Category Archives: forest birds

Please Help Protect our Raptors!

14 May 2025

Good Morning,

I wanted to send this out separate. Please read this. And please write – no matter where you live. Migrating birds travel tens of thousands of miles in some instances and cover many continents. We need them and their habitat to be as protected as we can – and we all know that weather has caused decline along with loss due to human growth.

Friends of Big Bear Valley and Big Bear Eagle Nest Cam

eortosnpdSm9957auhcufg24067gf5776ga7lc735f07ctm1gumg5l2ig81t  · 

Important Announcement And Request For Public Assistance

The US Fish and Wildlife Service has announced a plan to fundamentally alter the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to be interpreted differently than it has since its creation.

Currently, the ESA disallows harm of an endangered species (without mitigation to make up for the loss.) It defines “harm” as “take,” which currently means an act which actually kills or injures the wildlife. It is currently interpreted to include significant habitat modification or degradation where it actually kills or injures wildlife by significantly impairing essential behavioral patterns, including breeding, feeding or sheltering.

Specifically, they would like to delete the definition of “harm” in the act. Removing this definition of “harm” means that they would NO LONGER CONDUCT ANY IMPACT STUDIES, as is currently required by The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). NEPA now REQUIRES federal agencies to assess the environmental effects of any proposed action prior to making decisions.

Removing the definition of “harm” which includes “habitat modification” from the ESA would NULLIFY THE ACT and everything it has done to save Bald Eagles and every other species it has protected, since it was signed into law in 1973. The cascading effects of this change would absolutely impact Jackie and Shadow, the rare plants in our valley, and all of the precious and beautiful nature that surrounds us in our country.

The public is allowed to submit comments to the agency. Comments are due by May 19th at 11:59 pm. We are asking each of you who is willing, to please submit comments using the link below. Many of us will be adding our voices against this detrimental and shortsighted decision. Keeping the ESA intact is of utmost importance, not only for Jackie and Shadow, but for all wildlife. This proposed change could prove to be one of the most harmful things we have done to nature in the last fifty years.

As we ask you to please comment, we want to caution that it is important to keep your comments polite, respectful, factual, and concise for them to have an impact. Please keep in mind that comments will be public. You can provide a statement anonymously but they do not guarantee that it stays that way. If nothing else, we urge you to read the public comments that have been submitted so far to understand what the change may do. And if you will, please pass this information along so that others can take action.

To make your voice best heard by the agencies and to maximize the impact of your comments, we recommend

1. State clearly that you are writing in opposition to the proposal.

2. Point out that the proposal essentially nullifies the ESA passed by the U.S. Congress in 1973. The proposal is counter to the purpose of the ESA to protect imperiled species and the ecosystems upon which they depend.

3. State the fact that we cannot protect the species without protecting their habitats. Without the habitats, wildlife would go extinct.

4. If possible, add any other facts or observations that you personally see or have experienced regarding the impact the proposed changes would have on endangered species.

You can read all about the proposed change and comment here:

https://www.federalregister.gov/…/rescinding-the…

Previously submitted comments are available here:

https://www.regulations.gov/…/FWS-HQ-ES-2025…/comment

P.S. Thank you very much for your assistance and participation. We hope that many of us leave our comments on the government website and make our voices heard.

At the same time, we ask you to please refrain from political comments and arguments under this post. Let’s keep our focus on the wildlife and our role in ensuring their future on this planet.

Maya is home! Monday in Bird World

17 March 2025

Good Morning Everyone,

For those celebrating St Paddy’s Day, enjoy!

Best news of the morning! Geemeff writes” 09.51 Intruder Blue 25 is on the nest when resident male Blue 33 lands, looking agitated. Suddenly a third Osprey appears and lands at 09.52.26 – it’s Maya! There is much display of wings from all three but not much sound, then Blue 25 takes herself off as the rightful female has returned. Welcome home Maya!”

https://youtu.be/mVrB7ZbMqsk

‘The Girls’ informed me that they have been ignored. So I tried to take some photos of them relaxing in the sitting room this morning.

Who could resist those eyes? They are like celadon or beautiful green glass. Baby Hope is the sweetest, most quiet, peaceful young lady.

Her mother is equally beautiful, but not ‘so sweet’. Calico wants to be the ‘boss’. At the same time, she wants to be held and cuddled ever so tightly. Calico has gorgeous eyes, too but there is something about the placement and/or the shape of Baby Hope’s that just shock you into stillness.

Missey prefers spending her time sunning herself on the wickers. She is so wooly!!!!!!

The angle makes her look a little ‘plump’. Hugo Yugo isn’t but she is a real character always getting into trouble and it is possible to hear her crying a block away. Her teeth are bothering her. It is such a shame.

At the nest of Jackie and Shadow in Big Bear, Jackie removed the deceased eaglet from the nest and flew away with it. Sometimes the dead chicks become part of the nest, sometimes they are taken a distance from the nest, and sometimes they are eaten. This is all normal behaviour. Research on ospreys has shown that they often take the little chicks a distance of about 100 metres.

A video of the removal: https://youtu.be/SHjEbOZZ-ZY?

The other two chicks have eaten well. The nest is full of prey items and one even has enough energy to start bonking the other. It feels good! I was quite worried that they would get a chill.

Jak and Audacity are overjoyed to have a baby. The number of dual feedings is substantial. They are such proud parents!

The little one at Moorings Park is doing very well, indeed.

So far there is not an egg at the nest of Liberty and Guardian. Information provided says, “Liberty has not laid her 1st egg yet & she is now past her latest egg laying date ever including a 2nd Clutch in 2017 where she laid an egg on 3/10 & 3/13. This is uncharted waters for Liberty who has laid eggs every season for the last 19 years with her 3 different mates. It is also uncharted waters for all of us who love & follow them. We don’t always know why things like this happen but we do know that we need to continue to TRUST THE EAGLES! Everything happens for a reason even though we may not always know what that reason is. So let’s sit back & enjoy watching Liberty & Guardian as their beautiful bond continues to deepen day by day.”

Is there hope? Liberty continues to stay on the nest in the rain Sunday evening.

Gary gives us some insight: https://youtu.be/UFoKgEa6zHc?

The American Eagle Foundation captured the antics of the visiting juvenile to Gabby, Beau, and Bodie’s nest: https://youtu.be/vn9M7Es8HFU?s

Is there a tragedy brewing for the two fully feathered juveniles on Kisatchie Forest’s E3 nest? An adult arrives at 19:19:40 empty taloned and is attacked by the starving eaglet.

The eaglets have been searching for anything on the nest to eat and resting. There is a lake you can see that is stocked each year with fish. What in the world is going on at this nest. Is this a repeat of what happened at Boundary Bay in BC?

The adult fed the oldest one a bite of something, nothing really, and the little one went into submission. Adult went to branch. Are the adults ill? Are there intruders? Where on earth is the fish from that lake?

Even first time parents – here I am thinking of Louis and Anna at the E1 nest – filled their pantry with fish. 20 one day! There is something incredibly wrong. It is a shame to sit and see these beautiful babies starve to death.

What a challenging year it has been, starting with the deaths of E24 and E25 of HPAI at SW Florida. As one reader said today, there is so much more of the season to go and so far it has been devastating. Another said that, to add insult to injury, pigeons are now roosting on The Campanile as we mourn the possible loss of Annie and Archie.

A research project is focusing on Annie and her impact on our lives. They are requesting anecdotal stories. Please do consider contributing. I could not imagine a world without Annie and Grinnell and now to have lost so many other mates and possibly Annie now is beyond thinking.

“What have Berkeley’s falcons meant to you? Gretchen Kell from UC Berkeley’s news office is looking for personal anecdotes with specific examples of how Annie and company have impacted your life/health/awareness, during the pandemic or any time Email her at gkell@berkeley.edu.

The trio appear to be all over the nest at Duke Farms and they seem to be doing alright.

A Harris Hawk threatens the people of a UK village!

It clawed the back of my head’: the Hertfordshire village harassed by a hawkhttps://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/mar/14/hawk-attacks-flamstead-hertfordshire?CMP=share_btn_url

“Harris Hawk 6d” by ahisgett is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

The challenges facing Harris Hawks are many:

Harris’s Hawks face challenges like habitat loss from urbanization and oil/gas development, electrocution on power lines, poisoning, and vehicle collisions, which are common threats to birds of prey. 

Here’s a more detailed look at the challenges:

  • Habitat Loss:
    • Urbanization and oil/gas development reduce habitat quality and prey availability. 
    • Loss of natural perches and nesting sites can lead to hawks perching on power poles, increasing the risk of electrocution. 
    • Harris’s hawks are known to live in sparse woodland, semi-desert, and marshes, so habitat destruction in these areas poses a significant threat. 
  • Human-Related Threats:
    • Electrocution: Perching on power poles, which are often unshielded, can lead to electrocution and death. 
    • Poisoning: Poisoning from pesticides or other toxins can affect Harris’s hawks. 
    • Vehicle Collisions: Collisions with vehicles can cause injury or death. 
    • Killing by Humans: While not as common, some hawks are killed by humans. 
  • Natural Challenges:
    • Drought: Droughts can reduce prey availability and impact nesting success. 
    • Fire Weather: Droughts and fire weather can lead to habitat loss and increased risks for hawks and their nests. 
    • Spring Heat Waves: Spring heat waves can endanger young birds in the nest. 
  • Captive Breeding Challenges:
    • Isolation: Harris’s hawks are social animals, and isolation can lead to behavioral problems like thigh-plucking, aggression, and mis-imprinting. 
    • Overdependence on Falconer: Overdependence on the falconer, often promoted by food association, can create problems with captive-bred hawks. 

Other birds are facing challenges – indeed, all of them. Birds Canada gives an interesting webinar on what our forest birds are finding difficult in our world today. Notice that I said, ‘our world’. Birds around the world are facing the same challenges. https://youtu.be/_vX4K3HO7IM?

At the time of this writing, the fledglings, Dasher and Dancer, had not returned to the nest at Captiva.

Snow in Michigan. Traverse Eagles trying to keep their eggs warm and dry.

Thank you so much for being with us today. Please send all your good wishes to all of the nests. It is an unusual year and they need all the help we can send them. Take care. See you soon!

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, comments, pictures, streaming cams, videos, and articles that helped me to write my post today: ‘Geemeff, H, J, MP, SP’, SK Hideaways, FOBBV, IWS/Explore, Moorings Park Ospreys, FORE, Gary’s Eagle Videos, American Eagle Foundation, Kisatchie National Forest E3 Bald Eagle Nest, Cal Falcons, Duke Farms, The Guardian, Open Verse, Birds Canada, Traverse City Bald Eagles