Category Archives: Sauces Canyon

Tuesday in Bird World

18 March 2025

Good Morning Everyone!

Thank you to ‘PB’ who sent me a CBS video of the Sandhill Cranes, thousands, hundreds of thousands? of them gathering in Grand Island, Nebraska. What a beautiful sight. I wish everyone would wake up this morning and see the beauty in wildlife and nature and become so empathetic – not separate – but together with nature to actually do something about making their lives and our planet a better place.

Not the same video but the event of a few years ago!

Well, osprey season is starting off with a flurry of arrivals. As you probably know, my first love was the Red-tail Hawks in my birthplace, Oklahoma. I then had an ‘experience’ with a very large female hawk in my garden, and so, the smaller raptors – the hawks and the falcons – have a special place in my heart. My knowledge is, however, about ospreys. I am, therefore, over the moon that so many are returning.

I have a tiny, but dedicated group of helpers. I have said, many times, that we monitored 502 osprey eggs last year. That is a phenomenal number. I could not do it without Heidi. We prop each other up emotionally when things go sideways, as they might well do again this year with poor little ones starving. But, I want to start the year off on a positive note in the hope that it will be different. I can personally use a break from what has been happening on the bald eagle nests especially Kistachie E3 where the adult seems to not respond to the two starving eaglets on the nest – with their full juvenile feathers. Andria had two owl strikes and there has been an intruder flying around the nest. Intruders steal prey intended for eaglets in the nest and the hits from the owl could have caused injuries.

Video of owl strikes: https://youtu.be/xYm8HqzHHBo?

As I was told many years ago by an eagle expert, the Bald Eagles will first defend their territory, then they will protect themselves and their mate, and the chicks/eggs, etc are last on the list. If Akecheta died, it was because he was protecting his territory. Even so, I find it utterly gut wrenching to watch babies die on a nest from lack of food – either because of intruders or a sick or missing parent. If these two are to pass, I hope that it is quick. They have no one giving them supplementary food like Brodie at the BBC nest last year.

Meanwhile, Gabby has decided to feed the intruding juvenile at the NE Florida nest to the dismay of many onlookers. I have mentioned her own fledgling getting lost and going from nest to nest in the area (BOGs watched and reported) trying to find food. Then I remembered that a couple of Richmond and Rosie’s fledglings from the Golden Gate Audubon Osprey platform also left their nest, went for food elsewhere, and were fed. Bodie has no siblings and while this has been ‘tough’, Bodie has to be a fighter in the real world of eagles. No one is going to cut her a break. Gabby and Beau have enough food for both of the juveniles. Gabby knows what she is doing by feeding the intruder. Yes, it will return for food. Hopefully Bodie and it will both have good crops. Bodie can learn from watching the intruder and if it is fed, maybe it will be nicer. We do not know what we would do if we were starving.

Beau came in with a rodent and Bodie self-feed! https://youtu.be/LIfKQVnJwMk?

The warm sun has melted the snow, or most of it, in the nest of Jackie and Shadow. Shadow has been doing some really good work as daddy and it turns out he is a great feeder. Those two little ones were stuffed to the top of their heads and quickly into a food coma!

The Only Eaglet at Sauces, SC1, is the sweetest luckiest little eaglet in the Channel Islands.

But back to the ospreys. I am returning to the format that I used where I include Heidi’s reports and mine daily under our names. If I miss something, it is entirely my fault. I wish that we could aim for as comprehensive a study this year as we did last year, but my life is more challenging than I ever imagined, so if we get half the number of eggs watched and all the data recorded, that would be just fine. (I have hired a Girl Friday to help with other things so I have Friday afternoons free to work on all things osprey).

If you wish to add to our knowledge and data bank, we welcome your input. We need the name of the nest, its location, the link to the streaming cam if there is one, the names or ID numbers of the adults, the dates of their arrival and departure, the dates of eggs laid, hatch dates, fledge dates, and death dates and causes.

Please note that this might not be a comprehensive listing of every osprey nest. Rather, it will include significant milestones.

Heidi’s Osprey News:

Fenwick Island: 3/17 – Fenwick Island, Delaware (Captain Mac’s Fish House):  June arrived back home to her nest in the early evening!  June is the ‘queen of the striped bass’… she caught so many of those large fish last season to feed her only osplet ‘Fen’.

Lake Murray, South Carolina: 3/17 Congrats to Kenny and Lucy.  Lucy laid egg #2 at 10:16.

Dewey Beach, Delaware: 3/17 – The female of the pair arrived on 3/12, and today at 08:30 her mate finally arrived.  It was immediately apparent that this is a bonded pair, and they fell right in step with fixing up the nest.  Best wishes for their success this season.

(Gosh those two are a handsome pair)

Mary Ann’s Osprey News:

Maya arrived at Rutland and Blue NC0 at Loch of the Lowes on the 17th.

Geemeff catches NC0’s arrival: https://youtu.be/CUabK04PELs? Oh, how I hope she gets a good mate. I often wondered if Laddie LM12 had been ill for a couple of years or unwell leaving Blue NC0 without food or the babies, some who starved. While I adored Laddie and I did, Blue NC0 deserves an eager fisher for a her new mate. I want to see that nest piled with fish.

Blue NC0 sleeping on the perch branch protecting her nest. Come on Dark Knight!

Eschenbach Osprey Platform, Germany: The news under the streaming cam is: Herbert arrived on the 16th of March. “We are waiting for Hermine to arrive, but the activity in the nest does not stop. Other females are present: some claim the place, others are passing by and take advantage of the male’s generosity. Today Herbert appeared accompanied by an unringed female. A very demanding girl who has demanded (and obtained) several deliveries of fish. What will happen? We will wait to see the events of the next few days.”

Last year Herbert arrived on April 4.

Birds of Poole Harbour:

Who will return to Loch Arkaig?

RSPB Loch Garten has had its share of drama.

Many more ospreys will be arriving in the next fortnight. At some of the US nests there are little bobs and only bobs. May each and every one flourish.

Moorings Park: Beautiful Only Bob.

Frenchman’s Creek: Only Bob doing well also!

Venice Golf and Country Club are incubating.

Incubation at Brevard, Florida:

Oceanside MNSA Osprey Nest: Blondie returns on the 13th of March.

News from Others (various birds):

Geemeff sends lots of news items including this one about Wisdom!

https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2025/3/oldest-wild-bird-wisdom-has-more-than-doubled-her-life-expectancy-and-become-a-grandma

Storrington has been named the capital of the White Storks!

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/mar/17/storrington-in-west-sussex-named-uk-first-european-stork-village

Are authorities turning a blind eye to the illegal killing of birds by trapping in Cyprus. Watch and judge for yourself.

A reader from Berlin writes that they found this ebook on Germany’s Amazon site. The book is not affiliated with FOBBV:

‘J’ sends Rita’s History Monday:

We have news from Chichester Falcons.

chichester newsletter no.2Download

Worcester Cathedral Falcon Scrape has its first egg of the breeding season.

Lead can and is being replaced by other materials. Lead is toxic and deadly to our raptors. Why do the governments that make up the UK miss deadlines to stop its use? Why do people no longer care about the suffering the wildlife experience?

UK Governments miss deadline for responding to recommendations for restrictions on use of toxic leadDownload

The intentional poisoning of over 150 beautiful corellas in Australia is enough to turn your stomach.

‘Heartbreaking’: poisoning suspected after mass deaths of more than 150 little corellas in Newcastlehttps://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/mar/18/newcastle-corella-birds-mass-deaths-suspected-poisoning?CMP=share_btn_url

“Little corella (Cacatua sanguinea gymnopis) Blanchetown” by Charles J. Sharp is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Their challenges:

Department for Environment and Water – Little CorellasDownload

Pip watch for Bella and Scout at the NCTC nest begins today.

‘A’ brings news of Angel and Tom: “Again, Angel spent more time at the nest this morning than Tom did – and again, she is doing a lot of nestcupping, as if making final preparations to lay in this nest. I do hope so. In 2023, she laid her first egg on 24 March, which is under a week away, so I am hoping we see two eggs, as we did in 2023, rather than what happened in 2024, when they simply disappeared before Angel laid any eggs at this site. We have no idea whether she laid elsewhere, though I still think the landowner would have spotted Angel at least if she had still been nearby last season. We will never know of course and their whereabouts last season will forever remain a mystery. But ol course they may do the same thing this year and simply stop showing up at the nest. 

But I am still determined to be hopeful – after all, we have seen joyous outcomes for Iris and  her Finnegan, Gabby and her Beau, and now Jak and darling determined Audacity. If this is to be a year for miracle chicks, then please let Angel and Tom’s be among them. “

Thank you for being with me today. We are always delighted to hear your news and have you with us. Take care in the times we are in. Look for the positive and the good. Take care of your neighbours, your friends, and your family – even if it is only a smile you have to offer or a hello in an e-mail.

Migrating Birds are passing through. Protect them from your windows. Put out high-energy food if you can and water. Water is good!

We were so happy to see Star back at the feeder today.

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, comments, videos, articles, images, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘A, Geemeff, Heidi, J, MP, PB’, Rhoda A, American Eagle Foundation, NEFL-AEF, FOBBV, IWS/Explore.org, Fenwick Island, Lake Murray, Dewey Beach, Geemeff and Loch of the Lowes, Eschenbach Ospreys, Birds of Poole Harbour, The Woodland Trust, RSPB Loch Garten, Moorings Park, Frenchman’s Creek, Breward Ospreys, VGCCO, The Guardian, RSPB, Cassandra McClurkin, Chichester Peregrines, Worcester Cathedral, Raptor Persecution UK, The Guardian, OpenVerse, South Australia Department for the Environment and Water, Guinness World Records, Rita the Eagle FB, Visit Kearney Nebraska

Sunday in Bird World

16 March 2025

Hello Everyone!

We hope that you have had a glorious weekend! While it was nice weather during the week the cold winds hit bringing in some freezing rain that is still lingering. Did you know that kitty litter is very good for melting ice?

I wonder which nests you have been watching?

Many of you have commented that watching what is happening at the nest of Gabby and Beau is causing you a lot of anxiety. The juvenile did return to the NEFL nest of Gabby, Beau, and Bodie. The fledgling from another nest – probably lost from their own nest and hungry – was ushered off unceremoniously several times by the adults.

It is a lot of drama and I know it is difficult to watch. Gabby’s fledgling was also lost one season and could not find her nest for a week or so and she was so exhausted that she stayed home for a month once she found her nest! I feel sorry for this one – hungry and lost. Life is confusing enough and these eaglet is young. Let us hope it finds its home – and I hope its parents are alive and have prey on the nest.

Of course, you could be watching the miracle child of Jak and Audacity. What an amazing ending after years of waiting. Audacity and Jak wanting a little eaglet so much! Well, here it is!

Jak is so excited. There is fish all over for this little blessing. They are also eating the placenta from the seals that are having pups in the harbour. This is really good food for that baby.

‘A’ writes on Sunday: “The new baby at Sauces is the sweetest fluffiest little person with the cutest wee face. It is strong and active and was eating eagerly when I watched it with Audacity at lunchtime today. I was concerned that the nest bowl was too deep but the chick seems to have no trouble peering above the rim, and given the current lack of baby rails (get moving, Jak, this nest requires some toddler-proofing), it’s a good thing that the bowl is deep! As long as no-one pulls a load of grass in there and buries the baby! Or tugs a fish on top of it and squashes it! So far, Audacity is being very careful with her pride and joy.  

Lunch today was some sort of rodent, and the little one ate eagerly, managing very large bites for what I believe was its first meal. The blood all over the nest comes from yesterday’s treat for the new mum – seal placenta apparently. It does look absolutely gruesome but is of course incredibly nutritious. I have no idea of its calcium value (god knows Audacity needs to replenish that, as her body has been cannibalising her own skeletal structure season after season as she has laid all those eggs). It looks well, despite its difficult hatch (it has managed to get every piece of shell off) and it seems healthy. I have high hopes for this little family. Jak stayed on the nest after delivering lunch and seemed to want to help with the feeding, leaning in to the chick on a couple of occasions  Audacity mixed in some seal placenta with the rodent, and I’m sure the level of nutrition from that placenta would be amazing for a newly hatched chick. “

At the nest of Jackie and Shadow, the two surviving chicks of that terrible winter storm appear to be alright. Please send them your good wishes because they, too, got cold and wet despite all the good care of Jackie and Shadow.

Fish are now on the menu at Big Bear along with a pile of Coot!

Shadow comes to say good night to Jackie and the kiddos. https://youtu.be/BtNhMzwjDqY?

Sunday breakfast and all looks good except the kids are alone and uncovered. I sure hope that sun is warm.

At Manton Bay, Blue 33 (11) continues to wait for Maya, his mate who is fifteen years old this spring.

Sisters Blue 24 and 25 have both visited the Manton Bay nest hoping that Blue 33 will bring more fish for them. I sure hope Maya gets home safely and if she doesn’t, I hope that Blue 33 gets a mate worthy of him!!!!!!!

Blue 33 is known, sometimes sadly, for bringing large live fish to the nest. He was caught on video by Geemeff battling one of those a couple of days ago! https://youtu.be/9a8cvy7GrJo?

On Sunday, Geemeff writes about the shenanigans at Rutland: “Fingers crossed that both Maya and Blue 11 return safely. Meantime, this looks like a successful mating between 33 and 25, judging by the way she shakes her tail feathers. Or at least, much better than his attempts earlier today.”

https://youtu.be/QhcMVRfb6kA

Two cutie pies at Port Tobacco!

There are now three at PA Farm Country!

A nice fish came on the Kisatchie E3 nest. The eldest ate first while the little one was submissive, almost hanging over the edge of the nest to its peril. but it clung on, listened, watched, and is getting good at the snatch and grab after the oldest one is full. Oh, help this nest. It needs more food and there are tornadoes in the area tonight (Saturday). It was two days ago – on Thursday that 04 had a really nice crop. He needs to not be so fearful and snatch and grab more. It is hard with such an aggressive older sibling. They sometimes go to bed very hungry. What is happening with deliveries and fish from the lake? Anyone know?

Beautiful little eaglet at the Johnson City nest of Boone and Jolene.

Two wee ones at Bluff City. Franklin and Frances each brought in fish and the kids ate well.

Tornadoes and big storms passing through parts of the US. Berry College seems to be right in the middle of it with rain and lighting at the old nest. Pa and Missey are using another nest so I have no news on eggs.

Oh, what a sweet little osplet at the Moorings Park nest. And it is going to be a healthy one, a fat little bottom full of fish!

Hard to see but that little one at Frenchman’s Creek seems to be doing well, too.

There were at least two fish deliveries at Duke Farms and all ate well and had crops. The little one even had a private feeding.

Are these the official names? If so, I missed it! Harpo, Meechi, Jupi???

Hartley and Monty now have three eggs at the San Jose City Hall scrape!!!!!!!!! https://youtu.be/BqfENvs4uec?

Now we can see those eggs at San Jose! https://youtu.be/jOnjWZ6PGjk?

The first egg for Frida at the Falcon Cam in New Jersey was laid on Saturday.

Gorgeous Milda incubating her two WTE eggs in Latvia.

Ever wonder what gulls eat besides fries at the sea side?

From profiteroles to moles: project uncovers gulls’ surprising diethttps://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/mar/15/from-profiteroles-to-moles-project-uncovers-gulls-surprising-diet?CMP=share_btn_url

Calico wishes to thank everyone who helped with her fundraising. She is pleased to report that when all the funds are in by the end of March, she will donate $420 to two of the charities that care for feral mothers and their kittens, trying to find them homes and for abandoned pets. She is delighted. Thank you so much! Fundraising is over for this spring.

I cannot tell you how much I miss Akecheta and Thunder. We have had so many losses this year, but this one really gutted me and still does – along with Annie and Alden. I know. They all took a piece of us, some more than others.

This was posted and I wanted to share it so that you will go to the Channel Islans Eagle Lovers: CIEL Facebook group to see the entire video clip of Akecheta courting Thunder!

Thank you for joining us today. On Wednesday, we are going on a mini-break to Hecla Island. We hope the weather is not too frigid and that we will see more geese and even the arrival of some American White Pelicans. I will post on Wednesday, take a few days break, and return on Saturday. Take care of yourself during that time. See you soon.

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, comments, images, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog today: ‘A, Geemeff, Heidi, J’, NEFL-AEF, IWS/Explore (Sauces Canyon), FOBBV, LRWT, Geemeff, Port Tobacco Eagle Cam, Lori Staely and HDonTap, Kisatchie E3 Bald Eagle nest, Union County Falcon Cam, LDF, The Guardian, SK Hideaways and San Jose Falcons, Berry College Eagles, Moorings Park Ospreys, Frenchman’s Creek Ospreys, Stephanie Ross and CIEL, SK Hideaways and FOBBV, Geemeff

Tragedy at Big Bear…Friday in Bird World

14 March 2025

Oh, my goodness. Is it possible that something has happened to one of the chicks at Big Bear? This video shows one caught on Shadow’s talon. There appear to be only two chicks in the nest eating later. The little one was last seen in the snow. I presumed it has passed. What a tragedy.

UPDATE: Peeps can be hear on the Sauces cam if you turn up the volume loud enough.

I had not expected to publish anything today, but, of course there are exciting things happening. As I write this Jak and Audacity’s baby is trying to get out of that membrane. Dr Sharpe says that a large part of the shell had pulled away from the egg on Thursday. The membrane will get brittle and easier for the wee one to break it with its egg tooth. I am so hoping. As I told one reader this will require a large magnum of champagne. We have so long wished for this couple to have an eaglet to raise. I hope it comes to pass.

Shadow wants brooding time. Some worry chick 3 isn’t getting enough food and is also cold and wet. We have to wait and see. https://youtu.be/Jiowi5MwKDU?

The first Osprey star has landed at Manton Bay and the first fish of the year was delivered to his nest by Blue 33 (10). Here is some more information about the Rutland Ospreys:

The first of our annual reports from ‘H’ is full of nest news from the US:

Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey, 2024 Osprey Report from Ben Wurst: “Plentiful Fish and Calm Weather Give Ospreys a Boost in 2024”
https://conservewildlifenj.org/2025/03/12/plentiful-fish-and-calm-weather-give-ospreys-a-boost-in-2024/?fbclid=IwY2xjawI_jkBleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHSGmHTB4RViiVDKCLLku5MwoVadkOxbQD8OsX3KTWwcqR5eaZxEZGiD20Q_aem_mfMa2GGBFnrvmtKh_bN9-w

There is an osprey nest cam in Havre de Grace, Maryland, that I have been watching for a couple of days.  It seems to have a bonded pair.  We have already seen fish gifts and mating.  It is located at the Havre de Grace Maritime Museum:  (photo of the male with a fish)

There is an osprey nest cam that went online two days ago in Dewey Beach, Delaware.  So far in two days, I have only seen a gorgeous female, and she has begun to refurbish the nest while she waits for her mate to return: (photo of the female)

Opal returned to her nest at Forsythe NJ on 3/12.  She awaits the return of her mate, Oscar.  Opal is a 4-egg-layer.  Oh, I dread that.  Last season, all four eggs hatched, and only the eldest fledged.  There never seems to be enough fish at that nest.  I am hoping that only two chicks will hatch this season.” Thanks, H!

I just caught sight of two ospreys on Maryland’s Western Shore for Old Town Home osprey nest!

Peregrine Falcon numbers are dropping. We understand that dear Annie and Alden might have succumb to HPAI. Is that the cause of this other sudden decline?

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/mar/13/decades-after-peregrines-came-back-from-the-brink-a-new-threat-emerges-aoe?CMP=share_btn_url

“In North America, Skip Ambrose, a peregrine expert formerly with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, has been monitoring the falcons along Alaska’s Yukon River since 1973. He, too, has seen a sharp decline in numbers.

In the summer of 2023, Ambrose reported that 20 of 60 peregrine nesting sites were empty, with nearly a dozen more missing a parent. That is particularly notable because peregrines are generally loyal to both their nesting site and their partner….Curiously, the peregrine’s plight in North America seems most pronounced along the coasts. In New Jersey, for example, 22 of the 44 known nesting peregrines went missing during the last breeding season. In Virginia, local scientists recently noted that a dozen out of roughly 70 birds had vanished.

Peregrine nests in inland Washington state, near the Cascade mountains, seem stable, Anderson says, while those on the nearby San Juan Islands are struggling.

“It is interesting that coastal populations are showing impact while those in the middle of the continent, so far, do not,” says Patrick Redig, a veterinarian and president of the Midwest Peregrine Society, who helps track 200 nesting pairs across seven states.

Though scientists lack an official answer as to what is driving such sudden and far-reaching disappearances, many – including David Bird, who formerly led the Avian Science and Conservation Centre at Canada’s Montreal’s McGill University in Quebec – think highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) may be largely to blame.”

More tragedy. Seabirds are getting brain disorders like Alzheimer’s. What to blame? Microplastics?

Plastic pollution leaves seabirds with brain damage similar to Alzheimer’s, study showshttps://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/mar/12/plastic-pollution-leaves-seabirds-chicks-with-brain-damage-similar-to-alzheimers-study-aoe?CMP=share_btn_url

Cholyn has laid her second egg!

Ospreys are starting to arrive in the UK as well as in the NE of the US.

Thank you for being with us today. Take care everyone. 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: ‘H, J’, FOBBV, Channel Islands Eagle Lovers FB, SK Hideaways, Rutland Manton Bay, River Gwash Ospreys, Maryland Western Shore for Old Town Home, The Guardian

Late Thursday in Bird World

13 March 2025

Hello Everyone,

I had to leave for appointments this morning and I just want to catch you up on a lot of happenings.

First, there is a pip at the nest of Jak and Audacity at Sauces Canyon. Their only surviving egg appears to be viable!

They are thinking this could take longer as it appears to be a crushed hatch.

I am just speechless. Is it possible that this is another miracle unfolding under a lot of feathers? Oh, send them good wishes. That egg is tough. We want this baby out safely.

The Ospreys are arriving at the nests in the UK. This morning we had Blue 35, Blue 25, and Maya’s mate, Blue 33 all at Rutland.

River Gwash Ospreys announced:

 “The first Osprey has arrived back to Rutland. Blue 25 has recently been spotted on the nearby Manton Bay nest at Rutland Water. We’ll keep you posted as to when one arrives here, hopefully next week!🤞“

Most of you know that Blue 33 is my favourite male of all the UK ospreys – and he is in amazing company!

1612 was the arrival time. Within two hours Blue 33 has a big fish on the nest waiting for his Maya.

Screenshot 2025-03-13 at 4.31.53 pmDownload

Jackie and the triplets survived the snow storm! https://youtu.be/4uLYptc_QFE?

At NEFlorida Bodie is self feeding.

In other news, Milda laid her second WTE egg in Latvia while the second egg at Port Tobacco has pipped. Many think Cholyn might lay a second egg at Two Harbours. Be on the lookout.

I am going to take a break tomorrow and I will be back with you on Saturday. I hope to welcome a baby eaglet at Sauces! If this happens, that feels like a magnum of the best champagne!!!!!!!!!

Take care everyone. See you soon.

Thank you to Barbara Wolfsong, IWS/Explore, SK Hideaways, FOBBV, NEFL-AEF, Rutland Water, River Gwash Ospreys