storks – Page 9 – Mary Ann Steggles

Banff has a great day…Tuesday in Bird World

22 August 2023

Good Morning Everyone,

I hope that you are all well.

It was a grey drizzly day on the Canadian Prairies. All of the garden animals are present and accounted for. None of the Blue Jays appear to be thinking about leaving on migration. The Chickadees have been out in force and as I am writing, Little Red is busy stocking away all the peanuts he can get his little hands on and the duvet is out – signalling that it is beginning to feel a little hippy in the evenings now. There is a tinge to the top of the trees, just a hint of chartreuse with a soft yellow in places that signals a change of season is on us..

For all those wondering…I found Calico’s hiding spot with her kitten or kittens. Ironically it was the first spot where I believed she was- it was ideal – lots of piled up things and a huge deck that was difficult for anyone to get under – including any dogs or foxes (yes, there is a fox that lives in a garden of Tiger Lilies in the summer near to where Calico is hiding). A neighbour had informed me that a raccoon was living under that deck, but that was untrue. It was Calico! The young man who owns the house has given me full permission to come and go in his garden. Sadly, I cannot get under the low part of the deck to get to her, and there is no access to the higher part without cutting into the structure. So we wait to try and lure this kitten out. It will not be for lack of trying, but one day that kitten will play with the laser pointer, see the fluffy feather toy, smell the sardines and come walking out. It is certainly in a safe place – and I am no longer worried except for car traffic. Calico comes to eat and scurries back – quick as a wink she is away. Patience and more cunning than her mother will be required…and I am not sure the latter is possible. Calico is one smart Mama. The score is now Calico 10- Mary Ann 2.

The storm in California has passed. Checked on four nests. Just because I did not see the eagles on the streaming cam does not mean there is a problem. I have not seen eagles often at the West End or recently at Fraser Point. The amount of rain and flooding has been considerable, but the nests and the trees appear to have survived fine. I hope that is the case and that they have not been weakened.

Jackie and Shadow are safe.

Chase & Cholyn are alright.

Did not see Andor or Cruz.

The West End Cam at the ‘old’ nest is now up and running. Did not see Akecheta or Thunder.

Did not see anyone at Sauces.

Beautiful Mini. She was not bothered when Three (Sneezy) joined her on the nest except when Sneezy was trying to rearrange ‘Mini’s nest and move her cardboard. Mini did give her sibling ‘the look’ a few times. Mum even stopped in. We have not seen her for a bit. Did she come to check on Mini and say goodbye as she leaves on migration?

Mini had at least three fish on Monday and when my friend ‘R’ writes that he is now ‘cautiously optimistic’ about Mini, the smile goes across my face from one ear to another. Like many of us, he has noted that Mini is using her right foot to hold down the fish and eat them quickly, a tool she will need to survive in the wild. No more fiddling around the nest. I love the term ‘R’ used – ‘she was able to rip through them’. ‘R’ also noticed that the swelling in the left knee is “diminishing, and at times she even bears weight on it” adding that the rest on the nest has meant that she has been caring for her leg very well. We hope that this young lady is one of the luckiest osplets in the world. She is certainly one of the most strong-willed ones I have met. ‘R’ says it is too early for any prognosis but she appears to be healing. — What a wonderful note to wake up to. Thanks ‘R’ for keeping an eye on our gal.

Mini had a bit of a crop and one good ‘ps’ was observed.

Mini had a good breakfast and was flexing that left talon this morning. Keep sending your good wishes. As I finish writing this, two fish have been delivered by Dad!

The fledgling at Minnesota Landscape Arboretum is doing very well. Flying around, returning to the nest to rest and eat.

Dyfi Osprey Project: Telyn has not been seen since Saturday. She ‘might’ have started her migration. Sometimes she takes some time and returns to the nest before departure. We wait to see. Lots of nice fish coming for the fledglings -Seiont & Cennen. Idris is doing a fine job fishing.

Glaslyn: OH1 and OH2 have been on the perch and in the nest eating fish from Dad Aran. The weather is raining and it is thought that Elen might have started her migration Monday morning. We wait to see.

Poole Harbour: CJ7 and Blue 022 are still home and providing for all three fledglings who also remain – coming and going off the nest for fish. What a great year it has been at Poole!

Rutland: Blue 33 found himself defending the nest against intruders and Maya was on the nest too – at times – helping. .

Time for ‘H’s reports –

Fortis Exshaw: “Oh, what a splendid day! Banff woke up hungry, having only eaten a small part of a fish the previous day. So, she did not take any long flights away from the nest in the morning, instead opting for a few quick out and back flights. Banff did not want to take a chance on missing breakfast! But, starting at 1021, it seemed as though Banff was on to something. She was calling, she resumed taking several short flights from the nest, and she always flew off in the same direction. At 1027 Louise landed with a large headless fish and Banff flew to the nest right on her tail! Aha, Banff had known that her Mom was eating a fish, and Banff had been telling Mom to save some for her. A very hungry Banff ate ravenously. Throughout the afternoon Banff was quite vocal, calling for more fish, and she also seemed to be warning unseen intruders not to mess with her! The ‘I’ word (intruder) was conspicuously absent from the chat . . no one wanted to jinx Banff. At 1407 Louise delivered a medium-sized whole fish to the nest, and Banff grabbed Louise’s left foot with her beak, and would not let go. So, Louise attempted to fly off, and in the process they were both dragged overboard, lol. Within seconds, Banff circled around to the nest to claim what she had originally intended . . the fish. After eating her second fish, and having an intruder-free day (thus far), Banff was feeling pretty good. She seemed relaxed, bright, and ‘happy’ for a change (and the chatters were too!). Liberated by an intruder-free day, Banff took several more short flights around her neighborhood. And, again we learned that she had been keeping an eye on her Mom. At 16:33 Banff flew to the nest just five seconds ahead of Louise who had a partial fish in her talons, “Thanks a lot, Mommy!” Banff had a lovely evening, she took a couple more quick flights, and all was right with the world!!! SOD’s, Banff.”

Osoyoos – “The Osoyoos chick fledged at 0624 on 8/21, at 56 days of age. Congratulations to Junior, Soo and Olsen! Junior returned to the nest at 1124, and she was hungry. It would be a while before her first meal of the day however, so s/he took another short flight at 1344. At 1439 Soo brought a very large fish to the nest, and Junior feasted! A juvenile visitor landed on the nest at 1530, and Junior found it quite interesting. Soo however, was less intrigued, and she gently persuaded the young fledgling to go home, lol. It was a fine day, indeed.”

Barnegat Light – “Duke and Daisy both delivered fish for Dorsett. Dorsett seems to always take her meals to her favorite utility pole to dine.”

Severna Park – “Oscar delivered a nice fish to the only fledgling that has been coming to the nest for several days.”

Gosh, those are good reports, ‘H’. Thank you so much!!!! It is nice to see these fledglings doing so well and no bad news.

Lou and Annie are bonding in the scrape. They are staying close to their home, The Campanile, on the grounds of U-California-Berkeley. It has been lovely to see them along with Monty and Hartley when they are not raising chicks.

Diamond and Xavier are also bonding at Orange and they fell asleep during an extremely long bonding session!

Karl II continues to bring fish and frogs for his three fledgling Black Storklets. What a devoted Dad. When he begins his migration, Karl II will eventually arrive at his destination near Chad where Kaia spends the winter.

Did you know there is a stork rehabilitation centre in Lublin in northeastern Poland? Look at the beautifully woven baskets for these sweet babies on top of the barn roof. Oh, these precious ones are treasured by so many people in Europe.

In many ancient traditions, when someone died their soul would go into a bird – most often a stork. The soul of the dead would travel for 40 days before it reached the underworld or paradise inside the stork. The birds would return in the spring when life was reborn. In other traditions, any home that had a stork nest on top of the house would have harmony and peace. Every type of calamity would beset someone who would deliberately harm the storms in any way.

“The stork rehabilitation center is run by the “Chance for Stork” Association in Kozubszczyzna near Lublin. Storks injured in various types of accidents find help here. They are treated, rehabilitated and released here. However, some storks, due to their injuries, are not able to get up in the air, so they stay in the Asylum until the end of their days. There are 14 such individuals here.”

Kate was at the nest of her parents, White-tailed Eagles Milda and Voldis, in Durbe County. Isn’t she beautiful? The couple fledged two this year – so over the moon happy for Milda!

There is good news about the Kakapo that were reintroduced on the mainland of New Zealand after being made extinct there. Before we arrived, Kakapo, these adorable green flightless parrots, were abundant across New Zealand. There are now only 248 birds living on four tiny NZ islands. The cause of their demise was hunting, predation, and loss of habitat. Today there are 248 Kakapo. The reintroduction project is the first to try and bring them back to the mainland. It took place in 2023. They are critically endangered.

At Port Lincoln, everyone has been watching the nest and wondering what is going. n. ‘A’ often comments to me that the mating has been sporadic and often not successful. Odd for an experienced male such as Dad. So is there a problem? or has the male been misidentified and this is a new one this year? PLO says it won’t be for lack of trying that there are no eggs! PLO has a fantastic obs board and chat under the streaming cam. ‘H’ sent me the following note from the chat last evening. Question: Has anyone seriously compared the head plumage of this male with the Dad from previous years? I have to admit that we were quite worried about him last year when he had what appeared to be seizures.

Checking on the Sydney Sea Eagles, ‘A’ reports: “Dad brought in a small whole fish (bream perhaps) at 15:46:09. Both eaglets sat up, but it was little SE32 who headed up to the table first. Dad had a couple of bites and then offered one to SE32, who took it. Instead of offering him another, Dad had the next bite himself, and before he could finish it and give a second bite to SE32, SE31 beaks her little brother in the back of the head and twists and pulls at the beakful of fluff. She puts him down but he is still between her and the fish so she repeats the dose. She then proceeds to eat the entire fish, with SE32 remaining in submission throughout (and for a while after Dad left). At one point, SE31 circled around SE32 and went right up to Dad, leaving separation between herself and SE32, but that didn’t help his confidence at all. He remained submissive and motionless. He is hungry, hence his dash for the table, which was a brave move from him and not one we would have seen two days ago. Yesterday was such a good day for the little one that he did actually gain some confidence from it but all it takes is one of SE31’s attacks (as opposed to the single beak to the back of the head, which he usually quickly brushes off) to restore his victim mentality. It is most discouraging. For his self-feeding abilities to help him, there need to be some leftovers on this nest. Apparently, there were some overnight but of course SE32 was not at all hungry and was not ferreting around on the nest looking for food overnight. Mum and Dad found all the nestovers on the WBSE nest while the IR lights were still on this morning and SE31 got them all. But SE32 did get the breakfish – nearly all of it – and has had a good crop all day. Hoping another fish (this time, a big one) comes onto the nest before nightfall.”

Sightings of M15 at the nest site are being reported in Fort Myers!

Thank you for being with me today. Please take care of yourself. Look up and listen for the birds!

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to compose my blog this morning: “A, H, R’, FOBBV, IWS/Explore, PSEG, MN Landscape Arboretum, Dyfi Osprey Project, Bywyd Gwyllt Glaslyn, Poole Harbour Ospreys, LRWT, SK Hideaways and Cal Falcons, Eagle Club of Estonia, LizM, Fortis Exshaw, Osoyoos, Wildlife Conserve of NJ, Severna Park, Sydney Sea Eagles, PLO, Sydney Sea Eagles, SK Hideaways and Charles Sturt Falcon Cam, and the Kakapo Recovery.

Skydancing…the plight of the Hen Harrier and Mini is adapting…Friday in Bird World

18 August 2023

Good Morning,

It is Thursday afternoon and it is nearly 1400. A Cooper’s Hawk has just landed above my head on the Conservatory. A summer fledgling who has found the garden and its hundreds and hundreds of Sparrows, the snack of choice for this raptor. You have to look in their eyes – just once – directly and you will melt. It was a long time ago now that I ran into the garden through deep snow for fear that a very large female Shark-shinned Hawk was eating Hedwig, the resident rabbit. She wasn’t but, in an instant, our eyes met one another. There was a meeting of spirits. I understand fully the Circle of Life and for this beautiful raptor she needed food. I love raptors – some people don’t. They see them as big mean birds.

Today, there will be little news from nests but I want you to understand, by listening, what all the fuss is about the hunting estates, and the extinction of the Hen Harrier.

So please listen! You also get an explanation of the Inglorious 12th of August. I hope you understand why stomping on a nest of innocent Hen Harrier chicks makes me ill and causes my anxiety to rise. The wealthy pay 1000s of GBP per day to shoot grouse but they also stay in hotels, eat at restaurants, and spend money in the villages. The fines and punishments mean nothing because killing birds is big business with the Driven Grouse Moors seen to be a ‘part of traditional Britain’ – which they are. We live in the 21st century and our attitudes towards killing have changed since medieval times.

There are three episodes. Educate yourself and listen to all of them. Imagine the vast expanse of Scotland because this is where this happens.

Part One. Susie’s Chicks

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/audio/2023/aug/15/killing-the-skydancer-episode-one-susies-chicks?CMP=share_btn_link

Part Two. The Perfect Crime.

https://www.theguardian.com/science/audio/2023/aug/16/killing-the-skydancer-episode-2-the-perfect-podcast?CMP=share_btn_link

Part Three. An Open Secret

https://www.theguardian.com/science/audio/2023/aug/17/killing-the-skydancer-episode-three-an-open-secret-podcast?CMP=share_btn_link

There are so many good books out there on Hen Harriers. They are such beautiful raptors. These are two of my favourites:

At Patchogue, Mini had four fish on Thursday. She ate the majority of each of them proving that she is adapting to her situation. It has been over a week now that she appeared on the nest with her injury.

When there is not much of the fish left – or if they are small, to begin with – Mini has difficulties because she still cannot put weight on that left leg. She can’t hold down the fish and pull. Today, she was persistent in working on the tail of one of those deliveries. Tried to work on a tiny piece! Dad brought the fourth fish in, a small one, late in the day. Mini worked and worked, and she succeeded – this fish, not a bite of it, went overboard.

Gosh, she is beautiful.

Mini is desperately trying to get every morsel of that fish tail.

Mini worked and worked an she horked all of that fish tail!

All gone.

We have to watch Mini’s progress. She appears more steady on her legs, less wobbly – although at the end of the day – around 1952 when she flew off the perch she appeared to have trouble -, uses her wings to help her, and is enthusiastic in her fish calling. She is flying. Dad continues to feed his youngest. What we know about Mini’s personality is this – she survived against great odds – one of only a few (I have to find those stats) fourth hatches to live this season. She is intelligent, tenacious, and she does not give up. She works hard. If all of my university students had those qualities, teaching would have been a breeze!

Good Night, Mini.

There is good news about Ervie who is enjoying Turnby Bay!

Waiting and watching as Dad continues to deliver fish to Mum at Port Lincoln.

At Sydney Sea Eagles, little 32 (noticeably smaller now than 32) still waits submissively while 31 eats. The fish was very large, and 31 was full, and the baby ate. The pattern of domination was set early. We can still see some of the feathers missing from 32.

“A’ gives us the rundown: “Dad came to the nest shortly after 9.35 and asked Lady whether it was okay for him to have some of the leftover fish. Surprisingly, she actually agreed! She stood up from brooding the chicks and flew off, leaving him to have a snack and then feed the remainder of the fish to SE31 (well, SE32 got about half a dozen or perhaps eight mouthfuls at the beginning of the feed, but as soon as SE31 beaked him, pulled out another beakful of feathers (she can’t shake SE32 any more – he’s too big now – but still grabs a beakful of feathers somewhere on SE32’s head or neck and twists back and forth till he pulls out the feathers, leaving herself spitting out fluff), he went into submission. Late in the feed, Dad tried to offer him a bite but SE32 shrank away, which confused Dad, who didn’t try again. SE32 still has a huge crop from breakfast, so if he doesn’t eat again for the rest of the day, he will be fine… As long as SE31 has had enough, she is perfectly happy to watch her little brother stuffing himself to the brim. On other occasions, though, she continues to return to the table, and as long as she is that close, SE32 is fearful, with good reason, as SE31 will often react to any food given to SE32 by beaking him.”

Friday morning Xavier had stashed a fresh European Starling in the corner of the scrape. We know that this is not Diamond’s favourite breakfast but…she was hungry. Went over and accepted the food gift and out she went. Still waiting for eggs.

Three healthy and happy fledglings at Boulder County hoping that they will be the lucky one to get the fish delivery.

At the time of my writing, Maya was still at Rutland.

Only four so far reported crossing over the Straits of Gibraltar.

This is Thursday’s chart from Hawk Mountain in PA, USA.

Migration is on everyone’s mind and Tiger Mozone posted an older chart showing the relationship between fledge dates and migration from Loch Garten.

A note came to me today stating that the Middle hatch at Achieva is doing very well and is flying around. He needs to gain some weight before release. This is all good. You might recall that he was falling off the nest – dehydration/starvation – and was monitored and picked up for rehab.

Voldis and Milda continue to provide prey items for their two fledglings at the Durbe County White-tail Eagle nest in Latvia. LizM catches one of those deliveries on video.

LizM catches Karl II coming in with a load of fish for his three fledglings in the Karula National Forest nest in Estonia.

Ludo has not had anything to eat as of 0900 Thursday morning due to intruders at Loch Arkaig. Has Dorcha left for migration? Geemeff reminds us that she departed on the 18th last year. Louis is probably fighting intruders. Certainly Ludo is having to deal with them. Poor thing. What is up with these intruders this year?

‘H’ reports that it was a good day at Fortis Exshaw: “All things considered, it was a good day. I think the cam viewers are in agreement that any day where Banff has a couple of fish to eat and she is not snatched from the nest by an intruder, it is a good day! Louise delivered one of her signature ‘whale’ fish at 0619. Banff would eat from that monster fish on and off until 1551. At 0626 Louise flew off the nest with one of the nearly-whole leftover fish that she had delivered in the evening on 8/16. At 0630 and 0631 Banff was buzzed by an intruder. Louise quickly flew to the nest holding what appeared to be the same fish she had just removed. Then, when Louise flew off to chase the intruder, she left that fish in the nest. Banff picked up the 0632 fish and deftly laid it right beside her ‘whale’ fish. That was so cute. So, the 0632 fish brought to the nest seemed to have been a recycled leftover fish from 8/16. Louise brought a big gob of fluff to the nest at 0720. We thought that she may have intended to cover JJ’s body with it, but she did not. Louise flew out at 0742 chasing an intruder. At 0907 O’Hara landed on the nest and was scanning the skies, then he flew off quickly in pursuit of something a few minutes later. At 1442 O’Hara was back again and stood on the nest as a sentry until 1502. Starting at 1618, Banff had been intermittently nibbling on the recycled leftover fish, when an intruder started buzzing and dive bombing her. She was buzzed at least seven times until 1621. At 162130 there was an adult that flew higher over the nest, but we weren’t sure if it was the intruder, Louise or O’Hara. Banff’s response to the attack was to ‘pancake’ as flat as she could until the threat subsided. Then, cool, calm and collected, Banff finished eating the recycled leftover fish. She was also dive bombed twice at 1649. At 1819 Louise delivered the last fish of the day. Banff was buzzed twice by an intruder at 2004, and she pancaked again. Then an intruder (or ‘friendly’?) hovered over the nest briefly at 2005. After all her flying and being chased by intruders the previous few days, and the stress of twice being snatched off the nest, Banff decided to rest and refuel today. She took no flights, she was a total homebody.”

‘H’ also reports:

Osoyoos – There were five fish brought to the nest at 0604, 1039, 1243, 1357, and 1742. Despite the ongoing heat wave, this family is doing great. The young osplet is 53 days old.

Forsythe – Dear Ollie is spending much more time away from the nest, but she did have three fish delivered to the nest for her by Oscar.

Severna Park – At least one of the juvies is still coming to the nest and eating fish provided by Oscar.

Thank you for being with me today. Please take care. Look forward to seeing you tomorrow with a look at what is happening on the European nests.

Thank you to everyone for their notes, videos, posts, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog today: ‘A, Geemeff, H, PB, R’, The Guardian, PSEG, Port Lincoln Osprey, Sydney Sea Eagle Cam, Charles Sturt Falcon Cam, Bart M and LRWT, Jane D and Ospreys, Hawk Mountain, Boulder County Fair Grounds Osprey Cam, Tiger Mozone, Liz M and the LDF, LizM and the Eagle Club of Estonia, Geemeff and The Woodland Trust, FortisExshaw, Osoyoos, Severna Park, and Forsythe Ospreys.

Monster Fish, Mini and more…Friday in Bird World

11 August 2023

We are supposed to have rain over the next week. Everyone knows this and was in a bit of a panic to get outside and be in the nature centre today before it rains for 6 or 7 days. Of course, it never rains all day long. It is like Asia when it looks like the forecast is 100% for all day, but the rains begin, on time, at 1600 and are downpours and then stop. That said, it has been raining for the past four hours…Little Red, the Blue Jays, and all the sparrows continue to eat regardless. I am putting a bit of food out every hour so that it does not get wet for them. They also have seed cylinders, the solid ones inside the lilac bushes.

Calico has a covered area where she can eat (along with a few of her friends if they stop by). She comes on the dot just about every 3 hours. Her fur looks better since the worm and flea/tick treatment. I was reminded by ‘RP’ today that often kittens will follow their mother to find food. Maybe a kitten or two or three will show up! I live in hope because Calico surely has them hidden well.

The new wetlands area begins at the lake. The water is pumped to another pond where it flows downwards, filling all of the pool areas in the park. (All photos taken with iPhone).

I went to count goslings. There were only 14 visible but mostly there were mature Mallards, a few American Goldfinches, Red-breasted Nuthatches, and Black-capped Chickadees. The animals and birds were quiet. Humans were loud. It was nice to have the nature centre garden market open – lots of freshly picked veggies, the profits going to a good cause.

The day continues to be consumed with Mini and her left leg. There are visible two puncture wounds above the ankle and before the knee of the left leg. Did Mini injure her leg stretching it and having someone’s talons caught in hers? A fish fight? We don’t know.

Indeed, any observer knows very little. We can deduce that she is keeping her balance with her wings. She appears to be in some pain. She is still flying and she is hungry. She is not – and I want to repeat this – she is not lethargic. She is not grounded. My friend ‘R’ and I know that if it is a sprain it will heal. If it is a break, it will heal – maybe not the precise way that it would if set in a cast but there is no guarantee that a wildlife rehabber would —- OK and this is harsh — put Mini’s leg in a cast and keep her in residence til late next spring when she could be released. She would not be ready for this year’s migration. This is something that has to be considered. I know that it is hard to watch her but she is alive, eating, flying, screaming for fish.

My reaction to Mini comes out of remembering many others, like Mini, that did not get a second chance. The first one that comes to mind is WBSE 26. We need to take a deep breath, send positive wishes, and not panic but observe.

1530: Fighting with one of those hard to eat fish unless the head has been taken off…it is good practice for our girl to try and open up these fish, though. No matter how frustrating it is to watch. She will have to do it soon enough in the real world without parents.

The two puncture marks above the left ankle before the knee. Two spaced black dots the distance of talons. We do not want these to get infected. (Mini could we ask that you go and stand in some salt water and soak that leg? Salt water aids healing).

You can see the punctures better here.

Mini has been on and off the nest. She has been fish-calling. Flying down from the perch. It was not a bad landing.

Our beautiful survivor.

Gone.

Bobby Horvath has a practice on Long Island. He rescued Pale Male (the 31-year-old celebrity Red-tail Hawk with its nest on one of the most expensive properties in Central Park) and held him as Pale Male was dying. Horvath is willing to come out to help Mini if she is lethargic. Here is the note that he sent ‘L’ and the phone number. Write it down! Bobby might be our best hope that she would get good care instead of being euthanised. But he is busy – like everyone, and please note that he is stressing weak or lethargic – low or on the ground – not on the nest. Please don’t call him otherwise. All the rehabbers are busy. There are strict laws – and we don’t want anyone to get tired of hearing about Mini. We want them to respond when it is necessary. At least one local individual is making trips to check around the nesting area if Mini were to get grounded.

One diagnosis from a trained reader ‘MP’ suggests that this could be a lunated patella (a dislocation). I found an academic paper on this orthopaedic problem.

Avian-luxations-occurrence-diagnosis-and-treatment Download

Steelscape: The third hatch has a huge crop today. And wait…more news. The third hatch had 3 fish today…and one of the older siblings had a huge crop. All is fine. We can relax. Thanks so much for the images and the report ‘PB’.

Fortis: ‘PB gave me the head’s up early that we would be getting a very good report from ‘H’. There were two whoppers brought on to the nest!

‘H’ writes: “It turned out to be a very good day. The youngest osplet, JJ, had not had very much to eat for the previous three days. The viewers were all extremely worried for him. The day started out with Louise delivering a headless fish, which JJ initially acquired. JJ had the fish for a couple of minutes and managed to pull off a few bites before big sis, Banff, took it away. Banff ate that entire fish, but JJ managed to grab the tail. For JJ’s sake, we knew there had to be another fish delivered soon while Banff was still full, but the next fish did not arrive for four hours. At 1215, Louise delivered the largest fish to date this season. It was massive. Louise initially wanted to hold on to the fish to feed, but Banff took it. It was a tough fish and Banff had not made much headway, when JJ managed to drag the huge fish from Banff at 1242. They traded possession of the fish a couple more times before Louise returned to the nest at 1355. She confiscated the fish and fed JJ! That’s what we were all hoping she would do. JJ was fed for 10 minutes before he got the boot from Banff, and then Louise fed Banff. By 1422 Louise was clearly distracted by something and she stopped feeding. She was on alert. At least 1/2 of that huge fish was left, and JJ tried to pull off a few more bites. Louise flew off the nest at 1456 taking the rest of the fish with her! She returned at 1535, with the same fish. There was still about 1/2 of the fish remaining, it did not appear as though Louise had eaten any of it. Banff claimed the fish at that point and ate until 1608. JJ then fed for an hour before Banff reclaimed the fish at 1707. When Banff quit eating again, JJ ate from 1730 to 1808. Then Banff ate some more, and finally downed the tail of that massive fish at 1821. That had been a 6-hour fish! So, there were only two fish delivered to the nest, but the monster fish had provided at least six or seven meals each for JJ and Banff. JJ had his largest crop in days. The siblings are 54 days old. Banff has managed to increase her lift off the nest during her wingers, but has not hovered as yet. JJ has only achieved a few inches of lift off the nest while wingercising. During the night of 8/11, the siblings both slept upright and tucked for the very first time.”

Those are two North American nests I have been concerned about in addition to Mini. The other nest is PSPB Loch Garten and the attacks on the two male juveniles by a male fledgling from that same nest in 2020. Remember the males return to their natal nest area and things are getting crowded in parts of Scotland.

There remain intruders including an unringed female at Loch Garten. The injured chick 2C4’s wing has stopped bleeding. Hopeful he will be fine.

Sadly, the 2020 fledgling KL5 is back again this morning at the nest.

Thankfully all is well at the nest of Louis and Dorcha at Loch Arkaig – and Ludo is as noisy as ever.

Suzanne Arnold Horning found all of the hawks on the Cornell Campus Thursday. So grateful for her diligence and kindness in sharing her images of Big Red and Arthur’s family.

‘A’ reports on the Australian and NZ nests:

Sydney Sea Eaglets: “This morning’s breakfast had to wait for Dad to bring in a fish. Eventually, just before 09:20, he came in with a whole fresh small-medium fish, which Lady fed to the chicks and ate herself. After the breakfish was consumed, Lady headed off. Dad brought in part of a fish (slightly less than half – he had eaten the head and then kept going for a bit longer). He stood there for some time, waiting for Lady to arrive and feed the eaglets, but she never came and the chicks were obviously begging him for food, sitting up at the table and trying to move closer to him and the fish. Eventually, he decided to feed them, and both got quite a few bites before Dad downed the tail, fed the kids a few more bites, then took the remaining morsel to the perch branch to eat himself. So now the nest is again devoid of food and we do need a good feeding day today. I was happy to see that both chicks waking up hungry and waiting for a later-than-usual breakfast did not precipitate bonking behaviour. Both were peaceful while they waited for food to arrive and once it did, there was negligible bonking. SE32 has taken to pushing itself forward, in front of SE31, to ensure it gets fed, and SE31 is allowing it to eat without interference most of the time. SE32 is still wary, and ducks for cover if SE31 does beak it, but the shaking by the back of the neck has largely ceased.”

Royal Cam Albatross: “We are hoping that Manaaki gets his supplementary feeding today – he looks literally flattened as he lies in his nest and seems to be low on energy (or just conserving it). He had built up significant reserves, according to the rangers, and is not on the high priority list but is still scheduled to be fed by today. As every day passes, I worry more and more about his parents.”

I just noted before I closed the blog this morning that the supplementary feeding was given to the Royal Cam chick. This is a great relief to everyone who sat and worried about this little bundle of joy.

Collins Street: “Cameras won’t be back up at Collins Street until the first egg is laid (last year, that was 25 August, so some time in the next two weeks is likely).”

Port Lincoln: “At Port Lincoln, they are on egg watch. To be honest, every time I watch and see mum sitting on the nest, I wonder whether she is laying that first egg. She is in that position now and I am wondering if this is the big moment. Surely, there will be at least one egg on that barge before the weekend is over.”

Orange Falcons: “Orange is as it always is – Diamond with a full crop, Xavier dancing about looking handsome. It’s just after 1pm in eastern Australia. A lovely day in Sydney, Orange and Melbourne, though they are expecting rain in Port Lincoln.”

Wondering about Dmitri and his stork? Excellent post on Thursday from Karla Pilz!

At the nest of Karl II, the three fledglings slept on the nest and then were there for the morning and flew off.

‘H’s other reports!

Kent Island – This Chesapeake osprey family is doing very well, and dear Mollie seems to be very close to fledging. She hovered high out of sight for several seconds, and for a while we didn’t know if she had fledged. Audrey and Tom’s youngster is 60 days old.

Barnegat Light – Life is grand for the fledgling, Dorsett. And, she has shown a definite preference for eating her meals on the utility pole. Dorsett is 72 days old, and fledged 12 days ago.

The Osoyoos osprey cam was offline for the second straight day. We miss the ‘O’s and we are anxious to see how they are doing. The young nestling is 46 days old.

Thanks ‘H’.

Skipping to a couple of other nests before I close for the morning.

Boulder County: All three fledglings were perched for the night and off the nest in the morning. They are being fed off cam it appears and all is well for this family as it prepares to migrate.

At the Dyfi Osprey Centre, they are remembering Monty. Monty was the male at Dyfi from 2011-19. He had three mates – Nora, Glesni, and Telyn. Of their children, 8 have returned as two year olds. A remarkable number and his DNA continues throughout the area….his perch is inside the new Centre.

The Dyfi website adds: “Monty was the breeding male at the Dyfi from 2011 to 2019 and he is arguably the most famous, and loved, osprey in the world!
Monty was unringed so we never knew exactly how old he was or where he came from. We know that he has been around on the Dyfi since at least 2008 and probably 2007, so his year of birth has to be 2005 or earlier…Monty was a fantastic fisherman whose fishing habits have been closely studied. Two separate scientific studies conducted in 2013 and 2015 have concluded that there is no correlation between the fish species that Monty catches and environmental factors such as tidal phase, temperature, time of day etc. It seemed he was able to catch a fish whenever he (or his family) was hungry and did not need to link his fishing trips to any other factor. Monty’s typical catch was grey mullet but he has been known to bring home some more unusual fish including a long eel-like garfish, a poisonous greater weaver fish and the occasional twait shad!”

The other nest I want to mention is Iris. She is still with us in Missoula and she has not been visited by Louis as much this year (it seems) as in years past. Pe chaps it is the weather and the challenge of feeding the trio and Starr. Iris has had a persistent visitor, a ringed male and here is some information posted on him this morning. Iris is, by the way, not chasing him off.

Thank you for being with me today…please send good wishes to Mini. Take care. See you soon!

I am so grateful to the following for their notes, posts, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog this morning: “A, H, L, MP, PB, RM, RP’, PSEG, Steelscape, Veterinary Quarterly, Fortis Exshaw, RSPB Loch Garten, Sue Wallbanks and Friends of Loch Arkaig Ospreys, Geemeff and The Woodland Trust, Suzanne Arnold Horning, SK Hideaways and Sydney Sea Eagles, NZ DOC, Lady Hawk and NZ DOC, PLO, Charles Sturt Falcon Cam, Karla Pilz and Stork 40, Eagle Club of Estonia, Kent Island, Conserve Wildlife of NJ, Dyfi Osprey Project, and Mary Anne Miller and Montana Ospreys at Hellgate.

Ervie is on the move, 2C4 injured…Thursday in Bird World

10 August 2022

Good Morning Everyone,

It is freezing – well, not literally, but temperatures will drop to 11 C tonight. Already it is feeling like wool socks and jumpers.

I hope your day has been as good as it can be as we worry about our little Mini. I hope that we are not worrying about Mini in a week – that she is progressing. My friend ‘R’ says that when a patient comes into a doctor’s office with a complaint, they look for symmetry. Do you know how hard it is to get Mini to stand with her legs apart, facing the camera? Three does it all the time. Frustrating!

Before we even peek at the kittens today, the big news is that Ervie is on the move! Oh, I hope that someone will be there to take photos of our little lad. Ervie is nearly two years old (hatched mid-September 2021), and I would love for him to stay in Port Lincoln and take over the barge from Mum and Dad. but now thankful he has a tracker.

Thank goodness for the three kittens! They work wonders – better than worry beads!

Calico now allows me to scoop her up and rub her cheek against mine. She is also in full approval of kitten milk. She drinks about 1/3 of a cup at each meal. Her fur is beginning to shine a bit. She is very sneaky, and I cannot find that kitten/s. She weaves in and out – keeping me guessing and running – when she is ready! Geemeff suggested in jest that I put a GoPro on her. Well, there is one sitting here in front of me. But Calico doesn’t weigh more than a quarter, so I am reluctant, but it sure would help me find where she is going! She certainly has a PhD in thwarting surveillance techniques.

Oh, Wednesday was another day spent – in part – staring at Mini’s leg to see if something is wrong and what it could be. The truth is we will never know. She is eating and flying and that is good. Mum is checking on her and fish keep coming in. She did not even finish a really large one. I am glad she is not grounded because who knows what would happen after that…let us all hope it is a sore sprain. Someone thought her foot had been cut but it was blood from the nice fresh fish she was munching on…fingers crossed. She is surely loved and if love can heal she will be 100% soon!

Mini got some nice fish flakes but lost part of the fish over the side of the nest. She appeared to be in some pain and having difficulty with that left leg in the early morning.

This is the best image to see that left leg.

16:31

1727. Parent with another fish for Mini.

These parents are amazing. They take such good care of all their chicks and now they are concerned about Little Mini, too.

Mini flew off shortly after. Please send her positive wishes. On Thursday morning the parents brought Mini her breakfast fish…she is not putting any weight on that left leg today. She ate some of the fish but appears to be worse than yesterday.

My heart is just broken. She cannot be taken into care unless she is grounded. Oh, I so wish this is just a bad sprain, but I fear it is worse than that.

If we ever begin to doubt how much Mini wants to live and how much she deserves to, ‘MP’ found a screen shot of the Patchogue nest he took eons ago. It was raining and the three bigger chicks were under Mum and Mum had quit feeding the fourth hatch. There is Mini. She should have died of exposure. She didn’t. She should have died of hunger. She didn’t. Let us all help her beat this! Positive energy.

Today, Mini appears to be in considerable pain – visually so. I hoped – beyond hope- this was just a simple sprain and she would ‘get over it in time’. But it looks like she really needs an intervention – which is something that I did not want to see for fear that our darling girl cannot get better. Send our little fighter all of your love.

There have been worries at several other nests. One was the third hatch at the Steelscape nest that has not had fish in some time. ‘PB’ alerted me to a fish arriving at 1535 on Wednesday and the third hatch devoured it. Thank goodness, the older siblings flew in later. This baby was starving.

At Loch Arkaig, after being MIA for 28 hours, Louise arrived with one fish for Nuka and returned shortly after with one for Dorcha. Relief. I don’t even know what my mind would do if we lost Louis this year to intruders – and there are intruders everywhere.

In the middle of some worry over Mini and concerns for the third hatch at Steelscape (and other nests), there are always stories that lift our spirits. ‘MB’ sent me one of those today to share with you. One lucky osplet family.

I reported about the storks dying due to extreme weather. Those were Latvian storks…my friend Sassa Bird says that they have not witnessed in their lifetime a catastrophic storm with tornadoes and hail and the winds that caused the deaths of the beloved storms preparing for migration. It is simply heartbreaking. The Latvians love their storks, and this has been a challenging year in the area with the weather. Our thoughts go out to everyone there.

The trio at Osprey House in Australia are beginning to enter the Reptilian Phase.

Bitty – DH2- from Decorah Hatchery caught its first fish. Did the parents leave the fish? Who knows – it is a great milestone for this beautiful eagle.

First fledge at nest 10, Kielder Forest! 9 August.

Seaside: Fledglings on the nest – one with fish and one wishing! It is fantastic to see all of these young fliers return to the nest to be fed. We get to know they are safe and the parents can feed them while they work those flight muscles.

Boulder County: Some fledglings have huge crops, while others sit and wait and hope for fish. Just look at the one in the middle – reminds me of Diamond when she finishes eating a huge pigeon. There are no worries about these. Fish are plentiful. Great parenting to get the three to fledge.

Dunrovin: All is well. Swoop is busy bringing fish to the nest and the three are at the nest at night.

SSEN Alyth: So many fish that the one has a crop that is about to pop and another fish comes to the nest!

RSPB Loch Garten: Sadly, there was an aerial battle between fledgling 2C4 and intruder KL5. The result was that 2C4 has been injured. It looks as if that injury is on the right elbow – perhaps a deep talon scratch – that has bled between the wing and the body. Send your best wishes.

Geemeff sent me the video of this persistent attack on the two youngsters at this nest.

Dyfi: No one is hungry at the nest of Idris and Telyn – not even the cleaners!

Time for ‘H’s reports:

Fortis Exshaw – “As nest cam viewers, we try to rationalize what we see on the livestream. But, sometimes even the most knowledgeable viewers can only guess at possible causes of what we see, or what we are not seeing. Louise used to bring in 5-8 fish per day, and now it’s down to 1-2 per day. On 8/7 the air quality was smoky. The temperatures in the area have been in the low to mid 70’s, and there were a couple of light rain showers on 8/9. There was one brief intruder issue on 8/9 that we saw, and both Louise and O’Hara defended. There has been some intermittent construction taking place very close to the nest for the last two days. The construction disturbance has not completely prevented Louise from delivering fish, but we don’t know if it has hampered her efforts at times. There was only one fish delivered to the nest on 8/9, and it was brought by Louise. The older sibling, Banff, ate it. The younger osplet, JJ, only had a fish tail to eat on 8/7, he had two small-ish meals on 8/8, and had nothing to eat on 8/9. We are praying for a fish-filled day on 8/10. The chicks are 53 days old.”

Forsythe – Wow, what a day for Ollie and Oscar! Oscar delivered six fish to the nest for Ollie (at 0613, 0803, 0906, 1342, 1444, and 1734), and a couple of them were quite large. Ollie was probably pinching herself to make sure she was not dreaming, lol. There were times when there were two fish in the nest, and a small partial fish was left on the nest when Ollie finally retired to her roosting spot. It was the sixth straight day with no sign of the older sibling, Owen.

Barnegat Light – Duke was minding his own business and enjoying his afternoon bath in the Bay . . Ah, but someone else was also minding his business . . Dorsett flew right at her Dad and buzzed him! It was hilarious.

Kent Island – This family had a fish-filled day, and Molly and Audrey each had their own fish at one point. 59-day-old Molly has been sleeping upright for two nights in a row.

Osoyoos: Offline.

Severna Park – One or both of the siblings can often be found at the nest. Being the good Dad, Oscar is continuing to provide for his two fledglings.

Patuxent Nest-1 – Foster and Sib-B are often seen at their nest, and Dad continues to supply them with large fish.

Thank you so much, ‘H’.

Sydney Sea Eagles: ‘A’ reports “Isn’t it always the way? Just as I say the WBSE food supply has been wonderful, we had a day today when the first food did not arrive on the nest until nearly 12:25. It was a nice, big whole fresh fish (perhaps a bream?), which Lady quickly took charge of to feed the eaglets, who had spent the morning snuggled up sleeping together and putting in some serious growing time. Once food arrived however, SE32 was quickly up at the table and got at least the first dozen bites. SE31 was not bothered, lying behind SE32 and watching its younger sibling eating. Amazing! SE32 was obviously hungry and Lady fed it bite after bite. Eventually, SE31 decided it was ready for brunch and stood up to eat but SE32 just pushed forward another step and kept eating. SE31 watched. Lady kept feeding SE32. After another six or eight bites for SE32, SE31 again tried to get to mum’s beak but Lady keeps feeding SE32. Finally, SE31 has no real choice but to beak SE32 in the back of the head. Not hard and just once, but SE32 ducks down and SE31 gets to eat a few bites. SE32 is back up with 25 seconds and accepting more bites. They eat side by side until SE32 decides to stare down SE31, which had the usual result. SE32 allows SE31 to eat for a moment or two before again popping up. The pair are remarkably civil and both get plenty of brunch. I am no longer worried about the relationship between them, unless the food situation deteriorates. It was an exceptionally windy day in Sydney, with the trees tossing violently. This is no doubt the reason Dad had problems fishing today. This was a big fish though, enough to feed Lady and the kids for the rest of the day.”

Avian Flu has not gone away -. Now it is in the Red Grouse populations.

Highly-pathogenic-avian-influenza-confirmed-in-red-grouse-in-Scotland-–-Raptor-Persecution-UK Download

In a related vein, Wild Justice held a poll about banning rouse hunting or issuing licenses. Geemeff sent me the results of that vote. As Geemeff says, the authorities should take note of this!

Thank you so much for being with me today. Take care. Looking forward to seeing you again soon.

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog today: ‘A, Geemeff, H, MB, MP, PB, R, Sassa Bird’, Port Lincoln Ospreys, PSEG, Steelscape, Geemeff and the Woodland Trust, Al Eastman, Sassa Bird, Linda McIlroy and Raptors of the World, Raptor Resource Project/Explore, Joanna Dailey and Kielder Forest, Seaside, Boulder County, Dunrovin Ranch, SSEN Alyth, RSPB Loch Garten, Fortis Exshaw, Forsythe, Wildlife Conserve of NJ, Kent Island, Severna Park, Patuxent River Park, Raptor Persecution UK, Wild Justice, Syllabub and RSPB Loch Garten, and Dyfi Ospreys.

Mini’s leg, fosters in Norway…Wednesday in Bird World

9 August 2023

Good Morning Everyone,

It has been a long day of staring at the computer screen, hoping to see Mini, hoping that her swollen leg was better, wondering if she has a fracture or just is sore from a scuffle.

I had a lot of comfort in the three furry balls – Missey and Lewis (inside) and they’re soon to be sister, Calico (outside). Today Calico allowed me to pick her up, cuddle her and rock her back and forth like you might do a baby. At some point she had a family. Something happened. We are hoping that she will want to be a part of our family. I have been unable to locate any kittens. Tomorrow I am going back out with smelly tins of sardines trying to see if I can coax them out – if they are alive and if I can find their hiding spot -. They deserve a home, too. I now know that Calico will wean them and expect them to be hunting on their own. That is so hard to imagine. They will be approximately 40 days old today.

I am not expecting any issues with Lewis and Calico but it could well be a different story with Missey, the Alpha Cat, and the new family member. Hopefully, they will all feel safe, and secure, and have no rivalry like we see on Osprey nests!

Without X-Ray vision, we will not know what is wrong with Mini. I know that each of you is probably having sympathy pains right now. We do know that Mini flew onto the nest late Monday afternoon, and she was visibly having issues with her left leg. She slept duckling style, taking the pressure off that leg and allowing it to rest and heal. She would have been in some pain. She had difficulty holding her fish tight and could not finish it. MP observed that one of the adults came down from the perch concerned. Later a Crow ate the fish that Mini left – and yes, Mini leaving a morsel of fish tells us much. Worrying, of course, does not help. For Mini to get help, she would need to be grounded, just like Middle at Achieva.

Animal Help Now lists three wildlife rehabbers that deal with raptors in the area of Patchogue. This is the information for each of them. Please put it somewhere so if you see Mini fall off the nest, please start calling. STAR would be my first point of contact. If you were also to see Mini struggling on the nest, it might be worth a call. Because Mini is not always on the nest and we are not always able to stay on the screen, it is vital that everyone watches and is alert to an immediate need and has these numbers handy.

Mini is a fighter. She has overcome such adversity to fledge and be the strong osplet she is this is nothing short of heartbreaking. But, let us please send our most positive wishes and hope that what we are seeing is nothing serious.

Mini from 0851-905.

At 1000, the part of the leg above the knee was swollen. Mini was eating but there was some difficulty in holding the fish down tight.

At 1606, that leg looked better to me but it could have been the camera angle.

Keep sending your most positive wishes to our gal. She can do this.

There are a lot of fundraisers and some are extremely worthwhile and others not so much. I want to mention to you the Loch Arkaig annual calendar fundraiser. If you live outside the UK, Mary Cheadle can figure the postage for you. Except the costs of printing, the funds go to The Woodland Trust so that you can see Louis and Dorcha and that the area can be cared for. So think about it! I thought calendars were out of date because of our phones, but mine from last year, with its images of the nest and the chicks, is right here in front of me – being used and reminding me of important dates. You can connect with Mary Cheadle on the Loch Arkaig FB group or through FB Messenger. Please order quickly – read below for the details. Mary raises a lot of funds for the Lock Arkaig nest through her fundraising efforts – it is volunteers like her and at the wildlife clinics that make a difference in the lives of the birds we love so much.

I am just going to scramble through a few of the nests today. My mind really was on Mini and not much else! — OK. The female at Sand Point had me raise my voice once or twice. She has to be starving…well, I hope that explains her behaviour.

Fostering in Norway. The Mum returned to the nest and fed the foster and snuggled with all the chicks. Let us hope this goes well.

Wondering about Newmann, the Great Spirit Bluff male that lost his mate to a GHO attack and raised to fledge his youngsters. He is back near the scrape.

Boulder County: Everyone is eating. Three fledglings in and off the nest. Smile. All is good.

MN Landscape Arboretum: All is fine.

Steelscape: All three fledglings on the nest. Hard to tell how each is doing without witnessing all of them eating.

Sandpoint: Well, the Mum is either ‘starving’ herself, like the chick (probably) or has no maternal instincts. The chick finally got some fish by self-feeding…my heart sank listening to its fish calling.

When was the last time you saw a fully feathered chick in submission because of its Mum?

Cowlitz PUD: Fledgling on nest self-feeding.

Now to move over and check on the nests ‘H’ is checking on!

Fortis Exshaw: “There were two fish brought to the nest, thought to have been delivered by Louise (the video screen is pixelated again!). The younger sibling, JJ, was able to claim both of the fish and mantled strongly, despite his older sister being stronger, larger, and bossy!. It was nice to see JJ’s increased level of confidence. But, big sister, Banff, was not about to make it easy for JJ. She harassed JJ the entire time he was trying to eat his fish. JJ managed to maintain possession of the first fish for 7 minutes before Banff stole it. The fish had been headless upon delivery so it was easier for JJ to tear off bites while continuously having to defend his food. The second fish was whole, so JJ had to unzip his prize while repeatedly being pestered by Banff. Banff was able to grab the second fish from JJ after 12 minutes. In both cases JJ only managed a small crop, and Banff clearly ate most of the fish. But, being about 1/3 larger than JJ, Banff would understandably need to eat more than JJ. There is nothing apparent to the viewers to provide a clue as to why more fish are not being brought to the nest, but we would all like to see JJ with a huge crop today!”

Osoyoos – Olsen brought seven fish to the nest. The one at 1746 was a small headless fish that 43-day-old ‘Junior’ grabbed and self-fed, while learning to hold the fish with his talons. Shortly after Junior ate that fish, Olsen delivered a small whole fish and Junior grabbed that one as well. This time, Junior was much better at holding the fish while tearing off chunks. Nice job, Junior! Note: Thank you to HS for recovering chick 2’s body from the ground and giving him a proper burial. Very much appreciated.

Forsythe – Oscar brought Ollie two fish on 8/8. Ollie spent almost the entire day at the nest, taking just a few brief flying excursions. Ollie cuts such a lonely figure on the nest, and some viewers feel sorry for her. But, she will most likely spend the next few years of her life leading a solitary existence. Older sibling Owen has not been seen for five days.

Dahlgren – Jack delivered a whale fish to D12 for dinner. D11 did not fly in to make a bid, so D12 had it all to herself. She spent the entire evening eating that fish, and then fell asleep standing on a huge leftover portion, and dreaming of breakfast.

Barnegat Light – It seems that every day there is a new ‘first’ for the fledgling, Dorsett. On 8/8, Dorsett discovered the utility poles.

Kent Island – We were all very relieved when the livestream returned in the morning after the dangerous storm the previous evening. Audrey, Tom, and Mollie had all weathered the storm. And, 57-day-old Mollie self-fed nearly an entire menhaden in the morning.

Thanks so much, ‘H’. Excellent news. Everyone is safe, they are all eating! And to that very kind person who took care of the little osplet’s body – thank you from all of us for your compassion.

At The Campanile, Lou and Annie are bonding!

Kissey-kiss.

The nest of Karl II in the Karula National Forest and Kaia is now empty. All three storklets fledged.

7192 was the last to leave the nest at 06:42.

Karl II is a fantastic father. Here he is with the last feeding of his storklets before they leave the nest. Wishing all of them full crops and safe flights.

Storks have already started their migration in Europe. Many have sadly gotten caught in ferocious storms and died. It has been a tragic year for many species. Sassa Bird posted some images of the Swedish storks killed by the storms.

In North America, Sunnie day reminds us about BirdCast. Check out your region.

At Rutland, everyone is fattening up and preparing for their journeys.

Ludo is quite the character. Louis is such a patient Dad.

At the Sydney Sea Eagles, life is excellent. ‘A’ writes, “

Little SE32 really has turned the dynamic of this nest around over the past few days. The youngster (I suspect a younger brother) has gained tremendously in confidence and this has caused SE31 to largely cease its attempts at intimidation. Occasionally, there is an interaction, but it is as often caused by SE32 as by SE31! The younger sibling is quite prepared to look its older sibling in the eye, drawing itself up as tall as it possibly can and sometimes beaking SE31. Not a great idea, but not at all vicious – more posturing – and certainly an indication that SE32 has decided to stand up for itself. It eats and eats, without any fear of SE31 beside it or behind it. If it is offered a bite of fish, it eats it, regardless of SE31’s position or attitude. It is glorious to watch this little one realising that its sibling was never really trying to hurt it and that all it has to do is stand its ground. So the nest has become a happy place, with both eaglets eating and eating and then eating a little more. So far, both parents are doing some feedings, though Lady is doing the majority. Lady is also doing some fishing sometimes, though Dad is bringing in most of the prey. Yesterday’s fish was MASSIVE. A very long brown fish that fed everyone for the afternoon and much of today. Of course, things could turn on a dime and everything could head rapidly downhill, as we know, but at this stage, both these parents are doing a wonderful job and their eaglets are healthy and active and both eating extremely well. Their major problem is hauling their massive crops around. SE31 eats so much, it falls into a food coma, allowing SE32 to then eat for up to half an hour (or however long Lady is prepared to continue coaxing it to eat more and more and more). Eventually, SE32 is stuffed to the gills and turns away, at which point SE31 often wakes up for seconds. Lady sometimes feeds the pair for over an hour at a time. Very patiently. She is amazing.”

Thanks, ‘A’.

Mini’s leg doesn’t look worse this morning. Relief. She would like a fish! And she is spunky enough to chase a crow off the nest. Let us hope that she heals quickly and Dad gets a nice fish to her soon!

Thank you for being with me today. Please take care of yourselves. I look forward to seeing you soon.

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, websites, streaming cams, and videos that helped me to write my blog this morning: ‘A, H’, Animal Helps, PSEG, Mary Cheadle and the Friends of Loch Arkaig Ospreys, Rune Age, Ashley Wilson and Peregrine Falcons at Great Spirit Bluff, Boulder County, MN Landscape Arboretum, Steelscape, Sandpoint, Cowlitz PUD, Fortis Exshaw, Osoyoos, Dahlgren, Wildlife Conserve of NJ, Kent Island, SK Hideaways and Cal Falcons, Eagle Club of Estonia, Sassa Bird, Sunnie Day, Gaye Kelly and Osprey Friends, and Sydney Sea Eagles.

Does Mini have an injury…Tuesday in Bird World

8 August 2023

Hi Everyone,

I hope the beginning of the week has been kind to each of you! It is nearing 1700 on Monday as I begin to write after spending some time checking on the birds – both on the screen and in the garden. Things are winding down. Spotters in the UK are starting to see migrating ospreys flying south. Here it was sunny and is now overcast. The Blue Jays and a single Crow have offered joy in the garden today. It will not be long before the migrating birds appear, including the hummingbirds and the Baltimore Orioles looking for their grape jelly and oranges, before continuing their southern journeys. I plan to get to the nature centre on Wednesday for a long walk and check on the ducklings and goslings. They should be all grown up! Little Red was there, too, and Dyson and the gang will, hopefully, be around later this evening.

There is severe weather headed for the east coast of the US that is predicted to produce 75-80 mph winds, hail, and tornadoes. Thinking of all our nests including, potentially, our Mini – and all of you. Stay safe.

Mini was on the nest at least twice today. In the image below, at 16:32, she has a crop. She got the 0601 fish delivery! Not huge, but a fish, and she will have another during the day for sure – as is noted in that 16:32 crop.

It is hard to see Mini’s nest empty…one day soon she will not show up, she will be on her way south. While we will never know for certain what will happen to this young lady, she has been a survivor. There is some concern Monday evening that Mini might have an injury to her left leg. Let us all just breathe. We have seen ‘slight’ injuries on nests take several days to heal. Mini will rest and Dad will bring fish if she is, indeed, having an issue.

Oh, goodness. Mini is still favouring that left leg this morning. She cannot put much weight on it. She has a fish and let us all hope that our little one heals..she has plenty of time before she might think about migrating in September. Just rest, Mini!

Can she hold down the fish hard well enough to eat…let’s keep an eye.

We fretted over the debris in Mini’s nest and thankfully, none of the twine or the bin bags endangered the health of the adults or the osplets. In Montana, they continue to find osprey chicks when they are being banded in nests where they are tangled – dangerously so. Thankful for the intervention.

Oh, what a cute little one. So grateful he is recovering.

A hope, skip, and jump around the nests. There is not a lot of action – that is a good thing.

MN Landscape: Chick is self-feeding, but when Mum has a fish she is eating, this baby is loud with the fish begging!

Boulder County: That nest just seems to get smaller and smaller when all three of the fledglings are home!

Seaside: Naika and Kawok continue to fly in and off the nest. Naika had a beautiful big fish that could not be finished. Kawok got to finish the best part – the tail half!

Clark PUD: One osplet has fledged. Both on the nest and being fed. All looks good.

Loch of the Lowes: Please note that Blue NC0 has not been seen since 15 July and the male, Blue PF5 for several days now.

Janakkala, Finland: Ospreys watching for Dad who delivers fish – and then the great tug o war begins.

Muonio, Finland. Video of the ringing of the chicks has been released.

Port Lincoln Osprey: The date of Zoe’s egg tells it all. Soon we will be staring at incubation in Southern Australia.

Mum and Dad on the nest of the barge at Port Lincoln. They are both anticipating the arrival of the first egg.

It is time for ‘H’s report:

Fortis Exshaw: “It was not the best of days for the youngest chick, JJ. In the early morning, both Banff and JJ took turns trying to eat the large fish tail left over from the very tough fish the previous day. The tail also had a large piece of attached skin dangling from it. JJ finally managed to eat the skin and tail at 0816. As it turned out, that was all that JJ had to eat on 8/7. Two large fish were delivered to the nest, the first one by O’Hara at 0844, and Louise delivered one at 1352. The older sibling, Banff, ate both of those fish. JJ did have a couple of good meals the previous day, however, and we’re hoping the fishing improves for Louise and O’Hara today. The air was visibly smoky or foggy for most of the day, and a nearby viewer confirmed it was smoke from a distant fire. Perhaps the smoke had made fishing more difficult for the adults. There were no major intruder issues that we could see.”

Osoyoos – It was another good day for the family. There were six fish delivered to the nest. The body of chick #2 had been slipping off the edge of the nest for a few hours, and at 1205 when Soo shook the nest as she flew, the body finally fell to the ground. A member of the Facebook group who lives in Osoyoos was going to try to retrieve #2’s body.

Kent Island – A severe storm system went through the area in the evening, with heavy rains and wind gusts that were predicted to be up to 70 mph. The live video stream went off, and the cam is showing highlights. During the day, young Molly had been ‘helicoptering’ so high that she was out of cam view a couple of times. I hope she wasn’t too excited with all the wind and continued practicing her hovers. We hope that Molly and her parents, Audrey and Tom, stayed safe during the storm. We anxiously await the return of the live stream, and for any news from the Com family.

Barnegat Light – A couple of ‘firsts’ for this osprey family on 8/7: On 6/28 Dorsett was banded, and afterward the bander installed a new perch for Duke near the Bay. On 8/4, the fledgling Dorsett, was on the perch for the first time, and then on 8/7 Daisy tried the perch for the first time! The other ‘first’ was that Dorsett flew in and landed on the railing with a big gob of soft nesting material in her talon. A surprised Daisy said, “Well how lovely, thank you very much, Dear!”

Severna Park was another nest impacted by the strong storm system on 8/7. Here is a photo of the two fledglings after the worst of the storm was over.

Patuxent Nest-1 was also inundated by the storm on 8/7. In this photo the two fledglings are waiting for their ‘breakfish’ delivery on 8/8.

Audubon Boathouse – It is not very often that Skiff and Dory are seen together at the Boathouse nest, but they were on 8/6. Little Skipper was predated by an owl 15 days ago. The view from the Boathouse nest cam is one of the most picturesque of any osprey streaming cam, and perhaps soon I will be able to find solace in its beauty. But, it’s just not happening yet.

Black Stork Karula Forest: This is the nest of Karl II and Kaia. Karl II has the sole responsibility for feeding the three storklets since 23 July at 16:19 when Kaia was last seen on the nest. She is not dead. She is foraging in an area with a brook about 6km from the nest site. Storklet 7194 fledged on 7 August.

Big Red and Arthur’s Red Tail Hawk Nest:

Ferris Akel has some really good footage of the Ms and family!

A good article on L2’s release with video.

Red-tailed-Hawk-22L322-Released-After-a-Year-of-Recovery-Cornell-Lab-Bird-Cams-Cornell-Lab-Bird-Cam Download

The 2023 season highlights – life with the Ms.

San Jose City Hall: SK Hideaways caught more bonding between Monty and Hartley. Wonder where Soledad is and how she is doing?

Charles Sturt Falcon Cam, Orange: Xavier and Diamond continue bonding and mating as the 2023 breeding season is getting ready to begin in Australia. ‘A’ remarks, “At Orange, bonding activities are increasing, including mating up to several times an hour and much prey being brought to the scrape. Diamond will occasionally accept a starling but only if she is particularly hungry, which is rare – she is not often seen without a noticeable crop. Xavier brought her an eastern rosella she was happy about the other day and a pigeon was on today’s menu, but he usually dances around with his starlings before leaving again, taking his starling with him. He is so svelte and handsome with his snowy bib and his orange feet.”

Sydney Sea Eagles: Both eaglets are being fed very well. There is a variety of food including fish and today an eel! Their big crops have made lovely cushions to sleep on. What a relief.

Roy Cam Albatross: ‘A’ reports “The big news is that Manaaki weighed only 8 kg at today’s weighing (he is 200 days old today, only 40 days from the average fledge age, and today was one of 20 chicks at the colony, 10 males and 10 females, to be fitted with a data logger). The 8 kg he weighed today is down from his peak weight of 11 kg, and a supplementary feeding is scheduled for him tomorrow or Thursday. Imagine, we never thought we would see our big boy needing supplementary feeding, but that is what happens when a parent fails to return, and sadly, it has been way too long since we last saw L (20 July). GLY has done his best but he is unable to sustain a male chick on his own. At this point, GLY has not been in since 30 July, which is a very long time for GLY, who usually has half that time between visits. Before this absence, L was gone for 15 days in April and again in May, but this is significantly longer than those absences. So we are all worried about both parents at this stage and Manaaki has obviously been hungry for several days, begging other chicks’ parents for food. It would be a tragedy to lose either one of this couple, who had already successfully fledged two chicks before Manaaki so were a well-established pair.”

Lady Hawk gives us a video of the GPS tracking device and the weighing.

Going back to Port Lincoln, there is news of Ervie and Zoe from the Port Lincoln FB page today:

Please send all your most positive energy to our Mini if she has an injury to her leg so that she rests and recovers fully.

Thanks, everyone for being with me today. Please take care. I look forward to seeing you again soon!

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, images, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog today: ‘A, H’, CNN Weather, NOAA, PSEG, Wild Skies Raptor Centre, MN Landscape Arboretum, Boulder County, Seaside, Clark PUD, LOTL, FOF, PLO, Fortis Exshaw, Osoyoos, Audubon Boathouse, Patuxent River Park, Severna, Wildlife Conserve of NJ, Kent Island Ospreys, Eagle Club of Estonia, Looduskalender, Ferris Akel Tours, Cornell Bird Lab, SK Hideaways and San Jose City Hall, Charles Sturt Falcon Cam and Cilla Kinross, and Lady Hawk and NZ DOC, Sydney Sea Eagle Cam and Port Lincoln Ospreys FB.

Fish Battles and more…Monday in Bird World

31 July 2023

My goodness. It is the end of July. Where did the summer go? and the Osprey season? It seems it was only a couple of weeks ago that we were wondering if Blue NC0 would lay the first egg of the UK season or would it be Maya?

I woke up to a note from a friend living on a farm in southern Manitoba with a pond. She wanted to know what is up. The geese typically are not on her pond until the middle of October, and at least 65 landed on Sunday. Is migration starting this early?

‘PB’ sent us a smile for the day. After Louise feeds the osplets twice from the big fish she brought to the nest, look at those crops.

‘H’ adds: “Mr.O was not seen on 7/29, and we were worried that he may have been injured while fighting an intruder the day before. We were so relieved when Mr.O flew to the nest with a fish on 7/30 at 0911. I’m sure many viewers were jumping for joy. Louise flew to the nest a few seconds later to greet him. They immediately had an intruder issue and Louise and Mr.O spent the next few minutes sending the intruder packing. Louise brought three more fish to the nest throughout the day, including a couple of her signature ‘whoppers’. The chicks had bursting crops. All is well.”

Now for a break through….a simple coat of paint! We have known this for years but there was no action. Now there is no excuse.

How a pool ring helped a little vulture.

More fishing hooks…

Swinging through the Nests:

We are going to start with Australia and ‘A’ has some news to add:

Lady has had a busy morning, organising the three half-fish on the nest and ensuring Dad didn’t remove a single flake of it. She is very jealous about guarding the food once it is on the nest. Dad very rarely gets away with removing any food from the nest. There were cot rails to replace this morning after the first breakfast sitting. Both eaglets ate well. They are beyond adorable. Dad is bringing fish after fish for his family and Lady is absolutely devoted to her chicks. Such a sweet family. Those little faces are just darling.

In Orange, Xavier arrived for the early morning bonding session but he has not had a good morning, with two starlings rejected by Diamond. I’m not sure why he keeps bringing them. Surely he must know by now that they are not a popular offering. He is on the ledge as I type, surveying his world. It’s an idyllic place for them to raise their family, Ah, something has caught his attention. He e-chups a few times, then flies out of the box. No idea what he’s spotted but something below the nest box certainly interested him. Such a handsome wee falcon. Gorgeous. I love little Xavier. There is regular mating on the tower and much digging of deep indentations in the nest box.

In New Zealand, Manaaki is looking especially gorgeous this morning. It is a lovely sunny day at the colony and our beautiful albie chick has had a quiet morning, relaxing on his nest. For once, he has not been gardening or exploring, just enjoying a quiet rest. He is gradually losing his fluff and is starting to look increasingly like his parents. Our giant fluff ball is nearly an albatross. What a beautiful boy he really is, Darvic bling and all. We’ll miss him terribly when he fledges. It’s such a very long time before there is any chance of seeing them again – several years in most cases – so their fledge is particularly bittersweet. We still wonder and worry about little QT, who fludged early in a storm. Lilibet was only 220 days old when she became the first fledge of the season last year. That look on her face …..

At Collins Street, it is a cold but sunny morning. There is still some time to wait before we can expect eggs to be laid. Last year’s first hatch was on 30 September, so it should be up to four weeks before the first egg is laid. The last week of August probably, although as I keep saying, who knows what climate change will do to the birds’ inner clocks. I have been rewatching some of last year’s videos from Collins Street in an attempt to discern enough identifying features to determine whether or not this is the same couple we saw in the second part of last year’s season.

Thanks ‘A’.

Moving back to the nests we have been following:

Collins Marsh: Two beautiful, fully feathered chicks standing in the blowing wind on the nest. This couple looks like they will fledge a pair of osplets this year! It is fantastic. Last year the nest was abandoned, and the year prior, the chick Malik had a forced fledge and was found dead below the nest. This is a new couple in 2023 who diligently cared for their young. Fingers crossed for safe flying.

Boulder County: Two fledglings, one to fly and Mum on one of the successful US nests this year. This beautiful couple that fed one another and did tandem feedings in the beginning so that little third had a chance did it! Success.

Finnish Nest 1:

Fish brings both fledglings in – Mum has a full house. There was still one to fledge at the time of my writing.

Finnish Nest 4: It was a little wet and the three were huddled together for warmth and some fresh fish. Notice the difference in plumage in the two nests. The little ones at nest 4 still have the white stripe. We are a ways from fledgling here! Indeed, they can still, for the most part, fit under Mum to stay dry.

Ilomantsi Finland: This nest is the most eastern of all the Finnish nests and is right on the Russian border. It is the home of parents Manta and Manu who have raised three beautiful osplets. Two females and a male. All have been ringed and at least one has fledged.

The ringing of the chicks took place on 11 July.

Patchogue: Watching for a fish delivery! Our Mini (top) is magnificent. Look at those ‘snake eyes’. Just like Iris! Not nearly the fish deliveries coming to the nest that we saw a few days ago. Dad is feeding off nest. Oh, we need a GoPro on Mini!!!!

Steelscape: Three got some fish and had a nice crop for a bit. Oldest sibling is doing a good job self-feeding. Keep sending good wishes to this little one.

Sandpoint: Wishing for fish for Coco who has not had a lot of fish over the last 24 hours. Keke is very hungry as well and has eaten fish and then tried to feed Coco. Wish for lots of fish!

MN Landscape Arboretum: All is good! The first image is from Sunday and the second Monday morning when Mum and chick are waiting for a delivery. Gosh this nest looks better than it did at the beginning of the season and this new female has really turned into a good Mum.

Alyth: Everyone appears to be doing well after the big tumble out of the nest on Saturday.

Dyfi: Nothing deters Indris – not even a bit of Welsh wind and damp – from getting fish to his kids.

Glaslyn: Looks like there is more rain at Glaslyn and wind. Elen hunkered down on the perch.

One of our Manitoba Osprey nests:

‘H’ has her reports – thanks ‘H’.

Forsythe – There were three fish brought to the nest by Oscar. Ollie was the beneficiary of all three fish. But at 0612, two minutes after the first fish was delivered, Owen flew to the nest and a battle ensued with both fledglings going overboard in a mass of wings and talons. Ollie was seen flying away and Owen returned to claim the fish lying on the nest. There were a few more brutal battles between those two juvies throughout the day. Someone is going to get hurt. More fish is needed at this nest.

Barnegat Light – Dorsett had the pleasure of experiencing several flights on her fledge day. In these photos, the new fledgling is hanging out with Mom and Dad, and later she is shown enjoying a well earned dinner fish.

Osoyoos: I’m not quite sure how many fish were delivered to the nest . . many were delivered by Dad, but then some were removed from the nest. It was a confusing day, and a sad day.At 0542 Dad dropped off a partial fish. Over the course of the next 2 1/2 hours both chicks tried to self feed from the fish. #2 was more interested than #1, as #2 was literally starving, but at 33 days of age, did not have the skills to self-feed. Most of the time that #2 was attempting to eat, s/he was attacked by #1. There were a few times when #2 held the fish with its talon he did seem to pull off some bites. Eventually at 0811 that fish either went over the east side of the nest or became lodged in some sticks. Chick #2 had been facing away from the camera, but when #2 turned around, his crop was still flat.At 0724 Dad arrived with a partial fish and fed chick #1. Whenever #2 attempted to approach, s/he was attacked by #1.At 1321 Dad was feeding, with a chick to either side. #2 actually ate 8 bites of fish, before #1 lunged in front of Dad to reach #2, and attacked. The incident seemed to be disturbing to Dad. He stopped the feeding and flew away. The remainder of the fish was left in the nest. Chick #1 picked up the fish and did a pretty good job of self-feeding. #2 managed to grab a large tail piece and tried to eat, but unfortunately he dropped the fish over the side.There were other feedings by Dad at 1415, 1529, 1959, and 2014. Chick #2 did not receive any bites of fish at those meals.I’m not sure if Mom was seen at the nest on 7/30.”

McKeun ParK:
I took this pic yesterday afternoon. Looks like they all fledged!

Thanks so much ‘H’.

A note has just come in from Kielder Forest that Grasslees is the first osplet to fledge from nest 2. That happened on Saturday, the 29th. Return to nest safely.

Glacier Gardens. The eaglet has been named Serak and is beautiful in that dark chocolate plumage.

Eastern Imperial Eagles: At the Tatarstan nest of Altyn and Altynan, the two eaglets have branched!

Karl II and Kaia: The three surviving storklets have been ringed. One has a transmitter. Karl II has been providing all of the feedings. Kaia was last seen on the nest on 23 July at 16:19. I asked my friend ‘T’ what is happening at this nest and she went and consulted the Forum to check for theories. We know that food appears to have been very limited due to the drought in the area and that Urmas has had to supply fish baskets so this family could survive. For the first time in the history of the nest Karl II did a brood reduction. So this is what ‘T’ sent to me, “She finds good food for herself further away. But she would probably have to find three times as much to give it to the chicks.” As was noticed by some observers, Kaia often stole food from Karl II and did not provide all the food she found for the chicks. Karl II has often sent her away from the nest so that he could take care of the storklets. Is Kaia off finding food for migration? Has she abandoned her nest? We do not know this answer and we wait – perhaps until next year.

The storklets are hungry. Karl II has brought in some fish that were not provided in Urmas’s fish basket and we should thank this generous man who kept this family alive and all who donated to purchase fish for them.

Karl II feeding. Kaia has left early. Is it because of a lack of food and she must build up her strength for migration?

Here is the latest news on Waba and Bonus.

Before we close, it looks like Mini might have gotten a fish on the nest from Dad Monday morning. She was up on the perch when Dad delivered at 0821. Smart girl!

Thank you so much for being with me today. Please send the struggling nests your most positive energy – Osoyoos and Forsythe could use many more fish. Please take care! See you soon.

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog today: ” ‘A, H, J, PB, T’, Fortis Exshaw, Ars Technics, Alis Jasko and Nor Cal Birding, Tonya Irving, Raptors of the World and VulPro, Sea Eagle Cam, Charles Sturt Falcon Cam, NZ DOC, Collins Marsh, Boulder County, Finnish Osprey Foundation, Ilomantsi Finland, PSEG, Steelscape, MN Landscape Arboretum, SSEN Alyth, Dyfi Osprey Project, Bywyd Gwylld Glaslyn, MB Birding, Forsythe Ospreys, Wildlife Conserve F of NJ, McKuen Park, Osoyoos, Kielder Forest, Glacier Gardens, Eastern Imperial Eagles, Eagle Club of Estonia, and Looduskalender.

SE31 is here…Thursday in Bird World

27 July 2023

Good Morning Everyone!

I am starting to write my blog at 1700 Thursday evening after a lovely but short trip to the local farmer’s market. It is 31 degrees C, but the humidity makes it feel like 34 C. There is yet another thunderstorm warning for this evening until tomorrow morning. This has been the norm for a week now with massive dark – near black-blue clouds coming in and torrential rain and wind. Thankfully the storm passed north of where I live because the hail that occupied it was the size of a large heirloom tomato! I can only think of the osplets in the nests along Lake Winnipeg. It had to be horrific.

When I got home, it was time to put out the evening spread for all the garden animals. Little Red ‘decided’ that he was going to stash all of the peanuts before the Blue Jays could have even one. What an energetic tenacious little squirrel! What he doesn’t know is that I know where he is putting all those peanuts – in the home that I made for him last year! So…those peanuts will be brought out again on Thursday evening and he can take them all over again! No wonder he stays so slim and trim.

Missey had been watching all of the action until she got totally bored! BTW. you can see some of those pink bird collision squares on the window…just barely. They work!

Sometimes she sits, like the Queen of the Conservatory, that she is!

This is the little stork that Dmitri saved named after the coin in the RU because he was the fifth hatch and his mother was killing him. Dmitri has had his surgery and is up the ladder saying hello and feeding Pyatachok! This is fantastic. Both are looking well. Pyatachok is obviously pleased to see the person who saved his life. Smile. There are wonderful people in the world living the most ordinary lives but doing the most extraordinary things.

Here is the video!

Gosh, it was nice to open the mailbox on Wednesday and find two news articles sent to me by ‘EJ’. Each was a fantastic rescue. These will warm your heart!

Bald-eagle-rescued-from-New-Jersey-electrical-tower-after-its-wing-was-stuck-for-five-hours-Fox-Ne Download

Bald-eagle-rescued-from-James-River-after-getting-caught-in-fly-fishing-line-WRIC-ABC-8News Download

Whenever you think about a rescue or an intervention that people tell you is impossible, I want you to always remember Dale Hollow 2023. We were told the terrain was too steep, no cherry picker could get to the nest, that it was just impossible. Well, geez. Remember that it was an arborist that got onto the nest and worked a miracle getting the two eaglets untangled from one another. While DH17 went on to live and fledge sadly we lost DH18 because of the arguments and paper trails that had to be created for the rescue. So, please do not give up. Remember — a way was found for a nest deemed impossible!

A rescue in Canada. You know when we begin to despair and believe that humans don’t care – we have lots of examples that tell us otherwise!

SE31 got out of that shell in great time. Can’t wait for 32 to be with us…this nest is always a really bittersweet one. The chicks are incredibly lovable and beautiful. They are harassed by the Pied Currawong that chase them out of the forest so that they are unable to return to the nest to be fed and learn to fly and fish by their parents. They end up on the sidewalk by the Discovery Centre if they are lucky and taken into care and then released. Can I even begin to hope that this year might be different?

The saddest thing is that Lady and Dad do not get to experience training their fledglings and seeing them thrive in the wild. Bittersweet.

Dad watching his wee baby hatch. Beautiful. How touching is this?

‘MP’ got a great screen shot of this little fluff ball. Thank you for sharing it with all of us!

Dad is so proud of his new baby!

SK Hideaways gives us a video of all the excitement in the Sydney Olympic Forest:

SE32 is on its way.

Around the Nests:

Tweed Valley 2: Poul, the surviving osplet from the goshawk attack that killed Sasha, fledged on Wednesday. Congratulations!

Osoyoos: Sadly, the heat of the area around Osoyoos is causing the fishing to be slow. The fish will go deeper into the water (if there are fish) and then the Osprey cannot get them. ‘H’ is already reporting a drop in fish for those two lovely osplets of Soo and Olsen. It is what we fear every year.

Dunrovin: The second chick, Snap, fledged on Wednesday. Only one more to go!

Steelscape, Inc.: Not sure about the number of bites of fish but chick 3 did get some fish dinner. The older chick that will be fledging any time is more interested in flapping those wings now than eating so this is now a good thing for Third. It may not stay that way but for now…fingers crossed.

Patchogue: Those parents continue to amaze me. Chicks in and off the nest. Mini getting fish. What a lovely year. What a devoted family. I would so love the precise gender mix in this group…but, like all of you, I am still smiling.

Mini and the live fish that flipped and flopped. That was a brilliant save!

Loch Arkaig: Ludo keeps making milestones. Carrying fish by themselves is one of those! Well done.

Glaslyn: Elen with OH1 and OH2. Aran and his new mate did very well…two Welsh lads to return and breed!

Kuopia Saaksilvie Kallavest: The three osplets were small in weight when they were ringed on the 17th of July. Each appears to still be doing well and is ready for flying.

Time for ‘H’s report – as always, I am so grateful ‘H’.

Forsythe: There were five fish brought to the nest for the two fledglings, and all were delivered by Oscar. Owen acquired three, while Ollie managed to grab two of the fish. But, my goodness these two fought. There was quite a battle between the two of them at 1726 that lasted two minutes, and resulted in Ollie being ejected from the nest!

Barnegat Light – Wow, look at the height of that hover! Dorsett is 57 days old. Stay tuned . . .

Kent Island – The Biologist that banded Tom and Audrey’s chick determined that she is a female. The soon-to-be-named chick is 45 days old.

Patuxent Nest 1 – On 7/26, while the fledglings were on the nest, and Sib-B was eating a fish, a Great Blue Heron landed on the nest! They sibs both skedaddled, but Sib-B managed to keep her fish, and then later returned with it.

Osoyoos: Fishing was poor for the second day in a row. Dad delivered three small fish to the nest, and Mom may have tried to fish as well. Chick #2 had some bites of fish during the first meal of the day, but due to aggression by chick #1, s/he was prevented from eating at the next two meals. Chick #2 was subjected to chick #1’s aggression at off-meal times as well.

FortisExshaw: Louise brought seven fish to the nest, and Mr. O delivered one. At 1612, Mr. O landed with a fish while Louise was out. He waited for a couple of minutes, then flew off, leaving the fish on the nest. The two kids looked at each other like “What are we supposed to do with this?”, lol. At 1157 and 1204, Mr. O landed on the nest to assist Louise with intruder defense. What a guy! The 39-day-old chicks are both practicing wingers. And, one of the two chicks tried a bit of self feeding in the evening.

Thanks Heidi. How many remember the battles between Ervie and Bassa at the Port Lincoln nest after those two had fledged? Gosh that Forsythe nest sounds like Port Lincoln! Bassa left – and Ervie stayed and our dear little third hatch survivor, Ervie, is still in Port Lincoln waiting for a mate and a nest. Not so fast, Ervie!

Black Eagles:

When you are feeling a little despair at the nests, what do you do? I recall ‘MP’ told me that he watches the sparrows in Mini’s nest! Well, my Geemeff sent this to me this morning. It isn’t raptors but it is people working hard to get seals untangled from fishing nets and line! Remember…there are our super heroes working quietly every day to help wildlife.

Royal Cam Albatross: ‘A’ loves this little guy. She writes, “This is priceless. First up, have a look at the size of that pile of nesting material at the beginning of the video. It is HUGE. It looks like the pile of lawn clippings after my large back lawn has been mown. He is amazing. And then check out how aggressively he works on pulling out the grass. I have never seen bunches of grass pulled out like that, even by the adults. They normally pull out a token blade or two at a time, not beakfuls like Manaaki. He is not playing around here. This albie is one serious builder.”

The osplets were given health checks, ringed, and bagged to head to Ireland for the translocation project to restore Ospreys to the Emerald Isles. There is much excitement and here is the image of the flight being tracked. They are travelling by private jet! A person from Irish National Parks and Wildlife Service is with them.

Thank you so much for being with me today. The big story is down in the Sydney Olympic Forest and it is not going to be long until we begin to look rather closely at Xavier and Diamond, the Peregrine Falcon couple that everyone loves in. Orange, Australia. Then it will be the Port Lincoln Ospreys and the CBD Falcons. It is hard to believe but in a fortnight many ospreys will start their journey south in North America. Those that fly over Cuba will arrive about the middle of September as they make their way to Brazil and other areas of South America. Take care everyone. See you soon!

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog this morning: ‘A, EJ, Geemeff, H, MP’, Storks 40 Pyatachok, Fox News, ABC 8 News, Western Wheel, Sydney Sea Eagles, SK Hideaways and Sydney Sea Eagle Cam, Gracie Shepherd and Raptors of the World, Conservation Without Borders, Osoyoos, Dunrovin Ranch, Steelscape, Inc, PSEG, Geemeff and the Woodland Trust, Bywyd Gwylld Glaslyn, Forsythe, Conserve Wildlife of NJ, Kent Island, Patuxent River Park, Osoyoos, FortisExshaw, Ocean Conservation Namibia, Lady Hawk and the NZ DOC, Gregorius Joris Toonen, and Merry Kotka.

OH1 at Glaslyn just took off…Thursday in Bird World

20 July 2023

Good Morning Everyone,

It has rained every day for ever so many days. The garden is emerald green. Without even looking at the forecast – the storm clouds roll in quickly – you can tell that something is going to happen by the frantic activity of everyone trying to eat!

One of Dyson’s kits got so excited and then lost its peanut over the edge of the feeder. Ahhhh….

The little sparrows lined up on the branch of Abigale’s tree hoping to get fed or get a turn at the feeder after the squirrel.

It was delightful to see Little Red at the feeders! He knew I was watching and thwarted my gaze.

Baby Blue Jay having a nap.

The little one only woke up when a sibling came to pester. There are five of the babies alive out of the original six…they were all in the garden on the feeders, having baths, and eating today. That is pretty good…they bring me such joy I cannot even describe it properly sometimes.

The baby on the left (above) is the one that slept with the little garden ornamental birds. Its crest finally has blue on it! But I can still tell which one this wee baby is from its behaviour. Adorable. Always loves a good long bath.

Lewis, of course, could care less. These days he is either sleeping or eating!

Oh, my goodness, the ospreys were fledging on Wednesday! I am going to lose count of all of them quickly! It took great effort to get all of the data in my forms along with the continued quest to find more French and German osprey nests.

And they were fledging on Thursday. OH1 just took off not long ago at the Glaslyn Nest! Congratulations! Time was 14:33.

‘D’ wrote and told me that it looks like it is possible all three on the Crooked Lake, Iowa osprey platform of parents Nobel and Whitley fledged on the 19th. Sunnie Day was going over to the footage to make sure that the first hatch CL16 also flew – and the verdict is ‘yes’ – all three flew today.

Take off and return for the first chick’s flight.

Siblings watching.

A great return.

‘H’ wrote and the second chick at Dahlgren flew!

Geemeff wrote that Ludo, the newly named osplet of Louis and Dorcha at Loch Arkaig, fledged before he got his official name. It was apparently the shortest trip ever from the nest take-off to the return landing.

Here is the video of that short flight:

Blue 5H3 took off at Poole Harbour at 1719 on the 19th.

These are exciting times for these young birds but, we have to remember that their journey is just beginning. Like many others less fortunate, these birds got to fly and we hope they will be safe.

The news coming out of the Chesapeake Bay Area that has been hit with storms and whose ospreys are starving to death underscores the coming challenges for the osprey population in the area.

“Williamsburg, VA – In 2023, The Center for Conservation Biology has documented the highest rate of osprey nest failure ever recorded within the lower Chesapeake Bay. Only 17 of 167 nests monitored during the season produced any young. The nesting population produced only 21 young resulting in a reproductive rate of 0.13 young per pair. This rate is below that recorded during the height of the DDT era. In order for the population to sustain itself, pairs should produce 1.15 young per pair.”

Here is the full report:

The-Center-for-Conservation-Biology-documents-unprecedented-osprey-nest-failures-within-the-lower-Ch Download

When a goshawk attacks a fledgling osplet on the nest while it is eating along with its sibling and Mum, my heart stops. Those are dangerous raptors and all of you know that predation by goshawks occurs throughout Europe and the UK. The loss of these chicks is personal to those who live and work around the nests – to whom the birds really are family. Have a read of John William’s poignant blog regarding the loss of the Llyn Clywedog fledgling on the 18th of July.

Tragedy-The-Clywedog-Ospreys Download

Translocation projects continue.

Instead of chopping down the Osprey platform for the demolition, it will be left standing long after the osplets fledge! We needed a good news story like this one. Thanks, Geemeff – it is “one for the good guys” as you say.

Rare bird spotted in the UK. Accident? Intentional? Black winged Kites are a “Small and distinctive falconlike kite. Light underneath, blue-gray above with conspicuous black shoulders formed by black wing coverts. Juveniles have a scaly back and brownish-washed breast. Found in open savannah, semi-desert, and agricultural lands with scattered woods; frequently seen on exposed perches. Varied flight style, hovering like a kestrel or gliding like a harrier with deep wingbeats and raised wings.. ” (eBird).

Rare-black-winged-kite-spotted-in-Norfolk-Broads-BBC-News Download

Time for a spin around some of the nests not covered above:

Boulder County Fair Grounds: A Fantastic news with diligent devoted adults and three very healthy nearly ready to fledge osplets.

MN Landscape Arboretum: It is all good. Lots of nice fish meals beginning very early. Our 21 year old Dad is doing fantastic.

Patchogue: Little Mini had a nice fish first thing as the sun was coming up.

The time was 0525 and Mini scrambled with that fish stuck on its foot!

Cowlitz PUD: All is well. Chick is eating, sleeping, and growing. And the metal grids are still holding out against the Bald Eagle predation. At the suggestion of ‘MB’, I wrote to Tweed Valley and Llyn Clywedog about the metal grids erected on the nest at Cowlitz to try and stop predation. It is something that the UK nests might have to consider if the goshawk threat to ospreys continues.

Oyster Bay: All present and accounted for.

Wolf Bay: Fledglings come to the nest hoping for a fish dinner.

Dunrovin: Everything is fantastic.

Poole Harbour: Getting lift and then gone. Blue 5H3 fledged at 1719 while its siblings watched.

Glaslyn: I thought it was the best screen capture I had seen of Aran’s new mate Elen and their two lads. Everything is fine. No fledges as yet. Soon.

‘H’ reports on the nests she is monitoring:

Fortis Exshaw: “Thankfully it was a mostly intruder-free day for this blended Osprey family. There were a couple of minor intruder issues, with Mr. O quickly flying to the nest at 0624 and 0651 to assist with defense. There were a total of 5 fish brought to the nest, one by Mr. O. At 1249 Mr. O landed on the nest and got an earful from Louise. She may have been telling him to go fishing, and even the two kids got involved and had a ‘talk’ with their stepdad, lol. This went on for about three minutes, with poor Mr. O just standing there and responding with soft chirps. It was comical. He showed up later with a headless fish. After Louise had brought the last fish of the day at 1951, Mr. O came to the nest and simply stood by for 27 minutes, while Louise fed the kids and enjoyed a meal for herself. Very cool, Mr. O.”

Dahlgren – At 1246 D12 became a fledgling at 58 days of age, although it was unclear if that was her intention at the time. She flew across the nest and may have intended to land on the other side, but miscalculated and tumbled over the edge. There was the sound of sticks hitting the water, but no splash or ripples were seen. Several seconds later, D12 was seen flying low past the nest toward a nearby dock. D12 landed safely back on the nest 4 1/2 hours later. Enjoy your new life as a flighted bird, D12!

Kent Island – All is well on the Chesapeake for Audrey, Tom, and their 38 day old youngster.

Severna Park – Olivia and Oscar continue to provide for their two fledglings at the nest.

Forsythe – At 57 days of age, Ollie jumped up, flapped three times and landed on the camera pole. Then 52 minutes later she jumped back down to the nest. Perhaps she will fly away from the nest and take a spin around the marsh today.

Boathouse – At 40 days of age, Skipper has been taking wingercising very seriously.

Thanks so very much, ‘H’!

Dorset Hobby: Oh, my goodness gracious. These little Hobbies are adorable.

Port Lincoln: Mum and Dad seem to be staying more and more on the barge nest as egg-laying approaches in August. ‘A’ reports some failed mating attempts, and you might recall that there was some concern for Dad last season.

Sydney Sea Eagles: ‘A’ reports that the 19th was “another quiet night, possums passing a few times. Lady left for a short break just before 7am and back straight away. Dad brought part of a fish shortly after, which she took away to eat. Both were then in and out during the day though Lady spend more than 2 hours longer than Dad on the eggs today. In the whole incubation period to date both have spent an almost equal time on the eggs. At dusk, Lady was settled as usual for the night.”

Durbe County, Latvia: Milda and Voldis’s male eaglet returns to the nest looking for a meal. Isn’t he gorgeous?

The female fledgling also visited the nest! both are safe and flying well.

Lesser Spotted Eaglet Nest in Zemgale Latvia of Anna and Andris. the eaglet enjoyed having a vole and a frog for a meal. I wonder how scarce food is in the forest?

Three beautiful storklets at the nest of Karl II and Kai in Estonia.

Four beautiful storklets of Bety and Bukacek are superb.

Lady Hawk captures a feeding at the Selati Verreaux Black Eagle Nest in South Africa.

Black Eagles are large raptors that live in various parts of Africa. The pair will lay two eggs four days apart. Incubation is 40-45 days. If two eggs and both hatch, the oldest chick will kill the second one. There will be only one chick to raise and fledge. They eat mammals such as monkeys, small antelope, squirrels, and rabbits.

Thank you so much for being with me today. P lease take care. Have a good end of the week. We look forward to seeing you soon.

Thank you to the following for their alerts, notes, videos, posts, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog today: ‘A, D, Geemeff, H, MB’, Timothy Dygert Live Street, Pool Harbour Ospreys, Friends of Loch Arkaig and the Woodland Trust, Geemeff and The Woodland Trust, The Centre for Conservation Biology, John Williams Blog, Gregorious Joris Toonjen and Ospreys, CBS2, ITV News, BBC News, Boulder County Fair Grounds, MN Landscape Arboretum, Wolf Bay, Dunrovin Ranch, PSEG, Annie Roc and The Glaslyn Osprey Group, Bywyd Gwylld Glaslyn, Fortis Exshaw, Dahlgren Ospreys, Kent Island Ospreys, Severna Park, Forsythe Ospreys, Boathouse/Audubon, Dorset Hobby Nest, Pool Harbour Ospreys, Cowlitz PUD, Port Lincoln Ospreys, Sydney Sea Eagles, LizNM and the Latvian Fund for Nature, Latvian Fund for Nature, Eagle Club of Estonia, Mlade Buky Storks,Lady Hawk and Selati Verreaux Black Eagles.

New Male at Fortis Exshaw delivers 2 fish…Saturday in Bird World

15 July 2023

Good Morning Everyone,

Before I forget…there are two Dmitri’s with storks that live on their roof. One is in Belarus, and the other in RU. I mentioned Dmitri in my Friday blog, thinking it was the one who had surgery in the RU. No, that was the one in Belarus. Sorry – my confusion. I have not heard how Dmitri has done from his surgery.

It was another nice day for a walk and I went to check on the goslings and ducklings at Fort Whyte. It is impossible to describe how the landscape changes there on a weekly basis never mind the size of those little ones. At Fort Whyte there are two large lakes. They are now pumping the water from the lake to a human built wetlands area that is elevated at the beginning and then that elevation goes down. The water is kept free of algae by the fountain type aerator and then flows down and through several water falls. It was crystal clear in spots today having been so clogged with algae the waterfowl wouldn’t even go in the separate water areas. Today, they were everywhere. Whoever designed this put so much thought into how it would work – for the wildlife. So happy.

There are tiny ducklings and goslings of every age. What joy! All of these had just come out of a nice swim in the ponds.

A handsome male American Goldfinch.

A female Shoveler.

So, as a result of this beautiful day – and things going well in the nests for a change, my report is rather slim this morning. But we are going to start with Fortis Exshaw because that is the nest that I was watching along with Mn Landscape yesterday more than some.

Fortis Exshaw is the dream story of the Osprey season. How often does a male come to the rescue of a female and help her raise another male’s chicks? Who might be the first bird that you think of to do this? Alden? How many others? Can you think of an Osprey male?

‘H’ reports: “July 14 turned out to be a wonderful day for these Ospreys. By 1038, 4 fish had been delivered to the nest, including 2 from Louise’s new male friend, ‘Mr. O’. But, as the day wore on, it seemed as though Louise was thinking that ‘Mr. O’ would continue to provide fish. He did come to the nest a few times to defend against intruders. When 6 1/2 hours passed since the last fish, I was hoping that Louise would just go fishing herself. And, boy did she ever . . Over the next two hours Louise brought 4 fish to the nest, and ‘Mr. O’ delivered another. There were a total of 9 fish for the day! ‘Mr. O’ defended the nest, brought in nesting material, and delivered 3 fish. Louise and her two 27 day old Osplets are very lucky that ‘Mr. O’ came along. Notice in one of the photos, ‘Mr. O’ is standing on the nest perch while Louise feeds”.

There is an uproar brewing over the death of Hope and Beau’s chicks at the Newfoundland Power Company platform in St. John’s. It appears – although I cannot independently confirm this – that some structural changes might have caused those two chicks to get ‘caught’. Feel free to Google Newfoundland Power and let them know what you think. This young wildlife rehabber hopes to change their policy! You can also write a comment on the FB page of Newfoundland Power.

We have fledges happening in the UK and, at the rate, that all the osplets are developing, it looks like this could be a daily event til all have had their first flight.

The male of Idris and Telyn flew Friday morning.

Always some nice fish at Dyfi! Rewards for the chicks and their fantastic Mum form Dad, Idris.

Blue 8C3 took off at Foulshaw Moss this morning. That is the nest’s second fledge of the season.

The two chicks are doing fine at Collins Marsh. In fact, it is hard to believe that I am writing this blog on a Friday and that all of the nests are relatively stable. It is about time!

Did I say that I love the Boulder County Fair Grounds nest? The three osplets are dreaming of the big world while Mum feeds Dad some fish behind them. What a loving family. They pulled together and made certain that the tiny third hatch survived. Remarkable.

All is well at Cowlitz PUD. I caught Dad delivering several fish today.

The only chick I am currently worried about is the one on the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum nest. The left-wing seems to be turned the opposite way from the right. You have to look closely. It almost reminds me of ‘Angel Wing’ in ducklings. We need to keep a collective eye on this little one keeping in mind that as long as it is on the nest, no permits are generally given to intervene.

If you happen to get some good screen captures of that left wing, please send them to me. I intend to write the local wildlife rehab clinic and the USFWS next week. Thank you.

The chicks are wanting to take the fish that Dad delivered at Seaside. Dad is wondering – where is Mum?

Victor. Harry dropped a fish at 1323 which Victor enjoyed so Dad is still bringing in fish. Victor is waiting at dusk to see if Dad will bring a late night meal.

All is well at Oyster Bay!

And now to go and check on PSEG’s other nest, Patchogue and Mini.

Mini has had a good day. She had a really good PS, she has been flapping, and also self-feeding. I counted the dark bands on her tail and thought she had only 4 and then when Mini was sleeping on her black bin liner pillow, it was easy to see that there are 6 dark lines. This means that her/his tail is long enough to fly. Still, Mini, you need to stay on the nest longer. We need you to be super strong for that first flight. And really, we aren’t ready to let you go yet. Understood? Mini has awfully long skinny legs…is our girl a boy?

I hope no one was walking underneath that nest when Mini let that loose!

The other reports from ‘H’ – she notes this morning that all the news are doing well! Isn’t this a wonderful change everyone? Maybe the tide has turned the corner, that is what I hope. OK. Let us get into the nests ‘H’ is monitoring:

Patuxent Nest 1 – I was sure that ‘Sibling B’ was going to fledge a couple of days ago. ‘Sib B’s’ hovers were so high yesterday afternoon, s/he was out of sight for several seconds, and I was watching Foster’s gaze to know that ‘Sib B’ was still above the nest. Ah, today is the day for sure. You can do it, ‘Sib B’!

Osoyoos – The two little Osplets are 18 and 19 days old, and they are doing fantastic.

Forsythe – The fish count has been way down for the last three days. There were 3 fish brought to the nest on 7/14, two by Opal and one by Oscar. I believe finding fish may be more difficult because of the heat. The nest is located in a marsh on Reeds Bay at the Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge in New Jersey. It is situated roughly 8 miles further inland than the Barnegat Light Osprey nest located 35 miles to the north The Barnegat Light Ospreys are not experiencing fishing difficulties, but the waters surrounding the Forsythe nest may be comparatively more shallow and warmer. The 53 and 54 day old siblings were taking it easy and conserving energy in this heat. Smart.

Dahlgren – D11 fledged on 7/12. At age 54 days, and four days younger than its sibling, D12 has has yet to fledge. But, D12 has really been exercising those wings.

The story in the UK on Friday at the Osprey nests was rain! Despite this those males did deliver some amazing fish! The nests are doing well. Just soaking.

Dorcha is a great Mumbrella.

It was heavy rain for Poole Harbour but Saturday morning they are missing what is hitting the other areas of southern England – more heavy down pours. It gives CJ7 and Blue 22 a break along with the triplets.

Brodie got a really nice fish to Loch Garten.

The winds are really strong at the nest of Idris and Telyn at Dyfi.

Looks like more rain and storms for Alyth brewing in the distance.

It is a great topic — ending the ‘war on birds’. I did not realise that there was a ‘war’ going on – to me, the word ‘war’ implies killing – but, that is precisely what is going on. The on line journals and blogs are full of tales of poisons, arrows, shootings, and terrible traps all because birds are a little inconvenient. To me, it is the humans – us – that are inconvenient, who have robbed the planet of its life, who have taken the habitat of the raptors, the geese, the ducks, the deer. Every time I hear a person complain about walking in Canada Goose poop, I become outraged.

Those spikes we know are being removed by some birds and being used to strengthen their nests in the wild (from the article in my blog a few days ago). But…we must, in every instance that we can, help our feathered friends. Today, I saw one of those ‘green lawn’ signs. We need to educate people to stop using pesticides and herbicides. The songbirds need the insets. The larger birds need the songbirds. We are all in this dynamic circle of life or death, together.

Time-to-end-war-on-birds-and-find-a-way-to-coexist-say-experts-Birds-The-Guardian Download

Thankfully there is also kindness in the world – as it should be. Check out this home in Poland with two stork nests! May their kindness be repaid over and over again.

‘MB’ sent me this and I wanted to pass it along…please keep reading. Are there really solar wipers?

Lots of good information is coming out in the latest journals from the various birding associations, conservation groups, etc. I will try not to bombard you but will add one or two every blog so you can stay up with what is happening to our birds and what some of the solutions might be. In my garden the solution is lots of shade and lots of water! Be sure to put out a bowl of water as an act of kindness for the wildlife.

As-the-Planet-Warms-Will-Birds-Escape-the-Heat-Audubon Download

Thank you so much for being with me this morning. Enjoy your weekend and please take care. See you soon!

Thank you to the following for their notes, their posts, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog this morning: ‘H, MB’, Fortis Exshaw, Sunnie Day, Dyfi Osprey Project, Polly Turner, Collins Marsh, Boulder County Fair Grounds, MN Landscape Arboretum, Seaside Ospreys, Moorings Park, PSEG, Osoyoos, Forstythe, Dahlgren, Margaret Mackintosh and Loch Garten and Other Ospreys, Geemeff and the Woodland Trust, Poole Harbour Ospreys, Dyfi Osprey Project, Alyth, Karla Pilz and Klapper-Treff, The Guardian and Audubon.

Category Archives: storks

Banff has a great day…Tuesday in Bird World

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Skydancing…the plight of the Hen Harrier and Mini is adapting…Friday in Bird World

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Monster Fish, Mini and more…Friday in Bird World

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Ervie is on the move, 2C4 injured…Thursday in Bird World

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Mini’s leg, fosters in Norway…Wednesday in Bird World

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Does Mini have an injury…Tuesday in Bird World

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Fish Battles and more…Monday in Bird World

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SE31 is here…Thursday in Bird World

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OH1 at Glaslyn just took off…Thursday in Bird World

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New Male at Fortis Exshaw delivers 2 fish…Saturday in Bird World

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