Tag Archives: Australian wildlife

Fastest on the planet

The arrival of the fourth eyas at the 367 Collins Street Peregrine Falcon nest took everyone by surprise. Looking carefully, viewers proclaimed a fourth head bobbing about – and they were right. I have no idea when during the night this little one entered the world but all are happy. Parents are busy brooding and feeding!

“Wake up everyone. You have to eat some more pigeon so you will grow big and strong.”

Wakey, wakey!!!!!!

“But, Dad, we just ate. That doesn’t matter darling. Your mother told me to feed you often so no one is hungry.”

“That’s right. Open wide.”

Some of the eyases have their eyes open today.

Ah, beautiful mom with her four babies tucked under her.

Those four little fluff balls will become the fastest animal on the planet. They can fly 390 kmh. The chicks will become ‘flying predators’. It is hard to imagine but before we blink, they will have fledged. Their parents feed them til they can hunt successfully. Then Mum and Dad will do what all birds of prey do – send the kids out on their own to establish their own territory. As far as Dr Victor Hurley, head of the Victorian Peregrine Falcon Project, knows, this couple is the only one in downtown Melbourne. Imagine.

Peregrine falcons were used for hunting in the medieval era. In England, they were called ‘falcon gentle’. Frederick II (1194-1250, Holy Roman Emperor, rated the peregrine falcon as being as good as the best gyrafalcon. Peregrine falcons are 35-51 cm long and have a wingspan of 79-114 cm. The females weigh 740 grams to 1.3 kilos while the smaller male is from 550-750 grams. English kings used the peregrine falcon for hunting herons, cranes, ducks, and rooks.

Here is a great video (8 minutes) about the falcons.

To test the speed of a peregrine falcon against a new generation of electric racing cars, a contest was set up. Have a look:

It is such a privilege for us to be able to watch these four chicks grow into masters of the skies. I love falcons!

Updating news on the Port Lincoln Ospreys. Dad brought in a late night feed yesterday at 18:24:55. He had another fish on the nest this morning early, at 6:09:52. Those three are doing just fine!

Thank you for joining me today. Why don’t you check in on the falcons? Here is the link:

Take care everyone! Tomorrow I will introduce you to some of the visitors to the garden today.

Thank you to 367 Collins Street Falcons by Mirvac where I took my screen shots.

Proud Mums

This screen capture was taken yesterday afternoon. Look at how well the three eyases are doing – within hours of hatching. Simply beautiful. Their eyes were closed but they will be open today.

Little Dad arrives with prey.

All of those images came from yesterday.

The following images were taken on 1 October. It is early morning. Mom is going to get up and take a break. You can see Dad standing on guard while she is away from the nest.

In the image below you can clearly see the fourth egg. You can also see the other shells.

Awwww. Sweet. Such a proud and beautiful mom.

Quite honestly I cannot tell you that there are four eyases. that is the same egg shell and well, I just continue to believe that there are three and may always be three.

There is another proud and happy mom and that is the female at the Port Lincoln Osprey Barge. She has every reason to believe that the curse that has hung over this nest – the curse of siblicide – will not happen this year. Life is good on the nest. Dad seems to have a new interest in getting fish on the nest when they are needed. In addition, he has often stayed on the nest for a few minutes or longer after a delivery. I don’t believe he is there to take the fish from Mum but, rather, to help maintain order.

I love how the sun just makes Mum glow.

Dad delivered a fish at 6:51:12. It wasn’t a whopper but it was a nice size for the chicks to start their day. And it came early! Thanks, Dad.

Look at those sweet faces lined up waiting for some bites.

Already their crops are expanding. (One day I would like to actually touch one and see if they are hard squishy).

By 8:24, Mum has the kids tucked in. Eat and sleep, sleep and eat. That is what little ospreys and falcons do!

But wait! Those chicks have hardly gotten to sleep. Is it another fish delivery? Mom is sure off the babes and calling.

She walks around the sleeping babies carefully. She can see Dad coming in with the fish! Wake up kids. Time to eat!!!!!!!! What, again?

One is so full from the previous feed that it can’t even get up to eat. But, if the length of the coppery peach feathers on the neck is anything to go by, Little Bob is up at the table having another plate full. He would be the one up at the table on the left.

Another one gives in to food coma. This is so crazy. Two are already passed out from food comas and it is only 8:32 in the morning. Dad, you amaze me.

Oh, this last chick is going to be so full. What a wonderful way to begin the day.

Mum was still feeding at 8:39. It is a nice fish. Are the others waking up and wanting more? No, looks like one is out for the count.

By 8:44, the fish is gone and all of the chicks are rolled up into balls trying to sleep off those two feedings.

If this level of food delivery and stability continues on the Port Lincoln Nest, this will be the first year in the history of the nest that three osplets fledge. There are so many people around the world overjoyed at the change. It really is something to celebrate.

These are two very proud moms and for good reason.

Thank you for joining me. Take care everyone. Stay safe!

Thank you to the following for their streaming cams where I took my screen shots: 365 Collins Street Falcons by Mirvac and the Port Lincoln Osprey Project.

Chow time!

As far as can be determined, three of the four eggs at 367 Collins Street have hatched.

Those eyases got their first feed of pigeon!

Oh, look at that little beak wide open leaning over towards the adult wanting some food.

Awwww. Their eyes remain closed for the first 24 hours but, there they are with those little pink beaks open wide wanting food. Great instincts.

Sound asleep. The eyases will, in a couple of days, be jumping up for food when they hear the familiar sounds of their parents telling them it is time to eat.

The information on the Canadian Peregrine Foundation’s website is really good. They have a few fantastic images showing you, visually, how the eyases will develop. If you click on a picture, it will give you information on how these wee ones will change and grow.

http://www.peregrine-foundation.ca/info/ageguide.html

Speaking of feedings, the Port Lincoln Osprey Barge has had quite a few. After my last check yesterday, they had more deliveries at 13:20:31, 14:33:37, 16:03, and another around 18:37ish. Sometimes the chicks were so full from the previous feeding, they were not so interested! Good work Mum and Dad!

You can still see the crops on all three after the previous feeding. Just look at how dark they are today but check out those big white feet!!!!!!!!! I could not possibly tell you which one is Little Bob today.

It was not a huge fish but it did top all of them up and left a bit for Mum and Dad.

Mom enjoying some time alone on the perch.

Oh, just look at those sweet babies trying to tuck themselves under Mum.

They might have thought it was the end of the feeding but Dad brought in a nice fish around 18:37 and this feeding will ensure that their tummies are full for the night. Full osplets are happy osplets!

All is well!

We will have to wait and see if that fourth egg at Collins Street will hatch today. Even if it doesn’t, three healthy eyases are just fine.

Thanks for stopping in. I am so glad you could join me for a short visual stop in to see how things are going at these two nests. Take care!

Thank you to the Port Lincoln Osprey Project and the 365 Collins Street Falcon Cam by Mirvac for their streaming cams where I took my screen shots.

1,976 people watch the hatch at Collins Street!

And at 10:02:38 the second eyas broke through its shell. Mum picked through the yolk and it is right in the middle of her breast.

Now she is looking around for Dad to tell him all the good news if he doesn’t know already.

One of the things I find fascinating about falcons (all birds that I know) is that they talk to the chicks encouraging them to hatch. That coupled with hearing the peeps from their siblings must be invigorating.

Let us hope the other two are out by noon. It could certainly happen.

Wait, are there three now? That one egg was pretty smushed. Oh, gosh. It could be. We will wait to be sure.

Meanwhile there has been a feeding at the Port Lincoln Osprey Barge. Dad was taking a fish to the nest around 7:25. The camera was focused on the ropes so it was hard to tell. By 7:48:46, the trio had small crops. (The fish did not look huge).

The babies are so sweet with their big feet, fat little bottoms and tails that are beginning to grow.

Wow. It is an absolutely great morning down in Australia. How could it be any better?

Well, it just did. I heard Mom talking to Dad and she is letting him brood and incubate while she takes a break. Way to go!

Looking forward to the next two confirmed hatches at Collins Street. Tomorrow they will be soft and fluffy with little pink beaks and feet! Adorable. I cannot wait.

Meanwhile, you can check it out yourself on YouTube. If you have never watched peregrine falcon eyases eat and grow, then I encourage you to do so.

Bye everyone,. Thanks for joining me on this very short announcement. Stay safe.

Thank you to the following for their streaming cams where I get my screen shots: Port Lincoln Osprey Project and 367 Collins Street Falcons by Mirvac.

Hatch at 367 Collins Street!

Mum was very restless around 04:00 on the 30th of September in Melbourne. She could hear her babies – and, in particular, she must have know that one of them was about ready to hatch.

That hatch came at 8:36:03!

Look at that little pink eyas covered with soft white down coming into the world.

Mom has dutifully removed the shell and is keeping the wee one warm. Wonder how many more will hatch today?

Look at Mum. She is glowing, not grumpy looking1. One baby has arrived safe. Three more to go.

Peregrine Falcons do a delayed incubation. This means that while they spend some time incubating the eggs that are laid, they do not go into a hard 24/7 style of keeping the eggs warm until the final one is laid. This way they hatch closer together and there is less cause for rivalry. In 2020, all three girls hatched within six hours.

Dad: start stocking up on pigeons!

I couldn’t wait to tell you.

You can watch all of the excitement here:

Oh, it is eggciting. I just love this peregrine falcon family.

Take care everyone. Thanks for checking in!

And thanks to 367 Collins Street by Mirvac for their streaming cam where I took these screen shots.

Birds ‘Down Under’

Go and grab the tissue box or a handkerchief, you are going to need it. Lady Hawk has put out the season highlights for the Royal Cam family – LGL, LGK, and Tiaki! And while you are watching it, Tiaki is off being an albatross 95 km off the coast of Canterbury, New Zealand. She is going about her day, flying, landing on the water, and looking for squid!

Holly Parsons posted an article about Tiaki that appeared in a NZ paper. You might enjoy reading it. There are some interesting facts such as 2.3 million people watched the Royal Cam chick from 1 December til fledge which amounted to 400,000 hours of streaming cam time! Wow.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/environment/300416181/royal-cam-star-tiaki-leaves-the-nest-as-bumper-albatross-breeding-season-wraps-up?fbclid=IwAR3mU94gmZpSDSRkFJ5U6MyqECSisvbspK0u9XXu3fAh3GXRGeUHegbLXDw

Clearly none of us knows what it is like to have to incubate four large peregrine falcon eggs for over a month but, early in the morning the Mom in the scrape box in Melbourne has been getting much more restless. Will all four hatch within six hours? Wow. That will just be crazy. I hope little Dad has been stashing pigeons somewhere close. If Mom refuses to give up her incubation duties, we will know that she is listening to the chicks and there could be a pip or a crack.

Thank goodness the earlier rains have stopped!

Here is the link to this streaming cam so you can watch the action when these sweeties hatch:

It will be about a week before there will be a hatch at the scrape box on the water tower at Charles Sturt University in Orange. Mom is trying to catch all the sleep she can before the trip join her and Xavier.

It would be wrong to put the link to the camera in Melbourne and not the one to Xavier and Diamond. This couple is such a sweet pair.

It is a little wet at Port Lincoln Osprey barge this morning. Mom is, no doubt, giving Dad some ‘Door Dash’ orders for breakfast.

The little one doesn’t seem to mind the few drops of rain. I just can’t get over how well these chicks blend in with the nest. Nature is the best designer!

If you have hesitated to watch this nest, I encourage all Osprey lovers to embrace it. The chicks are doing so very, very well. Here is that link:

The White Bellied Sea Eaglets are doing well this year, too. This nest has also experienced little aggression and both eaglets are thriving. Lady was in early to feed them.

They are beginning to explore the lower branches. It will be a blink before they are really branching. It has been a pleasure to watch the lives of these beautiful sea eagles this year.

I will update you on the feedings on the Port Lincoln Osprey nest later today and if there is any confirmation of pips or cracks at 367 Collins Street.

For now it is 31 degrees C or 87.8 F on 29 September on the Canadian Prairies. Unbelievable. It is a great evening to go and check on the ducks.

Take care everyone. Thank you for joining me. Be kind to all living things.

Thank you to the following for their streaming cams where I took my screen shots: the Port Lincoln Osprey Project, Sea Eagles @Birdlife Australia Discovery Centre, The Falcon Cam at Charles Sturt University at Orange, and 367 Collins Street by Mirvac. Thanks Lady Hawk for the video!

Checking in with the Australian Birds

Yesterday I waited until the trio at the Port Lincoln Osprey nest had their morning feast before I headed off to read and sleep. There was a smile on my face. The chicks had a huge fish to share with mum at 8:57:45. They looked like they were going to pop those crops! I did one last check and goodness gracious, one of them was having some extra bites at 10:20:16. I hope Mum got some good fish! Where in the world are these osplets putting all this food?

Here is an image of that breakfast fish. It is a nice one and all of the chicks ate well and behaved themselves.

Nice crops.

It’s clown feet time! Just look at how full Little Bob is – and the size of those feet.

Mum offering a chick some more bites. Just in case they might still be hungry. What a great Mum she is!

Dad made another delivery at 13:32:17. The chicks still have some crop left from the morning ‘whale’ of a fish.

Bigger crops. These three should sleep for the rest of the afternoon.

There is another small fish delivery at 17:00:36.

That little fish was gone very quickly.

And another fish was delivered at 18:18:57.

No one went to bed hungry.

It has been raining in Orange and Melbourne. There is no indication that there is a pip in any of the eggs at the 367 Collins Street scrape. That said it is really hard to see because the couple chose to use the scrape at the far end of the ledge away from the camera.

You can see the rain gathering in the gutter area. Stay dry falcons!

It is supposed to rain for the next couple of days. Maybe the eyases will wait. What lousy weather to hatch if you do not have any protection from the rain like the scrape box of Xavier and Diamond in Orange. It is about 8 days for hatch there.

Xavier arrived with a full crop and soaking wet to see if Diamond wanted him to take a turn incubating. While Diamond made up her mind, Xavier caught a little sleep. Oh, what a sweetie. Look at his crop – wow.

But look at how dry it is for these two. I wonder if anyone in Melbourne would consider putting some kind of a cover over those two scrapes for next year? Can’t do it now as it would stress out and disturb the birds but, maybe next.

Lady Hawk recorded WBSE 27 and 28 doing the morning duet with their parents. Oh, I remember when WBSE 26 sang with its parents. That was such a delight. Now we have these two joining in the family tradition. As you can see they are both doing fabulous.

There nest is quite dry. Sleeping duckling style!

That is the morning check in with our Australian nests and scrapes. Let’s hope that the forecast for rain in Melbourne is wrong! Otherwise, every bird is doing great. No worries here.

Thank you for joining me. It is another blue sky sunny day on the Canadian Prairies. We are blessed. Take care everyone. Stay safe.

Thank you to the following for their streaming cams where I took my screen shots: the Port Lincoln Osprey Project, Sea Eagle Cam @ Birdlife Australia Discovery Centre, The Falcon Cam Charles Sturt University at Orange and Cilla Kinross, and 367 Collins Street Falcons by Mirvac.

Ospreyland with Telyn and the Port Lincoln Gang

This is just a glorious fall afternoon and with 27 and 28 degrees C, I have spent much of my time today outside.

Underneath all of these beautiful Creepers is a very ugly chain link fence.

‘Something’ decided to break the large cylinder suet holder. All the normal suspects eat without doing any damage. Little Woodpecker loved to hold on to the bars. So what was it? The obvious is the raccoon. But do raccoons eat bug and nut suet with fruit? Or maybe one of the well-fed domestic cats have reached up and pulled it down trying to get to the birds. The nuts and bolts were scattered and a piece broken. It is definitely a mystery. These incidents continually remind me that a feeder cam might come in handy.

Idris brings Telyn a fish after her commanding performance during Storm Hannah.

I have been meaning to share a video with you and until someone else mentioned it today on the PLO chat, I had forgotten. It is about Telyn. Telyn is the mate of Idris at the Dyfi Osprey Nest in Montgomeryshire, Wales. I think you will have a genuine appreciation of how protective and fierce these Osprey mothers can be!

This is the backstory. This is a weather warming that the BBC Weather Service issued on the 25th of April 2019 as the storm ravages.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-48050305

And here is the video of Telyn incubating her three eggs in 2019 during that monster of a storm:

Wasn’t that incredible?! She just hunkered down deep into that nest. Wow.

What a gorgeous sight – the sun coming up over the horizon full of energy, joy, and hope at Port Lincoln.

It is 16 degrees C with 84% humidit. The weather network mentions the potential for rain and a thunderstorm. The wind is blowing at 13 km/h.

Mum and the babies are all sleeping with the gentle rock of the barge. Oh, just look at them! Old enough to regulate their own temperatures and too big to fit under mom. I bet if it rains she will quickly become the Mombrella! or she will stuff them under her. What do you think?

Sometimes breakfast is early but it seems the average is around often around 9:30 lately.

Mom is standing up looking for a fish delivery. Meanwhile, just look at those chicks and how dark they are today. Will we be able to tell who is Little Bob anymore?

Those feathers must be really itchy.

At 8:57:45 Dad brought in a whopper for Mum and the kids.

Everyone is going to be full. Great fish, Dad!

Little Bob is eating first (of course).

Oh, my gosh. I see food comas coming on quickly. Every chick ate. Every chick has an enormous tight crop. They were completely civilized. Mom and Dad PLO you are doing good!

That is Little Bob closest to the fish. So far I can identify him by his cere. Look at his crop. Do you think Ospreys ever get indigestion? And look at how much of that nice fish is left. Mom eat it up! There will be some left for Dad, too.

Oh, my. Itchy feathers and colossal crops. Time to snooze in the warm Australian sun while Mom has some nice fish for breakfast.

Every once in awhile I get little tears. They start and they must won’t stop. Not because I am sad. It is because I am so joyful and full of hope for this nest this year. Let’s keep up the momentum. Each chick will be rewarded with their very own sat-pak! We can follow them like we do Solly.

Speaking of Solly, she is a year old. Her tracker was out of sorts for a few days and had people worried but she was fine. Boots on the ground spotted her on her favourite tree at Eba Anchorage. Solly, you have done well! We are all so very pleased for you. Happy Birthday!

Just a peek at ‘not an Osprey’. Everyone seems to be fine eating in the beautiful warm sun at Port Lincoln, but in Melbourne, all eyes are on the Mum at 367 Collins Street. Will those four eggs start hatching at once? and how soon will that be?

Gosh, she’s beautiful!

That is it. I waited to make sure that everyone was fed and full at the PLO and they certainly are.

Thanks for joining me. Take care everyone. See you soon!!!!

Thank you to the Port Lincoln Osprey Project and FB page and the 367 Collins Street Falcons by Mirvac for their streaming cams where I took my screen shots.

Big crops at Port Lincoln

The sun is bright and it is another blue sky day on the Canadian prairies. By evening, the temperature will be the same as the islands in the Caribbean — 29 C. It is hard to even imagine it and yet, day after day, this has been the story of 2021.

Just as remarkable as my weather is the parenting on the Port Lincoln Osprey nest. The historical information only goes back to 2015 so we know the couple have been together for six seasons, at least. In that time, they have fledged 10 chicks. In 2015, the eldest killed the two younger ones and went on to fledge. In 2016, it was a repeat of 2015. In 2017, the eldest tossed the youngest from the nest. 2 fledged that year. In 2018, two fledged. In 2019, two fledged. They were Calypso and Star. In 2020, the eldest killed the youngest. Solly, the eldest and DEW, the middle, fledged.

2021 will be a record for this nest if all three survive and all three fledge. It is looking good but, anything can happen to change this.

Yesterday, there was a fish delivery at 9:37:58. That was the one where Little Bob was running to the table. Everyone was full after and as far as I could determine no fish was left. There were two other deliveries.

The second delivery came at 14:49:57. The angle of the camera meant that it was difficult to see the chicks being fed. That said, each and every one of them had enormous crops when the third fish arrives at 18:19:09.

Mom sees Dad coming with the fish and starts doing her calling. Look at how the trio blend in so well with the dark material that has been brought to the nest. Also notice that they are now beginning to appear like old charcoal coloured rugs with light grey stripes! These three are doing so well. It is glorious.

Thank you, Dad!

Mom reaches over, carefully, to get the fish without stepping on the chicks.

Look at all of them lined up so nicely. There is no nonsense. Each gets fed til they are full or there is no more fish. There is definitely food security going on and it is shown in the civil way that the chicks react to a fish arrival.

The sun will be going down soon and these chicks are going to sleep with huge crops. They look like they could pop! Dad will have to go and get another fish for him and Mum.

Dad is spending a bit more time on the nest when he delivers a fish. Has this been a tactic by him and Mum to keep the kids lined up like a choir eating and not fighting? Whatever they are doing, it has been a couple of days since Big Bob tried to reinforce its dominance. Indeed, it has been a wonderful Osprey nest to watch!

One other check in. The two adults at the 367 Collins Street Peregrine Falcon scrape are going to be busy soon. They are incubating four eggs and the first one laid is now 38 days old. It is definitely hatch watch for this couple!

Thank you for joining me and checking in on the Osprey chicks. It is so nice to have you with me. Enjoy your day. Take care. See you soon.

Thank you to the following for their streaming cams where I took my screen shots: 367 Collins Street Falcon Cam and the Port Lincoln Osprey Project.

Dad Delivers for the PLO

My goodness. Mom was anticipating a fish drop and Dad delivered at 9:37:58.

Little Bob is looking out of the top of the nest and Middle and Bib are kind of snoozing in the sun. Mom is, of course, delighted. The nest has been quiet – not misbehaving. I am hoping that Big Bob has just given up. There is lots of food and Mom feeds fair.

I started to say ‘If you snooze you lose’. Look at Little Bob. He has done a right turn and is racing to get to that fish. Notice how Little Bob has his head leaning way out in front. Go Little Bob!!!!!!!!!!

One big sib is down duckling style and the other turns around to see what all the fuss is about.

Mom is already feeding Little Bob by the time both of the big siblings are turning their heads.

It is only a few seconds but neither has made much of a move. Little Bob has already had a few good bites. This kid is so clever and brave. This third hatch is a survivor.

Little still eating.

Big sibs are starting to turn. Look at the clown feet that have arrived. Oh, my goodness these osplets are growing fast. Someone needs to revive the development chart a bit.

I would love to know what Big and Middle were thinking. We all know what Dad was thinking: will there be any fish left or should I go out and find another? There will not be a bite left, Dad. Go fishing! Mom needs to eat, too.

Meanwhile Little is more than a dozen bites ahead of the other two.

Ah, good. Everyone is up for breakfast.

I believe that patch of black and green organic material is seaweed. I don’t know if it was brought to the nest on purpose or Dad just spotted it and liked it. The thing is that it serves as great help to camouflage the chicks.

Nice crops. But hardly any fish left. Sorry, Dad! We know you need to eat, too but I think you got the head.

The babies are full. You can see the crops better in this last image.

I always like to remind myself that a week ago, a big fish would have lasted all day. This was only a medium one but it is gone. We are in the high growth phase.

Ah, the morning has started off grand. I just had to tell you. This Osprey nest is putting smiles on lots of faces this year and giving us each hope that the curse of the nest will be gone.

Thank you so, so much for joining me.

Thank you to the Port Lincoln Osprey Project for their streaming cam where I took my screen shots.