Category Archives: vulnerable birds

Meadow gets a good meal…Tuesday in Bird World

6 February 2024

Good Morning Everyone,

Another grey miserable day that chilled you to the bone regardless of the warm temperatures! It is time for rain jackets and puddle boots. Hard to believe. Wishing for snow.

It was another day of ‘Who is going to be the Queen of the Cat Tree’. It is all hard play and goes on from morning to night with the ‘top cat’ changing regularly. On Monday morning, Baby Hope was enjoying having a relaxing time on the top rung of the cat tree after breakfast. Then…she looks down, and who does she see? You guessed it! Hugo Yugo has arrived to disturb the peace. 

Ouch! Hugo Yugo is fearless and is fortunate that Baby Hope has a very sweet disposition. 

Baby Hope decides all she wants to do is get away or is she going to try to take over from another position on the cat tree?

The winner – for now,

While I was out, ‘L’ sent news that Meadow was being fed well today. Yahoo! Sometimes it is just those first few days for the oldest to set dominance and the beaking stops. This is fantastic. I was almost afraid to look.

Poor Jackie and Shadow. They cannot get a break from the horrific weather that is in California that is causing major flooding and mudslides. Pouring rain and now rain and snow mixed on Monday.

The deadly storm is slowly moving out of the area. 

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It started off west at the nest of M15 and F23 in Fort Myers before the weather changed and little E23 could sun itself and dry out.

You can see the dramatic change in the plumage in the image below. Notice the quills holding the blood feathers for the tail and the few white dandelions left on the top of the head. The beak is becoming a shiny ebony, and the yellow legs, feet, and the mandible indicate this is a healthy little eaglet. 

E23 has attempted to do some self-feeding after finding some prey hidden in the nesting material.

M15 flew in with a big fish. ’J’ caught some screen captures of F23 feeding little E23 his lunch.

D Morningstar caught some good close ups of E23 – she was 36 days old on 5 February and is 37 today. Time passes so quickly. Look at the plumage and then look at those fuzzy babies at Eagle Country. What a difference a month makes.

The same weather system went through Captiva before hitting Fort Myers. Cal and Lusa are trying to stay warm and dry under Connie, but to no avail. They are way too big. What sweeties. After drying off, look at them both standing so tall and strong on those beautiful chrome yellow legs.

It was wet at the WRDC nest of Ron, Rose, and R6. Heidi Mc caught Ron being a ‘Dadbrella’. Way to go! Looks like there is still some coot left on the nest too, but catch R6’s crop! What a cutie.

At the Captiva Nest of Jack (and formerly of his mate Ruby who is MIA), it seems the male might have a new partner - just in time for breeding season we hope. She accepts his fish gift – that is a good start.

It looks like it could be just two eggs for Jack and Diane this season at Achieva. Fantastic!!!!

At JB Sands Wetlands it was sunny. I could not tell what was in the pantry but the little eaglet is being well taken care of. 

Did Ervie meet his brother Giliath when they were both out looking for fish?

More tracking for Ervie. Have to say it – Ervie is the ‘Rock Star’ of the Port Lincoln Osprey barge. Sorry, Gil and Brad.

I am getting so excited for Osprey season to begin that I can hardly think of anything else. Tiger Mozone posted an older video of Henry and EJ. It shows Henry returning from migration to discover EJ on eggs – not his! So what does Henry do? Watch.

Oh, don’t you just love Osprey behaviour!

Angel, the Leucistic Red-tail Hawk, is back at her nest! Window to Wildlife gives us the good news: “Angel is back! In late January Angel was seen on her nest while our team was out doing some routine maintenance and upgrades to the cameras for the upcoming season. The new upgrades will include better low-light viewing with infrared floodlights for a better viewing experience of Angel’s amazing nest!There is still some work to be done before the streams can go live, so stay tuned for more updates and an announcement of when that will be! We’re looking forward to another fantastic season and hope you’ll stop by the streams!”

Eagles at the ND-LEEF nest on Monday.

At the NE Florida nest of Gabby and Beau, Gabby had an unexpected visitor on Monday – A1. He even went into the nest bowl. Some worried that Beau had been injured in a fight with A1, but Beau did return later all talons in tact.

Bonnie has spent much of the day on the nest on Farmer Derek’s property in Kansas. We are expecting her to begin laying eggs in 2 or 3 days. Normally, Bonnie lays two eggs with successful hatches in past years, and both are fledging. They grow fast!

It sounded like thunder. The rain began in a gentle way and then really began coming down. I hope Monty and Hartley are safe and dry – and, I am wondering why they just don’t sit out the storm inside the scrape where it is dry. Any thoughts?

In Port Lincoln, Gil and Brad each had a fish on the 5th. Today they are both waiting, taking turns, to see who will be the lucky one on the nest when din-dins arrive.

Canada Geese are loud and the one who landed on the Decorah nest is no exception.

What does your City do during migration? Is it switching off the lights like a number of growing urban centres?

Why is switching lights off important? Let’s check.

Birdcast says: ”Light attracts and disorients migrating birds, confusing and exhausting them as well as making them vulnerable to collisions with buildings, not to mention other urban threats like cats and toxins.”

Popular Science gives us more information:

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USFWS: 

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Audubon has their own article on their Lights Out Programme – and there are hundreds more on the Internet. Educate yourself and your City! Save the birds.

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When I adopted a Kakapo in 2022, I adopted Rangi. He is a very special Kakapo – at least 51 years old. His story is really worth a read – it unfolds in the posts below. Rangi is very special.

Here is the full text. It is very interesting. ”The known population at the time was just 90 ahead of another breeding season on Whenua Hou. Ranger Chris Birmingham was out checking the location of females when he heard booming from an unidentified male. As soon as he noticed the old metal leg tag, he knew this was an extra special find. Excitement passed through the team on the island and the bird was soon undergoing a full health check, sampling, and having a transmitted fitted. That night the team matched records to the tag number confirming it was Rangi, one of four males missing since their first release. Ranger Chris wrote a new database entry adding, “words cannot express the joy I feel at finding this guy!”

Genetic data shows Rangi fathered Wendy, Zephyr, Sarah, Adler, Merty and Ralph; making him a grandfather to 17 (including @Sirocco), and great-grandfather to nine. 

He hasn’t bred since 1981, but Rangi still booms in season and has been maintaining his bowl site recently. His exact age is unknown but he would be at least 51 now. He lives amongst dense supplejack vines making it tricky for rangers when it’s time for his annual health checks. Elusive yet crafty, he has been known to sneak quietly through the undergrowth to circle back behind rangers that are following him. Rangi is known as the artful dodger after all!”

Last but never least – we often hear the names of men who made a difference in the world of birds. But what about the women? This is a previously published article that is always good to visit again to remind ourselves that everyone can contribute! What a wonderful list of amazing women.

Seven-Women-Who-Made-the-World-Better-for-Birds-and-People-AudubonDownload

Thank you for being with us today. Please take care. We hope to see you soon!

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, articles, screen captures, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog this morning: ’A, H, J, L’, Eagle Country, FOBBV, The Mercury News, SW Florida Eagle Cam, Visa, D Morningstar, Window to Wildlife, WRDC, Heidi Mc, Achieva Credit Union, JB Sands Wetlands, PLO, Tiger Mozone, BBC Report, ND-LEEF, Gracie Shepherd, Farmer Derek Owl Cam, All About Birds, San Jose City Hall, Bart M, Rosieanne B, National Audubon Society, BirdCast, Raptor Resource Project/Explore, USFWS, Audubon, and the Kakapo Recovery.

1st egg for Thunder and Akecheta!…Wednesday in Bird World

31 January 2024

Good Morning Everyone,

It is summer – just joking – but Tuesday was an amazing day to stand outside and sniff the fresh air. The snow is melting in areas where the sun shines, and the streets are full of puddles. Sadly, some people are not aware that if they drive like Ayrton Senna, they will splash everyone in sight! One of our local nature centres is having a contest to guess the arrival of the first Canada Goose, and we are getting ready for one of the major festivals in our city, Festival du Voyageur. I wonder if there will be any snow or if it will be too warm for the international ice sculpture contest? I love the Maple Candy – pouring hot Maple Syrup over clean snow. It is delicious and stiffens up like the best taffy.

I had tea with my best mate today and outside her window was a doe and fawn. Got the doe right before she was going to crunch a munch one of the plants. There are 8 deer that live in the park. In the spring, my friend has a pond and there is at least one pair of ducks that make it their home. It is lovely to visit and get to see them.

I am glad that this deer is not being hunted. For several years we have been taking about the disastrous effects of lead poisoning in our raptors. Hunting, fishing, military weapons all contribute to the high death rates. Hunters kill the deer and clean out their innards, leaving those in the field full of lead shot. The raptors or carrion eaters feast on this and they can die. 

The wildlife rehab that took care of our little sweetie ND17, Humane Indiana Wildlife, has a sad story for us – with lots of information. Please spread the word to anyone you know that hunts and fishes that they should not be using lead in any form. Educate them nicely as to why. Be your best persuasive self.

Oh, gosh, golly. We have the first egg of the 2024 season in the Channel Islands. Thunder laid it today and that precious egg was seen at 1539. Congratulations!

And a big shout out to Dr Peter Sharpe, who retired, took the transportation – the car, the boat, climbed up the cliffs – and installed a fanatic camera! 

I wonder how long it will be until Thunder’s parents, Chase and Cholyn, lay their first egg at Two Harbours.

At Sauces, Jak and Audacity are hopeful and working away. They should be an inspiration to all of us to never give up!

There is chirping at Eagle Country for Abby and Blazer. We will have a hatch soon! You can clearly hear that gentle cheeping…how exciting. This one may have hatched by Wednesday morning. 

There is not a lot of bird news. A huge male eagle, quite a handsome fellow, landed on Gabby and Beau’s tree today. Thanks ‘J’ for the image captures.

Gabby just kept on incubating that egg. Today is day 39. 

E23 is working on standing steady, using its wings for balance. There were several hiccups on Tuesday, but the little one is determined. E23 is also working its wings and looking over the rails to what lies beyond the nest and the Pritchett property. A huge fish came into the nest, but E23 was not hungry, having a large crop that had lasted most of the day.

Cal and Lusa had big crops, too! It isn’t easy to see them in the shade of the nest tree now. Those gorgeous and shiny espresso juvenile feathers blend in well with the dark shade. But check out those feet – look at that deep, bright chrome yellow. Clive and Connie’s eaglets are extremely healthy. This is the colour you want to see on the feet of all your raptors. Look and remember. 

My goodness. After the ‘fish drought’ at the WRDC nest, you would think fish were falling from the sky. The nest had no less than two large whole fish today along with a bird. R6 appears to be doing just fine. Hopefully he got rid of any human garbage (aka the nappy) when he cast that very large pellet.

The WRDC issued the following statement on Tuesday, the 30th. A very thorough and reassuring post on the happenings at the nest.

You can now see both eaglets at the John Bunker Sands Wetlands nest. The first hatch is doing quite well and is much larger than the second one. I sat and yelled at Mum to feed it mid-afternoon after it woke up and wanted food. She kept feeding the big one and herself. If you are watching this nest really close, please let me know how the wee one is faring. BTW. The sound at this nest is first-rate. You can hear the little squees quite clearly. They are so cute.

If you haven’t marked your calendars, pip watch for Jackie and Shadow begins on the 29th of February. That is 35 days. In the past, Jackie’s eggs have hatched between 38-39 days. Hold your breath. Let’s all send the most positive wishes we can to our Big Bear couple.

I missed posting the news so thanks, Geemeff. Bluff City had its first egg on the 28th. 

If you are looking for Owlvira, it appears that she has made her nest this year in a nearby hawk nest and not the nest she used in 2022-23.

If you are having ‘Owl Withdrawal’, I suggest you keep an eye on Bonnie and Clyde at Farmer Derek’s nest. These two kicked out a young pair of Bald Eagles several years ago to raise their first two owlets – Tiger and Lily. Today, they have been heard hooting and mating and Clyde brought Bonnie a food gift at 18:28 on the nest.

Clyde is in the nest cup. Look at that great camouflage!

In Latvia, the White-tail Eagles are returning. What a joyous occasion. The YouTube video for the 30th of January is from the Kemeri National Park. It is the third largest park in the country with numerous water features and lakes. 57% of the area is covered by forests – these are two perfect considerations for the White-tail Eagles when looking for food or nesting sites.

Did you know that there are five different types of eagles that live in Latvia? They are the Golden Eagle which is the most common. Then there. is the Short-toed that breed in Latvia. Sadly, many are shot when migrating to Africa over Malta. The Lesser-Spotted, and the Greater Spotted along with the White-tailed. The White-tailed Eagles are the largest and are easily identified by their entirely white tail. They eat fish and water fowl – the latter of which – caused the HPAI outbreak in 2022. Some charts also identify the Osprey as an eagle in Latvia so you will see titles like ‘Six types of eagles live in Latvia’. I do not include Ospreys with eagles but some do!

My favourite Latvia White-tailed Eagle is Milda. I watched her nest when she was with her late mate, Ramis. She is now bonded with Voldis and they fledged two eaglets in 2023. Milda arrived at her nest in Durbe County on the 30th of January, too!

Sally is beginning to look a little ‘eggy’ at Moorings Park but, as of 1900 Tuesday the 30th there was no egg. Sally and Harry spent time at the nest on Tuesday.

The Royal Cam chick is really growing! We can clearly see it during feedings. 

Checking on Annie at The Campanile. She was calling from the scrape. You could see her on the ledge cam and then from inside the scrape. I am waiting to see if this new mate shows up. No. Annie left the scrape at 1701.

More Hen Harriers were illegally killed in 2023 than at any other time. Outrageous.

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

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog today: ’Geemeff, J’, Humane Indiana Wildlife, IWS/Explore, Eagle Country, NEFL-AEF, SW Florida Eagle Cam, Window to Wildlife, WRDC, John Bunker Sands Wetlands Eagle Cam, FOBBV, ETSU Eagles, Owl Cam, Farmer Derek, Cal Falcons, LDF, Trine, Moorings Park, Lady Hawk, Cal Falcons, and Raptor Persecution UK.

Sunday in Bird World

21 January 2024

Hello Everyone,

Saturday was a lovely day. The temperatures had warmed up to -15 but there was a brisk wind off Devonian Lake at the nature centre that made it feel much colder. Tomorrow the high will be -7 C. We will be out in our summer jackets!!!!!!! LOL. 

It is often difficult to get motivated to get the boots, toque, gloves, scarf, and winter coat on -. In the end, though, it is worth it. The air is so fresh. There has been a special crunch with the snow because it has been so cold. Mostly, in the forest, it is serene and the clean white snow is more than beautiful. It looks, in places, like a down duvet covering the earth.

Several Downy Woodpeckers were fighting for the last food in the feeders while the Red Squirrels ran all over the snow. A bunch of children were screaming with delight as they went down the tower on their sledges – what fun!

Calico and Missey were just worn out watching Hugo Yugo and Baby Hope run from one end of the conservatory to the sitting room and back, all the while leaping over sofas and chairs, clamouring over the island, up on the cat tree, down and away. Sometimes they scrambled over the coffee table pulling blankets off the sofa and tearing through the tunnels. 

You can see that Missey and Calico look a little dazed or grumpy. It did get to be a little much after an hour! It is no wonder that Baby Hope is nicely fit and slender. Don’t say anything, but Calico and Missey could also use some of that exercise daily. The vet smiles and says they are a little ‘pleasantly plump’. 

This one just attracts trouble like a magnet! Oh, we have ordered some eye wipes that Auntie ‘R’ recommends. Hopefully they will be here this week.

I am certain that the sentiments of ‘A’ might well reflect many of those reading my blog. ”I’ve just checked in on a few of my favourite bald eagle nests. And what do I see? Massive crops all over Florida. At SWFL, E23 is so full it’s eating duckling style (btw, when did that giant eaglet suddenly appear – I remember a cute little fluffy thing like R6?). And speaking of R6, it too is currently being stuffed, while the wee CEs both have HUGE crops (although CE10’s is absolutely ridiculous and, seriously, may well be the biggest I have ever seen on a nestling) after yet another feeding from Connie. Meanwhile, I’m not entirely sure that there isn’t a fish buried under a bit of nesting, because CE11 appeared to be self-feeding from something that it was able to pull pieces off because it was being held down fairly firmly by the nesting (he’s still not heavy enough to properly hold prey down for effective self-feeding, though he gets some food if he’s persistent). Either way, those are two very happy, well-fed eaglets. Lovely. It’s nice to watch only chicks, getting plenty of food and no bonking, but there’s nothing quite like the sibling experience.”

E23 was full to the brim, too. Mum and Dad took some time to enjoy the sunshine after all the rain from the recent storm.

R6 is one of those well-fed only eaglets. Rita sometimes likes to try out super large bites for this little one. R6 tries…and Mum gets a bite. Surprise.

Some bonding activity on the Hanover nest even with the snow.

It’s cold in South Bend, Indiana. There is snow on the ND-LEEF nest tree in St Patrick’s Park, and I could see no sign of any eagle visits on Saturday.

At NE Florida, Beau did get a turn to incubate while Gabby was off eating, we hope. There have been some intruders in the vicinity. 

Beau on the nest after noon.

Gabby did the majority of incubation on Saturday.

Some stretching and rolling of the egg along with aerating the nest.

Details of the day’s events with Gabby and Beau.

I do not believe that the remaining egg at Berry College will hatch. It might be a miracle for Missey and Dad if it does tomorrow. One of the eggs was crushed today and appeared to have nothing inside. It was covered up with nesting material later (It is directly to the right under the straw of Missey’s head). Will they go for a second clutch like Pepe and Muhlady? We will have to wait and see.

Lady has been providing for SE31. How lovely. Doesn’t your heart just want to skip a beat in happiness for Lady and Dad this season – finally getting to raise a little one down at the River Roost after fledging.

‘A’ sends another report for the WBSE for January 21: “An early visit to the nest by Lady – the first for a long time – arrived just after 6am, moved a stick about. A Grey Butcherbird and native Noisy Mynahs nearby, then moved off to the river area at 6:50am. Then, SE31 was seen pestering Lady for food, before finally having a couple of “attempts” herself, her only catch being a ball, taken into mangroves at River Roost! Kept her amused for a good 20 minutes. While we were there (until about 9am), she flew about a bit and kept flying close to Lady, seeking food and causing Lady to move. Again, her protective colouring makes her hard to see. There were no more observations recorded later in this very hot day – the eagles were no doubt sheltering from the heat.” 

‘A’ notes: ”

At Orange, it is being noted that there have been no bonding sessions between Diamond and Xavier for three days. Without tower cam operating, these are the only real chances we get to see Xavier a lot of the time, so people are a little worried that he has not been spotted during their usual early-morning bondings. Diamond is currently on her ledge, as always, and Marri has been heard in good voice. Cilla posted this yesterday (20 January): NEWS 20th January 2024 Cilla KinrossMarri is still with us and still chasing adults for food. This action takes place before dawn, so is a bit gloomy even with enhancement.  https://youtu.be/SDUNhwNDKns TOWER CAM. The technician came this week to investigate the ongoing problems with the youtube streaming. The part supplied did not function, so will need to be replaced…”

At Port Lincoln, there were 6 fish brought in on the 21st – 4 from Mum and 2 from Dad. 

Two Golden Eagles come in for lunch. It is a beautiful winter wonderland. 

Diane normally lays her first egg the first week of February. Barbara Snyder has been capturing her on the nest on Saturday.

Recently there has been attention drawn to the killing of the Red List Woodcocks. In some regions, they are of least concern, but overall, their population is declining. If you are not aware of these remarkable birds that are threatened, here is some information to help you appreciate them more.

All About Birds describes them thus, “American Woodcocks are plump, short-legged shorebirds with very long, straight bills. Their large heads, short necks, and short tails give them a bulbous look on the ground and in flight. The wings are broad and rounded compared to most other shorebirds.”

Audubon says, “Related to the sandpipers, but strikingly different in habits. This rotund, short-legged bird hides in forest thickets by day, where it uses its long bill to probe in damp soil for earthworms. Its eyes are set far back on its head, allowing it to watch for danger even with its bill buried in the dirt. Males perform a remarkable ‘sky dance’ on spring and summer nights, in a high, twisting flight, with chippering, twittering, bubbling sounds.”

They are about the size of the Crows that visit my garden, 30 cm or 12 inches in length.

“Photo of the Week – Woodcock at Ninigret National Wildlife Refuge, RI” by U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service – Northeast Region is marked with Public Domain Mark 1.0.

The Woodcocks make their nests, a feathered scrape (not unlike the peregrine falcon grave scrape, but feathered, on the ground. The female normally lays four eggs. Five would be very rare but sometimes there are only 1-3 pink-beige, blotchy with grey and brown marked eggs. Incubation takes approximately three weeks. The newly hatched chicks leave the nest within a few hours of hatching. The hen will care for them and feed them, but after a couple of days the young are finding their own worms in the moist soil. They will make short flights when they are a fortnight old and will be completely independent of their parents by five weeks.

“File:American Woodcock Scolopax minor.jpg” by guizmo_68 is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

The female is thought to carry the chicks away from danger in her feet or pressed between her legs and body. Woodcocks feed at night probing the wet earth with their very long bill making exploratory holes. They can even take the temperature of the soil as they look for worms and beetle snags sucking them up like young children do with spaghetti! Scientists continue to marvel at the flight patterns over vast expanses of open water between the UK and Northern Europe. Myth states that they return to the UK on the first full moon in November. 

Here is a document that gives a good understanding of 50 years of research into the decline and the reasons for this decline. 

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Woodpeckers enjoying a feast on the cones of the Sitka Pines.

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Today is National Squirrel Appreciation Day, but around here, Dyson knows that she is loved every day! Today there will be some extra peanuts for her and the kits. Remember your garden squirrels today, if you can.

Thank you so much for being with me today. Take care. We hope to see you again soon!

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, articles, photographs, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to compose my blog this morning: ’A, H, J’, Window to Wildlife, SW Florida, WRDC, HeidiMc, Trudi Iron, ND-LEEF, NEFL-AEF, Berry College, Donna Nickerson, Chang-Le Dong, PLO, Bart M, Trine, Barbara Snyder, Open Verse, BTO Red Sixty Seven, BTO Into the Red, British Ecological Society, The Guardian, and Squirrels Galore.

C11 gets 2 great feedings…Wednesday in Bird World

17 January 2024

Hello Everyone,

Gosh, it warmed up here in Manitoba to a balmy -17 during the day. Everyone was smiling. Seriously, it feels so much warmer than yesterday (I am writing this on Tuesday so Monday). It is now -21 C just after midnight.

‘B’ sent me a note wondering about the falcon investigations and trials. I have mentioned the theft of Peregrine Falcon chicks and eggs sold as if they were bred from captive birds in the UK. There are actually several ongoing cases involving different individuals. And, yes, the time incarcerated is so little it is almost a joke, certainly not a deterrent when these birds are fetching such high prices in the Middle East. Maybe some of the other raptor numbers in decline are due to theft? I wonder how many other countries have nests that are targeted? And why aren’t they breeding their birds in the Middle East? That might help put an end to this despicable behaviour.

The girls are fine and so is The Boyfriend. He came up to the deck to eat Tuesday afternoon instead of having ‘delivery’. There were 13 European Starlings in the garden along with the usual group of garden animals. Everyone seems to have survived the very cold temperatures. I am smiling.

Calico continues to do well on her weight loss programme. She would love to have lots of treats, but she is getting used to have 3 or 4 little nibblers. She finally let me clean her right eye today. Now, will she let me cut her nails tomorrow? Oh, I love this cat. OK. I love them all. Surprise.

Missey enjoyed having a nap by herself while Hugo Yugo and Baby Hope tore up the house playing ‘kitty cat hockey’ with a ball of paper.

Hugo Yugo watching me as I put up paint swatches for the wall behind the cat tree. It is finally time to paint and bring some life to the walls! I just wonder if she will have some other stripes? (I did finally get the little bits off of that eye!). Hugo Yugo still has her round kitten face and she is getting so fuzzy…love the eye line that resembles that of a little osprey. 

The top of the cat tree is a 14 x 14 inch square. You can see how tiny this 4.5-month-old kitten is – half the square! Seven inches. Ever so little, but dynamite comes in small packages, and this is one huge character. Hugo Yugo runs her battery down to empty. If there is something to get into, she will find it. The twinkle tree has all its ornaments put on daily so that Hugo Yugo and Baby Hope can tear them off at night. Hugo Yugo seems to have two speeds – zero and 100 kph! Did I say I adore her? She is also the sweetest snuggle bug when her battery is completely flat.

On the other hand, Baby Hope is monster-size for a six-month-old. She has gorgeous almond-shaped, celadon-coloured eyes. She looks so much like Mamma Calico with that teardrop. Baby Hope is the first to come when you call her specific name and the one who always cleans up her food dish. She is a very gentle soul.

There are certain ways that Baby Hope turns her head, and I think, at a glance, that it is Calico. This is one of those.

Congratulations to Pepe and Muhlady on their second egg of the season laid Tuesday afternoon. Hard incubation and good positive wishes for this couple that lost their first clutch.

Ron made sure the nest was stocked for Rita and R6. That little one is a cutie—no word on a pip in the second egg.

With the bad weather, I am very concerned for little C11 at the Captiva Eagle Nest. 

‘A’ comments “The only food that was brought in today was the head of a catfish that Connie caught and obviously ate most of herself. She has to eat. The little ones got a few mouthfuls only – perhaps three or four at most for CE11, who did clean up the leftovers and even tried to swallow the bone. (CE10 did finish the ibis bone later in the day.) There has now been virtually no food at all for CE11 for over two days. If he doesn’t eat well tomorrow, he won’t make it. Luckily, the weather is forecast to clear, but it has been a very hard couple of days for the eaglets. CE10 has been no more aggressive than usual, which is a bonus, but if they have a third day like this tomorrow, there will definitely be at least one casualty on this nest, which is horrifying to contemplate. Clive brought nothing in all day, and only one speckled trout the day before (from which CE11 effectively got nothing). So this is a very unexpected situation for Captiva to find itself in… The good news is that both of the PSs I have seen from CE11 today have been healthy. That is something.”

“I’m praying for a large, early fish. Problem is that both parents are hungry too, so like early yesterday morning, when Connie headed off and quickly caught that catfish, only the remnants of its head were brought back to the nest at 08:17. CE11 did get three or four smallish mouthfuls off it – he got himself quickly to the table and it appeared that Connie wants both her babies to live because she was very careful to ensure that he got a little bit of that catfish head. Not much, but she coaxed him to start eating fast, not wait for CE10 to allow it! He also cleaned up a piece that had been left on the nest and even tried to eat a long thin bony bit (he picked any flakes off it first). So a couple of mouthfuls, though as I said, during the day he did do a couple of PSs that looked healthy. He had only two mouthfuls of the partial fish Connie brought in about 4.07pm and apparently spat one of those out. And he got nothing at all from the little piece of fish Clive brought in about 4:13pm. So CE11 has had just enough to survive a little longer. But he must eat and eat properly as early as possible today (17 January). At least both parents ate today and CE10 had enough to eat – just. She is, however, becoming much more aggressive towards CE11, who is in turn becoming increasingly submissive. At the last feeding of the day, around 4.17pm, CE10 got a small but adequate meal, while CE11 was too frightened to even lift his head until the food was pretty much gone. His hunger did drive him to take a few risks today, none of which really paid off for him. I’m very worried, though at least he’s still trying. He is looking a little unsteady though, perhaps suggesting he is getting a little weak and disoriented. Tonight, it is not raining and it is not too cold, so hopefully the little ones will dry out, which should help a bit with energy conservation.”

Ron is at the nest as of Wednesday night. Let us hope that C11 has had enough food and will get more fish tomorrow – oh, please. 

Great news. C11 has a huge crop! Life is good.

“Both eaglets have eaten now – you should watch that feeding (from about 08:08). CE11 was so smart. His crop is now actually larger than CE10’s! He has had a big morning – self-feeding, learning to shelter on the far side of Connie, and demonstrating sheer courage in the face of CE10’s aggression. And to cap everything off, he did a PS at around 08:03 that proved he still had something in the reserve tank – he would have made it another day, even had there been nothing to eat today IMHO. I could be wrong, but that’s what his behaviour and his PS suggested to me this morning.”

Small fish delivery by Clive. Every bite keeps C11 going until more food can come on the nest.

More fish came after 0900 and C11 is filling its tank again. C10 has already a huge crop.

There is concern for Ruby and Jack, the Ospreys at Captiva. ’H’ reports, “Ruby was last seen on cam on 1/11.  Jack was seen every day until yesterday, and was even bringing fish to the nest, waiting for Ruby.  Jack was a no show yesterday. The area has been inundated with really lousy weather for several days.  Lori has been at her Captiva home since 12/30.  She said that Ospreys in general seem to have vacated the immediate area.  Yesterday, the only O seen on cam was an unidentified flyby.”

The weather tapered off at Fort Myers. Little E23 is doing well – has had many full crops. No worries at this nest after the fright over the fish bone the other day.

A dual feeding, something that M15 loves to do! Precious.

R6 is doing fantastic. ’H’ reminds us: ”At Dade: No pip on R7 egg yet…will be 38 days today at 1355.”

At the NEFL nest, both get a fright. Pip watch should not be for another ten days, around the 27th, perhaps – if that egg is viable.ls

https://www.facebook.com/AEFNestCams/videos/1069926117588390/

The annual review of the year from Centreport, New York has been posted on FB. I cannot post those links on my blog but if you are interested, you can go to the FB page of the Centreport Eagles and find it. 

No word of a pip coming from Berry College yet.

‘H’ sends news and a video of the storm and damage at Hog Island. 

Storms-wreak-havoc-but-Queen-Mary-stays-High-and-Dry-Friends-of-Hog-IslandDownload

Good news coming out of Port Lincoln. The chick that was at Whaler’s Way fledged and has returned to the nest. Excellent news. This is that very precious nest on the cliffs.

At the Port Lincoln Barge, there were three fish deliveries by 1315. Gil got the breakfast fish at 0641 while Brad took the 1235 delivery by Dad and the large fish at 1315 delivered by Mum!

Condor in care doing well.

I am loving seeing all the birds from where I grew up. There were so many hawks then. Look at this beautiful image below. You might think it is a Red-tailed Hawk if you did not look at ‘the tail’. Look. It is a ‘Red shouldered’ Hawk and isn’t she a beauty? Wow.

The weather in Oklahoma dipped to 0 degrees F but felt like -17 F with the wind chill on Tuesday.

Big Red and Arthur were out with another hawk on the Cornell Campus on Tuesday. When it is cold the little critters hunker down. Big Red in all her glory. I am putting the photograph Suzanne took of the ‘visitor’ below. It has light eyes and could well be one of the Ms visiting the nest area. Big Red and Arthur did not seem to be concerned.

It’s cold everywhere and people are looking to feed the birds to help them make it through the freezing weather. Here is another recipe, a Vegan one, for bird suet.

A-Winter-Treat-for-Wild-Birds-Plant-Based-Suet-Real-Gardens-Grow-NativesDownload

Geemeff sent me this article showing the lovely poster that people received for supporting the efforts to get the mice off Marion Island.

Giving-back-the-Mouse-Free-Marion-Project-releases-a-poster-to-thank-its-many-supporters-Mouse-FrDownload

The December count for the Albatross at the Midway Atoll is in!

What has Audubon Florida been up over the past year? Here is a copy of the latest edition of The Naturalist. Have a look.

naturalist-winter-2023Download

White-tailed Eagle flying over Wales gives everyone a wonderful surprise. “White-tailed Eagle formerly bred in Wales, but has been absent since the 16th century. The recent reintroduction programme on the Isle of Wight has seen birds spread throughout southern England, resulting in the first English breeding record for 240 years in 2023.”

White-tailed-Eagle-causes-a-stir-in-Wales-BirdGuides-1Download

Thank you so much for being with me today. Take care of yourself. Stay warm and safe during these periods of extreme cold weather wherever you are. We hope to have you back with us soon.

Thank you to the following for their notes, videos, posts, images, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog today: ‘A, B, Geemeff, H, J’, Raptor Persecution UK, Gracie Shepherd, WRDC, Window to Wildlife, SW Florida Eagle Cam, SK Hideaways, WRDC, NEFL-AEF, Berry College Eagle Cam, Friends of Hog Island, PLO, Ventana Wildlife Society, Oklahoma Ornithological Society, Suzanne Arnold Horning, Real Gardens, Saving Marion Island’s Seabirds, USFWS, Audubon Florida, and Bird Guides.

Saturday in Bird World

13 January 2024

Good Morning Everyone,

Hugo Yugo and I are in the conservatory. She is tearing up a napkin – no one told her she isn’t a budgie! The male Downy is at the suet cylinder, Dyson is getting peanuts out of the small table feeder, and about 50 sparrows of various types are going after Black oil seed. It is -21 C. The sky is a light baby blue – some haze – and the sun is beginning to shine. I am so grateful that the booster on the furnace vent and the little space heater are doing their jobs today so that we can stay out in this wonderful place. Mr Crow has been here and returned just now to get some peanuts. Life is good.

As of this morning, egg #1 at WRDC is 38 days old. We are on pip/hatch watch at both WRDC and Berry College. 

Missey is watching a Crow getting ready to fly down for peanuts. Hugo Yugo wants to get up and catch a glimpse!

Hugo Yugo is like a miniature tiger. She is fearless and loves to play fight with Hope. Typically, Hugo Yugo will attack by running about 3 metres and leaping on Hope’s back. Hope really enjoyed the play and is ‘gentle’ with Hugo Yugo.

I am reminded that we have the power over how our day will go simply by waking up and finding the beauty in the ‘world’ around us. For me, it is the girls and the garden animals. I continually say that I cannot image life without them. Do you have a place to put out a water bowl for the birds? Or a feeder? I promise you that the single act of providing for the animals will bring you much happiness. (LOL. For me, the wildlife is so much better than playing pickleball).

Blue Jays carefully select their peanuts trying them out to make sure they get the heaviest one. This is the Baby from the summer and he will fly over to a branch where he will use the branch to break the shell of the nut.

Now s/he is going to try their luck with the pile of peanuts on the big tray feeder.

They used the side of the feeder to break open the shell this time.

The rain did come to The Hamlet. Gabby and Beau taking turns incubating their only surviving egg (the first was buried by Beau and could not be retrieved by either eagle from the nest).

Beau came in to give Gabby a break. Oh, I am so hoping this egg is viable. That is a 180 degree turn for me. They are working together now. Let’s hope.

Nothing seems to be happening with the eggs at the WRDC as of noon Friday.

Neither Ron nor Rose are giving anything away.

We are on pip and hatch watch for Berry College, too. Gosh, the waiting for Berry and the WRDC nest are getting folks weary….

No rain for Abby and Blazer at Eagle Country.

Rabbit for breakfast for E23 at the SW Florida nest of M15 and F23.

SK Hideaways caught it -. Oh, poor F23.

As Saturday night’s storm approached the nest of M15 and F23, both were on the nest. Later, F23 really showed that she can be a huge mombrella.

C11 really chowed down on that fish that came to the nest around 10:36 on Friday. It was wonderful seeing that little eaglet eating well. Both had hilariously big crops!

Gracie Shepherd caught Chase at the Two Harbours Outlook on Friday.

Lady was doing some ‘teaching’ for SE31 on Saturday in Australia.

At Port Lincoln, Dad brought in a small fish and Mum took it. Brad and Gil have not had any fish and it is early afternoon. The water is a little choppy – look at the white caps behind the nest. I wonder, too, when Mum and Dad will be hoping these two try their luck at fishing.

Today I received a special edition of BirdLife International, the Jan-March 2024 issue, that examines the changes in the Red List of Birds. One of the species that has been ‘downlisted’ to Near Threatened from Threatened status. 

Animalia describes the Lesser Adjutant: ”A large stork with an upright stance, a bare head and neck without a pendant pouch, it has a length of 87–93 cm (34–37 in) (outstretched from bill-to-tail measurement), weighs from 4 to 5.71 kg (8.8 to 12.6 lb) and stands about 110–120 cm (43–47 in) tall. The only confusable species is the greater adjutant, but this species is generally smaller and has a straight upper bill edge (culmen), measuring 25.8–30.8 cm (10.2–12.1 in) in length, with a paler base and appears slightly trimmer and less hunch-backed. The skullcap is paler and the upper plumage is uniformly dark, appearing almost all black. The nearly naked head and neck have a few scattered hair-like feathers. The upper shank or tibia is grey rather than pink, the tarsus measures 22.5–26.8 cm (8.9–10.6 in). The belly and undertail are white. Juveniles are a duller version of the adult but have more feathers on the nape. During the breeding season, the face is reddish and the neck is orange. The larger median wing coverts are tipped with copper spots and the inner secondary coverts and tertials have narrow white edging. The wing chord measures 57.5–66 cm (22.6–26.0 in) in length. Like others in the genus, they retract their necks in flight. In flight, the folded neck can appear like the pouch of the greater adjutant. Males and females appear similar in plumage but males tend to be larger and heavier billed.”

The success in protecting the Lesser Adjutant and its habitat and its downgrading is due to “Community efforts have been key to raising awareness and conserving these attractive birds, their nesting sites and habitats. While numbers are still declining in several locations, the rate of the population’s decrease on a global scale is estimated to be slowing” according to Birdlife (29).

“Lesser Adjutant (Leptoptilos javanicus)” by Koshyk is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

One species that has sadly been uplifted is the Palm Cockatoo. Cockatoos make their nests in the holes of old trees – just like my local squirrels and woodpeckers. Those trees are being cut down at a tremendous rate for logging. At the same time fires are also destroying habitat while trapping illegally for the international pet trade is another threat.

Animalia describes our bird, “The Palm cockatoo (Probosciger aterrimus) is a large parrot of the cockatoo family native to New Guinea, Aru Islands, and Cape York Peninsula. “Palm cockatoo” has been designated the official name by the International Ornithological Committee (IOC). The species was named the “Goliath Aratoo” in Wood’s Natural History (1862). It is also sometimes given the misnomer “black macaw” in aviculture although the macaws are unrelated New World parrots.” ”The Palm cockatoo is a black or smoky-gray parrot from the cockatoo family. It has a distinctive appearance, having a large crest and one of the biggest beaks of any parrot, a beak unusual in itself, as the upper and lower mandibles do not meet along much of the length, which allows the bird’s tongue to hold a nut in place against its top mandible while its lower mandible does the work to open it. Between the eyes and the beak, there is a patch of bare skin, red in color. There is also a distinctive red patch on the cheek that changes color if the bird is excited or alarmed. In young birds, their underfeathers are lined with pale yellow, and in birds under the age of 18 months, the tip of the beak and the ring around the eye are white.”

“Palm Cockatoo Nimbokrang” by Garima Bhatia is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

You know about the parakeets in London, right?

Country-diary-Parakeets-on-my-feeder-while-Im-on-the-fence-Birds-The-GuardianDownload

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

Subscribing is free. You can unsubscribe anytime!

Thank you to the following for their notes, articles, videos, posts, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog today: NEFL-AEF, Carol Shores Rifkin, Window to Wildlife, Eagle Country, Berry College Eagle Cam, SW Florida Eagle Cam, SK Hideaways, Gracie Shepherd, Chang-le Dong, PLO, Bart M, BirdLife International, Animalia, Openverse, and The Guardian.

Pip at SW Florida…Thursday in Bird World

28 December 2023

Good Morning!

We are so happy to have you with us today! You will have a wonderful walk through memory lane on 1 January when the list of events that brought happiness to my readers is revealed. Your notes have brought tears to my cheeks and made me laugh – and remember things I had forgotten. You still have time for those who have not sent in what moved them in 2023. You can send me 1 or 4 (or more) moments during Bird World in 2023 that were so moving and meaningful. Please do so by late 31 December so I can compile them for New Year’s morning. I think you are going to be surprised in some cases -. You can send them as a comment or if you want to keep your list secret, send it to my e-mail: maryannsteggles@icloud.com    Thanks so much!

Oh, I can tell you these girls must had some party Tuesday night! When I woke up Wednesday morning, there were toys everywhere. The chewy dental sticks were torn apart, and half of the ornaments on the twinkling tree were scattered about the floor. Interactive toys were upside down, and a small box of mince pieces that had been on the coffee table was on the floor. 

I don’t think it was Calico. 

I suspect that it was Baby Hope and Hugo! As I write this, I hear them tearing around, finding something else to get into. Hugo was incredibly tired most of the day, as was Hope.

Baby Hope wound up with a winky after all that fun.

Missey is always an ‘angel’. 

Now on to Bird World…

Well, the rumour that there was a pip at SW Florida was just wishful thinking and then it wasn’t…there is a definite pip in one of those eggs Wednesday night.

Here is the video of the pip.

Wet morning at SW Florida. F23 not giving us any hints.

If you did tune in to the Captiva nest of Connie and Clive and could not see C10 and C11 – they did not fall out of the nest. Connie buried them! ’H’ sent me a note to warn me. 

The mods think it is so the nesting material could dry out a bit. Great idea on the part of the eagles if that is the case – it will keep those kids form getting a chill in a damp nest.

That could have given someone a heart attack!

Everything turned out fine.

It was a bit breezy at Port Lincoln today. Sure going to miss these two. What a fantastic year it has been and it was all done to the fortitude of Janet, Bazz, and Fran to supply the fish for the family to see them through to fledge. It made all the difference in the world. I hope they go to sleep at night with a smile on their face! They certainly deserve it.

Dad was in with a small fish at 0813 and Brad got it! Way to go – we don’t need to worry about you anymore. You got this.

Bradley is certainly a looker.

Well, way to go Bradley. Mum came in with a nice fish at 1329 and Bradley took that one, too. Wow. I am impressed.

No doubt there will be more to add to the observation board…Bart still has to highlight that 1329 arrival. I am up and off early in the morning. You can check for later deliveries – and to see if Gil gets anything – by going to the YT live stream and look under the images for the observation board link.

SE31 still going strong. Just makes your heart beat a little faster to see one of those eaglets survive to be taught how to be an eagle by Lady and Dad down at the river. I wish our dear friend Phyllis – who loved these sea eagles so much- had lived to see this day!

Gabby continues to care for that egg. She’s got it back in a nest cup now.

Sue Dumas caught Akecheta and Thunder having a successful mating on Wednesday.

The eggs of Alex and Andria were buried today by one of the female visitors at the KNF-E3 nest. We all miss Andria and we will wish Alex well as he reorganises his life without her.

Dad and new female were both seen near the ND-LEEF eagle nest in St Patrick’s Park, South Bend, Indiana. Nice.

The eggs of the Royal cam couples at Taiaroa Head were candled today.

Here is the video and the thumbs up:

Holly Parsons posted a great little video clip of Marri chasing Xavier with Diamond watching from inside the scrape.

Since the arrival of the little book on the art and photography of Roger Tory Peterson, I have taken a keen interest in just how influential he was on all of us who love birds. Today, another used volume arrived in the post. Peterson Reference Guide to Bird Behaviour. Written in 2020 by John Richer, this richly illustrated volume covers most aspects of avian behaviour. There may be aspects that are out od date – the streaming cams are providing us with new information daily -, but still it will be a valuable addition to your library if you would like to understand more about the social life of birds, their brain and their senses, territory guarding and mating, etc. I know you are curious about all of those things!

If you do not know who Roger Tory Peterson is, please check out this YT video. Loaded with lots of information, it is 13 years old and might appear a little dated, but he was such an influence it is good to know who he was and his contributions to birding.

The sheer decline in bird numbers and the state of our planet can, most often, be bewildering, frightening, and overwhelming. I am grateful to ‘SP’ for sending me the following article with special mention of the closing lines, “The last paragraph really says it all “’This is how I personally cope with having these big imminent issues hanging over my head all the time, like climate change and destruction of the biosphere,” he says. “The more you zoom out, the more powerless you feel. So I think the best way for me to engage in life as an activist is just to influence things within the sphere of my control.’”

https://www.mercurynews.com/2023/12/26/collisions-with-buildings-are-killing-millions-of-birds-nationwide-a-dark-sky-movement-to-save-them-is-sweeping-the-bay-area/ 

Attempts to restore seabird life to Atlantic Canada.

Whose-Numbers-Are-So-Great-as-to-Be-Incredible-Island-Restoration-and-the-Seabirds-of-Atlantic-CanaDownload

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

Thank you to the following for their notes, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog today: ‘H, J, SP’, SW Florida Eagle Cam, Amanda Lake, Toni Hoover, Window to Wildlife, PLO, Bart M, Chang Li-Dong, Jerinelle Wray, NEFL-AEF, Sue Dumas, KNF-E3, Kim Weinenger, Roz Young, Lady Hawk, Mercury News, Holly Parsons, Amazon, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatross and Petrels, and The Wandering Rook.

Gabby lays the second egg…Sunday in Bird World

24 December 2023

Good Morning Everyone,

To those celebrating Christmas Eve and Christmas Day – and Boxing Day – have a wonderful holiday. Have lots of laughs, good food, make memories!

As we near the end of the year, I also want to thank everyone for your empathy, interest, and dedication to the planet’s wildlife (and domesticated pets). Pictures of your fur babies or birds visiting your feeders are always welcome, and I am so grateful for your letters and comments. It is heartwarming to know that a huge community of caring souls exists. Together, we have wept, and we have celebrated. Most of all, we have marvelled at this wonderful world we are a part of. So, here is to 2024 – may it be a blessed year for our birds and our families- no matter how many legs they have!

My year has been full of joy and utter sadness. I am so grateful to the girls that have enriched my life well beyond anything that I could have even dreamed about. There will, however, always be a tear shed and a little hole in the heart because of Lewis. What a great guy he was. Each one of them is their own person – their own character with their story. I feel lucky to be a part of that journey with them. 

Dear little Hugo decided to confront Calico head on. Seriously. Confronting Calico?! Calico normally takes off to get out of Hugo’s path. It is simply too funny. Notice how her eyes are so much better. And her face is getting a little round. It looks like we will make it!

In the garden, the squirrels are thriving in the warm weather. They have some treats, too – in the form of a big bag of in-the-shell peanuts. Dyson could not be happier! The Blue Jays have not returned and so it must be assumed that they have made their way to warmer climates south of here. I cannot fathom all of them having an untimely demise. Today, there were five Black-capped Chickadees in the apple tree in the front garden. Tomorrow they will get a special ball of seeds just for them. Oh, it would be grand if they made their nest in their in the spring! It is away from where the community cats normally visit so should be safe. 

In Osprey World, it is about 83 days until the first birds begin returning to the UK from West Africa or the Iberian Peninsula. Keep them in your thoughts as they make this perilous journey. 

‘H’ sent me to a posting by Elfruler that is truly a good read and a great way to sit down and contemplate what is happening over at the nest of Gabby and V3. Thanks, ‘H’. 

I am not an eagle expert. But, if Ospreys know who the eggs belong to and if the male even twitches that they arrived a little too early since the pair’s mating, you will see that Osprey kick those eggs over to the next lach! So if Ospreys know, then why wouldn’t Bald Eagles? 

Around 17:13 Gabby went into labour and laid the second egg. She was sooooo tired after. Beau was on a branch looking down. He could hear her. Now. Let us see how this plays out. 

Quick reveal – white spot under feathers near centre.

Tired Mamma. 525 people watching and excited for Beau and Gabby.

I have missed several of the Ferris Akel tours on Saturday and today was a reminder that we really need to slow down and enjoy life. I miss those tours!  Ferris found both Big Red and Arthur, Mourning Doves, and some geese and ducks today along with Bald Eagles! 

Beautiful Big Red hunting.

Arthur on the throne.

So many Doves and they kept flying in! 

Sandhill Cranes flying in and landing.

And then after gathering at their stop, they left.

Kids still being fed well by Connie and Clive. The pantry is absolutely full thanks to Clive’s amazing hunting skills. No need for C10 to be intimidating C11 but it is – dominance. 

I love in when Clive comes in to check on the eaglets and when he feeds them while Connie is away like now.

Connie returns.

‘A’ comments on the activities at Connie and Clive’s nest: ”Meanwhile, at Captiva, yesterday’s feeding record was broken today, with 13 feedings. Yes, you read that right. Thirteen. Here are the time stamps: 6:57:55 Feed1, 8:19:14 Feed2[CE10], 8:52:45 Feed3, 9:47:42 Feed4, 10:57:05 Feed5, 11:37:15 Feed6, 12:33:50 Feed7.1:51:25 Feed8,3:33:15 Feed9 [Clive]. 3:59:34Feed10[CE10] 4:29:25 Feed11, 5:11:15 Feed12, 5:55;20 Feed13.

These two are so adorable, though the bonking has definitely begun. You will note that at feed 2, for example, little CE11 puts its head up to participate, gets bonked once, and is down for the count. That happens at another feeding later in the day too (feed 10). But both are getting more than enough to eat, with Clive keeping fish scattered about the nest and around a dozen feedings a day. I would so love it if there was no bonking, but then I remember that’s why we watch peregrines and RTHs.”

SE31 and family at the river.

A look at Gil and Brad from the egg to the fledge. Thank you Fish Fairies for ensuring that these two were well fed and fledged!

Can the Black-footed Albatross be saved? And is this island free of cats? and rats? A good read from Audubon. Please cut and paste the link to Audubon for the article below the photo credit.

“Black-footed albatross pair. Photo credit: Dan Clark/USFWS” by USFWS Pacific is licensed under CC BY-NC 2.0.

A-Single-Mexican-Island-May-Be-Our-Best-Hope-for-Saving-Black-footed-Albatrosses-Audubon

Want to make a wreath with your family for the birds? Find some suet – grab your bunt pan and read the article. Away you go!

Help-Feed-the-Birds-With-a-DIY-Wreath-AudubonDownload

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

I am so grateful to the following for their notes, articles, videos, posts, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog today: ’A, H, J’, NEFL-AEF, Elfruler, Paul K, Ferris Akel Tours, Window to Wildlife, Chang-Le Dong, PLO, Bart M. Openverse, and Audubon.

Friday in Bird World

15 December 2023

Hello Everyone,

Good Morning to all of you. We are just two weeks and a day away from a brand new year – and sometime, between now and then, I hope that we have two healthy hatches at the SW Florida Eagle nest of M15 and F23. They could be the first successful nest of the year with two eaglets.

Before we move on to the other birds and the scant news, I have some more information about Hugo. When you adopt a kitten in Winnipeg, you should be given a file folder of information. That was missing when Hugo was picked up. It came in the post today. So, here are some things that were gleaned.

Hugo was born at the beginning of September. The folder says 5 September, but other information on line said 2 September, and my vet thought that because of her size and teeth development that this had to be the beginning of October. From what I understand, the original family wrote down 5 September as the date the stray cat they took in had her kittens. This original foster family took in a very malnourished stray cat, a Tortie, on the Peguis Reserve north of Winnipeg so that the cat would have a safe place to have her kittens. The family named the cat Grace and she had seven kittens. It is unknown if this was her first litter, but she was very tiny. Hugo had trouble eating. The kittens were surrendered to the adoption agency on the 11th of November. All were very tiny for their age. 

It is not clear what health issues the original situation with the Mum will have on Hugo’s development, overall health, or life expectancy. Right now Hugo is enjoying eating her kitten food, the kitten kibble, and loves the thick kitten milk. She loves to play and is sleeping on one of her favourite teaser toys. She likes being wrapped tight in a blanket and held close. Like all the others, I would not give her up for anything. Today she weighed 1384 grams before her evening meal. On Thursday, she weighed 860 grams so that is a gain of 524 grams or more than a pound. She looks like she might be long. Her eyes are still a little drippy so more Polysporin for Pink Eye. She will have her second round of vaccinations on 28 December and be spayed on the 15th of March -. The vet might be in for a surprise since all the paperwork still indicates that Hugo is a ‘he’ and that ‘he’ will be neutered.

Hope watching Hugo play with the red pom-pom on the tunnel.

It was Hope that first took over Missey’s basket with the little granny square blanket she was given when she was adopted. Now it is Hugo that is moving in on Hope’s territory! I did say that little Hugo is fearless, right?

Missey sits on the back of the sofa or on the wicker and watches them all. More than half the time she is now playing with Hope and Hugo. So nice to see her back to her normal self.

Hugo looking outside to ‘The Boyfriend’ who came for breakfast.

Beautiful Calico. I tear up every time I think about what she went through and how healthy little Hope was. What a miracle.

It was +4 today and what a nice day for a short brisk walk at the nature centre. The squirrels were running everywhere and watching them made me think that they thought spring had arrived. The chickadees were out at the feeders along with a male and female Downy Woodpecker and a White-breasted Nuthatch. The entire place feels empty without the ducks and the geese, though. 

There is good news coming from the Sydney Olympic Forest area for our WBSE family – Mum, Dad, and one fledgling presumed to be SE31.

“December 13: Early morning, both adults were seen at River Roost and SE31 was seen going into the mangroves and heard calling. Then again, at 07:45, SE31 was heard but not seen. Then at last, just after 9am, an adult was seen catching a large fish – grabbing it with one foot – in front of River Roost. SE31 flew out to claim it with loud squeeing, then all three were out of sight in the mangroves. No further observations during the day. 

December 14: Early morning, SE31 was spotted at Mangrove Island – then moving to River roost. This seems to be her home patch now, moving back and forth and sheltering in the mangroves lining the river. It has been a really hot day again. We have no more observations for today – hopefully, our eagles were keeping as cool as they can by the river.”

And the last report from Sydney: ”December 15: Early morning report at 07:30 of SE31 and one adult at the water’s edge at River Roost, then joined by the other adult. Then, at around 09:20, SE31 was seen flying over the wetlands, venturing further and flying right up high, before returning to River Roost – feeling her wings for sure. At around 4pm in the afternoon, SE31 was seen at River Roost, a parent arrived, then shortly after she flew to Mangrove Island. Later, she was seen flying high again, before returning to the River Roost mudflats.”

At Orange, Diamond still is not too pleased that the scrape box was cleaned. Wonder what the rush was? Does anyone know if Marri has returned to the scrape since the cleaning?

At Port Lincoln, it is Gil and Brad on the nest. Both now have names. It has been such a good year at Port Lincoln thanks in full to the foresight and tenacity of Janet, Bazz, and Fran who insisted on an intervention. We can all agree that the research coming off this nest opens up new avenues for thinking when it comes to Ospreys. Give them an international round of applause. For my friend ‘A’, she is overjoyed at the success of this nest. In the past she was hesitant to even go on line to check on the osprey family. Today she wrote, “I just adore this pair SO much. Goliath in particular is wingercising with great concentration. He has been getting air, with some impressive hovering yesterday. I know it’s a wonderful achievement and I should be pleased, and it is and I am, but I will miss these two. I do hope that they do an Ervie and hang around Port Lincoln at least sometimes. I still wonder what on earth caused Zoe to head inland into the desert. It made no sense. But then, much of her behaviour made no sense.”

At the time I am writing, Dad has delivered a partial fish to Mum and the boys. That is fantastic.

They are gorgeous – Gil and Brad.

These are the comparison weights provided by the observation board, Bart M for the PLO chicks:

Giliath (male) –   1445 grams

Bradley (male –  1390 grams

In comparison:

Zoe (female    –   1700 g

Ervie (male)    –   1380 g

Bazza (male)   –  1280 g

Falky (male)    –  1230 g

At Osprey House, George has delivered two fish – one for each fledgling!

‘H’ reports: ”Broken shell overnight first noticed around 0310 (very poor visibility).  Muhlady appeared to move the shell.  When cam view improved, it was evident.  No eaglet seen.  Maybe they will reclutch.  They have been mating.”

The question is this: why are these shells breaking? Is it humidity? were they viable to begin with? 

We should watch for Connie and Clive at Captiva Bald Eagle nest. The wind is picking up. Storms with heavy rain are expected over the weekend on the Barrier Islands in Florida. Let us hope that there is no hatch during this time. Renee posted this information on chat: “PIP WATCH: Starts Saturday Dec. 16, 2023. Due to some delayed incubation, we may not see a PIP until Sunday 17th or Monday 18th.” I would like for this to wait until nice weather not during a thunderstorm.

There are many nests without any eggs yet. Duke Farms is one of those. Dad went missing in the spring, and there is a new male.

The other is NE Florida, ‘The Hamlet’ home to Gabby and V3. These two were busy working on the nest and alerting against intruders.

Indeed, of the streaming cams, there are so many without eggs yet. We might enjoy the spacing this year and get to see those little bobbleheads developing at all stages.

Anna and Louis laid their first egg on the 9th of December. There has not been a second egg. It would have been laid on the 12th. Fingers crossed that this egg is good – especially because of Andria’s death and the loss of the two eggs at KNF-E-1. 

Alex continues to incubate his and Andria’s eggs. The female continues to bury them, and he digs them up. My heart aches for him. At the same time, please do not let these eggs hatch. The only way these eaglets could survive would be if the female visitor fully embraced motherhood. Remember, Harriet and M15’s chicks were at month old when Harriet disappeared last February at the SW Florida Bald Eagle nest.

Suzanne Arnold Horning is always looking out for Big Red and Arthur. This spring, Big Red will be 21 years young.

Plans to genetically engineer the Dodo back to life! Location: Mauritius.

Bird Guides announces, “An audacious plan between geneticists and conservationists to bring back the extinct Dodo has been announced.

Attempts to bring the species back to its former habitat in Mauritius are set to be led by US-based biotechnology and genetic engineering company, Colossal Biosciences, which is pursuing the ‘de-extinction’ of various other species.”

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If you missed the latest Condor Chat with Ventana Wildlife, here you go!

Could you fish in these conditions? Albatross do it every day in the roaring Southern Ocean.

Thank you so very much for being with me today. Take care. See you on Saturday!

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog today: ’A, H, J, L’, Sydney Sea Eagle Cam, Karen Long, PLO, Bart M, Heidi Mc, Osprey House, Superbeaks, Window to Wildlife, Ann Penury, Duke, NE Florida-AEF, KNF E-1, KNF E-3, Suzanne Arnold Horning, Bird Guides, Ventana Wildlife Society, and Holly Parsons.

SW Florida gets its second egg…Tuesday in Bird World

28 November 2023

Hello Everyone,

It was a crisp -15 this morning and has warmed to a balmy -10 C. The sky is ‘baby blue’, and the European Starlings have filled the bare branches of the lilacs. A new seed – especially for Jays – has massively attracted the Starlings.

The girls are napping after lunch. They have a pattern. Eat. Sleep. Eat. Sleep. Then 2130 comes, and it is ‘party’ time.

I am going to put this right up front. Many of you are living in areas where it is getting cold. The mice are coming in. Lots will decide to poison them. Please don’t. There are many reasons, and here is one recent study that might help you convince others not to use poison. I had a darling, sweet three-year-old cat that I had raised on a bottle die from eating a mouse that had consumed poison in one of my neighbour’s houses or sheds. It is a tragic way for any animal to die.

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SW Florida’s M15 and his new mate F23 have their second egg right on schedule. Now the two can begin hard incubation and we might be expecting a New Year’s baby!

The Pritchett’s will post the official time.

SK Hideaways caught the joyous occasion on video.

Checking the nest at Pittsburgh-Hays, Mum and the new male.

V3 delivered a food gift to Gabby. Well done you! But, if you were watching, V3 finally ate the squirrel.

Too funny not to include!

Eagle at Redding bringing in sticks….

Meanwhile in Louisiana, eggs are being rolled at the KNF-E3 nest of Alex and Andria.

Nine more days til hatch at Superbeaks. Gosh don’t you wish that cam was fixed just a little different for that side view? I can’t imagine only watching the tops of their heads.

It was a warm day for Connie and Clive at Captiva.

It was a bright day in Iowa with the snow still clinging to the ground and the nest at Decorah North.

It is chucking down rain in Port Lincoln, South Australia.

The rain appears to have stopped or slowed down at Port Lincoln.

Getting stronger on those legs, and look at how much those tail feathers have grown. 959 people watching. Fish fairies can be lucrative in the sense that any funds generated go directly back into the project which is fantastic – new platforms, satellite trackers, and fish!

At Orange, chat mentioned that a juvenile was seen flying at 08:32:51 to the MW (I haven’t got a clue what that refers to).

Diamond watching from the scrape.

Cilla made a video with music of a juvenile chasing Diamond at the tower. Oh, how grand.

Rohan Geddes got some shots of our White-bellied Sea Eagle juvie yesterday. Nice flying.

The two osplets at Osprey House really go after the fish when Dad arrives. It is a wonder he has any talons left.

Raising condors to save the species.

Looking at this lovely Condor baby! A little bit bigger than Hope but doing the same thing – following Mamma and copying her.

Ospreys in Spain in the winter. The Biosphere at Urdaibai.

Golden Eagle believed to have come to harm — another beaten grouse hunting estate. It is time this stopped. Can a bill – the Wildlife Management and Muirburn Bill – be passed in Scotland and not be watered down so that the culprits continue to get by with this senseless killing? Or will the bill get passed, and then the penalties for continuing to kill the birds be so small that it is laughable, and the gamekeepers will continue to stomp on chicks and shoot these beautiful adult raptors? Despicable. While leaf blowers get my friend ‘R’ really worked up, the stomping of chicks in a ground nest and the unnecessary shooting of raptors or the mass killing of ducks and geese at ponds makes my blood boil.

Just look at that beautiful eagle.

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That missing Golden Eagle was discovered to be from a very important estate in Scotland.

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Sharon Dunne brings us news from the Royal Albatross Colony.

Looking for some new nature books? Mark Avery just published Stephen Moss’s list for 2023. Have a look. You might find something interesting. Many of the books that I love have been recommended by Avery. This is my first time to see Moss’s list.

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These are the 47 books and their reviews of Avery during 2023. The Meaning of Geese continues to be one of my all-time favourite reads of this year, alongside The Comfort of Crows.

Pink-footed geese are part of the flocks that Nick Acheson so desperately wants to see in Norfolk. And just look at this:

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How many of you have that ‘bucket list’? Or do you have a Copy of 1000 places to visit before you die? I have only two events on my bucket list – to see the ospreys fly over Cuba near Manzanillo in the mountains during migration and to travel to Norfolk and see the geese before the climate changes so much. They stop spending the winter in the UK. Perhaps next year for both!

Thank you so very much for being with me today. Take care. Look forward to having you with me again soon.

I wish to thank the following for their notes, articles, photographs, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog today: ‘H’, Tufts Now, Carol Martucci Smith, SK Hideaways, PIX Cams, NEFL-AEF, FORE, KNF-E3, Superbeaks, Window to Wildlife, Raptor Resource Project, PLO, Charles Sturt Falcon Cam, Cilla Kinross, Osprey House, USFWS, Tim Huntington, Alan Petrie, Geemeff, Sharon Dunne, Rohan Geddes, Carol Shores Rifkin, Mark Avery, and Jake Fiennes.

Eagles are busy…Sunday in Bird World

26 November 2023

Good Morning Everyone,

I hope that you had a chance to get out for some time and enjoy yourself. Breathe in the fresh air and listen to some birds! It was nippy in Winnipeg. No snow but a crisp wind. So, keeping the vow to continue ‘moving’, I headed off to Assiniboine Park to the recently opened Leaf.

But before we get to the Leaf, awhile ago, I mentioned leaf blowers. My friend ‘R’ explained to me – the choir – how much he dislikes them. ‘R’, you are not alone! As the girls and I neared the end of The Comfort of Crows, Renkl’s chapter ‘How to Rake Leaves On a Windy Day’, reminded me of that conversation with R. She says, “Leaf blowers are like giant whining insects that have moved into your skull. They are swarming behind your eyes, drilling down Ito your teeth. Leaf blowers have ruined autumn with their Insistent drone and their noxious fumes, and they are everywhere. You may believe it is futile to resist then, but you can resist them. In almost every situation where something is loud, obnoxious, and seemingly ubiquitous, resistance is an option. Head to the toolshed in your backyard and fiddle with the rusty padlock until it finally yields. Reach into the corner where you keep the shovel and the posthole digger and the pruning shears. From that jumble of wonderful tools requiring no gasoline, pull out a rake…Leave the leaves lie everywhere it is possible to let the leaves lie. You aren’t trying for clean lines; you are trying only to pacify the angry neighbour who complained because some of your leaves blew into their yard. Leave the leaves in the flower beds. Leave them close to the house…When the birds return in springtime, these insects will be a feast for their nestlings. Whatever it might feel like on a damp November day, remind yourself that spring is coming.” She continues, “The leaves you let sit today will colder and rot through the winter, generating their own heat and protecting large trees and small creatures alike. Think of your desultory raking as a way to feed the trees, as an investment in an urban forest. If your neighbour complains again, tell them that you are feeding their trees.”…”Before you go inside, take a leaf into your head. Put it on your desk or next to your bed. Keep it nearby, through whatever troubles the long winter brings. It will help you remember that nothing is truly over. It will help you remember what the wind always teaches us in autumn: that just because you can’t see something doesn’t mean it isn’t there”. (241-43)

Moving to another Leaf.

So, today we are going to start off with something different. I am going to take you for a walk around The Leaf. It is at our zoo!

This is the Parks Department description of the four areas inside the glass building with some commentary running through by yours truly.

Hartley and Heather Richardson Tropical Biome

Visitors become immersed in the warmth and vibrancy of the Hartley and Heather Richardson Tropical Biome, where exotic plants and a balmy environment creates an oasis, particularly during the winter months. This rainforest-like paradise is brimming with tropical plants, bold textures and lush green colours. The largest of The Leaf’s planted spaces; it is home to Canada’s tallest indoor waterfall, a peaceful koi pond, and lush plant material from tropical regions of the world.

It was hot! Thank goodness the reception area recommended that everyone remove their heavy winter coats, hats, scarves, and gloves! People were happy, enjoying themselves. Looking at wonderful or sitting in quiet contemplation.

There was a time when everyone seemed to have a Prayer Plant in their collection of house plants.

Some of the very best Cacao I have ever tasted comes from the island of Grenada where my son lives. Deep, rich, and earthy chocolate.

The Chinese Hat Plant.

The Koi seem to have a wondrous pond.

Mediterranean Biome

The Mediterranean Biome is home to plants from regions known for their superb fruits, fine wines and abundant crops. Visitors are surrounded by plant life from climatic zones characterized by moist, cool winters and hot, dry summers including Greece and Italy, as well as South Africa, South West Australia, Central Chile and California. This biome hosts a memorable mosaic of colour, texture and fragrance that reaches its peak during the winter months. A welcoming seating area invites visitors to relax and enjoy the sights and smells of these fascinating plants. 

This area turned out to be my favourite because it was cooler than the Tropical area and also because they had the plants identified more clearly. As you enter, there was a long area (see below) of the herbs that grew so well in my garden this past summer – thyme, rosemary, mint.

What a gorgeous hibiscus this was. The one I have in the house – that goes in and out during the seasons – is pink. You can collect the flowers and make a very nice Hibiscus syrup or I have often added them to cakes – tiny chopped up bits of Hibiscus.

There are two other areas. One is a place for special floral displays and the other is the butterfly garden.

No one saw a single butterfly in the Butterly Garden. There are rumours that they flew out of the building by accident in the early fall. Perhaps, the call of migration was powerful.

The flower area was small but pretty. Would love to see it lit up at night!

It was a very nice afternoon.

We continue to wait to hear if little Greyish is available. We are approved for adoption but…the girls have slept most of the day. I caught Hope licking her incision. That is bad but, there is no way that she will wear a cone and unlike her Mamma, Calico, she will not let me get near enough to put antiseptic cream on the incision and olive oil. The trip to the vet caused her to go back weeks in terms of socialisation. It really did scare the wits out of her. Next time, when she needs her booster shots (in 3 weeks), the mobile vet will come to the house. The need for some cream on that tummy might mean that I have to toss the blanket on her and grab…I try not to do that because it is also stressful but, there is no way she is going to get an infection!!!!!!!!!

M15 got to see the first egg for him and F23. Today, he was caught bringing in a huge stick. He is going to make sure these babies do not fall out of that nest!

I know that each and every one of you is thrilled that M15 is going to get a chance to be a Dad again.

Pa Berry and Missey are working hard on their nest. Is it possible they could be next?

Gabby and V3 seem to have lined the entire nest with Spanish Moss. Just look at it. Think comfy. Now…let’s talk eggs.

There is good news coming from ND-LEEF. Lovely to see both Dad and the new female at the nest!

Looking for treats at Eagle Country…

Happy to see some stick moving at the nest of Jackie and Shadow at Big Bear on Saturday. Always good to see one or both at the nest.

Good night, Anna, and your two precious eggs at Kisatchie National Forest E-3.

Good night, Connie, at Captiva.

Good night, Muhlady. Just think. We are 12 days away from hatch!

At the NCTC nest of Bella and Smitty, Smitty has not been seen on the nest for 66 days – since 21 September. Feeling so sad for Bella. This nest has attracted many intruders with physical injuries over the past few years.

The Hancock Wildlife Foundation held its eagle count and the total was 1066 Bald Eagles. Wow.

Just look at the geese in New Jersey near the Barnegat Light Osprey nest! Oh, goodness. I would love to be there to listen to all their honking – or just to see them. I miss all the migrants once they leave Canada for their warmer winter homes.

Kestrels renewing their pair bonds in Germany.

The water at Port Lincoln looks quite calm. Mum and chicks are waiting for fish! Sometimes it seems that the life of a raptor is simply that – a life of waiting. Waiting for eggs to be laid, incubation, waiting for fish deliveries…waiting for it all to begin again.

The Fish Fairy arrives and saves the day with three fish. We get to see Giliath self feeding! They are growing up fast. Remember 8 December (that is Australian calendar/time) will be ringing, weighing, and putting on trackers. #2 will get its name.

Heidi Mc caught the fledgling/juvenile of Diamond and Xavier and its aborted landing in the scrape yesterday for us in video.

Falco, the Eurasian owl who escaped from the Central Park Zoo nine months ago, has made The Guardian in a story questioning whether or not the owl can survive in the Big Apple.

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Sadly, Glaslyn has lost one of its oldest female Ospreys. Blue 8C was the daughter of Ochre 11 (98), the last chick from the original male of the translocation project. Blue 8C fledged from Rutland at 53 days on the 8th of July 2014. She was almost ten years old when Jean-Marie Dupart found her injured, and when he returned to the beach area where she was to retrieve her, she had died. Condolences. She knew her route well between the UK and Senegal…so sad to hear of her passing.

One lucky falcon. So many injuries, rescues, and will be free again soon. Magnificent.

The crimes against raptors in the UK are largely linked to the large land estates associated with shooting parties. Will a younger generation turn on this medieval tradition amongst the aristocratic classes?

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A fun bird fact from ‘J’ today:

Roger Tory Peterson’s first painting was of a Blue Jay! And it was his favourite bird.
His seventh grade teacher brought a portfolio of The Birds of New York State by bird painter Louis Agassiz Fuertes. Each kid was given a small box of water colors and a color plate to copy. Peterson got the Blue Jay.

Thank you so much for being with me today. Please take care of yourself. Enjoy your Sunday — or whatever day it feels like. When you are retired, the days roll into one another! See you soon.

Thank you to the following for the comments, notes, videos, articles, screen captures, and posts that helped me to write my blog this morning: “J”, Margaret Renkl and her book, The Comfort of Crows, The Leaf, Janet Gray, Nancy Babineau, Berry College Eagle Cam, NEFL-AEF, Philippe Josse, Eagle Country, FOBBV, KNF-E3, Window to Wildlife, Superbeaks, Hancock Wildlife Foundation, Wildlife Conservancy of NJ, Michael Raege, The Guardian, Mary Cheadle and Jean-marie Dupart, Robin Stockfelt, and Raptor Persecution UK.