Tag Archives: Glaslyn

The curious happenings at Fortis Exshaw…Wednesday in Bird World

23 August 2022

Good Morning to each of you!

It was a drizzly sort of day in the garden. The sun never came out and everything felt cold and damp. Everyone was here, at one time or another, including one of the Crows. Calico had her tracker on during the day. In the early afternoon, she was here, and when I went outside to freshen up the table feeder, she lept to the deck. It startled me as I am so used to her meandering in from the back of the lilacs. She ate her food, chased a moth, and then had a siesta under the lilacs. It was different behaviour, but in a bit, she went back to the place where she has her kitts. She returned at her usual time in the evening, and while she ate, I removed her tracker for charging. Once in a while, I will check to ensure she has not moved the Kitts.

Dyson was here chasing peanuts and trying to get as many or more than Little Red.

Dyson was smart. She had dumped the covered feeder and then when the drizzle began she decided to go inside the feeder!

This is one way to get a drink!

In the frenzy between Little Red and Dyson, the Black-capped Chickadee swooped in and occasionally grabbed a seed!

There is some celebrating going on!

Jane Dell posted (on a couple if FB websites) a really good document on Western Osprey identification. This will be a very helpful resource – maybe put it in a file with useful articles, etc. for when the time comes.

Western-Osprey-–-Raptor-Identification-–-The-complete-raptors-guideDownload

‘H’ has one report for us today and that is about the intrusions that continue at the Fortis Exshaw nest in Alberta, Canada.

8/21 had been an unusually tranquil day for the fledgling Banff.  The first half of the day was also very peaceful on 8/22.  Banff took a couple of early morning flights, and she was out when Louise delivered the first fish.  Banff flew in quickly at 0715 to claim the large whole fish.  At 0729 Louise delivered a tiny whole fish to Banff.  Banff managed to swallow the last half of the fish in one big gulp!  For the next three hours Banff enjoyed numerous out-and-back flights and spent some time on the big T-perch and the nest perches.  At 1032 Louise brought the third fish of the day, a medium sized whole fish.  After she ate that one, Banff resumed her brief fly-abouts.  Fish #4 from Louise at 1155 was a huge live fish.  Louise wanted to keep the fish, and there was a brief tug-o-fish, but Louise gave in.  Banff was eating intermittently, and had eaten about 1/3 of the large fish, when, at 1313 a female intruder landed on the nest.  At 1316 the intruder made a move for the fish, but Banff fended her off.  Then there was a long standoff.  At 1334, the intruder moved aggressively to take the fish.  There was a struggle as Banff tried to hold on to her fish.  Both birds ended up going overboard, and it looked like the intruder had the fish in her left talon.  At 1335 Banff flew back to the nest, and was almost immediately dive bombed three times by the intruder (apparently the intruder had dropped the fish).  Banff flew off the nest.  An aerial chase between ospreys could be seen at 1409, but we don’t know who was involved.  At 1438 Louise landed with a partial fish, but Banff was still off the nest.  Within seconds, a different intruder landed on the nest.  Some thought it was O’Hara, but the markings didn’t seem quite right.  Louise was not happy at all, and at one point she flapped at the intruder, but that had no effect.  Louse flew off with the fish at 1447.  The intruder starting moving some sticks around, and that really confused us!  At 1458, as Banff flew toward the nest, the intruder flew off, but it immediately circled back and dive bombed Banff a couple of times.  Louise immediately returned with the partial fish and Banff grabbed it.  The intruder dive bombed Banff three more times while Louise was on the nest.  That was a first.  No intruder had ever attacked while Louise was on the nest.  We were dismayed that the intruder had become more brazen and had elevated its aggressiveness to a higher level.  Banff flew off the nest at 1459, leaving the fish behind.  Louise waited for Banff to return, but she flew off with the fish at 1545.  At 1553, the intruder brought a stick to the nest, and left.  That was so bizarre, and so confusing for the viewers, who were trying to make some sense out of everything.  Louise landed on the nest with a different headless fish at 1655 (fish #6).  Banff quickly flew to the nest to claim it and Louise departed.  Banff was nervous, and mantled the fish, scanning the sky.  At 1702 the intruder buzzed and dive bombed Banff at least six times, and at 1703 Banff hurriedly flew off, leaving the fish on the nest.  The intruder departed.  Banff flew back to the nest at 1734, and grabbed her fish.  This time, she got down to business and ate without hesitating.  The latter part of the evening was intruder-free.  Banff took a couple of short flights, and she landed on the T-perch at 2026.  Dear, sweet Banff elected to roost on the T-perch overnight.  It had been a very complex, and stressful day for Banff, but she was well fed.  Onward, Banff.

Thanks so much ‘H’.

As of Tuesday, Elen was still at Glaslyn and Aran had delivered a double-header at 1735 – there were more fish during the day despite some windy periods. Aran you are amazing. Everyone is home and safe, eating well thanks to this amazing dad – and well, what a great year with new Mum, Elen. So happy for Glaslyn!

Elen eating a flounder Aran brought for her. She will be gone very soon. are travels, return to us!

Maya and Blue 33 were still on the nest on Tuesday 22 August. You can always tell Blue from that look in his eyes before you see the Blue Darvic band.

That is one brave Hoodie going after Ludo! Good thing Ludo is an osprey and not an eagle.

What is happening with Bird Flu? It was big news and then something else takes over and the impact of this deadly disease is put aside. What is going on and what is happening in Africa where our beloved European and UK birds will spend their winter. Mark Avery brings us some of the latest data to his blog on Monday, 21 August. “In 2023, up until 14 August, 45 species have tested positive. The last month has seen a bunch of colonial seabirds adding their names to this year’s casualties. Here’s the list (with additions in bold): Gannet, Cormorant, Shag, Fulmar, Mute Swan, Whooper Swan, Pink-footed Goose, Greylag Goose, Barnacle Goose, Canada Goose, Mallard, Teal, Moorhen, Coot, Black-headed Gull, Mediterranean Gull, Herring Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Kittiwake, Roseate Tern, Common Tern, Arctic Tern, Sandwich Tern, Little Tern, Razorbill, Guillemot, Puffin, Curlew, Ringed Plover, unspecified heron (!), Grey Heron, dove/pigeon, Wood Pigeon, Red Grouse, Sparrowhawk, Goshawk, Buzzard, Kestrel, Peregrine, Tawny Owl, Barn Owl, Reed Warbler and Carrion Crow.  Last year will be remembered as the first year when impacts on seabirds in the breeding season were noticed. This year the disease spread to many colonial gulls, in particular Black-headed Gulls, all over the UK.”

Mini has been eating well, resting her leg, and using the right foot more.

Early morning.

0815. Beautiful. I think this one will deserve a spot on the bulletin board. She is so lovely.

1605. Looking up and expecting a delivery?

She was slightly wonky on that leg with that 1609 fish.

1908

Mini flew into the nest with a huge drop around 1957! Gracious. It looks like our girl had a nice fish meal off-camera.

At Dunrovin, Harriet is still home and there was at least one chick at the nest today – possibly all, I did not watch or rewind. This nest of Swoop and Harriet has done well this season! So happy for them.

Boulder County: Throughout the day I only saw two fledglings at the nest at any one time. It is impossible to know if they are the same two each time.

At Orange, Xavier came in with a Starling for Diamond. What a guy. She doesn’t always want them! Eggs should be coming before the end of the month. But then later Xavier comes in with a Red-Rumped Parrot (thanks ‘A’) to the delight of Diamond who is looking a little eggy these days.  

In California, Annie and Lou continue to come to the scrape in The Campanile. They also bond in the scrape but we won’t be seeing any eggs until spring of 2024. Stay safe you two!

It is sometimes painful to watch the early feedings at the Sydney Sea Eagles. Even after 31 was full and 32 had finally gotten itself up to Lady’s beak, Lady had to try and try to get this very intimidated little man to eat. ‘A’ provides a complete narrative for us: “The little one gets up to the table by about 06:45 but he cowers away from Lady’s beak when she tries to feed him. She keeps feeding SE31, even though SE32 is right up to the table – she tries periodically to coax SE32 to eat but he just won’t accept the food, no matter how patient mum is. He finally takes a bite at around 06:50:45, just before dad arrives at 06:50:50 with yet more food. Surely there wasn’t another nestling in that nest. It is a fourth! At 06:54 mum finally manages to get him to start eating, albeit very gingerly. He is so nervous that even though SE31 is full and nowhere near him, he is still not confident about taking a bite from Lady, who is only inches from him. He is facing her, watching the food, but still cringes each time she tries to feed him. It is SO frustrating to watch. But there are still at least two nestlings on that nest and SE31 is full, so surely SE32 will get a decent breakfast. Lady is doing everything she can but she cannot force-feed SE32! She is certainly being as patient as she can. By 06:56 he is eating with a bit more confidence but SE31 is moving back towards the table, considering a second helping. She stays back for now. SE32 continues to eat, very nervously. Lady is now feeding them alternate bites. SE32 grabs at each mouthful, turning away as he does so. He is SO scared, even though he has not been bonked at all during this feeding and SE31 is sitting back, not leaning over him or making any contact with him. He should be gaining confidence and eating faster but he is still cringing with each bite. Lady returns to feeding SE31, offering SE32 a single bite for every four or five she gives his big sister, whose crop is now huge. Around 07:05, she returns to feeding SE32 bite after bite. This is fresh juicy red meat and should be very nutritious for SE32, who is slowly developing a crop. And surely, out of four nestlings, there is enough food for both to eat plenty. Lady is also eating. Dad is the only one who seems to have missed out on breakfast, so I would suggest he is currently out fishing. Mum was certainly not letting him take any of the four chicks he brought in for his own chicks to eat! She made that very clear, physically and verbally, when he delivered the fourth. At 07:08 she is still feeding SE32 bite after bite, some of them extremely large. He is eating everything he is offered, no longer turning away from Lady but confidently staying at her beak at last. He has a good crop and has eaten a lot of food quite quickly (he is grabbing huge chunks and swallowing them all). At 07:10 she gives SE31 a few bites, then returns to feeding SE32, whose crop is still only half the size of his sister’s. At 07:20, she is still feeding SE32 the last remnants of the nestlings. He now has a very large crop, though nowhere near the size of his sister’s, which is so huge that she actually refused a mouthful a few seconds ago.”

 

Another prey delivery and ‘A’ notes: “Dad brought in a small whole fish just before 08:38 but by the time the little one got up to the table, the fish was all gone. He is still SO nervous, he cannot eat, even with a full crop and SE31 not being aggressive. He did take one small mouthful and was beaked in the head (just once) for doing so, which of course sent him straight into submission for the remainder of the feeding. This attitude is so worrying, but then occasionally, when he is hungry enough, he suddenly finds some courage and stands up for himself and his food.”

Port Lincoln: Mating but no eggs yet.

Taiaroa Head: ‘A’ reports: “In New Zealand, there was no weighing of Manaaki yesterday, but he has had six or seven parental feedings since last week’s 9.8 kg so is no doubt at a healthy weight! Mum arrived around 09:54 this morning to feed her little man yet again, leaving again at 10:01. It’s great to see you, mama. We missed you so much. We adore Manaaki. He is such a special little person, very laid back but also very confident, having spent his childhood living on a crowded street corner. He has been the most entertaining chick to watch, excavating and gardening as he engages in his endless nest-building, as well as exploring his surrounds and visiting his many neighbours. We will miss you, Manaaki. We have another fortnight or so with him, but that fluff is fast disappearing, and he will fledge in the not-too-distant future.”

He found the camera!

 

Karl II’s mate, Kaia, who had not been at the nest since 23 July but had been out foraging to regain her strength for her long travels, came to the nest to say goodbye on 15 August and began her migration on the 22nd. Thanks, ‘PB’ for the confirmation. Here is the information from Looduskalender.

Maria Marika reports that Timmy has also begun its migration. Soon they will all be on their way and we will be fingering our worry beads until we know that they are safe and sound in their winter homes.

Karl II continues to feed the three fledglings at the nest. All three were present on the night of 22 August. They, too, will begin their migration shortly.

Thank you so much for being with me today. Take care. Hope to see you soon!

Thank you to the following for their notes, comments, posts, articles, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to compose my blog this morning: ‘A, H, PB’, Megan McCubbin, Jane Dell, Fortis Exshaw, Bywyd Gwyllt Glaslyn, LRWT, Geemeff and The Woodland Trust, Mark Avery, PSEG, Dunrovin Ranch, Boulder County, Charles Sturt Falcon Cam, Cal Falcons, Sydney Sea Eagles, Lady Hawk and NZ DOC, Looduskalender, Maria Marika, LizM and the Eagle Club of Estonia.

Mini fledges! Cowlitz fledge? …Sunday in Bird World

23 June 2023

Hello Everyone!

Oh, tears….The big event begins on Saturday when ‘M’ alerts me to Mini’s amazing hover and ends with all of us rejoicing. Mini flew!

On Saturday, Mini did a great hover…a great hover…has been on the nest and has observed her siblings. She is going to do so great!

The tail on the ascent.

Landing after about 5 seconds of good hovering.

And PB wrote, “Mini at Patchogue branched on the perch 7:23am and fledged 8:26am….sooo happy and crying at same time. She did the impossible from being the runt and getting bullied and made it to fledge. So wish she was banded so when she ever returns we know it’s mini!” –Those banding sentiments are with so many of us…We want to know how she does. One way to tell one osprey from another is their head markings and Mini’s are distinctive. Take screen shots of her head from all angles, keep them. It is the only part of her that will not change!

Mini got her fish at 0856. What a fantastic reward – although it is unclear that Dad knows his little girl flew! Congratulations Mini. Stay safe out there. I think we all must have cried. Bittersweet moment.

The news is sad but the eagle that is being honoured was one of the first to be banded during the re-introduction of Bald Eagles into the US after the terrible decimation of our raptors from DDT.

An-Elegy-for-Americas-Oldest-Bald-Eagle-AudubonDownload

There has been a rare bird sighting – a Switchable Black Kite – in Norfolk.

Speaking of kites and all other raptors in the UK – the Hen Harriers, the eagles…one utility company has said that it will not renew the licenses for grouse hunting on its land. As a colleague and friend pointed out, what is not known is how long those licenses can be used. When is the deadline? I hope that it is soon and that other utilities will follow suit. If the legal system cannot stop the grouse hunters from killing off all the raptors then preventing them from using the land is a brilliant alternative. Of course, the 21st century thing to do would be to stop this medieval tradition in its entirety!

Water-utility-company-United-Utilities-not-renewing-grouse-shoot-leases-across-northern-England-–-Ra-1Download

There is sad news coming from OWL in British Columbia about Tyr, the eaglet on the Hancock Wildlife nest. Early concerns showed a possible issue with its leg.

If you are fans of Thunder and Akecheta at the West End Channel Islands nest, the 2023 fledglings often show up at the old nest site along with one or more of the parents.

Anthony is often on the Two Harbours nest along with parents Chase and Cholyn.

Now for some nest news:

MN Landscape Arboretum: Gosh, that little chick is getting its feathers and Mum is attentive. A real change from a month ago!

Boulder County: What a loving family. The five of them just make my heart beat. It is so interesting this year that the Ospreys living on nests in places other than in Florida and in the NE US are doing so very well. It is good to have their population growing and sadly, as hard as it is to say, to have some of the pressure off of the over saturated areas (like Florida and Chesapeake Bay).

These three at Boulder are real beauties. Mum does everything she can for them including being a huge umbrella when it is hot even if they are as big as her!

Charlo Montana: ‘L’ alerted me to the streaming cam being back on at Charlo Montana. The two chicks hatched in mid-June. They are 5 weeks old and doing well. And then the cam went down again! It is extremely hot in Montana. Mum is doing a fantastic job keeping the two cool. Bless her heart.

Loch of the Lowes: The Woodland Trust is more positive than I am that Blue NC0 will return. Laddie has his hands full and the chicks are hungry like those at Forsythe. Blue NC0 has been MIA for a week and this is really more than a spa break. She is a devoted mother and it has been a difficult year with little fish ——–how about stocking that loch like they do at Clywedog in Wales? That would solve this issue! Come on Woodland Trust – not just trees, fish! Here is the most recent report.

At the same time, I would like to call for a few more platform nests to be built for the growing population of ospreys.

Osprey-Diary-at-Loch-of-the-Lowes-Weeks-17-18-Scottish-Wildlife-TrustDownload

Steelscape, Inc.: This Washington in Kalama had fallen off my radar until ‘PB’ wrote to me this evening about a real problem with fish deliveries for the three osplets. It is entirely possible that the third hatchling could be lost. Let us hope not. They have the same problem as Cowlitz it would appear – Eagles taking the fish from the Osprey, the heat, etc. But unlike Cowlitz, which has only one osplet to feed, this nest has three. Thank goodness the fourth egg did not hatch. Oh, goodness. Send it your very best wishes….and look. It is baking hot there, and these babies are feathered. We don’t want to lose another one – so many are starving this year.

Cowlitz: We now know that the wire mesh grids that Cowlitz PUD constructed to protect the osprey nest from Eagle predation have not hindered the ospreys. The only osplet has flapped and jumped and today, that sweet baby fledged (?) or did it branch to the top of the mesh? I think it is on top of the mesh but, if it did not fly – this one soon will!

Seaside: The two osplets, Kawok, the first hatch, and Naika, the second, are beautiful juveniles who are starting to feel their independence. They remind me a bit of Ervie and his brothers once they had fledged. Everyone was civil until then and then it was everyone lad for itself. There is a bit of an aggression showing up just like it is at other nests towards the adults especially if they do not show up with fish! No one is hungry, as far as I can tell, on this nest!

Alyth: The fledglings return to the nest for fish and rest. Flying is hard work. They did not sleep on the nest last night.

Poole Harbour: Oh, it was wet in Pool Harbour on Saturday! Miserable. Windy. The trio were busy preening and trying to dry off Sunday morning.

Glaslyn: OH2 has walked to the perch to with OH1 and Mum, Elen. Will he fly today? He sure is flapping those wings and looks strong and ready.

Dyfi: A bit of a lonely nest at times. One of the fledglings showed up Sunday morning. It looks a bit dreary and damp. Idris and Telyn will be doing a great job feeding their fledglings. Cennen has been flying for a week!

Time for ‘H’s reports:

Fortis Exshaw – Louise had some minor intruder issues, and she flushed an intruder off the tall perch and out of the area twice.  She also delivered five fish to feed her chicks.  The two 35-day-old osplets are thriving.  Mr. O was not seen on camera Saturday.

Forsythe – There were four fish delivered to the nest, including one by Opal.  The fledglings each had two fish.  Even though the food had increased slightly on Saturday, there was still significant aggression, and the siblings were literally at each other’s throats.  After a few days of very little food, the youngest sibling, Ollie, was the primary aggressor.  The battle at 1438 was quite serious.  I’m hoping the fish deliveries continue to increase so that these two juvies can relax.

Osoyoos – Dad continues to be a great provider for his family.  The 26 and 27-day-old chicks are progressing normally.

Severna Park – Olivia and Oscar continue to deliver fish to the nest for their two fledglings.  I have not seen anyone sleeping at the nest for the last two nights.

Barnegat Light – Oh my goodness, at 53 days of age, ‘Dorsett’ looks so grown up!   Dorsett has been wingercising and practicing self feeding. 

Patuxent Nest 1 – Foster and Sib-B are still hanging out and eating fish at the nest, but are sleeping elsewhere.

Patuxent Nest 2 – The livestream was down for 28 days, and finally returned full time on 7/20.  By that time, all three of the chicks had already fledged.  On 7/22 two of the fledglings were seen in the nest at the same time.  

Thank you so much, ‘H’.

The FB posts in Manitoba are full of individuals finding baby birds in their yards. This is happening everywhere, not just near me. So what do you do? Review the chart below and make certain that you have your nearest wildlife rehab clinics on speed dial on the contact list of your cell phone, please.

Thank you so much for being with me today. Continue to send all that positive energy of yours to the nests including those that are struggling with starvation and nest aggression this season. Take care of yourself. I hope to see you soon!

Thank you to the following for their notes, their comments, postings, tweets, websites, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog this morning: ‘Geemeff, H, L, M, PB, PSEG, Audubon, Birdguides.com, Raptor Persecution UK, Deb Stecyk and Bald Eagles 101, IWS, MN Landscape Arboretum, Boulder County Fair Grounds Ospreys, Forsythe Ospreys, Charlo Montana and Owl Research Project, Scottish Wildlife Trust, Steelscape Inc, Cowlitz PUD, Seaside Ospreys, Alyth, Poole Harbour Ospreys, Bywyd Gwyllt Glaslyn, Dyfi Osprey Project, Fortis Exshaw, Forsythe, Osoyoos, Severna Park, Wildlife Conserve Foundation of NJ, Patuxent River Park, and Chirp Nature Centre.

How some Osprey parents avoid siblicide…Thursday in Bird World?

8 June 2023

Good Morning Everyone,

Oh, it has been relatively quiet in the garden. In fact, eerily quiet. There has been no sign of the feral cats that visit this end of the neighbourhood, the birds have seemingly disappeared, and only Dyson and Co. have been coming for peanuts, along with a few Sparrows and Wrens. Is it the heat? I wonder. Lewis and Missey ‘decided’ that they would no longer allow me to trim their nails without putting up a big fuss. Well, guess what? Both carriers out; they went in out of curiosity and zipped up and off to the nail trimmer! They were both in such shock. Lewis howled as if I was pulling those toenails out, and Missey was a darling then, on the way home, they were both angels. No more nails for scratching one another – well, til they grow out.

We will start with some sad news that Alo, 45D, from the Bald Canyon Eagle nest has died. This eaglet swallowed a fish hook and line and underwent surgery under the care of the IWS. Completely unnecessary.

I thought that would be the only death but, no…sadly I woke up to news from ‘H’ and ‘SP’ that Rosie and Richmond have lost their only osplet this season to unknown causes. Our hearts go out to this devoted couple.

And then there are balloons…seriously. This one has a happy ending, thankfully.

As all of you are aware, Osprey nests can be a feast or famine. One day there will be six or seven fish deliveries and the next day, it might be only one. Weather and intruders contribute to these fluctuations. We remain grateful to the wildlife rehabbers that rescue and give the little ones a second chance (sometimes third and fourth).

One nest that is flourishing with four Osplets on it is PSEG’s Patchogue platform on Long Island. It is remarkable because of the difference in size between the first two hatches and the fourth, little Mini. Somehow I doubt if anyone seeing this nest for the first time believed there was any hope for little Mini and yet, here we are on the 7th of June and little Mini is growing and growing. What is the secret?

As we have seen, osplets get brooded and ‘normally’ have their last fish delivery about an hour before the sun sets. Yes, there are exceptions – the midnight feedings at Moorings Park in Naples, Florida, taught us that this year. But imagine, four osplets full or partially full at bedtime waiting for another 8 or 9 hours before another meal. They are hungry!

On the Patchogue platform on the morning of 7 June 2023, the male delivered four fish before 0850. Those deliveries were at 0545, 0642, 0711, and again at 0850. I do not know how much fish little Mini got at 0545 feeding but at the 0642 feeding, Mini was right up there and there was fish left for Mum. At 0711, Mini is eating alone, a private feeding from Mum. By 0725, Mini has a huge crop and Mum moves the fish over to the other side of the nest to feed the others if they want to eat. Mini is first up at the table at 0850 and is still eating at 0934. Then the others eat some.

0725 and little Mini has a big crop.

Private feeding. Fish 4. Mum has fed chicks for more than three hours with all these deliveries.

At 1004 others eat.

1043. Little Mini is preening.

1114: Little Mini and the bulging crop.

1204. Little Mini in food coma. What a lovely sight.

There has never been an attempt not to feed little Mini despite its small size in relation to the others. Everyone gets fed and Mum makes an extraordinary effort to check and see and moves the fish around the nest to assist in feeding all.

‘M’ sent me two really cute screen shots of Little Mini standing up to one of the big Bobs. My goodness, this fourth hatch has got nerve!

1549. Mini is right up there eating!

1856 and Little Mini is up there with a huge crop! Oh, the haze from the fires burning in Canada. Dreadful for all.

There is another fish at 1936. Little Mini gets itself right up under Mum’s beak and intercepts a piece of fish meant for Big. Now Little Mini already has a big crop – Big took exception and beaked Mini who went into submission. Mini did not need to eat and did not need to create the aggravation. All big ones and Mum enjoyed that nice big trout. Nite Mini!

One thing that is happening is that little Mini is in a period of rapid growth that requires much more food while the older chicks are beginning to taper off. They eat more but less often. This might help little Mini. What does appear to be working is that fish are getting on the nest in plenty early in the morning – perhaps the fishing is easier? – and this appears to have a calming effect on the older siblings causing them to be food secure and less aggressive (not that they have ever been very very aggressive on this nest with all the fish Dad brings in and the equitable feeds by Mum).

A nest that has a problem with differentiation in feeding is Achieva (and Severna). As of Wednesday afternoon Middle has been rescued by Birds in Helping Hands. He was underweight and well…I can only imagine how good that fish is going to taste to him.

Big eating the fish on the nest..Big was very aggressive – the nest lost one chick to siblicide/starvation and Middle was on the verge. So thankful to those people who helped — you know who you are.

Want to thank Birds with Helping Hands? Send them a donation. That is how they manage to stay afloat.

Middle grounded.

Middle in the carrier on the way to rehab and a second chance at life. What a shame it would have been for this beautiful bird to starve to death. It was noted that Middle was not critically endangered of starving to death as so many are and he should be back and fit – having enjoyed meals without having to fight big.

Shelley Vickery contacted me Wednesday evening. Penny, the rehabber, says that Middle “should be just fine”. Isn’t that fantastic news?!

Please consider a donation – every dollar helps, no matter how small. We must support those that get out there and answer our calls for help.

Go to: birdsinhelpinghands.org

‘H’ sends me word from a view nests that we have been monitoring. At Severna, Big got all of the early fish. Then “The next fish was brought at 1330, and feeding commenced 1333.  Middle was on the other side of Olivia, and Olivia maintained her position for once.  It was a 16 minute feeding and Olivia distributed bites evenly.” Thank heavens! Middle had another good meal at 1438. Oh, keep it up Mum!

At the Patuxent II nest, H reports, “This is the nest of three osplets where there had been some aggression, although no bird has been kept from eating at the feeds I have observed. Feeding from 1316 to 1434.  I observed no aggression at all.  All were very well fed.  #2 had to wait his turn simply because of the strange configuration of that nest bowl.  Mom just couldn’t reach #2.  But at 1341, #2 started to get fed as others dropped out.”

‘H’ sent a good report on some of the changes at Forsythe Osprey nest and the new aggression towards the small osplet during meals – something that has not happened previously. “Fish 0912, feeding 0913 to 0927.  Mini in front row beside Little.  All got bites, no one touched Mini.  Mini ended up in a food coma. 1011 fish, feeding from 1013-1052.  Prior to the start of the feeding, Little beaked Mini and Middle, Mini tucked, Middle beaked back.  Little beaked Big, and Big beaked back.  At the start of the feeding Little beaked Middle again, Mini was still in submission.  Mini had a hard time getting up to the food line through the wall of the three older siblings, went around the other side away from Little and waited.  By 103842 Mini got its first bite, Big and Little dropped out, soon followed by Middle.  So Mini had a private feeding until 1047 when the others started to come back.  By 1048 Mini was in a food coma. 1222 fish, feeding from 1223 to 1232.  When the fish arrived, before the feeding started, Little beaked at Mini pretty roughly.  After the feeding started, Mini stayed back, nevertheless, Little turned around and beaked Mini on 4 different occasions.  Mini never made it to the food line.  After that feeding was over, Little beaked Mini at 1350, 1355, 1358 and 1403.  I don’t know why Mini stayed close to Little and didn’t seek a safe spot beside Big or Middle.”

The feedings really depend on Mini being able to stay away from Little who appears to be a very aggressive third-hatch female. ‘H’ notes that Mini got ’52’ bites on the Thursday morning feed because it was buffered by Big and Middle away form Little.

The latest report from ‘H’ on the Forsythe platform is really interesting. “All lined up  [3,2,4,1], so I thought, good, Mini stay away from Little.  But due to the sheer size of Middle and Big reaching for bites with Mini in between, Mini got squeezed out to the back row (nothing intentional).  When Little saw Mini, Little went on a mission to punish Mini.  Little went to the back row, and beaked Mini intermittently from 1449 to 1454.  Finally Big saw what was going on and reached back and beaked Little, so Little moved away!  Finally at 1500 Mini was up between Big and Middle again and was able to eat.  At 1503, Little tried to get back into the feeding and Big beaked Little, keeping it away, seeming to protect Mini, I kid you not.  So, Mini got fed, and probably ended up with more bites than Little.  If Little had just stayed in the original feeding line and not focused on beaking Mini, she would have been better off.”

Laddie LM12 delivered a whopper of a fish to the Loch of the Lowes Nest – late. Finally Middle gets to eat. Both osplets had full crops at the end of the feeding and even Blue NC0 got some fish.

Only osplet at Cowlitz PUD is still looking good. I sure hope some big fish come to this nest…that water area needs to be stocked!

Needed to check in on Victor and Abby. I think this is Victor screaming for a fish and then chowing down on one…talk about fantastic parents!

Oyster Bay osplets look like they are doing OK.

The trio at Outerbanks also look healthy with clear shiny eyes. I have not been able to ascertain about the equity in feeding but right now, each looks healthy.

Two babies at Seaside are looking good, too.

How much food the third hatch is getting at Barnegat Light is unclear. The two big ones did not allow it near to a nice big fish at the late feeding and I have not watched this nest closely but it did eat well at an earlier one.

Oh, just look at that Bob stand up for its fish at the Dyfi nest of Idris and Telyn!

At Glaslyn, Elen is feeding the chicks and Aran is on the branch with another fish!

Two years ago, CJ7 of Poole Harbour only dreamed of having a mate and osplets. Then a very young Blue 022 stopped by the nest. It was too late in the season and everyone hoped he would return. This is their second year for raising chicks and they have three adorable little osplets.

Tucked in tight for the night.

Big Red and Arthur are starting to get the Ms to be interested in self-feeding. M1 took on a chippie today and did well. The others will not go hungry during this period. Big Red will continue to feed them. Very different than an osprey nest!

All done.

San Jose City Halls little falcon sure is loud. Had a nice meal in the morning and – well, I don’t blame it – I didn’t see later prey. Screaming for food at noon! Hopefully a later meal.

Still screaming at 1525.

Locations of Waba and Bonus on 6 June.

Dmitri’s Storklet is growing and doing well…gosh, there is good news out there in Bird World.

Pi, one of the trio at the Dulles-Greenway Bald Eagle nest, was doing so well, she was released back into the wetlands to be fed and trained by her parents, Martin and Rosa. The metal you see around the tree is a raccoon protector.

Angel and Tom’s surviving hawklet now has a name – Deyani (Great and strong). Beautiful. ‘A’ writes: “Great name for RTH5. It was lovely to see Tom feeding Deyani yesterday – as I mentioned, it was more a matter of Tom pulling bits off that squirrel and Deyani grabbing them. Tom looked a little shocked the first time the hawklet grabbed dad’s bite from him, but then Tom continued with his work on the squirrel and eventually actually deliberately gave the hawklet some bites. I felt like a proud auntie.”

Fires are raging. No Arctic ice. Temperatures are rising and the situation at nests such at Achieva who are suffering from a severe drought are set to see this pattern continue. Nests burned, raptors dead…

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/jun/06/too-late-now-to-save-arctic-summer-ice-climate-scientists-find?CMP=share_btn_link

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One of my favourites, Bill McKibben on the haze…Thanks ‘B’!

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Thank you to everyone who has sent e-mails worried about me and the wildfires. That was so sweet and so very kind. We have haze but it is not nearly as bad as other parts of Canada and the US. So far the recent rains have helped.

Thank you for being with me today. Please take care of yourself. Send your good wishes to our nests. See you soon!

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to create my blog today: ‘A’, ‘B’, ‘H’, ‘L’, ‘SP’, IWS, SF Bay Ospreys, Holly Parsons and The New Zealand Herald, PSEG, Achieva Credit Union, Birds in Helping Hands, Severna Ospreys, Forsythe Ospreys, LOTL, Cowlitz PUD, Moorings Park, Outerbans 24/7, Seaside Ospreys, Conservancy Conservation of NJ, Dyfi Osprey Project, Bywyd Gwylld Glaslyn, Poole Harbour Ospreys, Cornell RTH, SJCH Falcons, Bird Map, Dmitri’s Storklet Cam, Dulles-Greenway Eagles, Gracie Shepherd and Raptors of the World, The Guardian, and The New York Times.

Featured Image: Chicks being fed by Daisy at Barnegat Light.

Tuesday in Bird World

6 June 2023

Good Morning Everyone,

The humidex in Winnipeg, Manitoba was 38 degrees C. The temperature on the deck was 39 C at one time in the afternoon – not sure what that does to the figures the weather station is releasing. It is simply hot. There is little movement in the garden – some sparrows flitting in and out to get in the shade and eat some seed. No squirrels. No Blue Jays. No Crows. Not even a single feral cat. It is clearly not the time of day – afternoon – to be going out to check on ducklings and goslings. Someone sent me this photo. Sadly I do not know who took it but it is supposed to be goslings in our City crossing the asphalt. My gosh…those poor feet. Asphalt gets super hot in this heat.

Around 1900 a much anticipated five-minute downpour will make everything more humid, but it was so heavy the plants will appreciate the moisture!

The garden has been virtually empty. A few House Sparrows, a couple of squirrels came out around 1700 and a single Blue Jay. The heat impacts all of us even if there is fresh water and food waiting.

I am finishing off the newsletter for Tuesday late Monday but will check through my mail for any news and on a few of the nests…it is convocation for the granddaughter tomorrow morning. A nice day to celebrate and take the gang for a lunch before our lives return to normal.

On the radar! I am astounded when anyone takes a saw to a tree during breeding season. Every country should regulate the cutting down of trees and that means small ones, too that have nests of song birds. Mr Woodpecker no longer comes to the feeder because my neighbour cut down the ‘dead tree’. Gracious. It could have waited. Woodpeckers love dead trees – and this person even feeds the birds.

Oh, don’t we love those times when the Eagles take the little RTHs for lunch and wind up raising them as their own. I am sure you have all seen the nest that is now raising two RT hawklets. Precious. Look at its big sibling! Bald Eagle parents are doing well with these two…so interesting.

I have been watching the Patchogue nest closely as well as Loch of the Lowes. Laddie LM12 has not been seen since he brought in a small goldfish Sunday evening. The chicks are hungry and I am wondering if Blue NC0 will go and fish. She is a good fisher but her hormones are still in the brooding stage. Something has been going sideways at this nest and it could be intruders. No fish all day on Monday. Send your warm wishes.

Here is the weekly report from The Scottish Wildlife Trust on LOTL. Gives some good insight into how well the nest was doing and now another hiccup.

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At the Glacier Gardens nest of Liberty and Freedom, little Hope is growing.

There is growing concern that the male, A59, at the Duke Farms Bald Eagle nest is missing and presumed injured or deceased. He was banded in NJ in 2000 making him 23 years old.

That sweet little eaglet at the Decorah Hatchery nest in Iowa is grown into a beautiful eaglet waiting for its turn to fly.

The Patchogue Osprey platform sponsored by PSEG on Long Island continues to astound me. That said, I want to say that this nest could turn. Mini was shut out of the last two feedings on Monday evening – at 1801 and 2022 because Big attacked.

Mini was eating at 0900, eating again at 1106 and had an enormous crop from a fish delivered around noon – which he was fed for approximately 30 minutes! When you have a male that delivers fish almost every 2 hours that are a good size with no visible intruders – wow…even a tiny fourth hatch has hope. And so should we even if Big, on occasion, rears its head.

1230. Most of the fish remains – Mini has a huge -huge -crop and Mum will get some nice fish, too.

Siesta time.

Right now Mini is doing just fine. The Dad is a Daddy Door Dash with those fish. Mini had several private feedings once the big ones were full. Around 1426 one of the Big ones ‘looked’ at Mini and I wondered but Mini stayed fixed by the fish. It was mostly gone when it was his turn but he did get some and then at 15:17ish Dad hauls in another big one. Mini is eating at 1542 and has a crop, still fish…what a nest!

Mini is going to look ‘thin’ – he is eating. It is the stage of development the little one is in. He is growing like a bad weed, thankfully. Those wings are more than twice the size they were a week ago. Still tiny compared to the big siblings but if these parents can keep this up – well, Mini…you just might helicopter and fly!

1425:

1428:

1542

Big intimidating Mini. He has to walk over…this is not good. The rule is: Never look the older sibling directly in the eyes. It sets them off. You can see that Mini has a crop from the earlier feedings. Right now, all is good. He has eaten, and crop dropped and eaten some more—one day on this nest, one day at a time.

Middle was having a rough time of it at the Severna Osprey nest on Monday. Big reminds me of Zoe because she can just consume fish like she is Dyson the squirrel sucking it up and never getting full. Middle finally did get some morsels around 1504. If another fish would come on quickly, a big one, he could get some more food…this nest is like night and day to Patchogue where the osplets top eating when they re full and the others can get some fish.

‘H’ notes that Middle got a few bites at another feeding. Middle will be very hungry today. let us hope that the fish start returning to this nest.

Things are just fine at the Outerbanks 24/7 nest. Everyone gets fed.

Still looking alright at Cowlitz PUD.

It is hard to say what is happening at Oyster Bay PSEG because Mum loves to block the view when a fish is delivered. Babies are tiny and she gets back to brooding them right away. Temperature at the nest is 65 F.

The two tiny osplets at Seaside appear to be doing alright. Lots of heat shimmer coming on that camera.

All appears well with Duke and Daisy at Barnegat Light in NJ.

‘R’ sent me the forecast for Florida and there is no rain predicted for the St Petersburg and the Achieva Nest. It has to be dire there with the drought. Big and Middle waiting on the nest for a delivery…waiting and waiting. Will the osprey have to migrate north if the droughts in Florida continue along the SW coast?

Blue 022 watches his chicks as CJ7 feeds them.

Lots of fish and fat little Bobs at the Dyfi Osprey nest in Wales of Idris and Telyn.

Aran is an excellent provider. The two little Bobs are doing well for his first season with new mate, Elen.

Louis has been breaking all manner of breakfast fish arrival records for Dorcha and their Only Bob at Loch Arkaig.

As the sun sets in western Scotland, Louis has another fish on the nest just in case anyone is famished.

Dorcha was hit by the Tawny owl last night. The osplet is alright! Thanks Geemeff.

We always need a giggle…this time it is thanks to Richmond at the SF Whirley crane nest he shares with Rosie.

Blinked and the Llyn Clywedog Bobs grew up! What a beautiful place to hatch and a reservoir that gets stocked with 40,000 fish every year.

Lou and Annie tried to have some private time but…they got interrupted.

Both Hartley and Monty delivered prey to a very loud eyas! What a crop. Now smile. This scrape has had a complete turnaround. That is Monty’s shadow with Hartley feeding the chick.

If someone tells me that they are absolutely 100% certain that the third hatch at the Evergy Topeka Falcon Cam is ‘healthy’, I will scream.

The feather development is entirely delayed. Will the feathers coming in caught in the sheaths ever break loose? Will the eyas get help if they don’t.

Lots of chatter about who is feeding Dale Hollow 17. It does look like a male that showed up after Obey disappeared has been providing fish. At the end of the day, it is just good that this eaglet is eating well. Hopefully River will have another mate. Maybe she will rebuild this nest, maybe not. DH17 looks good.

Black storks growing big and strong.

The Dulles-Greenway Bald Eagle nest of Martin and Rosa has completely collapsed. It fell down completely during a food delivery to Flora who slipped and fell and took it down with her. She could be heard. Parents are calling her. She has fledged. Send good wishes.

The Audubon Centre for Birds of Prey continues to take in raptors caught in glue traps. This post explains what must be done to release the poor birds caught in these traps – the behind-the-scenes work that the rehabbers do—thinking of a donation? How about a case of Dawn?

Ospreys like nests with a clear view – on top of dead trees, on power poles, on light stands. They have adapted to humans taking over their territory. Sunnie Day posted a great article on a solution to the issue of nests on lighting platforms. Have a look! I think a lot of places and, in particular, ball parks and university athletic fields, could learn from this story.

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Thank you so much for being with me today. Take care all – continue to send your best wishes off to all the birds. Nests are like being on a carnival ride this year – joy, fear, up and down and sideways. See you soon!

Thank you to the following for their notes, videos, posts, and streaming cams that helped to make up my newsletter today: ‘H’,Geemeff, ‘R’, ‘SP’, Sydney Wells and Bald Eagles 101, Nick Beres NC5, LOTL, The Scottish Wildlife Trust, Glacier Gardens, Raptor Resource Project and Explore.org, PSEG, Severna Ospreys, Outerbanks 24/7, Cowlitz PUD, Seaside ospreys, Barnegat Light and Conservancy Wildlife of NJ, Tampa Bay 168 Hour Forecast, Achieva Credit Union, Poole Harbour Ospreys, Dyfi Osprey Project, Bywyd Gwyllt Glaslyn, Friends of Loch Arkaig and the Woodland Trust, Geemeff and Friends of Lock Arkaig and the Woodland Trust, SF Bay Ospreys, CarnyXWild, SK Hideaways and Cal Falcons, SK Hideaways and San Jose City Hall Falcons, DHEC, Maria Marika and Black Stork Ciconia Nigra FB, Dulles-Greenway Bald Eagle Nest, Audubon Centre for Birds of Prey, and Seattle Parks and Recreation.

First UK hatch at Manton Bay, Cal Falcons named…Friday in Bird World

12 May 2023

Good Morning Everyone,

I took Tuesday afternoon off to go to Assiniboine Park. It runs along the Assiniboine River, is home to the Zoo, the English Gardens, the Leo Mol Sculpture Gardens, and now The Leaf. The sky was clear and it was hot. People were chatting and having their lunch on benches and laughing. here were Chipping Sparrows, Greylag Geese, Wood Ducks, Canada Geese, Franklin Gulls, Nuthatches, Tree Sparrows, and Dark-eyed Juncos along with the very friendly Black-capped Chickadees. It was a lovely day to be outside. I did not spend as much time watching the screens – my eye doctor will thank me. But I have a reasonable run down on some of the nests we are watching.

We need to start with something special and this appeared in the Fort Myers weekly newspaper and is making the rounds of the FB groups. M15 is a hard act to follow – human or otherwise!

Just look at this fledgling that M15 raised. You are incredible E22!

At Cal Falcons, Red caught a moth! Oh, goodness. The first thing that came to mind was Alden and when he taught the eyases of 2022 to catch moths. Red is soooooo big – a first hatch female. So different from all the males…she is right out there doing everything!

‘H’ reports the names are Red is Rosa, Blue is Luna, and Yellow is Zephyr. So happy to see the names of the children used this year!

Is there a hatch in progress at Manton Bay Rutland for Blue 33 and Maya? Why do we think this? Maya is not hungry! Just look at that nice fresh fish Blue 33 just delivered! Maya is always hungry so something is up!

This is at 2215:

Yes, absolutely! Geemeff confirms that 0818 the first hatch for Blue and Maya and perhaps a second on the way! Remember. They have four eggs. If they raise them successfully it will be their fourth clutch of four eggs to fledge! Super Family.

Blue NC0 and Laddie LM12 laid their egg first before Blue 33 and Maya but, it will be a close horse race with these two nests.

We have a little while to go for Idris and Telyn’s eggs to hatch at Dyfi.

I am really excited to see how the season unfolds for new couple Aran and Elen at Glaslyn. This couple made the BBC news…see below. Their eggs will be hatching a little later.

OK. I will make you feel guilty — if you love those fluffy sweet Royal Cam chicks like Pippa and SP and you eat tuna. Yes, tuna, unless you catch it yourself in the ocean. Maybe it is time to pass on that sandwich or salad, as the tuna industry is responsible for the death of the albatross, according to new research by BirdLife International.

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Good news at Achieva. Middle is getting confident. This is a big deal. If the second hatch is not confident but, rather, is shy and meek, on this nest, they could starve. Middle at the Achieva Osprey nest got its change at 1007 on Thursday morning to take a fish from Big, mantle it, and have a nice feed. Way to go Middle! Still, as ‘R’ notes, this nest is so difficult to watch when you see all the fish at Moorings Park!

There is positively no shortage of fish for Sally and Harry and their kids at Moorings Park. The fledglings will be so healthy. Let us hope that they thrive…and if you ever get the chance, please advocate for the stocking of the ponds and rivers with native fish for the ospreys.

Fish everywhere…always eating…Moorings Park. That is what I will remember about this season!

Aran and Elen made the BBC news! Everyone is so glad that Aran found a new mate and Eden looks like she is going to be a fantastic Mum. A new era for Glaslyn and one lucky female who found this incredible male.

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Big Red and Arthur’s three Ms are doing fantastic. They just seem to be growing faster than I remember in past years.

It is difficult to be certain if any prey has come on the nest for Angel and her baby on Thursday. Three lizards were mentioned but the moderator of the chat says no prey delivered…you can see my confusion. Yesterday was a virtual buffet! This chick does no appear ‘on the surface’ to have been harmed by not eating for over 30 hours when it was even younger but, the reality is that it should be eating every couple of hours.

‘A’ reports: “Tom is getting the idea that the baby needs frequent feeding. Today, he has brought in three lizards and he just flew in with something that is larger – cannot even see if it’s feathered or furred because Angel is obscuring it. Again, Angel and Tom fly in together, landing literally side by side, exactly like yesterday. So close together they appear to be a single bird. It’s hard to see which of the two brings the prey and which takes it, but I suspect it is Tom giving the prey to Angel. He did intervene and re-grab one of the lizards, but the chat suggests that was to kill it not steal it. The chick ate all three of the lizards and mum is feeding it from the fourth prey item even as I type. We are SO proud of Tom. He has come a long way.”

Murphy’s baby is not a baby and we now know that Rockababy is a Male. Just look at that eaglet! That crop and those legs and that fat little bottom. This is one healthy eaglet. World Bird Sanctuary did a fantastic job pairing these two.

The Denton Homes trio hatched on April 1 and 4. They are 41 and 38 days old today. It was a soggy day on the nest but they did some self-feeding and worked on standing and walking.

It was hot over at the Decorah Hatchery nest.

The triplets at Dulles-Greenway don’t seem to care about the plastic Martin brings in or the pieces that Mum Rosa weaves into the nest, just look at them. Their sights are set on that big world beyond.

It looks like it was hot in Pittsburgh at the US Steel nest of US6. Once they get their thermal down, the eaglets can help regulate their temperature by panting with their mouth open.

Congratulations to Patogue, New York on their first osplet hatch of the 2023 season.

Baby Season or Orphan Season? It is all the same. This is the time of year when there are nests and where little ones are getting blown out, dropped, nests are toppling, parents are lost. How to identify a nestling and what do you do if you find one. NOTE: The number below in the poster might well not apply to you! – check for your local wildlife rehab clinic.

One of my favourites – one of Monty’s boys, Tegid Z1 caught eating a fish. He has a nest but there is no camera and it is on private property so we seldom see him unless he lands on the Glaslyn nest (visiting his brother Aaron Z2 at Pont Cresor?). Nice to see you Tegid!

If you are watching the Loch Garten nest, things are still not settled. Poor Asha.

I am always interested in how groups funded their projects – or not. Friends of Ospreys Su Australia – the Port Lincoln group that identifies sites, erects platforms, and puts on trackers – charges $20. They have over 900 members and are hoping that everyone pays on time. That is 18,000+ AUS dollars. We associate them with Port Lincoln and the trackers and the barge. Is this the way to go to support your projects?

In other instances, it is difficult for groups to earn money. We immediately think that students at a university have ample funding but sometimes the funds go to athletics and not the study of birds or cameras to observe Ospreys. We watched the pair at University of Florida-Gainesville on the light stand above the practice field in previous years. The bulbs were changed to LEDs and then the camera was hit by lighting. The cost to replace the camera is 10k. The students and their department, Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, have obtained a pledge for 5k. They are looking for everything from small donations – and I do mean small – to large to match this donor in order to replace their camera. If you are an alumni or a friend or someone who enjoyed this camera, I know that they would appreciate any funds and they are tax deductible if you live in the US. Google uff.ufl.edu and you will see the following tab:

And just a note! I do not know nor do I seek to find out who donates to any of the causes that I mention!

So glad Rose is home. ‘H’ says Rose looked tried and haggard, dirty when she got home..she does still a bit. Wonder what happened to her? We did not want another missing mate. It is too difficult and yet, we might have one at Lake Murray. Sadly, Lucy’s osplets are not as old as R4 and R5.

Heading back to our problem nest. The situation at Lake Murray is not good. Kathryn reports, “I haven’t seen Ricky today again, Lucy is bringing in fish but they are little. She is trying hard. Middle got maybe 3 bites and Big was furious about that. You can actually see the look on her face that she can’t believe middle is eating at all. She is pulling feathers out of middle’s back. Luckily middle is protecting its head so far. Middle knows to lay down and pretend to be knocked out.  Right now, big is laying on middle, waiting for movement again. She doesn’t even like middle asking for food. Horrible.”

Ricky has not been seen for two days. If he has not appeared by tomorrow, we can safely believe that he is no longer with us. It will be tough going for Lucy who is, no doubt, quite hungry and well, will Middle survive?

Geemeff confirms that there is a hatch at Threave Castle, possible Black 80s but we will clarify later. Thanks so much for being with me today…it is starting in the UK and I could not be more delighted. Stocked ponds and less intruders…Take care. See you soon!

I want to thank everyone for their notes, posts, videos, and streaming cams that helped to make up my blog this morning: ‘A’, Geemeff, ‘H’, Kathryn, ‘R’, Ft Myers Weekly, SWFlorida Eagle Cam, Cal Falcons, LRWT, LOTL, Dyfi Osprey Project, Bywyd Gwyllt Glaslyn, Birdlife International, Achieva Credit Union, Moorings Park Ospreys, BBC News, Cornell RTH, Window to Wildlife, World Bird Sanctuary, Denton Homes, Raptor Resource/Explore, Dulles-Greenway, PIX Cams, Mary Anne Miller and Osprey Friends, BCSPC, Elfyn Lewis and Glaslyn Osprey Group, Liz Bracken and RSPB, and Lake Murray Ospreys.

Osprey eggs, DH18 update…Tuesday in Bird World

2 May 2023

Good Morning!

The sky is blue, and the sun is bright this Tuesday morning on the Canadian Prairies. By tea time it will be 15 degrees C. This should really bring on the budding of the leaves and hopefully, we will be seeing some green shortly. Everyone in the City is preparing for the arrival of the Baltimore Orioles – stocking up on grape jelly (they like any flavour, actually) and oranges to help them after their long journey. They fly what is known as an ‘ancestral route’ through the Central Plains of the US down to Florida, the Antilles, and then to their final destination in the marshes of Southern Brazil returning to us in May. It is a long journey, 8-11,000 km (5-6800 miles). They are meeting many challenges due to the changing patterns in agricultural production and irrigation, loss of habitat, and climate changes. These guests will be a welcome addition to the garden family. They stay for about 8 or 9 days and fly north to their breeding grounds for the summer.

Your first smile for the day is brought to you by the students of the Hurst Lodge School in Montana – we missed Osprey Week but we can still enjoy their performance!

Monday evening a moth has gotten into the house. This gobsmacks Missy and Lewis. Lewis got so tired of jumping up and down chasing it that he had to nap…all stretched out. Earlier in the day, Missy and Lewis had also been napping in their Big Dog Bed..always together except in the ‘cat tree’ house. There is no longer room for both of them inside!

First, the latest update on DH18. I am so saddened to hear that an infection has been found but, glad it was and is being treated. We wait to see how our warrior is doing in a couple of days. I know that none of us will give up on DH18. His young life was full of tragedy that none of us would want to go through – lost his dad, lost his sibling, was beaked and starving at times, and then trapped with monofilament line cutting through its legs and causing tremendous pain.

If you see wildlife whose lives are endangered by monofilament lines or baling twine, you must contact the proper authorities immediately. Do not hesitate. We will never know why those watching at DH denied that the fishing line injured the eaglets. All we know is that through dedicated hard work and the efforts of hundreds of people, these two eaglets have a chance – one on the nest with River and the other with the AEF. We hope that DH18 will be released and live in the wild…along with its sibling DH17.

We all know the captivating story of Murphy and the Eaglet. ‘B’ sent me an article out of The New York Times today and it is a good one about Murphy. It isn’t long and I urge you to read it til the end. I can gift articles so please copy and paste the link. The author says, “We fail to understand the creatures who share our ecosystems because we assume they are nothing but bundles of instincts.” I wish more humans understood that all living things are sentient beings. The world would be very different, indeed.

tps://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/01/opinion/murphy-eagle-rock-baby.html?unlocked_article_code=C0NC7KXrItFJ3nP31LqrjicRndEnDVp9sfIua3biiLRQ155Rauw3gBdy1rU7V-QZkhEcamsCx3ZwdP6fAzngaXNAqQcdoRgVQw-hS306a1NHlys2x1G0uDsqatuHWANg2d4qxWknvedOg8DX3sE26d1_z4FvKEZr2pxrFPwmlvhMk9AEauVyVVxlwUBIH4zXJTmn93T3r-STgABY8WCnRb2PlXZi1HWWiEqepcHNNR-Jjijq12d4eMXSHMbEo1vMGm7KlarRk39uWdanOOPk8bcrtI2GB4P1YeIUZBl97r29_4hKZ-brILDoG4nxglajP7u9fvF8UdCyoR0_8KkIeQ&giftCopy=0_NoCopy&smid=em-share

Thanks to those great BOGs we still get to see what E22 is up to around the Fort Myers Bald Eagle nest on the Pritchett Property. The departure of E22 will be so bittersweet.

Bella and Smitty’s only eaglet is doing fine. Smitty brought in four big fish for them on Monday.

‘H’ reports that Kent Island has its first Osprey egg of the season!

‘H’ also reports that Dory up at the Boathouse might be sitting on her first egg. This is exciting! And there is that egg.

Over in the UK, the third egg has arrived at Loch Garten.

Aran continues to deliver his huge fish to Elen at Glaslyn. Oh, you are so handsome, Aran – but, what is important is that you can catch big fish!

Sasha Dench and her team from Flight of the Osprey have been in The Gambia and are driving through Morocco trying to find Blue 4K. He was located earlier and should now be in the UK breeding but where is he?

‘A’ remarks about Tom and the new baby…”Tom returns to the nest around 2.06 pm this afternoon (1 May) – check out the darling little baby from 2:04:12 onwards. Again, Angel is forced to leave the baby on its own. Tom later brought a small opossum to the nest and Angel made it very clear to him that he was not to touch the baby at this point, just bring it food! So Tom has done well today. He has managed not to kill or injure the hawklet and he has brought food. Now that’s what I call progress”. Let us all hope that this progress continues.

‘A’ continues: “Based on his actions this afternoon, I think Tom has got the message. He is delivering prey, and he has watched Angel feeding the baby. I think he is learning fast. And yes, it is a precious darling little thing (and so was its sibling). Angel is being super protective of her baby. When Tom brings the second opossum, she vocalises constantly until he leaves the nest. She remains firmly on top of the chick. She is teaching him. Gee that second opossum is huge. No wonder it provided four feedings and still there are nestovers. “

Excellent news. I am so glad there is food and that Angel is being super protective Mum although the possum family might not be happy about losing its babies. This single surviving hawk let deserves the best of care by Mum and Tom needs to keep that pantry filled – to try and ensure this one survives regardless of its DNA.

There were several fish brought to the nest at the Achieva Credit Union today. The one around 1800, which Diane brought in, was a blessing. Big Bob self-fed off another fish while Diane fed Middle. Oh, this is grand! Today was a good day on the Achieva Nest. With the drought, we can be grateful.

Harry is such a great provider and he also has the advantage of a stocked pond at his doorstep – compared to Achieva. Abby and Victor have been well cared for…is it possible they might never ever want to leave home?! It seriously feels that they are always eating fish! That pond is going to need a good restocking.

Talk about beautiful osplets. I wish the plumage would stay the same when they are adults.

Remember Friday, 5 May. The banding of the Cal Falcons. They are so cute and are getting pin feathers…flapping cotton balls. Thanks SK Hideaways.

At San Jose City Hall, Hartley found the leftover egg from last season and thinks maybe it should be incubated too – in addition to the four he is already incubating! Our giggle of the day. Thanks, Hartley and SK Hideaways.

Missy Berry flew to the nest with a fish for B16. She wasn’t there…they must have found one another because B16 returned to the nest with the fish. Well done! Lots of training going on out there for these fledgling Bald Eagles. Thanks Bel-A-Dona.

The DNA testing has returned for Ron and Rita’s eaglets at the WRDC. R4 is a male and the testing was inconclusive on R5 and will be re-done. Thanks, ‘H’.

Did anyone else notice Big Red looking down, listening, and moving slightly differently at 1838 Monday evening? Pip watch is coming!

Big Red got up and left the eggs around 2000. No pip yet.

This morning at the change over…I am getting excited.

And a bit of a giggle – Big Red getting that egg cup just right.

In Latvia, the two White-tail Eaglets of Milda and Voldis continue to thrive. Wonderful!

‘L’ sent me a photo of the Canada Goose family that lives hear her in the Carolinas. Look how protective they are. Geese are amazing parents. Thank you, L.

The two books I am currently reading are about geese, particularly Pink-footed Geese, Barnacle Geese, Greylags, Brants, and Bean Geese. They are The Meaning of Geese. A thousand miles in search of Home by Nick Acheson and Wintering. A Season with Geese by Stephen Rutt. I must admit that I find Wintering quite a delight to read. Rutt’s writing style sucks you into his burgeoning love for these large flying creatures. It is his discovery and fascination that keeps you turning the pages. Acheson’s book is excellent, too. It is a diary of his year spent with the geese weaving in their history, the science, the challenges of climate change for our feathered friends. Both, however, deal with the migration from the Siberian Tundra or Iceland and Greenland of these beautiful creatures who land in Scotland or Norfolk beginning in September to spend their winters in the UK. Highly recommended.

“grey lag and pink footed geese” by Nick Goodrum Photography is licensed under CC BY 2.0.

Thank you so much for being with me this morning. Take care everyone. See you soon!

Thank you to the following for their notes, pictures, videos, posts, tweets, and streaming cams that helped make up my blog this morning: ‘B’, ‘L’, ‘H’, ‘A’, ‘S’, Geemeff, Hurst Lodge School, AEF, The New York Times, SW Florida Eagle Cam, NCTC, Explore.org, RSPB Loch Garten, Bywyd Gwyllt Glaslyn, Conservation without Borders, Geemeff and Conservation without Borders, Window to Wildlife, Achieva Credit Union, Moorings Park Ospreys, SK Hideaways and Cal Falcons, SK Hideaways and San Jose City Hall, Bel-A-Dona and Berry College Eagle Cam, WRDC, Cornell RTH, Latvian Fund for Nature, and Openverse.

Can you help DH18? Sadness at Captiva…Saturday in Bird World

22 April 2023

Good Morning Everyone,

It is Earth Day, and the theme for this year is ‘Invest in our Planet’. Imagine if everyone invested what they could, how much better the planet would be for our feathered friends. As a start, I would like to thank all the wildlife rehabbers who have the challenging task of helping our feathered friends return to the wild after they have had a mishap or severe injury. They are our heroes, and every day, they invest in helping these beautiful creatures live the life they are supposed to. Secondly, I want to thank everyone for all you do to make this planet a better place for our feathered friends. Whether it is donating to your local clinic, educating students or new friends, to spreading the word about the dangers and how we can remediate them, you make a difference. Thank you!

The snow did not materialise but the wind sure did. Blowing up to 35 kph. We watched the Crows have some difficulty navigating their landings. Lucky for Missy two of them landed right on top of the conservatory. She was in awe! I did not get a photo but just imagine her excitement after watching the skies for days and having birds far away to have them just a metre from her. Goodness.

We will start with the sad news of the day so that we can move onward. Florence flew off of the Captiva Osprey nest at 1300 with a fish. She did not return after eating. Angus was incubating while she was away, but he flew off at 1455 when she had not returned. Angus returned in 1845 but did not go to incubate the eggs. It is 72 degrees F on Captiva, and as Renie, the moderator for the chat, has stated, “This is not good for the eggs.” At the time of my writing, 23:15, the eggs on the Captiva Osprey nest appear abandoned. With revised hatch dates, we were one week away from pip watch. Thanks, ‘H’, for continuing to moderate this situation for us.

‘H’ reports the following:

“Tentative ID, mods prefer to wait for daylight to be sure, but Osprey believed to be Angus returned to the nest at 03.07.18, and is incubating.  Looks like Angus to me.  

4/21, They were not having significant intruder issues at the time.  Flo was eating her fish on her palm branch (as seen on the PTZ cam), and when she was done at 13.27, Flo simply flew away from the tree.  She has not been seen since.  Jen, the PTZ cam op searched for her everywhere.”

Angus returned at 1845, but won’t sit on eggs, he seems to be looking for Flo. This is so very sad, and we might never know what has happened to Florence. The only consolation is that the eggs had not hatched. It would be virtually impossible for Angus to care for newly hatched osplets alone.

I am having trouble keeping up with my forms. As many of you know, Claudio Eduardo designed a particular programme to help me instantly determine the % of deaths in Ospreys from siblicide or other causes, along with eggs laid, hatching and fledging %. It means putting in the data, and right now, many of those UK nests are starting to get their first or second eggs. I get one form finished and discover another has laid an egg. It is so exciting.

Today Kielder Nest 7 got its second egg for KX7 and KM18. The nest everyone was anticipating was Poole Harbour. CJ7 laid her first egg of the 2023 season with mate Blue 022 at 19:12:47 Friday night. Earlier Louis and Dorcha had their first egg for 2023 at Loch Arkaig.

Richmond and Rosie, the Ospreys whose nest is on the Whirley Crane at the Richmond Shipping Yards in SF Bay, have their first egg. Time was 17:39 and Richmond was there with his lovely lady.

‘H’ reports that Duke and Daisy have their first egg at Barneyghat Light this morning at 05:15 in New Jersey with Seaside getting their second egg on the 21st.

Aran and that gorgeous unringed female continue to get to know one another. She has been at the nest mirroring Aran’s behaviour for a week now. Oh, I hope she stays and they have eggs this year. Aran is a great catch and the nest is fantastic albeit always visited by Monty’s kids!

Both were on the perch together in the wind.

It sure looks a lot warmer in Wales than it did in Missoula, Montana when Louis came to check on Iris.

We have another single parent household. This time it is the Peregrine Falcon scrape in Rome. The female is missing sadly. Alex is trying to feed the chicks. Send him your most positive wishes. They are adorable.

The eaglets in the US have either fledged are are small. B16 from the Berry College nest continues to return to get food from Pa and Missy. She is a beautiful big girl!

Smitty and Bella’s little one is now sporting a white fluffy mohawk and clown feet. Wasn’t this one about the size of Decorah eaglet a week ago? Not really but it sure feels like it! They grow in the blink of an eye. What a crop!

‘H’ sent in some great news. The sole hatch of Connie and Clive at the Captiva Bald Eagle nest, Connick, is being transferred to the Audubon Centre for Birds of Prey at Maitland, Florida where he will remain until all of his feathers grow in properly. He will receive flight and prey hunting training there along with enrichment. It will be a long haul but it is wonderful that the centre was willing to take him! Thank you Audubon!

Murphy continues to watch over the eaglet. He has never brooded the chick but is a keen protector and motivates the eaglet to eat.

The staff at Wild Bird Sanctuary are excited because it means that the eaglet will imprint on Murphy and not humans and will be free to be released when it can fly and hunt.

Everyone is waiting for the hatch at the Decorah Goose nest! Tomorrow is the day but we all know things could be early or a little late.

Down the road the Decorah Eagles at the Hatchery have so much nesting material for the little one that you can barely see the top of its head when they are feeding it!

Sweet little baby of Chase and Cholyn at Two Harbours is getting ready to be warmed by the sun.

Oh, that little one of Annie and Lou’s is quite the character. It is always hungry and just waiting for anyone to arrive with prey! Just look at that fade when an adult comes in with some prey. That little one is right up there in the front ready to be fed!

Cal Falcons will be banding these three on the 5th of May! Put it on your calendars and guess what…there will be the name the chick contest, too!

‘A’ comments, “Did you see how big the pieces that the youngest at Cal Falcons is swallowing without turning a hair (feather)? Of course it was essential for it to do so if it was going to eat early on, so it learned that one very quickly. It helps of course that Lou has become SO proficient at preparing prey. These chicks look like their meat has been trimmed by a professional butcher and bought at a gourmet supermarket! Lou is just fantastic.”

River continues to work on getting the tangled materials on the nest and the monofilament line off of DH18. There have been at least 2 fish today and both of the eaglets ate well – and, late in the day, River arrives with a huge bass and everyone has a big feast. Her fishing is great and the eaglets and her are eating well. Let us all be hopeful that she gets 18 untangled. She is completely aware of the situation and working on it. As an older eagle – in this nest – she has probably seen more than her share of fishing line and hooks. I remember last season she saw a hook and got it off the nest. She knows what they can do. So…let’s wish she gets this latest issue solved for 18.

Terry Carman wants to spread the word about DH18 and here is a list of contacts to help. Maybe if we have an Army we can get some help for this eaglet this year. Thank you, Terry for getting all these contacts together! This is a good way to try and get help on Earth Day for that little eaglet.

‘H’ reports that “R4 ate for approx. 14 minutes at 8 feedings (a couple of those feedings s/he sat out completely).  I only count the short periods of time when R4 gets into a groove where it is eating normally, and eagerly swallowing bites.  I do not count the periods of time when R4 is shaking its head and spitting out the bits.  R4’s best crop of the day was the one I already showed you from 07:35.  R4 had several good ps yesterday.  The one last night at 0021 was a little small.  (most of the time the ps are stated in the chat, that’s how I know to go look, unless I just happened to be watching).  R4 acted normally . . lots of standing, walking, wingers.  Hopefully R4 will eat more today, like s/he did on 4/19.”

Much of the time our wildlife winds up in wildlife rehabilitation clinics because of humans. There are many ways to get rid of mice and rats that do not involve rodenticide. In fact, a former student living in northern Manitoba, has voles now. Guess who showed up to clear them up? A kestrel! Hopefully no one has put out rodenticide in that northern city of ours. This owl was not so lucky. Educate people. Talk to your local pest control about alternatives.

I am pleased to tell you that the Cowlitz PUD – a utility company in Washington State – has been proactive in trying to help Electra and her mate. Last year the Ospreys lost their three healthy osplets to Bald Eagles, who removed them from the nest over two days. The company has not placed protective guards for the ospreys. This is just wonderful news. Electra has now laid two eggs.

It is a busy time for wildlife rehab clinics around the world right now as chicks of all species are coming in – lost parents, blown out of nests – you name it. This little osprey was in the water about to be washed out to sea.

Not only is it Earth Day tomorrow, but it is also our local wildlife rehabbers ‘Baby Shower’ – a fundraiser in anticipation of all the nestlings and fledglings that will be in rehab sooner than we can imagine with the wind and the snowflakes still around on the Canadian Prairies. It is a good time for everyone nearby to drop in and say hello and take them things they will need or send them an online donation. Does your local wildlife rehab centre have baby shower days? I will also be keeping an eye on Mother Goose. Seriously who doesn’t love a ‘Mother Goose’?

Our condolences go out to Lori Covert and all the folks at Window to Wildlife and Angus. We will never know what happened to Florence. She would not have abandoned her eggs. It has been such a sad year for Captiva especially after the miraculous rebuilding there after Hurricane Ian. Keep sending all the nests your most positive wishes!

Thank you for being with me today. I am so fortunate to be in such wonderful company as all of you. Every day I wake up with a smile knowing that so many caring people are out there in the world making a difference. Take care. See you soon!

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, tweets, announcements, videos, and streaming cams that helped to make up my blog this morning: ‘A’, ‘H’, Window to Wildlife, Kielder, C Marguilis and SF Osprey Cam with Rosie and Richmond, Bywyd Gwyllt Glaslyn, Montana Osprey Project, Gris Adriana and orange, Australia Peregrine Falcons, Berry College Eagle Cam, NCTC, Wild Bird Sanctuary, Raptor Resource Project and Explore.org, IWS and Explore.org, Cal Falcons, Dale Hollow Eagle Cam, Keisha Howell and DHEC, WRDC, Nine Sirous and Cornell Haw Cam Chatters, Cowlitz PUD, Barbara Walker and Osprey Friends and Terry Carman Bald Eagles Live Nest and Cams.

Sunday in Bird World

16 April 2023

Good Morning Everyone,

On Saturday, a grey day in Manitoba started drizzly and cold. The birds were at the garden feeders an hour early. It was pretty interesting. There were more Black-capped chickadees and woodpeckers today than in previous days. The conservatory has genuinely been a blessing. It is like sitting with them in the middle of the garden but separate, not bothering them. They seem unaware of my presence, looking out the windows, often with my camera. Thankfully, the sun is up, and it is a bright day in Manitoba this morning.

Missy has taken to enjoying looking out the window from inside a large ceramic platter that has become a new sleeping spot!

Lewis is such an ‘angel’ when he is sleeping.

Our continuing good news story comes from the World Bird Sanctuary. Murphy and his Eaglet are doing well. The folks at World Bird Sanctuary are working hard to get some images out. These are screen captures from a short FB video they posted. Things look good. Just look at Murphy, 31 years old, wanting to be a Dad, sitting by his eaglet. Does it get any better?

In the images below, Murphy is teaching the eaglet what to do.

Murphy and his eaglet made the news – well, they are making the news around the world. We are so in need of joyful happenings and this is certainly one of those.

Other happiness comes from the Achieva Osprey nest and San Jose City Hall. I received word from ‘H’ of the two big celebratory occasions. First up, there was fear for Middle Bob at Achieva. He has not eaten much for at least two days. On Saturday at 16:44, a big fish landed on the nest, and Middle Bob was fed for 25 minutes. Today, Middle managed to get to a place where he could get fed and be protected from the aggressive older sibling. It was a relief to all watching. It is one day at a time on this nest. It is an extremely difficult Osprey platform to watch – and it isn’t any easier this year than it was in 2021.

At Dale Hollow, DH18 stole the fish and had a good feed. Again, River is doing her best with all the intruders in dire circumstances. She has been feeding them every day. Perhaps not nearly as much as she would like or they need but, they are being fed. We have to remember that River also needs to eat. It is extremely difficult for single-parent raptor nests. We send her and DH17 and DH18 our most positive wishes.

Do you recall the year-old falcon, the San Jose City Hall male who tried to feed his first egg? Well, as of Saturday, he has four eggs that he will have to feed in a little over a month! They will need a full pantry!

‘H’ also sent me a link to a tribute to Connie-Clive-Connick. Nice one! Connick is healing. His blood is coagulating and CROW is attempting to find out what impacted his primaries.

Anna and Louis are taking very good care of Trey as her leg injury heals. Mum Raptors love to fill those babies up to the top of their crop to keep them on the nest. Trey, you need to rest your leg not be flying all over the tree!

In Latvia, Milda and Voldis now have two little White-tail eaglets. It is so hard to see them in that deep nest bowl.

Saturday is the day for Ferris Akel’s tour and there was plenty of waterfowl today including a Wilson’s Snipe. Oh, I love shore birds and am so looking forward to seeing some ‘live’ here in Manitoba this summer. I did not know that the female Wilson Snipe tends the eggs and nestlings. Once the chicks are ready to fledge, the adults split them up. The male takes the two oldest and the female takes the two youngest.” Separate training!

Ferris checked on one of the Bald Eagle nests and to everyone’s surprise there were eaglets – at least two – their heads poking above the rim. Adorable.

The highlight of the tour today was the Great Blue Heron Rookery at Montezuma.

Sunset at Montezuma.

Iris brought in a whopper to the owl pole and had a really good feed. Then she spent time sitting in her nest watching the activities in the parking lot. I have not noticed Louis being over yet and my friend, ‘T’ says he will wait until Star has eggs under her and she can’t check on him! Too funny. Ospreys have such interesting behaviours.

Iris is great at catching whoppers.

Just look at the size of that fish. She could easily take first prize in the local fishing contests.

There are now three eggs at the Patuxent River Park Osprey platform #1.

The Glaslyn Valley is waiting for a new Queen. It looks like Aran might have one!

The unringed female is a natural beauty. Those intense eyes remind me of Mrs G.

Aran preparing a fish for his beautiful female.

She is waiting in the nest when Aran brings it to the rim.

She accepts!

Good night, Aran. You might have a formidable new mate who will protect your chicks against anything!

There is no rewind on the Foulshaw Moss camera in Cumbria. Polly Turner caught Blue 35 laying the season’s first egg for her and White YW. I am incredibly fond of this female and how she was able to ‘trick’ her two much larger by a long shot osplets so that she could feed the tiny third, Blue 464 two years ago.

The first egg was laid at the Dahlgren Osprey Platform in Virginia on 11 April. Jack has been filing the nest with plastic objects, not toys, but, junk. There was concern for the egg. ‘H’ notes that it is now four days since the first egg and no second one. We wait.

‘H’ reports this morning that 4 days and 16 hours after the first egg, Harriet at Dahlgren laid her second egg.

M15 continues to be rather amazing, as are his two fledglings. The female intruder wanted a fish M had brought to 21 and 22. She landed in the nest, trying to take in. E21 flew in to help dad – he was fearless. Then 22 came in to assist. What a team they made. The female still made off with the fish, but seeing those three work together cooperatively was remarkable.

A must watch. M15 defends the nest from the female intruder! Fish goes over board.

It is just so much calmer within the scrape at Cal Falcons. Lou really wants to feed his trio.

More of Lou – and Annie – and the trio from SK Hideaways.

It seems that each of us has, at one time or another, yelled – loudly or silently – at the GHOs on the Pritchett property that continually hit and harassed M15 and the Es. At the same time, we look at Bonnie and Clyde’s two owlets and want to ‘cuddle’ with them. They really are quite adorable.

The three eaglets at Dulles-Greenway had big crops throughout the day. The plastic bags on the nest have multiplied. There are now two. Hopefully, the wind will blow them from the nest before any eaglet gets tangled. You might remember that nests have been cleaned when too much human debris could endanger the nestlings.

‘A’ notes that it was Rosa that brought in the squirrel that has been feeding the little ones. Martin arrived in the nest empty taloned yesterday to Rosa’s dismay. So far this nest has done well with the three. We do not need any intermittent lags in prey delivery right at this stage!

Wet little munchkins.

I have lost track of when the goslings are due to hatch in Decorah. Do you know? It will be grand to see them all take that leap of faith again this year.

Just down the road is the Decorah Hatchery nest with its cute little eaglet. It started raining late in the day and HM is keeping baby warm and dry.

Abby and Victor are 44 days old today. Stunning. Their juvenile plumage is nothing short of gorgeous.

A portion of England’s wetlands seek UNESCO heritage status. Wetlands. How often do you think about them? They are critical during migration, and they are essential for the ducks and waterfowl or the raptors that hunt them. We need more wetlands across the globe. Many regions are working to increase theirs. What is happening where you live?

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2023/apr/15/avian-super-highway-uks-pitstop-for-migrating-birds-seeks-unesco-status-aoe?CMP=share_btn_link

Thank you so much for being with me today. Take care everyone. Hope to see you soon!

Thank you to the following for their notes, observations, videos, posts, and streaming cams that helped make up my blog today: ‘A’, ‘H’, Australia Raptor Care and Conservation, World Bird Sanctuary, Achieva Credit Union, Heidi McGru and Achieva Ospreys with Jack and Diane, Dale Hollow Eagle Cam, San Jose City Hall, Onabebe and Captiva Eagle Cam, Tonya Irwin and KNF Eagle Cam Fans, Looduskalender Forum and Latvian Fund for Nature, Ferris Akel, Montana Osprey Project, Ashley Wilson and Patuxent River Park Osprey Nest, Bywyd Gwylld Glaslyn, Polly Turner and Friends of Loch Arkaig Ospreys, Dahlgren Ospreys, Sw Florida Eagle Cam, Cal Falcons, SK Hideways and Cal Falcons, Farmer Derek, Dulles Greenaway, Decorah Goose Cam, Moorings Park Ospreys, and The Guardian.

Lou and Annie’s fluff balls, hatch for Milda and Voldis, Osprey soap opera…Saturday in Bird World

15 April 2023

Good Morning Everyone,

Some excellent news has come to me via Karel and Bogette’s Livestream from Cornell this morning. Last year, Big Red’s beautiful girl, L1, was killed when she struck the breezeway that connects the old Stocking Building and the new Stocking Hall on the Cornell Campus. It is also the building where L3 was injured. Two years ago, a Bird Strike Committee was established at Cornell to remediate issues related to glass structures. The Acopians are now installed on the breezeway at Stocking so that Big Red and Arthur’s Ms and all other raptors on campus are protected.

This is Stocking Hall. The breezeway is in the middle.

The Acopians being installed.

The article about Bird Strike. Thank you, Cornell, for rising to the challenge since you are – Cornell Bird Lab! Now every building everywhere with glass should have these simple devices installed to protect our birds.

Red-tailed-Hawk-Fledglings-Face-Invisible-Challenges-Cornell-Lab-Bird-Cams-Cornell-Lab-Bird-CamsDownload

Oh, it was cold to the bone on Friday in the Canadian Prairies. The skies were heavy with clouds and only reached 4 degrees C. There was rain but that did not stop the Dark-eyed Juncos from seeking out the millet or the Starlings and Woodpeckers coming for the suet, thankfully. We will have some cloud and sun and then, believe it or not, snow is forecast for next week. Poor migrants!

The mate was waiting for its term on the Crabapple Tree.

The squirrels were out enjoying the peanuts! This is one of Dyson’s sweet babies from last year. Watching them chase one another through the lilacs, sending the birds fluttering away for a few minutes is such a pleasure. They all survived the winter.

Meanwhile, in the house, Lewis and Missy decided that rainy days were good for napping in the ‘Big Dog Bed’. They certainly fill it up! Despite their antics, the two of them are inseparable. Constantly having to touch one another, doing the same thing, grooming one another. It is pretty precious.

The early morning grin for the day continues to come from World Bird Sanctuary!

An intriguing interview and the ‘excellent news of the day’ comes from Conservation without Borders. This is one of the best – can wildlife thrive at a garbage dump? Listen to what Sasha Dench found out in Dakar, Senegal.

Annie and Grinnell’s Laurencium (Larry) has been breeding on Alcatraz and her and her her mate have four little eyases. Wow! That amazing pairing of Annie and Grinnell live on in their grandchicks.

Meanwhile, Annie and her new mate, Lou, have three eyases with constantly open beaks ready for prey!