Category Archives: The Hamlet

Will wildlife exist for our grandchildren? Monday in Bird World

20 October 2025

Good Morning Everyone,

It is so nice to have you with us today. Everyone sends you a big hello and a wish for a good start to the week.

Part of the week was spent packing away the summer linens for the fall and winter wool. It has rained – and then it rained some more. This is fantastic for the trees and shrubs and will help them during the dry cold of the upcoming months. The Girls continue to enjoy the conservatory, where, when the sun does shine, it is hot. Toby will soon give up his raincoat for winter boots held up by suspenders, along with a padded puffer jacket, hat, and jacket! He is quite the fashion aficionado! The neighbours must be chattering away behind their curtains about this very spoiled little pooch. They must think we have gone daft!

Brock continues to amaze me. Toby sends him scattering under the deck where he waits for me to get Toby inside and call ‘kitty kitty’. He then scampers out to eat his meal returning at least twice more during the day. I caught him sitting down a bit on the fence. Brock is looking pretty good these days.

The Girls are good. I will get some good images of them this week for you. We are all doing well. There are long walks with Toby around the neighbourhood and to several of our favourite parks. We are starting our third year with Anne and our fifth year of living with dementia. Either I am so used to the situation or things really are better than they were a year ago – I am not sure, but I am thankful for our days, which aren’t full of the kind of excitement some dream of, but they really are nice and comforting.

We woke up to yet another day of rain. Toby and I bundled up and cleaned out the bird feeders. The tray feeders now only hold corn kernels or peanuts as the moisture does not cause them to go off so quickly. All other seed is now in either covered feeders or in those cylindrical tube feeders. New suet out for the woodpeckers! Oh, I wish there were places to walk dogs inside when it is pitching down rain!!!!!!!!!!

A sadness fell over Bird World this week as it was acknowledged that there would be no little osplets on the Port Lincoln barge for Mum and Dad this year. The eggs were removed by Bazz Hockaday and sent to Adelaide for inspection to determine the cause of the nest failure. The eggs were fertile. There were little osplets, but for some reason, Mum determined that their lives were not viable and stopped incubation. In a post, Tiger Mozone, thought it was odd that incubation was stopped as some stay on eggs, hoping for 70 days!

The barge nest looks lonely.

This is the latest post from Port Lincoln Osprey:

What was curious to me was that later Ervie chose to visit the barge for one of the first times in ever so long. Will Ervie take over the nest one day?

Everything you ever wanted to know about osprey eggs and more:

An Eggstraordinary Journey | Scottish Wildlife TrustDownload

There are many myths and scientific explanations when events don’t work out as anticipated. In this case, ‘everyone knew’ that rain would cause eggs to fail. But, does it? Not for this clutch in Maryland:

Rain, Rain, Go AWAY | Osprey Camera BlogDownload

You might think ospreys would not lay eggs if their nest is disturbed or removed. But think again.

Eggs laid despite nest removalDownload

SK Hideaways Videos for the week of 12 October 2025

Introduction: I first fell in love with raptors in 2019 ~ Annie & Grinnell, the CalFalcons, at the UC Berkeley Campanile. All the videos I’ve created since that time stem from that love and my desire to learn all I can about these and other raptors. My mission is to inform, educate, and entertain viewers. I have never and will never monetize my videos. They are purely a labor of love that give me great joy to share with anyone kind enough to view them.

Two Harbors Eagles: Cholyn & Chase Perch on Favorite “Thrones” ~ Spend Day on Cam (2025 Oct 19)

Chase was spotted just after sunrise on the cactus perch. Later, Cholyn was on her low ocean view perch, where Chase joined her ~ a special treat for fans ~ as they chortled and spent time together. In the afternoon, a visitor, possibly a juvenile bald eagle, was chased around the territory, but soon all was calm. The late afternoon found Cholyn on another ocean view perch, where she watched the world go by till dusk and beyond. Catalina Island, California.

Video: https://youtu.be/tpBHvj1M6hc

Courtesy Institute for Wildlife Studies, explore.org, Two Harbors Eagles Cam Ops

West End Eagles ~ Akecheta & Haku VERY Cozy on Tor in AM🌅Back Together at Dusk🏜️(2025 Oct 18)

Akecheta and Haku met on the far tor in the morning, sitting close as they observed their habitat. They spent the day (on camera) apart, both visiting the nest at separate times. Then, as dusk approached, they came back together on the night perch. While they didn’t remain there ~ owing to human disturbances off shore ~ it is likely they either reunited elsewhere for the night or will come back together in the morning. 

Video: https://youtu.be/fcqFxHeft_4

Courtesy Institute for Wildlife Studies | explore.org

West End ~ Catalina Island, CA ~ Akecheta & Haku (2025 Oct 17)

Akecheta and Haku roosted together on the same perch overnight for the first time. They greeted the dawn with long, glorious chortles and then settled atop the far TOR (top of rock) on a sparkling blue sky, blue sea morning.

Video: https://youtu.be/Linoj1-qkYE

Courtesy Institute for Wildlife Studies | explore.org

FalconCam Project ~ Diamond & Gimbir (2025 Oct 17)

Gimbir made an early wake-up visit. When Diamond’s initial breakfast order went unheeded, she went out and gave him a few minutes of egg time. He came through later with breakfast, only he dashed out with Diamond, so she stashed the gift and returned. Finally, Gimbir gave her a longer break and she was able to get her breakfast.

Video: https://youtu.be/ws5pv5K34Lg

Courtesy FalconCam Project, Charles Sturt University NSW Australia

367 Collins St. Falcons🪽Wee Chick Gets Private Feeding 🍽️ Big Chicks Want Their Share🐥🐥(2025 Oct 20, 6:14-10:36)

The smallest chick ~ presumed male ~ has been unable to scale the nest since entering the gutter a few days back. This “limitation” has gotten him private attention from Mum F24 ~ including brooding and feeding. The two bigger chicks ~ presumed female ~ decided they’d had enough and barged in on a feeding. The little one was unfazed, remaining steadfast at Mum’s beak. In the end, everyone got their fill. 

Video: https://youtu.be/kGmGAtLA8kg

Courtesy 367 Collins St. Falcon Cam

367 Collins St. Falcons: Chicks’ Morning Shenanigans ~ Wingers and Gutter Stomping Practice (2025 Oct 16)

Video: https://youtu.be/m4OPMsfrGrg

Courtesy 367 Collins St. Falcon Cam

367 Collins Street Falcons: F24, M24, 3 eyases (15 Oct 2025, 11:26+)

As is true every year, the chicks get fed up with the morning sun and venture towards the shade. Mum F24 is never ready for this transition, doing her best to corral the chicks and keep them in the nest. This hasn’t worked in the past and didn’t work today. There was a frantic hour or so with Mum trying to brood the chicks still in the nest and those who’d escaped. Eventually she accepted the inevitable and relaxed. We were also treated to a camera adjustment, which allowed us to see the three toddler chicks sleeping peacefully in the shaded gutter. (15 Oct 2025, 11:26+)

Video: https://youtu.be/ENBYHEEkjTg

Courtesy 367 Collins St. Falcon Cam

South Facing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oibsohQ14cY

North Facing: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dNKk0ivuWe4

367 Collins Street Falcons: F24, M24, 3 eyases (14 Oct/17:39+)

When Mum F24 brought yet another large meal, the chicks’ crops were already bulging. But F24 was determined to feed them, regardless of how many times they fell into food comas. 

Video: https://youtu.be/x_L57QAqFvY

Courtesy 367 Collins St. Falcon Cam

Sydney WB Sea Eagles: Lady, Dad, Eaglets SE35 & SE36 (2025 Oct 15)

Yesterday was a day of special moments for the memory treasure chest. SE35 and SE36 are quite inseparable these days. They perched on the nest rim and SE36 “hugged” SE35 while they cuddled in the nest. SE36 also performed a spectacular horaltic pose. The family came together in the evening for a meal and just to hang out.

Video: https://youtu.be/ER17Mt44mfA

Courtesy Sea-EagleCAM@BirdLife Australia Discovery Centre, Sydney Olympic Park (https://www.sea-eaglecam.org/video.html)

Nest cam also at https://www.youtube.com/@SeaEagleCAM4/streams

It is a concern that should be on all our minds: what will the world be like for our grandchildren? One photographer “Margot Raggett has spent the past decade raising money for conservation efforts around the world but now she feels nervous about the future. “It does feel like we’ve taken a backward step,” she said.

The wildlife photographer has raised £1.2m for the cause in the past 10 years through her Remembering Wildlife series, an annual, not-for-profit picture book featuring images of animals from the world’s top nature photographers. The first edition was published in 2015, when the Paris climate agreement was being drafted but, in the years since, efforts to tackle the climate crisis have been rolled back.”…..”“Compared to a few years ago, there was a desire for renewables instead of drilling for oil across the world. I think the importance of nature is something for us all to cling on to,” said Raggett.

Despite this, she has some hope. “I’m nervous but equally I’m encouraged by the fact that there are so many people that do seem to still care. I’ll do everything I can to keep my end of the bargain and keep fighting. And I know there’s lots of other people who feel the same, so time will tell, but we certainly can’t be complacent.”

In a timely reminder of how fraught the outlook is for wildlife at the moment, this year’s release, titled Ten Years of Remembering Wildlife, is being published alongside original and altered images of animals including polar bears, cheetahs and pangolins living in, and then scrubbed out of, their natural habitats.”

The images are intentionally meant to provoke us into thinking what life would be like if there were no animals, no birds. Can you imagine it? The book is a massive picture book which will be released on 11 November in North America at a cost of $100 CDN.

World’s landscapes may soon be ‘devoid of wild animals’, says nature photographer | Climate crisis |Download

In another article, The Guardian looks at the peregrine falcons that have taken over an industrial site in the UK. I love these 350 word Country diary stories! And, of course, we all love the falcons.

Country diary: Racing peregrines among the rusting mills | Bradford | The GuardianDownload

Good news is that one of my favourite books by David Gessner is out in a 25th anniversary edition, Return of the Osprey. A Season of Flight and Wonder. Helen MacDonald, author of H is for Hawk (amongst others), has written a powerful foreword to the release that you will enjoy. If you have read this book years ago, it may be time for a reread! And when you finish, I suggest returning to Soaring with Fidel, too. MacDonald describes Gessner’s odyssey with the ospreys, “Perhaps all this makes Gessner’s quest sound dry. it is not. It is a gloriously gonzo, whole-souled pursuit. He wrenches at raw fish with pliers to see what it might feel like to feed like an osprey, leaps into water to try and catch herring in a manner as much like an osprey a human can manage. There is a transporting lyricism in this book’s pages, along with passages of raw horror and moments of glorious weirdness, as when Gessner imagines the female osprey delicately feeding torn pages of his writing notebook to her young” (xi).

The release gave me the nudge to write to David Gessner to alert him about the situation in the Chesapeake Bay region and osprey starvation. This was his response:

“Mary Ann,

Thank you. I’m on it! Three weeks or so I got back from a trip up the East Coast where I saw some of the usual osprey suspects including Bryan Watts, P. Spitzer, Joannie in Colonial beach, Ben Wurst and of course Alan. Like you, I’ve got menhaden on the mind. I’ve been swallowed up by school but am heading up to Cape Cod the last week of this month and plan on finishing a longform piece then. The folks at the Atlantic said they would take a look so that’s my first stop for the essay.

All Best, David”

I am really hoping that someone like Gessner can get the kind of attention needed to stop Omega from killing off the entire ecosystem – if it is not too late already for our ospreys. I need the hope of ten Jane Goodalls. Politics should not be a part of protecting our environment. Humans must recognise the damage we are doing and work mightily hard to correct it.

How much do you know about Chimney Swifts? Charles Brown has just finished a 45-year study and has done a video presentation on YouTube on that very subject: https://youtu.be/VnnPOaf1Dpc?

Things appear to be going very well for Gimbir and Diamond at the Charles Sturt Falcon scrape in Orange, Australia. Incubation continues without issue.

Gimbir is adorable and rather brave not bringing in the entire Eastern Rosella. Diamond and all of us – while clearly missing and never forgetting dear Xavier – are appreciating this young falcon and his food gifts for Diamond. Cilla Kinross gives us the latest…notice that nice crop of our little man.

F23 takes extraordinary care of her trio at the Melbourne CBD falcon scrape! I am more and more impressed with her. The chicks have now moved themselves to the opposite end from where they hatched, keeping out of the sun and the deadly heat of Melbourne.

‘A’ comments: “Oh they are the sweetest family. Little dad is adorable – he works so hard at bringing plenty of food for those ravenous babies. And mum is very efficient at keeping the littles warm and dry and fed and generally safe. My goodness, they gave her a run for her money once they discovered the gutter, didn’t they? Poor mum. She couldn’t work out what to do. And I loved dad’s solution. He just took one look at the chaos and got the hell out of Dodge. It was hysterically funny. Which of course is why I sent it to you. Those moments are just too precious – the way the birds think is on display, and it is truly fascinating. They DO think, and you can see them logically eliminating alternatives and coming up with new ones, then being forced to prioritise, which is always absorbing. For people like us, trying to understand the thoughts and emotions of their world is absolutely fascinating. While we may run the risk of anthropomorphising a little too much, at the same time it is obvious that birds definitely do have emotions.”

At the Olympic Park WBSE nest, we have branching! The currawongs have been relentless this season in their attack on the nest. There are days that I wish the WBSE would eat all of them!!!!!!

Lots of wingersizing!

These eaglets are so gorgeous. It is difficult to tell them apart, and it is getting to be that ‘sad time’ when they will make their way out into the world. We can only hope that they survive the Currawong attacks and make their way to the river roost of their parents, where they can be fed and learn to hunt.

Screen capture of the eaglets by SK Hideaways in their video.

It has not only been the currawongs that are causing mischief but also owls.

At the West End nest, Haku and Akecheta are getting accustomed to one another.

Akecheta watching Haku soar above the nest.

Oh, I have such a fondness for Akecheta. The year that he took such gallant care of the triplets just warmed my heart beyond belief.

There are, of course, so many others – M15 raising his two eaglets alone after Harriet disappeared, every one of Annie’s mates, dear little Xavier…I could go on and on. They really are special – our raptors. It breaks my heart that our environment is changing so quickly that many of them might not be able to adapt (of course, along with humans, too).

Chase and Cholyn are at home at Two Harbours in the Channel Islands.

Big Red has been spotted at some of her favourite spots on the Cornell Campus. Suzanne Arnold Horning knows our Queen of the Red-tail Hawks very well! Thank you, Suzanne, for always keeping us informed.

There is a tragedy underway in the area of the Panama Canal. The first-ever failure of the 2025 seasonal upwelling has occurred. This is critical for fisheries and coral reefs; widespread plastic pollution; and the ecological disruption of the Panama Canal, which is allowing marine species to invade freshwater ecosystems. These problems are impacting coastal communities and local livelihoods– and will ultimately impact seabirds.

Failure of seasonal upwelling 

  • What it is: The seasonal upwelling is a natural process where trade winds push warm surface water away from the coast, allowing cool, nutrient-rich deep water to rise. This is vital for the marine food web in the Gulf of Panama.
  • The issue: For the first time in at least 40 years, the upwelling did not occur in 2025. Scientists suspect this is due to weakened trade winds linked to climate disruption.
  • Consequences: The lack of nutrient-rich water is stressing fisheries and could harm coral reefs. This event highlights how climate change can disrupt long-standing ocean systems. 

Plastic pollution

  • The scale: Panama faces a major plastic pollution crisis, generating over 380,000 tons of municipal plastic waste in 2022.
  • Waste management: More than 88% of this plastic is not properly managed, with large amounts ending up in landfills, being burned, or polluting the environment.
  • Consequences: This pollution threatens marine ecosystems, wildlife, public health, and the local economy. 

Panama Canal ecological disruption 

  • The issue: The 2016 expansion of the Panama Canal has allowed saltwater to enter the freshwater Lake Gatun and facilitated the movement of marine species inland.
  • Consequences: Ocean species like snooks and lionfish are entering freshwater ecosystems, displacing native species and disrupting the food web. This also introduces new challenges for local fishermen who rely on the freshwater ecosystem for their livelihoods.
  • Other impacts: The expansion has also contributed to saltwater intrusion into the canal’s freshwater supply, which is a source of drinking water for a large portion of the population. 

Mongabay explains further:

Panama upwelling fails in 2025, threatening marine ecosystemsDownload

More by La Ravi:

Panama’s vital ocean route vanishes for the first time in decades – Le RaviDownload

Billionaires Africa notes that one of their own donates funds to try and save the Wandering Albatross on Marion Island from the ravenous mice!

https://www.billionaires.africa/2025/10/18/south-african-billionaire-mark-shuttleworth-donates-1-million-to-save-the-worlds-largest-flying-bird

It is time to think of the birds that visit our gardens as winter approaches. Lesley the Bird Nerd tells us how to care for them properly in her video: https://youtu.be/Zi6iIGUGxpo?

Oh, I do love the Blue Jays in our garden. Junior and the Mrs and three of their fledglings are here all day long, and if the peanut tray is empty, you can hear them easily. Two Crows visit daily along with all the squirrels, red and grey, and an army of sparrows, a few black-capped chickadees, and some woodpeckers. The Starlings continue to visit around 1530 for puppy chow!

There are osprey nests that we can begin watching in the US that will have eggs after the new year. They include Achieva in St Petersburg, Florida, where Jill has been captured sitting on the perch, along with Captiva on Sanibel Island, Florida, Moorings Park, and Frenchman’s Creek – notice, all are in Florida, where the ospreys do not necessarily migrate and where there is the warmth and fish for them earlier than in the north.

Thank you so much for being with us today. Please take care of yourself. There is a very nasty cold going around that is making people extremely tired. We will look forward to having you with us again next Monday!

I want to extend special thanks to SK Hideaways for their videos and for caring so much about our raptors and to ‘A’ for her commentary on the Australian raptor nests. Thank you to the individuals and owners of streaming cams, as well as those posting for various FB groups listed in Bold. The Guardian continues to publish informed articles on wildlife and the environment, as well as several others listed in bold. There is no way that a single individual can monitor all of the nests and keep up to the minute. I am grateful to all those who post in the various FB groups. These individuals so generously send me precious notes about their favourite birds to the authors of books that educate and inspire us, like David Gessner.

Egg at Big Bear, Hatch at JBS, late Wednesday in Bird World

22 January 2024

Hello Everyone,

It has been a very emotional week with the arrival of Gabby’s first baby with Beau. Now, just what? 36 hours later or thereabouts we have the first egg for Jackie and Shadow. The news was too good not to share with you immediately. I am all teared up – again! These raptors are all part of the fabric of our daily lives. We share in their happiness and sadness.

Jackie and Shadow. Start sending all the love you can to them. This darling couple. And don’t stop sending it.

One reader wrote ‘Yay’ and another, “Please, any god that will listen, please give this eagle couple one strong healthy eaglet this year!”

Shadow was there!

SK Hideaways sent me the news right away and they immediately set about getting a video ready. Keep your eyes open for it.

I spent Wednesday afternoon doing what three Grey Squirrels are doing – hibernating! Despite warming to -17 C, it felt cold to the bone. The snow crunches underfoot. Even the cats didn’t care if they woke up for food. It was nice.

The first eaglet has hatched at the John Bunker Sands Wetlands nest near Dallas. Congratulations!

Here is the latest posting from the IWS. There will be, as far as I understand, no interference in whatever happened to Akecheta. We must wait til the camera feed returns and hope.

F23 at SW Florida has proven herself to be an amazing mother. https://youtu.be/62TJWWVM4Os?

E25 looks like s/he is self-feeding. https://youtu.be/d2Zub3m1SLg?s

At the NE Florida nest of Gabby and Beau, miracles continue to happen. A tandem feeding on Wednesday! Seriously. Beau is incredible.

Great video. Can we get enough of 31? https://youtu.be/dEgksFmx1v8?

Tomorrow we learn the names of C12 and C13, Connie and Clive’s little ones at the Captiva Eagle nest. Wasn’t it just yesterday they were tiny like 31?

Chase was observed flying close by the Two Harbours nest on Wednesday. With this cam running, I checked on the West End, but it is still down.

A surprise visitor to the UK in the winter – a chiffchaff.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/jan/22/country-diary-a-chiffchaff-has-swapped-north-africa-for-this-icy-reedbed?CMP=share_btn_url

“Chiffchaff and berries” by Mibby23 is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0.

The RSPB describes the Chiffchaff thusly: “The Chiffchaff is a small olive-brown warbler which flits through trees and shrubs, with a distinctive tail-wagging movement. Chiffchaffs usually (though not always) have dark legs and a pale eye stripe. They’re easily confused for the Willow Warbler which has pale legs and a yellow eye stripe. Listen for the song which gives it its name, no other warbler makes that chiff-chaffing tune. Chiffchaffs eat insects, either picking them out from trees or snapping them up in flight.”

At presentm the Chiffchaff is of Least Concern Environmentally.

The news is wonderful with the exception of concern for Akecheta. There is nothing we can do but send him love and good wishes. If he turns up well, this will be the most incredible week ever in Bird World.

Thank you so much for being with me for this short post. I will see you again on Friday. All the best to each of you. Stay warm, stay safe.

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘J, SP’, FOBBV, SK Hideaways, NEFL-AEF, Saunders Real Photography, IWS, IWS/Explore, John Bunker Sands Wetlands Centre, Morningstar, The Guardian, OpenVerse, RSBP, Androcat

Saturday in Bird World

14 December 2024

Good Morning,

Waiting to pop the cork….will have hatch today at SW Florida we anticipate.

First, I want to shout out to Bird World friend and reader Lisa Ferguson, who received the Volunteer of the Year award at the Audubon Centre for Birds of Prey in Maitland, Florida. The following PDF provides an overview of Lisa’s work and highlights Audubon’s year in Raptors. On a personal note, Lisa designs educational and enrichment materials for many celebrity birds at Audubon. She is devoted to the birds at Maitland, and you can find her there daily, helping to improve their lives and educating us about the challenges they face.

Raptor News Year in Review Celebrating Volunteers Holiday Hours and moreDownload

In the UK, Osprey expert, Tim Mackrill is being honoured for the volunteer work he continues to conduct alongside Rutland Water despite his work as the Director of the Roy Dennis Foundation. Tim’s thesis focused on migration and that information is in his latest book, The Osprey, along with everything you might want to know about Ospreys. I am particularly fond of his edition for the RSPB- it is perfect if you don’t want the detailed science in The Osprey, but you do want to know much about ospreys for a ‘kind’ price at the till.

Hatch continues for E24 at SW Florida for M15 and F23. This is their second breeding season together. Last year they had one chick (E23) hatch and what a remarkable eaglet it was. Fledge went well!

Eagle Goddess caught a shift change and a peek at the eggs. https://youtu.be/D_HBsL37-Xw?

Dave Wetherall has been taking some remarkable images of the osprey fledglings at the other South Australia nests. I hope he doesn’t mind my posting these – they show these amazing fledglings soaking their feet in the water at the shore.

I am re-posting the images of Mum, Dad, Kasse, and Wilko from yesterday in case you missed them. These fledglings are sure giving everyone a great time as they venture out from the nest so close to fledge!

If there are images from Saturday I will include them below these.

I have been worried about Diane at the Achieva Osprey Nest. I know that she leaves the nest area after June . In past years, we have had hatch in early March (or thereabouts). Which means we need to be seeing her in January at the latest. ‘MP’ noted Diane was last seen on the nest the third week in June, the 21st. Today, Jack was at the nest with Crows digging in the old nesting material. Jack flapped at them, one noticed and flew off but the others remained.

This was the report from Port Lincoln with a rare second Fish Fairy delivery. Thank you fairies. You are trying to make certain that both fledglings have food and survive!

Fri 13 Dec 2024 video archive

Age (chicks): Wilko : 68 days, Kasse : 65 days
Fish count: Mum: 0, Dad: 0, Sup. Fish: 6
Fish times: 11:52, 15:05Feed times:

00:21wilko tucks in her beak in her feathers..
05:57Wilko lands on Mum… she leaves
06:27:19osprey flying by
06:28Wilko back on the nest
07:14Kasse behind the old barge on the ropes(?)
07:17She is now out on top the barge
07:18:21More flying / hopping on the deck
07:28Wilko joins Mum and Kasse on the old barge
07:36Dad is on the old barge too, now all four are there
08:06:01Mum leaves the old barge
08:12Mum and Wilko back on the barge
08:49:50wilko back on the old barge
11:04:50Checking the Old Barge for the Osprey. Two are there.
11:13:54Looks like Mum on the right ropes. Dad then would be on the Old Barge set off to the right.
11:19:35Close-up of Mum on the rope.
11:52Unannounced Fish Fairy deliveries! 3 fish. 2 small, 1 medium. Kasse on top of the camera on the home barge. Wilko small fish, Dad snatches 1 small fish for himself and Mum with the medium. Kasse isn’t moving.Sup. Fish (S,Whole)
11:52 1Mum’s on the nest with a fish! Wilko snatches it. Mum’s off the nest quickly. Wilko mantles it. Wilko finishes it.
11:57 2Mum’s on the ropes between the 2 branches with the 2nd supplemental fish! A medium one.
12:05 Mum’s to the nest with her fish.
12:11 Wilko snatches Mum’s fish. Mum leaves. No more eating with Wilko for Mum any more.
This one’s for him too.
13:08Finally Kasse makes an appearance on the barge! She’s on the right, far branch briefly. Then she’s in the nest with Wilko. No fighting.
15:05Rare 2nd Fish Fairy delivery! Unknown number of fish.Sup. Fish (M,Whole)
15:05 3Mum’s on the right ropes with a fish. She goes into the nest. Camera pans to Kasse having it. Mum leaves the nest.
15:07 Wilko tried for a steal! Kasse walks away! Wilko tries again! Kasse defends it! Wilko backs off.
15:19 4Mum’s into the nest with a 2nd supplemental fish. She had it since 15:14. Wilko snatches it.
15:22 5Mum’s into the nest to eat a 3rd supplemental fish!
15:23 Kasse joins Mum.
15:27 Now Wilko joins Kasse and Mum.
Wilko snatches the fish tail.

Feeding Times

StartFinishDurationFed Chick
   WilkoKasse
1: 11:52 12:11 19 minMX
2: 11:57 12:22 25 minMX
3: 15:05 15:23 18 minXM
4: 15:19 15:26 7 minSX
5: 15:22 15:30 8 minSM

There have been no deliveries for Saturday the 14th yet and there are reports that Wilko had a bath. Planned or not.

The final tally was 5 fish from Mum and 1 from Dad.

Kasse and Wilko on the nest with Mum.

Dad has brought in some fish – Mum is there to try and control things so everyone gets to eat. It is the first fish of the day. I hope it is a big one!

Gabby and Beau continue to incubate. Beau is bringing in more Spanish Moss and he seems to be doing quite a remarkable job this year. Fantastic.

Beau has been so attentive this season. He is always on alert ready to protect the nest, and comes constantly when she calls. I am amazed at the change in Beau since last year. Let us all hope he is a good provider when the eaglets hatch!

The Black-winged kite female has growing chicks to feed. Just look at them enjoying a nice juicy rat! Remember, Raptors are the solution to Rats – not Rodenticide!!!!!!!!! https://youtu.be/Cce4-yQKUHA?

Do you know someone who is boating in this area? Please ask them to heed the warnings about the presence of Right Whales.

Calico’s Tip for the Day: If you are concerned about Avian Flu and the songbirds (and others) that come to your feeders or bird baths, here is an excellent, easy to understand article on feeder and bird bath hygiene with ratios for three different cleaning products (bleach, borax, vinegar):

Bird Bath & Feeder HygieneDownload

I never like to close on a sad note but as I always believe, we must educate ourselves. ‘SP’ sent me the following article about the perils of the warming oceans – we have seen this in Montana when the streams were so warm that the trout died. The impact is real on the birds that depend on fish to survive – and it is a domino effect. I also believe we cannot give up – we must fight for our precious resources and the wildlife that we so love.

Ocean Heat Killed Half the Common Murres Around Alaska – The New York TimesDownload

There are people going to great lengths and taking financial chances to rewild, to create a landscape full of biodiversity, and to reverse species extinction. One of those is Isabella Tree and Charlie B at Knepp Farm in the south of England. I am including two or possibly three of their latest blog reports. One is on the arrival of large numbers of Hawkfinches this year.

The year of the hawfinch? – KneppDownload
(c)Ignacio”Hawfinch” by Ignacio Ferre is licensed under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.Ferre

Hawkfinches are approximately 18 cm or 9 inches in length. They live in both woodlands and urban areas. The image above is the male hawfinch whereas the one on the Knepp blog is a female. Look at the two so that you can see the subtle differences that differentiate the genders. Notice the pink legs. What colour is the male’s beak? and the female? Which one has more rust colour?

These beautiful songbirds are on British Ornithological Trust’s Red List of Birds. They are Internationally Threatened.

The hawkfinch has a very strong jaw and the BTO book on the Red List birds says it can exert the pressure of 50 kg. This allows them to eat cherry stones in the winter while they favour insects and caterpillars in the summer. Habitat loss, the use of pesticides, nest predation, lack of food are part of the drivers to the rapid decline of the Hawkfinch.

Here is a good article on understanding why this bird is in decline.

Understanding hawfinch declines – Saving Nature With Science – Our work – The RSPB CommunityDownload

The controversial introduction of beavers to the property is having a huge success.

Beavers at Knepp – KneppDownload

Thank you so much for being with us as we wait for the hatch of E24. Incubation is long and tedious and the first pip brings anxiety and hope. Hopefully on Saturday there will be a little eaglet for this wonderful family. Take care of yourselves. See you soon.

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, images, videos, articles and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘J, MP, SP’, Audubon Centre for Birds of Prey, SW Florida Eagle Cam, Eagle Goddess, Achieva Credit Union, Dave Wetherall and Friends of Osprey Sth Aus, Port Lincoln Ospreys, Bart M and the PLO, UK Osprey Information and Jeff Kear, Tim Mackrill, NEFL-AEF, Review Bird Nest, Maryland Department of Natural Resources Fisheries, Ottawa Valley Wild Bird Care Center, The New York Times, Knepp Farm, OpenVerse, RSPB

Saturday in Bird World

7 December 2024

Good Morning Everyone,

Oh, it is so nice to have you with us! I am going to post this on Friday evening instead of Saturday morning because of Wilko’s fledge. We will see you again on Sunday.

First up. Wilko fledges at 1325!!!!!!!!!!!!! 62 days old. Wilko returns safely to the nest. (This would have been the title but FB would have refused to post this blog on their site so sorry, Wilko!)

Will the fairies return now that one of the chicks has fledged? We wait to see. I hope they come in with a big fish meal as congratulations.

First up. Well, it was going to be first, but Wilko’s flight preempted Wisdom making the international news. This is grand. The world should be more interested in wildlife.

World’s oldest-known wild bird lays egg in Hawaii at age 74https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/dec/06/worlds-oldest-known-wild-bird-lays-egg-wisdom-albatross?CMP=share_btn_url

Oh, it was -4 C on Friday in Winnipeg. I couldn’t wait to get outside for a long walk at the nature centre. First thing, we found a Canada Goose. You might remember the other day there were five geese eating snow. They were taken to Wildlife Haven, our rescue centre. This one is heading there, too. It felt super to help this one. No one knew it was there as we were the only people on the trails, it seems. This seemed so odd as it was such a fantastic day, but we were glad to be there and to help.

This goose should not be here. It is the only one around. It is different in the spring. Some arrive early when there is still snow so they can get the best nesting spots. This one was destined to starve to death if not freeze. So why is it here? Is it injured? They will find out.

There were deer all over the forest. We tiptoed in our boots so as not to disturb them. I only had my phone and the photos are not great. The one on the right knew I was there. The Chickadees were singing while flitting about while the squirrels were trying their luck at getting peanuts out of the feeders.

It is 1636. The sky is a white-grey with a rose gold tinge. The outdoor lights are glowing bright, and I am waiting for Brock to arrive (he doesn’t). We have figured out what needs to be fixed with all the feral cat houses – only one opening. They feel trapped – so two openings! We will work on that tomorrow. It is still supposed to be warm. We will also start installing the Reolink camera.

Let’s start with the sad news in Bird World first. Cilla Kinross said that Yira is no longer with us. It had been over a week since she thought she had spotted her. I feel so badly for Xavier and Diamond, who work hard all season to raise healthy chicks to have one deformed and euthanised and the other killed.

I have long suspected Yira was not with us. She has been on the Memorial Wall for a couple of weeks now. We never saw the behaviour that Diamond and Xavier would have exerted if they were providing prey for a fledgling. So, soar high, little one. We hope that next season will turn out differently for these beloved parents.

The good news. Just the best. SE33’s release images. Soar high, live long, find a good mate, raise lots of babies, always have a full crop!

If you missed it, images of SE33 being ringed and getting ready to fly.

At the WRDC nest, Rose laid her second egg. Heidi wrote: “
Rose laid egg #2 12/6, at 18:08, approximately 75.5 hours after she laid egg #1.  Rose had been a 4-day layer the past two seasons, and she has just become a 3-day layer.”

At Hilton Head, the Bald Eagles are bringing in the pine boughs readying for that first egg. I wonder if they told the GHOs? https://youtu.be/kobHTx-ALSU?

Saving an Eagle! https://youtu.be/QS_8YOcL0M0?

You might have heard about the earthquake that hit parts of northern California. The nest at Redding, home to Liberty and Guardian, felt the impact. They say the nest is fine. https://youtu.be/Oyocy3zNY8c?

Oh, goodness, the wait for eggs at the nest of Gabby and Beau is like taking fingernails to a chalkboard.

Another wait is fledge. Wilko really wants to fly. Kasse is trying her wings, too. It is quite breezy at Port Lincoln, but they aren’t quite ready yet. Soon, too soon, you two! Settle down and let us enjoy you for a long, long time.

Waiting for fish. Ospreys are always waiting for their fish dinner everywhere. Last night Dad brought in a late fish. I did not see what happened. This came in on chat from Gtr: “20;34 Dad w fish to nest, Kasse gets the fish, 20:35 & 20:37 Wilko tries to steal it but no luck, 20:44 Kasse eats the tail.” Wow. Isn’t that wonderful for Kasse?!

With no fish arriving by 1227, Mum takes off on a blustery Saturday in Port Lincoln to try and feed her family. (I wonder what she thinks about Dad these days.)

Iris and Finnegan’s Owl Pole is now officially replaced.

Thunder and Akecheta sleeping near their nest in the Channel Islands Friday evening.

The Majestics were home, too.

Raven visits Jackie and Shadow’s nest! https://youtu.be/heltAD5mZ84?

Bad weather is hitting the UK. I am glad the ospreys are in their winter homes, but for the rest, stay safe everyone!

I wonder when the Governor of Virginia will understand that there will be no more Menhaden if Omega is allowed to strip the Bay of every last one. Does he think they fall from the sky into the water each spring?

If you happened to miss it, Nox died of a bacterial infection and pneumonia.

Nox the falcon died of pneumonia, says UC Davis veterinary pathology report – Berkeley NewsDownload

Saving the old and wise could help. Phoebe Watson says, “t’s not just humans who get wiser as they age – animals do too, according to a growing body of research. The bigmouth buffalo fish can reach 127 years old, the Greenland shark 392, and some sponges can live for 10,000 years or more. And age is not just a number: as animals get older they behave differently depending on their life experiences, gain richer knowledge of their environment, and often pass it on to younger members of their group, researchers say.

The problem is, we are killing off these older creatures. “Earth’s old animals are in decline,” researchers warned in a paper published in Science last month, which analysed more than 9,000 peer-reviewed papers. Few animals make it to old age, and the ones that do are vulnerable to being hunted or harvested by humans, because they are the biggest or have, for example, the largest antlers, horns or tusks.”

Saving ‘old and wise’ animals vital for species’ survival, say scientistshttps://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/dec/06/saving-old-and-wise-animals-vital-for-species-survival-say-scientists-longevity-conservation?CMP=share_btn_url

In Hawaii, they are working to reintroduce the Crow. “The Hawaiian crows, or alala, were last found on Hawaii’s Big Island, but they went extinct in the wild in 2002, officials with the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance said in a statement. The birds, described as intelligent and charismatic, are the last survivors of all the Hawaiian crow species. Habitat loss, predation and disease by introduced species are threats, among other factors.

“The translocation of alala to Maui is a monumental step forward in conserving the species and a testament to the importance of partnership in reversing biodiversity loss,” said Megan Owen, vice-president of conservation science at the San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance.”

Hawaiian crow that went extinct in the wild decades ago released on Mauihttps://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/dec/05/hawaiian-crows-alala-maui?CMP=share_btn_url

To our knowledge, at the time of writing, there are no new Bald Eagle eggs except for the second egg at WRDC. Incubation is going well at nests with eggs.

Calico wishes each of you the very best weekend. She has some exciting news coming in the new year!

Thank you for being with us today. Please take good care of yourself. 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: ‘Heidi, SP’, The Guardian, Holly Parsons, Sea Eagle Cam, WRDC, Hilton Head Land Trust, EaGal Vicki, NEFL-AEF, Port Lincoln Ospreys, Montana Osprey Cams, IWS/Explore.org, Denton Homes, SK Hideaways, UK Osprey Information and Jeff Kear, Brian Collins and Menhaden- Little Fish, Big Deal, UC Berkeley News

Thursday in Bird World

5 December 2024

Good Morning Everyone,

First – just look at SE33 ready to take on the world! Just about.

SE33 is just gorgeous. Look at the amazing plumage pattern on those underwings! I wish this incredible eagle a long, long life, full of prey items, a wonderful mate, and lots of little eaglets. Do it for SE34, too – SE33, you have to live life to the fullest for both of you.

There will be some small squeeze treats for The Girls today to celebrate the anniversary of Hugo Yugo’s arrival. Was it as cold last year as it is this morning, -15 C. The sky is the most transparent, brightest blue we have seen for some time. There are sun dogs on either side, iridescent like someone sprayed gold and bronze paint on them. Sundogs are atmospheric optical phenomena that appear as bright light spots on either side of the sun at about 22 degrees. They are red on the inside and white on the outside. The sundog varies in shape and size of the ice crystals that create them. They appear when the sun or moon shines through a thin cirrus cloud of hexagonal ice crystals. The ice crystals then refract the light causing the sundogs to appear. Living in Winnipeg, you know it is very cold if you see them.

The snow that has fallen the past couple of days makes the outdoors seem even brighter. There are no girls in the conservatory. They had their breakfast and opted for the sitting room where it is warmer to their paws. I close off the conservatory at night, something that I did not do last year. I want to see if there is any savings. It might just equal out by having to heat it right up every morning.

In the garden, there are a few Sparrows, a single Red Squirrel and a dozen Starlings wanting breakfast. Someone ate all the cat kibble so that has been replaced in case Brock shows up. He seems to not like snow or cold weather. I do not blame him!

Oh, Dyson’s kits have shown up!

The wind is picking up. Both Crows have now arrived for peanuts so all we are missing in the garden count are the two Blue Jays.

I forgot to leave the kibble for the Starlings so out I go!

With the arrival of the egg for Ron and Rita at the WRDC, it is only a matter of days before we start seeing eggs in the other nests, I hope. Will Gabby and Beau be next?

Beau has been checking out the nest bowl all morning at NE Florida. He also brought Gabby a fish gift – an improvement on last year! Will Gabby get to be a Mum again? It has been some time. Beau has protected the nest and kept off any attempts at a takeover. He is a great protector. Last year, he didn’t know what to do. Let’s see what happens this year. I am just grateful that those eggs did not hatch last year.

AEF captures food gift for Gabby: https://youtu.be/S_On1yAzTFA?

All is well at SW Florida and Captiva. Incubation continues at both nests. We are now less than a fortnight away from hatch for M15 and F23 in Fort Myers, Florida.

The nest bowl at Captiva is soooo deep.

Liberty and Guardian have been at the nest and goodness. Let’s get these eaglets hatched and up and flying before the real heat arrives.

Skye and Blaze were both hit hard by a GHO during the night at Eagle Country. Both eagles returned to the nest in the morning. The presence of GHOs is becoming even more alarming this year as storms and fires have destroyed good nesting spots.

36 million years of discord between owls and eagles. https://youtu.be/wUgwRkXxTDA?

61 and 57 days old, Wilko and Kasse are waiting for breakfast at Port Lincoln.

Black winged Kite has 7 chicks to feed. Gorgeous. https://youtu.be/S_On1yAzTFA?

Adult Black-winged kites are about the size of small falcons. They are the softest light grey underneath with a steel blue grey plumage above, black shoulders and wing coverts that give them their name. They have bright yellow legs and distinctive red eyes. They live near farming lands with woods, semi-desert areas, and open savannahs. They are versatile in their hunting styles – hovering like kestrels or gliding low over the fields like a harrier. Their geographical location is Western Europe, SE Asia, the Indian subcontinent, and the coast of Africa.

“Black-winged kite (Elanus caeruleus) Photograph by Shantanu Kuveskar” by Shantanu Kuveskar is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

The New York Times published an article about Bird Flu. We cannot dismiss it and West Nile Virus as contributing factors to raptor mortality this year, along with lead and rodenticide poisoning, loss of habitat, and direct human interaction such as shooting.

The Morning Bird flu explainedDownload

Following the Molis. Today it is Kalama.

Tagging of Royal Cam parents to take place.

Do you know about the blue socks helping the Blue Booty? And the two brothers that are helping? Will and Matty? Socks are $16 US and shipping is free in the US. $5 internationally. —— Young people doing something wonderful for the world and especially if it involves feathers really warms my heart!

All About Birds Cool Facts about Blue-footed Booby:

  • Cool Facts
    • To stay cool in very hot environments, Blue-footed Boobies sometimes defecate on their feet (a behavior called urohydrosis). They also flutter the skin of their throats (the gular pouch) by rapidly vibrating bones in their throat, which creates evaporative cooling through the open mouth.
    • The blue color of Blue-footed Booby’s feet varies in its intensity. Boobies with bluer feet appear to have more success in finding a mate than birds with duller blue feet. One study looked at foot color in relation to the health of young chicks and found that healthiest chicks tended to have fathers with intensely blue feet—possibly an indication of the father’s ability to keep himself well fed. Although the famous mating display might seem comical to humans, the display of foot color provides critical information on a bird’s health and ability to provide for young.
    • The Blue-footed Booby makes no nest, but lays its eggs on bare ground. The incubating birds defecate while on the nest, and the eggs become surrounded by a circular wall of excrement.

Dead birds causing concern in South Australia.

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2024/dec/05/native-birds-flying-foxes-lead-port-pirie-south-australia-ntwnfb?CMP=share_btn_url

Calico’s Tip for the Day for those that have feral cat shelters and live in snowy areas:

It is hard to imagine, but an osprey was photographed in Cork, Ireland yesterday. It has not migrated. I wonder how many are still in England?

In 2024, the death rate for osprey chicks internationally was super high. It was 26.6%. These are clearly documented instances. We know of many other deaths related to starvation along the Chesapeake Bay, but we do not have enough detailed information on the nests to post the information on the data forms. The mortality figures would have been considerably higher.

As it stands, this is 6% higher than in 2023.

‘J’ sends the Rita the Eagle Update:

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, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog today: ‘J, RP’, Judy Harrington, NEFL-AEF, SW Florida Eagle Cam, AEF, Window to Wildlife, FORE, Eagle Country, WATOP. Port Lincoln Ospreys, Review Bird Nest, The New York Times, Hob Osterlund, Sharon Dunne, Will and Matty, Cornell All About Birds, The Guardian, Winnipeg Missing and Found Cat Watch, International Osprey Data Project, Rita the Eagle and Marathon

Wisdom lays an egg…Friday in Bird World

29 November 2024

Hello Everyone,

Thursday was cold, and the wind was blowing the snow around so that, at times, you could not see anything—a ‘whiteout.’ We have had a coyote in our neighborhood, along with the four deer I was trying to find. The news came early Thursday that the Department of Conservation had to shoot the coyote after it had chased the deer into heavy traffic, killed one, and partially eaten it. The coyote also nearly attacked a child when the child came near to where it was sleeping. No doubt, the poor creature was starving and may have been ill. We now have three deer. Several are providing them with supplementary food. Tomorrow, I plan to approach our market, which is well known for its fruit and vegetables, to see if they will donate the unsalable items that deer can eat. That would be wonderful.

We hope everyone who celebrated had a good day and that each of you found time, no matter where you are, to just sit and pause and think of all the little things for which we are grateful.

Bird World is bringing us good news.

There is not much more that can be said for that heading! Incredible. Wisdom – the oldest known wild bird in the world – has outlived numerous mates and is set to raise another Moli in 2025! Can you see me smiling? It seriously doesn’t get much better than this.

In addition to this great news about Wisdom and her egg, we also have images of SE33. What a beautiful sea eagle fledgling. Gorgeous. He is in good condition and will be trained to fly strong and hunt before being released. I really hope that they put a tracker on him.

Wisdom even tops the fact that Dr Green is coming in on a day when she would normally not be in the surgery to clean Hugo Yugo’s teeth and take out those incisors. January 6. The little sweetie will get some relief. She is still woozy from those vaccinations but eating well.

Before you read this short article on what migratory ducks eat on their journey, write down six things you think would be on that menu. See how well you did!

Wild duck diets — Ducks Unlimited CanadaDownload

Someone I know well met a naturalist who knows nothing about ospreys and spreads disinformation in person and on line. Because this individual uses the title ‘naturalist’, people believe them. Several years ago, ‘SS’ and I caused a lot of grief at the Collins Marsh Osprey platform when the Only Bob, Malik, had a forced fledge. The caretaker at the time used the title ‘naturalist’ and they did not and would not respond to our alarm calls for help. Wildlife rehabilitation personnel who we contacted attempted to go to the property to search and help the osplet and were refused permission to enter the grounds. As a consequence, Malik died.

‘SS’ and I learned a lot from that event, especially that anyone can call themselves a naturalist, just like a person can get a truck and a hammer and say they are a contractor! No qualifications required. So when you see disinformation online or hear it, step up. Have a conversation. State the facts you know calmly, pointing out their errors. You can help someone learn every day. Also, do not let anyone undermine the value of streaming cams. Much of the new information on ospreys and other birds comes from the diligent observations of nests on streaming cams by citizen scientists.

Brian Collins is working hard to show that the osprey deaths in the Bay are directly linked to a lack of Menhaden. We wonder when the last one will be taken like the Cod in the area???

This makes me angry and sad.

VIMS scientists critique research linking osprey declines to menhaden industryDownload

Kansas City Bald Eagles Ellie and Harvey are back for another fun packed year and are bonding at the nest! https://youtu.be/cuoqS2j4f-M?

M15 certainly picked a gorgeous mate who turned out to be an exceptional mother. F23 is even stunning when she takes a bath! https://youtu.be/AupKhKyckWs?

Half way to seeing those little eaglets!

Talk about stunners though, just look at Wilko and Kasse! They are two of the most beautiful osprey chicks I have ever seen. And this Mum is one of the most amazing. It is extremely rare for the females to leave the chicks to bring fish to the nest. That is the job of the males. It does happen later when the fledglings are bulking up for migration and – yes, it does happen at other times but this is rare. A good example is 2024 when CJ7 helped Blue 022 feed their four osplets ensuring they all survived.

Mum must be enjoying that light and being able to dive off the nest and get a fish!

Dad came in with a partial fish that was eaten quickly. Wilko has been working its wings and getting some air under them.

Look at the thick legs on Kasse (top right).

Prebanding day video of Wilko and Kasse: https://youtu.be/bZzlsnK826g?

Some of us have been wondering about their brother Ervie. I posted a question about him on the FB page of Friends of Osprey South Australia. Will keep you posted!

Not a lot of activity was going on at the NE Florida nest of Gabby and Beau on Thursday. Think they got invited for Thanksgiving dinner?

The fundraiser for Montana Osprey Project was, I hope, a huge success. The pens are beautiful! I don’t know if they have any left. They are refillable and well, who wouldn’t want a stick from the ‘miracle nest of 2024’.

The endangered Cockatoo in Australia is also very long lived. “Eight Carnaby’s cockatoos aged between 21 and 35 years have been recorded, according to research published in Pacific Conservation Biology. The oldest bird, at 35 years old, was first recorded as an egg in August 1986. The report co-author Peter Mawson, a researcher with Western Australia’s biodiversity department, said the male cockatoo “looked as healthy as the day he left the nest”, and was still breeding when last sighted in 2021.”

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/nov/28/western-australias-endangered-cockatoo-among-worlds-longest-living-birds?CMP=share_btn_url

Many are vegetarians and my inbox was flooded with images of turkeys celebrating Thanksgiving by having their own feasts instead of being eaten.

Cal Falcons has a winter fundraiser that is underway in case you are interested.

Thank you so much for being with us today. We hope to see you soon.

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘J’, Hob Osterlund, EagleCam, Ducks Unlimitied Canada, Brian Collins, whro, Androcat, SW Florida Eagle Cam, Port Lincoln Ospreys, Bart M and PLO, Heidi McGrue, NEFL-AEF, Montana Osprey Project, Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute, Cal Falcons

The many things we are grateful for…Thursday in Bird World

28 November 2024

Good Morning Everyone,

Today is Thanksgiving in the US. (We had ours eons ago). My calendar tells me that I got the date correct this time. We will make a special pumpkin pie to celebrate with our American readers. It doesn’t take a special day for me to be thankful for each of you for opening your hearts and lives to me throughout the years. I always enjoy hearing from you, seeing the images of your faithful pets or the birds in your gardens, and hearing about the wonders of your holidays, road trips, or just the musings of your day. That you have allowed me into your life is so precious, and I am very grateful and touched.

I am also grateful for my life, no matter how challenging. Every day I enjoy with my husband is a real gift. Each minute is treasured. I urge you to cherish all the beautiful moments – they are fleeting like the delicate snowflakes that fall. I wondered what life might be like, but that no longer happens. We have not allowed Lewy Body Dementia to destroy us. We travel, see birds daily, play with and read to our girls, have dinner with friends and family, watch movies and laugh hysterically. We are even starting back on writing the children’s book about garden birds. What more would I want?

I am also grateful to The Girls. They are huge characters who bring so much comfort and laughter. Of course, there is also Brock, Dyson and her family, Junior and the Missus, and the two Crows. Sadly, I cannot tell one sparrow from the other, but their presence is huge. You can hear the bird song from our garden a half block away, where there is nothing but silence.

I am also grateful to all of the writers who have brought the most amazing stories – real and not – into our lives this year. We are reading Chloe Dalton’s book, Raising Hare, for the second time. It is the story of how caring for a leveret changed Dalton’s life. It is writers like her that give me hope. We have just finished reading The Serviceberry by Robin Wall Kimmerer. The Saskatoon or Serviceberry is a metaphor for the gift economy and how each of us can, through simple grassroots, ways help change the type of rampant consumerism that lies at the heart of our climate crisis. Public libraries, free farm stands where surplus produce is left for anyone to take and use, The Little Free Libraries doting the neighbourhoods where you live, clothing depots for people who need something to wear to a job they thought they would never get — free gifts that trickle through society. We can all take part!

So thank you to all of you, to my husband struggling with Lewy Body Dementia, my children and close friends, to my girls and the garden animals who make my life worth living.

Now for something fun related to Thanksgiving, Audubon published 10 Fun Facts about Wild Turkeys. See how many you know!

10 Fun Facts About the Wild Turkey _ AudubonDownload

Today, we were scheduled to take Missey and Calico to the vet. However, I have been concerned about Hugo Yugo’s teeth since we adopted her, so at the last minute, I decided to bring Hugo Yugo instead of Calico. It turned out to be a good decision. My fear of dental issues stems from losing Lewis last year. Unfortunately, Hugo Yugo does have dental problems, but thankfully, her condition is not as severe as Lewis’s was.

We have been using dental wipes and brushing her teeth every day, which has helped keep the issue manageable. However, she will need professional cleanings every six months. Hugo Yugo is scheduled to have a cleaning and surgery to remove her incisors. Our vet has offered to come in during her holiday if Hugo Yugo stops eating, but we are hoping to secure an appointment within the next two months.

Please send your warmest wishes to little Hugo Yugo, as she is in considerable pain but is not showing any signs of it.

The pair really looked over that office. They even had a chance for play fighting and at the end of the day they both wanted to come home together in the same cat carrier, not separately. Enjoy.

Missey is well-behaved, gentle, and extremely healthy. She has only gained 300 grams in a year. No teeth problems! No gum problems. Maine Coon. How lucky were we to get this loving motherly cat? Someone found her under a truck only a couple of days old.

Hugo Yugo was into everything – on every shelf!

Getting acquainted with the room.

Missey knew there were some squeezy treats on that counter somewhere.

It was nice to be home. Hugo Yugo had a double dinner and has been asleep since her return.

Today, I want to introduce you to the work of Emma Buck. I found Emma through a friend in the UK and was instantly taken by the intricate stitching she uses to create her birds. I had been looking for birds for a ‘tree’ in my living room and, also as holiday gifts for friends. They fit both of my loves – our feathered friends and having beautiful handmade objects.

Emma Buck describes herself as a “Norfolk birder and ringer but have spent a lot of time in Canada and wannabe wildlife artist.” Emma has recently moved from the UK to Canada, and this year – for the next few months – her only income is derived from the gorgeous handmade birds she makes. There is no comparison to the birds made in China by a machine!

Emma did not think she could master a Blue Jay, but she tried, and this is the result. It is now her favourite, and I think she captured Junior rather well. I sure love the result!!!!!!

I hope to eventually have one of Emma’s birds for each of the species that visits our garden.

And the three altogether:

These are some of the examples of past birds and animals that Emma has created. You can see the size by comparing the bird with her hand.

These handmade gems are $45 CDN each plus shipping and handling. If you have questions or are interested in commissioning a bird or animal, here is Emma’s contact information: emmarosebuck@gmail.com

Emma also has an Instagram account, too: emmas_wildlifeart 

The shock of Hugo Yugo’s need for surgery is sinking in, even though I knew there was going to be a problem early on. She does not have the underlying conditions like feline leukaemia that Lewis had, thank goodness. She has slept since coming home, but did eat well. I need to watch to make sure she continues to eat. Right now, all I want to do is cuddle up with her and a warm blanket – hoping that we can make a miracle happen overnight.

So, I had little time to check on the birds today. I constantly checked Port Lincoln because it is the only active nest. Thank goodness the rest of Bird World is relatively quiet.

The morning started off pretty rough at Port Lincoln with wind gusts and damp conditions.

Dad came through with a fish that he had eaten quite bit from. Still, it is better than nothing. It is a good day for the Fish Fairy.

By 1213, there had been no other deliveries – Mum, Dad, or Fairy. Fingers crossed.

The Fish Fairy came and delivered 10 fish. Wilko is right there and it isn’t going to be long til he is claiming one of those and unzipping it. Kasse time to figure this out! Dad claimed one. Mum and the kids got the rest. Fantastic.

I will continue to advocate that providing supplementary fish to this family in Port Lincoln ensures that the chicks not only survive to fledge, but are also healthy and strong. Thank you Fran, Janet, and Bazz.

I didn’t see any activity at the NE Florida nest of Gabby and Beau.

At Cal Falcons, Annie and Archie are starting to think of romance! https://youtu.be/bhAmpg9dQZs?

Holly Parsons posted a moving video of a peregrine falcon that became blind and was raised in captivity. Thanks, Holly. Wildlife are so resilient. https://youtu.be/wJCl-U6ena4?

Do you remember the only eyas raised in the flower pot in Sydney, Australia? Well, the Crawley fledgling returned to her balcony and nest after two weeks on the wing!

News from Ranger Judy on the Olympic Park Eagles. I am hoping that we will have some pictures of SE33 in rehab soon!

Jackie and Shadow have been busy. https://youtu.be/HpV-4iq5jMc?

Wisdom has returned to Midway Island in search for a mate!!!!!!!!!!! This is amazing news. The entire staff and Laysan osprey lovers of this 74 year old albatross are giving thanks for her health and return. Let us all be grateful. She is the one with the red band on her right leg.

It’s Rita’s History Monday and ‘J’ sent me the link!

A 4 year old eagle has come to check out the Dulles-Greenway nest of Martin and Rosa. https://youtu.be/tAtLJOgGRnU?

FORE has decided that the pine cone that Jackie brought into the nest isn’t going anywhere. It is a female cone as they are much larger and have a list of names you can choose from. Have some fun. Go and vote. Here is the link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1orWPap_URi7yZbpiyaEUEuSetfPWE_hvCUe69JtWeng/viewform?edit_requested=true

If you have been following the issues surrounding the cutting down of a Bald Eagle nest by a developer in Alabama, here is a summary that was posted of a meeting where the issues were discussed.

The Kakapo Recovery still has some adoptions open! We adopted Ralph’s father, Rangi, a couple of years ago. It is another great organization – like so many others – reaching out for help this season.

‘J’ reports that the 2024 Raptor Day at WINORR raised over $20,000 to help with Bobby Horvath’s rescue and rehabilitation efforts for raptors on Long Island.

Calico’s Tip of the Day: Ignore all of the Black Friday Week Sales. Delete the ads in your inbox. Close your eyes to the stores. Put the flyers in the recycling bin. Instead of buying a huge TV, another purse, more tools for the garage, or the temptation of a new phone or big fancy camera, pause. Think of the birds and the people who rescue and care for them, and if you can, give – a little or a lot on or before Giving Tuesday so your donation is doubled.

We wish all of you celebrating Thanksgiving a day of laughter and love with those near and dear. To everyone else, take time to be grateful for something little or big that makes your life worth getting up for. If it is a person, tell them! We all need to know we are valued. Enjoy your dinner – lots of love, effort, and expense went into it!

Thank you for being with us. Please take care. We look forward to seeing you soon.

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to write this short blog today: ‘J’, Audubon, Emma Buck, SK Hideaways, Port Lincoln Ospreys, Judy Harrington, Hob Osterlund, Rita the Eagle, Holly Parsons, Untamed, Orange Australia Peregrine Falcons and Crawley Falcons, FORE, Dulles-Greenway Eagle Cam, Wings of Whimsy, Kakapo Recovery

Monday in Bird World

25 November 2024

Hello Everyone,

GREAT NEWS: Morning update on WBSE33.

Judy Harrington reports that WBSE 33 has been cleared by the vets and is fit and ready to go to a rehabilitation facility. There he will gain strength and more experience before release.

Isn’t this wonderful news!

And I want to thank our friend, ‘H’ in Florida for going to take a photo of the Achieva Osprey nest. She says, “I happened to be in the area last week but it was at night and somewhat well lit. The base of the nest sits on a solid wood utility pole that is fully upright and when standing below, it appears the base of the nest is level on the post. You can definitely see the holes in the base of the nest.” Thank you so very, very much. That clears up a lot of questions. Here are the images that ‘H’ took:

Sunday was another grey sky day with some blowing snow. As I write this, the weather app on my phone tells me it will be -9 C. When we go out, we need our warm boots, toques, mitts, and heavier coats. Outside, it felt colder than it was. Even the conservatory feels like it is -20 C, and it isn’t. It is now -5 C and for the first time I have closed the door. The girls are not happy. We will see what is wrong with the heating tomorrow. Maybe just the fact it was cloudy with no sun made it cooler. Just the thought of winter sends shivers down my back, literally.

Near the quarries, Magpies were swooping across the road and a Bald Eagle on top of a pole. More and more Bald Eagles are choosing to stay in Manitoba during the winter. These quarries are perfect places for them to hunt rabbits, squirrels, and voles.

One of the abandoned quarries where there are often waterfowl and deer. The Bald Eagle was very close to this site. I wonder when the water will freeze. This is a vast unused pit that is just full of various wildlife at different times of the year.

Nearer to home was something I didn’t want to see – a deer family at a small park one block square with lots of traffic roaring around on all sides. People walk their dogs (thankfully, they keep them on the lead), but will those dogs cause the deer to bolt? Someone has left pumpkin, and tomorrow, we will take apples and pears for them.

I posted it in our local community news. Most people are very caring. One lady lets them eat all the pumpkins in her garden. How kind. It warmed my heart to see who many who care for this deer family in one way or another.

The territory that the deer once inhabited has been disrupted and transformed into rapid transit routes with dedicated bus lanes and condominiums. It’s truly disheartening to think about how the deer will navigate across four lanes of heavily congested traffic to reach the larger park area if they decide to go there. They face the same challenges that other wildlife do in an urban setting that is nothing more than a building site – predators, cars, habitat loss, and food shortage. Again, thankfully people are providing what they can which included potato peels from one lady today!

Early fish have come to Wilko and Kasse. Mum was obviously very hungry as she held her fish back as Dad came in with a larger fish five minutes later.

This obs board has been updated and what is missing from the one that follows is the mention that Mum has brought in a fish and Kasse will be able to get some nice fish. Mum has really proven herself this year. Incredible. I keep saying that about her and I mean it. If we took away the fish fairies, the only thing that is keeping Wilko and Kasse alive is Mum and her fishing. Sorry Dad. I would scream at you, too.

It is after 1400 and still nothing save for the mornings offerings of fish at Port Lincoln.

The fishing got better at Port Lincoln as the day progressed. Kasse got to eat well at the end.

At NE Florida, Gabby and Beau continue to work on the nest in the early morning.

Incubation continues at SW Florida where M15 and F23 will welcome their eaglet/s earlier than Superbeaks and Captiva.

Thunder and Akecheta are busy working on their nest at the West End in the Channel Islands.

Liberty and Guardian kicking sticks around. https://youtu.be/U6n6tdpAvig?

Gigi and the new male are also working on their nest, the ND-LEEF, in the cooler area of southern Indiana.

A stunning sub-adult is at the US Steel nest.

Bonnie and Clyde were at their nest working diligently.

No further news on WBSE33.

There has been no sighting of Yira. Holly Parsons posts the latest update from Cilla Kinross.

I am skeptical. I have said this many times. I want to see Yira fly past the nest box and grab prey from Xavier’s talons when he drops it. Yira should be begging loudly for prey from the parents. She should be perched on buildings so loud as to get the parent’s attention and anyone passing by. So why have we not heard or seen her? Please, do not get me wrong. I want her to be alive and well and getting prey, but this just doesn’t feel right. With no evidence, I do not know why one would assume that all is well. Or is it, ‘no news is good news?’

Sunnie Day reports that the osprey platform at the Venice Golf and Country Club is being replaced. Way to go

Deb Stecyk caught Bella and Scout at their NCTC nest. https://youtu.be/TZ3pvvhr4Bs?

Thank you so much for being with us today. As you can see, I am feeling a little better. That allowed us to go for a nice outing today. Thank goodness. I am really, really dreading winter arriving this year. There I have said that twice. The snow doesn’t even look beautiful to me this year!

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: ‘H’, Ranger Judy Harrington, Port Lincoln Osprey, Bart M and PLO, NEFL-AEF, SW Florida Eagle Cam, IWS/Explore.org, SK Hideaways, ND-LEEF, Pix Cams, Cardinal Land Conservancy, Judy Harrington, Deb Stecyk. Sunnie Day,

Monday in Bird World

18 November 2024

Good Morning Everyone,

We hope that you had a lovely weekend and that your week will be full of wonderful moments, smiles, laughs, and the sounds of birds.

Baby Hope sends you a nose rub!

The sky is a bright white-grey. The bare branches of the Maple trees against that ‘cold’ sky look like Victorian ‘shadow portraits’ without the humans. The garden animals are scurrying about getting their peanuts hidden and the oil seed eaten in case the drizzle gets heavier. Brock was waiting for me when I pulled the curtain back on the garden door at 1000. He stood on his hind legs with his front paws touching the glass. He is getting more trusting. His heated house arrives on Monday, just in time for the snow we expect on Wednesday. I sure hope it is easy to assemble. When was it that items had to be assembled? We seem to always get things that have the holes for the screws in the wrong place! Has this happened to you?

We made a wood fire today. It makes the house so cosy. After several years, it is now time to order firewood. I was so lucky to find someone near to where I live that sells oak. It gives off good heat and, thankfully, I learned when I was firing wood kilns, how to start the fire and keep it burning. The Oak along with some Poplar will arrive on Thursday evening. We will be busy trying to get it inside the back fence – the rest of the week will be stacking. It shouldn’t take long, but it will be cold and could be wet. There are some really beautiful firewood racks – rectangular are the traditional ones, but someone has designed some 70 inch round ones that are stunning. I think we will just stack the 1.5 cords on the deck loose! Little Red has the wood box. :)))))))))

‘The Girls’ are afraid of the fire. This is a good thing. They are, however, washing themselves after having their seared salmon and they are enjoying the warmth that only the Jotul stove can provide. Calico is on top of the dining table rolling back and forth upside down. She is so happy. If I go to take her photo, she will stop (of course!).

Oh, Calico kept doing it! Oh, I love this girl. Her fur is so white and thick and those legs of hers are strong. Baby Hope is just like her.

Meanwhile, I had to call Brock this evening. He appeared within a minute with his paws on the glass garden door, again. Wonder when he will learn to turn the knob and come in?

One of our readers, ‘EJ’ took this beautiful image of Double-Crested Cormorants at the Tensaw River, Alabama, at the Blakely Historic State Park. Thank you for sharing with us. ‘EJ’ noted that it was 80 F. Oh, how wonderful. It is 1 C or 33.8 F.

All About Birds describes Double-crested Cormorants this way: “Double-crested Cormorants are colonial waterbirds that seek aquatic bodies big enough to support their mostly fish diet. However, they may roost and form breeding colonies on smaller lagoons or ponds, and then fly up to 40 miles to a feeding area. In addition to fishing waters, cormorants need perching areas for the considerable amount of time they spend resting each day. After fishing, cormorants retire to high, airy perches to dry off and digest their meals—rocks, wires, tops of dead trees, ship masts. They tend to form breeding colonies in clusters of trees in or near water. After a while, masses of cormorant guano may kill these trees and the trees may topple, at which point the cormorants may switch to nesting on the ground.”

Here is a species spotlight: https://youtu.be/_lLYHz4cnUw?

There has been angst and even killings between fishers and the Cormorants despite their protected migratory species – just like our ospreys that often fish at the fish farms.

Emergence Magazine included a story in their e-mail today, which I hope you will enjoy. This is the synopsis: “In this piece, writer Robert Moor journeys to Haida Gwaii, an island chain in British Columbia, for the anniversary of a historic agreement between the Haida Nation and the Canadian government that protects the landscape’s last remaining old-growth forests after decades of reckless logging precipitated by colonialism. To honor the occasion, a totem pole—carved from a towering red cedar—is raised under Haida leadership on Gwaii Haanas for the first time in 130 years. Walking through a forest stewarded for generations, Robert begins to see the tangle of Sitka spruces and cedars, mosses and lichens, not as a site of slow decay, but of ongoing growth. Standing in the presence of ancient trees, we can feel, rather than intellectualize, he says, not only the deep past, but also our responsibility to the future.”

Dendrochronology – Robert MoorDownload

Each day, I wake up hoping that ordinary humans, far from politicians and industry, can make the changes that will give our beloved wildlife a chance to adapt, live, and not starve in the nest. It can feel frustrating, but we have to hope.

I dreamed about Yira last night. Is this one of the adults with Yira flying around the tower? https://youtu.be/6hrNJESmrXs?

Parents should use prey drops while in flight—either dead or injured prey—as a teaching tool. Diamond and Xavier did this on camera above the tower several days ago before Yira fledged. They will also work on Yira’s flight training to build her strength.

Xavier and Diamond have been bonding in the scrape. https://youtu.be/5pfk6Q2DS1w?

Xavier arrived in the scrape with prey but left immediately. https://youtu.be/06ZektciLHM?

On the other hand, we know that the third hatch at Melbourne did not stay attached to F23’s talon but could fly away on her own. Here is the view of the last fledge at the Melbourne scrape from an adjacent building. Enjoy. https://youtu.be/1K4s90IkRkY?

It is a weighty tome, but Richard Sale’s book, Falcons, is an excellent volume on your bookshelf if you need one of the best reference books. Excellent background information and in-depth material on Peregrines, Kestrels, Hobbies, and Merlins exist.

The cam operator at Port Lincoln gave us some amazing close ups of Wilko and Kasse. Those juvenile feathers are stunning.

This year is very different. Mum is fishing off the barge to feed herself and the kids. She is doing a great job! I wonder why she didn’t do this in earlier years? But, regardless of the reason, she is intent on feeding her hungry kids and herself if Dad isn’t having any luck.

OK. Dad came in with a whole fish at 1234. Thanks Dad – . There is plenty of time for more.

I love the white outline of the grey-brown juvenile feathers. Wilko and Kasse will keep this distinctive ‘look’ for 3-6 months after fledging so that they can easily be recognized as recent fledglings/juveniles as opposed to adults.

Look at those beautiful eyes. The iris is a beautiful amber colour that will change to yellow when Wilko and Kasse are adults. Did you know that this iris is more red-orange in the ospreys hatched in the US?

I got a little carried away. They are so beautiful.

The news at Sydney is thin. No update on SE34.

Jackie and Shadow. Sticks. Love. Snow. https://youtu.be/ifpOijoG_IQ?

Thunder and Akecheta were at the West End nest on Sunday! So nice to see them, just like Jackie and Shadow.

Beau on the branch above the NE Florida nest he shares with Gabby early Sunday morning.

Eagles at Denton Homes.

We no longer need to wonder who is taking the turtle shells from E1 in the Kistachie National Forest! https://youtu.be/7ZozS0pmYrg?

Scout comes to the NCTC nest on Sunday! https://youtu.be/Zq4P3POFwmc?

Rabbit dinners and pond baths are the order of the day at SW Florida. https://youtu.be/RPKXJ13u024?

Illegal laundering of the sale of Peregrine Falcons? Wife is part of the police force? Oh, the webs that are woven to stop the protection of raptors.

Fraud charge dropped_ The weird case of WPC Suzanne Hall, wife & mother of convicted peregrine launderers. – Raptor Persecution UKDownload

Are the Red Squirrels of England at risk of dying off?

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/nov/16/red-squirrels-to-vanish-from-england-unless-vaccine-against-squirrelpox-funded?CMP=share_btn_url

Annie and Archie always put a smile on our face! https://youtu.be/jfzQtDwfCp0?

‘J’ reminds us that this is the very last few days to adopt a Kakapo if you were thinking about it.

And if also were thinking about donating so Ventana Wildlife and the California Condors can double their money, here is the information.

Please look at Cheryl’s comment in the WordPress ‘comments’ section of my blog. She notes an eagle at the Mississippi Flyway that has only one leg and is doing fine. She also noted Alden who was our Super Hero at Cal Falcons and was ‘disabled’ but was an amazing hunter. Then there is Ma Berry – and others. It was about my comment that I felt Garrama was not given a chance to see what he could do citing our new vet who believes little is known about wildlife and that we should try and allow them to have a life.

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

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, comments, videos, articles, images, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post this morning: ‘C, EJ, J’, Emergence Magazine, All About Birds, Key West Tropical Forest and Garden, Birdie Cam, Birding Life & More, Richard Sale, Port Lincoln Ospreys, Judy Harrington, SK Hideaways, IWS/Explore.org, NEFL-AEF, Deb Stecyk, Androcat, Denton Homes, Kistachie National Forest, Raptor Persecution UK, The Guardian, SK Hideaways, Kakapo Recovery, Ventana Wildlife and Monterey County Gives.

Sunday in Bird World

17 November 2024

Good Morning Everyone,

Two of my four-legged friends who simply light up my day and like those nature walks, they ease some of the worry and challenges. Today, we are worried about Yira who has not been seen in the area since she fledged. This is not good. Why is there not an army searching for her?

Please note: FB has taken down my posts with titles so I am leaving this one plain, but I am sending it out Saturday night because of the issues with Yira and the third chick at Melbourne.

Latest news: The third hatch at Melbourne’s CBD is off the ledge. SK Hideaway has it and Victor Hurley has some remarks. https://youtu.be/2oodK8fVc30?

They love each other sooooo much.

We have cut our feed at X and are at Bluesky. Come and join us there. Give our osprey and friends some likes! @ospreylover.bsky.social

Thanks to our friends in Colorado for the Colorado Low that is set to bring the first snow to Southern Manitoba in 2024. Most of the time when we think of a Colorado Low, we think of a big snow dump. This time it seems we might just get a dusting in Winnipeg. Will keep you posted.

The feeding area for the outdoor cats is nearly complete. To help them through the winter, particularly Brock (the name pulled out of the hat for the outdoor kitty formerly known as The Boyfriend). This morning, he was shivering under one of the patio chairs, waiting for me to wake up enough to put out food. Any remaining foxes or raccoons clear all of the dishes and plates during the night. It has a heated floor which surely will make a huge difference and thankfully one of the two outdoor plugs is very close to where we would put the house. I got the larger size as he dismissed the shelter made for him out of the bins. He might have felt frightened he would be trapped.

If you are interested, my friend ‘S’ sent me this rating chart this morning before I ordered Brock’s heated house. Did you know that Brock is the Old English name for a badger. It kinda fits since they are both black and white.

Our Top 5 Feral Cat Shelter – True Winners Of 2024Download

The other things that we have done to get prepared for winter’s arrival and, oh, gosh, we wish it would wait a few weeks, is to gather up all the toques, scarves, mitts, woolen socks, and heavy boots. They are all ready to go so that we can venture out on our walks in the snow.

Then, after reading a story in The Guardian this morning, Calico and I thought that we should order some books to ready. As many of you are aware, Calico has had ‘story time’ since before I got her into the house. I used to sit on the deck and read and then, when she came inside and was in the small room, I would read to her every time I fed her. If you are trying to socialise a cat it is a wonderful way to get them used to your voice. She has her favourite authors and we read every evening for an hour. It is our ritual and all the others join in, just like children around a fire. It is one of the most beautiful times of the day. The four of them morph into something other than independent felines.

The article we read was about Ronald Blythe, the nature writer from Essex and how is little home is being turned into a sanctuary for education and writers. I am unfamiliar with his work, but after finding good used copies, Calico and I decided to give four of the titles a chance: Akenfield, Portrait of an English Village; Under a Broad Sky, Stout Seasons, and Next to Nature. I do hope she likes his ‘voice’. Calico is very particular and will walk right out of the room. Those books do not get Calico’s Golden Paw Award!

Here is the article about Ronald Blythe. It is inspiring me to think about a small urban house being used for research and writing after I am gone with the proviso that the animals are fed! Now isn’t that a thought?

‘A force for everything he represented’: Ronald Blythe’s home to become nature reserve. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/nov/16/ronald-blythe-home-nature-reserve-akenfield?CMP=share_btn_url

The smile on the face of Mum at Port Lincoln is that she dove from the barge and caught a very very early fish for the kids. Look at the time on the obs board below. Then Dad came in with a fish later from Mum, Wilko, and Kasse. Yes, I am smiling. Mum sure told Dad what for – get off your talons and get these kids some food!!!!!!!!!

That was a really nice fish that Mum caught. I hope she gives some lessons to the kids early on – wow. Could we see them fish off the barge? We used to watch Falkey, do you remember?

Dad incoming! Everyone was doing the talon dance in anticipation of the arrival of another fish.

The third hatch, a nice big female from the looks of it, at 367 Collins Street loafing and looking after trying to scale the side of the building earlier.

She had breakfast at 0620 and then went about her antics. She looks just like Mum save for that one big dandelion on her head. What a healthy eyas – one really ready to get out in the world. I am glad she is waiting, but it looks like she could fly any moment. The time is 0827 in Melbourne on Sunday the 17th.

At Orange, Diamond was on the ledge of the scrape looking out. Is she looking for Yira? Xavier was there, too, at different times.

They are looking for Yira and this makes me incredibly sad. There have been no alarm calls or anything from the parents indicating the presence of their oldest chick who fledge. I am so nervous.

Did you miss Bubba’s fledge at Growing Home? https://youtu.be/-9yBFAZHAi4?

After the extremely sad and disappointing news from ospreys being shot because they are hungry and need some fish, I asked my UK friends to send me instances of where individuals, groups, of businesses have worked to help the osprey. Jeff Kear sent me one of the first. Thank you, Jeff.

One of the others was in a blog a few days ago. You will recall that Iris’s owl pole had to be cut down. But another was put up for Iris and Finnegan and they began to put the lines below ground to help saves the raptors from getting electrocuted.

In the UK, most people know that at Gwash, they discovered that trying to earn a living selling farmed fish was difficult. So instead of fighting with the ospreys who wanted some of the fish in the ponds, Gwash set up a hide for photographers who come from around the world to capture images of osprey catching fish! Maybe our friends in the US might do that instead of shooting them.

There are some people who care about the condition of nests enough to get a ladder and put some wonderful nesting material there for the birds. It wasn’t long after the straw was put in that Friday the stork showed up! Some centres, like Glaslyn, regularly refurbish the nests and check them for safety before the birds return.

Hochstadt, Germany.

Thanks to Tonya Irvin who caught one of those golden moments – looks like a successful mating at NE Florida with Gabby and Beau.

M15 delivered his beautiful mate a rabbit dinner. https://youtu.be/btFrkKxm_0k?

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

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, articles, images, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘EJ, JK, SC’, The Guardian, Port Lincoln Ospreys, 367 Collins Street by Mirvac, Charles Sturt Falcon Cam, Heidi McGrue, Lyn Brenig, Hochstadt Stork Cam, Tonya Irwin and the NEFL-AEF, Androcat and SW Florida Eagle Cam