Monday in Bird World

12 May 2025

Good Morning Everyone,

Sunday did not turn out as expected. We lost dear Dory at Audubon Boathouse*, and then I received word that the five Black Storklets in Jogdeva had been stomped, with at least two dying. My husband’s friend, who lost his wife, came to visit, and it was very emotional. Not the sunshine and laughter one might think of on Mother’s Day. Indeed, so many mothers are no longer with us that brings tears in itself — and I know that everyone would like to be with them just one more time to say everything that never got told, or to confirm their great love and bond. The lesson always is: never put off anything for a day if you can do it now. You might not have tomorrow.

*I am pretty bothered by this death. The boathouse underwent renovations/repairs. It has been known for aeons that the owls take the osplets and try to harm the parents. In this instance, it was a deadly attack on the female, rendering the eggs non-viable. While it is true that ospreys return over and over again to the same place to nest (it is their territory), it is equally valid that the new roof of the boathouse could have been fitted with red strobe lights at each corner. These are effective when used. The two organizations had the funds to accomplish this when the ospreys were migrating. At least they could have tried.

‘MP’ sent a screen capture of their favourite Mum – the female at the John Bunker Sands Wetlands near Dallas. Two beautiful fledges this season!

HELP!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am asking for your help. As you may be aware, I try to keep a Memorial Page of the raptors that died or who went MIA in a single year. We lost so many and then Akecheta and Thunder – well, I simply had to stop for awhile. Then we began to lose more and more. I do not wish to leave anyone off the list so this is what I would ask of you.

Please send me any information about any birds on streaming cams that either died or went MIA in 2025. I am including Annie, etc even though we do not know the precise date she went missing. Do not assume that I will have the name on my list. Your list could just read eaglets 1 and 2, Trempealeau Bald Eagle Nest, Wisconsin. If you have other information, please include it. Thank you so much! This will make a huge difference in me getting that Memorial Page as accurate and up to date as possible.

Heidi’s Osprey News:

Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Sunday 11th May 2025

A quiet day today, no intruders on either nest. The day started with a dawn tryst on Nest One, with Garry LV0 and Aurora 536 having two successful mating sessions. Possibly not enough mating activity to produce eggs this season and it is getting past the point of no return time-wise, but then again, the birds don’t read the manuals and may yet surprise us. In a repeat of yesterday Garry brought one fish today taking his tally to forty seven, and Louis brought two fish, taking his tally to eighty one. Dorcha’s first fish was a small lively flapper which she stayed on the nest to polish off before departing. The second, headless, fish was much bigger and she carried it off in a precarious beak hold, much as Aila did on this day in 2020 however Aila did an athletic mid-air transfer from beak to talons which we didn’t see Dorcha do, so hope she didn’t lose it as she flew off. Apart from some light overnight rain the weather was settled and sunny but more rain is forecast for tonight, with sunny intervals tomorrow. That’s still much better weather than Aila had to endure on this day in 2020 when she had to protect the three eggs which were the future famous lockdown Osplets from overnight snow flurries. Links to those events in the blast from the past section.

Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 20.40.14 (03.48.45); Nest Two 22.44.36 (04.12.36)

Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/L7wUZ2nkFqk N1 Dawn tryst – successful mating for Garry and Aurora 04.44.29

https://youtu.be/L0KYI2VYpqw N2 Lively small breakfast trout – Dorcha polishes it off on the nest 06.38.45

https://youtu.be/9mV9VDy0nXc N1 Elevenses arrive for Aurora, a good sized headless trout 11.35.18

https://youtu.be/XEuoQfpCuVM N2 Dorcha leaves with fish number two in a beak-hold 17.46.10

Bonus watch – A short video about wildlife crime detection dogs and how they’re trained (starts at 26:00)

Blast from the past, this day in previous years:

https://youtu.be/IhjvqpMq1S4 N1 Intruder Osprey flies right over the nest 2020 (slo-mo)

https://youtu.be/WW7IBGOOjLU N1 Preparing the nest ready for the first hatch 2020

https://youtu.be/-v6-w-_3oDM N1 Aila does a mid air transfer 2020 (slo-mo)

https://youtu.be/BsF44kBqGG0 N1 A close shave for Louis – Aila nearly takes his head off! 2020

https://youtu.be/wqUvCjMwwio N1 Mumbrella: Aila protects her eggs during snow flurries 2020

https://youtu.be/yZkcVaa9o-A N1 Affric (Blue 152) and The Stranger return 2021

https://youtu.be/AGoiZjcwD3M N2 First fish of the day arrives at lunchtime 2023

https://youtu.be/UiJihpt7uEs N2 Dorcha ignores the second fish and leaves without it 2023

https://youtu.be/fwGRG7NNI4o N1 A Jay visits 2024

https://youtu.be/_xdZMQaEYA4 N2 Very late breakfast – fish number one 2024

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

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

I was extremely upset by the situation at the Black Stork nest in Jogeva County in Estonia. There were five storklets and an intruder. The latest news on Looduskalendar English Forum is “Two chicks confirmed dead, two chicks confirmed alive. Another egg we don’t know about.

At least there’s still hope. And the parents are okay.

Now we’ll have to wait if the intruder can be kept away, and if the remaining storklets are well. “

The male had been missing since 5 May and there was a fight in the nest with some stomping on the storklets – intruding storks. Oh, please let two or perhaps three of them be alive! It also appears that the male might have returned. Perhaps he was only out of camera range trying to protect the territory.

To counter that, ‘TU’ reminds me: “There are lovely people who tries to make this world a bit better!!! In Makov, on station for rescued birds and animals they delivered 3 chicks and an egg to be adopted by couple of not releasable white storks Honzik and Johanka.” The foster parents are delighted! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3J1utP1GG9s

Trempealeau Bald Eagles: T3 continues to do well.

Cornell Red-tail Hawks: O1 and O2 appear to be doing well. Big Red is loving every second of being a Mum.

Snow Lane Osprey Nest, Newfoundland: After raising two gorgeous fledges last year, Beaumont returned early and earnestly set about fixing up the nest he has shared for many, many years with his mate, Hope. Sadly, it now appears that Hope has failed to return from her migration this year.

This beautiful photograph of an osprey in flight was taken by Marc Lausier. Thank you, Marc, for letting me sharing this beauty with my readers. Please check out his website!

Muonio Nest, Finland: Both ospreys are on the nest. Waiting for eggs.

Janakkalan, Finland: Eggs are being incubated.

Paltamo, Finland: Eggs are being incubated.

Ylläslompolo, Finland: The nest appears unoccupied so far.

‘BAH’ sends us the latest from the Port of Ridgefield: “3rd egg laid at Ridgefield last Friday, but since then things have gone wrong on the nest, starting Tuesday when another couple raised heck for two days, fighting and dive bombing the couple on the nest. The female ended up with blood on her feathers. This continued through Wednesday, according to chatters. The eggs were not incubated through it all, and now chatterers say this is a different female on the nest. She doesn’t incubate and ignores the eggs thoroughly, but the male has started incubating again. But it’s no doubt in vain. Alas!”

Golden Gate Audubon Nest: Richmond and Rosie had their first hatch of the 2025 season late Sunday – Happy Mother’s Day, Rosie!

Did you know that incubation is the only time that adult ospreys will sleep lying down?

Baby Hope wishes everyone a terrific Monday!

Thank you so much for being with me. There is much more news. Also thank you for continuing to send in your Spark Birds. Your remarks are so welcome by all of my readers. So please do not be shy – and also, answer myt call for entries for the Memorial Wall. I need all the help you can provide. Thank you. 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: ‘BAH, Geemeff, Heidi, MP, PB, TU’, John Bunker Sands Wetlands, Geemeff and The Woodland Trust, Eagle Club of Estonia, Looduskalender Forum, csillagig65, Trempealeau Bald Eagle Cam, Cornell Red-tail Hawk Cam, Snow Lane Osprey Platform and Newfoundland Power, Marc Lausier and One-for-One Photography, Finnish Osprey Foundation, Port of Ridgefield, Colonial Beach, Smallwood Ospreys

Sunday in Bird World

11 May 2025

It is a very, very sad day in Bird World. Not the Happy Mother’s Day that I hoped for all these beautiful birds that have raised so many amazing chicks and brought us such happiness. This morning Dory (Audubon Boathouse) was savagely killed by a GHO. She had just laid her third egg.

Heidi writes, “I loved Dory. Mom to Skipjack, Schooner, Sloop, Skipper, Harbor, and Grey. Sadly, three of her offspring suffered the same fate.”

Is there ever a possibility that knowing the owls are there and will strike that those individuals or organizations owning streaming cams will work together to set up methods that would keep the GHOs from harming the Ospreys? The osprey do not kill the owl chicks and eat them. They are no threat to their food supply. If people can go for a space ride for millions of dollars, cannot we come up with even a simple earthly fix to help our fish eaters? In this instance, this has been a long standing known problem and there are people who should have worked on solutions including red strobe lights!

Soar High Dear Dory.

———————————————————————————-

Happy Mother’s Day to Anyone who has ever cared for another living, breathing being! And It doesn’t matter how many legs it has!!!!!!!!!

I was fortunate. My ‘mothers’ were fascinating people. My mother has always wanted to be a registered nurse. She was the Valedictorian of her high school class and won three scholarships to three excellent universities in Oklahoma to realise her dream. All her father had to do was provide funds for room and board and her books. Well, ‘no’. She was a girl. She was bitter all her life. I was born eleven years after she had worked for the US Navy during WWII in Long Beach, California. When I was eighteen months old, she was offered a position she could not refuse, and the most wonderful thing happened. There was no daycare. My maternal grandmother cared for me until my early teens, so my mother could work. (She continued to work for many decades; it was in her DNA). While my grandmother let me do everything my mother would not allow me to do including braiding my hair (can you imagine it might straighten the curls??) and gave me this easy going sense towards life and a love of gardening and chickens, my mother spent her life making certain that I had the very best education that I could have and that opportunities she only dreamed of I did. My PhD was, in part, her desire that every woman on the planet be able to care for themselves. She was a ‘Tiger Mum’ in a sense! I am full of love and grateful to them because they gave me balance.

No doubt each of you will have a raptor Mum that has touched your heart this year in a way that was not thought possible.

I want to remember an amazing raptor mother who is not with us this year. We will never know what happened to her, but she will live on in our hearts whenever we think of the University of California at Berkeley. The Campanile will never be the same. My first Mum of this year is Peregrine Falcon, Annie.

Big Red has always been on the top of my list because she is the raptor on streaming cams that first touched my heart. She hatched in the spring of 2003 in Brooktondale, New York, seven miles from her nest on the campus of Cornell University. She has had at least two mates – Ezra and now Arthur.

Finally some sun for Big Red, Arthur, and the Os.

‘B’ swept me away because they included some of the most miraculous mothers of this 2025 season! They wrote, “Special to me are three moms who are once again mothers this year after each has had difficult years: Jackie at Big Bear, Audacity at Sauces, and Gabby at NE Florida. Also very special to me is Mrs. T at Trempealeau, who is working so hard (and doing so well) raising eaglet TE3 pretty much by herself.”

Here is ‘B’s list!!!!!!!

FOBBV: Mark your calendars fledge watch begins on 13 May or Sunny and Gizmo. Can you believe it?

A video with Mamma Jackie! https://youtu.be/_P7jg-nW_1A?

Fish delivery by Mamma Jackie! https://youtu.be/GAyUI5s-nVU?

Sauces: Betty Lou is the spitting image.

NEFlorida: Bodie leaves the nest and misses a fish delivery from Mamma Gabby: https://youtu.be/ph-qZGmAGR4?

Trempeauleau Eagles:

‘A’ has Mrs T as a hero. She writes: “Since your blog alerted me to the plight of Mrs T at Trempeauleau, I have been keeping an eye on that nest. So tragic that she had to leave her eaglets in freezing rain – she has been doing such an amazing job with her surviving first hatch. This morning she left just as the skies were starting to lighten – and she was back within 15 minutes with a fresh fish for the wee one’s breakfast. She fed little T3 a couple of times during the day and there was no sign of Mr T, although I have seen footage of him removing a fish from the nest and flying across the river to the island, where he obviously has another nest, to which he delivers the fish (www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bp-_oilfqc). There has been speculation on the chat that this phenomenon will become increasingly common because of the larger numbers of eagles sharing territories. It’s a double-edged sword – yes, we want more eagles but not if it means they are competing for territory to the point where they hurt each other and cause eaglets to starve. We need to provide habitat for the eagles, not just increase their numbers without thinking about how the additional eagles will live.

But back to T3. It had a funny interaction with mum in the middle of the night last night – mum jumped down from the branch above the nest where she spends most nights and the eaglet went into nest defence mode like a little warrior. Stood up as tall as it could and pecked at mum!!! This interaction went on for several minutes – mum eventually bonked T3 back. T3 responded by pecking at mum’s breast feathers several times, still standing as tall as it could, flapping its wings occasionally for balance as it lunged forwards to peck its mum. That’s no way to treat your dedicated single parent mother on Mother’s Day T3! Especially when she’s come down to the nest for a snuggle on a windy night – she rarely joins T3 on the nest and the little eaglet, who has lost both its siblings to hypothermia, snuggles up to the trunk of the tree for warmth and comfort. Sometimes, it looks up at mum longingly – but when she did decide to come down, T3’s reaction made me wonder whether eaglets have far less acuity at night than adult eagles because it was as if T3 didn’t recognise Mrs T at all and was defending the nest against an intruder. It was very strange. Eventually, after a five or six-minute stand-off T3 snuggled down as if nothing had happened and Mrs T arranged some nesting material (she’d been bringing in fluff a lot during the day). Teenagers!! It’s a little delinquent. Here’s the footage. It’s just TOO funny: www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnFmArd8jh0. “

‘VS’ said: “Love Naha at Seaside and Mum at Port Lincoln.”

Naha

Oh, yes, absolutely. Thank you.

Mum at Port Lincoln

Rutland Water: One of the finest osprey females, a super Mum, Maya, is right at the top of the list for more than two dozen people. Her and Blue 33 just had their second hatch of the season!

Heidi’s Osprey Report:

Everyone fledged at Smith Rock Park! https://youtu.be/Nt7nZI0sc4s?

This drives me crazy!

Geemeff Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Saturday 10th May 2025

Today on Nest One started with a visit from a male Tawny Owl, who perched and made an unusual call, perhaps trying to attract a mate. Later there was much excitement as Garry LV0 saw off a persistent intruder Osprey. The unringed female tried to land several times with Garry on the nest actively dissuading her, and then they had quite the aerial battle with much chasing and circling round both nearby and in the distance, all caught on nest cam. She did return and managed to land shortly after her epic encounter with Garry, but was very wary and then startled off the nest by a Jay rustling through the branches of the nest tree. Aurora 536 wasn’t around or at least not visible on nest cam during the female’s visit, but did turn up in the afternoon to get a large whole trout from Garry. That one fish took his tally to forty six, but he has a long way to go to catch up with Louis, whose two deliveries took his tally to seventy nine. The first fish he brought wasn’t much more than a tail end which explains Dorcha’s enthusiastic reception of the second, she even gulped a few mouthfuls on the nest before departing and leaving Louis to egg-sit. The weather was settled and sunny as promised, but in a change from the forecast, light rain is expected tomorrow.

Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 22.51.44 (03.45.47); Nest Two 23.08.52 (04.07.40)

Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/lz68zyEX6Uw N1 A Tawny Owl perches, calls but no response 00.24.40 (zoom)

https://youtu.be/KQPgI_C2YfE N2 Louis does a flyby before delivering fish one 05.13.15

https://youtu.be/NKSslCjZ2AY N1 Garry’s dramatic encounter with an unringed Osprey 11.19.56

https://youtu.be/yr5AUEabxDk N1 Unringed intruder returns but is startled by a Jay 11.35.43

https://youtu.be/CnBTtPySvKM N1 Aurora takes Garry’s fish immediately 15.31.44

https://youtu.be/DQBB7OIY92I N2 Dorcha gulps a few mouthfuls before leaving with fish two 18.53.41

Bonus read – looking at those clouds of insects on the nests today, this study shows the amazing biodiversity of the Arkaig ancient Caledonian rainforest:

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/press-centre/2023/08/loch-arkaig-invertebrate-survey

Blast from the past, this day in previous years:

https://youtu.be/WRJVln57L5w N1 Cheeky Tawny Owl perches next to Aila 2019 (slo-mo)

https://youtu.be/1IEDIyo9rCQ N1 Louis adds to the chaos on a windy day 2020

https://youtu.be/zcl511TMr_0 N1 Louis resists Aila’s blandishments 2020

https://youtu.be/e_xzfE0KTlk N1 Louis chases a pesky Hoodie 2020

https://youtu.be/iStLjLcvl2I N1 Eurasian Wren pays a visit 2021

https://youtu.be/VPfvH9XEqzU N2 Unringed female intruder steals Dorcha’s fish 2022 (zoom)

https://youtu.be/AM_UsK1riDg N1 Juvenile Tawny Owl plays on the nest 2023

https://youtu.be/0Mbyxj-Wr90 N1 A handsome Jay visits 2023

https://youtu.be/Pe8lgQ2Pdbs N2 Season’s earliest breakfast for Dorcha 2024

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

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

My top book recommendation for last year – and Calico’s too – was Raising Hare. ‘B’ sent along an article from The New York Times. Raising Hare was in their top 15 for 2025! Feeling delighted.

Just in case you didn’t see it, Raising Hare is on the NY Times list of the Best Books of the Year (So Far). One of 15 books on the list.

The Best Books of 2025 (So Far) – The New York Times Download

Cumbria Wildlife Nest 2: Two eggs laid very late in the season for the new couple. Fingers crossed.

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

I am going to be doing a very abbreviated blog for the next week or so. It is gardening time and with Toby and The Girls, there isn’t enough hours in the day to keep up. Geemeff and Heidi will be with us when they have news and I will be covering the hatches in the UK.

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, comments, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘A, B, Geemeff, Heidi, PB, VS’, Cal Falcons, SK Hideaways, Cornell Red Tail Hawk, FOBBV, NEFL-AEF, Trempeauleau Bald Eagles, IWS/Explore, LL, Seaside Osprey Cam, Port Lincoln Ospreys, Smith Rock Park Eagles, Geemeff and The Woodland Trust, Maryland Western Shore, Fostythe, Fortis Exshaw, Audubon Boathouse, Rutland Water, Cumbria Wildlife Trust

Friday in Bird World

7 May 2025

Hello Everyone,

It has been one of the most roller-coaster years that I can remember in Bird World. Mates not returning. Mates arriving late only to find that younger birds have taken their place. Long standing residents have lost their nests. Single Mums struggle to tend their chicks. Today, for the very first time, Big Red’s third hatch O3 died shortly after hatch. In her history on camera, which began in 2012 (she probably began raising chicks in 2005-06), no chick has died on the nest. Every hatch has fledged except for one and that was K3 who had a problem with her jaw. She was rescued but had to be euthanised. I have to admit that I am heart broken. Like all other raptors, Big Red and Arthur have two other chicks to raise to fledge and then teach them the ways of the hawk so they can survive in the big world. Arthur has the nest full of food and the other two appear to be healthy. It has been the wettest season I can remember on this nest and I hate ‘wet’ nests. Many chicks of various species die from what harbours in that damp and with lung problems.

This made me feel very weepy. Friday and it is pitching down rain on Big Red and Ithaca. Send her good wishes, please.

Cornell’s official notification of the loss of O3.

Sad News_ Red-tailed Hawk Chick _O3_ Dies Shortly After Hatching _ Cornell Lab Bird Cams Download

Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Thursday 8th May 2025

Today was mainly calm and routine – Garry LV0 delivered two fish for Aurora 536 but seems to have adopted a pattern of making her wait, by arriving on the nest with the fish then immediately taking it away, and returning a bit later to give it to her. No mating behaviour has been observed lately, but as they’re off-nest most of the time, we don’t know if it’s taking place elsewhere on one of the other vacant nests in the area, or not at all. The two fish take Garry’s tally to forty three, while Louis, who also brought two fish for Dorcha, raises his tally to seventy five. Steve Q posted his fish statistics for week five, summing up Louis’ output as “Remarkably consistent numbers over the last 3 seasons”. There weren’t any overnight owl visits, but something unseen scared Dorcha off the nest today, leaving the eggs unattended for about two and a half minutes. However, they came to no harm and we’re still on track for first hatch in just about two weeks time. The weather was settled again, another stunning sunset was seen from Nest Two, and the forecast is clear skies and light winds tonight, and a positively balmy 19°C and full sunshine tomorrow.
Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 22.39.20 (04.07.01); Nest Two 22.54.02 (04.12.47)
Today’s videos:https://youtu.be/Rq6jzQKsGi0 N2 Louis settles down to egg duty after delivering the first fish 06.09.05 (zoom)https://youtu.be/tS6l2Py6V74 N1 Yet again Garry makes Aurora wait to get the first fish 10.05.36

https://youtu.be/Z29I7aHzXyoN1 Fish 2 is a repeat of fish one – taken away before Aurora can get it 16.03.12

https://youtu.be/o2ZMRUIF0PQ N2 What makes Dorcha flee the nest? 17.43.47

https://youtu.be/3Ab39-Ps8TI N2 Dorcha’s still wary when fish number two arrives 17.53.59

Bonus action – Before vandals attack any more of our ancient trees, we can become citizen scientists, and help Woodland Trust record ancient trees:

https://ati.woodlandtrust.org.uk

Blast from the past, this day in previous years:

https://youtu.be/hGuegL1duZM N1 What scares Aila at midnight? 2020 (slo-mo)

https://youtu.be/fv2-S7IAT7g N1 Aila employs a tried and tested Louis-removal technique 2020

https://youtu.be/RydYvBR0m5I N1 Aila invents a new Louis-removal technique 2020

https://youtu.be/Ys65Fgfu9sM N1 Unusual visitor – a Twite (Linaria flavirostris) visits 2021

https://youtu.be/oMCTfmauWKA N2 First Owl-strike on Dorcha 2022

https://youtu.be/meJb_ovW0V8 N2 Second Owl-strike on Dorcha 2022

https://youtu.be/ea0yqDp1ups N2 Third Owl-strike on Dorcha 2022

https://youtu.be/uecjKN_3VQI N2 Late night fish supper arrives for Dorcha 2023

https://youtu.be/WD9vJ3lVeMk N1 Garry LV0 & Aida pay a flying visit 2024

https://youtu.be/vXtY4BrntTM N1 Garry LV0 wrestles with a huge clump of moss 2024

https://youtu.be/ZrKyT_jo5DI N2 Dorcha headbutts Louis to get him off the eggs 2024 (slo-mo repeat with zoom)

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

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

Life at home today was very interesting. The plan is to make certain that Toby loves to go in the car and behaves himself when we are out and about.

Many, many years ago when I travelled to Japan regularly, I loved watching the little puppies and dogs being pushed in the specially designed prams for them. I had never seen anything like it! Well, today, Toby got his very own little enclosed stroller so that we can literally take him almost everywhere.

Oh, but wait!!!!!!!! Who’s in the stroller?

Calico: ‘Can I go for a ride, too?’

We did have a delightful day. Toby got to take in all of the shops, see the animals, and even enjoy the sunshine while we had a picnic. No whining, no barking, just a quiet puppy playing with his toys in his carrier or sleeping. Did I tell you that I feel blessed?

Back at home, the energy came out and this old pair of shoes took a bit of a beating!

Being outside really helped to get over the loss at Cornell. Toby and The Girls help, too. As I told someone today, ‘Toby is my heart’. He is the most incredible little creature.

I checked on only a few other nests, but will try and catch up tomorrow. Sometimes it is just nice to ‘stop’ and reflect on how much these amazing birds mean to us.

Heidi’s Nest Notes:

You will be hearing about intruding ospreys – lots of them. Many are the two year olds returning after their first migration. Kielder Forest has some of those visitors.

Another ‘new to here’ intruder and Nest 5A update _ Kielder Ospreys Download

FOBBV: SK Hideaways caught our dear Gizmo and Sunny sleeping alone. Their time with us is getting shorter and shorter. Visit the cam as much as you can – you will not regret it. You will only regret it if you don’t. https://youtu.be/vnLAyVBKCPI?

Trempealeau Bald Eagles: Baby has a full crop!

Video of little T3 protecting the nest. https://youtu.be/tYbkLV7v-60?

Duke Farms: ‘PB’ writes: “Duke Farms. 6:31am…mom brings fish and feeds all 3 then dad brings large Eel and other 2 share a meal…all 3 having breakfast!”

Hellgate Canyon: Iris has a new male companion and he brings fish. What more can we ask? Oh, and he’s pretty cute.

Will there be more eggs?

If the first clutch is lost early in the season, they may attempt a second nesting attempt. A second clutch is likely if the eggs are lost early in the season, but the pair is less likely to breed again if the eggs are lost later in the season.

Here’s a more detailed explanation:

Single Breeding Attempt: Ospreys generally have only one breeding attempt per year.
Early Loss: If the first clutch of eggs is lost early in the breeding season (before the eggs hatch), the pair may attempt to lay a second clutch.
Timeframe for Second Clutch: A second clutch is usually laid about three weeks after the failure of the first one.
Late Season Loss: If the eggs are lost during the middle or later stages of the breeding season, the pair is more likely to skip breeding that year.

Dr Greene has some thoughts for us:

“Hi everyone,

Sorry for the radio silence – I have been travelling and busy. At the start of the season, we cautioned you to buckle your seatbelts for the Hellgate Soap Opera! And our cautionary warning was warranted – there has certainly been a lot going on.

Finnegan did not return, and alas, we suspect that he might have died over the winter. He could have gone somewhere else, but with such a successful breeding season last year, if he was still alive he would have most likely returned to the Hellgate nest.

Louis visited Iris and mated repeatedly with her, and she laid three eggs (April 29, May 1 and May 4). Iris’ behavior is very interesting: without a dedicated mate, she has not been super attentive to her eggs. We suspect that from previous experience, she knows that without a partner bringing her food and helping to share incubation with her, the eggs won’t survive. So she has been flying off leaving them unguarded.

The astounding thing to us is that the half life of an untended osprey egg is measured in seconds or minutes!! Almost as soon as Iris leaves an egg untended, a raven swoops in and flies off with the egg. This demonstrates the need for the eggs and small chicks to be tended 24/7, and without a bonded pair bringing up young is not possible.

But a few days ago, NEW GUY 2 showed up, and Iris seems to be pairing with him! He has been bringing in fish and driving off Louis. This is exactly what happened last year, and so Iris may lay some more eggs. Stay tuned . . . .

I have posted a timeline that summarizes events from the 2024 breeding season (on the bottom half), and the 2025 events so far.

More later!

Think pure thoughts, Erick Greene and the Montana Osprey Team

More osprey news from Geemeff for us!

Ospreys will nest where they want to nest, whatever humans do! Let’s hope the landowner doesn’t kick this nest into the water again..https://www.easthamptonstar.com/villages/202558/ospreys-return-to-site-wrecked-nest

——————-

A migrating Osprey spotted at night!

https://www.inyourarea.co.uk/news/sefton-coast-natterjack-toad-song-an-experience-to-be-remembered

I will continue with the Spark Birds that inspired you. If you have a comment on a bird, please send it. Thank you!

Thank you for being with me today. Please take care. We hope to see you soon!

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, comments, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘Geemeff, Heidi, PB’, Cornell Bird Lab Red-tail Hawk Cam, Cornell Bird Lab, SK Hideaways, Trempeauleau Bald Eagle Cam, Montana Osprey Project/Cornell Bird Lab, Dr Greene, East Hampton Star, inyourarea.co.uk, Duke Farms, Colonial Beach. Osoyoos, Smallwood, Patuxent River Park Nests 1 and 2, Kielder Ospreys

Thursday in Bird World

8 May 2025

Hello!

Sssshhhhh. Toby is ‘not’ spoiled.

Toby has grown. He has legs! So far, he does not mind his collar and having his leash attached going about the house. He goes to his potty pads, twirling around like a ballerina, which is a good sign that something is about to happen. My son says I must teach him to sit and to behave on his lead. I do not doubt that this intelligent little man will be fine.

If I forgot to say, Hugo Yugo and Toby slept in the bend of my left arm Tuesday night. Calico was back on the conservatory table this morning and well, The Girls have settled into their ordinary routine and just don’t seem to be bothered by his presence this afternoon.

The weather continues to be ‘weird’. It is going to be 36 C next week. I have a serious problem with this because of the dryness and the fires. What about the birds? I have lived in Manitoba, on and off since I was a late teenager, and having a 36 degree C was something that was rare. Of course, that temperature has been more familiar the last four or five years but not until ‘summer’. Not the beginning of May. We will make certain there is plenty of water for all the outdoor animals.

Today, Mr and Mrs Crow began, in earnest, to eat the cheesy dogs, which tells me that they have either babies in the nest or are thinking about it! The Blue Jays are here in earnest, and Dyson took five peanuts this evening at one go! She has to be at least ten years old, and it is her.

My goodness. When ‘LS’ submitted her ‘Spark Bird’, I am not certain she realised how many people love Harriet and miss her so much. The fact that we will never know what happened to Harriet has left holes in so many hearts. People are pleased that M15 was able to raise their last two eaglets, E21 and E22, alone and that he was happy to find a new mate BUT everyone would like Harriet back! Thank you, ‘LS’ for taking us down memory lane – albeit full of tears.

Eleven people sent in the name Louis. You know who you are! No, not Iris’s Louis, but Louis from Loch Akraig, specifically Louis with his mate Aila, whom they met during the pandemic when the pair raised their triplets, JJ5, JJ6, and JJ7. 400,000 people are said to have watched the couple from the Loch Arkaig I nest that year. When Aila did not return, Louis moved the nest to nest 2, where he raised chicks with his current mate, Dorcha. I must admit that I was devastated when Aila did not return, and it did take me a while to warm up to Dorcha.

Louis and Aila feed the triplets. https://youtu.be/jBE6pWdWlgM?

News of a Norwegian osprey couple! What a gorgeous place for a nest! https://youtu.be/C8B9sYYWo58?

Big Red and Arthur: It appears that the last two eggs are pipping. O2 is taking some time and we have seen this many times this year. Wishing both those little ones a good hatch!

O2 has hatched!!!!!! Arthur has covered the nest with chipmunks and squirrels. O3 is on its way too and should arrive by today. What joy!

I love watching Big Red and Arthur raise their family. Arthur just fills up that nest with every kind of critter he can so that no one ever goes hungry. Big Red stuffs those babies and keeps them warm and cosy alternating brooding with Arthur. I cannot tell you how much I adore this Red-tail Hawk. She is, of all the birds on streaming cams, my ‘Spark’ Bird.

SK Hideaways has all the drama at Ithaca on video! https://youtu.be/yWjP7_1t5Os?

Cornell Bird Lab shows us that O3 is almost here! https://youtu.be/0WWZd7Gi0H0?

Someone commented about all the prey. Thank goodness for Arthur’s good hunting skills. The pantry is always full and in case of a bad weather day this is essential for these babies. Great parents.

Hellgate Canyon: The New Boy has finally brought Iris a fish!!!!!!!!!! Viewers around the world jumped up and down for joy and shed tears. It appears not to be Finnegan – I really hoped it was – but, a new male interested in our Queen and her nest.

Foulshaw Moss: White YW and Blue 35 incubating eggs. It won’t be long.

Agrippina & Antares Peregrine Falcons: https://youtu.be/kMtd_9UtYfE?

Jose City Hall Falcon Scrape: ‘PB’ sends us a screen capture of some very full crops! Monty and Hartley are taking superb care of these four. Brilliant.

Our favourite couple, Jackie and Shadow bonding at Big Bear: https://youtu.be/Ou9u3uMPdZ4?

Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Wednesday 7th May 2025

Today’s main story is all about Aurora 536 – we received word today that she was ringed in Loch Fleet in Sutherland in 2022. This means she’s a three year old, and a good match for five year old Garry LV0 who was ringed in Loch Garry in 2020. They’re both young and healthy, he’s an excellent fisherbird and has a good nest with a well stocked loch nearby, and she appears to have adopted him and his nest. So everything has aligned for them to be successful parents – fingers crossed it works out as hoped. The Tawny Owl who visited Nest One this morning might find surprise occupants next time if the young pair produce eggs this season! Garry brought two fish taking his tally to forty one, and over on Nest Two, Louis’ three deliveries for Dorcha take his tally to seventy three. The weather was settled and the day ended with a colourful sunset best seen from Nest Two, and the forecast promises more settled weather and sunny spells tomorrow.

Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 22.46.52 (04.23.21); Nest Two 22.56.24 (04.31.52)

Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/iZCtZxSvdtQ N1 A male Tawny Owl visits, calls but gets no reply 04.06.45

https://youtu.be/zoVG6Xtn21o N2 Dorcha has a quick nibble before departing with fish number one 05.54.01

https://youtu.be/9AUcpQbxfI4 N1 Lunch arrives for Aurora 13.21.08

https://youtu.be/ICUoOHx0qBg N2 Louis delivers a second fish for Dorcha 16.44.58

https://youtu.be/qGapMARckT8 N1 Aurora gets the second fish when Garry brings it back again 18.22.50

https://youtu.be/AFxIoXOi7hU N2 Dorcha’s fish supper arrives against a colourful sunset sky 21.13.23 (quick time)

Blast from the past, this day in previous years:

https://youtu.be/8OaqnwQiaBI N1 Aila does a bit of Louis-bashing before he takes the hint 2020

https://youtu.be/2qFBiVop8DQ N1 Clumsy Louis clatters the camera! 2020

https://youtu.be/T8wmG4NbfIo N1 Late night bat visits Aila 2020 (slo-mo)

https://youtu.be/VA8CwMT9qyA N1 Eurasian Siskin and Crossbill visit 2021

https://youtu.be/0FlIlYJMsGQ N2 Cheeky Tawny Owl perches on the nest 2022

https://youtu.be/LcPUWA3mWDo N2 Tawny Owl strikes Dorcha then returns to perch on the nest 2022

https://youtu.be/kJIFH0RyeSk N1 Louis pays a visit to his old nest 2023

https://youtu.be/6z_D0r_72h4 N1 A little songbird flits around for a while, then nudges a stick over the side 2024

https://youtu.be/1MzoKTgPm4w N1 Aida lands on the perch, welcome back, we missed you 2024

Why not come and join the lively community at Woodland Trust’s Osprey forum, it’s friendly, free and everyone’s welcome:

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

I am so angry. There are some of us that wish we lived in Virginia and could make an impact on these decisions. The ospreys and their chicks are dying. We saw this in earnest in 2024. Have a read!

“Menhaden – Little Fish, Big Deal!

Thomas Lilly · nsdoorpetSccag140a5f51a25m8i0a227h3i9ca1ca8a66u1hch057g8ati3 ·

In case you haven’t heard the menhaden board met today at 1 PM to discuss area and seasonal protective options for Chesapeake Bay menhaden …the options the work group proposed concentrated on ospreys and their critical times for raising young for example May 1 through August 15 . Area restrictions were proposed by the WG for Chesapeake Bay and the mouth of Bay during the critical time periods.

Please be aware that Lynn Fegley, the director of DNR fisheries and Allison Colden , CBF’s chief scientist who was the Maryland representative on the work group sat in silence when the time came for them to make a persuasive presentation on the options that they favored, the benefits of the options and the benefits to Maryland. A few questions were directed to them about ospreys and striped bass and they gave very incomplete one might say incompetent answers. For example, they could not explain to the questioner the difference between the freshwater ospreys, successful breeding, and the saltwater ospreys that rely on menhaden to survive’s dismal breeding success. This is completely covered in Dr Bryan Watts’s scientific article titled a Tale of Two Bays , but they ignored these well-known sources or had never bothered to read them.

Lynn Fegley and Allison Colden are two very intelligent women who decided to sit mute during the most important moment that we have ever had for Chesapeake Bay in so far as protecting its food supply. I am quite sure they had read all of the articles about ospreys and that they completely understand the ERP science it says when ospreys and striped bass are in poor condition it is menhaden over harvesting that is to blame. The ERP science was never mentioned. They both know completely, how our Maryland recreational, commercial and charter fishing for striped bass has collapsed but they did not discuss it. Their silence was deafening .

The question is why these two menhaden board leaders did not speak out to convince this board to adopt options to protect Maryland. When the time came for them to make a motion for the board to pass protective options to protect our bay’s food supply, they sat in silence. Because of the inaction of these two people today , there is nothing that is going to happen to prevent the starvation of thousands of osprey babies this season and nothing to prevent more of our charter fishing captains from going out of business and no hope for progress here to restore the bay’s food supply so millions our children could enjoy the bay the way it should be.

If you can find factual evidence as to why this disaster to Chesapeake Bay occurred I hope you will post it on this website so the public will know why this happened

By the way, the end result was this board abdicated its responsibility and kicked the matter back to “discuss” it again in August. You can be sure that in Virginia’s Pat Geer and his cohorts at Omega protein are celebrating victory, once again, tonight., I expect the advocates for menhaden reform are in shock over what happened today.”

Black Stork Nest in Poland: Two hatches on Wednesday!

Golden Eagle Nest in Latvia of Spilve and Gristlis: One egg has hatched. Still watching and waiting to see if the second egg will hatch.

Black Stork Nest of Kergu and Kerli: They are still incubating. The eggs were laid on: Looduskalender Forum listed when the eggs were laid:

1. egg on 21.4.2025, 00:06
2. egg on 22.4.2025, 23:35
3. egg on 24.4.2025, 22:41
4. egg on 27.4.2025, 02:02

Wild Bucovina Golden Eagle Nest 2: Eaglet was stuffed today!

Bety and Bukachek, Mlade Buky, Romania: Incubating two eggs (I think).

Glaslyn: Teifi and Elen have been at the nest. Individuals are observing Aran who is remaining in a familiar place and fishing for himself.

Ladies showing off their osprey eggs!!!!!!! Heidi’s Nest Notes are Visuals today! Love the labels – those really help. Enjoy!

Port Lincoln Ospreys: New has come in that Phantom is alive and well. Fran Solly writes,

“In what surely is the proverbial “needle in a haystack” search we were thrilled to find Phantom this afternoon and to see her with another bird. Phantom is the 2021 female bird from the Price Artificial Platform. She flew to Kangaroo Island shortly after fledge. In October 2024 her tracker stopped operating but locals reported sightings of her. Today we can confirm those sightings with these photos.”

Ospreys of Nova Scotia: Names have been chosen for Oscar and Ethel’s chicks by popular vote: Nova, Russell, and Sunny. Congratulations. Lovely names!

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

Thank you to the following for their posts, comments, notes, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘Geemeff, PB’, Liz Bracken, Norwegian Ospreys, Cornell Red-tail Hawk Cam, SK Hideaways, Montana Osprey Project/Cornell Bird Lab, Cumbria Wildlife Trust, Agrippina & Antares Peregrine Falcons, San Jose City Hall Falcon Scrape, Geemeff and The Woodland Trust, Menhaden- Little Fish, Big Deal FB, Bociany Czame Online, LDF, Looduskalender Forum, Wild Bucovina, Mlade Buky Stork Cam, Bywyd Gwylld Glaslyn, Dahlgren, Forsythe, Kent Island, Fortis Exshaw, Maryland Western Shore, Cape Henlopen, Port Lincoln Ospreys,

Wednesday in Bird World

7 May 2025

Good Morning Everyone,

You are all truly amazing! I absolutely cherish your questions, and I want to apologise for not being able to respond to each one personally. Time often slips away from me, but please know that every letter and comment you send means the world to me. Keep those questions coming! I promise to do my utmost to address the latest inquiries before we shift our focus to our beautiful feathered friends.

Hugo Yugo’s Fan Club is eagerly awaiting updates on her upcoming surgery and her dental health. I truly appreciate all the love and concern you’ve shown! Hugo Yugo is set to undergo surgery and extraction on June 11, but to be honest, I’m uncertain about what will actually be done.

I’m thrilled to share that we’ve been diligent in brushing her teeth twice a day, sometimes even three times. Recently, we’ve noticed a positive change: Hugo Yugo has started eating kibble instead of her usual chicken and rice wet food. I believe this shift has been beneficial in helping to clean her teeth.

At the moment, I can only spot a very tiny red area, with no signs of extensive redness in her gums. I want to remain hopeful and cautious—so I’ll knock on wood that I’m seeing accurately and not just what I want to see. We have an important follow-up in five weeks, and I’m optimistic about what we’ll discover!

The second most frequently asked question is: How are The Girls adjusting to Toby? As of Tuesday evening, Toby has been with us for 72 hours, or three days. Initially, The Girls were filled with curiosity; they simply can’t comprehend what “a tiny bundle of energy” means. While Toby isn’t a cat, he has certainly intrigued them. There have been a few hisses as they navigate this new presence. Baby Hope, in particular, prefers to keep her distance from Toby. Meanwhile, Hugo Yugo is always on guard, closely observing him, while Calico has surprisingly become more focused on Toby and is leaving Missey undisturbed. Missey, for her part, quietly watches from a distance.

Despite these initial adjustments, The Girls gradually returned to their familiar routines. Hugo Yugo continues to demand food with his usual enthusiasm, and Calico was extra affectionate with Anne today, vying for her attention. Overall, they are settling back into their typical behaviours. We’ve devoted ample time to engaging with them in our usual activities, ensuring they feel cherished and not sidelined.

The third question everyone seems to be asking is: How is Toby doing? Anne had the pleasure of meeting Toby for the first time today, and she was thoroughly impressed—she gave him the thumbs-up! Toby’s role as a therapy dog is already taking shape, and while he will receive formal training soon, he is truly stepping into that role exceptionally well.

During a walk, Anne and Don expressed some concern about leaving Toby home alone. However, when they returned, they found him peacefully asleep in his little bed, completely undisturbed. It’s heartwarming to see how much joy he brings, especially as he energetically shakes his new toys like a bull in a ring. It’s amazing to think how strong a 1.5 kg puppy can be!

Toby is now sporting a brand-new collar; we had to hunt for an extra extra small size, but we finally found the perfect fit. Today was also a success because we discovered his ideal food at a charming family-owned shop that specializes solely in pet food—no beds or toys. The shop is just a few blocks away and offers free delivery, which will be incredibly convenient for me in the future. Toby is truly settling in wonderfully! I feel blessed and every day I am just so grateful. I feel surrounded by very supportive individuals, including yourselves. That means the world to me.

I have exciting news to share! The young man who provided invaluable help with snow shovelling this winter will now take on all our gardening responsibilities. I’ve come to a realisation about my capabilities and limitations, and my top priority is to ensure Don remains comfortable at home without completely depleting my energy.

While I’m still searching for someone to assist with house cleaning, my strategy is to save the funds I would have spent on a regular cleaner and hire a professional service for a comprehensive deep clean twice a year. Besides, the floors need cleaning once or twice a day with four cats and a puppy. How much fur (hair?) finds its way into the corners is amazing! This way, I can maintain a comfortable environment for Don while hopefully managing my well-being as effectively as possible.

Spring has arrived. Green is popping up everywhere. It was cooler today. 16 C instead of 28. What a change! We are now under a fire ban because it is so dry so no outdoor fire pits or barbecues. Plants ordered on a fundraiser for the feral kittens arrive next Saturday so we will begin to have some colour and there are plans for seven 8′ tall cedar trees (I think they look like Lebanon cedars- very upright). We have a pen to put together so Toby can be outside when we are working in the garden. Hopefully The Girls don’t decide they want to go out too! They can’t.

Toby plays really hard for about 30 minutes and then instantly goes to sleep for at least 2 hours. And I am sleeping well!!!!!! Can’t believe it.

The most fun is playing chase and soon, I think that The Girls will join in. For now they know to get up higher than the ‘little yapper’. Hugo Yugo watching Toby – will try to get a chase scene soon!

Well, a major break through. Both Toby and Hugo Yugo slept together in my left warm pit last night. Yippeeee.

I truly appreciate your kindness, and I think of you every day. I hope you’re in great health and making the most of the outdoors whenever possible. Getting outside is essential for our mental well-being and for keeping our bodies active for as long as we can! Even taking a moment to sit and listen to the birds can rejuvenate a tired spirit almost instantly.

Spark Bird: There is a lovely little book by a similar name about birds that inspired people to become involved in birding. For many of us, the birds that catapulted us into wanting to know more, to help preserve, and to educate ourselves came through the nests on the streaming cams. So many of you responded to ‘LS’s’ comments about Harriet being her spark bird, and it brought back tearful memories. Indeed, so many of our much-loved birds are no longer with us. Still, we need to keep them alive in our memories, and they are, of course, alive in the DNA of their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, should they have been lucky enough to have survived those treacherous early years. Tens of thousands of people certainly loved Harriet – if not more.

For ‘CL’, a local bird sparked her love of everything with feathers. She writes: ‘I grew up on The Orkneys. At the weekend, my parents would take me and my brothers and sisters to the shore to tire us out looking for ‘pirate treasure’. I was captivated by the Purple Sandpipers that populated the shore especially when the tide went out.

I had never heard of a Purple Sandpiper so I had to look them up! This is the RSPB’s description: “The Purple Sandpiper is a medium-sized wading bird that is larger, stockier and darker than a Dunlin. It is mainly dark grey above and whitish below. It has a downcurved beak and bright orange legs. In flight, it shows a white wing-stripe. A couple of pairs nest in Scotland, but this species is mainly a winter visitor to almost any rocky coast in the UK. Most are found in Orkney, Shetland and along the east coast of Scotland and northern England – it is rare south of Yorkshire, except in Devon and Cornwall. The breeding areas in Scotland are kept secret to protect the birds from egg thieves and disturbance. It is listed on Schedule 1 of The Wildlife and Countryside Act.”

“Purple Sandpiper ( Calidris maritima ) … Filey Brig , Yorkshire (53266204391)” by peterichman is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

Time to move on….I could ramble all day. Life is beautiful and being surrounded with kindness comforts me more than anyone could ever know. It is calming and reassuring. I am also grateful for many of you who are providing fish for the raptors. I know that several have created koi ponds near to the platforms while others are placing fish – these generous outpourings might prove to save chicks that otherwise might have succomb to heat and starvation. We have taken their land, their resources, and their food supplies. Giving back is a good thing.

Let’s start with Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Tuesday 6th May 2025

Louis started the day by bringing the earliest fish of the season at 5am, and followed it up with a second at tea time, taking his tally to seventy fish, not bad since his season only started on 2nd April. Apart from a few minor alarms, no low-flying owl or Osprey intruders bothered Dorcha or the eggs today, and steady progress is being made towards first hatch. Over on Nest One, the new Arkaig Osprey pair are also making steady progress. No intruders bothered them although Garry LV0 was scared off the nest by a piece of bark. He brought two fish for Aurora 536 which seems to have satisfied her as she didn’t appear when he brought a third fish, and his tally now stands at thirty nine. The promised sunny spells materialised, the weather was settled and due to stay that way with more sunny intervals due tomorrow.

Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 22.28.43 (03.50.45*); Nest Two 22.18.01 (04.19.19)

Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/Ap8s269oY3g N2 Season’s earliest fish 05.00.02

https://youtu.be/xG3Lh8YLrE8 N1 breakfast for Aurora and a bark surprise for Garry 09.23.59

https://youtu.be/oLDAq_ILX7Y N2 Dorcha’s calls finally quieten as fish number two arrives 15.15.09

https://youtu.be/gvIrP6Pu5Q4 N1 Garry brings a second fish and watches a jet go by 16.10.25

https://youtu.be/vtp8n5kldRU N1 Garry brings a third fish, Aurora’s not there so he has a nibble 18.36.00

Bonus read – the many facets of the strong partnership between WT and the People’s Postcode Lottery:

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/partnerships/our-partners/peoples-postcode-lottery

Blast from the past, this day in previous years:

https://youtu.be/rDDH4Z8zHEc N1 Health and safety first, says Louis 2020

https://youtu.be/2ULJmAe1b5E N1 Louis bashes Aila with a big stick 2020

https://youtu.be/B5w5Yemqvyo N1 Social distancing is for the birds! 2020

https://youtu.be/hOnID1xMcys N2 Coronation Day – breakfast fit for a queen arrives 2023

https://youtu.be/usB2iBz2BQM N2 Ringed Osprey visits 2023 (super slo-mo, zoom)

https://youtu.be/Dfmo_U46rCY N2 Dorcha has a stretch and a squirt 2024

https://youtu.be/oI3R7TrjVHA N1 A little Passerine visits 2024

https://youtu.be/sa-_Txps92s N2 Throwing shapes – Louis and Dorcha are winging it 2024

*day cam switched on during cam reset, mid point time used

Why not come and join the lively community at Woodland Trust’s Osprey forum, it’s friendly, free and everyone’s welcome:

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

Heidi’s Osprey News:

Smallwood State Park: Their first baby hatched the evening of 5/6.

Patuxent River Park (nest 1) – Mom and Dad have their first hatch. The hatchling was first seen the afternoon of 5/6.

Patuxent River Park (nest 2) – They also have their first baby, seen the evening of 5/6. The egg cup is very deep and we have not been able to see any eggs. We can just barely see the new baby’s head.

OBX (Outer Banks): Betsy laid her second egg early on 5/7. It was laid almost 5.5 days after she laid egg #1.

Audubon Boathouse at Hog Island: 5/7, Dory laid her second egg early this morning.

Big Red and Arthur: Pip is getting bigger on O2. Just look at how many squirrels Arthur is already bringing to the nest – soon those babies will have a squirrel bed. https://youtu.be/gTDiCN_px-E?

Border Ospreys: Recent update on everything!

FULL SET Download

Trempealeau Eagles: A beautiful scene – Mum guarding her only surviving baby who she is caring for alone.

Denton Homes: If the weather will continue to cooperate, this family will be just fine. Look at those gorgeous eaglets getting their juvenile feathers.

Kistachie National Forest E3: The surviving eaglet is gorgeous and returns to the nest for all to see how well s/he is doing.

Little Miami Conservancy: Two beautiful eaglets squeeing their heads off when food arrives.

Duke Farms: These three look ready to fly!

Fort St Vrain: Chucking down rain on the two surviving eaglets.

NEFlorida: Stunningly beautiful Bodie.

Big Bear Valley: Family Portrait.

Sauces: Betty Lou is gorgeous and much, much loved. She has been standing on the cot rails!

Fraser Point: Lovely.

Tweed Valley Ospreys:

Latest news from Tweed: On 6th May Newboy brought a good- sized fish back to nest 2 where Mrs O was sitting on eggs. She instantly stood up and pounced on the fish and took it in her talons. She began to eat at the nest but a hungry F2 returned and tried to grab the fish. When food is involved, it seems that this is the only time that any aggression between the birds is evident, Mrs O was fiercely holding on to the fish and had no intention of letting F2 take it. A slight squabble broke out and she then launched into the air taking the fish with her. F2 then settled on to the four eggs and the male took off from the nest too. Ten minutes later Mrs O returned to the nest with the remaining leftovers of the fish and she let F2 take it from her.

Loch of the Lowes: Second egg has arrived for the new couple

Loon Preservation Monthly News:

Loon Preservation Committee Month at a Glance Download

Hellgate Canyon: Louis is busy providing fish for Star as she incubates her eggs and there is now a persistent male visitor at Iris’s nest. There is considerable ‘wonderings’ if this is Finn. Did Finn return earlier and was chased away by Louis? Did Finn bring the fish earlier? Remember. I keep saying it. Tim Mackrill and Roy Dennis will tell you. The only two places on an osprey where the plumage pattern does not change is the top of the head and the underwing. It is extremely difficult to get good images of the underwing unless you are lucky enough to be directly under the bird in flight. Images have been posted of Iris and the new male and of Finn. ‘PB; sent me copies for your consideration (and my pondering).

I would like it to be Finn – I would liked it to have been Finn a month ago. I am not sure. It would be nice for Iris to be courted with fish- for her to feel special and I believe that these intelligent raptors know the difference. To Iris and all the love that might come her way still!

Port Lincoln Ospreys: Beautiful Mum was at the barge! Be sure to renew your membership. Every membership (very reasonable) goes to erect platforms for the growing osprey population in South Australia. The Friends of Osprey Sth Australia is incredible – what they do with the funds they have. They have motivated community members and in doing so, everyone protects these endangered raptors.

What cute faces! Monty and Hartley’s little ones lined up for breakfast.

Take care everyone. thank you for being with us today. 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: ‘CL, Geemeff, Heidi, PB’, RSPB, Openverse, Geemeff and The Woodland Trust, Cornell Bird Lab Red-tail Hawk Cam, Rosie Shields and Border Ospreys, Trempealeau Bald Eagles, Denton Homes, Kistachie National Forest E3, Little Miami Conservancy, Duke Farms, Xcel Energy, NEFL-AEF, FOBBV, IWS/Explore, Tweed Valley Osprey Project, Loon Preservation Society, Hellgate Osprtey Cam, Port Lincoln Ospreys, Smallwood Osprey Cam, Patuxent River Park, OBX, Audubon Boathouse, Loch of the Lowes, San Jose City Hall

Tuesday in Bird World

6 May 2025

Hello Everyone,

Morning Update: Hellgate Canyon. The timing could not be more perfect since Finnegan did not return (or did he?). Iris laid her three eggs and poof – Ravens took them. Starr, Louis’s mate, will have her eggs and Louis will be busy providing Starr with fish. The battle of the nest took place on Monday and early Tuesday morning, Iris and the victor sat on her nest together. We wait to see what happens.

[On an Osprey, the only two markings that never change yearly are the head markings and the underwing markings. Remember that. Everything else could vary.]

Big Red and Arthur: O2 making its way. O1 eating well and Arthur is stocking up the nest! It is a Hawk Delight buffet!

Another ‘summer’ day at the beginning of May on the Canadian Prairies. It was a perfect day. Toby’s ‘godmother’ visited with a toy basket full of everything a tiny dog would love to chew. Toby is really feeling at home. He likes to play tug of war with the hem of my long linen dress, growling and hopping around. He had his first bath today. Didn’t seem to mind and loved the drying off with the towel. I hope he sleeps well tonight!

The Girls are fine. They are curious but not intimidating. They keep their distance trying to figure out what this ball of energy that is either wide awake with great energy or sound asleep ‘is’. Not a cat. None of them have ever seen a dog before. It is quite interesting.

Hugo Yugo thinks it is just a great day to sleep in the conservatory where the temperature is in the 30s.

I really would like to hear from you about those birds on the streaming cams that sparked your interest. So send them in! I will try and include one a day for the next few weeks!

‘LS’ wrote: “What sparked me was when I saw Harriet and M15 profiled on the nightly news in 2018. It intrigued me to hear that a camera was installed so the public could watch an eagle’s nest. I would watch occasionally and was fascinated with learning things about eagles I never knew. It was 2020, the year E14, died that really grabbed my heart and attention. When Harriet and M15 reclutched I fell in love with E16 and then E15 who didn’t leave the area until early November. I still miss those 2 eaglets.”

Thank you, ‘LS’.

The last time I checked there was a good size pip in O2’s egg at the Cornell Red-tail Hawk nest of Big Red and Arthur. Cornell Bird Lab has it on video: https://youtu.be/dJNVLRdb6Dc?

More activity at the Ithaca nest! https://youtu.be/Edn2Ayvrt5s?

Hellgate Canyon: There was a lot of activity going on at the nest of Iris today. The third egg was taken by the Raven on Sunday. Today another male took on Lewis and appeared to want to be friendly with Iris. The situation is ongoing.

Xcel Fort St Vrain: Those two surviving eaglets that we worried so much about seem to be doing just fine. Always a relief.

Trempealeau Bald Eagle Nest: Things are going well despite Mr T’s theft of fish. Eaglet has its blood feathers coming in!

White Rock Nest: ‘PB’ writes that the eaglets eat well Monday afternoon. A lovely fish fairy. 🙂

San Jose City Hall Falcon Scrape:

Golden Eagle Nest, Latvia, Spilve and Grislis: Hatch is underway!

Minnesota Landscape Arboretum: First egg for the new couple. Thanks, ‘MP’.

Glacier Gardens Bald Eagles, Juneau, Alaska: Two eggs.

Glaslyn: I posted about Aran Monday morning. What a wonderful osprey he is.

West Point Eaglets: A storm took down the nest and the eaglets have perished just like Scout and Bella’s triplets at NCTC.

Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Monday 5th May 2025

Today’s news is that Blue 536 has been given a name: Aurora. George WTS comments: Now that it looks like 536 is going to stick around we have decided to call her Aurora. This is a popular girl’s name in Scotland these days. Its root meaning is “dawn” which vibes well for her as a new beginning for Garry and Nest One. It is also a nod to the northern lights aka aurora borealis. Aurora strengthened her claim to Garry LV0 and his nest by bring some moss and a tiny twig and doing a little gentle nestoration. Garry on the other hand spent time mating but didn’t bring any fish, although we suspect he is providing fish to her away from the nest. His tally remains at thirty six. It was far busier on Nest Two, where Louis and Dorcha had at least two incursions by intruder Ospreys, and Louis spent much time fighting aerial battles. He still managed to find time to fish, and brought one fish to the nest, raising his tally to sixty eight. The overnight forecast is for a clear sky and light winds, and sunny intervals tomorrow.

Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 22.39.32 (04:10.24); Nest Two 22.57.08 (04.21.44)

Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/VvL_ZaQsu7s N1 Woodland Trust have given Blue 536 a name – hello Aurora! 06.10.22

https://youtu.be/PNRVXZc0NDU N2 Louis alarm calls as an intruder Osprey flies overhead 08.10.56

https://youtu.be/GVFzskmn1_s N2 Dorcha’s fish number one and only finally arrives 16.16.04

https://youtu.be/SYZq9BrLbWs N2 An unringed Osprey intrudes on Louis who gives chase 16.28.58

Bonus read – plan to connect rainforest habitat from Cornwall to Scotland

https://www.scotsman.com/hays-way/scotland-included-in-ps40m-project-to-connect-rainforest-habitat-along-uk-coastline-5112723

Blast from the past, this day in previous years:

https://youtu.be/vi57aF6RvWs N1 Aila suffers an owl strike 2019 (slo-mo)

https://youtu.be/50n9gpytiy4 N1 A typical night on the nest for Aila 2020

https://youtu.be/fCzbYErsSgA N1 Persistent Hoodie won’t leave Aila alone 2020 (Slo-mo)

https://youtu.be/pBzJsBFIzek N1 Strange Osprey lands on the empty nest 2023

https://youtu.be/Rg-hxBiPEPM N2 Louis has an aerial encounter with an intruder 2023 (zoom)

https://youtu.be/4KzkpgYcDBc N1 Aida arrives fish calling, Garry LV0 arrives with moss but ignores her 2024

https://youtu.be/eX9kUX1m6QM N1 Aida wants fish, Garry wants to mate and gets rejected 2024

https://youtu.be/J0T2g4AjXv0 N2 Finally – Louis delivers the first fish to Dorcha 2024

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

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

Geemeff sends us a good news story about Laysan Albatross, Wisdom!

74 years old, she is a marvel, has a chick this year: https://friendsofmidway.org/the-wisdom-ohana-family/

Yes, we get attached to them!!!!!!!!!!! Citizens in Wales love their ospreys.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/may/03/nesting-ospreys-villagers-excited-wales-usk-valley?CMP=share_btn_url

Why should wildlife ever lose out? But especially when there is criminal activity underway?

Why should wildlife lose to businesses underpinned by criminal activity Mark Carwardine on driven grouse shooting BBC Wildlife Magazine Download

If you are a member of Ospreys of Nova Scotia, voting is now underway for three names for Ethel and Oscar’s 2025 chicks! Great names suggested! And voting made easy. Just click on the name.

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

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, comments, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘Geemeff, Heidi, MP, PB’, Cornell Bird Lab Red-tail Hawk, Montana Osprey Project/Cornell Bird Cam, Trempeauleau Bald Eagle Cam, White Rock Eagles/D Hancock Foundation, LDF, Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Ospreys, Glacier Gardens Eagles, Bywyd Gwylld Glaslyn, West Point Eagle Nest, Geemeff and The Woodland Trust, Xcel Energy, Friends of Midway, The Guardian, Raptor Persecution UK

Monday in Bird World

5 May 2025

Good Morning Everyone,

We have now had Toby at home for 24 hours (when writing this). I am shocked at how ‘chill’ this little bundle of joy is. He was only placed on his potty pads once, and he uses them all the time. He is eating and drinking well. I can hardly believe it. Toby thinks Hugo Yugo’s beautiful, thick tail is a toy. So far, only a hiss from Baby Hope once.

It is a lot of work; I will not make this sound easy. I have many ‘babies’ to care for now, but having these lovely souls surrounding me is also bliss. I cannot imagine little Toby anywhere else, not for a second. The Girls got on with their own lives later and were less curious.

I am looking forward to Toby being able to walk – short ones. Tomorrow we will try him in his backpack!

It is summer on the Canadian prairies. Today, it was 28 degrees C. Lilac buds are bursting open, and the grass is turning green before our eyes. We are now in a high fire warning because everything is so dry. We could use some of the rain that fell in some of the southern US.

We have done a little checking on some nests for you!

Loch of the Lowes: This is the first egg for the new resident pair, replacing Blue NC0 and Laddie. The female is LF25.

First egg for new osprey pair at Loch of the Lowes _ Scottish Wildlife Trust Download

Big Red and Arthur at Cornell: 01 has its feeding and Big Red gets a break. Great little Arthur comes in and broods and incubates.

The rain stopped and started again in Ithaca.

There could be a pip in another egg. Stay tuned.

CW Nest, Wales: Following is being reported: “Brenig Osprey Project is at Llyn Brenig.

North Wales Wildlife Trust Llyn Brenig

Our friends, Friends of the Ospreys have sent us some great news regarding Roli KA5 2019 born Llyn Brenig. Diolch yn fawr!!!

Update on the Chris Wood nest

The last couple of weeks this pair have been defending the nest, they’ve established a territory keeping other ospreys away, the first few days they had a male Osprey from a nest not far away visiting and making a nuisance of himself, but all that looks to be settled now, they’ve built up the nest with lots of nesting material and everything is looking really promising for a successful season. Male KA5 2019 from the Llyn Brenig nest, an offspring of Blue 24 and Blue HR7 and female 7C1 2022 from a private nest in the Lake District, offspring from male 9C 2014 who’s an offspring of 11/98 and Mrs G from the Glaslyn nest.”

Kielder Forest: Latest updates.

Update on some nests _ Kielder Ospreys Download

Hellgate Canyon: A wet day for Iris and for the third egg. She looked down at her egg for a few seconds and flew off the nest. The Raven came and took the egg immediately. Iris is intelligent as are all raptors. She knows what happens. I am sad for her that Finnegan did not return – he would most certainly have if he could. No doubt he succomb to something and died or is injured and in care somewhere. Without Darvic rings we do not know.

I am also glad that Iris had a wonderful year in 2024. It was such a privilege to share her joy at having a mate that helped her raise two wonderful chicks, Sum-eh and Antali. That precious year lives on in them.

Send Iris positive energy. Raptors have feelings and I do ache for this wonderful gal, in the same way as I agonise for those females that find themselves sharing nests for whatever reason this happens, we do not know.

Trempealeau Bald Eagle Nest: Despite what I just said, so far this little one appears to be doing alright.

Glaslyn: Aran was photographed in the area. He has not been at the nest for a few days but has been seen chasing intruders. Teifi came to the nest and was on the perch with Elen. It could be the end of an era and the beginning of a new partnership.

To be clear, I adore Aran. He returned very late this year, and Teifi had already settled in. I am glad that neither has fought to the death. Aran has raised a total of 26 chicks at the Glaslyn ospreys’ nest. He has successfully raised two chicks with Elen in their first year together, and three chicks last year. Previously, Aran raised 18 chicks with Mrs. G.

This is the history of Aran at Glaslyn from the Bywyd Gwylld Glaslyn website:

Bywyd Gwyllt Glaslyn Wildlife

Bywyd Gwyllt Glaslyn Wildlife > Osprey Profiles

OSPREY PROFILES

Mrs G

Mrs G was first discovered breeding in the Glaslyn nest in 2004. It is also possible that she was the female osprey that a male was seen displaying to in 2003. It was mid-summer, the time we would expect to see two and three year old ospreys prospecting for partners.

Sadly she failed to return in 2023 for what would remarkably have been her 20th season breeding in the Glaslyn Valley.

How old was she? As she was not ringed we did not know her exact age and previous history, but we do have a few clues that might indicate her possible age. It is known that three-year old birds tend to arrive during April and two-year old birds tend to arrive from late May onwards. We know the exact date the chicks were killed in 2004 and can estimate their approximate age from their plumage. By working the dates back we can guess that Mrs G would have arrived approximately around the 20^th April that year. Spot on for a three-year old bird. We know for certain Mrs G arrived on 22^nd April in 2005, further supporting the case that she was a probably a young female. Inexperienced younger females also tend to have smaller broods, there were only two chicks in 2004 and only two eggs hatched in 2005, although three eggs were laid. We can therefore guess that Mrs G was probably hatched in 2000 or 2001, making her around 22 years old the last time we saw her in 2022.

How many eggs did she lay? At least 60 – we will never know how many she laid in 2004, but we do know there were at least two. 32 eggs with 11(98) and 23 eggs with Aran. The first five eggs in 2015 were either infertile or father unknown.

Breeding Years

2004 to 2022

Number of chicks produced

52 hatched
44 fledged

Apart from the two chicks that were killed in 2004, she also lost a chick in 2006 (the eldest, shortly before fledging) and 2007 (the middle chick at 16 days old – it had been knocked across the nest by a very lively mullet a couple of days before, maybe this was connected). In 2019 the middle chick died at 19 days old. A post mortem revealed that the cause of death appeared to be pneumonia and lung haemorrhage associated with lungworm infestation, together with acute blood loss anaemia. The report also indicated that the middle chick was likely to have been a female.

During 2021, Aran was injured during a storm just days after the first two chicks had hatched and as the third chick was hatching. He was unable to provide fish during this critical early period in their lives and tragically all three chicks died within a week of being hatched.

Mrs G returned in 2022 for her 19th breeding season in the Glaslyn Valley and following an early season ‘brief encounter’ with Z2 / ”Aeron” on the FotO Pont Croesor Nest, she was reunited with Aran to successfully raise a family on the Glaslyn nest for what was to be the last time.

Grand-chicks

130 that we currently know about!

Great grand-chicks

13 so far.

11 (98)

Ochre 11 was hatched at a nest near Aviemore in 1998, before being taken to Rutland Water in July that year as part of the ongoing translocation project. At Rutland he was a fairly dominant youngster, frequently taking fish from other birds in his holding pen. He was released on 7^th August and took an hour to leave the pen. Surprisingly given his subsequent history, he spent several weeks around the vicinity of the reservoir. He was never spotted at Rutland Water as an adult.

In the mid-summer of 2003 local birdwatchers were sure they had seen a male osprey displaying and it was believed that a second osprey was around. It was too late in the season for breeding, but it was hoped that there was a prospecting pair present. In 2004 11(98) was discovered breeding at the Glaslyn nest with Mrs G, although the pair lost their two chicks when the nest slipped during an unseasonal storm. It is very likely that 11(98) was the male osprey that had been seen displaying to a female in 2003.

He wore his ochre plastic darvic ring with the number 11 until 2007, when he confused everyone by arriving back without it. He did not appear to like flounder and was never seen to bring one back to the nest. His favourite fish were mullet and trout and he could often be spotted fishing at Pwll McAlpine, along the Porthmadog Cob. He was a very distinctive osprey and it was always a welcome sight when he was spotted fishing from the cob.

He was last seen on 4^th September 2014 when he was 16 years old.

Breeding Years

2004 to 2014

Number of chicks produced

30 hatched
26 fledged

Unringed male, arrived at Glaslyn on 30^th April 2015. Given the name Aran because when he first arrived, looking from the Visitor Centre, he kept flying in the direction Nantmor and appeared to be flying towards Yr Aran, the mountain peak south of Snowdon. It was also an easy name for to pronounce for non-Welsh speakers.

Aran arrived at the time we would expect to see prospecting two or three-year old ospreys. His behaviour during his first breeding year suggested that he was not an experienced male and his plumage was not what we would expect from a more mature male. Matings were less frequent than we had seen with the old pairing and he appeared rather unsure of how to behave when left alone with the young chicks. For instance, when the chicks were around two weeks old, he made no attempt to feed them when Mrs G was absent for several hours chasing away intruding ospreys, even though they were food soliciting for the fish he had bought to the nest. He is a great provider of fish however, bringing back a large variety of marine species, such as garfish, flounder and sea bass, as well as trout and mullet. He proved to be more experienced in the mating stakes during his second breeding year, as he was also spotted mating with Blue 5F. In June 2016 he demonstrated that he was more confident with the chicks, by feeding them himself for the first time.

During a raging storm on the evening of 20 May 2021, Aran left the nest to fish for his growing family. We did not see him again until the middle of the following afternoon, when the storm was finally calming down. Aran did not have a fish and it was clear from his demeanour that something was not right. Mrs G had fed the remaining scraps of the previous days fish to the chicks during the morning and the very young chicks needed feeding urgently. We realised that Aran had sustained an injury to his right wing and he was clearly fatigued.

After seeking expert advice, we decided to provide supplementary fish near to the nest, in an attempt to give the young family a chance of survival. Sadly, our efforts were not successful and the three chicks died over the course of the following few days. However, the fish we provided gave Aran the opportunity to rest and recover and within two weeks he was catching small fish and another two weeks later he was able to catch reasonably sized fish once again. It was too late in the season for a second breeding attempt, but Aran and Mrs G remained together defending their nest from intruding ospreys. By the end of the season, we were confident that Aran had made a full recovery.

Although he was later returning in Spring 2022 compared to more recent years, he arrived back on the Glaslyn nest on 10 April and soon was re-joined by Mrs G for another successful breeding season.

Number of chicks produced

26 hatched
22 fledged

Geemef’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Sunday 4th May 2025

Today was all about poor Dorcha being bombarded with intruders on Nest Two. Following on from the quick hard Tawny Owl strike last night around 11pm, she then suffered three more strikes in the midnight hour in quick succession, in fact in under eight minutes. She handled it well and neither she nor the eggs appeared to be harmed, but then mid morning the nest was invaded by an unringed Osprey who practically landed on her back before she got rid of it. By the time Louis brought her a lunchtime fish, she must have been ready for a break. Louis only brought that one fish, taking his tally to sixty seven. Over on Nest One, Garry LV0 also brought only one fish which despite making several appearances on the nest only raised his tally by one to thirty six. Nest One also had visits from Tawny Owls but as it doesn’t have eggs needing protection, the visits are merely interesting interludes for the nest cam watchers. The weather was settled today with an owl-friendly overnight forecast of clear skies and light winds and full sunshine tomorrow.

Night cam switchover (day cam): Nest One 22.30.49 (04.23.57); Nest Two 22.56.59 (04.30.39)

Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/AOxOLsyGJV0 N2 Dorcha gets hit by a Tawny Owl while tangled in moss 00.33.37

https://youtu.be/A8PwVgBjiAc N2 Three strikes in <8 mins: 00.33.37; 00.35.21; 00.40.51

https://youtu.be/TXp42g5YDtM N2 Dorcha fights off an unringed Osprey 10.45.08 (slo-mo repeat with zoom)

https://youtu.be/u9NFDlW3qUM N2 First fish arrives at lunchtime 12.36.07

https://youtu.be/eHuYQS2-jyc N1 Fish number one is a whopper! 16.09.48

https://youtu.be/o4X388a7IK4 N1 Is this the first fish returning? Compare and contrast! 19.06.44 (zoom)

Blast from the past, this day in previous years:

https://youtu.be/RZcdDsctW8s N1 Stick-gate! Louis brings a silly stick 2019

https://youtu.be/MkeAZ4Rtyjw N1 Arkaig Ospreys star with Chris Packham, Megan McCubbin & Holly Gillibrand 2020

https://youtu.be/8937KrWsAvQ N1 Aila stands on Louis’ tail 2020

https://youtu.be/E9pd_5HuvsU N1 Hoodie chases Louis and his fish to the nest 2020

https://youtu.be/01RR3gk-KAo WT season highlights 2021

https://youtu.be/MYwuD6jtpBA WT season highlights 2022

https://youtu.be/CMPNawu15bo N2 Louis is blown away! 2023 (slo-mo repeat)

https://youtu.be/HIbtIkk_ELg N2 Unringed intruder lands 2023 (slo-mo repeat)

https://youtu.be/UYHOuHSAjdo N2 Dorcha’s turn to show off her underpinnings! 2023

https://youtu.be/wFCI5B_bVPQ N1 Garry LV0 arrives with moss, calling softly, who’s he watching? 2024

https://youtu.be/5zmxN6jpNNU N2 Dorcha brings a stick and lands it on Louis 2024 (zoom)

Why not come and join the lively community at Woodland Trust’s Osprey forum, it’s friendly, free and everyone’s welcome:

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

Heidi’s Osprey News!

It was a very busy day in my corner of osprey world… seven eggs and a fledge:

South Cape May Meadows: 5/4, Congratulations to Hera and Zeus on their third egg.

Dahlgren: Congrats to Helen and Doug on their first egg of the season, laid on 5/4. This nest was quite unsettled for a long time this spring, and the first egg is about two weeks later than last year.

The Boathouse at Hog Island: The first egg for Dory and Skiff was laid on 5/4. Best wishes for them.

Kent Island, Chesapeake: Audrey laid her second egg on 5/4. Hoping for a better outcome this season for Tom and (new) Audrey.

Forsythe: Opal and Oscar have been in town for about six weeks. Their season has progressed very slowly and I’m not quite sure why… it wasn’t weather or intruders. Opal laid her first egg on 5/4, more than three weeks later than last year.

Fortis Exshaw: Congratulations to Louise and Harvie on their first egg of the season. Louise laid the egg on 5/4 at 20:21.

Moorings Park: Ozzie, the only chick of Harry and Sally this year, fledged at 56 days of age. It was a strong and beautiful flight. It took her nearly 11 hours to make it back to her nest, and she looked exhausted. Some of us were beginning to worry about her. Congratulations Ozzie, well done! Here is a video of Ozzie’s fledge and return to the nest:

Cape Henlopen State Park: The new nest platform was installed over two years ago, but there has not been an osprey pair until this season. Congratulations to ‘Miles’ and ‘Hennie’ on their first egg, laid on 5/4 at 17:50. Everyone is thrilled!

[ FYI, please see my post in the Cape Henlopen Osprey Nest FB group, regarding the names for the Cape Henlopen osprey pair]

Thanks, Heidi, for that great report. Looks like things are beginning to happen!

‘PB’ sends us a fantastic image of the Fab Four at San Jose City Hall!

And of the White Rock BC Mum feeding her two eaglets. If this female could be left alone, she just might make Bald Eagle award lists for incubating alone and brooding, feeding, and hunting. Gosh, she deserves all our good wishes.

Thank you for being with us today. Please take care. See you soon!

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, comments, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘Geemeff, Heidi, PB’, LOTL, Cornell Red Tail Hawk Cam, Kielder Forest, Llyn Brenig, Bywyd Gwylld Glaslyn, Trempealeau Bald Eagles, Geemeff and The Woodland Trust, SCMM, Dalhgren, Boathouse at Hog Island, Kent Island, Fortis Exshaw, Moorings Park, Cape Henlopen State Park, San Jose City Hall, White Rock BC D Hancock Wildlife Foundation

Thursday in Bird World

1 May 2025

Good Morning Everyone,

It is May! The grass is getting green. There are buds on the trees and our favourite market garden opened for the season on Wednesday. Everyone was so happy and couldn’t help but let that spill over to saying hello to everyone! Fantastic. Happiness is contagious.

The White Crowned Sparrows have returned form their migration and spent the morning scratching in the garden. Lovely to have them back.

We are getting ready to pick up Toby on Saturday. Yes, there has been a name change! Yesterday we connected with some neighbours on our walk that had small dogs. It is going to be fun! Toby passed his vet check on Wednesday except for a tiny hernia which will be repaired when he is fixed.

We also noticed how many birds are now nesting in a type of evergreen, a small upright one, since the large elm trees have been cut down in our neighbourhood. Today we are going out to get several of these trees. They grow fast and will give some added protection for our garden friends including the rabbits that like to hide under them.

Hugo Yugo wants to wish everyone a wonderful May Day from her favourite spot in the house. No worries about Toby jumping up there.

Heidi sends some nest news for us:
Osoyoos osprey nest: The first egg of the season was laid on 4/30 at 21:27.

South Cape May: Congratulations to Hera and Zeus on their second egg, laid on 5/1 at 07:37.

Geemeff sends us the daily summary for the Loch Arkaig and the Woodland Trust:

Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Wednesday 30th April 2025

This day last year was all about Aida, the ten-day wonder we thought would be Garry LV0’s mate but who disappeared as soon as she was given a name! Things look very different on Nest One this year however, as Blue 536 arrived on 18th April and has not only allowed Garry to mate successfully with her but has also brought nesting materials and shown Affric 152 the door when she came calling. Garry brought two fish to the nest, taking his tally to twenty eight. However, something unseen caused him to startle and fly off the empty nest with the second fish, dragging bits of bedding as he went. There was no sign of Blue 536 and no intruder caught on nest cam. The residents of Nest Two continued calmly, no alarms, just routine, with three fish delivered by Louis raising his tally to fifty nine. We are now potentially three weeks away from first hatch. The weather was settled and sunny but light rain is expected tonight through to mid morning, and cloudy for the rest of the day.
Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 22.03.57 (04.19.43); Nest Two 22.02.10 (04.38.42)
Today’s videos:https://youtu.be/Jne_dpBphq0 N2 Dorcha departs with the first fish in a beak hold 09.21.29https://youtu.be/SsW5LJKZSBk N1 Garry LV0 brings Blue 536 the first fish of the day 11.00.50https://youtu.be/VEXgE-ScSkQ N2 Is this second fish a Brown Trout or a Silver Tourist? Dorcha doesn’t mind which! 13.48.54

https://youtu.be/5XmPB_jp2N8 N1 Why does Garry LV0 flee the empty nest with fish number two? 19.43.35

https://youtu.be/s52rukepjLI N2 DeliverLouis: A nice fish supper arrives for Dorcha 19.54.11

Bonus listen – latest Woodland Walks podcast from Adam Shaw about another Woodland Trust temperate rainforest like Arkaig Forest:

Blast from the past, this day in previous years:

https://youtu.be/ZIC6oJaL_EM N1 Cheeky Hoodie annoys Louis 2017

https://youtu.be/tg86hWM2aIA N1 Is it the Tawny Owl disturbing Aila? 2020

https://youtu.be/PoQ1BlwQBTE N1 Little plucker! Aila’s drastic action to make Louis move 2020

https://youtu.be/dDUQS2FK7Yw N2 Shouldn’t laugh but.. poor Dorcha! 2022

https://youtu.be/PhoMl4grLhI N2 Louis removal aids! 2023

https://youtu.be/Rwc5CsbBa3w N1 She’s back and she’s got a name – meet Aida! 2024

https://youtu.be/5wDe16_t_eE N1 Aida gets a fish from her boyfriend Garry 2024

https://youtu.be/3rZnQ5f8Qn4 N1 Aida seems willing, Garry makes several attempts but no success yet 2024

https://youtu.be/k5rxoSg2D44 N2 Intruder Osprey touches down next to Dorcha 2024 (slo-mo repeat)

https://youtu.be/RU2k7NeBRZ8 N1 Aida screams for fish but Garry’s eaten it all 2024

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

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

White Rock, BC: Well, the new male, Smudge, is pitching in! Can we hope that these two little eaglets that recently hatched will survive? Wishing for another nest that is compromising for the good of the hatchlings.

Little sweeties being fed by Mum.

San Jose City Hall: Cuteness overload. https://youtu.be/jbOL_HuRLbQ?

Trempeauleau Nest, Wisconsin: It is an eagle nest that I am watching closely so these are all the updates I can find.

Rutland Manton Bay Previous Fledgling: Oh, my goodness 3H3 is really making the rounds!

Great Bay Ospreys:

Charlo, Montana: Lola showing off her egg.

Hellgate Canyon: Beautiful, resilient Iris.

Sandpoint: The Canada Geese have left the property and it appears that Keo has flown by a couple of times to check and see if the property is indeed vacated.

All of the goslings made it to the water safely!

Loch of the Lowes: We now have what appears to be a stable pair on Blue NC0 and Laddie’s nest:

Denton Homes: ‘PB’ sent a great image of a dual feeding Wednesday.

Farmer Derek’s GHO Cam: Starr fludged Tuesday night. Androcat has the mishap on video: https://youtu.be/7A4kOTOF1kg?

German White Storks: ‘TU’ sends us news: “German white storks Sissi and Franz had 4 eggs and few attacks on the nest. Few of them happened even at night time so we could see battles in black and white ) So 3 chicks hatched the same day!” https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10049613998422033&set=pcb.1375529173713873

Kakapo Recovery: Great news.

Common pesticides are killing gorgeous Corellas in Australia. It could happen anywhere.

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/apr/30/fenitrothion-cased-mass-bird-death-little-corellas-newscastle-nsw-epa-confirms-ntwnfb?CMP=share_btn_url

Please turn the lights off!

If you live in Manitoba, consider heading to the Baby Shower at Wildlife Haven in late May.

Thank you for being with us today. Please take care. See you soon!

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, comments, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog today: ‘Geemeff, Heidi, PB, TU’, Wildlife Haven, Ross Ellet, Kakapo Recovery, German White Stork Cam, Farmer Derek, Denton Homes, Sandpoint, Montana Osprey Project, Raptor Resource Project, Diana Lambertson and The Joy of Ospreys, Evelyn Bardoul, SK Hideaways, Terri Anita and White Rock BC Eagles, Geemeff and The Woodland Trust, SCMM, Osoyoos Osprey Platform, Jeff Kear and UK Osprey Info, Rutland Osprey Project

Wednesday in Bird World

30 April 2025

Good Morning Everyone,

It is a special day for Aran at Glaslyn today! They write, “Roll back to April 30 2015. On this day ten years ago Aran landed on the Glaslyn nest for the very first time, when the original male 11(98) failed to return. He arrived just in time and raised two chicks with Mrs G that year. Ten years on and the situation at the nest is no less dramatic!” Well, done Aran.

It feels like winter hit us again! The sky is blue and the sun is shining but it is cold. The central heating is back on and my friend, who was going to put the pump in her pond, has decided to wait til the end of May!

Still, we have wildfires, and this one does not please me. It is about 20 km north of Portage la Prairie, Manitoba. I go to Delta Research to see the birds, and there is an eagle family that has their nest there, which would be close to where the fires are burning.

Some Ospreys continue to arrive in Canada. It feels late, but I am not certain that it is. Will have to check the forms one day.

Snow Lane, Newfoundland: Beaumont is home. We wait for Hope.

FOBBV: Beautiful video of Sunny and Gizmo. Please savour every second we have with them. Soon they will fly and while that is their destiny, what little miracles and what amazing joy they have brought to us, to their parents Jackie and Shadow, and to one another. https://youtu.be/I4WMS9H3HrQ?

‘TU’ sends us some news: “WTE couple from Tatarstan in Russia got their chick and we hope it will be a good season. Couple of booted eagles in the same region have 2 eggs, second appeared yesterday. But as we remember for booted eagles in Spain it was always bad story for the small eaglet.”

Sad news coming out of Hancock Wildlife White Rock Bald Eagle nest:

Why can’t these chicks be moved to another nest for fostering? Or can we have intervention in the form of supplementary fish until the eaglets are old enough for Mum to leave them to go hunting? Or, pray tell, why, knowing the situation, were the eggs not moved to another nest to be hatched and raised? If you haven’t guessed by now, I believe firmly in intervention when it can occur and when there is a chance of a better outcome than watching two little eaglets starve to death.

Hellgate Canyon. Don’t pass out. Iris needed a break and probably some fish and look who came to take care of the egg. Am I dreaming?

The egg was rained on and rolled by Louis and then the Raven took it.

Beautiful Iris and her whopper of a fish.

Charlo Montana: Charlie and Lola have their first egg of the season.

Salisbury Cathedral Falcons:

Cornell Red-tail Haw cam of Big Red and Arthur: We are on pip watch.

Most of us are aware that Murphy the Eagle died some time ago. I received today and I thought I would put all of the information that was sent to me with the question by the reader: “Tragedy struck on a stormy weekend. Violent weather swept through Missouri, and Murphy was found dead in his aviary. Authorities reported that the severe storms and tornadoes that passed near the area played a role in his untimely demise. As First Alert 4 reports, a full necropsy later revealed that he sustained significant head trauma. The sanctuary stated they could not determine if the trauma resulted from a fall or from the fierce winds and heavy precipitation. This uncertainty adds to the sorrow felt by wildlife lovers and local residents alike. Additional reports highlighted the unpredictability of nature. Officials explained that Murphy had weathered many storms during his long life. Yet this particular outbreak proved too much for him. KTVI reports that his death came as a shock not only to the staff at the sanctuary but also to a community that had followed his journey closely. The sanctuary confirmed that no other birds were injured during the incident. They stressed that their safety plans had prevented further harm, though Murphy’s case remained an unfortunate exception.”

So the question is: with the reasonable accurate weather forecasting, why are not raptors and other animals/birds moved inside until the storms have passed? Sadly, I do not know the answer to this question but with climate change the increasing frequency of severe weather, one would think, if funds and staff are available, that all animals would be removed to a safe place until the storm had passed. I think here of the evacuations that occur throughout Florida.

Achieva Credit Union: According to MP, Jack and Jill are being harassed by some very persistent Blue Jays. There it is up on the perch. That Blue Jay is lucky that ospreys only like fish!

Sydney Sea Eagles: Lady and Dad have been photographed.

Heidi’s Nest Notes (please note that she does not cover every nest in the US nor every nest daily, just highlights):

South Cape May Meadows osprey nest: The camera was down for the better part of a few days. It was live streaming again late afternoon of 4/27 for just a couple of hours, and there were no eggs seen. When the cam resumed again on the morning of 4/29 at 07:30, Hera was incubating one egg. So, the egg could have been laid as early as the evening of 4/27, or on 4/28, or overnight on 4/29. Just in case, we should be on egg watch for egg #2 by the afternoon or evening of 4/30.

While the live stream was down, a motion-sensing infrared night light was installed for the purpose of helping us see when there is activity in the dark. The GHO has had a significant presence at the nest all season so far. Please see the following chat posts from the Nature Conservancy of New Jersey, to explain what has been done to try to deter the owl:

_______________

Lake Murray ospreys: It looks as though Lucy will not have any chicks from this clutch of eggs. Lucy laid 3 eggs and one of them broke on 3/29 (not known which egg). Her mate, Kenny, was usurped by the current male on 3/27-3/28. The new male (named Newman) has been bringing Lucy fish, and he has also been doing some incubating. Even if we go out on a limb and say that the two remaining eggs are egg #2 and egg #3, they are ages 44 and 41 days on 4/30, and no sign of a pip.

4/30 – The Frenchman’s Creek chick fledged this morning at 57 days of age! That first flight happened at 09:50, and s/he returned to the nest in just over a minute.

At Syracuse University, two of the Red-tail Hawk eggs hatched on Monday.

Geemeff writes: “Every time I hear anything at all on the subject of hen harrier persecution, my teeth start to ache from being ground very hard. What is it about this amazing bird that causes the idiots with guns who like to kill for ‘fun’ to persecute it so relentlessly? Surely the bird can’t be taking more than one grouse per day in breeding season? Given that the sport shooting industry raise and release around fifty million game birds annually simply to be shot, the very low numbers of hen harriers in the UK can’t begin to make a dent in those numbers. Even if each hen harrier took two or even ten a day, it still wouldn’t affect the vast numbers of game birds reared merely to be killed and most often not even eaten as they’re riddled with toxic lead shot.

It makes me ashamed to have a government that protects the so called ‘sport’ shooting industry.”

https://raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/04/28/138-hen-harriers-confirmed-missing-or-illegally-killed-in-uk-since-2018-most-of-them-on-or-close-to-grouse-moors/

Geemeff continues, “And another four satellite-tagged Hen Harriers have gone missing since the beginning of this year”:

https://raptorpersecutionuk.org/2025/04/28/four-more-satellite-tagged-hen-harriers-have-gone-missing-since-january-2025/

Thank you, Geemeff. You are absolutely right. Anyone who wants to begin to understand just needs to read any of the many books on the topic, but I particularly like Bowland Beth.

And, sadly, it is not just your government. The cutting of funding to rangers, changes to the migratory bird act in the US, etc, make life for all wildlife very precarious. I am embarrassed and infuriated. We all should be.

Falcons and other birds need them to survive. Can we not figure out a way to get along with pigeons?

Ruffling feathers on the allotment | Brief letters https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/apr/27/ruffling-feathers-on-the-allotment?CMP=share_btn_url

Calico’s Tip for Everyone: It’s Migration. Turn out the Lights. Ask your cities and towns to turn them off!

Trempeauleau: Mrs T at Trempeauleau Bald Eagle nest in Wisconsin is incredible. She is going to raise this little eaglet of hers to fledge. I can feel it. The baby is getting its thermal down, and there must be fish ready. Just about as soon as she catches one, or in this case, brings what appears to be a road kill possum and a fish, Mr T comes to get it to take it to the other nest. Regardless, things are going well for now. Let us all send positive wishes that they continue to do so. Is he lazy? Opportunistic? This is his eaglet, too!

Video of Mr T stealing a possum Mum brought in and then a fish. https://youtu.be/KaGPMBaL-dg?

Great Bay Ospreys: Egg #2, 4/29 at 20:05.

Xcel Fort St Vrain: Two surviving babies are doing well.

Geemeff’s daily summary for The Woodland Trust and Loch Arkaig:

Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Tuesday 29th Apr 2025An exciting day today on Nest One where it looks like Garry LV0 and Blue 536 have mated successfully, not once but at least three times today. Furthermore, as if to fully claim possession of the nest (and Garry!), Blue 536 brought a stick to add to the furnishings. He brought her two fish taking his tally to twenty six. We wait to see how things progress, but it’s looking very good for finally having a resident pair on Nest One

since she arrived on Friday 18th April. Over on Nest Two, Louis and Dorcha went about their usual business of giving and receiving fish and taking turns incubating the eggs, and Louis’ two fish deliveries take his tally to fifty seven. Tonight’s forecast is for clear skies and light winds, and a sunny day with gentle breezes tomorrow.
Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 22.10.49 (04.47.08); Nest Two 22.25.41 (04.52.28)

Today’s videos:https://youtu.be/IVnRt58Tuws N1 At last! Successful mating between Blue 536 and Garry LV0 05.13.00https://youtu.be/rOUzWiOpTpI N2 Dorcha’s keen to tear into fish number one 05.47.04https://youtu.be/Rqv12H8GHP0 N1 Handover of fish one is interrupted by an unseen intruder 10.44.31

https://youtu.be/NA39q-kBs_0 N1 Blue 536 accepts the tiny tail end of fish number two 16.50.59

https://youtu.be/il6HhuVaY2s N2 Dorcha’s happy to see Louis with fish number two 18.38.15

Bonus action – a significant, lasting way you can support Woodland Trust and stand up for trees:

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/support-us/give/gift-in-will

Blast from the past, this day in previous years:

https://youtu.be/rxYqoHxXPMY N1 Louis coy-mantles for Aila 2017

https://youtu.be/wO972vIFy8U N1 First mating for Louis & Aila 2017

https://youtu.be/shhxI4hywlY N1 Tawny Owl attacks Aila 2020 (slo-mo)

https://youtu.be/rYQg6ow0Krg N1 Aila helps Louis log on 2020

https://youtu.be/TCoPSKsYP4w N1 Aila chases an intruder leaving the eggs unattended 2020

https://youtu.be/5zVFnXl94p8 N1 Affric & Prince return 2022

https://youtu.be/h0lIyo4MYQw N1 The Art of Weave 2023 (Classic Ospreys: Bach in quicktime)

https://youtu.be/FoF0b5rBZ4s N2 Dorcha’s glad to see Louis bringing breakfast 2024

https://youtu.be/_ptnXEqz0JI N1 Fish number one for Garry’s potential girlfriend 2024

https://youtu.be/en2jZLwlbtg N1 Garry LV0 tries and fails mating with his new female friend 2024

https://youtu.be/KgbhdQWyOZE N2 Dorcha’s not interested when a third fish arrives 2024

Why not come and join the lively community at Woodland Trust’s Osprey forum, it’s friendly, free and everyone’s welcome:

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

Dyfi: Mark the 17th of May for pip watch for Idris and Telyn.

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

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, comments, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog today: ‘BHA, Geemeff, Heidi, PB, SB, TU’, Bywyd Gwylld Glaslyn, SK Hideaways, Newfoundland Power, Terry Anita and Bald Eagles Live Nest News and Cams, Montana Osprey Project/Cornell Bird Lab, Raptor Resource Project, Salisbury Cathedral Falcons, Eagle Cam, Cornell Red Tail Hawk Cam, The Guardian, Raptor Persecution UK, Achieva Credit Union, Bird Conservancy of the Rockies, Trempealeau Bald Eagles, Peace, Xcel Fort St Vrain, SCMM, Lake Murray Ospreys, Frenchman’s Creek, Dyfi Osprey Project

Tuesday in Bird World

29 April 2025

Hello Everyone,

It was positively freezing on Monday. After sorting through the winter boots, coats, hats, and scarves from spring, we now find ourselves digging into the old closet to grab a jacket. Don had his phlebotomy appointment today. So, what is that? It means his body cannot eliminate iron properly. What’s particularly curious to us and his doctors is that the excess iron lodges in his brain. The nurses extract a litre of blood monthly to lower his iron levels. Additionally, I cannot use anything containing iron, such as cast iron pans or foods high in iron (those lovely grapes!). I’ve noticed that his thinking seems clearer afterwards. I have requested they review the literature to investigate any correlation between Hemochromatosis (excess iron in the blood) and Lewy Body Dementia. I even asked if they could flush the iron out of his brain.

Everyone is getting ready for Saturday when we will pick up the little puppy. I had considered naming him after my dad -Clyde. But, the more I look at him, the more he becomes a ‘Toby’. Something easy to say and hopefully easy to remember. Toby will be the size of the cats and smaller than Calico. Will they get along? Toby has grown up with other dogs, cats, and small children. So fingers crossed! Toby is not just a ‘pet’. He is a therapy dog for Don. Whether it is the walks in the woods, the feeding of the chickadees, the restrictions on daily activities, everything that I do for Don is to try and improve his life. Toby is just one more tool in that toolkit. Everyone is getting ready for Saturday when we will pick up the little puppy. I had initially considered naming him after my dad, Clyde. However, the more I look at him, the more he seems like a ‘Toby’ to me. It’s a name that is easy to say and hopefully easy to remember. Toby will be about the size of the cats and smaller than Calico. Will they get along?

Toby has been raised with other dogs, cats, and small children, so fingers crossed! Toby is not just a pet; he is a therapy dog for Don. Everything I do for Don—whether it’s taking walks in the woods, feeding the chickadees, or accommodating daily activity restrictions—is aimed at improving his quality of life. Toby is just one more tool in that toolkit.

The animals outside are doing well, but this morning I only counted four grey squirrels, which causes me some anxiety. Otherwise, there are two reds, one male Hairy Woodpecker, one male Downy Woodpecker, 9 Chickadees, 2 Crows, and 2 Blue Jays. Brock and Squishy come to the feral feeder daily. I saw Star once on the IR in the middle of the night several days ago.

I am so grateful that SK Hideaways put together a tribute to our dear Annie at The Campanile on the campus of University of California-Berkeley. Get some tissues!!!!!!!!!!!! Thank you! https://youtu.be/BdaB7xKYCYc?

Hellgate Canyon: We anticipated this would happen. If the Ravens do their job, Iris’s hormones will soon settle down, allowing her to enjoy a relaxing spring and summer retreat before migrating south to her winter home. Without any chicks to raise, she will quickly regain her strength after laying those eggs. The time for the first was 10:36 on Tuesday.

I feel for her. No male to bring her a fish. No on there to cheer her on. And as Louis gets busy with Star, well, she won’t even have his daily visit. Indeed, Iris did not leave her precious egg once, not once, despite being hungry. Louis did nothing but come and mate right after she had laid that egg. How difficulty would it be for him to bring her a fish. It is afterall his chick!

At the same time, I am so very grateful to have seen her have a dutiful mate in Finnegan last year and raise two chicks to fledge. She was a superb Mum. It is something that I will never forget.

Cornell Bird Lab caught the laying of the first egg on video: https://youtu.be/MozAdjcDKLw?

‘A’ writes: “Isn’t Iris exquisite? She spends her days lying on her nest unless she is off fishing. Speaking of which, her legs and feet look SO strong. I am sad that Finnegan has not returned, if only because it suggests something bad has happened to him. I suspect he would have returned to his Iris had he been able to do so. He seemed very attached to her last season and really looked after her. I remember him coming down to the nest in a rainstorm and trying to keep Iris and the osplets warm by covering her with one wing. He loved her. So it saddens me greatly to think of why he has not returned to Hellgate. How I wish they would band or even track some of these well-known birds – they have huge fan bases after all and doesn’t money talk in this world?”

Heidi’s Nest Notes of US Ospreys:

The Bridge Club osprey nest: Mom laid their third egg at 10:32 on 4/28. I’m not sure if this is the same female as last year, but last season Mom laid four eggs.

Cape Henlopen State Park osprey platform: This male is a rockstar! We don’t know his story, but in my opinion, he has done this before. There are no telltale signs of him being a young inexperienced male. He knows the ropes! Today M brought fish to F four times, he brought in nesting materials 8 times (4 sticks, 4 gobs of soft nesting), and they mated 7 times (not including 2 additional attempts). F is one lucky gal!

Trempealeau: Mr T came and took the food off the nest last night. Mrs T went and got two more fish for her and little T3 Monday morning.

Little T3 valiantly defended the nest against a squirrel while Mum was out fishing.

Tuesday morning, ‘PB’ reports that Mr T took both fish before Mum or T3 could eat! Sorry. Why couldn’t he have left one of them!!!!!!!!

Teweksbury Abbey Falcons: We are on Pip Watch.

Little Miami Conservancy: Eaglets going to bed with huge crops Monday night.

Still waiting for the goslings to hatch at the Decorah Goose Cam.

Ospreys at the nest at Salt Point. The water was a little rough – ospreys need really calm water in order to have success fishing – today.

Kielder Forest has some news.

Mainly intruder news _ Kielder Ospreys Download

At Rutland, folks are getting anxious. These are the dates for those four eggs: Today is day 27 since the first of 4 Osprey eggs were laid on the Rutland Manton Bay nest – 2nd April, – 5th April, – 8th April, – 11th April.

Frenchman’s Creek: The Only Bob is certainly getting some height with its hovering!

Moorings Park: Ozzie hatched on the 9th of March and he is ready to soar into the skies! Harry and Sally raise the most beautiful chicks.

Wetlands: Diana Lambertson reports that the couple have three eggs.

Sandpoint: Will Keo and Keke retake their nest once the goslings jump?

From the peeps, it looks like they might have all hatched.

San Jose City Hall Scrape: Monty and Hartley’s babies are full and ever so cute.

A great feeding! https://youtu.be/jbOL_HuRLbQ?

Sauces: The perfect family.

Lodz: So windy the female falcon got blown off her eggs.

US Steel: USS8 has all its juvenile feathers and is doing well.

Loch of the Lowes: Looks like a failed nest for 2025. Eggs are normally laid by the end of April. Chicks generally hatch late May or early June. Chicks are sometimes ringed at approximately 5 weeks- early to mid July. Chicks fledge at about 7 weeks old- generally late July. It is just getting too late to hope.

Golden Gate Audubon: Richmond and Rosie have two eggs. The first egg was laid on April 21, and the second on April 18, 2025. A third egg may have been laid, but it’s not confirmed in all reports.

Collins Marsh: There appears to be no activity at the osprey platform.

Cardinal Land Conservancy: Growing and Growing.

RSPB Loch Garten: No Sign of Asha since the 25th. A new female is interested in the nest and it appears Brodie might be keen. We wait.

Glaslyn: The air is tense at the Glaslyn nest. Elen and Aran appear to not really be bonding in the way that they were last season. The single egg is still in the nest and most believe it is Teifi’s. Aran has not routed it. Aran needs to eat but if he goes fishing will Teifi come? Will he lose his nest? What a nest mess!

Glaslyn responds Tuesday: “It is now one week since Aran began the battle to regain the nest from KC6/Teifi. Teifi continues to intrude at the nest, but Elen now sees him as a threat to the nest rather than a potential mate and works with Aran to drive Teifi away from the nest.

The fourth egg is still being incubated by Elen, but is ignored by Aran. Elen is unlikely to be responsive to Aran’s attempts to mate her while the egg remains in the nest. At the moment there is still time for the pair to produce a second clutch of eggs. We can only continue to watch and learn.”

Duke Farms: Will they fledge on the same day?

Xcel Energy Fort St Vrain: Just look at these little babies. It was not that long ago that we worried we would lose them.

Denton Homes: There are storms all around the nest and the nest is rocking. Send good thoughts to this family.

OPPD Fort Calhoun: Weather has not hit the nest so far.

San Jose City Hall Falcon Scrape: That little four is doing very well. https://youtu.be/jbOL_HuRLbQ?

Worcester Peregrines: Second eyas has hatched and the third egg has a nice pip as of Tuesday.

Geemeff’s Daily Summary for the Woodland Trust and Loch Arkaig:

Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Monday 28th April 2025

Another quiet day, on Nest Two Dorcha endured a wet and windy night and an equally wet day today, but was largely undisturbed although an intruder Osprey was seen in the distance when Louis delivered his only fish. His tally now stands at fifty five. Over on Nest One, Garry LV0 and Blue 536 spent a little time on the nest together, there were some mating attempts and a bit of nest tidying, and one fish was delivered taking Garry’s tally to twenty four. While we await information on Blue 536’s background, tonight’s bonus guide to aging Ospreys by their plumage might come in handy. The weather forecast is much brighter with light winds overnight and full sunshine tomorrow.

Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 22.00.00 (04.54.34); Nest Two 21.54.37 (05.01.37)

Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/ZtJpeuRvz_Y N2 Intruder Osprey in the distance when Louis brings the first fish 12.21.53

https://youtu.be/19GIHmEPZP8 N1 Garry LV0 brings fish number one and Blue 536 takes it eventually 15.18.57

Bonus read – guide to ageing Ospreys by their plumage:

https://www.raptoridentification.com/raptor/western-osprey

Blast from the past – this day in previous years:

https://youtu.be/tqPb1AiSy7Q N1 Comedy as Louis can’t land a large log 2020

https://youtu.be/T4Z9VmzL130 N1 Aila uses her Louis-removal technique 2020

https://youtu.be/zBSV3MH-9XI N1 A thin unringed female touches down 2023

https://youtu.be/TwlnBA6Kyhs N1 An unringed male lands, is it Louis? 2023

https://youtu.be/qztPfcf4B2M N2 Tug of sticks – mind the eggs please! 2023

https://youtu.be/VXBMGKtIP7Y N1 Garry LV0 pays a quick visit 2024

https://youtu.be/S5UeAmvJ59s N1 An unringed female appears and takes Garry’s fish! 2024

https://youtu.be/VdVTosK8JRE N1 Unringed female returns to Nest One with a rainbow in the background 2024 (zoomed)

https://youtu.be/M7sjCoAxYy8 N2 Intruder Osprey disturbs Dorcha 2024 (zoomed)

https://youtu.be/r7ujjSqFD7g N1 Garry LV0 gives his new girlfriend a second fish 2024

Special blast from the past – When Aila met Louis: they got together for the first time on this day in 2017, here’s their first season:

Why not come and join the lively community at Woodland Trust’s Osprey forum, it’s friendly, free and everyone’s welcome:

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

The killing of Hen Harriers near the beaten grouse moor estates in Scotland has esalated.

138 hen harriers confirmed ‘missing’ or illegally killed in UK since 2018, most of them on or close Download

Conversations surrounding protecting and caring for our planet and its diverse life forms are undeniably political. As my premier and our soon-to-be prime minister champion the establishment of additional national and provincial parks to preserve our environment, another government is determined to dismantle the hard-won advances achieved over many decades. Understanding why logging and mining are strictly banned in national parks is vital—they are essential safeguards for our natural heritage and future. It is up to the people to cry out so loudly that the 9th of April declaration will also halt the shooting of migratory bird populations. As someone who treasures outdoor spaces and all the living creatures that live in them, who has fought for their protection here and elsewhere, I am simply ill.

I want to close with something that has worried and touched our hearts for many years – the Achieva Osprey Platform. One of my long time readers and a keen observer of this nest has worn their computer out writing to people to help. A recent letter was sent to Connor O’Brien with Window to Wildlife. This is part of that response. If you live in St Petersburg, why not take up the baton and with what Connor is saying get on the phone and try to get some help for these lovely ospreys!

This was Connor’s response:

“I’ve heard about this nest, and I’ve been advising a very passionate person on how to get state law enforcement involved. I’m hopeful that it will help. From my understanding, it seems to be a fairly easy fix.

Sadly, it’s not a nest we could afford to take over. If the company reached out to us to work on it, we could help or advise them. At the end of the day, this company should fix it and make it safe. The state government should enforce that as well, since it is a man-made nest.”

Connor is referring to Achieve Credit Union and I find it interesting that he also refers to law enforcement. Please help if you can by writing to anyone in the St Petersburg area.

Thank you so very much or being with us today. Please take care. See you soon.

Thank you to the following for their notes, comments, posts, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog today: ‘A, Geemeff, Heidi, MP, PB’, SK Hideaways, Montana Osprey Project/Cornell Bird Lab, Raptor Resource Project/Cornell Bird Lab, Little Miami Conservancy, Salt Point Osprey Cam, Kielder Forest, LRWT, Frenchman’s Creek, Moorings Park Osprey, Wetlands, Sand Point, San Jose City Hall, Lodz, PixCams, Cardinal Land Conservancy, Bywyd Gwylld Glaslyn, Duke Farms, Geemeff and the Woodland Trust, Golden Gate Audubon, Collins Marsh, Raptor Persecution UK, Xcel Energy, Denton Homes, Denton Homes, OPPD Fort Calhoun, Worcester Peregrines, Teweksbury Falcons, IWS/Explore, Cape Henlopen State Park, RSPB Loch Garten

Category Archives: Cornell

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