Tag Archives: Moorings Park

Has Iris landed?

6 April 2026

Hello Everyone,

Let’s get on with the great news. No confirmation yet but first thing I checked was Iris’s nest and look what I found.

An osprey sitting on a nest made of twigs, with a parking lot and trees visible in the background.

There was sad news coming out of Florida late Sunday. The little third hatch, Nod, that had captured so many hearts died from starvation caused by siblicide.

Earlier in the day.

An adult osprey stands watch over three young chicks in a nest, with a serene lake and greenery in the background.
Three young ospreys sitting in their nest, surrounded by sticks and greenery, with a calm water body in the background.

It is difficult raising three – it is extraordinary to fledge four but there have been osprey families that have done it repeatedly. Maya and Blue 33 and, as of late, CJ7 and Blue 022 seem to be setting some kind of record.

When a little one dies, I always think of two nests where the tiny one did not die. The first that comes to mind is Tiny Tot Tumbles (2021) at Achieva. We held our breath—79 hours without food. That little babe searched the nest and ate bones. It learned to ride the rails to sneak a bite and attacked the older sibling because it had nothing to lose. Diane noticed this chick wanted to live. When the older ones were asleep, and it was dark, she flew in with one of her catfish. Tiny Tot Tumbles, who was on the verge of death in March and April, survived and thrived. She defended the nest with Jack against an intruder during the third week of June after Diane had left the area. Tiny Tot was still on the nest later in the summer. She was extraordinary. I have always wondered what happened to her, and that is the problem with the US lack of ringing. The chicks on the streaming cam nests need to be ringed – and, yes, that goes for Big Red’s hawklets on the Cornell campus. Surely the folks at Cornell Bird Lab understand that knowing the dispersal area of Big Red’s babies could be important!

The second nest was Foulshaw Moss. White YW is an extraordinary male, and Blue 35 is a great Mum. The two older siblings in 2021 were much, much larger compared to the tiny third hatch. Blue 35 was clever! She managed to fill up the older ones, and once she flew off with the fish, they fell asleep. She returned with the fish and fed the tiny, tiny one. It was a brilliant strategy. I wish I could find my notes. I believe that, once ringed, the osplet was Blue 465. I really hope that Blue 35 returns this year. I am watching and waiting and so is her mate, White YW, who has been home for some days.

At the Glaslyn nest, Aran had a visitor, Blue 019. She is from the Fron nest. Elen was no where to be seen.

A young osprey chick sitting in a nest alongside an adult osprey, with a lush green landscape visible in the background.

Geemeff reports that Dorcha spent an hour on the Loch Arkaig nest 1, an unusual event. She has stopped in over the previous years, but never stayed this long. Geemeff believes that Dorcha flew in right before Storm Dave hit, while the other migrating ospreys are going to wait til the storm leaves. We are all looking forward to Louis’s arrival.

Geemeff sends us the daily summary:

Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Sunday 5th April 2026

The weather continued to be poor with snow and ice, and Louis hasn’t yet returned. Dorcha however turned up not only on her own nest, but paid a visit of over an hour to Nest One. She has visited Nest One before but only a couple of fleeting visits. Looking forward to the return of Louis and the Nest One residents, probably when Storm Dave passes and the weather settles – in previous years, Louis has arrived as late as 11th April.

Today’s video:

https://youtu.be/jwSZFrPoQRM  N1 Dorcha visits and perches for an hour 10.28.32

Blast from the past – this day in previous years:

https://youtu.be/000ExVIHdTk N1 He’s back! Louis returns 2020

https://youtu.be/s45fByu5-ZE N2 Louis swoops around before landing with a fish 2023

https://youtu.be/_tcny1NvSfs N2 Louis is heard sky dancing at dawn 2024

https://youtu.be/onRZQMzzFec N2 Did Dorcha catch a fish or did Louis give it to her off-nest? 2024

https://youtu.be/15LM_bVIrGk N2 Comedy with a sticky situation (Classic Ospreys – Mozart) 2025

https://youtu.be/HPXA4EJ5uQc N2 The dulcet tones of a hungry female! 2025

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

At Loch of the Lowes, there are ospreys but not Blue NC0. It is rumoured that she has been seen at another nest. Wherever she winds up, I hope she has a good mate and raises some healthy osplets. We all loved Laddie LM12, her late mate, and feel sorry for these ‘singles’ that are left and have to leave their former homes.

Take care…chek those cutie pie eaglets out at Big Bear and the babies at Achieva.

See you soon!

Thank you to ‘PB’ for her messages and to the streaming cams that let us see these wonderful birds in all their glory and saddness.

CJ7 arrives at Poole Harbour…

25 March 2026

Hi there,

Not only did this super mum land on the same day as last year but she arrived within one minute of her time in 2025. I don’t even know if trains and planes have that kind of timely accuracy! The time was 18:29:44.

She’s landing!

The latest Blue 022, her mate, has arrived is the 26th of March in 2023. In 2025, he arrived on 22 March. So come on Blue 022 – you are the most amazing Dad. CJ7 waited a long time for you and together you have produced numerous clutches of four chicks going to fledge – you are a super couple.

Birds of Poole Harbour has the arrival on video: https://youtu.be/Ehd_yrIf_PQ?

At the Big Bear nest of Jackie and Shadow, Jackie had to literally protect her eggs and fight of Ravens who were attacking her as she incubated. It was horrible to watch. They were very careful coming on and off and taking breaks on Wednesday.

Emma is at the Pitkin County nest in Colorado. I don’t think Charlie is home yet.

Geese are taking over Captain Mac’s osprey platform on Fenwick Island. I am pleased. Let the geese take the platforms where osplets were abandoned because there was a lack of food, and they starved right in front of our eyes just days before fledging – like this nest! And I do love my ospreys.

‘J’ sent me the latest notes from nature chat:

Alla laid 1st egg today at Northern Goshawk Cam in Estonia.

Hatch in progress for 4th egg at Eurasian Eagle-Owl Cam in Germany.

Probable hatch in progress for 1st egg at Little Miami Conservancy Eagle Cam.

Hatch watch begins today for 1st egg at Decorah Eagle Cam.

Thanks, Nature Chat and ‘J’.

It’s nearing 1800 and Toby is going to start thinking it is time for a meal. He had a fun day with Lucy, Ann’s dog and Ann, at their house while Don and I went for his doctor’s appointment. Spring wants to arrive but it isn’t yet. The light is different and we are getting hopeful.

Thank you for being with us today. Take care.

Thank you to ‘J’ for her note about what is happening and the links from nature chat, to those who post on FB including Heidi, and to those who make videos and own streaming cams that allow us to watch our favourite bird families.

Remembering Rosie while Ospreys arriving…here, there, and everywhere

24 March 2026

Hello Everyone,

Oh, gosh. I can’t keep up with eaglets hatching and ospreys arriving so…watch those eagle nests as I will be chasing after osprey arrivals.

The pair at the Port of Ridgefield have arrived.

Blue 33 and Maya arrived within hours of one another at Rutland’s Manton Bay nest! I am over the moon – and I will keep saying that. Geemeff has Maya’s arrival. https://youtu.be/Zc_Zd__2jZY?

Some want to argue that it isn’t Maya. As keen osprey observers know, the head of the osprey does not change, and Maya has a distinctive ‘X’ on her head. Thanks, Geemeff.

RSPB is giving a Zoom talk, ‘The Return of the Osprey’ in May. Here are the details if you are interested: Go to Eventbrite.co.uk. It is free. Below is the date and time for me.

Register on Eventbrite

Big Red and Arthur have their first egg as of the 23rd. Please consider joining the Cornell Hawk Cam Chatters if you are not already a member to keep up with the latest and learn when and where the live chats will take place during the hatch-fledgling period.

Osprey pair back at Cape Cod Mashpee, MA nest.

My goodness – I did say that they are arriving fast and furious.

Heidi’s watching a lot of nests and one of those is Seaside. We have Port of Ridgefield home so the rest should be arriving soon.

Heidi reports that there are now three osplets at Venice Beach and Golf Course Osprey platform as of 23 March!

The little one at Moorings Park is having some difficulties getting up to the table when fish arrive. It is having to wait but Sally is a good mum and the little one did get fish!

It takes a good food source and exceptional parents to have three osplets fledge – never mind four. I wonder if CJ7 and Blue 022 at Poole Harbour will go for another four this year? Their nest is waiting for them.

A memorial video dedicated to Rosie, Richmond’s mate who did not return this year to her nest at Golden Gate Audubon in the SF Bay Area, has been compiled. https://youtu.be/i4h2jIE8xuU?

Did I say get your tissues out?

Richmond loved putting sticks on Rosie’s back.

It is really hard to say goodbye to such a good Mum. Soar high, Rosie dear.

Thank you for being with me this evening. Osprey World is very busy – and so are the eagles and hawks. There will be some fledges soon – I might miss them so please send me the news. Take care.

Thank you to everyone for their wonderful videos, and to SF Bay Ospreys for a fine memorial video of Rosie and Richmond. To those who contributed news and images on FB, I am forever in your debt, as we all are to the owners of the streaming cams that allow us to witness the lives of these incredible birds.

Waiting for Blue 33 and Maya…Sunday in Bird World

22 March 2026

Good Morning Everyone,

We hope this finds each of you well and that you got outside, enjoyed the fresh air, and heard some birdsong! The Bald Eagles are gathering in areas north of me in Manitoba. It is another reminder that spring is just around the corner!

Last year Ping Shen shared his incredible photographs of a Seattle osprey family, Harry and Sally. The couple had three osplets. Sadly, one died, but two flourished. It was a real treat. Thank you, Ping! We are looking forward to Harry and Sally’s 2026 breeding season and all your images and stories.

Ping’s article is inspirational for me, and I think that it will touch each of you. We have all sought refuge in the lives of the raptors for various reasons. We need to cherish our wildlife, recognising how much our ‘souls’ are sustained by nature and how much we have in common.

“With noise and sooty exhaust constant backdrops, with a nest built on top of a 1.5 million-gallon storage tank for sewage runoff, these osprey — Harry and Sally, as I came to call them — engaged and persisted in the fraught, delicate dance of raising young. Engaged in my own delicate dance of raising my own young, I found some of the parallels quite humorous — more than once I would return home after watching the young birds demand food, maws agape, and see my own 4-year-old daughter open her mouth in silent command upon seeing me eat something interesting. Beyond humor lay the fortifying recognition of just how much we — human and bird — shared as parents. That parenting is perhaps the most hopeful act of all, that amid and against calamity and tall odds we dance, nurturing and sending forth a little bit of ourselves into an unknown future. A care package of love and hope tucked under a wing is all we leave them.”

‘LE’ sends us news that the first eaglet was born at the Fort Worth Zoo in 117 years! And no, it is not a Bald Eagle but an African Fish eagle! Here is the information:

The Eagle Has Landed! Meet Our First African Fish Eagle ChickDownload

I am so glad that the NZ DOC and the Kakapo Recovery are keeping us up to date on the 2026 breeding season. These remarkable flightgless green parrots breed only once every four years and 2026 is their year!

Mrs O is at the Tweed Valley nest waiting for a mate. Last year began in a remarkable way and ended in tragedy when two females share the same nest. Once the osplets hatched, the females could not sort out who would provide fish, if they would share duties or what – the male was simply not fit for purpose – and the cute little osplets starved to death.

What a very sad situation.

We are waiting for the first egg for Big Red and Arthur. Poor thing. She now lives in a construction zone.

Heidi writes that the second chick has hatched at the Venice Beach and Golf course osprey platform.

Both ospreys are at the Newport Bay Osprey platform. Here is the link to their camera: https://www.youtube.com/live/yIA5FVKQCIk?

Owls bothered Beau and Gabby’s Kia and Eve Friday night with Eve getting hit.

The triplets at Moorings Park osprey platform are well fed – with beautiful fat little bottoms.

Waiting for White YW and Blue 35. They have raised some incredible chicks at Foulshaw Moss in Cumbria.

The cameras are getting better and better. Thanks, Jeff!

Elen is still waiting at Glaslyn.

A great video of Kai and Eve at the nest of Gabby and Beau in Palm Court, Florida – before the kids depart. It has been a wonderful season for this family! Beau proved all the naysayers wrong and is a good strong mate for Gabby just like she knew. Here is the link: https://youtu.be/CeUxQWwidwY?

There is still time for Maya or Blue 33 to arrive today at Rutland. Birds are arriving.

I would also like to draw your attention to the manner in which the side rails of this nest have been secured. To my knowledge, much of the osprey platforms in the UK are checked, secured, and refurbished before the arrival of the ospreys in the UK. I love what they do at Glaslyn. Why couldn’t someone care this much about the ospreys in the US – such as the nest at Achieva in St Petersburg? How would the owners of that streaming cam like ‘their kids’ to slide through a hole and die? Oh, don’t get me started.

Gentle snow is coming down this morning. The Starlings are waiting for me to put out their kibble while a lone Blue Jay was glad to have the peanuts to itself. Mr Crow is not patiently waiting to get Toby’s leftover meat.

Take care everyone. Check out the wonder that is nature around you, just like Ping Shen you might discover a bird family that you can watch from egg to fledge! I will see you again soon.

Thank you to Ping Shen for sharing their wonderful article with us, to ‘LE’ for letting me know about that African Eagle, to the owners of the streaming cams we are always grateful to be able to watch the lives of our favourite bird families, to SK Hideaways I am always indebted to you for your fantastic videos, and to Jeff Kerr and UK Osprey – thanks. And to all the others who post on FB and take images – bless you!

Wednesday in Bird World

18 March 2026

Hello Everyone,

We are in the midst of an unexpected blizzard, while thousands of miles to our southeast, it is green, and geese are enjoying the grass on a golf course. Thank you, ‘L’, for letting me share this lovely image of spring! We love our geese, but there is no place for them here, and yet, many arrived several weeks ago! The ponds have frozen, but there remains some open water in the two rivers that wind their way through our City. It is supposed to warm up beginning tomorrow, but I will believe it when I see it. We were not expecting this much snow today!

It doesn’t look like much, but the snow is blowing and accumulating so quickly! The lad who shovels or us thought snow was finished – he is going to get a real surprise! It is more than 30 cm deep on the walkway he cleared a few days ago, and is within 45 cm of covering the large bird table feeder. Unbelievable.

Toby loves it. He bounces through the snow if there is even a whiff of a ‘cat’ in the garden. My plan is to have a tall wooden fence built to match the one constructed a few years ago. I had not planned to put a fence on that part of the property, but the theft of dogs in our City has become quite troubling. Of course, ‘the cats’ – distinguished from ‘The Girls’ – come in from that back corner, so it is important to close it in. Toby loves his sisters, ‘The Girls’. He plays with them, but those that make their way into his outdoor territory will be ousted unless they are Brock (who now still spends 99% of his time at the neighbour down the street)!!!!!!!!!

I hope, after all these years, that each of you knows that I love all animals, but there is a special place in my heart for Big Red and Arthur, the late Annie at The Campanile, and ospreys. I have posted this song before, but I want you to get in the mood. Osprey season is starting in the UK – and has already begun in the US. Here are those wonderful school children with the Osprey Song (2011): https://youtu.be/KoOQK6ejuXY?

At the Lake Murray Osprey platform, Lucy has laid her second egg with a new mate. Please, please put up the owl defences for this family Lake Murray!

Company for Brutus. Storms are tearing down eagle and osprey nests around the US including an osprey nest that Penny Albright monitored near Sanibel that lost two chicks when the nest collapsed. These eaglets made it through…

Blue 25 has made another visit to Blue 33 and Maya’s nest at Manton Bay – Blue 33 normally arrives a few days prior to Maya, and Blue 25 enjoys his company! Geemeff caught her time on the nest: https://youtu.be/HU_XGU3NTro?

We have an osprey at the MNSA Osprey nest in Oceanside’s Jay Cool platform.

“WYL greets his chick upon returning to the nest in New Zealand. The adult male arrives from a foraging trip over the Pacific to feed his growing chick at the Plateau nest site. As the chick gets bigger, the parents will take longer foraging trips to collect enough food for both themselves and their chick.” (Cornell Bird Lab)

Peanut defended the Winter Park Florida nest against a RTH! Nestflix Memories (Gracie Shepherd) caught it on video: https://youtu.be/cQksMDubVEc?

Tonight, Wink is taking now chances. She is right in the nest with Peanut if that GHO returns – and, of course, it will – they never give up! Wink is an incredible mother – I am truly amazed and thankful for her diligence.

Gabby with her babies, Kai and Eve, at the NE Florida Bald Eagle nest in Florida. Best keep a close eye on these two – they could fledge before you blink.

At the Johnson City nest of Boone and Jolene in Tennessee, snow arrived. Jolene kept those two babies warm and tried to feed them at the same time. Like Wink, she is an experiened and an exceptional Mum.

Huge crop on JBS 24. Mum and Dad are delivering food and leaving it for self-feeding on occasion.

Harry and Sally are up there in my list of osprey parents. Three babies, three little fat bottoms. Large fish coming in and Harry on guard as it appeared there could have been an intruder around today during a fish delivery. If you haven’t been watching Moorings Park, then check out this osprey family. It is a success story – and believe me when I tell you that there will be few such stories in the NE USA this season unless a miracle happens.

Rutlands Lagoon 4 nest is trying to keep the Egyptian Geese from laying eggs while everyone waits for the ospreys to arrive. This is a second nest with a camera amongst several nests at Rutland Water. AI says: “Based on 2025/2026 sightings, the Lagoon 4 nest at Rutland Water is often occupied by male 359 (a 2021 Rutland-born osprey) and female 3H9 (a 2023 Rutland-born osprey). They have been observed investigating the nest and strengthening bonds. Note: 359 and 3H9 are a distinct pair from the main Manton Bay pair, Maya and 33(11).”

I am getting impatient – and it is a tad early – for Maya and Blue 33 to arrive at Manton Bay.

At the Whitley Crane nest known as the Golden Gate Audubon Osprey nest, Richmond has worked and worked. There is a new female at the nest with him. I do not believe Rosie will make an appearance. Why do I say this? Well, when Aila did not return, Louis moved his nest to another location when he bonded with Dorcha. We often think animals and birds are not intelligent. If I have said it once, I will say it again million times, my teacher about raptor behaviour, the late Laura Culley, taught me that they are smarter and use higher levels of intelligence and communication that humans have lost.

I noticed in one of the chats – it was the Winter Park Florida chat – that someone noted that ‘animals have feelings’. Dr Mark Beckoff and Dr Jane Goodall taught us this. There are several good books out there. I urge you or anyone who is interested in the behaviour of non-humans to read any or all of the following.

Saddness at the Two Harbours as Chase & Cholyn lose their last egg. SK Hideaways has it on video: https://youtu.be/8vmMpnkNsh4?

Big Red and Arthur have snow on their nest at Cornell University.

Suzanne Arnold Horning caught Big Red relaxing on the lights!

Cameras are now live at the Poole Harbour nest of CJ7 and Blue 022.

We have an osprey at Threave. Is it Black 80?

At Achieva the third egg was laid on the 25th of January. Can someone who is watching this nest tell me if Jack is delivering enough fish to his mate? I did not see deliveries today, but I might have missed something.

Dyfi is live! Here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/live/tOS_34MKI5E?

In fact, start checking out all your favourite UK and European nests as the cameras are being turned on faster than I can keep a list.

The Pitkin County Osprey nest in Colorado is live.

I have such a soft spot for this White-tail eagle in Durbe County Latvia. Milda. Her current mate is Zorro. There was sorrow and now Zorro has proved to be a good mate and provider.

April 7. Hellgate Canyon. Iris’s favourite day to return to her nest in Missoula, Montana. Count the days – 20. Less than three weeks! The snow has melted.

There is evil in the world. I cannot imagine how anyone could harm an animal and yet, every day I find myself telling people not to give their kittens away to anyone. Russell Mason beat a Goshawk to death – how in the world can someone do this?

Large estates, with no eyes around in Scotland (and elsewhere), allow many horrific things to happen to our beautiful feathered friends. What can be done to stop this?

Scottish gamekeeper Russell Mason pleads guilty to battering a Goshawk to death on shooting estate iDownload

The Cornell Bird Lab gives us hope that people around the world are increasingly engaging with nature and birds. Yes, there are incredibly vicious people anywhere in the world that will harm birds and other animals, but there are more, I hope, that love and help them.

To put a smile on your face:

A total hoot! Beautiful birds – in pictures

https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/gallery/2026/mar/17/a-total-hoot-beautiful-birds-in-pictures-claire-rosen?CMP=share_btn_url

Thank you so much for being with me today and for your patience, as my posting is often irregular. I had hoped to keep to Fridays and Mondays til the UK osprey season began, but every day there is something new and exciting! I will continue to post at the oddest of times, sometimes two or three times a day as news comes in. As you can imagine, my life is anything but routine. We do have a schedule, but it all depends on my husband’s mood, which can vary. I am impatiently waiting for spring to arrive. What I miss most is reading. Yes, we have story time, but it isn’t the same as sitting quietly on a park bench with squirrels dashing around, the wind gently blowing, with a good book in my hand, reading in silence. So, no promises other than there will always be a Monday blog, often coming out late Sunday, until we have osprey chicks on the nests in the UK and Europe.

Thank you to everyone who created videos, wrote informative FB posts, to Raptor Persecution UK for keeping us informed, and to the Cornell Bird Lab for continuing to support education. I remain forever grateful to the owners of the streaming cams that allow us to venture into the challenging lives of our feathered friends. To all my readers who are now long-time friends, I appreciate your support. Your letters and comments mean the world to me.

Preparing for Iris’s arrival…Saturday in Bird World

14 March 2026

Good Morning Everyone,

We hope you had a lovely week. It is still cold, with it feeling like -20 C this morning, even though it is actually -16. Toby didn’t want to go outside. The Girls are busy watching the starlings as they land and search for kibble (I haven’t been out yet to feed them). Brock was here in the middle of the night – that is when he comes, so I get to see him on camera! He has a route. He spends most of his time at Jane’s. Brock loves her soft chair and wet, warm food. Then he goes to a lady a block away (again caught on camera) and comes here when he is assured Toby is sleeping. I do miss him.

Dr Green and team are preparing for Iris’s arrival. The fence has been placed on the parking lot of the Rivberview Health Centre to block any intruders that might want to get to close to her abode.

Typical of Iris, she left the nest in a pretty good state. Oh, please, send out good energy for our Osprey Queen to return – the oldest known osprey in the world should be 30 this year. I also really want her young mate from last year to return, too. We were all saddened when Finnegan, who bred successful to raise two beautiful osplets in 2024, did not return last year as we anticipated he would.

At the Wolf Bay nest in Alabama, Bert and Josie have their second egg of the season. The time was approximtely 0631 today – gosh…I hope there aren’t any Crows around!

Indeed, a thief was caught by the new camera at the Rutland #4 nest. Geemeff caught it.https://youtu.be/BXD-4KKeH3A

At the Moorings Park nest, the osplets are changing. Their heads are getting that oily look (pinfeathers) of the reptilian phase that 1 and 2 are entering. It is a delightful nest! Well behaved, so far.

The fundraiser for the new batteries at Severna Park was a success, and the camera is now live-streaming. There is a number of sparrows taking advantage of the nest while the ospreys are still migrating. Here is the link: https://www.youtube.com/live/SHGPhGPtDWI?

Ospreys are arriving in the UK. Sightings were in Perth & Kinross this morning, heading north. One was sightee flying over Waterford in Ireland.

I am keeping an eye on Manton Bay. Blue 33 (11) is fifteen years old this year. Maya is older, thought to be nineteen this year.

Heidi is on the case of the Dewey Beach cam and its angle! If anyone can get them to fix this, it is her.

Brutus and Peanut are being shown where to branch as they continue to self-feed and flap those wings.

Eve and Kai will be thinking of fledging but not for a week…

The pine lining to Big Red’s nest bowl on the Cornell Campus has been added. This is not only pretty but it is also a well known remedy to keeping insects away from the hatchlings.

Only eaglet at Duke Farms is doing well.

Stella and Irvin have three eggs at the US Steel nest. Stella has had a sub-adult trying to bother her but she is pretty calm and didn’t react.

Only surviving eaglet JBS24 has grown into a beautiful, fully feathered, wanting to fly bird. JBS24 will be 79 days old on April 14, around the average time of flight at this nest. That would make it 21 eaglets fledged from here since 2012.

That is just a little catch-up. No doubt many things will happen at the nests today. Keep an eye! Take care of yourself. Enjoy your weekend. We will see you again on Monday (unless Iris or any of the UK ospreys land on their nests). Thank you so much for being with us today.

A few of the gang say ‘hi’.

Thank you to the owners of the streaming cams that allow us to view the lives of these amazing birds!

2 osplets at Moorings Park…A snowy Thursday in Canada

5 Marh 2026

Good Morning Everyone,

It’s March 5 and it is Toby’s birthday! Here he is when he was first able to climb the cat tree after arriving when he was a very young 8 week old.

As I tell many people, I would not have survived the past year without Toby and The Girls. We plan to have his party when his goodies arrive, which I hope is today. Deliveries in Canada have been problematic due to severe storms in each area.

The snow is gently falling this morning, and the thirty-three European Starlings – yes, counted – have arrived for breakfast. They will return around 1430 this afternoon for their late meal. What are they eating? Cat and dog kibble!

Sally and Harry now have two of the sweetest little osplets. These two do not know how lucky they are to have such amazing parents.

Good news coming out of the UK. Lead ammunition to be banned from 2029. Of course I ask myself, why not 2027? Surely they can get it off the shelves by then.

UK Government confirms ban on sale & use of toxic lead ammunition for ‘live quarry shooting’ from 1sDownload

There is so much confusion going on at the Dade County nest. These are the facts. I want you to read this carefully. Banding and the correct documentation are crucial. It cannot be haphazard.

R9 hatched on 12/20/25, and R10 hatched on 12/22/25.  They were banded on 1/31/26 at 42 and 40 days of age.  During banding, samples were taken to determine their genders, and it was revealed that they are both male.  The intention was to band R9 with the #6/9 band, and band R10 with the #7/0 band.  However, on banding day the eaglets were mixed up, and R9 was given the 7/0 band, R10 was given the 6/9 band.   There are several expert viewers who have watched this nest most of the day every day, and they were always able to identify which eaglet was which, including on banding day, and since banding day.  When the cams resumed after banding, every one of these viewer-experts knew right away that the bands had been reversed.  On banding day, we had hoped that the banders would have been able to tell the eaglets apart by the distinct differences in their tails, and by the few fluffy white feathers that R10 still had on his neck on that day.  The eaglets’ personalities regarding the dominant and submissive sibling were the same as they had always been… R9 dominant, R10 submissive, (although R10 has recently become more aggressive since R9 branched).  The authorities refused to acknowledge the opinions of these expert viewers, who individually have probably watched these eagles more than the admin/mods combined.    

No one ever said that the eaglets’ band numbers needed to be sequential.  But, the admin apparently wanted their names to match his banding documentation.  The admin mandated that chatters call the eaglets by the wrong names.  Chatters are not permitted to call the eaglets by their real names, we are supposed to pretend that each eaglet is the other one now, lol.  One of the long-time primary chatters, ‘mary_mcg’, quit the chat a few weeks ago because she refused to call the eaglets by the wrong names.  Experienced chatters have resorted to simply calling the eaglets by their band numbers, rather than calling them the wrong names.  More recently, even the admin and the mods have been calling the eaglets by their band numbers rather than a name!  The result has been total confusion on the chat as newer chatters and those that haven’t been on the chat for a while drop by.  The band numbers are confusing to them, and they ask which eaglet is which… but experienced chatters are not permitted to respond truthfully.  

HERE ARE THE FACTS:  R9 (band 70) branched on 2/27 at 69 days of age.  R9 unintentionally fledged on 3/4 at 74 days of age.  Ground observers stated that R9 is doing fine, was seen flying well, and then he perched in a tree.  A little later on 3/4, R10 (band 69) branched for the first time, at 72 days of age.  You can trust me on this.  I put together a video showing R9 branching, R9’s fludge/fledge, and R10 branching. Video: https://youtu.be/BotBY9tD4U0?

I am working on a post that focuses solely on the Kakapo. Like the California Condors, they are so endangered and they breed only every four years so there is great excitement in New Zealand as this year’s eggs hatch into fluffy little flightless parrots.

Geemeff sends us another warning about using balloons – sorry, Toby. There will never be balloons used in any party at our house!

The dangers of releasing balloons:

https://www.sungazette.com/news/outdoors/2026/03/releases-of-mylar-balloons-can-endanger-wildlife

Shadow worked hard to keep the ravens away from the eggs! They are going to have to be diligent.

News from the nests in the Channel Islands from SK Hideaways: https://youtu.be/LoHana6raBc?

Ospreys have started arriving in the UK.

Big Red and Arthur continue to work on their nest.

Arrivals in parts of the US of ospreys are three weeks ahead of schedule. Keep your eyes to the sky.

My inbox has been full of readers upset by the seemingly contradictory information coming out of Fort Myers, Florida, regarding the death of F23. She was much loved. It took a while, but after Harriet by F23 won our hearts for being such a wonderful Mum. Now there is a petition for transparency in F23’s death. It is sponsored by Barb Henry. No money required. https://c.org/NvjPRCRWkb

At the NE Florida nest of Beau and Gabby, first hatch Kai has branched and guess what, so did Eve. Today is the first day that they have perched on the branches outside the nest, however.

Just a taste of some of the news coming out of our nests.

Thank you so much for being with us. Please take care! See you soon.

Thank you to the individuals who created videos and posted information on FB, to Raptor Persecution UK for staying on top of the persecution of our feathered friends in that country, and to the owners of the streaming cams where I took my screen captures.

Hatch and pip for Sally and Harry

2 March 2026

Hello Everyone,

Heidi brought me the good news: “Moorings Park had their first hatch at 12:45 this afternoon.” She noted that the first hatch had its very first fish dinner at 1504 while the second egg was hatching!

Sally is incredible at delayed incubation!

Oh, it’s nice to have some good news!

‘B’ also sent a story from the LA Times. They write: “Cute story in the LA Times today on “How two Big Bear eagles became social media’s hottest love story”.

How two Big Bear eagles became social media’s hottest love story

I really hope it helps raise funds to purchase the land around the nest of Jackie and Shadow!

Thank you for being with us. Take care. See you tomorrow when there will be two — or could there be three?

Thanks, Heidi, for the heads up and to ‘B’ for the very cool article on Jackie and Shadow. If you are a member of The Joy of Ospreys FB, there is a video of the event. Thank you to Moorings Park for the streaming cam that lets us into the lives of Harry and Sally and their osplets.

Hatch watch for Sally and Harry plus is F23 missing (again?)…

2 March 2026

Good Evening Everyone,

The collective trauma of our neighbourhood over the death of a very long time resident in a house fire continues to rock each of us as the house continues to be demolished. I have had little time to focus on the birds in our nests choosing instead to walk with Toby and Don in the warm sunshine of a -5 C Monday.

The sky is blue. The birds were singing. The Girls do not know what has happened, but Toby is acutely aware that something is wrong. I find myself continually fascinated by a canine’s ability to ‘read a situation’. There is an acrid smell in the air even though the plumes of smoke have now dissipated. Toby could tell I was ‘upset’. It reminded me of a show I saw once where a blind lady was buying a new house and the final decision belonged to her service dog who happily approved one house – tail wagging happily – while running in circles in and out to remove stress at another.

So I am still not 100%. My issue was that it brought back the death of our dear friends across the street in their house fire. Both houses were story-and-a-half, timber-framed, built in 1902. The residents at both houses were friends; the latest victim was the best man at Bert and Joanne’s wedding. So there is a lot of history and everyone who loved plants and gardening got advice from Jim. There is a spot between my house and the lovely young woman next door on the boulevard. A tree in the summer ‘Jim’s tree’ will be planted there. She also created a neighbourhood emergency contact form so that no one ever has to search again for contact information in case of an emergency!

The big news of the day is that it appears F23 is missing. I ask, is this again? Barb Henry posted images of F23 the other day when people thought M15’s partner was missing, but, as I understand it, Barb Henry and others have been unable to locate F26’s mum today. M15 is doing a magnificent job of bringing prey to the nest and sometimes being allowed to feed his only eaglet, who has now branched to the Attic. Flight is nearing! M15 can handle this, as you all know. Some might say this is ‘a piece of cake’ after raising month-old eaglets to fledge when Harriet disappeared. If I hear anything, I will let you know.

As you know, my granddaughter now lives north of Sydney, Australia, and it is hot in Australia. The summer was a scorcher. The Guardian writes about how this is impacting wildlife.

A scorching summer has left Australian wildlife on the brink, but it doesn’t have to be this way | Euan Ritchie and Jess Harwoodhttps://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2026/mar/01/a-scorching-summer-has-left-australian-wildlife-on-the-brink-but-it-doesnt-have-to-be-this-way?CMP=share_btn_url

Boone and Jolene welcomed their second chick, JC27, Monday morning. Congratulations! Boone is a great provider.

All is well at the Winter Park Bald Eagle nest of Brutus and Peanut.

It was gulped rodent and leftovers for the owlets of Owlvira and Hoots Monday morning.

Eaglets at Dade County Bald Eagle nest of Ron and Rose continue to explore branches of the nest. They are also observing plucking!

Duke Farm’s only is a sweetie!

And the countdown to osprey return begins. It is approximately 37 days until Iris is expected to land on her nest on the parking lot in Missoula, Montana’s Hellgate Canyon area.

I am expecting many ospreys to land in the UK at the end of March. We wish for everyone to return safely.

Big Red and Arthur continue to work diligently on the next. Eggs in the next fortnight possible!

Pip watch at Moorings Park osprey nest of Harry and Sally. Keep your eyes on that camera! Don’t you love the sound of an osprey thanking her mate for bringing her a fish?

Sally is acting like something is happening. She keeps talking to Harry!

Toby says there is nothing like tearing up Mum’s dish towels on a sunny afternoon!

Thank you for being with us today. Please take care. We will see you soon.

Thank you to The Guardian for its reporting and to the owners of the streaming cams who allow us to look into the lives of our favourite raptor families.

Late Wednesday in Bird World

18 February 2026

Good Evening Everyone,

We were supposed to get a big snowstorm with lots of wind. It didn’t quite work out that way. We did get snow – enough to make everything pretty and white and for the young man to have to come and shovel! Toby still got to go for a walk with Don and Ann and I managed to get to IKEA to return the most complicated set of coat hooks on a metal back I have ever seen.

While everyone was worried about Brock because he did now show up to eat today until late late, Calico was napping in the conservatory not having a single thought about the weather!

The Girls are doing very well. I am sorry I do not mention them as often as I did pre-Toby. The one constant is ‘story time’ and we have been reading a lovely book of poetry that arrived from ‘BA’, The Woman and the Whale. Encounters with other kingdoms. The dedication really touched me: “To all those people whose faces become recognizable to animals and birds as helpers and saviors.” The author is Ethel Mortenson Davis. Calico gives it her ten-paw golden award so far – and I am really loving the empathy and love for wildlife in every line.

So many of you have written to me since the call to help the eaglets on the E-1 nest at the Kistachie National Forest was sent out. The line is still on the nest. The eaglets still sleep and walk on and around it, as does Anna II.

It isn’t just the E1 nest with an issue. The situation at the E3 nest is not good. We overcame any thoughts of siblicide at the Winter Park, Florida, nest. Indeed, today, both of the eaglets, hatched five days apart at Winter Park, were self-feeding graciously today – and I do mean getting along, eating from the same fish at the same time. There you go. This is not the case at the E3 nest, where we will have to wait and see if the smallest survives. It didn’t last year. Is it the same female? I don’t know. Does anyone know for sure, unless there is a striking physical mark like Iris’s eye, if there isn’t a Darvic ring? Several of you have written to me privately in anguish that nothing can or will be done for the little one. Is it a lack of fish, an inexperienced female -.

Check out the crop on Tiny Tim in some of the images below. Incredible. Let’s send good energy in the hope that there might be a turnaround for the little one on KNF E-3.

There is a lot of other activity elsewhere and I will run through some of that news.

First, Jack and Jill have their first egg at the Achieva Credit Union platform in St Petersburg, Florida. Please send this couple your best wishes. The female was so shocked when she laid that egg that we have to understand that was her first egg ever! ‘MP’ got a screen capture of the moment. How would you caption this image?

The first egg of Bella and Scout is now just a broken shell but today Bella laid their second egg and we need to wish this couple well. For those who do not know, the pair lost their fully feathered eaglets last year when the nest collapsed. It was a huge tragedy.

Deb Stecyk has the moment on video: https://youtu.be/QuHk5d85P48?

More eggs at Decorah for the Raptor Resource Project.

We have more osprey news from ‘R’, who is keeping a close eye on the osprey platform (one of several) at the University of Florida-Gainesville. This is Stella’s nest, and ‘R’ notes that this morning one of the ospreys was on the nest. The camera is not yet turned on – hopefully soon!

Things going well for Josie and Bert at Wolf Bay.

Heidi has already reported three eggs for Venice Beach.

Penny Albright reports that one of the osprey families she is following on Sanibel has two chicks in their nest.

Richmond has been hanging around the whirly crane at San Francisco Bay. He is waiting for Rosie who should be returning from her migration (Richmond does not migrate) any moment.

Things going well at Moorings Park where we are 10-13 days away from the first hatch.

It turned out to be a soggy day for Big Red and Arthur on the Cornell Campus.

‘L’ sent a note that the Bald Eagles at the Sutton Centre in Oklahoma have their first egg.

Kakapo, Green flightless parrots that live in New Zealand, are also in the nearly extinct category. They breed when food is available. They eat native plants, fruits, seeds, leaves, buds, flowers, and sapwood, with a strong preference for rimu tree fruit. Rimu fruit is key to breeding seasons, however. This is the first time in four years that there are chicks. ‘J’ has been keeping me informed, and I am delighted to inform you that we now have two chicks. The current verified total for Kakapo is 236, according to NZ DOC. We are so hopeful for so many chicks to survive this year!

We had a really good day today. Last night was the first night in ever so long that I slept all night not troubled by the arthritis in my left hand. Despite snow, it was ‘warm’. I had a lovely time finding some small brass door pulls for all the cabinets I had painted ‘Railings’ in the fall. Found a lovely bake at home meal at the Italian grocery – and another one for Ann to take home – and that along with the cinnamon buns and dinner rolls Don and I had made early, it was just a great ending to the day not to have to cook. Toby had his first piece of beef tenderloin and proved that dogs can eat as much as fast as Dyson the squirrel does. Maybe I should re-name him Dyson! (We haven’t eaten beef since the Mad cow Disease Crisis in the UK when we were living there decades ago – so asking the butcher for the equivalent of organic beef for my dog was rather hilarious).

An article, “No trees, no food, shot for fun … yet Serbia’s imperial eagles are making an improbable return”, that gives me some hope for the gorgeous, beautiful Imperial Eagles of Eastern Europe – these are in Serbia.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/feb/18/serbia-eastern-imperial-eagles-returning-aoe?CMP=share_btn_url

E-bird describes the Imperial Eagle as “Very large; dark-brown body of adult contrasts with pale head and nape. Similar to the Golden Eagle but with a shorter tail and white shoulders that are difficult to spot. The underwings are dark with low contrast. Immatures are strikingly different, sandy brown with prominent streaks and a pale rump contrasting with the dark tail and dark flight feathers. Breeds in forested areas intermixed with steppes and agricultural areas, where often seen perched on pylons. Winters in open habitats, including cropland.”

The eagle has been on the brink of extinction – this article gives me hope. But, like everything else, the threats are largely created by us. One of the primary causes of death is electrocution. Many power lines are illegal – and yet, there are some countries that are going out of their way to make those lines safe (in those instances normally for storks when so many have perished). Intentional poisoning (just as it is in parts of the UK) is another key cause of the rapid decline of the species. Then there is deforestation, changes in agricultural practices, lack of food, hunting, and lead poisoning.

If we hope to help wildlife, humans really need to change the way we live our lives! I won’t get on my soapbox – Toby is snoring beside me. Calico thinks it is time for all the cats to have a treat, and Don has already gone to bed. I do love this quiet time at the end of the day.

Thank you so much for your notes – I really appreciate hearing about eagle and osprey eggs that have been laid and what is happening at the nests. It is more than difficult for me to keep track of them at this point in my life. So thanks to everyone.

Thank you to the following for their notes today: ‘H, L, J, MP, PA, R’, to BA for that lovely book, Openverse for their images, E-bird for their information, the owners of the streaming cams that allow us to monitor the lives of the birds, and those who post information on FaceBook. I am very grateful.