, Moorings Park

Friday in Bird World

28 March 2025

Good Morning Everyone,

The predicted snow storm to bring 25 cm to our region began about ten minutes ago at 1616 on Thursday. Big flakes are blowing in the garden. The grey squirrels are still gathering peanuts and the Starlings are eating. The Crows, Jays, and a female Downy Woodpecker were here earlier along with Little Red – who has just appeared again – and the Sparrows.

At the end of the day, the ruler tells me that more than 35 cm of snow fell in the garden. We need the moisture and it is so beautiful and white!

Cornell Red-tail Hawk Cam: Great News. Twenty-two year old Big Red, Cornell’s Iconic Red-tail Hawk, has laid her first egg of the season on Thursday.https://youtu.be/RCChvBTKMVs?

Osprey News:

Birds of Poole Harbour: National UK news reported on the presence of Maya’s daughter, 1H1 (2022) at the nest of CJ7 and Blue022. (Posted on UKOsprey Information)

Kielder Forest: Blue K13. She landed briefly on another nest. Hers is nest 6. All of her three chicks were sadly lost, along with so many other nests, to the unseasonal weather in 2024.

Another female returns today | Kielder OspreysDownload

Loch of the Lowes: A male visits the nest of Blue NC0.

Geemeff comments: “NC0’s potential suitor is interesting – he’s not the Dark Intruder, but is he the Pale Male, or a new one? The action took place over 55 minutes, I condensed it into a 4 minute clip. This is what SWT says:

A male landed on the nest next to NC0 at 13:44 this afternoon, and spent around 55 minutes quietly sitting alongside her. After engaging in a spot of ‘nestorating’ and a failed mating attempt he flew off, leaving her alone to enjoy last night’s fish supper on the ‘Split Birch’. Weather conditions are making it hard to make positive comparisons with footage of various males from last year, however this bird does not look to be the osprey known as the ‘Dark Intruder’ who defended the territory last season after the death of her long term mate, LM12. It could be possible that it might be the ‘Pale Male’ who destroyed the eggs and tried to claim the territory as his own, or another male entirely- at this stage we can’t be sure and will need to watch to see how things play out. One things for sure, things are about to get exciting!

https://youtu.be/H6yHEn2CaH8“

Boulder County Fairgrounds: The female has arrived home to the nest!

Dyfi Osprey Nest: Telyn has arrived home to her Idris! Geemeff says: “Idris was so happy to see Telyn, he brought her a fish and then mated with her while she was eating it 😃

In this heavily edited clip shortened from 53 minutes down to one minute: Telyn Blue 3J arrives at 12.40, looking in very good shape. Her mate Idris arrives with a fish at 13.15, and she grabs it eagerly. Idris leaves shortly thereafter, and Telyn takes her fish and flies up to the high perch. 13.33 Idris returns and flies up to join Telyn where she’s eating her fish on the high perch. But instead of joining her, he proceeds to mate with her! The cam operator zooms in and we see Telyn is clutching her fish determinedly while Idris goes to work. He flies away leaving her to her meal. Welcome home Telyn!”

https://youtu.be/2EzHbkMtcug

Goitzsche Wildnis: JC comments: “Zeus is still waiting for his Fjona. He looks restless, scanning the horizon, as if his gaze were guiding his partner to reach the nest. There is a touch of melancholy and sadness in this solitude of Zeus. No other female has passed by the nest looking for an opportunity to nest. Hopefully this situation has its hours numbered. We’ll see how the day presents itself tomorrow 😀.”

Bald Eagle News:

NEFlorida: Bodie has learned so much from his nestmate. He has learned to steal food, to share food, and to let the juvie enjoy his own prey. He is now jumping up and down and flapping and soon Bodie will be flying with JV.

Big Bear Valley: https://youtu.be/Sezx1r9w-yo?

Update and naming contest: https://youtu.be/VCNErs_fqkU?

NCTC: There was almost another potentially harmful accident today. Thankfully, all is well. https://youtu.be/YdEb8VmmCMs?

US Steel: First hatch on Thursday.

Little Miami Conservancy: Hatch in progress on Thursday. https://youtu.be/C-rRpAd1WWc?

Kisatchie National Forest E3: E03 has officially branched.

Other Avian News:

White-Tailed Eagle in Nizhnyaya Kama National Park Russia: We are awaiting the laying of the second egg on Thursday.

San Jose City Hall Falcon Scrape: Tensions rise at the scrape. https://youtu.be/dG–zX15XAM?

This should make us want to find ways to do better!

Biodiversity loss in all species and every ecosystem linked to humans – report
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/mar/26/human-link-biodiversity-loss-species-ecosystems-climate-pollution-eawag-study-nature-aoe?CMP=share_btn_url

‘EJ’ says ‘run turtle run!’

https://www.thedodo.com/daily-dodo/tiny-animal-accidentally-ends-up-in-eagles-nest-and-plans-a-great-escape

Thank you so much for being with us today. We love having you with us. Take care of yourself. Go outside and smell the spring air, listen for birds and geese, walk through the trees, and just sit still. We need to take care of ourselves, one another, and our wildlife.

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, comments, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: “EJ, Geemeff’, Cornell Red Tail Hawk Cam, Birds of Poole Harbour, Kielder Forest, Woodland Trust (LOTL) and Geemeff, Boulder County Fairgrounds, Dyfi Osprey Project, FOBBV, SK Hideaways, KCAL, NCTC, Deb Stecyk, PIX Cam, Little Miami Conservancy, White-Tailed Eagle in Nizhnyaya Kama National Park Russia, San Jose City Hall Falcon Scrape, The Guardian, Joan Castyner, Kistachie E3 Bald Eagle Cam, The Dodo