Category Archives: weather kills raptors

Good news at Fortis Exshaw…Friday in Bird World

14 July 2023

UPDATE: THE STORK NEST IS DIMITRI IN BELARUS NOT DMITRI IN RU. MY ERROR!

Good Morning Everyone,

It has been crazy weather with downpours and then suddenly the sun comes out. Great for the garden. The Blue Jays and Sparrows are good barometers of what is happening. They feed frantically before the black clouds and thunder roll in. Today, however, the Blue Jays frightened me – the new fledglings. They would simply not stop getting peanuts and flying despite the pouring rain. One sat on the neighbour’s roof and then flew – it was drenched and reminded me of Yurruga before it perished a year ago at Orange. I do wish they would just perch in the lilac bushes – and today, they could have waited with a Northern Cardinal! It was the first time I have seen a Cardinal in the garden – or, rather, the first time that I witnessed a Cardinal. The bushes are so thick it is impossible to see through them this time of year. My father used to call them ‘Red Birds’ and they would eat out of his hand – fascinated a young child.

In his new book, Reflections. What Wildlife Needs and How to Provide it, author Mark Avery, chooses to start with his back garden. Many of the most recent publications sitting on my desk or pre-ordered are written by well-known individuals who have specifically chosen to ponder the world’s fate through the lens of their own space and the birds they observe daily. Avery bemoans the loss of the Nightingale and its beautiful song at dusk or the Hedgehog while applauding the Red Kite reintroduction. It is a beautifully written book and every time I read someone else’s words about their own garden friends, I return to the view out of my conservatory that gives me so much joy. I hope that you do, too.

This image could be a better quality – apologies. It was starting to rain, and I had to try and miss those pink squares, but there is proof of the Cardinal in the lilacs – taking refuge there from the downpour. Cardinals are familiar birds in eastern and southeastern Canada, but they seem to visit central Canada more often, as the images posted on FB noted. I hope it is the new birdseed I am purchasing from a local farmer – it is all part of a plan to try and exist 90% local and without plastic.

You can see the big drops of water hanging from the branches. it really was a torrential downpour.

The Blue Jays are so fantastic. The little one that sat on the two garden ornaments and made a nest is distinctive and he loves to eat grain, not peanuts – and he loves to splash about in the bird bath. I adore him. Notice that his crest is black with a few light blue steel grey feathers in the front. I can spot him from the others instantly.

One of the adults moulting.

This one loves the peanuts and he is wet from the rain. They must have a spotting scope because the minute I put out fresh peanuts they are there!

This one was not happy with one of Dyson’s kits who wanted a peanut, too.

Recently fledged sparrows are everywhere. If ever there was an explosion of a species in the garden, it is them!

Besides spending much time just observing the behaviour of everyone in the garden and ticking off the list to make sure everyone was accounted for, I went off to the English Garden at our local zoo. The plan was to check on the local Cooper’s Hawk nest but there were so many people in the area that the hawks were silent.

That was not the case with the goslings that I had seen a couple of weeks ago. Someone had given them ‘bread’ despite the signs all over the area and they were fighting for it. Silly waterfowl.

The gosling day care still exists even though the goslings might think they are very independent.

Drying off after coming out of the water.

Then someone began to throw bread and the young ones immediately grabbed it and fled to the water chased by others.

It was quite the afternoon watching everyone.

I did not spend a lot of time watching the nests today. So my report is rather short but I want to start with one nest that both ‘H’ and I have been watching. The news is good this morning coming for Fortis Exshaw. ‘H’ writes, “

Louise brought fish to the nest at 0630, 0750, 0849, 1249, 1545, 1603, 1818, and 1958.  Wow!  In addition to that, a male Osprey gifted a partial fish at 0856, which Louise accepted.  Wow!  There was some minor intimidation from Big toward Middle at the early feeding, otherwise the feedings were tranquil, and both chicks’ crops were stuffed all day.  I noticed something interesting regarding the issue of osplets having a feeling of ‘food security’ when adequate fish are brought to a nest, vs the awful aggression that is a manifestation of ‘food insecurity’ felt by the dominant osplet when food is scarce.  When there is plenty of food for a couple of days, the dominant chick starts to relax.  S/he no longer tries to eliminate a food competitor by prevent the sibling from eating, because it no longer feels that it may starve to death.  But, what struck me watching the Exshaw nest yesterday was that the establishment of harmony at mealtimes may be a two-way street.  The non-dominant chick also starts to relax, knowing that it will survive because of the ample availability of food.  The non-dominant chick at Exshaw, ‘Middle’, simply started to hang back and wait at feedings, and let ‘Big’ eat first.  Not only was Big more relaxed because of the amount of food available, but Middle was more relaxed as well.  This enabled Middle to become more accepting of his hatch-assigned place in the pecking-order, and by not so much as even trying to get a bite of fish and potentially annoying ‘Big’ early in a feeding, Middle aided his own cause.  It’s all about the food.  But, we already knew that.It seems that Louise may have some help.  A male osprey (that I believe was the same one she chased off the nest twice on 7/12), landed on the nest four times.  At his first visit he gifted Louise a partial fish, and she accepted it.  She fed some to the kids and ate some of it herself.  Also at that first visit, the male moved a couple of sticks, and defended the nest.  The male osprey also vocally defended the nest at a couple of his other brief visits to the nest.  At his last visit he was even more vocal toward an unseen intruder, and he flew off chasing said intruder.”—————-

It sure seems like there could be a pot of gold at the end of Louis’s rainbow and for this nest. This is fantastic. I will suggest that Louise accepting the new male indicates that she was well aware – from the beginning – that Jasper is no longer with us.

For those wondering, the new male is not Jasper. The head markings are entirely different.

Both osplets fledged from the nest of Laddie LM12 and Blue NC0 at Loch of the Lowes Thursday morning. The little male flew first – gosh, what a joy that was – and the sister a little later.

I adore Mini. Mini gives me hope and every day that s/he self-feeds a little better gives joy. These days with her on the nest and adults making sure she is fed just is glorious. Today there was a goldfish just for Mini!

Trying to work those wings in a crowd.

Minnesota Landscape: I did not see a whole lot of fish being delivered but the little one is being fed. The rain came to the nest about the same time it began in Winnipeg!

Cowlitz PUD: My continued worry about this nest are the eagles in the area. I hope the protective guards work and that fish continue to come in. If you check on this nest, use the overhead cam view.

Boulder County: Doing Great.

The Bridge Golf Club: Both parents are now fishing and supplying the nest. There were 7 fish deliveries on Thursday. Both chicks doing well.

Charlo Montana: Continues to be offline.

First District Utility: Camera is frozen.

Collins Marsh: Everything is excellent.

Moorings Park: Victor went to bed without the usual fish form Harry. Several times today Victor was caught on camera diving trying to get a fish. Please send this wonderful fledgling all your good luck so that he can get his own fish! He needs to get this well in hand, and now is the time to be practising. Victor, you can do this! (I do wish someone would dump about 20,000 fish in that pond so he had some chance of success!)

Janakkalan: Both osplets doing well.

Dyfi: Both are flapping and hopping.

Glaslyn: Things look fine.

Alyth: Lots of good fish deliveries.

Now let’s get to those other reports by ‘H’:

Kent Island – “The big story is a new arrival to the nest.  Audrey gifted her little chick a stuffed pink octopus!  The nest owner has named the stuffie ‘Molly’.”

Barnegat Light – Daisy delivered one of her specialty bluefish, as hubby Duke was chillin’ out lying next to his kiddo.  At 44 days of age, 09/N is growing up fast.

Severna Park – After #2 fledged in the morning, she skidded to a landing on the nest 5 1/2 hours later.  Well done fledgling! 

Forsythe – There were only two fish brought to the nest on 7/13, both by Opal.  Oscar did not come to the nest.  Opal came to the nest several other times throughout the day, but arrived empty taloned.  There were also only two fish delivered on 7/12, one each by Opal and Oscar, but the first fish was so large that Opal made three feedings out of it.  The mid-Atlantic area has been suffering from a heat wave for a few days, which may be making fishing more difficult as the fish seek cooler, deeper waters.  The siblings are 52 and 53 days old. 

Audubon Boathouse – Life is splendid at the Boathouse platform. Little Skipper is 34 days old.

‘H’ also checked in on McEuen Park in Idaho. Look at how big those three osplets are! Fantastic. Thanks so much, ‘H’.

Waiting word on Dmitri’s surgery. Before he went into hospital, he built a new place for the storklet that he rescued. Incredible man.

For our education – an article on the importance of water and agriculture to our planet and to our birds from the British Ornithological Trust. Indeed, one of the biggest detriments to the stability of our wildlife is the changing methods in agriculture over the past two centuries including deforestation and the use of pesticides and herbicides.

Agriculture-and-nature-inevitably-intertwined-BirdLife-InternationalDownload

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

Thank you so much to ‘H’ for her continued monitoring and to the following for their posts, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog this morning: Fortis Exshaw, Mary Cheadle and Friends of Loch Arkaig Ospreys, PSEG, MN Landscape Arboretum, Cowlitz PUD, Boulder County Fair Grounds, The Bridge Golf Club, Collins Marsh, Moorings Park, Janakkalan and Finnish Osprey Foundation, Dyfi Osprey Project, Bywyd Gwylld Glaslyn, Alyth, Kent Island, Conserve Wildlife of New Jersey, Severna Park, Forsythe ospreys, Audubon Boathouse, McEuen Park, BTO, and Dmitri Storks.

Nest Round up. Late Thursday in Bird World

6 July 2023

Hello Everyone,

As promised, a quick round-up of what is happening at our nests today. I hope this finds you all well. It is nearly the end of the week and now it also is beginning to feel like July will fly by.

Cowlitz PUD: The fish are coming. I wish a few great big ones would land on this nest. The chick is growing like a bad weed and if you look carefully you can tell that this little one is nearly the size of Mum.

Collins Marsh: Everything is fine at Collins Marsh. Two nice growing osplets.

Minnesota Landscape Arboretum: The chick has lost its fluff and that head is pure Reptilian. A nice early fish came in and Mum fed the wee one after it scrambled to get up to the rim of the nest. At first I thought, oh, no, she is going to eat it all and not feed the chick. Wrong.

Boulder County Fair Grounds: These two parents continue to work together to feed and shade their three growing chicks. What a great nest this has become after the initial sidelining of the third hatch.

Patchogue: Big was on the perch and it looks like everyone is doing alright. Mini has been eating and eating and doing some wing flapping along with the others. ‘M’ mentioned some concerns in chat that Mini was sneezing between 0757 and 0800 and was concerned if this was true. As it turns out Mini was being fed by Mum the entire time (and at least 15 minutes prior). Mini seemed to just eat and eat today. She is growing but needs that tail longer to fly and from the look in her eyes, she really wants to fly when she sees Big hover to the perch!

The Fabulous Four from Patchogue!

Sandpoint: The second egg did not hatch and the first is a right little reptile! Seems to be doing quite well.

Outerbanks: Doing great. Fledglings return to the nest. Just perfect! I was, however, horrified, when ‘A’ sent me an image from the 4th of July where fireworks went off near to the nest…on the water under??? I do not know anything about fireworks regulations but this should not be allowed. The area should be restricted so as not to disturb the nest.

On behalf of all of us, I will write to the individuals that run the camera and see what they know and if this behaviour can be stopped. I understand from ‘L’ that it is possible in the tourist areas along the coast to have fireworks once a week, not just on holidays. Can you see me shaking my head?

‘L’ asked me if there was a way to send donations from outside RU to Dmitri who rescued the little fifth stork and cared for it so that it is big and strong. As you might recall, Dmitri has prostrate cancer and is looking for assistance to get the surgery quickly. It is scheduled for 12 July. This is the link that I was given for donations to be sent: https://www.donationalerts.com/r/storks40

There is some more sadness. The last of the three osplets of the Great Bay nest has died. That storm just keeps on giving and it isn’t good.

But there is also good news elsewhere…after the third hatch died of siblicide at The Bridge Golf Club, the camera went offline. It was feared that the storms that caused such deaths at other nests such as Great Bay also impacted the two older chicks here. Well, guess what? Just look at those two older ones! Isn’t that wonderful? I can hardly believe my eyes.

Here are the nests that ‘H’ has been monitoring – thanks so much, H.

Dahlgren – Jack and Harriet’s kids are doing great.  There were at least 5 fish delivered by Jack on 7/5, and both chicks are doing some self feeding (49 and 45 days old)

Osoyoos – There is a good supply of fish coming to the nest, and the little ones are being well cared for by Mom and Dad (Soo and Olsen ?).  Ages 10 and 9 days old.

Forsythe – They had 11 fish delivered to the nest on 7/5, and Opal delivered 4 whoppers.  A little joke is that Oscar fishes from the ‘kiddie pool’, lol, but Oscar did deliver a pretty big fish at 1344.  The chicks are 45 and 44 days old.

Barnegat Light – Life is good for Duke, Daisy and 09/N.  Daisy brought a smooth dogfish shark to the nest, yummy!  We are still awaiting a name for their 36 day old youngster.

Kent Island – There were at least 6 fish delivered by Tom that I saw.  Audrey and Tom’s little kiddo is 24 days old, and would like to have a name!

Audubon Boathouse – The sun finally shone brightly at the nest of Skiff and Dory after several gloomy days.  At 26 days old, little Skipper is growing like a weed.

Severna Park – Olivia and Oscar sure did haul in some large fish on 7/5  Big did not fledge on 7/5, perhaps today is the day.  Ages of the sibs: 59 and 58 days old.

The UK nests are fine and I will look closer at them tomorrow. We will close with a video by Gracie Shepherd of Thunder, Akechets, Scout, and 39D soaring. Enjoy.

Thank you so much for being with me this evening for this quick check on some of the nests. Take care. See you soon!

I want to thank the following for their notes, videos, posts, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog this evening: ‘A, H, L, M, T’, Cowlitz PUD, Collins Marsh, MN Landscape Arboretum, Boulder County Fair Grounds Ospreys, PSEG, Sandpoint Ospreys, Outerbanks 24/7, Great Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Bridge Golf Club, Dahlgren Ospreys, Osoyoos, Forsythe, Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ, Kent Island, Audubon Boathouse.

Coming to Grips with the loss…Sunday in Bird World

25 June 2023

Good Morning Everyone!

My colleague ‘H’ tells me that storm system over the NE US was the ‘gift that just kept giving’. And it did. Now that the skies are clear all of the volunteers can go out and get a sense of what has happened at the unmonitored nests. The loss was significant but now it is time to pull up our proverbial ‘boots’ or socks and wish those nests that did have survivors the absolute best. Watch them and cheer them on, please! They went through an awful time.

Today has been the worst day for me. The sheer toll of the loss has only sunken in, and the after-effects on the nests will linger – the chicks worrying that it could happen again. I am so grateful to have the garden animals and Lewis and Missey. Dyson is looking so much better these days.

We have a couple of giggles/surprises for the morning. The first one comes from the Glaslyn nest in Wales. If you are a Crow, do not, under any circumstances, land on the nest of Aran and Elen. You might live to regret it. Here is Aran flying in with a fish. Elen has been vocalising since the Crow landed on the perch. Aran took the Crow ‘out’ with the fish and even kept hold of it to take to the nest…ah, isn’t he wonderful?

The second is from Mary Cheadle who has the most extraordinary screen capture of Louis and Dorcha’s osplet.

In the UK, the word on everyone’s lips is ‘ringing’. All of the chicks are getting their bling right now. Let’s take a look and see what happened.

Llyn Clywedog: It is hardly a surprise to say that those two beautiful osplets of Dylan and Blue 5F Seren are boys. Seren has had 8 boys and 1 girl.

Manton Bay: Blue 33 and Maya had three chicks this year – two girls and a boy. The first hatch is a girl and is 3H3. The middle hatch was a boy, 3H4, and the third hatch was a girl, 3H5. They said they would release more details later. There they are with their new bling. What beautiful babes.

Family portrait at Rutland:

Looking for another Osprey nest to watch in the US? The Iowa nests are currently doing well. The weather so far (although there are storms brewing tonight) has been favourable.

This is the Wells Fargo DNR nest in Des Moines. Go to iowadnr.gov

Conner at Window to Wildlife is helping rebuild the Dulles-Greenway Eagle Nest. Way to go!

Two of our favourite Black Stork fledglings, Waba and Bonus (the foster chick of Jan and Jannika on Karl II and Kaia’s nest in 2022) are on the move:

The latest news on Tweed Valleys Glen:

Good news is coming in from South Bend, Indiana.

News about the 2 chicks that fell out of the Great Bay Osprey nest:

The current sadness is Finnish Osprey Nest #3 where the Mum is missing and the Dad has loaded the nest with fish but he is not feeding the chicks. They are hungry and fish crying and are not old enough to self feed. It is hard to watch three healthy chicks starve to death on a nest full of fish.

At Patchogue, Mini has eaten. There are rumours abounding that Mini is not being fed. It is true that Mini is not getting the amount of fish it did a week ago. The Big ones are self-feeding and are up at the beak but Mini has eaten. We just have to wait and see how it pans out. Mini ate from 1330-1336 and then again beginning at 1418 for an unspecified time. He had some fish in the early morning. Again, how much I cannot tell because Mum blocked the view. Please send good positive energy to this nest! Mini is growing. Look at the feather development below. Mini is flapping its wings after eating!

We just must wish for lots of fish.

Mini is eating at 0511!

There have been expressed concerns about the female’s behaviour at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Osprey nest. I am copying the posting made on FB. Also, we have seen first time mothers – regardless of the species – struggle to figure out their new role. Fathers, too. At the falcon nest, Monty wanted to feed the egg! We worried about Soledad…well, she was an only eyas and the three of them certainly managed to figure it out. Let us all hold our breath and hope that this new Mum does, too. She has three little ones on the nest.

I was also reminded by Geemeff today of the phrase ‘wildlife commodification’. Earning money off the wildlife. There is a set of nests that will not be in my blog net year – I will follow them for the data but will not promote them – because of their actions recently. Nests are not to be disturbed. Taking tours to see nests should only take place at a great distance using a scope. You will know the nest I am talking about and the circumstances if you have read my blog in the last couple of days. Animals and raptors have rights. We must respect them.

OK. Off the soap box. A whirl around the nests!

Seaside: both osplets are well fed, growing and doing wonderfully.

Great Bay: A few dominance issues.

Severna Park: some rain, fish, and self-feeding. The two chicks are doing well.

Outerbanks 24/7: Three beautiful osplets, nice fish. All is good.

Chesapeake Conservancy, Tom and Audrey: There were early concerns about new Audrey feeding her chick. She figured it out. ‘H notes that Tom brought six fish to the nest on Saturday.

Maryland Western Shore for Old Town Home: Two beauties flapping their wings. Gorgeous sunset.

All is well at Boulder County Fairgrounds. The two adults appear to work so well together making sure that Little gets fed.

Moraine Preservation Fund: Seems to be quite enough fish and all three doing well.

Cowlitz PUD: Doing great! Chick is getting its feathers…

Forsythe: Oscar is on a mission. Huge fish at 17:15 along with all the others. Two surviving chicks out of four but, despite this, as ‘H’ notes: “
I saw this once yesterday, and so far twice today.  Big has started to push Middle, to the point that Middle has very nearly gone overboard a couple of times.” The stress of the days without food and seeing your siblings die around you has a profound impact on these birds.

Barnegat Light: Daisy continues to hope and wait for Duke’s return. Even then, she is out fishing for her and her only surviving Bob. She has removed the body of Little but brooded Middle. I cannot imagine the sadness that these females are feeling or the sheer mental stress of them and the chicks. So sad but so proud of Daisy and her determination to keep herself and this one chick alive.

Many of you have expressed sheer exasperation about the plight of the ospreys during the storm not least of all Barnegat Light. K notes, “

I was just thinking about Barnegat Light and how initially I was happy to watch a nest be monitored by a nature CONSERVATION. Key word conserve. They are meant to preserve not slowly watch them all suffer to death for online views and not provide them assistance when they are suffering. We vow to protect these animals and we are not helping them in the easiest way we can – providing food. There is a responsibility when setting up a camera and we should take it seriously. 

‘L’ was heart broken beyond words.

Dahlgren: ‘H’ reports that all is well.

Fortix Exshaw: ‘H’ observed “I found fish delivered by Jasper at 0543, 0631, 1041, 1638, and 1821.  There may have been others.  There were more feedings however.  Louise does save leftovers, she hides them inside the nest cup, and pulls them out for additional feedings.  The nest cup is deep, and Louise lays the leftover fish vertically down the side.  She broods her leftovers, lol.  I have seen her do this several times.  At 0631, there was a dual feeding! I want to follow this nest more closely, to make sure Little is getting fed.  The visibility varies from day to day.”

  

The wait is finally over! After wondering what was happening on the Durbe nest of Milda and Voldis (the camera was totally covered), we now see that there are two beautiful White Tail Eaglets on the Latvian WTE nest. I am so happy for Milda! She lost her earlier mate and suffered two unsuccessful years of breeding. Now success! This is a cause for celebration. Look at those two beautiful eaglets.

Kathryn asked me about intruders and the harm that they might do. Here is a good example.

Intruder storks attacking a nest in Germany.

In Tukums, Latvia, the three white storklets are doing so well now that the rains came and there is food.

Look at the crops on the three storklets of Karl II and Kaia! My goodness. Was so worried about this nest.

Bety and Bukacek’s four are so big and so healthy looking. They will be ready for migration, no problem.

Thank you so much for being with me today. Please send your positive wishes to all of the nests so that those that have suffered or are suffering might get some relief today. Take care. See you soon!

Thank you to the following for their notes, videos, posts, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog today: ‘Geemeff, H, K, L, L, T, Bywyd Gwylld Glaslyn, Mary Cheadle and Friends of Loch Arkaig osprey FB, CarnyXWild, LRWT, Iowa DNR/Wells Fargo, Window to Wildlife, Maria Marika FB, @Jane Dell, WNDU, Carol Craig and Osprey Friends, Finnish Osprey Foundation, PSEG, MN Landscape Arboretum, Seaside Ospreys, Great Bay Ospreys, Severna Park, Outerbanks 24/7 Chesapeake Conservancy, Maryland West Shore for Old Town Home, Boulder County Fair Grounds, Moraine Park, Cowlitz PUD, Forsythe Ospreys, Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ, Dahlgren, Fortis Exshaw, Sassa Bird, Storchennest Kirchzarlen, Latvian Fund for Nature, Eagle Club of Estonia, and Mlady Buky Stork Cam.

Black Friday runs into Saturday, Mini eats…Bird World

24 June 2023

Hello to Everyone,

It has been a very rough two days. In the six years, I have been monitoring nests for siblicide – and the many before that where I was observing behaviour – I have never had a spate of osplet deaths as we have seen in the past couple of weeks. Chicks dying for unknown reasons and now dying of starvation because of a storm. More chicks will die before Saturday morning and everyone is going to sleep with a very heavy heart.

There are many things that my father taught me by his example. My earliest memory was always helping those that were unable to help themselves. It did not matter if it was the birds, the stray cats and the dogs that people knew to leave because he would care for them and find homes or people. So, no one got in a boat, or a car to place fish on those osprey nests is beyond me. My only alternative tonight was to ensure all the garden animals were overfed. It is essential to stop, take a breath, and care for those that are nearby and need your help. So, this weekend, in memory of all the little ones that were lost, put out a water bowl, fill up a feeder, clean up human debris. While we mourn the lost ones, we need to remember to focus on those that are living. Their lives are as precariously balanced on the thinnest of wires and your generosity could save their family!

Before we start with todays news, I want everyone to have a ‘feel-good’ story to stay with them during some of the tragedies. Enjoy! Who knew that a laundry basket could bring such happiness?

And, yes, we are going to need a lot more happiness today…look at these two beautiful fledglings from the new West End nest of Thunder and Akecheta….but, wait. They are at the old nest! No worries. An adult was over on Tor keeping an eye. Gorgeous. And both seem to have crops.

I want to give a shout out to Louis at Loch Arkaig. As Geemeff says, Every nest could use a Louis’. No mater the weather, nothing stops him from getting fish on that nest.

Louis does it again Saturday morning.

When we hear of Black Friday, it is now most often associated with a shopping frenzy but, for me, the 22-23 June will now be the day that so many osplets died in a climate situation in the NE of the United States. The true toll will not be known until Saturday or Sunday on the streaming cams. The females who have kept their chicks warm and dry and watched them die have not eaten either. We could also lose them! I do not understand why the businesses and the wildlife associations that run the cameras are not prepared to step in and provide fish. Are not the frequency and severity of these storms signalling something to do with human-induced climate change?

Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ offered this explanation of the weather system that has caused such a catastrophic loss on the nests in the region – and to them, this is catastrophic having their entire family wiped out.

At Barnegat Light, after more than 60 hours, a fish came on the nest at 14:31:39. It appears that Daisy went fishing…she is wet. Will they all survive? We must wait to see. Big ate and so did Daisy – she has to. Middle was shut out and he has now not eaten (as of this fish delivery) for 53 hours. Duke has not been seen since yesterday afternoon and it is thought that he might be trying to find fish elsewhere – I think he has been injured in the storm and is MIA.

The tears are pouring…sadly, the fish came too late for Little Bob. Hopefully, Daisy will get more fish – and she did. She brought in another at 15:23. She has brought in two fish Saturday morning but Middle is too ill to eat. Middle is dying. Daisy has done amazing work and it looks like she might be able to keep herself and Big alive. How said that Middle is unable to eat some of that fish because Big is full.

Oscar has been bringing small fish for Opal and the two osplets at Forsythe. Anything helps – and ‘H’ noted that Oscar had 7 fish on the nest on Friday in difficult fishing conditions. It appears, however, that we will lose chick 3, Little. Mini has already passed and 3 was just barely alive at 19:38 on Friday and was not seen eating. It now appears that three has died leaving Dad Oscar, Mum Opal, and Owen and Ollie. With some luck, the oldest two might survive.

‘H’ reports on Forsythe for Saturday morning: “Bless dear Oscar, how stressful the previous days of bad weather must have been for him, knowing that his family depended on him, and he was not able to provide.  Seems like he is trying to make up for it now, 8 fish deliveries before 9 am!” After a bit both of the chicks ate…this is good. These two might survive.

Not particularly happy with what is happening at Patchogue. Mini ate well on Wednesday and had some fish Thursday morning but those huge crops of the previous weeks are gone. The three big siblings are now up and eating first thing in the morning and Mini is often shut out. Let us hope that the good fishing returns.

Mini appears to continue to be shut out of fish. Will Dad bring a late night one so our Mini can eat? He will desperately need fish on Saturday if this keeps up.

It is a miserable Saturday at Patchogue but Mini was fed by Mum at 0824. Tears like the rain.

Severna Park was really wet, also. All the nests are getting some residues of that storm. Both seem to have eaten but the fish do not appear to be coming as regularly today.

The fish are small and are few but, thankfully, there is only one chick and the Cowlitz PUD osprey nest might just have a fledge this year when other nests have none. That is almost shocking.

The two osplets at the Great Bay Osprey platform in Greenland, New Hampshire, are eating some nice fish and doing well.

The Outerbanks had a nice big flat fish come in!

Oyster Bay appears to be OK. There is some problem with submission but the fish seem to be coming in.

Boulder County Fair Grounds is alright, too. The little one had a nice big crop as the sun was going down.

Mum fed Dad some of the fish before the chicks were fed. This is a sweet nest.

The large female and male of Laddie and Blue NC0 were ringed a few days ago. The female is Blue PF4 and came in at a hefty 1.85 kg, while the little male weighed 1.2 kg and is Blue PF5.

Three healthy chicks on the Osprey nest in Spain at the Urdaibai Biosphere.

Good News is coming out of Minnesota-

The Peregrine falcon scrape at Topeka Kansas has proven to be a bit of a mystery. The older siblings fledged a week or a bit ago. The third hatch – which appears to be developmental slow in getting its feathers – and appeared to have a problem with its eyes is beginning to look more like a falcon. It is not clear how much prey is brought to it on a daily basis but I will continue to call for an intervention if the adults are not delivering several food items a day…

Lady Hawk caught M15 and his lady friend at the pond! Some good news…and also, there is news that E22 was also seen at the pond at 1620 Friday. Life is good at SW Florida on the Pritchett Property.

Soledad is one of the fiercest Peregrine Falcons I have seen! Here she defends the scrape and she can only have thought that Monty was an intruder!

M1 returned to the nest when prey was delivered. All is well at the Red-tail hawk nest of Big Red and Arthur – it is perfect that she is flying so well and going on and off to the trees and buildings building up her skills. M2 fledged Friday leaving M3 on the nest alone Friday night.

Flying is hard work.

M2s fledge:

Deyani has been returning to the nest of Tom and Angel to get prey items, too. She has been following the adults when she sees them from her behaviour.

Other heartbreaking news. A goshawk has taken 2 of the 4 storklets off the Black Stork nest of Noteka and Nutka in the Noteka Forest in Poland.

In a freak event, the eldest goshawk at RSPB Loch Garten goshawks attacked the youngest, Mini 4, when a large prey item was delivered and killed its sibling. I have never seen this happen at a hawk nest.

After a horrific year of deaths due to HPAI, Sunnie Day reports that Bald Eagles in Georgia are on the rebound.

The latest BTO News came in the post today. There are many great articles, one is an opinion piece by Nick Acheson. He is the author of The Meaning of Geese. In all that he does – and Acheson does a lot- it is because of climate change that he says he wants to know that he has a clear conscience and has done his utmost to mitigate the climate crisis. ” I will have tried. At least I will have tried”. He has been a Vegetarian since childhood; he has given up animal products altogether, doesn’t drive, takes the bus, or uses his bicycle. He never flies anymore, and this young man could earn lots of money on the lecture circuit. He lives in a small Flint house in Norfolk that he also refuses to heat. Check out Nick’s website at http://www.themarshtit.com

Acheson believes that our window for doing something is closing fast – after 40 years of warnings. What I like about him is that he is unwilling to give up!

Nick’s worries are borne out by an article in The Guardian today but, they also show us that with a major effort we can turn some things around.

Ecological-tipping-points-could-occur-much-sooner-than-expected-study-finds-Environment-The-GuaDownload

Thank you so much for being with me today. When it all gets too much, take a deep breath. Spend time with your pet, sit outside, and listen to the birds. We all get overwhelmed, especially when we want to do something to help and can’t. Take care of yourself. Amid the mourning, there is much joy, and now it is time to also celebrate that! See you soon.

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, and streaming cams that helped to make up my blog today: ‘Geemeff, H, L, SP, and T’, Nick Beres NC5, IWS/Explore, Geemeff and the Woodland Trust, Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ, Forsythe Ospreys, PSEG, Severna Ospreys, Cowlitz PUD, Great Bay Ospreys, Outer Banks 24/7, Boulder County Fair Grounds Ospreys, LOTL and the Woodland Trust, Evergy Topeka, Lady Hawk and SW Florida Eagle Cam, SK Hideaways and San Jose City Hall Falcons, Cornell RTH, Window to Wildlife, Sunnie Day, The Guardian, BTO, and Twin Cities Metro Osprey Watch.