Category Archives: Leucistic Red Tail Hawk

Lady and Dad’s first egg, fledges, DH2 gets prey…Saturday in Bird World

17 June 2023

Good Morning Everyone,

Gosh, it is a bit of a shock on the Canadian Prairies. W e went from 38C to now plunging to a low of 11 C. last evening and this morning. S eriously, do we have to keep a jumper out for the summer days like this? I t will be warming up to 24 so all those Canada Geese won’t be wishing they had stayed behind. We hope they all find plenty of food, something in short supply it appears in the South.

As we approach ‘Father’s Day’, let us take the time to think of two male raptors this year that have or are having single-parent duties. M15, the SouthWest Florida Bald Eagle, began caring for E21 and E22 on the 2nd of February, the day that his long-time mate, Harriet, went missing. To the shock of everyone, he fed both eaglets, fought off intruders, flirted on occasion with females, and fledged those two eaglets teaching – at least E22 – the joys of bathing in a pond, catching fish, and soaring. What a dad.

Newmann is now taking care of four Peregrine Falcons at the Great Spirit Bluff scrape after his mate, Savanna, was killed protecting the nest from a GHO. As soon as Newmann realised that Savanna was not there to feed his chicks, he stepped up to the scrape and has been Daddy Door Dash ever since.

In the midst of their grieving, both summoned the energy to forge ahead and raise their last chicks with their now missing, presumed deceased mates. Thomas and Kami fledged on Friday. Happy Father’s Day M15 and Newmann.

We want to also give a shout-out to Murphy, who wanted to be a dad so much after 31 years. You did well, Murphy! Foster Dad of the Year!

The latest news on Murphy’s Baby. Thanks ‘H’!

There is an energy about young eaglets right before they fledge when – at a single moment – they realise they are a bird with the potential to fly. Squeeing they will use their nests like trampolines if there are no branches in a tree to jump back and forth. In this video, Jefferson, the only eaglet of the 2023 season of Smitty and Bella at the NCTC nest, demonstrates his zest for life! Can’t wait to see this youngster with its deep espresso plumage take to the skies! But stop for a moment and look at that tail. It is as if someone took a white brush and painted the tail feathers and then dipped them in the deepest richest coffee at the tip. This is an incredibly beautiful eaglet.

https://fb.watch/lchtBqS2hE/

After Jefferson’s morning romp around the nest, he accidentally branched and flew off for a successful fledge.

My friend, ‘L’ reminds me that humans can make a huge difference in the lives of our raptors if they choose to do so. In Huntington NY, the members of the Lighthouse Preservation Society decided to do a good deed for a pair of Ospreys. We can help to create positive change. Always remember that. Never give up!

My friend, the late Toni Castelli-Rosen, and I often chatted about the most beautiful plumaged juveniles. She was a great fan of the White-bellied Sea Eaglets while I adores the Red-tail Hawks with their peach chest feathers and their rusty brown and cream feathering. Of course, then there are the osplets..and to be honest, they are gorgeous as well. Take the time to look at these youngsters. I can no longer tell you which ranks as the prettiest for me but I do know that the plumage of an osplet, feathered before fledging, is so much nicer than that of their parents.

There they are at Patchogue…check it out. The Ospreys have limited colouring – they did not get on the bright bohemian bandwagon for summer dresses! They stick to a brown-and-white palette but notice the chicks. Their feathers have a creme white crescent on the tip of each one, making that very dark eye band stand out from their white chests. For those new to Ospreys, that dark band helps deflect glare when fishing. Football players have adapted it. The tails, when fanned out have scallops at the tip end alternating white or dream spaces with espresso thick lines. They say that the females have darker more distinctive ‘necklaces’ but that is not always the case. The necklace below looks ‘broken’ – it is decidedly not distinctive!

The plumage really helps to camouflage the chicks when they are on their stick nests.

Little Mini had a good day. Every time I checked it had a nice crop! Several times, Little Mini raised its neck high when it was by one of the Big siblings. This tiny osplet is a ‘cracker’. Love this kid. Smart. A fighter. And look at those clown feet.

Big bite for Mini!

The camera at Llyn Clywedog has exceptional resolution. Notice the magnificent necklace of Blue 5F Seren and look closely at the feathering of the chicks. You can see that rich brown colour better.

To compare, the gorgeous plumage of the Red-tail Hawks, the Ms and Big Red. Notice the ‘peach’.

Speaking of Big Red, a very informative video of the intervention at the nest of Big Red and Arthur was released Friday afternoon.

As has been the practice, Little Mini ate well during the early morning, and I expect it to have some fish later on Friday. This little one is getting its feathers, and while we are not out of the woods yet, Mini is being wise and is a survivor. He ate again from 1335 to 1400, and another fish came on the nest, a big one, at 1440. Mini did not get any of that fish. It started to rain..but, no worries on Friday for Mini at Patchogue.

Today’s Mysteries:

Last time ‘H’ and I checked, there were eggs, blink and there are three Osplets. McEuen Park in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

So does anyone know what happened at the Bay Cam, Chesapeake Bay Foundation? ‘H’ checked in and only the goose egg is there. Where are the osprey eggs? What happened? Do you know?

Nest Check-In:

Boulder County Fairgrounds: Rain and mist, cooler temperatures. All seem fine. Several big fish on the nest. Three chicks still with us.

Moorings Park. Victor stays on the nest and Dad brings in fish! My goodness..now look at the plumage. This is brilliant. This chick is so healthy. Victor fledged on the 19th of May.

Outer Banks. Three thriving Osplets.

Pitkin County Open Spaces and Trails: Three beautiful and healthy osplets.

Collins Marsh: Several nice fish and pieces on the nest today. Impossible to tell because Mum blocked the view on how the three ate.

South Cape Marsh Meadows: Two lively hatchlings wanting fish!

Forsythe: Several fish but Little Mini does not get hardly any bites. ‘H’ counted only 17 bites for the wee one by 1100.

Cowlitz PUD: Chick is OK. The fish are not huge and plentiful but feathering and growing.

Barnegat Light: All is harmonious.

Great Bay: All appears to be fine.

First Utility District: Hard to see the chicks but there are at least two of them in beautiful juvenile plumage! Look – standing on the rim of the nest!

Dyfi Osprey Nest: Everything at the nest of Idris and Telyn is absolutely perfect.

Poole Harbour: CJ7 and Blue 022 look down lovingly at their triplets. All is well.

Llyn Brenig: Life is good.

Glaslyn: Life with his new parter Elen and their two osplets is great. Aran seems to be really having a good season – not sure all those fish are, though!

The King and Queen of Glaslyn – Aran and Elen.

Loch of the Lowes: After a difficult start and the fear that something had happened to Laddie LM12, life is now good at Loch of the Lowes. Blue NC0 can see Laddie flying in with their fish for the kid’s bedtime snack.

Loch Arkaig: When we talk about ospreys with dark plumage, the first one that comes to mind is the late Mrs G from Glaslyn. However, one look at Dorcha, Louis’s mate, tells you that she is as dark as Mrs G. Gorgeous deep chocolate feathering and talk about a necklace! Gracious. Hers is the envy of all. Pesky Only Bob is rather spoiled!

RSPB Loch Garten: Both chicks doing great! You can hardly see them in that deep egg cup.

Llyn Clywedog: The two of Dylan and Seren are doing fantastic. Growing and growing on those nice fish Dylan brings in from the reservoir.

Foulshaw Moss: White YW and Blue 35 have a great nest of chicks this year. It looks hot there in Cumbria today; the three chicks are well-hydrated! And growing.

Relief in the form of food for the Decorah hatchery chick – that cute little Only Bob -. Had not had food in several days. Mum believed to have left area but today both parents turned up with fish! Three of them! A fish, a squirrel, and a huge rabbit head which he is eating in the image below.

Congratulations to Lady and Dad at the Sydney WBSE nest. According to ‘A’ who has been anxiously awaiting this moment, the first egg arrived. “Lady is lying in the nest bowl. She now has something precious to protect. Lady arrived in the nest at 14:14:29 this afternoon and it was immediately apparent that she meant business. The egg was laid by about 14:31, when she raised her body slightly to allow the egg to dry and harden. By 14:52, she has settled back down again. We could clearly see an egg in the nest from 15:45:10, when Lady takes a break. Dad arrives at 16:13:20 to see his egg and incubates for a few minutes before leaving again at 16:24:30.”

There is an update on Middle! I hope his crop is full to bulging…precious Middle.

‘T’ reports that a Goshawk attack in Poland kills two storks – knocked off nest. Feathers found when team went to check at nest site. So sad. As ‘T’ says, they fly all the way to and from Africa to have this happen! This happened two years ago also.

For today’s feel good moment, we than Sunnie Day for posting an article on a Canadian power company’s intervention.

Power-corporation-builds-new-home-for-inconvenient-ospreyDownload

I am going are you?

Here is the info and how you can sign up – it is free!

Christian-Cooper-and-Amy-Tan-on-How-Birding-Brings-Them-Joy-a-Live-Event-The-New-York-TimesDownload

In Canada, Ducks Unlimited has patterned with the Nature Conservancy of Canada and conservation-minded landowners in Alberta to purchase the largest tract of grasslands to become part of the natural environment in Canada, never to be developed. The group are busy raising the 30 million to finalise the plans. I am delighted.

Conservation-leaders-join-forces-on-largest-private-grassland-project-in-Canadian-history-—-Ducks-UnDownload

The British Trust for Ornithology confirms that backyard gardens help increase the population of pollinators. Thank you to everyone who is changing their lawn out for a space for the birds, bees, and butterflies – so many are and if you do not allow anyone to spray those insects that come about will be healthy food for songbireds feeding wee ones in the nest..

Here is the full report from the BTO:

Trends-in-butterfly-populations-in-UK-gardens—New-evidence-from-citizen-science-monitoring-PlummerDownload

Thank you for being with me today. Please have a lovely weekend – get outside and listen to some birds. Your spirit will soar! See you soon.

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, and streaming cams that helped to make up my blog today: ‘A, H, T’, SW Florida Eagle Cam, Great Spirit Bluff Peregrine Falcons, World Bird Sanctuary, NCTC, Deb Stecyk and the NCTC, PSEG, Cornell RTH, McEuen Park, Bay Cam. Boulder County Fairgrounds, Moorings Park Ospreys, Outer Banks 24/7, Pitkin County Open Spaces and Trails, Collins Marsh, SCMM, Forsythe Ospreys, Cowlitz PUD, Conservancy Wildlife Foundation of NJ, Great Bay Ospreys, First Utility District Ospreys, Dyfi Ospreys, Poole Harbour Ospreys, Llyn Brenig Ospreys, Bywyd Gwyllt Glaslyn, LOTL, Friends of Loch Arkaig and the Woodland Trust, RSPB Loch Garten, Cumbria Wildlife Trust, Sydney Sea Eagle Cam, Raptor Resource Foundation/Explore.org, Birds in Helping Hands, BTO, Sunnie Day and Cabin News, the New York Times, and Ducks Unlimited.

Little Mini is the Early Bird again…Friday in Bird World

16 June 2023

Good Morning,

Thursday was a wonderful day full of field birding in the area of Delta Marsh at the southern end of Lake Manitoba and Island Park in Portage la Prairie. At least 29 species of birds at Delta Marsh – almost all vocalising while the Pelicans and Terns were busy catching fish. To be out among the living – in fields near a big lake – well, it simply lifts one’s spirits! The area is maintained by the Province of Manitoba and Ducks Unlimited. Those are the folks that I have a love-hate relationship. I am grateful that they expand and maintain wetland areas in our province such as Delta Marsh and Oak Hammock Marsh. Both are major flyways for migration. My only problem is ‘duck hunting’….

The haze from the wildfire smoke clouded the sky. Overhead, 77 Canada Geese were heading north in it. Do they know the fires are up there? Chevrons of 70-150 geese have been flying north for several days now. These geese have no goslings to care for….remember I am very worried about the numbers this year. They are heading for food, space, and cooler weather – although surprisingly it has cooled down the past couple of days in the southern part of Manitoba.

Three American Robins flitted about the parking areas. There are so many insects and mosquitoes…what a fantastic place to live and hunt. It was so quiet…no one else about save for a couple of men fishing down the road.

A female Yellow-headed Blackbird serenaded me from the path.

While her mate, across the path, was warning me to keep walking!

At a great distance, the Black Terns were fishing in Lake Manitoba.

A pair of Northern Shovelers were in a shallow pond nearby. It was such a variety of habitats.

At Island Park, a Goldeneye was being followed by eleven little ones.

A Mallard couple were resting in the sunshine while a female Mallard had a raft of ducklings she was trying to manage.

Did you know that a group of flying ducks is called a skein? If they are in the water, it is a raft, and if they are walking on the ground, the group is called a flock or a waddling.

Oh, these babies are so cute.

Sometimes it is just so wonderful to leave the city behind and be in a place where all you can hear is the sound of birds!

‘A’ sent this to me yesterday. You don’t have to be a Royal Albatross fan to smile when you hear SP do a skycall. It just melts your heart. Oh, we need to clean up how those ocean trawlers cast those long lines and stop the beheading of the osprey. We need to demand that they take the six simple steps to stop the killing of albatross as bycatch. Here they are- have a short read and educate yourself, and then set about studying which fish sold is responsibly harvested – if you eat fish.

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/6-ways-us-fisheries-reduce-albatross-bycatch

19 June 2023 is World Albatross Day. This year’s theme, selected by The Albatross and Petrel Agreement, is Plastic Pollution. Here is more information:

Agreement-on-the-Conservation-of-Albatrosses-and-Petrels-World-Albatross-Day-2023-Photo-PostersDownload

And a video.

Now imagine that sweet little chick on the South Plateau trying to eat fish with an ocean full of plastic. You can help by refusing to purchase any items made of plastic. We now know that recycled plastic is not good for the environment. Choose alternatives.

We are now four days away from American Eagle Day in the US on 20 June. A posting by Sassa Bird reminds us of the challenges that eagles such as M15, E22, and Jackie and Shadow face every day.

While I was away today, Little Mini at Patchogue was eating and growing, eating and sleeping and growing. Seriously waking up and finding out that this fourth hatch had breakfast while I was still sleeping just makes me feel warm and fuzzy.

So the first fish comes around 0545 and like Wednesday, the big siblings are ‘sleepy’. Little Mini is gonna’ get the proverbial worm – in this case, a private 20 minute feeding. Little Mini has a huge crop at 0604 when he stops eating. The crop Little Mini had at 0748 was hilarious. Mini did not get any of the 0956 fish and the kid scared the wits out of me when he is hanging over the nest at 1414. Another fish lands on the nest at 1418. Little Mini is good. He sees it is a big one and he hangs back while slowly making his way around the rim of the nest so as not to alert the other three. Did someone on chat call them ‘The Three Witches of Patchogue’? At 1513, Little Mini is at the beak. Then another fish arrives at 1622, another at 1726, and at 1848. Little Mini was up and ready to eat at 1858. He didn’t get a lot but then another fish shows up at 2031. I thought Mini would go up but he didn’t bother.

0545:

0743:

Little Mini’s crop at 0748. Have a giggle.

This nest needs better rails!

1424 – making his way around the rails.

1729:

1858:

1903. I wold say that Mini did very well in terms of fish today. Mum has been so good to feed him better and thankfully those big siblings are not earlier risers. These parents are amazing. Dad fishes all day and Mum feeds almost all day long.

2018: Still has a crop.

Oh, I hope that this pattern that has been set for a few days continues at Patchogue. Little Mini got the early fish this morning as well. It is fantastic.

0622

0634

0804. Little Mini is getting feathers and has clown feet…oh, joy. Look at that lovely crop.

The Memorial Wall has grown to include 70 birds from the streaming cams now. The latest was Little Benjamin from the Karula Forest Black Stork Nest of Karl II and Kaia. I mentioned this in Thursday’s blog – it must have been heartbreaking as this is the first time Karl II has ever had to do this horrific deed. So many nests are struggling and osplets dying…take a look at that listing for the last two weeks alone! We hope that there is enough food for the five in the family. Send good wishes to this Estonian couple. Black Storks are so rare and everyone has tried to help.

Little Benjamin sitting upright moments before.

Kathryn found another Osprey nest with a trio. This one is at Great Bay, New Hampshire! The chicks hatched on 24 May and the 27th of May – yes the last two on the same day seven and a half hours apart.

Kathryn says there is some submissive behaviour but, in the last image, you can see that all three have big crops!

Here is the link to their camera:

Sunnie Day reports that the Iowa DNR Osplets are doing great.

‘H’ reports on the Forsythe Nest where there are four osplets. Both ‘H’ and I are extremely concerned for Mini who had only 30 bites of food on Thursday and 34 on Friday. This is not enough to sustain life.

At South Cape May Meadows, there is new life. I kept hoping Mum would give us a good look, but no. Sure are a nice looking couple – let’s see how he does with fishing, and she does with feeding!

Oh. surprise. ‘H’ noticed the second hatch this morning at SCMM!

Every time I watch the Boulder County Fairgrounds nest, I start to have palm sweats. Then I am proven wrong…the wee third hatch gets to eat!

Just look at that face! Seriously, osplets can be joyful and enthusiastic when eating fish!

The third hatch at Oyster Bay has a fat little bottom.

Tom and Audrey’s first hatch at Chesapeake Conservancy is a cutie.

The only osplet at the Cowlitz PUD is doing great!

‘A’ looks at Deyani and remarks, “I’m glad we have our exquisite hawklet for at least one more day. Every moment is becoming more precious as the time for fledging grows ever nearer. Will we ever be ready? I doubt it.” Beautiful – and not a bunny will be left on that farm! Deyani has the most beautiful water blue eyes.

Everything seems to be just fine at Severna Park ospreys. Middle is practising some self-feeding. And Big is as big as Mum.

All three at Barnegat Light are either in the Reptile phase or entering it. Fingers crossed for Little Bob. Still tiny and still precarious feeling.

The trio at Dunrovin Ranch in Colorado are big and doing fantastic.

Those two at Jack and Harriet’s nest in Dahlgren are doing great, also. Nice big crops and growing like weeds…and I am not seeing so many toys in that nest now. Thank goodness.

At Loch of the Lowes, Laddie brought in a big fish, and everyone ate including Mum, Blue NC0. Nice.

Idris and Telyn have BIG Bobs…I blinked. Just look at these two.

CJ7 and Blue 022 are such great parents. It has been a joy to watch them raise chicks for the second year.

Those amazing wildlife rehabbers! Two osprey chicks hatched from eggs and fostered. Thanks, Sunnie Day.

HARWICH PORT — 06/14/23 — A couple of osprey chicks await to be re-nested. A couple of osprey chicks were re-nested at Bud’s Go-Karts where there is an existing nest. Wild Care Executive Director and Wildlife Rehabilitator Stephanie Ellis has raised the birds from eggs that were removed by wildlife officials from nests built on chimneys in Osterville and Falmouth. The chicks were placed into surrogate nests along with chicks their same age to be raised by a new set of parents.

MERRILY CASSIDY/CAPE COD TIMES

Thanks Sassa Bird for this joyous story. Bald Eagle parents – more than 30 years old have healthy triplets.

Thank you so much for being with me. I am up and out early, so there could be news I miss. Please send your positive wishes to those struggling, including the little one at Forsythe who seems to be shut out of early fish today. We may lose this baby. Take care, everyone. See you soon!

Thank you to the following for their notes, postings, videos, and streaming cams that helped to make up my blog today: ‘A, H, Kathryn’, NoAA, Albatross and Petrel Agreement, ABUN, Lady Hawk and NZ DOC, Sassa Bird and the AEF, PSEG, Eagle Club of Estonia, Great Bay Ospreys, Sunnie Day and the Iowa DNR, Forsythe ospreys, SCMM, Boulder County Fairgrounds, Chesapeake Conservancy, Cowlitz PUD Window to Wildlife, Severna Park, Barnegat Light, Dunrovin Ranch, Dahlgren Ospresy LOTL, Dyfi Ospreys, Poole Harbour Ospreys, Sunnie Day and Harwich Point, and Sassa Bird and Alaska Rain.

Too much news…Thursday in Bird World

15 June 2023

Good Morning Everyone!

The inbox was bulging with happiness as each of you watched Little Mini at Patchogue eat its heart out Wednesday morning. My goodness, that little one even went back for seconds! More on Mini, later, but suffice it to say it made my day on Wednesday just a wee bit better.

The wildfire smoke is somewhat gone, the air outside is a little cleaner, and the skies are clear in southern Manitoba. There is no sign of the Blue Jay fledgling in the garden Tuesday evening, but I will check again as it gets late. Maybe. What a joy that little one was to observe! And the parents, too, keep a close watch. Overhead, at least 150 Canada Geese headed north to find space, food, and cooler temperatures. They might find some of this smoke from the burning fires. These are the ones without families to care for – so many, and this is not the first chevron of geese going over in the last week. So many without families this year. It is worrisome.

On Monday the 16th, I will be travelling north to do a Bald Eagle nest count. I hope to have some good images of wildlife for you on Tuesday. Today I am going to Delta Marsh on the southern tip of Lake Manitoba to see if I can find some shorebirds! Wish me luck. I will be out all day so hopefully, Little Mini will be persistent and get some nice fish.

Lewis was growling at the rain at couple of days ago.

Today he decided to play with his piece of Honeysuckle branch.

Missey just wants to remind everyone that she is ‘sweet’.

Both kittens remind everyone that planting a tree to remember someone or some pet is good for the environment!

Lewis and Missey also remind us that if you are doing some late spring cleaning, see if there is anything you have and don’t need that your local wildlife rehab clinic could use. It is incredible the things they need – check their wish lists and then also think of power tools to help build and repair buildings and fences. Anyone die recently leaving a lot of tools? Find out if the rehab can use them. What a lovely way to remember a loved one by donating to a good cause.

Wednesday turned out to be a mixed blessing day. We might as well start with the ‘good’ before I throw in a little of the sadness.

‘H’ reports that the Dahlgren Osprey platform and its osplets are doing fantastic. You can see the age difference in the plumage…this is good news.

It is day 41 for the second egg at Kent Island. I wonder if that one is unviable as well.

The other nests that ‘H’ has been monitoring are all doing well and she hopes that there are no turn arounds on them! Me, too.

Severna Park: Oh, we worried about Middle after we lost Little to siblicide but, things continue to go well. Middle is older and bigger and the pair are eating side by side. ‘H’ reports that fish are plentiful.

‘H’ reports that the Barnegat Light feeding 0944 to 1006:  The feeding was peaceful eating side by side until, at 0955 Big beaked and bit Little.  Little was able to return at 1001 and ate beside Big.  Total bites for Little = 60. (I hope this nest won’t go sour now, like so many others that started out peacefully).” We wait and see. Send good wishes..that Big one is rather vicious. Let them make it out of the reptile stage!

At the Cape May Osprey nest, it is day 38 for egg one and ‘H’ says we are on pip watch.

I spent the day checking on some nests that I monitor but do not often report on – or a few even that have fallen through the cracks for one reason or another. At the Collins Marsh nest in Wisconsin, there are three osplets for what I believe to be new adults at the osprey platform near the local nature centre. This nest is very difficult to watch as fish are not always plentiful – at all! Malin, the only surviving osplet, force fledged in 2021. I criticised the local caretaker consistently because help was not at hand and the little one died on the ground. There is a new person at the nature centre. I hope if there are issues they will get out and look for those babies on the ground! The nest is on top of a fire tower that was moved. There is no perch and access to the desk would be difficult (or so I was told by the last caretaker – I don’t believe it!).

No chicks yet at Fortis Exshaw near Canmore, Alberta. You can see the fires burning in the distance. It was raining when I checked in. That is good…no chicks! Bad for little ones.

What you are seeing below is the Marsh Meadows osprey platform in Jamestown, Rhode Island. It is one of several nests on Conanicut Island. The three eggs hatched on May 29, 29, and 1 June. By the 7th of June, all three chicks were dead. Was it starvation by parental neglect? or was it starvation through mitigating circumstances – male was missing?

Both adults were on the nest this morning so, since the male is not missing (so he did not die of Avian Flu as suggested on 7 June), did the chicks die of starvation from inexperienced parents?

Bay and Beau’s two little osplets at Island Beach are doing well.

The three at Wolf Bay, Alabama are thriving. Gosh, look at those three big osplets!

The three at Oyster Bay should be getting along but, there is often beaking.

Dad delivering a fish to the Oceanside, NY, Osprey platform.

Two chicks at Seaside. So far so good.

‘H’ reports that both of the Patuxent River Park Osprey nests have osplets that are full and civil!

I just caught the Dad at Patuxent II bringing in a monster of a fish at 2002. Wow.

Oh, just sit down and cry – joyful tears. It really is OK. Newmann is feeding his peregrine falcon babies. Their Mum, Savanna was killed protecting her nest from a GHO. Newmann has called Savanna and called her and is now taking full responsibility for their last chicks together.

Dale Hollow DH17 has been caught on cam and appears to be doing quite well. River has a new mate (or so it appears). Only time will tell if she rebuilds at the original nest she shared with her partner, Obey, who disappeared this spring.

Bonus and Waba are on the move (slightly).

Now, let’s take a look at Little Mini at Patchogue. Is the saying ‘The Early Bird gets the fish’ applicable? Mini did well for when the Big ones were sleeping. That early fish that landed on the nest at 0536 was a bonus. Little Mini ate, then the Bigs woke up, and by 0639 Little Mini decided he would go back to the table for seconds. He finished eating at 0652. Mini got some from the 0846 delivery between 0908 and 0912. He had nothing from the 1526 delivery. He was in submission. At 1537 two of the Big siblings are having a tug o war with the fish. Then it rains. During some of this time Little Mini seems to be shoved down and around. Parents are trying to encourage self-feeding amongst the big siblings. This may or may not be an issue for Mini. If he can get those early feeds, he is OK.

According to someone on the chat there are three lakes nearby and 2 creeks connected to the bay. Should be lots of good fishing.

0540

0639 Up for seconds.

0652. Full. Leaving the table for the second time.

0912. Enjoying a meal. How does it feel to go hungry and see all the other siblings fed. I hope Little Mini feels full and alive this morning!

Later…after ‘they’ wake up. LOL.

1536. Mini shut out.

1537. Tug o war for the fish.

Fish – teasers and big fish – land at the Patchogue nest after the rain and all the time that big chunk of fish is still on the nest. Mini is quick to take opportunities when the Big ones show no interest. Mum feeds a small live fish at 1723 and then moves to the big chunk left at 1736. Mini rushes and is at the beak at 1737 . He ate until 1751ish. Then another big fish comes on the nest at 1800. Mini is right there – two big pieces of fish. He starts getting fed at 1802 and is moved out of the way at 1830. We should really see some growth in Mini by Friday with all this fish.

Smart Mini. He is filling his crop and then dropping it so he can hold more fish. I hope Mum has a good look at this persistent third hatch. It reminds me of Tiny Tot Tumbles from Achieva or Blue 464 from Foulshaw Moss. A Survivor.

Mini had a really good day and he is going to sleep well tonight. Happy Osplet dreams, Mini.

Mini was up and had an enormous crop Thursday morning…way to go Mini! Dad came through at Patchogue with three large fish by 0959.

Speaking of the Foulshaw Moss nest, White YW and Blue 35 have three osplets again this year.

At the Boulder County Fairgrounds, a team feeding by the adults really helped the third hatch, Little, who has been beaked and shut out from most feedings. This nest is still problematic…and each pulls at our heart.

After…this little guy is really struggling. Send your best wishes that they team up to feed the chicks until Little is old enough to hold its own.

At the SWFlorida Eagle nest, M15 visits. Unclear if E22 is still around. Not seen at the nest for a couple of days. M15 will not leave the area until E22 is known to be gone. M15 has taken his parental duties very seriously since Harriet went missing in early February. Thanks Vijay!

The Ms are well…growing up on Big Red and Arthur’s nest. Fledge watch is what? a week away? They may be big but, when the rain came they all wanted under Mum! Oak leaves. Across Tower Road there are Oak Trees. Big Red likes her chicks, when they fledge, to fly to those trees. The eyases have imprinted everything from the type of prey that is safe to eat to now these leaves. (The pine is for insects).

Big Red’s E3 was out doing an educational visit today.

Murphy is enjoying the life of a single foster dad now…it is quiet and no one takes his food!

There is now only one eaglet in the Estonia hybrid eagle nest. ‘T’ explains: “Good news in Estonia is that the baby hatched in the nest of Greater and Lesser Spotted eagles. There are not enough Greater Spotted eagles, and many of them are lost during their massive European-African migration. They create mixed couples. This nest, in Harju County, Estonia, was the nest of male Tõnn, who used this nest since 2016. Sadly, Tõnn, did not return from Spain in 2020. We don’t know what happened to him.”

Here the chick is taking a mouse form one of the adults.

‘T’ writes that the Russian Ornithologist “Michail Korepov went to the National Park “Sengileevskiye Gory” to check the breeding situation of large raptors. So this year, they found 12 white tail eaglets, 6 owlets and 2 Imperial eaglets – they are growing up in the national park! And the number is not including 2 chicks of Altyn and Altynay.” Very good news on trying to increase the population of these critically endangered raptors for the area.

‘A’ has been keeping an eye on Deyani and writes, “Meanwhile, there are either storms on the way or Angel is having a sudden burst of empty nest syndrome at the thought of Deyani fledging, because at 7.30pm, Deyani has an OBSCENE crop and the nest is FULL of prey. A rabbit, a vole and something unrecognisable are literally filling the nest bowl. I have NEVER seen this on this nest. Any food that arrives is dealt with in seconds by Deyani and nestovers are non-existent. But not tonight. Angel is attempting to tempt Deyani, who is taking the occasional small mouthful from her, but essentially, mum and daughter are standing side by side at the back of the nest, surveying the smorgasbord spread out at their feet. Deyani is going to have to find an appetite if she is to sleep on that nest tonight. It is just after 9.30am here in Melbourne, and it is another cold day. Sunny thus far, but that will change apparently.”

Baby bunnies. They seem to have cleared out an entire nest! Oh, dear.

‘H’ reports that Mini at the Forsythe Nest had only 30 bites on Wednesday. It is, as she says ‘feast or famine’ for this little one.

The third hatch at the Evergy Topeka Falcon scrape still has feather issues. The feathers have grown but have not broken the shaft and it is having difficulty jumping up to the ledge of the scrape to get food.

Will be sending a note to Evergy. The little one tried to jump up to the perch so it could have prey but failed…

Everything about Peregrine Falcons in a nutshell:

Peregrine-biology-natural-historyDownload

Just look who has returned to the Cal Falcons scrape!

Doug Gillard reports on the little Red-tail hawk, Tuffy, let that has survived in the Bald Eagle Nest with his foster sibling, Lola.

Kathryn reports that one of the goshawks in Estonia has branched. She adds, “I have somehow watched this nest since the eggs were laid and I thought none of them would hatch since they were left out in the cold so often! But look at them now!” Beautiful hawks.

At the Black Kite nest in the Kurzeme Forest, the only chick of Gold and Griegis is doing well.

Dulles-Greenway gives us an update on Pat, the eaglet of Rosa and Martin, that is in care.

Meanwhile, Pi and Flora are being fed by the adults in the wetlands.

Each of us needs to know that what we do matters. We can change the lives of our raptors, but we have to take action. Sometimes it is simply ‘baby steps’ towards our goal, but each success will lead to another. We must realise and inform others that the fate of our wildlife, our beloved raptors depends on us because most of their challenges are human-caused.

Thank you to everyone for being with me today. Please take care. See you soon.

Thank you to the following for their notes, videos, posts, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog today: ‘A, Geemeff, H, Kathryn, T’, Dahlgren Ospreys, Severna Park Ospreys, Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ, Collins Marsh Ospreys, Fortis Exshaw, Marsh Meadows, island Beach Ospreys, Wolf Bay Ospreys, PSEG, Oceanside Ospreys, Seaside ospreys, Patuxent River Part Ospreys, Lachelle Koestert and Peregrine Falcons at Great Spirit Bluff, Aliengirl and Bale Eagle Live Nests and Cams, Maria Marika FB, Cumbria Wildlife Trust, Boulder County Fairgrounds Ospreys, SW Florida Eagle Cam, Vijay and SW Florida Eagle Cam, Cornell RTH, Cornell Cam Chatters, World Bird Sanctuary, Eagle Club of Estonia, Looduskalender Forum, Window to Wildlife, Evergy Topeka Falcon Cam, SK Hideaways and Cal Falcons, Canadian Peregrine Falcon Foundation, Doug Gillard and Nor Cal Birding, Latvian Fund for Nature, Dulles-Greenaway and Forstythe Ospreys.

Tuesday in Bird World

6 June 2023

Good Morning Everyone,

The humidex in Winnipeg, Manitoba was 38 degrees C. The temperature on the deck was 39 C at one time in the afternoon – not sure what that does to the figures the weather station is releasing. It is simply hot. There is little movement in the garden – some sparrows flitting in and out to get in the shade and eat some seed. No squirrels. No Blue Jays. No Crows. Not even a single feral cat. It is clearly not the time of day – afternoon – to be going out to check on ducklings and goslings. Someone sent me this photo. Sadly I do not know who took it but it is supposed to be goslings in our City crossing the asphalt. My gosh…those poor feet. Asphalt gets super hot in this heat.

Around 1900 a much anticipated five-minute downpour will make everything more humid, but it was so heavy the plants will appreciate the moisture!

The garden has been virtually empty. A few House Sparrows, a couple of squirrels came out around 1700 and a single Blue Jay. The heat impacts all of us even if there is fresh water and food waiting.

I am finishing off the newsletter for Tuesday late Monday but will check through my mail for any news and on a few of the nests…it is convocation for the granddaughter tomorrow morning. A nice day to celebrate and take the gang for a lunch before our lives return to normal.

On the radar! I am astounded when anyone takes a saw to a tree during breeding season. Every country should regulate the cutting down of trees and that means small ones, too that have nests of song birds. Mr Woodpecker no longer comes to the feeder because my neighbour cut down the ‘dead tree’. Gracious. It could have waited. Woodpeckers love dead trees – and this person even feeds the birds.

Oh, don’t we love those times when the Eagles take the little RTHs for lunch and wind up raising them as their own. I am sure you have all seen the nest that is now raising two RT hawklets. Precious. Look at its big sibling! Bald Eagle parents are doing well with these two…so interesting.

I have been watching the Patchogue nest closely as well as Loch of the Lowes. Laddie LM12 has not been seen since he brought in a small goldfish Sunday evening. The chicks are hungry and I am wondering if Blue NC0 will go and fish. She is a good fisher but her hormones are still in the brooding stage. Something has been going sideways at this nest and it could be intruders. No fish all day on Monday. Send your warm wishes.

Here is the weekly report from The Scottish Wildlife Trust on LOTL. Gives some good insight into how well the nest was doing and now another hiccup.

Osprey-Diary-at-Loch-of-the-Lowes-Week-11-Scottish-Wildlife-TrustDownload

At the Glacier Gardens nest of Liberty and Freedom, little Hope is growing.

There is growing concern that the male, A59, at the Duke Farms Bald Eagle nest is missing and presumed injured or deceased. He was banded in NJ in 2000 making him 23 years old.

That sweet little eaglet at the Decorah Hatchery nest in Iowa is grown into a beautiful eaglet waiting for its turn to fly.

The Patchogue Osprey platform sponsored by PSEG on Long Island continues to astound me. That said, I want to say that this nest could turn. Mini was shut out of the last two feedings on Monday evening – at 1801 and 2022 because Big attacked.

Mini was eating at 0900, eating again at 1106 and had an enormous crop from a fish delivered around noon – which he was fed for approximately 30 minutes! When you have a male that delivers fish almost every 2 hours that are a good size with no visible intruders – wow…even a tiny fourth hatch has hope. And so should we even if Big, on occasion, rears its head.

1230. Most of the fish remains – Mini has a huge -huge -crop and Mum will get some nice fish, too.

Siesta time.

Right now Mini is doing just fine. The Dad is a Daddy Door Dash with those fish. Mini had several private feedings once the big ones were full. Around 1426 one of the Big ones ‘looked’ at Mini and I wondered but Mini stayed fixed by the fish. It was mostly gone when it was his turn but he did get some and then at 15:17ish Dad hauls in another big one. Mini is eating at 1542 and has a crop, still fish…what a nest!

Mini is going to look ‘thin’ – he is eating. It is the stage of development the little one is in. He is growing like a bad weed, thankfully. Those wings are more than twice the size they were a week ago. Still tiny compared to the big siblings but if these parents can keep this up – well, Mini…you just might helicopter and fly!

1425:

1428:

1542

Big intimidating Mini. He has to walk over…this is not good. The rule is: Never look the older sibling directly in the eyes. It sets them off. You can see that Mini has a crop from the earlier feedings. Right now, all is good. He has eaten, and crop dropped and eaten some more—one day on this nest, one day at a time.

Middle was having a rough time of it at the Severna Osprey nest on Monday. Big reminds me of Zoe because she can just consume fish like she is Dyson the squirrel sucking it up and never getting full. Middle finally did get some morsels around 1504. If another fish would come on quickly, a big one, he could get some more food…this nest is like night and day to Patchogue where the osplets top eating when they re full and the others can get some fish.

‘H’ notes that Middle got a few bites at another feeding. Middle will be very hungry today. let us hope that the fish start returning to this nest.

Things are just fine at the Outerbanks 24/7 nest. Everyone gets fed.

Still looking alright at Cowlitz PUD.

It is hard to say what is happening at Oyster Bay PSEG because Mum loves to block the view when a fish is delivered. Babies are tiny and she gets back to brooding them right away. Temperature at the nest is 65 F.

The two tiny osplets at Seaside appear to be doing alright. Lots of heat shimmer coming on that camera.

All appears well with Duke and Daisy at Barnegat Light in NJ.

‘R’ sent me the forecast for Florida and there is no rain predicted for the St Petersburg and the Achieva Nest. It has to be dire there with the drought. Big and Middle waiting on the nest for a delivery…waiting and waiting. Will the osprey have to migrate north if the droughts in Florida continue along the SW coast?

Blue 022 watches his chicks as CJ7 feeds them.

Lots of fish and fat little Bobs at the Dyfi Osprey nest in Wales of Idris and Telyn.

Aran is an excellent provider. The two little Bobs are doing well for his first season with new mate, Elen.

Louis has been breaking all manner of breakfast fish arrival records for Dorcha and their Only Bob at Loch Arkaig.

As the sun sets in western Scotland, Louis has another fish on the nest just in case anyone is famished.

Dorcha was hit by the Tawny owl last night. The osplet is alright! Thanks Geemeff.

We always need a giggle…this time it is thanks to Richmond at the SF Whirley crane nest he shares with Rosie.

Blinked and the Llyn Clywedog Bobs grew up! What a beautiful place to hatch and a reservoir that gets stocked with 40,000 fish every year.

Lou and Annie tried to have some private time but…they got interrupted.

Both Hartley and Monty delivered prey to a very loud eyas! What a crop. Now smile. This scrape has had a complete turnaround. That is Monty’s shadow with Hartley feeding the chick.

If someone tells me that they are absolutely 100% certain that the third hatch at the Evergy Topeka Falcon Cam is ‘healthy’, I will scream.

The feather development is entirely delayed. Will the feathers coming in caught in the sheaths ever break loose? Will the eyas get help if they don’t.

Lots of chatter about who is feeding Dale Hollow 17. It does look like a male that showed up after Obey disappeared has been providing fish. At the end of the day, it is just good that this eaglet is eating well. Hopefully River will have another mate. Maybe she will rebuild this nest, maybe not. DH17 looks good.

Black storks growing big and strong.

The Dulles-Greenway Bald Eagle nest of Martin and Rosa has completely collapsed. It fell down completely during a food delivery to Flora who slipped and fell and took it down with her. She could be heard. Parents are calling her. She has fledged. Send good wishes.

The Audubon Centre for Birds of Prey continues to take in raptors caught in glue traps. This post explains what must be done to release the poor birds caught in these traps – the behind-the-scenes work that the rehabbers do—thinking of a donation? How about a case of Dawn?

Ospreys like nests with a clear view – on top of dead trees, on power poles, on light stands. They have adapted to humans taking over their territory. Sunnie Day posted a great article on a solution to the issue of nests on lighting platforms. Have a look! I think a lot of places and, in particular, ball parks and university athletic fields, could learn from this story.

Supporting-the-Citys-Osprey-Nests-ParkwaysDownload

Thank you so much for being with me today. Take care all – continue to send your best wishes off to all the birds. Nests are like being on a carnival ride this year – joy, fear, up and down and sideways. See you soon!

Thank you to the following for their notes, videos, posts, and streaming cams that helped to make up my newsletter today: ‘H’,Geemeff, ‘R’, ‘SP’, Sydney Wells and Bald Eagles 101, Nick Beres NC5, LOTL, The Scottish Wildlife Trust, Glacier Gardens, Raptor Resource Project and Explore.org, PSEG, Severna Ospreys, Outerbanks 24/7, Cowlitz PUD, Seaside ospreys, Barnegat Light and Conservancy Wildlife of NJ, Tampa Bay 168 Hour Forecast, Achieva Credit Union, Poole Harbour Ospreys, Dyfi Osprey Project, Bywyd Gwyllt Glaslyn, Friends of Loch Arkaig and the Woodland Trust, Geemeff and Friends of Lock Arkaig and the Woodland Trust, SF Bay Ospreys, CarnyXWild, SK Hideaways and Cal Falcons, SK Hideaways and San Jose City Hall Falcons, DHEC, Maria Marika and Black Stork Ciconia Nigra FB, Dulles-Greenway Bald Eagle Nest, Audubon Centre for Birds of Prey, and Seattle Parks and Recreation.

Friday in Bird World

2 June 2023

Good Morning Everyone!

It has been one of those weeks. Thankfully, it is ‘baby’ season and an excellent reason to get out amongst the ducks and the geese and count the newly hatched. Three duck mamas were quacking away, trying to keep the little ones together. It was hilarious. Those ducklings are so fast, darting hither and yon, enough that Mum just can’t keep track of them. It was adorable. I could see no goslings – yet. Not at this park, but there were 9 male Wood Ducks and not one female in sight. Perhaps they were on the island incubating eggs. At any rate, it was lovely. The day’s heat had cooled, people were smiling, and everyone seemed to want to chat.

As Father’s Day nears, I am eternally grateful that mine taught me the beauty of nature, the happiness of sitting quietly in the garden, that feeling of joy when a Cardinal lands on your upturned hand and takes a seed but, most of all, a responsibility to make the lives of animals and birds better, if I could. He helped me connect to nature and to something far bigger than myself.

‘H’ sent me a link to a TED talk this morning. She knows me well – I get very upset when humans on chats apologise for ‘anthropomorphising’ animal feelings. She knows I am a big follower of Marc Bekoff at the University of Colorado and Jane Goodall and their studies of animals and emotions. She knows that I watch adult raptors grieve when their children die. So she sent me a talk by Ron Magill. Some know Ron Magill as ‘the Eagle Guy’ from the Miami Zoo. The nest that Ron and Rose have was the brainchild of Magill. But, he is more than just eagles, and in this 18-minute talk (please listen to all of it as you will miss the best parts if you don’t!), he tells us the story of Quasi, an orphan lion cub at the Miami Zoo. Keep the link. When anyone on a chat tells you animals don’t have feelings – don’t get mad; educate them! Thanks, ‘H’.

How many Osprey nests had four eggs and four hatches? Blue 80 over at Threave Castle has four in the nest, too. It will be interesting to see how that plays out compared to the US nests. For awhile, the monitors of this nest (there is no streaming cam) thought there to be only three but up popped the fourth head. So far so good.

Yesterday, I said that “If there is a nest that gives me hope, it is Patchogue on Long Island.” Thursday was a pretty good day for Mini so let’s go through it.

This Mini-Bob has attitude! Please look at it below with those three enormous siblings lined up behind it. Mum looks down directly into its eyes. She is good to feed that baby if it gets its beak up close to hers. This Mini has to be a female…oh, how I wish we would know for sure.

Four osplets, one little Mini – and yet so civil. Fish come on the nest – nice ones – every couple of hours and the kids line up and eat if they are hungry. Mini was right up there at 1507 and was still going strong until he was so full – and hot – and got under Mum’s tail for shade at 1531.

I want to give a shout out to this great Dad who just keeps bringing in the fish! I did not count the number today but it certainly makes a difference when you have a nest with chicks spread like this one…just monster sized big siblings and there, in the centre of the nest, Mini – who is just starting to get into the Reptilian phase.

‘L’ writes that a delivery at 1600- a small gold fish – resulted in Little Bob being a little aggressive to Tiny – who did not get any food then.

Dad just delivers fishing – Daddy Door Dash Supreme. He should get some 5 star rating in TripAdvisor! A late fish came on the nest and I could not find Mini. Well, he was right up on the right side of Mum and he did get fed. Mini did not have a huge crop – or he did a crop drop which could have happened – but he did get fed for a period of time (about 15 minutes). I am astonished by this baby on this nest of ‘huge’ siblings.

At the 0930 delivery, Mini did not get any fish. And now I am beginning to worry about Mini’s survival. The big siblings are now bashing one another. Mini got up to the beak and could have eaten but was submissive. He should have snatched those few bites…they all add up. So this nest is far from being out of the woods. A s the three larger siblings grow and require more food, it might be impossible for Mini to get up there. Let us wait and see if he can figure this out.

At the Severna nest, a big fish came on the nest at 10:08:37. Big already had a huge crop from an earlier fish but, she still had to get up front. By 10:33 Middle is eating having previously moved up under Mum’s tail. Middle is still eating at 10:49!

At 16:31, a massive fish comes on the nest. It is big enough to feed both chicks and Mum to the brim!

Big will go first regardless of its already huge crop – Middle still has a crop from an earlier feed, too.

By 1654 Middle has positioned himself on the opposite of Mum and is getting fish. This chick has come a long way in figuring out how to survive on this nest! Bravo Middle.

At the Forsythe nest of Opal and Oscar, Oscar keeps bringing on the fish just like the male at Patchogue. Little Mini is right up there eating. All appears to be well with the world here with so many deliveries on Thursday.

This is Mini getting fed, not Little! Mini is stretching its neck to make it really long.

‘H’ notes the following times at Forsythe: “Forsythe:  1052 feeding, Mini in the back, got two bites (smallish fish).  No bonking.  1225 feeding, Mini worked its way up to the front and got at least 32 bites, again it was peaceful. There was a pretty significant beaking match between the two oldest at around 0929, but not at a feeding.”

No bullying at the Dahlgren Osprey nest. The two are both enjoying being side by side eating fish.

There are two osplets for Duke and Daisy at the Barnegat Light Osprey platform on Thursday! Thanks ‘H’.

So far the only Bob at Cowlitz PUD is doing fine…perhaps the other two eggs will be DNH.

The team at Patuxent River Park went to Nest 1 and removed the youngest osplet, and fostered it with another family. They did not, however, go to Patuxent II where it is believed that Mini died at least a day ago.

The eyas at the San Jose City Hall continues to do well. ‘M’ asked me about the shiny black area on the crop. This is nothing to worry about. The crop gets full, the chick goes into food coma and rolls on the stones/gravel of the nest rubbing the feathers off. Those will grow in and be beautiful before fledge!

The eyas at the Evergy Topeka Falcon Cam is getting some more feathers. Notice, however, that the wing and contour feathers have not broken out of the quills. ‘SP’ contacted the administrators of the nest about the condition of Little, and she was delighted with this response: “I have been in contact with our wildlife biologist . We’ll be banding the chicks on Friday and wildlife personnel will check on the viability of the smaller bird. If it needs to be rehabbed or needs any special attention, we’ll learn that on Friday and ensure that it gets the help it needs.” Now that is the kind of response we want from those in charge of these streaming cams. This is fantastic news.

Checking on some Canadian Osprey nests. There are three eggs at Newfoundland Power. If it is a typical year, there will be no fledges. I hope it isn’t for a change.

At Osoyoos, Soo and Olsen laid their eggs on the 21, 23, and 25th of May so we have a ways to go til fledge.

Fortis Exshaw has had to endure much smoke from the wildfires. Eggs laid on May 9, 12, and 15.

The Dulles-Greenway trio have been named!

At the UK, nests there is often all manner of information available. For example, look at this fish delivery table for Llyn Clywedog! Dylan does not quite double his deliveries from last year but, almost.

When asked where the fish came from, this was Alastair’s reply. Please note the amount of fish that are put in the Reservoir each year. Imagine how that might impact some of the US nests positively!

Alastair Cameron: “based on observations by John Williams the perch seem to come from the shallower “fingers” of the reservoir as it merges into smaller gulleys at the edge of the reservoir. Dylan certainly seems to go to perch when the weather is wet (perhaps easier to see when there is rain on the surface) or hot, when the trout are swimming deeper. John has also observed that at least some of the brown trout seem to come from another reservoir called Nant y Moch, a few kilometers away. Llyn Clywedog Trout fishery stock the reservoir with around 40,000 trout per year, mainly rainbows but some browns as well.”

It is difficult to image – my goodness do you ever wonder where time goes? – but the eldest osplet on the Dyfi nest of Idris and Telyn is now turning into a reptile. The soft downy is gone from the back of its head and that oil spot is starting to come!

Elen and Aran seem to be doing fine. the wee Bobs got covered with grasses and Aran spent some time uncovering them while Elen had her tea.

Louis and Dorcha’s only Bob having some fish supper before the sun goes down at Loch Arkaig. Some are ‘hearing’ chupping from the second egg. Could we really have another hatch? I doubt it.

CJ7 was busy feeding her two Bobs at Poole Harbour before dusk as well..fill them up and maybe they won’t wiggle all night! gosh, these Mums must get tired…and by morning, CJ7 and Blue 022 had their third!

Geemeff brings us Scottish Osprey nest real estate news. Louis’s old nest at Loch Arkaig is currently occupied by Affric & Prince. The couple keep returning to Nest One, and even had two mating attempts there last night. No idea why their own nest failed, but this one’s available and we’d love to have a resident pair again.” That is fantastic news. Louis is busy with Dorcha and the Only Bob at nest 2 so, perhaps, he will give this couple a lease!

There has also been a hatch at Kielder Forest, nest 5A. Mr and Mrs UV.

What about Angel and Tom’s little RTH5? ‘A’ gave me a big giggle – which one needs after some of the nest sadness, when she told me, “I woke up this morning (it is 9am) and immediately checked my darling Angel and RTH5 and suddenly, there was this strange hawk in the nest. It stands up all the time and looks upwards instead of down. It swallows voles, mice, birds, lizards and every other small thing that moves. It had six feedings before noon today, and then continued on eating in the late afternoon. It just eats and eats and eats. I had no idea a RTH could consume so much in such a short time. They are hunting and eating machines (or at least RTH5 is insatiable). She (I do think we may have a female here, though it is still too early to tell, and the hawklet is still way smaller than mum, but I wonder about the sturdy legs) is even more adorable.” 

We could say the same for Big Red and Arthur’s Ms…simply adorable. Walking eating cutie pie machines. The advantage that Big Red’s kids have is the long ‘runway’ for them to strengthen their legs and wings.

Wetlands are one of the most important aspects of biodiversity. We are seeing them destroyed around the world and yet, they might hold part of the secret for revitalising our planet. Around the world, these wetlands are under attack by industry wanting mining and now a huge area near Lake Victoria could fall to agricultural development. The area is the largest wetlands in Kenya, Yala Swamp. What are humans thinking? and why are there individuals who are not trying to fix our relationship with nature instead of harming it?

Irreplaceable-Kenyas-Yala-swamp-complex-BirdLife-InternationalDownload

Not a great image – really cropped – but look at Murphy’s Baby flapping its big wings! Smile. Murphy and Baby doing fine. Nest not so much!

Thank you so much for being with me today. Please take care. See you soon.

I am very grateful to the following individuals and groups for their notes, posts, videos, tweets, and streaming cams that helped to make up the information in my blog today: ‘A’, ‘H’, Geemeff, ‘L’, ‘M’, ‘SP’, TED Talks, PSEG, Severna ospreys, Forsythe Ospreys, Dahlgren Ospreys, new Jersey Conservancy, Cowlitz PUD, Patuxent River Park, San Jose City Hall Falcons, Everay Topeka Falcon Cam, Newfoundland Power, Osoyoos, Fortis Exshaw, Dulles Greenway, Alastair Cameron and Llyn Clywedog Osprey Group, Window to Wildlife, Cornell RTH, Birdlife International, Dyfi Osprey Project, Bywyd Gwylld Glaslyn, Friends of Loch Arkaig and the Woodland Trust, Poole Harbour Ospreys, and World Bird Sanctuary.

The Ospreys are Hatching…Monday Morning in Bird World

22 May 2023

Good Morning Everyone,

I continue to brag about my little garden ‘for the birds’ but, today, once again, there were more species there than at the nature centre! The wilding of the space continues to bring the migrating birds into the garden to eat and rest. There is a new book by Isabella Tree, who took land at Knepp Farm in the south of England and wilded it…this one is called The Book of Wilding. There are some chapters devoted to helping urbanites wild their spaces. It was just released and is on its way from the UK. I will let you know about it when it arrives!

Gosh..good news is always welcome and on Sunday, the good news is that River was at the nest delivering a fish to DH17. The bad news is that DH17 mantled and River could not get the fish to her only surviving eaglet. What remains of the nest is too small for her to land. Let us all hope that 17 will follow River from the nest to a place where she can feed it! So happy she is alright. Dale Hollow has had enough drama this season.

Both eaglets have fledged at Duke Farms! Big flew first and soon after Middle followed. Congratulations to Duke Farms on another fantastic eagle season.

Dylan and Seren have their second hatch at Llyn Clywedgog, just around 0600 on Monday the 22nd.

First hatch for White YW and Blue 35 at Foulshaw Moss in Cumbria this morning…oh, folks, it is beginning to happen..hatches everywhere!

Kathryn reports that Carthage TN has its first hatch of the season. Dad was there for the big event! Thanks, K. Looks like 0724 Monday the 22nd. Congratulations everyone.

‘H’ found a lovely tribute to the NE Florida nest of Samson, Gabby, and V3. Most of us know that Gabby migrates. Let us hope she returns in September, as usual, along with V3 for a new chapter at the nest.

Since his fledge, Victor Victoria has been working its wings. On Sunday morning, s/he took an earlier flight. On his return, Abby was so excited and cutely greeted him! Abby also kept her eye on Victor when he was flying, following his every move on his short spin around the nest. This is an excellent way for Victor to get his muscles strengthened.

Victor hit the fish jackpot. Abby was away and two fish came to the nest one right after the other. S/he ate them all! Times 1527 and 1535! Victor was still eating an hour later!

Dahlgren’s first hatch is looking good. On pip watch tomorrow for the second egg.

Angel and RTH5 had a nice early meal on Sunday. This nest really turned around after its very tragic start this season.

Another glorious day at the nest of Big Red and Arthur in Ithaca, New York on the grounds of the Cornell Campus.

Arthur makes a delivery and takes time to admire his babies. He will be very busy with flying and hunting training once they fledge, too.

A hatch at the Dyfi Osprey nest of Idris and Telyn always gets me excited. Soon!!!!!!! Someone has a sense of humour. And it is Telyn’s 10th birthday today…all the best Blue 3J!

Here you are as a little chick..in the middle, the only girl that year. Look at those strong legs.

Another safe night at Lake Murray! There were two fish deliveries on Sunday. The first was at 0813 and the second was a really large fish at 1606.

Lucy sleeping with and protecting C2 Sunday night.

All appears to be going well for Blue 33 and Maya at the Rutland Osprey platform. I was a little worried about Little Bob but it is getting some fish and they appear to be eating and eating and eating thanks to Blue’s fishing.

Oh, they are cute…those two babies of Laddie’s and Blue NC0s. Laddie brought in a fish right before dusk and all ate..

A really good summary from the Woodland Trust on the first week plus at LOTL:

Osprey-Diary-at-the-Loch-of-the-Lowes-Week-9-Scottish-Wildlife-Trust-1Download

Dylan and Seren’s little one is looking so sweet. It will also figure out how to get that fish just like Monty and Hartley’s eyas will.

I have not checked on the Dulles-Greenway trio in awhile…talk about beautiful eaglets. Martin and Rosa must be very proud!

SS6 at the US Steel Nest in Pittsburgh is also doing well. You can still see some quills from that need to break off on the tail.

Our heartbeat E22 is still at the nest. Lady Hawk caught her activities on Sunday for us. How special. Every day is precious…it could be the last. I sure hope not! Might we wish E22 would hang around? Why not? There is no female thinking of the next breeding season…OK. I am daydreaming but…

‘R’ has been watching the Achieva Osprey platform closely. We have both been very concerned about the drought and any impact it could have on the fishing for Jack and Diane and, of course, the effect on the osplets. Here is a map of the drought.

The location of the nest is circled in blue on the following map. You can see some of the water features where Diane and Jack might be fishing – but, at the same time, facing huge competition or former areas where the water could now be dry.

Achieva-St.-PeteDownload

Diane came in with one of her big cat fish at 1709 on Sunday. There was an initial tug-o-war between Big and Mum but the fish is large enough for all three.

They see Mum coming.

Eventually, everyone eats! The ‘wad’ of black material on the nest is worrisome.

18:59. They are still working on that fish.

The first hatch at Alyth for the season.

Murphy’s eaglet has finished growing. He will not work on strengthening his muscles while all the feathers finally grow in. Aren’t they adorable?

There are four at Patchogue!

Iris had a young male visitor – Lupine, 2020 hatchling. He has a wire transmitters and they were able to match the bird with the ring information. Iris did not sound an alert and Louis did not come. How interesting.

Cal Falcons. I must admit that any stomach acid I might have does not act up when I watch falcons and hawklets. They get fed. Rarely does anything happen. They are adorable. They grow faster than ospreys and eaglets and fledge earlier. I mean the eyes of a little Peregrine Falcon could swoon the most cold hearted.

We know about the legendary speeds of the Peregrines but it is also their remarkable eyesight which is considered to be 10x that of humans. For a comparison, Wedge-tailed Eagles, the largest raptor in Australia, have eyesight 2x that of humans. You can see how extraordinary the eyesight of the falcon is!

The eyes of the Peregrine Falcon are enlarged so much that they do not ‘work’ the way human eyes do. In order to see, the falcon has to move its head – it has only a slight ability to move the eye in its socket. This is why it moves its head if a human is in front of it. It also has two foveal or positions of maximum visual acuity rather than the one that humans have. One fovea gives it forward binocular vision while the other is at an angle of 40 degrees to the axis of the bird helping it to track its prey.

All three looking out the windows!

Look at those wings go!

I have written to find out how the single falcon at San Jose City Hall is doing. How are Monty and Hartley settling in?

‘SP’ writes: “The eyas seems to be getting plenty of food.  The young tiercel hasn’t been doing all the hunting, but is seen bringing in prey from time-to-time. He’s also taking regular turns at incubating.” Great news. Thank you!

Here is the feed. It takes time to get in a rhythm as a first-time Mum, Dad, and a wee eyas, but wait…this chick is adorable and it will be getting its eating skills down in a few days. Must get those eyes completely focused. One more day.!!!!!!!

Oh, thank you so much for being with me. I hope that each of you had a wonderful weekend – and for those who have a long weekend, enjoy! Savour every moment. See you soon!

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, and streaming cams that helped to make up my blog today: ‘A’, ‘H’, Kathryn, ‘R’, ‘SP’, CarnyXWild, Cumbria Wildlife Trust, Carthage TN Ospreys, AEF, Moorings Park Ospreys, Dahlgren Ospreys, Window to Wildlife, Cornell RTH, Dyfi Osprey Project, LMO, LRWT, LOTL and the Woodland Trust, Colin Douglas and Friends of Loch Arkaig, Dulles-Greenway, PIX Cams, Lady Hawk and SW Florida Eagle Cam, NOAA/NIDIS, Google Maps, Achieva Credit Union, Polly Turner and Friends of Loch Arkaig Ospreys, World Bird Sanctuary, Carol Craig and Osprey Friends, Montana Osprey Project, Cal Falcons, SK Hideaways and Cal Falcons, and SK Hideaways and San Jose City Hall.

DH River missing, hatches, branching, fledging, WBSE 30…Sunday in Bird World

21 May 2023

Good Morning Everyone,

It was a lovely hazy Saturday on the Canadian Prairies. The garden continues to be full of species returning from their migration, stopping over for a few days or a week, before flying further north. There have been so many Baltimore Orioles and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks this morning that I had to open the window. It as the ‘first’ time that Lewis and Missy had a chance to whiff the outside air and hear the birds. They were mesmerised.

The Baltimore Orioles were eating oranges and grape jelly safely in front of the kittens.

It is the first year that Rose-breasted Grosbeaks have been in the garden and today there were more than 30 that visited.

The males have the red bib. Both are equally beautiful.

As Dad and Lady prepare for the 2023 season in the Sydney Olympic Park, there is more news coming in about WBSE30 and it is all good! Thanks, ‘H’.

This is nothing short of heartbreaking. DH17 fledged to the cam tree on Saturday. S/he was 79 days old and extremely hungry. River has been absent for three days. DH17 was last seen eating on the 19th. On top of this, the nest is crumbling underneath DH17, just like last year at the Notre Dame nest in St Joseph’s Park in South Bend, Indiana. Send your most positive wishes.

Here is the branching and the flight for DH17 on Saturday. This means that no one would be able to get to DH17 unless it is grounded.

The other big news of the day is that R4 has branched at the WRDC nest of Rita and Ron in Miami.

There is concern that there is monofilament line on the Patchogue NY Osprey platform. Thanks, ‘M’ for reaching out to me. In order to get help, we have to be rather loud! Here is the number for one of the USFWS in the area of Patchogue: (631) 286-0485 and there is the Evelyn Alexander Wildlife Centre and their hot line number is  Hotline: (631) 728-WILD (9453).

At the SW Florida nest of M15, E22 landed on the nest with a squirrel on Saturday caught by Vija.

There is an amazing series of photographs by Liz of SE22 around the Fort Myers nest. Check out her FB page for them!

https://www.facebook.com/lizgandphotos

Little RTH5 had a really nice feed and a big crop before the rain started. He is three weeks old Angel is trying the best she can to keep this baby dry.

Angel and Tom meet for a prey exchange. You can see them in the video by Arlene Beech – and then the feeding of RTH5.

‘A’ sent in all of the time stamps for Angel’s nest: “RTH5 Is 20 Days Old.06 47 44 Angel off the nest, onto a branch, and back with breakfast. A transfer from Tom. A young robin. 06 48 11 Tom arrives for a short visit. 06 52 35 first feed starts. 09 10 28 Angel up for her yoga exercise. 09 34 12 Angel leaves. 09 47 18 Tom and Angel land in a tree right of screen A prey transfer. 09 48 45 Tom leaves and returns a few seconds later and then enters the nest, RTH5 pecking at his talons again. 09 50 25 Angel leaves the tree. 09 51 10 Angel in with a rabbit Tom moves onto a branch and leaves 09 52 35 Second feed begins. Both feeds brought by Tom.1 20 28 Feed 3 starts the remains of the rabbit. 5 24 15 RTH5 up and wing flapping. 5 28 59 Angel leaves, spraying the camera with water off her wings. 5 40 14 A crop drop by RTH5. 5 53 45 A lot more crop dropping.5 20 36 Angel returns. chick pecking at her talons. 6 24 24 RTH5 stands up while mum preens it 7 31 10 RTH5 out from under mum. Very very close to the edge for a PS. Does a wing balance. 8:38 PM.///Twilight 9:07 PM.”

Oh, the three at the nest of Big Red and Arthur are certainly growing like wild weeds.

No more pink…they have eaten enough wild food to start getting their ‘yellow’ bits.

Iris was at her nest today watching the train. Oh, how comforting. At a time when we are losing some of our older raptors, it is such a privilege to be able to see what is believed to be the oldest Osprey in the world. Iris has been at this nest since 2012. She had earlier raised chicks with Stanley on a power pole.

The first hatch has had some fish at Dahlgren today. One delivery was larger than the twiddler that came in during the afternoon. I hope Harriet is getting some food, too – along with Jack.

Big has already fledged at the Achieva Osprey nest and has been doing regular fly in and outs returning to the nest for fish. All good with her. We are waiting for Middle. Both osplets seem thin to me as does Diane – but that is just me. Two nice sized fish came to the nest on Saturday. Hopefully more and hopefully Mum is eating off camera.

Later in the day at Achieva, Diane brings in a fish at 17:49 and Jack brings on in at 18:57. Everyone is eating! Thank goodness.

All continues to be going well for C2 and for Lucy at Lake Murray. Continued wishes that all of the things put into place to keep the GHO will work. Lucy is doing well at providing fish for her and her only surviving osplet for 2023.

Lucy is a great fisher. She flew out of the nest and into the water and plucked a big fish out for her and C2 and was back at the nest in less than a minute!

There she goes…on the right-hand side. To catch the fishing use cam 2.

At Moorings Park, Abby is still not letting Victor get any of that fish – at least not the mid-afternoon arrival! Victor has been hovering all day and that is good. It will help build up those wing muscles.

‘R’ asked me why I was calling Victor a female. Two reasons – the very late fledge because it takes females so much longer to get their body mass and feathers complete and also because of the short stocky legs. Many also add a note about ‘the necklace’ but there are some males that have far more prominent necklaces than many of the females that I have seen. I do not normally go by that but I sure look at the legs! We will never know for sure.

There is always a lot of fish at Manton Bay just like there has been at Moorings Park. Blue 33 is a great provider. Fingers crossed for Little Bob!

Hi, Dad!

Loch of the Lowes is looking good. Laddie brought in a really nice fish late on Saturday.

The first hatch at Llyn Clywedog was on Saturday and by 2100 it had already been fed four times!

There are several other nests in the UK that we are waiting on..including Glaslyn, Dyfi, Loch Arkaig, and Llyn Brenig. Elen still has the big board in her nest at Glaslyn – yes, she flew in with it!

At the Dyfi nest of Idris and Telyn, Telyn seems particularly uneasy – can she hear the chick? Isn’t she beautiful? Maya’s daughter!

All is well at Llyn Brenig.

‘H’ has reported that all is going well for Severna Park Ospreys: “I just watched another long feeding this afternoon.  It was entirely peaceful, not one single bonk.  Reminded me of Dory feeding Schooner, Skipjack, and Sloop when they were little.  And, although Peanut is small, I felt s/he received a decent amount of food for its size, and of course the other two ate more.  Peanut was in a food coma after 20 minutes.  To me, Peanut looks good.  S/he is a little bit pudgy, not skinny.  So, I certainly do not detect anything that makes me worry about Peanut at this point.  (hatch dates: 5/8, 5/9, 5/12)”.

They remind me of Bazza, Falky, and Ervie. Such civilised little osplets.

I am counting four little heads at Mlady Buky! This is the nest of Bety and Bukacek.

I am so waiting for Karl II and Kaia’s four eggs to hatch in Estonia!

I have suggested to Lake Murray that they get in contact with Cowlitz PUD. They installed two metal panels on either side of the nest to try and deter predation from the Bald Eagles. You might recall that all three osplets were taken within a two day period last year by an eagle at Cowlitz. It might be of benefit to Lucy at her nest but, we will need to see if it protects the chicks in Washington this year.

There is news that Steve and Callie are using the the alternative nest on Hog Island. They used the same nest and ‘H’ sent a photo from the Audubon Ranger of their alternate nest on Long Cove, Hog Island. It is unclear why the couple changed their nesting site. As we have seen with other ospreys and eagles they move nests for many reasons including chicks falling out of nests, a new mate, predation by larger raptors, and even human activity can sometimes cause them to move.

Great news is coming from the Audubon Centre for Birds of Prey in Maitland, Florida. Go, Connick, go!

Netting – in this case construction site material – but, it could have been netting to keep birds off plants (do not get me started), netting from produce, soccer ball nets, tennis court nets, fishing nets —- or it could have been monofilament line or baling twine. Thankfully a number of folks came together to save this fledgling osprey! Please read this story below…

‘SP’ says that she imagines my garden as beautiful. I am not sure that is what you would call it…I will post pictures during the lush of the summer! No, a landscape designer would say it has gone ‘to the birds’. Everything has been done to attract wildlife – the bunnies, the squirrels, Mr Crow, and, of course, all of the birds except for a small Japanese garden in its first year that is ‘mine’. That said I plan to put some Bee and butterfly-friendly plants in along the side!

As I was reading this short article about a couple in Sheffield trying to attract birds, I was reminded of the garden in the UK. It was beautiful – full of fruit trees – pears, plums, apples…and little hedgehogs everywhere! You had to be there – in the garden – to ‘see’ what was happening, which meant not much was happening. Sitting in the conservatory, I look out to the table feeder, about 4 metres away. The oranges and the grape jelly for the Orioles are about one metre. They are unaware of my presence…it is the best thing I ever did – for me. But for them, vines are growing in layers for years on top of the wood boxes. They can build nests like the birds in Iris’s Osprey nest, and no one is the wiser. They can build them inside the woodboxes…Trees and shrubs are constantly planted to create a tiny forest in the city. My point is that anyone can create a space for birds, and right now, water is one of the essential things for them. You need a bowl – shallow is best. I use stainless steel, and all the bird ‘things’ get run through the dishwasher separately at super hot temperatures.

See the hedge in the image below…they provide an excellent place to escape the heat and rain as well as a place for nests that are concealed from predators.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/may/20/young-country-diary-holding-out-for-the-blackbirds-steve-and-stevetta?CMP=share_btn_link

Oh, thank you so much for being with me today! Take care all. See you soon.

Thank you to everyone who sent notes, made videos, posted announcements and news, and to all those that provide streaming cams that helped to make up my blog today: ‘A’, ‘H’, ‘M’, ‘SP’, Australian Raptor Care and Conservation Inc, Dale Hollow Eagle Cam, Deb Stecyk and Dale Hollow Eagle Cam, WRDC, Vija and SW Florida Eagle Cam, Window to Wildlife, Arlene Beech and Window to Wildlife, Cornell RTH, Montana Osprey Project, Dahlgren Ospreys, LMO, Moorings Park Ospreys, LRWT, LOTL, CarnyXWild, Llyn Brenig, Bywyd Gwyllt Glaslyn, Severna Park Ospreys, Mlady Buky Storks, Eagle Club of Estonia, Cowlitz PUD, Audubon Centre for Birds of Prey, Audubon, Carol Craig and Osprey Friends, and The Guardian.

Angel’s baby doing great, Oldest Red Kite dies…Saturday in Bird World

20 May 2023

Good Morning Everyone!

It is Canada’s first long weekend of the ‘summer’ season. Victoria weekend – also known as Bank Holidays in the UK. It is considered the safe time to plant your tender annuals in the garden or the first time to head to the cottage and turn the water on. Of course, it has been warmer and we are all ahead of this schedule but, it is a long weekend for people who are working and hopefully, a fun and safe time.

First up, one of the first raptors in the reintroduction scheme in the UK has died. Red Kite, Aragon, was 29 years old. First we lost Pale Male and now Aragon who was named after the area in Spain who donated him to help the UK with their project.

One-of-the-first-red-kites-released-into-Thames-Valley-dies-BBC-NewsDownload

This is absolutely hilarious…for the smile we all need today, thanks, Heidi McGrue!

Here is another one…Talk about a feeding frenzy…have a look at what it is like for Annie and Lou at Cal Falcons with Rosa, Zephyr, and Luna! Goodness.

Victor Victoria finally fledged at the Moorings Park Osprey Park at 0809 on Friday the 19th of March, 11 days after her sibling. You will notice that I am using the pronoun ‘her’ and ‘she’. Vic flew to the Purple Martin bird house in the middle of the pond and from there had a few short flights and then was seen soaring, being escorted by the parents. One of the highlights for me was Abby landing on the bird house next to Victor!

It is always a worry til they return, and Victor returns to the nest at 1734 to the relief of everyone involved and all of us watching.

Victor was hot and hungry! A Red-winged Blackbird serves as an escort. I had gone to check on Angel seconds before – thanks for the alert, ‘H’. — And just a correction to some information that I have mentioned earlier. Moorings Park does not stop their pond. Thanks, ‘SD’!

It appears that the fourth hatch at Manton Bay in Rutland has died. A large fish was delivered right when it was hatching and sent its shell flying along with flapping all four osplets hard. The fish covered Mini-Bob and when Maya was finally able to get it off, the little one was very weak. Mini had a feed in the afternoon but later, there were only three heads eating. Maya was seen later covering it with grasses so no predator would get her baby.

There were four in the image below but you can see Mini…so frail and not moving. Later in the evening, only three heads could be seen. So sad for Maya and Blue 33.

Geemeff caught the last feeding and the lack of Mini Bob…taking a deep breath. Happy to have three osplets. That fish could have done more damage – so grateful it didn’t.

A plaque has gone up to Harriet near to her nest on the Pritchett Farm. It is a beautiful tribute to a much loved Bald Eagle.

Have a look at this little beauty – Chase and Cholyn’s baby from this year.

All continues to go well at Lake Murray for Lucy and C2. Tonight, I noticed that Lucy is not on the perch but is down in the nest with her baby. Weather? GHO? or both? She was on the nest til dawn when she went fishing.

Diane, Big and Middle all had fish today at Achieva in St Petersburg, Florida. Diane brought in a big fish around 1900 and Big had her own to self-feed and Diane fed Middle.

Little RTH5 wasn’t so welcoming to Tom when he arrived on the nest with empty talons. She went after them! Too funny. RTH5 ate so well on Friday. Had at least one crop drop and was so full once it could hardly move on the nest with its big crop. Details of the feedings and more images later in the blog, too. I love this little nestling.

“Oh, just one more bite!”

Thank goodness for the wildlife rehabbers who take care and try desperately to return to the wild every life that comes into their clinic. Here are two stories for today to put a smile on your face.

If you live near Hawk Mountain in Pennsylvania, sometime, if you can, take the opportunity to visit there during the migration counts in the spring and fall. Here are the recaps so far this year.

The counts reveal a shark decline for our dear Ospreys.

Angel’s RTH5 has eaten very well today and these are the details that were posted, not available earlier. These are the prey deliveries and feedings up until 1700 Friday: “9:25:51 Angel back with a young Meadowlark. 9:26:20 Feed1.12:49:08 Tom in for a visit. 1:26:29 Angel back with a young Meadowlark. 1:27:33 Feed2. 3:09:52 Angel with a young Meadowlark. 3:10:40 Feed3.” We will really be able to see changes in the plumage of RTH5 which are beginning now but next week, the look of this adorable baby is going to be sooooo different.

The arrival of the Meadowlark and feeding 3.

Preening her baby!

It is a windy morning in Ithaca, New York at the nest of Big Red and Arthur. The cam operator gave us some lovely images of the eyases.

E22 was at the pond this morning looking out and probably thinking about fish and a good swim. Everyone is treasuring each moment and wondering what will come next.

A-SWFL-Eagle-Cam-season-to-remember-—-might-it-be-the-last-WGCU-PBS-NPR-for-Southwest-FloridaDownload

For those of you that followed Louis and Aila at Loch Arkaig, you will recall that they used what is known as nest 1. When Aila did not return from migration two years ago, Louis took another nest site with Dorcha. The old nest has been vacant. Sue Wallbanks reports that there is hope that a new couple might move in – LV0 and Blue 152. That would be fantastic. Too late for eggs this year but for bonding and planning…absolutely!

Bruce Yolton caught up with Flaco, the Eurasian Eagle-Owl who escaped the Central Park Zoo. He was hunting at the Compost Site – far nicer than an earlier construction site and the dumpsters. He had caught a rat!

A UK man was sentenced for putting out poison bait – along with other offences – to protect his exotic birds. I am glad that the instigator was punished, but I wonder about the sentence. Cris Packham calls the sentence ‘pathetic’. I totally agree. What will it take for humans to understand that they do not have the right to kill wildlife indiscriminately? (or at all!!)

Man-sentenced-for-poisoning-protected-wild-birds-BBC-NewsDownload

It is, of course, not just planning in the UK that is causing havoc with wildlife. Plans for a tidal barrier along with some entertainment and economic plans for Norfolk and Lincolnshire are drawing a lot of criticism from environmental and wildlife groups for good reason. The coast along Norfolk is one of the most beautiful attracting waterfowl from the tundra to the UK for the winter. Politicians believe that economic concerns trump anything to do with the environment but have they lost touch? Does the area really need more cruise ships? Perhaps nature reserves and eco-tourism?

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/may/19/tidal-barrier-proposal-for-lincolnshire-and-norfolk-sets-off-wave-of-opposition?CMP=share_btn_link

Thank you so much for being with me this morning. There is lots going on and many nests not covered. We are awaiting for hatches and monitoring chicks but so far all appears to be going well. Take care everyone. Have a lovely weekend. See you soon!

If you would like to receive my daily blog, just hit subscribe! You can change your mind at any time.

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, tweets, videos, images, and streaming cams that helped to make up my blog today: Geemeff, ‘H’, ‘M’, ‘SD’, BBC News, Heidi McGrue and the WRDC, SK Hideaways and Cal Falcons, Moorings Park Ospreys, LRWT, Geemeff and LRWT, Cornell RTH, Lisa Russo and the NEFL and SWFL Eagle Cam Watchers Club, IWS/Explore, LMO, Achieva Credit Union, Window to Wildlife, Wild Bird Sanctuary, The Raptor Centre, Hawk Mountain, WGCU, Sue Wallbank’s and Friends of Loch Arkaig, Bruce Yolton and urban hawks, Chris Packham, and The Guardian.

4th chick hatches at Manton Bay…Friday in Bird World

18 May 2023

Oh, the best of the morning to everyone!

The hot temperatures (28 C) on the Canadian Prairies plummeted to 7 C Thursday morning with rain. It sent us all scurrying to find our jumpers (sweaters) and proper shoes! My heart went out to the birds as they huddled under the dripping leaves. The lilac branches are full of leaves, and they did better than expected after I made a run to get more suet blocks for them. The squirrels scurried around for peanuts amidst the Crows who competed for the best of those nuts. They check everyone out, and then, of course, there are the Blue Jays that do the same thing—quality control. I carefully placed slices of juicy oranges and dollops of sweet grape jelly on the feeding tray hoping to attract the arriving Baltimore Orioles. paid off with five of them in the garden today for the first time this year. I sound like a broken record, but the joy these birds and animals bring to my life – and those around you to yours – makes all the difference to us. We might not even realise it. You have a reason to get up in the morning – you have to check on them and see how they did during the night!

Good news is – the methods being used by Lake Murray Osprey kept Lucy and C2 alive for another night. No GHO strike! Fantastic.

Well, we are going to see if this super Osprey couple can do it again. If Maya and Blue 33 fledge four osplets this season, it will be their fourth – yes, they’re fourth – time. As I continue to say, this has to be something for the record books. You have all seen osprey families struggle with three, often winding up with only two if there is siblicide. Just imagine juggling four!

Incredible. The hatch dates for the four are May 12, 13, 17, and 18. Six days difference between Big and Mini.

The hatch came around 18:23.

Oh, a big fish came in for a late dinner at Manton Bay – still alive and flapping all over the four.

In fact, as Geemeff shows us, number 4 “had a traumatic arrival last night and an encounter with a live fish – then it was brooded overnight with the cold wet fish, then bashed again when Maya tried to move it,”. Geemeff puts it all in the video. That little one is fine this morning!

There are four osplets at Rutland and there are also four little osplets at Patchogue New York on Long Island. Wow. I just about missed that! It will be interesting how each of the nest handles this situation. Blue 33 has a well stocked fish source but, what about Patchogue?

There was concern that Laddie at Loch of the Lowes was not getting fish to the nest. I would, of course, like to see a whopper first thing in the morning but, he delivers a small pike around 1334 and then a whopper later in the afternoon. I wonder if the fish stocks are low at LOTL?

The little perch coming in. It would have been an appetiser for the three of them but, fish nonetheless.

The later delivery after a huge clump of moss came in!

The Audubon Centre of Prey has been receiving many requests for updates on Connie and Clive’s eaglet, Connick, that fell out of the tree on Captiva Island. You will recall that he had issues with feathers falling out of the follicles. He was sent from Captiva to Audubon where he will live, be cared for, and be trained for the wild but it is going to take some time. Here is the update and a request for funds to anyone interested in helping.

Latest photo of Connick. He is looking good don’t you think?

‘H’ sent me this further article form Audubon on Connick.

Caring-for-Captiva-Islands-Popular-Nest-Camera-Eaglet-Audubon-Center-for-Birds-of-PreyDownload

Cuteness overload and it isn’t Lewis – it is the Ms. If you watch Big Red feed the Ms, she offers bites until no one wants any more prey. They are all so civilised – hawks versus ospreys. Just my observation.

Sleepy Big Red.

Angel is happy to play tug-o-war with RTH5. It is unclear to me how much prey came in on Thursday but, ‘A’ reports that Tom brought in at least three prey items. Well done.

Pip watch starts this Sunday for Idris and Telyn. Yahoooooo. Now this is a good nest to watch – Dyfi.

Hartley and Monty, the San Jose City Hall Peregrine Falcons who took the scrape after Sequoia and Shasta passed have their first hatch of the 2023 season.

This very young Dad who tried to feed the first egg now gets to meet his first chick ever!

There have been three safe nights at Lake Murray. All of the remedies that LMO have put in place seem to be working well. There is rain and the wind is picking up. A lone male osprey arrived on the nest and is gone but it sure would be nice if he would bring a fish for Lucy and C2. They are hungry today. She has not had success in her fishing like she normally does….send good positive energy!

Lucy has no choice. She has to leave C2 to go fishing. Thankfully he has his thermal down.

This is the first time that I have checked on River and DH17 since the AEF led the intervention. What a beautiful eaglet standing on the rim of the nest. Best wishes for a fledge and a new mate to Dale Hollow. Another single Mum trying to get one baby off the nest safely.

Late in the day, at least one very big fish were on the Achieva Osprey nest in St Petersburg, Florida. The time was 1559. There could have been more earlier. Big and Middle both ate – trying at self-feeding and being fed by Mum Diane.

At 1633 Diane is feeding both.

At 1743 one of the chicks is walking around with another big fish…there had to be another delivery as Diane had been feeding both of them from the late afternoon catch. But maybe it was just one enormous fish. Rewind is not helping me. I dislike that feature on this camera. Both chicks are looking well. It has been a rough year for this nest. It will be good to have these Middle fledging now that Big has.

Victor seems to feel no urgency to fly – just to eat fish. It has been eleven days since Abby fledged. He sure hatched on the best nest that he could for that. It is a buffet at Moorings Park and Sally is happy to let them self-feed but also, she loves feeding her babies.

Want healthy ospreys? The key is to stock the ponds and stock them well. The cost of fingerlings is nothing compared to what the world will be like with the loss of our wildlife. So please, if you get a chance to speak out at any place where they are considering stocking the water for the birds that eat fish, stand up and allow your voice to help the raptors!

Know a place where there is a water area with fish provided for the osprey talk to the people concerned – see if a fund raiser for fingerlings would be appropriate. See if a shore clean-up can happen. Get involved if you can. You will smile in the morning when you wake up, knowing you have made a difference.

Photos are still coming in from the banding at Thunder and Akecheta’s nest West End nest in the Channel Islands. These give us a great look at where the couple moved their nest. Is it because of the falling out of the nest last year???

Yesterday, I posted the significant news that Ventana Wildlife has emergency approval to use the HPAI vaccine on its condor population. Here is a touching story of an egg from one of the condors who died of Avian Flu in Arizona.

For the first time in the history of Cornell’s streaming cam at Sapsucker Lake, a Red-headed woodpecker has come to feed. It is a bird listed as being of ‘special concern’ and its range is normally south of Ithaca. Like many other species, these Red-headed woodpeckers could be moving north to get away from the heat of their usual spring and summer breeding grounds.

Here is an article form New York’s Department of the Environmental Conservation discussing the woodpeckers.

Red-headed-Woodpecker-NYS-Dept.-of-Environmental-ConservationDownload

For our readers in Australia, duck hunting season has been cut short…oh why should we kill ducks in the first place, I ask. It is for a great cause – apparently, the hunters could not tell the difference between a duck and a parrot. Have a read!

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/may/18/duck-hunting-season-cut-short-at-victorian-reserve-to-make-way-for-critically-endangered-parrots?CMP=share_btn_link

The sightings of the first birds in the spring bring with them many traditions, just like the cherry blossoms in Japan. They are signs of renewal, of spring, of hope. Are they the same birds that left in the fall? We don’t know unless they are banded…but nonetheless, the joy they bring should never be underestimated. It is cited in numerous studies and articles and yet, as humans and governments we are failing them.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/may/18/country-diary-the-first-cuckoo-of-the-year-prompts-a-lively-family-tradition?CMP=share_btn_link

There is growing concern in Brazil over H5N1. My friend Claudio reported to me that the first case of Avian Flu has been detected in Brazil and this news is running through the financial markets. Brazil is one of the largest producers of factory chickens. There is also concern that there is a human that has been infected with Avian Flu. All of this ha been confirmed by the various ministries in Brazil and you can Google ‘First case of bird flu in Brazil’ for more information.

Also after continually checking on Milda with no effect I contacted my friend, Sassa Bird and she says the WTEs will not be banded this year and it is unclear but from the sounds on the nest it appears that both eaglets are still alive. This is good news. Thanks, Sassa Bird.

I want to close with a beautiful image of E22 this morning around 0627 at the SouthWest Florida Eagle nest of M15. She hasn’t left the area and it is so good too see her at the nest tree squeeing at Dad for breakfast!

Thank you so much for your kind notes. I am so happy to hear you are enjoying the blog, the book recommendations, and the kittens. Take care, everyone. See you soon!

Thank you to the following for their notes, videos, posts, and streaming cams that helped to make up my blog today: ‘A’, Claudio, ‘H’, Geemeff, Sassa Bird, Valerie Webber and Loch Garten and Other Ospreys, Carol Craig and Osprey Friends, LOTL, Audubon Centre for Birds of Prey, Cornell RTH, Window to Wildlife, Dyfi Osprey Project, SK Hideaways and San Jose City Hall Falcon Cam, LMO, Dale Hollow Eagle Cam, Achieva Credit Union, Moorings Park Ospreys, Jann Gallivan and CIEL, Liberty Wildlife, SWFlorida Eagle Cam, and The Guardian.

Emergency approval for HPAI vaccine for California Condors…Thursday in Bird World

18 May 2023

Good Morning Everyone,

The skies have been weirdly overcast. The ‘look’ is partly from the wildfire smoke infiltrating Manitoba. It has, however, been drizzling for part of the day, making it a bit cooler at 22 degrees. They say our air quality poses a ‘low’ risk today because of the rain. I wonder about the poor birds and mammals in Canada’s western provinces. How are they doing amidst this outbreak of fire?

Lewis has taken over one of the chairs. Claudio tells me that I can clear up his hair stuck to the wool with washing up gloves. I need to try this!

Several times a day, Missy and Lewis take turns washing one another’s faces. My goodness, they are such a delight. The sheer joy animals bring our lives is so difficult to describe. Hold them close.

Just a note for all those Canada Goose fans. Decorah Goose Cam is shutting down. The new couple do not seem interested in using the nest. We will look forward to another successful year in 2024.

The loss of Pale Male, Central Park’s notorious Red-tail Hawk, who died at the age of 33 years in the loving care of Bobby Horvath took the birding community by surprise.

Thirty-three years. What a long life flying between high-rise apartment buildings in the area of New York City’s famous park. It was a long life and yet, of course, the loss is felt. Just like friends and relatives who have lived to ‘a ripe old age’, it still leaves a hole. For me, the death of Pale Male made the presence of Big Red and her three hawklets on the Cornell Campus much more significant. We didn’t get to watch Pale Male’s life play out – unless you happened to be living in NYC or visiting – but, since 2012, Big Red has been the star of one of the few Red-tail Hawk streaming cams in the world. She is the ‘Queen’. She is not young. So every day with her is simply precious.

Kelly Sorenson of the Ventana Wildlife Society writes that the use of the HPAI vaccine was approved on the 16th of May as an emergency measure to try and save the Big Sur and Pinnacle Condor Colonies in Central California from H5N1. The resolve to save these beautiful birds has made news around the world.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/may/17/vaccine-california-condor-avian-influenza-near-extinction?CMP=share_btn_link

The quarantine pens resulted from a huge fundraiser of the Ventana Wildlife Society. They raised 85,000$ to build them to enclose the California Condor community against the avian flu that is killing the condors in Arizona.

The total number of condors in Central California is currently 91 since the Dolan Fire of 2020. Ventana Wildlife continues to rebuild from that horrific fire that took so many lives.

Let us hope that the protective measures that are being employed will help during this tragic outbreak of H5N1 in the region. Arizona lost 20 of their flock this spring. Incredibly sad.

R5 fell out of the WRDC nest and was quickly rescued. On Wednesday, he was returned to the nest successfully without any alarm to R4. Well done, WRDC.

Lucy was vocalising during the late afternoon at the Lake Murray Osprey platform. LMO has done an incredible job of trying to keep the GHO from any further attacks after the predation of C1. Looks like the strobe lights, golf carts, picnickers and loud music are working. Other osprey nests with predation by GHOs should take notice – and also, check out the metal barriers installed by Cowlitz PUD against Bald Eagle attacks at their osprey nest in Washington like that which happened last season.

Lucy is fishing and taking good care of C2 who has a huge crop as best she can with these daily and night intruders at her nest.

We are on pip watch at the Dahlgren Osprey platform of Harriet and Jack.

I woke up to news form ‘H’ that the pip hatched early morning on the 18th.

Angel and her baby continue to do well although Tom either has trouble hunting or is a little unreliable. There was lots of food on Tuesday with a single delivery of a bird by Tom on Wednesday (please correct me!). As ‘A’ notes, Angel left the little one for several hours and either was unsuccessful in hunting or ate all the prey herself. Hopefully today there will be lots of food. The difference in this nest and Big Red’s is striking including – the eyases at Cornell are hardly ever left alone. Still nervous as there is a ways to go for Angel and Tom and RTH5.

The third osplet hatched at Rutland’s Manton Bay nest of Blue 33 and Maya. Oh, goodness, there is five days difference between Big Bob and Little…with one egg left to hatch!

So far, so good at Loch of the Lowes.

Louis brought in three really nice fish for Dorcha today. Gosh, he has always been such an extraordinary mate.

Dr Sharpe is really out there working to get all of the eaglets banded and, I presume, to say goodbye to the nests that he has so lovingly taken care of for many, many decades on the Channel Islands. These two beauties belong to Andor and Cruz.

More pictures from when Dr Sharpe banded Thunder and Akecheta’s eaglets the other day.

E22 is still at the SW Florida Eagle nest in Fort Myers. There are some incredible images being taken by the photographers on the ground. Oh, how I wish someone would make a book about this year!

This beautiful image came from the streaming cam. E22 is such a beauty and how wonderful to continue to see you.

B16 is 116 days old and fledged 38 days ago. She continues to come to the nest at Berry College in Georgia and her loving parents continue to provide prey for her. What a beauty!

Our dear Ervie, the 2021 third hatch at Port Lincoln osprey barge, continues to get photographed in the area that he has called home since he fledged. I wonder if he is still fishing with Dad?

Lou and Annie’s chicks are awfully precocious this year. Rosa has already been looking out of the windows, a behaviour seen a week or so before fledge. Now all three of them have been caught glimpsing at the world that will soon welcome them.

Luna has also joined Rosa in trying to catch moths! Oh, the legacy that was Alden…his spirit, not his DNA, lives on at The Campanile.

Iris may or may not have any eggs in her nest. One was laid, are there two? Hopefully the Corvids will be there to claim them while Iris is off catching whoppers like the one today. It is incredibly sad that after 2018 – that was five years ago – that Iris did not have a reliable mate. She would, as we can see, be an amazing mother with good DNA.

As it nears midnight in Canada, Blue NC0 is awaiting the first fish delivery of the day to the Loch of the Lowes from Laddie for her and the two little bairns. There was a nice late fish by Laddie on Wednesday evening. It looks like Mum still has a crop but those little ones will be ravenous.

Maya is waiting for her delivery from Blue 33 at Manton Bay also.

My last check on the Moorings Park Osprey platform for the day shows Victoria eating away whenever he can. He has not fledged yet. Abby fledged ten days ago! It is so nice at home with Mum Sally, Victor just might want to stay forever. I don’t blame him. It has to be one of the most stable osprey platforms in the US.

Keep sending all of your good wishes to every nest. They need all the help that we can muster for them.

Thank you for being with me today. So much going on! Take care all. See you soon.

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, and streaming cams that helped to make up my blog today: Geemeff, ‘H’, The Legend of Pale Male, Cornell RTH Cam, The Guardian, Ventana Wildlife Society, Heidi McGrue and R Nest Eagle Nest Watchers, LMO, Sheila Staley and Osprey Friends, Window to Wildlife, LRWT, LOTL, Geemeff and Friends of Loch Arkaig, IWS/Explore, Jann Galliva and CIEL, SWFL Eagle Cam, Rebecca Dawn and SWFL Eagles, Berry College Eagle Cam, PLO, Fran Solley and Friends of Osprey Su Bus, Cal Falcons, SK Hideaways and Cal Falcons, Montana Osprey Project, and Moorings Park Osprey Platform.