Category Archives: SW Florida Eagles

Friday in Bird World

24 January 2024

Good Morning Everyone,

Morning Update: First egg for Boone and Jolene at Johnson City. https://youtu.be/MIejfqZA-5k?

Thank you to everyone who has sent and continues to send me updates about the images in my posts. The images should correctly accompany the story! I understand that there are now images, but they are often unrelated to the topic. If you see this, please let me know if you have the time. Include what search engine and device type you use and what is happening. Thank you so much. I appreciate your help. Everything looks ‘fine’ on my end, but it isn’t for you. This needs to be fixed.

I also want to welcome all the new subscribers to Bird World. Our readers come from around the world and are the most amazing people. I am grateful for their empathy towards all living things.

We are each privileged to share the lives of the avian families. What a time to live! From preparing the nests, laying the eggs, feeding, and fledging, we get a front-row seat. Can you imagine not getting to see little 31 grow up? And how lucky we are to witness Jackie lay her first egg of the season? Or Wilko and Kasse dust it up over a fish.

Thursday was a little warmer in Winnipeg. It was a lovely day to be out of the house. We headed out of town for a nice lunch with my bestie to see how the animals were doing and unwind from the noise of the city.

The sheep, goats, and the donkey ran to the fence thinking we had food even though they had just gotten their regular feed. The restaurant will give people carrots and other vegetables to feed them; they must have thought we were holding out on them.

This sheep reminds me of Calico.

The little cutie had the bluest eyes and the loudest ‘maa’. Made us jump.

The Aspen trees had a little snow resting on their branches. There was no sun and everything was grey and brown, but it was wonderfully quiet. Time changes when you are in the forest. Sometimes, it is like you just stop. The smells, the sounds, everything is different and, all of a sudden, before you notice, you are calm.

So many of you have asked about ‘The Girls’. During the coldest days last week, when it got down to -32 or more with the wind chill factored in, they were not allowed to go out in the conservatory. (It is very expensive to keep it warm during those frigid times). Missey would stand at the door looking out the glass to her favourite spot to watch birds and then she would look up at me. I felt so guilty. Then Calico would join her and soon, all four would be there pleading. It is supposed to be much nicer tomorrow and they will get their wish! That room is like being outside walking the trails through the woods. It is so calming. It is also like a hide. We can sit and watch everything that is happening in the garden without scaring away the birds and animals.

I am a broken record when it comes to Baby Hope’s eyes. They are piercing. Nothing like the others with that deep celadon colour.

Sadly, Hugo Yugo did grow. She was soooooo tiny for so long, and then, like the eaglets, she doubled in length almost overnight. She will always be the baby, nonetheless. She sleeps cuddled in the fold of my left arm and has to have the pillow with the silk cover – none of the cotton pillowcases will do.

They have noticed the suitcases. They have a great cat sitter. Fingers crossed. Four days before departure and those suitcases need packing.

Hundreds of letters have come in full of worry and grief for Akecheta. Dr Sharpe is busy installing a camera at another eagle nest in Humboldt. So many wish he were pouring over the terrain at the West End. I wish we could clone him. He has given decades of his life to building up the population of Bald Eagles on the Channel Islands. One of the problems when there are more than a handful of eagles is territorial disputes – and fights over mates. It is breeding season and hormones are running high for some. On Thursday, the Lucy Franco tub boat intentionally went to the West End where Thunder and Akecheta have their nest. Those on board used their binoculars, scouring both sides of the island to no avail. No one spotted the blue wing tag of Akecheta. Indeed, it appears that they also did not see Thunder. So we wait and we continue to hope for the best.

We have the second hatch at John Bunker Sands Wetlands.

Lori Covert and Window to Wildlife have announced the names for CE12 and CE13 – Dasher and Dancer, respectively. Someone was thinking Christmas!

With all the snow in the Southern US, you might be wondering how Bald Eagles stay warm. ‘EJ’ sends this from Louisiana where there was 8-10 inches of snow.

Raptor Resource Project: Bald Eagle and Bird of Prey CamsDownload

Hatching has begun for the Royal Cam chick on Taiaroa Head, New Zealand. https://youtu.be/sVuZ9zHjzac?

It isn’t just raptors eggs that are smuggled. It is parrot eggs.

All is well with 31! What a proud Beau and Gabby.

At Port Lincoln, Wilko and Kasse have each had a fish on Friday. This is the tally for Thursday.

The final tally for Friday for Kasse and Wilko:

Reminds me of Murphy and his rock!

Have you ever seen a Red Goshawk? The people in Central Australia were certainly surprised.

‘A hugely significant sighting’: red goshawk photographed for first time in central Australiahttps://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/jan/24/endangered-red-goshawk-photographed-central-australia?CMP=share_btn_url

Thank you so much for being with us today. Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, images, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘EJ, J’, Baiba, John Bunker Sands Wetlands, Lori Covert and Window to Wildlife, The Raptor Resource Project, The Oasis Sanctuary, NEFL-AEF, Port Lincoln Osprey, Bart M and the PLO, Hob Osterlund, The Guardian

Wednesday in Bird World

22 January 2024

Good Morning Everyone,

We have had more snow and high winds, making it impossible to see more than a few meters on Tuesday afternoon and evening. I spent the time when Anne was with Don doing some errands, sitting blissfully having tea with my bestie and looking out her bay window. It was like being in the middle of a wintry holiday card. The snow was gently falling; people were walking their dogs while birds visited the feeders. These short breaks remind me that being with friends, watching wildlife, or going for a walk in the snow is something money cannot buy. It is rejuvenating.

Margaret Renkl has written several books that many of us have enjoyed, especially “The Company of Crows.” She recently wrote a thoughtful opinion piece for The New York Times. Here is an excerpt:

“A heavy snow 10 days ago brought birds out in huge numbers, often in whole flocks — bluebirds, robins, cedar waxwings, house finches, dark-eyed juncos and Carolina wrens, plus the usual mockingbirds and blue jays, tufted titmice and Carolina chickadees, every kind of sparrow and every kind of woodpecker. I kept the feeders filled. My husband spread a sheet on top of the snow and set out a mix of seeds and nuts and mealworms for the ground foragers.

This bounty also brought the mixed flock of black birds I always look for in snow — starlings and grackles and red-winged blackbirds — that compete for resources during the breeding seasons but band together in the cold. In such weather, they waste little energy in squabbling.”

Opinion | On a Cold, Dark Inauguration Day, a Message From the Birds – The New York TimesDownload

As we enjoyed our tea, deer came to graze on the shrubs in my friend’s garden. I wondered if they followed the river path that connects our neighbourhoods. Is it possible that the buck staring at me with a single antler is the same one that visits my garden? There he was with a group of six females of various ages. One was a small fawn. Was this also the same little fawn that had slept under my bird feeder a few days ago? I couldn’t be sure, but it felt like they were the same ones and it felt good to see them safe.

You don’t have to go outside. Sitting quietly can wash away all the ills of the day! For many of us, one of those questions has been what happened to Akecheta. For several days, there were intruder eagles and territorial skirmishes. All of us have seen the state that Akecheta was in, along with his opponent, in stills and videos. Our hearts wept. We adore him. Unfortunately, we will not have any news about Akecheta for a while—or, sadly, never. Explore has a serious issue with the transmission from the Channel Islands, and I understand that Dr. Sharpe is not available to check until next week. I hope he survived the intruder’s injuries and has his rightful place next to Thunder on their nest when we next have the live stream.

Update: A hatch is in progress at John Bunker Sands! https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1331165321340972

Thankfully, we have a diversion in the form of a tiny little eaglet, NE31. Most of you have already seen Beau trying to feed his baby. It was more than magical. Dad wanted a snack. Tiny NE31 kept poking up its head out of that deep bowl. ‘Feed me fish. I want fish’ was what that little one said with every bob. SK Hideaways caught this tender moment between this first-time day and his day old chick. Even if you have already seen it, watch again and marvel at how much Beau has grown in a few years. Gabby knew he would make a great dad! I laughed at how hard Beau worked with that one piece of fish. Thanks, SK for a great smile. https://youtu.be/G4zea3983tw?

Many of you have pondered what it is with the eaglets that have hatched this year. They are strong, holding their heads and necks up high in such a short time after hatch. NE31 is no exception – there s/he is commanding attention.

Rain came and Gabby made certain that 31 was warm and dry while Beau keeps a vigilant guard over his family.

The rain is also at SW Florida with the Es.

F23 made sure they were fed, but the kiddos with their juvenile tails growing in nicely (look at how those feathers are bursting out of the quills) are far too big to be under Mum. Their plumage insulates them. and they can now thermoregulate their temperature.

On Tuesday, the entire South will experience either snow or rain. ‘L’ writes that snow is falling in southern Alabama. They have topped up their feeders, like Renkl, with good seeds to help the birds through weather they are not accustomed to in that location.

In Tennessee, Boone and Jolene are busy, and I wonder how soon we will see an egg. It looks like it could be soon!

Thousands hope that this will be the year for Jackie and Shadow. You keep telling me that if it can happen for Gabby and Beau this season, then it can happen for this much-loved couple in Big Bear. I agree! We all want to see an eaglet in this nest.

Others are working hard to get their nests ready.

Liberty and Guardian are frantically working on their nest: https://youtu.be/I6zJOkgoJLQ?

What in the world is going on at the Kisatchie E-3 nest? https://youtu.be/Iln1CAkn1VU?

Incubation continues at John Bunker Sands. It is a beautiful day in Texas.

‘MP’ asked me if I had ever seen Jack build a nest like this one. I answered ‘no’, but you know what – he did a great job with that despicable mess. It doesn’t even look like the same platform. Jack had to have worked really hard. He is certainly trying to impress a new female.

I cannot tell 100% if this is Jack. That is the problem with not ringing birds. Ultimately, we want this family’s eggs and chicks to be safe from predators and those dreaded drain holes. Because it is now an active nest, the USFWS would not issue a permit for any alterations to the platform. So please send lots of good energy.

In Port Lincoln, Wilko and Kasse fight for every fish that lands on the nest if both are present. These skills will certainly help them when they leave the nest and find themselves competing with their older siblings, but it is hard to watch sometimes.

This was the tally for the pair for Wednesday.

In San Jose, Hartley and Monty are bonding. https://youtu.be/lVrvCUxM42A?

Find food? Ibises have special skills. “Hadedas are iridescent grey-brown ibises – jack russell-sized birds with long, curved bills and very small heads – found throughout sub-Saharan Africa.

They have a special skill called “remote touch”, which they use to find their worm, grub and snail prey. At the tip of their bills is an organ that, when they stick it into the soil, can sense the vibrations of their food nearby.”

A hadada: nothing can quite capture the sound of these birds, because it’s mainly just rude noise | Helen Sullivanhttps://www.theguardian.com/environment/commentisfree/2025/jan/21/a-hadeda-nothing-can-quite-capture-the-sound-of-these-birds-because-its-mainly-just-rude-noise?CMP=share_btn_url

Next Tuesday, Don and I are going to try another holiday. This time we are heading south to find some warmth. We will stay on Basse Terre, one of the two main islands that make up Guadeloupe. We have rented a cottage adjacent to the National Park and hope to see some of the 290 species of birds that call this part of the Lesser Antilles home. I can’t wait! We will certainly take you with us. More on that later.

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

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, streaming cams, and articles that helped me to write my post today: ‘SK’, The New York Times, NEFlorida-AEF, SWFlorida, ETSU-Johnson City, FOBBV, Gary’s Eagle Videos, Tonya in NO, John Bunker Sands Wetlands, The Guardian, Port Lincoln Ospreys, Bart M and the PLO

Saturday in Bird World

18 January 2024

Good Morning Everyone,

The blizzard, being noted as a historic one for parts of my province, blew and blew in the early hours of Friday morning. I do not know how much snow came with it. There were gusts when I was out feeding the birds, and the neighbour’s house was sometimes invisible. It is now late afternoon. The sky is a beautiful transparent Wedgwood Blue as the sun sets, casting a golden glow over the Japanese garden area. The Starlings are still here, along with several dozen sparrows. Little Red and a couple of grey squirrels have been gathering peanuts all day. Mr Blue Jay – yes, Junior is in the garden – was here at noon. Even the Crows came to criticize the food that was left by the time they arrived! I did not run out of cheesy dogs since I had none! They had quit eating them and only wanted peanuts for so long. Now I wonder what they are craving.

Tiny fawn arriving to go around the side of the house to the garden.

These are European Starling prints leading to the cat dish with kibble.

Oh, goodness. Brock is here eating! I have not seen him for four days. Talk about anxiety. That coupled with Beau and Gabby kept me awake at times when I should have been sleeping. I wonder if he were locked in somewhere? We try to take a digital image of every cat that we see eating at the feeders each day. We can also track them if they come in through the front and the video camera catches them and says ‘pet’. I can then check and take a screen capture. Well, this is a relief. Now maybe that second egg for Gabby will begin to pip!!!!!!!!!!!

This was the word from the moderator at NE Florida Friday afternoon: “Today is day 40 for egg 1 and day 36 for egg 2. With delayed incubation, if egg 1 doesn’t pip by tomorrow it likely won’t. We still have 3 days for egg 2.”

Later Friday afternoon:

I have had more than a couple of dozen e-mails with a similar question: If Gabby’s eggs do not hatch, will she take another mate? The answer is ‘yes’. Eagles are known to mate for life. If their partner dies, they take another mate. We have seen this over and over again. F23 is the new mate of M15 at SW Florida, for example. Yes, if there is a period of unsuccessful breeding, they might take another mate. Still, Jackie and Shadow stay together and Gabby has hung in there with Beau. We will have to wait and see what happens.

Only the eagles know if there are any little cheeps in those eggs. Egg 2 is 36 days old as I write. There is still hope for it and I am sending out tonnes of energy on Friday to them, good energy.

At Pine Island, the GHO is very bold. Not only knocking off the resident ospreys, but sitting on the perch staring at the three eggs! There are also Bald Eagles in the area. I am more than concerned for this nest. I won’t mention it again, but the presence of such a bold owl eyeing three eggs and thinking future fat chicks just makes me ill. Reminds me of several nests from 2024 including the Boat House, Lake Murray, and Cowlitz (eagle) amongst others.

In our data forms for 2024, owls accounted for the loss of 13 chicks, while Bald Eagles killed 5.

They are so cute. What is that song about ‘I can’t take my eyes off of you?’

Eggs coming soon at the Redding nest of Liberty and Guardian?

At Port Lincoln, Mum should receive some type of citation for really providing the food this year. She has completely surpassed Dad in terms of her abilities and the light on the barge significantly helped her earlier in the season when she could dive and bring a fish to the nest quickly. Kasse and Wilko owe their lives to her efforts. Of course, we cannot forget the Fish Fairies whose dedication to this nest has ensured fledglings over the past several years.

This was the tally for Friday in South Australia.

Jack has been working hard on that nest at Achieva. I wish that someone would reach out and fix those drain holes so that the eggs and/or chicks would not fall through them to the ground below.

Sally and Harry were at the nest before the rains came to Moorings Park.

Do you think we will have a family at the osprey platform at Captiva this year?

The view at Boulder. We will soon be counting down the days til the Ospreys arrive. It is less than two months for some hope for the really early birds in the UK but more like 2.5 months.

Both Eagles are working on their nest at Ft St Vrain, Colorado.

Thunder and Akecheta early Friday morning.

Beautiful family at SW Florida. M15 sitting on the perch being vigilant to protect his family. Look at those sweet babies. Tears. M15 certainly got a good mate to replace the much loved Harriet.

E25 walks for bites of prey! https://youtu.be/2rTHwUQ99xg?

Alex and Andria II incubating eggs from a beautiful view of the lake at Kistachie National Forest E3 nest.

The Norths are working on their nest at Decorah.

Eagles at the new MN-DNR nest on Friday.

Drilling ban off the coast of New Jersey could significantly help wildlife.

Environmental Groups Praise Bird Delisting and Offshore Drilling Ban – Two River TimesDownload

New from Kelly Sorenson on the remarkable year for the California Condors in 2024. They continue to treat the Condors for lead poisoning despite their efforts to provide free non-lead ammunition. Iniko 1035 was just released into the wild after being treated for lead toxicity at the LA Zoo.

There is outstanding news in the first paragraph. Congratulations to everyone at the VWS! They have worked harder and harder to achieve those figures. Let us all hope that the growth in fledgling chicks and their survival continues.

While I am not happy with GHOs, it appears eggs are being incubated at the Owl Cam! I know that some of you love them. Here is the link to that streaming cam: https://www.youtube.com/live/pxMQgmeROEM?

Christian Sasse photographs thousands of eagles gathering! https://www.thedodo.com/daily-dodo/photographer-stumbles-upon-mysterious-gathering-of-1000-bald-eagles

News items from Geemeff:

Raptor monitoring volunteers needed:

https://www.abc4.com/news/everything-utah/calling-bird-enthusiasts-volunteers-needed-to-monitor-raptor-nests-in-utah

Good news for persecuted Hen Harriers – 2024 Christmas Satellite Tag Appeal smashes the target:

Hen Harrier Action 2024 Christmas Appeal Smashes Target Again

This Heron’s been fixed and is flying free again:

GREAT WHITE HERON FOUND FLOATING IN A CANAL SET FREE IN ISLAMORADA

The winds have stopped gusting Friday evening and tomorrow I hope to get out and get some deer pellets. They have much more nutrition than the vegetables, fruit, and peanuts I have been leaving out for the deer. It is supposed to be super cold with a Polar Vortex visiting us. Send positive wishes to Brock, Star, and all of the garden animals as they navigate winter!

Calico also has some good news. She has developed a line of cards featuring the birds visiting the garden and our province’s nature areas. She has partnered with one local group that helps feral cats and their kittens to raise funds to buy food for them. This local fundraiser will be taking place in February. More news to follow!

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

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, comments, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me write my post today: ‘EJ, Geemeff. Heidi, J’, NEFL-AEF, SW Florida Pine Island Osprey Cam, Window to Wildlife, FORE, Port Lincoln Ospreys, Bart M and the PLO, Achieva Credit Union, Moorings Park Osprey Cam, Boulder County Osprey Cam, Fort St Vrain Bald Eagle Cam, IWS/Explore, Androcat, Kistachie National Forest Eagle Cams, Raptor Resource Project/explore.org, The Two River Times, MN-DNR, Kelly Sorenson and the Ventana Wildlife Society, The Owl Cam, The Dodo, ABC4, Florida Keys Weekly,

Thursday in Bird World

16 January 2024

Good Morning Everyone,

Update: The female Osprey at Pine Island who was taken off her nest by a GHO is alright. She has returned to incubating her two eggs. Thanks, H!

Great News of the Day: Wilko caught his first fish off the barge. Oh, what a magnificent milestone. Now Wilko might have caught fish elsewhere, but this is amazing for us to be able to witness. These are the specifics from the chat: “At 7:58 Wilko caught a Fish! 7:58:08 he dives off cam, 7:58:46 he flies around, 7:59:01 he lands on the nest w fish in talon, 8:20 he takes it to the ropes, 8:39 he eats the tail.”

Wilko with his fish!

On Wednesday, Wilko had much more fish than Kasse. I hope she gets in there today. Wilko is already ahead with his own fish.

It was +1 C on Wednesday. It felt so good to go outside without our toques and gloves. We even had our lighter jackets on when we left to get our hair cut. My goodness. What a nice break for a couple of days. This weather will continue through today and we will see what happens on Friday. It is to be very windy and much, much colder on Saturday.

The blue sky has those lovely clouds that children make when they dip a cotton ball into white paint and put it on their paper. Lovely.

iPhone photos of one of Dyson’s kits and Star, the new cat at the feeder.

The best image we have so far of Star.

I am increasingly concerned about the eggs at NE Florida and continue to feel helpless about the Achieva platform. My friend ‘S’ is phoning people and I know of others writing to newspapers who have already tried to coerce some of the nearby rehabilitation folks to ‘listen’ to the situation.

A new book arrived today, Bernd Heinrich’s One Wild Bird at a Time.

I cannot wait to read it. As I shuffled through the pages in anticipation I came across the following paragraph which might prove useful to all of us:

Learning involves the ability to remember, a proven faculty for chickadees, which is useful in the winter when they store food in caches for later retrieval. And this faculty is not irrelevant to humans. Fernando Nottenbohm of Rockefeller University and his coworkers discovered that when birds learn to sing, and also when adult chickadees in the wild start to store seeds and exercise memory to retrieve them, their grown own brain cells accelerate, and when they stop those activities, nerve cell deaths follow. We were taught that humans start losing brain cells in our twenties and keep losing them all our lives. However, these findings about birds suggest that exercising our minds may create more brain cells at any time in life. (116-17).

I hear that Lori Covert is asking people to send in suggestions for names for the Captiva eaglets, C12 and C13. Goodness, C13 stole my heart. You can send in multiple suggestions. The naming starts on the 15th which is past and ends on the 22nd at 4pm Eastern time. Please use only gender-neutral names and send them to lcovert@covertmarketing.com OR @loricovert on Instagram. You should put Eagle Names in subject line. Winners will be announced on the afternoon of the 23rd. Good luck – everyone – and please take part for the fun of it. Show Lori how much you love those babies. Who knows? You could win. I know that many of my readers have had great names chosen for eagles! So proud of all of you.

Clive continues to be amazing at keeping his family’s pantry full to the brim. What an incredible eagle he is. Look at how big the eaglets are!!!!!!!!

The Es at SW Florida are really growing those blood feathers – look at the wings!

So tiny – those little eaglets of Ron and Rose compared to M15s and F23s.

The Real Saunders Photography gives us a dramatic moment at the SW Florida nest! https://youtu.be/1hzcIxnrCuM?

Rita’s History Monday:

Two deaths to report within the California Condor community in last December. They will be going on the Memorial Page soon.

Two Condors – including Iniko (1031) – released back into the wild after being treated for lead poisoning at the LA Zoo. That is Iniko flying free again. Thank you VWS and LA Zoo!

Another good story to end the day. Jackie and Shadow always bring me such joy. Thanks SK Hideaways! https://youtu.be/Cie8ZK-9liY?

Calico’s Tip for the Day: If you’re an Outlander fan and struggling to find the last half of season 7, you might be feeling a bit frustrated. I recommend searching for STACKTV online. In Canada, a subscription costs $12.99 a month (you can cancel after 14 days). Calico doesn’t earn any commission from this suggestion, but today she has certainly earned my gratitude for providing a much-needed distraction from Gabby, Beau, and what seems to be the Dudleys. (Come on, chicks—hatch already so I can have egg on my face!)

Checking on NEFlorida: Gabby is very restless tonight (Wednesday). I sure hope there is a reason!

If you are one of our Irish readers, please spread the word. White-tail eagle shot dead in Ireland.

White-tailed Eagle shot dead in Ireland – appeal for information – Raptor Persecution UKDownload

The female at Pine Island was attacked by the GHO again last night. Reminds me of Lake Murray.

Keep all living beings in your most positive thoughts as the fires rage through California.

Thank you so much for being with us today. The nests with eaglets are doing well as you can see. I am not sure my nerves can take waiting another day or two to see if we have the chance of a pip at NE Florida. So I am going to stop and go and read. Calico is wanting more and more story time and I am so glad to oblige her. Take care everyone. See you soon!

Thank you so much to the following for their posts, notes, comments, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘Heidi, J’, Port Lincoln Osprey Cam, Bart M and the PLO, NEFL-AEF, B Heinrich One Wild Bird at a Time, Window to Wildlife, SW Florida Eagle Cam, WRDC. The Real Saunders Photography, Rita the Eagle FB, Ventana Wildlife Society, SK Hideaways, Raptor Persecution UK

Wednesday in Bird World

15 January 2024

Hello Everyone!

First up: Nothing new to report at NE Florida. Some sad and glad news at the end of today’s post.

A great news story comes to us from one of our readers ‘EJ’. I think we all need to start off feeling good about the world! The eagle was frozen in the snow at the airport – check it out!

Frozen bald eagle in Alaska saved in heartwarming rescue with ‘best ending ever’ | Fox WeatherDownload

Good Morning. We hope that the week has been treating you well. The temperature warmed up on Tuesday to -14 C, but, gosh golly, it felt cold walking into a wind that cut right to the bone! We are expecting an Alberta Clipper to hit our province starting on Thursday. We will see how much snow and winds it will bring, but then….hold on. The wind chill factor for Saturday is set to be -40 or -45 C. We plan to stay home and ride our bicycle that day.

‘The Girls’ have no idea how blustery it is outside. Meanwhile my heart pangs for those poor dears living rough. There were four at the feeder today: Brock, Star, Squishy (one ear frozen and permanently folded down) and that little black cat from the fall. I haven’t seen that one for a bit.

Calico joined Baby Hope watching the squirrels run around the garden.

Last night I started reading Bob the Robin out loud. It is part of my ongoing attempts to find ways to engage Don in the daily activities of the house. Calico loves story time and she was right there. Gosh, I adore this cat.

As I write, The Girls are playing with a tiny stuffed mouse in the Conservatory. Baby Hope is the champion of picking it up and running away then, dropping it to see who will come and play with her. You would be right if you guessed it might be Hugo Yugo. These two love to play!!!!!!!!

I must say that I pace when I think of Gabby and Beau and their eggs. The AEF will be the official pip callers. They have lots of folks with eyes on those eggs 24/7. Gabby is not giving anything away.

Beau wanted to take over incubation and Gabby said a definitive ‘no’. I am hoping that means that one of those eaglets is working to get out of that shell!

The Es got a rabbit for breakfast – oh, goodness. Poor thing did not make it across the road. I wish these eagles would stay away from the areas where there is traffic. Maybe some good soul moved that rabbit to a safe place for them. That is what each of us should be doing. https://youtu.be/JnAejA5XU7o?

At Redding, Liberty is on the nest. Can we expect eggs soon? We wait to see.

Oh, those two at the WRDC nest of Ron and Rose. R7 and R8 lock beaks as fish is ready to be served!

The kids at the Captiva nest are changing quickly. Today you can see that dark charcoal thermal down that will help them regulate their own temperatures. Their pin feathers are coming in. That cuteness of a day ago is giving way to the ‘lanky’ look of a tall teenager (sorry for the stereotype).

They are also interested in pecking at the prey.

Eagle on the snowy ND-LEEF nest in South Bend Indiana.

Well, he is cute. His (or her) name is Skylar and he is the first hatch at the Dataw Eagle nest! https://youtu.be/wSZTtabDA5Y?

A visiting albatross got a sky call out of RLK at the Royal Albatross colony. The visitor wandered close to the nest with nothing happening and then smiled in the camera.

I love seeing RLK on the nest. OGK was my all-time favourite male in the colony. No one comes close to his endearing behaviour, sitting so long beside his daughter, Miss Pippa Atawhai. Gosh, I wonder how she is doing. At any rate, if you missed it, RLK is OGK’s son.

GLG has returned after 12 days of foraging to incubate their egg. RLK raises his head as he hears her. They will share time together and he will return to the sea hopefully to return safely.

Here is Cornell’s video of the visit. https://youtu.be/XverqezfBxI?

At the Port Lincoln barge, it is windy Wednesday morning. Both fledglings on the nest hoping for some fish.

This was Tuesday’s tally. Kasse got more – unless Wilko is off fishing. Maybe he has found a treasure trove of puffers!!!!!!!

Politics has no place when it comes to trying to protect our planet. And yet, politics is the biggest driver to either progress or hindrance. Unbelievable. I doubt if anyone working on behalf of creating wetlands ever thought that beavers were so controversial.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jan/14/no-10-blocks-beaver-release-plan-tory-legacy?CMP=share_btn_url

Wildlife adapting to what we have done to the planet?

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jan/06/evolution-species-adapt-response-humanity-tuskless-elephants-natural-world-wildlife-aoe?CMP=share_btn_url

We always need a smile and when I saw this posting I knew it had to go here today. Shadow.

Calico’s Tip for the Day: You can Save a Life. Please make this a habit. Snip all of these kinds of closures including those white tabs that come on some loaves of bread, the plastic that connects soda bottles, etc. So many birds feed at the landfill sites and they can die from our negligence. Please be pro-active!

Heidi is sending tragic news:
“We had been told a few weeks ago that there had been a GHO at the osprey nest this past fall.  At 21:25 on 1/14, an owl dragged F1 off the nest while she was incubating two eggs.  We can still see one egg, and it is believed that the other egg is under some nesting.  As of 03:00 on 1/15, F1 has still not returned to the nest.  I worry for the future chicks at this nest.”

This is not a good start to the osprey season in North America.

There is good news coming out of West Africa for the Rutland Ospreys.

Thanks so much for being with us today. Please take care. We hope to see you soon.

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, comments, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘Heidi, J’, NEFL-AEF, FORE, wskrsnwngs, WRDC, Window to Wildlife, ND-LEEF, HDonTap, NZ DOC, Cornell Bird Lab, Port Lincoln Ospreys, Bart M and the PLO, The Guardian, Neil Laferty and FOBBV, Rutland Osprey Project

Tuesday in Bird World

14 January 2024

Good Morning Everyone,

The Girls are the sunshine that brightens my day, that makes my heart beat a little faster, their presence helps me get through the day.

I was extremely happy to see that Persephone Books (Bath, UK) included mention of Raising Hare. Despite the fact that the focus was not on a bird, it was for me as well the most inspiring book – and the most well written and readable – of 2024.

You can change the subject and have Dani Connor Wild care for three Swedish red squirrel babies or someone else nurture little songbirds. The story is about caring and how nature gives it back to us triple-fold if we open our hearts.

Monday was day 36. Gabby’s gestation period ranges from 36.5-38 days with Samson. We are all very anxious.

Is there a tiny pip?

Still waiting very anxiously at NE Florida.

One of my oldest and closest friends lives in New Zealand. I was told that Christchurch is culling 1000 Canada Geese. It is a nice name for killing them. How angry am I? And now Geemeff sends me this:

“Fined $6,000 NZ (£2,700 GBP) ($3,350 USD) for destroying an entire colony of supposedly protected birds. He repeatedly drove a digger through the colony, killing chicks, destroying eggs and nests leading to the adults abandoning the area. No custodial sentence, and only a derisory fine. Come on New Zealand, you can do better than that – otherwise your so-called species protection is worth nothing.

Boy, do I agree with that sentiment BUT we must all get better. I don’t want my heart to break as Claudio, my partner on the International Data Osprey Project, recently told me was going to happen. More birds, more wildlife are going to die. It is getting hotter, water, food, land – it is all diminishing.

Shame on you New Zealand.

https://www.birdguides.com/news/man-fined-for-driving-digger-through-gull-colony/

They are the cutest little eaglets. Clive and Connie, you make gorgeous babies.

What a darling.

Full crops at SW Florida, too!

E24 has walked across the nest. What a milestone!

Oh, but we cannot forget what is happening at the WRDC nest…welcome you two cutie pies. https://youtu.be/H8yEaO_lhe4?

At Port Lincoln, Mum has consistently stepped up to feed her kids this year. Yesterday, she brought two fish to the nest, one for Wilko and one for Kasse.

Both had some fish! Yeah.

There is live streaming for Golden Eagles in Japan and the birds are coming to a snowy nest.

Jackie and Shadow have been adding soft materials for the egg cup in their nest. Can we send so much positive energy to this amazing couple in the hope that they have an eaglet to raise this year? https://youtu.be/dBqYv6Or7m4?

Liberty and Guardian are thinking that new nest is finished and ready for eggs! https://youtu.be/PMWeawllmXs?

Here’s the link to the streaming cam: https://www.youtube.com/live/gJWbhvtPC2g?

“Rainbow Lorikeet Closeup” by neeravbhatt is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.

We fell in love with the Rainbow Lorkeets that visited Daisy the Duck when she was incubating her eggs on the WBSE nest in the Olympic Park forest.

Rainbow Lorikeet | Bird KingdomDownload

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/jan/13/labour-ai-datacentre-growth-zone-water-shortages-abingdon-reservoir?CMP=share_btn_url

In other news, a mystery is killing off the beautiful Rainbow Lorikeets and Flying Foxes in Australia.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jan/13/australia-rainbow-lorikeet-flying-fox-deaths-mystery-paralysis?CMP=share_btn_url

If there is anything I have learned from the raptors, it is that they ‘just get on with it.’ Adversity does not hold them up. Right now, it is easy to despair and feel huge eco-anxiety while we watch California burn. It leaves us feeling helpless. I like the spirit in this next article and I hope that it speaks to some of you. We do just need to get out there and do something! Who knows what might happen.

I was in despair about the environmental crisis. Then I volunteered to clean up my local park. https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/jan/13/i-was-in-despair-about-the-environmental-crisis-then-i-volunteered-to-clean-up-my-local-park?CMP=share_btn_url

Calico’s Tip for the Day: Join with Language Nerds and their poster and learn a new vocabulary this week related to birds. How many did you already know?

A reminder:

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

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, comments, articles, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘Geemeff, H, J’, Persephone Books, NEFL-AEF, Birdguides.com, Window to Wildlife, SW Florida Eagle Cam, The Guardian, Heidi Mc, Port Lincoln Ospreys, Bart M and the PLO, Eagle Cam, SK Hideaway, OpenVerse, Bird Kingdom, Language of Birds, Earthables

Monday in Bird World

13 January 2024

Good Morning Everyone,

It was warm enough on the Canadian Prairies for me not to complain. The wildlife continue to come to the feeders – deer, rabbits, Crows, and all. It brings me much joy.

That first hatch for Ron and Rose is a cracker jack. I sure hope it is a male and the second hatch is – well, it would be perfect if it were another male. Precocious. Cute little button. By the time you read this in the morning, R8 will be out of that shell. Look at the progress at 1530. Wing out and mostly there.

Welcome R8.

They are now bobbleheads trying to get those eyes focused and get some fish. R8 looks like it is going to be a fine sibling.

SK Hideaways knows how much I adore Thunder and Akecheta. For a couple of years we wondered whether Thunder had picked a dud in that young male eagle. Now we know she knew better than us! He really is quite amazing. https://youtu.be/_q9mivhzDIw?

OK. It’s Monday and I am expecting to see some action at NE Florida!

F23 is leaving the kids alone more and more. They are way too big to fit under her to brood, but I hope with the GHO present she hangs around at night.

The Es like snake!!!!!!! https://youtu.be/h7Bc5-WJ7vs?

The Norths are out and about at Decorah in Iowa.

Check out that nest that Liberty and Guardian put together! Incredible team work when their nest tree finally collapsed.

Gosh. I wish I could give the nest at Captiva to Jack in St Petersburg! Hey Window to Wildlife. Would you like to make a deal with Achieva Credit Union to run the camera and maybe help the ospreys out with that mess? Jack and his new female would appreciate it. And, I consulted with my partner in crime and we both looked at our files and we are more than convinced that this is Tumbles from the head patterns. Remember the only two plumage patterns that do not change from pre-fledge til the osprey dies is the head and the underwing.

Poor Jack brings in sticks and the wind takes them off. He is trying to make crib rails and then there are those holes to deal with. My heart breaks for this potential family. I hope for a miracle.

More information has come in on SE’s 33 injury that led to him being euthanised.

We all miss Abby. Blaze is getting used to Skye.

The number of deaths of wildlife in the Southern California fires will never be known. It is a tragedy. They have also lost huge areas of habitat. The challenges that our raptors face in the future, including these Bald Eagles just hatching, is extensive. “The national symbol of the United States is projected to have only 26 percent of its current summer range remaining by 2080, according to Audubon’s climate model. However, it could potentially recover 73 percent of summer range in new areas opened up by a shifting climate. Its success isn’t guaranteed in the new areas—the majestic raptor will still have to find suitable food and nesting habitat.”

Bald Eagle | The Audubon Birds & Climate Change ReportDownload

Eagles are adapting by hanging around industrial farming. We saw this in Nova Scotia where there are thousands of eagles eating the dead chickens from the farms in the Annapolis Valley.

Climate change creates ‘win-win’ between bald eagles and farmers | Cornell ChronicleDownload

Will Bald Eagles migrate to different geographical areas to survive?

Climate Change Will Move Bald Eagles Away From Home | Outside My WindowDownload

This is so cool!

Wilko got the only fish on Sunday. Kasse got the first one on Monday!

Wilko and Kasse on the nest really hoping for some fish.

Cornell’s best bird photos of 2024. Stunning.

Macaulay Library’s Best Bird Photos 2025 | Living Bird | All About BirdsDownload

More information on that lynx that died after it was illegally released in the Cairngorms.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/jan/11/one-of-four-lynx-illegally-released-into-scottish-highlands-dies?CMP=share_btn_url

News of the capture of the second pair of lynxes.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/jan/10/two-more-lynx-spotted-in-scottish-woods-after-capture-of-another-pair?CMP=share_btn_url

Thank you so much for being with me while I sit on pins and needles waiting to see if we are going to have any eaglets at NE Florida! Take care of yourself. See you soon.

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, comments, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘Heidi, J, MP, SS’, WRDC, SK Hideaways, IWS/Explore, NEFL-AEF, SW Florida Eagle Cam, Androcat, Raptor Resource Project/Explore.org, FORE, Window to Wildlife, Achieva Osprey Cam, Eagle Cam, Eagle Country, Bart M and the PLO, Audubon, Cornell Chronicle, Outside My Window, Port Lincoln Osprey, All About Birds, The Guardian

Sunday in Bird World

12 January 2024

Good Morning,

Morning Update: R8 still hatching at Dade. R7 is a day old. Thanks for the great capture Heidi!

We woke up to the softest white snow Saturday morning. It was -14 C, which is lovely—cool but not freezing. The sun was out, the sky was a pearl grey-white.

We had an ‘interesting’ drive through the park Saturday afternoon. We love seeing the deer, but today was anxiety-provoking. A man with a dog on lead was provoking the deer. We drove slowly, parked behind the incident and didn’t leave. I always wonder why humans feel that they can threaten or hurt wild animals.

The garden is honoured by the continuing presence of a rabbit, one of a long line of rabbits to visit us. The video camera at the front of the house also recorded three deer visits, none of them the buck with the single antler from the other evening. My heart burns a little warmer.

Closer to home The Girl’s got two new toys. A tunnel with a mesh where they can see their sibling and a tiny rocking dome with some wiggly toys. Hugo Yugo and Baby Hope checked it out.

It is day 34 for egg 1 at NE Florida. If we think of the ‘average’ hatch between 36-38.5 days, we have two to four days to go until this little one hatches. It is getting excited.

What I can tell you is that the eggs at NE Florida are getting rolled and Gabby is being extremely vigilant in her duties. No pip as of Saturday afternoon that I am aware.

Those eaglets of Ron and Rose are really strong! This one hatched at 1016 Saturday. There is a tiny bit of shell stuck to its wing. Oh, my. What a little sweetheart. OK. Maybe to us. I bet its sibling might think otherwise!!!!!

Heidi sends word that there is indeed a pip for R8. Wow. These two will hatch close together and from the looks of it, this is a good thing. R7 is a really strong eaglet. So happy. We need good DNA, great parenting, lots of prey, and blessings as Avian Flu roars its ugly head around the world for the winter (again).

Chase brought Cholyn a fish Saturday morning and got his foot caught on the nest. He managed OK! Thank goodness. Chase and Cholyn are one of the oldest bonded couples in the Bald Eagle community. https://youtu.be/6b4Nsskhzzk?

Liberty and Guardian are at the nest! https://youtu.be/PMWeawllmXs?

F23 feeds the kids a Snook and their crops bulge. https://youtu.be/HpYz2mlVj-4?

At Captiva, it was raining earlier. Connie kept the Cs dry and warm as best she could. They are big now!

Kasse might be checking out what Wilko is doing!

Kasse is doing very well at getting fish on the nest, too, compared to Wilko.

It was such a relief, a joyous one, to see both Big Red and Arthur on the campus of Cornell University in the snow.

Wildlife are suffering irreparable deaths and damage to habitat due to the wildfires in Southern California. Where do they go? What do they eat?

New Evacuations Ordered as L.A.’s Largest Wildfire Expands – The New York TimesDownload

Concerns continue about the illegal release of lynx in the Scottish Highlands.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/jan/10/fears-of-rogue-rewilding-in-scottish-highlands-after-further-lynx-sightings?CMP=share_btn_url

One of the lynx has died.

Here is a very thoughtful video on the illegal release of the lynx. What we need to understand about the illegal releases, why a balanced landscape is important, and the history of the animals that used to live in the area. Why did the lynx go extinct? https://youtu.be/teu8i5vlUWo?

Bird flu – HPAI and H5N1 – are spreading around the world during the winter. I worry for each of our families and, of course, all species. They have enough challenges already.

Highly pathogenic bird flu outbreak in Angus (again) – Raptor Persecution UKDownload

An osprey, rescued in Belize City, has died.

Rescued Osprey Dies Overnight – Channel 5 BelizeDownload

Calico’s Tip for the Day: Make Time for Story Time even if you are a teenager, an adult, or someone living alone (read to a friend). Reading to Calico with the soft sounds of the words got her to trust me and, as we now know, that trust grew into her joining us in our home. An article in The New York Times speaks to how reading aloud to someone can create intimacy. Calico adds that it is also ‘together time’ ‘analog time’ – and it can be very meaningful and supportive. Why not join us in story time? Make it a part of your life’s routine.

The Benefits of Reading Out Loud – The New York TimesDownload

There are Beautiful Trumpeter Swans in Yellowstone. We have a pair that live in Manitoba—remember, we can be colder than Mars—at an Artesian spring north of our City.

Calico ordered three new books from me that she thinks might be good for our family story time. Here they are, and I will keep you posted once we have read them.

Polly Atkin loves owls. They are neighbours to the 17th century property she lives in at Grasmere in the Lake District. Her early observations led her to research the owls. Ms Atkin has a chronic illness and these owls are now her intimate friends and companions. Many of us can relate to these relationships.

This is another book about how a Robin became an intimate friend year after year. A description on the Internet lead me to believe that this book is one that we would enjoy.

A description in New River Books intrigued me. “Each month in The Blackbird’s Song, Miles Richardson delves into the science and mythology behind our relationship with nature, exploring everything from our kinship with plants to the way in which nature influences our moods. Along the way, he offers a range of activities to help us access the benefits of the natural world. Whether it be ‘joy-watching’ birds, rediscovering wonder, foraging for Christmas crafts or going on an urban safari, this book contains all the tools and inspiration you need to unlock the transformative power of nature and find real meaning in your life.”

This reminds me slightly of the new book by Margaret Renkl which is the journal included in my listing of books from 2024.

Pets being rescued in southern California. Thinking about the wildlife…

Thank you so much for being with us today. Please check on all those eagle nests as the chicks have hatched at various dates and are at different developmental stages. At Superbeaks, Barron is eating and finding ways around Keke to get his food. At Captiva and SW Florida there is so much food there has not been an issue around the amount of prey one chick gets over the other. Behaviour can be observed and watching these eaglets is a good way to learn about how they change as they grow – wings, feet, plumage, bills, etc. The only osprey nests have fledglings. There is some interest in bonding and mating at some of the Florida osprey nests, but as far as I know there are no eggs yet. Take care of yourself. We will see you soon!

Thank you to the following for their notes, comments, questions, posts, images, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘Geemeff, Heidi, J, MP’, NEFL-AEF, WRDC, BVSgirl, FORE, Androcat, Port Lincoln Ospreys, Bart M and the PLO, Ferris Akel Tour, The New York Times, Raptor Persecution UK, Leave Curious, Channel 5 Belize, Yellowstone National Park, New River Books, Amazon, Chief Miller, International Bird Rescue, UKOsprey Information

Friday in Bird World

10 February 2024

Hello Everyone,

Missey wishes you the best day possible!

Oh, it is a balmy day on the Canadian Prairies. -1 C. The sky is a clear blue with no clouds and the sun is so bright it is blinding. Gosh. Feeling like summer. Just kidding, but after -28 C with winds, it feels pretty nice. I plan to do some cleaning up of the feral cat area today. This morning Brock greeted me at the garden door. I think he has been missing out on some full dishes of food thanks to Star. I saw her last night, but not this morning.

From the inbox, everyone is getting excited about Saturday. Most of you are nervous at the same time about Beau’s reaction to the potential hatchlings. We can only send them good wishes. Whatever happens at the nest, Gabby will take it all in stride. She is pretty amazing. As are all the eagles. I long to be more like them.

Cornell Bird Lab reminds us that the Big Bird Count is coming. Please mark your calendars and take part. We need a really good look at what is happening to the birds this winter! Or summer if you are in the Southern Hemisphere.

I am giving a loud shout out to a young man in Virginia who is going to attend an event where he can talk to the politicians of Virginia in a hope to get them to stop Omega’s commercial fishing in the Chesapeake Bay. Dustin Byler is a sportsman. He wants to see the Striped Bass and Rockfish populations return to the Bay. I want to see Ospreys fed. We are on the same side!

It will help him if anyone who has observed or cares for the ospreys that died around the coast of the Chesapeake Bay contact him. Do for it for Cobey at Colonial Beach.

Cold weather is heading to Florida and the Eagles know it often before the weather people. M15 and F23 are taking lots of grasses to the nest to help the Es stay warm, too – they are too big to get under Mum comfortably! https://youtu.be/kWt4JkJuiks?

M15 and F23 had some private time away from the kids. https://youtu.be/3iU_g-U-r3E?

It’s Friday. We are one day away from pip watch at this nest!!!!!!!!!!!!!

These are the observations from Port Lincoln for Thursday:

Kasse on the nest after ousting Wilko on Friday.

Kasse grabbed that first fish delivery, the first one on Friday! In the image above she is enjoying that fish while Wilko is fish calling to Mum and Dad. Way to go Kasse.

The protests for more fish seem to fall on deaf ears. Hey! Where are the fairies? Are they still out of town?

Two well fed eaglets at Captiva. One really big sister and one tiny brother or so it appears.

Can’t take the eyes off that little one, C13. Just the cutest.

Scout and Bella at the NCTC nest on Thursday.

Eagle at Two Harbours on Thursday.

Harry and Sally are bonding and they have been making appearances at the nest at Moorings Park.

We have ospreys at Frenchman’s Creek!

White-tail Eagle visits the Durbe nest in Latvia. https://youtu.be/xKwS2BeHPg4?

There is good news coming out of Claremore, Oklahoma. Skylar, the Bald Eagle with the problem feet, will be coming out of her boots today.

Audubon’s Birds and Offshore Wind Report:

Birds and Offshore Wind Report | AudubonDownload

Two lynx released in an illegal reintroduction scheme in Scotland.

https://news.sky.com/story/two-lynx-captured-in-scottish-highlands-after-suspected-illegal-release-13285825

This is not the way to do this folks! Everything needs a plan and I am all for rewilding and reintroductions after careful consideration. Thankfully the lynx are safe.

Dyfi is working on a project and it is a hide. I am smiling.

Bird Flu has surfaced in Louisiana. Oh, please send your strongest wishes for our eagles (and for all birds) in that state.

First Bird Flu Death in U.S. Reported in Louisiana – The New York TimesDownload

An extremely rare sighting of a shorebird in the UK. “The least sandpiper (Calidris minutilla) is a new world species, breeding in Alaska and Arctic Canada, before heading south to overwinter in warmer climes, from the southern states of the US to Brazil. In Britain they are a rare vagrant, with fewer than 100 sightings recorded, virtually all in autumn.”

These are tiny shorebirds, 13-15 cm, 5-6 inches. They have piercing eyes. Could you take a look at their bill? It is only slightly curved and very pointed to help them get food. Their greenish-yellow legs are almost as long as they are tall. The underparts of their bodies are white. They have a beautiful variegated plumage pattern that ranges from white, cream, taupe, darker brown and espresso brown. They are gorgeous little shorebirds.

They feed in the mud along the shores especially areas where the tide is receding. They also feed higher up on the ground. Do you remember the shorebirds that I saw when I was in Nova Scotia? Think of these little beauties.

Cool Facts provided by All About Birds:

  • Cool Facts
    • The Least Sandpiper is the smallest shorebird in the world, weighing in at about 1 ounce and measuring 5-6 inches long. Males are slightly smaller than females.
    • Eastern populations probably fly nonstop over the ocean from the Gulf of St. Lawrence and New England to wintering grounds in northeastern South America, a distance of about 1,800 to 2,500 miles.
    • Researchers studying Least Sandpipers discovered a new feeding mechanism. While probing damp mud with their bills, the sandpipers use the surface tension of the water to transport prey quickly from their bill tips to their mouths. 
    • Least Sandpipers hunt for food on slightly drier, higher ground compared to other small sandpipers. Although numerous worldwide, they usually flock in smaller numbers—dozens rather than hundreds or thousands—than some other shorebirds. 
    • The oldest Least Sandpiper on record was a female, and at least 15 years old when she was recaptured and released by a Nova Scotia researcher in 1985.
“Least Sandpiper Don Edwards WR 1” by Britta from San Francisco Bay Area, California is licensed under CC BY 2.0.a heise

This bird almost certainly crossed the Atlantic a few months ago, but was not discovered until early January when a couple of sharp-eyed local birders at the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust’s Steart Marshes reserve spotted it.”

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jan/08/birdwatch-an-unlikely-encounter-with-the-least-sandpiper-in-somerset?CMP=share_btn_url

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

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, articles, images, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘J’, Cornell Bird Lab, Dustin Byler FB, Real Saunders Photography, NEFL-AEF, Port Lincoln Ospreys, Bart M and the PLO, Window to Wildlife, NCTC Eagle Nest, Moorings Park Osprey Cam, Frenchman’s Creek Osprey Cam, LDF, Audubon, Sky News, Dyfi Osprey Project, Openverse, All About Birds, The Guardian

Wednesday in Bird World

8 January 2024

Hello Everyone,

It’s the middle of the week. The temperatures are warming up a bit on the Canadian Prairie, and we hope to get outside for a short walk on Thursday before they start to drop again!

After the spotting of a deer in the garden last night, along with a rabbit arriving at 1337, I cannot stop myself from looking out the windows constantly in the hope that both will return. The Starlings, Sparrows, Red and Grey Squirrels, along with one Blue Jay were up early and at the feeders. Feral cat count: 3. Brock, Star, and a solid black one with frozen ears who comes by once in awhile.

Today’s news is going to be short. I was out most of the afternoon because it is the day that Ann is here with Don.

The biggest news in Bird World is that Beau brought Gabby a big fish and, in doing so, he got some incubation time! This gives me more confidence that he will deliver prey to Gabby and the eaglets once they hatch – and we are getting so close to that window.

SK Hideaways has that delivery on video! https://youtu.be/zY4uCWJWKJY?

The SW Florida Eaglets are itchy and seem to always have full crops. The baby down is limited to some dandelions scattered across their bodies and those mohawks. Their beaks are growing longer. The pin feathers have been coming in and, of course, there are those big clown feet!

Gosh, they are cute.

Gorgeous images of the Mum at SW Florida, F23: https://youtu.be/ieU6affQ8UQ?

M15 delivers two fish in quick succession at SW Florida! https://youtu.be/6b1ex89edrI?

The GHO hit M15 and knocked him off his perch Tuesday night. M15 recovered.

The nests stink. The kids stink. But, oh my goodness, C12 and C13 are the cutest little things. I have to admit that C13 has stolen my heart several times!

At Port Lincoln, Mum and Dad carried equal weight in delivering fish on Tuesday. Kasse takes nothing off Wilko and fights for that late fish!

Early morning Wednesday and three at the barge nest waiting for that early delivery.

The fish delivery for Wednesday at Port Lincoln – each got something!

World Bird Sanctuary gives us an overview of its work in 2024. Look at the number of patients – and they are not alone. Rehabilitation clinics around the world have been handling record numbers of patients.

Geemeff sends us news and links!

For any climate crisis deniers: Sahara desert flood – a dramatic meteorological anomaly. 

Happened in August last year so might have benefitted any migrating birds.

And this from explore.org – a way to watch several live cams at once on their new multi-view:

https://explore.org/livecams/bald-eagle-multiview-1

My granddaughter escaped the cold weather of Winnipeg and is sunny Australia. She has sent me some images of Rainbow Lorikeets and some Galahs which I am sharing with you.

If you live in the UK, please have your say in eliminating lead ammunition for good! Please step up.

UK Governments must decide on lead ammunition restrictions by March 2025 – you can have your say toDownload

SPO reports that a sub-adult eagle visits the Berry College Bald Eagle nest. They are also reporting that there is no bonding/mating or laying of eggs by Missey Berry. SPO speculates that while Pa and Missey Berry have visited the nest occasionally, they assume they have another nest elsewhere.

Trudi Kron reports that Bella and Scout are hoping for a better 2025 than 2024:

Second egg arrives at Hilton Head.

It is 644,000 acres and it is the Florida Everglades. Here is the full Florida Audubon 2024 report on the State of the Everglades.

sote_fall2024_webDownload

Baby Hope and Hugo Yugo have become very best friends.

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

Thank you to the following for their comments, notes, posts, videos, images, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘My granddaughter, Geemeff, J’, SK Hideaways, NEFL-AEF, SW Florida Eagle Cam, The Real Saunders Photography, Vija, Window to Wildlife, Bart M and the PLO, Port Lincoln Ospreys, World Bird Sanctuary, Raptor Persecution UK, SPO, Berry College Eagle Cam, Trudi Kron and Bald Eagles 101, Audubon Florida, DTR, Explore.org