Category Archives: Royal Albatross

Monday in Bird World

17 February 2025

Good Morning Everyone,

We hope that each of you has had a lovely week and an even nicer weekend if you are still out in the workforce. We are so happy that you can be with us today. It is -31 C, and we have been in another extreme cold warning area for several days. Fortunately, the conservatory is on the south of the house, and the sun heats it regardless. The Girls just have to be out there watching their garden friends! It is, however, difficult at times to get outside and we often find ourselves thinking of the warm sun and birds in Guadeloupe.

This is the last day for the Big Bird Count. You have until 1 March to get your submissions into Cornell. Our garden bird numbers were down due to the extreme cold.

The deer have been eating the twigs off the newly cut trees in the park. Wood twigs are definitely not full of nutrition. I have not seen any deer in our garden for a few weeks.

This tiny little one is such a sweetie.

The temperatures continue to be on the ‘cold’ side. We keep the conservatory open for The Girls so they can enjoy the squirrels and the birds – and us, too. It will be so nice when April arrives – two months to go – until we thaw out. Star and Brock continue to come to the feeder, but I have seen no other cats which is really a blessing.

Hope and Calico are never far from one another. It is so endearing.

Hugo Yugo was grumpy at me for waking her up to try and get a photo!

Missey was grouchy too!!!!!!!!

The Girls seem to have almost gone into hibernation preferring to sleep during the cold months instead of even eating. They play with one another starting around 2130, but during the day, it is strictly nap time. Oh, what a charmed life they lead.

We hope that the bi-weekly posting is working out for you. I want to try and pick a topic that brings some additional information – that is more educational – than just a listing of what is happening at the nests. This change is allowing me to do that!

So today, I want to look at the world’s most beloved Bald Eagle couple, Jackie and Shadow, whose nest at Big Bear and its elevation can be causing the issues relating to their eggs not hatching. In addition to the information below, I am also including some other information on the DDT that was sprayed in the area that might well be contributing to the thickness (or lack thereof) in some of their past egg shells. Even thought DDT spraying was outlawed decades ago, the soil remains contaminated and still impacts wildlife including Bald Eagles.

Jackie and Shadow have been braving the elements as snow transforms the Big Bear Valley in California. https://youtu.be/kJ6s66Baltg?

So why do Jackie and Shadow struggle with their eggs at such a high altitude? Their nest is 7000 feet above sea level and is known to be one of North America’s highest Bald Eagle nests. When I sought an answer, my computer came up with this one generated by AI. It looks reasonably thorough and should help us understand this couple’s difficulties in hatching eaglets. That said, we know that on occasion, they do have success. In 2023, more than 45 inches of snow fell on Jackie and Shadow’s nest due to the atmospheric rivers that year.

Eagles nesting at high altitudes can experience difficulties with fertility and egg hatching primarily due to the harsh environmental conditions at those elevations, including: lower oxygen levels, extreme temperature fluctuations, strong winds, and limited food availability, which can all negatively impact the development of the embryo within the egg and the overall health of the breeding pair. 

Key factors contributing to this issue:

  • Oxygen stress:Reduced oxygen levels at high altitudes can affect the egg development process, potentially hindering the embryo’s ability to properly grow and mature. 
  • Temperature extremes:High altitude environments can experience significant temperature swings, making it challenging for the female eagle to maintain a consistent incubation temperature needed for successful hatching. 
  • Weather challenges:High winds and storms at high altitudes can disrupt nesting activities, potentially damaging eggs or causing the adults to abandon the nest. 
  • Food scarcity:Finding enough food to sustain both the breeding pair and their chicks can be difficult in high altitude habitats, especially during harsh weather conditions, leading to malnutrition and impacting fertility. 
  • Hormonal disruptions:Environmental stress at high altitudes could potentially disrupt the hormonal balance of the eagles, affecting their reproductive capabilities. 

Here is more information on this nest:

The nest of Jackie and Shadow, the bald eagles in Big Bear Valley, California, is about 7,000 feet above sea level. The nest is located in a Jeffrey pine tree that’s 145 feet above the ground. 

Explanation

  • The nest is one of the highest known bald eagle nests in the United States. 
  • The nest is located in the San Bernardino National Forest. 
  • The nest is home to Jackie and Shadow, the only year-round resident bald eagles in Big Bear. 
  • The nest is monitored by a live-streaming camera operated by Friends of Big Bear Valley, a nonprofit environmental preservation group. 
  • The nest has grown to be over five feet wide and six feet deep. 
  • The nest was started near the top of the tree by the previous resident pair, Lucy and Ricky, in 2012. 

The nest is located on an undeveloped parcel of land on the north shore of Big Bear Lake. 

Did you know that Jackie is thought to be the offspring of Ricky and Lucy? That would mean that she is now thirteen years old in 2025. She is the first eaglet to have ever hatched at the Big Bear nest in 2012. In recent years, her and Shadow have laid at least fourteen eggs together with five of them hatching. Simba fledged in 2019 and Spirit fledged in 2022. I still remember that fantastic eaglet. I am sure you do, too. Other eaglets were ZJ1 (yes, he was banded) named Cookie, who died of hypothermia during a storm in 2019 and Stormy, who fledged in 2018. Now, what was the name of the other one? Would you happen to know?

There is nearly a 33% chance that an egg will hatch. So will one of the three eggs hatch this year? We must wait to see. Maybe all three will! Clearly Jackie and Shadow with their devotion and love for one another and the determination they have to raise an eaglet offers each of us hope and inspiration.

What students learn about DDT and its ban in the early 1970s and the eagles at Big Bear:

What Students Learn From Their Big Bear Bald Eagle (And Real Life) Teachers | LAistDownload

The effects of pesticides on Bald Eagle populations:

1882Download

Pip watch begins for Jackie and Shadow on 1 March – well now, let’s count the days from today: 12!!!!!!!! We will be on pins and needles with excitement.

The Ravens wished to give Jackie grief. She wasn’t having it.https://youtu.be/_-zcJ-1qwAk?

Looking at the other nests:

Kistachie National Forest, E3: They are the cuties little fat bottomed eaglets. Their Mum, Andria II, is doing a fantastic job keeping both eaglets well fed.

John Bunker Sands Wetlands: Dad brings in a whopper of a fish for Mum and the kids!!!!! (Thanks MP)

Fraser Point: Andor and Cruz have their first egg of the 2025 breeding season.

Abu Dhabi Osprey Nest: The triplets being raised by the lone female and two males were banded. Heidi caught the action on video.

The average temperature in Abu Dhabi is 25 degrees C. Last year it was 30 C. There is no temperature for the nest which is located on a huge mound of sticks on the desert. The chicks survived with lots of fish!

West End Nest: The camera was down on Friday for awhile due to a big storm that went through the area. They played highlights. Hearts were broken everywhere watching Akecheta feed his triplets.

Sauces: Jak and Audacity’s first egg is still holding! The other two have broken. Well, we only need one and this couple sure deserve it. Their issue is, of course, not the same as Jackie and Shadow and the higher elevation nest. Theirs is strictly due to the DDT in the area. Next posting will look at why some nests in the Channel Islands might be

Two Harbours: Chase and Cholyn are working on their nest. No eggs yet.

USS Steel: The first egg for Irv and his new mate, Stella, arrived and the second was laid on the 16th. Congratulations to Irvine and Stella. Missing Claire. https://youtu.be/hg37rCwNavc?

Decorah North: Second egg laid on Valentine’s Day. First egg laid on the 11th. (In 2024, the first egg was laid on the 15th of February). Oh, we are going to be busy in five weeks time with all these hatches!

Trempealeau Bald Eagle Nest: There is some concern that Mr T has not been seen at the nest since the 11th of February.

FOLFAN: Second egg laid on the 13th of February.

Hilton Head Bald Eagles: George and Gracie’s oldest gets out of the egg cup! https://youtu.be/2zmRnrAIbfw?

NE Florida: NE 31 stood on its feet, flatly on the nest, on Saturday the 15th for the first time. A milestone. What a great eaglet. Huge crop. Devoted parents. Melts your heart just watching Gabby and Beau care for this precious one.

‘A’ comments: “The chatters are calling it NE31’s stick fort, but as I described yesterday I think it was, there are some very thick kiddy rails on the side of the nest opposite the dining table. NE31 has been sleeping so that one of those large sticks is across his back, so that I am hoping his stick fort might make it hard for an owl to get a grip on him and extract him from under his stick. Again tonight, alone on the nest, he was sleeping in his stick fort when Gabby came down to the nest around 1.42am. She aerates the nest, in the process extricating NE31 from beneath his stick, and NE31 stands up tall and eyeballs mum, then tries to burrow back under the stick fort. 

Gabby has some difficulty brooding NE31 because of the stick but eventually the eaglet snuggles down in front of her breast feathers and goes back to sleep. Mum leaves again at 01:55. Little now can no longer get under its stick fort. The stick has been broken and displaced so that it no longer affords the protection it has done to the point. Unfortunate. 

Beau arrives on the nest to check on NE31 at 03:03:35 and does some aerating of the nest. This eventually disturbs the sleeping NE31, who stands up tall and bonks dad! (TS 03:12:25). TOO funny. It’s hard to see how effectively the stick fort now protects NE31 – it may represent some form of obstacle still, though not as useful a barrier as it was two nights ago, before it got broken. 

It is reassuring to me to see Beau on the nest tonight. It is a little early – I hope he remains until daylight because we know how that hour or 90 minutes before the sky begins to lighten is very much the favourite time for owls to hunt – or so I have observed when watching GHO cams. “

SW Florida: M15 is thinking he would like another chance at raising eaglets this year. How is F23 feeling about that? https://youtu.be/ol57dhBfdbg?

NCTC Nest: Scout is delivering fish dinners and grasses to Bella. https://youtu.be/MBaiPt014YU?

No wonder. Bella laid her third egg!!!!!!! Scout is really going to be a busy lad if these three eggs hatch. https://youtu.be/S4DH20KLU30?

Cardinal Land Conservancy: Bonnie and Clyde have their first egg and by the time you read this they should have their second.

Dade County home to Ron and Rose saw the ringing of R7 and R8.

Captiva: Connie and Clive’s Dasher and Dancer work their wings on the nest hoping to fly like Mum and Dad. https://youtu.be/-h0DY3y8MoA?

Centreport: Waiting for the first egg.

Moorings Park: Harry and Sally are incubating three eggs!

Achieva Credit Union: Jack and a new mate ??? – no eggs yet.

Kauai Moli:

Royal Cam Chick Royal Albatross Colony, NZ: Some really cute close ups. https://youtu.be/NVeCGfehAfo?

Leucistic Red Tail Hawk Nest: ‘A’ notes with concern: “The last visit to the nest was on 2 December – I think there is an entry in the log noting that Angel had flown under the nest (twice) about a week ago, but it is starting to look like this season will be much like last. We may not see them again this year. It is a mystery – where are they going? What are they doing? And why?”

The hawks might have relocated like they did last year, but we know that they are fine.

World Bird Sanctuary. This falls in line with the story below about the turtle where wildlife manage to survive under very challenging conditions. This one with a severe beak injury.

Wildlife Haven, Manitoba, Canada: Dr Tess designed a ‘contraption’ to help a turtle whose shell was soft and sunken in the hope of giving it a second chance at life. I love this vet and wish she would be here forever. She doesn’t give up and as I have said several times, she has no trouble believing a three legged deer can survive or a one legged eagle. Bravo, Dr Tess!

Calico’s Tip for the Day: If we want to help wildlife, modify the amount of beef, palm oil (please do check your labels), and timber. Trees are cut down for these crops and there are clear alternatives!!!!!!!!! Calico also recognises that birds flourish when coffee is grown in the shade. Why not reduce the amount of coffee you drink in order to help wildlife? Look for the certified Birds and Beans coffee!!!!!!!! Accept no substitute. Indeed, I can tell you that having one good cup of coffee that I know did not cause a tree to be cut is much better than drinking 3 or 4. Try it.

Richest nations ‘exporting extinction’ with demand for beef, palm oil and timberhttps://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/feb/14/richest-nations-exporting-extinction-with-demand-for-beef-palm-oil-and-timber-aoe?CMP=share_btn_url

A good read. Hummingbirds discovered living in a hive in a cave in Ecuador.

Hummingbirds Living in a Hive Found for the First Time – The New York TimesDownload

For your watching pleasure: A documentary on the return of the Storks to Alsatia. Enjoy! https://youtu.be/1KyhelY3FyI?

Killed for sport and dumped. It is time to end this archaic practice in the UK.

Shot gamebirds geese dumped in NottinghamshireDownload

Thank you so much for being with me. Please take care. See you on Thursday. Have a great week everyone. Sending you good positive energy.

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, comments, images, articles, information, and streaming cams that helped me to write this post: ‘A, Geemeff, H, J, MP’, SK Hideaways, FOBBV, LAist, Fish and Wildlife Services, Kistachie National Forest E3, John Bunker Sands Wetlands, IWS/Explore, Heidi McGrue, USS Steel, Sylvia, Raptor Resource Project/Explore, Trempealeau Bald Eagle Nest, FOLFAN, Hilton Head Island Trust, NEFL-AEF, SK Hideaways, Deb Stecyk, NCTC Bald Eagle Nest, Cardinal Land Conservancy, WRDC Bald Eagle Nest, Window to Wildlife, Centreport Eagles, Moorings Park Osprey, Achieva Credit Union, Hob Osterlund, liznm, Window to Wildlife, World Bird Sanctuary, Wildlife Haven, The Guardian, The New York Times, Animaux du monde, Raptor Persecution UK

Late Sunday in Bird World

9 February 2025

Hello Everyone,

Traveling is wonderful. It is the getting there and getting home that are not! The snow did not hinder our arrival late Thursday in Montreal and the young man who removes the snow around our property has already visited twice. Temperatures have even managed to warm up in Winnipeg.

It is now Saturday – late afternoon. Provisions for the birds and cats received attention today. Their pantry is stocked full. Saturday morning saw only one grey squirrel at the feeders. Now I am watching Dyson eating peanuts in the small feeder with little red hanging out at one of the newly replaced nut cylinders filling up. The Sparrows have returned and here comes another Grey. I want to see all four of them along with Mr Blue Jay and the woodpecker family and the chickadees today. Then I will feel like the garden is fine. Oh, it is doubly fine. There is another little Red!!!!! Oh, goodness me. The animals are a worry.

The Girls were fine. They are well looked after, but it does not replace the almost 24/7 attention they get when we are home. There is no Story time or pets that last hours. Hugo Yugo slept in my armpit for almost the entire night snuggled in very tight. Right now, they are all on the table with me as I write to you.

Sunday noon. The Starlings have returned to the garden along with TWO blue Jays. I teared up. I haven’t had time to check their tail feathers, but I want to be hopeful that Junior and Mrs. are both here. Star is eating at the feral feeder, and Brock was here earlier. As I said, life is beginning to return to normal. It feels good. We have visited our Bestie and a new episode of All Creatures Great and Small arrives this evening! No, we are not watching the Superbowl.

Sauces. Audacity laid three eggs. Egg one is still intact. Fingers crossed for it and that she doesn’t wear herself out laying eggs. One good one, one hard shell fertilised egg is all they need. https://youtu.be/q16DyG2BW5E?

Duke Farms has its Bald Eagle cam up and running for all fans. Mum is incubating three eggs! Three. Oh, dear.

Foggy morning on Friday at the West End nest of Thunder. (I am now throwing the towel in yet…)

This is the banding video for the male, Makaio, who appears to have displaced Akecheta. Displaced not injured. That was a male without any bands! https://youtu.be/XkXWRimCl3g?

I just want to go to the West End camera and see Akecheta on that nest. It has now been 22 days since we saw him injured.

Fish was not on the morning menu at Captiva for Dasher and Dancer. Every time I see a bird on any nest, I hold my breath.

There are new variants of bird flu spreading in different parts of the world. The dairy industry in the US is now monitoring their milk after an outbreak of variant D1..1. “Genome sequencing of milk from Nevada identified the different strain, known as the D1.1 genotype, in dairy cows for the first time, the USDA said. Previously, all 957 bird flu infections among dairy herds reported since last March had been caused by another strain, the B3.13 genotype, according to the agency.”

New avian influenza genotype found in dairy cattle | American Veterinary Medical AssociationDownload

Virologists tell us that it is only a matter of time for when another global pandemic strikes. Right now, our thoughts are with our feathered friends and the hope that they survive.

At the present time, I understand that the American Medical Association is monitoring the Bird Flu spread as the CDC is not reporting.

Beau brought in a baby shark for Gabby and 31.

Wings of Whimsy gives us some very cute moments on the NE Florida nest: https://youtu.be/pMgtM4FABVg?

Beau and 31 cannot get any cuter! https://youtu.be/hiPkrogFEHI?

The two little eaglets at John Bunker Sands are so sweet. They seem to be doing very well.

Bella and Scout have been at the old NCTC nest. I wonder if Scout is going to step up and be a great dad this year? We can only wait and see.

This nest is 21 years old. The newer one is about 15 feet or 4 metres below, according to Deb Stecyk.

Heidi reports that Port Lincoln’s Kasse caught a fish! We won’t know if it was her first, but it sure is a huge milestone to celebrate, regardless.

The people of Virginia and around the Chesapeake are fighting for the survival of the ospreys and other species due to the industrial harvesting of Menhaden – a fish critical to the osprey diet. Please lend them your voice. Write to the current governor, Senators, politcians and bloody well vote like you care in the next election!

Port Lincoln is reporting the tracking of its osplets. I am including Ervie here! Ervie has been going to Mundy Point where Kasse and Wilko go for their baths. Interesting.

What these two eagles can get up to with their sticks! https://youtu.be/-bP8GlQQnIQ?si

Wisdom, the at least 74-year-old Laysan Albatross, returned to her week-old chick. How incredible. I sure hope this image doesn’t get scrambled! Apparently, screen cams don’t get jostled but if I take something from another site, weird things can happen. So if there is a problem, please go to the Friends of Midway Atoll National Wildlife Refuge FB page!

Wisdom is now out foraging and her mate is feeding and brooding their little bundle of joy. Does he know how famous his partner is?

Hartley and Monty are getting a jump on spring! https://youtu.be/zmuhQouwdqo?

Richmond is expecting Rosie to return from her migration any day now. Think Valentine’s Day! He has been seen on all of the light poles, but was caught on the Whirley Crane, on all the lights, and today on the one they used for their nest in 2024.

Are you looking for a gold medal award winning osprey tour while visiting the UK (or while living there)? Look no further than the Birds of Poole Harbour! who have just won gold in Dorset.

Osprey cruises run by Birds of Poole Harbour charity win gold in Dorset Tourism Awards – Raptor PersDownload

Bonnie is incubating two eggs at the nest she shares with Clyde on Farmer Derek’s property.

There are eagles at the new MN-DNR nest in Minnesota.

I will probably mention it more than once, but it appears that F23 and M15 are doing rather well. Fish delivery at the nest. Both seen at the nest tree. It has been a fortnight since E24 passed. Let us hope that the adults are fine and will live long and productive – and healthy – lives. So happy.

Looking for something to watch? You might want to find out about this documentary that is winning awards: The Birdwatchers. 13.40 minutes long. https://youtu.be/z7xwv3twYDI?

If you missed the January 2025 Ventana wildlife Society Condor Chat, here it is archived! https://youtu.be/Oq1xfog0xmQ?

The triplets at the Abu Dhabi Osprey nest appear to be thriving. Their gorgeous juvenile plumage is coming in nicely!

Jack and the new female at the Achieva Credit Union nest appear to be getting on rather well.

Thank you for being with me today. We are still adjusting to being home. Right now, everything seems to be going reasonably well here and in Bird World and Osprey season is, thankfully, not really underway. In a month, there could be arrivals on the UK screens of your favourite families and, for sure, within six weeks we will be seeing ospreys everywhere. My plan is to post Bird World news twice a week for the next fortnight – on Mondays and Thursdays. We will resume daily posts at the end of February. We always look forward to having you with us. Take care!

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘Geemeff’, SK Hideaways, IWS/Explore.org, Window to Wildlife, AVMA, Window to Wildlife, NEFL-AEF, Wings of Whimsy, John Bunker Sands Wetlands, Deb Stecyk, NCTC Bald Eagle Nest, Heidi McGrue, Port Lincoln Ospreys, Midway Atoll, SF Bay Ospreys, Raptor Persecution UK, Farmer Derek GHO Cam, MN-DNR, The Birdwatchers, Ventana Wildlife Society, Abu Dhabi Osprey Cam, Achieva Credit Union

Thursday in Bird World

6 February 2025

Good Morning Everyone,

Oh, it has been a glorious time in Guadeloupe. We hoped to see more hummingbirds and today what a shock we had. We walked through a treed area and there on a branch sleeping was a Purple throated hummer. It is large, much bigger than any of the hummingbirds that visit our garden in Canada and, indeed, larger than a sparrow! The images are not so good – I only had my phone and I was so surprised to see this gorgeous creature.

There was also a Green Heron fishing in the pond with the Flamingos. Each day, there are new surprises.

We are at the airport in Port a Pitre. It id a really hot day! The AC in the departures lounge is working over time. We had the most amazing trip. Small little coves, private beaches, the rainforest. Lots and lots of fresh fruit, but I am dying for a big salad and some vegetables! It is snowing and blowing in Winnipeg. We will be home tomorrow afternoon late and it should be clear. We hope that all of you have had a good ten days. This is a beautiful island to visit if you ever get the chance!

Oh, so many are worried about little NE31 sleeping alone in that big eagle nest. Beau and Gabby are up on the branches ready to protect 31 and, thankfully, there does not seem to be any predators, such as GHOs, in the area.

31 is hot in the Florida sun!

Thunder has been hanging out with the new young male at the West End. The last time Akecheta was on the screen was when he was injured on the 19th of January. We wait to see because we have no knowledge of what has transpired since the cams went down almost immediately. I recall incidents at the NCTC nest where Bella and/or Smitty were injured and they returned after a period of time, once it was 21 days, if I recall correctly.

SK Hideaways shows us how their relationship has progressed: https://youtu.be/xL9wUkje1Pw?

If anyone has been worried about R8, Rose fed the youngest one an entire fish or so it seemed. The kids are doing good and it doesn’t seem that there should be any cause for alarm.

There is some concern over Southwest Florida’s M15’s eyes. Conjunctivitis is a symptom of HPAI. You might recall that E17 and 18 were removed for treatment for Conjunctivitis several years ago and returned to the SW Florida nest. Now, F23 and M15 would have HPAI. They ate the food of the eaglets; they shared the nest. I believe this was covered in one or both of the CROW releases. The incubation period is a fortnight, two weeks. R25 passed on 26 January. We will be approaching the end of the two weeks at the weekend. F23 was seen bathing at the pond on Wednesday and drying her wings. — I think they both look good, and like everything else, let us appreciate these moments. Everything turns on a dime in Bird World. Who would ever have predicted that our dear Akecheta would lose his territory? I still can’t believe it.

Other news. Hope has laid her second egg at Tobacco Creek and we have the second egg for Jak and Audacity at Sauces. Sadly, at least one of Audacity’s eggs has broken. Our hearts break for this couple. Oh, how I wish someone would place a fertile hard-shelled egg in their nest!

Hope’s second egg:

There is good news coming out of the IWS and Dr Sharpe. ‘T’ writes that Sauce’s fledgling is ‘​​Kaiannika (hatched in Sauces in 2019). She is the current female at the Empire Nest!! She had an eaglet last year.” Let us hope that she is successful again this year! That is wonderful news.

“MP’ reports that everything is going well at the JB Sands Wetlands. “The eagles at this nest are doing exceptional. You’ll see this family having lunch and dinner together most days. It seemed to solve the bonking with dad feeding one or both chicks. Sometimes mom lets dad think he’s helping a lot, and he really is. He is probably the sole reason the bonking has stopped.”

 At the Achieva Osprey platform, Jack built a gorgeous nest trying to attract a new mate. The following screen captures show their interaction. It is sometimes very challenging!

Two females fighting over Jack’s nest! Gracious.

Jack scaring off one of the females.

The female ousting Jack off the nest!

That sweet little Royal Cam chick getting fed by Mum! Need a break from the woes of the world, just check these gentle giants out!!!!!! https://youtu.be/zMNQfoxmENg?

Bart Molenaar sent me a note wondering if I had ever seen an osprey nest with two males and one female caring for a family of three osplets. I have not. I have seen falcon nests with several parents but not an osprey nest that I can recall (will check my files when I am home). Most often we see those male ospreys kicking the eggs out that might belong to another male. We most recently saw this at Iris and Finnegan’s nest when Finnegan ousted what he believed to be a ‘Louis egg’. The nest that Bart is referring to is a new one that showed up on his YouTube feed and it is in Abu Dhabi. There were originally four little chicks, but the smallest just didn’t thrive. They look to be between three and four weeks old with those lovely juvenile feathers coming in.

Fish delivery times according to ella on the chat: ​​Fish deliveries = 07:02:23, 8:56:02, 10:17:27, 11:11:06, 13:53, 14:25:55, 14:48:08, 15:49:03, 16:28:17, 16:45:54, 18:06

When you have two active dads you don’t need any fish fairies it seems.

This is the link to the live stream: https://www.youtube.com/live/XQt1PwvYrJM?s

Geemeff sends us an article on the oldest known modern bird at 69 million years. Wow.

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2466965-ancient-relative-of-geese-is-the-earliest-known-modern-bird/

We also have news of Ervie. It is ALWAYS comforting to see his tracker working and to know that our favourite lad is doing well.

Thanks so much for being with me today. We have two full days of travel ahead and are watching a large storm that is brewing around Montreal. Hopeful that all the flights will go as planned. My next post will likely not be until Monday – giving me time to settle back at home and spend some hours with The Girls who will be demanding much attention. Take care all. See you soon.

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, images, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘Bart M, Geemeff, J, MP, TU’, NEFL-AEF, IWS/Explore, SK Hideaways, Port Tobacco Eagle Cam, Achieva Osprey Platform, JBS Wetlands, NZ DOC, Abu Dhabi Live, newscientist.com, Port Lincoln Osprey

Very late Saturday in Bird World

1 February 2025

Greetings Everyone!

It rained in a rain forest. No surprise there! We meandered into the small area of shops and found a lovely little restaurant overlooking the marina. The food was delicious. The coconut pie was out of this world – the best I have ever eaten and that is saying something coming from the southern US, originally.

Deshaies offers everything we wanted in a break from the Canadian winter. The hummingbirds fill the garden area flitting from flower to flower. There are three or four different types. Then there are Bandicoots, Red Jungle Roosters, hens, and chicks, and today we heard a woodpecker along with many others serenading us that we could not identify and neither could Merlin ID (only 65% of the birds on Guadeloupe are in their identification system). The National Forest is about 50 yards away on one side.

We are enjoying paradise.

The view to the marina.

Mostly fish items – freshly caught but also spaghetti and curry.

The finest coconut pie with homemade ice cream.

I had hoped for relaxation, and that is what we found. The puppy waits for us at the gate or comes running if she hears our voices wanting pets and more pets. Don’t tell The Girls! She has melted our hearts.

The trip is already more than I could ask for in a holiday. My dear husband has managed so well—often better than I did when things got anxious. He is excellent at spotting hummingbirds and helps watch for the roosters, hens, and their chicks on the road. They are everywhere. It almost seems like everyone has them for eggs. The weather has been warm; being outside in a forest melts any woes. It is forest bathing in a way so different from home – and we love it. I feel so privileged to travel and stay in such a serene place. Feeling grateful.

Checking on our bird friends…

There is now a second hatch for Alex II and Andria II at the Kistachie E3 nest in Louisiana. Oh, these bobbleheads are cute and strong! Go and check them out.

CROW has put out a statement answering some Questions and rumours that have been filtering through the airwaves. ( I hope this shows up in its entirety. Please search on CROW FB if it isn’t. Very informative information).

M15 and F23 have both been seen around the Pritchett Property.

The Royal Cam chick is doing quite well under the care of its father, RLK. Ranger Sharyn did a weight check. https://youtu.be/aU4-uKEgY4k?s

E31 is likely to be the most spoiled eaglet in the entire state of Florida this breeding season. Talk about a dad! Beau has embraced fatherhood like he read the manual from Shadow or M15. Gabby did really well. Oh, I know that we growled at Beau at times, but she kept the faith and for good reason.

Up at the food table. Can you see little 31?

Beau is feeding NE31 – again. Gosh, he loves taking care of this eaglet. https://youtu.be/EQapL5_-Z6M?

Kids climbing over one another to try to get priority at feeding at John Bunker Sands.

Three fish gifts for Jackie from Shadow – one for each egg? https://youtu.be/aTcHAYxfDRs?

Dasher and Dancer enjoying a nice meal.

Looked like a fish dinner for R7 and R8 and it also looked like R8 got its tank filled up! Nice.

More groups should band together to buy up huge tracts of land like the RSPB before developers get their hands on it and wildlife declines.

‘It’s incredible, the place just swarms with birdlife’: inside England’s biggest bird sanctuaryhttps://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/feb/01/its-incredible-the-place-just-swarms-with-birdlife-inside-englands-biggest-bird-sanctuary?CMP=share_btn_url

Two other news items. Tom and Angel have been seen at the nest and Window to Wildlife says that the cam will be turned on soon. Dr Sharpe is also planning to make a trip to the West End to see about the camera and hopefully to have some news of the eagles, Thunder and Akecheta for us.

Thank you so much for being with us today. Please take care! See you in a few days – it could even be Tuesday or earlier if there is news.

Thank you to the following for their notes, comments, videos, images, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: Kistachie National Forest E3 nest, CROW, NZ DOC, Sharon Dunne, NEFL-AEF, AEF, John Bunker Sands, SK Hideaways, Window to Wildlife, WRDC, The Guardian

Late Friday in Bird World

31 January 2025

Hello Everyone,

It was a beautiful day in Guadeloupe. We spent it at the Botanical Gardens. If you are ever in this part of the world, I highly recommend a visit to this beautiful space. As you might recall, we are staying in a cottage on the grounds of the old Botanical Garden.

The new one began its current configuration in 2001. Scattered throughout the gardens are koi ponds, flamingos, Rainbow Lorikeets, and Parrots. The birds used to fly free in great numbers on the island. They are now extinct! Habitat destruction (deforestation) and hunting wiped them out. You can purchase food for the various fish and birds at the entrance gate. It is a great way to spend three or four hours.

The koi pond.

Lorikeets eat out of your hand.

The Panoramic Restaurant at the top of the water falls. Great local dishes but everything is on Caribbean time – allow at least 2.5 hours for a lingering lunch.

The sound of the water falling over the rocks. Click for the video. Oh, I hope it plays.

Looking at the Flamingos from the Panoramic Restaurant.

Look at the size of the tree compared to the humans below.

There are roosters, chickens, and chicks everywhere!!!! This is a Red Jungle Rooster. There were Crested Hummingbirds, Carib Grackles, Bandicoots around the garden.

Roger is having his lunch.

A beautiful day in paradise.

Now to check on our bird families…

Everyone in Bird World continues to mourn the loss of E24 and E25 with the SW Florida Bald Eagle family. We hope that F23 and M15 will be spared and return to the nest next season to once again raise a family. It has certainly been difficult not knowing how the adults are doing.

One of the most wonderful notices that I received was that M15 was seen at the pond on Friday. The individual told me he looked good. We need to allow for a fortnight from when the eaglets were sick and passed away for F23 and M15 to be ‘out of the woods’. Then they should have temporary immunity to this blessed curse that has hit the avian world. Here is the video link showing them: https://youtu.be/ZTANpuxjUNE?

While we wait for word from the West End nest of Thunder and Akecheta and more sightings of F23 and M15 that show that their health is good, we really must rejoice for those nests that are, at this time, doing very well. I cannot think of a better place to start than the Royal Albatross colony in New Zealand near Dunedin. There OGK’s son, RLK, is brooding their beautiful chick! The NZ DOC has put out the most precious video of RLK meeting that wee babe and reaching down to talk to it. OGK would be very proud! https://youtu.be/0uZs1z5msug?

Great close ups and a feeding! https://youtu.be/ZTANpuxjUNE?s

They are the gentle giants of the sea. They hunt over 6 million square miles of sea, mostly The Roaring Forties of the Southern Ocean, for food. It is a shame that as an international community we have not stopped the practices of the long-haul fishing trawlers (dropping their lines during the day) or have not come up with ways to rid the seas of plastics to save these beautiful creatures with their ten foot wingspans. They live in the winds lowering their heart rate to the same as when they are on their nests (80 beats per minute). They spend years foraging before returning with their wobbly legs to find a mate and then maybe, in years to come, to have a family. They should live to be as old or older than Wisdom, now in her 70s.

There are some things that we cannot control, that we cannot do anything about and then there are others that we can. With Avian Flu, demands must be placed at every level to curtail the disease including the factory chicken farms. Many would have them closed. We can certainly lobby environmental groups to help put into place best practices – demand that best practices be used – on those fishing trawlers such as loading lines at night and on the side of the boat, using safety protections on the hooks, etc. The list is not long and many agencies offer free devices for the ships. It is shameful that we cannot cause change in the industry to the extent that we no longer have to worry about an albatross being beheaded. Yes, that is what happens. It is horrendous. But eating plastic and thinking it is food and dying is horrific, too. While it is difficult to stop buying items that are made of plastic, we certainly should be trying our best. The other day, I realised that one of the biggest culprits is plastic medicine bottles! Why not put tablets in wax-lined paper envelopes? I plan to contact several of our local pharmacies when I return to Canada. We need to also support and call for funding for companies seeking to rid the ocean of consumer plastic waste.

We must smile when we look at Jack working so hard at Achieva Credit Union Osprey nest in St Petersburg. While we were trying to get help for that platform, Jack had other ideas. He started building a nest anyone would be proud of. Now ‘MP’ reports that he is bringing in fish to the nest and calling. Is he calling Diane? That is so sad. Maybe another female will want this beautiful nest and that fish!

Maybe Jack will attract a female! Someone arrived.

Tandem feeding for 31 – and, at the age of 10 days, 31 gets out of the nest bowl and up to the buffet to be fed by Dad. Fantastic! https://youtu.be/_rpYDa8AW6w?

Still waiting for the cams at the West End. Will we have eggs? Thunder usually lays them at the end of January or beginning of February – around our anniversary!

Congratulations to Alex II and Andria II at the E3 nest in the Kisatchie Forest on their first hatch of the 2025 breeding season! https://youtu.be/5iD4P2eY4z8?

The first egg is in the nest at PA County Farm! https://youtu.be/kRAOM-MS9nE?

Geemeff sends us this: How the Sport Shooting Industry is spreading HPAI and getting away with it! These poor animals are bred only to be shot, and not even for food which would allow some slight justification for their slaughter, then dumped illegally. Besides the potential spread of bird flu, scavengers of their carcasses are prone to getting lead poisoning from the lead shot used by the disgusting shooting industry.

Shot pheasants dumped in Lincolnshire during heightened risk of Avian Influenza

More Hen Harriers killed….when oh when will there be something done to stop this massacre?

133 hen harriers confirmed ‘missing’ or illegally killed in UK since 2018, most of them on or close to grouse moors

Storks arriving in Lindheim!

Good night Dasher and Dancer.

In a highly significant step forward for vulture conservation, India’s government has banned the use of Nimesulide – a widely used veterinary painkiller that’s highly toxic to these threatened birds.

https://www.birdlife.org/news/2025/01/10/vulture-conservation-in-india-boosted-by-additional-veterinary-drug-ban

Egg #2 for Sally and Harry arrived at Moorings Park on Friday.

Thank you for being with us today. Please take care. See you late Sunday or Monday.

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, comments, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘Geemeff, H, J, MP’, Jardin Botanique de Deshaies, NZ DOC and Cornell Bird Lab, Royal Cam Albatross, Lizmn, Whiskers and Wings, SW Florida Eagle Cam, Achieva Credit Union, Baiba, SK Hideaways, HDonTap, Raptor Persecution UK, GalS, Window to Wildlife, birdlife.org

Late Thursday in Bird World

30 January 2025

Hello Everyone,

When we left Canada, it looked like this at the Montreal airport. There was heavy snow in the area that hit both Ottawa and Montreal. We wondered if we would take off. Thankfully, we did!

The learning curve upon arrival in Guadeloupe was high. I have to admit that my French is not that good! Renting a car might take only minutes in North America, but after a long day, it was a three-hour wait in 28-degree heat. Then, it was an arduous drive up and around the mountains to our cottage on the grounds of the Old Botanical Garden near Deschaines. The anxiety was worth it!

This is the view off the terrace of the cottage.

Complete with a dog that adopted the owners of the property – a Guadeloupe rescue. She is sweet. They even have cats!!!!!!! Who said we would be homesick?

It is Paradise. We are way up on the mountains in the rain forest and while it is 28 C, the breeze is vibrant, and we are not hot. Today was a wee trip into the small village to pick up a baguette and acquaint ourselves with what is available here. The nearest large supermarket is in Sainte-Rose. That is about 11 km away on a very winding road up and down and around the mountain. We opted to stay local. Tomorrow we will venture out to find one of the many restaurants that our host has recommended.

Now, skipping briefly to Bird World News:

The news has come that both E24 and E25 tested positive for HPAI. I do not know the strain but there is a new one in California, H5N9. I was also sent this information from my sidekick: “To the best of my knowledge… no one (bog’s) has reported seeing M15 today. F23 was recently seen at the pond, and looked okay.  I’ll let you know anything I can find out. Crow made an announcement at the nest tree, and the vet said we should possibly be concerned about the parents for up to two weeks.  They also said that HPAI is relatively new to the SWFL region.”

I found CROW’s press conference. It is here: https://youtu.be/BJelOrdk6P0?

Please send this amazing couple your best wishes. It is not easy seeing the two children you cared for so much die before you and you are helpless. I still remember Joe (Connie’s former mate at Captiva) mourning over the loss of Peace and Hope (rodenticide poisoning several years ago). It haunts me – that figure of him looking down as the last one, apparently healthy, broke a blood feather and bled to death.

Barb Henry posted a screen capture of F23 down at the pond.

Wings of Whimsy’s tribute to the SW Florida Eagle family and to E24 and E25. Get the tissues. https://youtu.be/YcEUG9mZJKI?

We have the first egg at Moorings Park Osprey nest for Harry and Sally.

Jackie and Shadow have surprised us with three eggs. My goodness if this is a year for a miracle at their nest, is this an extra one for luck? What if all three hatch? Shadow will be busy!!!!!!

Fishey eagle love at the nest before the third egg at Big Bear: https://youtu.be/tsKskF0ue-g?

All is well at the nest of Gabby and Beau. Beau loves being a Dad!!!!!! He has really picked up on feeding NE31. Gabby joins him in this video: https://youtu.be/_rpYDa8AW6w?

OGK’s son, RLK, got to meet his newly hatched chick at the Royal Albatross Colony in New Zealand.

NZ DOC image shared by Sharon Dunne on the FB group:

There are some wonderful events to celebrate. Please send all of the nests your most positive wishes for success. They have many, many challenges to over come – both the wee ones and the parents.

Thank you for being with us for this brief recap of what has been happening. There is lots more news out in Bird World. We will be back with you later on Saturday from what can only be called ‘Paradise’ – Guadeloupe. Take care everyone.

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, comments, images, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to write this post today: ‘H, J, PB’, CROW, Barb Henry and the NEFL and EFL Eaglecam Watchers, Wings of Whimsy, Moorings Park, FOBBV, SK Hideaways, NZ DOC, Sharon Dunne

Wednesday in Bird World

15 January 2024

Hello Everyone!

First up: Nothing new to report at NE Florida. Some sad and glad news at the end of today’s post.

A great news story comes to us from one of our readers ‘EJ’. I think we all need to start off feeling good about the world! The eagle was frozen in the snow at the airport – check it out!

Frozen bald eagle in Alaska saved in heartwarming rescue with ‘best ending ever’ | Fox WeatherDownload

Good Morning. We hope that the week has been treating you well. The temperature warmed up on Tuesday to -14 C, but, gosh golly, it felt cold walking into a wind that cut right to the bone! We are expecting an Alberta Clipper to hit our province starting on Thursday. We will see how much snow and winds it will bring, but then….hold on. The wind chill factor for Saturday is set to be -40 or -45 C. We plan to stay home and ride our bicycle that day.

‘The Girls’ have no idea how blustery it is outside. Meanwhile my heart pangs for those poor dears living rough. There were four at the feeder today: Brock, Star, Squishy (one ear frozen and permanently folded down) and that little black cat from the fall. I haven’t seen that one for a bit.

Calico joined Baby Hope watching the squirrels run around the garden.

Last night I started reading Bob the Robin out loud. It is part of my ongoing attempts to find ways to engage Don in the daily activities of the house. Calico loves story time and she was right there. Gosh, I adore this cat.

As I write, The Girls are playing with a tiny stuffed mouse in the Conservatory. Baby Hope is the champion of picking it up and running away then, dropping it to see who will come and play with her. You would be right if you guessed it might be Hugo Yugo. These two love to play!!!!!!!!

I must say that I pace when I think of Gabby and Beau and their eggs. The AEF will be the official pip callers. They have lots of folks with eyes on those eggs 24/7. Gabby is not giving anything away.

Beau wanted to take over incubation and Gabby said a definitive ‘no’. I am hoping that means that one of those eaglets is working to get out of that shell!

The Es got a rabbit for breakfast – oh, goodness. Poor thing did not make it across the road. I wish these eagles would stay away from the areas where there is traffic. Maybe some good soul moved that rabbit to a safe place for them. That is what each of us should be doing. https://youtu.be/JnAejA5XU7o?

At Redding, Liberty is on the nest. Can we expect eggs soon? We wait to see.

Oh, those two at the WRDC nest of Ron and Rose. R7 and R8 lock beaks as fish is ready to be served!

The kids at the Captiva nest are changing quickly. Today you can see that dark charcoal thermal down that will help them regulate their own temperatures. Their pin feathers are coming in. That cuteness of a day ago is giving way to the ‘lanky’ look of a tall teenager (sorry for the stereotype).

They are also interested in pecking at the prey.

Eagle on the snowy ND-LEEF nest in South Bend Indiana.

Well, he is cute. His (or her) name is Skylar and he is the first hatch at the Dataw Eagle nest! https://youtu.be/wSZTtabDA5Y?

A visiting albatross got a sky call out of RLK at the Royal Albatross colony. The visitor wandered close to the nest with nothing happening and then smiled in the camera.

I love seeing RLK on the nest. OGK was my all-time favourite male in the colony. No one comes close to his endearing behaviour, sitting so long beside his daughter, Miss Pippa Atawhai. Gosh, I wonder how she is doing. At any rate, if you missed it, RLK is OGK’s son.

GLG has returned after 12 days of foraging to incubate their egg. RLK raises his head as he hears her. They will share time together and he will return to the sea hopefully to return safely.

Here is Cornell’s video of the visit. https://youtu.be/XverqezfBxI?

At the Port Lincoln barge, it is windy Wednesday morning. Both fledglings on the nest hoping for some fish.

This was Tuesday’s tally. Kasse got more – unless Wilko is off fishing. Maybe he has found a treasure trove of puffers!!!!!!!

Politics has no place when it comes to trying to protect our planet. And yet, politics is the biggest driver to either progress or hindrance. Unbelievable. I doubt if anyone working on behalf of creating wetlands ever thought that beavers were so controversial.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jan/14/no-10-blocks-beaver-release-plan-tory-legacy?CMP=share_btn_url

Wildlife adapting to what we have done to the planet?

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jan/06/evolution-species-adapt-response-humanity-tuskless-elephants-natural-world-wildlife-aoe?CMP=share_btn_url

We always need a smile and when I saw this posting I knew it had to go here today. Shadow.

Calico’s Tip for the Day: You can Save a Life. Please make this a habit. Snip all of these kinds of closures including those white tabs that come on some loaves of bread, the plastic that connects soda bottles, etc. So many birds feed at the landfill sites and they can die from our negligence. Please be pro-active!

Heidi is sending tragic news:
“We had been told a few weeks ago that there had been a GHO at the osprey nest this past fall.  At 21:25 on 1/14, an owl dragged F1 off the nest while she was incubating two eggs.  We can still see one egg, and it is believed that the other egg is under some nesting.  As of 03:00 on 1/15, F1 has still not returned to the nest.  I worry for the future chicks at this nest.”

This is not a good start to the osprey season in North America.

There is good news coming out of West Africa for the Rutland Ospreys.

Thanks so much for being with us today. Please take care. 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: ‘Heidi, J’, NEFL-AEF, FORE, wskrsnwngs, WRDC, Window to Wildlife, ND-LEEF, HDonTap, NZ DOC, Cornell Bird Lab, Port Lincoln Ospreys, Bart M and the PLO, The Guardian, Neil Laferty and FOBBV, Rutland Osprey Project

Sunday in Bird World

Good Morning Everyone,

On Friday, it was 0°C. Our snow is melting, and it was damp, grey, and not very cheerful until Saturday when there was a clear blue sky with sun. It was so beautiful. We have spent a lot of time outside. There are lots of deer in the areas where we walk. If you are quiet, you can see them without them running away. Sunday is a clear blue sky day and we will be outside again before the weather turns colder the end of the week. Robins have been spotted in various parts of my city and the eagles are out flying in the country. I can see the grey squirrels running about this morning waiting for their peanuts.

We are all doing fine except for my left thumb, which is now taped to the index finger with another wrap around my wrist, so I won’t use it! I never knew how much I used that thumb. Hugo Yugo is completely healed. She was spotted shoveling small kibble from the food bowl Saturday morning. This is a major step. And all of them are now using the new water fountain. It seemed a bit of a shame to get Brock a heated bowl for his food and water ignoring The Girls. So they had squeezy treats and a pink automatic water fountain.

The book list is coming. I have struggled with that list. I hope to have it finished before the end of the year.

Get the tissues and turn the volume up. You might be missing Antali’s very loud fish cry! Cornell Bird Lab put together a wonderful 2024 Highlights of Iris and Finnegan’s first breeding season together. Sum-eh and Antali are beautiful! https://youtu.be/r4lYy8i9ZhY?

A few screen captures – lots more happened at this nest.

As we wait for Iris and Finnegan to return to Missoula, send positive wishes their way.

The second eaglet has hatched at Captiva for Connie and Clive. Here is C13 clamouring out of that shell as fast as it could. https://youtu.be/fLvM-Y-in3A?

Thunder and Akecheta look over the vast waters that surround their West End nest in the Channel Islands early on the 25th of December. It is a glorious site, the two of them perched together.

F23 brings in a large whole fish for the eaglets.

Incubation continues midst the rain at the John Bunker Sands Wetlands nest.

Cold weather at the Trempealeau Bald Eagle nest in Michigan.

Liberty and Guardian continue to work on their new nest at Redding.

If you missed my posting, the Bald Eagle is now officially the ‘bird’ of the United States. You might have thought it was all along. Many think that the Canada Goose is our country’s symbol, but it is not. It is the Canada Jay.

The Bald Eagle Is (Finally) the National Bird of the United States – The New York TimesDownload

GLG comes in from foraging to relieve RLK who had been satellite tagged the week prior. The sky calls are just beautiful. Can you imagine a world without Albatross? Without the DOC NZ Rangers supplementary feedings for the chicks? Neither can I. It is time to stop commercial fishing in the Roaring 40s – allow the fish stocks to return if they will. And if the boats persist in fishing then they must take steps to prevent the deaths of the albatross because of their long lines. https://youtu.be/gct5lXjZGlc?

GLG has also received their tracker. https://youtu.be/NQCk9ITxywc?

Alex II and Andria II have egg number two at the Kistachie National Forest nest E-3. Many hopes for this new couple. https://youtu.be/AttSQFgEC3A?

Really raining at the NE Florida nest of Gabby and Beau where we should be expecting eaglets prior to mid-January. Beau is really getting to incubate those eggs!

Beau sure is taking good care of those eggs!

Jackie and Shadow showed up for a bit on Sunday.

Raining late Sunday at the Captiva nest of Clive and Connie. Little ones so sweet. They are C12 and C13.

Eagles at Decorah North. Precipitation started late Sunday night.

The Majestics were at their nest.

Kasse is now trying to catch fish off the barge nest,

Some more action at Port Lincoln. This is Mum delivering fish and Kasse gets it!

On Sunday some close ups. No one seems to know who is who!

Kasse on the nest. I am going to presume it is Wilko on the ropes.

Fran Solly posted many of the satellite tracked ospreys. I am going to include Ervie and Giliath for you.

Calico’s Tip for the Day: Don’t Let yourself Get Burned Out

This time of year can be overwhelming, with holidays, visitors, and demands coming from every direction. You’re not alone in feeling this way. It’s a good opportunity to reflect on what truly matters. Calico suggests taking a moment to relax, whether that means spending time petting a dog or a cat, or having a conversation with a bird.

Do you feel overwhelmed? Here’s why – and how to fix it | Mental health | The GuardianDownload

Check out the Starling murmurations. Oh, I would love to see this! — And so far, we have counted 48 Starlings at our feeder. Maybe a mini- murmuration? This is written from the vantage point of a 12 year old.

Young country diary: Outnumbered by hundreds of swooping starlings | Tilly https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/dec/28/young-country-diary-outnumbered-by-hundreds-of-swooping-starlings?CMP=share_btn_url

The final count at Hawk Mountain, sadly, showing a significant decline over 10 years.

Heidi sends us an article from Ben Wurst. There is some good news in there about a 10 year old osprey that was spotted and photographed!

Article from Ben Wurst of Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey.  Be sure to click on the photos.

Photos From the Field

In the UK, the first osprey to return in 2024 was Scottish Blue NC0 at Loch of the Lowes. Sadly we lost dear Laddie LM12 of what turned out to be natural causes (thank goodness he was not shot as earlier believed), but Blue NC0 might have a new mate ‘the darker one’. We will wait to see. March 8 will be here before we blink.

Geemeff sends us news:

https://www.wandsworthguardian.co.uk/news/national/24819103.winners-losers-nature-responds-2024s-mild-wet-conditions

And UK Robins need our help:

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/gardening/article-14186537/amp/Gardeners-urged-action-spot-robins-winter-say-experts.html

“Actually all wildlife needs our help during winter – please help if you can, there are very simple steps you can take which will make a huge difference to our wildlife.”

I completely agree. The four deer remain in our neighbourhood because it was their home – destroyed for low-rise housing that should be rethought. Whoever is directing the planning in our city is not thinking about livability but only revenue. For decades and decades, a group of architects and city planners have called for making the downtown area ‘dense’. No more single-story buildings but tall ones, allowing for the creation of large parks – wildlife require fewer large areas, not lots of small ones. I fear the future is ‘dead’ – for animals and the spirit that resides inside us as humans. I so long to leave and build in a forest area and yet I would not leave Brock and the other animals. So we just need to keep adding trees.

The Cromer Peregrine Falcons have upgraded their camera. Check out the new amazing images! https://youtu.be/mW0V_vKoKsc?

Jack at Achieva. Still no sign of Diane that I am aware. It looks like she might not be with us this year.

In Latvia, Zorro has been delivering to sticks to his nest with Milda in Durbe County.

‘J’ sends us the graph of the Bald Eagle eggs and the hatch dates (far right). Ron and Rose at the WRDC nest are next. Mark your calendars.

Some places feed wildlife. Others believe we can take all of their habitat and that our lives will still be magnificent without any wildlife anywhere. Which do you prefer? The Deer Pantry feeds oats, acorns, apples, and ground sweet feed. https://www.youtube.com/live/ASu9sqOT_Xk?si=QkTNjcQ-rnus0Pdo

Thank you for being with us today. Take care. Stay safe.

Thank you to the following for your notes, pots, videos, images, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘A, Geemeff, Heidi, J’, Cornell Lab Bird Cam, SK Hideaways, IWS/Explore.org, SW Florida Eagle Cam, JBS Wetlands, Trempealeau Eagle Cam, FORE, The New York Times, Elain, WingsofWhimsy, NEFL-AEF, FOBBV, Window to Wildlife, Raptor Resource Project/Explore.org, Denton Homes, Heidi Mc and The Joy of Ospreys, Port Lincoln Ospreys, Bart M and the PLO, Fran Solly, The Guardian, Hawk Mountain, Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ, Wandsworth Guardian UK, Achieva Credit Union, LDF, Brownsville Food Pantry for Deer

Wednesday in Bird World

18 December 2024

Good Morning Everyone,

It is so nice to have you with us as we begin the final preparation of the solstice baskets for the garden animals. We should have a photo before they go out to the garden Thursday! I am hoping Brock’s arrives in time! It is a heated double bowl set that will solve water and wet food issues. If the snow cooperates, we will also be able to get across the City to fetch a bag of butter bark as the last ingredient to make those baskets a buffet for all the garden birds.

Our celebrations will be simple. A huge salad to accompany some homemade naan and a cashew and chickpea curry with lots of cilantro. It adds a freshness that tastes like a blend of pepper and yuzu. If you have never tried it chopped up in a salad, please do, stems and all. What to have for dessert when we have had far too many shortbread cookies and mince tarts already? So, the indulgence was two bars of the best chocolate, one a creamy Irish Cream and the other a Salted Caramel to go with a small basket of pears. There will be a warm fire for ‘The Girls’ and some special food for them. This year has been a time of discovering simple pleasures. The Solstice evening will be one of those.

Some news is coming in from Bird World while several eagle nests continue incubating.

‘PB’ writes that there is an osprey near Omaha, Nebraska. While the cold will not impact the raptors we have to remember that ospreys require fish and the water would have to be open. We had about 50 ducks fly over us the other day. They live on one of our rivers where the water is discharged back into the river and it stays open.

The New York Times has a very worrying article on climate coming from the Arctic. Its words ring true to those living in Manitoba and traveling north to see the polar bears or going there for work. The permafrost has been melting and falling into the sea! Please read. The impact is already impacting wildlife in the northern part of Manitoba and the Arctic. It will begin to impact our birds that we love so much and as the article says, “What happens in the Arctic does not stay in the Arctic.” Warming seas are going to have a huge impact on our birds as the fish die off. It is already happening in places.

Climate Worrying signs from the ArcticDownload

The RSPB has launched an interactive map showing the fate of the Hen Harriers that have satellite trackers. Very enlightening.

RPSB launches interactive map showing fates of satellite-tagged hen harriers – Raptor Persecution UKDownload

The latest research paper mentioned in the document above reinforces that the fate of the Harriers lies at the hands of the grouse-killing moors.

New scientific paper confirms ongoing & widespread hen harrier persecution on UK grouse moors – RaptDownload

The killing of the raptors continues. What makes people want to kill animals?

Multiple birds of prey found dead in suspicious circumstances – police appeal for information & warnDownload

Geemeff sends us the latest news from Roy Dennis who is building more platforms for Ospreys.

Roy Dennis and chums are hard at work preparing homes for the Osplets at the Pego Oliva marshes:

https://lamarinaalta.com/en/la-marjal-de-pego-se-pone-a-punto-para-la-llegada-de-doce-polluelos-mas-de-aguila-pescadora

It is past midnight on the Canadian prairies and is already Wednesday. I am reading a book, Feral, by George Monbiot. Bear with me as I copy a few paragraphs from this important book. I hope that those who are fighting the commercial fishing in the Chesapeake Bay are reading the post today! The subject is the introduction of wildlife and the economy.

“It took as its case study the country of Sutherland, a wide territory in the gar north of Scotland, covering 5200 square kilometres. Of this, the report reveals, 4000 square kilometres are in the hands of estates, which number just eight-one. In other words, three-quarters of one of the largest counties in Britain is owned by eighty-one families, or by their secretive trusts in tax havens. Across the ten it sampled, covering 780 square kilometres, it found 112 people in full time equivalent employment. Tat means that just one person is employed by the dominant industry for every seven square kilometres, an area five times the size of Hyde Park. The association’s figures suggest to me that the absentee owners and their monocultures of deer prevent not only the ecological regeneration of the region but also the economic regeneration. The report also revealed that the income generated by stalking on the estates throughout Sutherland is 1.6 million GBP. This is a tiny sum which spread across 4000 square kilometres. Their expenditure on deer management is 4.7 million GBP. In other words, stalking can be sustained there only because the bankers or oil sheikhs or mining magnates who own the land burn money on their expensive pastime. Even the tiny numbers of people employed by deer stalking are reliant on the irrational spending of absentee landlords, which could be terminated at any time. Compare these figures with a study from the Isle of Mull, which discovered that colonization by white-tailed eagles has brought 5 million GBP a year into its economy and supports 110 full time jobs. Thousands of people now travel to the island to watch the chicks hatching and fledging from the eagle hide at Glen Seilisdeir or to take an eagle cruise on Loch Shiel. The eagles now account for half the enquiries at the visitor desk at the island’s main ferry terminal. A study commissioned by the Scottish Government calculates that wildlife tourism in Scotland is already worth 276 GBP a year. Rewinding and the reintroduction of other missing species could greatly enhance this figure, generating many more jobs than deer-stalking does today.” (Feral, 102)

Why should we allow a foreign company to deplete the Menhaden population, which is contributing to the decline of whales and dolphins, the depletion of Striped Bass, and the starvation of Osprey chicks? Just imagine if the Chesapeake Bay were a thriving ecosystem. I wonder how much income and employment opportunities related to wildlife could be generated in that scenario.

The Cornell Bird Lab and Wild Birds Unlimited have a photo contest. I know that so many of you are very talented. Please check out the information below – I want to see your names for those winning prizes!

WBU Birdspotter entriesDownload

A week or so ago I mentioned to you that one of the Melbourne fledgling CBD falcons had been in care and was being prepared for release. That information came from someone close to the individual whose care the falcon was in. ‘J’ has just sent me a posting by Victor Hurley that gives us some additional information:

Now what is happening to those two little bobble heads at SW Florida?

E25 coming out to join the world. https://youtu.be/B82BuqHCLc4?

Images from Tuesday. I hope that E25 gets strong fast as E24 is quite the strong older sibling.

You are going to need your worry beads. I don’t think this is because I am concerned. M15 always steps in to help the underdog eaglet! Or he has in the past. This nest has never lost an eaglet to siblicide. What you will see are two eaglets fighting it out for dominance. 24 began it began the minute 25 hatched. They will bonk and twist one another, and you will want to turn the screen off. — To my knowledge, 25 has not eaten since it hatched. I am worrying.

Jackie has been at the nest in Big Bear. https://youtu.be/YnQaMHImpuk?

Jackie has also been doing a lot of flying about! Isn’t she gorgeous? https://youtu.be/slHlKI9geKc?

The day began with Wilko getting all of the first fish but a few bites that Dad brought to the nest.

Wed 18 Dec 2024 video archive

Age (chicks): Wilko : 73 days, Kasse : 70 days (10 weeks)
Fish count: Mum: 0, Dad: 1
Fish times: 07:07Feed times:

06:02Wilko messing with his sister in the early morning sun rise.
07:07Dad’s in with a headless, breakfast fish.Dad (M,Part)
07:07 1Wilko gets the 1st fish as usual. Mum was hovering over the nest but decides to fly away instead. It was already grabbed. Kasse manages to get a bite for herself when she latches onto the fish in his talons! Wilko will finish the fish tail.
08:31wilko and mum on the old barge

Feeding Times

StartFinishDurationFed Chick
   WilkoKasse
1: 07:07 07:45 38 minLS

Another fish was delivered and it appears that Wilko got it as well.

The fish dinners improved at Port Lincoln Ospreys.

The worry about the Mum from Coobowsie who has been missing for several days continues.

Supplementary fish cannot be provided because of gulls and pelicans at Tumby Island.

At the Royal Albatross Colony, there was a royal reunion. https://youtu.be/USv_Tmmd2UI?

Geemeff wonders if she can hijack my blog to ask for help for the Highland Tiger. Of course, you can! We are concerned mostly about ospreys but that season is not here save for South Australia so yes! Please help. They are an integral part to getting the Highlands back to the biodiversity there once was in that beautiful landscape.

Geemeff reminds us that saving the Highland Tigers also helps to save and protect the birds. Please read and write to the company Vattenfalls.

Judy Harrington brings news of the Olympic Park Sea Eagles. She speaks of the heat. The forecast is for 32 C at the Park by the weekend.

We have news from the Ventana Wildlife Society:

Calico’s Tip for the Day comes to us at one of the most intensive spending times of the year:

Thank you so much for being with us today. I hope that you are enjoying time with friends and family. Take care. See you soon.

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘Geemeff, J’ The New York Times, Raptor Persecution UK, lamarinaalta. Cornell Bird Lab and Wild Birds Unlimited, SK Hideaways, SW Florida Eagle Cam, Bart M and the PLO, Port Lincoln Ospreys, Dave Wetherall, Cornell Lab Bird Cams, Judy Harrington, Ventana Wildlife Society, 1 Million Women FB and Mari Copeny

Wednesday in Bird World

11 December 2024

Hello Everyone,

Update: Kasse!

Kasse on the sailboat. Just hanging out like nothing is up! Flew at 63 days.

Heidi caught it. https://youtu.be/UgIHyZ7IePM?

The fish fairy came in celebration with 4 fish when Kasse returned to the nest at 1444! Well done.

A big fish on the nest and Mum is feeding it to Wilko.

We just dug out of the last big snow dump and it started snowing and blowing again on Tuesday. From the look of the garden, we have now had at least another 10 cm or more (3 inches or more). It is still coming down. The day was full of adventures with the birds. Both of the Blue Jays came together to get peanuts so confirmation that both are alive. Little Woodpecker was here along with a single Dark-eyed Junco amidst 100 or more Sparrows and 19 European Starlings. On top of this, the Crows came, an Owl appeared, and a hawk flew in and took one of the songbirds for its lunch. We haven’t had this much action in a long time!

The table was cleaned off between snow. Now look. It is my way of keeping track of how much snow falls. No more in the forecast but a huge cold front has arrived and the warmer temperatures that gave us the snow have turned into frigid levels of -21 C. Ouch.

Tuesday is my life day in the afternoon so there is not much to report in the way of happenings. At the time of this writing there were no new Bald Eagle eggs.

The Royal Albatross couple has changed incubation duties. So both are safe and sound. I cannot help but tear up when I see one of them come through the grass waddling. It echoes OGK coming to the nest when he had a limp to feed Pippa Atawhai after being MIA for 40 days. https://youtu.be/bnwgjQVUZqg?

Handsome Wilko is on the perch, and the golden rays of the morning sun are coming down. Mum had a small fish that she ate on the ropes earlier on Wednesday morning. No fish so far and it is 1130.

Kasse on the nest. Kasse really wants to fly!

Incubation continues at SW Florida where we will be on pip watch shortly. https://youtu.be/Dejp60MB95E?

So far, so good at the NE Florida Bald Eagle nest of Gabby and Beau.

We are coming up to pip watch in SW Florida. How close? Mark your calendars for day 35 – Egg 1 will be 35 days old on the 13th and Egg 2 on the 16th.

As we approach hatch, reviewing the stages of eagle development is a good idea. They grow so fast and it is easy to forget from year to year.

Eaglet Biology | Audubon Center for Birds of PreyDownload
EAGLET GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT | Bald EaglesDownload

Majestics continue to work on nest.

Eagles are at Decorah North.

They are resting after a full day of wrangling sticks.

There are so many videos of F23 or M15 having a bath, but, look. An eagle at Redding having a lovely bath!

Jackie and Shadow are up to their old stick play! https://youtu.be/J971v2m1I2c?

Osprey at Achieva.

Wish we could give them that beautiful nest at Captiva.

The latest migration counts from Hawk Mountain.

If you have considered donating to the Ventana Wildlife Society, your donation will earn more right now. MC is Monterey County.

We rescue Black Bears in Manitoba. Look at this tiny little cutie.

A fundraiser with some more Iris and Finnegan sticks to help a good cause.

One of the most gorgeous ducks I have ever seen…

Country diary: A local rarity, a mug of hot chocolate in bird form | Birds | The GuardianDownload

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

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, articles, images, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: Cornell Lab Bird Cams, Port Lincoln Osprey Cams, wskrsnwings, NEFL-AEF, Southwest Florida Eagle Cam, Audubon Center for Birds of Prey, Elfruler, Denton Homes, Raptor Resource Project/Explore.org, FORE, SK Hideaways, Achieva Credit Union, Window to Wildlife, Hawk Mountain Migration Count, Ventana Wildlife Society, Black Bear Rescue Manitoba, Montana Osprey Cam, The Guardian