Category Archives: NE Florida Eagle Nest

Tuesday in Bird World

3 December 2024

Good Morning Everyone,

Well, goodness me. It is Wilko with the pink and green ring! I thought it was Kasse- thinking female here. Apologies. Kasse is red and white. So it was Wilko, not Kasse being bold as it normally was. Thanks, Heidi! I should also add that Heidi mentioned she did not get some posts since she usually catches the blog on FB. FB does not like my titles and I had PLO has a boy and a girl. FB removed that post. I am on Bluesky, too. They do not do that! Thank goodness.

Gosh, hasn’t the year flown by? It feels like yesterday we were watching M15 and F23 raise their first eaglet together, and now we are waiting for their two eggs to hatch in 2024. Time flies.

The garden animals enjoy a few treats as the days get shorter and colder. There are new nut cylinders with mealworms, and I have added some cat kibble to the Black Oil Seed supply. We are in the process of gathering up special nuts and seeds, along with some cubed pears and apples. We will be making the birds and squirrels a basket for the solstice. I suspect we will need two – one for the Crows and Jays and another for the squirrels and smaller songbirds. We want to capture some special moments with them on a Reolink Wildlife camera. The thing to remember is that I need to be IT savvy and I am not very so fingers and toes crossed. We will see if this is as easy to install and operate as they say the camera is! We can get colour images day and night without disturbing the animals and birds to show you. Of course, the feral cats will have treats, too. Today, they dental kibble and enjoyed it on top of their wet food and water. It is incredible how thirsty the feral cats can be – so please leave out water if you can. It is life-saving!

Mr Crow was pounding away on the suet today and ignoring the peanuts. The fat in the suet really helps the birds to stay warm on the cold days – and when it is sunny, the temperature is usually colder.

Brock has been around twice today and just left. It is 1536, and the sun is getting low on the horizon. It is -11. The temperature is warming, and we will have snow on Tuesday and Wednesday. I lucked into finding someone reliable who does a great job clearing our snow this year. I am so thankful.

I continue to be thankful for my beautiful life – for the joy these fantastic animals and birds bring to us, the cats, our friends and family, and you. We need a few material things, but we certainly need love and community and the hope that as we move forward, we can, in each of our ways, make a difference, whether it is that clean used towel to the rehabber, a bowl of water for a feral cat or the birds, or a donation. Together, we can move mountains.

Now let us get on to these birds and other news items that are happening.

Breaking News: YRK, the mate of the late OGK, has a new mate and a fertilized egg! Oh, my goodness. This is wonderful news.

‘MP’ has sent news that Jack was on the Achieva nest on Monday. He had been MIA for several days, and that caused considerable concern among viewers of the nest. Another osprey was there in the morning and is seen below. It wasn’t Jack or Diane. I had hoped that it was Tumbles all grown up, but the marking on her head was not the same as hers. This adult looked down at the mess on that nest – it was a mess!

Jackie and Shadow always amaze us with their hope. They never give up, and as Hob Osterlund points out, neither do these two female Laysan Albatross.

Oh, this is a huge milestone! Congratulations.

Smile. Black bears enjoying watermelon.

Wilko is 59 days old today, and Kasse is 56 days old. They are incredibly gorgeous osplets. I’m so glad that they are ringed and both have trackers.

Many of you have written to find out about the other fledglings at the PLO nest and especially Ervie. My goodness, Ervie must be one of the most beloved osprey fledglings ever. I have sent Bart a note to see if the tracking for Ervie, Bradley, and Giliath might be posted weekly. Bart is looking into it with no promises. Another firm handles the monitoring and PLO doesn’t have direct access. I have no doubt Bart will try as hard as he can. He knows how much we love those birds!

Oh, gosh, it is nearly 11 and no fish yet. After a lot of hovering, Wilko is getting peckish.

The fish fairy arrives to save the day!

Wilko did more hovering! Remember, Wilko is a male and would naturally fledge first.

It was a beautiful morning at the NE Florida nest of Gabby and Beau. Waiting for that first egg – rather impatiently as I assume everyone is!

Hello Annie!

F23 calls as she sees M15 arriving with a nice fish for her! Best to turn the volume down. https://youtu.be/vUqFK4wehI8?

Jackie and Shadow were busy having a detailed conversation! https://youtu.be/pTOkP3aWC9Q?

Fran Solly just posted a recap of Roy Dennis’s time in Port Lincoln. What a treat for everyone who was able to have dinner with this dedicated individual.

In Estonia, there was a juvenile White-tail eagle that came to visit the nest of Milda and Zorro in Durbe County. Gorgeous bird. https://youtu.be/gEv2-TERZ3c?

The Glen Turret Estate is giving up bean Grouse Shooting in favour of a dramatic ecological restoration of the land. This is part of this report:

“Regular blog readers will know that Strathbraan is dominated by a number of estates with driven grouse moors and the area has been identified in a Government-commissioned report as being a hotspot for raptor persecution. It’s also the area where NatureScot (formerly SNH) licensed a controversial raven cull in 2018 (see here) but then came under fire from its own scientific advisory committee who stated the scientific rigour of the licence was “completely inadequate“. 

Glen Turret Estate has been at the centre of police investigations into alleged wildlife crime over a period of many years (no prosecutions or General Licence restrictions, natch) so the news that it is under new management and no longer operating as a driven grouse moor is very welcome indeed.

This should mean an end to the use of things like crow-cage traps, commonly deployed [legally!] on grouse moors in all seasons, where non-target species like this Long-eared owl can no longer be caught and held for over 24 hrs in appalling weather conditions (photo by RSPB).”

Glen Turret Estate under new management – ecological restoration is in, grouse shooting is out – RapDownload

WIRES reports the miraculous save of a tiny Flying female pup (Australia). WIRES does some amazing things including providing vet care for sea eagles!

Did you know that Wood Ducks like acorns? Just look what happened at Port Louisa Wildlife Refuge in Wapello, Iowa. I wonder if some of those migrating Wood Ducks didn’t come from Manitoba.

Male (brighter with hood) and female (white teardrop behind eye) Wood Ducks at our local duck pond.

As climate change impacts the planet, there are opportunities for conservation and a cranberry farm in Massachusetts is being returned to the wetlands it once was with ducks! quacking wildly!

Cranberry farmers are now turning their bogs into wetlands – The Washington PostDownload

Benedict Cumberbatch gives us a 2 minute BBC presentation on the Kakapo! https://youtu.be/E3a88_SjJR0?

Calico’s Tip of the Day: For those celebrating Christmas and putting up a real tree, do want to keep it fresh? or do you want dry needles sticking in everyone’s socks? Well, follow these simple instructions to keep that tree fresh: Do not water your tree! First, bring the water to a boil. Then let it stand for 5 minutes, and fill the container for the trunk. This will stop the sap from getting hard and allow the water to go up the trunk. If you use cold water, it will clog the openings, and the tree will die quickly!

Smile! Baby Hope pretends she is Mamma Calico, stopping the invaders from pulling the duvet off!

‘J’ reports that the Loon Preservation Society reported no mortalities or rescues during November. That is fantastic.

Another possible sighting of Yira around the tower, but no positive confirmation as there are other birds in the area. Where is she being fed if this is her?

Thank you 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: ‘J, MP’, Sharon Dunne, Achieva Credit Union, Hob Osterlund, Kartong Bird Observatory, Bear with Us Center for Bears, Port Lincoln Osprey, NEFL-AEF, Cal Falcons, Androcat, SK Hideaways, Fran Solly, Friends of Osprey Sth Aus, liznm, The Washington Post, Raptor Persecution UK, Port Louisa Wildlife Refuge, BBC

Monday in Bird World

2 December 2024

Good Morning Everyone,

It has been snowing gently all day in Winnipeg. We did something entirely unusual: We went to a carolling event in the forest. It was a refreshing change for two people who cannot sing a note! As I write now, Brock is having his dinner. He comes between 1500 and 1600 on snowy days and probably cuddles up warm in his dark, dry space the rest of the time. I never see him wandering on the sidewalk. I wish he would take two steps, cross the threshold, and come inside with The Girls.

Winter is a time for slowing down, just like the animals. Tonight sipping spiced Christmas tea and eating shortbread is a wonderful treat. It is so bright outside with the lights reflecting off the new snow. It is gorgeous. I wish you could sit here with me. I am also watching for a rabbit. Last night one appeared under the bird feeders. It was digging around the snow searching for seed kicked out by the birds. Oh, what big smiles we had. Every year we have had at least one rabbit going back to 2014 when the first ‘Hedwig’ appeared in the garden. Hedwig was a White-tailed Rabbit whose nest was under our Peony plant. She came to the garden for three years. Others came after and one spring we saw several dozen rabbits during mating season. That was really something. They can jump so high!

We have the appropriate dress for walking in -40 C and will do. Our granddaughter went to the forest and fed the chickadees two days ago. She said there were so many, more than the last time she was at Bird’s Hill Park. I cannot wait to return; it would be nice if that happened today! It will depend if my donation bags are ready. This is the time of year when the less fortunate need coats, sweaters, scarves, toques, gloves, warm socks, and boots.

There has been little news in the world of birds, and I believe that’s a positive development. I won’t overwhelm you at the beginning of the week with countless stories about Bald Eagles rearranging sticks, as they are all preparing for the breeding season and the arrival of eggs. The real question is: who will be next? Hatch is not expected at SW Florida for M15 and F23 for a fortnight, then Superbeaks, and Captiva.

Cilla Kinross reports she is concerned about Yira since she has not been seen in a week. Sadly, she cannot be on campus until Thursday or Friday.

CK has posted this video of a bird, possibly Yira, flying by tower. Diamond and Xavier were accounted for so it wasn’t them. Could be wishful thinking. I would love to see Yira in the scrape – it is certainly long enough that she is able to fly this high – or the parents dropping food to her. https://youtu.be/dfuPoztS1Ww?

Sylvia has done a season recap of Diamond and Xavier’s 2024 season at Orange with Yira and Garramma. https://youtu.be/sVgiHH607Kc?

News from the Parramatta River with Judy Harrington:

Gabby had fish in the nest. Oh, I can’t wait for her and Beau to have eggs and please, Beau, do not bury any of them. Please. https://youtu.be/tbJserd7F7o?

Both eagles were at the nest on Sunday.

There is no question that Gabby is entirely smitten by Beau. She made her choice and let us hope these two are successful this year in raising at least one little eaglet to fledge. https://youtu.be/eB5uY9NiKJU?

An egg in the nest in a week?

Peregrine Falcons working a neighborhood near Duurstede in The Netherlands. https://youtu.be/k8m4JaMmZWI?

Kids at Port Lincoln work their wings while waiting for fish to come to the nest.

Dad is over on the old barge and the fish fairy came. Kasse is self-feeding and all is good.

I want you to notice something. Who is standing up tall on Sunday morning staring down the fish fairy? It isn’t Wilko. It is Kasse! She is going to be one fierce mamma.

Putting that bling on Kasse just seemed to empower her! Lovin’ it.

This osprey nest looks dismal, forlorn, abandoned. How long has it been since Jack has been seen? Some are worried.

Gigi and the new male have been at the ND-LEEF nest despite the snow in South Bend, Indiana.

So thankful for Hob Osterlund who keeps us well informed about the Laysan Albatross colony on Kauai.

What are the current threats to these gentle seabirds?

Laysan Albatross (Mōlī) – American Bird ConservancyDownload
Facing Into the Wind: The Complicated Fate of the Laysan Albatross | Living Bird | All About BirdsDownload

I must find out how this is working out.

A Single Mexican Island May Be Our Best Hope for Saving Black-footed Albatrosses | AudubonDownload

The Kakapo Recovery use its funds to care for these very endangered flightless parrots.

Current conservation: Kākāpō RecoveryDownload

Video in two parts on the efforts to save the Kakapo.

Holly Parsons posted a video with Wisdom and her new mate on the Midway Atoll. Their response to one another is heart-warming.

We might think that the stealing of bird’s eggs for collectors ended in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Well, we would be wrong. More and more people are been charged with the illegal collection and sale of eggs – including those of our beloved and endangered raptors.

Another man arrested in coordinated police investigation into illegal trading of wild birds’ eggs –Download

Why do they do it?

Inside the Bizarre, Secretive World of Obsessive Egg Thieves | AudubonDownload

Judy Harrington’s latest report:

The nature centre had its annual ‘big’ sale, and we hope to have enough goodies to create a few holiday baskets for the garden animals. And, if everything works as planned, we plan to show you their response in a video. Stay tuned.

Thank you for being with us today. Please take care. See you soon!

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, articles, images, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog today: ‘SP’, Cilla Kinross, Charles Sturt Falcon Cam, Sylvia, Judy Harrington, American Eagle Federation, NEFL-AEF, Yvonne M, Port Lincoln Ospreys, Bart M and PLO, Achieva Credit Union, ND-LEEF, Hob Osterlund, American Bird Conservancy, Cornell All About Birds, Kakapo Recovery, NZ-DOC, Holly Parsons and Friends of Midway Atoll, Raptor Persecution UK, Audubon, Judy Harrington

Wisdom lays an egg…Friday in Bird World

29 November 2024

Hello Everyone,

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!

Wild duck diets — Ducks Unlimited CanadaDownload

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???

This makes me angry and sad.

VIMS scientists critique research linking osprey declines to menhaden industryDownload

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.

Look at the thick legs on Kasse (top right).

Prebanding day video of Wilko and Kasse: https://youtu.be/bZzlsnK826g?

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.”

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/nov/28/western-australias-endangered-cockatoo-among-worlds-longest-living-birds?CMP=share_btn_url

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

The many things we are grateful for…Thursday in Bird World

28 November 2024

Good Morning Everyone,

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!

10 Fun Facts About the Wild Turkey _ AudubonDownload

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.

At Cal Falcons, Annie and Archie are starting to think of romance! https://youtu.be/bhAmpg9dQZs?

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!

Jackie and Shadow have been busy. https://youtu.be/HpV-4iq5jMc?

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!

A 4 year old eagle has come to check out the Dulles-Greenway nest of Martin and Rosa. https://youtu.be/tAtLJOgGRnU?

FORE has decided that the pine cone that Jackie brought into the nest isn’t going anywhere. It is a female cone as they are much larger and have a list of names you can choose from. Have some fun. Go and vote. Here is the link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1orWPap_URi7yZbpiyaEUEuSetfPWE_hvCUe69JtWeng/viewform?edit_requested=true

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

Wednesday in Bird World

27 November 2024

Good Morning Everyone,

The two doe and fawns did not return to the park. City workers have been digging up the street for the past two days. That said, we believe that the four have safely found their way to the river and, we hope, are back in a larger park area away from traffic.

I could easily be fooled into thinking this is Calico. It is Baby Hope. Every day she looks more and more like her Mum. She will be 17 months old on 2 December.

She was looking out the window at the birds. There is an increasing number of European Starlings with two crows, two Blue Jays, five grey squirrels, two red squirrels, and about 100 sparrows. The winter weather and cold have made everyone hungry.

One of the most remarkable transformations within the house and among The Girls. Baby Hope has taken up with Missey. Hope rubs her head lovingly against Missey’s just like she used to do with Calico. It happened slowly, Calico distancing herself from her daughter. So, as you can imagine, I am delighted. Missey is the perfect Mum – she continues to care for Hugo Yugo and there is no reason to believe that she will not continue to bond with Hope.

The two Crows are now coming every day for peanuts. One is quite large and the other is the smaller from the summer. A bonded pair. The fledglings have not been seen since the end of the summer/beginning of the fall. After they finished the peanuts (shared with the others), they ate a nice big pizza!

It is wonderful to see them come to the garden every morning. It is not that long until spring! Yes, I keep telling myself that very thing as more snow falls.

There is little happening in Bird World. We are waiting for Wilko and Kasse to be ringed, and I would like to have a more positive sighting of Yira. There are many more Bald Eagle nests to lay eggs in the coming weeks.

Gabby and Beau continue to work on their nest. When will we have their first egg.

Cali Condor wonders if the sub-adult visiting Big Bear might be Spirit. How wonderful if it were! https://youtu.be/wehjVdpEF_Q?

This sub-adult was later seen at the nest with a federal band. It wouldn’t be Spirit. https://youtu.be/BbVt7EckjGo?

At the Coobowie Osprey nest, Libby has fledged. This is the nest in South Australia that initially had four chicks. Libby is the oldest.

Mum, Wilko, and Kasse are waiting for their breakfast.

Yesterday, Kasse, Wilko, Mum and Dad had six supplementary fish.

Today it is so windy that neither Dad or Mum will surely be able to catch fish. Fish Fairy!!!!!!!!! We need you.

I really hope that Wilko doesn’t decide to stand up and start flapping his wings. He could wind up in Melbourne with these high gusts!

Incubation continues for M15 and F23.

We know that M15 is one of the most capable male Bald Eagles around. We watched him raise his two eaglets alone after Harriet disappeared. Now he would like a little more incubation time! https://youtu.be/D5tdZyavHcw?

The Hilton Head Land Trust caught a Bald Eagle on the nest that the GHOs hope will be theirs. https://youtu.be/DqylzZ66z98?

Milda and Zorro continue to work on their White-tail Eagle nest in Latvia. https://youtu.be/iNOtDeSCtj8?

Fiona visits Jackie and Shadow’s nest. https://youtu.be/45Nhop6-aCg?

Holy Moli.

Did you know?

Want to help the birds in winter? Here are 12 tips.

https://www.gardenista.com/posts/how-to-help-birds-winter

‘J’ sent us a beautiful image from a naturechatter post of Abby with Swampy and Meadow. Soar High!

For our GHO lovers, here is the link to the Owl Cam: https://youtu.be/fuyfFF2IvgI?

Calico’s Tip of the Day: Mark the date. December 3rd is Giving Tuesday. Many wildlife groups rely on donations and Giving Tuesday is often coupled with a doubling of your donation by other donors. If you can, could you help? With the cost of living escalating, so many cannot so every dollar helps. Small or large, no one cares. It all adds up!

Thank you for being with us today. Please take care. See you soon.

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, articles, images, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘J’, NEFL-AEF, Cali Condor, Friends of Osprey Sth Aus, Port Lincoln Ospreys, Bart M and PLO Obs Board, SW Florida Eagle Cam, Androcat, Hilton Head Land Trust, SK Hideaways, LDF, Hob Osterlund, Backyard Birds of North America, Gardenista, Eagle Country and nature chatter, Owl Cam

Tuesday in Bird World

26 November 2024

Good Morning,

It snowed on and off all day. This morning there were five grey squirrels at the feeders – five in sight, altogether. Dyson, the three kits, and another one. Is it Dyson’s mate?

A cutie.

Then these four. Each appears to be healthy. They have their heavy winter coats and are so beautiful against the snow.

Starlings came. So did the Blue Jays, Crows, and Sparrows. Everyone was hungry. They are working away at the suet cylinder. Calico and I hope to get into the kitchen and make some suet cookies to hang throughout the lilacs. Where does the time go? How did I ever teach, assist in running a school of art, and take care of a home?

Oh, it is always so lovely to see them. However, Brock (aka The Boyfriend) did not come at his usual time. It worried me. Several hours later, Calico came in and kept patting me and meowing. Brock was here! Communication. Brock prefers wet food, but it freezes, and it is so hard to watch for him when we have busy days. This was amazing.

A shout out to ‘H’ and ‘J’ for some news you will all want to hear.

Sadly, I have added Bald Eagle Abby and mate of Blaze at Eagle Country to our Memorial Wall. She has been MIA long enough for Eagle Country to declare her deceased. A new female is now at the nest with Blaze.

This is the new female Skye.

Link to all of the Eagle Country cams – and they have a lot of them on this nest!

https://www.youtube.com/@EagleCountry/streams

Blaze at the nest as the sun begins to set. Beautiful sunset.

The video of the install of the new camera for the MN-DNR Bald Eagles. https://youtu.be/EWZF56NcxyA?

Mark your calendars. ‘H’ informs me: “Banding for Wilko and Kasse at PLO:  Weather permitting, Saturday 11/30.  Alternate dates 12/1 or 12/2.” It makes me sad. They will soon fledge after this and I find myself hoping that they are male so they hang around, but we need some females down there for Ervie!!!!!!! I sure hope Wilko doesn’t fledge or the ringing will be canceled.

SK Hideaways has posted a video showing what appears to be one of the adults in flight traning with another bird. Is this training with Yira? or is this Diamond and Xavier flying together? passing prey? I want to believe it is Yira.

Oh, it is a bright morning at Port Lincoln. We have lots of wingers going on! Everyone is anticipating the arrival of the morning fish.

The Fish Fairy arrived at mid-morning much to the delight of Mum, Wilko, and Kasse. Just look at all the nice fish! They were hungry. This is so good.

They will sure make quick work of those fish! Seven were delivered. Wilko was unafraid!

Dad came and took one of the fish for himself leaving Mum and the kids six. Wilko is trying to unzip one.

Look at the time. Almost all of the fish are gone.

Wind and rain came later to Port Lincoln.

‘A’ writes: “I see on the Port Lincoln chat that you have nominated Kasse as female and Wilko as male, and based on relative size and their behaviours, I absolutely agree with you. I initially thought they might both be male, because they got along so well, but at this stage, Kasse is absolutely huge, so large that she really must be a female. Wilko is a cute and brave little man. How much did he make you laugh today, standing up to defend the nest against the potentially dangerous Hat? And as for Kasse, she pancaked beautifully at the approach of the Fish Fairy’s vessel and stayed flat to the nest, her eyes wide in amazement as the Hat deposited a veritable fish-shop display window onto the nest right in front of her. In fact, she remained pancaked for about five minutes, until Mum literally landed on her head! I also admit to laughing uncontrollably at the sight of Kasse literally being stood on her head overbalancing while grabbing a bite just after 10:25. TOO funny. She did eventually manage to regain her footing but it took her quite a while. 

These two are adorable. Kasse has absolutely no fear of her older sibling, and I do think their behaviour definitely supports your opinion. The older they have got, the more obvious those genders have been, with lots of small interactions suggesting that Wilko is indeed the older brother, with Kasse the younger sister. I always think that for stress-free viewing, this is by far the best option (apart from two males on the nest). If we are going to have a behaviourally dominant female on a nest, it is best that she be the youngest, as it gives her a bit of spunk to survive being bottom of the pecking order and means her older sibling is not too aggressive. That of course is what has happened here in my opinion. But they are both gorgeous, very healthy and have a magnificent mum. I could not agree more with your assessment of this osprey mum. She has been incredible this season, including taking over fishing duties whenever it has been necessary. Just a really special bird. “

Gabby and Beau are diligently working on their nest in NE Florida. They seem to do this early in the morning when it is cooler.

A gorgeous day at the Captiva Bald Eagle cam.

‘J’ copied Rita’s History Monday for us: “It’s time for Rita’s History Monday! Now that Rita’s offspring, #98, was off on her eagle adventure, attention once again focused on the fallen nest. Year after year it fell apart, and as Lloyd Brown of Wildlife Rescue and Ron Magill of Zoo Miami examined the condition of what little was left, they felt that it would be in the best interest of the eagles to install a more secure platform in a more stable spot in the tree. It is said that Bald Eagles mate for life, and they also have nest fidelity, so they return to the same nest tree each year. The remnants of the old nest were 95 feet high, up in a spindly part of a Casaurina (Australian) Pine. There was concern that if the eagles returned and tried to rebuild in that unstable spot, the nest would likely fail again. With approval from US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), they researched the best type of platform that could be used in that type of tree. So, in preparation for Season 2022, a new nest platform was installed! The platform is made of a 5 foot wide wooden papasan chair that was lined with plastic mesh to provide drainage and airflow. This type of nest has been successfully used for other Bald Eagle nest platforms. They carefully secured it in the tree and partially filled it with small sticks and pine needles to make it more inviting. We waited and hoped that the eagles would return. But, that’s not all folks! The community was also in for a great surprise! Stay tuned for more exciting news and thank you for liking and sharing the history of Rita.”

Xavier is arriving with cicadas. Does anyone remember Izzi eating all those cicadas like they were ice lollies? Oh, how I miss that lovely boy. https://youtu.be/ayiv0X4Z9Sg?

The Peregrines Zen and Zara – SK Hideways shows us their ‘need for speed when a Merlin is concerned! https://youtu.be/-wfh2voivv0?

The Girls and I have been reading books. We have a small stack to get through but we have finished reading Serviceberries. I will talk about that on Thanksgiving Day. The book that Calico really wants me to mention is certainly an exceptional book for young people, but Heidi is going to tell me it is equally terrific for adults, and she would be right. The book is An Anthology of Exquisite Birds by Ben Hoare. This weighty volume has been reviewed, and its gorgeous drawings have received critical acclaim. It is full of fun facts and information in a way that it is different from your normal field guide. It keeps you engaged. I wanted to know more about these exotic birds – well, at least exotic to me! One of my favourite illustrations was the Superb Fairywren.

There are 224 pages, including an entry on my beloved House Sparrows. They noted that thousands of years ago, ‘house sparrows lived only in Europe and Western Asia.’ (189). Today, they are located on every continent except Antarctica. Many loathe having them at their feeders along with European Starlings, and yet, for the decades that birds have been coming to the garden, I cannot honestly cite either one as bullies. Everyone seems to have a turn. One day, after observing the Starlings for several hours, they actually ‘lined up’ to get to the feeder, flying from the neighbour’s tall tree to those at the back of the garden. Then, a few would fly to Abigail’s tree, waiting their turn in line for the big tray feeder. It looked exceptionally well organized. For the life of me, I simply cannot abide by those that go to the end of the earth to find ways to stop these two species from getting seed at their feeders. If a human or non human is hungry, then why not feed it? Does it really matter what feather pattern the birds have? At some time in the future, perhaps sooner than they might realize, the sparrow’s song might be the only one in the garden. At the same time, their numbers are declining. Research indicates that sparrow numbers are declining worldwide. The North American Breeding Bird Survey estimates that the total numbers of sparrows declined by 80% between 1966 and 2019. In Europe, numbers are down by approximately 60%.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/nov/16/house-sparrow-population-in-europe-drops-by-247m?CMP=share_btn_url

Please spread the news that these little birds deserve food and water, too!

Where Have All the House Sparrows Gone?Download

This is the list of birds included in this beautiful encyclopedia of sorts that also includes information on feathers, nests, beaks, etc.

I didn’t ask permission to post these page images, but I hope the publisher will realize that Calico’s Ten Golden Paw Award is, precisely, a golden recommendation! If you have someone struggling to find a birthday gift or a holiday present, this could solve your struggles. It is $21.40 US from the online retailers. It’s a perfect price point, too. It is an excellent book to hold and read. Good paper, gold tipped pages matching the amazing cover, below.

Did you miss Ventana Wildlife’s November Condor Chat? Here it is archived! https://youtu.be/1JWS76hlPG8?

In Scotland, a Golden Eagle dies at a wind turbine farm.

Golden eagle dies in rare collision with wind turbine in south Scotland – Raptor Persecution UKDownload

Be careful for the deer. The four deer were running around trying to find food this morning. We had a huge box of apples, carrots, cabbage, etc and could not find them despite the fact they had been near to our house 45 minutes prior. Tomorrow we will leave the food at the park. There were City workers doing something to the road next to where they stay so no one saw them there.

You can see the snow that fell on our garden by looking at the top of the table. The tracks belong to Brock who has chosen to come and go to a place where he feels safe. Oh, maybe one day he will trust us enough to just step inside. For now, we hope he is warm. It is -5 C and feels like -10.

How do birds stay warm in this kind of cold?

How do birds keep warm in the winter? | U.S. Fish & Wildlife ServiceDownload

Thank you for being with us today. Take care everyone. We hope to see you soon.

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, articles, images, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘A, H, J’, Eagle Country, MN-DNR, SK Hideaways, Port Lincoln Ospreys, NEFL-AEF, Window to Wildlife, Rita the Eagle FB, Nesting Birdlife and More, SK Hideaways, An Anthology of Exquisite Birds by Ben Hoare, The Guardian, The Cornell Bird Lab, Ventana Wildlife Society, John Debacker, USFWS

Monday in Bird World

25 November 2024

Hello Everyone,

GREAT NEWS: Morning update on WBSE33.

Judy Harrington reports that WBSE 33 has been cleared by the vets and is fit and ready to go to a rehabilitation facility. There he will gain strength and more experience before release.

Isn’t this wonderful news!

And I want to thank our friend, ‘H’ in Florida for going to take a photo of the Achieva Osprey nest. She says, “I happened to be in the area last week but it was at night and somewhat well lit. The base of the nest sits on a solid wood utility pole that is fully upright and when standing below, it appears the base of the nest is level on the post. You can definitely see the holes in the base of the nest.” Thank you so very, very much. That clears up a lot of questions. Here are the images that ‘H’ took:

Sunday was another grey sky day with some blowing snow. As I write this, the weather app on my phone tells me it will be -9 C. When we go out, we need our warm boots, toques, mitts, and heavier coats. Outside, it felt colder than it was. Even the conservatory feels like it is -20 C, and it isn’t. It is now -5 C and for the first time I have closed the door. The girls are not happy. We will see what is wrong with the heating tomorrow. Maybe just the fact it was cloudy with no sun made it cooler. Just the thought of winter sends shivers down my back, literally.

Near the quarries, Magpies were swooping across the road and a Bald Eagle on top of a pole. More and more Bald Eagles are choosing to stay in Manitoba during the winter. These quarries are perfect places for them to hunt rabbits, squirrels, and voles.

One of the abandoned quarries where there are often waterfowl and deer. The Bald Eagle was very close to this site. I wonder when the water will freeze. This is a vast unused pit that is just full of various wildlife at different times of the year.

Nearer to home was something I didn’t want to see – a deer family at a small park one block square with lots of traffic roaring around on all sides. People walk their dogs (thankfully, they keep them on the lead), but will those dogs cause the deer to bolt? Someone has left pumpkin, and tomorrow, we will take apples and pears for them.

I posted it in our local community news. Most people are very caring. One lady lets them eat all the pumpkins in her garden. How kind. It warmed my heart to see who many who care for this deer family in one way or another.

The territory that the deer once inhabited has been disrupted and transformed into rapid transit routes with dedicated bus lanes and condominiums. It’s truly disheartening to think about how the deer will navigate across four lanes of heavily congested traffic to reach the larger park area if they decide to go there. They face the same challenges that other wildlife do in an urban setting that is nothing more than a building site – predators, cars, habitat loss, and food shortage. Again, thankfully people are providing what they can which included potato peels from one lady today!

Early fish have come to Wilko and Kasse. Mum was obviously very hungry as she held her fish back as Dad came in with a larger fish five minutes later.

This obs board has been updated and what is missing from the one that follows is the mention that Mum has brought in a fish and Kasse will be able to get some nice fish. Mum has really proven herself this year. Incredible. I keep saying that about her and I mean it. If we took away the fish fairies, the only thing that is keeping Wilko and Kasse alive is Mum and her fishing. Sorry Dad. I would scream at you, too.

It is after 1400 and still nothing save for the mornings offerings of fish at Port Lincoln.

The fishing got better at Port Lincoln as the day progressed. Kasse got to eat well at the end.

At NE Florida, Gabby and Beau continue to work on the nest in the early morning.

Incubation continues at SW Florida where M15 and F23 will welcome their eaglet/s earlier than Superbeaks and Captiva.

Thunder and Akecheta are busy working on their nest at the West End in the Channel Islands.

Liberty and Guardian kicking sticks around. https://youtu.be/U6n6tdpAvig?

Gigi and the new male are also working on their nest, the ND-LEEF, in the cooler area of southern Indiana.

A stunning sub-adult is at the US Steel nest.

Bonnie and Clyde were at their nest working diligently.

No further news on WBSE33.

There has been no sighting of Yira. Holly Parsons posts the latest update from Cilla Kinross.

I am skeptical. I have said this many times. I want to see Yira fly past the nest box and grab prey from Xavier’s talons when he drops it. Yira should be begging loudly for prey from the parents. She should be perched on buildings so loud as to get the parent’s attention and anyone passing by. So why have we not heard or seen her? Please, do not get me wrong. I want her to be alive and well and getting prey, but this just doesn’t feel right. With no evidence, I do not know why one would assume that all is well. Or is it, ‘no news is good news?’

Sunnie Day reports that the osprey platform at the Venice Golf and Country Club is being replaced. Way to go

Deb Stecyk caught Bella and Scout at their NCTC nest. https://youtu.be/TZ3pvvhr4Bs?

Thank you so much for being with us today. As you can see, I am feeling a little better. That allowed us to go for a nice outing today. Thank goodness. I am really, really dreading winter arriving this year. There I have said that twice. The snow doesn’t even look beautiful to me this year!

Take care all. See you soon!

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, articles, images, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘H’, Ranger Judy Harrington, Port Lincoln Osprey, Bart M and PLO, NEFL-AEF, SW Florida Eagle Cam, IWS/Explore.org, SK Hideaways, ND-LEEF, Pix Cams, Cardinal Land Conservancy, Judy Harrington, Deb Stecyk. Sunnie Day,

Friday in Bird World

22 November 2024

Good Morning!

Well, the joke is on me. You will get Thanksgiving wishes twice! Thankfully, ‘B’ reminded me that the holiday is the last Thursday in November. I should have known that as it was often on my mother’s birthday and the day my grandmother died – the 26th! Well, I am very thankful for all of you and when the day does get here, I hope you get to enjoy it with friends and family.

Brock’s house has been assembled and lo and behold, the cord is about 30 cm or a foot too short to plug into the outside plug. I am going to phone the company and see what they suggest. Otherwise, it isn’t much good – an insulated ‘heated’ house!!!!!! Other people must have this problem.

Hugo Yugo in the middle of food delivery and wanting to help set up Brock’s house.

The house is definitely insulated.

Finished. With legs. It has anchors to hold it in place due to wind. Thank goodness!

Today is wood delivery day which means my posting will be shorter – touching on some interesting articles and catching up with the Australian birds. We are waiting for a second egg for Connie and Clive at Captiva and incubation continues at SW Florida.

It has been 74 hours at the time I am writing this – 1600 Thursday afternoon, since the first egg was laid at Captiva.

I am posting an article form The Guardian about the catastrophic melting of permafrost in Canada’s Arctic region. This is going to impact much of the wildlife and the consequences are still not known.

‘The land is tearing itself apart’: life on a collapsing Arctic islehttps://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/nov/21/canada-arctic-herschel-island-qikiqtaruk-climate-permafrost-tundra-ecology-aoe?CMP=share_btn_url

‘B’ sent me a couple of good articles from The Washington Post. One is about the new camera at the MN-DNR site. They say it is a new couple that has been there four years. Sure sounds like Nancy to me with a new male. Feel free to correct me! https://www.youtube.com/live/5tECFd82AZQ?

The WaPo also had a wonderful article about all of the soap operas – such as Gabby’s ‘As the Nest Turns’ in May which ‘B’ included. I had not seen it and I wonder how many of you have.

Live bird cams are nature’s soap opera – The Washington PostDownload

Another great article from Raptor Persecution UK showing once again how ridiculous the people are trying to help the hen harriers. The article begins, “For new blog readers, hen harrier brood meddling was a 7-year conservation sham (2018-2024) sanctioned by DEFRA as part of its ludicrous ‘Hen Harrier Action Plan‘ and carried out by Natural England, in cahoots with the very industry responsible for the species’ catastrophic decline in England. In general terms, the plan involved the removal of hen harrier chicks from grouse moors, they were reared in captivity, then released back into the uplands just in time for the start of the grouse-shooting season to be illegally killed. It was plainly bonkers.”

More detail on Hawk & Owl Trust’s withdrawal from hen harrier brood meddling sham – Raptor Persecution UKDownload

In the wintry snow, Zorro, the male at the Latvian White-tail Eagle nest of Milda, has flown in to check on things. So nice to see him looking well. https://youtu.be/JI25leSBqa8?

Mum was fishing again at 0422 at Port Lincoln!

Mum is away. Has she gone fishing again?

If she did she did not catch anything. It is nearing 1400 on the nest and Wilko and Kasse have only had the small fish Mum brought in during the night. Fish Fairies!!!!!!!! Where are you? I am starting to think these are both males instead of Kasse being a female because they are so nice to one another! Believe me living with four female cats has taught me females do not get along with other females, normally! Hugo Yugo and Missey pair up and Calico and Hope. Missey and Calico just deplore one another.

There has been a probably sighting of Yira flying to the tower. https://youtu.be/pyP9hgAqkfM?

Pretty quiet at the nest of Beau and Gabby.

The nest at Decorah North is growing!

Very quiet at the nest of Big Red and Arthur. They normally stop in to check sometime in November. We wait.

The bird photographed in Puerto Rico has been confirmed as “…a 2021 fledgling from a nest west of Billings, Montana, ringed by Marco Restani” (Jane Dell on Ospreys FB).

The band looked green to me!

No new reports on WBSE34. Adults were at Goat Island.

‘J’ sent us Rita the Eagle’s Friday news off of Rita’s FB page (mine was scrambled for some reason): “It has been two years since Rita’s accident in November 2022 and it’s been just over one year since Rita came to live at the Marathon Wild Bird Center in the Florida Keys. I spend a lot of time talking with visitors in front of her enclosure and have enjoyed meeting many people who all love eagles! The questions they ask are interesting. My favorite is which foot is she missing? Neither, I said her wing was partially amputated. Oh, right. And there are a lot of questions about what she eats and when. One of the stories I refer to often is that of her second night in her new enclosure. For the first time I had set up the trail camera inside Rita’s space. Let the learning about Ms. Rita begin! At 10:50pm on her second night the alert on my phone pinged. What had set off the camera? Little did I know that this brand camera was sensitive to night movements and, well, Rita was moving. Eating to be exact. Six minutes later she wandered off having eating the whole fish in the black of night. I contacted Jeanne Kaufman the next day and asked her if eagles ate in the dark? I’m pretty sure she said no. Rita eats whenever the mood strikes her be it in the afternoon or evening or, often, in the late evening under the cover of complete darkness. On the days her meal arrives early she will usually ignore it until at least the afternoon. Rarely does she leave any crumbs behind! (KG) 🦅 #ritathebaldeagle

No new reports on any of the Melbourne triplets other than the return of the one who got itself into a bit of mischief the other day. Melbourne parents bonding! https://youtu.be/tiDm0uKlIF4?

There have been sightings of at least two different ospreys that continue to be in the UK and have not migrated.

Thank you 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: ‘B, J’, Window to Wildlife, The Guardian, The Washington Post, Raptor Persecution UK, Trine and LDF, Port Lincoln Ospreys, NEFL-AEF, Falcon Cam Project, SK Hideawys, Raptor Resource Project, Cornell Bird Lab, Ospreys FB

Thursday in Bird World

21 November 2024

Good Morning,

Is it Thanksgiving in the US? I think so. So for all of you celebrating, have a wonderful, wonderful day.

We had snow on Tuesday night that started at midnight. Hugo Yugo and I were up watching the delicate flakes fall, but then the rain came. On Wednesday morning, the sky was icy gray and gloomy. Three girls were watching the squirrels scurry about outside waiting for me to dispense the peanuts.

Over coffee, I re-arranged my list of things to do citing the most important at the top going down to the least. There was another section of things to do for fun when life gets overwhelming.

On Wednesday, we set about getting Don a new ID (he can no longer drive so has no license) and passport pictures, as his passport needs to be renewed. Those were the two most critical items on the list. Then, it was time for some fun, so we went to find some things to decorate the window by my grandmother’s dining room table.

My grandmother was the most special person in my life next to my father. I don’t need her table or her quilts or her needlework to remind me of her. She is always present. Her family was from Switzerland where her grandfather was the Regierungsratspräsident or local government council president of Chur, a canton in the northeast. His job was to preside over meetings – not nearly as glamorous as it might sound! We have travelled to see the family home – a traditional house with an attached barn with the vineyards behind the house going up the mountain. It was incredibly beautiful. I am often asked why my great-grandfather left. It was very simple. Simeon was not the first son; Johannes was. All of the other boys would need to find their way as the oldest would inherit everything. So, at the age of fifteen, Simeon crossed the Atlantic alone, first settling in Virginia and then taking a wagon train to West Texas before finally settling in Oklahoma. He had intended to set himself up as a watchmaker, but all of his tools were stolen on that fateful journey to Texas. Instead, he became a cattle rancher.

The table originally belonged to Simeon and my great-grandmother, Caroline. It is unclear when and where they acquired the quarter-cut oak table with its heavy pedestal. At one point, it had several leaves that could be added or removed depending on the number of people dining. I found it buried in a blackberry patch, where it had been for who knows how long, and it only had two leaves left. For more than half a century, this table has accompanied my family, adding to its rich history. If only tables could talk!

We are creating a little woodland scene on that table. Right now, the focus is on placing little felt birds around the pine cones and candle. No telling what it will look like at the end of the week.

Our fun today was attaching little lights that hung down all across the window along with glittery paper snowflakes. Hopefully, Hugo Yugo will not chew on the little lights of the felt birds.

Missy moved in to watch from the sitting area.

Later, Hugo Yugo plunked herself down in front of the wood stove where she refused to move. (It is 0 C outside, but inside the register is reading 25 C – toasty!)

We now have story time before the fire, and everyone agrees that Olivia Laing’s book, In Search of a Common Paradise. The Garden Against Time is not too bad. I’ll let you know more about those later.

Bazz Hockaday has confirmed that the light installed on the barge has allowed Mum to see and catch the fish in the water just below the nest. She did not fish in past years and this is the reason for the change this year. Wilko, Kasse, and Mum enjoying a very early morning snack.

Just a beautiful osprey family. Chicks self-feeding.

So far…

Precious Mum having a nap. She has brought in all three fish on Thursday at the barge and it is now 1330 nest time. Help us out Dad or fairies…Mum is more than pulling her weight. Gosh, golly. She is gold.

When asked about Yira, Cilla Kinross replied on the chat: “I have seen her once in the field (no photos) and several probable sightings via ledge and tower cam. Some videos available on the Youtube channel FalconCam Project.”

The photograph of this bird has been making the rounds. I am unclear now who took it, but it was taken in Puerto Rico. A dark green band could be an osprey ringed in either France (Corsica) or Portugal. Enquiries have been sent out. It reminds me of Blue KW0 discovered in Barbados two years ago. I will let you know what I discover. spotted in Barbados who was a UK osprey. They do sometimes get ‘carried away’ by the winds.

No further news on SE33.

Two couples wanting the Little Miami Conservancy Bald Eagle nest? https://youtu.be/4MzB3SGpiMc?

At the NE Florida nest of Gabby and Beau, the couple were working on the nest. Later in the day a sub-adult comes visiting.

The day started with rain at Captiva. It cleared. No worries for that egg. Connie and Clive will keep it safe and warm – iguanas included!

I wonder if any ospreys will be interested in the Captiva Osprey platform? There sure are some beautiful sunsets!

Thunder and Akecheta at the West End nest.

Those sweethearts, Jackie and Shadow, were working on that nest today!

They had a little visitor.

Beaky kisses with our lovely couple! https://youtu.be/bevGnWpWOag?

Eagles at Denton Homes working on that new nest!

I love owls, but not when they bother osprey chicks (or any other chicks for that matter). Please eat the mice! There are plenty of them. Barn owls are particularly gorgeous.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/nov/20/country-diary-flushing-out-barn-owls-with-an-explosive-sneeze?CMP=share_btn_url

All About Birds says: “Ghostly pale and normally strictly nocturnal, American Barn Owls are silent predators of the night world. Lanky, with a whitish face, chest, and belly, and buffy upperparts, this owl roosts in hidden, quiet places during the day. By night, they hunt on buoyant wing beats in open fields and meadows. You can find them by listening for their eerie, raspy calls, quite unlike the hoots of other owls.”

Their call sounds like they have a sore throat and need a lozenge. I mostly see GHOs and Snowy Owls. The Snowys are starting to arrive for the winter in Manitoba and can be seen sitting on poles or hay bales in the empty fields.

“Female Snowy Owl Portrait” by Charles Patrick Ewing is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Speaking of owls, I don’t know if it was Owlvira or Hoots that visited the nest on Wednesday, but one of the owls made a brief stop.

Lukin, the WTE chick in a nest on a crane near Sydney, took its first short flight to the top of the crane.

What is it like being a wildlife vet? https://youtu.be/C4g2v08D2gY?

Research indicates that wildflower gardens planted in urban settings is as beneficial to insects as wildflower fields in rural areas.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/nov/20/patches-of-wildflowers-in-cities-can-be-just-as-good-for-insects-as-natural-meadows-study-aoe?CMP=share_btn_url

Checking in on the Black Stork migration. This was the last news. Gosh, I hope Waba kept on going!

Ducks Unlimited Canada is partnering with an Adjunct Professor and others to determine what is happening to the Eider population. One discovery is that their traditional breeding grounds, the Gulf of Maine, is warming and warming. It is one of the fastest warming places on the planet. Where are they going? What is happening?

Where have all the eiders gone_ — Ducks Unlimited CanadaDownload

A beautiful person sent me this. If you can, please feed the birds this winter.

Thank you so very much for being with us today. Please take care. See you soon!

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, images, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: Bazz Hockaday, Port Lincoln Ospreys, Bart M and PLO Obs Board, Ospreys FB, Little Miami Conservancy, NEFL-AEF, Window to Wildlife, IWS/Explore.org, FOBBV, SK Hideaways, Denton Homes, Toronto Wildlife Centre, The Guardian, Live Owl Cam, All About Birds, Openverse, Looduskalender

Monday in Bird World

18 November 2024

Good Morning Everyone,

We hope that you had a lovely weekend and that your week will be full of wonderful moments, smiles, laughs, and the sounds of birds.

Baby Hope sends you a nose rub!

The sky is a bright white-grey. The bare branches of the Maple trees against that ‘cold’ sky look like Victorian ‘shadow portraits’ without the humans. The garden animals are scurrying about getting their peanuts hidden and the oil seed eaten in case the drizzle gets heavier. Brock was waiting for me when I pulled the curtain back on the garden door at 1000. He stood on his hind legs with his front paws touching the glass. He is getting more trusting. His heated house arrives on Monday, just in time for the snow we expect on Wednesday. I sure hope it is easy to assemble. When was it that items had to be assembled? We seem to always get things that have the holes for the screws in the wrong place! Has this happened to you?

We made a wood fire today. It makes the house so cosy. After several years, it is now time to order firewood. I was so lucky to find someone near to where I live that sells oak. It gives off good heat and, thankfully, I learned when I was firing wood kilns, how to start the fire and keep it burning. The Oak along with some Poplar will arrive on Thursday evening. We will be busy trying to get it inside the back fence – the rest of the week will be stacking. It shouldn’t take long, but it will be cold and could be wet. There are some really beautiful firewood racks – rectangular are the traditional ones, but someone has designed some 70 inch round ones that are stunning. I think we will just stack the 1.5 cords on the deck loose! Little Red has the wood box. :)))))))))

‘The Girls’ are afraid of the fire. This is a good thing. They are, however, washing themselves after having their seared salmon and they are enjoying the warmth that only the Jotul stove can provide. Calico is on top of the dining table rolling back and forth upside down. She is so happy. If I go to take her photo, she will stop (of course!).

Oh, Calico kept doing it! Oh, I love this girl. Her fur is so white and thick and those legs of hers are strong. Baby Hope is just like her.

Meanwhile, I had to call Brock this evening. He appeared within a minute with his paws on the glass garden door, again. Wonder when he will learn to turn the knob and come in?

One of our readers, ‘EJ’ took this beautiful image of Double-Crested Cormorants at the Tensaw River, Alabama, at the Blakely Historic State Park. Thank you for sharing with us. ‘EJ’ noted that it was 80 F. Oh, how wonderful. It is 1 C or 33.8 F.

All About Birds describes Double-crested Cormorants this way: “Double-crested Cormorants are colonial waterbirds that seek aquatic bodies big enough to support their mostly fish diet. However, they may roost and form breeding colonies on smaller lagoons or ponds, and then fly up to 40 miles to a feeding area. In addition to fishing waters, cormorants need perching areas for the considerable amount of time they spend resting each day. After fishing, cormorants retire to high, airy perches to dry off and digest their meals—rocks, wires, tops of dead trees, ship masts. They tend to form breeding colonies in clusters of trees in or near water. After a while, masses of cormorant guano may kill these trees and the trees may topple, at which point the cormorants may switch to nesting on the ground.”

Here is a species spotlight: https://youtu.be/_lLYHz4cnUw?

There has been angst and even killings between fishers and the Cormorants despite their protected migratory species – just like our ospreys that often fish at the fish farms.

Emergence Magazine included a story in their e-mail today, which I hope you will enjoy. This is the synopsis: “In this piece, writer Robert Moor journeys to Haida Gwaii, an island chain in British Columbia, for the anniversary of a historic agreement between the Haida Nation and the Canadian government that protects the landscape’s last remaining old-growth forests after decades of reckless logging precipitated by colonialism. To honor the occasion, a totem pole—carved from a towering red cedar—is raised under Haida leadership on Gwaii Haanas for the first time in 130 years. Walking through a forest stewarded for generations, Robert begins to see the tangle of Sitka spruces and cedars, mosses and lichens, not as a site of slow decay, but of ongoing growth. Standing in the presence of ancient trees, we can feel, rather than intellectualize, he says, not only the deep past, but also our responsibility to the future.”

Dendrochronology – Robert MoorDownload

Each day, I wake up hoping that ordinary humans, far from politicians and industry, can make the changes that will give our beloved wildlife a chance to adapt, live, and not starve in the nest. It can feel frustrating, but we have to hope.

I dreamed about Yira last night. Is this one of the adults with Yira flying around the tower? https://youtu.be/6hrNJESmrXs?

Parents should use prey drops while in flight—either dead or injured prey—as a teaching tool. Diamond and Xavier did this on camera above the tower several days ago before Yira fledged. They will also work on Yira’s flight training to build her strength.

Xavier and Diamond have been bonding in the scrape. https://youtu.be/5pfk6Q2DS1w?

Xavier arrived in the scrape with prey but left immediately. https://youtu.be/06ZektciLHM?

On the other hand, we know that the third hatch at Melbourne did not stay attached to F23’s talon but could fly away on her own. Here is the view of the last fledge at the Melbourne scrape from an adjacent building. Enjoy. https://youtu.be/1K4s90IkRkY?

It is a weighty tome, but Richard Sale’s book, Falcons, is an excellent volume on your bookshelf if you need one of the best reference books. Excellent background information and in-depth material on Peregrines, Kestrels, Hobbies, and Merlins exist.

The cam operator at Port Lincoln gave us some amazing close ups of Wilko and Kasse. Those juvenile feathers are stunning.

This year is very different. Mum is fishing off the barge to feed herself and the kids. She is doing a great job! I wonder why she didn’t do this in earlier years? But, regardless of the reason, she is intent on feeding her hungry kids and herself if Dad isn’t having any luck.

OK. Dad came in with a whole fish at 1234. Thanks Dad – . There is plenty of time for more.

I love the white outline of the grey-brown juvenile feathers. Wilko and Kasse will keep this distinctive ‘look’ for 3-6 months after fledging so that they can easily be recognized as recent fledglings/juveniles as opposed to adults.

Look at those beautiful eyes. The iris is a beautiful amber colour that will change to yellow when Wilko and Kasse are adults. Did you know that this iris is more red-orange in the ospreys hatched in the US?

I got a little carried away. They are so beautiful.

The news at Sydney is thin. No update on SE34.

Jackie and Shadow. Sticks. Love. Snow. https://youtu.be/ifpOijoG_IQ?

Thunder and Akecheta were at the West End nest on Sunday! So nice to see them, just like Jackie and Shadow.

Beau on the branch above the NE Florida nest he shares with Gabby early Sunday morning.

Eagles at Denton Homes.

We no longer need to wonder who is taking the turtle shells from E1 in the Kistachie National Forest! https://youtu.be/7ZozS0pmYrg?

Scout comes to the NCTC nest on Sunday! https://youtu.be/Zq4P3POFwmc?

Rabbit dinners and pond baths are the order of the day at SW Florida. https://youtu.be/RPKXJ13u024?

Illegal laundering of the sale of Peregrine Falcons? Wife is part of the police force? Oh, the webs that are woven to stop the protection of raptors.

Fraud charge dropped_ The weird case of WPC Suzanne Hall, wife & mother of convicted peregrine launderers. – Raptor Persecution UKDownload

Are the Red Squirrels of England at risk of dying off?

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/nov/16/red-squirrels-to-vanish-from-england-unless-vaccine-against-squirrelpox-funded?CMP=share_btn_url

Annie and Archie always put a smile on our face! https://youtu.be/jfzQtDwfCp0?

‘J’ reminds us that this is the very last few days to adopt a Kakapo if you were thinking about it.

And if also were thinking about donating so Ventana Wildlife and the California Condors can double their money, here is the information.

Please look at Cheryl’s comment in the WordPress ‘comments’ section of my blog. She notes an eagle at the Mississippi Flyway that has only one leg and is doing fine. She also noted Alden who was our Super Hero at Cal Falcons and was ‘disabled’ but was an amazing hunter. Then there is Ma Berry – and others. It was about my comment that I felt Garrama was not given a chance to see what he could do citing our new vet who believes little is known about wildlife and that we should try and allow them to have a life.

Thank you for being with us today. Please take care. See you soon.

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, comments, videos, articles, images, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post this morning: ‘C, EJ, J’, Emergence Magazine, All About Birds, Key West Tropical Forest and Garden, Birdie Cam, Birding Life & More, Richard Sale, Port Lincoln Ospreys, Judy Harrington, SK Hideaways, IWS/Explore.org, NEFL-AEF, Deb Stecyk, Androcat, Denton Homes, Kistachie National Forest, Raptor Persecution UK, The Guardian, SK Hideaways, Kakapo Recovery, Ventana Wildlife and Monterey County Gives.