Category Archives: HPAI

Saturday in Bird World

26 April 2025

Good Morning Everyone,

It was a gorgeous spring day on Friday the 25th of April on the Canadian prairies and it is just as nice today. We drove a friend to Wildlife Haven (our great rescue and rehabilitation clinic) to drop off donations of supplements, enrichment items, and clean sheets and towels. They are all intended for Baby Days celebration which happens on the 24th of May.

If you live in the area, here is the information:

Wildlife Haven in Ile des Chênes, MB, is hosting its third annual Wild Baby Shower on Saturday, May 24th, 2025, from 1 PM to 3 PM. The event aims to support the care of orphaned, sick, and injured wildlife during their peak baby season. Attendees can enjoy interactive games, prizes, and meet Wildlife Ambassadors. There will also be guided hospital tours, a baby-themed photo booth, and a gift table for wild babies. 

The Wild Baby Shower is a chance to support Wildlife Haven’s mission of saving wild animals. Attendees can make a donation or bring a gift from the registry, which includes items like specialized food, warmth, and medical supplies, according to MyRegistry.com. Wildlife Haven anticipates admitting over 750 wild patients during their peak season, so any support is greatly appreciated. 

I like to remind everyone that baby animals will be coming into care around the world in the northern hemisphere and if you have anything that can help, please donate.

I want to start with a very special nest – this nest could teach the world some good lessons! Then we will check on what is going on with Heidi and those osprey nests in the US.

Heidi’s US Osprey nest note:

Wolf Bay osprey platform: The third baby for Josie and Bert hatched on 4/25.  The three cuties are only three days apart in age.

Geemeff reminds us of a special day – Mark Your Calendars!

“Sunday 4 May marks International Dawn Chorus Day 2025. Here’s the top tips from the RSPB for enjoying it.’

https://www.rspb.org.uk/whats-happening/news/the-dawn-chorus-all-you-need-to-know-about-natures-big-show

Names were given and a memorial planned for the three eaglets of Scout and Bella that died when their nest was tossed out of the tree by high winds this week.

Glaslyn News: “It has been a dramatic season so far with KC6/Teifi and Aran fighting for their place on the Glaslyn nest. On Tuesday it became clear that Aran had started his campaign in earnest to recover his nest. He began aggressively divebombing KC6/Teifi on the nest and chased him through the valley, leading to spectacular views for visitors and volunteers who watched them in the air from the Visitor Centre.

On Wednesday morning he brought a large Mullet to Elen before chasing Teifi out of his territory once again. He has been present on the nest today, and this evening returned with another fish for Elen. We have not seen Teifi on the nest camera since Wednesday morning.

Is this the beginning of a fresh start for Aran and Elen?”

Here is that nest battle on video: https://youtu.be/MIcDcKGlwWo?

Big Bear Valley: I don’t know about you but I really don’t want Sunny and Gizmo to fledge for a long, long time! https://youtu.be/EHzKcNE3WG4?

Trempealeau Bald Eagles: T3 is 15 days old today. Mum is working hard to provide for herself and her only surviving eaglet. She came in with the big fish and fed T3 twice, brooding her eaglet inbetween so it could not get a chill. What a great Mum. Dad showed up today to feed a few bites of fish to little T3 and then flew off taking the fish to his other nest and chicks. (Don’t get me started!)

Peace caught it on video: https://youtu.be/yaubm2K6sAw? I really want this little one to survive. It is getting its thermal down, but the rain can cause Mum to not be able to fish, so Dad taking their food is not good.

Cromer Peregrine Falcons: Poppy and Henry have two chicks at the time I am writing. https://youtu.be/Q8E4xLgv55s?

Cal Falcons: Please read the post by Cal Falcons carefully. I hope you are as angry as I am at the changes that could make our beautiful raptors – endangered and extinct. What are you going to do to stop this

Cal Falcons

eordnosSptl6tum2m51haal60fa2ah381082575i5a4l5062l5084708tuc2  · 

Due to the use of DDT and other pesticides, there were fewer than 100 Peregrine Falcons in the lower 48 United States in the 1970s. Bald Eagles had dropped to fewer than 1000 individuals across the same area. Thanks to the effects of science-based environmental regulations such as the Endangered Species Act (ESA), Migratory Bird Treaty Act (MBTA), and Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA), there are currently ~5,000 Peregrine Falcons and ~300,000 Bald Eagles in the lower 48!

The recovery of these two species is due almost entirely to legislation that is scheduled to be officially “sunset” by Executive Order dated 9 April 2025 (“Zero-based Regulatory Budgeting to Unleash American Energy). The damage that this could cause is immeasurable and could take decades of concerted effort to recover from. In some cases, the damage could be irreversible, as many endangered species could very quickly go extinct without protections.

Environmental regulations protect not only plant and animal species but every person on the planet through clean air and water, and it is estimated that the environment provides approximately 150 trillion dollars of economic benefit globally every year for free (Jiang et al. 2021). Recovery of the Peregrine Falcon and Bald Eagle are just two of many stories that demonstrate the power of regulation in conserving the natural world that we all live in, depend on, and enjoy.”

These orders impact birds in the United States and those that migrate to my country for their spring and summer breeding. They also impact the nests that we watch. We need help for our wildlife and the natural areas of our world, not hindrances and indifference.

Defenders of Wildlife, a US-based organization states, ““Rolling back these kinds of protections for migratory birds such as snowy owls, red-winged blackbirds, and white pelicans will undoubtedly result in the deaths of tens of thousands of birds,” said Daniel Moss, senior government relations representative at Defenders of Wildlife. “This action is particularly egregious as we approach the 15th anniversary of the Deepwater Horizon explosion which resulted in catastrophic mortality rates for sea birds. Only thanks to the MBTA, BP was forced to pay $100 million in fines.  Weakening this law by giving businesses a free pass to do harm is the exact opposite of what our government should be doing.”

Geemeff’s Daily summary for Loch Arkaig and The Woodland Trust:

Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Friday 25th April 2025

This day in 2021 saw the first appearance of Affric 152 on Nest One, and this day in 2023 saw the first appearance of Garry LV0 on Nest One, although he’d first appeared in 2022, intruding on Nest Two. This year things are looking different on Nest One – Affric has been chased off back to her own nest at Bunarkaig with her mate Prince, and Garry has definitely claimed the nest as his own and is fighting off all comers, while his relationship with new female Blue 536 goes from strength to strength. With mating attempts not being rejected and plenty of fish being offered, we can be cautiously optimistic that we finally have a bonded pair on Nest One, with the slim possibility of chicks this year, although it’s more likely to be next year assuming the pair return together. Garry brought three fish to the nest including the season’s first flatfish, and his tally rises to eighteen. Things are very settled over on Nest Two, with Louis taking turns to incubate the three eggs while Dorcha goes off to eat the fish he brings her. His two deliveries today take his tally to fifty one. The weather was settled today with the forecasted drizzle staying away, but rain is due tonight and all day tomorrow.

Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 21.51.59 (04.29.33); Nest Two 21.45.59 (04.48.50)

Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/R8f0rZc_Ltc  N2 Breakfast for Dorcha as the first fish arrives 06.56.43 

https://youtu.be/nupk9f0MtmE  N1 Breakfast for Blue 536 – Garry LV0 brings a whole trout 08.46.59

https://youtu.be/jGh2w8AI_WA  N1 Garry LV0’s second fish is the season’s first flatfish 13.18.34

https://youtu.be/_pNEypf6mYU N1 A Hoodie arrives and flies off the perch to chase an Osprey 17.08.47 (zoom) 

https://youtu.be/XHIsDRQ7YH4  N2 Louis delivers fish number two, a headless trout 17.21.46 

https://youtu.be/8iv8nJJBeF8  N1 Blue 536 eventually comes for Garry LV0’s third fish 17.59.05 

Bonus watch – how do Woodland Trust create a new woodland?

Blast from the past, this day in previous years:

https://youtu.be/1_Sm9SEu0PI  N1 Ringed female stranger visits 2021 (slo-mo, zoom)

https://youtu.be/F65FJe4xMHc  N1 Louis visits the nest shortly after the ringed female 2021

https://youtu.be/0swlIF7VWuM  N1 Woodpecker and Blue Tit visit 2021

https://youtu.be/6frCvYMt4a0  N2 Louis is too busy mating to notice Dorcha’s new egg 2022

https://youtu.be/OVCVE1wwydU  N2 Louis sees his egg and takes over incubation for the first time 2022

https://youtu.be/15WD6z9hROg  N1 It’s last year’s intruder from N2: LV0 visits N1 for the first time 2023 (zoom)

https://youtu.be/0-quAK2Ju1Y  N1 He’s back! Garry LV0 arrives 2024

https://youtu.be/EQN51E_PIO4  N2 Unringed intruder Osprey seen off by Louis 2024 (real-time with slo-mo repeat)

https://youtu.be/1TGdaSB0t04  N2 Female Chaffinch looks tiny perching next to Dorcha 2024 (zoom)

Come and join the friendly community at Woodland Trust’s Osprey forum, it’s fun, free and everyone’s welcome:

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/osprey-cam

If you missed the April Condor chat by the Ventana Wildlife Society, here it is: https://youtu.be/sCGnKrFcHcM? I highly recommend that you watch, and if you loved Iniko, there is a video of her journey over the five years, especially the time of the Dolan Fire of 2020 that killed her Dad, Kingpin.

Iniko (Born during Troubled Times) is getting some orange/red on her head! Remember, she rose from the ashes as they mention in the video blog.

The Ventana Wildlife Society continues to work hard to protect these amazing birds from HPAI.

All I can say is I am glad the individual was caught. Unbelievable.

Vengeful shooter laid poisoned baits in attempt to frame a Scottish estate for raptor persecution –Download

Fraser Point: Both eaglets have names – Blue and Kaimani. Many of you have noticed the number of eels showing up at nests. Dr Sharpe was on the chat today and said this: “I wonder if wolf eels are especially susceptible to domoic acid poisoning. They must be turning up dead a lot along the western coast of Santa Cruz.” He went on to say, “We had two chicks die at the Pelican Harbor nest at about 1 week old one year. The red tide often seems to peak around the time the eagle chicks hatch.” “That’s probably what is killing the pelicans that are showing up at some nests. I saw a pelican spiral into the ocean and die a few weeks ago.” [Dr Sharpe is referring to Red Tide]. Dr Sharpe was asked about the Fraser Point eagles being older and would it impact them. He remarked, “Only if they eat a lot of fish and the red tide is still around. I’m in Colorado, so I don’t know the current conditions there.”

Decorah Goose Cam: Waiting for hatch!

Golden Eagle Cam in Romania: The new mother at this nest, Pausa, has never had eaglets before or so it appears. She has absolutely no idea what to do and when the eaglet hatched on day 43 she kept picking it up and moving it out of the egg bowl causing it to get cold. She stepped on it. Picked it up and moved it again. Eventually the poor little thing died. The third egg could hatch in 3-4 days time but I doubt if the eaglet will are any better than this one. Being parents is not always instinctual.

Cromer Falcons: Dad, Henry, watches Mum, Poppy, feed the chicks! They are such little darlings and such an attentive Dad!

https://youtu.be/aaC4hjDnOkg?

It is free and it is fun. Guess the day of the first hatch at Rutland Water’s nest of Blue 33 and Maya at Manton Bay! Put your choice in the chat and Bart M will tabulate everything.

The Bald Eagle, Majestic, arrived at Wildlife Haven in 2014. She was dehydrated and emaciated and had an old wing injury that had did not heal properly. She is a great ambassador and loves her new cage. She did some loud chortles as we walked up to say hello.

So cute. Ducklingham Palace.

Fort St Vrain: Wet days and a damp nest. The eaglets have their thermal down and are looking good despite the weather. Keep sending this family good vibes.

Newfoundland Ospreys have returned. We wait for the Snow Lane camera to come live to see Beaumont and Hope.

Why on earth are koalas being culled? (I asked the same question when authorities in New Zealand were going to cull Canada Geese).

Why were hundreds of koalas shot in an aerial cull in Victoria?https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/apr/25/why-were-hundreds-of-koalas-shot-in-an-aerial-cull-in-victoria?CMP=share_btn_url

Thank you for being with us today. Please take care. We will see you soon!

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, images, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘Geemeff, Heidi, PB’, Wolf Bay, RSPB, Deb Stecyk/NCTC Eagles, Bywyd Gwyllt Glaslyn, FOBBV, Trempealeau Eagle nest, Cal Falcons, Geemeff and The Woodland Trust, Ventana Wildlife Society, Raptor Persecution UK, IWS/Explore, Wild Bucovina Association, Cromer Falcons, Defenders of Wildlife, Wildlife Haven, LRWT and Bart M, Xcel Energy, The Guardian, Ian Winter and Snow Lane Osprey Nest with Beaumont and Hope

Iris is Home…Monday in Bird World

7 April 2025

Hello Everyone,

What a way to wake up on a Monday morning seeing the osprey, the oldest osprey in the world, land on her nest in Missoula Montana’s Hellgate Canyon. And, yes, it is OK to cry a bucket full of glad tears!!!!!!!!!!!!

It is the beginning of the week, and recent days have been challenging. I hope my blog and our beloved raptors’ lives bring some rays of sunshine into your life. Going for a walk or just sitting outside can help make worries melt away. So, I encourage anyone who needs it to do so! All of us, including The Girls, Brock, Dyson, Junior and the Mrs, Mr and Mrs Crow, Little Red and the Mrs, and all the others, send you much positive energy. Get out! Turn the news off for a day! Enjoy all that nature has to offer.

I am still waiting for some very important ospreys to land on their nests and in some cases sooner than later! Elen is already falling for Teifi’s fishing skills. Get home Aran! And, of course, today, I am going to be keeping an eye out for Iris. Charlo Montana still has highlights on its streaming cam so we wait.

But before we look at the nests, ‘PB’ has just sent me the following and I am in tears: “18:19 Shadow brought in fish and had fishing line stuck on his beak. He is trying to shake it off and flew off looking frustrated. You could see the Shiny clear line.”

This is worrisome. Looking for some news for FOBBV and hoping all is well.

Oprey News:

Heidi’s Osprey News:

4/6 – Mispillion Harbor osprey nest (Delaware):  Congrats to Della and Warren on their first egg of the season. Della laid the egg at 14:15, and it was ten days earlier than the first egg last year.

4/6 – Carthage osprey nest (Tennessee): Congratulations to  Mom and Dad on their first egg of the season, laid on the same date as in 2024.  Mom and Dad lost their nest and only osplet last May during a strong storm.  They have started to rebuild, and everyone is hoping these ospreys can fortify the nest to make it stronger. Best wishes for this lovely pair.  

4/6 –  Maryland Western Shore osprey nest: The live stream was down for nearly three days.  When it resumed this evening, we saw that Marilyn and Arthur now have 3 eggs. Congratulations!

Thanks, Heidi!

Teifi has settled in, and there are many fish coming to the Glaslyn nest for Elen. Will Aran return? Will he have to fight for his territory against this younger male? Those fish were two flounder and two mullet.

‘L’ sent us Isac’s posting for the Patchogue Ospreys. You will recall that PSEG moved the nest. No sighting of the birds today. Thanks, L.

There is an osprey on another Long Island nest checked by Isac.

Pitkin County: Our osprey couple has returned! Vocoholic has the arrivals on video: https://www.youtube.com/live/ZLAKZwYtrVk?

Border Osprey Report:

WAITING PATIENTLY – Border OspreysDownload

RSPB Loch Garten: An osprey briefly landed on the nest. Some believe this might have been Asha. Waiting for confirmation.

Alyth SS: An unringed female, not the resident mate of Harry, Flora, has been on the nest. Two mating attempts on Sunday.

Balgavies Loch: There is an osprey at the loch on Sunday.

Tweed Valley Nest 1: Unringed female lands on the nest on Sunday.

Dyfi: Idris and Telyn. Beautiful. Waiting for that first egg.

Llyn Clywedog: Gorgeous Dylan and Seren!

Birds of Poole Harbour: Waiting for that first egg for CJ7 and Blue 022 any moment.

Green Ledge Light Preservation Society Ospreys, Long Island: Osprey arrived on 4 April. Waiting for the second and confirmation of who returned first.

Danish Osprey Cam: The male has returned. Waiting for his mate.

Achieva: Fish on the nest, family portrait, and a new baby that seems to be fine so far.

Collins Marsh: New camera platform was going up on March 15 but things still seem to be wonky.

Great Bay Estuary: Two ospreys on the nest today.

Oceanside MNSA: Third egg laid on Saturday April 5.

Golden Gate Audubon: Richmond and Rosie have two eggs. Will there be a third laid today?

Geemeff sends us her daily summary for The Woodland Trust and Loch Arkaig. Thank you, Geemeff!

Woodland Trust Daily summary for Loch Arkaig Sunday 6th April 2025

The glorious weather continued today, unlike this day last year when Storm Kathleen blew in and blew Dorcha off her perch. There was much merriment with sticks – again! We can expect more of these classic sticky situations as they prepare the nest ready for the eggs which could be less than two weeks away, especially after this morning’s marathon mating sessions. The only action on Nest One was when Dorcha turned up, possibly chasing an intruder out of her territory, but Louis confined himself to the loch and Nest Two, delivering four fish which takes his tally to ten. The weather forecast for Inver Mallie, which includes the nest area, is set fair for a few more days.

Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One  21.19.38 (05.31.15); Nest Two 21.33.32 (05.44.58)

Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/fMzkjVtbH0I N2 Dorcha grabs the first fish of the day after a tussle 06.26.34

https://youtu.be/2TrKItSxR3o N1 Unringed Osprey visits – it’s Dorcha! 11.37.03

https://youtu.be/pVw-5InEmdM N2 Comings & goings: Dorcha finally gets fish number two 11.38.03

https://youtu.be/DEkObqLTA-g N2 Dorcha grabs fish number three immediately 18.11.52

https://youtu.be/gypEolHWuXg N2 The Sabre Dance as performed by Louis & Dorcha 19.33.24 (Classic Ospreys – Khachaturian)

https://youtu.be/RseZ58O–VI N2 Fish number four – Louis keeps hold of his fish supper 20.30.21

Bonus watch – WT’s virtual tour of Loch Arkaig:

https://arkaigtour.woodlandtrust.org.uk

Blast from the past, this day in previous years:

https://youtu.be/OvVG5MBBjd4  N1 Welcome home – Aila announces her arrival!   2020

https://youtu.be/j_2zRRZeJQY  N1 Together again: the reunion of Aila & Louis 2020

https://youtu.be/L68RvTIrm5o  N1 Bonkers! Louis & Aila get down to business 2020

https://youtu.be/jNmLwYAdLsA  N1 Who does a flypast? 2021 (Slo-mo zoom)

https://youtu.be/oGYDu5iSZUk  N2 Louis brings his lunch and unusually stays to eat it  2023

https://youtu.be/jBls1Jwbkhw  N2 Hooded Crow is chased away by Dorcha & Louis 2024

https://youtu.be/beIyi7Q9FIc  N2 Fish number two, precarious handover in a gale  2024

https://youtu.be/Uz2YCaJzWLo  N2 Poor Dorcha is blown off by the wind  2024

https://youtu.be/y8Jxs3sbhS4  N1 A Barn Owl visits 2024

Come and join the friendly community at Woodland Trust’s Osprey forum, it’s fun, free and everyone’s welcome:

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/osprey-cam

Bald Eagles:

NE Florida: Brodie just goes higher and higher at the NE Florida nest of Beau and Gabby. Will it be true flight tomorrow? https://youtu.be/cYTuJVPT8K4?

Fort St Vrain: Third egg hatches. One to go.

HPAI – Avian Flu is not letting up. Thousands of game birds culled in North Yorkshire.

Thousands of gamebirds culled at breeding facility in N Yorkshire after bird flu outbreak – Raptor PDownload

Thank you so much for being with us. Take care of yourself. Please go for a walk. Smell the spring air. We hope to see you soon.

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, comments, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘Geemeff, Heidi, J, L, PB’, Cornell Bird Lab/Montana Osprey Project, FOBBV, Bywyd Gwylld Glaslyn, By the Patchogue Nest, Volcoholics and Pitkin County, Rosie Shields and The Border Ospreys, RSPB Loch Garten, Alyth SS, Balgavies Loch, Tweed Valley Ospreys, Dyfi Osprey Project, Llyn Clywedog, Birds of Poole Harbour, Green Ledge Light Preservation Society, Danish Osprey Cam, Achieva Credit Union, Collins Marsh, Great Bay Estuary, Oceanside MNSA, Golden Gate Audubon, Geemeff and The Woodland Trust, NEFlorida-AEF and SK Hideaways, Fort St Vrain, Raptor Persecution UK< Mispillion Harbour, Carthage, Maryland Western Shore

Sadness at the KNF-E3 nest…Friday in Bird World

21 March 2025

Good Morning Everyone,

I always start my blog early in the day and add to it. As I ready for bed Thursday night it is with a very heavy heart that I tell you that KNF E3-04 passed Thursday evening after having only a few bites of food and the tiniest – one gulp – of fish on Wednesday – since Sunday. The eaglet was, as you know, battered by its older sibling. This nest began very hopeful with two beautiful eaglets, and ‘something’ changed that. Was it the adult’s inexperience, as the Rangers believe? Is there such a shortage of food? Why did things begin to go ‘sideways’ for this family last weekend? These eaglets were fully feathered? If the parents were inexperiened might not this have shown up much earlier with the eaglets dying before getting their juvenile feathers? It just feels odd. Kincaid Lake should be full of fish as it is stocked (or was) annually for the people who come for recreational fishing, so why isn’t this nest full? Ale II hasn’t been seen for a day and a half because there is no reason for him to come to the nest if he has no food to bring. We will never know the circumstance or the combination of circumstances that caused such a dramatic change on this nest, but let us now hope that the older sibling will have food and survive to fledge. It would be a tragedy to lose both and it could easily happen. (More later in the blog).

Just a note. I will be sending this out very late or early on Friday morning and I could miss news of hatches or osprey arrivals. If so, I will include them for Saturday.

Happier Times for the eaglets:

Yesterday was the spring equinox and our feathered friends are on the move. But how is a changing climate impacting some of them?

Weatherwatch: climate shifts threaten birds’ return as spring arriveshttps://www.theguardian.com/news/2025/mar/20/weatherwatch-climate-shifts-threaten-birds-return-as-spring-arrives?CMP=share_btn_url

There is more sadness with the return of migrating birds in North America. ‘PB’ reports that numerous Canada Geese are dying of HPAI in Nebraska on their way to Canada. This horrible disease is spreading and spreading and no doubt we will lose many in various species as it continues to wreck havoc.

Heidi’s Osprey Report:

3/20 – Carthage osprey nest (Tennessee):  Mom and Dad are back together!  Dad arrived about 11 days ago and another female has had her sights set on him.  Finally Mom arrived a couple days ago and had a serious talk with the ‘other woman’, lol.

3/20 – Lake Murray osprey nest (South Carolina):  Congrats to Kenny and Lucy… Lucy laid their third egg early this morning.

Thanks, Heidi!

There are ospreys flying over every area of the UK, it seems.

Argathy Red Kites found themselves in need of a quick fix to their osprey nest that was destroyed in a recent storm.

“Crisis averted! Yesterday we headed to our osprey nest tree planning to quickly install a new camera before the birds return… unfortunately we swiftly discovered that recent storms had destroyed our old nest platform. Our legendary tree climber Keith had a mammoth job but built a beautiful new platform and got the camera installed. Now the long wait for the birds begins!”

River Gwash – Rutland female reaches age of 20 and is still returning to breed:

Dyfi: The camera will be live by the time you read this!

Balgavies Loch: Three ospreys, yet to be identified, have been seen flying over the loch.

Thanks Jeff Kear and UK Osprey Information or posting these news items.

Loch of the Lowes: Blue NC0 is bringing in moss in anticipation of eggs and having a marvellously soft nest for them and the osplets.

Bald Eagle Nests:

Pips at Decorah North! Yes, both eggs have pips.

NCTC Nest: Scout and Bella have their first hatch of the 2025 season at NCTC. The egg shell is the proof!!!!!!!

WARNING: THE FOLLOWING ENTRY ON KISTACHIE E3 IS DISTURBING AND HAS DISTURBING IMAGES.

Kistachie E3: The younger eaglet, 04 has been beaten and was down in the centre of the nest bowl most of the day. It had one small fish. I was hoping for a miracle, but it appears the wee one is near death or has died as of 1828 there was no more movement Thursday evening. I am grateful if its suffering is ended quickly. This has been quite the nest to watch. At one point in time if you had asked me, I would have said it was like a Black or Golden Eagle’s nest where the death of the second hatch is enshrined in the DNA of the species. But this was a Bald Eagle’s nest. The real question is what went wrong to cause such a blatant siblicide?

To those on the chat who wanted an intervention, the Migratory Bird Act does not allow it unless there is a clear human-caused issue. Even then with another fully feathered eaglet on the nest, permissions would not be given (if there is staff to provide them with) because it could cause a premature fledge of 03 and its possible death.

Soar high and free little one.

Food must be very scarce as Andria II plucked 04 preparing it for dinner for 03 and then flew off. Why are they not bringing fish from Kincaid Lake?

I was asked if I am working on a Memorial Wall for 2025. Yes, I am. I had to stop with Akecheta and Thunder and just take a break. It was getting to be too much. And the deaths have continued. I hope to have the wall up honouring those souls by the end of March. If you know of a feathered friend to include, please remind me so I do not fail to include them. Thank you.

I do not want to end on a sad note. There is so much to be thankful for and so I am including our miracles!

At the Big Bear nest, a video of sibling love: https://youtu.be/tGb47Md2h0s?

A deep egg cup to keep a wee much loved and longed for eaglet safe and contained at Sauces.

The love and struggles of a mother desperately trying to keep her three eaglets dry during a bad storm in New Jersey at Duke Farms.

What might have been a problem is proving that eagles, too, can adopt! Check out Bodie with VJ.

Thank you for being with me. We have had a lovely time on Hecla Island, but are looking forward to being home with ‘The Girls’ tomorrow and will set up early. Take care. See you soon.

Thank you to Heidi for the images of the E3 eaglets in a better time and to ‘PB’ for the news from Nebraska, The Guardian, Jeff Kear and UK Osprey Info FB, Argathy Red Kites, River Gwash Ospreys, Raptor Resource Project/Explore, NCTC Nest, Kistachie National Forest E3 Bald Eagle Nest, FOBBV, IWS/Explore, Duke Farms, NEFL-AEF,

Storming in Big Bear…Thursday in Bird World

6 March 2025

Good Morning Everyone,

Jackie and Shadow made the Top 7 in The Washington Post!

Celebrity bald eagles welcome two chicks after nearly three years – The Washington PostDownload

Send all your good energy. Those eaglets will need some fish! And all your love to our Big Bear Family as those tiniest eaglets ride out the storm.

I I didn’t plan to write another post until Friday, but the storm hitting Big Bear is on everyone’s mind. While there are thousands of feathers to keep the adults warm and a brood patch to transfer body warmth to the eaglets, we still have concerns. The forecast predicts 8 to 12 inches of snow will fall in Big Bear Valley. We worry there may be insufficient food in the nest and that the eaglets could get damp, leading to respiratory issues. In other words, like with out own human children, we are worrying about everything at this nest. It is our focus despite many other nests having little ones arriving daily. We dared to imagine that Jackie and Shadow might have eaglets and when the two hatches happened, we continued to pinch ourselves to check that reality. We love this family dearly and want nothing to happen at this nest if we could just put a protective dome around it!

Eaglets fed as the storm begins. https://youtu.be/pya2z6Uq3h8?

As you may have noticed, birds often anticipate changes in the weather that meteorologists predict later. For example, Shadow sensed the approaching storm and brought at least three fish back to the nest. While the chicks need frequent meals of small flakes of fish to thrive, the adult birds also require food. However, feeding the chicks becomes challenging when the weather worsens. As the winds and moisture intensified, Shadow decided to reduce the feeding of the eaglets. SKHideaways caught this behaviour on video: https://youtu.be/_65FdR8LblI?

At the Captiva Eagle Cam, Dasher and Dancer are doing very well. Connie and Clive have been, as nothing short of what expected, exceptional parents.

Everyone is printing stories. These eaglets are so loved. They have brought joy to so many. We wish them good health, big crops, and delighted parents.

Big Bear bald eagles Jackie and Shadow welcome two hatchlings – Los Angeles TimesDownload

At the West End, Makaio might not be happy with the female that has come to the nest. Still the pair are roosting in the tree. Of course, she is no match for our dear Thunder! We will wait to see what truly transpires at this nest, but my instinct tells me we will not see eaglets this year.

NE Florida‘s Bodie has been in ignored with all of the celebrations coming out of the Big Bear Valley. She is a big girl. (Not tested just my feeling). A squirrel was brought to the nest and Bodie quickly to it to her spot to try and feed. She is doing precisely what she will need to do in the wild! And what a gorgeous, gorgeous eaglet she is becoming with those shiny, slick ebony feathers. And look at that beak and jaw. She is quite incredible and we should never forget the great joy we felt when she hatched. Another moment that we had to pinch ourselves to know it was real.

Several precious feedings for the triplets at Duke Farms before the rain began to fall. Dad has lots of fish on that nest just in case there is considerable snow or rainfall. Well done, Dad.

Two beautiful eaglets at the John Bunker Sands Wetlands are doing quite fine. Almost every sign of any natal down is now gone. They eat, gain strength in their wings and legs all preparing them for a life off the nest.

At Johnson City, BC26 is a cutie pie.

Oh, goodness. They are all cute!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They are each precious. They deserve a safe habitat and safe food.

Kisatchie National Forest E3: The two eaglets have their thermal down and are losing their baby plumage which will soon be placed by that gorgeous shiny black plumage of the juvenile. Continue to send good wishes to this family so that there are two eaglets safely fledged and healthy parents to bid them farewell.

Many are wagering on whether or not F23 and M15 are planning a second clutch. They have been back at the nest working hard.

What about second clutches? I decided to see what AI would say about it and this is what came up in terms of likely statistics:

  • In another study, 27.3% of failed first clutches resulted in a second clutch. 

When do second clutches occur?

  • Second clutches are more likely to occur if the first clutch is lost early in the nesting season. 
  • Eagles usually don’t lay a second clutch if they’ve incubated for more than about two weeks. 

Other factors 

  • A successful second clutch depends on the availability of enough food for both the chicks and the parents.
  • The gonads must not have completely regressed so that reproductive hormones can be released to enable ovulation and fertilization.

Examples of second clutches 

  • In 1997-98, the parents began a second breeding attempt in February 1999 that produced two nestlings.
  • From 2006-2019, streaming cams observed eight instances of double clutches.

Elfruler gives us some really good insights into second clutches:

SECOND CLUTCHES | Bald EaglesDownload

We need to continue to remind ourselves of the deadly effects of HPAI. The testing and disposal of the bodies is paramount of understanding what happened. Digging shallow graves to bury dead owlets, as in Florida, is not acceptable. Carrion eaters dig them up and then more are ill and die. We must be super careful and vigilant in order to try and half as much damage to our raptor population as possible.

Bird Flu Enters a New Phase, Scientists Say – The New York TimesDownload

Calico wants to thank everyone who purchased one of her cards. She believes that each of us can make a difference—no grand gestures required, just caring. Next Monday, Calico will send Darcy’s Arc a cheque for $325 to help feed feral mothers and their kittens. She could not have done this without your generosity. Thank you so much.

Darling Calico cuddled up with my night shirt. Precious, precious girl.

Brock comes to the window and taps to let me know if the food and water dishes are empty outside OR if he would prefer another flavour! Brock has developed a taste for the ‘better’ cat food. Seeing him trusting us enough to ask for a different meal or more water is sweet. He has now taken to relaxing on the deck after he eats, taking in the warmth from the sun. We adore him.

We have been going for drives, sometimes short and often accompanied by a walk or feeding the chickadees. It has been quite icy and this evening I am suffering from a wee tumble taken at the English Gardens a couple of days ago. There is nothing to replace being outside – the wide open spaces and the blue skies. The deer were everywhere.

While I wait for the geese to arrive in Manitoba – and we are heading out tomorrow to see if we can get a first glimpse – Geese are arriving in Decorah, Iowa and finding their nest!

At the Campanile, a peregrine falcon did land on the ledge to check things out. I miss Annie!

At Two Harbours,Chase and Cholyn, who are both 26-27 years old, have been breeding together for 22 years. Will they have an egg this year? and raise a chick? We wait. https://youtu.be/O03rYESEzl8?

We remember Kumi, one of those remarkable green flightless parrots, the Kakapo. The population is now down to 243 with his death.

Kākāpō Recovery says:

REMEMBERING KUMI: Kumi hatched on Whenua Hou/Codfish Island, 19 March 2005. His mother Margaret-Maree was discovered in 1985 is still alive. His father was Sass who died in 2010 after signs of old age, 30 years after he was discovered. At just five weeks old, Kumi was injured by another kākāpō. While receiving treatment he earned the nickname ‘puku nui’ (big belly) due to his size and appetite. Then, in 2019, he became the largest kākāpō on Pukenui/Anchor Island, topping the scales at 4kg (8.8lbs).  At this weight, male kākāpō in breeding condition become almost spherical in shape because of their fat reserves and large ‘boom sack’. Kumi was known as an excellent boomer and for making an immaculate bowl. His efforts were rewarded, and his bloodline will continue through his seven offspring. One of his chicks with Kuia is Marian, the first-hatched grandchild of the famous Fiordland bird Richard Henry. Marian was successful herself in the last breeding season, making Kumi a grandad to three.  Kumi would have turned 20-years-old on the 19th March. He was found deceased under a yellow silver pine, not far from his bowl. There were no obvious signs of injury or cause of death, but his age, location and the timing indicate it could have been the result of a fight with another male kākāpō. A level of mortality is to be expected in any wild population, but each loss is a reminder of the vulnerability of the critically endangered kākāpō. With the next breeding season predicted next year for the first time since 2022, we look forward supporting the growth of the population again soon. Until then, we will continue to monitor the manu [birds] through remote technologies and annual health checks. Thanks to our treaty partner Te Rūnanga o Ngāi Tahu and National Partner Meridian Energy for their ongoing support of our programme. Public donations and symbolic kākāpō adoptions via our website also contribute directly to the health and vitality (mauri ora) of this critically endangered species. Supporters with current Kumi adoptions were contacted via email yesterday – thank you for your support. 💚

Thank you so much for being with us and for caring so much for our wildlife. Please take care. We hope to see you soon!

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, images, streaming cams, and articles that helped me to write my post today: ‘B, J, H’, FOBBV, SK Hideaways, Window to Wildlife, Los Angeles Times, IWS/Explore, NEFL-AEF, Duke Farms, John Bunker Sands Wetlands, Johnson City ETSU, Kistachie National Forest E3, Elfruler, The New York Times, Raptor Resource Project, Maria dk, Kakapo Recovery

Thursday in Bird World

27 February 2025

Good Morning Everyone,

It is 2:35 in Big Bear Valley Wednesday afternoon and there are 12, 215 people watching Jackie and Shadow’s nest for any sign of a pip. Pip watch officially begins on March 1. Typically Jackie’s eggs hatch at 38-39 days.

‘B’ sends us all the latest on this internationally loved couple.

https://news.berkeley.edu/2025/02/24/uc-berkeley-falcons-annie-and-archie-are-missing-is-avian-flu-the-cause/?fbclid=IwY2xjawIqKDZleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHTtCvx32k8LSdJ3MTbHsg_lHU6JKJyx1INQwi0Do4VkHBteyJxIn9EUT_w_aem_fnAyJqH9h1UdARKDxTmi6w

HPAI is a concern everyone including our garden. It has been +3 for the last few days. The snow is melting. There is standing water everywhere. The air is beginning to smell like spring. Most of the snow was cleared off the deck. All of the feeders were cleaned and disinfected. We will start a daily count to determine what is happening. When the European Starlings returned, there were 58 in the lilac bushes daily. There are now only 9. There were two Blue Jays, four Grey Squirrels, two Red Squirrels, and well, we were used to get at least 150 sparrows of various species. Might there be two dozen now? The Chickadees are here flitting, and there is a single female adult Downy Woodpecker. Two Crows. The loud songs from the birds in the garden could be heard more than half a city block away. There is still song, but it is so quiet.

It was extremely warm on Wednesday and we headed off to the zoo for a long and much needed walk before an Alberta Clipper is going to dump snow on us today. Five polar bears were sleeping on the snow! Just look at how clean its pads are!

I know that most of you are nervous about the upcoming breeding seasons whether it is the remaining eagles, the ospreys, or the hawks/falcons. I would also include the storks – oh, how I adore them! Throughout this posting and in many more to come, I want to encourage you to delight in the eaglets that have hatched and are healthy, for those eggs in nests, and for the storks and ospreys that are making their way home. Sending positive energy their way. In Manitoba, we are taking bets on the arrival of the first Canada Goose to the Oak Hammock Marsh. They could arrive within the week! I am so excited.

Let’s start with something nice and I cannot think of anything nicer than the miracle eaglet, Bodie, in Gabby and Beau’s nest.

NE Florida: That little cutie pie of Beau and Gabby’s now has a name! He is 5 weeks and 3 days old today.

I asked ‘AI’ to provide the meanings for the name Bodie:

The name Bodie has multiple meanings and origins: 

  • Enlightenment: A respelling of the Sanskrit word Bodhi, which means “enlightenment” or “wisdom” 
  • Messenger: From the German word bode or boden, which means “messenger” 
  • Large-bodied: From the Old English word bodig, which means “trunk” or “chest” 
  • Bold: From the French surname Beaudin, which is rooted in the old Germanic word bald 
  • Sheltered: From the Germanic and Scandinavian name Boden, which means “sheltered” 

Bodie is a gender-neutral name with origins in Sanskrit, German, French, Scandinavian, and Scottish. 

In ancient times, messengers were vital to society, carrying news and information between communities and individuals. People with the name Bodie were associated with this role, and were often respected members of society. 

Bodie has been on the rise in popularity in the United States, first entering the top 1,000 names in 2014. In 2022, it was ranked 484th in the top 500 names. 

A turkey vulture came and sat on the nest of Bodie on Wednesday but the real question remains: where are Gabby and Beau? They have not been seen at the nest on Wednesday. This is concerning. Bodie is not self feeding but he did go to the pantry and attempt to get a nibble or two of the prey.

Where are Beau and Gabby?

Cal Falcons: In my last post with the long listing of the nest happenings, I pondered what was going on at the Cal Falcon scrape on The Campanile. The following day a notice was posted. It made my heart sink to my toes and tears pour out of my eyes. HPAI is everywhere. I believe it is even accounting for the lack of songbirds in the garden this winter. Cal Falcons is warning us that this could be the reason that we are not seeing Annie or Archie.

More news agencies are picking up on the loss of dear Annie and her mate. My heart is feeling very empty about this and I am hoping for a miracle.

Famous falcon and mate missing from atop Berkeley’s Campanile TowerDownload

A pair of Red-shouldered Hawks are hoping to take over Annie’s territory. https://youtu.be/3xE8PX1ywjk?

We have to find hope and beauty in those birds that are surviving and those who are desperately trying to raise families in a very hostile environment. One of those is the new mate of Thunder, Makaio. He seems really good at caring for the eggs and protecting the nest. https://youtu.be/SexBFchvb-A?

Japanese Albatross Cam: There is a new Albatross streaming cam from Japan. Here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/live/QZbOtDedw-Y?

These are short-tailed Albatross. Information on the volcanic island where they live states: “The Izu-volcano on Tori-shima is one of a chain of small islands about 600 km south of Tokyo. The island is one for
the threatened albatross-birds, namely the short tailed albatross, and have been uninhabited by people since the Meteorological Institute drew back their scientists from an observatory in 1965, after a strong earthquake hit the area. About 30 people lived on the island before that, but they were evacuated after an eruption in 1939. In 1902 an eruption killed all the 125 people living on the island at that time.”

Located on Izu Island south of Tokyo and the main island of Honshu.

Here is a thorough article on the history of the short-tailed albatross in the area including ‘feather picking’.

Short-tailed Albatross | Yamashina Institute for OrnithologyDownload

Years ago we wondered what would happen to our much loved storks flying through war-torn Ukraine. Karl II had his favourite spots to stop and rest on the way to Africa. We always held our breath. Just how much wildlife has been impacted by this war?

‘We’ve lost some parts of nature for ever’: Ukraine war’s impact on environment – photo essay | UkraDownload

PSEG Patchogue Osprey Platform, Long Island: There will be no camera for the PSEG Patchogue nest. ‘MP’ sent me the response this morning when he noticed that there was no streaming cam: “Thank you for your online inquiry. I have heard back from our Wildlife department: Due to construction in the immediate vicinity of the Patchogue osprey platform, PSEG Long Island has relocated this platform to a nearby location away from construction activities and human interference. However, we were not able to reconnect the osprey camera at this new location. Therefore, the Patchogue osprey camera will no longer be available.” PSEG further added, “”The camera was removed in order to provide the ospreys with a calmer living environment, at this point there are no plans to reactivate the camera. The websiteOsprey Cams – PSEG Long Island will be updated if and when the camera comes back online.”

Of course, being a power company we both wondered why on earth they couldn’t rig up a solar panel or something or is it another issue? Like all of us calling them when the nest is dangerously dirty? Who knows. I assume PSEG wants a calmer life since the ospreys wouldn’t care one way or the other about the camera! Ridiculous.

Tartasan White-Tailed Eagle Cam: Chulman and Kama are at the nest https://youtu.be/QwegaOsW_lM?

Frenchman’s Creek: Heidi confirms that the second egg was laid on the 25th of February.

Pine Island Osprey Platform: Looks as if the eggs are not viable. This is truly a blessing with the GHO in waiting for chicks.

Achieva Credit Union Osprey Platform, St Petersburg, Florida: As of Wednesday afternoon there remains only one egg for Jack and his new mate.

We are sitting in the conservatory monitoring the birds at the feeder. This morning I put out 1/4 of the amount of peanuts, Black Oil Seed, along with a large helping of Bark Butter and Meal Works (directed at the Starlings). There are approximately nine or ten Starlings. Where have all the birds gone?

I will be tracking HPAI in our region, and elsewhere, during 2025 as it appears to be having a large impact on some bird counts.

Status of ongoing avian influenza response by province – inspection.canada.caDownload

Little Miami Conservancy: Two eggs. 19th and 22nd of February.

Duke Farms: Cute little first hatch and now it has a little brother or sister.

WRDC: Both R7 and R8 doing fantastic. Look at all the fish on that nest!

Captiva: Dasher sleeps like an adult and we have branching at the nest on Wednesday!

MN-DNR: Two eggs being incubated. Laid on the 14th and 17th of February.

FORE: Liberty and Guardian do not yet have eggs. Everyone is worried. Maybe they will not have eggs this year. Maybe they will. We wait. But it is getting late because of the heat. Both of their eaglets died last year. They know and they grieve. It is alright if they chose to skip this year. Last year Duke and Daisy chose not to raise a family. The previous year Duke was missing in the storm and we thought he was lost. Daisy lost two osplets but was able to fledge one. Life is challenging – and it is going to get worse. Send Liberty and Guardian your love and support.

Gary’s latest video on the Redding Eagles: https://youtu.be/kZOrkmcHcrk?

Kistachie National Forest E3: Just look at those amazing eaglets! https://youtu.be/7Ml9orXgPEI?s

Abu Dhabi Osprey Platform: The triplets appear to be doing well.

Royal Albatross Colony News:

Cornell Red Tail Hawks: The camera should be back in operation for Big Red and Arthur in a week! Thank goodness.

Can you lend a hand to Hob, her friends, and the Moli?

Rita the Eagle’s History Monday:

I am going to look forward to a day when I read about the growth of the Hen Harrier population and not that rising deaths near driven grouse moor estates in Scotland!

134 hen harriers confirmed ‘missing’ or illegally killed in UK since 2018, most of them on or closeDownload

Geemeff sends us some good news — remember, it is going to be up to us to do what is right for wildlife and that could include purchasing land, etc.

Happier news – the RSPB Geltsdale reserve is forging ahead after the successful land purchase. More funds needed of course, but as we all know, times are tough so people can support in ways other than donations eg by publicising on their social media feeds, buying from the online shop or better yet paying a visit to Geltsdale or any other RSPB reserve.

https://www.rspb.org.uk/donate/pennines-paradise

Thank you so much for being with today. We look forward to having you with us again soon! Take care of yourselves!

Thank you also for your patience with Calico’s cards. She had no idea what was entailed when she set out to help feral cats! The latest was securing proper mailing envelopes so the cards would not be bent when shipped! Those should arrive today or tomorrow. Then we can finalize the shipping! She told me she was glad we only do this twice a year. LOL.

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, comments, streaming cams, videos, and articles that helped me to write my post today: ‘B, EJ, Geemeff, Heidi, J, MP’, Berkeley News, American Eagle Foundation, Cal Falcons, KRON4, SK Hideaways, NEFL-AEF, SK Hideaways, IWS/Explore, Yamashina Institute for Ornithology, Japanese Albatross Cam, The Guardian, PSEG, Tartasan WTE Cam, Frenchman’s Creek, Heidi McGrue, Achieva Credit Union, Government of Canada, Little Miami Conservancy, Duke Farms, WRDC, Window to Wildlife, MN-DNR, Gary’s Eagle Videos, Nesting Bird Life and More, Abu Dhabi Osprey Platform, Sharon Dunne, Hob Osterlund, Rita the Eagle, RSPB, Raptor Persecution UK

Thursday in Bird World

20 February 2025

Good Morning Everyone,

Thank you for being with us today. Many of you are experiencing cold, wintry weather, and I understand that those of you in the southeastern United States are particularly surprised by the chill! While we should be accustomed to the cold here, I must admit that I wish it would go away. We haven’t been able to spend as much time outdoors as we would like. We all need to engage with nature. It is so good for our mental health. Please be careful if it is snowy and there is ice. Nothing is important enough to fall and get injured.

While our friends in the UK hope spring might be just around the corner, we are still in an extreme cold warning on the Canadian Prairies. It is one of the most extended extreme cold spells I can remember in recent history. Thankfully, the triple pane windows also create heat, and ‘The Girls’ can pretend they are outside in the sun. Even the sun warms up the conservatory for about six hours, and then, as the sun begins to lower itself in the west, the cold sets in. They have to come into the main part of the house and not one of the four is happy about that. They love that glass box where it is like they are living outside, but are actually safe inside.

In this extreme cold, I am always fretting about the outdoor animals. One Crow has consistently come to the table feeder to eat nuts from the cylinder. You can see the sparrows all puffed up to keep warm. They love perching on the branches of the lilacs and getting warmth from the sunshine. They will leave the garden early as soon as they begin to go down. By 4:30 things are pretty quiet. I am, however, missing all the beautiful birdsong from the garden. The number of songbirds is in significant decline.

I am so glad that Calico and her kitten Baby Hope are inside and not out with Brock and Star. There appears to be nothing I can do to convince either of them to trust me despite Brock now sitting about 15 cm or 6 inches from me when I take out food. If there is any sudden movement, he is off. I do not want to stress them out, but something will be done come spring – it will be an enclosure with a heat lamp. (Right now, it is too much work and cold to begin dismantling the wood boxes…I wish I had done it earlier.) If Star has kittens, which I fear she might, we will trap them and make sure they have homes.

The mailbox brings me to the topic for this post: Darvic rings. A reader wrote, “I was wondering if you’d heard anything about the banding of the osprey at Abu Dhabi. I saw them being weighed, but they didn’t measure their wings. Yet they put blue bands on one of all of their legs. They put a silver band on the other leg of all of them too. Wouldn’t the blue band be for boys? Why put a blue band on at all?”

Heidi did the video of the ringing of the triplets and I post it again here. https://youtu.be/ki2xKtFBF_Y?

What are Darvic Rings? The Darvic rings are a plastic ring that is fitted to the Osprey’s leg. Normally you can see them from a distance with binoculars or a spotting scope. Different countries use different colours. In the United Kingdom, the bands are blue with white lettering. Scotland places the Darvic ring on the left leg while England and Wales put it on the right. In Spain the Darvic rings are yellow, in Germany they are Black, and in France they are orange. Over time the amount of numbers or letters has changed but there are registries of every bird that is ringed. 

The birds are also fitted with a metal ring. It has a unique number and address and is more durable than the plastic ones which can, after several years, break. 

Birds are ringed before they are 45 days old. The reason for this is so the specially trained banders do not frighten the birds and cause them to fledge prematurely. Also, the leg will have grown to its adult size. This prevents the ring from getting too tight and injuring the bird. Ringing often takes place when the Osprey chicks are in the 30s – such as 36 days old, etc. At the time of banding the chicks are weighed and measured. Indeed, everything about them is measured!

So for the United Arab Emirates where the Abu Dhabi nest is located this is the specific information on ring colour and placement.  Nothing to do with gender:

TitleColour-ring type Soort Colour-ring colour Colour-ring code First letter Last letter Colour-ring position 
OspreysLegring : one, coded. Osprey Dark Blue [B] Three alpha-numeric code (3 letters/numbers). E Tarsus right.

 There are online lists of the colours of the rings for each country. If you spot a bird with a Darvic ring, there are sites where you should submit that information. It is always good to be able to locate where the birds are and if they are alive.

Few ring the ospreys (or other raptors) in North America which is a real shame. The benefits of ringing the birds – whether they be a raptor or a songbird – are many. Here are only a few articles to help you understand why this process is important.

Why do we put rings on birds? – Hawk Conservancy Trust – Hawk Conservancy TrustDownload
259.Reeves et al.Download
Colour Ringing – Roy Dennis Wildlife FoundationDownload

Checking on some of the nests:

Kistachie National Forest E3: The eaglets are getting frisky and playful. https://youtu.be/yUWLzSliOAA?

Redding Eagles: Will the heat impact any late eggs laid? https://youtu.be/yUWLzSliOAA?

Captiva Eagle Cam: Dasher and Dancer are doing just fine.

Achieva Credit Union Osprey Platforms: No egg yet for Jack and his new mate. The chicks normally hatched the first week in March. It is getting late for a clutch. I worry about the heat of the summer just as I would if there was another clutch at SW Florida.

NCTC: Scout is getting into the action of incubation. Fingers crossed. The couple now have three eggs! https://youtu.be/SsMcuXsNUIE?

Big Bear: Could you ignore Shadow’s charms? https://youtu.be/1ZAaKfrNXoE?

West End: In case you missed it, the first egg of Thunder and Makaio was taken by an opportunistic Raven. https://youtu.be/202j3SgZOwA?

Hilton Head: The two eaglets are doing well!

PA Country Farm: The male, Oliver, is showing signs of having HPAI. Please send your good wishes.

Little Miami Conservancy: The first egg is laid for eagle couple, Bette and Baxter, on Wednesday.

USS Steel: There is a three egg clutch for Irvine and his new mate, Stella, in 2025. She is a young mum, but Irv knows the ropes. It should be an exciting nest to watch this year. https://youtu.be/2mMml-j86cA?

Cornell Red Tail Hawk: Both Big Red and Arthur have been spotted on campus.

Moorings Park: Sally and Harry continue to incubate their three eggs.

Pine Island Ospreys:

Johnson City-ETSU: Eggs on January 23 and 26. Boone and Jolene should be expecting a pip by the end of February! Just think – 8 days.

Royal Albatross Colony: Adorable chick nestles next to its mother. https://youtu.be/Baq1kDo8k7Y?

SW Florida: M15 and F23 come to the nest. https://youtu.be/wFSLKTEhqq4?

NE Florida: For a $5 donation, you can help select one of four names for Beau and Gabby’s only eaglet in 2025.

Dale Hollow: Taylor and Franklin have their first egg.

Friends of South Australia Ospreys are concerned about Marie from Gleesons who has flown far from her nest.

News of new nest platforms comes from Geemeff:

New nest platforms in Utah:

https://universe.byu.edu/metro/provo-power-and-division-of-wildlife-resources-collaborate-to-build-osprey-nests

And in the Bronx:

New home for osprey birds being built in Eastchester Bay

There is also a new platform at Granville Island in Vancouver for eagles. It is a galvanized pole erected by one of my former students who was in charge of the rebuilding of the Market area. More information to follow.

There is a new FaceBook group organized by Trudi Kron for the Wolf Bay Osprey platform in Alabama. Here is the link to the group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1368435824519762

Here is the link for the camera. Sticks are already being delivered! https://youtu.be/3xUG9gpVzlY?

Wildlife is truly under threat. Many of the nature centres and rehabilitation clinics are going to need your support and help. This is one of the latest postings.

Geemeff asks, “Stating the bleeding obvious- pesticides kill! Did we learn nothing from Rachel Carson? Silent Spring was written more than seventy years ago and sadly, not much has changed, if anything, things have got worse.” I agree. Humans have much to clean up and wildlife needs us more now than ever.

https://www.birdguides.com/news/pesticides-a-major-contributor-to-global-biodiversity-crisis-says-stud

One of our next conversations is going to be about where your donation dollars do the most good. Many are abandoning the WWF because of this – and other large organizations where the staff take more of the donations than the wildlife!

WWF helping facilitate trade in polar bear fur, investigation reveals | WWF | The GuardianDownload

.They are not birds, but at this stage, the balance and health of all wildlife has to be of our concern. That includes those adorable little European hedgehogs that populate the gardens. They were of least concern and now their existence is ‘threatened’. Habitat loss and pesticide use. It is a mantra that we are going to hear over and over again this year as animals die because of us. Please help them. No more green beautiful Home and Gardens lawns. Plant for pollinators without using pesticides. Urge your neighbours, your family, and your friends. ——– It looks like it is going to be up to use to take care of the areas around where we live. Imagine the power of the people of the world if we each dedicated our lives to making their lives better. Imagine.

I feel blessed to have so many talented and caring readers, many who are have become friends over the years. One is Juni Li, a New York artist, who has shared a drawing of Iris and Finnegan with us. Just imagine—within six weeks, Iris could be back with us. Wonder who will arrive first: Iris or Finnegan? Wish them good health, favorable winds, bountiful crops – and no interlopers.

I so wish Sum-eh and Antali had been ringed. Without Darvic rings, we will never know them if they return or if someone sees them in another area. We will also not know if they are found dead.

Iris always makes us smile and I hope this next story, sent to us by EJ, will, too.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/experts-baffled-results-unlikely-solution-110014598.html

The Northern Ireland Raptor Study Group Conference is fast approaching. Hopefully they will provide us with archival talks and paper presentations.

Northern Ireland Raptor Study Group Conference, 22 February 2025 – booking open – Raptor PersecutionDownload

Thank you so much for being with us today. Take care. We will see you again on Monday!

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, comments, articles, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘EJ, Geemeff, H, J, MP, SP’, Heidi Mc, Hawk Conservancy Trust, The Journal of Raptor Research, The Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation, Kistachie E3 Bald Eagle Nest, Nesting Bird Life and More, Gary Eagle Videos (FORE), SK Hideaways, Deb Stecyk, Little Miami Conservancy, Hilton Head Land Conservancy, American Eagle Foundation, univerise.byu.edu, Bronx Times, The Guardian, Vija, Pix Cams, American Eagle Foundation, Friends of Osprey Sth Aus, Cornell Bird Lab, Juni Li, Yahoo News, Raptor Persecution UK, Achieva Credit Union, Heidi McGrue and Pine Island Ospreys (Joy of Ospreys FB)

Calico is such an intelligent cat, and she is working hard to figure out the best way to provide help for feral cats. I wonder if she remembers living in the cold. She has created a line of five blank note cards on premium card stock with envelopes using my images. Her goal is to sell 500 cards. We have decided to do this directly instead of selling them through shops (who take multiple percentages from 40-60). It will mean more work for all The Girls and us, but in the end, those funds will provide much-needed food and help with spaying and neutering within our community.

I will post a separate page with information on how you can help Calico meet her goal on Monday!

Late Sunday in Bird World

9 February 2025

Hello Everyone,

Traveling is wonderful. It is the getting there and getting home that are not! The snow did not hinder our arrival late Thursday in Montreal and the young man who removes the snow around our property has already visited twice. Temperatures have even managed to warm up in Winnipeg.

It is now Saturday – late afternoon. Provisions for the birds and cats received attention today. Their pantry is stocked full. Saturday morning saw only one grey squirrel at the feeders. Now I am watching Dyson eating peanuts in the small feeder with little red hanging out at one of the newly replaced nut cylinders filling up. The Sparrows have returned and here comes another Grey. I want to see all four of them along with Mr Blue Jay and the woodpecker family and the chickadees today. Then I will feel like the garden is fine. Oh, it is doubly fine. There is another little Red!!!!! Oh, goodness me. The animals are a worry.

The Girls were fine. They are well looked after, but it does not replace the almost 24/7 attention they get when we are home. There is no Story time or pets that last hours. Hugo Yugo slept in my armpit for almost the entire night snuggled in very tight. Right now, they are all on the table with me as I write to you.

Sunday noon. The Starlings have returned to the garden along with TWO blue Jays. I teared up. I haven’t had time to check their tail feathers, but I want to be hopeful that Junior and Mrs. are both here. Star is eating at the feral feeder, and Brock was here earlier. As I said, life is beginning to return to normal. It feels good. We have visited our Bestie and a new episode of All Creatures Great and Small arrives this evening! No, we are not watching the Superbowl.

Sauces. Audacity laid three eggs. Egg one is still intact. Fingers crossed for it and that she doesn’t wear herself out laying eggs. One good one, one hard shell fertilised egg is all they need. https://youtu.be/q16DyG2BW5E?

Duke Farms has its Bald Eagle cam up and running for all fans. Mum is incubating three eggs! Three. Oh, dear.

Foggy morning on Friday at the West End nest of Thunder. (I am now throwing the towel in yet…)

This is the banding video for the male, Makaio, who appears to have displaced Akecheta. Displaced not injured. That was a male without any bands! https://youtu.be/XkXWRimCl3g?

I just want to go to the West End camera and see Akecheta on that nest. It has now been 22 days since we saw him injured.

Fish was not on the morning menu at Captiva for Dasher and Dancer. Every time I see a bird on any nest, I hold my breath.

There are new variants of bird flu spreading in different parts of the world. The dairy industry in the US is now monitoring their milk after an outbreak of variant D1..1. “Genome sequencing of milk from Nevada identified the different strain, known as the D1.1 genotype, in dairy cows for the first time, the USDA said. Previously, all 957 bird flu infections among dairy herds reported since last March had been caused by another strain, the B3.13 genotype, according to the agency.”

New avian influenza genotype found in dairy cattle | American Veterinary Medical AssociationDownload

Virologists tell us that it is only a matter of time for when another global pandemic strikes. Right now, our thoughts are with our feathered friends and the hope that they survive.

At the present time, I understand that the American Medical Association is monitoring the Bird Flu spread as the CDC is not reporting.

Beau brought in a baby shark for Gabby and 31.

Wings of Whimsy gives us some very cute moments on the NE Florida nest: https://youtu.be/pMgtM4FABVg?

Beau and 31 cannot get any cuter! https://youtu.be/hiPkrogFEHI?

The two little eaglets at John Bunker Sands are so sweet. They seem to be doing very well.

Bella and Scout have been at the old NCTC nest. I wonder if Scout is going to step up and be a great dad this year? We can only wait and see.

This nest is 21 years old. The newer one is about 15 feet or 4 metres below, according to Deb Stecyk.

Heidi reports that Port Lincoln’s Kasse caught a fish! We won’t know if it was her first, but it sure is a huge milestone to celebrate, regardless.

The people of Virginia and around the Chesapeake are fighting for the survival of the ospreys and other species due to the industrial harvesting of Menhaden – a fish critical to the osprey diet. Please lend them your voice. Write to the current governor, Senators, politcians and bloody well vote like you care in the next election!

Port Lincoln is reporting the tracking of its osplets. I am including Ervie here! Ervie has been going to Mundy Point where Kasse and Wilko go for their baths. Interesting.

What these two eagles can get up to with their sticks! https://youtu.be/-bP8GlQQnIQ?si

Wisdom, the at least 74-year-old Laysan Albatross, returned to her week-old chick. How incredible. I sure hope this image doesn’t get scrambled! Apparently, screen cams don’t get jostled but if I take something from another site, weird things can happen. So if there is a problem, please go to the Friends of Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge FB page!

Wisdom is now out foraging and her mate is feeding and brooding their little bundle of joy. Does he know how famous his partner is?

Hartley and Monty are getting a jump on spring! https://youtu.be/zmuhQouwdqo?

Richmond is expecting Rosie to return from her migration any day now. Think Valentine’s Day! He has been seen on all of the light poles, but was caught on the Whirley Crane, on all the lights, and today on the one they used for their nest in 2024.

Are you looking for a gold medal award winning osprey tour while visiting the UK (or while living there)? Look no further than the Birds of Poole Harbour! who have just won gold in Dorset.

Osprey cruises run by Birds of Poole Harbour charity win gold in Dorset Tourism Awards – Raptor PersDownload

Bonnie is incubating two eggs at the nest she shares with Clyde on Farmer Derek’s property.

There are eagles at the new MN-DNR nest in Minnesota.

I will probably mention it more than once, but it appears that F23 and M15 are doing rather well. Fish delivery at the nest. Both seen at the nest tree. It has been a fortnight since E24 passed. Let us hope that the adults are fine and will live long and productive – and healthy – lives. So happy.

Looking for something to watch? You might want to find out about this documentary that is winning awards: The Birdwatchers. 13.40 minutes long. https://youtu.be/z7xwv3twYDI?

If you missed the January 2025 Ventana wildlife Society Condor Chat, here it is archived! https://youtu.be/Oq1xfog0xmQ?

The triplets at the Abu Dhabi Osprey nest appear to be thriving. Their gorgeous juvenile plumage is coming in nicely!

Jack and the new female at the Achieva Credit Union nest appear to be getting on rather well.

Thank you for being with me today. We are still adjusting to being home. Right now, everything seems to be going reasonably well here and in Bird World and Osprey season is, thankfully, not really underway. In a month, there could be arrivals on the UK screens of your favourite families and, for sure, within six weeks we will be seeing ospreys everywhere. My plan is to post Bird World news twice a week for the next fortnight – on Mondays and Thursdays. We will resume daily posts at the end of February. We always look forward to having you with us. Take care!

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘Geemeff’, SK Hideaways, IWS/Explore.org, Window to Wildlife, AVMA, Window to Wildlife, NEFL-AEF, Wings of Whimsy, John Bunker Sands Wetlands, Deb Stecyk, NCTC Bald Eagle Nest, Heidi McGrue, Port Lincoln Ospreys, Midway Atoll, SF Bay Ospreys, Raptor Persecution UK, Farmer Derek GHO Cam, MN-DNR, The Birdwatchers, Ventana Wildlife Society, Abu Dhabi Osprey Cam, Achieva Credit Union

Very late Saturday in Bird World

1 February 2025

Greetings Everyone!

It rained in a rain forest. No surprise there! We meandered into the small area of shops and found a lovely little restaurant overlooking the marina. The food was delicious. The coconut pie was out of this world – the best I have ever eaten and that is saying something coming from the southern US, originally.

Deshaies offers everything we wanted in a break from the Canadian winter. The hummingbirds fill the garden area flitting from flower to flower. There are three or four different types. Then there are Bandicoots, Red Jungle Roosters, hens, and chicks, and today we heard a woodpecker along with many others serenading us that we could not identify and neither could Merlin ID (only 65% of the birds on Guadeloupe are in their identification system). The National Forest is about 50 yards away on one side.

We are enjoying paradise.

The view to the marina.

Mostly fish items – freshly caught but also spaghetti and curry.

The finest coconut pie with homemade ice cream.

I had hoped for relaxation, and that is what we found. The puppy waits for us at the gate or comes running if she hears our voices wanting pets and more pets. Don’t tell The Girls! She has melted our hearts.

The trip is already more than I could ask for in a holiday. My dear husband has managed so well—often better than I did when things got anxious. He is excellent at spotting hummingbirds and helps watch for the roosters, hens, and their chicks on the road. They are everywhere. It almost seems like everyone has them for eggs. The weather has been warm; being outside in a forest melts any woes. It is forest bathing in a way so different from home – and we love it. I feel so privileged to travel and stay in such a serene place. Feeling grateful.

Checking on our bird friends…

There is now a second hatch for Alex II and Andria II at the Kistachie E3 nest in Louisiana. Oh, these bobbleheads are cute and strong! Go and check them out.

CROW has put out a statement answering some Questions and rumours that have been filtering through the airwaves. ( I hope this shows up in its entirety. Please search on CROW FB if it isn’t. Very informative information).

M15 and F23 have both been seen around the Pritchett Property.

The Royal Cam chick is doing quite well under the care of its father, RLK. Ranger Sharyn did a weight check. https://youtu.be/aU4-uKEgY4k?s

E31 is likely to be the most spoiled eaglet in the entire state of Florida this breeding season. Talk about a dad! Beau has embraced fatherhood like he read the manual from Shadow or M15. Gabby did really well. Oh, I know that we growled at Beau at times, but she kept the faith and for good reason.

Up at the food table. Can you see little 31?

Beau is feeding NE31 – again. Gosh, he loves taking care of this eaglet. https://youtu.be/EQapL5_-Z6M?

Kids climbing over one another to try to get priority at feeding at John Bunker Sands.

Three fish gifts for Jackie from Shadow – one for each egg? https://youtu.be/aTcHAYxfDRs?

Dasher and Dancer enjoying a nice meal.

Looked like a fish dinner for R7 and R8 and it also looked like R8 got its tank filled up! Nice.

More groups should band together to buy up huge tracts of land like the RSPB before developers get their hands on it and wildlife declines.

‘It’s incredible, the place just swarms with birdlife’: inside England’s biggest bird sanctuaryhttps://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/feb/01/its-incredible-the-place-just-swarms-with-birdlife-inside-englands-biggest-bird-sanctuary?CMP=share_btn_url

Two other news items. Tom and Angel have been seen at the nest and Window to Wildlife says that the cam will be turned on soon. Dr Sharpe is also planning to make a trip to the West End to see about the camera and hopefully to have some news of the eagles, Thunder and Akecheta for us.

Thank you so much for being with us today. Please take care! See you in a few days – it could even be Tuesday or earlier if there is news.

Thank you to the following for their notes, comments, videos, images, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: Kistachie National Forest E3 nest, CROW, NZ DOC, Sharon Dunne, NEFL-AEF, AEF, John Bunker Sands, SK Hideaways, Window to Wildlife, WRDC, The Guardian

Late Friday in Bird World

31 January 2025

Hello Everyone,

It was a beautiful day in Guadeloupe. We spent it at the Botanical Gardens. If you are ever in this part of the world, I highly recommend a visit to this beautiful space. As you might recall, we are staying in a cottage on the grounds of the old Botanical Garden.

The new one began its current configuration in 2001. Scattered throughout the gardens are koi ponds, flamingos, Rainbow Lorikeets, and Parrots. The birds used to fly free in great numbers on the island. They are now extinct! Habitat destruction (deforestation) and hunting wiped them out. You can purchase food for the various fish and birds at the entrance gate. It is a great way to spend three or four hours.

The koi pond.

Lorikeets eat out of your hand.

The Panoramic Restaurant at the top of the water falls. Great local dishes but everything is on Caribbean time – allow at least 2.5 hours for a lingering lunch.

The sound of the water falling over the rocks. Click for the video. Oh, I hope it plays.

Looking at the Flamingos from the Panoramic Restaurant.

Look at the size of the tree compared to the humans below.

There are roosters, chickens, and chicks everywhere!!!! This is a Red Jungle Rooster. There were Crested Hummingbirds, Carib Grackles, Bandicoots around the garden.

Roger is having his lunch.

A beautiful day in paradise.

Now to check on our bird families…

Everyone in Bird World continues to mourn the loss of E24 and E25 with the SW Florida Bald Eagle family. We hope that F23 and M15 will be spared and return to the nest next season to once again raise a family. It has certainly been difficult not knowing how the adults are doing.

One of the most wonderful notices that I received was that M15 was seen at the pond on Friday. The individual told me he looked good. We need to allow for a fortnight from when the eaglets were sick and passed away for F23 and M15 to be ‘out of the woods’. Then they should have temporary immunity to this blessed curse that has hit the avian world. Here is the video link showing them: https://youtu.be/ZTANpuxjUNE?

While we wait for word from the West End nest of Thunder and Akecheta and more sightings of F23 and M15 that show that their health is good, we really must rejoice for those nests that are, at this time, doing very well. I cannot think of a better place to start than the Royal Albatross colony in New Zealand near Dunedin. There OGK’s son, RLK, is brooding their beautiful chick! The NZ DOC has put out the most precious video of RLK meeting that wee babe and reaching down to talk to it. OGK would be very proud! https://youtu.be/0uZs1z5msug?

Great close ups and a feeding! https://youtu.be/ZTANpuxjUNE?s

They are the gentle giants of the sea. They hunt over 6 million square miles of sea, mostly The Roaring Forties of the Southern Ocean, for food. It is a shame that as an international community we have not stopped the practices of the long-haul fishing trawlers (dropping their lines during the day) or have not come up with ways to rid the seas of plastics to save these beautiful creatures with their ten foot wingspans. They live in the winds lowering their heart rate to the same as when they are on their nests (80 beats per minute). They spend years foraging before returning with their wobbly legs to find a mate and then maybe, in years to come, to have a family. They should live to be as old or older than Wisdom, now in her 70s.

There are some things that we cannot control, that we cannot do anything about and then there are others that we can. With Avian Flu, demands must be placed at every level to curtail the disease including the factory chicken farms. Many would have them closed. We can certainly lobby environmental groups to help put into place best practices – demand that best practices be used – on those fishing trawlers such as loading lines at night and on the side of the boat, using safety protections on the hooks, etc. The list is not long and many agencies offer free devices for the ships. It is shameful that we cannot cause change in the industry to the extent that we no longer have to worry about an albatross being beheaded. Yes, that is what happens. It is horrendous. But eating plastic and thinking it is food and dying is horrific, too. While it is difficult to stop buying items that are made of plastic, we certainly should be trying our best. The other day, I realised that one of the biggest culprits is plastic medicine bottles! Why not put tablets in wax-lined paper envelopes? I plan to contact several of our local pharmacies when I return to Canada. We need to also support and call for funding for companies seeking to rid the ocean of consumer plastic waste.

We must smile when we look at Jack working so hard at Achieva Credit Union Osprey nest in St Petersburg. While we were trying to get help for that platform, Jack had other ideas. He started building a nest anyone would be proud of. Now ‘MP’ reports that he is bringing in fish to the nest and calling. Is he calling Diane? That is so sad. Maybe another female will want this beautiful nest and that fish!

Maybe Jack will attract a female! Someone arrived.

Tandem feeding for 31 – and, at the age of 10 days, 31 gets out of the nest bowl and up to the buffet to be fed by Dad. Fantastic! https://youtu.be/_rpYDa8AW6w?

Still waiting for the cams at the West End. Will we have eggs? Thunder usually lays them at the end of January or beginning of February – around our anniversary!

Congratulations to Alex II and Andria II at the E3 nest in the Kisatchie Forest on their first hatch of the 2025 breeding season! https://youtu.be/5iD4P2eY4z8?

The first egg is in the nest at PA County Farm! https://youtu.be/kRAOM-MS9nE?

Geemeff sends us this: How the Sport Shooting Industry is spreading HPAI and getting away with it! These poor animals are bred only to be shot, and not even for food which would allow some slight justification for their slaughter, then dumped illegally. Besides the potential spread of bird flu, scavengers of their carcasses are prone to getting lead poisoning from the lead shot used by the disgusting shooting industry.

Shot pheasants dumped in Lincolnshire during heightened risk of Avian Influenza

More Hen Harriers killed….when oh when will there be something done to stop this massacre?

133 hen harriers confirmed ‘missing’ or illegally killed in UK since 2018, most of them on or close to grouse moors

Storks arriving in Lindheim!

Good night Dasher and Dancer.

In a highly significant step forward for vulture conservation, India’s government has banned the use of Nimesulide – a widely used veterinary painkiller that’s highly toxic to these threatened birds.

https://www.birdlife.org/news/2025/01/10/vulture-conservation-in-india-boosted-by-additional-veterinary-drug-ban

Egg #2 for Sally and Harry arrived at Moorings Park on Friday.

Thank you for being with us today. Please take care. See you late Sunday or Monday.

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, comments, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘Geemeff, H, J, MP’, Jardin Botanique de Deshaies, NZ DOC and Cornell Bird Lab, Royal Cam Albatross, Lizmn, Whiskers and Wings, SW Florida Eagle Cam, Achieva Credit Union, Baiba, SK Hideaways, HDonTap, Raptor Persecution UK, GalS, Window to Wildlife, birdlife.org

Late Thursday in Bird World

30 January 2025

Hello Everyone,

When we left Canada, it looked like this at the Montreal airport. There was heavy snow in the area that hit both Ottawa and Montreal. We wondered if we would take off. Thankfully, we did!

The learning curve upon arrival in Guadeloupe was high. I have to admit that my French is not that good! Renting a car might take only minutes in North America, but after a long day, it was a three-hour wait in 28-degree heat. Then, it was an arduous drive up and around the mountains to our cottage on the grounds of the Old Botanical Garden near Deschaines. The anxiety was worth it!

This is the view off the terrace of the cottage.

Complete with a dog that adopted the owners of the property – a Guadeloupe rescue. She is sweet. They even have cats!!!!!!! Who said we would be homesick?

It is Paradise. We are way up on the mountains in the rain forest and while it is 28 C, the breeze is vibrant, and we are not hot. Today was a wee trip into the small village to pick up a baguette and acquaint ourselves with what is available here. The nearest large supermarket is in Sainte-Rose. That is about 11 km away on a very winding road up and down and around the mountain. We opted to stay local. Tomorrow we will venture out to find one of the many restaurants that our host has recommended.

Now, skipping briefly to Bird World News:

The news has come that both E24 and E25 tested positive for HPAI. I do not know the strain but there is a new one in California, H5N9. I was also sent this information from my sidekick: “To the best of my knowledge… no one (bog’s) has reported seeing M15 today. F23 was recently seen at the pond, and looked okay.  I’ll let you know anything I can find out. Crow made an announcement at the nest tree, and the vet said we should possibly be concerned about the parents for up to two weeks.  They also said that HPAI is relatively new to the SWFL region.”

I found CROW’s press conference. It is here: https://youtu.be/BJelOrdk6P0?

Please send this amazing couple your best wishes. It is not easy seeing the two children you cared for so much die before you and you are helpless. I still remember Joe (Connie’s former mate at Captiva) mourning over the loss of Peace and Hope (rodenticide poisoning several years ago). It haunts me – that figure of him looking down as the last one, apparently healthy, broke a blood feather and bled to death.

Barb Henry posted a screen capture of F23 down at the pond.

Wings of Whimsy’s tribute to the SW Florida Eagle family and to E24 and E25. Get the tissues. https://youtu.be/YcEUG9mZJKI?

We have the first egg at Moorings Park Osprey nest for Harry and Sally.

Jackie and Shadow have surprised us with three eggs. My goodness if this is a year for a miracle at their nest, is this an extra one for luck? What if all three hatch? Shadow will be busy!!!!!!

Fishey eagle love at the nest before the third egg at Big Bear: https://youtu.be/tsKskF0ue-g?

All is well at the nest of Gabby and Beau. Beau loves being a Dad!!!!!! He has really picked up on feeding NE31. Gabby joins him in this video: https://youtu.be/_rpYDa8AW6w?

OGK’s son, RLK, got to meet his newly hatched chick at the Royal Albatross Colony in New Zealand.

NZ DOC image shared by Sharon Dunne on the FB group:

There are some wonderful events to celebrate. Please send all of the nests your most positive wishes for success. They have many, many challenges to over come – both the wee ones and the parents.

Thank you for being with us for this brief recap of what has been happening. There is lots more news out in Bird World. We will be back with you later on Saturday from what can only be called ‘Paradise’ – Guadeloupe. Take care everyone.

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, comments, images, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to write this post today: ‘H, J, PB’, CROW, Barb Henry and the NEFL and EFL Eaglecam Watchers, Wings of Whimsy, Moorings Park, FOBBV, SK Hideaways, NZ DOC, Sharon Dunne