It was -32 with wind chills making it feel like -44 C on Monday. As I write this Monday night, it is now -29C. I worry about the outdoor animals. How their little bodies manage in this type of extreme cold is beyond me when humans would quickly die. Last night a deer slept in our garden. I wondered all day what the fawn had eaten and then I saw it – or, rather, I didn’t see it. The new seed cylinder with mealworms. It’s gone from the big table feeder. Mystery is solved. Tonight there is Alfalfa Hay and lots of fruits and veg along with peanuts for anyone who shows up. It is too cold to be hungry. Food helps fuel their warmth. The garden is protected from the wind, thankfully.
The little fawn coming to find some food without her mother. This is a problem. I have not seen Mum with the baby for a month. Has she been killed by coyotes? or hit by a car? The two deer that come to the garden regularly are the buck with one antler and this little one.
Will see if she likes the Alfalfa.
All eyes were on the NE Florida nest of Gabby and Beau on Monday. Beau is going to be an excellent dad. Good for Gabby keeping the faith. They finally have a family and this was one of the most anticipated hatches. Let us all hope that Jackie and Shadow have good luck this year, too.
Gabby flew in with a fish at 1157. Beau had arrived with one shortly after hatch, and then another appeared on the nest. This little one will be spoiled by love and protection.
I am so happy for Gabby. She is a Mum again!
Gabby is all fluffy.
Cute. That neck is pretty strong and you can clearly see the egg tooth that acted as a pick axe to get out of that shell.
No feeding yet, but at least three fish on the nest. Beau brought in a partial one when he flew in.
Bright eyed with his/her egg tooth and that hair style. We are all in love with NE31.
Baby’s first bite!
He or she is strong!!!!!!!!! That head is held up high waiting for some fish dinner.
Nearly a thousand people watched Gabby, Beau, and their baby. It is a miracle and goodness we need these amazing miracles. Guarding the nest and incubating baby.
While we celebrate the magic that has happened at the NE Florida Bald Eagle nest of Gabby and Beau, the tragedy that unfolded when an intruder (there appeared to be more than one) returned for several days in what appears to be a nest take over at the West End. We know both males were injured; Akecheta seemed to be more so than the intruder.
They are still showing Highlights on the IWS/Explore cams for Akecheta and Thunder’s nest and Tor. I do not think this is a coincidence. There is no news, and there is a chat if individuals are interested. You have to go to iws.org Then click on Live Cams and then you will find the link to the Live Chat.
I did not watch many other nests – NE Florida was enough. What a glorious day. There is news of incubation at Duke Farms. Hoping that camera will be back on line soon.
There is news about the Menhaden issue which is vital to our ospreys.
Thank you for being with us today. Take care everyone. See you soon!
Thank you to the NE Florida Bald Eagle Cam and the AEF for their streaming cam where I took my screen captures and to SK Hideaways for their video, IWS/Explore and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.
I hope that each of you had a very good Wednesday. That you found time to marvel at nature or read a book or connect with a friend, a family member, or even a stranger. ’The Girls’ and I thank you for your Valentine’s wishes and also for sharing your beloved pet friends with us and their stories. I marvel at how much love there is for wildlife and our fur families. I do not own a television and only get streaming channels I rarely watch. The news in the world is dire, so – it is time to just focus on the life around us, treasure the moments, find joy, and marvel at our feathered friends.
Gosh, there is a lot of good news in Bird World today. It just makes you feel the joy and love. So before even going anywhere near eggs, let’s talk about Ron’s former mate, Rita, at the WRDC Bald Eagle Nest. ’H’ wrote to tell me that she is now in her new enclosure at the Marathon Wild Bird Centre, Crane Point Hammock Museum, in Marathon, Florida. That is in the Keys.
This is a stunning enclosure for Rita. Well thought out in terms of size and height. She can no longer fly wild and free, but she can move about easily and there is even a pond for her to have a refreshing splash on a hot day in Florida.
Here she is – isn’t this beautiful?
Wednesday was lovely. It was the perfect day to go to the provincial park for a nice walk amidst the Chickadees. The roads were snow-covered, and big flakes were dancing down. A few cross-country skiers were heading to the trails, but no one was feeding the birds. As a result, there were hundreds and hundreds of chickadees ready to hit your hand and take a seed! We went through four pounds of Black-oil Seed! Seriously.
I will bore you with photographs of these amazing little songbirds that flit their way through a Canadian winter, just like some do with grandchildren and vacation pics.
Look closely; you can see some in the bare branches, too. I only had my iPhone with me. For some reason, I have been leaving the big lens at home – cumbersome in the winter – so I do not have any good shots of the hundreds in the trees. Well, I have images, but you can’t see the birds…so that is why I am explaining the phone camera.
It was just a beautiful day. Several miles away, in a protected area, deer were feeding.
‘The Girls’ had a few more little treats and got to hear their Valentine Story again. I know they don’t like it nearly as much as the book we are currently reading, 12 Birds to Save Your Life.Nature’s lessons in happiness by Charlie Corbett. More about that later. They do, however, love treats. Those are very limited because of Calico’s need for a diet and you won’t see Missey there – she doesn’t like treats at all. Go figure.
Calico’s nose was a tad out of joint – she gets overrun when Hugo Yugo and Baby Hope are together. They dive in after those little calorie-laden morsels.
Not a great image, but you can see that Hugo Yugo’s face is still that of a kitten and you can see her tiny paw. What you aren’t seeing is a lot of whiskers. Hugo Yugo and Baby Hope play so rough that the whiskers get broken off!
And, gosh, it is time to get into the news from Valentine’s Day. There is so much, and I might miss something! Rita is just such good news. It took a long time to build that enclosure for this very special eagle, but thankfully they made our home safe and large so she could move about.
In California, Thunder and Akecheta are going for triplets.
Trudi Kron has it on video…the first sighting when Akecheta was rolling those eggs. We know this pair can do it – still remember that remarkable year with the trio. Akecheta was amazing.
Congratulations to Rosa and Lewis at the Dulles-Greenway Bald Eagle Nest on the Potomac River. Their first egg arrived in the late afternoon on Valentine’s Day.
Sally and Harry at Moorings Park have their second egg – right on time on Valentine’s Day, too. Will they go for three?
I you missed the ABC news broadcast on Jackie and Shadow, here it is:
It is nice to see the weather has dramatically improved for our much-loved Bald Eagle Couple. Today is the 15th of February. We are a fortnight from the hatch. I am holding my breath like tens of thousands of others. I think I told you. There is the tiniest bottle of champagne waiting for their hatch. I bought it last year, and sadly, there are no hatches here. My fingers and toes are crossed, but mostly, I am holding my breath and not breathing for fear that one of those sharp talons could nip one of those eggs or all of them. Can you imagine how careful these two must be with those wet twigs and the snow melting?
Everything you wanted to know about hatching and more from Elfruler. There are good reminders here as we twirl the worry beads for the next two weeks hoping that one or more of these eggs are viable and make it to hatch.
I love Pat Burke’s comparison captures of R6 and just how quickly those little eaglets grow once they hatch.
They put a lid on the Egyptian Geese at Rutland, starting a nest on Maya and Blue 33’s Osprey platform! We are seriously on a countdown for these two superstars of the UK Osprey World, and there will be no goose eggs there instead!
The latest publication on Ospreys will be released in precisely two weeks. Tim Mackrill is no stranger to the Osprey World in the UK. This will be his third major publication. I love the volume he wrote for the RSPB both for its thorough and excellent content and the price point. Will compare that one to this one when it arrives in Canada.
Annie is into the ‘new guy’. Wonder what his name will be? After not seeing them bonding in the scrape, it seems like that is all they do. So happy for Annie…but, missing Grinnell, Alden, and Lou.
There has been some concern for Lusa in the Captiva Bald Eagle Nest. There are some cuts and blood on the Right Digit IV talon. It is unclear what has caused this but the eaglet has appeared lethargic on Tuesday and better on Wednesday. Rodenticide causes blood not to coagulate. This doesn’t look like that. If you look closely it appears to be an injury to the talon. Cause unknown. I hope that is what is happening. Window to Wildlife staff are monitoring the situation and ready to move into action if required.
In Canada, at the Surrey Reserve in British Columbia, a young intruder was looking for a free meal.
This is now going to be a quick run through a few of the nests before I call it lights out for today.
Meadow and Swampy continue to do well at Eagle Country. I am not seeing any bonking. There is always big chunks of food and I suspect some of the old prey is hidden underneath the nest materials. It was nice to see Blaze on the nest checking on his chicks. He is a fantastic provider.
The eaglet at JB Sands Wetlands is growing and so much easier to see.
Despite all the hope, not seeing an egg at Redding for Liberty and Guardian yet.
Kansas City eagle pair, Ellie and Harvey, have their first egg of the season.
Put your suggestions in for a name for Annie’s new mate in the FB thread for Cal Falcons. Who knows – you could just suggest a winner!
At Port Lincoln, ‘A’ sends us news of Bradley’s fishing efforts. ”
The boys at Port Lincoln were off doing their own thing today, with Giliath MIA. At 13:47, Bradley flew in with a monster live fish, which he then spent 67 minutes eating on the ropes. Did he catch it himself? It definitely appeared so as I watched him fly in over the water and land on the ropes with his fish. He did have some initial problems controlling it on the ropes, as it was pointed backwards, but once he got it the right way around, he had no difficulties in eating it.
Are we not SO very proud of our wee lad? By the size of that fish, and the way he managed it, I suspect this was not Brad’s first catch, but it’s the first one we can definitely confirm. We can be very sure, I think, that Giliath is also doing some fishing, on his travels around the local fishing spots with Dad and Ervie. What a triumph for PLO this season after last year’s tragic outcome. We could make the observation that this nest definitely needs the help of the fish fairies.”
‘A’ also brings us news from Orange: ”We finally have a live stream nest camera back on line at Orange, which allows us to see that the beautiful Madame Diamond is sleeping in her scrape, on her Cilla Stones (she moved to the Cilla Stones around 10pm local time, when it started raining). Ah, Diamond is in her house and all is well with the world. She had a bonding session with Xavier at 16:43 – he is such a darling. Diamond spent last night sleeping on the Cilla Stones too.
Report from Cilla:
Both Xavier and Diamond have been seen hunting at night this week. Here is a clip: https://youtu.be/pLynezfGb6A. Marri has not been heard or seen now since early this month, so it looks as if she may have dispersed. It’s about the right time. I cleaned the nest box last month, retrieved and ‘candled’ the egg (held a torch underneath to see contents), and it appeared to be unfertilised.”
Birdwatch looks at the not-so-shy Albatross—a short, ‘nice’ article to give you a smile.
Thank you so much for being with me today. Please take care. We look forward to having you with us again soon.
Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, articles, screen captures, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog today: ’A, H, J’, WRDC Chat, Lloyd Brown, Jann Gallivan, Trudi Kron, Dulles-Greenway Eagle Cam, Moorings Park Ospreys, ABC News, FOBBV, Elfruler, Pat Burke, LRWT, Tim Mackrill, SK Hideaway’s, Window to Wildlife, Sandy Williams, Jerinelle Wray, FORE, Eagle Country, JBS Wetlands, Cal Falcons, Port Lincoln Ospreys, Charles Sturt Falcon Cam and Cilla Kinross, Raptor Persecution UK, and The Guardian.
Let’s all just take a deep breath! There is energy in the air this Friday morning. There are reports of two ospreys seen flying into Finland on BirdGuides (yes, this is early) and another heading over Devon. We have the first osprey hatch in Florida of the four nests I follow there, and the recent hatch of both eaglets at Duke Farms. Life is picking up. Oh, and all of the osprey streaming cams are coming on line! Let’s all get our running shoes on!!!!!!!!
Today was a very special day in 2022. It was the day that Spirit hatched at Big Bear! Happy first hatch day Spirit. Oh, what an eaglet she was – and the name selected by local third graders fit her perfectly!
Most of you will have noticed that E22 can surely squee, all the time, eating or not. Well, SK Hideaways caught it today on video for us. E22 is squeeing all the time he is being fed that big fish by Dad. It is just too funny. Have you ever seen an eaglet so vocal? E22 got lots of nice fish – lots!
E22 on the rails Thursday. Notice the crop. 22 had some very nice fish and what looked like a squirrel.
E21 had the squirrel first but after a bit, as is usual now, 22 came along and snatched it and had a good feed.
21 with the squirrel when it was delivered whole by Dad.
22 with the squirrel after he waited and then did the old snatch and grab and run routine he is famous for now.
There was a fish delivery at 13:52:01 – M15 did a gallant job feeding both ofg the Es.
M15 flew in with a late headless fish for the eaglets at 18:43:27. The fish is big enough for both of them! E21 mantles but also reaches over with its beak to remind 22 that it is claiming the fish. I wonder how long 22 will let 21 play about with that fish?
Yes, E21 left a very nice piece of fish. Will 22 go and feed off it?
So who has the fish? It was still on the nest fully visible at 23:05:04 when 22 went over to check on it.
Saving it for later? E22 appears to go to sleep on the leftover piece of fish! Sneaky.
22 did not eat that fish. It was on the nest early and 21 went over and finished it off at 06:26:42.
M15 brought in a fish at 07:18:41 and fed both of the eaglets. At 07:36:16, 22 finished off the tail!
Another fish came in at 10:06. This time it was a drop. As I write this, the two eaglets are still trying to finish out to eat it.
Following my review of Marti Lord’s book on the 2020 season for Harriet and M15, here is a recent video of the happenings of the Owls and the Es on the Pritchett Property from that all important, local perspective.
It was a month on 2 March, Thursday, that Harriet went missing.
Oh, they are the cutest little butterballs at the Duke Farms Bald Eagle nest. Both adults doing a superb job. Lots of fish on the nest for these little ones.
Angus continues to bring the nicest fish to Florence. Still no eggs at Captiva, though.
Speaking of eggs, Audacity had laid her seventh egg and now, hold on, yes, there is an eighth. Honestly, what is the level of calcium in her body now?! This is 8 eggs in 27 days. I received word first thing this morning that one of the two eggs at Sauces has now broken at 22:53 2nd of March. Our hearts break with this wonderful couple. Thanks, ‘B’.
Do you know who this eagle is? and the names of the eaglets? Look closely.
That is Shadow with Cookie and Simba! Yes, he chased off Mr BB and wooed Jackie and he didn’t even have his white head!!!!!!!!!!! The year is 2019.
So sad for Jackie and Shadow this year. They worked so hard and then something went terribly wrong. It was today, last year, that Spirit hatched!
Despite having chosen the Fernow Light Stand for their 2023 nest, Big Red and Arthur seemed to be concerned today about the work going on across Tower Road on the Cornell Campus. Check out how deep the egg cup is! Big Red is making sure it is perfect.
This is the deepest egg cup I have seen at this nest. Will there be another four egg clutch like in 2022?
Gabby and V3 at the nest today. Looks like no eggs for this season – and that is just fine. Let us hope that this lovely couple are still together in November!
A pip was seen on the large end of the egg at Moorings Park at 18:51 Thursday night.
The first hatch at Moorings came at 01:29 on the 3rd of March. Thanks, ‘H’! ‘H’ says the second egg appears to have a pip. Oh, that would be wonderful. Two osplets hatched closely like the eaglets at Duke Farms.
Sunnie Day caught the hatch on video.
The little one at Moorings Park has already had its first fish breakfast. Time 09:48. Did I say that I melt when I see a newly hatched osplet? I love them all but those little eye lines and that stripe and their light grey wooly down…so sweet. Congratulations to Sally and Harry!
Guess who showed up at the West End nest in the Channel Islands today? It was Thunder! We will sure miss seeing what her and Akecheta are up to this season. Maybe Dr Sharpe will have some ideas for a camera if the couple stay at their new nest site.
This screen capture was taken at 13:15 on Thursday 2 March.
Chase and Cholyn take turns incubating at the Two Harbours nest on the Channel Islands.
Nancy and Beau have one intact egg at the MN-DNR nest.
Eggs, eggs everywhere. The first one was laid at Fort St Vrain in Colorado on Thursday! You might recall this nest as the one where the raccoon took one of the eaglets in 2022. So sad.
Two days ago, Valentine was hovering so high on the KNF-E3 nest in the Kisatchie Forest. Today, at 66 days old, Valentine branched. Rhonda A has caught it for us.
Anyone reading my blog loves wildlife, being in nature when they can, and the joy that these amazing birds bring to our lives. If the whole world were like you, this would be a better place for all living beings. Sadly, recent research shows that the climate crisis is causing more conflict between humans and wildlife.
I personally have huge concerns for our raptors that live in areas where prey might become a big issue. Will the increasing cost to living cause people to hunt what the raptors eat? Stay tuned.
Of course, there are humans that continue to snare song birds. Seriously? Precisely why are the Sardinians doing this to these birds? Well, here is the answer from an anti-poaching website:
Unlike in many other parts of Italy, bird-trapping in Sardinia is mainly a organised business of poacher gangs and not a simple pastime. Caught birds are sold on the black market to private buyers or to butchers and restaurants.
I didn’t think it could get much worse until I read this. Horrible. I wonder how they would feel if the tables were turned?
Birds should be free. Look at these gorgeous Stellar Eagles.
You might recall that I mentioned the loss of one of the Peregrine Falcons at Lincoln Cathedral. This was a place I visited often in the UK and so, it is with some delight that I find a tweet by Wakefield Peregrines that one of their birds is at Lincoln today!
Cal Falcons are looking for memes. Check out the posting below! Annie, I am looking for eggs. Can you and Lou help all of us? We are trying to be patient.
So anxiously awaiting those eggs in that scrape of Annie and Lou’s!
Thank you so much for joining me today. Remember to get outside if you possibly can. Even if it is for ten minutes. While we love our birds on the streaming cams, our eyes need a break. But sitting too long is a problem too. Walk around, stand up every 30 minutes, put your feet up! In other words, please take care of yourself. See you soon!
Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, tweets, and streaming cams that help make up my blog today: ‘H’, ‘B’, SW Florida Eagle Cam and D Pritchett, SK Hideaways and D Pritchett, wskrsnwings, SW Florida Cam, Duke Farms, Window to Wildlife, Heidi Mc and Window to Wildlife, Sassa Bird and Bald Eagles in the USA, Jannet Hubbart and FOBBV, Cornell RTH, NEFL-AEF, Moorings Park Ospreys, Sunnie Day and Moorings Park, IWS, MN-DNR, Lisa Yen and Fort St. Vrain Eagle Cam, Rhonda A and KNF-E3, The Guardian, @CABS, Susan Hillman and B3 Branch Buddies, @NeillDonaghy, @wfldPeregrines, and Cal Falcons Cam.
Can you believe it? It is New Year’s Eve in Australia and Asia while in North and South America and in Europe it is the 30th. 2023 is almost here and for many, it feels like we were just welcoming the birds back to Canada in the very late spring and early summer. What will the New Year have in store for all of us and our feathered friends?
It has warmed up on the Canadian Prairies but it isn’t that nice. We are having sleet which makes driving or walking rather hazardous. Still, I got out and the birds and the house fur balls have food for another month. The birds don’t like it especially since I decided to break up a large cylinder of suet and scatter it around. The sleet has managed to make certain that the pieces are difficult to unlodge. Still, I cannot complain and won’t…although Canadians really are known for complaining about the cold and then when the heat arrives, equally complaining about it! But, right about now, I wouldn’t mind sitting outside listening to the birds or heading for a coconut ice cream and watching the Magnificent Frigatebirds dive for fish in Grenada.
Mr Blue Jay taking flight with a peanut – taken with iPhone.
A video with really good images of Blue Jays and 10 Fun Facts about one of my favourite garden birds.
We have all been waiting for an update on WBSE30 with nothing appearing and many fearing the worst. Well, our sleuth ‘H’ found an update with a video on FB showing WBSE 30 flying in its aviary. Fantastic news. Thanks, ‘H’. The key is to go to the Raptor Recovery Australia FB page it seems.
I cannot think of a better way to end the year than to know that that both 29 and 30 will have a chance at a full life in the wild like WBSE27. This news and knowing that it is the same team that gave 27 such a commanding start to her life in the wild is so reassuring.
What everyone down in the Sydney Olympic Park needs to consider – based on 27, 29, and 30 – is that the minute the sea eagles can be picked up after fledge and taken into care, the better. I know. It sounds ridiculous but, the Pied Currawongs and Magpies will not allow them to thrive. If they are found at all, they are emaciated and sometimes injured. They have had no time to perfect their flying skills or to be taught how to hunt by their parents. Indeed, when did you last hear of Lady and Dad training a fledgling to fish down by the Parramatta River? have they ever? No, the nuisances drive them out of the forest to their death OR they are picked up and taken into rehabilitation. So instead of pondering it, just do it! Pick them up the minute they are seen on the sidewalk or in someone’s yard and give them to the rehabbers for 27 and 30 to train.
Now how is 29 with that break?
Climate change and the extreme weather conditions that are striking some areas of the Earth are the subject of an article in The Guardian. It is really a good read and we must, we absolutely must, realise that climate not only impacts humans but everything on the planet – especially our feathered friends. How long will we ignore it? and what can we do to help? If everyone in the world woke up on the 1st of January resolving to not buy a single new thing in 2023 unless it was essential (and I really do mean absolutely essential), turned down their heating 3 or 4 degrees, did not waste any food thus cutting down their purchases by 30-40%, resolved to feed the birds (purchase of birdseed can come from food not purchased that would be wasted), cut down on car travel and thus reliance on fossil fuels ——–would it make a difference? Surely during the pandemic we saw the most noxious skies in places like New Delhi and Beijing clear as well as animals coming to life. We need curious, determined, and ‘efficient’ people to help us get motivated to really get on with what needs to be done. And we need ‘paid’ influencers – I don’t need to tell you who is on my list not to ever be persuaded by but their names end with a ‘K – banned from the air waves. I really do not want my kind and empathetic granddaughter to ever think that being beautiful requires altering every aspect of her body! Enough of a rant. I am going to read Bill McGuire’s Hothouse Earth. An Inhabitant’s Guide again this week.
And now that we have completely lost our train of thought, a good look at a woman who ties the knots of weather disasters together to give us the whole view.
So in the world of hungry raptors and other feeders of carrion, who will win? The Red Kite, the Crow, or the Magpie? There is a pheasant lunch waiting for one of them!
You might remember that I wrote about Beauty and the Beak, a book chronicling the Bald Eagle who lost her beak and could not feed herself. Deborah Rose and Jane Veltkamp worked to give her a new life with a 3D printed bank. And now, there is an update from ‘J’ on Beauty who is part of the Birds of Prey Northwest in Idaho:
“Beauty is doing very well. Her upper beak has slowly regenerated some growth, which pushed the specially-fitted prosthetic beak off. The GREAT news in this is that the beak growth now allows Beauty to feed herself. We cut strips of salmon (one of her favorites) and lay them out, and she is able to scoop them up to eat on her own. We are in a wait and see pattern before determining any kind of new prosthetic beak, which is dependent upon any continued regrowth. Beauty continues to live in her own large aviary where she moves about, spreads her wings during short flights, perches on large tree limbs, and looks out over forested mountains and a lake. She remains a stunning, very special bald eagle, and a reminder that beauty comes in all shapes and sizes.”
Port Lincoln has published a video on the life of Zoe, the only surviving Osprey chick at the barge near the marina in Port Lincoln. It was really bittersweet watching it – there was Little Bob and Middle. So, I suggest having a tissue handy.
This morning Zoe was screaming for Mum to bring her a fish. ‘R’ and I could not help laughing. Poor Mum and Dad. I wonder if Zoe is going to sit on that nest for the next couple of months screaming for fish! Go get a Puffer, Zoe! Let Ervie show you how. Give Mum a break.
If I was hoping that E3 – 01 would be nice to E3 -02, it was just wishful thinking. The oldest sibling at the E3 nest on Kincaid Lake in Louisiana took great exception to its younger sibling being in front when the food was being dispensed! The little one wasn’t even 12 hours old.
It’s blurry but he is dispensing the beaking at the back of the little one’s head. Hopefully this dominance issue will be settled quickly. My problem is I know how it can end and we have seen too much siblicide during 2022. I would just as soon start out 2023 on a positive note).
There is lots of food and everyone will be well fed. Still, the beaking can continue regardless. ‘A’ wrote that she hopes that the first hatch is a male and the second a female – that would certainly level out the field!
Andria will brood the eaglets because the natal down they are born with does not allow them to regulate their own temperature. By about the 9th or 10th day, the two eaglets will have a grey thermal down. Andria will not have to brood the eaglets after this period but, she will. That is her instinct to keep them warm and dry. She can be off for longer periods. By 21 days, the eaglets will be entirely covered with a grey thermal down that looks like an old carpet! We will start to see the juvenile feathers emerge from the wing tips, the back, and the tail. The growth of the thermal down should be fully complete by 30 days when the juvenile feathers will begin to grow on the breast of the birds and their head. Believe it or not, in 6 or 7 winks – yes, if you blink too much near Valentine’s Day you will be shocked. These two will be covered entirely with juvenile feathers. Unbelievable growth. Right now they will be fed often, usually every hour, a little food. As they begin to eat more and hold food in their crop, they will be fed less. I do not know about Andria but Anna at the E-1 nest had so much fish on the nest that she just stuffed her last two eaglets!!!!!!! I think this might happen here at the E3 nest, too.
A later feeding by Alex and both eaglets got bites. E3-01 has a ‘huge’ crop for such a little gaffer and so does its smaller sibling. Now this was Dad, Alex, feeding. Well done, Alex.
It sure looked like the eagles had been visiting the MN-DNR nest the last few days. Last year Harry and Nancy hatched two eaglets before Harry was injured/killed at this nest. Later you will remember that food was scarce- Nancy had to hunt, protect, and keep away intruders, impossible – and E1 pushed E2 off the side of the nest not long before fledge. E2’s injuries were such that it was euthanised. So is Nancy with a new mate? or is this a new couple? I am not completely sure. We do know that Nancy did have a new mate in the early fall. I await confirmation from the MN-DNR or Pat Burke who knows Nancy well and will be able to ID her.
Caught Thunder out on Tor Thursday morning. Oh, what a beautiful view! I would not mind being in warm Southern California right now sitting there on top of that rock looking out at the water. I wonder how many would like to join me?
Staying with the Channel Islands eagles, Andor and Cruz were both at the Fraser Point nest today.
Ron has been bringing gifts to Rose including part of a squirrel. Both have been working on the nest but whether or not there will be eggs is unknown. Maybe next year?? Bald Eagle season in Florida can go into May so it isn’t too late for both Rose and Gabby.
There is definitely a defined egg cup at the NEFlorida nest of Gabby and the new mate, V3, today. Does this mean anything? We will have to wait and see.
New grasses have been added for softness and Gabby has tried out the bowl.
Gabby and V3 were working on the nest again late Thursday evening. Well they are a beautiful couple and if my math is correct, this is the 5th night that V3 has spent with Gabby at the nest. I would say the deal is being sealed…and no other intruders appear to be about either. Fingers crossed for a long productive union. They really do make a handsome couple.
The snow had disappeared (but it will return today) at the Big Bear Valley nest of Shadow and Jackie. Both of them were at the nest moving sticks before the new snow started falling. Here they are around 0715.
Eagles have been at the nest in Decorah, Iowa near the trout hatchery working on the nest cup today, too. I couldn’t help myself. The close ups of the eagle were incredible. What a wonderful place to have a nest and so different from that of Jackie and Shadow high up in the mountains east of Los Angeles.
You should begin to look at the different materials that the eagles use for their nests. The Decorah eagles love corn stalks!
It was really a treat to move over to the Decorah North nest and find not only a juvenile but also Mr North and Mrs DNF! At last. Everyone has been worried about them and here they are just fine.
There was a visitor to Decorah with a backpack. You can see the sat pak if you squint hard). I hope that I did not confuse any of my identifications up with this eagle. I will write Raptor Resource and check!
Here is the announcement. The visit was on the 28th.
Oh, it is frustrating trying to see those two eaglets at the Superbeaks nest in Central Florida. A ‘ps’ has really clouded the camera and until they get a good rain, the view will stay this way. The little ones are really growing. Here you can see the beak of one being fed.
In this video from a couple of days ago, Lady Deeagle shows us the pair exercising their little wings and cheeping away. ‘H’ tells me that if you click on the YouTube symbol at the bottom left it will take you to the YouTube channel where you can read the description.
And a feeding where you can see them:
We have a few more days before the eggs at SWFlorida and KNF E1 or Captiva hatch. Gosh, there is Pa Berry and Missy, too. Too many Bald Eagles nest to keep track of…soon, it will be time to check on those Florida Ospreys.
Thank you so much for joining me today. Take care everyone. See you soon.
Thank you to the following for their streaming cams, their videos and announcements, and their letters: ‘H’, ‘A’, ‘J’ and ‘R’, Lesley the Bird Nerd, Superbeaks, Lady Deeagle and Superbeaks, Raptor Resource Project FB, Raptor Resource Project and Explore.org, FOBBV, NEFL-AEF, IWS and Explore.org, MN-DNR, Port Lincoln Ospreys, KNF-E3, The Guardian, and Raptor Resource Australia.
For those that celebrated Christmas, I hope that you had a wonderful day surrounded by friends and family. For those celebrating the end of Hanukkah, chag Hanukkah sameach and for all preparing for the New Year and especially our friends in Japan, we are cleaning our house with you and looking forward to eating lots of mochi.
I have so many fond memories of living in the UK. I wonder how much it has changed? Those of you who live there can tell me. We lived on a lovely cul-de-sac on Gorse Road and the gorse was about six houses (semi-detached) from ours. We spent so many hours wandering those fields. But, back to the point. Milk was delivered by the person driving the milk float. But they also had a brochure with all of the holiday hamper offerings for the next year. You could pay for your Christmas feast by the week and it would be delivered on time. It was a fantastic way of budgeting for some truly remarkable things. But, at the time, the children got two presents. A sock filled with little treats and one big present, normally a new bike. That was it and it was wonderful. No flurry, no regrets, no big bills to look forward to. The most important thing was everyone stopping to share a truly nice meal with one another.
As we see the end of 2022 approaching, let us hope that joy, compassion, empathy for all living things, and peace will be with us in 2023.
I want to introduce you to someone who is a wildlife conservation photographer who moved to looking at the birds in her back garden. It is just a great little video clip and some of you will remember we also had the General Adjutants in the blog one year. Time to go back and visit the energy the women of Assam India had in trying to protect this terribly endangered species. Enjoy!
Making News: A golf course in the UK is being turned into a park and the only holes made will be by badgers and woodpeckers. Isn’t that fantastic – rewinding?
Things are starting to happen in Bird World with the first pip and quickly the progression of the hatching of their first egg for Alex and Andria at the E3 Bald Eagle nest in Louisiana. Indeed, I am writing this at 2200 Sunday evening and by Monday morning, there could well be an eaglet for this lovely couple. They are named after the closest city, Alexandria, to the forest. Many thanks to Tonya Irwin who has kept everyone up to date on the progress and who so carefully explains below how humidity impacts hatching. I learn something new every day. Thank you Tonya.
The latest news to describe how the difference in humidity (80%) in Alexandria, Louisiana impacts hatching.
First feeding – a Coot. Look how big and strong that little eaglet is. Unofficial full hatch time is 0341 on the 26th of December.
Meanwhile, in Central Florida, PePe and Muhlady are keeping the two eaglets well fed. I have to say – the position of the camera at this nest is excellent. Yes, yes, I can hear you screaming at me but let me explain. We cannot see a thing at Superbeaks. The eaglets are slowly being revealed to us as they grow taller. It certainly saves a whole lot of stress. There are two of them. Sometimes you only get sight of one.
Great news regarding Big Red and Arthur’s L3. Oh, gosh, we have waited to hear if this darling would ever fly again and there she is. So very relieved and happy. She sure looks like her formidable mother, Big Red!
In the meantime, Ithaca, home to Big Red, Arthur, and L4 is in the grips of that bomb cyclone weather with a temperature of -9 C and it is predicted to get as low as -13 C. Please send your warm wishes to our favourite RTH family as they battle to stay alive in these unusually frigid temperatures that are seeing many Americans in the area die. The cameras are down but Buffalo, which is, as the Ithaca Report said, “A low pressure storm system is expected to rapidly intensify, a process known as explosive cyclogenesis or “bombogenesis,” as it crosses the Lower Great Lakes west of Ithaca and Tompkins County. This storm will be extremely powerful, with forecasted core pressure more typical to oceanic lows and hurricanes than a continental storm system. The National Weather Service Buffalo office is describing it “as a once-in-a-generation type of event.”
Ervie was over at Delamare wishing for a fish! What a handsome fellow he is. I wonder if he is still fishing with Dad?
I have not kept as close an eye on Ernie’s sister, Zoe. The parents are still bringing her fish. Today, Mum brought in a small piece for her daughter at 1405. Zoe did seem to have a crop prior to that delivery. Wonder where she ate? and who brought it? or did she catch it? I would not be surprised if Zoe is not fishing but we wait to see if those attempts are successful. Perhaps she will join Dad and Ervie over at Delamere soon (her tracker will tell us? Now that would be sensational!!!!!!!
Zoe’s crop three minutes before Mum delivers her a small piece of fish. Don’t you think her crop looks full? and what about that necklace? It is pretty awe-inspiring.
Mantling that snack from Mum.
While Alex and Andria were celebrating the pip and hatching in their first egg at the E3 nest in the Kisatchie National Forest, Ron and V2 are still working on their nest.
Someone was with Gabby at the nest early in the morning. Is it V11? Will this nest settle down in the new year?
It looks like V11 is still there tonight. Send positive wishes! Maybe the revolving door of suitors and intruders is coming to an end. If V11 can keep them away and get food on the nest, wow. Wouldn’t that just be sensational? I don’t know about you but I am growing weary and if I am, can you imagine how Gabby feels after losing Samson? and then having seen mostly dire prospects come to the nest? Everyone has gotten a good education in widowed eagles finding new mates from watching both Gabby and Ron. (Ron is not widowed per se but he is alone as Rita will not ever return to the nest).
At the nest of Jackie and Shadow, the snow has all melted and our eagle couple are there checking on things today right before noon. — And my goodness, how could I not put Shadow right up there at the top with Akecheta now that our dear Samson is no longer with us? Sorry Shadow. I do adore you.
The sun setting on Fraser Point Bald Eagles nest, home to Andor and Cruz, is simply stunning. The eagles were not there – do not be fooled if you see one working on the nest – it is a highlight. There was, however, a visit by a Raven or a Crow.
No one home today at Two Harbours, the home of Chase and Cholyn. It certainly is a rather spectacular place for a nest – this and the West End nest of Cholyn’s daughter, Thunder and her mate, Akecheta.
The Red-backed shrike is only slightly bigger than the House Sparrows that visit my garden. The male is striking with its black mask earning the male birds of this species the nickname, ‘the bandit’. They have a grey head, that really dark black eye line going over their cere and running to the nape. Their underparts are white. They have the most gorgeous rust or shall we use the 2022 colour, Redwood, to describe their back and primary feathers. Their tail is black while their other wing feathers are black with white edging. Their beak is black and it is hooked. I really hate it when writers describe the female (image below) as being dull. They are not dull at all! Is it not possible to see the variety of browns and rusts in the upper parts, the lovely grey in the rump along with the upper tail coverts. Instead of an all black tail (very boring), the female’s is an espresso brown with white edging and tips. Their mask is subtle as if they have been trained in the fine art of using an eye liner brush compared to the male who has taken a Sharpie marker!
Matt Shardlow says of the Red-backed Shrike in his essay for Red Sixty-Seven: “Victoria shrikes watched over the land from Durham to Devon and Kent to Conway; eyes alert for burly bumblebees, dumpy dung beetles, well-fed wasps, even delicious lizards. with a pounce and swoop the animal was dead in the shrike’s little raptorial bill.” Shardlow reminds us that by the Beatles became the pop music hit of the 1960s, the Shrikes were in rapid decline and that decline continues. “In 1989, it was down to one heath, with one nest in one short lonely lolly-pop tree…” (80).
While many believed it was the weather that caused the near extinction of the bird, it was, in fact, a loss of food with large moths decreasing by 2/3 in population since 1948. The same was true for the bees and the beetles. Change in farming and the use of pesticides has been key to its demise. Imagine all the birds gone and left to only two pairs to raise young to keep the population going. Imagine now if this were all the birds. The use of pesticides is entirely unnecessary. Indeed, my City was ripe to spray all living flying things to get rid of mosquitoes only to discover that Dragon Flys do a much better job and cause no harm to the environment. It was time for a change to save the Shrike and it seems that some changes in the UK in terms of rewinding and the cessation of pesticide use in certain areas, since the publication of Red Sixty-Seven in 2019 (just 3 years ago), have had an impact. We can change things but we must just dig our heels in and get on with it. No excuses. The RSPB still counts only three resident mated pairs of Red-backed Shrikes living in the UK; the remainder are migratory. Let’s see if that number can be raised ten fold in the coming years. Wouldn’t that be grand?
Thank you so very much for being with me today. When I think of all of you, I get all giddy. So many people who care so much for our feathered friends. Sheer joy and a huge smile comes on my face. Take care everyone. See you soon.
Thank you to the following for the letters, their posts, their videos, and their streaming cams where I took my screen captures: Beneath the Feeder, The Guardian, Kistachie National Forest Eagle Cam Fans and Tanya Irwin, NF-AEF, Ron and Roses Eagle Nest Watchers and Pat Burke, Port Lincoln Ospreys, Cornell Hawk Cam Chatters and Suzanne Arnold Horning, Superbeaks, Openverse, Institute for Wildlife Studies and Explore.org.
My goodness. Can you believe that we are 16 days away from 2023? Did we blink and 2022 flew by? The good news…it seems that Gabby might have been persuaded by V3’s charms. They were in the nest together and on the branches this morning!
In the garden it is snowy wonderland. About 17 cm fell – or should I saw blew in from Colorado with some more to come today. The birds do not like the heavy wet snow any more than I do. Mr Crow flew in and complained along with 27 European Starlings and a host of Sparrows.
The Starlings also knocked a solid seed cylinder to the ground and have been trying to eat it. I don’t think they like getting their feet in the snow.
The lone Blue Jay, Junior, has decided that eating the soft suet like the Starlings is a delicacy. So happy to see him enjoying it. Of course, Dyson is busy working away at the brand new solid seed cylinder that I put out this morning. Apparently Dyson & Co can eat a whole one in two days. That surprised me. They must have been eating all night!
In the World Cup of Birds, it is the French Gallic Rooster versus the Argentinian Rufous Hornero.
Channel Islands eaglet seen. San Miguel is the most remote of the islands and in this article Dr Peter Sharpe says he has not been there since 2017. The spotting of the eagle is excellent news.
Deborah North Eagles caught mating. New season. New Hope.
Goodness. That Pepe at the Superbeaks Bald Eagle nest in Central Florida had some good fishing today. Just look at the size of the fish he brought in for the family! Incredible.
At the California-Berkeley Peregrine Falcon scrape of Annie, the new guy continues to come and try to wow her. However, twice he has brought prey and twice he has eaten it! I don’t think he read the ‘courting’ manual carefully. Annie is too much of a treasure. Let’s hope that this new guy shapes up or ships out!
In Louisiana, there was severe weather and tornadoes. Tonya Irwin reports on the nests in the Kisatchie National Forest:
It looks as if the male at the Metro Aviation Nest in Louisiana got hit by flying debris on his head ?? or had some other injury. It seems he will be alright.
This is a long but, a good eye-opening read from the Raptor Persecution UK. It has been suggested by Geemeff that I give you a warning before reading this. It is distressing to the extreme. Baby Hen Terriers stomped to death by humans!!!!!! Having just read Bowland Beth and a stack of books on the plight of the Hen Harrier and the Red Kites, I find this article distressing. How can we convince people that all of the animals have as much right to life as we human animals do?
Early morning at Port Lincoln and Zoe is wishing for a fish!
We will miss that amazing Indigo when they leave the territory of Xavier and Diamond. Indigo is adorable. He has been stashing his leftover prey in the corner and Diamond has been taking it – obviously to teach Indigo many life lessons. He retrieved his prey from Mum. Look at how proud he is!
As Wednesday ends at The Hamlet, Gabby and V3 are on the nest tree together.
This image of Gabby with V3 is from this morning, Thursday 15 December. It seems Gabby might have made up her mind!
Two other love birds…Samson and Jackie. Oh, stay safe you two!
And last, some very good news sent by Geemeff —especially if you have been following The Flight of the Osprey! A live event…
Thank you so much for being with me today. Wherever you are, take care. See you soon!
Thank you to Geemeff for the heads up on the Flight of the Osprey live discussion. Thanks to the following for their postings, videos, and streaming cams that make up my screen captures: FOBBV, Port Lincoln Osprey, Charles Sturt Falcon Cam and Cilla Kinross, NEFL-AEF, Raptor Persecution UK, Tonya Irwin and Raptors of the World, Cal Falcons, Superbeaks, Raptor Resource and Explore.org, and Vancouver City News.
I hope that you are all well. There are many things going on in Bird World. ‘J’ writes that she cannot go to sleep and it is the middle of the night in Europe because of the excitement at the NEFlorida nest. Gabby is becoming more accepting of V3, Annie is being kind to her ‘new guy’, Zoe is flying more, and there is news of UK Ospreys in Africa. Indeed, Jean-marie Dupart counted over 300 the other day in Senegal! That is incredible. Of course, skipping over to California, has Annie found her ‘new guy’?
It remains mild on the Canadian Prairies. There is a Colorado Low moving our way that is really going to dump snow along the border between us and the US. I wonder how far north it will go? There is nothing more beautiful than freshly fallen white snow. And nothing uglier than City trucks dumping sand on the snow making it slick to drive on and just gross to look at. I love the ‘winter wonderland’ images!
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The Flight of the Osprey has officially ending and thanks so much to Geemeff who has been recording this wonderful documentary with Sasha Dench and Friends following the migration of the UK Osprey. Here is the link to the ending:
Geemeff informs me that there will be a film released on the expedition next year. How wonderful! The earth’s wildlife and, in particular, its birds deserve all of the attention they can get. So grateful for this programme.
Staying with UK migration and Ospreys, the mate of Dylan, Seren 5F, from the Llyn Clywedog nest, has made it to her favourite spot in The Gambia again this year. Dylan and Seren raised three fantastic fledglings this year. Always just warms your heart to find out they are at their winter hones, safe and sound.
Now if anyone hears anything about Blue 464 from Foulshaw Moss (2020), I would be over the moon. 464 is the third hatch, the one no one thought would survive but, White YW and Blue 35 were determined that their tiny, tiny third hatch – so much younger than the other two huge siblings – would survive. And she did! To become quite dominant on the nest. Any news would bring tears of joy.
@ Cumbria Wildlife Trust
The Guardian brings us news for the contender for King of Birds – and it is not a blood dripping taloned raptor but a tiny little bird. Gosh, isn’t he cute? Here is that story!
So many are watching the nests of Gabby and Ron to see what will happen next. Gabby seemed to be so attached to V2, that very handsome eagle with that smoky head. He has not been back to the nest now for over two days. Samson and V2. Two losses. She is playing it cautiously with V3 who is trying really hard to become her mate. Perhaps she is now waiting to see if either Samson or V2 will show up at the nest. We can only sit and watch as Gabby’s new life unfolds before us. We all wish her the very best. She is a fantastic Mum.
V3 brought a fish to the nest. Presumably it was for Gabby. He ate part of it and must have left some. When Gabby returned, she flew to the nest and ate the fish she found. Slow and steady, V3. She needs to know you are going to stick around and be able to feed her and her babies.
Later, Gabby and V3 were working on the nest together. Progress!
Most days Ron is seen working on the nest. I have, however, not caught him there today as of the time I am writing. I will check on him this evening to see if he has returned. Let us all send positive wishes to Rita and Ron – Rita so that she will recover and live a life as full as it can be without pain – and Ron that he finds a lovely new mate. Too bad they cannot send some of the eagles up near Jacksonville south!
Oh, I have so been hoping to catch a glimpse of either Thunder or Akecheta after the fly by teasers at the West End Bald Eagle cam in the Channel Islands. Well, today they did not disappoint. The two sitting together at 0907.
The snows at Big Bear are the reason that Jackie and Shadow lay their eggs later than the other nests. Look at how beautiful it is. Stunning. I do love pure white beautiful snow.
A young eagle chased Shadow to the nest! It wanted the fish!!!!!!!
Of course, the other nest to watch is that of Annie at Cal Falcons where Alden has been missing, as well. Alden stole our hearts last year…no ifs, ands or buts about it. How could we love someone after Grinnell? Well, we did. Alden saved the day and one of our readers wants to believe that Alden has put on his magic cape and is off saving some other falcon widow and her chicks. I agree! What a wonderful way to think of Alden flying around helping out wherever he can. Thanks, ‘B’ for shifting my mind in a different direction.
We will wait to see if Annie falls head over heals for the ‘new guy’. Last year we called Alen the ‘New Guy’ for so long. I don’t know about you but I am really looking forward to the nests settling down. Last year was tough.
Bonding!
Thanks to Elain and her great videos we can easily get a great summary of the day at Orange featuring Diamond the prey snatcher, Xavier the Door Dash Daddy, and Indigo, the screaming fledgling!
Oh, when that wind down in Port Lincoln gets up, it gives Zoe such a gorgeous crest. She has been flying in and off the nest and is really anxious to have Dad deliver a fist at the time of this writing.
Why do I love Ospreys so much? Well take a look at this stunningly beautiful video with great close ups of the male Osprey fishing and that would be part of the answer. They are such exceptional birds. It is difficult to imagine the exertion it takes to bring fish after fish back to Mum and the kids at the nest.
Checking in at Superbeaks. That nest in Central Florida has such a beautiful landscape with water and what appears to be good fishing nearby. The nest is so deep that it is difficult to see those little bobbleheads. This is a nest that I am completely unfamiliar with so, anything could happen. That said the fish being brought in are good size and the parents – Pepe and Muhlady – are both totally attentive to their eaglets, Pear and Taco.
I am not allowed to post the link to the streaming cam for some reason so please go to YouTube and key in SuperBeaks Eagle Cam Live and you will find them. Fingers crossed for a great year for this family.
Thanks so much for being with me today. Take care everyone. See you soon!!!!!!!
Thank you to the following for their posts, their notes, their videos, and their streaming cams which make up my screen captures: Geemeff, John Williams, Foulshaw Moss and the Cumbrian Trust, The Guardian, NEFL-AEF, WRDC, IWS and Explore.org, FOBBV, Cal Falcons, Elain and the Charles Sturt Falcon Cam, Port Lincoln Ospreys, Mark Smith, and Superbeaks.
Oh, I sure could use some blue skies right now. It is grey…everything is grey and brown. The temperature is hovering right at 0 degrees C. Even the birds are damp to the core. I will have to remember the beautiful blue sky of Grenada, those gorgeous hibiscus, and the birds filling the air with song. Thankfully all of the garden animals are doing well and happy to have me back along with the kittens. The Starlings are still here. There are 31. A host of House Sparrows and a Robin somewhere. The squirrels are here and Dyson was enjoying one of the new hard seed cylinders the last I checked this afternoon. The Crows are about and one Blue Jay has been for a visit. Life is good. I have no complaints save that it would be so nice to see some sun. On the Canadian prairies, that means it is cold. So bring it on! The cold and blue skies.
In the Mailbox: A question came in from ‘V’ wondering if there was a reason I was not mentioning Superbeaks.
This is a great question and I wanted to share it with everyone!
I briefly mentioned Superbeaks when the nest in Central Florida came on line, when there were eggs, and the hatches including the second one in my blog this morning, 11 December. It is not a nest that I consistently follow. Indeed, there are far too many nests to follow. It looks like there is good fishing around for Dad, Pepe. He brought a huge fish to the nest this morning.
I am an Osprey and hawk/falcon person. That said between the end of the UK Osprey season and the beginning again in spring, I watch other nests including the Bald Eagles in the US. There are ‘good’ Bald Eagle nests and some whose track record is not so good. There are nests where help is sought and others where it is thwarted, even if the on going potential tragedy is human caused. I know nothing about the Superbeaks nest but, will quietly watch them this year and see.
I highly recommend for Bald Eagles: the steady as you go team of Harriet and M15 at SWFlorida. They raise competitive eaglets so you just have to hold your breath at the early bopping but, normally, the eaglets grow up to be feisty besties. The relationship between M15 and Harriet is worth watching on its own.
Liberty and Guardian at the Redding Nest are fantastic. With the Redding Nest, you get commentary and videos by Gary and here is the chart for dates at the Redding nest that has been posted recently by Gary.
The Channel Islands nests of Thunder and Akecheta (West End), Chase and Cholyn (Two Harbours) and Andor and Cruz (Fraser Point) are excellent. Glacier Gardens comes on later. They are in Juneau. Alaska. How about Martin and Rosa at Dullas-Fairway? Clive and Connie at Captiva have 2 eggs.
Rolling the two eggs at Captiva. There is no confirmation yet of when they were laid.
Fingers crossed for a good season after rodenticide deaths in 2020, no eaglets last year, and the hurricane this year. There are others such as US Steel, the nests in Decorah but last year, they were hit with Avian Flu like Hilton Head. The National Arboretum Nest of Mr President and Lotus, both of the nests in the Kisatchie National Forest, E1 and E3, as well as the Metro Aviation Bald Eagle nest in Louisiana, Berry College with Pa Berry and Missey – the list is long!
Pa Berry and Missy working on their nest in Georgia.
There is no reason to believe that Avian Flu will not rear its ugly head this year also. We must remember that. It will impact birds eating birds or carrior (dead animals).
There are far too many nests to follow and everyone has their favourites. If you have recommendations – or nests not to watch recommendations – send me a comment. I would love to hear from you.
One of my favourites is Jackie and Shadow at Big Bear. They have had some problems in the past but we are always cheering them on and last year the amazing Spirit kept our hearts glowing.
The snow is really coming down at the nest of Jackie and Shadow in Big Bear Valley!
It is now Sunday afternoon and V2, the suitor trying to charm Gabby with the smokey head, has not been seen since Friday. V3 seems to be making a strong case but so far, – well, at least until now – Gabby is being aloof as to whether or not she will choose him as a mate.
There was a fly by at 11:37 at the West End nest of Thunder and Akecheta on Sunday. No telling which of the Bald Eagles it was. But, look at the nest! Thunder and Akecheta will be bringing in lots of materials for this coming season.
Quite a different view than we are used to at Two Harbours.
Dr Peter Sharpe of the Institute for Wildlife Studies takes good care of the Channel Islands Eagles and their babies. If they fall down the cliff, he will figure out a way to get them back up to the nest, if he possibly can. He is our hero!
Checking on the two Australian nests still active, let’s head to Orange first where Indigo has had a nice breakfast delivery from Xavier and has been eating it in the scrape.
Xavier and Diamond are teaching Indigo valuable life lessons. If you leave your prey, someone will come and steal it!
Elain’s latest video on the Orange scrape. Such a wonderful falcon family.
At the Osprey nest in Port Lincoln, Zoe was eyeing a fish in the water. She seems to have flown to the left and then turned around and flew past the barge. Did she see a fish? or was this just a quick wet talon tried to catch a fish story?
Watching the water at 09:41:19.
Zoe flies off the nest to the left.
Later Dad flies in with a fish. Mum flies over but Zoe had that fish while Dad was still in the air. It seems that Mum just makes sure that her beautiful daughter gets her fill. It looks like she knows that there will never be anything left. You did well Mum in a year that had a lack of fish. You did well.
Zoe will do well.
There is news on WBSE27 and it is excellent. So happy for this amazing eagle who did so well in rehab!
It would appear that Gabby is rejecting the advances of V3.
Lady Hawk caught it on video for us.
In Miami, Ron continues to perfect the nest that he shared with Rita in the Miami Zoo not knowing what has happened to his mate.
Yesterday I posted the autopsy results regarding the two year old male Hesgyn, the last chick that Monty raised at Dyfi with Telyn.
I could not have said this better. We must be prepared to set up artificial pools with fish just like the Great Egret had in the Caribbean. We have caused this dire situation and we must be prepared to rally and fix it. Ospreys have successfully been fed when it was necessary. They do not like frozen fish but, please, if possible no more deaths when the weather turns how. Let’s help them out – and this call for action includes those nests in the Pacific NW of the US and Canada, too. Where it is possible.
Tragic news coming in from the US this morning as more and more eagles are being found ill or dead because people are not cremating their pets and their euthanised bodies are killing birds that eat carrion. This is easily prevented!
For all of my parrot loving readers, here is another streaming cam in South Africa you might really enjoy. How wonderful – the third time was a charm. Aren’t those babies adorable?
Thank you so very much for being with me today as I jumped around some of the nests that we have been watching. Gosh, those little Galahs are soooooo cute. Take care everyone. See you soon.
Thank you to the following for their posts, videos, and streaming cams that make up my screen captures: SWFL Eagles and D Pritchett, Redding Eagles and Gary, Window to Wildlife, Berry college, FOBBV, NEFL-AEF Explore.org and the IWS, Charles Sturt Falcon Cam and Cilla Kinross, Dyfi Osprey Project, Elain and Charles Sturt Falcon Cam, Port Lincoln Ospreys, Bald Eagles Live Nests and News, Australian Raptor Care and Conservation Inc.
Dr Sharpe and a banding helper ascended, once again, to the top of the cliff where Thunder and Akecheta have their nest. The trio were banded today.
The banding took place at 13:10. You can still catch it on rewind. There are two bands. A metal federal band and an orange band. If the orange band is on the right leg it is a male. If the orange band is on the left leg it is a female. We will have to wait for the eaglets to show us their bling to know!
Can you see Akecheta on the top of the cliff at the back left? He is keeping guard.
Akecheta is making good and sure the humans are gone before he returns all the while keeping watch on the eaglets and the fishing boat going by.
There is one female and two males. The female is at the centre back with the males on either side.
Today, as we celebrate the survival of these three eagles, there is a back story to how Bald Eagles were restored to the Channel Islands.
This 13 minute video discusses DDT, DDE, and how – through lots of hard work – Bald Eagles like Thunder and Akecheta now breed on the Channel Islands. It is an awesome story.
Here is a map of the current eagle nests on the Channel Islands. I bet you watch many of the ones that have streaming cams!
Thank you to Explore.org for their streaming cam where I took my screen captures.
