We spent the day wringing our hands over Calico. She has not been herself for a few days, and off she went to the vet this morning. She is home and fine, but she is on a diet to lose 3 lbs and has to eat high-fibre foods. The others might not be keen, but they will also have their food dishes put out and removed when they are finished – even if they did not eat their entire portion. This should stop Calico from filling herself up with their extras!!!!!!
Thank you to ‘L’ who alerted me to the news of the day. Wisdom, the oldest banded albatross in the world has returned to the Midway Atoll for another breeding season. Tears of happiness are flowing around the world for this grand lady.
Here is the USFWS post on Instagram:
“At an approximate age of 75, Wisdom the albatross returned this week to Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge for nesting season.
Like other Laysan albatross, or mōlī in Hawaiian, Wisdom returns to the same nesting site each year to reunite with her mate, and if able, lay one egg. Last year, the world’s oldest known wild bird successfully laid an egg for the first time in four years.
Wisdom’s arrival to the refuge in the central Pacific Ocean is slightly earlier than prior years. Her new mate from last year has not been seen yet, according to staff.
Biologists first identified and banded Wisdom in 1956 after she laid an egg, and the large seabirds aren’t known to breed before age 5.
It is estimated that Wisdom has produced 50-60 eggs and as many as 30 chicks that fledged in her lifetime.
Each year, millions of seabirds return to Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge on the northwestern edge of the Hawaiian Archipelago to nest and raise their young. Wisdom, specifically, has been doing this since the Eisenhower administration.
As we prepare for the arrival of Toby, my time is running out. Anything that could fit into a small mouth must go into hiding along with ‘precious’ rugs, shoes, etc. Cords must be taped to the wall so they cannot be seen. It is a big learning curve from having cats! As a result, my blog will be brief for the next several days. I will try to catch the latest news and follow up on the White Rock and Trempealeau eagle nests and any happenings in the UK.
Cornell Red-tail Hawks: On Thursday, Big Red and Arthur have their first pip of the 2025 season.
Minnesota Landscape Arboretum: ‘MP’ alerts us to a new couple on the nest. “I don’t know if you are aware of this nest having 2 new osprey residents. A new male and female. The nest looks amazing compared to the other resident’s nests.”
‘AR’ sent me a great good news story to share with you! One lucky Eagle.
White Rock, BC Bald Eagle nest. Read this carefully – the female incubated the eggs alone for 42 days. She might be fine if the males would stop stealing the food. Then there is the issue of the heat. This nest needs a sunshade! They are the sweetest little eaglets and well, I do not believe this is going to end well. Maybe all these eagles should take a page out of the osprey playbook from Threave!
The latest post on the White Rock eaglets from Terry Anita:
5/2/25 This is the White Rock, BC, Canada post for today. Please comment here. I’ll be updating & adding screenshots & info throughout the day. Eagles Mom (Dad missing) 2 eaglets. Hatched 4/30/25.
Screenshot 1: The male with the missing feathers above the right eye visits the nest. #2: Mom and male fly out. #3 Eaglets looking good this morning. Mom returns with no food. Male returns, digs in the nest for leftovers, then leaves.
These are believed to be Moms 25th and 26th eaglets. She has a lot of experience. But the circumstances are so difficult. She just spent 42 days incubating alone. And if it wasn’t for the males stealing all the food she brought in. She’d be in a better position, with left overs in the pantry. Local residents have left out grasses for her, to line the nest. But she hasn’t taken them. She’s doing the very best she can. The eaglets are also left alone in full sun on that nest. And are way too young to be able to regulate their temperature. All we can do is keep positive vibes going. This is a very big uphill battle for Mom.
There are other nests in close proximity. And many bald eagles in the area. There have been several males vying for Mom since Dad went missing. However most of the males seem more intent on taking food from the nest, than anything else. Mom has been tolerant of a few of these males and mated with more than one of them. The area gets a lot of eagles visiting when the herring run takes place. The White Rock, BC herring run typically happens in spring, with the most intense activity usually occurring in early to mid-March. The exact timing is unpredictable, but it generally begins in late February or early March and can continue into April.
We are watching nature unscripted. Should it become distressing to watch. Please step away & take a break.. Please do not try and compare this situation with other nests. No two nests, eagles or circumstances are the same.
Backstory. Mom is not a first time Mom. She’s been in the area for several years. And is believed to have had around 26 hatches, including this seasons eaglets. The male (Dad) went missing shortly after the first egg was laid. That egg was left unattended for over 11 hours and deemed non viable. The second egg was laid. But with her mate missing the female had to incubate the eggs alone. She was obviously gone for long periods of time, multiple times. As she has to find food for herself. The male visitors weren’t bringing her food and had no interest in the eggs. The eggs hatched on 4/30/25.
***Several males have been around, trying to win Mom over.
You might see any one of these males on the nest, usually stealing food. It’s very difficult to distinguish one male from another… A young male “Smudge” with dark feathers on his head just above the beak is one that can be easily recognized.. Smudge has been a frequent visitor… He’s been seen for about the last month and a half, on and off. But had stayed for the past few weeks.. Smudge seemed to be invested and even brought a fish in on 4/30/25.
Update. Smudge was in a fight with another male on the evening of 4/30/25. We are waiting to see if he’ll return. Or if the male he fought with has taken his place.”
Hellgate Canyon: Iris laid the second egg on Thursday 1 May. Poor darling. I would give almost anything to see Finnegan fly onto that nest right now.
Kent Island (Chesapeake Conservancy): There’s a new Audrey in town. ‘Fair Lady’ beat out a couple other females and won over Tom, and she laid her first egg on 5/1 at around 11:10. Meet Audrey4, aka simply ‘Audrey’.
OBX (Outer Banks): Oh my, what an early rough start to the season it was for Betsy and Frederick. There were so many intruders and battles. But, finally things settled down and Betsy laid her first egg of the season on 5/1 at 14:07. This first egg is almost a month later than last season.
My inbox continues to be filled with the most devastating news for wildlife that I have witnessed in my lifetime.
Each of you should know the name ‘Wisdom’, the oldest ringed bird in the world, a Laysan Albatross, who nests on the Midway Atoll. So when you read the following, sent in by Geemeff, I want you to think about ‘Wisdom’ and I hope that this will cause you to act to fight against any policies that destroy the lives of those, like Wisdom, who cannot speak for themselves.
Now is Our time!
A Nai’a (Spinner Dolphin) springs forth on Kuaihelani (Midway Atoll) 2025 Photo by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Volunteer Joe Owen
Supporters of Friends of Midway Atoll (FOMA) are needed now more than ever to be the voice for the public lands and waters known as Kuaihelani (the backbone of heaven), which is designated as a National Wildlife Refuge and Battle of Midway National Memorial within the larger Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument (PMNM). The Administration has reduced the federal workforce, is proposing new policies and rescinding long-standing environmental policies, all of which are negatively impacting the ability to conserve, honor and protect our Nation’s public lands and waters.
With these unprecedented challenges, the FOMA Board is committed to sharing specific requests and calls to action via this newsletter and our newly launched advocacy web pagehere.Addressing and finding solutions to the critical needs of wildlife and people on Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge/Battle of Midway National Memorial has our sleeves rolled up. We are positioned to help but the need is greater than our current capacity.
One Way to Help
FOMA takes its responsibilities seriously by aligning your donations with priority conservation needs that cannot be met by the refuge. We promise to continue to direct our funds to projects that offer immediate support for wildlife, bridge the financial gaps needed to continue collecting one of the longest sets of seabird data on the planet, share the stories and magic of Midway, and supplement core volunteer functions lost to budget and personnel cuts. As an example, the current refuge volunteer coordinator position will be vacated and unfunded in May. However, your donations have enabled FOMA to fund a volunteer coordinator position to mentor, train, and lead a 4-person crew of 6-month volunteers to implement critical on-the-ground conservation work. This will allow critical work to continue without losing ground to protect species and their habitats.
We are exploring creative ways to support Midway, including directing FOMA funds to pay contractors who can continue to protect habitats from invasive species. After nearly 3 decades of continuous effort, the refuge is close to eradicating Verbesina encloides; and stepping back now is inconceivable. Additionally, we will ensure efforts continue to honor those who fought in the Battle of Midway. We also commit to building a relationship with the PMNM Culturally Working Group while illuminating the cultural significance of Kuaihelani by honoring native Hawaiian species and place names.
Heavy Hearted Farewells
As a result of recent actions by this Administration to reduce the federal workforce, Midway has lost critical operational and administrative staff capacity. In February 2025, Midway Atoll and its sister Hawaiian Islands National Wildlife Refuge lost their supply, shipping and travel logistics coordinator, Dan Link. This is a critical position given the logistics of supporting these remote refuges in Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument. On Friday, April 17th Midway Atoll lost its full-time Budget Analyst who managed Midway Atoll’s budget including paying bills, making purchases and supporting large contracts.
Also on April 17th we bid a heavy-hearted farewell to an irreplaceable brain trust in the Pacific Islands Refuges and Monuments Office in Honolulu that provided direct support to Midway Atoll and the other refuges and monuments in the Pacific. We bid farewell to Science Manager for the Pacific Islands Climate Change Cooperative Jeff Burgett, Refuges and Monuments Area Supervisor Ric Lopez, Deputy Area Supervisor Susan White, Supervisory Wildlife Biologist Beth Flint, Biology Science Technician Anna Vallery, Administrative Officer Eloise Wong and Wildlife Biologist Megan Laut (pictured below).
Photo by: USFWS/Laura Beauregard
These individuals were the backbone of the support office for all the National Wildlife Refuges including the Battle of Midway National Memorial and the Marine National Monuments in the Pacific. Their cumulative time spent working at the field level for wildlife (and people too) along with upper level managerial and planning experience is measured in centuries of knowledge, passion, intellect and wisdom. Known throughout the Pacific for their expertise, these now former employees had to secure their files and walk out the door with only a few days’ notice.
The impact of this loss will be felt for decades and has crippled the ability of those remaining to protect Midway and meet the mission of the agency. Unfortunately, this is just the beginning as more staff cuts are anticipated as well as a possible Reduction in Force. Along with budget and staff reductions, Executive Orders to eliminate previous provisions to protect nature further threaten the ability to conserve fish and wildlife in these extraordinary and unparalleled environments.
Imminent Threats to Midway’s Wildlife and What You Can Do!
Unfortunately, these warp speed actions by the Administration are now producing major threats to wildlife and habitat through the dismantling of federal laws protecting the islands, reefs, and waters at PMNM and more urgently at Pacific Islands Heritage Marine National Monument(PIHMNM). This monument encompasses 7 National Wildlife Refuges and protects wildlife that knows no ocean boundaries as they transit in the greater oceanic ecosystem.
Grey reef sharks and schools of anthias in the waters of Jarvis Island, Pacific Remote Island Areas Marine National Monument. President Biden has an opportunity to fully protect the area. (Kelvin Gorospe/NOAA/2017)
In an effort to create a collective strength in numbers, we will continue to highlight the most pressing threats and point to those non-profit organizations protecting these monuments. On our webpage you will find links to recent executive orders or actions that seek public comment. We will also provide clear guidance and helpful tips.
Now is our time to hoist the sails and voyage together. We feel honored to join you and look forward to speaking out together for what we deeply value as we malama (take care of) Kuaihelani.
I Mua!
In the Hawaiian language the words I Mua mean to “move forward” or “move ahead” towards a goal and can express a deep commitment to support a feeling, an idea, a person or a cause.
Mahalo for all your support, Your Friends of Midway Atoll
As many of you might recall, I have praised the wildlife vet, Dr Tess, that has spent the last year at our rehabilitation clinic, Wildlife Haven. She maintains that wildlife are more resilient and can survive with many physical challenges. What this means is that new wildlife vets like Dr Tess are reluctant to simpy euthanise wildlife simply because they are missing a limb or have an inconvenient broken bone. ‘MP’ sent me an example of another surviving nicely in the wild with one leg! They write, “This is an example of what you were talking about. Ron Dudley captured this photo of a Brewer’s Blackbird missing a foot but still able to go on. It didn’t stop her from gathering nesting materiel for her nest. She was just as efficient as the other females. Only the female builds the nest in this species, as you probably know. So, all the males around just sat back and watched. They appear to have big feet too. I thought you’d be interested in seeing it play out in real time.”
Border Ospreys: Samson and Augusta have their first egg of the season!
San Jose City Hall: There is joy to be found. Look at those crops. Thank you, ‘PB’.
A magnificent rescue!
Trempealeau Bald Eagle Nest: T3 is getting stuffed. Despite male taking food, the little one is doing well. Please send good positive energy.
How thoughtful.
Geemeff’s daily summary for Loch Akraig and The Woodland Trust:
Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Thursday 1st May 2025 After an absence of a few hours which had us feeling a little edgy in case Blue 536 was ‘doing an Aida’, she turned up on Nest One ready to accept fish and mating advances from Garry LV0, and succeeded in getting both. Just as well, as females need ongoing mating for egg production to be stimulated, and the male needs to deliver a steady supply of fish to keep the female’s interest. Bearing in mind that Aila & Louis met on 28th April, mated for the first time on 29th April and still managed to fledge a chick in time to migrate, this pair are in line with that schedule so there is still an outside chance of chicks on this nest this season. Garry’s three fish deliveries take his tally to thirty one, and over on Nest Two, Louis also delivered three fish to Dorcha, raising his tally to sixty three. There was a bit of rain today, but the Inver Mallie forecast for tonight and tomorrow is more settled, with light clouds and light breezes.
Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 22.08.23 (04.37.31); Nest Two 22.03.42 (04.43.17) Today’s videos:
Thank you so much for being with me today. Take care. We hope to see you soon!
Thank you to the following for their notes, comments, posts, letters, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘AR, Geemeff, Heidi, MP, PB’, Cornell Red-tail Hawk Cam, Cornell Bird Lab, Minnesota Landscape Arboretum, Fox News, Hilton Head Eagles, FOBBV, SK Hideaways, Friends of Midway Atoll, Pukaha National Wildlife Centre, Farmer Derek Kansas City Bald Eagle Nest, San Jose City Hall, Deborah Victoriana Friends of Duke Farms, Raptor Resource Project, Kent Island, OBX, Geemeff and The Woodland Trust
It’s a new year! ‘The Girls’ have been up to lots of mischief and they have given us much fun and some very loving moments as one year ends and another begins.
Who would have thought? Hugo Yugo has taken to washing Calico! Notice that HY does a great ‘bug-eyed look’ while trying to clean that ear. Calico looks like she doesn’t mind!
The European Starlings rush to eat the cat kibble if I don’t get out with the birdseed soon enough. Before they do, they hang off the vines above the door, and it drives the cats crazy. Calico and HY are being teased by them in some of the images below.
It also looks like Calico has been into holiday shortbread. Her annual check-up is on the 6th. I wonder if Dr. Green thinks she should try that diet again. (My neighbour said she is beginning to look like a Corgi!)
Baby Hope remains one of the most beautiful cats I’ve ever had the pleasure of sharing my home with. Her temperament is just the same – sweet and gentle, quiet. A little shy. Never into trouble. I cannot say that about the other three!!!!!!!!!
Missey always gets the ‘sweetness’ award despite the fact that she looks like she can eat you alive.
Clive continues to win high marks. Not only did he ride out Hurricane Milton in the nest, but he recently got in with Connie to help protect the eaglets during the latest storm – and to reassure the family that it really wasn’t all that bad! Today it looked like he was going to get the angler’s award, too. That nest is full of fish. No one is going hungry on Clive’s watch. Connie picked well.
‘A’ sends her remarks: “It’s raining again at Captiva tonight but it looked to me as though lots and lots of dry grasses were brought in during the morning – by afternoon, the nest looked to have a thick dry layer on top. The littles are so cute and I am worried about the dampness on this nest, especially with more rain at the moment. It is nothing like the other night but the nest is still not dry from the storm. The parents have obviously worked hard to get a thick dry layer on top but I hope it is enough. Clive has been doing a lot of aerating too. He’s such a good dad – he does a lot of feedings too, making sure he takes care of both eaglets. He often feeds one and then the other (you will notice that on the logs). I am so impressed by him.
But then, the more you watch these birds, the more impressive you realise many of them really are. I haven’t had time this season to have much of a look at Thunder and Akecheta, but any couple that routinely fledges three has to be doing something very right indeed. So that is a pair I would like to get to know a lot better. Their nests are not only successful but largely peaceful from what I have observed. I have not seen any bonking problems at West End and nothing that would ever make one worry about siblicide. That doesn’t happen by accident. And of course Ron and Rose are becoming an old married couple by now, gaining in experience and becoming better parents by the season. I am so hopeful for Gabby and Beau but it will be an interesting season, assuming these eggs are viable. Beau has good protective instincts and he is obedient to Gabby, which is a good start. I am keeping my fingers crossed that he also becomes a great provider, but that is the big unanswered question, isn’t it?
I am still concerned at SWFL. I fear we may have a tragedy at this nest. I cannot believe that a bird with the experience of M15 is not making it clear to F23 that this is not safe practice here, and certainly not this year after what we saw pre-laying. Both adults were knocked from their perches by the GHOs at least twice, and surely that is enough to warn them. After all, these owls are their major predators. I really find it very difficult to understand. What are your ideas on this? Why are they leaving the eaglets totally unprotected and in such danger?”
To answer ‘A’, everyone continues to worry about Beau’s ability to provide for Gabby and the eaglets post-hatch. Now, of course, there is the chance that the pair will change roles with Gabby procuring the food for the family and Beau brooding the eaglets. It doesn’t sound like a real possibility, but the eagles always surprise me. I just hope that we do not have a situation here like we had last year at two of the nests when the new male did not realize the hatchlings were to be fed, not eaten. We are just going to have to wait and see and that day is fast approaching. As for M15 and F23 leaving the eaglets, I am a little suprised because of the presence and tenacity of that GHO. Perhaps the eagles know something that I do not. Certianly if the adult eagles are asleep, they might not hear the GHO approaching in time. Again, we will just have to wait and see how this season transpires and hope beyond hope that the motto, ‘Trust the Eagles’ prevails in a good way.
Beau decided to burn one of the eggs this year like he did last year. Gabby wasn’t having it and she uncovered that precious one. https://youtu.be/SAvMuo-jEPY?
Some people spent New Year’s counting albatross on nests. How lovely.
Liberty and Guardian spent their time working on that new nest after their nest tree finally collapsed a few weeks ago. https://youtu.be/iZ1Hq9z4veM?
Wilko and Kasse each have a fish so far on Thursday. Mum and Dad are doing well.
And Mum did much better:
Gorgeous Kasse.
On Friday both kids waiting for fish.
There are no eaglets in nests except in Florida at the moment. It won’t be long until there are eaglets everywhere and like this one in Alaska that was rescued earlier in the year, the wildlife rehabilitation centres will be bursting at the seams.
I love the stuffy.
Remember the clinics always need our help. Clean sheets, towels, bleach, laundry soap, tools, pet carriers, stuffys, and monetary donations. You could also volunteer your time!
Input is being sought on the release of White-tailed Eagles in the UK – with several groups taking on projects after the success of the Roy Dennis Foundation on the Isle of Wight.
There is a new female at the Achieva Credit Union nest and I wish there was a younger male, too, but it appears that Jack is there. I am 90% certain that the female bird on this nest is the female fledgling of 2020 who defended this nest against adults when she had barely fledged (June) and who stayed around and returned several times later. She has a heart on the top of her head in espresso black. She went 79 hours without food. Was given up for dead several times as a wee, wee one. Was saved because her Mum brought those big catfish on that nest and fed her privately once Diane realised that this third hatch wasn’t going anywhere. Well, I believe this female is Tiny Tot Tumbles. Thanks, MP for that head shot!
I wish I were younger! Just look at this great opportunity. If you know of anyone that might be eligible and would be interested, please pass this information on to them. A fully funded PhD – that is what I had to the University of Leicester – and it is worth a truck full of gold and more. Pass the information along, please.
‘A’ is only one of hundreds who have written to me about Angel, the Leucistic Red Tail Hawk who had her nest in Tennessee. What happened to her? No one knows. ‘A’ writes: “ill searching for any word on the fate of Angel and Tom. There is none, though I am not the only person looking for news. I get such a bad feeling when I think about what has happened. We would not recognise Tom in the absence of Angel – if someone were to see him, the ID could not be certain. So it is her that we would recognise and the fact that she has not been seen is very worrying indeed. Not a body either, so she hasn’t had a flying accident or caught bird flu. The landowner has kept an eye out for them I am sure – I know that was the case back when they first disappeared and I imagine that would continue in the course of the day-to-day operations on the property. So we would probably know if she had been killed or had died within or near her territory.
I do suspect she has been trapped by someone and is imprisoned in a cage somewhere or even dead. I suppose I would prefer that she be dead than locked up for life in a cage. Birds bred in captivity are one thing (and not a nice one) but those who have lived a wild and natural life like Angel would suffer dreadfully from being restrained. It makes me want to cry. Not a week passes that I don’t search the web for some news of her. “
One of the biggest problems with the streaming cams is this. No one wants anyone to know where the nest is unless it is made public. I won’t go into how people can find nests because I don’t want to add any more stress to our raptors and I don’t want to give away methods and secrets. Despite the claims to try and hide the locations, many of the chat moderators give away far too much information. It makes me really upset. The nest of Angel was one of those – too much information. We already know that there are international crime circuits that collect eggs and birds. Wonder how much a pure white Red-tail Hawk was worth? She definitely could have been trapped. She could have died of Avain Flu. She could have died of West Nile Virus. She could have been shot. She could have died of natural causes. Anyone that is on a chat – whether they are a moderator or a chatter – should never ever mention anything about where they live especially if they live in close proximity and check on nests. Criminals are clever. Nothing should be mentioned. Not even the weather! And those cameras should be careful what they show in the background. Believe me people can put the pieces together if they are intent on doing harm and making money.
Gabby and Beau continue incubation. It won’t be long now – a little over a week til we will be waiting for hatch at the NE Florida nest.
Clive continues to prove himself, over and over. Those little eaglets are the cutest things – even with fish juice all over them.
There is worry for F23 leaving those eaglets alone on the nest with that GHO about. But look at those little cutie pies with their dark thermal down coming in and their pin feathers.
Look at the body shape of the SW Florida eaglets compared to Captiva. This will give you an idea of the growth that happens in just a couple of weeks.
Look at that fluffy white mohawk.
I wish Mum would stay in that nest all night tonight!
The image below comes from the following publication: tps://www.researchgate.net/publication/313384900_Monitoring_Bald_Eagles_in_Southwest_Alaska_Network_Parks_Standard_Operating_Procedures_Version_10?enrichId=rgreq-410614b7533b2248c3f0ad792f63b549-XXX&enrichSource=Y292ZXJQYWdlOzMxMzM4NDkwMDtBUzo0NTg4NTI4NjE3Nzk5NzBAMTQ4NjQxMDQ1NTgxMA%3D%3D&el=1_x_3&_esc=publicationCoverPdf
Look at the image above and then look at the screen captures from the SW Florida nest to see the age and development of the plumage of the eaglets.
This poster was created by the Southwestern Bald Eagle Management Committee. Look carefully. It will not be long that M15 and F23’s eaglets will be moving quickly to image C.
Peregrine Falcons are amazing. 42 days. An incredible journey.
What an amazing osprey nest in South Australia.
If anyone ever tells you that our raptors and other mammals (non-humans) do not have emotions and do not grieve, please share this tragic story with them.
The increasing tragedy of bird migration when cities will not turn their lights off. It is so simple and yet few have had the tenacity to flip the switch. It angers me just like my city does when it decides to shoot the deer and the coyotes and not question its planning model.
Sasha Dench and Conservation without Borders are trying to save ospreys from power line deaths. https://youtu.be/jlkw1cGA8aI?
Thank you so much for being with us today. Please take care. See you soon!
Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘A, Geemeff, J, MP’, SK Hideaways, Friends of Midway Atoll National Wildlife Preserve, Port Lincoln Ospreys, Bart M and the PLO, Alaska Raptor Centre, Raptor Persecution UK, NEFL-AEF, Window to Wildlife, SW Florida Eagle Cam, Researchgate, Southwestern Bald Eagle Management, Sandeepa Imasha Punsara, Fran Solly, The Guardian, Achieva Credit Union, Conservation without Borders
I hope this posting finds all of you well and happy.
We are getting so excited. Solstice arrives on Sat, Dec 21, 2024, 3:19 a.m. on the Canadian Prairies. The animals will get all of their gifts. Our offerings to the Garden Animals will be finished Friday morning. So grateful that Brock’s heated food dishes have arrived! What a relief. Let us hope that it works in this dreadful cold. The Girls and Brock will have a roast chicken dinner to fill them to their whiskers.
Cookies and cakes are at hand. Food and snacks are ready for Saturday. Then on Sunday our granddaughter will be here with us. She is heading to Australia to see a lovely lad she met in Paris who has been to Winnipeg already. It must be serious.
Brock’s heated bowls.
Hugo Yugo has taken her last pain treatment, is eating well, resting, and playing. She did well thanks to all of your good wishes!
News is scant in Bird World with only one eagle nest with eaglets and all others either incubating or bare of eggs still. The North American Osprey season begins in Florida, but not yet and the European and UK birds are still wintering as are those from North America that do not migrate. The Australian osplets have fledged and it is not hawk and falcon season yet as winter hangs upon us still.
I continue to be completely dismayed that our beautiful raptors continue to be killed over Scotland when it is highly illegal to do so. Precisely why do the Legislators and Judges permit this to continue?
Liberty and Guardian love pre-dawn bonding. The collapse of their long time nest did not deter them from moving on. Lessons that we should learn. https://youtu.be/lIuiKfq-dkU?
Mum, Wilko, and Kasse on the nest at Port Lincoln waiting for fish.
Supplementary fish were delivered on Friday. Each chick had some food. Yes!
Kasse and Wilko on the nest on a blustery Saturday morning. Before the winds got up, Wilko tried catching a fish. Incredible. Wonder if both fledglings watched Mum fish successfully from the nest?
Fish fairy delivery came early on Saturday.
Requests continue to go out for any sighting of the female from the South Australian Coobowie Osprey nest.
The SW Florida nest is full of pieces of huge fish. These two little ones, E24 and E25 will never starve as long as M15 is around.
I love ‘A’s narratives: “F23 is not as diligent with E25 as M15 is, but dad is making sure the younger hatch is eating well. The little one is three and a half days younger than E24, which is a really significant gap for it to make up, but the size gap is not significant. Indeed, there are times when their egg teeth offer the easiest way to tell them apart! At other times, the development of thermal down is more evident on E24, while E25 is still covered in baby fluff. But the baby is feisty, starting some of the rumbles itself and standing up for itself during others. It does not seem to me that E25 is being prevented from eating by E24, though F23 does sometimes take the easier path and concentrates on the nearest beak, usually E24’s. Certainly, there are plenty of feedings (approximately 10 today) and both parents are involved in feeding duties (fortunately for E25). Our hero M15 is as always taking care of his younger hatch, and I continue to have confidence in him. “
Let us hope that Beau turns out to be as good at providing family meals as he is currently at incubating. That would be grand. Meanwhile, Gabby has had to protect her eggs against a squirrel.
‘A’ is thinking the same as I am: “At NEFL, Gabby has allowed Beau to incubate since soon after 3pm. At 3am, he is still on the nest, doing overnight incubation duties for the very first time. Gabby is sleeping soundly on Wallenda, very nearby of course but trusting Beau to care for the precious eggs. She is giving him increasing responsibility in that regard, presumably preparing him for the chicks to come. It is lovely to watch the bond growing between this pair, whose romance has been a slow-burning affair that is finally coming to fruition this season. We have such high hopes for this nest. “
Gorgeous female at John Bunker Sands has her two eggs to incubate. Thanks ‘MP’ for the screen capture.
The scene at the Midway Atoll where the Laysan Albatross are looking for their mate.
Have you ever seen a budgie have a shower? Did you know how much they loved it? Compliments of ‘J’.
Thank you so much for being with us today. Take care. See you soon!
Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘A, J, MP’, Raptor Persecution UK, SK Hideaways, Port Lincoln Ospreys, Bart M and the PLO, Friends of Osprey Sth Aus, SW Florida Eagle Cam, NEFL-AEF, Friends of Midway Atoll Wildlife Refuge, John Bunker Sands Wetlands Eagle Cam, Robert Fuller, The Guardian
First – just look at SE33 ready to take on the world! Just about.
SE33 is just gorgeous. Look at the amazing plumage pattern on those underwings! I wish this incredible eagle a long, long life, full of prey items, a wonderful mate, and lots of little eaglets. Do it for SE34, too – SE33, you have to live life to the fullest for both of you.
There will be some small squeeze treats for The Girls today to celebrate the anniversary of Hugo Yugo’s arrival. Was it as cold last year as it is this morning, -15 C. The sky is the most transparent, brightest blue we have seen for some time. There are sun dogs on either side, iridescent like someone sprayed gold and bronze paint on them. Sundogs are atmospheric optical phenomena that appear as bright light spots on either side of the sun at about 22 degrees. They are red on the inside and white on the outside. The sundog varies in shape and size of the ice crystals that create them. They appear when the sun or moon shines through a thin cirrus cloud of hexagonal ice crystals. The ice crystals then refract the light causing the sundogs to appear. Living in Winnipeg, you know it is very cold if you see them.
The snow that has fallen the past couple of days makes the outdoors seem even brighter. There are no girls in the conservatory. They had their breakfast and opted for the sitting room where it is warmer to their paws. I close off the conservatory at night, something that I did not do last year. I want to see if there is any savings. It might just equal out by having to heat it right up every morning.
In the garden, there are a few Sparrows, a single Red Squirrel and a dozen Starlings wanting breakfast. Someone ate all the cat kibble so that has been replaced in case Brock shows up. He seems to not like snow or cold weather. I do not blame him!
Oh, Dyson’s kits have shown up!
The wind is picking up. Both Crows have now arrived for peanuts so all we are missing in the garden count are the two Blue Jays.
I forgot to leave the kibble for the Starlings so out I go!
With the arrival of the egg for Ron and Rita at the WRDC, it is only a matter of days before we start seeing eggs in the other nests, I hope. Will Gabby and Beau be next?
Beau has been checking out the nest bowl all morning at NE Florida. He also brought Gabby a fish gift – an improvement on last year! Will Gabby get to be a Mum again? It has been some time. Beau has protected the nest and kept off any attempts at a takeover. He is a great protector. Last year, he didn’t know what to do. Let’s see what happens this year. I am just grateful that those eggs did not hatch last year.
All is well at SW Florida and Captiva. Incubation continues at both nests. We are now less than a fortnight away from hatch for M15 and F23 in Fort Myers, Florida.
The nest bowl at Captiva is soooo deep.
Liberty and Guardian have been at the nest and goodness. Let’s get these eaglets hatched and up and flying before the real heat arrives.
Skye and Blaze were both hit hard by a GHO during the night at Eagle Country. Both eagles returned to the nest in the morning. The presence of GHOs is becoming even more alarming this year as storms and fires have destroyed good nesting spots.
Adult Black-winged kites are about the size of small falcons. They are the softest light grey underneath with a steel blue grey plumage above, black shoulders and wing coverts that give them their name. They have bright yellow legs and distinctive red eyes. They live near farming lands with woods, semi-desert areas, and open savannahs. They are versatile in their hunting styles – hovering like kestrels or gliding low over the fields like a harrier. Their geographical location is Western Europe, SE Asia, the Indian subcontinent, and the coast of Africa.
The New York Times published an article about Bird Flu. We cannot dismiss it and West Nile Virus as contributing factors to raptor mortality this year, along with lead and rodenticide poisoning, loss of habitat, and direct human interaction such as shooting.
Do you know about the blue socks helping the Blue Booty? And the two brothers that are helping? Will and Matty? Socks are $16 US and shipping is free in the US. $5 internationally. —— Young people doing something wonderful for the world and especially if it involves feathers really warms my heart!
All About Birds Cool Facts about Blue-footed Booby:
To stay cool in very hot environments, Blue-footed Boobies sometimes defecate on their feet (a behavior called urohydrosis). They also flutter the skin of their throats (the gular pouch) by rapidly vibrating bones in their throat, which creates evaporative cooling through the open mouth.
The blue color of Blue-footed Booby’s feet varies in its intensity. Boobies with bluer feet appear to have more success in finding a mate than birds with duller blue feet. One study looked at foot color in relation to the health of young chicks and found that healthiest chicks tended to have fathers with intensely blue feet—possibly an indication of the father’s ability to keep himself well fed. Although the famous mating display might seem comical to humans, the display of foot color provides critical information on a bird’s health and ability to provide for young.
The Blue-footed Booby makes no nest, but lays its eggs on bare ground. The incubating birds defecate while on the nest, and the eggs become surrounded by a circular wall of excrement.
Calico’s Tip for the Day for those that have feral cat shelters and live in snowy areas:
It is hard to imagine, but an osprey was photographed in Cork, Ireland yesterday. It has not migrated. I wonder how many are still in England?
In 2024, the death rate for osprey chicks internationally was super high. It was 26.6%. These are clearly documented instances. We know of many other deaths related to starvation along the Chesapeake Bay, but we do not have enough detailed information on the nests to post the information on the data forms. The mortality figures would have been considerably higher.
As it stands, this is 6% higher than in 2023.
‘J’ sends the Rita the Eagle Update:
Thank you so much for being with us today. Please take care. See you soon.
Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog today: ‘J, RP’, Judy Harrington, NEFL-AEF, SW Florida Eagle Cam, AEF, Window to Wildlife, FORE, Eagle Country, WATOP. Port Lincoln Ospreys, Review Bird Nest, The New York Times, Hob Osterlund, Sharon Dunne, Will and Matty, Cornell All About Birds, The Guardian, Winnipeg Missing and Found Cat Watch, International Osprey Data Project, Rita the Eagle and Marathon
Thursday was cold, and the wind was blowing the snow around so that, at times, you could not see anything—a ‘whiteout.’ We have had a coyote in our neighborhood, along with the four deer I was trying to find. The news came early Thursday that the Department of Conservation had to shoot the coyote after it had chased the deer into heavy traffic, killed one, and partially eaten it. The coyote also nearly attacked a child when the child came near to where it was sleeping. No doubt, the poor creature was starving and may have been ill. We now have three deer. Several are providing them with supplementary food. Tomorrow, I plan to approach our market, which is well known for its fruit and vegetables, to see if they will donate the unsalable items that deer can eat. That would be wonderful.
We hope everyone who celebrated had a good day and that each of you found time, no matter where you are, to just sit and pause and think of all the little things for which we are grateful.
Bird World is bringing us good news.
There is not much more that can be said for that heading! Incredible. Wisdom – the oldest known wild bird in the world – has outlived numerous mates and is set to raise another Moli in 2025! Can you see me smiling? It seriously doesn’t get much better than this.
In addition to this great news about Wisdom and her egg, we also have images of SE33. What a beautiful sea eagle fledgling. Gorgeous. He is in good condition and will be trained to fly strong and hunt before being released. I really hope that they put a tracker on him.
Wisdom even tops the fact that Dr Green is coming in on a day when she would normally not be in the surgery to clean Hugo Yugo’s teeth and take out those incisors. January 6. The little sweetie will get some relief. She is still woozy from those vaccinations but eating well.
Before you read this short article on what migratory ducks eat on their journey, write down six things you think would be on that menu. See how well you did!
Someone I know well met a naturalist who knows nothing about ospreys and spreads disinformation in person and on line. Because this individual uses the title ‘naturalist’, people believe them. Several years ago, ‘SS’ and I caused a lot of grief at the Collins Marsh Osprey platform when the Only Bob, Malik, had a forced fledge. The caretaker at the time used the title ‘naturalist’ and they did not and would not respond to our alarm calls for help. Wildlife rehabilitation personnel who we contacted attempted to go to the property to search and help the osplet and were refused permission to enter the grounds. As a consequence, Malik died.
‘SS’ and I learned a lot from that event, especially that anyone can call themselves a naturalist, just like a person can get a truck and a hammer and say they are a contractor! No qualifications required. So when you see disinformation online or hear it, step up. Have a conversation. State the facts you know calmly, pointing out their errors. You can help someone learn every day. Also, do not let anyone undermine the value of streaming cams. Much of the new information on ospreys and other birds comes from the diligent observations of nests on streaming cams by citizen scientists.
Brian Collins is working hard to show that the osprey deaths in the Bay are directly linked to a lack of Menhaden. We wonder when the last one will be taken like the Cod in the area???
Kansas City Bald Eagles Ellie and Harvey are back for another fun packed year and are bonding at the nest! https://youtu.be/cuoqS2j4f-M?
M15 certainly picked a gorgeous mate who turned out to be an exceptional mother. F23 is even stunning when she takes a bath! https://youtu.be/AupKhKyckWs?
Half way to seeing those little eaglets!
Talk about stunners though, just look at Wilko and Kasse! They are two of the most beautiful osprey chicks I have ever seen. And this Mum is one of the most amazing. It is extremely rare for the females to leave the chicks to bring fish to the nest. That is the job of the males. It does happen later when the fledglings are bulking up for migration and – yes, it does happen at other times but this is rare. A good example is 2024 when CJ7 helped Blue 022 feed their four osplets ensuring they all survived.
Mum must be enjoying that light and being able to dive off the nest and get a fish!
Dad came in with a partial fish that was eaten quickly. Wilko has been working its wings and getting some air under them.
Some of us have been wondering about their brother Ervie. I posted a question about him on the FB page of Friends of Osprey South Australia. Will keep you posted!
Not a lot of activity was going on at the NE Florida nest of Gabby and Beau on Thursday. Think they got invited for Thanksgiving dinner?
The fundraiser for Montana Osprey Project was, I hope, a huge success. The pens are beautiful! I don’t know if they have any left. They are refillable and well, who wouldn’t want a stick from the ‘miracle nest of 2024’.
The endangered Cockatoo in Australia is also very long lived. “Eight Carnaby’s cockatoos aged between 21 and 35 years have been recorded, according to research published in Pacific Conservation Biology. The oldest bird, at 35 years old, was first recorded as an egg in August 1986. The report co-author Peter Mawson, a researcher with Western Australia’s biodiversity department, said the male cockatoo “looked as healthy as the day he left the nest”, and was still breeding when last sighted in 2021.”
Many are vegetarians and my inbox was flooded with images of turkeys celebrating Thanksgiving by having their own feasts instead of being eaten.
Cal Falcons has a winter fundraiser that is underway in case you are interested.
Thank you so much for being with us today. We hope to see you soon.
Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘J’, Hob Osterlund, EagleCam, Ducks Unlimitied Canada, Brian Collins, whro, Androcat, SW Florida Eagle Cam, Port Lincoln Ospreys, Bart M and PLO, Heidi McGrue, NEFL-AEF, Montana Osprey Project, Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Cal Falcons
Today is Thanksgiving in the US. (We had ours eons ago). My calendar tells me that I got the date correct this time. We will make a special pumpkin pie to celebrate with our American readers. It doesn’t take a special day for me to be thankful for each of you for opening your hearts and lives to me throughout the years. I always enjoy hearing from you, seeing the images of your faithful pets or the birds in your gardens, and hearing about the wonders of your holidays, road trips, or just the musings of your day. That you have allowed me into your life is so precious, and I am very grateful and touched.
I am also grateful for my life, no matter how challenging. Every day I enjoy with my husband is a real gift. Each minute is treasured. I urge you to cherish all the beautiful moments – they are fleeting like the delicate snowflakes that fall. I wondered what life might be like, but that no longer happens. We have not allowed Lewy Body Dementia to destroy us. We travel, see birds daily, play with and read to our girls, have dinner with friends and family, watch movies and laugh hysterically. We are even starting back on writing the children’s book about garden birds. What more would I want?
I am also grateful to The Girls. They are huge characters who bring so much comfort and laughter. Of course, there is also Brock, Dyson and her family, Junior and the Missus, and the two Crows. Sadly, I cannot tell one sparrow from the other, but their presence is huge. You can hear the bird song from our garden a half block away, where there is nothing but silence.
I am also grateful to all of the writers who have brought the most amazing stories – real and not – into our lives this year. We are reading Chloe Dalton’s book, Raising Hare, for the second time. It is the story of how caring for a leveret changed Dalton’s life. It is writers like her that give me hope. We have just finished reading The Serviceberry by Robin Wall Kimmerer. The Saskatoon or Serviceberry is a metaphor for the gift economy and how each of us can, through simple grassroots, ways help change the type of rampant consumerism that lies at the heart of our climate crisis. Public libraries, free farm stands where surplus produce is left for anyone to take and use, The Little Free Libraries doting the neighbourhoods where you live, clothing depots for people who need something to wear to a job they thought they would never get — free gifts that trickle through society. We can all take part!
So thank you to all of you, to my husband struggling with Lewy Body Dementia, my children and close friends, to my girls and the garden animals who make my life worth living.
Now for something fun related to Thanksgiving, Audubon published 10 Fun Facts about Wild Turkeys. See how many you know!
Today, we were scheduled to take Missey and Calico to the vet. However, I have been concerned about Hugo Yugo’s teeth since we adopted her, so at the last minute, I decided to bring Hugo Yugo instead of Calico. It turned out to be a good decision. My fear of dental issues stems from losing Lewis last year. Unfortunately, Hugo Yugo does have dental problems, but thankfully, her condition is not as severe as Lewis’s was.
We have been using dental wipes and brushing her teeth every day, which has helped keep the issue manageable. However, she will need professional cleanings every six months. Hugo Yugo is scheduled to have a cleaning and surgery to remove her incisors. Our vet has offered to come in during her holiday if Hugo Yugo stops eating, but we are hoping to secure an appointment within the next two months.
Please send your warmest wishes to little Hugo Yugo, as she is in considerable pain but is not showing any signs of it.
The pair really looked over that office. They even had a chance for play fighting and at the end of the day they both wanted to come home together in the same cat carrier, not separately. Enjoy.
Missey is well-behaved, gentle, and extremely healthy. She has only gained 300 grams in a year. No teeth problems! No gum problems. Maine Coon. How lucky were we to get this loving motherly cat? Someone found her under a truck only a couple of days old.
Hugo Yugo was into everything – on every shelf!
Getting acquainted with the room.
Missey knew there were some squeezy treats on that counter somewhere.
It was nice to be home. Hugo Yugo had a double dinner and has been asleep since her return.
Today, I want to introduce you to the work of Emma Buck. I found Emma through a friend in the UK and was instantly taken by the intricate stitching she uses to create her birds. I had been looking for birds for a ‘tree’ in my living room and, also as holiday gifts for friends. They fit both of my loves – our feathered friends and having beautiful handmade objects.
Emma Buck describes herself as a “Norfolk birder and ringer but have spent a lot of time in Canada and wannabe wildlife artist.” Emma has recently moved from the UK to Canada, and this year – for the next few months – her only income is derived from the gorgeous handmade birds she makes. There is no comparison to the birds made in China by a machine!
Emma did not think she could master a Blue Jay, but she tried, and this is the result. It is now her favourite, and I think she captured Junior rather well. I sure love the result!!!!!!
I hope to eventually have one of Emma’s birds for each of the species that visits our garden.
And the three altogether:
These are some of the examples of past birds and animals that Emma has created. You can see the size by comparing the bird with her hand.
These handmade gems are $45 CDN each plus shipping and handling. If you have questions or are interested in commissioning a bird or animal, here is Emma’s contact information: emmarosebuck@gmail.com
Emma also has an Instagram account, too: emmas_wildlifeart
The shock of Hugo Yugo’s need for surgery is sinking in, even though I knew there was going to be a problem early on. She does not have the underlying conditions like feline leukaemia that Lewis had, thank goodness. She has slept since coming home, but did eat well. I need to watch to make sure she continues to eat. Right now, all I want to do is cuddle up with her and a warm blanket – hoping that we can make a miracle happen overnight.
So, I had little time to check on the birds today. I constantly checked Port Lincoln because it is the only active nest. Thank goodness the rest of Bird World is relatively quiet.
The morning started off pretty rough at Port Lincoln with wind gusts and damp conditions.
Dad came through with a fish that he had eaten quite bit from. Still, it is better than nothing. It is a good day for the Fish Fairy.
By 1213, there had been no other deliveries – Mum, Dad, or Fairy. Fingers crossed.
The Fish Fairy came and delivered 10 fish. Wilko is right there and it isn’t going to be long til he is claiming one of those and unzipping it. Kasse time to figure this out! Dad claimed one. Mum and the kids got the rest. Fantastic.
I will continue to advocate that providing supplementary fish to this family in Port Lincoln ensures that the chicks not only survive to fledge, but are also healthy and strong. Thank you Fran, Janet, and Bazz.
I didn’t see any activity at the NE Florida nest of Gabby and Beau.
Holly Parsons posted a moving video of a peregrine falcon that became blind and was raised in captivity. Thanks, Holly. Wildlife are so resilient. https://youtu.be/wJCl-U6ena4?
Do you remember the only eyas raised in the flower pot in Sydney, Australia? Well, the Crawley fledgling returned to her balcony and nest after two weeks on the wing!
News from Ranger Judy on the Olympic Park Eagles. I am hoping that we will have some pictures of SE33 in rehab soon!
Wisdom has returned to Midway Island in search for a mate!!!!!!!!!!! This is amazing news. The entire staff and Laysan osprey lovers of this 74 year old albatross are giving thanks for her health and return. Let us all be grateful. She is the one with the red band on her right leg.
It’s Rita’s History Monday and ‘J’ sent me the link!
If you have been following the issues surrounding the cutting down of a Bald Eagle nest by a developer in Alabama, here is a summary that was posted of a meeting where the issues were discussed.
The Kakapo Recovery still has some adoptions open! We adopted Ralph’s father, Rangi, a couple of years ago. It is another great organization – like so many others – reaching out for help this season.
‘J’ reports that the 2024 Raptor Day at WINORR raised over $20,000 to help with Bobby Horvath’s rescue and rehabilitation efforts for raptors on Long Island.
Calico’s Tip of the Day: Ignore all of the Black Friday Week Sales. Delete the ads in your inbox. Close your eyes to the stores. Put the flyers in the recycling bin. Instead of buying a huge TV, another purse, more tools for the garage, or the temptation of a new phone or big fancy camera, pause. Think of the birds and the people who rescue and care for them, and if you can, give – a little or a lot on or before Giving Tuesday so your donation is doubled.
We wish all of you celebrating Thanksgiving a day of laughter and love with those near and dear. To everyone else, take time to be grateful for something little or big that makes your life worth getting up for. If it is a person, tell them! We all need to know we are valued. Enjoy your dinner – lots of love, effort, and expense went into it!
Thank you for being with us. Please take care. We look forward to seeing you soon.
Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to write this short blog today: ‘J’, Audubon, Emma Buck, SK Hideaways, Port Lincoln Ospreys, Judy Harrington, Hob Osterlund, Rita the Eagle, Holly Parsons, Untamed, Orange Australia Peregrine Falcons and Crawley Falcons, FORE, Dulles-Greenway Eagle Cam, Wings of Whimsy, Kakapo Recovery
We hope that you are well. The end of summer (or winter, depending on where you live) is soon coming to an end! Already some children are heading back to school. Here it is the day after Labour Day. That really does mark the end of the summer for many.
It continues to be hot, and the garden birds are spending more and more time in the baths. It looks like another host of House Sparrows has appeared in the garden. I even ‘thought’ I saw a couple of new baby red squirrels the other day, but I am not sure. I feel very sorry for them and all of the eagles and ospreys we have been monitoring who are caught in this extended heat wave. Please put out water for all the animals and change it regularly, and if you can afford it, feed them. If billions of people joined together, the lives of our feathered friends would be much improved.
Wednesday is our local Farmer’s Market. It has grown over the years to have some exceptional vendors as our neighbourhood community grows and grows in population, attracting many young professionals who like the vibe. From the original stalls selling produce, organic meats, and local honey, we now have artisan ice creams, flowers, organic breads, the most amazing dumplings, empanadas, and Japanese baking. The temperature was not so hot making it that much more congenial to mingle with friends and neighbours this afternoon.
Oh, I hope they continue to come to the market. Their handmade dumplings are delicious. And look at the price!
A mother and daughter grow fields of flowers right outside the City for the bouquets. They are lovely. Just the right size.
I wanted to show you all of the goodies, but Hugo Yugo got on top of the table before I could blink. She is always the first to be curious, quickly followed by Missey! For some reason, Hugo Yugo was not interested in dumplings. Could it have been that they were tofu and cabbage? I could easily be completely Vegan if it were not for dairy. I am trying, but ice cream and cream for my coffee get me every time.
Yes, there she is! Missey first tried the tofu cabbage dumpling and loved it. Then she moved on to the Ube Melon roll! Both got her thumbs up!
Calico and Hope are curious and sweet, but they prefer watching the animals in the garden instead of human-related ‘things’.
Before we went to the market, we stopped in at the duck pond. What a surprise. The Canada Geese were feeding on the Cricket grounds and, for the most part, the ducks had the pond all to themselves. OK. There were about twenty geese at the pond compared to hundreds feeding on the pitch. Most ducks were the sweetest little Wood Ducks – tiny compared to the Mallards. Some of the images are pretty dark despite lightening them…apologies.
I am ready for some rain. For an afternoon, curling up in a chair and reading a book, the stack on the bedside table grows, and by the time I get myself tucked in, I am too exhausted to read. I am not complaining! How many of us wish there were at least 36 hours in a day?
And to my great joy, ‘The Boyfriend’ showed up during the daylight hours. I catch him on the video cameras coming in the middle of the night, but had not seen him during the day. He looks to be in good form.
You might have noticed that we are not hearing from Heidi regularly. She is having a much-deserved break after a season of great sadness. The osplets on all the nests she has been monitoring have fledged (or died). Please give her a big round of applause so she can hear it! Thanks, Heidi, for your outstanding contributions and for taking care of all that data for me on those nests. You will never know how much I appreciate it. Thank you is hardly adequate.
I received a letter today from a family on the Potomac River that put up an osprey platform. They attracted a family that fledged two chicks. They wrote to me to enquire about siblicide occurring after fledge. What happened was that the older sibling prevented the younger one from getting any fish, and the younger one died on their lawn. Years ago, when we thought of siblicide and indeed, until a couple of years ago, the older sibling (usually) killed the younger one on the nest before the age of 21 days. With the heat domes and the lack of fish during the 2023 and 2024 seasons, we are seeing more and more competition between the fledglings of a nest and various intruders for local resources such as food.
Siblicide happened at Port Lincoln several years ago, pre-fledged at 65 days. The chick was pushed off the nest into the water and died. So there is a range. As the planet heats up and more fish dive deep or are lost to commercial fishing trawlers (unless that dire practice can be stopped), we will likely see many more deaths on the nests than we have seen this year. I regret painting a gloomy picture, but I would rather be entirely wrong than write as if we live in Disneyland where everything ends beautifully. Oh, how I wish it were so.
The Ospreys are leaving. The Storks are migrating. Shorebirds are flying south from the Arctic to their homes in South America. The move is on. Bald eagles return to check out their nests’ condition and lay claim to them again. The Eastern Ospreys are preparing to lay eggs like the falcons in Australia. We already have baby sea eaglets. For the next few months, the action will be coming to us from Australia, and then the eagles in the US will begin to lay their eggs.
We will start with a good news story about wind turbines sent to us from Geemeff. I was starting to think there was nothing good about the darn things. One of the things I hate about wind turbines is the refusal of so many factories to paint one blade black. What a simple solution someone found Let’s see what is happening here to protect the sea eagles in The Netherlands.
It is fantastic to see the fledglings return to the nest months after their first flight. Today, Alma visited the San Jose City Hall scrape to the delight of all. SK Hideaways caught it.
This is nothing short of animal cruelty. Do people think birds have no feelings? Help spread the word about the use of birds and include balloons when you ask friends to protect wildlife. Thank you.
The dark eye lines on Hope and Beaumont’s osplets are wide and magnificent. Dark beauties they are! There is a rumour that the second chick fledged on Wednesday the 21st. I did not see it and there is nothing on the FB group. Will confirm later.
Dad arrives to much enthusiasm at the Royal Albatross colony to feed the Royal Cam chick.https://youtu.be/3as5kXIFb18?
Geemeff’s daily summary for Loch Arkaig and The Woodland Trust:
Daily summary Wednesday 21st August 2024
Nest One had a few little songbird visitors today despite the wet and windy weather, but otherwise no activity. Garry LV0 was last seen briefly on Sunday 18th and seems to have left the area, so with increasing reports of final sightings from UK Osprey projects, tonight’s bonus is the excellent webinar on Osprey migration by Dr Tim Mackrill.
Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 21.35.33 (05.14.32); Nest Two 21.27.36 (05.19.35)
Iris brings fish to the nest. Sometimes there is a fledgling there to nab it! The chicks are looking good and no doubt being fed at the nest and elsewhere as Iris, we hope, is packing in the calories, too, for her long flight.
Beautiful fish arriving on the nest for C16 at the Charlo Montana nest.
Junebug on the perch at Dunrovin waiting for fish.
River has been on and off the nest all day at Sandpoint getting fish! She had a big morning brekkie to help start the day.
One lucky chick at Blackbush has a fish dinner.
I did not see anyone at home at Cowlitz. Maybe I missed our fledgling.
At Saaksilvie #1, ringed and unringed are getting some fish dinners.
Clean up crew at the Seilli nest in Finland.
I saw no activity at nest #4 on Wednesday in Finland.
Both fledglings on the nest in Latvia having some nice fish with Mum.
‘A’ reminds us: “We are on egg watch at Orange. As I mentioned, Diamond laid her first egg on 26 August last season, so we are nearing that time. There is lots of bonding and mating taking place.
22 Aug BONDING 05:50:59, 10.30.59, 14:47:34, 17:30:42 PREY 07.02.32 X takes; 07.04.12 X stashes; 09:15:07 D takes; 13.23.42 D takes
TOWER MATING 07.05.16 LR 17s, 07.06.27 LR 18s, 07.10.49 LR 15s, 07.56.23 LHC 15s, 09:46:48 MW 12s, 13.53.31 MW 10s, 13.54.48 MW 6s
Diamond and Xavier are both looking healthy, unlike the starling Xavier stashed in the front corner of the scrape this morning – Diamond has treated it with the disdain it deserves but it will be recycled in the morning. Nothing is wasted here. There is discussion on the site about the worth of maggots in starlings. Of course we know from bald eagle nests that there’s good protein in maggots. Perfectly edible. “
A big shout out to Mary Cheadle who organises all of the fundraisers for the Lock Arkaig FB group. Thousands of pounds go to The Woodland Trust each year from viewers and fans. Thanks, Mary, for all you do!
There is one more fundraiser. For a donation of 3 GBP or more, you have a chance to win some expensive books on Ospreys, totes, etc. Check out the Friends of Loch Arkaig Ospreys FB if interested. The deadline is 30 August. It is the last fundraiser of the year.
Blue 1RO was 100 days old on Wednesday. Does anyone else think s/he looks exactly like their daddy Blue 33?
It was rainy and looked like a gale was blowing at the Glaslyn nest. The fledglings still think that Aran can pull off a miracle fishing for them! Two came in early in the day but no late fish to keep those crops full during the night.
It was windy with some rain at Dyfi but the wind did not appear to be blowing as strong as it was at Glaslyn. (Maybe just me…)
It was blowing hard at Llyn Brenig – the two fledglings were holding on tight to their nest!
Juveniles at Poole Harbour screaming their heads off for fish at Poole Harbour.
Fledgling still at Mlade Buky. Nice.
New Zealand is rushing to vaccinate its native birds ahead of what they believe will be a huge outbreak of H5N1.
Thank you so much for being with us today. It is always a pleasure!
Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, letters, videos, images, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘A, Geemeff’, dutchnews.nl, SK Hideaways, Birds in Helping Hands, Newfoundland Power, Cowlitz PUD, Cornell Bird Lab, Montana Osprey Project, Charlo Montana, Dunrovin Ranch, Sandpoint Ospreys, Blackbush at Old Tracerie, Saaksilvie, LDF, Friends of Loch Arkaig Ospreys, LRWT, Bywyd Gwylld Glaslyn, Dyfi Osprey Project, Llyn Brenig Ospreys, BoPH, Mlade Buky Stork Cam, The Guardian, and Friends of Midway Atoll.
Gosh, it warmed up here in Manitoba to a balmy -17 during the day. Everyone was smiling. Seriously, it feels so much warmer than yesterday (I am writing this on Tuesday so Monday). It is now -21 C just after midnight.
‘B’ sent me a note wondering about the falcon investigations and trials. I have mentioned the theft of Peregrine Falcon chicks and eggs sold as if they were bred from captive birds in the UK. There are actually several ongoing cases involving different individuals. And, yes, the time incarcerated is so little it is almost a joke, certainly not a deterrent when these birds are fetching such high prices in the Middle East. Maybe some of the other raptor numbers in decline are due to theft? I wonder how many other countries have nests that are targeted? And why aren’t they breeding their birds in the Middle East? That might help put an end to this despicable behaviour.
The girls are fine and so is The Boyfriend. He came up to the deck to eat Tuesday afternoon instead of having ‘delivery’. There were 13 European Starlings in the garden along with the usual group of garden animals. Everyone seems to have survived the very cold temperatures. I am smiling.
Calico continues to do well on her weight loss programme. She would love to have lots of treats, but she is getting used to have 3 or 4 little nibblers. She finally let me clean her right eye today. Now, will she let me cut her nails tomorrow? Oh, I love this cat. OK. I love them all. Surprise.
Missey enjoyed having a nap by herself while Hugo Yugo and Baby Hope tore up the house playing ‘kitty cat hockey’ with a ball of paper.
Hugo Yugo watching me as I put up paint swatches for the wall behind the cat tree. It is finally time to paint and bring some life to the walls! I just wonder if she will have some other stripes? (I did finally get the little bits off of that eye!). Hugo Yugo still has her round kitten face and she is getting so fuzzy…love the eye line that resembles that of a little osprey.
The top of the cat tree is a 14 x 14 inch square. You can see how tiny this 4.5-month-old kitten is – half the square! Seven inches. Ever so little, but dynamite comes in small packages, and this is one huge character. Hugo Yugo runs her battery down to empty. If there is something to get into, she will find it. The twinkle tree has all its ornaments put on daily so that Hugo Yugo and Baby Hope can tear them off at night. Hugo Yugo seems to have two speeds – zero and 100 kph! Did I say I adore her? She is also the sweetest snuggle bug when her battery is completely flat.
On the other hand, Baby Hope is monster-size for a six-month-old. She has gorgeous almond-shaped, celadon-coloured eyes. She looks so much like Mamma Calico with that teardrop. Baby Hope is the first to come when you call her specific name and the one who always cleans up her food dish. She is a very gentle soul.
There are certain ways that Baby Hope turns her head, and I think, at a glance, that it is Calico. This is one of those.
Congratulations to Pepe and Muhlady on their second egg of the season laid Tuesday afternoon. Hard incubation and good positive wishes for this couple that lost their first clutch.
Ron made sure the nest was stocked for Rita and R6. That little one is a cutie—no word on a pip in the second egg.
With the bad weather, I am very concerned for little C11 at the Captiva Eagle Nest.
‘A’ comments “The only food that was brought in today was the head of a catfish that Connie caught and obviously ate most of herself. She has to eat. The little ones got a few mouthfuls only – perhaps three or four at most for CE11, who did clean up the leftovers and even tried to swallow the bone. (CE10 did finish the ibis bone later in the day.) There has now been virtually no food at all for CE11 for over two days. If he doesn’t eat well tomorrow, he won’t make it. Luckily, the weather is forecast to clear, but it has been a very hard couple of days for the eaglets. CE10 has been no more aggressive than usual, which is a bonus, but if they have a third day like this tomorrow, there will definitely be at least one casualty on this nest, which is horrifying to contemplate. Clive brought nothing in all day, and only one speckled trout the day before (from which CE11 effectively got nothing). So this is a very unexpected situation for Captiva to find itself in… The good news is that both of the PSs I have seen from CE11 today have been healthy. That is something.”
“I’m praying for a large, early fish. Problem is that both parents are hungry too, so like early yesterday morning, when Connie headed off and quickly caught that catfish, only the remnants of its head were brought back to the nest at 08:17. CE11 did get three or four smallish mouthfuls off it – he got himself quickly to the table and it appeared that Connie wants both her babies to live because she was very careful to ensure that he got a little bit of that catfish head. Not much, but she coaxed him to start eating fast, not wait for CE10 to allow it! He also cleaned up a piece that had been left on the nest and even tried to eat a long thin bony bit (he picked any flakes off it first). So a couple of mouthfuls, though as I said, during the day he did do a couple of PSs that looked healthy. He had only two mouthfuls of the partial fish Connie brought in about 4.07pm and apparently spat one of those out. And he got nothing at all from the little piece of fish Clive brought in about 4:13pm. So CE11 has had just enough to survive a little longer. But he must eat and eat properly as early as possible today (17 January). At least both parents ate today and CE10 had enough to eat – just. She is, however, becoming much more aggressive towards CE11, who is in turn becoming increasingly submissive. At the last feeding of the day, around 4.17pm, CE10 got a small but adequate meal, while CE11 was too frightened to even lift his head until the food was pretty much gone. His hunger did drive him to take a few risks today, none of which really paid off for him. I’m very worried, though at least he’s still trying. He is looking a little unsteady though, perhaps suggesting he is getting a little weak and disoriented. Tonight, it is not raining and it is not too cold, so hopefully the little ones will dry out, which should help a bit with energy conservation.”
Ron is at the nest as of Wednesday night. Let us hope that C11 has had enough food and will get more fish tomorrow – oh, please.
Great news. C11 has a huge crop! Life is good.
“Both eaglets have eaten now – you should watch that feeding (from about 08:08). CE11 was so smart. His crop is now actually larger than CE10’s! He has had a big morning – self-feeding, learning to shelter on the far side of Connie, and demonstrating sheer courage in the face of CE10’s aggression. And to cap everything off, he did a PS at around 08:03 that proved he still had something in the reserve tank – he would have made it another day, even had there been nothing to eat today IMHO. I could be wrong, but that’s what his behaviour and his PS suggested to me this morning.”
Small fish delivery by Clive. Every bite keeps C11 going until more food can come on the nest.
More fish came after 0900 and C11 is filling its tank again. C10 has already a huge crop.
There is concern for Ruby and Jack, the Ospreys at Captiva. ’H’ reports, “Ruby was last seen on cam on 1/11. Jack was seen every day until yesterday, and was even bringing fish to the nest, waiting for Ruby. Jack was a no show yesterday. The area has been inundated with really lousy weather for several days. Lori has been at her Captiva home since 12/30. She said that Ospreys in general seem to have vacated the immediate area. Yesterday, the only O seen on cam was an unidentified flyby.”
The weather tapered off at Fort Myers. Little E23 is doing well – has had many full crops. No worries at this nest after the fright over the fish bone the other day.
A dual feeding, something that M15 loves to do! Precious.
R6 is doing fantastic. ’H’ reminds us: ”At Dade: No pip on R7 egg yet…will be 38 days today at 1355.”
At the NEFL nest, both get a fright. Pip watch should not be for another ten days, around the 27th, perhaps – if that egg is viable.ls
The annual review of the year from Centreport, New York has been posted on FB. I cannot post those links on my blog but if you are interested, you can go to the FB page of the Centreport Eagles and find it.
No word of a pip coming from Berry College yet.
‘H’ sends news and a video of the storm and damage at Hog Island.
Good news coming out of Port Lincoln. The chick that was at Whaler’s Way fledged and has returned to the nest. Excellent news. This is that very precious nest on the cliffs.
At the Port Lincoln Barge, there were three fish deliveries by 1315. Gil got the breakfast fish at 0641 while Brad took the 1235 delivery by Dad and the large fish at 1315 delivered by Mum!
Condor in care doing well.
I am loving seeing all the birds from where I grew up. There were so many hawks then. Look at this beautiful image below. You might think it is a Red-tailed Hawk if you did not look at ‘the tail’. Look. It is a ‘Red shouldered’ Hawk and isn’t she a beauty? Wow.
The weather in Oklahoma dipped to 0 degrees F but felt like -17 F with the wind chill on Tuesday.
Big Red and Arthur were out with another hawk on the Cornell Campus on Tuesday. When it is cold the little critters hunker down. Big Red in all her glory. I am putting the photograph Suzanne took of the ‘visitor’ below. It has light eyes and could well be one of the Ms visiting the nest area. Big Red and Arthur did not seem to be concerned.
It’s cold everywhere and people are looking to feed the birds to help them make it through the freezing weather. Here is another recipe, a Vegan one, for bird suet.
Thank you so much for being with me today. Take care of yourself. Stay warm and safe during these periods of extreme cold weather wherever you are. We hope to have you back with us soon.
Thank you to the following for their notes, videos, posts, images, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog today: ‘A, B, Geemeff, H, J’, Raptor Persecution UK, Gracie Shepherd, WRDC, Window to Wildlife, SW Florida Eagle Cam, SK Hideaways, WRDC, NEFL-AEF, Berry College Eagle Cam, Friends of Hog Island, PLO, Ventana Wildlife Society, Oklahoma Ornithological Society, Suzanne Arnold Horning, Real Gardens, Saving Marion Island’s Seabirds, USFWS, Audubon Florida, and Bird Guides.
We had an ‘Alberta Clipper’ hit southern Manitoba overnight on Wednesday, and when we woke up Thursday morning, all of the main roads surrounding the city were closed. They reopened at 0845, but many city streets were blocked. There is not a vehicle moving where I live. It is wonderfully quiet. What was different, also, was the traffic at the bird feeders. The Crows arrived – two of them – for peanuts. They were joined by five woodpeckers, 4 Chickadees, and 2 Blue Jays, the usual cohort of squirrels and sparrows.
I have been talking about the Crows and how I noticed that they have not been around the neighbourhood. It was worrisome. The other day, I saw one at the corner waiting for a neighbour to put out food. They were not coming to the garden. Today they are here. Oh, tears. Joyful tears.
Our City has marked diseased trees and sadly, their nesting trees are due for cutting. We are all hoping that they will find another tree. These trees were planted in 1902. They are huge and made a beautiful canopy once the leaves were fully out in the spring. It is so sad to see them needing to be taken down. There are others being planted in their place but it will be a decade or more before they are even a decent height, never mind 60 for 70 feet in height.
The Blue Jay in profile is the baby that slept with the ornamental birds in the garden last summer. It is here with its dad, Junior. These seem to be the only two Blue Jays still in the neighbourhood that did not migrate (or die).
The male Downy. Notice the red patch at the back of the head near the nape.
This is the male Hairy Woodpecker.
One of Dyson’s kits was enjoying peanuts, too!
It is one of the female Downy Woodpeckers eating the suet on the big table feeder.
As a result of the activity in the garden, I spent much time in the conservatory watching rather than on the computer – something that I ask all of you to do! It was so nice. There is no hatch news so it is simply the status quo so far.
Iowa got some snow, too, and the eagles at Decorah North were doing a bit of cleaning up.
The Hatchery Eagles stayed in the trees.
Sunny Florida on Thursday. At the nest of Gabby and Beau, Beau is really coming into adulthood. He is helping Gabby and has incubated twice on Thursday. As the hatch approaches, let us all send positive messages that this egg is viable and that Beau begins to bring prey to Gabby and their chick.
We do not ever have to worry about E23 not getting enough prey!
E23 tried to yank that rabbit out of the nesting material to eat it today. Our little eaglet is getting pin feathers and will soon have some dandelions as the thermal down comes in. You can also now see the ear.
Rose is not giving any hints at the WRDC nest on Thursday.
At Captiva, C10 and C11 are sleeping with the fishes.
Shadow brought in the first fish of this season on Wednesday!
Heavy rains caused flooding at the Duke Farms Bald Eagle nest on Wednesday.
SE31 continues to put smiles on our faces.
Changeover at the Royal Albatross Colony. Everything is OK.
Marri’s return to the nest and – some memories thanks to SK Hideaways.
In California, Monty and Hartley want one another’s breakfast!
The Audubon Centre for Birds of Prey in Maitland – one of our favourite wildlife rehabilitation centres – released its 700th eagle into the wild! This is where Bailey, the Osprey, is an ambassador and where Connick was cared for before going off to the Smithsonian as an Ambassador.
You are looking at the only breeding pair of Short-tailed Albatross at the Midway Atoll and they are feeding a chick. They also breed on Mukojima, Ogasawara Islands, Japan.
Pesky intelligent Kakapo do not like staying in their enclosure.
New comes about one of the Hancock Eagles from British Columbia.
Thank you so much for being with me today. We are anxiously awaiting a pip or hatch at both the WRDC and Berry College. See you soon!
Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to compose my blog today: ’A, H, J’, Raptor Research Project, NEFL-AEF, Jan Lester, SW Florida Eagle Cam, WRDC, FOBBV, Duke Farms, Window to Wildlife, Eagle Cam, SK Hideaways, Audubon Centre for Birds of Prey, The Guardian, Audubon, Friends of Midway Atoll, Robyne Hocking, and Hancock Wildlife Foundation.
