It was warm enough on the Canadian Prairies for me not to complain. The wildlife continue to come to the feeders – deer, rabbits, Crows, and all. It brings me much joy.
That first hatch for Ron and Rose is a cracker jack. I sure hope it is a male and the second hatch is – well, it would be perfect if it were another male. Precocious. Cute little button. By the time you read this in the morning, R8 will be out of that shell. Look at the progress at 1530. Wing out and mostly there.
Welcome R8.
They are now bobbleheads trying to get those eyes focused and get some fish. R8 looks like it is going to be a fine sibling.
SK Hideaways knows how much I adore Thunder and Akecheta. For a couple of years we wondered whether Thunder had picked a dud in that young male eagle. Now we know she knew better than us! He really is quite amazing. https://youtu.be/_q9mivhzDIw?
OK. It’s Monday and I am expecting to see some action at NE Florida!
F23 is leaving the kids alone more and more. They are way too big to fit under her to brood, but I hope with the GHO present she hangs around at night.
Check out that nest that Liberty and Guardian put together! Incredible team work when their nest tree finally collapsed.
Gosh. I wish I could give the nest at Captiva to Jack in St Petersburg! Hey Window to Wildlife. Would you like to make a deal with Achieva Credit Union to run the camera and maybe help the ospreys out with that mess? Jack and his new female would appreciate it. And, I consulted with my partner in crime and we both looked at our files and we are more than convinced that this is Tumbles from the head patterns. Remember the only two plumage patterns that do not change from pre-fledge til the osprey dies is the head and the underwing.
Poor Jack brings in sticks and the wind takes them off. He is trying to make crib rails and then there are those holes to deal with. My heart breaks for this potential family. I hope for a miracle.
More information has come in on SE’s 33 injury that led to him being euthanised.
We all miss Abby. Blaze is getting used to Skye.
The number of deaths of wildlife in the Southern California fires will never be known. It is a tragedy. They have also lost huge areas of habitat. The challenges that our raptors face in the future, including these Bald Eagles just hatching, is extensive. “The national symbol of the United States is projected to have only 26 percent of its current summer range remaining by 2080, according to Audubon’s climate model. However, it could potentially recover 73 percent of summer range in new areas opened up by a shifting climate. Its success isn’t guaranteed in the new areas—the majestic raptor will still have to find suitable food and nesting habitat.”
Eagles are adapting by hanging around industrial farming. We saw this in Nova Scotia where there are thousands of eagles eating the dead chickens from the farms in the Annapolis Valley.
Thank you so much for being with me while I sit on pins and needles waiting to see if we are going to have any eaglets at NE Florida! Take care of yourself. See you soon.
Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, comments, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘Heidi, J, MP, SS’, WRDC, SK Hideaways, IWS/Explore, NEFL-AEF, SW Florida Eagle Cam, Androcat, Raptor Resource Project/Explore.org, FORE, Window to Wildlife, Achieva Osprey Cam, Eagle Cam, Eagle Country, Bart M and the PLO, Audubon, Cornell Chronicle, Outside My Window, Port Lincoln Osprey, All About Birds, The Guardian
Morning Update: R8 still hatching at Dade. R7 is a day old. Thanks for the great capture Heidi!
We woke up to the softest white snow Saturday morning. It was -14 C, which is lovely—cool but not freezing. The sun was out, the sky was a pearl grey-white.
We had an ‘interesting’ drive through the park Saturday afternoon. We love seeing the deer, but today was anxiety-provoking. A man with a dog on lead was provoking the deer. We drove slowly, parked behind the incident and didn’t leave. I always wonder why humans feel that they can threaten or hurt wild animals.
The garden is honoured by the continuing presence of a rabbit, one of a long line of rabbits to visit us. The video camera at the front of the house also recorded three deer visits, none of them the buck with the single antler from the other evening. My heart burns a little warmer.
Closer to home The Girl’s got two new toys. A tunnel with a mesh where they can see their sibling and a tiny rocking dome with some wiggly toys. Hugo Yugo and Baby Hope checked it out.
It is day 34 for egg 1 at NE Florida. If we think of the ‘average’ hatch between 36-38.5 days, we have two to four days to go until this little one hatches. It is getting excited.
What I can tell you is that the eggs at NE Florida are getting rolled and Gabby is being extremely vigilant in her duties. No pip as of Saturday afternoon that I am aware.
Those eaglets of Ron and Rose are really strong! This one hatched at 1016 Saturday. There is a tiny bit of shell stuck to its wing. Oh, my. What a little sweetheart. OK. Maybe to us. I bet its sibling might think otherwise!!!!!
Heidi sends word that there is indeed a pip for R8. Wow. These two will hatch close together and from the looks of it, this is a good thing. R7 is a really strong eaglet. So happy. We need good DNA, great parenting, lots of prey, and blessings as Avian Flu roars its ugly head around the world for the winter (again).
Chase brought Cholyn a fish Saturday morning and got his foot caught on the nest. He managed OK! Thank goodness. Chase and Cholyn are one of the oldest bonded couples in the Bald Eagle community. https://youtu.be/6b4Nsskhzzk?
Here is a very thoughtful video on the illegal release of the lynx. What we need to understand about the illegal releases, why a balanced landscape is important, and the history of the animals that used to live in the area. Why did the lynx go extinct? https://youtu.be/teu8i5vlUWo?
Bird flu – HPAI and H5N1 – are spreading around the world during the winter. I worry for each of our families and, of course, all species. They have enough challenges already.
Calico’s Tip for the Day: Make Time for Story Time even if you are a teenager, an adult, or someone living alone (read to a friend). Reading to Calico with the soft sounds of the words got her to trust me and, as we now know, that trust grew into her joining us in our home. An article in The New York Times speaks to how reading aloud to someone can create intimacy. Calico adds that it is also ‘together time’ ‘analog time’ – and it can be very meaningful and supportive. Why not join us in story time? Make it a part of your life’s routine.
There are Beautiful Trumpeter Swans in Yellowstone. We have a pair that live in Manitoba—remember, we can be colder than Mars—at an Artesian spring north of our City.
Calico ordered three new books from me that she thinks might be good for our family story time. Here they are, and I will keep you posted once we have read them.
Polly Atkin loves owls. They are neighbours to the 17th century property she lives in at Grasmere in the Lake District. Her early observations led her to research the owls. Ms Atkin has a chronic illness and these owls are now her intimate friends and companions. Many of us can relate to these relationships.
This is another book about how a Robin became an intimate friend year after year. A description on the Internet lead me to believe that this book is one that we would enjoy.
A description in New River Books intrigued me. “Each month in The Blackbird’s Song, Miles Richardson delves into the science and mythology behind our relationship with nature, exploring everything from our kinship with plants to the way in which nature influences our moods. Along the way, he offers a range of activities to help us access the benefits of the natural world. Whether it be ‘joy-watching’ birds, rediscovering wonder, foraging for Christmas crafts or going on an urban safari, this book contains all the tools and inspiration you need to unlock the transformative power of nature and find real meaning in your life.”
This reminds me slightly of the new book by Margaret Renkl which is the journal included in my listing of books from 2024.
Pets being rescued in southern California. Thinking about the wildlife…
Thank you so much for being with us today. Please check on all those eagle nests as the chicks have hatched at various dates and are at different developmental stages. At Superbeaks, Barron is eating and finding ways around Keke to get his food. At Captiva and SW Florida there is so much food there has not been an issue around the amount of prey one chick gets over the other. Behaviour can be observed and watching these eaglets is a good way to learn about how they change as they grow – wings, feet, plumage, bills, etc. The only osprey nests have fledglings. There is some interest in bonding and mating at some of the Florida osprey nests, but as far as I know there are no eggs yet. Take care of yourself. We will see you soon!
Thank you to the following for their notes, comments, questions, posts, images, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘Geemeff, Heidi, J, MP’, NEFL-AEF, WRDC, BVSgirl, FORE, Androcat, Port Lincoln Ospreys, Bart M and the PLO, Ferris Akel Tour, The New York Times, Raptor Persecution UK, Leave Curious, Channel 5 Belize, Yellowstone National Park, New River Books, Amazon, Chief Miller, International Bird Rescue, UKOsprey Information
Oh, it is a balmy day on the Canadian Prairies. -1 C. The sky is a clear blue with no clouds and the sun is so bright it is blinding. Gosh. Feeling like summer. Just kidding, but after -28 C with winds, it feels pretty nice. I plan to do some cleaning up of the feral cat area today. This morning Brock greeted me at the garden door. I think he has been missing out on some full dishes of food thanks to Star. I saw her last night, but not this morning.
From the inbox, everyone is getting excited about Saturday. Most of you are nervous at the same time about Beau’s reaction to the potential hatchlings. We can only send them good wishes. Whatever happens at the nest, Gabby will take it all in stride. She is pretty amazing. As are all the eagles. I long to be more like them.
Cornell Bird Lab reminds us that the Big Bird Count is coming. Please mark your calendars and take part. We need a really good look at what is happening to the birds this winter! Or summer if you are in the Southern Hemisphere.
I am giving a loud shout out to a young man in Virginia who is going to attend an event where he can talk to the politicians of Virginia in a hope to get them to stop Omega’s commercial fishing in the Chesapeake Bay. Dustin Byler is a sportsman. He wants to see the Striped Bass and Rockfish populations return to the Bay. I want to see Ospreys fed. We are on the same side!
It will help him if anyone who has observed or cares for the ospreys that died around the coast of the Chesapeake Bay contact him. Do for it for Cobey at Colonial Beach.
Cold weather is heading to Florida and the Eagles know it often before the weather people. M15 and F23 are taking lots of grasses to the nest to help the Es stay warm, too – they are too big to get under Mum comfortably! https://youtu.be/kWt4JkJuiks?
It’s Friday. We are one day away from pip watch at this nest!!!!!!!!!!!!!
These are the observations from Port Lincoln for Thursday:
Kasse on the nest after ousting Wilko on Friday.
Kasse grabbed that first fish delivery, the first one on Friday! In the image above she is enjoying that fish while Wilko is fish calling to Mum and Dad. Way to go Kasse.
The protests for more fish seem to fall on deaf ears. Hey! Where are the fairies? Are they still out of town?
Two well fed eaglets at Captiva. One really big sister and one tiny brother or so it appears.
Can’t take the eyes off that little one, C13. Just the cutest.
Scout and Bella at the NCTC nest on Thursday.
Eagle at Two Harbours on Thursday.
Harry and Sally are bonding and they have been making appearances at the nest at Moorings Park.
This is not the way to do this folks! Everything needs a plan and I am all for rewilding and reintroductions after careful consideration. Thankfully the lynx are safe.
Dyfi is working on a project and it is a hide. I am smiling.
Bird Flu has surfaced in Louisiana. Oh, please send your strongest wishes for our eagles (and for all birds) in that state.
An extremely rare sighting of a shorebird in the UK. “The least sandpiper (Calidris minutilla) is a new world species, breeding in Alaska and Arctic Canada, before heading south to overwinter in warmer climes, from the southern states of the US to Brazil. In Britain they are a rare vagrant, with fewer than 100 sightings recorded, virtually all in autumn.”
These are tiny shorebirds, 13-15 cm, 5-6 inches. They have piercing eyes. Could you take a look at their bill? It is only slightly curved and very pointed to help them get food. Their greenish-yellow legs are almost as long as they are tall. The underparts of their bodies are white. They have a beautiful variegated plumage pattern that ranges from white, cream, taupe, darker brown and espresso brown. They are gorgeous little shorebirds.
They feed in the mud along the shores especially areas where the tide is receding. They also feed higher up on the ground. Do you remember the shorebirds that I saw when I was in Nova Scotia? Think of these little beauties.
The Least Sandpiper is the smallest shorebird in the world, weighing in at about 1 ounce and measuring 5-6 inches long. Males are slightly smaller than females.
Eastern populations probably fly nonstop over the ocean from the Gulf of St. Lawrence and New England to wintering grounds in northeastern South America, a distance of about 1,800 to 2,500 miles.
Researchers studying Least Sandpipers discovered a new feeding mechanism. While probing damp mud with their bills, the sandpipers use the surface tension of the water to transport prey quickly from their bill tips to their mouths.
Least Sandpipers hunt for food on slightly drier, higher ground compared to other small sandpipers. Although numerous worldwide, they usually flock in smaller numbers—dozens rather than hundreds or thousands—than some other shorebirds.
The oldest Least Sandpiper on record was a female, and at least 15 years old when she was recaptured and released by a Nova Scotia researcher in 1985.
This bird almost certainly crossed the Atlantic a few months ago, but was not discovered until early January when a couple of sharp-eyed local birders at the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust’s Steart Marshes reserve spotted it.”
Thank you so much for being with us today. Please take care. See you soon!
Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, articles, images, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘J’, Cornell Bird Lab, Dustin Byler FB, Real Saunders Photography, NEFL-AEF, Port Lincoln Ospreys, Bart M and the PLO, Window to Wildlife, NCTC Eagle Nest, Moorings Park Osprey Cam, Frenchman’s Creek Osprey Cam, LDF, Audubon, Sky News, Dyfi Osprey Project, Openverse, All About Birds, The Guardian
Very sad news has come forward late Sunday. I have decided to publish this posting tonight and not Monday morning. I know that each of you will feel as gutted as I do now. Dear SE33 is the first raptor on the Memorial Wall for 2025.
It breaks my heart to bring you this news. SE 33 was euthanised. This beautiful White-bellied Sea Eagle fledgling was found injured.
Brock is eating his lunch and Star has already visited the outdoor feeder so all is right with the feral cat community. There really are only two – the others are domestic pets let out by their owners to roam. They are kept inside when the temperature hits -25 C as it did this morning. I continue to hope that Star and Brock have homes in the spring – whether it is inside with us or with another loving family.
The cold weather continues. It is also icy and it was nice to get the thumbs up from my daughter about the exercise bike. In the warmer weather we certainly build up our leg muscles. It is frightening how quickly that muscle can go. Or as my mother’s hip surgeon said to me after he had operated and she was refusing to walk – “If you don’t use it, you will lose it!” That thought has stuck in my mind.
There are not nearly as many birds coming to the feeders. That may change if it warms up some, but where do they go? And what do they eat? Or do they eat what they need and then return to whatever warm spot they have found? I don’t know.
‘J’ has asked me not to identify the eagle nesting table as theirs. Apologies. They simply sent the work of Eagle Nest Date Charts so that we would all be aware of the upcoming events; there was no intention to claim it as their own as I might have implied. Thank you to Eagle Nest Date Charts – your work really helps us keep focused.
My inbox is always packed with questions about donations. I feel awkward advising individuals about particular institutions, streaming cams, etc., but I will tell you how I decide, and then you can test that yourself. I donate locally first. Why? Because I can check on their work and see if it is something I value. For example, the new vet at Wildlife Haven is incredible. I met her during the fall Open House. Dr Tess is from Arizona, and she has been here for at least a year. She is the one who said that we do not know enough about wildlife and what they can do. So why not a three-legged deer? She is working on a Snapping Turtle and has built a little device to raise its shell back into the correct shape. (Shells are to be hard, but due to poor quality food, this turtle’s shell is soft). I avoid large charities where the CEO makes millions that should go to the wildlife in the agency’s care. For streaming cams, which ones get out and help the birds? I know that you can answer this one yourself!!!!!!!!! I mean helping them when they need help and working hard to get a permit. Let’s see, we recently saw the removal of twine at Captiva. Then there is our superhero out on the Channel Islands, Dr Sharpe, who cannot retire because no one can replace him, and he is too dedicated to the eagles. That is the Institute of Wildlife Studies. Port Lincoln Osprey and Friends of Osprey South Australia do a bang-up job with your $20 enrollments and funds for the fish fairies. You have to look at the platforms they are installing. So, there you go. That is my list and why these particular places are unique to me. You will have your list, but think hard before you give away your dollars, Euros, or yen.
The necroscopy for Lucina, the female Golden Eagle at Bucovina in Romania has been released. She was healthy, showed no signs of outward harm. Lucina died of rodenticide poisoning. Human caused. Such a loss. Lady Hawk covered news of this nest after contacting the owner several years ago. She published the findings along with some beautiful footage of this gorgeous eagle: https://youtu.be/UDQg1UkTy28?
The Golden Eagle in Romania. It is one of the rarest birds. I don’t think anyone suspected rodenticide poisoning when Lucina was found dead. This is a huge tragedy and individuals in this area need to stop using rodenticide and let the owls and other raptors do their jobs catching vermin. Raptors really are the solution.
Our hearts go out to all those who loved this beautiful Golden Eagle. We lost so many in 2024.
I am very nervous about the upcoming hatch at NE Florida because I do not know how Beau is going to react to the hatchlings or if he will bring sufficient food for them and Gabby. The bottle of Gaviscon is out on the counter along with the worry beads.
At Port Lincoln, Kasse cleaned up on the fish on Sunday! They are still waiting for fish on Monday as I write this.
All is well at the Captiva Bald Eagle nest of Connie and Clive. The eaglets are growing and growing. No shortage of prey.
It is similarly good at the SW Florida Bald Eagle nest of M15 and F23.
Thank you so much for being with us today. Please take care. See you on Tuesday!
Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, comments, images, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post this evening: ‘Geemeff, J, MP’, Eagle Cam, Lady Hawk, Romania.Insider, Milvus Group, NEFL-AEF, Bart M and the PLO, Window to Wildlife, SW Florida Eagle Cam, The Real Saunders Photography, SK Hideaways
It’s a new year! ‘The Girls’ have been up to lots of mischief and they have given us much fun and some very loving moments as one year ends and another begins.
Who would have thought? Hugo Yugo has taken to washing Calico! Notice that HY does a great ‘bug-eyed look’ while trying to clean that ear. Calico looks like she doesn’t mind!
The European Starlings rush to eat the cat kibble if I don’t get out with the birdseed soon enough. Before they do, they hang off the vines above the door, and it drives the cats crazy. Calico and HY are being teased by them in some of the images below.
It also looks like Calico has been into holiday shortbread. Her annual check-up is on the 6th. I wonder if Dr. Green thinks she should try that diet again. (My neighbour said she is beginning to look like a Corgi!)
Baby Hope remains one of the most beautiful cats I’ve ever had the pleasure of sharing my home with. Her temperament is just the same – sweet and gentle, quiet. A little shy. Never into trouble. I cannot say that about the other three!!!!!!!!!
Missey always gets the ‘sweetness’ award despite the fact that she looks like she can eat you alive.
Clive continues to win high marks. Not only did he ride out Hurricane Milton in the nest, but he recently got in with Connie to help protect the eaglets during the latest storm – and to reassure the family that it really wasn’t all that bad! Today it looked like he was going to get the angler’s award, too. That nest is full of fish. No one is going hungry on Clive’s watch. Connie picked well.
‘A’ sends her remarks: “It’s raining again at Captiva tonight but it looked to me as though lots and lots of dry grasses were brought in during the morning – by afternoon, the nest looked to have a thick dry layer on top. The littles are so cute and I am worried about the dampness on this nest, especially with more rain at the moment. It is nothing like the other night but the nest is still not dry from the storm. The parents have obviously worked hard to get a thick dry layer on top but I hope it is enough. Clive has been doing a lot of aerating too. He’s such a good dad – he does a lot of feedings too, making sure he takes care of both eaglets. He often feeds one and then the other (you will notice that on the logs). I am so impressed by him.
But then, the more you watch these birds, the more impressive you realise many of them really are. I haven’t had time this season to have much of a look at Thunder and Akecheta, but any couple that routinely fledges three has to be doing something very right indeed. So that is a pair I would like to get to know a lot better. Their nests are not only successful but largely peaceful from what I have observed. I have not seen any bonking problems at West End and nothing that would ever make one worry about siblicide. That doesn’t happen by accident. And of course Ron and Rose are becoming an old married couple by now, gaining in experience and becoming better parents by the season. I am so hopeful for Gabby and Beau but it will be an interesting season, assuming these eggs are viable. Beau has good protective instincts and he is obedient to Gabby, which is a good start. I am keeping my fingers crossed that he also becomes a great provider, but that is the big unanswered question, isn’t it?
I am still concerned at SWFL. I fear we may have a tragedy at this nest. I cannot believe that a bird with the experience of M15 is not making it clear to F23 that this is not safe practice here, and certainly not this year after what we saw pre-laying. Both adults were knocked from their perches by the GHOs at least twice, and surely that is enough to warn them. After all, these owls are their major predators. I really find it very difficult to understand. What are your ideas on this? Why are they leaving the eaglets totally unprotected and in such danger?”
To answer ‘A’, everyone continues to worry about Beau’s ability to provide for Gabby and the eaglets post-hatch. Now, of course, there is the chance that the pair will change roles with Gabby procuring the food for the family and Beau brooding the eaglets. It doesn’t sound like a real possibility, but the eagles always surprise me. I just hope that we do not have a situation here like we had last year at two of the nests when the new male did not realize the hatchlings were to be fed, not eaten. We are just going to have to wait and see and that day is fast approaching. As for M15 and F23 leaving the eaglets, I am a little suprised because of the presence and tenacity of that GHO. Perhaps the eagles know something that I do not. Certianly if the adult eagles are asleep, they might not hear the GHO approaching in time. Again, we will just have to wait and see how this season transpires and hope beyond hope that the motto, ‘Trust the Eagles’ prevails in a good way.
Beau decided to burn one of the eggs this year like he did last year. Gabby wasn’t having it and she uncovered that precious one. https://youtu.be/SAvMuo-jEPY?
Some people spent New Year’s counting albatross on nests. How lovely.
Liberty and Guardian spent their time working on that new nest after their nest tree finally collapsed a few weeks ago. https://youtu.be/iZ1Hq9z4veM?
Wilko and Kasse each have a fish so far on Thursday. Mum and Dad are doing well.
And Mum did much better:
Gorgeous Kasse.
On Friday both kids waiting for fish.
There are no eaglets in nests except in Florida at the moment. It won’t be long until there are eaglets everywhere and like this one in Alaska that was rescued earlier in the year, the wildlife rehabilitation centres will be bursting at the seams.
I love the stuffy.
Remember the clinics always need our help. Clean sheets, towels, bleach, laundry soap, tools, pet carriers, stuffys, and monetary donations. You could also volunteer your time!
Input is being sought on the release of White-tailed Eagles in the UK – with several groups taking on projects after the success of the Roy Dennis Foundation on the Isle of Wight.
There is a new female at the Achieva Credit Union nest and I wish there was a younger male, too, but it appears that Jack is there. I am 90% certain that the female bird on this nest is the female fledgling of 2020 who defended this nest against adults when she had barely fledged (June) and who stayed around and returned several times later. She has a heart on the top of her head in espresso black. She went 79 hours without food. Was given up for dead several times as a wee, wee one. Was saved because her Mum brought those big catfish on that nest and fed her privately once Diane realised that this third hatch wasn’t going anywhere. Well, I believe this female is Tiny Tot Tumbles. Thanks, MP for that head shot!
I wish I were younger! Just look at this great opportunity. If you know of anyone that might be eligible and would be interested, please pass this information on to them. A fully funded PhD – that is what I had to the University of Leicester – and it is worth a truck full of gold and more. Pass the information along, please.
‘A’ is only one of hundreds who have written to me about Angel, the Leucistic Red Tail Hawk who had her nest in Tennessee. What happened to her? No one knows. ‘A’ writes: “ill searching for any word on the fate of Angel and Tom. There is none, though I am not the only person looking for news. I get such a bad feeling when I think about what has happened. We would not recognise Tom in the absence of Angel – if someone were to see him, the ID could not be certain. So it is her that we would recognise and the fact that she has not been seen is very worrying indeed. Not a body either, so she hasn’t had a flying accident or caught bird flu. The landowner has kept an eye out for them I am sure – I know that was the case back when they first disappeared and I imagine that would continue in the course of the day-to-day operations on the property. So we would probably know if she had been killed or had died within or near her territory.
I do suspect she has been trapped by someone and is imprisoned in a cage somewhere or even dead. I suppose I would prefer that she be dead than locked up for life in a cage. Birds bred in captivity are one thing (and not a nice one) but those who have lived a wild and natural life like Angel would suffer dreadfully from being restrained. It makes me want to cry. Not a week passes that I don’t search the web for some news of her. “
One of the biggest problems with the streaming cams is this. No one wants anyone to know where the nest is unless it is made public. I won’t go into how people can find nests because I don’t want to add any more stress to our raptors and I don’t want to give away methods and secrets. Despite the claims to try and hide the locations, many of the chat moderators give away far too much information. It makes me really upset. The nest of Angel was one of those – too much information. We already know that there are international crime circuits that collect eggs and birds. Wonder how much a pure white Red-tail Hawk was worth? She definitely could have been trapped. She could have died of Avain Flu. She could have died of West Nile Virus. She could have been shot. She could have died of natural causes. Anyone that is on a chat – whether they are a moderator or a chatter – should never ever mention anything about where they live especially if they live in close proximity and check on nests. Criminals are clever. Nothing should be mentioned. Not even the weather! And those cameras should be careful what they show in the background. Believe me people can put the pieces together if they are intent on doing harm and making money.
Gabby and Beau continue incubation. It won’t be long now – a little over a week til we will be waiting for hatch at the NE Florida nest.
Clive continues to prove himself, over and over. Those little eaglets are the cutest things – even with fish juice all over them.
There is worry for F23 leaving those eaglets alone on the nest with that GHO about. But look at those little cutie pies with their dark thermal down coming in and their pin feathers.
Look at the body shape of the SW Florida eaglets compared to Captiva. This will give you an idea of the growth that happens in just a couple of weeks.
Look at that fluffy white mohawk.
I wish Mum would stay in that nest all night tonight!
The image below comes from the following publication: tps://www.researchgate.net/publication/313384900_Monitoring_Bald_Eagles_in_Southwest_Alaska_Network_Parks_Standard_Operating_Procedures_Version_10?enrichId=rgreq-410614b7533b2248c3f0ad792f63b549-XXX&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMxMzM4NDkwMDtBUzo0NTg4NTI4NjE3Nzk5NzBAMTQ4NjQxMDQ1NTgxMA%3D%3D&el=1_x_3&_esc=publicationCoverPdf
Look at the image above and then look at the screen captures from the SW Florida nest to see the age and development of the plumage of the eaglets.
This poster was created by the Southwestern Bald Eagle Management Committee. Look carefully. It will not be long that M15 and F23’s eaglets will be moving quickly to image C.
Peregrine Falcons are amazing. 42 days. An incredible journey.
What an amazing osprey nest in South Australia.
If anyone ever tells you that our raptors and other mammals (non-humans) do not have emotions and do not grieve, please share this tragic story with them.
The increasing tragedy of bird migration when cities will not turn their lights off. It is so simple and yet few have had the tenacity to flip the switch. It angers me just like my city does when it decides to shoot the deer and the coyotes and not question its planning model.
Sasha Dench and Conservation without Borders are trying to save ospreys from power line deaths. https://youtu.be/jlkw1cGA8aI?
Thank you so much for being with us today. Please 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 post today: ‘A, Geemeff, J, MP’, SK Hideaways, Friends of Midway Atoll National Wildlife Preserve, Port Lincoln Ospreys, Bart M and the PLO, Alaska Raptor Centre, Raptor Persecution UK, NEFL-AEF, Window to Wildlife, SW Florida Eagle Cam, Researchgate, Southwestern Bald Eagle Management, Sandeepa Imasha Punsara, Fran Solly, The Guardian, Achieva Credit Union, Conservation without Borders
Many of you have expressed feeling exhausted during the holiday season. This time of year is often filled with commitments to family, friends, and the community, which frequently involve longstanding traditions. While these gatherings bring joy and companionship, they can also have an impact on our well-being.
As the new year approaches, it’s a good time to reflect on what we can and cannot handle. Instead of taking on the entire task of preparing a holiday meal by yourself, consider inviting everyone to chip in next time! As a child, I always looked forward to potluck holiday dinners at my maternal grandmother’s house, especially when Aunt Helen would bring her homemade chocolate chip cookies filled with pecans and raisins. Letting others help with the cleanup can also lighten the load.
In the past, we often had a full house for Thanksgiving and Christmas. If the weather was nice in October, our gatherings would spread outside. I do miss those times when our grandchildren were young and our children close at hand. I learned, often at the expense of both of us, that my current situation does not allow for these events. This year was tranquil, and I appreciated that change. My husband remained calm, which meant that I was not anxious. We enjoyed being outside, seeing all the deer, and feeding the chickadees. We had several small dinners with individual guests and that was great fun. Today, our much-loved granddaughter is on a plane to Australia. I cannot wait to hear her stories when she returns. She has promised to take images of birds and kangaroos if the chance arrives so I can share them with you.
As the old year night approaches and the new year begins, try to relax and enjoy your life. Take a huge breath and be thankful for all the simple pleasures. Do not put huge demands on yourself or others. Simply breathe in the fresh air of the outdoors, try and find some birds or squirrels, pet your cat or dog. Be silly. There is nothing like a good laugh to lift one’s spirits.
As I see many trees slated for clearing, I am reminded that dear Mr and Mrs Downy live in the dead tree across my back lane, and the Grey Squirrels often make their homes in dead trees instead of dreys. This is good advice to protect their homes.
Checking on our favourite bird families:
Gabby and Beau continue to do synchronized incubation duties with Beau really doing his fair share. The question remains: will he deliver prey to the family? For that we will have to wait and see. https://youtu.be/ADldYopFSmQ?
Clive continues to get top marks in the ‘dad’ family. He rode out Hurricane Milton, protecting the nest, and he stayed with Connie during a huge storm that hit the Barrier Islands, helping to protect their two little ones yesterday. Gold Star, Clive! https://youtu.be/P_CsO_COexo?
It was a year ago that Clive and Connie were protecting the 2023 eaglets, C10 and C11. You might remember that nest full of fish! https://youtu.be/kegscWq9iB0?
Sweet little angels at SW Florida nest of M15 and F23.
Heidi brings us up to date with what is happening with Ron and Rose at the WRDC. Check the pip watch date and mark it on your calendars.
It was a good year for osprey chicks in South Australia. Outside of Port Lincoln, I believe these are the stats as Fran Solley listed them in a comment on a FB post: “Also in terms of Osprey in other parts of SA it has been quite a good year for the natural nests on EP and the West Coast with 12 chicks from 14 Nests on the West Coast and good results on EP from both the longer term nest platforms and natural nests.”
Kasse has joined her brother Wilko is spreading her wings a little farther from the nest.
Wilko and Kasse are really enjoying their adventures to the beach. Heidi caught them on video. https://youtu.be/SxPWDfyyiJ0?
6000 wild bird eggs seized in major international crime ring:
Thank you so much for being with us today. Take care everyone. See you soon.
Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: Association to Preserve Cape Cod, AEF Nest Cam Highlights, Baiba, Window to Wildlife, NEFL-AEF, SW Florida Eagle Cam, Heidi McGrue, SK Hideaways, Port Lincoln Osprey, Heidi McGrue, Raptor Persecution UK, Sea Shepherd
On Friday, it was 0°C. Our snow is melting, and it was damp, grey, and not very cheerful until Saturday when there was a clear blue sky with sun. It was so beautiful. We have spent a lot of time outside. There are lots of deer in the areas where we walk. If you are quiet, you can see them without them running away. Sunday is a clear blue sky day and we will be outside again before the weather turns colder the end of the week. Robins have been spotted in various parts of my city and the eagles are out flying in the country. I can see the grey squirrels running about this morning waiting for their peanuts.
We are all doing fine except for my left thumb, which is now taped to the index finger with another wrap around my wrist, so I won’t use it! I never knew how much I used that thumb. Hugo Yugo is completely healed. She was spotted shoveling small kibble from the food bowl Saturday morning. This is a major step. And all of them are now using the new water fountain. It seemed a bit of a shame to get Brock a heated bowl for his food and water ignoring The Girls. So they had squeezy treats and a pink automatic water fountain.
The book list is coming. I have struggled with that list. I hope to have it finished before the end of the year.
Get the tissues and turn the volume up. You might be missing Antali’s very loud fish cry! Cornell Bird Lab put together a wonderful 2024 Highlights of Iris and Finnegan’s first breeding season together. Sum-eh and Antali are beautiful! https://youtu.be/r4lYy8i9ZhY?
A few screen captures – lots more happened at this nest.
As we wait for Iris and Finnegan to return to Missoula, send positive wishes their way.
The second eaglet has hatched at Captiva for Connie and Clive. Here is C13 clamouring out of that shell as fast as it could. https://youtu.be/fLvM-Y-in3A?
Thunder and Akecheta look over the vast waters that surround their West End nest in the Channel Islands early on the 25th of December. It is a glorious site, the two of them perched together.
F23 brings in a large whole fish for the eaglets.
Incubation continues midst the rain at the John Bunker Sands Wetlands nest.
Cold weather at the Trempealeau Bald Eagle nest in Michigan.
Liberty and Guardian continue to work on their new nest at Redding.
If you missed my posting, the Bald Eagle is now officially the ‘bird’ of the United States. You might have thought it was all along. Many think that the Canada Goose is our country’s symbol, but it is not. It is the Canada Jay.
GLG comes in from foraging to relieve RLK who had been satellite tagged the week prior. The sky calls are just beautiful. Can you imagine a world without Albatross? Without the DOC NZ Rangers supplementary feedings for the chicks? Neither can I. It is time to stop commercial fishing in the Roaring 40s – allow the fish stocks to return if they will. And if the boats persist in fishing then they must take steps to prevent the deaths of the albatross because of their long lines. https://youtu.be/gct5lXjZGlc?
Alex II and Andria II have egg number two at the Kistachie National Forest nest E-3. Many hopes for this new couple. https://youtu.be/AttSQFgEC3A?
Really raining at the NE Florida nest of Gabby and Beau where we should be expecting eaglets prior to mid-January. Beau is really getting to incubate those eggs!
Beau sure is taking good care of those eggs!
Jackie and Shadow showed up for a bit on Sunday.
Raining late Sunday at the Captiva nest of Clive and Connie. Little ones so sweet. They are C12 and C13.
Eagles at Decorah North. Precipitation started late Sunday night.
The Majestics were at their nest.
Kasse is now trying to catch fish off the barge nest,
Some more action at Port Lincoln. This is Mum delivering fish and Kasse gets it!
On Sunday some close ups. No one seems to know who is who!
Kasse on the nest. I am going to presume it is Wilko on the ropes.
Fran Solly posted many of the satellite tracked ospreys. I am going to include Ervie and Giliath for you.
Calico’s Tip for the Day: Don’t Let yourself Get Burned Out
This time of year can be overwhelming, with holidays, visitors, and demands coming from every direction. You’re not alone in feeling this way. It’s a good opportunity to reflect on what truly matters. Calico suggests taking a moment to relax, whether that means spending time petting a dog or a cat, or having a conversation with a bird.
Check out the Starling murmurations. Oh, I would love to see this! — And so far, we have counted 48 Starlings at our feeder. Maybe a mini- murmuration? This is written from the vantage point of a 12 year old.
In the UK, the first osprey to return in 2024 was Scottish Blue NC0 at Loch of the Lowes. Sadly we lost dear Laddie LM12 of what turned out to be natural causes (thank goodness he was not shot as earlier believed), but Blue NC0 might have a new mate ‘the darker one’. We will wait to see. March 8 will be here before we blink.
“Actually all wildlife needs our help during winter – please help if you can, there are very simple steps you can take which will make a huge difference to our wildlife.”
I completely agree. The four deer remain in our neighbourhood because it was their home – destroyed for low-rise housing that should be rethought. Whoever is directing the planning in our city is not thinking about livability but only revenue. For decades and decades, a group of architects and city planners have called for making the downtown area ‘dense’. No more single-story buildings but tall ones, allowing for the creation of large parks – wildlife require fewer large areas, not lots of small ones. I fear the future is ‘dead’ – for animals and the spirit that resides inside us as humans. I so long to leave and build in a forest area and yet I would not leave Brock and the other animals. So we just need to keep adding trees.
The Cromer Peregrine Falcons have upgraded their camera. Check out the new amazing images! https://youtu.be/mW0V_vKoKsc?
Jack at Achieva. Still no sign of Diane that I am aware. It looks like she might not be with us this year.
In Latvia, Zorro has been delivering to sticks to his nest with Milda in Durbe County.
‘J’ sends us the graph of the Bald Eagle eggs and the hatch dates (far right). Ron and Rose at the WRDC nest are next. Mark your calendars.
Some places feed wildlife. Others believe we can take all of their habitat and that our lives will still be magnificent without any wildlife anywhere. Which do you prefer? The Deer Pantry feeds oats, acorns, apples, and ground sweet feed. https://www.youtube.com/live/ASu9sqOT_Xk?si=QkTNjcQ-rnus0Pdo
Thank you for being with us today. Take care. Stay safe.
Thank you to the following for your notes, pots, videos, images, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘A, Geemeff, Heidi, J’, Cornell Lab Bird Cam, SK Hideaways, IWS/Explore.org, SW Florida Eagle Cam, JBS Wetlands, Trempealeau Eagle Cam, FORE, The New York Times, Elain, WingsofWhimsy, NEFL-AEF, FOBBV, Window to Wildlife, Raptor Resource Project/Explore.org, Denton Homes, Heidi Mc and The Joy of Ospreys, Port Lincoln Ospreys, Bart M and the PLO, Fran Solly, The Guardian, Hawk Mountain, Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ, Wandsworth Guardian UK, Achieva Credit Union, LDF, Brownsville Food Pantry for Deer
Our thoughts are with all the humans and non-humans living along the coast of California and Oregon where a 7.4 earthquake has hit. For my readers and their families, we are thinking of you and wish everyone to be safe.
In the movie, Seven Years in Tibet, there is a scene where they are building the movie theatre for the Dalai Lama. The Tibetans are anguished about the killing of the worms. The Dalai Lama suggests to Heinrich Harrer that he is very clever and he can find a way to construct the building without killing. He explained to the Austrian that all life is sacred and should be respected. I wish a wave would pass around the world where everyone would treat all living beings with great compassion.
It is +4 C in Winnipeg. The snow that fell is all melting. Any ice build up is also melted or melting. It is 1400 and we will have sunlight for another hour and a half. The birds are busy eating. What is worrying me for the last few days is that I have only seen one Blue Jay. Did one decide to migrate late? or did something happen? or are they just coming at different times and I think it is one but it is two? I would like to see them together.
The Girls are enjoying the warm sunshine today. Calico is on the table by my side. She loves being super warm and does not complain when I wrap her up in the duvet at night.
Some of you have asked about the fate of the Canada Goose. As I understand, all of the geese rescued from the wildlife centre are safe along with the one that we saved yesterday. They will spend their winter here in a warm environment with plenty of food and medical care if necessary.
We have cleared the way to set up the Reolink camera and found the perfect spot to install the solar panel. Then we both realised that the camera only operates at -10 C. While it is warm today, in a few days, the reading will have dropped substantially. We are going to set the camera up to see if it works and maybe keep it outside until the temperature dips to -27 C mid-week. It will be a way to test it and give us something to look forward to in the spring.
It seems that we are now in a snowfall warning for Sunday and could get up to 10-20 cm or 4-8 inches. That wasn’t on my phone! Will see if it happens. That camera might have to wait.
‘B’ sent me an article about the geneticists at Stanford solving the mystery of ‘orange’ cats. Of course, both of us wonder why Hugo Yugo is orange after reading it. I wrote my son to see if he could help us. Here is the article, any thoughts?
I wonder if Kasse is going to fledge. She really got some good lift after Wilko took his first flight. Heidi caught it in video and while most people were watching Wilko, it was Kasse that caught my attention.
Yesterday Dad brought in one fish and there were two supplementary fish. Today, Mum brought in a fish early, 0721. Wilko wanted it, but Mum prevailed. It was small and each got a meal. I hope Mum got some, too. Wilko got the tail!
This is what happened today. Mum, you are amazing! And so are you Fish Fairies.
The only surviving chick out of three at the Osprey House Environment Centre in Australia is Marina. She has caught her first fish! Marina fledged on the 29th of September.
There was another good mating at the NE Florida Bald Eagle nest. Will this be the one that gives us that first egg? We wait. https://youtu.be/CedSKh1oIZA?
Xavier and Diamond have been in and out of the scrape. My heart breaks for them.
Is it possible to get a dedicated group of BOGs to be there when the chicks fledge so that they can check all the trees and know where the fledglings are if they are injured, help can come quickly.
An announcement from Window to Wildlife regarding the Captiva Osprey Cam:
Some cute little Eurasian Hobbys to keep you entranced – it part of a series from the 2024 nesting period. https://youtu.be/TLOLFuMo-40?
No eagles but a squirrel did visit the MN-DNR Bald Eagle nest on Saturday.
Harry and Harriet are building their nest and – wait – is that snow?! It is Michigan, it is winter! https://youtu.be/pYWYnmfyiWA?
Ferris Akel tours the area around Ithaca on Saturday. He did not find Big Red and Arthur, but there was an impressive number of waterfowl on Cayuga Lake.
Calico was watching Ferris.
Coots.
American Black Ducks and several species of swans.
I like checking in with Ferris who catches the changing seasons in the Ithaca and bird arrivals and departures. I also like to check in with Bruce Yolton who chases down raptors in New York City.
Yolton captured a gorgeous Great Horned Owl in the City a couple of days ago. The GHO was interested in the rodents below on a branch. Great little video! You can find his blog at urbanhawks.com https://youtu.be/ghU7O15gOBQ?
I love Puffins. Doesn’t everyone? Can we end them starving?
“BirdLife, the RSPB, 31 NGOs and the wind sector sent letters to the Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans and asked him to be the champion for the ocean he promised to be. Can he turn the tide for starving Puffins?”
There are so many talented wildlife photographers who read my blog in the UK. Please send your photos to the RSPB – be part of their cover story!
Finally, the Grouse hunting estates in Scotland are under pressure to change their ways – and they don’t even recognise that they need to stop killing raptors illegally.
Every National Park – every area where there is a high concentration of wildlife – should be making it safer for them to cross the roads!
The Christmas Bird Counts are huge events internationally. Please check with your local birding associations and see how you can take part.
So far, it is quiet, which is a good thing in Bird World. Soon, we will have some eaglets in SW Florida, and by the end of the month, all of the eagle nests will have at least one egg (we hope). We look forward to Kasse fledging, which will happen anytime. She is ready. I was happy to see supplementary fish still being provided. Thank you, fish fairies. These fledglings use much energy and have yet to catch their food. In fact, Marina took over two months to catch her own fish after fledging at Osprey House Environmental Centre.
This afternoon Missey and Baby Hope posed for new photos.
Meanwhile, one of Dyson’s kits was outside enjoying peanuts. The three kits chased one another all over the garden. They were so happy to have a warm day and lots and lots of peanuts!
Their baskets for the winter solstice are being prepared. We have various types of prepared bird seed, hazelnuts, Butter Bark, suet balls, pieces of pear and apple to be prepared on the day. Looking for more ideas! It is our way of thanking them for being such a huge part of our lives!
Thank you so much for being with us 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 post today: ‘B, Heidi, J’, sfgate.com, Port Lincoln Ospreys, Heidi McGrue, Osprey House Environment Centre, American Eagle Nest Cam Highlights, SK Hideaways, BVS Girl, Tonya Irwin and Kisatachie National Forest Eagle Cam Fans FB, Charles Sturt Falcon Cam, Window to Wildlife, Marek Palicka, MN-DNR Eagle Cam, Wings of Whimsy, Ferris Akel Tours, Bruce Yolton, The Guardian, Birdlife International. RSPB England, Raptor Persecution UK, Parks Canada, Missey and Baby Hope
Oh, it is so nice to have you with us! I am going to post this on Friday evening instead of Saturday morning because of Wilko’s fledge. We will see you again on Sunday.
First up. Wilko fledges at 1325!!!!!!!!!!!!! 62 days old. Wilko returns safely to the nest. (This would have been the title but FB would have refused to post this blog on their site so sorry, Wilko!)
Will the fairies return now that one of the chicks has fledged? We wait to see. I hope they come in with a big fish meal as congratulations.
First up. Well, it was going to be first, but Wilko’s flight preempted Wisdom making the international news. This is grand. The world should be more interested in wildlife.
Oh, it was -4 C on Friday in Winnipeg. I couldn’t wait to get outside for a long walk at the nature centre. First thing, we found a Canada Goose. You might remember the other day there were five geese eating snow. They were taken to Wildlife Haven, our rescue centre. This one is heading there, too. It felt super to help this one. No one knew it was there as we were the only people on the trails, it seems. This seemed so odd as it was such a fantastic day, but we were glad to be there and to help.
This goose should not be here. It is the only one around. It is different in the spring. Some arrive early when there is still snow so they can get the best nesting spots. This one was destined to starve to death if not freeze. So why is it here? Is it injured? They will find out.
There were deer all over the forest. We tiptoed in our boots so as not to disturb them. I only had my phone and the photos are not great. The one on the right knew I was there. The Chickadees were singing while flitting about while the squirrels were trying their luck at getting peanuts out of the feeders.
It is 1636. The sky is a white-grey with a rose gold tinge. The outdoor lights are glowing bright, and I am waiting for Brock to arrive (he doesn’t). We have figured out what needs to be fixed with all the feral cat houses – only one opening. They feel trapped – so two openings! We will work on that tomorrow. It is still supposed to be warm. We will also start installing the Reolink camera.
Let’s start with the sad news in Bird World first. Cilla Kinross said that Yira is no longer with us. It had been over a week since she thought she had spotted her. I feel so badly for Xavier and Diamond, who work hard all season to raise healthy chicks to have one deformed and euthanised and the other killed.
I have long suspected Yira was not with us. She has been on the Memorial Wall for a couple of weeks now. We never saw the behaviour that Diamond and Xavier would have exerted if they were providing prey for a fledgling. So, soar high, little one. We hope that next season will turn out differently for these beloved parents.
The good news. Just the best. SE33’s release images. Soar high, live long, find a good mate, raise lots of babies, always have a full crop!
If you missed it, images of SE33 being ringed and getting ready to fly.
At the WRDC nest, Rose laid her second egg. Heidi wrote: “ Rose laid egg #2 12/6, at 18:08, approximately 75.5 hours after she laid egg #1. Rose had been a 4-day layer the past two seasons, and she has just become a 3-day layer.”
At Hilton Head, the Bald Eagles are bringing in the pine boughs readying for that first egg. I wonder if they told the GHOs? https://youtu.be/kobHTx-ALSU?
You might have heard about the earthquake that hit parts of northern California. The nest at Redding, home to Liberty and Guardian, felt the impact. They say the nest is fine. https://youtu.be/Oyocy3zNY8c?
Oh, goodness, the wait for eggs at the nest of Gabby and Beau is like taking fingernails to a chalkboard.
Another wait is fledge. Wilko really wants to fly. Kasse is trying her wings, too. It is quite breezy at Port Lincoln, but they aren’t quite ready yet. Soon, too soon, you two! Settle down and let us enjoy you for a long, long time.
Waiting for fish. Ospreys are always waiting for their fish dinner everywhere. Last night Dad brought in a late fish. I did not see what happened. This came in on chat from Gtr: “20;34 Dad w fish to nest, Kasse gets the fish, 20:35 & 20:37 Wilko tries to steal it but no luck, 20:44 Kasse eats the tail.” Wow. Isn’t that wonderful for Kasse?!
With no fish arriving by 1227, Mum takes off on a blustery Saturday in Port Lincoln to try and feed her family. (I wonder what she thinks about Dad these days.)
Iris and Finnegan’s Owl Pole is now officially replaced.
Thunder and Akecheta sleeping near their nest in the Channel Islands Friday evening.
Bad weather is hitting the UK. I am glad the ospreys are in their winter homes, but for the rest, stay safe everyone!
I wonder when the Governor of Virginia will understand that there will be no more Menhaden if Omega is allowed to strip the Bay of every last one. Does he think they fall from the sky into the water each spring?
If you happened to miss it, Nox died of a bacterial infection and pneumonia.
Saving the old and wise could help. Phoebe Watson says, “t’s not just humans who get wiser as they age – animals do too, according to a growing body of research. The bigmouth buffalo fish can reach 127 years old, the Greenland shark 392, and some sponges can live for 10,000 years or more. And age is not just a number: as animals get older they behave differently depending on their life experiences, gain richer knowledge of their environment, and often pass it on to younger members of their group, researchers say.
The problem is, we are killing off these older creatures. “Earth’s old animals are in decline,” researchers warned in a paper published in Science last month, which analysed more than 9,000 peer-reviewed papers. Few animals make it to old age, and the ones that do are vulnerable to being hunted or harvested by humans, because they are the biggest or have, for example, the largest antlers, horns or tusks.”
In Hawaii, they are working to reintroduce the Crow. “The Hawaiian crows, or alala, were last found on Hawaii’s Big Island, but they went extinct in the wild in 2002, officials with the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance said in a statement. The birds, described as intelligent and charismatic, are the last survivors of all the Hawaiian crow species. Habitat loss, predation and disease by introduced species are threats, among other factors.
“The translocation of alala to Maui is a monumental step forward in conserving the species and a testament to the importance of partnership in reversing biodiversity loss,” said Megan Owen, vice-president of conservation science at the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.”
To our knowledge, at the time of writing, there are no new Bald Eagle eggs except for the second egg at WRDC. Incubation is going well at nests with eggs.
Calico wishes each of you the very best weekend. She has some exciting news coming in the new year!
Thank you for being with us today. Please take good care of yourself. See you soon!
Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, images, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘Heidi, SP’, The Guardian, Holly Parsons, Sea Eagle Cam, WRDC, Hilton Head Land Trust, EaGal Vicki, NEFL-AEF, Port Lincoln Ospreys, Montana Osprey Cams, IWS/Explore.org, Denton Homes, SK Hideaways, UK Osprey Information and Jeff Kear, Brian Collins and Menhaden- Little Fish, Big Deal, UC Berkeley News
First thing. There is an egg for Ron and Rose at the WRDC nest near Miami in Dade County. 14:34 according to Heidi on Tuesday. Congratulations! Everything looks alright with that egg.
In one day, we will celebrate the arrival of Hugo Yugo to our lives. We adopted her on the 5th of December believing that she was a male as we had been told (and requested). The vet would laughingly inform us that we had one of a handful of Ginger Girls. Her name became Hugo Yugo, and it took her nearly nine months to start growing. We would not have given her back for a New York minute.
Wrapped in her blanket, at 11 weeks old, she was all ears. And she was sick. Poor thing. Dr Green quickly put that to rights.
My pal and faithful osprey data collector, Heidi, is worried that I will compromise ‘The Girls’ by bringing Brock into the house. She knows that these four girls are ‘everything’ to me. Brock would need to be ‘caged’ (I have one), and he would need to go to the vet for testing before he could be cleared to come into the house. I do not believe this will ever happen. Brock is too ‘feral’. So, we provide him with high-quality food, water, and 2 warm and safe places to sleep that are dry if he should choose to use them. My Girls are the rocks in my life. They give me the same joy that walking in the forest does. I will do anything and everything to protect them just as if they were my human children.
Hugo Yugo is at the vet’s last year, the morning after we picked her up from her foster family. She was dreadfully ill.
It was terrible. We ached for this little one. A week later, she was still sick, but she was showing some signs of improvement. She loved cuddling in a pink baby blanket. I would wrap her tight like a tortilla and place her in the curve of my left arm to stay warm. That is where she still sleeps today, sans a blanket.
All well at the vet’s on the 18th! She is playing and the vet tells us she will survive.
By the 28th of December (23 days later), Hugo Yugo was ruling the cat tree. We never looked back. She continues to be the boss of the house. The respite worker commented today on how HY chased Calico back into the back corner of the conservatory from the living room. This little Ginger is fearless.
At the vet last week still getting into trouble. It is a small sink but Hugo Yugo did grow, finally.
Tuesday was Gifting Tuesday. This year was Calico’s turn the local charity that would get our funds and any other selections related to that institution. Last year, Missey had this privilege. Local wildlife rehab facilities, feral cat groups, nature centres, you name it, were there for the picking. The one that Calico put her paw on first was the choice. It was Wildlife Haven this year! Then, she had to select the ambassador to be adopted. She put her paw on the printout of Gus, the Turkey Vulture! There you go. Looks like a carrion eater is our adoptee this year! It is pretty fun. We had several others this year. Giving Tuesday is great if there is someone or some institution that will double the donations. It can have a huge impact.
Gabby and Beau spent almost all day at the nest on Tuesday. Thinking eggs? Oh, please!
She looks like she is thinking about it or geez, is this Beau? My old eyes are so bad.
‘J’ reports that an owl struck Gabby during the night but she is OK. Oh, these owls!
It is windy at Port Lincoln and the family is waiting for the first fish of the day.
Noon. No fish yet. Looks like a day when we will be wishing the fairy would appear.
Now that I have gotten it out of head that Kasse has the pink ring, here she is with her bright red ring doing some nice wingers.
Well, it is afternoon. Dad is in the man cave, and he appears to not be interested in fishing. Mum is off the nest. I wonder if she has gone to find fish for her and the two osplets.
Mum did bring in that fish. Then the fish fairy came with 6 fish and Dad rounded up the day with two after 4pm! What a day at Port Lincoln.
Royal Cam Dad RLK is home safely and ready to incubate his egg! Oh, isn’t it a relief when they return after foraging?
One of the eagles was seen on Tuesday.
Giliath!
Thunder and Akecheta spent the night at the West End nest and were there in the early morning.
Hey look who is at Fraser Point! Andor and Cruz.
I did not see anyone at the Two Harbours nest of Chase and Cholyn.
But wait a minute! Bailey the GHO is working on the nest after the Eagle leaves. This is not so good! https://youtu.be/sb71R6oInuQ?
In past instances, the GHOs have taken the nest from the eagles. Think Bonnie and Clyde at Farmer Derek’s. They are not cute and fluffy. GHOs are Apex Raptors, Predators of the highest level.
Bonnie and Clyde paid a visit to the Cardinal Land Conservancy nest on Tuesday.
Hawk Mountain migration update. There are some real concerning numbers there and there are some surprises. See if you can find the raptors that gained in numbers and then which one lost the most?
22 year old Red tail Hawk rescued!
‘J’ sends me a note that had me shaking my head: “I told you I had bought Geo Magazine from April 1978 because it had a long article in it about kakapo. It was a harsh read. Starts with quotes from people in the 1800s – I now know the best way to cook a kakapo, you never know when that might come in handy. When the author went over there were only 12 (!!!) kakapo left as far as anyone knew, and all of them were males. There were 24 humans watching and protecting them 24/7 and basically everyone was waiting for the species to die out. One, a 24 year old student fell down a cliff and died. But after the author came back home he got the call that 30 more kakapo had been found, so at least it ended with a positive note, everyone hoping that at least one of the 30 would be a female.”
Today, people are still working around the clock to care for these amazing birds. As of November 2024, there are 244 kākāpō alive. They are critically endangered. Fun Facts: The population has actually doubled since 2016. The programme to save the Kakapo was started by the New Zealand Government and the Maori tribe, Ngai Tahu. Conservation efforts include artificial insemination, supplementary feeding, and transmitters to help the staff locate the birds for their annual checks.
The visitor to the Achieva Credit Union osprey platform looks down and says, “What the heck is this mess?! And they want me to lay eggs, where?” Thanks, MP for the capture.
Tuesday is always a long day for me. Today was snow and really brisk winds. The roads were terrible. Calico has a project and I had to pick it up at our local photo store – which happened to be about 24 minutes across town on slick roads. I was not impressed with the way our winter is starting. Hopefully I didn’t miss too many events in Bird World!
Thank you so much for being with us today. Please take care. See you soon.
Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, notes of concern, videos, articles, images, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘Heidi, J, MP’, WRDC, Heidi McGrue, Hugo Yugo and the Anderson Animal Wellness Centre in Winnipeg, NEFL-AEF, Port Lincoln Ospreys, Sharon Dunne, Judy Harrington, IWS/Explore.org, Raptor Resource Project, NCTC, Deb Stecyk, Hilton Head Land Trust, Hawk Mountain, A Place Called Hope, Natural History Museum, Rita the Eagle, Achieva Credit Union
