Oh, a major milestone was achieved on Wednesday. Hugo ate kitten kibble for the first time (that I have observed). It is wonderful. Her eyes are clear thanks to Polysporin Pink Eye, her tummy troubles are gone thanks to FloriFauna, and she is having so much fun. Life is good. All four girls are getting along, playing – even Calico today! Can you feel my happiness?
Eyes are better this morning! And look at how big she is.
For all who wondered, Hugo is such a sweetie. She lets me bathe her, wash her face and feet – she never complains. She loves being dried with a big fluffy towel. I can’t wait to see if she is so good for teeth brushing and nail clipping. Maybe that will rub off on Hope and Calico. Missey is just as complaint, too. Makes life so much easier.
We plan to keep her name as Hugo. She comes to it and as my friend ‘R; reminded me, ‘Many great women artists and writers had to assume male names at one time or another’…so Hugo it is.
After losing Lewis and then all the issues with getting a little boy that turned out to be a little girl, well, there were times I felt pretty doomed. Hugo was so very tiny and just not doing well. It has to be difficult for her cat mother – 7 little kittens living on the streets hoping for some food and a safe place. What a terrible life for these animals – some that were once pets and left behind or that got out and got lost. There are so many kind people trying to help with portable shelters and food for them. That is the bright side but, gosh, if there could only be a concentrated effort to neuter and spay – area by area – and notching the ears as Geemeff says is done in the UK so identification is easy. It would certainly help.
Missey looking out at the birds in the snow.
Bird World is ‘sleepy’. There is such a huge lull with only a few eagle nests incubating eggs while the others continue with their restorations or establishing their relationship with a new mate.
At Port Lincoln, the fish fairy surprised everyone by dropping four fish on the floor of the barge. It worked. Neither Giliath or #2 got overly excited, and the fish made it to the nest…what more could Port Lincoln want? Their experiment demonstrates that supplementing fish for a nest that suffers from historical siblicide can make a difference. The osplets can become so familiar with humans that they might not even bolt off the nest in an early fledge. It is fantastic.
‘H’ remarks, “All the fish were eaten by the ospreys, gulls did not steal any. Mum picked up the small trevally around 1207 and fed the kids.”
And we have a name for #2. Bradley. What a great name after a youngster who truly knows and loves these osprey.
The boys and their beautiful bling if you missed it.
They are just too good together – V3 and Gabby. Fingers crossed. Could V1 be a donor and V3 a father?
I don’t know about you, but I am glad that the female at KNF E-3 has buried the eggs of Andria and Alex. Most agree that they are unviable and maybe it will help Alex move forward. Tonight those eggs are still buried while I was writing but I did see someone come around and aerate the nest. It looked like the female.
It is a couple of weeks for M15 and F23’s hatch watch. How excited are you on a scale from 0 to 10?
Boone and Jolene are doing a lot of restorations at Johnson City.
Still waiting at Superbeaks – but, I think all is lost for Pepe and Muhlady on this first clutch. Will they go for a second since it is so early in the season?
The camera is back up at Two Harbours. Some have seen Chase and Cholyn. I hope to soon.
Jackie and Shadow were home today working on their nest. They are adorable.
Cilla cleaned the nest box. To my knowledge Marri has not returned since. Hoping to see her again soon.
There is love happening at Taiaroa Head. Some who lost their mates have found love again. Which brings to mind Wisdom. Is she still dancing? Did the oldest banded Laysan Albatross in the world get a new mate? will she lay an egg and raise a chick at 72?
The Royal Couple – LGK and LGL (Lime Green Black and then Lime Green Lime).
I am so pleased to be reading about the bird counts around the world and some of the real success stories. You might remember that there is an Army of Women in Assam that is protecting the Adjutant Generals, a carrion-eating bird that is going extinct because there are no places for nests. Here is some good news: “In the Kamrup district of Assam, the number of Greater Adjutant nests has increased from 28 in 2010 to more than 250, making this the World’s largest breeding colony. Moreover, this once persecuted species has become a cultural symbol, and in the process, has also transformed the lives of local women, who now travel to other villages to raise awareness about the storks.’An excerpt from the BirdLife Magazine, March of the Adjutants by Devathi Parashuram, available in January 2024.”
After the tragic beginning to the Bald Eagle breeding season in the US, we need some good news. You can read more about some success stories here in the updated Red List of Birds by BirdLife International:
Thank you so much for being with me today. Take care of yourself. We hope to have you with us again soon.
Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, articles, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog today: ‘A, H, J, SP’, PLO, NEFL-AEF, KNF-E3, SW Florida Eagle Cam, Johnson City Bald Eagles, Superbeaks, IWS/Explore, FOBBV, SK Hideaways, Sharon Dunne, Lady Hawk, Penguin Rescue, BirdLife International, Ventana Wildlife Society, and The Guardian.
The girls are all fine. Hope and Hugo have played and played and that little ginger looks like she is twice as big as she was when she arrived last week. She is getting stronger and more playful every day. Weepy eyes in kittens over 8 weeks old? Polysporin for Pink Eye does the trick. The vet came and gave Hope her booster shots and checked out all the girls. Everyone is so well. Calico is on a ‘diet’ and she doesn’t particularly like it, but I want this wonderful cat who opened up an entirely new world to me to thrive.
There must be a name for Hugo. She is a little tiger and runs like her tail is on fire. She is fearless. Calico might have intimidated Missey (at one time), but never Hugo. I just can’t seem to find a name that fits her because she looks like Hugo to me.
I need to clean her little nose (apologies Hugo – you were so cute in the basket), but she looks so much better today and has now taken Calico’s basket just like Hope took Missey’s. Just look at how clear her eyes are. Oh, and she is so sweet. I will find her after I publish this and get that dirty face clean!
There is still no news of the name for #2 at Port Lincoln. Giliath weighed the most and got the tracker. Dad has brought in a partial fish and that along with some left over fish gave the family a good start to the day.
Mum brought in a whole fish, and Dad brought in a partial on the 13th in Australia. The nest is doing so well. Thanks, Port Lincoln, for daring to be bold! NJ are you listening?
HeidiMc caught the boys and their new bling.
At the nest of Alex and the late-Andria in the Kisatchie National Forest, Alex has tried to incubate his eggs. He has fought off one female who buried the eggs and then he unburied them. Now there are more intruders.
Alex and the female F1 feeling comfortable.
Alex continues to take care of his and Andria’s eggs despite everything.
Andria is on her way to the University of Georgia for her necroscopy.
‘A’ brings us some more news from Cody, “Andria is being transported to the University of Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine for the necropsy and many of the tests we requested. She will arrive on Wednesday at noon. Preliminary results from various tests should start to come back to us by the end of next week. I will share information as I receive it. Thanks for the support.”~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ The female eagle is back multiple times this morning, and arrives at the nest while Alex is incubating. The video opens with Alex on the eggs when the female vocalises. Alex responds and he flies off the nest. He returns quickly, and they continue to vocalise to one another as she is above him in the upper branches. Alex resumes incubation and the female flies off. Thirty minutes later, Alex gets up and flies off, and when he returns to the nest, the female drops down as well. She is standing right over the eggs. Alex leaves her with the eggs again and flies to the perch and then off. She looks around for him for a few minutes, then she flies off. Alex returns to the nest and incubates for an hour, then F1 returns again. She lands right in front of Alex – he gets up and moves to the side of the nest and then to the perch branch. The female is alone on the nest, and she just digs a little in the nest, then goes to the side edge and looks. She is watchful, occasionally looking at the eggs. She then flies off. Alex returns to the nest five minutes later to incubate. Alex gets up again and flies off, then returns five minutes later and the female is back, flying in to the nest for a third time! Alex gets up to leave the eggs to her and he flies to the branch. She digs in the nest, pulling up nesting and partially covering the eggs again. Alex flies off – she moves a stick and then is looking for him and she flies off too. Alex returns eight minutes later to incubate! Alex is clearly comfortable in leaving the nest and eggs to F1. He may be thinking she will incubate and this gives him a shift change, but he does not go far and remains close to the nest tree the entire morning. The female has not exhibited any signs of harming the eggs – she was curious about them but seems to want to just bury them and have Alex as a new mate. Time will tell, as we have a 2nd visitor arriving later today to the nest (be sure to watch for my next video update).And here is the footage referred to, showing the second intruder: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S8Cw8KDCdvM&list=TLPQMTMxMjIwMjONfz9RFzYohw&index=2 Alex is very vocal in protecting his eggs against this second female.”
Alex is still on the eggs as of this morning.
If my addition is correct, egg #2 must be 37 days old today at Superbeaks. The average for Bald Eagles is 37.5/38 days. Waiting. There is a rumour that there could be a hatch in progress but I cannot confirm this and have seen nothing official.
M15 continues to be the brilliant provider he always was for Harriet and then the kids.
Some are hopeful for Gabby and V3.
Rosa has a new mate at the Dulles-Greenway Nest where Martin has been missing for some weeks.
Pa and Missey have egg #2 at Berry College.
Bella continues to thwart the advances of the male even when he brings nice food gifts.
‘H’ reminds us that Connie and Clive, the Captiva eagles: “Egg #1 is 31 days +10 hours right now. Delayed incubation, so probably pip watch in 4 days, “hatch watch 5-6 days.”
The Pittsburgh-Hayes Bald Eagle Cam is now live streaming.
‘A’ brings us news from Orange: “No sign of falcons at the Orange scrape since Diamond visited around 7pm last night (12 December). So she has visited since Cilla’s cleaning and adding of stones, but there was no-one home last night and unusually we have had no visits by any of our falcon family today. Of course the tower cam has chosen this most inopportune moment to completely give up the ghost. It is under warranty but Cilla is waiting for someone to fix it. So we have no news at all, except to say it is hot and humid again today, so the falcons are no doubt keeping cool somewhere, not sitting out in the sunlight on top of that water tower. So their non-appearance is hardly surprising in that sense. Still, we worry. We always worry about them. “
An Ontario falcon is in Michigan!
At the Royal Albatross colony:
Should HPAI come to the California Condors, the quarantine pens are almost finished! Thanks everyone for being so proactive for these amazing birds.
I have never seen a Scarlet Ibis! I thought this was a beautiful tree. Thanks, Geemeff.
Do you live in the Carolinas? Do you get to see the Rufus Red Knot? How much do you know about these amazing shorebirds? Maybe they travel more than we do!
Thank you so much for being with me today. Take care. See you soon.
Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog today: ‘A, H, J, PLO, Bart M, Lady Hawk, KNF-E3, Cody Wayne, Superbeaks, Faxinating, Carol S Rifkin, Dulles-Greenway, Berry College Eagles, Marla Harrison, PIX Cams, Linda McIlroy, Holly Parsons, Ventana Wildlife Society, Defenders of Wildlife, Geemeff, and Women in Science.
We must start with Wisdom, the oldest banded Laysan Albatross in the world. She is dancing again! On the Midway Atoll. Can you imagine? 72 years old and dancing. Tears rolled down my cheeks when I saw the message from Holly Parsons. Wisdom is incredible. Send positive wishes that this very special albatross will breed again this year!
Wisdom lost her long-time mate three fall breeding seasons ago. Hold on to your seats this year! It looks like she might have attracted a young male partner.
Wisdom is on the left with the red band, Z333.
And then for news in Cat World. The hunt for the male kitten has come up trumps. Let me introduce the youngest and last kitten I will ever adopt. Hugo. After Grayish turned out to be a female, I was about to give up and then the head coordinator asked me what I wanted in a kitten. A short time later she phoned and said she had the perfect match. Did I mind a Ginger?
Stories about Hugo and the girls will come on Wednesday morning!
When it comes to Ospreys, no one has all the answers. I am grateful to Bart, who has worked hard for Port Lincoln to get the observation board information up to date, work on fish delivery stats, and monitor the chat. Bart has now included those days with zero fish so that his findings will be accurate. It was a simple oversight, but having those figures in there and those days will change the final statistics while providing an accurate view of what happened. Bart’s efforts and those of the fairies have offered everyone an excellent educational and sharing experience.
I gave Port Lincoln a poke yesterday. They are in a tough situation because what they are doing is unique – supplying supplementary fish to a nest where siblicide is a known reality. Dad has never been a stellar performer. As Bart noted today, he is at best good for four fish, no more. (Most of the nests I have monitored average seven deliveries a day for 2 or 3 osplets.) The reasons for the low number of deliveries can only be speculated. This is not just my thinking. We have seen two instances on camera of what appears to be seizures. But how those impact his brain and his daily living is unknown. Then there is his age. Again, there is only speculation as to whether the sheer physicality of osprey fishing is hampered by age, but it leaves us to wonder. Does he lack motivation because of the fish fairies? Anything is a possibility. At this juncture, using one nest to test whether ospreys will stop fishing if humans provide fish is insufficient for scientific proof. And with this nest having a high siblicide rate and Dad being a poor performer regardless, that makes it even more problematic. Testing this theory on a known superstar like Blue 33 at Rutland would be better. Yes, he has fish right at the nest site. Absolutely. Would he stop fishing if fish were provided? If he did, that would be very telling. Would he start fishing to keep his chicks alive once the fish fairies stopped? Well, that is the question. At Port Lincoln, they struggle with what to do as the fledge nears. They are attempting to motivate the adults to get out there and bring in the fish because they are concerned that the osplets will bolt off the nest if delivery is so close to ‘fledge’. Another intriguing question is: Are the osplets (and ducts) so used to having humans deliver fish that they would not bolt?
I am told that Port Lincoln is disinfecting the old barge to ready it to receive fish (Dad used to take the fish there) in case they need to provide fish after banding.
The issue is this. ‘H’ and I have monitored over 300 eggs in 2023 from being laid to fledge or death or not hatching. We know that relatively good condition osplets who had their crop full can live between 58-79 hours without fish. 79 is pushing it. ‘H’ is checking her data because, in the June deaths of Chesapeake Bay, some of those chicks were younger and did not live that many hours. I will include this information once we glean it from the data forms of the International Osprey Data Project.
So let us send Port Lincoln some real positive energy as they work towards getting these two fledged. That is the goal of the project – two fledglings. After fledge, the fairies should be able to toss all the fish they want on that nest, and the kids will need it. Do you remember Ervie and Falky? or the fights between Ervie and Bazza for fish after fledging? This is one of those dust-ups between Ervie and Bazza. It happened almost two years ago…aren’t we just so proud of our Ervie?
‘H’ reports that Dad brought in a half fish at 16:58. #2 grabbed it to self-feed but Mum took over and both ate with crops. Hoping Mum got some, too.
‘H’ and I will be publishing all of the data with complete explanations but these are the findings in the International Osprey Data Project so far. It will not be complete until I add the final details of Port Lincoln this year and the information from Iowa for their 2023 nests in January.
This is the current information for all the nests and the 335 eggs we monitored. Thank you, Claudio, for making our life easy with those forms!
My interest is in siblicide, specifically, the 3rd and 4th hatches that survive siblicide attempts. This has meant monitoring hours between an osplet getting any fish and counting bites of food when they do in comparison to the rest of the clutch. It is agonising research, but the triumphs are enormous. Think of the fourth hatch at Patchogue this year…imagine for a second that tenacious tiny little osplet whose drive to live was tremendous. Some called her Tiny Dancer. She was amazing.
The following information includes nests in North America, the UK, Europe, and Australia. This is the raw data and it is, as far as I know, one of the largest osprey behaviour studies that is ongoing.
We got some great close ups of Giliath and #2 as a few raindrops fell.
Cute little Dad. His crop is certainly not bulging.
Whole family lining up for the fish fairy! Or that is what it looks like. But…
Today is the odd day so no deliveries from the fairies. Will either adult deliver a fish? We wait to find out.
‘A’ sent us reports about the Sea Eaglets. Isn’t it wonderful to know that one is alive and well. Tears of joy:
“December 3: There was a storm last night with hail and heavy rain so the river is very muddy. Both parents were on River Roost around 8am and the juvenile was spotted on a low branch in the sun – all drying out. Later when the young one was seen near the adults, she was whining for food. At 10:30 when adults are on River Roost and she is on the island, she is quiet. In the afternoon around 4:30pm, both parents were on River Roost, with the juvenile out of sight again. A parent flew into the mangroves; the young one was probably there hidden away. Just after 5pm, she was seen low on a branch at River Roost again.
…Audio file December 4: down by the river 07:24 both parents on river roost and duetting. 08:04, young one calling. Earlier, peewee swooping adults. 08:07 parents calling again, juvenile too. 08:13, the tide has turned. 08:35, a good shake by the juvenile, downy fluff flying, then moved to a different branch. Then a few minutes later, the juvenile flew closer to the adults. When parents duetted, she was listening and looking up. Then again , and juvenile on and off. The parents moved a little closer, but at 9:30 all were still there. Just after 10am an adult left, swooped over the river and caught a fish. Juvie flew down to the ground, and the fish was delivered. She ate on the ground out of sight. Around 11:15, the adult took off, circling overhead. No action then until 12:10, when the juvie was flushed out by 4 ibis flying in to the mangroves. Then shortly after, it changed branches again, flying a short distance. At 12:30, neither adult was there. No more observations later.”
‘A’ sent the latest news from the Parramatta River in Sydney and the WBSE:
There have been no sightings of any juvenile activity at Orange since the 2nd of December Australian time. ‘H’ tells me that Cilla has checked the trees and there is no sign. This is so very sad. The huge effort put into their eggs, their survival in the scrape, ….heart breaking for Xavier and Diamond.
‘A’ provides the latest news though…perhaps there is a juvenile? There are reports that a juvenile might have been heard. There was no sighting. It was very hot in the area and the birds were staying in the shade of the trees to stay cool.
Gabby and V3 are taking a page out of Jackie and Shadow’s play book – gosh, they messed around with those sticks for such a time!
Everyone is cheering for this couple!
Our beautiful Jackie and Shadow.
Ron and Rose are busy, too.
We are so close at Superbeaks.
Liz Schwartz has posted romance over at the Centreport Eagle nest.
Released condors having a feast.
Overfishing. The decline of worldwide fish stocks. It is time to think about this as we enter the breeding season for many of our feathered friends who depend on the oceans for their food and, thus, their lives. It is estimated that the number of fish in the oceans has declined by 90% since 1900. There are many, many scientific articles about these catastrophic numbers – just a sampling of some of general interest and some more academic.
The latest migration count from Hawk Mountain is in.
Maybe some ideas….I recall once when my children were quite little seeing someone hanging the thin orange slices on their spruce tree outdoors. Here we coat the pinecones with melted suet and roll them in bird seed and hang them throughout the lilacs during the winter.
Thank you for being with me today. It is so nice to have you here with us. Take care. See you soon!
Thank you to the following for their notes, videos, streaming cams, and articles that helped me to write my blog today: ‘A, H, HP, J, SP’, Holly Parsons, Friends of Midway Atoll, PLO, Bart M, Sydney Sea Eagle FB, Charles Sturt Falcon Cam, NEFL-AEF, Ventana Wildlife Society, C Roberts, Our World in Data, National Geographic, BMC, Nature Communications, US Dept of English, Helgoland Marine Research, Centreport and Liz Schwartz, Hawk Mountain, and Wildlife Watch.
I had a couple of conversations with an individual from the Bay Area in California on Friday. Our weather in Winnipeg is -1, with a low of -7 C. It is warm compared to when I moved to the Canadian Prairies – or that is my memory. Having far too many -30 or -35 C days was not unusual then. To stay warm, we dress for the cold, and our houses usually have double (double glazing) and triple-pane windows (triple glazing) with good insulation. I was asked what is the average temperature in December and I had to go and check. It is -8 for a high and -15 C for a low currently.
Dyson was in the table feeder eating yesterday. Oh, how I love that squirrel. I often miss her. She was really enjoying the solid nut block. And that nice thick fur for winter. Fantastic.
Little Red was back in the lilacs foraging on the ground along with eons of Sparrows. The European Starlings are here and I heard the Pileated Woodpecker but did not see it. What amazes me are the Chickadees that flit back and forth from a spruce tree across the road to the feeders in the coldest of weather. Each girl loves to watch them from the conservatory. Hope also jumps up and down trying to catch the birds on her bird TV programmes. It is so funny. She is a clone of Mamma.
When Calico came into our lives, I dismantled my old office for her. This meant that about three thousand books (yes, academics are book collectors) got put on temporary bookcases. Lately I have been wondering why the glass of the Japanese prints was so dirty and why the frames were always crooked in the morning. Now, I have my answer. Hope likes to walk and leap at them during the late night partying. I will be so glad to have those books back in their right spot.
Hope. Everything starts to happen around 2130 at night!
Missey continues to work on the twinkle tree. It is looking a little bedraggled with the branches pulled this way and that, too.
The girls are great. They have been doing their usual thing – Hope wants to watch the bird videos but sometimes excepts an old BritBox mystery. Calico eats and sleeps waking up around 2130 to wrestle with Hope and run over the house. Missey loves to play with Hope and both have once again, been around the twinkle tree.
I sound like a broken record, but every time I scratch Calico under her chin and she begins to purr or rolls over on her back for more, I melt. Cannot imagine her out in the cold.
Hope is very long. You can just see that little scab that is bothering me at the site of her incision. Talk about being a worried human Mamma!
I caught Missey as she came leaping to the top of a chair to get away form Hope.
The girls do not know it, but we are on the countdown to the little brother’s arrival. Like the eggs at Superbeaks, it is less than a week away. Will his name be Duncan after so many people, including my dad? Or Duncan Lewis, whose empathy saved the chimps? There are many more environmentalists. Or will it wind up being Hugo? All I know is that he must love people and want to snuggle! And not let these three older sisters intimidate him. He should be OK on that front. He was one of 7 kittens, all female, but he was born to a very tiny little kitten named Eva, young like Calico. I wish I could take her, too, but four is the maximum along with the outdoor kitties.
I am happy to say that ‘A’ is back with us. She kept good eyes on the Australian nests for me today while I spoke with folks in California about a podcast interview. I’ll let you know more about that at a later date. It is so nice to have ‘A’ back and to hear that things are going well in Melbourne.
‘A’ brings us really good news from Sydney and the Parramatta River: “December 1: both adults were at River Roost early, on separate branches, grooming then duetting. Juvenile was behind in the mangroves, out of sight but heard. The adults then moved together, duetting, with juvenile still noisy too. Later around 11am, parent delivered a fish at RR, eaten by juvenile. There was some disturbance over the wetlands with helicopter circling for mosquito control. Later in the afternoon around 5pm our juvenile was seen flying around & behind Mangrove Island Wonderful to see her flying so strongly and coping with a few chasers.
As I keep saying, this must be a joy to Lady and Dad as well – the very first time they have had the chance to do this with one of their eaglets. I am incredibly sad, and to be honest a little surprised, that only one of our juveniles appears to have made it, but considering the sad history of this nest, this is truly an achievement to celebrate.”
‘A’ reflects on Port Lincoln – its official report and her thoughts: “Breakfast is currently underway at Port Lincoln (10:30am local time) – the fish fairies arrived early this morning. Fran says mum picks the boat up from a mile away and goes to her ‘fish fairy perch’ and escorts them in. I wonder whether the osplets will be so familiar with the fish fairies that they see them as sources of food and are more likely to approach them than fludge! That would be interesting. But of course they won’t risk that and will cease the fish deliveries after they band the osplets.I remain extremely worried about what happens then. Two fully feathered osplets, not quite ready to fledge, on a nest where the parents bring in perhaps one fish a day, two at most. Imagine the incredible tragedy of losing them at that stage. We have about a week, 10 days at most probably, before we find out. I am apprehensive in the extreme.”
This was a really early delivery. Will we hope that Mum or Dad go out fishing later? Looks as if nothing is left on the nest for a bedtime snack.
Both osplets are working on their self-feeding, two different styles. Giliath stands up and #2 likes to eat duckling style.
Ervie has found a very special place to go fishing…he has progressed from those early puff fish to abalone! Do you wonder if either of the osplets from this season will fish for puffers? And don’t you just miss seeing Ervie on that nest. If I close my eyes, I can still see him flying in with a puffer stuck to his talons – a talon missing – and him munching away. What a wonderful osprey he is!
At Orange, ‘A’ remarks: “The sole surviving juvenile at Orange is doing well this morning. It has been spotted chasing its parents and on the tower roof. Cilla has taken a video – I will send it as soon as it is uploaded to the info section below the live stream. The weather has cleared up in Orange today and it looks like a lovely day. “
The biggest news with the Bald Eagles is what is going on at NorthEast Florida. V3 was a little late to come to the nest. In flew, A1 and him and Gabby got a little friendly. Will this turn out to be a threesome like the Trio on the Minneapolis Flyway? Does Gabby mate with A1 and has his eaglets raised by V3? Is Gabby not fertile yet? Will V3 get the boot? It really is ‘As the Nest Turns’ and I thought things had quieted down this year.
Wow. What an expression. It reminds me of individuals who ride bucking horses in the American and Canadian rodeos. You can tell A1 from V3 if you can get a chance to look at their talons. A1 has quite a number of black lesions just like one of the females after M15 last year.
V3 flies in a few minutes later to his branch and Gabby doesn’t say a word. “Oh, it has been a very quiet morning, dear.”
Bella and the new young male are still together.
Finally some Osprey action at Captiva!
A juvenile at the Osprey House nest enjoying its fish.
Missed the California Condor Rookie Release? Here you go!
News coming from Kahui and Hob Osterlund and the Laysan Albatross. Thanks, Holly!
When I continue to talk about how much politics is mixed up with the health of raptors in the grouse moor estates, here is a good read for those who do not understand why this issue is not going away. Why it is important to get a sound law and why it is important to make sure that unbiased individuals enforce it. Unbelievable.
Last, please do not purchase any bird seed this season in the mesh holders. You can help stop their use by refusing to purchasing and telling the shop owners to stop buying them for sale. You can also tell them why. Our nature centre had these monstrous things last year! At the same time, it is just as dangerous to purchase fruit and veg in these bags. They go to the landfill and it is there that all manner of birds get tangled in them. You must cut them up finely.
Thank you so much for being with me this morning as we wait…to see what will happen at the NEFlorida, for the eggs to hatch at Superbeaks and then elsewhere. Take care. See you soon!
Thank you to the following for their notes, comments, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog this morning: ‘A’, Sydney Sea Eagles, Charles Sturt Falcon Cam, Cilla Kinross, NEFL-AEF Deb Stecyk, HeidiMc Osprey House, Holly Parsons, Ventana Wildlife, Raptor Persecution UK, and Robin Sitka.
It was a crisp -15 this morning and has warmed to a balmy -10 C. The sky is ‘baby blue’, and the European Starlings have filled the bare branches of the lilacs. A new seed – especially for Jays – has massively attracted the Starlings.
The girls are napping after lunch. They have a pattern. Eat. Sleep. Eat. Sleep. Then 2130 comes, and it is ‘party’ time.
I am going to put this right up front. Many of you are living in areas where it is getting cold. The mice are coming in. Lots will decide to poison them. Please don’t. There are many reasons, and here is one recent study that might help you convince others not to use poison. I had a darling, sweet three-year-old cat that I had raised on a bottle die from eating a mouse that had consumed poison in one of my neighbour’s houses or sheds. It is a tragic way for any animal to die.
SW Florida’s M15 and his new mate F23 have their second egg right on schedule. Now the two can begin hard incubation and we might be expecting a New Year’s baby!
The Pritchett’s will post the official time.
SK Hideaways caught the joyous occasion on video.
Checking the nest at Pittsburgh-Hays, Mum and the new male.
V3 delivered a food gift to Gabby. Well done you! But, if you were watching, V3 finally ate the squirrel.
Too funny not to include!
Eagle at Redding bringing in sticks….
Meanwhile in Louisiana, eggs are being rolled at the KNF-E3 nest of Alex and Andria.
Nine more days til hatch at Superbeaks. Gosh don’t you wish that cam was fixed just a little different for that side view? I can’t imagine only watching the tops of their heads.
It was a warm day for Connie and Clive at Captiva.
It was a bright day in Iowa with the snow still clinging to the ground and the nest at Decorah North.
It is chucking down rain in Port Lincoln, South Australia.
The rain appears to have stopped or slowed down at Port Lincoln.
Getting stronger on those legs, and look at how much those tail feathers have grown. 959 people watching. Fish fairies can be lucrative in the sense that any funds generated go directly back into the project which is fantastic – new platforms, satellite trackers, and fish!
At Orange, chat mentioned that a juvenile was seen flying at 08:32:51 to the MW (I haven’t got a clue what that refers to).
Diamond watching from the scrape.
Cilla made a video with music of a juvenile chasing Diamond at the tower. Oh, how grand.
Rohan Geddes got some shots of our White-bellied Sea Eagle juvie yesterday. Nice flying.
The two osplets at Osprey House really go after the fish when Dad arrives. It is a wonder he has any talons left.
Raising condors to save the species.
Looking at this lovely Condor baby! A little bit bigger than Hope but doing the same thing – following Mamma and copying her.
Ospreys in Spain in the winter. The Biosphere at Urdaibai.
Golden Eagle believed to have come to harm — another beaten grouse hunting estate. It is time this stopped. Can a bill – the Wildlife Management and Muirburn Bill – be passed in Scotland and not be watered down so that the culprits continue to get by with this senseless killing? Or will the bill get passed, and then the penalties for continuing to kill the birds be so small that it is laughable, and the gamekeepers will continue to stomp on chicks and shoot these beautiful adult raptors? Despicable. While leaf blowers get my friend ‘R’ really worked up, the stomping of chicks in a ground nest and the unnecessary shooting of raptors or the mass killing of ducks and geese at ponds makes my blood boil.
Sharon Dunne brings us news from the Royal Albatross Colony.
Looking for some new nature books? Mark Avery just published Stephen Moss’s list for 2023. Have a look. You might find something interesting. Many of the books that I love have been recommended by Avery. This is my first time to see Moss’s list.
These are the 47 books and their reviews of Avery during 2023. The Meaning of Geese continues to be one of my all-time favourite reads of this year, alongside The Comfort of Crows.
Pink-footed geese are part of the flocks that Nick Acheson so desperately wants to see in Norfolk. And just look at this:
How many of you have that ‘bucket list’? Or do you have a Copy of 1000 places to visit before you die? I have only two events on my bucket list – to see the ospreys fly over Cuba near Manzanillo in the mountains during migration and to travel to Norfolk and see the geese before the climate changes so much. They stop spending the winter in the UK. Perhaps next year for both!
Thank you so very much for being with me today. Take care. Look forward to having you with me again soon.
I wish to thank the following for their notes, articles, photographs, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog today: ‘H’, Tufts Now, Carol Martucci Smith, SK Hideaways, PIX Cams, NEFL-AEF, FORE, KNF-E3, Superbeaks, Window to Wildlife, Raptor Resource Project, PLO, Charles Sturt Falcon Cam, Cilla Kinross, Osprey House, USFWS, Tim Huntington, Alan Petrie, Geemeff, Sharon Dunne, Rohan Geddes, Carol Shores Rifkin, Mark Avery, and Jake Fiennes.
November is always a very challenging month for me. Do you have those months when good and bad events are all clumped together? My mother was born on the 26th of November, and my beloved grandmother died on the 26th. My mother died just shy of the 26th – on the 24th. I had flown down for a big birthday bash. It had been less than two months since I had seen her, but I was in for a shock. She knew things were not going well, so instead of having all her still-living friends meet us for a big birthday bash at her favourite restaurant, she asked me to cancel and get her a burger and fries from Sonic. We spent the afternoon of the 20th writing her holiday cards, putting on the stamps, and getting them in the post. She always said she wanted to live to be a 100 – she died two days shy of 90 years. Reflecting back. Congestive Heart Failure was a blessing. No pain. Just a slow slipping away. She was an interesting woman. It took me til recently to fully appreciate her. I would love to sit down and have a long conversation with her. She was not like the mother of any of my friends. IT would be much later that I would hear the term ‘Tiger Mum’. My mother was that – and I am eternally grateful, although I don’t think I appreciated it then. I went off on a tangent. Apologies. Our parents profoundly impact us, and we all recognise that there are days or months we think of them more than others. Today (I am writing this at 18:24 on the 20th), twelve years ago, she and I were writing cards to all her friends. We never said anything but we both knew they would be the last ones she ever sent. We made sure they were gorgeous and sparkly.
Well, here we are so far! Superbeaks. Captiva. Kistachie National Forest E-3. So now, who is going to be next?
Oh, there is such good news. Karl II’s offspring, Waba, made it through the kibbutz in Israel and is in the Sudan!
Alex and Andria, the Bald Eagles at the Kisatchie National Forest E-3 nest, have their first egg. So – Superbeaks, Captiva, and Kistachie E-3!
The camera was down so we did not know when Andria laid the first egg. Tonya Irwin had a poll on the chat and I missed it altogether. Remember I said do not place bets on things like I do – I am usually wrong. Well, here we are in the pitching rain and it looks like Andria has laid the second egg at 18:51:24 or close to it. The eggs are four days apart just like last season according to Irwin.
The other good news is that Nancy and Beau were on the MN-DNR Eagle Cam by the old nest tree. You might recall that Nancy was the mate of Harry who is presumed dead. She bonded with Beau. They had a single surviving eaglet that was killed when the nest collapsed last year due to heavy snow.
Mum and the Osplets are waiting for Dad or the fish fairy! The chicks were digging in the nest early. Did they find a leftover?
They are still waiting but gosh, golly. These osplets are so cute and standing so well on that uneven stick nest!
Itchy.
Still waiting.
The osplets are so well-behaved. Still waiting.
Dad arrives with a headless fish at 13:24. Good for you, Dad.
Wow. Then the fish fairy shows up with a monster size fish and it has been slit so that the osplets can practice their self-feeding. Great insights, Fish Fairy! Mum is munching away – letting the kids nibble.
Mum is getting a good feed. This is wonderful.
Heidi Mc got the feeding on video – check it out. Much better than stills!
‘A’ sends us the observation board from Port Lincoln:
If you have wanted to donate money for the Fish Fairy at Port Lincoln and have had difficulties, there is now a PayPal button to make this easier.
There is also news of Ervie although there were no photographs. So reassuring that he is flying around fishing and continuing to come into Port Lincoln! Go Ervie!!!!!
At Orange, Diamond slept on the ledge of the scrape. Xavier came in later. Maybe for a rest after a prey delivery? Talons look bloody.
There was some lovely bonding in the scrape with Diamond and Xavier.
‘A’ gives us some sad news: “The important news comes from Orange, where big sister Marri has not been sighted for nearly a week now. I kept saying that there was no definite ID of the juvenile that has frequently been seen on the roof of the water tower, often with a parent nearby. I believed that juvenile to be Barru. So it seems I was right about that, though I am not happy about it. I was hoping that we were seeing both juveniles, sometimes one, sometimes the other. But no. Apparently Cilla has not seen Marri since the day after she fledged, which is horrible news. I cannot countenance the theory that she has ‘already left the area’ because she has not learnt to hunt, and hunting for a peregrine is not a matter of finding some road kill! So I have been super worried about Marri for a week. It surprises me though, given how strong she was and how well she was flying. We can only hope she is smarter than we think and has somehow been able to get food for herself. Still, it is more likely that she has come to a sticky end – we never found Rubus’s body either, so that’s no indicator. Now we have to pin our hopes on Barru. Perhaps female chicks are never going to come out of this scrape. “
At the Parramatta River, there was a sighting of an eaglet.
Rohan Geddes just posted these images from the other day. I have still not seen any indication that both juveniles have been seen simultaneously. So the question is: Like Orange, is there only one?
The latest news from Kielder of Blue 432 in Senegal:
Sunday night was apparently ‘owless’ at the SW Florida Bald Eagle nest…isn’t that wonderful? I do hope I got the gossip right. Here M15 has brought his lady a lovely meal.
M15 and F23 have arrived at the nest tree and are both in the nest. Will they thwart the GHOs?
Some of you will remember Bonnie and Clyde that took over the Bald Eagle nest on Farmer Derek’s property. Here is a video of them this month with a juvie at that same nest.
V3 and Gabby have been at the nest tree. V3 was caught on one of the cameras chasing off an intruder. Wouldn’t we all love it if all the eagles – young and old – would leave Gabby and V3 alone? I do not recall this happening when Samson was king of his natal nest. Does anyone?
They always seem tense – either alerting or watching for intruders. Does it cause difficulties for breeding? Stress?
Rose and Ron have a nice nest coming at the WRDC. Just look. A little Greenery, too.
Bella at the NCTC Bald Eagle Nest. Where is Smitty? Was he here? Bella was doing chortles.
Bella had to defend her nest alone on Monday.
An eagle at Decorah Hatchery.
Did Louis and Anna hope to be Alex and Andria laying the first egg? Sorry you two!
It was windy at the NTSU nest of Boone and Jolene in Johnson City, Tennessee. I am certain they love the wind more than humans would rocking around in a nest high above the ground. LOL.
Gosh, isn’t that setting sun on Big Bear Lake simply gorgeous? Jackie and Shadow came to the nest to enjoy it and check on needed improvements.
Want to see Condors released into the wild? Here is the information to catch all the action and find out what is happening with the Big Sur and Pinnacle colonies. You will have to go to the website of the Ventana Wildlife Society to sign-up for the Zoom chats. They happen every month.
Thank you so much for being with us today. Please take care. We hope to see you soon.
I want to thank the following for their notes, videos, streaming cams, posts, and articles that helped me to write my blog today: ‘A, H’, Maria Marika, Joanna Dailey, Tonya Irwin, KNF-E3, KNF-E1, Trudi Iron, MN-DNR, PLO, Charles Sturt Falcon Cam, Holly Parsons, Sharon Pollock, HeidiMc, Kathryn Palmer, Lady Hawk, Androcat, Woodsy Wisdom, NEFL-AEF, WRDC, NCTC Eagle Cam, Deb Stecyk, Raptor Resource Project/Explore, NTSU Eagle Cam, FOBBV, and the Ventana Wildlife Society.
Hope ‘hopes’ that everyone has a wonderful day! This morning she decided to be contrary and not pose!!!!!!! Go figure.
Oh, the temperatures climbed to a balmy +2 C on Wednesday and all the snow melted. Sunset happens at 1630. It is dark. Did I say that I hate winter? And now as 2300 approaches, it is snowing rain. The feral feeder is filled and I have attempted to make it a little weather proof. Those poor cats that live outside. Let’s see if we have a resident in the shelter tonight.
The girls had a lazy day. Hope and Missey continue to watch their favourite cat/bird video. And, yes. It is true. Miss Hope, the Queen of the ‘High Five’ taps on the screen until I come and turn her video on. I am well trained. Missey went to sleep on the wicker only to look up and see a male Northern Cardinal, and she immediately bolted right back with Hope. In other news, Hope got caught in ‘the act’ when I went to find Calico. She is certainly a robust young kitten! I do not know how Calico managed to keep this kitten so safe and well-fed out in the wild.
Hope is a perfect example of why you try to socialise the kittens of community cats. She is simply lovely. Thankful every day that Calico trusted me and wanted to come inside and that Hope has joined us.
Missey’s eyes look like they will pop out when the Cardinal is on the screen…she is getting ready to leap!
Hope’s ‘guilty’ look. Calico still produces so much milk…she waddles around the house!
Will these three have a little brother after all? Wait and see! We certainly could use a male influence here in Cat World. :))).
At Port Lincoln, Dad is in the shed and Mum and the kids are wishing he would go fishing.
Waiting.
Mum and chicks are still waiting for breakfast and Dad is still perched in the shed.
Dad left and Mum took a break…still no fish. It is nearing 1300.
Dad came through with a fish, and a man and his three-year-old son provided four supplementary fish for the family! Thank you. You are helping to keep this family alive.
Meanwhile….Xavier has delivered two breakfasts to Marri and Barru.
Check out this video of the storm a few days ago!
Remember. We are getting so close to fledge that you might as well go and purchase the tissues and have them ready. What a great year it has been at Orange. How delighted for Xavier and Diamond. Now…there are bushfires in some areas of Australia along with a drought. I just do not want it to pour down rain in Orange for the entire fortnight following their fledge. Cross your fingers and toes with me, please.
So what is happening at the Parramatta River in Sydney? I am not seeing any updates for two days now. All was well then. Let us hope it stays that way.
Now to the US and the Bald Eagles readying for the 2023 season.
At NE Florida, Gabby and V3 continue to be hopeful and work on their nest near Jacksonville, Florida.
Lady Hawk catches two mating attempts.
Near Fulton, Illinois on the Mississippi River, there is concern for Valor 2 – once part of the infamous Lover’s Trio Bald Eagle family. Dennis Becht has gone out to try and find Valor 2 and get him help.
Here is the latest update on Valor 2 from Dennis Becht.
Connie and Clive are working diligently on their Captiva nest – parents of Connick. No word on Connick’s release from the Audubon Centre for Birds of Prey at Maitland. He could not have better care. They were waiting til all of his feathers grew in to release him. What a great facility!
Eagles at Decorah.
New nest building at Decorah Hatchery?
Alex flew in to the KNF-E3 nest to do some nestorations.
Checking out the nest bowl at the E-1 nest of Louis and Anna in the Kisatchie National Forest.
Eagles were working at Dulles-Greenway.
It is always a beautiful view at Big Bear Valley – but it is always better when Jackie and/or Shadow are there!
Franklin and Frances have been busy at Bluff City.
D3 was at Centreport today.
29 Days to hatch watch at Superbeaks!
Black Vultures checking and cleaning the NCTC nest of Bella and ________.
Audubon’s report on the 2023 Eagle breeding season in Florida is here.
Check out the size difference between genders in these raptors.
It is that time of year when all that lead that went into the animals that were hunted and killed gets eaten when the eagles and other carrion eaters find the innards left in the field. That lead is toxic just like all of the fishing equipment that continues to be used that is lead. Time to switch!
For those of you that still have fall, remind everyone –
Please tell everyone you know not to celebrate with balloons. There are beautiful alternatives. Use safe biodegradable paper. OR let’s ditch the decorations altogether and celebrate by donating to shelters for animals or humans! Just imagine.
All of our wildlife have emotions.
John Love is responsible for reintroducing the White-tail Eagle in the UK. He dedicated his entire life to these magnificent feathered creatures. Go to roydennis.org to see the video tribute.
The Ventana Society announces that the quarantine pens for HPAI – to save the California Condors – are now on their way!
Because things are at the end does not mean they are any less important than those at the beginning. Indeed, it is often the reverse. Humans cannot survive without insects. So every time someone puts chemicals on their lawn to make it look beautiful, the insects get poisoned and then the birds that eat them. Let us all begin to re-think our attitudes before it is too late. This is a grim report.
From ‘H’ for all of us – thank you! We do what we can with what we have.
Thank you so much for being with me today. Please take care of yourself. See you soon!
Thank you to the following for their notes, comments, posts, articles, images, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog this morning: ‘A, H, Sassa Bird’, PLO, Charles Sturt Falcon Cam, Sharon Pollock, NEFL-AEF, Lady Hawk, Dennis Becht, Window to Wildlife, Raptor Resource Project/Explore, KNF-E3, KNF-E1, Dulles-Greenway Eagle Cam, FOBBV, Baiba, Sara A, Centreport Live Cam, Superbeaks, NCTC, Audubon Eaglewatch, Elite Falconry, Science of the Total Environment, Northern Beaches Clean Up Crew, Sassa Bird, Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation, Ventana Wildlife, The Guardian, and Emily Dickinson.
It is 1600 on the Canadian Prairies, Tuesday 31 October, as I begin to write. In about an hour before children will begin screaming ‘Trick or Treat’ or ‘Halloween Apples’. I am ready! Let’s hope that I am not too scary.
If you are trying to read the apron, it is from the Hanoi Cooking Centre and if you are ever in Hanoi and want to take cooking classes, I highly recommend it as an option.
The water was not completely frozen at the park near to where I live Tuesday morning but the hundreds of Canada geese and ducks are gone leaving a pair of Mallards and about a dozen Canada Geese. It was quiet except for the occasional honk.
In the garden, there were lots of Sparrows at the feeders along with many Dark-eyed Juncos and Red Crossbills. The Starlings came to visit as did Mr Crow and, of course, the squirrels.
The nest in the Sydney Olympic Park, home to Lady and Dad, and SE 31 and 32 (this year) is eerily quiet.
No one slept on the nest and no eaglets have been seen so far in at least 36 hours.
‘A’ gives us the official report: “October 31: A very hot windy day. Both parents were at the nest early, moving a few sticks, then away. During the early morning bird survey over in the nearby wetlands, I could see both parents over on River Roost. During the afternoon, we think there was a sighting of one juvenile flying into the forest. We went for a walk in the forest searching, but everything was very quiet with the heat. Both parents were in the forest around 3pm and then seen again down on River Roost. Looking under the nest, we did find the dried remains of a puffer fish and the tail of the little ringtail we saw them eat previously. Also lots of silver gull feathers and a couple of eagle feathers. Around 5pm, both adults were heard down on River Roost. We shall keep watching and listening for signs of our fledglings.”
‘A’ reports to me that there are bush fires around Sydney. We are both worried about the sea eaglets and, in particular, SE31.
At the Port Lincoln barge nest of Mum and Dad, Mum was waiting and flew off for either a comfort break of to try and get breakfast.
Mum hoping for a fish and Galiath and #2 ready!
Gave up.
Dad got the fish to the nest at 08:56:30. Everyone was ready! And thrilled. Dad had eaten before the delivery – so a fish.
At some point in the morning, #2 beaked Galiath and Galiath retaliated…#2 became submissive. All appears to be well. Galiath is substantially larger than #2 and we can only assume that Galiath is female and little 2 is male since there is only two days difference between them in terms of hatching.
Then the fish fairy came.
Just look at that crop on Galiath. I hope that #2 got some fish!
11:24
2 tommies and 2 red mullet supplemental fish delivered!
Sup. Fish (M,Whole)
11:24 2
Mum’s back in the nest much more quickly than yesterday. Giliath’s on the left and chick #2’s behind Mum. Both chicks eats some. 2 whole tommies and 1 partial red mullet and 1 red mullet tail remain for now.
12:02 3
Mum’s back on the red mullet. Giliath’s on the left and chick #2’s behind Mum. Giliath eats som
‘A’ comments, “Everyone ate well at Port Lincoln today. As usual, dad brought in a nice breakfast fish, the fish fairy arrived with lunch, which fed the whole family throughout the afternoon, and dad is currently on dinner duty (it’s nearly 5pm there now). The osplets ate a huge meal from 08:56 and their crops were topped up repeatedly during the day, with the fish fairy delivering four nice fish. Once again, I saw no bonking whatsoever on the nest, and feedings were peaceful and fraternal. Big sister sat and watched little bro get half a dozen bites in a row, without objecting or getting aggressive. At one point, after Little Bob had been eating uninterrupted for a couple of minutes, Giliath did shuffle slightly to indicate she was getting slightly impatient, at which point mum promptly gave her a bite. But that was as exciting as things got. Both osplets are well into their reptilian phase and are looking as if they’ve been dipped in a bucket of dirty sump oil. Gone are the cute fluffy creatures of only a few days ago. These slimy-looking black chicks have fat tummies and very round little bottoms. When their crops get too big to stand up to eat, they sit like plump little ducklings to feed. Of course there is a lot of preening occurring and the first wingercising has begun. Although Giliath did faceplant once or twice in the process, she soon worked out how to operate her wings today, doing some very impressive and energetic flapping. Little Bob was in awe. “
Xavier brought in a Starling for Marri and Barru.
Diamond came to the rescue so that both would have some breakfast.
Migration Count from Hawk Mountain in Pennsylvania, USA.
There are a few ospreys staying in places that humans think they shouldn’t. Some in Colorado and some in the UK.
San Francisco is one of those places where some ospreys migrate like Rosie while others stay like her mate, Richmond. Here is another pair – are they the only bonded pair that are staying behind in California together?
Can you help monitor the Condor cam in search of #171 California Condor named Traveler who has been missing from the feeding stations at Big Sur has caused concern. They are asking for our eyes. Thank you.
Bella and Smitty are reunited at the NCTC Bald Eagle nest. Please send warm wishes that all the intruders and injuries are now past.
Gabby and V3 continue to work on their nest. No on-camera mating that I am aware. ‘A’ is worried that V3 might not be up to the job. We will wait and see. I am hoping he is camera shy!
Jackie and Shadow were working at their nest despite the fact that they will be the last ones to lay their eggs, most likely.
Work continues on the Captiva nest of Connie and Clive, parents of Connick. No word yet on Connick’s release. Will let you know when I hear some news.
The pair at Duke Farms have a beautiful nest and I do mean gorgeous. Look at the rails and the grasses!
These are two updates from Duke Farms: “June 25 New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection update: The nest collapsed in several sections. This is not an uncommon occurrence with eagle nests. Nests that are used for many years get very large and heavy. Every year a few nests fall or, in some cases, the entire nest tree falls. Depending on what time of the nesting season this occurs, it can result in chicks being injured or killed. The fact the nest collapsed after the juveniles fledged is a good thing. They have been fledged for over a month, haven’t been seen at the nest as frequently and will soon be going off on their own. We’ll have to wait and see what will happen with the nest. The adults could try and rebuild the nest or move to a new nest tree. August 11 NJDEP update: A volunteer has been keeping an eye on the cam. Two adult eagles have been seen at the nest – it looks like the eagles are a male and female based on the size, but it’s not clear if one of the eagles is A/59 or a new male. It’s indeterminable if the pair will return to the nest. In many cases, pair rebuild nests in the same location or close by if a collapse has occurred. Sometimes, if there is a new bird in the bird, they will move nest locations. The identity of the male in the pair is a contributing factor in the situation. The fact that two adults are together at the nest may lead to the possibility of rebuilding in the same spot or close by.”
Martin and Rosa checking out the skies over their nest at Dulles-Greenway.
Mr North, Mrs DNF, and a lovely Red-tail Hawk were at the Decorah Eagle nest on Tuesday. Looks like there is snow in Iowa, too!
Aerial battles over Loch Arkaig??????
Any time our feathered friends make the news, it is good. Someone new will learn something and maybe they will spread the word about how we are trying to help!
Thank you so much for being with me today. Please take care! Looking forward to having you with us again soon.
Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, articles, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog today: ‘A’, Sydney Sea Eagle Cam, PLO, Charles Sturt Falcon Cam, Hawk Mountain, BarbandBob Larsen, Jeff Kear, SF Bay Ospreys, Ventana Wildlife Society, Deb Stecyk, NEFL-AEF, FOBBV, Window to Wildlife, Duke Farms, Dulles-Greenway, Raptor Resource Project/Explore, Geemeff, TCD, BirdGuides and Sassa Bird.
It is dark outside. The time is 1800. In another month, it will be dark at 1630. The long days of winter will be upon us. There were small flakes of snow falling a little bit ago. Dyson was eating at the table feeder, and a couple of Blue Jays and some Dark-eyed Juncos were persistent in their search for seed. Earlier, sparrows and Starlings had been having bird baths!
Behind the birdbath, look closely. There are still tomato blossoms, you can see a red grape tomato and clusters of green ones. I ran out quickly and picked them all!
Lots of sparrows. You can hear their songs at least a half block away on a typical day. Hundreds stay in the lilacs – feeding and resting, resting and feeding.
Then the heavier snow came. The trees in the garden, particularly the conifers, look like someone sprayed that white ‘snow’ on their limbs. It is quite beautiful – and quiet.
Calico has decided that it is time to stop nursing Hope. Missey could not be happier. This means that Hope is hanging around with her more!!!!!!!! Calico seems to be enjoying the break in parenthood and not having Hope follow and copy everything she does. I have not observed a mother with a kitten for many decades, which has been an enlightening experience. Every day I am grateful that Calico trusted me enough to turn her life over to me and come inside and that little Hope found us. All I have to do is look at that snow, and I smile seeing them inside on their blankies.
Standing on the deck looking into one of the garden doors and there is Hope looking outside.
The benefit of Calico wanting to wean Hope is that Calico is no longer bothered if Hope wants to play with Missey! Missey loves the company and knows that if she moves her tail, Hope will pounce! The house is very peaceful with the girls except for the kitten version of a Formula 1 race from about 2130 to midnight!
While these two are in the conservatory, Calico is trying to get her beauty sleep on her blanket in the sitting room.
At Port Lincoln, Mum was still waiting for a fish to come to the nest. It was after 0900. The osplets had a good feed with those fairy fish last night (thanks Fran, Bazza, and Janet) and there will be more if the wind and weather prove to be too much for Dad. The chicks are 7 and 9 days old today – we are approaching the Reptilian Phase.
That really nice fish arrived. Thanks, Dad! It was 10:58. Mum and the kids waited a bit but look – Dad came through and it has its head on it. (Note to self: Dad has to eat, too! – as does Mum)
It is a really nice feeding.
Eighteen minutes later and Mum is still feeding but the crops of Galiath and chick 2 are growing and growing.
It’s 11:26. Dad might be hoping some fish is left for him. Let’s see.
Mum is making sure that those two osplets are full to the top of their heads before she lets go of any fish. “Here have one last bite!”
Dad flies off with a nice fish tail. Did Mum get enough to eat?
Look at the size difference between the two chicks in the image below. What do you think? Nice big girl and little boy?
Later, some nest work by Mum.
‘A’ sends us detailed observations of when the fish fairy arrives to help! PLO supplied an additional 7 slender fish to the nest. “Mum is fish calling…Dad delivered no more fish, and the chicks presumably got hungry as the day wore on. And then, visible to all observers, the fish fairy arrived at 16:44:19, delivering seven supplemental fish. She was gone again by 16:44:37 – a total of under 20 seconds. Little and Giliath do not even wake up. (They sleep half a metre apart, with Little out of the nest bowl.) By 16:47, both parents had returned to the nest. Dad immediately grabs one of the fish in his beak and flies away with it, while mum eats her way through a second. The chicks are watching her closely and eagerly. Dad returns at 16:48:17. Little’s sleeping position means he is much closer to mum than is Giliath, and around 16:49, mum picks up fish number three and begins feeding Little. Giliath reaches the table around 16:50 but is still behind Little. Mum gives Little a few more bites, then begins to feed them alternately. I know I repeat this often, but watching how this mum works hard to ensure both are fed is wonderful. I was very interested to see the fish fairy arrive today with so many fish. Perhaps the one huge fish dad brought in mid-morning and the feeding from it would have been considered enough to keep the osplets alive for another day, making supplemental feeding unnecessary, But no. They obviously intend to ensure that the older chick does not go hungry and learn that food is finite and so anything its sibling does eat is effectively stolen from it. The discovery that food is a finite resource can turn a nest in a few hours, as we both know. Avoiding aggression on a nest does actually depend on the oldest osplet never discovering the existence of a thing called hunger until it nears fledge and the younger chicks are large enough to look after themselves. Mum keeps feeding both osplets until fish number three is gone, then at around 16:51, she starts on fish number four. (She is eating many bites herself as she feeds the osplets.) Dad is still standing beside mum, watching her feeding the pair. At 16:55:45 mum finishes off that fish and moves on to what I believe is fish number five (unless dad brought back part of fish number one). This is a really good feeding, with mum feeding and feeding and feeding both chicks pretty equally, giving them big bites of juicy fish. They eat and eat. So does mum. By 16:58, Little can no longer fit another mouthful. He starts to turn away from the table. Mum keeps feeding Giliath, and herself. At 17:07, she finally stops feeding and settles down to brood. There is yet another feeding, at 18:06, at which both osplets ate a few bites but were generally not very hungry. Mum ate a bit herself and settled back down to brood at 18:16. That was it for the night. I think there might be a couple of part fish left on the nest, though it’s hard to be sure. I find it hard to believe all seven were eaten but dad may have removed a second fish from the seven. Other than that, mum and the osplets ate the other five (and this morning’s fish from dad was large and whole). So all in all, today should give Little a boost in growth. He has not yet really gone hungry on this nest, and of course nor has Giliath. They both look extremely healthy, with Giliath due to turn into a small dinosaur any day now. Talons crossed.”
Mum and the chicks were hungry. Thank you, Port Lincoln, for recognising that additional fish is required to get these two to fledge. We might never know the reason – is it a lack of fish for Dad to catch? El Niño and warming waters? overfishing by the commercial fisheries that are plentiful in the area? is it old Dad, and he is just worn out? What we do know is that this nest will now survive by the compassion and understanding of the people at Port Lincoln who supported intervention.
This was posted on the ops board:
16:42
Mum flies off in a hurry as 7 Supplemental fish are delivered by the fish fairies (the process visible for all to watch). More information on the how and why will be put in the news section this evening, or tomorrow
It was no small feat to convince the board that manages the building of the platforms and care of the ospreys in South Australia to agree to an intervention at the barge in Port Lincoln. We can thank Fran Solly, Bazza Hockaday, and Janet Forster for studying the issues and being able to speak to the positive benefits of supplementary feeding. I would urge all of you who support this decision to send them a note, and you can do so by searching for Fran Solly on FB. This is the cover page. I know they will appreciate the support.
To those that have already sent me notes saying that they are now happy to watch Port Lincoln having stopped because of the past history, please send Fran a note. These folks need all the support that they can get!
I went to check on the sea eagles and my heart sank. There was an adult on the same branch that Dad perched on looking for SE26 when she was flailing around in the bush being pursued by the Currawong – pecked and dive-bombed! It broke back all the memories of that very sad year when 25 was driven out early to the salt marshes, never to be seen again and 26 to be eventually euthanised. Oh, let us hope this year is different – there is still a chance!
‘A’ sent us the report from Sydney: “October 26: neither eaglet was seen last night and parents were off early. Dad returned at 6:49 with a fish, which Lady took and flew off with. Is she searching for the eaglets? She appeared later to have eaten it herself and from about 8:30 was sitting above the nest –at times currawong swooping. It was a much colder and windy day today. The adults and probably fledgling have been heard calling at times, but not seen. One of our team did see the osprey catch a fish near River roost –which was then possibly pirated by Dad –the first interaction between them that we have seen. Much honking and flying about. Around 5:30 of our observers saw one of the fledglings on a path, surrounded by ravens and currawongs – it flew up onto a tree fortunately and back towards the forest – flying strongly and lifting well. At dark, we heard calls, adults were nearby, at least one fledgling in the forest somewhere – and the search goes on –and it was raining.”
This is the latest posting that I could find form Ranger Judy:
Meanwhile, all is well at Orange. The chicks look like they are getting goggles. Look at their heads. The wisps of down will be gone soon, and we will see the beginnings of their juvenile plumage bursting through.
They are both getting much more sturdy on their feet and they move around that scrape box like Hope running a marathon in the house. They are fast!
I wondered if Diamond was going to kick Dudley out of the scrape.
Full.
There is some self-feeding going on! Always be sure to check out the ledge cam, especially since these two are spending so much time over on the Cilla stones.
Redding Bald Eagle Dad, Liberty. He buys his beautiful black jeans at the same shop that Samson did! Each just needed an electric guitar.
Guardian. She isn’t young, but she is sure beautiful. We adore you, Guardian. So are Guardian and Cholyn the two oldest breeding Bald Eagle females on streaming cams? Give me names of others that are at least 25!
Liberty and Guardian! Another video by Gary.
More food gifts are coming to the nest from M15 to F23. Did he get it from the Publix store? Notice the European Starlings. Remember that the white dots on their plumage mean they are ‘non-breeding’.
Beautiful Gabrielle at the NE Florida nest.
Lots of moss coming in to line that nest! Come on Gabby and V3. We have been waiting for a year…
Lady was at the Superbeaks nest working diligently early this morning.
Intruders being chased off at The Campanile by Lou and Annie. Everyone wants the best penthouse in the City.
The latest migration figures coming from Hawk Mountain in PA.
Want to join the Ventana Wildlife Condor Chat? Last Thursday of every month. There is one on today. Here is the information to join.
There is not a lot going on in Bird World. Eating and growing at Orange and PLO. Hoping at Sydney. Nest building elsewhere while millions and millions of birds continue to migrate. It is a good time to learn some new things or read a good book – or, get out for a walk, call a friend, drink a nice mug of something warm.
This is a video you should watch. It is about Conservation without Borders, Sacha Dench, the Flight of the Osprey — and many other interesting things you might not know about. I really enjoyed it!
I also want to recommend an inspiring book about the rescue rehabilitation and release of a tiny Screech owl. Like Calico and Hope, that owl gave Safina and his family much more than they gave it. The book details the two years that Alfie was part of the family, but it is more than that. It is about how humans relate to the natural world and what we receive when we open ourselves to the possibility of understanding and connecting with another species. It is well-written and personal, and it warmed my heart. Safina put into words some aspects of rescuing Calico and Hope that I wasn’t – and it made me look at their presence in my life differently. I can tell you that I am much richer by their presence and all that they have taught me. Safina learned from Alfie in the same way.
There are good discussions on governments that have given legal standing to rivers and trees as well as the beautiful creatures trying to survive us and our oceans – dolphins, amongst others. There is a frank presentation on the need to cooperate with various agencies for the greater good.
Alfie & Me is another of several wonderful books (and some not so great) written during the pandemic when each of us had time to reflect on our relationship or lack of relationship with nature.
Last, to give you a giggle. I have been surveying the feral male cats that had the potential to be Hope’s father. Hope has the colouring of Calico but her build is definitely not that of Mamma. There are four possibilities: a Ginger, “the boyfriend” – the Black cat with the white boots, a very large White cat with black spots, and a huge tabby. It is silly and trivial but it is amusing me…and, of course, I will never know if I am right or wrong unless there would be a DNA test. I have images of two of the cats – but it is the big white one with the squared-off jaw and busy tail and stout legs – that stands out. He is here at the feeding dish most days. I just have to have the camera ready.
Of course, some of you with studies in genetics might be able to help me figure the out better!
Thank you so much for being with me. Take care, please. I hope that you will be back with us another day.
Thank you so much to the following for their notes, posts, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog this morning: ‘A, H’, PLO, Sydney Sea Eagles, Judy Harrington, Charles Sturt Falcon Cam, FORE, Gary and FORE, Lady Hawk, NEFL-AEF, Superbeaks, SK Hideaways, Hawk Mountain, Ventana Wildlife Society, and Conservation without Borders.
Oh, we had a crisp fall day on the Canadian Prairies. Lots of migrant songbirds in the garden – every kind of Sparrow and – well, I won’t exaggerate – but between 50-65 Dark-eyed Juncos descended around 1700. It was quite unbelievable. Missey loved watching them out of the conservatory windows and the Blue Jays buzzed in and out getting Black Oil Seed.
Calico, Hope, and Missey are doing so well. Monday was the first time since Lewis got sick that Missey enjoyed herself – like the old days – in the conservatory. She was ‘talking’ to the birds landing in the vines and jumping around following them. There were dozens and dozens of Dark-eyed Juncos and hundreds of Sparrows keeping her entertained.
Then Missey got into one of the play tents. I wondered if Hope would find her and play with her tail like she does when Missey is sleeping on the wicker. They play and play – and eat! Hope is growing – she is now at least three times the size she was when she came into the house on 2 September. And she is adorable.
Hope decided that Mamma’s blanket was nice and soft.
Hope continues to do everything Mamma does. Oh, and Calico is putting on weight. She no longer looks like an old pack mule ready to die of starvation. No more sunken sides, and she is a heavy girl to lift. She is not letting Hope nurse anymore, which is helping her get her health back.
The ‘boyfriend’ comes twice a day to the feeding spot. Poor thing. The fur on his tail and back is finally growing in. He is fed well and under the deck is an insulated house for him with a heating pad for winter. Reminder to self to pull up that old carpet and get rid of it.
We all continue to miss Lewis. He was a big presence. ‘L’ asked about his tests, and I am sorry, I forgot. Poor darling Lewis had both HPI and feline leukaemia. He was a very sick boy with everything progressing at a rapid rate.
I want to start with some really good news, and that is the HPAI vaccine trials for the California Condors.
All eyes are on Port Lincoln as I begin my blog. There will be a hatch I hope by the time this goes to press tomorrow morning (it is now 1800 in Winnipeg, Monday). — And, yes, believed to be the second egg at 20:39. Well done, little one!
These were the eggs at 0856 when Mum got up and left the nest.
Later…so frustrating. It looks like a crack going along a line but impossible to tell in the light.
Partner and Murram’s little osplet Blythe is really enjoying its fish. Turnby Island, South Australia. So far only one. How blessed this only chick might be!
More sightings of UK and European Ospreys in Senegal by Jean-marie Dupart. Gosh, you have to admire those older birds that have successfully flown back and forth many, many times. Fifteen years old. Fantastic.
Sassa Bird got some great screen captures of WBSE 31 and 32. They are nearly ready to fledge. Every day becomes more and more precious with them.
Lady feeding her babies…She knows that they are about ready to fledge.
I wonder if hopping from the nest to the branch counts as ‘branching’ when the meaning is to fly from the nest to the branch. But we will see.
SE 31 had certainly been enticing 32.
‘A’ wonders, “Those sea eaglets are exploring every branch of that nest tree. I am amazed that SE31 has not yet fledged. Perhaps she is waiting for her little brother. Both are sleeping standing up and tucked like their parents, sometimes on the branches of the nest tree but usually still in the nest. SE32 occasionally reverts to sleeping duckling style, and both were snuggled up together on the rails in duckling posture this afternoon. They really are good friends (except when food is delivered, and even then, it is temporary, and they are soon sharing whatever prey it is). I hope this helps them in the days to come. My heart is in my mouth as I wait for them to take the plunge. Will this year be the season they finally best those currawongs and crows?”
Karen Leng posted a great comparison between Xavier and Diamond’s chicks.
Lessons in plucking a European Starling. In 40-44 days, these two will observe and imprint many things to help them as adults before they fledge – which is a month away. Yes, get ready!
A friend in PA posted this reminder. I have mentioned these spider webs every year. Please do not put them up – they act as netting to catch birds and insects and they die when they are caught. You might as well put out sticky traps for the birds – it is cruel. So please tell anyone you know, spread the word, take them down if they are up – be kind to our feathered friends and all others who could get tangled. Thank you.
Thank you for being with me today. Head over and check out the new hatch at PLO. If that is the second egg then maybe that third egg will hatch quickly! (or not). Could it be the year for a single chick at Port Lincoln? — And take care!
Thank you to the following for their notes, letters, posts, comments, images, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog this morning: ‘A’, Kelly Sorenson and Ventana Wildlife, PLO, Jean-marie Dupart, Sassa Bird, Sydney Sea Eagle Cam, Gracie Shepherd, Karen Leng, Charles Sturt Falcon Cam, ABC News Central West, NEFL-AEF, Window to Wildlife, Dulles-Greenway, FOBBV, MFM, and Michelle Mihalah Lampley.
