Category Archives: eagles that died

Chicks arrived safely…Tuesday in Bird World

2 July 2024

Good Morning Everyone,

It is Monday evening. Thank you for your notes. My DIL is safe as is the Island of Grenada. The small island of Carriacou was almost destroyed. It is a beautiful little place reached by boat from Grenada that holiday makers particularly enjoy. I am hoping that no one was killed.

It was rather appropriate that the rain was pouring down all morning in Winnipeg. The sky was a heavy grey and, that is pretty much how I felt. Sad. It wasn’t that I disagreed with the actions that The Woodland Trust and the Roy Dennis Foundation took, I did. It was just the ‘weight of the situation’ that got me down. Everyone hopes that they got it right. We must believe they did. I wish that Louis had rallied; he didn’t. The chicks needed to be saved before one or both starved. It still hits you hard seeing Louis bring in a fish to Dorcha and the chicks and the chicks not being there.

Those that have loved Louis and his mates for all these years will be processing this slow. We might not see Dorcha or Louis at the nest very much, if at all. All we can do is hope that Louis rests, eats and his health or whatever is bothering him dissipates and he becomes his old wonderful self. We wish Dorcha a recovery from caring for her babies. The females lose weight and she always fed her chicks before herself.

All went smoothly at Loch Arkaig and Louis and Dorcha’s two chicks have arrived safely at Inverness.

Geemeff sent her Loch Arkaig summary:

Daily summary Monday 1st July 2024

The 8th season for the Arkaig Ospreys effectively ended today with the removal of the two chicks from the nest to join a translocation programme which will see them go to Spain. Louis brought an early fish this morning which gave the family their final opportunity to be together, and this season’s tally ends at two hundred and fifty five fish. Woodland Trust Scotland spokesman George says: All went well this morning and the chicks are now with the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation.  More information on the reasons behind the removal can be read here:  https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/osprey-cam/?ht-comment-id=15225467.  LizB provided another one of her valuable off-nest reports to inform us that Louis & Dorcha were perched together while the raptor team were doing their work. The removal of the chicks is such an unprecedented event that it made the STV evening news, and there was much lively debate on the forum. Dorcha returned to the nest several hours after the team left, but only stayed long enough to grab some of the extra fish the team had placed there, and to see off the Hoodies who were also interested in grabbing some free fish. Although Louis returned this evening with a fish for Dorcha, that and subsequent fish will not be included in the count. Steve Q says: there is no value in the data of any fish brought to the nest post removal of the young. Garry LV0 paid a visit to Nest One bringing moss but spent his half hour there just perching quietly. It rained during the morning and cleared up in the afternoon, tonight’s forecast of light cloud and light winds suggests it should remain dry tonight.

Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 00.15.26 (03.29.30); Nest Two 23.57.38 (04.03.48)

Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/Q_HakxODigs N2 Final family gathering for the 2024 Arkaig Ospreys 04.53.34 (freezeframe)

https://youtu.be/OX4_U4q4U4U N2 Dorcha returns to the nest after the chicks have been taken away 15.11.38

https://youtu.be/7EOiOedhNo0 N2 The chicks star on STV news 19.30

https://youtu.be/12Pe__3E3eo N1 Garry LV0 arrives bringing moss19.56.59

https://youtu.be/y2RIy-5tqEQ  N2 Louis brings a fish but only Dorcha is there 20.00.44

https://youtu.be/0v65YxWPJvw N2 Two Hoodies appear and steal fish from the empty nest 20.04.34

Bonus read – the removal of the chicks makes the news:

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/scots-osprey-chicks-bound-spain-33146033

Watch the Loch Arkaig Osprey livestream 24/7 and join in the conversation here:

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

Two questions in the mailbox that you might also be wondering about. Thanks, ‘EJ’. Question 1: “Although I am sorry Louis seems to not be well, I am happy for the chicks going to Spain. How cool is that? So do they put them in a nest there? How do they find their way around? Will they migrate back to Spain or try to go home?”

Answer: ‘Hacking’ is the term often used for translocation. The chicks are fed and collected before they reach the fledging age, typically about six weeks or 42 days. They are placed in crates and carefully taken to a holding area. They will be thoroughly checked over, weighed, and recorded, and they will be fed very well. In the past, these compartments were in Roy Dennis’s garage near Inverness, Scotland. Once they have the total number of chicks – twelve (12)- preparations will be underway for them to be flown to Spain. There, they will be fed, checked over, and they will fledge from the chosen site. They will be satellite tagged and will have Spanish ring numbers but all their forms will say they hatched in Scotland. Ospreys ‘imprint’ on the area where they fledge which is why the timing is crucial. These chicks will imprint on this place in Spain. This ensures that they will return to this location when they are old enough to breed, not their natal nest in Scotland.

EJ’s second question: What happened to the male osprey who had the spine thingie in his leg and his leg was all swollen?

Answer to Question 2: EJ is referring to Jack at Captiva. According to the log kept by Windows to Wildlife, Jack has not been seen on the nest since 11:05 on the 29th of June. Edie has been bringing in fish and intruders have been around attacking the chicks, according to the same log. I have seen no information on the current status of Jack. I would not like to speculate at this time.

To keep my mind off Hurricane Beryl (everything is fine in Grenada, thank goodness), The Girls had their birthday party. Missey is now 2 and Hope is 1. Birthday parties are chaotic events. Their favourite treats are tossed all over the table along with some new toys, brushes, and scratching blocks. They seem to have a good time. Next party is September for Hugo Yugo who will be a year old; Calico will be two in November.

To put a smile on your face. Little Cowlitz 3 had a private feeding, and the result was a huge crop. Sometimes I am afraid to check, but Monday was good. Thanks, ‘PB’.

Only Bob at Clark PUD is feathered and beautiful.

Boulder’s Only Bob is doing great, too.

Bruce and Naha’s two chicks, Tsee and Toketee, are really enjoying some nice fish including a trout on Monday.

It is always feeding time at the nest of Iris and Finnegan. Not only Iris feeds the kids, but dear, darling Finnegan steps in, too. What a guy! He is feeding the oldest while Iris keeps the baby warm and dry in the rain. Talk about cooperation. Reminds me of Blue 022 and CJ7 this year at Poole Harbour. It is wonderful to watch this nest. I just wish I could read Iris’s mind!

A comments on the top image: “The rain set in at Hellgate by 17:20. After the feeding, Finn not only listened to Iris, but came back with another fish around 17:28, which he then fed Big Bob while Iris watched and kept Little Bob warm (his crop ended up larger than his older sibling’s – not unusually). Unfortunately, Iris did not get any of this second headless fish, She is the only one who hasn’t really eaten enough, but she has a larger crop, which was well filled this morning and is still visible. I loved the way Finn fed Big Bob in the pouring rain rather than get Iris up. He is looking after her as well as he possibly can. He is a gem. “

‘A’ writes: “Darling Finn brought in one of his traditional giant fish for Iris and the kids just before 05:52. She is pleased. The kids line up nicely at the table and wait for mum to wrangle the fish. Finn ate a few bites of the head end while waiting for Iris to get up (he was moving the fish around to a position from which he could feed her when she decided she needed to feed the kids). 

Interestingly, as it’s raining, Big Bob does his usual bend and flap stretch, flapping the water off his wings, and in the process, bonks Little Bob with one wing. Little Bob totally ignores it. Had he ever been bullied, he would definitely have instantly ‘flinched’ at this. 

Mum is taking a bit of time to get the fish to the kids – she too is flapping water off her wings (and she has a lot to get rid of!) and Little sees Dad moving around the nest towards the perch. Keeping his eyes on dad, he turns to face him. What’s he doing? Ah!! Clever dad. Remember that leftover fish I said must still be on the nest somewhere? (I saw it left there last night and did not see Finn leave the perch during the night or Iris having or feeding the chicks a nighttime snack.) Well, clever Finn knows exactly where it is. 

Finn heads straight for the place mum left the fish last night (on the edge of the nest, near the perch) and uncovers what reveals itself in daylight to be almost all of a giant fish (just like the one he has just brought in this morning). I am a little concerned Iris didn’t remember it between 5am when she started pestering Finn for food and 05:52 when breakfast arrived. Maybe she’s a sushi girl and only likes her fish fresh. Finn takes his breakfast to the perch. 

Little has turned back to the actual feeding adult and both chicks are getting an excellent breakfast. Oh they are just so exquisite, and their size and development gap makes it even more interesting in the sense that it appears there are actually two different species of creature on that nest (neither really bird-like, in all honesty). 

By 6am the rain is teeming down again and Little Bob takes shelter beneath Big Bob’s crop!! Mum reaches to feed Big Bob. Little Bob backs up towards the camera and does a large PS. My goodness that is one very very plump osplet. Little decides he’d rather have shelter than food right now and huddles under Big Bob again, this time beneath his left wing. (I’m assuming Big is male, despite his size, based entirely on his behaviour, which just isn’t aggressive enough to be that of a female.) TOO cute. 

But even from beneath Big Bob, Little is still fish crying, and eventually has to decide how badly he wants that fish. Yes, badly enough to turn around to face mum and stick his little head out from under Big Bob to ask Iris for a bite. His decision, though, comes just a few seconds too late, as the rain is heavier and soon after 06:01, Iris decides the chicks need to be kept dry more than they need more food at the moment. There is plenty of fish for everyone (Finn is still working on the giant fish on the perch – there is no way he can eat all of it and still be able to polish off the leftovers on the nest). Iris has left at least two-thirds (probably more) of the fish Finn brought in at 05:52. 

This is an amazing family and Finn is the best ever mate and parent. He is a natural (or has experience) and he is devoted to his family. He has learned he needs to make more deliveries. He has learned how to feed the osplets with confidence. Some of the other stuff – feeding Iris, sleeping on the perch – is obviously just him. He may have had another mate (and perhaps chicks) or he may just be the paternal type (full of the right hormones, I presume, which is far less romantic). “

Cute little babies at Charlo Montana have fat healthy little bottoms. They are turning into Reptiles.

Alma and Lucia horsing around in San Jose.

Eastern Imperial Eaglets in RU are doing very well. They are getting stronger and standing, walking around, and pecking at their food.

Latvia’s osplets in the Kurzeme area are growing and growing!

Just look at those two Golden Eaglets in Estonia with their juvenile feathers growing. I blinked. They were white with those gorgeous deep chocolate brown feathers and now it is the opposite! Their ‘ps’ all over that branch tell me these two should be healthy despite the second one looking rather thin. Fingers crossed I am not fooling myself. I often wonder how cameras can distort things – eaglets look healthy like Meadow and turn out to be thin and dehydrated and full of mites and parasites.

Lady is in full incubation mode in the Sydney Olympic Forest now that her and Dad have their two eggs. I can’t wait!

The two Decorah North fledglings that lost their nest when it collapsed cannot stay away from that nest tree. ‘Home is where your heart is’ and it is that old broken tree for this family.

One of Thunder and Akecheta’s fledglings returns to the natal nest on Monday.

The Fab Four at Poole Harbour were ringed. The ring numbers are 5RO (1), 5R1 (3), 5R2 (2), and 5H6 (4). Tim Mackrill has advised Poole Harbour that the Roy Dennis Foundation believes these are four well-fed males. That indeed, would account for the civility on this nest!!!!!!!!!! I await for some more clarification as there were earlier reports of a mixed-gender nest.

‘H’ reports:


7/1 Captiva ospreys:  Wow, what a day!  Darling did not have any food yesterday (except a fish tail).  On 6/30 Edie delivered three fish to the nest, but one of the fish went overboard during the melee between the sibs fighting over the fish, and Ding ate the other two fish.  This morning, Darling woke up ‘hangry’, and was quite aggressive toward Ding.  Darling attacked Ding in the nest and chased her off the nest many times.  But, the young fledglings were soon having issues with an intruder, an osprey that was believed to be male.  The intruder was buzzing the nest, and flying toward the nest with talons extended.  It was also in pursuit of Ding several times when Ding flew from the nest.  Almost every time Ding returned to the nest, she was attacked by Darling, and many times Darling pushed her off the nest.  Darling also prevented Ding from landing in the nest several times.  At 0852 Darling was attempting to force Ding off the nest, and the intruder landed on Darling, and forced Darling off the nest!  At 0925 Darling was attacked again by the intruder.  Finally, at 1053 Edie showed up with a large fish, and Ding got it.  The intruder landed on the right perch and Edie chased it off and flew in  pursuit of the intruder.  At 1208 Edie delivered a large partial fish and Darling got that one (the viewing crowd went wild!).  It was Darling’s first meal in about 42 hours.  Chow down, Darling!  Edie brought a fish at 1544, and that one also went to Darling.  At 1801 Edie delivered a partial fish that went to Ding, so each osplet had two fish for the day.  It was quite an educational day for the young ospreys.  It was good for Darling to be assertive, and good for Ding to experience the new and improved Darling.  And, Ding and Darling had their first significant encounter with an intruder.  They will learn from all of these experiences to help prepare them to face the world on their own.   

7/1 Fortis Exshaw osprey nest:  There have been a couple of rare occasions of Big beaking Little, but not at meals.  Everyone gets to eat at the feedings, and Little is often front and center at Mom’s beak.  The kids are looking good and getting big.

7/2 Colonial Beach osprey nest:  David and Betty are doing a nice job of parenting, and their 7 and 8-day-old nestlings are doing well.

7/2 Osoyoos osprey nest:  The live stream has been offline since Saturday afternoon.

Thanks so much, ‘H’.

This is a beautiful view of the Glaslyn Valley in Wales. It is home of Aran and Elen and their chicks are being ringed at the moment.

Beaumont and Hope welcomed the arrival of their second chick, from egg 3 ( egg 2 DNH) on Monday. Beaumont is bringing in lots of fish and Hope is feeding the chicks well. Fingers crossed!

Have you checked on those two beautiful osplets at the Patchogue nest on Long Island lately?

You might want to watch Blue 1RO at Rutland Water. Maya and Blue 33’s Only Bob will be fledging soon! What a gorgeous bird.

The latest edition of Cornell’s Living Birds is out and there is a nice article on how to bring birds to your garden.

To-Bring-Birds-to-Your-Garden-Grow-Native-Plants_-Heres-How-to-Get-Started-_-All-About-Birds-All-About-BirdsDownload

Some of you will have read the news that a male Bald Eagle, a few miles out of the territory of M15 and F23, was hit by a vehicle while on the road. It was NOT M15. Please relax if you were worried, but also tell people to slow down. Animals are killed every day by the hundreds because of speeding motorists.

You will have noted through Heidi’s reports that the nest at Forsythe New Jersey of Opal and Oscar never has enough fish. Here is the map of the huge trawlers (I am embarrassed Omega is a Canadian registered company) leaving the waters of Virginia and heading to the NJ area. Want to know why there is not fish for the Ospreys? This is your answer! The ships need to be banned. I understand that this is also the nursery of the East Coast Striped Bass and Rockfish and they are being wiped out.

There are elections coming up in some of these areas. If you live here, talk to the candidates. Try and get this stopped before it is too late.

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

Thank you to the following for their questions, comments, notes, announcements, postings, images, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘A, C, EJ, Geemeff, H, J, PB’, WX Chasing, The Woodland Trust, Geemeff and the Woodland Trust, Mary Cheadle, Cowlitz PUD, Clark PUD, Boulder County, Seaside Ospreys, Montana Osprey Project, Charlo Montana, SK Hideaways, Eastern Imperial Eagles RU, LDG, Eagle Club of Estonia, Sydney Sea Eagle Cam, Raptor Resource Project/Explore, IWS/Explore, BoPH, Window to Wildlife, Fortis Exshaw, Colonial Beach, Newfoundland Power, PSEG, LRWT, SWFlorida Eagle Cam, William Dunn -Menhaden- Little Fish, Big Deal FB, and Cornell’s Living Bird.

Sunday in Bird World

23 June 2024

Good Morning Everyone,

It is 25 degrees, blue sky with some clouds and predicted rain later today for Southern Manitoba. It is ‘hot’ in the conservatory. Calico is in front of Mr Dyson’s fan. Oh, she loves that fan!

The very last of the summer perennial (as opposed to the annuals) planting is finished. All of the greenhouses have their stock on sale and it is the perfect time to plant the Milkweed and Daisies. Everyone should be trying to find a place for one Milkweed on their property. For the butterflies.

‘The Girls’ are doing fine. In fact, they are adorable. Yes, I am biased. Today, each one sat on my lap while I trimmed their nails. The only wiggly one was Hugo Yugo, but we still got the job done. They love watching Mr Crow come get his hotdogs and peanuts. Today Mr BlueJay and Junior were retreating cheesy dogs which makes me think that the baby Blue Jays have hatched. Like Crows (both are Corvids), the babies need meat. It uses less energy to get the cheesy dogs than it does to chase down insects and worms – although I only give them enough to ensure plenty of food for the little ones but not enough to keep them from foraging.

If you have been reading my blog for awhile, you will know that the Ospreys in the NE area of the US, the Chesapeake Bay Area, depend on Menhaden as their primary food source. Ever wonder why so many are dying in the nest? or nests are just failing? Take a moment to watch this video:

‘VV’ has been monitoring a number of nests that are also in the area impacted by Menhaden fishing. She says, “The nest failure rate is so  disappointing. Leading up to the past 4-5 years was a stunning population boon. The nest with the lost chicks was erected in 1990, the first of the 19+ on my excel. At its height we’d be cursing by now, every nest screaming for breakfast and really big time soiling our cars, etc. Now I’m watching a handful of bored females waiting for the boys to come in from fishing. As is proving the case with everything, the population fell faster than it rose.” ‘VV’ sent images of the nests that failed.

That water should be full of fish.

I want to run through a number of nests and just see how they are doing. Some have gotten neglected but we are going to begin with ‘H’s reports today.

“It is very hot at the mid-Atlantic and northeast US nests that I follow, with temperatures in the mid to upper 90’s, and over 100 degrees in some locations.  Not only will the young ospreys need more fish for hydration, but fishing can become more difficult, as fish may seek the cooler deep waters.

6/22 Patuxent River Park osprey nest:  The dad at this nest is amazing.  He delivered eleven fish to the nest for his family.  Unfortunately, most of them were not very big.  Little did manage to eat at all but two of the meals, but only ate for a few minutes at each of the other meals.  Throughout the day, Little never had a really big crop.  At 11:25 pm Dad delivered a large partial fish to the nest in the dark!  Little had a private feeding at the beginning of the feeding for 7 minutes, then shared the rest of the meal with a sibling for the next 30 minutes.  Thanks, Dad…you are ‘way cool’.

6/22 Fenwick Island osprey nest (Captain Mac’s Fish House):  I am always worried about this nest.  It just seems to me (not an expert), that the lil’ 8-day-old nestling doesn’t get enough to eat.  I rarely see this baby in a food coma or with a very large crop.  There were five feedings on a very warm day, and they averaged about 10 minutes in duration, but that included June eating.  The fish that Johnny delivers to the nest are usually a good size.  It is thought that June may be a new mom.  I would like to see this baby have more frequent feedings.  Get it in gear, June!

6/22 Forsythe osprey nest:  This is one of the nests I worry about in the heat.  Fishing does seem to become more difficult during heat waves at this location.  There were four fish brought to the nest, and Opal caught two of them herself (thanks, Opal).  The remaining two siblings, ages 32 and 31 days, seem to be getting along amicably.”

6/22 Osoyoos osprey nest:  This brood of three, ages 15, 14, 12 days of age, are doing well.  Dad brought fish to the nest 8 times (some may have been leftovers).  Some of the fish were tiny, but a few were a good size.  The siblings are still getting along nicely, and Little is able to eat his/her fill at most meals.

6/23 Kent Island (Chesapeake) osprey nest:  The last potentially viable egg was laid 38 days ago.  Viewers are hoping that Tom and Audrey will have a lil’ baby to raise this season.


6/22 Captiva osprey nest:  It was quite a momentous day for this osprey family.  Ding fledged in the morning, and returned to the nest seven hours later.  Ding had been seen flying circuits around the bay and nest area.  In Ding’s absence, Darling thought s/he had died and gone to heaven, lol.  Three fish were delivered in that span of time, two partials from Jack, which Darling ate, and a whole catfish from Edie that she ended up feeding to Darling.  Darling had not eaten that well for some time.  Ding’s first trip back to the nest was with a landing on top of the camera, and an eventual hop down to the nest (landing on Edie).  A couple of hours after Ding’s return, Jack delivered a whole sheepshead, which Ding devoured.  In the afternoon, Darling performed a few ‘personal best’ high hovers. “

Thanks so much, ‘H’.

That hot weather was everywhere. Even up in Ithaca where it was 87 yesterday when Ferris Akel was doing his tour.

The first egg has hatched at Dunrovin for Swoop and his new mate, Winnie. Congratulations everyone!

The two osplets and the DNH egg at Steelscape are doing very well.

The one surviving osplet at Sandpoint is good.

It is hot in Boulder, too, like in many places. Mum is shading her Only Bob.

Lola and Charlie at Charlo Montana have the sweetest kids.

The camera at Field Farm is focused on the road and not on the nest.

Bruce and Naha at the Seaside Osprey nest and their new osplets are doing fine.

Little concerned about the heat and the level of hydration and fish for the four at McEuan Park in Idaho. Will keep monitoring.

‘MM’ reports on Osoyoos: “Just wanted to drop a quick note as I was watching the Osoyoos nest and dad brought in a decent size fish compared to his usual catch. All the chicks had a nice crop and were so cute 😍. I hope things get better food-wise for this nest. “

‘Pam Breci’ reports that Little Bob did really well on Saturday. This is fantastic news. “Cowlitz looking good, little 3 just has a good dinner. Needed to wait so good thing fish are large to feed all 3 and mom.”

Dr Greene is delighted with Finnegan and the growth in his and Iris’s two chicks over the past the past ten days.

Everyone loves Iris and Finnegan and their two miracle babies.

‘A’ reviews the early morning with Iris and Finnegan: “Finn arrived at 05:27 for the big fish he brought in late yesterday (22 June). He ate for a while on the nest, then took the fish to the perch. At 05:36 he brought the fish back. Iris decides to get up for a stretch and soon after 05:42, she flies off the nest, leaving Finn with the fish and the osplets. 

She is literally back within seconds, and she comes over to the fish and begins feeding the chicks. Omigod!! What I have been waiting to see is finally happening. Both Finn and Iris are simultaneously feeding the osplets from the same fish! Little Bob is front and centre, with Big Bob behind and above him. There is, as usual, absolutely no aggression between the pair. 

It is however a fleeting moment, and Iris takes over the fish as Finn moves away. He has some blood on his breast, probably from the fish. Little Bob is doing well at this feeding but Iris is careful not to forget Big Bob, who is behind his sibling. It is wonderful to see these two getting along so well, but each day as I wait for Big Bob to transform into a mini-dinosaur, I wonder whether it is just a countdown to the inevitable bonking stage. Perhaps we have two very laid-back brothers here. I SO hope so. 

Finn has a chunk of the fish that he has picked up and turns away from the feeding with it. Iris continues giving bites to the osplets, primarily Little Bob, who remains sitting up confidently in front of his sibling. He is the cutest wee osplet with the sweetest little round bottom. He is seeing well and his balance is much better, though he does still face-plant a fair bit as he lunges forward for mouthfuls. He is managing much larger bites now. I do love the way Iris carefully feeds both chicks, sometimes changing her mind when she thinks one is getting too much. 

The other day when Little Bob ended up on his back three or four times, I was tremendously concerned, especially on the first occasion, but the way Iris was immediately aware that this situation was problematic and required intervention was impressive, as was the way she carefully circled the stricken chick and observed exactly what she was dealing with, then set about trying to right the wee one. On each occasion, she managed to do so, primarily through very carefully manoeuvring one or both feet into position underneath Little Bob so she could then lift him slightly by judicious shuffling. It was impressive. 

As you know, we have lost at least two chicks already this season to exactly such a situation, and I was really scared for Little Bob, especially when he repeatedly seemed to end up on his back – I began to fear some neurological problem or even an uneven nest surface – something that was causing this. I still wonder why, as it did not appear to happen the following day, and yesterday afternoon it did happen once, briefly, but he rapidly righted himself with a single effort (he did seem a little panicky but got it done). 

So today, I am not nearly as worried as I was, and he is eating wonderfully well. I adore the way he is getting on with his older sibling, though I am aware we are right on the verge of finding out whether we are going to go through a bonking period on this nest. Big Bob is being VERY patient, with Baby Bob getting at least twice as many bites at this feeding because he is at the front and mum doesn’t have to lean as far to feed him. Periodically, she leans over to give a bite to Big Bob, but not nearly often enough to be even-handed, and there are several moments when I am wishing she would feed the older sibling at least half a dozen mouthfuls. I don’t want an episode of food frustration! 

Iris is feeding Little Bob at least three or four mouthfuls for every one that she offers BIg Bob, who is handling the situation admirably. After a while, she starts having three or four bites herself between each one she gives to Little Bob – Big Bob is missing out almost altogether by now. There is still a huge amount of fish left over (that monster fish brought in last night is not even half gone yet). At 05:52 she finishes feeding and settles down to brood. Little Bob has a huge crop, Big Bob not so much. There is still about half the fish left. Just before 05:55 Finn removes it from the nest. Iris is not overly pleased – again, she would have fed the osplets (and herself) again in about 90 minutes had Finn left the fish (or at least some of it). “

It is so hard to believe but the Fab Four on the Poole Harbour nest are all feathered. Mini Little Bob is right there, big and healthy! These parents worked and worked to make sure there was lots of fish and every one of their babies was fed. Four are surviving. Tears.

There aren’t four but there are three big feathered osplets on the Dyfi nest of Idris and Telyn.

We have talked about osprey nests. We have talked about egg cups, twigs that catch little legs, and all sorts of things. Just look at the nest that Seren and Dylan have for their Bobs up at Clywedog in Wales. What a gorgeous nest.

Babies at Glaslyn of Aran and Elen are getting all those beautiful feathers, too. Nest not quite as comfy as Seren’s.

Younger babies at Llyn Brenig, both doing well.

Those babies in Germany are now as big as their mother! Unbelievable. And beautiful.

A ten-day-old baby at Finland #3 is just a fat little cutie. (One died of a nest accident and the other egg DNH).

Two chicks at Bridge Golf getting their juvenile feathers. Unclear the status of Middle Bob’s leg. Little Bob died of siblicide/starvation the other day.

Gary published a video on the passing of Sol and Luna at Redding.

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

Daily summary Saturday 22nd June 2024
The weather was somewhat unsettled today but no further somersaults were done by Dorcha. Louis excelled himself bringing six fish to the nest and his tally now rises to two hundred and thirty seven. Deliveries included an early breakfast and a late night snack. Dorcha shared out the fish fairly, and the two chicks were models of patience and politemess at mealtimes. Garry LV0 visited Nest One twice today, staying for over an hour the second time. No disturbances for any of the Loch Arkaig residents as the Red Arrows took a different route home. Tonight’s forecast is for light cloud and light winds so with luck the family will have a peaceful and dry night tonight. 
Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 00.23.51(03.19.51); Nest Two 23.15.27 (03.56.16)

Watch the livestream 24/7 and join in the conversation here:

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/osprey-cam
Today’s videos:
https://youtu.be/Bqeq0_3IguI  N2 Fish number one, headless trout, Dorcha blocks the view 04.19.55
https://youtu.be/2Rqe03hrp0c  N2 Fish number two, small whole trout 06.47.28

https://youtu.be/M8F0cHIaW1I  N1 Garry LV0 visits, flying in from the right  07.57.38
https://youtu.be/C9VqBeD-eZY   N2 Fish number three, big whole trout, the chicks form an orderly queue 11.19.12

https://youtu.be/apsDxegpiMs  N2 Fish number four, big headless trout 12.19.57 

https://youtu.be/0kqpLR6pgEw  N2 Fish number five, big headless trout, the chicks line up politely 18.39.53

https://youtu.be/MjzQ3di6UIM  N1 Garry LV0 returns for a second visit today, stays for an hour 19.42.43 

https://youtu.be/pMbvgH-OrHA  N2 Fish number six – late night snack gone in 5 mins 22.18.50
Bonus read – Woodland Trust was one of hundreds of nature organisations marching through London today calling for Government to Restore Nature Now:

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/gallery/2024/jun/22/restore-nature-now-march-in-london-in-pictures

The Peregrine Falcon scrape in Osaka, Japan is cleaned up and will wait for next season. Beautiful fledglings this year.

‘A’ reports:

“Both mums were in to feed the chicks at Taiaroa Head this morning (Saturday 22 June) – BOK to feed TFT chick at 08:20 and LGL to feed TF chick at 09:38. The previous day (Friday 21 June), both BOK and LGL were in, feeding their chicks, at the same time – at 12:23 we have a shot showing simultaneous feedings occurring at both Royal Cam nests. Too cute. TF has begun exercising his wings, and his wingspan is amazing. How did those sweet little wings become these magnificent gliding instruments in such a short time? The preparation begins for a solitary ocean life, surfing the thermals. It’s astounding to think how far these little ones will travel before one day they hopefully return to within metres of their natal nests. Still giant fluff balls, but with wings becoming more defined by the day. Magnificent birds. When we think of 28-year-old Iris, it is amazing to think of Wisdom, in her seventies. No wonder they are such spiritually important birds to so many seafaring cultures. And what an amazing privilege it is to be able to watch them at Taiaroa Head under the tender care of the rangers. Truly blessed.”

 

“WBSE: June 21: A quiet night, then several early morning duets and mating. Both were standing in the deep nest bowl, with Dad chewing and digging at Lady’s feet, settling leaves and twigs in the bowl . Dad brought in a fish at 8:07, but took it off the nest. He returned later with a stick and spent some time moving things about. Then they were both away for some time, then both back a few times with a stick. Off again, until Dad brought in a partially plucked coot at 13:33, which was taken by Lady and eaten on the branch. She ate for over 45 minutes, then off, leaving one coot leg draped on the branch. Dad returned, bringing a stick, just after 4pm with a full crop, so he had eaten somewhere. Lady came in as well, with duets and mating nearby. At dark, both were settled close to the nest.”

June 22: A cold and wet morning – rain started in the night and Lady hadn’t moved. An early duet at 6:21. Shortly after, a long duet as Dad joined Lady – but no mating. After, another duet and this time a mating – still raining. Dad returned with the tail end of a fish at 8:52. Lady claimed it and ate the lot nearby, then away. A duet was heard nearby at 10:03 though out of sight. Then again, and Lady returned just after 11am with a stick. They were away again until 14:13, when Dad brought another fish in, which was claimed and eaten by Lady. Then they were off again, until both returned home before 5pm, and straight into some nest arrangement. Then duet and mating, and more nest bowl work from Dad. They moved to their night roosts. Any action tonight, we shall report tomorrow.

They are everywhere. Seriously everywhere. Plastics. Microplastics. The more I try to escape them, the more they try to sneak into my life and yours. Even at the greenhouse, those bloody plants were in plastic containers. Why? Well, the answer to not taking them home is to have them wrap them up individually in the newspaper. Why can’t they use biodegradable containers??????

It’s terrible for the seabirds and for those on land who get caught in those mesh bags or have bin liners land on their nests. The only good use for plastic I have seen lately is the covers for the large bales of hay or straw on the farmer’s fields, which prevents the birds from taking the PLASTIC twine that holds them together back to their nest to entangle their babies. When did we stop using jute? (Maybe it wasn’t so good either but it was natural.) Oh, some things get me really worked up! Hats off to the company that packages frozen vegetables in the States and does it in biodegradable paper bags!!!!!!!!

Planet-vs.-Plastics-Earth-DayDownload

Very sad news coming out of Ventana Wildlife via Lady Hawk. Redwood Queen’s chick, Aurora, has passed away.

‘J’ sent us the link for Duke Farms’s Eaglet E-book for 2024. Thanks, ‘J’.

http://online.flipbuilder.com/oqzm/xrzi/index.html

It is that time of year. Those baby birds are just out of the nest and people see them and think they are abandoned.

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

Thank you so much to the following for their notes, posts, images, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog today: ‘A, Geemeff, J, H, MM, PB, VV’, Virginia Beach Menhaden PSA, Window to Wildlife, Osoyoos, Forsythe, Fenwick Island, Patuxent River Park, Kent Island, Dunrovin Ranch, Steelscape, Sandpoint Ospreys, Boulder County, Charlo Montana, Field Farm, Seaside Ospreys, McEuan Park, Osoyoos osprey Cam, Cowlitz PUD, Pam Breci, Montana Osprey Cam, BoPH, Dyfi Ospreys, Llyn Clywedog, Bywyd Gwylld Glaslyn, Fischadlerwebcam, Satakunna Saaksett, Bridge Golf Club, Gary’s Eagle Videos, Geemeff and The Woodland Trust, Osaka Peregrine Falcon, Earth Day, NZ DOC, WBSE Sea Eagle Cam, Duke Farms, Lady Hawk, and Nebraska Wildlife Rehabilitation.

A better day…Thursday in Bird World

20 June 2024

Good Morning Everyone,

Wednesday was a tough day. Little Smallie was the ‘straw that broke the camel’s back’. Bless his heart. I wonder what his chances would have been if he had been taken into rehab after being found in the moat? ‘J’ said this reminded her ‘of Rubus all over again’ and I consistently say if you can pick up a raptor and hold it, they are sick!!!!!!! Unless you are ringing them. So, that should be something known by everyone —- if you can pick up a falcon or an eaglet or an osplet and they don’t tear your arm off, they are unwell and should go to rehab. Period. No questions asked. Just do it.

‘B’ sent me a great quote and agreed I could share it with all of you. This came after hearing about the passing of Luna after Sol: “About the only halfway positive thing I can say is that it is a reminder to us all how fragile life is out there in the wild.  And to all wildlife, not just our bird friends.  It’s not a reminder that I enjoy hearing, but it is one we need to appreciate.  We humans live very sheltered lives.  All the more reason why it is so unfair that we humans add so many risks to the health and survival of wildlife.”

Thankfully we have some good news.

There is some really good news coming from our friend ‘R’ who has kept an eye on the University of Florida-Gainesville osprey nest of Stella and her former partner, Talon. We can certainly use some news to raise our spirits! ‘R’ went for a good look around the nest of Stella and her beautiful daughter and discovered that “Stella is bringing in some huge fish and immediately flies off. Big sits there and carries on for a while and then finally decides Stella isn’t going to feed her and she devours the fish.” ‘R’ wonders if Stella is fishing in a different lake than Talon or is questioning if the local water source has been stocked. He will check and find out for us.   Then he went to check the nest and discovered “There is another nest nearby and Big and “someone” in the other nest take turns vocalizing back and forth.  I doubt it is Stella.”   Then ‘R’ gives us some really good news! “I found another nest not far from the two I knew about.  It was fairly good size and sitting in it was a nice large osprey!  That makes 3 nests in the vicinity and probably a few others.  The new nest can’t be very old as it is in the new light poles!”  ‘R’ will take some photos for us on their next visit. An acquaintance also went for a drive near Bowling Green, Florida and in a two mile stretch all the poles had osprey nests! Wow. Can you imagine? The thinking is that the ospreys relocated after Hurricane Ian.

What a beautiful sight! Iris and Finnegan and their two osplets at Hellgate Canyon in Montana.

OK. I am obsessed with Iris and Finnegan. This nest gives me hope.

‘A’ writes: “Finn is doing such a good job. I’m not sure about breakfast this morning – Finn brought a nice fish in at 09:50, which is late for him but I don’t think there had been an earlier feeding because both chicks were hungry as Iris waited for Finn to arrive. She was very vocal about calling for breakfast too. 

He is such a darling. Both the chicks are super active and really good at holding up their heads. Little Bob is half the size of his sibling but is holding his own. Iris spends the first couple of minutes feeding Big Bob, although Little is hungry and pushes his way forward to a position beside and slightly in front. Mum is taking any aggression out of Big Bob, I think, and she slips Little a small bite but then returns to feeding Big Bob. Finn has left the nest, and the fish was a decent size and whole, so there is plenty for mum and the kids. 

Once Big Bob has a respectable crop, Iris turns to Little Bob and concentrates on getting food into his beak. He is eager and grabbing for the food, falling flat on his face a few times and failing to hold his head still in the excitement. But mum is patient with him and gets the food to his mouth. She is such a good mum. It seemed to me that she had three days of exhaustion following each hatch, after which she perked up and seems to show great effort and care in feeding both her chicks. Finn is making sure she gets fed, even if he has to do it himself, and he is looking after her wonderfully well. He spends a lot of time on the nest or on the perch, just staying close. I have not once heard him vocalise. Not once. He listens. He acts. He shuts up. What a man! “

This morning Alison notes, “At Hellgate, the kids were hungry, and Iris nagged Finn much of the afternoon for fish. Finally, he brought in a nice fish late in the day (about 20:45) and the chicks played nice, sitting up side by side at the table. As always, mum satiated Big Bob’s hunger and then turned to Little Bob. I saw no bonking at any point today, which was a huge relief, and Big Bob made no attempt to stop Little Bob from eating or from participating in the feeding line. These two are active and are doing well. They both seemed to be born very well developed, as if they had spent an extra day or two in the egg. They were large in size and seemed precocious in both physical development and behaviour. This is a huge bonus, as they began life with a bit of an advantage. Finn is doing a wonderful job. He is a devoted dad. He does need to learn to fish more often and/or leave leftovers on the nest while these two are still so young, but he is obedient to Iris’s demands, and eventually goes out to fish even in a downpour if she nags him enough. He’s going to become a great dad as the seasons progress – I can see him getting into feeding the chicks (he has already had a couple of goes at this, with varying success) and he just adores Iris. “

It is a hot day in Ithaca, New York. One of the Ns is resting in the shade of the natal nest.

Suzanne Arnold Horning caught up with Big Red and Arthur’s family.

Thankful for the two gorgeous osplets at Maryland Western Shore for Old Town Home.

Wet osplets at the Goitzshe-Wildnis nest in Germany are waiting for a fish delivery.

The three at Charlo Montana look like they are doing well.

Mum and Dad feeding one another at Blackbush at Old Tracadie Harbour – then they feed the kids. This behaviour of the male feeding the female who, in turn, feeds the chicks, appears to be more common than once believed.

‘H’ will have a better report for us (at the end) but the trio at Osoyoos are getting their crops full with a nice sized fish. Relief.

Nox visits Mum! Oh, no. Eclipse comes!

San Jose Girls seem to be doing very, very well.

In Montreal, Polo and Hugo (yes, another Hugo) playing around.

Suffering from falcon withdrawal? Try the Weston Power Plant scrape in Wisconsin. One chick, one unviable egg it seems.

Wings of Whimsy tribute to Sol and Luna.

Three beautiful babies for Aran and Elen are growing strong and watching the cattle and the rest of the Welsh countryside near Glaslyn.

Three fat chicks at Dyfi waiting to be named. Idris and Telyn have done a superb job, as usual.

Geemeff gives us the Loch Arkaig and The Woodland Trust summary:

Daily summary Wednesday 19th June 2024

What a difference a day makes! Not only did fabulous fisherbird Louis swoop in with four fish in 26 minutes then follow it up with another three, breaking various records along the way, but there was absolutely no aggro from either of the two chicks today. The reptilian phase appears to be over, and while there will still be the odd fight, especially when they start accepting the fish deliveries themselves, the instinctive aggression of the rapid growth stage seems to have ended. The bundle of feathers that was tragic little chick3 is still visible but is melding with the nest floor and if not removed by Dorcha soon, is likely to just disappear and become part of the nest. Louis’ magnificent seven took his tally to two hundred and twenty three, a remarkable achievement although the wait to see if he breaks his nine-fish record goes on. Nest One had another visit from Garry LV0 who was seen flying to perch on Pole Tree before popping in for a brief visit. The weather was as settled as the chicks’ dispositions, but tonight’s forecast is a damp night with light rain and light winds, with the prospect of a drier day tomorrow. 

Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 23.59.35 (03.07.48); 

Nest Two 23.23.40 (03.45.50)

Watch the livestream 24/7 and join in the conversation here:

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

Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/tysEIpOpLAY  N2 Fish number one, small whole trout – no fighting! 03.49.37 

https://youtu.be/Q0EGdJY0uLw  N2 Fish number two, another small whole trout – 7 minutes 12 seconds N2N between F1 & F2! 03.56.59 

https://youtu.be/rzoZoHCbQic  N2 Fish number three, another small whole trout – still no aggro 04.07.04

https://youtu.be/RruBa6SD1qs  N2 Fish number four, large whole trout, flapping – 8 minutes 19 seconds N2N between F3& F4! 04.15.39 

https://youtu.be/k3QtoOOPyGk  N2 Fish number five, large whole flapper trout looking surprised 04.51.25 

https://youtu.be/FRf9mHWRQ7Y  N2 Fish number six, headless trout – lovely calm feeding 06.10.10

https://youtu.be/RbzwLU7h1H8  N1 Garry LV0 flies in from Pole Tree for a quick visit 11.30.20

https://youtu.be/FTgfA522SzI N2 Fish number seven, but everyone’s too full 14.11.59

Blast from the past, this day in previous years:

The legendary queen of the mountain gave us an unforgettable moment on this day in 2020: Aila has a brain fade and decides to move an awkwardly shaped stick from one side of the nest to the other, apparently oblivious to the presence of her chicks. They duck this way and that trying to keep out of her destructive path, and when Aila finally leaves the nest, one of them delivers a parting shot with perfect emphasis.

https://youtu.be/g-T2vcO-j0sIn the Hall of the Mountain Queen 2020 (Classic Ospreys – Grieg, quicktime)

The female at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum was much more attentive to her only surviving chick on Wednesday. The little one had several feedings, each with a resultant crop.

No hatch yet for Beau and Hope at Newfoundland Power’s Snow Lane nest. This is another problematic female who prefers to eat the fish and not feed her chicks. I do wonder if she is modelling her behaviour after the nest where she hatched?

A family portrait (of sorts) at Field Farm. You can still tell Little Mini as it has only a few feathers unlike the three older siblings. Nest is doing well. Bravo!

Blue 022 delivers a fish and CJ7 immediately begins feeding their quartet.

‘PB’ reports that Little Bob at Cowlitz had a good day! Fantastic. This nest had been concerning me.

There are two beautiful Golden Eaglets on Estonian nest 2 at Kaljukothkas. This nest is getting enough food that the obligate siblicide did not occur. This is a good thing. One of those beautiful miracles of a year filled with much sorrow.

Bety and Bukacek had one storklet this year. It is alive and healthy. Another life to be thankful for.

Let’s end on another smile. World Bird Sanctuary, home to Murphy the Bald Eagle who incubated a rock and got to raise an eaglet, has a great story for us. Thanks, ‘J’.

World Bird Sanctuary

Last year, one Bald Eagle couple’s nesting season ended in tragedy when a tornado destroyed their nest, killing one of their chicks and sending the other to our hospital. That chick was 23-126, and we all fell in love as we watched him grow and be fostered by Murphy. This year, we are delighted to report that 126’s parents have rebuilt! Their new nest is only about 100 yards away from their old one and they have 3 healthy eaglets! We’d like to thank 126’s finders for passing on the good news and Frank Melliere Photography for taking and allowing us to share this photo of the 3 eaglets.

Oh and one last smile – I feel like we need lots of them. Ruffie and Tuffy are still knock out gorgeous fledglings, coming to the nest for fish. This is Wednesday. Both look to have nice crops.

‘H’ reports:

6/19, Osoyoos osprey nest:  Oh my, they had a great day.  Ollie brought eleven fish to the nest, wow!  The meal times remain peaceful between the siblings, and everyone ate their fill, including Soo.  There were some ‘minnows’, some medium sized fish, and one ‘whale’.  At 2105, Ollie brought in a very large whole fish.  I overheard one of the kids ask: “Mommy is that a whale?”  Soo: “Yes Dear, Daddy caught a whale for you.”  Soo only fed the whale to her kids for a few minutes, then walked away from the fish, so Ollie removed it.  He returned the partial fish to the nest at 2137, but Soo did not feed at that time.

6/19 Fenwick Island osprey nest (Captain Mac’s Fish House):  June and Johnny’s 5-day-old chick seems to be doing well, and June is providing shade from the sun.  There were seven meals provided to the lil’ one, which was an improvement.  Very warm temperatures are predicted in the upcoming days, so keep those fish coming in, Johnny!

6/19, Fortis Exshaw osprey nest:  Louise and Harvie are great parents, and are taking good care of their three chicks.  Bonking has started…the eldest has been bonking both of its siblings.  Ages: 7, 5, 3 days.

6/19 Dahlgren osprey nest:  ‘Hope’, the 17-day-old only chick of Helen and Doug, is doing quite well.

6/19 Patuxent osprey nest:  There were only three meals for the osplets, but the first two fish were very large and provided for long meals.  Each chick ate multiple times.  It appears that Little’s feathers are finally starting to grow better, but s/he remains far behind the older sibs.  Big has been doing some impressive wingers!

6/19 Captiva osprey nest:  Edie and Jack delivered five fish to the nest.  Jack’s injury seems to be healing, and he is functioning normally, but the ‘spike’ is still embedded under his skin.  Darling performed a nice mini-hover for the first time, and Ding continued to perform hovers out of our view.  One of these times, Ding’s hover may just turn into a flight!

Geemeff sent us the ringing video of Blue 33 and Maya’s chick at Rutland:

I am getting word from ‘J’ that a Peregrine Falcon female with chicks in the scrape appears to have died from something poisonous in EDE. Will confirm with more news tomorrow.

There is more news from FORE today and I have abbreviated this. Please go to their FB page for the entire post.  🙁

“As we mentioned, we were able to retrieve Luna’s body since she passed away on the ground & not up in the Nest. But, we still don’t know yet if they can perform a necropsy or not? In this Redding heat decomposition sets in quickly. 🙁 And, if they can do a necropsy, we may not get the results of those tests for several months. So, this is going to take some time. Try to breathe & heal while we wait for those answers…Rest assured our Liberty & Guardian are doing fine, so please don’t worry yourself sick about them right now. We will continue following them & sharing their journey until they leave the area, as we always do. We don’t know when that will be this year since their work is now done… 🙁We will not know the cause of death without the necropsy results, but we are looking closely at several indicators pointing to severe dehydration brought on by a variety of mitigating factors. Some of the factors that we are looking into include; extreme sustained heat including several consecutive days of 100+ degree temperatures in a row in June, no canopy or shade above the Nest due to a completely dead nest tree, and numerous fluctuations in nearby river levels beginning in late Feb/early March which may have affected the eagle’s typically bountiful rainbow trout supply in April & May 2024. We did not see nearly the number of trout, which has a lot of hydration for the eaglets, coming into the nest during those crucial months as we typically have at this nest. 🙁“

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

Thank you to the following for the comments, observations, notes, posts, videos, images, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘A, B, Geemeff, H, J, PB, R’, Montana Osprey Project, Montana Osprey Cam, Cornell RTH Cam, Suzanne Arnold Horning, Maryland Western Shore for Old Town Home, Fischadlerwebcam, Charlo Montana, Blackish at Old Tracadie Harbour, Osoyoos Ospreys, SK Hideaways, de’Montreal Falcons, Weston Power Plant Peregrine Falcon Cam, Wings of Whimsy, Bywyd Gwylld Glaslyn, Dyfi Osprey Project, Geemeff and The Woodland Trust, Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, Twin Cities Metro Osprey Watch, Newfoundland Power, Field Farm, BoPH, Pam Breci, Eagle Club of Estonia, Mlade Buky, Osoyoos, Fenwick Island, Dahlgren Ospreys, Patuxent River Park, Fortis Exshaw, Window to Wildlife, World Bird Sanctuary, LRWT, and FORE.

Too many deaths…Wednesday in Bird World

19 June 2024

Hello Everyone,

As I wake up, sadness has just drifted over Bird World again. Dear Luna is gone and so are Zeus and Hera’s chicks. Bless his heart, our little sweet Smallie is gone, too.

It feels like a day for quiet reflection and to give thanks for those little ones that are surviving this year. They are VERY special!

I am writing this sitting at the nature centre eating a lunch-type breakfast and sipping Moroccan Tea. The Woodpeckers and the Red-wing Blackbirds are pecking away at the feeders. I find it interesting that the Blackbirds are not out foraging. Is it our horrific weather? It rains every day. I am surprised my house is not covered in mould and creepers! And then there is Steve, the resident Muskrat. Steve lives under the deck of the nature centre and loves eating bird seed~. The forecast is for yet another thunder storm this evening. This has been weeks with some breaks. The water in the river is very high making it difficult for the eagles and ospreys to fish. Our wildlife and raptors are suffering like they are elsewhere. We certainly needed the rain after our dry winter and it has stopped all of the wild fires but it is time to let somewhere else that needs the moisture have it. Famous last words. Our rain gauge can’t even keep up!

I am so glad that I have ‘The Girls’, the garden animals, and my walks. They help me to keep balanced in a Bird World that is decidedly unbalanced this year.

These two had been taking turns washing one another when they turned around and ‘sort of’ looked up.

Such an angel when she is sleeping.

Calico and Hope had been on the top snuggled together, too. Of course, I went to get the phone camera and look what happened.

Little Red was the first to find the new seed cylinder!

This is the season that just keeps on gifting – and the gifts are grief. Luna, the only surviving eaglet of Liberty and Guardian at the Redding nest in California on the Sacramento River, is dead. Her brother Sol died on the nest on 14 June.

Are these deaths related? or not? Is it possible that this is HPAI? Hopefully the necroscopy will tell those that need to know. Condolences to Liberty and Guardian who faced a challenging year with rising water and a nest tree that was very frail and to all the Friends of the Redding Eagles.

I will start with Heidi’s reports.

Last year, Hera lost her chicks to the weather We thought she had lost her mate, Zeus, too. This year dramatic sadness:
“6/19, South Cape May Meadows osprey nest of Hera and Zeus:  There is no night light at the nest, and it was very dark.  It sounded like a GHO knocked Hera off the nest at 0359.  The GHO then landed on the perch, and went to the nest for a short time.  The owl returned to the nest  at 0420.  There is no sign of the babies or Hera this morning.  The osprey nestlings were 8 and 5 days of age.”

Hera came to the nest at 0906, she was dirty and disheveled, but she otherwise seemed (physically sic) okay.

6/18 Osoyoos osprey nest:  There were six feedings that I saw from 5 fish.  A few of the fish were medium in size, some smaller.  All of the osplets ate well at each meal, except meal #5, during which Little decided he’d rather sleep!  I did not see any aggression during the feedings.  The osplets are looking good.  The osplets are 11, 10, and 8 days of age.

6/18 Fenwick Island osprey nest (Captain Mac’s Fish House):  Johnny and June have one baby this year (the remaining egg will not hatch).  I’ve been concerned that the 4-day-old chick may not be getting enough to eat.  I tried to follow their activities more closely today.  There were five feedings that I saw, and the feedings seemed to go well between mom and baby.  Usually the young osprey babies require small, but more frequent feedings.  Johnny is not bringing fish to the nest very often, and he removes leftovers.  The baby looks okay, though.  I will continue to monitor.

6/18 Audubon Boathouse osprey nest:  Congratulations to Dory and Skiff on the hatch of their second baby!

6/18 Forsythe osprey nest:  Oscar brought six fish to the nest, all were at least medium sized, and a couple of them were quite large.  The osplets both ate well, and there was no aggression.  Very hot temperatures are predicted in the upcoming days, so keep plenty of fish coming in if you can Oscar.

6/18 Patuxent osprey nest:  We saw the ‘return of the whopper’, and Little had a much better day today.  The first meal was from a small whole fish, and Little didn’t get any of that.  At 0730, Dad delivered a medium sized partial fish, and Little started to eat first.  Dad turned right around and brought a medium whole fish at 0737, and  a dual feeding took place, with Dad primarily feeding Big and Middle.  Little had a mostly private meal and ate for 17 minutes. Little ate for a total of about 27 minutes at the following three meals.  At 1659 Dad delivered the whopper.. a huge whole fish, that would feed the family for the next two hours!  Each osplet had a few meals, and Little ate on and off for approximately 33 minutes.  Dad showed up with a huge goldfish at 1806, and his family was still eating from the whopper fish, so he left with it.  At 2020 Dad returned with the headless version of said goldfish, and he barely got a nod from anyone.  They were all zonked out with their huge crops, so he left with the fish again.


6/18 Captiva osprey nest:  Captiva had a wonderful day.  Edie brought three fish to the nest, and Jack contributed one.  Poor Jack was swarmed by Edie, Ding and Darling when he brought in his fish, and he could barely escape from the nest, lol.  So, there was plenty of food to go around.  The really big news of the day was the incredible hovering by Ding, as she took advantage of a brisk breeze.  On one of her hovers in the morning s/he found herself hovering over the right perch, and landed on it.  Ding enjoyed being on that perch so much that she landed on it a few more times throughout the day.  Ding was on the perch at the time of one of Edie’s fish deliveries, and it took a while for Ding to gingerly make it back to the nest by shuffling her feet along the perch brace.  The osplets are 56 and 55 days old.

Polo 7422 caught some wing action Hope was doing at Lake Murray. She is our fledgling, the Middle Chick, that survived the GHO attacks.

The female at MN Landscape drives me nuts. She now has only one chick to feed. The male is bringing in big fish. There is no excuse. She requires the chicks, little ones, to move to her wherever she decides to feed and she takes about 25 bites to their one. I hope this last one survives. It is damp and cold and it needs to be warm and well fed.

In comparison, you have several osprey families that are fantastic and can feed and care for four. Think Field Farm and Poole Harbour. I am holding my opinion of McEuan Park right now. I want to see how Little Mini does in a week.

So the question is this: Is it the female behaviour at Minnesota? The male is bringing big fish? or is it a lack of resources? weather?

Field Farm.

Poole Harbour.

McEuan Park also has four and the difference between Big and Little Mini is very noticeable. Let’s hope Little Mini can make it.

Janis Kruze rings the storklets. Liznm caught it.

At Loch Arkaig, C1 (I think he is a male) is starting to react to protect itself and eat.

Geemeff’s Daily summary from Loch Arkaig and The Woodland Trust:

Daily summary Tuesday 18th June 2024 Today was all about fish and the situation between submissive older chick C1 and dominant younger chick C2. Louis brought six fish to the nest including a late night snack-sized one, taking his tally to two hundred and sixteen. C1 is learning some strategies to deal with C2 including the odd lunge at its sibling then beating a hasty retreat to tuck down and await the swift retaliation, but the most successful one is waiting when fish arrives then sidling round the side of Dorcha and getting some mouthfuls from her – in one case, getting a ten minute exclusive feed from her while C2 was resting its bloated crop. C1 even took a cheeky nibble which is very encouraging – the sooner C1 starts self-feeding confidently, the better. As today ends, both chicks have full crops. On the anniversary of Dorcha removing the sad remains of 2022’s Bob3, body disposal was a topic of discussion on the forum as it was observed that dominant C2 attacked the body of C3 several times with some vigour. Was it just attacking, or attempting to feed? Will the body gradually be subsumed into the nest or will Dorcha remove it? Meantime, it is still clearly visible. In other news, Garry LV0 visited Nest One and stayed for over an hour, bringing nesting materials and doing some nest-scraping. What this means in terms of gaining residents remains to be seen, his visits are infrequent enough to assume he’s nesting somewhere in the area with a mate, but with Garry, nothing is certain. The weather was settled and set to continue tonight with a clear sky and light winds, and sunshine tomorrow.

Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 00.20.14 (03.16.26); Nest Two  23.34.57 (03.45.34)

Watch the livestream 24/7 and join in the conversation here:

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

Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/WZyXxYRAsfo N2 Fish number one, C1 self-feeds 04.47.10  

https://youtu.be/bB9Dwon2I3o N2 Fish number two, C2 attacks C1  09.30.47 

https://youtu.be/Wxu_Vl1wvlw  N2 Fish number three, C2 seems to have prevented C1 eating.. 10.50.06 

https://youtu.be/tZeYWxBU94U N2 ..But cunning C1 waits, and gets an exclusive feed  11.11.54

https://youtu.be/tGKhmichhqo N1 Garry LV0 visits with nesting materials and does housework 11.50.26  

https://youtu.be/U-tu9Y00WH0  N2 Fish number four, younger chick attacks older chick 13.47.43 

https://youtu.be/JeleU0HE-Iw  N2 Fish number five, headless trout, C1 sidles round and gets some  20.54.59

https://youtu.be/wYOfQq2c0dg  N2 Fish number six, snack-size trout, C1 gets nothing 22.41.54 

Bonus read – who knew you could put a backpack on a beetle? Woodland Trust, that’s who!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cz55jm0m80ro

It will not be long til we have White-Bellied Sea Eagle eggs in the Sydney Olympic Forest!

The weather has been one of the leading causes of death of osplets. Today, it is pouring at the nest of Iris and Finnegan. Not good for newly hatched osplets or for feeding – they can’t thermoregulate yet – and for fishing.

‘A’ comments: “Iris has been trying to feed it but then clears up what look like the bites it was fed, so at yesterday’s feedings, I am not sure it actually ended up swallowing much at all. And the weather is not helping, with a very wet day. Iris is hunkered down on the kids, looking soaked. It is 17:31 and despite the rain, Finn has brought in a nice-sized fish. Iris is telling him that she wants the fish but it is too wet to feed the babies at this moment so he should leave the fish and she would grab the next break in the weather. (At least, that’s what I would be saying to Finn, and Iris is a girl of like mind.) She is VERY chatty. He as always just stands quietly, the strong silent type. She gets up though and dad hands over the fish.

Big Bob turns and watches dad, so Little Bob is the only one in the feeding line. Mum tries to feed him but dad’s tail keeps bonking him in the head! Nevertheless, he gets a bite and Iris tries with another. Another tail bonk! And again! But she finally manages to give him the second half of the bite. He takes it but it gets stuck on his beak! By now, Big Bob has worked out where mum and  the food are and has turned around. Feeding Big Bob is much easier for Iris, who may be a little stiff and resents having to lean over and down to a young chick (she was like that when Big Bob first hatched too), so she feeds him. Little Bob is not offered food, as he is still not entirely sure which direction to face and is also getting an occasional tail bonk from dad, knocking him down onto the nest. He pops straight back up though – he is a lively little chick and seems healthy and active. Iris has obviously got some food into him. (At this stage, I am assuming Big Bob is a feisty girl and Little Bob is a younger brother, because that is the usual nest order apparently, but of course it could be the other way around, which would be wonderful.) 

So far, things are going well in the sense that Finn is providing enough fish and the chicks are eating when they are given food. I am a little concerned that Iris seems tired, and perhaps even a little lazy. She is sometimes reluctant to feed for long enough and finds it hard to reach down to the little one. Only time will tell. At this stage, both are looking healthy and active and that is the best we can hope for. “

‘A’ continues, “Finn was in early as usual to say good morning to Iris. She packed him off to get breakfast around 7am, and was far from pleased when he arrived back nearly 45 minutes later with a giant stick but no fish! She has a great deal to say about it and she does NOT sound at all happy. She has two hungry osplets who are becoming slightly unruly beneath her, it’s nearly 8am and she has nothing to feed them. And Finn thinks it’s a good time to consider baby rails? 

Now, as Finn continues rearranging the nest structure, Iris keeps nagging at him constantly. He does not appear to have a crop, though his underfluffies do appear to be wet. They could merely be a little messy. Finally, shortly before 07:47 he flies off again. 

Iris is hunkered back down as if it was raining. She could simply be tired. She tends to lay her head down on the nest and literally pass out, rarely if ever sleeping tucked. She does seem to have been particularly tired for a couple of days following each hatch, which makes a lot of sense, as she got little or no sleep on those nights the chicks were hatching (two nights of disturbed sleep per chick, with a third night at the beginning when she was not so restless because she was not constantly moving but was aware of movement and peeping inside the egg, so was awake and listening to the chick the night before the outer pip was visible). 

She is an elderly osprey, and it is lovely to see Finn doing things like feeding her on the nest. She had to work very hard yesterday afternoon to get the fish off the remaining skin (Finn had returned a fish that by then had largely been eaten and was feeding the last remnants to the younger chick, Big Bob having passed out in a food coma some time earlier). It was a shame really because it meant she fed very slowly, so that Big Bob eventually woke up and got food that should have gone to the little one. 

So far, it seems to be growing well and eating enough. It had a dear little round crop yesterday afternoon – its first one (you know how when they’re really young, they don’t really eat enough at each feeding to get noticeable crops – they just don’t look sunken). Of course its older sibling had a very large one, as it usually does nowadays. 

My heart sank yesterday when the older one started bonking the baby. The good part about it was that the little one had no real clue what was going on. It is not quite able to see properly (it’s still a little vague about where things are and who is what) and can’t really tell the difference between being bonked by dad’s tail feathers and being beaked by Big Bob, who is not at all vicious in his pecks. They’re tokenistic at this stage but definitely intended to make the pecking order clear to Little Bob. 

So far, there has been no attempt to stop Little Bob from eating or from lining up for food. It was simply boredom, I think, and maybe a little frustration. There was no food involved. We will wait and see what happens today. I was pleased to see that Iris was making an obvious effort to feed Little Bob, both after she has filled up Big Bob and also when she gets the chance at a private feeding, such as when Finn returned the remnants of that fish when Big Bob was asleep. 

So I remain hopeful that dad will bring enough fish of a really good size to ensure there is enough for everyone, though his tendency not to leave leftovers on the nest is a bit of a worry. He doesn’t seem to realise that these chicks need half a dozen feedings off that big fish he brings in for breakfast (remembering of course that he has usually eaten the head off this gigantic fish, so has had a seriously large amount of food himself). Both Finn and Iris have voracious appetites, and although Iris is definitely prepared to sacrifice some of her own share to her osplets, Finn takes any remaining fish off the nest with some alacrity, sometimes despite loud protestations from Iris. 

At 08:03 she is still waiting for Finn and a fish.”

Not a bad day for Boulder County and its Only Bob.

The Decorah North eagle family is surviving without their beloved nest. They hang around the old nest and it is simply beautiful.

‘PB’ has been monitoring the Cowlitz PUD nest and shares concerns that Little Bob might not getting enough food and he is being bonked. Send positive wishes for them. This is a difficult area because of all the competition for food. The Eagles like to steal from the Ospreys.

Lucille Powell caught both of the osprey fledglings on their Sun Coast nest.

Look at Aurora!

Things are looking OK for the surviving fans at San Jose.

Beautiful Only Bob at Rutland is ringed. It is a boy!

We need a big smile and here it is – this is what happens when a community comes together and feeds the osplets on a nest so that they can grow and thrive. Thank you, Port Lincoln, you are a role model!

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

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, photos, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘A, Geemeff, H, J, PB’, Toni Hoover and Amersfoort Falcons, FORE, SCMM, Forsythe Ospreys, Patuxent River Park, Osoyoos Ospreys, Audubon Boat House, Fenwick Island, Polo7422, MN Landscape Arboretum, Field Farm, BoPH, McEuan Park, Liznm, Geemeff, SK Hideaways, Montana Osprey Project, Boulder County, Raptor Resource Project/Explore, Pam Breci, Lucille Powell, SK Hideaways, Rutland Osprey Project, and Port Lincoln Osprey.

Tragedy at Crooked Lake…Sunday in Bird World

16 June 2024

Good Morning Everyone,

To all those wonderful men – human and not – for taking care of living breathing things, protecting them, feeding them, loving them – Happy Father’s Day. And to one special Osprey this morning who is injured with a spike in his leg – Jack at Captiva. You are amazing. Despite all, you are still helping feed your family this morning!

There is a lot going on in Bird World. Rescues, uprightings, sibling rivalry, hatches, GHO attacks, and death. You name it, it seems to be happening. The very beautiful and good is tinged with the sorrow and sadness. We just have to breathe and as someone said today, ‘life is very fragile, embrace someone and hold them tight, you don’t know what is coming next’. What a year it has been and we are only half way through. As one reader said to me, “The Memorial Page has exploded”. It has and I am still catching up! It is always sad to lose one of the birds and, please, take the time to check out the Memorial Page. If I am missing one of our feathered friends, please write and tell me so I can add them. I am still working on the European Storks that died so tragically from the horrific weather. And, another thing, the second hatch at Hellgate has not happened. I was sent incorrect information and the more I looked for a second head, I could not find it.

In all of this, Saturday was a gorgeous, hot windy day and we spent it at the duck pond watching the little ducklings and goslings, of all ages, flitter around the pond enjoying the shade and the cool water despite the build up of algae. People were happy being outside. There was a wedding reception in the garden area, and the ice cream man with his bell could be heard at a distance. Even deer were coming out to eat grass in the shade. Now the skies are pearl grey to dark charcoal and you can just feel a storm building up. Despite saying we would have no rain, we are now in an area of Extreme Weather with high winds, hail, and rain predicted. If this continues, we will need machetes for the garden instead of clippers and mower.

There were lots of ducks and geese on the islands in the pond which is shaded. The wind was keeping everyone cool despite the 27 C temperatures. Some of the geese had been in the water with their goslings. Some went in and out, in and out. Others foraged for little pebbles to aid their digestion. The goslings range in size from those that are about half as large as their parents to tiny wee ones that looked like they hatched only a couple of days ago. All of the adult geese are moulting. They will exchange all of their feathers. They will not be able to fly and leave the area until their full moult is complete. I don’t think anyone minds. Each trip I gather a handful of feathers for ‘The Girls’. They go crazy for them. Besides boxes and bags (without handles), these feathers are their next favourite toy. Their most favourite are the tunnels that they race in and out of late in the evening or early in the morning.

Baby Hope will be one year old on 2 July. As so many of you know, just thinking about her brings tears to my eyes. After Calico ‘decided’ that she was coming in the house on 28 August 2023, we thought we would never be able to find her only surviving kitten. (We could tell there was only one by the single teat being suckled). It appears that Calico might have lost ‘Hope’ and that was why she was ready to leave her life on the streets and come inside where she had lots of food, a safe place to sleep, comfy beds and toys and, of course, lots of love and stories. Five days later we looked out at the feral feeding station and there was a mini Calico. We knew it was her kitten. In three hours, Hope was inside suckling on Mum and life was good. We are trying to figure out precisely just what kind of party to have for her!

Hugo Yugo says that she thinks we need grilled cheese sandwiches along with ice cream for the party! What do you think?

Hugo Yugo is still tiny, a little peanut, but she remains the boss of all the others. Despite eating her food and theirs, she has hardly grown. She is a bundle of energy that never stops. She still sleeps draped around my neck at night. And she still begs for her pieces of cheese around 2100. I have been able to wean her off the kitten milk at the vet’s request. She is dynamite!

As I go to press, I am getting sad news. It appears that a GHO attack has taken all of the osplets from the Crooked Lake nest in Iowa. ‘H’ says, “This is without a doubt the most bold owl attack I have ever seen.  Just unbelievable. The owl stayed in the nest and killed all three osplets right in the nest in front of Mom, then flew off with one of them.’

Geemeff is also writing that C2 at Loch Arkaig is now dead or death is imminent. This is so sad and is due directly to siblicide by the ever aggressive C1. First time ever to happen at Loch Arkaig.

We will begin with news from ‘H’.

6/15 Forsythe osprey nest:  There were eight fish delivered to the nest by Oscar, and a few of them were fairly big.  How many times have we seen situations where the fish production at a nest increases after the starvation deaths of one or two of the osplets?  I know I’ve seen it happen a few times, and it just leaves me shaking my head.  After the siblicide/starvation deaths of Mini and Little, there is still some aggression from Big toward Middle.  But, Middle is managing to find ways to eat.  S/he most often squeezes around to the other side of Opal from Big, where there is just a small space between Opal and the outer rim of the nest.  Middle ate at least 345 bites of fish in eight meals.  I hope Oscar continues to have fishing success.  

6/15 Dahlgren osprey nest:  The baby named ‘Hope’ was stuck in a deep hole in the nest for about 1.5 days.  Dahlgren Osprey Cam arranged for a rescue by Tidewater Wildlife Rescue.  TWR performed the rescue this afternoon, and repaired the hole in the nest.  Little Hope is doing well, and we are so grateful.  Keep the fish coming in, Doug!

6/15 South Cape May Meadows osprey nest:  The two little bobs are doing very well.  Zeus has really stepped up, and he is providing lots of fish for his family.  We are so pleased!

6/16 Chesapeake, Kent Island osprey nest:  We wait to see if the first egg of the second clutch for Audrey and Tom will hatch.  The egg is 39 days old, but it was pecked by a crow on 5/16.  I hope there will be at least one 

6/16 Boathouse osprey nest:  The little osplet of Dory and Skiff is doing great.  Their second egg is 35 days old today.

6/15, Patuxent osprey nest:  Dad continues to deliver tons of fish, and many of the fish are huge.  He brought fish to the nest six times today, but we could tell that a few of them were the large leftovers he had previously removed from the nest.  All of the chicks were stuffed many times over.  There was very little aggression today, and Little was even seen eating at the ‘big kids table’!


6/15 Captiva ospreys:  There were 7 fish brought to the nest, four by Edie, and three by Jack.  There was a lot of eating going on…feedings and self-feedings.  Ding and Darling ate their fill.  And, at 53 days of age, Ding was hovering!  We are still worried about Jack.  He still has that foreign body ‘spike’ sticking through his leg.  But, he is able to fish and help take care of his family.  Bless his heart.

I want to thank Heidi – again and again. I could not keep up with the nests without her. So everyone, give her a loud shout out, please!

Those watching the Dahlgren nest and getting ever more anxious that the wee babe named Hope was stuck in a hole can now relax. It has been rescued and all the time it was there, dear Mum kept feeding it. Thank goodness. This is one of those really feel good moments that we need when tragedy seems to be lurking at many of our nests. Thank you to everyone who alerted the owners and to the rescue team that saved the wee one. Bless their hearts they filled in and repaired this nest with sticks, mud, and grasses/moss. Well done!

Tragedy may have been averted at the Wells Fargo Iowa DNR Osprey Platform. The little one with a full crop got on its back and could not right itself. It took the entire day. Will it be alright? We have to wait and see.

My favourite capture of Iris and Finnegan. I hope she lives many more years to enjoy this wonderful relationship.

Zoe fledges and Lucia returns flying strong several times.

Middle flew back to the osprey platform to be with Mum at Lake Murray after avoiding the GHO by flying. Magnificent. Fingers crossed everyone. This is such good news. Seriously this is incredible news. So happy happy.

Polo 7422 published a video of the hit by the GHO on Hope. (Have you noticed so many named Hope or Hugo??)

Going to check on some of the Finnish nests today! I had a lovely note from ‘SP’ today. I have been covering some of them as best I can but I also learned that some of my confusion with the numbering and names is because there are two separate organisations. That is why I cannot find 10 nests on this one site! ‘SP’ elaborates, “The link I gave in my previous male, Sääksikamerat (kaikki näkymät) | Sääksilive (saaksilive.fi), with 5 nests, and 2 views of the active nests (I follow mainly these):                     

Here nests 1, 3 and 4 are occupied. 

  • Number 4 has last year’s couple, 3 chicks, eating a lot, and the making heavy exercises (fighting) from the very beginning (genes from the female). A video in the web by a non-native follower:
    Brutal fight between two eaglets #ospreycam #ospreys #siblingfight #shorts (youtube.com)   
    Hope the fishing weather will be good in July … (Last year the yongest chick got fiercely killed by the sibling.)
  • Number 1 has an older, experienced couple, with so far 1 chick and 2 eggs left.
  • Number 3, with a first time mum (bride from last year) and last year’s male, has 1 chick, one to pop up soon (hole in the egg already). First chick died.

(Last year the female disappeared and the 3 chicks died.

Number 5: the last year’s couple arrived, but somehow they ”changed their mind” abt nesting. The two eggs, not taken care about, were taken by a raven. Very ”nicely”, indeed, both times:

The other robbery:  6.5.2024 – #5 – Korppi ryöstää Saran munan mukaansa – YouTube

This nest, number 5 was interesting last year: After the own 2 chicks had left, a foreign chick, from Sweden, landed on the nest, and stayed very long, for weeks, and got fed by the male.”

Number 1 – adults doing incubation. Waiting for pip/hatch watch.

Number 2 is a failed nest. No activity.

Number 3 has a beautiful osplet. Dad brings a huge fish!

Number 4 has three healthy osplets.

Number LS/5 is a failed nest. No activity.

From separate organisations:

Seilin in the West of Finland. Couple incubating eggs.

Janakkala in the North has three osplets.

Muonion, in the far north, is incubating eggs.

At Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, Dad delivered no less than five fish, several large. There is also rain and Mum is keeping those babies warm and dry. Everyone ate.

‘L’ writes: “Dad stood near mom while she fed the babies at Minnesota. I think he is trying to teach her. She literally went over the head of the oldest one to feed the third one. ” It seems that the latter part of the day was not so good at this nest. We live and hope.

Olsen is doing the best that he can at the Osoyoos Osprey Platform. Most of the fish brought in were so small but he landed a whopper later in the afternoon and everyone did eat well.

It has been a miserable day across much of Wales. Telyn and Idris worked to feed their three chicks and to keep them dry even though they are getting their juvenile plumage and can thermoregulate.

Blue 022 is working hard to get lots of good fish to CJ7 so that their four Bobs will all be full and happy.

I know how sad everyone has been after the loss of Sol, so close to fledge, at the Redding nest of Liberty and Guardian. Everyone at FORE is simply heart broken, too.

Luna is alive and well and for this we must be very glad.

All three eggs have now hatched at Niagara Bee. They are all looking good.

I will now be carrying the daily summary by Geemeff that she publishes for the Woodland Trust. It is the happenings on the Loch Arkaig nest of Dorcha and Louis. Lots of good information and links to videos! Thank you, Geemeff, for allowing me to publish this information.

“Daily summary Saturday 15th June 2024

No action on Nest One, and very little on Nest Two. Louis only brought one fish mid-morning, and wasn’t seen again until suppertime when he caused consternation by arriving empty-taloned. Dorcha couldn’t believe it and gave him a right earful while he cleaned bits of fish off his beak. He’d obviously eaten recently and had a nicely rounded crop which added fuel to Dorcha’s ire. Earlier Dorcha had caused a bit of consternation herself when she arrived with an awkwardly shaped stick and proceeded to drag it through the huddle of chicks, although she quickly redeemed herself by being an excellent mumbrella and keeping her three big chicks warm and dry during a torrential downpour. As usual, chick2 got all the fish and beaked the other two to keep them away from the food, therefore it will be good if Louis arrives early tomorrow morning with a fish big enough that C1 & C3 get a share too. Statto Steve Q provided us with a thorough analysis of the fish stats to date – despite the odd blip, Louis’ current total of two hundred and two fish is pretty much comparable with previous years. The weather was very unsettled today with a misty start turning into a rainy day and more of the same forecast for tonight.

Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 23.36.53 (02.58.59); Nest Two 23.10.58 (03.27.50)

Watch the livestream 24/7:

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

Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/2hIydufKS3I Fish number one and only, headless trout, C2 gets it all 10.17.28

https://youtu.be/FlvoO8n_ZAk  Dorcha: from menace with a stick to brilliant mumbrella 17.32

https://youtu.be/OiKvZO7vkTU Louis finally arrives but he’s fishless! Dorcha can’t believe it  20.13.30

Bonus info – Steve Quinn’s fish stats for week 11:

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/osprey-cam/?ht-comment-id=15060802

Blast from the past, this day in previous years:

https://youtu.be/ntv71sF-N_s  N1 Simultaneous feeding – mum and dad each feed a bob! 2019

https://youtu.be/1RzPgaEWMr0  N1 Limbo dancing 2020

https://youtu.be/PvklkJGfZIc  N1 Home alone chicks amuse themselves 2020

https://youtu.be/J8geReKxLxc  N1 Mumbrella Aila does her best to shelter the chicks 2020

https://youtu.be/FJYbKk1hA-4  N1 A Jay visits the empty nest 2021

https://youtu.be/tsAAz0z9Ac8  N2 Hooded Crow intrudes and perches on the nest 2022

https://youtu.be/k6W6PKYMMYQ  N2 Chicks battle it out as soon as mum leaves 2022

https://youtu.be/LTMLWBLOZnY  N1 LV0 just won’t get the message 2023

https://youtu.be/hFbYpDjHeyI  N1 Affric reaffirms her bond with Prince 2023

https://youtu.be/yvMLAjhrNaA  N2 Hangry chick attacks Dorcha 2023 (quick-time)”

Looks like we have one hatch at the Green Ledge Light Preservation Society nest on Long Island.

There was a lot of discussion over which eaglet it was that fell from the Fraser Point nest of Andor and Cruz. It appears it was Manini and not Reign as I reported earlier. Congratulations on fledging!!!!! BVS Girl has that first flight on video.

The two Golden eaglets in Estonia nest 2 are plump and healthy. They are flapping their wings and walking.

This is the second hatch spreading its wings. Look at that fat bottom and those big strong legs. I am so happy for this nest. I hope the good fortune continues.

Fish dinner arriving at Cowlitz PUD and we have three hungry osplets.

I cannot tell you how much fish Little Mini got at Field Farm on Saturday. It is often difficult to tell, but the wee one is growing and had a sort of half crop in the morning.

Checking in on the San Jose Falcons.

For images of the Cal falcon fledglings, please go to the Instagram account of moon_rabbit_rising!

Suzanne Arnold Horning posted some lovely images of Big Red and Arthur’s Ns. They have fledged and were found in spots near to Fernow and Tower Road. Both fledglings are doing well.

Tweed Valley Osprey Project gives us an excellent view of Mrs O feeding her three osplets.

Thank you so much for being with me. Watch for that hatch of Iris and Finnegan from Sunday-Tuesday according to Dr Greene. Take care. See you soon!

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, observations, videos, images, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘A’, Geemeff, H, L, MM, PB, SP’, Timothy Dygert Live Stream, The Woodland Trust, Forsythe Ospresy, Dalgren Ospreys, SCMM Kent Island, Boathouse Ospreys, Patuxent River Park, Window to Wildlife, Heidi McGrue, Sunnie Day, Montana Osprey Project, SK Hideaways, Lake Murray Ospreys, Polo 7422, Finnish Osprey Foundation, Nesting Bird Life and More, MN Landscape Arboretum, Osoyoos Osprey Cam, Dyfi Osprey Project, BoPH, FORE, Niagara Bee, Feemeff, Green Ledge Light Preservation Society, BVSGirl, Eagle Club of Estonia, Cowlitz PUD, moon_rabbit_rising, Suzanne Arnold Horning, and Tweed Valley Ospreys.

Iris second hatch, Lake Murray Osplet flies when hit by GHO, deaths at Forsythe…Saturday in Bird World

15 June 2024

Good Morning Everyone,

Friday was a really beautiful day. The sky was a clear blue and there was no rain and little wind. The temperature was 24 C. It was a good day to check out the goslings and ducklings at the park later – I went around 1700 and they were coming out of their shady island nests to swim. Even with the sprinkler system, the rain and the heat are causing some algae/pond plant problems.

It was really hard to see the tiny ducklings.

Oh, I adore the little female Wood Ducks.

This Mallard had two surviving ducklings. Many had 12 or 13 and it was hard to tell as the Canada Geese do their ‘daycare thing’ so you might see several geese caring for nearly forty youngsters while the other parents forage.

Five beautiful and tiny little wood ducks.

My garden is lush. The water has caused everything to thrive in a year when I worried as the winter had been so dry. Some of you will recall that there was a peony plant and a climbing rose that were planted on my property in 1902 when the old two-story house was built by Italian rail workers. Both are still alive. The peony is full of buds that will bloom soon and the rose is simply bursting with buds. I coddle it as if it were the most precious thing and I often wonder who lived here and who the woman was who planted the roses and the peonies.

The roses now cover an area of approximately 3 metres by 5 metres. The area is absolutely thick with branches laden with these amazing buds. What a treat! I am already dreaming of what it will be like to sit next to the flowers and sip my tea when they bloom – imagine the scent!!!!!!!

I feel that I am such a bearer of bad news these days. There are so many issues that face our raptors and many of those are playing out around the world. You might recall that there was heavy rain and flooding around the nest of Liberty and Guardian. It was noted that the tree was dead. Today, Sol is dehydrated, and death could be imminent. FORE has tried to get a tree climber but the tree is in too bad of a shape for them to climb. Liberty tried to feed her eaglet but Sol was not interested.

Over the years the citizen scientists, like yourself, observing the nests of all avian species have noted issues with nests. If it isn’t happening (and certainly some places are diligent at inspections), nests should be inspected annually prior to breading season. Dead trees, sadly, should be taken down so that we do not find ourselves in the situation with Liberty and Guardian’s Sol. This might also help with nest collapses when the nests are simply too large and heavy rain would cause them to crash potentially killing eaglets.

Sadly Sol passed away Friday morning. He was 77 days old. Right ready to fledge.

For those concerned for Luna, boots on the ground found her and she is alive and well. What a relief!

At the Fraser Point Nest of Andor and Cruz, Reign has fell off a nest that is collapsing. She was found safe under the nest!

The full report of Ospreys on the Iberian Peninsula for 2023-24 is now available.

Aguila-pescadora-El-Corzo-2024Download

‘EJ’ sent us a news story to put a smile on our faces. We do need a good rescue right now!

Raptor-Resource-Project-Bald-Eagle-and-Bird-of-Prey-CamsDownload

What a beautiful Black stork nest in Poland!

Two juveniles on Tor – those West End fledglings are strong. Thunder and Akecheta got them a lot of high quality food. We see it in their spunk and in their flying. But, oh, to have such open spaces without buildings. They are blessed.

All three West End Eaglets – Koa, Treasure, and Sterling were caught on video soaring together. How lovely.

Idris and Telyn did a great dual feeding for the osplets at the Dyfi nest in Wales. They are looking for names. Need to be unused river and mountain names in Wales. Check it out! Dyfi Osprey Project.

Those Montreal falcons really want to fly! If you are missing the Cal Falcons and San Jose ones, then take a look at these three.

Things have still to settled down at Loch Arkaig. C2 still dominates all the feedings.

Blue 022 gets the fish to the nest for CJ7 to feed the Fab Four.

New dad, Finnegan, is actively involved in every aspect of the family including security, delivering food, feeding Iris, and feeding the chick plus being support. What a guy. So thankful you came along, Finnegan. This is an amazing story unfolding on the nest Iris now shares with you.

Good night, Iris.

‘A’ alerts us to the second hatch. Iris didn’t get much sleep!

“Darling Finn was in with a late fish last night (14 June) at 18:53:45. It’s a nice size and appears whole. When Iris stands up to claim it, we can see the second tiny head in the nest. It is still very tired from the hatch, and only wakes up because Big Bob disturbed it by standing up, getting ready to be fed. Big Bob is gigantic already, so this second hatch is going to need to be a strong-minded chick. Iris begins eating while Finn checks out his offspring. 

Finn stands and watches Iris feeding Big Bob, who is a great little eater. After a couple of minutes, he flies to the perch while Iris continues feeding. By 19:09 Big Bob’s face is covered in fish and he is falling into a food coma. Mum settles down to brood the pair. Finn flies down the nest, then at 19:16 heads off. Dad is back with a stick at 19:30:24 and leaves again immediately. 

Shortly after 19:29, Iris stands and begins alerting. She looks upwards, continuing to alert loudly. Intruder? She calms down relatively quickly but continues to glance upwards and to her left (towards the camera). It is at this point that Finn arrives (from the opposite direction) with the stick, which he nearly brains the chicks with. After he leaves, Iris remains standing and occasionally glances at the same spot again. 

Eventually, after a good rouse and another glance around, Iris goes to settle on the chicks but changes her mind and stays standing, looking around. Around 19:33:40 she has a good flap of her wings. Impressive.At 19:34 she carefully returns to brooding the chicks. At 20:06:30 Finn is back on the perch. He flies off again at 20:12:20.

This morning, Finn arrives on the nest just before 05:18, while it is still dark, to say good morning. He stands beside her. She is her usual very chatty self. He is silent. Having said only yesterday I’d never seen Iris sleeping tucked, she did so quite a bit last night (especially as morning approached). Shortly after 05:25, Finn set off to get breakfast. He returns soon after 06:30 but without a fish. Iris does not sound pleased by this development. 

He does a little busy work on the nest, but when Iris stands up at 06:3424, he immediately flies off. Iris stretches her wings and then flies off the nest herself at 06:34:40. She is back at 06:35:13, so obviously just did a circuit of the car park. Dad is back just before 06:38, again with empty talons. Iris leaves again. Finn is standing on his left leg a lot, which I presume is just resting but I am hoping he has not suffered any injury to the leg. I don’t think so. He wonders whether/how to brood the chicks and looks around for Iris. 

Eventually, shortly after 06:41 Finn settles down to brood the osplets. It appears Iris has taken breakfast into her own talons. Iris is back at 06:56:17. She has no fish. Finn gets up carefully and flies to the perch, allowing Iris to brood the osplets. Iris gets up, moves a large piece of bark, and settles down again. Why? Strange. After a good preen, Finn leaves again around 07:09, hopefully on a fishing expedition. Iris looks to have a good crop still but the chicks need feeding, especially the younger one. 

It is now 07:25 and Finn is not yet back. I do hope this new baby is not too tiny and that it is able to get fed. I also hope that it is a female and the first hatch a male, but I doubt that. This first hatch is precocious, physically and behaviourally. It is strong and a very good eater. I am fearful for the younger osplet, but then always was with the lengthy gap (a full week) between the laying of those two eggs. We will wait and hope.”

An absorbing article about Iris and Finnegan with interviews with Dr Greene and his helper Sharon Leigh-Miles.

‘Thats-a-great-mom-World-famous-osprey-welcomes-a-new-chick-Montana-Public-RadioDownload

‘A’ has finally fallen in love with Ospreys! She writes, “Iris carefully supervised Finn’s first attempt at feeding their chick yesterday morning (14 June) at around 08:55. Initially, he wasn’t very good at it, finding it hard to reach down far enough to put the food into the chick’s beak, but after two or three efforts, he successfully gave the chick a bite. And another. He was good at getting the pieces small enough but leaning down to get the food into the chick’s beak took him a little more practice. But he is learning. Iris standing behind him, watching closely but not interfering, was so sweet. She is happy to teach him how to be a good dad – I’m surprised she is not more protective of the wee one, but she obviously trusts this guy and he has already proven himself to her in many ways. Certainly, he has demonstrated an amazing level of devotion to his family. Let’s hope he remembers that his primary role is away from the nest – fishing for the family and keeping intruders away from the territory. Family time is a bonus. But I do adore how proud he is of Iris and their chick. I wonder how he will manage provisioning for two osplets, Iris and himself. 

By 08:57 Iris was a little concerned that far more fish was going into Finn’s mouth than into the chick’s beak and decided to intervene. When Finn tries to feed the chick a piece that is too large, Iris takes it from his beak and bends down to feed it carefully to the wee one. Finn continues to eat the fish, while Iris feeds the chick saliva several times. He keeps eating. She moves closer, obviously wanting more of this fish to be fed to the chick. (It is large and pretty much whole, so Finn is entitled to eat the head at least. Iris however is concerned only about feeding the chick.) When he turns to feed a piece to the osplet, she takes it from him again and feeds it to the chick. This is repeated several times, with Iris taking food from Finn to feed to the chick. This is SO sweet. They are not so much tandem feeding as team feeding. Iris is clearly teaching Finn about being a great dad. 

Finn now concentrates again on eating for himself, so Iris settles down to brood the chick, though it remains visible at her breast. She reaches out to nibble at the fish Finn is holding down, as he continues to eat beside the nest bowl. He feeds Iris a couple of bites, then continues eating. She continues nibbling at the fish too. When Finn flies to the perch shortly after, he leaves the fish beside Iris. He returns to the nest at 09:33:35 with eyes firmly on the leftover fish. Iris has a lot to say. He nibbles on the fish a little, but soon leaves without removing the remaining fish. 

He is soon back again (10:05), possibly with a stick, although Iris standing up obscures our view. She is very chatty. He is tall, dark and handsome, a man of few words. She settles back down to brood and he simply stands behind her on the nest, protectively. After a couple of minutes, he circles Iris and she stands up to show him his baby (and the hatching second egg, presumably). He looks down into the nest, obviously fascinated as always. She continues to chirp. Having closely examined his progeny, Finn flies to the perch. Iris continues chatting. By 10:19, she is settling down to brood again. Finn remains on the perch. There is still half a large fish (probably a fair bit more) remaining on the nest. “

We still have three chicks at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum! Mum provided good shade for much of the day and the three had some good fish.

Wow, that third hatch at Charlo Montana sure came quickly. Charlie looks on at this three kids and his new mate.

Little Mini had a bit of a crop earlier in the day from this feeding but was shut out later – something that bothered me a bit. It was rather submissive during a late feeding allowing the older Little Bob to lean over it and eat. I am hoping Little Mini was just full.

Only Bob at Sandpoint is a fat bottomed little cutie.

‘MM’ watched the Osoyoos nest for us on Friday and she reports: “It was offline again until about 9:30 this morning so not sure if there were any feedings before then but I have counted 6 so far today with the 6th one still taking place. For the most part they have been very small especially the first three or four. I’m almost certain at the first feeding(9:56 am) mom ate it all while the chicks bonked one another. The fish lasted all of 5 minutes, was so small you could barely see it. At 10:56 and 11:34 am dad delivered small fish again with each chick getting a few bites and mom also definitely wasn’t enough to fill their crops. At 1:26 and 2:51 pm he brought fish that were a little bit bigger but not by much. Again they each got enough to keep hunger at bay but still not seeing bulging crops like at other nests. Number 6 was delivered at 4:12 pm and was still ongoing when I started this email. It was definitely bigger than the others. As the chicks get older hopefully the fish will get bigger because there’s no way those tiny fish will fill up 3 growing chicks and mom has quite the appetite as well 😄 I noticed they are pretty well behaved whilst eating but not so much while there’s no food on the nest.”

The 6th fish of the day and the biggest. Thanks, ‘MM’

Two gorgeous feathered babes on the Patchogue nest!

The little one enjoying some fish on the Cowlitz PUD nest.

It is difficult to see if all the chicks are alright on the Oyster Bay nest because of the greenery.

Two surviving osplets at Maryland Western Shore for Old Town Home are fantastic.

Smallie spent the night in the scrape. He is looking very well.

Prey continues to be provided for the Ns at the Cornell nest of Big Red and Arthur. Both fledglings appear to be flying strong.

‘H’ reports:

Dahlgren osprey nest:  Early on 6/14, viewers noticed that the 12-day-old chick was in a deep hole in the nesting, and sitting on a bottom wood slat of the platform nest.  The baby is surrounded by some articles of clothing, perhaps gloves (?), and can’t hardly move.  So far, Helen has been able to feed her baby in that position.  Viewers tried for hours to raise awareness with the nest owners.  Finally this morning on Facebook is the response:  Brigitte Schwurack Top contributor Thank you for your message, the owners of the camera are informed.

6/14, The weather started to clear, and it turned out to be a great day!  Due to poor fishing, the youngest osplet, Darling, had not eaten for over 3.5 days.  At 0917 Edie delivered a whole catfish, and Ding ate. Darling was not able to eat any of that fish.  At 1015 Edie brought another whole catfish and fed Ding.  While that was taking place, Jack arrived with a partial fish.  Ding grabbed Jack’s fish, and Darling was quick to grab Edie’s catfish, and ate his first bites of food for over 87 hours.  At 1024 Edie took the fish from Darling and began to feed him.  Darling ate for about 40 minutes.   At 1259 Edie landed with a partial ladyfish, Darling grabbed and mantled, but Ding took it away.  Ding ate until 1334, then walked away.  There was still a lot of fish left, and Darling self-fed on the ladyfish.  At 1337 Edie brought a whole ladyfish, Darling abandoned the other one, and Edie fed some of the new fish to Ding, but most to Darling. At 1428 Edie fed the remainder of the first ladyfish, mostly to Darling, and some to Ding.  Finally, at 1956 Edie delivered a partial catfish.  She fed Ding, and then Ding did some self-feeding.  Everyone’s prayers had been answered for tons of fish.  Darling had a large crop for most of the day.  We are so very thankful that the weather cleared and Edie and Jack were able to catch fish, and that our dear Darling is still with us!

6/14 Forsythe osprey nest: There are not enough fish being brought to this nest.  It has already undergone brood reduction once.  Mini4 died of siblicide/starvation on 6/11.  There were four fish brought to the nest on 6/14, and none were very large.  Big and Middle were both responsible for preventing Little from eating for the second straight day.  Little passed away overnight…COD siblicide/starvation.  Big also controls when Middle is allowed to eat, and Middle ate a total of 156 bites of fish the entire day.  This may end up being a one-chick nest, where once there were four of the cutest little osplets you had ever seen.

6/14 Fenwick Island osprey nest – Captain Mac’s Fish house:  Congratulations to Johnny and June on the hatch of their first baby at approximately 19:45.

6/14, Patuxent osprey nest:  There were six fish brought to the nest by Dad, and a couple were whoppers!  Everyone had a great day, and Little had several good private feedings.  Remarkably, at meal #5, Little was eating right beside Big…as if they had been best buddies their entire lives!


It was almost daylight, and I thought the osplet had survived another night without being hit by the GHO.  At 0538 C1 was standing up in the nest when she was struck hard by the GHO.  The GHO was not able to take her.  C1 managed to grab the rail sticks with her talons, but had been thrown  off balance, and she eventually fell off the nest.  That nest is very high, and we hoped that she was able to flap and float down to the ground.  Well, she did better than that….  The nest owner saw C1 flying across the lake!

‘J’ sent us an update on Connick, Connie and Clive’s eaglet from 2023.

‘J’ also sent us an update on Chance:

‘RP’ sent us a smile:

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

Thank you to the following for their notes, observations, posts, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘A, EJ, H, J, MM, PB, RP’, FORE, Vicki Jacques, BVS Girl, Aguila Pesiadora, The Raptor Resource Project, BocianiMyBolewice, IWS/Explore, Dyfi Osprey Project, Friends of Loch Arkaig, Montreal Falcon Cam, Geemeff, BoPH, Montana News, Charlo Montana Osprey Cam (Owl Osprey Project), MN Landscape Arboretum, Field Farm, Sandpoint Ospreys, Osoyoos Osprey Cam, PSEG, Cowlitz PUD, Maryland Western Shore for Old Town Home, Amersfoort Peregrine Falcon Cam, Audubon Centre for Birds of Prey, Lake Murray Ospreys, Forsythe, Patuxent River Park, Dahlgren, Fenwick Island, and CBS Sunday Morning.

Pip in Iris and Finnegan’s second egg…Friday in Bird World

14 June 2024

Good Morning Everyone,

The rain clouds came Wednesday evening and watered the garden and they are rolled in again from the West Thursday morning. Hugo Yugo is afraid of the thunder and lighting and the minute it starts she scatters to get under the duvet on my bed. Poor thing. Friday is a different matter. There are no clouds in sight. The sky is a pure beautiful blue with the bright emerald green from the trees decorating it. Everything is so lush. I have never seen trees and shrubs grow so much in such a short time. It just shows how much we need the water and how dry our winter had been.

I spent about three hours walking at the zoo on Thursday and about an hour sitting and having tea and watching the polar bears. It was the most glorious day. I am hoping to be a good example to all of you to get out and about, but I have to admit that I was pretty sore and tired after that!

The bears had been fed and were swimming in the icy cold water area before they left to go into their den. They are so gorgeous and are extremely well cared for. (I am still not sure what I think about zoos).

Besides spending time in the research centre learning how climate change is hampering the ability of these iconic bears to get food, I also found out how the staff at the zoo determine if one of them is ill. They put different coloured sprarkle bits in their food. So Bear A might have green, Bear B red, etc. Then they check their poop. Reminded me of the movie, The Last Emperor of China.

Polar bears are most active in the winter and hibernate during the summer. Churchill, Manitoba, is the Polar Bear Capital of the World. I do not know when they gave that small town on Hudson’s Bay the moniker, but today, if you want to see Polar Bears, you must go out in boats at two specific times of the year – spring and fall. The times are getting later and later as the sea ice gets smaller and smaller and further away from land. The bears have great difficulty getting food. They must fatten up in the winter to live on the fat all during hibernation. Sadly, they are hungry because of fewer and fewer seals. Some bears are catching seals in open water, and in the fall, they are desperately hungry. They come into Churchill and feed on garbage, which causes the citizens to get upset and the bears to be shot. Life is becoming desperately hard for them.

Sad news coming in this morning. One of the four fledglings at San Jose, Luna, has been found dead on the ground following a building collision. Thank you ‘SP’ for alerting me.

As I ready for bed, there is serious concern over the Captiva Osprey nest. Connor from Window to Wildlife posted the following letter. This is one of the nests that ‘H’ monitors and she notes that Darling has had nothing to eat (but perhaps a few scraps) in 75 hours. This is because of the weather. We are hoping for a miracle but are realistically expecting Darling to pass away.

‘H’ reports on Captiva which is a nest she monitors: “6/13 Captiva ospreys:  The stationary tropical wave weather pattern that extends all across south Florida is expected to continue for the next few days, albeit with conditions predicted to be a little less severe in some places.  The two osplets, Ding and Darling, had eaten a meal the evening of 6/10.  Then fishing became impossible due to the stormy weather, not just because of the wind and rain, but due to the effect it had on the water surface and water turbidity.  The evening of 6/12 Edie brought a partial catfish to the nest which was eaten by Ding.  The morning of 6/13, Jack delivered a partial needlefish that was eaten by Ding.  In the afternoon, Edie brought a partial catfish, and that was eaten by Ding.  And, in the evening, Jack delivered a partial sheepshead that Ding ate.  The shortage of food has rekindled Ding’s ultimate dominance over Darling, and Ding wins the battles for the fish.  If enough fish is brought to the nest, Darling will win some of those battles, and Ding may also allow Edie to keep a fish to feed Darling.

In my opinion, if Darling passes, it will have nothing to do with Jack’s injury.  This is about the weather.  It is a prolonged weather event that a young unfed osplet cannot endure.  And, I’m sure this scenario is being played out at many osprey nests all across south Florida that have been impacted by this nearly-stationary tropical wave.

This is exactly the same effect that the Nor’easter had in New Jersey last June.  Certain adverse weather systems simply hang around too long, causing poor fishing that lasts for too many consecutive days…not just one day, or two days, but three days or more.  The end result is the starvation/dehydration deaths of many young ospreys.  In some cases, the prolonged stormy weather may cause the deaths of the adult ospreys as well.  For example, at the Ocean City, NJ nest, where the parents disappeared after the June 2023 storm, intruders took over the nest, and the osplets died in the nest.   

When the weather begins to improve after such a prolonged adverse weather event, and the adult ospreys are able to catch a fish, they must eat at least part of the fish to ensure their own survival, before bringing the remainder of the fish to the nest to feed their young.  Then, the dominant osplet in the nest will eat first.

At Captiva, Edie was providing for her two osplets just fine for three days in Jack’s absence, while we were unaware that he had been injured.  Then the storm hit, and made fishing impossible for an extended period of time.  Now that fishing has started to improve, and both Edie and Jack have been able to bring a few fish to the nest, the eldest osplet, Ding, has first dibs on the food.  If Darling dies, it will not be because of Jack’s injury.  It will be due to the storm, and because s/he happens to be the youngest osplet in the nest.  

By 07:00 on 6/14, Darling will not have eaten for 84 hours.  Pray for enough fish this morning to feed both Ding and Darling.”


6/13, Forsythe osprey nest:  After 10 fish were brought to the nest by Oscar on 6/12, this nest took a nose dive…with no apparent explanation.  At 0822, Oscar delivered a medium-sized headless fish.  Little was not permitted to eat at that meal, and Middle only ate a few bites.  After many hours, Opal decided to go fishing herself, and she returned with a large whole fish at 1530.  That feeding lasted for 40 minutes, and yet Little only ate 4 bites of fish.  He was prevented from eating by both Big and Middle.  We saw Oscar on the perch, but perhaps he wasn’t feeling well.  Little ate pretty well on 6/12, so he is not in immediate danger of starvation.  

6/13 Patuxent: There were six fish brought to the nest by Dad.  Little did not manage to eat at the first meal, but had a nice 12 minute private feeding at the second meal.  Little was not able to make it to Mom’s beak during the next two meals.  Little usually automatically assumes his tuck-and-surrender posture when a fish is delivered to the nest, and he has learned to wait his turn until Big and Middle are full.  But, at meal five, he fell asleep while waiting, lol.  The meal began at 1600, and by 1616 both Big and Middle had dropped back…queue Little…calling Little…where’s Little?…Oh my goodness, he had fallen asleep!  Mom ate some of the fish, and all of a sudden Little woke up at 1621 and said, “Oh, here I come Mommy, save some for me.”  But, there were only two bites of fish that Mom had left to feed her youngest.  Ahh, but Dad wasn’t finished…he delivered a large headless fish at 1822, and Little had a mostly private feed for 23 minutes and ate 145 bites of fish. 

6/14 South Cape May Meadows osprey nest:  We knew that the crow most likely destroyed egg #3 on 6/8, and it pecked at another egg.  One egg hatched on 6/11 which could have been either the first or second egg.  Well…another egg hatched overnight on 6/14!  So, the first baby was from egg #1 at 39 days, and the second baby was from egg #2 at 39 days.  “Now, you two must get along..Ya hear!”  Congratulations to Hera and Zeus!

6/14 Fortis Exshaw osprey nest:  The second baby hatched overnight.  Congratulations to Louise and Harvie!  (I do not have any good photos yet) 

6/14 Boathouse osprey nest:  Congratulations to Dory and Skiff on their first baby of the season.  The lil’ one hatched just after 8 a.m.

Gosh, that is a cute little baby, Heidi! Look at those dark eyes.

Thanks so much, ‘H’. We love your reports!

One of my readers said this morning that ‘the Montana nest might bring us the happiness we need this year’. With all the worry about Jack at Captiva with ‘the something’ sticking out of his leg (looks like part of a fishing spear to me), and all the nests that have four chicks, and now Loch Arkaig with the ferocious C2, well. It is going to be nice to sit and watch Iris live out a wonderful summer. She always had the best nest in the country. She would work on it right after she arrived from migration and then stop and make sure it was in tip top shape when she left. Just look at it. Perfect. This is just the best ‘icing on the cake’ for this female. A devoted male after so many years. When did Stanley die? 2014? If you look at the timeline below, you will see that the fledge in 2018 was just a fluke. It has been ten years since Iris had a clutch of chicks that fledged! So this really is a miracle year.

Hellgate-Osprey-Cam-Timeline-Cornell-Lab-Bird-Cams-Cornell-Lab-Bird-CamsDownload

So far, Finn is delivering on his promise to continue to be a good mate and dad. A huge fish came on the nest for Iris and baby Thursday morning.

The enthusiasm for a big fish for the babe and Iris caused some concern Thursday afternoon. ‘MB’ writes, “Some clumsy/scary looking moments at Iris’ nest 14:50 ish.  A large fish arrives complete with head.  The two adults both seem keen to wrangle it, more interested in the fish than the chick.  The wee chick is trodden on a few times.  It goes down and stays still for a while, and I am holding my breath.  By 15:00 ish the chick is back up and begging and the fish has been taken over to the perch to be sorted out. Hopefully it will arrive back for a more civilised feeding.”

Goodness me. We do not need a nest accident! Iris and Finnegan with that whole fish and wee babe wanting fish!

Finnegan looks down at the wee babe while Iris feeds. Oh, I wish I could see what he is thinking.

‘A’ adores Finn: “Finn does appear young, but if he has never done this before, he sure is a natural dad. He adores Iris and worships this tiny creature in the nest. He watches it with absolute fascination, and spends quite a bit of time on the perch, guarding his family with obvious pride. Adorable. 

You should see the size of the afternoon fish he brought it – it is MASSIVE (timestamp 14:51:15). Iris is happy! She starts to eat, but Finn decides he’s hungry too, so there is a bit of a tug of war over the fish, with the chick rapidly moving out of the way for fear of being squashed by this giant fish. Iris returns to brooding the chick and Finn starts eating the head of the fish. The chick is confused! 

Finn takes the fish to the nest perch and continues eating. And eating. And eating. By 15:32 Iris is getting impatient, and Finn brings the fish back to the nest. He stands beside Iris, looking very proud, until 15:40, when he grabs the fish and brings it around to Iris’s head. She is periodically vocalising at Finn but not getting up for the fish! 

Finn continues eating the fish head, occasionally offering a bite to Iris, who ignores it. Just before 15:43, he feeds a bite to Iris, which she accepts. She finally stands up, and slowly moves around to the fish. It is 15:44 and the chick is hungry. Finn stays on the nest, and the chick is not sure which parent to turn to for food. Iris is eating. Finn is watching his chick from the other side of the nest cup. Finally, around 15:45 Iris starts feeding Bob. The chick is good at this part! It is a voracious little feeder and can hold its head up, and steady, very easily indeed. It is strong and it is healthy. Such a blessing. Iris is giving her baby the smallest pieces – just right for a newborn osplet. She is such an experienced mum – calm and diligent. In fact, this chick seems to have inherited some pretty good genes all around. 

Oh I love this little family. Finn is proving to be a perfect dad, He could not be prouder of his osplet and he adores Iris. I know how many people are just over the moon for Iris. Every girl deserves a Finn in her life! I adore the way he feeds her on the nest. SO sweet. I have never seen a feeding like yesterday’s – yes, a few bites, but not a full eight-minute feeding that involved at least 50 bites of fish. That really was something very special indeed. I love this guy. Not just delivering fish but breakfast in bed for the new mum. He’ll be bringing flowers next! “

A pip in the second egg of Iris and Finnegan has been confirmed Thursday evening. Tears. Get the tissue boxes out!!!!!! The champagne is already gone.

The three babies at Charlo Montana are soooooo tiny.

C2 finally let up and everyone, including Dorcha, got some fish out of the sixth delivery of the day. Did I say that C2 is a big female and behaves like Zoe, the osprey, at Port Lincoln of 2022?

All of the osplets at Field Farm are accounted for!

A flurry of a tandem feeding at Poole Harbour with CJ7 and Blue 022 trying to keep the four osplets alive and healthy. They are doing an incredible job.

Blue 022 is great at feeding. Both adults were rushing to get the four fed as heavy rain was coming into the area.

One surviving Osplet, one deceased by a nest accident, and it looks like a DNH egg at Sandpoint.

Those three are tough little osplets at Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. They are still alive!

It is extremely difficult to see how many or how little fish are coming to the Osoyoos nest with its three osplets. Soo and Olsen have had a tough time of it in recent years. The area has been hit with heat bombs and the local lake and river that supply the fish appears not to have enough fish – or it is so warm that they are diving deep – that Olsen cannot catch them.

I noted three feedings on Thursday. At 1034, 1536, and 1656. This is not enough to sustain this family.

If you have the time, the Osoyoos cam is up and running. Any help in establishing how many fish come on this nest would be ever so helpful. Thank you.

It’s hot at the Cowlitz PUD nest. Three osplets. We need lots of fish to come on this nest!

Perhaps it is my imagination but it seems like the fish deliveries at some of the nests with small babies – that need to be fed a little but many times over – are slow.

Waiting for pip/hatch watch at Captain Mac’s Fish House Osprey platform.

Maya keeping her Only Bob dry from the rain at Rutland. What a great Mum she is. So sad she was sick at the beginning of the season. The ringing of the chick is scheduled for June 21.

At the Golden Eagle nest #2, Mum has brought prey in a couple of times on Thursday. Both chicks ate.

Edith P caught the feeding on video.

Golden Eaglet in Bucovina România doing well.

Some images from the nest of Big Red and Arthur and the new fledglings, the Ns.

The two hawklets at Syracuse have both branched and the nest is bare. I am thinking they both might have fledged.

‘H’ is watching for a pip Thursday evening for Dory and Skiff. Will see what she reports in the morning.

Hatch at nest #3 in Finland. (One egg had nest accident and one other egg left to hatch)

One osplet so far at nest #1 in Finland.

Some of you will have read the book Beauty and the Beak. I am sorry to inform you that Beauty has passed away.

Thank you so much for being with us today. There is joy tinged with great sadness. Please take care. See you soon!

Thank you to the following for their notes, comments, posts, images, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘A, Geemeff, H, PB, SP, T’, Connor and Window to Wildlife, Patuxent River Park, Forsythe Ospreys, SCMM, All About Birds, Montana Osprey Project, Cornell Bird Lab, Charlo Montana Ospreys, Geemeff, BoPH, Sandpoint Ospreys, MN Landscape Arboretum, Osoyoos, Cowlitz PUD, Pitkin County Open Spaces and Trails, Captain Mac’s Fish House, LRWT, Eagle Club of Estonia, Edith P, Wild Bucovina Association, Cornell RTH, Heidi McGrue, Nesting Bird Life and More, Finnish Osprey Foundation, and Birds of Prey Northwest.

Weather related deaths…Sunday in Bird World

9 June 2024

Good Morning Everyone,

Saturday was a blue sky sunny day (for the most part) on the Canadian Prairies. It was 22 degrees C with a bit of a breeze. A perfect day to be working in the garden. With all the rain and heat the little grass and the few weeds about have caused me to wish I had a goat!

Today, I promised myself that I would never purchase anything that needs to be assembled. All of the new planter boxes are together, but the so-called privacy screens’ that attach to the back are a bloody nightmare. The easiest thing today was picking up the new trees at the Re-Leaf Programme. Hackberry and Pin Cherry were the order of the day. Someone in the future will benefit from the shade of that Hackberry, and I hope the birds in my lifetime will enjoy the berries from both.

The Girls are all back to normal after my mini-break. The lilac bushes are full of leaves, and it is difficult for them to see the birds sometimes – and for me, too! It was late, but Baby Hope was particularly inquisitive about the ivy plant on the island. She is gorgeous. The girls are all back to normal after my mini-break. The lilac bushes are full of leaves, and it is difficult for them to see the birds sometimes – and for me, too! It was late, but Baby Hope was particularly inquisitive about the ivy plant on the island. She is gorgeous.

The Girls are thinking of birthday parties. Baby Hope will be a year old on 2 July, and Missey will be two on the 15th of July. Parties are in the making, complete with sardines, special tin cat food, and, of course, some new toys.

At the Florida-Gainesville Osprey nest, Middle fledged on Saturday and did a beautiful return flight. Mum was on the best waiting. She did a stupendous job this year. We could have lost all the osplets when Talon went missing, but this one survived thanks to Mum overcoming her brooding hormones and going out to fish!

The Lesser Spotted Eaglet that hatched in Zemgale, Latvia, succumbed to obligate siblicide on 8 June 2024. It had hatched the day before.

If you are unfamiliar with Cainism and siblicide, you might like to read the following when you have the time.

1-PDF-On-Cainism-in-the-Lesser-Spotted-Eagle-Aquila-pomarina-and-a-possible-Explanation-for-thDownload

We often wonder why nests do not cooperate and why the adults do not stop siblicide. The following article gives us some insight into this question.

Siblicide-An-Inextricable-Behavior-in-Birds-ExploreDownload

No issues with fish deliveries at Loch Arkaig. Louis is a master!

There is something very special about that third hatch at Loch Arkaig. I love how ‘she’ (seems too aggressive to be a third hatch male) makes herself bigger when the pecking order battles begin. Little is on the left.

Border Ospreys wonders if any eggs of Samson and Ursula might hatch? Well, we were surprised to see three at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum after the first egg had been left unattended for some hours in the rain. We have also watched as Milda the White-tail Eagle had to leave her eggs in quite cold weather to feed when her mate died. The two eggs hatched. Oh, and just this year, we witnessed this same phenomena at the NTCT nest of Bella and Scout. The eggs hatched but the eaglets, very healthy, were sadly killed by Scout.

So maybe Border Ospreys. Just maybe! We will wait and see.

WHAT-IF…-–-Border-OspreysDownload

There are two hatches at Sandpoint Osprey Cam. That second one came along quite quickly!

To the delight of everyone, the Minnesota Landscape Mum is feeding her chicks! This is a difficult nest. Caution advised.

Keeping our eyes on Iris and Finnegan’s nest in Montana. Dr Green’s post:

The Only Bob at Boulder County is turning into a reptile!

‘A’ brings us up to speed on Field Farm. “This is an amazing nest. This afternoon, dad brought in another monster fish, this one whole and very fresh. Mini Bob and Little Bob were at the right place at the right time and made up the front row of the feeding line. Mum fed Mini and Little, with the two older siblings making up the second row, behind their two younger siblings and apparently quite happy to wait their turn. Mini is adorable. Absolutely the cutest little osplet. S/he is just SO much smaller than its siblings, it is sometimes hard to find it on the nest (hint: it likes to stay near or underneath mum if it can). They are all sweet, with their round little bottoms and their bandit stripes, and these parents are working hard to ensure all four get full crops several times a day. 

With the size of the fish being brought onto this nest, I would venture a guess that none of these osplets has experienced that unpleasant sensation known as hunger. And in the absence of that experience, the older osplets are confident they will get plenty to eat even if they are left until last. Perhaps most of these osplets are male (only one of them behaves like a female and even then, it’s pretty rare and not prolonged). Whatever the reason, it is at this point a very peaceful nest and an absolute joy to watch. 

We are all too aware that these nests can literally turn on a dime, with a prolonged spell of bad weather impacting fishing or intruders causing distractions that limit fishing time or even end in the loss of a parent. So it is unwise to speak too soon or to assume that things will continue to run as smoothly as they have done so far. Talons crossed for this little band though. They are just lovely and I couldn’t help but mention the afternoon feeding.”

Turn on a dime it might. Little Mini got itself upside down with its head stuck under an older sibling and is fiercely trying to right itself. Sadly it will die if it can’t.

What a glorious relief. After what seemed an incredibly long time, Little Mini is upright! (No timestamp, very frustrating).

‘A’ observes, “Mini Bob at Field Farm IS OKAY. It finally managed to get back onto its front, although it was hindered by a sibling that would not get off it and was holding down its head, as well as by a long thin stick that was laid right across the chick, over its neck and literally holding it down, no matter how hard it struggled. Eventually, the arrival of a second parent caused a general milling about, which both got the sibling off Mini Bob and also moved the stick pinning him down. And he finally struggled over and onto his feet. He is okay. There is a feeding now occurring (about six hours ago) and Mini is at the back of the feeding line by the time he has righted himself and got to the table, but there is a big fish, I think, and it is not shy about finding a way to mum’s beak. Its little tummy was very full when it was stuck on its back (I think it was so fat, it was actually hindering its efforts to right itself), so I’m not concerned about that. It will be fed. 

It has a survivor’s temperament and there is not much bonking on this nest, for some reason. I still think the spreading around of the aggression rather than its being c oncentrated on a single (third) hatch may make the four-chick nests a better siurvival chance for the younger hatch/es than a three-chick nest. I am interested in that theory, as you have probably gathered by now. “

‘A’ also brings in another one of our four clutch nests, Poole Harbour! “Just a quick update on Poole Harbour. There is a feeding underway right now at Poole Harbour (7 June, 12:39). Mini is front and centre of the feeding line and Blue CJ7 is feeding the little one along with two of its siblings, one on either side. Little Bob, on Mini’s left, is also doing very well at this feeding. The oldest is still lying down behind the other three, not bothering to participate in the feeding until about 12:42, by which time it is standing behind Mini Bob, leaning over him a little but not being at all aggressive or even stealing bites. All four are waiting their turns. There is no bonking as yet at this feed, although the older siblings are in the reptilian phase. Mini Bob is a confident little osplet and seems to have no fear of its siblings. Mum is feeding it some bites that are way too big for it, but it is struggling valiantly to swallow what it can, and is doing well and getting some good pieces. This is an impressive nest indeed to have a fourth hatch looking as good as this wee osplet is. 

As the feeding continues and all four osplets have joined in, CJ7 doles out the food relatively evenly, though Mini is too small to compete for bites with its much taller siblings so relies on CJ7 specifically leaning down to offer it bites, which she does, periodically giving the wee one two or three bites in a row. They are all waiting their turn, politely holding their positions and allowing their siblings to eat without intimidation or interference. This is a truly lovely thing to watch. It is a huge fish, so the only thing that will leave anyone with room for more will be mum getting tired of feeding the osplets. Four little open beaks are hard work! Mum is not neglecting her own needs, though, tucking in to some very very large chunks of fish herself in between feeding bites to her chicks. She really does seem to make a huge effort to share the food around to all of them and to ensure that each is being fed. She really does take extra care. Mini Bob, being so much smaller than its siblings, finds it very hard to reach mum’s beak in any competition. But mum leans right down to Mini Bob’s beak, turning her head to ensure he can take the food easily. Sometimes the piece is too large and she feeds part of it to a sibling, then turns back and gives the remainder to Mini Bob. 

I would hazard a guess that this is a mainly male nest – if this lot were females, there would be a lot more aggression than what we are seeing (none at all). The youngest is very confident indeed and has no fear of its siblings whatsoever. If this continues, and there is no intruder problem or fish shortage, this nest is almost certainly going to fledge four osplets if Blue CJ7 has anything to do with it. It is just lovely to watch, and how often do you say that about a four-osplet clutch?”

Hats off to CJ7 and Blue 022. This is one of the finest four chick nests I have ever observed! Little Mini gets to eat with the group or is fed separately at every feeding on Saturday. Gold medal nest.

‘H’ reports on some of the nests she is monitoring:

“8, Forsythe NJ osprey nest:  The chicks are 18, 17, 16, and 14 days old.  It is uncanny how much the dynamics of this nest remind me of last year.  It feels as though I have been transported back in time to June of 2023.  The reptilian phase of osprey growth has hit this previously tranquil nest with potentially dire results (I pray not).  Chicks number 1 and 2 are generally very mellow (just like chicks 1 and 2 last season).  Little Mini4 is mellow.  And, chick 3 has become very aggressive (just like chick 3 of last season).  Chick 3 has found out that the easiest target for her to take out her aggression is Mini4.  So, chick 3 has been severely beaking poor lil’ Mini4 many times during meals, and sometimes outside of meals.  On occasion, chick 1 takes it upon himself to beak chick 3 after chick 3 beaks Mini4…just like chick 1 would do last year!  Oscar delivered 5 fish to the nest, and most were on the small-ish side.  There was one large fish, from which Mini4 was fed 17 bites of fish.  Mini4 had fewer than 90 bites of fish in five meals on 6/8.  I am very worried about Mini4.  I’m sure Oscar is doing his best to provide his family with fish.  The nest platform is in a very expansive marsh, and is located at least 5 miles from the Atlantic Ocean.  There are a couple of shallow-water bays nearby.”

“
6/8, Patuxent River Park osprey nest:  Dad delivered five fish to the nest for his family.  The first fish of the day was of medium size, and of course everyone was hungry.  Little could not get to the feeding line, and was shut out of that meal.  At meal two, Little only managed three scraps of fish off the nest fed to him by Mom at the end of the meal.  Hang in there Little, things usually improve for you later in the day!  Well now…Dad delivered a huge live fish at noon.  At 1220 Little was fed his first bite of fish.  Little had a mostly private feeding for the next 34 minutes, and ate approximately 246 bites of fish!  At 1500 Dad brought a large headless fish.  Little ate a few bites at 1505, but was beaked by Big.  Little soon resumed eating on the other side of Mom from Big, and ate an additional 46 bites of fish, before Middle returned to the table and pushed Little aside. Little was able to grab a bite intermittently, and by the end of the meal had eaten 61 bites of fish.  The last fish of the day was a partial fish at 2040.  Little made no attempt to eat…he was still stuffed from his earlier meals!”

There are three osplets at the Crooked Lake osprey platform (Timothy Dygert Live Stream). They are 9, 8, and 6 days old today.

Ruffie and Tuffy on the Moorings Park Osprey Platform in Florida. Each hoping to win that prize fish dinner.

The trio at Goitzsche-Wildnis are great!

At the Golden Eagle nest, chick 1 had a huge crop. Chick 2 waited, very intimidated, and was fed! I want to be hopeful.

The oldest sibling is starting aggressive attacks on the younger. Golden Eagles – like the Lesser Spotted Eagles – practice obligate siblicide. It is, however, late for this to be happening. The only way now might be to push the younger sibling off the nest which appears to be what is being attempted in the image below.

The older didn’t manage and I find this very interesting. Both fed – oldest first and then second.

One of the reasons that I have such huge respect for the communities, groups, individuals that maintain the Osprey nests in the UK is that they do not have this:

The weather in the UK has been really bad in the region of the Kielder Forest in the north. Many healthy chicks and some struggling third hatches have died due to the horrific wind, hail, and rain. Condolences go out to everyone at Kielder. I will slowly be adding these to the Memorial Page along with Little Bob from the Seaside nest who died in a severe storm on June 2.

On 8 June around 1300, Smallie, the youngest of the Peregrine Falcons at Our Lady Tower in Amersfoort Netherlands fell off the scrape. The youngster was rescue and we await news to see if he will be returned to the scrape. Thanks, ‘PB’ for alerting me to this event. We all care so much for this little guy. Smallie has been returned to an area near the scrape. Meanwhile the big sibs have food fights on the scrape!

Lots of visitors to The Campanile on Saturday! These are seriously beautiful fledglings.

Remember: The juveniles have vertical banding on their chests while Annie has horizontal as an adult. Those kids sure have nice crops. Annie and Archie are incredibly protective parents. What an amazing year it was.

Fledge watch on for the Red-tail Hawks of Big Red and Arthur on the Cornell Campus is approaching.

It is heating up in Orange as Diamond and Xavier are bonding in the scrape! Seriously is it really time for the Australian nests?? Unbelievable.

The streaming cam at Colonial Beach is back on line.

I am still seeing two babies at the Imperial Eagle nest of Alton and Nova in RU.

Nesting Bird Life and More captured a feeding at the nest with both of the Golden Eaglets.

Osplets that hatched on 21 and 22 of May in the Ramuka Forest in Poland are doing well.

Three osplets at Finlands #4 nest.

There are two osplets in the Pitkin County Open Spaces and Trails in Colorado.

News of the San Jose Falcons!

‘PB’ reports that Smallie has been heard. We cannot see if it gets food but I plan to assume that since Mum came into the scrape to feed Smallie that she will try and make certain he has food outside. Fingers crossed.

Thank you so much for being with us today. Tomorrow I hope to cover some of the nests not touched upon today. There are so many events – hatches, fledges and, sadly, deaths, that is especially hard to keep up sometimes. Please take care. See you soon!

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, observations, comments, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘A, H, J, MP, PB’, University of Florida-Gainesville Osprey Cam, LDF, ResearchGate, ExploreBlog, Geemeff, The Woodland Trust, Border Ospreys Blog, Sandpoint Osprey Cam, MN Landscape Arboretum Osprey Cam, Montana Osprey Project, Boulder County, Field Farm, BoPH, Time Dygert Live Stream, Moorings Park Ospreys, Fischadlerwebcam, Eagle Club of Estonia, Lake Murray Osprey, Forsythe Osprey Cam, Patuxent River Park, Amersfoort Falcon Cam, Cal Falcons, Cornell RTH Cam, Cilla Kinross, Colonial Beach Osprey Cam, Imperial Eagle Cam RU, Nesting Bird Life and More, Ramuka Forest Osprey Cam, Finnish Osprey Foundation, SK Hideaways, and Pitkin County.

Thursday in Bird World

30 May 2024

Hello Everyone,

Today’s posting is very short. I got to spend all day Wednesday with my grandson, Zak. It was just marvellous – way too long since we connected. Oh, he has grown into such a lovely young man. (We seem to be having a big spontaneous family reunion!) We spent a lot of time walking the Chickadee Trail at the provincial park near where I live. Of course, I was busy telling him how the birds would land on your hand to take seed. I don’t think he believed me. The foliage is all out, and the birds have enough natural food. They don’t need birdseed. We could hear them and saw one while getting eaten by mosquitoes. Still, what a great day with blue sky and sun.

It is that time of year. Graduations, weddings, birthdays and just general family and friend get togethers. Please do not use balloons to mark your property, to give to children, or to decorate. They are absolutely deadly for our wildlife and, like fireworks, there is no need for them. There are many wildlife-friendly environmentally friendly options.

This albatross was lucky.

Agreement-on-the-Conservation-of-Albatrosses-and-Petrels-A-Black-browed-Albatross-survives-ingestiDownload

The OntarioSPCA says: “Balloons are also hazardous to wildlife, because balloons can float into their habitat as well. When wildlife is scavenging for food, balloons (especially Mylar) can resemble other food sources, such as fruits, berries or bright flowers. Rodents and rabbits can be browsing for dandelions or greenery and consume bits of balloon wrapped up in their regular food source and eat it accidentally. The string or ribbon tied on a balloon also presents a risk to wildlife. An animal can get its legs or wings caught, essentially trapping the animal and making it unable to get back to its nest or safe place. Sometimes we need to make sacrifices and change our behaviour in order to protect companion animals and wildlife. While you enjoy summer celebrations, remember to use balloons indoors and never release balloons outside to keep critters safe.”

Help our wildlife by educating your friends and neighbours. They will thank you as do we!

 I got a tip off from ‘MP’ and I will be keeping an eye on the MNSA Osprey nest with its trio. If you are watching this nest, please send me notes on any feedings that you see, etc. Always helpful.

Much concern for the third hatch at Maryland Western Shore for Old Town Home. The little one slipped in and got quite a bit of fish earlier but did not get up to the beak after the two big siblings ate an evening fish despite fish being left. I was a little bewildered. We will see if this Little Bob makes it.

The earlier feed. Big ones ate. Little one to the right of Mum eating. Got much fish, thankfully.

Shut out of this feeding.

CJ7 got fed up with that black bin bag on the nest at Poole Harbour. During a feeding she took it off the nest! Yeah!

As I head to bed, the fourth egg at Poole Harbour for CJ7 and Blue 022 has a little egg tooth pecking away. It looks like there will be four of them! My goodness.

First hatch at The Bridge Golf Course on Wednesday 29 May.

I am also keeping a wee bit of an eye on Radford University’s trio for any mischief.

At Loch Arkaig, Dorcha is very careful to make sure that Little Bob gets enough fish!

Telyn is doing the best she can with three little ones and the Welsh rain.

We are on hatch watch at Cowlitz PUD for the third egg. Electra has been doing a gallant job keeping the two little bobbleheads on the nest happy. Let us hope those metal grids hold for another year.

There is a cute little chick at the Port of Ridgefield. You can just barely see it because it still has its egg tooth. One egg was broken and I believe the other to be non-viable. But we wait to see.

Outer Banks doing alright.

Hard to tell if Balgavies Loch has one or two osplets but there is definitely one!

‘H’ reports:

“5/30 Audubon Boathouse osprey nest:  Dory quickly flew off the nest at approximately 02:30, and a GHO landed on the nest.  After a minute or so, Dory dive-bombed the GHO.  Dory and Skiff’s only chick was predated by a GHO last July.

5/29 Patuxent-I osprey nest:  Things were looking rather bleak for Little.  Little was shut out of the first two meals, and was only able to eat 16 bites of fish at the third meal.  Then at 1833 Dad arrived with a very large headless goldfish.  Little stayed tucked and did not even attempt to approach the feeding line for 45 minutes.  Big and Middle were finished eating, Dad had arrived back in the nest, and Mom walked away from the fish. Little was slow to go to Mom, and we feared that Dad was getting ready to remove the large leftover fish.  Little made his way over to Mom, and she got the message.  At 1930 Mom picked up the fish again and fed Little!  At that point our view was blocked by Dad.  At 1942 we could see Little lie down.  Was the fish all gone, or did Little stop eating voluntarily?  We waited…all of us waiting to see the size of Little’s crop.  Finally, Little stood and we saw that he had a huge crop, yay!  Dad removed the large leftover piece of fish from the nest.  At 2044 Dad returned with a small fish tail and Mom fed Big and Middle.

5/29 Forsythe osprey nest:  This family is doing well…Oscar is providing plenty of fish, and Opal continues to impress with her feedings, ensuring that all four of the osplets are fed.  There is some bonking, but so far it does not seem to be during meals.”

“5/29 Captiva ospreys – All was good for this family, and Edie delivered two of the eight fish brought to the nest.  Darling and Ding were practicing some wingers, and Ding even threw in a couple little hops!”

‘PB’ wrote with questions and observations about the Achieva osprey nest. Diane has had to leave the eggs to go and get food for herself. The first egg of the second clutch was (sadly) laid on the 30th of April. Jack has not been seen for some time. Is he MIA? is he no longer with us? Hard to say. But it was very late for a second round of osplets in an area that had drought last year and is very hot now. I am thrilled for Diane that these eggs will not hatch. I hope the Crow will come and get them.

‘J’ writes that the second egg at the Russian Imperial eagle nest has hatched. We have had two eaglets survive due to lots of prey deliveries. We wait and see.

Keeping an eye on Smallie. Some worried he would be lunch for an older sibling. Should not happen! ‘A’ writes: “I think the parents will return to feed Smallie, and I’m looking forward to a couple of those giant sisters fledging and giving him a chance at the food. He is so determined, and works so hard on those leftovers. He is getting some quality food from some of them – it just takes him a long time. But at other times, he’s literally eating feathers and bones. My hope lies in his aggressive determination when it comes to food. I think he will beg loudly and continuously for food, and the parents will feed him. I am hopeful of that, though they do seem to be having problems feeding these four at the moment.”

The single eyas at Evergy Energy in Kansas is doing well.

I haven’t been lucky checking on Larry’s eyases at Alcatraz. They are never in view!

Monty and Hartley raise very energetic and sometimes wonderfully aggressive little eyases. Think Soledad! Check out the four this year.

Have you been watching the falcon scrap in Kansas City called Shook? Oh, those three are cuties. Link to streaming cam below.

https://www.youtube.com/live/grylXMT82Yc?si=FT5YaP8EyHUaGlZ2

Oh, no! Annie and Archie’s chicks are thinking about flying.

Someone started a rumour that Gigi at the ND-LEEF nest is now missing along with Dad. It is not true. She is doing everything – security, hunting for the babies, feeding, and caring. You might not see her on the nest all the time because she has to be both Mum and Dad and – hunting is not easy! Gigi has fish on the nest, too, for the eagles to peck at and self-feed. Gigi is doing a good job as a single Mum.

The middle osplet at Lake Murray is still with us!

Thank you so much for being with us today. Please feel free to report any news or concerns with the osprey nests. It is always appreciated. See you soon!

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, comments, videos, images, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘A, H, J, MP, PB’, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels, Ontario SPCA, MNSA Jay Koolpicks Osprey Cam, Maryland Western Shore Old Town Home, BoPH, Bridge Golf Course, Radford University, Achieva Credit Union, Superbeaks, Forsythe Ospreys, Audubon Boathouse, Patuxent River Park, Window to Wildlife, Russian Imperial Eagle Cam, Geemeff, Dyfi Osprey Project, Cowlitz PUD, Port of Ridgefield, OBX Osprey Cam, Balgavies Loch, Amersfoort Falcon Cam, Evergy Energy, ParksConservancy, SK Hideaways, Shook Falcon Cam, Lake Murray Ospreys, and ND-LEEF.

Tuesday in Bird World

21 May 2024

Hello everyone!

The Baltimore Orioles were enjoying their grape jelly and oranges in the garden on Saturday and Sunday. The males are black with the bright orange and the female is the lighter yellow-orange. Taken with my phone and heavily cropped so soft edges.

‘The Girls’ and I are watching a male American Redstart in the garden. This species is passing through going North but this little fellow seems to have a bit of an injury. Like the others, it would be nearly impossible to catch him and the outcome would be bleak at the wildlife centre where they are full to running over with ‘babies’ at the moment. I will let him heal and see how things work out.

Isn’t he a beauty!

I could get on a soapbox today, but I am afraid I would give each of you a headache and you would never return. Last week a woman stole two goslings from in front of a shop in my City. She just took them from Mamma Goose. First it is a wildlife crime and second, why on earth would anyone do such a thing? How would that woman feel if someone stole two of her children?

There was a positive event when some goslings were saved recently and orphans added to another family. It is nesting season and we need to care for all the wildlife.

First up – please vote!

The four in San Jose are keeping Monty busy hunting!

For several years, since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, we have wondered what will happen and how will this military conflict impact the birds. Many of us tracked and marvelled at the late Karl II and his mate, Kaia, as they flew through Ukraine and then, at times, diverted to other countries. Scientists have now discovered that the birds use different flight paths to avoid the conflict.

Eagles-shifting-flight-paths-to-avoid-Ukraine-conflict-scientists-find-Birds-The-GuardianDownload

I missed the pip/hatch at Llyn Clywedog for Dylan and Seren in Monday’s post. We are also on pip watch at Loch Arkaig.

This little one of Dylan and Seren’s is doing so well with its egg tooth that by Tuesday when I publish this post, it will have hatched.

Loch Arkaig’s nest 2 – Louis and Dorcha – is on pip watch.

Keeping an eye on Dyfi’s eggs. There is the little one!!!!!!!!

I saw the 0919 fish come in to Lake Murray and Little was positioned perfectly to be fed. The older ones do not seem that interested in eating first thing in the morning which allows the baby to get a nice start on the day. Little had at least two other good feeds during the day – I did not follow with a microscope. They are getting all their plumage and the aggression should be stopping as long as Kenny continues with fish deliveries.

There are still three osplets on the nest at Lake Murray.

Beautiful Ruffie and Tuffy. Ruffie has fledged and takes some short flights – returns to the nest quickly if she spots a fish delivery! Dear little Tuffy has yet to fly and that is OK. We love seeing both of them on the nest – so healthy and such amazing parents. That Harry is a really good provider just like Kenny at Lake Murray.

Parents continue to bring fish to the Venice Golf and Country Club nest and today Little Bob had a private feeding.

Thankfully Olivia has abandoned the eggs at Severna Park.

It appears that Blue NCO is accepting the dark plumaged male as her new mate after Laddie’s passing at LOTL.

At Rutland’s Manton Bay, Only Bob – that got flung out of the egg cup by a fish and returned to the centre by generous caring staff – is now in the Reptile stage!

At Loch Arkaig, Dorcha is caught off guard by the Tawny Owl.

Did Larry’s eyases fledge? or are they in another area?

‘H’ reports on Captiva: “First meal started at 0657 with a whole sheepshead delivered by jack.  CO8 was able to eat first, and ate for 4 minutes before s/he was beaked by CO7.  CO7 ate until 0719.  Then CO8 ate again from 0720 to 0736, for a total of 20 minutes at this meal.

The second feeding at 0900 was a partial sheepshead.  CO7 ate.  CO8 ate one bite at 0910, and also ate a large piece at the very end of the meal at 0915.

Feeding #3 was a small whole needlefish.  The meal lasted for 5 minutes, and CO8 ate for about a minute.

The fourth feeding was whole fish that lasted 38 minutes, and CO8 was only able to eat 4-6 bites of fish at this meal.

The next fish was a small whole pinfish.  CO8 was fed the whole fish including the tail (minus Edie’s bites), in about six minutes.

Jack’s sixth fish of the day was another pinfish, and at 1512 CO8 started to eat on Edie’s right side, and eventually CO7 worked its way over to Edie’s left, but was mostly hidden from our view.  It did appear that CO8 was offered the most bites of fish during the 6-minute feeding.

Fish #7 at 1745 was a partial fish, and both osplets still had moderate crops to start out.  It was a 16 minute meal, and CO8 was fed the first 14 bites of fish from Edie, before CO7 exerted its dominance.  At 1759 CO7 moved away and CO8 ate 11 more bites of fish to end the meal.

Overall, it was a good day, with Jack delivering ample fish for his family, and CO8 had his/her crop filled a few times.”

Beautiful Iris. Her new mate will get his name today. I sure hope nothing happens to him before these babies fledge.

At PSEG’s Oyster Bay nest, Dad is determined to put up privacy rails so we cannot see the babies! I wonder if someone is pruning their trees?

‘H’ reports on Patuxent River Park and their trio of osplets.

‘R’ reports that there was water in the camera box that was causing the problems at University of Florida-Gainesville. Once it was back on there was Stella doing a good job providing for Big Bob. Beautiful plumage. Grateful that one survived after Talon went missing.

Screenshot

As you will have noticed, I do not report on the eagles as much as I did before the Ospreys began laying eggs and hatching. Murphy has another foster eaglet and it looks like he is showing it how much fun you have in a puddle pool.

Jasper and Leaper, at Duke Farms, have branched higher and higher into the tree, but have yet to fledge. Their first flight will be soon.

The third eaglet at the George Sutton Avian Research Centre in Oklahoma has died of siblicide on 19 May 2024.

All three at Little Miami Conservancy survived.

Are Jackie and Shadow building a new nest?

At the ND-LEEF nest in South Bend, Indiana (St Joseph’s Park), Gigi, the new female, is the sole provider for the eaglets as Dad has been missing since 8 May. Oh, this is sad.

Big Bob hatched at Llyn Clywedog at 2208 Sunday evening the 20th of May.

Port Lincoln is trying another experiment. They have placed underwater lights so Mum can see the fish and catch them! It is working. You really have to appreciate all the things that are being made by this group in South Australia to not only protect the Ospreys but to help them if there are difficult times in getting food. Three beautiful fledges in 2023 can be attributed to their tenacious efforts in getting fish on that nest for the osplets.

There are two beautiful white fluffy Golden eaglets at the Bucovina nest in Romania. I wish there was a possibility that the second would survive the historical ‘Cainism’ that drives this species.

Later, Mum removed the second eaglet from the nest, killed it, ate part of it and fed the rest to eaglet 1. Sadly, the little one was still alive and had a slow and agonising death.

At Amersfoort, Small has a good crop and appears to have grown some.

Smallie has gotten out of the scrape. Will he be able to return to be fed

‘J’ brings us good news about the Kakapo Recovery efforts: “The kākāpō population has increased almost fivefold since the programme started in 1995 and has doubled in the last 10 years. There are 247 kākāpō alive today. This is great news, especially since kākāpō only breed once every 2-4 years when the rimu trees are fruiting.

The last breeding season was in 2022. To help predict the next breeding season, we compare seasonal temperatures year-on-year and collect rimu samples from the predator-free breeding islands to count fruit tips. 

We know some kākāpō will breed if more than 10 percent of rimu tips bear fruit. It also seems that a greater number of kākāpō breed as the percentage of fruit increases.

Data so far tells us that there will be no large breeding event in 2025 and the difference in seasonal temperatures indicate a likely breeding season in 2026. After further fruit tip counting early next year, we will be able to confirm this predicted season and may even have an estimate of how many nests to expect in 2026!”

Now isn’t this interesting? Raptors are gaining immunity!

As-bird-flu-spreads-to-dairy-cows-Minnesotas-raptors-show-signs-of-building-remarkable-immunityDownload

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

Thank you to the following for their notes, comments, images, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post this morning: ‘Geemeff, H, J, PB, R’, Prairie Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre, Sharon Pollock, Cal Falcons, John Williams, Geemeff, Dyfi Osprey Project, Lake Murray Ospreys, moorings Park, VGCCO, Severna Park, Scottish Wildlife Trust (LOTL), LRWT, ParksConservancy, Window to Wildlife, Montana Osprey Project, Heidi McGrue, UFlorida-Gainesville Osprey Cam, World Bird Sanctuary, Deb Stecyk, Jonathan Coleman, Little Miami conservancy, Cindy Alicno, ND-LEEF, Llyn Clywedog, PLO, Bucovina Wild, Amersfoort Falcons, Kakapo Recover, and The Star Tribune.