Category Archives: NE Florida Eagle Nest

Saturday in Bird World

12 April 2025

Good Morning Everyone,

Late Breaking News:

Glaslyn: Aran arrived home safely today! Yes. Come on Finnegan. Geemeff sent this: Aran is finally back at Glaslyn. Elen has bonded with Teifi (hatched at Dyfi) so fun and games there today. She is confused and has flapped her wings at Aran. Aran has been defending his nest – and his Mrs!  All quiet now, I think Aran is chasing Teifi away. Going to be fun there. The same thing happened at the Llyn Brenig nest and seemingly that hasn’t settled yet.

Dyfi: Idris and Telyn have their second egg of the season.

John Bunker Sands Wetlands: The second eagle fledged.

Bety and Bukachek are reunited at the Mlade Buky White Stork nest! Thank you PB.

15 degrees C. Feels like summer.

It just feels like spring is here on the Canadian prairies. The Dark-eyed Juncos are enjoying the White Millet that has been scattered on the deck and on a small piece of ice near the wood box. The central heating is turned off. Our heavy winter coats are in the closet. If a blizzard hits – and they have been known to – we can easily grab them. A replacement bird bath has been ordered and we are beginning to clean up the yard where we can. Some things are still frozen to the ground!

In anticipation of the arrival of our songbirds and raptors, I will remind everyone how to keep their feeders clean so as not to spread disease:

The National Audubon Society gives these tips to help stop the spread of bird diseases such as avian flu. Clean feeders and bird baths with a solution of nine parts water to one part bleach every two weeks. Use multiple feeders to make it easier for birds to feed at a distance from each other, and remove feces and seed casings from below feeders regularly.

On the way home, the Bald Eagle that has its nest between our nature centre and the dump, flew right in front of our moving car, and grabbed an enormous bunch of dried grass and lifted off. Majestic. Thank goodness I was not driving fast. This all happened in the blink of an eye. Huge talons full of dead grasses and a flurry to get off. Scared me. I cannot imagine hitting this beautiful creature. I cannot imagine anyone doing them (or any other wildlife) harm.

It was not a surprise. So many were hopeful. Still, the 4th eaglet did not survive at Fort St Vrain. Many of you wrote to say that you are glad that the little one went quickly.

A growing number of you, along with others we may not yet know, are passionately seeking support. Last year, ‘MP’ and I faced significant frustration as we encountered endless obstacles—it felt like we were stuck in a loop. It is essential that we find a dedicated individual in the area who is willing to champion this important initiative. Having high-quality photographs is vital; many potential supporters rely on current visuals, but the images available on Google Maps are often outdated. Let’s come together to ensure we capture the attention and resources needed to move this project forward. for the Achieva Osprey Platform.

Geemeff sends the daily summary for the Woodland Trust and Loch Arkaig:

Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Friday 11th April 2025Today was a bit calmer, no intruders on Nest Two, just plenty of fish deliveries from Louis giving Dorcha the luxury of refusing one or two of them. Louis brought four fish to the nest, taking his tally to twenty four, along with sticks and moss to prepare the nest ready for the arrival of the first egg. That could be as early as the 14th, just three days away – there will be many watchers looking out for that special event. Over on Nest One, the day started with an early morning visit from a Tawny Owl who only stayed for a few minutes, giving her distinctive call before flying away again. Garry LV0 brought a fish but had no takers as neither Affric 152 nor any unattached females were seen, and he took it away again. Perhaps the continuing good weather will bring some traffic to the area and give Garry the hope of finding a mate.
Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 21.31.23 (05.34.38); Nest Two 21.43.39 (05.40.16)Today’s videos:https://youtu.be/OEnaIWW4XeE  N1 Tawny Owl visits 04.06.02https://youtu.be/2y8zxmxgX9M  N2 Fish number one – early breakfast arrives 06.13.32 

https://youtu.be/NdIgS1BEzmo  N2 Louis brings fish number two and takes it away 07.00.16

https://youtu.be/Oza6XDYwP3E  N2 Louis delivers fish three, Dorcha dines on the nest 11.03.16

https://youtu.be/dIQAIT_2a5o  N1 No takers so Garry leaves with his fish 13.10.14

https://youtu.be/82LtHDs-JhA  N2 Dorcha grabs and goes as soon as fish four arrives 18.22.47

Bonus look: Louis & Dorcha star in the Week in Wildlife (thanks Neil Macduff):

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/gallery/2025/apr/11/week-in-wildlife-ospreys-reunited-monkey-thief-london-fox-cub

Blast from the past – this day in previous years:
https://youtu.be/p_72D3H8lzc N1 Corvid not Covid! 2020
https://youtu.be/wYmwz8lUWsQ N1 The Stranger arrives with breakfast 2021

https://youtu.be/W8Bl6tCXYGsN1 Welcome home Louis 2021 (zoomed)

https://youtu.be/9p84l65VnYo N2 Louis & Dorcha reunited 2022

https://youtu.be/s_pTTmsBRdA N2 Aerial battles with Hoodies 2023 (zoomed)

https://youtu.be/N7ZGY4vmVeE  N2 Successful mating and a flypast 2023

https://youtu.be/PCFbG-MfO84  N2 Dorcha scares off a Great Tit 2024

https://youtu.be/Frl2xush4Vs  N2 Alien invasion of Nest Two! Or is it? 2024

‘J’ lets us know that the Trempealeau Eagles has its first hatch.

There are some concerns about the Sydney Sea Eagles and the development planned for the Sydney Olympic Park.

MP2050_Summary_web (1)Download

Can you imagine the killing of whales in US waters? Well, get ready unless you work hard to stop it! You don’t have long.

URGENT Whaling Could Return to US Waters Act by May 5Download

The Bird of the Week from the American Bird Conservancy.

Its life is threatened by habitat loss due to logging and mining.

Many more are threatened by our lights. Turn them off during migration as ‘PB’ has done. They send us the latest migration map.

While we are sad when we lose a little one or the adults do not return, there are many to celebrate including USS8 who is being fed by his dad, Irv, at the US Steel Nest.. https://youtu.be/IswC6bNr6Nw?

Thankful for our miracle, Bodie.

For Sunny and Gizmo at Big Bear Valley:

For only amazing miracle eaglet, Betty Lou, at Sauces Canyon:

For Iris returning to us at Hellgate Canyon:

I have a deep appreciation for European Starlings and House Sparrows. It’s disheartening to see their numbers dwindling in my garden, and the decline of the Starling population in the UK is alarming. We must take action to protect our feathered friends. When you encounter a garden company claiming to rid your space of weeds without using any toxic chemicals, challenge their assertions—it’s simply misguided. Our environment and wildlife deserve better!

Starlings fall to record low in UK’s 2025 Big Garden Birdwatchhttps://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/apr/11/starlings-uk-2025-big-garden-birdwatch-rspb?CMP=share_btn_url

Thank you so much for being with us today. Take care of yourself. See you soon.

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to write this short post today: ‘Geemeff, J, PB’, Bywyd Gwylld Glaslyn, Dyfi Osprey Project, JBSW, Mlade Buke White Stork News, The Audubon Society, Fort St Vrain, Achieva Credit Union, Geemeff and The Woodland Trust, Sydney Sea Eagle FB, Sea Shepherd Conservation Society, American Bird Conservancy, USFWS Columbia Pacific, The Guardian

Friday in Bird Word

11 April 2025

Hello Everyone,

Morning Update:

Maya and Blue 33 have their fourth egg at Rutland’s Manton Bay. Geemeff writes: “Maya has laid a fourth egg at Manton Bay – it’s visible around 08.47.28”. If any couple can raise our, these two can. They have done it several times before. They are an Osprey Super couple in terms of producing chicks.

Sadness and Madness. Achieva Baby gone. For everyone that wrote to get help after the Baby and eggs went down the drain holes last year, it appears something has happened again this year. (Footage is being checked to see what happened).

Iris: Montana Osprey Cams

Sorestonpd45h3277if02mgttu5iahiit47m8u2a12cgiifchimft91123h0  · 

“Hi everyone!

Iris has been a busy lady. The Hellgate nest was completely flattened over the winter. When we went up to upgrade the camera system I was amazed and how shallow and flat the nest was.

But Iris has been busy bringing in sticks, grass and moss, and the edges of the nest are already considerably higher.

Come on Finnegan!!

Best, Erick Greene and The Montana Osprey Team”

Come on Finnegan is right.

I thought I was losing my mind. Turns out it isn’t me! It is WordPress. Heidi first warned me two days ago that images in my blog were getting switched. WP is scrambling pictures and videos faster than I can check them for the third time, so apologies. I keep saying I am switching to another platform, but that would cause a lot of chaos for all of you – and that is something that I do not wish to do. I don’t need that chaos and neither do you. The birds are to give us some calm in our lives, albeit they often send us to the tissue box. Still, we are privileged to share their lives, and I would not have it any other way. So I might start using less images – I know that many of you see these beautiful feathered friends on the streaming cams and in FB posts. To be continued….

As of this writing, neither Finnegan nor Aran has returned to their nests. Finnegan was first spotted on Iris’s nest on April 19th, but we’re unsure if he was present earlier. Aran typically returns between March 30th and April 4th, and I am worried about him. In the meantime, Louis has visited Iris on the nest again. Please come home soon, Finnegan! And I should note that other ospreys on UK streaming cams such as LJ2 at Llyn Brenig have just returned. Come on Aran.

My post is a bit all over the place today. Please bear with me. The research is not clear, but I can tell you, from my detailed notes, that the two days leading to the full moon and four days after, can be very difficult for those suffering from Lewy Body Dementia, like my husband (and others with mental health challenges). My posts will be as confused for a few more days! The Pink Full Moon is on Saturday.

That juvenile eaglet on the John Bunker Sands Wetlands Bald Eagle tower fooled me. I was certain that one of them had fledged. It seems that it was hiding in those metal supports. JBS had their first fledge on the 9th. This has been a great nest to watch this year!

Fort St. Vrain: The 4th egg has hatched. That sweet little baby. I hope that the parents can manage the hatch difference and four beaks to fill. And I hope that this 4th hatch is a ferocious girl so she can survive!

I am hearing a lot of worry from around the world about this nest. The weather is not looking good (will include below) and ‘PB’ writes: “I don’t know how Ma is going to keep 4 babies under her. I just read the nest history and there were a few seasons when the chicks passed due to exposure to rain , snow and hail. Storms seem to come around this time of month. Hope it stays dry for them.”

‘J’ writes: “In Dutch we say „ik hou mijn hart vast“, literally I hold on to my heart. Holding his heart is a proverb often used in a difficult situation where someone is afraid that things will not end well. The proverb “holding his heart” is symbolic and refers to the fact that one is so tense that one reaches for the heart and holds it from tension. “Peter held his heart when the results of the theory exam were announced.” In this example, Peter is the one who is “holding his heart” because he is in suspense for the results of his exam. Often this proverb is used in uncertain situations, this can be from serious to minor situations. The following examples indicate this. “After the car accident, Dora had to be freed from her car and her family members held their hearts.” This is an example of a life-threatening situation, but it can also be less serious : “Chris promised to finish his essay on time, I am holding my heart.” In this case, the proverb is used as a kind of joke to indicate that Chris thus never finished his essays on time and the person actually sees the storm coming.

The older two have eaten well, the third got some bites, and the fourth pushed itself up and then the parent took the bite. If you are queasy this is not the nest to watch for awhile til we see how things shape up.

‘PB’ sent the weather that so many of you are concerned about. It was not that many years ago that the little one at PA Country Farm was left out from being under Mum and died. Many of you recalled that tragedy.

Geemeff sends us her daily summary of the activities for The Woodland Trust:

Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Thursday 10th April 2025

Today saw the return of the ringed male intruder Osprey to Nest Two and managed to perch for a brief moment before being chased off the nest by Louis, who escorted him away from Dorcha and down towards the loch. Frustratingly we still didn’t get a good look at his Darvic ring, perhaps he’ll return or perhaps we’ll get a positive ID from the Roy Dennis Foundation. Louis delivered four fish today, taking his season’s tally to twenty. One of those fish spent quite a bit of time being taken on and off the nest before finally being eaten, and after another delivery Louis did such energetic nest-scraping that he needed a little lie down, affording us a comical view. Over on Nest One, Garry LV0 did a fair bit of nest prep too, bringing sticks and nest-scraping until Affric arrived to solicit fish. Unlike yesterday however, he didn’t oblige and she left fish-less, back to Bunarkaig to demand fish from her real mate Prince, perhaps. The wind picked up today but the forecast for tomorrow is sunny with a gentle breeze.
Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 21.26.55 (05.19.23); Nest Two 21.39.38 (05.34.33)
Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/j1DxPFlrGu4 N2 Louis won’t give Dorcha the first fish 06.15.18

https://youtu.be/B0LdP-qTXW4 N2 The ringed intruder returns 08.03.30

https://youtu.be/bstQ7gOgnqA N1 Affric and Garry have an encounter 08.53.04 

https://youtu.be/7IDTQEDXPtE N2 Louis has a little lie down after delivering fish number two 12.33.55https://youtu.be/DpBbCdymmCY N2 Dorcha doesn’t want the third fish so Louis takes it away 15.02.23 https://youtu.be/0S3tAvALOmM N2 Dorcha grabs the fourth fish as soon as it arrives 20.32.25

Bonus watch –   the importance of the UK’s temperate rainforests, like Loch Arkaig:

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/habitats/temperate-rainforest/explore-britains-rainforests-film/
Blast from the past – this day in previous years:
https://youtu.be/LbWEdz9F-qg N1 Aila & Louis share a love nest 2020
https://youtu.be/G-3kBllTF-8 N1 Louis’ enthusiastic fine-tuning 2020
https://youtu.be/0Qy8OO9mY30 N1 Tricky stick for the Stranger 2021
https://youtu.be/i71cxxtGq2w N1 No takers for the Stranger’s fish 2021
https://youtu.be/Z1AU-Q7nx9o N2 Three little visitors 2023
https://youtu.be/2I51i5kIVa0 N2  Together again: Louis & Dorcha are reunited 2023

https://youtu.be/LPHhs_3oFQU N1 Welcome home Affric 2024 (zoom)
https://youtu.be/TDenxxKhpYw Fish number one, headless BT 2024

https://youtu.be/l1HpuYtiBnE Fish number two, large headless BT 2024

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

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

Please do look at some of these wonderful videos. We now have Louis and Dorcha on Loch Arkaig nest 2 and Prince and Affric on Louis’s old nest, nest 1. For those you loved Louis and Aila, there is one with them, too. Lots of people are hoping that we might see some of those JJs at a nest or two.

Big Bear Valley: It is no wonder that Sunny and Gizmo are growing and growing. They are eating fish 8 and 9. I can think of a lot of eagle (or osprey) nests that would envy that amount of food coming to the nest. https://youtu.be/aHdBLEpS7VE?

Sauces: Betty Lou is just as fortunate. Jak and Audacity keep her crop full and bursting. They are such happy and proud parents. One of this year’s miracles, like Bodie, Sunny, and Gizmo.

NEFlorida: Bodie is still home but she is spending a lot of time up high on the branches. You best stop in to that cam because she could fly off any moment. Beau and Gabby did well even adopting another eagle that undoubtedly helped Bodie to learn more survival skills. A blessing. Bodie is 81 days old today.

Port Tobacco: Two eaglets have their beautiful wooly thermal down and their juvenile feathers are appearing. Both doing well.

US Steel: Wet day for Irvin, Stella, and baby USS8 (hatched on 27 March) who had a big crop. Fish pieces on the nest and Stella keeping that little one warm and dry.

Nest 4 Finland: Snow.

Nest 5 Finland: Osprey briefly landed on the nest on Friday.

Achieva Credit Union Ospreys: Only Bob of Jack and Jill is doing well. With the above announcement, this is so sad. My heart breaks for new Mum Jill and Jack. For those not familiar this happened last year. It was difficult to determine if a predator came or if the eggs and chick went down those big drain holes. Heidi is trying to determine what happened.

Salem Electric Ospreys, Oregon: A couple are on the nest and they have a lot of work to do. The link to their streaming cam is: https://www.youtube.com/live/a-G2qGiZdT0?

Eastern Curlew: They migrate 10,000 km and they are in trouble.

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/apr/08/a-high-flying-visitor-the-wondrous-far-eastern-curlew-faces-fresh-threat-in-nt-wetlands-haven?CMP=share_btn_url

“Eastern Curlew” by 0ystercatcher is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.

It is up to people to help this beautiful, long flyer.

Eastern curlew – Australian Conservation FoundationDownload

Funding for all kinds of research and help for wildlife is in jeopardy. The Narwal comes out of British Columbia with journalists in several Canadian provinces. It is supported by readers and has won numerous awards for independent journalism.

Trump funding cuts put Canadian-led bat research at risk | The NarwhalDownload

Whether it is in Australia, Canada, the US, Europe, or the UK, wildlife needs our help now more than ever. Lawlessness means that more and more raptors are being shot. Two ospreys last week. We don’t hear about most of them. These are just the tip of the iceberg in wildlife violence and we need to find a way to end it. If individuals harm animals, then they might also easily harm people. Where did empathy and love for animals go in some people?

Calico’s Tip for the Day: Make a few tweaks in your life and get rid of some anxiety. Calico loves ‘The To Do List’. Not. It never gets finished, there is always something to do. Many people think that they are ‘useless’ or ‘less worthy’ because they cannot get on top of their ‘bloody lists’. Others miss the beauty of the day by spending all their time trying to get ‘the list’ finished. The author of a new book, reviewed by The New York Times, agrees – the list is never finished. Here are some tips to help us enjoy life a bit more and quite stressing ourselves out needlessly! ——– Think like a cat, Calico says. And don’t feel guilty if you need ‘a cat nap’ during the day.

I have put into place two changes to the blog to try and help with my anxiety: 1) I realise that I will never catch up with every nest as there are thousands of them on streaming cams and I will always miss some late news. It cannot be helped. 2) Instead of rushing to get the blog out to you before a certain time, I get up and feed Brock who is nearly always waiting, feed The Girls and the garden animals, feed us and give out pills and then while sipping my morning brew, finish up the blog.

Calico hopes that you will find some ways to alleviate some of the anxiety that comes into your life. She loves this article and hopes that it helps in some way. Let her know!

Well 4 ways to stop stressing about your scheduleDownload

Thank you so much for being with us today. Please take care of yourself. 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: ‘Geemeff, Heidi, J, PB’, Montana Osprey Project, John Bunker Sands Wetlands, Fort St Vrain, The Weather Channel, Geemeff and The Woodland Trust, IWS/Explore, FOBBV, NEFL-AEF, Saaksilvie 4, The Guardian, OpenVerse, Australian Conservation Foundation, The Narwal, Owl Moon Raptor Centre, The New York Times, US Steel, Port Tobacco Eagle Cam

Wednesday in Bird World

9 April 2025

Hello Everyone!

I’m so delighted to hear that spending time outdoors with the birds and enjoying the fresh spring air has truly lifted your spirits. Thank you for sharing this wonderful news with me!

Calico has been sitting with me as I dream about changes to the garden area. The first decision involves the two medium-sized wooden boxes. We still need one for the logs for the wood burner, but the other has Brock’s name all over it. I’m planning to convert it into a nice and cozy space for him, which will be perfect when the weather gets chilly in the fall. We can add a heating lamp for the winter along with straw bedding.

I realize that I need to spend more time outside, whether it’s sitting, reading, or walking. Just like I recommend to each of you.

Let’s check out what is going on with our Ospreys!

Dyfi Osprey Nest: Idris and Telyn have their first egg of the 2025 season. Yippee!

Aran has not returned to the Glaslyn nest from his migration. At April 9 I am getting concerned, but still hopeful. There has been a visitor reported on the nest on UK Osprey Info: “Glaslyn Nest visitor, Blue KS6 DINAS Hatched Dyfi Osprey Project 2018, Parents Unringed Monty and Blue 3J, Breeding Male at a FoTo Private nest in the area. Put in a brief visit.”

Hellgate Canyon: Iris works on the nest while waiting for dear Finnegan to return. I sure wish young Finnegan would hurry up so Iris doesn’t have to do all the heavy lifting.

Loch Doon: First egg!

Russell Lake, Nova Scotia: Oscar has been home for awhile and today he woke up to snow! He might wish he had stayed with Ethel and the kids where it is warm.

Thanks Connie and Don for the update! And helping Oscar stay warm!!!!!!!

Loch Arkaig: Geemeff sends us the day’s summary:

Woodland Trust Loch Arkaig daily summary Tuesday 8th April 2025
An exciting day today which saw the return of that interesting pair Affric Blue 152 and her mate Prince. They landed on Nest One shortly before noon, Prince made a half-hearted mating attempt but merely slid off and the two stood quietly on the nest until something alarmed them and they left in a hurry. But not for long – they circled round, visible in the distance behind the knolls, and returned to the nest a few minutes later. No mating attempt this time as Affric landed on the cam post and when she jumped down to join him, she was calling for fish. Prince made no move to go fishing so she departed with him following a few moments late. It’s great to see them back safely – now, will they decide to stay on this nest, or return to their usual nest at Bunarkaig? And where is Garry Blue LV0 who favours this nest and would dearly like to find a mate – we’d all like to see him paired up too. Over on Nest Two, Louis and Dorcha continued with their usual routine of mating, bringing nesting materials – some of which actually stayed on the nest – and fish deliveries. Louis delivered two fish today and like yesterday, the second was a huge trout, so his tally now stands at fourteen. Tonight’s forecast for the Inver Mallie area is clear skies and light winds, and sunshine tomorrow with a potential high of 

20°C.Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 21.21.21 (05.26.08); Nest Two 21.33.45 (05.40.56)
Today’s videos:https://youtu.be/PIiENRMFbtE N2 Dorcha moves in and grabs fish number one from Louis 07.20.52https://youtu.be/cULExhyJn2s N1 Welcome back! Affric 152 & Prince arrive 11.47.48 (zoom)https://youtu.be/I6GhPq9RQEo  N1 After a hasty departure, Affric & Prince return to the nest 11.51.18https://youtu.be/cSkecFnZ3i8  N2 Louis swoops in with a whopper trout 17.25.20
Bonus read: All about Loch Arkaig, and the Mile Dorcha that gave our Dorcha her name:
https://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/speanbridge/locharkaig/index.html
Blast from the past, this day in previous years:
https://youtu.be/YADMDipmet0  N1 Aila gets the brush-off 2020
https://youtu.be/9DmoNXRo4u4  N1 Louis nearly pulls Aila off the nest 2020
https://youtu.be/MOwOw_Okoq4  N2 Magic rainbow diamonds 2022 (Artistic Ospreys)
https://youtu.be/uBJT3Gullpc  N2 Louis’ one and only visit – Dorcha’s not home yet 2023

https://youtu.be/rWdpjJV1mFg N2 Louis chases an intruder 2024 (zoom)
https://youtu.be/cU7dI1sudXs  N2 Louis pole vaults onto the nest 2024
https://youtu.be/in2K_CSR5Mg  N2 Intruder Osprey overflies Dorcha on the nest 2024

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

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

Loch of the Lowes: Without a mate, Blue NC0, the former resident female on this nest with her mate, LM12 Laddie who died in 2024, has lost her nest to the Dark Male and a new unringed female.

Want to access five Finnish Osprey nests at once? Check out this page: https://www.saaksilive.fi/live/kaikkikamerat/

This evening I found an owl on nest 4. Gosh, it looks like a Great Grey. Do they have those in Finland? (I need to find out!)

Charlo Montana: Two ospreys on the nest. I understand that they are not Charlie and Lola.

Achieva Credit Union: Family portrait – Jack, Jill, and Only Bob.

Heidi has one report for us this morning:

4/8 – Dewey Beach osprey nest (Dewey Beach Lions Club):  Congrats to Dewey and Liona on their second egg, laid at 14:13.

Bald Eagles:

‘J’ reports that Denton Homes has its first hatch of the 2025 season.

John Bunker Sands Wetlands: We have our first fledge at this nest on Tuesday and a safe return. https://youtu.be/n69Y9aXgMwc?

Fort St. Vrain: The triplets appear to be doing alright. The fourth egg is 37 days old today, and pip watch will be on. Like so many that have written to me, I, too, would just as soon it doesn’t hatch!

NE Florida: Three fish arrive in less than a blink! Enough for everyone.

FOBBV: Bulging crops. Sunny and Gizmo have no idea how special they are to their parents. What a magnificent year so far.

Duke Farms: The triplets will be ringed tomorrow! We will get to find out what gender these three precious ones are.

Big Bear Valley: Sunny and Gizmo are wooly and their juvenile plumage is coming in.

Wing slaps amongst siblings? https://youtu.be/mj-nCnpx_QU?s

Trempleau Bald Eagles: Pip watch begins today! And guess what? There is a pip.

Bluff City ETSU: Lots of prey coming to the nest. Both eaglets are doing really well.

NCTC: Scout and Bella’s three eaglets are glorious. Scout loves feeding his chicks, and he attempts to help clean the nest.

Channel Islands Eagles: Dr Sharpe has been wanting to retire, and now he is. My goodness. We have come to rely on him to ‘save’ those beautiful babies gripping the side of a cliff after falling. What would we have done without him? Calico encourages each of us to send him a thank-you message for his incredible efforts, perhaps mentioning a particular moment that touched you. The address is: Dr Peter Sharpe, Institute for Wildlife Studies, PO Box 1104, Arcata, CA 95518.

The IWS posted the following message: “After 27 years Dr. Peter Sharpe is retiring from the IWS Channel Islands eagle recovery program. Dr Sharpe’s efforts were instrumental in bringing bald eagles back to the California Channel Islands, but the true hallmark of a successful program is when the torch is passed to a new generation. To that end, we are excited to announce IWS’ new Eagle Project Lead, Erin Weiner.

Erin comes to us from California State University, Long Beach, where she achieved an M.S. in Biological Sciences while completing her master’s thesis on the effects of wildfire on mammal communities in fire-adapted California ecosystems. In addition to her research, Erin is passionate about science education and has spent many hours sharing her knowledge of the natural world with fellow scientists, K-12 students, and members of the public. She is excited to work with the unique and special Channel Islands Bald Eagle population, fulfilling a lifelong dream of contributing to wildlife conservation and management in her home state of California. Welcome Erin!”

Peregrine Falcon eggs crushed! Don’t even get me started…I would like to step on this individual as he did those precious eggs. There are way too many people that it is alright to kill animals or their hopes for having a family. How would this person feel if someone trampled his child?

Peregrine falcon eggs smashed in St Albans Cathedral live streamDownload

Calico is a bit put off today. Look at her ears. The City is cutting down trees – the homes of her friends. It is also nesting season and they should not be cutting anything down and Calico has lodged an official complaint.

I grew up in a time when we believed that both individually and collectively, we had the power to make a meaningful impact. Recently, I heard an inspiring individual emphasize the urgent need to stand up for our convictions and take action now. An article in The Guardian powerfully highlights this call to action, focusing on the critical issues of wildlife conservation and extinction.

It’s up to each of us to help save life on Earth – I love this challenge | Bob Brownhttps://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/apr/09/its-up-to-each-of-us-to-help-save-life-on-earth-i-love-this-challenge?CMP=share_btn_url

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

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, comments, images, articles, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘Geemeff, Heidi, J’, Dyfi Osprey Project, UK Osprey Info FB, Montana Osprey Project, Connie and Don Dennis and Ospreys of Nova Scotia FB, Geemeff and The Woodland Trust, Loch of the Lowes, Finnish Osprey Nests, John Bunker Sands Wetlands, Fort St Vrain, NEFL-AEF, Duke Farms, FOBBV, IWS, BBC, FOBBV, SK Hideaways, Achieva Credit Union, Bluff City-ETSU, NCTC Bald Eagle Cam

Iris is Home…Monday in Bird World

7 April 2025

Hello Everyone,

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

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

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

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

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

Oprey News:

Heidi’s Osprey News:

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

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

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

Thanks, Heidi!

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

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

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

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

Border Osprey Report:

WAITING PATIENTLY – Border OspreysDownload

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

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

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

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

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

Llyn Clywedog: Gorgeous Dylan and Seren!

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

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

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

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

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

Great Bay Estuary: Two ospreys on the nest today.

Oceanside MNSA: Third egg laid on Saturday April 5.

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

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

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

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

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

Today’s videos:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

https://arkaigtour.woodlandtrust.org.uk

Blast from the past, this day in previous years:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Bald Eagles:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Sunday in Bird World

6 April 2025

Good Morning Everyone,

It is +5 on the Canadian prairies, and spring is almost here! The House Finches have arrived along with the Dark-eyed Juncos. We have had several new woodpeckers over the past couple of days at the suet cylinders, along with the garden regulars. They are all accounted for, and that is a good thing! Brock was here twice today. He is not afraid of me any more. He will sit on the chair until I put his food in the dish. Isn’t that just a marvellous change!?

Now, please tell me you have been outside. Did you smell spring in the air? Are you watching for the hummingbirds migrating through? How about the ducks? Have you seen any? I can’t wait to tell you about the first ducks’ arrival at our local park’s pond. Will they be Mallards? or Wood Ducks?

Ferris Akel’s Saturday Tour went through Wildlife Drive – the first time this spring. There were beautiful shorebirds, at least one Sandhill Crane, but Ferris thought it was guarding a nest, and ducks – ducks of many species.

Oh, I am getting so excited. It doesn’t bother me that the geese poop over everything. It is so nice to see them home. This year there will, undoubtedly, be less due to bird flu which has hit the species hard. We will be grateful for each and every one that made it back alive!

One of our favourite nature centres, Oak Hammock Marsh, is getting a real makeover. They have been renovating for the past two years. We could head out there for a walk to see who is on the water. The new building is not open yet, but the trails are, and the ice should be melted. Then, of course, the American White Pelicans should arrive at Lockport by the end of the month. There is a lot to look forward to.

Ferris says that the rust colour on the back and wings of the cranes is from the soil.

There is not a lot of activity in Bird World. As of Saturday morning, 30 well-known ospreys had not returned to the UK. The weather has been bad along the migration route, and we need favourable winds, but by the 12th, I will start to worry. I am watching the Montana Ospreys, especially Iris and Finnegan, and looking out for Aran. Many are also watching the Russell Lake nest of Oscar and Ethel, who have been raising osplets there for about 15 years. Oscar is waiting for his gal to return. VV constantly checks on 15 nests in the Maryland area while Heidi monitors a long list of US nests. We will know soon enough who has returned and who hasn’t. Send good positive energy to all of them.

Ospreys are arriving at Kielder Forest. Mrs PC8 from Nest 2 was there on Saturday. Here is their latest news.

Latest news _ Kielder OspreysDownload

Iris’s train passes behind her nest, which she shares with her new mate, Finnegan, at Hellgate Canyon. Please come home, Iris! Your favourite date is April 7th – that is tomorrow, Monday.

A reminder of Iris’s – and our – remarkable year at this nest with hopes for another. https://youtu.be/iKSGv30eaDc?

Harry waits for Flora at Alyth SS.

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

Woodland Trust Daily summary for Loch Arkaig Saturday 5th April 2025

Another day of settled weather, and Louis took advantage of the good conditions to deliver four brown trout, taking the season’s fish tally to six. There were many mating encounters and an amusing interlude with sticks, and so far the season seemed to be progressing normally. Dorcha was on the nest when Louis brought the fourth fish at 20.36 but made no move to take it, and she departed without it about 15 minutes later, leaving Louis standing there clutching the fish in his talons. However, in a surprising change to the usual pattern, he then appeared to fall asleep, hunched over his fish near the edge of the nest, and at the time of filing this report (23.00), he was still there looking as if he might spend the night on the nest. No activity on Nest One today.

Night cam switches on (day cam):

Nest One (05.33.14); Nest Two (05.51.56)

Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/HPXA4EJ5uQc N2 Louis arrives with the first fish, half a brown trout 06.43.50

https://youtu.be/15LM_bVIrGk N2 Comical stick incident! 10:24:26 (Classic Ospreys)

https://youtu.be/23B3e0Ncpeo N2 Fish number two arrives and departs – Dorcha is indignant! 12.16.52

https://youtu.be/YNVCK5SBrn0 N2 Louis delivers fish number three and throws sticks overboard 17.28.45

https://youtu.be/XcSY3N_XTQ4 N2 Louis arrives with fish number four but Dorcha’s not interested 20.36.42

Bonus watch – WT video showing the construction of Nest Two: 

Blast from the past – this day in previous years:

https://youtu.be/000ExVIHdTk  N1 He’s back! Welcome home Louis! 2020

https://youtu.be/MqCZOPYRBMw N1 Louis brings a big stick 2020

https://youtu.be/GiXhBTMjfdI N2 A Great Tit (Parus major) visits 2022

https://youtu.be/xfg_jzAnuCU  N2 Louis does a lovely long loop as he leaves 2023 (zoom)

https://youtu.be/s45fByu5-ZE  N2 Louis swoops around in front of the nest before landing with a fish 2023

https://youtu.be/b7XBOsBjZHU  N2 Fishy tails! Louis eats all his dinner 2023

https://youtu.be/_tcny1NvSfs  N2 Louis sky-dances at dawn 2024

https://youtu.be/onRZQMzzFec N2 Two fish arrive within seconds 08.22.22 & 08.22.35! 2024

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

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

The Wildlife Trusts present 

Wild LIVE: Ecocide – should destroying nature be a crime? 

Free online discussion Tuesday 15 April 2025 from 18.30 to 20.00 GMT+1https://www.wildlifetrusts.org/eve

nts/2025-04-15-wild-live-ecocide-should-destroying-nature-be-crime

A pilot study to examine the impacts of releasing non-native gamebirds (pheasants & red-legged partridges) into the Cairngorms National Park is due to begin this spring:

Pilot study to examine impact of releasing non-native gamebirds in Cairngorms National Park

Louis and Dorcha:

Heidi’s Osprey Nest News:

4/5 –  Smallwood State Park osprey nest (Maryland):  Congrats to Mom and Dad… Mom laid egg#3 at 08:03.

4/5 –  Dewey Beach osprey nest (Delaware, Dewey Beach Lions Club):  I just love this wonderful osprey couple.  Mom seemed ‘eggie’ today, so I was not surprised to see her lay the first egg at 19:15.

4/6 – Venice Golf Club:  The third baby hatched overnight, and three bobbleheads were seen at the first feeding this morning.

A great opportunity for some special person or persons! Check out the Osprey Leadership Foundation! Please apply if you fit the criteria – this would be fantastic and I know some of us ‘oldies’ would have loved to have had this chance.

Osprey on nest 4 in Finland! This is Nuppu and Nemo’s nest – I have not seen any confirmation of this osprey yet. Will keep checking.

‘J’ sends news that Traverse City Bald Eagles have their second hatch.

At Beau and Gabby’s nest in NE Florida, Bodie had a nice fish meal. Later, she soaked in the sun and wind with Juvie and went higher up the branches.

Bodie goes higher! https://youtu.be/cYTuJVPT8K4?

It is, sadly, not going to be long until Bodie flies off the nest. She is doing a lot of flapping.

E03 at the Kistachie National Forest E3 nest enjoyed three fish deliveries on Saturday.

Scout and Bella’s triplets seem to be doing just fine at the NCTC nest.

Betty Lou is growing!!!!!!! Jak and Audacity are truly proud parents!

Angel the Leucistic Redtail Hawk and Tom: There has been no activity since the entry below, when Angel flew off the nest. I do not believe we should count on this couple raising any eyases on this nest this year. This is not to say they do not have another nest in their territory.

4/2/20257:49:08 AMAngelleaves

‘J’ sends us news of other eagle nests: “Watching the bobbleheads at Fort St. Vrain. Just wonderful. So young they can’t do real damage to each other yet, so it’s „safe“, and fluff balls are so cute. One obviously was contemplating hacking the other, but before he could take action, he fell over on his back, feet up in the air – I can’t help it, I snorted. Too funny.

There’s a pip, so number three is on its way.

Denton Homes confirmed by youtube chatters, two little Majestics!

Unfortunately the new hatch at Falconshire Raptors seem to have died, Skye stepped on it several times according to the charts. No official confirmation yet. https://falconshireraptors.com/blog/“

Are we truly the only animals that destroy their home by tossing our garbage everywhere? It sure looks like it. We know the birds find everything – the safe and the dangerous – that we toss. Here is an article about it.

From burger wrappers to masks, bird nests tell story of throwaway culturehttps://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/apr/04/from-burger-wrappers-masks-bird-nests-story-throwaway-culture?CMP=share_btn_url

Thank you for being with us today! As you enjoy the rest of your weekend, I encourage you to step outside, even just sitting in a chair by your back door. Nature truly has a remarkable ability to heal and can lift our worries, even if just for a moment. Look up at the sky and let a smile spread if you see a goose honking and flying overhead or glimpse a hummingbird.

Embrace the beauty around you and let it rejuvenate your spirit. There are lots of worries in the world. I do not know anyone who is not anxious. We will benefit from stepping outside and listening to our feathered friends or going for a short or long walk with a friend or family member. Nature heals. We need to take better care of it – and our spirits.

Thank you for being with us. Take care everyone. See you soon! And according to WordPress there are benefits to you hitting the ‘like’ button if you enjoyed this posting but for the life of me I am not a social media pro and have no idea what they are!

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, comments, images, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘Geemeff, Heidi, J’, Ferris Akel Tour, Kielder Forest, Montana Osprey Project, Alyth SS, Geemeff and The Woodland Trust (Loch Arkaig), Osprey Leadership Foundation, Traverse City Bald Eagles, NEFL-AEF, SK Hideaways, Kistachie National Forest E3, IWS/Explore, Window to Wildlife, The Guardian, Smallwood State Park, VGCCO, Dewey Beach

Wednesday in Bird World

2 April 2025

Good Morning,

Jackie and Shadow’s kiddos have been named: Sunny for the oldest and Gizmo for the youngest. Thanks 3rd graders!

Loch Arkaig: Gemeff writes that Louis and Dorcha might be home. Just waiting for confirmation from the Woodland Trust.

Ospreys are like buses – wait for ages and then two come along at once!

This is how Dorcha’s arrival happened:

13.58.57 An Osprey call is heard off camera – is it Louis? Sounds like him. I boosted the audio the better to hear the call.

14.04.19 An Osprey lands with a chirp – but it’s Dorcha, not Louis! Welcome home!

14.06.20 She departs, flying lochwards and disappearing into the distance. She’s quite hollow-cropped, I imagine she’s gone fishing. Perhaps already made an attempt judging by the green gunk on her right foot.

https://youtu.be/0at1Hn1OO68 (zoomed)

Think he is home!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And earlier, we had the first Osprey visit – the Really Dark Female (RDF) who’s visited before.

https://youtu.be/GdxCrcgFs9w (zoom)

Louis video coming now – he stayed a few secs then flew off lochwards

I had not planned on sending out a post this morning, but Geemeff drew my attention to something and I think that it is something that we have to prepare ourselves for – the fact that Louis and many other beloved ospreys might not return this year.

I know that readers sometimes do not click on links and you might have missed this one in my Tuesday blog. Geemeff suggested that I pin it in print because people are concerned about whether or not Louis (or any of the others not already home) will return. George writes for the Woodland Trust:


“It is clear that Louis suffered some kind of illness last year that saw him perched in a tree for days on end when he would ordinarily have been fishing. While he did recover before the end of the summer it is likely that when he migrated he was not as fit as he has been in past years.

We believe he was two or three years old when we first saw him in 2017 so that means that while by no means ancient he is now getting on in years. There are a few individual outliers that live to 20 and beyond but the typical lifespan seems to be 10-15 years. He is in that zone now.

Migration is tough in either direction, We do need to prepare ourselves for the possibility that Louis might not make it back this year.

It is also important for everyone to process the fact that wild lives don’t tend to end neatly. If Louis does return this season he may be vulnerable to another younger male kicking him off the nest. Or his fishing abilities may go into decline. Remember that the beginning of his breeding career with Aila began with chick mortality because the pair were inexperienced. His middle years have seen him mature into an excellent father, but we can expect a tough time for chicks hatched in his declining years.

That is just how these things go. While it is upsetting for us to see chicks fail, it is natural.

It could be that he arrives back in fine fettle in the next week or two and we have a successful season. But we have to accept that might not be the case.”

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/osprey-cam/?ht-comment-id=24047912

We hope that they all return. We wait and see.

Geemeff also sent this announcement that has a stale date. There is going to be a great Q & A on Eagles this Thursday. So check it out.

Thank you, Geemeff!

CROW is asking for your help.

‘RP’ sent us another cute little bird nest idea! Thank you.

We have some ospreys arriving and we have some that need their mates to come home NOW!

Kielder Forest: W6 is home!

W6 arrives, with fish offering! _ Kielder OspreysDownload

Cowlitz PUD:

Llyn Brenig:

Mispillion Harbour: Heidi keeps a close eye on these Delaware ospreys.

UFlorida-Gainesville: Sadly, that sinking hole we noticed has resulted in the loss of all three of Stella’s eggs with her new mate. Here is the announcement:

“April 1 2025: Hello Osprey fans! I have sad news to report. From the recent heavy rains, a hole opened up in the bottom of the nest and all three eggs fell through and were lost. Tragic and I am truly sorry this has happened to the osprey pair. This event happened once before at the old location of the osprey cam at the original UF ball field. We will keep the camera on in April to see if they repair the nest. I don’t think Stella will lay more eggs this season as she has laid four already. Ospreys are resilient and most likely will be back again to nest.”

Fraser Point: The intruders in the Channel Islands just don’t seem to let up. What a worry especially with two little ones on the nest. Stay safe Mama Cruz. And below is the announcement of the name for one of the nest’s eaglets!

High Spirit Bluff: Poor Newmann. He is a fantastic Dad and now he has yet another mate.

Kisatchie E3: ‘MP’ sends some news: “Today, three nice size fish came in so far… The eaglet is doing a good job tearing food apart as long as dad zips it open. The problem is mom comes in and interrupts her/him and takes it away which the eaglet isn’t happy about. I guess mom has to eat too. So, at eight weeks and five days it’s one day at a time. “

NEFlorida: Just look at Brodie! Isn’t she amazing? I don’t want her to fledge just yet.

NCTC: Scout and Bella’s triplets appear to be doing quite well.

Little Miami Conservancy: The kids are doing very well.

John Bunker Sands Wetlands: They are still on the nest, but they are itching to fly. The winds on this nest will certainly pick them up and send them off to soon. It has been a very special nest to monitor this year.

Foulshaw Moss: Blue 35 has returned to her mate White YW at their nest in Cumbria. I can’t wait for the season to start.

Maryland Western Shore Old Town Home: Heidi writes:
3/1 – Maryland Western Shore osprey nest: Marilyn and Arthur have their second egg, which was laid shortly before 10 pm on 3/1.

Cornell Red Tail Hawks: Oh, grand. Big Red laid egg 3 this morning!

Spring is coming! The arrival of certain birds signals the awakening of the land, the trees, the bushes, the flowers. For me it is the arrival of geese but for others, it is the Redwing.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/apr/01/country-diary-twittering-squalling-redwings-speaks-only-spring?CMP=share_btn_url

Thank you for being with me. I am very grateful for all the news that was sent in today. Take care all. See you soon.

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, images, videos, and streaming cams that helped me send this blog off to you today: ‘Geemeff, Heidi, MP, RP’, The Woodland Trust, Raptor Resource Project, CROW, Elaine Buckner, Pam Breci and Cowlitz PUD, Jeff Kear and UKOsprey Info FB and Llyn Brenig, Heidi McGrue and Mispillion Harbour, Gracie Shepherd and IWS/Explore (Fraser Point), Diane Lambertson and High Spirit Bluff, Kistachie E3 Bald Eagle Nest, NEFlorida-AEF, Little Miami Conservancy, John Bunker Sands Wetlands, The Guardian, Maryland Western Shore Old Town Home, Cornell Bird Lab

Tuesday in Bird World

1 April 2025

Hello Everyone!

I hope that your start to the week has been a good one! It was certainly nicer in Winnipeg on Monday. The sunshine, no wind, and a warmer temperature are really starting to make me think that spring is truly coming. There was a male House Finch at the feeder this morning with the normal garden characters.

I walked in and found these two on the sofa. When I see them together I choke up. Hope has the habit of not eating until Calico is finished. Even though I put down two separate dishes, she will wait. That appears to be something that Calico taught her when they were living rough under the deck of the house a few blocks away before Calico came in to live with us.

Star came to the feeder today. She looks like she is full of kittens. Oh, I hope they come here. The plan is to trap then, get them fixed so they can get out of the feral community, and get one of the cat rescues to help find homes for them. We posted images in all the local FB groups hoping to find out if either of these two belong to someone.

We had two new visitors today – a grey tabby and a solid grey. Are they lost? or were they dumped and hungry?

He is a beautiful British short hair. Not afraid. Ate two tins of food this morning. Just starving. Bless their hearts.

Brock has been visiting us for over three years now, and that’s a positive thing. However, he is looking pretty rough. I put dewormer in his food and always make sure he gets extra. We are turning the wood box into a heated home for him as he shows no sign of wanting to come into the house although he is more trustful.

Thank you SK Hideaways for giving us a memorial to Grinnell. I cannot tell you how overwhelming it was to remember Annie’s long time mate. It is hard to imagine that she is now gone, too. I don’t know about anyone else but I often check the Cal Falcons scrape and it makes me tear up seeing it empty.

Link to the memorial video: https://youtu.be/fNtZjd2npqw?

As you might have noticed, the 2025 Memorial Page is not yet published. I had hoped to have it done by the end of March but it seems that things take at least four times what they used to! It is coming! It is coming because they deserve to be remembered, but it needs to be done correctly.

Geemeff has done a montly summary of happenings at Loch Arkaig and is sharing it with us. When the ospreys return, she will start her daily posts with videos. Thank you, Geemeff!


March 2025: monthly summary for Loch Arkaig and the Woodland Trust:

Welcome to season nine for the Arkaig Ospreys! George WTS opened the forum earlier this month and friends old and new have been coming to say hello and join in with this lively community. We’re more than ready for the return of our Ospreys, the nests have had a visit from the intrepid maintenance crew and everything is prepared for their arrival. Both nests have had a few non-Osprey visitors this month, see video links below. We were spoilt last year when Louis and Dorcha both returned in March, but April is more usually when they arrive and with luck we’ll see them any day now. Fingers crossed for a successful season this year, but check out the warning in the bonus section. The weather has been changeable, mainly wet and windy, but with spells of glorious sunshine. Here’s a reminder of last season:

https://youtu.be/pgLrWvnETSY  Woodland Trust official highlights 

https://youtu.be/DO7XJOA6OEs My unofficial long highlights

Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 20.48.44 (06.11.18); Nest Two 20.43.47 (06.17.29)

This month’s videos: 

https://youtu.be/5eeCTuyXl-8 Nest Two A Sparrowhawk visits 8th (zoom)

https://youtu.be/upCLWUNKHJY Nest Two A pair of Crossbills visit 15th 

https://youtu.be/TeGDyWSLlxA Nest One & Two Songbirds visit 22nd

https://youtu.be/UVyLxO-CFGc Nest One A Buzzard visits 25th (zoom)

https://youtu.be/uy_sYwKUSNs Nest One A Barn Owl visits 28th (zoom)

Bonus information on expectations around nest cam watching:

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/osprey-cam/?ht-comment-id=2447912

Blast from the past, this day last year:

https://youtu.be/piR2Y9VrbEU  N1 A Tawny Owl visits and a second calls in the distance 02.00.07 (zoom)

https://youtu.be/Ho7G2glHjwA  N2 Louis brings fish but makes Dorcha wait! 06.35.18

https://youtu.be/ujpBEzlX8xo N2 Sticks come and go! However, Dorcha wants fish 07.49.05

https://youtu.be/1M_q7vylL3U N2 Louis brings a second fish, gives it to Dorcha immediately 08.27.40 

https://youtu.be/6UHtfgM-UPY N1 Ravens do a flyby before landing 17.49

https://youtu.be/3Da1daASQio N2 Louis brings a third fish, teases Dorcha before handing it over 17.16.22 

‘J’ sent us one of those learning moments and will make you smile and feel good. She says, “Wild ranch heart helpline explains people what to do with young birds they find. This is one reaction that came in:

‘AM’ sent me a beautiful image of a Japanese White-eye sipping nectar. I need spring and these beautiful images from Japan certainly bring me hope. What a beautiful bird and a gorgeous image! Thank you, ‘AM’.

It is relatively quiet in Ospreyland and this means that if they are coming, it will be lots of fish hawks arriving around the same dates.

Black Storks:

Latvia’s first Black Stork to arrive home was Kergu who seemed to immediately attract intruders! https://youtu.be/ZV5ffh5UcXw?

Ospreys:

At the Eschenbach nest of Herbert the Germany osprey, mates are changing. Joan Castanyer writes: “The days pass and the new female seems to have everything under control: Herbert treats her as his partner and Hermine seems to have lost the dispute over the nest to a younger, stronger and more characterful rival. Nature is like that and Hermine will have her way. There is no point in looking down on the new female. We will end up giving her a name and loving her like we do with all the other fisherwomen.”

At Goitzsche Wildnis, Joan Castanyer comments: “Zeus is very fast and mates with Fjona like there is no tomorrow. The images in the video are a good example: in the middle of the afternoon and in three minutes he mates, leaves and returns with material for the nest and mates again. He only needs to bring a fish to be the male marvel.”

This means that the females at the two German nests, Fjona and Hermine have been replaced.

University of Florida-Gainesville: I am copying and pasting the information on the website. Stella is incubating three eggs.

“March 17-19 2025: Stella has laid a third and fourth egg! So currently, there are three eggs total that are being incubated. The first egg was accidentally buried by Stellas with a plastic piece and we think it is no longer viable as she stopped incubating this first egg before the other three eggs were laid.

March 10 Update 2025: Stella has laid a second egg today!

March 10 2025: Hello Osprey fans. Unfortunately Stella accidently buried the egg with some material on March 8th and has abandoned incubation of the egg because she cannot see it. We are hopeful that she will lay another egg. Stay tuned! Any questions, email me at hostetm@ufl.edu.

March 7 2025 Hello Osprey fans! Well, Stella has laid her first egg today! Keep watching to see what happens … Send me an email (hostetm@ufl.edu) if you have questions or want to share what you saw on camera (can send me photos!).

Feb 19th, 2025 Hello Osprey fans! It looks like Stella has found another mate! If you recall, Talon disappeared during the middle of raising chicks last year and one chick named Talon Jr (after the missing father) was successfully raised by Stella. This new male has been bringing fish to her and courtship is underway. Keep watching to see what happens … Send me an email (hostetm@ufl.edu) if you have questions or want to share what you saw on camera (can send me photos!). I estimate that we probably will see the first egg sometime in the first part of March. But who knows? This is Nature after all!”

Bald Eagles:

NEFlorida: Bodie really is up on that branch!

Two Harbours: Chase and Cholyn lost their first clutch this year. They have been caught on camera on their old nest mating. They are 27 years old and Cholyn is the mother of Thunder from the West End who is currently missing.

Fraser Point: Andor and Cruz busy themselves with feeding their beautiful little bobbleheads.

Big Bear: Today, we will learn the names of Jackie and Shadow’s eaglets. Shadow brings in so much fish – 9, 10, 11 a day – no wonder these two are growing like weeds.

Just look at that crop!

John Bunker Sands Wetlands: What a great year this nest has had. Two eaglets getting along so well, thriving under the watchful eye of devoted parents and now they are ready to fledge. ‘MP’ sent us a great screen capture.

Duke Farms: Early Monday morning two prey came in and all three of the eaglets – Harpo, Meechi, and Jupi (from oldest to youngest) – ate well. There was some initial bonking til the second fish came to the nest. There was a dual feeding. All is well.

Others:

Golden Eagle Nest in Estonia: Kalju and Helju have only one egg to incubate this year which will cause it to be much easier to watch this nest. The first egg was crushed leaving the second to survive. The adults make frequent shift changes and it appears that part of the prey brought in on Monday was a Greylag Goose. Beautiful eagles.

The top image is from Looduskalender.

Latvian Golden Eagle: Nest of Spilve and Grislis. Spilve has laid her second egg on 30 March.

Image is from Looduskalender.

Here is some good summary information on siblicide in Golden Eagles. I want to point out that in places where food is abundant and the female feeds the chicks equally as we have seen in certain nests last year, the second eaglet survives. This was, of course, not the case with some nests so it is wise to be cautious when watching.

In golden eagles, siblicide, also known as “Cainism,” is a phenomenon where a stronger nestling kills its younger sibling, often due to competition for food or resources, and is estimated to claim about 80% of second hatchlings in some areas. 

Siblicide, sometimes known as Cainism, is the killing of a sibling. It is typically the older and larger of the clutch. In many cases, when testing is done, that eaglet turns out to be a female.

We always ask ourselves why does this happen? Why do the parents not intervene? Well, as mentioned above, it does not always happen. About 20% (an estimate) of second hatch eaglets survive normally because of a nest in a rich area of prey. When siblicide does occur, it is because of competition for food which can be scarce, asynchronous hatching leaving one chick much older and larger, and of course, there is, in certain eagle species something called ‘obligate siblicide’ where the younger chick is almost always killed by the first which is then rewarded with food by the parents. This is typical of a Golden Eagle nest. The older and stronger normally makes intense physical attacks on the younger sibling. In one case, researchers counted 1500 beakings in an hour. The older chick may combine physical aggression with pushing the younger one away from food causing it to starve. Older siblings have also been known to push the other one out of the nest causing it to die.  

So the Estonian nest will surely be safe because there is one egg. We might expect obligate siblicide to happen on Spilve’s nest.  

Geemeff sends some news:

Utility company trying to help nesting Ospreys find suitable nests and prevent electrocution and / or power outages:

Eversource Hoping To Help Ospreys Establish Proper Nesting In Chatham

Moraine State Park turns on ‘osprey cam’ for 2025 season:

https://www.butlereagle.com/20250331/moraine-state-park-turns-on-osprey-cam-for-2025-season

Thank you for being with us today. There will be no news published on Wednesday. We are going to get to meet the Prime Minister of Canada today. See you on Thursday! Take care.

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, comments, images, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘AM, Geemeff, J, MP’, SK Hideaways, Geemeff and The Woodland Trust, Sandy Richard, AM, Joan Castanyer,UFlorida-Gainsville Wildlife Extension, IWS/Explore, John Bunker Sands, Duke Farms, Eagle Club of Estonia, NE Florida-AEF, Butlereagle.com, capeCod.com

Monday in Bird World

31 March 2025

Good Morning Everyone,

It was a bit of a cool Sunday on the Canadian Prairies, but we managed our first extensive walk at the nature centre of the spring. The trails were half snow and half ice with the geese gathering at Devonian Lake.

Goose prints on a small pond.

Nearer to home, there were ‘four’ grey squirrels announcing spring had arrived along with the two reds. Both Crows were present as were the Blue Jays. It felt good seeing them all in the garden filling themselves with cat kibble, peanuts, black oil seed, and cracked corn.

‘AM’ sent me this glorious image of spring’s arrival in Japan and graciously allowed me to share it with all of you. There is nothing more beautiful than the first blossoms of spring whether they are the cherry blossoms in Japan or the crocus popping its head up out of the snow in Manitoba. I cannot wait! Thank you so much, ‘AM’.

On the campus of Cornell University, Big Red laid her first egg of the 2025 season on the 27th of March and her second on on Sunday, the 30th. https://youtu.be/ZO-_WY0dmXA?

Arthur got to see that first egg. https://youtu.be/RCChvBTKMVs?

The second egg arrives. https://youtu.be/KdZvseg9-As?

SK Hideways has it for us, too! https://youtu.be/57OPmltd5b0?

Big Red hatched in Brooktondale, New York, a mere seven miles from the Cornell Campus in the spring of 2003. She was ringed in October of that same year. It is not clear how many eggs Big Red has laid or chicks that have fledged. She has been ‘on camera’ since 2012 but she would have been breeding well before that – in fact, probably seven years prior she would have had her first fledge.

Her current mate is Arthur. When Big Red bonded with Arthur, he did not even have his red tail, but he proved to be a great provided wooing her with his squirrel deliveries. Cornell All about Birds says, “The male, Arthur, was named in honor of the founder of the Cornell Lab, Arthur A. Allen. He was first spotted on Cornell University campus as a fledgling in 2016. He is unbanded and has a paler chest, head, and nape than Big Red. The pair first spent time together in April 2017, after Big Red’s previous mate, Ezra, had died. The hawks completed their first breeding season together in 2018.”

Her previous mate was Ezra.

Big Red is internationally known. She is so loved.

Bald Eagles:

Big Bear Valley: They could not be cuter even with their blood feathers growing in. Two little miracles. Look at that chrome yellow gape (the corner of the mouth). You want to see a bright yellow-orange known as chrome yellow. Look at the feet of the adults, too. The deeper in colour, the more healthy the eagles. These two have their thermal down with the cutest of hints at their nestling life in the form of the dandelions still remaining on the top of their heads.

Little Miami Conservancy: There are now two hatches with some bonking going on within the nest!

WRDC: R7 fledged Saturday. BOGS caught sight of him/her later perched on a nearby pine tree.

News has come to me that the Bald Eagles in Alaska are starting to nest. We will be keeping an eye on the Glacier Gardens nest.

‘J’ writes: “The first of the three Centerport chicks hatched on the 29th.

Osprey News:

Tweed Valley Nest 2: Mrs O has arrived home.

Loch of the Lowes: Blue NC0 might have a new mate. https://youtu.be/nizNtoTncDs?

Llyn Clywedog: Gorgeous Seren 5F sent Dylan into doing a loud sky dance on her arrival over the weekend. Geemeff comments, “Dylan arrived on the nest at 15.34, then must have seen Seren in the distance because he suddenly flew off and loud skydancing was heard nearby before she landed at 15.36.

Welcome home Seren!”

https://youtu.be/kOVwSEKRqY4

Hellgate Canyon: Waiting for Iris and Finnegan.

Boulder County Fairgrounds: Mum and new male are on the nest.

Moorings Park: Ozzie is one of the cutest and sweetest little osplets. Feathers coming in. Full crop!

MNSA Koolpix Osprey Nest: First egg of the 2025 season laid on Sunday.

Collins Marsh Osprey Cam: Their FB posting says: “Osprey cam update…yes this is the current view of the camera…the inside of the tower! This past week the camera was brought down for maintenance, and in the coming days a new mount will be installed to help us maintain it for years to come. The birds will be back soon, last year they arrived on April 6th, so keep watching!”

Osprey House Environmental Centre, Australia: Parents George and Hope and their 2024 fledgling Marina were on the nest on Sunday together.

Rocky Lake/Waverley, Nova Scotia: Both ospreys are back.

Severna Park: First egg of the 2025 breeding season has been laid.

Balgavies Loch: An osprey has arrived. No confirmation of identity.

Wensleydale Osprey Platform: An osprey is there!

Heidi reports:

3/31 –  Barnegat Light osprey nest:  Duke arrived at the nest this morning, on the same date that he returned last year.  Hey there, Duke!

Other Birds:

The Black Storks are reaching their nests in Estonia – and I hope they will also be arriving safely in Latvia, soon. Kergu is due to arrive at his nest today! Looduskalender Forum gives us the following information on this magnificent Black Stork: “Kergu Black Stork nest was found in 2022, but it has been there for longer. Probably even fallen down, and rebuilt again on the branches of the same aspen tree. During installation of camera I noticed that nest is only partly supported by the branches, so added some kind well visible exoskeleton to keep it more stabile (perhaps). In the end of March 2024 it seems quite good, but still, not fully safe.

Nest site is situated in Pärnu county, near wind farm development area. That was the reason to track Kergu, male stork who nested here last year, as well as reason to install webcam. There are proposed some mitigation measures, like preparing better feeding conditions in other sectors of home range. Hopefully results of those measures will be visible also through webcam in time. The measures are at the moment in planning stage, yet. So if somebody has ideas for mitigation measures in that situation, those would be valuable to analyse in current situation.

Kergu has rings (incl. left leg 7047) since childhood, he has been ringed in 2011 as one of three chicks in nest situated about 10 km of current Kergu nest. Three chicks fledged in Kergu nest in 2022 and they were in good condition during ringing. Female in this nest we did not know, most probably she was without of rings. In 2023, here we did not see female in nest. Kergu refreshed nest properly, few times neighbour male Nurme visited the nest as well as not ringed immature individuals. But in general Kergu was in nest alone, listening neighbour bird species, like woodland owls, passerines, etc.”

The nest is waiting! Pictures by Urmas.

Latvian Golden Eagle: Spilve laid her second egg on Sunday.

Port Lincoln Ospreys: “Ervie has been checking out the northern end of Boston Island but always returns to the main wharf to sleep.”

“Giliath obviously loves the town life as he just doesn’t want to go anywhere else.”

“Kasse also loves the town life of Tumby Bay”

Wilko is MIA. They are hoping he will check in soon.

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

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, comments, images, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘AM, Geemeff, H, J’, Cornell Bird Lab, SK Hideaways, FOBBV, Little Miami Conservancy, Tweed Valley, UKOsprey Info, Geemeff, Llyn Clywedog and CarnyXWild, Montana Osprey Project, Boulder County Fairgrounds, Moorings Park Osprey, Looduskalender Forum, LDF, MNSA Jay Koolpix Cam, Collins Marsh Osprey Cam, WRDC, Port Lincoln Ospreys

Sunday in Bird World

30 March 2025

Good Morning Everyone,

Thank you so much for being with us today. Our thoughts were with the people of Myanmar today as they dig their friends, family members, and even strangers out of the rubble of the 7.7 earthquake with their bare hands and any tools they can find. At last count more than 1600 people were declared dead. My son and I have friends there and in Bangkok – our condolences to all who lost a loved one.

If you are in the UK, Happy Mother’s Day! And to all our feathered friends there – to you as well!

Saturday was breezy and a bit chilly, but it turned out to be a day for restocking the cupboards. Before we left, Brock came to the garden door requesting another dish of roast chicken! He sure loves his roast chicken.

He is getting less frightened of me. I tap on the glass twice. That alerts Brock that I am coming outside with additional food for him. A year ago he would have run under the deck and waited for me to return to the house locking the door. Now he will sit about 30-45 cm away (12-15 inches) waiting. He suns himself on the rug and never rushes to leave. He is more comfortable. Brock has been coming to the garden since 2022 with Calico. His life is not easy but he is fed and now, thanks to a reminder by Geemeff, he is getting his de-worming treatment.

The Crows have been coming to the big table feeder for cat kibble. They are here every day. Soon I will need to make sure that there is ‘meat’ available for them as there will be babies to feed. [Taken through the conservatory window with the iPhone].

Just a warning. Today’s post will be shorter than normal. I had trouble with Meta (Facebook) and the posting of Saturday’s blog. I suggest that you subscribe so as not to miss any news. The blog is free and will always be free. I do not send any ads, and I will never ask for any subscription fees. You can cancel anytime. Usually, there is one post per day.

Geemeff sends us news:

Set backs and successes of raptor re-introduction in Northern Ireland:

https://www.msn.com/en-ie/news/uknews/the-revival-of-ireland-s-birds-of-prey-and-the-flight-from-conflict-to-conservation/ar-AA1BT9aV

How many dead Ospreys is OK?

https://www.pressreader.com/uk/western-mail/20250328/281968908489499

Geemeff also sends us the arrival dates for dear Louis at Loch Arkaig and comments on the current state of UK ospreys;

“Speaking of arrivals, Dylan is missing Seren, and Elen is missing Aran. And we’re missing Louis & Dorcha. They arrived last year on the 28th and 30th March respectively, but that was the first time in March. All previous years have been April arrivals. I wish they’d hurry up and arrive, Maya is looking very eggy, any day now she’ll produce the UK’s first egg and we don’t even have either bird back, or even Garry LV0.

Here’s Louis’ dates:

 2017 10 April  

 2018 6 April    

 2019 4 April   

2020 5 April  

2021 11 April  

2022 11 April  

2023 2 April 

2024 28 March”

We wait in anticipation.

Osprey News:

Russell Lake, Nova Scotia: Oscar returned Saturday morning. He has already been fishing and being watched closely by Don and Connie Dennis!

Baseball Park Ospreys, Missoula, Montana: Star, the mate of Louis, has arrived.

Steelscape, Washington: Both adults are back on the nest.

Seaside, Oregon: Bruce and Naha have both returned on the 24th and 26th.

Smallwood: The first egg was laid Sunday morning.

Cowlitz: Osprey was on the nest on Saturday.

Lake Murray: Lucy and Kenny. There were originally three eggs and now there are only two. ‘H’ adds: ” It was noticed 3/29 at 00.45 an egg looked like it had a big dent, and Lucy moved the egg with her beak.”

Western Maryland Shore for Old Town Home: Marilyn laid her first egg on Saturday.

Llyn Clywedog: Seren Blue 5F has joined Dylan at their nest in Wales. Welcome home lovely girl. Dylan did a sky dance on her arrival. Oh, this couple is wonderful.

Achieva: Jack has disappointed me in his fish deliveries for his new female mate. Diane, his former mate, had to supplement the fish for the chicks and well, the eggs haven’t even hatched. There is a lot of competition and no doubt Jack has problems with gulls, other ospreys, and eagles for whatever he catches.

Baseball Park, Missoula, Montana (yes, again): Louis has now arrived and so both Star and Louis are on the nest! Thanks, Dr Greene!

Boulder County Fairgrounds: Dad has been missing. Mum has a new mate, it appears, who has brought her a fish and then there is an intruder. Thank you Noland MacDonald!

Dyfi: The DOP says, “Dyfi Osprey Project

odspSoertn8hc7cm27ul26gm7tc917h0li5gum9al04fc46a9fhc8cig4i94  · 

Happy Mothers Day to Telyn today – and indeed all mothers.

Telyn will be 12-years old in a few weeks and has bred successfully at the Dyfi nest since 2018, raising 18 youngsters to migration age in that time.

​​That’s a 2.6 average offspring to migration age per year – twice the UK average.

Telyn is the daughter of Maya who is still breeding at Rutland Water and is cousins with Glesni and Blue 24.”

Bald Eagles:

FOBBV: Shots were heard and startled the family. https://youtu.be/GtNy3chinF0?

There were reports, perhaps over a week ago, of lights seen and shots heard by individuals watching the John Bunker Sands Wetlands Bald Eagle nest near Dallas. This is a very frightening thought.

Other Birds:

Despite a high number of deaths, there were still record numbers of Sandhill Cranes in Nebraska. Thanks, ‘PB’ for the article.

 – https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/record-high-736000-sandhill-cranes-flock-to-nebraska-during-spring-migration-peak-with-no-signs-of-bird-flu-despite-concerns-180986317/

‘J’ sends me the post of our local wildlife rehabilitation centre, Wildlife Haven. (It is one of Calico’s favourites because of Dr Tess who is helping that turtle with its soft shell and her confidence in wildlife to adjust to their own physical challenges).

Thank you so much to all those that contributed to help my blog to be even better than it could be by my hand alone: ‘Geemeff, H, J, PB’, msn.com, pressreader.com, Connie Dennis and Ospreys of Nova Scotia FB, Montana Osprey Cams, Pam Breci and Steelscape Ospreys, Seaside Ospreys, Lake Murray Ospreys, The Smithsonian Magazine, FOBBV, Wildlife Haven, Nolan MacDonald and Boulder County Fairgrounds, Dyfi Osprey Project, Llyn Clywedog and CarnyXWild, Maryland Western Shore Old Town Home

Saturday in Bird World

29 March 2025

Hello Everyone,

I really hope you enjoyed that video of the turtle escaping Liberty and Guardian’s nest in Redding, California that was in the post Friday morning. That was one lucky turtle!

It snowed in Winnipeg. Then it snowed some more! The measurement in the garden was 43 cm. Our young man was not around so we did the shoveling which really took a lot of time – and energy. It was also chicken Friday so ‘The Girls’ and Brock had their Friday chicken dinners.

‘J’ sent me some news that raises some interesting questions. A real mystery is happening at the Pittsburgh-Hays Bald Eagle nest. Long time ‘Dad’ disappeared last year and is in the Memorial Pages. A new male appeared. Now ‘Dad’ has returned after more than a year, according to reports!!!!!!!

Was he injured and in rehabilitation and released, returning home? How do we know he is the original ‘Dad’? There are no bands that I am aware. We have not been able to find out any further information.

Osprey News:

Russell Lake, Nova Scotia: Oscar has arrived safely home! YEAH.

Oak Tree Nest, Threave Ospreys: Both ospreys are on the nest and working hard!

Loch of the Lowes: Does Blue NC0 have a new mate?

Foulshaw Moss: White YW is very popular. His mate Blue35 has not yet returned, but there are two unringed unidentified females trying to get his affections! Thanks J Kear and UKOsprey Info for the post.

UPDATE: Blue 35 is back!!!!!!!!!!!!

Fort Calhoun: ‘PB’ is keeping a close eye and notes an arrival.

Hellgate Canyon: Iris and Finnegan will have a lot of work to do when they return to their nest in Missoula. Iris traditionally returns on the 8th of April.

Birds of Poole Harbour: No one is going to mess with CJ7 and ‘her’ nest!!!!!

Dyfi Osprey Project: Idris and Telyn enjoying being back together.

HEIDI’S OSPREY REPORT:


3/29 – Moorings Park: Sally was struck by a GHO at 01:10, but she was not knocked off the nest.  To my knowledge, there has not been a GHO problem at that nest before.  Fingers crossed that Ozzie will stay safe.  Little Ozzie is only 20 days old.


Bald Eagle News:

NEFlorida: The juvenile visitor that has been adopted by Beau, Gabby, and Bodie has been officially named ‘Juvie’.

US Steel: Tiny little bobblehead.

Little Miami Conservancy: Hatch on Friday! https://youtu.be/wkamoBLssKQ?

The baby’s first meal: https://youtu.be/qge26cRb4fE?

Baby’s first day: https://youtu.be/uf8vF8EyVQw?

NCTC: A bold owl sat near the nest while a meteorite flew by! Bella and Scout kept that owl at bay. https://youtu.be/UFfi8QFlj94?

Kansas Bald Eagles: Kanza is still the Only Eaglet. That egg is non-viable. Lucky Kanza! All that good prey just for you.

Big Bear Valley: Full crops for Jackie and Shadow’s kiddos. They are adorable. Little miracles. The two were having quite the little spat. Almost like Baby Hope and Hugo Yugo play fighting. Well, Daddy Shadow was on the nest. It was obvious he got tired of it, didn’t like them fighting, and went over and put an end to it. Yes, eagle parents to intervene. Some actually just sit on the eaglets (or osplets) to stop fighting/bonking.

Sauces Canyon: Betty Lou is the sweetest little eaglet.

Kisatachie National Park E3: ‘MP’ sends us good news: “The parents on this nest had some good luck today. They brought in a small fish first thing which chick got to tear a part. The second fish was a big bloody one without the head which dad eat, the head that is. Mom came in behind him and took it to feed chick and herself. Then, a great big Catfish was on the menu for the day. Although, no one in chat knew what it was because the parents brought it in bit by bit or piece by piece. Then, at the end of the day, the great big head was brought in which no one knew until she turned it over and then we could all see it was Catfish head. The pieces brought in were theorized as chicken filets up until then. Even the rangers thought that they had stolen them from some camp site.

So all ate good today.”

This is great news, thank you.

If you missed the March Ventana Wildlife Society Condor chat, here it is: https://youtu.be/0dPEFVWD6Ak?

Wishing all of the new little bobbleheads full crops and a safe fledge.

Thank you so much for being with us today. Take care of yourself. See you soon!

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, images, news, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘H, J, MP, PB’, PIX Cams, Pittsburgh-Hayes Eagle Cam, UKOsprey Info, Woodland Trust (LOTL), Foulshaw Ospreys, OPPD Fort Calhoun, Osprey Research Project/Hellgate Canyon Ospreys, Birds of Poole Harbour, Dyfi Osprey Project, NEFL-AEF, Little Miami Conservancy, NCTC, Deb Stecyk, Kansas Bald Eagles, FOBBV, IWS/Explore, Kistachie Forest E3 Eagle Cam, PIX Cams, Ventana Wildlife Society, Moorings Park