Tag Archives: birds

Sadness at the KNF-E3 nest…Friday in Bird World

21 March 2025

Good Morning Everyone,

I always start my blog early in the day and add to it. As I ready for bed Thursday night it is with a very heavy heart that I tell you that KNF E3-04 passed Thursday evening after having only a few bites of food and the tiniest – one gulp – of fish on Wednesday – since Sunday. The eaglet was, as you know, battered by its older sibling. This nest began very hopeful with two beautiful eaglets, and ‘something’ changed that. Was it the adult’s inexperience, as the Rangers believe? Is there such a shortage of food? Why did things begin to go ‘sideways’ for this family last weekend? These eaglets were fully feathered? If the parents were inexperiened might not this have shown up much earlier with the eaglets dying before getting their juvenile feathers? It just feels odd. Kincaid Lake should be full of fish as it is stocked (or was) annually for the people who come for recreational fishing, so why isn’t this nest full? Ale II hasn’t been seen for a day and a half because there is no reason for him to come to the nest if he has no food to bring. We will never know the circumstance or the combination of circumstances that caused such a dramatic change on this nest, but let us now hope that the older sibling will have food and survive to fledge. It would be a tragedy to lose both and it could easily happen. (More later in the blog).

Just a note. I will be sending this out very late or early on Friday morning and I could miss news of hatches or osprey arrivals. If so, I will include them for Saturday.

Happier Times for the eaglets:

Yesterday was the spring equinox and our feathered friends are on the move. But how is a changing climate impacting some of them?

Weatherwatch: climate shifts threaten birds’ return as spring arriveshttps://www.theguardian.com/news/2025/mar/20/weatherwatch-climate-shifts-threaten-birds-return-as-spring-arrives?CMP=share_btn_url

There is more sadness with the return of migrating birds in North America. ‘PB’ reports that numerous Canada Geese are dying of HPAI in Nebraska on their way to Canada. This horrible disease is spreading and spreading and no doubt we will lose many in various species as it continues to wreck havoc.

Heidi’s Osprey Report:

3/20 – Carthage osprey nest (Tennessee):  Mom and Dad are back together!  Dad arrived about 11 days ago and another female has had her sights set on him.  Finally Mom arrived a couple days ago and had a serious talk with the ‘other woman’, lol.

3/20 – Lake Murray osprey nest (South Carolina):  Congrats to Kenny and Lucy… Lucy laid their third egg early this morning.

Thanks, Heidi!

There are ospreys flying over every area of the UK, it seems.

Argathy Red Kites found themselves in need of a quick fix to their osprey nest that was destroyed in a recent storm.

“Crisis averted! Yesterday we headed to our osprey nest tree planning to quickly install a new camera before the birds return… unfortunately we swiftly discovered that recent storms had destroyed our old nest platform. Our legendary tree climber Keith had a mammoth job but built a beautiful new platform and got the camera installed. Now the long wait for the birds begins!”

River Gwash – Rutland female reaches age of 20 and is still returning to breed:

Dyfi: The camera will be live by the time you read this!

Balgavies Loch: Three ospreys, yet to be identified, have been seen flying over the loch.

Thanks Jeff Kear and UK Osprey Information or posting these news items.

Loch of the Lowes: Blue NC0 is bringing in moss in anticipation of eggs and having a marvellously soft nest for them and the osplets.

Bald Eagle Nests:

Pips at Decorah North! Yes, both eggs have pips.

NCTC Nest: Scout and Bella have their first hatch of the 2025 season at NCTC. The egg shell is the proof!!!!!!!

WARNING: THE FOLLOWING ENTRY ON KISTACHIE E3 IS DISTURBING AND HAS DISTURBING IMAGES.

Kistachie E3: The younger eaglet, 04 has been beaten and was down in the centre of the nest bowl most of the day. It had one small fish. I was hoping for a miracle, but it appears the wee one is near death or has died as of 1828 there was no more movement Thursday evening. I am grateful if its suffering is ended quickly. This has been quite the nest to watch. At one point in time if you had asked me, I would have said it was like a Black or Golden Eagle’s nest where the death of the second hatch is enshrined in the DNA of the species. But this was a Bald Eagle’s nest. The real question is what went wrong to cause such a blatant siblicide?

To those on the chat who wanted an intervention, the Migratory Bird Act does not allow it unless there is a clear human-caused issue. Even then with another fully feathered eaglet on the nest, permissions would not be given (if there is staff to provide them with) because it could cause a premature fledge of 03 and its possible death.

Soar high and free little one.

Food must be very scarce as Andria II plucked 04 preparing it for dinner for 03 and then flew off. Why are they not bringing fish from Kincaid Lake?

I was asked if I am working on a Memorial Wall for 2025. Yes, I am. I had to stop with Akecheta and Thunder and just take a break. It was getting to be too much. And the deaths have continued. I hope to have the wall up honouring those souls by the end of March. If you know of a feathered friend to include, please remind me so I do not fail to include them. Thank you.

I do not want to end on a sad note. There is so much to be thankful for and so I am including our miracles!

At the Big Bear nest, a video of sibling love: https://youtu.be/tGb47Md2h0s?

A deep egg cup to keep a wee much loved and longed for eaglet safe and contained at Sauces.

The love and struggles of a mother desperately trying to keep her three eaglets dry during a bad storm in New Jersey at Duke Farms.

What might have been a problem is proving that eagles, too, can adopt! Check out Bodie with VJ.

Thank you for being with me. We have had a lovely time on Hecla Island, but are looking forward to being home with ‘The Girls’ tomorrow and will set up early. Take care. See you soon.

Thank you to Heidi for the images of the E3 eaglets in a better time and to ‘PB’ for the news from Nebraska, The Guardian, Jeff Kear and UK Osprey Info FB, Argathy Red Kites, River Gwash Ospreys, Raptor Resource Project/Explore, NCTC Nest, Kistachie National Forest E3 Bald Eagle Nest, FOBBV, IWS/Explore, Duke Farms, NEFL-AEF,

Thursday in Bird World

20 March 2025

Hello Everyone,

It was a bright, sunny drive to Hecla Island. Just as we parked, a Bald Eagle flew overhead, and I felt blessed. Snow started later in the evening. It is quite beautiful! This is such a welcome break for us – and especially for me. I am grateful for the opportunity to take time off from ordinary life to do nothing for a couple of days. Wishing the same for each and every one of you! We have to stop once in awhile. Hoping that the ice will be gone tomorrow so that a nice walk in the woods can be on the agenda. It is about 1km to our favourite restaurant and there are small songbirds in the trees and Crows everywhere.

Our premier has just announced that entry to all of Manitoba’s Provincial Parks will be free for the next year. Thanks, Wab!

I am not going to cover a lot of news but I wish I could drop a pile of fish on the Kistachie National Park E3 nest.

It is hard to believe that despite being beaten, dragged around the nest, and not fed that E04 at the Kisatchie National Park Bald Eagle nest is still alive. This poor baby certainly deserves a big fish – it has the ‘will to live’.

And believe it or not that baby got that fish – 04 did – and gulped it down! Bravo. It will live another day.

What a contrast to the NorthEast Florida nest of Gabby and Beau where ‘tolerance’ has become the word of the day after the intruding juvenile made itself at home for the past week. Bodie has learned to defend her food, Gabby has fed the eaglet and it will not die. I know that this sounds strange but both it and Bodie will thrive.

04 has the will to live. Send your love and positive wishes.

FOBBV have put out a statement that they believe it was the eldest chick that perished on the nest.

Pip watch begins at Decorah North today. The weather is horrible.

Additional pip watches for today include: Bella and Scout at the NCTC nest, Port Tobacco, and the Kansas City Eagles on Farmer Derek’s land.

Update: Pip at NCTC!

The first egg hatched at Kansas City on Wednesday named Kanza.

An unringed female is trying to attract Herbert at the Eschenbach nest in Germany in case his mate Hermine does not return from migration. Joan Castanyer has it on video: https://youtu.be/lcVRaxZbRg8?

FORE has announced that it is past the date that Liberty would be laying eggs and so egg watch for Liberty and Guardian is over for the 2025 season. This is their posting:

You could not have two more proud parents than Jak and Audacity that insist on dual feedings for their little SC1. Lucky is the person who signed in for the IWS Nest Adoption that gets to name this little sweetheart.

Jackie and Shadow are keeping the kidlet stuffed. Just stop for a second and look at the fish on that nest. These two are over the moon to have babies to feed! Just like Jak and Audacity. Isn’t it precious? https://youtu.be/rlp2cLqQmwI?

Only eaglet at Johnson City doing exceptionally well.

Both eaglets at Bluff City enjoyed full crops of squirrel on Wednesday.

Just look at the two beautiful eaglets on the John Bunker Sands Wetlands nest! What a delight these two have been this year.

Many are concerned about the Denton Homes nest. There are big storms going through the Nebraska area with some people, including my readers, having long power outages.

Lincolnshire man gets a fine and license revoke for harming raptors.

Lincolnshire gamekeeper John Bryant sentenced for crimes relating to raptor persecution – police staDownload

Geemeff writes: It’s Earth Hour this Saturday 22nd March.

Good for the City of London, I wish more would do this, and prevent bird strike deaths in peak migration times. The Audubon Society says up to 230 thousand birds are killed each year just in New York alone, from crashing into skyscrapers while disoriented by the lights and reflective surfaces. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service estimates that as many as 988 million birds die in building-glass collisions each year.

https://www.audubon.org/magazine/unseen-danger-one-day-deadly-window-strikes-new-yorks-birds

The camera is now on at Alyth SS and a Rutland bird, HJ8, has returned safely from migration.

Just a quick review. Send good wishes to all of the nests! Take care. See you on Saturday for sure.

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘Geemeff, J’, Kistachie National Forest E3, FOBBV, Raptor Resource Project (Decorah North), Kansas City Bald Eagles, FORE, IWS/Explore, Johnson City-ETSU, Bluff City-ETSU, John Bunker Sands Wetlands Eagles, Denton Homes Eagle Cam, Raptor Persecution UK, Audubon, SK Hideaways

Wednesday in Bird World

19 March 2025

Good Morning Everyone,

I am finishing reading David Gessner’s book, The Book of Flaco. The World’s Most Famous Bird. I have about a quarter more to go, and I will send a review. However, I have discovered another writer who brings up topics we should contemplate within this volume. The author is Jack Turner, and the excerpts from his book, The Abstract Wild, set me out to order a copy.

The thread that bonds ‘us’ is our deep love and caring for animals, whether real or virtual. I have found it as easy to care for the lives of Jak and Audacity and suffer through their struggles as I have with Hugo Yugo and her teeth. Now, seeing the second hatch on the Kistachie E3 nest being beaten to death and starving causes acute anxiety and tears. Gessner writes about Turner: “In his brilliant manifesto….Jack Turner mourns the loss of our deep connection with animals. Implied in this is our unwillingness to fight for wild animals.” He then quotes Turner: “To reverse this situation we must become so intimate with wild animals, with plants and places, that we answer to their destruction from the gut. Like when we discover the landlady strangling our cat.” (135)

We turn to nature, to the trails in the woods, to the open skies for relief from what is surely a deplorable state on our planet. Nature is healing. I can no longer read the news where country upon country is attacking others and killing ordinary people, destroying their lives and homes – and, of course, the pets and the wildlife alongside this. Or the news that truck loads of people have powerful rifles and are aiming at the skies in Lebanon to kill innocent storks – the ones who survived the winter and the long migration and are returning to breed. What makes us so unique to think we can do this? Thank goodness there are a few people willing to get out there and stand up to make sure those people leave.

Each of us needs to find a way to stand up and help. And it doesn’t have to be money because everyone is struggling in this current economy. We have discussed this before, but right now, your volunteering, those old clean sheets, that bottle of bleach or detergent, and a flat of cat or dog food are more needed than ever. Each day, more beautiful animals are being left tied to the doors of pet shelters, surrendered by families who can no longer afford to feed themselves, never mind a much-loved pet. Help if you can in whatever way you can. Time, money, making phone calls, helping with fundraising, whatever…please help. Even that single bowl of water refilled during the day for migrating birds is a huge help. Do not underestimate these small acts of kindness. They save lives. Show that humans do care about wildlife and domesticated pets. Stay positive! Look for the beauty. It is right there, and it might need your help.

Turning to something different, I am so happy today. In the very late fall, when snow and ice were at the nature centre, we found two Canada Geese. They were ‘stranded’ here, and it was too late to fly. We told the lovely girl at reception, and she phoned Wildlife Haven, and they picked them up to add to four others from the centre from the previous day. Today, all six were released to the lake to join hundreds of other geese that have arrived, marking spring in Manitoba.

It was so lovely to be there to witness their return! [Please note the pet carriers. All rehab centers need them to help transport animals. If you have some sitting around please do donate them!]

All of the preparations for the outside animals have been made along with The Girls or our mini-break to Hecla Island. We are not gone long, returning late on Friday. We have a new cat sitter, but a miracle has happened. I do not know why we are so blessed, but I will take it. Anne, who has been with us for 15 months, helping with respite care for Don and giving me a break, has offered to take care of the girls when we travel. The Girls love Anne, they know her well. They run to the door when she arrives. This is so much of a relief. I do not know how many longer trips there are in our future, but I know that I will be much more relaxed now!

Bald Eagle News:

NE Florida: Bodie is learning to live like an eagle and doing well. (more news below)

Kisatchie E3: Three fish came on the nest. The eldest got all of then while the youngest was both submissive and attacked vigorously by the oldest almost to the point of death. They are both starving. The oldest will live another day, but will the youngest. This nest needs food, more food so that the adult might ‘decide’ (she or he is ignoring it)* and intruders and owls are not helping. Send them positive wishes, please. (Warning or watching this nest).

*As we have often seen, adults do not respond to chicks that are submissive and hungry. This nest was going OK, not great but it had the potential to fledge two. Now that is in jeopardy.

West End: Makaio’s new mate FV at the West End nest has been chosen by a donor an winner in the nest challenge.

Big Bear Valley: The two eaglets are doing fantastic. https://youtu.be/65ANhlrmBtc?

Cardinal Land Conservancy: Hatch and a pip.

Sauces Canyon: Jak and Audacity do not wish for SC1 to go hungry. The nest is full of seal placenta, seabirds of some type, fish. The little one is so protected in that deep nest bowl. This family is simply delightful.

The first egg has been laid at the Surrey Bald Eagle nest of Brit and Rey in British Columbia, Canada.

‘J’ sends sad news from PA County Farm:

Osprey News:

Heidi’s News:

3/18 – Fenwick Island osprey nest (Delaware, Captain Mac’s Fish House) – Woohoo, Johnny arrived back at the nest a day after we first saw June.  How wonderful!  Happy to see this pair again.  Last season, June and Johnny lost their first two eggs to crows… so “I would advise that you two be more diligent this season, okay?”  lol.

3/18 – Wolf Bay osprey nest (Alabama) – Congratulations to Josie and Bert.  Egg #2 was laid in the early morning hours today.  

3/18 – South Cape May Meadows osprey nest (New Jersey) – We have been awaiting the return of Hera and Zeus from their migration.  Last season their two very young babies were predated by a Great Horned Owl.  Then this morning… We witnessed a GHO visit the nest, and our hearts sank.  

Thank you, Heidi.

There has been no news of new arrivals in the UK or Europe at the time of this writing.

Eschenbach, Germany: “Herbert is already in nesting mode and has started working on the nest, carrying and moving branches. He is waiting for Hermine, of course, but if there are other candidates, the place must be attractive, not only for the capabilities of the titular male, but also for the comfort it offers. A long migration is well worth it!”

PARQUE NACIONAL MARÍTIMO-TERRESTRE DEL ARCHIPIÉLAGO DE CABRERA: Both adults have arrived at the nest and are refurbishing and mating. https://youtu.be/vEaRhXjFrkc?

Loch of the Lowes: Blue NC0 has begun refurbishing her nest waiting for the male who will be her new mate and provider.

Not only is Blue NC0 a good mother, she is also an amazing fisher. Look at that salmon!!!!!!!!

Guildford, Connecticut: Osprey on the nest!

Threave: Osprey has touched down. Believed to be a male. We are hoping it is Black 80.

Other Nest News:

At 4:51:54, Beau takes a fish from the juvenile intruder and gives it to Bodie who horks that fish down looking straight at the camera. While we might all have been ‘sick’ to see this intruder, it is possible that Bodie not having a sibling has learned many survival skills she will need in the wild by having this visitor.

They appear to be ‘friends’ now as long as it does not involve food. Bodie beaked and protected his food yesterday. This is a great learning experience. I think Gabby and Beau have decided that too.

San Jose City Hall: Monty and Hartley have 4 eggs!!!!!!! https://youtu.be/Wq4JNWh-1_s?

News from Knepp Farm and Storrington.

World Bird Sanctuary: Our dear Murphy who incubated an egg and adopted an eaglet has passed.

Lebanon: Illegal hunting of our beautiful storks in Lebanon: Dispicable.

Royal Albatross Colony: The Royal Cam chick is growing at Taiaroa Head. https://youtu.be/NNmkH964pvk?

Thank you so much for being with us today. Please take care of yourself. Tomorrow we leave for Hecla Island. We will return on Friday after hopefully seeing American White Pelicans, Trumpeter Swans, and Geese that have arrived recently. I do not know if I will be sending out a blog during that time but I will be back with you for sure on Saturday.

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, comments, articles, images, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘Geemeff, Heidi, J’, NEFL-AEF, Carol Shores Rifkin, Institute for Wildlife Studies, Fenwick Island, Wolf Bay, SCMM, Eschenbach Ospreys, PARQUE NACIONAL MARÍTIMO-TERRESTRE DEL ARCHIPIÉLAGO DE CABRERA, Loch of the Lowes, Guildford Connecticut Osprey Group, SK Hideaways, Knepp Farm and Torrington Storks, World Bird Sanctuary, Maria Marika, Elain, IWS/Explore, Kistachie National Forest E3, PA Country Farm

Tuesday in Bird World

18 March 2025

Good Morning Everyone!

Thank you to ‘PB’ who sent me a CBS video of the Sandhill Cranes, thousands, hundreds of thousands? of them gathering in Grand Island, Nebraska. What a beautiful sight. I wish everyone would wake up this morning and see the beauty in wildlife and nature and become so empathetic – not separate – but together with nature to actually do something about making their lives and our planet a better place.

Not the same video but the event of a few years ago!

Well, osprey season is starting off with a flurry of arrivals. As you probably know, my first love was the Red-tail Hawks in my birthplace, Oklahoma. I then had an ‘experience’ with a very large female hawk in my garden, and so, the smaller raptors – the hawks and the falcons – have a special place in my heart. My knowledge is, however, about ospreys. I am, therefore, over the moon that so many are returning.

I have a tiny, but dedicated group of helpers. I have said, many times, that we monitored 502 osprey eggs last year. That is a phenomenal number. I could not do it without Heidi. We prop each other up emotionally when things go sideways, as they might well do again this year with poor little ones starving. But, I want to start the year off on a positive note in the hope that it will be different. I can personally use a break from what has been happening on the bald eagle nests especially Kistachie E3 where the adult seems to not respond to the two starving eaglets on the nest – with their full juvenile feathers. Andria had two owl strikes and there has been an intruder flying around the nest. Intruders steal prey intended for eaglets in the nest and the hits from the owl could have caused injuries.

Video of owl strikes: https://youtu.be/xYm8HqzHHBo?

As I was told many years ago by an eagle expert, the Bald Eagles will first defend their territory, then they will protect themselves and their mate, and the chicks/eggs, etc are last on the list. If Akecheta died, it was because he was protecting his territory. Even so, I find it utterly gut wrenching to watch babies die on a nest from lack of food – either because of intruders or a sick or missing parent. If these two are to pass, I hope that it is quick. They have no one giving them supplementary food like Brodie at the BBC nest last year.

Meanwhile, Gabby has decided to feed the intruding juvenile at the NE Florida nest to the dismay of many onlookers. I have mentioned her own fledgling getting lost and going from nest to nest in the area (BOGs watched and reported) trying to find food. Then I remembered that a couple of Richmond and Rosie’s fledglings from the Golden Gate Audubon Osprey platform also left their nest, went for food elsewhere, and were fed. Bodie has no siblings and while this has been ‘tough’, Bodie has to be a fighter in the real world of eagles. No one is going to cut her a break. Gabby and Beau have enough food for both of the juveniles. Gabby knows what she is doing by feeding the intruder. Yes, it will return for food. Hopefully Bodie and it will both have good crops. Bodie can learn from watching the intruder and if it is fed, maybe it will be nicer. We do not know what we would do if we were starving.

Beau came in with a rodent and Bodie self-feed! https://youtu.be/LIfKQVnJwMk?

The warm sun has melted the snow, or most of it, in the nest of Jackie and Shadow. Shadow has been doing some really good work as daddy and it turns out he is a great feeder. Those two little ones were stuffed to the top of their heads and quickly into a food coma!

The Only Eaglet at Sauces, SC1, is the sweetest luckiest little eaglet in the Channel Islands.

But back to the ospreys. I am returning to the format that I used where I include Heidi’s reports and mine daily under our names. If I miss something, it is entirely my fault. I wish that we could aim for as comprehensive a study this year as we did last year, but my life is more challenging than I ever imagined, so if we get half the number of eggs watched and all the data recorded, that would be just fine. (I have hired a Girl Friday to help with other things so I have Friday afternoons free to work on all things osprey).

If you wish to add to our knowledge and data bank, we welcome your input. We need the name of the nest, its location, the link to the streaming cam if there is one, the names or ID numbers of the adults, the dates of their arrival and departure, the dates of eggs laid, hatch dates, fledge dates, and death dates and causes.

Please note that this might not be a comprehensive listing of every osprey nest. Rather, it will include significant milestones.

Heidi’s Osprey News:

Fenwick Island: 3/17 – Fenwick Island, Delaware (Captain Mac’s Fish House):  June arrived back home to her nest in the early evening!  June is the ‘queen of the striped bass’… she caught so many of those large fish last season to feed her only osplet ‘Fen’.

Lake Murray, South Carolina: 3/17 Congrats to Kenny and Lucy.  Lucy laid egg #2 at 10:16.

Dewey Beach, Delaware: 3/17 – The female of the pair arrived on 3/12, and today at 08:30 her mate finally arrived.  It was immediately apparent that this is a bonded pair, and they fell right in step with fixing up the nest.  Best wishes for their success this season.

(Gosh those two are a handsome pair)

Mary Ann’s Osprey News:

Maya arrived at Rutland and Blue NC0 at Loch of the Lowes on the 17th.

Geemeff catches NC0’s arrival: https://youtu.be/CUabK04PELs? Oh, how I hope she gets a good mate. I often wondered if Laddie LM12 had been ill for a couple of years or unwell leaving Blue NC0 without food or the babies, some who starved. While I adored Laddie and I did, Blue NC0 deserves an eager fisher for a her new mate. I want to see that nest piled with fish.

Blue NC0 sleeping on the perch branch protecting her nest. Come on Dark Knight!

Eschenbach Osprey Platform, Germany: The news under the streaming cam is: Herbert arrived on the 16th of March. “We are waiting for Hermine to arrive, but the activity in the nest does not stop. Other females are present: some claim the place, others are passing by and take advantage of the male’s generosity. Today Herbert appeared accompanied by an unringed female. A very demanding girl who has demanded (and obtained) several deliveries of fish. What will happen? We will wait to see the events of the next few days.”

Last year Herbert arrived on April 4.

Birds of Poole Harbour:

Who will return to Loch Arkaig?

RSPB Loch Garten has had its share of drama.

Many more ospreys will be arriving in the next fortnight. At some of the US nests there are little bobs and only bobs. May each and every one flourish.

Moorings Park: Beautiful Only Bob.

Frenchman’s Creek: Only Bob doing well also!

Venice Golf and Country Club are incubating.

Incubation at Brevard, Florida:

Oceanside MNSA Osprey Nest: Blondie returns on the 13th of March.

News from Others (various birds):

Geemeff sends lots of news items including this one about Wisdom!

https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/news/2025/3/oldest-wild-bird-wisdom-has-more-than-doubled-her-life-expectancy-and-become-a-grandma

Storrington has been named the capital of the White Storks!

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/mar/17/storrington-in-west-sussex-named-uk-first-european-stork-village

Are authorities turning a blind eye to the illegal killing of birds by trapping in Cyprus. Watch and judge for yourself.

A reader from Berlin writes that they found this ebook on Germany’s Amazon site. The book is not affiliated with FOBBV:

‘J’ sends Rita’s History Monday:

We have news from Chichester Falcons.

chichester newsletter no.2Download

Worcester Cathedral Falcon Scrape has its first egg of the breeding season.

Lead can and is being replaced by other materials. Lead is toxic and deadly to our raptors. Why do the governments that make up the UK miss deadlines to stop its use? Why do people no longer care about the suffering the wildlife experience?

UK Governments miss deadline for responding to recommendations for restrictions on use of toxic leadDownload

The intentional poisoning of over 150 beautiful corellas in Australia is enough to turn your stomach.

‘Heartbreaking’: poisoning suspected after mass deaths of more than 150 little corellas in Newcastlehttps://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/mar/18/newcastle-corella-birds-mass-deaths-suspected-poisoning?CMP=share_btn_url

“Little corella (Cacatua sanguinea gymnopis) Blanchetown” by Charles J. Sharp is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Their challenges:

Department for Environment and Water – Little CorellasDownload

Pip watch for Bella and Scout at the NCTC nest begins today.

‘A’ brings news of Angel and Tom: “Again, Angel spent more time at the nest this morning than Tom did – and again, she is doing a lot of nestcupping, as if making final preparations to lay in this nest. I do hope so. In 2023, she laid her first egg on 24 March, which is under a week away, so I am hoping we see two eggs, as we did in 2023, rather than what happened in 2024, when they simply disappeared before Angel laid any eggs at this site. We have no idea whether she laid elsewhere, though I still think the landowner would have spotted Angel at least if she had still been nearby last season. We will never know of course and their whereabouts last season will forever remain a mystery. But ol course they may do the same thing this year and simply stop showing up at the nest. 

But I am still determined to be hopeful – after all, we have seen joyous outcomes for Iris and  her Finnegan, Gabby and her Beau, and now Jak and darling determined Audacity. If this is to be a year for miracle chicks, then please let Angel and Tom’s be among them. “

Thank you for being with me today. We are always delighted to hear your news and have you with us. Take care in the times we are in. Look for the positive and the good. Take care of your neighbours, your friends, and your family – even if it is only a smile you have to offer or a hello in an e-mail.

Migrating Birds are passing through. Protect them from your windows. Put out high-energy food if you can and water. Water is good!

We were so happy to see Star back at the feeder today.

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, comments, videos, articles, images, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘A, Geemeff, Heidi, J, MP, PB’, Rhoda A, American Eagle Foundation, NEFL-AEF, FOBBV, IWS/Explore.org, Fenwick Island, Lake Murray, Dewey Beach, Geemeff and Loch of the Lowes, Eschenbach Ospreys, Birds of Poole Harbour, The Woodland Trust, RSPB Loch Garten, Moorings Park, Frenchman’s Creek, Breward Ospreys, VGCCO, The Guardian, RSPB, Cassandra McClurkin, Chichester Peregrines, Worcester Cathedral, Raptor Persecution UK, The Guardian, OpenVerse, South Australia Department for the Environment and Water, Guinness World Records, Rita the Eagle FB, Visit Kearney Nebraska

Another arrival in the UK

17 March 2025

Blue NC0, the resident female at Loch of the Lowes, also arrived on St Patrick’s Day to her nest waiting to see if the new male from last year, after LM12 (Laddie) passed came courting.

She is gorgeous. She flew over the loch landing on the nest at 14:23.

In 2023, Blue NC0 also arrived on the 17th of March. Last year, she touched down early on the 8th of March. Her and Maya from Manton Bay often arrive near to one another and today, of course, they landed back in the UK safely on the same today.

Maya sent Blue 25 packing off the nest just like she did last year. So glad to see her home and hoping she is healthy and this is a good year for this nest.

Rutland Water wrote:

“Rutland Osprey Project

8h  · 

Maya is back in Rutland!!!

What an incredible sight this morning, when just before 10am we saw our resident female Osprey Maya land on the Manton Bay nest.

Maya has been in Rutland since 2009 and has been breeding on the Manton Bay nest since 2010. During that time she has raised an amazing 38 chicks, making her the most successful breeding female Osprey on record.

As we are watching the live stream now there is a fierce battle going on between Maya and female 25(10). 25(10) has been on the nest for the last couple of days, and when this same scenario happened in 2023 Maya eventually saw her off and 25(10) returned to her usual nesting site.”

Maya caught her own fish. Blue 33 you had better get busy and get another one for her!

Thank you to the Woodland Trust (Loch of the Lowes) and to the LRWT (Manton Bay) for their streaming cams and posts on FB and Geemeff for the video of Maya.

Maya is home! Monday in Bird World

17 March 2025

Good Morning Everyone,

For those celebrating St Paddy’s Day, enjoy!

Best news of the morning! Geemeff writes” 09.51 Intruder Blue 25 is on the nest when resident male Blue 33 lands, looking agitated. Suddenly a third Osprey appears and lands at 09.52.26 – it’s Maya! There is much display of wings from all three but not much sound, then Blue 25 takes herself off as the rightful female has returned. Welcome home Maya!”

https://youtu.be/mVrB7ZbMqsk

‘The Girls’ informed me that they have been ignored. So I tried to take some photos of them relaxing in the sitting room this morning.

Who could resist those eyes? They are like celadon or beautiful green glass. Baby Hope is the sweetest, most quiet, peaceful young lady.

Her mother is equally beautiful, but not ‘so sweet’. Calico wants to be the ‘boss’. At the same time, she wants to be held and cuddled ever so tightly. Calico has gorgeous eyes, too but there is something about the placement and/or the shape of Baby Hope’s that just shock you into stillness.

Missey prefers spending her time sunning herself on the wickers. She is so wooly!!!!!!

The angle makes her look a little ‘plump’. Hugo Yugo isn’t but she is a real character always getting into trouble and it is possible to hear her crying a block away. Her teeth are bothering her. It is such a shame.

At the nest of Jackie and Shadow in Big Bear, Jackie removed the deceased eaglet from the nest and flew away with it. Sometimes the dead chicks become part of the nest, sometimes they are taken a distance from the nest, and sometimes they are eaten. This is all normal behaviour. Research on ospreys has shown that they often take the little chicks a distance of about 100 metres.

A video of the removal: https://youtu.be/SHjEbOZZ-ZY?

The other two chicks have eaten well. The nest is full of prey items and one even has enough energy to start bonking the other. It feels good! I was quite worried that they would get a chill.

Jak and Audacity are overjoyed to have a baby. The number of dual feedings is substantial. They are such proud parents!

The little one at Moorings Park is doing very well, indeed.

So far there is not an egg at the nest of Liberty and Guardian. Information provided says, “Liberty has not laid her 1st egg yet & she is now past her latest egg laying date ever including a 2nd Clutch in 2017 where she laid an egg on 3/10 & 3/13. This is uncharted waters for Liberty who has laid eggs every season for the last 19 years with her 3 different mates. It is also uncharted waters for all of us who love & follow them. We don’t always know why things like this happen but we do know that we need to continue to TRUST THE EAGLES! Everything happens for a reason even though we may not always know what that reason is. So let’s sit back & enjoy watching Liberty & Guardian as their beautiful bond continues to deepen day by day.”

Is there hope? Liberty continues to stay on the nest in the rain Sunday evening.

Gary gives us some insight: https://youtu.be/UFoKgEa6zHc?

The American Eagle Foundation captured the antics of the visiting juvenile to Gabby, Beau, and Bodie’s nest: https://youtu.be/vn9M7Es8HFU?s

Is there a tragedy brewing for the two fully feathered juveniles on Kisatchie Forest’s E3 nest? An adult arrives at 19:19:40 empty taloned and is attacked by the starving eaglet.

The eaglets have been searching for anything on the nest to eat and resting. There is a lake you can see that is stocked each year with fish. What in the world is going on at this nest. Is this a repeat of what happened at Boundary Bay in BC?

The adult fed the oldest one a bite of something, nothing really, and the little one went into submission. Adult went to branch. Are the adults ill? Are there intruders? Where on earth is the fish from that lake?

Even first time parents – here I am thinking of Louis and Anna at the E1 nest – filled their pantry with fish. 20 one day! There is something incredibly wrong. It is a shame to sit and see these beautiful babies starve to death.

What a challenging year it has been, starting with the deaths of E24 and E25 of HPAI at SW Florida. As one reader said today, there is so much more of the season to go and so far it has been devastating. Another said that, to add insult to injury, pigeons are now roosting on The Campanile as we mourn the possible loss of Annie and Archie.

A research project is focusing on Annie and her impact on our lives. They are requesting anecdotal stories. Please do consider contributing. I could not imagine a world without Annie and Grinnell and now to have lost so many other mates and possibly Annie now is beyond thinking.

“What have Berkeley’s falcons meant to you? Gretchen Kell from UC Berkeley’s news office is looking for personal anecdotes with specific examples of how Annie and company have impacted your life/health/awareness, during the pandemic or any time Email her at gkell@berkeley.edu.

The trio appear to be all over the nest at Duke Farms and they seem to be doing alright.

A Harris Hawk threatens the people of a UK village!

It clawed the back of my head’: the Hertfordshire village harassed by a hawkhttps://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/mar/14/hawk-attacks-flamstead-hertfordshire?CMP=share_btn_url

“Harris Hawk 6d” by ahisgett is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

The challenges facing Harris Hawks are many:

Harris’s Hawks face challenges like habitat loss from urbanization and oil/gas development, electrocution on power lines, poisoning, and vehicle collisions, which are common threats to birds of prey. 

Here’s a more detailed look at the challenges:

  • Habitat Loss:
    • Urbanization and oil/gas development reduce habitat quality and prey availability. 
    • Loss of natural perches and nesting sites can lead to hawks perching on power poles, increasing the risk of electrocution. 
    • Harris’s hawks are known to live in sparse woodland, semi-desert, and marshes, so habitat destruction in these areas poses a significant threat. 
  • Human-Related Threats:
    • Electrocution: Perching on power poles, which are often unshielded, can lead to electrocution and death. 
    • Poisoning: Poisoning from pesticides or other toxins can affect Harris’s hawks. 
    • Vehicle Collisions: Collisions with vehicles can cause injury or death. 
    • Killing by Humans: While not as common, some hawks are killed by humans. 
  • Natural Challenges:
    • Drought: Droughts can reduce prey availability and impact nesting success. 
    • Fire Weather: Droughts and fire weather can lead to habitat loss and increased risks for hawks and their nests. 
    • Spring Heat Waves: Spring heat waves can endanger young birds in the nest. 
  • Captive Breeding Challenges:
    • Isolation: Harris’s hawks are social animals, and isolation can lead to behavioral problems like thigh-plucking, aggression, and mis-imprinting. 
    • Overdependence on Falconer: Overdependence on the falconer, often promoted by food association, can create problems with captive-bred hawks. 

Other birds are facing challenges – indeed, all of them. Birds Canada gives an interesting webinar on what our forest birds are finding difficult in our world today. Notice that I said, ‘our world’. Birds around the world are facing the same challenges. https://youtu.be/_vX4K3HO7IM?

At the time of this writing, the fledglings, Dasher and Dancer, had not returned to the nest at Captiva.

Snow in Michigan. Traverse Eagles trying to keep their eggs warm and dry.

Thank you so much for being with us today. Please send all your good wishes to all of the nests. It is an unusual year and they need all the help we can send them. Take care. See you soon!

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, comments, pictures, streaming cams, videos, and articles that helped me to write my post today: ‘Geemeff, H, J, MP, SP’, SK Hideaways, FOBBV, IWS/Explore, Moorings Park Ospreys, FORE, Gary’s Eagle Videos, American Eagle Foundation, Kisatchie National Forest E3 Bald Eagle Nest, Cal Falcons, Duke Farms, The Guardian, Open Verse, Birds Canada, Traverse City Bald Eagles

Fledge at Captiva…other quick news in Bird World

16 March 2025

Greetings Everyone,

I was so busy watching our little bobbleheads and poor Bodie that I missed a double fledge. Dasher and Dancer flew out of the Captiva nest on Sunday morning together! Stunned parent looks on. No doubt there will be footage posted on FB.

They have not returned to the nest yet. 80 and 82 days old.

Sylvia posted a video of the fledge: https://youtu.be/iqEAN_ZhI1k?

At Big Bear, Shadow fed the chicks and then removed the deceased chick to the pantry area before brooding the two survivors. Do not be alarmed by this behaviour. They are carrion eaters. This is not what we saw at the NCTC nest with Scout last year (infanticide/cannibalism). Shadow is cleaning the space and they may or may not consume the dead eaglet. Sometimes they are left to become part of the nest. Other times they are removed from the nest or eaten.

I was worried about the wee ones earlier but Jackie was back brooding quickly.

SC1 is so cute peeking out of that deep bowl. As someone noted, Jak had better start building those cot railings.

Dr Sharpe will be on Santa Cruz Island repairing the signal next week.

Feedings at Duke Farms. Little one gets some!

The trouble with the juvenile intruder at Gabby and Beau’s nest continues. Gabby and Beau got rid of it again so that they could feed Bodie!

Bodie had a great meal and even did some self-feeding. Relief.

Ferris Akel found Arthur on the scaffolding at Cornell on Saturday. (No bands on leg. BR has federal band).

Thank you for this quick check in. Congratulations to Dasher and Dancer and to Connie and Clive and everyone at Window to Wildlife for a great year at the Captiva Bald Eagle nest.

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, and streaming cams: Window to Wildlife, Sylvia, FOBBV, NEFL-AEF, Ferris Akel Tours, Duke Farms, IWS/Explore

Sunday in Bird World

16 March 2025

Hello Everyone!

We hope that you have had a glorious weekend! While it was nice weather during the week the cold winds hit bringing in some freezing rain that is still lingering. Did you know that kitty litter is very good for melting ice?

I wonder which nests you have been watching?

Many of you have commented that watching what is happening at the nest of Gabby and Beau is causing you a lot of anxiety. The juvenile did return to the NEFL nest of Gabby, Beau, and Bodie. The fledgling from another nest – probably lost from their own nest and hungry – was ushered off unceremoniously several times by the adults.

It is a lot of drama and I know it is difficult to watch. Gabby’s fledgling was also lost one season and could not find her nest for a week or so and she was so exhausted that she stayed home for a month once she found her nest! I feel sorry for this one – hungry and lost. Life is confusing enough and these eaglet is young. Let us hope it finds its home – and I hope its parents are alive and have prey on the nest.

Of course, you could be watching the miracle child of Jak and Audacity. What an amazing ending after years of waiting. Audacity and Jak wanting a little eaglet so much! Well, here it is!

Jak is so excited. There is fish all over for this little blessing. They are also eating the placenta from the seals that are having pups in the harbour. This is really good food for that baby.

‘A’ writes on Sunday: “The new baby at Sauces is the sweetest fluffiest little person with the cutest wee face. It is strong and active and was eating eagerly when I watched it with Audacity at lunchtime today. I was concerned that the nest bowl was too deep but the chick seems to have no trouble peering above the rim, and given the current lack of baby rails (get moving, Jak, this nest requires some toddler-proofing), it’s a good thing that the bowl is deep! As long as no-one pulls a load of grass in there and buries the baby! Or tugs a fish on top of it and squashes it! So far, Audacity is being very careful with her pride and joy.  

Lunch today was some sort of rodent, and the little one ate eagerly, managing very large bites for what I believe was its first meal. The blood all over the nest comes from yesterday’s treat for the new mum – seal placenta apparently. It does look absolutely gruesome but is of course incredibly nutritious. I have no idea of its calcium value (god knows Audacity needs to replenish that, as her body has been cannibalising her own skeletal structure season after season as she has laid all those eggs). It looks well, despite its difficult hatch (it has managed to get every piece of shell off) and it seems healthy. I have high hopes for this little family. Jak stayed on the nest after delivering lunch and seemed to want to help with the feeding, leaning in to the chick on a couple of occasions  Audacity mixed in some seal placenta with the rodent, and I’m sure the level of nutrition from that placenta would be amazing for a newly hatched chick. “

At the nest of Jackie and Shadow, the two surviving chicks of that terrible winter storm appear to be alright. Please send them your good wishes because they, too, got cold and wet despite all the good care of Jackie and Shadow.

Fish are now on the menu at Big Bear along with a pile of Coot!

Shadow comes to say good night to Jackie and the kiddos. https://youtu.be/BtNhMzwjDqY?

Sunday breakfast and all looks good except the kids are alone and uncovered. I sure hope that sun is warm.

At Manton Bay, Blue 33 (11) continues to wait for Maya, his mate who is fifteen years old this spring.

Sisters Blue 24 and 25 have both visited the Manton Bay nest hoping that Blue 33 will bring more fish for them. I sure hope Maya gets home safely and if she doesn’t, I hope that Blue 33 gets a mate worthy of him!!!!!!!

Blue 33 is known, sometimes sadly, for bringing large live fish to the nest. He was caught on video by Geemeff battling one of those a couple of days ago! https://youtu.be/9a8cvy7GrJo?

On Sunday, Geemeff writes about the shenanigans at Rutland: “Fingers crossed that both Maya and Blue 11 return safely. Meantime, this looks like a successful mating between 33 and 25, judging by the way she shakes her tail feathers. Or at least, much better than his attempts earlier today.”

https://youtu.be/QhcMVRfb6kA

Two cutie pies at Port Tobacco!

There are now three at PA Farm Country!

A nice fish came on the Kisatchie E3 nest. The eldest ate first while the little one was submissive, almost hanging over the edge of the nest to its peril. but it clung on, listened, watched, and is getting good at the snatch and grab after the oldest one is full. Oh, help this nest. It needs more food and there are tornadoes in the area tonight (Saturday). It was two days ago – on Thursday that 04 had a really nice crop. He needs to not be so fearful and snatch and grab more. It is hard with such an aggressive older sibling. They sometimes go to bed very hungry. What is happening with deliveries and fish from the lake? Anyone know?

Beautiful little eaglet at the Johnson City nest of Boone and Jolene.

Two wee ones at Bluff City. Franklin and Frances each brought in fish and the kids ate well.

Tornadoes and big storms passing through parts of the US. Berry College seems to be right in the middle of it with rain and lighting at the old nest. Pa and Missey are using another nest so I have no news on eggs.

Oh, what a sweet little osplet at the Moorings Park nest. And it is going to be a healthy one, a fat little bottom full of fish!

Hard to see but that little one at Frenchman’s Creek seems to be doing well, too.

There were at least two fish deliveries at Duke Farms and all ate well and had crops. The little one even had a private feeding.

Are these the official names? If so, I missed it! Harpo, Meechi, Jupi???

Hartley and Monty now have three eggs at the San Jose City Hall scrape!!!!!!!!! https://youtu.be/BqfENvs4uec?

Now we can see those eggs at San Jose! https://youtu.be/jOnjWZ6PGjk?

The first egg for Frida at the Falcon Cam in New Jersey was laid on Saturday.

Gorgeous Milda incubating her two WTE eggs in Latvia.

Ever wonder what gulls eat besides fries at the sea side?

From profiteroles to moles: project uncovers gulls’ surprising diethttps://www.theguardian.com/science/2025/mar/15/from-profiteroles-to-moles-project-uncovers-gulls-surprising-diet?CMP=share_btn_url

Calico wishes to thank everyone who helped with her fundraising. She is pleased to report that when all the funds are in by the end of March, she will donate $420 to two of the charities that care for feral mothers and their kittens, trying to find them homes and for abandoned pets. She is delighted. Thank you so much! Fundraising is over for this spring.

I cannot tell you how much I miss Akecheta and Thunder. We have had so many losses this year, but this one really gutted me and still does – along with Annie and Alden. I know. They all took a piece of us, some more than others.

This was posted and I wanted to share it so that you will go to the Channel Islans Eagle Lovers: CIEL Facebook group to see the entire video clip of Akecheta courting Thunder!

Thank you for joining us today. On Wednesday, we are going on a mini-break to Hecla Island. We hope the weather is not too frigid and that we will see more geese and even the arrival of some American White Pelicans. I will post on Wednesday, take a few days break, and return on Saturday. Take care of yourself during that time. See you soon.

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, comments, images, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog today: ‘A, Geemeff, Heidi, J’, NEFL-AEF, IWS/Explore (Sauces Canyon), FOBBV, LRWT, Geemeff, Port Tobacco Eagle Cam, Lori Staely and HDonTap, Kisatchie E3 Bald Eagle nest, Union County Falcon Cam, LDF, The Guardian, SK Hideaways and San Jose Falcons, Berry College Eagles, Moorings Park Ospreys, Frenchman’s Creek Ospreys, Stephanie Ross and CIEL, SK Hideaways and FOBBV, Geemeff

Tragedy at Big Bear…Friday in Bird World

14 March 2025

Oh, my goodness. Is it possible that something has happened to one of the chicks at Big Bear? This video shows one caught on Shadow’s talon. There appear to be only two chicks in the nest eating later. The little one was last seen in the snow. I presumed it has passed. What a tragedy.

UPDATE: Peeps can be hear on the Sauces cam if you turn up the volume loud enough.

I had not expected to publish anything today, but, of course there are exciting things happening. As I write this Jak and Audacity’s baby is trying to get out of that membrane. Dr Sharpe says that a large part of the shell had pulled away from the egg on Thursday. The membrane will get brittle and easier for the wee one to break it with its egg tooth. I am so hoping. As I told one reader this will require a large magnum of champagne. We have so long wished for this couple to have an eaglet to raise. I hope it comes to pass.

Shadow wants brooding time. Some worry chick 3 isn’t getting enough food and is also cold and wet. We have to wait and see. https://youtu.be/Jiowi5MwKDU?

The first Osprey star has landed at Manton Bay and the first fish of the year was delivered to his nest by Blue 33 (10). Here is some more information about the Rutland Ospreys:

The first of our annual reports from ‘H’ is full of nest news from the US:

Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey, 2024 Osprey Report from Ben Wurst: “Plentiful Fish and Calm Weather Give Ospreys a Boost in 2024”
https://conservewildlifenj.org/2025/03/12/plentiful-fish-and-calm-weather-give-ospreys-a-boost-in-2024/?fbclid=IwY2xjawI_jkBleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHSGmHTB4RViiVDKCLLku5MwoVadkOxbQD8OsX3KTWwcqR5eaZxEZGiD20Q_aem_mfMa2GGBFnrvmtKh_bN9-w

There is an osprey nest cam in Havre de Grace, Maryland, that I have been watching for a couple of days.  It seems to have a bonded pair.  We have already seen fish gifts and mating.  It is located at the Havre de Grace Maritime Museum:  (photo of the male with a fish)

There is an osprey nest cam that went online two days ago in Dewey Beach, Delaware.  So far in two days, I have only seen a gorgeous female, and she has begun to refurbish the nest while she waits for her mate to return: (photo of the female)

Opal returned to her nest at Forsythe NJ on 3/12.  She awaits the return of her mate, Oscar.  Opal is a 4-egg-layer.  Oh, I dread that.  Last season, all four eggs hatched, and only the eldest fledged.  There never seems to be enough fish at that nest.  I am hoping that only two chicks will hatch this season.” Thanks, H!

I just caught sight of two ospreys on Maryland’s Western Shore for Old Town Home osprey nest!

Peregrine Falcon numbers are dropping. We understand that dear Annie and Alden might have succumb to HPAI. Is that the cause of this other sudden decline?

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/mar/13/decades-after-peregrines-came-back-from-the-brink-a-new-threat-emerges-aoe?CMP=share_btn_url

“In North America, Skip Ambrose, a peregrine expert formerly with the US Fish and Wildlife Service, has been monitoring the falcons along Alaska’s Yukon River since 1973. He, too, has seen a sharp decline in numbers.

In the summer of 2023, Ambrose reported that 20 of 60 peregrine nesting sites were empty, with nearly a dozen more missing a parent. That is particularly notable because peregrines are generally loyal to both their nesting site and their partner….Curiously, the peregrine’s plight in North America seems most pronounced along the coasts. In New Jersey, for example, 22 of the 44 known nesting peregrines went missing during the last breeding season. In Virginia, local scientists recently noted that a dozen out of roughly 70 birds had vanished.

Peregrine nests in inland Washington state, near the Cascade mountains, seem stable, Anderson says, while those on the nearby San Juan Islands are struggling.

“It is interesting that coastal populations are showing impact while those in the middle of the continent, so far, do not,” says Patrick Redig, a veterinarian and president of the Midwest Peregrine Society, who helps track 200 nesting pairs across seven states.

Though scientists lack an official answer as to what is driving such sudden and far-reaching disappearances, many – including David Bird, who formerly led the Avian Science and Conservation Centre at Canada’s Montreal’s McGill University in Quebec – think highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) may be largely to blame.”

More tragedy. Seabirds are getting brain disorders like Alzheimer’s. What to blame? Microplastics?

Plastic pollution leaves seabirds with brain damage similar to Alzheimer’s, study showshttps://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/mar/12/plastic-pollution-leaves-seabirds-chicks-with-brain-damage-similar-to-alzheimers-study-aoe?CMP=share_btn_url

Cholyn has laid her second egg!

Ospreys are starting to arrive in the UK as well as in the NE of the US.

Thank you for being with us today. Take care everyone. See you soon.

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, comments, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘H, J’, FOBBV, Channel Islands Eagle Lovers FB, SK Hideaways, Rutland Manton Bay, River Gwash Ospreys, Maryland Western Shore for Old Town Home, The Guardian

Late Thursday in Bird World

13 March 2025

Hello Everyone,

I had to leave for appointments this morning and I just want to catch you up on a lot of happenings.

First, there is a pip at the nest of Jak and Audacity at Sauces Canyon. Their only surviving egg appears to be viable!

They are thinking this could take longer as it appears to be a crushed hatch.

I am just speechless. Is it possible that this is another miracle unfolding under a lot of feathers? Oh, send them good wishes. That egg is tough. We want this baby out safely.

The Ospreys are arriving at the nests in the UK. This morning we had Blue 35, Blue 25, and Maya’s mate, Blue 33 all at Rutland.

River Gwash Ospreys announced:

 “The first Osprey has arrived back to Rutland. Blue 25 has recently been spotted on the nearby Manton Bay nest at Rutland Water. We’ll keep you posted as to when one arrives here, hopefully next week!🤞“

Most of you know that Blue 33 is my favourite male of all the UK ospreys – and he is in amazing company!

1612 was the arrival time. Within two hours Blue 33 has a big fish on the nest waiting for his Maya.

Screenshot 2025-03-13 at 4.31.53 pmDownload

Jackie and the triplets survived the snow storm! https://youtu.be/4uLYptc_QFE?

At NEFlorida Bodie is self feeding.

In other news, Milda laid her second WTE egg in Latvia while the second egg at Port Tobacco has pipped. Many think Cholyn might lay a second egg at Two Harbours. Be on the lookout.

I am going to take a break tomorrow and I will be back with you on Saturday. I hope to welcome a baby eaglet at Sauces! If this happens, that feels like a magnum of the best champagne!!!!!!!!!

Take care everyone. See you soon.

Thank you to Barbara Wolfsong, IWS/Explore, SK Hideaways, FOBBV, NEFL-AEF, Rutland Water, River Gwash Ospreys