Category Archives: storks

Some good news…Monday in Bird World

26 June 2023

Good Morning Everyone,

Thank you for your wonderful notes and your cheerful suggestions on what you do when you feel stressed. Gosh, what a wonderful ‘Bird Family’ I have! so caring and compassionate. ‘M’, I will watch those sparrows netting under the Ospreys at Patchogue! Every time I get mad at Big for raising its head when Mini has a chance to eat I promise I will seek those birds out!

There is some good news coming in from Sunday. I have already posted it but everyone is so thrilled that Duke has returned to Daisy at Barnegat Light. Gone a little over 72 hours. Not sure if he has eaten. Duke looks thin and was interested in Daisy’s fish. Daisy has done magnificently as a single Mum for a few days despite losing two of three chicks…she could ahve lost them all. It is sad to see a big healthy Middle, a fat little osplet, on the nest dead. What a few days it has been in osprey World.

Happiness is a walk around a duck pond or through the forest when the sun is warm on your face and at every turn there is a new surprise. Today it was in the form of little ducklings and goslings and all the birds enjoying the bird bath or the fledgling Blue Jays trying to crack a peanut so that it is the right size to eat.

The Canada Geese or moulting. There will be feathers all over the area around the pond for the next 4-6 weeks. T hey undergo an entire moult and cannot fly during this time.

This lucky family had five goslings. Dad was behind being security guard.

A juvenile Mallard.

Proud Mum had several of those little fuzzy duckling juveniles.

Coming home, the fledgling blue Jays were having a wonderful time in the bird bath!

Our top tip of the day comes form Amy Tan and it is great advice – costing around $1-$5 – to keep birds from colliding with windows and being injured or dying.

Now see the spider webs.

For the first time, Ospreys are breeding in an area of Germany where there were none! The ringing of the beautiful osplets today. Talk about happiness.

https://fb.watch/lohgZHspZq/

It is only 1515 at the Barnegat Light nest of Daisy and Big Bob. Daisy has already brought in four fish on Sunday. Big is eating well and Daisy is eating, too. They will be fine unless another catastrophic event happens. Daisy adjusted quickly to being a single Mum providing for the nest – the weather did not cooperate but she will get to raise one healthy chick to fledge, hopefully.

Daisy protecting her only surviving osplet. Big is 26 days old today.

Well, of course, the good news is that Duke has returned to Daisy and their nest. He looks thin. He was gone over 72 hours.

‘H’ notes that Daisy hid the body of Middle on Duke’s arrival. Poor Mum. She did her best and we have no idea what Dad went through…just glad they are together with one chick. ‘H’ also confirms that Duke did steal the fish that Daisy had but went fishing and brought another one in for the family. Poor guy. He was so hungry. Wonder where he had been?

The other great news is that Little Mini at Patchogue lucked out and had two good meals so far on Sunday. The first was at the crack of dawn at 0500 and the second came at 13:28. Little Mini ate the entire fish! No one else was interested. This is what will save our Mini…and it is Sunday. So good going!

Oh, thank goodness. Mini got a little more fish from the 1707 delivery. How much before the big ones come to the table…well, unknown. Mini is so hungry it is not leaving the table but is increasingly intimidated by the bigger siblings.

Mini stays and starts getting fed again at 1812. What a relief. Nope. The Bigs come back! Mini needs to grab that fish. Mum offers and he keeps his head down.

Mini has a tiny mini crop.

Mini did really well Monday morning. Right up there with Three eating! This is a really good break through for our wee one who is getting so many feathers it is hard to tell 4 from 3.

Thanks Stephen for this great photo of another survivor at South Bend.

Continuing to be grateful to the Finnish Osprey Foundation for removing the surviving chicks from nest 3 for care.

At the Forsythe Nest, ‘H’ confirms that Oscar brought in 13 fish on Sunday. Big was extremely aggressive and almost pushed Middle over the edge. That aggression died down a bit and Middle did eat. Let us hope that this all stops. Big is 34 days old and Middle is 33.

Osoyoos: ‘H’ was then that called the pip! Sunday 23:21. Oh, I hope this nest has a good year without the heat domes of past.

Boulder County Fair Grounds is sometimes not an easy nest to watch. There is plenty of fish but Little sometimes appears to get shut out. It had a couple of reasonable feeds by 1600 on Sunday.

Cowlitz PUD: Did not see any fish deliveries up to and including 1330 nest time. Where are the fish?

Seaside: Those two chicks are really growing! Would love to ship the Cowlitz baby over to them some days!

RVA Ospreys, James River: Two Ospreys on the nest on Sunday. No clutch this year. Maybe next.

Great Bay Ospreys: LOTS of fish. Some dominance issues with the Big sibling but the second hatch got some fish!

Moraine Preservation Fund: Trio are doing well and this is a nest where the Dad steps up to feed the chicks! We need more of that wired into their system!

Outerbanks 24/7: Chicks are well fed. Betsy flew off with a fish at 1431 when kayakers came too close to the nest. The osplets pancaked. There need to be barriers around the nests and notices to people in boats, motorised or not.

Oyster Bay: Everything is good.

Maryland Western Shore for Old Town: Fantastic day!

The Bridge Golf Club Ospreys, Noyack, NY: Trio on the nest. Larger two siblings will not let the very tiny third hatch eat. To be fair, the second hatch is quite thin and the little one is so tiny and so hungry. This nest is not thriving.

Sandpoint: Chick hatched on 22 June. Eating well.

Cape Henlopen: No ospreys and the Black Vultures have come to use it as a spot to rest and scope out the area.

White Stork Nest, Tukums, Latvia: Since the rain this nest has been doing fantastic. Storklets growing and appear to be very healthy.

The construction of the new nest for Martin and Rose is now finished. Thank you Window to Wildlife. Pi and Pat were apparently watching from a distance. It is approximately 6 ‘ x 3’.

‘A’ is worried about some events at the nest of Angel and Tom and Deyani. She writes, “at Angel’s nest, there was no food brought to Deyani today (Sunday). She visited the nest several times during the day, attacked the nest a little, pancaked for an afternoon rest for a while, but left late in the afternoon and did not return. There were early evening storms in the area, and about an hour ago, there was very heavy rain and thunder. Then, about 15 or 20 minutes ago, and once more as I type this, there were several shots fired. They were about 30 seconds or so apart and there were three or four of them. Then, as I said, about a minute ago, another shot rang out. It was pitch dark when the first shot was heard. They were fairly close to the microphone (which is in a tree at least 100 metres from the nest). I have no idea what anyone would be shooting at out there in the dark, but I sure hope it’s not Angel. The others would not be visible to a shooter. I am presuming all is okay, but it’s always worrying. Deyani is unlikely to be starving, and could easily have been fed off-nest today, but we will see what happens tomorrow. She is a strong flyer and seems able to manoeuvre around the trees well, so I am fairly confident she will be fine.” Lamping is the term for hunting at night with lights. I really hope that nothing untoward has happened to anyone in our hawk family. This is one reason the location of nests is often not disclosed. — Angel is sleeping on a branch Sunday night so is OK.

Window to Wildlife has a fundraiser to upgrade Angel’s camera for next year. Information is under the streaming cam above the live chat. There are lots of worthy fundraisers out there….

In the mailbox: ‘D’ shares a photo from her holidays. An osprey nest above a Go-Kart track in a busy shopping mall in North Carolina. She was surprised that the ospreys were not bothered by all the humans and the noise and adds that when asked the people at the mall and track said that the osprey return every year.

Ospreys have had to adapt based on humans taking over their natural habitats and cutting down dead trees. Ospreys prefer the top of a dead tree with a clear view in every direction. This differs from eagles that like to build their nest on the tops of conifer trees. Both have suffered good nesting sites due to our increasing demand for land, and artificial nests and platforms are being constructed in almost every country. Living around humans is a high cost compared to a nice site near a lake. “The Ospreys’ ability to adapt to and prosper within urban and suburban areas, combined with their recent reproductive success and thriving populations, has resulted in conflicts between Ospreys and the electric utility, communication, and transportation (e.g., aviation) industries. Human–Osprey conflicts vary widely in scope and scale, ranging from minor conflicts, such as an individual Osprey nest built on a human-made structure (e.g., cellular tower), to major problems, such as local populations of Ospreys directly or indirectly impacting human safety near civilian airports and military airfields through nesting and movement activities. Creative, mutually beneficial management and mitigation practices for both people and Ospreys are needed to allow for the successful coexistence of Ospreys and humans, especially in landscapes highly altered by humans.” Here is the full article from the Journal of Raptor Research:

JRR-OSPR-13-04.1Download

Thank you so much for being with me. I hope to cover more of the international Osprey nests tomorrow and in particular, the UK ones where ringing is taking place. Take care all. See you soon.

Thank you to everyone that sent notes, videos, tweets, posts, and operated streaming cams that helped to make up my blog today: ‘A, D, H, M, T’, Amy Tan and Nor Cal Birding, Gregarious Joris Toonen and Ospreys, Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ, PSEG, Stephen M Basly, Finnish Osprey Foundation, Boulder County Fairgrounds, Cowlitz PUD, Seaside Ospreys, RVa Ospreys, Great Bay Ospreys, Moraine Preservation Fund, Outerbanks 24/7, Maryland Western Shore for Old Town Home, Bridge Golf Club, Sandpoint Ospreys, Cape Henlopen State Park, Latvian Fund for Nature, Window to Wildlife, Forsythe Ospreys, Osoyoos Ospreys, and the RRP.

Coming to Grips with the loss…Sunday in Bird World

25 June 2023

Good Morning Everyone!

My colleague ‘H’ tells me that storm system over the NE US was the ‘gift that just kept giving’. And it did. Now that the skies are clear all of the volunteers can go out and get a sense of what has happened at the unmonitored nests. The loss was significant but now it is time to pull up our proverbial ‘boots’ or socks and wish those nests that did have survivors the absolute best. Watch them and cheer them on, please! They went through an awful time.

Today has been the worst day for me. The sheer toll of the loss has only sunken in, and the after-effects on the nests will linger – the chicks worrying that it could happen again. I am so grateful to have the garden animals and Lewis and Missey. Dyson is looking so much better these days.

We have a couple of giggles/surprises for the morning. The first one comes from the Glaslyn nest in Wales. If you are a Crow, do not, under any circumstances, land on the nest of Aran and Elen. You might live to regret it. Here is Aran flying in with a fish. Elen has been vocalising since the Crow landed on the perch. Aran took the Crow ‘out’ with the fish and even kept hold of it to take to the nest…ah, isn’t he wonderful?

The second is from Mary Cheadle who has the most extraordinary screen capture of Louis and Dorcha’s osplet.

In the UK, the word on everyone’s lips is ‘ringing’. All of the chicks are getting their bling right now. Let’s take a look and see what happened.

Llyn Clywedog: It is hardly a surprise to say that those two beautiful osplets of Dylan and Blue 5F Seren are boys. Seren has had 8 boys and 1 girl.

Manton Bay: Blue 33 and Maya had three chicks this year – two girls and a boy. The first hatch is a girl and is 3H3. The middle hatch was a boy, 3H4, and the third hatch was a girl, 3H5. They said they would release more details later. There they are with their new bling. What beautiful babes.

Family portrait at Rutland:

Looking for another Osprey nest to watch in the US? The Iowa nests are currently doing well. The weather so far (although there are storms brewing tonight) has been favourable.

This is the Wells Fargo DNR nest in Des Moines. Go to iowadnr.gov

Conner at Window to Wildlife is helping rebuild the Dulles-Greenway Eagle Nest. Way to go!

Two of our favourite Black Stork fledglings, Waba and Bonus (the foster chick of Jan and Jannika on Karl II and Kaia’s nest in 2022) are on the move:

The latest news on Tweed Valleys Glen:

Good news is coming in from South Bend, Indiana.

News about the 2 chicks that fell out of the Great Bay Osprey nest:

The current sadness is Finnish Osprey Nest #3 where the Mum is missing and the Dad has loaded the nest with fish but he is not feeding the chicks. They are hungry and fish crying and are not old enough to self feed. It is hard to watch three healthy chicks starve to death on a nest full of fish.

At Patchogue, Mini has eaten. There are rumours abounding that Mini is not being fed. It is true that Mini is not getting the amount of fish it did a week ago. The Big ones are self-feeding and are up at the beak but Mini has eaten. We just have to wait and see how it pans out. Mini ate from 1330-1336 and then again beginning at 1418 for an unspecified time. He had some fish in the early morning. Again, how much I cannot tell because Mum blocked the view. Please send good positive energy to this nest! Mini is growing. Look at the feather development below. Mini is flapping its wings after eating!

We just must wish for lots of fish.

Mini is eating at 0511!

There have been expressed concerns about the female’s behaviour at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Osprey nest. I am copying the posting made on FB. Also, we have seen first time mothers – regardless of the species – struggle to figure out their new role. Fathers, too. At the falcon nest, Monty wanted to feed the egg! We worried about Soledad…well, she was an only eyas and the three of them certainly managed to figure it out. Let us all hold our breath and hope that this new Mum does, too. She has three little ones on the nest.

I was also reminded by Geemeff today of the phrase ‘wildlife commodification’. Earning money off the wildlife. There is a set of nests that will not be in my blog net year – I will follow them for the data but will not promote them – because of their actions recently. Nests are not to be disturbed. Taking tours to see nests should only take place at a great distance using a scope. You will know the nest I am talking about and the circumstances if you have read my blog in the last couple of days. Animals and raptors have rights. We must respect them.

OK. Off the soap box. A whirl around the nests!

Seaside: both osplets are well fed, growing and doing wonderfully.

Great Bay: A few dominance issues.

Severna Park: some rain, fish, and self-feeding. The two chicks are doing well.

Outerbanks 24/7: Three beautiful osplets, nice fish. All is good.

Chesapeake Conservancy, Tom and Audrey: There were early concerns about new Audrey feeding her chick. She figured it out. ‘H notes that Tom brought six fish to the nest on Saturday.

Maryland Western Shore for Old Town Home: Two beauties flapping their wings. Gorgeous sunset.

All is well at Boulder County Fairgrounds. The two adults appear to work so well together making sure that Little gets fed.

Moraine Preservation Fund: Seems to be quite enough fish and all three doing well.

Cowlitz PUD: Doing great! Chick is getting its feathers…

Forsythe: Oscar is on a mission. Huge fish at 17:15 along with all the others. Two surviving chicks out of four but, despite this, as ‘H’ notes: “
I saw this once yesterday, and so far twice today.  Big has started to push Middle, to the point that Middle has very nearly gone overboard a couple of times.” The stress of the days without food and seeing your siblings die around you has a profound impact on these birds.

Barnegat Light: Daisy continues to hope and wait for Duke’s return. Even then, she is out fishing for her and her only surviving Bob. She has removed the body of Little but brooded Middle. I cannot imagine the sadness that these females are feeling or the sheer mental stress of them and the chicks. So sad but so proud of Daisy and her determination to keep herself and this one chick alive.

Many of you have expressed sheer exasperation about the plight of the ospreys during the storm not least of all Barnegat Light. K notes, “

I was just thinking about Barnegat Light and how initially I was happy to watch a nest be monitored by a nature CONSERVATION. Key word conserve. They are meant to preserve not slowly watch them all suffer to death for online views and not provide them assistance when they are suffering. We vow to protect these animals and we are not helping them in the easiest way we can – providing food. There is a responsibility when setting up a camera and we should take it seriously. 

‘L’ was heart broken beyond words.

Dahlgren: ‘H’ reports that all is well.

Fortix Exshaw: ‘H’ observed “I found fish delivered by Jasper at 0543, 0631, 1041, 1638, and 1821.  There may have been others.  There were more feedings however.  Louise does save leftovers, she hides them inside the nest cup, and pulls them out for additional feedings.  The nest cup is deep, and Louise lays the leftover fish vertically down the side.  She broods her leftovers, lol.  I have seen her do this several times.  At 0631, there was a dual feeding! I want to follow this nest more closely, to make sure Little is getting fed.  The visibility varies from day to day.”

  

The wait is finally over! After wondering what was happening on the Durbe nest of Milda and Voldis (the camera was totally covered), we now see that there are two beautiful White Tail Eaglets on the Latvian WTE nest. I am so happy for Milda! She lost her earlier mate and suffered two unsuccessful years of breeding. Now success! This is a cause for celebration. Look at those two beautiful eaglets.

Kathryn asked me about intruders and the harm that they might do. Here is a good example.

Intruder storks attacking a nest in Germany.

In Tukums, Latvia, the three white storklets are doing so well now that the rains came and there is food.

Look at the crops on the three storklets of Karl II and Kaia! My goodness. Was so worried about this nest.

Bety and Bukacek’s four are so big and so healthy looking. They will be ready for migration, no problem.

Thank you so much for being with me today. Please send your positive wishes to all of the nests so that those that have suffered or are suffering might get some relief today. Take care. See you soon!

Thank you to the following for their notes, videos, posts, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog today: ‘Geemeff, H, K, L, L, T, Bywyd Gwylld Glaslyn, Mary Cheadle and Friends of Loch Arkaig osprey FB, CarnyXWild, LRWT, Iowa DNR/Wells Fargo, Window to Wildlife, Maria Marika FB, @Jane Dell, WNDU, Carol Craig and Osprey Friends, Finnish Osprey Foundation, PSEG, MN Landscape Arboretum, Seaside Ospreys, Great Bay Ospreys, Severna Park, Outerbanks 24/7 Chesapeake Conservancy, Maryland West Shore for Old Town Home, Boulder County Fair Grounds, Moraine Park, Cowlitz PUD, Forsythe Ospreys, Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ, Dahlgren, Fortis Exshaw, Sassa Bird, Storchennest Kirchzarlen, Latvian Fund for Nature, Eagle Club of Estonia, and Mlady Buky Stork Cam.

Black Friday runs into Saturday, Mini eats…Bird World

24 June 2023

Hello to Everyone,

It has been a very rough two days. In the six years, I have been monitoring nests for siblicide – and the many before that where I was observing behaviour – I have never had a spate of osplet deaths as we have seen in the past couple of weeks. Chicks dying for unknown reasons and now dying of starvation because of a storm. More chicks will die before Saturday morning and everyone is going to sleep with a very heavy heart.

There are many things that my father taught me by his example. My earliest memory was always helping those that were unable to help themselves. It did not matter if it was the birds, the stray cats and the dogs that people knew to leave because he would care for them and find homes or people. So, no one got in a boat, or a car to place fish on those osprey nests is beyond me. My only alternative tonight was to ensure all the garden animals were overfed. It is essential to stop, take a breath, and care for those that are nearby and need your help. So, this weekend, in memory of all the little ones that were lost, put out a water bowl, fill up a feeder, clean up human debris. While we mourn the lost ones, we need to remember to focus on those that are living. Their lives are as precariously balanced on the thinnest of wires and your generosity could save their family!

Before we start with todays news, I want everyone to have a ‘feel-good’ story to stay with them during some of the tragedies. Enjoy! Who knew that a laundry basket could bring such happiness?

And, yes, we are going to need a lot more happiness today…look at these two beautiful fledglings from the new West End nest of Thunder and Akecheta….but, wait. They are at the old nest! No worries. An adult was over on Tor keeping an eye. Gorgeous. And both seem to have crops.

I want to give a shout out to Louis at Loch Arkaig. As Geemeff says, Every nest could use a Louis’. No mater the weather, nothing stops him from getting fish on that nest.

Louis does it again Saturday morning.

When we hear of Black Friday, it is now most often associated with a shopping frenzy but, for me, the 22-23 June will now be the day that so many osplets died in a climate situation in the NE of the United States. The true toll will not be known until Saturday or Sunday on the streaming cams. The females who have kept their chicks warm and dry and watched them die have not eaten either. We could also lose them! I do not understand why the businesses and the wildlife associations that run the cameras are not prepared to step in and provide fish. Are not the frequency and severity of these storms signalling something to do with human-induced climate change?

Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ offered this explanation of the weather system that has caused such a catastrophic loss on the nests in the region – and to them, this is catastrophic having their entire family wiped out.

At Barnegat Light, after more than 60 hours, a fish came on the nest at 14:31:39. It appears that Daisy went fishing…she is wet. Will they all survive? We must wait to see. Big ate and so did Daisy – she has to. Middle was shut out and he has now not eaten (as of this fish delivery) for 53 hours. Duke has not been seen since yesterday afternoon and it is thought that he might be trying to find fish elsewhere – I think he has been injured in the storm and is MIA.

The tears are pouring…sadly, the fish came too late for Little Bob. Hopefully, Daisy will get more fish – and she did. She brought in another at 15:23. She has brought in two fish Saturday morning but Middle is too ill to eat. Middle is dying. Daisy has done amazing work and it looks like she might be able to keep herself and Big alive. How said that Middle is unable to eat some of that fish because Big is full.

Oscar has been bringing small fish for Opal and the two osplets at Forsythe. Anything helps – and ‘H’ noted that Oscar had 7 fish on the nest on Friday in difficult fishing conditions. It appears, however, that we will lose chick 3, Little. Mini has already passed and 3 was just barely alive at 19:38 on Friday and was not seen eating. It now appears that three has died leaving Dad Oscar, Mum Opal, and Owen and Ollie. With some luck, the oldest two might survive.

‘H’ reports on Forsythe for Saturday morning: “Bless dear Oscar, how stressful the previous days of bad weather must have been for him, knowing that his family depended on him, and he was not able to provide.  Seems like he is trying to make up for it now, 8 fish deliveries before 9 am!” After a bit both of the chicks ate…this is good. These two might survive.

Not particularly happy with what is happening at Patchogue. Mini ate well on Wednesday and had some fish Thursday morning but those huge crops of the previous weeks are gone. The three big siblings are now up and eating first thing in the morning and Mini is often shut out. Let us hope that the good fishing returns.

Mini appears to continue to be shut out of fish. Will Dad bring a late night one so our Mini can eat? He will desperately need fish on Saturday if this keeps up.

It is a miserable Saturday at Patchogue but Mini was fed by Mum at 0824. Tears like the rain.

Severna Park was really wet, also. All the nests are getting some residues of that storm. Both seem to have eaten but the fish do not appear to be coming as regularly today.

The fish are small and are few but, thankfully, there is only one chick and the Cowlitz PUD osprey nest might just have a fledge this year when other nests have none. That is almost shocking.

The two osplets at the Great Bay Osprey platform in Greenland, New Hampshire, are eating some nice fish and doing well.

The Outerbanks had a nice big flat fish come in!

Oyster Bay appears to be OK. There is some problem with submission but the fish seem to be coming in.

Boulder County Fair Grounds is alright, too. The little one had a nice big crop as the sun was going down.

Mum fed Dad some of the fish before the chicks were fed. This is a sweet nest.

The large female and male of Laddie and Blue NC0 were ringed a few days ago. The female is Blue PF4 and came in at a hefty 1.85 kg, while the little male weighed 1.2 kg and is Blue PF5.

Three healthy chicks on the Osprey nest in Spain at the Urdaibai Biosphere.

Good News is coming out of Minnesota-

The Peregrine falcon scrape at Topeka Kansas has proven to be a bit of a mystery. The older siblings fledged a week or a bit ago. The third hatch – which appears to be developmental slow in getting its feathers – and appeared to have a problem with its eyes is beginning to look more like a falcon. It is not clear how much prey is brought to it on a daily basis but I will continue to call for an intervention if the adults are not delivering several food items a day…

Lady Hawk caught M15 and his lady friend at the pond! Some good news…and also, there is news that E22 was also seen at the pond at 1620 Friday. Life is good at SW Florida on the Pritchett Property.

Soledad is one of the fiercest Peregrine Falcons I have seen! Here she defends the scrape and she can only have thought that Monty was an intruder!

M1 returned to the nest when prey was delivered. All is well at the Red-tail hawk nest of Big Red and Arthur – it is perfect that she is flying so well and going on and off to the trees and buildings building up her skills. M2 fledged Friday leaving M3 on the nest alone Friday night.

Flying is hard work.

M2s fledge:

Deyani has been returning to the nest of Tom and Angel to get prey items, too. She has been following the adults when she sees them from her behaviour.

Other heartbreaking news. A goshawk has taken 2 of the 4 storklets off the Black Stork nest of Noteka and Nutka in the Noteka Forest in Poland.

In a freak event, the eldest goshawk at RSPB Loch Garten goshawks attacked the youngest, Mini 4, when a large prey item was delivered and killed its sibling. I have never seen this happen at a hawk nest.

After a horrific year of deaths due to HPAI, Sunnie Day reports that Bald Eagles in Georgia are on the rebound.

The latest BTO News came in the post today. There are many great articles, one is an opinion piece by Nick Acheson. He is the author of The Meaning of Geese. In all that he does – and Acheson does a lot- it is because of climate change that he says he wants to know that he has a clear conscience and has done his utmost to mitigate the climate crisis. ” I will have tried. At least I will have tried”. He has been a Vegetarian since childhood; he has given up animal products altogether, doesn’t drive, takes the bus, or uses his bicycle. He never flies anymore, and this young man could earn lots of money on the lecture circuit. He lives in a small Flint house in Norfolk that he also refuses to heat. Check out Nick’s website at http://www.themarshtit.com

Acheson believes that our window for doing something is closing fast – after 40 years of warnings. What I like about him is that he is unwilling to give up!

Nick’s worries are borne out by an article in The Guardian today but, they also show us that with a major effort we can turn some things around.

Ecological-tipping-points-could-occur-much-sooner-than-expected-study-finds-Environment-The-GuaDownload

Thank you so much for being with me today. When it all gets too much, take a deep breath. Spend time with your pet, sit outside, and listen to the birds. We all get overwhelmed, especially when we want to do something to help and can’t. Take care of yourself. Amid the mourning, there is much joy, and now it is time to also celebrate that! See you soon.

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, and streaming cams that helped to make up my blog today: ‘Geemeff, H, L, SP, and T’, Nick Beres NC5, IWS/Explore, Geemeff and the Woodland Trust, Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ, Forsythe Ospreys, PSEG, Severna Ospreys, Cowlitz PUD, Great Bay Ospreys, Outer Banks 24/7, Boulder County Fair Grounds Ospreys, LOTL and the Woodland Trust, Evergy Topeka, Lady Hawk and SW Florida Eagle Cam, SK Hideaways and San Jose City Hall Falcons, Cornell RTH, Window to Wildlife, Sunnie Day, The Guardian, BTO, and Twin Cities Metro Osprey Watch.

American Eagle Day…Tuesday in Bird World

20 June 2023

Good Morning Everyone,

I am just starting my blog for tomorrow and the news on the TV is on – I don’t have TV at home (only the wifi cable) so sometimes it is a bit of a treat but this is all about weather – no BBC news. There is SNOW in British Columbia (Kelowna), flooding in Alberta, 20 tornadoes in Mississippi, and deadly storms moving from Texas to Florida. Of course, I am thinking about all the birds and wildlife – there are many others thinking about people! Please stay safe!

It is a beautiful day in Manitoba. The thunderstorms that were forecast have not happened. The breeze on the island is a nice change from the hot humid city.

A beautiful spot to have dinner while watching Barn Swallows and Dragonflies eat the mosquitoes and the huge horse flies!

Ringed-billed Gulls are one of the most common birds in North America. They are easily distinguished from other gulls by their mustard yellow bills and that thick black ring. But look at those eyes…in the 9th and 10th centuries, the Chinese perfected porcelain and high-fire glazes. One was celadon – designed to mimic jade. But the range of celadon hues went from light watery blues to olive green. That eye is also extraordinary with its kohl-like liner. Soft grey feathers on the back and wings and a black tail with white splotches complete its beautiful ‘costume’. Of course, the mustard yellow leggings match the bill!

It was difficult to tell the species of ducks…there were definitely Mallards and Green-winged Teals.

There were wee ones paddling about.

This is one of a pair of Tundra Swans at this pond, but at another, there were twelve. The Marina owner told me there were initially two, then six last year, and that number has now doubled. Everyone is delighted! We even had one lone Tundra Swan wintering over in a pond fed by an Artesian Well near Oak Hammock Marsh this past winter.

The roads were lined with Crows and Red-winged Blackbirds. There were hundreds of ducks and a Bald Eagle flew over the pond at dusk. Pelicans and gulls were flitting about along with a myriad of songbirds.

I learned two exciting things this evening. The first one is fascinating in light of changing climatic conditions. Bald Eagles are now at Hecla Island in January because there is ice fishing. Remember – migration is more about a constant food supply than it is about temperature. Eagles prefer cooler weather as opposed to the hot (sorry Florida!). The second is that American White Pelicans have breeding nests around Deer Island. I hope to go by boat before I head home.

I am hoping to see a few more Bald Eagles flying low on American Eagle Day!

Speaking of eagles, our dear Murphy is back in his own enclosure, free to have a nice bath in the pool and eat his food without his ‘little baby’ taking it! Murphy gave us all hope that the impossible could be made possible through love and compassion.

Thank you for all the notes about Little Mini at the Patchogue Nest. Sundays are always difficult with Dad not being able to bring in many fish. This generally translates into the big siblings being ravenous on Monday. Still, Mini seems to have eaten well enough.

‘L’ wrote that Little Mini had a nice late feeding! Well done, Mini.

Tiny Little not only had the private late feeding but everything is back to normal…he got the first fish while the others slept and preened. Way to go Tiny! You are not so tiny anymore…look at those lovely feathers coming!

The Marders have retrieved the two osplet bodies. Thank you ‘SW’ for sending me that message. I am so pleased that people want to follow up and find out what caused this tragedy, as it might lead us to understand what has happened at some of the other nests that lost osplets. The surviving chick appears to be doing better. Fingers crossed.

‘A’ has been anxiously awaiting two events – Deyani’s fledge and the second egg at the WBSE nest in Sydney. Here is her report:

“Lady did not leave the nest after she returned from her break this morning (as per my earlier email), but I note that she has a very healthy crop, so obviously had a nice breakfast during her short break this morning. Just before 11:31 she stands, stretches and reveals – ONE egg. Still no potential sibling. I repeat – if it is not laid in the next few hours, we will have a gap of more than 72 hours between eggs (it’s already closing in on 70 hours). That is Not A Good Thing. The only salvation will be a mixed-gender nest where the second hatch is female. Otherwise, I would be anxious for a second hatch.”

Lady laid her second egg today. It was visible at 0704. Hard incubation begins!

“As night fell, Deyani was glowing in the dark, just like her beautiful mum. Her chest is quite snowy-white and she looks almost ethereal. Oh how we will miss this energetic little ball of fun. She and her gorgeous parents have been an absolute joy this season, have they not? I am already looking forward to next year, with the hope that this time, the hawklet can have a sibling.”

It is a really good thing that Deyani has not fledged. It has rained – pouring down rain and that brings me to memories of Little Yurruga or Indigo as ‘A’ reminded me. Young fledges are just learning about wings. The weight of the water is terrible for them as can be the cold and damp.

Soaking.

Deyani has the most gorgeous blue-green-gray eyes.

The Barnegat Light nest is extremely unstable. ‘H’ reports that Little got 13 bites of fish today which is noting to sneeze at but the significant changes have been that Big is now beaking and intimidating Little along with Middle.

At the Boulder County Fairgrounds, Little seems to have had at least one great meal. Look at that bulging crop!

It is difficult to see how much Little is getting fed at the South Cape May Meadows nest. Zeus and Hera are good parents and there is fish – the big ones need more than Little. Send good wishes.

Cowlitz Only Bob had some fish…oh, I wish there were more. This nest can, at times, be hard to watch…hoping.

The Italians are rejoicing. The Osprey Re-introduction scheme appears to be taking off!

Storks make me happy. Karl II and Kaia with their surviving three. Rain is forecast to come on Thursday!

It has been an excellent – and tiring – day, and it is nearing midnight. The nests that we have been worried about are alright, including Little at Barnegat Light. There was enough food. We need to wait and hope the aggressive behaviour dissipates.

‘R’ introduced me to Temple Grandin. Do you know this amazing woman? If not, check her out. I brought with me a copy of her book, Animals Make Us Human. She is remarkable for her dedication to making the lives of animals and their emotions understood. Will write a good synopsis when I am finished. Good night, everyone!

Thank you for being with me today. Please take care of yourself. Do not go out in the storms and be safe if you are in their path. See you soon!

Thank you to the following for their notes, recommendations, posts, videos, and streaming cams that helped to make up my blog today: “A, H, L, R, SW’, Google Maps, World Bird Sanctuary, PSEG, Marders, Sydney Eagle Cam, Window to Wildlife, Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ, Boulder County Fair Grounds osplets, SCMM, Cowlitz PUD, SK Hideaway and Cal Falcons, Gregarious J Toonen and Ospreys, Hawks Aloft Inc, and Loodeskalender Forum.

World Albatross Day…Monday in Bird World

19 June 2023

Good Morning Everyone,

I hope that each of you had a lovely weekend. It is World Albatross Day today and the theme this year is the harm that plastics due to the sea and to these fish eating beauties. They fill up with plastic ‘things and then get so full they cannot eat real food and die. They feed plastic to their babies like SP at Taiaroa Head, NZ. Th e Royal Cam chick of the year. Then they die. How can we help? Let’s start at home. The next time you purchase an item, try to go plastic free. Then do it again. Soon you will be doing so much good for the environment, yourself, and our precious wildlife.

“‘Beat Plastic Pollution’ on World Environment Day 2018” by United Nations Information Service Vienna is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

Today is a run-through of many nests because I have not caught up with some for a few days. There are only brief notes to say that they are alright. I know that many of you wait for the news of some of the nests that we are concerned about. Hopefully, this will give you a quick sense of how they are doing. I apologise that this reads a bit like a grocery list. It is also the day that I drive north to the Grindstone/Hecla Island Provincial Parks to attempt a count of the Bald Eagle nests around the island. Last year the nests were flooded. All of the eggs were lost. I will take you to the islands and show you a different part of my province and its wildlife.

The area was initially settled by people migrating from Iceland and many of the communities in the surrounding area are populated by people of Icelandic descent.

I am also looking forward to stops along the way and little day trips to areas where I have never been…a breath of fresh air from the City OR will it be with the forest fires?

We need a smile. Thanks, Cal Falcons.

I want to give a big shout-out to Kathleen at Marder’s. Two of their osplets died, and the third is not in good shape. They responded quickly. Marders has a lift ready to retrieve the two little eaglet bodies. They will be refrigerated so that they can be collected by the DEC. Dr Gavin Hitchener will perform the necroscopy if the bodies are not too decomposed. Marder’s loves their ospreys. This has been a sad year for them and others along this coast.

Nest and Scrape Round Up:

I am going to start with a couple of the Latvian nests. My friend Sassa Bird is dancing with glee as the rains are coming down in Latvia. I hope she doesn’t mind…her note was so joyous. She says, “I can happily report that it has been raining for two days in Latvia. Finally!!! I can’t remember the last time when I was so overjoyed about raining and taking it in with all my senses. I’m so happy for all the wildlife getting some relief. We already see a rapid change in the feeding pattern at our live-streamed white stork nest – they’re getting more and more of all the little creatures that have come out of hiding.”

When I went to check on the nests, the forest is so alive with song and life!

White Storks, Tukums, Latvia: They will be so happy because of the rain! Sassa Bird says they have been eating much better since the rains began.

Lesser Spotted Eagles, Latvia: The nest of Anna and Andris and their only surviving eaglet. The rains have brought out the small animals and Andris brings a vole to the chick on the nest who is hungry.

Video of Anna bringing a bird for the chick, Arturs, on 18 June.

Karl II and Kaia Black Stork Nest, Karula National Forest, Estonia: No rain yet for this couple and their three storklets after the brood reduction of Little Benjamin. Send them good positive energy. Let the rains come and the frogs come out of hiding! Such a lovely family.

No rain but Karl II found some fodder for the storklets and Kaia gave them water…Here are the feedings from Sunday.

Kaia giving water to her storklets.

Black Stork Nest, Lodz Poland: The only surviving storklet was getting a feeding when I last checked! Good news.

Black Stork Nest, Wolsztyn, Poland: Missing Tytania returns to the nest after a three-day absence. Want to see ‘stork’ happiness? Watch. Do not, for a second, ever let anyone tell you that wildlife do not have emotions.

White Stork Nest, Mlady Buky: The four storklets of Bety and Bukacek have been ringed and are growing and growing. The food source must be very good in this area of The Czech Republic.

Collins Marsh: The third osplet has died either late on the 16th or the 17t of June, 9-10 days old. Image is of Mum with her two surviving osplets and a partial fish.

Cowlitz PUD: Looks good today.

Newfoundland Power: Three eggs being incubated at the nest that is considered a ‘lost hope’. Let’s see if we can get a fledge here this year! That would be brilliant.

Fortis Exshaw: There are two hatches. The second shortly after the first. Yeah for delayed incubation! Rain is there and windy. Fingers crossed. It is a really deep nest cup and this could help these hatchlings.

Boulder County Fairgrounds: Gosh, this nest is doing well today.

HellGate, Missoula Montana Ball Park: Star and Louis have three osplets this year. That is why Louis has been so busy! He doesn’t have time to go over to that ‘other’ nest.

Severna Park: ‘H’ says that everything is fantastic. Big and Middle are now thriving and we remember Little. Great screen caps, ‘H’. Thank you.

Forsythe: ‘H’ reports that the nest has settled down with the death of Mini and that all were lined up eating without beaking.

Dahlgren: This osprey nest has just been civil and peaceful all season. The chicks are doing great. Thanks’ H’.

Kent Island: It seems that Audrey has figured out that she needs to feed her Only bob! As ‘H’ says, ‘thank goodness’.

Patuxent I: Serene.

Patchogue. Sunday is always a bad day for fish on this nest. I wonder if it is the number of people going outside to the creeks and lake? Mini never gets all the food it wants, but the wee one started out alright with a massive crop at 0908. That was good because Mini got shut out of several fish later in the day. Keep an eye on Mini for me on Monday. Send me a note telling me how it did. Thank you!

There is so much rubbish on our osprey nests. Mum tried to get rid of that clear plastic. Every nest should be cleaned, thoroughly, before the next breeding season starts.

Oyster Bay: The three seem to be doing alright.

Outerbanks: Kathryn reports that the nest is tranquil compared to the other two nests she observed. It has to be – 9 fish before 1230! Gracious. Incredible.

Barnegat Light: This is now the problem nest with Big beaking Little almost constantly. ‘He’ kept close tabs on this nest on Sunday and Little did manage to get a total of 239 bites but there were a lot of feedings. Hoping the aggravation and dominance from the first hatch settles down.

Finland Saaksilvie 1: All is good.

Finland Saaksilvie 5 (LS): Nice fish deliveries. Chicks are in the Reptile phase. All is good.

Poole Harbour: Life is sweet for the trio of CJ7 and Blue 022. Lots of fish, growing like mad. Little Reptiles in the making.

Llyn Brenig: All is great in Wales!

Loch of the Lowes: Laddie brought in a huge trout for the family. All is good.

Manton Bay: The problem is this is such a successful nest that I don’t always check in. Beautiful trio. Banding soon…Proud parents Maya and Blue 33.

Dyfi Ospreys: Wet chicks! Banding in about a week. Well done Idris and Telyn.

Loch Arkaig: Many have said that they are glad that Louis and Dorcha had only this Bob as it is a handful and a half. Cannot even imagine with all the fine fish the life the Middle might have had! LOL.

The latest news from Kielder:

New-post-Nest-5A-newsDownload

Imperial Eaglets, Tatarstan, Russia: The two eaglets of Alton and Altynay are doing fantastic! So big and healthy!

Evergy Topeka Scrape: The older siblings have fledged and are getting fed at the scrape and mid-air while the third hatch with its underdeveloped plumage waits in the scrape hoping for a feeding. The company and a wildlife rehabber in the area have been contacted by the situation. The eyas is beginning to develop feathers but is very late and some have not come out of their shafts. Looking better each day.

San Jose City Hall: What can I say? Soledad is trying out for the role of The Hulk.

Angel and Tom RTH: “Deyani is still on the nest at 6.15pm so hopefully we won’t get a late afternoon fledge (it is light at that nest until well after 9pm). Deyani finally killed the pine cone early this morning. It is now just a small piece. It is astounding to me that she is still on the nest. She is flapping and jumping all over the nest, prey spotting on the ground (we thought she was about to take the plunge this morning when she saw something particularly interesting) and perfecting some very vicious-looking grabbing and killing skills on innocent nest material. Such an exquisite hawklet.”

Later ‘A’ remarks: “Deyani’s only meal today was a bird (catbird according to some chatters) after 4pm, so the parents are definitely giving her the hint, I think. Angel spent the previous two nights sleeping on the branch near the nest (until then, she had spent every night on the nest with Deyani). Tonight, she is not there, but is presumably perched elsewhere in the nest tree, within eyeshot of her precious hawklet. So yes, six are clearly there, the food has been cut right back today and mum has left the building (or at least the near vicinity). So it’s time to fly sweetheart. We want you to stay forever but your parents have other ideas.”

One of the ways that we tell if a hawk let is ready to fly is to count the lines on its tail. It is better if you can clearly count six lines before fledge. Deyani clearly has 6!

Cornell Red Tail Hawks: The Ms. Big Red and Arthur’s kids. Flapping, jumping, and walking…But count the stripes on the tail of this one. Not 6.

Whew! Yes, like a grocery list. I will not be listing nests like this again but there could be some that are unfamiliar and you might want to check them out.

Wondering how it is going in The Gambia fighting Avian Flu? The fundraiser was successful and Conservation without Borders also got some additional help.

And last, climate change affects our feathered friends in many ways.

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

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, tweets, and streaming cams that helped me to create my blog today: ‘A, H, Kathryn, Kathleen, Sassa Bird’, OpenVerse, Cal Falcons, Marders Ospreys, Latvian Fund for Nature, Arlene Beech and the Latvian Fund for Nature, Looduskalender Forum, Eagle Club of Estonia, Lodz Poland Storks, Mlady Buky Storks, Collins Marsh, Cowlitz PUD, Newfoundland Power, Fortist Exshaw, Boulder County Fair Grounds, Louis Matteau and Montana Ospreys at Hellgate, Severna Park, Forsythe Ospreys, Dahlgren Ospreys, Kent Island Ospreys, Patuxent River Park, PSEG, Outerbank 24/7, Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ, Finnish Osprey Foundation, Poole Harbour Ospreys, Llyn Brenig Ospreys, LOTL and the Scottish Wildlife Trust, LRWT, Dyfi Ospreys, Friends of Loch Arkaig and the Woodland Trust, Kielder Forest, Imperial Eagles Tatarstan, Evergy Topeka, SK Hideaways and San Jose City Hall Falcons, Window to Wildlife, Cornell RTH, and Geemeff and Conservation without Borders.

Lady and Dad’s first egg, fledges, DH2 gets prey…Saturday in Bird World

17 June 2023

Good Morning Everyone,

Gosh, it is a bit of a shock on the Canadian Prairies. W e went from 38C to now plunging to a low of 11 C. last evening and this morning. S eriously, do we have to keep a jumper out for the summer days like this? I t will be warming up to 24 so all those Canada Geese won’t be wishing they had stayed behind. We hope they all find plenty of food, something in short supply it appears in the South.

As we approach ‘Father’s Day’, let us take the time to think of two male raptors this year that have or are having single-parent duties. M15, the SouthWest Florida Bald Eagle, began caring for E21 and E22 on the 2nd of February, the day that his long-time mate, Harriet, went missing. To the shock of everyone, he fed both eaglets, fought off intruders, flirted on occasion with females, and fledged those two eaglets teaching – at least E22 – the joys of bathing in a pond, catching fish, and soaring. What a dad.

Newmann is now taking care of four Peregrine Falcons at the Great Spirit Bluff scrape after his mate, Savanna, was killed protecting the nest from a GHO. As soon as Newmann realised that Savanna was not there to feed his chicks, he stepped up to the scrape and has been Daddy Door Dash ever since.

In the midst of their grieving, both summoned the energy to forge ahead and raise their last chicks with their now missing, presumed deceased mates. Thomas and Kami fledged on Friday. Happy Father’s Day M15 and Newmann.

We want to also give a shout-out to Murphy, who wanted to be a dad so much after 31 years. You did well, Murphy! Foster Dad of the Year!

The latest news on Murphy’s Baby. Thanks ‘H’!

There is an energy about young eaglets right before they fledge when – at a single moment – they realise they are a bird with the potential to fly. Squeeing they will use their nests like trampolines if there are no branches in a tree to jump back and forth. In this video, Jefferson, the only eaglet of the 2023 season of Smitty and Bella at the NCTC nest, demonstrates his zest for life! Can’t wait to see this youngster with its deep espresso plumage take to the skies! But stop for a moment and look at that tail. It is as if someone took a white brush and painted the tail feathers and then dipped them in the deepest richest coffee at the tip. This is an incredibly beautiful eaglet.

https://fb.watch/lchtBqS2hE/

After Jefferson’s morning romp around the nest, he accidentally branched and flew off for a successful fledge.

My friend, ‘L’ reminds me that humans can make a huge difference in the lives of our raptors if they choose to do so. In Huntington NY, the members of the Lighthouse Preservation Society decided to do a good deed for a pair of Ospreys. We can help to create positive change. Always remember that. Never give up!

My friend, the late Toni Castelli-Rosen, and I often chatted about the most beautiful plumaged juveniles. She was a great fan of the White-bellied Sea Eaglets while I adores the Red-tail Hawks with their peach chest feathers and their rusty brown and cream feathering. Of course, then there are the osplets..and to be honest, they are gorgeous as well. Take the time to look at these youngsters. I can no longer tell you which ranks as the prettiest for me but I do know that the plumage of an osplet, feathered before fledging, is so much nicer than that of their parents.

There they are at Patchogue…check it out. The Ospreys have limited colouring – they did not get on the bright bohemian bandwagon for summer dresses! They stick to a brown-and-white palette but notice the chicks. Their feathers have a creme white crescent on the tip of each one, making that very dark eye band stand out from their white chests. For those new to Ospreys, that dark band helps deflect glare when fishing. Football players have adapted it. The tails, when fanned out have scallops at the tip end alternating white or dream spaces with espresso thick lines. They say that the females have darker more distinctive ‘necklaces’ but that is not always the case. The necklace below looks ‘broken’ – it is decidedly not distinctive!

The plumage really helps to camouflage the chicks when they are on their stick nests.

Little Mini had a good day. Every time I checked it had a nice crop! Several times, Little Mini raised its neck high when it was by one of the Big siblings. This tiny osplet is a ‘cracker’. Love this kid. Smart. A fighter. And look at those clown feet.

Big bite for Mini!

The camera at Llyn Clywedog has exceptional resolution. Notice the magnificent necklace of Blue 5F Seren and look closely at the feathering of the chicks. You can see that rich brown colour better.

To compare, the gorgeous plumage of the Red-tail Hawks, the Ms and Big Red. Notice the ‘peach’.

Speaking of Big Red, a very informative video of the intervention at the nest of Big Red and Arthur was released Friday afternoon.

As has been the practice, Little Mini ate well during the early morning, and I expect it to have some fish later on Friday. This little one is getting its feathers, and while we are not out of the woods yet, Mini is being wise and is a survivor. He ate again from 1335 to 1400, and another fish came on the nest, a big one, at 1440. Mini did not get any of that fish. It started to rain..but, no worries on Friday for Mini at Patchogue.

Today’s Mysteries:

Last time ‘H’ and I checked, there were eggs, blink and there are three Osplets. McEuen Park in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

So does anyone know what happened at the Bay Cam, Chesapeake Bay Foundation? ‘H’ checked in and only the goose egg is there. Where are the osprey eggs? What happened? Do you know?

Nest Check-In:

Boulder County Fairgrounds: Rain and mist, cooler temperatures. All seem fine. Several big fish on the nest. Three chicks still with us.

Moorings Park. Victor stays on the nest and Dad brings in fish! My goodness..now look at the plumage. This is brilliant. This chick is so healthy. Victor fledged on the 19th of May.

Outer Banks. Three thriving Osplets.

Pitkin County Open Spaces and Trails: Three beautiful and healthy osplets.

Collins Marsh: Several nice fish and pieces on the nest today. Impossible to tell because Mum blocked the view on how the three ate.

South Cape Marsh Meadows: Two lively hatchlings wanting fish!

Forsythe: Several fish but Little Mini does not get hardly any bites. ‘H’ counted only 17 bites for the wee one by 1100.

Cowlitz PUD: Chick is OK. The fish are not huge and plentiful but feathering and growing.

Barnegat Light: All is harmonious.

Great Bay: All appears to be fine.

First Utility District: Hard to see the chicks but there are at least two of them in beautiful juvenile plumage! Look – standing on the rim of the nest!

Dyfi Osprey Nest: Everything at the nest of Idris and Telyn is absolutely perfect.

Poole Harbour: CJ7 and Blue 022 look down lovingly at their triplets. All is well.

Llyn Brenig: Life is good.

Glaslyn: Life with his new parter Elen and their two osplets is great. Aran seems to be really having a good season – not sure all those fish are, though!

The King and Queen of Glaslyn – Aran and Elen.

Loch of the Lowes: After a difficult start and the fear that something had happened to Laddie LM12, life is now good at Loch of the Lowes. Blue NC0 can see Laddie flying in with their fish for the kid’s bedtime snack.

Loch Arkaig: When we talk about ospreys with dark plumage, the first one that comes to mind is the late Mrs G from Glaslyn. However, one look at Dorcha, Louis’s mate, tells you that she is as dark as Mrs G. Gorgeous deep chocolate feathering and talk about a necklace! Gracious. Hers is the envy of all. Pesky Only Bob is rather spoiled!

RSPB Loch Garten: Both chicks doing great! You can hardly see them in that deep egg cup.

Llyn Clywedog: The two of Dylan and Seren are doing fantastic. Growing and growing on those nice fish Dylan brings in from the reservoir.

Foulshaw Moss: White YW and Blue 35 have a great nest of chicks this year. It looks hot there in Cumbria today; the three chicks are well-hydrated! And growing.

Relief in the form of food for the Decorah hatchery chick – that cute little Only Bob -. Had not had food in several days. Mum believed to have left area but today both parents turned up with fish! Three of them! A fish, a squirrel, and a huge rabbit head which he is eating in the image below.

Congratulations to Lady and Dad at the Sydney WBSE nest. According to ‘A’ who has been anxiously awaiting this moment, the first egg arrived. “Lady is lying in the nest bowl. She now has something precious to protect. Lady arrived in the nest at 14:14:29 this afternoon and it was immediately apparent that she meant business. The egg was laid by about 14:31, when she raised her body slightly to allow the egg to dry and harden. By 14:52, she has settled back down again. We could clearly see an egg in the nest from 15:45:10, when Lady takes a break. Dad arrives at 16:13:20 to see his egg and incubates for a few minutes before leaving again at 16:24:30.”

There is an update on Middle! I hope his crop is full to bulging…precious Middle.

‘T’ reports that a Goshawk attack in Poland kills two storks – knocked off nest. Feathers found when team went to check at nest site. So sad. As ‘T’ says, they fly all the way to and from Africa to have this happen! This happened two years ago also.

For today’s feel good moment, we than Sunnie Day for posting an article on a Canadian power company’s intervention.

Power-corporation-builds-new-home-for-inconvenient-ospreyDownload

I am going are you?

Here is the info and how you can sign up – it is free!

Christian-Cooper-and-Amy-Tan-on-How-Birding-Brings-Them-Joy-a-Live-Event-The-New-York-TimesDownload

In Canada, Ducks Unlimited has patterned with the Nature Conservancy of Canada and conservation-minded landowners in Alberta to purchase the largest tract of grasslands to become part of the natural environment in Canada, never to be developed. The group are busy raising the 30 million to finalise the plans. I am delighted.

Conservation-leaders-join-forces-on-largest-private-grassland-project-in-Canadian-history-—-Ducks-UnDownload

The British Trust for Ornithology confirms that backyard gardens help increase the population of pollinators. Thank you to everyone who is changing their lawn out for a space for the birds, bees, and butterflies – so many are and if you do not allow anyone to spray those insects that come about will be healthy food for songbireds feeding wee ones in the nest..

Here is the full report from the BTO:

Trends-in-butterfly-populations-in-UK-gardens—New-evidence-from-citizen-science-monitoring-PlummerDownload

Thank you for being with me today. Please have a lovely weekend – get outside and listen to some birds. Your spirit will soar! See you soon.

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, and streaming cams that helped to make up my blog today: ‘A, H, T’, SW Florida Eagle Cam, Great Spirit Bluff Peregrine Falcons, World Bird Sanctuary, NCTC, Deb Stecyk and the NCTC, PSEG, Cornell RTH, McEuen Park, Bay Cam. Boulder County Fairgrounds, Moorings Park Ospreys, Outer Banks 24/7, Pitkin County Open Spaces and Trails, Collins Marsh, SCMM, Forsythe Ospreys, Cowlitz PUD, Conservancy Wildlife Foundation of NJ, Great Bay Ospreys, First Utility District Ospreys, Dyfi Ospreys, Poole Harbour Ospreys, Llyn Brenig Ospreys, Bywyd Gwyllt Glaslyn, LOTL, Friends of Loch Arkaig and the Woodland Trust, RSPB Loch Garten, Cumbria Wildlife Trust, Sydney Sea Eagle Cam, Raptor Resource Foundation/Explore.org, Birds in Helping Hands, BTO, Sunnie Day and Cabin News, the New York Times, and Ducks Unlimited.

Little Mini is the Early Bird again…Friday in Bird World

16 June 2023

Good Morning,

Thursday was a wonderful day full of field birding in the area of Delta Marsh at the southern end of Lake Manitoba and Island Park in Portage la Prairie. At least 29 species of birds at Delta Marsh – almost all vocalising while the Pelicans and Terns were busy catching fish. To be out among the living – in fields near a big lake – well, it simply lifts one’s spirits! The area is maintained by the Province of Manitoba and Ducks Unlimited. Those are the folks that I have a love-hate relationship. I am grateful that they expand and maintain wetland areas in our province such as Delta Marsh and Oak Hammock Marsh. Both are major flyways for migration. My only problem is ‘duck hunting’….

The haze from the wildfire smoke clouded the sky. Overhead, 77 Canada Geese were heading north in it. Do they know the fires are up there? Chevrons of 70-150 geese have been flying north for several days now. These geese have no goslings to care for….remember I am very worried about the numbers this year. They are heading for food, space, and cooler weather – although surprisingly it has cooled down the past couple of days in the southern part of Manitoba.

Three American Robins flitted about the parking areas. There are so many insects and mosquitoes…what a fantastic place to live and hunt. It was so quiet…no one else about save for a couple of men fishing down the road.

A female Yellow-headed Blackbird serenaded me from the path.

While her mate, across the path, was warning me to keep walking!

At a great distance, the Black Terns were fishing in Lake Manitoba.

A pair of Northern Shovelers were in a shallow pond nearby. It was such a variety of habitats.

At Island Park, a Goldeneye was being followed by eleven little ones.

A Mallard couple were resting in the sunshine while a female Mallard had a raft of ducklings she was trying to manage.

Did you know that a group of flying ducks is called a skein? If they are in the water, it is a raft, and if they are walking on the ground, the group is called a flock or a waddling.

Oh, these babies are so cute.

Sometimes it is just so wonderful to leave the city behind and be in a place where all you can hear is the sound of birds!

‘A’ sent this to me yesterday. You don’t have to be a Royal Albatross fan to smile when you hear SP do a skycall. It just melts your heart. Oh, we need to clean up how those ocean trawlers cast those long lines and stop the beheading of the osprey. We need to demand that they take the six simple steps to stop the killing of albatross as bycatch. Here they are- have a short read and educate yourself, and then set about studying which fish sold is responsibly harvested – if you eat fish.

https://www.fisheries.noaa.gov/feature-story/6-ways-us-fisheries-reduce-albatross-bycatch

19 June 2023 is World Albatross Day. This year’s theme, selected by The Albatross and Petrel Agreement, is Plastic Pollution. Here is more information:

Agreement-on-the-Conservation-of-Albatrosses-and-Petrels-World-Albatross-Day-2023-Photo-PostersDownload

And a video.

Now imagine that sweet little chick on the South Plateau trying to eat fish with an ocean full of plastic. You can help by refusing to purchase any items made of plastic. We now know that recycled plastic is not good for the environment. Choose alternatives.

We are now four days away from American Eagle Day in the US on 20 June. A posting by Sassa Bird reminds us of the challenges that eagles such as M15, E22, and Jackie and Shadow face every day.

While I was away today, Little Mini at Patchogue was eating and growing, eating and sleeping and growing. Seriously waking up and finding out that this fourth hatch had breakfast while I was still sleeping just makes me feel warm and fuzzy.

So the first fish comes around 0545 and like Wednesday, the big siblings are ‘sleepy’. Little Mini is gonna’ get the proverbial worm – in this case, a private 20 minute feeding. Little Mini has a huge crop at 0604 when he stops eating. The crop Little Mini had at 0748 was hilarious. Mini did not get any of the 0956 fish and the kid scared the wits out of me when he is hanging over the nest at 1414. Another fish lands on the nest at 1418. Little Mini is good. He sees it is a big one and he hangs back while slowly making his way around the rim of the nest so as not to alert the other three. Did someone on chat call them ‘The Three Witches of Patchogue’? At 1513, Little Mini is at the beak. Then another fish arrives at 1622, another at 1726, and at 1848. Little Mini was up and ready to eat at 1858. He didn’t get a lot but then another fish shows up at 2031. I thought Mini would go up but he didn’t bother.

0545:

0743:

Little Mini’s crop at 0748. Have a giggle.

This nest needs better rails!

1424 – making his way around the rails.

1729:

1858:

1903. I wold say that Mini did very well in terms of fish today. Mum has been so good to feed him better and thankfully those big siblings are not earlier risers. These parents are amazing. Dad fishes all day and Mum feeds almost all day long.

2018: Still has a crop.

Oh, I hope that this pattern that has been set for a few days continues at Patchogue. Little Mini got the early fish this morning as well. It is fantastic.

0622

0634

0804. Little Mini is getting feathers and has clown feet…oh, joy. Look at that lovely crop.

The Memorial Wall has grown to include 70 birds from the streaming cams now. The latest was Little Benjamin from the Karula Forest Black Stork Nest of Karl II and Kaia. I mentioned this in Thursday’s blog – it must have been heartbreaking as this is the first time Karl II has ever had to do this horrific deed. So many nests are struggling and osplets dying…take a look at that listing for the last two weeks alone! We hope that there is enough food for the five in the family. Send good wishes to this Estonian couple. Black Storks are so rare and everyone has tried to help.

Little Benjamin sitting upright moments before.

Kathryn found another Osprey nest with a trio. This one is at Great Bay, New Hampshire! The chicks hatched on 24 May and the 27th of May – yes the last two on the same day seven and a half hours apart.

Kathryn says there is some submissive behaviour but, in the last image, you can see that all three have big crops!

Here is the link to their camera:

Sunnie Day reports that the Iowa DNR Osplets are doing great.

‘H’ reports on the Forsythe Nest where there are four osplets. Both ‘H’ and I are extremely concerned for Mini who had only 30 bites of food on Thursday and 34 on Friday. This is not enough to sustain life.

At South Cape May Meadows, there is new life. I kept hoping Mum would give us a good look, but no. Sure are a nice looking couple – let’s see how he does with fishing, and she does with feeding!

Oh. surprise. ‘H’ noticed the second hatch this morning at SCMM!

Every time I watch the Boulder County Fairgrounds nest, I start to have palm sweats. Then I am proven wrong…the wee third hatch gets to eat!

Just look at that face! Seriously, osplets can be joyful and enthusiastic when eating fish!

The third hatch at Oyster Bay has a fat little bottom.

Tom and Audrey’s first hatch at Chesapeake Conservancy is a cutie.

The only osplet at the Cowlitz PUD is doing great!

‘A’ looks at Deyani and remarks, “I’m glad we have our exquisite hawklet for at least one more day. Every moment is becoming more precious as the time for fledging grows ever nearer. Will we ever be ready? I doubt it.” Beautiful – and not a bunny will be left on that farm! Deyani has the most beautiful water blue eyes.

Everything seems to be just fine at Severna Park ospreys. Middle is practising some self-feeding. And Big is as big as Mum.

All three at Barnegat Light are either in the Reptile phase or entering it. Fingers crossed for Little Bob. Still tiny and still precarious feeling.

The trio at Dunrovin Ranch in Colorado are big and doing fantastic.

Those two at Jack and Harriet’s nest in Dahlgren are doing great, also. Nice big crops and growing like weeds…and I am not seeing so many toys in that nest now. Thank goodness.

At Loch of the Lowes, Laddie brought in a big fish, and everyone ate including Mum, Blue NC0. Nice.

Idris and Telyn have BIG Bobs…I blinked. Just look at these two.

CJ7 and Blue 022 are such great parents. It has been a joy to watch them raise chicks for the second year.

Those amazing wildlife rehabbers! Two osprey chicks hatched from eggs and fostered. Thanks, Sunnie Day.

HARWICH PORT — 06/14/23 — A couple of osprey chicks await to be re-nested. A couple of osprey chicks were re-nested at Bud’s Go-Karts where there is an existing nest. Wild Care Executive Director and Wildlife Rehabilitator Stephanie Ellis has raised the birds from eggs that were removed by wildlife officials from nests built on chimneys in Osterville and Falmouth. The chicks were placed into surrogate nests along with chicks their same age to be raised by a new set of parents.

MERRILY CASSIDY/CAPE COD TIMES

Thanks Sassa Bird for this joyous story. Bald Eagle parents – more than 30 years old have healthy triplets.

Thank you so much for being with me. I am up and out early, so there could be news I miss. Please send your positive wishes to those struggling, including the little one at Forsythe who seems to be shut out of early fish today. We may lose this baby. Take care, everyone. See you soon!

Thank you to the following for their notes, postings, videos, and streaming cams that helped to make up my blog today: ‘A, H, Kathryn’, NoAA, Albatross and Petrel Agreement, ABUN, Lady Hawk and NZ DOC, Sassa Bird and the AEF, PSEG, Eagle Club of Estonia, Great Bay Ospreys, Sunnie Day and the Iowa DNR, Forsythe ospreys, SCMM, Boulder County Fairgrounds, Chesapeake Conservancy, Cowlitz PUD Window to Wildlife, Severna Park, Barnegat Light, Dunrovin Ranch, Dahlgren Ospresy LOTL, Dyfi Ospreys, Poole Harbour Ospreys, Sunnie Day and Harwich Point, and Sassa Bird and Alaska Rain.

Too much news…Thursday in Bird World

15 June 2023

Good Morning Everyone!

The inbox was bulging with happiness as each of you watched Little Mini at Patchogue eat its heart out Wednesday morning. My goodness, that little one even went back for seconds! More on Mini, later, but suffice it to say it made my day on Wednesday just a wee bit better.

The wildfire smoke is somewhat gone, the air outside is a little cleaner, and the skies are clear in southern Manitoba. There is no sign of the Blue Jay fledgling in the garden Tuesday evening, but I will check again as it gets late. Maybe. What a joy that little one was to observe! And the parents, too, keep a close watch. Overhead, at least 150 Canada Geese headed north to find space, food, and cooler temperatures. They might find some of this smoke from the burning fires. These are the ones without families to care for – so many, and this is not the first chevron of geese going over in the last week. So many without families this year. It is worrisome.

On Monday the 16th, I will be travelling north to do a Bald Eagle nest count. I hope to have some good images of wildlife for you on Tuesday. Today I am going to Delta Marsh on the southern tip of Lake Manitoba to see if I can find some shorebirds! Wish me luck. I will be out all day so hopefully, Little Mini will be persistent and get some nice fish.

Lewis was growling at the rain at couple of days ago.

Today he decided to play with his piece of Honeysuckle branch.

Missey just wants to remind everyone that she is ‘sweet’.

Both kittens remind everyone that planting a tree to remember someone or some pet is good for the environment!

Lewis and Missey also remind us that if you are doing some late spring cleaning, see if there is anything you have and don’t need that your local wildlife rehab clinic could use. It is incredible the things they need – check their wish lists and then also think of power tools to help build and repair buildings and fences. Anyone die recently leaving a lot of tools? Find out if the rehab can use them. What a lovely way to remember a loved one by donating to a good cause.

Wednesday turned out to be a mixed blessing day. We might as well start with the ‘good’ before I throw in a little of the sadness.

‘H’ reports that the Dahlgren Osprey platform and its osplets are doing fantastic. You can see the age difference in the plumage…this is good news.

It is day 41 for the second egg at Kent Island. I wonder if that one is unviable as well.

The other nests that ‘H’ has been monitoring are all doing well and she hopes that there are no turn arounds on them! Me, too.

Severna Park: Oh, we worried about Middle after we lost Little to siblicide but, things continue to go well. Middle is older and bigger and the pair are eating side by side. ‘H’ reports that fish are plentiful.

‘H’ reports that the Barnegat Light feeding 0944 to 1006:  The feeding was peaceful eating side by side until, at 0955 Big beaked and bit Little.  Little was able to return at 1001 and ate beside Big.  Total bites for Little = 60. (I hope this nest won’t go sour now, like so many others that started out peacefully).” We wait and see. Send good wishes..that Big one is rather vicious. Let them make it out of the reptile stage!

At the Cape May Osprey nest, it is day 38 for egg one and ‘H’ says we are on pip watch.

I spent the day checking on some nests that I monitor but do not often report on – or a few even that have fallen through the cracks for one reason or another. At the Collins Marsh nest in Wisconsin, there are three osplets for what I believe to be new adults at the osprey platform near the local nature centre. This nest is very difficult to watch as fish are not always plentiful – at all! Malin, the only surviving osplet, force fledged in 2021. I criticised the local caretaker consistently because help was not at hand and the little one died on the ground. There is a new person at the nature centre. I hope if there are issues they will get out and look for those babies on the ground! The nest is on top of a fire tower that was moved. There is no perch and access to the desk would be difficult (or so I was told by the last caretaker – I don’t believe it!).

No chicks yet at Fortis Exshaw near Canmore, Alberta. You can see the fires burning in the distance. It was raining when I checked in. That is good…no chicks! Bad for little ones.

What you are seeing below is the Marsh Meadows osprey platform in Jamestown, Rhode Island. It is one of several nests on Conanicut Island. The three eggs hatched on May 29, 29, and 1 June. By the 7th of June, all three chicks were dead. Was it starvation by parental neglect? or was it starvation through mitigating circumstances – male was missing?

Both adults were on the nest this morning so, since the male is not missing (so he did not die of Avian Flu as suggested on 7 June), did the chicks die of starvation from inexperienced parents?

Bay and Beau’s two little osplets at Island Beach are doing well.

The three at Wolf Bay, Alabama are thriving. Gosh, look at those three big osplets!

The three at Oyster Bay should be getting along but, there is often beaking.

Dad delivering a fish to the Oceanside, NY, Osprey platform.

Two chicks at Seaside. So far so good.

‘H’ reports that both of the Patuxent River Park Osprey nests have osplets that are full and civil!

I just caught the Dad at Patuxent II bringing in a monster of a fish at 2002. Wow.

Oh, just sit down and cry – joyful tears. It really is OK. Newmann is feeding his peregrine falcon babies. Their Mum, Savanna was killed protecting her nest from a GHO. Newmann has called Savanna and called her and is now taking full responsibility for their last chicks together.

Dale Hollow DH17 has been caught on cam and appears to be doing quite well. River has a new mate (or so it appears). Only time will tell if she rebuilds at the original nest she shared with her partner, Obey, who disappeared this spring.

Bonus and Waba are on the move (slightly).

Now, let’s take a look at Little Mini at Patchogue. Is the saying ‘The Early Bird gets the fish’ applicable? Mini did well for when the Big ones were sleeping. That early fish that landed on the nest at 0536 was a bonus. Little Mini ate, then the Bigs woke up, and by 0639 Little Mini decided he would go back to the table for seconds. He finished eating at 0652. Mini got some from the 0846 delivery between 0908 and 0912. He had nothing from the 1526 delivery. He was in submission. At 1537 two of the Big siblings are having a tug o war with the fish. Then it rains. During some of this time Little Mini seems to be shoved down and around. Parents are trying to encourage self-feeding amongst the big siblings. This may or may not be an issue for Mini. If he can get those early feeds, he is OK.

According to someone on the chat there are three lakes nearby and 2 creeks connected to the bay. Should be lots of good fishing.

0540

0639 Up for seconds.

0652. Full. Leaving the table for the second time.

0912. Enjoying a meal. How does it feel to go hungry and see all the other siblings fed. I hope Little Mini feels full and alive this morning!

Later…after ‘they’ wake up. LOL.

1536. Mini shut out.

1537. Tug o war for the fish.

Fish – teasers and big fish – land at the Patchogue nest after the rain and all the time that big chunk of fish is still on the nest. Mini is quick to take opportunities when the Big ones show no interest. Mum feeds a small live fish at 1723 and then moves to the big chunk left at 1736. Mini rushes and is at the beak at 1737 . He ate until 1751ish. Then another big fish comes on the nest at 1800. Mini is right there – two big pieces of fish. He starts getting fed at 1802 and is moved out of the way at 1830. We should really see some growth in Mini by Friday with all this fish.

Smart Mini. He is filling his crop and then dropping it so he can hold more fish. I hope Mum has a good look at this persistent third hatch. It reminds me of Tiny Tot Tumbles from Achieva or Blue 464 from Foulshaw Moss. A Survivor.

Mini had a really good day and he is going to sleep well tonight. Happy Osplet dreams, Mini.

Mini was up and had an enormous crop Thursday morning…way to go Mini! Dad came through at Patchogue with three large fish by 0959.

Speaking of the Foulshaw Moss nest, White YW and Blue 35 have three osplets again this year.

At the Boulder County Fairgrounds, a team feeding by the adults really helped the third hatch, Little, who has been beaked and shut out from most feedings. This nest is still problematic…and each pulls at our heart.

After…this little guy is really struggling. Send your best wishes that they team up to feed the chicks until Little is old enough to hold its own.

At the SWFlorida Eagle nest, M15 visits. Unclear if E22 is still around. Not seen at the nest for a couple of days. M15 will not leave the area until E22 is known to be gone. M15 has taken his parental duties very seriously since Harriet went missing in early February. Thanks Vijay!

The Ms are well…growing up on Big Red and Arthur’s nest. Fledge watch is what? a week away? They may be big but, when the rain came they all wanted under Mum! Oak leaves. Across Tower Road there are Oak Trees. Big Red likes her chicks, when they fledge, to fly to those trees. The eyases have imprinted everything from the type of prey that is safe to eat to now these leaves. (The pine is for insects).

Big Red’s E3 was out doing an educational visit today.

Murphy is enjoying the life of a single foster dad now…it is quiet and no one takes his food!

There is now only one eaglet in the Estonia hybrid eagle nest. ‘T’ explains: “Good news in Estonia is that the baby hatched in the nest of Greater and Lesser Spotted eagles. There are not enough Greater Spotted eagles, and many of them are lost during their massive European-African migration. They create mixed couples. This nest, in Harju County, Estonia, was the nest of male Tõnn, who used this nest since 2016. Sadly, Tõnn, did not return from Spain in 2020. We don’t know what happened to him.”

Here the chick is taking a mouse form one of the adults.

‘T’ writes that the Russian Ornithologist “Michail Korepov went to the National Park “Sengileevskiye Gory” to check the breeding situation of large raptors. So this year, they found 12 white tail eaglets, 6 owlets and 2 Imperial eaglets – they are growing up in the national park! And the number is not including 2 chicks of Altyn and Altynay.” Very good news on trying to increase the population of these critically endangered raptors for the area.

‘A’ has been keeping an eye on Deyani and writes, “Meanwhile, there are either storms on the way or Angel is having a sudden burst of empty nest syndrome at the thought of Deyani fledging, because at 7.30pm, Deyani has an OBSCENE crop and the nest is FULL of prey. A rabbit, a vole and something unrecognisable are literally filling the nest bowl. I have NEVER seen this on this nest. Any food that arrives is dealt with in seconds by Deyani and nestovers are non-existent. But not tonight. Angel is attempting to tempt Deyani, who is taking the occasional small mouthful from her, but essentially, mum and daughter are standing side by side at the back of the nest, surveying the smorgasbord spread out at their feet. Deyani is going to have to find an appetite if she is to sleep on that nest tonight. It is just after 9.30am here in Melbourne, and it is another cold day. Sunny thus far, but that will change apparently.”

Baby bunnies. They seem to have cleared out an entire nest! Oh, dear.

‘H’ reports that Mini at the Forsythe Nest had only 30 bites on Wednesday. It is, as she says ‘feast or famine’ for this little one.

The third hatch at the Evergy Topeka Falcon scrape still has feather issues. The feathers have grown but have not broken the shaft and it is having difficulty jumping up to the ledge of the scrape to get food.

Will be sending a note to Evergy. The little one tried to jump up to the perch so it could have prey but failed…

Everything about Peregrine Falcons in a nutshell:

Peregrine-biology-natural-historyDownload

Just look who has returned to the Cal Falcons scrape!

Doug Gillard reports on the little Red-tail hawk, Tuffy, let that has survived in the Bald Eagle Nest with his foster sibling, Lola.

Kathryn reports that one of the goshawks in Estonia has branched. She adds, “I have somehow watched this nest since the eggs were laid and I thought none of them would hatch since they were left out in the cold so often! But look at them now!” Beautiful hawks.

At the Black Kite nest in the Kurzeme Forest, the only chick of Gold and Griegis is doing well.

Dulles-Greenway gives us an update on Pat, the eaglet of Rosa and Martin, that is in care.

Meanwhile, Pi and Flora are being fed by the adults in the wetlands.

Each of us needs to know that what we do matters. We can change the lives of our raptors, but we have to take action. Sometimes it is simply ‘baby steps’ towards our goal, but each success will lead to another. We must realise and inform others that the fate of our wildlife, our beloved raptors depends on us because most of their challenges are human-caused.

Thank you to everyone for being with me today. Please take care. See you soon.

Thank you to the following for their notes, videos, posts, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog today: ‘A, Geemeff, H, Kathryn, T’, Dahlgren Ospreys, Severna Park Ospreys, Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ, Collins Marsh Ospreys, Fortis Exshaw, Marsh Meadows, island Beach Ospreys, Wolf Bay Ospreys, PSEG, Oceanside Ospreys, Seaside ospreys, Patuxent River Part Ospreys, Lachelle Koestert and Peregrine Falcons at Great Spirit Bluff, Aliengirl and Bale Eagle Live Nests and Cams, Maria Marika FB, Cumbria Wildlife Trust, Boulder County Fairgrounds Ospreys, SW Florida Eagle Cam, Vijay and SW Florida Eagle Cam, Cornell RTH, Cornell Cam Chatters, World Bird Sanctuary, Eagle Club of Estonia, Looduskalender Forum, Window to Wildlife, Evergy Topeka Falcon Cam, SK Hideaways and Cal Falcons, Canadian Peregrine Falcon Foundation, Doug Gillard and Nor Cal Birding, Latvian Fund for Nature, Dulles-Greenaway and Forstythe Ospreys.

Both Minis Eat…Wednesday in Bird World

14 June 2023

Good Morning Everyone,

It is the middle of the week and it continues to be another heat wave on the Canadian Prairies – 30 C. There is also another problem – the smoke from the wildfires is set to envelop our City from 1600 Tuesday to 0700 on Wednesday. Right now, the garden ‘looks’ empty but in the midst of the thick lilac bushes, I can see Little Red eating on the solid suet cylinder along with various types of sparrows. A Black-capped Chickadee was sitting on the line for the cable company. On the deck, Calico has turned up again! She appeared, out of nowhere, around 1700 last evening and a big feed was put out for her. She was ravenous. Calico is a really gorgeous cat. She has been living under the deck since last fall. At times I wonder if she has an irresponsible owner. She has had her breakfast and lunch and is lounging in the darkest depths of the garden where it is cooler. She has an insulated house under the deck and food. She appears to have no interest in coming into the house and Lewis and Missey might not like that either.

The sky is now a light pink-grey colour. Solid. If I go outside, it is very smokey. You can smell the wildfires that are being fanned by the high winds. The smoke has driven the animals into the garden where they are eating frantically. All of the squirrels are here, more than 100 sparrows of various types.

In the middle of all this is a small fledgling Blue Jay. It had drinks from the low bird bath and then snuggled up with a pair of very old bird ornaments that my youngest son made eons ago. Then poof, it was gone. I put seed and a very shallow bowl of water down on the ground. Junior and Mrs. know their baby is in the garden. They survey the area from the hydro line and then fly into the garden. Now where is this little one? It was healthy and hopping. I did not see it fly but it had to get to the deck somehow.

They must be so frightened by the smell of the fire.

Oh, and I found the little one. In the corner eating peanuts before it hoped across the back lane and under its nest tree.

Let’s start with something a little fun. Geemeff made the cutest video of Aran feeding Elen and the chicks. Oh, I do adore this Glaslyn nest!

The other day ‘A’ gave us a wonderful narrative of Deyani with the pinecone. Lady Hawk made a video of those moments. Enjoy! Thanks, ‘M’ for sending me the link!

The good news is that Mini had one good feed. The bad news is that Mini was aggressively attacked several times. Mini did not give up though. He waited, listened, watched and tried to get food whenever he could.

On Tuesday morning, Little Mini had a bit of a feed off the 1019 fish. At 11:33 Mum found an old piece of fish tail and Little Mini horked it down. Thanks, Mum! She knew her baby was hungry.

At 1327 another fish comes to the nest. But will Little Mini get any fish? No.

At 13:48 Little Mini did a terrific PS! This tells me we are not dealing with hydration issues.

I have never figured out how to put in those arrows and circles. Apologies. But here is Little Mini’s PS falling…that swirling line attached to the longer straight line to the left over by the pole. Yeap. That is Little Mini’s PS falling down to the ground…wonder who or what might be under there. Now that is a healthy PS!

At 1403 Little Mini has a big crop and is hoping for some fish.

At 1610, Little Mini has a nice crop.

It is now 1720 and three little fish have landed on the nest…obviously intended for the three big siblings to each have their own and self-feed. Will Mini get anything? No. So why not bring in four fish? Or was it coincidence?

Mini is slowly dropping its crop. We need several big fish this evening. Fingers crossed.

Mini looks over longingly at 1736 when Dad comes in with another small goldfish—none for Mini. Maybe this was to be the fourth fish for Mini. Oh, those big siblings.

By 1806, Mini has completed dropping its crop.

Another fish came on the nest at 1819. Big attacks Mini and Mini does not get any of the fish. Will there be a late big fish and will Mini get some? There is another fish at 2023. Maybe Mini will get some. I really hope so.

At 20:37 Mini is at Mum’s beak screaming for fish. Mini gets fed. Mum has been feeding bony fish all day and she is still feeding Mini at 2109! There is no fish left. Well, tears and tears. One good and one great feeding for Tuesday.

‘L caught an early fish – at 0535 and there was our Mini right up there getting fed by Mum while the bigger sibs were ‘waking up’. There was another fish at 0848 and Mini had enough room left from the earlier feed to eat again. This is, indeed, a grand start to Wednesday for our Mini – a full crop Tuesday night, a fuller crop Wednesday morning. Now watch this little one grow before your eyes!

Mini is still eating at 0642.

0907

In his 1991 article, L Scott Forbes (Forbes, L.S. Hunger and food allocation among nestlings of facultatively siblicidal ospreys. Behav Ecol Sociobiol 29, 189–195 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00166400) states: “Previous studies of food allocation among nestlings of siblicidal birds have focussed on the proximate link between food and aggression. However, food sharing among sibs (and brood reduction) need not involve aggression. Here I examine the role of hunger (defined operationally in terms of the amount of food eaten recently) within the broader framework of passive and aggressive food-sharing among nestlings of facultatively siblicidal ospreys (Pandion haliaetus). Feeding among brood members was hierarchical; senior, dominant sibs ate more when hungry, leaving a smaller residual share of food for junior sibs. Senior sibs did not become more generous at large meals (i.e., the prospect of a large meal did not quell the selfish tendencies of senior sibs). That individuals ate more when hungry indicates a proximate link between food and the allocation of resources among siblings. Overall, aggression was infrequent and seemed to be used when junior sibs contested food allocation at meals. Aggression was diminished and food allocation was skewed toward the junior sib in broods with artificially exaggerated hatching intervals, suggesting that senior sibs were more generous when their dominant status was not threatened.” —–We have learned much since 1991 and aggression is not just about food but, at the Patchogue nest, it certainly began when the food supply began to diminish and now the senior siblings are flexing their dominance to eat. On a positive note, Mum has been much more receptive to finding food for Mini since Tuesday morning after a bit of a hiatus starting on Sudan.

AND…

‘H’ reports on Mini at the Forstythe Nest: “Feeding 1627 to 1705, large partial fish. Wasn’t it the old Timex commercials that said: “Takes a licking, and keeps on ticking” ?  Well, that’s Mini, for sure.  Same scenario, Mini takes punishment from Little, but keeps coming back to Mom whenever possible during a feeding.  And, a large fish will always increase the chances of Mini’s success.  Mini was at the table a few times during this feeding, including a long private feeding at the end.  Total bites for Mini = 59. Total for the day for Mini = at least 311 bites. Good fishing day for Oscar.” That is good news for our other Mini. (more on Forsythe below).

At the Pitkin County Open Spaces and Trails Osprey nest at Emma, Colorado there are three osplets. What a surprise…in the midst of watching so many nests sometimes certain ones get ‘lost/forgotten’ and certainly Emma did. There was concern that the eggs might not be viable and the last time I checked there were two eggs…now there are three chicks in the reptile phase!

The two oldest chicks hatched on 31 May and the third on 2 June. There has been periods of little fish as per a posting on FB.

Here they are today.

Mealtime was, however, pleasant!

The third hatch at the Boulder Colorado Fairgrounds Osprey platform got some fish. It stayed still – playing possum – until the two oldest ate and then went up and had some nice fish. Relief. It had been raining hard most of Tuesday morning.

‘H’ has been monitoring the Forsythe nest for me and this is her report for Tuesday up until the time indicated…just look at that last feeding for Mini. Wow.

Here goes:

Feeding 0733 to 0750, large whole fish – 

Little beaked Mini tight away.  At 0736 Little beaked Mini even though Mini was behind the line.  No opportunity for Mini to eat.  Bites for Mini = 0.

Feeding 0903 to 0910, small headless fish – 

Mini got 4 bites, then was beaked by Little.  At 0904 Little beaked Big, and Big retaliated, but this beaking frightened Mini who tucked.  Big sent Little into ‘timeout’.  So they were then positioned [4,1,2], and Mini ate.  At 0909 Little came up from behind and beaked Mini.  Mini tucked briefly, but did not move away, stood his ground, and continued to get bites!  At the end of the meal, Little beaked Mini.  Total bites for Mini = 36.

Feeding 1031 to 1043, large whole fish – 

Positioned[4,1,3,2].  Big beaked Little, so Little dropped back.  Mini ate.  By 1036 positioned [4.,1,2,3].  Mini ate.  At the end of the meal, Little beaked Mini.  Total bites for Mini = 52.

Feeding 1151 to 1158, small partial – 

Little beaked Mini right away away from the feeding line.  Mini stayed there.  When the feeding was over, Little beaked Mini.  Bites for Mini = 0.

Feeding from 1235 to 1415, huge whole fish (probably actually constituted 2-3 meals)

Well, rather than recite the play-by-play of who bonked who and how many times, suffice it to say that Little beaked Mini several times.  Big beaked at Little a couple of times, Big beaked Mini once, Middle beaked Mini once.  They each were fed to being full, left the table and came back to the table several times, including Mini.  Mini would always come back, and there were a couple times when Mini had a private feeding.  Total bites for Mini = 164, from that huge fish.

H, 13 June 2023

‘H’ reports that it was a beaking fest at the Barnegat Light Osprey Platform and that it was started by Little! Not very smart.

Tom and Audrey have one hatch at the Chesapeake Conservancy. This one came on the 12th. W ill there be others? Looks like there could be another pip.

Still three eggs at South Cape May. F or a moment – in my state of tiredness and bewilderment (at Patchogue), I thought I heard a chick.

Cowlitz PUD had a nice fish and one of those small goldfish, too…oh, sometimes the fish are so small. The chick seems to be fine and Electra is getting some fish, too…not huge amounts but they are eating.

Big was at the Achieva Nest hoping for some fish and looking to perch for the night. Last news was that Middle was doing well in care.

The camera is down this year at the DuPont Centre, Mispillion Harbour Ospreys. Someone just posted a short video clip showing the couple with three osplets. Oh, I would love to know if this is the same couple from last season. That Mum loved the colour yellow and would bring in all manner of decorations but only in yellow. t hanks, ‘H’ for your keen eye in finding this video.

Bety and Bukacek’s storklets get banded!

R4 and R5 are still hanging out together around the nest tree at the WRDC. Look at the tree between the nest and the house.

One of the fledglings from Thunder and Akecheta’s new nest has made its way to the old West End nest Tuesday afternoon.

Thunder keeping an eye.

Some of you have been concerned about the Surrey eaglet – part of the Dave Hancock Foundation nests. Here is a video update on the little one who appears to have some mobility issues. Great news.

“Recorded June 12 2023, 7:04 pm – as some of you know, younger eaglet SR8 at our Surrey Reserve bald eagle cam nest seems to be having some issues with his right leg, though it doesn’t usually keep him from getting to the food, or standing up to his slightly older and more than slightly larger sibling. We are hoping this spunky youngster will thrive, and I’m always happy when an expert has some promising comments. Please read the forum post that goes with this video – link is https://forum.hancockwildlife.org/vie… (Note – we don’t know the gender of either eaglet; I’m using “he” for simplicity, and because male eagles are normally smaller than female eagles, and SR8 is quite a bit smaller even though less than a day younger, and generally getting plenty of food.)” ~JudyB

Big Red’s Ms are fine after the intervention to clean out the 50 plus maggots out of their ears. They are hopping, flapping, and self feeding. They must feel a whole lot better. Thanks, Cornell!

There is a reason that Jackie and Shadow at the Big Bear Valley Bald Eagle nest are loved by more than 9000 people. Just look.

Does M15 have a potential new mate?

So sad…Savanna died protecting her four eyases from the GHO struck on the 12th. Thanks ‘SP’.

Newmann continually calls for her. Let us hope that he can raise these four to fledge.

Just look at this Cromer eyases! With hawks and falcons we blink and they are ready to fledge! And what an interesting place.

Do you follow the latest on the Chichester Falcons from the UK, too? Here is their latest newsletter. Thanks, Janet Shaw.

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At the Olympic Park in Sydney, we are waiting for eggs. ‘A’ reports: “

At Olympic Park, dark is falling at around 17:30 and dad is mating with Lady on the branch behind the nest. She really is not just receptive to but openly encouraging mating, obviously very keen to get some eggs laid in that nest. The pair is protecting the nest and nest area most of the time now, including one or both of them sleeping in the nest tree overnight. (Sometimes, dad will sleep in a tree nearby, but Lady’s early morning vocals bring him in very quickly for a bonding/mating/nest-checking session.) We all feel the heightened sense of expectation – eggs any day, perhaps any hour! As it nears 6pm, Lady is tucked and sleeping on the branch behind the nest. Dad is presumably somewhere very close by.”

Oh, there is so much going on. Soon we will be watching Diamond and Xavier and anticipating the camera coming back on for the CBD Falcons in Melbourne.

Thanks for being with me this morning. Fledge will be soon for Deyani and the Ms. Be sure to check in on their cameras. Take care. Looking forward to seeing you soon!

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, newsletters, and streaming cams that help to make up my blog this morning: ‘A, H, Geemeff, JS, L, M, SP’, Geemeff and Bywyd Gwylld Glaslyn, Lady Hawk and Window to Wildlife, PSEG, Pitkin County Open Spaces and Trails, Boulder County Fairgrounds ospreys, Forsythe Ospreys, Conservancy Wildlife of NJ, Cowlitz PUD, Achieva Credit Union, Mlady Buky Storks, Heidi McGru and the WRDC, IWS, Hancock Wildlife, Cornell RTH, FOBBV, Carol Shores Rifkin and the NEFL and SWFL Eagle Cam Club, Steven Smith and the Peregrine Falcons at Great Spirit Bluff, Sydney Sea Eagle Cam, Raptor Resource Project, SK Hideaways and Cromer Falcons, and the Chichester Newsletter.

Mini finally gets some fish…Loud and feisty Soledad…Tuesday in Bird World

13 June 2022

Good Morning!

So what do you do when you worry? This morning after seeing Tiny shut out of food at the Patchogue nest for another day, it seemed like a good idea to head out for a walk in the forest despite the 29C temps. Tiny has not eaten since it had a huge crop late Saturday. Nothing is better to clear the mind than walking through trees with a slight breeze and looking at ‘the living’.

Fort Whyte Alive is restoring and building wetlands. They are being so careful not to disturb the waterfowl that the new area is intended to benefit. Two days ago, I could see only two Hooded Mergansers despite others saying there were three. Today, I turned, and there were three! Two drakes and a hen. Then turning away – I did not make a peep, but I sure wanted to – there was another hen with ducklings! There were eighteen. After so few goslings and Mallard ducklings, this was just overwhelming. Hooded Mergansers do breed in southern Manitoba but, according to all the ‘counts’, they are more populous in eastern Canada and Ontario than where I live.

Happiness in a pond full of Dragonflies and mosquitoes! A tip: if you go to wetlands and there are mosquitoes about, do not wear open-toe sandals. Yes, I did. LOL. Silly me. But I did have on long pants and a long sleeve shirt. Thank goodness. The running joke in Winnipeg is that people get eaten so severely by mosquitoes that they feel like they have given blood to the Red Cross. There were t-shirts to that effect for one year. The Dragonflies must be eating well!!!!!!!

In addition to the Hen, there were also two Mallard hens with eight ducklings. This was just a wonderful sight.

The two Mallard drakes were having a siesta!

Hooded Mergansers are ‘climate endangered’ according to Audubon. Many hope that the species is adjusting to climate change.

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There are always Red-winged Blackbirds standing sentry at the top of the trees, flying around and following the humans on the paths if they get too close to their nests. This fella kept a really close eye on me and was vocalising very loud.

But then…just around the bend, there were geese with their five goslings. Talk about growing! This is the couple in the water two days ago.

Just lovely. School children were everywhere with nets checking the water, some were in kayaks or canoes, and others were heading to the Interpretative Centre. It is a great place to introduce youngsters to nature and hopefully, they will grow up to be good stewards of the land.

Lewis and Missey literally go and hide when they hear a Peregrine Falcon! It is incredible. Not frightened by eagles or anything else but let those falcons start and off they run! Her name is Soledad, the only eyas of Monty and Hartley at the San Jose City Hall scrape. Nice name.

Soledad is one ‘tough cookie’. Very strong and curious…she goes all over the place! After a meal, of course.

Sometimes Monty looks terrified.

In case you are going to miss, Deyani, SK Hideaways did a really cute video of this gorgeous hawklet before she fledges!

Patchogue is heartbreaking. The fish have changed. There are big bony ones coming on that take a long time to feed so that by the time it could be Mini’s turn, the Big ones are hungry again. Mini is very intimidated but that does not stop it from watching and trying to get up to some fish. It has been beaked by one of the big siblings and has lost out on food on Monday – at least anything more than a few bites by 1606 that I have seen.

Mini hopeful at 1607, but no fish left. This little one had tried and tried. Did I say that I have to go for walks in order to watch this nest now? Pray for lots of fish…we need a fish right after one another.

Mini had only a few bites of food today and was brutally attacked by the older siblings. How sad this has all become. It is unclear if any intervention could take place. ‘L’ is on it -. PSEG says that the osplets are all “doing fine”. It is 2300 and Mini has not eaten for 52 hours…OK. 3-4 bites. By Tuesday evening it will be the very critical 72 hours. Let us all collectively hope for a fish.

It is Tuesday morning and three large boney fish came to the Patchogue nest prior to 1019. Mini had 3 bites before it was sent into submission. The little one tried to chew off a bone. Mini is starving and persistent and a survivor…if it gets a chance. Mum was being so slow to start to feed it from this fish that I thought she was going to refuse. Mini does not understand.

Mum works around that bony head of the fish and finally starts feeding Mini a few decent bites. Is it possible Mini will get the rest of that fish before the others wake up? If so, Mini will survive to live again. Go Mini!

Tears. This nest desperately needs fish delivered like this or Mini will continue to be shut out and desperate. Send your most positive wishes. We need Mini to be another week older and he should be able to handle the Big ones better.

1100. Still being fed. Mum is fighting the bones and trying to eat, too. Mini is getting a crop. So Mini went more than 60 hours. Tears. Come on Mum…feed this baby more quick!

Mini ate until 1108 when the Big ones came up. Now why can’t Mum feed Mini as fast as she does the Big ones? It would make all the difference.

The weather has turned nasty in the UK with thunderstorms, high winds, lightning and hail. Maya kept the three osplets warm and protected as best she could teaching them to tuck their heads in. The minute the storm stopped Blue 33 was on the nest with a fish. Yes, he caught it during the thunderstorm for his family. Great guy! My choice if I were an Osprey!

It might be clear in Rutland but it is pitching down rain at Glaslyn. Elen is keeping the babes warm and dry.

The camera at Dyfi seems to be down.

At Llyn Brenig, Mum is spread out in a great umbrella protecting her chicks.

Dylan is home with Seren at Llyn Clywedog. The storm is passing.

At Loch of the Lowes, Laddie delivered another small gold fish. This nest is hungry. The issue is down to intruders.

Good feed on Tuesday. No animosity at LOTL. Yippeee.

At Loch Arkaig, the storm arrived quickly and left. Dorcha took great care of her Only Bob in the heavy rain and hail – but not until she had bolted off the nest when loud thunder frightened her. Just listen to the wind and heavy rain. Poor thing.

No shortage of fish at Poole Harbour. I saw one on the nest while CJ7 was feeding off another. All Bobs are little reptiles now.

Continuing to watch the Evergy Topeka Peregrine Falcons, where the third hatch is only a day younger than the two oldest and yet…the plumage is underdeveloped. Grateful that the feathers are starting to come out of the shafts but, what will happen to this baby?

‘H’ reports that the feedings remain civil at Barnegat Light. That is fantastic news…We all know that this can change. All it takes is a bad day for fish deliveries to set the nest off so please enjoy it now! You can see they are turning into little reptiles…itchy and a little anxious, they will be.

Birds in Helping Hands reminds us:

We are monitoring the Great Spirit Bluff Falcon scrape. There was a fierce GHO attack and Savannah defended the nest. Hoping she returns and is uninjured.

Newmann, the Dad, has been dropping off food. Savannah has not been seen since the GHO attack. Send your wishes. The eyases are old enough that Dad can raise them alone but our thoughts are with this brave Mum who might have fought that owl to the death to save her chicks.

Young Benjamin has caught up with the other storklets and is now six days old. This is excellent news. This wee one was so tiny. See the change!

There are still four storklets at the nest of Karl II and Kaia in the Karula National Forest in Estonia. There were numerous feedings throughout the day and at the evening feeding by Karl II the storklets had huge crops. Kaia arrived to feed but seeing no one was hungry enjoyed all the fish herself. the parents have to eat, too. This is great news – everyone full and the storklets all growing.

Bety and Bukacek’s storklets are growing and growing and doing fabulous. There are five of them.

This is the latest update on Dulles-Greenway Pat:

Ithaca, New York needed rain. We noticed this on Ferris Akel’s tours and it was getting it on Monday. The Ms were soaked! But with all that beautiful plumage, they are fine. Big Red was on the nest at one point and you could not tell her from one of the Ms.

Not sure they moved!

Murphy and his Eaglet have now been separated. Here is the latest news from Wild Bird Sanctuary.

If you are a fan of Kielder Ospreys then you will be delighted to hear that Blue 437 named Elsin, the only offspring of UV, and grandchick of Mrs G and 11 (98) – the original Glaslyn pair – was spotted in Cumbria. He survived his first migration!

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Thank you so much for being with me this morning as we skipped around the nests. My focus remains on Mini at Patchogue (as well as Mini at Forsythe who had 36 bites this morning and Boulder County that I need to check on). Send your best wishes to all the nests. Take care. See you soon.

Thank you to the following for their notes, videos, posts, and streaming cams that helped to make up my blog this morning: ‘H’, ‘L’, ‘SK’, San Jose City Hall Falcons, SK Hideaways and SJCH Falcons, SK Hideaways and Window to Wildlife, PSEg, LRWT, Bywyd Gwyllt Glaslyn, Llyn Brenig, CarnyXWild, LOTL, Geemeff and the Woodland Trust, Friends of Loch Arkaig and the Woodland Trust, Poole Harbour Ospreys, Evergy Topeka Falcons, Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ, Birds in Helping Hands, Linda McIlroy and Raptors of the World, Maria Marika, Eagle Club of Estonia, Mlady Buky Stork Cam, Celia Aliengirl and BE Live Nest Cams and News, Cornell RTH, Kielder Forest, and Wild Bird Sanctuary.