Just a quick check in on some nests and the garden as spring arrives.
The first Dark-eyed Juncos of the season have arrived! Thank goodness the whole seed area is a mess and there is lots for them on the ground.
The big news (as far as I am concerned) is that Kai, Beau and Gabby’s baby, fledged about an hour and a half ago caught on video by Netflix Memories. https://youtu.be/VnmSSSODa6M?
Ospreys are arriving at the European nests including those in Germany.
Blue NCO calls for a mate from her nest at Loch of the Lowes.
She might be 23 years old but she is still gorgeous. Big Red.
Chichester’s Peregrine Falcon newsletter has arrived.
We have at least one osprey on the Pitkin County nest in Colorado.
On pip watch at Achieva. I hope that Jack steps up provisions. Many of you might wonder about the fish he brings in – this couple recycles fish just as Jack and Diane did. A fish comes in, part is eaten, it is taken away and. brought back. The ospreys have a place where, like the squirrels in my garden, that cache food. We saw this clearly at Captiva when there was a tree near to the platform that served this purpose.
So when you see a fish, don’t count them as individual fish – that is not the case. Jack will need to provide more. Diane supplemented the fish with her great catfish. Will this female have to pitch in for her babies to survive?
Thank you so much for being with us. Take care! See you soon.
Thank you to all the individuals who posted videos that I am sharing, information on FB, and to the owners of the streaming cams, we are all grateful to be able to watch our beautiful birds.
It was a blue-sky, fluffy-clouds, -1 C day on the Canadian Prairies. Sadly, the warm weather on Friday meant that all that melting caused ice today. We tried walking at the English Gardens, but turned back and instead walked Toby down every aisle of one of our larger pet stores that carry duck and lamb hearts. He got to sniff up a storm!
The week has not been without its challenges. Don’s condition continues to deteriorate. We are in the early stages of late Lewy body dementia, and Don is sleeping more than he is awake. This change began this week. We have an appointment with his doctor on Wednesday. This sudden change has, however, given me a chance to sit quietly in the warm sunshine with Toby, a type of stillness that was simply beautiful.
There was a shimmer of gold in all of this, as my neighbour, who Brock has adopted along with her porch chair, has found me a cleaning lady. The Girls and Toby create more hair than a shedding Highland cow despite daily vacuuming and mopping. I am so grateful – I want to enjoy the time, those very conscious times, with Don and the animals and not spend it constantly cleaning. Oh, gosh, we should all wish for that.
SK Hideaways has sent us their videos for the past week. It is quite the undertaking- I sure don’t need to check on any of these nests.
SK Hideaways Videos Week of 15 March 2026 AEF-NEFL Eagles ~ Palm Coast, FL 🦅 Eve and Kai 🦅 A Day in the Life🌿 Before Their Grand Adventure💙 (2026 Mar 21) As fledge day approaches, we fans are feeling the empty nest anxiety that comes after investing months rooting for an eagle (or falcon or osprey or…) family. So I wanted to capture a day in the life of this beloved family. Gabby and Beau have raised two beautiful eaglets ~ Eve and Kai, who are now 11 weeks old. Fledge could happen at any moment. While we’re excited to see Eve and Kai soar and explore, we will miss them when they’re gone.
Eve hatched on December 31st Kai hatched on January 1st
Audacity Lays SIXTH Egg 🥚🥚🥚🥚🥚🥚 Keeping Hope Alive 🐣 (2026 Mar 16) The amazing 20-year-old Audacity has laid her SIXTH egg of the season. Continuing to send positive thoughts for a hatch. Video: https://youtu.be/wNi3gZssQJA
Cholyn & Chase Bid Their Broken Egg a Fond Farewell 💔 (2026 Mar 17) It was an end no fan wanted to see. The last egg in Cholyn and Chase’s clutch was accidently punctured and ultimately broke. While we anthropomorphize their “feelings”, because we’re human and that’s what we do, I believe they did mourn this loss in their own eagle way. It was a poignant and touching sight to see. In the end, they came together like they always do. Video: https://youtu.be/8vmMpnkNsh4
Soon-to-be-Named Female & Lee Bond from Tors to Nest to Meadows (2026 Mar 20)The soon-to-be-named female and Lee continue to bond. On the tors, in the nest, in the meadows, and everywhere in between. How lucky we are to watch the progression of this budding relationship.
If you would like to vote for the female’s name, go to iws.org/nest-adoption-challenge. Voting is open till March 24th at 5 p.m.
Prospective Young Dad Lee First Confused then Caring About 1st Egg (2026 Mar 15-16) 4-year-old Lee seemed a little dazed and confused when his new mate revealed an egg. He went away to “process” overnight and returned in the morning with dad hormones on full display. We look forward to watching this story unfold. Video: https://youtu.be/WVDHKRApfxQ
Female Lays First Egg ~ Likely First Ever (2026 Mar 15) They say this female is probably 5 years old; the male, Lee, is known to be 4 years old. This is likely the first egg for either of them. It was sweet watching her dote on the egg.
JBS24 is a superstar at 7-1/2 Weeks! Pro-like self-feeding gulps & big wingers (2026 Mar 18) At 7-1/2 weeks, JBS24 is self-feeding and wingercising like a champ. Awaiting breakfast, JBS24 found (and gulped down) lots of leftovers and showed their beautiful wings for the camera with some impressive wingers. Video: https://youtu.be/dFpVyYpSWps
San Jose City Hall Falcons ~ San Jose, CA ~ Hartley & Monty Courtesy San Jose City Hall Peregrine Falcon Cam
Hartley & Monty Produce 4 Eggs for 3 Years Running (2026 Mar 19) Hartley laid egg #4 just after 1 a.m., making this the third year that she and Monty have achieved such fruitfulness. Monty visited a few hours later and then they took a few moments to celebrate by mating. Surely they’re not going for 5 eggs this year! 🫢 Video: https://youtu.be/IiCPIjLE0mw
Hartley & Monty Welcome Egg #3 🥚🥚🥚(2026 Mar 16) Like clockwork and with minimal fanfare, Hartley laid egg #3. Monty paid a short visit before leaving to let Hartley rest up. Will there be a 4th in a couple days? Stay tuned. Video: https://youtu.be/HGoXF8QGpd8
I am so glad that so many of you are taking the time to enjoy and closely monitor the birds that populate your area. ‘A’, our narrator of all birds Australian, writes, “I have been deeply involved in my own garden birds – I thank you so much for reminding us all that the birds we should start watching are the ones that visit us and need our friendship. When the summers regularly reach 40C+ the bird baths are not just a decoration in the back yard! Today, those sweet little squeaking fluff balls, the native mynahs, were having the most wonderful time in their bird bath (theirs as I have mentioned in the one a metre off the ground – the crows use the deeper water bowl on the ground). The little mynahs get SO wet that they can sometimes hardly fly up to the clothesline to shake their tail feathers and preen. I love how they perch, six or more at a time, around the rim of the bird bath and then take it in turns to fling themsselves into the water and flap acrsos to the opposite rim. They like to get their undersides as wet as possible. TOO cute.The crows stand in the middle of their dish and lie down, then flap wildly, throwing water all over themselves a well as soaking their undersides to get as wet as they possibly can. The fledgling crow has hung around its parents twice as long as the magpie fledgling did – the crow is still here, being incredibly loud and demanding. Its poor parents are still shoving food into its beak just to shut it up. It’s almost impossible to tell the parents from the youngster from appearance – only behaviour really identifies who is who.”
Reading Ping’s article and ‘A’s narrative of her garden brings such joy to me. As I always say, if everyone took care of the birds and animals close to them and stood up for those who cannot, this planet of ours would be a much richer, more diverse, and happier place.
Please do not think that our feathered friends have an easy life. They do not. Wildlife are under attack everywhere.
At Achieva, Jack has been delivering fish and according to Barbara Snyder, a keen observor of this nest, we are nearing pip watch.
Audacity has laid egg number 8. Oh, I really hope that one of these eggs is successful. Poor darling. She wants to be a mum so badly and well, after Betty Lou, I don’t blame her. BL was a fantastic fledgling.
At the Moorings Park nest, wee three finally got some fish late in the day. Everyone had been concerned. It was a relief.
Tired and full.
Thank you so much for being with us. Keep your eyes on those cameras – ospreys are arriving everywhere, the last of the older eaglets are ready to fledge, and we have pip watches coming! It is going to be very busy.
Take care of yourself. We hope that you have a wonderful week.
Thank you to SK Hideaways for those marvellous videos and to ‘A’ for sharing her garden birds with us. I am always grateful to the owners of the streaming cams that allow us to view the lives of these magnificent creatures and to those that post news on FB, as well as the newspapers that keep us up to date on critical issues regarding our planet’s wildlife.
We hope this finds each of you well and that you got outside, enjoyed the fresh air, and heard some birdsong! The Bald Eagles are gathering in areas north of me in Manitoba. It is another reminder that spring is just around the corner!
Last year Ping Shen shared his incredible photographs of a Seattle osprey family, Harry and Sally. The couple had three osplets. Sadly, one died, but two flourished. It was a real treat. Thank you, Ping! We are looking forward to Harry and Sally’s 2026 breeding season and all your images and stories.
Ping’s article is inspirational for me, and I think that it will touch each of you. We have all sought refuge in the lives of the raptors for various reasons. We need to cherish our wildlife, recognising how much our ‘souls’ are sustained by nature and how much we have in common.
“With noise and sooty exhaust constant backdrops, with a nest built on top of a 1.5 million-gallon storage tank for sewage runoff, these osprey — Harry and Sally, as I came to call them — engaged and persisted in the fraught, delicate dance of raising young. Engaged in my own delicate dance of raising my own young, I found some of the parallels quite humorous — more than once I would return home after watching the young birds demand food, maws agape, and see my own 4-year-old daughter open her mouth in silent command upon seeing me eat something interesting. Beyond humor lay the fortifying recognition of just how much we — human and bird — shared as parents. That parenting is perhaps the most hopeful act of all, that amid and against calamity and tall odds we dance, nurturing and sending forth a little bit of ourselves into an unknown future. A care package of love and hope tucked under a wing is all we leave them.”
‘LE’ sends us news that the first eaglet was born at the Fort Worth Zoo in 117 years! And no, it is not a Bald Eagle but an African Fish eagle! Here is the information:
I am so glad that the NZ DOC and the Kakapo Recovery are keeping us up to date on the 2026 breeding season. These remarkable flightgless green parrots breed only once every four years and 2026 is their year!
Mrs O is at the Tweed Valley nest waiting for a mate. Last year began in a remarkable way and ended in tragedy when two females share the same nest. Once the osplets hatched, the females could not sort out who would provide fish, if they would share duties or what – the male was simply not fit for purpose – and the cute little osplets starved to death.
What a very sad situation.
We are waiting for the first egg for Big Red and Arthur. Poor thing. She now lives in a construction zone.
Heidi writes that the second chick has hatched at the Venice Beach and Golf course osprey platform.
Owls bothered Beau and Gabby’s Kia and Eve Friday night with Eve getting hit.
The triplets at Moorings Park osprey platform are well fed – with beautiful fat little bottoms.
Waiting for White YW and Blue 35. They have raised some incredible chicks at Foulshaw Moss in Cumbria.
The cameras are getting better and better. Thanks, Jeff!
Elen is still waiting at Glaslyn.
A great video of Kai and Eve at the nest of Gabby and Beau in Palm Court, Florida – before the kids depart. It has been a wonderful season for this family! Beau proved all the naysayers wrong and is a good strong mate for Gabby just like she knew. Here is the link: https://youtu.be/CeUxQWwidwY?
There is still time for Maya or Blue 33 to arrive today at Rutland. Birds are arriving.
I would also like to draw your attention to the manner in which the side rails of this nest have been secured. To my knowledge, much of the osprey platforms in the UK are checked, secured, and refurbished before the arrival of the ospreys in the UK. I love what they do at Glaslyn. Why couldn’t someone care this much about the ospreys in the US – such as the nest at Achieva in St Petersburg? How would the owners of that streaming cam like ‘their kids’ to slide through a hole and die? Oh, don’t get me started.
Gentle snow is coming down this morning. The Starlings are waiting for me to put out their kibble while a lone Blue Jay was glad to have the peanuts to itself. Mr Crow is not patiently waiting to get Toby’s leftover meat.
Take care everyone. Check out the wonder that is nature around you, just like Ping Shen you might discover a bird family that you can watch from egg to fledge! I will see you again soon.
Thank you to Ping Shen for sharing their wonderful article with us, to ‘LE’ for letting me know about that African Eagle, to the owners of the streaming cams we are always grateful to be able to watch the lives of our favourite bird families, to SK Hideaways I am always indebted to you for your fantastic videos, and to Jeff Kerr and UK Osprey – thanks. And to all the others who post on FB and take images – bless you!
Oh, what a day to start the spring equinox. Elen has arrived at her nest in Glaslyn. Now…who will be her mate this season and will there be chaos or eggs?
Aran and Mrs G were the ospreys at the Glaslyn nest. Mrs G was replaced by Elen who bred with Aran and then Aran returned late in 2025. A young bird, Teifi, hooked up with Elen but there was a chaotic year and no chicks were produced.
Will Aran return early and reclaim his nest? Will Teifi? Will neither? We wait.
Update on Brutus from the Winter Park, Florida nest:
There is growing concern this morning about the fate of M15’s mate, F23. Suspicions about what happened at a nearby chicken far with the dear female being shot continue to gain some validity as the carcass of the eagle was ‘dumped’ instead of being handed over to the repository so that the feathers could be used in Indigenous ceremonies as is mandated by USFWS.
Fridge Friday for the Kakapo:
Cameras are live at Lyn Clywedog in preparation for the arrival of Dylan and Blye 5F Seren.
At Cornell University’s Red tail Hawk nest, Big Red is definitely thinking about eggs.
Obviously there will be more arrivals – probably the minute I hit submit! Keep your eyes on those UK osprey streaming cams!
Thank you for being with us this first morning of spring. Take care. See you Monday if not before.
Thank you to the owners of the streaming cams that allow us to peer into the lives of our favourite birds, to those who post on FB, to the Audubon Centre for Birds of Prey for taking such good care of Brutus, to Barb Henry for investigating the death of F23, and to you, our readers.
So what does the Spring Equinox symbolise? I asked AI.
“The spring equinox (or vernal equinox) symbolises a profound turning point towards light, new beginnings, and balance, marking the official end of winter’s dormancy and the start of growth. It represents a moment of global equilibrium (equal day and night), fostering themes of fertility, renewal, and the emergence of life.
Core Symbolism of the Spring Equinox:
New Beginnings & Rebirth: The world emerging from winter’s slumber symbolizes a chance to start fresh, often characterized by planting, growing, and shedding the old.
Balance & Equilibrium: Occurring when the sun crosses the equator, it symbolizes the perfect, albeit fleeting, balance between light and dark, day and night.
Light over Darkness: As days begin to grow longer, the equinox is a testament to the return of warmth and the triumph of light over the cold and darkness of winter.
Fertility & Growth: Traditionally linked to the goddess Ostara, the season is heavily associated with fertility, growth, and abundance.
Transformation & Renewal: Similar to a seed sprouting, it represents a period of blooming and personal growth. Community-Based Research Centre +7
Common Symbols and Rituals:
Eggs: Representing fertility, new life, and the potential of the coming season.
Hares/Rabbits: Long-standing symbols of fertility and the quickening life of spring.
Flowers/Seeds: Snowdrops, crocuses, and the planting of seeds represent new growth and the awakening of the earth.
Bonfires/Candles: Lighting fires symbolizes the return of the sun’s warmth and light.
Spring Cleaning: Clearing out the physical and metaphorical stagnation of winter to prepare for new energy. Slow North +5
Cultural and Historical Contexts:
Holi (Hinduism): A vibrant festival celebrating the arrival of spring, joy, and the victory of good over evil.
Easter (Christianity): Celebrates the resurrection of Jesus Christ, aligning with the broader themes of rebirth.
Ostara (Pagan/Germanic): The pagan festival honoring the goddess of spring and dawn, Eostre.
Mesoamerican Traditions: Often recognized with the descent of the snake god Kukulkan at Chichen Itza, signifying the agricultural season’s start. Slow North +3
The spring equinox serves as a reminder to align with the rhythms of nature, celebrating the return of warmth and actively cultivating growth in both the environment and our personal lives. “
My family and I – two or four legged – wish each of you a wonderful beginning of spring, a sense of light and life, and hope.
Before I begin, it seems that Audacity and Jak have another nest. Gracie Shepherd caught up with them and discovered that Audacity has laid egg 7 of this breeding season. She is not giving up on having a little one. Tugs at my heart strings. Here is the video: https://youtu.be/SZ_xEjmVT3c?
It is currently very cloudy, with temperatures of +3 C in Winnipeg. There is a 45kph wind kicking up the snow and making it feel bitterly cold on our faces. We have now been out for two walks with Toby – shorter walks more frequently seem to work better for ‘us seniors’.
Thinking ahead to when the snow is gone and some changes to the garden to suit a dog that loves to run, I am moving the lower deck and hoping to create an agility area for Toby. We tested out the arrival of one tube. The ones we had for ‘The Girls’ are simply too small. Here is a video of the arrival with Hugo Yugo and Toby. My talents do not lie in camera work! That is for certain. Have patience. There are a couple of cute moments.
Big Red spent enough time on the nest on Thursday that everyone thought we might have an egg! Soon, soon!!!!!! Our Queen of the Red Tail Hawks is 23 years old. I am hoping for two healthy chicks that thrive, fledge, and survive. As much as I admire what the Cornell Bird Lab does, they really need to keep on making the windows bird-strike-proof. Sadly, the fledgling lost last year was to West Nile Virus, not window strike, but there is still work to be done on the latter.
JBS24 is really getting ready to fledge. After the loss of JBS 25 to an unknown, the parents have been remarkable in their care of their surviving baby.
No one needs to worry. Gabby has eyes in the back of her head when it comes to her babies who are now doing some daring branching. It won’t be long as they are self-feeding, branching, and working wings. Beau and Gabby you did well.
E26 has found the pond at the SW Florida Bald Eagle nest of his dad, M15 and late Mum, F23.
There appears to be a new female on the nest at Dewey Beach. Heidi will confirm later.
SF Bay Ospreys and the Golden Gate Alliance have created a video montage of Richmond’s amazing nest-building talents at the Whirley Crane this season. https://youtu.be/H6c92MNqISw?
At Gwash B11/10 has returned. He is the partner to Blue 25 (10).
Menhaden in the Chesapeake are essential to the entire eco-system and the population has been destroyed by industrial fishing. Different fish, different area but do think about this the next time you reach for Krill Oil!
Duke Farms Only Eaglet is doing very well. Gosh, it is nice not to have to share food with a sibling!
There is at least one osprey at the Dahlgren osprey platform.
There is real saddness as seabirds are washing up dead.
“Thousands of seabirds dying on western Europe’s coasts
Puffins, guillemots and razorbills are being washed up dead or dying on Europe’s Atlantic coast in what scientists call a ‘wreck’
Thousands of seabirds – mostly puffins, but also many guillemots and razorbills – are being washed up dead or dying on the Atlantic coasts of western Europe, in what scientists call a “wreck”.
This year’s events, the consequence of a series of severe storms during the late autumn and winter, are the worst since 2014, when as many as 54,000 birds were found stranded. Of these, well over half – between 30,000 and 34,000 – were puffins.
This may only be the tip of a very large iceberg, as puffins usually spend the winter far out in the north Atlantic, meaning many more birds will have died at sea and their corpses will never reach the shore.
The RSPB has warned that this recent series of weather-related disasters comes on top of a very tough few years for puffins. Avian flu and a decline of their favourite food – sand eels – have reduced breeding success at their colonies on offshore islands and around our coasts. They, and Britain’s other seabirds, such as gannets, fulmars and kittiwakes, also face problems from a rise in marine pollution.”
Thank you so much for being with us. I am sending this out late Thursday instead of Friday as it is not busy for me right now. I hope you have a great weekend. Will send short posts if any ospreys land on the UK nests! Take care.
Thank you so much to those who create videos for our enjoyment and education, to those who post information on Facebook, to the owners of the streaming cams that allow us to witness the lives of our favourite birds, and to news sources that continue to provide information on our environment and our feathered friends.
It is a gorgeous morning at Loch of the Lowes. Blue NCO arrived home yesterday to a nest she had shared with her late mate Laddie LM12. Last year she disappeared after two weeks and many feared the worst when she could not establish a mate and hang on to control of the nest. Only time will tell what will happen this year.
She is beautiful and seems in very good health. She landed a large fish – something she is known for – on the nest at dawn.
Geemeff has a video with her landing on the nest with that nice fish – cheeping. Oh, I hope she gets a good mate this year! https://youtu.be/9dx9wYteNxI?
The official word from the Scottish Wildlife Trust on Blue NCOs arrival yesterday:
There are now three little eaglets at the new Dale Hollow Bald Eagle nest in Tennessee.
I do not have and have not asked for permission to use photos of the nest but check it out. Lots of large fish on that nest Thursday morning.
We are in the egg laying zone at Big Red and Arthur’s RTH nest on the Cornell Campus in Ithaca, New York.
As the Kakapo struggle to recover, there are new hatches with some sad and sudden deaths o the 4 year olds hatched during the last breeding season. (They only breed every four years).
I asked about Jack and how well he might be taking care of Jill at the Achieva nest. ‘MP’ sent a photo of a delivery and news. “Here’s the picture of her with the first fish at 9:00 AM CT. The only other fish I saw today was a less than half a fish. He did take over incubation twice, and she was gone only once time enough to have hunted a fish and eaten it. “
That’s it for me today! It is pajama day – a day when I worked hard the day before to do nothing today but walk Toby! Take care everyone. See you soon.
Thank you to ‘MP’ for the image of Jack and the news from Achieva, to Geemeff for the video of Blue NCO and her gigantic fish. To all those who post on FB or own streaming cams and share the lives of the birds with us, thank you. We at Bird World are grateful.
We are in the midst of an unexpected blizzard, while thousands of miles to our southeast, it is green, and geese are enjoying the grass on a golf course. Thank you, ‘L’, for letting me share this lovely image of spring! We love our geese, but there is no place for them here, and yet, many arrived several weeks ago! The ponds have frozen, but there remains some open water in the two rivers that wind their way through our City. It is supposed to warm up beginning tomorrow, but I will believe it when I see it. We were not expecting this much snow today!
It doesn’t look like much, but the snow is blowing and accumulating so quickly! The lad who shovels or us thought snow was finished – he is going to get a real surprise! It is more than 30 cm deep on the walkway he cleared a few days ago, and is within 45 cm of covering the large bird table feeder. Unbelievable.
Toby loves it. He bounces through the snow if there is even a whiff of a ‘cat’ in the garden. My plan is to have a tall wooden fence built to match the one constructed a few years ago. I had not planned to put a fence on that part of the property, but the theft of dogs in our City has become quite troubling. Of course, ‘the cats’ – distinguished from ‘The Girls’ – come in from that back corner, so it is important to close it in. Toby loves his sisters, ‘The Girls’. He plays with them, but those that make their way into his outdoor territory will be ousted unless they are Brock (who now still spends 99% of his time at the neighbour down the street)!!!!!!!!!
I hope, after all these years, that each of you knows that I love all animals, but there is a special place in my heart for Big Red and Arthur, the late Annie at The Campanile, and ospreys. I have posted this song before, but I want you to get in the mood. Osprey season is starting in the UK – and has already begun in the US. Here are those wonderful school children with the Osprey Song (2011): https://youtu.be/KoOQK6ejuXY?
At the Lake Murray Osprey platform, Lucy has laid her second egg with a new mate. Please, please put up the owl defences for this family Lake Murray!
Company for Brutus. Storms are tearing down eagle and osprey nests around the US including an osprey nest that Penny Albright monitored near Sanibel that lost two chicks when the nest collapsed. These eaglets made it through…
Blue 25 has made another visit to Blue 33 and Maya’s nest at Manton Bay – Blue 33 normally arrives a few days prior to Maya, and Blue 25 enjoys his company! Geemeff caught her time on the nest: https://youtu.be/HU_XGU3NTro?
We have an osprey at the MNSA Osprey nest in Oceanside’s Jay Cool platform.
“WYL greets his chick upon returning to the nest in New Zealand. The adult male arrives from a foraging trip over the Pacific to feed his growing chick at the Plateau nest site. As the chick gets bigger, the parents will take longer foraging trips to collect enough food for both themselves and their chick.” (Cornell Bird Lab)
Peanut defended the Winter Park Florida nest against a RTH! Nestflix Memories (Gracie Shepherd) caught it on video: https://youtu.be/cQksMDubVEc?
Tonight, Wink is taking now chances. She is right in the nest with Peanut if that GHO returns – and, of course, it will – they never give up! Wink is an incredible mother – I am truly amazed and thankful for her diligence.
Gabby with her babies, Kai and Eve, at the NE Florida Bald Eagle nest in Florida. Best keep a close eye on these two – they could fledge before you blink.
At the Johnson City nest of Boone and Jolene in Tennessee, snow arrived. Jolene kept those two babies warm and tried to feed them at the same time. Like Wink, she is an experiened and an exceptional Mum.
Huge crop on JBS 24. Mum and Dad are delivering food and leaving it for self-feeding on occasion.
Harry and Sally are up there in my list of osprey parents. Three babies, three little fat bottoms. Large fish coming in and Harry on guard as it appeared there could have been an intruder around today during a fish delivery. If you haven’t been watching Moorings Park, then check out this osprey family. It is a success story – and believe me when I tell you that there will be few such stories in the NE USA this season unless a miracle happens.
Rutlands Lagoon 4 nest is trying to keep the Egyptian Geese from laying eggs while everyone waits for the ospreys to arrive. This is a second nest with a camera amongst several nests at Rutland Water. AI says: “Based on 2025/2026 sightings, the Lagoon 4 nest at Rutland Water is often occupied by male 359 (a 2021 Rutland-born osprey) and female 3H9 (a 2023 Rutland-born osprey). They have been observed investigating the nest and strengthening bonds. Note: 359 and 3H9 are a distinct pair from the main Manton Bay pair, Maya and 33(11).”
I am getting impatient – and it is a tad early – for Maya and Blue 33 to arrive at Manton Bay.
At the Whitley Crane nest known as the Golden Gate Audubon Osprey nest, Richmond has worked and worked. There is a new female at the nest with him. I do not believe Rosie will make an appearance. Why do I say this? Well, when Aila did not return, Louis moved his nest to another location when he bonded with Dorcha. We often think animals and birds are not intelligent. If I have said it once, I will say it again million times, my teacher about raptor behaviour, the late Laura Culley, taught me that they are smarter and use higher levels of intelligence and communication that humans have lost.
I noticed in one of the chats – it was the Winter Park Florida chat – that someone noted that ‘animals have feelings’. Dr Mark Beckoff and Dr Jane Goodall taught us this. There are several good books out there. I urge you or anyone who is interested in the behaviour of non-humans to read any or all of the following.
Saddness at the Two Harbours as Chase & Cholyn lose their last egg. SK Hideaways has it on video: https://youtu.be/8vmMpnkNsh4?
Big Red and Arthur have snow on their nest at Cornell University.
Suzanne Arnold Horning caught Big Red relaxing on the lights!
Cameras are now live at the Poole Harbour nest of CJ7 and Blue 022.
We have an osprey at Threave. Is it Black 80?
At Achieva the third egg was laid on the 25th of January. Can someone who is watching this nest tell me if Jack is delivering enough fish to his mate? I did not see deliveries today, but I might have missed something.
In fact, start checking out all your favourite UK and European nests as the cameras are being turned on faster than I can keep a list.
The Pitkin County Osprey nest in Colorado is live.
I have such a soft spot for this White-tail eagle in Durbe County Latvia. Milda. Her current mate is Zorro. There was sorrow and now Zorro has proved to be a good mate and provider.
April 7. Hellgate Canyon. Iris’s favourite day to return to her nest in Missoula, Montana. Count the days – 20. Less than three weeks! The snow has melted.
There is evil in the world. I cannot imagine how anyone could harm an animal and yet, every day I find myself telling people not to give their kittens away to anyone. Russell Mason beat a Goshawk to death – how in the world can someone do this?
Large estates, with no eyes around in Scotland (and elsewhere), allow many horrific things to happen to our beautiful feathered friends. What can be done to stop this?
The Cornell Bird Lab gives us hope that people around the world are increasingly engaging with nature and birds. Yes, there are incredibly vicious people anywhere in the world that will harm birds and other animals, but there are more, I hope, that love and help them.
Thank you so much for being with me today and for your patience, as my posting is often irregular. I had hoped to keep to Fridays and Mondays til the UK osprey season began, but every day there is something new and exciting! I will continue to post at the oddest of times, sometimes two or three times a day as news comes in. As you can imagine, my life is anything but routine. We do have a schedule, but it all depends on my husband’s mood, which can vary. I am impatiently waiting for spring to arrive. What I miss most is reading. Yes, we have story time, but it isn’t the same as sitting quietly on a park bench with squirrels dashing around, the wind gently blowing, with a good book in my hand, reading in silence. So, no promises other than there will always be a Monday blog, often coming out late Sunday, until we have osprey chicks on the nests in the UK and Europe.
Thank you to everyone who created videos, wrote informative FB posts, to Raptor Persecution UK for keeping us informed, and to the Cornell Bird Lab for continuing to support education. I remain forever grateful to the owners of the streaming cams that allow us to venture into the challenging lives of our feathered friends. To all my readers who are now long-time friends, I appreciate your support. Your letters and comments mean the world to me.
After being so excited about the young couple at the West End, the ravens have taken the egg when it was left alone. This is youth. They will learn. Both of them possibly wondered what to do with that egg – intuition doesn’t always come easy.
On top of this, Chase and Cholyn’s egg at Two Harbours has been pierced and broken.
On top of all of this saddness in the Channel Islands, Audacity isn’t giving up and has laid another egg.
My goodness, Audacity must be worn out. It takes a lot out of an eagle to produce this many eggs.
I want to thank Penny Albright for keeping us informed about some incredible osprey nests while she has been on vacation. It has been a real treat to see these families through her eyes!
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news. I am not hopeful for the West End, Two Harbours, or Sauces this year. I want to be wrong!
Take care. See you soon. Ospreys landing in the UK and flying home. Lots to become excited about soon.
Thank you to SK Hideaways, Penny Albright and the owners of the streaming cams that allow us to witness the lives, good and bad, of our beloved raptors.
Just one of those quick postings. My inbox was filled with surprise, saddness, and shock when the very young female at the West End nest laid her very first egg on Sunday.
Everyone misses Thunder and Akecheta, whether it was at the old nest with Dr Sharpe rescuing eaglets or at the new one. I have not added them to the Memorial Wall and won’t because I believe they are out there somewhere. Akecheta was smart to just give up the territory, but we also lost Haku. Where is she? It is a challenging location with many intruders. Let’s wish this very young couple a long, happy, and successful breeding life.
White-Tail Eagle Milda laid her second egg on Sunday. Congratulations Milda and Zorro.
Rosie has not returned to Richmond as of today. His nest on the Whirley Crane would be an envy to any osprey! He has been working heard preparing for Rosie to return but she is very late and I am concerned.
My eyes are on Manton Bay and Loch of the Lowes today.
If you missed it, Quinn has fledged from the Captiva nest. So R9 and R10 along with E26 have taken to the skies.
The owl returned to the Winter Park nest, but Wink was sleeping by Peanut and raised up. As far as I am aware, nothing happened. Smart Mum. She knows about owls.
Thank you for being with us for this quick look at the egg laying in the Channell Islands West End nest. Take care. We will be back on Friday.
Thank you to SK Hideaways and the owners of the streaming cams that allow us to check on our favourite bird families.
If you are worried about Brutus, the eldest eaglet from the Winter Park Bald Eagle nest in Florida, don’t. Brutus is in good hands with the Audubon Centre for Birds of Prey! Our friend, Lisa, is part of that rehabilitation community and if Lisa has anything to do with Brutus – he will learn how to be an eaglet and get back into the wild. She is awsome.
I want to give a shout-out to the viewers who spotted the Owl knocking Brutus out of the nest, and to the quick reactions by Windows to Wildlife and the Audubon Centre for Birds of Prey. Brutus was ‘lightly injured’. Updates promised, but Brutus will not be going back to the nest, as it could force Peanut to fledge way too early. Besides, Peanut deserves some time on that nest alone, building up their body and wings for flying. That nest isn’t as crowded anymore, but everyone is alright.
The real story right now is that the young couple that have taken to Thunder and Akecheta’s West End nest in the Channel Islands have their first egg. I almost dropped by drawers! I think she is a first time Mum. I hope they have a long and successful life without intruders – we need some peace at this nest.
Geemeff did her second video of the year, and it was the arrival of Blue 25 (10) at the Manton Bay nest. Oh, let’s hope Maya arrives before Blue 33 because Blue 25 always has her eyes set on Blue 33. If Maya were not to return, would Blue 33 accept Blue 25 as a mate? If he arrives, everything is up in the air right now! Perhaps literally. https://youtu.be/oLvBrnZaEzA?
Thank you so much for being with me. Oh, things are happening so quickly. Quinn fledged! Peanut is missing Brutus while Wink is keeping her youngest close at hand. Ospreys are flying over water and land to get home. I wonder who will arrive Monday.
Take care!
Thank you to Geemeff for their video, to Window to Wildlife for their quick response and caring, and to the owners of the streaming cams so that we can watch these amazing birds and their lives.
