Tag Archives: menhaden

Has Dorcha fledged?…Late Saturday in Bird World

8 August 2026

Hello Everyone,

Friday was a busy day. The plumbers have almost finished making our main bath ‘accessible’ in case Don needs mobility aids. They were working hard today, and it was often loud, so Don went with Ann to our Zoo, and he got to see Lumi, the little lynx that was rehabilitated by Wildlife Haven. It was exciting, as they had missed seeing Lumi on three previous occasions. This evening, Don’s second cousin, a budding Vancouver photographer, was here visiting her Mum, and Susan agreed to do some photos for us at King’s Park. It was ideal, and there was more – we had some photos taken near a waterfall and pool where Toby had his first swim!!!!!!! I am going to get him a kiddie pool. You would have thought that he went swimming every day – Toby is a real duck.

Susan will edit the images but she did send us one.

As you are aware, Jackie’s latest red blood count has dropped below 10%. She has returned to the critical care unit and has to have oxygen. I feel for this beloved eagle. Without asking you, I am pretty certain that each of us would love to see her fly back to the nest to be with Shadow. The truth is – she is hanging on to life. I have seen the craziest comments – like let her fly up to Shadow, give her another transfusion. First of all, she can’t fly. Secondly, a second blood transfusion is very dangerous. I believe that, at this point, we have to trust the highly qualified vet team and Jackie to know whether she has the strength to continue fighting. Some of you will recall that at the end of June, Jackie’s behaviour was a bit off. She had a fight with Shadow over a fish. She had to have been sick then. The team are desperately seeking answers and getting more clues daily but our girl is more than extremely sick.

No matter what happens, I will be forever grateful that Jackie used all the energy she had to bring two beautiful eaglets into the world, Sandy and Luna, with Shadow this year. I suspect she was ill at the time, and that must have really taken its toll on her body. Poor thing. If it is to be, then I hope she soars into the ether with Sandy Speers, who loved Jackie so much, and that Shadow, like M15, finds another very good mate. Until then, I continue to hope for Jackie’s full recovery.

Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Friday 7th August 2026

Today was heavy with fish deliveries but light on key players – neither Dorcha nor Garry LV0 turned up today. Aurora spent a little time on Nest One but on her last appearance this evening just perched silently before flying away, clearly Garry wasn’t in the neighbourhood. The Nest One fish total remains at one hundred and ninety four. Louis however was very much in evidence, delivering eight fish to his two chicks who were stuffed so full, neither turned up for the eighth fish and he took it away again. The Nest Two total now stands at three hundred and eighty nine, four of which were brought by Dorcha. Has she left on migration? It would be an early departure for her, she usually waits until the chicks are around seventy five days old, and today Juniper and Amber are sixty seven and sixty five days old respectively.  She has been known to stay away from the nest for a day or two before leaving, popping in occasionally, so perhaps we’ll see her tomorrow. It was very wet today with heavy rain showers throughout the day, and the rain will continue lightly overnight with a low of 13°C, then heavy again tomorrow with a high of 17°C.

Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/u8OvfLOFDDI N2 Juniper crash lands too late – Amber’s already got fish one 06.24.08https://youtu.be/EKjatdnyNxI N2 Juniper gets fish two and doesn’t let go 07.39.56https://youtu.be/X2qE9z_sP5A N2 Louis waits with fish three on an empty nest 08.44.00https://youtu.be/oThXmsFRh2Y N2 Amber’s alone on the nest waiting for fish four 10.15.20https://youtu.be/Y2AthKRU0FI N2 Again it’s Amber who gets fish five 13.18.03https://youtu.be/Y6UGSEGtJdg  N2 Fish number six is a very large, very lively trout 18.19.16https://youtu.be/wHjquYUZyP8 N2 Is an intruder around when Louis brings fish seven? 19.33.20https://youtu.be/2CBec3aUa9U N1 Aurora waits silently then departs as Garry doesn’t show 20.05.48https://youtu.be/V030Nw9v4jo N2 Louis takes fish eight away again as no one’s there 21.29.00 (zoom)

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

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

Geemeff sends us a good news story – boy do we need it.

“A remarkable story – this little rescued nestling has gone on to have a long and well-travelled life!”

https://www.theargus.co.uk/news/26439373.hastings-blackbird-rescued-15-years-ago-found-newcastle

I love Blue 33 – everyone knows that – and his mate Maya. A lovely image of two of the fledglings from this year.

I am so proud of the individuals who are stepping up to stop the gill net fishing of Menhaden. There will be a survey that can be sent in to a meeting in November. I will send that link, but please educate yourself on the impact of this vacuuming of fish and the use of spotter planes has had on the entire ecosystem, including our dear ospreys dying before our eyes. Many have lost their businesses as well to save 196 jobs at Reedsville, Virginia.

Viki is still feeding three ospreys including that fledgling! She writes, “Indeed, your language is nothing compared to my anger language. ONE flipping living chick in 3 flipping years. Fed this morning. On the search for another box of bait to keep it up. Good to know that they learn to fish at migration.”

Viki was worried that the chick would not be taught to fish so I sent her a couple of articles. There are no fish for the ospreys – the nests were in sight of her porch. She is distraught but determined – like those fighting against a 0- 50% reduction because no one knows how many fish Omega are taking. It is the most frustrated I have been in years. So when the time comes to step up and speak, I hope you will join me.

George and Hope are at the Osprey House Environmental Centre in Griffins, Australia. They have three lovely osplets this year. All very healthy!

The West Midlands (no streaming cams) had a very good year for ospreys. Congratulations. Here is the total for the 2026 class:

Good news out of Rutland – chick wasn’t lost, just looking over the territory!

Wensi follows Iris to the nest to claim a fish! Listen to dear Iris call her baby. https://youtu.be/pG2fvUB51aA?

C22 slept on the nest at Charlo and has been flying around Saturday morning with Chloe – always heading back to the nest in hope of fish! Doing well.

The fledglings are all eating at Blackbush Beach Resort in Prince Edward Island, Canada.

I was very distressed this morning to see that there are proposals for an upgrade at the park near where I live. Our mayor doesn’t like geese, apparently. So this year they culled the eggs and greased others to get rid of the population. I think they don’t know much about geese or ducks. People bring their families to see the wildlife. Why not hire a few high school students during the season to power-spray the sidewalks? It would allow the families to continue to enjoy the ducks and geese; paths would be cleaner, and the wildlife would have the right to their nesting spots they have used for aeons. 3.4 million is the cost. We have lots of crime now, lots of people who are homeless with drug issues…our City is rapidly becoming not a great place to live. Many blame it on the current group of suits that are at City Hall, not just the mayor.

I agree. We need to be outside more and not on our screens. One artist is hand-drawing 1,000 birds to try and get us to do just that. But how would an app keep us off our phones? Please read.

“Hansen, a renowned ornithological illustrator and author, has a monumental task – a hand-painted compendium of every one of the roughly 1,000 bird species ever recorded from the US and Canada, including those found in waters up to 200 miles from shore, Hawaiian birds not included. When finished, it will complete the visual backbone of an app called Flock, whose mission, compared with that of most apps, is quietly subversive.

For rather than seeking to monopolize and monetize its users’ attention, it deftly employs elements of computer gaming and social networking to draw people outward, into the world of birding, with the broader aim of cultivating a community of conservationists.”

The ornithological artist drawing 1,000 birds by hand – all for an app that wants you off your phone

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/aug/08/birds-artist-flock-app-california?CMP=share_btn_url

am signing off. We are going outside today. Rain is predicted for the beginning of the week and today the temperatures will go up to a wonderful 23 C. Take care all. I hope you are well.

Thank you to Geemeff for their wonderful summary and videos from Loch Arkaig, the UK Osprey Info with Jeff Kear, to all those who post on FB, to Susan Thompson for the great photos at King’s Park yesterday, and to the owners of the streaming cams that allow us to watch our bird families. We are so very grateful to each and every one of you. Thank you as always to The Guardian for including interesting wildlife stories every day.

Jackie is critically ill…Late, late Tuesday in Bird World

21 July 2026

Greetings Everyone,

We had a wonderful birthday party for my daughter. Toby was so good… ours is a family of cat lovers, and being the first dog there has been some scepticism amongst the others. Of course, anyone reading this knows how I feel about my little man. He found some mulch, which he knew he was not supposed to have, and look at this silly character!

The weather cooperated – it was cool and sunny without any mosquitoes and no rain! It was so nice to have all the family (almost) together.

There has been some news about Jackie and I want to pass it along to you if you have not already seen it. Jackie is critically ill. She is in the best place she can be to receive care. It appears that she has some kind of toxicity. You might recall that Victor had zinc toxicity. He was a young eaglet, not yet fledged, and he survived to be released. What a glorious day that was.

I believe the date on the posting below is a typo and should read 21 July. So this is the latest information. Thanks, Sharon Pollock.

Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Tuesday 21st July 2026

More intruders today but nothing like the dramatic scenes of yesterday when 2024 Loch Fleet chick Blue 9A6 actually locked talons with Dorcha. None of today’s appeared on nest cam but Dorcha certainly saw them and reacted to them, and her day ended with her using her crow voice to warn off a Tawny Owl calling very near by. The RAF also intruded with several aircraft disturbing the peace including a trio of Typhoon jets caught on both nest cams. Louis brought three fish taking the Nest Two tally to three hundred and nine, and causing the two chicks to tussle over a flatfish which was eventually won by Amber 8P6 but not before Juniper 8P7 had had a good go at it. In between fish deliveries and intruder alarms they practised wingercising and both chicks managed a little lift off, only a few inches off the ground but helicoptering and then fledging is on the horizon. Over on Nest One, Garry LV0 brought two fish for Aurora 536, taking his tally to one hundred and seventy seven. He made another mating attempt then did some housekeeping, they’re both now ignoring the rotten but still intact egg, and it’s good to see them reaffirming their pair bond. The weather was settled and sunny but not too hot, and will remain so tomorrow with an overnight low of 12°C and a high tomorrow of 19°C.

Today’s videos:https://youtu.be/IFCDPvjn3lA N1 Garry waits on the empty nest until Aurora arrives to take his fish 10.56.46https://youtu.be/iwcojlOyXLo N2 The chicks get high! Well, a couple of inches anyway 11.52.30https://youtu.be/aW60h3-afIA N2 The first fish arrives late – the chicks tussle for it 12.36.18https://youtu.be/RMeOGHrtk_Q N2 Dorcha defends against an intruder after fish two is delivered 13.08.38https://youtu.be/hX1MSyyQRI4 N1 Romeo makes his move! 14.08.12https://youtu.be/W4Z4D-rO4uQ N2 Louis tries and fails to take fish two back again 14.53.42https://youtu.be/jfZ2uity4eM  N1 Aurora’s waiting when Garry brings fish two 16.01.50https://youtu.be/SJ_dF_Ljkxo N1 & N2 A trio of Typhoons caught on both cams 16.15.34https://youtu.be/lXfjmjhJ5rc N2 Dorcha uses her crow voice as a Tawny Owl calls very near by 23.41.31

Bonus update – Following the return of 2024 Loch Arkaig chick 1JW to Spain, here’s news of this year’s cohort of  Scottish translocatees just arrived in Valencia: 

https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/07/20/twelve-osprey-chicks-arrive-after-2700km-journey-to-help-restore-spains-wild-population

Why not come and 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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There is excellent news – David Gessner is getting involved and giving a real voice to fight over the industrial/commercial fishing of Menhaden that has caused a collapse of the ecosystem and the deaths of the ospreys.

https://www.uncw.edu/news/academic-affairs/chssa/2026/07/seahawks-in-peril-gessner-revisits-osprey-in-audubon-feature

One of the ‘groups’ that I support that work hard and punch beyond their numbers is Ventana Wildlife and the California Condors. Here is some great news from Kelly Sorenson, the Director of VWS:

July 21, 2026
Dear Mary,After the heartbreak we shared recently, we are overjoyed to bring you some wonderful news. Condor (340) and Condor (868) have made full recoveries from lead poisoning and are back in central California!
 
Thanks to the incredible, life-saving care of our partners at the Oakland Zoo and Los Angeles Zoo, both birds are now resting and recharging in our Big Sur pen. Over the next few weeks they’ll build up strength and reintegrate into the flock before their return to the wild in mid-August. And thanks to explore.organd the Live Cams, you can help us keep watch. Once Condor (340) and Condor (868) arrive later today, they should be the center of attention, both for the rest of the flock and for the hundreds of viewers like you tuning in!
 
(These Pinnacles-released condors would normally return to the Pinnacles pen, but with that pen closed for its annual maintenance, Big Sur welcomed them home. It is a wonderful example of our close partnership with Pinnacles National Park.)
 
Condor (340), “Kun-Wac-Shun”
This 22-year-old male, named by Chief Nelson Wallulutum of the Wasco Tribe, is a true legend. He is the most dominant male in the Pinnacles flock and famously raised the first wild condor chick to fledge at Pinnacles in over 100 years. After showing severe signs of lead poisoning on April 2, the Oakland Zoo’s around-the-clock care pulled him through a critical situation.
 
Condor (868)
A resilient 9-year-old male and proud father of two, Condor (868) was captured on April 30 with clinical signs of lead poisoning and rushed to the Los Angeles Zoo, where the veterinary team brought him back to full health.

A reminder of why this matters: lead poisoning remains the number one threat to wild condors. It is also preventable. By choosing non-lead ammunition, hunters and ranchers become vital partners in keeping these birds safe.Watch Condor (340) and Condor (868) on the Live Cam →Learn about our free Non-Lead Ammunition Program →Read Condor (340) and Condor 868’s full bios →Recoveries like these are only possible because of you. Thank you for standing with this flock through the hard days and celebrating with us on the good ones.
 
 
With gratitude,


Kelly Sorenson
Executive Director

…and the Condor Crew
Ventana Wildlife Society

While we might not think that there is any silver lining to Jackie being rescued after a fight with a large sub-adult, she is getting treatment for an illness that she had that had nothing to do with that other eagle. My grandmother always told me to believe hard that everything happens for a reason. I am glad that Jackie is in care. Thrilled that she was able to have two chicks this season with Shadow to fledge – Sandy and Luna. Imagine if she had young chicks in the nest and got ill without treatment. So, I want to go to bed tonight sending all the positive energy that I can to Jackie for healing. I hope you will do the same.

At our local wildlife rehab, there are two orphan hawks that are in care.

Fledge at Ranworth in the UK:

Beautiful chick at Charlo Montana!

Beautiful chick at Hellgate Canyon:

Two gorgeous osplets at Coeur d’Alene, Idaho! There was a third beautiful healthy chick that tragically died during a very horrific storm that hit the area in late June.

The new couple at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum are terrific. Just look at those two healthy fully feathered osplets.

Mum sheltering her baby in the heat at Osoyoos.

CJ7 and three of her four babies at the Poole Harbour nest in the UK.

Two fledglings wishing for fish at Poole Harbour.

Elen and Teifi’s trio at Glslyn.

Thank you so much for being with us. I really needed you to know how Jackie is doing if you didn’t know. Take care.

Thank you also to everyone who has written to me. My son returns to the Caribbean on Saturday and I hope to have time to answer those letters by late Sunday.

Thank you to Geemeff for her summary and videos and the link to the information about Gessner, to Kelly Sorenson for the great news, to the Ojai Raptor Centre who are trying so hard to heal Jackie, to Pam Breci for keeping me posted, and to everyone else who posted information on FB along with images and the owners of the streaming cams who allow us to follow the lives of these bird families.

Late Thursday in Bird World

16 July 2026

Hello Everyone,

We woke up to 18°C and rain. It was wonderful. I wish I could send this rain to Scotland, where wildfires are threatening the wildlife near Loch Garten, Loch Doon, and the Cairngorms.

This will be a quick run-through of some nests with issues! Some strange ones. But first…’The Last Osprey. In August, I will receive a Zoom meeting link for a special showing and discussion that I can invite you to, but for now, Heidi has sent me the link to Part I. I suggest that you not only watch our beloved ospreys but also have a box of tissues handy. As you know, I love these fish-eating raptors, and I just had to go in my room and shut the door. This is tragic. Please note: Click on “Watch with Ads”. There is no other way to watch it, and it helps with revenue, so be patient.

https://redcoraluniverse.com/en/details/movies/the-last-ospreys-part-1

The Wetlands Institute: Heidi has been monitoring this nest since the arrival of the osprey and provides the following information on it and South Cape May: “The chick at Wetlands attacks Dad too.  Dad brought in a fish at 12:10, but the chick attacked, and Dad flew off with the fish, and hasn’t been back.

The most recent time Mom was able to feed was two days ago. She was very tentative, but fed the chick some bites, and this went on for 3 minutes. Then all of a sudden the chick attacked her.

But, both Wetlands and South Cape May are suffering from lack of fish for the past couple of days.  

At Cape May, Hera has not been seen for two days.  Zeus dropped off 2 fish yesterday, one of which the chick couldn’t eat. Neither parent has been seen yet today.”

You may recall that last year the adults began to abandon their nests once fish was not plentiful enough. It is going to be a very ‘tough’ year emotionally as the last of the ospreys perish.

Problems at Ferguson Museum as well.

Thank you to Heidi and Pam Breci for contacting Bobby Horvath and the DEC to try and get some help for the chick entangled in fishing line for some time at the PSEG osprey platform at Oyster Bay. Heidi sent videos and neither – along with many others – quite phoning.

You can make a difference. Do not give up. This chick would have died without this intervention.

A welcome fish.

The camera at the Port of Ridgefield has been hit by lightning and will not be operational again this season. Reports say the ospreys are fine and have been seen flying around.

The camera has been down at Osoyoos for several days, but it is back up. It has been very hot. We still have one surviving osplet. How wonderful, but this nest needs fish badly.

At Glaslyn:

At Poole, 6T7 has returned to the nest after fledgling. All are home wanting more fish with DJ7 on the pole calling to Blue 022 to bring more and more fish.

Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch ArkaigWednesday 15th July 2026

Louis’ day started at 04.58 with fish one and ended at 22.58 with fish three, which was a very long day with only three fish deliveries. Perhaps he was busy seeing off intruders, like the one who caused Dorcha to react furiously when it came close enough to be caught on nest cam. Or perhaps the fish went deep due to the heat, temperatures reported to have got as high as 31.2ºC at Loch Arkaig, not the 27°C which was forecast for the area. Whatever the reason, those three fish take the Nest Two tally to two hundred and eighty seven, and Garry LV0’s one delivery to Aurora 536 takes the Nest One tally to one hundred and sixty six. Tonight’s forecast is for partly cloudy and light winds overnight with a low of 14°C, and the high temperatures will continue tomorrow with full sunshine and a high of 28°C.

Today’s videos

https://youtu.be/jguTqwcpBiw N2 Everyon’s ready for breakfast when Louis brings fish one 04.58.10https://youtu.be/9osmYn42dfc N2 Dorcha reacts furiously to an intruder 13.23.44https://youtu.be/NaYFyE3_mr8 N2 Tug of trout as Juniper tries to take fish two from Dorcha 15.36.31https://youtu.be/hjxJHjlqt-4 N1 Aurora arrives at the same time as Garry and grabs fish one 19.18.37 https://youtu.be/HBUFHA0j-M8 N2 Louis finally turns up with a third fish 22.58.22

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. There is lots and lots happening. I will be with you again tomorrow for a check on some other nests. Take care! Be safe.

Thank you to Heidi, PB, and Geemeff for all you do, and to all the others who posted information and images on FB, thank you. We are always grateful to the owners of the streaming cam! And to the folks who created The Last Osprey – that was tough to make, but maybe your message will make a difference before it is too late.

Seattle trio thriving, big fish deliveries in the UK…Later Sunday in Bird World

12 July 2026

Hello Everyone,

We are inside in the cool of the house. Curtains are closed, and the AC is on low. The water for the birds outside, as well as for the other animals that drink from the feeders, like squirrels and cats, is being changed regularly because it gets very hot. The temperature is 34°C right now, but with the humidex, it feels much hotter. I ache for them – and for anyone who has no cold water or a cool place to be today. The temperatures will drop but still remain around 30 C for the week.

One of the new European Starling fledglings let me get within 60 cm (2 ft) of them at one of the bird baths. The last clutch had three fledglings. They are so beautiful.

We also had a new visitor to the feeder in the recycling area overnight. It is rather cute.

Ping Shen writes: “From Seattle, all 3 Osplets continue to grow (fast) and look to be well fed. When I visited today they were all sleeping fairly peacefully and ten minutes later dad showed up with a fresh salmon. They all still had visible food in their crops when they started eating, so it seems they have been well supplied with fish. Interestingly there is far less bullying compared to last year when the 2nd largest often picked on the youngest – I have seen zero thus far this year. Keeping fingers crossed!”

One of the reasons that I hope to construct a map of osprey nests that fledged their entire clutch is to show where our fish hawks are thriving. Clearly, here in Seattle, there’s plenty of fish for a family of five. This is certainly not the case in the NE, from Long Island to Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts, Delaware, Rhode Island, New Jersey and even up to Maine. Storms and lack of fish due to industrial/commercial overfishing appear to be the primary cause of the collapse of the osprey population in the NE. I am joyful that this is not happening in Seattle.

SK Hideaways Videos, Week of 5 July 2026
As there are fewer North American eaglets and falcons in nests, we begin to transition our focus to the Southern Hemisphere. As such, we’ve created the first two videos of the season from the Sydney White-Bellied Sea Eagle nest of Lady and Dad (last week being the first). Having said that, we’re keeping our eye on Sandy and Luna at Big Bear, Channel Islands eagle happenings, and fleeting sightings of the four young tiercels in San Jose. Hope you enjoy!

FOBBVCAM Eagles ~ Big Bear Valley, CA ~ Jackie, Shadow, Sandy (hatched 4/4/26), Luna (hatched 4/5/26)
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

Wings Wide, Sandy & Luna Wave Off Intruder ~ Secure Perimeter (maybe) (2026 Jul 9)
While enjoying their beautiful habitat from the Lookout Snag, Sandy and Luna were approached by an uninvited visitor. They both spread their wings and quickly waved them off, then tracked them for some time before doing the rounds of the territory. Whether they were conducting surveillance to ensure the intruder was gone, we’ll never know. But once they circled round and returned to the Lookout Snag, the area seemed clear. Ground reports noted sighting a sub-adult bald eagle near the lake, so chances are good that it had ventured into Sandy and Luna’s air space. Sandy and Luna got an A+ in territory defense for their success.  
Video:  https://youtu.be/voxNZ7CTeDM

When Sandy & Luna Break Curfew, Shadow Knows How to Get Them Home (2026 Jul 6)
As sunset approached, Sandy and Luna were still out exploring. Perhaps Shadow enjoys having them on the nest tree overnight as much as we do, as he brought a small but well-appreciated fish to the nest just after 8:00 p.m. Sandy and Luna were there in a flash, sharing a little, playing tug-o-feesh a little. Shadow declared his work done for the day and departed as the eaglets settled on their night roosts. 
Video:  https://youtu.be/6sKl7bQ_JNc

Sandy & Luna Roost Overnight in Mom & Dad’s Tree with Jackie (2026 Jul 7)
Ever since Sandy and Luna started sleeping on their own in the nest, they have watched Jackie and Shadow across the way perched in their roost tree overnight. Tonight they decided to try it for themselves. And as a bonus, Jackie joined them. 
Video:  https://youtu.be/ZN22SJlgGms


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

Squees & Lightning Fast Fly-Bys of Sasha, Zuma & Ryder (2026 Jul 8)
Of Cruz and Andor’s 2026 three eaglets, only Sasha has visited the nest since fledging. Zuma fledged on June 20th and Ryder fell when the nest partially collapsed on June 22nd ~ neither have returned to the nest. Fans ease their empty-nest woes by listening to the nearby squees and catching fleeting glimpses of mostly unknown juveniles as they land out of camera view or fly by. After all, the eaglets have a lot of island to explore. ( 2026 Jul 8)Video:  https://youtu.be/IeQYmmnGWzA


San Jose City Hall 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 and Scout Visit Over 3 Days ~ Every Glimpse a Gift (2026 Jul 8-10)
Visits from Hartley and Monty’s four fabulous 2026 boys are becoming rare. Jet and Stewart have been elusive for quite awhile, but we were fortunate to see visits from both Walton and Scout recently. Here are excerpts from those visits. 
Video: https://youtu.be/ji8IM9CR59U


Sydney White-Bellied Sea Eagles ~ Lady & Dad
Courtesy Sea-EagleCAM@BirdLife Australia Discovery Centre, Sydney Olympic Park (https://www.sea-eaglecam.org/video.html)
Nest cam also at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nw4pdgy3-U0

Lady & Dad Welcome Egg #2!  Celebrate with Honk Fest Duet (2026 Jul 7)
Lady laid her second egg in the wee hours. Labor seemed quick and easy (easy for us to say). Dad arrived near dawn, and he and Lady performed their honking duet to celebrate. Congrats, Lady and Dad! 
Video:  https://youtu.be/U7bi8_Y4aQc

Do not forget to put in your name suggestions for Louis and Dorcha’s chicks! The deadline is noon UK time.

Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch ArkaigSaturday 11th July 2026

As far as we could tell, given the Nest One cam downtime, Aurora spent last night off the nest and she and Garry weren’t around much today. However they both turned up after 9pm tonight, Garry with a fish he wouldn’t give her, and at the time of filing this report, half past midnight, Aurora’s still on the nest settled on the egg. That single fish takes the Nest One tally to one hundred and sixty, while over on Nest Two, Louis brought four fish for the family, taking that tally to two hundred and sixty eight. It was slightly ironic that he only brought four fish today, day one of Week 13, as Steve Quinn had just posted the Week 12 stats which show Louis broke many records. Hyvor doesn’t allow links to comments, so enter Nest 2 fish summary to week 12 (where does one start!) into the search bar (click on the little magnifying glass on the right above the featured comment) and have a read of the impressive week Louis put in. And the impressive work that Steve puts in collating and analysing the fish stats every week! The chicks are maturing daily – 8P6 warned off a Hooded Crow today, leaving Dorcha standing staring at her with a forgotten beakful of fish for a few moments – and both chicks are standing to exercise their wings now, so we might start to see helicoptering fairly soon. The weather forecast for Inver Mallie states 0% chance of rain, with light cloud and light winds, an overnight low of 14°C and a high of 23°C tomorrow, however it’s been raining gently on both nests for the past hour. Still plenty of time to get your naming suggestions in before noon on Monday, remember to use hashtag #2026NAME.

Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/mP0HNiEZQnY N2 The family’s very happy to see early breakfast arriving 04.22.46https://youtu.be/8NZ0gjWWzrA N2 Chicks aren’t interested in fish two so Dorcha eats it all 04.38.37https://youtu.be/pqLNYVwgJfY N2 Louis delays leaving after fish three and Dorcha’s not pleased 09.08.35https://youtu.be/Bvwmyz-MxIM N2 Chicks are all grown up – 8P6 warns off a Hoodie 09.17.09https://youtu.be/VwlBWS6YGOE N2 Dorcha grabs fish four and loudly encourages Louis to leave 20.55.27https://youtu.be/EAmfIy1ksFY N1 Garry brings a fish but flies off with it 21.41.18

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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Geemeff has sent two other items. The ‘Osprey Song’ is something that I often play at home. Don really likes it along with some other ‘tunes’ from when he was a young man. If you have not joined in, do so. It is a real lift to one’s spirits.

Good news story

https://www.yahoo.com/news/science/articles/osprey-found-burned-cape-canaveral-190500227.html

and a fabulous song – but beware, it’s a real earworm… The Osprey Song,as performed by the Juniors at Hurst Lodge School. Sadly, I cannot post the link for some reason so please go to YouTube and search for The Osprey Song!

I was very excited to see that Kathryn Kier and Penny Albright (a Canadian and a lovely individual who kept us informed about the osprey on Sanibel Island during the winter) are collaborating on a children’s book about Aran’s first year at Glaslyn. While intended for a 8-11 year old audience, I hope that an ‘oldie but goodie’ like all of us might enjoy it, too!

What a wonderful fundraiser! I love the image of Aran and Mrs G above.

Still four at Blackbush and little 4 had a crop. Decidedly likes to stay away from the bigger siblings.

Early fish for the only surviving bob at the Osoyoos nest in BC.

At least one fish for the only surviving chick at Cowlitz PUD.

These nests are suffering. The fish are small in comparison to those coming in at the UK nests where there could be 5-7 fish a day!

Idris preparing a fish for his trio and for Telyn.

Teifi has been bringing in so much fish there is one on the nest almost unnoticed by the trio and Mum, Elen.

Mealtime at Poole – four big healthy chicks—indeed, four females!

Two beauties in the Usk Valley!

Flora had not been seen at the Alyth SS nest for ever so long but she made an appearance a few days ago. How grand.

Beautiful day at Llyn Brenig.

Want to see a big fish? Look at this one that Blue 33 brought in to one of the fledglings at Rutland. Now – remember what I said – you need tonnes of those tiny fish in the US or some nice big ones like this to have healthy osplets. The system in the NE is broken and the storms are harming the other nests. There are exceptions – just look at Seattle!

Thank you for being with us today. We are bored from being in the house. We have moved all the furniture in the living room and returned my grandmother’s heavy pedestal table in there where we will begin to have our supper in the fall. I would love to put a huge bouquet of flowers right in the centre – so welcoming – but ‘The Girls’ like to eat them. The only place I can have flowers is on the sink/gas stove top side of the kitchen!!!!

Take care of yourself. I will see you soon. I cannot promise a post in the next couple of day – lots going on but I might manage a short one.

Thank you to Ping Shen for their observations and images of the Seattle trio, to SK Hideaways for their videos and to Geemeff for their daily summary and videos, to all who posted information and images on FB, and to the owners of the streaming cams – forever grateful to be able to watch these amazing bird families.

Cowlitz chick dies…late Saturday in Bird World

11 July 2026

Greetings Everyone,

The end for the second hatch at Cowlitz PUD came Friday afternoon. The poor thing had suffered from lack of food all its life. I have to admit that this is not a nest that I enjoy watching – never have. I even phoned the Cowlitz PUD and spoke to them about fish availability one year. I was told there were a lot of eagles in the area. We learned this later when an eagle took three healthy chicks off the nest, one after another. The company put up an ingenious mechanism made out of fish grates to keep the eagles away from the nest. I do not know why those that have osprey nests with known GHO or Eagle strikes do not get in touch for the plans. According to the receptionist, they are easy – just weld fish grates to the sides of the nest opposite at an angle. Ospreys can come and go but eagles and owls cannot get the correct angle to fly in, grab the chick, and get out! Look at the nest and how these grills are attached on the live feed.

The only surviving chick at Loch of the Lowes was ringed and deemed to be a male.

Two chicks died at the Clinton, CT osprey nest, leaving one. Storms in the CT area contributed to additional deaths due to a lack of fish deliveries. These two died of starvation.

More news from Kielder Forest:

Nests 5A and 10 update

In the vast arguments over Menhaden, some have said that Bald Eagles take all the fish that the osprey need. Some people didn’t have a count on what fish and how many were being delivered. Heidi has been meticulous in the fish counts for the nests she is monitoring (and others!). She has learned to identify species so fast my head spins. What a great asset she is to all of us.

Loch Arkaig has put out Louis’s breaking record fish count and compared it to other years. An Osprey taking 36-44 fish per week for a family of four will not break The Bay! Do not let the arguments confuse you. The problem is industrial overfishing! The second problem is weather.

This fish count comes from Mary Cheadle and the Friends of Loch Arkaig FB group:

Following on from the information I shared yesterday re the fish counts, Steve reported today on the Woodland Trust chat that Louis smashed his week 12 record 🏆😊

Here Steve gives a more comprehensive season update.

Thanks Steve 👍😊

Nest 2 fish summary to week 12 (where does one start!)

Firstly a huge thank you to all the fish counting team and our ever faithful forum contributors, you miss nothing, citizen science at its absolute best👏👏

Nature never ceases to amaze, just a few months ago this old osprey of ours had us all convinced he had been taken by the osprey gods, now in this week 12 he has rewritten the records for weekly fish deliveries, not to mention raising yet another 2 healthy young that will hopefully fledge.

Friday (10/7/26) brought week 12 to a close since the first fish was delivered by Louis.

Louis delivered a record 44 fish to the nest taking his total to 262 (excl 2 from Dorcha).

This gives a 2026 YTD weekly average of 22 fish (c28 post hatch)

Previous week 12 totals (average to 2025 is 30 fish):

2020 – 36

2022 – 34

2023 – 26

2024 – 30

2025 – 25

2026 – 44

As we go into week 13 the average is 28 fish.

Previous YTD week 12 totals (average to 2025 is 238 fish):

2020 (2 male, 1 female) – 256

2022 (2 female) – 261

2023 (1 male) – 218

2024 (1 male) – 231

2025 (2 male) – 226

2026 (2 female) – 262

The range of daily deliveries was 4 to 8 fish per day

The most popular delivery hour is:

5 to 5.59 am – 25 Fish

Louis has had such a successful week I am not going to dwell on this seasons records, but that of all time records:

Most deliveries in a week solo – 44 Fish, Louis previous best was 39 fish in week 13 of 2020! The highest ever joint weekly total was 41 (6 by Aila) fish in week 18 of 2020. He surpasses that total also, solo.

Fastest time between same day fish deliveries (2026 season), 9 mins 21 secs on 10/7/26 between fish 2 and 3, on the same day he brought 4 fish in 44 minutes, not a stat I measure, but worthy of a mention.

As this season is looking good for 2 fledglings, it allows us to compare to 2022 and 2025 when there was also 2 fledglings.

From this data we are seeing accurate data showing the difference between males and females, we know most female raptors are are around 20% larger than males, so they need more food to get to fledging (as an average).

2022 (2 female) – 261

2025 (2 male) – 226

2026 (2 female) – 262

Quite an extraordinary week, last weeks report stated week 12 was as on average the highest yielding week across our 5 previous fish counting seasons, but this I did not expect.

Remarkable consistency that the week 12 totals for 2022 and 2026 are now just 1 fish apart, these 2 years having 2 females, it will be interesting to see how these totals compare come season end.

We know fish weight is more important than quantity, but I believe the weight roughly balances out over the season.

Just amazing to watch this master of the skies and water continue to provide for his family.

Well done Louis🐟

Jill was at the Achieva nest looking for any sign of her babies! She and Jack continue to bring in fish once in a while, but no one is showing up. Congratulations on a great year, Jill. Wishing Big and Little long lives and big crops.

At the Ferguson Museum Mum is bringing in the fish and today the only remaining osplet had a nice meal.

There are three, seemingly healthy osplets – fully feathered – at the Blackwater Osprey platform in Maryland. These are a few relevant dates.

June 20, 2026: The 3 chicks are still visible in the nest, so glad to report all 3 are doing well.

June 1, 2026: We see three little chick heads bobbing in the nest cup. You can see a video clip on our YouTube channel.

May 27, 2026: The female has been feeding at least one chick in the nest.

April 17, 2026: The female is sitting down in the nest and appears to be incubating at least one egg. We hope to see hatching around the week of May 20.

The heat that we are having is going to hit all of the osprey nests in the region of the Prairies of Canada and the upper Mid-West of the US (I hope I said that correctly). I am thinking of the family at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum where likely they will have 45 C with the humidex as well.

There was an early fish and wingers and a beautiful apple bough that Mum brought to the nest.

Loon hatch in progress:

Hatch in Progress on Loon Cam 2Download

Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Friday 10th July 2026

Both fish and name suggestions flooded in today –  Louis brought seven fish for his family, delivering the first four in under forty five minutes! The Nest Two total now stands at two hundred and sixty four. Since George WTS opened the Name Game yesterday, dozens if not hundreds of names have been proposed and there’s still plenty of time for more suggestions before it closes at noon on Monday. Submit your suggestions via Woodland Trust social media Facebook and Bluesky, or here in the comments section, and remember to use the hashtag #2026NAME if you want your names to be included for the judging panel’s review. The chicks are looking very strong, vocalising loudly, rearranging the nest furnishings, and exercising their suddenly big full-size wings – we will be on fledge-watch soon. Garry LV0 brought one fish to Aurora 536, taking the on-cam nest tally to one hundred and fifty.nine which figure holds little meaning as many fish will have been delivered during the daily cam downtime, and the pair are spending more and more time away from the nest. In fact, neither of the pair returned to the nest after Garry delivered that fish around 6pm, and at the time of filing this report, half past midnight, the nest is still empty and it appears Aurora might be spending her first night away from the nest since laying her single, and unviable, egg on 30th April. The weather was settled and dry, the forecasted drizzle and light rain didn’t materialise, and tonight’s forecast for Inver Mallie is light rain, light winds and a low of 15°C overnight, changing to light rain showers with sunny spells and a high of 21°C tomorrow.

Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/AWdoR7BTsho N2 The family are ready when Louis brings an early breakfast 04.21.05https://youtu.be/zvksU4rGUNI N2 second breakfast is very colourful 04.40.06https://youtu.be/0o_36MDlbSY N2 Lively fish three flaps unnoticed as Dorcha’s busy with fish two 04.49.27https://youtu.be/De89VBV39OI N2 No one wants fish four so Louis drops and goes 05.05.20https://youtu.be/6B7ZeWp3UEg N2 Despite four earlier fish, the family tuck in to fish five  07.22.56https://youtu.be/qbdk_5taqyc N2 Fish six is a fine looking fish but Dorcha keeps yelling at Louis 15.49.05https://youtu.be/4RTfcc6lMfU N1 Garry gives a fish to Aurora then both depart 17.50.04https://youtu.be/mG4c0fxd7o4 N2 Louis leaves after bringing fish seven, encouraged by Dorcha 21.43.40
Bonus – list of Scottish Gaelic names if you’re stuck for suggestions:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Scottish_Gaelic_given_names

Come and 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

Osoyoos: Both parents at nest. Chick has crop and looks alert.

Cowlitz PUD: So hungry they are eating some of the body of the chick that just died. Electra is going to have to go fishing.

Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho: No rewind but the three osplets look great.

There have been some good feedings. This screen capture provided by Carol.

If you missed it, ringing at Seilli Island and a big celebration. First chicks hatched on this platform in ten years!

RINGING 9 July
Seili: male, red KJA, Wing 329mm, Weight 1,500g
Nauvo: female, yellow R5S, Wing 326mm, Weight 1,690g
Utu: female, red KHX, Wing 283 mm, Weight 1,660g

Hildur arrived on 14 April and Stefu (TFS) on 15 April
Eggs were laid on 25 April, 28 April and 1 May
Chicks hatched 1 June, 3 June and 5 June

Beautiful feathered golden eaglet at Estonia 2. Parents have brought in prey, and it is set-feeding, but it needed some help when they came in with a Raccoon Dog. A raccoon dog (or tanuki) is not a raccoon; it is a wild canid native to East Asia, most closely related to true foxes. Named for its mask-like facial markings, it is an opportunistic omnivore and is the only dog-like animal known to hibernate

Loki and Caitir have been seen at the White-tail eagle nest in the Outer Hebrides restoring their bond after the loss of their second hatch, Loki.

Blackbush: Little 4 is still alive and up at the beak for what will be a very good feeding. As each day passes I become more hopeful that this little one will survive if we can keep the fish coming.

Dewey Beach: There is sure a lot of wing flapping going on.

Do Ospreys in Nova Scotia eat Menhaden? Yes, they do. They also find some trout in the small lakes. Did Ethel and Oscar not breed this year at Russell Lake? Was it because Ethel was very late? Or is there another reason? Osprey deaths in Connecticut (where there have been storm- and weather-related deaths due to adults being unable to fish) are prompting questions in other areas where there appears to be no impact from industrial fishing in the Bay in the US. Those chasing the big ships out of Reedsville will say they are taking all of the menhaden, including the small babies that could fuel the future (and then they get dumped, dead) and moving up along the coast. The Menhaden in Maine are said to be going out to deep water. Thoughts?

Charlo: Charlie, Chloe, and C22 doing well.

Golden Gate: Wendy and Richmond together at the nest on 8 July. https://youtu.be/VNn6oTZA3f0?

It is raining in Estonia. Will this provide the much needed little frogs and fish that this Black Stork nest requires? Is there a fish basket for them as well from Urmas?

From Looduskalendar: This beautiful black stork nest is located in Jõgeva County in Estonia.
It is a neighbouring nest to the former Jan & Janika Black Stork nest.
The nest was found in 2024 by Renno Nellis and he installed a trail camera.

Feeding by the male today:

Later the male brings food:

The ps from the storklets are small indicating much more food and hydration is needed.

It seems that wildlife is suffering everywhere, whether it is from storms that cause the rivers to rush and flood, becoming muddy so they cannot be fished, or drought, or human-caused overfishing by industry. Habitat loss – toxic spills…they have seen it all this year!

It appears that the egg on the nest of Bety and Bukacek at Mlade Buky is not going to hatch.

Calico’s Tip for the Day: What might be simple fun for humans can be deadly for birds and other wildlife. Let’s clean up after ourselves and please put away sports equipment.

Death trap: what to do about the everyday items catching and killing Australian wildlife

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/jul/11/everyday-items-catching-killing-native-animals-how-to-help-tangled-wildlife?CMP=share_btn_url

Thank you so much for being with us today. Please take care if you are in an area of special heat concern, like we are. Keep hydrated and stay inside. Close the blinds to conserve energy. Do not be a hero! But please provide water sources for the animals outside and food if you can. Thank you.

Thank you to everyone who I have quoted in my blog today – to Geeemeff for their daily summary for Loch Arkaig, to all who posted on FB, to the owners of the streaming cams, to Lookduskalender and their great team who keep up with the Eastern European wildlife.

Late Wednesday in Bird World

1 July 2026

Happy Canada Day to all of us who celebrate. We had a wonderful time with our son and daughter-in-law visiting our local Farmer’s Market today. They are off for more celebrations this evening and tomorrow; my daughter and Tammy, DIL, are coming to take Don out for a few hours so I can have some time to myself. I feel blessed. How kind of them!

For the next few days, I want to focus on a couple of topics in each blog instead of running through all of the nests. I will, of course, try to bring you up to date on what is happening every 4 blogs. Today, I want to focus on this Menhaden issue and the ospreys dying, and I want everyone to write to the Governor of Virginia, the Honourable Abigal Spanberger. Her e-mail is: Abigail.Spanberger@governor.virginia.gov.

Tomorrow, I have a wonderful article by Wes Melkner in Smithsonian Magazine. Wes is an intern, and his research and first two articles have taught me a great deal. I do hope you enjoy the one I will be posting.

Friday, I will be giving you the link for a very special documentary to view over the weekend and a look at the current status of one of my favourite friends with feathers, the Condor.

Oh, I am really on a rant. Every day I check to see if Little Dewey is alive. Little Dewey is the poster child for this battle against industrial fishing and the murder of ospreys in this region of the US.

Little Dewey is gorgeous. I want her to thrive. Her parents have worked hard to find fish for her and their survival. We are not out of the woods yet but please, please let this nest be successful this year.

The first fish today did not arrive until 1311. I am unclear of any follow up deliveries. Please let me know.

This is staggeringly sad and reflects what is happening all over the region of the NE US:

“Survey my friend and I did in CT today of a small island with 30 osprey platforms. Raw data in image. XXX indicates the platform was abandoned and we did not go pro it. Fishermen are reporting no bunker again in the CT sound.
Synopsis: 30 total platforms. 13 platforms abandoned. Only 7 young on island. Only 3 appear to be strong and healthy. 8 dead young found in nests. Almost no bunker gill plates by perch posts. Many platforms have been abandoned in the surrounding towns as well but not part of our study group.”

In the comments: “Same story here on the Severn River in Annapolis. Similar results in my area, South Jersey.” “Eco-Ed Endeavours: Chesapeake Field Journal liked David Gessner‘s post: “Here is my contribution to the cause. I realize it is quite osprey-centric, but then so am I. https://www.audubon.org/magazine/ospreys-chesapeake-bay-are-starving-death-disastrous-rates-what-will-it-take-save-them?fbclid=IwY2xjawSqXqlleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFDbHpVQnN1Q2ZQQjNCSjhCc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHo-ByAGTxxfErznZo4bjKqCSTTQkUIk7-cWHlzltrO0xlr-KNgcNQivZNJpC_aem_Xg3C8ZucsRPfmyXThAIlZQ”

If you missed Gessner’s article, please read it.

I realize that Heidi and I have been making comments on the demise of the osprey in this region for three years. I am glad that there is more attention coming to this topic, but I fear that we are late- perhaps too late. I never want to give up hope, so I have to look at what the UK did to reintroduce ospreys that had been wiped out. For example, CJ7 and Blue 022 had the first chicks in the south of England for 250 years. The first chick to hatch in the Usk Valley in Wales for a similar period was last year. Now, I want you to think about what I am saying. It is not decades; it is perhaps centuries before this biodiverse region is balanced again. People can blame whales and Bald Eagles if they want to hide their heads in the sand, but the truth is, it will show that it was industrial fishing unchecked by any oversight that caused the damage for years and years by a single company (not the net fishermen) but a Canadian company, Omega Protein. If I could sue the company and all the officials on behalf of the ospreys, I would. Someone who lives in the US should work with Animal Justice to do just that.

Today, Omega Protein went fishing and didn’t find much. Perhaps they have taken all of the adult Menhaden. Maybe they will be forced to shut down their operations. However, if you live in other NE States, including Maine, beware. Keep your eyes open. Many in Maine say that the Menhaden have left the shores and gone deep into cooler water. I just hope they are hiding from the nets!

Others checking elsewhere.

I believe on survived but has not been fed so the story will be much the same, sadly.

The one surviving chick at Great Bay looks to be alright. This one pushed another off the nest about a week ago – they were all starving. It is a sad fact.

Santiam Canyon is doing alright.

The smallest of the two on the Osoyoos osprey platform died today of starvation.

While today is about the impact that humans can have – in a negative way by overfishing and knowing it – and killing off an entire eco-system, it is also about the fact that humans must come to grips with the damage that we have caused our planet and help when help can be of benefit.

I was asked by a reader to post a rather long statement by a rehabilitation/rescue group. After reading it twice, I think that it is very appropriate to put it in this blog about the deaths from siblicide/starvation that have been caused by a lack of food due to human activity.

This comes from Annette at Wild Heart Ranch in Oklahoma and was sent to me from ‘J’ in Berlin:

I have never given parents advice on how to raise their “human” children, and I probably never will again, so please read this and pass it along. It needs to be said. (Rehabbers, if you agree, just applaud in the comments.) 😉
The photo is an oldie of “January,” a calf brought to me years ago with spina bifida and navel ill, crawling on her knees because her legs were useless. It took months, but I got her up, cured, walking, running, and eventually she grew into a full-grown heifer without any obvious problems. She found the perfect forever home.
January WANTED to recover, and there was nothing I could see that would prevent it. She just needed an unbelievable amount of splint work, braces, physical therapy, and support to get there. She wasn’t going to one day be released into the wild. She was going to be somebody’s pampered pasture pet for the rest of her life if I could save her… and she is. She’s still watched over daily for complications her condition could cause as she ages or gains weight.
I didn’t have to know she’d be 100% at the end of treatment. I just needed her to become pain-free and mobile on legs that would eventually support 1,400 pounds.
But that isn’t the case for wildlife.

I absolutely love when you bring your kids with you to Wild Heart to drop off animals. If we’re going to raise the next generation to support wildlife rescue, they need to see the process. They need to witness compassionate people willing to drop everything for an animal they’ve never met. That matters to me because the future of wildlife rescue is in the hands of today’s children, and the way you handle that handoff matters more than you may realize. It matters because every year there are more roads, more windows, more fishing line, more cats, more cars, more toxins, and more hazards that WE bring into their world.
And because, despite my best intentions, I may not actually live forever. I know… shocking.
So there is one thing I ask, beg, and plead…

Please don’t promise your children that we are going to save an injured, hypothermic, maggot-infested animal, then ask us if that animal can be saved in front of them UNLESS you have prepared them for the TRUTH. I am not going to lie to your children before you do. I am going to follow your lead, and if you set me up to crush a child, I may have to step away for a minute to compose myself before I can provide that animal the peaceful, gentle ending it deserves.
If you care about the animals, please be kind to the rehabber.
DO YOU HEAR THE WORDS THAT ARE COMING OUT OF MY MOUTH? (My best friend uses that sentence. It is VERY effective!)
Wild animals are masters at hiding pain. In the wild, looking sick or injured is basically putting up a billboard that says, “Eat me.” So they keep moving until they physically can’t anymore.
That’s why you see a squirrel that’s “just sitting there all calm and content,” and I see a spinal injury or a pelvis that’s been crushed.
You see the bunny your cat brought home that “doesn’t look that bad,” and I know it has a fifty-fifty chance of surviving the two tiny puncture wounds where your cat injected a potent bacteria cocktail into its back.
Looks are deceiving.

The parents who want to protect their children from the hard realities—and I completely support that—usually hand me the animal, smile, and say, “We know you’ll do what’s best.” The kids thank me for helping, they climb back in the car, and I get to begin triage… treatment… or sometimes mercy.
But this is how it sometimes goes for me:
A six-year-old has rescued, temporarily cared for, and named a squirrel Kevin. Kevin has big plans. He’s going to leave our care, climb trees, raise a family, pay squirrel taxes, and peacefully die at the ripe old age of 97 surrounded by his squirrel grandchildren.
AWESOME.
I am all about happy endings.

Meanwhile…
Kevin has dislocated hips, at least one spinal fracture, a pelvis that’s in four pieces, and internal injuries that make me wonder how he even made it to my door. The back half of him has been run over by a car, and any minute now the front half is probably going to stop working too.
Then everyone turns and looks at me and an adult asks, with complete sincerity…
“So… is he going to be okay?”
Wonderful. (Just shoot me.)
While I’m trying to rush this intake so I can put poor Kevin out of his misery, I now get to decide whether I lie to your child or explain euthanasia to someone who still sells their teeth to a fairy.
That is WAY above my pay grade.
And I don’t WANT to lie to anybody.
So please… either have that hard conversation before you come, or avoid putting us in that position.
My instinct is to protect your child’s enthusiasm for helping wildlife. I don’t want to be the lady who unintentionally convinces them that “future Kevin” should be hidden in their bedroom because “that rescue lady will just kill him.”
Tell them Kevin is hurt. Tell them he is probably in a lot of pain. Tell them you’re taking him somewhere that people will do whatever is best for him.
Leave it there…
Or have the harder conversation before you arrive.

People sometimes think euthanasia means we gave up. It’s actually the opposite.
It would be emotionally easier on us, in that moment, to keep trying. To turn a rescue into what I call “an experiment in heroics” which is by no measure okay unless there is FAR more hope than hurt.
It’s much harder to look at an animal we desperately want to save and admit that the kindest thing we can offer is peace. I will NEVER be okay providing treatment only to find an animal dead in a cage later, knowing I could have spared it that experience. That is not acceptable when I KNEW the chances were slim. That is not rescue. That is denial. Sometimes we don’t know, but when we do know, we had better beat death to the punch or we have avoided the only act of care that was reasonable, responsible, and KIND.

A quick, painless, chemically induced death is kind when life without suffering isn’t in the prognosis. There are far worse things than death, and I see them daily.
A responsible wildlife rehabilitator chooses what is best for the animal no matter how disappointed we are, YOU are, how many people are following the story on Facebook, or how much public backlash we might receive. NONE of that comes into play when I am evaluating or treating an animal. The ONLY factors that matter are the animal’s current physical suffering, past case experience, advice from my veterinarians, the animal’s probable ability to live independently after recovery and release, and my conscience. If my conscience EVER starts sounding the ego alarm, I am DONE. I know this about me.
I will NEVER keep an animal alive because it’s popular or because it brings in donations. I was accused of that almost daily while working with January. I received hate mail from veterinarians all over the country. It was hell because I ALWAYS listen to the advice of veterinarians, but in this case they weren’t here seeing what I was seeing: a strong will to live and a calf that wasn’t going to give up. So I helped her fight. Not to prove anyone wrong. (ego) That never entered my mind during treatment. (But I gloated like hell when that calf charged me across my yard and knocked me flat on my ass!)

But I can promise you my motive is always the same.
I believe in an animal’s ability to recover—or I don’t.
I believe in my ability to support that recovery—or I don’t.
The minute I lose hope that an animal can have an acceptable quality of life, I stop. No matter how much it hurts. No matter what people think of me afterward or what they say about me. (With two million followers, I see the comments. There is always someone who can’t WAIT to screenshot the nasty ones and send them to me, which by the way, it just hurts me and changes nothing else so keep them to yourselves friends) Fortunately for my motivation to keep going, I have almost as much compassion for ignorant people as I do suffering animals. 🙂

Here’s something else to keep in mind.
The more experienced the rehabber, the more likely they are to make a judgment call immediately.
Why?
Because when we were new, we tried to save everybody. Experience teaches you where hope exists… and where it doesn’t. Trust that we have seen these injuries hundreds of times. We’ve learned from our mistakes, our veterinarians, our mentors, and the animals themselves.
That being said…
Many of my volunteers have zero medical training. They may be the smiling face that accepts your animal before it reaches someone doing triage.
They see what you see.
If you ask them what they think, they’ll honestly tell you, “I think he’ll be okay.” Then you call later and find out the animal was euthanized immediately.
Please don’t assume we lied, didn’t try, or didn’t care. Just ask to speak with the person who actually performed the triage. I promise you, if that decision was made here, it was made because it was the most merciful option available.

Every intake gets our best.
Every single person here hates euthanasia, but we are grateful that mercy exists.
We remember those animals. We especially remember your child’s face looking at us like we’re monsters without a heart. It’s bad enough when we’re powerless to save a life, but when we’re judged for showing mercy?
That destroys us.
It destroys me.
Last week it happened over and over and over again. It was so bad that I finally stopped going to the front door to do quick intake triage and personally thank the finders because I simply couldn’t do it anymore.
Most people are absolutely wonderful.
And then…
There’s little Kevin’s family.
Mom tells me to build Kevin a wheelchair so he can live here forever and “the kids can come visit.”
All lies, little dude.
All lies.
And I just can’t be part of that story.

Those moments don’t stay here when we lock the doors at night. We take them home. They haunt us. They keep me from the sleep I need so badly that I end up writing lengthy educational Facebook posts trying to work through the frustration.
So please… help us tell the whole story.
Teach your children that rescue doesn’t always mean recovery.
Teach them that there are worse things than death, and suffering without hope is one of them.
Teach them that love and care are two very different things. Love is an emotion. Care is an action. Sometimes the most loving action is letting an animal go instead of asking it to suffer because WE aren’t ready to say goodbye.
Because if I have to tell your child Kevin isn’t going to make it, I’d much rather be reinforcing a lesson you’ve already started than accidentally becoming the stranger who convinced them that bringing injured wildlife to professionals was somehow the wrong thing to do.

If your child cries, that sadness is empathy. Empathy is exactly why they picked Kevin up in the first place, so maybe I don’t have to live forever after all. Maybe there are little humans growing up right now who understand what wildlife rehabilitation is truly about and will support it one day. With time, with funding or even put on their poop shoes and get to work!
There are thousands of wildlife rehabilitators scattered across this country making impossible decisions every single day and doing what is best, struggling to stay afloat so the animals have a place to go. I am working on a way to help keep them going with funding. It will take about a year, but in the meantime, let’s all be aware of the things people may never consider that slowly erode their motivation. I promise you I am not the only rehabber whose day is destroyed by someone bringing in an animal that should not be saved and then confronting us over our honest opinion-especially in front of children.
The goal isn’t to teach our children that every rescue story has a happy ending.
The goal is to teach them that every wild animal deserves compassion.
“And we all suffer the same”
Maybe that’s something worth thinking about.
Thanks for reading.”

I think Annette said many things that I also needed to hear.

Geemeff has posted her summary from Loch Arkaig and I will include it here.

Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Wednesday 1st July 2026

The weather was wet and windy as forecast but that didn’t stop Louis who delivered five fish, taking the Nest Two tally to two hundred and fourteen. However, the first fish was quite small and the delay of over five hours before the next one saw the hangry chicks having a pop at each other. The aggression didn’t last long and a steady supply of fish, including a large late supper at 10pm, saw the chicks off to bed with full crops and Dorcha struggling to fit them underneath her. Garry brought a single fish for Aurora, a small one which she chose to eat on the nest, which took the Nest One tally to one hundred and forty five. Nest Two cam has been zoomed out ready for fledging which is probably at least two weeks away, and before that the ringers will visit, meantime we get to enjoy the panoramic views again. More wet weather is forecast with light rain, gentle breezes and an overnight low of 12°C, continuing tomorrow with light rain showers, a moderate breeze, a high of 17°C and occasional sunny spells.

Today’s videos

https://youtu.be/0t0bbnRSsoQ N2 Early breakfast doesn’t last long 03.50.30

https://youtu.be/klpNm5FrsHg N2 Hangry chicks have a pop at each other 09.23.36

https://youtu.be/vlvRsKxxCQs N2 Fish number two, so fresh it’s flapping 10.47.04

https://youtu.be/5sXeHSSYwmM N2 Nest cam zooms out ready for fledging! 14.14

https://youtu.be/cO7QXPSSt3E N2 Louis has a very full crop when he brings the third fish 14.56.29

https://youtu.be/uGn0rfW0eqk N2 The chicks call with Dorcha as Louis brings fish four 16.11.14

https://youtu.be/jADtSSy59mc N1 Aurora stays on the nest to eat the little trout 17.33.45

https://youtu.be/dnsLqkDzkZw N2 Wind and rain doesn’t stop Louis – big fish five arrives! 22.19.06

Why not come and 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

Thank you so much for being with us today. Please take care all. See you tomorrow!

Also, if you are enjoying the blog, please hit the like button. It moves us up in the algorithm, so maybe more people will learn about what is happening to our raptors and want to get involved in helping make their lives less challenging. Thank you.

Thank you to ‘J’ for sending me the text from Annette, to Geemeff for their daily summary of activities at Loch Arkaig, for those that posted information and images on FB, and the owners of the streaming cams mentioned that allowed us to follow the lives – the good and the sad – of our feathered friends.

Happy Canada Day!

30 June 2026

Hello Everyone,

It was the 4th of June 1969 that I flew across the border between the US and Canada with my then two-month-old son, Cristofre. As a university student at the University of Oklahoma in Norman, I was been part of various anti-Vietnam War groups as well as others protesting for civil rights and women’s rights. Several of my closest friends died during the early part of the Vietnam War and i was determined that my son was not going to drop bombs or napalm on innocents. I have never looked back. Canada has been our home now for what? Fifty-seven years!!!! I was 20. I have never been more proud to be Canadian than this year. Our system is not perfect but when it is urgent or a sheer emergency, it works! My province has beautiful areas – vast tracts of wildnerness and lakes. I cannot say that the city where I reside is gorgeous. It has its moments. But my little plot and the street I live on make up for all the deficiences.

We have had huge storms. Last night Toby had his Thunder Jacket on all night. The lightning and wind were incredible and our street has lost a lot of tree limbs.

Coming out of Europe. A goshawk attempted to take an osplet off the Polish nest. It clung to the nest and was pushed over, but was not taken by the hawk. The osplet was rescued, and I believe it is in good condition.

Ringing is taking place across the UK. This is a great article by Caroline Woodley on UKOsprey Information FB on the importance of ringing and the three generations that were ringed today – and we know because of the family tree and the Darvic Rings:

Elen and Teifi’s chicks:

Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Tuesday 30th June 2026

As forecast, it was wet today with the occasional dry spell, and set to continue, with drizzle, light  winds and an overnight low of 13°C, changing to heavy rain, gentle breezes and a high of 18°C tomorrow, with the sun breaking through around lunchtime. Louis brought three early fish then after a fourteen hour gap he brought another two, much smaller than the family would have liked and left them competing for scraps. In fact, while Chick1 was struggling to down the tail, Chick2 reached over and pinched it right out of its beak and proceeded to swallow it with aplomb. Those five fish take the Nest Two tally to two hundred and nine, and Garry’s single delivery to Aurora takes the Nest One tally to one hundred and forty-four. Garry and Aurora continue to incubate their unviable egg but are starting to leave the nest for longer periods.

Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/b4Z-1D_fMmY N2 Early breakfast for the family 04.05.28

https://youtu.be/sMdZ2yhecmc N2 Second breakfast – this one’s so fresh it’s still flapping 04.43.43

https://youtu.be/Jx2eBor5rZch N2 Dorcha and chicks don’t get up when Louis brings fish three 06.02.32

https://youtu.be/8izHPpleTj4 N2 Dorcha & chick remove an offending item 10.06.18

https://youtu.be/rXA7WzQTgQE N2 Let me help you with that – chick steals the tail of fish four 20.16.25

https://youtu.be/UD6KTcpJkGo N2 Another tiny tiddler arrives – fish number five 22.30.30

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

Great news coming from ‘PB’ and Achieva:

Screenshot

Some are enlightened.

More about the crisis impacting ospreys in the NE. Today Omega Protein was along the New Jersey shores.

Menhaden Defenders

roSdnosept25aP 1m8tl5t31iae3d60714uhr08:f46Yes0ay85l 4 a2Mit ·

Navesink River, Monmouth County, New Jersey Osprey Survey

“As founder of Menhaden Defenders, I’m always looking at how healthy forage fish populations support the wildlife we love. One of the best indicators is right above us: ospreys.

On June 15, with Ben Wurst, Senior Wildlife Biologist with the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey and leader of New Jersey’s Osprey Project, we surveyed 25 osprey nests on the Navesink River in Monmouth County. In addition to looking at the Osprey around each nest, we used a GoPro camera mounted on a pole to reach up and get a view into each nest to look for signs of use, presence of eggs, chicks, or nothing, all added to the spreadsheet.

We found 19 occupied nests, including 12 active nests with eggs or young. Ten nests held 22 nestlings, ranging from hatchlings to about four weeks old. In some nests with three chicks, we saw asymmetry, or an asymmetric brood, where younger nestlings lag behind older siblings. This can be a sign of food stress. When food is scarce, older chicks often dominate feedings, forcing younger siblings to cower and increasing the risk of brood reduction.

Ben and his team also work each year with volunteers and citizen scientists to monitor nests and remove dangerous litter like fishing line, plastic bags, balloons, and other debris. Ospreys are telling us something about the health of the Navesink and the larger coast. We’ll be going back in a few weeks to survey again, and we are very concerned about the survival rate of the chicks we saw. We are seeing these signs of food stress from Raritan Bay to Cape May in colonies that have been productive for years but may now be struggling to breed at levels needed to sustain the population.

Protecting menhaden and other forage fish helps protect the entire coastal food web. Both organizations survive on donations from people like you to continue working on this serious situation.”

Thank goodness the situation is drastically different in the UK. On Mull Island, they are now seeing ospreys – remember, the UK is reintroducing/re-establishing ospreys that were made extinct by humans!!!!!!!!

All three Ps have now fledged. Big Red and Arthur are busy keeping track of them and feeding.

Video by Cornell Bird Lab: https://youtu.be/5s6IMdmmbak?

The little tiny osplet, #4, at Blackbush in Prince Edward Island is still alive. This chick is determined and the male is doing a good job of getting fish in.

At the NCTC nest, RJ fledged. Congratulations Bella and Scout.

The two osplets at Coeur de’ Alene, Idaho, look great.

There are still two at Osoyoos. It has been hot there.

Iris and Clark’s baby is getting some beautiful feathers.

Clark is very smart. He has been bringing in some large cot rails to keep this rather energetic youngster on the nest.

Dudley becomes a pillow for the only surviving chick at Charlo Montana whose crop is about to burst.

There are still two at Cowlitz PuD but gosh that little one is so thin. Please wish for fish.

The trio at Clark PUD are doing so well.

The only surviving osplet on the nest at Great Bay is doing well. One died and the other fell out of the nest and went to a rehabber. I am unclear of its status.

It is sure hard to tell who the little four is at the Poole Harbour nest of CJ7 and Blue 022. They have yet to be ringed.

Beautiful evening at the Rutland Manton Bay nest of Blue 33 and Maya and their trio.

Thank you so much for being with us today. We are doing better than people would think! We are spending the day with our son tomorrow, so you will definitely not be hearing from me until Thursday. Please take care.

Good Night from All of Us:

Hugo Yugo and Missey

Cheeky Hugo Yugo.

Baby Hope and Calico.

Darling Toby.

Thank you to everyone for their contributions to this blog – to Geemeff for her daily summary of Loch Arkaig, to PB and those who write and post information and images on the various FB groups, and the owners of the streaming cams that allow us to witness the lives of these families.

Gessner’s article on Menhaden and Ospreys – let’s hope it hits home and stops industrial fishing of Menhaden!

26 June 2026

Hello Everyone,

The Loch Arkaig streaming cam is up and running and everyone is fine.

At least a year ago, David Gessner had been made aware of the situation in The Chesapeake Bay and the ospreys dying off – ospreys, the canary in the coal mine for the environment.

That article has come out and Heidi had sent me the link before I even woke up this morning. She said, “Gessner did a great job, comprehensive and concise.”

https://www.audubon.org/magazine/ospreys-chesapeake-bay-are-starving-death-disastrous-rates-what-will-it-take-save-them?fbclid=IwY2xjawSquPtleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETE4elpxb09zTHRTMnp5WndQc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHsQ_L0KC83_QFg4JvXcBzK9KvBjH1D1w_7x-ZaWHkrsOSoDHhSwxVsd7kmcQ_aem_YO5iJONj9zJUwoHxAWXbvA

This is my only posting for today. It is that important. Please send this to everyone you know that is concerned and also send it to every politician you know including the Governor of Virginia! I don’t care if they get 100,000 copies. It will do them good to know people care!

Thank you to David Gessner, who has always loved Ospreys and whose books – Return of the Osprey and Soaring with Fidel – are amongst my favourites. Gessner must be shattered after writing his first book, The Return of the Osprey, twenty-five years ago.

Some good, some bad…Late Thursday in Bird World

25 June 2026

Hello Everyone,

Greetings. It only got up to 25°C today, but it still felt hot. We had on-and-off rain with Toby running in and out on occasion to ‘do his business’. Miyoung arrived to cut hair and was shocked when I asked for an extra short pixie cut. I laughed and reminded her that when I was her age, I was wearing a miniskirt with thigh-high boots, a nose ring, and a shaved head. I believe she left in shock. I wonder why young people assume us oldies have not had adventurous lives?????

She added some pink, cut it short and life goes on.

As you have noticed, there have been terrible earthquakes around the world, and Europe is just cooking. I know readers whose living room temperatures in London are 27, and in Berlin, even hotter. Please, please take care of yourselves. If you have a fan, great. If you have AC, great. You can also dampen your clothes and your sheets to help cool you. Please do not take your dogs for walks in this heat.

BBC News on the heatwave hitting Europe: https://youtu.be/SIGeKlsSA_c?

Please leave water out for animals and birds. It will save their lives.

Lighting has hit Loch Arkaig’s streaming cams, and they are down. It is unclear whether they will be available for the rest of the season.

While it might have been cooler in Scotland, the Welsh and nests in the South of England have had lots of hight temperatures.

Usk Valley this morning:

Lots of fish coming to the Poole Harbour nest for CJ7 and Blue 022’s four kiddos. What do I mean by lots? Blue 022 delivered TEN fish today to the nest – good size ones. His kids are not going to get dehydrated nor is his mate!

Above the water at Rutland is surely an advantage in the heat.

Tweed Valley 2 had its first hatch today. This is incredibly late. I wonder what will happen in September when it is time to migrate?

Information about the ringing of the Loch Doon nest:

Screenshot

The temperature at the Dyfi nest of Idris and Telyn and chicks is 31.9 C at night.

The third little one at Cape Henlopen State Park’s osprey platform died this afternoon. Poor thing was so battered. Aggressive siblings. Just a whiff of not enough food, and well, the wee little ones suffer. I know people are horrified by storks, but they take a look at their brood, their size, analyse food availability and well – it is quick. This baby suffered.

There are still four at Blackbush Osprey platform on Prince Edward Island. The little one is to the far right and getting bites in the screen capture below.

Two at Cowlitz PUD. This nest IMHO needs more fish.

We have lost one at Osoyoos and the oldest gets most of the fish that I can see. This nest needs more fish, too. Lots more fish.

Pitkin County Trails Osprey platform looks OK. I wish these nests had the temperature at the nest posted.

The two osplets at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum nest are doing splendid.

Only ‘surviving’ Bob at Charlo Montana trying to keep cool. The temperatures were 79 F.

At the US Steel nest of Irv and Stella, both eaglets have now fledged. Hutch flew and met up with Maz. How grand! https://youtu.be/7Juu2c9N1aw?s

Clark continues to bring in whoppers! Iris and Baby are certainly lucky.

The White Storks at Bad Salzungen, Thüringen are ready to fledge. Here is a whole lot of flapping going on. https://youtu.be/H1etyMkz76o?

Fostering. Helping one nest with another. Love it!

Audubon writes about the crisis that is facing all ospreys in the Chesapeake Bay Area. We need more news – every type of news to explain why this is unforgivable.

https://www.audubon.org/magazine/ospreys-chesapeake-bay-are-starving-death-disastrous-rates-what-will-it-take-save-them?fbclid=IwY2xjawSqpw9leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFhbGh2NGlnWktjZk5QWXJxc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHkxcUgBZl8-lgfag-45Q_3fl8EtjPDk7mqCiFP-_-AOO9PRvR2gAej1SJvXz_aem_CTtX_FYQEjDCvNBtFnZfgw

I understand that Whooping Crane protected lands are now NOT protected. With only 500 remaining in the wild, what in the world do these government officials south of where I live think they are doing? I am starting to think the goal is to kill off all wildlife. Can this actually be true? Pacific areas have now also been opened to commercial fishing – trying to create another area that has no wildlife like the Chesapeake? I wake up and shake my head every morning. I have tried to keep politics out of my blog but sometimes it is difficult when it is the politicians killing the wildlife with their inaction or in some cases turning the world upside down actions.

Has anyone had trouble accessing the Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho osprey cam?

Ospreys in the Southern Hemisphere are preparing nests!

At the Port Lincoln barge – home to Mum and Dad, parents of dear Ernie – they are making preparations. Mum is working on the nest and Dad is not sharing his fish. Fish fairies, are you ready?

Some news of Giliath and our dear Ervie from the 20th:

“2026.06.20 – An update on Ervie & Giliath’s trackers. Giliath is still staying local and fishin in the usual spots then heading back to the main wharf for the night. Ervie has gone on another trip to Tumby Bay but has not visited the island as yet. Will be interesting in the morning to see where he spends tonight.”

Ervie’s tracking:

Chesapeake Bay trio.

Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Thursday 25th June 2026

The day was going very well, with settled weather and both males bringing three fish each – Garry LV0’s Nest One tally now rises to one hundred and thirty eight, and Louis takes the Nest Two tally to one hundred and eighty nine. Aurora continues to incubate the egg but is leaving it for longer periods of time, Dorcha caused havoc with another unsuitable stick, and the chicks had a short and not very serious fight. However – the weather’s changed and around 21.30 a loud clap of thunder and a bolt of lightning scared Louis off the nest and both livestreams have gone down. It may be that the relay signal has been knocked out, we’ll have to wait and see if service can be restored. A weather warning for thunderstorms is in effect for the nest area until midnight tomorrow, and overnight there’ll be light rain with a low of 17°C, continuing tomorrow with a high of 22°C.

Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/0oO00gR1EJc N2 Very lively first fish 04.26.48https://youtu.be/KlZJimpqT_Q N1 Tiny whole trout for Aurora 06.03.47https://youtu.be/s6UQvIXb0mI N2 Log gate! Dorcha causes havoc with unsuitable sticks 07.33.48https://youtu.be/k2v8jyOTkRA  N2 Second fish arrives – the chicks are growing as we watch!  09.17.54 https://youtu.be/_jFAfUWr1wI N2 A short and not very serious chick fight 13.43.57https://youtu.be/RzL0zmoLWrc N1 Garry’s second fish is a flatfish 15.07.31https://youtu.be/tKJdEVNouN4 N1 Aurora flies to Stick Tree with fish three 18.32.16 (zoom) https://youtu.be/J8R0qOqp6mA N2 Louis brings fish three and shows off an impressive crop 21.15.45

https://youtu.be/6-6pJHei5tY N2 Oh no! Thunder & lightning scare Louis off the nest – both cams go down! 21.29.40

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

===============================================================

One of the Great Bay osplets fell out of the nest and has been rescued. The other one is not doing well – there isn’t enough food. Another starved to death. So sad. I know the law doesn’t allow for retrieval but surely we might establish that humans are responsible or a lack of fish and then it would be alright to intervene.

P3 is often on the nest of Big Red and Arthur alone until food is brought in and big siblings find their way! What a little sweetie. Standing and self-feeding. So far all are doing well.

How can birds in Australia be protected as Bird Flu spreads?

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2026/jun/24/h5n1-bird-flu-australia-native-bird-mammal-species-at-risk?CMP=share_btn_url

So many, many things our wildlife have to face every day just to even begin trying to survive.

Good night, everyone. Thank you for being with us today. Toby and I are up enjoying some quiet time. Life has been very challenging at home the last week or so as Don’s mental health deteriorates. There are moments of clarity, and then he cannot tell the sink from the bedroom. It eats at my heart, and there is nothing more that I can do for him other than try to make him happy, keep him clean and in as good mental health care as possible. I am going to have a holiday – it is being planned in my head. When I get really tired, I start focusing on the little details. In the meantime, Toby and I are moving furniture. I have a very large silk-and-wool rug that I purchased decades ago. It has been cleaned many times, including the time that a huge mug of hot chocolate went everywhere. Last night I moved the sofas, having decided that the rug had to go. As I rolled it, I noticed that the beautiful natural colours that had faded on the top side were staring me in the face. It is so beautiful. I pulled and pushed, and we got it laid out. That rug isn’t going anywhere! I will enjoy the flat weave side now.

Oh, please do take care of yourselves. Check things you might toss or donate in case they turn out magical like this old rug. I might not see you until Saturday. I am tired today.

Thank you to Geemeff for her daily summary and videos, The Guardian for continually reporting on issues related to wildlife and the environment, to those who post information on FB along with screen captures, to the authors of other newsletters, and the owners of the streaming cams that allow us to watch these families.

Second fledge at Cornell…Late Tuesday in Bird World

23 June 2026

Hello Everyone,

I hope that the beginning of summer has been good to each of you. The days seem to pass so quickly that we must look past the ticks, the midges, the wasps, the mosquitoes and enjoy the beauty of this season. When I think of summer – and for those reading my blog the last week – you will know that I have had ‘Japan on my mind’. I remember walking around the Golden Temple in Kyoto with its pond surrounded by beautiful purple iris. The purple iris in many of the gardens on my street are blooming now, too. My son is in Tokyo eating ramen, shopping, and heading out to go fishing with his friends there. One day I will return – he might have to help me!

One of Bird World’s friends and someone who keeps a good eye on some nests, sent me the following note: “Remember that kitten season is amongst us; in Canada it typically runs from early spring (March/April) to late fall (October/November), with a peak in breeding and births happening between May and July. Brock and the other kitty are driven by their instinct and could be out moving around their territory. It’s early still so don’t give up hope just yet.” There are few homeless cats in our neighbourhood. Brock might have had to go a distance but he always came ‘home’ in the past after three days. I wish to be hopeful.

At the Cornell campus, P2 has now fledged leaving only little P3 at home. P3 will probably not fledge for at least 4 or 5 days. Big Red and Arthur will make certain that each is fed. No worries.

Some images from the nest today.

Just look at this! Iris and Clark’s baby after eating on that big fish all day. https://youtu.be/suhjI_PvwSI?

This sweet darling baby has no idea how lucky it is. Iris, the oldest breeding osprey in the world, and its very young dad, Clark. Yet, from his experiences with the Bald Eagles nearby, Clark is quick to stay home and protect his family while they eat, for fear that another raptor will try to steal a free meal and harm them. I think Clark is magnificent. I hope that he has more years with Iris, but, for now, let us simply enjoy these precious moments. A beautiful sleeping osplet, so full and healthy.

Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Tuesday 22nd June 2026

The weather was settled, there were no intruders or fights between the chicks, and the day was calm and routine, apart from Louis bringing an even more unsuitable stick than the one dubbed The Aerial. Garry LV0 brought one fish to Aurora 536 taking the Nest One total to one hundred and twenty nine, while Louis just kept bringing fish faster than Dorcha and the chicks could eat them. His six fish today take the Nest Two total to one hundred and seventy eight. The weather will remain settled with an overnight low of 14°C, with sunshine and a high of 24°C tomorrow.

Today’s videos: 

https://youtu.be/4Mr7YuXHFB4 N2 the first fish arrives with night cam still on 03.46.25

https://youtu.be/_3T1fnsbFVs N2 the second fish arrives just 7 mins 28 secs after the first! 03.59.23

https://youtu.be/_7s0yMD7XEs N2 Louis brings a third fish before 6am! 05.32.34 

https://youtu.be/NuZIYdaRQoY N2 Branching out – Louis brings an unsuitable stick 12.29.27

https://youtu.be/0XLDXBafWHs N1 Aurora flies off with her fish leaving Garry in charge 13.13.56

https://youtu.be/AUdTehH1vBQ N2 Fourth fish is late but worth waiting for 19.54.20

https://youtu.be/V5V-8HYdpBo N2 Late fish supper arrives, fifth fish today 22.06.20

https://youtu.be/1MXOoZpWTaw N2 Fish number six flaps unnoticed by Dorcha 22.24.43

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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News from the DNR Bald Eagle nest in Minnesota!

Grounded DNR EagleCam eaglet released and remaining chicks fledge from the nestDownload

The fledge of Cornell Big Red and Arthur of P1: https://youtu.be/HZFLWDeb-g8?

I believe we are losing the third hatch at the Ferguson Museum -. It is tucked in, not moving, and could be dying from some kind of breathing/nest infection. It is, however, unclear, and the baby perked up during the afternoon. Fingers crossed. The female is fish calling!

We were so hopeful that the Buzzards that hatched in Latvia would survive and now the hawk is predating them. Goshawks are to be feared. https://youtu.be/gMX-ZS1URcI?

Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Tuesday 23rd June 2026

The weather was settled today and nothing out of the ordinary occurred. The chicks didn’t fight and the males supplied fish to their respective nests. Garry LV0 delivered two fish to Aurora 536 taking the Nest One tally to one hundred and thirty one, and Louis delivered three fish to Dorcha, taking the Nest Two tally to one hundred and eighty one. The family was so full from yesterday’s fish that not much interest was shown in the first delivery but by the second and third fishes, the chicks were coming forward eagerly and trying a little nibble. Having wrestled with the unsuitable stick he brought yesterday and leaving it in an arched position, Louis decided to tackle it today, and after a great effort he managed to collapse the Arch over the side but still part of the cot rail security barrier. At the time of filing this report (00.30) light rain is falling and is expected to continue overnight with a low of 14°C, but dry up tomorrow with a high of 21°C.

Today’s videos:https://youtu.be/ITQ6QjCIulk N2 The family barely react to the first fish 03.59.36https://youtu.be/7WUzI-6938w N2 Dorcha’s not interested but the chicks try a nibble 10.36.56https://youtu.be/JCNJ3E7LEVI N1Aurora grabs the fish and leaves Garry in charge 15.21.28https://youtu.be/-gEPRQex3NQ N2 Louis delivers a massive fish and remains on the nest 15.30.19https://youtu.be/hcgj_uHDsy4 N1 For how much longer will Garry incubate the unviable egg? 19.24.30https://youtu.be/ORvGGbqPBlA

N2 With great effort, Louis removes the Arch! 20.19.19

Bonus info – how do Ospreys manage to swallow fish bones without injury on the way down? Here are some answers (thanks LizB)

https://nutritionofosprey.wordpress.com/digestive-an

atomy-and-physiology

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

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

We have news from our monitor V from Indian Creek, Maryland:

“Rough storm last night and the third head on the nest in front of my porch did not appear this morning and the female brought soft ground grass to tromp down in one spot of the nest. The other two chicks look very healthy and although the fish are smaller, the male is still bringing them in regularly.

Similarly, the nest next door has at least one chick still in the nest. They raised the nest wall on my side so after my early glimpse of one chick really going at another, I’ve only caught a rare glimpse of a chick, but did this morning. This nest would seem to have had less fish, but of course I miss so much.

The four nests along the south shore at the creek mouth are probably a bust. One I’d hoped for left her nest yesterday. I never did catch a glimpse of the two of them together after she began incubating, too long ago for viable eggs now.  I have a magical pretend hope in one of these four, still. It will be some time before a chick would be big enough for me to glimpse through the box nest and foliage. OH MY the most bizarre thing, an eagle was sitting right next to the osprey on that nest – here is a fast snapshot, was too slow to get a better focus, eagle flew immediately after and osprey chased. Weird.  image001.png

As for the string of five nests at the head of the creek, the pairs are maintaining contact with their nests and one another, but either eggs or hatchlings didn’t make it. However, one nest that spent the earlier season abandoned has a steady couple hanging out.

And finally, yesterday I was certain a nest farther up the road, above Island Creek, with the Potomac across the road from it, had a chick or chicks. But I saw both male and female staring into the bottom of the nest this morning as I went to vote. Last night’s storm would have hit that nest hard, wind right across the wide Potomac. Down here nobody is throwing any silver dollars across the river.

And, finally, I will begin promoting the initial serialization of Island Creek Ospreys tomorrow on my marketing site. Here is the link to the Island Creek Ospreys home page which has links to each of the small segments within the years. I’ve got two years posted and will turn back now to the next  5 years. They’re written. It’s now a matter of cut, paste, find photos, etc., etc.  But it’s a start.”

I have seen some wonder why Clark stays with Iris and the baby while they eat. This is precisely why – an eagle will land right next to an osprey on its nest. Iris would be focused on feeding the chick. As I mentioned, Clark is a hero. A great Dad and so ever young.

Jill continues to feed Big and Little at the Achieva nest. No sign of Jack for a bit. I wonder what has happened to him or if he just decided to start his summer vacation?

What do over 571 osprey nests tell you about what is happening in the Chesapeake Bay? If you didn’t believe that a lack of fish mattered, perhaps you might think differently after reading this study. Please forward to anyone. This is tragic – and I need many, many more to join the movement to stop the industrial fishing of Menhaden. (That includes along the Gulf States, too).

https://www.virginiaospreyfoundation.org/post/what-571-osprey-nests-tell-us-about-the-chesapeake-bay?fbclid=IwY2xjawSn_AdleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETF1NG10NktsRkZiZzZTSkUwc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHnBXtOiHmzvJxSdGDtfH0Go47ABDcjmdf4xOLGqCw_yA1GmSSJj3YC3kx_Ch_aem_SVnVss58Bnjxd6PqOtYGJA

Thank you for being with me. As the rain settles a bit, Mr and Mrs Crow, Mr and Mrs Blue Jay and a host of other songbirds are at the feeders in case there is a storm before they turn in for the night. We have had nothing but rain and more rain. We were wearing jumpers today with the heating on. I worry about the nests – the cold damp is not good for little ones but I believe the Crows and Jays are fledged or near to it.

I also want to thank ‘L’ in Alabama for feeding the crows on her picnic table. They will reward you – every day when they call you will know that you have helped wildlife in your patch. Now if we could get everyone to join there would be no blank spaces and no hungry birds and animals. Humans waste 40% of the food they buy…why not let the animals eat it?

Take care.

Thank you to absolutely everyone – to Geemeff for her summaries, for those amazing videos and reports from all the others including our monitor V in Maryland, to the owners of the streaming cams, and those that write good reports based on observation not fantasy!