Category Archives: Glaslyn

First UK hatch at Manton Bay, Cal Falcons named…Friday in Bird World

12 May 2023

Good Morning Everyone,

I took Tuesday afternoon off to go to Assiniboine Park. It runs along the Assiniboine River, is home to the Zoo, the English Gardens, the Leo Mol Sculpture Gardens, and now The Leaf. The sky was clear and it was hot. People were chatting and having their lunch on benches and laughing. here were Chipping Sparrows, Greylag Geese, Wood Ducks, Canada Geese, Franklin Gulls, Nuthatches, Tree Sparrows, and Dark-eyed Juncos along with the very friendly Black-capped Chickadees. It was a lovely day to be outside. I did not spend as much time watching the screens – my eye doctor will thank me. But I have a reasonable run down on some of the nests we are watching.

We need to start with something special and this appeared in the Fort Myers weekly newspaper and is making the rounds of the FB groups. M15 is a hard act to follow – human or otherwise!

Just look at this fledgling that M15 raised. You are incredible E22!

At Cal Falcons, Red caught a moth! Oh, goodness. The first thing that came to mind was Alden and when he taught the eyases of 2022 to catch moths. Red is soooooo big – a first hatch female. So different from all the males…she is right out there doing everything!

‘H’ reports the names are Red is Rosa, Blue is Luna, and Yellow is Zephyr. So happy to see the names of the children used this year!

Is there a hatch in progress at Manton Bay Rutland for Blue 33 and Maya? Why do we think this? Maya is not hungry! Just look at that nice fresh fish Blue 33 just delivered! Maya is always hungry so something is up!

This is at 2215:

Yes, absolutely! Geemeff confirms that 0818 the first hatch for Blue and Maya and perhaps a second on the way! Remember. They have four eggs. If they raise them successfully it will be their fourth clutch of four eggs to fledge! Super Family.

Blue NC0 and Laddie LM12 laid their egg first before Blue 33 and Maya but, it will be a close horse race with these two nests.

We have a little while to go for Idris and Telyn’s eggs to hatch at Dyfi.

I am really excited to see how the season unfolds for new couple Aran and Elen at Glaslyn. This couple made the BBC news…see below. Their eggs will be hatching a little later.

OK. I will make you feel guilty — if you love those fluffy sweet Royal Cam chicks like Pippa and SP and you eat tuna. Yes, tuna, unless you catch it yourself in the ocean. Maybe it is time to pass on that sandwich or salad, as the tuna industry is responsible for the death of the albatross, according to new research by BirdLife International.

New-study-underlines-risk-longline-vessels-pose-to-threatened-albatrosses-BirdLife-InternationalDownload

Good news at Achieva. Middle is getting confident. This is a big deal. If the second hatch is not confident but, rather, is shy and meek, on this nest, they could starve. Middle at the Achieva Osprey nest got its change at 1007 on Thursday morning to take a fish from Big, mantle it, and have a nice feed. Way to go Middle! Still, as ‘R’ notes, this nest is so difficult to watch when you see all the fish at Moorings Park!

There is positively no shortage of fish for Sally and Harry and their kids at Moorings Park. The fledglings will be so healthy. Let us hope that they thrive…and if you ever get the chance, please advocate for the stocking of the ponds and rivers with native fish for the ospreys.

Fish everywhere…always eating…Moorings Park. That is what I will remember about this season!

Aran and Elen made the BBC news! Everyone is so glad that Aran found a new mate and Eden looks like she is going to be a fantastic Mum. A new era for Glaslyn and one lucky female who found this incredible male.

Glaslyn-osprey-finds-new-lovebird-and-set-to-become-dad-again-BBC-NewsDownload

Big Red and Arthur’s three Ms are doing fantastic. They just seem to be growing faster than I remember in past years.

It is difficult to be certain if any prey has come on the nest for Angel and her baby on Thursday. Three lizards were mentioned but the moderator of the chat says no prey delivered…you can see my confusion. Yesterday was a virtual buffet! This chick does no appear ‘on the surface’ to have been harmed by not eating for over 30 hours when it was even younger but, the reality is that it should be eating every couple of hours.

‘A’ reports: “Tom is getting the idea that the baby needs frequent feeding. Today, he has brought in three lizards and he just flew in with something that is larger – cannot even see if it’s feathered or furred because Angel is obscuring it. Again, Angel and Tom fly in together, landing literally side by side, exactly like yesterday. So close together they appear to be a single bird. It’s hard to see which of the two brings the prey and which takes it, but I suspect it is Tom giving the prey to Angel. He did intervene and re-grab one of the lizards, but the chat suggests that was to kill it not steal it. The chick ate all three of the lizards and mum is feeding it from the fourth prey item even as I type. We are SO proud of Tom. He has come a long way.”

Murphy’s baby is not a baby and we now know that Rockababy is a Male. Just look at that eaglet! That crop and those legs and that fat little bottom. This is one healthy eaglet. World Bird Sanctuary did a fantastic job pairing these two.

The Denton Homes trio hatched on April 1 and 4. They are 41 and 38 days old today. It was a soggy day on the nest but they did some self-feeding and worked on standing and walking.

It was hot over at the Decorah Hatchery nest.

The triplets at Dulles-Greenway don’t seem to care about the plastic Martin brings in or the pieces that Mum Rosa weaves into the nest, just look at them. Their sights are set on that big world beyond.

It looks like it was hot in Pittsburgh at the US Steel nest of US6. Once they get their thermal down, the eaglets can help regulate their temperature by panting with their mouth open.

Congratulations to Patogue, New York on their first osplet hatch of the 2023 season.

Baby Season or Orphan Season? It is all the same. This is the time of year when there are nests and where little ones are getting blown out, dropped, nests are toppling, parents are lost. How to identify a nestling and what do you do if you find one. NOTE: The number below in the poster might well not apply to you! – check for your local wildlife rehab clinic.

One of my favourites – one of Monty’s boys, Tegid Z1 caught eating a fish. He has a nest but there is no camera and it is on private property so we seldom see him unless he lands on the Glaslyn nest (visiting his brother Aaron Z2 at Pont Cresor?). Nice to see you Tegid!

If you are watching the Loch Garten nest, things are still not settled. Poor Asha.

I am always interested in how groups funded their projects – or not. Friends of Ospreys Su Australia – the Port Lincoln group that identifies sites, erects platforms, and puts on trackers – charges $20. They have over 900 members and are hoping that everyone pays on time. That is 18,000+ AUS dollars. We associate them with Port Lincoln and the trackers and the barge. Is this the way to go to support your projects?

In other instances, it is difficult for groups to earn money. We immediately think that students at a university have ample funding but sometimes the funds go to athletics and not the study of birds or cameras to observe Ospreys. We watched the pair at University of Florida-Gainesville on the light stand above the practice field in previous years. The bulbs were changed to LEDs and then the camera was hit by lighting. The cost to replace the camera is 10k. The students and their department, Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, have obtained a pledge for 5k. They are looking for everything from small donations – and I do mean small – to large to match this donor in order to replace their camera. If you are an alumni or a friend or someone who enjoyed this camera, I know that they would appreciate any funds and they are tax deductible if you live in the US. Google uff.ufl.edu and you will see the following tab:

And just a note! I do not know nor do I seek to find out who donates to any of the causes that I mention!

So glad Rose is home. ‘H’ says Rose looked tried and haggard, dirty when she got home..she does still a bit. Wonder what happened to her? We did not want another missing mate. It is too difficult and yet, we might have one at Lake Murray. Sadly, Lucy’s osplets are not as old as R4 and R5.

Heading back to our problem nest. The situation at Lake Murray is not good. Kathryn reports, “I haven’t seen Ricky today again, Lucy is bringing in fish but they are little. She is trying hard. Middle got maybe 3 bites and Big was furious about that. You can actually see the look on her face that she can’t believe middle is eating at all. She is pulling feathers out of middle’s back. Luckily middle is protecting its head so far. Middle knows to lay down and pretend to be knocked out.  Right now, big is laying on middle, waiting for movement again. She doesn’t even like middle asking for food. Horrible.”

Ricky has not been seen for two days. If he has not appeared by tomorrow, we can safely believe that he is no longer with us. It will be tough going for Lucy who is, no doubt, quite hungry and well, will Middle survive?

Geemeff confirms that there is a hatch at Threave Castle, possible Black 80s but we will clarify later. Thanks so much for being with me today…it is starting in the UK and I could not be more delighted. Stocked ponds and less intruders…Take care. See you soon!

I want to thank everyone for their notes, posts, videos, and streaming cams that helped to make up my blog this morning: ‘A’, Geemeff, ‘H’, Kathryn, ‘R’, Ft Myers Weekly, SWFlorida Eagle Cam, Cal Falcons, LRWT, LOTL, Dyfi Osprey Project, Bywyd Gwyllt Glaslyn, Birdlife International, Achieva Credit Union, Moorings Park Ospreys, BBC News, Cornell RTH, Window to Wildlife, World Bird Sanctuary, Denton Homes, Raptor Resource/Explore, Dulles-Greenway, PIX Cams, Mary Anne Miller and Osprey Friends, BCSPC, Elfyn Lewis and Glaslyn Osprey Group, Liz Bracken and RSPB, and Lake Murray Ospreys.

Angel’s nest normalises…Thursday in Bird World

11 May 2023

Good Morning Everyone,

Oh, it was a scorcher on the Canadian Prairies on Wednesday and we are set for 28 degrees C in a few days as the heat dome moves towards us fromm the West coast. All I can say is it is hot!

It is now 1839 Wednesday evening. Hail is coming down so intense that it is covering the ground like it is snow. It is about the size of marbles pelting. I can only imagine the horror at the Fort St Vrain Bald Eagle nest and the other nests in the area of that storm that went through Colorado. I wonder where all the garden critters are. Some will have gone into the small shelters for the chopped wood.

Relief. As soon as the storm passed, everyone was back in the garden.

Your giggle for the day comes from SK Hideaways and Cal Falcons! Red steals the food but doesn’t know what to do with it! She will learn soon enough! Mum Annie has a lot of patience but does the siblings who are hungry for breakfast?

A first for me. Two storklets with a snake on a nest in Germany could have gotten tangled. The Fire Brigade came to the rescue and saved the day. How do you say enlightened in bold letters?

‘T’ sent me the following information – check out the age of the male. “After the long-standing breeding stork Anna died in the 2021 breeding season, we will accompany Gerome (25 years) and his new breeding partner Frieda (17 years) from the Hessian nature reserve Bingenheimer Ried in the Wetterau in the 2023 breeding season. Up to and including the 2021 breeding season, Gerome had bred 14 times very successfully with the long-standing breeding stork Anna. During this time, Anna laid 71 eggs, from which 65 stork chicks hatched and from these a total of 47 young storks fledged.”

‘T’ reports that this is the same nest of Anna, the female Stork who broke her leg and the community helped to feed her and her babies. This is Anna’s former mate, Gerome, with his new female of two years. What an enlightened and caring community!

Another timely rescue this time of little Red-tail hawk lets in Austin, Texas. Smile every time you see humans helping our wildlife and reach out and thank them!

There has been, apparently, a lot of concern expressed about how Murphy’s baby will learn to hunt and live in the wild. World Bird Sanctuary shared their strategy with us on FB.

Bravo! E22 caught its first fish…little one dropped it but, gosh, this is progress. Well done, E22. Thanks, Gracie Shepherd. It is so good to see how well 22 is doing.

One day E22 will be catching whoppers like Aran does in the Glaslyn Valley of Wales, we hope. Just look at the size of that fish that landed on that nest! Elen has no idea how lucky she is that she found this nest and stayed….

There has been some concern about M1 taking a peck at M2 at Big Red and Arthur’s nest. This is perfectly normal behaviour and absolutely nothing to get worried over. It is very different from the dangerous level of aggression we have seen on osprey and eagle’s nests where siblicide has occurred due to food insecurity. I do not expect this level of rivalry to continue, and Arthur never lets the pantry dry up. Last year you might recall, everyone worried about little L4. Well, that last hatch climbed over all the others and was the first to catch its prey, becoming the first real juvenile after fledging. L4 is still around the campus – as far as I know.

I would loved to have seen Big Red when she was young and had her first brood. Just look at those tired feet. So grateful Arthur is such a good provider.

Big Red and one of her famous feeding sessions filling up those crops.

Birds, rats, mammals were all part of the feast at the nest of Angel and Tom in Tennessee today. Wow! So happy this little one survived those first days when food was so terribly scarce and Dad wasn’t sure how to help.

At 1841 the little one is getting another meal!

Everyone was elated when Rose returned to the WRDC nest – to Ron and R4 and R5. She appears to be fine.

Kathryn reports that Lucy has brought in the only fish at Lake Murray Ospreys on Wednesday. She also notes that Mum consumed C3. This nest really needs fish! What is going on with Ricky? Kathryn recalls six fish being delivered on Tuesday. Ricky has only been heard and not at the nest at all on Tuesday as of night fall. Intruders?

In addition to losing C3 on the 9th of May, we also lost the second hatch, Golden Eaglet, at Bucovina in Romania, the second hatch at Fort St Vrain, Colorado in a tragic hail storm. One of the little hatchings at Utica Peregrine scrape in NY was stuck to Mum Ares’ wing when she flew out. It fell and did not survive. So sad. Condolences to all those nests.

‘H’ reports that we have some osprey eggs that continue to be laid. Skiff and Dory – they raised three adorable osplets last year – have their third egg as of 10 May. This nest, as ‘H’ aptly notes could be problematic. She observes, “8 days between egg 1 and egg 3, with 5 days egg 1 to egg 2.  Intermittent incubation for only about a day. (I may be wrong about that, we’ll know if they hatch closer together.)”. Last year we delighted in these two raising those feisty three. Let us hope that the outcome is equally as good this year but that is a huge difference -.

S Cape May Meadows in New Jersey has a second egg for Zeus and Hera on the 10th. Lots of eggs are going to be hatching at once! I have never watched the South Cape May osprey platform – let’s see how it goes. Are any of you avid fans?

Not clear how many fish came to the Achieva Osprey nest on Wednesday but, it looks as if it could have been two. Middle did get some fish around 1500 or a little after.

That cute little Decorah eaglet is huge. It looks like it is going to be a really big female! Look at the size of those legs and feet next to Dad. Wow, Hatchery Chick. Seriously, we blinked, and this happened. That cute baby turned into a Hulk?!

Chase and Cholyn’s eaglet is growing, too, but does not appear to be as ‘huge’ as DH2!

Iris has been fighting off female intruders and today a banded Montana intruder. She also accepted the reality of that egg and went off to feed herself. The Raven took the egg on the morning of 10 May. Iris will no doubt lay another and another and the Raven will also have those for breakfast.

As far as I know, at the time of writing, Victor has not taken his first flight. Abby flew for the first time on the 8th of May. Victor is working his wings.

Two beautiful ospreys…Sally and Harry were remarkable. With the heat domes, the impact of urban expansion, places could take a look at Moorings Park and start stocking the ponds for the ospreys! It is going to become more and more important as we create growing challenges for them.

Warblers and Baltimore Orioles are arriving in Manitoba along with White-throated Sparrows. In the UK, the Warblers are singing, too. Remember – sit outside, go for a walk, let the sun warm your face. It will make everything seem a whole lot better! Stay in the moment. We cannot bring back the feathered friends we have lost but we can enjoy the ones that are with us – live or virtually.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/may/10/birdwatch-the-erling-haaland-of-warblers-turns-up-the-volume-to-11?CMP=share_btn_link

The goal of 1500 GBP has almost been met with a fortnight to go. Thank you to all of the donors. Conservation without Borders is working hard to keep HPAI from killing more birds – and I am thinking of late summer/fall return down the flyway.

Thank you so very much for being with me today. The sun is out Thursday morning and we are looking forward to some pips and hatches at a couple of the UK Osprey nests. Take care all. See you soon and remember…13 May is Big Bird Count! More on that tomorrow.

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, and streaming cams that helped to make up my blog today: ‘T’, ‘A’, ‘H’, ‘S’, Kathryn, SK Hideaways and Cal Falcons, Starch Hochstadt, Candy Smith and Cornell Hawk Cam Chatters, World Bird Sanctuary, Gracie Shepherd and SW Florida, Bywyd Gwyllt Glaslyn, Cornell RTH, Window to Wildlife, WRDC, Lake Murray Ospreys, Audubon/Explore, Nature Conservancy in New Jersey, Achieva Credit Union, Raptor Resource/Explore, IWS/Explore, Montana Osprey Project, Moorings Park Ospreys, The Guardian, and Crowdfunder.

Pip for Big Red and Arthur?… DH18 fights infection…Wednesday in Bird World

3 May 2023

Good Morning to Everyone,

I hope that the week has started off well for each of you…that the old saying, ‘April showers brings May flowers’ has given you sunshine and some time to be outside appreciating the beauty around you.

I picked up the book Slow Birding again yesterday to try and locate the research materials on how many nests had been discovered to have chicks raised by a male, not the biological dad. That book, plus the two on the geese – that migrate from the Siberian Tundra and Iceland/Greenland to the UK – continue to press that we need to look at what is close at hand, what we might take for granted that is so beautiful, just outside our windows. In The Meaning of Geese, Nick Acheson says, “Wild geese were simply always there, the sound and spectacle of my winters…” Then he moved away to South America and got caught up in the beauty of the Amazonia, and “I was so enraptured by it all that geese slipped into the background of my mind.” Acheson returned to the UK and found a project. He would “follow Norfolk’s geese all winter, I would write about them, and the many people whose lives they touched.” The book is a diary of how the geese impacted Acheson’s life, but it is also a reminder that each of us, everyone reading my blog, is part of an annual renewal. It is spring, and the birds are building nests and raising chicks (depending on where you live), and the grass and trees are waking up. In summer, those chicks will strengthen their wings and fly away. The geese that arrived a month ago will depart in the fall, and the trees will go dormant…winter will come, and then the cycle will repeat itself. There is something so reassuring about the seasons coming and going no matter what happens in our human lives.

We do not have exotic geese where I live. Canada Geese are everywhere and because of that, I want them to be special. So this spring and summer, you are going to hear an awful lot about the geese where I live. Hold on! I want to learn everything I can about them and share it with you.

This goose has chosen not to make her nest in one of the baskets provided but, rather, on a small island in the pond. Is this safe? If we get a lot of rain, it will flood and the eggs will ruin.

This male was doing ‘his job’ – keeping anyone and everyone away from the nest he and his mate have established.

Today was a good day in the garden. A problem was solved…not the one I was trying to resolve but another I had set aside. Mr Crow is having a difficult time with the squirrels. So, a table feeder was set up, especially for him. He looked at it when he came for his cheesy dogs and thought differently. Then…around 1800, the Chickadees appeared, and they headed straight for the table feeder filling their beaks! Nine of them came to feed over a half hour – waiting for their turns in the lilacs (which is how I got to count them). Nine. The entire gang lives in the Blue Spruce tree across the road.

It is almost possible to set my watch on the arrival of the birds in the garden. If they do not appear, I wait and worry like a parent when their teenager has taken the car out for the evening for the first time. The joys they have brought over the years is boundless.

Every year the Grackles have a nest in the garden. Mr Crow took the chicks one year but another year, the Grackles had a fledge. The entire Grackle community came – I am sure I have told you this story before – to celebrate the fledge. Fingers crossed, we have success this year with chicks. Mr Grackle is on guard! Here he is getting some food during his break from sentry duty.

Dyson’s gang are getting pesky and right now they are loving chasing the birds from the lilac branches. Silly little ones.

So I have decided to keep a diary this year beginning this week, showing how the ordinary can be the most extraordinary. Why don’t you join me with observations from your walks, garden observations, trips to the nature centre or places more exotic? Let’s do it for a year. If you can draw – I can’t! – even better. Feel free to share with me what you have learned!

We are now only two days away from the banding at Cal Falcons! It will fly by in a wink!

DH18 is stable after his procedure on Monday. Stable is good. We wait to hear if his infection clears up. Waiting is hard.

Are you a teacher? a leader of a youth group? We need inspiring ways to get children involved in learning about our feathered friends in order to be the stewards of their future. These lucky children got to name the Manchester peregrine falcons!

CIEL has posted images of the nests with the eaglets on them for comparison.

That egg continued to bother Hartley. I wonder how long they have been thinking about it? Well, today, Hartley moved that egg from last year into her clutch of four eggs! SK Hideaways caught this precious gesture for us. The wonders of nature never cease to amaze us.

There is still concern for Angel and her eaglet. The situation remains precarious. Tom was on a branch being bombarded by Blue Jays and did not bring any prey to the nest on Tuesday. The eaglet ate leftovers from Monday Tuesday morning but as far as I know, had nothing the rest of the day. Tom was only there at 1415. He arrived and was off again. Angel left, presumably to have a break and try and find food.

This nest will need food tomorrow…for sure for the little one. 24 hours between meals is not good. Let us hope the weather is good. Angel cannot hunt and leave the chick as it cannot regulate its temperature. It is very tense. Let us all take a deep breath and send good wishes.

Oh, thank goodness. Tom brought a mouse! Angel fed most of it to the baby but ‘A’ notes there was a little left for Mum. More prey needed!

Ondabebe caught that mouse delivery and what happened….Thanks ‘A’.

So far no pip for Big Red and Arthur. The target date is 4 May.

Is there a bit of a crack or pip in one of the eggs Wednesday morning for Big Red and Arthur? We wait to see if that is it in the back egg to the right.

Tuesday was a good day at Achieva Credit Union’s Osprey platform in St Petersburg. Six fish!

Abby and Victor are still at the Moorings Park Osprey platform in Naples, Florida. Sally doesn’t seem to be in any hurry to have her babies fledge. She just keeps filling them up with fish!

The third hatch at Lake Murray is still with us! My goodness that osplet is tiny compared to those big sibs that are now getting their reptilian plumage. Let’s collectively hope that their tempers stay muted.

We are so fortunate to still have E22 at home. He was in and out of the nest, up and down on the branches, and sure hoping that Dad would bring in a whopper on Tuesday.

If there was anything left on that old catfish head, E22 would find it. He was ravenous. I wonder if M15 is hoping he will go down and try some fishing?

‘H’ reports that the WRDC nest is doing well. She says, “Dade County is wonderful, there is no longer any aggression from R4 toward R5 during meals, which is quite a relief.  A parents can actually feed the eaglets with them standing side-by-side.  On occasion R5 still has a pre-conditioned knee-jerk reaction to be submissive briefly, even though there is no threat from R4.  But R5 behaving like that is becoming less often as s/he is becoming more relaxed with the ‘new and improved R4’.  Speaking of feeding, R5 does not need to be fed at all, just drop a (preferably unzipped) fish on the nest and R5 will consume it.  The eaglets are becoming huge, and there is some dueling hop-flapping going on.  We are waiting for the results of testing to determine R5’s gender.”

The two GH owlets of Bonnie and Clyde are flying from branch to branch but still being fed by Mum at times. So cute…

Decorah eaglet is not a baby anymore! Clown feet and pin feathers coming in. What happened to that cute little fluffy eaglet of a couple days ago?

The three eaglets at Denton Homes in Decorah, Iowa are doing great as well.

The trio at Dulles-Greenway have their juvenile plumage and, at least one, is standing on the rim of the nest. Did you know that the parents, Martin and Rosa, are named after Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks? ‘A’ reminded me that she didn’t know the other day and I wonder how many others do. This is a good Bald Eagle nest to watch. Put it on your list for next season if you haven’t got it there already.

The two eaglets at the Pittsburgh-Hayes Eagle nest are doing really well. Large fish have been brought to the nest for the past couple of days.

At the White-tailed Eagle nest in the Tucholskie Forest in Poland, there are two eaglets. The eldest is the most dominant and demands to eat first. when its crop is about to pop, the second cautiously makes its way up to the beak to be fed. Hopeful for both to fledge.

Murphy worked on the nest a few days ago. On Tuesday, the not-so-little-eaglet began rearranging the sticks. This is precisely why it is so good that Murphy got to have a ‘real baby’. (sorry the screen capture is terrible- the eaglet is in the nest raising up a large stick) Learning through observation.

A reminder of the absolute vandalism that happened at the Llyn Brenig nest in Wales in 2021. A good interview with Lolo Williams and a discussion about the importance of Ospreys – a rare bird in the UK. The perpetrators were never found but it could have been someone upset about the platforms in North Wales. — The pair did not return to lay another egg. there is now a protected nest at the site. Thanks, Geemeff, for this historic reminder of this tragedy.

At the Glaslyn nest of Aran and Elen, Aran waits for Elen to want her break so he can take over incubation. What I wouldn’t give if our dear Angel, the RTH, had a mate like Aran! There are two eggs this year for this newly bonded couple. Fingers crossed for good weather and lots of fish with no injuries.

I love the new split screen at the Dyfi nest of Idris and Telyn. Here we can see Idris incubating while Telyn is enjoying her nice fish – at least for a few moments. It is, sadly, going to slide off and land on the ground where it will stay.

It was a close call the other day when Blue 33 got a stick stuck in his BTO leg band. He managed to get it out but no before we all had a huge lump in our throats with Maya incubating four eggs. It all ended well, thankfully.

It’s 0513 and Dorcha is waiting for Louis to come and relieve her and bring her a nice breakfast fish.

Connor from Window to Wildlife discusses what a crazy year it has been at Captiva. Have a listen! Thanks, ‘H’.

There have been a lot of events since the beginning of the year with many donations being requested by various rehabilitation centres. As one of you said, they felt a bit ‘bird poor’. It can indeed happen. I certainly know the feeling. My goodness, I have to sit back, and it is hard to imagine that Connick was one of the first who needed help this year, with DH18 being the last. Today, I will challenge everyone who belongs to an organisation associated with birds in the UK to give Sasha Dench and Conservation without Borders the cost of a coffee – through a Twitter Feed. Give up the coffee for one day. 810 GBP out of 1500 GBP has been raised to help clean up the HPAI outbreak in The Gambia. Going through the UN will take too long…in late August and September, the UK Ospreys will be heading back to The Gambia and other parts of West Africa to their winter homes. The dead and dying birds need to be cleared! Do people think 2 GBP is too little? I sure hope not! Wish us luck!

Geemeff just posted a thank you from the people of The Gambia doing the clean up.

Thank you for being with me today. Please continue to send your good wishes to DH18 who is fighting for its life and to Angel and her chick – that Tom will be an uber food delivery dad. Take care everyone. See you soon.

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, tweets, videos, and streaming cams that helped to make up my blog this morning: ‘H’, ‘A’, Geemeff, Cal Falcons, AEF, Anne Pardo and the Manchester NH Falcon Fans, Jann Gallivan and CIEL, SK Hideaways and San Jose City Hall, Window to Wildlife, Cornell RTH, Achieva Credit Union, Moorings Park Osprey, Lake Murray Ospreys, SW Florida Eagle Cam, WRDC, Farmer Derek, Raptor Resource Project and Explore.org, Denton Homes, Dulles Greenaway, PIX Cams, Tucholskie Forest WTE, Llyn Brenig Ospreys, BBC, Bywyd Gwyllt Glaslyn, Dyfi Osprey Project, LRWT, and Friends of Loch Arkaig, People’s PostCode Lottery, and the Woodland Trust, Geemeff and Conservation without Borders.

Osprey eggs, DH18 update…Tuesday in Bird World

2 May 2023

Good Morning!

The sky is blue, and the sun is bright this Tuesday morning on the Canadian Prairies. By tea time it will be 15 degrees C. This should really bring on the budding of the leaves and hopefully, we will be seeing some green shortly. Everyone in the City is preparing for the arrival of the Baltimore Orioles – stocking up on grape jelly (they like any flavour, actually) and oranges to help them after their long journey. They fly what is known as an ‘ancestral route’ through the Central Plains of the US down to Florida, the Antilles, and then to their final destination in the marshes of Southern Brazil returning to us in May. It is a long journey, 8-11,000 km (5-6800 miles). They are meeting many challenges due to the changing patterns in agricultural production and irrigation, loss of habitat, and climate changes. These guests will be a welcome addition to the garden family. They stay for about 8 or 9 days and fly north to their breeding grounds for the summer.

Your first smile for the day is brought to you by the students of the Hurst Lodge School in Montana – we missed Osprey Week but we can still enjoy their performance!

Monday evening a moth has gotten into the house. This gobsmacks Missy and Lewis. Lewis got so tired of jumping up and down chasing it that he had to nap…all stretched out. Earlier in the day, Missy and Lewis had also been napping in their Big Dog Bed..always together except in the ‘cat tree’ house. There is no longer room for both of them inside!

First, the latest update on DH18. I am so saddened to hear that an infection has been found but, glad it was and is being treated. We wait to see how our warrior is doing in a couple of days. I know that none of us will give up on DH18. His young life was full of tragedy that none of us would want to go through – lost his dad, lost his sibling, was beaked and starving at times, and then trapped with monofilament line cutting through its legs and causing tremendous pain.

If you see wildlife whose lives are endangered by monofilament lines or baling twine, you must contact the proper authorities immediately. Do not hesitate. We will never know why those watching at DH denied that the fishing line injured the eaglets. All we know is that through dedicated hard work and the efforts of hundreds of people, these two eaglets have a chance – one on the nest with River and the other with the AEF. We hope that DH18 will be released and live in the wild…along with its sibling DH17.

We all know the captivating story of Murphy and the Eaglet. ‘B’ sent me an article out of The New York Times today and it is a good one about Murphy. It isn’t long and I urge you to read it til the end. I can gift articles so please copy and paste the link. The author says, “We fail to understand the creatures who share our ecosystems because we assume they are nothing but bundles of instincts.” I wish more humans understood that all living things are sentient beings. The world would be very different, indeed.

tps://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/01/opinion/murphy-eagle-rock-baby.html?unlocked_article_code=C0NC7KXrItFJ3nP31LqrjicRndEnDVp9sfIua3biiLRQ155Rauw3gBdy1rU7V-QZkhEcamsCx3ZwdP6fAzngaXNAqQcdoRgVQw-hS306a1NHlys2x1G0uDsqatuHWANg2d4qxWknvedOg8DX3sE26d1_z4FvKEZr2pxrFPwmlvhMk9AEauVyVVxlwUBIH4zXJTmn93T3r-STgABY8WCnRb2PlXZi1HWWiEqepcHNNR-Jjijq12d4eMXSHMbEo1vMGm7KlarRk39uWdanOOPk8bcrtI2GB4P1YeIUZBl97r29_4hKZ-brILDoG4nxglajP7u9fvF8UdCyoR0_8KkIeQ&giftCopy=0_NoCopy&smid=em-share

Thanks to those great BOGs we still get to see what E22 is up to around the Fort Myers Bald Eagle nest on the Pritchett Property. The departure of E22 will be so bittersweet.

Bella and Smitty’s only eaglet is doing fine. Smitty brought in four big fish for them on Monday.

‘H’ reports that Kent Island has its first Osprey egg of the season!

‘H’ also reports that Dory up at the Boathouse might be sitting on her first egg. This is exciting! And there is that egg.

Over in the UK, the third egg has arrived at Loch Garten.

Aran continues to deliver his huge fish to Elen at Glaslyn. Oh, you are so handsome, Aran – but, what is important is that you can catch big fish!

Sasha Dench and her team from Flight of the Osprey have been in The Gambia and are driving through Morocco trying to find Blue 4K. He was located earlier and should now be in the UK breeding but where is he?

‘A’ remarks about Tom and the new baby…”Tom returns to the nest around 2.06 pm this afternoon (1 May) – check out the darling little baby from 2:04:12 onwards. Again, Angel is forced to leave the baby on its own. Tom later brought a small opossum to the nest and Angel made it very clear to him that he was not to touch the baby at this point, just bring it food! So Tom has done well today. He has managed not to kill or injure the hawklet and he has brought food. Now that’s what I call progress”. Let us all hope that this progress continues.

‘A’ continues: “Based on his actions this afternoon, I think Tom has got the message. He is delivering prey, and he has watched Angel feeding the baby. I think he is learning fast. And yes, it is a precious darling little thing (and so was its sibling). Angel is being super protective of her baby. When Tom brings the second opossum, she vocalises constantly until he leaves the nest. She remains firmly on top of the chick. She is teaching him. Gee that second opossum is huge. No wonder it provided four feedings and still there are nestovers. “

Excellent news. I am so glad there is food and that Angel is being super protective Mum although the possum family might not be happy about losing its babies. This single surviving hawk let deserves the best of care by Mum and Tom needs to keep that pantry filled – to try and ensure this one survives regardless of its DNA.

There were several fish brought to the nest at the Achieva Credit Union today. The one around 1800, which Diane brought in, was a blessing. Big Bob self-fed off another fish while Diane fed Middle. Oh, this is grand! Today was a good day on the Achieva Nest. With the drought, we can be grateful.

Harry is such a great provider and he also has the advantage of a stocked pond at his doorstep – compared to Achieva. Abby and Victor have been well cared for…is it possible they might never ever want to leave home?! It seriously feels that they are always eating fish! That pond is going to need a good restocking.

Talk about beautiful osplets. I wish the plumage would stay the same when they are adults.

Remember Friday, 5 May. The banding of the Cal Falcons. They are so cute and are getting pin feathers…flapping cotton balls. Thanks SK Hideaways.

At San Jose City Hall, Hartley found the leftover egg from last season and thinks maybe it should be incubated too – in addition to the four he is already incubating! Our giggle of the day. Thanks, Hartley and SK Hideaways.

Missy Berry flew to the nest with a fish for B16. She wasn’t there…they must have found one another because B16 returned to the nest with the fish. Well done! Lots of training going on out there for these fledgling Bald Eagles. Thanks Bel-A-Dona.

The DNA testing has returned for Ron and Rita’s eaglets at the WRDC. R4 is a male and the testing was inconclusive on R5 and will be re-done. Thanks, ‘H’.

Did anyone else notice Big Red looking down, listening, and moving slightly differently at 1838 Monday evening? Pip watch is coming!

Big Red got up and left the eggs around 2000. No pip yet.

This morning at the change over…I am getting excited.

And a bit of a giggle – Big Red getting that egg cup just right.

In Latvia, the two White-tail Eaglets of Milda and Voldis continue to thrive. Wonderful!

‘L’ sent me a photo of the Canada Goose family that lives hear her in the Carolinas. Look how protective they are. Geese are amazing parents. Thank you, L.

The two books I am currently reading are about geese, particularly Pink-footed Geese, Barnacle Geese, Greylags, Brants, and Bean Geese. They are The Meaning of Geese. A thousand miles in search of Home by Nick Acheson and Wintering. A Season with Geese by Stephen Rutt. I must admit that I find Wintering quite a delight to read. Rutt’s writing style sucks you into his burgeoning love for these large flying creatures. It is his discovery and fascination that keeps you turning the pages. Acheson’s book is excellent, too. It is a diary of his year spent with the geese weaving in their history, the science, the challenges of climate change for our feathered friends. Both, however, deal with the migration from the Siberian Tundra or Iceland and Greenland of these beautiful creatures who land in Scotland or Norfolk beginning in September to spend their winters in the UK. Highly recommended.

“grey lag and pink footed geese” by Nick Goodrum Photography is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Thank you so much for being with me this morning. Take care everyone. See you soon!

Thank you to the following for their notes, pictures, videos, posts, tweets, and streaming cams that helped make up my blog this morning: ‘B’, ‘L’, ‘H’, ‘A’, ‘S’, Geemeff, Hurst Lodge School, AEF, The New York Times, SW Florida Eagle Cam, NCTC, Explore.org, RSPB Loch Garten, Bywyd Gwyllt Glaslyn, Conservation without Borders, Geemeff and Conservation without Borders, Window to Wildlife, Achieva Credit Union, Moorings Park Ospreys, SK Hideaways and Cal Falcons, SK Hideaways and San Jose City Hall, Bel-A-Dona and Berry College Eagle Cam, WRDC, Cornell RTH, Latvian Fund for Nature, and Openverse.

DH18 is stable, E21 farewell?…Sunday in Bird World

30 April 2023

Good Morning Everyone,

It was an overcast Saturday on the Canadian Prairies with a few raindrops. Everyone is itching to get out and clean up their gardens, but it is best to wait another couple of weeks to benefit the insects and birds. Instead, the conservatory got its windows cleaned to the delight of Missy and Lewis who seemed to think they could vaporise through the panes of glass and be outside with the birds!

Missy gets the award for being naughty. Oh, if she only knew how much trouble my friend in British Columbia went to sending me her dried hydrangeas! In the post no doubt. Missy!!!!!!!!!

There are still thirty-five or forty Dark-eyed Juncos in the garden and now a couple of Brown Thrashers kicking up everything looking for insects. The Starlings have been in, 23 of them, and out throughout the day, but there is a noticeable decrease in the number of House Sparrows. I hope that they are feeding elsewhere. Mr Woodpecker came around his usual time and if everything is alright with the world, the other two Downeys along with the Chickadee will appear within the hour. Ah, no sooner than I said it, the Chickadee appeared. Then the Downys and along came a Hairy who arrived with a single Grackle.

One of a handful of House Sparrows in the garden. They are so loud. I miss their songs.

I could almost set a watch by the woodpeckers. They come to eat suet every six hours during the day. Today, there were five different woodpeckers in the garden. I could hear a sixth, the Pileated, in the distance.

The female Downy waits at the tree til the male is finished before going to the suet log. If he returns, she flies away immediately.

The second male arrives when the female leaves. This male is a Hairy Woodpecker, larger than the Downy. You can see how much of the log its body covers compared to the little Downys.

The Starlings are gorgeous. These are full breeding colours. Notice how the white spots on the breast are almost entirely gone.

Dyson is enjoying the fresh water in the bird bath. Water is so essential and the birds and mammals eat the snow during the winter but there is nothing like a big drink!

It is really important that we take are of our environment beginning right at home and then moving out into the greater community. This article on these Blackbird chicks states, “To have been born at all in this place at this time when so many millions of birds perish through casual ecocide is miraculous. Environmental justice is not just about the survival of species, it’s about care for these birds, right here and now, and to see them is such a privilege.”

Here is this short article. I imagine each of you could watch and write your own story! The joy the birds bring cannot be denied. So many of you write and tell me that you have found new life in the lives of the birds, both on the streaming cams, and outside in your garden and at the parks. Many of us find being with the birds often more productive and calmer than being with humans!

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/apr/29/country-diary-the-blackbird-chicks-are-out-and-up-against-it?CMP=share_btn_link

On Saturday, at 1319, E21 took flight and left the nest area and has not returned. It is ‘assumed’ that s/he has started on their life of independence. E22 spent the first night alone in the nest with a major thunderstorm raging. Vija caught it for us.

Earlier, E22 had spent time down at the pond – gosh, this eaglet loves that pond and chasing dad with a fish dinner. Thanks, Lady Hawk.

We have seen a similar photo before of Ervie and Mum and Dad on the pine tree at Port Lincoln. This one was taken on Sunday. I find it so interesting how they hang out together. We know, for sure, that two of the PLO fledglings have survived – Calypso (2019) and Ervie (2021). Both have stayed reasonably close to Port Lincoln instead of venturing out at a distance.

There is a pip at the nest of Angel and Tom and let us all send the best wishes that the second baby thrives. The trauma of Tom not recognising his own chick and killing it must have been horrific for both him, when he realised, and Angel.

Status of the pip at 1924. You can see the egg tooth. Oh, please…let this little one survive.

Otherwise, it is quiet in Bird world, which is nice…we sure could use some down time. This year started off in a whirlwind and has not stopped. It was crisis-central. It would be nice if there was a 30 day lull between the eagles and the ospreys…but, no. Never.

Good news. The AEF issued their statement on DH18’s condition on Saturday. It is beautiful to hear that the AEF are both “grateful and overwhelmed” with public support for the medical care for our little warrior. Send positive wishes for his surgery on Monday. He is a fighter and a survivor!

So how did Nick Dwyer climb that tree to rescue the Dale Hollow eaglets? Gosh, smile…with an incredibly simple tool – a sling shot!

Freya wasn’t a raptor (she could have easily been) but a furore over officials who euthanised the Walrus in Oslo last summer resulted in a bronze statue to her memory – and, just perhaps, a reminder that humans should reconsider their actions.

In my past, I studied the commemoration of Britons in SE Asia and, in particular, the Indian sub-continent. Statues go up and they come down mostly due to the political nature of the human memorialised. Let us hope that the presence of Freya will remind us to be ‘human and caring’ to all wildlife even if they ‘inconvenience’ us. We did take over their land and poison their oceans, after all. We owe it to them.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/apr/29/sculpture-walrus-freya-unveiled-oslo-norway?CMP=share_btn_lin

All is well with the two hatches at First Utility Ospreys.

Ever since Middle forged its way to Diane’s beak and made it clear that it was going to eat and survive, the Achieva Osprey nest seems to be much more balanced.

Beautiful Decorah Hatchery family.

DH Mum and Dad spent some time on Saturday putting up some more crib rails for DH2. That little one is getting big and they do not want their precious baby to go overboard. Michelle Celeste caught the action on video for us.

On the Cornell Campus, Big Red and Arthur continue to incubate their eggs on Saturday.

At the same time, E3, the fledgling of Big Red and her former mate, Ezra, is celebrating its 9th hatch day! Just look at that face.

Geemeff catches Louis delivering a nice fish supper to Dorcha at Loch Arkaig.

A nest to watch is Moorings Park Ospreys. Abby and Victor are 8 weeks old and helicoptering and first flights are imminent. Florida Ospreys typically fledge at 55 days.

Abby is on the right and Victor on the left – Victor’s head has much more white on it.

It has been a great year at the Moorings Park Osprey Platform and I urge you to put this nest on your watch list for next year but, if you haven’t checked in this year, now is a good time to do so. Helicoptering by pre-fledge ospreys is incredible. Perhaps not as good as the Royal Albatross chick will do but, still, it is remarkable. I sure can’t hover! Gosh, don’t we all wish we could grow feathers and fly, just once?

The trio at Dulles-Greenway were a little soggy early Saturday but the day ended with some sunshine and all eating well.

‘S’ wrote and asked why we see two of the eaglets at Dulles-Greenway together almost all the time with the other one separate. It is believed that this is a gender separation issue – the two together are the same gender with the other one alone, the opposite. Oh, if they were to band them we could find out for sure in this case!

On 5 May, Annie and Lou’s eyases will be banded. They will be measured, weighed, and DNA will also be taken. Today, you can see that the plumage on the two older chicks (look around the eyes) is beginning to change.

This video is too funny…Thanks SK Hideaways…Lou eats but what about the chicks?

Beautiful Iris.

There are three little osplets at Lake Murray. Take a deep breath and hope that Ricky gets lots of fish to this nest. That third hatch is so tiny.

Aran and Elen are expecting their third egg at the Glaslyn nest today -if there is to be one. Aran stayed with Elen in the nest during one of Wale’s downpours. It rains in Wales – or so it seems – like it does in Ireland – and everything is continually green and lovely from the nest.

There could be only two eggs this year. That would be just fine..a nice way to ease into motherhood for Elen.

Glaslyn posted this reminder. It was on the 30th of April 2015 that a very handsome young male osprey landed on Mrs G’s nest. Here we are 8 years later…you were a keeper, Aran.

Dad GLY has been in to feed South Plateau chick at the Royal Cam nest on Taiaroa Head on Saturday. The little one was weighed this past Thursday and their weight was fantastic despite the fact that Mum L has not been in for a feeding for nearly a fortnight now. Send good wishes. We hope she is alright.

Lots of eyes on the nest of Big Red and Arthur as pip watch is fast approaching! Indeed, some are counting on a hatch for tomorrow…we will see.

In Latvia, Milda and Voldis have their hands full with the roaming little white-tail nestlings. Liznm gives a glimpse into their lives through a feeding.

In The Czech Republic, Betty and Bukacheck continue to incubate their five White Stork eggs.

And last but never least, my daughter sends us an article on the Peregrine Falcons at the University of Montreal! And the people who protect them. Thank you!

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/peregrine-falcons-universite-de-montreal-livestream-1.6825643

We are awaiting the hatch for Angel and Tom, fledge at Moorings Park and more eggs at other nests.

Thank you so much for being with me this morning – it is sunny with a blue sky today. Take care all. See you soon.

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, tweets, videos, and streaming cams that helped to make up my blog today: ‘A’, ‘H’, Geemeff, Jaine, The Guardian, Vija and SW Florida Eagle Cam, Lady Hawk and SWFlorida Eagle Cam, SW Florida Eagle Cam, Bass Hockaday and Friends of Sth Bus, Cornell Bird Lab, AEF, Terry Carman and Bald Eagles Live Nests and Cams, First Utility Ospreys, Achieva Credit Union, Raptor Resource and Explore.org, Cornell Raptor Program, Suzanne Arnold Horning and Cornell Hawk Dam Chatters, Geemeff and Friends of Loch Arkaig, People’s Post Code Lottery, and the Woodland Trust, Moorings Park Ospreys, Dulles Greenway Eagle Cam, Cal Falcons, SK Hideaways and Cal Falcons, Montana Osprey Project, Laurie Spence and Osprey Friends, Bywyd Gwyllt Glaslyn, NZ DOC, LixnM, Ziva Camera, and CBC.

DH18s rescue continued, Bonus is alive, Horror at Angel’s nest…Saturday in Bird World

29 April 2023

Good Morning All,

It is Saturday. The weekend started for many yesterday afternoon…and for some of us, it is always the weekend! I hope whichever is the case for you, it is all good.

It is almost the end of April. The calendar might say spring began 5 weeks ago, but here on the Canadian Prairies, it does not always feel that way. Today it did, even with some grey skies until late. In the garden, a younger crow has just flown down to check out the cat kibble at my neighbour’s because ‘Calico Cat’ is outside eating the kibble on my deck. It is always a busy time in the garden from 1800-1900. Everyone wants to eat something before they go to roost for the night. Mr Younger Crow must be hungry. He is now below the feeders picking up some of the Butter Bark that the Starlings tossed out of the feeder when they were picking out the Meal Worms. It is not easy for urban birds. As he settles to eat, another fat (literally) cat with a collar darts out…it is pretty sad. The time that the birds need to be eating is also the time that humans get home from work and let their cats out. It is against the law. But no one will enforce the bylaw. There are not enough workers to do that, and it has never seemed there was a will. The goal when the bylaw was passed was to reduce the feral cat populations in the City.

But, never mind. Everyone got something tonight to eat, and that is what matters. Soon I will not be able to see them so quickly as the buds are getting ready to pop open. Green. Seriously, it is time for the green in the garden.

Read to the end of the blog today for some info on a new video of DH18’s rescue.

Your first smile of the morning comes from the Two Harbours nest of Chase and Cholyn…poor baby has such a big crop it can hardly move!

Our giggle of the morning is a short 3-minute video from the Dulles-Greenway Eagle Cam. Have a smile to start your day!

And then there is the sheer joy of the morning. Bonus is a Black Stork. He was one of the Estonian nestlings of Jan and Jannika that were removed to be raised by Urmas and Dr Madis when Jan went missing. Bonus was fostered by Karl II and Kaia. In his migration, Bonus’s transmitter stopped working in the Eastern Desert of Egypt. Yesterday, that transmitter started sending signals again. Bonus is alive! Bonus is flying north and is at the Israeli-Jordanian border. He must have spent the winter in Sudan with Waba! Now. Jump up and down. And realise that transmitters can go ‘off’ – I am thinking of some UK Ospreys, including Glen. If the administrators turn the transmitter completely off, you will never know if they are alive in seven months. Just a thought. Thank you, ‘T’ for letting me know. Over the moon!

The latest news on DH18- I am so glad to hear he is eating well and is bright and alert. Hopeful. Continue to imagine a new buffet for him full of succulent morsels carefully prepared.

Many of you will not have seen this quick action by Bella at the NCTC nest in 2021. I am so glad that Deb Stecyk posted it again. Fishing line as we are well aware is a huge hazard to the well-being and lives of our raptors. As humans we need to do better in cleaning up the messes we leave and also those that others make. Good bi-annual clean-ups of shorelines – rivers, lakes, streams, small ponds, all help. Sadly, one of the biggest dangers is the fish that break the line, hook in their mouth, and go on to be caught by the eagles and ospreys. These are brought to the nest to feed the chicks only to have the line bet in the chick’s mouths and tangled amidst nesting material, legs, wings, and necks. This is what happened to DH17 and 18.

There is something else that should be done. A blanket permit to the licensed wildlife rehabilitation centres allows them to approach a nest that has a monofilament line on it that is or could endanger the life of the eaglets. It is a no-brainer. Not randomly, but to the centres that can organise the rescue. This would save many lives and a lot of injury or death to the raptors. This should be our next effort – in honour of Dale Hollow 18 whose life could be seriously compromised because of the delay. Letters would go out to the USFWS as well as the licensing agent in each State.

Flo comes to the platform to mourn the loss of her babies.

‘A’ sends news of a hatch underway Friday morning at the nest of RTHawks Angel and Tom!

Angel and Tom have a hatch! Thanks, Gracie Shepherd. Notice how Angel preens the little one. so sweet.

It should have been wonderful…it wasn’t. *DISTRESSING* ‘A’ writes, “I cannot believe what has just happened at Angel’s nest. Tom arrived for morning duty at around 07:42 and saw his chick for the first time. It is an absolute darling – fluffy white little sweetheart, yawning and looking up at dad. He looks startled and spreads his wings as if he is mantling. He has his back to us, but we hear the chick’s distress sounds. Angel lands on a branch behind the nest at 07:44:48, at which point she can see what is happening in the nest. Tom leaves a few seconds later, at which point we see that the chick is dead. Tom has killed it. Angel is very distressed. She has already vocalised her displeasure at him as he left the nest and she is now very uncertain. She tries to allopreen her baby. She is vocalising constantly. She broods the second egg, her dead baby in front of her on the nest. She leaves the nest around 08:07:14. Tom returns at 08:07:47 and looks down at the nest. Angel can be heard in the background, still angrily vocalising at Tom, who looks up, then back down at the dead baby. He may be realising what he has done. He is obviously confused. He is touching the baby with his beak. I cannot keep typing right now. This is the saddest and most unexpected thing I have seen.”

‘H’ sends news of the third egg at the Osprey platform of Duke and Daisy at Barneyghat Light in New Jersey.

Both Es on the branches of the nest tree at Fort Myers on a grey Friday morning.

There are lots of osprey intruders flying about in the UK at the moment. They do not have nests or mates yet. Some of these turn out to be very interesting ospreys. In this case, it was a grand chick of Mrs G at Glaslyn.

You can see the moss in the nest above at Aran and Elen’s nest at Glaslyn. You will also see it in other nests. Here is a statement on what the Ospreys are doing as they incubate eggs and prepare for hatch.

The little eyases at Cal Falcons are two weeks old. They will be banded on 5 May. Mark that in your calendars. Thanks Cal Falcons for showing us how much they have grown in two weeks with all those prey deliveries! Great job Annie and Lou.

The first venture out of the scrape was to be about a week away but one of those pesky little ones decided to tumble out. SK Hideaways caught it for us.

A question came in the e-mail from ‘N’ who wonders how the little falcons in Rome who lost their mother, Vergine, are doing. Here is a link to the camera. The chicks appear to be fine. Alex is feeding them and doing the best he can.

https://www.youtube.com/live/wIin45_sXz4?feature=share

Sunnie Day reminds us that in some areas, the twine used to hold hay or straw bales together is as dangerous to the raptors as is the fishing line. They have sure pulled a lot out of Montana nests with some chicks dead in unmonitored nests. So sad.

I am so glad that Murphy and his eaglet are still making news. It is a good feeling story. Murphy may never feel the urge to incubate a rock again but, he was noticed and thoughtful individuals gave him and the eaglet needing a parent a chance. It worked. Joy all around.

We have a first egg today for Karl II and Kaia at the Black Stork Nest in the Karula National Forest in Estonia.

Condor chat by the Ventana Wildlife Society for April! Avian Flu Update. Rebuild. Population Status. Nesting. Reducing lead poisoning in Condors.

Everything is alright with the little eaglet at Decorah Hatchery.

There is more news coming out of the Raptor Resource Project and the six goslings that jumped. They have reviewed the footage and discovered what happened to the sixth baby.

Wow! ‘R’ sent me some exciting time lines for the Achieva Osprey platform. Middle Bob is doing really great thwarting Big Bob from both attacking it and getting to the fish. Fantastic. What a change in behaviour!

Speaking of Achieva. I do not know why that chat attracts people who not only supply disinformation but also like to be extremely hostile and have no knowledge of Osprey’s behaviour. Call them out if you know they are wrong! Block them. Whatever it takes.

As you are aware, the Kakapo are one of the world’s most endangered Species. The New Zealand Government and the Kakapo Recovery have done everything they can to increase the numbers and protect and assist the Kakapo if sick or injured. A single stoat made its way on to one of the uninhabited islands where the Kakapo live. It could have killed every non-flying parrot. Luckily that Stoat was found!

What is a stoat? The stoat is a small predator with a long, low-slung body that makes it particularly well-suited to hunting small rodents and rabbits. I think they look like weasels. Stoats can quickly kill an adult rabbit, which is much larger than itself, with a bite to the base of the skull. 

It is that time of year. Everyone is finding bunnies and baby birds and worrying what to do about them. Sassa Bird posted a reminder for us from Audubon. You might not find yourself in this situation but, guess what? A friend or family member might so have a read so you can help if required.

It is also time for a few other information sheets. Spread the word. People want to do the right thing. Do not feed the ducks and geese bread. They love the stuff. It is sugary and salty and it will stop them from eating the plants that are good for them. In addition, it could also cause deformities such as Angel Wing – we saw this at my local park pond last year – and the ducks had to be euthanised.

Many of you are wanting to help the birds with materials for their nests. It is important not to put out anything that could harm them. This includes dryer lint if you have used detergents with fragrance or any softener or dryer sheets. Dryer lint also contains microfibres. Do not put out pet hair if your pet has had any treatment for fleas and ticks like Revolution. It kills birds! Do not put out human hair as it can cut the legs of the birds just like monofilament line. String and yarn if the pieces are too long can be deadly.

So what can you offer to the birds? Here is the information from the David Suzuki Foundation. Please pass it along to others!

How-to-offer-birds-nesting-material-David-Suzuki-FoundationDownload

Get the tissues out. On the AEF Twitter page, there is a new video of the rescue of DH18 – from an entirely different view. The boat to go to the site, the climb, and our dear DH18 getting care at the bottom of the tree. Go over and have a look. Grab the tissue..and then look at how big DH18 was.

Thank you so much for being with me today. Continue to send your best wishes to DH18 who is healing from its surgery and who will have more surgery in the coming days. We continue to be grateful to everyone who rescued this eaglet in need. Take care all. See you soon.

Thank you to the following for their notes, comments, posts, tweets, videos, and streaming cams that helped make up my blog today: ‘R’, ‘H’, ‘A’, ‘S’, IWS and Explore.org, Dulles-Greenway, Birdmap.it and Looduskalender, AEF, Deb Stecyk and NCTC, HeidiMc and Window to Wildlife, Cornell Angel Hawk Cam, Conserve Wildlife, SW Florida Eagle Cam, Bywyd Gwyllt Glaslyn, Dyfi Osprey Project, Cal Falcons, SK Hideaways and Cal Falcons, Birdcam.It, Sunnie Day, CBS Sunday Morning, Eagle Club of Estonia, Ventana Wildlife, Raptor Resource Project, Achieva Credit Union, Kakapo /recovery, Audubon, David Suzuki, and the AEF.

Permit for Dale Hollow? Goslings hatching, Rescue at Bald Canyon…Tuesday in Bird World

25 April 2023

Good Morning Everyone,

It is a gorgeous sunny day in the garden on Monday, but there was a problem. It was quiet. the garden is never quiet; it is always humming with at least the sound of several dozen House Sparrows that can be heard from a distance. Something was ‘off’. I did not see a hawk, but I do wonder if one was about or an owl. Now the little birds are returning as the day begins to end. Mr Crow has come to check on the cheesy dogs. Mr Blue Jay has been for peanuts along with Dyson and her gang. The Dark-eyed Juncos are searching for Black oil seed, and the sparrows and Starlings are eating the solid suet. There are now two Common Grackles visiting and from the look of Mr Crow, it could have been the Grackles that were the disturbance. Regardless, they bring so much joy. I cannot imagine my garden without them.

What a joy and right now we need joy.

On Monday, it came in the form of Nicole and her teammate, Ben, from the IWS rescuing the oldest eaglet from Bald Canyon, BC1.

There would be many videos online if you missed the live rescue. But what you would have seen was the arrival of the rescue team. Dad was on the nest, and he began alarming when they were under the nest with the eaglet. Then he flew off the nest, circling the area while Nicole worked with the eaglet. We did not see it, but we should assume that she hydrated the baby and gave it food. Then the ladder was placed, and she climbed and put BC1 back up on the nest with its two siblings. Afterwards, she placed some more twigs for rails. There are not a lot of twigs for the eagles to use for railings. The adults returned, and the eaglets were all later fed. It was beautiful. There was not a single hiccup. This is what a rescue looks like. Flawless professionals doing their job caring for wildlife.

I am encouraging everyone to send Dr Sharpe a note of gratitude. His e-mail is: psharpe@iws.org

Not far away, Chase and Cholyn’s little one is also growing by leaps and bounds. Just look at the love in that parent’s eye.

‘H’ reports that the big news at the WRDC on Monday was that R5 was self-feeding! For real.

We continue to hope for that miracle at Dale Hollow. I cannot personally verify but a posting was made on Bald Eagles 101 that a permit has been issued for a rescue at Dale Hollow and if that it is true you must give yourself a pat on the back. It was through the huge effort in lobbying for these eaglets that this will happen.

The fact that DH Eagle Cam folks was not going to the podcast to discuss the issue is good news. There is no reason for her to join in. The appropriate authorities – state and federal – should be there and this should be a decision for the health of the eaglets. USFWS regulations state – as we all know – that human-caused issues can be mitigated.

I want to be hopeful and I don’t want to spread false hope or rumours. I would love to see something official about that permit.

The two eaglets are tethered together, right leg to the left. Everyone who is anyone knows what is going on, but the issue is doing something. Instead of just saying it can’t be done, why not be like the little train that could: “I think I can, I think I can!” Do not give up hope, and do not give up signing petitions or sending letters. I hope they get 10,000!

River fed the eaglets and DH18 ate. She is sleeping with her babies tonight. We have witnessed what M15 did for the Es. River and Obey had been mates for a long time. We saw her cry out for him after he went missing, grieving. She has gotten the two eaglets this far. Just look at them. Now to have them tangled together with line and she cannot do anything to help them. She has tried. Someone might wonder why we are so upset…”They are just birds.” Personally I believe it is a sign of our humanity that we care for them and want to get them help.

As of Monday evening, the streaming cam is still working. According to the sites, the FB page of Dale Hollow and the chat are closed for a week. There has been a lot of criticism, and there should be. Other nests state that there are non-intervention policies, and, of course, there are unless an eaglet falls out of a nest OR is endangered by something human-caused. There are other reasons a nest can be approached and an intervention undertaken. Not trying is cowardly. Where are all those people that want to put rockets into space and make more money than all of us in a few minutes? Doesn’t one have a bright idea of how to get to this nest?

The saying below needs another line: That help wildlife!

This tethered eaglet was rescued by the AEF, the same people who have offered to go to Dale Hollow.

‘H’ has been keeping her eagle eye on the Fortis Exshaw Osprey Platform in Canmore, Alberta and one of the adults has arrived today. There is a new box and the couple will need to find nesting materials.

Elen is the name of the new Queen of Glaslyn. No sooner did she receive her name and she gave Aran his first egg of the 2023 season. It is difficult to move on from Mrs G. She was such a formidable character but this gal seems to have it all. Well done, Aran!

Many are keeping a close eye on Mother Goose in Decorah. The first eaglet has hatched and there were several ready to follow. I understand the leap will be either tomorrow or Wednesday depending on the last egg to hatch. There are six eggs in total.

Mother Goose is really hissing and is a highly protective mode as the eggs hatch! Father Goose has been around to check on the progress.

Father Goose down by the water ready to help when the leap is made. He has been up on the branch of the nest tree a couple of times also.

Mother Goose is going to have fun keeping them under her while they pop out from under her tail!

Oh, there is more. Mother Goose will not be able to go and forage until they take the leap. Dad is waiting down by the creek wondering what is happening. When she does not show up for her evening meal, he will know that hatch is underway. Looks like several more goslings.

As night falls, one little head is peaking out. Other shells seem to be cracking. Looks like all six little goslings could be with us by morning. It is 22:47 and ‘A’ sent me a note saying that 3 of the 6 have not hatched.

There are five hatched at 1000 Tuesday morning and Mr Gander is pacing and honking anxious for the Mrs and the kids to get down to the stream!

Good Night, Mother Goose!

Sharon Pollock gives us the hatching in a video.

In Webster, Texas, Ringo is still being fed on the nest. Dad flies in with a small fish for Ringo. Ringo flies around the nest and then lands for its meal.

I am very grateful to ‘A’ who sent me a note about the Achieva Osprey nest. Jack went missing and was away from the nest for a similar period that Flo was at Captiva. He had to have been dealing with intruders and this then would have caused prey delivery issues. In the image below the eldest is being fed and the middle is eating nestovers or trying to. We still have prey delivery issues and the aggression from the eldest. Send this nest your positive wishes, please.

The eldest ate two fish on Monday while the Middle Bob got nothing…so far. We need a big fish on the nest now so Middle can get fed. Sad, but hopeful.

We have the second egg for Poole Harbour. In celebration Blue 022 brings in more colourful plastic! Geez.

Moorings Park Ospreys are doing well. No problems here!

I still want to cuddle DH2 and even bring it home. What a little sweetheart.

Remember. Banding Day for the eyases at Cal Falcons is 5 May! At that time their legs will have stopped growing and they can be ringed safely. The gender reveal will be interesting and hey, what about the names?!

Their pin feathers are coming and Lou and Annie helped to shade but not brood all the time now.

Incubation continues at San Jose City Hall scrape.

Dulles-Greenway seems to be doing fine. A Turkey Vulture came to visit the nest tree late on Monday and the adults kept a close eye on it.

We are approximately one week away from hatch at the Cornell Red tail Hawk nest of Big Red and Arthur.

It is pip watch at Angel, the leucistic Red Tail Hawk’s nest! Tom is as anxious as we are!

Geemeff is hopeful that the dissolution of the initiative might actually lead to meaningful change in the area of raptor persecution in the Peak District. Gosh, I hope so! The criminal charges and fines have done nothing to stop the wanton killing of the Hen Harriers, for one.

The blog states: “Incidents of shooting, poisoning, trapping, nest destruction or the disappearance of satellite-tracked birds active within the Peak District have featured in every year of the initiative’s monitoring.

The National Park Authority believes that until these illegal activities are tackled, meaningful progress towards population increases in key species will not be possible.

Phil Mulligan, chief executive of the Peak District National Park Authority said: “It is with regret that we are closing the initiative after more than a decade of endeavours to safeguard our charismatic birds of prey that have a rightful place here in the National Park.”

You can read it in its entirety here:

Peak District Bird of Prey Initiative finally folds as persecution continues

Karl II and Kaia sleeping on the Black Stork nest in Estonia Monday night.

Good night, Telyn!

I am going to sign off and have a quiet dinner. The Dale Hollow situation is quite stressful especially with regard to DH18’s leg. I want so desperately to be hopeful and that someone will step forward and come up with a helicopter plan or a rehabber with experience that is also a good rock climber to get up the hill to the nest. We just can’t give up until we have tried everything. And I do mean actually tried to help the eaglets not sat in a room talking about it theoretically. We need action like we saw at Bald Canyon. Thank you for your continuing support for these efforts.

Take care everyone. I have not posted lots of incubating birds – it is like watching paint dry. There should be more eggs tomorrow and all of the goslings will have hatched. The moderator at the Goose cam, Buddy’s Mum, thinks the leap will be Wednesday. But might it be Tuesday afternoon? It depends on the timing of that last hatch. See you soon!

Thank you to the following for their notes, their tweets, videos, and streaming cams that helped to make up my blog today: Geemeff, ‘H’, ‘A’, ‘A from Tokyo’, ‘SP’, IWS and Explore.org, Jackie Brown and Bald Eagles Live Nest and Cams, DHEC, Terry Carman and Bald Eagles Live Nest and Cams, Fortis Exshaw, Bywyd Gwylld Glaslyn, Decorah Goose Cam, Sharon Pollock and Decorah Goose Cam, Paul White and Webster, Texas Bald Eagles, Achieva Credit Union, Poole Harbour ospreys, Moorings Park Ospreys, Raptor Resource Project and Explore.org, Cal Falcons, San Jose City Hall Peregrine Falcons, Dulles-Greenway, Cornell RTH, Cornell Leucistic Hawk, Raptor Persecution UK, Eagle Club of Estonia, and Dyfi Osprey Project.

Goslings hatching, She is Elen…Monday in Bird World

24 April 2023

Good Morning Everyone!

Thank you so much for being here with us today. We hope that the week is starting out well for each and every one of you!

Mr Crow and a friend have returned. He has been yelling at me all day. It is unclear whether he wants his cheesy dogs or his cat kibble but he is making quite a ruckus right above my head as I write this. The first Common Grackle of the year has appeared in the garden along with the normal array of Dark-eyed Juncos, Sparrows, European Starlings and woodpeckers. I can see Little Red running through the lilacs to get to the suet while Dyson and the gang are hovering around on the ground. They much prefer the Black Oil seed when they have finished all the peanuts.

Hatchery Mum and Dad and DH2 give us another cute moment with their family portrait from Sunday. Isn’t it beautiful? That adorable little eaglet. So precious after the tragedies of last year with HPAI.

The award for the most diligent mother of the week has to go to Sally at Moorings Park who is always feeding her osplets, Abby and Victor, even at 11pm!!!!!!!

On Monday morning, the new unringed female, nicknamed ‘Dot’ at the Glaslyn Osprey platform, will be given an official name! She has now been with Aran for more than a week. It has been a joy watching the two get acquainted and bond; this is terrific news. Wonder what the name will be?

New nesting material is in and Aran has perfected handing over the fish to his new mate. All we need are some lovely eggs in that nest now!

The new female is named Elen. “Our new Glaslyn female now has a name! She will be called Elen, named after Yr Elen a mountain in the Carneddau range in Eryri (Snowdonia). As you will be aware, Aran is named after Yr Aran another mountain in Eryri.”

Their story unfolded quickly as Elen laid her first egg this morning at 10:37! What a brilliant start with a new name, too.

Dorcha has laid her second egg at Loch Arkaig with her mate Louis.

Sasha Dench is in Guinea. She has discovered why water and climate change are important to the Ospreys that migrate between the UK and West Africa. Have a listen. You will learn a lot about how our changing world impacts everything! We are all interconnected.

Flo left the Captiva Osprey nest around noon on Sunday. She looked down at the only egg that – well, it would take a miracle if it was viable – and flew off. Angus has returned to the nest. He is on the perch in the last image. The couple was seen together in the nearby trees. Their bond is essential. They can begin again next year. It was a rough season for everyone at Captiva this year.

The situation at Dale Hollow continues to weigh heavily on people’s minds and our hearts. The American Eagle Foundation and the Tampa Raptor Centre offered expert climbers to go to the site and remediate the issue. The nest is on public land, US Army land, accessed by a road through private property.

There is more news coverage of what is happening to the eaglets and letters are now going out to everyone who wrote advocating for the eaglets. I want to thank each of you from the bottom of my heart to the tip of my tiny toe for taking the time – for your love and your caring for our wildlife. You could just as easily close your eyes and ignore everything. You didn’t. We may not win this one, but we cannot give up. In an ideal situation, that monofilament line comes off. River breaks it and removes the mess from the nest. That is the perfect solution. If that does not happen, and it hasn’t yet, we must seek help for those who cannot ask for it themselves. I am so proud to be in such excellent company as all of you.

I have just opened my evening’s e-mail to find a host of similar letters and notices of television news coverage in Tennessee. We owe it to the eaglets not to give up. I have said that twice. It is crucial. Everything takes longer than we want. Bureaucracy takes time – and nothing happens on the weekend. Not even for Dr Sharpe!

Here is the letter going out to those who contacted Tennessee Wildlife Resources. Thank you to everyone who sent me their copy. It takes an army! Last year when I posted letters on my blog, DH labelled them as ‘fake news’. The letter below is not fake – many of you will have received the same one from the official.

Thank you for sharing your concerns. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) was notified of an eaglet tangled in fishing line by viewers of a Dale Hollow live eagle camera on Friday, April 22. TWRA staff who received the notification immediately contacted Agency staff responsible for wildlife conservation. The Agency also notified our partners at the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the American Eagle Foundation about the eaglet.

TWRA is actively monitoring the situation and is in communication with federal wildlife authorities. Although no longer listed on the federal list of endangered or threatened species, both bald eagles and golden eagles are protected by the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Due to their federally regulated status, the US Fish and Wildlife Service is the agency with oversite and authority in cases of eagles in distress.

Federal laws prohibit the disturbance of eagles and their nests, which includes any substantial interference with normal breeding, feeding, or sheltering behavior. Any rescue attempt would be considered a disturbance of natural behavior, and therefore requires federal permitting to take place. Additionally, only individuals who have been properly certified are allowed to climb to eagle nests for the safety of the individual and the eagles. 

Disturbing the nest, even for a rescue attempt, comes with significant risks. Nestlings may be startled by human activity near the nest and prematurely jump from the nest before they are able to fly or care for themselves. This could result in the death of both nestlings. Adult eagles can also become territorial or defensive of the nest, and attack humans who attempt to approach the nest.

Live wildlife cameras serve as an important education tool for members of the public to safely view nature. However, from time to time, the public may see the disturbing footage of sick, injured, orphaned, or otherwise distressed wildlife as part of the natural course of events. Unfortunately, the eaglet in this situation was tangled in a piece of litter. TWRA always encourages individuals enjoying the outdoors to properly dispose of any trash to prevent injury to wildlife. Littering on public property carries varied offenses ranging from misdemeanor to felony charges.

This is a developing situation, requests for additional information should be directed to the agency with jurisdiction, the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Federal officials are aware of the situation and any additional decisions or action on the issue will be made by the US Fish and Wildlife Service with the full cooperation of TWRA.

Respectfully, 

Emily Buck
Director of Communications and Outreach
Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency 5107 Edmondson Pike, Nashville, TN 37211

Because of you more news agencies are picking up the story. Why not be the heroes and help the eaglets?

More news this morning:

As of this morning, DH18 is still in the same position on the nest it has been for days with the entanglement materials underneath it – in other words, DH18 continues to be tethered to the nest. River dropped the fish and was dealing with intruders.

I would love to be posting all those amazing images of the Es but they belong to the photographers that took them. Please head over to the SW Florida Eagle Cam FB page to see what the Es and M15 are doing off camera. They are amazing!

Vijay caught the breakfast delivery on Sunday! Listen to those eaglets as they know M15 is on his way!

It is Sunday afternoon in Iowa and all eyes are on every twitch that Mother Goose is making.

Mother Goose was up for her evening break but was not gone very long at all.

It is 0715 and there is a big pip and a crack in one of the Goose eggs at Decorah! Yippeeee. Thanks ‘A’ for the head’s up.

‘H’ reports that R4 had a good feed yesterday. Continuing good news for this eaglet at Miami.

Nesting is also beginning at the Osoyoos Osprey Platform in British Columbia.

You have to love the Cal Falcon feedings. Two for you and then two for you and wait, yes, two for you. As ‘H’ reminds me I have always said if you want a peaceful nest watch the falcons and the hawks! And just imagine – it is not long until we have pip watch for Big Red and Arthur!

Great video by SK Hideaways of this little number three – feisty!

Wondering which egg is which of Big Red and Arthur’s? Cornell tweeted their ID.

Sunday was happy hatch day for two California Condors. One is one of my all-time favourites, Phoenix 477. He is the mate of Redwood Queen, the mother of Iniko (with Kingpin, who died in the Dolan Fire). Phoenix got his name because he also survived a tragic wildfire. He and Redwood Queen raised #1174 in Pinnacles (a new nest for them) in 2022.

Karl II and Kaia continue their bonding and getting their strength back after their long migration from their winter homes in central Africa.

The Pitkin County Osprey Platform had its second egg today. The nest is located on a platform in Roaring Park Valley, Colorado. Last year both osplets were pulled off the nest when nesting material attached to them was attached also to the female. One died and the other survived to be released this spring.

One of those heart warming stories that we would like to see happen everywhere! The leg of the eaglet was lodged in the nest material. The AEF came to the rescue.

There is lots of wing flapping going on at the Duke Farms Bald Eagle nest. Not branching yet. Soon.

The plumage is not nearly that of Duke Farms but the Dulles-Greenway Eaglets are standing very well on that nest. Just look at those healthy eaglets. Three of them!

Haven’t checked on Cassidy and Sundance at Farmer Derek’s GHO nest for awhile. Gosh, they are looking out to the world beyond that nest today.

A visitor came to the Achieva Osprey nest Sunday. The distinctive heart-shaped head looks like the head of Tiny Tot Tumbles hatched in 2021. She was the third hatch many believed had died of starvation on the nest at least three times. She did not and became not only the dominant chick but also the defender of this nest against adult birds during the summer of 2021. It sure looks like her head with the narrow white stripes and the dark heart!

The osplets at Achieva had one fish on Saturday, and Jack delivered a fish at 2009 on Sunday. The eldest continues its aggression due to a shortage of fish in the nest. We must remember that Mum, who feeds the chicks, is also hungry. This nest remains very precarious.

There is good news coming out of the KNF E1 nest of Anna and Louis. Trey has been on the nest jumping about. Way to go, Trey!

Kathryn has reported that Lake Murray had its third osplet hatch Sunday afternoon!

Jackie and Shadow continue to visit their nest in Big Bear Valley. We will all look forward to the late fall and the next breeding season for them. Regardless of eggs, chicks or not, it is always good to see Jackie and Shadow!

Congratulations to Llyn Brenig on the second egg of the 2023 season laid Sunday afternoon.

Continue sending your best wishes to the nests with issues – Achieva and Dale Hollow. Tomorrow keep Bald Canyon in your thoughts as an attempt will be made to rescue the eaglet that fell from the nest. We hope that it is still alive.

Thank you so very much for being with me today as we flitted about the nests that we have been watching. There are positively some many things happening internationally in Bird World that it is hard to keep up. I hope at the beginning of the week to check on all those UK Osprey nests closer and also the ones in Finland. Take care all. See you soon!

I want to thank everyone for their notes, their tweets, posts, videos, and streaming cams that helped to make up my blog today: Kathryn, A, H, B, L, S, T, J, W, WRDC, Osoyoos Osprey Cam, Raptor Resource Project and Explore.org, Moorings Park Ospreys, Bywyd Gwylld Glaslyn, Mary Kerr and Friends of Loch Arkaig, Conservation without Borders, Windows to Wildlife, Sylvia Jarzomkowske and Bale Eagles Live Nests and Cams, Nicole Norment Whittemore and Bald Eagles Live Nests and Cams, SW Florida Eagle Cam, Vijay and SW Florida Eagle Cam, Decorah Goose Cam, Cal Falcons, SK Hideaways and Cal Falcons, @CornellHawks, Ventana Wildlife Society, Eagle Club of Estonia, Sydney Wells and Bald Eagles Live Nests and Cams, Carol Craig and Osprey Friends, Albert Li and Big Bear, Duke Farms, Dulles-Greenway Eagles, Farmer Derek Owl Cam, Achieva Credit Union, KNF-Ei, Llyn Brenig Ospreys, and FOBBV.

Can you help DH18? Sadness at Captiva…Saturday in Bird World

22 April 2023

Good Morning Everyone,

It is Earth Day, and the theme for this year is ‘Invest in our Planet’. Imagine if everyone invested what they could, how much better the planet would be for our feathered friends. As a start, I would like to thank all the wildlife rehabbers who have the challenging task of helping our feathered friends return to the wild after they have had a mishap or severe injury. They are our heroes, and every day, they invest in helping these beautiful creatures live the life they are supposed to. Secondly, I want to thank everyone for all you do to make this planet a better place for our feathered friends. Whether it is donating to your local clinic, educating students or new friends, to spreading the word about the dangers and how we can remediate them, you make a difference. Thank you!

The snow did not materialise but the wind sure did. Blowing up to 35 kph. We watched the Crows have some difficulty navigating their landings. Lucky for Missy two of them landed right on top of the conservatory. She was in awe! I did not get a photo but just imagine her excitement after watching the skies for days and having birds far away to have them just a metre from her. Goodness.

We will start with the sad news of the day so that we can move onward. Florence flew off of the Captiva Osprey nest at 1300 with a fish. She did not return after eating. Angus was incubating while she was away, but he flew off at 1455 when she had not returned. Angus returned in 1845 but did not go to incubate the eggs. It is 72 degrees F on Captiva, and as Renie, the moderator for the chat, has stated, “This is not good for the eggs.” At the time of my writing, 23:15, the eggs on the Captiva Osprey nest appear abandoned. With revised hatch dates, we were one week away from pip watch. Thanks, ‘H’, for continuing to moderate this situation for us.

‘H’ reports the following:

“Tentative ID, mods prefer to wait for daylight to be sure, but Osprey believed to be Angus returned to the nest at 03.07.18, and is incubating.  Looks like Angus to me.  

4/21, They were not having significant intruder issues at the time.  Flo was eating her fish on her palm branch (as seen on the PTZ cam), and when she was done at 13.27, Flo simply flew away from the tree.  She has not been seen since.  Jen, the PTZ cam op searched for her everywhere.”

Angus returned at 1845, but won’t sit on eggs, he seems to be looking for Flo. This is so very sad, and we might never know what has happened to Florence. The only consolation is that the eggs had not hatched. It would be virtually impossible for Angus to care for newly hatched osplets alone.

I am having trouble keeping up with my forms. As many of you know, Claudio Eduardo designed a particular programme to help me instantly determine the % of deaths in Ospreys from siblicide or other causes, along with eggs laid, hatching and fledging %. It means putting in the data, and right now, many of those UK nests are starting to get their first or second eggs. I get one form finished and discover another has laid an egg. It is so exciting.

Today Kielder Nest 7 got its second egg for KX7 and KM18. The nest everyone was anticipating was Poole Harbour. CJ7 laid her first egg of the 2023 season with mate Blue 022 at 19:12:47 Friday night. Earlier Louis and Dorcha had their first egg for 2023 at Loch Arkaig.

Richmond and Rosie, the Ospreys whose nest is on the Whirley Crane at the Richmond Shipping Yards in SF Bay, have their first egg. Time was 17:39 and Richmond was there with his lovely lady.

‘H’ reports that Duke and Daisy have their first egg at Barneyghat Light this morning at 05:15 in New Jersey with Seaside getting their second egg on the 21st.

Aran and that gorgeous unringed female continue to get to know one another. She has been at the nest mirroring Aran’s behaviour for a week now. Oh, I hope she stays and they have eggs this year. Aran is a great catch and the nest is fantastic albeit always visited by Monty’s kids!

Both were on the perch together in the wind.

It sure looks a lot warmer in Wales than it did in Missoula, Montana when Louis came to check on Iris.

We have another single parent household. This time it is the Peregrine Falcon scrape in Rome. The female is missing sadly. Alex is trying to feed the chicks. Send him your most positive wishes. They are adorable.

The eaglets in the US have either fledged are are small. B16 from the Berry College nest continues to return to get food from Pa and Missy. She is a beautiful big girl!

Smitty and Bella’s little one is now sporting a white fluffy mohawk and clown feet. Wasn’t this one about the size of Decorah eaglet a week ago? Not really but it sure feels like it! They grow in the blink of an eye. What a crop!

‘H’ sent in some great news. The sole hatch of Connie and Clive at the Captiva Bald Eagle nest, Connick, is being transferred to the Audubon Centre for Birds of Prey at Maitland, Florida where he will remain until all of his feathers grow in properly. He will receive flight and prey hunting training there along with enrichment. It will be a long haul but it is wonderful that the centre was willing to take him! Thank you Audubon!

Murphy continues to watch over the eaglet. He has never brooded the chick but is a keen protector and motivates the eaglet to eat.

The staff at Wild Bird Sanctuary are excited because it means that the eaglet will imprint on Murphy and not humans and will be free to be released when it can fly and hunt.

Everyone is waiting for the hatch at the Decorah Goose nest! Tomorrow is the day but we all know things could be early or a little late.

Down the road the Decorah Eagles at the Hatchery have so much nesting material for the little one that you can barely see the top of its head when they are feeding it!

Sweet little baby of Chase and Cholyn at Two Harbours is getting ready to be warmed by the sun.

Oh, that little one of Annie and Lou’s is quite the character. It is always hungry and just waiting for anyone to arrive with prey! Just look at that fade when an adult comes in with some prey. That little one is right up there in the front ready to be fed!

Cal Falcons will be banding these three on the 5th of May! Put it on your calendars and guess what…there will be the name the chick contest, too!

‘A’ comments, “Did you see how big the pieces that the youngest at Cal Falcons is swallowing without turning a hair (feather)? Of course it was essential for it to do so if it was going to eat early on, so it learned that one very quickly. It helps of course that Lou has become SO proficient at preparing prey. These chicks look like their meat has been trimmed by a professional butcher and bought at a gourmet supermarket! Lou is just fantastic.”

River continues to work on getting the tangled materials on the nest and the monofilament line off of DH18. There have been at least 2 fish today and both of the eaglets ate well – and, late in the day, River arrives with a huge bass and everyone has a big feast. Her fishing is great and the eaglets and her are eating well. Let us all be hopeful that she gets 18 untangled. She is completely aware of the situation and working on it. As an older eagle – in this nest – she has probably seen more than her share of fishing line and hooks. I remember last season she saw a hook and got it off the nest. She knows what they can do. So…let’s wish she gets this latest issue solved for 18.

Terry Carman wants to spread the word about DH18 and here is a list of contacts to help. Maybe if we have an Army we can get some help for this eaglet this year. Thank you, Terry for getting all these contacts together! This is a good way to try and get help on Earth Day for that little eaglet.

‘H’ reports that “R4 ate for approx. 14 minutes at 8 feedings (a couple of those feedings s/he sat out completely).  I only count the short periods of time when R4 gets into a groove where it is eating normally, and eagerly swallowing bites.  I do not count the periods of time when R4 is shaking its head and spitting out the bits.  R4’s best crop of the day was the one I already showed you from 07:35.  R4 had several good ps yesterday.  The one last night at 0021 was a little small.  (most of the time the ps are stated in the chat, that’s how I know to go look, unless I just happened to be watching).  R4 acted normally . . lots of standing, walking, wingers.  Hopefully R4 will eat more today, like s/he did on 4/19.”

Much of the time our wildlife winds up in wildlife rehabilitation clinics because of humans. There are many ways to get rid of mice and rats that do not involve rodenticide. In fact, a former student living in northern Manitoba, has voles now. Guess who showed up to clear them up? A kestrel! Hopefully no one has put out rodenticide in that northern city of ours. This owl was not so lucky. Educate people. Talk to your local pest control about alternatives.

I am pleased to tell you that the Cowlitz PUD – a utility company in Washington State – has been proactive in trying to help Electra and her mate. Last year the Ospreys lost their three healthy osplets to Bald Eagles, who removed them from the nest over two days. The company has not placed protective guards for the ospreys. This is just wonderful news. Electra has now laid two eggs.

It is a busy time for wildlife rehab clinics around the world right now as chicks of all species are coming in – lost parents, blown out of nests – you name it. This little osprey was in the water about to be washed out to sea.

Not only is it Earth Day tomorrow, but it is also our local wildlife rehabbers ‘Baby Shower’ – a fundraiser in anticipation of all the nestlings and fledglings that will be in rehab sooner than we can imagine with the wind and the snowflakes still around on the Canadian Prairies. It is a good time for everyone nearby to drop in and say hello and take them things they will need or send them an online donation. Does your local wildlife rehab centre have baby shower days? I will also be keeping an eye on Mother Goose. Seriously who doesn’t love a ‘Mother Goose’?

Our condolences go out to Lori Covert and all the folks at Window to Wildlife and Angus. We will never know what happened to Florence. She would not have abandoned her eggs. It has been such a sad year for Captiva especially after the miraculous rebuilding there after Hurricane Ian. Keep sending all the nests your most positive wishes!

Thank you for being with me today. I am so fortunate to be in such wonderful company as all of you. Every day I wake up with a smile knowing that so many caring people are out there in the world making a difference. Take care. See you soon!

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, tweets, announcements, videos, and streaming cams that helped to make up my blog this morning: ‘A’, ‘H’, Window to Wildlife, Kielder, C Marguilis and SF Osprey Cam with Rosie and Richmond, Bywyd Gwyllt Glaslyn, Montana Osprey Project, Gris Adriana and orange, Australia Peregrine Falcons, Berry College Eagle Cam, NCTC, Wild Bird Sanctuary, Raptor Resource Project and Explore.org, IWS and Explore.org, Cal Falcons, Dale Hollow Eagle Cam, Keisha Howell and DHEC, WRDC, Nine Sirous and Cornell Haw Cam Chatters, Cowlitz PUD, Barbara Walker and Osprey Friends and Terry Carman Bald Eagles Live Nest and Cams.

47 year old albatross spotted, Hatch for Lake Murray, egg for Glacier Gardens…Thursday in Bird World

20 April 2023

Good Morning Everyone,

Well, it is nearing 2300 Wednesday night and there is still no snow. It is +2 C with the wind blowing at 23 kph. There is a winter snow warning until 0745 tomorrow morning. It says that we will get between 10-20 cm of snow. I really hope they are wrong. There are some areas south of Winnipeg that are flooding and places the birders cannot get to for checking on new arrivals. Some birds are moving north to catch the spring mammals waking up for prey. We get a little ‘cranky’ when spring does this to us on the Canadian Prairies. Our ‘nice’ weather outside is limited and all are anxious to ditch the winter coats and boots, get in the canoes and kayaks, have a picnic or eat their lunch on a park bench.

Our local Peregrine Falcon couple at the Radisson, have their second egg for the 2023 season. Ella and Pip are quite a joy and the camera will be running once it is closer to hatch. I will alert you so you can share the joy of a pair of my local birds!

Our first feel-good moment of the day comes from a 47-year-old ringed Albatross that has survived living in the Southern Ocean all this time! Tears. What would be nice would be if this bird were 77 years old, and that was the norm!!!!!!! But we celebrate the victories that we can.

Our second feel-good moment comes from E21 and E22, who are inseparable. E22 has decided to share his precious pond with his older sibling. What an adventure these two have had! So glad that cam was operating this year! M15 continues to be our hero. As we also say repeatedly, Harriet would be proud.

Our giggle moment comes from Lou at Cal Falcons who delivered six prey items to the pantry on Monday in six hours! Wow. Uber Dad. Thanks for the video SK Hideaways.

Cuteness overload is from Cal Falcons.

Tracy mentioned in her talk on our Manitoba Peregrine Falcon Recovery that falcons will not take ‘slow’ prey. There is much concern because the falcons eat birds, but Tracy reassured us that if a bird is sick from HPAI and is moving slowly, the falcons will not eat it. They want healthy fast-moving prey, not an easy target! Isn’t that a relief?

Sleepy heads.

Murphy continues to warm our hearts by caring for the little eaglet. All is well at Wild Bird Sanctuary with these two.

A bit of a compilation video along with news of Murphy.

The first osplet at Lake Murray hatched on Wednesday. What a little cutie it is already wanting some fish! Thanks so much, Kathryn Russell, for monitoring this nest for us! Congratulations to Lake Murray!

‘H’ reports that Audrey of Audrey and Tom at Kent Island is beginning to accept that Tom3 will not return from his migration. Speaking of potential suitors and mates, ‘H’ says that Audrey “wanted nothing to do with them.  And, there had been no nest building . .  until today.” It looks like we could have Tom4. Thanks, ‘H’!

In Wales, Aran continues to court the beautiful unringed female and she seems to appear to be settling in to be the new Queen of Glaslyn replacing the formidable and long-lived Mrs G.

Seren has laid the second egg of the 2023 season at Llyn Clywedog in Wales on Tuesday.

A few hours later, Telyn laid her second egg at Dyfi!

The first egg of the 2023 season was laid at the Glacier Gardens nest of Liberty and Honour in Juneau Alaska on the 18th of April!

Gosh, it is so busy.

Our concerning moment on Wednesday comes from the Dale Hollow Nest where River delivered a fish that had a line in it.

It is not clear if DH18 is still attached to the line or not but, it appears so.

To the relief of everyone, River successfully removed the fishing line from DH18’s beak. That said, there is now concern because the line is wrapped around the carcass of the old racoon and appears to be attached to DH18’s leg. Thank you to ‘C’ for the image below. Using the IR light last evening, the mods did identify a fishing hook on the nest. Despite the nest being on US Army land and this being a perfect reason to get a permit to remove the line from the nest (human-caused), no help will come. Help was ready for DH15 when it was tangled last year (you might remember). I will only say that threats were made to anyone who would come to help. This attitude is the single biggest reason I do not recommend this nest. This is a lake where fishing takes place. People must be prepared to help the eagles when we have caused the issue. Empathy. Animals have rights, too. I hope that somehow this line will work its way free like the line did last season and cause no harm to DH18.

The eaglets were full to the brim at the Pittsburgh-Hayes nest today.

Oh, yes, you are a real cutie pie, Decorah Hatchery eaglet!

Yesterday, Big Red alerted and flew off the three eggs she is incubating. It is the first time I remember seeing this happen.

‘H’ has sent news that R4 is now fully recovered from what was stopping it from eating the other day. Excellent! That crops sure shows he is eating quite well, indeed. Oh, such a relief.

Mother Goose carefully covers up her precious six eggs so that she can go and forage.

Good Night, Mother Goose.

I am still trying to determine when the hatch watch is for Mother Goose. If you know, send me a note! In general, the goslings will begin to hatch about thirty-three days after the first of the six eggs is laid. Once they are all hatched, in 24-48 hours, they will leap from the nest, which is about 70 feet off the ground. The goslings are all feathered, can self-feed, and are capable of walking and following their parents. They look to the parents for security. The stream is below the nest. You can see it on the live cam. Last year 10 of the 11 goslings that took that leap of faith survived. One was believed to have gotten injured when it hit a branch on the way down. It is an amazing sight and I don’t want any of you to miss this magic.

I cannot tell you how much fish the oldest osplet at Achieva had compared to the youngest on Wednesday but, both appear to be doing well today and growing, getting their juvenile feathers. They are so camouflaged on that nest.

Abby and Victor are doing excellent! Just look at those strong legs!

It is blowing snow on the Pitkin County Trails Osprey nest in Colorado. It came in fast and robust. BTW. Those Colorado ‘lows’ cause our snow problems here on the Canadian Prairies, just like they are for this nest today. Thankfully, there are no eggs (or I don’t think there are).

Pip watch begins for Angel and Tom on Friday – I was two days early! Mark your calendars.

‘L’ has sent a note that Kaia, the mate of Karl II, is now on the Estonian border. I sure hope she gets a good tail wind and she gets home quickly to her nest to join Karl II. Great news.

This is an excellent article on bird migration – our amazing feathered friends and their long journey to their spring and summer breeding grounds.

Trying-to-Find-Your-Place-in-the-World-Try-Birding-From-a-Different-Angle.-The-New-York-TimesDownload

What will millions of tonnes of seaweed do when it hits the shores of islands and Florida as it moves to the west from the Atlantic?

Those-Seaweed-Blobs-Headed-for-Florida-See-How-Big-They-Are.-The-New-York-TimesDownload

Thank you so much for being with me. Please send your most positive thoughts to all our nests and especially to DH18 in the hope that line will work itself loose. Take care everyone. See you soon!

I want to thank everyone who sent me notes and thank those public sites for their posts, announcements, videos, and the streaming cams that helped make up my blog today: ‘CDP’, ‘H’, ‘A’, ‘L’, Kathryn, The Peregrine Chick, Julie Sharpe and the Royal Cam Albatross Group NZ, SW Florida Eagle Cam, Cal Falcons, SK Hideawys and Cal Falcons, World Bird Sanctuary, Lake Murray Ospreys, Chesapeake Conservancy and Explore.org, Brewed Gwyllt Glaslyn, CarnyXWild, Dyfi Osprey Project, Glacier Gardens Eagle Nest Cam, Keisha Howell and DHECD, DHEC, PIX Cams, Raptor Resource Project and Explore.org, Cornell RTH, WRDC, Decorah Goose Cam, Achieva Credit Union, Moorings Park Ospreys, Pitkin County Trails, Gracie Shepherd and Raptors of the World, Looduskalender, and The New York Times.