The inbox lit up. Everyone is excited. She did it. There are now two eggs for Beau and Gabby at around 1824. Thanks, ‘A and J and everyone else that came after’!
Beau arrives to aerate the nest and roll the two eggs. Thanks, ‘J’
Hugo Yugo has her dental surgery scheduled for Monday due to a cancellation at the veterinary clinic. I am so happy. She will not have to suffer waiting til the first week in January. HY will go in for her blood work this afternoon. As I write this, Brock is eating, which always brings a smile to my face. I’m not sure how he manages to survive temperatures below -30°C, but he looks good this morning with no frostbite on his ears.
HY. What a little sweetie.
Hugo Yugo’s sidekick, Missey, has been busy checking out the animals on their little woodland tree. Last year, with her brother Lewis, Missey almost destroyed this tiny tree!!!!!!!! She was eating the flocking off the branches. it is a wonder there wasn’t a huge vet bill. This year her focus is on removing the animals, and the other three think are cat toys. Ugh. Can you hear me growling?
I cannot imagine a world without birds singing and, yet, in my own neighbourhood, it is our garden where the song is happening. No where else. Plug your ears and image not a single bird singing – ever again. Let’s do something about it before that happens!
Why are birds important? and their song? “But does the silencing of our soundscapes matter to us? The short answer is yes. There is growing evidence about the health benefits of spending time in nature, including reducing risks of heart disease, diabetes and anxiety. Yet while the general benefits of being outside in nature may seem intuitive, the contributions of natural sounds to this are less understood.”
Help create a time of giving and caring instead of consumerism.
Beau and Gabby have been incubating like synchronised swimmers. It has been a joy to watch them this season. As I write this, there is still only one egg. If there is to be only one, then goodness, I hope it is fertile, hatches, is healthy, and fledges. I cannot imagine another disappointment for her. She, of course, will take it all in stride and not be openly bothered. We have so much to learn from the raptors.
Beau on the nest incubating. The couple have been on and off all day.
We have a real treat from SK Hideaways. No more murmurations where they live so they went to find them! https://youtu.be/WVeEWdDAO7A?
This is also wonderful. A young person who is so creative. Look at the detail in the bird cards – a large % going to the Sussex Wildlife Trust!
A long time Bald Eagle ambassador at the Audubon Centre for Birds of Prey, Paige, has died.
It appears that they are looking for Kasse. Isn’t the tracker working? I hope that Kasse has followed Mum to go fishing. Bart is waiting for Fran to wake up to see if she has the tracking for the kids.
One osprey on the barge.
All four were found on the old barge. There has been no breakfast.
At the Loch Arkaig, Geemeff has found some visitors. Ospreys not expected for 100 days or so! “Sparrowhawk on Nest Two and a Raven on Nest One. They visited within an hour of each other after weeks of no activity. Mind you, the nest cams have been down quite a bit due to lack of solar power, so who knows what we might have missed.” https://youtu.be/2VYIExWjaig
Winston, the Black Bear Cub rescue in Manitoba, is thriving.
I need to check the comments on time. ‘AE and MP’ note that Jack was on the Achieva Credit Union nest on the 7th of December. Thank you!
Jack is one of the male ospreys that I have not kept an adequate file on his head marks. I wonder if this is him? What has happened to Diane?
I did not see anyone in the scrape at the Campanile.
There is someone at the San Jose City Hall!
Thunder and Akecheta were at the West End nest.
I haven’t seen anyone at Two Harbours recently. If you have, please let me know!
Pip watch continues at SW Florida! Did I put my vote in for Saturday? A sub-adult landed on the rails and F23 valiantly defended the nest and eggs.
It is highlights at Fraser Point. Go and have a look. Take a tissue – so many images of little eaglets that we loved so much.
Calico loves Junior the Squirrel:
Calico is finalising her favourite books. It is a bit of a laugh because she has slipped in a few from earlier—her all-time favourites!
Calico’s Tip of the Day comes with an image from Happy Kitty FB. It is winter, and in Manitoba it has been -40 C. The temperatures are going to get warmer for a few days, but the animals that live outside are hungry. Rapid habitat loss has brought them into urban spaces looking for food in Mexico, in Canada, in various other parts of North America. Please help if you can!
Please forgive all typos. I still have my cold, but it has been an unlucky day for accidents. I slipped on the ice and injured my left wrist and then I cut the middle finger of my left hand rather deeply. Like the thumb, it is incredible how much you use that finger. My keyboarding was kind of pecking tonight…so typos and grammar – look the other way, please! I should be back to normal soon.
Thank you for being with us today. Please take care. See you soon!
Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘A, AE, Geemeff, J, MP’ NEFL-AEF, The Guardian, SKHideaways, Sussex Wildlife Trust, Audubon Center for Birds of Prey, Port Lincoln Ospreys, Heidi Mc, Judy Harrington, Geemeff and The Woodland Trust, Black Bear Rescue Manitoba, Achieva Credit Union, Cal Falcons, SJ City Hall Falcons, IWS/Explore.org, Gracie Shepherd, Walmer the Rescued Squirrel, Happy Kitty FB
Post Update: The second hatch at McEuan Park has died. The second hatch at Dorsett Hobby has died.
The heat produced some thunderstorms Friday night and some heavy rain. We are in another thunderstorm alert for the next few hours with loonie-size hail and 100 kph winds. The birds have been eating frantically all day. Their behaviour should have told me. Thankfully, it missed us.
It was a lovely evening at the park. Despite the signs around the pond, someone or many people were feeding the ducks. What they were feeding them was good bird seed—that is alright. And the duck population is good!
At home the little Blue Jay is having a wonderful time in the bird bath!
Little Blue Jay spent many hours playing in the bird bath. This is a very short clip.
One of the baby Cowbirds played in the water, too. It really helped to keep the birds cool on a hot day.
The shade tunnel at one side of the back garden for the birds and animals.
Being in the garden and spending time at the duck pond was a good way to step back for a few hours. It has been a tough week.
Seeing Jackie and Shadow together melts away anxiety. Ever hopeful, always loyal, these two never give up. When I get really low, they are the one raptor couple I turn to to make it all better.
Falcons help, especially soaring fledglings. Check out Alma and Lucia.
Bailey. She donates blood to help other raptors.
If you live in the United States, please read Audubon’s appeal for your help in getting the The Sustaining America’s Fisheries for the Future Act of 2024 passed. Everything helps.
One of the representatives in Virginia has a son who works for Omega. Flood him with letters. The House of Representatives name is Rob Wittman. I am sure you can see the problems that the State of Virginia is having and why. Let’s try and help Virginia be as successful as New York!
The following short presentation (below) has an 8 minute film on the history of Menhaden and why it is so important. It is a keystone fish. For those in the film, they mention whales and other fish species such as tuna and bass, but we need these fish for our osprey. Menhaden is what osprey eat in this area and the Chesapeake Bay is depleted. The ospreys are starving.
This is the Director’s message:
The Montana Ospreys eat other fish. Some of those fish are trout. When the rivers get too warm the trout die. The Osprey also cannot eat. The osplets get tangled in baling twine. They have their own issues including the heat.
The message seems to have been sent from Dunrovin and Charlo Montana. Finn worked on the rails at his nest with Iris and their two chicks Saturday morning. Now we know that Iris always has one of the best nests in ‘the West’ if anywhere. It has gotten a little ruffled with all the activity this season, but the couple continues to work on it to keep their babies safe. Look at their babies with all those gorgeous juvenile feathers. Dear Iris has taken the brunt of the heat, and Finn has fished his heart out.
Everyone is concerned about how the heat is impacting Iris who so loves being a Mum and who is so lucky to have Finn. She is going to have high temperatres for another week.
At the Patchogue nest, Dad brought in fish for both Patches and Rainer! We get to see them both eating on the nest. How wonderful.
The Middle chick Blue 8B4 has fledged at Llyn Clywedog on Saturday! There he is on the right looking at us. Gosh, what a gorgeous place to take a first flight.
Fledglings in Germany at the Goitzsche-Wildnis nest continue to return to be fed by Mum or self-feed.
No fledges yet at Poole Harbour.
The heat continues to hit the Pacific Northwest. This heat is persisting and the longer it continues our Osprey prospects become more and more dire unless there is plenty of fish coming to the nest. Otherwise, in these extreme conditions the ospreys have to use the energy from the fish they do get to try and stay cool.
McEuan Park on Saturday:
Charlo Montana:
Blackbush: All three are doing well.
Great Bay: All three osplets have fledged and have returned to the nest for some of those fish dinners while they get their wings stronger.
Field Farm is doing good. Osplets getting a little antsy. Wonder how small that nest is going to feel when they all start flapping and hovering?
Sandpoint: Looks good.
Minnesota Landscape Arboretum: Things look great. Look at the wing span of that Only Bob.
Look at the big feet on the Arboretum chick’s feet.
Cowlitz PUD: Second could get some more fish. Both osplets are alive and the eagle has not been back. Holding our breath.
Clark PUD: Only Bob is doing very well despite the heat.
Port of Ridgefield. Cam is often down but ‘PB’ caught this. Chick and Mum look good.
An osprey rescue! Thanks ‘SD’ for posting this.
The Imperial Eaglets were ringed!
At the Estonian Golden Eagle nest 2, Kristel has not had any food since Mm delivered a wood pigeon on 11 July. Dad has not been seen since 7 July.
The oldest eaglet at the Boundary Bay nest in British Columbia is still alive!
Two beautiful osplets getting those gorgeous juvenile feathers in Latvia.
‘H’ reports:
7/13 Osoyoos osprey nest: The early morning was interesting. Soo was off the nest and Olsen had been fishing. At 0501 he dropped off a tiny fish, Little took it but was beaked, then Middle took the fish. At 0503 Olsen was back with another ‘tiny’, and Big grabbed it. (I don’t think any of the kids have experience in self feeding). Middle abandoned its fish, and took Big’s fish. Soo landed in the nest with a slightly larger fish at 0507. She quickly took charge of the rather comical scene. Soo picked up fish #1 and her own fish #3. Big had fish #2 at that point but dropped it. Soo started to feed Big and Middle. Meanwhile, Little picked up fish #2, took it over to the far northeast rails, and appeared to lose it overboard. Then Olsen returned at 0515 with another tiny fish. Soo finished feeding from fish #1 and #3, and Little had managed to eat a few bites, before s/he was beaked by Middle. Then Soo fed Big and Middle from fish #4.
Olsen brought a small fish at 1252. Big beaked both Middle and Little, and Big was the only chick to eat during the 5-minute meal. There were no other fish brought to the nest that I saw. I triple checked in rewind, so I hope I didn’t miss a meal. The high temperature was 100F/38C at 1700. Olsen came to the nest several times in the late afternoon and evening, and just stayed and hung out with the family for a while each time. I don’t know if they were concerned about nearby activities. There were a lot of cars parked below the nest.
When a particular osplet is in danger of not having enough to eat to survive, I try to quantify how much they are eating, by either counting bites or estimating feeding durations. It is particularly difficult at the Osoyoos nest to quantify how much Little is eating. Quite often, the view of Little eating is blocked. Also, the live stream has been offline a couple of early mornings when Olsen usually makes many of his fish deliveries. That being said… My impression over the past three days is that Little is definitely not getting enough to eat. I’m not even sure that Middle is getting enough to eat, but Middle does usually fare better than Little. Weather forecast for Sunday: High temperature 99F/37C, sunny with winds gusting to 17 mph.
7/13 Patuxent osprey nest: At 63 days of age Little still has not fledged, but has been getting more lift during his wingercising. Little cannot compete with the two fledglings for food. They are bigger, stronger and more aggressive. There were 6 fish brought to the nest. Big managed to acquire one of them. But, Middle got all the rest, and even flew off the nest with a small fish! There were no feedings from Mom. Little did not eat today, but fortunately he ate well the day before. Need more fish, Dad!
7/13 Fenwick Island (Captain Mac’s Fish House): Today was a better day. The previous two days, Johnny’s fish deliveries had dropped to just two per day instead of his normal 5-6 per day. Today, Johnny brought 4 fish to the nest for June and 29-day-old ‘Fen’.
7/13 Colonial Beach osprey nest: There were only two fish brought to the nest. They had some morning rain showers and another shower in the afternoon. David delivered the first fish at 1120. Over 8.5 hours later Betty brought a large whole fish. Both kids ate their fill, slept off their food comas, and then they ate some more! The osplets are 18 and 19 days old.
7/13 Audubon Boathouse: Everything is splendid for this family. 29-day-old Harbor, and 25-day-old Gray seem to be getting along well.
Geemeff’s summary for Loch Arkaig and The Woodland Trust:
Daily summary Saturday 13th July 2024
Another day with little action, nothing on Nest One, and just a few early morning visits on Nest Two from Louis and Dorcha, neither seen on the nest after approximately 09.30. However, Louis spent some time sky-dancing before landing on the nest and making a couple of mating attempts with Dorcha along with coy-mantling. Of course, this is not to try for a second brood, it’s much too late in the season for that, but the mating attempts and the coy-mantling all reaffirm their pair-bond and is a healthy sign of the strength of their relationship, their fourth year together. In other news, Chaddie14 provides this update on the Bunarkaig nest: Lewis, our local raptor man, was up in the Bunarkaig nest today and found one dead chick and one healthy, possibly male, chick which he ringed. All just as was expected, so all good so far for the one chick. So success for the probable resident pair Affric 152 and Prince this year following the failure of that nest last year – we wish the surviving chick and his parents all the best. The weather was settled, and tonight’s forecast for the Inver Mallie area which covers the nests is light clouds and light winds, and sunshine tomorrow.
Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 23.34.51 (03.31.49); Nest Two 23.22.11 (03.41.31)
There is sad news coming in this morning. The second hatch at Dorsett Hobby has died. Those who monitor falcon nests question the shape of the human made nest this year as it appears it was difficult for the Mum to feed or she was an inexperienced female. So sad. I wonder if there could have been an intervention early to save the chick that was obviously struggling.
‘J’ has put together the Memorial to Smallie for us. Please read through. Smallie was taken to a taxidermist and stuffed.
Summary of Seven Weeks Smallie =============================================
Hatched from the fifth egg, five days younger than his sisters, fifty days old.
Week 1
Smallie hatched on April 28, 2024, five days after the first three hatchlings. Since there are five eggs this year, it is most likely that the fourth egg did not hatch, and Smallie thus hatched from the fifth laid egg.
As an offspring, he is then much smaller than the three other hatchlings that are already five days older. This has a big disadvantage at feeding time, because Moe naturally fills the biggest mouths first. Only when there is something left will little Smallie get some bites. Miraculously, he manages to survive the first week anyway – the most crucial period. He gets just enough food not to die, but too little to grow normally.
Week 2
The first foreigners report to the chat at the webcams. Smallie immediately attracts attention because of his small size in relation to the three other hatchlings. Consequently, many think he is not going to make it, counting the number of bites he has received each day. But he turns out to be a smart and energetic little rascal who actively tries his best to get food – although it is not nearly enough to grow properly. In his attempts to get enough food he often stands close to Moe to (while she tears the prey to pieces) secretly try to pick some of the prey in her claws. But then one day when Moe shifts the prey (a pigeon) a little, Smallie ends up underneath. It remains unclear for some time whether Moe is not also tearing Smallie apart with the pigeon. Only after half an hour does he fortunately manage to get out of it in time and the viewers can breathe normally again.
Week 3
When the three oldest youngsters are ringed and turn out to be three sisters, Smallie is also measured. According to the chart, he would be 10 days old but in reality he is already 17 days – so he is 40% behind in growth development. He is too small to get a ring, and even his sex cannot be determined (due to his small size, it is only later assumed to be a male). He looks skinny and thin, but is otherwise healthy, so he is put back in the closet with the sisters to be given a chance.
Fortunately, the following days show that Moe now pays special attention to Smallie – she sometimes comes to feed him separately and at night she sits with him to keep him warm.
Week 4
The clever Smallie discovers a way to be the first to get food when Moe feeds from the grid : he crawls into the space between the grid and the nest box in the wide stone balustrade. He then sits in front and gets fed first. But unfortunately he does not manage to clamber back into the nest box after that. Suddenly he has mysteriously disappeared and everyone is extremely worried where he is and that he will not survive the night alone. It is only the next morning when he is checked that he is found safe and sound under the nest box and immediately put back in the box. The joy of his return lasted only a short time, because a few hours later he disappears in the same way. Fortunately, he returns by himself and now manages to clamber back into the hive.
He also provides some hilarious moments when he tries, for example, to pull food out of the mouth of a sister or Moe. When they raise their heads he holds on and is lifted up by his light weight.
Week 5
Moe no longer feeds individually, but on the roost gives the prey to the first one who wants it. The latter then takes it into the nest box and secretly (against the wall, with wings wide) feeds on it. The other two sisters often don’t notice this at first, but clever Smallie does. Because he is small, he will crawl under a wing and just join in.
Sometimes he is the first and only one to see that a prey is brought to the roost and then sees a chance to grab it. Hilarious is that he then tries to drag it into the nest box on his own – sometimes a pigeon almost as big as himself.
It is striking that the falcons always treat each other lovingly. The “fights” are purely about the food, not with each other. They prefer to sleep next to, on top of and against each other. When the other sisters are elsewhere, one sister often keeps Smallie company and she sleeps with him. Their greetings are very gentle and loving, with paws and beaks touching each other briefly.
Week 6
In the course of this week all three sisters fly out successfully, and Smallie ventures more and more on the grate, the walkway and to the shock of the viewers even already on the narrow edge : at 50m height and at an angle.
At the end of the week Smallie stumbles out of the railing at the grating and lands 50m down the street. Fortunately, an expert happened to be nearby, checking him : he had no broken legs or wings and was therefore brought back up immediately. It is a miracle that he survived that fall, because the small wings will have had little stopping power. It takes a day for him to get over the fright and show himself again.
Week 7
The sisters have been at the high offices near the station learning to hunt often this week, and few are seen on the tower. Only his favorite sister visits occasionally. So Smallie is alone a lot but apparently in no hurry to follow them. He often sits out of view of the cameras on the walkway. He has less and less down and is getting a beautiful plumage – though he seems on the small side even for a male.
At the end of the week he appears to be off the tower, because a little falcon is seen in the evening near St. George’s Church – sitting on a bicycle parked there. Someone took a picture of it and it does indeed turn out to be Smallie. But after the photo was taken, he disappeared again. A search the next day in the city center turns up nothing. Only in the evening is he discovered again, halfway up the tower. He manages to get to the nest box while fluttering up and is even visible again on the webcams. As a finale and last image of him on the webcams, he flies away from the roost. Against all odds, he has succeeded in achieving his first life goal : he too can leave the nest – he can fly.
Ode to Smallie
(page under construction)
This page is intended as an ode to the youngest and smallest peregrine falcon that managed to glue a huge number of viewers to the webcams daily for seven weeks in 2024 with his adventures. He stood out because of his small size, his constant fighting and his clever methods to get enough food, but also because of his mysterious disappearances, his loving scenes with his sisters, his fall from 50m high, and finally his last image on the webcams : flying away from the grid as an almost adult falcon.
He became “world famous”, because 2024 was the year that for the first time the webcams also managed to attract many viewers from abroad, with on the chats comments not only from Europe, but also from Canada, USA, Australia, India and even many from Japan, China, Korea and Russia with comments in their own language and script. The Japanese call him “Chibi-chan,” the Chinese “Xiaobao,” but most others have chosen “Smallie” (little one).
Part of the reason foreigners suddenly visited the webcams was a report on the international website “Bird Parenting.” If then only the usual four hatchlings would have been seen, most viewers would not return after a few visits. But the presence of the very small hatchling drew attention : how long would it stay alive ?
Smallie became for them the little brave hero of the daily story. Viewers sometimes forgot that it was not an expensive Disney movie, written by clever film writers, but simply conceived and performed on the spot by a family of peregrine falcons, with themselves as unpaid actors. Pure nature.
Yet the story contained many elements that appealed to people emotionally : possible death (which played a major role from the beginning), admiration (that despite his poor prospects, he continued to fight fiercely for his existence), frustration and pity (when Smallie had had another day of little food), great joy (when Moe stuffed him with a pigeon and he fell asleep while eating), excitement and uncertainty (when he was lost for hours), humor and amusement (when he once again outwitted a sister), sadness (when he was not to be seen for a long time), action (when he tries to conquer food in a clever but fierce way), fear (when he flutters on the narrow sloping edge), friendship (when his favorite sister comes to keep him company), tenderness (when he cuddles with his sisters), pride (when he finally comes to show that he can fly).
Local and national newspapers wrote extensively about the famous little falcon who had so many compassionate followers worldwide.
Unfortunately, just when he was ready to really fly out (he had already been flitting around town for a day), a fall into the canal near the OLV Tower proved fatal to him. Monday morning, June 17, he was fished out of the water there by bystanders, after which he was brought back to the second circulation with the help of the animal ambulance. Probably already shortly after this placement, he died there, as he was found dead Wednesday morning during a check on the spot where he had been put back on Monday.
Because he lay dead on the tower for a few days, the parents saw him and realized he was dead : he no longer responded to their presence, as hatchlings always do. If he had died somewhere else (at the bird sanctuary, for example, or on the way there) they would not have seen it, and would have spent days in town looking for him.
Smallie’s death was announced on the Amersfoort peregrine falcons’ own website at HetGroeneHuis, and on the chats at the webcams. Viewers could not believe it at first, but then loving and emotional messages poured in from all sides on the chats to comfort each other. He appears to have formed a tremendous emotional bond with many viewers during those seven weeks.
They also lamented the sight of the now empty nest box and the loss of seeing Smallie – although that would have been the case anyway if he had not fallen into the moat after his farewell, but had joined his sisters at the station : once flown away, the hatchlings rarely appear on the webcams.
The local and even some national media were shocked and paid attention to his death. He turned out to be a “world-famous little falcon” for good reason.
To give him a dignified end (and not just to be dumped or buried somewhere), it was decided to have Smallie stuffed and then added to the collection of stuffed animals of Bezoekerscentrum “HetGroeneHuis” in Park Schothorst in Amersfoort, so he will be permanently visible to the public. “
Thank you so much for being with us today. Please take care. See you soon!
Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, announcements, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post this morning: ‘Geemeff, H, J, PB, SP‘, FOBBV Cam, SK Hideaways, Audubon Centre for Birds of Prey, Debbie Campbell, Menhaden Defenders, Montana Osprey Project, PSEG, Llyn Clywedog, Goitzsche-Wildnis, BoPH, McEuan Park, Charlo Montana, Blackbush, Great Bay, Field Farm, MN LA, Cowlitz PUD, Clark PUD, Pam Breci, CBS News NY, Lady Hawk, Eagle Club of Estonia, HWF-BBC, LDF, Osoyoos, Patuxent River Park, Fenwick Island, Colonial Beach, Audubon Boathouse, Geemeff and The Woodland Trust, The Guardian, Amersfoort Falcons.
Oh, Sunday was a joyful and a tearful day. My superb neighbours have moved. To their little daughter, I was the ‘Tomato Fairie’. She loved the little grape tomatoes and paper baskets of them appearing regularly on her front porch. I shall miss them terribly. Friends visited, and later, we took the grandson, who works too hard and who we don’t see so often, for dinner and then picked up his sister to go for ice cream. We found a new little ice cream shop – they are popping up everywhere. It was delicious. Then we went for a walk to check out the river, which has flooded the walks and bike paths down to The Forks. We spotted a family of ducks who seemed fine.
It was a good day to be outside and to be with friends and family. The killing of the second Golden Eaglet by the first, followed by the little Dunrovin chick falling off the nest to its death, and the discovery that all three Redding osplets were dead in the nest —–well, it was a difficult day. These deaths should always remind us to hold those alive close and to celebrate those who survived this year. So many didn’t. As one of my friends told me today, please don’t wait for the politicians and policymakers to do anything to improve the lives of our wildlife and environment. If we each do something good positive, however small, our planet will be a better place.
My posting may meander a little today. Several people are monitoring nests, especially for fish drops in this heat so there might be some later inclusions.
Was it true or is it just a rumour? I am still trying to figure this out. It was reported that the second hatch, Raider, at the Patchogue nest on Long Island fledged at 0511 with a successful return to the nest. Patches was flapping and Raider joined in hopping and flapping and away it went!
Not true.
Raider fludged later. See post below by Heidi.
Check out the look on Raidier’s face as he slides down the perch. Patches is paying no mind. That fish is good!
Also from Patchogue, ‘MP’ says “Chickie takes dad’s toe almost off thinking it’s a fish. Fish under green line.”
We have been worried about Blue at the Hancock Boundary Bay Nest. Deb Stecyk gives us an uplifting video showing Blue’s crop and a good ps. Relief.
At the Snow Lane nest in Newfoundland, Beaumont often brings fish to the nest and then flies to the camera pole to have a wee bit of a dinner for his efforts and returns the fish to the nest for Hope to feed their two chicks. She is doing much better than in previous years. Feeling hopeful.
Plenty of food continues to arrive on the Golden Eagle nest #2 after the eldest killed the youngest on the 7th of July. At one time, I hoped there was a shortage of prey. I even rationalised this to myself but, then, when the prey came on the nest, item after item, after the eldest had killed the youngest, it just confirmed that it was a strategy to get the one to kill the other. That second hatch survived the first attempt at killing it. Why not feed them both so close to fledge and see which one survives in the wild? Well, we will never know.
Great Bay nest is doing well. Osplets are really perfecting their self-feeding. I cannot confirm how much fish came on this nest on Sunday.
The males in areas where the extreme is going to be a factor appear to be going out fishing early and later in the day with success. Today’s high at Charlo, Montana will be 97 with 4 mph winds. It is forecast to be 99 on Wednesday. Let’s hope that the fishing continues to be good despite the heat.
This is Charlo Montana very early Sunday morning.
Finnegan also brought in an early fish at 0556.
In past summers, Iris would be in the shade catching her own fish. She is now trying to keep her two chicks cool while they wait for Finnegan to bring in another fish.
If Finnegan thought he was going to have some fish, Iris might have had another thought for him. She stuffed those two osplets to their little tiny talons and then back to the top of their heads. She knows it is hot. She knows they need hydration. Finnegan is making sure his family does not go without.
Just look at that crop!!!!!
The little one raises its neck and stands up and looks at the older sibling. It was hilarious.
Date Night on the Perch with Iris and Finnegan! (Thanks PB for alerting me to where they were!)
I did not see an early fish on the nest at Dunrovin but I might have missed it. The pair are enjoying a late breakfast or early lunch around 1130 on Sunday. This nest might miss much of the heat that other areas are getting. And then…the most horrific sadness hits the nest. The young one fell off the nest over the railing. Such a loss. A beautiful healthy osplet on a nest with food. Soar high, little one.
Note to self: I love how some nests are annual inspected and repaired by the owners of the property and the streaming cam. Glaslyn (if I remember correctly) checks the woven railing and rewires it if required when they do their annual renovations. Many nests could use nesting material, too. Thinking of MN LA. What if we helped the Ospreys this way? Could save a life or two.
Melbourne police rescue an osprey! Thanks, Geemeff. We need a good news story.
Steelscape is one of the nests in the high heat area.
‘PB’ watches Cowlitz PUD and despite the heat it was a good day.
There is no end to sad news and I thought June was the worst month. The Osprey family whose chicks survived the fireworks in Redding have died.
Fireworks are not the only stressors. Humans around nests trying to take photographs, dogs, motorised vehicles, etc. have been known to cause great stress. I am sure there is a list as long as my arm.
Geemeff’s Daily Summary for Loch Arkaig and The Woodland Trust:
Daily summary Sunday 7th July 2024 There was an intruder but no fish today – Louis teased Dorcha again by appearing several times without fish and staying nearby within sight so she kept calling to no avail. The nest was overflown by an intruder who returned and landed on the nest next to Louis and was seen to be a dark female with striking markings, possibly the same one who intruded in 2021, see bonus video. Dorcha arrived and chased her off, all the way past Nest One where Dorcha dropped in briefly for her first ever visit to that nest. Weather was settled today, tonight’s forecast is partly cloudy and light winds, but rain is due again tomorrow. Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 23.51.05 (03.18.25); Nest Two 23.54.50 (03.27.43)Today’s videos: https://youtu.be/FrXbbUeLP1k N2 Louis arrives without fish – Dorcha yells at him 13.01.45 https://youtu.be/2OI2t67rNhU N2 Intruder overflies Dorcha on the nest 13.35.35 https://youtu.be/rzFuxemIvPE N2 Unringed intruder female lands next to Louis 13.55.40 https://youtu.be/LwP5OtDRWKY N1 Dorcha’s first ever visit to Nest One! 15.06.42 https://youtu.be/AX4rxHJaSWoN2 Louis arrives and coy mantles but no fish for Dorcha 15:21:08
Bonus video – compare and contrast today’s dark intruder with the very dark one seen once only on 27 May 2021, is it the same bird?:
Watch the Loch Arkaig Osprey livestream 24/7 and join in the conversation here:
Tuffy landed on the nest with a nice-sized fish he had caught. What a joy to see him. The camera will be turned off today. It could be already by the time you read this. At one point, we did not think Tuffy would survive Ruffie. Well, he did. Please notice the distinctive head marking. You will always know that it is Tuffy. There is a dark patch at the back of the head, too. Their heads and underwing markings never change in an osprey. So even without rings on their legs, if you know these, you can tell which osprey is which.
Tuffy is one of the good survival stories of the 2024 breeding season and we will always remember him (or her). What a great nest. Camera will be turned back on when Sally and Harry return to the nest.
See Heidi’s report below.
For the Decorah North eagle family, there is no place like home even if it is a dead tree without a nest. They are all fine. What a joy it is to see them, too.
Fish are coming in at Boulder. It is 46 F and 1 mph winds. The high this week will be 80 at the nest.
It is a lot hotter at the Seaside nest of Bruce and Naha. Bruce flew in with a really big Red-tail for Naha and the kids at 1649. This will keep them nicely. Temperature is expected to be 90 degrees F with 14 mph winds on Monday.
‘PB’ reports that a nice late fish came into Steelscape. They are in the hot zone, too.
Cowlitz has fish, too. The Dads on that Columbia River are really working hard to get fish to their nests in this heat.
‘H’ reports:
7/7 Osoyoos osprey nest: It was a sunny day, and the temperature reached 100 F/38 C yesterday afternoon. Olsen brought eight fish to the nest, but most of them were quite small. When the ‘kids’ were little, that would have been ample, but now it may be only half (or less) of what they need. Five of the fish were delivered before 0900, while the sixth fish was delivered at 1657. Meal duration times were: 5, 7, 4, 3, 18, 5, 8, 5 minutes. Our views of the feedings were partially blocked at times, making it difficult to determine how much Little was eating. There was no aggression at the first three meals, and Little seemed to eat some fish at each of those meals. Big beaked Little at the third meal, which consisted of a tiny fish, and Little ate one bite of fish. The fifth fish, at 0849, was the largest. Little was beaked, but managed to start receiving some bites on the other side of Soo at 0855 for a couple of minutes. I could not tell how much Little was able to eat. When we say the osplets are ‘at the table’ or ‘at the chow line’, we are referring to them being in a position to receive bites of fish offered by the parent. When the ‘kids’ were little, the ‘table’ was small. They could all fit side-by-side compactly in a small area, easily within reach of Soo’s beak. But, at the current size of the chicks, the ‘table’ is wide. There was no aggression at the sixth feeding, at 1657. Little was skittish, and waited a couple of minutes before approaching. When Little was ‘at the table’, s/he was positioned closer to Soo’s tail. It was only a 5-minute feeding, and I did not see Soo reach back and offer a bite to Little. There was an 8-minute feeding at 2058, and once again, Little hesitated to approach. But when s/he did get to the table at 2103, he ate two bites, then was beaked. The last meal of the day was at 2122, and lasted five minutes. Little was beaked, and was not able to eat. Little’s crop was noticeably hollow. Unfortunately, Little did not eat much today, which is all the more serious due to the extreme heat which can hasten dehydration. Little’s last good meal was around 11:00 on 7/6. Middle was not prevented from eating today. It’s going to be another hot sunny day on 7/8, with the high temperature predicted to hit at least 102F/39C. Winds will be 14-22 mph. Wouldn’t it be nice if Olsen could find a big whopper of a fish? Surely, Little would then get a good meal. Good luck out there Olsen…we know that you are doing your best.
7/7 Patuxent River Park: The osplets are 57, 60, and 61 days old. A few days ago, Big and Middle were making some progress with wingersizing and managing some brief hovers. But, over the last couple of days, their activity has been reduced, possibly due to the extreme heat and calm winds. The temperatures have been in the upper 90’s.
7/7 Captiva osprey nest: Ding is 75 days old, and fledged 15 days ago. On 7/6, Ding caught her first fish, and it was a needlefish. This morning, on just her third fishing attempt of the day, Ding caught another needlefish! After she finished her breakfast, she resumed diving for fish. On her sixth fishing attempt of the day, Ding caught another needlefish, just 32 minutes after her last successful catch. You go girl! Ding may be known by some viewers as the ‘Needlefish Kid’. Ding made numerous attempts at fishing over the next six hours. Edie was not seen on 7/7. Ding is expending a lot of energy with her fishing. It would be wonderful if Edie would drop off a fish for Ding in the morning.
7/7 Moorings Park osprey nest: Monday morning at 0900 the camera will be turned off for the season. Tuffy treated viewers to some extended appearances today. At 11:29 we witnessed Tuffy dive into the water to try to catch a fish. He didn’t appear to come away with a fish on that attempt. About an hour later, Tuffy flew to the nest carrying a tilapia. Tuffy was wet, and shaking off water. He took a long time to eat that tilapia. How wonderful that we got to witness those events on the last day of the live stream. We have been blessed to witness your life thus far, Tuffy… through all your struggles and your victories. You are a survivor. We wish you a long and prosperous life.
Studies identifying the extent of the bycatch problem and our beloved birds like those cute little Royal Cam chicks. We do not want them, their parents, or any of the colony ending up like the ones below. Those trawlers gather the fish to provide feed for salmon and chickens. Want to save our seabirds? Stop eating farmed fish and industrially grown chickens.
New study shows the real scale of seabird bycatch in European waters.-https://www.birdlife.org/news/2024/07/03/bycatch-tragedy-we-are-losing-200000-seabirds-annually/
Thank you so much for being with us today. Please take care. See you soon!
Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, images, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘Geemeff, H, MP, PB, TU’, PSEG, Heidi McGrue, Deb Stecyk, Newfoundland Power, Eagle Club of Estonia, Great Bay Ospreys, Charlo Montana Osprey Cam, Montana Osprey Project, Dunrovin Ranch, Space Coast Daily, Pam Breci, FORE, Geemeff and the Woodland Trust, Moorings Park, Raptor Resource Project/Explore.org, Boulder County, Seaside Ospreys, Steelscape, Cowlitz PUD, Birdlife International, Osoyoos, Patuxent River Park, and Window to Wildlife.
So far, the news is good, but I haven’t heard from ‘H’ yet, and I fear chicks in the NE at Forsythe unless a miracle happens on Monday. Several items have come in my inbox to share with all of you and we will look at them first. I had intended to share one reader’s trip to Manton Bay today, but I hope to add some more information and will include that either Wednesday or Thursday. I had some wonderful Ramen with my son today. It is nice to have him visiting. It has been a long time.
Letter 1: ‘M and F’ write: “Hello dear Mary Ann, we have just had an intruder at t the Sydney Sea Eagle nest, it arrived at 08:03 and stayed until about 08:40. Not sure what it is, but looking at its head I would say it was a Tina Turner Eagle.”
I ran and grabbed Penny Olsen’s book on Australian Birds of Prey and this is a Wedge-tailed Eagle. Isn’t it a beauty?
Letter 2: ‘J’ wonders: “Do you have the odds numbers for 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 chicks to compare? I probably am not the only one who would be really interested in that. I really want Tiny Field Farm to fledge, he’s so brave.”
Well, I didn’t, at first, think I had this. There are fewer four hatch nests so it is easier to calculate even manually, but, hey, it is in the forms. This is the information for 2023 for 340 eggs from around the world that we monitored. Our 4 egg nests had a slightly better survival rate than the US study that showed 1 out of 100 surviving. Ours was 50%. (I apologise that this is small. I hope you can blow it up on your screen. If you would like me to send it to you via e-mail, just send me a note: maryannsteggles@icloud.com).
Letter 3: EJ sent us a great article form Audubon on the challenges to our urban raptors.
Letters 4 and more: Thank you so much. I am so glad that you enjoyed the picture of Missey and Hugo Yugo in the basket. Your support and good wishes for ‘The Girls’ warms my heart. I cannot imagine my world without them. Of course, I might treasure a little sleep. So far, there are three piled in. The only one not on the duvet making me scrunch up in configurations I never dreamed possible is Hope!
I wish I could take in more, but I can’t. People are losing their homes, their apartments and well, just having a really rough time of it here in Canada. I don’t know what it is like where you live, but our Humane Society finds dogs, cats, rats, and all other species left at night at their door. People are ashamed they can no longer care for their precious pets. It is very sad. We are now feeding the two Boyfriends, a Grey Tabby with only one ear, and 4 Gingers. There could be others. These are the ones that come during the day. I am glad to be able to help these. Wish I could do more but one has to be realistic.
The Gold Medal nest this week has to be Poole Harbour. There are so many good nests with the males working overtime to bring in huge fish in the UK that it feels awkward to sort out one, but it is because there are four osplets. Just look at them. CJ7 and Blue 022 have been working overtime to make certain that there is fish and tranquility. When they ring them, I wonder if they are all little boys. We will have to wait and see.
I love the golden glow of the sun streaming down on these babies and Little Mini looking out towards us. It is getting to eat first.
Blue 022 is great at helping CJ7 with these four and is happy to top up Little Mini. One has to wonder if the males that are so eager to make sure the little late hatches are fed were also little late hatches themselves. Blue 022 is just amazing. When he landed on CJ7s platform three years ago we had no idea what a great Dad he would be.
Thanks for all the alerts about Smallie. That little darling is back in the scrape! What a smart little fella to get itself back where food will come. And just look at the plumage. I am certain that those watching this Peregrine Falcon nest in Amersfoort Netherlands are feeling huge relief. What a character. Smallie pulls at all our hearts.
‘PB’ sent a video clip and I took some screen shots of Smallie figuring out how to get back up to the scrape.
On Tuesday morning, Smallie wakes up and is hungry and leaves the scrape box calling for food.
He is looking for the parents and siblings. Send positive wishes for food for this little one – and not big siblings doing a steal at the grate!
N2 was so excited. Both of the eyases had been flapping and jumping while watching the traffic. N2 flew first. A magnificent flight right across Tower Road to the trees in front of Fernow. In the image below you can see those legs leaving as it gets its wings going. N1 is curious and should fledge soon.
And then – N2 flies!
Some more tweets from Cornell showing the adventures of N1 and N2 after fledging.
And the concern for the new fledglings as they fly back and forth across Tower Road to the nest and trees.
Both ‘branched’ at the Syracuse University Red-tail Hawk cam of Ruth and Oren.
Not returns to the tower.
Moon_Rabbit_Rising has some images of the Cal Falcon fledglings!
Thunder and Akecheta’s three fledglings are well and being the juveniles that they are. Fighting for food!
I am so hopeful that Iris and Finnegan will have one healthy chick. Just hoping not two unviable eggs. Fingers crossed. Finnegan is a great mate and he will be a superior Dad! He has been feeding Iris, bringing in cot rails, and some greenery. (More below)
Little Mini right up there at the beak at Field Farm. They are all lined up – three to one side and one on the other at Field Farm later in the day.
The third chick at Island Beach State Park hatched on Tuesday.
Fingers crossed for the three at Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. Mum has been feeding, often with her back blocking the camera so it is hard to see if everyone is eating.
Dad watches over many of the feedings at the Landscape Arboretum nest. Hopefully he is helping Mum to understand that she can’t eat all the fish and not feed the babies!!!!!!!
The two hatches at Sandpoint seem to be alright.
The two older hatches at Bridge Golf are so much bigger than the wee one. Fingers crossed for another nest.
Three at Cowlitz PUD looking’ good.
Only Bob at Boulder County is changing! Fat little bottom on this reptile. You can see the pin feathers coming through, too. What a joy it is to see these healthy Only Bobs.
Two beautiful fledglings return to the Venice Golf Course nest wishing for fish! Oh, I keep missing seeing the three of the juveniles together. What a great season!
Leave it to Harry and Sally to ensure that both Tuffy and Ruffie have fish on the nest. Wow. Doesn’t this make you feel wonderful? No wonder the fledglings form this nest never want to leave. Poor Victor had to be chased off. He must have wondered what in the world was going on!
Both Golden Eaglets in Estonia being fed! This nest is such a surprise. Could we have two fledges? Oh, I am hoping so.
Edith P posted a video of this feeding. Gosh, I just want to be so hopeful.
White-tailed Eaglets in their nest in the Lower Kama National Park doing well.
The two Eastern Imperial Eaglets in the RU nest are well taken care of by the adults.
‘A’ comments on Lake Murray, Iris, and the WBSEs: “As night falls at Lake Murray and Surviving Bob settles down to sleep, duckling-style, on that nest on its own, I cannot help but take a deep breath and hope we make it safely to dawn. It is alert and looking around – I am certain it hears something nearby that is making it nervous. It stands up for a little crop drop. Lucy has a massive crop. She is preening and those lights are shining brightly on her. I only wish they lit up the nest itself a lot better. Surviving Bob is restless at Lake Murray. S/he is standing, preening, looking around. It has a gigantic crop to match Lucy’s. She is awake too, on the perch, where she is of no help whatsoever to Middle Bob. It is infuriating to me that she doesn’t stay on the nest, knowing she has now lost all but one osplet from two seasons. That really confuses me. “
Fish dinner at nest #4 in Finland.
It is almost unthinkable to see an older sibling attacking a younger one on the UK nests. Yes, there were problems at the Loch of the Lowes but that was because of intruders and a lack of fish and then Louis’s short disappearance one year (prior to this year when he was found dead). But to imagine that the oldest Bob would be attaching Little Bob at Loch Arkaig when there is clearly enough fish to feed the entire family and another one, well, it is unthinkable. And yet it is happening. Geemeff chronicles the issue:
“The tab is open, and I know that if I hear Lucy alerting, we’ve lost our remaining osplet. Problem of course is the Hellgate tab is also open, and it is two hours earlier in Montana, where it is still light. So a vocal exchange between Finn and Iris can cause a momentary panic.
Around 18:43, Finn flies to the perch post with a HUGE fish. He has eaten at least a quarter of it from the head end and has a good crop but what is remaining is a massive amount of fish. He brings it to the nest. Iris vocalises and shifts on the eggs, standing and rolling them but then settling back down. She is very vocal as Finn stumbles around the nest, doing a little aerating and nearly stepping on Iris’s head! It is hard not to get the impression that she is being extra protective of those eggs and does not want to leave them right now, even for a massive fish dinner.
Around 18:47 Iris stands up again, vocalising continuously, and checks the eggs again. She is still reluctant to leave. Eventually, at 18:50:25 Iris flies off the nest, without the fish, and Finn inspects the eggs. He seems fascinated and carefully settles down to incubate. Hmmmm. Suspicious? I fear Iris may be able to hear a chick inside that first egg (the one laid on 5 May). could be pipping, or at least that Iris can hear the chick inside. I do hope not. If it hatches, we will have to wait in fear that a second chick may arrive a whole week after the first. That would be awful. Stressful in the extreme.
Iris is back at 19:58. Finn takes 30 seconds or so to move, then carefully stands up and allows Iris to inspect her eggs. She settles down and Finn takes the fish with him as he leaves. Iris does not have a crop and makes no objection when Finn grabs the fish. She is not interested in eating right now. That is not very Iris-like, is it? That was one of her favourite whoppers too, the type we so often see her eating on her favourite pole in her solo seasons. But she was not tempted. Why? “
“In Australia, it is 12.22 and both Dad and Lady have just arrived back on the nest at WBSE. They look extremely healthy this season. Their plumage is gorgeous and their crops are full. Dad is working hard on the outer kiddie rails. I cannot believe how close we are to egg watch here. It really could happen at any time now. Certainly, the bonding behaviour has given way to nesting behaviour over the past few days, with more time being spent at the nest, more food gifts, and more matings. Dad brought in a lovely fresh medium-sized fish to the nest soon after 07:35 this morning (7 June) and waited for Lady, looking around. She arrived a minute or so later to collect her breakfast, taking it up onto the branch behind the nest to eat it. At 08:16, a duet, then they headed off. They have now lined the nest bowl with fresh green leaves (just leaves, not twigs or sprigs). This nest is ready to receive two eggs, thank you. So, soon we will have eggs at WBSE.”
Someone left a fish on that nest!
At another nest in Australia, this time in Griffin, Queensland, George and Hope, have laid their second egg on the 10th of June. The first was laid on the 7th at the Osprey House Environmental Centre.
Wings of Whimsy gives us a video of the stunning fledglings form the West End Bald Eagle nest.
‘H’ reports on the nests she is monitoring and today we have the first sadness at Forsythe as her and I have been predicting.
“6/10 Forsythe osprey nest: There were six fish brought to the nest by Oscar, and none were very large. Big1 controlled the scene at all of the meals…the gatekeeper as to who was allowed to eat. Little3 beaked Mini4, Middle2 beaked Little3 and Mini4, and Big1 beaked everybody, including Mini4 at times. Little3 was allowed to eat now and then, and she managed to eat 153 bites for the day. Little3’s best meal was the third meal when she ate 95 bites of fish. Big1 just sat there and watched as Little3 ate, and kept the other two away from Opal. Mini4 tried many times, but could not get up to the table all day, and s/he had only eaten 36 bites of fish in over 48 hours. Mini4 passed away late on 6/10 or early on 6/11 at 16 days of age. S/he was a brave and strong-willed osplet, and we will miss him.
6/10 Captiva ospreys: Jack, had not been seen at the nest since 6/7. Edie had been doing a stellar job bringing fish to the nest to feed their two osplets. Well…on 6/10 at 18:22, Jack flew in and landed on the nest. He had an obvious wound to his left leg that did not appear to be fresh. He was bearing weight on the leg okay, and he otherwise seemed in good health, albeit a bit slim perhaps. His family was overjoyed to see him. He only stayed a moment and flew off. It seems as though Jack may have sustained an injury a few days ago, perhaps in a territorial battle. We are so glad Jack is alive, and that he seems to be on the mend.
6/10 Osoyoos osprey nest: There is a third baby at Osoyoos for Soo and Ollie. Let’s hope fishing is good there this summer, so that all three youngsters will thrive.”
6/10 Patuxent River Park ospreys: There were five fish and feedings for the day. Little was shut out of the first meal. For the second meal, Dad delivered a large whole fish at 1031. By 1048 Big and Middle had already moved aside, and that allowed Little to have a 25 minute private feeding from Mom. The third fish was smaller in size, and Little did not eat. Meal #4 was a very large Koi fish delivered by Dad at 1627. This fish fed everyone for nearly two hours. Little had a private feeding from 1750 to 1818, then Big and Middle went back to be topped-off. Little had the biggest crop of his young life! A small fish was brought in at 2013…and Little didn’t even try to get to Mom for that one.
Thanks, ‘H’. It is tough to lose those little ones.
People see them. Those gorgeous green parakeets that call the streets of London their home.
As I get ready to close, word has come from ‘BHA’ that Lucia was grounded again and returned to the scrape!
Thank you to everyone who sent in letters and thank you for being with us today. Please take care. Looking forward to having you with us again soon!
Thank you to the following for their notes, queries, comments, videos, images, postings, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post this morning: ‘A, BHA, EJ, Geemeff, H, J, M & F, PB’, Audubon Magazine, BoPH, Amersfoort Falcon Cam, Cal Falcon Cam, Cornell RTH, Cornell Hawks, SU-RTH Cam, Lady Hawk, Montana Osprey Project, Field Farm, Island Beach State Park, Friends of Island Beach State Park, Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, Sandpoint Ospreys, Bridge Golf Club, Cowlitz PUD, Boulder County, VGCCO, Moorings Park, Geemeff, Eagle Club of Estonia, Edith P, White-Tail Eagle Cam of RU, Lake Murray Ospreys, WBSE, Osprey House Environmental Centre, Wings of Whimsy, Forsythe Ospreys, Window to Wildlife, Osoyoos Ospreys, Patuxent River Park, and The Guardian.
I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived. (Thoreau, Walden, 58).
The Girls and I are revisiting Thoreau’s Walden – I learn something every time I read this book! Mostly, it cements in me how fortunate we are if we can spend time with the trees, the animals living in the wild, even nature in our own gardens.
I hope that you had a really good weekend and found some time to spend with friends, family, or outside—or all three! We worked in the garden and are sore from the tips of our toes to the top of our heads. The heat and rain have caused everything to grow out of control! So far there has been no rain so it was a good day since everything is drying out. I would love to send this rain to places that are running out of water. It is frightening because there are not only implications for humans but also wildlife.
Two things to put a smile on your face today. The first comes from ‘T’. Watch ‘the cobra’ attack the Imperial Eagle. Then laugh. (Valid made the video and Rinur posted it).
The second comes from Missey and Hugo Yugo, who adore one another. When Missey lost her best friend Lewis last year, she was the saddest cat. Then Hugo Yugo came into her life and she took over the motherly duties the little ginger cat was longing for. Like Calico and Hope, these two are inseparable.
TWO Great Questions from the InBox:
Question 1. ‘NF’ asks: “Have a question…we had eaglets double fledge 6/7 in Kansas. Do you have any knowledge of that happening before? Many questions about that. Thanks in advance & keep up the good work!!”
Sadly, my data forms are for Ospreys but I could recall instances of eagles fledging close together, but not specifics. Thankfully, Elfruler came through and ‘NF’ sent me their response. I thought some of you might also be wondering. “Hi, Nina, it was fun watching your 2 juveniles take off yesterday! Yes, there are several records of 2 juveniles fledging on the same day. In recent years:
Maryland Port Tobacco, 6/4/23, three eaglets fledged on June 4, the first at 6:18, the second shortly after that (cam down, time uncertain), the third accidentally fell at 7:09.
Ohio Avon Lake, 7/7/22, one at about 6:22, the other at about 7:21.
Oklahoma Bartlesville 6/10/22, one at about 15:21, the other at 15:28.
Pittsburg Hays 6/10/22, one at 7:20, the other at 7:50.
Ohio Ashtabula, 6/24/20, one at 6:43, the other at 12:43.
British Columbia Surrey Reserve, 6/28/20, one at 8:15, the other at 10:18.
There are more in my spreadsheets, I’ve just searched the last few years, but from these you can see that it does happen.
Best to you,
-elf”
Question 2. From ‘PB”. “I saw your update on Seaside and #3 passed due to a wind/hail storm…but I watched their in memoriam video of #3 and they showed the storm so how did the little baby pass when under mom? Was it more lack of food?”
Yes, the little one was well protected by Mum. The death was not caused by anything human or by siblicide but was starvation and/or illness caused by a weather-related event. The storm was a mitigating factor in the chick not having enough food and also they get these terrible respiratory illnesses from the cold and damp. We won’t know precisely which it was.
If you missed it, Treasure at the West End nest of Akecheta and Thunder fledged on Saturday. Lady Hawks’ video shows the whole event clearing up many questions. Treasure is on a steep hill and has not been seen eating. Is this a place where the eaglet can get its footing to fly off? More questions than answers. The latest information is that Treasure is on a cliff face near the old nest.
‘B’ reports that Sterling has fledged on Sunday so all three of Akecheta and Thunder’s eaglets this year have taken their first flights.
Hats off to Dylan at Llyn Clywedog – he brought two HUGE trout (along with other fish) to the nest for Seren and chicks on Sunday. My goodness, gracious. Dylan does love his trout and if you don’t know, they stock the Clywedog Reservoir with 45,000 fish annually!
Dr Green just posted the following information as we are now on pip/hatch watch for the first egg at Iris and Finnegan’s nest.
I don’t know about you, but I am sitting on the edge of my chair in anticipation. I never thought Iris would have another devoted mate like Stanley.
Port Lincoln reports that Calypso and his new mate are checking out the Tulsa Platform. Could Mum and Dad be grandparents this year??? Things are beginning to heat up in Australia!
Little Mini right up at the beak for that fish dinner at Field Farm. One determined little osplet. This will certainly help with its survival. Don’t you just love these vivacious fourth hatches? They have to be clever and determined. Remember: It is only about 1 out of 100 fourth hatches that survive. Looks like Field Farm and Poole Harbour are going to be survivors if things continue as they are. Other nests are in trouble.
It rained some more. Each time there was a feeding Little Mini is there. No problems that I can see other than its size. The other three are rather ‘chill’ compared to many nests.
At Poole Harbour, Little Mini is right there. Sadly, Blue 022 has a love for black bin liners. I wish he didn’t bring them to the nest.
Two chicks for the WDNU Tower in 2024.
Two surviving chicks at Seaside.
The trio at the Salt Point Osprey Platform are all thriving. Do you know this nest at Cayuga Lake in Upstate New York? It is the home of Orpheus and Ursula. Here is some information provided by the Lansing Parks and Recreation Department.
“This nest was built by Orpheus in 2013, and with his two mates Ophelia (2013–2022) and Ursula (2022–current), they have reared many healthy fledglings over the years. The nest is ideally located within the Salt Point Natural Area in Lansing, NY, at the confluence of Salmon Creek, a fast-flowing trout stream, and fish-rich Cayuga Lake. Orpheus and his mate continually tend their nest built atop a 55′ dedicated nesting platform with a spectacular 360º view—and protection against marauding great-horned owls. This nest camera is a solar-powered camera operating in one of the cloudiest areas in the USA. After a streak of consecutive overcast or stormy days, the batteries drain and the recording may stop. After a few hours of sunshine, all will return to normal. High winds may also cause noise from the camera housing.”
Here is the link to their streaming cam. These chicks are doing fantastic.
Three at Pitkin County Open Trails and Spaces are doing well. We can just see the tops of their heads!
‘H’ sends in the reports for the nests she is monitoring:
“6/9, Forsythe NJ osprey nest: This nest has become very unsettled and dangerous. The nest dynamics continue to evolve for the worse. The oldest of the four osplets, Big1, has become very aggressive and controlling. Before today, Little3 was the primary aggressor, and would take out its hunger-frustration on Mini4. Today, Big1 was beaking all of its siblings. Every time LIttle3 would beak Mini4, Big1 would beak Little3. But, several times at each meal, Big1 would beak all of them, including Middle2, so that Big1 would be the only one eating. Quite often that would set off Middle2, and Middle2 would beak everyone. There were six meals today. Middle2 managed to make out okay simply because of its size. Middle2 was able to position itself further away from Big1 at feedings, and still be able to reach Opal’s beak. Neither Mini4 nor Little3 had very much to eat yesterday, as Little3 would keep Mini4 from eating, and Big1 would keep Little3 from eating. Today, I counted fish bites for both Little3 and Mini4. Mini4 ate a total of 36 bites of fish today, and Little3 ate a total of 17 bites of fish. There is not enough fish being brought to this nest for three osplets undergoing a growth spurt, much less four osplets. It’s going to take A LOT MORE FISH. This is very sad.”
6/9, Patuxent River Park osprey nest: It was a good day for this nest. There were “only” three fish and feedings, but a couple of the meals lasted so long, they should be counted as two meals. The first fish at 0749 was a large live catfish, and that fish flipped and flopped all over the place. No one was hurt, and I think the kids were mildly entertained, lol. That meal lasted for 95 minutes. Little still does get beaked and intimidated once in a while, but Little has learned to mitigate those occurrences. S/he simply stays away from Mom in the early phase of a meal, so as not to incur the wrath of Big. Little waited until about 0830 and then worked his way to the other side of Mom and she began to include her youngest in the feeding. After a while Little had a bit of a private feeding, and had eaten a total of 80 bites of fish. When Mom had given up on picking at the catfish skull, Dad moved on over, picked up the skull and pulled off 30 additional bits of meat for Little. What a cool Dad. The fish at 1118 was a small headless fish, and the meal lasted 10 minutes. Big and Middle were not very hungry, and Little ate 55 bites of fish. The last fish of the day at 1458 was a huge whole fish, that provided for another 95 minute feeding. Little had a few separate private feedings and ate for a total of 30 minutes.
Dahlgren osprey nest: Being first-time parents, the new couple, Helen and Doug, continue to work out some issues with parenting. There is a learning curve of course, and they are getting better. Their single osplet is 8 days old, and is looking good…nice and plump!
Fortis Exshaw osprey nest: Louise and her new mate Harvie are expecting their first baby at any time. Louise laid three eggs, but we’ve never seen three eggs at one time in that deep egg cup. All the best to them!
South Cape May Meadows osprey nest: On 6/8 a crow destroyed one egg, and pecked at another. We believe that there is still at least one viable egg remaining. From the nature of the contents of the destroyed egg, we believe that egg was definitely not egg #1, and was more likely egg #3 (not positive, though). Eggs #1 and 2 would be 38 and 35 days on 6/10. We are hoping for a hatch for Hera and Zeus.
Fenwick Island, Delaware osprey nest, at Captain Mac’s Fish House: Johnny and June’s first two eggs were destroyed by crows. Eggs 3 and 4 remain, and we are on pip watch!
Osoyoos osprey nest: Soo and Ollie’s two little bobs are doing great. The third egg is 36 days old on 6/10.
McEuen Park osprey nest: They have three little hatchlings that hatched sometime between 6/4 and 6/8, with one egg remaining. There is no rewind for that cam, so it was difficult to find a view when the parents were not ‘incu-brooding’.
If you were following Chance, the Red-tailed Hawk that went to an eagle’s nest for dinner and got adopted, you might know that it fell from the nest. Chance is near-fledging. Chance was rescued and is in a wildlife facility. This is the latest from the photographer covering the story, Jann Nichols.
‘PB’ writes that Smallie has been seen and photographed – see image below – but there is no confirmation that the eyas has had any food since being returned after its fall.
Big siblings on the grate.
One of the chicks, the eldest, wasn’t looking good to me at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum. It seems to have rallied a bit. I do wish this Mum would spend less time eating fish and more time feeding her chicks. That is precisely how we lost the chicks last year! Send good energy to this nest!
‘MP’ has been watching and counting. He says, “I counted her eating five bites to one she attempts to give one chick but if they don’t take it immediately she retreats with it and eats it herself. One chick keeps rolling on their back.” MP continues, “The male appears to be bringing bigger fish maybe so she will have enough for her and the chicks? He does stand there and watch which I’ve never seen other males intently watch the feeding. My take is he’s seeing if she feeds them at all. It is hard to watch not knowing if you are watching the makings of mental illness on a nest of innocent babies leading to their death.”
This is the oldest chick that keeps going over. I fear that the babies are dehydrated. Mum leaves them exposed and the little things cannot regulate their temperature. It is very hot at times and they need many feedings, lots of little bites throughout the day to keep them healthy. So very, very sad. We have seen this same behaviour in Hope at the Snow Lane nest consistently. I once queried an old hand at osprey behaviour about mental illness and our discussions wound up around the theme of how chicks learn. We know that they have instincts and we also know that they copy parental behaviour. That is how they learn. We know that some osprey nests are simply better than others. The environment is richer with fish. The parents are more attentive. Did this female as well as Hope come from nests where the female neglected her chicks? or where there was a drought and the chicks suffered? We will never know the answer to that question because the birds are not ringed and we cannot track their history.
Let us hope that this nest has a turn around.
This was earlier.
Later:
Three eggs visible at the nest of Hope and Beau in Newfoundland at Snow Lane.
Two cutie pies at the Sandpoint Osprey platform. Looks like we have one egg that could be a DNH. We wait. These two are only two days old.
Trio at Great Bay doing fantastic, too. Is it my imagination or are the inland nests doing better this year in terms of survival rates? In my data forms, we have regions such as North America, UK, Europe, etc but we do not have North America divided up by regions. That might prove helpful in the future.
Patchogue osplets are doing very well despite the nest being full of garbage – the plague of being a nest in an urban environment.
Three beautiful babies at the Dyfi nest in Wales enjoying a fish dinner in the drizzle.
Three little ones at Bridge Golf being fed. Fingers crossed.
Two eaglets – still – at the Eastern Imperial Eagle nest in RU.
Still seeing two at the Estonian Golden Eagle nest.
Fledge feels eminent at the Cornell RTH nest of the Ns – two hawlets of Big Red and Arthur. Both have been flapping and jumping from one end of the nest to the other. Arthur has been busy bringing in prey close together to try and stop them from flying today.
Oren and Ruth’s two hawklets (one died) are preparing to fledge form their nest at Syracuse University, too.
Cal Falcon fledglings visiting the tower.
Many of you are travelling to see osprey. For the next couple of days I will be including images. Today is from Mobile Bay and tomorrow will be Rutland. ‘L’ had a lovely tour of the Alabama and Florida coasts and sent some images of Ospreys on their platforms and fishing that she saw and took with her phone for us. Thanks, ‘L’.
Some great news coming in late. One of two chicks fathered by 4K at Belvoir Castle near where I lived in the UK has been photographed in the UK on his return as a two-year-old. 4K was the subject of a book, If You Build It, He Will Come. He was also the focal osprey for Sacha Dench’s first round of Flight of the Osprey. Blue 4K is a mature male Osprey from Belvoir Castle, Rutland, hatched in 2013 and satellite-tagged in 2018. I wondered how he had died and Geemeff gave me the following information months ago, “Blue 4K’s tracker showed him in Guinea setting off north, then stopped transmitting. The tracker was fitted in 2018 so was coming to the end of its service anyway, therefore we just expected to see him back at his nest a month or so later. But after weeks went by, it was clear he wouldn’t be returning, and Simon has assumed he died in Guinea when the transmissions stopped. But of course, we don’t know.”
Thank you so much for being with me today. Take care. We hope to see you again soon!
Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, questions, photographs, comments, videos, articles, tweets, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘A, B, Geemeff, H, J, L, MP, NF, PB, TU’, Thoreau, CounterPunch, Elfruler, Lady Hawk, Llyn Clywedog Osprey Cam, Montana Osprey Project, Port Lincoln Ospreys, Field Farm, BoPH, WDNU, Seaside Ospresy, Salt Point Ospreys, Pitkin County, Jann Nichols Photography, isamersfoort.pl, MN Landscape Arboretum, Newfoundland Power, Great Bay Ospreys, PSEG, Dyfi Osprey Project, Bridge Golf Club, Imperial Eagle RU, Eagle Club of Estonia, Forsythe Ospreys, Patuxent River Park, Fortis Exshaw, Dahlgren Ospreys, SCMM, McEuen Park, Osoyoos Osprey Cam, and Fenwick Park Ospreys, Cornell RTH Cam, SU-RTH Cam, and Cal Falcon Cam.
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.
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.
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.
There is a gorgeous blue sky day over the Canadian Prairies on Monday. The torrential rains last evening have made everything grow and grow. The Crows and the Starlings seem to have called a truce this morning. The Crows are eating peanuts while the Starlings are into the dish of Turkey Meatballs. Little Woodpecker was on the nut suet cylinder and everyone else was busy with the Black-oil Seed. Many are finding food elsewhere – thank goodness there are a few places along the river that have lots of vegetation and insects.
Today, I am preparing for a short holiday. It will be nice to be ‘taken care of’ for a few days! With the four girls and the outside garden critters and the garden, it takes a long time to get everything ready to leave. Hugo Yugo will suffer the most. She has to be around people. Hopefully, Missey will take good care of her while I am away.
I will collect stories, which I will publish on Friday. Feel free to send me news from Bird World. I will include it in an overview of the week. Until then please take care, walk outside, breathe in all the beauty that nature has to offer us. I am sending this out late Monday as I will be gone early Tuesday!
I missed it for early Monday’s news but Koa at the West End has fledged! Willynilly caught it on video. Koa flew to the original nest!
At Cal Falcons, fledgling Eclipse has returned to the balcony. What a super flier!
‘PB’ reports on Smallie: “Smallie is hungry and taking his chances outside now with big sisters. He is near the entrance and can see his white fluff.” I am very concerned for this little one now that the bigger ones are blocking food arrivals.
Smallie watched and waited and got a piece of prey and took it into the scrape and was self feeding. Way to go Smallie!
*Distressing image* Sadly, we have lost the fourth osplet Little Mini at Field Farm from siblicide starvation. Please send good wishes to Little Bob who could also be in peril at this nest.
Pecking order at Loch Arkaig! Little one is not intimidated, but knows when to let the big sibs have their way.
The two surviving osplets at Maryland Western Shore Old Town Home are doing well.
Middle at Lake Murray is growing and growing. I wonder what the weight limit is for a GHO? The lifting capacity is between 4-5 lbs or 1.81 – 2.2 kg. A large female osplet could roughly weigh 4.4 lbs or 2000 grams.
The turned upside down nest at Patchogue held and the two osplets are doing fantastic. They are so camouflaged.
Only Bob at Clark PUD doing well.
Mum keeping trio cool at Radford University.
If Mum could only quit stepping on them! Fort Calhoun has two chicks and one non-viable egg. Thanks, ‘PB’.
Bety and Bukacek’s only stork is so gorgeous and healthy. Congratulations Mlade Buky. So many have suffered and died this year.
Still two sweet babies at the Imperial Eagle nest in RU.
Both of the Golden Eaglets have eaten well at the Kaljukotkas nest 2 in Estonia. Whether this will hold is unknown.
Three eggs still being incubated in nest 1 in Finland.
Three at Finland #4.
Mini Little at Poole Harbour is so tiny compared to the other siblings that it is hard to see him most of the time. Blue 022 has given this little mite a couple of private feedings. Let’s hope he makes it. There is lots of fish!
Thank you for being me with me. Take care all. Send good wishes to our nests, especially those that could be struggling. See you on Friday!
Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post this morning: ‘B, Geemeff, H, J, MM, PB’, SK Hideaways, Amersfoort Falcon Cam, Field Farm, Geemeff, Maryland Western Shore Old Town Home, Lake Murray Ospreys, PSEG, Clark PUD, Radford University, Pam Breci, Mlade Buky Stork Cam, Imperial Eagle Nest RU, Eagle Club of Estonia, Finnish Osprey Foundation and BofPH.
Oh, it is pitching down rain in Winnipeg. We had such a lovely sunny warm day yesterday. So glad I did not stay inside! The rule should be: Never put anything off. If it is a nice day, get outside and enjoy nature because you never know what is coming tomorrow. The Grackles, the Starlings, and the Crows are still trying to get cheesy dogs regardless. Their babies need to eat! Calico is on the top of the cat tree watching them.
Lake Murray is going all out with the lights to try and keep the GHO from taking the last osplet.
We still have a chick at Lake Murray. I really hope it is the lights and not the fact that the owl is so full form eating Big the other day.
Something to celebrate! World Parrot Day (a day behind, apologies). All the good work by the great folks at Kakapo Recovery have really increased the numbers of these gorgeous green flightless NZ parrots in two decades.
‘B’ sent a link to a great video on Peregrine Falcons with Sean and Lynn. Thanks, ‘B’. Really enjoyed that. We are sharing it with you.
CJ7 removes the last of the eggshell from chick 4 at Poole Harbour at 0113 Friday the 31st of May.
The second egg for Elen and Aran hatched at Glaslyn.
West Des Moines Iowa had two hatches.
First hatch for Mrs O and FKO at Tweed Valley.
Still one osplet at Clark PUD.
There are at least two osplets in the nest at Oyster Bay.
Beautiful Only Bob at Boulder County. Other two eggs presumed non-viable.
Some nice fish on the nest at Radford University Osprey platform. All had crops!
I have not seen Jack on the nest, but I could have mixed him up with Diane. ‘MP’ reports that “Jack is in the nest and has been every day. They are both thin…I don’t know if it is because of age, parasites or lack of food availability or all of them. There’s a new female spending time in nest. It’s the same female that came a month or so ago. Jack wasn’t very hostile to her a month ago either. They both just shooed her away then. It is true though that Jack is looking really bad. He left this day at dusk. Diane is furiously defending her eggs and still on them at night.”
Last year, the St Petersburg area of Florida suffered extreme drought conditions. I have not heard any news this year but it is quite warm. It would be a real shame for these eggs to hatch. These parents need some fish. We now that ospreys often have trouble with other raptors stealing their fish, too. Send them good thoughts.
Big Red and Arthur’s two hawklets are entering the month of June when they will fledge. They are learning about stealing prey and self-feeding under the watchful eye of Mum and Dad. When they fledge, Arthur and Big Red will take turns teaching them to hunt.
At Amersfoort Falcon scrape, Smallie has a nice crop. Thanks ‘PB’ for the image.
Louis has been delivering some very fine trout to Dorcha and the trio.
Cara, Yellow XKT, has a new mate, AKE, at the Janakkala nest in Finland this year. Her former mate Red CCL did not return from migration. The couple have three eggs laid between 5 May and 10 May.
An Osprey on the nest, but no eggs at Paltamo.
Very lonely nest at YLLÄSLOMPOLO.
Three beautiful eggs at Muonio.
So hard to see those babies at the Bridge Golf Club. So many couples this year opted for very deep egg cups.
I am so happy that Blue NCO has a new partner – young and enthusiastic! I was so afraid she was going to lose her beautiful nest at Loch of the Lowes but it appears that just might not be the case! (Video below)
Keep sending good positive energy to Lake Murray. Let us hope that this only surviving osplet gets so fat it can hardly fly – that would put that GHO off, too!!!!!!
There are three at Cowlitz PUD. Electra gave us a good look today.
Two fledglings – each with a nice fish – at the Venice Golf and Country Club.
Still two babies at the Imperial Eagle cam in RU.
‘H’ reports on Patuxent – all other nests doing great so how did they do? “5/30 Patuxent Nest-1: The ages of the osplets were 24, 23, and 20 days. There were 8 feedings from 5 fish. A few of the fish were quite big, and Dad would remove a large leftover, and return later with a large fish tail. Fish deliveries close together really helped little to be fed while the older siblings were still full. And the very large fish were very helpful, as Little was fed after Big and Middle were sated. One of the largest fish of the day was a huge headless fish delivered at 1745. Little was able to eat for 13 minutes and ate 80 bites of fish. Dad removed a large leftover, returned at 1933 with the fish tail, and Little ate 35 bites at that feeding. Little ate at least 206 bites of fish today. Go Dad! Go Little!”
‘A’ brings us reports from ‘Down Under’: “At Olympic Park, the cold wet weather may have reminded Dad and Lady that spring is still a long way off. But no, apparently not. Things are instead heating up. I am giving you three days of reports because of the amount of nest-related activity now occurring.
May 29: The eagles shared an early duet and matings – then off. Dad was back with the first stick around 7am. At 8:33am, Dad returned with a headless bream, which he left on the nest. Lady brought another bream herself at 8:50am but didn’t eat. Dad returned and ate one of the fish, then left at 8:12am, so one fish was still on the nest. Both brought in a few sticks and leafy branches, then flew off. Dad returned at 12:14 and sat for ages near the nest. He finally left at 14:21. He returned with a stick at 15:37 and took the remaining fish, eating on the branch. Where has Lady been since just after 11am? Dad returned the fish to the nest after a while. Then, there was a report of Lady near Ironbark Roost, soon returning to the nest beside Dad at 15:53. She still didn’t eat, and they duetted and mated. She appeared to have eaten elsewhere? Dad finally ate the second fish himself. He brought in a late stick just before 5pm and they moved things around on the nest, then settled nearby.
May 30: Both eagles were near the nest last night. They were awake early, and both brought in sticks and leaves. Before 9am they had brought eight deliveries. More sticks were brought in after a while, and they mated at 10:16am. Dad brought in half a large mullet at 12:40pm, which Lady claimed and ate shortly after. A few more sticks were brought, then both were away from 1:30pm. They returned just before 5pm with a couple of sticks, then shared a duet and mating at around 5:15pm, before settling close by for the night.
May 31: There was camera work being done on the nest cam in the morning. Our eagles were awake very early, with a clumsy mating attempt, but had more success a little while later, at 6:22am. Dad brought a couple of early sticks, then a headless fish at 7:32am. The cameras were not streaming then but Lady did not seem to get the chance to eat it. One eagle was spotted at Goat Island at 10:27am. The eagles were away all day, with one returning to the nest at 17:22. At dark though, it seemed only one eagle was home – and fish was still on the nest.”
‘A’ also reports on Smallie: “Smallie got some food at this morning’s early feedings, leaning out of the scrape for some bites too at one point. Then, when a parent brought food around 10:10 Smallie was competing for bites but eventually ended up jumping out of the scrape, where around 10:14 he is either being fed or is self-feeding or both. Certainly, he has had a relatively good morning, with quite a decent amount of food. When he’d had what was on offer outside, he jumped straight back into the scrape without difficulty.
So far, I have not seen any of his siblings leave the scrape, while our wee Smallie is jumping in and out at will now. I am hoping this will represent a turning point for his feeding – if he does what he did this morning again, he may get a day or two before his siblings join him out there. At least one of the floofs (the oldest) is looking oh so ready to fledge, with virtually all her fluff gone and vigorous wingercising all over the scrape, which nearly knocks her fellow eyases off their feet at times in that restricted area. How lucky are the chicks at Cal Falcons, with unlimited room to flap and run?
Mum is definitely not ignoring Smallie or refusing to feed him, as some chatters continue to suggest. She fed him while he was in the doorway of the scrape this morning, and then later on fed him outside the scrape in something of a private feeding (see above). Obviously, it is flat enough outside for mum to prepare food and feed the chicks from there, and Smallie had no problems out there both being fed and self-feeding. So I am surprised that the others are not yet exploring beyond that doorway. Still, it is a temporary advantage Smallie may be able to take advantage of today. “
Thank you so much for being with us today. We hope that your week has been a good one and that you will have some time to get outside over the weekend and listen, we hope, to some songbirds. Take care. See you soon!
Thank you to the following for their notes, comments, letters, posts, images, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog this morning: ‘A, B, Geemeff, H, J, MP, PB’, Lake Murray Ospreys, Kakapo Recovery, Cal Falcons, BoPH, Bywyd Gwyllt Glaslyn, Tweed Valley, Clark PUD, PSEG, Boulder County, Radford University, Achieva Credit Union, Cornell RTH, Amersfoort Falcons, Geemeff, Finnish Osprey Foundation, Bridge Golf Club Ospreys, Scottish Wildlife Trust, Cowlitz PUD, VGCCO, Imperial Eagle Cam RU, Patuxent River Park, and Sydney Sea Eagle Cam.
Well, I haven’t been able to concentrate. Despite the freezing temperatures, a walk seemed like a good idea. It was so cold and slippery that the trails did not give much joy on Wednesday, so today, I am heading to a pool to go for a good long swim while we wait to see if any of the eggs at Big Bear are viable.
Will this mini bottle of champagne get opened this year? We wait to see. I bought it last year to celebrate the hatch at Big Bear, and it has sat in the cupboard waiting just like Jackie and Shadow have to try again for a family.
10,731 were watching the nest at 1534 on Wednesday. I just wonder what the numbers will be when the Pip starts. So many people love this couple. They are the epitome, like Jak and Audacity, of resilience and hope.
Rolling the precious eggs.
Singing together.
11, 784 and growing at 0700 watching for a pip as Jackie rolls the eggs leaving us to wonder.
JC23 and JC24 are quite the characters – and strong. My goodness the necks these two have!
Boone feeding these babies. Gosh that one is so strong. It appears the bonking has waned for awhile. Hoping it stays that way.
Abby and Blaze have fed Swampy and Meadow all day on Wednesday – full-to-bursting crops were the order of the day. It is a wonder either of these eaglets can move.
Starting to look like the new fleece jackets!
Proud Mamma Abby with her two beautiful eaglets.
Have a look at Swampy’s fat bottom and a huge PS!
Two eggs for Andor and Cruz at Fraser Point.
News coming in of the South Australian ospreys.
Beau and Gabby have been mating and working on the nest. Could I seriously hope that these two might have another clutch of eggs? at this date?
Mum is still incubating the eggs at Duke Farm and it appears that there will be at least one little one as hatch is underway. Congratulations.
The Bald Eagles on the Hanover, PA nest now have two eggs. It was a breezy rainy day there on Wednesday. HDonTap says, “With the recent arrival of the second egg, the plot thickens as two male eagles fiercely vie for the coveted space. As observers eagerly await the hatching, speculation mounts, adding an extra layer of suspense to this captivating avian tale.”
There are two eggs at the ND-LEEF nest in South Bend.
Everyone wants to incubate (except Beau and Lewis)…
Arthur and Big Red worked on their nest with Arthur in and out with sticks several times. At 17:45 he arrives with a vole (or mouse) for Big Red and calls her but she did not fly in. He took the prey and left!
Notice how many sticks Arthur has accumulated. Those rails look pretty good. Is he expecting 3 or 4 eggs this year?
The eaglet at JB Sands Wetlands is really changing its plumage. Just squint and you can see the dark feathers starting to come in with the charcoal thermal down.
Food delivery at the Hilton Head GHO nest that I missed! Aren’t they cute?
More bonding at Anacapa with Lena and HJ.
Is Archie inviting Annie to come down to the scrape with him? Does she join him? Watch and see!
Not sure I this is before or after Annie discusses Pocket Gophers and Rodenticide with Archie!
I am imagining the most famous raptors all over giving lectures on dangers to their existence.
Only one Kakapo was born on Leap Year Day – Tau Kuhurangi. Happy Birthday!
Frustrated by the camera at FORE and wanting to watch Liberty and Guardian, here is some news.
And now…for some really good news. With population numbers declining rapidly for some species, the Eastern Imperial Eagle is having a comeback in Austria!
“Eastern Imperial Eagle (Aquila heliaca)” by Bernd Thaller is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
In 2020, there were only three recorded nesting pairs of Imperial Eagles in Serbia. The reasons for the total decimation of the population were:
“Loss of habitat, poisoning, and poaching are the problems that brought the eastern imperial eagle to the edge of extinction. The european ground squirrel [Spermophilus citellus, native to Eastern Europe and Asia Minor], a favourite food of the eagle, lives in open grassy fields, most often pastures that have been plowed over due to the dying off of traditional animal husbandry. There are no cows grazing, no pastures, no ground squirrel, no old trees that can withstand the nests of these large birds, so there are no imperial eagles. When you add in pesticides and poaching, the state of the population is not surprising,” he says.
Reckless pesticide use is very bad for the birds, but Serbia also faces the issue of intentional poisoning of wildlife.”
In the last article, more discussions of how humans have made the Imperial Eagle decline so rapidly. I hope by reading the article on the growing numbers in Austria that you will appreciate how difficult it was – because almost everywhere these gorgeous raptors are in great decline.
Thank you so much for being with me today. Take care and remember – all eyes on Big Bear starting tomorrow.
Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, articles, screen captures, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post this morning: ‘H, J, SP’, FOBBV, Johnson City Eagles ETSU, Rollin’ Dog, Eagle Country, Lisa Yen, Brooke Copp, NEFL-AEF, Duke Farms, HDonTap, ND-LEEF, PIX Cams, Cornell RTH, JB Sands Wetlands, Hilton Head, SK Hideaways, Cal Falcon, Kakapo Recovery, FORE, BirdGuides International Openverse, NABU, Emerging Europe, Birdlife International my-mriya, Kathy Robles, and The New York Times.
Oh, it has rained. We are to have rain throughout the weekend and into next week. The river does not look so dismal (muddy and low) and there were lots of Canada Geese out swimming when I went to the farmer’s market this morning. We have everything local save for peaches which are coming in from Ontario. Oh, how I remember the big peaches my mother used to buy that came from Georgia when I was a wee lass. The juice would roll down your chin! These are not quite that good, but – they are delicious.
Calico continues to visit every 3 hours and eats like she has 25 kittens somewhere…that somewhere is beginning to be a monkey on my shoulder. If she were healthier, that Go Pro would be strapped on her and off we would go….but she isn’t. So we wait. Waiting is a little like waiting and watching Mini’s left leg heal. We all want it to happen now. ‘M’ reminded me of Royal Albatross OGK. He was missing for 40 days and returned with a limp. It was painful to watch, but he eventually healed. OGK would come down the hill ever so slowly. Made us all ache in sympathy. OGK is due to return this November on Taiaroa Head – if he did not perish. I have him on the Memorial Wall but will be ever so delighted to delete that…he was the most amazing dad. Do you remember?
The many faces of Mini today. To my untrained eye, Mini’s leg did not look any worse on Friday.
She did not lose that fish piece that arrived from dad around 0951. She almost did and then she recovered. She will fly away with it in her beak.
1627. A much bigger fish came on the nest and Mini also flew off with it in her beak. Let’s hope that she did not lose it! That would have been a feast!
This amazing Dad is off – more fish to catch – a huge family to feed!
Mini is off at 1429 with the fish in her beak.
1838. Mini is really wanting Dad to land with a fish for her.
Mini is not lethargic. She is flying and eating, and she is managing. This is all good. We need to just breathe – in and out – and send all our positive energy to our brave girl. She can do this! Healing takes time. It does not happen in a day.
In other news:
Let’s start with the nests that ‘H’ is monitoring:
Fortis Exshaw: “Oh, dear. It’s either feast or famine for JJ. There were two fish delivered to the nest by Louise (13:24,16:16), and the older sibling, Banff, ate them both, mouth to tail. Life is difficult for JJ. Not only is JJ at the bottom of the pecking order, but JJ seems to be a smaller, non-aggressive male. Fortunately, JJ ate quite well on 8/10. The stepdad, O’Hara, made an appearance at the nest on 8/11. At 1850 Louise landed in the nest, quickly followed by O’Hara. He helped Louise ward off an intruder, and stayed at the nest for several minutes. There had been some concern that we had not seen O’Hara for a few days. The last positive identification of O’Hara was on 8/8. But truth be told, with all the pixelation of the video lately, we could have easily misidentified an adult doing a quick fish drop as being Louise. One day at a time . . hoping for some fish for our beloved JJ today.”
Kent Island – ‘Good Golly, Miss Molly!’ Molly fledged, at 60 days of age. But . . we did not get to witness her take off for her maiden flight. The Explore.org livestream was showing one of their frequent ‘highlights’. Bummer. When the brief ‘highlight’ period ended, we saw that the nest was empty! Tom soon landed with a fish to lure Molly back to the nest, and he was joined by Audrey. Molly was later spotted in a nearby tree (photo credit Mrs. Com). By nightfall, Molly had not returned to the nest. Congratulations to Audrey, Tom, and Molly! Well done, all.
Osoyoos – The livestream returned, and we saw that the osprey family was doing well. My goodness, ‘Junior’ had grown in the past 48 hours. And, it was evident that s/he had progressed with the wingercising, even achieving a few inches of lift off the nest. There were five fish brought to the nest after the stream returned.
Forsythe – Oscar brought three fish to the nest for Ollie. Ollie spent more time away from the nest on 8/11. Older sibling Owen, has not been seen for 8 days, and we hope that she is doing well.
Dahlgren – D12 caught a small fish! In recent days, D12 had landed on the nest with a fish a couple of times, but we weren’t sure if she actually caught it herself. This time, we witnessed the catch. D12 scoped out the fish directly below the nest, made a pinpoint dive, emerged with her catch, circled around and landed on the nest with her prize. Well done, D12! Older sibling, D11, was not seen on 8/11.
Severna Park – We are fortunate to be able to still see the fledglings. One or both can often be found at the nest. Oscar is doing a great job making sure his juvies are fed.
Thank you so much ‘H’ for your keen eye and your informing commentary!
The story at the Osprey nests throughout the Northern hemisphere is that of final fledges, fledglings returning to the nests hoping for fish meals, and pending migration.
Muonio Finnish Nest: The first fledge was on Friday. Just look at that crop in the middle! The one on the far left is getting ready to take its first flight. Bravo!
Ilomantsin: The fledglings – all have flown now – are returning to the nest and Mum is more than happy to feed them when she gets a chance.
MN Landscape Arboretum: Maybe it is just me but I would love to see this chick get some more fish! The small mud puppies are easy for the chick to eat but gosh…could we have a few more please and thank you.
Steelscape: ‘PB’ reports that it was a fantastic day for the third hatch who had been losing out severely. Fantastic news.
Sandpoint: This is not a nest that I have observed in previous years. It was added this year to the data base. Does anyone know if these are inexperienced parents? Or is the local fish situation really dire? Timestamps on the chat for Friday: By Karyn: Fish count stands at 3 from Keo Ts 5:38:58. Coco steals 5:53:32 and downs tail 6:09:04 2nd fish 10:47 and most eaten by dad. Coco tries to take from Mom but ends up with one bite & literally a tail. 3rd fish is a micro mini at 11:47:11 and mom eats the head and Coco steals…just a few bites to that fish.”
Cowlitz: Everything looks good. Fledgling continues to return to the nest!
Clark PUD: Fish on the nest and look at that wing span!
Seaside: Naika and Kawok are on and off the nest wanting fish! It is all good.
The Bridge Golf Club Ospreys: The cam had been going on and off line and now it is back up. Reports are the two surviving chicks have fledged but are returning to the nest for fish! Congratulations everyone!
Dyfi: The UK nests are getting rather lonely. T he fledglings no longer have to wait on the nest for fish to arrive. They can see their parents and chase after them or they can go and practice in the water preparing for their future fishing adventures.
Telyn has migrated from the 13-28th of August in past years. Wonder what it will be this year?
Glaslyn: Aran is delivering fish to the two lads. Elen was last seen at the net on Friday morning. It is possible she is taking time to prepare for migration – or has she departed?
Llyn Brenig: Everyone has a fish!
Llyn Clywedog: The rain drops hitting the nest sound like someone tossing small stones and the wind is howling in the distance.
Loch Arkaig: The nest of Dorcha and Louis is not quiet. Ludo is right there waiting for Dad to bring him a fish – and he is decidedly not silent about it! This chick is going to need lozenges before the season is over!
Tatarstan Eastern Imperial Eagles: Oh, goodness the plumage on these birds is magnificent. They both lived…lots of food and superb parenting. They are both females.
Sydney Sea Eagles: Perfect little angels at this feeding. 31 had a huge crop and Mum was filling 32 to the top of its crop, too! There is such a variety of prey in the pantry – birds, fish, and eels. Pin feathers are starting to emerge and if you note the size difference already, you ,right be inclined to believe that 31 is a Bib Sister while 32 is a wee brother.
Loch Garten: KL5, the 2020 male fledgling from the Loch Garten nest, appears to not be going anywhere. He is looking for his own nest as are many two year old returnees. Thankfully he will be leaving for migration sooner than later and will allow some peace and order to return to the nest. The juveniles are getting much experience defending this nest and themselves against very aggressive intruders.
Congratulations to the West Midlands for the very first ringed osprey in centuries!
Kurzeme Black Kite: Dad is making all the deliveries for Bronza. Mum was last seen on 8 August and is most likely preparing for her migration by fattening up off the nest. What a gorgeous Black Kite!
Stepping back in time: There have been many favourites on the SW Florida nest but E17 and 18 were nothing short of adorable…will never forget 18 having to go into ‘time out’ in the rehabbers!!!!!!
It is an important moment for those involved in the reintroduction of raptors in the UK.
Birds In Helping Hands wants us to spread the word and not use insecticides and herbicides.— Please write down the ingredients for the safe weed killer (if you are inclined to kill them) somewhere for next year! Tell friends and family. Most of the cleaning firms in my City only use white vinegar – no harsh chemicals at all. Think about it. We need to protect those who cannot protect themselves.
Most of you have experienced some very hot weather this summer. Ever wonder what that heat does to our birds? to the seas that they depend on for their fish? Birdlife International has a short informative article to educate all of us.
Thank you so much for being with me today! Please take care. Hoping to see you soon.
Thank you to the following for their comments, notes, postings, articles, tweets, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog today: ‘H, M, PB’, PSEG, Fortis Exshaw, Kent Island, Osoyoos, Forsythe, Dahlgren, Severna Park, Finnish Osprey Foundation, MN Landscape Arboretum, Pam Breci and the Joy of Ospreys FB, Clark PUD, Sandpoint, Cowlitz PUD, Seaside, Diane Lambertson and The Joy of Ospreys FB, Dyfi Osprey Project, Bywyd Gwyllt Glaslyn, Llyn Brenig, Geemeff and The Woodland Trust, Tatarstan Imperial Eagles, Sydney Sea Eagles, Sue Wallbanks and Friends of Loch Arkaig Ospreys, West Midlands Ringing Group, LDF, Laura Davis Nelson and SWFL Eagles, @Timmackrill, Birds in Helping Hands, and Birdlife International.
