It was a bit of a cool Sunday on the Canadian Prairies, but we managed our first extensive walk at the nature centre of the spring. The trails were half snow and half ice with the geese gathering at Devonian Lake.
Goose prints on a small pond.
Nearer to home, there were ‘four’ grey squirrels announcing spring had arrived along with the two reds. Both Crows were present as were the Blue Jays. It felt good seeing them all in the garden filling themselves with cat kibble, peanuts, black oil seed, and cracked corn.
‘AM’ sent me this glorious image of spring’s arrival in Japan and graciously allowed me to share it with all of you. There is nothing more beautiful than the first blossoms of spring whether they are the cherry blossoms in Japan or the crocus popping its head up out of the snow in Manitoba. I cannot wait! Thank you so much, ‘AM’.
On the campus of Cornell University, Big Red laid her first egg of the 2025 season on the 27th of March and her second on on Sunday, the 30th. https://youtu.be/ZO-_WY0dmXA?
Big Red hatched in Brooktondale, New York, a mere seven miles from the Cornell Campus in the spring of 2003. She was ringed in October of that same year. It is not clear how many eggs Big Red has laid or chicks that have fledged. She has been ‘on camera’ since 2012 but she would have been breeding well before that – in fact, probably seven years prior she would have had her first fledge.
Her current mate is Arthur. When Big Red bonded with Arthur, he did not even have his red tail, but he proved to be a great provided wooing her with his squirrel deliveries. Cornell All about Birds says, “The male, Arthur, was named in honor of the founder of the Cornell Lab, Arthur A. Allen. He was first spotted on Cornell University campus as a fledgling in 2016. He is unbanded and has a paler chest, head, and nape than Big Red. The pair first spent time together in April 2017, after Big Red’s previous mate, Ezra, had died. The hawks completed their first breeding season together in 2018.”
Her previous mate was Ezra.
Big Red is internationally known. She is so loved.
Bald Eagles:
Big Bear Valley: They could not be cuter even with their blood feathers growing in. Two little miracles. Look at that chrome yellow gape (the corner of the mouth). You want to see a bright yellow-orange known as chrome yellow. Look at the feet of the adults, too. The deeper in colour, the more healthy the eagles. These two have their thermal down with the cutest of hints at their nestling life in the form of the dandelions still remaining on the top of their heads.
Little Miami Conservancy: There are now two hatches with some bonking going on within the nest!
WRDC: R7 fledged Saturday. BOGS caught sight of him/her later perched on a nearby pine tree.
News has come to me that the Bald Eagles in Alaska are starting to nest. We will be keeping an eye on the Glacier Gardens nest.
‘J’ writes: “The first of the three Centerport chicks hatched on the 29th.
Llyn Clywedog: Gorgeous Seren 5F sent Dylan into doing a loud sky dance on her arrival over the weekend. Geemeff comments, “Dylan arrived on the nest at 15.34, then must have seen Seren in the distance because he suddenly flew off and loud skydancing was heard nearby before she landed at 15.36.
Boulder County Fairgrounds: Mum and new male are on the nest.
Moorings Park: Ozzie is one of the cutest and sweetest little osplets. Feathers coming in. Full crop!
MNSA Koolpix Osprey Nest: First egg of the 2025 season laid on Sunday.
Collins Marsh Osprey Cam: Their FB posting says: “Osprey cam update…yes this is the current view of the camera…the inside of the tower! This past week the camera was brought down for maintenance, and in the coming days a new mount will be installed to help us maintain it for years to come. The birds will be back soon, last year they arrived on April 6th, so keep watching!”
Osprey House Environmental Centre, Australia: Parents George and Hope and their 2024 fledgling Marina were on the nest on Sunday together.
Rocky Lake/Waverley, Nova Scotia: Both ospreys are back.
Severna Park: First egg of the 2025 breeding season has been laid.
Balgavies Loch: An osprey has arrived. No confirmation of identity.
Wensleydale Osprey Platform: An osprey is there!
Heidi reports:
3/31 – Barnegat Light osprey nest: Duke arrived at the nest this morning, on the same date that he returned last year. Hey there, Duke!
Other Birds:
The Black Storks are reaching their nests in Estonia – and I hope they will also be arriving safely in Latvia, soon. Kergu is due to arrive at his nest today! Looduskalender Forum gives us the following information on this magnificent Black Stork: “Kergu Black Stork nest was found in 2022, but it has been there for longer. Probably even fallen down, and rebuilt again on the branches of the same aspen tree. During installation of camera I noticed that nest is only partly supported by the branches, so added some kind well visible exoskeleton to keep it more stabile (perhaps). In the end of March 2024 it seems quite good, but still, not fully safe.
Nest site is situated in Pärnu county, near wind farm development area. That was the reason to track Kergu, male stork who nested here last year, as well as reason to install webcam. There are proposed some mitigation measures, like preparing better feeding conditions in other sectors of home range. Hopefully results of those measures will be visible also through webcam in time. The measures are at the moment in planning stage, yet. So if somebody has ideas for mitigation measures in that situation, those would be valuable to analyse in current situation.
Kergu has rings (incl. left leg 7047) since childhood, he has been ringed in 2011 as one of three chicks in nest situated about 10 km of current Kergu nest. Three chicks fledged in Kergu nest in 2022 and they were in good condition during ringing. Female in this nest we did not know, most probably she was without of rings. In 2023, here we did not see female in nest. Kergu refreshed nest properly, few times neighbour male Nurme visited the nest as well as not ringed immature individuals. But in general Kergu was in nest alone, listening neighbour bird species, like woodland owls, passerines, etc.”
The nest is waiting! Pictures by Urmas.
Latvian Golden Eagle: Spilve laid her second egg on Sunday.
Port Lincoln Ospreys: “Ervie has been checking out the northern end of Boston Island but always returns to the main wharf to sleep.”
“Giliath obviously loves the town life as he just doesn’t want to go anywhere else.”
“Kasse also loves the town life of Tumby Bay”
Wilko is MIA. They are hoping he will check in soon.
Thank you so much for being with us today. Please take care. We look forward to having you with us again soon.
Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, comments, images, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘AM, Geemeff, H, J’, Cornell Bird Lab, SK Hideaways, FOBBV, Little Miami Conservancy, Tweed Valley, UKOsprey Info, Geemeff, Llyn Clywedog and CarnyXWild, Montana Osprey Project, Boulder County Fairgrounds, Moorings Park Osprey, Looduskalender Forum, LDF, MNSA Jay Koolpix Cam, Collins Marsh Osprey Cam, WRDC, Port Lincoln Ospreys
Thank you so much for being with us today. Our thoughts were with the people of Myanmar today as they dig their friends, family members, and even strangers out of the rubble of the 7.7 earthquake with their bare hands and any tools they can find. At last count more than 1600 people were declared dead. My son and I have friends there and in Bangkok – our condolences to all who lost a loved one.
If you are in the UK, Happy Mother’s Day! And to all our feathered friends there – to you as well!
Saturday was breezy and a bit chilly, but it turned out to be a day for restocking the cupboards. Before we left, Brock came to the garden door requesting another dish of roast chicken! He sure loves his roast chicken.
He is getting less frightened of me. I tap on the glass twice. That alerts Brock that I am coming outside with additional food for him. A year ago he would have run under the deck and waited for me to return to the house locking the door. Now he will sit about 30-45 cm away (12-15 inches) waiting. He suns himself on the rug and never rushes to leave. He is more comfortable. Brock has been coming to the garden since 2022 with Calico. His life is not easy but he is fed and now, thanks to a reminder by Geemeff, he is getting his de-worming treatment.
The Crows have been coming to the big table feeder for cat kibble. They are here every day. Soon I will need to make sure that there is ‘meat’ available for them as there will be babies to feed. [Taken through the conservatory window with the iPhone].
Just a warning. Today’s post will be shorter than normal. I had trouble with Meta (Facebook) and the posting of Saturday’s blog. I suggest that you subscribe so as not to miss any news. The blog is free and will always be free. I do not send any ads, and I will never ask for any subscription fees. You can cancel anytime. Usually, there is one post per day.
Geemeff sends us news:
Set backs and successes of raptor re-introduction in Northern Ireland:
Geemeff also sends us the arrival dates for dear Louis at Loch Arkaig and comments on the current state of UK ospreys;
“Speaking of arrivals, Dylan is missing Seren, and Elen is missing Aran. And we’re missing Louis & Dorcha. They arrived last year on the 28th and 30th March respectively, but that was the first time in March. All previous years have been April arrivals. I wish they’d hurry up and arrive, Maya is looking very eggy, any day now she’ll produce the UK’s first egg and we don’t even have either bird back, or even Garry LV0.
Here’s Louis’ dates:
2017 10 April
2018 6 April
2019 4 April
2020 5 April
2021 11 April
2022 11 April
2023 2 April
2024 28 March”
We wait in anticipation.
Osprey News:
Russell Lake, Nova Scotia: Oscar returned Saturday morning. He has already been fishing and being watched closely by Don and Connie Dennis!
Baseball Park Ospreys, Missoula, Montana: Star, the mate of Louis, has arrived.
Steelscape, Washington: Both adults are back on the nest.
Seaside, Oregon: Bruce and Naha have both returned on the 24th and 26th.
Smallwood: The first egg was laid Sunday morning.
Cowlitz: Osprey was on the nest on Saturday.
Lake Murray: Lucy and Kenny. There were originally three eggs and now there are only two. ‘H’ adds: ” It was noticed 3/29 at 00.45 an egg looked like it had a big dent, and Lucy moved the egg with her beak.”
Western Maryland Shore for Old Town Home: Marilyn laid her first egg on Saturday.
Llyn Clywedog: Seren Blue 5F has joined Dylan at their nest in Wales. Welcome home lovely girl. Dylan did a sky dance on her arrival. Oh, this couple is wonderful.
Achieva: Jack has disappointed me in his fish deliveries for his new female mate. Diane, his former mate, had to supplement the fish for the chicks and well, the eggs haven’t even hatched. There is a lot of competition and no doubt Jack has problems with gulls, other ospreys, and eagles for whatever he catches.
Baseball Park, Missoula, Montana (yes, again): Louis has now arrived and so both Star and Louis are on the nest! Thanks, Dr Greene!
Boulder County Fairgrounds: Dad has been missing. Mum has a new mate, it appears, who has brought her a fish and then there is an intruder. Thank you Noland MacDonald!
There were reports, perhaps over a week ago, of lights seen and shots heard by individuals watching the John Bunker Sands Wetlands Bald Eagle nest near Dallas. This is a very frightening thought.
Other Birds:
Despite a high number of deaths, there were still record numbers of Sandhill Cranes in Nebraska. Thanks, ‘PB’ for the article.
‘J’ sends me the post of our local wildlife rehabilitation centre, Wildlife Haven. (It is one of Calico’s favourites because of Dr Tess who is helping that turtle with its soft shell and her confidence in wildlife to adjust to their own physical challenges).
Thank you so much to all those that contributed to help my blog to be even better than it could be by my hand alone: ‘Geemeff, H, J, PB’, msn.com, pressreader.com, Connie Dennis and Ospreys of Nova Scotia FB, Montana Osprey Cams, Pam Breci and Steelscape Ospreys, Seaside Ospreys, Lake Murray Ospreys, The Smithsonian Magazine, FOBBV, Wildlife Haven, Nolan MacDonald and Boulder County Fairgrounds, Dyfi Osprey Project, Llyn Clywedog and CarnyXWild, Maryland Western Shore Old Town Home
I really hope you enjoyed that video of the turtle escaping Liberty and Guardian’s nest in Redding, California that was in the post Friday morning. That was one lucky turtle!
It snowed in Winnipeg. Then it snowed some more! The measurement in the garden was 43 cm. Our young man was not around so we did the shoveling which really took a lot of time – and energy. It was also chicken Friday so ‘The Girls’ and Brock had their Friday chicken dinners.
‘J’ sent me some news that raises some interesting questions. A real mystery is happening at the Pittsburgh-Hays Bald Eagle nest. Long time ‘Dad’ disappeared last year and is in the Memorial Pages. A new male appeared. Now ‘Dad’ has returned after more than a year, according to reports!!!!!!!
Was he injured and in rehabilitation and released, returning home? How do we know he is the original ‘Dad’? There are no bands that I am aware. We have not been able to find out any further information.
Osprey News:
Russell Lake, Nova Scotia: Oscar has arrived safely home! YEAH.
Oak Tree Nest, Threave Ospreys: Both ospreys are on the nest and working hard!
Loch of the Lowes: Does Blue NC0 have a new mate?
Foulshaw Moss: White YW is very popular. His mate Blue35 has not yet returned, but there are two unringed unidentified females trying to get his affections! Thanks J Kear and UKOsprey Info for the post.
UPDATE: Blue 35 is back!!!!!!!!!!!!
Fort Calhoun: ‘PB’ is keeping a close eye and notes an arrival.
Hellgate Canyon: Iris and Finnegan will have a lot of work to do when they return to their nest in Missoula. Iris traditionally returns on the 8th of April.
Birds of Poole Harbour: No one is going to mess with CJ7 and ‘her’ nest!!!!!
Dyfi Osprey Project: Idris and Telyn enjoying being back together.
HEIDI’S OSPREY REPORT:
3/29 – Moorings Park: Sally was struck by a GHO at 01:10, but she was not knocked off the nest. To my knowledge, there has not been a GHO problem at that nest before. Fingers crossed that Ozzie will stay safe. Little Ozzie is only 20 days old.
Bald Eagle News:
NEFlorida: The juvenile visitor that has been adopted by Beau, Gabby, and Bodie has been officially named ‘Juvie’.
NCTC: A bold owl sat near the nest while a meteorite flew by! Bella and Scout kept that owl at bay. https://youtu.be/UFfi8QFlj94?
Kansas Bald Eagles: Kanza is still the Only Eaglet. That egg is non-viable. Lucky Kanza! All that good prey just for you.
Big Bear Valley: Full crops for Jackie and Shadow’s kiddos. They are adorable. Little miracles. The two were having quite the little spat. Almost like Baby Hope and Hugo Yugo play fighting. Well, Daddy Shadow was on the nest. It was obvious he got tired of it, didn’t like them fighting, and went over and put an end to it. Yes, eagle parents to intervene. Some actually just sit on the eaglets (or osplets) to stop fighting/bonking.
Sauces Canyon: Betty Lou is the sweetest little eaglet.
Kisatachie National Park E3: ‘MP’ sends us good news: “The parents on this nest had some good luck today. They brought in a small fish first thing which chick got to tear a part. The second fish was a big bloody one without the head which dad eat, the head that is. Mom came in behind him and took it to feed chick and herself. Then, a great big Catfish was on the menu for the day. Although, no one in chat knew what it was because the parents brought it in bit by bit or piece by piece. Then, at the end of the day, the great big head was brought in which no one knew until she turned it over and then we could all see it was Catfish head. The pieces brought in were theorized as chicken filets up until then. Even the rangers thought that they had stolen them from some camp site.
Wishing all of the new little bobbleheads full crops and a safe fledge.
Thank you so much for being with us today. Take care of yourself. See you soon!
Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, images, news, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘H, J, MP, PB’, PIX Cams, Pittsburgh-Hayes Eagle Cam, UKOsprey Info, Woodland Trust (LOTL), Foulshaw Ospreys, OPPD Fort Calhoun, Osprey Research Project/Hellgate Canyon Ospreys, Birds of Poole Harbour, Dyfi Osprey Project, NEFL-AEF, Little Miami Conservancy, NCTC, Deb Stecyk, Kansas Bald Eagles, FOBBV, IWS/Explore, Kistachie Forest E3 Eagle Cam, PIX Cams, Ventana Wildlife Society, Moorings Park
Thank you to everyone for sending in news items. It is much appreciated and it is all too easy for me to miss something which is important. So, we are going to put the news items in my inbox up front today.
‘J’ let me know that the much loved Latvian Golden Eagle Spilve, mother of the late Klints, has laid an egg. In 2020, Spilve laid her first egg on 29 March. It is believed that she has not been breeding since then – at least not at this nest. https://youtu.be/DOj7tYjk1j0?
“EJ’ sent me a wonderful news article. Imagine gold fish ponds everywhere ——–imagine ponds and large holding tanks, no deeper than 3 feet – full of koi. That sure would put an end to hunger on some of those osprey nests! I remember marveling at the adults at Collins Marsh one year. The normal fish were small and one day the adults found a koi pond. I wondered if it was a garden centre or a home. Their babies ate well then.
Port of Ridgefield, WA: ‘BHA’ writes: “Sorry the photo isn’t very good – this is on my t.v. New camera is great, complete with date and time this year (which doesn’t show in this picture). As you can see it’s a beautiful day here in the Pacific Northwest. 🌞”. The couple laid three eggs last year with only one chick reaching fledge (2 DNH).
I think that image is very good and we so appreciate your sharing it with us. What a nice day for this couple to be home!
‘PB’ sent us the 2025 US State of the Bird Report and it shows numbers os birds are dropping significantly.
Patuxent River Park osprey nest (MD) – 3/26 the cam went live for the season, and I was delighted to see the same ‘Mom’ and ‘Dad’ at the nest. It’s good to see they both made it back.
Seaside osprey nest (OR) – Bruce returned on 3/24, and Naha arrived on 3/26. It’s always wonderful when a beloved pair are reunited after a long migration.
Crooked Lake osprey nest (IN) – An osprey pair is at the nest. The chat is referring to the male as Noble, and is referring to the female as ‘Mom’ (rather than Whitley), but I think it is the same female.
Moorings Park osprey nest (FL) – The chatters were fond of calling Sally and Harry’s only osplet ‘Solo’. But, on 3/26 the community bird club officially named the 17-day-old youngster “Ozzie.”
Other Osprey news:
Bassenthwaite/Blackgate Farm Ospreys: J Kear reports that both ospreys have returned to their nest.
Llyn Brenig: Blue 372 is eating a lot of fish and restoring her strength and health in time for breeding season.
Dyfi Osprey Project: Perhaps Idris is trying out for the Olympic pole vaulting team! Idris worked hard on that nest and now he can celebrate with his mate Telyn who returned today.
Birds of Poole Harbour: CJ7 got down to business and got rid of Maya’s 2022 daughter, Blue 1H1, and has been getting nicely reacquainted with her mate, Blue 022. These two raised four osplets to fledge – the little one won everyone’s heart for its tenacity!
Loch of the Lowes: Blue NC0 is some great fisher. She is going to be incredible shape.
Colonial Beach Ospreys: A mystery female appeared on the nest on Wednesday.
Sun Coast Ospreys: Sara and Sota have their second hatch.
Lake Murray: At least two attacks on the nest by other ospreys yesterday. Hoping resident ospreys, Kenny and Lucy, are safe.
Blithfield Reserve, UK: Male has returned to the nest.
It is possible that one of Bella and Scout’s eaglets is injured. Deb Stecyk reports that it could be puncture wounds. Please send good wishes. https://youtu.be/8KsYYqn5qOU?
Decorah North: Mr and Mrs DNF have a failed season. Their first eaglet tried for five days to free itself of a crushed shell before dying. The second egg is 41 days old today and deemed unviable.
Duke Farms: The triplets still doing very, very well.
Sauces Canyon Eagles: Betty Lou is growing and growing!
West End: The blood from the encounter off camera to save territory is drying on Haku as she stands proudly by Maiko.
Sutton Centre Eagles: They have their second hatch of the season.
Glacier Gardens: The male died last year. Mum was seen ‘eyeing’ a potential new mate in late December. Mum was at the nest on Wednesday.
Kistachie National Forest E3: E03 had at least one prey delivery today. I rewinded late in the day, but the eaglet did appear to have a crop earlier, too. 03 appears to have branched, slightly.
The nest appearance was an empty taloned adult.
Birds and their eggs were rescued from the California wild fires – what a nice ending for today!
Thank you so much for being with us today. Take care. See you soon.
Thank you to those who sent news, for comments, videos, articles, images, posts, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog today: ‘BHA, EJ, Geemeff, H, JK, LDF Golden Eagle Cam, Fox5Vegas, Port of Ridgefield, Birds & Blooms, OspreyInfoUK, Dyfi Osprey Project, Birds of Poole Harbour, Woodland Trust (LOTL), Colonial Beach Ospreys, Moorings Park Ospreys, Sun Coast Ospreys, NCTC, Deb Stecyk, FOBBV, SK Hideaways, Raptor Resource Project/Explore, Duke Farms, IWS/Explore, Hilton Head Island Trust, Sutton Centre, Bartlesville, OK, Patuxent River Park, The Guardian, Crooked Lake, Seaside, Patuxent River Park, Lake Murray ospreys, Kielder Forest
It is 0 degrees on the Canadian prairies. The sky is blue and peppered with a few wee cottontail clouds. We spent part of the day outside of the City watching geese fly overhead and deer near the woods. It felt so good.
The two Crows have been visiting the feeder. This morning they had a treat – pizza! There have been regular visits from the two Blue Jays along with the Red Squirrels, the Starlings, a few grey squirrels, and some sparrows. Several male House Finches have been visiting, too.
I am so grateful to see the Crows returning to the garden and the Blue Jays. Long-time readers will remember that these couples bring their babies to the garden when they fledge. It is quite entertaining especially the baby Crows who peck on the conservatory’s roof demanding more ‘cheesy dogs’!
Baby Hope relaxing in the sunshine in the conservatory. She was less interested in the birds than having a nap.
Hugo Yugo had other ideas – like leaping down to play fight with Hope.
They are certainly enjoying the warm weather!
About a week ago, some quotes from Jack Turner’s book, The Abstract Wild, were included in my blog. They focused on our lack of connection to nature and how we must regain a true and deep empathy and connection in order to truly help the wildlife.
One of our readers chronicled an event after reading those quotes that touched my heart. They wrote, “Deep connection with animals. That reminds me that I have a great little story for you. After months, I finally went to the cemetery on Monday. Only a short walk, but I was outside and it was sunny. On the way back to the bus station I passed a caterpillar crawling on the pavement. After a few more meters, it clicked, I sighed and walked back. Found some leaves to put him on and put him in a garden. I walked on and a lady was standing at a bus stop (not the one I needed) and asked me what I had just picked up. So I told her. She said she had thought something like that and that I am like her. She said something similar to your quote, people lost their connection to nature. We continued talking and agreed on every topic we discussed until her bus came, and we hugged goodbye!”
It reminded me of a period when I stayed in Udaipur, India. Many of my friends were Jain and are always careful not to harm anything in their path. Gentle souls, I recall.
After several days of tenseness on the nests – the fishing line and hook at Big Bear, SC1 almost killed by the sea pup corpse, and the death of KNF-E04 – we need a break. There are good things happening and it is so nice to read about them.
Ever wondered how the birds migrate from their winter homes to their spring and summer? And land on the same branch? Sometimes we can’t do it with the apps on our phone! Quantum Mechanics is the answer.
‘L’ sent me a note: “Isaac has spotted the osprey couple at Patchogue on their new nest!” Fantastic. Hopefully Isaac will provide frequent updates so we know when the osplets hatch and how this family, so dear to all of us, is fairing. (There is no camera as PSEG took down the old nest and did not install a new one on the new nest).
‘J’ sent a post from naturechat about the age of the juvenile visitor at NEFlorida with Bodie.
Sandhill cranes (Antigone canadensis) are magnificent birds! They have inspired people from various cultures worldwide, including scientists, conservationists, and nature writers such as Aldo Leopold. Sandhill cranes are an ancient species, with the oldest fossil estimated to be 2.5 million years old. Their rich natural history includes spiritual and cultural significance.
One endearing aspect of Sandhill Cranes is that they are long-lived and mate for life, with pairs remaining together year-round for two decades or more. The oldest Sandhill Crane on record was at least thirty-seven years and three months old. This fact plays a vital role in our patient’s story.
In mid-December, The REGI clinic received several calls about a solitary Sandhill Crane near McDill Pond in Stevens Point. Sandhill Cranes in the area have migrated south by that date. This crane was languishing on a property. It had not been flying for weeks. It was hiding under a resident’s porch. The reports were concerning indicators that the bird may have a wing injury or lead or another type of poisoning. We suggested the crane be captured and transported to Raptor Education Group Inc. (REGI) for care. The property owner was due to be away; she alerted a UWSP natural resources college student to the crane’s dilemma. On December 21st, in below-zero temperatures, UWSP student Kayla Allred gathered a group of friends and family members and captured the crane. REGI volunteer transporters Randy and Anne Orlikowski transported the crane to REGI in Antigo.
REGI staff were prepared and waiting for the crane’s arrival. The large male was lethargic; however, we saw no apparent signs of fractures or injuries during the initial physical. We tube-fed him a liquid diet, gave him fluids, and let him rest for a few hours to recover from his capture and transport. Radiographs and blood work were negative for injuries or toxins. His physical exam revealed no concerns. Our work with wildlife must include the whole bird, not only what clinical tests offer as a diagnosis. Every medical concern was checked. He had no medical issues that we could prove, but we remained faced with a very depressed, healthy adult male with no injuries or abnormalities. When a patient is admitted, we request a history from the person who reports the bird. That includes questions about the bird’s behavior when found. Were physical movements regular or odd for the species? Could the bird be threatened by a dog or other predator, or what changed in the surroundings to prompt unusual behavior? Everything is a clue to the patient’s condition. Our adult male sandhill crane patient was hiding under a porch! Not normal behavior. The one thing that changed was that there were two sandhill cranes, and now he was alone.
Wildlife rehabilitation is a complicated field that requires knowledge of each species’ natural history, dietary needs, habitat requirements, and medical aspects in our care. Understanding that sandhill cranes have a long lifespan, The oldest Sandhill Crane on record was at least thirty-seven years and 3 months old. Once paired, they are together for life, two decades or longer for these magnificent birds. Youngsters migrate with their parents. They stay together as a family for about 10 months after hatch.
We realized our handsome patient was grieving the loss of his long-time mate. He had no will to go on without her by his side. While we do not know what happened to her, she disappeared in late fall. According to the property owner, the pair had been on the same property for at least ten years or longer. (If anyone in Stevens Point near Mc Dill Pond does know what caused her demise, please let us know)
We gave this patient supportive care. In cases like this, we do whatever works to help our patients recover. Massages around his head, neck, and face made a difference and perked up his sensory system. He started eating again. We moved him from a small enclosure to successive larger areas to allow him to investigate his surroundings. Slowly, he recovered and began behaving in a typical fashion; however, he had not vocalized during the three months we had him in care. We had cameras on him in the flights, and while he was exercising his wings and jumping as cranes do, we could not document vertical flight, which was necessary for his successful release back to the wild.
Spring was approaching, and we expected our local sandhill cranes to arrive home at any time. On Tuesday of this week, we heard loud crane vocalizations. At first, we thought it was our wild resident cranes announcing their return home. To our surprise, it was our patient in the flight jumping, flapping, and calling out with great excitement to whoever would listen. The following day, we moved him into a large outdoor enclosure. The enclosure has 12 ft. tall sides but a mostly open top, as it usually houses our resident flightless bald eagles. He would have to have an excellent vertical flight capability to fly out of the compound, which was the one aspect we could not prove in the enclosed flight building. The crane showed great excitement being outdoors again. He began acting like any other wild crane, probing the soil, chasing mice, and investigating the enclosure. He vocalized all day. Soon, the resident pair joined his happy sounds. The following morning, he ate well and was filled with more excitement and enthusiasm than we had ever seen in him. At about noon, a staff member observed the crane testing his vertical flight abilities, and then, with one effortless jump, he was airborne and took flight, gaining altitude until he was a speck in the sky. The event occurred so quickly that our staff forgot to take photos. However, they got another chance as the crane returned and circled our facility a few times before he headed out!
We wish this handsome sandhill crane the best in his future. We hope he finds another mate, but that is not assured in their species. No matter what, we hope he lives happily ever after.
Birds amaze and teach us every day. It is an honor to work with them. Their lives are complicated and mirror our own in many ways. This is not our idea of how they live; it is not anthropomorphic information but biologically sound evidence.
Thank you to Sharon, the landowner, and UWSP student Kayla Allred and the capture team she gathered after noticing his odd behavior and giving this handsome crane a second chance at life just when he thought his reason for living was over. The capture occurred in below-zero temperatures, with wind chills reaching -35 below zero F.
If you want more information on Sandhill cranes, please find a link below.
A quick check on some of our nests- all mixed up with no order at all today.
Blue IHI, the Rutland 2022 hatch, landed on the Poole Harbour nest this morning. (The nest of Blue 022 and CJ7).
Pont Cresor: Z2 (Aeron) and Blue 014 are reported to be back on the nest.
Foulshaw Moss: White YW has arrived back at his nest!
Goitzsche Wildnis, Germany: Zeus returned to the nest on Sunday the 23rd. We are waiting for the arrival of his mate, Fjona.
Brevard Osprey Nest, Florida. Three eggs.
NEFlorida Bald Eagle nest of Gabby and Beau: Bodie is stealing food from JV. These two are so good together! https://youtu.be/6OxI8s55jGc?
Dahlgren Osprey Nest: Two ospreys on the nest Sunday afternoon. LO and MO1 as identified by the chat moderator.
Kansas Bald Eagles: Kanza is doing very well. Second egg has not hatched (yet).
Fraser Point Bald Eagles: Andor and Cruz have their first hatch. It is deep in that nest bowl.
NCTC Bald Eagle nest of Bella and Scout: Two eaglets are doing well. They are simply adorable.
Mispillion Harbour, Delaware: Della and Warren have returned!
RoundhouseLoch Doon: Resident female named Angel has arrived on Sunday the 23rd.
Big Bear Valley: All is well with Jackie and Shadow and the eaglets. Thank goodness.
Threave Valley Ospreys: Two Ospreys on the nest!
Achieva Credit Union: Jack delivered the first fish of the day on Sunday after 1700. Oh, my goodness. I hope these deliveries get better.
Two Harbours: The second egg broke on Sunday. No one knows precisely what happened. Chase and Cholyn will be fine. Dr Sharpe was interviewed and says there is plenty of time for a second clutch and we should be checking back around the end of April.
Eschenbach: Hermine has not returned. Joan Castanyer reports: “Herbert seems to have made a connection with the new female. Days pass and Hermine does not return, although there is still some hope. But the thousands of kilometers of migration must have a benefit and the option of mating with a female is the most reasonable. However, in the afternoon Herbert seemed melancholic in the nest without his Hermine 😥.”
Sauces Canyon: Jak and Audacity’s baby is growing and strong. So pleased it is alright.
Cornell Red Tail Hawk Cam: On goodness. Isn’t Big Red, at 22 years old, just the most beautiful Red-tail Hawk?
Decorah North: Windy and rain coming. Waiting for the first hatch.
Researchers have noted that the plumage of some birds is getting duller. But why? Have a read!
Mini-Book Review: David Gessner, The Book of Flaco: The World’s Most Famous Bird
I recently completed Gessner’s captivating book about Flaco, the Eurasian Owl who escaped from the Central Park Zoo in February 2023. Many of you likely followed his remarkable journey, either in person or through social media, as he adapted to life as a wild owl, skillfully expanding his territory throughout the year.
Gessner delves into the intense controversies that surrounded this extraordinary bird. For instance, the size of Flaco’s enclosure at the zoo, described as “the size of a department store window,” raised significant concerns. Questions erupted about whether more proactive measures should have been taken to recapture him and return him to the zoo. The debate over whether Flaco’s freedom outweighed the risks of safety was a poignant theme throughout his story, especially against the backdrop of the widespread use of rodenticides in the area.
Gessner compellingly introduces readers to notable figures who have delved into the concepts of ‘wild’ and ‘wilderness’, such as Jack Turner in his thought-provoking book, The Abstract Wild, and the writings of Henry David Thoreau. Despite living more than 150 years apart, Turner and Thoreau offer strikingly relevant insights into environmental and wildlife issues. It is refreshing to see how their perspectives resonate with contemporary challenges, bridging the gap between past and present. Gessner masterfully intertwines their observations with his own and the life of Flaco, raising profound and challenging questions about the impact of human activity on wildlife. His exploration urges readers to confront these critical issues with urgency and reflection.
I strongly recommend this book for its profound exploration of pressing wildlife issues. Gessner’s exceptional writing is truly captivating, making it nearly impossible to put it down. However, if you’re in search of a beautiful picture book about Flaco, you might want to look elsewhere. The book does feature a central section filled with coloured images of Flaco, captured by individuals whose lives were deeply touched by his presence, alongside dedicated photographers who meticulously documented his daily adventures.
You can order the book through your local lending library (since it is recently released it could take some time to receive a copy) or purchase it for $24.95.
Thank you so much for being with us today. Take care everyone. See you soon.
Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, images, articles, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘Geemeff, H, J, L’, The Guardian, ABC7, nature chat, Raptor Education Group, Inc, all about birds, Goitzsche Wildnis, Brevard Osprey Platform, NEFL-AEF, Dahlgren Ospreys, Kansas Bald Eagles, IWS/Explore, NCTC Bald Eagle Nest, Heidi McGrue and Mispillion Harbour, Roundhouse Loch Doon, FOBBV, Jeff Kear and UK Osprey Info (Threave Valley, Achieva Credit Union, IWS/Explore, Joan Castanyer an Eschenbach Ospreys, Cornell Red Tail Hawk Cam, Raptor Resource Project/Explore, The New York Times
There was quite the scare at Sauces Canyon Friday when a huge placenta was brought in that covered most of SC1. The wee one was shivering. The camera operator stayed and caught Audacity doing everything she could to save her little one. She was moving and shuffling and removing matter to free SC1. It took two hours. Everyone was holding their breath.
Meanwhile the nest is simply full of food including a dead seal pup and a lot of Mackerel.
SC1 standing up for a meal after its arduous ordeal. Another miracle. Poor little thing could use a bit of a wipe. But who cares – SC1 looks fine.
In other Eagle news, Bodie and the visitor at NE Florida are quite settled in with one another. Gabby even fed the other juvenile – and, of course, Bodie got fed as well. Many are hoping that the American Eagle Foundation will give the adopted eaglet a name.
Bodie did not go hungry! Look at this crop. It is a wonder she can stand upright.
The two at Big Bear Valley are doing so well. Look closely, the pin feathers are coming in. The little one is scampering around that egg cup wanting ‘out’. They are flapping their little wings and growing fast.
The eaglets at John Bunker Sands Wetlands are gorgeous.
The triplets at Duke Farms are doing well. Their mum was heroic in keeping them as dry as she could during the recent storm. They have their dark thermal down coming in which allows them to regulate their temperatures but, oh, what a lovely sight she was tucking them in as best she could. Just look today.
At the NCTC nest, Bella and Scout’s little one had its first feeding. It is fine. Scout was there to see it hatch and has brooded the wee one. This is good news. https://youtu.be/0aPqI9_OW5c?
Mr North and Mrs DNF have a hatch in progress or two at the Decorah North nest in Iowa.
Hancock Wildlife Foundation announced today that their Surrey nest of Brit and Rey has their second egg of the season.
We are keeping eyes on several other nests for pips that include Harvey and Ellie at the Kansas Eagle Cam on Farmer Derek’s land, the other egg for Bella and Scout at the NCTC nest, and US Steel.
Osprey News:
Dyfi Osprey Project: Idris has arrived home. They just turned the camera on and as if by magic, there he was. So happy to see him home. It is nine days earlier than his usual arrival date of March 30th. Now let’s get his mate Telyn home soon – and safe.
Known as ‘Daddy Longlegs’, Idris is an excellent fisher. He must have been hungry. Look at those whoppers at the nest.
Kielder Nest 7: Female KX7 arrives! This is the earliest arrival ever of an osprey back at Kielder Forest. Her mate is KM18, yet to arrive.
Threave Castle: Blue KC has arrived on the nest to join her mate Black 80 on the 20th of March.
Birds of Poole Harbour: Blue 022 that helped raise our fine osplets to fledge with its mate CJ7 has arrived home safely! He wasted no time in starting to work on their nest.
Glaslyn: Elen, Aran’s mate, arrived back on the Glaslyn nest this morning and then flew over to the PC nest which interestingly has a camera this year. Wonder who will get to watch it?
Meigs Point, Connecticut: The unringed male has returned on the 19th of March. He immediately began to work on the nest – cleaning out that egg cup.
Eschenbach: Hermine has not returned yet. The visiting female is getting more comfortable. Joan Castanyer writes: “Herbert follows the courtship rituals with the female, from gifts in the form of fish to displays of submission. In the video we can see him with his back to her, flapping his wings. Meanwhile, the female complains because he, instead of fish, has brought material for the nest. The candidacy of the new partner is strengthened, although there is still time for Hermine.”
Mark Avery has an update on Bird Flu in his latest news blast. I am cutting and pasting here for all of you. This is going to be a potentially catastrophic year for our feathered friends.
Bird flu 1: there are currently many UK cases of bird flu and the list of affected bird species has reached 31 for 2025: Mute Swan, Whooper Swan, Bewick’s Swan, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Pink-footed Goose, Barnacle Goose, Shelduck, Mallard, White-tailed Eagle, Red Kite, Buzzard, Goshawk, Sparrowhawk, Peregrine, Kestrel, Curlew, Herring Gull, Black-headed Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Common Gull, Little Gull, Cormorant, Razorbill, Barn Owl, Long-eared Owl, Tawny Owl, Grey Heron, Pheasant and Starling. It might look as if gulls, wildfowl and raptors are particularly affected, and it’s possible that’s the case, but the flaws in the ‘surveillance’ scheme (negative tests not publicly reported, limited numbers tested, no systematic testing) mean that it is difficult to know what this species list means in terms of species affected – click here. An interesting gull list and just one passerine in the list!
Bird flu2: wintering Sandhill Cranes have been dying of bird flu in Indiana – 1500+ of them (click here). This link – click here – provides information from the USA on detections in wild birds but also in dairy cows (quite a lot) and there are some human cases including one death, it seems. Robert F. Kennedy, who was put in charge of health matters by Trump, has suggested letting the disease rip in order to find the resistant birds that could form the basis for building a resistant stock. Something similar was considered as a covid response in the UK. US scientists are quoted as opposing Kennedy’s suggestion because intensively-farmed chickens and turkeys are killed so quickly that they never (?) produce antibodies to the disease. I wonder what the death rate is in Wild Turkeys in the USA?
Bird flu3: a paper in British Birds (by Tim Birkhead and Ben Hatchwell) assesses the impacts of bird flu on the Guillemot colony on Skomer which has been studied for five decades. The 2023 outbreak of bird flu led to a higher-than-usual number of recoveries of (dead) ringed Guillemots that July and August and counts of ringed birds in 2024 suggested that about a quarter of the colony had been lost the year before. There were impacts on nesting success too which will take some years to work their way through. For a not very relevant comparison (perhaps), UK human covid deaths in 2020 numbered around 72,000, or 1 in 1000 of the population, or 0.1%.
In Manitoba, the Assembly of First Nations has issued a statement on Bird Flu. As you can see, the concern is world-wide. Please help by keeping your feeders and bird baths clean and follow any directives that you are given. So far no one is asking for songbird feeders to be taken down. The fear is for the migratory birds that are coming to their spring and summer breeding grounds.
‘PB’ loved Smallie like all of us. She sends news that there are three falcon eggs at Amersfoort. How grand!
At Robert Fuller’s kestrel nest, the couple, Apollo and Athena, are fighting to protect their eggs. https://youtu.be/qFeLnxjXT24?
The’ quiet’ was one of the best things about being on Hecla Island during the winter. (The hardest was being away from The Girls). Hardly anyone was there except for those ice fishing and the odd tourists. The snow was pure white – not dirty with salt and sand like the City. You could see the deer in the woods, the Crows and Eagles flying overhead, and some small birds murmuring. A few gulls were sitting on the top of the lighthouse and, of course, at least one very large grey wolf. Without the foliage, it was also easy to spot Crow nests, a few eagle nests and one osprey, one near Winnipeg Beach. It felt so good. As most of you know, I am not fond of the City. While I have dreamed of moving to ‘the middle of nowhere’, my heart is also with the animals that occupy our garden. So this summer, we must plant even more trees to enclose us; perhaps, it will be a buffer for noise and other humans. Yellow Warblers on the Galapagos Islands feel the same as I do about traffic noise!
Closing on a really upbeat note – Cornell’s Red Tail Hawk Big Red has been working on that egg cup on Friday. We could have eggs soon!
Thank you so much for being with us today. Take care. We hope to have you with us again soon!
Thank you to the following for their notes, comments, images, articles, posts, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘Geemeff, J, PB’, IWS/Explore, NEFL-AEF, FOBBV, John Bunker Sands Wetlands, Duke Farms, NCTC, Deb Stecyk, Raptor Resource Project/Explore, Dyfi Osprey Project, Kielder Forest Ospreys, Threave Castle, Meigs Point Ospreys, Eschenbach Ospreys, Joanna Castanyer, Woodland Trust (LOTL), Lynn Cracknell, Knepp Farm White Storks, Cultured Northeast, First Alert 6, Mark Avery, Robert Fuller, Town of Amersfoort Falcons, The Guardian, LRWT, Cornell Red Tail Hawk Cam, Hancock Wildlife Foundation, Manitoba Assembly of First Nations, Osp, Birds of Poole Harbour, Bywyd Gwylld Glaslyn
It was sunny and windy on Thursday morning. There were about 500-600 Canada Geese on a nearby golf course when I drove past. The water in the ponds providing swimming for some and no doubt safety for others later.
All of the feral cats have been to the feeders this morning: Squishy, a grey tabby with a flipped over ear, the Orange Ginger family pet that is let loose during the day, the grey tabby, and The Boyfriend. The need is growing. Of course, everyone thinks that prices of things will drop, but in my lifetime I have never seen this happen. Pet food appears to be soaring. My heart breaks for the families who have to surrender their pets, but not for those that dump them. They need care and surely there is someone to take them home and love them rather than leaving them to the freezing cold of a Winnipeg winter. On Saturday we will take all the wood out of the wood boxes, load them with straw and put a light bulb in there and close in three and a half sides. It will help some.
There is still concern about Avian Flu and bird feeders. ‘R’ sent us an article from The Washington Post that might answer some of your questions. The author says, “While avian flu is widespread among wild bird species, less than 2 percent of cases have been in songbirds and other typical visitors to bird feeders. Health officials have not recommended taking down bird feeders except for people who keep domestic poultry as part of a backyard flock. (In such cases, the USDA says poultry owners should take down feeders for wild birds or keep them well away from their captive flock, and to make the captive flock’s food and water inaccessible to wild birds.)
People should clean bird feeders and bird baths regularly. Make sure to thoroughly wash your hands after touching the feeders. Avoid direct contact with birds, and do not handle sick or dead birds.”
M15 and F23 working diligently every day on their nest in Fort Myers, Florida.
M15 checks out the nest for suitability for F23 and their eggs.
Chandler flew in to the Port Tobacco Eagle Nest for a few seconds!
Haven’t seen anyone so far on Thursday at Big Bear.
Ron and Rose were at the WRDC nest despite the very windy conditions on Thursday.
Connie and Clive visit the Captiva Eagle nest on the Barrier Islands in Florida on a breezy day. Nice crops! Good to see these two after Milton tore through the island.
Eagles working on the Denton Home nest and sleeping together at the nest. What a wonderful sight.
Wednesday they worked on the West End cam of Thunder and Akecheta, Thursday it was Two Harbours nest of Chase and Cholyn, Thunder’s parents.
They were flapping and waiting for breakfast at 367 Collins Street in Melbourne.
Prey delivery at Collins Street.
‘A’ remarks: “Suddenly, the trio at Collins Street are rapidly approaching fledge. Two of them are now running along the ledge, flapping their wings vigorously, which is nerve-wracking in the extreme. There is almost no fluff left on the older two, except a few dandelions on their heads. The youngest still sports some fluff on its wings, but suddenly, these three are looking very much like juvenile falcons. We will not have them for much longer. I cannot believe how quickly that triple-headed fluffball of an eating machine has become three juveniles who are potentially within days of fledging. Omigod, I am going to miss them SO much. It seems like only yesterday that we saw our first gutter stomp. “
Yira and Gammata share morning prey. Diamond feeds, too.
‘A’ comments: “At Orange, the pair still have quite a bit of down on their heads and wings. They are about a week behind the Collins Street trio, are they not? At least the Orange fledglings do often/usually return to the scrape after fledging (we remember those occasions when the parents literally had to bar the door from their adult offspring, with a not so gentle hint relating to the concept of dispersal). But we do generally get to see a bit more of them once they fledge. At Collins Street, we essentially wait until someone finds one of them injured, dead or starving on the streets of Melbourne’s CBD. We get little or no information on them post-fledge (although the Facebook group may have some BOTG – I’ll be relying on you for info from that source). But watching the Collins Street kids today has left me flabbergasted at how time has flown and the fact these chicks are already about to do the same. I’m sad now. “
Dad is off his perch and Mum is calling for food. There was not much on Thursday and Kasse got nothing. There was some beaking. This provoked the fish fairies into action.
‘A’ reports: “The most important news of the day is that there was a four-fish delivery from our beloved Fish Fairy at Port Lincoln this morning (09:38). A day too late unfortunately to prevent the two incidents of bonking yesterday that for the first time occurred during a feeding and was definitely done in order to prevent Kasse from eating. Not a good thing, and I’m glad the FF stepped in straight away. I would have preferred it to happen two days ago, when I was worrying about the lack of food deliveries and the potential for aggression this presented, but I suppose they were trying to avoid it altogether. And dad had been stepping up his fishing efforts – successfully, up until the last three or four days. So it was probably weather-related. But whatever the reason, the nature and timing of yesterday’s aggression made it essential that the Fish Fairy step in asap. I’m glad they didn’t delay. “
Thank you, Fish Fairies! I will sleep better Thursday night in Canada knowing you are there.
Heidi’s video of the Fish Fairy!!!!!!!! They included this information below the video: “Wilko is 33 days old, and Kasse is 30 days old. There were only two fish delivered to the nest yesterday, and as a result there was significant sibling aggression due to food competition. This morning, the ‘Fish Fairy’ placed four fish on the nest. It was the first time the supplemental fish were necessary this season. Ospreys are endangered in South Australia, and last season they instituted an officially authorized program of supplemental feeding for this nest. The supplemental feeding program is intended to help increase the survival rate of the osprey nestlings. Last year’s Fish Fairy program was a success, and both osplets fledged! For more information on the supplemental feeding program, please see this statement dated 10/27/23: https://portlincoln-osprey.com/portli…
Elizabeth Grey, National Audubon said on Thursday that Audubon vows to: “Strengthening Local and State Initiatives: While federal policy may shift, our commitment to local and state conservation efforts remains steadfast. We will work with communities to build resilience, ensuring that conservation continues regardless of changes at the federal level.” Just as I see my City taking every piece of land and building 3-4 story apartment buildings instead of 35 stories, each of us needs to lend a hand to help wildlife. You can do that in your own garden.
I needed a smile today and seeing Seren 5F at her winter home in The Gambia does it. She is a great mate to Dylan at Llyn Clywedog and a fantastic mother. She wasted a lot of years being courted by Aran but, in the end, he stayed with Mrs G. Great choice! But glad 5F found a great mate, too. Dylan is amazing. This is her biography from Glaslyn Wildlife.
Seren Blue 5F will be thirteen years old during the 2025 breeding season.
“Hatched at the Rutland Site K nest in 2012. Her mother is the satellite tagged female Yellow 30 (hatched at the Rutland Site B nest in 2005) and her father was the translocated Rutland male Red 08 (2001).
In December 2013, Blue 5F was photographed by Chris Wood at Tanji Marsh in Gambia, she was 18 months old at the time and would not yet have made a return journey to the UK. In December 2014 Chris returned to Tanji Marsh and he again found 5F settled for the winter there. She had not been spotted back in the UK during the summer, although it is likely she would have travelled north as a two-year old. On 9th April 2015 Blue 5F was captured on camera again, as she landed on the perch of the Glaslyn nest, this was the first sighting of her in the UK as an adult. She remained in the Glaslyn area during the summer and intruded at the Glaslyn nest on several occasions. By the middle of October we heard the news via Fansu Bojang and Chris Wood that 5F was back in her wintering quarters in Tanji Marsh.
On 29th March 2016 Blue 5F landed on the perch at Glaslyn once again. Two days later she was in a skirmish with her cousin Blue 24 at the Dyfi nest. Glesni, another cousin, who was the resident female at Dyfi, had not yet returned. Before long, 5F was back on a favourite nesting platform in the Glaslyn area. Aran was spotted mating with her on several occasions and for a while she appeared to be incubating eggs. The nest failed however and 5F soon resumed her regular intrusions at the Glaslyn nest.
During the winters of 2016 to 2019, 5F was once again settled in her wintering quarters in Gambia, where Chris Wood photographed her for the fourth and fifth consecutive years. During the winter of 2018 she spent the majority of her time in the Tujereng Beach area of Gambia, although she was spotted at Tanji again in autumn 2019.
On 1st April 2020, 5F appeared on the camera that had been installed by NRW at the Llyn Clywedog Osprey nest in mid-Wales. On 3rd April she also appeared on the Glaslyn nest, before being seen off by Mrs G. The following day she returned to Clywedog and was soon joined by the resident male, Dylan. The original female, Delyth, failed to return and 5F became Dylan’s new mate. Together they raised three male chicks and all three successfully fledged. A very happy outcome – Congratulations 5F!”
There are still Ospreys in the Netherlands that have not migrated – along with several in the UK. Maybe they know something we do not? Is it possible not to migrate in an age of climate change? Last year was the hottest on record for our planet.
A 25 year old German Osprey has been seen in Sardinia. Blue Ring OD. Amazing. Its experience, after surviving those first years after fledgling, have kept this bird alive. Incredible.
The last information I could find on the migration of the Black Storks from Estonia. Apologies for the small size. I cannot enlarge but perhaps you can.
Calico wonders if you would like to make someone feel warm and fuzzy? Lucille Powell has provided the address for the residents of the Riverview Care home next to Iris and Finnegan’s nest. Have a card and a stamp? Want to include a note about yourself and how much you love the ospreys? Or anything else. Here is the information. Think about spreading the love!
I do not know if they are taking any further orders but here is the information about the Iris and Finnegan pins. These are made out of sticks brought to the nest by the ospreys and collected by Dr Greene. They are carefully lathed and assembled by Sharon Leigh and her husband. I have enjoyed mine for years and you can get find new ink cartridges almost anywhere.
Thank you so much for being with us today. Please take care of yourself. We hope to see you soon!
Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, articles, images, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘A, R’, The Washington Post, Androcat, chickiedee64, NEFL-AEF, Port Tobacco Eagle Cam, FOBBV, WRDC Eagle Cam, Window to Wildlife, Denton Homes Eagle Cam, Trudi Kron and Bald Eagles 101, Deb Stecyk and NCTC Eagle Cam, 367 Collins Street by Mirvac, Charles Sturt Falcon Cam and Cilla Kinross, Nesting Birdlife and More, Port Lincoln Ospreys, Olympic Park Eagle Cam, Heidi McGrue, Judy Harrington, SK Hideaways, Bywyd Gwylld Glaslyn, Valerie Webber and The Clywedog Osprey Group, Yale Climate Connections, Ecology and Evolution and PMC, Jeff Kear and Friends of Loch Arkaig FB, H Lorm and Looduskalender Forum, Montana Ospreys at Hellgate and Lucille Powell, Montana Osprey Cams.
Wednesday was a cold to the bone, grey, damp day on the Canadian Prairies. The birds, once again, were feeding frantically. It felt like we could have a snow storm any moment. The skies were the colour of new down on an osprey chick.
It was also release day for the Ventana Wildlife Society. They had six 18-month-old condors that had hatched and been raised at the Los Angeles Zoo to send out into the wild. The timing of the release is parallel to that of chicks born in the wild. They are about a metre tall (36 inches) and weigh 9 kg or 20 lbs. Their wing span is 3 meters or 9.5 – 10 feet. They are giant birds. Before their release, they were tagged, had radio and satellite transmitters put on them, and were vaccinated against HPAI and West Nile Virus.
There was a Zoom presentation with questions, a visit with a group of second graders who asked questions and showed their pictures of condors, and the count down to the release. Interestingly, it was female 1233 that went out first to feed on the carcass left for them (they had not been fed for six days), then males 1232 and 1226 known as Pongo. The three most dominant birds while the flock was in the cage were the last to leave.
Condors are social animals and they survive as a group. There is a hierarchy and the least dominant learn how to cope and get food after the ‘King Pins (a nod to the dominant male released in 1997, now deceased, the mate of Redwood Queen who was the father of Iniko) have fed.
These are some of the screen shots I took during the Zoom presentation. The entire discussion with release will be available on YouTube.
Older birds feeding on the carcasses of lead-free carrion.
Current statistics. Once all chicks fledge and the Rookies are released, there will be 119 California Condors in the wild in Central California. This is amazing. There were none in 1997. Ad notice that in 2024 they had no deaths. Knock on wood this continues til the end of the year.
They did pay tribute to Condor 171 Traveler, the matriarch of the Central California Clan, who was declared dead in October after being missing for an entire year. She was released in 1997 in the first cohort of Condors to be sent out into the wild after DDT and Lead decimated their populations.
She had reproductive issues all her life and finally raised a chick in 2022. Male 1182 is that chick and heir and is doing fine.
In the release pen waiting for the gates to open.
As I said earlier, female 1233 was the first out and she did get a nice little feeding before males 1232 and 1226 flew out to feed.
If you are unaware of the challenges and hard work that the Ventana Wildlife Society undertakes, I encourage you to visit their website and explore the information available. That address is ventanaws.org
There are two organizations that I fully support for their dedication that knows no bounds. That is the Ventana Wildlife Society and the IWS where our dear Dr Sharpe continues to work beyond his desired retirement. Yesterday he was out with a volunteer team doing camera maintenance at the Nest of Thunder and Aketcheta at the West End.
The Bald Eagle numbers in the Channel Islands can be attributed to this amazing man. How many chicks have gone over the edge that you have seen rescued there?
So a big shout out to VWS and the IWS! Thank you for all you do.
For those interested in Ferringuous Hawks, their migration patterns that are determined by prey availability, and the challenges especially climate change, please take the time to view this extremely interesting presentation by HMANA: https://youtu.be/gdYRmoBitNo?
The latest on the Sea Eagles:
‘A’ sends the latest ranger report: “November 7: A flock of Rainbow Lorikeets visited the nest this morning, with a couple of Scaly-Breasted lorikeets as well. Shortly after 7am, both parents were seen on Mangrove Island – neither juvenile was spotted. At 8:15am, the adults were seen on the island, one with a fish. A juvenile flew closer – the adult was eating and the juvie seemed to be eating a little as well. The other adult moved to River Roost. There was some light rain, then a hot day. At 12:14pm, one adult was at River Roost, with the other on the island. There with no juveniles in view. Later, at 3:40pm, one juvenile was seen on Mangrove Island with an adult – the other adult was still at River Roost, though it flew to the island soon after. There were no further reports of sightings at the end of the day.”
Sounds windy at Port Lincoln. Mum, Wilko, and Kasse are waiting for breakfast.
Wilko and Kasse are a month old and Heidi has them on video. Hasn’t Dad done a marvelous job this season with his fishing? https://youtu.be/0VYcHkyu2Y8?s
A reports: “At Port Lincoln, it was nearly 5pm before any food arrived at the nest, and even then, it was only a small partial fish that provided little sustenance for the osplets. The two shared a feed of just under 20 minutes. The only other fish of the day arrived at 20:09. Again, it was a small partial fish only, and the resulting feeding lasted just over half an hour, during which period Wilko did better than Kasse. It is noteworthy that twice during the feeding, Wilko bonked Kasse. This has not happened during a feeding, until now, so I suspect that unless the Fish Fairy steps in to ensure a good couple of days for both osplets, we could create a problem for Kasse here, now that Wilko has experienced proper hunger and has realised that Kasse is limiting the food available for Wilko.”
At Orange, Diamond looks on as her two chicks try to tackle a Starling breakfast — unpacked!
Diamond will make sure that the youngest gets food to eat.
‘A’ gives us a long commentary on the eating and feeding at Orange today: “Xavier brought in a quail just before 6am and Yira grabbed it from him. He wasn’t arguing. Diamond soon arrived and Garrama rushed to complain to mum. Garrama tried self-feeding from the prey Yira was able to hold down, and soon, Yira ripped a piece off and took it into the far corner. Diamond at this stage arrived to help Garrama, who was left with the prey but couldn’t handle it alone. Diamond fed him – he’s a sweetie and SO much smaller than his gigantic sister.
By 06:02 Yira had finished her piece of prey and returned to steal the remainder from Diamond, who looked a little startled. Garrama was far from pleased. She tried to grab it back but Yira took it back into her corner! Diamond leaves the kids to sort it out, watching from in front of the camera, near the Cilla Stones.She obscures our view of the chicks, who are both self-feeding, Yira holding the food down and both pulling pieces from it. There are many cute noises accompanying this activity.
Around 06:04 Yira gets sick of sharing and brings the food over near the Cilla Stones, which Diamond has rapidly vacated. Garrama follows his sister and again tries self-feeding from the prey as Yira holds it down. It’s a technique that seems to be working well for both of them. Yira could weigh nearly twice what Garrama does. It’s hard to tell with their remaining fluff.
Yira is doing better, though, than Garrama, who gives up his efforts by 06:05. He heads over to see whether there are any dropped pieces where the chicks were eating earlier, but no joy, so he approaches Yira and the prey from the other side. Garrama gets a couple of bites but is largely disappointed, and by 06607 he has again given up.
He watches his sister, stares wistfully at Diamond, who stays on the ledge, watching the kids but makes no move to assist Garrama. He is frustrated and pecks a little at Yira’s wing feathers. By 06:06:30 he is again having a go at pulling some pieces off Yira’s quail (it’s a big piece of prey and Yira is eating A LOT of food). She obscures our view of her little brother, but it seems he too is managing to get some pieces.
At 06:07:48 Garrama picks up a large meaty morsel Yira has dropped. He turns away with it Diamond comes over to him to see whether he needs help eating it but then seems to change her mind, deciding that he should be able to manage it. Good mum. Shortly after 06:10, he is finished and turns back towards Yira, wanting more to eat.
Diamond moves to pick up Garrama’s leftovers and he literally begins screaming in her face. Is he annoyed with her for touching his piece of prey or is he simply demanding that she offer him some food? I suspect the latter, as Garrama starts nipping at Diamond’s toes, hoping to find food there. Diamond has to use her beak more than once to free her talons from Garrama’s grip and beak. He is certain there is food between those toes. There isn’t, and Diamond is very patient with him, all things considered.
Diamond moves towards the ledge and Garrama follows her. His breast feathers are exquisite. Mum has no food and dives out of the box. For a second, I feared he would follow her but he didn’t – just stayed where he was, looking out after her. Yira continues to eat. She has eaten a very large breakfast indeed and at 06:13 shows no sign of slowing down.
There was another food delivery (a juvenile starling) just before 06:56 – I didn’t watch that feeding – and another, grabbed immediately from Xavier by Yira, shortly after 11:01. Xavier briefly considered trying to retrieve it from her but quickly decided against this and left the scrape. Poor little Garrama watched his gluttonous sister, who has already devoured nearly a whole quail this morning but is still the epitome of greed. Around 11:03, Yira pauses in her eating to do some vigorous wingercising, making contact with Garrama, who objects. Yira returns to eating her starling.
Garrama sits and looks out of the scrape while his sister feasts on. He flaps across the scrape, does a PS out of the scrape, and returns to looking outside while Yira eats. Poor little Garrama hasn’t had that much food today – neither of the parents seem prepared to face down Yira once she has taken control of a piece of prey! Even Diamond was happy to leave her to it, though she did try to help (Garrama was managing that piece on his own anyway). She is aware that he is not getting enough to eat – she’s just not willing or able (could be either or both) to challenge her massive daughter to take back control of prey. Xavier has zero chance – she is twice his size – and although he did valiantly consider a quick snatch and grab on one occasion, he thought better of the move. So I am a bit worried about whether Garrama is getting enough.
At 11:08:30 he moves in and again tries self-feeding from the food his sister is holding down. He gets perhaps a small bite or two, then gives up. He tries again about a minute later, but only managed to nibble a toe. Soon after 11:10, he again approaches and tries to eat. Still, he is only able to get hold of a foot, and there is not much meat on it. He gives up again. Yira eats on like a machine. She has eaten SO much this morning, while Garrama has managed perhaps a snack at best.
These two are rapidly losing fluff and their juvenile plumage is really starting to show through. They are exquisite, especially Garrama, who is an absolute darling. He is not getting enough to eat under the present arrangements, with the parents having effectively ceased to feed the chicks, leaving them to self-feed. They can both do that, both of course Garrama has no chance of beating his sister in a battle over a piece of prey, and given how greedy she is, there is rarely anything much but feathers left over once she has finished eating. So unless something changes here, I am officially worried about our little male hatch at Orange. He is simply not getting nearly enough to eat. “
The 367 Collins Street triplets were digging through the gutter looking for prey. I had seen no breakfast delivery prior to 0823.
At least once of the chicks has made it to the ledge above the scrape today. A milestone to fledging.
Just look at the wings on this eagle in South Australia! Lukin is 82 days old today. Growing and getting ready to fledge. My goodness. Congratulations to everyone.
Well, what an amazing event. I wish I were in South Australia. What an opportunity! Spread the word.
Eric Kotz produced a history of Tumby Island to demonstrate how really tough it is for the ospreys in South Australia.
When we go out to feed the Chickadees and then have lunch outside the City, we drive past the many sites where industry is digging and digging for the things that make concrete – sand is one of those. But, at the sites now disused, there is water and wildlife. It makes me smile that something nice can come out of something so ugly and dusty. Here is an article about how the largest landfill site is now a home to wildlife. I hope it makes you smile, too.
And, of course, Calico hates these noisy things for more than one reason:
Seren 5F, Dylan’s mate from Llyn Clywedog, was photographed again today in The Gambia on her favourite pole. So happy she is alright. All of these sightings are priceless.
‘J’ sent the latest report from Redding for Liberty and Guardian but the text was too small and I could not enlarge it. Please check the FORE FB page – and watch Liberty and Guardian on camera building their new nest!
Thank you for being with us today. Please take care. Bird World is quiet. It is time to rest up. We are expecting Bald Eagle eggs within a fortnight. Then, the prolonged incubation til the end of December. We will continue to monitor the sea eagles as long as there is news. We will watch the falcons in Melbourne and Orange for Fledge, Buddy to Fledge at Growing Home, and then Wilko and Kasse. Take care everyone. See you soon.
Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, articles, presentations, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘A’, The Ventana Wildlife Society, IWS, HMANA, Sydney Sea Eagles, Rohan Geddes, Port Lincoln Ospreys, Heidi McGrue, Charles Sturt Falcon Cam and Cilla Kinross, 367 Collins Street by Mirvac, SK Hideaways, NEFL-AEF, Gardenista, Friends of Osprey Sth Aus, Port Lincoln Ospreys, Eric Kotz, Montana Osprey Cams, The Guardian, Tamarack Wildlife Centre, Leaf of Life.
My inbox is full: There is finally a hatch at Port Lincoln and a pip in a second egg. Fish fairies get ready!!!!!!!!!
There is really good news coming out of West Africa. Blue 5F, Seren, the mate of Dylan from Llyn Clywedog in Wales, is right on her favourite stump in Tujering, The Gambia. She has arrived safely. Oh, that just puts a smile on my face and makes me feel warm and fuzzy. What a distance they have to travel and with the Sahara expanding every year, it can be even a more treacherous journey.
Autumn is such a bittersweet time of year. It is my favourite season because of the chill in the air, the crunch and smell of the orange, red, rust, and espresso-coloured leaves under my feet. As a young girl, there was something about walking through the University of Oklahoma campus when there was a home game that was energizing. At the other end, all of the leaves are falling off the trees, the vines on the woodshed are dead, and most of the songbirds are gone. Soon, everything will be only grey and brown. The geese leaving daily remind me that winter will be here sooner than one desires. Even so, the little sparrows are having baths today, while the Starlings hope that I will give in and put out more mealworms. Of course, I did! They are now busy gobbling them up. Yes.
A very unusual thing happened. The Boyfriend showed up at 1500 wanting his evening meal. The birds were eating at all of the spots ferociously. It is not 1515. The winds have picked up. Dark clouds have covered the grey sky and the phone now tells us to expect rain within the hour. Wind gusts are 40-68 km/h. The lilacs are beginning to whip around like mini-tornadoes and the leaves are flying about the yard. It seems that the garden animals are so in touch with the weather. They do not need an iPhone or the telly to tell them what is happening. They know precisely. I am always so amazed at how smart wildlife is and how so many people think they are just ‘bird brained’ and have no feelings. Silly people.
The Farmer’s Almanac: “Did you know that bird behavior can help us predict the weather? Closely observe nature and your feathered friends—you might be surprised by what you learn!
One of these days, take a moment to look up. Watch birds in flight. Birds flying high in the sky usually indicate fair weather. As the adage goes …
Hawks flying high means a clear sky. When they fly low, prepare for a blow.
Geese fly higher in fair weather than in foul.
Air pressure does indeed affect birds. For example, swallows have sensitive ears; when the barometric pressure drops, they fly as close to the ground as possible, where air density is greatest. Low-flying birds are generally a sign of rain, while high-flyers indicate fair weather.”
One of our readers, ‘B’ sent us a great article about the heavy impact that Avian Flu is having on Bald Eagles. The situation is far worse than imagined.
Waba is the 2022 hatch of Karl II and Kaia from the Estonian Black Stork nest in the Karula Forest. For many of us, he is very precious and we hope that he will live long and carry on the legacy of Karl II who was so tragically killed on a power pole in Turkey last year. Waba is now in Romania making his way down to Africa where he will spend the winter.
Two are already in Africa, Timmu and Kergu.
You can monitor their progress by following the bird migration map or checking in on Maria Marika’s very informative and up to date FB page.
Everyone is anxiously awaiting for that crack in the egg at Port Lincoln to give way to a very feisty little osplet! Heidi called it this morning for us.
Mum is snoozing. She needs all the rest she can get before these three eggs hatch. Those chicks will keep her and Dad super busy for the next 100 days.
Omega is fishing on the weekend at the boundary between Virginia and Maryland ensuring that they get every last Menhaden in the Bay.
Raining on Gabby Saturday. She is still alone at the nest. We have no idea what is happening elsewhere to either Beau or 24E1.
Gabby is here and moderators have confirmed that Beau is on the LOP.
Weather and migration.
So cute. The parents at 367 Collins Street are doing an amazing job with those three chicks. Remember that the falcon chicks cannot see for a few days. Their open eye is just a slit. This will change around day 5 to being fully open and round. As they begin to focus, they will be better able to aim and grab that prey!
‘A’ loves F23’s technique: “At Collins Street, mum’s garage door technique is working a treat, with all three well sheltered by her body and wings. Clever mum. You have no idea how relieved it makes me to see that she has a preference for this brooding position. It really is by far the best for sheltering chicks from rain in particular – a larger area stays dry. I have watched it on eagle nests and osprey nests so many times, and this is definitely the most efficient position. So much so that I wonder why all birds don’t use it pretty much all the time.””At Collins Street, mum brought in a large fresh catch around 18:37, which she then prepared and fed to the three littles. At 18:41, dad came trotting down the ledge with a freshly caught bird in his beak. Mum and dad had a good discussion about the prey situation, and dad took his offering to stash somewhere for later. Mum continued with the feeding. Her bird is massive compared to dad’s, and the debris left on the ledge is impressive.
The Collins Street parents are working so well together to raise these three chicks. I am looking forward to this nest. I am confident these two are going to do a great job. And the pigeons have returned to the CBD it seems – I saw several in Fitzroy (a suburb right next to the CBD) today – they looked plump and healthy and a passerby laughed when he heard me encouraging one such plump pigeon to go for a sightseeing flight over the CBD because our baby falcons in Collins Street might need a feed. (Most Melburnians know about our falcons.) “
Breakfast at Orange. Will that third egg hatch?
‘A’ remarks: “Oh my goodness Xavier! He brought in a piece of prey at 09:25 this morning that was SO big, I have no idea how he managed to fly with it. I am notoriously bad at identifying prey but it was gigantic. Maybe a duck? I don’t know so never quote me on prey types. But this was half the size of Xavier! No, as I watch him struggle to take it away to a stash spot, I see that it is in fact MORE than half Xavier’s size. Seriously. Rewind the fotoage at Orange and have a look at this. Xavier really is stepping up his prey deliveries as the number of beaks in that scrape increases. We now have three little bobbleheads and we all know how much falcon chicks like their food. After all, they tell us so, very very loudly.”” Xavier has really stepped up his hunting since the chicks hatched, and today, he brought in an impressive array of sacrificial birds, including a duckling I’m pretty sure (there was a lot of discussion about the possible sources of duckling on the chat, suggesting that my guess re the ID of that gigantic piece of prey Xavier brought to the scrape was in fact correct. Surprise! It really was huge though. I have no idea how he managed to fly with it. Falcons are obiviously significantly stronger than they look.”
A beautiful family portrait at the Olympic Sea Eagle nest.
Jumping and flapping!
‘A’: “October 6: All early awake, with duets and all joining in. Dad brought leaves in a couple of times. The eaglets were waiting all morning until Lady brought a mullet at 12:26 and fed both. Just before 4pm, Dad brought in a small portion of fish and fed both – it didn’t last long, and SE33 grabbed the last scrap from SE34. Late afternoon, SE33 was standing right on the front rim, flapping and moving sticks about. Looking back, we noticed that on Friday, SE33 was seen on the lower part of Perching Branch – venturing out. At dark, both finally settled down.”
Look at all the little kestrel chicks having a feeding! Goodness me they are the cutest. https://youtu.be/AYGXwCBmOU0?
The Achieva nest is a real mess. Maybe a big wind will come and blow the entire lot of it down on the ground.
Florida will be hit again by Milton. It might clean up the Achieva nest, but let us hope that all stay safe.
Thank you so much for being with us today. Take care everyone. Enjoy the end of your weekend. See you soon.
Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘A, B, Heidi’, The Farmer’s Almanac, The Georgia Department of Natural Resources, The Washington Post, Maria Marika, Port Lincoln Osprey, William Dunn and Menhaden, Little Fish, Big Deal, NEFL-AEF, Meterologist Chris Vickers, 367 Collins Street by Mirvac, Nesting Bird Life and More, Charles Sturt Falcon Cam and Cilla Kinross, Olympic Park Eagles, Charter Group Bird Cams, Achieva Credit Union, and Sunnie Day.
Well, after three irritating days, the end of the ads is nigh. Thank you again to everyone who helped me spot those pop-up ads. WordPress assures me there should not be any, but…
At 1900, 38 Canada Geese flew over the conservatory in a line, not a wedge or V. Normally, geese fly in a V or wedge to conserve energy. When the leader gets tired, s/he falls back, and the next one takes its place. Being the leader is hard work; they are breaking the wind – creating a slipstream – for the other geese so that they can fly without expending so much energy. As they flap their wings, each bird helps to create a ‘lift’ for all the other geese in their formation. Research shows that flying in this type of formation also allows the group to communicate better. Talk about teamwork and cooperation. Humans have something to learn from our honkers.
Those V formations are quite extraordinary. You can’t tell from the ground, but the lead goose is the lowest of the bunch. Each goose behind is slightly higher than the one in front of it, all the way to the last goose, which is flying the highest. They do this because of the aerodynamics of their wings. The only goose that is using all its wing power is the lead goose… the point-man, so to speak. When that goose flaps its wings, it causes a certain turbulence of the air that’s following the wing. The next goose in line benefits from this swirling air, and doesn’t need to apply 100% of its wingpower. The next goose, again benefits from that one, and so on down the line. Flying in formation this way adds 71% more distance that they can fly than when flying alone!
So who gets chosen to be point-man? You’d think the one with the map! Or the leader? Or the new-guy? No. None of these. They actually take turns. When one gets tired, he will drop back so he can rest a bit and benefit from another goose’s turbulence. When migrating in good weather with favorable winds these guys can make up to 1,500 miles in a single day! That’s crazy, man! Hard to imagine, but it’s been done. They are migration masters.
So the flying at night thing … I’ve already touched upon one of the reasons they prefer the night. It has to do with that turbulence I just mentioned. You see, many other large birds (and these are large birds!) use thermals to gain altitude and to soar on. Raptors do this. Hawks, eagles, etc. During the day, the landscape is riddled with all kinds of thermals rising from the ground, all depending on what the surface looks like below; how much heat was absorbed and stored from the sun; if it’s dark or light … or even water. These thermals are great for raptors! Lots of vertical air movement all over. But geese don’t soar, and they don’t have need to fly in circles. They have somewhere to go. And all those daytime thermals are a pain in the butt; they don’t make for smooth sailing. Plus, they interfere with the aforementioned wing turbulence that they use to keep from tiring. At night, several hours after sunset, the Earth cools and those pesky vertical thermals disperse.
So that’s one reason they like the night. Another reason for night flight is to prevent over-heating (makes sense, right?) Nights are cooler, so birds that expend a lot of energy with constant flapping (as opposed to soaring) take advantage of the cool of the night.
A third reason is also something I’ve already mentioned. Hawks! And eagles! And falcons! All those guys are diurnal hunters, meaning they hunt during the day. Which goose in its right mind would want to share the not-so-friendly skies with something called a “raptor”? Now, if you’ve ever seen flocks of geese on the ground and tried to get among them or feed them or something, you may already know how mean and nasty they can get. People have used geese instead of watch-dogs. They are tough! Especially on the ground. But falcons, hawks, and eagles, hitting them from the air often spells doom. In other words, their goose is cooked. During the day, they often rest and feed and rejuvenate in the water where they are safe from raptor attack. As long as they stay in the water.
So given the choice, they take the red-eye.
Why Do Canadian Geese Fly At Night?, Forbes Magazine, 1 March 2018 (updated).
So why were the geese flying in a straight line over my house? I can’t find an answer. Maybe you know. Perhaps they were readying to land at Fort Whyte or at the river a few blocks away???
The other day Calico and Baby Hope watched ‘The Boyfriend’ as he ate at the feeder. I wonder what Calico was thinking. This was her little friend when she lived in the wild. They would come and eat together, but he always let her eat first. They would often rest under the lilac bushes. He will not come into the house; he runs away. I have tried frequently to get him to soften to me. So we make sure his food is out by 0900 and, again, at 1700. He also comes at other times, including in the middle of the night. Another animal, a raccoon, comes at night, eating everything still available and dumping the water from the bird baths. That means we must ‘jump’ in the morning to prepare everything for The Boyfriend’s arrival.
Dr Erick Greene and others around Missoula are keeping a close eye on Iris, Finnegan, Sum-eh, and Antali. It appears that all four are still fishing in the Clarke-Fork River. As far as I am aware, this is the latest that Iris has ever remained in the area. Her usual date for departure is 8 September. She must relish being a mum again to two such fine fledglings and having a mate like Finnegan.
Iris came to the nest at 0838 without fish. I did not see a delivery at the nest by 1100 on Sunday despite Antali’s persistent calling.
This person had a first hand view of Iris and family — have a read!
Iris was at the nest at 0738 Monday morning. She was calling loud and seemed to have a piece of fish in her talons (??). She is looking for Antali and he did not come. She waited three minutes and when Antali did not arrive, she flew off towards the river.
At Charlo, is C16 catching its fish? Our fledgling observes the water below the nest and has returned wet, once, perhaps, with a fish. This is one gorgeous fledgling! That full crop sure makes me think he had an excellent breakfast.
C16 is always watching that water – unless he is sleeping! Can’t see those stunning eyes.
When I checked on the nest of Junebug at Dunrovin Ranch – which was several times including re-wind – I did not see anyone. Did you?
Just look at the fish that Beaumont delivered at the Newfoundland Snow Lane nest. Good gracious. There is enough for both of the fledglings. Will the winner share?
Still eating three hours later!
Niagara Bee Dad still delivering!
River was at the Sandpoint nest, but I saw no fish deliveries from Keke. Perhaps Keke is feeding River off the nest. River has been seen ‘wet’, and he flies back and forth to the river. Is s/he catching their fish dinner?
At the Golden Gate Audubon nest in SF Bay, Tully was last seen on the 14th of September.
Some more great information from the Dyfi Osprey Project in Wales, home to Idris and Telyn.
Hartley and Monty continue to bond – and then bond again – at the San Jose City Hall scrape. Love is in the air. https://youtu.be/pjskOK2DcNc?
Xavier. What can we say? Isn’t he the cutest little Peregrine Falcon? He always wants time to incubate his eggs, but…Diamond often has different ideas. They have been together for nine years. Today, he demanded squatter’s rights on those eggs!!!!!! https://youtu.be/fygxtkCjkwA?
Beautiful Sea Eaglets.
‘A’ remarks: “Both chicks did well out of that breakfast, and afterwards, they settled down together, side by side, to rest their giant crops (especially SE34!) and do a bit of preening. They are very companionable, the best of nest mates, and even when food is around, they have been behaving beautifully. Observing the pecking order seems to ensure peace at meal times – Lady is aware of the need to feed SE33 first if both chicks are at the table, although SE34 is now confident enough to accept food before its sibling has eaten if their relative positions create this situation. They are pretty much equal in size now and SE34 is confident and able to get himself fed. He moves forward if he needs to get closer to mum’s beak and he is not showing any behaviour that suggests that he feels intimidated at meal times. So all is going swimmingly at WBSE. “
And more from the morning of the 16th from ‘A’: “Lady was up early this morning (05:29). She found a substantial piece of feathered prey on the nest, so started feeding the littles, who roused themselves and got to the table despite the fact that it was still dark. Lady started by feeding a bite to SE33, as per pecking order, while SE34 found which direction the table was in (he had his back to it and turned around very clumsily, inconveniencing SE33 in the process). Once both eaglets were settled in their places, breakfast proceeded peacefully, with both nestlings behaving beautifully.
Oh, I adore these two. I love what good nest buddies they have become, sometimes even allopreening and nibbling gently at each other’s facial feathers. They are so cute. I love these few short weeks on the nest, being cared for by doting parents and having little to do other than eat, sleep, grow and play. Their lives will be very hard, and their chances of successfully managing as juvenile sea eagles are not great based on previous years. Although of course they don’t realise it yet, these peaceful days in the nursery, as it were, probably represent some of the happiest of their lives. It is lovely to share them. “
I love storks. Even if you can’t speak German, you can enjoy the amazing images in this documentary. Click on the link above the image or copy and paste into your browser.
There is news from Portugal. I have signed up, but this file is thanks to UK Osprey Information and Jeff Kear, who kindly attached a translated version. Please scroll down and see the map showing where the ospreys have their spring and summer breeding grounds and travel to Portugal for the winter.
Real Saunders Photography has posted some images of M15 and F23. There is action at the SW Florida Bald Eagle nest. The streaming cameras are to be operational on 1 October. https://youtu.be/3wJeooaW6oI?
‘A’ comments on the Royal Cam chick: “At Taiaroa Head, both TF and TFT are still there, though TFT in particular has been moving around a lot, going down the hill and perhaps seeking out a suitable spot from which to fledge. He may just be exploring – he’s always done a lot of that. No parents came in today, as far as I am aware, but of course the chicks will be emptying their stomachs before their big take-off. (That doesn’t make sense to me – surely they would want to keep any remaining nutrients they were given by their parents, as they have never done any fishing of their own and the next meal they get once they do fledge may be some time away – I have no idea how they understand where and how to find their own food, having never been taught how to do so nor even witnessed the adults doing it. So to leave home with an empty stomach seems to me a risky thing to do. I suppose getting and staying airborne is the most important thing, and that, too, they will be doing for the first time. It’s an awful lot of difficult things to be doing for the first time when their survival depends on getting it all right on the first try essentially. The thought of it worries me terribly.”
I caught a feeding. How wonderful!
‘A’ also checks on the falcons incubating on the ledge of 367 Collins Street in the CBD of Melbourne: “At Collins Street, Mum left the eggs just before 11:17 for a morning break, but she is back quickly, at 11:18, and repositions herself on the eggs. Dad flies up to the middle of the ledge, chupping as he arrives, soon after 12:47. He has not brought food, though he may have stashed some for her somewhere nearby. He’s such a cutie and so chatty. F24 chats back as she gets up from the eggs, so hopefully, he is telling her where he has left her breakfast. But no. He dives off the ledge, which she watches with some shock it seems, gazing after him for a while before settling back onto the eggs. I’m still not sure about food deliveries at this scrape, tbough mum does not appear to be starving so there must be some (or, more likely, she is eating off camera from a stash spot where dad is depositing food).
Dad is back at 14:46 to relieve mum, who flies off the ledge. Again though, he brings no food. He doesn’t settle down to incubate, instead flying off the ledge at 14:46:30. The eggs lie uncovered in the mid-afternoon. sunlight.”
Calico’s got two Tips for the Day: Help Stop Bird Strike and if you find a bird that has hit a window, helpful tips on how to help them.
Migration is a time for bird strike, sadly. Calico wants everyone to protect the birds from breaking their necks on windows. The most economical way to do this is by using window paints available where crayons, markers, etc. are sold. We found the white worked the best. Just scribble. After migration season, you can easily clean the window paint with white vinegar. We purchased Feather Friendly dot strips. The company says they last ten years. Calico wonders about that but they have been very effective in preventing any birds hitting our conservatory or the windows in the sitting room.
Calico asks that you read this helpful advice:
The Geese that have been breeding in northern Canada and in Winnipeg are starting to migrate. They face many challenges but the other one is BREAD. Do not feed waterfowl bread!!!!!!! It causes ducks to get ‘Angel Wing’ and that also impacts Geese. If you see others feeding ducks and geese bread, be kind, but educate them. There is nothing more fun for children than feeding bread to ducks and geese, but that is not what they should be eating! It will kill them in the end. So, please help my beloved geese. Thanks, ‘PB’ for this article. It is so timrely.
If you have the time, please check out Amy Tan’s talk on line about backyard birds. I have so enjoyed her book and her journey to learning about the feathered friends that visit her garden and her creation of special areas for them.
Thank you so much for being with us today. Have a fantastic week! See you soon.
Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, comments, reports, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘A, J, PB’, Forbes Magazine, Montana Osprey Cam, Montana Osprey Project, iNaturalistUK, Owl Research Project, Dunrovin Ranch, Newfoundland Power, Pam Breci and The Joy of Ospreys, Golden Gate Audubon SF Ospreys, Dyfi Osprey Project, SK Hideaways, Olympic Sea Eagles, SOS Tesla Maria Marika, Jeff Kear and UK Osprey Information, Real Saunders Photography, 367 Collins Street by Mirvac, Virginia Wildlife, Kelli Knight LeVan, NZ DOC, and Amy Tan.
