Tag Archives: Audubon Centre

Eve fledges, Big Red lays 2nd egg, hatches happening…

27 March 2026

Good Afternoon Everyone,

It’s a bit chilly at -7 C this morning but there is a beautiful blue sky and bright sunshine to make us feel warm. The birds are all over the garden looking for seed through the fresh snow that we woke up to. Spring will come. There will be lots of moisture in the ground. That will be a blessing. I see Mr Blue Jay has arrived along with the Starlings, Dark-eyed Juncos, and various types of sparrows. Those Blue Jays are so gorgeous against the white snow.

We had a lovely visit with our daughter and grandson yesterday. Jaine came with a homemade Opera cake that could win any Bake Off prize in the world.

This little red squirrel is keeping everyone curious. It darts in and out of the woodbox and under the deck, caching nuts. Hugo Yugo is completely intrigued and sits at the window watching for hours. Isn’t it cute?

Oh, I love this Red-tailed Hawk. For many, Big Red was one of the first raptors they watched on a streaming cam. There is a great Facebook group, along with a live chat from hatch to fledge. This chat will blow you away for one specific reason – each of the moderators is so knowledgeable. Laura Culley used to be one of them. There are set times when chat is open, and historical data and new science are always being added. You could not find a better place if you want to learn about hawks! I will let you know when chat is open and how to find it.

At the nest of Beau and Gabby, the oldest eaglet, Eve, fledged! She really manted to join Kai who earned his wings the day prior.

Lisa Russo posted Gretchen’s post on FB. Thank you, Lisa.

Screenshot

Heidi reports a pip at Brevard County Osprey platform and she was right – there is a chick at Brevard this morning.

Four eggs for Elaine and Newmann at Spirit Bluff scrape.

I was delighted to hear from Lisa, one of our great Bird World members and a daily reader, who also is key at the Audubon Centre for Birds of Prey. An article has been published about her work there. Have a read! Lisa is a real inspiration. I am so proud of her – and her award as Volunteer of the Year in 2024.

Maybe someone reading this article about Lisa might be motivated to volunteer locally.

A Creative, Behavior-Focused Approach to Bird Enrichment | AudubonDownload

One of the eagles at the Audubon Centre that is benefiting from the devotion of many like Lisa is River.

At the Winter Park Bald Eagle nest Peanut has branched. That is wonderful. Peanut’s older sibling, Brutus, is also at the Audubon Centre after being knocked off the nest by a GHO.

So where is Quinn? Diane Lambertson posted a FB message that might hold that answer.

The IWS has given a beautiful name to the female at the West End Bald Eagle nest in the Channel Islands.

Angel has returned to her nest at Loch Doon and they say Frankie is coming in behind her.

Wildlife Windows caught her arrival on video: https://www.youtube.com/live/a7Aocq3fybM?

A great presentation by Dr Tim McKrill on osprey migration for us and the Osprey Leadership Foundation: https://youtu.be/wlJoNyKapfc?

Watching for Idris and Telyn to arrive at Dyfi.

SK Hideaways is on a mission to a faraway place. They sent one video this morning. Thank you! Safe and wonderful travels.

West End Eagles ~ Catalina Island, CA
F & Lee Inseparable on Flirty Pre-Naming Day ~ Must Be Love😍 (2026 Mar 23)
F’s name should be announced tomorrow! She and Lee were celebrating together all morning as they repeatedly soared from nest to tor to secret hideout. They were inseparable and had much to chortle-snortle about. There was no interest in mating, but there sure were a lot of goo-goo eyes between them plus one of the sweetest beaky kisses I’ve ever seen. 
Video: https://youtu.be/PYNBCu8Tw0o
Courtesy Institute for Wildlife Studies | explore.org | West End Eagles Cam Ops 
Nest Low Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wfuqjSNXZ14
Other Nest Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RmmAzrAkKqI
Overlook Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kad6O4nF6bg

This female is now Isla.

Two ospreys at Pitkin County this morning.

There is a hatch underway for Bella and Scout at the NCTC Bald Eagle nest. Let’s send this family our best wishes. They lost their beautiful eaglets last year in a nest collapse. It was so sad for everyone.

Despite some deaths, it appears that the Kakapo breeding season is going to be a success.

Thank you for being with us today. Please take care of yourself. Have a marvellous weekend. We will be back soon – too much happening. We are on pip watch for Andor and Cruz at Fraser Point.

Thank you to Lisa Ferguson for sending me that great article. Congratulations! I am grateful to everyone who supplied videos, to those who posted on FB, and to the owners of the streaming cams that let us watch our bird families.

Peace at the Port Lincoln Osprey Barge and other news in Bird World

26 October 2022

Good Morning to Everyone!

Oh, gosh, golly. Tomorrow I will be telling you what a wonderful day it is but today, it is another grey, cloudy, and miserable day. The joy is seeing all of the birds in the garden this morning. There is a row of lilac bushes about 13 metres long. Every branch is moving a little. If you look long enough, you can see the birds. (There are still leaves on those bushes). So happy that you could be with me and the birds.

Little Red and I hope that you have a fantastic day today!

Making News:

Lori Covert posted an image of the new Osprey platform for Lena and Andy. Oh, my goodness. Isn’t this wonderful! Thank you Lori and Connor at Windows to Wildlife.

There she goes!

It is always nice to have a really good news story and this is one of those. Thinking back on the eaglets from last spring, you might well remember the eaglet from the US Steel Nest, that ‘fludged’. Rosie was taken into care and on the 21st of October, after being in care for 5 months, this beautiful eaglet was released into the wild. Read the full story here:

https://triblive.com/local/shes-a-big-girl-now-rehabbed-steel-mill-eagle-rosie-released-with-a-7-foot-wingspan/?fbclid=IwAR1_oN5Jh-Lolusjh8w3fT–bsAPgl597KbzTHy5OGx_NdH-x63SkqtEhCI

https://www.observertoday.com/news/latest-news/2022/10/audubons-bald-eagle-liberty-dies/?fbclid=IwAR0mVfXhkw59mBB1xiw3a68JL63yA40RVVTbDcK431cB95pMfa4d9qBDvRA

The Audubon Centre’s beautiful Bald Eagle ambassador, Liberty, has died. She is going to be sadly missed by all the visitors and the staff she has delighted for decades.

Here is her story:

Liberty, Audubon’s Bald Eagle has passed

One of the things that I am looking forward to, when I next visit the UK, is a murmuration. There are many places to travel to see these amazing images of Starlings (and others) – hundreds if not thousands – flying and changing direction is a distinct coordination. A murmuration will take your breath away the first time you see one. Check to see if there are any local happenings near you!

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/oct/22/country-diary-a-vast-murmuration-of-lapwings-and-starlings

If you are unfamiliar or just want a refresher on murmurations, here is a very good to the point short article by The Woodland Trust.

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/blog/2018/11/starling-murmurations/

I would add Gretna to that listing.

Australian Nest News:

Checking on the Australian nests later in the day, another nice fish landed on the Port Lincoln barge at 12:04:11. Oh, I thought Big was going to be a bit grumpy but, she wasn’t. She always demands to be fed first and Middle began his snatch and grab and eating – he is behind Mum – about half way through the fish. Oh, Middle is getting so smart! He is now eating very well in part because Big has calmed, there are big fish arriving on the nest, the pair eat more at a sitting but require less feedings…and also Middle being clever. He can really read the environment and he watches and listens and knows when to stay out of Big’s way!

Middle is behind Mum enjoying the last half of that fish. Big will, like usual, want some late fish but there is lots.

Big decides she wants another bite!

Mum gives Middle some fish scrapes but she also gets to eat a few bites herself.

There is absolutely no discord. All is going well. Dad brought in a bedtime snack late in the day. It was 1953.

The cam operator took some lovely close ups of Big and Middle earlier.

If you have been avoiding Port Lincoln for fear of further beaking, now is the time to return. The nest is very harmonious. These two are getting their beautiful juvenile plumage and they are beginning to be much steadier on their walking. They will be measured, weighed, banded, given names and their genders will be revealed at a time to be determined from the 12-14th of November. Here is the link to their streaming cam:

At Orange, Diamond picked around through the scrape finding tidbits of scraps to feed to Indigo and Rubus around 1050. At 10:54:36, Xavier arrives with what looks like a well prepped parrot. Indigo got the first of many good bites but, then, all of a sudden, Rubus, who had been standing on the Cilla stones, decided he was famished. My goodness is Rubus aggressive when there is food around!!!!!!!!!!!

Here is a cute video of the 1530 feeding at Orange yesterday. There are some great images of Rubus! It is nice to hear the sounds and see the eyases moving and wanting food!

This video was shot from the side cam but ‘A’ is telling me to make sure we look at the ledge cam often as it covers the corner that Indigo and Rubus are liking for sleeping.

Melbourne’s pigeon population is dwindling — OK. I doubt if the number of pigeons will even be noticed but, normally, on an Osprey nest with three chicks, anywhere from 450-500 food items are eaten. I wonder how many on a Falcon nest? Five feedings a day?? Yesterday was an interesting one. At 0834, there was a tug of war and a small prey item was taken and the eyases were self feeding.
After breakfast, there was another pigeon delivery at 1013:07 and then another one at 13:51. The 1013 feeding lasted 10 minutes with Mum and Dad feeding the eyases. The 1351 lasted 18 minutes.

Food is such a great motivator. The eyases will, eventually, get themselves up out of the gutter where they have been running and sleeping for that lovely pigeon.

The Melbourne Four will have another two meals before the day is over. At 1437 there is a terrifically short feeding of two minutes with the longer evening meal lasting seventeen minutes at 1849. Thank you to ‘H’ for providing those feeding lengths and confirming my times.

Just look at those wings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This image is from that self-feeding frenzied moment earlier in the day.

Thank you so very much for being with me this morning. Take care everyone. See you soon!

Thank you to the following for their streaming cams, posts, and videos that make up my screen captures: Liz M and Charles Sturt Falcon Cam, Charles Sturt Falcon Cam and Cilla Kinross, Lori Covert Instagram Post, Observer Today News, Tribilive, Port Lincoln Ospreys and 367 Collins Street by Mirvac.