Category Archives: Iowa

Pip, pip, hatch…Saturday in Bird World

23 March 2024

Good Morning Everyone,

I had to check first thing. More below. But isn’t a day-old osplet adorable? I wish every osplet could hatch into a wonderful nest like Sally and Harry’s.

Happy Saturday everyone – from all of us. Hugo Yugo is well and there are so many pips and hatches going to happen our heads will be spinning by next week!

I haven’t been staying up as late as I used to. Last year I was still watching the cams at 0100 and back up again before 0700. This year, I am being gentle until the ospreys start hatching all over the place so, sometimes I miss things. That is what happened with the hatch at Moorings yesterday. So grateful for ‘H’ – she fills in my gaps. Thursday night was also a difficult evening when I added up how many hours little Willow had not had any food on the Bluff City nest and observed the battering that Oliver was giving it. Food shortages cause many things for both raptors and humans. Sadly, Willow was too weak to eat on Friday and Oliver continued to thrash her about. It reminded me too much of Zoe. Sometimes we all need just to step back and breathe. Life is often extremely difficult and in instances like this, we feel very helpless.

Hugo Yugo is positively fine. The onesie went into the ether somewhere and the incision is fantastic, regardless. Thank you for all your get well wishes and positive energy.

It has been an excruciatingly painful year with the Bald Eagle nests that all of us have watched. We are only beginning to have the little osplets in the nest. Indeed, the majority of the adults have yet to return from migration. We can only hope that the weather and the quantity and quality of fish will be such that the chicks can survive to fledge – and then, we must hope that the larger raptors do not predate them. It is time to show we care, not just talk about it.

I intend to observe those nests that have had predation and send the owners all the information about the proactive folks at Cowlitz PUD. Yes, that is a public utility company in Washington State that cared enough about its ospreys to put up fish grates to protect the babies from the Bald Eagles. Last year, the family lost all three of their beautiful osplets to an eagle. We have seen other nests that could have benefited and outfitted their platforms before their resident ospreys returned this year. If I seem overly critical, well, I am. The ospreys put so much energy into the eggs, incubation, and feeding that to lose the chicks, often right before or right after fledging, is devastating, especially when mitigation might have altered the outcome.

I reported below that there was to be a walk around the Achieva Credit Union nest. This was posted within the last five minutes – so at 2100 Florida time Friday night. So, please send your concerns to the St Petersburg Audubon Society quickly and coherently.

Good news. The Achieva Osprey nest will have individuals looking at it and around the area as well as trimming the tree near the platform.

Thank you Barbara Walker. This is what she found when they looked around the Achieva nest at the base:

Mother Goose at Decorah has laid another egg – the third. Don’t you love seeing those day old goslings take that leap of faith?

The John Bunker Sands surviving eaglet is doing fantastic. Self-feeding and a lot of flapping and jumping are the order of the day. Mum appears to be improving slowly. I have to imagine that standing on the metal, especially on a hot day, does nothing but put stress on that foot/talon at times. Thankfully, and regardless, the eaglet has not suffered. Dad stepped in to help both and did a fantastic job.

There is a hatch – second egg, one eaglet in nest – in progress at the Cardinal Land Conservancy.

Pip watch began at the Redding Bald Eagle nest of Liberty and Guardian on Thursday. Please let them have one successful hatch! The weather is miserable.

We are on hatch watch at Berry College. This is Pa and Missey’s second clutch. The egg is 35 days old today. Wishing both Pa and Missey luck.

Both Ospreys have arrived safe and sound at the Bridge Golf Club Osprey Nest.

At Port Lincoln, Bradley continues to show us that he can catch puffers and fish! I am so glad that he chooses to catch them on the ropes of the old Natal Nest and then barge them so we can see how well he is doing.

Bradley and Dad have been spending time at Dad’s favourite fishing spot, Delamere. You might recall that Dad and Ervie spent much time there also – as do the whole family now.

I am not sure which bird it is but Threave have one on a nest in the UK! Most will return in a week (based on historical records).

There is a new Red-tail Hawk cam at Syracuse University. The residents are Oren and Ruth and they already have two eggs. Check it out!

Here is the link:

Big Red and Arthur continue to take turns. Big Red has been busy finding bark Friday afternoon.

Arthur returns, not Big Red.

Here comes Mama with more bark.

Snow began to fall gently on Big Red, her nest and the two eggs Friday evening.

The little osplet at Moorings Park is hatched and so cute. Sally has been busy having many small fish meals for her first hatch in 2024. At one time the remaining half shell from the hatch got slipped over the ‘orange’ egg (the one closest to you), but, thankfully, it later came off. Is there a pip in one of the other eggs? We wait to see. Hopefully they will all hatch quickly! Harry is such an amazing fisher and Sally an incredible Mum, they can handle three.

‘AE’ sent this adorable screen capture. Don’t newly hatched osplets melt your heart?

We have some tracking news about Ervie.

Food was scarce, and Oliver at Bluff City realised there was currently not enough, even with a rabbit coming into the nest. S/he has continually beaten little Willow, who has not eaten. The parent will not feed a chick they perceive as dying because it is a ‘waste of food’. Willow must be strong enough to get up and open its beak. Sadly, Oliver isn’t allowing this. This is a typical example of siblicide. And it is horrible to watch. Please note that Oliver has an enormous crop when he is beating Willow. You might recall Zoe at Port Lincoln. This will not end well, and I wish the little one speed in its release.

AE reports Willow had only 2 bites of food. Poor thing.

Poor little Willow. It is raining and she is still alive this morning. I feel so sorry for this family with so little food.

It is an entirely different story at Johnson City where there is plenty of fish. Both eaglets are thriving.

Sometimes I wish the other eggs on the nest would not hatch. Ellie and Harvey’s first eaglet on Farmer Derek’s property is a cutie pie.

The first hatch at Decorah North is on its way! We are going to have so many eaglets by next week!

It appears that Archie won the lottery – Annie and him have four eggs. Wonder if she will go for five?!

Archie incubates!!!!! Those four must be awfully uncomfortable for such a little falcon.

Looks like Lisa has returned to the Spirit Bluff scrape and is bonding with Newman. (I suspect she was injured and healed and has now returned to take her place). Exciting news.

As many of you are aware, I have ranted about humans providing fish for the ospreys in times of immediate need. I wrote the following to Geemeff in a big rant, “So I continue to ask myself – what would it hurt us to put up fish ponds near the raptor platforms?  I mean John Williams has figured out the number and type of fish that come on to Llyn Clywedog – and if I recall, it is about 450-500 fish for a great feed for a family of 4-5.  Would it really break the bank to ensure fish were there?  When the rivers and streams in places such as the NE US have nothing?  Humans did, after all, scoop all the surface swimming fish for the ospreys.” Geemeff reminded me of the following:  ” I like your rant, and remind you of Horn Mill trout farm in Rutland. They estimate they were losing about £60k in fish stocks annually to the Ospreys, and netted all their ponds. Then someone had the genius idea to un-net the biggest pond and install a hide nearby. Now they make more in photographer fees than they lose to the Ospreys. Win-win! Why don’t others do similar?” Geemeff is absolutely right. There is at least one or two other hides making a good income from people wanting to photograph ospreys catching fish. Mention this to anyone you know. All those golf clubs that have osprey nests where there is a dwindling amount of fish could cash in!

At Louis’s original nest at Loch Arkaig, the buzzards fighting for the rights to nest there have locked talons and fallen over the side in this thirty second clip by Geemeff.

Happy Birthday Super Star Kakapo Sirocco!

For the love of the Eider Duck – a Norwegian community and how it protects this precious waterfowl. Who are the Eider Keepers?

The-Eider-Keepers-Hakai-MagazineDownload

What has been the reaction to the Scottish Grouse Bill?

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BirdLife International shows us how cement was turned into wetlands in Cambridgeshire, UK. If it can happen there, it can happen anywhere.

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Thank you so very much for being with me today. Please take care. We look forward to having you with us again very soon!

Thank you to the following for their notes, screen captures, conversations, articles, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘A, AE, BA, Geemeff, H, MP’, Achieva Osprey Cam, Barbara Walker, Raptor Resource Project/Explore.org, JB Sands Wetlands, Cardinal Land Conservancy, FORE, Berry College Eagle Cam, Bridge Golf Course Ospreys, PLO, thrive Ospreys NTS, Red-tail Hawk Cam SU, Cornell RTH Cam, Moorings Park Ospreys, Bluff City-ETSU, Johnson City-ETSU, SK Hideaways, Ashley Wilson, Geemeff, Kakapo Recover, Hakai Magazine, Raptor Persecution UK, and BirdLife International.

Tuesday in Bird World

19 March 2024

Hello Everyone,

My report today is very short. I was out and about on Monday and came home not feeling well. The late morning wind was blowing at a rather brisk rate, and the dust, sand, and salt blasted through the air on the street where I was. It has caused me to have some difficulty with my breathing. It wasn’t like the sand storms in Harbin, PRC, in the spring, but for those of us with even minor breathing problems, these days – until the rain comes – can be debilitating. But today is officially the first day of spring and that is a wonderful thing. The Canada Geese that arrived earlier have sure had a mix of weather from warm to a blizzard, to a thaw and then a freeze. Hopefully today will be nice for them so they can find something to eat other than dead grass and dirt. It is -5 C and will dip to -13 C tonight. Doesn’t sound like spring!

‘H’ did a great cartoon of Hugo Yugo. She still fits in a small shoe box with room left over. She will have her surgery on Wednesday and I will keep you posted. I am more than hopeful that everything will go well.

She is certainly feeling feisty today! Hope might be quite happy if Hugo Yugo is out of commission for a couple of days.

Calico is like Missey. She tries to stay out of the way and watches. I often wonder what she thinks.

Just something that got overlooked yesterday. Dahlgren’s Harriet is missing, she has not been seen since 3/13, and Jack is with a new female.

I have decided to start off with the traumatic news that happened or began to happen on Monday and then move to the joyous.

It was a very sad day for those cheering for Port Tobacco. The little eaglet died during a low-humidity hatch. We have seen a few of those during the last twelve months. A few survive. This poor little one didn’t. Condolences to all.

Here is a good article on why Bald Eagle eggs do not hatch by Elfruler.

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This article is about eggs in incubators but it does discuss the issue of humidity.

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One of the eggs has broken at Pittsburgh-Hayes. This is Mum and her new mate. This is the report from Pix Cams this morning:

Jackie and Shadow continue to incubate their three eggs. Their hope is strong. There are articles all over the Internet about this dedicated couple.

Hope-Fades-As-Celebrity-Bald-Eagle-Eggs-Unlikely-To-HatchDownload

Yesterday I mentioned that there continues to be a move to build housing near Jackie and Shadow’s nest. This could have a serious impact on our beloved eagles.

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As you know, Jak and Audacity’s only egg of the season broke and appeared to not be viable. I was so grateful that someone posted us a happy time at their nest.

As of Monday afternoon we are waiting to see about any pips at PA Country Farms. It appears that the first egg might not be viable.

Ospreys continue to visit the Achieva Credit Union nest after eggs and chick go missing.

It is not clear what is happening at the Dulles-Greenway Bald Eagle nest. The last news – the camera was not operating after 1200 on Monday – was that two eagles were locked in a fight on the nest. This was posted by the Dulles-Greenway FB.

Oh, this has been such a sad year in the world of the Bald Eagles. Let us hope that they all recover next year.

In the good news, Archie got to see his second egg! Archie was delighted to help Annie incubate the eggs. What a great mate! Hoping he is around for many years to come.

Mother Goose now has six eggs in the Decorah Goose nest.

Waiting for pip/hatch at Two Harbours in about ten days. The egg was laid on 22 February making it 26 days old today. Cholyn is 25 years old this year. She is the mother of Thunder at the West End nest if you did not know.

Fingers Crossed.

There is a lot of fish piled up in the West End nest of Thunder and Akecheta. All eaglets have eaten well.

Fraser Point looks good. Hopeful for Andor and Cruz to have a full clutch hatch.

The two eaglets on the Duke Farms nest appear to be doing fine. There is a lot of fish. There is, however, a large precarious stick that has come onto the nest, and Mum was feeding, leaning over it and at least for a while, one eaglet slept with its head under it. Hopefully, it will not cause any injury.

Big Red and Arthur taking turns incubating that first egg that was laid on St Patrick’s Day at Cornell. We will be expecting a second tomorrow.

The three osplets at Fisherman’s Creek seem to be doing alright. The camera is not clear all the time but they are growing and the little one seems to be holding its own.

At Loch Arkaig, that Buzzard is intent on taking over the nest before the ospreys arrive. There has not been an osprey hatch on the nest associated with Cam 1 since Louis and Aila fledged JJ 5, JJ6, and JJ7. We were hopeful last year and continue to wish that an osprey pair will return. But what to make of this situation?

Blue NCO continues to catch some whoppers. Poor thing. She keeps calling for her mate, Laddie LM12. I do hope he makes it back this year.

Blue 33 and Maya are determined to get eggs on their nest first!

For those checking on the Loch Garten Osprey cam, it should be on shortly. The Llyn Clywedog cameras are now live as we await the arrival of Dylan and Seren!

Thank you so much for being with me today. Take care. See you soon!

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, cartoons, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘H, J, L’, Elfruler, Mississippi State University Extension, Pix Cams, Forbes, Audubon Centre for Birds of Prey, Lolita Ozolina, Achieva Credit Union, Dulles-Greenway Eagle Cam, SK Hideaways, Raptor Resource Project/Explore.org, IWS/Explore.org, Duke Farms, Cornell RTH Cam, Fisherman’s Creek Ospreys, Geemeff, The Scottish Wildlife Trust (LOTL), LRWT, and Llyn Clywedog.

Annie lays 2nd egg…Monday in Bird World

18 March 2024

Hello Everyone,

Sunday was quiet. After Saturday that was a good thing. As far as I can tell all of the eagle nests are doing well and there have been no new arrivals at Osprey nests at the time I am writing this, Sunday evening.

It was a good day to spend time with the girls. Calico did not enjoy the dip in temperatures and spent a lot of time in front of the small portable heater in the conservatory. She likes her creature comforts and that little heater is one of them. I figure she deserves it having had to live outside in the winter last year.

Hugo Yugo spent her time in the basket spinning before settling down to sleep behind Calico. She is either on or off – there is no in-between. I wonder what Dr Green will think about her on Wednesday. She is very tiny but getting ‘long’ lime a limousine.

Baby Hope took advantage of everyone’s absence to play the game of finding treats in little green tubes. She is very good at it!

Missey decided to stay out of everyone’s way most of the day!

Oh, I am so glad to have these four! And it was so nice to just stop everything and pay some really good attention to them before osprey season kicks in.

At Cal Falcons, Annie laid her second egg this morning.

Can you please help? Write, research, contact others to help. Once again the developers want to build near Jackie and Shadow’s nest in Big Bear. Please read the following and – because we all love Jackie and Shadow so much and owe them so much (the DDT problems), then we need to fight to protect their pristine home. It is the least that we can do!

The following appeal is from Sandy Steer:
“…Update on Moon Camp…this nearby parcel, proposed for development is so close to Jackie and Shadow, it can be seen from the nest camera. Any development in that area would greatly impact their nesting site and could make them leave the area. FOBBV won an environmental lawsuit in 2022 against the County’s approval of this project. That put the project on hold, but now the County has released a new partial environmental impact report to move toward another approval. We will, of course, be submitting public comments (due 3/18) on this new, but still inadequate study. And when it comes before the County for another approval, we will be asking all of you for letters or calls to assist in stopping it. In the meantime, we are also pursuing getting this 62-acre parcel purchased for conservation, by the Forest Service, or by anyone else willing to conserve it as open space. If you happen to know any superheroes who might like to step up and buy this parcel to save Jackie and Shadow’s habitat plus more than 17 acres of endangered plants on the property, please contact us at fobbvinfo@gmail.com. We’d love to talk with you!”

Everyone continues speculating on what made Diane and Jack’s two eggs and chick disappear. One FB group noted that this happened in 2022 also and there was a second clutch. It was assumed they went down the hole made by the squirrel in the nest. Many would like to see work done on the nest so the couple does not lose more eggs and chicks in the future. Some note how restless Diane was that evening, and it is hoped that security camera footage shed some light on what happened. We know that the nest shook quite a bit at one point. I had one individual contact me, thinking it was possible that a person or persons shook that nest and caused the damage. If that were to be the case – and I am not saying it is – hopefully, their faces will be seen on the security cameras. Regardless of the cause – and I will suggest we will never fully know unless someone excavates that nest – there needs to be substantial work done on the nest itself to fix the hole that everyone knows about and a baffle for any future predators trying to climb up. An IR light would be great.

The big news in Bird World on Sunday was, for me anyway, the first egg of the season for Big Red and Arthur.

Arthur seemed quite delighted as Big Red flew off and let him take over incubation duties.

SK Hideaways has it on video.

Angel and Tom have an impressive nest. Wonder if we will have their first egg this week? Many think that will be the case!

E23 recovered from the GHO hit, but it was quite scary. I hope that this will be the end of it, but probably not. It is, as so many of you have pointed out, ‘that time of year’ – the annual occurrence when we hold our breath and wish that GHOs and eagles got along.

We are still 7-8 days away from pip watch at Berry College for Pa and Missey’s second clutch.

Swampy and Meadow. Gorgeous. Aren’t they wonderful? They look like they are wearing Morning Suits.

Dixie and Mason have their thermal down. Before we know it, they will look like Swampy and Meadow.

No worries about food at the Johnson City nest. Boone certainly had a great day fishing on Sunday! The kids have eaten so much and their crops are so big – old coma.

The snow is melting at Big Bear. Jackie and Shadow have not give up on the eggs yet.

The kids at Bluff City had squirrel for Sunday’s meals. They both seem to be hanging in there.

The Dukies are fine. Mum just keeps feeding them and feeding them. That is one good way to stop the worry about food.

The camera is back up and running at Redding for Liberty and Guardian.

A beautiful day at Captiva’s Osprey platform. Edie and Jack are incubating three eggs.

At the Captiva Eagle nest, Connie and Clive continue to feed Cal well after his fledge. A nice Sheepskin came in during the afternoon.

They are flying into Winnipeg and they are laying eggs at Decorah – Canada Geese. There are five eggs so far. Dad is up there helping keep guard as one of the Decorah eagles has been landing in the branches of the tree near the top.

The two hatches at Venice Golf and Country Club appear to be doing quite well. Waiting to see if third egg will hatch.

We are waiting for Dylan and Seren 5F to arrive at Llyn Clywedog Reservoir in Wales.

Blue 33 and Maya continue to work on their nest at Rutland. As far as I am aware, at the time of this writing, they are the only couple to have reunited at the UK streaming cam nests.

Next news from ‘H’:

I first saw the female from previous seasons on 3/7, but now have not seen her since 3/13.  I first saw the male from previous seasons on 3/9, and I have seen him at the nest every day except 3/14.  A new female first showed up at the nest on 3/17.  She and Dad were in the nest together quite a bit on 3/17, but each time Dad seemed to be giving her the cold shoulder.

Carthage Mum is now back on the nest after having been MIA for a few days.

I am a great fan of Isabella Tree who is the author of several books on rewinding including Rewinding. Knepp Farm took a leap of faith and decided to change from traditional agricultural practices and begin rewinding and reintroducing species to their property in Sussex. White Storks were one of the goals – to being them back. You can read about the history of the White Stork in the region and how Knepp worked to establish the breeding pairs on their property.

Visiting their property is on my Bucket List.

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Knepp White Stork camera can be found here:

In Belgium, at the nature park there are six occupied stork nests. Can you find them?

Storks have arrived at some of the Germany nests including Lindheim.

Waiting for Bette and Bukacek to arrive in Mlady Buky.

Milda. One year she laid her first egg on my birthday…I am hoping she is early this year. Mr H is adorable. Hoping he is a good father. Their nest in Durbe County is looking fantastic.

For those that have life lists, you will be very impressed by this gentleman who has recorded 10,000 birds.

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That is just a hop, skip, and jump checking on some of the nests. We are now on pip watch for Port Tobacco Bald Eagles. Eggs are 38 and 35 days old as of Sunday the 17th so it looks like egg 1 might not be viable. Meanwhile egg two is hatching Monday morning fast!

Thank you for being with me today. Take care! See you soon.

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, discussions, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘A, Geemeff, H, J, L, SP’, Cal Falcons, FOBBV, Achieva Credit Union, Cornell RTH Cam, SK Hideaways, Window to Wildlife, Lady Hawk, Berry College Eagle Cam, Eagle Country, Superbeaks, Johnson City-ETSU, FOBBV, Bluff City-ETSU, Duke Farms, FORE, Raptor Research Project/Explore, VGCC, Llyn Clywedog Osprey Cam, LRWT, Dahlgren Ospreys, Carthage Ospreys, Knepp, ZWIN, Lindheim Stork Nest, Mlady Buky, Biruta Lupa, The New York Times, and Port Tobacco Eagle Cam.

Tuesday in Bird World

27 February 2024

Good Morning,

It is so nice to have you with us today. Thank you for all of your notes and comments. I am catching up on my replies – and apologies for taking a few days.

We woke to beautiful white snow blanketing the garden Monday morning and again on Tuesday. What a sight! It was -4 C, but today, Tuesday, it is -18 C. The gusts have blown the snow in covering the Boyfriend’s feeder and the Starlings are back in the lilacs. They seem to arrive on snow days. Interesting. There were 17 of them along with 60 or so House Sparrows and one of the Blue Jays.

The table feeders had to be cleared yesterday and will need it again today. I did say I wished for snow, right?

One of the Memorial Trees. This one is for Melvin named after the Jack Nicholson character in As Good As it Gets (1998). Melvin didn’t like patterns either! Every cat and family member has a tree.

This Weeping Caragana is gorgeous in the summer. Planted in memory of my adorable Red Abyssinian, Honey.

Mamma Calico and Baby Hope cuddling. They are quite inseparable. I love how Calico is still so gentle with her only ever kitten. Baby Hope will be eight months old on 2 March.

Missey is showing off her new ‘registration tag’.

Missey continues to serve as Mamma Missey for Hugo Yugo. They still love that quiet place in the store room with all the blankets.

Someone wrote asking – does Hugo Yugo really just fit in a shoe box? The answer is yes. She is that tiny! It is so hard to tell scale in images but Dr Green continues to say that she will probably remain the size of an 8 or 10 week old kitten the rest of her life. It is tragic how her mother nearly starved to death carrying seven babies. We feel blessed to have Hugo Yugo – she really is a ray of sunshine.

Calico watches ‘The Boyfriend’ from the conservatory. He is just leaving after having his lunch.

Have to get out and clean his feeding area!

I have included many articles and posts about Flaco. One of the best I have read is an Opinion piece in The New York Times by Carl Safina. A number of his books sit on my shelf and have been read by me, and ‘The Girls’, including his book about the rehabilitation and release of Alfie, the Owl, he mentions in this article. I hope you enjoy it.

Opinion-What-Flaco-the-Owl-Can-Teach-Us-About-Risk-The-New-York-TimesDownload

Cal officially branched – the whole meaning of branching – Monday at 0643. Remember – both feet on the branch. Should fly to branch rather than shuffling those talons. Cal did a good job. Congratulations!

R6 turned six weeks old! These are captures from Heidi Mc’s video diary. Did I mention that R6 is trying out for the role of Hulk in a new movie? (And I thought Calico was pleasantly plump – look at this eaglet!)

Lots of good feedings going on at Eagle Country. No one is left out! Swampy and Meadow looked like they were ready to burst a few times on Monday.

Abby loves to feed her babies!

JBS20 had a huge crop Monday at the John Bunker Sands Wetlands eagle nest.

The eggs at Duke Farms late Monday morning. We are on hatch watch. It is day 36.

That little eaglet at Johnson City is strong. My goodness. It was eating right after hatching and it can hold that neck up high and straight. Oh, goodness, I feel for that second hatch!

9667 people were checking on Jackie incubating the three eggs Monday morning. We are now TWO days away from pip/hatch watch on the 29th.

It has started raining at the nest Monday afternoon. Oh, please, don’t let those talons slip!

Milda and her new mate continue to provide nesting materials for their nest in Latvia.

Milda on the left and her new mate, H492, right.

When I think of Milda it draws me to the beautiful Black Storks in both Latvia and Estonia. What will it be like without Karl II this year? Will Kaia return? Will there be storklets in the nest in Karula National Forest? or has the drought decimated the population – along with that horrible bird flu? We must wait with hope tempering our saddened hearts.

If you missed it, Ervie is back on line. His tracker began to work again on the 23rd. Much relief if you didn’t know. Thank you, PLO!

Annie says ‘meet me on the ledge’. Archie obliges.

I love it – Eat, Pray, Love! Monty and Hartley style.

Newmann is a ‘hot’ commodity. Which female will he choose? It looks like there are at least three candidates, but are there more?

Around the world, Peregrine falcons are feeling ‘springlike’. The Norwich scrape streaming cam will go live shortly.

There are ‘definitely two’ ‘R’ says in the screen capture at the UFlorida-Gainesville osprey platform of Sheila and Talon. This is a new nest. The original one was on the light stand and those lights were replaced last year. ‘R’ has monitored the ospreys around the Campus and there were 9 couples, if I remember correctly, last year.

Dixie and Mason appear to be doing just fine under the watchful eyes of Pepe and Muhlady.

Gorgeous Mom at Centreport. She laid her second egg on the 25th of February.

Chase & Cholyn and their egg at Two Harbours. All the guys love to incubate…must be nice to have a soft spot to rest! It looks like it will be only one egg this year for this pair – this is day 4. Let’s hope for them it is viable. They have been together for what? 25? 26? years.

The first egg was laid at Standley Park in Colorado.

Bette shocked everyone when she laid her third egg at the Little Miami Conservancy on the 25th of February!

At Decorah, it seems that there is some competition amongst the Canada Geese for the abandoned eagle nest. Goodness.

Richmond is expecting Rosie to arrive any day and he is getting their home ready!

Many are saying that Flaco was thin and malnourished, suffering from being in the wild. It is always good to read official sources if you can to sift the truth out of a lot of disinformation. So if you missed it, the necroscopy on Falco indicated he was in good health when he collided with a building and subsequently died of trauma. “Flaco had been in good physical shape, the necropsy found, succeeding in catching prey even though he had no experience hunting because he came to the zoo as a fledgling 13 years ago. According to the necropsy report released on Saturday, the owl weighed 1.89kg (4.1lb), just 2% less than when he was last measured at the zoo.”

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A new book by Isabell Tree will be released in North America on the 7th of May. Its title is Wilding. How to Bring Wildlife Back. An Illustrated Guide. The Guardian has a review. Tree is one of my heroes. She dared to take part of the estate of Knepp Farm and create an ideal location for wildlife to return. As a result, the first White Stork hatched in the UK in 600 years on the property in Sussex.

‘Does-rewilding-sort-climate-change-Yes-UK-expert-says-nature-can-save-planet-and-not-harm-farmiDownload

One of my favourite rehab clinics is asking us to please, please fight against the use of rodenticides. Tell your neighbours, your friends, your family, and speak to those in power where you live. There are alternatives. Imagine…Cal, E23, Meadow, Swampy — all those dear bobbleheads dying because their blood will not coagulate from a designer poison.

We need to get rid of rodenticide and come up with some solution for fishing line and all that lead in fishing and hunting equipment. This is a good news story. We always need them.

Vagrant-White-billed-Diver-rescued-after-tangling-in-fishing-line-BirdGuidesDownload

There have been sightings of Bradley and Ervie as well as others in South Australia.

In other news, Lewis and Rosa have left the Dulles-Greenway nest. It is not clear what has happened to them. A new couple have taken over the nest. The Bald Eagle pair in Bartlesville, Oklahoma at the Sutton Centre have two eggs. Indeed, it is raining eagle eggs as my friend SP said and it is hard to keep track.

‘J’ has a list of hatch dates for us to watch for -. Some have already hatched!

Ventana Wildlife Society’s Condor Chat will be held on the 29th, Leap Year Day. Here are the details. Go to the Ventana Wildlife Society to sign up!

Thank you so much for being with me today. Please take care. Looking forward to seeing you soon.

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, articles, photographs, charts, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post this morning: ‘Geemeff, H, J, R’, The New York Times, Window to Wildlife, WRDC, Eagle Country, JB Sands Wetlands, Duke Farms, Johnson City Eagles, FOBBV, LDF, PLO, SK Hideaways, Raptor Resource Project/Explore.org, Norwich Cathedral, Florida-Gainesville and RM, Superbeaks, Centerport Eagles and Liz Schwartz, Jeni McDaniel, IWS/Explore.org, SF Bay Ospreys FB, The Guardian, A Place Called Hope, BirdGuides, Brooke Copp, and The Ventana Wildlife Society.

Friday in Bird World

23 February 2024

Hello Everyone,

It was +4 C. The nature centre was full of people. There were two bus loads of young students and at least three groups having meetings. Oh, but they missed being outside – those at the meetings. It is February. It smells like spring and this should not be happening. The open water in Devonian Lake is bigger; I swear there was a duck there when I drove in. Not a migrant duck, but one that stays here all winter. I wonder when the time will come when the eagles and all the songbirds, the shorebirds, and the ducks never leave us to go south. Will this happen in my lifetime?

Turns out it was the Bald Eagle. you can barely see the white head on the edge off the open water to the lower right of the blue area, top image (under the word area).

This is highly cropped and so it is pixellated but now you can see the eagle with its white head.

The birds were not out so much. Squirrels were running around and I did not see any deer. It appears that they don’t humans. LOL. I don’t blame them.

The Girls are doing great. The light is different – the days are longer and they spend so much time in the conservatory. It is nice and warm in there. Hugo Yugo is over whatever ailed her to the point that Calico might wish she was sick again! Hugo Yugo loves to jump on Calico. The newest thing is that Calico will actually play with her. Calico is losing weight – but she is embarrassed because I showed everyone her curvy physique. So today, she would not get up!

Hugo Yugo can be an angel – when she is sleeping. Her battery is otherwise always charged, and she is in sixth gear. There is no low speed on Hugo Yugo. It is a manufacturer’s defect! She is the most curious cat and is fearless. Can you imagine? A kitten 1/6 the size of Calico – well, maybe 1/8, running straight at her? That’s HY.

She fits in a shoe box…and the girls have fun playing with the paper.

They enjoy boxes and paper more than any toy ever purchased! If you have cats that love paper bags with handles, Hugo Yugo says to remember to cut the handles so they don’t slip over the necks of your pets and choke them!

I wrote about the impact that tree cutting has had on my neighbourhood and the concern for the canopy loss. It has, until now, allowed the squirrels to cross the road – above the road – jumping from branch to branch. I fear that many of the garden friends who, for whatever reason, feel it necessary to cross the road will be killed by the fast drivers that come down the lane trying to find a shortcut to avoid the traffic jams on the main road. Sometimes, it helps not to feel alone. I am a great fan of Dani Connor Wild and her photographs, and I care for the squirrels in Sweden, where she lives. One of those was a little one whose mother was killed crossing the road near her house. She rescued, cared for, and released Roo. This is the story’s last episode (so far), with a dramatic turn about the trees and the road near her. Get some tissues for the end -.

I was away for most of the day. I am so grateful for your notes and those posting information on the various FB groups. It helps when I can’t keep my eyes on those nests! Much appreciated. There are many nests missing today, but I will get caught up in the next couple of days.

Hartley and Monty certainly feel spring-like! Does anyone recall when the first egg was laid last year?

Ah, and spring at Anacapa….

Best check in on what is happening with Newmann at Great Spirit Bluff. He is in need of mate!

Newman in the early morning.

Lisa was at the nest this morning also.

There is no doubt that Julie has her eyes and talons set on Newmann. I wonder what will happen…we wait.

At The Campanile, Archie shows up with a prey gift for Annie. She comes out of the scrape, flys off, returns and grabs. Archie sure looks like a ‘keeper’.

Arthur checked out the nest bowl and Big Red flew in for a quick glance Thursday morning. Big Red flies off and Arthur continues to check on what is needed.

It was a good day at Eagle Country. Meadow had a private feeding by Blaze right at bedtime. (They are behind Abby on the other side of the nest). Meadow is stuffed! (A few other images during the day – kids out of the egg bowl).

Jak and Audacity’s egg is still holding! Let’s hope it is viable.

R6 is walking! He crossed the entire near 2 m of the nest!

Ron and Rose with their gorgeous son.

‘H’ has identified that ‘gold’ fish that was brought to the WRDC nest the other day as a Midas cichlid. Thank you! I could not find it on the normal Florida ID listings. Apparently it is an evasive species prevalent in SE Florida.

Pepe and Muhlady have both of the two eggs of their second clutch hatched. Dixie and Mason. They appear to be healthy and robust. So happy.

We are six days away – six – from pip/hatch watch at Big Bear. Jackie and Shadow have been ever so careful around the three eggs this year. It is incredible to watch them as they strive to have one – at least one – of those eggs hatch this season. Will we have another Spirit? or will there be siblings?

They should catch some sleep now…they are going to be super busy if more than one hatches. Can you imagine? Three?? I hope Shadow has a special fishing spot!

Jackie was ever so happy when Shadow delivered her a nice fish meal. They say turn the sound down, but turn it up and listen to this amazing couple talk to one another.

‘J’ captured the eggs.

Too cute not to post. The way to Jackie’s heart? or to get her off the eggs? Shadow knows the answer: fish!

Wings of Whimsy has the video of Baker and Bette’s second egg at the Little Miami Conservancy Bald Eagle nest in Ohio. This happened on Thursday after 1600.

Want to know who is currently incubating? Wings of Whimsy has that too -.

They also did a tribute to Lusa.

Wings of Whimsy – do you know this YouTube site? If not, check it out. You might find it works well for you. Here is the link to the channel:

https://www.youtube.com/@WingsOfWhimsy/videos

There are a couple of great folks in South Bend that keep us informed of what is going on at the ND-LEEF nest. Thanks SB for your images today.

There have been no fish deliveries on the Port Lincoln Osprey nest since the 17th when Mum brought one fish in that Bradley got. Later that day Bradley brought his own Puffer to the ropes. Giliath made a quick fly to the nest and then the cleaners arrived. It seems that nest deliveries are now stopped and I am going to assume that Mum and Dad are in ‘retirement’ from this season with Gil and Brad providing their own meals.

Thanks to the Fish Fairies ‘ foresight, it was a great season. Thanks again, Janet, Fran, and Bazz, for your persistence and care.

The Government of India appears to working towards conservation for migratory birds. BirdLife International reports, “Today at the Convention of Migratory Species (CMS COP14), governments along the Central Asian Flyway have committed to secure the passage of migratory birds in 30 countries from Siberia all the way to the Maldives. https://www.birdlife.org/news/2024/02/17/the-government-of-india-leads-a-new-era-for-bird-conservation-in-central-asia/

https://www.birdlife.org/news/2024/02/17/the-government-of-india-leads-a-new-era-for-bird-conservation-in-central-asia

It is nearing migration. As spring comes, birds wintering in warmer climates will return to their breeding grounds in the north. Migration does connect and should concern all of us – and we need to do everything we can to help them. From feeding, to making sure that our windows are bird strike free, to slowing down when geese are crossing the road. If you missed this article, here is a little reminder of how we are connected.

Bird-Migration-Connects-Us-All-BirdLife-International-1Download

The devastation caused by H5N1 has been huge and continues to decimate our Bird community.

Please keep your eyes on the JB Sands Wetlands Bald Eagle nest. It appears that one of the adults might be missing. I have just been alerted to this situation by ‘M’. Normally you will see both adults at the nest several times during the day. This is quite worrisome as there has been no sign of both of them together for at least 1.5 days. We know form experience that a single adult can raise a chick if it is a month old. M15 is a good example of this. We now need the adult at the nest to realise that something is happening and go hunting for JBS20.

At SW Florida, E23 is getting a little nippy!

Love and devotion…

Many of you would have provided the same answers and we watched the devastation last year. Will it change this year or be worse?

Noreaster-and-Prey-Shortage-Impacts-Nesting-Ospreys-in-2023-Conserve-Wildlife-Foundation-of-New-JDownload

Thank you so much for being with us today. Take care. We look forward to seeing you soon! Oh, apologies. There is a pop-up that asks you to subscribe. I have no idea how it got there, but I am trying to remove it. I hate these things!

Thank you to the following for your notes, posts, screen captures, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘H, J, M, SP’, Dani Connor Wild, SK Hideaways, Ashley Wilson, Cal Falcons, Cornell RTH, Gracie Shepherd, WRDC, Superbeaks, FOBBV, Lady Hawk, Eagle Country, Michelle Hillman, Wings of Whimsy, Stephen Basly, PLO, BirdLife International, Ben Wurst, and JBS Wetlands.

Monday in Bird World

19 February 2024

Hello Everyone,

Thank you, again, for your kind wishes for Hugo Yugo. She is fine. She is more than fine. Flying around the house and getting into trouble – back to her usual self. I have no idea what made her tummy upset or why she was vomiting and refusing to eat. There are no poisonous plants in the house or fresh flowers – nothing I could tell she might have eaten. Today, however, that slick little one flew onto the kitchen counter behind me (a gallery kitchen) and ate at least one mouthful of freshly grated Parmesan cheese before I caught her. So, of course, I will be watching out tomorrow. She has certainly tried to make up for any food that she missed as well and has been romping and running with Baby Hope, to the delight of her younger sister, who had no one to play with while Hugo Yugo was not herself.

Calico doesn’t understand ‘why’ she doesn’t get the little extra meals the two younger ones get, but she is on a diet and doing well. She was so thin from feeding Hope and living in the street. The calming medication she was given caused her to blow up like a whale in a few weeks. I took her off it. The Feliway diffuser helped, and finally, she and Missey live mostly harmoniously. On occasion, Calico gets cranky, not just at Missey but at Hugo Yugo, too! Now it is taking months and months to get that weight off. I have a padded harness for her, and when the weather is better, we are adding walks to the regiment.

I love the golden light on Calico and the paper Peonies.

A few more pics of ‘The Girls’ on Sunday.

Yes, Hugo Yugo got caught under the plant stand. I have no clue how she managed to get herself under there. It is 2 inches clearance, but she did.

Their evening ritual in the Swan chair…Calico wakes me up at 0830, and twelve hours later, she is in this chair with Baby Hope. You could set your watch by her.

It is raining in Florida on Sunday, pitching down rain at a time when it should be ‘dry’. The forecast is for it to rain for the next 24 hours.

Abby and Blaze have been particularly attentive to little Swampy and Meadow. There is plenty of food on the nest and they are being fed quickly and Abby is taking good care not to let them get wet.

At Captiva, Cal looks so wet and lonely.

Food had been scarce. Cal was hungry. It was late on Sunday when prey finally arrived. Around 1645, Clive and Connie flew in with a nice fish for Cal. He had a lovely feeding and then got the fishtail all to himself. He was so excited when that fish dinner landed on that nest.

It is raining at NE Florida and there is no sign of Beau or Gabby. The egg, which was nearing its 48th or 49th day today, is uncovered. I hope that they have given up on it hatching and are out doing eagle things. I am not expecting a second clutch here this year, but….the eagles can surprise us.

I would say Gabby has abandoned the egg. Smart girl. Glad she did not incubate it for any longer…

Still raining…we are on pip/hatch watch for the first egg of the second clutch for Pepe and Muhlady and what terrible weather they have for this.

That hatch is now in progress. Thanks, ‘H’.

E23 was wet. F23 came in and fed him/her a nice fish meal and tried as hard as they could to warm that little one. Oh, I wish Connie would come in and snuggle with Cal.

The weather is nice at the JB Sands Wetlands near Dallas. JBS20 is being left alone more and more as s/he gets older.

We are on egg watch at Denton Homes in Decorah, Iowa.

Thank you ‘J’ for the laugh. Yes, Sally certainly does have a ballgown instead of underfluffies! She is working hard today to keep her two precious Osprey eggs warm and dry.

The weather is good at Big Bear. No wet sticks for the eagles to slip on…and the three eggs look good. Gentlest of changeovers from Jackie to Shadow Sunday morning. We are now 10 days away from pip watch.

At 1300 nest time, there were 6328 people watching Jackie incubate the eggs. Those numbers will soar when those eggs hatch. Wonder which news station will launch the story first?

Someone needs to make Dr Sharpe a Superhero costume. Qualifications: quick thinking on one’s feet, the ability to make something out of nothing, no fear of heights, able to climb cliffs, no fear of Bald Eagles, can carry more than one’s weight, not afraid to jump out of a helicopter with eaglet in hand — sounds like a comic strip character. — So you are wondering why I am writing this – well, Dr Sharpe went out in a helicopter to find out why the cameras are not working. Gracie Shepherd posted the adventure:

R6 goes back into the nest after banding and after all dangerous materials are removed. Thanks Lloyd Brown for the video!

R6 is in the grey/brown bag.

Xavier and Diamond are empty-nesters having raised Marri and Barru to fledge. While we will never know what happened to Barru (perhaps nothing but an early exit from the territory although I do doubt that), we do know that Marri was well trained by her parents and hopefully she will thrive raising her own chicks in a few years.

Cilla Kinross posted this image of Xavier catching some rays at sunset.

The fishing line and lure in the E3 nest at Kistachie National Forest have caused concern. On camera, the female was seen with what ‘appears’ to be a fishing lure in her mouth. She moves to the edge of the nest, but, to my eye, it is not clear what happened to the lure after that. There are no eaglets in the nest. There are not even eggs. Any remaining fishing line in the nesting material to the left and that lure could cause future harm or even harm to the two adult eagles attempting to claim this nest. So my question is very simple – why not clean up the nest? Surely to goodness the evidence is there of manmade materials and the potential future harm to warrant a green light to do some housekeeping for the raptors.

Now there is a GHO visiting the nest that could get injured if any manmade objects are still in that nest like fishing line, hooks, and lures.

Looks like Rosa is doing the heavy lifting at Dulles Greenway. Will Lewis bring her something to eat? Two eggs now.

At Decorah North, Mrs DNF laid her second egg of the 2024 season on Sunday.

Liberty has now laid the first egg of the season for her and Guardian 15 February at 1607. Was there a second egg on the 18th. Should have been. Will find out!

‘J’ and I have been discussing the age of some of the female eagles and she sent me the following information on Liberty. You might find it as interesting as I did. (I do not know the author of the material, perhaps you do and can tell me so I can credit them).

Congrats Liberty & Guardian 1st egg laid this season Happy about their 1st egg laid!  
Guardian  loves his sticks Liberty wasn’t happy about his sticks!
“Our fellow creatures can tell us the most beautiful stories”
Redding Eagles CA. 02 15 24 407pm laid this season
LK *To see Video in the comments* Nest info below
© 2023-24 Friends of the Redding Eagles
02 16 24 POSTED BY:
Friends of the Redding Eagles-FORE
Guardian got his first look at his new egg when he
flew into nest this morning at 0624am
Liberty went onto her landing post as Guardian seen his new egg
Liberty watched from her landing above the nest.
Liberty flew out of nest for her first break since laying her egg.
While Guardian incubated his new egg
2023-24 New Season
Liberty is here for her 19th Season
Liberty(f) is 25 years old, Guardian(m) is 10 years old.
02 15 24 1st egg laid at 407pm
Per Terri Lhuillier:
This is the latest date Liberty has laid her 1st egg!
She also did this in 2010 & 2016
Liberty & Guardian both returned back to their home nest for a new season
and had been working hard on getting nest ready
Liberty has spent her life successfully raising 26 eaglets
from egg to fledgling with 3 different mates!
2022-2023 Season
02 14 23 1st egg laid 02 14 23 at 643pm
*02 17 23 1st egg as broken
1st egg broke apart On 02 17 23 about pm
At 10:45am the egg looked fine. However,
at 12:10:17 it appeared to be broken.
Seems which ever one took that shift might have broken
the egg.
*2021-2022 Season INFO:
Two Eaglets E1 Sentry &  Eaglet E2 Star both fledged
02 09 22 1st egg at 319pm
03 20 22 1st eaglet hatched at 924pm
02 12 22 2nd egg laid at 242pm
03 23 22 2nd eaglet hatched at 847am
02 15 22 417pm 3rd egg was laid * Sadly one of the 3 eggs got broken *
2020-2021 Nesting Season:
Three Eaglets #1 Honor #2 Glory #3 Rebel
1st eaglet hatched 03 21 21 545pm .
2nd eaglet hatched 03 22 21 130pm.
3rd eaglet hatched 03 23 21 150pm.
1st Egg laid 02 10 21 at 324pm
2nd egg laid 02 13 21 at 213pm
3rd egg laid 02 16 21 at 321pm
2019-2020 Season
fledged one eaglet named Hope
History:
Liberty has spent her life successfully raising 26 eaglets from egg to fledgling with 3 different mates!
As of 2022 Liberty has raised 26 offspring from egg to fledging, including 4 sets of triplets
2009 -2010 -2015 2021.
Liberty has built 5 nests since 2005: 2 at Turtle Bay Area in Cottonwood Trees
(current nest 90 feet up), 3 at Riverview Golf Course in Gray Pine Trees (alternate nest site).
Guardian is Liberty’s 3rd mate, they first paired up in February 2019 after 2nd mate disappeared.
Liberty’s Mates: 1st mate~ Patriot 2004-2013, Sadly, Patriot was run off by an intruder male eagle in 2013
and eventually fell to his death during an aerial battle.
A necropsy was done & they found that Patriot had Rodenticide or Rat Poison in his liver when he died and
had bled out in mid-air & was dead before he hit the ground.
Her 2nd mate~ Spirit 2013-2019, Liberty & Spirit raised 8 offspring together, only losing one(Solo) to
extreme dehydration on June 25, 2017 after Liberty laid a 2nd clutch of eggs in mid March after losing
her 1st clutch when their nest fell during a powerful Storm in February 2017.
Her 3rd mate Guardian 2022-present.
2020 Liberty & Guardian returned to the old nest at Turtle Bay area along the Sacramento River.
and started working on the nest where as of 2021 they are now using the nest there
Liberty has raised 26 offspring from egg to fledging, including 4 sets of triplets ’09 -’10 – ’15 -’21.
Liberty has built 5 nests since 2005: 2 at Turtle Bay Area in Cottonwood Trees
(current nest 90 feet up), and
3 at Riverview Golf & Country Club in Gray Pine Trees(alternate nest site).
*Eggs are due in early to mid February! Hatching is usually around the 20th of March
*Thank you Terri Lhuillier and everyone for all of your work to
make this a reality for all of us to enjoy watching our beloved Liberty & Guardian….
*This live feed is owned and operated by Friends of the Redding Eagles,
a 501c3 nonprofit Community Organization in Redding, California.
***Donations can be made to: Redding Eaglecam GoFundMe: https://gofund.me/e9ed4b63
****Checks can be mailed to:
F.O.R.E 1857 Trumpet Dr. Redding, CA 96003
* Video to distinguish Liberty from Guardian: https://youtu.be/R0neo17SawE

I should not have said anything the other day about the Duke Farm’s Mum and snow. This is her on Sunday. I know they handle the snow, but goodness my heart aches for them regardless.

Monty and Hartley must protect their territory from pesky juveniles!

Here is the weekly video summary for the Port Lincoln Ospreys, Giliath and Bradley.

At Port Lincoln, Bradley is reminding me more and more of Ervie. At 0735 he had his first puffer on the ropes. Mum and Dad are over on the old barge hoping their restaurant delivery days are over for this season!

Nice close up of Gil.

Seán Ronayne is out to record every bird in Ireland – to compel people to hopefully understand and empathise with what is happening to nature. Well written, captivating article.

An excerpt: Ronayne’s passion for wild birds, and the precious but dwindling habitats that support them, has struck a chord in Ireland at a moment of late-dawning awareness of the seriousness of the country’s ecological crisis. “It’s an outrage, but many people still don’t realise how bad it is,” he says, sounding uncharacteristically angry. “Ireland is one of the most nature-depleted countries in Europe. We have lost 90% of our wetlands, more than any other country in the world, and have just 1% of native tree cover, the lowest in Europe.”

The core issue is intensive farming, with more than 60% of the land given over to what, in government-speak, is called improved agricultural grassland. “It means that everything has been removed except rye grass for animal feed,” Ronayne says. “Fields are now cut maybe three of four times a year for silage, whereas there used to be traditional hay meadows that would have been host to nesting species like the corncrake, skylark, lapwing and curlew.”

‘Total-immersive-obsession-meet-the-man-on-a-mission-to-record-every-bird-in-Ireland-Birds-TheDownload

News has come that ‘America’ – the Dollywood Bald Eagle – has died.

Thank you so much for being with me today. Please take care. We hope to have you with us again soon!

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, streaming cams, videos, and articles that helped me to write my blog today: ‘H, J’ Eagle Country, Window to Wildlife, NEFL-AEF, Superbeaks, SW Florida Eagle Cam, JB Sands Wetlands, Denton Homes, Moorings Park, FOBBV, IWS, Lloyd Brown, Cilla Kinross, Tonya Irwin, Dulles-Greenway, Sharon Lee, FORE, Duke Farms, SK Hideaways, PLO, Bart M, and The Guardian.

First egg second clutch for Missey and Pa Berry…Sunday in Bird World

18 February 2024

Good Morning Everyone,

Thank you for all your good wishes for Hugo Yugo. She was fed with a syringe every 30-60 minutes until 1300 on Saturday when we went for our long walk at the nature centre. The sky was blue but, strangely, the temperatures had risen to a lovely -4 C. It was a fantastic day to be in the woods – and it really helped take away the worrying for the little ginger kitten for a bit.

Instead of going through the regular paths, I cut in and out of the forest area. There were lots of people doing things – tobogganing, sitting by the outdoor fire pits, ice skating, bike riding – because of the good weather. Even so, it was so quiet in the trees.

On the way home, we stopped and got special cat food – a gentle chicken and rice. I was curious to know if Hugo Yugo would eat. She has refused food – except for about a Tablespoon on Friday morning. I hoped the ground-up kibble and kitten milk syringe feeds would strengthen her and create an interest in food – and play. — And it worked. She ate. 2 T for the first feeding, which increased to the point where she ate three small portions of the chicken and rice food. I was literally in tears.

Ah, the one that causes all the worry. Ragged and missing whiskers, curious about everything, and getting better. She will cause all my hair to fall out!

But, oh, she is so adorable. I would do anything for this little one. She is the life of the party – the heart beat of our house.

Baby Hope’s face is changing a bit. She looks more and more like a cat and less like a kitten. She is a real little sweetheart. This girl is big and strong.

Missey found another high hiding spot. She seems to be able to plot where to get away from Calico if Calico is cranky.

As I finished checking on the birds at midnight on Sunday morning, Baby Hope and Hugo Yugo were playing. It is the first time now since Thursday that Hugo Yugo has played.

Sunday Morning Update: Hugo Yugo ate all of her chicken and rice food and drank her kitten milk. Then her and Baby Hope proceeded to ‘clear’ the island. I think she is now fine!!!!!!!!!!!

So on to these birds…

Please go and vote for the name for New Guy at Cal Falcons! ‘B’ did some searching and found some very interesting information about one of the nominated names in addition to the information circulated the other day by Cal Falcons. This is for the name Archie. The high school in Marin County that was named after this Archie is known as the “Home of the Peregrine Falcons”, the name for their athletic teams.  And their logo features a peregrine falcon with aviator goggles (Archie Williams was a pilot who during WW II was an instructor at the school where the Tuskegee Airmen trained, and himself flew missions in WW II and Korea):

I am not suggesting one name over another but I do love that logo!

Everyone at Berry College is more than excited. Pa and Missey have worked on their nest since their first clutch failed. Nothing was going to deter them from having a family this year. On Saturday the 17th around 1911, Missey laid the first egg of their second clutch for 2024. Let’s wish them well. Congratulations!

The cams were down, and during that time, the folks at the WRDC nest of Ron and Rose took the opportunity to band R6. He or she is fitted out with the normal green and black band for the nest with “the sequential number 5/6 green/black”. ‘H’ tells us that a feather sample was taken to do DNA sequencing. By the end of the week, we will know whether R6 is male or female.

In the second photo, look at R6 standing tall and strong!

Ron Magill posted some images that he took of Rita during the opening celebrations of her enclosure at Marathon. Notice Rita’s green and black band also.

In Florida, band colours can be confusing. The Audubon Centre for Birds of Prey uses this: “The band color indicates the type of nest the young eagle hatched in: green for nests in trees and black for nests on artificial structures.” So what if they have a black and green band?

Blue is also a colour used in Florida.

But the Green over Black in Florida is for Brian Mealey, the bander. See PDF below.

Eagle-Band-Colors-The-Center-for-Conservation-BiologyDownload

Swampy and Meadow continue to do well, also. They are growing leaps and bounds. At the moment you can easily tell Swampy because of its darker plumage, darker and more shiny black bill, and s/he has fewer dandelions on their head.

Someone asked how birds hear. You can clearly see Swampy’s ear in the top photo. Look at the corner of the mouth and go straight back…that is the ear. It will be covered with feathers eventually.

Swampy and Meadow being fed before the rains begin.

29 February is officially pip watch for Jackie and Shadow. That is 11 days away. The eggs look good. Jackie rolls them ever so gently…she is completely aware of what could happen. 11 days. We are all so anxious for this loved couple…imagine a hatch. The news agencies around the world will be celebrating.

Bonnie and Clyde have their second egg at the Cardinal Land Conservancy Nest.

It’s raining at Superbeaks – and we are now on hatch watch for Pepe and Muhlady and their second clutch.

We will be looking for egg 2 at Decorah North on Monday.

There might be a problem at the Dulles-Greenway nest of Rosa and Lewis. Rosa calls Lewis to incubate the egg. Will he? There is snow, and it is cool. The leg has been left on and of for periods of time so Rosa could eat and have a break.

Egg 2 is due today. Will this new partnership work out? We wait.

The egg has been left several times. Rosa is an experienced female with a new inexperienced male (or not the same male at all). We will just have to wait and see how this turns out but best it be eggs that become non-viable than eaglets on the nest suffering.

And then, Rosa laid her second egg, right on time.

I have been looking for studies about the life expectancy of the males versus the females in terms of Bald Eagles living in the wild. I haven’t found anything good to post for you – the answer to whether the males live longer than the females is unclear. We do have some older females this year – Gabby, Rosa, and Ellie (below)- who have younger mates. We know that M15 has a younger female partner. Maybe we should start keeping a list and come up with our own data.

There is a new Bald Eagle couple on Farmer Derek’s land in Peabody, Kansas. They have a nest now with their first two eggs. The banded female is Ellie and she is ten years old. The male is named Harvey. He was there with her on Saturday when she laid the second egg at 13:39:52.

Dad and the new female at the ND-LEEF nest have been very busy.

The first female Bald Eagle I ever saw buried in snow as this same female at Duke Farms. She has a new mate this year. Wishing her the best.

If you are watching the new couple at the Kistachie National Forest nest E-3 (Alex and Andria’s old nest), there is a fishing line and lure tangled in the moss bedding of the nest. Neither eagle is tangled. There are no eaglets on the nest. But does this pose enough of a threat to the birds for USFWS to allow Cody to remove it? Let’s hope so – before there are eaglets.

We still have only one egg at the nest of Jak and Audacity (Sauces) in the Channel Islands. The track record is dismal for this super pair of eagles – all due to the continuing presence of DDT after what? 75 years?

The following material is intended for classroom use for students ages 11-12. However, I find it really informative about the impact of DDT on the Eagles in the Channel Islands. If you are not aware of why Jak and Audacity continue to have difficulties – as well as Jackie and Shadow – have a read. (Note: Many areas of the US were sprayed with DDT including Big Bear Lake).

ClassroomStudyGuide-ChannelIslandsDownload

There are many articles.

COLUMN-ONE-DDT-Ills-Still-Haunt-the-Coast-Years-after-scientists-thought-threat-from-pesticide-hDownload

Osprey fever is beginning to happen. Geemeff sent me a link to an Osprey nest in Mallorca that I did not know about! And also an Osprey chat space for the off season. Have a look! Thanks, Geemeff.

To the live feed camera:

To the Osprey Fanatic chat page. Adam has two young daughters…you might enjoy this space.

https://walkingwithdaddy.com/osprey

Harry and Sally laid their third egg of the Florida Osprey season at their Moorings Park Nest in Naples at 10:59 on Saturday, the 17th! If anyone can raise three, these two can.

Sally obliged cam watchers by showing us her labour…She raises her back slightly and spreads her wings out. Like eagles, ospreys will allow the egg to cool and harden after laying. Sally will surely being hard incubation now.

The Peregrine Falcons are getting busy. It is almost egg time in California.

She certainly has beautiful under fluffies. The third egg is shiny and wet. All three appear to be darkly speckled.

Bolivia rehabilitates three Harpy Eagles so they can return to the wild.

After-Years-in-Captivity-These-Rescued-Harpy-Eagles-Are-Flourishing-in-the-Wild-AudubonDownload

Everything you need to know and more about the world’s largest eagle, the Harpy.

Harpy-eagle-guide-where-these-strange-but-iconic-eagles-live-how-they-hunt-and-why-they-are-calledDownload

Thank you so much for being with me and for all your positive energy for Hugo Yugo. She is doing so much better. We hope to see you soon! Take care.

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, images, articles, screen captures, photographs, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post this morning: ‘A, B, Geemeff, H, J, SP’, Cal Falcons, Berry College, WRDC, Ron Magill FB, The Centre for Conservation Biology, Eagle Country, FOBBV, V, Superbeaks, Raptor Resource Project/Explore.org, Dulles-Greenway, Gracie Shepherd, Duke Farms, KNF-E3, Farmer Derek Eagle Cam, Phillip Josse, Return Flight, Column One, SEO Birdlife, Walking with Daddy, SK Hideaways, Moorings Park, and BBC Discover Wildlife.

First eggs for Liberty and Guardian and Mr North and Mrs DNF…Sadly, Lusa has died…Friday in Bird World

16 February 2024

Good Morning Everyone,

Goodness, it turned cold on the Canadian Prairies on Thursday. The temperature is currently -16 C and will drop to -19 C overnight. We have become very spoiled by those -4 C temps that allow us to go outside. The one difference was waking up to a bright blue sky and sunshine – always an indicator of a cold day. ‘The girls’ have decided it is a good day to sleep. Indeed, they had their breakfast and piled into my bed and now, at mid-afternoon, they are still there. No meowing for food or anything. Just a cuddle puddle to keep warm. The central heating is working – but, I made the decision to roast them a chicken and the heat from the little oven is so close to the thermostat that the unit thinks the house is warmer than it is. They will survive and so will I!

Many of you have pets, and I know dog owners are always so excited when their dogs wag their tails and are eager to see them. It is, indeed, the same with ‘The Girls’ who scurry to the middle of the kitchen first thing in the morning to say hello and remind me of ‘cat food’ (gosh, I hate wet cat food). They are so precious to me. I still tear up, looking at Calico and Hope. Hugo Yugo is entirely another story. Having wished for a miniature cat all my life, the last one is! She is nothing short of an adorable bag of energy. If you are looking for mellow, however, you cannot beat a Maine Coon. Whoever lost Missey lost the calmest and most patient cat I have ever met. I continue to marvel at my luck at having all of them with me – just like you do with your pets. They keep us sane.

Thank you for your notes after hearing about Rita being in her new enclosure. Please know that you are not alone when you say that you feel she is alone or that it is also sad knowing that Ron does not know what happened to his beloved mate of so many years. I agree. I have argued that if a Canada Goose is injured, it should go into rehab with its partner, not be left alone in a parking lot, which has happened in Winnipeg. It is more difficult to capture a Bald Eagle, and I am not sure what the response should be, but we know it is stressful on the mate who does not know what happened. Ron has moved on with Rita, and they have now raised three beautiful eaglets together. He seems quite content.

Moving on to bird news – not as much today as yesterday!

Redwood Queen (190) is one of my favourite California Condors. The way she defended Iniko during the Dolan Fire in 2020 was incredible. Now, she has lost Phoenix, her partner after King Pin died in that fire of 2020.

I really encourage you to add the Condor cams to your viewing list. They are so endangered, and we need to know their plight so that we can fight for the use of non-lead in all hunting, fishing, and military uses, as it is one way they die a slow and horrible death if not found and treated.

‘B’ sent me word that Amber at the IWS (she climbs those cliffs with Dr Sharpe and puts on tags) is taking a break and Dr Sharpe is stepping in as her replacement. While I adore Dr Sharpe and his sheer dedication to the Channel Islands Bald Eagles, I do hope that there is nothing untoward with Amber and that she will be back soon!

Just look at this new platform. How do you spell wowzers?

There are now three eggs at Port Tobacco Bald Eagle nest. Wow. Three eggs! Is this a norm for this year? Congratulations Chandler and Hope.

Lots of activity with Bella and Scout but no eggs yet at the NCTC nest.

While we are waiting for eggs at some of the eagle nests still, Arthur is really stepping up the pace at the Cornell nest preparing for the Ns with Big Red. We are one month away from egg watch.

The following two images are screen captures form Heidi Mc’s video of R6 celebrating his/her one month milestone on Valentine’s Day.

Adorable family portrait.

UPDATE: Lusa died around 0322. I am keeping what I wrote yesterday evening here.

Both Cal and Lusa appeared to eatThursday afternoon. This is a very good sign as there were worries over Lusa’s foot injury. Keep sending positive energy to this nest.

Connor did a video discussion about Lusa, what might be going on, and the legal and logistical issues regarding an intervention.

Connor’s video:  https://youtu.be/0f8S8cQZRzE?feature=shared

Connor is Not concerned about the toe. The amount of blood is not concerning but, his worried about Lusa’s not eating and their lethargy. Please go to YouTube and watch this presentation. It is very informative. As you can see above, Lusa has eaten, so this is good. The video was recorded at 1000 EDT on the 15th so well before Lusa ate.

Just look at Swampy and Meadow! Thank you Cam Op for getting us these fantastic close-ups of this wonderful feeding. Both are going to pop. Isn’t this wonderful. I so worried about Meadow and all got sorted thanks to the hunting abilities of Blaze and the steadfastness of Abby.

We are 13 days away from hatch at Big Bear.

The eggs look fine. We are, as I reminded you, 13 days away from hatch. Jackie and Shadow should begin to hear their little one pecking away around the 27th. Meanwhile, continue with positive wishes while we hold our breath for these two. The world is watching and hoping for these loved birds in the Big Bear Valley.

Good gracious. An intruder landing on the nest tree is all Jackie and Shadow need right now.

Isn’t she beautiful? Mrs DNF? She is positively glowing. The first egg of the season was laid at their nest in Iowa on the 15th. Mr North came to check it out. Congratulations Iowa!

Here is the video of the first egg at Decorah. The Raptor Resource Project says: “Congratulations to DNF and Mr. North! DNF laid her first egg of 2024 today at 2:12 PM CT. She tends to lay her eggs about 72 hours apart, give or take a little, so we’ll be watching for egg #2 on Sunday, February 18 at about 2:12 PM – although it could be a little earlier or a little later. As you watch the video, listen for her soft chirps and look for egg labor beginning at about three minutes.”

The first egg for Liberty and Guardian was in the nest – and the camera stream was down.

Gary came back to show us the action on video!

The Bald Eagle streaming cam and the eagles are back for their 8th season at Lakes Folsom and Natoma. The lakes are located in Sacramento County, California.

Here is the link to the streaming cam:

Whitetail eagles are busy fixing up their nest in Rasene, Latvia.

Newmann is home at Great Spirit Bluff. Last year he finished the hob of raising the eyases alone. Marvellous Dad!

Beau and Gabby. A beautiful couple destined, it seems, to wait another year for a family together.

This makes me sick just like the raising of the ducks at the ponds and then allowing people to shoot them down as they stand. Seriously, why do we think we are so advanced over the other animals? We certainly don’t act like it!

The New Guy at Cal Falcons is yet to be named, but he showed up with some crop. Incredible. Let us hope he is as good a hunter when there are 3 or 4 mouths to feed!

More information and pictures of Rita in her new enclosure at Marathon comes from ‘J’. It is an exceptional space. I hope that those of you who live close will travel to see Rita and send back reports!

We are readying for the Great Bird Count and for spring migration to begin. Migration connects countries around the world by the flyways that the migrating birds use. We need to protect those flyways. Birdlife International looks at why nature and the flyways are important.

Bird-Migration-Connects-Us-All-BirdLife-InternationalDownload

Remember. Please get involved in the Great Bird Count. There are not enough scientists to count the birds. They need us! So take 15 minutes a day – that is all you need – to help count! It starts today and it is not too late for you to register. I will be counting the birds that come to my garden for the next four days – join me. Count your garden birds, too!

Oh, I love it. Bradley lands on the nest with a Puffer Fish at 10:48! He has been taking lessons from his big brother, Ervie, for sure. Isn’t this fantastic? Make sure you keep tuning in. I don’t know about anyone else, but it was a lot of fun watching Ervie with those Puffers.

Thank you for being with us today. What a perfect way to end the blog – a Pufferfish back on the Port Lincoln Barge. Oh, Bradley, you just put smiles on hundreds of faces. Take care everyone. We hope to see you soon.

Thank you to the following for their comments, videos, articles, streaming cams and tweets that helped me write my post this morning: ‘A, B, Geemeff, H, J’, Ventana Wildlife Society, Wildlife at Osprey House, Port Tobacco Eagle Cam, NCTC, Cornell Bird Lab RTH Cam, Heidi Mc and the WRDC, Window to Wildlife, Connor at W to Wildlife, Eagle Country, FOBBV, SK Hideaways, Minette Murk, Raptor Resource Project/Explore.org, Vicki Jacques, Gary’s Eagle Videos, FOLFAN Eagle Can, NDF, Ashley Wilson, NEFL-AEF, Geemeff, Cal Falcons, Marathon Wild Bird Centre, Birdlife International, Cornell Lab, and PLO.

7 days til hatch watch for Pepe and Muhlady…Sunday in Bird World

11 February 2024

Hello Everyone,

I hope that you have had a grand weekend so far. Some of you will be celebrating the Lunar New Year while others are preparing for the Super Bowl – or maybe both! Whatever you are doing today, enjoy. Savour every moment. Life is way too precious to miss – the tiniest things are often the most joyful. And remember to laugh. Surprise someone by being kind, by saying ‘hello’ to a stranger – who knows, it could lift them up from the deepest depths. Send a note to someone you have been meaning to – just to say ‘hi’. 

The ‘girls’ were very needy on Saturday. I am not sure why. Was it a change in the weather? Are they impacted as much as we are? It is curious. Calico woke me as usual – she really is better than the alarm. Today, she wanted to stay for cuddles instead of rushing to get me up to feed the gang. We spent nearly half an hour alone without Hugo Yugo screaming for breakfast. It was fantastic. Calic is a truly a gentle soul – like Missey. Except when it comes to Missey. 

After breakfast, Hugo Yugo and Baby Hope only wanted to eat and play. Their minds were made up – today was the day they would leap through the air to catch the unicorn on the end of the fishing pole. As so many of you have reminded me, It is a very good thing Hugo Yugo is so tiny and lightweight. Otherwise, the house would be destroyed. 

Missey decided to stay way out of the way. I have noticed that it has been mostly Hope and Hugo Yugo playing rough now. Missey and Calico tend to just go somewhere ‘quiet’. 

Missey seems to get woolier by the day. Her back fur is now more than 7.5 cm or 4 inches long. She is brushed no less than five times a day to keep that beautiful coat from turning into a mat.

It is still amazing how much Calico and Hope look alike. Their evening ritual is to get into the ‘Swan’ chair and cuddle around 1800. Calico will give Hope a very good wash, and then Hope, feeling invigorated, will want to play a little rough. Calico gets irritated and boots her out after a few minutes!

Hugo Yugo is so tiny. I still walk around shaking my head. She is now 5 and a half months old. In another month she will have ‘her surgery’. Dr Green has suggested that I get a tiny, tiny onsie for her to wear instead of a cone. Now to find one small enough – or make one ? My sewing talents are not that great, but I am determined to learn how to darn! Maybe there is a Chihuahua onsie???? 

The kitten adoption has their own vet to do the surgery. Hugo Yugo is also set for a follow-up checkup with Dr Green three days later to ensure everything is in order. It is going to be impossible to stop her from jumping. I was told there are three layers of stitches and I should not fret too much. That is like telling a cow it shouldn’t moo. 

After, it was off to the nature centre. With the new snow, the trails promised not to be icy – it was a super morning. Squirrels were running everywhere, invigorated by the colder temperatures and snow. Children were again using the tower to slide their sledges onto Devonian Lake. The Chickadees flitted about the forest – there has to be at least 50 of them – while the Sparrows and Woodpeckers looked for seed. It could not have been a more perfect day.

When I got home, there was a note from ‘B’ alerting me that Annie and the new male were in the scrape. He was calling and Annie obliged. He bowed, keeping his head low and his tail high. This courtship ritual lasted for a good three minutes! Lots of ee-chups. Peregrine Falcons are so civilised. 

This new male seems tiny.

Before I go any further, two Osprey brothers fishing in the same area in South Australia. How wonderful. I bet Dad was there, too! Delamere is near the Marina and you might recall that Ervie fished there with Dad when he fledged.

There is so much food on the Eagle Country nest that it is rotting and attracting so many flies. The Eagles probably don’t care, but it does seem that the buzzing around of the insets does disturb them. Meadow and Swampy are deep in the nest bowl. You cannot see them much of the time…I do hope that nest has a good, thick bottom! 

It looked like there was a double feeding going on at one time. Look closely in the top image and you can see the little eagles, Swampy and Meadow.

There is continuing drama at the Captiva Osprey nest. Having just named the new female ‘Jill’, that bird has now disappeared and there is a new female. Jack has duly delivered a fish and mated with her at least four times on the nest. I don’t think he cares anymore – he just wants eggs and osplets! The first female to oblige will hopefully be safe from other female intruders and stay the course at least til after fledgling. This nest makes me nervous. Too many intruders. — An update. It is now 1900 on the nest and the new couple have mated 10 times on camera. That must be some kind of record. How many viewers were blushing?

E23 continues to do well. So curious about what is happening outside the nest now. These nests with one eaglet have been so wonderful to watch this year. Big healthy chicks. 

Jackie and Shadow continue to take turns doing incubation. Jackie takes control at night – as she always does. I have not seen a lot of prey eaten on the nest since the eggs were laid. Is that because of the snow, OR is it because Jackie and Shadow might deem it a safety measure not to in order to not step on the eggs? I am curious. Let’s see what they do if the snow melts before hatch.

It sure started out window but, overall, the day looks nicer.

Shadow did have to take things into his own talons in order to get more egg time, though! Watch it until the end…Jackie gets Shadow out and then Shadow returns.

Did R6 double in size overnight? S/he will be four weeks old today! the 11th. This eaglet is one cutie. Look at that soft, downy mohawk. It will soon disappear. And those big clown feet. They are turning yellow…and that nice charcoal thermal down—one healthy baby. 

Heidi Mc continues the story and provides us with a good ending for R6 and the pigeon band.

Look hard and you can see the little one at JB Sands Wetlands.

Many watching the Redding nest of Liberty and Guardian are thinking Liberty is getting ready to lay the first egg. 

SK Hideaways reminds us that Liberty is 24 years young.

A good look at Chandler and Hope’s first egg at Tobacco Creek!

We are now a week away from hatch watch for Pepe and Muhlady at Superbeaks! They are going for gold with a second clutch. Let us all wish them well…they should be able to hear their eaglets cheeping and wanting out of those shells.

They are still incubating the egg. Beau has turned out to be quite good – sad that it is too late to save it, but maybe next year. These close-ups of Gabby need to be seen. Great screen captures. 

For the past two years the geese have hatched little ones from this abandoned eagle nest at Decorah. I do hope they do it again this year! It really was marvellous watching all of them leap down to get to the stream with Mum and Dad.

Pittsburgh-Hays is now live again.

Clyde brought Bonnie a big rat for her meal after 2200. Bonnie quickly horked it down and had a wee break before going back to incubation duties.

You can barely see the rat before she downs it. I hope the businesses and people around this nest do not use rodenticides. This is now the ongoing concern for Flaco, the Eurasian Owl in NYC. Rodenticides. Secondary poisoning. It is tragic.

It is pretty quiet at the Port Lincoln Osprey barge. Two fish came in on Saturday around mid-day. The nest is empty on Sunday. I wonder how much longer Gil and Brad will come to the barge.

We know Bradley is doing well. Those pink and red rings sure stand out! Great news.

Rutland gets visits from Egyptian Geese and Colin the Cormorant, but we are all waiting for Blue 33 and Maya to return from their winter migration and the countdown is on. We are seriously less than 42 days now. 

Last year Laddie LM12 and Blue NC0 laid the first egg, but it is unclear what happened to Blue NC0 last year. She left the area quite early – in mid-July and she may no longer be with us. I actually have her in the 2023 Memorial Listing. Laddie is not a youngster. So we will have to cross our fingers and toes and wait to see.

If you are in Wales, the Dyfi Nature Centre opens on the 1st of March…getting ready for the arrival of Idris and Seren! 

Join with Audubon or Cornell – who cares which one – and do the Great Backyard Bird Count. We are only a few days away. It takes only 15 minutes a day and runs from Friday, February 16, through Monday, February 19, 2024. Here is the info from Audubon.

About-the-Great-Backyard-Bird-Count-AudubonDownload

Want to protect those adorable Albatross? and other seabirds? Well this is how your government policy makers can make a difference. This focuses is from Malta, but it applies everywhere.

https://www.facebook.com/birdlifemalta/videos/349378911398194

Remember!

From Emergence Magazine, there is a film about Puffins. I hope you are able to access it!

Leaving-the-Nest-for-an-Uncertain-WorldDownload

Thank you so much for being with me today. Please take care. Look forward to having you with us again soon.

Thank you to the following for your notes, posts, videos, screen captures, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog today: ’B, H, J, SP’, Cal Falcons, Eagle Country, SW Florida Eagle Cam, FOBBV, FORE, SK Hideaways, WRDC, Heidi Mc, JB Sands Wetlands, Port Tobacco Eagle Cam, Superbeaks, Carol Shores Rifkin, Laura Rose, PIX Cams, Farmer Derek Owl Cam, PLO, LRWT, Dfyi Nature Centre, Audubon, Give a Shift about Nature, Emergence Magazine, and Birdlife Malta.

Achieva does get egg 3…Friday in Bird World

9 February 2024

Good Morning Everyone!

To those celebrating the New Year (新年) or, as it is often known, the Spring Festival (春节), I wish you great prosperity, good health, and a long and happy life. Millions will be travelling to be with their families – and, as we know, it is the year of the Dragon (the Wood Dragon). Trees may be decorated with red lanterns, and couplets will be pasted to each side of the entrance door. These are ‘wishes’ for the new year. Many of my students would cook a special stir fry that had 16 to 19 kinds of vegetables. Those ranged from cauliflower, broccoli, bean sprouts, and snow peas. Other foods were prepared – each tasting different – and served in various coloured covered dishes. I always wondered at the variety, beauty, and hard work that went into the celebration. It was the joy of my teaching career to spend time with these students, missing their families who were far away and not being able to celebrate 年夜饭 – niányèfàn – or the lunar New Year’s Eve dinner with their loved ones. They taught me a lot! Many are now good friends. 

The girls will be wanting to eat some of the spring Festival Dishes tonight – and play with the longevity noodles and dumplings. We have been practising making them and Hugo Yugo was right there – wanting to help. I will try and get some images from the festivities on Saturday night to show you our curious kitty!

In Winnipeg, the forecast for Thursday was correct. As I was sitting and laughing with the allergy doctor testing me to see if I was allergic to anything – including my beloved cats – winter hit just as predicted. The rain shifted to snow, and the winds picked up, and two and a half hours later, I was glad to be tucked inside with ‘the girls’. As it happens, I am not allergic to anything! Nothing. What a relief. Mind you, I would never have gotten rid of my cats for an allergy – and there is treatment now, but it is best for those who work with animals daily, such as vets. I have Vasomotor Rhinitis, which is being treated with a kind of inhaler. ”These symptoms are excessive at times and are exacerbated by certain odours (e.g., perfumes, cigarette smoke, paint fumes, inks); alcohol; spicy foods; emotions; and environmental factors such as temperature, barometric pressure changes, and bright lights”. It can also include wildfires and hot soup. My symptoms have been excessive and have prompted a growth in the stockmarket value of Kleenex tissues. LOL. 

At any rate, winter has returned, and I am pleased. We need the snow cover, and most people need to slow down. Winter storms can help with that! The arrangement of the newsletter is a bit different since I was gone most of the day. And the poor girls. I have a new book just for them which we will read tomorrow – Be Mine, Porcupine. I wonder what else we can get to help celebrate Valentine’s Day with them. They are my ‘loves’. Let’s see if they will cooperate and give me some nice photographs for you in the morning. They have been darlings this evening. The onset of winter has slowed them down. It is now nearly 2100 and they are not leaping about reminding me of their last meal before bed! This is highly unusual. 

Two of Dyson kits were at the feeders early trying to find seeds from under the snow.

Hugo Yugo and Missey were watching the birds landing on vines on the side of the conservatory.

Hugo Yugo wanted to leap and grab one! I sure wish I had her energy. She kept me away half the night…she discovered necklaces hanging from pegs and was jumping at the wall trying to get them! Eventually they were all taken down and hidden in a drawer. Next it was the box with all the pens in it. She has figured out how to get the lid open…never stops, always funny. Adorable. Just look at those little paws.

Baby Hope was wishing for bird videos – not the real thing. It is so funny. She doesn’t care a thing about the animals outside! When she wants the videos turned on, she will lie in front of the screen. 

Achieva Osprey Platform, St Petersburg, Florida: I am not pleased that Achieva has a third egg. Jack and Diane are not the most robust ospreys and have great difficulty if three eggs hatch. It cannot always be put down on them -. The area is full of birds, including gulls and eagles, that eat fish and steal fish from ospreys. The other issue was the extreme drought conditions in the area last year. Jack often doesn’t deliver enough fish. One year, perhaps four years ago, we thought he might even have another nest. Diane had to resort to going out and finding her catfish. I had hoped that the third egg would not come, and now it has, a little late, and that is also concerning for that third hatch. 

We are going to start off with Ospreys because they really are on my mind. It feels like there is going to be a huge flurry and now that the third egg has been laid at Achieva, 11 days after the first, I am already trying to find the box of worry beads.

The first egg was laid on January 28, and the second on the 31st. Those are expected differences in dates. The problem is the third egg, which was laid on either the 7th or 8th of February. I think you can begin to imagine my concern. That is a difference, as mentioned earlier, of 11 days. I want you to sit and imagine an 11 day old osplet and a newly hatched. I know we had a miracle at Patchogue, Long Island last year with the fourth hatch, but let’s be honest. Jack and Diane are not the parents at Patchogue. Ospreys are different from one another and circumstances are different. We have no idea the competition Jack has for fish and if he loses fish to gulls enrolee back to the nest. What we do not is that the deliveries on this nest, historically, have not proven to be sufficient. Diane has gone out fishing when the osplets were old enough and, indeed, her catfish have kept some alive that might otherwise have perished. The couple are not young either.  This is highly worrisome. 

Captiva Osprey Platform, Barrier Islands, Florida: The new female at the Captiva Osprey nest is being named Jill – so we now have Jack and Jill. They have mated and it is a good nest. Let us hope that we have some chicks here this year.

Moorings Park, Naples, Florida: Harry and Sally, meanwhile, are taking their sweet time. No first egg on that nest yet!

Pelican Bay Osprey Platform, Naples, Florida: We have hatch but it is unknown how many eggs there were or how many hatched -yet.

Venice Golf and Country Club: First egg laid on 6 February. Second expected today.

Can catch their streaming cam here:

Here is the weekly summary for Gil and Brad at Port Lincoln, our South Australian fledgling ospreys:

A Spanish site to follow. Sunnie Day comments, “The osprey is categorised in the Red Book of Birds of Spain as “EN – Endangered” and is included in the Spanish Catalog of Threatened Species, as “VU – Vulnerable.” For more information about the species, consult SEO BirdLife’s Guide to Birds of Spain: https://seo.org/ave/aguila-“

Want to send a special Valentine:

European and UK Ospreys – the very first of the monitored returnees – will be home in 6 months or 42 days! Yes. 

This came up on one of my FB groups today and I wanted to share it with you. The Return of the Ospreys to Loch Garten. Just to get you excited.

Switching back to the Bald Eagles in the US.

Big Bear Valley with Jackie and Shadow. Live fish delivery! Eggs have been rolled, both have taken incubation duties. Today is 9 February and in 20 days we are on pip watch. I am marking off my calendar, are you? 

Our loved eagles have made The Washington Post! ‘B’ kindly saved the article as a PDF so we could read about them. How nice! It is a really good read. I hope you enjoy it.

Fans-root-for-bald-eagles-determined-to-protect-eggs-in-California-storm-The-Washington-PostDownload

Not to worry about that fish. Jackie returns and enjoys her dinner. Thanks Baibai for capturing these events.

Redding Eagles. Liberty was on the nest checking out the flood water. She does not seem particularly concerned. She was still on the nest after dusk. I wonder.

Gabby brought in a pile of moss to the nest slightly covering that egg. Is it time for Gabby to say goodbye to the hopes of motherhood this year?

Nature Chat has added a new Kansas Bald Eagle nest to its list of streaming cams. The adults are Ellie and Harvey. Here is the link if you are interested.

https://www.youtube.com/live/LkUyDUvhNqA?si=6NyWrJTXa9aOhw7M

US Steel Bald Eagle Nest, Pittsburg. No egg yet for Irvin and Claire. They have been fiddling with their nest, too!

SW Florida with M15, F23, and E23. That little much loved eaglet is still adored, but my goodness how it has grown. Well fed and every need has been attended to by his very doting parents. Check out that tail in the image below. You can see the quills holding the blood feathers. Then look, you can see them on the wings. Those quills will break off during preening or as the feathers grow and develop. What a beautiful eaglet with such a huge wing span. Many think our E23 is a female. That would be fantastic after years of speculating that the others were mostly male.

Florida’s Eagle Country with Abby, Blaze, Swampy, and Meadow. We all have our favourites, often little ones, that we are concerned about. I often root for the underdog, the younger one that struggles with a big sibling intent on bonking. Swampy, despite piles of fish and prey on the nest, continues to go after Meadow. Sometimes it is not even when it is a feeding. But, today, it seems Meadow got fed up and gave some back.

Swampy got its nose out of joint right before 6pm. Reminds me of Calico and Missey – the no apparent reason just to be miserable.

I think these eaglets offer some good insights into what we should be doing – finding joy and happiness and cooperation. Not beaking each other for who is the most powerful or dominant. There is plenty of fish provided by Blaze and Abby is a good Mum. Just chill you two! (I do tell Calico that every night BTW).

Rollin’ Rag had some good observations on Swampy and Meadow for today:

WRDC, Dade-Country, Florida nest of Ron, Rose, and R6. It seems that R6 is destined to eat strange things and survive. Rumour has it R6 ate the leg, and the metal ring of a bird recently brought to the nest. I cannot say…just a rumour. R6 looks extremely healthy with its fat bottom and strong wings. The dandelions are disappearing fast, and that dark charcoal thermal down covers this eaglet. He would make quite the model on the couture runway this season! Everyone seems to want expensive fleece – . Aren’t birds and animals fortunate? They don’t have to decide what to wear in the morning or do laundry! They certainly don’t contribute to the piles of waste textiles filling many African landscapes.

Captiva Eagle nest of Connie, Clive, Cal, and Lusa, Barrier Islands, Florida. The two eaglets are self-feeding. Not completely adept at this milestone, but they are sure trying hard. Standing on the rim of the nest bowl. Scary stuff. Another milestone.

PA Country, nest of Lisa and Oliver: First egg!

At Decorah North, Mr North and Mrs DNF are fiddling with the sticks for the nest. They are hilarious – like Shadow.

At the fruit table feeder in Panama, there is a visitor – a Roadside Hawk.

Cornell says, “The Roadside Hawk is one of the most widespread raptors of the Neotropics. Its name is due to its preference for the edges of forests. It is found in open to semi-open areas, forest borders, roadsides and plantations. It is usually not found in the forest interior. The Roadside Hawk feeds on a variety of small prey including reptiles, small mammals and birds, but mainly feeds on insects. This is not a social species; pairs can be seen during breeding season.”

I wonder if they would eat the hummingbirds flittering around as Cornell does not specify which small birds.

The Peregrine Fund gives us more information on these neotropical hawks:

  • There are twelve sub-species of Roadside Hawks
  • The Roadside Hawk tends to avoid dense forest habitat.
  • The Roadside Hawk is one of the most commonly seen raptors throughout its range.
  • Researches reported one observation of nestling siblicide in Roadside Hawks – meaning one nestling intentionally kills one or more of its brothers or sisters while they are all still young and in the nest.

The PF also tells us how this beautiful raptor got its name. “When you first hear the name “Roadside Hawk” you might guess that this raptor likes to hang around the sides of roads, and you would be correct. This hawk is often seen perched in trees, or on fence posts or power lines along highways, trails and paths. Just as it has a varied diet (which you can read about below), it also spends time in a wide variety of habitats including forest edges, plantations (such as pine, coffee and eucalyptus), woodland, scrubland, savannas, pine-oak forest, river edges, mangrove edges, and thorn forest. It can even be found living comfortably near humans – in suburbs and city parks.”

Thanks so much for being with me today. Take care. See you soon!

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, photographs, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog this morning: ’A, B, H, J, M’, Achieva Credit Union, Heidi Mc, Moorings Park, Pelican Bay, VGCC, PLO, Sunnie Day, Mary Cheadle, The Washington Post, FOBBV, Baibai, FORE, Eagle Goddess, Nature Chat, PIX Cams, Lady Hawk, Eagle Country, Rollin’ Rag, WRDC, Window to Wildlife, Trudi Kron, Raptor Resource Project/Explore, Cornell Bird Lab, and The Peregrine Fund.