8 December 2024
Good Morning Everyone,
Our thoughts are with all the humans and non-humans living along the coast of California and Oregon where a 7.4 earthquake has hit. For my readers and their families, we are thinking of you and wish everyone to be safe.
In the movie, Seven Years in Tibet, there is a scene where they are building the movie theatre for the Dalai Lama. The Tibetans are anguished about the killing of the worms. The Dalai Lama suggests to Heinrich Harrer that he is very clever and he can find a way to construct the building without killing. He explained to the Austrian that all life is sacred and should be respected. I wish a wave would pass around the world where everyone would treat all living beings with great compassion.
It is +4 C in Winnipeg. The snow that fell is all melting. Any ice build up is also melted or melting. It is 1400 and we will have sunlight for another hour and a half. The birds are busy eating. What is worrying me for the last few days is that I have only seen one Blue Jay. Did one decide to migrate late? or did something happen? or are they just coming at different times and I think it is one but it is two? I would like to see them together.
The Girls are enjoying the warm sunshine today. Calico is on the table by my side. She loves being super warm and does not complain when I wrap her up in the duvet at night.
Some of you have asked about the fate of the Canada Goose. As I understand, all of the geese rescued from the wildlife centre are safe along with the one that we saved yesterday. They will spend their winter here in a warm environment with plenty of food and medical care if necessary.
We have cleared the way to set up the Reolink camera and found the perfect spot to install the solar panel. Then we both realised that the camera only operates at -10 C. While it is warm today, in a few days, the reading will have dropped substantially. We are going to set the camera up to see if it works and maybe keep it outside until the temperature dips to -27 C mid-week. It will be a way to test it and give us something to look forward to in the spring.
It seems that we are now in a snowfall warning for Sunday and could get up to 10-20 cm or 4-8 inches. That wasn’t on my phone! Will see if it happens. That camera might have to wait.
‘B’ sent me an article about the geneticists at Stanford solving the mystery of ‘orange’ cats. Of course, both of us wonder why Hugo Yugo is orange after reading it. I wrote my son to see if he could help us. Here is the article, any thoughts?
https://www.sfgate.com/local/article/stanford-scientists-crack-mystery-orange-cats-19962652.php
I wonder if Kasse is going to fledge. She really got some good lift after Wilko took his first flight. Heidi caught it in video and while most people were watching Wilko, it was Kasse that caught my attention.
Here are two videos of the fledge: https://youtu.be/FUlN6W7W1-4?
And Heidi’s which shows a lot of other action: https://youtu.be/pL5NHQ9rJgI?
Yesterday Dad brought in one fish and there were two supplementary fish. Today, Mum brought in a fish early, 0721. Wilko wanted it, but Mum prevailed. It was small and each got a meal. I hope Mum got some, too. Wilko got the tail!
This is what happened today. Mum, you are amazing! And so are you Fish Fairies.
The only surviving chick out of three at the Osprey House Environment Centre in Australia is Marina. She has caught her first fish! Marina fledged on the 29th of September.
There was another good mating at the NE Florida Bald Eagle nest. Will this be the one that gives us that first egg? We wait. https://youtu.be/CedSKh1oIZA?
At SW Florida, M15 knows the way to getting incubation time! A fish gift! Smart lad. https://youtu.be/FV3OEOnS9Ow?
At the West End, Akecheta is protecting the territory against ravens! https://youtu.be/4ET64zP5Frk?
Tonya Irwin brings us up to date on nest E-1 in the Kistachie National Forest.
Here is that video: https://youtu.be/SdCgIy2QADU?
Xavier and Diamond have been in and out of the scrape. My heart breaks for them.
Is it possible to get a dedicated group of BOGs to be there when the chicks fledge so that they can check all the trees and know where the fledglings are if they are injured, help can come quickly.
An announcement from Window to Wildlife regarding the Captiva Osprey Cam:
Some cute little Eurasian Hobbys to keep you entranced – it part of a series from the 2024 nesting period. https://youtu.be/TLOLFuMo-40?
No eagles but a squirrel did visit the MN-DNR Bald Eagle nest on Saturday.
Harry and Harriet are building their nest and – wait – is that snow?! It is Michigan, it is winter! https://youtu.be/pYWYnmfyiWA?
Ferris Akel tours the area around Ithaca on Saturday. He did not find Big Red and Arthur, but there was an impressive number of waterfowl on Cayuga Lake.
Calico was watching Ferris.
Coots.
American Black Ducks and several species of swans.
I like checking in with Ferris who catches the changing seasons in the Ithaca and bird arrivals and departures. I also like to check in with Bruce Yolton who chases down raptors in New York City.
Yolton captured a gorgeous Great Horned Owl in the City a couple of days ago. The GHO was interested in the rodents below on a branch. Great little video! You can find his blog at urbanhawks.com https://youtu.be/ghU7O15gOBQ?
Some stunning photo contest winners!
I love Puffins. Doesn’t everyone? Can we end them starving?
“BirdLife, the RSPB, 31 NGOs and the wind sector sent letters to the Commissioner for Fisheries and Oceans and asked him to be the champion for the ocean he promised to be. Can he turn the tide for starving Puffins?”
-https://www.birdlife.org/news/2024/12/04/commissioner-kadis-end-puffin-starvation-now/
There are so many talented wildlife photographers who read my blog in the UK. Please send your photos to the RSPB – be part of their cover story!
Finally, the Grouse hunting estates in Scotland are under pressure to change their ways – and they don’t even recognise that they need to stop killing raptors illegally.
Every National Park – every area where there is a high concentration of wildlife – should be making it safer for them to cross the roads!
The Christmas Bird Counts are huge events internationally. Please check with your local birding associations and see how you can take part.
So far, it is quiet, which is a good thing in Bird World. Soon, we will have some eaglets in SW Florida, and by the end of the month, all of the eagle nests will have at least one egg (we hope). We look forward to Kasse fledging, which will happen anytime. She is ready. I was happy to see supplementary fish still being provided. Thank you, fish fairies. These fledglings use much energy and have yet to catch their food. In fact, Marina took over two months to catch her own fish after fledging at Osprey House Environmental Centre.
This afternoon Missey and Baby Hope posed for new photos.
Meanwhile, one of Dyson’s kits was outside enjoying peanuts. The three kits chased one another all over the garden. They were so happy to have a warm day and lots and lots of peanuts!
Their baskets for the winter solstice are being prepared. We have various types of prepared bird seed, hazelnuts, Butter Bark, suet balls, pieces of pear and apple to be prepared on the day. Looking for more ideas! It is our way of thanking them for being such a huge part of our lives!
Thank you so much for being with us today. 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 post today: ‘B, Heidi, J’, sfgate.com, Port Lincoln Ospreys, Heidi McGrue, Osprey House Environment Centre, American Eagle Nest Cam Highlights, SK Hideaways, BVS Girl, Tonya Irwin and Kisatachie National Forest Eagle Cam Fans FB, Charles Sturt Falcon Cam, Window to Wildlife, Marek Palicka, MN-DNR Eagle Cam, Wings of Whimsy, Ferris Akel Tours, Bruce Yolton, The Guardian, Birdlife International. RSPB England, Raptor Persecution UK, Parks Canada, Missey and Baby Hope