California – Page 45 – Mary Ann Steggles

Eagles are Busy…Wednesday in Bird World

1 November 2023

Good Morning Everyone!

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!

These-adorable-flightless-parrots-are-making-a-comeback-after-being-hunted-to-the-brink-of-extinctio Download

The Rare Bird Report issued its rises and declines in bird numbers for 2021. Gosh, two years ago. I wonder how much has changed since then!

Winners-and-losers-in-latest-RBBP-report-BirdGuides Download

Thanks, Sassa Bird, for this post.

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.

Bird Flu in the Antarctic…Sunday in Bird World

29 October 2023

Hello Everyone!

In North America, it is almost Halloween. Children still go door to door and hear screaming ‘Halloween Apples’ or ‘Trick or Treat’. I always feel sorry for them when it is cold and you can hardly see their costumes. We are all set – packaged goods only – lots of combinations of dried fruit. Presumably, they will eat their candies first and sigh when they see the fruit, but I won’t feel guilty about their teeth. I had a friend once who handed out toothbrushes.

Decades ago, it became clear that ‘incidents’ happen and children should not eat treats from people they don’t know unless they are fully sealed, etc. I often wonder why the community centres, schools, and families do not just have a local party for the children. When we lived in England, Halloween was not a ‘thing’. I understand it is now. We had Guy Fawkes Night on 5 November – jacket potatoes on the barbecue or bonfire. Sometimes called Bonfire Night or Guy Fawkes Night. Effigies were burned. It always depended on whose side you were on, I was told (please correct me). Fawkes was part of a plot to burn down the Houses of Parliament; he was a Catholic in 1605. So, the effigy is sometimes considered the Pope, and some burn a figure of Fawkes in support of the monarchy. The holiday became official in 1859. It was all new to us and great fun – friends from the cup de sac at the foot of the gorse joined to celebrate. Gosh, I miss them!

The girls will be safely stowed away in the conservatory while treats are handed out. I still do not trust them not to run out the door – although I have to say that Calico has not even ventured near the door to do that. She will look out at the birds and, on occasion, at the cats visiting the feeding station, but she is mostly uninterested. The three girls still love story time. It is a ritual that prescribes I sit on the floor with a pile of blankets beside me. The little portable heater needs to be on. I must have a bag of treats. Calico will sit on my lap or the blanket. Missey is on the couch, and Hope is under one of the chairs. Treats were distributed, and then, today, we reached the end of H is for Hawk. If I do not do precisely as I have done since Calico first came into my life, she appears to get stressed. Ritual. I love it, too. We all know what to expect, and I get time to read some very good books.

Hope has decided to move into Missey’s basket. Missey doesn’t seem bothered. If I look for Hope and cannot find her, she will be in the basket! Just look at that bushy tail. Hope is a really sweet kitten. Missey loves playing with Hope (not so much Calico).

Calico has taken over the couch. We are so glad so many of your enjoyed seeing Hope and Calico with ‘Lewis’s’ pillow. It was a wonderful surprise – so thoughtful. Thanks, Auntie.

Other images from Saturday – cats lounging, the snow, Missey watching the birds.

Calico seems to have decided that she still needs to provide milk for Hope. She was bursting this afternoon…Hope is very well fed!

Now, one thing. Pumpkins and peanut butter. The squirrels are too well-fed to bother. I saw some little birds pecking, but the deer is like the pumpkins in Canada. I have discovered that pumpkins are dangerous to hedgehogs, so don’t put them out if you live where there are hedgehogs. We don’t wish to kill them. I loved the ones who came to the orchard at the end of our garden to eat the fruit that had fallen on the ground.

Before we check on Australia, M15 is getting really serious about his new mate and the potential for a family with her. He brought in two fish gifts on Saturday. She, of course, might know that she won the Bald Eagle lottery when they met and bonded. F23 could not have a better mate and provider for her and their babies.

At Port Lincoln, Goliath and Little are really into the Reptilian Phase. The Reptilian Phase generally begins around Day 12. Between the plumage of the newly hatched, that light down with the dark eye line and the slightest hint (or more) of the dark stripe on their back and their juvenile feathers. In the Reptilian Phase, the chicks look like they have been dipped in a pot of old motor oil. They are dark, scaly, slick, bald, ebony black heads with little copper-red feathers coming in at the back of the nape. Those coppery-red feathers will begin to appear elsewhere as well. The chicks become itchy as their blood feathers begin to grow. The feathers grow out of ‘blood quills’ if you did not know. If these are broken, they can die if the blood does not coagulate. It is the same with eaglets, and some of you will recall the season 2021 at Captiva when Joe and Connie’s two eaglets died of rodenticide poisoning. One directly from the poison and the eldest from its blood feather breaking, and because the blood did not coagulate (due to the rodenticide to kill mice/rats), it bled to death on the nest). From my observations over the years, this is the time when the chicks also begin bonking.

They are right in terms of development. Goliath is 12 days old, and Little is ten days old. The size difference can reflect the two days between hatch and gender, with the female being much larger than the male. You will notice that Goliath is darker with less down – it is the age difference. Little is just entering the new itchy phase. They will appear thin and ‘lean’. As this phase and the juvenile feather phase take over, their flight feathers, both the primaries and secondaries on the wing and the tail feathers, will come in. The largest and longest of the feathers take much longer to come in. Once all their feathers are in, they are ready to fly! No worries. We are a long way from fledge!!!!!!!!!!!!

As I write, Dad has brought in a whole fish at 0747 which lasted for two feedings an hour apart.

It is hard to tell how much fish Little received at the feeding. He got tangled with Goliath. Dad returned to fetch the fish at 0809. He will return it, but – he will have some breakfast, too. The fact that the parents can now eat will give them strength. It was physically hard on Mum during the last season with Zoe when she demanded so much fish that neither her siblings nor Mum had some at times. This year is going to be so very different. Hoping for the best for all of them. This family deserves a ‘break’.

All of the positive comments on the Port Lincoln Osprey FB feed must be heart-warming to those who fought hard for this intervention to happen.

The fish fairy arrives with four really nice size fish. Mum and Goliath and Little feast as does Dad.

PLO posts: “Dad the first one back and takes 1 fish. Mum feeds the 2 babies. Both babies full. Dad back for a 2nd fish and leaves the fish tail.”

‘A’ gives us her report: “There were several good feedings for both osplets at Port Lincoln today. Dad brought in a big whole breakfast fish at 07:47. and the ensuing feeding continued until 08:12. At 12:45, the fish fairy delivered four medium-sized whole fish. This fed everyone – dad was first to the nest after the delivery and grabbed one for himself. Mum then arrived to feed the kids. Neither parent is at all perturbed, it seems, by the aunty door dash and seem to be getting very used to it. It’s a race between them to get to the nest after the fairy leaves, given they know what they will find there. The feeding from those gift fish lasted for 37 minutes and, like the morning feeding, left both osplets with very very full crops. Another half fish was brought in by dad for dinner, at 18:42. So everyone went to bed with full tummies. And again today, there was no bonking and no signs of aggression between the osplets.”

‘A and H’ mention that there is really sad news coming out from Turnby Island, the Osprey nest of Partney and Marrum.

Calypso, the 2019 Port Lincoln Hatch, has been exploring the area. Everyone is hoping she will find a mate and raise chicks so Mum and Dad can be grandparents. Port Lincoln will build a platform for her if she does not settle on one of those available.

Port Lincoln has found another osprey nest with chicks that they did not know about! Check out that nest. Off the ground and away from predators.

At the nest tree in the Sydney Olympic Forest (the old Ironwood Tree), SE 32 decided to stay home. S/he had many meals and time with Lady and Dad – which brought joy and tears to all of us. SE31 was also seen. No one has seen 31 fed on camera but the eaglet is flying strong — send every positive wish you have for the eaglets as they persevere against the Currawong who would like to drive them from the forest!

Earlier News.

Currawongs harassing 31.

As soon as the adults flew off the nest (they had stayed with 32 overnight), the Currawongs came and pestered 32 til it flew off. Later, the parents are looking over the forest for their eaglets.

All is well at Orange. It looked like something other than a Starling arrived for breakfast at 0728. The two are really getting their primary and secondary wing feathers in as well as the tail feathers. The faces are changing and every day they get stronger and stronger on their legs. Diamond makes them stretch their necks to get their prey – strengthening those muscles that will become so valuable to them in the future.

‘A’ gives us the prey report from Orange: “At Orange, mum arrived home for the evening about ten minutes ago. The two eyases are asleep in their usual cuddle puddle, on the near side wall of the scrape (so largely invisible from the Box Cam). They are gorgeous. Here are the day’s time stamps: PREY 06.12.06 M takes, 07.27.50, 08.19.23, 10.42.06, 13:35:02, 17:10:05 FEEDING 06.13+, 07.22 M+B self feed, 07.28, 07.43( leftover starling), 09.08, 10.43, 13:37, 17:10 (M self-feed). HIGHLIGHTS: 06.07+ zoomies, 07.25.50+ B+M plucking, 12:58:10 Barru ‘broods’ Dudley. 12: 58:57 Marri’s turn, LEDGE CAMERA 10.09.20 M puts wing over B, 13:36.35 + Barru nipps at Xavier’s tail feathers.”

Did they? or didn’t they? Gabby invites V3 to mate.

The first confirmed case of the Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza reaches the Antarctic. So, it’s not just melting sea ice but now H5N1 that is a massive threat to all species including the Penguins.

First-confirmed-cases-of-Avian-Influenza-in-the-Antarctic-region-British-Antarctic-Survey-1 Download

Bird-flu-detected-in-Antarctica-for-first-time-as-fears-grow-of-mass-wipe-outs-1 Download

Everyone thought he retired – of course, Dr Peter Sharpe can never retire. He has Bald Eagle blood flowing through his veins and today he was fitting a camera so that Thunder and Akecheta’s breeding season can be viewed at their new nest. Of course, they could choose the old nest – thankfully there is a camera there. Thanks, Dr Sharpe!

Territorial disputes continue at the NCTC nest of Bella and Smitty.

Always grateful to the kindness extended to our wildlife in trouble – normally created by us like fishing line! Completely tanged and the kind soul took the time – and great patience – to free this osprey.

In the UK, Babet, the storm that hit and caused extensive flooding and damage, also caused some birds to wind up in very unusual places.

Storm-Babet-blows-seabirds-inland-BirdGuides Download

Thank you so much for being with us today. Please take care of yourselves. We hope to see you soon.

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog this morning: ‘A, H’, Lady Hawk, PLO, Rohan Geddes, Sydney Sea Eagle Cam, Denise W Starr, SK Hideaway, Charles Sturt Falcon Cam, British Antarctic Survey, The Telegraph, Down to Earth, Dave Gallivan, Deb Stecyk, Rachel Stevenson-Thomas, and Bird Guides.

Thursday in Bird World

26 October 2023

Oh, good morning everyone!

I hope you are well!

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.

A fledge and a first fish meal…Wednesday in Bird World

18 October 2023

Good Morning Everyone!

I hope this finds you well. Have you had a good peek at that wee fluff ball at Port Lincoln. Two big events – a hatch and fledge. Smiling.

Tuesday was a bright light day. The leaves were the most magnificent range of magenta, brick red, orange, and incredible, joyful yellows I have seen this season. Walking to the little French bakery this morning for pain du chocolate, there was a nip in the air that made me think – if I didn’t know better – that snow could be coming. It isn’t, but gosh it is a reminder to find the winter boots, toques, mitts, and coats and make sure they are ready! A couple of years ago, I gave in and got outerwear rated at -40 C. It made a difference when heading out to check on winter birds or go for that daily walk.

Two of the girls were watching the bird videos – Missey and Hope. They are becoming playmates. Poor Calico. She is much too concerned about the pecking order to have fun! Gosh – she is missing out. This should be sorted out soon. Missey is just such a happy cat, laid back and relaxed. She can’t be bothered with Calico’s hissiness.

It was hard to tell but it appeared they preferred the squirrels to the birds!

Making the News. A ringed Ross’s Goose made its way from Canada to Norway. The Ross’s Goose is smaller but similar in plumage to a Snow Goose. Its neck is shorter, and it has a short bill. The body plumage is white with black wing tips. They benefit from the warming of their normal Arctic breeding grounds where snow is melting or non-existent, and there is increased plant growth. They are also now cross-breeding (hybridising) with the Snow Goose. They are known to only breed in Canada in the rich grassy areas of the Arctic Tundra. The nests are built on the ground using available plant material such as Birch, Willows, various Mosses, and the soft down from the female’s breast. They have one brood per year, laying 2-6 eggs. The females incubate the eggs while the males act as security guards. The only time the female will leave the eggs is to feed. Then, she will cover them with the soft down. Does this remind you of Daisy the Duck at the WBSE nest in Sydney? Gosh, she had a beautiful nest lined with that gorgeous down. The incubation period is 19-25 days.

Canadian-ringed-Rosss-Goose-reaches-Europe-BirdGuides Download

Oh, what we have been waiting for – a wee bobble head to watch eating fish and growing and growing and then fledging. It happened at Port Lincoln on the 17th. By all accounts, everyone at PLO says this is the second egg. So, is it possible that were might have two or only one little chick this year? Believe me. I am thrilled.

Talk about melting one’s heart. I love hawks and falcons…I really do, baby storks, breathing things with feathers but there is nothing that touches me more than a day old osplet opening its beak for its first bite of fish.

Apparently, it has a name – Giliath. And before I could blink, the little one had already had 4 feedings!

You can see the white ‘egg tooth’ at the end of the top beak used to pound out of that hard shell like a pick axe. There are those black eye bands that will help this little one fish in the future, stopping the glare from the sun and the water….the softest light grey down, little wings, the hint of the ebony stripe that will run down its back and only a mention of where the tail will be. It is a ‘fat’ little thing and looks mighty healthy and strong. Don’t you want to just reach out and stroke it?

Dad2 sees his first baby!

Our new Dad.

At Orange, the chicks are patiently waiting while they know they are simply ‘starving to death’….gosh, these two are so cute. The girls and I have been reading Helen MacDonald’s H is for Hawk. If you haven’t read it, please do – MacDonald is an amazing researcher and writer who brings her own biography into her love of hawks and eventually to her becoming a falconer.

When we finish with H is for Hawk – it is such a good read it will not take long – we are going to return to another book about falcons that is another enlightening read. The book is about a rescued falcon, healed, and released by Ffion Rees. It is Queen of the Sky and the text and illustrations are by Welsh artist, Jackie Morris. They are lovely.

‘Peregrines are simply mesmerising; their streamlined shape; their sombre colours redolent of the uniform of some secret, crack military unit; their sublimely skilful flight, on the razor’s edge between control and fierce abandon. Seeing a peregrine feels not only viscerally pleasurable but important, significant. Meaningful’. (Quote by N Davies in Morris, 4)

They don’t look like the fastest thing on the planet – yet.

Liznm gives us a giggle -.

And another cute video by SK Hideaways.

Little Barru decided that he was going to self-feed on some of those feathers in the nest. I wonder what Di thought when she turned and saw him?

In 1936, Captain Gilbert Blaine said of the Peregrines, ‘Of all living creatures she is the most perfect embodiment of power, speed and grace’. They do not look like it now but just wait…the transformation that Marri and Barry will make before the middle of November is going to be extraordinary.

Sometimes it is hard to find one or the other of the sea eaglets on the natal tree. They are climbing all over the branches.

It is official. SE 31 fledged – 14:33:13.

The official video of this huge milestone in the life of this beautiful sea eaglet.

To the relief of all, 31 was back in the nest sleeping with 32!!!!!!!!!!

They really are a lovely couple – M15 and his new mate, F23. I love watching the posts and the chat and the discussions over the nest building and how it is different without Harriet’s supervision. It is clear from his current efforts that M15 likes rails!!!!!!! But don’t you just love the look in his eye when he looks at her? After last year, it appears he got himself a good one but…don’t let me get too far ahead. Let’s see what kind of Mamma she will make. Fierce, I think.

A fish gift for the new female.

Not an eagle at Captiva!

Trudi Kron caught Mr North and Mrs DNF working on their nest in Iowa.

Jackie and Shadow work in unison on their nest! And look at that time stamp. Raptors are so predictable. Ospreys fly from their summer nest to their winter perch – sometimes more than 4000 miles – landing precisely. Jackie and Shadow arrive at the nest after 1800 for the past several weeks.

An announcement from Audubon you might be interested in…

Week’s migration count at Hawk Mountain.

Migration. Black Storks. Karl II’s family. Kalvi is reporting from Bulgaria. Waba was in Israel (not comfortable because of the current state of life there) and is not reporting. Karl II and Kaia not reporting. My worry beads are out.

Oh, thank you so much for being with me today. Take care of yourselves. We want to see you here with us in Bird World soon!

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, articles, videos, photographs, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog this morning: ‘A, H’, Bird Guides, PLO, Helen MacDonald, Jackie Morris, Charles Sturt Falcon Cam, Liznm, SK Hideaways, Sea Eagles, Rebekah Dawn, Sharon Pollock, Lady Hawk, Sassa Bird, Trudi Kron, FOBBV, Orion Magazine, Hawk Mountain, and Looduskalender.

Hatch at Port Lincoln…Tuesday in Bird World

17 October 2023

Good Morning Everyone,

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.

HPAI-Update-Positive-Vaccine-Trial-Results-for-Condors Download

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 nice article about the falcons at Orange.

Charles-Sturt-University-falcon-project-offers-global-audience-a-glimpse-into-peregrines-private-li Download

Gabby is sleeping at the nest and V3 will be close by. He was at the nest most of the afternoon.

Fattening up, getting ready for the breeding season with a nice fleshy squirrel?

The winds blowing over Captiva do not bother Connie and Clive who continue to add to their new nest as of last season.

Someone was at the Dulles-Greenway Nest today and it was Dad, Martin, bringing in sticks and working on that new nest.

It was a beautiful day at Big Bear. Will Jackie and Shadow show up after 1800?

Want to find out more about what is happening on Marion Island and why having a mice-free island is essential to the albatross?

Mouse-Free-Marion-Project_Quarterly-Newsletter_Issue7_October-2023 Download

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.

Calypso lands on Mum while there is a pip in egg at PLO…Monday in Bird World

16 October 2023

Good Morning Everyone,

Gosh, golly. We are halfway through October! Hard to believe. Sunday was a gorgeous fall day in southern Manitoba. The geese and ducks are still landing on the lakes in the City. Hundreds can be found where there is good grass. It is 16 C and just amazing, warm yet there is a crispness in the air – a nice change from the summer that was filled with the smoke of the more than 900 wildfires burning in Canada.

In the garden, there are still Pine Siskins and Dark-eyed Juncos joining the Blue Jays, the Sparrows, the House Sparrows – and, of course, Dyson and gang and Little Red.

Calico, Hope, and Missey are doing well. Play has taken over the house once again and it often sounds like a band of horses are having a race. There is enough bird and squirrel activity to keep everyone occupied and today, they had special treats – pine cones. Lewis loved to play with pine cones and I would often bring home a pocket full if I found some.

Sunnie Day posted this amazing announcement. The first ospreys breeding in Kansas – land of Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz.

Successful-osprey-nesting-recorded-for-state-of-Kansas-at-Perry-Lake-Kansas-City-District-Kansas Download

At Port Lincoln, everyone continues to wait for the first pip. Today that first egg is 40 days old and I am going to say that it could very well be unviable. The second egg is 37 days old with the third at 34. I want to be hopeful that we will have one chick. Fingers crossed…but I also have to look up the average day for hatch for Eastern Ospreys. Hold on. OK. The article below the ops board says incubation is on average 40 days for Eastern Ospreys — so we are right and ready for hatch.

Fact-File-Eastern-osprey-Pandion-haliaetus-cristatus-Australian-Geographic Download

And then the oddest thing happened…thanks, ‘H’. Calypso, Mum’s 2019 hatch, lands on the nest!!!!!!!!!!

A pip is seen at 23:18:36. PLO is saying it is egg #2. (Top egg far right)

Partney and Marrum still have one nice osplet, Blythe.

While we wait, the two chicks of Diamond and Xavier are growing, getting their feathers, and reaching higher and higher for their prey. Diamond and Xavier are doing an incredible job with these two!

At Sydney, WBSE 31 and 32 are climbing higher and higher on the branches and are now flapping their wings. Send them positive wishes – no Curras!

The winds blew in the Sydney Olympic Forest and the parents brought in a bird (?) and then a fish.

I had a bit of a giggle. ‘Boulevard’. In Canada, the boulevard is the piece of grass (normally but people can plant whatever they wish as our City doesn’t maintain the boulevards any longer) between the sidewalk and the street. ‘B’ wrote reminded me that in other parts of the world ‘boulevard’ refers to a very broad street – like those created by Baron von Haussmann in Paris. ‘B’ found an interesting article explaining ‘boulevards’ – and it reminded me of the day that ‘H’ said she needed a dictionary to understand what I was saying. Apologies. My use of language often blends words from my childhood growing up in the southern US, to Canada, to the UK and the Indian subcontinent.

https://katherinebarber.blogspot.com/2020/06/whats-boulevard.html#:~:text=Boulevard%20is%20more%20generally%20used,median%20strip%20planted%20with%20trees.

“Intense human stupidity so that we can have strawberries in the winter.” water drying up and this is a place on the flyway that needs the water for the birds and wildlife. Surely to goodness we can do without exotic fruit in the winter!

Love is in the air at The Campanile.

Connie and Clive continue work on their nest along with most of the other Bald Eagle couples on the US mainland.

Kalvi continues to forage in Bulgaria while Waba is in Israel. No transmissions from either Kaia or Karl II. Bonus’s tracker (I sure hope it was the tracker) had issues some time ago, and there have been no more transmissions from him. It is worrisome.

Elain put together a compilation video of Manaaki and all of his fun friends this past season. A nice remembrance.

Some good news! But more needs to be done. These protective hook covers must be made mandatory! Please support all efforts.

Here is more detail:

Agreement-on-the-Conservation-of-Albatrosses-and-Petrels-Investing-in-innovation-funding-for-byca Download

I have not read it but, someone I trust has seen the book and thinks it is a great read. I put in an order – will keep you posted after its arrival.

Thank you so very much for being with me today. Take care of yourself. I am over Covid completely but more and more people that I know are coming down with it – here and in the US.

Thank you to the following for their notes, articles, posts, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to compose my blog this morning: ‘ B, H’, Sunnie Day, PLO, Fact File, Charles Sturt Falcon Cam, Sydney Sea Eagle Cam, Katherine Barber, Conservation without Borders, SK Hideaways, Window to Wildlife, Looduskalender Forum, Elain, Holly Parsons, ACAP, and the Toroa Gift Shop.

All eyes on Port Lincoln…Sunday in Bird World

15 October 2023

Good Morning Everyone,

I hope this finds you well and enjoying the weekend.

The girls have been having a whale of a time running through the house and watching everything in the garden. Missey alerted me to something ‘strange’ happening at the back – and there was Little Red.

Note: You can also see those ‘dots’ placed on the conservatory windows’ exterior. They really did prevent bird strike!

Look at his mouth. He is untying the twine around some vines and a metal screen and taking it to the woodbox where he is readying his winter abode.

Everyone came for a visit and a good meal today. Dyson was on the table feeder and the little covered feeder shovelling up seed. It is always good to see her and she is in very good shape as winter approaches.

One of Dyson’s kits.

Hope decided she wanted to relax on the wicker hamper that Missey likes to use to look out to the garden from the sitting room. She is a bit of a cheeky one. And she gets by with things because she is a cute little kitten!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hope would rather play than anything and her favourite thing is to run flat out from one end of the house to the other leaping over all the furniture. It makes Mamma tired!

Hope is the cutest thing. Sometimes when I look at her I wonder if her name should have been ‘Miracle’ – it still feels like a miracle that these two were united.

I cannot imagine her being outside. Just this morning, the saddest (and most outrageous/nauseating) posting on the ‘Lost Cat’ page – some people had murdered a missing cat and had filmed the act and then thrown its body into the neighbour’s garden. For that reason and all the cars that will not slow down, darling Hope – along with her Mamma, Calico, and Missey, will never go outside! They are destined to be voyeurs.

Mamma. It has been different having the three girls. Before Calico’s arrival, Missey was the relaxed Alpha cat. She is still relaxed. It is just her very sweet nature. She does not appear to give a toss about hierarchy within the house, and throughout Saturday, it has become apparent that Calico will probably be the dominant female. I put this down to her being able to survive outside in the community. I recall one day when she was eating at the feral feeding station, and Boots – aka ‘the boyfriend’ came up. Calico gently put her paw out, and he did not try to interrupt her. Boots waited. Calico was the boss.

They will soon figure out that there are enough sofas, enough litter boxes, enough food – and more love than they can imagine – and all this is nothing more than foolishness.

In the meantime, we will continue our stories. Tomorrow, we begin another Cara Black novel, Three Days in Paris. (We are reading them backwards – ssssssh. Don’t tell. They have no idea!). When I begin reading, Calico and Hope come to the sofa. Missey is now joining in sometimes from her wicker basket. It is wonderful!

The following post asks people not to throw food out of the window when they are driving down a road or a highway. Even a city street. I would like to take this a little further. Please put a small shovel in the trunk of your car. If you see a dead animal on the road – and it is safe for you to do so – pull over. Get out the shovel from the trunk and take the dead animal way off the side of the road or put it on the boulevard. Crows eat carrion and get killed on City streets. Help them. They are hungry and they help clean up – as do many other species.

If you don’t have a shovel, a pick stick or a piece of cardboard works wonders, too. Sadly, a car going too fast hit one of our local rabbits. I put it on the boulevard, and our local Crow family had a ‘safe’ feast.

As it happened a grey squirrel was killed on one of the busiest streets in my neighbourhood. I saw a Crow there trying to get it. We went back, stopped traffic and moved it to the boulevard. We didn’t need another death and people drive way too fast!

More challenges for our raptors. Flares.

Not an Osprey but a beautiful buzzard checking out Loch Arkaig.

Mum is rolling the eggs at Port Lincoln and everyone is waiting for that first pip as Sunday morning arrives.

At 0910 Mum is calling Dad who was seen on the old barge with a large crop but no fish for Mum. Is that an eggshell behind her? No! She flies off. I hope he has a nice piece of fish for her.

Well, it is after noon and Mum is waiting for a fish.

1341. The fish arrives on the nest for Mum. ‘A’ saw it: “At Port Lincoln, dad has just flown in with a nice fish for mum. She has been fish calling but very reluctant to leave the nest because she is being pestered by a gull who fancies one of those eggs for lunch. She has flown off with her fish, leaving dad to guard the precious clutch. He carefully settles down. He’s been a perfect dad. These eggs have virtually never been left unattended for more than the time it takes for one parent to carefully get up and the other to settle down. They have been the most diligent pair of any species I have ever seen with regard to brooding. a clutch of eggs. They have been exemplary. So let’s see how they go with the next and harder stage. I am confident this is a different dad to last year. There are photos that are sufficiently forensic to show differences between this year’s dad and last’s. We all know there were questions about the health of last year’s dad, so let’s hope this dad is a better and more reliable fisher. Think back to Ervie’s year. At that stage, the old dad was fishing enough for a family of five. As his illness progressed, he became less reliable with provisioning the family, culminating in last year’s tragedy. And now we have a new dad, who does seem to be bringing in two or three fish most days. As you say, we will have to say if he can step this up once the eggs hatch. The time is nigh! We will soon find out.”

Is there a possible pip at 19:44?

Can you see it peeking up? Lost in that big nest? That is Partner and Marrum’s only hatch (so far) at Turnby Island, South Australia. (Hatched on 12 October).

As we prepare for the arrival of these little osplets, WBSE 31 and 32 are preparing for their first flight. 31 has officially branched. 32 scoots up the branch but, when I am writing this, has not flown from the nest to the branch. LOL. Maybe 32 never will!

‘A’ remarks, “How incredibly beautiful are the sea eaglets, with their gorgeous caramel-coloured pantaloons? The camouflage is absolutely superb, presumably designed to help keep them safe in the months it will take them to learn how to hunt for themselves. SE31 is a very proficient self-feeder. SE32 is still very happy to be fed by a parent when available. I am very confident that we picked the genders on that nest accurately. Look at the shape/size of their heads, in particular. See how narrow and small SE32’s head is compared to his older sibling? Doesn’t it remind you exactly of Dad? SE31 has the head and legs of a female, as well as the body mass. SE32 has been eating as much as or more than SE31 over the past month, so the difference in size is definitely gender-based IMO. I hope she’s as brave as SE29 last season, and that she comes home to the nest each night as SE29 did.”

Pat Burke got the most amazing screen captures of the two of them on the parent branch.

The two eyases of Diamond and Xavier will have names today! And they are nothing short of adorable. Need your spirit boosted – go and watch them!

Here are the results. Thanks, ‘A’: “NESTLING NAMES are Marri (=red kangaroo) 40.7 % and Barru (bilby) 40.3%. Others were Ganyi (echidna): 20.4% Mabi (eastern quoll): 37.4% (runner up!) Budharu ( flying fox): 17.4% Wilay (brush-tailed possum): 18.1% Gidyay (possum): 10.6% Wirrang (rock wallaby): 10.4% Dingu (dingo): 25.3% Wambad (wombat): 9.3% Naagun (koala): 20.8% Gunirr (swamp wallaby):7.6% Marradhi (spotted-tail quoll): 15.6% Walarru (wallaroo, euro): 12.4%”

Beakies and little wing flaps.

Xavier is working overtime to get prey to Diamond and the babies. Lots of feedings and these two are so adorable. It is nearing midnight in Canada and I do not see any mention of names yet.

The streaming cams are up and running at both Decorah Bald Eagle nests. When the cameras were repaired a pile of fish were left on the nest. Looks like it attracted a sub-adult eagle. Nice.

Cholyn paid a visit to the nest at Two Harbours on Saturday.

Cholyn’s daughter, Thunder (mate to Akecheta), visited Tor at the West End nest on Saturday.

Louis and Anna are having problems with owls – already – at the KNF-E1 nest in Louisiana.

Gabby and V3 are quite the couple. They fly in together, work on the nest, and have some amazing ‘discussions’. I love their chortling.

Martin and Rosa have been checking on their new nest.

M15’s new mate, F23, is quite the stunner! These two have been busy working on their nest and it is a new beginning for our devoted dad who raised two eaglets to fledge after his former mate, Harriet, went missing in early February 2023. Wishing all the success for these two love birds.

The Royal Albatross are returning to Taiaroa Head and hoping their mate, whom they would not have seen for 9 or 10 months, will return safely to the nesting area. I hope that YRK (she has returned) will find her long-time mate OGK. They were the parents of Pippa Atawhai in 2020 and Lillibet in 2022 – both Royal Cam chicks.

It is not raptors but another rewilding Scotland – wildcats. As Geemeff notes, ‘They will be able to reclaim their ancestral lands.’

Wildcats-released-in-Scottish-Highlands-in-effort-to-prevent-extinction-in-UK-Rewilding-The-Guar Download

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

Thank you to the following for their notes, videos, articles, posts, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog this morning: ‘A, Geemeff’, Birds in Helping Hands, RMRP, Geemeff, PLO, Sydney Sea Eagle Cam, Pat Burke, Charles Sturt Falcon Cam, Raptor Resource Project/Explore, IWS/Explore, Tonya Irwin, SW Florida Eagle Cam, Lady Hawk, Earlybird, and The Guardian.

Tuesday in Bird World

10 October 2022

Good Morning Everyone,

Monday was such a gorgeous day. So many people were out at the park having a picnic. The sun was glorious, as was the blue sky. Canada Geese started flying onto the pond around 1530. Some had been eating on the cricket fields earlier. Several Mallards and some Wood Ducks were still in the park. It is to get cold tonight, down to 0 C. Will everyone leave soon?

A male wood duck in transition. He will not normally begin migration until he has all of his new feathers.

I went to the park to clear my head. Lewis, as you will know, has some health issues – specifically, his immune system appears to be attacking his gums, causing them to swell up with intense inflammation. He was given painkillers but, ironically, taking them coincided with his inability to keep food down. I stopped the painkillers on Monday around noon. Lewis ate mushy tinned food this evening, and so far, he has kept it down – and then he didn’t. He was ‘starving’ at midnight, and I gave him soft, mushy food with broth. He couldn’t keep it down.

But, for a few moments, he managed to be his silly self. I brought in the herb pots from the garden for fear that frost would get them tonight. Lewis immediately curled up with the chives after I watered them.

When he and Missey were little, they had this habit of wanting to lay on the wet soil of the plant pots. One of their little idiosyncrasies. I never knew what was so attractive, and now, look, he is so big he can’t wrap around the pot anymore!

Missey spent the day watching the Dark-eyed Juncos out of the window. They were all over the garden.

We wait to see about Lewis and to see if he is HPI positive or negative. I will also have an ultrasound done to make sure there is no blockage that is causing his regurgitation. Thank you for your continued good wishes for our darling boy.

I am attaching the latest news from Birdlife Malta. It will show you the challenges that people face trying to protect the raptors that migrate over that country.

BirdLife-Malta-October-2023-Newsletter Download

I did not spend a lot of time checking on the nests. The Bald Eagles are coming and going to their nests in the United States preparing for the upcoming breeding season.

V3 was guarding the nest while Gabby was trying it out!

Clive and Connie were on the Captiva Bald Eagle Nest. Their 2022 chick, Connick, remains in the care of the Audubon Centre for Birds of Prey at Maitland, Florida. He will be released as soon as all of his feathers are grown in. I will let you know as soon as Audubon has provided release details.

Beautiful night at Superbeaks. Pepe and Muhlady have been diligent in getting their nest ready.

In Australia, we now have only one Peregrine Falcon family: Diamond and Xavier on the streaming cam. The two chicks are doing fantastic. Both are well fed – and always are ready for more prey. Xavier has had time feeding them but they are too big for him to brood. They are even getting too big for Diamond!

The feeding after 1430. Adorable…just adorable.

‘A’ adds: “At Orange, Xavier is doing his usual sterling job of keeping the scrape well provided with food. Diamond is doing a much better job now that the little one can fight with his sibling on a relatively equal basis for the food. Oh, but that little one is demanding. It NEVER stops begging for food unless its beak is full. I’m not even convinced he doesn’t squeak in his sleep as he dreams of food! I adore this chick. (Yes, I know I adore all of them, but this one is SUCH a personality. Xavier and Diamond certainly do produce some feisty eyases, do they not? Here is a feeding from this morning (Tuesday 10 October): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLXfdZT5C64&list=TLPQMTAxMDIwMjOq7dYrqDV9Tw&index=4. See how well our little one is doing. And doesn’t Xavier look even more dashing and handsome than usual?”

Only a miracle could save an egg in Melbourne. F22 was on the eggs for a bit and was at the north end of the scrape. She looks ‘rugged and ragged’ according to ‘A’ – her feathers dishevelled. She also appears to have some pain but is looking a wee better.

The Sydney Sea Eagles will be branching soon. Branching is specifically flying from the nest to land on a branch. It is not walking up a branch. They are gorgeous eaglets. Lady and Dad have done a superb job. I hope – for once – that they get to train these two to hunt prey and help them with their flying! I know the odds are against this but – I would like to hope.

31 has been on that branch for some time.

We are awaiting the pip watch at Port Lincoln. Some think this will happen on the 12th so we are only a couple of days away. I want to see if this new Dad can pick up the pace with the fish and get at least 7 or 8 on that nest daily until those chicks are a month old. We might see another three fledge again like the year of Bazza, Falky, and Ervie. Wouldn’t that be something?

There are eggs at Turnby Island that will hatch in the next few days. Eggciting news for South Australia.

Lady Hawk has highlights for the Royal Cam family at Taiaroa Head. We will never forget you, beautiful Prince Manaaki. We wish you safe travels, prevailing winds and a tummy full of squid. And we wait for the day we will see you again.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pwa0U4O0X8&list=TLPQMTAxMDIwMjOq7dYrqDV9Tw&index=3.

Another California Condor has fledged! The champagne bottles must be popping in Big Sur!

In the UK, the battle for licensing or revoking gaming licenses and the persecution of raptors continues.

Wild-Justice-please-blow-the-whistle Download

It looks like the GHOs might want to claim that beautiful nest at Skidaway Island this year.

On the way to the park Monday afternoon, my mind was boggled at the sight of leaf blowers, lawnmowers, and bags and bags of leaves so everyone could have a pristine lawn. There needs to be a blitz in every community, in schools, in the local paper to get people to stop – stop with the toxins to make the lawn green, stop with cleaning up. It is the least we can do! It costs nothing to leave everything alone. Stop trying to be ‘House Beautiful’. Please spread the word and be an advocate for our birds.

Keep your eyes on Port Lincoln! I can’t wait – it has been too many months since there were little osplets to watch.

Thank you so much for being with me today. My report is short – I am exhausted worrying about Lewis and hopeful that calm will settle over us shortly.

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog today: ‘A’, Birdlife Malta, NEFL-AEFR, Window to Wildlife, Superbeaks, Charles Sturt Falcon Cam, 367 Collins Street by Mirvac, Sydney Sea Eagles, Port Lincoln Ospreys, Fran Solly, Lady Hawk, Ventana Wildlife Society, Wild Justice, Darlene Hawkins, and Healthy Yards.

Monday in Bird World

9 October 2022

Good Morning Everyone,

To those in Canada celebrating Thanksgiving, Happy Thanksgiving to you! And to everyone else reading this, I am thankful to all of you – what a beautiful community of empathetic, intelligent, bird-loving people you are! I feel truly blessed to be in your company. Thank you for all your good wishes for today.

Sunday was coolish – an incredibly gorgeous fall day full of yellows, reds, and oranges. The nature centre was full of people enjoying the fall foliage and the Canada Geese that were landing on the lakes and fields. There were a few Mallards about and some House Sparrows and a feisty squirrel at one of the feeders.

All of the garden animals were out. A few Dark-eyed Juncos visit the deck. I did remember, after a comment from ‘J’ to get out there and carve that pumpkin up a bit to see if the squirrels would get interested. Will keep you posted. Mr Crow was on the hydro line and I wonder if he saw the pumpkin and thought it might be tasty.

Little Red has been digging around in the old planting boxes. I haven’t seen him going in and out of the wood box and this worried me a bit so it was great to see him today.

Remember the chubby little baby Blue Jay, just fledged, that slept with the two clay bird ornaments? Well, look now! Beautiful.

The ‘girls’ are doing well. I am sad to report that Lewis took a turn for the worse. He has been unable to keep any food down – and believe me, I have tried everything. Broth, Baby food, tinned food with broth, pulverised chicken. We wait and hope that this situation will change. It is hard to deal with any suffering.

Hope is growing fast and continues to want to play more than she wants to eat.

Calico and I have almost finished our WWII spy novel by Cara Black. Wonder what she will want to read next? I am imagining putting my comfy chair by the wood stove in the dead of winter with Calico on my lap reading away.

These cats have taught me so much about the need for a safe space that is ‘their own’ and how stabilising a routine is – even for cats!

Lewis always feels better after he throws up. Sleeping on one of his favourite chairs. Poor little guy. The Gaviscon bottle is being emptied as my stomach churns repeatedly for him.

Missey was caught in Lewis’s carrier. Oh, if something happens to dear Lewis, Missey will be lost. They have been glued at the hip since they were both adopted as rescues on 2 November 2022. This evening she has been very motherly – washing and washing Lewis – over and over – and comforting him.

It is all about Peregrine Falcons – we have had falcons on our minds since the news at Melbourne. The clutch at Melbourne is believed lost for this year. We hope the female will recover from any injuries she has sustained. Our new dad, M22 – remember he was not the father of the chicks last year but came in and helped like Xavier did with Diamond years ago, is refusing to give up on those eggs. He flew in and incubated them on Monday.

There was a video posted by the Bondi Vet, Chris, in Sydney, Australia. Do you know this character? A Peregrine Falcon couple at the Westfield Mall came into his care. Oh, this is good – ten minutes long. Enjoy.

Meanwhile, Diamond and Xavier and the two little ones – who will have names on the 15th of October – are doing fantastic. Gosh, golly, they are so cute. I fear those pink beaks and toes and that fluffy white are giving way, and little feathers are popping in underneath. The first hatch is visibly larger than the second now…a female? Probably.

So cute!

In this video by Elain, Xavier feeds the babies and Diamond, too! Very special moments of our incredible family.

‘A’ writes, “Dear little Xavier had a brief period brooding the chicks late this afternoon (about 15 or 20 minutes), during which he made valiant but futile efforts to cover the chicks by sitting up and leaning over them. He was obviously concerned about being unable to fit the egg underneath him too, and tried several times (eventually successfully) to cover it. So sweet but not a chance of brooding the two chicks. He really is tiny. Check him out when he delivers prey to Diamond. She is gigantic, especially with all her broody underfluffies, whereas Xavier is very sleek, which accentuates how much smaller he is.”

At The Campanile, Lou is sunbathing. Nice to see these two are safe and sound. I worry about them because of the poisoning of pigeons, too. Stay safe you two!

‘N’ sent me a note asking what books I recommend on Peregrine Falcons. Here is my list – not in order of preference.

Richard Sals and Steve Watson. Everything you ever wanted to know about falcons and more. A monumental book – great reference.

J. A. Baker. The Peregrine.

Christie Gove-Berg. (especially for children)

Madeline Dunphy. The Peregrine’s Journey. Similar to Belle’s Journey that documents the migration of an Osprey.

Alan Tennant. On the Wing.

There are, of course, many, many books that mention falcons.

On Sunday, Thunder and Akecheta sunned themselves at the West End Bald Eagle nest. What a gorgeous couple. Wonder if they might reconsider their nest location this year. Nudge, nudge.

Gracie Shepherd caught more of Thunder and Akecheta.

Everyone is hopeful that there will be a clutch of eggs in that nice soft nest Gabby and V3 are working on.

The adults are on the nest in Webster, Texas on Sunday.

Connie and Clive have been working on their nest at Captiva on Monday.

Gosh, 1800. Start checking on Jackie and Shadow. These two love to come to the nest in the early evening. They are certainly doing a close inspection!

In Central Park, Bruce Yolton gives us the latest on Flaco and his adventures living in the ‘wild’ of the Big Apple. (Lots of videos in the blog below)

Eurasian-Eagle-Owl-Amazing-Night-Urban-Hawks Download

Monday was the first time I heard Pied Currawongs in the forest while watching the Sea Eaglets SE31 and 32. Someone will tell me that I am a bit daffy, but there doesn’t seem to be an over abundance of prey being delivered to the nest.

At Port Lincoln, Dad brought three fish to the nest on Sunday. Both are doing incubation duty. Egg 1 was laid on the 6th of September. Depending on how you count, that would be 24 days in September plus 10 in October, making that egg 34 days old. Hang on, we will be on pip watch shortly!

Checking on the progress of Karl II and his family from both BirdMap and Looduskalendar Forum. The Birdmap check on all of the storks – not just Karl II’s family – is from the 6th. Please note the concern for Karl II who has not sent data from the 30th of September.

Kaia is making good progress towards her winter home in Chad.

Kaia continues and she I snow in the Eastern Desert.

Kalvi is still in Bulgaria.

Turkey is where Waba is currently foraging.

The second Condor chick in 2023 has fledged! Fantastic.

Thank you so much for being with me today. Take care – and please continue to send your best warm wishes to all the nests and to our dear Lewis.

Thank you to the following for their notes, questions, articles, posts, videos, photos, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog today: ‘A, J, N’, Bondi Vet, Charles Sturt Falcon Cam, Holly Parsons, Elain, SK Hideaways, IWS/Explore, Gracie Shepherd, Carol Shores Rifkin, Webster TX Eagle Cam, Window to Wildlife, FOBBV, Bruce Yolton, Sydney Sea Eagles, PLO, Looduskalendar Forum, and Ventana Wildlife Society.

The sad and the glad…Sunday in Bird World

8 October 2023

Hello Everyone,

Good Morning. Thank you so much for the continued outpouring for Lewis. It is so appreciated. He had a reasonable Saturday. The inflammation medication that helps with his pain also causes him to be ravenous. Sadly he just ate so quickly at breakfast that he lost his meal but, after a few hours, I warmed up some of that very condensed chicken broth form the chicken bones and mushed it up with tin food and he had a really good meal and kept it down. So happy! Of course, the girls all had their share of warm broth, too!!!!!!!!

It was chilly at 6 C on Saturday and damp with some drizzle. The three Amur Maples from our City’s tree-planting programme will be lovely! They are so healthy. Today is planting day.

So far, the squirrels have not touched the pumpkin. There were a few Dark-eyed Juncos on the deck today, and they inspected it. Too funny. Dyson was out with her gang, Little Red was around, and the Blue Jays – all four of them – made an appearance. There are still Wood Ducks at the park and I plan to go and see them tomorrow. Soon, they will leave. I think I will cut bigger holes in that pumpkin to help them get started.

We are going to start with some fantastic news coming in from Geemeff. LY7, Ludo, the 2023 fledgling from Loch Arkaig, has been photographed in France!!!!!!!! Oh, what wonderful news. As Geemeff points out, these are now the fledglings from Loch Arkaig – Louis’s kids (with Lila and Dorcha) – that have been spotted after leaving the nest: “Doddie JJ6 twice! Somerset (2020) and Shetland (2022), Willow LW5 (France 2022), Rannoch JJ2 (Senegal 2022), and now Ludo LY7 (France 2023). Jump up and down. Tear up. Great news. That feisty kid is doing great.

My Saturday newsletter alerted us to concerns at the Collins Street scrape in Melbourne. The news continues to be sad – sad that the four eggs that were laid might not hatch, but as I wrote to ‘H’ when she sent me the news – I am glad there were not four little fluff balls waiting on the ledge for food and Mum being injured or unable to care for them.

The four eggs have been left since 0559 except for two brief periods shown below in screen captures when the male returns to incubate three – one of the eggs is off to the side (or so it appears).

There were at least two times that the eggs were incubated for a short time.

This is the latest news coming from the FB Admin.

The Melbourne Falcons are the most popular in terms of streaming cam numbers of all the Falcon cams internationally. Everyone has a very heavy heart today. The male has been incubating on and off. From experience with eagles, the eggs can, in cool temperatures, be left for more than five hours and still hatch. Such was the case with Milda the White-tail Eagle. It would be desperately hard for the Dad to provide all the duties – incubation, territorial defence, food, and feeding and protecting the hatchlings. The chicks cannot regulate their temperature, and food is required. We have seen falcon males take on full-time duties, such as Newmann at Great Spirit Bluff, this season, but those eyases were much older (at fledge).

It now appears that the female might have returned to the ledge and is incubating the eggs. It is not 100% certain. We are going to have to wait and see how this plays out.

This is Dad M22 rolling the eggs with his talons. Little Dad – what a guy – working hard to try and keep things going while Mum is healing.

‘H’ gives a very detailed communique on the happenings at the nest over the past few days. This is followed by the latest dispatch from Victor Hurley.

“Melbourne / Collins Street Falcons, October 8 – F22 returned to incubate the eggs during the overnight of 10/8. At 0619 she flew out, and then from 0648 to 0702 she hung out at the north end of the ledge (the opposite end from the nest). F22 has obvious injuries to her head with several patches of missing feathers, but there is no evidence of blood-stained trauma. Her right eye does appear slightly puffy and she sometimes attempts to hold it closed. Her disposition was a little ‘off’, and she seemed to be in a slight daze. Dr. Victor Hurley has stated: ”I wouldn’t be surprised if her injuries included some concussion.”

The eggs were left unattended for over 4.5 hours. Finally, at 1039 M22 landed at the south ledge and immediately began to incubate the eggs. He only stayed for 38 minutes, however. He later returned at 1212, and this time he stayed on the eggs until 1324.

At 1341 F22 landed on the north ledge. She seemed a little more alert, and she was doing a bit of squawking and rapidly looking around. She left at 1358, without going to the eggs at all. At 1359 M22 landed and began to incubate three eggs. The fourth egg had been inadvertently cast aside at his last departure, but he did not make an effort to gather it at this time. There were a few times when M22 rose to roll the three eggs. This time M22 did a long incubation stint of 4.5 hours, and at some point, he did gather the fourth egg to join the other three. Curiously, while M22 was incubating the eggs, F22 landed on the north ledge at 1430, and there was some light chatter between them. She did not approach the nest, and she flew off after 11 minutes.

At 1827 F22 returned to the north ledge, and that’s when M22 ended his incubation stint and flew off from the south end. F22 departed the north ledge at 1942, and once again, she had avoided the south ledge and the nest. F22 has not been at the nest with the eggs since 0616. At 2009 F22 landed on the north ledge and went straight to the perch. The time is now 2200 and F22 remains on the north perch. The four eggs at the opposite end of the ledge are looking so very cold and lonely. The current temperature in Melbourne is 9C/48F, and predicted to be 6C/43F overnight.

The eggs have been left unattended for extended periods over the past few days. Has F22 come to believe that her eggs are not viable causing her to abandon them? We won’t ever know what happened to our beloved female, F22, but we are very glad that she is alive, and we wish her continued healing. We need to remind ourselves every single day just how challenging and difficult the lives of all of our feathered friends are. We must not take a single moment with them for granted.”

This is the latest dispatch from Victor Hurley on the situation on the ledge. Thanks so much ‘H’ for keeping tabs on the correspondence coming out of Melbourne!

FFS-04-23-End-of-season-2023 Download

Thankfully everything is absolutely perfect at the scrape of Diamond and Xavier at Orange.

The older chick is a little larger now (female probably) and she often gets the first of the food. ‘A’ notes a cute event yesterday, ” Xavier managed somehow to avoid Diamond’s watchful eye and sneak in to do a feeding today, which lasted for 13 minutes and included the younger chick in a big way (he was constantly checking to see if she was about to storm into the box, not at all happy with his ‘interference’). See from about 15:28 – after a bonding session with Diamond, Xavier returns to the box to brood the chicks but as he settles down, the chicks tell him they are hungry (especially the younger one), so Xavier retrieves some stashed prey from the front corner of the scrape and proceeds to feed the pair. His back is to the camera, obscuring the majority of the feeding, but based on what we can see (and hear), the younger chick is getting fed much more at this feeding than it normally does at a Diamond feeding. “

Dad taking one of his incubation times so Mum can have a break at Port Lincoln.

The observation board at Port Lincoln for the 7th of October.

Gorgeous Sea Eagles. Hoping that they’re going to get some more prey! Check out the interest in walking up the branch.

They are nothing short of gorgeous.

And now for some really good news! We can all use it after the worry for Melbourne and, of course, the shooting of the Condor in California recently.

A new ambassador Osprey.

Osprey-takes-on-new-role-as-ambassador-Local-News-keysnews.com_Download

The two surviving ospreys at Osprey House in Australia are doing very well. Gosh, I wish they had a streaming cam to bridge the gap between the end of the season in the US and the hatch at Port Lincoln! Miss those little grey fuzzy balls of energy! Soon….soon. The beaking will begin.

There is good news coming out of the E-1 nest at the Kisatchie National Forest. Anna is on the nest! No question. It is her.

Everything appears to be alright at the NE Florida Bald Eagle Nest of Gabby and V3.

Gabby and V3 are quite loud…Gabby was biting V3’s bottom today! Affection Eagle Style.

What do you know about Bird Island? First, (don’t peek) do you know where Bird Island is located? Secondly, what are the major bird species that still populate Bird Island? And what are their challenges?

Wandering-albatross-tracking-at-Bird-Island-British-Antarctic-Survey Download

The more educated we are about the challenges that all our birds face the better equipped we are to advocate for their protection!

Thank you so much for being with me this morning. Take care! See you soon.

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, articles, photographs, and streaming cams that helped me to compose my blog this morning: ‘A, Geemeff, H’, The Woodland Trust, 367 Collins Street by Mirvac, Leigh Stillard, Victor Hurley, Charles Sturt Falcon Cam, PLO, Sydney Sea Eagle Cam, The Peregrine Fund, Key News, Osprey House Environmental Centre, Tonya Irwin and KNF E-1, NEFL-AEF, Lady Haw, Google Maps, British Antarctic Survey, and the Albatross Task Force.

Category Archives: California

Eagles are Busy…Wednesday in Bird World

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Bird Flu in the Antarctic…Sunday in Bird World

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Thursday in Bird World

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A fledge and a first fish meal…Wednesday in Bird World

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Hatch at Port Lincoln…Tuesday in Bird World

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Calypso lands on Mum while there is a pip in egg at PLO…Monday in Bird World

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All eyes on Port Lincoln…Sunday in Bird World

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Tuesday in Bird World

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Monday in Bird World

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The sad and the glad…Sunday in Bird World

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