Jak and Audacity’s baby worked its way, a long time, out of that crushed shell to the joy of everyone who has cheered and cried for this couple.
Just look!
It is cold to the bone on the Canadian Prairies despite the hint of spring arriving. There were two beautiful Blue Jays in the garden along with the two crows so it appears that all is well with part of the garden family. Brock is eating as I write. The Girls are resting – waiting for their late night snack.
I am certain that most of you have checked on several Bald Eagle nests today including that of Jackie and Shadow, Jak and Audacity, and Beau an Gabby. Maybe you even went to see if the eaglets at Kistachie E3 have been fed.
There were still two eaglets at the nest of Jackie and Shadow on Friday. More Coot has come to the nest supplementing the usual fish. The snow on the water must be keeping the fish at bay.
In the feeding below both are up. Earlier they appeared cold and worry set in. We do not know the fate of the the other eaglet (I am not saying it was the third hatch – it looked to be the second to me but the experts can confirm). It has made our hearts drop and feel ever so sad. But let us wish these two a long and healthy life.
I am worried that one of the eaglets does not appear as well as the other.
‘PB’ reports that both eaglets were fed well at 17:28. The feeding lasted approximately 10 minutes for the eaglets and another five for the adult. I wonder if the one is ‘sweaty’ from the warm brood patch or damp from the nest???
Saturday morning and both eaglets are alive at Big Bear. We might never know which one perished.
Hatched! The last time I checked on Friday the eaglet at Sauces was still trying to break free of that membrane.
That eaglet is moving and moving and it looks like it is almost here. Pinch me please.
VH Hock caught it on video. This is a small capture form that FB video:
Dr Sharpe says:
So many are hoping so much, hoping beyond hope for this couple. Thanks, J.
The two eaglets at the Kisatchie E3 nest were fed yesterday and there was food on the nest today. Some relief there!
I believe you are looking at the only hatch at Moorings Park Osprey platform in Florida this season. The other eggs do not appear viable. Let us wish this one strength!
Was there a visitor at the nest of Gabby and Beau today? Or was i seeing double? Beau finally sent the visitor packing.
Milda and Zorro have two eggs in their White-tail Eagle nest in Durbe County, Latvia. Wonderful.
My heart leaps whenever it sees Blue 33. He has been flying around with fish hoping for his Maya to appear. We need her to come home healthy. She had a difficult year in 2024.
It happened last year. Everyone wants Blue 33! Geemeff writes, “Rutland Ospreys: resident male Blue 33 eventually gives intruder female Blue 25 his fish
And since I recorded this, there have been mating attempts- hurry home Maya and Blue 11!”
I am waiting for Blue NC0 to land on the Loch of the Lowes nest as well as well as all of the other UK ospreys. Oh, let them have a good season.
We have an egg at Lake Murray. ‘H’ writes: :3/14 – Well, the Lake Murray Osprey nest of Kenny and Lucy really has an egg now. We don’t know what to make of the fact that they have both been incubating an unseen egg for the past 6 days, which may or may not have been hidden inside of a glove, lol. We are calling this egg #1, and it was laid on 3/14 at 10:59.”
We can just see a wee osplet from under Mum’s breast at Frenchman’s Creek.
Maintenance on Big Red and Arthur’s cam at Cornell University.
From the nest it appears that Angel and Tom have been working on their nest. There is even a pinecone in the centre!
The eaglets at Hilton Head are getting their juvenile feathers!
Egg at Wolf Bay.
‘J’ asked me if I have purchased or read any books on Flaco, the Eurasian owl that escaped from the Central Park Zoo. As it happens, I am reading the recently released book by David Gessner on Flaco. Half way finished. Will let you know the verdict soon!
Thank you so much for being with us today. I need to take a wee bit of a breath so the postings for the next couple of days might be quite short while we wait to see what happens at Big Bear and Sauces. Surely there will be more osprey arrivals as well. Take care everyone. See you soon.
Thank you so much to the following for their notes, posts, images, conversations, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog today: ‘Geemeff, H, J, PB’, FOBBV, SK Hideaways, IWS/Explore, VH Hock, Dr Sharpe, Kistachie National Forest E3, Moorings Park, NEFL-AEF, LDF, LRWT, Loch of the Lowes, Lake Murray Ospreys, Frenchman’s Creek Ospreys, Window to Wildlife, Hilton Head Island Trust, The Guardian, Wolf Bay Ospreys, Geemeff
I had to leave for appointments this morning and I just want to catch you up on a lot of happenings.
First, there is a pip at the nest of Jak and Audacity at Sauces Canyon. Their only surviving egg appears to be viable!
They are thinking this could take longer as it appears to be a crushed hatch.
I am just speechless. Is it possible that this is another miracle unfolding under a lot of feathers? Oh, send them good wishes. That egg is tough. We want this baby out safely.
The Ospreys are arriving at the nests in the UK. This morning we had Blue 35, Blue 25, and Maya’s mate, Blue 33 all at Rutland.
“The first Osprey has arrived back to Rutland. Blue 25 has recently been spotted on the nearby Manton Bay nest at Rutland Water. We’ll keep you posted as to when one arrives here, hopefully next week!“
Most of you know that Blue 33 is my favourite male of all the UK ospreys – and he is in amazing company!
1612 was the arrival time. Within two hours Blue 33 has a big fish on the nest waiting for his Maya.
In other news, Milda laid her second WTE egg in Latvia while the second egg at Port Tobacco has pipped. Many think Cholyn might lay a second egg at Two Harbours. Be on the lookout.
I am going to take a break tomorrow and I will be back with you on Saturday. I hope to welcome a baby eaglet at Sauces! If this happens, that feels like a magnum of the best champagne!!!!!!!!!
Take care everyone. See you soon.
Thank you to Barbara Wolfsong, IWS/Explore, SK Hideaways, FOBBV, NEFL-AEF, Rutland Water, River Gwash Ospreys
Update: Hartley lays second egg and at Port Tobacco the first and second eggs are pipping! Nothing at Sauces yet.
It is +2 and sunny and oh, my goodness, spring is really in the air. No doubt I will write about some huge snow storm hitting us mid-April as it often did on my eldest son’s birthday, but, for now, there is a lovely sound in the garden – bird song!
The deck and gardens are getting cleaned. As you can see there is still some snow and ice. These two wanted a wee bath! But, the water is now out an the bath turned upside down in anticipation of snow arriving Thursday morning.
‘B’ writes that the weather is turning again. Poor Jackie and Shadow have a nest full and can’t get a break with the weather!
“The weather at Big Bear is looking better today (Wednesday) than I had expected, given the previous forecasts. But the bensweather.com prediction now shows the heaviest snow tomorrow (and snow continuing Friday), so still a good time to lay in supplies! ”
Bodie. Not so long ago, this magnificent juvenile eaglet was the size of those little bobbleheads. It is hard to remember. Bodie was our first miracle that gave us hope.
I have to admit that like many of you I have been so captivated by the triplets at Big Bear and Bodie that I have not checked on other nests today. This will be a short posting!
Meanwhile, on the Cornell Campus, Big Red and Arthur are busy working on their nest. We will have eggs in a fortnight! https://youtu.be/Ebb5ZPRcZTs?
White Storks are incubating eggs at Knepp Farm.
One egg has hatched at Moorings Park.
No eggs for Edie and Lloyd at Captiva yet. It is late. Maybe the nest will be empty this year.
Food is scarce or not existent at the Kistachie E3 nest. What in the world is wrong? Please send good wishes to them, please.
Important condor dies of lead poisoning. Please let us end this painful and needless way for our wildlife to die.
There is concern that the only surviving egg at Sauces is not viable. Still waiting at Port Tobacco and also for that second egg at the nest of Bonnie and Clyde. We had all hoped that Jak and Audacity would have a family this year. We will give it a couple more days.
‘L’ writes that the Bald Eagle Cam at the Sutton Centre in Bartlesville, Oklahoma is up and running with eagles on the nest.
‘J’ sent a note that Keke at Superbeaks had fledged and returned to the nest successfully.
The birds are migrating.
Howard was the Bald Eagle that the great folks at Wild Heart Ranch helped through a series of ‘boots’. Look at how well he is doing now.
Poachers being arrested that have been killing our beautiful storks. The Akkar region is in Lebanon.
The killing of migrant birds for fun in Lebanon (and other areas) has been of ongoing concern.
Thank you for being with me today. I hope you can get outside and smell the freshness of spring. See you soon.
Thank you to the following fort their notes, comments, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘B, J, L’, IWS, SK Hideaways, FOBBV, NEFL-AEF, Cornell Bird Lab, Knepp Farm, Moorings Park Osprey Cam, Window to Wildlife, Kistachie National Forest E3 Bald Eagle Nest, US Weather Service Hastings Nebraska, Wild Heart Ranch, Soraya Z Mouawad, Research Gate
It is 1930 Tuesday evening and it is still light on the Canadian prairies. It will not be long til spring is officially here. It would be so nice if the weather were the same! It still feels like winter!!!!!!!!
It will not be long til ospreys are arriving in the UK just like the geese are returning to the spring and summer breeding grounds. Life in Bird World is going to get that much more exciting.
There is a hatch at the GHO nest of Bonnie and Clyde on Farmer Derek’s property.
The third hatch at Big Bear is a real character, a brave little soul. I am counting on this one being a female!
‘A’ comments: “I watched the 14:20 feeding at Big Bear today (10 March) and Jackie was being very diligent about feeding all three. The first two lined up at the table were fed, one then the other, then the first again – she was giving them pieces that seemed way too large but they ate valiantly. One eventually collapsed into a food coma, and the third chick got to the front. Jackie moved around a little to favour it more and then proceeded to feed the remaining chick along with the youngest, who continued to compete throughout the feeding and seemed to do pretty well out of the feeding. All three were fed adequately, and Jackie was very deliberate about it. This gives me a great deal of hope that these three do have a fighting chance to survive – there was no bonking whatsoever at this feeding, even though the youngest was in the front row and I kept expecting a beak to the back of its head. But no, all eyes were on mum and the food, with not a single incident of aggression. It was most heartening, though of course we take things a day at a time. Shadow as usual did his daddy duty whenever he got a chance and alerted Jackie whenever he needed a break;. These two are doing a great job and are sharing the chores between them, with both taking their turns at hunting, fishing, feeding and brooding. What a team. “
The first egg has hatched at PA Farm Country early Tuesday.
Screenshot
There was a Q & A session with Dr Sharpe. ‘J’ found some of the questions and answers for us.
Geemeff sends us news: James River Park is live:news item –
Bodie still takes our breath away. She is so beautiful.
‘A’ considers: “At NEFL, I agree with you that Bodie must be a big beautiful female like her mum. She is gigantic! I’m not sure she is particularly motivated to leave home just yet, having been so spoiled by Gabby and Beau. Tonight, Gabby is sleeping on the nest with her giant daughter, perhaps aware she won’t have her around for too much longer. What a wonderful season it has been for this couple. This nest has really lived up to all the hopes we had for it when Gabby first showed an interest in V3 all that time ago. To see their love story come to this is so wonderful, it brings tears to my eyes all over again. Darling Gabby really deserves a guy like Beau – he has turned out to be the mate we hoped he would be for her. And what a great dad he has been. “
Just look at gorgeous Iniko (1031), daughter of King Pin and Rewood Queen.
The Oregon Zoo has thirteen California Condor eggs this year!
Sun Coast Osprey Cam is up and running.
I always get the feeling that the E3 nest in the Kistachie Forest needs more food. I remember Louis bringing in piles an piles of fish to E1 – what is happening at E3 this year?
One tiny little osplet at Frenchman’s Creek.
Food is in very short supply – or appears to be – at the ETSU Bluff City nest.
Will Cholyn and Milda lay a second egg today?
Thank you so much for being with us today for this brief catch up with some of the nests. Take care everyone. See you soon!
Thank you to the following for their notes, comments, posts, images, articles, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘A, Geemeff, J, SP’, Farmer Derek GHO Cam, SK Hideaways, FOBBV, HDonTap, Dr Sharpe an the IWS, James River Park, NEFL-AEF, Ventana Willife Society, Sun Coast Osprey and Lucille Powell, Kistachie National Forest, Frenchman’s Creek Ospreys, Bald Eagle Cams ETSU and Terry Anita
UPDATE: Chase and Cholyn have their first egg at Two Harbours.
It is +5 and it was a remarkable Sunday on the Canadian Prairies. There were eleven Canada Geese at the nature centre enjoying the open water while children tried their luck at ice fishing at the other end of the lake.
It is going to snow today with the temperatures dropping to -15 C. It felt like spring on Saturday and Sunday and this was remarkable in lifting our spirits. We were outside without heavy coats!!!!!!! The birds are singing, the squirrels are playing chase, and well, life feels so good. Winter is ending.
The arrival of the geese signal the arrival of spring.
‘PB’ sent me a post showing the Kearney Centre where they have never seen so many Cranes an snow geese at one time at the Nebraska site. Our feathered friends are on the move!
This is the image posted by Michelle Neville and sent to me by ‘PB’. Isn’t this amazing?
All of the staring at the Big Bear triplets caused me to miss the first hatch at Moorings Park. Apologies all around! Thank goodness it is a nest that ‘H’ is watching for the forms, and if anyone ever doubts her observations , well, don’t. Believe her regardless of what all the chatter is saying. She is persistent. She will stay up all night watching frame by frame to make certain she has it. So here is the report, “Moorings Park had its first hatch this morning at 0726, at 39.5 days if it was egg #1. It could have been egg 2 at 36.5 days. This year, eggs 1 and 2 were very similar. So, if there is a DNH (and I’m hoping there is), then I may go back in and modify the hatch order of the eggs.) [We first saw a small pip at 2357 on 3/8. I searched the entire evening, and could not see an earlier pip. Last season at Moorings only two eggs hatched, and the experts on the chat said that egg #1 did not hatch. I think we have egg 3 as DNH in the forms, but I do recall them saying egg 1 didn’t hatch.”
Watching the baby at Big Bear. These triplets are so cute. That first hatch is a bit of a corker. Love this family!
‘B’ reports more weather coming to Big Bear: “More weather is forecast for Big Bear — snow predicted for Tues, Wed, Thurs. Fingers crossed — glad the chicks are still small.
The second hatch at the Kisatchie National Forest E3 Bald Eagle nest is really getting a raw deal from its older sibling. One would have thought that the dominance would have ended. Is there a problem with the amount of food being brought to the nest that is causing this type of bonking?
No food for the younger one this time round.
E04 will get some foo but the viscious attacks have really caused it to be hyper cautious and often not eat.
Andria II is very much aware of what is happening on the nest and made several attempts to ensure 04 had some food.
The Institute for Wildlife Studies has announced Dr Sharpe’s successor and the information for the Adoption Challenge for 2025. Here is the post. This is their big fundraiser and you could get a chance to name an eaglet! One of our readers did just that for one of Akecheta’s triplets. What an honour.
Bald Eagle chart, thank you for checking all those locations and sending this to us, ‘J’: (I cannot make it any larger). E is pip or hatch watch. F is the hatch date.
At the nest of Beau and Gabby, the adults have to watch their talons when they deliver food to Bodie. This big girl really loves her prey. She is gorgeous. It has really been a joy watching this new family raise its first eaglet (yes, I know Beau has been around for a few years, but this is the first year as a ‘family’).
Bodie is so good at the snatch and grab. Beau and Gabby are training their only youngster to survive in the world when it did not have the chance to scrap with siblings! Watch: https://youtu.be/orZm8josGhg?
Mum and Dad were very protective of their two beautiful eaglets during a recent storm in the Dallas area!
Certainly only eaglet at Johnson City is such a cutie and could well have a life of bliss like Bodie.
The triplets at Duke Farm seem to be doing fine. Life can change quickly.
‘J’ sends news that the Osprey ambassador Oliver at Marathon (home to Rita) has died.
Upcoming pip watches: Port Tobacco and Sauces starts and we wait for hatch for Bonnie an Clyde at the GHO nest on Farmer Derek’s Property in Kansas.
News from ‘A”: “Tom and Angel are spending time at the nest most days though not all. They are still bringing pine sprigs to the nest and doing a lot of nest cupping so they appear to have largely completed the early structural work (although more baby rails will no doubt be added once any hatchling/s start venturing out of the nest bowl) and are now perfecting the soft surface in the centre of the nest and trying to eject the pine cones that fall into it. There is still no guarantee that they have committed to a clutch at this location this season but we watch and hope. At least they both appear healthy and their pair bond remains strong.
At Taiaroa Head, I’m not sure if you heard the news that the DNA results showed our chick to be a female. She is getting fed regularly and is rapidly becoming a gorgeous snowy-white fluffball. I love that her plumage is unstained by regurgitation, indicating that there has been no incident to cause her undue stress or fear during the post-guard period. She sure is an adventurous small person and has explored the vicinity of her nest, A rat was seen on the camera yesterday morning and ranger Sharyn advised that they have been catching a larger number of rats than usual at this time of year in the traps the rangers set. The albie chicks should be large enough to not be endangered by the rats but apparently they are a major hazard for the little blue penguins, who are only breeding successfully in areas where there is trapping. We need to be incredibly grateful for the work these rangers do to protect not just the albies but also the other native wildlife of this area. “
Thank you so much for being with me today. My goal is to post ‘some’ news each day. It will not be a full account of every nest! I do hope that you find something enjoyable and valuable. Take care everyone. See you soon.
Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, images, articles, announcements, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘A, B, Geemeff, H, J, PB’, Michelle Neville, Moorings Park Ospreys, FOBBV, Ben’s Weather, SK Hideaways, Kistachie National Forest E3 Bald Eagle Cam, IWS, NEFL-AEF, AEF, John Bunker Sands Wetlands, Johnson City ETSU, Duke Farms, Marathon Wildlife Centre, Geemeff, The Guardian
Oh, my goodness. Hello from what feels like the arrival of spring on the Canadian Prairies. For days I have worried about Dyson, the matriarch of the Grey Squirrel family. The three kits have been out, but not Mum. Well, Saturday morning there she was perched above the brand new suet cylinder way back in the lilac branches. She looks good. She ate 1/3 of the cylinder. Good old Dyson!!!!!! Living up to her name. The sparrows are singing and the Starlings have come and gone removing every last meal worm while leaving the pieces of butter bark. Surely someone will want those.
I am spring cleaning. The feral feeding station has been cleared, cleaned and left in a smaller state with the hope that no huge snow storms arrive before I can rush out and put a cover over things. Brock has already checked it out and approved.
If the nest of Jackie and Shadow has preoccupied me, I do not apologize. Just the idea that our much loved couple could have three chicks to hatch is well, just beyond my wildest dreams. It is all I can think about. As I said in Saturday’s post, I am so grateful for Bodie (who is now six weeks old and as big as Gabby) and these triplets after losing the Es and well, having Thunder and Akecheta MIA along with Annie and Alden.
A reader asked me not to put them on the Memorial Board. They said, “Don’t put their names into the list of those who we know is lot alive for sure. And then we will be always in hope to see them again one day.” If you have checked there is no Memorial Board for 2025. I simply have been too overcome to compile it. There are certainly others. The Memorial Board is really a testament to their presence in our lives and eventually I will simply put them as Missing in Action. Because that really is all we know.
I am happy to attach the PDF of the Los Angeles Times article on Jackie and Shadow. Thank you to the reader who sent it! You don’t need to subscribe.
As I am writing now, Junior is flying in and out getting peanuts an Dyson is back chomping on that cylinder. No one told her it should last a week!!!!!! The warm sunshine is so welcome here this year. My plan is to move the bird baths and fix the deck as a sanctuary for humans to bask in the sun as well. There will still be 3/4 of the garden devoted to things with wings or fur. :))))))))).
Everyone worried about the third hatch at Big Bear, but this little one is well, as big as the middle sibling and I am hoping that it is a really scrappy female like Jackie. It will do well on the nest with the two older siblings and I have a feeling that both Jackie and Shadow will be more than busy caring for these triplets.
Just look at that pantry.
One of the BB babies got caught and was dragged out of the nest cup. By a small miracle, it rolled off the snow and back into the nest. My heart stopped. https://youtu.be/n6lYn-zjdO4?
Some are concerned about what appears to be preferential feeding at the Duke Farms nest. Conserve Wildlife of NJ says that all the triplets are doing well.
‘A’ provides her observations, “At Duke Farms I am most heartened to see that the pantry is overflowing with fish (I can count seven) and mum is being very diligent about ensuring that all three of the littles get fed. The oldest got the best of one feeding, and at the next, mum circled around to the other side and concentrated on the younger two (the older one appeared to be in a food coma behind them). If dad keeps that pantry full and mum is patient enough to feed it to the chicks until there are no more begging beaks at the table, then these three have a very good chance at survival (assuming we don’t have a Zoe on the nest of course). We know that nests turn in an instant – the disappearance of a parent for example can change everything. But I still believe that the patience and dedication of the parent/s at feedings is the primary factor – can they be bothered with the hard work of carefully getting enough food into all those swaying little beaks? Some can’t, and only feed the closest ones. But the mum at Duke Farms appears to be patient and prepared to do her part in ensuring her chicks get fed. I hope this continues. They are SO cute at this age, before they decide to start bonking each other. I just love these first few days. Little masked bandits. They are certainly loud! “
The first sighting of an osprey in the UK – an so it begins. It is flying north! Wonder which one it is…Work continues on repairing nests
You might enjoy this talk from the Wildlife Trust at Rutland Osprey. George Smith is really knowledgable and I highly recommend this even if you live elsewhere. Lots of good information! https://youtu.be/7l6aOLlw0Vw?
In other news,
At the Captiva Bald Eagle Nest of Connie and Clive, Dancer has now branched. That was at 1508.
Nothing seems to be happening at Moorings Park Osprey platform yet.
Pip watch at Sauces starts on Monday! That egg is holding. Maybe there is something to having it wrapped with nesting material in a deep hole. The egg has been rolled an if it is fertile we just might have another miracle in California.
Bodie. What can I say? Our first miracle of the year. Looks like a big beautiful Gabby to me!
This may be the year for strange things happening. Take Lake Murray. Is it entirely possible that the egg of Kenny and Lucy has wound up in a glove? “The strangest thing… Lake Murray…
Lucy and Kenny have been obviously ‘incubating’ all day (I could not find egg lay time), but no one has seen an egg. There is a black glove in the bowl, and I had thought that the egg must be under the glove. There has been the shape of an egg under the glove, and they have been ‘aerating’ the glove. But, at 1719 Lucy picked up the glove and moved it, and the egg shape moved with it. I now believe that the egg somehow ended up inside the glove. “
Ferris Akel caught both Big Red and Arthur on camera on Saturday. It is so very, very good to see them.
Just look at all these gorgeous birds. Now imagine taking them from the wild for falconry. The licenses in the UK might be canceled. This will, of course, be controversial. There are many falconers around the world, and as a teenager, I was involved in falconry in Oklahoma. My older self shakes my head. I firmly believe that raptors need to live freely in the world unless they absolutely cannot.
Possible egg at the University of Florida-Gainesville platform.
We are awaiting our beloved geese. Some are also waiting for hummers. Here is a good timeline.
I hope to hear honking in the wind soon! After some more clearing tomorrow we will head out to Oak Hammock Marsh to check on any of those waddling poopers.
Calico’s Tip for the Day: It has nothing to do with a bird, but it could save someone’s life. Most, if not all of you, will have heard about the deaths of Gene Hackman and his wife. Hackman had very advanced Alzheimers while his wife, thirty years younger, was in good health and had been his only (it appears) caregiver. It reminds me of my situation with my husband except for the age difference – I am ten years older. No one would have predicted that the younger healthier caregiver spouse would have died of a very rare mouse virus. But she did leaving Mr Hackman at home alone – probably not knowing anything. A maintenance worker came to their door weeks before their fate was revealed. ———— This could happen to any of us. Calico wants you to develop a plan with your neighbours, friends, and family so that this does not happen to you or your loved one. Do not rely on landline phones or watches that are supposed to alert the police or necklaces with a panic button. My husband would probably not be able to find the landline phone or remember how to use it or what number to call. My Apple phone is not reliable. It often thinks I fall when I don’t and when I do, well, it did nothing the other day. So – get something old fashioned in place. Text friends and family on specific days to let them know that you are OK. That is all you have to send is ‘I am OK’. Don’t wait. Please get the ducks in a row.
Thank you so much for being with us today. Please take care of yourself. We hope to see you soon!
Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, images, articles, streaming cams, etc that helped me to write my post today: ‘A, B, Geemeff, H, J’, The Los Angeles Times, FOBBV, SK Hideaways, Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ, Dfyi Osprey Project, Rutland Water (LRWT), Window to Wildlife, Moorings Park, IWS/Explore, NEFL-AEF, Lake Murray Ospreys, Raptor Persecution UK, Knepp Farm, AccuWeather, Ferris Akel Tours
I don’t know about you but the thought of Jackie and Shadow with three eaglets in a nest with a huge storm in the Big Bear Valley has been the most energizing event I could imagine. Has it been the same for you? There is some beautiful reaffirmation that everything really is going to be fine. I am sleeping better, the only thing we have been watching on that screen we have been watching are two of the sweetest, most loved little eaglets ever to hatch. Still can’t believe it.
A break in the winter storm allowed Jackie to feed the first two hatches at the nest and for everyone to get a glimpse at the pip in the third egg. Most of us did not believe our eyes. Could it be possible?
Many were determined not to watch the agony of Jackie and Shadow incubating eggs that would not hatch and now – to the utter amazement of everyone, it looks like there will be three!!!!!!!!!
Calico is one of the biggest fans of Big Bear and hasn’t been able to take her eyes off the nest all morning. There has never been triplets before. She worries like the rest of us, but when Shadow was calling Jackie and the babies….well, she is glued.
There will be a naming contest. Suggestions will go in. 35 names picked at random and the Big Bear Third Graders will get the final votes! And just think – it has been three years without naming eaglets. This is so exciting.
Gosh, I wish that Frenchman’s Creek camera was better. You can hardly see if those two chicks are alive!
Sadly, one has perished. ‘H’ writes: 3/6 – At approximately 22:15 the GHO struck Mom who was brooding the 2.5 day old and 1.5 day old babies. One of the babies was thrown to the rails at the bottom of the nest. Mom returned to the nest after just a few minutes. A couple minutes later, the baby on the rails sticks began to squirm, and then fell through the sticks.”
I cannot tell you how much I dislike the GHOs that strike these osprey nests.
‘A’ is worried that Jak and Audacity’s egg is buried too deep. ‘A’ is not alone. She remarks, “Have you seen the depth of the pit Jak and Audacity have excavated under and around that egg? Yes, it is likely to protect the egg from cracking because there won’t be any significant body weight on it from the incubating parents or indeed any weight at all, but I’m not even sure the brood patch can come into contact with the egg because of the depth it is at. And as Audacity pulls in the dry grass and tucks it tighter around her, it gradually works its way down towards the bottom of the pit until presumably it buries the egg. I think it is getting dug out again periodically but it is in my opinion in a precarious position.
I greatly fear that Audacity may see one of her eggs survive to pip but the eaglet will be buried at the bottom of a deep pit with loose dry grass constantly piling up on top of it. How long before an external pip can Audacity (and Jak) hear the chick cheeping inside? And if they do, will they try to dig the egg up? And are they likely to succeed or will the dry grass they remove from the bottom simply slide back down the inside of the pit? At the moment, as I said, when Audacity is incubating, she pulls dried grass towards her and tucks it in around her body. Surely this will mean that every time she moves, more dry grass falls into the bottom of the pit and more deeply buries the egg.”
Mind you, I couldn’t believe my eyes when I was scrolling around the telly. Please, please do not make the balloon arch on that new Netflix show with Meghan. I thought part of the idea was being kind to nature, being respectful for the environment. So then where did the balloons come from? No balloons, no balloon arches, and definitely not machines that blow balloons up. Kids do not need balloons. The environment does not need balloons. Wildlife die because of balloons. They go up, they come down. They burst. They have strings that bind little legs. Birds eat them. You just got added to Calico’s Wall of Shame.
Life is good. Smile. A big fish just came on the Big Bear Nest!
A visitor at Cal Falcons.
Thank you for being with us today. Take care. See you soon!
Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, articles, images, and just all the stations, TV and radio or otherwise, that are covering Jackie and Shadow: ‘A, Geemeff, H, J’, SK Hideaways, FOBBV, KTLA, KCAL, Bluff City-ETSU, Moorings Park Osprey Platform, Duke Farms, Wings of Whimsy, Frenchman’s Creek, Nesting Birdlife and More, Raptor Persecution UK, Cal Falcons, NE Florida-AEF
Send all your good energy. Those eaglets will need some fish! And all your love to our Big Bear Family as those tiniest eaglets ride out the storm.
I I didn’t plan to write another post until Friday, but the storm hitting Big Bear is on everyone’s mind. While there are thousands of feathers to keep the adults warm and a brood patch to transfer body warmth to the eaglets, we still have concerns. The forecast predicts 8 to 12 inches of snow will fall in Big Bear Valley. We worry there may be insufficient food in the nest and that the eaglets could get damp, leading to respiratory issues. In other words, like with out own human children, we are worrying about everything at this nest. It is our focus despite many other nests having little ones arriving daily. We dared to imagine that Jackie and Shadow might have eaglets and when the two hatches happened, we continued to pinch ourselves to check that reality. We love this family dearly and want nothing to happen at this nest if we could just put a protective dome around it!
As you may have noticed, birds often anticipate changes in the weather that meteorologists predict later. For example, Shadow sensed the approaching storm and brought at least three fish back to the nest. While the chicks need frequent meals of small flakes of fish to thrive, the adult birds also require food. However, feeding the chicks becomes challenging when the weather worsens. As the winds and moisture intensified, Shadow decided to reduce the feeding of the eaglets. SKHideaways caught this behaviour on video: https://youtu.be/_65FdR8LblI?
At the Captiva Eagle Cam, Dasher and Dancer are doing very well. Connie and Clive have been, as nothing short of what expected, exceptional parents.
Everyone is printing stories. These eaglets are so loved. They have brought joy to so many. We wish them good health, big crops, and delighted parents.
At the West End, Makaio might not be happy with the female that has come to the nest. Still the pair are roosting in the tree. Of course, she is no match for our dear Thunder! We will wait to see what truly transpires at this nest, but my instinct tells me we will not see eaglets this year.
NE Florida‘s Bodie has been in ignored with all of the celebrations coming out of the Big Bear Valley. She is a big girl. (Not tested just my feeling). A squirrel was brought to the nest and Bodie quickly to it to her spot to try and feed. She is doing precisely what she will need to do in the wild! And what a gorgeous, gorgeous eaglet she is becoming with those shiny, slick ebony feathers. And look at that beak and jaw. She is quite incredible and we should never forget the great joy we felt when she hatched. Another moment that we had to pinch ourselves to know it was real.
Several precious feedings for the triplets at Duke Farms before the rain began to fall. Dad has lots of fish on that nest just in case there is considerable snow or rainfall. Well done, Dad.
Two beautiful eaglets at the John Bunker Sands Wetlands are doing quite fine. Almost every sign of any natal down is now gone. They eat, gain strength in their wings and legs all preparing them for a life off the nest.
At Johnson City, BC26 is a cutie pie.
Oh, goodness. They are all cute!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They are each precious. They deserve a safe habitat and safe food.
Kisatchie National Forest E3: The two eaglets have their thermal down and are losing their baby plumage which will soon be placed by that gorgeous shiny black plumage of the juvenile. Continue to send good wishes to this family so that there are two eaglets safely fledged and healthy parents to bid them farewell.
Many are wagering on whether or not F23 and M15 are planning a second clutch. They have been back at the nest working hard.
What about second clutches? I decided to see what AI would say about it and this is what came up in terms of likely statistics:
In another study, 27.3% of failed first clutches resulted in a second clutch.
When do second clutches occur?
Second clutches are more likely to occur if the first clutch is lost early in the nesting season.
Eagles usually don’t lay a second clutch if they’ve incubated for more than about two weeks.
Other factors
A successful second clutch depends on the availability of enough food for both the chicks and the parents.
The gonads must not have completely regressed so that reproductive hormones can be released to enable ovulation and fertilization.
Examples of second clutches
In 1997-98, the parents began a second breeding attempt in February 1999 that produced two nestlings.
From 2006-2019, streaming cams observed eight instances of double clutches.
Elfruler gives us some really good insights into second clutches:
We need to continue to remind ourselves of the deadly effects of HPAI. The testing and disposal of the bodies is paramount of understanding what happened. Digging shallow graves to bury dead owlets, as in Florida, is not acceptable. Carrion eaters dig them up and then more are ill and die. We must be super careful and vigilant in order to try and half as much damage to our raptor population as possible.
Calico wants to thank everyone who purchased one of her cards. She believes that each of us can make a difference—no grand gestures required, just caring. Next Monday, Calico will send Darcy’s Arc a cheque for $325 to help feed feral mothers and their kittens. She could not have done this without your generosity. Thank you so much.
Darling Calico cuddled up with my night shirt. Precious, precious girl.
Brock comes to the window and taps to let me know if the food and water dishes are empty outside OR if he would prefer another flavour! Brock has developed a taste for the ‘better’ cat food. Seeing him trusting us enough to ask for a different meal or more water is sweet. He has now taken to relaxing on the deck after he eats, taking in the warmth from the sun. We adore him.
We have been going for drives, sometimes short and often accompanied by a walk or feeding the chickadees. It has been quite icy and this evening I am suffering from a wee tumble taken at the English Gardens a couple of days ago. There is nothing to replace being outside – the wide open spaces and the blue skies. The deer were everywhere.
While I wait for the geese to arrive in Manitoba – and we are heading out tomorrow to see if we can get a first glimpse – Geese are arriving in Decorah, Iowa and finding their nest!
At the Campanile, a peregrine falcon did land on the ledge to check things out. I miss Annie!
At Two Harbours,Chase and Cholyn, who are both 26-27 years old, have been breeding together for 22 years. Will they have an egg this year? and raise a chick? We wait. https://youtu.be/O03rYESEzl8?
We remember Kumi, one of those remarkable green flightless parrots, the Kakapo. The population is now down to 243 with his death.
REMEMBERING KUMI: Kumi hatched on Whenua Hou/Codfish Island, 19 March 2005. His mother Margaret-Maree was discovered in 1985 is still alive. His father was Sass who died in 2010 after signs of old age, 30 years after he was discovered. At just five weeks old, Kumi was injured by another kākāpō. While receiving treatment he earned the nickname ‘puku nui’ (big belly) due to his size and appetite. Then, in 2019, he became the largest kākāpō on Pukenui/Anchor Island, topping the scales at 4kg (8.8lbs). At this weight, male kākāpō in breeding condition become almost spherical in shape because of their fat reserves and large ‘boom sack’. Kumi was known as an excellent boomer and for making an immaculate bowl. His efforts were rewarded, and his bloodline will continue through his seven offspring. One of his chicks with Kuia is Marian, the first-hatched grandchild of the famous Fiordland bird Richard Henry. Marian was successful herself in the last breeding season, making Kumi a grandad to three. Kumi would have turned 20-years-old on the 19th March. He was found deceased under a yellow silver pine, not far from his bowl. There were no obvious signs of injury or cause of death, but his age, location and the timing indicate it could have been the result of a fight with another male kākāpō. A level of mortality is to be expected in any wild population, but each loss is a reminder of the vulnerability of the critically endangered kākāpō. With the next breeding season predicted next year for the first time since 2022, we look forward supporting the growth of the population again soon. Until then, we will continue to monitor the manu [birds] through remote technologies and annual health checks. Thanks to our treaty partner Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu and National Partner Meridian Energy for their ongoing support of our programme. Public donations and symbolic kākāpō adoptions via our website also contribute directly to the health and vitality (mauri ora) of this critically endangered species. Supporters with current Kumi adoptions were contacted via email yesterday – thank you for your support.
Thank you so much for being with us and for caring so much for our wildlife. Please take care. We hope to see you soon!
Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, images, streaming cams, and articles that helped me to write my post today: ‘B, J, H’, FOBBV, SK Hideaways, Window to Wildlife, Los Angeles Times, IWS/Explore, NEFL-AEF, Duke Farms, John Bunker Sands Wetlands, Johnson City ETSU, Kistachie National Forest E3, Elfruler, The New York Times, Raptor Resource Project, Maria dk, Kakapo Recovery
Please note that Lori had an error and has updated the cost of the six pack cards for Calico’s Corner. We apologize for any inconvenience. Please see the posting Calico’s Corner for the update.
Before we begin with all the news, ‘EJ’ sent me a magnificent image of an osprey that flew over them in Alabama. We all need smiles right now and this is a beautiful healthy bird! (I am always so grateful for your images and your generosity in sharing with all of us!)
As I write this there are three ongoing matters in Bird World. The first is the missing Thunder from the West End nest. She left at 1430 on Friday, February 28 and has not been seen since. Makaio has gallantly incubated the eggs even bringing prey to eat on the nest while taking some short breaks. The second is the anxiousness surrounding the pip/hatch watches for both Big Bear and Sauces. I am always concerned about third hatch eaglets so I guess there are four items – that wee one at Duke Farms. I recall too many dying on that nest.
In the cast of Thunder, many speculate that she has gone off for a spa day like Gabby typically does. I am not convinced. There are several possibilities to consider: she might have been injured in a territorial fight, or worse, she could have been killed. Another concern is that she may have succumbed to Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI), though I hope that is not the case and I am unsure if it even exists on the islands. I tried to check and could find no conclusive information.
The romantic-comedy writer in me imagines a more whimsical scenario where she went to get prey, encountered Akecheta, and they flew off into the sunset together. Of course, this is just fanciful thinking and should be taken as such, but it would make for a marvelous ending.
If we do not see Thunder back on the nest by mid-afternoon on Monday, we must assume that she has been injured or killed.
It is the beginning of March and it is time to start watching for the arrival of Canada Geese on the Canadian Prairies as well as the return of the UK and European Ospreys. But for now, my friend ‘J’ reminds me that love, companionship, and joy wrapped up in a lot of hope for this year can be seen in 5 letters: Bodie!!!!!!!!!!
What a precious eaglet that is – and yes, Bodie is NOT small! If every nest could have one single eaglet as healthy as Bodie it would be fantastic. There is no need to cheer for three eggs or even two. Sadly, too many nests last year looked like they had two healthy eaglets when, in fact, they were not. Thing Eagle Country. One well fed eaglet. That is all we need. And it is certainly all the parents and the environment need.
Last year, Heidi and I monitored over 502 osprey eggs along with VV who kept an eye on an inordinate number of nests in Maryland right out their front door! Sadly, none of the chicks at Island Creek survived and most along the coast of the Chesapeake Bay also died. While many might wish to state categorically it was due to the heat dome, there is evidence from countries much hotter and for longer – that with sufficient fish providing hydration nests of 2 or 3 osplets can survive intense summer weather. I hold no hope for the nests again this year. There has been no change in making the Canadian company, Omega, accountable and no real science behind what is a sustainable catch limit. The people fighting this in the region are tireless but they are up against lobbyist and politicians. The dolphins and whales have already left. Would anyone in this lifetime ever have believed that this entire area could be without ospreys? Well, it can happen. What we need are fish fairies and large garden koi ponds. People who will take risks to help the ospreys.
It is now the end of February. I had intended to return to posting Bird World news every morning. The last full moon saw a marked decline in my husband’s cognitive powers and his behaviour. It has been overwhelming and my colleague ‘H’ says my ‘brain is fried’ from all of it. Thankfully, osprey season has really not started and ‘H’ has been handling 99.9% of the data entries so far. I will start with the UK nests, Rosie/Richmond, and Iris plus Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. I am hoping our dear friend VV will monitor those nests in Maryland in their front yard! We won’t get up to 502 but we will do our best to get accurate information so we can see what is causing mortalities in 2025. In 2024, it was weather/starvation as the main driver of deaths. But, back to the posting of news. I am keeping my head above water by posting two larger blogs twice a week. I hope the information is helpful. These will come on either Sunday or Monday and Thursday. Essential news items will come as they happen. I will also try to post at least one or two good news items each day by mid-afternoon. I miss all of you! And I miss being in contact with the birds in their nests like I was before…
So, let’s see what is happening!
Golden Gate Audubon: Rosie has returned to Richmond on the light stand in San Francisco Bay! March 1. I am so delighted. She landed and started calling for Richmond right away.
Port Lincoln Ospreys: I am so grateful to the folks at Port Lincoln Ospreys who are regularly posting the tracking of the ospreys in South Australia. Looks like Ervie is having a fun time hanging out with Giliath! They spend the night together. How cool is that. You can find all of the tracking on the Port Lincoln FB page. I am including the one for Ervie and Giliath here because Ervie still melts my heart.
Dale Hollow Eagle Cam: Thank you to ‘KR’ for alerting me to the two eggs at this nest. As many of you will remember, there were issues getting help for the eaglets when they were tangled in fishing line. I am only putting this notice now for those of you that wish to watch this nest. I will not be covering it.
Duke Farms: There are currently three eaglets with the last hatching on Saturday, March 1. ‘A’ comments: “Another feeding at Duke Farms about four hours after the last (no time stamp on the feed as far as I can see, which is irritating) and on this occasion, the older hatch did even better, grabbing big pieces. The younger hatch was at least facing the right way this time, and sat nicely beside its sibling at the table. However, mum only half-heartedly offered it a bite or two, it made no attempt to grab at them, although like its older sibling yesterday, it is VERY loud and persistent in its begging for food. Even so, mum is adept at ignoring all pleas and simply sitting on the noisy little bundles. Oh Mary Ann they are just ADORABLE. Aren’t they the sweetest things at this early stage (while any attempts at bonking are harmless because they can’t even see their target properly.”…”I fear I can see a definite pip on egg three, which is of concern to me for the reasons outlined yesterday. This nest is already problematic – it was with only one eaglet – so I hate to think of what will happen with three. The nest is covered in fish – dad is certainly doing his job – but whether that fish gets into those little beaks is another question altogether. Mum did give the first hatch a nice feed this morning and the wee one was doing really well, swallowing quite large pieces with relative ease. Hatch two was still fairly unsteady (and facing the wrong way) but I suspect it will be 24 hours before we need to start worrying about its food intake. It is very reassuring, though, that the older chick is eating well and mum is doing a good job of feeding it. “
Like so many nests this year, Duke Farms has three eggs. Personally I do not like three egg hatches unless the male digs right in there and helps like Akecheta did at the West End. It is difficult. Some have even raised four.
Sauces: The first egg laid by Jak and Audacity is holding! ‘A’ remarks “In wonderful news from Sauces, darling Audacity’s egg continues to hold – she has it buried fairly deep and safe in the nesting material but we still get a good look at it around 13:22. (Mind you, if Jak continues to mate with Audacity while she is incubating, there are no guarantees! Men!!) Assuming the egg doesn’t break, pip watch begins in 10 days. I think everyone is praying this egg is strong and that this poor long-suffering mum will finally get the precious eaglet she has sacrificed so much to give a chance at life. My heart goes out to this couple. Audacity is so brave and so determined. I do wonder whether the repeated calcium depletion year after year has had any long-term impacts on her bones. Certainly, she has given everything she has in her efforts to raise an eaglet. She deserves this more than anyone. It’s like Iris last year. Repeated loss finally followed by a miracle baby (or babies in Iris’s case.”
Leucistic Red-tail Hawk Nest in TN: ‘A’ writes: “Meanwhile, Angel and Tom were at their nest again this morning. The nest looks absolutely ready for a couple of eggs and we are so hopeful this season that there will be eggs at this nest. Talons crossed (speaking of which, how gorgeous is Angel’s French polish?). There was even another afternoon check-in, and there have no blue jays in sight (or heard) today or yesterday, which ho-efully will persuade Angel and Tom that they can raise chicks without harassment at this nest. Still, after last season, I think we are all holding our breath every time they skip a day of nest work.
I have not seen any mating on camera but if I remember rightly, that was the case in Deyani’s season too so we shouldn’t read anything into it. Tom managed two fertile eggs out of two (even though only one chick survived) so I see no reason for concern in that regard. Young he may be but I doubt that slows down a male of any species! Just saying.”
Falcon Cam Project: Xavier and Diamond have been bonding in the scrape. Oh, how nice it is to see you! https://youtu.be/4fmYvw-ZSWo?s
Florida Slub Jay Population: Attached is Audubon Florida’s annual report on Slub Jays.
Royal Albatross Colony, New Zealand: The Royal Cam chick is in the post-guard phase and is getting lots of good meals from the adults! https://youtu.be/5XgDs0L8A6A?
Big Bear Valley: 13,976 souls watching Jackie and Shadow as Jackie takes over the evening incubation shift. We are on pip watch at Big Bear Valley!
Both eagles protecting those precious eggs! How dare a sub-adult try and land on that nest during this crucial time!!!!!!!! https://youtu.be/bxQRZvfUftE?s
West End: Not sure how many eggs since the camera was down. Thunder and Makaio continue incubation and then Thunder disappears. Makaio was on incubation for over 24 hours. Is this a case of needing a spa day like Gabby or Gigi or has something more sinister happened to Thunder? We wait.
Makaio took several breaks on Saturday and even brought food to eat at the nest so he is doing fantastic. Let us hope Thunder returns safely.
Kansas City: Harvie and Ellie continue the incubation of their two eggs.
Achieva Credit Union: Jack and his new mate now have two eggs in that amazing nest that Jack built.
Moorings Park: Three eggs for Sally and Harry. Pip and hatch expected between March 8-12. Yes. We are that close. This is a very good nest to watch but will three be a challenge?
Frenchman’s Creek Ospreys: Continuous owl strikes.
John Bunker Sands Wetlands: Both eaglets are really losing the few remaining dandelions on the tops of their heads. What a wonderful nest this has been to watch this year!
Red Kite killed in the Cairngorms. ““The Park Authority condemns the illegal killing of raptors in the strongest possible terms. Raptor persecution has no place in 21st century Scotland but sadly incidents such as this are still taking place. It is an unacceptable crime that not only harms our raptor populations, but also damages the reputation of those land managers that act lawfully and work hard to care for wildlife.
“We are committed to working with partners to make sure the National Park is a safe haven for raptors and to establish the full circumstances of this incident. Anyone with information is asked to contact Police Scotland on 101, quoting incident number 0846 of Thursday 27 February. Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 where information can be given anonymously”.
Did you miss Ventana Wildlife’s February Condor Chat? Well, never fear. Here is the archived talk! The next live event is 27 March. https://youtu.be/RATJ0DwkoQE?
Thank you to all those people who help all those rehabbers every day of the week. They would not be able to save our precious wildlife without your help.
Wondering about all those three egg Bald Eagle nests? THIRTEEN nests already with 3 eggs (incl. Sauces)…Bartlesville, Big Bear, Centerport, Duke Farms, FOLFAN, Fort St Vrain, Fraser Point, NCTC, ND-Leef, PA Farm Country,Port Tobacco,Sauces 2 broke, and US Steel. Thanks, J.
A big shout out to all the teams in the UK who went out and cleaned up the osprey nests and refurbished them if needed! The raptors are on their way home and will arrive feeling most welcome. I wish every individual associated with a streaming cam (or not) would help our dear fish hawks (or others) with a cleaned out nest and new nesting material. It makes a difference. Just ask Hope and Beau at Snow Lane, Newfoundland.
Thank you so much for being with us today. Please take care everyone. Go outside for a walk. Listen to the birds. Clean your feeders. Migration is coming! Turn off the news and feel the sunshine on your face. We hope to see you soon!
Thank you to the following for their notes, images, posts, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘A, EJ, Geemeff, H, J’, NEFL-AEF, Golden Gate Audubon, Port Lincoln Ospreys, Dale Hollow Eagle Cam, Trudi Kron, Duke Farms, IWS/Explore, Falcon Cam Project, Florida Audubon, FOBBV, SK Hideaways, Farmer Derek Kansas City Eagles, Achieva Credit Union, Moorings Park, Frenchman’s Creek, Heidi McGrue, Kisatchie National Forest, John Bunker Sands Wetlands, Raptor Persecution UK, EurekAlert, Polar Bears International, Ventana Wildlife Society, Hoo’s Woods Raptor Center
It is 2:35 in Big Bear Valley Wednesday afternoon and there are 12, 215 people watching Jackie and Shadow’s nest for any sign of a pip. Pip watch officially begins on March 1. Typically Jackie’s eggs hatch at 38-39 days.
‘B’ sends us all the latest on this internationally loved couple.
HPAI is a concern everyone including our garden. It has been +3 for the last few days. The snow is melting. There is standing water everywhere. The air is beginning to smell like spring. Most of the snow was cleared off the deck. All of the feeders were cleaned and disinfected. We will start a daily count to determine what is happening. When the European Starlings returned, there were 58 in the lilac bushes daily. There are now only 9. There were two Blue Jays, four Grey Squirrels, two Red Squirrels, and well, we were used to get at least 150 sparrows of various species. Might there be two dozen now? The Chickadees are here flitting, and there is a single female adult Downy Woodpecker. Two Crows. The loud songs from the birds in the garden could be heard more than half a city block away. There is still song, but it is so quiet.
It was extremely warm on Wednesday and we headed off to the zoo for a long and much needed walk before an Alberta Clipper is going to dump snow on us today. Five polar bears were sleeping on the snow! Just look at how clean its pads are!
I know that most of you are nervous about the upcoming breeding seasons whether it is the remaining eagles, the ospreys, or the hawks/falcons. I would also include the storks – oh, how I adore them! Throughout this posting and in many more to come, I want to encourage you to delight in the eaglets that have hatched and are healthy, for those eggs in nests, and for the storks and ospreys that are making their way home. Sending positive energy their way. In Manitoba, we are taking bets on the arrival of the first Canada Goose to the Oak Hammock Marsh. They could arrive within the week! I am so excited.
Let’s start with something nice and I cannot think of anything nicer than the miracle eaglet, Bodie, in Gabby and Beau’s nest.
NE Florida: That little cutie pie of Beau and Gabby’s now has a name! He is 5 weeks and 3 days old today.
I asked ‘AI’ to provide the meanings for the name Bodie:
The name Bodie has multiple meanings and origins:
Enlightenment: A respelling of the Sanskrit word Bodhi, which means “enlightenment” or “wisdom”
Messenger: From the German word bode or boden, which means “messenger”
Large-bodied: From the Old English word bodig, which means “trunk” or “chest”
Bold: From the French surname Beaudin, which is rooted in the old Germanic word bald
Sheltered: From the Germanic and Scandinavian name Boden, which means “sheltered”
Bodie is a gender-neutral name with origins in Sanskrit, German, French, Scandinavian, and Scottish.
In ancient times, messengers were vital to society, carrying news and information between communities and individuals. People with the name Bodie were associated with this role, and were often respected members of society.
Bodie has been on the rise in popularity in the United States, first entering the top 1,000 names in 2014. In 2022, it was ranked 484th in the top 500 names.
A turkey vulture came and sat on the nest of Bodie on Wednesday but the real question remains: where are Gabby and Beau? They have not been seen at the nest on Wednesday. This is concerning. Bodie is not self feeding but he did go to the pantry and attempt to get a nibble or two of the prey.
Where are Beau and Gabby?
Cal Falcons: In my last post with the long listing of the nest happenings, I pondered what was going on at the Cal Falcon scrape on The Campanile. The following day a notice was posted. It made my heart sink to my toes and tears pour out of my eyes. HPAI is everywhere. I believe it is even accounting for the lack of songbirds in the garden this winter. Cal Falcons is warning us that this could be the reason that we are not seeing Annie or Archie.
More news agencies are picking up on the loss of dear Annie and her mate. My heart is feeling very empty about this and I am hoping for a miracle.
We have to find hope and beauty in those birds that are surviving and those who are desperately trying to raise families in a very hostile environment. One of those is the new mate of Thunder, Makaio. He seems really good at caring for the eggs and protecting the nest. https://youtu.be/SexBFchvb-A?
These are short-tailed Albatross. Information on the volcanic island where they live states: “The Izu-volcano on Tori-shima is one of a chain of small islands about 600 km south of Tokyo. The island is one for the threatened albatross-birds, namely the short tailed albatross, and have been uninhabited by people since the Meteorological Institute drew back their scientists from an observatory in 1965, after a strong earthquake hit the area. About 30 people lived on the island before that, but they were evacuated after an eruption in 1939. In 1902 an eruption killed all the 125 people living on the island at that time.”
Located on Izu Island south of Tokyo and the main island of Honshu.
Here is a thorough article on the history of the short-tailed albatross in the area including ‘feather picking’.
Years ago we wondered what would happen to our much loved storks flying through war-torn Ukraine. Karl II had his favourite spots to stop and rest on the way to Africa. We always held our breath. Just how much wildlife has been impacted by this war?
PSEG Patchogue Osprey Platform, Long Island: There will be no camera for the PSEG Patchogue nest. ‘MP’ sent me the response this morning when he noticed that there was no streaming cam: “Thank you for your online inquiry. I have heard back from our Wildlife department: Due to construction in the immediate vicinity of the Patchogue osprey platform, PSEG Long Island has relocated this platform to a nearby location away from construction activities and human interference. However, we were not able to reconnect the osprey camera at this new location. Therefore, the Patchogue osprey camera will no longer be available.” PSEG further added, “”The camera was removed in order to provide the ospreys with a calmer living environment, at this point there are no plans to reactivate the camera. The websiteOsprey Cams – PSEG Long Island will be updated if and when the camera comes back online.”
Of course, being a power company we both wondered why on earth they couldn’t rig up a solar panel or something or is it another issue? Like all of us calling them when the nest is dangerously dirty? Who knows. I assume PSEG wants a calmer life since the ospreys wouldn’t care one way or the other about the camera! Ridiculous.
Frenchman’s Creek: Heidi confirms that the second egg was laid on the 25th of February.
Pine Island Osprey Platform: Looks as if the eggs are not viable. This is truly a blessing with the GHO in waiting for chicks.
Achieva Credit Union Osprey Platform, St Petersburg, Florida: As of Wednesday afternoon there remains only one egg for Jack and his new mate.
We are sitting in the conservatory monitoring the birds at the feeder. This morning I put out 1/4 of the amount of peanuts, Black Oil Seed, along with a large helping of Bark Butter and Meal Works (directed at the Starlings). There are approximately nine or ten Starlings. Where have all the birds gone?
I will be tracking HPAI in our region, and elsewhere, during 2025 as it appears to be having a large impact on some bird counts.
Little Miami Conservancy: Two eggs. 19th and 22nd of February.
Duke Farms: Cute little first hatch and now it has a little brother or sister.
WRDC: Both R7 and R8 doing fantastic. Look at all the fish on that nest!
Captiva: Dasher sleeps like an adult and we have branching at the nest on Wednesday!
MN-DNR: Two eggs being incubated. Laid on the 14th and 17th of February.
FORE: Liberty and Guardian do not yet have eggs. Everyone is worried. Maybe they will not have eggs this year. Maybe they will. We wait. But it is getting late because of the heat. Both of their eaglets died last year. They know and they grieve. It is alright if they chose to skip this year. Last year Duke and Daisy chose not to raise a family. The previous year Duke was missing in the storm and we thought he was lost. Daisy lost two osplets but was able to fledge one. Life is challenging – and it is going to get worse. Send Liberty and Guardian your love and support.
Abu Dhabi Osprey Platform: The triplets appear to be doing well.
Royal Albatross Colony News:
Cornell Red Tail Hawks: The camera should be back in operation for Big Red and Arthur in a week! Thank goodness.
Can you lend a hand to Hob, her friends, and the Moli?
Rita the Eagle’s History Monday:
I am going to look forward to a day when I read about the growth of the Hen Harrier population and not that rising deaths near driven grouse moor estates in Scotland!
Geemeff sends us some good news — remember, it is going to be up to us to do what is right for wildlife and that could include purchasing land, etc.
Happier news – the RSPB Geltsdale reserve is forging ahead after the successful land purchase. More funds needed of course, but as we all know, times are tough so people can support in ways other than donations eg by publicising on their social media feeds, buying from the online shop or better yet paying a visit to Geltsdale or any other RSPB reserve.
Thank you so much for being with today. We look forward to having you with us again soon! Take care of yourselves!
Thank you also for your patience with Calico’s cards. She had no idea what was entailed when she set out to help feral cats! The latest was securing proper mailing envelopes so the cards would not be bent when shipped! Those should arrive today or tomorrow. Then we can finalize the shipping! She told me she was glad we only do this twice a year. LOL.
Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, comments, streaming cams, videos, and articles that helped me to write my post today: ‘B, EJ, Geemeff, Heidi, J, MP’, Berkeley News, American Eagle Foundation, Cal Falcons, KRON4, SK Hideaways, NEFL-AEF, SK Hideaways, IWS/Explore, Yamashina Institute for Ornithology, Japanese Albatross Cam, The Guardian, PSEG, Tartasan WTE Cam, Frenchman’s Creek, Heidi McGrue, Achieva Credit Union, Government of Canada, Little Miami Conservancy, Duke Farms, WRDC, Window to Wildlife, MN-DNR, Gary’s Eagle Videos, Nesting Bird Life and More, Abu Dhabi Osprey Platform, Sharon Dunne, Hob Osterlund, Rita the Eagle, RSPB, Raptor Persecution UK
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