Tag Archives: Dale Hollow

DH23 knocked off nest…Late Sunday in Bird World

31 May 2026

Hello Everyone,

The end of the weekend and the beginning of June tomorrow. Summer is feeling like it is here. Children are still in school in Manitoba for a few more weeks but I suspect summer holidays have begun in the US. Please take care if you are out on the roads!

At the Dale Hollow Nest, there was almost a problem. DH23 was knocked from the nest. It is on a branch lower in the tree calling for food and flapping.

Images before:

A young eagle sitting in a large nest among green tree branches.
Two young eagles sitting in a nest on a tree branch surrounded by green leaves.

Fish has come to the Dewey Beach nest and Mum and Only Little Baby are so full and happy. Thanks, ‘PB’.

An osprey standing on a nest with chicks and eggs in a coastal setting, with buildings and people visible in the background.
An adult osprey feeding its chick in a nest made of sticks, with a scenic background of a waterway and a building.

Such a cheeky little one. Oh, please keep the fish coming.

An adult osprey sitting in a nest with a chick and several eggs, surrounded by twigs and branches.

It is raining again in Missoula and the Clark Fork River is once again raging – dirty and fast. It will be tough fishing for NewGuy2 again.

A graph showing the water flow levels of the Clark Fork River over time, with peaks and valleys representing fluctuations in cubic feet per second.
An osprey chick resting in a nest made of sticks, situated above a parking lot with vehicles and greenery in the background on a rainy day.

Despite this, Iris’ ‘man’ brought her a fish. He is incredible.

An adult osprey flies above a nest containing a chick, surrounded by branches, with a parking lot and greenery in the background.
Two juvenile ospreys are standing in their nest made of sticks and branches, with one stretching its wings and the other appearing to look at the camera. In the background, a parking lot is visible, and there are trees and buildings around.

Monty and Hartley’s four fledglings are keeping absolutely everyone busy chasing, tracking, and taking back to the roof! Those volunteers must be worn out.

The latest post cut and pasted as it is long:

The San Jose City Hall Falcons

·
And another more detailed report of Day 2 from BOG:
Yup, still late, but here is my recollection of Fledge Watch day 2.
After a few hours atop the Rotunda (starting from around 6AM), working his way up and down and all around, Walton takes off south from the Rotunda. It looks like he’s going to land near Stewart on the elevator shaft but keeps on going. He ends up in a palm tree on 6th street, where he’s harassed by crows. An adult followed him and briefly attempted to drive off the crows.
Walton eventually takes off first heading west then heads southeast where he lands on the roof of the SJSU Student Union. He eventually takes off and heads back toward City Hall, heads around the east side then the north side, and is next seen on the southern tan perpendicular under a satellite dish. He eventually makes it back down to the nest area.
Sometime after 1PM Stewart departure from the Council Chambers elevator shaft has him flying low to the east, at one point going up against the western slats of the elevator shaft on the southern part of City Hall. He ends up on the exterior walkway that runs on the north side of the corridor that connects City Hall to the Council Chambers. As collectors approach from both sides to try to pick him up, he flees through some bars and ends up mothing and trying to grab hold of a window edge on the west side of the North tower. Eventually he gives that up and floats to the ground where he is surrounded and picked up for a ride up to the roof.
While he is being brought up, Scout departs from the nest area. He flies over the garage and is last seen heading west. I head in that direction and catch a glimpse of a falcon flying past the east side of the 88 building, going north to south, at a down angle then going up around the south side and disappearing around the west side While this is happening Jet takes off. I circle the 88 building but don’t see anything. But from the library, Deb spots a bird on the roof of the 88, behind the glass wall above the penthouse. Paula H confirms the sighting and it is later verified as Scout.
Scout makes it to the top of the glass wall on the 88 and takes off heading south. He goes about a block or so before turning back to disappear behind the west side of the 88. I find him on top of a white wall on the southern part of the roof and right when I do, he takes off and heads toward City Hall to land on a louver on the south side.
While out looking for Jet, Animal Control contacts Falcon Central that someone reports a bird on the ground on Second Street, just south of San Fernando. A person there tells us it was sitting on a railing, was spooked by someone and flew a short distance into the glass wall of a business. The business had told Animal Control it was there about 30 minutes. Thankful that they reported it! We picked him up and returned him to the roof to join Stewart.
At some point Scout departs City Hall and lands on the roof ledge on the north side of the business center. A crow harasses him for a bit but he pays it no mind.
At some point he takes off and makes it to a northeast roof edge of the library. Hartley brings in a big meal and lands on another nearby northeast edge, but Scout shows no interest. But Walton does and takes off from the upper front ledge of the nest area and makes straight for Hartley and claims the meal.
Walton begins to pluck and eat. Hartley is often perched nearby, constantly complaining about something. At one point Walton drops the meal over the edge but quickly grabs it with a talon before it is lost and pulls it back to the roof. Hartley lands later and attempts to take the meal from Walton but he has none of that and Hartley takes off. Later, Hartley lands and is able to take the meal and starts feeding Walton. When Walton has had enough Hartley continues to eat.
When Hartley is done she takes off heading north toward the Miro building. She starts circling to gain altitude, then heading south of City Hall and then she turns back to deliver the meal to Stewart and Jet on the roof of City Hall where they share the meal.
Scout and Walton spends some time together on the library before Scout takes off toward City Hall. He tries for the southern louvers but hits the wall, slides down trying to grab a hold, and turns away. He ends up on top of the bars that partially encase the rotunda.
Walton soon takes off from the library and heads toward City Hall, but ends up turning south and lands on the northeast tower of Clark Hall. While no one is looking, he suddenly appears back on the library roof. After a short appearance he takes off toward City Hall and lands on a 17th floor louver on the south side.

Three osplets at Clark PUD in Washington State are entering the Reptile Phase.

A view of an eagle's nest made of twigs and branches, with young eaglets visible inside. The background shows a railway track and greenery.

At Allin’s Cove East, there is at least one osplet. The nest is high and deep and we cannot see to confirm how many babies there are.

A bird resting in a large nest made of twigs, perched on a wooden structure against a backdrop of green trees.

For those of you asking about Scout, the last news I saw was five days ago on 26 May.

Two young raptors sitting in their nest surrounded by greenery, with a tree trunk visible on the left.

As we wait for Geemeff’s excellent report and videos from Loch Arkaig, it appears that there is a pip at the nest of Louis and Dorcha. We are hoping that Aurora’s single egg is viable and there will be another chick at nest 1 soon.

We are on Pip Watch at Glacier Gardens Bald Eagle nest! “@LadyDeeagle55
​​5/31/26.. Egg #1 is 35 days old..Pip watch has begun on egg#1..https://www.tickcounter.com/countup/5…”

A bald eagle resting on its nest, with a background of green grass and tree bark.

Fish is coming to the nest. Snow is adjusting beautifully and the parents are so careful and gentle. Snow is 50 days old today. We need a good three weeks for her to fly. Keep sending very positive wishes. So far the nest is holding.

A bald eagle nest with two eagles; one adult is standing while the other is peeking into the nest, surrounded by branches and near a clear body of water.

Just look at that wee baby at Poole Harbour.

A group of baby birds huddled together in a nest made of straw and debris.

If you have not heard, I want to tell you about an amazing situation taking place in Minnesota. A female osprey lost her mate. She incubated her three eggs all by herself for 37 days. The three have hatched and she is feeding them herself – flying off briefly and returning. Imagine. I thought Jill was incredible, but here is yet another female this year that is doing amazing things without a mate.


Twin Cities Metro Osprey Watch

OMG….my heart! I visited the female who is raising chicks alone today….she has THREE beautiful bobble heads….and I was overwhelmed with love and anxiety. How will she feed three chicks alone….and get enough food herself? She left for about 7 minutes to get a fish….and during that time I saw one little head pop up briefly….but when she came back with a fish at first I saw two heads and then OMG three…. Wow. I was mesmerized watching them. It was so damn hard to move on to other nests….
So this post will just be about her. That males other nest has not hatched yet….
Why do these pictures make me cry? So many big feelings….
I love what I do, I love these birds, I love THIS osprey in particular, and I am so lucky to be skilled enough to even know what’s going on each nest.. how many people would even know her story without following that male, reading bands, watching her so closely. I have been challenged lately by trying to explain what is going on to many of the volunteers….somehow I notice more….and I can’t figure out why. I understand behaviors after all these years….and I am patient, and I am still deeply curious about what is happening, so I often add up behaviors differently, I spend more time, I come to different conclusions, I have a good scope….I ran into a lot of new people today and shared a lot of stories…I LOVE teaching people about ospreys!
I literally feel so much in my chest right now looking at these photos and thinking about this female and all she has faced, endured, and is up against in the coming days and weeks. On two different nests in my 33 years of studying them, ( only two) I have seen an unrelated male bring fish to a nest where he was NOT the father. I remember talking to my mentor Sergej about this and he explained to me it is an unusual behavior, but it is a way for a male to secure a territory. He gets a territory and a female….but he has to bring food to chicks that do not carry his DNA. It’s also unusual for a female to allow an unrelated male anywhere near her nest.…but if he has a fish….and she is desperate, well maybe. Dare I hope for this? I do have a monitor, Pat, who witnessed this several years ago on a nest she was monitoring. My goodness we witnessed a lot and learned so much as we both put in many extra hours observing and documenting this unusual behavior. ( too long a story and too much to write now).
I also witnessed an unrelated male bring fish to a nest many years ago, in the beginning of my researching days…..after a male was hit by a car and killed when the female had young chicks. He never actually fed the chicks or brought fish directly to them, but he brought fish to the female, as a courtship behavior, which allowed her and her chicks to survive….and he became the territorial male at that for many years after that. But that first year, she never let him stay on the nest with the chicks….he would just drop a fish at her feet and she would say, scram, and he would leave.
I am hoping for something miraculous to happen for this female and her awesome little family. Think about her, incubating alone for 39 days, leaving to feed herself without being gone too long. She had a perfect success to hatch three chicks.

Find the positive energy and send it to this mother who is going beyond what anyone might believe. No mate, nothing, three little babies to feed and herself. Fishing for an osprey is not easy. Oh, my.

An osprey perched on a nest made of twigs, looking down intently.

Mum at Minnesota Landscape Arboretum is keeping her eggs dry on a soggy day.

An osprey resting on its nest made of sticks and twigs, situated atop a structure with green fields and a dirt path in the background.

The difference in size at the Pitkin County Trails Osprey nest in Colorado is incredible. There is bonking that has begun.

An osprey overlooks its nest filled with chicks, surrounded by a green landscape with shrubs and trees.

There are three babies on one of three ospley platforms at the City of Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.

It is unclear to me if this is the same female. She lost her mate in a previous year and chicks died but one (if I remember correctly – perhaps all did – it was sad). I hope they get lots of fish. Three little cutie pies.

A close-up view of an osprey standing in its nest made of sticks, with a lush park and playground visible below.

They are doing an amazing job in introducing ospreys to South Australia – think Port Lincoln, Ervie and his family and all the others. A few people can make a huge difference! Also remember that these are the fish fairies.

A pair of ospreys perched on a large nest made of sticks, with a rocky background, highlighting the breeding season for these rare birds in South Australia.

Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Sunday 31st May 2026
Today’s big news is that one of the eggs is pipping! Louis & Dorcha’s first chick is on the way! And just in time, Nest Cam Two was zoomed in to give us great closeups of all the action at the heart of the nest. Nest Cam One will also be zoomed in soon, Aurora 536 laid her egg four days after Dorcha’s first, so there are a few more days before we’ll be on double-nest pip watch. Louis delivered two fish to Dorcha, including the season’s first Silver Tourist, and the Nest Two tally rises to ninety seven, while Garry’s single fish takes his tally to ninety. It was damp today, it rained on and off, and it’ll be 

11°C,wet and windy overnight and continuing with heavier rain tomorrow and a high of 

17°C. Dorcha is going to have to do her best mumbrella to shelter the little one when it hatches.Today’s videos:https://youtu.be/dLfbf8qndhg N2 Louis is in charge when Dorcha departs with fish one 10.24.59https://youtu.be/A9s1lx_2yG4 N1 Both Aurora with her fish & Garry depart but he quickly returns 15.40.40https://youtu.be/-ert550qbjw N2 Nest cam is zoomed ready for hatching but is there a pip already?  20.04.58 (zoom)https://youtu.be/0BKHmOZJwgs N2 A second fish for Dorcha – this one’s also very silvery 21.41.34 https://youtu.be/4LHyxhrugEE N2 Louis stands guard as the pipping egg starts chupping (zoom, audio-boosted) 22.12.45

Come and join the friendly community at Woodland Trust’s Osprey forum, it’s fun, free and everyone’s welcome:

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/osprey-cam

We know nature heals, but have a read and then – go outside! Please – do some self-care. You will feel so much better.

Nature’s a great healer’: why being outdoors in nature means so much to us
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/may/31/why-being-outdoors-in-nature-means-so-much-to-us?CMP=share_btn_url

Thank you so much for being with us today. Take care as we end the weekend and start the week. See you soon!

Thank you to all the individuals today for chasing down what is happening to the birds in our world. I am so very grateful to those who post on FB, send me notes, create videos to highlight the amazing adventures of our birds and their families and to Geemeff and SK Hideawys and ‘PB’ for all their contributions over the years. Thank you also to the owners of the streaming cams and to the newspapers that continue to write about nature and the environment.

First hatch at Pont Cresor and Kielder Forest…late Monday in Bird World

25 May 2026

Hello,

It’s hot. We were out early with Toby and now we are inside, drapes drawn and AC on. Cavaliers are susceptible to many ailments (I don’t care, I will take good care of Toby forever) so that Toby cannot be out in the heat of the day. He has a ‘chill’ coat that is soaked in cold water and a chill mat and I have made ice lollies for him with bone broth. Interestingly, Don has a medicine that restricts him from being out in the heat, too. So I guess summer is going to be interesting!

The first hatch has happened in the Glaslyn Valley and it is at the Pont Cresor nest of Z2 Aeron and Blue 014.

There are still two at the nest of CJ7 and Blue 022 at Poole Harbour although I almost caught myself thinking there were three.

An aerial view of an ospreys' nest containing two chicks and three eggs, surrounded by twigs and nesting materials.
Aerial view of an osprey nest with three chicks and one egg among twigs and nesting material.
A close-up of a bird's nest containing two newly hatched chicks, with one chick facing upwards and opening its beak, while an adult bird is positioned nearby.

There are three osplets at the Moraine Preservation Fund Osprey Platform. Little is so tiny! I hope they get lots of fish and this baby survives.

An osprey nest with several chicks being fed by an adult osprey, surrounded by twigs, pine cones, and some debris.

Clark PUD in Washington State has three babies and no shade!

A close-up view of an owl nest containing several young owlets, surrounded by twigs and natural materials, with a background showing train tracks and green grass.

Newport Bay Conservany has two osplets that are getting their juvenile feathers.

A close-up view of an osprey resting in its nest made of sticks, with a scenic background of grassy wetlands and a winding river.

Three babies at Smallwood…

A bird sitting in a nest made of twigs and branches, with two chicks visible nearby.

Beautiful babies with Mum at Brevard in Florida.

Two osprey chicks sitting in their nest with a view of the water and a dock in the background.

Incubation continues in the Usk Valley in Wales.

Two birds sitting in a nest made of twigs on a tree branch, with a green landscape in the background.

Two little scrappers at Port of Ridgefield in Washington.

A bird standing on a nest with three chicks, surrounded by twigs and grass.

Please send the Dewey Beach every ounce of energy you can. One little osplet. Please, please let them have enough fish to keep this baby to fledge. Two small fish have come to the nest. Dad is trying but the adults have to be so hungry. This whole lack of fish ‘thing’ that is human caused is simply driving me to the brink.

An osprey perched on its nest, which is made of twigs and contains two small chicks, with a calm body of water and buildings in the background.

Incubation continues at Loch of the Lowes in Scotland.

An osprey standing on its nest overlooking a calm body of water surrounded by trees.

First fish from Jack at the Achieva nest came at 0832. The family was waiting. Mum got it and fed everyone.

An osprey nest with two chicks and one adult osprey perched on the edge, surrounded by branches. In the background, there are residential buildings and trees.
Two ospreys sitting on a nest made of twigs, with trees and a road in the background. A logo for Achieva Banking for Good is visible in the corner.

Chick 2 has hatched for Idris and Telyn at Dyfi.

An osprey standing near its nest, with three hatchlings visible on the ground among twigs and debris.
Two osprey chicks sitting in a nest made of twigs, with a scenic view of a grassy landscape and distant hills in the background.
A close-up view of a nest with several young osprey chicks and an unhatched egg, surrounded by twigs and nesting materials.

There are still three chicks at Rutland’s Manton Bay nest of Blue 33 and Maya.

Close-up of an osprey sitting in its nest with three chicks, near Manton Bay, with calm water in the background.

Three eggs being incubated at Lyn Brenig in Wales.

A bird perched on a nest against a backdrop of a river and trees, with the nest made of sticks and twigs.

One beautiful baby so far for White YW and Blue 35 at Foulshaw Moss.

An osprey sitting on its nest, surrounded by twigs and sticks, with a vast grassy field and distant hills in the background under a clear blue sky.

Frankie and Angel and their two darling osplets at Loch Doon.

An osprey standing on a nest made of twigs and moss, with two chicks visible nearby, set against a backdrop of trees and a distant landscape.

Dylan loves delivering Brown Trout to his family at Lyn Clywedog in Wales.

A close-up view of a nest containing several newly hatched chicks, with an adult bird standing nearby on the edge of the nest.

Life in the osprey world appears to be going well at these nests. There are, of course, many others, and we must check in on Iris. Tomorrow is the first day to vote on the name for NewGuy2. Please take part.

These two are hilarious.

An osprey is taking off from its nest, which is made of twigs and located on a raised platform. Another osprey is resting in the nest. The background shows a parking lot and greenery.
A close-up view of an osprey nest containing two juvenile ospreys, with one adult osprey sitting nearby, overlooking a parking lot and greenery in the background.

Rosie Shields brings us the latest news from Border Ospreys.

EGG COUNTDOWNDownload

I am excited that Aran and his new mate will have chicks in a few days. He was the mate to Mrs G, then Elen (who is now with Teifi), and it is just great that there was a platform and a female for this dedicated dad.

A pair of osprey birds perched on a nest made of twigs and branches, located on a wooden platform. In the background, a blurred view of a grassy landscape with logs and a grazing animal.

Mary Kerr posted a YouTube video of Teifi and his brother Tywi in 2020. Teifi will be a dad in a few days when his and Elen’s eggs begin to hatch. Teifi is the son of Idris and Telyn. https://youtu.be/x1ewvCXqql8?

Close-up of two juvenile ospreys resting on a nest, one looking directly at the camera with a serious expression, and the other partially visible with its head turned.

It appears that Richmond and Wendy’s first egg is not viable at 41 days.

A chart titled 'Hatch Watch 2026' showing incubation projections for osprey eggs, with highlighted dates indicating possible hatching periods based on past incubation data.

Kielder Forest news – and there is a hatch at nest 1A.

Chick 1 for Nest 1A

Dale Hollow Eagle cam is frozen on 24 May.

A young eagle perched on a nest surrounded by lush green leaves and branches.

The livestream has been turned off of the Falconshire Bald Eagle nest where Scout eats crumbs and picks at his injured wing. Will he survive? We will never know what happened because they chose to intervene to band the chicks but not to keep Scout in rehab. Banding is, in my mind, a good thing but it is an intervention on the nest. Why not help Scout? Instead of hiding what is happening just because they are overwhelmed by people who care? Caring people should motivate for good!!!!!!

The last screen:

Two young birds in a nest surrounded by green foliage, with text wishing them a safe path toward fledging.

Good night from Missey.

A fluffy cat lounging on a soft surface near a window, looking relaxed and content.

First egg of the 2026 Loon Preservation Society has been laid!

First Egg Laid on LPCs Live Loon CamDownload

Bird flu has been detected in a pair of goshawks in the UK.

The heat on the Canadian Prairies has kept us inside. Don sleeps more as his disease progresses. Sometimes Toby ‘allows’ me to check on the bird nests. Toby is a bit like a toddler when their mother is on the telephone and they want attention!!!!!!! And how can I refuse?

Close-up of a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel with black, white, and tan fur, featuring expressive eyes and a curious expression, sitting on a couch.

If you are living in the UK, I know it is HOT, with temperatures of 35°C. Geemeff told me. Unbelievable. Mark Avery, head of RSPB for 25 years, has included paragraphs on a hotter Britain. I have included those thoughts in their entirety. “A hotter UK: a report published a couple of days ago – click here – by the  Climate Change Committee contained the slightly chilling phrase ‘The UK was built for a climate that no longer exists today and will be increasingly distant in years to come.‘. That focuses our minds on what we need to do to adapt to the climate-mediated changes that are heading down the road anyway, such as increasing summer temperatures and increasing length of periods of what are currently abnormally high summer temperatures. 

It won’t be me who is living in my current late-Victorian semi-detached brick-built, no cavity wall house in 25 years’ time but whoever does will need to do a bit more than know which curtains to shut, which doors to shut (and when to leave them wide open) to cope with high temperatures. Our house has quite a lot of roof that faces south (which is why solar panels work pretty well) but only one small window that faces south so the sun doesn’t beat down into rooms in the middle of the day. And the front door, and largest windows face west (whence the wind often comes) and the back door faces east, so it is possible to flush hot air from the house when temperatures drop in the evening. Even so, sitting quietly, reading a book, with one’s feet in a bowl of cold water is still an option applied even in these times.

There is much food for thought on flooding, the viability of farming, wildlife and infrastructure in this report. Read it and please never, ever, consider voting for Reform or the Conservatives whilst they have their current policies of scrapping net-zero measures. “

It is not just Britain that is hot. And the water that holds the fish for our beloved ospreys will be warming. Life will be difficult. How can we help? Remember: Put a bowl of water outside. There will be someone who needs it, and you might not know. It could be Mama Raccoon, the Sparrow, the homeless cat or dog, that comes in the middle of the night. Water is life.

It isn’t about raptors but if you happen to be near Mumbai, head over to see the art show and listen to a talk by my friend Pherozah Godrej.

Invitation to the 46th Monsoon Art Show at Jehangir Art Gallery, showcasing final year art students from various colleges in Maharashtra. Chief guest: Dr. Pheroza J. Godrej. Inauguration on June 19, 2026, at 5:00 PM, exhibition runs until June 29, 2026.

Beautiful Big Red and her babies. The oldest is just becoming steady standing.

A red-tailed hawk perched in its nest, overlooking two chicks among twigs and greenery.
Three red-tailed hawk chicks sitting in a nest made of twigs and branches, with a blurred background of trees and an elevated structure.

Ruth and Oren’s two hawklets are older at Syracuse University. Look at their juvenile feathers coming in and how good they are at standing.

Two juvenile hawks sitting in their nest surrounded by twigs and foliage.

Love White Storks? Knepp Farm’s Rewilding has brought them back to Britain and you can watch on their life stream: https://www.youtube.com/live/s0liN8AzykQ?

Two stork chicks interacting in a nest made of twigs, with greenery and a landscape visible in the background.

Geemeff’s The calm routine of the previous days changed today when Louis was kept busy keeping intruders away from the nest – while Dorcha protected the eggs, Louis chased away first a crow and later in the day an intruder Osprey. Neither got close enough to be a threat and Louis still had plenty of time to deliver two fish, taking the nest tally to eighty six. No intruders troubled the occupants of Nest One, and Garry LV0’s tally rises to eighty one after he delivered two fish to Aurora 536. The Inver Mallie forecast for the nest area is dry overnight with light cloud and light winds and a low of 9°C, continuing tomorrow with sunny intervals and a high of 20°C.
Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/XHVSJOXvl6U N2 Breakfast arrives for Dorcha on a damp grey morning 05.03.41 https://youtu.be/mt9KV0TNvi0 N2 Dorcha guards the eggs while Louis chases a crow 08.35.48https://youtu.be/wabw_lSDNBc N1 Aurora departs with her fish dangling precariously 12.41.19https://youtu.be/0U_yPezarMI N2 Louis is already on the eggs as Dorcha departs 13.47.12https://youtu.be/0JiykpnVbVI N2 Louis chases an intruder Osprey whileDorcha protects the eggs 18.45.56https://youtu.be/GYNsA8GWU84 N1 Garry’s in charge when Aurora departs with fish two 18.58.

You’re invited to join the friendly community at Woodland Trust’s Osprey forum, it’s fun, free and everyone’s welcome:

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/osprey-cam


The Amersfoort Tower that has falcons in The Netherlands has another little one, Little Prince. He is doing so much better than Smallie that we worried so much about years ago!

A close-up of baby birds in a nest, surrounded by feathers and bedding material.

Minnesota Landscape Arboretum – new couple? two eggs? three? hard to see. I did not see any fish brought on to the nest for the female. I hope I just missed the delivery. Looks like intruders about, too.

Two Ospreys resting in their nest made of twigs and branches, with a green landscape and pathways visible in the background.
Two osprey birds in their nest made of sticks and twigs, with green fields in the background.

Remember. Names for NewGuy2 posted tomorrow!

Thank you for being with us. I expect many more osprey babies to enter the world over the next couple of days. It is marvellous. I don’t believe I have ever worried about fish coming on a nest, save for the year that Aran was injured. What a contrast to the concerns in the NE US. Send wishes to all those nests, please – if the eggs hatch we need fish!

I have just learned that California has passed a law that would protect endangered species. I will find out more and report in a day or two. If this is true, it is wonderful – a real change from what is happening in Florida.

Take care. Stay cool. Remember to drink lots of water! Stay hydrated. See you soon.

Thank you to all of today’s contributors, whether it be videos, FB announcements, newsletters, or invites. We are grateful for all the camera owners who allow us to watch the lives of the birds, and we would be very grateful to know what has happened to Scout.

Remembering Dory…late Sunday in Bird World

10 May 2026

Hello Everyone,

It was one year ago today that dear Dory, the mother at the Audubon Boathouse Osprey nest, was dragged off the nest and killed by a GHO. The owl’s presence was known and many have wondered why measures were never taken to protect the ospreys and their chicks from the owl. I continue to wonder because it is a boathouse. If you can rig up a camera you can set up red strobe lights that have been effective in keeping owls away from osprey and eagle nests protecting them and ensuring that neither the adults or the chicks die from those silent deadly attacks. Heidi included a remembrance for Dory today on FB. It is so sad.

It is a reminder for us to advocate for the protection of our beloved raptors (all wildlife).

An osprey named Dory sitting in her nest at the Audubon Boathouse, with a focus on her third egg laid on May 10, 2025.

Thanksk ‘SD’ for posting this as I might have missed it.

A Facebook post discussing the challenges faced by ospreys nesting near a highway in Wayzata, detailing the removal of their nest, attempts to deter them, and the legal protections for their eggs.
A close-up view of a bird's nest made of sticks, perched on a metal structure, with a bird on a nearby pole decorated with flags. The background features greenery and a cloudy sky.

Ospreys delay construction! Thanks, ‘P’ and ‘Geemeff’, for bringing this to my attention!

https://www.kare11.com/article/news/local/ospreys-delay-mndot-construction-highway-12-reclaiming-nest-site/89-18f53bef-2e19-4f3b-beb7-9f8ec8544d80

SK Hideaways brings us all the news – and there is certainly drama – in their weekly videos! Thank you, SK.

SK Hideaways Videos, Week of 3 May 2026

FOBBV Eagles ~ Big Bear Valley, CA ~ Jackie, Shadow, Sandy, and Luna
Courtesy FOBBVCAM | Friends of Big Bear Valley
Nest Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4-L2nfGcuE
Wide View Cam (Cam 2): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41eq4VzCYc4
LIVE Recap & Observations https://bit.ly/3Md8TSz

Sandy Practices Bird Calls with Luna on Standby (2026 May 7)
Sandy continues to engage with other birds, watching and responding to their calls. Perhaps Sandy is practicing to be the habitat hospitality manager. Seems quite fitting.
Video: https://youtu.be/U-hHp0IQR4o

On 1-Month Hatch Birthday, Sandy & Luna Turn In Early🧸Sleeping Beauties (2026 May 4)
Happy 1-month hatch day Sandy, closely followed by Luna! After a 6-feesh birthday celebration, the eaglets snuggled up to sleep early. Sure looked like they were having some sweet eaglet dreams.
Video: https://youtu.be/iua1Uf9HgOM


Sauces Canyon Eagles ~ Santa Cruz Island, CA ~ Audacity & Jak
Courtesy Institute for Wildlife Studies | explore.org | Sauces Canyon Eagles Cam Ops
Nest Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnTsOesC6hE

Jak & Audacity Play Fish Keep-Away & Tinker On Both Nests (2026 May 8)
Jak (21 years old) and Audacity (20) are as devoted and bonded as a couple of newlyweds. Jak teased Audacity with fish keep-away, they preened and chortled together on the dead snag, and, as always, tinkered on both their main nest and treehouse nest. What an endearing couple they are.
Video: https://youtu.be/0D26L3qqKmg


Fraser Point Eagles ~ Santa Cruz Island, CA ~ Cruz, Andor, Sasha, Zuma, and Ryder
Courtesy Institute for Wildlife Studies | explore.org | Fraser Point Eagles Cam Ops
Nest Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OY4V_AppZ6s

Cruz & Andor hook 7 fish  in under  2 Hours = 3 stuffed eaglets! (2026 May 5)
Sasha, Zuma, and Ryder had already enjoyed 6 fish from Cruz and Andor earlier in the day. As evening approached, these super parents seemed to have a made a little wager about who would end the day as best angler. In under two hours, Andor won the prize, hooking 5 fish to Cruz’s 2. We’re absolutely certain the Princess let her Prince win, but let’s not tell him. Needless to say, the eaglets were dragging ginormous crops across the nest as they settled down for the night.
Video: https://youtu.be/mg1jz5Kv7V0


San Jose City Hall Falcons ~San Jose, CA ~ Hartley, Monty, and 4 chicks
Courtesy San Jose City Hall Peregrine Falcon Cam 
Nest Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBSxPjy5sow
Ledge Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pp9TisLmLU
Roof Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQLhmV6bP6o

Chicks Go From Fluffy Angels to Disgruntled Diners (2026 May 7)Early this morning, the chicks lined up for mealtime as usual, behaving like perfect angels. However, meals #1 and #2 seemed unsatisfactory to the little ones. They had much to say about the matter. Fortunately, meal #3 hit the mark. By the way, these 3 meals were delivered in under an hour. Hartley and Monty are super parents. Many thanks to the excellent cam ops team for capturing some priceless expressions (and thus allowing me to get super silly!).
Video: https://youtu.be/reg9uBNq8Dg

Size Matters !  At 13 Days, Can You Tell If We Have 1 Male Again? (2026 May 3)
At 13 days old, the chicks are beginning to show some personality and slight size differences. One chick in particular seems a bit smaller, so we could have a mini Monty again this year. We’ll find out for sure at banding time (exact date to be announced). 
Video: https://youtu.be/3tmjhIRtKz0

Wakefield Falcons ~ W. Yorkshire, England ~ Mr. P, Mrs. P, and 4 chicks
Courtesy Wakefield Peregrine Project at Wakefield Cathedral
Nest box: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TicU6Kvv52c
Internal nest camera: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6VLXJIceuec

Mr. P Feeds Everyone ~ Brooded Chicks Pop Heads Out for Bites (2026 May 6)
Mr. P and Mrs. P are extraordinary parents. Mr. P is a very keen dad, always wanting to feed someone ~ anyone. When the chicks aren’t interested, he feeds Mrs. P.  If the chicks pop their heads out from beneath mum, he feeds them, too. This family has taken “cuteness overload” to new heights.
Video: https://youtu.be/G9En47Jdiy4

3 & 4 Day-Old-Chicks Await Meal as Dad Feeds Mum & Wind/Rain Squalls (2026 May 2-3)
Mrs. P enjoyed an evening meal fed to her by Mr. P. We didn’t know that a storm was brewing nor what laid beneath Mrs. P. The wind and rain whipped through the nest all night, but Mrs. P kept her treasure well-covered. When the storm calmed, we finally learned that there were four 3- and 4-day old chicks with beaks ready and waiting for breakfast. Congrats Mr. & Mrs. P! 
Video: https://youtu.be/e5MAJD0M6QE

Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Sunday 10th May 2026

Apart from a change in the weather to cooler and wetter, today was much like yesterday – calm and routine, with fish deliveries and incubation changeovers. Louis brought three fish for Dorcha taking the Nest Two tally to fifty three and is on the verge of overtaking Garry LV0. Garry brought two fish for Aurora 536, taking his tally to fifty five, but did she drop the first one? And is what we call the first one actually a second one, is Garry bringing a fish during the nest cam down time, based on Aurora not seeming frantic when the first fish we see is delivered? That’s all speculation as only fish deliveries seen on camera are counted toward Steve Quinn’s fabulous fishy facts. The overnight forecast for the nest area is a low of 1°c

 and the rain tapering off to partly cloudy, changing to light cloud and a gentle breeze tomorrow with a high of 11°c.

Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/LIM2h3FtYVI N2 Breakfast for Dorcha, a whole trout  09.53.39

https://youtu.be/fevm5-7XjyA N1 Garry & Aurora keep tabs on a passing Hoodie 09.06.09

https://youtu.be/QjHdnX2Nlls N1 Has Aurora dropped fish number one? 13.40.10

https://youtu.be/o1u-5paXvZk N2 Louis settles down happily as Dorcha leaves with fish two 14.29.11

https://youtu.be/U466e2fbsVA N1 Aurora sensibly has a nibble of fish two on the nest 19.13.23

https://youtu.be/SjIrhR5Qb18 N2 Louis brings a fish supper, third fish today 20.37.16

Bonus read – with the two Arkaig males providing a steady supply of fish, this article has some interesting facts on how Ospreys fish: 

https://www.dyfiospreyproject.com/facts-about-osprey-fishing

Blast from the past, this day in previous years:

https://youtu.be/WRJVln57L5w  N1 Cheeky Tawny Owl perches next to Aila 2019 (slo-mo)

https://youtu.be/1IEDIyo9rCQ  N1 Louis adds to the chaos on a windy day 2020

https://youtu.be/zcl511TMr_0  N1 Louis resists Aila’s blandishments 2020

https://youtu.be/e_xzfE0KTlk  N1 Louis chases a pesky Hoodie 2020

https://youtu.be/iStLjLcvl2I  N1 Eurasian Wren pays a visit 2021

https://youtu.be/VPfvH9XEqzU  N2 Unringed female intruder steals Dorcha’s fish 2022 (zoom)

https://youtu.be/AM_UsK1riDg  N1 Juvenile Tawny Owl plays on the nest 2023

https://youtu.be/0Mbyxj-Wr90  N1 A handsome Jay visits 2023

https://youtu.be/Pe8lgQ2Pdbs  N2 Season’s earliest breakfast for Dorcha 2024

https://youtu.be/lz68zyEX6Uw  N1 A Tawny Owl perches, calls but no response 2025 (zoom)

https://youtu.be/NKSslCjZ2AY  N1 Garry’s dramatic encounter with an unringed Osprey 2025

https://youtu.be/yr5AUEabxDk   N1 Unringed intruder returns but is startled by a Jay 2025

Come and join the friendly community at Woodland Trust’s Osprey forum, it’s fun, free and everyone’s welcome:

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/osprey-cam

There was a lot of worry about the third hatch at Big Red and Arthur’s nest and many questions as to whether or not Big Red had fed it. She certainly has! Big Red loves to feed her chicks. She even had them sunning themselves and knew to let the breeze and nature dry out that nest and her chicks. She is an incredibly experienced mother who will often fill up the big one and then offer more and more, a practice that stops a lot of competition for food.

A red-tailed hawk feeding its chicks in a nest made of twigs, with a view of the surrounding urban landscape.

H72 fledged/fledged at Duke Farms today and was located nearby in a tree.

A fledgling bird with wings spread is preparing to take flight from a nest perched on a tree branch, surrounded by greenery.
A hawk perched on a branch surrounded by foliage at night.

It was a good Mother’s Day for Jill at Achieva as Jack came in with three fish today to add to her own catches for the nest.

Ater the successful rescue at the Dale Hollow Nest, the AEF has decided to name the adult eagles. Here is their announcement:

Facebook post by American Eagle Foundation introducing Dale and Willow, the adult pair at the Dale Hollow Eagle Cam.
Two bald eagles, Dale and Willow, are shown caring for their nest, with text overlay announcing their introduction.

Thank you so much for being with me today – a day where we remember those females, whoever they are and whatever species, that care for others. I hope your day was lovely. Take care. See you soon!

Thank you to everyone who sent me notes, to those who posted information on FB, to Heidi for remembering Dory, to SK and Geemeff for their great videos and news, and to the owners of the streaming cams that allow us to watch our favourite birds.

P3 hatches at Cornell…late Saturday in Bird World

9 May 2026

Hello Everyone!

Thank you so much for your lovely comments and notes. I am so glad you enjoyed the post about those amazing female raptors! They are truly incredible.

Jill was up early Saturday morning catching a breakfast fish for her and the kids. It is hard for her – Big and Little are growing leaps and bounds and eating more and more and she still must maintain her own strength in order to go and fish for all of them. The nest cannot count on Jack who has an odd pattern of fish deliveries.

‘PB’ caught this great screen capture of Jill coming in with that early fish. She really is quite amazing.

An osprey in flight carrying a fish with its talons, surrounded by trees and a glimpse of a road below.

I don’t recall worrying so much about a hatch at Big Red’s nest. It must surely be because we lost the first one and the nest has been so soggy this year with all the rain. The little one did make it! Thank goodness. There is so much prey. No one ever goes hungry on Big Red’s nest and never will unless there is a physical reason they cannot eat!

A Red-tailed Hawk sitting in a nest made of twigs and branches, with visible chicks in the nest.
Two young red-tailed hawk chicks resting in their nest, surrounded by twigs and feathers.
A red-tailed hawk tending to its nest with several hatchlings visible among twigs and branches.
A red-tailed hawk feeding its chicks in a nest made of twigs and branches, with urban scenery visible in the background.

Saturday was always Ferris Akel Day. We watched and often chatted every Saturday during or was it after? the pandemic. I miss being able to sit and go on a bird tour with Ferris who is incredibly knowledgable. Today, I stepped in for a few moments. He was at the Blue Heron rookery and they had babies!

A close-up shot of two birds near their nests in a tree, surrounded by branches and foliage.
A bird perched on a branch near its nest, which contains chicks, surrounded by tree branches in a natural setting.

Ferris is a great distance away, which makes these images just that more special. Check him out on YouTube.

A work of art ‘Ghost Sky Dance’ that documents the illegal killing of the Hen Harriers in the Yorkshire Moors.

‘Ghost sky dance’ – powerful new artwork documents the illegal killing of Hen Harriers on UK grouseDownload

Some good news and some bad from Knepp Wilding about Turtle Doves.

Turtle doves are back!
This year our most longed-for winter migrants have been bang on time. Our first turtle dove was recorded at Knepp on 24 April. Already we’re hearing several male ‘turtle’s doing their territorial ‘turr-offs’ from dead trees in the Southern Block. 
Once common in the 1960s, the UK now has fewer than 3,000 turtle doves, thanks mostly to the loss of protective habitat and the wildflowers which provide them with tiny, protein-rich seeds to eat. Numbers at Knepp remain around 20 singing males every year – that’s a quarter of the population in Sussex. 
Last year, however, just as their numbers were beginning to recover, the European Commission overturned a ban on hunting turtle doves in parts of Western Europe. Every turtle dove arriving in the UK is a tiny miracle.

The parents have returned to the nest and brought fish to the Dale Hollow Eaglets. One had fishing line and the AEF team was able to remove it.

Three young birds nestled in a nest among tree branches, with green leaves in the background.
Three young bird nestlings resting in a nest among green leaves and trees.
A live stream image capturing a nest of young bald eagles resting on a tree branch, surrounded by green leaves.
Two young eagles resting in their nest, surrounded by green leaves and tree bark.

The Sandy Steers Celebration of Life will be on 13 June 2026. It will be live streamed. Check their FB page for details.

Banner for Sandy Steers' Celebration of Life event, featuring a scenic background of Big Bear Valley and an image of a smiling woman.

Forestry England has another nest that has a streaming cam.

A close-up image of an osprey sitting on its nest, surrounded by twigs and foliage, overlooking a lush green forest and lakes in the background under a partly cloudy sky.

Olivia was not getting fish deliveries at the Severna Park Osprey platform in Maryland. She, like so many others last year, has abandoned her eggs, which have been eaten by crows. This is the first nest on a streaming cam in 2026 that the adults have had to abandon due to a lack of food. Please if you live in Virginia, please help those rally to stop the commercial fishing of Menhaden which is vital to the ecosystem for that entire area – including Maryland!

I want to give a shout-out to all those folks who are designing ingenious ways to feed the ospreys that live near or on their property. I won’t ever tell who you are, but I hope that what you try works and that those adults and babies thrive. You are my heroes.

Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Saturday 9th May 2026

Today was pretty much a repeat of yesterday, a calm routine of fish deliveries and incubation changeovers. Exactly what’s needed as life develops inside those beautiful speckled eggshells, moving slowly towards hatching day sometime in the first half of June. Louis delivered three fish for Dorcha taking the Nest Two tally to fifty, and Garry LV0 delivered two fish to Aurora 536 taking the Nest One tally to fifty three. Ospreys are migratory birds and this weekend celebrates International Migratory Bird Day, therefore tonight’s bonus item is a programme on bird migration. 

Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/W5LTMlv0XbA N2 Dorcha’s dulcet tones ring out as she summons fish one 05.27.59

https://youtu.be/8A0rloqPT3U N1 Aurora refuses a fish, did she have one during cam down time? 09.11.42

https://youtu.be/cedJn2Xd8tU N2 Louis gets to egg-sit when Dorcha leaves with fish two 12.38.38

https://youtu.be/zsNnPyCm_Zc  N1 Aurora doesn’t pass up fish number two  17.26.03   

https://youtu.be/HJ6GBAbxGKI  N2 Dorcha transfers fish three to her talons in mid-air 18.44.11

Bonus listen on International Migratory Bird Day – an ‘In our Time’ episode on Bird Migration (thanks MTL)

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/b08wmk5j

Blast from the past, this day in previous years:

https://youtu.be/NqE_YC8NTWQ  N1 Graceful Aila does a fishy flypast 2020 (slo-mo)

https://youtu.be/AlayYBTfRbw  N1 Louis leaves the eggs to chase an Intruder Osprey 2020 (slo-mo) 

https://youtu.be/gTF4db9pYiQ  N1 Hurricane force gust nearly blows Aila off the nest 2020

https://youtu.be/Tt0NmWwPiAw  N1 Male & female Siskin pay an early morning visit 2021 (zoom)

https://youtu.be/Z_f1lAL9g68  N2 Undignified upside down Dorcha 2022 (slo-mo)

https://youtu.be/Q4KTtgMN_mI  N2 Ouch! Dorcha crashes into the nest 2023

https://youtu.be/fju0tKjGYbg  N1 On again, off again male visitor LV0 visits 2023

https://youtu.be/261d7botW24  N1 Garry pays a 20-second flying visit 2024 (zoom)  

https://youtu.be/SjXAu0qtxe4 N2 Fish number two does a fast flypast before landing 2024

https://youtu.be/3ersPiqRQ9I N2 A cuckoo calls as Louis brings breakfast 2025

https://youtu.be/5tHDrDx6lpw N1 Aurora leaves her perch to grab Garry’s second fish 2025

https://youtu.be/RPVpjzsMhKA N1 Handsome Garry bathed in the light of the setting sun 2025

Come and join the friendly folk at Woodland Trust’s Osprey forum – everyone’s welcome!

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/osprey-cam

The osplets at Lake Murray are doing great according to Heidi – and the little one has just the cutest bottom. Nice, round, and fat. This is all thanks to the new male at the nest!

An osprey family in their nest, with two adult ospreys feeding their three chicks. The nest is made of sticks and branches, surrounded by leaves.

The American Bird Conservancy (ABC)’s bird of the week, The Yellow-breasted Chat. Have a good read – see how much you can learn about this special feathered friend.

Yellow-breasted Chat – American Bird ConservancyDownload

One of the things that I love about my tiny urban plot is that it is home to so many species of wildlife. Every year, we try to plant more shrubs and flowers to attract more bees and butterflies while making certain there are always decaying logs scattered about the property, providing a home for insects and a feast for so many of the birds. I can’t fight the big commercial enterprises that are destroying our planet, but I can make a difference right where I live – and so can you! It only takes one plant, specifically designed for your region and the bees or butterflies that live there, to make a difference. Why don’t you find a spot to plant something this year so that you can sit and watch the visitors come? And remember – please leave out water. It is the gift of life.

In London, the Queen Elizabeth II garden is attracting all manner of creatures! Enjoy the images.

A new haven for wildlife: London’s Queen Elizabeth II garden opens to the public – in pictures

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/gallery/2026/apr/28/new-haven-wildlife-london-queen-elizabeth-ii-garden-opens-public-aoe?CMP=share_btn_url

It has been a week of ups and downs at our house. The weather is not helping. I find that warm days when we can be outside, even if it’s just sitting on a chair on the deck, are so beneficial to one’s mental health. As I have mentioned many times in recent years, Don is now in his fifth year of being diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia. For those that are unfamiliar, it is different than Alzheimer’s. This AI overview is rather good:

Lewy Body Dementia (LBD) and Alzheimer’s differ primarily in their initial symptoms and progression: LBD features early hallucinations, significant cognitive fluctuations, and Parkinson-like movement issues, whereas Alzheimer’s typically begins with memory loss. LBD often progresses faster and includes REM sleep disorders, whereas Alzheimer’s is generally slower and affects memory first.

Key Differences at a Glance

  • Initial Symptoms: LBD often starts with attention, executive function, and visual-spatial issues, while Alzheimer’s starts with short-term memory loss.
  • Fluctuations: LBD patients experience drastic, daily, or hourly changes in alertness and attention; Alzheimer’s symptoms are usually more consistent.
  • Movement: Parkinsonism (rigid muscles, slow movement, tremors) appears early in LBD, often within one year of cognitive decline. Movement issues appear in late-stage Alzheimer’s.
  • Hallucinations: Early, detailed visual hallucinations are common in LBD, while they typically occur in later stages of Alzheimer’s.
  • Sleep: REM sleep behavior disorder (acting out dreams) is a common early indicator of LBD, not Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s Association +4

Brain Pathology and Progression

  • LBD: Caused by abnormal deposits of alpha-synuclein proteins (Lewy bodies) that deplete brain chemical messengers.
  • Alzheimer’s: Caused by Amyloid plaques and tau tangles.
  • Progression: LBD tends to progress faster than Alzheimer’s, with a survival rate often averaging 5 to 7 years.

Why Diagnosis Matters
An accurate diagnosis is critical because LBD patients may have severe adverse reactions to certain antipsychotic medications commonly used to treat behavioral symptoms in Alzheimer’s.

Many of you have written to me about a family member or partner that is suffering from memory loss. Please, please get them to a doctor for a diagnosis. The earlier, the better. It is incredible what treatments and medications they have now that they didn’t have five years ago!

Don’s disease is beginning to progress rapidly now. We enjoy every good moment as his apathy and hallucinations grow. I always remind everyone to also enjoy life as much as you can. Don’t sit and cry over what happened a year or ten years ago or more or worry about next year. Enjoy your life right now. You never know what is coming around the corner.

I will end there. Thank you for being with us today. Please take care. I am going to take tomorrow off. See you Monday evening.

Thank you to all of the contributors today – those great people with their daily summaries, videos, articles, and investigative reporting. Thank you to ‘PB’ and Heidi for keeping track of the US ospreys and to the owners of the streaming cams and UK Osprey Information FB.

Rescue at Dale Hollow successful…late, late Friday in Bird World

8 May 2026

Hello Everyone,

First up – Happy Birthday to David Attenborough who is 100 today. What an incredible individual.

Second, remember that Saturday is Migratory Bird Day. Please take part in one of the counts, including the Cornell Bird Labs count. Check out their website.

It was 15 C with a gentle, albeit sometimes coolish breeze in Winnipeg today. The sky was blue with a few of those big cottonball clouds. Ring-billed Gulls were heard overhead flying between the two rivers in our City. In the garden, a host of White-crowned Sparrows were foraging and bathing. We have three bird baths up now, with notes to clean them every other day if not daily. Half a dozen Starlings were here along with the single Robin that visited the other day, a few Dark-eyed Juncos, flocks of sparrows, the Blue Jays and Crows. I am not good at identifying individual species of sparrows, so we just say ‘House Sparrows’!

Toby had his walk with us, and Ann arrived determined to make Don very tired with a solid two-and-a-half-hour walk at the zoo today. It worked!

One of the most troubling local news items is that the City and the Parks Department are culling goose eggs. There are ‘too many’ geese! I have criticised New Zealand for doing this, and now it is here, right at my favourite park. Didn’t someone tell them that Avian Flu took the lives of no fewer than 100,000 Canada Geese last fall in Manitoba’s north? We actually don’t know the full number of geese and other waterfowl that died, as many lakes in the north are quite remote. I was seething. I am not quite sure what the priority is for our City. New houses are going up on agricultural land. They are close together, identical, built quickly with few, if any, trees. The City is closing local wading pools in areas where the children need a free summer pastime. Crime rates are up, property theft is rampant, and drugs and weapons are always in the news. Winnipeg used to be relatively ‘sleepy’. Population growth, poverty, a lack of parenting for many reasons, including economic ones, where both parents have to work 2 or 3 jobs just to barely pay the bills, are contributors. I want to emphasise that I am referring to the ‘City’ government. In general, I am pretty happy with our provincial government. But enough…I do not have a television, and any news that I watch comes from YouTube live events. Watching birds and just sitting with my eyes closed, even for ten minutes, on the deck, listening to birdsong, is so nice. The violence that does make the news is hard to take and yet, I am reminded every day of the goodness of people.

The Lily Society is naming a Day Lily after our neighbour who died in a house fire. He was, as I understand it, one of the founding members and experimented with hybridising lilies. He had a lovely garden full of them. Today, they were removed and will become part of a memorial garden. Very thoughtful. Kindness also comes in the form of my neighbours working on my deck to make it safer and, of course, Jane feeding Brock and loving him. I am so grateful for this single block of individuals who could brighten anyone’s day.

Before we shift to Bird World news, I wanted to send a photo of our little herb and salad garden. It is doing very well. In a couple of weeks, we will be planting outside, but we will keep this one going constantly. From left to right, there is basil, dill, and then two different types of lettuce. I had to exchange the short dowels for the longer 45 cm ones yesterday. The dill is intense and very delicious.

A small indoor garden featuring various young herbs and leafy greens under LED grow lights.

I have had so much information backed up that I want to share with you. So there are a lot of files today – I hope that there is something of value for you.

Please mark Saturday in your calendars. It is World Migratory Bird Day.

Celebrating the World Migratory Bird Day in the East Asian Flyway. – K. Lisa Yang Center for ConservDownload

So what is World Migratory Bird Day?

AI answers: World Migratory Bird Day 2026 focuses on the theme “Every Bird Counts – Your Observations Matter!”, highlighting community science and citizen observations for bird conservation. The main peak days are Saturday, May 9, 2026 (Northern Hemisphere) and Saturday, October 10, 2026 (Southern Hemisphere), featuring global events and bird counting efforts like on eBird.

Key Aspects of 2026 Campaign:

  • Theme: The theme highlights the importance of individual contributions through citizen science to track and protect migratory birds.
  • Key Dates: May 9 and October 10, 2026, align with peak bird migration periods.
  • Activities: Participation includes monitoring, bird counting, and educational events.
  • Featured Events: A special 2026 event will take place on May 9th at Lois Hole Centennial Provincial Park in Alberta, Canada, including the “Wings of Survival” talk.
  • Global Participation: Coordinated by groups like Environment for the Americas, the campaign encourages recording sightings on eBird. World Migratory Bird Day +6

World Migratory Bird Day is a global effort to raise awareness about the need for the conservation of migratory birds and their habitats.

If you live in or near NYC, here are some events on Saturday but do check out your local birding groups.

This Saturday is World Migratory Bird Day, a global migration celebration. Each spring and fall, birds travel anywhere from a few hundred miles to tens of thousands! You can see these amazing journeys on display right now as birds stop in our parks and green spaces to rest and refuel. 

Join our FREE outings throughout the boroughs to spot stunning spring migrants:

  • Manhattan: Drop-in Ecology Session at Jefferson Market Garden
  • Staten Island: Spring Birding at Conference House Park 
  • The Bronx: Birding at Soundview Park with The Bronx is Blooming 
  • Brooklyn: Spanish-English Birding at Sunset Park 
  • Queens: Exploring the QueensWay

It isn’t just the birds that need our help. Geemeff sent me the following to share with all of you.

This poor 46 year old Orangutan is alone in a concrete enclosure and has been that way most of her life. Opal has been offered a more suitable home but her owners have refused. It’s a truly dreadful situation for a sentient being, and completely unnecessary. 

https://www.change.org/p/free-opal-the-orangutan-from-natal-zoological-gardens-and-relocate-her-to-a-sanctuary

https://www.goodthingsguy.com/opal-is-trending-again-but-this-time-theres-hope

Thank you

With all that was happening on Thursday, there are so many other nests that simply didn’t get checked.

SK Hideaways captured the most incredible images of Monty and Hartley’s foursome! Take a peek. You will not be sorry. https://youtu.be/reg9uBNq8Dg?

We are so missing Annie and her families.

So not only check out Monty and Hartley’s amazing family but also the Wakefield Falcons in the UK. https://youtu.be/G9En47Jdiy4?

One of our independent environmental zines has staff that love birds. ‘Birds Just Wanna Have Fun’.

Birds just wanna have funDownload

What should you do if you find a baby bird?

What to do if you find a young bird in NYC | NYC Bird AllianceDownload

If you live near Hawk Mountain in PA, they have a fun day for meeting their raptors. Here is the information:

Memorial Day Raptors Up Close!

Mon, May 25 Programs at 10 AM & 2 PM

FREE

Hawk Mountain’s signature live raptor program, Raptors Up Close! offers the chance to see live hawks and owls, and to learn what puts these winged predators at the top of nature’s food chain. This program guarantees that you will see a live raptor during your visit and is appropriate for visitors of all ages.

Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Friday 8th May 2026Another calm day on both nests today, with fish delivered, eaten, and in one case lost! Garry LV0 delivered two fish to Aurora 536 but unhappily she dropped the biggest one and sensibly ate most of the small second one on the nest before departing, leaving Garry to incubate their single egg. His tally now stands at fifty one fish. Louis delivered three fish to Dorcha, taking the nest total to forty seven and his own tally to forty five. Due to some stick 

manoeuvring, the three eggs on Nest Two are now visible but given the birds’ quest to make the perfect nest, future adjustments might well block the view again. Today’s bonus item is in honour of 

Sir David Attenborough’s 100th birthday: a documentary about Ospreys narrated by him and featuring Roy Dennis.Today’s videos:https://youtu.be/FE_fGP965Uo  N2 Louis doesn’t notice a tiny visitor after Dorcha left with fish one 08.01.09https://youtu.be/Ogyo5DjA4sM N2 A second fish arrives for Dorcha 16.14.44 

https://youtu.be/D59CzIY-hZU N1 Oh no! Aurora drops her fish then begs for more 16.24.25

https://youtu.be/M2I-QvKHSxE N1 Garry brings a second fish and Aurora holds on to it 18.32.31https://youtu.be/oNfoYP5BO1M N2 The three eggs are clearly visible as Dorcha gets fish three 20.59.01 

Blast from the past, this day in previous years:

https://youtu.be/fv2-S7IAT7g  N1 Aila employs a tried and tested Louis-removal technique 2020

https://youtu.be/RydYvBR0m5I  N1 Aila invents a new Louis-removal technique 2020

https://youtu.be/Ys65Fgfu9sM  N1 Unusual visitor – a Twite (Linaria flavirostris) visits 2021

https://youtu.be/oMCTfmauWKA N2 First Owl-strike on Dorcha 2022

https://youtu.be/meJb_ovW0V8  N2 Second Owl-strike on Dorcha 2022

https://youtu.be/ea0yqDp1ups  N2 Third Owl-strike on Dorcha 2022

https://youtu.be/uecjKN_3VQI  N2 Late night fish supper arrives for Dorcha 2023 

https://youtu.be/WD9vJ3lVeMk N1 Garry LV0 & Aida pay a flying visit 2024  

https://youtu.be/ZrKyT_jo5DI  N2 Dorcha headbutts Louis to get him off the eggs 2024 (slo-mo repeat with zoom)https://youtu.be/Rq6jzQKsGi0 N2 Louis settles down to egg duty after delivering the first fish 2025 (zoom)https://youtu.be/tS6l2Py6V74 N1 Yet again Garry makes Aurora wait to get the fish 2025 

Come and join the friendly community at Woodland Trust’s Osprey forum, it’s fun, free and everyone’s welcome:

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/osprey-cam

There is some concern at the Dale Hollow Nest that the adults have not returned to feed the three eaglets since the AEF removed the fishing line yesterday. I have not been able to watch that nest closely today to see whether any deliveries have been made. Maybe you know?

But for now a big thank you to the AEF who took over the Dale Hollow Nest after the two fiasco years of 2022 and 2023.

Facebook post announcing the successful removal of a fishing line from a bald eagle nest by the American Eagle Foundation and partners, highlighting teamwork and no injuries to the eagles.
Informational graphic about the dangers of discarded fishing line to wildlife, emphasizing the collaborative efforts of various organizations to protect birds and the importance of proper disposal.
Four young eagles in a nest among green leaves in a tree.

At the nest of Big Red and Arthur, there are two hatches that have survived a very soggy nest with damp. Big Red loves to give them ‘big’ bites. The first chick died trying to hatch, and I fear that this might well be the case with the last. We have to wait and see. There are, however, two fine little bobbleheads at present and a nest full of every kind of soggy prey.

A red-tailed hawk feeding its chicks in a nest made of twigs, with several small, fluffy hawklets visible among remnants of prey.

If you missed it, we do have two eggs at Iris’s nest!

Close-up of an osprey nest with two eggs, showcasing the unique coloration of the second egg.

Last, but never least, SK Hideaways gives us a smile from the nest of Jackie, Shadow, Sandy, and Luna: https://youtu.be/U-hHp0IQR4o?

Good night, everyone! Take care of yourselves. Remember the bird count on Saturday, but most importantly, go outside, look, listen, and smell the spring air. See you soon.

My guardian angel waiting for me to finish this so we can have a game of fetch before bed.

A black and white dog sleeping on a light gray couch with a textured blue pillow.

Thank you to all the contributors tonight – Geemeff, SK Hideaways, those who post on FB, the authors of all the amazing articles, and the owners of the streaming cams that allow us into the lives of our beloved birds.

An egg, a fledge, a hatch in progress, and a rescue…late Thursday in Bird World

7 May 2026

Just a quick spin around a few nests. It seems we cannot take our eyes off the screens for a second!

Iris has laid her second egg just minutes ago at the Hellgate Canyon nest in Missoula, Montana.

An osprey standing on its nest, surrounded by twigs and branches, with green foliage and parking lot visible in the background.
A close-up view of an osprey sitting in its nest, surrounded by twigs and natural debris, with its distinctive brown and white plumage visible.
Close-up of a young osprey sitting in a nest made of twigs and pine needles, with its head turned slightly towards the camera.

At 65 days of age, Winken at the Moorings Park nest has fledged and returned to the nest. The take off was graceful but the landing will require more practice!

A close-up view of an osprey chick named Winken on a nest at Moorings Park, showcasing the surrounding landscape, including a pond and residential area, with a clear sky in the background.

It appears that the AEF’s Dale Hollow rescue was a success. Cameras were off, and by my count, all three eaglets are in the nest, and there is no fishing line. Thanks, AEF, and all involved.

Two young eagles sitting in a nest among trees, with one resting while the other stands alert.

We have a hatch underway at the nest of Big Red and Arthur. Thankfully that nest is starting to dry out after torrential rains the other day.

A red-tailed hawk is feeding its chicks in a nest made of twigs and branches.
A red-tailed hawk feeding its chicks in a nest made of twigs and branches.

Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Thursday 7th May 2026

Another routine day for both nests – just the odd alarm call but no intruders seen, reasonable weather, and both Louis and Garry LV0 brought one fish each for their respective partners Dorcha and Aurora 536. The Nest One tally rises to forty nine, and the Nest Two tally to forty four. Dorcha had to wait until tea time before her fish arrived, and gave Louis a telling off. Later when he didn’t give up the eggs on her return to the nest, he got a thorough dusting from her tail feathers! Light rain started falling around 9pm and is set to continue through the night and well into tomorrow, with occasional sunny spells.

Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/xTXSVuaZZek N1 Aurora 536 flies around with her fish 10.02.05

https://youtu.be/bKsKsVdVfyU N2 Louis arrives fishless and gets told off 11.02.41

https://youtu.be/dHk4UaDuKi8 N2 Louis finally arrives with a fish for Dorcha 15.25.35

https://youtu.be/FdIhdtOhZHU N2 Louis gets a going over with a feather duster! 16.32.24

Blast from the past, this day in previous years:

https://youtu.be/8OaqnwQiaBI  N1 Aila does a bit of Louis-bashing before he takes the hint 2020

https://youtu.be/2qFBiVop8DQ N1 Clumsy Louis clatters the camera! 2020

https://youtu.be/T8wmG4NbfIo  N1 Late night bat visits Aila 2020 (slo-mo)

https://youtu.be/VA8CwMT9qyA  N1 Eurasian Siskin and Crossbill visit 2021

https://youtu.be/0FlIlYJMsGQ  N2 Cheeky Tawny Owl perches on the nest 2022

https://youtu.be/LcPUWA3mWDo  N2 Tawny Owl strikes Dorcha then returns to perch on the nest 2022

https://youtu.be/kJIFH0RyeSk  N1 Louis pays a visit to his old nest 2023

https://youtu.be/6z_D0r_72h4  N1 A little songbird flits around for a while, then nudges a stick over the side 2024

https://youtu.be/1MzoKTgPm4w  N1 Aida lands on the perch, welcome back, we missed you! 2024 

https://youtu.be/iZCtZxSvdtQ N1 A male Tawny Owl visits, calls but gets no reply 2025

https://youtu.be/9AUcpQbxfI4 N1 Lunch arrives for Aurora 2025

https://youtu.be/AFxIoXOi7hU N2 Dorcha’s fish supper arrives against a colourful sunset sky 2025 (quick time)

Everyone is welcome to join the friendly community at Woodland Trust’s Osprey forum – it;s friendly, informative, and free:

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/osprey-cam

It was a beautiful day today, and we got out for a walk. It was so nice. Toby and I even managed to sit out in the garden and listen to the birds. We were surprised by the list that Merlin could hear that we could not see! Don’s medication has changed. He is less and less engaged in daily life and that is so sad. He did join us for the walk and I anticipate that Ann will take him to the nature centre tomorrow. Being outside is good for everyone – including those with dementia.

A black and white dog wearing an orange harness stands on the grass, looking back over its shoulder while being held on a leash.
Two cats, one orange and one tabby, sleeping together on a cat tree near a window.

Thanks so much for being with us. Take care!

Thank you to ‘PB’ for alerting me to Iris’s egg as I was checking on Dale Hollow! Thank you to Geemeff for her Loch Arkaig summary, Heidi for her post about Winken, and to the owners of the streaming cams that allow all of this to happen. We are so very grateful.

Day 10 Welcome to Winter…Diamond feeds Gimbir

12 December 2025

Good Morning Everyone! Hello!

It is -9 C with soft snowflakes falling on the Canadian Prairies. Toby has been out for his walk with Ellen. Because the snow is deep and wet, he wore his boots, hat, and his insulated play suit. He wasn’t so happy. Look at that grumpy face! He sure had fun, though, once he was outside.

Ellen gave him a good romp – 1.3 km in thirty minutes. That little puppy was quite zonked when he got home. My friends and lovely neighbours are making sure that Toby has an even bigger wardrobe. One is even knitting him a beautiful scarf with snowflakes!

Both Blue Jays were at the feeders again Thursday morning. This makes me so very, very happy. The Jays wanted peanuts, but one of Dyson’s kits just sat on the big table feeder, munching and munching. Nothing was going to budge that squirrel! The Jays were losing their patience. In this two-minute video, Junior, the male, spends the last half hoping to find a way to reach the feeder!

I want to thank ‘L’ for her note today. It touched my heart. She had a feral cat named Hobo. Worrying about him in the cold, she put a heating pad inside a gigantic dog carrier. Hobo liked it. Her letter gave me pause to reconsider what I might do for Brock.

As all of you know, I agonise over Brock every winter. He has indeed survived, but there is always a worry. I have a huge carrier that I got when we had Lewis, so I am going to order a heating pad and another outdoor extension cord. Then we will see if Brock goes for it!

Brock looks in the garden door after finishing his third meal of the day. If you look at the table to the rear and left of Brock, you will see the amount of snow that fell overnight. The young man was here shovelling the deck but it has filled up – again!

Jaine arrived and headed out onto snowy roads to take Don to the Y’s walking track for the afternoon. The Girls, Toby, and I are making cinnamon-cardamon rolls for her to take home when she gets back. I hope they are good.

We use the same dough recipe for everything from pizza to cinnamon buns and butter rolls. It is effortless, and like my grandmother, I don’t measure. If you want to try it along with us, here is what I did: Place a packet of active dry yeast in a bowl with 2 T sugar, 2 T oil (I used a fruity olive oil), and 2 t salt. Add 3/4 c of very warm (not hot but quite warm) water. Stir and let it froth. Once the yeast froths, add 1.5-2 cups of flour. Depending on the weather and the type of flour you are using, you might find you need a little more. Stir hard, knead, and let the dough rise twice. Punch down between rises. [I use a small Wolf counter oven instead of my big oven. It has a ‘Proof’ setting for 80 degrees F that is really helpful and makes the rising go even faster.]

When the dough has risen twice (which makes the rolls much lighter), flour your surface and roll the dough out into a big rectangle. (See below) Those are slices of butter (you can use either salted or non-salted) spread around. You can even melt the butter and brush it on. For this recipe, the more butter the better. (Don’t tell my doctor!). Then sprinkle a mixture of 1 cup of white sugar to which I have added 1 t of cinnamon and another t of cardamom. You can adjust to taste. You might not use all of this. If you want, you can omit the cardamom. During a visit to Copenhagen, I fell in love with the Danish cardamom rolls, and ever since, I have been adding cardamom to everything. Today, I also sprinkled some dried cranberries over the dough to try and make the rolls a little more festive.

Fold up the edges and roll into a jellyroll-like shape. Then cut into slices. Place these on a buttered OLD non-shiny pan. Do not use parchment, either, as it will make the bottoms soggy, just like a shiny pan. You can be neat and make the rolls all the same. I can’t be bothered! I do like them rustic. Allow the rolls to rise one more time before placing them in a 375°F oven. Bake for about 13-15 minutes, or until the tops are golden brown and, when pressed, spring back.

My family likes a lemon or orange glaze – just mix some orange or lemon juice with icing sugar and smear all over. Yummy, yum.

We decorated the box and included an ornament for her tree. I hope she likes it. I am so terribly grateful for her help and support.

So, let’s check in on some of the nests.

There are still two eaglets at the Superbeaks nest of Pepe and Muhlady in Central Florida.

The clock is counting down to SW Florida when M15 and F23 will welcome chick number 1.

In Orange, Australia, Diamond decided to feed Gimbir instead of Girri. Of course, Girri’s crop was about to pop! What a beautiful gesture to a great first-time dad who has been Daddy Doordash all season. I bet he was hungry.

It is NOT unusual (nor is it frequently seen) for adult males or females to feed one another. Which nests can you think of where you have seen this? The FalconCam Project caught it on video: https://youtu.be/1FOmMdoS6tA?

Girri looks like a juvenile falcon today.

SK Hideaways caught Girri soaking wet in a cute video! https://youtu.be/L2x4w5fqW3I?

Why does it always have to rain and why are there storms around fledge time? It always makes me so nervous. Girri will fledge soon. Enjoy her while you can! They do not normally return to the scrape very much, if at all.

Indeed, Girrir was flapping and almost went out the front. 12:34:52ish.

That was too close for comfort. She is not ready. She still has down and I want a week of sunny dry days not the storm clouds you can see in the distance.

The eagles at the John Bunker Sands Wetlands nest are working on that egg cup. This nest is looking really good. Just look at the size of it! The people who work at the centre say that visitors walking on the boardwalk often see the eagles flying overhead. Maybe you should visit JBSW if you live near Seagoville, Texas (east of Dallas).

The snow was really coming down at the US Steel nest. Evenso, nestorations continued. Those 7000 feathers kept those Irv and mate toasty warm and dry. https://youtu.be/1tK8d2JFE1Q?

Gigi and Pat were working at their nest, the ND-LEEF, in South Bend, Indiana, on Thursday despite the snow, too.

In Winnipeg, we are experiencing a very sad moment. Hundreds and hundreds of Canada Geese have been found dead due to HPAI.

Manitoba avian flu: Goose die-off could be tied to virusDownload

Another article with some good information.

Hundreds of Canada goose deaths in Manitoba leave wildlife experts perplexed – Winnipeg | Globalnews.ca
https://globalnews.ca/news/11572945/hundreds-of-canada-goose-deaths-in-manitoba-leave-wildlife-experts-perplexed/

This news just makes me feel very ill. I love our geese so much!

It is never good to go to bed angry and I don’t like closing my blog on a sad note. We watched T3, the only surviving eaglet of Mrs T, thrive under almost the sole care of its mother at the Trempeauleau nest in Wisconsin. There are bittersweet moments. Two other eaglets perished, but you will remember how much joy T3 gave us. Here is a lovely video about this determined young eaglet! Enjoy. https://youtu.be/OMa50gXbe18?

Mrs T was sleeping on the branch at the Trempeauleau nest on Thursday. They have snow, too.

Good night, Beau and Gabby.

Trudi Kron brings us up to date on the new couple at the Dale Hollow Bald Eagle nest.

A note from our Bird World reader ‘J’ in Berlin also brings some good news about Kakapo. Enjoy:

“https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKvDRPnj314

Thank you so much for being with us today. Everyone wishes you a fantastic end of the week!

HY knows how to stay warm.

Thank you so much to ‘L’ for the great suggestion for Brock! I am also grateful to the authors of the FB posts, the creators of videos, the owners of the streaming cams, and the authors of the articles included in today’s blog.

Ervie, Iris, and more in Bird World for Tuesday

18 April 2023

Good Morning Everyone,

I hope that the beginning of the week was good for all of you. There is just a lot of great news out there in Bird World and I am really excited to share it with you.

Ella, the mate of Pip, laid the first Peregrine Falcon egg of the 2023 season in Manitoba at the Radisson Hotel scrape in downtown Winnipeg on the 17th of April! What a great kick-off to the season after Tracy’s outstanding presentation at Oak Hammock on the work of our local Peregrine Recovery Group Sunday.

It is always good when a two year old osprey has been spotted and this one is from the 2021 hatch at Loch of the Lowes. Laddie and Blue NC0’s LR2 was photographed in Spain! Alive and well. Just beautiful like her Mum.

‘B’ sent me a link to an excellent opinion piece in The Guardian about the swift decline in bird species. We know that there are also declines in North America. The Big Bird Day is coming – I will remind you closer to the time – and we should participate to get a detailed look at how and where the birds are doing. Some species in a significant decline in the UK are doing well in North America and vice versa.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/apr/17/birds-vanishing-crisis-40m-birds?CMP=share_btn_link

Murphy and his eaglet made The New York Times! Yahoo. My wish is that everyone who has enjoyed the story of Murphy sends World Bird Sanctuary $10. If everyone did that, this wildlife rehabber in Missouri could do amazing things, including caring for Murphy and the eaglet.

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/17/us/murphy-bald-eagle-rock.html?unlocked_article_code=kR-e7nYc4rZ-i5bM5D-ozD6L92h2iJLZ8K8p9bQSWs7urb6LQtWwS-5NQpDZC9JwLpIwcTfcZA7zDedbZq-5pWsw1forBDI0A-VRWerKUDcFUCET2RZ4i9eYaqlclCdIdaaJ1a3nB9r9SHnmAn9ET2WdxnnenP5v6r2OhSiumHakX_VxOFASGTVUgPc9VUR4OinBTtooGd9RcjcTJg2JrPww7NlAtSAZtbP2OWG-2fR5A8-fsp9molBFKD6cs2QoTqG_845bH2yqCZUoSEN9AjqVvfXY6KdIKXSQPHc2NqRl1hJkwoZvnaCxHdAtVK20ppQZicC8QXwcU5o&giftCopy=4_Disclaimer&smid=em-share

More Murphy Cartoons:

The latest update on Murphy and the eaglet after the tornado and big storms went through Missouri.

The third hatch of Annie and Lou has its beak wide open for prey – even when Mum feeds, and Dad brings in extra. That little one is up front and centre, as ‘A’ observes, and she said she felt like today had been a turning point on this scrape with the baby being fed well. Just look at that bite Annie is giving this little one.

The little one getting ‘stuffed’ crop before bedtime. We do not need to worry about this one! Lou is keeping all of the different places for stashing prey full. Great Dad!

There was a good feed at Dale Hollow! If those intruders are leaving River alone maybe her and DH17 and 18 will get to eat well and the eaglets will fledge. Wouldn’t that be nice?

River fed the eaglets so much that when they wanted to hop around the nest they had a hard time because of those crops.

Full crops at Moorings Park Ospreys.

Abby and Victor are now as loud as Sally when Harry arrives with the fish. Here comes Dad!

Hatchery Mum fed and kept that little eaglet dry and warm throughout the blizzard. Now the sun is out!

White-tail Eagle Milda feeding her two little eaglets in Latvia. Oh, I so want to see these two well fed and fledge this year. Milda deserves it.

Kaia has not arrived in Estonia at the Black Stork nest she shares with Karl II. There has, however, been another female with a distinctive pattern on her right leg. We do not know if Kaia will arrive at the nest. She was last in Ukraine. We can only wait to see.

The female is unringed but has this distinctive pattern on her leg.

At the nest of Betynka and Bukadek in The Czech Republic, Bety is incubating four precious eggs.

Iris continues to bring in her whoppers – a magnificent trout – that she eats on the owl pole.

Oh, and this is what an amazing ‘ps’ looks like Iris-style.

Mother Goose and her eggs appear to be fine after the blizzard in Iowa. We have no geese with eggs yet in Manitoba but, there is a snow storm brewing for Wednesday and Thursday that is predicted to dump 30 cm (1 ft) of snow.

Every time I look at an old tree with a nest in it, I think of Nancy and Beau losing their nest and their sweet little eaglet. I wonder how many other trees need some support?

The Pittsburgh-Hayes Eagle nest:

Thank you ‘B’ for sending me this link so that we can all see Andor and Cruz’s two eaglets from this season at the new Two Harbours nest!

Speaking of Channel Islands, here is an older video of our hero Dr Sharpe fostering chicks into nests. Oh, so many would love if a foster chick could get into Jak and Audacity’s nest this year. They have tried so hard! Thank you to everyone who sent me this link…we would love to see him do this one more time for Sauces!

A Kestrel was spotted in Winnipeg Monday morning, the first for the season. At Robert Fullers in the UK, Mrs Kestrel has laid her first egg.

Oh, geez. I get nervous when an Osprey nest has three eggs but here is another one with four this season in Missouri. The other is Maya and Blue 33 at Manton Bay, Rutland Water in the UK.

Charlotte is back at Charlo Montana! My goodness she is a beauty.

Buzz Hockaday posted some images of Calypso and Ervie on the Friends of S Australia Osprey site. I pulled out two of Ervie for you. He is looking good. Ervie, it is so nice to see you!

Some other news we are following this morning:

  • All is well at Achieva. Diane fed the two a huge catfish yesterday and Dad brought in another fish. They ate for at least three hours.
  • Z2 Aeron and his mate, Blue 014, have laid their first egg at Port Cresor.
  • At Kielder Nest 4, Mr and Mrs 69 laid their first egg on Sunday morning
  • There is some concern that the male at the Osoyoos nest this year is not Olsen.
  • There is some concern that R4 at the WRDC nest in Miami of Ron and Rose has some issues. He is being monitored as it appears he has difficulty eating. Hopefully, this is not Trichomonosis. We have seen this in a Finnish Osprey nest (Boris and Titi) and also the 4th hatch at CBD in Melbourne in 2021. It causes severe damage to the tissues of the mouth, throat, crop and esophagus and affected birds may drool saliva, regurgitate food, have difficulty in swallowing food and water, demonstrate laboured breathing and/or have a swollen neck or throat.
  • I am trying to get a good feed on the Venice Golf and Country Club Osprey platform to see if there are still three osplets on the platform.

Some people rescue our feathered friends and who, in the process, understand just how much our birds do for us. Here is a lovely article of a Welsh writer and illustrator and the owls she has rescued and what they give to her life. Oh, it is a good read!

Writing about George (the subject of her forthcoming book), Hughes says, “He and his magpie presence had a very powerful effect on me. He left me with a love of birds that I just hadn’t expected. If you had told me, a few years before, you’re going to fall in love with a magpie and be completely crackers about it, I would have laughed at you. If you’d told me I was going to end up with 13 owls in an aviary, I wouldn’t have believed you.” I imagine that so many of you could say that about the feathered friends from the streaming cams that have become so much a part of our lives. They give us so much. In return, I hope that we can help make the changes that will ensure that their lives are more secure.

https://www.theguardian.com/books/2023/apr/16/frieda-hughes-crow-death-sylvia-plath-ted-hughes?CMP=share_btn_link

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: As many of you know, I am researching osprey behaviour. The main project is on siblicide. At the same time, Claudio Eduardo has set up a programme to get an accurate number of how many eggs are laid, how many hatches, and how many fledge. In addition, we can monitor if any of the osplets perish. This will give us a better idea of the survival rate in the nests of the streaming cams.

I am looking for volunteers. In particular, I seek observers for the following nests: Charlo Montana, City of Independence, Dunrovin, Lake Murray, McEwan Park, Minnesota Landscape, Newfoundland Power, Nova Scotia Power, Oyster Bay, Patchogue, Seaside, Wolf Bay, Salem Electric. There is no compensation, just my eternal gratitude, and you will always be mentioned in any material in print for your assistance.

This does not involve watching nests intently or taking pages of notes. I require the dates that eggs are laid, the dates that the eggs hatch, and the dates that the chicks fledge. If you observe a nest that appears to be in trouble and where siblicide might occur, I would like to be alerted so that the nest can be closely monitored. If you can help, please send me a note with your name and contact information and which nest you can observe: maryannsteggles@icloud.com Thank you so much.

Thank you so much for being with us this morning. Please take care. See you soon!

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, tweets, videos, and streaming cams that helped to make up my blog today: ‘H’, ‘A’, ‘L’, ‘B’, Manitoba Peregrine Recovery Project, Valerie Webber Loch Garten and other Ospreys, The Guardian, the NY Times, World Bird Sanctuary, Cal Falcons, Dale Hollow Eagles, Keisha Howell and Dale Hollow Eagle Cam, Moorings Park Osprey, Raptor Resource Project, Latvian Fund for Nature, Eagle Club of Estonia, Looduskalender Forum, Mlade Bury, Montana Osprey Project, Decorah Goose Cam, PIX Cams, IWS, Robert E Fuller, Carol Craig and Osprey Friends, Mary Anne Miller and Osprey Friends, and Bass Hockaday and Friends of Osprey S Australia.

Saturday morning in Bird World

16 April 2022

The sun is shining bright and there is a possibility that some of the snow will melt. The garden remains full of Juncos! They are all over our City trying to find food at feeders. People have been posting images of Robins eating suet. Poor things. Their migration should have been a good one without the snow storm! This morning, however, there have been about 30 Crows on my street. It is believed that the Great Horned Owl could be in the neighbourhood. They will escort it out!

At the NE Florida Bald Eagle nest of Samson and Gabby, Jasper fledged this morning at 11:12:49!

Rocket watches as Jasper opens up her wings.

And she’s off! Congratulations.

The UFlorida Osprey nest reminds me of Port Lincoln when you had Bazza, Falky, and Ervie lined up eating.

Dad arrives with a nice fish for breakfast.

Mum cheeps at him to leave moving the fish to the other side. Little Bit is right up front and is getting some of the first bites.

Little Bit just gets itself up to the front. Oh, he reminds me of Ervie!

I took a short video clip of one feeding. This nest – so far – really makes me happy.

Dr Sharpe is going up to fix the West End camera today so that we can continue to observe Thunder and Akecheta’s triplets. One of the eaglets has slipped off the left side. Thunder knows where it is and it is hoped that Dr Sharpe can put the baby back in the nest. Send best wishes their way!

Telyn laid the first egg of the season for her and Idris at the Dyfi nest about an hour ago!

There it is!

Little Middle has been over nibbling on one of the pieces of fish on the nest.

For those of you worried about the absence of the female eagle at the Duke Farms nest, she was in the nest this morning feeding the only eaglet. All is good!

Teo visited the only Osprey nest in Latvia!

Teo has been bringing fish to the nest. Two females have been seen at the nest and there was a mating attempt with one of them but there is no confirmation that either were Teo’s mate, Vita. We wait for her to return from her migration.

Here is the link to the Latvian Osprey cam near Kurzeme:

Wow. They are sure beautiful. Is it possible that we are looking at the difference in size now between the male and female juvenile Ospreys? Little Mini in the back with his long legs and Middle the larger female at the front?

Little Mini took off at 07:40:38 for a trip around the nest. He will take his 2, 3rd, and 4th flights today after fledging yesterday. So far Little Mini flies at 07:40;39, 08:06:57, and 08:07:59. you can go back and rewind to see this magnificent bird get the air under its wings.

Middle is watching Little Mini. Look above the palm tree on the right. You can see him.

It is going to be a perfect landing!

There is a theory about males flying first. Since the females are bigger 1/3, it takes longer for all their feathers to grow in compared to the males. Therefore, the males tend to fledge earlier.

Little Mini wants to fly again and again. Both chicks would like a big fish delivery, too!

Here is the link to their camera:

Karl II and Kaia are happy to be reunited in their nest in the Karula Forest in Estonia. They are so beautiful. Last year Karl II and Kaia raised three storklets to fledge from the three eggs that hatched.

Here is the link to their nest:

Suitable trees for nesting are becoming a real issue for all manner of bird species including Eagles, Ospreys, and Black Storks. Here is an article about this issue in Estonia. This is one of the reasons that many, including David Hancock at Hancock Wildlife and Ron Magill, Miami Zoo, are looking at alternative artificial nests.

Click to access 40_1-4_84.pdf

Do you watch the Osprey nest of Alma and Ossi in Finland? Nesting materials are arriving.

Alma and Ossi have raised eight osplets to fledge since 2017. Here is a link to their streaming cam:

There is absolutely so much happening that it is impossible to keep up with all of the changes. While I am watching one fledge, another could be fledging on a different nest! It is a crazy time – but a good one.

Thank you for joining me this morning. All of the nests look good. Take care. See you soon.

Thank you to the following for their streaming cams where I took my screen captures and video clips: UFlorida at Gainesville Ospreys, NEFlorida and the AEF, DHEC, Captiva Ospreys and Window on Wildlife, Eagle Club of Estonia, Duke Farms, Dyfi, Latvian Fund for Nature, and Saaksilive.

Thursday Morning in Bird World

14 April 2022

Dyson sends his love to everyone and he wants you to know that he is doing what he does best – getting seeds off the hard seed cylinders!

Thank you so much for your kind notes. The snow storm did precisely what had been predicted. There was a lull yesterday in the late afternoon and then the snow began with earnest around midnight. The forecast is now at the higher end of the snow accumulation at 80 cm or 2.62 feet. We continue to clear periodically and put down a line of seed that extends across 9 metres or 30 feet of decking and keep the feeders full and check on the hard seed cylinders as they need replacing. It has been a challenge. The sheer number of birds in the garden speaks to the recent arrival of thousands of birds during spring migration. Rain is set to start shortly turning to snow in the afternoon. Could it get worse for our feathered friends? The winds continue to bring some white out conditions. Hopefully the storm will taper off, as predicted, late Friday. Sadly, it brings out the worst in the birds who are hungry and fearful that they will starve to death. It is not unlike the beaking in the streaming cam nests when a weather event or diminished prey delivery sets off the ‘survival’ instinct in the biggest bird. Difficult to watch.

When you think you have absolutely ‘had it’ – you ‘are done’ with the birds and their beaking and bonking, stop and watch this piece of archival film that Charles Puleston shot in one of his Osprey nests on Long Island in the 1950s. It is called ‘My Turn’.

I can promise you that there is nothing more joyful, more tearful, and more satisfying than having a third hatch almost die in front of your eyes and then to have them turn around and become the most clever and dominant bird on the nest! It happens! Those are the nests you never forget.

A few of you have written to me in the last week about your need to pull back from the streaming cams and the chats that go along with some of the nests. The last note came this morning from a reader and I thought it would be a good time to discuss this. Watching the streaming cams can often bring about a sense of utter helplessness and frustration instead of the joy you anticipated. Instead of shutting the birds out of your life, I would like to make a couple of recommendations. The first is to educate yourself about the species you are watching. You do not have to purchase the books, go to your local library and if they do not have a copy see if they can order one in for you to borrow. The second is to arm yourself with emergency call numbers. Last year when a fostered Osprey chick fell off the nest at Patuxent River’s nests, the nature centre was closed. No one was answering the phone. People watched in horror hearing the chick splashing in the water. A number of us began to call leaving messages. One of the staff heard these and took their canoe back out to the park and found the chick – just in time – and literally tossed it back on the nest. This was a perfect outcome. That said frantic phone calls came from Hawaii, Canada, and the US to anyone who would listen. Every streaming cam needs the number of the local wildlife rehabber. Sadly, they do not post them. So it is up to you to find those numbers and have them ready if something happens. You also need to understand that most times help does not come. That is why Patuxent was simply so fantastic.

OK. Back to educating yourself. If you want to understand how the use of DDT caused the large Apex predators such as Eagles and Osprey to become almost extinct, get a copy of Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring. Here is an article that speaks to the importance of this book.

Find out who Dennis Puleston was to the environmental movement and how he signalled the decline in Ospreys. Who was Charles Broley to the Bald Eagle community? These are people who fought the good fight to protect and restore the populations of Ospreys and Bald Eagles. You should know who they are. For a specific UK approach, any of the books by Mark Avery who headed the RSBP for 25 years are excellent.

The current threat is often from climate change and for eagles it is heat. Many eagles went into care last summer as did Ospreys particularly in the Pacific Northwest. One of the newest additions that David Hancock (Hancock Wildlife) is adding to the artificial nests for the Eagles in British Columbia, Canada is a shade screen. Ground breaking. How fantastic! Indeed, you might have noted the artificial nest in the Miami Zoo for the WRDC nest. These human-made nests will become more common as trees fail just as artificial platforms are now common for Ospreys.

How many times have you seen individuals belittled and having to apologize for putting human emotions on birds? This especially happens in some chats. I suggest that you read Marc Bekoff, The Emotional Lives of Animals. Good solid research. You won’t apologize again! Jennifer Akerman’s The Genius of Birds and The Bird Way are also very good.

My library is mostly full of books on Ospreys and the smaller raptors, Peregrine Falcons and Red-tail Hawks.

Falcons: The Peregrine by J.A. Baker, Falcon by Helen Macdonald, and H is for Hawk are some good starters. Winter’s Hawk speaks to the persecution of the Red-tail Hawk where I grew up, in Oklahoma. The Kings and their Hawks gives a particular historical perspective. These are a few to get you started.

Ospreys: Alan Poole’s Ospreys is a good solid introduction to the birds. I am particularly fond of David Gessner’s Soaring with Fidel: An Osprey Odyssey from Cape Cod to Cuba and Beyond for a good look at the issue of migration, particularly the New England ospreys. It is a good read. Gessner’s other books speak to various environmental issues impacting birds. There are others: Scottish Ospreys by Philip Brown, Lady of the Loch by Helen Armitage amongst others. I will try and bring one up now and then.

If you want to understand migration, A World on the Wing. The Global Odyssey of Migrating Birds is a great start!

If you want a good laugh, Zarankin’s Field Notes from an Unintentional Birder is excellent!!!!

I did a quick check on some of the nests. The third hatch is hanging in there at the UFlorida Gainsville Osprey nest! Good for it. Spunky little thing.

Here is the link to the UF Osprey cam. It is not on YouTube.

https://wec.ifas.ufl.edu/extension/ospreycam/

The sun is coming out on Little Middle and Big at the Dale Hollow nest. They will be anxious for some fish to arrive on their nest.

Deb Stecyk did a short video of Big and Little Middle in the storm.

I found a new Peregrine Falcon nest this morning! It is in the UK at the Chichester Cathedral. There are four eggs.

When people get burnt out of watching Bald Eagles and Ospreys – where there is often a lot of beaking – I highly recommend both falcon and hawk nests. They are often overlooked because they are smaller raptors but the way that they take care of their young is reassuring that life is good.

There is also a Kestrel nest in Yorkshire. Eggs soon!

I highly recommend the streaming cam of Big Red and Arthur at the Cornell Campus in Ithaca, New York. Good solid nest. Big Red is 19 and Arthur is 6. Big Red has been raising little hawklets for 17 years – for ten on camera. Only one did not fledge and that was K2 in 2021 due to a beak injury and infection. There is also a good respectful moderated chat for a couple of hours in the morning.

The Queen of the RTHs, Big Red incubating four eggs on the Fernow Light Tower. This is the first time she has laid 4 eggs since the camera was set up in 2012.

Indeed, you will notice a lot of nests of falcons and hawks with four eggs this year. It could be nature’s way of adjusting for the quickly spreading Avian Flu.

Half way around the world, Lesser Spotted Eagles will be nesting in Latvia. The nest of Anna and Andris is now happy as Andris returned from his migration yesterday. Anna came home on the 12th.

And because incubation can be so boring to watch, Cal Falcons has done a really fast day in the life of Annie and the New Guy incubating! So funny and a good way to end this blog.

All of the nests seem to be doing fine. The first egg at Llyn Clywedog was laid at 10:27 this morning UK time. That is the nest of Dylan and Seren. I will be checking on those UK Osprey nests later today.

Thank you so much for joining me and for all of your good wishes, prayers, and warm thoughts for us and the garden birds and animals in the storm. It is much appreciated. Take care everyone. See you soon!

Under the Feeders. 14 April 2022

Thank you to the following for their streaming cams where I took my screen captures: DHEC, UFlorida Osprey Nest, and Cornell Bird Lab and RTH.