Category Archives: Scottish Ospreys

Hatch for Tom and Audrey…Monday in Bird World

12 June 2023

Good Morning,

Oh, Sunday was a beautiful day – much cooler with a super breeze. A nice day to be out in the garden – it has really been neglected. The tiny tomatoes needed picking and the w—- hole hanging to—–mato plant needed a good spray with Magnesium Sulphate (Epsom Salts). Did you know that about a 1/4 of a cup in a gallon container – mixed well – and sprayed on the leaves will rejuvenate them if they are yellow with green veins. Try it! Planted three oak trees for the future and three more peony plants for me. The bees have really been visiting the climbing rose-s and the rest of the garden is quiet except for Junior, one grey squirrel, and some sparrows. Talk about lonely – missing those critters.

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With the Ms safely back in their nest and everyone talking about ear parasites, how much do we really know?

Everything you did and did not want to know about nest parasites and maggots in the ears of hawks!!

maggots-in-Ithaca-Hawks-35-36Download

Taking a wee bit of a break from the ospreys to check on some of the other nests that we like to follow such as the Black Storks in the Karula National Forest in Estonia of Karl II and Kaia (the foster parents of Bonus). Oh, they are adorable. There has been or had been some difficulty with getting food as the Blue Herons were taking the fish from the baskets provided by Urmas. The chicks are hungry and for the first time it has been noticed that Karl II was pulling on both chick 4 and 3…perhaps to do a brood reduction due to poor foraging. This is highly unusual. I do not know of Karl II ever initiating an attempt at brood reduction. He must be very concerned about the foraging and the ability of him and Kaia to provide for four on the nest. This is so sad. Urmas has worked hard to supply the fish baskets for the storks but, he cannot stop other species from feeding. They are also hungry.

When they were feeding, Kaia put the food down in front of storklet 1. Parents want at least one of their offspring to survive when times with food shortages are intense. So many nests of all species have food shortages this season.

The only eaglet at the Bucovina Gold Eagle nest in Romania appears to be doing well.

Oh, the love-life dramas of single male Ospreys. W6 needs a mate at Keilder Forest and he would be a fantastic catch. Read about his latest escapades!

New-post-Nests-1A-and-6-updateDownload

There is much concern at the Kielder nest 2 where the third chick has hatched and it is 75 hours younger than egg 2! The record at Kielder is 100 hours. Please send this nest your best wishes…we are all nervous already.

Late-arrival-of-chick-3-at-Nest-2-Kielder-OspreysDownload

‘H’ nest updates at Barnegat Light: “Another feeding observed, 1517 to 1530 -Little was late arriving to the table as s/he was sleepy.  The three siblings ate side by side without any bonking.   At one point Big accidentally knocked Little flat on his back, but Little recovered and went back to Daisy for more bites.  Little had a total of 30 bites, and some of them were pretty big ones. Later, per the chat: feeding at 1646 “They eat so nicely”  “All three in a food coma”

Hatch for Tom and Audrey at Kent Island! ‘H’ reports that this baby was out of the shell around 0330 and that if it is egg 1, it was 42 days old – H was told that Audrey’s eggs tend to hatch at the far end of the scale.

Tom sees his baby for the first time. (This is new-dad, Tom – all ospreys at this nest are named Tom and Audrey).

Dahlgren looks good, also. “Feeding 1413 to 1455, very peaceful, both Osplets well fed.  Ya, know, at 4 days apart, this nest is just a pleasant surprise.  It still amazes me.”

At the Forsythe nest, Mini is getting battered by Little. Like Mini at Patchogue, it has missed out on a number of critical meals on Sunday. There were ten fish deliveries and ‘H’ counted that Mini got 159 bites of fish. I remember dancing when I counted 97 bites for Tiny Tot Tumbles. Mini will live to see another day but Little appears to be getting much more aggressive…going after Mini which tells me the third hatch is a female, most likely.

‘H’ complete report to give you an idea of how a nest is watched when we think siblicide could become an issue: “Feeding 0818 to 0829, small partial fish – Mini was up front and did not get any bites from Opal before s/he was beaked by Little.  Crazy Little beaked big at 0820, and was beaked back.  Little did make it back to eat, but Mini never even made an attempt to get back to the feeding line.  Total for Mini = 0I’ve noticed that the attacks on Mini by Little the past day or so have become more violent, and include the biting, and last longer.  Oh, geez.Feeding 1236 to 1251 – medium whole fish. Over 4 hours since the last fish.Little beaked Mini at the start.  Mini in submission.  I took until 1248 for Mini to get into a good position [3,1,2,4], but then Middle beaked Mini ! Total for Mini = 0Feeding  1340 to 1353 – medium whole fishMini wasn’t even up at the feeding line, but at 1342, Little reached back and beaked Mini, and again at 1345, and 1346.  At 1346 Big Beaked Little.  By 1348 Mini had found a safe spot to try to get fed, between Middle and Big, but Big beaked Mini !  Mini never came back.  Bites for Mini = 0Feeding 1456 to 1501 – small partial. Mini was not bonked at all, but s/he seems timid of all of them now.  Big only had a couple bites and dropped out.  Mini held back, sort of between and behind the other two.  Mom reached out and gave Mini one bite. Total bites to Mini = 1 Feeding 1529 to 153230 – small fish piece. Poor Mini scrambled across the nest to get to Mom first, and got two bites, before Little caught up with him and beaked him.  Total for Mini = 2 bites. Feeding 1608 to 1615 –  small fish. Mini first to Mom’s beak, but is soon bonked by Little.  Things shuffle around a bit, Mini gets back to the table, then positioned [4,1,2,3], and Mini got some bites.  Total bites for Mini = 17. Feeding 1647 to 1654 – small partial. Once again Mini rushed over to Mom, received one bite, then was beaked by Little.  At 1652 Little tried to reach between Middle and Little, and Little beaked Mini.  Total for Mini = 1. Feeding 1749 to 1803 – partial fish. Mini was bonked by Little at the beginning.  At 1752 Mini wasn’t even close by, but Little just had to beak him again.  At 175942, Mini got its first bite.  Only Middle was still nearby, but at that point Mini got nearly a private feeding.  Total bites for Mini = 36. So far, today, 10 feedings (I sent a report on the first two earlier).  There may be another feeding this evening, I’ll check in the morning.  Total bites for Mini so far today = 159.” How sad it is that your birth order has such an intense impact on your life (as it often does with humans, too). — The feeding for Mini did not change with other deliveries on Sunday night. Mini went into submission even though there was fish left that Mum ate. It is not looking good for this fourth hatch at all.

At the Patchogue Osprey platform, Mini is as keen as Mini at Forsythe for fish but has been often locked out due to the Big ones barging in or the intimidation that comes now from both Big and Third. Thankfully, Mini is older, wiser, and waits and watches…and I am certain that this Mini is a female.

Mini at Patchogue stretching and flapping its wings after finally getting a fish feed. Mum fed the three for over an hour. It is unclear how much was left of that bony fish when Mini got its ultimate time to eat by itself in peace. But, Mini did get some fish.

In the UK, Louis turns up with a late night fish snack for Dorcha. So sweet…and the talon tapping osplet slept through it!

Oh, how I have been missing Jackie and Shadow. Popping in and what a surprise. Our gorgeous Big Bear couple were on the nest! ‘B’ tells me this is an unusual low-lying cloud on the mountain obstructing the view. These two are looking good and they are protecting their territory and taking care of that nest!

Today has been a different posting…I will do a quick sweep of some of the Osprey nests but not all of them. My concerns are with Forsythe and Patchogue. We will go back to tracking the daily happenings of most of the nests for Tuesday.

Patuxent I appears to be good today. Nice crops on both osplets.

Loch of the Lowes: Despite having to defend the nest, literally, from intruders, Laddie managed to get a big fish in and both of the osplets had bulging crops. Blue NC0 had to help Laddie defend…go away intruders!

Dyfi Ospreys: It was raining in Wales. Telyn had been a keen mumbrella for the two. Dry and fish in the nest. Thanks, Idris!

All is well at Glasyn with Elen and Aran and the two osplets.

Poole Harbour: Three itchy Reptilian Bobs for CJ7 and Blue 022. All is good.

Manton Bay: All is well, feathers are coming in – you can see the shafts. But the condensation doesn’t let us get a very good look at Blue 33 and Maya’s three Bobs.

Llyn Clywedog with Dylan and Seren Blue 5F: All good.

Llyn Brenig: As far as I can tell-without watching closely-, all is OK.

Loch Arkaig: Louis brings a large whole fish to Dorcha and chick for breakfast. Well done, Louis.

Boulder County Fairgrounds: My concerns are growing for the survival of the third hatch. Is anyone watching this family closely? Any comments? Hatch dates are May 26, 27, and 29 but that little one appears to be struggling. Please correct me if I am wrong!

In Germany, at the Fischadler web scale, the trio are doing great. T he third hatch just barrels in and pushes its way through the two bigger siblings to get fish. Way to go!

‘A’ watched Deyani yesterday for us and reports, “Deyani had an interesting day, with three breakfasts between 07:10 and 07:33, then nothing until shortly after 7.30pm, when dad brought in a partial rabbit for dinner. As occurred yesterday, the food brought to the nest was about half what they had been bringing up until that point. So it is obvious that over the past two days, the parents are preparing Deyani for fledge – she does presumably need to lose a little bit of weight before she can fly (power-to-weight ratio, spoilt, greedy only chick and all that). Today (12 June) will be the first day of fledge watch – I am not ready, but it appears Deyani is, and Angel and Tom certainly believe their hawklet is on the verge of taking the plunge. The chick is SO curious. I will miss her antics on the nest. Today, she had an epic battle with a pine cone, which landed on the nest with quite a big ‘thud’, obviously from high in the tree. (Had it landed on Deyani, she would really have felt it, I suspect, from the sound dit made and the size of it.) The hawklet had no idea what it was, and initially gazed at ity in astonishment. She then became concerned it may be alive. The tentative approaches with her talon, followed by kicks and other attacks on the pine cone were just TOO funny. Watch her from 5.59pm as she hangs onto it tightly with her right talon and attempts to pull pieces off the pine cone (or defur it). She also had an entertaining moment when a Daddy Long Legs crawled across the pine cone and up the tree. She was entranced as she watched its progress.”

Darling Luna visits the scrape giving us a really good look at how much those chicks of Lou and Annie have grown since fledge.

Birdlife Malta is concerned about changes to EU laws that had allowed for the creation of biodiversity spaces – the Restoration Lawls – and a move by politicians to delete or water down what is in existence. If you live in the EU, speak up!

That said, I know that each of you is interested in so many things, and a new essay in Emergence Magazine might interest you. It is about migrations. The writing is fantastic. Have a read “Creaturely Migrations on a Breathing Planet”.

Creaturely-Migrations-on-a-Breathing-Planet-–-David-AbramDownload

Thank you so much for being with me today. I hope that you found something of interest – and that you will always look out for the birds. See you soon!

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to create my blog today: ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘H’, Parasitism in Hawks, Looduskalender Forum, Eagle Club of Estonia, Bucovina Golden Eagles, Lady Hawk and Bucovina Golden Eagles, Kielder Ospreys, Barnegat Light, Dalhgren Ospreys, Forsythe ospreys, PSEG, Geemeff and Friends of Loch Arkaig and the Woodland Trust, FOBBV, Patuxent River Park, LOTL, Dyfi Ospreys, Bywyd Gwylld Glaslyn, Poole Harbour Ospreys, LRWT, CarnyXWild, Llyn Brenig Ospreys, Boulder County Fair Grounds Ospreys, Fischadler Web Cam, Birdlife Malta, SK Hideaways and Cal Falcons, and Emergence Magazine.

Ms back in their nest at Cornell, Hatch at Boathouse…Sunday in Bird World

11 June 2023

Good Morning Everyone,

On Saturday, I checked on Mini at Patchogue the first thing and then went off to count goslings and ducklings. I do not even know what to say. The numbers are dismal for hatches this year. Last year, we had floods that ruined the eggs. Some couples laid replacement clutches. But this year, there were simply not the number of geese in the parks to start and even fewer now. We know that the heat has driven all those without little ones north to find food and cooler weather. But what happened to their eggs in the first place? I am hoping that some of our goose specialists will have some answers later in the summer.

I have been following this goose couple all season. Like the other couple, below, they used the nesting baskets provided for their eggs. If there were predators about, this is why their eggs were safe. Why only one hatched for these two is not known. They have always had one little one tagging between them. They are very protective and with reason. This gosling is precious!

There was one other goose couple. They started out with nine youngsters and are now down to five. How adorable is this? A train in the water – Mum and Dad at either end keeping track so no one gets lost or left behind.

Looked and looked. Came across a pair of Hooded Mergansers and some turtles sunning themselves.

And a pair of Mallards with six ducklings.

At the nature centre, the geese and ducks generally remain in the confines of the wetlands, not venturing out as some of the others in our City might. There is a considerable absence of young this year. I then went to another site that I check regularly – where the Osprey flew over head the other evening. There were 38 Canada Geese and 16 goslings of varying ages.

The American White Pelicans were swimming around the edge of the pond and then decided to cross. They are lovely.

When I got home, it was a relief to see Junior enjoying the water in the bird bath and Scraggles on the fence eating a peanut. The garden is sooooo very quiet. (taken through window screens so not so clear)

Scraggles sees me and is frozen…he is living in a tree just down the lane. Wish I could find where Dyson is! The City cut down her original tree as it did Scraggles and she has relocated…

But, first up, there was an intervention at the Cornell Red-tail Hawk nest of Big Red and Arthur. Thanks to streaming cam watchers and volunteers, there was ‘movement’ noted in the ears of two of the Ms. Veterinarians from the Janet Swanson Wildlife Hospital observed and identified the problem as being maggots. They also noted that M3 was keeping its 3rd eyelid over its eye, indicating pain. Arrangements were made to intervene as leaving the infestations could cause pain, infection or damage to the ear and nerves. The intervention was successful and the Ms are now back in the nest with Big Red and Arthur. Thank you! Cause of the maggots: an abundance of prey!

Mini might get shut out of some meals, but, more often than not, Mini leaves with a big crop. On Saturday, there was a moment when the Third tried to intimidate Mini. It went away but was back at the table within a few minutes. Many of Saturday’s fish were very large. Everyone at the Patchogue Nest ate. One thing is for sure – Mini is growing! Those wings are getting bigger. Oh, I hope we are on the stretch to knowing that Mini will survive and fledge!

Mini waiting at noon for the next fish and it arrives. A nice big one.

Mini decides to sleep on the fish but is still in a bad spot for feeding.

Mini moves out of the way.

Oh, but Mini watches and waits and then just look at all that fish that is left and who is up there for a feeding.

After…a nice crop.

Just look at our Little Mini. Clown feet, the red copper feathers at the nape of the head. This osplet is changing and in the nest few days will look very different! Little Mini is going to have some nice feathers growing from that wooly charcoal coloured thermal down. Look carefully at the size of Little Mini’s wings. Not so ‘Little Mini’ anymore. Thankfully.

Throughout the day, Little Mini had a good crop. Dad always brings in at least one nice fish at the end of the day if not two. Mini was too full to eat! All is well.

It appears that Mini might have been shut out of all the early morning feeds at Patchogue. A fish has been left in the middle of the nest to encourage self-feeding and while Mini can sit at the open end and pull some flakes, he really is not yet able to hold it down and pull to get enough food. I am hopeful Mum will feed the little one. Big is now hoping and wing flapping.

‘H’ has been watching the Boathouse Osprey platform of Skiff and Dory closely for the first sign of a pip and it came Saturday morning! Day 39 for egg 1. ‘H’ reports that it was a quick hatch. Dory was not giving any secrets away but the first full view of the chick came at 1338. Thanks, ‘H’. Already wanting fish!

While there is jubilation at the Boathouse, there is growing concern at the Forsythe Nest that ‘H’ has been monitoring. Here are Saturday’s observations. “The aggression seems to be getting worse.  There were 9 fish deliveries, but they were all small or small partials. Feeding 0750 to 0808 -Mini did not start out next to Little, and managed to get some bites, but when Middle slid back a little bit, Little attacked Mini.  By 0757 Mini was back in a pretty good place [4,2,3,1].  Mini got some bites until Middle dropped back, and at 0806 Little again attacked Mini. Mini didn’t make it back.  Total bites for Mini = 35. Feeding 0835 to 0900 – Mini started out eating beside Little and got many bites before Little even started to eat.  Little already had a big crop. By 0840 Little wanted to eat, and beaked Mini (Mini never retaliates, simply goes into submission).  At 0856 Mini was back at the table eating beside Middle.  Big and Little had dropped out.  Total bites for Mini = 45. Feeding 1030 to 1045 – Positioned [4,1,2,3].  Positioning stayed the same.  There was no aggression.  Total bites for Mini = 30.nFeeding 1158 to 1206.  Positioned [1,4,3,2].  At 1159 Little beaked Mini, but shortly thereafter, Little dropped out.  Mini soon came back and ate.  Middle dropped out at 1204.  Total bites for Mini = 29. Feeding 1603 to 1610 -Positioned [4,1,3,2], Mini should be good right?  At 1606, Little lunged at Mini right across the front of Big, Mini dropped back.  Then, Little beaked Big and Middle.  Big attacked Little.  Little then attacked Mini who was already in submission.  Big attacked Little again.  At 1607 Big and Middle ate.  At 1609 Little tried to get back to eat, and was beaked by Big.  Big wouldn’t allow Little to return.  Then for some reason, Big beaked Middle.  Mom, Opal, finished the fish.  Total bites for Mini = 6. Feeding 1645 to 1654 – Positioned [3,4,1,2]  Mini stayed tucked in submission from the start. So I went back to see what had transpired before the fish arrived.  Well, for some reason at 1644 Mini beaked Big a couple of times.  So Big punished Mini.  Mini tucked and stayed tucked.  They lined up to feed right around where Mini was.  Little beaked big up at the food line, so Big beaked back and Little was out.  So, Little had just a few bites, Middle and Big finished the fish.  Bites for Mini – 0. Feeding 1735 to 1745 – Positioned [1,2,4,3} Mini had 2 bites and then was beaked by Little, then Big beaked Little.  At 1736 Mini tried to stand up and was beaked by Big!!!  So Mini stayed in the back.  At 1743 Mom reached over and gave Mini one bite.  At 1744 Little turned around and beaked Mini.  Bites for Mini = 3. Feeding 1803 to 1812 – Mini tucked when the fish arrived.  The other three ate.  At 1805 Mini tried to approach the feeding line next to Little and is beaked.  Ditto at 1807 and 1810.  Bites for Mini = 0. Feeding 1855 – 1908 – Mini tucked when the fish arrived. But Mini did approach the line, positioned [1,2,3,4}, got one bite of fish then was beaked by Little.  At 1857 and 1859 Mini tried to approach and was beaked by Little.  At 1903 Mom reached out and gave Mini 4 quick bites, but as soon as Little realized it, she beaked Mini.  Total bites for Mini = 5.

Sunday morning saw improvements for Mini at Forsythe. ‘H’ reports: “Feeding 0539 to 0606 – Huge live fish,From the start, Little beaked Mini pretty badly, Mini out.  Ditto at 0545, 0546, 0552 0604.  At 0553 Big beaked Little.  Each time Mini tried to engage, s/he was beaked by Little.  Now, I was encouraged by the size of this fish, because the large fish tend to increase Mini’s chances of getting a private feeding at the end.  Well, inexplicably, with 75% of the fish remaining, Oscar took it off the nest!!  Cringe. Really Dad?  Bites for Mini = 0. Feeding 0650 to 0716 – Oscar had taken the previous fish to the perch to eat, and he brought back 1/2 of the large fish. Mini got bites early, Little was late to the table, but by 0652 Little beaked Mini.  Again 0655 Little attacked Mini when Mini raised up; that time Big beaked Little very aggressively and Little was out.  Big laid down beside Little, between Little and the feed line, so Little couldn’t get back!  One time Little tried, and Big raised up and gave her ‘the look.’  So, Middle and Mini ate.  By 0706 Middle dropped out.  At 070648 Mini walked away with a large crop, but Mini returned at 070830; and walked away again at 071030; and Mini returned to feed at 071315.  Both Middle and Big returned for a few bites later on, but Little never did make it back to the front.  Total bites for Mini = 102      YES!!!

‘H’ reports that the Dahlgren cam was down all day. She notes reports of two good feedings at Severna. Her observations of both nests at Patuxent revealed that all is well.

Kathryn reports on the Carova Osprey nest. She observes, “The dad has delivered 8 fish so far today. And it is only 3:30pm! They are averaging one fish per hour.  It seems like the chicks are rotating feedings and one usually naps while the other two eat and then the one eats at the next feeding.  Here they are all amazed because the dad brought two fish at once and one was flopping around! A commenter suggested this may have been done purposely by the dad to get them used to an alive fish! So cool.”

The fish are not always plentiful at the Cowlitz PUD nest. Most days, they might be said to be ‘pitiful’ compared to the size and number being brought to Patchogue. One nice sized fish did get on the nest on Saturday after Kathryn observed only a couple of tiny ones and the Only Bob got a feed.

The wee one had a nice crop and Electra had a good meal, too.

Imagine raising these little osplets from eggs found in a chimney. Sunnie Day posts a heartwarming story from MSN.COM:

Syndication: Cape Cod Times

ORLEANS 06/10/23 Wild Care’s Stephanie Ellis feeds just days old hungry osprey chicks their breakfast of ground quail She raised the birds from eggs that were removed from nests built on chimneys in Osterville and Falmouth by wild life officials The mission next, get the chicks placed into surrogate nests soon along with chicks their same age to be raised by a new set of parents Cape Cod Times/Steve Heasli in ORLEANS 06/10/23 Wild Care’s Stephanie Ellis feeds just days old hungry osprey chicks their breakfast of ground quail. She raised the birds from eggs that were removed from nests built on chimneys in Osterville and Falmouth by wild life officials. The mission next on ORLEANS 06/10/23 Wild Care’s Stephanie Ellis feeds just days old hungry osprey chicks their breakfast of ground quail. She raised the birds from eggs that were removed from nests built on chimneys in Osterville and Falmouth by wild life officials. The mission next, get the chicks placed into surrogate nests soon along with chicks their same age to be raised by a new set of parents. Cape Cod Times/Steve Heasli.

‘A’ has been pondering the nest of Angel and Tom and the upcoming fledge of Deyani.

“Can I nominate Angel as mother of the year? She only raised one, I know, but the sheer horror of watching her mate kill their first-born shook her to the core, and her ability to raise the second hatchling as she did, smothering it with love and protection, hunting for it alongside Tom to make sure it was properly fed until he got his act together, putting up with constant bombardments from the blue jays and their extended family, literally bouncing off her at the rate of up to a dozen hits per minute, was nothing short of inspirational. Even when Deyani was nearly as big as mum, Angel was on the nest during rain, sheltering her baby to the best of her considerable ability (she is a fantastic mumbrella, with those warm and cosy underfluffies looking very safe and appealing), spreading her wings to cover a huge area. She has been absolutely devoted.” “Meanwhile, it just occurred to me that rarely has a chick been so lucky to be born second on a nest. (Yes, I know, it’s a bizarre thought, but true.) I do miss that first hawklet, even though we only knew the little one for a day. It was such a sweet little cutie, and I will never forget its adorable face as it looked up at its dad and yawned. It was our final view of the chick alive. At least its death was quick – hawks are obviously relatively efficient in that regard. But I think a lot about what Deyani has missed out in without her sibling and Angel’s grief was truly something awful to watch. She was heartbroken. And very very angry. She knew she still needed Tom but she didn’t have to like that fact! I hope she has forgiven him for his error – he has done his best to do his best, as it were, and as I mentioned, he even fed Deyani the other day (or, rather, Deyani took food from his beak in a manner reminiscent of feeding). I hope they stay together now and build on what they have done this season. It is such a lovely, peaceful, prey-rich area to raise chicks.”

I did not, as mentioned earlier, check on many nests on Saturday. I am so grateful to those who monitor Osprey nests for me and those who send me news of nests I have been monitoring for one reason or another but did not on Saturday. ‘SP’ sends me new screen captures of the eyas from the Evergy Topeka Peregrine Falcon scrape. Oh, goodness. The wee one looks much better now that those feathers are breaking out of those quills. Now this really is a relief.

Dmitri’s storklet is certainly growing and eating – thriving under the care of this generous and compassionate man.

Dmitri has his storklet outside on the ground in this short video.

Ervie looking good! I kept the comment so you could see it is Ervie. Hard to locate that tracker the way he is situated.

Don’t these Osprey Mums know that we want to see that every chick gets fed?! Barnegat Light 1815 Saturday.

On Sunday, ‘H’ was able to get sight of some feedings, “Feeding from 0644 – 065230. Little was in the back, kind of clueless as to how best to get fed.  After several minutes Little  started to move around Big and got two bites from Daisy.  But, clumsy Big inadvertently knocked Little into the back row again.  It was a long time until Little finally got beside Big and began to consistently get bites.  Soon Big and Middle dropped out.  They are clumsy and awkward, but, there was no intentional bonking between any of them.  Total bites for Little = 17.

Crossing the Pond and look at those healthy chicks of Idris and Telyn at the Dyfi Osprey nest in Wales.

What a beautiful Osprey family – CJ7 and Blue 022 – and their trio at Poole Harbour.

Lady

Laddie has had to spend too much time guarding the territory and needs more time being able to fish for the family. There were no less than six intruders seen. Laddie delivered a fish in the morning and one around 1330. Blue NC0 was fish crying for her and the kids Sunday morning.

At Loch Arkaig, we have the ‘bobbing’ Bob. The Only Bob seems to like to beak Dorcha’s talons. It reminds me of a nicknack my grandmother’s had – a bird that would bob its head and pick up a toothpick. The Only Bob is 11 days old today, and you can see it is entering the Reptile phase. See that oily black head. Louis delivered at least five fish on Friday and is known for being diligent…the chick is definitely not hungry!

It is also time to begin checking on Dad and Lady at the WBSE nest in the Sydney Olympic Park. It is now time that eggs could be laid! ‘A’ is going to keep tabs on this couple for us. She reports, “Shortly after 2pm, both Lady and Dad were back on the nest in Olympic Park. Dad arrives first, around 14:02, and arranges a stick before just standing in the middle of the nest for a couple of minutes, looking around as if surveying the area. Checking it for potential threats perhaps? Lady joins him just before 14:07. Dad does some aerating in the centre of the nest as Lady watches. They then stand in the middle of the nest for a moment.  Their visits to the nest are becoming increasingly frequent. These two are definitely trying for an egg (or two). Lady is not only ‘receptive’ but appears to be actively encouraging mating, which would lead one to presume her ‘window of hormonal opportunity’ is open.”

I know that many of you are interested in bird feeders and their cameras and this particular video caught my eye. There is a Cooper’s Hawk that visits!

Thank you for being with me today in Bird world. Take care everyone. See you soon!

Thank you to the following for their notes, videos, posts, and streaming cams that helped to create my blog today: ‘A’, ‘H’, Kathryn, ‘SP’, Cornell RTH Cam, PSEG, Audubon/Explore, Forstythe Ospreys, Outerbanks 247, Cowlitz PUD, Sunnie Day and MSN.com, Window to Wildlife, Evergy Topeka, Storks on line, Janice Love and Friends of Osprey Sth Ads, Barnegat Light and Conservation Conservancy of NJ, Dyfi Osprey Project, Poole Harbour ospreys, LOTL, Friends of Lock Arkaig and the Woodland Trust, Sydney Sea Eagle Cam, and Gettysburg Live Cam.

Middle is doing good…Friday in Bird World

9 June 2023

Good Morning Everyone,

To put a smile on your face – this is our Ervie eating a fish on his favourite light pole. Thanks, Bazz Hockady for posting on Friends of Osprey Sth Australia! You just made our day brighter.

As I start writing the blog for Friday on Thursday afternoon, I have to say that my heart has sunk just a little bit. I received an e-mail that Middle was looking ‘good’ Wednesday evening from the rehabbers and then, there was a post on the Achieva FB page that Middle is in ‘guarded’ condition.

This is the latest update that I have seen on Middle – and it is good news. What a relief. Middle might not be out of the woods yet, so continue with your best wishes, and please send a big thank you to Birds in Helping Hands. They have an online form…no donation is required. We need more people willing to go the extra mile (literally), and these folks sure did.

There were supposed to be more thunderstorms in our area but they did not materialise. A visit to one of the local areas to count goslings/ducklings turned into a wonderful experience – one of those moments when the worry of Middle vaporised for a bit. When I opened the car door, an osprey flew overhead – about 7 metres. It was fishing. The time was 1930 and it would have been looking for the last meal for it, its mate and any chicks that could be on a nest. Perhaps she is still incubating. The osprey nest that is normally near the tennis courts at the University is not there this year so I do not know where this couple reside.

No photographic awards for these silhouettes…remind me of cutting out black construction paper as a child and putting it on white paper! But there, this beautiful osprey is looking for food right above me.

The American White Pelicans preening…last year there were some huge fish in this tiny urban pond. The water is so clear compared to some of the parks. An ideal spot for an osprey to fish, too.

Goslings with their parents up on the hill above the Pelicans.

Do you know the band, The Cure? Started in the UK eons ago and morphed along the way doing The Lost World tour in the US? What captured my eye is that their poster for Thursday night’s gig in Minneapolis shows two Ospreys.

My constant obsession appears to be Mini at the Patchogue nest. The three larger siblings get larger – yes, Mini is growing, but the size ratio issue continues. Thankfully, Mini is spunky. Thursday started with the female being wholly preoccupied with intruders. A fish arrived at 0606, but she flew off, leaving most of the fish and Mini fish begging. He did not understand why Mum would not feed him when he was at the beak. Mini was shut out several times despite being upfront. He managed to get some food from the 11:43 delivery. At the 1320 delivery, Mini got himself up, and finally, at 1330, Mum fed her tiniest baby. Mini was shut out of a later feeding, and I am now quite worried about him. The coming days will be critical as Mum always appeared to care and hang back fish for Mini.

At 1647 everyone ate but Mini.

Just an observation at the Patchogue Nest. The raptors often pile up together by gender. This may be why there is little aggression to Mini. Are Big Bob, Second Bob, and Mini all males? And is Third Bob a female? (the more aggressive one). Or are Big, Second, and Mini all females and Third a male?

It was a frustrating day at the Patchogue nest but then a huge fish landed a little after 1930. Thank goodness. At 1944, Mini, who had been in line moves over to avoid Big but in less than a minute is back up in line determined to finally get some fish. And Mini eats – Mum feeds her tiny baby and he is still there at 20:06 when he walks away with a huge crop. Relief.

1835. Mini wants some fish.

1740. All lined up and eating that huge trout.

At 1945 Mini lets Mum know it is hungry and wants food! This time she listens and feeds Mini. Now look at the fish that is left. Mini is going to get all of this except for what Mum ate. Fantastic. He needs the food. He is in a big growth state. Indeed, Mini needs to eat more than the others to reach its peak size.

1948. Mini is being fed!

All the others are away and Mini is still being fed.

2006. Big Crop for Mini!

‘H’ reports on Severna Park: “The cam was down until 10:30.  I could not find a fish delivery until 1524, Olivia brought a monster fish.  Surprisingly Middle ate first, with Big holding back.  Wow.  Then at 1528, Middle peeked over at Big, and got ‘the look’, so Middle moved aside and cowered.  Big commenced eating, and at the first fish-feeding position, there really wasn’t anywhere for Middle to go to get fed, so s/he just waited, and Big gave Middle ‘the look’ a few other times. After Big was sated, Olivia decided to move the fish to the other side of the nest, and resumed the feeding, primarily feeding Middle.  Both Osplets were stuffed.  It was a 55 minute feeding.” Well, that is good news coming out of that nest. A key to the smaller one’s survival on the nest is not to ‘look’ directly in the eye of the larger sibling especially if it has been abusive. It just seems to set them off.

‘H’ also reports on the Patuxent River Park nests which she observes for our data collection.

Patuxent I: “Feeding from 1538 to 1611, from a huge live fish.  Very peaceful, both were full.”

Patuxent II: “What a strangely shaped bowl, deep and elongated.  Mom positioned herself so she could only feed two at a time.  Big and Middle started up close to Mom.  #3 displayed the patience of Job, and waited a very long time for his turn.  They all were well fed.  They all were up at the table several times.  I only saw two bonks: At 1433 Big was behind and wanted to get back up front so beaked #2, #2 simply obliged.  And at 1537 Middle bonked Little once, just for good measure. I had expected to see slightly more aggression from these three as I had seen previously, but it just didn’t happen.”

All lined up nicely at Oyster Bay. Did they all get fed? Hard to tell.

The ‘Only Bob’ at Cowlitz PUD did an incredible PS mid-day on Thursday while waiting for Mum to feed it. And she did…

CJ7 feeding the chicks before bed and Blue 022 brings in another fish, just in case.

The two Bobs at Llyn Brenig appear to be doing just fine.

Geemeff caught Dorcha and Louis’s little one trying to self-feed. Dorcha was preoccupied – with an intruder? – during the meal and the wee Bob didn’t think those fish flakes were coming fast enough!

Louis delivers fish 3 at Loch Arkaig for Dorcha and Only Bob. It was a whopper!!!!!!!

Elen feeding two healthy osplets at Glaslyn.

Aran gets to feed his chicks again, too. These two make a great couple. so happy for Aran since Mrs G, his long term mate, did not return from migration.

Telyn is feeding the Bobs at Dyfi while Idris is preparing another fish for them! Sure would have loved to have seen this at Achieva!

Maya and Blue 33 and their three are doing fine at Rutland Water. It is hard to see because of the condensation on the cam but, lots of fish coming in.

There was a good feeding at Barnegat Light early on Thursday morning.

‘H’ reports that the two later feedings were also good at Barnegat Light. Fantastic. “Feeding 1427 to 1438, Little was up front.  All got bites. Short feeding at 1515, was almost entirely a private feeding for Little.  The other two were too sleepy, lol.”

Lovely image of E22 taken on 7 June.

Big Red looks so good to be 20 years old and well, she has been raising chicks for at least 17 years of that. Never waivers. Always takes the best of care with them!

‘L’ remarked that Iris had a ‘boyfriend’ the other day in comments. I waited to see if Louis would come and chase him off. There have been rumours of her hanging about off-camera with a few younger males. Louis is busy with Star and their babies, so this could be a perfect time for a nest takeover. Keep delivering fish to Iris! Yes, we know she can beat them all but, Louis hardly ever brought a fish…

I love this!

It will not be long until Murphy and his ‘Rock Baby’ Eaglet will be separated so that Rock Baby can get the flying skills it needs for release into the wild. What a story this has been – a beautiful one.

Are you a fan of the Royal Albatross. Voting is on for the name for SP! Here is the information so you can take part.

And last that scrappy little falcon on top of San Jose City Hall of Monty and Hartley’s. Getting banded today…

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

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, tweets, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to construct my newsletter today: ‘H’, ‘L’, Bazz Hockaday and Friends of Osprey Sth Aus, #Chris Packham, PSEG, Severna Ospreys, Patuxent River Park, Cowlitz PUD, Poole Harbour Ospreys, Llyn Brenig Ospreys, Geemeff and the Woodland Trust, Bwywd Gwyllt Glaslyn, Dyfi Osprey Project, LRWT, Conserve Wildlife of NJ, Carol S Rifkin and NEFL and SWFL Eaglecam Watcher’s Club, Cornell RTH, Diane Lambertson and Montana Ospreys at Hellcat, Susan Dimitrakopoulos and Montana Ospreys at Hellcat, Louis Matteau and Montana Ospreys at Hellgate, ABC7 Southwest Florida, World Bird Sanctuary, Holly Parsons and Albatross Lovers FB, and SK Hideaways and SJCH Falcons.

How some Osprey parents avoid siblicide…Thursday in Bird World?

8 June 2023

Good Morning Everyone,

Oh, it has been relatively quiet in the garden. In fact, eerily quiet. There has been no sign of the feral cats that visit this end of the neighbourhood, the birds have seemingly disappeared, and only Dyson and Co. have been coming for peanuts, along with a few Sparrows and Wrens. Is it the heat? I wonder. Lewis and Missey ‘decided’ that they would no longer allow me to trim their nails without putting up a big fuss. Well, guess what? Both carriers out; they went in out of curiosity and zipped up and off to the nail trimmer! They were both in such shock. Lewis howled as if I was pulling those toenails out, and Missey was a darling then, on the way home, they were both angels. No more nails for scratching one another – well, til they grow out.

We will start with some sad news that Alo, 45D, from the Bald Canyon Eagle nest has died. This eaglet swallowed a fish hook and line and underwent surgery under the care of the IWS. Completely unnecessary.

I thought that would be the only death but, no…sadly I woke up to news from ‘H’ and ‘SP’ that Rosie and Richmond have lost their only osplet this season to unknown causes. Our hearts go out to this devoted couple.

And then there are balloons…seriously. This one has a happy ending, thankfully.

As all of you are aware, Osprey nests can be a feast or famine. One day there will be six or seven fish deliveries and the next day, it might be only one. Weather and intruders contribute to these fluctuations. We remain grateful to the wildlife rehabbers that rescue and give the little ones a second chance (sometimes third and fourth).

One nest that is flourishing with four Osplets on it is PSEG’s Patchogue platform on Long Island. It is remarkable because of the difference in size between the first two hatches and the fourth, little Mini. Somehow I doubt if anyone seeing this nest for the first time believed there was any hope for little Mini and yet, here we are on the 7th of June and little Mini is growing and growing. What is the secret?

As we have seen, osplets get brooded and ‘normally’ have their last fish delivery about an hour before the sun sets. Yes, there are exceptions – the midnight feedings at Moorings Park in Naples, Florida, taught us that this year. But imagine, four osplets full or partially full at bedtime waiting for another 8 or 9 hours before another meal. They are hungry!

On the Patchogue platform on the morning of 7 June 2023, the male delivered four fish before 0850. Those deliveries were at 0545, 0642, 0711, and again at 0850. I do not know how much fish little Mini got at 0545 feeding but at the 0642 feeding, Mini was right up there and there was fish left for Mum. At 0711, Mini is eating alone, a private feeding from Mum. By 0725, Mini has a huge crop and Mum moves the fish over to the other side of the nest to feed the others if they want to eat. Mini is first up at the table at 0850 and is still eating at 0934. Then the others eat some.

0725 and little Mini has a big crop.

Private feeding. Fish 4. Mum has fed chicks for more than three hours with all these deliveries.

At 1004 others eat.

1043. Little Mini is preening.

1114: Little Mini and the bulging crop.

1204. Little Mini in food coma. What a lovely sight.

There has never been an attempt not to feed little Mini despite its small size in relation to the others. Everyone gets fed and Mum makes an extraordinary effort to check and see and moves the fish around the nest to assist in feeding all.

‘M’ sent me two really cute screen shots of Little Mini standing up to one of the big Bobs. My goodness, this fourth hatch has got nerve!

1549. Mini is right up there eating!

1856 and Little Mini is up there with a huge crop! Oh, the haze from the fires burning in Canada. Dreadful for all.

There is another fish at 1936. Little Mini gets itself right up under Mum’s beak and intercepts a piece of fish meant for Big. Now Little Mini already has a big crop – Big took exception and beaked Mini who went into submission. Mini did not need to eat and did not need to create the aggravation. All big ones and Mum enjoyed that nice big trout. Nite Mini!

One thing that is happening is that little Mini is in a period of rapid growth that requires much more food while the older chicks are beginning to taper off. They eat more but less often. This might help little Mini. What does appear to be working is that fish are getting on the nest in plenty early in the morning – perhaps the fishing is easier? – and this appears to have a calming effect on the older siblings causing them to be food secure and less aggressive (not that they have ever been very very aggressive on this nest with all the fish Dad brings in and the equitable feeds by Mum).

A nest that has a problem with differentiation in feeding is Achieva (and Severna). As of Wednesday afternoon Middle has been rescued by Birds in Helping Hands. He was underweight and well…I can only imagine how good that fish is going to taste to him.

Big eating the fish on the nest..Big was very aggressive – the nest lost one chick to siblicide/starvation and Middle was on the verge. So thankful to those people who helped — you know who you are.

Want to thank Birds with Helping Hands? Send them a donation. That is how they manage to stay afloat.

Middle grounded.

Middle in the carrier on the way to rehab and a second chance at life. What a shame it would have been for this beautiful bird to starve to death. It was noted that Middle was not critically endangered of starving to death as so many are and he should be back and fit – having enjoyed meals without having to fight big.

Shelley Vickery contacted me Wednesday evening. Penny, the rehabber, says that Middle “should be just fine”. Isn’t that fantastic news?!

Please consider a donation – every dollar helps, no matter how small. We must support those that get out there and answer our calls for help.

Go to: birdsinhelpinghands.org

‘H’ sends me word from a view nests that we have been monitoring. At Severna, Big got all of the early fish. Then “The next fish was brought at 1330, and feeding commenced 1333.  Middle was on the other side of Olivia, and Olivia maintained her position for once.  It was a 16 minute feeding and Olivia distributed bites evenly.” Thank heavens! Middle had another good meal at 1438. Oh, keep it up Mum!

At the Patuxent II nest, H reports, “This is the nest of three osplets where there had been some aggression, although no bird has been kept from eating at the feeds I have observed. Feeding from 1316 to 1434.  I observed no aggression at all.  All were very well fed.  #2 had to wait his turn simply because of the strange configuration of that nest bowl.  Mom just couldn’t reach #2.  But at 1341, #2 started to get fed as others dropped out.”

‘H’ sent a good report on some of the changes at Forsythe Osprey nest and the new aggression towards the small osplet during meals – something that has not happened previously. “Fish 0912, feeding 0913 to 0927.  Mini in front row beside Little.  All got bites, no one touched Mini.  Mini ended up in a food coma. 1011 fish, feeding from 1013-1052.  Prior to the start of the feeding, Little beaked Mini and Middle, Mini tucked, Middle beaked back.  Little beaked Big, and Big beaked back.  At the start of the feeding Little beaked Middle again, Mini was still in submission.  Mini had a hard time getting up to the food line through the wall of the three older siblings, went around the other side away from Little and waited.  By 103842 Mini got its first bite, Big and Little dropped out, soon followed by Middle.  So Mini had a private feeding until 1047 when the others started to come back.  By 1048 Mini was in a food coma. 1222 fish, feeding from 1223 to 1232.  When the fish arrived, before the feeding started, Little beaked at Mini pretty roughly.  After the feeding started, Mini stayed back, nevertheless, Little turned around and beaked Mini on 4 different occasions.  Mini never made it to the food line.  After that feeding was over, Little beaked Mini at 1350, 1355, 1358 and 1403.  I don’t know why Mini stayed close to Little and didn’t seek a safe spot beside Big or Middle.”

The feedings really depend on Mini being able to stay away from Little who appears to be a very aggressive third-hatch female. ‘H’ notes that Mini got ’52’ bites on the Thursday morning feed because it was buffered by Big and Middle away form Little.

The latest report from ‘H’ on the Forsythe platform is really interesting. “All lined up  [3,2,4,1], so I thought, good, Mini stay away from Little.  But due to the sheer size of Middle and Big reaching for bites with Mini in between, Mini got squeezed out to the back row (nothing intentional).  When Little saw Mini, Little went on a mission to punish Mini.  Little went to the back row, and beaked Mini intermittently from 1449 to 1454.  Finally Big saw what was going on and reached back and beaked Little, so Little moved away!  Finally at 1500 Mini was up between Big and Middle again and was able to eat.  At 1503, Little tried to get back into the feeding and Big beaked Little, keeping it away, seeming to protect Mini, I kid you not.  So, Mini got fed, and probably ended up with more bites than Little.  If Little had just stayed in the original feeding line and not focused on beaking Mini, she would have been better off.”

Laddie LM12 delivered a whopper of a fish to the Loch of the Lowes Nest – late. Finally Middle gets to eat. Both osplets had full crops at the end of the feeding and even Blue NC0 got some fish.

Only osplet at Cowlitz PUD is still looking good. I sure hope some big fish come to this nest…that water area needs to be stocked!

Needed to check in on Victor and Abby. I think this is Victor screaming for a fish and then chowing down on one…talk about fantastic parents!

Oyster Bay osplets look like they are doing OK.

The trio at Outerbanks also look healthy with clear shiny eyes. I have not been able to ascertain about the equity in feeding but right now, each looks healthy.

Two babies at Seaside are looking good, too.

How much food the third hatch is getting at Barnegat Light is unclear. The two big ones did not allow it near to a nice big fish at the late feeding and I have not watched this nest closely but it did eat well at an earlier one.

Oh, just look at that Bob stand up for its fish at the Dyfi nest of Idris and Telyn!

At Glaslyn, Elen is feeding the chicks and Aran is on the branch with another fish!

Two years ago, CJ7 of Poole Harbour only dreamed of having a mate and osplets. Then a very young Blue 022 stopped by the nest. It was too late in the season and everyone hoped he would return. This is their second year for raising chicks and they have three adorable little osplets.

Tucked in tight for the night.

Big Red and Arthur are starting to get the Ms to be interested in self-feeding. M1 took on a chippie today and did well. The others will not go hungry during this period. Big Red will continue to feed them. Very different than an osprey nest!

All done.

San Jose City Halls little falcon sure is loud. Had a nice meal in the morning and – well, I don’t blame it – I didn’t see later prey. Screaming for food at noon! Hopefully a later meal.

Still screaming at 1525.

Locations of Waba and Bonus on 6 June.

Dmitri’s Storklet is growing and doing well…gosh, there is good news out there in Bird World.

Pi, one of the trio at the Dulles-Greenway Bald Eagle nest, was doing so well, she was released back into the wetlands to be fed and trained by her parents, Martin and Rosa. The metal you see around the tree is a raccoon protector.

Angel and Tom’s surviving hawklet now has a name – Deyani (Great and strong). Beautiful. ‘A’ writes: “Great name for RTH5. It was lovely to see Tom feeding Deyani yesterday – as I mentioned, it was more a matter of Tom pulling bits off that squirrel and Deyani grabbing them. Tom looked a little shocked the first time the hawklet grabbed dad’s bite from him, but then Tom continued with his work on the squirrel and eventually actually deliberately gave the hawklet some bites. I felt like a proud auntie.”

Fires are raging. No Arctic ice. Temperatures are rising and the situation at nests such at Achieva who are suffering from a severe drought are set to see this pattern continue. Nests burned, raptors dead…

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jun/06/too-late-now-to-save-arctic-summer-ice-climate-scientists-find?CMP=share_btn_link

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One of my favourites, Bill McKibben on the haze…Thanks ‘B’!

I-can-see-clearly-nowDownload

Thank you to everyone who has sent e-mails worried about me and the wildfires. That was so sweet and so very kind. We have haze but it is not nearly as bad as other parts of Canada and the US. So far the recent rains have helped.

Thank you for being with me today. Please take care of yourself. Send your good wishes to our nests. See you soon!

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to create my blog today: ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘H’, ‘L’, ‘SP’, IWS, SF Bay Ospreys, Holly Parsons and The New Zealand Herald, PSEG, Achieva Credit Union, Birds in Helping Hands, Severna Ospreys, Forsythe Ospreys, LOTL, Cowlitz PUD, Moorings Park, Outerbans 24/7, Seaside Ospreys, Conservancy Conservation of NJ, Dyfi Osprey Project, Bywyd Gwylld Glaslyn, Poole Harbour Ospreys, Cornell RTH, SJCH Falcons, Bird Map, Dmitri’s Storklet Cam, Dulles-Greenway Eagles, Gracie Shepherd and Raptors of the World, The Guardian, and The New York Times.

Featured Image: Chicks being fed by Daisy at Barnegat Light.

Wednesday in Bird World

7 June 2023

Good Morning Everyone,

Today’s nest report is a little scattered. Lots of information on birds in rehab, some funny moments, and some sad ones.

Let’s start with something fun. That little eyas at the San Jose City Hall scrape broke free today!

The Bald Canyon Eaglet with the hook and line in its GI tract will be undergoing surgery today. Please send your warmest wishes to Alo and continue to educate people on the dangers of fishing tackle – line, hooks, and lead weights.

Then there is the human rubbish…

We need to educate people..not just children. Air guns have no place in animal cruelty. This poor Osprey had, “It had three airgun pellets in its body, a fractured le wing, a ruptured right eye and flesh wounds.” Parents have to teach kindness but they also have to model it.

Osprey-put-down-after-being-shot-with-airgun-in-Washington-BBC-NewsDownload

Sometimes I take a deep breath and hold it when I can’t see Mini on the Patchogue nest immediately. But there he was eating and flapping its little wings and walking on its feet, not its ankles today.

0801 – eating

And a PS. Mini is trying to anticipate the next fish delivery and be up close to Mum. It has been a few hours and he is hungry.

There were not as much fish at Patchogue today but Mini did eat in the morning and at 1902 was up there getting fish as well.

Right up at the beak!

There was another fish delivery after this one. I cannot tell who got what…Mum was blocking the view. It was 2006. Still, the Big ones kept eating and I could not see Mini. Then after the fish was finished, Big went ‘over’ Mini. I continue to say this is ‘not good’. Mini remains too small and the Big sibling is really showing its dominance as it requires more and more fish. I remain very concerned for Mini – but always hopeful of a miracle.

There are plenty of fish at PSEG Oyster Bay but is the little one getting its share? The oldest is moving into the reptile phase. I hope this nest stays calm!

There is nothing sweeter than a newly hatched osplet – and nothing worse that a hungry Osprey fledgling (like Big and Middle). The three at Barnegat Light are doing fine so far. But they are small and cute.

The Only Bob at Cowlitz appears to be doing well. How many times do I wish there was only one spoiled, well-fed chick at each nest?

‘A’ asked me if there are more than three and four chick osprey nests this year, and the answer is yes. When all of the ospreys have migrated or fledged and left their territory (September), Claudio and I will crunch the numbers. At that time, we can tell you the % of 2, 3, and 4 chick nests, % that fledged, the % that died and how they died. We will also know the DNH rates. I will share that information with you, but there are more nests with larger broods. I cannot say if the death rate is higher, but it ‘feels’ like it is.

At Glaslyn, Aran has been feeding the chicks under the watchful eye of Elen.

The trio on the nest of CJ7 and Blue 022 in Poole Harbour are thriving. Lots of fish. Lovely kiddos.

The Achieva Osprey platform is simply heartbreaking. The first hatch, Big Bob has taken all of the fish and Middle is hungry – so hungry that calls have been made to the local wildlife rehab clinic. It is difficult – or as ‘R’ says, ‘it breaks your heart’ to watch one bird eat and eat and eat and one get nothing.

At the Severna nest, Big is also exercising its right to all fish but Middle is getting some – because Mum is still feeding. She does not always do what I want her to and turn around and feed her second hatch but he is getting some fish.

On Tuesday, the third hatch osplet at the Patuxent River Park I nest in Maryland died in care after being removed from the nest for sibling aggression/starvation.

Laddie LM12 has delivered a big fish to the Loch of the Lowes nest and Blue NC0 and the two chicks went to bed with full crops. Relief. I do so worry about this nest that should be thriving -. He had earlier delivered two fish. The eldest ate the first and then the second got some of the second delivery.

Ferris caught a Doe and her fawn on video…not a raptor but lovely.

What impact does the haze and fine ash from the Canadian wildfires have on ponds and fishing for the Osprey? This article in The New York Times talks about the fires and their impact outside of Canada but…what about our birds?

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Big Red has ‘something feathered’ she is plucking. I really do not want to think about it but, it looks like a small Blue Heron. Don’t hold me to that. Chicks are excited and Big Red is looking good. (All of the cameras are hazy from the fires in Canada).

It is 2041 and Big Red is just beginning to feed the trio. They have grown so much and we will be waiting for fledge watch far too soon.

SK Hideaways caught the trio chowing down! Big Red’s kids are never hungry. They all eat – you will never see the type of food rivalry that you would on an Osprey nest.

If you have been watching the story of the two Red-tail hawklets in the Bald Eagle nest, there is a sad update. I am so glad that these eaglets were not RTH5 or any of the Ms.

Angel and Tom’s RTH5 is growing and you can see similar plumage to the eyases of Big Red and Arthur. This little one will be fledging shortly, too. RTH5 will also have a name in the morning when I post this blog. Angel brought in a small Cotton-tail bunny for a late night dinner for her and the chick.

Angel has arrived with the prey and RTH5 spots her on a branch below.

Confirmation of the prey item when Angel flies to the nest.

Tom was on the nest earlier, feeding RTH5. He has turned into a good mate and parent.

E22 might never leave the Southwest Florida Bald Eagle nest. S/he is right at home having hatched in the nest, played in the pond, and caught its first fish there. Why would it leave? Right now there is no pressure from M15 or any potential mate of his. But, we never know and every second must be appreciated as if it were the last —- precisely the way that we should live our lives. Nothing is promised. So enjoy this amazing fledgling…you might remember that, at one point, we worried E22 would get enough to eat! M15 was an incredible parent. He did well by his last two eaglets with Harriet…better than many nests with two adults to care for the young.

Kathryn has been helping me observe osprey nests this season and sadly, the first two did not do well. She is also aware that I am looking for examples of osplets going into care, surviving, and fledgling – to try and convince some organisations that intervention can help, that Osplets do well in care – at least in the US. Seaside Seabird Sanctuary showed a short clip of two little osplets doing well…Thanks ‘K’. Know of any others? Have you seen any posts? Please let me know. Thanks, everyone.

Right now I would like to see Middle at Achieva having a big bowl of fish.

Karl II and Kaia looking after their four storklets in Estonia.

Oh, I love storks…the four of Bety and Bukachek were wanting some fish! or worms.

The chicks learn from their parents and mimic their behaviour. Sadly, Murphy’s eaglet is hopping and not trying to fly so, the pair will need to be separated and the eaglet placed with an adult who can fly. Thanks, Murphy! You were a great Dad. Gosh, he is going to miss his eaglet.

‘H’ reports that R5 has returned to the WRDC nest! Fledged/fludged on the 4th and returned on the 7th. Lovely. Great video of that reunion with Mum and R4. Love the squeeing and the chortling.

‘H’ reports on several other nests: “Patuxent 1:  1156 fish delivery, Big almost immediately launched an attack on Middle, but it didn’t last that long.  But surprisingly, when the feeding began, it was entirely peaceful.  Go figure, another nest with some aggression, but not at the feedings.  Also surprising, #1 didn’t really try to eat very much, laid down part of the feeding, even though it did not have a big crop and they had not been not recently fed.  Middle’s crop was 3x the size of Big’s at the end of the feeding.  After the feed, Middle remained alert, and Big laid down.”

Patuxent 2: Difficult to see feedings as view is often blocked. “Feeding from 1610 to 1731, huge fish.  Little was intimidated by ‘the look’ and stayed back. Middle and Big ate.  At 1619 Little tried to approach and was bonked.  At 1624 Little started to eat with Big’s blessing.  1628 Big and Middle backed away, Little had a private feeding to 1636.  At 1638 Little beaked Big, big mistake, lol.  But that brought out the beast in Big, and Big then went after Middle, and came back and went back after Little again.  By 1646 Little was back at the table.  All three ended up with large crops.”

Thank you for being with me…for all the nests that continue to struggle with aggression or lack of fish, send your positive wishes their way. Take care everyone. See you soon!

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, and streaming cams that helped to make up my newsletter today and a big shout out to ‘L’ who kept in touch with the rehabbers in St Petersburg on Tuesday about Middle at Achieva. ‘A’, ‘H’, Kathryn, ‘SK’, SK Hideaways and SJCH Falcons, IWS, The Friends of Island Beach State Park, BBC news, PSEG, Barnegat Light and Conservancy C of NJ, Cowlitz PUD, SW Florida Eagles, Bywyd Gwyllt Glaslyn, Poole Harbour Ospreys, Achieva Credit Union Severna Park Ospreys, Ildiko A Polk and Patuxent RP Osprey Nest, LOTL, Ferris Akel, The New York Times, Cornell RTH, SK Hideaways and Cornell RTH, Birds of Prey and Doug Gillard, Window to Wildlife, SK Hideaways and SWFlorida, Seaside Seabird Sanctuary, Eagle Club of Estonia, Mlade Buky, Patuxent River Park, World Bird Sanctuary, and Heidi McGru and the WRDC.

Tuesday in Bird World

6 June 2023

Good Morning Everyone,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Siesta time.

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

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

1425:

1428:

1542

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

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

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

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

Still looking alright at Cowlitz PUD.

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

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

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

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

Blue 022 watches his chicks as CJ7 feeds them.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Black storks growing big and strong.

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

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

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

Supporting-the-Citys-Osprey-Nests-ParkwaysDownload

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

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

Monday in Bird World

5 June 2023

Good Morning Everyone,

Thank you for all of your weekend wishes. I did have a lovely weekend, celebrating my granddaughter’s birthday and her upcoming graduation with her Masters of Social Work. She has worked with the level four homeless addicts in the core area of our City – . I am so very proud of her. My daughter has always been the ‘baker’ of the family and she passes along this tip to everyone. The original chocolate cake was delicous but it is equally delicious Vegan.

No balloons here…just as much fun without them. Teach your children early. They can educate their friends on the harm they can do to birds and other wildlife!

I promised you some pictures of the kittens. Lewis wants you to know that if you notice scratches on each side of his face – Missey did it! He says she looks ‘sweet’ but she is ‘deadly’! He adds, “Just like big sisters if you are a little osprey male!!!!!”

There is the evidence!

Big and fluffy and can convince you she is the sweetest thing on the planet…but, she has this ‘wildness’ about her. Lewis just gets himself into trouble all the time.

Missey is too big for the top of the cat tree, too! Look at that tail! Hours of brushing required.

Starting off with a pair of Black Storks that fledged in 2022, Waba and Bonus. They fledged from Karl II and Kaia’s nest. Bonus is the only surviving storklet of Jan and Janikka. He was MIA for a long time after flying over the Eastern Desert of Egypt and then, to the delight of all, his transmitter came back on and he wasn’t dead but, very much alive. Here are their current locations. Thanks so much ‘T’.

Bonus has flown 7216 km since he fledged.

Karl II feeding his three little ones. The youngest downs a whole fish!

Black Storks in Italy defending their nestlings against an intruder! TY Maria Marika FB.

Flora has fledged at the Dulles-Greenway Bald Eagle Nest! Her siblings Pi and Pat are in rehab after falling out of the collapsing nest of her parents, Martin and Rosa. We know that Martin and Rosa have been providing prey to Flora and they will continue to do so as she improves her flying – as long as she stays in the area. Just like E22. Sadly the nest is getting worse but it is still a good platform for a delivery. Send your good wishes.

The IWS is doing everything it can to help with the fishing line and hook that was swallowed by one of the Bald Canyon eaglets, 45D. Here is the latest update:

The 11:04 fish at the Achieva Credit Union was claimed by Middle to the delight of all watching. Middle has had to become quite scrappy to survive. Keep it up! Because we know that Big is a fish eating machine…

At around 1712 a fish was delivered. Middle got it but then the adult went, pulled the fish out from under the fledgling, and flew off with it. Another fish appears at 1839 or thereabouts and Big gets it. Middle had a small fish in the morning and then Big gets this later one. Are the canals dried up? are there too many intruders and parents are defending the nest to the detriment of the fledglings?

1713. Adult pulls the fish out from the hungry fledgling and flies away with it. This was disturbing to both me and ‘R’ who is keeping an eye on this nest. Everyone is hungry, adults and fledglings alike.

1732

The battle for the fish at 1839.

I watch Big Red and her Ms all the time but often do not report. They are fantastic. At this stage, like RTH5, they are interested in what is happening beyond the nest.

We may not see Arthur much since he is Daddy Door Dash but he is playing an important role – providing lots of prey for Big Red and the Ms and he will teach the Ms flight training and hunting once they fledge. In the meantime, he will also put on aerial displays, along with Big Red, to show the Ms that they are birds and they, too, can fly!

Sunnie Day reports that all three of the osplets at the Crooked Lake osprey platform are doing well – each is fed to the brim and all are healthy.

At the Severna Park Osprey platform, Middle missed out for the most part on Saturday. A nice fish came in at 0922 and Middle is getting some food.

Middle is being smart and staying on the opposite of Mum but making himself known! It is 1248 and Mum is feeding him but, the majority of the fish went to Big.

The late evening fish came into Severna. Both were lined up but Big took exception and Middle backed off. He tried to come up the side and finally was fed when Big was full. Why doesn’t the female just shift a big when these little ones come up to the side? They know they are there. Time 1903. ‘H’ confirms that there were four feedings at Severna and it seems Middle came out alright for the day. Relief.

Mini at the Patchogue nest has done well on Sunday and that really goes down to Mum paying attention to her little baby and watching out that it gets fed.

Mini is right up there at 1559.

Monday Morning. 0538. Mini is right up there at the table. What a wonderful way to start the week. Tears. This is just such an amazing nest. One day at a time but Hopeful.

Mini has a fat little bottom.

By 0854, Mini had dropped its crop. Another fish was in and at 0902 Mini was up eating again.

Four little angels lined up at the Forsythe Osprey platform. Opal seems to have good control with no beaking during meals although ‘H’ reports that some of the chatters have seen some angst in between feedings. We live in hope.

Outerbanks 24/7 is doing great, too.

Cowlitz PUD has one osplet (thank goodness). Is it just me, or are the fish deliveries really thin again this year?

R5 at the WRDC nest of Ron and Rose has fludged again…He is having a difficult time of it. To the delight of all, ‘H’ reports that R5 was seen perched in a tree near the nest and flying freely. Well done!

Maybe it is just me but the deliveries at the Loch of the Lowes nest in Scotland – the home of Laddie LM12 and Blue NC0 – just do not seem to be that plentiful still. Am I wrong?

The reason appears to be linked to intruders. Dad can’t fish if he has to protect Mum, the kids, and the territory continually.

The two surviving osplets at Llyn Brenig were having their fish breakfast when I checked in early Monday in the UK. Gosh the storms did so much damage to those trees…just look at it.

It was 04:49 and CJ7 was feeding the three osplets at the Poole Harbour nest. This is what I would have liked to have seen at Loch of the Lowes!

There was a bit of a fright late Sunday when CJ7 caught her leg in human debris on the nest – a black bin liner. Thanks, ‘M’ for letting me know. I will always alert those associated with the camera. That does not, however, mean that help will be given. The bin liner got loose, thankfully!

Despite the rain, the three osplets at the Boulder County Fairgrounds Osprey platform in Longmont, Colorado, appear to be doing alright. They are 11, 10 and 8 days old today. The fish look nice. The oldest is losing its soft natal down and entering the Reptile phase. All three need to be kept warm and dry, still. They cannot thermoregulate their temperatures and they could get hypothermia.

This is my first year observing this nest. I began because of the baling twine, but the county will not do anything about it. Hoping that all is well with full fledges. The fish look good! Here is the link to their camera:

Daisy and Duke’s three little ones look alright, too. It is so hard to tell how things will work out at this stage. The winds appear to be howling – hoping the weather does not hinder Dad’s ability to fish.

There is beaking at Patuxent II – so caution. ‘H’ reports that at the end of a meal she observed, all did wind up with a crop despite the aggression.

Flora, the last of the Dulles-Greenway eaglets, fledged from the collapsing nest on Sunday. They have it on video.

‘H’ sent me a note that moon_rabbit_rising (Instagram) has tonnes of images of the Cal Falcons and a possible reason for Annie’s superficial injury. Be sure to check out her amazing photographs of Annie, Lou, and the fledglings!

Angel and Tom’s little RTH5 is not so ‘little’ anymore. That nest, all of a sudden, seems to be quite small.

Are you a fan of Mrs G? Believed to be the oldest UK Osprey. she did not return from migration in 2023 and Aran now is mated with Elen. A memory board is up at the Glaslyn Visitor’s Centre and it will soon become a poster you can purchase.

E22 is still with us at Fort Myers. Check out the beautiful juvenile face!

The only chick at the San Jose City Hall Peregrine Falcon scrape of Hartley and Monty will be banded on Tuesday!

There appears to be a shortage of food in so many places, including at Karl II’s nest in Estonia. Send your best wishes to all the birds. When tasked with being good stewards of our planet, humans have received a failing grade and, sadly, our wildlife is paying for it.

Thank you so much for being with me this morning. I am off to make sure that what little grass there is in my garden (lots of trees and shrubs) does not turn into hay! Take care everyone. See you soon.

Thank you to the following for their notes, videos, posts, and streaming cams that helped to make up my blog this morning: ‘ H’, ‘J’, ‘M’, ‘R’, ‘T’, Eagle Club of Estonia, Maria Marika FB, Celia Aliengirl and IWS, Achieva Credit Union, Cornell RTH, Sunnie Day and Crooked Lake Ospreys, Severna Park Ospreys, PSEG, Forsythe Ospreys, Outerbanks 24/7, Cowlitz PUD, Heidi McGru and the WRDC, LOTL, Scottish Wildlife Trust, Llyn Brenig, Poole Harbour Ospreys, Boulder County Fairgrounds, Dulles-Greenway Eagle Cam, Barnegat Light and Conservancy of NJ, moon_rabbit_rising, Window to Wildlife, Bywyd Gwylld Glaslyn, SW Florida Eagle Cam, and San Jose City Hall Falcon Cam.

Sunday in Bird World

4 June 2023

Good Morning Everyone,

I want to thank everyone who has sent in names of nests with three or more osplets and to those who have helped to get each bird’s name on the Memorial Wall that we have lost this year. We are at #50. If you know of a nest or see I am missing a nest on a streaming cam that had a loss, including a parent, please let me know. You can e-mail me at maryannsteggles@icloud.com OR add a comment. Thank you! And thank you to ‘T’, who helped me with some of the Golden and Imperial eagle nests today.

It was hot and humid on the Canadian prairies and the storms that were brewing showed up in the late afternoon. The lilacs and the garden are the richest British Racing Green. Stunning. I did not do a comprehensive check of all the nests today. Sometimes we all need a break and it has been a tough week. Spending time with little ducklings sure helps the spirit! These little ones were running all over the place. Hard to count!

Someone at the park must have tossed birdseed (millet?) into the gravel by the pond’s edge. The ducklings are keen on finding it.

Andy N Condor always puts a smile on my face. Some great news – an adoption!

Please send all your positive wishes to Cal Falcons. We know what intruders can do and Annie appears to have had a fight with someone.

The IWS (Dr Sharpe and colleagues) have a dedicated page to the Bald Canyon eaglet that swallowed the fishing hook. Yes, if you do not know about this, it is terrible. Here is the story and the link for future updates. Thanks, ‘B’.

Please contribute to the rehabilitation of Eagle 45/D from the Bald Canyon eagle nest on San Clemente Island. He swallowed a fishing hook attached to a fish on 6/1/23. We rescued and transported him to a rehab facility near San Diego on 6/2/23. Donations made to IWS for 45/D’s care using the Donate button below will be forwarded directly to the rehab facility. We will provide updates below as we receive them.

Status Updates:

6/3/23: The fish hook is in the lower GI tract and “free-floating”. The veterinarian was unable to remove it endoscopically. A specialist will be examining 45/D on 6/4 and a plan will be developed for the hook removal.

https://www.iws.org/45d

There has been lots of wishful thinking that E22 might just stay at the Fort Myers nest. S/he certainly feels comfortable and has enjoyed the pond. Well, on Saturday, E22 catches its first fish on camera. Heidi McC shows it in real time and then in slow-mo. My goodness. Happiness.

The Pritchett Family website for the SW Florida cam has confirmed this…and I have seen the image blown up. It is not pond debris – it is a fish!

I sure would like to see Big and Middle over at the Achieva Osprey nest catching their own fish. Some chatters believe that Diane is back bringing in some fish after injuring a foot. That would be fantastic as the dust-ups are getting pretty rough. They remind me of Ervie and his sibling, Bazza, at Port Lincoln.

At 1625 both are eating fish but Big always seems to get the largest. Another fish comes in later and Big gets it as well. That time is 1937. It could be the last delivery from Jack of the day.

1627:

The 1937 delivery:

Send some good wishes for these two. They need some fish to get strong and then go on their own way. There will be no love lost between the two of them!

As I look at all of the struggling osprey nests, I often see the term ‘survival of the fittest’ in the chat comments. In his book, Reconnection. Fixing our Broken Relationship with Nature, Miles Richardson says that Charles Darwin in his Descent of Man regularly used the term ‘love’ instead of the survival of the fittest. He argues that Darwin moved away from the term stating that he was not referring to the “victory of one over the other”. Einstein suggests that we are all part of something larger, just a piece of nature where we all belong together and survive by cooperation – as many Eastern religions have stressed since their origins. Watching Big and Middle at Achieva it is hard to think about love and cooperation. Once animals became objects – for example, in modern farming – our connectedness to them ceased to exist. Richardson believes we need to get this back – to realise that it is not a competition but that we must cooperate for our planet’s survival. I wish to travel and return to a place pre-human, pre-industrial, to see our ospreys. They have been here for more than 60 million years.

At Patchogue, Mini has been eating but Big has also been beaking at times. Very unpleasant because that older sibling is just so much bigger. Mum is very much aware of her tiny baby though and makes sure it gets under her and I also believe that she makes certain it gets fed. We can only hope that the huge fish that are coming on this nest continue so that the three big ones are full and Mini gets fed and none of the others notices! or cares.

Where’s Mini? Big sibs are full. Three is eating. Is Mini on the other side?

Mum tucking in Mini carefully.

The last feeding of the day and Mini is up there having some good fish. After being fed for a bit, one of the bigger sibs seems to take exception but Mini went to bed after doing a full crop drop. No major aggression – the Big ones just have to stand tall and ‘look’.

1906: Really nice crop. Everyone else sleeping except for big whose head you can see above Mum’s. She wants some more fish but Mini has a nice crop.

We take this nest and be joyful – one day at a time. If Mini survives, I have a tiny bottle of champagne sitting and waiting.

Early Sunday morning, Mini waits and gets a private feeding. Do you get the distinct impression that this wonderful Mum keeps some food back form the Big ones for Mini? It sure seems like it!

Three preening after breakfast. Big goes up for more. So far so good. A day at a time.

The trio at the other PSEG nest at Oyster Bay seem to be doing alright as well. Gosh, they are so much closer in size.

At Severna Park, Middle waits and watches rather than engaging with Big. If there is fish left or Big is full, Middle eats. Middle has gone without on Saturday for all feedings. This is the 0807 feeding.

13:59. You will notice that the fish deliveries are down. Big got all of this fish, too.

1558 Feeding.  “Middle started out in submission, but worked his way around the other side of Olivia, and managed to get bites for 6 minutes, then Olivia moved!  So, big attacked.  Olivia pulled the fish to the other side of the nest and fed Big.  Middle snuck around and got a few more bites.  Ended up with a small crop.” Thanks, ‘H’.

‘H’ reports that the feeding at the Patuxent I Osprey platform was super. No aggression at the feeding observed and both ate well.

At the Patuxent II nest. “A slightly different story, there is aggression by Big.  At 1317 they all ate harmoniously for the first 10 minutes, then Big decided s/he wanted to dine alone, and beaked Middle and Little, so they were out.  After several minutes, Middle worked its way back to the table, but it took quite a while longer for Little to get back.  Big decided it was OK, and dropped out shortly thereafter anyway.  The net result is that all were well fed.  It was 40 minute feeding.”

As far as I am aware, the other nests are doing alright. We have no other deaths on Saturday.

Iris’s nest, full of leaves, tells it all but Iris is a survivor and amidst the floods and droughts, she knows where to find the fish. Here she is on Saturday with one of her ‘whopper’s on the Owl Pole. It is unfortunate that she did not have a reliable mate after Stanley. She certainly has good DNA on her side of the genetic markers – she knows how to build the best osprey nest I have seen and wow, can she fish…she is as good as it gets.

Just look at that fish!

At the UK nests, everything is going well for Idris and Telyn and their two Bobs at the Dyfi nest. Those kids have grown fast and as you can see, we are in the Reptile phase. They are 10 and 12 days old today.

Aran and his new mate Elen are keeping the two Bobs at Glaslyn well fed.

CJ7 and her mate Blue 022 have three beautiful and healthy osplets at Poole Harbour. No issues!

Condensation on the Manton Bay nest and the way that Maya stands to feed the Bobs tends to obscure what is happening. That said, there is nothing to worry about on this nest. The wee Bobs of a few weeks ago are now getting their juvenile plumage!

Loch Arkaig – the home of Louis and Dorcha – is doing just fine with its Onoy Bob. Louis is right there for a deliver for his mate and wee one.

Except for Llyn Brenig where the third hatch died, all of the other UK nests appear to be doing well.

The two Dulles-Greenway eaglets that fell from the collapsing nest of their parents, Martin and Rosa, are together again in rehab – . That is wonderful news. They can work those wings and get to be strong fliers.

Poor Flora. Earlier she was up on a high branch with one of the adults but tonight a strong wind is blowing and she is all alone and the branch is very thin. You can see that this eaglet is frightened in the storm.

I do not know if it is the same storm system or not but Daisy is holding on for dear life at the Barnegat Light osprey platform in New Jersey. She has two osplets under there that hatched on the 31 May and 1 June that can’t be fed due to the high winds. I do not know if Duke can even fish. there is a coastal flood advisory for Barnegat Light and the winds are blowing at 31 kph. ‘H’ reports that the third egg hatched at 05:13 for Daisy and Duke. Let us wish them good weather and calm winds.

All the nests along this coast will be impacted.

There is something to smile about. Look at this beautiful White-tailed eaglet that was banded on Saturday in Tatarstan region of Russia near the Volga River. Isn’t it adorable! Just look at that big beak! It is a boy! Thanks ‘T’ and thank you for letting me know that this area is rich in prey for the eagles. Let us hope that Sarpike moves her nest to this region!

As I say often, every nest can change on a ‘dime’. They need habitat, strong old trees, birds and mammals to eat, fish to catch, and clean water without toxins. Begin at home. Help when and where you can. Educate others. Build a web of caring people. Everything helps. If you see an animal in need, stop and observe. Have the number of the wildlife rehabber in your phone. Call them! You will feel better for every life you save.

And one more thought. Do you grow a garden? do you have extra produce? do you know someone who does? Our wildlife rehabber has just asked for donations of fresh veggies or for people to grow a row in their garden for the animals – kale, carrots, lettuces, beans….I suspect that every rehab centre needs fresh veggies. Check it out.

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

A special thanks to those who sent notes, created videos, wrote FB posts, articles, or run streaming cams that helped to create my blog this morning: ‘B’, ‘H’, ‘R’, ‘T’, Andy N Condor, Cal Falcons, IWS, Heidi MC and SWFlorida Eagle Cam, Achieva Credit Union, PSEG, Severna Ospreys, Patuxent River Park, Montana Osprey Project, Dyfi Osprey Project, Bywyd Gwylld Glaslyn, Poole Harbour Ospreys, LRWT, Geemeff and Loch Arkaig and the Woodland Trust, Loudontimes.com, Dulles-Greenway, Barnegat Light and NJ Conservancy, Tartasan WTE.

Friday in Bird World

2 June 2023

Good Morning Everyone!

It has been one of those weeks. Thankfully, it is ‘baby’ season and an excellent reason to get out amongst the ducks and the geese and count the newly hatched. Three duck mamas were quacking away, trying to keep the little ones together. It was hilarious. Those ducklings are so fast, darting hither and yon, enough that Mum just can’t keep track of them. It was adorable. I could see no goslings – yet. Not at this park, but there were 9 male Wood Ducks and not one female in sight. Perhaps they were on the island incubating eggs. At any rate, it was lovely. The day’s heat had cooled, people were smiling, and everyone seemed to want to chat.

As Father’s Day nears, I am eternally grateful that mine taught me the beauty of nature, the happiness of sitting quietly in the garden, that feeling of joy when a Cardinal lands on your upturned hand and takes a seed but, most of all, a responsibility to make the lives of animals and birds better, if I could. He helped me connect to nature and to something far bigger than myself.

‘H’ sent me a link to a TED talk this morning. She knows me well – I get very upset when humans on chats apologise for ‘anthropomorphising’ animal feelings. She knows I am a big follower of Marc Bekoff at the University of Colorado and Jane Goodall and their studies of animals and emotions. She knows that I watch adult raptors grieve when their children die. So she sent me a talk by Ron Magill. Some know Ron Magill as ‘the Eagle Guy’ from the Miami Zoo. The nest that Ron and Rose have was the brainchild of Magill. But, he is more than just eagles, and in this 18-minute talk (please listen to all of it as you will miss the best parts if you don’t!), he tells us the story of Quasi, an orphan lion cub at the Miami Zoo. Keep the link. When anyone on a chat tells you animals don’t have feelings – don’t get mad; educate them! Thanks, ‘H’.

How many Osprey nests had four eggs and four hatches? Blue 80 over at Threave Castle has four in the nest, too. It will be interesting to see how that plays out compared to the US nests. For awhile, the monitors of this nest (there is no streaming cam) thought there to be only three but up popped the fourth head. So far so good.

Yesterday, I said that “If there is a nest that gives me hope, it is Patchogue on Long Island.” Thursday was a pretty good day for Mini so let’s go through it.

This Mini-Bob has attitude! Please look at it below with those three enormous siblings lined up behind it. Mum looks down directly into its eyes. She is good to feed that baby if it gets its beak up close to hers. This Mini has to be a female…oh, how I wish we would know for sure.

Four osplets, one little Mini – and yet so civil. Fish come on the nest – nice ones – every couple of hours and the kids line up and eat if they are hungry. Mini was right up there at 1507 and was still going strong until he was so full – and hot – and got under Mum’s tail for shade at 1531.

I want to give a shout out to this great Dad who just keeps bringing in the fish! I did not count the number today but it certainly makes a difference when you have a nest with chicks spread like this one…just monster sized big siblings and there, in the centre of the nest, Mini – who is just starting to get into the Reptilian phase.

‘L’ writes that a delivery at 1600- a small gold fish – resulted in Little Bob being a little aggressive to Tiny – who did not get any food then.

Dad just delivers fishing – Daddy Door Dash Supreme. He should get some 5 star rating in TripAdvisor! A late fish came on the nest and I could not find Mini. Well, he was right up on the right side of Mum and he did get fed. Mini did not have a huge crop – or he did a crop drop which could have happened – but he did get fed for a period of time (about 15 minutes). I am astonished by this baby on this nest of ‘huge’ siblings.

At the 0930 delivery, Mini did not get any fish. And now I am beginning to worry about Mini’s survival. The big siblings are now bashing one another. Mini got up to the beak and could have eaten but was submissive. He should have snatched those few bites…they all add up. So this nest is far from being out of the woods. A s the three larger siblings grow and require more food, it might be impossible for Mini to get up there. Let us wait and see if he can figure this out.

At the Severna nest, a big fish came on the nest at 10:08:37. Big already had a huge crop from an earlier fish but, she still had to get up front. By 10:33 Middle is eating having previously moved up under Mum’s tail. Middle is still eating at 10:49!

At 16:31, a massive fish comes on the nest. It is big enough to feed both chicks and Mum to the brim!

Big will go first regardless of its already huge crop – Middle still has a crop from an earlier feed, too.

By 1654 Middle has positioned himself on the opposite of Mum and is getting fish. This chick has come a long way in figuring out how to survive on this nest! Bravo Middle.

At the Forsythe nest of Opal and Oscar, Oscar keeps bringing on the fish just like the male at Patchogue. Little Mini is right up there eating. All appears to be well with the world here with so many deliveries on Thursday.

This is Mini getting fed, not Little! Mini is stretching its neck to make it really long.

‘H’ notes the following times at Forsythe: “Forsythe:  1052 feeding, Mini in the back, got two bites (smallish fish).  No bonking.  1225 feeding, Mini worked its way up to the front and got at least 32 bites, again it was peaceful. There was a pretty significant beaking match between the two oldest at around 0929, but not at a feeding.”

No bullying at the Dahlgren Osprey nest. The two are both enjoying being side by side eating fish.

There are two osplets for Duke and Daisy at the Barnegat Light Osprey platform on Thursday! Thanks ‘H’.

So far the only Bob at Cowlitz PUD is doing fine…perhaps the other two eggs will be DNH.

The team at Patuxent River Park went to Nest 1 and removed the youngest osplet, and fostered it with another family. They did not, however, go to Patuxent II where it is believed that Mini died at least a day ago.

The eyas at the San Jose City Hall continues to do well. ‘M’ asked me about the shiny black area on the crop. This is nothing to worry about. The crop gets full, the chick goes into food coma and rolls on the stones/gravel of the nest rubbing the feathers off. Those will grow in and be beautiful before fledge!

The eyas at the Evergy Topeka Falcon Cam is getting some more feathers. Notice, however, that the wing and contour feathers have not broken out of the quills. ‘SP’ contacted the administrators of the nest about the condition of Little, and she was delighted with this response: “I have been in contact with our wildlife biologist . We’ll be banding the chicks on Friday and wildlife personnel will check on the viability of the smaller bird. If it needs to be rehabbed or needs any special attention, we’ll learn that on Friday and ensure that it gets the help it needs.” Now that is the kind of response we want from those in charge of these streaming cams. This is fantastic news.

Checking on some Canadian Osprey nests. There are three eggs at Newfoundland Power. If it is a typical year, there will be no fledges. I hope it isn’t for a change.

At Osoyoos, Soo and Olsen laid their eggs on the 21, 23, and 25th of May so we have a ways to go til fledge.

Fortis Exshaw has had to endure much smoke from the wildfires. Eggs laid on May 9, 12, and 15.

The Dulles-Greenway trio have been named!

At the UK, nests there is often all manner of information available. For example, look at this fish delivery table for Llyn Clywedog! Dylan does not quite double his deliveries from last year but, almost.

When asked where the fish came from, this was Alastair’s reply. Please note the amount of fish that are put in the Reservoir each year. Imagine how that might impact some of the US nests positively!

Alastair Cameron: “based on observations by John Williams the perch seem to come from the shallower “fingers” of the reservoir as it merges into smaller gulleys at the edge of the reservoir. Dylan certainly seems to go to perch when the weather is wet (perhaps easier to see when there is rain on the surface) or hot, when the trout are swimming deeper. John has also observed that at least some of the brown trout seem to come from another reservoir called Nant y Moch, a few kilometers away. Llyn Clywedog Trout fishery stock the reservoir with around 40,000 trout per year, mainly rainbows but some browns as well.”

It is difficult to image – my goodness do you ever wonder where time goes? – but the eldest osplet on the Dyfi nest of Idris and Telyn is now turning into a reptile. The soft downy is gone from the back of its head and that oil spot is starting to come!

Elen and Aran seem to be doing fine. the wee Bobs got covered with grasses and Aran spent some time uncovering them while Elen had her tea.

Louis and Dorcha’s only Bob having some fish supper before the sun goes down at Loch Arkaig. Some are ‘hearing’ chupping from the second egg. Could we really have another hatch? I doubt it.

CJ7 was busy feeding her two Bobs at Poole Harbour before dusk as well..fill them up and maybe they won’t wiggle all night! gosh, these Mums must get tired…and by morning, CJ7 and Blue 022 had their third!

Geemeff brings us Scottish Osprey nest real estate news. Louis’s old nest at Loch Arkaig is currently occupied by Affric & Prince. The couple keep returning to Nest One, and even had two mating attempts there last night. No idea why their own nest failed, but this one’s available and we’d love to have a resident pair again.” That is fantastic news. Louis is busy with Dorcha and the Only Bob at nest 2 so, perhaps, he will give this couple a lease!

There has also been a hatch at Kielder Forest, nest 5A. Mr and Mrs UV.

What about Angel and Tom’s little RTH5? ‘A’ gave me a big giggle – which one needs after some of the nest sadness, when she told me, “I woke up this morning (it is 9am) and immediately checked my darling Angel and RTH5 and suddenly, there was this strange hawk in the nest. It stands up all the time and looks upwards instead of down. It swallows voles, mice, birds, lizards and every other small thing that moves. It had six feedings before noon today, and then continued on eating in the late afternoon. It just eats and eats and eats. I had no idea a RTH could consume so much in such a short time. They are hunting and eating machines (or at least RTH5 is insatiable). She (I do think we may have a female here, though it is still too early to tell, and the hawklet is still way smaller than mum, but I wonder about the sturdy legs) is even more adorable.” 

We could say the same for Big Red and Arthur’s Ms…simply adorable. Walking eating cutie pie machines. The advantage that Big Red’s kids have is the long ‘runway’ for them to strengthen their legs and wings.

Wetlands are one of the most important aspects of biodiversity. We are seeing them destroyed around the world and yet, they might hold part of the secret for revitalising our planet. Around the world, these wetlands are under attack by industry wanting mining and now a huge area near Lake Victoria could fall to agricultural development. The area is the largest wetlands in Kenya, Yala Swamp. What are humans thinking? and why are there individuals who are not trying to fix our relationship with nature instead of harming it?

Irreplaceable-Kenyas-Yala-swamp-complex-BirdLife-InternationalDownload

Not a great image – really cropped – but look at Murphy’s Baby flapping its big wings! Smile. Murphy and Baby doing fine. Nest not so much!

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

I am very grateful to the following individuals and groups for their notes, posts, videos, tweets, and streaming cams that helped to make up the information in my blog today: ‘A’, ‘H’, Geemeff, ‘L’, ‘M’, ‘SP’, TED Talks, PSEG, Severna ospreys, Forsythe Ospreys, Dahlgren Ospreys, new Jersey Conservancy, Cowlitz PUD, Patuxent River Park, San Jose City Hall Falcons, Everay Topeka Falcon Cam, Newfoundland Power, Osoyoos, Fortis Exshaw, Dulles Greenway, Alastair Cameron and Llyn Clywedog Osprey Group, Window to Wildlife, Cornell RTH, Birdlife International, Dyfi Osprey Project, Bywyd Gwylld Glaslyn, Friends of Loch Arkaig and the Woodland Trust, Poole Harbour Ospreys, and World Bird Sanctuary.

Thursday in Bird World

25 May 2023

Good Morning Everyone,

I hope that you have had a fabulous first half of the week. It is the end of May. The lilacs are blooming and the garden is so fragrant. The Baltimore and Orchard Orioles ‘flew the coop’. I have not seen one in the garden since late Monday evening. The Cowbirds are gone and the Grackles have arrived. Mr Crow was here for peanuts along with his mates and Mr Blue Jay, Dyson and family but, other than those, it was rather quiet. And cooler. Down to 11 C tonight – Melbourne weather. It feels cold.

I wish I could send a big bouquet to everyone. The lilacs were planted 24 years ago. They were just sticks that autumn. Now they are so tall – of course, the big bunches of blossoms are at the top. These are lovely, and a tiny little sprig in the conservatory makes the entire space smell grand.

As I am writing this, Bobby Horvath of WINORR who cared for Pale Male in his last hours, told me he would happily go and clean up the Patchogue nest if a bucket truck can be obtained. People are willing to help. Let us hope that permits come through. Bobby said, “It’s a matter of resources. A bucket truck capable of reaching the site and if there’s live electric involved or not. Then permission is a whole other issue. If a truck can be secured I offer my assistance removing any material I can.” I am so grateful, and there are others..it is getting all of this in place that is the issue. Fingers crossed. Thanks, Bobby!——— The power company is telling callers that they ‘will take care of it’…..let’s hope that someone does. I have to say that I worry about that little osplet but so far so good. Look at them lined up like so nicely having fish…is it possible that they are all males like Bazza, Falkey, and Ervie and this Mini will survive? One day at a time. One day at a time. I live with hope. Bib Bob is at least six times the size of Mini and the older two are just entering the Reptilian Phase. It makes monsters out of them for a short time…not sure why. Would love to see the hormone levels in their blood – the aggressive ones.

Thank you to everyone who reached out to get help to this nest. You are fantastic.

Mini-Bob looks unwell this morning and may be dying/dead. It is difficult to tell – deep sleep. Mum has been looking curiously at the poor little thing while she was also trying to remove some rubbish earlier.

This should put a big smile on your face! Wonderful, generous people really made a difference to this wildlife rehab sanctuary.

What does it mean when people donate even the tiniest things? This! Thank you to everyone who reached out for Murphy and his eaglet…this is amazing news. Windfalls like this do not happen all the time. Murphy got a lot of publicity. Just remember that every wildlife sanctuary requires items from clean used towels and sheets to those unused power tools in your garage. Go out and look. See what you have. Offer it locally!

Read all of the lines…your help for a year and more. See what is there that is needed – and then keep your eyes open for anything on this list. Is someone moving and clearing out their space? Are they leaving laundry supplies? See if they will donate them!

Gosh. I almost need ear plugs – Rosa, Zephyr, and Luna are sooooo very loud. Lewis goes running when he hears them…he is frightened.

Gorgeous Mum Annie leaves the kids to the prey – good idea, self-preservation.

In case you are missing little fluff balls starting to get rather loud, check out this feeding at Cromer Peregrine Falcons.

WRDC has announced that both of Ron and Rita’s eaglets this year are males. No surprise there! They were a delight all year, very civil…Thanks, ‘H’.

Oh, it is so nice when a fish delivery comes in and your big sibling is out flying around seeing the world. That is what happened to Middle at the Achieva Osprey nest on Wednesday morning at 0745.

Little Bob at Severna Park can be seen to get right in there when there is fish despite the huge size difference. Another nest of three that we are keeping tabs on…with hope.

Lucy flew to her nest at Lake Murray and was making the tiniest little cheeping sounds. To go to sleep and wake up and find that your only surviving chick is gone…where did it go? who took it? what happened? My heart aches for her. She lost her entire family.

Bridgette has confirmed what ‘H’ reported to me that the third chick was dead when it hatched or shortly after and Harriet consumed it. “Unfortunately #3 was not alive and was eaten up by Harriet at 5:30 a.m. Yes, that’s how it is in nature. Let’s hope for a healthy development for #1 and #2.

All is well at the RTH nest of Big Red and Arthur in Ithaca, New York. No one is hungry, no one is injured, no one has fallen out of the nest and there are no predators around those babies.

Arthur bringing in another delivery! The deliveries keep flowing. Big Red is now leaving the chicks for longer on the nest and taking breaks at a nearby light stand where she can ‘sun’ herself. She is within a quick distance if there are any problems at the nest.

Come on, have another bite! I know you are hungry! LOL. No one is ever hungry on Big Red’s nest.

Everything is good with Angel and Tom and RTH5. Tom continues to deliver, Angel picks up and feeds RTH5 who is growing fast just like Big Red and Arthur’s chicks. Remember those Blue Jays dive-bombing Angel, Tom and the nest? Well, RTH5 had a Jay nestling today. That is why they were so upset!

Both chicks at the Dahlgren Osprey platform of Jack and Diane in Virginia seem to be doing fine. There is such a difference in size. We wait and hope…

There was a second hatch at the Carthage TN Osprey platform in the early morning Wednesday the 24th.

Will there be only two little osplets for Idris and Telyn this year. We wait to see. This is what Dyfi thinks..as you look at that image I want you to remember that in four months or less, this baby will be flying alone to West Africa where we hope that H5N1 has been contained and eliminated as much as possible.

No shortage of fish for only Bob at Dyfi! Will there be another hatch tomorrow?

The first hatch for Mr and Mrs 69 at Kielder Forest hatched on the 23rd and was alert on the 24th ready for a fish feed!

Everything is going well at the Rutland Manton Bay nest of Blue 33 and Maya. The little ones can get into mischief but they are thriving. Late Wednesday Blue brought in another of his whoppers and Little Bob got its head stuck under it. He made it right…thankfully. While these big fish really do feed a lot of chicks, they are incredibly dangerous.

The baby took a whack. Let us hope it is alright. The others are up eating what would typically be either the last or penultimate meal of the day. Oh, yes, it is moving up to the food line. Lots of fish there. Mum will eat and all three will be stuffed.

It has been a rough year for many nests. Laddie and Blue NCO didn’t lose their first hatch but there have been so many intruders and it is having an impact on fish delivery. Blue NC0 had to fight off an intruder for over an hour. Imagine with two little babies under her. Brave Mum.

https://youtu.be/TkVbmAJNMfI

At Llyn Clywedog there was an intruder trying to land on its Mum, Seren Blue 5F. It was Blue 469! The big male from 2021. I don’t think Mum is too excited to see her big boy with two little ones under her!!!!!!!!!

A video has been posted of River taking the fish off the nest at Dale Hollow and presumably providing it to DH17 who you can hear squeeing in the background.

https://youtu.be/KzIt0Rl-nKg

There are no breeding pairs of Ospreys in Ireland. There are ospreys that stop for a bit or others flying by but now the plans to reintroduce to our favourite raptor are in place.

https://www.rte.ie/news/munster/2023/0523/1385185-ospreys-ireland/

Dr Sharpe and Amber continue to band all of the 2023 eaglets they can on the Channel Islands. You might recall the rescue of the largest one at Bald Canyon. All ringed today.

The three at PA Farm Country have done very well, indeed. I have not checked on them in so long. Just look.

Beloved E22 is still at the nest with M15. This is the longest that any fledgling has remained…aren’t we fortunate?

The latest news on the situation at Dale Hollow that I have seen.

The Raven came and took the third egg of Iris at her nest on the grounds of the Riverview Clinic in Missoula, Montana. Fingers crossed that she can now relax and enjoy her summer.

The Sydney Sea Eagles are getting busy on their nest.

A Place Called Hope is one of the wildlife rehabbers on my list to be cared for if I were found. They are telling a story and appealing to everyone in Connecticut to get back to the politicians on these much-designed rodenticides. Most of you do not live in Connecticut, but I want you to read this narrative anyway. Then, when you have the time, get on to your politicians (a sad lot to be handling something so dangerous – I hate when things become ‘political’) and find out what is happening where you are! Help..secondary poisoning is very real. You will know if you have a pet that dies from this in great agony. I did. Her name was Duncan, after my Dad. Thank you! We have to educate ourselves.

Recycled Plastic. More harmful than the original? The key is to not use plastic – ban it from your life, whenever you can, just like you would rodenticide!

“But … the toxicity of plastic actually increases with recycling. Plastics have no place in a circular economy and it’s clear that the only real solution to ending plastic pollution is to massively reduce plastic production.”

“Recycled plastics, the report says, often contain higher levels of chemicals such as toxic flame retardants, benzene and other carcinogens, environmental pollutants including brominated and chlorinated dioxins, and numerous endocrine disruptors that can cause changes to the body’s natural hormone levels.”

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/may/24/recycled-plastic-more-toxic-no-fix-pollution-greenpeace-warns?CMP=share_btn_link

And now for some good news…don’t plant! Just leave nature to take over and do what is necessary!

“Forestry doesn’t get everything right,” he says. “But with huge areas to work with we can experiment – a bit of local disruption can supercharge an ecosystem. Scrape back here, block a watercourse there, or we can suspend planting and just step back. It might take decades to see the benefits, but fine. Foresters are used to long cycles.”

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/may/23/country-diary-a-boggy-untouched-paradise-for-wildlife?CMP=share_btn_link

Congratulations Chris Packham!

Geemeff reports that the Crowdfunder to assist in the clean up in The Gambia of the HPAI birds met is goal. Congratulations Conservation without Borders!

Thank you so very much for being with me today. I am off and running this morning so the blog is finishing up at midnight. There will, no doubt, be lots of osprey news happening in the UK while I am sleeping! It will not make it in for tomorrow…so please check to see if there are any more hatches! Take care. See you soon.

Thank you to the following for their notes, tweets, videos, posts, and streaming cams that helped to make up my blog today: ‘A’, Geemeff, ‘H’, Patchogue Ospreys, SK Hideaways and Cal Falcons, World Bird Sanctuary, Cromer Peregrine Falcon Cam, WRDC, Achieva Credit Union, Severna Park Ospreys, LMO, Dahlgren Ospreys, Cornell RTH, Window to Wildlife, Dalhgren Ospreys, DTC Osprey Cam, Dyfi Osprey Project, Kielder Forest, LRWT, LOTL, CarnyXWild, RTE.ie, Gracie Shepherd and Raptors of the World, Sara MacDonald and PA Country Farm Eagle Cam, SW Florida Eagle Cam, Celia Aliengirl and Dale Hollow Eagle Cam, Sydney Sea Eagle Cam, A Place Called Hope, The Guardian, Conservation without Borders and Crowdfunder, and @RSPCAChris.