Category Archives: Falcons fledge

Day 20. Welcome to Winter

21 December 2025

Happy Winter Solstice!

It might be the shortest day, but it also harks back to the days when they were not longer. It is a welcome day in our house because it has been getting dark by 1630.

So what is Winter Solstice? This is what Google said: “Winter solstice rituals focus on welcoming the return of light after the longest night, often involving candle lighting, feasting, creating altars with natural elements (evergreens, stones, candles in white/gold/green), and intention setting like writing and burning wishes or fears to release them, reflecting ancient traditions of Yule, Saturnalia, and Dongzhi that celebrate rebirth, renewal, and hope.”

There are so many ways to celebrate the solstice. The Nordic countries do a fantastic job of lighting up their community spaces and their homes, creating a warm glow using candles. I would love to do that with real beeswax candles, but the last time I tried, Missey almost caught her beautiful, fluffy tail on fire. So I decided to do some research, and here are some other ways to celebrate. I particularly like number 6: “6. Connect with nature: 

Spend some time outside, even if it’s just for a few minutes. Take in the beauty of the winter landscape and appreciate the natural world around you. In these darkest days, seeking sunlight on your face becomes even more important. A brief moment in the sun can lift your mood, boost your energy, and remind you of the light slowly returning with each passing day. If you’re near water and feel called to it, cold water swimming can be an invigorating way to connect with nature and your body. Immersing yourself in cold water sharpens your senses, grounds you in the present moment, and leaves you feeling refreshed and alive. Whether it’s standing under the sun, walking through frosty fields, or dipping into icy waters, connecting with nature during the Winter Solstice invites us to align with the Earth’s rhythms and find peace in its beauty.” Oh, I don’t think I am brave enough to take a plunge in our icy rivers but a nice walk with Toby in the park will be perfect.

You may want to join in today.

10 simple and beautiful ways to celebrate Winter SolsticeDownload

Toby’s friend, Nellie, is already to make some holiday memories with him and The Girls.

This is just the best news about Girri. We knew she was a strong girl! And thankfully the weather has been brilliant after her fledge. Please read and smile. (There is older news below).

Girri out and about

Jak and Audacity have been together for eleven years. We have witnessed their triumphs and their struggles. Cried and leapt for joy. SK Hideaways gives us their history. Enjoy. https://youtu.be/jCVVKQNIbfw?

News on Girri on the Falcon Cam chat: “21 DEC BOX 04.38.50 distant call heard; 04.41.52 D out; Gimbir in box 05.51.33, 06.12.22, 06.22.01, 06.31.00, 10.03 44; Girri update: seen by Cilla in roost trees this morning!”

Gimbir is in the scrape. What an amazing first-time dad he was!

There could be a pip in the second egg at the SW Florida nest of M15 and F23. I sure hope this second hatch is strong and feisty.

E26 is doing great!

Protecting Mum and the nest. M15 is one of those great Bald Eagle dads!

NestFlix Memories gives us some insight into little R9 and Mummy Rose moving the fish to give it some room! https://youtu.be/dyxhLia-f6c?

There is a pip. R10 is wanting to hatch!

Feeding at Dade this morning:

Missing Big Red and Arthur and those cute little Red-tailed hawklets? Well, here is a video of the season’s highlights for you to enjoy. https://youtu.be/0PY02IzVD48?

Have a glorious day everyone! We will see you tomorrow after all the drama of Nellie’s arrival has settled. It is -28 C. Whew. So cold you don’t feel it. Bye.

Thank you so much to Cilla Kinross for her report on Girri and those lovely photos, the owners of the streaming cams, Gracie Shepherd for her FB posts, and SK Hideaways, always, for their videos!

Male Fledgling at Melbourne…

14 November 2025

Good Evening Everyone,

Victor Hurley has posted a very informative post regarding the male fledgling from the CBD in Melbourne. There has been some speculation as to why he has remained on the nest after he fledged yesterday.

Here, it has been 16.7 C. Unthinkable the middle of November. We even had rain and when Don and I were having tea with Anne today there was a Dark-eyed Junco scratching for seed along with nearly 40 European Starlings, 80 Sparrows, 5 Blue Jays, 2 Crows, and any number of squirrels roaming around.

We are trying to teach Toby the difference between Brock and ‘Cat’. He is learning – and, indeed, he knows Missey and Hugo Yugo so hopefully he will not bark at Brock but only ‘Cat’ – meaning the domestic pets that come into the garden who do not need to be fed and who occasionally try to take a bird.

I hope this finds you well and happy. We are doing superb! Take care.

Thank you to Victor Hurley for sharing his thoughts on FB.

Fledges at Melbourne’s CBD Falcon Scrape

12 November 2025

Hello again!

What a day it has been in the world of raptors. Eyes have been glued to the streaming cam for the 367 Collins Street Falcon scrape in Melbourne for several days awaiting fledge – and now we have it.

One of the females flew at 09:27:26.

Adult arriving.

Female preparing for her first flight:

Congratulations. There might well be at least one more fledge today in Melbourne. Well done.

Thank you to Dr Victor Hurley and Mirvac for their streaming cams that allow us into the wonderful world of these very much urban raptors!

Fledges in California …Late Monday post

2 June 2025

Hello Everyone,

Just a few things of noteworthy interest for all of us.

First: Sunny fledged! What a glorious event filled with the bittersweetness of us wishing and hoping Jackie and Shadow would have at least one viable egg. Hanging on through bad weather and being astonished at how Jackie and Shadow are such amazing parents to Sunny and Gizmo. Gizmo will want to follow Sunny as quickly as she can!

SK Hideaways has the fledge: https://youtu.be/b9L5gRb3Q20?

ABC News has the fledge: https://youtu.be/NlT-Y8UW1ws?

KTLA 5 has the fledge: https://youtu.be/8tWhOVhCPPo?

Sunny has been spotted in Jackie and Shadow’s roost tree.

Then to top off the day the four little falcons at San Jose City Hall fledged – yes, all of them!!!!!!!!

The San Jose City Hall Falcons

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FYI – ALL FOUR FLEDGE TODAY – Monday June 2 !!!!!!! 3PM STATUS CHECK

Just a quick update but I’m sure via cam a lot of you have already figured out with an empty nest ledge that all four have fledged and are perched elsewhere.

First to fledge Octavia, Next to fledge was Emma. Third was Chico and last Willow.

Current status – Octavia is at the top of what we call Clara’s tree over at SJSU

Emma is on City Hall building around the 6th floor

Willow is on the southeast corner stairwell

Chico is still being searched for. He was seen heading north of the City Hall area. Animal control has been notified. They are always notified that we are on fledge watch detail and to call us if they ever rescue a juvenile falcon. The parents also give us clues where to find a wayward juvie as what Hartley did this morning in finding Octavia on the Miro.

We’re still here for some hours as our BOG trek the area looking and keeping eyes on the juveniles. Thank you for your patience and understanding! 🙂

Last, and I am sorry to leave on a sad note. I posted the information I received from VV who monitors 15 Osprey nests right outside their porch in Maryland on the Menhaden – Little Fish, Big Deal FB. I received a lot of responses and I am copying several of those for you below. In addition, there are people monitoring the Menhaden population. Remember, Menhaden is the primary food for ospreys and the lack of it due to industrial fishing (or is there anything else?) has been causing nests to fail for the past three years Heidi and I have been recording the data on mortality. They note that the Menhaden have left the Chesapeake Bay. This is catastrophic for the ospreys!

Here were a few of the responses:

Tommy Leggett

where are you located? I’ve seen the same thing you describe in Gloucester County VA at the lower end of the York River in Guinea. I started seeing it with the nest off my dock about 5 years ago and it has gradually spread throughout the creek and lower York River and around into Mobjack Bay. I might see one osprey check our stand out in the spring and then no activity. he nest across the creek had a pair and they nested for several weeks, and now have abandoned the nest. I think the fabled nest on top of the Coleman bridge crossing the York River is now abandoned after MANY years!

Jackie TW

Tommy Leggett I’m in Northumberland county and am seeing this too. As of now all nests I’ve seen here have failed.

Steve Hardy

Kristofer Rowe Failure rate here Chesapeake Bay #1 Habitat for Ospreys, Data from CCB,USGS, about 90% worse the DDT era,data here shows overfishing Menhaden by foreign Canada Omega Protien.

Kristofer Rowe

I’ve been studying Osprey on the coast of CT for 8+years. Including replacing 35 platforms that were about 40 years old and doing some egg studies. I’m also a avid Osprey photographer. I have been preaching from a soap box for years that the population has been collapsing. This chart was from 2020 for what it’s worth. I expect the numbers to be more dismal now.

I am unbelievably sad this evening. We are witnessing the decimation of the osprey population in this region of the US that had, at one time, one of the highest, if not the highest, populations of ospreys.

Thank you to SK Hideaways, ABC News, KTLA 5, Pam Breci, San Jose City Hall Falcon Watchers, and the Menhaden – Little Fish, Big Deal FB group.