Today is my daughter’s birthday so there is a party which hasn’t turned out to be a surprise like I thought it was – but we will have a great time celebrating her special day.
It is also cool at 18 C and Toby and Don will get to have a wonderful walk with Ann as long as the rain stays away!
Ojai Raptor Centre is the BEST place for Jackie. They have treated Victor, Andor and Cruz’s chick, which had zinc toxicity. He fell off the nest in 2022. Only after 36-48 hours, Ojai Raptor Centre had raised $250,000 towards Jackie’s care. That is brilliant. I will also remind you of the other wildlife centre, San Dimas, that transported and cared for Jackie the distance to get to Ojai. They are San Dimas.
The world’s most famous eagle is getting a lot of attention and I hope that some of that generates the remaining funds necessary to purchase the land so that it cannot be developed. That would be tragic. CBS LA carries the battle by the water: https://youtu.be/0WX9ayTQiUs?si=_NzC92LEVBWMjshG
Update on Jackie:
We also have an update about Sol in Norway – the smaller osprey rescued so that it could survive with the understanding that lack of fish, heated streams, and heat domes are human caused. Bless them. https://youtu.be/2XeVWs9zgkU?si=EHqysyTCKDGfHH3R
All appears alright at the nest of Iris, baby, and Clark at Hellgate this morning.
We still have one chick surviving at Osoyoos.
The only surviving chick of three at Field Farm fledged this morning. Congratulations! They beat the odds and have one to fly.
The only surviving chick on the nest (one is in rehab but we do not know the status) fledged at Great Bay this morning. Again, congratulations. One fledge at a nest is great in a time when so many have their entire clutch perish.
One chick flapped and fell into the river at Blackwater and died – two remain. We hope they fledge successfully.
Great news from Viki:
LB leaves his perch before I toss the fish now so he’s sure to get to it first …. It’s not quite throwing popcorn to gulls, but I think the local ospreys are paying attention. And when I flubbed a throw LB chased a heron away from the shore., presumably on its way to grab the fish.
Once this morning LB was full enough to not bother with one of my offerings himself but to drop the still frozen fish in the nest and Big Girl took a while but she managed well. I can’t tell the difference between the two chicks now, although one seems very submissive, but if I can’t pick them apart as big and little I figure Little is doing as well as can be hoped.
Jack is working w/ a local fish house to get frozen bait fish (alewives) but I’m not sure LB will go for the mangled ones – maybe as time goes on, but as for now I think he needs a face and tail to believe it is worth going after.
Nevertheless, I feel we humans are making a small mark for good each time LB grabs one I throw!!!”
Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Monday 20th July 2026 Quite a dramatic day today, with two serious intruder Osprey encounters, both involving Dorcha. The first took place in the morning when a ringed intruder kept divebombing Dorcha on the nest until she flew off and chased it away. It was a Scottish female with a left leg blue Darvic ring which unfortunately couldn’t be read, and was possibly the same Osprey who attacked Dorcha in the afternoon. That time the ring was read, Blue 9A6, a 2024 female from Loch Fleet, the same area where Aurora 536 fledged in 2022, so potentially siblings. The attack was fierce – 9A6 flew onto the nest and locked talons with Dorcha for a moment then Dorcha went for her and both went tumbling over the side and crashed down through the branches of the nest tree in dramatic scenes. However both were seen flying in the distance, and Dorcha returned unharmed to the nest where the chicks were still safely pancaked. When Louis arrived with a third fish an hour and a half later, the family were ready for a meal and tucked in eagerly. He brought a fourth fish later but Dorcha got most of that one as the chicks appeared to be still satisfied from the previous one. His four deliveries take the Nest Two tally to three hundred and six. Over on Nest One, Garry LV0 brought one fish for Aurora 536 taking his tally to one hundred and seventy five – she thought she was getting a second, but when Garry answered her calls, he arrived fishless and attempted mating instead. In other news, the chicks were intrigued by a dragonfly and made lazy attempts to catch it in their beaks as it flew around the nest. The weather was settled again, and not too warm, and the forecast is pretty much the same – light winds, partly cloudy with a low of 12
°C overnight and sunny intervals with a high of 20
Thank you for being with us today. We are off to a birthday celebration. Take care. We hope to have you with us soon.
Thank you to everyone. Thank to Geemeff for her videos and daily summary, to PB for news on Jackie, to dear Viki for being my heroine – who else is feeding osprey to keep them alive? To those who posted on FB and the owners of the streaming cams who allow us to watch these incredible birds.
This will be an incredibly short posting with what I hope is some really great information.
I have avoided mentioning dear Jackie, our beloved Mum and mate of Shadow at Big Bear Valley, until I saw and heard some information that felt ‘transparent’. A message recording has been put out and here is the link:
Thank you, Pam Breci, for sending this to me. We are waiting for any confirmation. This is why Darvic Rings are important, but it would have been nearly impossible to have ringed Jackie, as she hatched in that gorgeous, very tall tree in 2012. She shared with Mr B, then with Shadow and their chicks.
SK Hideaways has sent their video listing for the week:
SK Hideaways Videos for the Week of 12 July 2026 While we may have seen the last sightings of the four siblings at the San Jose peregrine falcon nest, we continue to enjoy Sandy and Luna at Big Bear, as well as any and all happenings with the Channel Island eagles. My Southern Hemisphere coverage will ramp up over next few weeks. That’s just my little world of coverage for now. Mary Ann covers much, much more and we’re eternally grateful.
Sub-Adult Breaches Nest ~ Shadow Attacks and Chases as Luna & Sandy Fly In (2026 Jul 19) One of the persistent sub-adult bald eagles followed Shadow to the nest. Shadow made his displeasure known vocally, but when Luna arrived, Shadow leapt over him and flushed the sub-adult from the nest, chasing them to the lake and possibly beyond. Sandy arrived at the nest as the chase was unfolding, and she and Luna looked on, squee-less. Not a minute later, Shadow was perched on Twin Pines and 9 minutes later, Sandy and Luna perched on the Cactus Snag. Shadow remains on Twin Pines, on guard as we publish. We wish all Big Bear eagles well and continue to wait for definitive news of Jackie’s whereabouts. Video: https://youtu.be/3OnNjmhclpo
Dramatic Tug-o-Fish Episode ~ Sandy & Luna Split the Difference (2026 Jul 18) A dramatic nest entrance and tug-o-fish session ends with both Sandy and Luna getting some fish. Then they perch together like nothing ever happened. Video: https://youtu.be/Y1ibuAnekiI
Cross-Valley Eaglet Chortles ~ A.M. Tug-o-Fish ~ Three on Cactus Snag (2026 Jul 18) Dawn at Big Bear brought another symphony of chatter with Sandy and Luna squee’ing across the valley. Sunrise was magnificent as they continued their conversation. When they left their night perches, Sandy and Luna met on the Cactus Snag till Shadow flew past with the first fish of the day. They raced to the nest to collect their snack ~ Luna beating Sandy to the grab. About 1/2 way through the fish, Sandy snuck in for the steal; at 3/4 gone, Luna took it back. They digested on the front perch before returning to the Cactus Snag, where Shadow ultimately joined them, chortling to Jackie, who remained off camera. In a spectacular finale, Shadow struck an horaltic pose that mesmerized even Sandy and Luna. A glorious morning was had by all lucky enough to see it. Video: https://youtu.be/ah5ksEbUODY
Shadow’s 7-Fish Day ~ Sandy & Luna Compete Fiercely ~ Score Evenly (2026 Jul 17) Once again Shadow outdid himself in the fish delivery department. He brought one fish early, which no one came to the nest to claim. But then delivered 6 more in a 4-hour timespan. Sandy and Luna competed quite fiercely for 3 of the fish, as Shadow looked on with an expression we dare not attempt to interpret. It could have been anything from pride to concern to mild interest ~ we’ll never know. The other 3 fish were grabbed so quickly that the “losing” eaglet had no chance of competing for it. Suffice it to say, both Sandy and Luna both went to sleep with very full crops tonight. Video: https://youtu.be/rTgvrWi6hWQ
Shadow’s Fish Fest ~ 2 for Sandy, 2 for Luna ~ Food Comas Ensue (2026 Jul 15) Shadow was on a mission this afternoon bringing FOUR FISH in just over an hour. Sandy and Luna were in fish heaven ~ they got two each. Shadow left them to their food comas, which they duly embraced, each on their favorite perch. Video: https://youtu.be/nh_hKzhHc1g
Sandy & Luna Get Their Own Fish ~ Preen Each Other and Nap (2026 Jul 13) Master angler Shadow made sure both Sandy and Luna got their own fish this morning. It was a flurry of feathers with each fish delivery after the eaglets raced across the valley to claim their prize. Once they’d enjoyed their snacks, they settled down together for some beaky kisses, tail biting, and ~ as the food coma set in ~ naps. Cuteness overload ensued. Video: https://youtu.be/VTjElRgpchQ
FOBBVCAM Eagles JACKIE’S HOME! Whole Family Meets on Nest for Fish! (2026 Jul 12) As we’ve learned since this video was released, Jackie is spending time further out in the territory keeping an eye on sub-adult eagles who are passing through the area. She and Shadow are making sure that Sandy and Luna’s efforts to hone their skills in preparation to become independent are not hampered. But she did make an appearance on the 12th.
After Jackie and Shadow perched on Twin Pines together, Shadow departed to get Jackie a welcome home fish. She was very grateful and enjoyed it mostly to herself, even when Sandy and Luna came home expecting to get some. Life lessons were taught. But ever the doting father, Shadow brought a second fish, which Luna happily scarfed down. With this fish, Shadow had fed the entire family today. Well, of course he had. What a gift to see the entire family on the nest together. It was a good day in Big Bear Valley. Video: https://youtu.be/_Ilx0Vwopd0
Sandy & Luna End/Begin Days with Beaky Kisses ~ Stunning Sunset/Sunrise (2026 Jul 11-12) Sandy and Luna ended the day together on the nest, sharing beaky kisses and allopreening with a lovely sunset as their backdrop. When Shadow delivered supper, Sandy swooped in, mantling with her magnificent wings, but left Luna a few bites in the end. The eaglets then shuffled some branches before Luna departed for his overnight roost on the Simba Tree.
As dawn broke, the eaglets remained on their respective night roosts. Then Big Bear came aglow with a most stunning and long-lasting sunrise during which Sandy traversed across the valley to join Luna on the Simba Tree. Ultimately, they relocated to the Lookout Snag, where they finished watching the sunrise together. It was a magical time and one which we won’t soon forget. (2026 Jul 11-12) Video: https://youtu.be/Ua-mAhCld3Q
Walton Learns Territory Defense from Monty ~ Dive-bombing, Talons Up (2026 Jul 14) As Hartley relaxed on the ledge, Walton zoomed in and bumped her off. But in a twist of Walton’s prior experiences, Monty was right behind him. Monty flew over, circled back, and swooped on Walton, causing Walton to go talons up and tumble to the runway. Monty circled back around and flew over once for good measure (secretly we think he was checking Walton was OK). Poor Walton got a tough lesson in territorial defense, which he pondered for a minute before departing.
As devoted fans, we wonder if we’ll ever see the boys here again, but some of the trackers seem to be working. Walton’s tracker pinged in San Francisco and Oakland (~35-45 miles away as the crow flies). Scout’s has pinged further away at Hellyer Park in south San Jose (~6 miles). Jet’s has pinged in the Fremont Hills (~18-19 miles). And, unfortunately, Stewart’s tracker has stopped working. 75% is not bad, though. While we’ll miss them, we’re grateful to know they are dispersing healthy and hearty. Video: https://youtu.be/RZ71UkrSYZU
Cholyn Chills While a BIG Rattler, Lucy Franco, and Rowboater Visit (2026 Jul 16) While Chase was off doing eagle things, Cholyn sat on their couch as a host of visitors slithered and floated by. A VERY large Southern Pacific rattlesnake visited the overlook nest in the pre-dawn hours, the Lucy Franco tugged by a bit later with goods for a local port, and an intrepid rower bobbed by. All the while, Cholyn remained on her couch watching the world and visitors go by. How cool to see what was happening all around Cholyn and Chase’s habitat. Video: https://youtu.be/9PVJot6LfqI
Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Sunday 19th July 2026
Another day featuring intruders, this time Ospreys who divebombed and overflew Nest Two, including a ringed Osprey. The ringed Osprey didn’t fully appear in the camera view so the ring couldn’t be read, and Dorcha flew off the nest to get rid of it when it perched in the Scots Pine. When the chicks weren’t pancaked because of intruder alarms, they practised wingercising with enthusiasm, getting ready for the day when they find their wings and fly off into the world – not too long now. Louis stayed for minutes at a time after delivering his fish, despite Dorcha’s urging, and even did a little nest scraping, but he didn’t desert his duties, and delivered five fish today, the last of which was his three hundredth for the season – quite a milestone achievement! The Nest Two tally, including Dorcha’s two, now stands at three hundred and two. Over on Nest One, Garry LV0 delivered two fish for Aurora 536 taking the nest and his personal tally to one hundred and seventy four. The weather was settled and mild, and set to continue with light cloud and light winds overnight with a low of 12°C, and sunny intervals with a high of 21°C tomorrow.
Today there were a record number of fledges in the UK – they are calling it Super Sunday. Ten chicks from streaming cams fledged, including – hang on to your seat – Aeron Z2 and Blue 014’s trio, all within a few hours from start to finish, with each returning to the nest. Remarkable. I do not recall that ever happening. Dads and Mums are busy delivering fish at all the nests with some fledges still to come.
Deaths continue in the US osprey world. Too many that need to be added to the Memorial Wall now.
My hero of the day is Viki who is desperately trying to keep the only two chicks on Indian Creek alive. Imagine watching twenty osprey nests for more than two decades to see a nest, now without its female who left a few days ago, struggling. Viki is providing frozen fish. The male is eating and has delivered to the nest and the eldest chick can self-feed but the younger one can only peck at the fish. Let’s hope it gets the hang of this quickly! But if one chick can be saved, it is a miracle considering that all other nests failed.
Females are leaving the nests. They must fatten up before migration, and it is clear they understand how difficult it is. They are leaving to find fish elsewhere. We see this behaviour later – the normal is that the females help supply fish after the chicks have fledged and then leave much earlier than the males, who continue to bring fish to the nest til the last chick has departed on its first migration. I remember that Aran at the Glaslyn nest had to wait until late September one year to leave. But in the US, these chicks have not fledged! Many have no parents to feed them. It is my fruitless hope that those individuals who have the authority (or not) will declare what Norway did and that the heat domes, the warming lakes, oceans, rivers, and ponds due to that heat, and the lack of fish are all human-caused. Help would then be provided – no bloody excuses!
When Viki wrote me today she said: “Also, I heard a very interesting thing from a local man who takes folks out fishing. He’s discovered that the little fish swimming on top of the water, always indicative of larger fish beneath them, have no larger fish beneath them. Weird.” ——- I guess those larger fish have all been scooped up by the nets of the industrial/commerical trawlers.
I never thought I would live to see an ecosystem as beautiful and alive as The Chesapeake Bay die, but it is dying. And our beautiful fish hawks are dying with it – ‘the canary in the mine’. The warning signal of the total collapse to come. It breaks my heart.
Meanwhile, the Norwegian osplet at Fru Rauer’s nest that was rescued because it was getting bashed and being held from getting sufficient food, is doing splendidly in care. Here is the update: https://youtu.be/2XeVWs9zgkU?
Thank you for being with us. Please do take care. Send good wishes to all the nests.
Thank you to Pam Breci for sending me all the latest on Jackie, to SK Hideaways and Geemeff for their videos and daily summary. To Viki – my hero who is desperately trying to keep two babies alive and to the camera owners who allow us to watch these families as they struggle to survive in a changing world.
I don’t want to bore you to death, but it is hot. We continue under a special advisory for temperatures in the 30s, climbing to the mid 30s C, with a humidex reading of 45 C.
The heat is changing all of our lives. That, along with intense and multiple storms and heavy rains, is causing catastrophic events around the world. For me, my focus is on the wildlife who are particularly suffering – no shade, not much fish (for many reasons when it is a heat related event), and no one willing to step up and help. Dave Hancock put up shades for the Bald Eagles in British Columbia. Will we need to do this for the ospreys that live in vulnerable areas? or will there be any ospreys to shade. Viki reports from Indian Creek, Maryland. She writes, “The worst news, it’s possible only one of the two chicks in Lily’s nest got fed yesterday. There were at least two fish deliveries, but the third Lily was squeeing for it as LB prepped it in his perch tree — and that fish was tiny. I’m not even sure if it was big enough for LB to share. I do not see a happy outcome for Island Creek. Year number 3 of no fledglings.” If you have not checked out her blog documenting years of observing the ospreys on Indian Creek – when they were plentiful – please do. It’s free and you can learn a lot about osprey behaviour. Here is the place to go: IslandCreekOspreyes.com
It is time to name the chicks at Loch Arkaig nest 2, home to Louis and Dorcha. The deadline is Monday, and the selection will be made Monday night, so put your thinking caps on. There are two. To give name suggestions, you must either go to the forum or any Woodland Trust social media platform and use this #2026NAME. Then put in two names, one for each chick.
You will note that George indicates both chicks are female. I was going to leave this to Geemeff to surprise everyone, but it seems everyone knows!!!!!!
Dorcha feeding the two chicks:
After waiting patiently in the line, little four did get some fish around noon at the Blackbush nest in Prince Edward Island. It was not a lot – a few bites and the skin at the end before Mum cleaned her beak. I am not clear if the little one had food earlier.
At 1259 Little Four is hoping for a private feeding. It certainly got a few bites before it was joined by another bigger sib who, in the end, frightened the little one to the rail (the little chick is very nervous).
The little one at Osoyoos has a leaf-lined nest and had some fish at 0614.
I believe we are losing at least one of the two osplets on the nest at Cowlitz or both. This nest desperately needs a huge influx of fish.
Clark PUD is doing well.
Two chicks at Port of Ridgefield are doing well.
The only hatch of Keke and Kam at Sandpoint looks alright. Small fish coming in – like all nests, they could use lots more fish to build up fat and strength. Little one is growing fast.
Trio at Santiam doing well.
Dixie Rother posted good news about the Glacier Gardens eaglets.
Pam Breci catches the fledge at Salt Point, Lansing, NY. Yeah.
Celebrations at Seilli Island, Finland. The famous Seili Island (Seilli) Osprey nest in Finland’s Archipelago Sea features adult ospreys Hildur and Stefu. In a highly celebrated milestone for 2026, the pair successfully welcomed three chicks that hatched on June 1, 3, and 5—a major event as three chicks had not successfully hatched on this specific nest in ten years.
Clark was out early. What an amazing family.
Iris keeps baby cool.
Charlie has been bringing in big trout for Mum and baby C22 at Charlo Montana.
McEuen Park osplets look alright but it also looks hot. I wish every cam had a temperature gauge.
The nest of Telyn and Idris at Dyfi is sure getting full!!!!
CJ7 and Blue 022 have a fuller nest at Poole Harbour Carey’s Secret Garden osprey nest! Four female chicks doing fantastic.
Elen and Teifi have three gorgeous ospreys at Glaslyn.
Two at Usk Valley doing well.
Llyn Brenig chicks behaving themselves at their Welsh nest. Fish came on. No great interest by chicks so off the adult went.
Toby and Hugo Yugo wish you a great day.
Thank you for being with us today. Please take care. Stay cool. Please remember the animals and leave out water. It is life saving.
Thank you to all of the individuals who posted information on FB and images, to Viki Volks for her observations at Island Creek, to the owners of the streaming cams that allow us to observe these families, thank you, thank you.
I thought it was a beautiful day, weather-wise, in Winnipeg. It was a little hot, but it is going to get worse. We are expecting 45 C with the humidex in the coming days. There are warnings of thunderstorms and the heat. I feel so bad for the animals outside. I did check today, and it is 6 degrees cooler in the tree tunnel in the back garden. The front part of the back garden was nearly as cool. As a result, I have contacted my back neighbour, and he is going to dig up the area behind the conservatory, and I intend to plant it with trees so that, with the exception of a small area for garden tools and recycling bins, etc., it will all be forest. I may even dig up the bottom part of the deck! Why am I doing this? First, to help the wildlife and animals that come into our garden. Second, to help keep our house cooler in the coming years and to defy our bloody City government, which has decided to cut the tree planting programme in favour of cement!!!!!!!!!! Don’t even get me started. There is an election coming up. I hope that we get some people who care about the quality of life for every living soul, not just developers.
I am grateful, and we will be OK. My house has triple-pane windows throughout. With the exception of the conservatory, they have special glass that keeps the warmth in during the winter and cools in the summer. I also have one extraordinary AC unit. When the extension was built, it was already known that temperatures would rise in the summer and could be much colder in the winter, so that was all taken into account. I do need to redo the insulation in the attic, and hopefully, after my son removes anything valuable from there in a week, that can be done.
So, please take care of yourself as this heat spreads everywhere. Remember that water is important for life, and a bowl of water set out could save a life.
The chicks of Louis and Dorcha were ringed Wednesday evening. Geemeff has all the details that are known in their daily summary:
Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Wednesday 8th July 2026
The weather was settled and both males provided well for their mates – Garry LV0 brought two fish for Aurora 536, taking the Nest One tally to one hundred and fifty six, and although both of them left the nest unattended for long periods, at the time of filing this report, half past midnight, Aurora is still in residence sitting on the egg. Louis brought seven fish for Dorcha and the chicks, taking the Nest Two tally to two hundred and fifty two. The family had a bit of a disturbed day with an intruder Osprey nearby and various aircraft passing near the nest, and then the major disturbance in the evening which is also the main story of the day – a visit from the ringers! Lewis Pate, the intrepid raptor expert who climbs 70 foot tall trees only to be nipped by sharp little beaks, attended today to ring the two chicks. This time he did it on the ground, climbing up to put them safely in bags, bringing them down and carrying out the ringing then climbing back up again to return the chicks to the nest. The actual process involves not just putting a Darvic ring on the left leg and a BTO ring on the right leg, but also taking various measurements, noting weights and making a gender assessment. That information will be given later but today we know their Darvic IDs, and the golden chick is now 8P6, and the dark chick is 8P7. The chicks were still pancaked when the nest cam cam back on after the ringers had left, but Dorcha was perched nearby and Louis brought the last two of today’s seven fish, and actually fed one of the chicks himself, and the whole family seems pretty much back to normal by the end of the day. The overnight forecast is for light clouds, light winds and a low of 14°C, continuing tomorrow with a high of 20°C.
It is no secret that I am simply gutted about the death of P3 at Cornell. Thank you, Pam Breci, for taking the time to cheer me up! And you did that with a great screen capture of Tiny at Blackbush with a huge crop and then you put a big smile on my face.
“This will make you laugh…19.59.12 Tiny feeling fat and brave went after another sib but then ran and hid under moms tail.”
I laughed. This is one little stinker that wants to live despite all the abuse it has taken and the food that it has been denied. This chick reminds me of Tiny Tumbles at Achieva in 2020 – or was it 2021? A survivor.
A beautiful story about a disaster, hope, and determination from the Lonely Camp:
“Condor 316 laid her egg in a cave on the edge of an Arizona cliff in April 2023, one of her last acts before avian influenza killed her. Her mate, Condor 680, was sick too. He stayed on the egg. For three weeks he incubated it alone, refusing to leave the cave to eat or drink. A California condor egg takes 57 days to hatch. A single parent cannot maintain the temperature alone for that long. The egg and the father were both going to die in that cave.
On April 17, biologists from The Peregrine Fund who had been monitoring 680’s movements waited outside the cave until the male made a rare departure to briefly stretch his wings. They scrambled inside, wrapped the egg in towels, packed it into a small field cooler with hand warmers, and drove 300 miles south to Phoenix. Jessica Schlarbaum, a Peregrine Fund spokesperson, said 680 had been so focused on incubating that he was not leaving to find food and water for himself, risking his own life.
At Liberty Wildlife in Mesa, Arizona, veterinary technician Jan Miller candled the egg, holding it to a bright light to see if anything was alive inside. The clinic had spent the previous month caring for flu-infected condors. More than half had died, including 316. Miller had little hope. She was looking for blood vessels or movement. She saw both. The mood in the room shifted instantly. Oh my god, it is actually viable.
The egg surface tested negative for the virus. The chick inside was poorly positioned and required an assisted hatch. Veterinarian Stephanie Lamb carefully cut away sections of shell. On May 1, 2023, the chick emerged. Liberty Wildlife staff spent two anxious days waiting for the HPAI test results. The chick was negative. They learned she was female. In a species where males outnumber females, her sex made her survival even more significant. They named her Milagra, Spanish for miracle. Her official number was 1221. The Peregrine Fund normally identifies condors only by number, to avoid humanizing a wild species. They made an exception.
Within a week, Liberty Wildlife veterinarian Stephanie Lamb flew the chick to The Peregrine Fund’s breeding facility in Boise, Idaho. Milagra needed to be raised by condors, not people. Her foster father was waiting. His name was Cuyama, officially Condor 27. He had hatched in the wild in California in 1983. When the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service made the decision to capture every remaining California condor on earth to save the species, there were 22 left.
Cuyama was one of them. He had spent four decades in the breeding program, siring and raising captive-bred chicks that would be released into the wild. Now, at more than 40 years old, he was raising one more.
Milagra spent over a year in Boise, first with her foster parents, then in a socialization pen with other young condors and two older mentor birds. She learned to eat, preen, interact, and establish her place in a condor social hierarchy, all from birds, never from humans.
On September 28, 2024, The Peregrine Fund opened the door of a flight pen on a red cliff at Vermilion Cliffs National Monument, 50 miles from the Grand Canyon’s North Rim. Six hundred people watched from the basin below. Milagra was inside with three other captive-reared condors. The first bird left after 20 minutes. The second after 40. Milagra sat in the pen for an hour and 20 minutes. Then she walked out. She did not soar. She stepped onto the ledge and looked around.
She found a carcass that the field crew had laid out below the cliff and began eating. An older condor landed beside her. He was male, large, and his smooth pink head showed his age. They fed side by side. For a moment they turned and faced each other on the rocky ledge. The older bird was Condor 680. He was Milagra’s biological father. Tim Hauck, director of The Peregrine Fund’s condor program, said it was unlikely the birds recognized their family connection. For the humans watching, it did not matter whether they did.
Condor 680 survived. Removing the egg from the cave saved his life. He left the nest, recovered, and has remained healthy. Condor 316 had raised two chicks before Milagra. Neither survived to adulthood. Milagra is her last descendant.
Source: The Peregrine Fund / Audubon Magazine / Smithsonian Magazine / Associated Press / Salt Lake Tribune.”
A big shout out to Debbie Campbell of Menhaden – Little Fish, Big Deal. Debbie is going to set up a Zoom link for me and my readers to watch and interact with the director of The Last Osprey in August. I will keep you posted on how to sign up!
Ringing took place at the Cumbria Wildlife Trust’s Foulshaw Moss Osprey platforms:
Thank you for being with us today. Tomorrow I will tell you who has been eating at our feral cat feeder!
Thank you to Pam Breci and Tiny for the smiles, Geemeff for the summary and videos, SK Hideaways for keeping us informed about all things going on with those California eagles, and to all those who posted information and images on FB – I am so grateful to you and the owners of the streaming cams.
It is with the most profound sadness and anger that I write to tell you that Big Red and Arthur’s cute third hatch, P3, has died.
P3 died from a window strike on the Cornell University campus home to the Cornell Bird Lab.
The little Red-tailed Hawk was adored, and many of us have lobbied over the years to have all the windows on the Cornell campus fitted with window-strike prevention. One year, a woman donated funds ($20,000) to have one building fitted. The article below talks about initiatives, but it came too late for P3.
More Bird World news tomorrow. Chicks being ringed at Loch Arkaig as I write this.
Thank you to ‘PB’ for alerting me, to Suzanne Arnold Horning for heading up the FB group and chasing after the hawklets after fledge and informing us of all things Big Red and Arthur, and to Cornell for their streaming cam. Please, please fix all the windows!
We have had the most wonderful visits with our son and daughter in law. What a joy it is to see them and spend time. Much of that has focused on my son finding me a camera that would meet all the strange specifics I require – to check and see if Brock comes! It needs good IR, motion activated, ability to store images but without the need for a subscription to one of the cable companies, etc. I believe he has done it. We were going to test it tonight but, once again, we are in a red zone for severe thunderstorm.
It was 31 C today. No walks for Toby. His temperature range is -15 C to 24 C. He did get sprayed with the hose to cool him down, but what made me stop in my tracks was the healthy potted plants at noon, which were completely dead by 1700. Dead. Not a speck of life to recover. If my plants can die like that, think how difficult it is for those little osprey bodies perched on those hot platforms, wishing for fish. Fish are, of course, needed for growth, sustenance, and hydration, but it can get so hot that even with good fish deliveries and meals, the chicks can still die. We saw this with Hennie and Mile’s chick at Cape Henlopen.
So far, many are lucky; others are not. Tom and Audrey are losing their chicks to the heat. But was there something wrong with Audrey before they died? A few of you commented in notes to me that Audrey appeared to act ‘odd’. Adults can also be affected by the heat or succumb to other ailments.
We have news from V in Maryland. V is referring to an image on a nest with chicks. I will try to get it to attach to this blog.
“This was 2 days ago. We’re heading into more awfully hot days, but these guys are feathered and eating well. #3 didn’t make it, and we’re down to one next door….”
There is good news coming form Ping Shen in Seattle about Harry and Sally: “Harry and Sally continue to do well – all 3 chicks continue to grow and look healthy. I visited today and found them snoozing for a bit before dad showed up with a sculpin – even when they started feeding they had pretty full crops, so it seems they have been eating well. Hope this continues!” Thank you for the lovely photos and news.
Ringing continues in the UK and in Europe. The chicks at Fru Rauer’s nest in Norway were ringed.
This information is posted on the chat: -June 1 2026 – First egg hatch – Nickname – “Yr” Ring nr: 61L – Female; June 3 2026- Second egg hatch – Nickname – “Bris” Ring nr: 63L – Male: -June 6 2026- Third egg hatch – Nickname – “Sol” Ring nr: 62L – Most likely Female
Third egg laid between 1st and may 3 (camera was down, so we do not know the exact time and date) Most likely may 2 -June 1 – First egg hatch – Nickname – “Yr” Ring nr: 61L – Female -June 3 – Second egg hatch – Nickname – “Bris” Ring nr: 63L – Male -June 6 – Third egg hatch – Nickname – “Sol” Ring nr: 62L – Most likely Female
8R5 has fledged at Manton Bay. He has returned to the nest to get some good fish!
If you missed it, SK Hideaways video list of 21 June.
K Hideaways Videos Week of 21 June 2026
FOBBVCAM Eagles ~ Big Bear Valley, CA ~ Jackie, Shadow, Luna & Sandy 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 FLEDGE WATCH FOR REAL ~ Sandy on Back Porch Edge ~ Luna to High Perch (2026 Jun 27) Sandy and Luna both took big steps today ~ literally. Sandy perched on two of the back porch branches and exercised her wings with fledge-worthy vigor. Luna walked up the high perch on the front porch and exercised his wings with just as much energy. His dismount back to the nest was 10/10. One release of that back hallux talon from any of those perches and off they’d go. It’s only a matter of time and a few more grey hairs for fans. Video: https://youtu.be/glMMMrK8mmI Jackie & Shadow Can’t Resist Feeding Sandy & Luna ~ Awww (2026 Jun 26) Instinct is a powerful thing. Despite the fact that Sandy and Luna are nearly 12 weeks old and have been self-feeding for some time, Jackie and Shadow sometimes cannot resist the urge to feed their big eaglets. Similarly, Sandy and Luna can’t resist being fed. In this video, Jackie and Shadow fed themselves and the eaglets. In addition to just enjoying some nice fish, the parents were also teaching the eaglets to identify opportunities to eat by stealing food from other eagles. This is a vital skill in their first years on their own while they learn to fish for themselves. To fans, these are bittersweet keepsake moments, as we know these eaglets will begin their life journeys very soon. (2026 Jun 26) Video: https://youtu.be/VC4KjBSvxPA Luna & Sandy Take BIG JUMPS ~ Fledge Time Nearly Here (2026 Jun 24) Luna and Sandy prepare for their next adventure in the big, wide world with BIG wingers, HIGH jumps, and LOTS of energy. At 11-1/2 weeks old, they are well within the fledge watch window. Typically male eaglets fledge first, so Luna could go first, but every eaglet and every nest is different. They both look strong and ready to fly. Holding fast to these moments as their departure time nears. Video: https://youtu.be/4GF9N7QnMA0
Fraser Point Eagles ~ Cruz, Andor, Sasha (hatched 3/28), Zuma (hatched 3/30), Ryder (hatched 4/1) Courtesy Institute for Wildlife Studies | explore.org | Fraser Point Eagles Cam Ops Nest Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OY4V_AppZ6s
Sasha Brings Fish Home~ Cruz Gets Tail ~ Possible Ryder Sighting (2026 Jun 25) Sasha arrived at the nest with a whole fish, which was likely a gift from a parent (or stolen). Cruz came to see what was for breakfish, but Sasha was not very inviting. Cruz reverted to Mama role and fed Sasha a bit. When the eaglet remembered that he could self-feed, he snatched the fish and carried on. Later, Cruz returned and took the tail for herself. No one was more shocked than Sasha. As fans hope and await the return of Zuma and Ryder to the nest, we spend much time listening and watching for fleeting fly-bys. I’ve captured both here and invite you to join in the guessing game of who’s who! Video: https://youtu.be/wEML1FhAYdY
Ryder Fludges ~ Cruz Makes Beeline for Nest ~ Departs with Fish (2026 Jun 22) The jump that broke the nest’s back could describe what happened when Ryder challenged that weakening edge of the nest. He slid/flapped down to the ground and could be heard squeeing and rustling around as he explored the ground he’s visited once before.
If you recall, Ryder fell from that edge on April 24th (here’s the fall: https://youtu.be/WJ6b7BAztF0 / and here’s the rescue https://youtu.be/lKSFIC4irKI). He was just over 3 weeks old then. Now at 12 weeks old, he’s strong enough to have softly hit the ground (only about 15 feet below the nest) and capable of flying (though he has to prove that to himself).
Cruz arrived just 25 seconds after Ryder fell and did a thorough assessment of the situation, as Sasha arrived and gave her an earful. About 90 minutes later, Cruz took fish leftover off the nest. We’d bet money that Ryder got a private feeding. Video: https://youtu.be/KwnxmTaoZGM
RYDER BRANCHES! Returns & Tests Weak Nest Edge Before Branch #2 (2026 Jun 21) Ryder finally took the short leap to the branch that Zuma chose to branch on a few days ago. It was an easy step-flap and Mama Cruz was right there to witness the grand accomplishment.
Ryder returned to the nest and explored the weak edge of the nest that partially collapsed yesterday. Not sure about that fixation, but it gives us slight palpitations. Only slight, though, as Ryder is ready and able to fly ~ she just doesn’t quite know it yet. Enjoy these fleeting moments while they last. Video: https://youtu.be/Wz_wtfSMdY0
San Jose City Hall Falcons ~ San Jose, CA ~ Hartley and Monty; Jet, Scout, Stewart, Walton (hatched 4/4/26) Courtesy San Jose City Hall Peregrine Falcon Cam | Predatory Bird Research Group 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 Brothers Jet & Walton Hatch Plotto Oust Parents Hartley & MontyJet and Walton partnered in morning aerobatics before settling on the roof for some mischief plotting. When Hartley and Monty attempted to meet up for morning bonding, Jet put the plan to work as he ousted both parents from the nest area. But Hartley and Monty made up for it later with two undisturbed rendezvous in the afternoon. While not captured here, we saw that there were three boys on the louvers at day’s end. (2026 Jun 23) Video: https://youtu.be/cQwfc0oKhmU
Hartley & Monty Relaxed Too Soon ~The Terrific Tiercel Terrors Returned (2026 Jun 20) Hartley and Monty celebrated their wildly successful season with a long bonding session and putting their talons up on the deck. That is until Jet disturbed their peace with an extended screaming session. The cacophony drew Scout and Walton to the balcony to see what the fuss was about, which gave me a perfect opportunity to capture more of the mayhem we’ve all grown to love. We didn’t see Stewart, but know that he showed up today. At day’s end, the brothers roosted on the louvers overnight once again. Enjoying these fleeting moments while they last. Video: https://youtu.be/ASVIdmLjiIU
Lee Jumps, Flees When Creepy-Crawly “Prey” Moves ~ Raven Cleans It Up(2026 Jun 27) I shouldn’t laugh… but just can’t help myself. Sorry, Lee. Video: https://youtu.be/yA8wz1WlzwQ
Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch ArkaigSunday 5th July 2026
Dorcha had to deal with an intruder Osprey today, she mantled and covered the chicks while shouting warnings but it didn’t come too near the nest, and if Louis saw it at all, it didn’t hinder his fishing – he delivered six fish, taking the Nest Two tally to two hundred and thirty three. Judging by the size of his crop, his actual tally for today was definitely more than six, but as with Garry LV0 on Nest One, only fish seen on nest cam count towards the tally. Garry brought one fish for Aurora 536, and his tally now stands at one hundred and fifty. It was a damp day but there were dry patches, however a yellow warning for heavy rain is in effect now until 10am tomorrow and at the time of filing this report (23.45) both females are hunkered down in the rain on wet nests. Dorcha’s doing her best to keep the chicks dry but their size makes that difficult. The overnight low is 14°C rising tomorrow to a high of 17°C but there’s not much chance of dry spells before Wednesday.
Lady and Dad have their second egg at the WBSE nest in the Olympic Forest in Sydney.
Fish has come into the Blackbush nest. Little 4 is still alive but is being attacked as it tries to eat. We need lots of fish and two parents feeding at this nest. Come on!
Only surviving chick at Osoyoos is often left alone in the heat but, this has turned out to be the year of little fish again with two out of three dying of hunger and/or heat. I hope some fish come on the nest.
Smiling. The two at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum are doing well – new adults from a couple of years ago??
Two at Cowlitz PUD are getting fish. Feeding is civil.
Lots of concerns about Oyster Bay – twine, not enough fish, etc. Rains coming down, is there fishing line on the nest wrapped around the adult? I can’t tell. I can still see three heads. The concern is whether or not three has enough food to survive. We wait.
Little Dewey is doing just fine – great compared to most!
There is really good news coming out of Loch Arkaig. Of the two translocated males in 2024 (one died), the survivor has returned to its Spanish translocation home this summer after its first migration. The hope is that he will find a mate and start building a family for the future. The male is 1JW.
Ringing news from Border Ospreys – Samson and Augusta!
The UK ospreys are growing big and healthy as all osprey should be. A nest of FOUR females – imagine – four females – developed with hardly any angst at Poole Harbour under the good care of CJ7 and Blue 022.
All you have to do is look at Blackbush and the issues there and scratch your head. What is happening in the US that cannot be fixed? No food for four. Now this breaks my heart. The chicks at Poole Harbour did not hatch on the same day but you would have a hard time locating the little four in that pile in the image above.
Blackbush:
What has happened to our empathy that an old law – and they are old – keeps us from providing food to these babies?
It has been a long day here today. The heat has tired us out and made Don a bit restless. It is too hot for him to go out and life can be stiffling boring for him when there is so little he can do. Believe me he knows his limitations at times. So take care. We will see you soon.
Thank you to all those who created videos, posted information on FB, sent me notes, to Geemeff for her summaries and videos and SK Hideaways (whose latest video list I cannot locate) and the owners of the streaming cams that let us watch these birds. Thank you.
Just another quick run through some nests with some news. I had a wonderful day with my son, daughter-in-law, and daughter. Don had a venture with the girls, and we gathered later in the conservatory for much laughter. Gosh, these are moments to be treasured. Their time here will pass by too quickly.
We have six fledgling Blue Jays. Here is an adult with a fledgling – wings and beak open, and squawking for food! These babies are almost- if not bigger – than the adults and very demanding!
Great news coming out of Poland!
Nadleśnictwo Lipka, Lasy Państwowe and Lasy Państwowe
🦅 FISHING ACTION – STAGE TWO: New life in the Cross Forestry! 🌲💪 Remember our injured fisherman? We have amazing news for you from the next stage of this unique rescue operation! It was another day full of emotions, logistics and… some fresh fish ! 🐟👇 🩺 Morning in the hospital, afternoon on the road, and evening at the new place. It all started at dawn in the “Jeleniagóra” Wild Animal Rehabilitation Center Gabinet Weterynaryjny Agnieszka Strączek where a veterinarian from Nadleśnictwo Zamrzenica took care of it Our main character went through a thorough examination and was supplied professionally. As soon as we received the green light, that the bird was ready for the next step, reliable Forest Ranger Tomek from the Lipka Forestry stepped into action. He packed the little one safely and set out on the road to Nadleśnictwo Krzyż, Lasy Państwowe Upon arriving at the location, calmly at the forest office, the fisherman went through standard procedure: he was weighed, accurately measured and rimed by Adam from @Nadle śnictwo Nedowice, State Forests. But this was just the beginning of the challenge. The real logistics operation began just under the target socket! do ♂️ Professional mountaineer @Mariusz Urban stepped into action, who climbed the mountain itself and carefully transported down the only youngster who has so far lived in the nest. He was also weighed, measured, and hooped. Fun fact: By weight our friend from Lipka is PERFECTLY the same as his new, natural brother “cross”! 😉 🏠 Big move and… trout with home delivery! The climber set off to a tree for the second time – this time bringing BOTH little ones up the mountain. In order to enter a new threshold to pass in a good atmosphere, the young people got a solid “powry” from us for a housewarming party: two delicious trout! 🐟😋 So our bounce didn’t fit in with empty clamps! 😜 During the whole action, they were also able to fix and set up a previously malfunctioning photo trap. Effect? We will know how this new bird family develops, because the nest is now under constant monitoring. The young man has already lived in a new house in Krzy le Nadle Mnictwa😎. He’s fed and kept safe and company. May nature be kinder to him in this new location! Keep your fingers crossed for both these little ones! 🦅💚 Thank you very much to Mrs. veterinarian for help and examining the little one, professor Mizerza for material support and colleagues from #EagleProtectionCommittee and foresters from #Zamrzenica, #PotrebowiceForest and #ForestCross. It’s thanks to you that small fishermen from Lipka have a better chance of survival in this wild world. #Rybołów #OchronaPrzyrody #LasyPaństwowe #NadleśnictwoKrzyż #NadleśnictwoLipka #NadleśnictwoZamrzenica #pomagamydzikimzwierzętom Photos and videos : Adam Pikuła Mariusz Urban Hubert Z. Dominica Nadolna
CJ7 and Blue 022’s four chicks at Poole Harbour have been ringed!
If you have been worried about Sandy at Big Bear, do not! Sandy has returned to the nest with Luna. SK Hideaways has it on video: https://youtu.be/AMnXeJ1UCQw?
It is unclear to me at this time whether petitioners have managed to move the fireworks to a location farther from the nest. It is equally unclear to me what is happening with donations towards the purchase of the land known as MoonCamp. Perhaps I misunderstood, but I thought that if more than 3 million were raised, there were provisions for some type of loan. Do you know? They are well short of the 10 million required at this time with 29 days left.
At the Achieva Osprey platforn, Little finally was home when a fish came in and how wonderful is that!
Sadly, the second hatchling at the Cape Henlopen osprey nest of Miles and Hennie has died from the heat.
There are to be more heat domes across the US and Canada this weekend and sadly, without a massive amount of fish and shade, we could lose more osplets.
One of those that is in dire straits is the oldest at the Osoyoos nest, who appears to be losing energy every second from the heat, little or no shade from an adult, and no fish.
I am equally concerned about Cowlitz PUD where there is heat, little food that I can see, and chicks so thin, especially the second one.
In Idaho, the two osplets, fully feathered, at the Coeur d’ Alene nest are doing very well.
Early fish delivery and lots of heat at Great Bay.
Life continues to be good at Clark PUD.
Nice crops at Dunrovin,
Some cute moments with two of Big Red and Arthur’s fledglings caught by Karel and BOGette: https://youtu.be/PNHokHkgwks?
Iris and Clark’s baby is getting some nice pin feathers!
Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch ArkaigThursday 2nd July 2026
Today was a slow fish day, only four deliveries, three by Louis and one by Garry. The weather didn’t help, the wind made the loch waters choppy and although both males have fished successfully in poor weather, perhaps they couldn’t find many sheltered spots today. Earlier the chicks had a quick pop at each other before settling down then they joined Dorcha in calling enthusiastically when they saw Louis approaching with the second fish. They are looking and sounding more like juveniles as they move towards fledging. The chicks are around a month old, hatched on 1st and 3rd June respectively, and fledging generally takes place around 50 – 57 days old therefore our chicks are about 3 weeks away from their first flight. Dorcha was caught by the wind and did an involuntary helicopter, a skill we can expect to see them perform before they actually fledge. The chicks were cheeping away as the day wound down, and were rewarded when Louis arrived with a very late night supper, so fresh it almost flapped off the nest. Louis’ three fish take the Nest Two tally to two hundred and seventeen, and Garry’s single takes the Nest One tally to one hundred and forty six. More rain and wind expected with an overnight low of 11°C, continuing tomorrow with sunny spells and a high of 17°C.
Thank you so much for being with us today. Take care. See you tomorrow with a special treat.
Thank you to all the contributors today – Geemeff for their summary on Loch Arkaig plus videos, Karel and BOGette for chasing the Ps and their video, for all who posted on FB and provided information, and for the owners of the streaming cams that allow us to watch these incredible challenged avian families.
Happy Canada Day to all of us who celebrate. We had a wonderful time with our son and daughter-in-law visiting our local Farmer’s Market today. They are off for more celebrations this evening and tomorrow; my daughter and Tammy, DIL, are coming to take Don out for a few hours so I can have some time to myself. I feel blessed. How kind of them!
For the next few days, I want to focus on a couple of topics in each blog instead of running through all of the nests. I will, of course, try to bring you up to date on what is happening every 4 blogs. Today, I want to focus on this Menhaden issue and the ospreys dying, and I want everyone to write to the Governor of Virginia, the Honourable Abigal Spanberger. Her e-mail is: Abigail.Spanberger@governor.virginia.gov.
Tomorrow, I have a wonderful article by Wes Melkner in Smithsonian Magazine. Wes is an intern, and his research and first two articles have taught me a great deal. I do hope you enjoy the one I will be posting.
Friday, I will be giving you the link for a very special documentary to view over the weekend and a look at the current status of one of my favourite friends with feathers, the Condor.
Oh, I am really on a rant. Every day I check to see if Little Dewey is alive. Little Dewey is the poster child for this battle against industrial fishing and the murder of ospreys in this region of the US.
Little Dewey is gorgeous. I want her to thrive. Her parents have worked hard to find fish for her and their survival. We are not out of the woods yet but please, please let this nest be successful this year.
The first fish today did not arrive until 1311. I am unclear of any follow up deliveries. Please let me know.
This is staggeringly sad and reflects what is happening all over the region of the NE US:
“Survey my friend and I did in CT today of a small island with 30 osprey platforms. Raw data in image. XXX indicates the platform was abandoned and we did not go pro it. Fishermen are reporting no bunker again in the CT sound. Synopsis: 30 total platforms. 13 platforms abandoned. Only 7 young on island. Only 3 appear to be strong and healthy. 8 dead young found in nests. Almost no bunker gill plates by perch posts. Many platforms have been abandoned in the surrounding towns as well but not part of our study group.”
I realize that Heidi and I have been making comments on the demise of the osprey in this region for three years. I am glad that there is more attention coming to this topic, but I fear that we are late- perhaps too late. I never want to give up hope, so I have to look at what the UK did to reintroduce ospreys that had been wiped out. For example, CJ7 and Blue 022 had the first chicks in the south of England for 250 years. The first chick to hatch in the Usk Valley in Wales for a similar period was last year. Now, I want you to think about what I am saying. It is not decades; it is perhaps centuries before this biodiverse region is balanced again. People can blame whales and Bald Eagles if they want to hide their heads in the sand, but the truth is, it will show that it was industrial fishing unchecked by any oversight that caused the damage for years and years by a single company (not the net fishermen) but a Canadian company, Omega Protein. If I could sue the company and all the officials on behalf of the ospreys, I would. Someone who lives in the US should work with Animal Justice to do just that.
Today, Omega Protein went fishing and didn’t find much. Perhaps they have taken all of the adult Menhaden. Maybe they will be forced to shut down their operations. However, if you live in other NE States, including Maine, beware. Keep your eyes open. Many in Maine say that the Menhaden have left the shores and gone deep into cooler water. I just hope they are hiding from the nets!
Others checking elsewhere.
I believe on survived but has not been fed so the story will be much the same, sadly.
The one surviving chick at Great Bay looks to be alright. This one pushed another off the nest about a week ago – they were all starving. It is a sad fact.
Santiam Canyon is doing alright.
The smallest of the two on the Osoyoos osprey platform died today of starvation.
While today is about the impact that humans can have – in a negative way by overfishing and knowing it – and killing off an entire eco-system, it is also about the fact that humans must come to grips with the damage that we have caused our planet and help when help can be of benefit.
I was asked by a reader to post a rather long statement by a rehabilitation/rescue group. After reading it twice, I think that it is very appropriate to put it in this blog about the deaths from siblicide/starvation that have been caused by a lack of food due to human activity.
This comes from Annette at Wild Heart Ranch in Oklahoma and was sent to me from ‘J’ in Berlin:
I have never given parents advice on how to raise their “human” children, and I probably never will again, so please read this and pass it along. It needs to be said. (Rehabbers, if you agree, just applaud in the comments.) 😉 The photo is an oldie of “January,” a calf brought to me years ago with spina bifida and navel ill, crawling on her knees because her legs were useless. It took months, but I got her up, cured, walking, running, and eventually she grew into a full-grown heifer without any obvious problems. She found the perfect forever home. January WANTED to recover, and there was nothing I could see that would prevent it. She just needed an unbelievable amount of splint work, braces, physical therapy, and support to get there. She wasn’t going to one day be released into the wild. She was going to be somebody’s pampered pasture pet for the rest of her life if I could save her… and she is. She’s still watched over daily for complications her condition could cause as she ages or gains weight. I didn’t have to know she’d be 100% at the end of treatment. I just needed her to become pain-free and mobile on legs that would eventually support 1,400 pounds. But that isn’t the case for wildlife.
I absolutely love when you bring your kids with you to Wild Heart to drop off animals. If we’re going to raise the next generation to support wildlife rescue, they need to see the process. They need to witness compassionate people willing to drop everything for an animal they’ve never met. That matters to me because the future of wildlife rescue is in the hands of today’s children, and the way you handle that handoff matters more than you may realize. It matters because every year there are more roads, more windows, more fishing line, more cats, more cars, more toxins, and more hazards that WE bring into their world. And because, despite my best intentions, I may not actually live forever. I know… shocking. So there is one thing I ask, beg, and plead…
Please don’t promise your children that we are going to save an injured, hypothermic, maggot-infested animal, then ask us if that animal can be saved in front of them UNLESS you have prepared them for the TRUTH. I am not going to lie to your children before you do. I am going to follow your lead, and if you set me up to crush a child, I may have to step away for a minute to compose myself before I can provide that animal the peaceful, gentle ending it deserves. If you care about the animals, please be kind to the rehabber. DO YOU HEAR THE WORDS THAT ARE COMING OUT OF MY MOUTH? (My best friend uses that sentence. It is VERY effective!) Wild animals are masters at hiding pain. In the wild, looking sick or injured is basically putting up a billboard that says, “Eat me.” So they keep moving until they physically can’t anymore. That’s why you see a squirrel that’s “just sitting there all calm and content,” and I see a spinal injury or a pelvis that’s been crushed. You see the bunny your cat brought home that “doesn’t look that bad,” and I know it has a fifty-fifty chance of surviving the two tiny puncture wounds where your cat injected a potent bacteria cocktail into its back. Looks are deceiving.
The parents who want to protect their children from the hard realities—and I completely support that—usually hand me the animal, smile, and say, “We know you’ll do what’s best.” The kids thank me for helping, they climb back in the car, and I get to begin triage… treatment… or sometimes mercy. But this is how it sometimes goes for me: A six-year-old has rescued, temporarily cared for, and named a squirrel Kevin. Kevin has big plans. He’s going to leave our care, climb trees, raise a family, pay squirrel taxes, and peacefully die at the ripe old age of 97 surrounded by his squirrel grandchildren. AWESOME. I am all about happy endings.
Meanwhile… Kevin has dislocated hips, at least one spinal fracture, a pelvis that’s in four pieces, and internal injuries that make me wonder how he even made it to my door. The back half of him has been run over by a car, and any minute now the front half is probably going to stop working too. Then everyone turns and looks at me and an adult asks, with complete sincerity… “So… is he going to be okay?” Wonderful. (Just shoot me.) While I’m trying to rush this intake so I can put poor Kevin out of his misery, I now get to decide whether I lie to your child or explain euthanasia to someone who still sells their teeth to a fairy. That is WAY above my pay grade. And I don’t WANT to lie to anybody. So please… either have that hard conversation before you come, or avoid putting us in that position. My instinct is to protect your child’s enthusiasm for helping wildlife. I don’t want to be the lady who unintentionally convinces them that “future Kevin” should be hidden in their bedroom because “that rescue lady will just kill him.” Tell them Kevin is hurt. Tell them he is probably in a lot of pain. Tell them you’re taking him somewhere that people will do whatever is best for him. Leave it there… Or have the harder conversation before you arrive.
People sometimes think euthanasia means we gave up. It’s actually the opposite. It would be emotionally easier on us, in that moment, to keep trying. To turn a rescue into what I call “an experiment in heroics” which is by no measure okay unless there is FAR more hope than hurt. It’s much harder to look at an animal we desperately want to save and admit that the kindest thing we can offer is peace. I will NEVER be okay providing treatment only to find an animal dead in a cage later, knowing I could have spared it that experience. That is not acceptable when I KNEW the chances were slim. That is not rescue. That is denial. Sometimes we don’t know, but when we do know, we had better beat death to the punch or we have avoided the only act of care that was reasonable, responsible, and KIND.
A quick, painless, chemically induced death is kind when life without suffering isn’t in the prognosis. There are far worse things than death, and I see them daily. A responsible wildlife rehabilitator chooses what is best for the animal no matter how disappointed we are, YOU are, how many people are following the story on Facebook, or how much public backlash we might receive. NONE of that comes into play when I am evaluating or treating an animal. The ONLY factors that matter are the animal’s current physical suffering, past case experience, advice from my veterinarians, the animal’s probable ability to live independently after recovery and release, and my conscience. If my conscience EVER starts sounding the ego alarm, I am DONE. I know this about me. I will NEVER keep an animal alive because it’s popular or because it brings in donations. I was accused of that almost daily while working with January. I received hate mail from veterinarians all over the country. It was hell because I ALWAYS listen to the advice of veterinarians, but in this case they weren’t here seeing what I was seeing: a strong will to live and a calf that wasn’t going to give up. So I helped her fight. Not to prove anyone wrong. (ego) That never entered my mind during treatment. (But I gloated like hell when that calf charged me across my yard and knocked me flat on my ass!)
But I can promise you my motive is always the same. I believe in an animal’s ability to recover—or I don’t. I believe in my ability to support that recovery—or I don’t. The minute I lose hope that an animal can have an acceptable quality of life, I stop. No matter how much it hurts. No matter what people think of me afterward or what they say about me. (With two million followers, I see the comments. There is always someone who can’t WAIT to screenshot the nasty ones and send them to me, which by the way, it just hurts me and changes nothing else so keep them to yourselves friends) Fortunately for my motivation to keep going, I have almost as much compassion for ignorant people as I do suffering animals. 🙂
Here’s something else to keep in mind. The more experienced the rehabber, the more likely they are to make a judgment call immediately. Why? Because when we were new, we tried to save everybody. Experience teaches you where hope exists… and where it doesn’t. Trust that we have seen these injuries hundreds of times. We’ve learned from our mistakes, our veterinarians, our mentors, and the animals themselves. That being said… Many of my volunteers have zero medical training. They may be the smiling face that accepts your animal before it reaches someone doing triage. They see what you see. If you ask them what they think, they’ll honestly tell you, “I think he’ll be okay.” Then you call later and find out the animal was euthanized immediately. Please don’t assume we lied, didn’t try, or didn’t care. Just ask to speak with the person who actually performed the triage. I promise you, if that decision was made here, it was made because it was the most merciful option available.
Every intake gets our best. Every single person here hates euthanasia, but we are grateful that mercy exists. We remember those animals. We especially remember your child’s face looking at us like we’re monsters without a heart. It’s bad enough when we’re powerless to save a life, but when we’re judged for showing mercy? That destroys us. It destroys me. Last week it happened over and over and over again. It was so bad that I finally stopped going to the front door to do quick intake triage and personally thank the finders because I simply couldn’t do it anymore. Most people are absolutely wonderful. And then… There’s little Kevin’s family. Mom tells me to build Kevin a wheelchair so he can live here forever and “the kids can come visit.” All lies, little dude. All lies. And I just can’t be part of that story.
Those moments don’t stay here when we lock the doors at night. We take them home. They haunt us. They keep me from the sleep I need so badly that I end up writing lengthy educational Facebook posts trying to work through the frustration. So please… help us tell the whole story. Teach your children that rescue doesn’t always mean recovery. Teach them that there are worse things than death, and suffering without hope is one of them. Teach them that love and care are two very different things. Love is an emotion. Care is an action. Sometimes the most loving action is letting an animal go instead of asking it to suffer because WE aren’t ready to say goodbye. Because if I have to tell your child Kevin isn’t going to make it, I’d much rather be reinforcing a lesson you’ve already started than accidentally becoming the stranger who convinced them that bringing injured wildlife to professionals was somehow the wrong thing to do.
If your child cries, that sadness is empathy. Empathy is exactly why they picked Kevin up in the first place, so maybe I don’t have to live forever after all. Maybe there are little humans growing up right now who understand what wildlife rehabilitation is truly about and will support it one day. With time, with funding or even put on their poop shoes and get to work! There are thousands of wildlife rehabilitators scattered across this country making impossible decisions every single day and doing what is best, struggling to stay afloat so the animals have a place to go. I am working on a way to help keep them going with funding. It will take about a year, but in the meantime, let’s all be aware of the things people may never consider that slowly erode their motivation. I promise you I am not the only rehabber whose day is destroyed by someone bringing in an animal that should not be saved and then confronting us over our honest opinion-especially in front of children. The goal isn’t to teach our children that every rescue story has a happy ending. The goal is to teach them that every wild animal deserves compassion. “And we all suffer the same” Maybe that’s something worth thinking about. Thanks for reading.”
I think Annette said many things that I also needed to hear.
Geemeff has posted her summary from Loch Arkaig and I will include it here.
Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Wednesday 1st July 2026
The weather was wet and windy as forecast but that didn’t stop Louis who delivered five fish, taking the Nest Two tally to two hundred and fourteen. However, the first fish was quite small and the delay of over five hours before the next one saw the hangry chicks having a pop at each other. The aggression didn’t last long and a steady supply of fish, including a large late supper at 10pm, saw the chicks off to bed with full crops and Dorcha struggling to fit them underneath her. Garry brought a single fish for Aurora, a small one which she chose to eat on the nest, which took the Nest One tally to one hundred and forty five. Nest Two cam has been zoomed out ready for fledging which is probably at least two weeks away, and before that the ringers will visit, meantime we get to enjoy the panoramic views again. More wet weather is forecast with light rain, gentle breezes and an overnight low of 12°C, continuing tomorrow with light rain showers, a moderate breeze, a high of 17°C and occasional sunny spells.
Thank you so much for being with us today. Please take care all. See you tomorrow!
Also, if you are enjoying the blog, please hit the like button. It moves us up in the algorithm, so maybe more people will learn about what is happening to our raptors and want to get involved in helping make their lives less challenging. Thank you.
Thank you to ‘J’ for sending me the text from Annette, to Geemeff for their daily summary of activities at Loch Arkaig, for those that posted information and images on FB, and the owners of the streaming cams mentioned that allowed us to follow the lives – the good and the sad – of our feathered friends.
It was the 4th of June 1969 that I flew across the border between the US and Canada with my then two-month-old son, Cristofre. As a university student at the University of Oklahoma in Norman, I was been part of various anti-Vietnam War groups as well as others protesting for civil rights and women’s rights. Several of my closest friends died during the early part of the Vietnam War and i was determined that my son was not going to drop bombs or napalm on innocents. I have never looked back. Canada has been our home now for what? Fifty-seven years!!!! I was 20. I have never been more proud to be Canadian than this year. Our system is not perfect but when it is urgent or a sheer emergency, it works! My province has beautiful areas – vast tracts of wildnerness and lakes. I cannot say that the city where I reside is gorgeous. It has its moments. But my little plot and the street I live on make up for all the deficiences.
We have had huge storms. Last night Toby had his Thunder Jacket on all night. The lightning and wind were incredible and our street has lost a lot of tree limbs.
Coming out of Europe. A goshawk attempted to take an osplet off the Polish nest. It clung to the nest and was pushed over, but was not taken by the hawk. The osplet was rescued, and I believe it is in good condition.
Ringing is taking place across the UK. This is a great article by Caroline Woodley on UKOsprey Information FB on the importance of ringing and the three generations that were ringed today – and we know because of the family tree and the Darvic Rings:
Elen and Teifi’s chicks:
Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Tuesday 30th June 2026
As forecast, it was wet today with the occasional dry spell, and set to continue, with drizzle, light winds and an overnight low of 13°C, changing to heavy rain, gentle breezes and a high of 18°C tomorrow, with the sun breaking through around lunchtime. Louis brought three early fish then after a fourteen hour gap he brought another two, much smaller than the family would have liked and left them competing for scraps. In fact, while Chick1 was struggling to down the tail, Chick2 reached over and pinched it right out of its beak and proceeded to swallow it with aplomb. Those five fish take the Nest Two tally to two hundred and nine, and Garry’s single delivery to Aurora takes the Nest One tally to one hundred and forty-four. Garry and Aurora continue to incubate their unviable egg but are starting to leave the nest for longer periods.
Navesink River, Monmouth County, New Jersey Osprey Survey
“As founder of Menhaden Defenders, I’m always looking at how healthy forage fish populations support the wildlife we love. One of the best indicators is right above us: ospreys.
On June 15, with Ben Wurst, Senior Wildlife Biologist with the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey and leader of New Jersey’s Osprey Project, we surveyed 25 osprey nests on the Navesink River in Monmouth County. In addition to looking at the Osprey around each nest, we used a GoPro camera mounted on a pole to reach up and get a view into each nest to look for signs of use, presence of eggs, chicks, or nothing, all added to the spreadsheet.
We found 19 occupied nests, including 12 active nests with eggs or young. Ten nests held 22 nestlings, ranging from hatchlings to about four weeks old. In some nests with three chicks, we saw asymmetry, or an asymmetric brood, where younger nestlings lag behind older siblings. This can be a sign of food stress. When food is scarce, older chicks often dominate feedings, forcing younger siblings to cower and increasing the risk of brood reduction.
Ben and his team also work each year with volunteers and citizen scientists to monitor nests and remove dangerous litter like fishing line, plastic bags, balloons, and other debris. Ospreys are telling us something about the health of the Navesink and the larger coast. We’ll be going back in a few weeks to survey again, and we are very concerned about the survival rate of the chicks we saw. We are seeing these signs of food stress from Raritan Bay to Cape May in colonies that have been productive for years but may now be struggling to breed at levels needed to sustain the population.
Protecting menhaden and other forage fish helps protect the entire coastal food web. Both organizations survive on donations from people like you to continue working on this serious situation.”
Thank goodness the situation is drastically different in the UK. On Mull Island, they are now seeing ospreys – remember, the UK is reintroducing/re-establishing ospreys that were made extinct by humans!!!!!!!!
All three Ps have now fledged. Big Red and Arthur are busy keeping track of them and feeding.
The little tiny osplet, #4, at Blackbush in Prince Edward Island is still alive. This chick is determined and the male is doing a good job of getting fish in.
At the NCTC nest, RJ fledged. Congratulations Bella and Scout.
The two osplets at Coeur de’ Alene, Idaho, look great.
There are still two at Osoyoos. It has been hot there.
Iris and Clark’s baby is getting some beautiful feathers.
Clark is very smart. He has been bringing in some large cot rails to keep this rather energetic youngster on the nest.
Dudley becomes a pillow for the only surviving chick at Charlo Montana whose crop is about to burst.
There are still two at Cowlitz PuD but gosh that little one is so thin. Please wish for fish.
The trio at Clark PUD are doing so well.
The only surviving osplet on the nest at Great Bay is doing well. One died and the other fell out of the nest and went to a rehabber. I am unclear of its status.
It is sure hard to tell who the little four is at the Poole Harbour nest of CJ7 and Blue 022. They have yet to be ringed.
Beautiful evening at the Rutland Manton Bay nest of Blue 33 and Maya and their trio.
Thank you so much for being with us today. We are doing better than people would think! We are spending the day with our son tomorrow, so you will definitely not be hearing from me until Thursday. Please take care.
Good Night from All of Us:
Hugo Yugo and Missey
Cheeky Hugo Yugo.
Baby Hope and Calico.
Darling Toby.
Thank you to everyone for their contributions to this blog – to Geemeff for her daily summary of Loch Arkaig, to PB and those who write and post information and images on the various FB groups, and the owners of the streaming cams that allow us to witness the lives of these families.
A brief check-in. Toby has his thunder jacket on as we have storms coming from the SW and moving north from North Dakota. We are saturated with rain. Would love to send it to places that need it!
We will have monarchs! Feeding on the dill.
Thinking of all of you as Europe has 50 C temperatures. At least one nest is receiving supplementary fish. This reminds me of Frenchman’s Creek a few years ago.
Way to go Poland!
Pesticides are harmful. They go through the food chain – the birds eat the insects. If you live in the USA, it is possible that your State has some protections, but it appears that the federal government might undermine that with the new farm bill. Have a read and please contact your representatives if you care about birds!
Just look at Snow. Her parents at the Traverse City Bald Eagle nest would be so proud of their little girl. She was already doing brilliantly – can you imagine a well fed eaglet with no infestations, a clean nest?! That is what Harriet and mate provided this beauty before that nest slid down. I think that is rather rare. Many eaglets have insect infestations and are ’emaciated’.
This is the latest news on Snow:
Snow begins the next phase of her journey! Snow’s healing has continued to progress without setbacks, and she has now been positioned for the next step in her rehabilitation journey.Early last week, the medical team cleared Snow for transition into a slightly larger habitat aimed at accommodating more freedom of movement, while still allowing for reasonably stress free administration of her breathing treatments and anti-fungal medications. Those treatments concluded at the end of last week while observation continues for any indications that symptoms are re-emerging. It was then the determination of the team that Snow was ready to move into a full-sized flight enclosure to begin skills training. During Snow’s recovery, we were made aware that one of our collaborating organization’s was hosting an adult Bald eagle on it’s own rehabilitation journey, that could, potentially, serve as an ideal foster for Snow while she develops the skills and strength necessary for the team to evaluate her viability of surviving in the wild. After carefully considering the specifics of her case, our avian care team (in collaboration with the veterinarian and A.R.K.) selected this route as providing Snow with the highest likelihood for a successful conclusion to her rehabilitation process💚 She was officially transferred from our facility into the excellent care of Wildside Rehabilitation and Education Center over the past weekend, where their own highly-trained staff assessed the two eagles compatibility, and took lead on her remaining path to recovery. This option also allowed her to retain the same primary veterinarian who has overseen her treatment from the start, which is preferable. While we will not be personally leading Snow’s recovery through to it’s conclusion with this path, the fortuitous availability of a viable adult foster provided the highest likelihood of successful recovery, and we couldn’t be more thankful to Wildside for offering this opportunity to her, as their reputation for providing excellent care, and decades of service to our regions wildlife, speaks volumes. We can only ask that the passionate community following along on Snow’s journey offers their staff the same grace and support that you have shown, and continue to show, to us We will endeavor to update the community as Snow’s story continues.
In the meantime, our rehabilitation efforts continue for the many other patients currently in our care! To support the high quality care provided by our avian care team, you can: -Donate directly at www.northskyraptor.org/donatenow-Empower our rehabilitation efforts year-round with a small monthly recurring donation at: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/snow-recurringdonorcampaign1-Learn about, and support, our work to build Northern Michigan’s first public raptor center by clicking here: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/prcfcaThank you so much for your continued support of our mission!
Sincerely, The North Sky Raptor Sanctuary Board of Directors and Staff 🦅🦉💚
Love What We Do?
Us, too! Help us spread the word about our mission and connect with new faces. Share this newsletter with your friends, family and anyone you think would benefit from seeing some pictures of cute birds in good care. Together we can make a big difference in the lives of the Michigan’s raptors!
Want to know how you can get involved? Click here!
Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Monday 29th June 2026
It was a peaceful day with no chick fights or intruders, one fish was delivered to Nest One, first seen in Aurora’s talons, but it was almost certainly caught by Garry and delivered to her during the nest cam down time. The Nest One tally now stands at one hundred and forty three. Over on Nest Two, Louis delivered three fish, the first one, a flatfish, was his two hundredth for the season, and the nest tally rises to two hundred and four. The weather was reasonably settled today, not nearly as wet as forecast, but heavy rain is expected overnight, changing to thundery showers tomorrow, with light winds, a low of 12°C and a high of 17°C. The two chicks are now so big it’s hard for Dorcha to keep them covered, but she does her best until the chicks’ juvenile feathers come through which will keep them waterproofed. At the time of filing this report (midnight), the heavy rain has started and both females are hunkered down pearled with raindrops with Dorcha hunched over the chicks to keep them dry, and Aurora still protecting her unviable egg.
I am signing off. We are expecting heavy rain and thunderstorms. The sky is getting dark. Take care everyone. Please, please leave out water and if you can, food, for the wildlife.
Thank you to SK Hideways and Geemeff, the owners of the streaming cams, those reporting on FB, and PB for alerting me to Beth’s post about the supplementary fish in Poland.
