Tag Archives: Jackie

Saturday in Bird World

25 July 2026

Hello Everyone,

It was a wonderful time with out son and daughter-in law as well as our daughter and her partner. A busy week. They took my list of things to do and just go on with it. The Peletron bike now longer haunts me sitting by the dining room table. The box room is cleared up and it has a new home. The attic is 95% cleared out. All the good stuff was kept, lots donated, and some sadly made it to the landfill. They were so organised! My contribution was to ‘stay out of the way’. The kids leave to return to their home in the Caribbean in a couple of hours. Gosh, I miss them already!

I apologise for I have not caught up with answering your e-mails. My inbox has exploded since the funds came through for Moon Camp.

A lot has happened in Bird World.

First of all, everyone knows that the funds needed to purchase the land and put it into a trust – Moon Camp – to preserve the foraging area of Jackie and Shadow and whoever comes after them is secure. They did it with a week to spare. Bravo!

https://friendsofbigbearvalley.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/Moon_Camp_funding_press_release_7_24_26.pdf

Every news agency carried this remarkable story. KTLA 5 was one of those. https://youtu.be/R37G4tN1dYE?

Thank you to everyone who helped to make this happen. Now we just need Jackie home —- and she is in the best facility possible to help her, Ojai Raptor Centre!

SK Hideaways might be giving us our last look at Sandy and Luna: https://youtu.be/O32HJ6mozQI?

Sadly, as it happens every year, a White-tail waited til the osprey fledglings get nice and fat for fledge and then struck. AK wrote: “
Sadly, UMU, the #4 nestling in Finland, was taken by a White-tailed Eagle.”

If you follow the images below you will see that the osprey cme to try and get its chick to no avail. The WTE slipped into the forest.

You can see the sequence here, and the osprey flies up to the forest and then turns to the right. So sad. They wait, those eagles and hawks, til the osplets are fat and ready to fledge.

It is fledge watch and Geemeff just sent me the cutest video of Amber flapping her wings and then helicoptering out of view of the camera. Soon! It comes too quickly! We sit and wait for eggs to hatch – that seems to take endless time – and then before we know it they are losing their baby look and turning into ferocious reptiles and then beautiful juveniles. For all those who survived this most tragic year, we salute you and anyone and all who helped.

Amber’s great flapping and helicoptering. https://youtu.be/J6Ki2ZIxvoI?

There are still 4 chicks at Blackbush.

Looks like two at Collins Marsh in WI.

I hope Sassy is eating.

Ping Shen reports from Seattle: “Hope you are well and the heat and smoke are not too bad. We are getting a bit of both here in Seattle, though nothing like what the midwest and northeast had last week.

Some good news mid-week – a very short visit today and all 3 young continue to look good. Mom delivered a Starry Flounder not five minutes after I arrived and lunch was served. The pecking order is very clearly established – you can see #3 sitting back while the first 2 surround mom, the little one not even trying to get in there and seemingly content to wait. However, since it seems to still be doing well, I guess there has been enough fish for this complacency to work! Fingers crossed they continue to well but so far so good. They are now well past the stage where they lost #3 last season, so an improvement already…”

News from Viki and Indian Creek: “LB seems to have split now that Lily has returned. Lily had no problem getting the first AND the second fish I threw this morning, ate them both, not even stopping by the chick’s nest, and since she was full she let the third one I threw sink and the chick has not been fed. It’s like one step forward, two steps back.

Full blown construction surrounds me in the neighborhood today. I sit out on the porch (second day in a row of lovely weather) with noise canceling headphones on.  Waiting for LB to show up so I can throw a fish to him to bring to the chick.

LMAO – you are right! An osprey from the other side of the creek just now got that fish. Glad to know they float for a long while.

Heading out to give Lily one more chance – I cover up with a Dr. Seuss XL pajama pant and a long sleeve shirt from one of my husband’s political campaigns. Hoping it was LB who took #4 fish. Sheesh. This is becoming stressful!? [Note: Viki is the mother of the chicks.}

Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Friday 24th July 2026

More intruder action today but Dorcha made sure they didn’t come near the nest, allowing the chicks to get on with wingercising and stuffing themselves with fish. There was a lot of fish to get through as Louis delivered seven fish taking the Nest Two tally to three hundred and twenty six, and the chicks are in great shape. Both Amber 8P6 and Juniper 8P7 have been exercising their wings, strengthening them ready for fledging, doing little hops, and Amber in particular did some quite high mini-helicopters, when she wasn’t tangling her talons or wings in a stick, as she did on one occasion. Over on Nest One, Aurora and Garry have stopped paying attention to the rotten but still intact egg and Aurora sleeps elsewhere now, but they are still attending the nest, bringing fish and bedding and adjusting the furnishings. This bodes well for next year when with luck they will produce a viable clutch. Garry brought two fish for Aurora, taking his tally to one hundred and eighty one. The ‘gentle breezes’ forecast for today seemed much stronger than that, but of course, exposed nests at the top of tall trees will feel the effects more. Those ‘gentle breezes’ are set to continue tonight and through tomorrow, with heavy rain, a low of 13°C and a high of 17°C. At the time of filing this report (half past midnight) the rain has begun and Dorcha is on the nest next to her chicks.

Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/H7JrmiDE4Tg N2 Dorcha sees off an intruder Osprey 07.58.40

https://youtu.be/LCWLmremJP4 N2 Amber tries to steal fish one but Dorcha holds on 08.20.27

https://youtu.be/LX1ZgDdr8vw N1 Garry won’t give Aurora his fish and leaves with it 09.01.26

https://youtu.be/Q5_obJoQWXg N2 Fish two arrives with an intruder alarm 11.29.02

https://youtu.be/8i1xMBWv_Ow N2 There’s a bit of a melee when fish three arrives 16.08.17

https://youtu.be/SHVQSNon5QQ N2 Amber gets high! Quite high mini helicopters 16.24.01

https://youtu.be/D5WRZFFvKbo N1 Aurora works to subdue a lively flatfish 17.59.05

https://youtu.be/G4gKH18phBs N2 Fish four makes a substantial trout dinner 17.59.24

https://youtu.be/2ulgVlV0Mu0  N2 Amber does more mini helicopters getting ready for lift-off 19.31.36

https://youtu.be/rbM6Iy4vP3k N2 Dorcha quickly dispatches fish five, a flapping flatfish 20.02.28

https://youtu.be/TtZwJA3W4L4 N2 Tiddler trout fish six is gone in three minutes 21.03.39

https://youtu.be/JZES_gqHRts N2 Another tiddler trout, number seven lasts two minutes  22.14.45

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

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

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Wensi is getting flappy with those wings too. https://youtu.be/I6urCTO9eUw?

I will have more news on Monday. I am still trying to rest up from that wonderful visit! This morning we went to the English Gardens with Toby. Don is doing well after I adjusted his medication four days ago. The change has been rather phenomenal and I am delighted.

Toby checks out all the flowers.

My gorgeous granddaughter, Elysha, who long time readers will know – on her wedding day in Australia.

My family wishes you a good weekend.

See you on Monday!

Thank you to SK Hideaways, Ping Shen, and Geemeff for their great contributions, to those who posted on FB and to the owners of the streaming cams and YouTube stations.

Donations pour in for Jackie’s care…Tuesday in Bird World

21 July 2026

Good Morning Everyone,

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!!!”

Second fledge at Borders.

SECOND FLEDGEDownload

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

°C tomorrow.
Today’s videos:https://youtu.be/cFjdcEiU3IE N2 Louis brings a small breakfast trout 04.25.00https://youtu.be/qPeJAHQFafQ N2 Dorcha defends vigorously against a ringed intruder 09.19.53 (+ screenshots)

https://youtu.be/2wmTvJSc-f4 N2 The chicks are intrigued by a dragonfly 09.53.06 (slo-mo zoom)https://youtu.be/8Xt-D9QC_oI N1 Garry brings fish for Aurora then does housekeeping 13.05.25

https://youtu.be/NaNKoloCJyA N1 Aurora ‘s calling for fish but Garry has other ideas!16.48.26https://youtu.be/kguJ6F2p0rg N2 The chicks gather round as Dorcha grabs fish two 17.36.44https://youtu.be/jlldcuuNsHg N2 Intruder Blue 9A6 locks talons with Dorcha, both go overboard! 17.58.10 (slo-mo repeat with zoom)https://youtu.be/-QzxCCkoFSg N2 After the dramatic intrusion, the family’s ready for fish three 19.24.57https://youtu.be/Ze8SMQn9Yl8 N2 Dorcha gets most of fish four to herself 21.58.07 

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

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

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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.

Is it Jackie?…Late, late Sunday in Bird World

19 July 2026

Good Evening Everyone,

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:

https://recorder.google.com/c0a3385a-d53f-40fc-b01b-f66df7f392d6

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.

FOBBVCAM Eagles ~ Big Bear Valley, CA ~ Jackie, Shadow; eaglets Sandy &
Luna (hatched 4-5 April 2026)
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

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

San Jose City Hall Peregrine Falcons ~ San Jose, CA ~ Hartley, Monty;
chicks Jet, Scout, Stewart, and Walton (hatched 21 April 2026)
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

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

Two Harbors Eagles ~ Catalina Island, CA ~ Cholyn & Chase
Courtesy Institute for Wildlife Studies | explore.org | Two Harbors Eagles
Cam Ops
Overlook Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yx7RKxpyzQ
Eagle Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5T2eHM8tcI

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’s videos:

https://youtu.be/H6r948rg6Zo N2 Neither chick seems interested in an early trout breakfast 04.39.33https://youtu.be/VSsTf6-iBNA N2 Fish two arrives and departs due to a divebombing intruder Osprey 05.02.07https://youtu.be/uNVCqaojMyM N2 Louis returns fish two and does a bit of housekeeping 05.19.57https://youtu.be/egFLzENxHnQ N2 Dorcha’s not there so Louis waits with fish three 06.14.10https://youtu.be/zDW0KXA0JqM N1 The nest’s empty when Garry brings the first fish 09.19.08

https://youtu.be/UMx3zPi7Bcg N2 Dorcha’s unusually quiet when Louis brings fish four 13.50.15https://youtu.be/bandf1qHQ1Y N1 This time Aurora’s waiting for Garry when he returns fish two, a whole flatfish

16.02.18

https://youtu.be/EBX6A_18VmM N2 Louis shows no sign of leaving after delivering fish five 17.37.32https://youtu.be/iX0_19-Se8I N2 Dorcha sees off a ringed intruder who overflies the nest 18.10.08

Everyone’s invited to join the lively community at Woodland Trust’s Osprey forum, it’s friendly, free and you’re all welcome:

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

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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.