It will be another 20°C day on the Canadian Prairies. Unbelievable. Toby and I have already had a couple of walks while the new furnace is being installed. They all wanted to help, especially Missey, so she is in one bedroom with HY while Calico and Hope hide. Thankfully, they won’t go near the installers or the basement door. Toby is curious, but prefers to be outside or in the conservatory, so he is waiting anxiously for them to finish up and leave.
I was very fortunate in that if the furnace was to break, it did it before the very cold periods of winter.
Sometimes the best news winds up in the Junk Mail Folder. So we will start with the good news coming out of Syracuse, New York:
I will happily remove Oren from the Memorial Wall!
Deb Steyck is reporting that both Bella and Scout have been doing nestorations on the NCTC nest. This is great news.
If you have never heard the morning duet of Lady and Dad at the WBSE nest in the Olympic Park Forest in Sydney, Australia, then you are missing one of nature’s beautiful moments. Check it out! But, when the little sea eaglets begin to join in, it is incredible. It looks like SE38 was the first to join the parents this year as Linda Gauvin reports in her FB post:
There are few new publications about ospreys so I am particularly excited about this volume.
At Orange, egg 1 is 31 days old. Pip watch is coming – and if I got you prematurely excited, apologies all around.
Oh, I am tired today! It seems that ‘just sitting and waiting’ induces that more than being up and active. Hopefully, the furnace lads will be finished shortly and Toby and I can head to the hospital. Don has had a good morning – except he had no PT yet. We remain hopeful that they will be diligent in their approach and are genuine in their desire to see him walk again.
We hope that you have a fantastic day. Please take care of yourself! We will see you soon.
Thank you to SK Hideaways for capturing that great duet, to everyone who posted information on FB and to the owners of the streaming cams – we are eternally grateful to you.
It is 16:38. The sun is far over in the west, casting a magical glow over the garden. The wind is just beginning to pick up as the birds arrive for a late meal before settling in for the night. I know where the Crows nest, the squirrels’ dreys are in the park, and the Blue Jays stay in the tree across the back lane, but where do the sparrows and Starlings go? It is an eternal question.
One starling is looking for ‘dog food’ kibble that Ann gave to me for the Crow family.
Toby and I had some amazing walks today. Perfect weather – 16 degrees C. The leaves were dancing around on the sidewalk. Toby loves chasing them! He sometimes looks grouchy, but he is anything but. What a sweet little lad he is and what comfort.
I am so sorry that I made so many people cry. It was not my intention. Yes, our situation feels rather dire, and it certainly wasn’t what anyone would expect. No matter what I do, I cannot change the impact that it had on Don’s life. His doctor, Dr Classen, believes there is a possibility that he might be able to come home if he can get near to the mobility that he had when he went into hospital. Life right now is so uncertain, and all I can do is wait and take things one day at a time.
So for now, we will begin decorating our spaces for Thanksgiving and Don’s all-time favourite holiday, Halloween. He made mechanical figures and put them on the porch of our Victoria house ‘back in the day’. Those sculptures often made the local newspaper. And there was nothing more wonderful than dressing up and handing out treats – it was always magical.
Tomorrow’s treat will be pumpkin pie – it is the season!!!!!!!!!
In Melbourne, it is hot. Mum at 367 Collins Street is panting and trying to keep her babies cool.
Mum and Dad are sleeping on the nest tree in the Olympic Forest, all the while protecting SE 37 and 38.
Gimbir takes over incubation from Diamond. Gimbir is the great provider! Cilla Kinross identified the prepared morning’s prey as an Eastern Rosella.
There is some really good news coming from Nikki Redman and Fran Solly in South Australia:
Black Stork migration news from Maria Marika:
‘The Rookies’. California Condors are preparing to be released into the wilderness after hatching at several zoos in California. Here is the link to their live-streaming cam: https://www.youtube.com/live/1u6rKUrUot8?
Here is the Condor Roost for those living in the wild. They can feed on the lead-free carcasses provided by Ventana Wildlife Society. Here is the link to this camera: https://www.youtube.com/live/QQdF-8CVSC0?
There are a number of other cams, including nest cams, that are currently offering Highlights.
There will be a lot of fundraising going on – it is that time of year. There are calendars galore including the one from Idris and Telyn’s nest at Dyfi.
There is also the book about Aran and Mrs G from Glaslyn that is written by Kathryn Keir and illustrated by Penny Albright. Funds will be used for the streaming cam for Aran’s new nest. Will provide information as it becomes available but I am so looking forward to this offering!!!!!!
An osprey still in the UK.
UK Osprey Information FB is looking for a new banner:
That’s it for today. Please take care everyone. Keep checking on Diamond and Gimbir’s scrape in the water tower at Charles Sturt University in Orange, Australia. Hatch is coming.
Thank you to everyone who contributed information and images on FB, to those who created videos and wrote content, and to the owners of the streaming cams – we are eternally grateful.
Thank you for your continued support and encouragement. It means the world to me. So many of you have so much experience – I certainly do not feel like I am on this journey alone.
This morning ‘PP’ wrote. I guess I had skipped something! My apologies. So, in a nutshell, this is what happened and is happening (or not) with Donald. I have to always start with Donald has Lewy Body Dementia. He was diagnosed four years ago, but the symptoms had been there for at least 18 months prior as I tried to navigate the medical system here to get a diagnosis. Lewy Body Dementia is very challenging. You might recall that Robin Williams committed suicide. They later discovered he had Lewy Body Dementia during the autopsy. What makes LBD different from the other forms of dementia is that there are not only hallucinations, but there can also be symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease. Donald had the hallucinations – that was what first alerted me to the fact that ‘something was wrong’. Thankfully, he did not have any symptoms of Parkinson’s. On the 26th of August, he went walking at the St Vital Duck Pond with Ann and then to the Dairy Queen (he loves ice cream). That evening, we walked Toby twice, bringing his total day count to approximately 4.3 km. He was happy, walking, getting up in the middle of the night to toilet and get a drink of water. In other words, he was active, walking, feeding himself, and going to the bathroom. He did not need assistance for anything save for the odd button on his shirt or his jeans.
On 27 August, Donald went to the Emergency Ward at one of our local hospitals with a UTI in an ambulance. You might recall that he had a similar issue at Christmas and was in the hospital for twelve days. They have yet to remove his prostate, and it takes forever to see a specialist; sometimes, it is not a surprise that eight months later he would have another infection that caused him to be anxious. I expected it and wished I had had a nurse come to the house to help, but alas, I didn’t have a letter from his GP, so I couldn’t hire someone. He was very confused when he left the house and was more confused by the lights and noise of the emergency ward. He was disoriented, and I am told he tried to get out of bed and fell, hitting his head, his left eye, his left upper arm and his ribs. I don’t know whether the Emergency staff reviewed his electronic medical file. If they had, they would have seen that he had LBD. So, through either oversight or negligence, they gave him an injection of Haldol to calm him down. It was the wrong drug. Haldol causes catastrophic events that change the lives of someone with LBD (and everyone who cares for them). Today, Donald can’t walk. He can feed himself if he is sitting up in a wheelchair, but not in his hospital bed. Even then, his food has to be cut into small bites and be finger food. He is frustrated because he has to wear diapers. Unlike Alzheimer’s, where memory is literally eaten away, memory is the last to go in LBD patients. His ‘body’ will go first. The Haldol caused him to have acute Parkinson’s tremors, where he shakes from his head to his toes (which are curled under) uncontrollably. Don had a Neuroleptic sensitivity to Haldol, and that is why it is prohibited from being given to patients with LBD.
Neuroleptic sensitivity to Haldol (haloperidol) is an extreme, heightened adverse reaction to antipsychotic medication that often causes severe muscle stiffness, rapid mental decline, and movement problems—frequently seen in patients with Parkinson’s disease or Lewy Body Dementia.
What Happens During Sensitivity
Severe Extrapyramidal Symptoms: Uncontrolled muscle spasms, tremors, rigidity, and a mask-like face occur at standard or even low doses.
Cognitive Worsening: Rapid confusion, heavy sedation, unresponsiveness, or a sharp drop in mental sharpness.
Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS): A life-threatening emergency marked by very high fever, unstable blood pressure, heavy sweating, and severe muscle breakdown.
Why It Occurs
Dopamine Blocking:Haldol strongly blocks dopamine receptors in the brain.
Pre-existing Vulnerability: Patients with underlying brain degeneration (like Lewy Body Dementia) already lack normal dopamine and acetylcholine levels, causing their nervous systems to collapse when the remaining pathways are blocked.
Management and Safety
Contraindication: Typical antipsychotics like Haldol are generally unsafe and contraindicated for people with Parkinson’s disease or Lewy Body Dementia
I cannot change what happened to Donald. Who would have thought you could go into a hospital with an infection requiring antibiotics and become an invalid? Donald cannot change this anymore than he is responsible for having LBD in the first place. I could spend all my time being angry and fighting a medical malpractice suit only to be so mentally and physically exhausted that I am unable to think clearly – and that is what is needed as we chart a new course on our journey.
I have lots of tips to pass along, but the first one is this: If you suspect that your partner/husband or wife has some form of dementia or Alzheimer’s, you owe it to them to speak to their doctor. Don’t make it a big deal or turn it into a fight in front of them. Believe me, they do not recognise the symptoms! Don thought I really was a man driving our car!!!!!!! There are several reasons that an early diagnosis is preferable – there are treatments to slow the disease so that you have quality time. Secondly, you do not want your person to get a medication that is contraindicated for their diagnosis! I promise you, you do not. It is not being subversive to speak to their doctor; it is caring.
Donald has a little Cavalier stuffy, and he often strokes it like he does Toby. If you have a loved one in hospital, think of a stuffy. They are very much welcome.
Donald doesn’t want me fussing, and Toby and I are settling into a very new normal. Keep us in your thoughts – we will be fine. It is just a time of acute adjustment.
Toby had ‘his treatment’ (for fleas/ticks and then heartworm) yesterday and the day prior and had to wear his little overalls to keep the cats from licking his fur.
Now for something different – and believe me, the birds (along with Toby and The Girls) have a way of comforting us that no one can! SK Hideaways gives us fluffy eyases and as they say, ‘a romance in the making’.
SK Hideaways Videos Week of 27 September 2026
367 Collins Street Falcons ~ Melbourne, Australia ~ F24 & M24, eggs laid 23, 25, 28, 30 August
F24 & M24 WELCOME CHICK #3!While Chick #1 Stays Ready to Eat ~ 2026 Oct 2
Then there were 3 tiny floofs. Food was delivered by the hunting machine, dad M24, within the hour. During this meal, chick 1 ate well, chick 2 napped, and chick 3 got his/her first whiff of food while taking in the big, wide world. When F24 ended the meal and flew off, chick 1 continued reaching for bites just in case.
F24 welcomed chick #2 to the nest! The pip in egg #3 is as big as #2’s was just a few hours ago. Shouldn’t be long now! M24 is going to have a nice surprise when he returns!
F24 Juggles Chick, Eggs & Food in Rain ~ Pip 2 Bigger ~ 2026 Oct 2
F24 managed continuous rain, a day-old chick, 3 unhatched eggs, and a full pantry. She managed it all like the pro she is. Keeping her offspring safe and warm, keeping food close at beak, and waiting till there was a break in the weather to feed her chick.
Chick #1 Meets Dad and Gets a Good First Meal ~ 2026 Oct 1
It was a big day for #1. Hatching and enjoying their first meal ever just hours apart. F24 gave M24 explicit instructions before departing and seeing he’s a pro dad, he aced the assignment (though he does seem to enjoy incubation more than the combo incubation/brooding task). F24 returned with the chick’s meal and the little one did very well before falling into the requisite food coma.
Chick #1 made quick work of zipping out of its shell, showing itself at 6:46:53 a.m. M24 offered to help out shortly after, but F24 declined. Congrats, F24 and M24! We should see at least #2 later today.
FOBBVCAM Eagles ~ Big Bear Valley, CA ~ Shadow (12 years), Jackie (dec. 10 August 2026), KD-1 (Kaydee 4, years), Sandy, and Luna (last seen on camera 23 July 2023)
After Minor Collision, Shadow & Kaydee Get Comfy Together in Nest ~ 2026 Oct 2
Shadow and Kaydee met on the Cactus Snag before dual flying to the nest tree. Their arrival was a little rough with Kaydee a bit too close, causing a minor collision. But all was well as they got to work shuffling a few sticks, sharing a couple of beakies, and then departing to the roost tree for the night. They sang a lovely chortle-snorkel lullaby as dusk became night.
Shadow and Kaydee had their usual morning chortles, a quick nest visit, and survey of the habitat. Kaydee caught a whopper and brought it to Twin Pines to enjoy, but there was a visiting bald eagle who thought her fish looked quite tasty and tried to land on the tree. Shadow and Kaydee voiced their opposition immediately and the visitor flew off. Shadow then kept an eye on the area and Kaydee as she enjoyed her breakfish. She ate every single morsel. Video: https://youtu.be/hbkKN7PNLh0
I don’t want to leave you without a smile on your face. Just look at Snow!
Thank you so much for being with us today. Take care, everyone.
Thank you to SK Hideaways, as always, for their great videos!!!!!!!! To everyone who posted information and images on FB, and to the owners of the streaming cams. We are so thankful you let us watch these amazing creatures and to The Guardian, we are grateful for your wildlife news coverage.
It was an overcast fall day on the Canadian Prairies. Still, it was a lovely time for a walk with Toby. We met one of our friends at the park, a lady with a walker. Toby loves her and the little toddler who is often there, clapping her hands when she sees him. It makes my heart beat in a beautiful way to see the joy Toby brings to others.
Those who love California Condors are mourning the death of Nomad #574 at the Oakland Zoo. Nomad died of lead poisoning. Kelly Sorenson writes: “Nomad (574) had shown signs of lead poisoning and was in critical condition. The veterinary team at Oakland Zoo went above and beyond to try to save him, and we are deeply grateful for their tireless care. Losing another magnificent condor to lead this year is devastating, and it is a painful reminder of the danger spent lead ammunition poses to wildlife. Hunters and ranchers are having difficulty finding some small calibers commonly used to manage their lands. California state law requires the use of lead-free ammunition, but poor market availability in some calibers is a big problem. If you, or someone you know, hunts or manages a ranch in Condor Range, please encourage them to contact us and maybe we can assist.”
Nomad’s bio:
“Nomad (574)’s father, Puff (219), was released in Big Sur while his mother, Condor (310), was released in Pinnacles National Park. The two established a breeding territory between the two sites. At first, we weren’t sure where Nomad (574) was going to spend more of his time after he fledged, but he mimicked his parents’ habit of splitting time between the two release sites.
His first trapping experience was in Big Sur and it was such a shock to him that it scared him away for a few months, but he gradually began wandering back. When he was hanging around Big Sur as a young fledgling, his father, Puff (219), would show him feeding techniques, which was very cute and endearing to watch.
Nomad (574) paired with fellow wild-fledged condor, Miracle (538), in 2017 and together they made history by having the first wild-born California Condor in the state since 1985. But that’s not all: They were able to successfully raise a chick – the first second-generation wild-born condor in decades! Unfortunately, in 2020, Nomad (574) and Miracle (538) lost their second hatched chick, Mystic (992), in the Dolan Fire.
In 2021, Nomad (574) and Miracle (538) had another successful nesting attempt and chick Otter (1104) was hatched. Fast forward to 2022, Otter (1104) is fully fledged and flying free!
Recently, Nomad (574)’s mate, Miracle (538), has chosen to pair with his dad, Puff (219). While the split is unfortunate for Nomad (574), this steadfast male continues to maintain his nesting territory, and we’re confident that he’ll be able to woo another breeding female.”
Lead poisoning is the most frequent cause of death for condors, vultures, and, so often, bald eagles, who are also carrion eaters. This is so sad because non-lead alternatives exist in both hunting and fishing tackle!
The three little eyases at 367 Collins Street in Melbourne are doing well. Liznm has a feeding on video: https://youtu.be/c6mqxUKL_Fc?
Oh, aren’t they just so cute? Their eyes are not open yet, so you will see lots of bobbing around and attempts to get food from a sibling’s beak! But no worries, in a few days, they will be able to see absolutely everything.
Incubation continues at Orange.
Beautiful Lady and her ‘big babies’ at the Olympic Park WBSE nest in Sydney.
It’s a beautiful morning at Big Bear. Wonder what Shadow and Kaydee are doing?
Bald Eagle Discovery posted a video of both eagles and their sticks – do we now have two eagles that love moving sticks?! https://youtu.be/6WvIvahFBF8?
Explore.org is playing Highlights at the West End nest of previous occupants, Thunder and Akecheta, Haku, etc.
Nestorations continue at the E3 nest in Kistachie National Forest near Alexander, Louisiana.
Explore.org is also running Highlights at Decorah North. I really could benefit from not hearing those cold, wintry winds and ‘seeing’ the cold!
It is the same at all of their nests including Mrs T at Trempeauleau.
I don’t know about you but sometimes it is fantastic to see the footage from the year prior. Mrs T was an incredible Mum – a single Mum!
Something to put a smile on your face – funny wildlife photos from The Guardian:
Thank you to everyone who has reached out over the past seven weeks with letters, cards, e-mails, treats, and comments. They warm my heart. It has been a rough ride, to say the least. I want to give a big shoutout to Reets, who packed up a gorgeous whistling tea kettle and her mother’s teapot, along with an article about Emma Heming Willis’s book, The Unexpected Journey, and another about eagles. I ordered the book right away and have now devoured it. The kettle and teapot were christened when two former students stopped by – it was a beautiful two hours, full of laughter with no mention of dementia! To the anonymous person who sent me the 24 Days of Cavalier Christmas – you put a big smile on my face when I needed it the most. I am looking forward to the fun of discovering what is behind each door.
Joy is sometimes in short supply as I navigate a new road alongside Donald. I am working hard to change that – to find the ‘new normal’. The anger has gone, for the most part, although it rears its ugly head when I least expect it. As my children would have said when they were teenagers, ‘I need an attitude adjustment,’ and that is what I am working on. The days moving forward will be different. The Haldol injection in someone with Lewy Body Dementia has caused a rapid onset of Parkinson’s symptoms, including muscle rigidity, that Don did not have prior to arriving at the hospital. He now has strong tremors all over his body, and he still cannot walk. Sometimes he can stand without help; other times, he needs three people to assist him. The sad reality is that we will never walk together in the park again, but we can go with me pushing his wheelchair or him operating an electric scooter. Surely we can retrofit a basket to hold Toby.
It will be important for us to find new ways to share our time together, not steeped in sadness or looking to the past, but moving forward to paths unknown. To that end, I have ordered Thanksgiving decorations to brighten up his room, and Toby and I have also arranged a costume for him to wear to cheer everyone up! Our Thanksgiving is on the 12th of October, and there will be lots of pumpkin pie with whipped cream – Don’s favourite. For those on 5S, eating is one of life’s little pleasures, so it is always good to have a treat in a bag. —— I have learned so much these past weeks, and when the tears don’t come so easily, I will share them with you, as I know that some of you have, are in, or will deal with someone with Alzheimer’s or Dementia (they are two different animals with lots of different types). I am certainly not a health care professional, but we navigated life pretty well for six years—and I am determined that we will find our grip again, do that again, and then know what is happening and have a ‘new plan’. For any of my readers struggling, please feel free to reach out to me, Toby, and The Girls: maryannsteggles@icloud.com I have become a good listener.
Please take care of yourself. Go and watch the little ones at 367 Collins Street and check in on the Sea Eaglets at Sydney. They are so cute!
Thank you to everyone who posted information and videos on FB or YouTube. We are always grateful for your talents and all the information! To the owners of the streaming cams, we would not have these opportunities without you, so thank you. The Guardian keeps us up to date on many things, and their wildlife articles often make us smile, like today’s. I am grateful to each and everyone and to you, my readers, for caring so much about the wildlife we share our planet with.
It is a gorgeous autumn day on the Canadian Prairies. Toby and I have been for several walks and we spent time outside moving bits and bobs around the garden. Then I sat, had a cup of tea, and soaked in the warm sunshine. It is 12 degrees C. In the garden, some Dark-eyed Juncos have arrived. Migration is late, and why not? No lakes are frozen, so fish are still plentiful. In fact, some geese, swans, eagles, and hawks overwinter here. It is week 7 for Don in the hospital. He has been sleeping so deeply that no one could wake him. The hospital is now lowering an anti-anxiety medication that appears to be causing this. Fingers crossed. The Girls, Toby and I are settling into a strange new normal.
I have been negligent in telling you about The Girls. They do get special attention, but I used to write about them all the time. My apologies to the – and you! Calico and Hope continue to stay close. Where one is, the other is. Calico demands pets – if you don’t, forget it. She will sit on your chest until you pet and brush. How many of you have a Calico cat? The shedding is unbelievable! It isn’t a great photo, but there they are in their favourite spot.
Hugo Yugo is the troublemaker. When she isn’t sleeping, she is either playing with Toby or bothering Hope. HY will also be the one to run in the basement when workmen are here. No one else is even interested. Missey is the darling sweet one of the four and the one that is visually missing Don the most. Sadly, she is even getting used to his absence.
Mr and Mrs Crow waiting for one of the Red squirrels to leave the table feeder so they can have a peanut.
My darling boy, Toby. Never complains, hardly ever barks (except when the dog across the lane begins), is always there to comfort.
The beautiful fall sky when Toby and I went for our walk last evening.
The other one (making the normal three) on top of the little house feeder. There are peanuts inside!
The animals in the garden and those who share my home are certainly a gift.
The big news in Bird World is that there were two of the cutest fluffiest little eyases at 367 Collins Street today. I suspect by the time you read this, there could be more. The third was almost out of its shell before night settled.
MENHADEN INDUSTRY DELAY TACTICS: More Study is Required Before Acting
A large pool of federal, state, local and NGO steward scientific studies and dozens of scientist-led citizen-science surveys in the Chesapeake Bay and Atlantic states indicate the osprey is suffering catastrophic reproductive losses in recent years not seen since the era of DDT. Strong empirical evidence in each instance points to low menhaden availability as the primary driver behind poor nesting success in the saltier sections of the Bay and along sections of the total coast.
Dr. Bryan Watts, Director of the Center for Conservation Biology at William & Mary, who has led decades of empirical research on Chesapeake Bay osprey populations, has unified a number of such organizations’ nest monitoring data across 65 distinct study areas spanning the Atlantic Coast. This milestone effort compiled multiple independent scientist and citizen-science monitoring programs into a single, comprehensive systematic meta-analysis—to aggregate results into a definitive coastwide assessment at the highest tier of scientific evidence that fisheries managers cannot ignore in making informed decisions.
Based on these findings, a menhaden scarcity in the saltier nesting sites in the Bay and Atlantic states up the coast is apparent as food stress. Osprey nesting in freshwater upper reaches of coastal waters that are not as reliant on menhaden tend not to suffer from food stress or failing reproductive rates.
This large data set points to a need for a 50% reduction, resulting in a protective cap of 25,500 metric tons as the appropriate precautionary management measure to take now in the Bay. It also points to a total allowable catch (TAC) reduction as a proactive management measure to protect and rebuild the menhaden fishery in the Atlantic and to sustain saltwater-centric fish, birds and wildlife of all kinds that rely on menhaden.
INDUSTRY CLAIM #1: The industry argues that, because menhaden and the predator/prey relationships have not been substantially studied in the Chesapeake Bay to date, regulators should not impose catch limitations or local harvest caps to protect and rebuild sustainable balances in the Bay unless there is absolute, peer-reviewed scientific certainty proving a direct link between reduction fishing and predator decline. They claim regulators must wait for years of additional localized research and peer-reviewed forage consumption data models before changing any existing harvest caps.
THE REALITY: This is a stall tactic used to delay accountability while harvest limits are kept at status quo volumes desirable to the industry. Fisheries management policies explicitly allow for a precautionary approach when wildlife populations show clear signs of distress.
This fishery requires immediate protection while three upcoming research projects ramp up to have the exact “scientifically defensible and ecologically meaningful” localized metrics that the industry desires and the management board requires to adjust the Cap.
The upcoming state-funded research [1] fits with the opportunity to lower the Chesapeake Bay Cap now, reducing pressure on menhaden stocks and saving ospreys while data is being gathered, which will allow managers to adjust the cap as new scientific findings become available.
In this scenario, precautionary management would already be taking place to sustain stocks while industry-backed academic reviews [2] and the broader federally funded tracking project [3] come online to deliver their short and long-term assessments.
Waiting years like the industry wants for absolute scientific certainty while field biologists actively document ongoing widespread chick starvation can lead to an imminent, irreversible ecological failure.
These major menhaden research initiatives should be planned to initially come online and produce preliminary data within the timeframe of a suggested mandatory three-year review provision so the Board will have the exact “scientifically defensible and ecologically meaningful” localized metrics needed to adjust the Cap at that time and going forward, using targeted bay science rather than permanently locking the Cap into an unscientific fixed ocean-linked quota.
INDUSTRY CLAIM #2: The industry argument that a precautionary management approach for tighter, localized catch limits lacks scientific justification is yet another stall tactic used to maintain the regulatory status quo.
THE REALITY: The evidence on the nesting platforms, dwindling menhaden catch rates in Bay poundnet fisheries, and depletion of striped bass (rockfish) makes it abundantly clear that immediate precautionary management action is the proper response to tighten precautionary limits to protect the resource before menhaden and stripers crash, and local breeding colonies collapse entirely. Waiting for absolute mathematical proof of a “benefit” while forage fish, sportfish and raptors exhibit clear signs of localized distress would be a failure of basic resource conservation.
CONCLUSION: The Future of Localized Menhaden Management should start now.
——————————————————
RESEARCH FOOTNOTES & CITATIONS:
[1] Virginia Institute of Marine Science (VIMS) & Virginia Marine Resources Commission (VMRC). Chesapeake Bay Menhaden Population and Ecological Interactions Study. State-funded, independent research framework under the Virginia General Assembly budget directive. | $2.0 million state funding granted to the VIMS by the state of Virginia to study menhaden population and ecological interactions inside the Chesapeake Bay.
[2] National Science Foundation’s Science Center for Marine Fisheries (SCEMFIS). Development of a Research Roadmap for Atlantic Menhaden in the Chesapeake Bay. Academic literature and data review project funded directly by commercial industry partners (Omega Protein / Ocean Harvesters). | Private corporate funding is channeled directly into SCEMFIS who distributes the funding directly to academic teams from VIMS and the University of Maryland to carry out the project. | The industry uses this private research allocation to build their preferred scientific guidelines for the 51,000 metric ton Bay Cap. They use it to argue that regulators should take no action until their private academic roadmap is fully finalized.
[3] Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission (ASMFC). Federal Appropriations Research Framework. Nationally funded regional study evaluating forage baseline data and Ecological Reference Point (ERP) modeling parameters. | $2.5 Million federal funding awarded to NOAA Fisheries by the federal government to analyze menhaden abundance, distribution, and forage roles within the Bay ecosystem.
If you live where there are hearings, please attend and speak up or the Osprey and other wildlife that call the area around The Chesapeake home.
Ron and Rose had a visitor to their Dade County Bald Eagle nest. Heidi caught them on video: https://youtu.be/Oo3lBz5DYzo?
Eagles are returning to the Kisatchie National Forest! Check out the live cams. Andria III chortling this morning at E-3.
The sea eaglets are beautiful and Lady and Dad stay close, even during the night, to protect them.
Diamond and Gimbir are still on incubation duties at Orange.
Beau and Gabby continue nestorations at NE Florida.
The camera is now on at SW Florida with M15 and a new female?
Check out the other eagle cams – nestorations are underway.
Thank you for being with us today. Take care everyone. We will see you in a couple of days.
Thank you to everyone posting support for the ospreys, the owners of the streaming cams that let us watch our incredible raptors, and those who write newsletters and post images and information on FB.
Toby, The Girls, and I slept in until 0940. For the past two or three days, I have finally been able to catch up on my sleep! We are getting ready to begin week 7 for Don at the hospital. We need to make decisions soon, and I don’t want to be exhausted and make the wrong one. It is more than difficult to decide what is good for someone else – physically and mentally – when another party (me) is so intertwined in whatever is decided. Don continues to reassure me, when he sees I am overwhelmed, that ‘It’s OK’. Instead of me patting his arm and reassuring him, he has taken to comforting me. It’s beautiful. He was so happy to see Toby yesterday! Animals make an enormous difference, and I wish everyone who has a loved one in hospital or a care facility would take their pets to visit them. The benefits show instantly in the smiles and the need to stroke them.
It is 15 C. Fall is definitely here. We now have the bright red of the maple trees, along with a host of colours from yellow to brown, and a range of greens, including a magnificent chartreuse. The first birds to arrive are blue jays. Did I tell you there are seven of them? They are so beautiful and stand out against the autumn foliage. Next to arrive are the red squirrels, then the greys, along with a host of sparrows and, last but never least, Mr and Mrs Crow. Their arrival brings me comfort. Everyone is safe.
Nature brings such comfort! Today is a national holiday. Ann will be at the hospital, and I think Toby and I will spend some time in the local parks checking out the geese migrating through the city. You hear their honks in the early morning and at dusk as they land on the river to avoid predation by the coyotes and foxes.
Friends of Loch Doon have posted their annual summary. If everyone in the US would pick a nest (even sharing a busy one) and keep track, we could publish similar summaries and keep them in an archive. Consider them historical and scientific documents.
Sadly, too often, the beautiful Black Storks die from being electrocuted on their flyway from Europe to Africa. This was, of course, what happened to the devoted father, Karl II, in Turkey, several years ago.
Is there a pip at 367 Collins Street? There is a white spot on one of the eggs. Dad brought Mum a real treat – a Rainbow Lorikeet – today. Liznm has it on video: https://youtu.be/4DYXfUEZ5mA?
No action in the Big Bear nest this morning, so far.
I love the California Condors. There are 105 of them now. There will be a release in October. Stay tuned.
This is Redwood Queen. She is the former mate of the late King Pin and mother of Iniko (1031), now deceased.
If you missed the documentary, Condor Canyon, here is the link -. It is a brilliant movie about the Condor hierarchy and their challenging lives. The story of Traveler gives us hope but everyone must work hard to rid the land of lead. Here is the link: https://youtu.be/uqMUafNHwco?
Thank you for being with us today. Please take care. We will be with you again soon — there should be a fluffy white with pink accessories chick on the ledge in Melbourne tomorrow! How precious.
Thank you to Lizmn for her videos, for everyone else who posted, for those compiling annual newsletters for the osprey nests in the UK, and to the owners of the streaming cams – our gratitude.
Isabella Tree is one of my heroines. I would love to see this – her book. Rewilding reveals the trials and major hurdles Knepp Farm had to overcome to even begin rewilding the land and how it has proven instrumental in saving their farm and creating a home for species like White Storks that had abandoned the region.
If you are in the area
Ah. Very appropriate as we await the hatch in Melbourne and Orange, Cornell Bird Lab has an article on Peregrine Falcons!
JACKIE: Her Remarkable Life from Beginning to End ~ 2012 Feb 1 ~ 2026 Aug 10 Jackie was so many things to so many people. Creating a tribute to her life can only attempt to speak to the effect she had on our lives. Here then are glimpses of Jackie’s life, from beginning to end. I hope it brings comfort, joy, and wonder to all who are kind enough to watch. Video: https://youtu.be/egq0cQDHVi4 Additional gratitude to knarley123 for 2016-2021 footage Finale music “I Will Be Here” by Steven Curtis Chapman, performed by Keali’i Reichel
Shadow Waits at Nest for Kaydee ~ Tug-o-Stick, Bumping & Beaking Ensue (2026 Sep 25) Shadow arrived at the nest tree and perched for over an hour before Kaydee joined him. It wasn’t till her arrival that Shadow moved to the nest and shuffled a few sticks. In the two minutes that Shadow remained in the nest, he and Kaydee beaked, bumped, and jostled over a stick. It’s still early days and we are hopeless at reading their minds. So we’re grateful to observe, learn, and trust the eagles. Video: https://youtu.be/EtJP9XBJVqY
Shadow & Kaydee Unfazed by Massive Thunderstorm… Mostly (2026 Sep 24) Big Bear never fails to bring dramatic weather. Today’s big thunderstorm was no exception. Shadow and Kaydee perched separately throughout the onslaught ~ Shadow on the Cactus Snag, Kaydee on Twin Pines and then the nest tree. Kaydee decided to try out a few different nest tree perches; as she was trying to regain her balance from one of the high perches, a HUGE clap of thunder erupted. She lost her footing and flew off. No eagles were harmed! Video: https://youtu.be/4AIX1M9dwGI
Shadow Stays Close to HomeAfter Dawn Nest Visit with Kaydee (2026 Sep 23) Shadow and Kaydee sang in the dawn before making a quick stop at the nest and then the Lookout Snag. Kaydee went her way and Shadow went his. Lucky for us, Shadow chose a direction that allowed us to watch his late morning visit back to the nest and then to his now typical perch potato time on Twin Pines. Grateful for this quiet time with him. Video: https://youtu.be/yeQ2E1Uuwr4
F24 Humours SoggyM24 Who’s Determined to Stay on Eggs (2026 Sep 26) Like every male raptor I’ve ever watched, M24 loves incubating his eggs. Is it the warmth? The break from hunting? The paternal instinct? He won’t say. But it’s always a joy to watch him stubbornly stay firm atop their precious cargo. F24 is incredibly patient, letting him come to the realization that, yes, he is going to have to move. Just 4 days till pip watch! Video: https://youtu.be/3Hfr7jAx7v0
SE38’s Funny Antics ~ 1st to Lady’s Beak at Mealtime ~ SE37 Stays Calm (2026 Sep 23) SE38 is like a different sea eaglet from even a week ago. At 40 days old, SE38 it’s wonderful to see the character that he/she’s become and often first to Lady’s beak at mealtime. Similarly, SE37 (41 days old) has become calmer and confident in food security, which Lady and Dad have expertly provided. It’s a joy to see them both thriving. Video: https://youtu.be/7KK-W9bo6uQ
A Mystical OrnithologyDirected by Jeremy Seifert and Benjamin James Roberts, featuring J. Drew Lanham
In this short film, J. Drew Lanham exchanges calls with the birds that stopover at his home in rural South Carolina during their seasonal migrations. For Drew, these creatures are gods, transcendent beings who summon a response of reverence. Reverberating with sound, music, light, and ethereal cinematic expression, A Mystical Ornithology weaves a kinetic texture for the senses and evokes the paradox of love and grief within the changing nature of the seasons.
To watch the film, go to emergencemagazine.org
Lady and Dad on high alert at the Olympic Forest WBSE nest in Sydney in the early morning hours.
The first of the returnees to Tairoa Head meant that the bells were ringing last week!
Thank you for being with us today. Please take care! See you in a couple of days!
Thank you to SK Hideaways, Ventana Wildlife, Cornell Bird Lab and everyone who posts info on FB, writes newsletters, and to the owners of the streaing cams, we are always grateful.
Toby and I are out in the conservatory. The birds were fed along with The Girls, then my coffee, then Toby’s omelette and finally, our morning walk. The sky is heavy weith grey clouds and everything feels damp. It is decidedly autumn. The squirrels and birds are busy caching. A gallon pail of peanuts seems to disappear in the blink of an eye!
This morning Mr Blue Jay was waiting patiently.
Then, when Junior got his first peanut, he seemed not to know what to do with it. Was it because one of Dyson’s kits had arrived?
The images were all taken through the conservatory glass with the new camera. I am pleased!
Canadian author Margaret Atwood loves birds, especially Ravens. She shared this with her late partner. Graeme Gibson.
“Now, Gibson’s legacy is about to help expand humanity’s understanding of birds. On Friday Western University, in London, Ontario, announced that Atwood had donated C$1m (£540,000) to celebrate her late partner’s love of birds.
The gift will create the Graeme Gibson chair in avian biology, with the goal of better understanding the fundamental processes that shape how birds move, adapt and behave in an environment undergoing profound transformation.
You can read the ‘good news’ article in The Guardian here:
I missed the Webinar with Ben Wurst on the osprey decline in the Chesapeake Bay region. I hope it will be archived on YouTube. I will provide the link if that happens.
Osprey starvation is not new to those reading my blog. We have been discussing this for at least three years, but this year appears to be not only the critical breaking point (is it a point of no return?) but also a call for help from various agencies and individuals. Michael Academia and others have been sounding the warning for many years!
This is a huge study. Please look and act when you can.
“(Williamsburg, VA)— The Center for Conservation Biology at William & Mary has compiled the 2026 breeding performance results for osprey populations along the Atlantic Coast of North America. Within the Chesapeake Bay, breeding performance in ospreys has been poor for several years due to extreme food stress during the nesting season. Productivity has declined to critical levels that now threaten the stability of the largest osprey breeding population in the world. The primary objective for compiling osprey monitoring results for the broader Atlantic coast is to visualize breeding performance at scale and address the question “Are ospreys experiencing reproductive deficits in waters beyond the Chesapeake Bay?” The 2026 effort includes monitoring results for 2,886 pairs from 65 study areas across 10 states (Table 1, Figure 1).”
Please read Audubon’s Call to Action and sign the form at the link to help Ospreys. No money required – just a note to the commission, and please share extensively on social media and with friends and family.
Hope has returned to her nest at the Osprey Environment Centre after losing all three chicks due to a lack of fish.
We wait the arrival of the falcons in both Melbourne and Orange.
The wee sea eaglets are doing fine. SE38 isn’t backing down when it comes to food!
Shadow and Kaydee didn’t blink – Toby and The Girls would have hide with Toby howling – but not our new Big Bear couple. SK Hideaways got them: https://youtu.be/4AIX1M9dwGI?
Thank you for being with me. I am hanging in there. We are now 4.5 weeks into Don’s stay in the hospital. He was able to put weight on his feet three days ago and has walked some. He can feed himself on occasion. His communication is somewhat better. A day at a time, a day at a time.
Thank you to The Guardian, SK Hideaways, and everyone who is working hard to save the ospreys. Please do check out the posts and voice your opinion! Now is not the time to sit on our hands – it is time for action. Thank you also to the owners of the streaming cams that allow us to look into the lives of these incredible birds.
I am having trouble with my Internet and the technician cannot come out until Saturday so my post today will be very short and I will be back late Sunday.
SK Hideaways has completed their tribute to Jackie. Enjoy!
My days are the type of routine that underline there is a change but that life goes on, just day by day, not knowing what will happen. Toby and I get up and feed the birds. By the time Toby and Hugo Yugo settle on the old sofa and the cat tree in the conservatory, the Blue Jays are flying in, little squirrels are running along the power lines to then jump into the lilacs and find nuts, while the songbirds begin landing on the leafless limbs of some of the trees. This is the scene we watch every morning while I sip my coffee.
It has always been this way, with the exception that Don was sitting at the table drinking his tea and trying to count the Blue Jays and squirrels or me. His seat is now empty, and I do not know if he will ever join us again.
It is difficult. But more about that another day.
This blog was meant to be about ‘good things’, but ospreys in South Australia are abandoning their eggs, as they have in the NE United States and Eastern Canada (NS, in particular). Today, Mum finally stopped incubating the eggs on the barge at Port Lincoln because of a lack of fish. We also saw the issues related to the lack of food at the Osprey Environmental Centre. This is, sadly, widespread. Fran Solly tells us that Ervie and Giliath are having to travel farther and farther to find fish.
We are witnessing what warming waters, droughts, and overfishing are doing to our feathered friends that depend on the fish. Red Algae blooms are in the area of Port Lincoln, causing havoc.
367 Collins St. Falcons ~ F24 (female) and M24 (male)
F24 and M24 have incubation changeovers down to an art. She is doing the bulk of the incubation and he is doing the bulk of the hunting. After a short incubation stint this morning, we saw M24 doing laps around the building, presumably hunting. Did someone say the fastest animal on earth? Whoosh! Video: https://youtu.be/jwJhbaxKMa4 FOBBV Eagles ~ Big Bear Valley, CA ~ Jackie, Shadow, Sandy, and Luna
Courtesy FOBBVCAM | Friends of Big Bear Valley | California
Shadow & Kaydee’s Eventful Morning ~ Fish Sharing Not Happening ~2026 Sep 16 Shadow and Kaydee spent another night together on the roost tree ~ Kaydee cozying up a bit at dawn before departing. They went their own ways for a couple hours, then Shadow brought a fish to the nest with Kaydee in hot pursuit. She didn’t have a chance to try to share as Shadow made it crystal clear that this was *his* fish and *his* fish alone. Kaydee remained on the front perch till Shadow gulped down the fish tail. She then cautiously entered the nest, where she and Shadow spent a short time together. Kaydee nipped Shadow’s tail and there was some beaking, but Shadow seemed to want to be on his own today. He departed, while Kaydee remained on the nest for another two hours. Another day, another adventure. Video: https://youtu.be/bvJyHjfo0VA
KAYDEE’S FIRST STICK!She Showers Shadow in Beakies & Nibbles ~ 2026 Sep 12
Kaydee brought the first stick of the season to the nest. When Shadow arrived she seemed excited about her accomplishment and nibbled his beak, then his feathers, which he accepted. It was quite a change in dynamics from the previous day. Video: https://youtu.be/ZA4JA6tfchQ
Lady is Perfect Sun MUMBRELLAfor SE37 & SE38 ~ 2026 Sep 14
Lady deemed it necessary to shade her seaglets, spreading her gorgeous wings over them to do so. SE37 and SE38 were of two minds about it: while the shade was nice, it was pretty toasty under all those beautiful feathers. Also included is some close-up footage of SE38’s glorious crop.
SE38’s Happy Eel Meal Deal ~ Leaves Wee One with HUGE Crop ~ 2026 Sep 12
When SE38 steps up for a good meal, there’s a collective cheer throughout the fan base. This was one of those days. Lady and Dad have brought a few eels to the nest, providing great nutrition for the seaglets. SE37 eats first, then SE38 sometimes, but not always, steps up to eat. This was one of those days in which SE38 ate very well. It was a joy to behold. Video: https://youtu.be/qMUP6PbcjO
Updates from Window to Wildlife updates including Connie and Clive:
And all the way from Berlin, our happy moment for today – a story about Black Robins. Thanks, ‘J’.
Thank you for being with us today. It appears that our dear Iris has now left the Hellgate Canyon are on her migration. This is one of the last, if not the last, image of her on the baseball lights. We will wait anxiously til April for her and Clarke to return.
Thank you to SK Hideaways for their videos covering so many nests this week. Please check them out! And to everyone who posted on FB, to ‘J’ for the story of the Black Robin, and to Windows to Wildlife for their update – and all streaming cam owners – we thank you, too.
I am exhausted. Changes to the house continue in case Donald is ever able to come home. If not, they will be there for me or someone else. With the lack of ospreys in Australia, the news is very thin as we wait for hatch at Collins Street and Orange. Please continue to watch the WBSE – they are adorable and growing so fast. How will changes to the water impact these eagles who also depend on fish amongst other prey?
INDUSTRY CLAIM #1: The industry argues that, because menhaden and the predator/prey relationships have not been substantially studied in the Chesapeake Bay to date, regulators should not impose catch limitations or local harvest caps to protect and rebuild sustainable balances in the Bay unless there is absolute, peer-reviewed scientific certainty proving a direct link between reduction fishing and predator decline. They claim regulators must wait for years of additional localized research and peer-reviewed forage consumption data models before changing any existing harvest caps.
THE REALITY: This is a stall tactic used to delay accountability while harvest limits are kept at status quo volumes desirable to the industry. Fisheries management policies explicitly allow for a precautionary approach when wildlife populations show clear signs of distress.
CONCLUSION: The Future of Localized Menhaden Management should start now.
