Today’s posting may be short. I was away most of Wednesday and visitors will be here most of Thursday! It is time for homemade soup, Focaccia, and apple crisp. I also need a slight break from staring and counting the bites that Tuffie isn’t getting at Moorings Park.
When everything seems rather bleak, it is good to turn to a couple that can raise three eaglets, where the female has the nest under control, and where the Dad steps in and helps feed and keep the peace. That nest is the West End with Thunder and Akecheta. It is also Manton Bay at Rutland where Blue 33 has helped dear Maya when they had four!
There is a big difference in size between hatch 1 and 3 at the West End, but no matter. Both are thriving.
Our thoughts are with Meadow and his sibling, Swampy, and Abby and Blaze at the Eagle Country nest after Meadow was blown off the nest during high winds on Wednesday. Meadow was on the branch safe at the time of writing. Meadow is 64 days old today. The average age of an eaglet to fledge in Florida is 11 weeks or 77 days.
Perched for the night. (more images below)
It is so difficult to watch a nest that is struggling and that is certainly what is happening at Moorings Park. It began with the transition to the Reptilian Phase and a perceived drop and lateness in fish deliveries by the eldest chick, Ruffy. The question is: will Tuffie get enough fish to survive this period?
Osprey chicks typically double their weight by day 7 or day 8. Between days 8-10, the soft grey down they hatched with is replaced by a wooly charcoal coloured down. They become more mobile in the nest. The data records that ‘H’ and I have kept indicate that it is during this period of time when the Reptilian phase begins that the chicks are most ferocious if fish is not plentiful. Darker feathers on their heads begin to appear – a kind of black oily spot and some gorgeous copper red ones down at the nape of the neck. When they are about three weeks old, the primaries, secondaries, and the rectories begin to appear.
The chicks are kept warm by their buff-colored plumage of down feathers called the first down. The crop develops within the first week of its life, which stores food so that the chicks don’t need to be fed very frequently. They usually double their weight in the first week of their lives. Under normal conditions, a nest will settle, and the fear of siblicide will pass as the osplets leave the Reptilian phase. That is, of course, not always the case. There are exceptions, and Port Lincoln certainly showed us in its past history that chicks are not safe, even at 42 or 65 days of age, if the eldest is determined to kill them.
Tuffie keeps his beak open and is begging for food and there is none on the nest when Ruffy is asleep. I have seen females hide food or keep food back to feed these little ones. Sally is not doing this.
Tuffie got only a few bites. Nothing more. Ruffy had a crop. I am in the seventh year of my twenty-year siblicide study. It is never easy. In fact, it seems to get more difficult to observe every year, every nest.
In contrast, Duke Farm’s Mum found scraps in the nest and made sure both Leaper and Jersey had some bites.
The rain is coming down and is expected to continue for several days. The eaglets, Leaper and Jersey, will be banded at the end of this week. What an enlightened nest! Wish each nest on streaming cams would band their chicks. Thank you Duke Farms!
There are now three osplets on the University of Florida-Gainesville nest of Talon and Stella.
The three at Little Miami Conservancy are doing well. Mum even changes the side of the nest from where she is feeding to make sure all three get prey.
The first egg for the Patchogue Ospreys on Long Island was laid on Wednesday.
Maureen posted these images of Meadow on Naturechat. Meadow is still on the branch, can flap its wings, and is safe. Not back in the nest but the parents can feed it there.
Parents know where Meadow is and are caring for their second hatch.
We can see Richmond and Rosie – barely. They are quite a distance from the Whirley Crane and its camera.
Louis is keeping Dorcha supplied with fish!
As we sit and ache for dear Meadow on the branch and longing for Tuffie to have a real good meal, imagine why a person would kill over 3000 eagles? Have a read. This is horrible…
There was a confirmed pip in egg two at Fraser Point for Andor and Cruz Wednesday evening.
No eaglets. No matter. Their bond is strong. Our beloved Jackie and Shadow will forge ahead. — I am starting to wonder if they laid their eggs later if they might have more success or is it only the altitude and not the altitude and the weather.
I am not sure what is being served up, but the two Decorah eaglets are warm and DNF is making sure they are both fed in cold damp conditions.
There are two at Centreport. It wasn’t an April Fool’s joke.
Still no sign of Elen after some days at Glaslyn. Aran is now ‘considering’ Blue 372.
Mice. Introduced by humans to Marion Island continue to injury or kill both the Albatross adults and the chicks.
The New Forest in the UK has received funds to help with the restoration of wetlands, bogs, meadows, and heaths. Congratulations.
Thank you for being with me today. Please take care. We look forward to seeing you again soon.
Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, images, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘Geemeff, J, L, R’, IWS/Explore, Eagle Country, Moorings Park, Duke Farms, U of Florida-Gainesville Osprey Cam, Little Miami Conservancy, PSEG, Maureen and Naturechat, SF Bay Ospreys, Erica Crowley, Geemeff, BirdGuides, Gracie Shepherd, SK Hideaways, Raptor Resource Project/Explore, Centreport Eagle Cam, Bywyd Gwylld Glaslyn, and Agreement on the Conservation of Albatross and Petrels.
I had a marvellous day in the country. The air was warm and the sky was solid blue, not a cloud in sight. No wind. The geese were flying in and landing on the farmer’s fields. The deer were eating seed for the Chickadees and a hawk flew overhead landing in a tree near to where a woodpecker was eating.
I came home to some dire news about the Eagle Country nest. So, I plan to report on the two nests concerning me and what is happening at Eagle Country. There will not be a long post sent out Thursday morning as a result.
I continue to be concerned about two nests. One is the Moorings Park Osprey platform in Naples, Florida and the other is Duke Farms Eagle nest in Hillsboro, New Jersey. My report today will be somewhat short, but there is breaking news. Meadow, the second hatch at Eagle Country, has been blown out of the nest. The eaglet was not ready to fledge. She is clinging on to a lower branch of the tree. It happened at 12:57 when she was self-feeding on the right side of the nest.
Meadow is squeeing and telling Dad where she is. If Meadow is grounded, she can be rescued legally. They just have to get there quick enough. Some eaglets have managed to climb back into the nest but I am uncertain if that is possible at Eagle Country. Parents can also feed them off nest. The danger is predators in the area.
The situation at Moorings Park has not improved. It is now past 1600 and Tuffie has had nothing to eat. Harry has not been bringing in fish like he did last year. So far one and a partial fish. Ruffy continues its restless attack on Tuffie. When Tuffie finally got to Mum’s beak at 1608 there was no food for the little one.
Someone asked how long these little ones can go without food. That is a complicated question. It depends on whether or not they had a full crop of quality food at their last meal. We know that Tuffy did not have a full crop on Tuesday when he finally got fed late. The heat, the humidity, and the age of the osplet all play into how long they can survive. I once tracked an osplet that did not eat for 58 hours.
Tuffy is dehydrated, wants to eat, but is frightened – frightened enough not to go and eat even if starving. Imagine that mental state.
There is no food left. This is a drop of saliva.
The weather is miserable and there is no food at Duke Farms. ‘A’ writes: “at Duke Farms, it was the most miserable day. I saw no food brought in and there was nothing on the nest. Mum went out mid-afternoon in an attempt to find food but was unsuccessful, so she searched the nest and dug for leftovers, giving the few bites of heaven knows what to Leaper. The rain persisted the entire day, and mum was her usual stoic self, being the perfect mumbrella all night and all day. She left them briefly to try and find food when the rain eased briefly but otherwise, she managed to open her garage doors and keep the rapidly growing pair pretty dry for most of the time. What a mum she is.” She continues, “Even when mum goes out again for ten or fifteen minutes and returns with empty talons at 14:20, there is no aggression from Leaper. Jersey takes up a submissive pose, but he is not really tucked, just slightly ducked, and he was pretty much in that position anyway. So he just stayed where he was really. But Leaper was interested only in Mum, who quicky set to work trying to decide h9w best to position herself to cover Jersey, as well as Leaper, who had done what Jersey normally does and headed head-first straight for the shelter of mum’s underfluffies. What a mother this eagle really is. She has been amazing in every respect. I cannot praise her highly enough. This rain just won’t let up. If it eases off, mum takes the opportunity to look for food but she has not had any success on the three occasions I have seen. But she keeps trying. She has four or five hours of daylight left, and of course dad could always put in an appearance, so we can hope that she finds the chance to fish. But it’s not looking great at the moment, and I am hoping that these two have been eating well in my absence and will have little difficulty going without for a day. It’s something they will need to get used to for the future in any case. It is my fear of the nest reverting to violence that is concerning us all the most. They are unlikely to starve in a day! So I am not going to panic about a wet day. Leaper has been exemplary in her behaviour today, so talons crossed things stay friendly and civil. “
Thank you to ‘L’ for first alerting me to Meadow’s situation and to ‘A’ for her lovely narrative about Duke Farms.
Thank you for being with me and thank to the streaming cams at Eagle Country, Moorings Park, and Duke Farms.
There is an update to Tuesday’s posting. Correction: Liberty and Guardian’s first clutch. One egg broken. I inadvertently said second clutch! Regrets for any confusion.
I wished for rain and got a mix of rain and snow on Tuesday. It was a grey, cold, miserable day. This did not stop the birds and squirrels from working away in the garden. Indeed, their frantic eating and collection of nuts made me think that the forecast was wrong and that a big storm was coming.
Baby Hope and Hugo Yugo have asked that you do the birds and squirrels a favour. Either do not purchase suet in those mesh bags that get the little legs tangled up, OR if you do, remove the mesh bag – and cut it up completely – for safe disposal. Don’t think throwing it in the bin will make it secure. These bags wind up in landfills, blow around, and birds and raptors go there to find food. So please, help us keep everyone safe.
The female Downy Woodpecker is eating from a suet cylinder removed from a mesh bag.
Checking for the pick of the peanuts! They find the heaviest peanut, knowing that if it is light, there is either nothing in there, or it is dried up.
There were four Little Reds running around today with the three Grey Squirrels. Everyone wanted peanuts!
If you wish to thank or donate to help with the maintenance and repairs and predator baffle for the Achieva Credit Union Osprey nest of Jack and Diane, please go to the Raptor Centre of Tampa Bay (Tampa Bay Raptor Rescue, Moccasin Lake Raptor Sanctuary) and thank Barbara Walker. Donations are always appreciated, although they did not ask for help- showing them people care for this Osprey couple would be good. Any amount, however small, is always appreciated, but a big thank you would be appreciated as well.
Duke Farms is a beautiful nest to behold even in the rain on Tuesday. The pictures tell the entire story.
The peace on the Duke Farms nest is fantastic. Now the unsettled nest is Moorings Park.
At Moorings Park Osprey platform, it is another story. They are just starting the Reptilian Phase. Ruffy is terrorising Tuffie. It is a repeat of what we saw at Duke Farms. Now what is the problem with Harry getting fish to the nest early in the day? We praised him last year for his fishing skills. So what is up? We know from Mark Smith’s videos that ospreys have many species that would like to take a free fish – eagles, gulls, and other ospreys!
A nice-sized fish finally came on the nest around 1000. This was the first meal of the day for these two. Ospreys (like eaglets) need consistent fish deliveries. Regular deliveries mean food security – ospreys are very sensitive to any change in delivery patterns. Harry used to be good at having a fish on the nest first thing in the morning. The delay can cause the eldest to believe there is a food shortage even if there is not. This results in the younger sibling getting battered.
Ruffy will continually keep Tuffie away from the feeding despite the size of the fish being ample to feed Mum and both osplets. She will even stop eating and go and throttle Tuffie to make sure it doesn’t get up and want food.
The key is going to be Tuffie’s response. Tired, hot, and hungry – getting dehydrated from not having food for some time. That might keep Tuffie away from Ruffy and Mum’s beak. The beaking is meant as intimidation. Whether you call it bonking, beaking, clouting, or bullying – the action is the same and the intention is the same – to frighten the wits out of the younger sibling so they do not eat.
Mum feeds the tail of the fish at 11:51 – this is the third feeding of the day – and Tuffie will not get a single flake. Tuffie is hot and is panting through its mouth. The little osplet needs the hydration that it gets from the fish.
Dad brought a big headless fish at 1523 and Ruffy began attacking Tuffie immediately. Remember. Ruffy has already had three meals! Tuffie has had nothing.
Another partial fish comes at 1754.
Ruffy gets fed. Around 1800 Tuffie gets some fish! The little osplet has gone all day without food in the hot Florida sun. What a relief that third egg did not hatch! Harry needs to pile the fish on this nest and he needs to get one up there right as the sun rises.
Tuffie did not fill its crop. The little one needed to as it had a difficult Monday as well. Ruffy began attacking after the meal. This nest is unstable right now. Two other fish before sunset would be great as Mum Sally has to eat as well.
If serious fighting occurs due to perceived food shortages, we often see it at this milestone – the change from the soft down to the Reptile stage. It can cease in a few days or, as we have seen in other cases, one of the ospreys can die.
In 2023, out of the 173 osprey eggs and chicks followed in the US, ten of those died directly from siblicide. Siblicide is not ‘play fighting’. It is a well documented strategy to reduce the osplets on the nest by the eldest (normally).
To quote Dr Tim Mackrill, Director of the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation, “The dominance of older siblings in food-deprived nests invariably means that the youngest chick does not survive. In their New Jersey study, Steidl and Griffin (1991) found that brood reduction (the loss of at least one nestling) was recorded in 36 percent o broods of three and in 23 percent of broods of two, and these losses typically occurred as the chicks began to grow at the fastest rate, two to three weeks after hatching.” (112)
Our 2023 study at the International Osprey Data Project, the loss was 17.3% from siblicide.
Sally could take a lesson from Thunder at the West End Bald Eagle nest. If you recall, when the two older eaglets starting bonking one another when it was feeding time, Thunder just sat on them. Every time they beaked, she sat. And then, surprise. They stopped because they were hungry. Three very civilised eaglets – for the second time for Thunder and Akecheta.
Cruz and Andor’s first hatch at Fraser Point.
The egg bowl is really deep!
At Big Bear, Jackie has taken a break. The question now is when will Jackie and Shadow realise that their dream of three eaglets is not to be for this year? And move on looking forward to another try in 2025.
The third hatch at Little Miami Conservancy is already trying out some big kid bites.
Rain has started at the Little Miami nest.
A miserable day for a hatch at ND-LEEF. It looked like we were going to have another eaglet die due to a crushed egg but ND18 has hatched. The time was around 1008.
At the WRDC nest of Ron and Rose, fledgling R6 returns to the nest for the first time on Tuesday morning since he set off on his adventure on Saturday afternoon.
Swampy and Meadow are growing too fast. We yelled at Swampy for beaking Meadow and now we just want these two buddies to stay on the nest at Eagle Country.
What a beautiful image. Mum and Dad having a beaky kiss while JBS20 has a bedtime snack.
At Carova Beach, Frederick and Betsy are really working on their nest!
Decorah, Iowa, has the same miserable weather that we have in Winnipeg. Poor Mother Goose. There are six eggs, but there is also a mystery. There are three scenarios possible. The original six eggs of Mother Goose are on the nest, and not one of them went overboard when the Intruder came. The second case is that the intruder laid her own egg in the nest, replacing the one lost! The third is that one of Mother Goose’s eggs went overboard but she laid another while the intruder was there. Who knows. What we do know is that there are six eggs.
One of the individuals helping me with my osprey nest observations has several nests near her house. She tells me that in 2021, one of the ospreys “laid two eggs, three days apart, in nests of two other pairs.” Sort of like the Cuckoos.
Oh, gosh. Mrs Decorah North is keeping those two little eaglets warm and dry in incredible conditions. Let us hope that warm weather dries that nest out!
The snow has melted at Denton Homes Eagle nest, home of the Majestics.
Port Tobacco’s only eaglet is nicely spoiled.
White-tail Eagle Milda’s new mate is Hugo! You can imagine how thrilled Hugo Yugo is that this male eagle was named after her. (Just kidding)
Were you worried about Monty and Hartley’s egg the other day? ‘AE’ has sent us the following response from one of the nest moderators:
“As you may know by now hard incubation began on March 29 and things have progressed rather smoothly since then. There have been times some kakking occurred to warn a potential unwelcome visitor away but there was a little incident earlier this morning. Monty had given Hartley a break for awhile early on but they had done a nest exchange again with Monty in hunting mode. One picture is of him on the roof watching for a potential meal. While he was on the hunt he landed on the nest ledge corner a couple of times and on the last one he was followed in by another bird. This was at 8:57am. For those that like to do a review of the events Hartley was taking a snooze with head tucked when Monty arrives on the west ledge corner. (all with the nest box view). In the background you can see the other bird come flying from the west and seems to have followed Monty close to the ledge area. Of course he takes off after it as does Hartley. Monty would come back to the eggs but was drawn off again so I assume it was taking both of them to deter the interloper. Being uncovered as they were during this time is not a concern. Eggs are very resilient and withstand much more than some moments alone. By the time noon came around I did find Hartley again preening in the shade over the Mayors office roof. At 12:20pm there was a nest exchange when Hartley showed up the ledge & hops down to the box to take over. Monty seems to take his incubation duty very seriously as he seemed reluctant to let her take over.Spring semester is beginning for our student camops so they will soon begin again to cover cam duty per their scheduled time. I welcome their dedication to these birds as they incubate and look forward to hatch at the end of April. — Paula A. Forum Moderator“
I want to draw your attention to the new website for Osprey Watch. Some may believe that there are too many osprey researchers already and far too many ospreys. Do not believe this for a second. The almost entire population of the US Atlantic chicks was wiped out in June of 2023. There is no end in sight regarding the overfishing of the Menhaden. What storms will come this year? Elsewhere in the world, people are trying desperately to build up the osprey population. A big applause has to go to Janet, Fran, and Bazz in South Australia for their work. Please go over and check out the new OspreyWatch website and see if you can help! Scientists, researchers, and citizen scientists are all much needed!
Thank you for being with me today. Please take care…lots more arrivals and ospreys working at their nests. I am having a ‘fun-filled’ time trying to keep up with my data entry forms. See you soon!
Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, photographs, screen captures, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘A, AE, Geemeff, J, MA, VV’, Achieva Credit Union, Duke Farms, Moorings Park Ospreys, IWS/Explore.org, Little Miami Conservancy, JB Sands Wetlands, Beverly Davis, Raptor Resource Project/Explore, ND-LEEF, Lloyd Brown and the WRDC, Eagle Country, HDonTap, Denton Homes, Port Tobacco, OBX Osprey Cam, Latvian Fund for Nature, Osprey Watch, Paula at San Jose City Hall Falcon Cam, and The Guardian.
Monday was my birthday, and I had a grand time with the most marvellous homemade Opera cake by my talented daughter. I took the day off – for the most part – from the birds. Today, it is full of information on Flaco and the perils that the Ospreys in the US are facing, plus more information on the impact of Avian Flu. Please read this information. I urge you to join Michael Academia and me in asking for a moratorium to be put in place for the fishing of Mahaden. There is only one nest that I am concerned about. Duke Farms continued to have prey delivery and sibling rivalry issues until this morning. Please see the latest narrative by Allison at the bottom.
We will start today, however, with the necroscopy of Flaco, the Eurasian Owl, that had been at the Central Park Zoo for some 13 years before his cage was vandalised and he escaped into the Central Park and Great Manhattan area where he lived for a year before colliding with a building. Please read the entire article. The summary of the findings are: “Bronx Zoo veterinary pathologists determined that in addition to the traumatic injuries, Flaco had two significant underlying conditions. He had a severe pigeon herpesvirus from eating feral pigeons that had become part of his diet, and exposure to four different anticoagulant rodenticides that are commonly used for rat control in New York City. These factors would have been debilitating and ultimately fatal, even without a traumatic injury, and may have predisposed him to flying into or falling from the building.”
We have also been waiting on the news about Andria who, after having at least two seizures, fell out of her nest on 8 December 2023 and died. Andria’s necroscopy report has also been released today. Andria was the mate of Alex at the E3 nest in the Kisatchie National Forest in Louisiana.
Michael Academia has asked me to spread the word about the horrific impact that a shortage of Manhaden will have on success of Osprey nests along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the US. I am absolutely more than happy to do this as this is something we know can be remedied and benefit our beloved fish eating raptors. The key is to stop the fishing. Not stop the overfishing, but stop all fishing o Manhaden. Chinese commercial fishing trawlers are depleting the stocks. (They are also overfishing in AustralAsia to the detriment of the seabirds including the Royal Albatross).
In 2023, we – ‘H’ and I – identified both weather events and the lack of Manhaden as the primary reasons that osplets starved on the nests in the NE US. I was also extremely critical that supplementary fish were not provided – and I am certainly thinking that it might well be time to set up ponds just for the ospreys. Why not ponds on golf courses? They need water features anyway and we now know that the photography of ospreys is in high demand – especially when they are catching fish – that there is great money to be made. That should be enough to entice some entrepreneur to help them – and line their pockets at the same time.
Telyn, the mate of Idris, arrived in the dark Monday early evening at her nest in Wales. Arrival time was 1929.
Geemeff caught the arrival of handsome Blue 022 at the Poole Harbour nest.
Lloyd Brown brings us the latest on Rita, the former mate of Ron at the WRDC nest who injured her wing and is now in Marathon, Florida.
There are now three eggs for the new couple at the Syracuse Red-tail Hawk cam on the campus of SU in New York.
These two at Decorah North should put a smile on anyone’s face.
Hope and Chandler are really spoiling their only eaglet. What a treat. Like all nests send positive images that both parents stay safe and prey is plentiful.
The two osplets at Moorings Park, like the two Decorah eaglets, melt one’s heart. Harry brought an enormous fish to the nest and one of the osplets got dragged a bit. Thankfully this little one was not injured!
‘MP’ reports that the Mum at J B Sands Wetlands who had an issue with her right leg or talon has not been seen for at least two days, but, thankfully, was on the top of the tower Monday evening. Dad finally brought in prey after showing JBS20 some food in the nest. It could have been like the WRDC where Ron and Rose tried to get R6 to self-feed. JBS20 did have a nice meal late on Monday.
The situation at Duke Farms continues to be dire. Please send positive energy. It appears to me that the male is no longer with us and that the female is having some difficulty not only with getting prey, but also with having food to feed herself and Leaper and leave some for Jersey. Jersey has had only a few bites of prey since Friday.
When nests like Bluff City or Duke change, after starting out so successful, it is good to stop and look at the exceptional ones like the West End. ‘A’ gives us her wonderful narrative of this Channel Islands wonder: “Meanwhile, as I turn on to the West End cam, I see a bunch of huge teenagers. Who are they and what did they do with those cute chicks? Oh wee WE is SO adorable. Check out the mid-afternoon feeding (from 15:10) being doled out by mum. The three actually appear to grow in front of your eyes during the 20 minutes or so of the feeding. There is some bonking on this nest and some chatters actually worry about wee WE!!! No need to have concerns about that little one. Bold and clever. Just too cute for words. I adore wee WE – my favourite of the season so far (though little Willow was obviously also very special to me because I’m such a sucker for the tiny younger chicks). The two older chicks are the main instigators (Nessy may be the second hatch but that neck has always given it an advantage, so hatches one and two are very evenly matched indeed) but sometimes the little one starts a rumble it cannot finish. It has learned to duck, and tends to stay below the level of its bonking siblings. If it does end up the victim, it ducks and tucks quickly, then gets back to the table at the first opportunity. It has no hesitation in reaching over and in front of its siblings to get bites. All three look very strong and healthy. Thunder is fabulous and you know my feelings towards Akecheta. A dad right up there with the very best. An M15 in fact, and you know what a huge statement that is. But watching him with two three-hatch clutches has been very stress-free viewing. To me, that clearly indicates a good food source and excellent parents.”
Thunder knew precisely how to deal with the rivalry in the nest. Whenever it began, no matter when—even during a meal—she sat on the eaglets. That and plenty of prey brought by Akecheta put an end to the nonsense. It was simple and effective. I am surprised other nests do not use this as a behaviour-changing strategy.
Arthur and Big Red are incubating their three eggs – the last laid on the 23rd of March during a snowstorm in the dark. Cute little Arthur has a prey item for his much loved mate waiting for her return.
Monty and Hartley have their second egg. ‘SP’ says it was an easy labour!
PA Country Bald Eagles have three eaglets in their nest. They have had four in the past but three is actually quite unusual. Most eagles only lay two eggs.
Swampy and Meadow in Eagle Country continue to thrive.
Mason and Dixon at Superbeaks nest in Central Florida can now be seen over the edge of the other camera (side view). They have grown so much thanks to Pepe and Muhlady.
Bartlesville Oklahoma’s Sutton Centre has its first Bald Eagle hatch for 2024.
It is hatch watch for Liberty and Guardian at Redding. Three eggs were laid on Feb 15, 18, and 21. One broke, but which one is unknown. Egg #1 would be 40 days today, so it may be the one. Egg #2 would be 37, and Egg #3 would be 34. Fingers crossed for this devoted couple.
At Glaslyn, everyone is delighted as Elen arrived home this morning!
Blue 022 has been waiting for his mate CJ7 and she has arrived home to Poole Harbour safely. All is well.
As all of you know, I believe in intervention where it is warranted and can save lives of our precious birds. As our planet warms and the climate of various regions changes – including where I live where the temperature is expected to rise and the winters I recall but are rapidly changing will change even more – we will be called to help. Port Lincoln did that this past breeding season. As ‘A’ reflects, “The fabulous progress of Giliath and Bradley is testament to their actions – the pre-fledge period made it perfectly clear that, when required, the parents stepped up their fishing, even though there was a plan in case they didn’t. But they did fish, contrary to the dire predictions of the naysayers, and they certainly have taught their offspring to do the same. I do hope someone is writing up the Port Lincoln experiment for a scholarly journal, because we are sick of people telling us we shouldn’t ‘interfere’ to mitigate the hugely negative impacts of our interference in their habitats. What convenient hypocrisy that is. No interference when it comes to helping the birds but interference a plenty when it comes to destroying their food sources and habitats.”
This is why, when I look at where this post began, with a dire look at the lack of fish to feed the ospreys in the Atlantic region of the US, we must look at not only halting the fishing, but helping nests that can be helped in a manner like that undertaken at Port Lincoln. Barneghat Light might have had an entirely different outcome last year when the June storm hit. Cape May Meadows might not have lost all its chicks and the male – or at least the chicks – and how many others did we watch where a week of fish deliveries might have meant all the difference? Some will tell you that we do not need any more osprey researchers or that there are too many ospreys. I hear there are too many sparrows and European Starlings, but their numbers are plummeting – and, without knowing it, the same can happen to our magnificent raptors. Instead of waiting for that day, let us see what we can do to help. Whether it is habitat protection, wetlands creation, the final lid on the use of rodenticides, the refusal to use plastic, cleaning up the river bank, donating clean old sheets – whatever you can, please do it and get your friends and family to join in. Let us look up with pride and know that we helped. We were part of the solution, not the problem.
Duke Farms: “Mum woke up and immediately stood up at 06:19 and left the babies on their own to go hunting for food. Jersey is still alive this morning and appears to be clinging on, just. Leaper woke him up with a bonking as mum was preparing to leave. Thank god it was just a grab of the back of the neck and a bit of twisting. Not much at all, perhaps because she could tell the little one was almost gone. Bonking is not necessary.
Just before 06:53 Jersey stands up and tries to flap his little wings. He is a little unsteady but that may well be because of the wing-flapping (he’s only three and a half weeks old). But he’s standing and stretching a little, which is a good sign. He’s not yet lying on the nest, dying. Oh mum, please bring back a fish big enough for the whole family. By 06:40 they are cuddled up together, sleeping.
And at 07:01:37, mum is back!!! She has a good-sized fish and it is whole. She has not eaten any of it herself. Leaper of course immediately begins thrashing Jersey. Mum stops this by beginning to feed Leaper. The IR light goes off. Jersey is huddled over, back to the food, with Leaper leaning over him to feed, meaning that Jersey is unable to move or even stretch out towards mum. This is a good-sized fish. It should feed both chicks and a bit for mum. But will Leaper allow Jersey to eat anything? Will Jersey get the courage to try and eat?
07:05:45 and Jersey tries to get onto its feet as Leaper moves towards mum. Just before 07:07, as we see Leaper’s crop expanding, DAD lands on the nest with some nest material. Not much use dad. This is precisely the moment we could have done with a second fish but omigod are we glad to see him.
The feeding continues after Leaper puts in a very prolonged attack on Jersey. Dad leaves. The attack continues. Leaper is shaking the little one by the scruff of the neck like a rag doll. Jersey is hanging limp and appears to be avoiding real injury.; has done another assault on Jersey (07:07+) There is still some fish mum appears to have fed about two-thirds of it to Leaper (she may have had a few bites herself but not many or much).
Shortly after -7:13 Jersey raises his head. He’s facing away from the food, but Leaper, now with a giant crop, turns to attack him yet again. It’s only a token peck, but Jersey tucks again. Mum searches for dropped pieces to eat herself. The fish is finished. Leaper has a giant crop. Jersey has not eaten a single flake. Mum has had a few bites but must still be very hungry.
BUT DAD IS BACK. Let’s pray he brings in something else very very early this morning, otherwise, this will all come too late for Jersey. He is still looking fairly alert and is moving. I have not seen a PS this morning so far though. I am hoping he can make it through the day and that enough food will come in today to save his life, but it’ll be touch and go. Boy is dad a welcome sight. Maybe, just maybe, he is back in time….. Talons crossed for little Jersey.
We watch in hope.” Then….”Shortly before 8am, and having moved away towards the feeding zone and away from Leaper, Jersey suddenly realises that mum has left some fish on the nest. He heads towards it, which alerts Leaper, who gets up, looks around and considers an attack..She does a couple of crop drops. Jersey moves towards the rails, away from Leaper, and looks over to the food.
Leaper considers her options. She is VERY full. She flaps her wings, stretches, and turns away from Jersey, who cringes slightly but is still on his feet next to the leftovers, which are SO close. He is keeping an eye on Leaper and is aware of her every move. He is very scared but he wants that food so badly. Leaper flaps and stretches again, moves two steps closer to Jersey but then stops a step away. Jersey prepares to tuck and turn away but Leaper stays where she is, so Jersey considers turning back towards the food.
Eventually, just after 08:02, Jersey turns to the food. Leaper ignores this. Jersey examines the food wondering what to do next. Leaper turns to look and Jersey huddles over the top of the fish! Leaper turns away again. aJersey has a little nibble on the fish. Leaper is again interested, and flaps, disturbing Jersey. But Leaper is full, and again settles, allowing Jersey to resume his self-feeding efforts. He is getting quite a few small pieces. Leaper is totally uninterested, on the other side of the nest and facing in the other direction. JERSEY IS EATING. On his own. A life skill being learned early through sheer necessity. But this fish is open and an easy starter kit for the new self-feeder, which is such a blessing this morning.
Oh he’s doing such a good job, holding the fish down and pulling off pieces. Go baby!!!”
Thank you so much for being with us today, and thank you to those who sent me the news. I am always so grateful. I am also so appreciative of Allison, who watched the Duke Farms nest when I needed a break. Take care all. See you soon!
Thank you to the following for their notes, letters, videos, articles, reports, images, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘A, Geemeff, H, J, MA, MP, SP’, WCS News, University of Georgia – Vet Medicine, The New York Times, The Bay Journal, BirdLife International, Dyfi Osprey Cam, Poole Harbour Ospreys, Geemeff, SU-RTH Cam, Raptor Resource Project/Explore.org, Ondabebe, Moorings Park Ospreys, JB Sands Wetlands Tower Cam, Duke Farms, Cornell RTH, SK Hideaways, PA Country Farm, Eagle Country, Superbeaks, and Sutton Centre Bartlesville.
We hope that you have had a nice weekend. The sound of the geese coming into Devonian Lake today—where there was water for them—was like a choir singing. Sitting on the bench at the nature centre and listening to them was soothing on a day when calm was needed. More and more geese and ducks fly over each day, bringing us the hope that not only spring but some rain might come one day. It is still dry and dusty if the wind is whipping it up, and I still have issues sometimes.
Here the Canada Geese are arriving around noon on Sunday. There were hundreds and hundreds in the lake and more than that trying to find some grass over with the Bison at our nature centre.
The Girls continue to enjoy the warm weather. Well, I call it warm. It was -5. But next week the forecast is for +14 on Tuesday. No rain predicted. This is not good.
Hugo Yugo will be completely healed in 10-14 days but she is just so much better every day since she had her surgery. Calico is losing some weight very slowly. I am now adding warm water to her wet food to ‘fill her up’ a bit and she is eating her low calorie hard food. The others are just simply wild with spring fever.
Watching and waiting for Hugo Yugo to strike!
Missey who looks like she came out of the forest.
Calico who dared to give us a chance.
Gorgeous Hope.
Hugo Yugo. So sweet when she is asleep.
The second osplet hatched at Moorings Park Sunday morning. The second hatch is still quite unsteady and has fallen inside its shell. Hopefully, it will be up and steady soon.
Oh, that is so much better!
As of 15:45 Sunday afternoon, there has been no food delivery at the Duke Farms Bald Eagle nest since Friday at noon. Mum found an old bone and got a few bites off of it on Saturday. The first hatch, Leaper, is beating the crap out of the second. We are now at 50 hours without a substantial meal. Mum is ‘starving’, too. Is it possible that something has happened to the male? Mum will have to move in and against her instincts stop brooding and feeding and start hunting. I fear we are losing Jersey. Already they will be intimidated from eating and unless a huge fish or prey item comes and Leaper goes into a food coma, the feeding could be quite one-sided like it was at Bluff City-ETSU.
I last saw or heard the Dad several days ago. I read that the adults at Duke often exchange prey on the branches rather than Dad coming to the nest, but it would appear that this is more than that. He may be missing, injured or killed. As mentioned in the earlier paragraph, Mum is still in brooding mode with her hormones, but she will need to move swiftly into hunting mode. The eaglets are just a month old and have their thermal down, and while it is not ideal, they can be left. It is the same situation as M15 faced when Harriet died, only it was the Dad who had to take over full-time care, including security, hunting, feeding and brooding. Jersey did eat some scraps, and it can dig around the nest, but will it be enough? for leftovers, I continue to be reminded of the resilience of the third hatch at Achieva in 2021, Tiny Little I called her. She did just that and survived and became the dominant in the nest, defending it against adults when she was just 4 months old. These little survivors can achieve much – but they need to survive!
Prey arrived late at Duke Farms. Mum brought it in. Leaper ate. Jersey was too afraid. Mum ate. Nothing more to say unless a huge food item arrives.
Jersey did not get any of the food that arrived at 1800.
Jersey may try and chew on that little bony piece that is left. Look at the crop on Leaper. The Mum noticed Jersey trying to feed itself from the scraps. In the case of the third hatch at Achieva, Diane was able to bring in catfish late, when the older two were full and asleep, and feed the third – once she realised how determined it was to live. And it did live because of Diane’s actions.
This year has already seen several instances of siblicide in Bald Eagle nests in the US. As we move into Osprey season – and still have quite a number of eagle nests where eggs will hatch – it is a good idea to remind ourselves ‘why’ siblicide occurs.
Hope and Chandler have more than enough fish for their little one and them. That is a whopper.
The surviving eaglet at Bluff City has had plenty of fish and has been renamed ‘Viper’.
There is a pair of ospreys on the Patuxent 1 nest in Maryland Sunday morning when the cam came back on.
Frenchman’s Creek triplets are doing well.
In contrast to the weather in Maryland, the Decorah North Bald Eagles are experiencing heavy snow and high winds. They are forecast for 1-3″ of snow and then rain. There is a new hatch under Mrs DNF.
Welcome DN17.
The snow has stopped at the nest of Cornell Red-tail Hawks, Big Red and Arthur.
We continue to wait for eggs at the nest of Angel, the Leucistic Red tail Hawk, and Tom.
Baiba made a montage of the Eagle Country nest featuring Blaze, Abby, Swampy, and Meadow on the 23rd of March.
Swampy and Meadow had a lesson in plucking. They are magnificent. Those nests that successfully raise two eaglets to fledge in 2024 should get double gold medals.
R6 is older, and he could fledge at any time. He spends much time on the rim of the nest, looking out over Ron and Rose’s territory. gr8lakes suggests that R6 should just take his time. He is in the safest place he will ever be, and when he leaves that nest, life becomes a huge challenge.
Few could raise three gentle souls. Give Thunder and Akecheta a round of applause.
Trudi Kron catches the hatch at the Land Conservancy and the second hatch for Farmer Derek’s eagles.
Berry College was on the top of the list for this week’s hatches and they are right on time! BEL-a-donna caught it.
Both ospreys-Oscar and Olivia – have been spending much of the day at the Severna Park platform in Maryland.
It was windy at the Carova Beach (Outerbanks) Osprey nest of Betsy and Frederick.
The Oyster Bay resident ospreys have returned.
The couple have returned to the Boulder Fair Grounds. What a week this is going to be – eaglets hatching and ospreys arriving.
White YW, that incredible male at Foulshaw Moss Nature Reserve Osprey nest, has returned home safely from his migration on the 24th of March.
The remarkable Black 80 has returned from his migration from Africa to Threave Castle. What is the secret to his long life besides luck? He is the chick of Mrs G and her mate, 11(98), at Glaslyn. Great DNA.
First California Condor egg of the 2024 season. Something to celebrate and a brand new couple.
E23 is doing well and F23 and M15 are great teachers.
There was also a beautiful subadult visitor to the M15’s nest. Could it be one of M15 and Harriet’s fledglings returned?
More than that, though, is the touching relationship between F23 and her first eaglet. Sleeping together…this eaglet is going to be so missed if they ever encourage it to leave! (or when its instinct kicks in to seek the wider world)
It is officially hatch watch at the nest of Liberty and Guardian in Redding, California.
The weather has been miserable at many of the Bald Eagle nests and Kansas City is no exception. Ellie and Harvey and their family have been rocking and rolling Sunday night and there was, of course, rain. Harvey has the pantry full and is often with Ellie on the nest.
Hartley and Monty recovered from their intruder and are thinking more eggs!
Closing tonight with the cutest little Peregrine Falcon – soon to be a dad for the first time – Archie at the Cal Falcons nest. His mate Annie gave them four eggs!
Thank you so much for being with me today. Please take care. I very much look forward to having you with us again soon!
Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, questions, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘H, J, MP’, Moorings Park Ospreys, Duke Farms, Port Tobacco, Bluff City, Patuxent I, Frenchman’s Creek, Raptor Resource Project/Explore, Cornell RTH Cam, Window to Wildlife, Baiba, Eagle Country, WRDC, gr8lakes, IWS/Explore, Trudi Kron, Berry College Eagle Cam, Severna Park, Outbanks 24/7 Osprey Cam, PSEG and Oyster Bay Osprey Cam, Boulder County Fairgrounds Osprey Cam, Cumbria Wildlife Trust (Foulshaw Moss Osprey Cam), Jeff Kear, Brian Taylor, Ventana Wildlife Society, Lady Hawk, Real Saunders Photography, FORE, SK Hideaways, and Cal Falcons.
I had to check first thing. More below. But isn’t a day-old osplet adorable? I wish every osplet could hatch into a wonderful nest like Sally and Harry’s.
Happy Saturday everyone – from all of us. Hugo Yugo is well and there are so many pips and hatches going to happen our heads will be spinning by next week!
I haven’t been staying up as late as I used to. Last year I was still watching the cams at 0100 and back up again before 0700. This year, I am being gentle until the ospreys start hatching all over the place so, sometimes I miss things. That is what happened with the hatch at Moorings yesterday. So grateful for ‘H’ – she fills in my gaps. Thursday night was also a difficult evening when I added up how many hours little Willow had not had any food on the Bluff City nest and observed the battering that Oliver was giving it. Food shortages cause many things for both raptors and humans. Sadly, Willow was too weak to eat on Friday and Oliver continued to thrash her about. It reminded me too much of Zoe. Sometimes we all need just to step back and breathe. Life is often extremely difficult and in instances like this, we feel very helpless.
Hugo Yugo is positively fine. The onesie went into the ether somewhere and the incision is fantastic, regardless. Thank you for all your get well wishes and positive energy.
It has been an excruciatingly painful year with the Bald Eagle nests that all of us have watched. We are only beginning to have the little osplets in the nest. Indeed, the majority of the adults have yet to return from migration. We can only hope that the weather and the quantity and quality of fish will be such that the chicks can survive to fledge – and then, we must hope that the larger raptors do not predate them. It is time to show we care, not just talk about it.
I intend to observe those nests that have had predation and send the owners all the information about the proactive folks at Cowlitz PUD. Yes, that is a public utility company in Washington State that cared enough about its ospreys to put up fish grates to protect the babies from the Bald Eagles. Last year, the family lost all three of their beautiful osplets to an eagle. We have seen other nests that could have benefited and outfitted their platforms before their resident ospreys returned this year. If I seem overly critical, well, I am. The ospreys put so much energy into the eggs, incubation, and feeding that to lose the chicks, often right before or right after fledging, is devastating, especially when mitigation might have altered the outcome.
I reported below that there was to be a walk around the Achieva Credit Union nest. This was posted within the last five minutes – so at 2100 Florida time Friday night. So, please send your concerns to the St Petersburg Audubon Society quickly and coherently.
Good news. The Achieva Osprey nest will have individuals looking at it and around the area as well as trimming the tree near the platform.
Thank you Barbara Walker. This is what she found when they looked around the Achieva nest at the base:
Mother Goose at Decorah has laid another egg – the third. Don’t you love seeing those day old goslings take that leap of faith?
The John Bunker Sands surviving eaglet is doing fantastic. Self-feeding and a lot of flapping and jumping are the order of the day. Mum appears to be improving slowly. I have to imagine that standing on the metal, especially on a hot day, does nothing but put stress on that foot/talon at times. Thankfully, and regardless, the eaglet has not suffered. Dad stepped in to help both and did a fantastic job.
There is a hatch – second egg, one eaglet in nest – in progress at the Cardinal Land Conservancy.
Pip watch began at the Redding Bald Eagle nest of Liberty and Guardian on Thursday. Please let them have one successful hatch! The weather is miserable.
We are on hatch watch at Berry College. This is Pa and Missey’s second clutch. The egg is 35 days old today. Wishing both Pa and Missey luck.
Both Ospreys have arrived safe and sound at the Bridge Golf Club Osprey Nest.
At Port Lincoln, Bradley continues to show us that he can catch puffers and fish! I am so glad that he chooses to catch them on the ropes of the old Natal Nest and then barge them so we can see how well he is doing.
Bradley and Dad have been spending time at Dad’s favourite fishing spot, Delamere. You might recall that Dad and Ervie spent much time there also – as do the whole family now.
I am not sure which bird it is but Threave have one on a nest in the UK! Most will return in a week (based on historical records).
There is a new Red-tail Hawk cam at Syracuse University. The residents are Oren and Ruth and they already have two eggs. Check it out!
Here is the link:
Big Red and Arthur continue to take turns. Big Red has been busy finding bark Friday afternoon.
Arthur returns, not Big Red.
Here comes Mama with more bark.
Snow began to fall gently on Big Red, her nest and the two eggs Friday evening.
The little osplet at Moorings Park is hatched and so cute. Sally has been busy having many small fish meals for her first hatch in 2024. At one time the remaining half shell from the hatch got slipped over the ‘orange’ egg (the one closest to you), but, thankfully, it later came off. Is there a pip in one of the other eggs? We wait to see. Hopefully they will all hatch quickly! Harry is such an amazing fisher and Sally an incredible Mum, they can handle three.
‘AE’ sent this adorable screen capture. Don’t newly hatched osplets melt your heart?
We have some tracking news about Ervie.
Food was scarce, and Oliver at Bluff City realised there was currently not enough, even with a rabbit coming into the nest. S/he has continually beaten little Willow, who has not eaten. The parent will not feed a chick they perceive as dying because it is a ‘waste of food’. Willow must be strong enough to get up and open its beak. Sadly, Oliver isn’t allowing this. This is a typical example of siblicide. And it is horrible to watch. Please note that Oliver has an enormous crop when he is beating Willow. You might recall Zoe at Port Lincoln. This will not end well, and I wish the little one speed in its release.
AE reports Willow had only 2 bites of food. Poor thing.
Poor little Willow. It is raining and she is still alive this morning. I feel so sorry for this family with so little food.
It is an entirely different story at Johnson City where there is plenty of fish. Both eaglets are thriving.
Sometimes I wish the other eggs on the nest would not hatch. Ellie and Harvey’s first eaglet on Farmer Derek’s property is a cutie pie.
The first hatch at Decorah North is on its way! We are going to have so many eaglets by next week!
It appears that Archie won the lottery – Annie and him have four eggs. Wonder if she will go for five?!
Archie incubates!!!!! Those four must be awfully uncomfortable for such a little falcon.
Looks like Lisa has returned to the Spirit Bluff scrape and is bonding with Newman. (I suspect she was injured and healed and has now returned to take her place). Exciting news.
As many of you are aware, I have ranted about humans providing fish for the ospreys in times of immediate need. I wrote the following to Geemeff in a big rant, “So I continue to ask myself – what would it hurt us to put up fish ponds near the raptor platforms? I mean John Williams has figured out the number and type of fish that come on to Llyn Clywedog – and if I recall, it is about 450-500 fish for a great feed for a family of 4-5. Would it really break the bank to ensure fish were there? When the rivers and streams in places such as the NE US have nothing? Humans did, after all, scoop all the surface swimming fish for the ospreys.” Geemeff reminded me of the following: ” I like your rant, and remind you of Horn Mill trout farm in Rutland. They estimate they were losing about £60k in fish stocks annually to the Ospreys, and netted all their ponds. Then someone had the genius idea to un-net the biggest pond and install a hide nearby. Now they make more in photographer fees than they lose to the Ospreys. Win-win! Why don’t others do similar?” Geemeff is absolutely right. There is at least one or two other hides making a good income from people wanting to photograph ospreys catching fish. Mention this to anyone you know. All those golf clubs that have osprey nests where there is a dwindling amount of fish could cash in!
At Louis’s original nest at Loch Arkaig, the buzzards fighting for the rights to nest there have locked talons and fallen over the side in this thirty second clip by Geemeff.
Happy Birthday Super Star Kakapo Sirocco!
For the love of the Eider Duck – a Norwegian community and how it protects this precious waterfowl. Who are the Eider Keepers?
Thank you so very much for being with me today. Please take care. We look forward to having you with us again very soon!
Thank you to the following for their notes, screen captures, conversations, articles, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘A, AE, BA, Geemeff, H, MP’, Achieva Osprey Cam, Barbara Walker, Raptor Resource Project/Explore.org, JB Sands Wetlands, Cardinal Land Conservancy, FORE, Berry College Eagle Cam, Bridge Golf Course Ospreys, PLO, thrive Ospreys NTS, Red-tail Hawk Cam SU, Cornell RTH Cam, Moorings Park Ospreys, Bluff City-ETSU, Johnson City-ETSU, SK Hideaways, Ashley Wilson, Geemeff, Kakapo Recover, Hakai Magazine, Raptor Persecution UK, and BirdLife International.
Well, be careful what you wish for. I was longing for winter and snow and got both. Tuesday morning the winds were howling, the gusts shaped the snow in all kinds of configurations around the garden, covered part of the car, and made the sidewalk impassable. It was -18 C. With the wind chill, I suspect it was nearer to -30 C. Time to get out the heavy coat, toque, mitts, scarves, and anything else to help keep warm. Of course, hot chocolate helps, too!
The cats are unphased by it all. The Boyfriend came to eat at his feeder after it had been cleared and refilled several times. I wish he would stay in his little house here instead of wandering everywhere, but isn’t that silly when I advocated for Flaco to be able to fly all over the place?
Hugo Yugo will get her onsie on Thursday. It will give us a fortnight for her to get used to it before her surgery. Bless her heart. She is so so tiny.
Calico has really taken to wanting to be brushed again. She isn’t too keen on the Dental wipes and, as a result, she has to be wrapped up like a burrito. It works. Only her head sticks out and I can get the wipe way back to the distant teeth that might, otherwise, not get cleaned. I sure hope these wipes work!
Calico is becoming more active. Not sure if it is the warmer days we had before the storm or if the weight that she has lost is making her feel better.
Missey is always beautiful. She has had her teeth cleaned with wipes and her nails trimmed and didn’t make a single fuss. Oh, that lovely Maine Coon disposition.
Jackie and Shadow were still a little wet when they woke up Tuesday morning. As the morning progressed their feathers dried off. We are now at the 28th day of February. The eggs are still in tact. We are one day away from pip watch for the first egg. Can you believe it? Many of you will remember that Shadow has incubated eggs for 60 days that were not viable. Oh, please let one of these hatch!
Shadow comes in with a fish and Jackie sys her thank yous. There is a good long look at the eggs. Still intact. We are now ONE day away from pip/hatch watch for egg number one.
I love Shadow looking at their eggs. Staring at them. Can they hear the little eaglet?
More incubation exchanges and at 14:19 on Tuesday there were 11,252 people watching this couple incubate their three eggs. Gosh, they did. More than 10,000 people. We are all holding our breath.
Shadow was in the branches above the nest. Jackie was chortling to him when she flew off. He arrives and carefully takes his place over the eggs.
Making the news!
Diamonds for Jackie. ONE day away from pip/hatch watch. Might there be triplets in Big Bear?
Richmond is anxiously awaiting the arrival of Rosie!
The new Bald Eagle couple that has been coming, going, and inspecting the Dulles-Greenway nest of Rosa and Martin and then Rosa and Lewis must not believe their luck.
Did Rosa ‘divorce’ Lewis? Is she OK? Is he? I always wonder when there is a failed nest and the eagle or eagles just leave.
Egg three for Mum and new Dad at Centreport. ‘H’ says reported time of arrival was 18:08 nest time Tuesday.
It isn’t just Royal Albatross chicks that build play nests. E23 had some fun making his/her own, too.
Sutton Centre shows us the three eggs that are at the Bartlesville, Oklahoma Bald Eagle nest.
Jolene and Booth have their second hatch at ETSU, JC24. You can see the hole shortly after 10. That little one is working hard. It will be out of this shell in three hours from the top image.
It is about three weeks until pip/hatch watch at Moorings Park. Circle your calendar for March 20-21. Spring babies!
Things seem to be alright at Eagle Country. Less prey evident on the nest and fewer feedings.
Lots of fish on the nest of Pepe and Muhlady for the eaglets.
I sure might have missed it, but I am not seeing the male come and give Mum a break at Duke Farms on Tuesday. She got up off the eggs after 1600.
R6 still likes Mum or Dad to feed him even though he is fully capable of finishing off any fish brought to the WRDC nest.
There was concern over another pigeon band, which R6 expelled. It was thought that he might try eating the pigeon leg that had the band again, but Ron arrived and, to the relief of all, ate the leg and band. Whew.
Really windy at the JB Sands Wetlands eagle nest. That metal tower just shakes…you have to turn the volume down. Both adults at the nest. Everything looks alright.
Bella and Scout have their first egg ever together at the National Conservation Training Centre bald eagle nest. Scout was in attendance during the labour.
It is the third egg for the couple at the FOLFAN Eagle nest. Lots of third eggs this year.
Denton Homes has its third egg, too, on the 27th!
I always see hawks hunting rodents, but I have to admit I have never seen a Peregrine Falcon with a rodent. We think of the falcons as aerial hunters. I do hope this one was not poisoned – it makes me very uneasy.
It is enlightening that California has passed legislation to ban rodenticides. I hope everyone joins with them.
At Great Spirit Bluff, it appears that Newman has selected Lisa as his new mate!
There are all kinds of lotteries on which osprey will be at the nest first in the UK, in Wales, or at specific nests. ‘L’ sent me the link to the history of the Glaslyn nest of Aran and Elen (formerly of Aran and Mrs G). This will be Elen’s first return – will she arrive before Aran? Mrs G used to arrive early, and sometimes, she got into mischief with Aeron Z2 over at the Pont Cresor platform.
I had a question today. Do songbirds practice siblicide? The answer, as far as I know, is ‘no’. And while we might, on rare occasions, see siblicide in hawks or falcons, there are some species for which killing the younger siblicide is ‘normal’. As we move deeper into Bald Eagle season and Osprey season approaching, it is a good time to educate ourselves about this behaviour. Here are two articles to get you started.
How closely will they investigate? A groundsman of 20 years shot dead while out walking who is connected with the notorious Edradynate Estate. What did he know? Was he going to testify? Or was he simply unlucky?
Thank you so much for being with me today. So many nests and not time to watch or cover all of them. Just hold your breath. ONE day away from staring at the Big Bear nest of Jackie and Shadow for any hint that an eaglet might be thinking of making its way into the world. Oh, Shadow is going to be so delighted. Take care!
Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, screen captures, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog: ‘Geemeff, H, J, L, R’, FOBBV, Golden Gate Audubon, Dulles-Greenway Eagle Cam, Lady Hawk, Johnson City ETSU-E1, Moorings Park, Eagle country, Superbeaks, Duke Farms, WRDC, JB Sands Wetlands, Wings of Whimsy, Cal Falcons, Ashley Wilson, Bywyd Gwyllt Glaslyn, Research Gate and Explore Blog.
Saturday was nothing short of a day full of anxiety for many of our Osprey nests. We have lost another beautiful bird nearing fledge, and we are consumed with worry over Mini and how fast our darling girl can heal. Loch Garten has me worrying that more fledglings might have died or been injured due to KL5’s aggressions. My blog today runs over with the harsh reality of the lives of our beloved fish-eating eagles. Sometimes these events just take the wind out of our sails and we need time to just sit and stare at the wall.
It is one of those osprey seasons where we have cried buckets and Saturday evening is no exception. Louise and Jasper’s second hatch, JJ, succumbed to starvation at 21:21:50. He had not been allowed to eat for more than forty-eight hours. The two fish that came to the nest on Saturday were eaten entirely by Banff, the first hatch and much larger female.
Fortis-Exshaw has seen its share of sadness this season, beginning with the loss of the male, Jasper, when the chicks were only wee. The third hatch immediately became a victim of siblicide/starvation. Then O’Hara comes on the scene to help Louis feed the two surviving chicks and the relentless intruders. We believed that everything would be alright. Then there are wildfires, more intruders, and then Louise is left defending the nest and providing for the chicks – again – on her own. Condolences all around. JJ was adored for his sweet nature.
Look at that beautiful, fully feathered osplet on the left – sweet JJ. Soar high little one, soar high. It is simply hard to believe.
These are ‘H’s notes about Saturday at Fortis:
” Oh, dear . . what happened to all the fish that used to be brought to this nest? I wish Louise could tell us. JJ had not eaten since 1808 on 8/10. There were only two fish brought to the nest by Louise on 8/12. The first fish at 1259 was rather small. JJ fought Banff valiantly for it, and was able to tear off a small piece, but Banff won the fish. After Banff ate that fish, she put on a surprising aerial display of out-of-sight hovers. The next fish was at 1409, and it was very large. It was enough for a couple of meals each for Banff and JJ. There was a three-way battle for that fish. JJ had it for only a few seconds, then Banff took it, but Louise took it from Banff. Louise wanted to feed, but unfortunately only Banff came to the table. JJ had been jumped on by Banff during the tussle for the fish, and JJ ended up cowering over on the sidelines. After just a few minutes of Louise feeding, Banff pulled the fish away from Louise, and Louise left the nest a short time later. We all thought that Banff would eat her fill then walk away from the fish, so then JJ would be able to eat. But, apparently Banff’s mindset was becoming more survivalist, and adult-like. Whereas she previously would walk away from a fish when she was full, today she did not walk away. It was Banff’s intention to maintain possession of ‘her fish’. So, she would take long breaks from eating and simply stand on the fish. JJ tried unsuccessfully to take the fish a couple of times. Almost 2 1/2 hours after she started eating, Banff left a tail+ piece on the nest. JJ never even knew it was there, and Banff finished it later. JJ passed late in the evening at 55 days of age, and he was reunited with his Dad, Jasper. Fly high JJ, and may you always have a full crop. We are so very glad that we met you, and we will never forget you. “
On Sunday morning, Banff flew to the perch. It is highly likely that she might fledge today. Louise has not been seen on the nest since JJ died that I am aware.
On top of this great sadness, there is also some great joy. ‘H’ reports that Dorsett, the only surviving osplet, of Duke and Daisy at Barnegat Light caught her first fish ‘on camera’ yesterday. “Dorsett caught her first fish, 13 days after she fledged. She caught an Atlantic needlefish, and ate the entire fish on Duke’s perch. Way to go, Dorsett!” We must rejoice in this – because hundreds and hundreds (if not thousands and thousands) of little osplets died on the nest during those horrible storms in mid-June. Dorsett is the only one from Duke and Daisy’s nest to make it and she is amazing.
‘H’ also reports on good news at Kent Island, “Kent Island – At approximately 1655 Molly made a perfect landing back on her nest, 25 hours after she fledged. She was soon treated to a nice fish from her Mom. It’s great to see you back, Molly!”
There has been a lot of discussion about how Mini might have injured her leg. We will never know. There are endless possibilities. Whatever happened occurred off the nest, away from the camera. My ‘dime’s worth’ is on a fish fight with someone. At the RSPB nest, the 2-year-old returnee KL5 has been ruthless in seeing off this year’s fledglings (2C4 and 2C5) – in dramatic, unrelenting and harmful ways. He is determined to take this nest.
Most of the time, we think of Ospreys being relatively docile compared to other raptors, but we must remember that they are Apex predators. And while they do not have the type of talons to fight head to toe with eagles and hawks, the battles between Ospreys can get superheated and very intense, as this video shows.
At Patchogue, Mini had everyone concerned Saturday morning when she dangled her left leg while sitting on the perch. I want to think that she did not want to put pressure on the leg – to allow the swelling to go down and this healing process to accelerate. So far, she does not appear lethargic. Everyone loves Mini and wants this super special lass to achieve great things, not be suffering from an injury. So – it is tough for everyone to watch and to wait and see how this plays out. It appears that Dad might be feeding Mini off nest – perhaps she has found a place where it is easier for her to hang on to the fish (a nice big flat surface like a roof) and eat slowly.
The ‘elephant in the room is the lingering question: will Mini heal enough to care for herself by the time Dad and she need to leave on their migration?
Saturday morning at Patchogue:
Mini is fish calling really loud this morning. She is spunky and alive and wants Dad to get there in a hurry. Please send her your best wishes! We want our dear little one to heal quickly. The good news is she is not lethargic.
There is also good news coming out of NZ for the supplementary feeding for the Royal Cam chick worked wonders. ‘A’ reports, “In New Zealand, Manaaki is very active following his supplementary feeding and has spent the days since gardening up a storm and ticking off the local scenic walks. (He has ventured even further than before in his explorations.) What a beautiful creature he really is. His fluff is almost gone now and we are looking at a juvenile now, not a chick. Our gorgeous boy.”
What would our world be like if all the people who owned streaming cams took the same great care with such compassion as NZ? When the parents do not show up or there is not enough food, they feed the chicks!
‘A’ reports that someone is going out to fix the camera at the barge in Port Lincoln on Monday (today in Australia). We are waiting for the first egg for Mum and Dad.
A very quick look at some other nests that have caused some worry in previous weeks.
MN Arboretum- Fish are coming on the nest and the beautiful osplet, fully feathered and nearing fledge, is doing a good job at self-feeding. You can sure see the change in the landscape now – from dry soil to corn growing!
Steelscape:
That is wonderful news to see this little third hatch eating so well.
PF4 has been caught on camera at Loch of the Lowes!!!!!
I have been so worried about this nest. We can now see PF4 also catching her own fish – the second time on camera. But, look at her, she must have been catching fish all along. Mum Blue NC0 has not been seen since 15 July and PF5, the younger brother, for some weeks now, too. It is unclear what is happening with Laddie LM12. But, for now, we can rejoice that this fledgling is surviving by her own fishing – a skill set that she is perfecting before she migrates.
I always appreciate Emyr Evans Science Sundays. Ospreys and catching fish – we have seen their dives. They are so brilliant – it is one of the most incredible things to watch.
Like so many of you I needed a little break for today. I find the situation at Fortis-Exshaw a little overwhelming – it has been like a roller coaster – and I cannot imagine how Louise is feeling.
Thank goodness for the kittens who bring me such joy! Always together, always loving towards one another. I hope that the introduction of Calico does not change the dynamics too much.
Please take care everyone. Let us collectively take a deep breath and turn our attention back to sending good energy towards Mini at Patchogue. See you soon!
Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog this morning: ‘A, H, PB, R’, Fortis Exshaw, Conserve Wildlife of NJ, Kent Island, RSPB Loch Garten, PSEG, NZ DOC, MN Landscape Arboretum, Pam Breci and The Joy of Ospreys, The Scottish Wildlife Trust, and Dyfi Osprey Project.
It is the first day of August and I am reminded that we have about 7 more weeks of summer. It cooled down in the garden today and the birds were noticeably happier. The lilacs have given them respite when it was really hot and the bird bath – remember to keep putting out water. Dehydration is a terrible problem. Many wildlife rehabbers say it is worse than not having regular meals. Clearly, the Blue Jays, now totalling more than 14, find the bird bath a source of pleasure!
Today it will go up to 31 degrees. It has been like a yo-yo – temperatures going up to the 30s and then dropping to the low teens.
Missey and Lewis continue to enjoy watching the birds and ‘talking to them’ – and as always, staying rather close to one another.
Once in a while, a bird will land on the glass ceiling, which fascinates the kittens.
On days when we lose an Osprey, it is always comforting to have the garden birds and the kittens.
I want to start with some amazing news coming out of Loch of the Lowes. The female fledgling, PF4, – a strong and determined and hungry fledgling – caught her first fish today. Why is this such a big deal? It is rare for a fledgling osprey to catch a fish before it has left for migration. This is still July! It was small but that does not matter. The skill and coordination required – well, it looks like this one is well equipped to face the world. Fantastic.
I am really hoping that LOTL will post a video of this special moment in PF4’s life.
Others have been wondering if anyone could remember another UK fledgling successfully catching a fish before migrating. The only one that has come to mind so far is Oswald who hatched in Naimshire in 2011. He did not migrate until October!
At Llyn Brenig, Mari tried over and over again to catch a fish. Maybe she will be successful like PF4 tomorrow. That would be fantastic.
We always need a feel good moment and here is the one to begin our day. Couple saves Osprey! Salmon Arm, BC.
And because we can all use good news about more generous and compassionate people, another osprey save.
Staying in British Columbia, the second hatch at Osoyoos died Monday 31 July.
The little one, the second hatch, is alive at 0531 when fish comes in before the attack by One. (I do not like the images of the chicks being brutalised or dead…one of the last looks when this one could hold its head up). It has been an incredibly difficult year for the Ospreys around the world this year.
Soo, the female has not been seen since Saturday. Olsen has been bringing in nice fish but this little one was too weak to eat Monday morning. Problems with starvation/siblicide were mitigated by the growing heat domes in the area and the wildfires and then the disappearance of Mum. Olsen has been doing splendidly under the circumstances. This evening, good news has come from ‘H’ who says that Soo is back on the nest at 1633. She adds, “After Soo returned to the nest at 1633, she fed #1 from a large fish that had been left on the nest. Soo was on the nest with #1 when Olsen delivered a fish at 2008.” Thank you, ‘H’. With two parents and a single osplet, let us hope that all goes well for this little one to fledge.
In order to highlight the threats to our feathered friends, NZ is adding some very interesting birds to its ‘Bird of the Century’ contest.
“This year five extinct species will be included among the 75 contenders, to bring attention to the pressures facing the natural world. In New Zealand, 82% of birds are threatened with extinction.”
Bruce Yolton continues to follow the Eurasian Owl that escaped from the Central Park Zoo as the owl continues to live and hunt in the wild.
At Steelscape, things continue to look good.
Patchogue: Mini enjoying a fish while another sibling is envious.
Mini enjoying another fish! Our girl is doing well.
Bridge Golf: Cam went down late on the 27th of July. Both osplets were fully feathered, healthy, and eating well. No reason to believe that they will not fledge.
MN Landscape: Even with lots of intruders around and Dad on the nest, this 21 year old father has made sure there is fish on the nest. The only surviving osplet is doing well – and there are many, many nests in this area that have suffered this season. A number of reports indicate that a number of males are missing and the females are having to provide protection and hunt. Lots of nests have lost osplets in the area because of this.
Collins Marsh: The first hatch has flown. I am not certain that 31 July was the first time because this bird flew like a pro! Congratulations.
Sydney Sea Eagles: SE31 and 32 are off to a very good start. They are about the same size and Lady is a pro at feeding them the tiniest bites of fish. Both are doing so well.
SK Hideaways gets us up close and personal with these little fluff balls:
The three little Osplets at Osprey House in Australia will melt your heart.
Dorsett Hobby Falcons: Cuteness overload. Gosh, it is easy to forget that the little hawks and falcons grow so much faster and fledge sooner than the ospreys and big eagles. I just love their little beaky kisses!
Finnish Osprey Nest 1: Roihu, the little male on the nest with two sisters, fledged today! Congratulations.
Finnish Nest at Muonio in Lapland: All three are doing super.
Alyth: The trio have all fledged. They did not spend the night on the nest but nearby and were there at dawn waiting for fish deliveries.
Poole Harbour: Lots of fish coming to the nest and every once in awhile you just wonder if CJ7 might like to have a long fish lunch. There has been at least one intruder in the area but so far everything is going smoothly at the nest.
RSPB Loch Garten: Five fish were delivered before the camera went down. It was a really good day at the nest.
Fish scuffle at Manton Bay: Blue 33 flies in with a fish with two of the fledglings on the nest. Another flies over after the delivery. There was a bit of a fight for the fish but nothing like we have seen on other nests. They all know there will be more fish — and look at the size of it. Can you imagine if a fish this size fell on the Osoyoos or Forsythe nest?
At Loch Arkaig, a Sparrowhawk visits the nest of Louis, Dorcha, and Ludo…it is no threat to them but what a lovely chance encounter.
Boulder County: All three safely flying and on the nest. Life continues to be good at Boulder.
Time for ‘H’s reports: Fortis Exshaw: Mr. O made a quick stop at the nest at 0612. Louise had not yet arrived at the nest in the morning, so only the kids were there. Mr.O stood there for ten seconds, looked around, checked the skies, then he left. Mr.O was just checking up on things for the family. Smile. There were three fish delivered to the nest, including one by Mr.O. Chick #1 is undergoing a bit of a personality change. S/he is slightly aggressive toward #2 when a fish is delivered, and often grabs the fish, and self-feeds. All perfectly normal at this stage in its development. Chick #1 ate the first two fish that were brought to the nest. When the third fish was delivered by Louise at 1221, #1 sent #2 to the sidelines, and then was fed by Louise. After several minutes, #2 managed to get to the other side of Louise to be fed as well, but it was the only meal of the day for chick #2. Chick #2 will learn to try to acquire fish as well, and s/he needs to improve its self-feeding skills. But, a few more fish would help in this situation, I think.
Forsythe: “After two days of much cooler temperatures, it seemed that fish were easier for Oscar to catch. Oscar started the day off like gangbusters, delivering fish at 0839, 0852, 0949, 1024, and 1052. There were three fish for Owen, and two for Ollie. But, then there were no more fish for the rest of the day. Go figure. So, as the fledglings became hungry later in the day, there were a couple of kerfuffles between them. Five fish is not bad, though. With easier fishing, perhaps it’s a good time for the juvies to try to catch their own fish. They are 70 and 71 days old and fledged two weeks ago.”
Thank you, ‘H’!
I have often mentioned Urmas and his fish baskets. These baskets have saved the life of Karl II and his family. It is a beautiful intervention intent on saving these rare birds. Kindness. Compassion.
Emyr Evans (Dyfi Osprey Project) has posted a short article discussing inbreeding in Ospreys. you might find this interesting.
On the Cornell Campus in Ithaca, New York, Suzanne Arnold Horning was able to catch sight of some of the Ms. The three fledglings have done well…super well in fact. I won’t say another word because I do not want to jink this year.
Thank you so much for being with me today. Please take care of yourself. Looking forward to seeing you soon!
Thank you so very much for being with me today. Thank you to the following for their notes, videos, posts, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog today: ‘AMW, Geemeff, H, MP’, LOTL, Carol White and Friends of Llyn Brenig Osprey Project, Sunnie Day, Linda McIlroy and Raptors of the World, APCH, Osoyoos, The Guardian, Bruce Yolton, Steelscape, Patchogue, Bridge Golf, MN Landscape Arboretum, Collins Marsh, Sydney Sea Eagles, Osprey House, SK Hideaways and Dorsett Hobby Falcons, Finnish Osprey Foundation, Alyth, Poole Harbour, RSPB Loch Garten, LRWT, Boulder County, Fortis Exshaw, Maria Marika, Emry Evans and Dyfi Ospreys, and Suzanne Arnold Horning.
Every day I am so grateful for the joy that the garden animals bring to my life and for the gifts, like these beautiful sunflowers, that they grew.
I hope that each of you checked in on Mini on Sunday. Oh, goodness. That bird has no idea what a fan base it has nor how loved it is but, Mini proved that with great parents, an area with enough fish (many do not), and the ‘will to live’, a tiny fourth hatch can survive. Sunday was, therefore, a day of celebration!
There are still issues at other nests with lack of fish – or lack of fish deliveries due to a single parent and intruders: Steelscape, Loch of the Lowes, Forsythe to name three. Keep sending them your best wishes. If you had asked me if we would lose so many fully feathered osplets this year so close to fledge or that we had the potential to lose some more I would have said ‘no’. It has been a challenging year everywhere but, particularly, on the US coasts (Washington and the Columbia River), Chesapeake Bay Area, and Florida.
But, for now, I just want to relish Mini’s day…
And that is just about all I did!!!!!!!!!!!! Sometimes it is good to just stop and rejoice. This was no small feat this tiny fourth hatch pulled off. Some of you might even think it was a miracle.
Mini took a couple of flights after that remarkable fledge. There is that empty nest at 1116. Mini is going to come flying over the brewery across the street and put her landing gear down. She has a little hiccup with the rim but otherwise, perfect.
Here comes Mini trying to line up with the runway!
Beautiful Mini around 1725. The lovely brown dots of her necklace look like little hearts. She has a solid dark eye line and her head is a little muddy. That head is the only thing that will not change so get lots of images of it. Too bad there is no distinctive type of image but memorize it and keep a file. You will be able to recognise her easily by her necklace now but, if she were to return to this nest in the future, you need to know that head because, sadly, banding is not common in the US. She will look different with her adult plumage. It is not often that females return to their natal nest – the males do but it does happen and wouldn’t we love to see her again in a couple of years?
At 1906, the four siblings are on the nest. A huge round of applause for these parents fledgling four this year, please. Many nests could hardly manage two. Many lost all their chicks. For whatever reason, the two PSEG nests did very well indeed.
At 2008, Mini does a really nice ‘ps’. It is all that fish she got today!
Thankfully we did not need a rescue at Patchogue. But I know from all of you that wrote or commented that the plight of Mini caused you to move into action to try and save her should something go amiss. It is those traits in all of you – generosity, compassion, caring – that take away the despair. When you see a chick on a nest that might be lost, you do not hesitate to move into action to try and get help. We cannot save them all and, indeed, the system is set up so that they fail. But today, we witnessed a chick that defied the odds because it wanted to live and a family that made sure that happened – including the siblings on this nest who were nothing short of amazing.
Good Night Mini!
My time today was otherwise occupied with that adorable little Blue Jay that once slept on the little birds and who often watches me from one of the perches. Today, it let me get too close and then….I noticed. Can you see what is missing?
It is called ‘fright moult’. One of the feral cats might have caught this little one, or was it a squirrel? Difficult to know, but my bet is on the cat. To survive, it moulted all its tail feathers. That means this sweet baby can fly with some difficulty but not for long distances. This means that migration is out of the question. In the past, we have had Blue Jays during the winter, so…I am trying to find where the incident occurred so that the feathers might be glued back. Wish us luck. Right now, this baby is in a safe place.
‘H’ has just sent me word that Little Skipper was predated by a GHO on 24 July at 00:20 (12:20 am). This much loved and only osplet of Dory and Skiff was 44 days old. Audubon Boathouse. A real little gem up on the coast that survived til now. You will note that Little Skipper was not so little. The GHOs wait til right before or right after fledge (mostly, it seems) when the chicks are nice and fat. We need protective guards placed on these osprey nests like Cowlitz PUD provided its couple.
What do you think of when you think of a duck pond? I bet it isn’t this! This just literally makes me ill.
The look of the ducks coming up to get their food so that they can be shot in cold blood in that dire forbidden muddy mess is beyond my imagination. Sorry, folks. But there needs to be an outright ban on this practice. There is no skill involved – it is like baiting the area for the fish around the boat or using ‘fish finders’. Or putting out tonnes of apples for bears…Of course, what I would like to see is an outright ban on killing all wild animals and all fishing. Put a moratorium in place for 8-10 years and see how well the oceans have recovered. (Fish can be farmed if humans insist on eating them).
There is another osplet caught up in fishing line. I do not know the nest but the information was posted on Nor-Cal Birding. In all instances do not give up if someone doesn’t respond or help. If you see an osplet tangled in fishing line (or any other wildlife) get pictures for proof, get the exact location, and find the nearest wildlife rehabber and the nearest USFWS office. Go to ahnow.org to search for the nearest help to the site. If you are not satisfied with that, then Google “nearest wildlife rehab to _________”. Do not wait. Remember how long it took to get help at Dale Hollow? Take action quickly once you see that something is clearly wrong.
A good example. We might not always win but we always need to go the distance for our feathered friends. They cannot advocate for themselves – and sometimes we win. It is those wins – and the fledges that seem impossible – like Little Mini – that really do brighten our day and give us the strength to carry on for others.
Another Osprey nest caught on fire and another set of babies were rescued. This was in Lavigne, Ontario.
We now know of at least 3 nests that have caught on fire in the past week. Two, in Canada, had the osplets saved. Recommendation: Every utility company undertakes to erect a new pole and platform for all nests on old hydro poles. Be caring, be generous, be compassionate power companies. Need funds? CrowdFunder can be started!
I am so proud to be part of the efforts to raise nesting platforms for the Ospreys in South Australia. Without these artificial nests on poles, the Ospreys have to lay their eggs on the rocks were the eggs and chicks are prone to predation.
Now for a spin around the nests:
Roundhouse Loch Noon: Both of the osplets have now fledged! Congratulations.
Loch of the Lowes: Laddie tries his best to fend off intruders and feed both fledglings. The first hatch, the female, PF4, got this one! She has gotten the last two. The lad, PF5, got a considerable fish earlier on Sunday.
Glaslyn: OH2 fledged on Sunday. Congratulations Aran and Elen – both chicks are now flying.
Here it is on video:
MN Landscape Arboretum: Everything is good.
Steelscape: Things are not good. ‘PB’ has monitored the nest and reports that the third hatch is getting weaker and weaker. It is kept from eating by the first hatch. It had no fish until 7:35pm today when the little one got a private feeding from Mum. There is a drought in the area dn the water is low. As a result there are problems getting enough fish to the nest for Mum and the trio. Please send warm wishes.
Mum reaches out to the little one and this time it eats! The others are quite full. Let us hope that there is a good portion of fish left. You can see where the big one has yanked the feathers from the back. It would be a shame to lose another chick so close to fledge. Thank goodness that fourth egg did not hatch!
I bet that fish never tasted so good as it did to this wee one today. It was quite weak earlier.
At Dunrovin, we are on fledge watch.
For those of you watching the Sydney Sea Eagles, it is pip watch. Can you believe it? There is a fish in the nest already waiting for Lady and any hatchlings.
The remainder of ‘H’s report. Little Skipper was one of her favourites and my heart goes out to my friend who helps me monitor a number of nests. It is so difficult – what a challenging year it has been. Our hearts are broken.
Kent Island – “There were at least eight fish brought to the nest on 7/23, including one by Audrey. At 42 days of age, ‘Junior’ has been learning how to perform nestorations under the tutelage of his Mom.”
Fortis Exshaw – “Breakfast consisted of a fish that Louise had brought to the nest very late the previous evening. Throughout the day, Louise delivered three large fish to the nest, and Mr. O delivered one. However, Louise was already feeding the kids at the time of Mr. O’s fish offering, so he flew away with his fish. At 36 days of age, the youngsters are doing very well.”
Forsythe – “Between Opal and Oscar, six large fish were delivered to the nest. Both Owen and Ollie had plenty to eat. Ollie managed to grab the 10:10 fish from Opal but was pushed off the nest by Owen. Ollie was seen flying off the nest with the fish in his beak, and a short while later she flew to the cam pole holding the fish in her talons! At one point in the afternoon Owen and Ollie were each just standing on their fish, because they were too full to eat. The temperatures were lower on 7/23, so perhaps fish were easier to catch. Let’s hope the improved fishing conditions will continue.”
Thank you ‘H’.
I have a little Blue Jay to attend to and was hoping that today would be quiet. Already human debris is causing a disturbance. ‘L’ writes that one of the osplets at Patchogue has a mask attached to its leg this morning. Let us all hope that this mask comes off.
Remember that all manner of things require cutting before disposal. Loops in bags, rubber bands, those plastic tabs that come with bread need to be cut in half…and we need to be diligent and clean up – after ourselves and others. If you do go on a clean-up of parks and places where there are birds, you should wear gloves, clean your hands thoroughly, and use sanitiser afterwards.
Good Morning Mini!
There is an article about the SWFlorida nest – home to Harriet and M15 and the darling Es that you might enjoy.
Please keep all of the wildlife and our dear nests that are struggling without the help of the heat that is penetrating everything. ‘PB’ just sent me the forecast map for the US which has been hit so very hard this breeding season.
Thank you so much for being with me today. Please take care of yourself. See you soon!
Thank you to everyone who sent notes about Little Mini. Our entire Bird World family has been uplifted by her success. Relish this Sunday and her achievements. It does not often end with such success! Yeah, Mini!
Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog today: ‘H, L, L, M, PB, SW’, PSEG, Raptor Persecution UK, BBC, BBC Radio Leicester, Municipality of West Nipissing, Newstalk 1010, Port Lincoln Osprey, Friends of Loch Arkaig, The Woodland Trust, Bywyd Gwylld Glaslyn, MN Landscape Arboretum, Steelscape, Inc, Days at Dunrovin, Sydney Sea Eagles, Audubon/Explore, Kent Island, Fortis Exshaw, NOAA, and Forsythe Ospreys.
