Category Archives: UK ospreys

E22 knocked off by GHO, Mother Goose Knocked off nest…Saturday in Bird World

1 April 2022

Good Morning Everyone!

Remember when I said everything was going to start happening at once? Well, that day is today. I can hardly log in a UK Osprey arrival, and there is another one. The winds must have been perfect. E21 took his second flight with 22 waiting on the branch. Missy and Lewis were certainly counting on 22 going first until that GHO caused 21 to fledge and then fly. Eaglets in nests appear to be doing well.

Missy and Lewis were very busy on Friday helping with the bathroom renovations. Then, just about the time they were tired, a new little scratch post and toy arrived for them. They had a full day. I hope they sleep through the night!

The bonus is they used it as a scratching post, too. Chasing the furry balls around was a big hit! And they didn’t go under the cabinets. Yahoo.

It was a bit of a sad day, also, as I was writing the Saturday newsletter Friday afternoon. It was a year ago today that we lost Grinnell, Annie’s long-time mate at The Campanile, on the grounds of the University of California at Berkeley.

Arlene Beech caught the intrusion at Mother Goose’s nest. 2023 feels like it is the ‘Year of the Intruder’.

Tandem feedings for H19 and H20 at Pittsburgh-Hayes in the damp cool weather.

Blue 22 might have some misgivings about that unringed female on the Poole Harbour nest. They were all cosied up and his mate, CJ7 arrived today. Blue 22 brought in a fish and the unringed female took it. Will she stay away?

CJ7 on her arrival.

CJ7 and the unringed female fish calling together at Blue 22. The unringed female got the fish. I wonder what CJ7 is saying to Blue 22 today?

The resident male at Lyn Brenig, LJ2, has returned from his migration safely back to Wales.

Meanwhile, at Manton Bay Rutland, Maya checks the rails and inspects the egg cup.

She is drop-dead gorgeous.

Blue 33 did an incredible job getting that nest together for her.

Telyn and Idris continue to get reacquainted. Gosh, I am so happy to see them. I am a great fan of Idris. Apologies beforehand. You will get sick of me singing his praises before the end of the season.

Telyn is tired.

Idris ‘Daddy Long Legs’ enjoying a nice fish.

LM6 has returned to Llyn Brenig so both resident Ospreys are home (she lost her ring last year). Nice. She arrived this morning.

E21 took his second flight. 22 looks so lonely in the nest. He will fly soon!

E22 waiting for a prey drop and for its big sib to return to the nest.

E22 spent the night on the nest tree alone. Where is 21? Has anyone seen him since he flew off today? I hope he is at another tree on the property being fed by M15, but if he has not been seen, this is worrisome. Remember Superbeaks. They are a good example this year. The fledglings need to return to the nest.

It was no a peaceful night, E22 got hit twice by the GHO and like his older sibling was knocked from the nest tree. ‘A’ sent the news: ‘E22, spending his first night alone in the attic, was knocked off his perch around 1.14am by a GHO. He was knocked off the branch and fell to the basement, just below the nest. A second strike by the GHO knocked him lower down the tree. I presume that from this position, he will have no choice but to fly away from the tree if he is to attempt a return to the nest, just as E21 did yesterday.’

Lady Hawk got it on video.

 Our Bitty is OK. He is in the tree. Thanks Nancy M Lockwood! M15 has brought a fish Saturday morning and neither eaglet arrived at the nest to eat it. He is trying to get them to come home so he can feed them in the nest. Fingers crossed.

This is why GHOs are not on my most-liked list. There is no reason other than territory that they should be attacking M15 and his eaglets.

The triplets at PA Farm Country seem to be doing awesome.

We were all saddened when Liberty and Guardian’s only egg of the 2023 season did not hatch on the expected date and, instead, exploded. Here is a great explanation about why that might have happened.

Nancy is hanging in there. There is an intense blizzard at the MN-DNR nest and she has her 5 day old eaglet under her. Send her your best and most positive wishes.

The monofilament line has not proven to be a problem in the last few days. All is well at the Moorings Park Osprey nest of Sally, Harry, Abby and Victor. Those are beautiful babies. Just look at those feathers.

Worcester Peregrine Falcons now have four eggs.

There is some good news coming out of the London Zoo today. Congratulations.

Maybe, just maybe the police and other authorities will persecute as they should! Raptor Persecution UK is reporting an arrest has been made in the deliberate shooting of five goshawks.

When the authorities start doing the right thing many people will be arrested for their crimes against raptors. Here is another!

From Raptor Persecution UK: “Police Scotland have arrested a 56-year old man as part of their investigation into the shooting of a red kite on a grouse moor on Lochindorb Estate earlier this week.

A rough estimation of Lochindorb Estate boundary at the edge of the Cairngorms National Park

It’s hard to keep up with all the raptor persecution news this week, but this is the red kite that members of the public witnessed being shot on the grouse moor on Monday 27th March 2023 at around 11.15am. The Scottish SPCA attended the scene along with Police Scotland but unfortunately the kite’s injuries were so devastating that the bird had to be euthanised (see here).

Police Scotland issued a very fast appeal for information on Tuesday, saying they were particularly interested in finding witnesses who might have seen quad bikes or off-road vehicles in the area on Monday morning.

Yesterday afternoon (Friday 31st March 2023) Police Scotland issued the following short statement:

Arrest after bird of prey shot near Grantown-on-Spey

A 56-year-old man has been arrested and released pending further investigation after a bird of prey was shot near Grantown-on-Spey.

Officers received a report of a bird being shot around 11.15am on Monday, 27 March, 2023, at the Lochindorb Estate.“

I hope that these arrests and the heaviest fines and sentences will begin to deter this despicable behaviour.

My friend, Claudio, has been asking me about the storm in the Mississippi area. Sadly, numerous trees are downed in the area of the FlyWay. This is one fatality confirmed in terms of an Eagle’s nest. So very sad for them. There will be others. This was a massive storm system.

Karl II and Kaia, the Black Storks from the Karula National Forest, are gradually heading north. Kaia is in Turkey and Karl II is in Moldova north of Chisinau. Waba remains in Sudan.

Karl II is feeding at these ponds.

Looking for a book that will teach children about the wonders of wildlife rehabilitation. Christie Gove-Berg has a beautifully illustrated one about a young peregrine falcon injured when the wind forced her into a building. Suitable for children ages 4-12.

Thank you for being with us today. We hope everyone is having a good start to their weekend. Take care. See you soon!

Thank you to the following for their notes, tweets, videos, posts, websites, and streaming cams that helped to make up my blog today: ‘A’, ‘H’, ‘Claudio’ Cal Falcons, Arlene Beech and the Goose Cam, PIX, Poole Harbour Ospreys, Llyn Brenig, LRWT, Dyfi Ospreys, HeidiMc and SW Florida Eagle Cam and D Pritchett, SW Florida Eagle Cam and D Pritchett, Lady Hawk and SW Florida and D Pritchett, PA Farm Country, FORE, MN-DNR, Peregrine Falcons in Worcester, London Evening Standard, Raptor Persecution UK, the Stewards of the Upper Mississippi River Refuge, Looduskalender Forum, Amazon and Christie Gove-Berg.

Connick branches, Idris is home, Big Red lays first egg…Friday in Bird World

31 March 2023

Good Morning Everyone!

As I keyboarded ‘2023’ in, I had this feeling that I have been putting ‘2022’ there for a few days. Oops.

I have been clearing many things so that the workmen can finally come – and I do mean ‘finally’ -and install a shower. It has been waiting for the ‘right person’ to put it together since the pandemic. I do not know about where you live, but few people in my City want to take on ‘small jobs’. Luckily, the person who put together the conservatory said ‘yes’ when I approached them. I laughed and said it is just a smaller conservatory without a roof!

The kittens have, of course, been right in there helping. We even found some cat toys, a kitty fountain, and a beautiful felted ‘cat rock’ made in Lithuania. They enjoyed the afternoon. I hope to have better photos of them and their exploits for Saturday. Missy thinks that boxes of any kind are first-rate! I do not know if you can tell, but her fur is many different lengths, and her tail is nothing short of a bush. She looks very sweet and is but, I would not want to mess with her.

Did you know that cats love bubble wrap? Had no idea.

There was also happiness in the garden. Little Red came and had some suet. For those who do not know, our pesky Red Squirrel, Little Red, lived in our garden shed for many years. It had to be removed for the conservatory to be built, and he was evicted. Talk about feeling guilty. I tried to build him several ‘homes’ in the garden, including a specially designed Red Squirrel house, but nothing worked. Dyson & Co chewed the opening of the cute Danish house large so they could get in and snatch the peanuts meant for Red. Eventually, he did find ‘another’ shed down the lane and survived the winter nicely. Little Red is very resourceful.

Sorry, the photos are pretty bleached out. He is a gorgeous rusty red right now.

Dyson finished the nut suet cylinder as predicted which is why Little Red is having to go for this suet. Then Dyson finished off a pail of peanuts! No peanuts for Little Red, too. Dyson is just an eating machine! Look at all those shells and that is just from this afternoon.

I am concerned about Dyson. Hopefully, the fur coming off is simply moult. The line that goes around under her front legs is disturbing me – like she got caught in something which ripped her fur off. There is no blood or cuts, so fingers crossed. What do you think?

Oh, Mother Goose. She now has six eggs at her nest in Decorah, Iowa. Isn’t she beautiful? Look at the down she has pulled from her breast to insulate those eggs. Our geese make their nests on the ground. After the floods last year that destroyed those nests, the idea of a goose using an abandoned eagle’s nest is intriguing. Can’t wait to see them jump off and go down to the stream this year. It was magnificent last year.

A few weeks ago, an acquaintance of mine was with their family in India. They posted hundreds of images of birds on their FB feed. My comment was, “I am now seeing a reason to return to India!” There are villages in India counting on international birders to help their economy. If this means that the birds are protected, I am all for it!

https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2023/mar/28/tourism-is-our-only-option-the-community-banking-on-birding-in-north-india?CMP=share_btn_link

Victor and Abby are 28 days old today. Have you noticed how much calmer the nest is?

First fish of the day and the rose gold of the sun coming over the nest.

Sally seems to have decided that this is where she likes to feed Abby and Victor. This is the second fish. The only thing that changes is the light.

And the third fish Thursday morning and it isn’t even noon! Way to go Harry.

Look at those lovely feathers coming in. It is beautiful to be out of that reptilian phase.

Victor felt the need to get away from Abby and down under Sally for some more fish later on Thursday. Oh, Abby, we know you are the boss. So does Victor. Just chill.

More fish will come. This is a fantastic nest.

Happy 4 weeks Abby and Victor! That plumage is simply gorgeous. Look at those two.

While Telyn was waiting for Idris on Thursday, she decided to take a quick trip over to Clywedog and interrupt Dylan and Seren!

Here is a map with the Welsh Osprey nests indicated. Telyn is from Dyfi, the orange teardrop shape. Clywedog is Mid-Wales, the yellow one.

Morning at Big Bear after the storm. Jackie and Shadow are on the nest and Shadow is playing with the sticks again!

They were still there in the afternoon.

Big Red has been in the nest all morning. It looks like Thursday 30 March will be the day for her to lay her first egg of the 2023 season.

Cornell called it at 13:22. Arthur will be so pleased.

The egg reveal came at 15:04:25.

Arthur wasted no time getting to the nest and ‘demanding’ some incubation time! He has been impatiently waiting for this first egg to arrive. So many are relieved. Many thought that Big Red might be ‘too old’ but as long as she is healthy she should produce eggs.

Big Red settling in for the evening.

Arthur and Big Red have been sharing incubation duties – they are so in tune with one another and Arthur is so delighted. Do we think he will get a chance to feed the eyases more this year?

Beau and Nancy are taking care of their few days old only to be eaglet in the MN-DNR nest.

Bella feeds little E7 fish at the NCTC nest!

The rain is pouring down in San Francisco and Annie is hunkered down keeping the four Peregrine Falcon eggs warm and dry! She is not wanting to share incubation duties with Lou during the rain.

Idris has arrived home at the Dyfi nest on Thursday 30 March a day after his mate, Telyn.

Yeah. Daddy Long Legs is home safely! I am so excited. Time 17:31.

There are so many wonderful Osprey couples but these two are one of my favourites. So happy to see both of you back together, Idris and Telyn.

Blue 022 arrived first at Poole Harbour and an unringed female came to the nest. Now CJ7 is home and there are three of them there. Oh, goodness. Remember. The original nest at Poole Harbour was CJ7’s!

The female visitor took the fish. Do we think Blue 022 has some explaining to do to CJ7?

Blue 22 best be getting out there and getting a fish for his gal!

Birdlife Malta is trying to get the public to report any untoward activities towards the storks during their stay and migration over the country. See down further for more news.

Blue 014, the mate of Aaron Z2 at the Post Cresor nest at Glaslyn has returned. Excellent news. We now await Mrs G and Aran.

More Peregrin Falcons are returning to Manitoba!

I have had so many letters about the Dale Hollow Nest. I do not report on this nest along the Tennessee-Kentucky border. I did last season. That said, the adult male has been missing since Tuesday. The female has been feeding the three eaglets on the nest, who are now a month old. This situation is similar to M15 – except that there are three mouths. Several female eagles have been successful in fledging three alone. Please send this nest your love and positive wishes.

They all had a good feed from a huge fish that was used many times today. The little one at the top has a very large crop.

People came out to help protect the White Storks in Malta!


wskrsnwings loves E21. She did an awesome video of that flight around the pasture, coaxing him along the way. Thank you!

Anton Outdoors shows us all those Bald Eagles in Alaska eating that salmon. If you ever wondered what it is like, here it your opportunity in 49 seconds.

Thank you so very much for being with me this morning. There are branchings and fledges to come. Eggs to be laid. Ospreys to return. Lots happening. Take care. See you soon!

Thank you to everyone for their notes, posts, videos, and streaming cams that helped make up my blog today: ‘H’, Decorah Goose, The Guardian, Moorings Osprey Park, CarnyXWild, Welsh Ospreys Zone Map, FOBBV, Cornell RTH, MN-DNR, Deb Stecyk and the NCTC Eagle Cam, Cal Falcons, Dyfi, Poole Harbour Ospreys, Birdlife Malta, Manitoba Birding 0 Birds and Wildlife Photography, Dale Hollow Eagles, wskrsnwings, and Anton Outdoors.

E21 is hit by GHO and flies back to nest…Thursday in Bird World

30 March 2022

Good Morning Everyone,

It was -4 C in ‘Winter Peg’. No snow. Blue skies and a chilly, chilly wind. We are now at the point of longing for spring to arrive, and it will be another month til it feels like it! I would love to wake up in the morning to hear the quack of ducks in my garden!

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/mar/27/country-diary-the-dawn-chorus-here-begins-with-a-quack?CMP=share_btn_link

I will go back to SW Florida, but what we had feared all along happened. One of the Es got knocked off the branch while they were sleeping by the GHO. It was 21. ‘A’ sent the following note: “Both Es are in the nest tree, although I am not entirely certain that E21 may not have fledged and returned, as E22 suddenly got very excited by what could only have been E21 much higher in the nest tree. Camera scans had not found E21 in the tree prior to that, and I was starting to think he had fledged earlier this morning, then suddenly, E22 was squeeing like mad and there was E21. So I thought that he may have left the tree and returned. Otherwise, he was in the higher reaches of the nest tree all morning. Well, turns out that what happened was E21 got knocked out of the nest tree by a GHO and landed in a branch under the nest tree. Three hours later, he is now back in the nest tree. Congratulations E21.” E21 flew back to the nest so it is an official fledge. So lucky!

Heidi Mc got it on video- please watch to the end. The Es so happy to be together after the ordeal.

 If you missed it, Geemeff published Tim Mackrill’s brief talk about the miraculous journey of Blue KW0 cross the Atlantic to Barbados on the BBC.

I simply cannot help but continue to applaud this incredible Osprey. She is an amazing bird and let us all hope that she lives a long and productive life.

A fantastic interview with Sasha Dench and her return to Guinea to find 4K again and check out the challenges for the ospreys return to the UK. Thanks, Geemeff. Please listen. It is such a good interview.

Geemeff got to visit Rutland today and guess who they caught mating? Oh, eggs soon Blue 33 and Maya!

When CJ7 gets back to Poole Harbour she might have something to say to Blue 22, who has been cavorting with the unringed female on their nest at Poole Harbour!

Maya and Blue continue to work on the nest and are waiting for eggs. Blue 25 seems to be staying away or maybe her mate has now returned.

Telyn is at the Dyfi nest patiently waiting for Idris to return while eating her flounder in the wind.

Looks like she finished that off nicely! Telyn is also an excellent fisher.

Waiting for Mrs G and Aran at Glaslyn Valley where it has flooded and there is currently rain. At one time the nest was a wading pool.

It has been raining up at the Loch of the Lowes where Laddie LM12 and Blue NC0 (she has lost a ring) are hoping for eggs soon!

Heavy rain drops are falling at Louis and Dorcha’s nest at Loch Arkaig. According to one of the nest experts, the pair typically do not return until April. Smart! It looks damp and cold.

It is dreary at Clywedog, also. Dylan and Seren are both home from their migration. These are the first Welsh couple to be reunited this season.

This incredible couple made the news! There were so many new stories about Ospreys today. I wonder if the unthinkable journey of Blue KW0 across the Atlantic has sparked international interest in the fish hawks.

https://www.cambrian-news.co.uk/news/environment/ospreys-dylan-and-seren-return-to-mid-wales-forest-604482

There are three rather energetic osplets on the Achieva Osprey nest. I don’t know how this season will end but right now the little one is quite feisty. That said, the beaking has already started. The key will be for Jack to keep the fish coming in to the nest just like a train – finish one, get another. Like Harry did at the Moorings Osprey Park in Naples, Florida when Abby and Victor were wee. It didn’t stop Abby’s dominance but Victor is still happily with us!

Trey at the KNF E1 nest of Anna and Louis is having a great time flying from branch to branch at the nest tree today. She is sitting right above the nest on a branch in the image below. What a magnificent eaglet.

Prey delivery at the KNF E-3 nest of Alex and Andria and their kids, Valentine and Nugget. Both Valentine and Nugget on the nest while Andria looks on.

Connick is big and beautiful and his nest is full of fish at Captiva. Connie and Clive will still be close at hand even though Connick might like to only self-feed and be somewhat independent. Clive supplies lots of fish. You can see them on the nest. I am counting seven!

Rose and Ron’s two eaglets at the WRDC nest in Miami are sooooo cute.

They have names – and every time I go to keyboard them in I forget. So…the two at Duke Farms have their complete thermal down. There are only a few little white dandelions remaining from their youth.

Sharon Pollock shows us what the Es have been up to!

Both have been up on the attic together. Could we have a dual fledge?

In California, ‘B’ warned me that bad weather was approaching Jackie and Shadow in Big Bear and would arrive on Wednesday. He was 100% correct. I am sooooooo glad there are no little eaglets on this nest right now. This front is expected to last through Thursday. It makes me cold just looking at it!

Shadow cannot stop thinking about those nest rails even with the snow and wind! Does he know the Ravens have been taking them?

At the Bartlesville, Oklahoma Bald Eagle nest, there are three eggs! Thanks, ‘L’ for letting us know and for sending us the link to their camera.

It is raining in Corona California but this is not stopping Pip, Tootsie, and Hoot from fledging! Congratulations Owlvira and Hoots for another successful year.

Angus and Florence will have hatch around the third week in April. There are three eggs for these first-time parents. If they all hatch, this will be a crazy nest to watch. Gosh that is a long time away. How will they do in the heat and humidity?

A check on the Moorings Ospreys shows that Victor walks freely around the nest today with no monofilament hindrance—smart little one. Whenever there is an incoming fish, and he fears Abby will not be agreeable, he gets between Sally’s legs to eat and protect his head!

We have all been concerned about the Moorings osprey platform since the incident with the monofilament line. It is, sadly, too familiar. Humans must be vigilant and take better care. Sunnie Day sent me a link to a site. Please check it out. I understand that they might even retrieve line. So write this down somewhere! It could save a life.

https://www.facebook.com/mindyourline

The Moorings Park monofilament line also brings to mind the need for all streaming cam owners to have proper contact information that will respond. It is unknown how many citizen scientists – you – save the lives of birds each year. There are no statistics. What we know is that individuals watching nests know the birds personally. They can tell when they are sick. Watchers first spotted Legacy not feeling well at the NEFL Bald Eagle nest, and it was confirmed she had Avian Flu. Others – I remember Patuxent and my friends ‘S’ and ‘L’ calling everyone. A staff member listened to the taped phone messages and took their canoe to save an osprey chick falling in the water. The tide had not come in, and it was a glorious ending. ——So my point is this: YOU can save lives. To do so, you need the phone number of the nearest wildlife rehab centre for the nests you watch. You need to report what is happening and where clearly. If it is a human caused issue, such as fishing line, they can get the permit in the US to go to the nest. If a chick falls out of a nest, they can help. You are all wonderful and you can make a difference! Do not hesitate. Do not assume someone else has called.

We have a falcon egg at the Spartan Stadium in Michigan!

It is never the outcome we hope for but this posting does help us understand just how well the raptors can adapt to injuries. We have seen eagles with one leg, eagles with a mangled leg become mothers (Ma Berry), and this one with only two toes surviving well til he broke his wing. Remember this – a good learning lesson! Share the story with others when they wonder if an eagle can survive and hunt with only two toes.

That is a round-up of some of the nests we have been following. Stay tuned for the Es fledge. It is coming quicker than we might imagine. Will they fly together?

Thank you for being with me today. Take care everyone. See you soon!

Thank you to the following for their notes, their videos, posts, announcements, articles, and streaming cams that helped to make up the news in my blog today: ‘A’, ‘H’, ‘L’, Heidi Mc and SW Florida Eagle Cam, Geemeff, Sunni Day, The Guardian, Tim Mackrill and the BBC, Tom Heap and Sky News, Geemeff and LRWT, Poole Harbour Ospreys, LRWT, DYFI, Glaslyn, LOTL and the Scottish Wildlife Trust, Friends of Loch Arkaig and the Woodland Trust, CarnyxWild, Cambrian News UK, Achieva Credit Union, KNF E-1, KNF E-3, Window to Wildlife, WRDC, Duke Farms, Sharon Pollock and SW Florida Eagle Cam and D Pritchett, FOBBV, Sutton Wildlife, Moorings Park Ospreys, Mind Your Line, Olga Kysil and Orange Australia Peregrine Falcons, Terry Carman and Bald Eagles Live Nest and Cams.

E22 made it to the attic, Karl II and Kaia on the move…Wednesday in Bird World

29 March 2022

Good Morning Everyone,

Tuesday was a very long day, with Victor having a monofilament line wrapped around his tarsus. The ordeal began during the night when it was pitching down rain. ‘A’ gives us a great narrative of Sally’s reactions after she discovered the line: “Fingers crossed that you are right, and the line is a long one that extends across the nest, so whether an eaglet is currently entangled or not, it does definitely need to be removed. So yes, I hope they go ahead and remove it regardless. You should have seen Sally in the middle of the night, digging and working so hard to free the pair. She got Abby free, and she got Victor partly free, at least to the point where he can move around the nest relatively freely. She is such a wonderful mother. She tried so hard and so long. And watching her analysing what to do and where to dig was amazing. They teach us more about themselves every day.”

These things always take longer than we would like! This is the latest news:

Moorings Park management have lined up a 60 foot man lift with flotation tires for Thursday morning sometime between 7 and 9 AM. The Country Club of Naples has granted us access thru their property. To free the nestling from the fishing line it’s entangled with. Unfortunately, this is the earliest this highly specialized equipment is available.

Victor, Moorings Park Osprey chat moderator, 28 March

‘H’ has been monitoring Victor’s leg closely, and it might just be that the line wrapped around the tarsus has come off by itself. This would be fantastic, even though it often doesn’t happen. Indeed, because the machinery arrival would be so long, it would now be desirable, very desirable, if the line came off but if they would still clean the nest.

At 1651:

Victor has been fed all day. Sally is keeping them full and calm. She has been on the nest almost the entire time shading and caring for the babies.

Around 1842 a fish came on the nest. Our eagle-eyed ‘H’ noticed that Victor got up, walked around Abby, and went up to get his fill. It would appear that he is no longer tethered to that monofilament line. Still, it is a worry and should be removed.

Just look at that crop – both have one. Just hard to see the second chick. Sally and Harry are amazing. Victor zoomed the camera in and will do so again tomorrow morning to see if any monofilament line can still be seen. Sunnie Day thinks it is under the nesting material. I do hope that they can come and clean the nest while there is no threat of the osplets flying off the nest.

‘A’ believes that line could still be attached to Victor. Help will come on Thursday. We wait.

So sad for Liberty and Guardian. Their second egg that was nearing hatch has broken. It appears that it did not develop normally.

Dr Sharpe is back to the rescue! We now have a camera on Chase & Cholyn at Two Harbours!

Blue KW0 will continue to cause an interest for a long time. Early this morning, Tim Mackrill was on the BBC. If you have an iPlayer you can go back and listen to the programme (I understand).

Michael St John has sent a link that is apparently good for 24 hours to watch/listen to the programme. Thanks, Michael!

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006v5tb

Falcon season is on us! Annie and Lou will be looking forward to hatch in a fortnight while the Manchester NH falcons now have two eggs!

I have received so many notes about the third hatch at the Achieva Osprey nest. This little tyke isn’t afraid to get itself right up there in front to get some fish. Gosh, I sure hope it stays that way! Reminds me of L4 at the nest of Big Red and Arthur last year.

They are sure working to get that nest finished at Patuxent!

Sassa Bird and Terry Carmen remind us of the sadness that swept through the Iowa nests last year when Avian Flu hit.

Both eggs have now hatched at the Pittsburgh-Hayes Bald Eagle nest. Welcome H19 and H20! Just look at those cuties having a meal.

It appears that the fourth egg at PA Country Farms will not hatch. That is just fine. There are three energetic eaglets in that nest and that is quite enough for Oliver and Lisa to handle!

There is confirmation of at least one eaglet for Mr President and Lotus at their new nest in the National Arboretum. There could possibly be a second.

It is quite impossible to even begin to imagine how much we will miss M15 and the Es after the eaglets have fledged. They are so close. 22 was up on the attic branch today!

They shared.

Lady Hawk has 22 branching to the attic on video! — Now I know I must record E22 squeeing to hear it after he is far away. What a familiar sound we have grown accustomed to.

‘H’ just wrote and Duke has landed right on the Barnegat Light Osprey Platform in New Jersey. Thanks for the images, ‘H’. Now we wait for Daisy.

Over the moon. Satellite tracking of Karl II and Kaia indicates that Karl is moving northward out of Turkey! Kaia is in Israel. Send them your warmest wishes for safe passage to their home in the Karula National Forest in Estonia. Waba continues to forage in the Sudan!

Karl II and Kaia could be home by the weekend.

Is this Betty returning to the nest she shares with her mate Bukachek in Mlade Bury, The Czech Republic?

It is snowing on the White Stork nest on the chimney of a restaurant in Pribor, The Czech Republic. The snow is quite beautiful but the storks might like to return to nicer weather! Here is the link to their camera if you do not know this nest.

https://www.youtube.com/live/yfEUXXtyGFc?feature=share

Incredible news coming out of the UK. It is amazing what we can do together when we try!

News has come that Aaron Z2 is at Port Cresor in Wales and confirmation of Dylan at home with Seren at Clywedog. Excellent!

Thank you so very much for being with me this morning. We continue to watch and hope Big Red will lay an egg on the Cornell Campus. Please take care. See you soon!

Thank you to the following for their notes, tweets, videos, posts, and streaming cams that helped make up my blog today: ‘H’, ‘A’, Michael St John, Moorings Park Ospreys, Sassa Bird and Bald Eagles in the US, Jan Gallivan and CIEL, IWS, @TimMackrill, BBC, Manchester NH Falcon Fans, Achieva Credit Union, Ashley Wilson and the Putuxent River Park Osprey Nest, Sassa Bird and Terry Carman and Denton Homes, Pix Cams, Lisa Yen and Bald Eagles Live Nests and Cams, NADC-AEF, SW Florida Bald Eagles and D Pritchett, Lady Hawk and SW Florida and D Pritchett, Barnegat Light, Looduskalender Forum, Blade Buky White Stork Cam, Skarab, s.r.o., and @Wildmoors.

Can you help us find Tweed Valley Osprey Blue 707 -Kirk?

29 March 2022

The discovery of Blue KW0 on Barbados by Michael St John and KW0’s miraculous journey from the UK to the Caribbean gives hope that other Ospreys -believed to have perished – might still be alive. Indeed, the keen eyes of Julian Moore spotted the Garganey, in the image below, on the island on 20 March 2023. The first recorded sighting of a Garganey on Barbados was in 1960 at Foster’s, St Lucy. Since then, Moore says there have been several other sightings. Just imagine. UK Birds could have been crossing the Atlantic for the last 63 years! or more.

The Garganey. They will look like a Blue-winged Teal, but there are two white stripes on the scapular for the Garganey instead of one, like the Teal.

The presence of the Garganey and Blue KW0 confirms that varying species of birds can leave the UK in late August or September for their wintering grounds on the Iberian Peninsula or Africa, only to be blown off course as far as the Caribbean. That is some 4500 miles! With this knowledge, I hope that ‘the collective WE’ of Bird World can help Tweed Valley Osprey Projects find Blue 707 Kirk.

Some Background:

The adult birds at the Tweed Valley Osprey Project are Mrs O and PW3.

Mrs O laid four eggs. PW3 took exception to the first egg and kicked it out of the nest. He clearly believed it might not have been ‘his’. Eggs two and three were laid on the 23rd of April while the fourth was laid on the 29th. The first two osplets hatched on the 29th of May, including our Kirk, with the third on the 31st of May.

Mrs O with her first two hatches.

There are three of them.

When they were 44 days old, the trio were fitted with their Darvic Rings. It was the 12th of July. At the same time, satellite tags were attached to each.

Tony Lightley will fit the bands and the trackers.

Lightley measured and weighed the osplets, determining that all three were strong and healthy males. The Darvic rings were blue with numerical digits 706, 707 and 708.

Here they are with their bling. Kirk 707 is in the middle.

Kirk.

The information that satellite trackers can provide is quite vast. One aspect of this project was to follow these juveniles to their winter homes to try and find out what the challenges were that they faced – so they might be mitigated in the future.

Present during the banding were members of the Conservation Without Borders. Sasha Dench and the crew will use the data from these osplets to follow them to their winter homes. That project is Flight of the Osprey. This is some very good information on what Conservation Without Borders hopes to achieve:

“Flight of the Osprey is an innovative approach to conservation, highlighting grassroots projects along the flyway in collaboration with UN agencies, scientists, media and governments.”

“Accompanying the osprey on its 2022 autumn migration across Europe and Africa, this 10,000 km expedition will gather vital data on the threats faced by this iconic bird of prey and other migratory species. At the same time, we will create a unique platform from which to engage, educate and empower communities along the flyway and further afield, promoting a deeper understanding of the challenges to migratory birds, both within and beyond the conservation community.“

I have never seen each fledgling osprey leave the nest completely on the same day. This is, however, what happened at Tweed. On the 26th of August, all three began their southward journeys. It was a Friday. Excellent information came in on their locations.

  • Glen was around Kendal in Cumbria
  • Kirk was at Loch Esk, near Eskdalemuir
  • Tweed was at the Welsh borders, near Whitchurch

By Saturday the 27th, Kirk and Tweet had reached the SW of England. Then, according to Tweed Valley records, “Kirk followed his brother out to sea but bizarrely turned north towards Ireland. Around 15 miles before reaching Ireland, he turned south again…” It was thought that weather conditions might have caused Kirk to have to fly towards Ireland.

On the 30th of August, Kirk eventually made landfall in Ireland. He flew for 22 hours. Tweed Valley says, “We believe bad weather forced him to turn north rather than follow his brother Tweed south towards Portugal. Since arriving in Ireland he has been touring, heading firstly north towards Limerick before heading west and south down the coast. It looks like he has found a roost along the River Cumneragh and we hope he’s resting before thinking of going south again.”

The other records state: “Kirk remained in Ireland since changing course and turning back during his ocean crossing last week. He arrived near Cork on the south coast but has since done a big tour of the south west area of Ireland. He settled in an area next to Coomacheo Wind Farm which was a bit worrying given his total lack of experience in the world. We worried that he could collide with the turbine blades which can be a hazard for raptor species.”

Kirk was not killed by the blades of the wind turbines, thankfully. He fished along the River Clydagh and roosted in nearby forestry.

“River Clydagh and forestry – geograph.org.uk – 4005190” by Hywel Williams is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.

The last transmission from Kirk was on the 5th of September.

Tweed Valley reports: “On 5 September after a half hour roost near to the river he suddenly shot off on a northwesterly direction towards the coast. His tracker recorded a speed of 95kmph and an altitude of 240 metres when he set off, the speed dropped off to 60kmph and then back up to 84kmph near to the coast and there have been no further data points since he flew out across the sea. There will be an absence of masts to send signal but it is still the wrong direction if it is the start of any further migration.”

This is the last data. No one has seen or heard from Kirk since the 5th of September.

Unfortunately, for all their usefulness, satellite trackers are not foolproof. It is also almost impossible to ‘notice and photograph’ an Osprey unless you are really looking with camera in hand like Michael St John was in Barbados. In fact, many persons might have seen Kirk and did not know that news of him would be ever so welcome.

I have now written to learn more about the weather patterns in Ireland and SW England on or around the 5th of September. These could be important for understanding how Blue KW0 got to Barbados along with the Garganey. It might also give us clues about where Kirk Blue 707 might be.

We now know birds can ease their flight by hitching rides on ships. It is also thought that Blue KW0 might have stopped off to feed at the Azores. Of course, all of this is conjecture. We do not know all the marvellous things these Ospreys can do. Would Kirk have made it to the Azores? Is he still there?

Map showing the location of the Azores to Ireland (light green, left of the grey UK).

I will let you know when I have more information on the possible wind and weather patterns.

I urge you to circulate this blog widely. Please put it on your Facebook and Twitter feeds, and send it to friends and colleagues that might live in the Caribbean or elsewhere. We do not know what happened to Kirk 707 after the 5th of September. Did he remain in Ireland like the Tundra Swan in Manitoba? So, please send it out to everyone you know in Ireland. Send it out to all birding groups that you know or locate. We do want to get the word out. Let us get a search going – look up. You might see Blue 707! Thank you.

I want to thank Michael St John for introducing me to Julian Moore and for Julian Moore allowing me to include his images of the Garganey. I want to also share my deep appreciation to Geemeff who introduced me to Diane Bennett, Tweed Valley Osprey Project, and to the TVOP for allowing me to use their images in my blog and the information from it in the hopes of finding Kirk 707.

Victor caught in fishing line…Tuesday in Bird World

28 March 2022

Good Morning Everyone,

Spring ‘decided’ to turn a little nippy on Monday. The sky was blue and the House Finches returned to the feeders along with a few more Dark-eyed Juncos, Mr and Mrs Woodpecker, and an assortment of Chickadees and Sparrows. I hope to have decent images for you sometimes this week.

The kittens and I cannot take our eyes off the SW Florida nest. E22 is going to fly soon!!!!! Very soon. The other nests are doing fine. I am a little nervous about a couple with three osplets or eaglets where the size is vastly different from the first to the third, but we wait. So far, so good. Knock on wood, as they say! Or don’t worry about something until there is something to worry about! We wait to see if the single egg at the Redding California nest of Liberty and Guardian is viable. Otherwise, we can look for several more hatches along with Osprey arrivals and fledges in the coming days.

Will the spill in Poole Harbour harm all the wildlife?

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/mar/28/weve-seen-oiled-birds-fears-for-protected-wetlands-after-poole-harbour-spill?CMP=share_btn_link

A very good article about the restoration of the Peregrine Falcons on the University of California Campus at Berkeley. It is in the most recent Alumni news, The California Magazine.

https://alumni.berkeley.edu/california-magazine/online/berkeleys-high-flying-falcons-rebounded-from-the-brink/

Big Red could have fooled us all today. She has spent a lot of time at the nest on the Cornell campus.

Is it just me, but does Big Red look ‘tired’ in her eyes this year? I hope this is just the camera angle.

Jackie has patiently sat on the branch letting Shadow have a fun day with his sticks on the nest. ‘B’ reports that the nest could be in for some more bad weather on Wednesday. Thanks for the head’s up, ‘B’.

They are three cute osplets. I so hope they all play nice at Achieva. Just look at the size difference.

Not ospreys but three little eaglets. Hoping for them, too! This is PA Country Farm and they have one more egg to possibly hatch.

At the beginning of February, when Harriet disappeared, no one imagined that M15 could raise the Es to fledge. It just seemed like such an insurmountable challenge but, we knew it had been done before. He rose to the occasion and here we are today preparing with him for the last two eaglets he will have with Harriet to fly and eventually make their way into the world. What an amazing journey it had been. Better than the afternoon soap operas my grandmother used to watch!

On Monday, M15 brought at least three prey items to the Es today. Everyone ate.

E22 is sure beautiful. Missy and Lewis think that our feisty Bitty is going to fledge first!

As dusk settled over the pastures, E22 was squeezing, flapping, and going from branch to branch. As many of you might be aware, fledging often occurs in the early morning or the hour before dusk. Missy and Lewis were watching the computer, and I could tell something was going to happen. We are so close to fledging at SW Florida.

M15 with his eagle eyes keeping an eye from above. As so many have said, Harriet would be so proud of how he has taken care of these last two eaglets of theirs.

Finally, asleep on the rim. Flying can wait til Tuesday.

Lady Hawk shows M15 delivering two fish, one each, in less than two minutes. Did we say incredible in describing our Dad at this nest?

Pittsburgh-Hays had their first hatch on the 26th and there is a pip in the second egg. Congratulations!

We watched as Audacity laid eight eggs hoping to have eaglets this year with her mate, Jak at Sauces Canyon in the Channel Islands. It looks like that egg continues to hold. Let us hope for a successful hatch.

If you like the sound of frogs, visit Jak and Audacity’s streaming cam at night. Audacity in her nest listening to the serenade and protecting her precious egg.

There is a pip at the Denton Homes Bald Eagle nest in Decorah, Iowa!

Smitty feeds his little eaglet for the first time at the NCTC nest! After no chicks last year – you may remember that Bella was attacked by an intruder and MIA for three weeks, it is fantastic to see these two be parenting a wee one again.

Then Bella and Smitty do a tandem feeding. They are so happy to have an eaglet to care for this year.

Isn’t this just the sweetest little eaglet? It looks like it is smiling. Congratulations Bella and Smitty!

The Live Owl Cam GHOs are really growing. Caught Owlvira bringing in some prey – a mouse? – for Tootsie, Pip, and Hoot tonight.

One of my favourite Osprey nests in the UK is the Foulshaw Moss nest of White YW and Blue 35 in Cumbria. Today, White YW returned home after his winter migration. Just waiting for Mum. I will tell you more about this amazing nest in days to come.

Victor and Abby had another good day. Victor is so very clever. As ‘A’ has observed if Abby is giving him grief and keeping him from fish, then he gets under Sally’s bottom or under her wing and she feeds him. Sally loves to stuff these two full to the brim and then asks if they want more. If they say no, she feeds them more anyway! Too funny. What a glorious nest to watch.

Abby and Victor have huge crops. Sally is such a devoted mother.

Victor could hardly hold his crop up but Sally insisted that he have more fish…so he ate while on his belly. Too funny.

There is a problem with fishing line on the Moorings Park nest. ‘A’ writes, “It is 4.34am at The Moorings and it sounds as though it is raining heavily. We have a problem with one or both osplets caught up in nesting material for over four hours and unable to move about freely. In trying to free itself, Abby has got very close to the edge, which is concerning Sally greatly. I am not sure how Victor is going, as he has been making quite a bit of noise, chattering, but he too was entangled earlier. At least he is under mum, between her and Abby, so he is getting some shelter from the weather and is further from the edge. His right foot appears to be caught under nesting material and he is unable to get it out. Sally is trying to dig at the nesting material to loosen it perhaps and free Victor’s foot. I am unsure how this happened but it is not a good situation.”

The rain has stopped. Thankfully. The line has been seen at 1000 on the nest, but it may be off Victor’s leg. In situations like this (human-caused), wildlife rehabbers get permission and can remove the line from the nest. Victor and Abby are too small to worry about a forced fledge. — Let us hope that Sally takes care of it! I did notify Moorings and the local wildlife conservancy in case the line continues to be an issue.

Victor still had line pulling on him at 11:02.

I don’t know if Maya is still suspicious of Blue 33 and Blue 25. Both Maya and Blue 33 have been at the nest working on the egg bowl over Monday.

Michael St John just sent me a new article covering the exploits of Blue KW0. As I have mentioned earlier, Kirk, Tweed Valley 2022, fledgling Blue 707, might have been caught in the same winds and could also be out in the Caribbean. As I write this, I seek help from radar and meteorological specialists to try and establish the weather patterns that could have taken these UK birds to the Caribbean—more on that as information is discovered. I will put out a call for help with 707 that I hope everyone will send out to any and all in a few days. Who knows, we might get lucky and find this other osprey!

.https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-65089646

Colouring books are not just for children. This book arrived today in the post, and I wanted you to see it – especially since we will watch the White-bellied Sea Eagles in the Sydney Olympic Forest in a few months. The coloured images are superb and are the work of the famous Australian artist, Elizabeth Gould, whose work is being featured in a new book released in the fall.

In some places of the world – not on the Canadian Prairies – please remember – and thank you. Spread the world. Embrace dandelions!

One of the key individuals in the fight to protect wildlife and habitat in the UK is Chris Packham. I have written about the arson attack at his home. The threats to his life are growing simply because he calls out the gamekeepers and gun sports for their violence and illegal activities. What is happening now is frightening. How would we feel if we defended the right to life of foxes and came home fearing someone would be there to harm us?

Raptor Persecution UK covers the latest news.

Fieldsports Channel Ltd displays images of Chris Packham’s head on ‘trophy’ wall at national gun show

Thank you so much for being with me today. Coming up this week – a close look at Tweed Valley Osprey 707 Kirk and how he might have gotten blown off just like Blue KW0, Missey’s review of Waterbabies, and a surprise visit to a new site in my city. See you soon. Take care!

I want to thank the following for their notes, posts, announcements, videos, and streaming cams that helped to make up my blog today: ‘A’, Michael St John, The Guardian, The California Magazine, Cornell RTH, FOBBV, Achieva Credit Union, PA Farm Country, SW Florida Eagle Cam and D Pritchett, Lady Hawk and SW Florida Eagle Cam and D Pritchett, Pix Cams, IWS and Explore.org, Paul Kolnik and Bald Eagles 101, Deb Stecyk and the NCTC, Live Cam Owl, Cumbria Wildlife, Moorings Park Ospreys, LRWT, BBC, Amazon, and Raptor Persecution UK.

Telyn home at Dyfi, Dylan at Clywedog??…plus eaglet hatches…Monday in Bird World

27 March 2022

Good Morning Everyone,

Sunday was a beautiful day in the Canadian Prairies. Spring is arriving, and the small ponds around the City and parts of the river are melting. The Geese are beginning to return. I saw four this morning during my walk, and others have reported them returning on eBird.

There was one lonely goose on the open water at Fort Whyte Alive.

Several were in the sky, flying toward our Assiniboine Park and the River. It is exciting seeing the end of winter. Can’t wait to see ‘green’ as in grass and leaves!

We will start with an incredible video of M15 delivering a Bluegill to the eaglets at the SW Florida Bald Eagle Nest. Shot by The Real Saunders Photography, who are on the ground in Fort Myers. What a different perspective!

On Sunday, M15 brought three fish and a piece of ‘something’. I can’t be positive, but E22 got the majority, if not all, of the prey. He appears to continue to provide feast and famine days for the eaglets as he eases them into what will be living in the real world. There were no big dramas yesterday. M15 also found time to have a nice splash about in the pond. He has done it! Will the Es fledge this week?

The winds are blowing UK Ospreys onto their nests. Blue 022, the mate of CJ7 at Poole Harbour, flew on to the nest on the 26th of March. Other arrivals are being reported around the UK. The nest at Poole Harbour is part of the Roy Dennis relocation efforts to bring Ospreys back to the area after a more than 200-year absence. Last year CJ7 and Blue 022 fledged two historic osplets from this nest. Sadly, one was killed by a Goshawk.

Blue 22 was joined by an unringed female. Come on CJ7!

Telyn has arrived home at the Dyfi Osprey Platform in Wales just after noon on the 27th. Now we wait for her mate Idris to get home.

A second osprey has been seen on the nest at Clywedog, but the camera has gone down and no firm confirmation that it is Dylan. Sure hope it is!

The three osplets at the Venice Golf and Country Club in Florida appear to be doing quite well. They are certainly well camouflaged. You have to look carefully to tell the stripes on their backs from the sticks.

Arlene Beech reports that the first Osprey has arrived in Poland for the 2023 season.

It was so nice to check on Abby and Victor and find them both up eating Sunday morning. The average number of fish coming to the nest is 5-6 a day. Many of those are being brought in by Sally. It appears that on Sunday, Harry delivered one early fish. Thank goodness the water feature below the nest must be teeming with food. Sally has no trouble bringing fish to her, Abby, and Victor.

Everyone is preening and itchy. Look at the image above. The tail feathers are starting to come in also.

Sally keeping the osplets shaded. Where is Harry? He has been off camera for a couple of days. I am used to him being on the nest and there being a few more deliveries. Sally caught fish yesterday.

Abby and Victor were so full of fish they could hardly move and then Sally decided to feed them some more after the IR light came on. Just look at the crops on Sally and the kids.

‘A’ is a keen observer of the Moorings nest and she writes about Sunday, “Not only is Victor rapidly learning how to get to the beak, even if he has to go between mum’s legs or hide under her wing, and he seems to have renewed confidence. As I think I mentioned yesterday, he has developed a technique for not being beaked by Abby – as he becomes aware of Abby raising herself up to beak him from behind, he does the same himself, stretching his neck and standing literally on his tiptoes to get himself high enough to prevent her from being able to bring her weight down on his head. Abby retreats nearly every time. Victor has now learnt that, so he seems quite confident to continue eating even in Abby’s presence.” Thanks, ‘A’. There are no worries at this nest at the moment!

At the Achieva Osprey nest, Jack flew in with a huge fish around 0830. Diane has been busy feeding the trio. It is so difficult to see the behaviour on this nest this year without the camera zoomed in closer!!!!!!!! I cannot tell how the osplets are doing in terms of the feedings only that there are still three alive on the nest. The third hatch, despite being only four days younger than the eldest, is quite small.

Jackie and Shadow were at the Big Bear Valley nest early Sunday morning.

Shadow has been bringing in lots of nice fish. If those prey gifts could be eggs in that nest, it would overflow.

Congratulations to Bella and Smitty on their first hatch of the 2023 season at the NCTC nest.

Big Red was also on her nest early Sunday morning!

And the camera pans over to the Bradfield ledge and catches her trying to keep out of the wind. Is this a new improved zoom?

The three eagles of Martin and Rosa in the Dulles-Greenway Bald Eagle nest in Virginia continue to do well. What more can we ask when three are in a nest, and one is much bigger? They are doing well! There are, as of today, seven Bald Eagle nests in the US with three eaglets. Wow.

Ron and Rose continue to trade off duties caring for the two eaglets. Everything is going along splendidly.

A whole new meaning to ‘sleeping with the fishes’.

Rose indeed found an incredible mate when she landed on Ron’s nest! Lucky girl.

We are still waiting for a pip at the nest of Liberty and Guardian in Redding, California. I am not ready to give up on their only egg this season. Send them positive wishes, please.

Bella and Smitty had their first hatch on the 25th of the 2023 season. This is great news. The couple did not have any eaglets last season.

PA Farm Country now has their third hatch of the four eggs on the nest this season. Wow. They are going to be busy!

Pittsburgh-Hayes had their first hatch of the 2023 season at 12:03 on the 26th. Welcome H19!

Six hours old.

Congratulations to Nancy and Beau at MN-DNR on their first hatch of the 2023 season. Hatch occurred early Sunday evening.

https://www.youtube.com/live/l95k-iKfh8Q?feature=share

Bonding is happening at the scrape on top of San Jose City Hall. This new couple replaces Shasta, Annie, and Grinnell’s son, Sequoia.

Proud Owlvira standing with her three owlets in Corona, California. They have all ‘branched’ to the rim of the nest.

Pip, Tootsie, and Hoots must be full as each is ignoring the mouse in the nest that Mum delivered a few minutes earlier.

Here is that delivery:

Checking on Karl II and his family and their migration back to Estonia. Karl II’s last transmission was as he was almost leaving Turkey. No news today. Kaia had one ping in Chad and nothing since. That was several days ago. Waba remains in Sudan. Bonus’s last transmission was in the fall migration in the Eastern Desert of Egypt.

If you want to take part in voting at Cal Falcons for your favourite memes, go to https://calfalcons.berkeley.edu Click on either the FB or Twitter links, and you will find the ‘Vote Here’ link. Have fun!

There seem to be more cases daily, and this is just the tip of the iceberg, as so many never appear on the FB site. It is a simple fix. Imagine all the resources saved, never mind the pain and suffering of the carrion feeders. So explain to me why this is not happening. The EU has banned lead. You cannot hunt waterfowl in England, Wales, the wetlands of Northern Ireland and Scotland using lead but, the programme is not comprehensive. A voluntary initiative in the UK to stop pheasant hunters from using lead indicated that 94% of the pheasants tested had been killed with lead shots. It needs to be a mandatory ban on all lead in all hunting and fishing equipment. It is simple. Every news outlet is looking for a story. Give them one. Pepper the local papers and outlets with the reasons for not using lead then make it mandatory. It will take a few years but people will comply (for the most part). Just do it! And not piece meal.

Voluntary-UK-initiatives-to-phase-out-toxic-lead-shot-for-pheasant-hunting-have-had-little-impactDownload

Here is the link to the story about the EU banning lead that appeared about a month ago in The Guardian and in my blog at the time.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/feb/15/ban-on-hunting-birds-with-lead-shot-in-eu-wetlands-hailed-as-huge-milestone-aoe?CMP=share_btn_link

Thank you so very much for being with me today. I hope to have another unique story from Barbados for tomorrow for everyone. Take care. See you soon!

Thank you to the following for their notes, videos, posts, announcements, tweets, and streaming cams that helped make up my blog today: Real Saunders Photography, SW Florida Eagle Cam and D Pritchett, Ospreys of Poole Harbour, Dyfi, Venice Golf and Country Club, Arlene Beech, Moorings Osprey Park, Achieva Credit Union, FOBBV, Deb Stecyk and the NCTC Eagles, Cornell RTH, Dulles-Greenway, WRDC, FORE, Pix Cams, MN-DNR, SK Hideaways and San Jose City Hall, Corona Owl Cam, Live Owl Cam, Looduskalender Forum, Cal Falcon Cam, Phys.org, Terry Carman and Bald Eagle Live Nests and News, and The Guardian.

Pips everywhere…Sunday in Bird World

26 March 2022

The sun is bright, and the temperature is only -2 C, but a 22 kph wind makes it chilly! I have not seen them, but others have witnessed 45 Bald Eagles and 1 Golden Eagle arriving from their winter migration. First American Robin seen, also. Amazing. Last year many of the eagles who make their nests on the ground and the ducks’ and geese’ nests were ruined by overland flooding. Hoping that does not happen this year!

For me, the delight of the day came when about half a dozen Dark-eyed Juncos landed in the lilac bushes at about 1630! They’re back. Mr and Mrs Downy had just departed when they arrived. Do you know what this means? A trip to the bird food store for millet tomorrow.

‘H’ reports that it was quite the day at the WRDC nest. There was a feast with Rose bringing in 2 fish and Ron delivering 7 fish and a duck. Goodness. There was even one feeding. Needless to say neither chick was hungry! Incredible.

Gosh, that fish on the Moorings Park Osprey Platform has been there a long time. Sally started feeding Abby and Victor and Abby took great exception to Victor wanting food. Not that behaviour is any surprise. Poor little Victor. He did wait it out and watched and got over and Mum Sally fed him until he had a nice crop. There is still fish left.

Little Victor finally getting some fish.

Around 1640 Sally ‘decided’ to feed Abby and Victor before they got ravenous. Great idea. They both ate little civilised cherubs. Each got fed a nice meal.

There was even fish left for Sally.

Victor had a nice crop as the sun was setting over the nest. Harry was not around much today. Chasing off intruders? Sally caught one fish herself. Saw it from the nest and went and got it. Don’t think she cared much for that other fish that Harry brought in. Perhaps it was too bony.

Sally and the osplets sound asleep…Victor tucked in under Mum.

There is fish hiding all over the Dulles-Greenway Bald Eagle nest. The triplets are doing just fine. Martin and Rosa seem to managing them well.

This is the listing of the UK Ospreys that have returned. Thanks, Mary Cheadle!

Seren Blue 5F is an amazing fisher. Here she is with a huge trout – too large to finish in one meal. She will have the rest for breakfast.

There is still some rumbling on FB about Gabby ‘being missing since Wednesday’. Gabby has returned from her spa days. The AEF has confirmed this with the following post on the 25th of March.

Here are some images:

Meanwhile Jackie and Shadow keep us guessing at Big Bear.

They certainly have been bringing in more railing!

Our big girl Jackie on the left and Shadow on the right. A great image to see the difference in scale between male and female Bald Eagles.

Shadow provided Jackie with several fish on the nest Saturday. The perfect gentleman…oh, Shadow, you really do want those eggs!

‘A’ sent news that all three GH owlets at the Corona California nest have now branched.

Bonnie and Clyde’s owlets on Farmer Derek’s property in Kansas are enjoying some sun and from being out from under Mum!

E21 is 79 days old today. The average age of fledge at South West Florida is 83 days. Oh, what a bittersweet moment this is all going to be.

Sometimes you can only see a few talons!

They track Dad when he is incoming with prey and get themselves in that nest!

On Saturday, M15 brought in no less than five fish for the Es.

M15 and the kids did defy the odds…fledge watch! We should all be jumping up and down with joy but, the moments are so bittersweet. What an amazing season and what a pleasure to watch M15 rise to every occasion. We do not know what his fate will be after the Es leave the area. Will M15 get a mate and keep the nest? Will he leave on his own for a more quiet life elsewhere after Harriet? We wait.

The miracle at the SW Florida nest this year has made the Naples news.

https://www.news-press.com/picture-gallery/news/2023/03/24/e-21-and-e-22-swfl-eagle-cam-defy-odds-they-prepare-fledge-harriet-missing-since-feb-2/11535484002/

Mum and Dad eating on the nest at Duke Farms along with the two eaglets. These two are so easy to watch!

Three eggs laid on February 20, 23, and 26 at Denton Homes. We will be on pip watch next week.

There is a possible pip at the NCTC nest of Bella and Smitty Saturday night.

There is a pip at Pittsburgh-Hayes, which was confirmed at 16:44 on Saturday. Hatch is now in progress. Oh, the wind is really blowing and it feels cold just watching Mum trying to get some sleep, hunkered down.

Did we not think everyone would have a hatch at the same time. Oh, goodness.

At the Webster, Texas Bald Eagle nest near Houston, Ringo has branched!

Beautiful Mama Goose and her two eggs at the Decorah Goose Cam in Iowa. The second laid on Saturday the 25th at 1000.

Eggs covered with nesting material and down while Mum has a break.

If you are into wading birds, do you know about the Alligator and Spoonbill Swamp Cam in St Augustine, Florida?

https://www.youtube.com/live/M4P_GzA6H80?feature=share

Ferris Akel had the most extraordinary images of the Sandhill Crane migration. These images were taken in Nebraska. Ferris said the tour was 1000% worth it! Even getting up at 0400 for the fly off.

Ferris Akel is a gem. He has a streaming tour of the Ithaca area every Saturday. You can see it later archived on YT. He also shares so much and taking us with him on this amazing tour was very special.

There are upwards of 400,000 Sandhill Cranes in this area migrating right now. They expect 600-650,000 at peak migration, according to Ferris.

This is a gathering place. They will gather around marshes often surrounded by prairie forest feeding and then flying off at dawn. Every crane set off at the same time to continue its travels north.

Those Sandhill Cranes will be flying into Southern Manitoba any day now!

Ferris has this fantastic spectacle – with the sound of the cranes – now on YT. Thank you, Ferris Akel!

This is why we need everyone to stop using lead in hunting and fishing equipment (and military).

Conservation without Borders are heading back to West Africa to see if they can find Tweed Valley Osprey Glen whose tracker says he is still in Morocco. I hope he is there for their arrival and not on his way back to the UK. Go Sasha Dench and Crew!

Meanwhile, we are going to band together and try to locate Glen’s brother, Kirk 707 beginning this week!

Good Morning, gorgeous. Big Red and Arthur have sure been trying out that egg cup. All eyes are on the 20 year old Red tail Hawk, the Queen of the Cornell Campus.

On the Canadian Prairies, people are just getting ready for gardening season. With the high cost of food, many are converting lawns into gardens or, if they have a small space, container gardens. This article in The Guardian challenges us to reconsider our garden because it should be a vital place for wildlife. Have a read, get some ideas! Send me some pictures if you join in. I would love to see what you are doing to help everything from a small insect, songbirds, beavers, deer, and waterfowl!

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/mar/25/garden-multilayer-forest-biodiverse-tom-massey-rhs?CMP=share_btn_link

Missy is going to help us review a new book for next week. It is Water Babies. The Hidden Lives of Baby Wetland Birds by William Burt. Oh, just in time for the new season!

She has already started evaluating the images!

Thank you so much for being with me today. Please take care. Remember to get outside and take in some fresh air, even if it is on your balcony or front step! See you soon.

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, tweets, streaming cams and videos that helped make up my blog today: ‘H’, ‘A’, Moorings Park Ospreys, Dulles-Greenway, Mary Cheadle, Carnyx Wild, AEF, NEFL-AEF, FOBBV, Baiba and FOBBV, Corona Owl Cam, SW Florida Eagle Cam, Duke Farms, Denton Homes, Deb Stecyk and the NCTC Eagle Cam, Pix Cams, Paul White and Webster Texas Eagles, Decorah Goose Cam, Alligator and Spoonbill Swamp Cam, Ferris Akel Live Tour, Terry Carman Bald Eagle Live Nests and Cams, Conservation without Borders, Cornell RTH, and The Guardian.

Another egg for Captiva, Trey fledges…Saturday in Bird World

25 March 2022

Good Morning Everyone,

The snow from our winter is melting. Ducks and geese are returning to the Canadian Prairies – not in huge numbers – but, the spring migration is upon us!

The first Canada Goose has been sighted in the City and this evening (Friday), one flew over the wetlands of Oak Hammock Marsh, my other haunt to see waterfowl. The Mallards are coming in, more than 200 of them now and the odd songbird. Everyone is excited to welcome our feathered friends ‘home’ until late September or October.

I spent the day in the forest at the nature centre. It was warm, there was some wind but not amidst the trees. On my way to the feeding station, I glanced to my left and there were seven deer.

They watched me closely as I sat down on a log across the trail. Later I learned that there are several fawns with this group but, I did not see them. They were well hidden.

The song of the Chickadee is a familiar and delightful sound in our parks all year. Years ago there was only a single Chickadee visitor to my garden, then there was a couple (obviously together), and now there is at least eight or nine that live in the Blue Spruce tree in the front garden. I have no idea how many reside in the forest but, definitely more than a dozen.

This White-Breasted Nuthatch has now read the manual. He was decidedly not facing downward!!!!!!!!

This little Red Squirrel was at the feeding station. There are lots of them. They are adorable and they are not afraid of humans. They will not leave their seeds for anything or anyone!

Penny Bowles left a lasting legacy not only for the birds but for all the people who walk the trails of the forest when she left a trust to provide food for the songbirds.

Blue 5F Seren is now home at Lyn Clywedog!!!!!!! Come on Dylan!

While we are waiting for the first egg of the season at Ithaca’s Red-tail Hawk nest of Big Red and Arthur, Angel, the Leucistic RTH and her mate, Rom, have theirs!

Some of you might have known that Gabby had been away from the NEFL-AEF nest near Jacksonville for a few days. Gabby returned from her spa date today! V3 flew in behind his gal, and Gabby quickly dismissed the intruder hanging around the nest! Way to go, Gabby.

It was a rough day for Dad at the SW Florida nest of M15 and the Es. The intruder that stole the turtle breakfast followed M15 later, and the pair engaged in a talon-to-talon battle. M15 appears to be alright, but this is what we have been afraid of all along. Send this nest your best wishes. Dad needs to get his babies fledged and then train them to hunt while they perfect their flying. He does not need the harm an intruder could do to him – or them. He went to the pond to get a drink and found some prey scraps in the pasture for the kids. What a guy. What he has had to go through this season! Meanwhile, 21 almost pushed 22 off the nest today. Get the worry beads out.

Vija caught the collision on video for us.

Despite having the breakfast turtle stolen by the intruder (M15 picked up as much as he could from the ground for the Es), having a talon battle with the same eagle, M15 did deliver no less than four prey items to the Es on Friday.

M15 locking talons with the intruder. Listen to the Es who are frantic! Thanks, Deb Stecyk.

Sally and Harry are handling Victor and Abby well. They are beautiful osplets. Just look at how their plumage has changed. Remember when they were a taupe with a dark stripe down their backs? Now, look. Sometimes the birds change before our eyes, and we don’t remember what they were like three weeks ago.

Harry is very good to stay on the nest and provide security while Sally feeds Abby and Victor.

At a late feeding, 1922, both osplets were up to Sally. Abby was insisting on eating first. Abby had a huge crop. It is unclear how much Victor had. In fact, throughout the day, Abby has been particularly aggressive so it is difficult to determine just how much fish Victor has had overall.

There appeared to be an intruder about that distracted Sally. All were tucked in shortly after.

Abby is finished and Victor is eating.

It looks like Abby has swallowed a small softball.

There is a huge fish left on the nest this morning. Are there intruders? Victor has had some food but Abby continues to be miserable. Let us hope that Victor gets several big feeds today!

Angus and Florence have two eggs and the third is expected today, Saturday the 25th. Then we should see Florence begin hard incubation.

As aggravated as I have been with Rose at the WRDC nest, I also find her and Ron delightful, and it is lovely to see the male taking such a huge part in raising the eaglets. I find myself going back to when we worried about lonely Ron after Rita had been injured and taken into care. We so wanted him to find a good mate. He had no idea Rita wasn’t returning and he continued to work gallantly on that nest. These two little eaglets are a real blessing for him.

It was a very soggy day at Dulles-Greenway.

The three eaglets of Martin and Rosa looked cold and miserable.

At the nest of Big Bear Eagles Jackie and Shadow, it looked like the beginning of a perfect day as the sun rose over the lake.

Jackie and Shadow were on and off the nest bringing in soft materials. I am afraid to get hopeful.

They began with this small bunch and look at the next image to see where they were late in the day. Is this a hint that they need a nest now? And cannot wait for the snow to melt? Did I say I want to get my hopes up?

Shadow even gets to deliver more sticks!

B16 at the Berry College nest is really getting those wings working! Not fledge time yet but, gosh, this is a strong eaglet.

Let’s have a look what is happening at the nest of Liberty and Guardian at Redding, California. We are ready for pip/hatch watch. Gary gives us a thorough look at what is happening on this nest along with some historical background.

At the nest of Anna and Louise, KNF-E1 03, Trey, has branched. Thanks, ‘H’. Look close to the left on the lower branch. There she is!

This is a bit of a short report today. There are lots of pip, and hatch watches – NCTC Smitty and Belly, MN-DNR, FORE are only a few. One thing I would like to alert you to is a new FB group that Heidi has organised for the Mispillion Harbour Ospreys. She has videos, and history, and will be travelling down for the opening at DuPont Nature Centre. There could be a new couple in the nest this year. Please go and check it out and support one of our keen readers as she works hard to bring attention to a Delaware Osprey platform!

Having established that a Scottish Osprey could be blown off course and wind up in Barbados, I will be turning my attention to Blue 707 Glen from Tweed Valley Ospreys who was last heard from on the 5th of September off the coast of Ireland. Glen could have gotten into the same robust system as Blue KW0. More to come tomorrow or Monday. We will need an army of sleuths for this one! More arrivals at other UK nests. Will put them all in tomorrow. Looks like Kielder has two arrivals now.

Thanks so much for being with me today. Take care. Have a fantastic start to your weekend. See you soon.

Thank you to the following whose notes, postings, videos, and streaming cams helped make up my blog information today: ‘H’, John Williams and the Clywedog Osprey Group, Gracie Shepherd and Raptors of the World, NEFL-AEF, SW Florida Eagle Cam and D Pritchett, Vijay and SW Florida Eagle cam, Deb Stecyk and SW Florida Eagle Cam, Moorings Park Ospreys, Window to Wildlife, WRDC, Dulles-Greenway, Berry College Eagles, FOBBV, Gary and FORE, KNF-E1, and Mispillion Harbour Ospreys FB.

E22 branches, DG3 out of the nest for 5 hours, 3rd hatch at Achieva…Wednesday in Bird World

22 March 2022

Good Morning Everyone,

It was simply a gorgeous day in the Canadian Prairies. The temperature worked up to -1; there was a cloudy sky and little wind. It was a perfect day for a walk at the nature centre until….DG3 decided to go walkies in the nest and found itself over by the rim! Needless to say…I didn’t go out but, stayed home, baked cookies, read your lovely letters, and enjoyed the kittens.

We have been shifting furniture. A bit of spring cleaning. Not sure the dried hydrangeas will survive. When the kittens first arrived, they enjoyed tearing them apart and eating the pinecones I had collected on my walks. In the winter, I smear suet over them and put them in the lilac bushes. Let’s see if these hydrangeas last! Not counting on it.

Missy and Lewis used to fit together on top of their climbing tree. No longer.

Dyson was here today eating peanuts. So lovely to see her and the three babies from last year. Little Red was running on the hydro wires on the lane and the lilacs were filled with birds, including Mr and Mrs Woodpecker. Life is good. Each survived the winter including Little Red who had to find another home after the garden shed was torn down to make way for the conservatory.

The woodpeckers love the logs with the drilled holes filled with suet.

Michael St John and I continue to track Blue KW0 and its adventures getting to Barbados from Scotland. Hopefully, Tim at the Roy Dennis Foundation will discover the owner of that mysterious band and where and when this lovely osprey was ringed in Scotland. This morning Geemeff sent me a really good article on birds – all manner of birds – hitching rides on the big ships. Geemeff asks an important question: do they land on the boats out of choice or necessity?

With Ships, Birds Find an Easier Way to Travel

Jackie and Shadow have far worse weather than I do. Glad Jackie isn’t buried under that snow. They continue to visit the nest and are seen mating on the tree.

The wind could not have been more perfect at the Southwest, Florida Eagle nest of M15 and the Es. E21 was on the rim of the nest, letting the breeze blow against its wings. E E22 was in the nest. Then E22 began to flap his enormous wings, and at 17:04:34, he branched. It was magnificent. E22 was 73 days old on Tuesday.

After making it to the spike, E22 explored other branches higher up. Our brave little one. Yahoo….22.

Poor 22 had another first yesterday. It got hit by the GHO while it was sitting on the rim of the nest. Thankfully 22 went into the nest and not over the side! Thanks, Heidi!

All three eggs have now hatched at Achieva Osprey in St Petersburg, Florida. The third was Tuesday, the 21 March around 10:00. The hatch dates for the three are March 18, 19, and 21 so there is only three days difference between one and three. Not bad. Jack and Diane will be particularly busy. Fingers crossed.

Moorings Park Osprey platform. Just look at Victor’s ‘ps’. Looks healthy! And he has a fat little bottom—time 0739, 21 March.

A considerable fish came to the nest at 10:48. It had its head and Sally worked away trying to get the flesh from the bones.

That time Sally took allowed Abby to get herself into a right state.

Victor and Abby are 19 days old today. You can still tell them apart by their heads but Abby is now bigger.

Abby remains aggressive. She demands to eat first. Victor, of course, doesn’t like it.

Victor goes into submission. Good lad. There is lots of fish left. Either Victor needs to wait or he needs to carefully move around to the other side of Sally.

You can see how Ally is working away at the head of that fish.

Victor is very hot. He has moved around the rim but Abby is keeping him at the side. Come on Abby! There is fish left and you have had lots.

Victor got up in the shade and Abby followed him.

At 12:02, Abby is in food coma. Victor is up in the shade of Sally and there is fish left. Come on Victor! Come on Sally. Now is the perfect chance.

Harry’s eyes remind me of Blue 33.

To the relief of all, Victor is eating!

Victor got some fish and Sally finished the tail at 12:34. That means that she fed Abby, Victor, and herself from 10:48-12:34. Remarkable.

Thank you, Sally, for shading the babies!

Of course, Victor does not know when to leave a good thing alone. He went on a ferocious attack on Abby. Victor, everything is fine. Leave Abby be! No revenge is necessary.

In Virginia, Martin and Rosa continue to do well with the three eaglets at Dulles-Greenaway.

I do not know about the weather but these little ones cannot regulate their temperature yet and the oldest has gotten out of the egg cup and over to the rim of the nest. It needs to get back! This happened around 11:00 on Tuesday.

The chick is still moving at 12:37.

The oldest was out of the nest cup for over 5 hours. At one point, Rosa went over to encourage it to get closer to the egg cup. It must be extremely hungry, and I hope it has not gotten a chill. And then, a miracle happened. All three are in the nest! Tears.

The female eagles are at a loss as to when this happens. Most will not help because they could harm the little one. You might remember that one of the Es got out of the nest cup this year, and Harriet did use her beak to roll it back under. That was a brilliant solution.

I cannot see DG3’s head in this image.

Then a few minutes later it is there and seemingly tired.

Now all three are back in the cup. Thank goodness.

DG3 feeling better a few hours later.

At 17:04, the trio were enjoying a meal.

I continue to have mixed feelings about Rose. Thankfully Ron is feeding the eaglets! Rose flew off early on Tuesday morning and Ron flew in and fed the little ones.

Rose returns and does a feeding. Did she bring the fish?

She’s gone again. Ron is looking after the little ones. No worries. Ron is really rather amazing and is having a wonderful time looking after his babies while Rose eases herself into motherhood.

‘H’ has sent me a note. Apparently Rose has done an amazing feeding of the eaglets. She is being patient and offering small pieces. It was 16:16. Thanks, ‘H’. I do hope that Rose gains more confidence. ‘H’ says there was no beaking and both left the meal with nice little crops that you can see in the image below.

Bravo, Rose!

The two eaglets at Duke Farms are older than those at Dulles-Greenway and WRDC. They hatched on the 27-28th of February and are 23 and 24 days old. Their thermal down is coming in and Mum and Dad do not brood them all day long.

They also have enormous crops. It is a wonder they can sit! or move.

The Latvian White-tail Eagles, Milda and Voldis, continue to incubate their eggs. Gosh, these are beautiful eagles.

Arthur and Big Red continue to work on their nest. It seems that Arthur is very much aware of the construction across Tower Road. Let us all hope that this does not cause issues for this Red-tail Hawk couple on the Cornell campus this year.

Meanwhile in Mlade-Buky, The Czech Republic, everyone is awaiting the return of White Storks, Bukachek and Betty.

Checking on Karl II and his family. Waba continues to forage in Sudan. There was a hiccup on the tracker, but it shows that Kaia is on the move north from Chad. Precisely where is unknown. Everyone feels that Karl II should be arriving in Estonia at any time but there is no tracking news. We wait.

How long does a Bald Eagle live when it is cared for? fed? Mrs B was at least 49 years old when she passed. Wow.

Flaco, the escaped Eurasian Owl from the New York City Zoo, thrives in Central Park. Check out the latest on Falco and other NYC urban hawks with Robert at urbanhawks.com

In Canada, especially in some of the most beautiful parts of our country, the developers are taking over land traditionally supporting Bald Eagles. Dave Hancock and his foundation are working diligently to replace nests in trees lost to developments, including parking lots! I have mentioned it before, but it is worth pointing out again in case you missed it, Dave is including a sunscreen because of the rising summer temperature in the lower mainland of British Columbia.

The geese are taking over some unused Bald Eagle nests in Iowa. This one in Decorah had goslings jumping last year to our delight. Now there are eggs again this year! Bravo.

Red Tide has come to the coast of the Barrier Islands in Florida. So what is Red Tide? NOAA says, “Harmful algal blooms, or HABs, occur when colonies of algae—plant-like organisms that live in the sea and freshwater—grow out of control while producing toxic or harmful effects on people, fish, shellfish, marine mammals, and birds. While many people call these blooms ‘red tides,’ scientists prefer the term harmful algal bloom. One of the best known HABs in the nation occurs nearly every summer along Florida’s Gulf Coast. This bloom, like many HABs, is caused by microscopic algae that produce toxins that kill fish and make shellfish dangerous to eat. The toxins may also make the surrounding air difficult to breathe. As the name suggests, the bloom of algae often turns the water red.” In fact, not all of the waters are red but, this can be very deadly as you can see form the Plover below in the care of CROW.

How will this impact our eagles and Ospreys?

If you are watching the Loch of the Lowes nest and are confused because you cannot see the Blue Darvic ring for Blue NC0, it appears it has split and come off. I cannot emphasise how important these rings are in identifying the birds. The recent mystery surrounding Blue KW0 would not even exist without that ring!

Maya and Blue 33 continue to reacquaint themselves after their return to Rutland after their winter migration.

The Scottish Government is trying to come to grips with the illegal killing of the raptors because of the grouse-hunting community. They have now implemented a grouse shooting licensing bill. It is a first step. Still, the legal system must deal with those who defy the laws allowing gamekeepers to get off with little or no penalties for horrible crimes against these amazing birds, such as stomping on five Goshawk chicks in the nest!

Breaking news….Scottish Government introduces grouse shoot licencing bill

I want also to introduce you to a lovely Ukrainian tradition today. One of my former students from Acadia University in Nova Scotia, CD, teaches at a university in northern Manitoba. She posted that March 22 is the Day of the Forty Martyrs. Her baba (grandmother) would make bread (pasta) covered with little dough birds. Of course, I saw the post and thought how interesting. Here is the story from the Ukrainian Cultural Centre:

The importance of this day, which comes immediately after the spring equinox, pre-dates Christianity in Ukraine. According to folklorist Olexa Woropay, on this day the magpie puts forty twigs in its nest and forty larks migrate from south to north. Bird-shaped buns called zhaivoronky were baked – forty of them, of course – and were given to children so that the poultry breed well. Some traditions report the children playing with the forty bird-shaped buns, tossing them into the air to invite all the birds to return from their winter migrations.

What a marvellous tradition! Guess who is baking paska today?

Thank you so much for being with me today. Please take care all. Remember to get outside, even for a few minutes if you can! See you soon.

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, tweets, announcements, videos, and streaming cams that helped to make up my blog today: Geemeff, ‘H’, ‘CD’, Hakai Magazine, FOBBV, SW Florida Eagle Cam and D Pritchett, Heidi Mc and SW Florida Eagle Cam, Achieva Credit Union, Moorings Park Ospreys, Dulles-Greenaway, WRDC, Duke Farms, Latvian Fund for Nature, Cornell RTH, Blade Buky, Bald Eagle Live Nest Cams and News, Urban Hawks, Hancock Wildlife, L Rose and Decorah Eagles Love Nest, Diane Lambertson Captiva Island Eagles and Ospreys, LOTL, LRWT, Raptor Persecution UK, and the Ukrainian Cultural Centre.