We are in the direct path of a series of supercells forming south of us and moving slowly north, so this post is going to be short and sweet. We are under a severe tornado watch and have had ping-pong-ball-sized hail. Toby has been very upset by the storm and the heavy, heavy downpours. We are fine. I grew up in Oklahoma, so I am familiar with those big F4S tornadoes, and we know what to do.
Image on FB by Katie Powell in St Anne Manitoba:
Sasha has fledged at the Fraser Point Bald Eagle nest of Andor and Cruz. Congratulations! SK Hideaways has it on video: https://youtu.be/TGfNgOd13wg?
Clark brought in two fish yesterday. Some of the local fisherpeople believe that he had to go to the Rattlesnake River to get them – one came late at night also. That was incredible. It is difficult enough for ospreys to see in rushing muddy water, but at night?
It is just past 1500 on the Canadian Prairies. It is one hour earlier at Iris’s nest. I have seen no fish deliveries today, but it has been raining periodically. I wish we could find out more about the status of the river near the nest. This issue with getting fish is going to seriously impact these chicks!
Clark came in with a small fish that Iris quickly snatched.
‘PB’ alerted me to Jill’s big fish for the kids. This nest is doing so well and those fledglings are getting big and strong so they can survive on their own. She has been an outstanding mother.
Geemeff – thank you for following what is happening with that natural material or twine or whatever it is that Dorcha worked hard to try and get off that chick! We will appreciate any updates.
Geemeff Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Tuesday 9th June 2026
It rained on and off today but more concerning than the weather was something wrapped tightly around the leg of one of the chicks, Chick2, it seems, but a closer look is needed to confirm. It appears to be organic rather than man made but it will be a relief when it’s off, Dorcha tried and failed to remove it today. Another, minor, concern is the attitude of the chicks – not yet in the reptilian phase, but their aggressive instinct to dominate and ensure priority on the feeding line has kicked in early. Chick3 does its best to keep out of the way of its older siblings but doesn’t always succeed. However, this is all perfectly natural and seen every season in varying degrees. Even a season with a solo chick had aggression – lacking siblings, the chick constantly attacked Dorcha! Louis ensures there’s a steady supply of food and each chick got fed from every fish so this season is proceeding along the usual lines, including the inevitable arrival of unsuitable sticks which cause mayhem, it was Dorcha’s turn today. Louis brought two fish, taking the Nest Two tally to one hundred and twenty one, and Garry’s single fish for Aurora takes the Nest One tally to one hundred and seven. Day forty for Aurora’s egg ended with no sign of a pip yet, but there are still a couple more days in the hatching time frame, perhaps we’ll have a surprise in the morning – fingers and talons firmly crossed for Garry and Aurora. Light rain forecast for overnight with a low of 7°C, changing to thundery showers with a high of 13°C tomorrow.
At Dunrovin, the first hatch for Swoop and Winnie! That is one strong-necked chick.
It appears that the Little Tiny Bob at Steelscape did not survive the sibling rivalry.
Dewey Beach, on the other hand, is doing well. Love Baby Dewey. There are issues with fish deliveries at many of the nests that sadly might continue. Send good wishes. So far, Dewey isn’t one of them. Look at that chubby osplet chick. That is what they should all look like – fat.
I am going to say good night. It looks like the storms are now east of the City of Winnipeg, so I am going to relax. We still have some lightning, but I hope no more hail or wind, but oh, there is thunder again. So far, only one tree fell on a car on our street (not mine).
Take care everyone.
Thank you to Geemeff for their daily summary and for keeping an eye on that material on nest 2, to SK Hideaways thank you for the videos, and to all who posted information and images on FB, I am very grateful.
Oh, the rain is gone, the sun is out, and Toby had a walk before the hot weather kicked in after lunch. Don and Toby are now sound asleep on the sofa. I noticed that it is sometimes harder for Don to walk with us. It looks like it is time to get that all-important walker! I am still sick, but the nice weather is giving me some energy!
Later…25 C. Toby hid under the deck when we went outside. It was his way of telling us that it was too hot for a Cavalier to be outside. Geemeff reported it was 27 C in London and we are expecting 32 C this coming week. Our City is wondering what to do about climate change – one big answer is trees. Thankfully, they have replanted every 123 year old tree cut down on our street. Will I live to see them reach 10 metres? I wonder. They certainly aren’t going to be offering shade soon.
Our Province generates electricity by hydroelectric power in the north. What happens if the water dries up? Are these things I should be thinking about insteading of listening to birdsong in the garden.
No, we should all be outside in nature listening for birdsong and enjoying the breeze, if there is one. It heals everything.
Jackie & Shadow Greet Stunning Sunrise ~ Sandy & Luna Listen & Learn (2026 May 21)Jackie and Shadow greet each day with a series of chortles, snortles, and togetherness. 6-week-old Sandy and Luna observe the tradition in hopes of having perfect mates of their own one day. They did take a break in their listening exercise to have something that looked like a PS (poop shot) contest, which definitely added an unexpected element of humor to this otherwise serene slice of the family’s morning. Video: https://youtu.be/gsX35LWeo8U
Fraser Point Eagles ~ Santa Cruz Island, CA ~ Cruz, Andor, Sasha, Zuma & Ryder Courtesy Institute for Wildlife Studies | explore.org | Fraser Point Eagles Cam Ops Nest Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OY4V_AppZ6s Cruz manages the eaglets’ snatch & go shenanigans vs. peregrine mom Hartley doing the same (2026 May 20) A morning in the life of Cruz and Andor, and their 7-week-old eaglets Sasha, Zuma, and Ryder. The Fraser Point nest is often called the “Zen nest” for good reason. We thought it would be interesting to contrast that calm to the mayhem that ensues when peregrine falcon parents bring prey to chicks of the comparatively same age. As such, there is a 2-minute clip of the San Jose City Hall Falcons receiving one of their meals this morning. Do you relate more with Zen or Zany? Video: https://youtu.be/c9rs3z7Rh6c
Meet Jet, Scout, Stewart & Walton ~ Flapping, Bouncing Boys at 4-1/2 Weeks (2026 May 23)Hartley and Monty’s 4-1/2-week old boys are on track to take flight far sooner than we’re ready ~ as soon as next week. Jet, Scout, Stewart, and Walton are flapping, bouncing, and head-tilting exactly as they should be at this age. Their shenanigans are more entertaining by the day. Video: https://youtu.be/EYU0d3IHwSk 4 Week Milestones:Chicks sleep outside nest box, steal prey, perch on ledge and drain (2026 May 18) The chicks are achieving milestones right on schedule. They had many firsts yesterday: sleeping outside the nest box (3 of them), stealing prey from parents, jumping up to the lower ledge (2 of them), and Red perched on the drain. They’re growing up way too fast for my liking. Video: https://youtu.be/GhKpFR5-4Ao
Cholyn & Chase’s Date Night ~ Seaside Chat & Sunset Stick Wrangling (22 May 2026) Though we can’t follow them every second of the day (unfortunately), on-cam views tell us that Cholyn and Chase spend a lot of time together. Cam ops found them in their seaside hideaway, chortling, beaky kissing, and watching the world go by. Later, they met on the Two Harbors nest, where a pesky Y branch is partially obstructing one of their flight paths and really getting on Chase’s nerves. So far, the branch is winning. No matter where they are or what they’re doing, observing this special couple is always a huge gift. Video: https://youtu.be/PxEikeV79oQ
Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Sunday 24th May 2026
Today’s report is pretty much the same as yesterday’s – routine fish deliveries and incubation changeovers, and some rain. The only unusual thing was some owl calls heard near Nest Two in daylight, bringing up the possibility that last year’s mimic Jay might be back. Garry LV0 brought one fish on camera for Aurora 536, taking the Nest One tally to seventy nine, and Louis brought two fish for Dorcha, taking the Nest Two tally to eighty four. At the time of posting this report (23.30) night cam is on on both nests and both females are sitting peacefully on the eggs, three eggs for Dorcha and one for first time mum Aurora. The overnight forecast islight clouds with a low of 11°C, changing to light rain showers with sunny spells and a high of 17°C tomorrow.
Bonus watch – With reference to the mimic Jay and the cleverness of Corvids, here’s David Attenborough and the Crows in Japan who’ve learned to use humans to their advantage:
Two cuties for Idris and Telyn so far at Dyfi. Adults did a team feeding on Sunday. Sweet.
Two hungry beaks for CJ7 and her fish!
At Manton Bay, Blue 33 and Maya have a nest of almost three little reptiles as the soft down of the hatchlings gives way to that oily head and coppery feathers at the nape of the neck.
Dylan and Seren have three osplets and after delivering a fish at 1445 on Sunday, Dylan stayed and helped Seren feed the babies.
Two littles for Frankie and Angel at Roundhouse Loch Doon.
The chat at the Falconshire Bald Eagle nest remains shut down to the vulnerability of what is happening on the nest. Scout is still with us! The weather is not great, but a part of a fawn came in on Sunday morning, and Scout had a good feed. The wing is still healing.
No one needs to worry about P3. The third hatch for Big Red and Arthur is doing quite well and is often right up front at meal time.
Big continues to fly and return to the nest for fish at the Achieva Credit Union.
I might have missed it but I have yet to see a fish delivery to Mum and only chick at Dewey Beach. No, I didn’t. Nothing. This is going to be very sad.
A read: ‘Thirty-Two Words for Field’ by the late Manchán Magan, thanks to Emergence Magazine.
If you want to know what is going on at the US osprey nests – I will only touch on a few – then please check out the FB group Joy of Ospreys.
Hatch watch at Glaslyn for both nests!
Thank you for being with us today. It was so hot here, and it is going to get worse. I imagine that no matter where you live, you will see a change in temperatures this summer. Please leave out water for the birds – baths help to cool them off, and bowls of water offer hydration. You also need to make sure that you are getting enough hydration, too.
Got old cat or dog kibble? Birds eat it! It is a great source of protein.
See you soon!
Thank you so much to SK Hideaways and Geemeff for their diligence in sending me their weekly videos and daily summaries. I am so terribly grateful to both of them. It allows me to include much more news that I might – and I know you are wondering what is happening at all those nests! I am grateful to everyone who posts information on FaceBook whether it is a newsletter, or the latest news with a photo. Let us all thank the owners of the streaming cams who let us watch these amazing families.
‘PB’ just sent these great images of Iris leaving with a huge headless fish – the third or fourth NG2 has brought today!
It remains damp and cold on the Canadian Prairies. Poor Toby has to have his feet washed every time he comes inside from running about. We have a small pond in progress, and he is drawn to the mud there!!!!!!!!! Spaniels love water. I am thinking of getting him a kiddie pool for the summer. He might not like it because he can’t swim but we will see. There are enough neighbourhood children that would enjoy the pool if Toby rejects it!
Like so many of you, I have lived a long life, one that allowed me to enjoy a time when nature was not under threat every second. Of course, we did not know then what we do now about how our behaviour was impacting the environment. What would we have done differently had we known?
There are things that I miss. We had the most magnificent Magnolia tree in our back garden and several Mimosa trees in our front garden. At the very back was a wall of bamboo at one time, later replaced by my father’s rose garden. He learned how to grow roses from his grandmother and mother – she had a huge stroll garden lined with hundreds and hundreds of rose bushes. There were Cardinals and Bluebirds that lived in those trees. I also miss the duck pond at the University of Oklahoma. I cannot tell you how many hours I spent there, joined later by my children. Whether or not it was our garden or the ponds and parks near to where I lived, there were always some kind of birds. Some were in drawers with old yellowed cardboard labels in the Sutton collection at the University. They fascinated me! It is nice when everything seems to be falling apart to sit back and recall the magic of our childhoods and how the opportunities we had impacted our lives today.
Like all of you, I have been distressed by the level of Avian Flu spreading across North America. I do not want to add to this, which means disinfecting the bird feeders and tables every 2-3 days. My plan, when the last half-bag of birdseed is finished, is to put out peanuts and those solid seed cylinders to try to avoid contamination. The bird baths and bowls of water have to be cleaned and disinfected, too. The rule is 1 part bleach to 9 parts water.
How to Clean and Disinfect
Empty & Rinse: Dump out the old water and thoroughly rinse the basin.
Scrub First: If there is stubborn grime or algae, scrub the bowl with hot water and a stiff brush before applying bleach.
Disinfect: Pour in your 10% bleach solution. Let it sit in the basin for 10 to 15 minutes to fully kill any germs.
Rinse Thoroughly: Dump out the bleach and rinse the entire bird bath completely with clean water until there are no traces of a bleach odor.
Air Dry: Allow the bird bath to completely dry in the sun before refilling it with fresh water. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]
Important Tips
Frequency: Disinfect the bath once a week to keep it safe for your backyard birds.
Alternative: If you prefer not to use harsh chemicals, you can achieve the same cleaning power by using a mixture of 1 part white vinegar to 9 parts water.
Daily Maintenance: Change the water every day or two to prevent mosquitoes and bacteria from building up between deeper cleans.
NOTE: Do not use the brush used to clean the bird bath and water sources for any other purpose. Put it somewhere safe where no one can get to it and use it. I have been known to put these brushes in the dishwasher when I am running a cycle without any dishes to clean the machine.
I was so happy to see that Irv is serving up fish at the US Steel nest – a nest that shares the same river as the Glen-Hayes nest.
Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Monday 18th May 2026
Another quiet day, a bit damp as rain fell in spells throughout the day, but otherwise peaceful with no alarms or intruders. Garry LV0 brought one fish for Aurora 536, taking his tally to sixty eight. Aurora stashed the remains of that fish on the nest and at the time of this report, near midnight, she is cuddled up beside it. Louis brought three fish for Dorcha and his tally is now level with Garry’s at sixty eight, with the Nest Two tally at seventy due to the two fish brought by Dorcha before his return. Louis loves spending time on incubation duty, and was moaned at by Dorcha for a good few minutes before reluctantly handing over when she returned after polishing off her second fish. Light rain is forecast all through tonight and tomorrow, with a low of 8°C and a high of 15°C.Today’s videos:https://youtu.be/b07a-dMixso N2 Louis brings a whole tiddler trout 10.02.10https://youtu.be/tQL5oriH2dQ N2 Dorcha’s second fish is a decent size 14.45.58https://youtu.be/aJ9dTcnY-nI N2 Dorcha chirrups at Louis but he won’t move 15.59.30https://youtu.be/2Vul7RV667I N1 Aurora calls and Garry brings fish 16.19.14https://youtu.be/GPQqVzFJ2bI N2 Louis happily exchanges fish for time on the eggs 18.36.52
I really respect Ruth, the author of Raptor Persecution UK. Gamekeepers can be rather threatening/frightening people. She is a very brave woman.
For those who love the James Herriot series set in the Yorkshire Dales, they are not all nice and cheerful just like some of the big estates in Scotland do the most horrific things to our raptors.
Donations are down to every wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centre – including all of the dog and cat rescues. The Ventana Wildlife Society is having their major on line auction which might net you a tour of the Big Sur Condor area!
I want to add something. We praise those groups that are proactive and the Ventana Wildlife Society is no exception. 20 Condors died in Arizona from Avian Flu. The VWS set about getting permissions to vaccinate their condo. (Yes, a group of condors is called a condo!). The Ventana Wildlife Society, in partnership with the Oakland Zoo and Pinnacles National Park, vaccinated 98 wild condors (not those in zoos) from the Central California flock. 81 condors received at least the first dose, while 45 received the full two-dose series to protect against HPAI.
It was no easy feat with container cages needing to be built in a rather remote area! The determination of this small but dedicated group of individuals is admirable. It made me wonder why those who have access to chicks on streaming cams do not set about to not only band the birds but also to vaccinate them. A single dose vaccine has worked on mice and monkeys and would be ideal as it would be difficult to give the two-dose vaccine as eaglets and eyases are on the nest such a short time.
We are approaching fledge for Big at the Achieva Osprey platform in St Petersburg, Florida.
I love Big Red and Arthur. It is so exciting to see Big Red let Arthur fully participate in family life – he has certainly earned the right. Arthur is so devoted to Big Red and their babies – the pantry is rarely empty – unless it is on purpose near fledge. I am sad that they lost one of their babies but we don’t seem to need to worry about P3 who is small but mighty.
New Guy 2 has now brought Iris three fish (so far) today! I am so glad that the rushing river calmed itself in time. Cornell Bird Lab caught one of those deliveries on video: https://youtu.be/RkGQmYEkZro?
My goodness Iris is loud when she sees NG2 arriving with a fish!
I am so glad that fish did not break those precious eggs.
There are three osplets at Patuxent. Oh, my goodness. I worry about those nests.
The latest statement that I have found about the Glen-Hayes eaglets and whether or not the eaglet bodies will be retrieved:
“May 18, 2026 – GLEN HAZEL NEST STATUS
Status Update: Carol Holmgren, Executive Director, Tamarack Wildlife Center
Our hearts go out to all who love these eagles and are grieving. We have been blessed with 100% survivorship of eaglets from the Hays/Glen Hazel eagle nests over the past 14 years, while it is typical for 30% of eaglets to not survive until fledging age.
Kudos to the Glen Hazel moderator team for promptly noticing signs of illness in the chicks and notifying Tamarack Wildlife Center’s Executive Director and Licensed Rehabilitator Carol Holmgren on Friday morning, May 15. Carol immediately reached out to Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) and Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) colleagues, to loop them in that day, and has been in conversation since then. A few updates:
It is FWS policy to let nature take its course at eagle’s nests and only approve intervention when there is a threat to the eagles that has a clear human cause such as fishing line entanglement or swallowing a fish hook. In this instance, the eaglets were ill, but not with a clear human cause where FWS and PGC would approve intervention. Much as that is difficult for us to witness, it is part of the natural history that eagles live with daily.
The eaglets likely passed from Avian Influenza. Their symptoms and the progression of the illness is consistent with Avian Influenza, and they could have contracted it from ingesting goslings and geese that had been brought to the nest as food. We cannot know for certain without testing, but this is the most likely cause based on the evidence.
The adults may also have been exposed to the virus. They typically have a stronger immune system than the young birds, and may be able to fight off the virus. Time will tell. We will be monitoring them. There is no treatment that can be given while they are free-flying. If one is on the ground due to illness, it may be able to be treated by a rehabilitator.
Our hope is that their immune systems are strong and they can remain healthy.
Our highest concerns at this point are 1. supporting the health of the remaining adult eagles and 2. caring for the moderators and community who love these eagles.
Now that the two eaglets have passed, PGC has had extensive discussions about the risks vs benefits of accessing the nest to retrieve the now two deceased eaglets. They have decided not to pursue retrieval, in part to not stress the adult eagles through human presence at the nest.
There is no practical benefit to confirming that the eaglets succumbed to Avian Influenza, beyond the human desire to know. The disease is known to be endemic in Pennsylvania now and there are no management actions that would be taken with that information.
Due to the regulations and Acts protecting eagles and their nests, any access to the nest would also require both PGC and FWS support.
PGC will be continuing to monitor the situation. If an eaglet should fall to the ground, they may pursue retrieval and testing since stress on the adult birds would be less, and FWS approval would not be needed.
Below is the full statement shared by our colleagues in PGC today. We appreciate the thoughtfulness with which they have considered this situation, and their continued collaboration.
The Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) appreciates the concerns of the public regarding the eagles in the Glen Hazel Eagle Nest Cam, located in Allegheny County.
Wildlife watching opportunities, especially ones that can occur from anywhere thanks to wildlife cameras and digital technology, are a popular way for the public to learn and love wildlife.
Unfortunately, nature can be hard to watch at times. When situations occur on live wildlife webcams, including this eagle’s nest, human intervention is not always recommended or possible.
PGC evaluated the situation carefully and considered many factors including human safety and exposure to potential pathogens. Additionally, human intervention could further stress the adult eagles. Any actions must also comply with federal regulations related to the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. At this time, we have chosen to not intervene. If a safer opportunity presents itself in the future, we may pursue disease testing to hopefully determine what caused the death of these eaglets.”
I ‘love’ Blue 33 and Maya and I am so glad that the three little bobbleheads are doing so well. Those blue eyes and that light soft taupe down with their lovely back stripe and that black eye-liner. They are so precious….all babies are so cute but I do love the tiny little osplets before they hit the reptile stage!
The Girls got their favourite crunchy treats while Toby needed a new Little Lamb. These little squeaky toys were his first and to this day, some 15 months later, they remain favourites. This one is getting ready to celebrate Canada Day on 1 July.
Thank you so much for being with us. We wish you peace and calm.
Thank you to Geemeff for her extensive report on all things Loch Arkaig, to ‘PB’ for her great images and notes, to all those who posted information and videos on FB or YouTube keeping us informed of the latest happenings at the nests, and to the owners of the streaming cams, we are so very grateful to be able to share the lives of these amazing Avian families.
Thank you so much for your lovely comments and notes. I am so glad you enjoyed the post about those amazing female raptors! They are truly incredible.
Jill was up early Saturday morning catching a breakfast fish for her and the kids. It is hard for her – Big and Little are growing leaps and bounds and eating more and more and she still must maintain her own strength in order to go and fish for all of them. The nest cannot count on Jack who has an odd pattern of fish deliveries.
‘PB’ caught this great screen capture of Jill coming in with that early fish. She really is quite amazing.
I don’t recall worrying so much about a hatch at Big Red’s nest. It must surely be because we lost the first one and the nest has been so soggy this year with all the rain. The little one did make it! Thank goodness. There is so much prey. No one ever goes hungry on Big Red’s nest and never will unless there is a physical reason they cannot eat!
Saturday was always Ferris Akel Day. We watched and often chatted every Saturday during or was it after? the pandemic. I miss being able to sit and go on a bird tour with Ferris who is incredibly knowledgable. Today, I stepped in for a few moments. He was at the Blue Heron rookery and they had babies!
Ferris is a great distance away, which makes these images just that more special. Check him out on YouTube.
A work of art ‘Ghost Sky Dance’ that documents the illegal killing of the Hen Harriers in the Yorkshire Moors.
Some good news and some bad from Knepp Wilding about Turtle Doves.
Turtle doves are back!
This year our most longed-for winter migrants have been bang on time. Our first turtle dove was recorded at Knepp on 24 April. Already we’re hearing several male ‘turtle’s doing their territorial ‘turr-offs’ from dead trees in the Southern Block.
Once common in the 1960s, the UK now has fewer than 3,000 turtle doves, thanks mostly to the loss of protective habitat and the wildflowers which provide them with tiny, protein-rich seeds to eat. Numbers at Knepp remain around 20 singing males every year – that’s a quarter of the population in Sussex. Last year, however, just as their numbers were beginning to recover, the European Commission overturned a ban on hunting turtle doves in parts of Western Europe. Every turtle dove arriving in the UK is a tiny miracle.
The parents have returned to the nest and brought fish to the Dale Hollow Eaglets. One had fishing line and the AEF team was able to remove it.
The Sandy Steers Celebration of Life will be on 13 June 2026. It will be live streamed. Check their FB page for details.
Forestry England has another nest that has a streaming cam.
Olivia was not getting fish deliveries at the Severna Park Osprey platform in Maryland. She, like so many others last year, has abandoned her eggs, which have been eaten by crows. This is the first nest on a streaming cam in 2026 that the adults have had to abandon due to a lack of food. Please if you live in Virginia, please help those rally to stop the commercial fishing of Menhaden which is vital to the ecosystem for that entire area – including Maryland!
I want to give a shout-out to all those folks who are designing ingenious ways to feed the ospreys that live near or on their property. I won’t ever tell who you are, but I hope that what you try works and that those adults and babies thrive. You are my heroes.
Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Saturday 9th May 2026
Today was pretty much a repeat of yesterday, a calm routine of fish deliveries and incubation changeovers. Exactly what’s needed as life develops inside those beautiful speckled eggshells, moving slowly towards hatching day sometime in the first half of June. Louis delivered three fish for Dorcha taking the Nest Two tally to fifty, and Garry LV0 delivered two fish to Aurora 536 taking the Nest One tally to fifty three. Ospreys are migratory birds and this weekend celebrates International Migratory Bird Day, therefore tonight’s bonus item is a programme on bird migration.
The osplets at Lake Murray are doing great according to Heidi – and the little one has just the cutest bottom. Nice, round, and fat. This is all thanks to the new male at the nest!
The American Bird Conservancy (ABC)’s bird of the week, The Yellow-breasted Chat. Have a good read – see how much you can learn about this special feathered friend.
One of the things that I love about my tiny urban plot is that it is home to so many species of wildlife. Every year, we try to plant more shrubs and flowers to attract more bees and butterflies while making certain there are always decaying logs scattered about the property, providing a home for insects and a feast for so many of the birds. I can’t fight the big commercial enterprises that are destroying our planet, but I can make a difference right where I live – and so can you! It only takes one plant, specifically designed for your region and the bees or butterflies that live there, to make a difference. Why don’t you find a spot to plant something this year so that you can sit and watch the visitors come? And remember – please leave out water. It is the gift of life.
In London, the Queen Elizabeth II garden is attracting all manner of creatures! Enjoy the images.
A new haven for wildlife: London’s Queen Elizabeth II garden opens to the public – in pictures
It has been a week of ups and downs at our house. The weather is not helping. I find that warm days when we can be outside, even if it’s just sitting on a chair on the deck, are so beneficial to one’s mental health. As I have mentioned many times in recent years, Don is now in his fifth year of being diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia. For those that are unfamiliar, it is different than Alzheimer’s. This AI overview is rather good:
Lewy Body Dementia (LBD) and Alzheimer’s differ primarily in their initial symptoms and progression: LBD features early hallucinations, significant cognitive fluctuations, and Parkinson-like movement issues, whereas Alzheimer’s typically begins with memory loss. LBD often progresses faster and includes REM sleep disorders, whereas Alzheimer’s is generally slower and affects memory first.
Key Differences at a Glance
Initial Symptoms: LBD often starts with attention, executive function, and visual-spatial issues, while Alzheimer’s starts with short-term memory loss.
Fluctuations: LBD patients experience drastic, daily, or hourly changes in alertness and attention; Alzheimer’s symptoms are usually more consistent.
Movement: Parkinsonism (rigid muscles, slow movement, tremors) appears early in LBD, often within one year of cognitive decline. Movement issues appear in late-stage Alzheimer’s.
Hallucinations: Early, detailed visual hallucinations are common in LBD, while they typically occur in later stages of Alzheimer’s.
Sleep: REM sleep behavior disorder (acting out dreams) is a common early indicator of LBD, not Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s Association +4
Brain Pathology and Progression
LBD: Caused by abnormal deposits of alpha-synuclein proteins (Lewy bodies) that deplete brain chemical messengers.
Alzheimer’s: Caused by Amyloid plaques and tau tangles.
Progression: LBD tends to progress faster than Alzheimer’s, with a survival rate often averaging 5 to 7 years.
Why Diagnosis Matters An accurate diagnosis is critical because LBD patients may have severe adverse reactions to certain antipsychotic medications commonly used to treat behavioral symptoms in Alzheimer’s.
Many of you have written to me about a family member or partner that is suffering from memory loss. Please, please get them to a doctor for a diagnosis. The earlier, the better. It is incredible what treatments and medications they have now that they didn’t have five years ago!
Don’s disease is beginning to progress rapidly now. We enjoy every good moment as his apathy and hallucinations grow. I always remind everyone to also enjoy life as much as you can. Don’t sit and cry over what happened a year or ten years ago or more or worry about next year. Enjoy your life right now. You never know what is coming around the corner.
I will end there. Thank you for being with us today. Please take care. I am going to take tomorrow off. See you Monday evening.
Thank you to all of the contributors today – those great people with their daily summaries, videos, articles, and investigative reporting. Thank you to ‘PB’ and Heidi for keeping track of the US ospreys and to the owners of the streaming cams and UK Osprey Information FB.
Latest Update from Cornell: “The final Red-tailed Hawk egg began to show signs of hatching early on the morning on May 7 on day 36 of incubation. Watching closely, movement can be seen from the “pip,” or small hole in the egg, throughout the video. The hatching process can take 12–24 hours to complete, or longer in some cases.”
There is a rescue underway at Dale Hollow Eagle nest (see below).
I have to say that I have never been a ‘Hallmark Person’ – someone who sends cards and celebrates special days just because some company came up with an idea for making more and more money from us. This especially goes to Mother’s and Father’s Days because so many were raised by their Grandmothers who really were their Mums (like me, so mine could work), others had parents who died or abandoned them…sometimes when a day is happy for someone, it is a total sadness day for someone else.
That said, this year we are really going to give a shout out to the most incredible raptor Mum that I have seen in years. If I could send her a bouquet of fish and a card with fish that popped up, I would. They are all heroes who have overcome more challenges than we witness, but this year, a few stand out, and one, in particular.
The top Raptor Mum Award has to go to Jill at the Achieva Osprey Platform. I would love to know if anyone has witnessed a female leave their babies at such a young age when she realised that the little one was doing to die if more fish didn’t get on the nest.
So, let’s look back for a minute. Big hatched on 27 March, with Little following five days later, on 2 April. Yes, look at that spread. There were three eggs – Heidi and I have decided that Big was egg 1 and Little was egg 3.
The first time that Jill left the nest to catch a catfish was on the 15th of April. At the beginning, she only left the chicks around 1700-1800. She would leave and return in 25-30 minutes with a large catfish. As Jack’s deliveries diminished and the chicks’ need for more fish grew, Jill began going out twice a day. She would often wait to see if Jack would bring a morning fish, and if he hadn’t by 1030 or 1100, she would go fishing. Those trips to bring fish to the nest have now increased to three as she often now goes out after 1900.
Jill took a real risk leaving her tiny babies vulnerable. Jack was not there protecting them. He was not bringing food. Jill was starving. What choice did she have? Stay on the nest and watch her babies die? Abandon the chicks? She did neither. With bold determination, both babies appear to be growing and healthy. I wonder how many other osplets would have survived if their Mums would leave the nest and go and fish for them?
‘MP’ took this screen capture commenting what a beautiful wing pattern that it is —- and it is precisely perfect. Not a feather out of place!
‘PB’ keeps a good eye on what Jill is doing – and how Little is growing bigger and bolder.
My runner-up is Mrs T at the Trempealeau Bald Eagle nest, who, seeing her mate feed his chicks and another mate across the lake, was able to keep one of her eaglets alive by going out hunting and fishing.
There are two notable senior females that we could not miss on this Mother’s Day – Iris and Big Red.
Iris is at least thirty years old.
AI overview:
“Iris, the renowned 28-plus-year-old osprey at Hellgate Canyon, is estimated to have successfully fledged over 30 to 40 chicks in her lifetime. As of the 2024 season, she was still actively breeding, and she returned for the 2026 season to her nest at Missoula.
Total Lifetime Estimated Chicks: 30–40+
Recent Activity: In 2024, she successfully raised two chicks with her mate, Finnegan: Sum-eh and Antali.
Status: She is considered one of the oldest known living ospreys, nesting at the Hellgate Canyon site since at least the early 2000s.
Iris has had several mates over her long residency in Montana, including Stanley, Louis, and her more recent mates, consistently returning to the same area to nest”.
There is a published book that I have that show the move from the utility pole to Iris’s current nest that had a good history and images. (I need to find it!)
The other is Big Red, the Red-tailed Hawk whose nest is on the Cornell Campus at Ithaca, New York. She hatched in 2003 and was banded in October of that same year at Brooktondale, New York. Her natal nest is 7 miles from her breeding nest. Her first mate is believed to be Ezra (he was on camera when it began in 2012) but, no one knows for sure. Big Red probably started breeding by 2006.
Two separate AI entries, the first for Ezra and then Arthur:
AI:
“Big Red and her mate Ezra successfully raised 15 chicks together over the five years (2012–2016) they were followed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Bird Cams.
Key Details on Big Red and Ezra’s Offspring:
Timeframe: They nested together on the Cornell campus from 2012 until Ezra’s death in March 2017.
Consistency: The pair typically raised 3 chicks per year, with successful breeding seasons recorded on camera each year from 2012–2016.
Legacy: Ezra was known for his dedication to his family, often feeding the chicks and protecting them during harsh weather.
After Ezra’s passing in 2017, Big Red paired with a new mate, Arthur, in 2018.”
“As of the end of the 2024 season, Big Red and her mate, Arthur, have successfully raised 20 chicks to fledging at Cornell University since pairing up in 2018. Known for regularly laying 3 eggs in many seasons, she has produced a high volume of chicks, often laying 4 eggs in 2022 and 2024.
Key Details on Big Red’s Broods:
Total Fledged (approx. 2018–2024): 20 chicks.
Recent Seasons (2025–2026): In 2025, she laid 3 eggs. As of early May 2026, she is actively raising a new brood.
High-Volume Years: Big Red laid 4 eggs in 2022 and 2024.
Big Red is a highly successful Red-tailed Hawk monitored by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Bird Cams, and her nesting, egg-laying, and chick-rearing are tracked yearly.
We know that Big Red also laid a clutch of 4 eggs in 2026 as we are watching that nest now. The first hatch died during hatch. It is unclear as of 7 May if the remaining egg is viable. There are two chicks on the nest, cute little bobble heads.
In my memory, only one chick failed to fledge til this year, and that was K3, who had an issue with their jaw. K3 was rescued but did not survive. E3 is an ambassador for Cornell. Several died from window collisions on campus and one from West Nile Virus, last year. They are not ringed so we do not know the dispersal area.
Other brief news:
Johnson City’s eaglets are almost ready to fledge.
Ruth and Oren’s little hawklets at Syracuse University are doing fine.
Rescue Underway!
Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Wednesday 6th May 2026
Another calm routine day where not a lot happened, just fish deliveries and changeovers of egg-sitters. Garry LV0 brought Aurora 536 two fish, taking his tally to forty eight, and Louis brought one fish for Dorcha, taking the nest total to forty three. The weather was settled but is forecast to change to light rain showers with light winds overnight and through to tomorrow afternoon. Both nests fall under the Inver Mallie weather forecast area: https://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/2646094.
Wish everyone well, that is going to help the near-to-fledge eaglet at Dale Hollow and send positive energy to Big Red’s nest for a successful last hatch! There is lots of food for three!!!!!! Arthur is keeping that nest well stocked, no matter the weather.
Take care everyone…remember to think of those who cared and raised you no matter their gender this coming weekend. See you soon.
Thank you to ‘MP and PB’ for allowing me to use their screen captures of Jill at Achieva and for keeping me in touch with her remarkable journey of motherhood. I am grateful to all the owners of the streaming cams that allow us to witness the lives of these birds and to the AEF for their determination to help eagles when possible. I am always grateful to Geemeff for their summaries and videos of the day’s happening at the two Loch Arkaig nests!
Ever heard of the International Dawn Chorus? Well, it’s tomorrow.
AI Overview: International Dawn Chorus Day 2026 takes place on Sunday, May 3, 2026. Celebrated annually on the first Sunday in May, this global event encourages people to wake early to experience the peak spring birdsong, either by joining organized guided walks or simply listening from home.
Key Details for 2026:
The Experience: Birdsong peaks in early May as annual migrants arrive, providing a spectacular, immersive, and often therapeutic soundscape.
How to Participate: You can participate anywhere, from urban areas to nature reserves. Many enthusiasts join the #DawnChorusClub on social media to share their recordings and experiences.
Events: Specific, locally hosted, in-person events include a 5:30 AM walk in Toronto’s High Park and a 6:00 AM event at Crieff, UK, according to local event listings.
Why Birds Sing: The dawn chorus peaks in spring because birds are defending territories and attracting mates.
It is recommended to check local listings for nature walks in your area.
Let’s get out in nature – .
We had our first Robin in the garden Saturday morning. So happy. We were just chatting with Ann on Friday and I said we hadn’t had Robins in the garden for several years and there it was!
Did I tell you that Toby alerted the other evening and we had two deer eating from the feeders? Life is full of beautiful moments.
Today I am having to be very cautious. Toby has had his first ‘treatment’ for ticks, fleas, and worms. These Cavaliers have many health issues. I listened to a reader, now friend, and got the best treatment I could get. Still, I cannot have the cats licking Toby’s back as one of the ingredients is dangerous for them. So the Calicos are sleeping in Don’s room and Hugo Yugo and Missey are in mine. Tonight Toby and I will lock ourselves in and by tomorrow at noon, the treatment should be completely dry and all will be well til se have to do it again in a month.
I have learned a lot, and Toby will not go to the groomers anymore. He will only have the hair between his pads cleaned, his nails trimmed and his ears cleaned. I brush him every day and shampoo and condition as necessary – when it is muddy, it could be more than once a day. He is a Spaniel!!!!!!!! They sure love to get dirty.
The Girls are good and Don is hanging in there. we have our good days and bad days. The bad ones aren’t that bad anymore! I am working on some small renovations to the house. I wasn’t happy with the glass around the French doors that were installed – I don’t know why but it bothered me immensely so I am now working on installing bookcases with drawers and a lot of moulding.
They are IKEA. David put them together yesterday evening – a great young dad with two children who works very hard. All of that glass above will be covered up with some panelling modelled on Shaker doors. The question then is to paint or not paint? I will see how tired I am. The plan was to paint them the same colour as the walls, but David also said I could leave everything white and paint the French doors a white to match the bookcases and relax. That sounds easy! I am definitely changing the handles for knobs.
Keeps my mind busy.
There are names at two nests that I know of as of a few minutes ago –
At the nest of Jackie and Shadow, the school children selected the names Sandy for the oldest and Luna for the youngest out of the names sent in.
At the nest of Irvine and Stella, USSteel, the triplets have been named:
The Achieva Credit Union runs the cam but doesn’t get involved either the ospreys. Why doesn’t the chat group have someone run a naming contest for Jack and Jill’s two?
‘PB’ took this screen capture of their bursting crops of the US Steel eaglets. Irvine has been keen to ensure the little one is fed regularly, while Stella seems to take care of the older two. I wonder if the ‘baby’ smelled different when it returned from rehab/rescue – similar to the way our cats and dogs smell different when they come home from the vet, and the other pets in the house growl and dismiss or attack them
Achieva’s Mum Jill is incredible, and if there is a bird Mum of the Year, it could well be her for pitching in immediately when she saw her baby was going to starve to death and catching those catfish like Diane used to bring in. The difference is that Jill goes fishing at a specific time in the afternoon and always comes back with a nice catfish dinner. She sometimes goes out early, too, if Jack fails to bring in breakfish.
Big at Achieva has started self-feeding. He grabbed a small fish from Jack and ate while Jill fed her catfish to Little on Saturday.
The Kakapo streaming cam is live again. They are growing so fast and turning sooooo green. Just beautiful.
The hatch at the Cornell Red Tail Hawk nest of Big Red and Arthur is bothering me. I hope I am just being too cautious. It looks like one of those high-humidity crush eggs. I want to be terribly wrong about this concern. I haven’t seen any of Big Red’s eggs crush like this in the years I have been watching – and that has been a long time. (Please feel free to correct me!)
Arthur and Big Red are doing a lot of changeovers but they are sure now showing us anything. I sure hope those babies are fine. The Cornell Bird Lab has a whole Q & A on their hawks. People always ask:
How Old Are Big Red And Arthur?
Records show that Big Red was banded in the nearby town of Brooktondale, New York, during her first autumn in 2003. Arthur was first spotted by local birders on Cornell University campus as a fledgling in 2016.
Big Red picked Arthur to be her mate after her previous mate, Ezra, died. Arthur did not yet have his red-tail!!!!!!!!!!! But as we know, the birds know better than we do. Arthur impressed by presenting Big Red with a multiple squirrels, his great hunting skills showing he would be a good provider for their chicks, won her heart. The rest is history.
The nest is, as I recall, over the years, very successful, with all the eggs hatching but one. Only one chick, K3, did not fledge. Sadly, a few have died from window collisions on the campus and one from West Nile Virus. E3 is an ambassador for the Cornell Bird Lab.
The eyases of Oren and Ruth are so cute and becoming quite the characters. Lots of food including bunnies.
Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Friday 1st May 2026
A mainly routine day today after the excitement yesterday of an egg for Nest One finally arriving after six long years. Both first time parents Aurora 536 and Garry LV0 fulfilled their parental obligations with Aurora brooding the egg and Garry supplying fish, and quick meal breaks for Aurora while Garry took over egg duties. This bodes well for their next two eggs, due 3rd and 6th May. Garry delivered two fish, taking his tally to forty one, and on Nest Two, Louis also delivered two fish to Dorcha, although the first was just a tail-end snack. Their nest tally now stands at thirty five including two brought by Dorcha. Her third and probably final egg is due tomorrow, 2nd May, and with luck she won’t be disturbed by intruders like the one she fought off today, the English male Osprey whose Darvic looks like 286 and who’s intruded a couple of times already. Weather was settled but expected to change to light showers overnight with possible thunder showers tomorrow. Today’s videos:https://youtu.be/KsufkdeOL14 N2 Louis brings a tiny snack for Dorcha 06.44.34https://youtu.be/I9K9nCpFocQ N1 Garry brings Aurora a fish and remains on egg duty 11.11.28 https://youtu.be/tgDswzdcGxI N1 Garry brings a second fish but the first’s still there 15.01.43
Sadly the fishing line is still hanging out of the mouth of the only surviving of three osplets at the Moorings Park nest – Poor Winken. Is no one coming to help?
Thanks so much for being with us today. Enjoy being outside tomorrow. Smile. Listen for the birdsong. It will relieve whatever is aching your heart.
Thank you to all the contributors today – we appreciate your dedication and hard work on your summaries, your videos, your FB posts, and all the articles. Thank you so much to everyone who got in touch with me with news of happenings in Bird World and to the owners of the bird streaming cams, we are all grateful to you for allowing us into their lives.
Dr Green can correct me, but I am pretty sure that this is NG2. They are keeping an eye on the skies – possibly for Louis and other intruders.
Oh, Iris puts a smile on my face with or without a partner and with or without babies. She is so resilient. There are so many lessons to be learned from her including always keeping our house tidy!
‘PB’ has sent me another good news story: The little baby of Irvin and Stella had to be rescued. Everything went well. Here is the story: “Rescued little US Steel #11 (3rd hatch) swallowed synthetic fishing worm and already in digestive tract. Needed surgery and baby doing well.”
Jack has brought in a fish at Achieva, but the little one is not eating. Perhaps the eldest will survive. Send good wishes to this family. Mum is trying her best in difficult circumstances.
Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Saturday 18th May 2025
It was business as usual today – a fish was brought to each nest, taking Nest One total to sixteen and Nest Two to three, along with a few sticks and other nesting materials, and after dealing with an English intruder Osprey, ring either 2B6 or 286, Louis and Dorcha were reunited. Any lingering fears about Louis’ health were allayed by the vigour with which he commenced mating activity, he initiated multiples sessions which all appeared successful and we could be looking at eggs on Nest Two within 12 – 15 days, and on Nest One even sooner as Garry LV0 and Aurora 536 started much earlier. Fingers firmly crossed! The media enjoyed the return of Lockdown Louis and many emphasised the gettiing rid of the toy boy angle, link to one of the news articles in the bonus section – we wish JJ4 well but we are really happy to have Louis back.
That’s all for today. Take care everyone. See you soon.
Thank you to the owners of the streaming cams that allow us into the lives of these wonderful raptors and to ‘PB’ for sending me that wonderful good news story. A big shout out to Geemeff for the daily summary from Loch Arkaig and also to Kielder Forest for keeping us up to date. Thanks everyone!
It’s late so it is ‘good night’. Some news has been crossing over my computer that I think you might want to know if you do not already.
First up, JBS 24 fledged today. No tree, no branches to practice, just take off and go! That is precisely what this surviving eaglet did. Congratulations to everyone!
At Achieva, Jill brought in another catfish. Little got to eat its fill and went to bed with a huge crop. I wonder if she will do this every day? If so, Little will survive. Catfish are tough old things to try and take apart to feed but, my goodness, she has found the source that Diane must have used so there will be food unless something strange changes.
There is growing concern for the plight of Lola in Charlo, Montana. Charlie did not return from migration. I have to add him to the Memorial Wall. Lola has been knocked off the nest by a GHO, hard. There have been searches for her. No sighting. Thanks, ‘PB’, for alerting me to this situation. GHO strikes, often very hard ones, can result in the osprey being hit hard enough to be sore and tired. Let us hope that Lola is off in a tree recuperating. She has been defending the nest prior to the attack.
At the Sandpoint nest of Keke and Keo, the geese finally gave up on raising goslings, and Keo and Keke returned to their original platform. Now Keo has been missing for two days. Ospreys do go MIA – I can think of several. The females do, too, especially before eggs. Elen at Glaslyn is the latest reminder of this. So let’s not give up on Keo yet, but it is breeding season, and it doesn’t feel right.
Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Thursday 16th April 2026
Today saw the welcome return of JJ4, the young male from the western nest. He made his presence felt, first intruding on Dorcha with a very inept attempt at landing on her back, then returning in her absence and spending quite some time nestorising, including nest scraping and having a go at the troublesome stick. JJ4 also got rid of the tricky stick that Garry LV0 had brought this morning and dumped on Dorcha, and later on he got rid of Garry himself, defending the nest vigorously when Garry intruded. By contrast, things were quiet on Nest One – Aurora 536 received one fish taking Garry’s tally to fifteen, and had several mating encounters, at least two of which looked successful. Today’s videos:https://youtu.be/Sbm_OYe9MYU N2 Garry LV0 plays seesaw with Dorcha 09.38.22https://youtu.be/jgmmHJWLDD0 N2 JJ4 makes an undignified exit after intruding on Dorcha 10.04.35 https://youtu.be/-rKKuHCP9bQ N2 JJ4 returns to Nest Two in Dorcha’s absence and does some nest prep 10.56.18
Thanks so much for being with us again today. I am very tired – like Lola defending her nest. My house is now alarmed so that if Don wanders, I will know. The day was disruptive – for everyone, including The Girls and Toby. I am hoping for a much more gentle Friday.
I hope to have a wee bit of a break from posting but it seems the birds have other ideas!
Take care everyone.
Thank you to ‘PB’ for alerting me to the catfish delivery at Achieva. Thank you to everyone who posts info and images on FB and the owners of the streaming cams that allow us to worry all the time about our dear bird families.
I am writing today’s blog with a very heavy heart. Louis has not returned to Lock Arkaig 2. There was rain late on Saturday. Still, a part of me hopes that he will land on the nest and shock us all. The reality that he is not returning lingers, and it is a difficult pill to swallow. Jean-Marie Dupart has monitored the youngsters staying over in Senegal til they return to their birth homes at two years. He also notes this week that there remain some older ospreys, either setting off on migration late or deciding to stay in their winter homes. I would like to think that Louis has decided to retire, living his life out catching fish in the sun and sand of West Africa.
I am counting on Geemeff to put together a terrific memorial video to Louis if he does not turn up in the next few days. It will not be easy as Louis was such a big part of so many learning to love ospreys.
Windy and not so nice at Lach Arkaig 2 Sunday. Dorcha has not been seen at the nest on Sunday. Has she left to check out other possibilities?
Geemeff asked me if I remembered life before Toby. I do, but it is a life that will never return. We had a vacation in Guadaloupe – the last big holiday that Don and I will ever take, the February before adopting Toby in April. Don’s health began to deteriorate about a month after Toby arrived. What I didn’t say in my response is that I am very happy. I can’t turn back the clock. Don’s health is such that I can actually begin monitoring the ospreys more closely this year, since there are no long trips to see birds. We walk Toby and go to the park, watch the animals in the garden, and Ann is so helpful in getting him to The Leaf and The Zoo, places that Toby can’t go. I have good support. Toby also means I will be spending much time in the garden, as he loves company and patrols the perimeter in case any of those ‘cats’ come inside. Today, we worked on spreading birdseed and peanut shells and painted a lidded bench that Ann gave me for his clothes. Don was content to sit in front of the telly (yes, that is where we are). I am not complaining – life is just changing, and Toby and the Girls and I are adjusting ourselves to this changing reality.
We are also putting out all the signals that spring is arriving. The forecast says it will be 18-20 C on Wednesday. You have to be kidding me. Or is it another year of roller coaster rides, with up-and-down temperatures from extreme heat to cold? Toby says a barbecue might be good!
What are the things you do that signal a change from winter to spring in your mind?
The RSPB is advising individuals to remove their birdseed tables and feeders and use suet and solid seed cylinders instead. We are going to do this when my last batch of seed bags runs out this year. The aim is to prevent avian flu. Have a read to see how you can help. Avian Flu is not restricted to the UK; it is a global phenomena that probably killed our much beloved Annie, the peregrine falcon from The Campanile, in San Francisco and the thousands of geese here in Manitoba.
At Rutland’s Manton Bay osprey platform, Maya laid her third egg on Saturday. Blue 33 would like to have four again!
We can’t forget about the wonderful Bald Eagles, and SK Hideaways has put together some memories of Eve and Kai at the nest of Gabby and Beau before these two beautiful eaglets depart. It has been a magical year at this nest. https://youtu.be/yLkrhOSwPmQ?
Bety and Bukacheck have returned to the Mlady Buky White Stork nest.
At Fort St Vrain, the two eaglets are already scooting out of the nest bowl. The youngest did so at five days old! I am impressed. I also hope that those remaining eggs do not hatch despite Mum continuing to incubate them and brood these characters! It is pip watch for the last one.
You can clearly see the ‘ears’ on the triplets at the Fraser Point nest of Andor and Cruz in California.
‘J’ keeps me up on the latest kakapo news:
“Andrew Digby made a comparison with 2019:
This year’s #kakapo breeding season has been the biggest on record: – 256 eggs (252 in 2019) – 148 fertile eggs (116 in 2019) – 105 eggs hatched (86 in 2019). It’ll be 2+ months until we know how many chicks will fledge (73 in 2019). There are currently 95 alive.”
Thanks, ‘J’.
SK Hideaways also sent me a link to share with everyone – the return of the Golden Eagle!
We have our first egg for Dylan and Seren Blue 5F at Clywedog! 13:27 was the time.
If you are wondering why I am not reporting on many of the North American nests, I’m so glad that Heidi is keeping up with them – I don’t know how she manages it. I track a small number, a very small number. Heidi will begin her reporting when there are chicks hatching.
Heidi reports: “4/12 – The Venice kids are doing great. They are 23, 22, and 20 days old.
The chicks at Brevard have had lots of fish as the wind in the region has diminished. Achieva chicks are doing OK, too much to my surprise. I would still like to see a pile of fish on that nest, but Jack doesn’t leave them there, as that could easily attract predators.
It continues to rain and with all the snow melting, all manner of wildlife are coming into our neighbourhood including frolicking deer! Posted on our FB community page:
Screenshot
Thank you so much for being with us today. Please take care. We will see you soon!
Thank you to SK Hideaways for continuing to create videos even while on holiday, to all the individuals, including Heidi, who post recent nest information and images on FB, and the owners of the streaming cams, so that we can watch these wonderful avian families. Thanks, ‘J’, for not letting us forget about the kakapo!
I will just start with the sadness and move on to some gladness and some ‘bloody plain anger’. The third hatch at the Brevard County Osprey platform has died. Food was not always plentiful, the weather turned miserable, and the entire family was hungry. Thankfully, the wee babe did not suffer long.
There continues to be concern about food at that nest and the second hatch at Achieva needs more food, too. Thanks, ‘PB’ for being eyes and ears at these nests for me.
Brood reduction is a real thing by females experiencing hunger and understanding there is not enough food for everyone. Alan Poole wrote an article in 1982 on this subject. Here is the abstract:
In an effort to understand patterns and causes of nestling loss in Ospreys (Pandion haliaetus), I studied brood reduction in three eastern U.S. Osprey colonies during 1978 and 1979. The colonies, located in Florida Bay (1) and on coastal Long Island, N.Y. (2), differed in the average daily amount of food delivered to nestlings; Florida nests received 43% and 11% less fish per day than nests in the two N.Y. colonies, largely because latitude and season restricted day length and thus foraging time for the winter-breeding Florida Ospreys. Increased distance from stable food sources accounted for the lower rate of feeding at one of the N.Y. colonies. Variation in clutch size in the three colonies reflected differences in latitude more than in food availability; average clutch sizes in Long Island were larger than Florida clutches by 0.5 of an egg, but were similar to each other and to those in other northeastern U.S. Osprey populations.Increased nestling loss coincided with reduced food delivery rates and, in food stressed colonies, this loss was 2-3 times greater than any recorded for Ospreys. Starvation was the primary cause of nestling death, with mortality concentrated on third chicks, which hatched on average 3.9 d later and from eggs 5.6% smaller than chicks hatching first. Sibling aggression accounted for the preferential feeding of older nestmates,but only in colonies or nests where food was limited. Aggressive chicks nearly always stopped fighting after being fed. This behavior provided a reversible mechanism for controling brood reduction that was based on nutrition. Growth rates of young measured during the first half of the growth period were more variable between colonies than within nests. This is interpreted as reflecting both the differences in colony food delivery rates as well as the evolutionary pressures of sibling competition to equalize the growth of nestmates.
Title of full article: Poole A. Brood reduction in temperate and sub-tropical ospreys. Oecologia. 1982 Apr;53(1):111-119. doi: 10.1007/BF00377144. PMID: 28310611.
I don’t know about you, but I need some cheering up. Winter feels like it is never going to end. We woke up to snow everywhere Wednesday morning and then rain. The sun did come out and the skies turned blue and it was brilliant. It seems that I am not the only person in the world that needs birds to feel the joy. Jackie and Shadow’s babies made The Guardian (along with at least fifty other news outlets). The author says, “Over Easter weekend, thousands of people tuned in to celebrate something spectacular unfolding 145 feet up a pine tree in southern California’s San Bernardino national forest – the hatchings of two bald eagle chicks.”
It just seems to continue on those big estates in the UK and, particularly, in Scotland. Why makes gamekeepers and other humans think that they can shoot or poison beautiful raptors that are protected? Sometimes I would like the penalty to match the deed! That is how sick I am of reading about these offenses.
Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Wednesday 8th April 2026
Another exciting day full of action and nest-swapping! Aurora 536 and Garry LV0 invaded Nest Two and Garry even attempted mating there, until a furious Dorcha swept in and chased them away, with the aerial battle visible on nest cam in the distance. Aurora was given two fish by Garry on Nest One, took the first and ate it, and rejected the second – along with Garry’s advances – until it had been on and off the nest a few times. They did however appear to have at least one successful mating attempt but many more are needed if we’re going to get chicks on Nest One this season. Another intruder female, not yesterday’s, tried to hang out with Garry until he chased her off, and the day ended with an endearingly clumsy juvenile Barn Owl putting in an appearance on Nest One. No Louis yet but there’s still time, and the weather is good.
Nests are not settled. Mispillion Harbour is one of those and resident female, Della, is fighting or her nest with her life on the line. Aran appears to have abandoned Glaslyn and is over near a grove of trees so that one of the monitors can keep an eye on him. If he doesn’t have a mate, like he did last year, it will be a shame. His last chick with Mrs G has been seen in the area and his first two chicks with Elen are also in the area. Good DNA there! Elen you are missing out. Elen has also not been seen at the nest since last Sunday (I believe that to be correct) with Teifi arriving to make matters worse if Elen and Aran did show up together.
Louis has not returned to Loch Arkaig but his favourite date to return is 11 April so I am holding on to hope.
Dyfi wants you to join the fun and guess the first egg!
Some more Nestflix – the birds are so much more interesting than what is on the streaming cams!!!!!! Seriously.
And more…
Heidi is watching so many nests this breeding season and sadly some of them are in areas where getting fish to the nest is a challenge. ‘PB’ has been watching the Florida nests and we have some serious issues at Brevard County. The weather is not letting up and Dad cannot fish with those waves. Mum is really hungry and the two surviving of three babies are starving. Mum fed them their dead sibling this morning.
Heidi reports we have egg 2 at Moraine Beach.
Ospreys are now on the Barnegat Light platform – the camera is up and running. I am not entirely certain on the identity of these birds.
Lola has returned to Charlo Montana.
And, of course, we still have Bald Eagles. Dearest little Peanut keeps getting ravaged by that bloody owl at the Winter Park nest.
I do support them and their campaign and this is not a commercial site so I hope I don’t get into too much trouble by putting up images of Jackie and Shadow and their babies. This nest brings nearly 40,000 viewers at the moment great joy. That is what nature does for us – not the news! I know that many are without jobs, have been recently laid off, are living on a fixed low income, and cannot support the Moon Camp campaign. But, you can do other things. Why not send -emails to various businesses to try and get them to sponsor the saving of Moon Camp? Put out water for your local birds. They really need it more than food. Think about what you can do without spending a cent!
Mum and Baby at Duke Farms are doing very well.
There are now three eaglets at the Fort St Vrain Bald Eagle nest.
The Ventana Wildlife Society cares for the California Condors. You should care about this amazing bird that cleans up our environment and protects us. Watch – find out how many still exist in the wild, what is happening this breeding season, and how people are helping. https://www.youtube.com/live/th4-OBjWAxw?
It is going to be a very difficult year for many nests. Seas and waterways, as well as our planet, are warming, and this has enormous implications for our wildlife (and us).
This really is a wake-up call for all of us. Please take care of yourself. Send our nests good positive wishes. If you have a wand that can drop fish on nests – please send some to Achieva and Brevard.
See you soon!
Thank you to ‘PB, Heidi, and Geemeff’, to those who create videos and post information on FB, to The Guardian that continues to monitor the environmental news and post it for us to educate ourselves, and to the owners of the streaming cams that allow us to see these remarkable families – thank you. Thank you to the authors of very informative articles including Alan Poole.
