Category Archives: Estonian wildlife

Thursday in Bird World

13 June 2024

Good Morning Everyone,

I had been saving that tiny bottle of champagne for Jackie and Shadow’s hatch, but Iris having a chick after so long, well, it really is a time for celebration! So here’s to Iris and Finnegan and to their new baby! May they all live long and strong lives with lots of fish and no intruders.

So many nests got ignored today because of the happiness for Iris and Finnegan and the hope that we might get a glimpse of this little miracle chick. I will continue to provide the posts by Dr Greene who must be simply over the moon today with excitement.

Finnegan and Iris are very devoted. He has been so protective. I hope he doesn’t forget his other role is Daddy Door Dash with all those fish dinners. Look how proud he is on that perch protecting his new ‘family’.

This baby is strong and hungry and Iris and Finnegan are ready with the fish!

What a gorgeous family. Finnegan feeds Iris and Iris feeds their chick. Gosh, does this remind you of Stanley? Iris must feel like the Queen that she is. Isn’t this wonderful?

The tiniest bites of fish go into the baby’s mouth.

Waking up on their second day of parenthood – Iris and Finnegan and little Miracle baby.

The pair at Charlo Montana are not giving much away but there was a nice pip in an egg on Tuesday.

Welcome, little one!

And now there are two at Charlo!

There are two cute little osplets at the Blackbush Beach Osprey Platform!

All is well for our Little Mini at Field Farm.

At Loch Arkaig, C2 finally allows C1 and C3 to have some food! This female reminds me of Zoe. What do I mean by that? Well, she is full to the top of her crop and more and doesn’t want to share the fish with her two siblings. Someone asked if it is too late for siblicide. No, it is not. The worst behaviour begins during the Reptile phase and should end as the chicks get their feathering. We will wait and see. Louis is an excellent provider and there is has never been any concern that all three would not fledge. C2 just needs to ‘cool her jets’.

C2 reminds me too much of Zoe from Port Lincoln in 2022.

Slow motion video of the owl attack directly on Dorcha last night.

Only Surving Bob, Middle, at Lake Murry is a beautifully plumaged osplet. So big. Thank you Lake Murray for all the efforts to save this one.

CJ7 makes sure her precious Little Mini is being fed. Things are going very well on this nest. No concerns. The osplets are all passing through the Reptile stage and getting their beautiful juvenile feathers.

Growing concerns for Jack, the male at the Captiva Osprey Nest, mate of Edie, who disappeared for several days and returned with an injured leg. Window to Wildlife says if he can be captured they would take him to rehab.

At the Golden Eagle nest 2 in Estonia, the food was not as plentiful on the 12th of June as it was when the fox cub came in. Portions of a crane leg and a small bird. Both eaglets were fed but the second hatch is hungry and calling for food. Hopefully tomorrow will be a better hunting day for the family.

It is a miserable day for the Golden Eagle nest in Bucovina, Romania. We must remember that weather plays a significant role in the lives of our raptors (as well as the songbirds that visit our gardens). Small mammals get shelter and cannot be caught for food. If the weather persists, chicks can die. The nests get damp and the babies can get lung issues and also die. Life can be extremely challenging. Heavy rains are not just going to impact Florida. They have already accounted for the deaths of hundreds of storks in Europe and for some of our wee ospreys. Send good wishes to all nests – and thankfully there is some food on this nest!

Sometimes I fail to mention this nest. It is one that is wonderful to watch – Llyn Clywedog. Dylan is a master fisher and the reservoir is stocked with fish. He loves to bring trout to the nest! Seren Blue 5F is an amazing female. She winters in The Gambia and can be found on the same post year after year.

Three osplets transitioning into the Reptile phase at Cowlitz PUD.

The Great Bay trio are getting their tail feathers and juvenile plumage.

It is remarkable how fast these little ones grow. The surviving two osplets at Maryland Western Shore for Old Town Home are doing fantastic. Just look at that plumage.

Triplets at Eschenbach nest have their plumage and are doing fantastic.

The newly hatched chick at Finnish Osprey nest #3 died right after hatch. This was the first hatch for Nuppu and Ahti. Condolences to all.

The trio at the Goitzsche-Wildnis platform in Germany are also doing well, just like Eschenbach.

Big Red heads to the nest to feed the two fledglings at Cornell.

The San Jose chicks still have to fledge and they are getting antsy.

It is mayhem at San Jose!

The three chicks on the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum nest are still alive. It rained Wednesday morning and then it was a humid heat. The babies need food to get hydration. They are often left uncovered in the blazing heat of the MidWest.

Dad was in with a small fish after 1500.

Keo and Keke are taking good care of their surviving hatch, River, at the Sandpoint osprey platform. Roan passed away on Tuesday the 11th due to a nest accident. Condolences to this family for this tragic loss due to wind and then just bloody bad luck. Fingers crossed for this baby. It appears that the remaining egg will not hatch.

Lots of fish deliveries to the Bridge Golf Course osprey platform on Wednesday. Everyone ate well!

The rains that are hitting Florida are at Moorings Park. Both of our fledglings, Tuffy and Ruffie are on the nest, hoping to get a fish dinner. It would appear that one had an early fish and the other found a fish on the nest. Do not ask me which one is which! They are both strong osplets.

Sunnie Day captures the changes in the growth of the trio at Crooked Lake, Iowa.

The weather is now having a huge impact on the Florida nests. ‘PB’ says that Captiva is in for 7″ of rain in two days. This is going to have a very negative impact on that Captiva nest coupled with Jack’s injury. Send them your good wishes!

‘PB’ sent a late video made by Toni Hoover – I took screen captures to show you this amazing little falcon. It took prey from one of the sisters on the grate and jumped and pulled it into the box to eat. This kid is a survivor.

‘H’ reports:

6/12 Fortis Exshaw osprey nest:  Congratulations to Louise and her new mate Harvie, on the hatch of their first baby.  There are two more eggs to go.  

6/12 Captiva osprey nest:  The stormy weather continued for the second day.  Fishing for Edie and Jack has been difficult, and Jack has an injured left leg as well.  The last time the 50 and 48-day-old osplets had eaten was the evening of 6/10. Edie was out fishing most of the day when weather permitted.  Jack was not seen all day, until 1634 when he landed in the nest, dropped off a small live pinfish, and he quickly left.  His leg still looked swollen, and the foreign object was still protruding from it.  Edie was out, and the youngsters did not act quickly enough to secure the fish.  The small fish wiggled in between some sticks and disappeared.  It’s too bad they were not able to get a meal from Jack’s efforts.  We had not seen Edie for hours, but finally at 2033 Edie arrived with a partial catfish.  Darling grabbed and mantled the fish, but Darling is not adept at self-feeding.  Ding soon managed to take the fish from Darling, and s/he ate all but the tail.  The rain and wind is expected to persist intermittently for the next several days.  Everyone is hoping that Edie will be able to deliver a fish this morning, and that she will feed Darling.

6/12, Forsythe osprey nest: Oscar delivered 10 fish to the nest, Including 9 fish in the morning, but most of the fish were on the small side.  The first meal was peaceful between the three remaining siblings, and they all ate.  After that, the eldest osplet ‘Big’ ruled the meals, although ‘Middle’ prevented ‘Little’ from eating at times as well.  Little only managed to eat 80 bites of fish at meals two through six.  The seventh fish, brought at 0922 was a large whole fish, and Little managed to eat 96 bites of fish at that meal.  Little did not eat at meal #8.  The ninth fish was delivered at 1032, and Little ate 55 bites of fish.  Ten hours went by without a fish delivery.  Then, Oscar dropped off a headless fish at 2022, and Little was shut out of that meal.  Overall, Little did well today, thanks to the efforts of his dad. 

6/12 Patuxent River Park osprey nest: The first fish of the day at 1009 was a medium sized whole fish.  Twenty minutes into the feeding, Little managed to work his way over to the other side of Mom to be fed, and managed to eat a total of 32 bites at that meal.  The next fish was delivered by Dad at 1214, and was a small whole fish.  Little was not able to make it to the table.  More than five hours passed, and we were worried that Little may not get any more to eat.  Then at 1753, Dad showed up with one of his huge goldfish that provided for a 90 minute feeding.  Little’s first bite of fish was not until 1847.  Little was fed for 30 minutes and he ate 158 bites of fish.  Go Dad!

McEuen Park osprey nest:  All four eggs have hatched, and there are now four little osplets!

We do not have them where I live but there are some breeding pairs of Porchards in the UK that stay.

Birdwatch-pochards-are-one-of-Britains-rarest-breeders-Birds-The-GuardianDownload

Just another horrible way that humankind is destroying habitat for wildlife and especially our feathered friends.

Rare-birds-at-risk-as-narco-gangs-move-into-forests-to-evade-capture-–-report-Birds-The-GuardianDownload

Thank you to those who offered to watch the Osoyoos Osprey cam! The stream went offline Wednesday morning around 10am. It is now 1623 nest time and it is still down. Keep checking on YouTube!

Thank you for being with me today. What a grand celebration. We wait to see when Iris and Finnegan’s second egg hatches. I hope soon. This first one is strong! Take care all. 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: ‘Geemeff, H, PB’, Montana Osprey Project, Geemeff, Montana Osprey Cams, Charlo Montana, Blackish Beach Ospreys, Field Farm, Lake Murray, BoPH, Sunnie Day, Heidi McGrue, Eagle Club of Estonia, Bucovina Wild, Llyn Clywedog, Cowlitz PUD, Maryland Western Shore for Old Town Home, Eschenbach, Finnish Osprey Foundation, Goitzsche-Wildnis, Cornell Bird Lab, SK Hideaways, MN Landscape Arboretum, Sandpoint Ospreys, Bridge Golf Club, Moorings Park, The Weather Authority, Toni Hoover and Amersfoort Falcon Cam, Fortis Exshaw, Window to Wildlife, Forsythe Ospreys, Patuxent River Park, McEuen Park, and The Guardian.

N1 and N2 fledge…Tuesday in Bird World

11 June 2024

Good Morning Everyone,

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.

City-Life-is-Hard-for-Raptors.-Can-Removing-Rat-Poison-Make-it-Easier-AudubonDownload

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.

How-parakeets-escaped-and-made-Britain-their-home-Birds-The-GuardianDownload

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.

Monday in Bird World

10 June 2024

Good Morning Everyone,

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.

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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.

Weather related deaths…Sunday in Bird World

9 June 2024

Good Morning Everyone,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

WHAT-IF…-–-Border-OspreysDownload

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The trio at Goitzsche-Wildnis are great!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The streaming cam at Colonial Beach is back on line.

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

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

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

Three osplets at Finlands #4 nest.

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

News of the San Jose Falcons!

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

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

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

It’s three for Minnesota Landscape…Saturday in Bird World

8 June 2024

Good Morning Everyone,

‘The Girls’ are all back to normal! Thank goodness. We are minus Missey in the photos. She wanted to be alone while the other three were enjoying watching the garden birds and animals going about their daily search for food.

It was Friday so organic chicken dinner. Tummies are full and it is siesta time.

The ‘outdoor’ kitties were to have roast chicken dinner, too, but the Crows and the Starlings found the plate! They decidedly preferred the roast chicken to cheesy dogs! I don’t blame them. Oh, but wait. They left some and ‘The Boyfriend’ was happy.

The rain has really helped the garden this year. We are becoming entirely overgrown without any effort.

If you skipped over the BBC SpringWatch programme which Geemeff copied for everyone who cannot access BBC’s iPlayer, I want to suggest you go back and have a look. About sixteen minutes into the programme is the first interview with Roy Dennis. The raptors flying over the UK today can almost all be attributed to his efforts in reintroduction and relocation including Ospreys, Red Kites, and Eagles (Golden and White-tailed). Roy Dennis has made a huge difference to UK Wildlife and our understanding of the raptors for more than sixty years. He is a legend.

If the world had 1 out of every 1000 persons as committed as Roy Dennis, imagine how wonderful the world would be for all of us – human and non.

Hats off to those amazing people in South Australia who are working as hard to create homes for the Ospreys. Today they managed to erect 3 platforms in Port Neill! Using a helicopter. It takes a village.

Platform for Streaky Bay, too!

You might have heard that Lucia fell off the scrape. She did and she was returned! Thanks to ‘B’ for wondering what happened and for ‘SK Hideaways’ for giving us the story. ‘B’ notes that Hartley and Monty brought Lucina lunch right away – about 45 minutes after she was returned. We can all jump for joy at these amazing parents.

Everyone was shocked to wake up Friday morning to find that there are three osplets on the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum nest. No one believed that the first egg would hatch – and I was hoping for only two, but we have three. Wish this nest luck as they will need it!

Oh, this nest makes me nervous. This is not a very attentive female. Watch this nest at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum with caution. This female does not seem to have matured from last year. The male is much older. Still, Mum needs to keep her babies warm and feed them -.

A female that does not have a good track record is Hope at the ‘Hopeless’ Snow Lane nest in Newfoundland. She is incubating three eggs.

There are now three osplets on the Collins Marsh nest in Wisconsin. This new couple fledged two last season. Hopefully there is a lot of fish – historically not so many and the nests have managed with two but consistently lose the third hatch to siblicide/starvation.

Field Farm baby so tiny. ‘A’ comments, “Field Farm is an interesting dynamic. I have not watched this nest, but I note that the tiny youngest, though very small, seems to be healthy and active and is certainly not cowed by its siblings. The aggression – and there is a lot on this nest – seems to be primarily started by what I think is the second hatch, Middle Bob (though it may be the third – the second and third are close in size) who is happy to attack all three of its siblings but on this occasion chooses the oldest. Bad move. Perhaps it is female and the third hatch rather than the second (which would account for relative sizes and explain the temperaments of hatch two vs hatch three) but certainly, Mini Bob is trying to stay out of its way. The oldest is forced to retaliate with some vigor, and in the process decides to beak Mini Bob for good measure. Wrong place, wrong time. But it was brief and not overly vicious, just a single shake by the back of the neck, but Mini remains tucked, as does Little. Big Bob seems satisfied. 

There is a parent on the nest, who did not intervene in any way but allowed the osplets to deal with their own pecking order negotiations. The baby rails at this nest are huge branches complete with foliage, and dad (I think) flies in with another of them. It is at least two metres long and requires quite some manoeuvring into position. On the other side of the nest, one of the older chicks grabs a largish stick and does its own work on placing it! TOO cute. This is the chick that appears to be the most nervous of the four. It is often tucked, just in case, and appears to be shyer than the youngest and certainly not aggressive like other two osplets. 

Dad is soon back with another, much shorter stick. A fish would go down a lot better, dad! There are a lot of ospreys on this nest, and half a forest in giant tree branches. It is starting to look more than a little crowded up there! 

This will be an interesting nest, but Mini Bob definitely has a chance, depending as always on a regular fish supply to the nest. Temperamentally speaking, it has the determination and courage to survive. It appears to be confident, healthy and very active. It also appears to know the basics of nest etiquette, not unnecessarily provoking larger siblings but nevertheless standing its ground. Time will tell.”

‘A’ continues, “Nevertheless, both Poole Harbour and Field Farm have four healthy, active osplets at this stage. Both nests have an excellent chance of fledging all four hatches, and I was pleasantly surprised to check them out. (I had not done so in either case until reading your blog mentioning these two cameras.) I am fascinated by four-osplet clutches after Mini did so well at Patchogue last season. That really did prove that four is not an impossible task, and in fact may even be a better risk than three, where two often seem to gang up on the youngest. With four, perhaps, the aggression is spread around a little more. I have no idea why but the social dynamic on the nest definitely seems different with four than with three. It is super interesting to me, and I will have to watch quite a lot more of these two nests to develop a theory on it. The sample size I am basing my observations on here is way too small, but still it seems interesting that it is the case on both of these nests for starters. I am probably talking nonsense, but it does strike me as interesting. “

Two surviving chicks at Maryland Western Shore Old Town Home are thriving.

‘H’ reports: “The Osoyoos nest has their first hatch, egg #1 of three eggs, at 39 days.”

Aurora returns to the Campanile. How wonderful. Now remember you can go to moon_rabbit_rising on Instagram and see amazing images of the fledglings along with their parents flying around the Berkeley campus!

Mum was in the scrape feeding Smallie before 2300 on Friday. Smallie had a big crop and pulled away the prey item to tell Mum she could leave. Smallie has gotten a lot of plumage and looks much more like a falcon now. What a wonderful story of survival – tiny little one still being cared for after big siblings have fledged. What amazing parents. This would not happen in an Osprey nest.

It is hot in Montana as Iris watches the train go past her nest. We are on the count down to pip/hatch watch for Iris and Finnegan. Will there be a chick?

At the Green Ledge Lighthouse Osprey nest of Ollie and Olivia, there are now two little osplets. The first hatched on 4 June and the second on 6 June.

‘H’ sends in her fantastic reports: “6/8, South Cape May Meadows osprey nest:  This morning at 0530 Zeus arrived with a stick, and Hera immediately left the nest.  At 0555 Zeus also left the nest.  Then, at 0600, a crow arrived.  The crow pecked at one egg and completely destroyed another.  There were three eggs, with the first egg due to hatch at any time.

6/7 Patuxent osprey nest:  Everyone is so glad that Little was returned to the nest after a 48 hour stint in rehab.  Now…back to watching Little compete for food with his two older, and much larger siblings.  There were six fish brought to the nest by Dad, and 7 feedings.  Little had only managed to eat a few bites up until the fifth meal of the day.  At 1254 Dad brought a partial fish, and as per usual, Big and Middle ate first.  Finally, at 1330 Little had a 12 minute private feeding and had eaten approximately 94 bites of fish.  Little’s best meal of the day was the sixth meal.  Dad delivered a very large fish at 1618.  By 1641 Big and Middle had both moved away from the table, and Little began to eat…and eat…and eat.  Little had a ‘mostly private’ feeding for the next 30 minutes, and had eaten at least 236 bites of fish!”

“6/7, Forsythe osprey nest:  This is a nest of four osplets, ages 17, 16, 15, and 13 days.  With the exception of a few rare ‘off-meal’ short bonking battles, this nest has always been entirely peaceful.  All four kids have been lining up side by side for meals.  The only meals where Mini would ended up a little short on fish bites, would be when Oscar would deliver a small fish tail.  Until now that is….I noticed around 1400, the chick I believe to be #3 simply ‘went off’ on all of her siblings…bonking everybody.  This was very unusual, and occurred repeatedly until a fish was delivered at 1402 (the third meal of the day).  It had been 5 1/2 hours since their last meal, but they have gone 7 hours between meals before without aggressiveness being triggered.  However, now they are entering their reptilian phase.  Due to the size of the fish, all osplets ate well at this feeding.  At 1657, Oscar brought a medium sized fish tail, and for the first time ever, there was bonking during a meal.  Again, the instigator was chick #3, and she wasn’t picking on any one of her siblings in particular, he/she was bonking everybody.  Mini ate very little at this feeding.  The last meal of the day was at 2010 from a small fish tail, and Mini again was only able to eat a few bites.  Note to Oscar:  They need more fish!”

“6/8 The Osoyoos osprey nest has their second hatch. The baby was first seen at 04:45.”

We are also on the count down to fledge at both the Cornell and Syracuse Red-tail Hawk nests. This would normally not happen during a rainy period. Big Red often fills her chicks up to the top of their crop of she doesn’t think it is a good day to fledge.

If you were watching the Kansas City Eagles on Farmer Derek’s property, both Cheyenne and Wichita fledged! Together!!!!!!! Well…OK. Ten minutes apart. Amazing.

Golden Eaglets at Kaljukotkas are both alive. I have to say I really am wondering if both will survive. Normally the youngest is killed before it starts getting its feathers. The male is a good provider but Mum has not had much luck. Rain has started. Will this make hunting more difficult? and make the older sibling more aggressive if prey is scarce? We wait.

The Golden Eaglet in Bucovina Romania is enjoying huge crops on Friday.

Three at Cowlitz appear to be doing alright as well.

The trio at Great Bay seem to be alright. They were enjoying a fish dinner the last time I checked and all seemed well.

So many storks have lost their lives this year due to the flooding in Europe. In other parts of Eastern Europe, birds did not return. When there are nests, seeing ones with five storklets has been unusual. They are all doing amazing. Puts a big smile on one’s face…a big smile.

Please, please do not feed any waterfowl bread! We have seen this at our local pond. Angel Wing is deadly – not fun or cute. Do not feed bread! Get some birdseed or other approved foods or don’t feed at all.

The fourth hatch at The Bridge Golf Club has died of siblicide/starvation on 7 June. Dad has brought in a number of fish and the chicks have been full including Little Bob (three). Fingers crossed.

This article is very informative. Heidi and I have collected data that indicate the average hatch is 36.5 days after the egg is laid.

Everything-You-Wanted-To-Know-About-Osprey-Eggs-But-Were-Afraid-To-Ask-Osprey-Camera-BlogDownload

What is the odds of 4 osplets on a nest to survive to fledge? 100 to 1.

Four-osprey-chicks-in-100-1-odds-Kielder-nest-share-BBC-NewsDownload

The camera at the nest of Liberty and Guardian at Redding is down for the rest of the season. Hoping for posted updates. Here is some updates and information from Gary.

The two eaglets on the White-tail Eagle nest in Lower Kama National Park RU are fantastic. Well-fed and getting their full juvenile plumage.

The Zemgale Lesser Spotted Eagles now have two chicks in their nest in Latvia. Annas and Andra are the parents.

Thank you for being with me today. Have a wonderful weekend. See you soon!

Thank you so much to the following for their notes, comments, posts, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘A, B, Geemeff, H’, Geemeff and BBC SpringWatch, Port Lincoln Ospreys, Fran Solly, SK Hideaways, Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, Newfoundland Power Osprey Cam, Collins Marsh, Field Farm, BoPH, Maryland Western Shore for OTH, Osoyoos Osprey Cam, Amersfoort Falcon Cam, Montana Osprey Project, Green Ledge Lighthouse Preservation Society, SU-RTH Cam, Osoyoos Osprey Cam, Patuxent River Park, Forsythe Osprey Cam, South Cape May Meadows Osprey Cam, Cornell RTH Cam, Androcat, Eagle Club of Estonia, Cowlitz PUD, Bucovina Wild, Great Bay Osprey Cam, Maria Marika, Jamie Maslar, Bridge Golf Club Osprey Cam, Osprey Camera Blog, BBC News, Gary’s Eagle Videos, Kama National Park RU White-tail Eagle Cam, and the LDF.

Friday in Bird World

7 June 2024

Good Morning Everyone,

Thank you so much for all of your holiday good wishes. I had a wonderful time. It is amazing how just a wee break can revive one’s batteries! ‘The Girls’ survived the 54 hours I was away. Missey and Hugo Yugo did well with the cat sitter, but Calico and Baby Hope did not. They hid. While I am certain that they came out when the individual left, it did take them twenty minutes to show their precious faces when I got home. Six hours later and all is well.

On Tuesday, the skies driving north were churning black. Torrential rain had been predicted, but by the time I got to Hecla Island the sun was coming out. A lone Tundra Swan swam with some Common Goldeneyes in the marshy areas. Eight-five Canada Geese flew in a huge formation overhead while American White Pelicans were fishing while Red-winged Blackbirds flitted around trying to catch – I hope – all of the mosquitoes that I would be complying about later. What an amazing welcome!

83 Canada Geese flying in. They will feed on the grass that you see in the images.

American White Pelicans.

The Red-wing Blackbirds were everywhere. Lots of insects for them to feast on.

Nature is such a healer.

The Girls and I are reading a new book, Wild Service. Why Nature Needs You edited by Nick Hayes & Jon Moses and published by Bloomsbury. The illustrations are stunning woodcuts (Lino?) by Nick Hayes. The author is a member of the Right to Roam Action Group in the UK. While I might not totally embrace some of the politics in the book, I want to read it again quietly after we finish the first ‘go’ and try and absorb more of what the pair are advocating. What did strike me, right at my heart, is the notion that we are stewards of nature and that we must care for it, not exploit it.

Sitting on the rocks or on the porch of the cottage and listening to the waves as the sun set over the horizon, I was struck by some of the ways in which people are so alienated from the natural world. We know that being in the forest, taking walks, or stroking our pets or someone else’s helps our mental and physical well-being. On average, 94% of the population spends their time indoors in front of a screen! This includes children.

There will be more about the book in the coming days, but I want to challenge you to get outside more. I know this is very difficult for some of you, but I suggest you use your creative mind to see how you might get out for half an hour each day. Listen to nature. If you are in a wheelchair, get someone to take you for a walk. It will benefit them, too. If you are in the City, find a safe little spot to sit. Perhaps take a friend or family member. If you have a garden, spending thirty minutes a day 5, days a week, is as beneficial as having a gym membership. All that bending, pulling, and lifting is really good exercise. This challenge includes spending less time in front of your computer watching the birds — yes, you heard that right. I am not saying stop altogether – of course not, but when the weather is good, and you have the opportunity, spend it with nature. (There are far too many articles from various academic and medical sources on the Internet on this topic. To find them search for ‘The benefits of being outside in nature’.)

My second day on the island was full of crashing waves and more birds including another ‘V’ of Canada Geese, more Common Goldeneyes, the Swan, American White Pelicans, a Bald Eagle and, yes, a Grey Wolf running across the road that caused us to stop dead in our tracks.

These are Common Goldeneyes.

The Pelicans fascinated me. It seems that they are a good marker for where fish are located and some of the local fishers pay close attention.

It was hard to say goodbye to the island. The little ducks and the Pelicans became my good friends while sitting on the rocks listening to the roar of the water. It is always good to be away and it is always good to get home!

TWO DAYS UNTIL PIP WATCH AT THE MONTANA OSPREY NEST AT HELLGATE OF IRIS AND FINNEGAN! MARK YOUR CALENDARS. FINGERS CROSSED. THIS COULD BE AN AMAZING SEASON.

Geemeff sent us a real treat. “BBC Springwatch 2024 episode 8 with Osprey hero Roy Dennis – I’ve recorded it for any overseas viewers who can’t access BBC IPlayer:

https://youtu.be/ILLmt5olhHs ©BBC

This is a must-see for anyone remotely interested in Ospreys and Eagles and raptors in general. Roy Dennis is an absolute legend in conservation, and at 80+ years old, is still working. This episode of Springwatch with Chris Packham, Michaela Strachan and Iolo Williams features an in-depth interview with Roy Dennis. Copyright BBC, but they do allow recordings, like this one, to be made.”

I hope to bring you a few highlights of the week; many through the eyes of those who kept tabs on your favourite nests. I really appreciate the kindness and the help – all of these reports allowed me to have such a nice serene break!

‘B’ was delighted when all of the Cal Falcons fledged! He writes: “All four of Annie and Archie’s chicks have now fledged.  I have been out hiking this morning (Tues), so all my info is from the Cal Falcons FB posts.  It sounds like Sol was the next to go after Eclipse, following Eclipse off the runway when he went for a morning flight (from the time of the post, maybe about 8 or 9 am) and landing near Eclipse on a neighboring building.   Then Aurora was next, perhaps at 11 am or noon, landing near Sol on that same neighboring building (which makes it sound like Sol had stayed in place on that building).  And then Nox (the last to hatch) finished off the morning, flying off the runway perhaps not long after Aurora.  No report yet on where he has landed.  Congrats to Annie and Archie and their fabulous four young ones!!” That is certainly wonderful news.

The third hatch at Patuxent, with the protrusion that had made a hole in the chick’s neck/throat area, was removed from the nest and taken to a wildlife rehabilitation centre on Tuesday. Thanks to all the chatters—our citizen scientists—who monitor these nests so closely and those who alerted Patuxent of the initial concerns. Thank you, Patuxent River Park, for your diligence in caring for your ospreys. We wait to see if Little can be returned.

Little Mini at Field Farm was tucked in under its much larger older siblings Tuesday.

The size difference is the same at Pool Harbour for Little Mini who got a really nice private feeding. My goodness.

Tuffy was hungry!

As of Wednesday night, Middle is still safe in the nest at Lake Murray.

Both Golden Eaglets in Estonia and both of the Imperial Eaglets in RU are still alive. (This is part of a thread that I will continue while I am away).

My goodness. Hartley and Monty have four lively eyases. Just check out how much bigger those girls are than Dad who is trying to feed them! Don’t you love how their eyes look around. What a grand family!

Fledge is coming soon at the nest of the Ns on the Cornell Campus.

Jackie and Shadow never give up hope. We could learn a lot form them and their struggles to have a family in the high mountains of Big Bear Valley.

Smallie has been eating – looks like leftovers from the big siblings, but what the heck? It is food. Perhaps not the best quality but Smallie’s feathers are coming and his crop was somewhat full.

The oldest Golden Eaglet at the Kaljukotkas 2 nest has been attacking, as predicted, the younger sibling and it has an injury. Caution should be exercised if you are watching this nest as obligate siblicide is the norm for Golden Eagles.

Many of you will remember the saga of Golden Eagle Spilve and her chick, Klints, who died of starvation in their nest in Latvia a few years ago. It was a tragedy that struck many people. It appears Spilve did not return to use that nest but has been in the area. She has been caught a couple of times on camera on the nest where she tried to raise Klints alone.

Little Mini still with us Wednesday evening at Field Farm.

We need to send good wishes to Little Minis – both at Field Farm and then also at Poole Harbour. These two are so much smaller than their siblings!

Frederick and Betsy’s two osplets are doing alright despite the size difference. Enough food and the second sibling seems to almost always have a crop.

Still fighting for ‘Top Chick’ at Loch Arkaig.

First hatch at the Minnesota Arboretum Landscape Osprey Platform on Wednesday 5 June. This appears to be egg #3. Egg #1 was left uncovered and it got wet. It would have been 42 days old today with the second being 39. Egg 3 was 36 days.

Three sweet babies at Bridge Golf. Wishing for lots of fish this year.

On Wednesday, ‘B’ wrote and brought us up to speed on two California nests: Cal Falcons and the West End.

“No new fledges since Tuesday noon at the various falcon and eagle (and a few osprey) nests I have watched.  

Cal Falcons had another Q&A session today (Wednesday) at noon on youtube, featuring Bridget Ahern (moon_rabbit_rising), who takes those great photos of the Cal Falcons.  They answered general questions, in addition to the photography questions directed to Bridget.  They report all four fledglings are doing well.  Eclipse (who fledged four days before the others) seems to be doing particularly well, chasing the parents at times and making longer excursions than the others.

One tidbit that I found interesting from Lynn and Sean is that they said that, in the cases of some falcons elsewhere who were taken in for care for specific reasons that were NOT avian flu, antibodies for avian flu were detected in the birds.  Which they took as evidence that some birds have been building resistance to the avian flu without being known to have the flu.

There may not be any fledges at the IWS nests, but there has been some mild drama at West End.  I mentioned when I wrote midday Tues that Treasure and Sterling were preventing Koa from re-entering the nest.  Koa tried again mid afternoon on Tuesday and got very firmly chased off in a big kerfluffel of flapping wings, but once Koa was gone Treasure kept being aggressive to Sterling, to the point that Sterling went into submissive posture and kept his/her distance.  (I suggested last time that the sense was that both T and S were female, but now I am hearing some thinking Sterling could be male.)  Then, late in the afternoon, maybe 5 pm, Koa managed to land in the “basement” of the nest when Akecheta delivered food to the nest, which distracted Treasure and Sterling.  Treasure grabbed the fish and ate nearly all, as Koa watched closely but knew he couldn’t approach without drawing Treasure’s ire.  It is not clear if Koa had eaten at all since fledging early Monday.  As soon as Treasure turned and took a step away, Koa jumped on the remaining fish and ate ravenously.  And then picked up scraps around the nest.  When done, Koa drifted down to a rock adjacent to the basement, keeping his distance from his siblings, seemingly not trusting them to be aggressive again.  Then Thunder flew in with a fish at 8:08, and we were all amazed that Koa flew/leaped up to mantle on the fish.  Treasure was probably still full and didn’t threaten, and Sterling was interested but was not assertive to try for it.  Then just four minutes later, Akecheta flew in with a fish, and Koa grabbed that one, too.  So our boy ate very well late Tuesday.  Some were saying Koa was now the new alpha.  Not clear to me, but he has regained his “right” to be on the nest without aggression from his sibs.

When done with the fish, Koa again drifted down to his rock next to the basement and spent Tuesday night there.  He was quick to get up to the nest for at least some share of the breakfish today (according to reports — I did not see this one), and I saw him getting a good share of an evening fish today.  Koa has more confidence, even if still wary of his sibs, is asserting himself, and is flying very well.  Oh, yes — Koa did a ps right in Treasure’s face in the afternoon.  Like right at point-blank range — Koa’s rear was right on Treasure’s head.  Chatters called it “payback”, but I don’t think they are that scheming.  But it was funny, given Treasure’s past aggression.

Thunder and Sterling both look like they could fledge soon.  Maybe tomorrow.”

The big news on Thursday was the return of Little Bob to Patuxent Nest 1 after a clear check from the wildlife rehabber and a few great meals!

‘A’ sends us news of the Sydney Sea Eagles: “June 4: Our eagles were awake early, with duets and mating in the morning mist– great to hear them. Both were away and brought in a couple of early sticks. The nest now has a good leafy lining. Dad brought in a good-sized fish, headless, just before 11am. Lady was there quickly to take it to eat. Then both were off somewhere – not seen from the river at 12:40pm. They both returned before 4pm, with more sticks and leaves. Then Dad brought another fish, a whiting, again claimed by Lady, while he arranged a few sticks on the nest. When she had finished, she left the rest of the fish on the branch and settled nearby. A busy day with lots of sticks and two fish.”

June 5: A cold, misty morning, with early duets and mating. Dad delivered leftover fish to the nest at 5:22am, which Lady took to eat. He brought in the first stick of the day at 6:52am, then both brought more, placing them just so. They were gone from around 10:30am. We heard that there were two eagles at Burns Bay and that they have been visiting around midday for the past couple of days. Both returned around 4:15pm, with sticks. After a while, with a few soft squonks, Lady bowed forward, inviting mating, with a duet at 4:33pm. Lady then spent time arranging sticks, with Dad chewing in the base to settle leaves and twigs. There was another mating at dusk. Dad brought eight sticks today and Lady also brought eight, with several matings seen.

It is nearing time to turn our attention South and ‘A’ also reminds us of the two wonderful falcons at the Orange scrape: “Speaking of Diamond, she is as I type (it’s nearly 1am on 6 June in southeastern Australia) sleeping on her usual place on the ledge of her scrape. When she turned up at the scrape shortly before 4pm this afternoon (5 June) she had the most MONSTROUS crop. I’m not sure whether that came courtesy of Xavier or whether she did her own hunting this afternoon, but certainly, she is looking happy and healthy. I wonder whether the peaceful life at Orange with the smorgasbord of bird species on the menu has helped Diamond live a long and healthy life. She has gradually laid fewer and fewer eggs as the years progress, so we will see how this season goes. She is a true matriarch of the falcon world. I love that these two not only stay together and maintain their territory throughout the year but actually use their scrape on a daily basis. I wonder how rare that actually is. Cal Falcons springs immediately to mind. I presume there are others and we just don’t see them. I wonder what happens at Collins Street in the ‘off’ season. I must ask Jonathan whether he sees or hears them at the moment. He has not done so over the past six months so they obviously don’t live where they breed. 

Here is the latest post from Cilla at Orange:

As winter has arrived, courtship displays start to ramp up. We have already had two matings (a week earlier than last year) and other activities, such as scrape preparation, prey bringing and pair bonding displays, are also starting to increase in duration and frequency. Here the pair bonding lasted 22 minutes.. Video: https://youtu.be/SEsXle_iMy8“.

And, of course, everyone is getting excited for Iris and Finn: “At Iris’s nest, we must be approaching hatch watch for that first egg, laid on 5 May. I continue to be incredibly worried that there is a second (or technically third) egg laid on 12 May – that gap is HUGE. One hatch only, please! I do not want either Iris or this new partnership to have the stress of more than one osplet. I would prefer a spoiled and well-fed Only Bob here and truly hope this first egg does not hatch. We will know one way or the other within a week. I am nervous for them. 

This morning, Finn arrived as usual to say good morning, this time with empty talons. Iris flew straight off the nest at 05:44:35 to stretch her wings. Finn settled down carefully on the eggs. He has really become a lot more gentle around the eggs – he was very clumsy early on and continually threatened to accidentally trample on the eggs, but now he has worked out that he needs to tread delicately. Iris is back around 06:09. She does not appear to have eaten. I do love the way they chat quietly to each other. Iris really does seem very happy. Let’s hope Finn proves worthy of this very special lady. Finn has gone fishing – we see shots of the river, Finn perched beside the river on a tall pole, then Finn diving and returning wet to his pole but with empty talons. The river appears to be moving fast, and there is a small section of waterfall where the water flows over a rocky outcrop right across the river. This should provide a good fishing area, though when the water is moving this fast and looks this dark, it may be hard to see the fish. (from ‘A’)” NOTE: EGG IS 33 DAYS OLD TODAY. PIP/HATCH WATCH WILL BEGIN ON MONDAY.

At San Jose, the Fab Four are thinking of flying.

Hartley has to break up the food fights that are now constant between the four.

The Forsythe Four are also doing very well. Much better than I expected after the dismal season last year. Fingers crossed.

They should be giving out awards to raptors. Louis would certainly get one for his fishing abilities!

You just gotta love Little Bob at Loch Arkaig.

The Dyfi Trio are doing fantastic.

Aran and Elen are coping well with their three as well. So far, almost all of the nests in the UK are doing well.

Both Golden Eagles at Kaljukotkas 2 are still alive and are getting their juvenile feathers. Is it possible both will survive? We must wait. It would be unusual.

I would really like to see some more big fish come to the MNSA Jay Koolpix Osprey nest.

CJ7 makes sure that Mini Little Bob gets some fish dinner.

Maya with her Big and Only Bob at Manton Bay. She was unwell and nature was kind with just one chick to look after.

What a gorgeous sight. Three healthy storklets! The torrential rains have caused so many nest deaths this season.

And also at Bociany.

In Latvia,

A nest full at Bolewice.

One healthy storklet at Mlade Buky.

On Thursday, the Ns were a little wet at the Red-tail Hawk nest on the Cornell Campus. The average day of fledging at Cornell is 46 days. Keep your eyes open next week.

Concerns for the Osprey nests in the NE.

I also want to share with you the newsletter from Knepp Farm with the trailer for the Wilding movie!

Wilding-movie-in-cinemas-soonDownload

For those following the remaining members of Karl II’s family, Waba continues to travel north but is going through Russia – thanks ‘T’ for that news!

As of Friday morning, Middle is still with us at Lake Murray! S/he is getting so big. Let’s hope the GHO cannot lift this beautiful only surviving osplet.

Thank you so very much for being with me today as we did a brief catch-up on some of the nests we have been monitoring. Looking forward to some more fledges and hatches in the coming week. Take care! See you soon.

Thank you so much to the following individuals who so graciously and generously sent me comments and links for these updates as well as those who created videos, made FB and Chat postings, and, of course, to the streaming cams where I took my screen captures: ‘A, B, Geemeff, H, J, PB, T’, Geemeff and BBC Springwatch, SK Hideaways, Field Farm, BoPH, Heidi McGrue, Lake Murray Ospreys, Eagle Club of Estonia, Cornell RTH, Amersfoort Falcon Cam, LDF, OBX Osprey Cam, Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, Bridge Golf Club, IWS/Explore, Patuxent River Park, Sea Eagle Cam, Cilla Kinross, Montana Osprey Project, The Woodland Trust, Geemeff, Dyfi Osprey Project, MNSA Jay Koolpix Osprey Cam, LRWT, Kirchzarten Stork Cam DE, Bociany Carne Online, Bocian Czarny Online, Mlade Buky, Diane Lambertson, and Knepp Farms.

Late Monday in Bird World

3 June 2024

Hello Everyone,

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.

Monday in Bird World

3 June 2024

Good Morning Everyone,

It was a scorching Sunday morning. I dedicated much of my time to tending the garden. I strategically planted hostas in areas with ample shade and moisture. The vegetable plants are thriving, and the vibrant red flowers of the annuals will soon bring immense joy. Despite the nuisance of mosquitoes and wasps, there’s nothing like the simple pleasure of being outdoors. It’s important to savour these moments while we can. By 1600, the clouds had opened, and the rain was pouring down. The garden will turn into an amazing jungle right before my eyes – heat and moisture are two great combinations. Not for ospreys, but decidedly for gardens.

Sol is the last of Annie and Archie’s chicks to leave the tower of The Campanile at UC-Berkeley. Fly safe Fab Four. What an amazing year it has been with you and Annie and Archie.

I want everyone to send their good wishes to Mini Little Bob at Field Farm. He is so tiny. Can you see him? There are four of them. I am so concerned for this wee baby but…

Now look. Mini Little Bob pushed himself right up to Mum’s beak! This is one you need to cheer for this season. Just like Little Mini at Patchogue.

Here is the link to the streaming cam at Field Farm:

https://www.youtube.com/live/HwzQ_9Eb8Rg?si=_3UEn7ZepOIRcnBS

Pitkin County’s first egg was April 28. We will be on pip/hatch watch from today.

Aran and Elen and their three beautiful osplets at Glaslyn. It is the couples second year together.

At the Port of Ridgefield (first year for this streaming cam), one egg was crushed and one did not hatch. There is a very lucky Only Bob on the nest. We can now see the top of its head.

CJ7 and Blue 022 are excellent parents to their four osplets. CJ7 feeds and feeds and fish are being kept on the nest so that they do not run out!

CJ7 and Blue 022 are brilliant. Tandem feeding – twice! That is how Mini Little Bob is going to survive.

Only Bob is doing so well at Rutland Manton Bay that I sometimes fail to report it. Bob is 24 days old today.

‘A’ sends news re Dyfi: “I spoke too soon – Baby Bob woke up full of beans and decided to bonk both Middle Bob and then Big Bob, a spat that Big Bob was forced to finish. This little one is far from cowed by its older siblings. The incident was short-lived and not particularly vicious – more tokenistic – and Baby Bob fairly quickly decided discretion was the better part of valour and lay down. Mum Telyn was not at all concerned, leaving the kids to it. I got the feeling she would have sat on them all, had that been required, but on this occasion, her intervention was not necessary. 

You mentioned goshawks as potential predators for the UK osplets, and I assume they are daytime hunters? So far, the parents are not leaving the babies alone for very long, though there were a couple of occasions when both parents flew off the nest for a couple of minutes before one would return. Telyn seems to just stretch her wings occasionally, and Idris spends most of his day on the perch, heading off to fish periodically. He does not seem to take very long to return with a fish when he does decide the pantry needs replenishing. 

These three osplets are looking extremely healthy. Cute round little bottoms, good-size PS’s, and all very active and eating well. Even Baby Bob can manage big bites of fish for one so young. The little one can find itself behind its older siblings, having trouble getting to the front of the feeding line and missing out a lot at some feedings, but at others, when it’s in front, it is allowed to eat without interference by its older siblings, which is a blessing. It is certainly not being prevented from getting food. Mum is sometimes a bit lazy about reaching over far enough for Baby Bob, which is frustrating, but it seems to be getting enough to eat and what it is eating is certainly high-quality nutrition. “

The Dyfi Moderator answered a question on the chat about how many fish are coming in now. The reply: “​It’s about four fish a day now. They do not have a favorite but Sea Trout (Sewin) have been the most common this year.”

It is nice to have ‘A’ watching Ospreys! She comments on Dyfi, a nest that she has fallen in love with: “When I checked the nest this afternoon, there was a large fish for each chick. Mum had already fed them as much as they could eat, and then woken them up to feed them again, and still, when she finished the fish, there were still three other headless monsters on the nest. It was as if an inner ring of kiddie rails had been constructed of fish! Unbelievable. Oh how some of those US nests could do with just one of these gigantic fish Idris brings in. With two of these osplets already pretty much in their oily teenage phase, I am presuming that this level of bonking is as bad as it is likely to get (in the absence of a major food shortage). That, together with relative size, leads me to wonder whether we may have three boys on this nest. Time will tell. But they really are a very laid-back lot. Loving them, and Telyn and Idris.”

Three wiggly babies for Seren and Dylan at Clywedog and they are losing their natal down and turning into reptiles, too.

A gorgeous strong Bob for first time Mum Blue 372 at Llyn Brenig.

Oh, my goodness. It just goes to show me that I have to check on these nests, the ones that are not ospreys, a little sooner than I have been. Those two little fluff balls on the White-tail Eagle nest in the Tucholskie Forest in Poland have their juvenile feathers!!!!!! All wet from the rain but aren’t they beautiful?

There are also two healthy osplets in the Reptilian Stage in the Ramucka nest.

Boulder County has one difficult-to-see chick in that deep egg cup. There is plenty of fish.

Dad feeds Mum and Mum feeds Baby at Boulder.

Two healthy babies at the Bridge Golf Course.

Outerbanks chicks are alright.

Tuffy and Ruffie on the nest with Sally at Moorings Park hoping for a fish meal.

Poor Tuffy.

Big and Middle Bob are doing well at Western Maryland Shore. Both had nice crops Sunday morning.

There is shock for the new couple at Dahlgren when one of the three eggs, pecked by a crow and left unincubated, has hatched!

There are at least two bobbleheads at Collins Marsh. Anyone have better eyes than me to see if there are three???

Three chicks as of 2 June at Kielder 5A!

If every male delivered fish like Louis, there would not be a problem. If every lake and reservoir were full of fish, there would not be a problem. If overfishing was not allowed, there would not be a problem. The nests need large high quality fish for the ospreys to thrive. Look at the size of that fish.

Oren and Ruth’s hawklets have almost all their juvenile plumage at the Syracuse University RTH nest.

I love the peachy plumage on the chest of Big Red and Arthur’s Ns. Fledge is coming too soon for both of these RTH nests in upstate New York.

Anna and Andrew have their first hatch of the season. These are Lesser Spotted Eagles in Zemgale, Latvia. Isn’t that a gorgeous nest and what a bright eyed baby. Please be aware that there is a good cause for siblicide at the nest of Lesser Spotted Eagles. They practice obligate siblicide. –

10.2478_srj-2022-0004Download

Baby’s first feeding:

Prey continues to be plentiful at the nest of the Imperial Eagle in RU. Will both chicks survive?

Smallie is trying to get some food from the older siblings at the Amersfoort scrape.

Aurora and Sol together at Cal Falcons.

Charlemagne, the oldest Turkey Vulture, has died. What a sweetie.

These storklets are fortunate. So many died from the torrential rains in Western Europe over the past fortnight. So sad. Thankful to all those wonderful people who reached out to help when they could.

At Port Lincoln, Bradley joined Schultzie much to the delight of everyone listening and watching!

‘MP’ reports that Diane keeps her and Jack alive at the Achieva Credit Union nest. Is Jack unwell?? Just a thought. ‘MP’ says, “It looks as though Diane is doing much of the fishing now for them both. Although Jack does do some fishing, Diane is doing more on this day, 6/2/24. Here’s a pic of Diane bringing in one of two fish today.”

Many have written about Little at Patuxent and ‘H’ brings up the issue of the protrusion in her report: “6/2 Patuxent-1: We had some concerns with this nest on Sunday.  Dad must have had some difficulty fishing, and he was only able to deliver four fish to the nest.  The first meal consisted of a large headless fish, and the meal lasted for about 50 minutes.  Little had a private feeding near the end of the meal, and he ate at least 86 bites of fish.  The next two fish at 1158 and 1425 were smaller, and Big prevented Little from making it to the feeding line.  As the afternoon wore on, we were worried…hoping that Little would get another meal.  

In the meantime, chatters had been discussing something peculiar going on with Little.  Starting Saturday evening, some noticed that Little was attempting to crop-drop way too often…several times a minute.  The frequent crop-dropping continued on Sunday.  In addition, Little seemed to have a protrusion at the right side of his crop.  Something in his crop (a bone?) was causing an area to stick out, and was even causing a separation of his feathers showing a spot of white under-feathers.  It was quite noticeable.  The object in Little’s crop did not hinder his ability to eat at the morning meal, and he had a large crop after breakfast.  By late afternoon, Little’s crop was empty, but still showed the protrusion.  Little needed food in his crop, for more reasons than one.  We assumed that food would help to dislodge the obstruction.  We also knew that only a very large fish from Dad would allow for a feeding of Little, after the sibs had also not eaten for hours.  

Finally…at 1945 Dad landed with a very large headless fish!  Poor Little…Big was hangry, and took it out on Little several times.  Little started to make his move toward Mom at 2016, but was beaked by Big.  At 2019, Little ate his first bite of fish.  Middle had moved away from the table, and Big was pretty much finished eating, but continued to hover near Little.  With Big close by, Little ate slowly and with some trepidation.  Finally, Big retired from the table, and Little was able to eat freely.  By 2032 Little had eaten at least 140 bites of fish and moved away from Mom.  We had a partial view of Little’s large crop, still with the white-tipped area of protrusion.

Thank you Dad for your tireless efforts to provide food for your family.  We are all hoping for more fish on Monday.  And, we are hoping that the object stuck in Little’s crop will be passed into lower parts of his GI tract where it can be processed.”

“6/2 Dahlgren:  Helen and Doug, the new couple at the Dahlgren VA osprey nest, have a little baby osplet.  Their first two eggs did not hatch.  Congratulations!”

This is a bit of a miracle baby.

And to close it off, two things. Geemeff writes that she now checks the Lake Murray nest before the Scottish ones! Middle made it through another night. We are all relieved.

And always to put a smile on our faces, Louis at Loch Arkaig delivers a whopper of a breakfast fish. I cannot help but wonder if every nest had a Louis (or maybe a Finnegan) and there was plenty of fish what would the data on these nests be?

Thank you for being with us today. Take care. See you soon.

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me write my blog: ‘A, B, Geemeff, H, J, MM, MP, PB’, SK Hideaways, Field Farm, Pitkin County, Bywyd Gwywd Glaslyn, Port of Ridgefield, BoPH, LRTW, Dyfi Osprey Project, Llyn Clywedog, Llyn Brenig, Tucholskie White-tail Eagle Cam, Ramucka Forest Ospreys, Boulder County, Bridge Golf Course, OBX/Outerbanks, Moorings Park, Western Maryland Shore OTH, Heidi McGrue, Collins Marsh, Joanna Dailey, Geemeff, SU-RTH Cam, Cornell RTH, LDF, Imperial Eagle Cam RU, Amersfoort Falcon Cam, Audubon Centre for Birds of Prey, Angie Nerf, Rene Alleman, Fran Solly, Achieva Credit Union, Patuxent River Park, and Dahlgren Ospreys.

Tuesday in Bird World

28 May 2024

Good Morning All,

I apologise for being late with the Monday posting.

At Lake Murray, Mum came down from her perch to sleep with her only surviving chick. Did she hear the GHO. Oh, if this chick can only put on some good weight and if the beams from the strobes were the same as they were Saturday night, Middle might stand a chance. (Note: Little was taken the first night and it appears that Big was taken Sunday night.)

Baby was safe this morning. Oh, please, let this nest keep one!

As we recover from the second GHO predation at Lake Murray, we must – where possible – advise the osprey and eagle nests of the success of the Cowlitz PUD experiment with the metal fish grids. I keep talking about the economical cost. Two fish grids with a welded rod attached to opposite sides of an Osprey platform. That is all you need! It works. A baffle at the base of the pole for raccoons would always sweeten the deal. If you know of a nest that suffers predation from other raptors, please advise them. You can feel free to copy this. They can contact Cowlitz PUD and they will happily tell them how they did it. We need to be proactive. No sense osprey parents working hard to fledge chicks only to fatten them up for owls and eagles who can find other meals.

‘B’ wrote with a very good question. I want to go through my files and put my ‘thinking cap’ on with ‘H’. It is not a topic that we have put into our data forms which are related to ’causes of death in ospreys’ and, specifically, siblicide, but it is worthy of some good notes and someone might be working on this research and I am unaware.

I wonder if there is a statistical difference in predation from osprey nests on platforms that humans have installed specifically for them, as opposed to predation from nests on natural sites that the ospreys have selected?  (That is, are the ospreys somehow better able to select a site from their own choices among natural sites than when they receive implicit encouragement to use a site selected by humans?  Have the ospreys built up some sort of knowledge from experience and historical patterns?)

I have not seen a difference.  In fact, if I think of overall predation by other raptors for the past three years, it ‘seems’ higher on natural nests in the UK and Finland than on platoforms in the US – the deaths there were mostly caused by weather related events or eggs that DNH.  The major predator in the UK and Europe appears to be the goshawk that lives in the nearby forests.  These nests are not in urban areas as a rule like many are in North America.

A goshawk came and took one of the osprey chicks at Llyn Clywedog right when Seren was feeding them in 2023!  

This is a comment by John Williams who cares for these ospreys: ‘This blog was never going to be easy to write, but yesterday at just before 16:30 a goshawk attacked the nest and took one of our young ospreys. It was blue 8B1, the attack was very quick and out of the blue. Both juveniles and Seren 5F was on the nest eating the fish when it happened. All distracted by the food their guard was down. You could see Seren 5F looking down to the ground as if she could see him down there.’ (I have placed a file at the end of this, the entire sad report by John Williams. I was glad to see him refer to the birds as ‘family’ because that is, of course, how ‘H’ and I feel about those we monitor).

A young goshawk took a female chick that had just been ringed at Kielder Forest in 2023 from the nest of Mr and Mrs UV. The couple are raising chicks again this season on that very nest.

Goshawks also attack ospreys in Latvia and in one nest in particular the male has failed to attract a new mate because of this. The rumour, this great sadness of chicks taken, must have spread. It was the nest of Theo and Vita.

The new fledgling, Sacha, named after Sacha Dench and The Flight of the Osprey, was attacked by a goshawk at Tweed Valley. To my knowledge, the ospreys are still breeding there.

CJ7 and Blue 022 are still using their nest in Poole Harbour despite the goshawk taking their fledgling H52 on 5 August 2022.

In the US, people will remember Steve and Rachel and the attacks on their nest. Rachel did not return from migration and Steve and his new mate, Callie, refuse to use the on-camera Hog Island nest despite restoring it and mating and having fish gifts.  “Last year, the rangers posted a photo of a very remote nest on Hog Island that they believe was used by Steve and Callie (H)”. ‘H’ also adds, “Dory and Skiff had Skipper that was predated by an owl in July 2023, but they did not change nest sites.  The primary nest that I know of is Hog Island.”

There was a spate of killings in Finland and I do wonder if some of the nests without families this year are those. I would have to do some more research and check for certain.  

Della and Warren have their first hatch of the 2024 season at Mispillion Harbour.

There is the first hatch at Clark PUD.

Olive and Oscar’s little chick at The Port of Ridgefield is peeking up – look under Mum’s fluffies -. So cute. This nest will be getting lots of predator protection for the 2025 nesting season.

Cutie Pie baby at Boulder County.

And another one at Cowlitz. Let us hope those fish grates hold this year against predating raptors in the area like they did last year.

There is a hatch at Moraine State Park on Monday.

Idris and Telyn are celebrating the hatch of their third chick. It is the 15th year for Ospreys at Dyfi in Wales.

All-Three-Chicks-Hatch-Without-Delay-Dyfi-Osprey-ProjectDownload

There are now three for CJ7 and Blue 022. CJ7 is making valiant efforts to get that little one some fish.

Beautiful Dorcha is feeding her three chicks. Louis keeps that pantry full despite in climate weather.

Louis delivered six fish on Monday. SIX large fish!!

And there is the first hatch for Elen and Aran!

The three osplets at Smallwood State Park in Maryland are doing very well. Like Manton Bay they are right on the water and I hope it is full of fish!

The three at Maryland Western Shore for Old Town Home are getting a little rowdy, especially the two older ones. Arthur needs to being in many more large fish – if they are even available, maybe not. Or lots and lots of fish deliveries very close together! Fingers crossed for this little one.

Patchogue Nest is so full of garbage you can hardly see the chicks.

Radford University has two babies. Here is the link to their camera in Virginia.

There are four osplets at Field Farm.

At the Loch of the Lowes, Blue NCO lost her chance for a family when Laddie was killed/died. She had two suitors – a Pale Male and a Dark Male. Now Mrs G’s (Glaslyn matriarch did not return in 2023 from migration) granddaughter 7C1 has been battling with Blue NCO for the nest and she was on the nest with the Dark Male on Monday. It is not going to be nice this nest attempted take over.

Archie is working over time to keep his four babies fed!

The trio from the Denton Homes nest are doing very well at SOAR. As well as can be expected when they are being raised in care. Safe, well fed, nice vet care.

Across Europe firefighters work tirelessly to save the lives of storks – whether it is fishing line or floods or just abandonment.

Other ordinary individuals adopt storks and feed them. Makes my heart warm up!

Bety and Bukacek had only one hatch out of two eggs at Mlade Buky this season.

Iris and Finnegan hoping for a family.

The fledglings still visit the nest at the Venice Golf course in Florida while that nest that was loaded with fish at Fisherman’s Creek appears to have no more visitors.

It is very difficult to tell how much food Smallie is getting at Amersfoort. ‘PB’ reports that Smallie was very clever and jumped out of the box to get fed and then back inside. Yeap for Smallie.

Larry’s eyases are getting pretty independent and not sure they want Mum telling them what to do!

Pip/Hatch watch at Minnesota Landscape Arboretum coming up in 3-4 days.

‘H’ reports on the nests she is monitoring:

“5/17 Patuxent osprey nest – There were six fish brought to the nest by Dad.  After two days with very little to eat, chick 3 “Little” finally had a couple good meals on Monday.  At 0715 Dad brought a medium size whole fish, and Little was not allowed to eat.  It’s not just ‘Big’ that is aggressive toward Little, but also ‘Middle’ at times.  Dad quickly brought another fish at 0805, while the two older chicks were still full, and Little was able to eat 52 bites of fish. Little was shut out of the third feeding.  At 1336 Dad brought a very large headless fish, for a feeding that lasted nearly an hour.  Little ate 70 bites of fish at that meal, and had a nice crop.  There were two more fish deliveries from Dad of small fish, and Little was not able to get any bites of those fish.”

“5/27 The Mispillion Harbor Delaware osprey nest of Della and Warren has their first baby of the season.  One egg remains.”

“5/27 Captiva ospreys:  They had a better fishing day with 8 fish brought to the nest, including a partial catfish from Edie.  Darling (CO8) was only completely shut out of one short meal, and s/he managed a couple nice crops.”

Could this Golden Eagle nest be the exception to the rule of ‘Cainism’? There are two healthy eaglets at the Golden Eagle nest in Estonia. The first chick always eats first but there is enough food for all and second chick eats well, too along with Mum. Fingers Crossed.

The camera has been on and off with ‘Highlights’ at the West End. I have been told that Koa has branched. I did not see it! They are so big!

It was yesterday but we can celebrate today. One of my heroes.

Thank you so much for being with me today. This was a quick check on all those hatches and some coming up. It is a busy week and there are still eggs to hatch – lots of them! Take care everyone. See you soon.

Thank you to the following for their notes, comments, questions, posts, videos, articles and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘A, B, Geemeff, J, H, SP, PB’, Heidi McGrue, Clark PUD, Port of Ridgefield, Boulder County, Cowlitz PUD, Moraine St Park, Dyfi Osprey Project, BofPH, The Woodland Trust, Geemeff, Smallwood State Park, Maryland Western Shore Old Town Home, PSEG, Radford University Ospreys, Field Farm, The Scottish Wildlife Trust (LOTL), SK Hideways, SOAR, CS, Mlade Buky Stork Cam, Montana Osprey Project, VGCCO, Bywyd Gwylld Glaslyn, Amersfoort Falcons, Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, Patuxent River Park, Mispillion Harbour, Window to Wildlife, Eagle Club of Estonia, IWS/Explore, and USFWS History Archives.

Saturday in Bird World

18 May 2024

Good Morning Everyone,

We are having another severe weather alert with intense rain, potential hail, and high winds. The ground is absolutely water logged. When I went for my walk today at the nature centre, the trails were partially flooded. Mind you the trees will grow, the grass is green, and potential for fires is low.

Baby Hope – she melts my heart. Her first birthday is coming up on 2 July and this time last year I was so busy trying to coax her Mamma, Calico, to being friendly. It all worked out. Baby Hope is the sweetest thing.

Hugo Yugo is a character. She loves nothing more than to snuggle under my chin and sleep there all night and sometimes during the day if a nap is in store. She is curious to the extreme and her and Missey will be the ones getting into mischief – not Hope or Calico. They are angels.

Hugo Yugo is still very tiny. She is nine months old! She must be finished growing – so nice. I will have a large kitten for years to come!

A wonderful and informative message and a reminder to vote on the New Guy’s name from Dr Erick Greene.

I think Dr Greene is really excited about ‘The New Guy’. Now – tell the truth – we all are, right? Whoever dreamed Iris would have a loving, dutiful, caring mate again? It is exciting! I never wanted Iris to have chicks again because they would starve to death or be predated. This summer just feels so hopeful.

The lovely couple.

It is all about falcons. Cilla Kinross gives us the first look at the feeding at the Montreal scrape.

Waiting for names at Cal Falcons.

One of Annie and Archie’s chicks is very intelligent and lively.

Copy cat. Another decided to venture out, too! Tomorrow all four will be wandering around – just wait and see!

‘A’ loves the Cal Falcons and Annie: “

These nests are such a joy to watch. At Cal Falcons this afternoon (17 May), the mid-afternoon feeding began with the older pair, but finally, our wee lad joined in, and immediately Annie began feeding him. Number three was last to the table, and Annie began feeding him too (I believe the boys to be the two younger chicks, though I could be wrong about number three). She tries to feed three and four exclusively, but four is very close to number one and number two, who sometimes grab bites Annie intends for the youngest. But to the best of her ability, she feeds the younger two, knowing the older pair have already had a fair amount. 

She does this at every meal. As a result, the chicks are not in a rush to get to the table and all compete for bites at the same time. Rather, their confidence in mum to feed them is so great that they feel they’ll be okay as long as they get there while food remains. She is giving them the chance at a little self-feeding now, leaving a few scraps on the scrape occasionally for them to pick at, which they do. But effectively, these skills are secondary for falcons, who are not going to be scavengers as juveniles like the eaglets do. They will have to master a particularly difficult and dangerous hunting technique if they are to survive as juveniles, and there’s not really overly much they can learn about that in the nest, is there. “

Monty and Hartley raise some impressive chicks – often quite aggressive. Do you remember Soledad?

At Amersfoort, Smallie was right up at Mum’s beak or a nice feeding. Smallie is getting its feathers and will catch up! Can you see that full crop on that wee little one? Please take heart. Unless something terribly untoward happens, this little baby is going to fledge!

‘H’ reports on Lake Murray: “At 1048 Lucy arrived at the nest with a very small whole fish.  Little did not get any.

Kenny brought a large whole fish at 1053.  Little tried to position himself to Lucy’s left side away from the sibs, but was beaked.  He was intimidated or beaked several times to keep him away from Lucy.  At 1130, the fish was gone, the others had moved away, and Little was fed one bite before Lucy ate the tail.

At 1337 Kenny delivered a large whole fish, Little rushed to Lucy and the other chicks stayed back for a while.  Little ate 12 bites, before Lucy moved to a new position, which left Little at the back of the pack.  The older chicks ate, and they prevented Little from getting up to the line.  Little finally worked his way to the other side of Lucy, and he ate the last 3 bites of fish before Lucy ate the tail. Total for Little = 15 bites.

At 1447 Kenny brought in another large whole fish, which looked like the same species as the last fish.  Little was positioned on Lucy’s right and the other two chicks to her left, but those two did not seem very hungry.  Little was fed almost exclusively during this meal, with a few more bites going to Middle the latter third of of the feeding.  And, Big did not try to eat until near the very end, when he/she was behind Lucy, and was fed between Lucy’s legs.  Little ate for 28 minutes straight.

Kenny delivered a medium sized whole fish at 1538.  All three osplets still had big crops, and none were very hungry.  Little had eaten 12 bites of fish by 1542 then he moved away.  At 1547 Little returned to the table and had eaten a total of 28 bits of fish, when he was beaked by Big.  Then, Middle and Big ate, and Little seemed content to lay down and take a nap.  Meal over at 1601.

1719, Kenny brought a half a fish to the nest.  None of the osplets rushed to be fed, but they eventually gathered around Lucy.  The bossy twins were to Lucy’s left, and Little was to Lucy’s right, and out of our view.  Everyone got bites, including Little, as we observed Lucy reaching over to that side with fish bits many times.”

I love the look on Little’s face when he has Mum and the fish all to himself at Lake Murray.

‘H’ reports for Saturday at Lake Murray: “First feeding 0704 to 0714, small whole fish, one bite for Little. Second feeding 0737 to 0740, very small whole fish, one bite for Little. Third feeding 0844 to 0906, medium sized whole fish – Little was positioned to the right rear of Lucy and was fed both from her right side and through her legs.  Total of 53 bites for Little.

Returning two year old Ospreys. 5H1 from the very first clutch of CJ7 and Blue 022, the translocated programme at Poole Harbour, was seen in Pool Harbour and now at the Usk Valley in South Wales.

‘H’ spent a lot of time monitoring the nests that are in trouble today and Captiva was one of them. CO8 needed fish! Here is her report: “5/17 – Captiva Osprey Nest: 0726,  Jack delivered a very small whole sheepshead, CO7 ate, and prevented CO8 from eating.  1137, Jack brought a small whole pinfish, CO7 ate, and prevented CO8 from eating.  1520, Jack delivered a small whole pinfish, CO7 ate, and prevented CO8 from eating.  1554, Jack brought a small whole pinfish, CO7 ate, and prevented CO8 from eating.  

And, then it happened…  1607 Edie went fishing and brought back a whole gafftopsail catfish…enough to feed everyone.  CO8 made a beeline to Mom and had a private feeding for 39 minutes!  Eat-a-lot, eat-a-lot, crop-drop-crop-drop, eat-a-lot, eat-a-lot, crop-drop-crop-drop, eat-a-lot.  At 1647 CO7 decided it was time for CO8 to stop eating, and beaked him (a lot).  CO7 was more interested in harassing CO8 at that point than eating.  Edie was hungry, and she ate.  At 1709 CO7 ate some more, then walked away from Edie at 1718.  CO8 then had another 8 minute private feeding, and probably had the biggest crop of his young life.  At 1750 Edie found some catfish scraps, and fed them to CO8.”

Thank goodness for a big catfish. CO8 got a nice feeding – which it desperately needed. Just look at that crop on CO7!

There are three and you can finally see them reasonably well at the Patuxent River Part I nest.

Louis is continuing to work on those cot rails at Loch Arkaig. Wonder where he found this? We are two days away from hatch watch at Loch Arkaig.

I wonder if the RAF jets disturb the ospreys? Geemeff says that there were five yesterday instead of the usual two.

We are a day away from hatch watch at the Dyfi Osprey nest of Idris and Telyn.

Four days from hatch at Poole Harbour!

More than a week until we can expect a hatch from Aran and Elen’s eggs at Glaslyn.

Dad brought a really nice fish to Mum and the chicks at Patchogue and proceeded to block the feeding! Gosh, golly. These two are just amazing parents and Dad is still fishing crazy even though he doesn’t have four chicks to feed this year.

Sadly, there are problems at Severna Park. I did not see a male bring fish all day on Friday. The female left the eggs unattended – she has to eat! Where are you Oscar? Are you pulling a Louis? For this nest to be successful – like all of them – the female relies on the male to bring her fish and later to her and the chicks she cares for. Without that, her health would diminish, and she would have to leave the nest. It would be impossible for Olivia to carry on. I hope that she abandons the eggs and has a lovely summer.

I saw a post that said that a car might have hit Oscar. Seriously. How many ospreys have you seen on the pavement? Carrion eaters like eagles, crows, hawks, etc., get killed because they get on the roads, as do geese and ducks crossing the highways, lanes, and boulevards, but Ospreys! Really.

Should we be concerned about the US Osprey population this year? Last year, in the NE United States, only a handful of nests had chicks fledged. The cause was the June storm and the overfishing of the Menhaden. Individuals monitoring nests in Maryland and New Jersey that are not on YouTube inform me that they hope 40% have a single chick fledge. At least 60% of the monitored nests are without eggs or bonded pairs. This is a considerable change. We have seen Barnegat Light fail, and now it looks like Severna will follow suit. Do you know of others?

The ‘Only Bob’ at Carthage is being fed well by its attentive parents.

Little Bob at Venice Golf and Country Club is the only one who has yet to fledge. He is getting good air on Friday and the hovers are improving. Look for a flight soon!

Colonial Beach has its first egg as of Friday 17 May.

At Carova Beach, Betsy and Frederick have two chicks. One is twice as large as the other. The third egg has not hatched. Betsy does stretch to get that little one some fish. Makes me slightly nervous.

The couple at Hammonasset have their third egg on the 17th.

It was a beautiful day at the Bridge Golf Club Osprey platform.

Keke and Leo continue to exchange incubation duties at Sandpoint.

Everything is looking good at Cowlitz PUD including those fine and simple metal fish grates to protect the nest from predation from the local Bald Eagles. I am always grateful for the concern that Cowlitz PUD expressed for their birds and the efforts they made to protect them. Why aren’t we seeing this at other platforms? It was proven to work last year. Simple. Drill a hole in the platform. Insert a metal pole attached to the fish grid. It is that simple.

Port of Ridgefield still looking good.

We are on hatch watch for Green Bay, NH ospreys!

The nest at Oceanside MNSA Osprey nest is so full of human garbage and there are three little ones. One of them is quite tiny. Is anyone watching this nest? And if so, could you please send me news. (Thanks)

The first egg hatched at BUND-Goitzshe on the 16th while the second hatched on the 17th. We wait to see about the third egg.

When tragedy strikes an Osprey nest, does the news spread and there are no takers and it stays abandoned? Certainly I have seen that in a certain area of my province. Then there is the Cape Henlopen State Park platform where tragedy struck two years ago when the Dad was killed, the Mum fought intruding ospreys trying to protect her three feathered babies, to no avail. The chicks starved on the live stream. The couple left and didn’t return. It was all for nothing.

Beaumont and Hope are at the Snow Lane, Newfoundland Osprey platform. No eggs yet. The female that had been at the nest earlier has dispersed.

I wonder how big the Red-tail Hawk nest is at Syracuse? It looks small – what an advantage big Red’s kids have to work their legs on that grid of the light stand. It is like having a private runway!

There is likely to be a shortage of squirrels on the Cornell Campus. Arthur seems intent on covering the nest with them for N1 and N2. The feathers are coming in nicely and the ears are now covered. The eyases are looking out to the larger world. In June they will fly. Hard to believe.

Please, please prevent window strike. For a couple of dollars you can get Crayon Window Markers and reveal the artist you need knew you were. If you are handy you can take a thin strip of wood the width of your window. Drill holes every 5 cm or 2 inches. Run a nylon cord – I have only seen grey and black used – and tie it tight making sure it is the length of your window. Do this for every hole and attach to the outside of your window. This is what they use at our nature centre along with the Feather Friendly window dots. Or you can apply the Feather Friendly window dots. They say they last ten years. Mine are a year old and still fine. Everything goes on the OUTSIDE of the window not the inside. You need a lot of butterfly or hawk decals as the spacing needs to be every 5 cm or 2 inches to prevent strikes.

Do it so this doesn’t happen!

One of the things that we might possibly forget are the food chains that support our bird populations. Without insects, many birds are seeing swift population declines, particularly smaller birds. Without those smaller birds, some of our raptors do not have prey. Their numbers drop. I think you get the picture. Modern agricultural practices are certainly to blame but looking closer to home it is those perfect green gardens, the sprays used on your roses to keep the ‘bugs’ off that kill the small birds. We need to begin to think of our gardens as meadows instead of golf courses. Imagine walking out and picking your own wildflower bouquet for your table. It could happen. For now, encourage people to be pesticide free, please.

Swallow-swift-and-house-martin-populations-have-nearly-halved-finds-UK-bird-survey-Birds-The-GDownload

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

Thank you to the following for their notes, comments, observations, videos, articles, images, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘A, Geemeff, H, PB’, Montana Osprey Cams, Montana Osprey Project, Cilla Kinross, Cal Falcons, Amersfoort Falcons, Lake Murray Ospreys, Birds of Poole Harbour, Window to Wildlife, Patuxent River Park, Geemeff, Dyfi Osprey Project, Poole Harbour Ospreys, Bywyd Gwylld Glaslyn, PSEG, Severna Park, DTC- Carthage Ospreys, VGCCO, Colonial Beach Ospreys, OBX Osprey Cam, Bridge Golf Club Ospreys, Sandpoint Ospreys, Cowlitz PUD, Port of Ridgefield, Cape Henlopen State Park, Syracuse RTH, Cornell RTH, Acadia Wildlife, and The Guardian.