Category Archives: Sydney Sea Eagles

Wednesday in Bird World

25 September 2024

Good Morning,

If I had one wish, it would be for Jackie and Shadow to raise an eaglet this year to fledge. I am certain that you feel the same. Maybe we can send them the most positive energy. I cannot think of a more deserving couple – they are already working on that nest. They live in ‘hope’.

‘R’ wrote, concerned about me. It wasn’t me, it was one of my dear friends and reporters. I, on the other hand, worry that the albatross won’t survive the five to six years out on those rough seas with those long line factory ships. Or that the oceans, especially the Southern Ocean, are getting too acidic. I am far too cranky and will be cheering those albatross on and those ships to go extinct! Thanks, ‘R’ for worrying about me. And I am sorry if the cemetery plot got anyone weepy. It is a response to my best friend having to deal with all of the red tape attached to her husband’s death. I want things to be simple for my kids, like it was for me when my mother died. The real difficulty is which monument maker can create an osprey with a big fish? So don’t be sad. I will be kicking around for far more years than you might want!!!!!!!!!!!

Right now I am sitting over Devonian Lake. It is so quiet. The geese are out feeding. Only a few ducks and gulls remain on the lake. I did have a big of a giggle. One of the extraordinarily large homes had its drive way full of geese eating pebbles!!!!!!! Full. Packed in there like there was a Taylor Swift concert. It was a strange sight.

These moments have to be the most bittersweet in all of Bird World. The parent returns, waits and waits for the chick to feed them, and they are gone. They will never see one another again. The adults will not see one another again until they return to breed. What devotion. I wish their world is a safer place for them and for all our feathered friends so that these huge sea birds that can live longer than many humans return year after year to their mates to raise chicks.

‘A’ remarks: “Oh, our babies are gone. When I went onto automatic and checked the albatross tab, there were no chicks in camera view and TF’s nest and his play nest were both empty. I felt such a pang and tears prickled my eyes but I try to remind myself that he is on the adventure that is his lifetime and this was what he was born for. I just wish the human destruction of little TF’s world did not create so many hazards for our fledglings. And I also remind myself that darling YRK is home. The returning breeding birds are arriving steadily now, and it is wonderful to see them. These are our survivors. 

Papa LGK came in to feed his son at lunchtime today (12:52:17) and called out for TF chick, just as mum LGL did when she came in yesterday after he fledged. We wish LGK a tummy full of squid and safe travels until his return. We hope to see him and LGL in about a year’s time. (Hopefully, their next egg will hatch in late January 2026 (one chick every second year). 

The voting for TF’s name closes tomorrow (26 September) at 5pm NZ time (NZ is two hours ahead of eastern Australia, so two hours ahead of Collins Street, Orange and WBSE). The link for voting is https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/birds/birds-a-z/albatrosses/royal-albatross-toroa/royal-cam/namethechick/. “

You know that I love my Blue Jays! Now Mr and Mrs Junior are the only ones coming to the garden. Here are four things you might not know these things about Blue Jays! https://youtu.be/VndKdMKXY1c?

Junior does not migrate. Sometimes Mrs Junior does.

Speaking of migration, I think that you will like that book that Calico and I are digging into: Bird Migration. A New Understanding by J. H. Rappole. It is written in non-scientific language. Everything is crystal clear. I liked that the author went back and examined previous theories about migration. What he says will not be knew to you if you have been reading my blog. Birds migrate because of food – not weather! The Black-capped Chickadees live in my garden all winter as do the ones at Bird’s Hill Park – they have an abundance of food resources and do not require moving to a different geographical area. We have Bald Eagles that remain in Manitoba breaking open thin ice to catch fish. The Geese are migrating, following the harvest down to the US from Canada because there is a super abundance of food.

The error in past thinking is that it was weather than drove birds to migrate. Rappole talks about the innate clock, seasonal changes (such as the end of the growing season and harvest) that lead to migration. He discusses the fact that outside of their breeding grounds many of the migrants are highly vulnerable in territories occupied by other birds that are resident year round. You might want to order the book through your library – its price is $47 CDN from the on line retailers. If it were $20, I would say go for it, but this is for those really interested in the nuances of migration. For that reason, Calico gives it her 9 paw award.

Gabby and 24E1 were on the nest tree earlier on Tuesday. There is no way to know if Beau is in the area as the cameras, now only two of them, are focused on the nest tree.

There is flooding in areas north of the NE Florida Bald Eagle nest and the weather forecast is for bad weather in the area of the nest. The eagles will take cover during that tropical storm watch. At least six days of rain with thunderstorms are brewing for Gabby and 24E1.

Please note that I have cancelled out the city around the nest to avoid divulging its location.

There is an eagle at the NCTC nest.

Wings of Whimsy gives us the Bald Eagle nest round up for the week ending on the 22nd of September. Check it out to see who is at home and who isn’t. https://youtu.be/MFCzzzgMHoE?

Hawk Mountain’s count for the week in migration:

I was so happy to see so many of you talking about the sea eaglets and how cute these two are. They certainly are!

That fish is in a video. https://youtu.be/N3eDQpZoJc4?

For those of you who remember Phyllis Robbins, she said she would appear as a ‘red leaf’. Look at that beautiful red leaf!

Incubation continues at Collins Street. ‘A’ writes: “Dear little dad at Collins Street is the funniest falcon. This morning around 11:09, mum got up and flew off the ledge. She was back after a mere minute, obviously aware that dad was nearby. He arrived on the ledge 15 seconds or so later with a scrap of food for mum. She grabbed it from him on the ledge and flew off to eat it. Dad hustled along to the scrape and settled on his eggs, chirping away to them as he did so. He has the cutest little chirps when he talks to the eggs. I love his chatting away to them. I’m sure those chicks  will recognise dad as soon as they hatch. Such a cutie. 

When mum returns at 11:27:34, Dad holds his ground and chirps for a little but his protests are short-lived. He soon gets up, and shortly before 11:28 he dives off the ledge and allows mum to resume incubation duties. “

M22 brings in a ‘dove’ for lunch for F23. https://youtu.be/VdX9Dju1M30?

The same at Orange.

Calypso, Ervie, Giliath, and Bradley are going to have some siblings soon. I wonder if we might get some females this year? Otherwise we might have to think about a translocation project to get these fellas a mate!

At the Growing Home osprey platform, a really nice fish dinner came in for that little one – and with both parents on the nest, they are keeping this baby ‘secret’ just like it was a famous film star’s children.

More on the topic of Menhaden and what must be done if we are to save the ospreys in the Chesapeake Bay. Brian Collins has really hit the proverbial nail on the head in this post. Please, please write your Senators and Congressional Representatives. Do it for Cobey, the Colonial Beach Osplet that starved to death before our very eyes.

Natural England’s report on Hen Harrier breeding across the UK:

Natural England reports drop in hen harrier breeding attempts – Raptor Persecution UKDownload

Stop for a moment and have a look at the bird photographer winners of 2024. You might even seen a cute little peregrine falcon in the winners.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/gallery/2024/sep/24/bird-photographer-of-the-year-2024-winners-in-pictures?CMP=share_btn_link

Many of you enjoyed Margaret Renkl’s book, The Comfort of Crows. Renkl has published a hard copy journal for people to use as a weekly diary of what is happening in their own gardens. It is called Leaf, Cloud, and Crow. Lots of pages for writing, sketching and it all begins with the first week of winter in late December. It is a great follow up to The Comfort of Crows where we get a glimpse of how an accomplished author celebrates the ordinary which is extraordinary right outside her window. It is also a good follow-up to Amy Tan’s book The Backyard Bird Chronicles -Tan didn’t know how to draw and took classes. But who cares what your drawings look like? Do your own chronicles! Watch how the birds and animals, the foliage, changes from season to season. Then do it again the following year. By the time you start your third year, you will know instinctively when the Dark-eyed Juncos will arrive and you will have your bag of White Millet on hand.

I have been scribbling for years in my Manitoba Bird book, a gift from my grandson, Carter, eons ago. I think it is time to take it to the next level and record the daily happenings. Thinking about those new little instant cameras that print photos…that might be fun to add to the mix. I might have helped run a School of Art, but, I cannot draw! or paint. Photographs are good but increasingly I am getting frustrated with digital images. When you have 58,000 on your phone, how do you find the one you really want? Frustrating.

Our ordinary gardens then become extraordinary.

Calico’s Tip for the Day! It can save your life, and it comes from a former student.

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

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, announcements, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘A, K, R’, FOBBV, Sharon Dunne and the Royal Cam Albatross FB group New Zealand, NEFL-AEF, Weather Channel, NCTC, Wings of Whimsy, Hawk Mountain, Olympic Park Eaglets, Nesting Bird Life & More, 367 Collins Street by Mirvac, Charles Sturt Falcon Cam and Cilla Kinross, Growing Home Ospreys, Brian Collins – Menhaden, Little Fish, Big Deal FB, Raptor Persecution UK, The Guardian, Margaret Renkl.

Iris and Finnegan still home…Wednesday in Bird World

18 September 2024

Hello Everyone,

Ah, the ads continue to appear for some – my sincerest apologies. What a headache. I have done all I can, and WordPress is trying to block the third party. Today, I wanted to forget about them!

The garden has been a flurry of activity today after the heavy rains yesterday and overnight. Six Crows have been at the nut cylinder along with the squirrels, including Dyson shown below, and a pair of Blue Jays (Mr and Mrs Junior). Numerous species of Sparrows and Wrens are filling up with seed as the days get shorter.

Junior watches Mr Crow cautiously.

Another Crow decides fighting for the nut cylinder is too much bother and goes for the Cheesy Dogs.

Most of the birds in the garden will not migrate. As their habitat in our area of the City dwindles, more and more come to the feeders. I wonder what it will be like in the winter? I am contemplating building a very large covered feeding area so their seed does not get wet from the snow.

I normally call the Fifteenth of September the end of Osprey season. In the US and Canada, there are, however, still a few Dads hard at work feeding their hungry Juveniles! One of those is not Finnegan. Dr Greene has seen two ospreys in the area that he believes are Iris and Finnegan while he believes that Sum-eh and Antali have departed.

One Dad still feeding osplets is the one at Niagara Bee. There are two survivors. And goodness, gosh, there was some ‘confusion of a sorts’ over the death of the one on the nest. If an eagle had been the predator, it would have swooped down and taken the osplet off the nest and away. Think Cowlitz PUD for a good example. If it had been a GHO, well, they might have flown down and did a grab and go which is what they did at Lake Murray, but then that owl turned around and sat on the nest eating the poor chicks leaving one. So? One keen viewer caught the raccoon attaching the fledgling on the Niagara Bee nest so, it wasn’t an eagle as Niagara Bee had pronounced earlier.

Beaumont is still at Snow Lane with the fledgling? It looks like just one to me. There is no fight over the fish so I am making a presumption that Hope and one juvenile have left the area. Please correct me if I am in error!

Sandpoint is quiet.

Charlo is quiet. Junebug has not been seen since the 15 September.

Hawk Mountains migration count to date:

Of course, there are some lovely chicks and some eggs to hatch ‘down under’. Just look at how much that little White-tail Eaglet has grown in 30 days! It has such a nice crop.

Marrum and Partney at Tumby Island now have two more eggs. The first was predated by a Raven. Let us hope that they can change shifts quickly and never leave the nest alone or those Ravens, who are watching, will be quick to come to the nest. Thanks, PLO, for the image!

In Australia, surprise. Diamond welcomes Xavier’s prey gift! Look carefully. It is not a Starling! https://youtu.be/MbWuvrz2iOo?

Changeover at Melbourne, too. Don’t you love how these urban falcons have a stash of prey. Mum flies off, Dad comes to the eggs after she has accepted breakie off camera!

Every time you see a raptor. Be kind. As ‘H’ notes, we are losing them at an astonishing rate. This is truly sad.

https://www.audubon.org/magazine/why-are-peregrine-falcon-numbers-falling-united-states-again#:~:text=In%20a%20decline%20not%20seen,avian%20flu%20is%20to%20blame.&text=Building%20collisions%20kill%20300%20million,needless%20deaths%20can%20be%20prevented.

Looks like it is eel for breakfast for the White-Bellied Sea Eagles at the Olympic Park in Sydney. Thanks cam operator for those great close ups. How many of us would love to have that plumage?!

Fat little bottom on SE34.

It is time to name the chick at Taiaroa Head.

So a question in the mailbox from ‘BHA’ and I just bet that some of you are asking the same question. How do Ospreys Navigate? This is a great question and the Scottish Wildlife Trust supplies us with a great answer that is not lost in scientific jargon.

Numerous theories have been suggested, including the presence of a protein within osprey’s eyes which enables them to visualise the Earth’s magnetic field. This would be followed to warmer climates in the south, whilst hugging the coastline to stay within reach of feeding areas.

A process of ‘vector summation’ is also suggested, as a means of segmenting the journey into achievable distances. These segments are genetically inherent, meaning the knowledge of which direction to travel in during each flight step (and the number of steps) will be present since infanthood. This process is much more greatly relied on by juveniles taking their first migration, as they will not yet have the topographical memory needed to readjust their trajectory towards recognisable landmarks.

External factors such as wind drift can impact the orientation of ospreys, which can be detrimental to their success. Once off course it is not so simple to re-calibrate an internal GPS. Often osprey do not recover well from being blown off course. Depending on the direction of the wind they could end up over deserts – with no opportunities to find food and exposed to unexpected predators – or in vast expanses of ocean where the next land is nearer to South America than the fish abundant deltas of Senegal or The Gambia. 

Even staying on course has its perils. For example crossing the Bay of Biscay, the massive gulf between France and Spain represents a great challenge. With favourable winds, this path can be taken in one long stint with the aim to continue down the Spanish coastline. But continuous flight across the Bay also runs the risk of draining energy levels, and being mobbed by seagulls along the way. This increases the risk of drowning before reaching the next resting place, and is an option better left to experienced birds.

We know that youngsters taking their first flight do not have the benefit of an experienced osprey like Iris who is now using landmarks to help her get to her winter home. I like to think that they have 62 million years of DNA and a built in GPS system. We have to use computer systems to help us navigate.

It is Eagle Time (except for the Southern Hemisphere), and I will bring you news on books to give you some insight into these magnificent birds.

At Dulles-Greenway a new couple have been checking out the nest. https://youtu.be/oib7NvIEnmk?s

Beau is resting in the NE Florida nest. I had not seen Gabby by 1700. Does Beau have an issue with his left foot? and is he resting on the nest because of it? I wonder.

As the eagles begin returning to their nests, I will post information on some books you might like. There are many books that describe the birds as well as websites, but I am looking for something more for you. The books I mention will be substantially different from those. Jack F Davis’ The Bald Eagle. The Improbably Journey of America’s Bird is full of information about the cultural history of this majestic bird. What strikes me is how many prejudices that have existed for centuries continue. For example, eagles steal children! At the time of the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, “Raptors were excluded…Furthermore, a few out-of-touch ornithologists insisted that H. leucocephalus, the new scientific name given to the Bald Eagle, was a nonmigratory species. This erroneous claim influenced the thinking in government agencies and Congress.” Davis continues, “It was not a marketable good traded across the Canadian border, although it was killed on both sides of it. And it was not a game bird to be protected for the sporting crowd. It was a predator, an animalis non grata, an enemy of civilisation (226).” Davis documents how the eagle became a particularly precarious bird once the US purchased Alaska from Russia in 1867 and commercial fishing industries arrived there. Alaska set up a bounty on the birds! It had been 20 cents in 1806 and was increased to $1 for every pair of talons. People delivered them by the bucket load. It was not until Rosalie Edge bought up the area around Hawk Mountain and began to lobby for changes to the Migratory Bird Act that the eagles received protection. Her task was not easy.
Appearing before a meeting with Audubon, Edge was told that the public loathed the bald eagle and that the Alaska bounty should remain (237)! Edge argued that the symbol that had helped ‘win World War II’ would go extinct if something was not done (238). The argument to protect the Bald Eagle would continue well into the 1940s. Davis continues his book with the restoration of the Bald Eagle into the various states, beginning with an experimental plan at Patuxent. The book was published in 2022 and includes the challenges DDT raised about Bald Eagles, the cultural symbolism with Indigenous people, and the controversies surrounding the eagle. It is a good read, particularly if you love Bald Eagles. Indeed, it would be best if you educated yourself on their history so that you appreciate them even more today.

Why are 90% of Norways seabirds disappearing?

Stark before and after photographs reveal sharp decline of Norway’s seabirds | Birds | The GuardianDownload

Jeff Kear has published the 2024 UK Season Data if you are interested. Please check it out:

2024 SEASON.

Want a feel good moment? What about a 52 year old parrot? It has been taken into care – palliative care. The caregiver spends their time on the floor with this lovely one! Thanks, ‘J’. Senior animals, whatever their species, need our devotion and love. They have certainly given it to us over the years.

There is a lesson in here. Don’t buy a parrot unless you have excellent DNA and intend to be around for about 80 years to care for them.

Calico’s Tip for the Day: Protect Yourself. Do you have a smoke alarm? a carbon monoxide detector? Then you should be going out and getting yourself one! She wants you to be safe. There are many different kinds from the standard one that uses batteries to ones connected to wifi that can alert you to hazards when you are away from home. In the end, you need one and Calico says you might get a discount on your home owner’s insurance. Best of all, they could save your life!

Calico found some information on hos those carbon monoxide detectors can be useful. Have a read. Calico suggests you read to your kitty!

carbon_monoDownload

Thank you so much for being with us today. Take care all. 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 this morning: ‘BHA, Geemeff, H, J, Jeff Kear, PB’, Montana Osprey Project, Newfoundland Power, Sandpoint, Charlo Montana Ospreys, Hawk Mountain, Port Lincoln Ospreys, Nesting Bird Life & More, 367 Collins Street by Mirvac, ‘H’ and Audubon, Olympic Park Eagles, Scottish Wildlife Trust, Sharon Dunne and the Royal Cam Albatross Group New Zealand, NEFL-AEF, Dulles-Greenway Eagle Cam, Jack F Davis’ The Bald Eagle. The Improbably Journey of America’s Bird, The Guardian, Follow the Feathers, CPSC Documents,

Iris is still home…Monday in Bird World

16 September 2024

Hello Everyone,

Well, after three irritating days, the end of the ads is nigh. Thank you again to everyone who helped me spot those pop-up ads. WordPress assures me there should not be any, but…

At 1900, 38 Canada Geese flew over the conservatory in a line, not a wedge or V. Normally, geese fly in a V or wedge to conserve energy. When the leader gets tired, s/he falls back, and the next one takes its place. Being the leader is hard work; they are breaking the wind – creating a slipstream – for the other geese so that they can fly without expending so much energy. As they flap their wings, each bird helps to create a ‘lift’ for all the other geese in their formation. Research shows that flying in this type of formation also allows the group to communicate better. Talk about teamwork and cooperation. Humans have something to learn from our honkers.

Those V formations are quite extraordinary. You can’t tell from the ground, but the lead goose is the lowest of the bunch. Each goose behind is slightly higher than the one in front of it, all the way to the last goose, which is flying the highest. They do this because of the aerodynamics of their wings. The only goose that is using all its wing power is the lead goose… the point-man, so to speak. When that goose flaps its wings, it causes a certain turbulence of the air that’s following the wing. The next goose in line benefits from this swirling air, and doesn’t need to apply 100% of its wingpower. The next goose, again benefits from that one, and so on down the line. Flying in formation this way adds 71% more distance that they can fly than when flying alone!

So who gets chosen to be point-man? You’d think the one with the map! Or the leader? Or the new-guy? No. None of these. They actually take turns. When one gets tired, he will drop back so he can rest a bit and benefit from another goose’s turbulence. When migrating in good weather with favorable winds these guys can make up to 1,500 miles in a single day! That’s crazy, man! Hard to imagine, but it’s been done. They are migration masters.

So the flying at night thing … I’ve already touched upon one of the reasons they prefer the night. It has to do with that turbulence I just mentioned. You see, many other large birds (and these are large birds!) use thermals to gain altitude and to soar on. Raptors do this. Hawks, eagles, etc. During the day, the landscape is riddled with all kinds of thermals rising from the ground, all depending on what the surface looks like below; how much heat was absorbed and stored from the sun; if it’s dark or light … or even water. These thermals are great for raptors! Lots of vertical air movement all over. But geese don’t soar, and they don’t have need to fly in circles. They have somewhere to go. And all those daytime thermals are a pain in the butt; they don’t make for smooth sailing. Plus, they interfere with the aforementioned wing turbulence that they use to keep from tiring. At night, several hours after sunset, the Earth cools and those pesky vertical thermals disperse.

So that’s one reason they like the night. Another reason for night flight is to prevent over-heating (makes sense, right?) Nights are cooler, so birds that expend a lot of energy with constant flapping (as opposed to soaring) take advantage of the cool of the night.

A third reason is also something I’ve already mentioned. Hawks! And eagles! And falcons! All those guys are diurnal hunters, meaning they hunt during the day. Which goose in its right mind would want to share the not-so-friendly skies with something called a “raptor”? Now, if you’ve ever seen flocks of geese on the ground and tried to get among them or feed them or something, you may already know how mean and nasty they can get. People have used geese instead of watch-dogs. They are tough! Especially on the ground. But falcons, hawks, and eagles, hitting them from the air often spells doom. In other words, their goose is cooked. During the day, they often rest and feed and rejuvenate in the water where they are safe from raptor attack. As long as they stay in the water.

So given the choice, they take the red-eye.

Why Do Canadian Geese Fly At Night?, Forbes Magazine, 1 March 2018 (updated).

So why were the geese flying in a straight line over my house? I can’t find an answer. Maybe you know. Perhaps they were readying to land at Fort Whyte or at the river a few blocks away???

The other day Calico and Baby Hope watched ‘The Boyfriend’ as he ate at the feeder. I wonder what Calico was thinking. This was her little friend when she lived in the wild. They would come and eat together, but he always let her eat first. They would often rest under the lilac bushes. He will not come into the house; he runs away. I have tried frequently to get him to soften to me. So we make sure his food is out by 0900 and, again, at 1700. He also comes at other times, including in the middle of the night. Another animal, a raccoon, comes at night, eating everything still available and dumping the water from the bird baths. That means we must ‘jump’ in the morning to prepare everything for The Boyfriend’s arrival.

Dr Erick Greene and others around Missoula are keeping a close eye on Iris, Finnegan, Sum-eh, and Antali. It appears that all four are still fishing in the Clarke-Fork River. As far as I am aware, this is the latest that Iris has ever remained in the area. Her usual date for departure is 8 September. She must relish being a mum again to two such fine fledglings and having a mate like Finnegan.

Iris came to the nest at 0838 without fish. I did not see a delivery at the nest by 1100 on Sunday despite Antali’s persistent calling.

This person had a first hand view of Iris and family — have a read!

Hellgate Canyon Osprey Nest · iNaturalist United KingdomDownload

From Dr Greene:

Iris was at the nest at 0738 Monday morning. She was calling loud and seemed to have a piece of fish in her talons (??). She is looking for Antali and he did not come. She waited three minutes and when Antali did not arrive, she flew off towards the river.

At Charlo, is C16 catching its fish? Our fledgling observes the water below the nest and has returned wet, once, perhaps, with a fish. This is one gorgeous fledgling! That full crop sure makes me think he had an excellent breakfast.

C16 is always watching that water – unless he is sleeping! Can’t see those stunning eyes.

When I checked on the nest of Junebug at Dunrovin Ranch – which was several times including re-wind – I did not see anyone. Did you?

Just look at the fish that Beaumont delivered at the Newfoundland Snow Lane nest. Good gracious. There is enough for both of the fledglings. Will the winner share?

Still eating three hours later!

Niagara Bee Dad still delivering!

River was at the Sandpoint nest, but I saw no fish deliveries from Keke. Perhaps Keke is feeding River off the nest. River has been seen ‘wet’, and he flies back and forth to the river. Is s/he catching their fish dinner?

At the Golden Gate Audubon nest in SF Bay, Tully was last seen on the 14th of September.

Here is the video of the fly off: https://youtu.be/9MJdNDRKcEM?

Some more great information from the Dyfi Osprey Project in Wales, home to Idris and Telyn.

Hartley and Monty continue to bond – and then bond again – at the San Jose City Hall scrape. Love is in the air. https://youtu.be/pjskOK2DcNc?

Xavier. What can we say? Isn’t he the cutest little Peregrine Falcon? He always wants time to incubate his eggs, but…Diamond often has different ideas. They have been together for nine years. Today, he demanded squatter’s rights on those eggs!!!!!! https://youtu.be/fygxtkCjkwA?

Beautiful Sea Eaglets.

‘A’ remarks: “Both chicks did well out of that breakfast, and afterwards, they settled down together, side by side, to rest their giant crops (especially SE34!) and do a bit of preening. They are very companionable, the best of nest mates, and even when food is around, they have been behaving beautifully. Observing the pecking order seems to ensure peace at meal times – Lady is aware of the need to feed SE33 first if both chicks are at the table, although SE34 is now confident enough to accept food before its sibling has eaten if their relative positions create this situation. They are pretty much equal in size now and SE34 is confident and able to get himself fed. He moves forward if he needs to get closer to mum’s beak and he is not showing any behaviour that suggests that he feels intimidated at meal times. So all is going swimmingly at WBSE. “

And more from the morning of the 16th from ‘A’: “Lady was up early this morning (05:29). She found a substantial piece of feathered prey on the nest, so started feeding the littles, who roused themselves and got to the table despite the fact that it was still dark. Lady started by feeding a bite to SE33, as per pecking order, while SE34 found which direction the table was in (he had his back to it and turned around very clumsily, inconveniencing SE33 in the process). Once both eaglets were settled in their places, breakfast proceeded peacefully, with both nestlings behaving beautifully. 

Oh, I adore these two. I love what good nest buddies they have become, sometimes even allopreening and nibbling gently at each other’s facial feathers. They are so cute. I love these few short weeks on the nest, being cared for by doting parents and having little to do other than eat, sleep, grow and play. Their lives will be very hard, and their chances of successfully managing as juvenile sea eagles are not great based on previous years. Although of course they don’t realise it yet, these peaceful days in the nursery, as it were, probably represent some of the happiest of their lives. It is lovely to share them. “

I love storks. Even if you can’t speak German, you can enjoy the amazing images in this documentary. Click on the link above the image or copy and paste into your browser.

Beautiful sounds from the forest despite the Line Fire…it is now downgraded. https://youtu.be/pTw5X8U-ktg?

There is news from Portugal. I have signed up, but this file is thanks to UK Osprey Information and Jeff Kear, who kindly attached a translated version. Please scroll down and see the map showing where the ospreys have their spring and summer breeding grounds and travel to Portugal for the winter.

English translation Osprey News #8Download

Real Saunders Photography has posted some images of M15 and F23. There is action at the SW Florida Bald Eagle nest. The streaming cameras are to be operational on 1 October. https://youtu.be/3wJeooaW6oI?

‘A’ comments on the Royal Cam chick: “At Taiaroa Head, both TF and TFT are still there, though TFT in particular has been moving around a lot, going down the hill and perhaps seeking out a suitable spot from which to fledge. He may just be exploring – he’s always done a lot of that. No parents came in today, as far as I am aware, but of course the chicks will be emptying their stomachs before their big take-off. (That doesn’t make sense to me – surely they would want to keep any remaining nutrients they were given by their parents, as they have never done any fishing of their own and the next meal they get once they do fledge may be some time away – I have no idea how they understand where and how to find their own food, having never been taught how to do so nor even witnessed the adults doing it. So to leave home with an empty stomach seems to me a risky thing to do. I suppose getting and staying airborne is the most important thing, and that, too, they will be doing for the first time. It’s an awful lot of difficult things to be doing for the first time when their survival depends on getting it all right on the first try essentially. The thought of it worries me terribly.”

I caught a feeding. How wonderful!

‘A’ also checks on the falcons incubating on the ledge of 367 Collins Street in the CBD of Melbourne: “At Collins Street, Mum left the eggs just before 11:17 for a morning break, but she is back quickly, at 11:18, and repositions herself on the eggs. Dad flies up to the middle of the ledge, chupping as he arrives, soon after 12:47. He has not brought food, though he may have stashed some for her somewhere nearby. He’s such a cutie and so chatty. F24 chats back as she gets up from the eggs, so hopefully, he is telling her where he has left her breakfast. But no. He dives off the ledge, which she watches with some shock it seems, gazing after him for a while before settling back onto the eggs. I’m still not sure about food deliveries at this scrape, tbough mum does not appear to be starving so there must be some (or, more likely, she is eating off camera from a stash spot where dad is depositing food). 

Dad is back at 14:46 to relieve mum, who flies off the ledge. Again  though, he brings no food. He doesn’t settle down to incubate, instead flying off the ledge at 14:46:30. The eggs lie uncovered in the mid-afternoon. sunlight.”

Calico’s got two Tips for the Day: Help Stop Bird Strike and if you find a bird that has hit a window, helpful tips on how to help them.

Migration is a time for bird strike, sadly. Calico wants everyone to protect the birds from breaking their necks on windows. The most economical way to do this is by using window paints available where crayons, markers, etc. are sold. We found the white worked the best. Just scribble. After migration season, you can easily clean the window paint with white vinegar. We purchased Feather Friendly dot strips. The company says they last ten years. Calico wonders about that but they have been very effective in preventing any birds hitting our conservatory or the windows in the sitting room.

Calico asks that you read this helpful advice:

The Geese that have been breeding in northern Canada and in Winnipeg are starting to migrate. They face many challenges but the other one is BREAD. Do not feed waterfowl bread!!!!!!! It causes ducks to get ‘Angel Wing’ and that also impacts Geese. If you see others feeding ducks and geese bread, be kind, but educate them. There is nothing more fun for children than feeding bread to ducks and geese, but that is not what they should be eating! It will kill them in the end. So, please help my beloved geese. Thanks, ‘PB’ for this article. It is so timrely.

Geese are developing a fatal deformity after being fed too many carbs, park officials sayDownload

If you have the time, please check out Amy Tan’s talk on line about backyard birds. I have so enjoyed her book and her journey to learning about the feathered friends that visit her garden and her creation of special areas for them.

Thank you so much for being with us today. Have a fantastic week! See you soon.

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, comments, reports, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘A, J, PB’, Forbes Magazine, Montana Osprey Cam, Montana Osprey Project, iNaturalistUK, Owl Research Project, Dunrovin Ranch, Newfoundland Power, Pam Breci and The Joy of Ospreys, Golden Gate Audubon SF Ospreys, Dyfi Osprey Project, SK Hideaways, Olympic Sea Eagles, SOS Tesla Maria Marika, Jeff Kear and UK Osprey Information, Real Saunders Photography, 367 Collins Street by Mirvac, Virginia Wildlife, Kelli Knight LeVan, NZ DOC, and Amy Tan.

Saturday in Bird World

14 September 2024

Hello Everyone,

The weather is still warm and will continue to be. The air was heavy Friday morning. We headed out to the nature centre to see how many geese were on the lake and check on the Mallard family with the two small ducklings. The sky was black, and it looked like rain could start any minute. In the forest, we could hear the Black-capped Chickadees and the American Goldfinch. The Goldfinches migrate, but the Chickadees stay all winter!

We found the Mallard family, but we could only see one duckling. I hope the other one was hiding in the reeds. The tiny duckling has grown but is still not large enough to migrate. Our weather is supposed to stay warm through October, so it should be fine to take off then.

At the hide, a female Downy Woodpecker was at the peanut feeder while another Mallard looked for seed in the grasses. Honking was constant overhead as the winds grew stronger, and the dark clouds gathered.

Even with the impending rain, it was a good morning to be outside for a walk. Always makes our day!

I was just so happy to see Annie! Annie is loafing!!!!!! Oh, it is so good to see you, Annie. https://youtu.be/3Vcnr3Fg9yU?

In Bird World, Hartley and Monty are back at the scrape in San Jose, too!

https://youtu.be/bg-SeoBSjDc?

Please tell everyone to please store their sports nets (of any kind) but especially soccer when they are not in use. Look what happened to this owl!

West Nile Virus killed the only surviving, of two, hawlets of Big Red and Arthur this year. It is also having an impact on all of our feathered friends including ospreys.

What is West Nile Virus and how is it impacting birds? Sadly, the most common in Canada are my beloved Crows and Blue Jays.

West Nile and Dead Birds | West Nile Virus | CDCDownload

“As of September 2003, West Nile Virus has been identified in 11 Page 2 species of native owls, 4 species of falcons, and 15 native species of diurnal raptors, including osprey, vultures, and bald and golden eagles.”

This document from the Cascade Raptor Centre is particularly good:

West-Nile-virusDownload

Heidi reports that Harvie and the two juveniles at Fortis Exshaw Canmore Osprey Platform are still home. You can see the wildfire smoke spreading through the valley behind the nest. Yesterday, Heidi saw five fish delivered in a short period of time to the fledglings at the nest after a period of rain.

Heidi checked on Fenwick Island and Johnny is still bringing Fen fish.

At the Hellgate Canyon nest, Antali had a very late night fish. I can’t rewind but he is holding it at 22:46 and is till eating in the wee hours of the morning. Antali has an enormous crop. It seems Finnegan wants to fill his fledgling up and hopefully get him on his way south.

Antali’s crop was still huge at 0741 when he was fish-calling. No delivery. Antali flew off after Dad (or so it would seem).

Finn sits on the nest with a lunch fish looking around and Antali comes flying in! He is not going to miss that fish dinner.

Finnegan takes good care of his boy. Another headless fish is delivered at 1644. Antalia has not had a sunken crop all day!

Now I love geese and on my ‘Bucket List’ has been a trip to see the Pinkfooted Geese that breed in Iceland and Greenland and then travel with their fledglings to the UK to winter arriving sometime after September 1. In the 1880s, the birds did not come to the UK til the last week of October. Now, to the astonishment of all, a pair of Pink-footed Geese have bred in Lancashire!

The concern was with climate change and the melting tundra that the Pinkfoots might not migrate to the UK. So this is very interesting.

Look at the image below. The heads are the colour of a cafe lait. This dark to medium brown head fades into a boey that is blue grey. The lowest part of the neck is pink! The goose has fluffy white underparts. The legs are, of course, pink matching the lower neck which gives these geese their name.

The female lays a clutch of 3-5 eggs. It takes 26 or 27 days for the wee ones to hatch. At that moment, both the male and the female will lead the clutch to wetlands to feed. In Iceland, they also eat crowberries, which makes their ‘ps’ pink!!!!! Their main enemies in Iceland are foxes and gyrfalcons.

“Pink-footed Geese” by naturalengland is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

Pink-footed Goose pair breeds in Lancashire – BirdGuidesDownload

Some absolutely gorgeous closeups on this video by Cornell Bird Labs of the Royal Albatross chick. https://youtu.be/PsUNmjyrOFU?

The area of Shadow and Jackie’s nest is under voluntary evacuation for the Line Fire that is scorching parts of San Bernadino County. Shadow was spotted at the Snag and Roost Tree despite the wind and smoke by Eagle22 on the 12th of September. https://youtu.be/VNOQ7VrBTXc?

They say Jackie and Shadow are safe from the Line Fire (as of 9 September).

Are eagles Jackie and Shadow safe amid California fires? | Raleigh News & ObserverDownload

Connie Dennis reports that Oscar is still feeding Skylor at the Russell Lake nest in Nova Scotia. So no migration other than Mum, Ethel, so far.

Skylor you crack me up!

Dad is still providing fish at Niagara Bee.

Charlie is still supplying fish to C16 at Charlo. Interesting that it is the males staying behind at the nest and having Dad fish and fish and fish!

No love is lost at the Newfoundland nest of Hope and Beaumont between fledglings when a much-desired fish dinner arrives at the nest. That was the only delivery I saw at the nest – fish could be provided elsewhere, I do not know.

Juveniles in Latvia fight over dinner! https://youtu.be/eh85H6lpaW8?

A juvenile at the Kurzeme Osprey nest in Latvia gets a goldfish dinner. https://youtu.be/E-Bm_C8mv4E?

There was an odd break in the transmission from Sandpoint. Keke is still delivering fish. River was on the perch and then mysteriously on the nest with a nice fish. It was the camera. River is not catching fish – as far as I know, none of the males at these nests are getting their own food. Gorgeous wingspan on this fledgling.

At Orange, a Willy Wagtail comes to visit Diamond.

https://youtu.be/fl7TSd-6KiU?

Incubation continues at 367 Collins Street.

Still no breakfast at the Olympic Sea Eagle nest by 1130. Lady found a few scraps in the nest.

Do you love seabirds and Puffins? Dani Connor Wild has some amazing images in her recent video. https://youtu.be/IJi4vnEk1do?

Calico’s Tip for the Day: When the sisal on the scratch post cylinders is ragged, and you are ready to toss the entire thing in the garbage, don’t. First, could you check your online retailers for replacement sisal disks? They are about half the price of a replacement post where I live. The package we ordered also contained new hardware and an Allen key. Calico knows that I am the least ‘handy person’ in the neighbourhood, so if I can do this, so can you!

The Girls had really scratched up that sisal!

New cylinders to compare. Note the small bag with the hardware and Allen Key. We used our handy dandy cat fur remover and tried to get the old scratch post in near new condition.

What do you think? You can see that we got it all finished. Make sure that the Allen Key has everything secure. Gosh, I even amazed Calico and she gave the new sisal cylinders her Golden Paw Award – because they had a small bag of hardware with the Allen Key so I didn’t have to go rummaging around trying to find one!

Thank you so much for being with us today. Please take care of yourselves. We hope to have you with us soon!

Thank you to the following for their posts, notes, comments, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: SK Hideaways, Farmer’s Way, Diana Lambertson and The Joy of Ospreys, the CDC West Nile Virus, Cascade Raptor Centre, Fortis Exshaw Canmore, Heidi McGrue and The Joy of Ospreys, Montana Osprey Project, Openverse, BirdGuides, Cornell Bird Lab, Eagle 22, News & Observer, Connie Dennis and Ospreys of Nova Scotia, Pam Breci and The Joy of Ospreys, Charlo Montana, Newfoundland Power, Sandpoint Ospreys, Liznm, Holly Parsons, 367 Collins Street by Mirvac,

Wednesday in Bird World

11 September 2024

Good Morning Everyone,

Gosh, it is the middle of the week! The days are getting shorter. I noticed this evening when, after celebrating the grandson’s 16th birthday, I started home just after 1930. It was already getting ‘dark’. By the time I was half way home, it was. What happened to those beautiful evenings when we still had light at 2200? And have you had an ice cream cake? I must be the only person in the world that hadn’t until last night. It was so delicious, but the best thing is spending time with almost the whole family. Treasured moments. Everyone is so busy. Some of you will remember Elysha, the granddaughter who came with her environmental checklist more than two decades ago and changed my world. She is heading off to Paris on a European tour in a couple of weeks. I am so proud and happy for her and all of them. The birthday kiddo is in all the school choirs – they are outstanding. I am looking forward to some beautiful concerts this year.

Tuesdays and Thursdays are the afternoons when I have ‘respite’ care come to my house. As a consequence, you might find that the posts are Wednesday and Friday are somewhat shorter. A big shout out to ‘A’ who covers the Australian birds for us!!!!! She is in Melbourne and has a particular interest in those CBD falcons. Today she is thinking about the available prey for them. So even thought it is shorter today, I hope that there is a smile and some valuable information in there somewhere!

At the feeder was Mrs Downy today. No photo, sorry. I am so glad I saw her along with the Blue Jays, Crows, and other songbirds. Fall migration is in full gear, and we will be heading north to the Icelandic River up near Arborg, Manitoba, to see the fall migration of waterfowl. We have several reservations for goose flights and will be helping out with the cleanup of the shore near Delta Marsh. It looks like the next three weeks are going to be quite busy – delightfully so.

Have you ever wondered about the cost of keeping animals in rehab? Each of you has seen the request for donations when a bird comes into care. Please have a look at what Raptors in Rehab posted in 2022. I would love to see an up-to-date cost breakdown as we all know – everything has increased by at least 25% since then.

The biggest question on most of your minds is: ‘Is Iris still in Hellgate Canyon or has she left on migration?’ Let’s check in and see what is happening there. Here is the latest posting from Dr Green who is keeping a close eye on our family at Missoula:

There is a second posting by Dr Greene that might get you really excited. As you read further down you will see mention of the ‘Iris’ pens. I have had mine for several years since the last time Sharon Leigh’s husband made them. It is wonderful. Could that have been 2020? 2021?

What we have to realise is that Iris is like Dr Greene’s daughter. I think Finnegan has moved into son space – he is so excited about the family this year that a new camera is going up in hopes we have a re-run next season.

Antali had fish deliveries at 0856 and 1013. He was on the nest crying for fish and expecting a delivery at 1413, but nothing came. Both deliveries were from Finnegan. And then Finnegan could not let his lad go to bed hungry, he brought another fish at 1936.

The Owl Cam is showing Antali at the nest or sitting on the nest perch.

The last delivery of the day. Can you just hear Antali fish calling – probably as far as the train tracks. That delivery was at 1936.

If you missed it, you really need to check out the most amazing colours in the sea eagles plumage! https://youtu.be/LRiIuOhlu9g?

From FOBBV, an update on Jackie and Shadow and the Line Fire that is raging through San Bernadino County, California. https://youtu.be/j-lRBiHko6M?s

C16 had a really nice fish delivery from Charlie! Looks like the day got hotter as C16 is panting. The temperature in the area was 27 C or 81 F. The hydration in that fish is essential as ospreys do not ‘drink’ water.

Gosh C16 is one beautiful juvenile.

Xavier and Diamond are the favourites of so many of you. Their antics can keep us laughing our heads off. Diamond doesn’t like Starling, and Xavier always wants more ‘eggie’ time. We all know that Diamond is the ‘boss’, but we always shout and cheer for that tiny little male falcon. For those of you who don’t know, Xavier is exceptional. His name means ‘Saviour’, and he saved Diamond and her chicks when her old mate did not return. Xavier brought food for Diamond and the hatchlings, ensuring they were well-fed and protected. That was eight years ago. The pair have been together ever since.

Diamond trying to get Xavier up off the eggs. Meanwhile, Xavier appears to be asking for extra time.

‘A’ remakes: “At Orange, Xavier has been sitting on the ledge, keeping the incubating Diamond company, for about 90 minutes now. (He came into the scrape at about 09:02.) As I have mentioned in previous emails, he really has been doing this quite regularly this year. It is so sweet, and he is the sweetest little male falcon of them all (okay, I may be biased, and some of Annie’s partners have been adorable, but Xavier has been there since about 2016, so he is a long-term resident of our hearts here in Australia, especially considering the circumstances in which he came into Diamond’s life, supporting her and her chicks after mate Bulla disappeared. (I was unaware until recently that Diamond was only in her second season here when that occurred, so she has been with Xavier for all but one of the many seasons she has lived at this scrape.) 

Diamond and Xavier are very deeply bonded, and companionable behaviour like this is becoming more frequent each season, based on my observations. I honestly think these two get closer and closer – yes, they work well as a team when it comes to raising chicks, but it is more than that.  Xavier simply keeping Diamond company is so very ‘human’, but what else could he be doing? Waiting for egg time? He knows that bringing in a nice pigeon or a plump duckling would give him far more chance of some incubation time than simply sitting there, so that surely cannot be the aim of this exercise. It seems to me that companionship is the only rational explanation for the behaviour. Thoughts? Am I anthropomorphising yet again? But oh how we love little Xavier. “

‘A’ brings up a very good point about the availability of prey in areas abandoned during the pandemic including the CBD in Melbourne: “Speaking of cute little male falcons, the way M22 sings to his eggs at Collins Street just makes me smile every time. He is such a sweetie, but again, as with all new couples, I would prefer that only two of those eggs hatch. Three is a big ask for a new couple, given how rapaciously hungry little falcon eyases are. Let’s hope this pair is up to the task of providing for three chicks. The same of course applies at Orange, where chatters are all hoping for two while you and I are deeply concerned about the welfare of a third hatch at this scrape. Diamond has been very lazy with her second hatches over the past couple of seasons and I cannot even imagine what she would be like with three. Xavier might be allowed to step up and doing some feedings, of course, but wow, he would be working pretty hard. Diamond has a huge appetite (the size of her crop yesterday after her lunch, probably of pigeon, had to be seen to be believed – it was so gigantic, it simply HAD to be uncomfortable, surely) and having to provide for her plus three chicks would really put Xavier to the test. 

The Melbourne CBD has not recovered from COVID. Too many office workers got a taste of working from home, and the overseas students who lived in one-room apartments in the CBD (the only real resident community there – it’s otherwise offices and department stores) are only just starting to return in large numbers. My sister lives one suburb away from the CBD, in Fitzroy, and she said that since COVID, they (and other suburbs next to the CBD, such as Richmond) have had a major rat problem. Rats moved out of the CBD because without office workers and shoppers and residents providing rubbish for them to eat, they moved rather than starve. Now they are comfortably settled in Fitzroy and Richmond, of course, no-one has emailed them to tell them that people are back in the city and they can move back to their city digs so they have stayed where they are. 

I presume a new generation of rats is growing up in the city, but my point is that the pigeons would also have depended for food on those visitors and residents, so they too would have moved into the parks and suburbs around the city, and would see no reason to move back now. (although they would be way more mobile than the rats and may be aware that the food supply has started to return to the CBD).

The COVID-related changes,though, are presumably going to radically affect the food supply for falcons in the CBD this year. I am very worried that it may be difficult to provision a scrape containing three eyases right now. Time will tell, but I haven’t seen/heard any prey deliveries to the ledge over recent days. It seems mum (whom they are finally correctly referring to as F24 – at least on the videos I have seen) is finding her own food, flying off for a break and being relieved on incubation duty by M22. He does love his eggs, and we love listening to him talking to them. His enfluffling technique is a good one, and three eggs is about perfect for him. Four would be a stretch. “

The University of Toledo says this about the amount of food a falcon requires per day: “How much does a peregrine falcon eat in a day? An adult peregrine will eat about 70 grams (2 1/2 ounces) of food per day. This is equal to about two blackbirds.”

And the Young People’s Trust for the Environment says – if you didn’t know: “Birds are the peregrine’s favourite prey, ranging from small meadow pipits to larger birds such as red grouse and pigeons, although birds as big as a Brent goose may be tackled. In winter, estuary birds are often preyed on, such as ducks, gulls and waders. The falcon may also hunt rabbits and bats. Most victims are caught in the air; the peregrine circles high in the air, keeping a sharp eye out for prey. It can spot prey on the ground from a height of 300 metres. When a victim is spotted, the hunter suddenly snaps back its wings and plunges down in a dramatic ‘stoop’. It can reach speeds of up to 180mph (290 km/h). If the attack is successful, a blow from the peregrine’s sharp talons breaks the neck or back of the flying prey.

Birds on the ground and in hedges may be flushed out as the falcon flies over vegetation, and then they are pounced on. The catch is immediately taken to a plucking post such as a tree branch or rocky crag, and the feathers are pulled out. The whole carcass is eaten and any indigestible material is regurgitated in the form of pellets, usually near the peregrine’s nest. A peregrine eats about 100g of food per day. “

That gives you some idea of what the birds eat in an ideal environment. Falcons like catching the birds in the air so I am not worried about the rats – leave those to the owls and the hawks!

‘A’s final report for the day, “Finally, an update on our albatross chicks. There is good news on the contents of TF’s bolus, expelled I believe on 6 September. It contained three small pieces of plastic, a bottle top, and nothing else but squid beaks and more squid beaks, plus a few extra squid beaks. I was SO happy to see that. Yes, three pieces of plastic and a bottle top, but they made up a tiny percentage of the total (it weighed 75 – about 2.5 ounces in imperial measurements I think). There is a photo of it on the site. https://www.doc.govt.nz/nature/native-animals/birds/birds-a-z/albatrosses/royal-albatross-toroa/royal-cam/royal-cam-discussion/

We are on fledge watch, I think. It will be a matter of when the winds are favourable and the mood takes them. Lilibet’s fledge was a bit of a shock, and I fear it may have been a fludge – she was one of the younger chicks in the colony but fledged very early, into a storm. I worried about her so much. But the look of intense joy on her face in those final seconds before she launched into the winds of that storm, I will never forget. This was a creature about to embark on the epic journey that was her destiny. It was a highly emotional moment, and yes, I sobbed like a baby. I hope this year, they wait until they are physically stronger than Lilibet, as Manaaki did last year. But we could have fledges any day now. 

One of the reasons we are not getting weekly weigh-ins now is that the rangers are doing daily head counts so they know whether any chicks have left – the chicks will often move away from their natal nests to find a suitable launching place (based on the winds, obviously) for their fledge. Rangers keep a close eye out so that any chicks who don’t make it (ending up on a beach or ditching in the bay itself) can be rescued for a second attempt at fledging. “

I am posting it again if you did not see Geemeff’s season highlights video from Loch Arkaig. This year was sadly bittersweet with the death of Little Bob due to siblicide/starvation when food deliveries dropped and weather was bad. https://youtu.be/DO7XJOA6OEs?

This reminds me. If I am missing any bird from our streaming cams that died, let me know. Thanks so very much.

‘PB’ has been contacting Niagara Bee to no avail. They were to check the video feed and determine what killed one of the fledglings in the nest.

J’ sends news about the Duke Farms Bald Eagle nest:

The Bald Eagle nest that everyone is watching is NE Florida. The necrotic toe male was at the nest early Tuesday, cuddled up with Gabby on the branch. Beau was there later and appears to be keeping any other ‘intruders’ away.

The Osprey translocation project in Italy is doing well.

There must be a lot of exasperated people in the UK when it comes to the mysterious deaths of raptors. Laws do not seem to stop the shooters. The penalties when they go to court are laughable. What a sad situation and now eight more dead or missing – beautiful Hen Harriers.

These owl faced small raptors are one of my favourites. They live in the heather on the moorlands in Scotland and make their nests on the ground. They are one of the most endangered raptors in the UK. They feed on grouse and other small birds which puts them in peril near the grouse moor hunting estates. It is there they are shot or their innocent chicks trampled to death in the nest.

Eight more hen harriers for the dead_missing list – Raptor Persecution UKDownload

“Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus)” by gilgit2 is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

Last, but never least, checking in with Skylor in Nova Scotia’s Russell Lake area. If you haven’t seen this FB group, do. What a laugh. Connie and Don Dennis have managed to get everyone in Nova Scotia watching and reporting on their local nests. It is incredible. More than 30 of them! I bet camera and binoculars – oh, gosh, scope sales soared, too, like the ospreys.

Calico’s Tip for the Day: Leave the Leaves. Don’t Bag them. That could injure the insects. If you must, rake them carefully into a corner. Put away that noisy leaf blower. It is annoying to everyone that has sensitive ears. Just constrain yourselves. Leave the leaves alone. Take that time to read a good book or go for a walk OR pet a cat!

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

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, comments, articles, images, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘A, Geemeff, J, PB’, Raptors in Rehab, Montana Osprey Cams, Montana Osprey Project, SK Hideaways, FOBBV, Owl Research Project, Charles Sturt Falcon Cam, 367 Collins Street by Mirvac, University of Toledo, YPET, NZ DOC, Geemeff and the Woodland Trust, Conserve Wildlife of NJ, NEFL-AEF, Gregorious Joris Toonen, Raptor Persecution UK, Open Verse, Ospreys of Nova Scotia, and Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge.

Tuesday in Bird World

10 September 2024

Good Morning Everyone,

It is a scorcher, but thankfully, there is a good breeze. Clear blue sky, sun beating down, 30 C. We have filled the bird baths twice, and they require more water. It is 1341. Most of the little songbirds stay in the shade of the lilacs and that deep tunnel we created between them and the trees at the back. Two Blue Jays are getting peanuts off the big table feeder. I have yet to see the squirrels.

We had a bit of a fright Monday morning. All of the doors were locked and secured. Like many of you, I have a particular alarm if those doors are opened. It did not go off. Baby Hope did not come for breakfast. She always comes, but she never eats wet food. She did not come. I know precisely how quickly one can go from calm to hysterical – about 15 seconds! The storage room was emptied, and all appliances, cupboards, etc. were checked. No Hope. Eventually, she was found ‘terrified’ under the sitting room sofa. We had checked, and she wasn’t there, but she was this time. She was very skittery. She came out after four hours and nosed Calico, and they had a bit of a tumble. She is not herself. Quite frightened. I cannot imagine what has scared her so much. I wait in the hope that she will be herself soon. And, by 1600 she was fine. Very strange. It did force me to clean the storage room, though. Lots of things on the boulevard that others might want or need!

In Bird World, Antali and Finnegan are at the Hellgate nest. The image below is Iris who is also still home and who visited the nest shortly after noon on Monday. Iris has a necklace and Finnegan is white breasted like Antali. She needs a fish!

It will not be long til Antali is prepared to take flight and then Finnegan will probably eat up for a day and take off. In normal circumstances, the male will never leave a fledgling. They do not normally catch their own fish until they are on their way away from the nest, although some have been known to be precocious and do fish.

Antali was on and off the nest and the perch. Finnegan brought him a headless fish at 1240.

And away Finnegan goes!

At Charlo Montana, C16 is on the nest wanting fish. His chest is quite sunken – the kiddo needs a fish. It is very windy there. C16 got some fish!!!!!

The nest cleaners – European Starlings – were at Dunrovin.

‘H’ tells me that this camera at Osoyoos has been frozen for a number of days. It came back on Monday morning. ‘H’ identifies this juvenile as #2 or Middle. Soo delivers a fish on Monday, too. Mum is still home.

At Newfoundland Power Snow Lane’s nest, Beaumont and Hope are both home along with at least one juvenile. I did not see a fight for fish which makes me wonder if one of the fledglings has left the area.

Keo is still delivering fish to River at the Sandpoint Osprey platform.

Harvie is delivering fish to the Fortis-Exshaw nest also.

There is at least one juvenile hanging around the Blackbush at Old Tracadie Harbour osprey platform hoping for some fish. I did not see a delivery and I cannot tell you if it is a single osplet coming and going or more than one. No one is banded! And I have not studied the head patterns of the chicks at this nest.

I did not see any Ospreys at the Cowlitz PUD nest on Monday.

Some may be concerned about the Line Fire in San Bernardino County and Jackie and Shadow. Sharon Pollock posted news from Big Bear:

Jackie and Shadow are very experienced and they can fly and we must presume they will do so to get out of harm’s way should the fire spread to the area of their territory in Big Bear Valley.

Didn’t see any eagles at the WRDC nest when I checked. It is the home to Ron and Rose.

The latest migrator bird count as posted on the Loch Arkaig FB page! Only 36 ospreys so far.

This is Geemeff’s closing daily summary for Loch Arkaig and The Woodland Trust. Enjoy! She will be back with us in the spring after our osprey family arrives.

Final daily summary Monday 9th September 2024

Quoting WTS George: As the dried up flounder tail of time finally descends into the expectant crop of autumn, I notice it’s nearly the end of our season… I’m sorry I haven’t an Osprey, but here’s one I prepared earlier: A rollercoaster season in 2024: triumph, tragedy, and plenty more! Season’s highlights captured from Nest Cam Two, I’ll be doing a separate highlights video for Nest One in due course which will be on my YouTube channel and I’ll also post it on Adam’s site,  

https://walkingwithdaddy.com/osprey/  To keep in touch over winter, Adam welcomes everyone to his site, it also uses Hyvor, and for those on Facebook there is the Friends of Loch Arkaig. It has been an eventful season, all part of nature in the raw, and it will be interesting to see what next year brings. Hoping for two resident families next year.

Many thanks to everyone for their company during the season, special thanks to George for this forum, and Woodland Trust for allowing me to clip bits off their livestreams for my own amusement, Steve Q for the fish stats, Liz B for the wonderful off-nest reports, Beverley for the overnight reports, and Postcode Lottery for funding the nest cams. Extra special thanks to Brenda J for keeping me up to date when I’m away by sending me frequent fishmails, much appreciated.

I look forward to Spring 2025 and Season Nine for the Loch Arkaig Ospreys.

Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 20.39.55 (05.57.58); Nest Two 20.35.01 (06.05.38)

Today’s videos: 

https://youtu.be/DO7XJOA6OEs A rollercoaster season in 2024: triumph, tragedy, and plenty more! Season’s highlights 2024

Blast from the past, this day in previous years:

https://youtu.be/XUYF6OEpQ88  N2 Sarafina does a fly-by before landing 2022

https://youtu.be/sUpzBM54QHY  N2 Thief! A Raven arrives and steals a stick 2022

https://youtu.be/PLOmU0AJ8nM  N2 Several little birds come and go on the empty nest 2022

https://youtu.be/BQC_B1pN3tk  N2 Lights at night near the nest – deer management team 2022

https://youtu.be/5LK7YZ2CtZ8  N2 Confirmed – final sighting of Sarafina LW6 2022

https://youtu.be/6h4T2QWS_68  N2 Three Bullfinches (Pyrrhula pyrrhula) visit 2023

Watch the Loch Arkaig Osprey livestream 24/7 and join in the conversation here:

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/osprey-cam

The White-tailed eagle at Port Lincoln is growing. There were high winds the other day and some were concerned. It is still there – that little white bundle in the straw.

Tweed Valley’s Teddy (oh, just adorable as a youngster in the nest) is in Portugal. He made it!!!!!!!!!!

At Nova Scotia’s Russell Lake osprey nest, Oscar and Sylor are still home.

Beautiful close-ups of the Olympic Park sea eagles. The gorgeous rust is coming in at the tip of the espresso-black juvenile feathers. My goodness talk about gorgeous on that snow white! https://youtu.be/LRiIuOhlu9g?

‘A’ remarks, “Just TOO cute this morning was SE33, who tried to join in when Dad and Lady were doing their 05:39 morning duet. The tiny little honks were the most adorable thing I’ve heard in days. I couldn’t quite believe my ears, so I rewound and could see SE33’s little body vibrating with the honking it was doing. 

SE34 is growing very nicely and looking active and healthy. SE33 is fed first at most feedings, by mutual agreement, but SE34 is almost always able to eat enough once SE33 has eaten enough. And of course Lady is keeping an eye on him.

The eaglets did a lot of preening while waiting for their meal this morning. They must both be itchy, with feathers emerging everywhere! SE33’s tail feathers are becoming visible now too. Breakfast arrived courtesy of Dad shortly before 06:25. Again, it was young and feathered. SE33 was closest to the table and as usual was fed first. (SE34 still appeared to have a reasonable crop from the night before!) 

Shortly before 06:29, SE34 shuffles forward so that the two eaglets are side by side. He is rewarded with his first bite of breakfast. SE33 is unbothered until Lady goes to give SE34 a second consecutive bite, at which point SE33 leans in front of SE34 and steals the bite from Lady’s beak. Remember the pecking order, mum! Lady gives SE34 the next bite, and again there is no objection from SE33 until mum goes to give SE34 a second bite, and again, SE33 leans in to take what it believes to be rightfully its mouthful. 

Lady resumes feeding SE33 only, with SE34 a step further back from the table, waiting his turn. SE34 definitely appears larger than its older sibling as they sit side by side at this morning’s feeding. It may be extra fluff, but it may also be because SE34 is female or because SE34 has been getting the better of the feedings over the last few days (which I don’t think is the case – at least not on a regular basis). So I will be fascinated to know (if we ever do find out) what gender these two are. I do so wish they would band and sex these nestlings. It would really help SO much in establishing where they are dispersing to and whether they are breeding successfully in their new territories. That surely would be worth knowing. But obviously not. “

At Port Lincoln, Heidi caught Dad delivering the morning fish.

.’A’ brings us up to date on Xavier and Diamond, “At Orange, Xavier had nearly two hours of egg time this afternoon, though Diamond has now resumed her rightful position as incubator in chief. Diamond was swooped four times in the middle of this afternoon by a black-shouldered kite but sustained no damage. All is well between them of course, with bonding early this morning and Xavier spending quite a bit of time just standing next to Diamond as she incubates the eggs. He is such a darling. He adores Diamond…..Diamond and Xavier had a particularly early bonding session in the scrape this morning (04:36:50), after which Xavier remained in the nest box for about an hour, just hanging about and keeping Diamond company. He has been doing this quite a lot over recent days. He is just SO sweet and he really does adore Diamond. She is doing most of the incubating, but Xavier did get a half-hour of egg time shortly after 11am (Diamond has just resumed her position on the eggs). These two are just SO endearing, and we have watched them together for several years now, 24/7 all year round, so they are like family to us and we know their little habits and routines so well. Of course it makes us all experts! We like to think we understand these two, but of course we don’t. We only get a glimpse of their lives. We’ll never know what it feels like to go into a stoop at 100 miles an hour for example. We see only one part of their lives really – their relationship with each other and with their chicks. But I sometimes wish they could equip a falcon with a tiny camera that gave us a vicarious version of their true lives… At Orange, a persistent visitor today was a willy wagtail, who repeatedly landed confidently on the ledge. Such cute little birds, so well known in the Australian bush. Very brave and determined little creatures. Xavier bought himself some egg time when Diamond headed off for lunch, returning with an absolute monster of a crop. The general consensus was that it contained a luncheon pigeon and would sustain her until morning. It was so gigantic that it appeared almost as large as Xavier. All of him. He took one look at the gigantic Diamond on the ledge and made no protest at all – left the eggs and the scrape in double quick time for him. These two really make me laugh. They are so ‘human’ in their interactions, or perhaps they just make it easy for us to anthropomorphise. Hatch watch begins some time in the first week of October. I really hope there are only two hatches and that they are not too far apart. And a Dudley to lean on or to use as a pillow is always useful for the younger chick when trying to reach Diamond’s beak. Many chatters are hoping for three chicks but I don’t think they’ve watched Diamond closely enough!  We both know how lazy she can be, even with two, and the younger chick in her scrape really has to work hard for its food. Mind you, it does usually end up pretty proficient at getting fed, like darling Rufus. Such a sweet little falcon. I loved him dearly. He was such a personality for one so small, and so very determ”

There is sad news coming out of Kakapo Recovery. Thank you, ‘J’ – Ranger was my adopted Kakapo!

‘A’ sends news of the Royal Cam chick: “We are getting so close to fledge at Taiaroa Head, where TF chick was 231 days old today and TFT chick about a week younger. Neither was weighed today, as the rangers are concentrating on chicks requiring supplementary feeding (one is being fed five days a week, which is most unusual). Last week, TF chick weighed 9.7kg (average for male chicks of that age at this colony) and he has been fed by both parents in the week since. He produced a bolus on 6 September, so was obviously ready to fledge, and has been really working his wings over the past couple of days. Probably all it will take are favourable winds to launch him on the lonely journey that will be his life. When I switched on the albatross tab for a quick chick check tonight and could see no signs of TF sleeping on his nest, my heart literally skipped a beat. Is he gone? No-one on the chat is indicating that there has been a fledge but I cannot see either of the chicks (TF or TFT) right now. (It is a particularly dark night and TF’s new nest is not in the circle of light provided by the IR light on the camera.) But both chicks were still on the headland late this afternoon (around 17:30), so I doubt they have departed quite yet. I am unsure whether TFT has produced a bolus as yet, but TF has been fed by both parents since producing his on 6 September so will probably produce another before fledging. I have read nothing about the contents of the bolus he has expelled.”

Calico wants to give everyone some ways to make their phone last longer. Our reading time Monday night was an article in The New York Times. She was surprised when we read that you should not plug your phone in and charge it overnight every night – that you should check your settings and only charge your phone to 80%. The battery will last longer! There are other tips and she hopes that they will help you. Calico wants you to use Merlin when you go for a walk or go to the park and check for birds!

Wirecutter: You Don’t Need a New Phone. Here’s How to Make the One You Have Last Longer.

https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/reviews/how-to-make-your-phone-last-longer

One of our heroes is Bob Horvath and this year the Centreport Eagle family is donating all of the proceeds of their 2025 calendar to WINORR – Horvath’s organization that rescues and rehabilitates raptors including many of our beloved ospreys. Here is the information:

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, streaming cams, annual summaries and daily synopsis: ‘Geemeff, H, J’, Montana Osprey Project, Owl Research Project/Explore, Fortis-Exshaw Osoyoos Osprey Platform, Newfoundland Power, Fortis-Exshaw Canmore Osprey Cam, Sandpoint Osprey Platform, Blackbush, Cowlitz PUD, Sharon Pollock, FOBBV, WRDC, Loch Arkaig FB Page, Geemeff and The Woodland Trust, Port Lincoln Ospreys, Connie Dennis and Ospreys of Nova Scotia FB, Tweed Valley Osprey Project, and Heidi McGrue and Port Lincoln Ospreys, Charles Sturt Falcon Cam, Kakapo Recovery, and The New York Times.

Monday in Bird World

9 September 2022

Good Morning Everyone,

It is Sunday, and the sky is hazy. It is 27 C at 1730. Sorry for the mantra, but 27 C is nearly as hot as St. George’s Grenada, WI, which is 29 C. Tomorrow is forecast to be 30 C, then 28, and again 30 C on Wednesday. Please let me know if I am wrong, but this is exceptional heat this time of year for Winnipeg. Fort Myers, home to M15 and F23, is 31 C, while it is a cool 13 in Port Lincoln, 10 in Orange, and 12 C in Melbourne. One of the hot spots is Osoyoos, home to Soo and Olsen, which is 34 C. I have yet to see anyone on the nest there, and I hope they have begun their migration. The temperatures are important. We witnessed what heat can do to raptors this summer. The Bald Eagles feeding here in Manitoba (one of the coldest places on the planet in the winter, according to many sources) would stay during the winter if there were food. Several remain in Winnipeg – one lives on the roof of one of our major hospitals. The other couple did live at Ft. Whyte Alive. There is plenty of prey in the winter. Some were seen pecking at ice, trying to get fish at Lake Winnipeg.

The birdfeeders and the feral cat station were filled early Sunday morning. We have a raccoon who is visiting some nights. It makes a huge mess of everything. Tips the lower bird bath over and dumps and eats all the food for either the community cats or the Crows. It ate an entire chicken carcass one night! I am sitting watching Little Red and one of Dyson’s kits alternate gathering peanuts along with the Blue Jays.

They are taking them away, storing them somewhere. I do hope not in or on the bark of a tree destined to be cut. There are House Wrens and House Sparrows around, too. The cheesy dog bowl is full and Mr Crow has finally arrived. It is 1022. Baby Hope is eating hard food, and Calico is staring at the other cat dishes, wondering what happened to all the wet food. Missey ate it and cleaned up all the extra. So now they wait until 1700 – vet rules. While we want some fat on our ospreys, the vet wants the cats ‘more lean’ than ‘pleasantly plump’. Calico has done well on her diet, and her playfulness is a testament to how weight can impact their behaviour.

‘The Girls’ are fine. They are enjoying having more songbirds in the garden to watch and all the squirrels scurrying around.

Hugo Yugo curled up in the house of the cat tree, sleeping after dinner. It seems cats go into food comas, too!

Missey used to sleep in the plant pots with Lewis after they were watered. She barely fits now.

Everyone would like to sleep in the little basket! Hope is waiting patiently. It is impossible for both to sleep together, not enough room. Hugo Yugo is small, but Hope is nearly the size of Calico.

Hope is busy checking out one of the Blue Jays. I must have startled Hugo Yugo! She had been busy watching the Jays flit around eating cheesy dogs, trying not to get stung by the wasps that had invaded the space.

We have several visitors to the feral cat feeder now. There is ‘The Boyfriend’ who has been coming for over 18 months, the other black cat with an entire bowtie moustache and now a young solid black kitten and a ginger male. We know that the ginger male belongs to a neighbour who insists on leaving him out. We hope that he does not get hit by any of the cars that use the streets like they are race tracks.

Calico was very interested in the younger solid black cat. She watched it moving back and forth from the door to the small cat tree. It is really sweet and I will post its image in our neighbourhood FB group tonight.

Gosh. Sunday was just the most beautiful day. Perfect weather. We need rain, but I am thankful for these days. Let it rain at night!

In Bird World, Gabby has been seen mating with ‘the visitor’ – not Beau. Are we destined to have another year of males fighting over Gabby with no eaglets produced?

Every talon is checked and the folks at the AEF are busy trying to identify the necrotic male. Is it A1 from last year?

There is conflicting information, and I cannot see the eagle’s feet to the left. AEF said that Gabby and Beau were at the nest. Their moderator further stated that Gabby and Beau flew off later, and Beau returned to the nest. Gabby did not return. Others have posted that it was ‘the visitor with the necrotic feet’ on the branch next to Gabby, noting that Gabby and Beau hardly ever perched next to one another. We will have to wait and see how this season’s drama unfolds.

The AEF confirms that this is Beau in the tree. He arrived just at 1150.

Then Gabby returned and the couple worked on their nest before heavy rains began.

Beau is still at the nest (confirmed by AEF). He shakes the rain off and looks out over the horizon from the Lookout Tree.

Send good energy that Beau is up to be a great mate AND Dad this year and that all the others leave this couple alone!!!!!!

At Hellgate Canyon, Finnegan delivered the breakfast fish to Antali who, after taking a few bites, flew off the nest with his fish. No sign of Sum-eh at the nest fighting for fish and everyone thinks that she has now left the area. Iris normally departs on the 8th of September. Will she stay longer? or will we see her one last time on Sunday?

Antali certainly went to sleep with an enormous crop.

Beaumont and Hope were on the nest bringing fish to the two juveniles on Sunday so everyone is home at Snow Lane in Newfoundland.

Fish deliveries continue to happen at Sandpoint.

Charlie is still delivering fish to the Charlo Montana nest for C16.

Big Bear and the diamonds. No Jackie or Shadow.

‘J’ writes that Bowen’s body has been removed from the Boundary Bay Nest by the Hancock Wildlife Foundation in the hopes that they might be able to determine what caused the eaglet to die.

There are ospreys know not to return to their natal nest area. Researchers are curious about why this is the case. Gregorius Joris Tooen (he worked with the translocation project of ospreys to Ireland) posted some information and thoughts on this phenomena that I believe will interest you.

In Wales, LJ2, the male at Llyn Brenig, partner of Blue 372, is believed to have left the nest and begun his migration after the last of the chicks departed.

Geemeff’s daily summary for Loch Arkaig and The Wooden Trust.

Daily summary Sunday 8th September 2024

No activity today, other than magnificent scenery on the nests this morning when the promised fog materialised. The weather did brighten up but heavy rain is forecast, and tomorrow will be a good day to end these summaries and close the season by posting my unofficial season highlights video. Woodland Trust will be posting the official highlights and closing this comments page soon, but the livestreams will be available on YouTube, links below, plus previous seasons and plenty of interesting content on Woodland Trust’s channel:  https://www.youtube.com/@woodlandtrust/videos

Nest One livestream: https://www.youtube.com/live/–l_qKzu2kE

Nest Two livestream: https://www.youtube.com/live/cThAEtbegKk

Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 20.46.35 (05.39.02); Nest Two 20.49.31 (05.47.00)

Today’s videos: none

Bonus feel-good moments:

https://youtu.be/GxOwVJ8LeEY  Together again: the reunion of Aila & Louis (2018)

https://youtu.be/zFWxru4yOOY  Together again: the reunion of Aila & Louis (2019)

https://youtu.be/j_2zRRZeJQY  Together again: the reunion of Aila & Louis (2020)

https://youtu.be/9p84l65VnYo  Together again: the reunion of Louis & Dorcha (2022)

https://youtu.be/2I51i5kIVa0  Together again: the reunion of Louis & Dorcha (2023)

https://youtu.be/_5ll1MON-d0  Together again: the reunion of Louis & Dorcha (2024)
Blast from the past, this day in previous years:
https://youtu.be/0vx1Z3vHCao Hello Sarafina! Still here! (2022)
https://youtu.be/vmErkxkRRf4 Hoodie darts in and steals a scrap (2022 slo-mo)
https://youtu.be/-YWJzjJRAJM Confirmed – last sighting of Louis (2022)
https://youtu.be/VltxbEF37Ow Exit Sarafina, pursued by a Chaffinch (2022)

Watch the Loch Arkaig Osprey livestream 24/7 and join in the conversation here:

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/osprey-cam

M22 and F23 are talking (or is it singing) to their eggs. Incredibly sweet. https://youtu.be/_k5CMRjQhtE?

The only surviving osprey chick at the Osprey Environment Centre in Queensland is growing and thriving. The other chick, the smallest one, died on the 12th of August after severe weather, poor fish deliveries, and according to the centre, some bullying from the oldest sibling.

The end of season summary from Dyfi Osprey Project in Wales. They are truly proud of Idris and Telyn pulling off ‘another hat trick’. Thanks, Dyfi. I wish that every streaming cam in the world would produce an end of year detailed summary such as this!

2024 DOP Summary – Another Hat-trick Year | Dyfi Osprey ProjectDownload

This applies to both hemispheres.

At the Olympic Park Eagle nest, Judy Harrington gives us a good summary of the events of the 8th.

In Melbourne, our lovely CBD falcon couple discuss issues related to incubation! https://youtu.be/NyNmGPncatg?

Frankie is still at Fenwick Island still bringing fish to his juvenile, Fen.

The Royal Cam chick (hardly a chick anymore!) has gorgeous wings and has been hoping around and hovering. Soon, very soon, this beauty will take to the skies.

In Bulgaria, the Greater Flamingo has been residing there, but they have never nested and bred. Now they have.

Greater Flamingo breeds in Bulgaria for first time – BirdGuidesDownload

Friends of Sth Australia Ospreys (our Port Lincoln friends) need a treasurer. Do you know someone qualified to help? (This is the biggest I can cut and paste, apologies).

Thank you so much for being with us today. Take care all. 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: ‘Geemeff, J, PB’, NEFL-AEF, Montana Osprey Project, Newfoundland Power, Charlo Montana, Sandpoint Ospreys, FOBBV, Gregorious Joris Toonen, Llyn Brenig Osprey Project, Geemeff and The Woodland Trust, Osprey House Environmental Centre, Dyfi Osprey Project, Birds of South Jersey, Judy Harrington and Sydney Sea Eagle Cam, SK Hideaways, Heidi McGrue, NZ DOC, BirdGuides, and Fran Solly and Friends of Osprey.

Wednesday in Bird World

4 September 2024

Good Morning Everyone,

It was 29 C on Tuesday in Winnipeg. Hot. Ice cream weather. There was a hawk high on a pole near to a grain elevator just outside the city. Skeins of geese flew into the City as the sun began to set. Migration is truly on. I look forward to heading out to the marsh for the geese landing later this month and at the nature centre. These can be amazing moments with hundreds, sometimes thousands, flying in and landing on the water. It is so beautiful.

I was with my best friend today. She lost her husband a little over a week ago. So today’s blog is a little thin. Events in Bird World are also very thin! It is that in-between time except for the Australian streaming cams.

We are going to start with Geemeff’s summary for Loch Arkaig and The Woodland Trust:

Daily summary Tuesday 3rd September 2024

A damp day with occasional fogging of the camera lenses but with the prospect of a dry night tonight and a few sunny patches tomorrow. A Raven flying near Nest Two being carefully watched by the Mistle Thrushes perching on the nest was today’s only activity. 

Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 21.15.35 (05.31.19); Nest Two 21.28.54 (05.43.26)

Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/SANdIv1GZKc N2 A pair of Mistle Thrushes visit, and a Raven flies nearby 13.42.31 (zoom)

Bonus action – plenty of time to select your favourite and vote for Woodland Trust’s Tree of the Year:

https://www.timeout.com/uk/news/these-are-all-the-shortlisted-trees-for-tree-of-the-year-2024-090324

Please note one of the candidates, the Darwin Oak, is under threat from development, link to the petition to save it:

https://www.change.org/p/save-the-darwin-oak

Watch the Loch Arkaig Osprey livestream 24/7 and join in the conversation here:

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/osprey-cam

Oscar and one fledgling are still at Tweed Valley.

The Melbourne Ospreys are having to fight off intruders. Stay safe, Dad! We don’t want a repeat of 2023. https://youtu.be/zOGHyN6snQ8?

Dad not only defends the Melbourne scrape, but returns to relieve Mum from incubation duties! What a guy. https://youtu.be/XvTDg9J8OIg?

Ron and Rose were at the WRDC nest!

Antali was on and off the nest most of Tuesday. Breakfast was a smaller whole fish around 10:39.

Finnegan supplied a nice headless fish later in the day to his screaming juvenile!

Rose Shields gives us the latest news from Border Ospreys. Thanks, Jeff, for posting it!

WELL, WELL, WELL – Border OspreysDownload

Pam Breci posts the last sighting of Mum Winnie at Dunrovin Ranch.

Dad not only defends the Melbourne scrape, but returns to relieve Mum from incubation duties! What a guy. https://youtu.be/XvTDg9J8OIg?

You might have heard about the kerfuffel about renaming 150 birds that was instigated by the American Ornithological Society. Mark Avery from the UK has his say:

Mark Avery: it’s not all in a name – BirdGuidesDownload

Tulley, Rosie, and Richmond were still at the SF Golden Gate Audubon Osprey nest on 3 September. https://youtu.be/X2YoikLzBnU?

Dad LJ2 and Mum 372 were still at the Llyn Brenig nest with the two fledglings on Tuesday.

Blue 33 has not been seen on the Rutland Manton Bay nest since the 2nd of September. It is presumed he has begun his migration. Maya was last seen on the 30th and Blue 1R0 last seen on the 29th.

Ospreys are really moving down from the UK to their winter homes in West Africa.

There is an eagle on the Dulles-Greenway nest on Tuesday. https://youtu.be/UIC9KOR70hw?

Olympic Park sea eaglets are growing and growing. Enjoy them in their lovely white down, because all of those pin feathers are going to be gorgeous feathers very soon.

Both Sea Eaglets had full crops at the Olympic Park Eagle nest. https://youtu.be/1W5VeBHOI98?

These additions to the UK Red List of Birds make me sad. The Arctic Tern. I read, during the dark winter months, a book about a woman who followed what she believed would be the very last terns to fly from the Arctic to the Southern Hemisphere and she followed them. It was incredibly moving. The book was Migrations. And this is a note about it, “Migrations follows Franny Stone’s journey following the last of the Arctic terns. The time is in the not too distant future and almost every bird, fish, and wild animal is extinct. Almost all domestic and farmed raised fish, birds, and other animals are raised for food.”

This is the article in The Guardian about the addition of the two birds to the Red List. Again, said twice, this breaks my heart. The future is at our doorstep.

Arctic tern and common gull join red list of UK species in crisis | Birds | The GuardianDownload

From Geemeff: Sad news – anglers, PLEASE take your rubbish home!

https://www.birdguides.com/news/kingfisher-found-dead-in-fishing-line/

For all you SW Florida fans, ‘J’ sent a historical summary by Wskrsnwings to us:

Season 1 2012-2013 Videos link: http://bit.ly/1wJAphi

Season 2 2013-2014 Videos link: http://bit.ly/1U9p0Av

Season 3 2014-2015 Videos link: http://bit.ly/1FlPEjc

Season 4 2015-2016 Videos link: http://bit.ly/1Nqaxz8

Season 5 2016-2017 Videos link: http://bit.ly/2cSOUcL

Season 6 2017-2018 Videos link: http://bit.ly/2w7FeqH

Season 7 2018-2019 Videos link: http://bit.ly/2Nthd2w

Season 8 2019-2020 Videos link: http://bit.ly/2lvqYnC

Season 9 2020-2021 Videos link: https://bit.ly/3iGSmI5

Season 10 2021-2022 Videos link: https://bit.ly/3h6Hmow

Season 11 2022-2023 Videos link: https://bit.ly/3qFa6sQ

Season 12 2023-2024 Videos link: https://bit.ly/3sVHAaT

Season 13 2024-2025 Videos link: https://dickpritchettrealestate.com/videos/

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 this morning: ‘J, Geemeff’, Geemeff and The Woodland Trust, Tweed Valley Osprey Project, Gracie Shepherd, Montana Osprey Project, Rosie Shields and Border Ospreys, Pam Breci and The Joy of Ospreys, Llyn Brenig Ospreys, Mary Cheadle and Friends of Loch Arkaig Ospreys, SK Hideaways, Charlotte McConagy, Migrations, The Guardian, Dulles Greenway Eagle Cam, Geemeff and BirdGuides, ‘J’ and Wskrnwngs.

Diamond lays second egg…Thursday in Bird World

29 August 2024

Hello Everyone!

Update: Diamond laid her second egg at 23:57 on the 29th. Thanks, ‘H’ for the news!

Oh, it started off much cooler Wednesday, but by 1500 was 25 C. Hugo Yugo was busy looking out the window at all the birds while all the others were having siestas.

This is Hugo Yugo’s favourite pose. She is often caught watching the telly leaning over the arm of the sofa.

She can be an angel.

The look of Calico when she is enjoying a good scratch!

Baby Hope (aka Calico Kitty Kitty) is just about as big as her mother. She is going to be 14 months old on 2 September.

My day is very hectic and it is possible that this could be the shortest posting ever! Things remain quiet with nothing untoward happening at any of the nests other than fledglings frantically fighting for fish and getting their talons caught or eagles returning to nests that require improvements. We have the second egg at Collins Street. These two are both apparently new falcon parents to this ledge. It goes to show you just how difficult life is within the world of tall buildings compared to Diamond and Xavier. The history of that couple at Orange is as follows and comes from the information below the streaming cam: “Diamond took over from the older Swift in 2015 and Xavier replaced Bula in 2016 (who in turn replaced our first male, Beau, in 2015). Xavier arrived just as the eggs were hatching and saved the season by providing for Diamond and her three chicks. Assuming that they were at least two years old when they arrived, Diamond is at least eleven years old and Xavier nine (in 2024).”

Most cite the average age of a peregrine falcon being between 12-15 years with the average maximum life span being 16-20 years. Research has shown that older female falcons lay fewer eggs and they are less fertile. According to Birds of North America‘s peregrine falcon article: “Female age has a significant effect on all measures of reproductive success: clutch size, fertility, hatchability, brood size, nestling survivability, and number of fledglings. In all but nestling survival, the data best fit a quadradic model, reflecting an initial increase in performance followed by decrease with age.”

The Raptor Resource Project has a good article on life expectancy of falcons:

Raptor Resource Project: Bald Eagle and Bird of Prey CamsDownload

Charles Sturt University and Dr Cilla Kinross have a page of questions and answers and they include this information: “Sadly, the mortality rate for juveniles in their first year is as high as 60% with accidents while learning flying skills a major contributor. Survival improves with each year of life thereafter, with a general six-year life expectancy for peregrines in the wild. There are exceptions of course, with Diamond and Xavier being prime examples, and wild falcons can live up to 19 years. Fertility in a female peregrine will decline with age. In effect, fewer eggs will be laid with some being infertile and others not hatching resulting in fewer fledglings.”

So we wait to see. Diamond might be considered a senior citizen in the falcon world. Will this couple have more eggs? will any of them hatch? We will have to wait and see.

Geemeff has taken a break to see ospreys and she says that the ospreys are catching fish and the white-tail eagles are coming out of the sky to steal then and then they are getting mobbed. Everyone wants free food. Don’t think for a second that life is easy for our feathered friends. it is anything but.

The Crows are clamouring for the cheesy dogs while the squirrels, Little Red and Dyson, work hard for their peanuts. It is a grey overcast day. The temperature was cool this morning, and they might feel, as I do, that fall is in the air. There is a notable change, just in a couple of days, with the colours of the leaves in the trees. A chartreuse, an ochre, and a russet weren’t there at the weekend.

Bywyd Gwylld Glaslyn released a video showing Aran delivering a whopper of a fish to the nest. Two fledglings, 6M8 and 6M9, there anxious. One grabs the fish and the other gets towed away by Dad! The comment was on how strong Aran was to lift that chick and carry it. No osprey was injured. I wanted you to see where the nest on the top of the tree is and imagine that the camera is refreshed annually along with the cot rails, if needed.

It looks to me like it was Antali and Iris on the Hellgate Canyon nest and then a rare appearance from Sum-eh (I could be wrong). If so, all four family members are still in the area and have not begun migration.

Feel free to correct me – looks like Sum-eh’s head markings.

Yes, Sum-eh was at the nest and her and Antali had a big fight for a fish! https://youtu.be/3iUo5CqrxwQ?si=PVTVat6Kp_EBp0Gq

Sum-eh won that round but Antali got a delivery of a live fish later! https://youtu.be/QuRL-7eaeOM?si=UmDZcq6tSEqtd7pb

At Port Lincoln, Mum is right on time and has laid egg #2 early Thursday morning. She holds her position and doesn’t give anything away letting the egg cool and harden before beginning incubation again.

PLO has a video of the second egg’s arrival. https://youtu.be/SoBhoQrwGWw?

Our new Mum at Collins Street. Gosh, let’s hope this family has good luck on this ledge. Life is difficult enough. They have a good spot save for the scalding heat that will come down on them. Hopefully Mum will move the chicks to the north end where it has shade.

There has been bonding and mating at Orange. Xavier would like another egg hedging his bets on not all eggs hatching.

SE33 asleep and SE34 watching for an adult to arrive with food at the Sydney Olympic Forest. SE34 did not have a lot of food yesterday so it was a great relief that it began the 29th with a nice big crop! The little one is still very skitterish around 33.

‘A’ gives us her narrative of events for the Olympic Park Eagles: “Although Lady and Dad were up and awake, dueting, at 6am, the littles were still waiting for breakfast at WBSE at 8am, and by 08:11 they were starting to bicker. SE33 stood up and leaned forward to stretch her wings. This impinged on SE34’s personal space so he bonked his older sister who immediately retaliated. Both then get stuck into some preening, as it is obvious they are itchy (just look at those feathers growing along the bottom edge of SE33’s wings, and a second line appearing higher up her wings, near her shoulders. Even SE34 is starting to preen relentlessly. Of course being this itchy always seems to make the eaglets a little antsy. 

Yes, the bonk from SE34 was foolish behaviour and got what it deserved, but the key thing here for me was that SE34 had the confidence to attack his older sister in the first place. He was not scared for long, though, going straight back to his preening without ducking and tucking. He just pulled away and then went about his business. That was a plus for me, as I have been wanting to see signs of a bit more of a feisty attitude from SE34. Perhaps this is the start of it. 

Both parents arrive around 08:42, one with a fish, pestered by a couple of smaller birds, who appeared to be dive bombing and otherwise harassing Lady and Dad. But Both parents are distracted and alerting, sometimes lunging towards the intruder birds. Eventually, with Dad on the perch branch fending off the smaller birds, Lady began feeding breakfast to the littles at 08:46. There is a black band around Lady’s round leg that I have not noticed before. What is it? Where did it come from and when? SE34 is offered the first four  bites of the feeding and takes them without any signs of intimidation. He is slightly closer to mum than is SE33. But the fifth bite is a bridge too far, and at 08:47:24 SE33 stands up. SE34 cringes away from his sibling and ducks his head/. Lady decides this would be a strategic moment to offer fish to SE33. Good call, mum. SE34 refuses the next bite, so mum feeds it to SE33. The same thing happens with the next bite. As Lady continues to feed SE33, SE34 is shuffling closer to mum, peeking at her as he does so. Lady keeps feeding SE33. At 08:49 SE34 lifts his head a little but is still too scared to eat. There is plenty of fish, so hopefully SE34 will get his turn to eat. 

Around 08:50 he dares to lift his head a little. He is watching mum closely but not asking for food. Lady is leaning across SE34 to feed SE33. This continued contact of SE33 from behind keeps SE34 on edge and very nervous to eat. At 08:50:50, he raises his head just a little too far, causing SE34 to beak him in the back of the head. He turns away and puts his head down on the nest again. Lady continues feeding SE33. He is not down for long though, and soon, SE34 is again watching Lady. Soon after 08:53, head still tucked, SE34 turns his back on the table. He has not had any breakfast so far. As Lady feeds SE33, SE34 is very carefully and slowly turning back around, until he is again facing the table. 

Lady pauses the feeding, with the fish rapidly disappearing, and SE34 continues to creep closer to her. 9am and SE33 eats and eats and eats. SE34 waits. By 08:46 SE34 is eatihng, his confidence growing with each bite he takes for which he is not punished by SE33; Lady returned about 40 minutes later and again fed SE34, so that eventually, both eaglets had good crops and had eaten well. “

Keep the Menhaden on your radar and the Canadian corporation Omega right beside them. If you live in the States, write to your Senator and the Senators from Virginia and get them to end the industrial fishing of Menhaden and create a clear three-mile distance from the mouth of the Bay! By doing so, you will help save the lives of the Ospreys who call Chesapeake Bay their home.

Suzanne Arnold Horning (and Woody) continue to find Big Red and Arthur at the Cornell Campus even though students are arriving back for classes.

LGK shows up to feed the Royal cam chick! It will not be long until their little one takes to the seas, returning in five or six years. It is so amazing. https://youtu.be/c8DPhmweuQI?si=ZYARzkZ6ipw4MyzX

Hope and her two beautiful fledglings on the Snow Lane nest.

Charlie and Lola at the nest and C16 holding on. There is snow in parts of Montana. Hopefully it will not land on any of the osprey nests!

At Minnesota Landscape Arboretum nest, Dad is home and so is the juvenile. I have not see the female. Perhaps she is on migration?

At Boulder, it appears that Dad and the fledgling are still coming to the nest. No sign of the female.

A news alert from the Ventana Wildlife Society.

Geemeff sends us the daily summary for Loch Arkaig and The Woodland Trust:

Daily summary Wednesday 28th August 2024
Wet but not too windy, a few dry spells allowing the nests to show off their beautiful scenery. No activity other than Penelope spider on Nest One. WTS George reminds us that Woodland Trust receives wonderful support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery, including at Loch Arkaig and it will be much appreciated if social media users like, share and comment on a little film showing ‘some of the ways we are working together to create a better future’:
https://x.com/WTScotsocial/status/1828704104136249416https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=493071810106235&ref=sharing
Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One ( 05.31.07); Nest Two (05.43.01)
Today’s videos:https://youtu.be/9raQZmSsDdE N1 By day and by night: Penelope the magic weaver 

Bonus opinion – public sector pay matters. But what if Nature went on strike?https://www.heraldscotland.com/opinion/24545182.public-sector-pay-matters-nature-went-strike/

Watch the Loch Arkaig Osprey livestream 24/7 and join in the conversation here:

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/osprey-cam

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, images, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘A, Geemeff, H’, The Raptor Resource Project, Bywyd Gwylld Glaslyn, Montana Osprey Project, Nesting Bird Life and More, Port Lincoln Ospreys, Charles Sturt University Falcon Cam and Cilla Kinross, Collins Street Falcons, 367 Collins Street Falcon Watchers, Olympic Park Eagles, Brian Collins – Menhaden- Little Fish, Big Deal FB, Suzanne Arnold Horning, Cornell Bird Lab, Newfoundland Power, Charlo Montana, Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Ospreys, Boulder County, Ventana Wildlife Society, and Geemeff and the Woodland Trust.

Saturday in Bird World

10 August 2024

Good Morning Everyone!

Be sure to read all the way down. There is some terrific news waiting for you today.

Oh, Friday started out with a trip to the wildlife rehabilitation centre for this little fellow. The baby is one of the Blue Jays with a nest in a tree across the lane. He was in the garden trying to eat a cheesy dog. He appears to have a problem with one eye, and his tail seems to have some issues as it was turned to the side, not straight. He could not fly. The rehabilitation centre said they would happily take him into care as they agreed on both issues after seeing a photograph. Send him good wishes!

It is not clear what caused the issues/injuries or how he will do but it was unsafe for him to be hopping around on the ground with the feral cats and the hawk about.

Next was a visit to check on the American White Pelicans at Lockport. There were a few there along with about forty Double-crested Cormorants on the other side of the dam. (Taken with iPhone at a great distance so not the best!)

Since it is now the 10th of August, the Pelicans will be making their move to go south in about a month or five weeks.

Bird World is fairly quiet. It is a good thing. As the weeks went by ‘H’ and I got wearier and wearier and at times just couldn’t wait for osprey season to end.

I was very grateful for a comment by ‘DV’ on my blog post on FB. They write: “Discussing the rescue of the chick of Saaksilive #4 nest on the chat of #1 nest, I thanked them for responding so quickly, and was told, “It’s in the law in Finland, you need to help an animal who can’t keep up or is struggling”. In view of the procrastination of the ‘permission authority’ in the Colonial Beach rescue, maybe we should do something about such a law, here. No wonder Finland is rated the ‘happiest’ country in the world….they seem to be the most sensible, as well.”

What do you think about trying to get the laws changed for immediate intervention like they do in Finland in Cobey’s name? I am certainly willing to lend a hand to try and get the archaic Bird Migration laws changed in North America – and attitudes around the world. Thank you ‘DV’.

The person who might be able to help is:

Mr. Jerome Ford, Assistant Director, Migratory Birds Program, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS), 1849 C Street, NW, Washington, DC 20240. Via Email: jerome_ford@fws.gov

Paraphrased from a letter regarding the Dale Hollow Nest to Ford in 2023: Citing article 50.CFR.22.76-22.80 of the Migratory Bird Act, a “take” anticipates a rehabilitation permit will authorize the rescue, or take, and further expects the temporary possession of and/or transportation of an eagle and/or eaglet to an authorized and permitted rehabilitation facility. The guidance from USFWS advises take permits will not be issued to address “interference with the natural course of events at the eagle nest”, however, a take would be authorized if such a take “is necessary to protect an interest in a particular locality. The Dale Hollow situation had to do with harm done to the eaglet through manmade materials – fishing line. In the instance of Colonial Bay and other nests in the region, I believe it can be argued that the lack of restrictions on the taking of Menhaden hgas caused the ospreys to starve to death. That coupled with an extreme heat situation – also caused by human activity – should be grounds for an emergency ‘take’ in the instance of starvation, etc. Something can be argued. Evidence can be gathered.

That adorable Dorsett Hobby is about to fledge. What a darling.

Nox (Annie and Archie’s 4th hatch that got himself into a bit of mischief has some company).

Tuesday was a special day for our Heidi (aka ‘H’) as she got to Mispillion Harbour. She runs the Mispillion Harbour Osprey Nest FB group and reports on Warren and Della whose platform is at the DuPont Centre.

Richmond and Rosie’s two chicks have now fledged. Pax on July 24th and Tulley on 7 August.

The late Toni Costello and I used to banter back and forth about which were the most beautiful juveniles of the raptors. Her pick was always the White-bellied Sea Eagles. They sure are cute as little bobbleheads, too.

Antali isn’t a little fuzz ball any longer and is getting those wings working towards fledging. Iris is such a proud Mamma.

Antali is one handsome boy with that pure white chest just like Finnegans’.

Iris just looks so proud.

The Dyfi Osprey Project posted a video of Idris delivering a fish and all of the chaos ensuing when the fledglings each want it! It was on the Dyfi Osprey Project FB page. Here are a few screen captures. There is no love lost when it comes to a much wanted fish and fledgling siblings. Reminds me of Ervie, Bazza, and Falkey.

In New Zealand, the Royal Cam chicks were ringed.

Geemeff’s daily summary for Loch Arkaig and The Woodland Trust.

Daily summary Friday 9th August 2024

Same as yesterday – except it was some Great Tits and Coal Tits taking advantage of the absence of Ospreys and spending time on Nest One. Nest Two had zero activity again. However, we did get some news and a photo of 1JW in Valencia – he’s doing well and enjoying exploring the Pego Oliva marshland, link below. The rain and wind continued as forecast today, with thundery showers expected overnight changing to light rain showers tomorrow. Both nest cams went down shortly before 21.00 and are still down now (23.45).

Link to 1JW update: https://walkingwithdaddy.com/osprey/?ht-comment-id=15689792

Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One ? (04.46.23); Nest Two ? (04.57.16)

Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/2PUZSP_N918 N1 A trio of songbirds visit in the absence of any Ospreys 15.57.40

Watch the Loch Arkaig Osprey livestream 24/7 and join in the conversation here:

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/osprey-cam

Season highlights for the Lodze Bociany Black Storks in Poland.

The trio at Blackbush at Old Tracadie wishing and hoping for fish.

At Charlo, Montana, C16 is really working its wings. Fledge is near. The chick ate all the fish Charlie brought in but lost the tail over the edge – and didn’t share a morsel with Mum Lola.

Two beautiful well-fed osplets at the Newfoundland Power platform in Snow Lane. Mum Hope and Beaumont have done a commendable job this season!

If your pet is treated for fleas and then gets to have a swim in a pond, a river, a stream, or a lake, the toxins in the treatment are killing wildlife.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/article/2024/aug/09/household-products-killing-insects-wildlife?CMP=share_btn_url

The Storks are on the move, both Black and White -. This Polish stork is already in Egypt.

I promised to include some of the memories that were forgotten with the first listing. Have some more smiles!

‘B’: “hi Mary Ann — Thanks for compiling the wonderful list of birds and nests and events that made us all smile.  There are so many things that have touched the followers of your blog and these nests, and we all clearly share many of the same happy experiences.  If there is one that I kick myself for not remembering it is the SW Florida nest of M15 and his new mate F23 and their eaglet E23.  It was so nice to see life go on for M15 with a wonderful new mate and the lively and joy-inspiring E23.  I apologize to M15 for totally forgetting them when my eagle attention moved on to the midwest and western eagles — it’s inexcusable!

SE31 also definitely makes my list, and I even thought of him, but it was so long ago that I thought the fledge and remaining in the area must have all been before the first of this year..  It brought so much joy to see one of Lady and Dad’s sea eagles be able to stay in the area and remain with parents for a very reasonable amount of time.  I still am sad (and mad) about the chick of several years ago who was euthanized after she had worked so hard to fledge in spite of their injured leg.  I forget the number — SE26 or 25?

And I agree with “L” that pictures and stories of your “girls” — Missey, Hope, Calico, and Hugo Yugo — and your garden visitors always bring a smile.”

‘R’: “Thank you for all the memories today. Sorry I did not get my email to you sooner, my fav was Flaco 🦉🥲❤️ and of course, Iris’s prayers being answered by Finn 💕💞”

‘J’ : “Just read the newsletter and it made me smile, laugh out loud and cry. What a wonderful (can’t think of the correct word, “habit”) to do an “what made you smile” to end the season. 

I thought of two more moments that really made me laugh.

M15, F23 and E23 all down by the pond. E23 flew away, both parents followed him with their heads, then, at the same time, lowered their heads and looked at each other. Precious!

Made me think of when Harriet and M15 were perched next to each other, Harriet looking at E15 from behind M15, and someone captioned it “honey, what are we going to do about our kid?” (that didn’t want to leave).

The other moment was Archie feeding his chick, trying to be all stealthy and then scampering out of there before Annie could have a go at him.

I have more great moments to share:

On the way back from the pond I watched a beautiful (as opposed to mangy and thin, which often is the case in the city) fox.

Unfortunately when I had no camera with me, all four swallow chicks were on the nest, next to each other and all four looking out. So my view were 4 little faces in a row. MELT!

Yesterday just before I left the cemetery, on the bench were I usually take off/pull on my shoes, was a squirrel eating a eh, what’s the word, pine cone? He made rapid work of it. Beautiful bushy tail, he was very small, so I think it was a baby.

I went to a hardware store that also sells garden stuff, and it always makes me smile that birds are flying about inside. But this time I laughed out loud, to see a pigeon stand in front of a sack with bird feed. I have no doubt that he’d managed to open it.”

‘V’: “OMG. I forgot M15 and his new lady! How could that happen?”

A miracle? Is it possible that these are the two osplets from Cowlitz PUD? Thanks, ‘PB’.

No words from ‘H’ this morning. We all remember last year and the intruders at Fortis-Exshaw with Jasper and Banff.

The intruder is now on the perch.

And at Osoyoos!

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

Thank you to everyone who sent a comment, a note, to others for their posts, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post this morning: ‘AM, AMW, B, Geemeff, J, H, PR, RP, V’, SK Hideaways, California Raptor Centre, Heidi McGrue, SF Osprey Golden Gate Audubon, Cornell Bird Lab, Montana Osprey Project, Dyfi Osprey Project, Sharon Dunne, Lady Hawk, Geemeff and The Woodland Trust, Polish Osprey Cam Highlights, Blackbush at Old Tracerie, Charlo Montana, Newfoundland Power, The Guardian, SOS Tesla-Save the White Storks, Raindancer Wild Bird Rescue, Fortis Exshaw, and Osoyoos Ospreys.