Category Archives: raptor persecution

Tuesday in Bird World

6 June 2023

Good Morning Everyone,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Siesta time.

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

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

1425:

1428:

1542

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

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

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

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

Still looking alright at Cowlitz PUD.

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

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

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

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

Blue 022 watches his chicks as CJ7 feeds them.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Black storks growing big and strong.

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

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

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

Supporting-the-Citys-Osprey-Nests-ParkwaysDownload

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

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

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

20 May 2023

Good Morning Everyone!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

“Oh, just one more bite!”

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

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

The counts reveal a shark decline for our dear Ospreys.

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

The arrival of the Meadowlark and feeding 3.

Preening her baby!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

M1 hatches, Eagle threatens Achieva…Sunday in Bird World

7 May 2023

Oh, goodness. It was just a gorgeous day on the Canadian Prairies. A little coolish for some but delightful. It was a good day to start on the planting boxes and it seemed it was none too soon to get the Vermillionaires for the hummingbirds. Only 12 plants left at the nursery. Gracious…it is only 6 May. Normally we do not plant until Victoria Day weekend, the third Monday in May, for fear of frost.

Before we go any further, our first giggle of the day.

And then..cuteness. More to come on M1 but just look at this cutie only 2 hours old.

As the hummingbirds are arriving from their migration (depending on where you live), it is imperative that if you provide the sugar water for them that you do so safely. Make it at home, do not purchase it at shops as it could harm them. Here is the recipe that is going wild over the Internet.

It is impossible to say how delighted I am to see Angel’s little one RT5 is so strong! That chick did not eat for over 30 hours…talk about some good DNA brewing in there.

Tom brought in some prey for Mum and the baby on Saturday. Progress. This along with the groundhog on the nest should keep them for a day or two. Had slipped out to the garden centre and returned to see this – thanks SK Hideaways! This made my day so much happier.

Angel’s baby had a nice big crop before going to sleep again tonight. Oh, how grand. Continue to send this nest your most positive wishes, please. Angel will need food tomorrow unless that Groundhog is still lurking about in the egg cup! I would like to hope that the visit by Tom with prey today was an indication that he will provide for his family but, that remains to be seen.

No food left on Sunday so Angel will have to go hunting if Tom doesn’t deliver. The Blue Jays are continuing to dive bomb.

‘H’ reports that a Bald Eagle was at the Achieva nest. Did it want to take Middle or was it after the fish Diane had? Diane flew off in pursuit, and both chicks are fine now. I am thinking it might have just wanted that big fish- regardless of what the motive is with a drought and fish scarcity, fish is needed and, of course, we want Middle safe. Gracious. Just when you think you can relax! This is all this nest needs and it could be Jack and Diane have been dealing with this predator for some time.

Loretta reports that the first egg of the season has been laid at the Charlo Montana nest of Charlie and Charlotte on Saturday at 14:30. The weather has been nasty up in Montana. The rivers are flooding and the ospreys are having to find places where the water is lower with fish so they can eat. I had so hoped this egg would wait..but, the osprey are never on our schedules.

Despite the flooding where Iris usually fishes on the Clark Fork River, she has definitely found a spot. She arrived at her nest in Missoula’s Hellgate Canyon with a large crop Saturday evening.

Iris has been on her nest – and please take a look at this nest as it is the finest osprey nest I have ever seen – and she is due to lay eggs shortly. The fence has been put around her platform in the parking lot to protect her. We all know how this will turn out, so take a deep breath, let it happen, and then wish our lovely Iris, the oldest living osprey in the world, a lovely summer fishing for herself and having a relaxing time. Star and Louis can be chasing after fish and chicks!

Kathryn reports that even though Peanut had a good feeding today at the Lake Murray Osprey platform, there is strife there since the older sibling began getting its Reptilian plumage. She reports, “Yes I was shocked to see this today because every feeding I’ve seen has usually just been mild but today the big one was really poking Little’s head multiple times. Every time little picked his head up, big struck him back down. Almost made me nauseous to watch.  Middle stayed away mostly and towards the end middle was picking on little as well. It looked like little had a crop and the parents are good at providing food. So hopefully this doesn’t continue.”

The Osprey nests are unpredictable. If there is going to be anxiety, it almost starts with the change of plumage at 8 or 9 days. Peanut is so tiny. We just have to take this nest a day at a time and hope.

Big Bob at Lake Murray reminds me a bit of Zoe. She is so large and is quite the dominant female. Just take deep breaths. She will always eat first. She will always have the most significant crop, and she will not care who else eats. She is the boss. Just look at her, and you will understand the problem entirely on this nest.

It looked as if Peanut might have had an eye injury yesterday. If he makes it he will sure be one tough character. Just look at her.

At 1333, this was the progress of the hatch for Big Red and Arthur.

All dry and ready to say hi to the world. Welcome M1!

Hello Mama!

There are three eggs at Cowlitz PUD in Washington State. The utility company put in metal bars to protect the osplets this year from the Bald Eagle. Maybe Achieva will need to do something, too! Last year all three of the healthy – and I want to say thriving babies – were taken within a 48 hour period by a Bald Eagle.

Everything is fine at the Moorings Park Osprey Platform in Naples, Florida. Both Abby and Victor are self-feeding as well as being fed by Sally. There is the split screen in preparation for fledging!

At the Dahlgren Osprey nest, Jack has brought in another large toy but I did not see any fish brought in for Harriet on Saturday. Do they also have a problem with flooding and intruders or murky water? Anyone know?

The golden glow of the sun on Audrey at Kent Island or Chesapeake Conservancy osprey Platform and her two eggs. Will the new ‘Tom’ turn out to be a good provider? We wait.

The little baby eaglet at Decorah is 29 days old today. It has its pin feathers coming in and is far from that fluffy bundle I was cooing about a few days ago. They grow so very fast.

Martin and Rosa’s triplets are simply adorable in their juvenile plumage. That ebony-espresso colour is divine.

We are going to be very busy when fledge watch arrives as Pittsburgh-Hayes is about the same age as Dulles-Greenway.

US Steel eaglet is so cute with its precious dandelion mohawk.

Megan McCubbin’s first book is getting ready to be released. There is an interesting conversation with her that forms an article for The Guardian, posted below. I have ordered the book and will keep you posted!

‘I-love-misunderstood-creatures-Megan-McCubbin-on-20-species-we-must-save-–-including-humans-WilDownload

I positively love Hen Harriers and could give a toss about a few people going out in the country with rifles grouse hunting – until they start having the gamekeepers of these hunting estates killing off the Hen Harriers. This makes me absolutely ill. It is, of course, highly illegal but the UK has to get ‘real’ about the fines and jail time if it is to have any impact.

Thank you to everyone who contributed to help clean up the HPAI outbreak in The Gambia. Total funds raised are 1050 GBP out of the desired 1500.

I wanted to have a blog that focused on many things wildlife rehabbers do today using technology. Due to using the computer for a limited time (I have another week to go to please my ophthalmologist), I am behind, but I will get there!

Thank you for being with me today. Send positive wishes to all the nests! And take care of yourself. See you soon.

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, tweets, and streaming cams that helped to make up my blog today: ‘H’, Loretta, Kathryn, Ali TD and Friends of Dyfi Osprey Project, Hummingbird Whisperer, Window to Wildlife, SK Hideaways and Window to Wildlife, Achieva Credit Union, Owl Research Institute and Explore.org, Montana Osprey Project, Lake Murray Ospreys, Cornell RTH, Moorings Park Ospreys, Dahlgren Ospreys, Raptor Resource Project and Explore.org, The Guardian, Dulles-Greenway Eagle Cam, PIX Cams, and UK Raptor Persecution.

Pip for Big Red and Arthur?… DH18 fights infection…Wednesday in Bird World

3 May 2023

Good Morning to Everyone,

I hope that the week has started off well for each of you…that the old saying, ‘April showers brings May flowers’ has given you sunshine and some time to be outside appreciating the beauty around you.

I picked up the book Slow Birding again yesterday to try and locate the research materials on how many nests had been discovered to have chicks raised by a male, not the biological dad. That book, plus the two on the geese – that migrate from the Siberian Tundra and Iceland/Greenland to the UK – continue to press that we need to look at what is close at hand, what we might take for granted that is so beautiful, just outside our windows. In The Meaning of Geese, Nick Acheson says, “Wild geese were simply always there, the sound and spectacle of my winters…” Then he moved away to South America and got caught up in the beauty of the Amazonia, and “I was so enraptured by it all that geese slipped into the background of my mind.” Acheson returned to the UK and found a project. He would “follow Norfolk’s geese all winter, I would write about them, and the many people whose lives they touched.” The book is a diary of how the geese impacted Acheson’s life, but it is also a reminder that each of us, everyone reading my blog, is part of an annual renewal. It is spring, and the birds are building nests and raising chicks (depending on where you live), and the grass and trees are waking up. In summer, those chicks will strengthen their wings and fly away. The geese that arrived a month ago will depart in the fall, and the trees will go dormant…winter will come, and then the cycle will repeat itself. There is something so reassuring about the seasons coming and going no matter what happens in our human lives.

We do not have exotic geese where I live. Canada Geese are everywhere and because of that, I want them to be special. So this spring and summer, you are going to hear an awful lot about the geese where I live. Hold on! I want to learn everything I can about them and share it with you.

This goose has chosen not to make her nest in one of the baskets provided but, rather, on a small island in the pond. Is this safe? If we get a lot of rain, it will flood and the eggs will ruin.

This male was doing ‘his job’ – keeping anyone and everyone away from the nest he and his mate have established.

Today was a good day in the garden. A problem was solved…not the one I was trying to resolve but another I had set aside. Mr Crow is having a difficult time with the squirrels. So, a table feeder was set up, especially for him. He looked at it when he came for his cheesy dogs and thought differently. Then…around 1800, the Chickadees appeared, and they headed straight for the table feeder filling their beaks! Nine of them came to feed over a half hour – waiting for their turns in the lilacs (which is how I got to count them). Nine. The entire gang lives in the Blue Spruce tree across the road.

It is almost possible to set my watch on the arrival of the birds in the garden. If they do not appear, I wait and worry like a parent when their teenager has taken the car out for the evening for the first time. The joys they have brought over the years is boundless.

Every year the Grackles have a nest in the garden. Mr Crow took the chicks one year but another year, the Grackles had a fledge. The entire Grackle community came – I am sure I have told you this story before – to celebrate the fledge. Fingers crossed, we have success this year with chicks. Mr Grackle is on guard! Here he is getting some food during his break from sentry duty.

Dyson’s gang are getting pesky and right now they are loving chasing the birds from the lilac branches. Silly little ones.

So I have decided to keep a diary this year beginning this week, showing how the ordinary can be the most extraordinary. Why don’t you join me with observations from your walks, garden observations, trips to the nature centre or places more exotic? Let’s do it for a year. If you can draw – I can’t! – even better. Feel free to share with me what you have learned!

We are now only two days away from the banding at Cal Falcons! It will fly by in a wink!

DH18 is stable after his procedure on Monday. Stable is good. We wait to hear if his infection clears up. Waiting is hard.

Are you a teacher? a leader of a youth group? We need inspiring ways to get children involved in learning about our feathered friends in order to be the stewards of their future. These lucky children got to name the Manchester peregrine falcons!

CIEL has posted images of the nests with the eaglets on them for comparison.

That egg continued to bother Hartley. I wonder how long they have been thinking about it? Well, today, Hartley moved that egg from last year into her clutch of four eggs! SK Hideaways caught this precious gesture for us. The wonders of nature never cease to amaze us.

There is still concern for Angel and her eaglet. The situation remains precarious. Tom was on a branch being bombarded by Blue Jays and did not bring any prey to the nest on Tuesday. The eaglet ate leftovers from Monday Tuesday morning but as far as I know, had nothing the rest of the day. Tom was only there at 1415. He arrived and was off again. Angel left, presumably to have a break and try and find food.

This nest will need food tomorrow…for sure for the little one. 24 hours between meals is not good. Let us hope the weather is good. Angel cannot hunt and leave the chick as it cannot regulate its temperature. It is very tense. Let us all take a deep breath and send good wishes.

Oh, thank goodness. Tom brought a mouse! Angel fed most of it to the baby but ‘A’ notes there was a little left for Mum. More prey needed!

Ondabebe caught that mouse delivery and what happened….Thanks ‘A’.

So far no pip for Big Red and Arthur. The target date is 4 May.

Is there a bit of a crack or pip in one of the eggs Wednesday morning for Big Red and Arthur? We wait to see if that is it in the back egg to the right.

Tuesday was a good day at Achieva Credit Union’s Osprey platform in St Petersburg. Six fish!

Abby and Victor are still at the Moorings Park Osprey platform in Naples, Florida. Sally doesn’t seem to be in any hurry to have her babies fledge. She just keeps filling them up with fish!

The third hatch at Lake Murray is still with us! My goodness that osplet is tiny compared to those big sibs that are now getting their reptilian plumage. Let’s collectively hope that their tempers stay muted.

We are so fortunate to still have E22 at home. He was in and out of the nest, up and down on the branches, and sure hoping that Dad would bring in a whopper on Tuesday.

If there was anything left on that old catfish head, E22 would find it. He was ravenous. I wonder if M15 is hoping he will go down and try some fishing?

‘H’ reports that the WRDC nest is doing well. She says, “Dade County is wonderful, there is no longer any aggression from R4 toward R5 during meals, which is quite a relief.  A parents can actually feed the eaglets with them standing side-by-side.  On occasion R5 still has a pre-conditioned knee-jerk reaction to be submissive briefly, even though there is no threat from R4.  But R5 behaving like that is becoming less often as s/he is becoming more relaxed with the ‘new and improved R4’.  Speaking of feeding, R5 does not need to be fed at all, just drop a (preferably unzipped) fish on the nest and R5 will consume it.  The eaglets are becoming huge, and there is some dueling hop-flapping going on.  We are waiting for the results of testing to determine R5’s gender.”

The two GH owlets of Bonnie and Clyde are flying from branch to branch but still being fed by Mum at times. So cute…

Decorah eaglet is not a baby anymore! Clown feet and pin feathers coming in. What happened to that cute little fluffy eaglet of a couple days ago?

The three eaglets at Denton Homes in Decorah, Iowa are doing great as well.

The trio at Dulles-Greenway have their juvenile plumage and, at least one, is standing on the rim of the nest. Did you know that the parents, Martin and Rosa, are named after Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks? ‘A’ reminded me that she didn’t know the other day and I wonder how many others do. This is a good Bald Eagle nest to watch. Put it on your list for next season if you haven’t got it there already.

The two eaglets at the Pittsburgh-Hayes Eagle nest are doing really well. Large fish have been brought to the nest for the past couple of days.

At the White-tailed Eagle nest in the Tucholskie Forest in Poland, there are two eaglets. The eldest is the most dominant and demands to eat first. when its crop is about to pop, the second cautiously makes its way up to the beak to be fed. Hopeful for both to fledge.

Murphy worked on the nest a few days ago. On Tuesday, the not-so-little-eaglet began rearranging the sticks. This is precisely why it is so good that Murphy got to have a ‘real baby’. (sorry the screen capture is terrible- the eaglet is in the nest raising up a large stick) Learning through observation.

A reminder of the absolute vandalism that happened at the Llyn Brenig nest in Wales in 2021. A good interview with Lolo Williams and a discussion about the importance of Ospreys – a rare bird in the UK. The perpetrators were never found but it could have been someone upset about the platforms in North Wales. — The pair did not return to lay another egg. there is now a protected nest at the site. Thanks, Geemeff, for this historic reminder of this tragedy.

At the Glaslyn nest of Aran and Elen, Aran waits for Elen to want her break so he can take over incubation. What I wouldn’t give if our dear Angel, the RTH, had a mate like Aran! There are two eggs this year for this newly bonded couple. Fingers crossed for good weather and lots of fish with no injuries.

I love the new split screen at the Dyfi nest of Idris and Telyn. Here we can see Idris incubating while Telyn is enjoying her nice fish – at least for a few moments. It is, sadly, going to slide off and land on the ground where it will stay.

It was a close call the other day when Blue 33 got a stick stuck in his BTO leg band. He managed to get it out but no before we all had a huge lump in our throats with Maya incubating four eggs. It all ended well, thankfully.

It’s 0513 and Dorcha is waiting for Louis to come and relieve her and bring her a nice breakfast fish.

Connor from Window to Wildlife discusses what a crazy year it has been at Captiva. Have a listen! Thanks, ‘H’.

There have been a lot of events since the beginning of the year with many donations being requested by various rehabilitation centres. As one of you said, they felt a bit ‘bird poor’. It can indeed happen. I certainly know the feeling. My goodness, I have to sit back, and it is hard to imagine that Connick was one of the first who needed help this year, with DH18 being the last. Today, I will challenge everyone who belongs to an organisation associated with birds in the UK to give Sasha Dench and Conservation without Borders the cost of a coffee – through a Twitter Feed. Give up the coffee for one day. 810 GBP out of 1500 GBP has been raised to help clean up the HPAI outbreak in The Gambia. Going through the UN will take too long…in late August and September, the UK Ospreys will be heading back to The Gambia and other parts of West Africa to their winter homes. The dead and dying birds need to be cleared! Do people think 2 GBP is too little? I sure hope not! Wish us luck!

Geemeff just posted a thank you from the people of The Gambia doing the clean up.

Thank you for being with me today. Please continue to send your good wishes to DH18 who is fighting for its life and to Angel and her chick – that Tom will be an uber food delivery dad. Take care everyone. See you soon.

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, tweets, videos, and streaming cams that helped to make up my blog this morning: ‘H’, ‘A’, Geemeff, Cal Falcons, AEF, Anne Pardo and the Manchester NH Falcon Fans, Jann Gallivan and CIEL, SK Hideaways and San Jose City Hall, Window to Wildlife, Cornell RTH, Achieva Credit Union, Moorings Park Osprey, Lake Murray Ospreys, SW Florida Eagle Cam, WRDC, Farmer Derek, Raptor Resource Project and Explore.org, Denton Homes, Dulles Greenaway, PIX Cams, Tucholskie Forest WTE, Llyn Brenig Ospreys, BBC, Bywyd Gwyllt Glaslyn, Dyfi Osprey Project, LRWT, and Friends of Loch Arkaig, People’s PostCode Lottery, and the Woodland Trust, Geemeff and Conservation without Borders.

Monday in Bird World

1 May 2022

Good Morning Everyone,

Sunday was a beautiful day on the Canadian Prairies albeit quite windy. It was quiet in the garden this morning but the action picked up as 1700 approached. Thank goodness. I simply cannot imagine a world without birdsong. I wouldn’t want to live in it!

It has also been a very stressful weekend because of the events at the nest of Angel and Tom in Tennessee. Angel is the Leucistic Red Tail Hawk with a new mate, a young male, Tom. The first chick that hatched was unattended by Angel and Tom mistook it for something on the nest and killed it. That is the only explanation I can find, and then, of course, he realised what he had done. He has now been missing for some 36 hours. I believe that the sheer magnitude of what he did is keeping him from the nest, but that does not help Angel, who now has their second hatch to raise. That is nearly impossible. We are also waiting for news of DH18; since there was no update on Sunday, we can assume that DH18 is stable in its subsequent surgery today. This gives me hope. Thank you to everyone who donated to the AEF to help with DH18’s medical treatment. The sheer volume of funds is an excellent indication of the public support for intervention. We need to care and show it sometimes with our wallets or actions – your phone calls, e-mails and screams for someone to help these two eaglets.

We are awaiting word on the condition of DH18. He will have additional surgery today but, it appears that his condition remained stable over the weekend as there were no further communiques from the AEF.

Looking to do some good in the world? Where you donation fully supports the operation? Then look no further than helping the folks in West African clean up the birds that are dying of HPAI. If you go to the crowd funding site and cannot find this project, please go to Sacha Dench’s Twitter feed, find this and click on the image. Anything helps…5 GBP or 24 GBP for a boat to help move the cleaners and the dead birds.

Sasha Dench tells us why it is vital that we chip in now…I can add another one. Even though HPAI is around lurking and can rear its ugly head, this outbreak in West Africa needs to be curtailed well before the Ospreys and other birds return in September. That seems like a long time away. It isn’t. This affects everyone. It is not just Gambia’s problem.

‘A’ writes: “We have a hatch at 1:22:43pm. There’s a good view of the chick at 3:15:59.. Still no sign of Tom. He has not been seen since 3.24 yesterday afternoon. Will he return? Or did Angel’s anger with him when he killed the chick so extreme that he is scared to return? We wait.” This is extremely unfortunate and it may mean the demise of this relationship and nest as Angel cannot take care of herself and protect and feed the little one…well, that is what we would think. We wait as ‘A’ suggests but it is not looking good. The baby cannot thermoregulate and unless it is really warm in Tennessee, which it could be, leaving it would be problematic. ‘A’ notes that it is very out of character for Tom who was there to incubate within a few seconds of when Angel needed a break. So what is going on? Does he feel so guilty about the death of the other baby? In his grief for his actions he chose to leave? or did something happen to him? Let us hope he returns.

Typically, RTH nests are easy to watch but, sadly, this is simply making me ‘ill’.

Lady Hawk captured the hatch on video for us.

By night fall, Tom has not appeared. Angel was said to have dropped her crop. She will be hungry. The little one will need to eat Monday morning.

On Monday morning Angel went to find food, Tom returned and saw the chick. Then Angel appeared quickly..so far. Tom seems not to know what the chick is. Will he realise when Angel feeds the baby? We wait.

Arlene Beech caught Tom’s first sight of the second chick when Angel was away. Tom needs to delivery prey to this nest. Angel is brooding the little one and it does not appear injured by the encounter with Tom.

Arthur was young, like Tom, at the Cornell nest of Big Red when he fathered their first clutch but, that went smoothly as have all the other clutches in subsequent years.

Heavy rain began on Sunday at the Cornell Campus. Big Red was soaked.

The rain got heavier. We should be keeping a close eye on this nest.

SK Hideaways gives us some great close ups of Big Red and Arthur as we are now on pip watch.

So far there does not appear to have been a fledge at Moorings Park. It was windy on Sunday and I thought there might be some good hovering but there was some wing flapping.

Cute little Decorah hatchery eagle has quite the crop.

We worried at times but the trio at Dulles-Greenway are getting the final bits of their juvenile plumage. They are doing some self-feeding. Martin and Rosa did great.

The two at Pittsburgh-Hayes are fine also. They are a little soggy this morning.

USS6 is wet too!

We haven’t checked in on them for some time but the two eaglets at Duke Farms are now standing on the rim of the nest and at least one, if not both, are up around the base of the branches.

‘R’ reports that Bob 2 at Achieva ate fine earlier in the day but only had a few bites later and then got a good throttling from Bob 1 just because she felt like it. Both have been pecking around the nest for food and both are getting more steady on their feet even on that twiggy nest. Bob 2 or Middle had a ps at 18:10. Not a great one but alright. — ‘R’ reports that despite all of the attacks on Middle, Diane did get a reasonably good feed into Middle later. ‘R’ also confirms that there is a significant drought going on in the St Petersburgh area and there is fear for wild fires there. I had heard that the canals where the ospreys fish are drying up and this would be a major contribution to the lack of fish on this nest this year. Hopefully Diane’s place for catfish is alright.

Jack has delivered two fish in a row Monday morning – at 0855 and at 1013. Bob 1 controlled the food. Middle needs to figure out how to get around to the other side and eat but it is very frightened from the beatings it took yesterday.

SP chick at Taiaroa Head had two feedings. One was by Mum L who had been away for a fortnight. This is fantastic.

This is the latest update on Connie and Clive’s little eaglet, Connick, that fell out of the tree on Captiva Island. Connick is in really good hands down at the Audubon Centre for Prey.

It is hard to imagine but World Bird Sanctuary is showing us Murphy’s baby then and now. Way to go Murphy! Again, thank you to everyone who reached out to help World Bird Sanctuary.

B16 with his parents, Pa and Missy Berry. What a gorgeous juvenile she is! Always so grateful to all the BOGS on the ground for their images and videos…the things we miss that never make it on the streaming cams.

The two surviving eaglets from the Bartlesville, Oklahoma Eagle nest are doing great. They are about 28 days old today.

Keeping an eye on Lake Murray…

Kathryn has introduced me to a new nest – a pair of challenged Griffon Vultures who get to act as foster parents every year! She adds, “Both of these vultures were born with rickets and they have their own accessible nesting box. They do lay their own eggs but they have so far been infertile. They do a great job of raising chicks though. They are locally endangered there and they have two additional cameras on their feeding stations (where a lot of vultures go) so they can have food that is free of any poisoning.” I wonder how many others are fostering little ones. How grand!

They feed the chicks by regurgitation just like the Albatross.

As we prepare for big Bird Day on May 13th, there are other bird counts going on around the world. Here is a chart by The Bird Nature guide showing how bird sightings are going around the world.

There is a big celebration going on in Finland this year and other areas might want to copy what they are doing. It is BirdLife Finland’s 50th anniversary. Reports indicate “that almost half of Finlands needing species are nationally Red Listed, with significant declines occurring across nearly all of the country’s habitats, owing to various threats, including intensification of agriculture and forestry, eutrophication of its wetlands and peatland drainage.” (BirdLife International April-June 2023, 58) In order to help half this, Birdlife Finland set about to install a passion and connection amongst the people. They had birdwatching trips, bird ringing days, and grew their membership to 27,000 members. One of the most interesting things, however, began in 2017 to mark the 100th anniversary of Finland’s independence. The government encouraged people to celebrate the year by recording 100 birds. Today, thousands of people take part in this traditional exercise noting that it has caused “growing public support for habitat protection in recent years”. We should all try this!

There is a man going to prison for killing a Bald Eagle. His sentence is two years.

Perhaps the UK Raptor Persecution groups should cite this when individuals who have killed many more raptors get off with a slap on the wrist! Just a thought.

One of the most exciting things this week is the hatch of Big Red and Arthur’s three eggs. I cannot tell you how much I look forward to this annual event. My goodness, we sure do need some joy in Bird World – and I hope it comes in the form of three healthy hatches and the news from the AEF that DH18 is going to make a full recovery! Mark on your calendars the 5th of May. That is the banding day for the Cal Falcons! We will find out their gender, there will be some name contests, and we will see the kids with their bling. Loretta is watching Charlo Montana for us for eggs. that might happen as well. Then there must be a fledge coming up at Moorings Park this week. So lots of exciting things coming our way. Send your positive wishes to Angel that her mate Tom returns to help her and please spread the word about Sasha Dench’s appeal for funds to help fight HPAI in the Gambia (watch her short video and educate yourself).

Thank you for being with me. I hope to have some images of the kittens this week. It is nearly 2300 Sunday evening and they are “just waking up”. Nocturnal. Eat and sleep all day! Take care everyone. See you soon.

Thank you to the following for their notes, tweets, posts, videos, and streaming cams that help to make up my blog this morning: ‘A’, Kathryn, ‘R’, AEF, Sasha Dench, Window to Wildlife, Cornell RTH, SK Hideaways and Cornell RTH, Moorings Park Ospreys, Raptor Resource Project, Dulles-Greenway, PIX Cams, Achieva Credit Union, NZ DOC, Gracie Shepherd and Raptors of the World, World Bird Sanctuary, Bill Cameron and B3 Branch Buddies Berry College Eagles, Sutton Centre, Lake Murray Ospreys, The British Nature Guide, Live Griffon, and Terry Carman.

Permit for Dale Hollow? Goslings hatching, Rescue at Bald Canyon…Tuesday in Bird World

25 April 2023

Good Morning Everyone,

It is a gorgeous sunny day in the garden on Monday, but there was a problem. It was quiet. the garden is never quiet; it is always humming with at least the sound of several dozen House Sparrows that can be heard from a distance. Something was ‘off’. I did not see a hawk, but I do wonder if one was about or an owl. Now the little birds are returning as the day begins to end. Mr Crow has come to check on the cheesy dogs. Mr Blue Jay has been for peanuts along with Dyson and her gang. The Dark-eyed Juncos are searching for Black oil seed, and the sparrows and Starlings are eating the solid suet. There are now two Common Grackles visiting and from the look of Mr Crow, it could have been the Grackles that were the disturbance. Regardless, they bring so much joy. I cannot imagine my garden without them.

What a joy and right now we need joy.

On Monday, it came in the form of Nicole and her teammate, Ben, from the IWS rescuing the oldest eaglet from Bald Canyon, BC1.

There would be many videos online if you missed the live rescue. But what you would have seen was the arrival of the rescue team. Dad was on the nest, and he began alarming when they were under the nest with the eaglet. Then he flew off the nest, circling the area while Nicole worked with the eaglet. We did not see it, but we should assume that she hydrated the baby and gave it food. Then the ladder was placed, and she climbed and put BC1 back up on the nest with its two siblings. Afterwards, she placed some more twigs for rails. There are not a lot of twigs for the eagles to use for railings. The adults returned, and the eaglets were all later fed. It was beautiful. There was not a single hiccup. This is what a rescue looks like. Flawless professionals doing their job caring for wildlife.

I am encouraging everyone to send Dr Sharpe a note of gratitude. His e-mail is: psharpe@iws.org

Not far away, Chase and Cholyn’s little one is also growing by leaps and bounds. Just look at the love in that parent’s eye.

‘H’ reports that the big news at the WRDC on Monday was that R5 was self-feeding! For real.

We continue to hope for that miracle at Dale Hollow. I cannot personally verify but a posting was made on Bald Eagles 101 that a permit has been issued for a rescue at Dale Hollow and if that it is true you must give yourself a pat on the back. It was through the huge effort in lobbying for these eaglets that this will happen.

The fact that DH Eagle Cam folks was not going to the podcast to discuss the issue is good news. There is no reason for her to join in. The appropriate authorities – state and federal – should be there and this should be a decision for the health of the eaglets. USFWS regulations state – as we all know – that human-caused issues can be mitigated.

I want to be hopeful and I don’t want to spread false hope or rumours. I would love to see something official about that permit.

The two eaglets are tethered together, right leg to the left. Everyone who is anyone knows what is going on, but the issue is doing something. Instead of just saying it can’t be done, why not be like the little train that could: “I think I can, I think I can!” Do not give up hope, and do not give up signing petitions or sending letters. I hope they get 10,000!

River fed the eaglets and DH18 ate. She is sleeping with her babies tonight. We have witnessed what M15 did for the Es. River and Obey had been mates for a long time. We saw her cry out for him after he went missing, grieving. She has gotten the two eaglets this far. Just look at them. Now to have them tangled together with line and she cannot do anything to help them. She has tried. Someone might wonder why we are so upset…”They are just birds.” Personally I believe it is a sign of our humanity that we care for them and want to get them help.

As of Monday evening, the streaming cam is still working. According to the sites, the FB page of Dale Hollow and the chat are closed for a week. There has been a lot of criticism, and there should be. Other nests state that there are non-intervention policies, and, of course, there are unless an eaglet falls out of a nest OR is endangered by something human-caused. There are other reasons a nest can be approached and an intervention undertaken. Not trying is cowardly. Where are all those people that want to put rockets into space and make more money than all of us in a few minutes? Doesn’t one have a bright idea of how to get to this nest?

The saying below needs another line: That help wildlife!

This tethered eaglet was rescued by the AEF, the same people who have offered to go to Dale Hollow.

‘H’ has been keeping her eagle eye on the Fortis Exshaw Osprey Platform in Canmore, Alberta and one of the adults has arrived today. There is a new box and the couple will need to find nesting materials.

Elen is the name of the new Queen of Glaslyn. No sooner did she receive her name and she gave Aran his first egg of the 2023 season. It is difficult to move on from Mrs G. She was such a formidable character but this gal seems to have it all. Well done, Aran!

Many are keeping a close eye on Mother Goose in Decorah. The first eaglet has hatched and there were several ready to follow. I understand the leap will be either tomorrow or Wednesday depending on the last egg to hatch. There are six eggs in total.

Mother Goose is really hissing and is a highly protective mode as the eggs hatch! Father Goose has been around to check on the progress.

Father Goose down by the water ready to help when the leap is made. He has been up on the branch of the nest tree a couple of times also.

Mother Goose is going to have fun keeping them under her while they pop out from under her tail!

Oh, there is more. Mother Goose will not be able to go and forage until they take the leap. Dad is waiting down by the creek wondering what is happening. When she does not show up for her evening meal, he will know that hatch is underway. Looks like several more goslings.

As night falls, one little head is peaking out. Other shells seem to be cracking. Looks like all six little goslings could be with us by morning. It is 22:47 and ‘A’ sent me a note saying that 3 of the 6 have not hatched.

There are five hatched at 1000 Tuesday morning and Mr Gander is pacing and honking anxious for the Mrs and the kids to get down to the stream!

Good Night, Mother Goose!

Sharon Pollock gives us the hatching in a video.

In Webster, Texas, Ringo is still being fed on the nest. Dad flies in with a small fish for Ringo. Ringo flies around the nest and then lands for its meal.

I am very grateful to ‘A’ who sent me a note about the Achieva Osprey nest. Jack went missing and was away from the nest for a similar period that Flo was at Captiva. He had to have been dealing with intruders and this then would have caused prey delivery issues. In the image below the eldest is being fed and the middle is eating nestovers or trying to. We still have prey delivery issues and the aggression from the eldest. Send this nest your positive wishes, please.

The eldest ate two fish on Monday while the Middle Bob got nothing…so far. We need a big fish on the nest now so Middle can get fed. Sad, but hopeful.

We have the second egg for Poole Harbour. In celebration Blue 022 brings in more colourful plastic! Geez.

Moorings Park Ospreys are doing well. No problems here!

I still want to cuddle DH2 and even bring it home. What a little sweetheart.

Remember. Banding Day for the eyases at Cal Falcons is 5 May! At that time their legs will have stopped growing and they can be ringed safely. The gender reveal will be interesting and hey, what about the names?!

Their pin feathers are coming and Lou and Annie helped to shade but not brood all the time now.

Incubation continues at San Jose City Hall scrape.

Dulles-Greenway seems to be doing fine. A Turkey Vulture came to visit the nest tree late on Monday and the adults kept a close eye on it.

We are approximately one week away from hatch at the Cornell Red tail Hawk nest of Big Red and Arthur.

It is pip watch at Angel, the leucistic Red Tail Hawk’s nest! Tom is as anxious as we are!

Geemeff is hopeful that the dissolution of the initiative might actually lead to meaningful change in the area of raptor persecution in the Peak District. Gosh, I hope so! The criminal charges and fines have done nothing to stop the wanton killing of the Hen Harriers, for one.

The blog states: “Incidents of shooting, poisoning, trapping, nest destruction or the disappearance of satellite-tracked birds active within the Peak District have featured in every year of the initiative’s monitoring.

The National Park Authority believes that until these illegal activities are tackled, meaningful progress towards population increases in key species will not be possible.

Phil Mulligan, chief executive of the Peak District National Park Authority said: “It is with regret that we are closing the initiative after more than a decade of endeavours to safeguard our charismatic birds of prey that have a rightful place here in the National Park.”

You can read it in its entirety here:

Peak District Bird of Prey Initiative finally folds as persecution continues

Karl II and Kaia sleeping on the Black Stork nest in Estonia Monday night.

Good night, Telyn!

I am going to sign off and have a quiet dinner. The Dale Hollow situation is quite stressful especially with regard to DH18’s leg. I want so desperately to be hopeful and that someone will step forward and come up with a helicopter plan or a rehabber with experience that is also a good rock climber to get up the hill to the nest. We just can’t give up until we have tried everything. And I do mean actually tried to help the eaglets not sat in a room talking about it theoretically. We need action like we saw at Bald Canyon. Thank you for your continuing support for these efforts.

Take care everyone. I have not posted lots of incubating birds – it is like watching paint dry. There should be more eggs tomorrow and all of the goslings will have hatched. The moderator at the Goose cam, Buddy’s Mum, thinks the leap will be Wednesday. But might it be Tuesday afternoon? It depends on the timing of that last hatch. See you soon!

Thank you to the following for their notes, their tweets, videos, and streaming cams that helped to make up my blog today: Geemeff, ‘H’, ‘A’, ‘A from Tokyo’, ‘SP’, IWS and Explore.org, Jackie Brown and Bald Eagles Live Nest and Cams, DHEC, Terry Carman and Bald Eagles Live Nest and Cams, Fortis Exshaw, Bywyd Gwylld Glaslyn, Decorah Goose Cam, Sharon Pollock and Decorah Goose Cam, Paul White and Webster, Texas Bald Eagles, Achieva Credit Union, Poole Harbour ospreys, Moorings Park Ospreys, Raptor Resource Project and Explore.org, Cal Falcons, San Jose City Hall Peregrine Falcons, Dulles-Greenway, Cornell RTH, Cornell Leucistic Hawk, Raptor Persecution UK, Eagle Club of Estonia, and Dyfi Osprey Project.

Goslings hatching, She is Elen…Monday in Bird World

24 April 2023

Good Morning Everyone!

Thank you so much for being here with us today. We hope that the week is starting out well for each and every one of you!

Mr Crow and a friend have returned. He has been yelling at me all day. It is unclear whether he wants his cheesy dogs or his cat kibble but he is making quite a ruckus right above my head as I write this. The first Common Grackle of the year has appeared in the garden along with the normal array of Dark-eyed Juncos, Sparrows, European Starlings and woodpeckers. I can see Little Red running through the lilacs to get to the suet while Dyson and the gang are hovering around on the ground. They much prefer the Black Oil seed when they have finished all the peanuts.

Hatchery Mum and Dad and DH2 give us another cute moment with their family portrait from Sunday. Isn’t it beautiful? That adorable little eaglet. So precious after the tragedies of last year with HPAI.

The award for the most diligent mother of the week has to go to Sally at Moorings Park who is always feeding her osplets, Abby and Victor, even at 11pm!!!!!!!

On Monday morning, the new unringed female, nicknamed ‘Dot’ at the Glaslyn Osprey platform, will be given an official name! She has now been with Aran for more than a week. It has been a joy watching the two get acquainted and bond; this is terrific news. Wonder what the name will be?

New nesting material is in and Aran has perfected handing over the fish to his new mate. All we need are some lovely eggs in that nest now!

The new female is named Elen. “Our new Glaslyn female now has a name! She will be called Elen, named after Yr Elen a mountain in the Carneddau range in Eryri (Snowdonia). As you will be aware, Aran is named after Yr Aran another mountain in Eryri.”

Their story unfolded quickly as Elen laid her first egg this morning at 10:37! What a brilliant start with a new name, too.

Dorcha has laid her second egg at Loch Arkaig with her mate Louis.

Sasha Dench is in Guinea. She has discovered why water and climate change are important to the Ospreys that migrate between the UK and West Africa. Have a listen. You will learn a lot about how our changing world impacts everything! We are all interconnected.

Flo left the Captiva Osprey nest around noon on Sunday. She looked down at the only egg that – well, it would take a miracle if it was viable – and flew off. Angus has returned to the nest. He is on the perch in the last image. The couple was seen together in the nearby trees. Their bond is essential. They can begin again next year. It was a rough season for everyone at Captiva this year.

The situation at Dale Hollow continues to weigh heavily on people’s minds and our hearts. The American Eagle Foundation and the Tampa Raptor Centre offered expert climbers to go to the site and remediate the issue. The nest is on public land, US Army land, accessed by a road through private property.

There is more news coverage of what is happening to the eaglets and letters are now going out to everyone who wrote advocating for the eaglets. I want to thank each of you from the bottom of my heart to the tip of my tiny toe for taking the time – for your love and your caring for our wildlife. You could just as easily close your eyes and ignore everything. You didn’t. We may not win this one, but we cannot give up. In an ideal situation, that monofilament line comes off. River breaks it and removes the mess from the nest. That is the perfect solution. If that does not happen, and it hasn’t yet, we must seek help for those who cannot ask for it themselves. I am so proud to be in such excellent company as all of you.

I have just opened my evening’s e-mail to find a host of similar letters and notices of television news coverage in Tennessee. We owe it to the eaglets not to give up. I have said that twice. It is crucial. Everything takes longer than we want. Bureaucracy takes time – and nothing happens on the weekend. Not even for Dr Sharpe!

Here is the letter going out to those who contacted Tennessee Wildlife Resources. Thank you to everyone who sent me their copy. It takes an army! Last year when I posted letters on my blog, DH labelled them as ‘fake news’. The letter below is not fake – many of you will have received the same one from the official.

Thank you for sharing your concerns. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) was notified of an eaglet tangled in fishing line by viewers of a Dale Hollow live eagle camera on Friday, April 22. TWRA staff who received the notification immediately contacted Agency staff responsible for wildlife conservation. The Agency also notified our partners at the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the American Eagle Foundation about the eaglet.

TWRA is actively monitoring the situation and is in communication with federal wildlife authorities. Although no longer listed on the federal list of endangered or threatened species, both bald eagles and golden eagles are protected by the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Due to their federally regulated status, the US Fish and Wildlife Service is the agency with oversite and authority in cases of eagles in distress.

Federal laws prohibit the disturbance of eagles and their nests, which includes any substantial interference with normal breeding, feeding, or sheltering behavior. Any rescue attempt would be considered a disturbance of natural behavior, and therefore requires federal permitting to take place. Additionally, only individuals who have been properly certified are allowed to climb to eagle nests for the safety of the individual and the eagles. 

Disturbing the nest, even for a rescue attempt, comes with significant risks. Nestlings may be startled by human activity near the nest and prematurely jump from the nest before they are able to fly or care for themselves. This could result in the death of both nestlings. Adult eagles can also become territorial or defensive of the nest, and attack humans who attempt to approach the nest.

Live wildlife cameras serve as an important education tool for members of the public to safely view nature. However, from time to time, the public may see the disturbing footage of sick, injured, orphaned, or otherwise distressed wildlife as part of the natural course of events. Unfortunately, the eaglet in this situation was tangled in a piece of litter. TWRA always encourages individuals enjoying the outdoors to properly dispose of any trash to prevent injury to wildlife. Littering on public property carries varied offenses ranging from misdemeanor to felony charges.

This is a developing situation, requests for additional information should be directed to the agency with jurisdiction, the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Federal officials are aware of the situation and any additional decisions or action on the issue will be made by the US Fish and Wildlife Service with the full cooperation of TWRA.

Respectfully, 

Emily Buck
Director of Communications and Outreach
Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency 5107 Edmondson Pike, Nashville, TN 37211

Because of you more news agencies are picking up the story. Why not be the heroes and help the eaglets?

More news this morning:

As of this morning, DH18 is still in the same position on the nest it has been for days with the entanglement materials underneath it – in other words, DH18 continues to be tethered to the nest. River dropped the fish and was dealing with intruders.

I would love to be posting all those amazing images of the Es but they belong to the photographers that took them. Please head over to the SW Florida Eagle Cam FB page to see what the Es and M15 are doing off camera. They are amazing!

Vijay caught the breakfast delivery on Sunday! Listen to those eaglets as they know M15 is on his way!

It is Sunday afternoon in Iowa and all eyes are on every twitch that Mother Goose is making.

Mother Goose was up for her evening break but was not gone very long at all.

It is 0715 and there is a big pip and a crack in one of the Goose eggs at Decorah! Yippeeee. Thanks ‘A’ for the head’s up.

‘H’ reports that R4 had a good feed yesterday. Continuing good news for this eaglet at Miami.

Nesting is also beginning at the Osoyoos Osprey Platform in British Columbia.

You have to love the Cal Falcon feedings. Two for you and then two for you and wait, yes, two for you. As ‘H’ reminds me I have always said if you want a peaceful nest watch the falcons and the hawks! And just imagine – it is not long until we have pip watch for Big Red and Arthur!

Great video by SK Hideaways of this little number three – feisty!

Wondering which egg is which of Big Red and Arthur’s? Cornell tweeted their ID.

Sunday was happy hatch day for two California Condors. One is one of my all-time favourites, Phoenix 477. He is the mate of Redwood Queen, the mother of Iniko (with Kingpin, who died in the Dolan Fire). Phoenix got his name because he also survived a tragic wildfire. He and Redwood Queen raised #1174 in Pinnacles (a new nest for them) in 2022.

Karl II and Kaia continue their bonding and getting their strength back after their long migration from their winter homes in central Africa.

The Pitkin County Osprey Platform had its second egg today. The nest is located on a platform in Roaring Park Valley, Colorado. Last year both osplets were pulled off the nest when nesting material attached to them was attached also to the female. One died and the other survived to be released this spring.

One of those heart warming stories that we would like to see happen everywhere! The leg of the eaglet was lodged in the nest material. The AEF came to the rescue.

There is lots of wing flapping going on at the Duke Farms Bald Eagle nest. Not branching yet. Soon.

The plumage is not nearly that of Duke Farms but the Dulles-Greenway Eaglets are standing very well on that nest. Just look at those healthy eaglets. Three of them!

Haven’t checked on Cassidy and Sundance at Farmer Derek’s GHO nest for awhile. Gosh, they are looking out to the world beyond that nest today.

A visitor came to the Achieva Osprey nest Sunday. The distinctive heart-shaped head looks like the head of Tiny Tot Tumbles hatched in 2021. She was the third hatch many believed had died of starvation on the nest at least three times. She did not and became not only the dominant chick but also the defender of this nest against adult birds during the summer of 2021. It sure looks like her head with the narrow white stripes and the dark heart!

The osplets at Achieva had one fish on Saturday, and Jack delivered a fish at 2009 on Sunday. The eldest continues its aggression due to a shortage of fish in the nest. We must remember that Mum, who feeds the chicks, is also hungry. This nest remains very precarious.

There is good news coming out of the KNF E1 nest of Anna and Louis. Trey has been on the nest jumping about. Way to go, Trey!

Kathryn has reported that Lake Murray had its third osplet hatch Sunday afternoon!

Jackie and Shadow continue to visit their nest in Big Bear Valley. We will all look forward to the late fall and the next breeding season for them. Regardless of eggs, chicks or not, it is always good to see Jackie and Shadow!

Congratulations to Llyn Brenig on the second egg of the 2023 season laid Sunday afternoon.

Continue sending your best wishes to the nests with issues – Achieva and Dale Hollow. Tomorrow keep Bald Canyon in your thoughts as an attempt will be made to rescue the eaglet that fell from the nest. We hope that it is still alive.

Thank you so very much for being with me today as we flitted about the nests that we have been watching. There are positively some many things happening internationally in Bird World that it is hard to keep up. I hope at the beginning of the week to check on all those UK Osprey nests closer and also the ones in Finland. Take care all. See you soon!

I want to thank everyone for their notes, their tweets, posts, videos, and streaming cams that helped to make up my blog today: Kathryn, A, H, B, L, S, T, J, W, WRDC, Osoyoos Osprey Cam, Raptor Resource Project and Explore.org, Moorings Park Ospreys, Bywyd Gwylld Glaslyn, Mary Kerr and Friends of Loch Arkaig, Conservation without Borders, Windows to Wildlife, Sylvia Jarzomkowske and Bale Eagles Live Nests and Cams, Nicole Norment Whittemore and Bald Eagles Live Nests and Cams, SW Florida Eagle Cam, Vijay and SW Florida Eagle Cam, Decorah Goose Cam, Cal Falcons, SK Hideaways and Cal Falcons, @CornellHawks, Ventana Wildlife Society, Eagle Club of Estonia, Sydney Wells and Bald Eagles Live Nests and Cams, Carol Craig and Osprey Friends, Albert Li and Big Bear, Duke Farms, Dulles-Greenway Eagles, Farmer Derek Owl Cam, Achieva Credit Union, KNF-Ei, Llyn Brenig Ospreys, and FOBBV.

Mrs G Remembered, eggs for Seren and Telyn…Friday in Bird World

14 April 2023

Good Morning,

It was overcast and coolish, 1 C, in the early morning of Thursday. It felt like rain; we could use it, but the drops never came. The Dark-eyed Juncos are eating the Millet spread over the deck, the little woodpecker has been at the feeder, and 18 European Starlings showed up at about 1000. It is now noon. They should be happy. There is Bark Butter with Mealworms along with their favourite suet. Hoping they come back. Last year’s numbers were high for Starlings. Hoping it is the same this migration. People take them for granted, like Sparrows, but what happens when they are gone? They are under threat. So, this garden embraces them and the Sparrows; believe it or not, they all co-exist nicely for the most part. Right now, they all need food. Those long journeys and habitat loss in my area over the winter due to the ever-expanding need for humans to have more extensive houses means that we should all pitch in and feed them – if we can.

Snail mail. We don’t get so much of it anymore; it is always a welcome treat. Today the publications from Birdlife International and Living Bird were in the post. I realise that having them sent costs the environment. I hope they will be helpful in the future to others as they are going in dedicated binders.

Lots to learn. The National Whitebark Pine Restoration Plan members have worked for 14 years to get a plan to restore this tree species. They hope to have a tree with genetic resistance to white pine blister rust and they are really expecting the Clark’s Nutcracker to spread those seeds. It could help to restore many lost forests for the future. The Smithsonian now has a bird friendly chocolate certification programme to go along with their Birds and Beans coffee and Caffe Ibis Coffee. You can normally order from the Smithsonian. In Canada, coffee can be ordered directly from the roaster in Toronto. Some specialty bird feed providers also have one lb bags of coffee beans such as Preferred Perch in Winnipeg. What else did. learn? That both the Sharp-shinned and Cooper’s hawks that visit my garden like Dark-eyed Juncos as prey items along with lots of House Sparrows, Mourning Doves, and Starlings. Cornell did a great study on what birds should actually be the State birds and only two states kept the ones that they celebrate: Louisiana with the Brown Pelican and Oklahoma with the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher. In Manitoba, where I live our provincial bird would be the Connecticut Warbler. 33% of the entire population breeds here. Our provincial animal is currently the Great Grey Owl.

Heather Corfield at Bywyd Gwyllt Glaslyn has written a lovely blog dedicated to the memory of Mrs G, the formidable female Osprey that has populated the area. She laid 60 eggs and fledged 52 chicks. She has at least 130 grand-chicks along with countless great-grand chicks. She had only two mates, Ochre 11 (98) to 2015 and then our dear Aran since then. She bred at Glaslyn for 19 years and was the oldest UK Osprey. It is a good read about a very remarkable bird. As Heather says, we knew the day would come. She was at least 23-24 years old – but it doesn’t make it any easier. Mrs G did not return from migration and it is unknown when and where she died.

The End of an Era

Does get much cuter than fluffy little Peregrine Falcon eyases! OK. Big Red, yes, I do love Red-tail Hawk eyases the most!!!!!! Annie giving the two nestlings at Cal Falcons their first feeding at 0720 on Thursday morning.

There were two adorable little white white fluff balls with no egg shell present.

No shell but a visible crack in the one shell to the left.

Now Annie looking rather mischievous…and there is a half shell on the scrape. Looks like we have hatch 3.

Annie turned around at 11:53 and moved the shell and you can see a tiny wet pink eyas.

The reveal and Lou gets to see that his family has just grown some more. Best be out there hunting, Lou!

Later…the new hatch will be ready for some prey tomorrow! It is less than five hours old in the following images.

These eyases will grow dramatically from their hatch to fledging. Think 40 days. At first, their eyes are closed except when food begging; the eyes open like slits. By the fifth day, their eyes will be fully open all the time except when they are sleeping and they can focus and see clearly.

At that time their weight will have doubled from when they hatched! I am such a fan of falcons and hawks…you will be overwhelmed with ‘baby pictures’.

‘A’ says, “Little Lou is enjoying being a dad. As soon as Annie decides to take a prey gift for herself, he’s onto those chicks and the remaining egg. I wonder if he is counting. Does he notice that these well-behaved eggs are progressively being swapped out for these small fluffy wriggling things. He’s doing such a good job of covering everything and everyone he needs to, at least so far… That won’t last long, especially if that last egg hatches.”

Do you know how Peregrine Falcons get such amazing colours to their eggs? Here is the answer from the Chicago Peregrine Program:

“As an egg moves down the female’s oviduct it presses against glands that produce colored pigments. Peregrine egg colors range from pale creamy to a dark rusty brown. Marking patterns develop by if the eggs are in motion or not when they reach the glands with pigment. If the Peregrine egg is stationary at the time when it comes in contact with the glands, it’ll become spotted. If the egg was in motion, it would have streaks. Because the egg can continue to gain color down the oviduct, and as the egg can rotate slightly while it moves, you can have color laid over where color was already added.The pigments in the glands become depleted with each successive egg laid. Looking at this egg set from The Field Museum, we would estimate the egg on the far right was laid first, while the one on the far left came last.”

For more information about egg color in birds – check out this link from Cornell –https://www.allaboutbirds.org/…/the-beauty-and…/…#

Falcons are either laying eggs or have hatches…it is so much fun. Seriously if you have never watched a falcon scrape you need to start! Everyone eats! The incidence of sibling rivalry/siblicide is so diminished compared to ospreys and eagles. You will be astonished.

The Michigan Spartan scrape box has four eggs!

Oh, and then there are the most gorgeous osplets with their juvenile feathers at Moorings Park eating breakfast. Gosh, they are all beautiful.

Oh, and Idris preparing a fish for Telyn Blue 3J at the Dyfi Osprey platform in Wales. The anticipation of the first egg is growing.

And….

we have two first eggs – at Dyfi and at Llyn Clywedog! Telyn laid her egg at 17:40 with Seren coming in twelve minutes later at 17:53. Congratulations!

Telyn – congratulations to one of my most favourite couples, Idris and Telyn!

Idris sees their egg!

Beautiful Seren Blue 5F. 17:53:20.

Dylan had been up on the perch since 0615 expecting an egg today so he was there when the big event happened.

Just look at that beautiful pristine landscape. What wonderful places these Welsh ospreys have for their platforms!

Several have wondered why there are not more osprey platforms in the Glaslyn Valley. Well, there was Aran and Mrs G’s platform. Then another platform was placed just at the boundary of Port Cresor which is now occupied by Aeron Z2 (2017 Monty and Gleans) and Blue 014. At the time, some believed the placement was to ‘steal’ Mrs G from Glaslyn. There has certainly been a lot of interest in the Glaslyn nest from Monty and Glesni’s boys that hatched at Dyfi including Z1, Aeron’s full brother, Tegid (2016, Monty and Gleans). He briefly appeared on the nest. Did he steal the female’s fish? His nest is ON4 on private property. Is there a move to consolidate Monty’s family holdings in Glaslyn now that Aran is trying to establish himself with a new mate? Aran got Tegid moving!

Tegid is the 2016 hatch of Monty and Gleans and was known as ‘The White Egg’. He was harassed by Blue 24 (female) if I recall. Good to see you Tegid. Now go home to Snowdonia!!!!!

Aran flapping after sending off Tegid. Sadly, the whole event sent the nice female off and she hasn’t been seen on the nest on Friday. Aran was sky dancing to another female, a more aggressive one to him.

Ringo fledged at the Webter, Texas Bald Eagle nest near Houston but, s/he has continued to return to the nest for food lured by parents. Thursday was no exception. This is fantastic. These parents are teaching Ringo exactly the sane way that M15 is teaching the Es to survive independently. Great mantle, Ringo! Looks like a big girl to me.

There are two eggs at the Golden Eagle nest in Romania. Siblicide is common in Golden Eagle nests so watch this nest with that warning.

The cam operator at Cornell Bird Lab gave us some incredible close up images of Big Red today. It will not be long until hatch watch for her and Arthur.

She is incredibly beautiful, our 20 year old Red-tail Hawk ‘Queen’.

Achieva and Dale Hollow: River brought in a nice fish at 10:22 Thursday morning. Despite the intruder close by, River fed both eaglets well. Yes!

DH18 decided to do some self-feeding on the last of the fish bone. Way to go little one.

DH17’s wing span!

A view of the Obey River.

Both osplets at Achieva had crops during the 0800 fish feed! Good news.

The three eaglets at PA Farm Country are growing and doing very well, indeed. No issues at this nest to report.

Gabby and V3 might not have had a nest of eaglets this year but they are positively delighted being with one another and I am looking forward to November next year when, hopefully, they will lay a clutch of eggs for the first time together.

I have been watching the Dulles-Greenway nest reasonably close. On Thursday by late afternoon, all I could see were two short feedings with the third hatch not getting anything at the second. Are there intruders about? or am I missing feedings?

All looks well at the Pittsburgh-Hayes Bald Eagle nest.

The eaglet at US Steel is 8 days old.

Cholyn and Chase’s single hatch this season is not going to go hungry. The nest is loaded with a variety of prey items for this chubby little fluff ball.

In Estonia, Karl II waits for the arrival of his mate, Kaia, at their Black Stork nest in the Karula National Forest. Karl II arrived yesterday from migration. Kaia is close behind.

There are some dates that you should mark on your calendar. The first one is a day that many of you will not recognise – National Curlew Day which is the 21st of April on the feast day of St Brueno, the patron saint of Curlews. The species is critically-endangered in many places around the world because of modern agricultural politics, climate change, habitat encroachment. Instead of me telling you about Curlews, read about them. Find ou what their status is where you live. These lovely shore birds migrate and they need wetlands, they need not to be shot! See what you can do to help in your area.

The other two days are about bird counts. 13 May. Mark it on your calendar. It is Global Big Day that helps us celebrate the birds that are in our environment. The second event is World Migratory Bird Day which is held twice a year to celebrate the marvellous journeys our birds make in the spring and fall. Please sign up to eBird to help track the birds and to see where help is needed. Last year 51,455 birds worldwide entered their statistics from 201 countries for 7,673 bird species.

Many of you have pets or have had in the past. Did you take them to the crematorium? Did you leave them with the Vet if they had to be euthanised? Last year we saw dumped pets euthanised in several landfills around the Minneapolis area.

Three-bald-eagles-dead-10-others-sickened-after-eating-carcasses-of-euthanized-animals-at-MinnesotaDownload

This could not have been an isolated incident, but it came to light only because of the Bald Eagles eating the carrion found at the dump and having to go into rehab. Reports have come that a similar incident happened in the Pacific-Northwest in the Cowlitz district in Washington from one of our readers. Why are we hearing about this? Has there been a change in human behaviour during and after the pandemic? Did pet crematoriums close so that vets are left dealing with animals left in their charge? What can be done? If your pet is sick, you should learn how your vet clinic disposes of the body. That should be a priority. Are they assigning these animals to another business that should be disposing of them correctly but is dumping them? It is entirely possible that these contractors are not following laws or protocols. Ask. The vets’ drugs can cause our carrion eaters – Crows, Vultures, Bald Eagles, etc. – to get ill and die. This is not a good situation. Talk to your local wildlife rehab clinic and veterinary surgeon if you want to help and do not have pets. They might not be aware!

A sad story coming from Arkansas in the US. What’s with the need to kill other living beings? I do not get it.

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

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, news, and streaming cams that helped inform my blog today: ‘A’, ‘B’, Heather Corfield and Bywyd Gwyllt Glaslyn, Chicago Peregrine Program, Olga Kysil and Orange, Australia Peregrine Falcons, Moorings Osprey, Dyfi Osprey, CarnyXWild, Paul White and the Webster TX Eagles, Associate Wild Bucovina, Cornell RTH Cam, Dale Hollow Eagle Cam, Achieva Credit Union, PA Game Commission, NEFL-AEF, Dulles-Greenway, PIX Cam, IWS and Explore.org, Eagle Club of Estonia, and CBS News.