I am so sorry to write and tell you that the only egg of Jak and Audacity that carried such hope for another Betty Lou this season has broken.
Send out your love to this amazing Bald Eagle couple. They tried so hard and we hoped with them.
At the Fernow Tower nest of Big Red and Arthur on the Cornell Campus, our 23-year-old Queen of the Red-tail Hawks and her mate, Arthur, have brought in the first sticks to their nest. Cornell Bird Lab caught it on video. https://youtu.be/dERgvuToQS4?
Do we think that Jackie and Shadow are thinking about a second clutch? SK Hideaways has them looking at that nest in the snow. https://youtu.be/2PqA-NX63FY?
So sorry to have to send the news about Jak and Audacity. We were so hopeful. There is a snowstorm on its way here that will begin in a few hours. Heavy snowfall warning with perhaps 16 cm. We will be fine. Please take care of yourself…and before I leave I want to show you an image that ‘R’ sent me from Gainsville, Florida. You might think that nest is in the palm tree but it is on a pole on the other side! Thanks, ‘R’. We will look forward to any report of little ones!
Thank you to Cornell Bird Lab and SK Hideaways for their videos, to the IWS/Explore.org for its camera at Sauces and to each of you for loving our raptor families. Thank you to ‘R’ for that great photograph.
Jak and Audacity’s second egg has been pierced by Audacity’s talon and is no longer viable. The first egg that was laid remains intact. Thank goodness.
There is a fishing line and a red/white bobber on the nest of Louis and Anna II in the Kistachie National Forest. The Migratory Bird Act permits intervention because this is a human-caused hazard. It requires a letter of permission from the USFWS.
At PA County Farms there is cause for celebration – first egg for our couple who often lay and hatch three or four eggs! I am hoping for just two healthy eaglets.
It was a fantastic day on the Canadian prairies. The weather is warm, the snow is now slush and horrid, but it is great for dog walks! The car washes are going to be very busy this week. By the weekend it will warm up to 0 C.
Thank you so much for being with us today. Send good wishes that the fishing line is removed safely in Louisiana and that Jak and Audacity’s first egg holds.
Please take care. See you soon!
Thank you to SK Hideaways for their video and to the owners of the streaming cams who allow us to view the lives of our lovely raptors.
This has to go first as I missed it so a belated happy birthday to Jackie and Shadow!
And before anything else, a ‘fiver’ will give you the opportunity to vote for the names for Gabby and Beau’s eaglets. But you must hurry!
Great capture of a tandem feeding by Gabby and Beau!
I wish you could have been at story time this afternoon. It was so warm in the conservatory. I started reading – Don and Toby were already there. Calico ran in when she heard my voice and then Baby Hope. The two Calicos stayed for over an hour and then left – and that is when I stopped reading. There was just something about their presence, the sun shining in the glass, and the blue sky. It really was so nice and warm and cosy. The light streaming in demanded that we have story time early, and it was beautiful. We shall switch the time to the early afternoon on these bright sunny days.
SK Hideaways has good news: “Quick news flash: Jackie & Shadow were observed mating on the Lookout Snag at 14:30:55!”
Jak and Audacity’s egg is holding! Send them your continued best wishes.
Bird Flu continues to take lives and now it is the Thames Valley Swans that are under threat.
It is so wonderful that people like Penny Albright who is vacationing is also sending us news about the local ospreys on Sanibel! Thank you.
Lucille Powell reminds us that Rosie could be arriving at the platform she shares with Richmond in a fortnight!
Storks seem to be returning to certain areas of Europe. In some areas of France, people are beginning to feel the transition from winter to spring. Some are seeing a few daffodils and quince blossoms.
I am so pleased that many are learning about the flightless parrot, the Kakapo, and checking in on the streaming cam. There are so few of these birds left and great care is taken with them just as the NZ DOC does with the Royal Albatross.
Jak and Audacity now have their second egg.
Thank you so much for being with us for this quick check on our friendly raptors. We will be back with you at the end of the week! Please take care of yourself.
Thank you to the creators of the videos that I have linked here today, the authors of the FB posts, and The Guardian for its coverage of the raptors and the environment. I am so grateful. My blog would not be the same without your talents!
This will be the last little post of the day. I will be back on Monday or Tuesday, depending on what is going on in Bird World.
Just after I sent out the Jak and Audacity post, ‘N’ sent me a note to tell me that Ellie at the Kansas City Bald Eagle nest had laid her second egg. I don’t want to ever play favourites when it comes to our birds but goodness they are laying eggs and hatching quicker than I can find out what is happening!
We need to celebrate not only Jak and Audacity’s egg but also the second egg of Ellie and Harvey! Congratulations to all!
Also, part of tonight’s story time had a quote from John Muir, the founder of the National Park system in the US. I think it is worthwhile to read it over and over again!
“Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into the trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will fall off like autumn leaves.” (John Muir, 1901)
Thank you to ‘N’ or sending me the notice about Ellie and Harvey’s second egg arrival and to Farmer Derek for allowing us into the lives of the wildlife that share his family’s property.
It might be the shortest day, but it also harks back to the days when they were not longer. It is a welcome day in our house because it has been getting dark by 1630.
So what is Winter Solstice? This is what Google said: “Winter solstice rituals focus on welcoming the return of light after the longest night, often involving candle lighting, feasting, creating altars with natural elements (evergreens, stones, candles in white/gold/green), and intention setting like writing and burning wishes or fears to release them, reflecting ancient traditions of Yule, Saturnalia, and Dongzhi that celebrate rebirth, renewal, and hope.”
There are so many ways to celebrate the solstice. The Nordic countries do a fantastic job of lighting up their community spaces and their homes, creating a warm glow using candles. I would love to do that with real beeswax candles, but the last time I tried, Missey almost caught her beautiful, fluffy tail on fire. So I decided to do some research, and here are some other ways to celebrate. I particularly like number 6: “6. Connect with nature:
Spend some time outside, even if it’s just for a few minutes. Take in the beauty of the winter landscape and appreciate the natural world around you. In these darkest days, seeking sunlight on your face becomes even more important. A brief moment in the sun can lift your mood, boost your energy, and remind you of the light slowly returning with each passing day. If you’re near water and feel called to it, cold water swimming can be an invigorating way to connect with nature and your body. Immersing yourself in cold water sharpens your senses, grounds you in the present moment, and leaves you feeling refreshed and alive. Whether it’s standing under the sun, walking through frosty fields, or dipping into icy waters, connecting with nature during the Winter Solstice invites us to align with the Earth’s rhythms and find peace in its beauty.” Oh, I don’t think I am brave enough to take a plunge in our icy rivers but a nice walk with Toby in the park will be perfect.
Toby’s friend, Nellie, is already to make some holiday memories with him and The Girls.
This is just the best news about Girri. We knew she was a strong girl! And thankfully the weather has been brilliant after her fledge. Please read and smile. (There is older news below).
Jak and Audacity have been together for eleven years. We have witnessed their triumphs and their struggles. Cried and leapt for joy. SK Hideaways gives us their history. Enjoy. https://youtu.be/jCVVKQNIbfw?
News on Girri on the Falcon Cam chat: “21 DEC BOX 04.38.50 distant call heard; 04.41.52 D out; Gimbir in box 05.51.33, 06.12.22, 06.22.01, 06.31.00, 10.03 44; Girri update: seen by Cilla in roost trees this morning!”
Gimbir is in the scrape. What an amazing first-time dad he was!
There could be a pip in the second egg at the SW Florida nest of M15 and F23. I sure hope this second hatch is strong and feisty.
E26 is doing great!
Protecting Mum and the nest. M15 is one of those great Bald Eagle dads!
NestFlix Memories gives us some insight into little R9 and Mummy Rose moving the fish to give it some room! https://youtu.be/dyxhLia-f6c?
There is a pip. R10 is wanting to hatch!
Feeding at Dade this morning:
Missing Big Red and Arthur and those cute little Red-tailed hawklets? Well, here is a video of the season’s highlights for you to enjoy. https://youtu.be/0PY02IzVD48?
Have a glorious day everyone! We will see you tomorrow after all the drama of Nellie’s arrival has settled. It is -28 C. Whew. So cold you don’t feel it. Bye.
Thank you so much to Cilla Kinross for her report on Girri and those lovely photos, the owners of the streaming cams, Gracie Shepherd for her FB posts, and SK Hideaways, always, for their videos!
I had to leave for appointments this morning and I just want to catch you up on a lot of happenings.
First, there is a pip at the nest of Jak and Audacity at Sauces Canyon. Their only surviving egg appears to be viable!
They are thinking this could take longer as it appears to be a crushed hatch.
I am just speechless. Is it possible that this is another miracle unfolding under a lot of feathers? Oh, send them good wishes. That egg is tough. We want this baby out safely.
The Ospreys are arriving at the nests in the UK. This morning we had Blue 35, Blue 25, and Maya’s mate, Blue 33 all at Rutland.
“The first Osprey has arrived back to Rutland. Blue 25 has recently been spotted on the nearby Manton Bay nest at Rutland Water. We’ll keep you posted as to when one arrives here, hopefully next week!“
Most of you know that Blue 33 is my favourite male of all the UK ospreys – and he is in amazing company!
1612 was the arrival time. Within two hours Blue 33 has a big fish on the nest waiting for his Maya.
In other news, Milda laid her second WTE egg in Latvia while the second egg at Port Tobacco has pipped. Many think Cholyn might lay a second egg at Two Harbours. Be on the lookout.
I am going to take a break tomorrow and I will be back with you on Saturday. I hope to welcome a baby eaglet at Sauces! If this happens, that feels like a magnum of the best champagne!!!!!!!!!
Take care everyone. See you soon.
Thank you to Barbara Wolfsong, IWS/Explore, SK Hideaways, FOBBV, NEFL-AEF, Rutland Water, River Gwash Ospreys
Viewers of the Decorah North Bald Eagle nest of Mr North and Mrs DNF were frightened today when 47 mph gusts hit the nest. Those winds will continue until tomorrow. Hatching is never planned and that little one is making keen progress from its pip this afternoon at 12:46. It is being rocked and kept warm.
In 2018 this nest collapsed. It was rebuilt and re-enforced so despite the winds, everything should be fine. Hope.
And then it snowed at Decorah North! The baby is hatching. Dad has come in to take over so Mum can have a break.
It is still unclear what is happening at the Sauces Bald Eagle nest on Santa Cruz in the Channel Islands. This is the nest of Jak and Audacity.
View of the egg this morning. It is getting more possible that the egg is non-viable. Too bad they couldn’t have one of of the 4 and one out of several triplet nests that have hatched.
If you missed it, the big news today is the discovery that there are four eaglets on the nest at the PA Farm Bald Eagles. This is extremely rare. I knew about 1000 Islands in Wisconsin last year. Someone wrote that Norfolk had four eaglets in 2011.
Congratulations to to Mr President and Lotus and the National Arboretum Bald Eagle nest. First hatch after 3 bare seasons. Here is the announcement.
Congratulations Mr President and Lotus. Meet the newly hatched DC8!
Thunder has been bringing in crib railing to the West End nest and wow, it is working in one area of the nest. Thunder watches to see if these three lively eaglets will remain contained!
Sometimes but not when Dad Akecheta wants to feed them the Cormorant that Mum brought in today. Sweet babies. Seriously sweet babies.
We are all going to have to get our worry beads out. These kids of Thunder and Akecheta’s do not sit still!
Sorry for all the videos. The wind doesn’t really show in the stills and it is nice to see the four eaglets bobble. In this last one for the day, put out by Cal Falcons, Annie and Grinnell get down to business. Eggs tomorrow? Sunday? Gosh, I hope the romance drama has settled out on The Campanile.
Since the last feeding right after 12 noon when Little Middle had a huge crop, a fish head was brought in at 12:59:56. River fed Big until 13:08:18 and stopped. Little Middle did not bother to go up. It was more than full and why set off Big? River moves up to the fish head at 15:01:11.
River steps on Little Middle’s head and he pulls back, frightened.
Little Middle looks up at the feeding at 15:16.
Little Middle isn’t quite sure what to do. He has looked eyes with Big. (Often never a good idea as it sets the larger sibling off).
At 15:16:48, River pulls the fish head between the two eaglets. It is now closer so she can feed Little Middle.
A bite to Big and then a bite to Little Middle.
Same again, one for Big and one for Little Middle.
Then several more bites for Little Middle. More for Big and then the feeding stops by 15:30. It was slow. Not much fish on the head. But slow is good. Big gets full faster!
At 16:50;56 River flies in with a teaser fish?? Like a 3 or 4 bite fish??
She offers the first bite to Little Middle who was the closest at 16:51:31. I am watching this live and have no idea how well that gesture is going to play out with Big.
At 16:53:59 Little Middle moves cautiously and with head down away from the feeding. Big has done nothing that I can see – other than her sheer presence – to frighten the little one. I cannot imagine what it is like being that so frightened.
River obviously likes this species of fish. She is taking big bites and eating them herself. I wonder what it is?
Big gets full at 16:55:59 and River begins feeding Little Middle off the fish head.
Little is still being fed at 17:10. Life is good. River returns to clean up scraps around 18:00. Feeds Big a few bites. Little Middle doesn’t bother.
I checked on Estonian Black Stork Karl II’s progress and note that he has flown west. I wish that he would fly a little more west and head to his home in the Karula National Forest through Romania.
On the 23rd of March, Karl was feeding at the north end of the Beysehir Lake in Turkey. I so wanted him to turn west and not go straight north to the nature reserves around Odessa in the Ukraine. He left that feeding area and flew NW! 285 km
Today, he flew 308 km. He is west of Istanbul, west of the Black Sea.
Here is another map. Will Karl II turn to feed along the shores of the Black Sea or will he continue to fly north away from the war in the Ukraine? If he continues to fly west away from the conflict this is quite wonderful. How did he know?
The sun is setting on another good day at the Captiva Osprey nest in Florida. Lena and Andy have done well. Both Middle and Little are getting beautiful juvenile feathering. So happy for them. There continues to be no word from the second lab on what suddenly killed Big on the 15th of March in the morning. You can clearly rule out some physical cause such as choking on a pellet. I believe you can rule out Avian Flu, too as the UGA Vet School would have been able to test for that.
Mum and Dad at the Port Lincoln Osprey Barge have been making more and more frequent appearances there. Both were on the barge today and on the 23rd I did get a shot of Mum eating a fish. Would love to see our Ervie again. He is staying close to home. Here is Ervie’s latest tracking.
It is a good day in Bird World (except for Sauces, sadly). Little Middle is going to sleep full even if nothing else appears on the nest. Big settled during the afternoon but Little Middle remains scared. That is probably for the best. He recovers faster than last week and has eaten almost all day.
Thank you for joining me. Take care everyone. I look forward to seeing you soon.
Thanks to the following for their streaming cams and/or FB pages where I took my screen captures: Captiva Ospreys and Window on Wildlife, Explore.org, Port Lincoln Osprey Project, Looduskalender, Dale Hollow Bald Eagles, Cal Falcons, West End Bald Eagles and the Institute for Wildlife Studiews, AEF NADC, and the PA Game Commission.
Many of you have been watching the Captiva Osprey nest in Florida along with me. It is the home of Lena and Andy and their chicks. The oldest sibling, Big Bob, passed away on the 15th of March around 08:39. This was a shock to everyone as all of the osplets appeared to be in good health. Big Bob’s body was take to the University of Georgia at Athens where a necroscopy was undertaken because CROW did not have the sophisticated equipment to conduct the tests. It was originally anticipated that the cause of Big’s death would be know at the end of that week. it has been announced that the tests are now being run by a national laboratory with even more sensitive testing equipment than the UGA Vet School.*
Andy, Lena, and the two remaining chicks are doing very well. Little’s plumage is almost catching up to Middle’s and they are relatively equal in size. Gorgeous Ospreys.
Andy is arriving with a morning Mullet appetizer at 08:14:57.
Look at those beautiful ‘babies’. Middle is on the left and Little is on the right.
Andy is off to get a bigger fish so he can eat the head and have some breakfast, too. He brought in the tiny teaser Mullet in tact. Look at the back plumage. Soon we will have difficulty telling the two chicks apart.
At the Red-tail Hawk nest of Big Red and Arthur, Arthur flies in to relieve Big Red at 06:40. He already has her breakfast waiting for her and she is off!
Arthur got to incubate their eggs for about forty-minutes before Big Red returned to take over.
Big Bob and Middle Bob had a really good feed yesterday morning at the Dale Hollow Nest. That Coot that filled both of them up to the brim and more was a blessing since it appears that nothing came on the nest but a small unidentified object (rat? small squirrel skin?) later. That said, the camera was diverted to the lake in the early evening. It appears – but I cannot confirm 100% – that River was digging in the nest at the time. It also appears that she found Little Bit’s body and fed it to Big. Again, I cannot confirm that for certain. It was only by going back and slowly moving the feed that we were able to catch the momentary checks on the nest.
Both were very hungry this morning and Big let it be known that whatever was coming in, he ate first. The parent arrived empty taloned.
A little later the parent returned and fed the unidentified object to the right of it above to Big. Middle did not venture up to even sniff the prey knowing that Big is very hungry and not in a good mood.
I will monitor the Dale Hollow nest again before I finish and bring any updates below. I find myself returning to the West End nest of Thunder and Akecheta. Thunder looks on with pride last evening as Akecheta feeds the three eaglets. We are all so proud of how far Akecheta has come – a doting, loving, protective Dad at age six. I also like to point out that the smallest chick on the West End nest is 4 days younger than the oldest. The youngest chick at Dale Hollow was only 3 days younger than the oldest.
This is an amazing image!
The eaglet on the Big Bear Valley nest was left alone this morning as Jackie and Shadow appeared to be on high alert.
While everyone is anxiously awaiting and mapping the return of the UK Ospreys on charts, graphs, and maps, thousands are awaiting the arrival of the oldest female Osprey in the world, Iris, from her winter migration. Her spring and summer home is the Clark-Fork River area of Missoula Montana and her nest is on a platform a parking area of the Riverside Clinic. Workers have been busy putting up fencing so no one will get too close to the nest and frighten Iris away.
At the SWFlorida nest of Harriet and M15, E20 officially fledged yesterday, the 22nd of March.
E20 had fludged after E19 fledged on the 21st. Congratulations to the SWFlorida Bald Eagle nest for two successful fledges and a fantastic year. Thank you to the D Pritchett family for caring so much for their eagles and for allowing us to enjoy watching their daily lives.
At the Redding Bald Eagle nest of Liberty and Guardian, the parents are celebrating the successful hatch of chick # 2 at 08:47 this morning, the 23rd of March. Chick #1 hatched on the 20th.
In the wee hours of the Morning at the WRDC nest in the Miami Zoo, R1 was accidentally pushed off the nest. I have no further news on the status of R1 at this time. Will update later if there is news.
R1 was spotted at the base of the tree. It then flew – yes, flew! – to an adjoining tree! R1 is fine. Not to be left behind, R2 the only eaglet on the nest at 12:30 is appearing to want to join its sibling. Wow. This is all good news!
The surviving oldest eaglet on the Duke Farms nest is continuing to do very well.
Lots of people are busy watching the Sauces Bald Eagle cam hoping for that pip! Jak and Audacity are getting anxious, too!
It was announced that there will be a live chat with Dr. Sharpe today on bald eagles on the islands, restoration, nesting, at 2 pm Eastern/11 am Pacific on the Live Chat Channel https://youtu.be/4nSIhl1fOFk
I want to end this here so that you have an opportunity to know about Dr Sharpe’s talk.
It is 11:37 nest time at Dale Hollow. No prey brought in yet. Middle flapping its wings.
Thank you so much for joining me this morning. I will have a late report today. Take care everyone. See you soon.
Thank you to the following for their streaming cams: Redding Bald Eagles, Explore.org and the Institute of Wildlife Studies, Cornell Bird Lab and RTH, Captiva Ospreys and Window on Wildlife, Duke Farms, Friends of Big Bear Valley, SWFlorida and D Pritchett, WRDC, Cornell Bird Lab and the Montana Osprey project, and Dale Hollow Eagles.
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