Hello! Oh, another brilliant day on the Manitoba prairies. We had some soft snow late in the night. Everything is beautiful. All the dirt and grime are covered! The birds and squirrels are happy as the temperature has risen to – 4 C. It will get colder later this week, but for now, we are truly enjoying this break in winter.
Missey in the conservatory.
The conservatory is where we spend our time regardless of the cold outside. In the years past, when we had this amazing glass box, it was very expensive to heat. This year, the temperatures have not been so cold. It is mid-February, and most years the room would be freezing, requiring supplementary heat from a portable electric heater. This year, the furnace heat has been enough for most days. I haven’t even turned on the underfloor heating! Why am I telling you this? Because the climate where I live is changing. Fall lasted long into November, and now everyone, including Brock, thinks that spring is right around the corner. He is now dining and dashing, as Jane says, and we wonder if it isn’t ‘kitten making’ season. It is unusual as he normally lingers.
There is good news in the garden. The grey squirrel that was exposed to rodenticide and had its immune system compromised, causing it to contract mange, is growing its fur back. It survived! We were overjoyed this morning.
There is some good nest news coming out of the Kistachie National Forest E3 nest. ‘MP’ and I have been joking that maybe the male eagle thinks he married the wrong female! He has been feeding his eaglets, much to the female’s chagrin. He also brought in a big fish and she did feed both – it is wonderful to see the little one having such a nice big crop.
Three fish before mid-day. Keep sending positive energy!
Things are going very well at the John Bunker Sands Wetlands Bald Eagle nest. SK Hideaways has this special nest on video: https://youtu.be/h_Nks375XLg?
The adults at JBS lost JBS25 to an unknown cause but JBS24 is doing fantastic. We were so frightened that it was HPAI and would take both eaglets but – nothing happened. How grand.
I haven’t posted much on Beau and Gabby’s Kai and Eve – I hope you have been watching them. Two beautiful fully feathered eaglets, self-feeding. Happy Days.
The two surviving of four owlets for Owlvira and Hoots have names. This is what was posted on the chat:
@liveowlcamera2837Here are the names of the Owlets Meadow Owlet 2 Larger/Older Nugget Owlet 3 little one Both in basket and doing well !Passed owlets: Coco Owlet 4 Passed Feb 5Beaker Owlet 1 Passed Feb 14th
Androcat captures the beauty and sadness at Eagle Country as the GHO’s Willow and Gus’s egg passes the opportune time for hatching. https://youtu.be/Un7Nct8YzEM?
Wink (the oldest presumed female) and Atlas (the second hatch presumed male) at the Winter Park, Florida, Bald Eagle nest are simply terrific. We worried. We sent good energy and look. At the time, I posted information on how rare it is to have siblicide on a Bald Eagle nest. Around 5%. So far, all of the nests that have had difficulties this season with food competition have overcome the fear of the second one passing. Let’s hope this continues to be the case (feel free to correct me if I am wrong).
It is Day 38 for the first egg laid at Duke Farms. We are on pip watch.
Milda and Zorro have been tending to their nest in Durbe County Latvia. What a beautiful winter wonderland!
‘L’ reports that there are three eggs now at the Sutton Centre in Oklahoma. Thank you for your report!
Reforming the laws in the Dales is the first step in stopping the illegal killing of the raptors. Raptor Persecution UK has the full story.
Thank you so much for being with us today. Toby sends his love to everyone!
To our friends who are celebrating the Lunar New Year – have a wonderful new beginning in the Year of the Horse and a fabulous time with friends and family.
Thank you to SK Hideaways and Androcat for their videos, to ‘MP’ for the wonderful and funny conversations about the male and female eagles at KNF E3, to those who posted information on FB, and to all the owners of the streaming cams that allow us to participate in the lives of these amazing birds. Thank you Raptor Persecution UK for your consistent and steadfast reporting.
It has warmed up considerably on the Canadian Prairies. Dog walkers are out like there is a costume parade for the best-dressed pooch! It is wonderful for morale – and by February, spirits on the Canadian prairires an be running rather dry.
It has certainly been a week but the one underlying theme, on many occasions, has been that of ‘friendship’ and ‘cooperation’.
‘MP’ sent me the most remarkable story about Honey Eaters and how they cooperate with humans in Africa. Have a read. It is a heart warmer that has been occuring for eons.
‘MP’ writes: “I saw this article about birds and humans, and it blew me away. Here’s the link:
And then there is the ongoing saga of worry over Brock, the only feral cat in our neighbourhood, much loved by many who is now 4 or 5 years old. He was MIA from 12:01 Friday morning (or Thursday night, however you want to look at it) when I last saw him on my video camera until yesterday. The other neighbour who feeds him began to understand why Brock drives me to eating Gaviscon! Then he appeared around 2000 at our feeders. Today, he chowed down at Jane’s and was here once and then….one of my friends who we often walk dogs alongside sent me a photograph.
It is on the same block, just on the other side. Another kind lady is feeding our darling! Kindness.
The reading for today out of The Friendship Book is: “When the author, J. M. Barrie talked about being kinder than necessary in “The Little White Bird”, he didn’t have a character speak the words. He didn’t state it like ancient words of wisdom, demanding due respect. He framed it as a question, from himself to us. “Shall we make a new rule o life from tonight: always to try to be a little kinder than necessary.”
Honey Hunters and feral cats…and then there were those that helped my daughter yesterday. She was travelling down a street mid-afternoon, going 60 kph, when a car pulled right in front of her. Shocked, scared, car totalled – two women stayed with her til the paramedics and fire trucks arrived. Then the firemen put her into the truck so she could stay warm. She is alright – astonishingly so. But I am so grateful for the kindness of those strangers as she struggled with what had just happened and how bad that accident could have been.
Now on to some of the news happening in Bird World.
At the nest of Anna and Louis II, E-1, in the Kistachie National Forest, the parents have been busy bringing in moss and other natural materials to bury the bobber and fishing line in the nest. They have moved that bobber several times and are obviously extremely aware of the danger this foreign object could have – hence, their actions. The tree is 105 feet off the forest floor. There are trained rangers monitoring the situation but, at the present, it appears the adult eagles have this under control.
Elvira and Hoots have been bringing in lots of prey for the little owlets. One time it was a bunny. All of the owlets appear to me to be doing fine including the tiny 3.
Chase and Cholyn are being romantic – and what a view for eagle romance! It was noted in the video that the mating attempts were too many to count! Let’s hope these two have a fertile egg and an eaglet this year! And for those of you unaware, Cholyn is Thunder’s mother. (Thunder and Akecheta were the resident pair at the West End nest. Their current status remains unclear).
Jak and Audacity’s first egg continues to remain intact.
The adults at the Winter Park Florida Bald Eagle nest have names!
We need some more food for those two eaglets at Winter Park!
At the Window to Wildlife, the Captiva Bald Eagle nest of Connie and Clive, and a piece of wire mesh – we call it chicken wire in Canada – has come to the nest! Gracious. Another human-made potential for harm.
All is well at the NE Florida nest of Gabby and Beau where voting to name the eaglets ends on Sunday!
To vote for the names for the eaglets of Anna and Louis II at the E1 nest in the Kistachie National Forest, go here:
This has been a quick in. It has been a busy day today, and I am tired. I hope this finds you well, with some time set aside to be outside this weekend. Thank you so muh for being with us. We look forward to being with you again on Monday.
Thank you to ‘MP’ for the story on the Honey Eaters, to SK Hideaways or their videos, and to the authors of the FB posts and the owners of the streaming cams who allow us into the lives of our favourite raptors.
We are one week away from the autumn solstice. It is a beautiful Saturday on the Canadian prairies. It is 24 C. The sky is a hazy light blue with the sun beating down on the garden. The cranberry bushes are turning flame red, the leaves have been turning for some time, and early in the morning, sitting on the deck with Toby and a coffee, we can hear the geese far above us honking.
Time passes too quickly. Not two blinks ago, the children were getting out of school for the summer holidays, and now they are back. We are even having our annual street party tomorrow. It felt as if the last one was just months ago. Do you ever feel this way? Like time is melting between your fingers? Still, it will feel like aeons until Gabby and Beau have their first egg. Time will drag til the ospreys return, and then it will fly again!
I am happy to report – thank you to all the good energy you sent – that Baby Hope is completely healed and new fur is growing over her injury! I cannot tell you what a relief this is. We worried that she would continue to scratch at the injury so that it wouldn’t heal. Toby is also fine. He is a little ‘stiff’ going down the stairs but he is back to wrestling some with Hugo Yugo. They continue to sleep together in the big dog bed. It is so sweet. Missey and Calico are well, too. I cannot ask for more.
So what is happening in Bird World? For the most part, the ospreys are gone. Tiger Mozone reminds us it is approximately 178 days til they return in the UK. What will we do without them? — Watch Port Lincoln! And the Bald Eagles, right?
We will start with two video offerings by SK Hideaways to get us excited! None other than Monty and Hartley and, of course, our favourite Big Bear Valley Eagles – Jackie and Shadow.
San Jose City Hall Falcons Hartley & Monty (2025 Sep 14)
Monty arrived to tidy up the nest prior to Hartley’s arrival. Their meeting was a veritable beaky kiss fest. Guess three successful broods is the key to a successful relationship.
Heidi reports that the male is still at Field Farm feeding his two juveniles who fledged mid-August.
It has gone quiet at Rutland Manton’s Bay Osprey platform.
Making the departure of Blue 33 and Maya complete, Colin, the Cormorant has moved into the nest!
As I shift the blog to Mondays until the first hatch at Port Lincoln, I hope to fill you in on some of the books that Calico and I have been reading. Yes, it has been more than two years, and we are still having story time – four cats and a dog! Here are our first offerings. Some will make great holiday gifts.
The Naturalist’s Notebook for Tracking Changes in The Natural World around You by Nathaniel T Wheelwright and Bernd Heinrich (2017).
It is a beautifully illustrated book with gilt edges and just the right size to hold and read comfortably. The authors discuss their ancestors and how they learned to observe the changes in the natural world, day by day and month by month. In the back is a five-year calendar divided by the seasons, reminding us to be present in our lives. I am particularly fond of the extensive calendar, which allows me to easily compare the arrival of the Starlings, the fledge of the Blue Jay babies, and the first honks of the geese flying overhead to their winter homes. It would make a lovely gift for someone just beginning to learn about the world around them, or for someone like me who wants to keep track of what is happening in my garden. $24.95 CDN.
The Company of Owls by Polly Atkin.
This is a review on Goodreads – and it is spot on! Atkin, like Wheelwright and Heinrich in The Naturalist’s Notebook for Tracking Changes in the Natural World around You, observes owls that live near her. She doesn’t travel far and wide, and like so many, she is not a professionally trained expert in the behaviour of owls. She is a person, just like all of us, who loves animals and birds and is a keen observer of their lives. That review reads: “Polly Atkin does not profess to be an expert on owls or anything else. This refreshing book brings the love of birds, especially owls, right from her heart to yours. It also brings the sights, sounds, and weather (oh, the weather!) of England’s Lake District right into your sitting room.
In The Company of Owls, we are treated to the author’s observations of the owls that choose to live near her. This nips off to other places she’s lived and visited, which adds richness to her descriptions, but it is her ‘home’ birds, and particularly one year in their lives, that is the primary focus.
The author has wonderful descriptive powers, and it is no surprise to glean her interest in poetry from her tale. Her description of the bog habitat where she went looking for short-eared owls is superb, although given the daily walks that provide the basis for her writing about her local owl family as they grow, it is amazing that there is no hint of repetitiveness.
Atkins supports her story with solid research, comparing owl numbers now with the records since Victorian times. These details tend to slip in as anecdotes, and more narrative quotes combine to give a really good picture of how owls have fared over the last century or so.
It’s a very personal record, and she isn’t afraid to reveal her own mistakes, which brought me back after a slight dip in attention in the middle of the book. On the whole, I think this is a really good book for the cosy bird lover, and people who like to know all the birds on their patch, rather than the twitching variety. I’m a patcher, of course.”
Both of these books take a very personal look at the natural world that is around them. They are inspirational to each of us to look just outside our back door – we don’t have to travel the world checking off lists – great things are happening beside us – now.
The power couples of Florida’s Bald Eagle streaming cams are returning to their nests and restoring them for the new season.
M15 and F23 have been home at SW Florida working on their nest.
Beau was absolutely delighted when Gabby arrived home to their nest in NE Florida early.
Ron and Rose are at the WRDC nest near Miami.
Now what is going on with Connie and Clive at Captiva?
In California, Andor and Cruz are at Fraser Point.
‘A’ is keeping a close eye on the Royal Cam chick for us as well as the others in Australia.
“Dad came in a couple of hours ago and fed his big girl breakfast. She was very excited to see him, and watched him closely as he took off after the feeding. It is hard to think this may be the last time they see each other. We (the viewers) hope not because Miss SS Trig still has what the viewers are calling a belly mohawk, with quite a bit of tummy fluff we would like to see gone before she leaves. Her feather development when compared with dad’s this morning was obviously still a week or so away from being ready, so we do hope she doesn’t get overexcited (or caught in a storm Lillibet style). Miss SS Trig is 229 days old today (Lillibet fledged at 219 days, the second youngest ever, the youngest being 218 days old a few years ago). And that number I was trying to read the other day wasn’t 555 at all – her number is YE55 (so the E looked like a five and the Y was further around her leg and not readily visible). This may become important later on, as she will lose the GPS device with her first moult, I presume. I did read something about this being a better GPS device but can’t remember what it was.”
Wow. Doesn’t SE35’s feather development over the last few days astonishing? So much more advanced than SE36, who is still a fluffball with few discernible black lines along its wings. This afternoon, the pair have been left alone on the nest in the dappled sunshine, working as hard as they can at converting fish into eaglet feathers. The effort is obvious, as they are flat out like a lizard drinking (sorry – old Australian saying). SE36 has a huge crop so has obviously eaten well today. SE35 is never hungry so there’s no need to update you there! Oh they are exquisite at this age, are they not? Every bit as gorgeous as they were last week and probably just as beautiful as they will be next week when their plumage will be completely different to what we see today. (In other words, they are absolutely lovely every single day of their growth, from the moment they hatch to the day they fledge, and even then, their plumage has many stages to go through before (hopefully) they finish up looking like Lady and Dad.
I did mention to you that the juvenile red wattlebird in my garden has breast plumage that reminds me of the young falcons but from doing a bit of reading, I think those vertical striations (in either greys or caramels with cream) must be common to many (perhaps most) young birds – the red-tailed hawks have a similar pattern. Obviously, it is an excellent camouflage because it is very similar to the way objects appear when struck by the rays of the sun glinting through leaves.
But I digress. I came here to Olympic Park to say that the littles are doing fabulously well, as usual. Lady is such a devoted mum, and Dad, despite or perhaps because of his advancing years, is an incredibly reliable provider, even in difficult conditions. I have to believe that is the result of his experience – he must know exactly where he can fish when the winds are coming from a particular direction or when there is prolonged rain or whatever the prevailing conditions are. These are the advantages of old age I suppose. And Lady is no slouch herself – she often brings in a late afternoon fish when she has the chance to stretch her wings. It’s easy to forget how old these two actually are. Their fertility appears stable – two fertile eggs per year.”
Incubation continues at Port Lincoln Osprey barge.
It has been a wonderful year at the Osprey House Environment Centre. If you didn’t follow the nest, the fledgling from 2024, helped the parents to care for the little ones in 2025. It turned out marvellous. The babies thrived and now the first one has fledged.
Incubation is still going well for the falcons in the CBD of Melbourne at 367 Collins Street.
Little Gimbir is winning hearts and minds as he has proven to be an exceptional hunter and provider for Diamond at the Charles Sturt Falcon scrape in Orange.
The Wedge-tailed Eagle is the largest in Australia. This is a short film, 18 minutes by Filming Wildlife, of this large raptor hunting! https://youtu.be/TEJ7gSYUOek?
Meldrs, the Golden Eagle fledgling of Spilve and Grislis, no longer comes to the nest in Latvia but is out following the adults, learning to hunt.
‘L’ from South Carolina sends me the most gorgeous images of a Cooper’s Hawk that visits their garden often, drinking at the bird bath. It is a reminder that we should all put out water for the birds that stay and those, so thirsty, that are passing through on migration. (The hawk is enjoying a Shrike lunch).
Emergence Magazine is launching its next volume, Seasons. I am attaching a link to a film, Crying Glacier by Lutz Stautner. The author says, “In the trickling, creaking, and gurgling heard through hydrophones and contact microphones, sound artist and composer Ludwig Berger listens for the voice of Switzerland’s dying Morteratsch Glacier. Directed by Lutz Stautner, this short film follows Ludwig on one of his many visits to the glacier, where he gathers its hidden sounds, the pop of centuries-old air bubbles and the groan of ice, inviting us into the intimacy of listening to more-than-human voices. One hundred years from now, we may only be able to hear the sounds of glaciers through recordings like these.”
Dedicated individuals continue to fight to end the industrial fishing of Menhaden if the osprey and other species are to survive in the Chesapeake Bay and region.
It’s migration. Please encourage everyone to turn off their lights!
One lucky little gosling.
Your smile for the week comes from Toby who is busy excavating peanuts in the flower pots where the squirrels have hidden them!
Very pleased with himself.
Toby had his operation on Tuesday. He can’t have a bath for another week and a half! He is so dirty and stinky!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you so much for being with us today. We hope that you had a lovely weekend and were able to get outside and enjoy lots of fresh air and bird song. Take care. We will be back with you again on Monday the 22 of September. Fall will have officially begun!
I want to thank our notable contributor, ‘SK Hideaways’ for their videos highlighting the nests we are following, the owners of the streaming cams listed in bold, the individuals who take the time to create videos and the authors of posts such as Jeff Kear at UK Osprey Information, and all others, often too many to name but whom I have tried to cite in bold. I am very grateful to you and to the newspapers and journals that still cover environmental issues as they relate to our precious feathered friends. My blog would not be what it is without your input into the world of birding.
Morning Update: R8 still hatching at Dade. R7 is a day old. Thanks for the great capture Heidi!
We woke up to the softest white snow Saturday morning. It was -14 C, which is lovely—cool but not freezing. The sun was out, the sky was a pearl grey-white.
We had an ‘interesting’ drive through the park Saturday afternoon. We love seeing the deer, but today was anxiety-provoking. A man with a dog on lead was provoking the deer. We drove slowly, parked behind the incident and didn’t leave. I always wonder why humans feel that they can threaten or hurt wild animals.
The garden is honoured by the continuing presence of a rabbit, one of a long line of rabbits to visit us. The video camera at the front of the house also recorded three deer visits, none of them the buck with the single antler from the other evening. My heart burns a little warmer.
Closer to home The Girl’s got two new toys. A tunnel with a mesh where they can see their sibling and a tiny rocking dome with some wiggly toys. Hugo Yugo and Baby Hope checked it out.
It is day 34 for egg 1 at NE Florida. If we think of the ‘average’ hatch between 36-38.5 days, we have two to four days to go until this little one hatches. It is getting excited.
What I can tell you is that the eggs at NE Florida are getting rolled and Gabby is being extremely vigilant in her duties. No pip as of Saturday afternoon that I am aware.
Those eaglets of Ron and Rose are really strong! This one hatched at 1016 Saturday. There is a tiny bit of shell stuck to its wing. Oh, my. What a little sweetheart. OK. Maybe to us. I bet its sibling might think otherwise!!!!!
Heidi sends word that there is indeed a pip for R8. Wow. These two will hatch close together and from the looks of it, this is a good thing. R7 is a really strong eaglet. So happy. We need good DNA, great parenting, lots of prey, and blessings as Avian Flu roars its ugly head around the world for the winter (again).
Chase brought Cholyn a fish Saturday morning and got his foot caught on the nest. He managed OK! Thank goodness. Chase and Cholyn are one of the oldest bonded couples in the Bald Eagle community. https://youtu.be/6b4Nsskhzzk?
Here is a very thoughtful video on the illegal release of the lynx. What we need to understand about the illegal releases, why a balanced landscape is important, and the history of the animals that used to live in the area. Why did the lynx go extinct? https://youtu.be/teu8i5vlUWo?
Bird flu – HPAI and H5N1 – are spreading around the world during the winter. I worry for each of our families and, of course, all species. They have enough challenges already.
Calico’s Tip for the Day: Make Time for Story Time even if you are a teenager, an adult, or someone living alone (read to a friend). Reading to Calico with the soft sounds of the words got her to trust me and, as we now know, that trust grew into her joining us in our home. An article in The New York Times speaks to how reading aloud to someone can create intimacy. Calico adds that it is also ‘together time’ ‘analog time’ – and it can be very meaningful and supportive. Why not join us in story time? Make it a part of your life’s routine.
There are Beautiful Trumpeter Swans in Yellowstone. We have a pair that live in Manitoba—remember, we can be colder than Mars—at an Artesian spring north of our City.
Calico ordered three new books from me that she thinks might be good for our family story time. Here they are, and I will keep you posted once we have read them.
Polly Atkin loves owls. They are neighbours to the 17th century property she lives in at Grasmere in the Lake District. Her early observations led her to research the owls. Ms Atkin has a chronic illness and these owls are now her intimate friends and companions. Many of us can relate to these relationships.
This is another book about how a Robin became an intimate friend year after year. A description on the Internet lead me to believe that this book is one that we would enjoy.
A description in New River Books intrigued me. “Each month in The Blackbird’s Song, Miles Richardson delves into the science and mythology behind our relationship with nature, exploring everything from our kinship with plants to the way in which nature influences our moods. Along the way, he offers a range of activities to help us access the benefits of the natural world. Whether it be ‘joy-watching’ birds, rediscovering wonder, foraging for Christmas crafts or going on an urban safari, this book contains all the tools and inspiration you need to unlock the transformative power of nature and find real meaning in your life.”
This reminds me slightly of the new book by Margaret Renkl which is the journal included in my listing of books from 2024.
Pets being rescued in southern California. Thinking about the wildlife…
Thank you so much for being with us today. Please check on all those eagle nests as the chicks have hatched at various dates and are at different developmental stages. At Superbeaks, Barron is eating and finding ways around Keke to get his food. At Captiva and SW Florida there is so much food there has not been an issue around the amount of prey one chick gets over the other. Behaviour can be observed and watching these eaglets is a good way to learn about how they change as they grow – wings, feet, plumage, bills, etc. The only osprey nests have fledglings. There is some interest in bonding and mating at some of the Florida osprey nests, but as far as I know there are no eggs yet. Take care of yourself. We will see you soon!
Thank you to the following for their notes, comments, questions, posts, images, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘Geemeff, Heidi, J, MP’, NEFL-AEF, WRDC, BVSgirl, FORE, Androcat, Port Lincoln Ospreys, Bart M and the PLO, Ferris Akel Tour, The New York Times, Raptor Persecution UK, Leave Curious, Channel 5 Belize, Yellowstone National Park, New River Books, Amazon, Chief Miller, International Bird Rescue, UKOsprey Information
We spent the day being ultra-busy securing a month’s worth of cat food for the indoor and outdoor felines and fresh fruit and veg for us. The birdseed arrived on Friday. After checking and seeing six deer in the forest, we got home in the deep cold and started moving furniture. Yes, cleaning the house is great exercise, but warmer weather and a walk in the forest is much more enjoyable! So the point of moving all the furniture – which delighted the cats as they discovered old toys again – is to make way for a stationary bicycle. We can peddle through the Highlands, go through Bali’s rice fields, or enjoy the golden fields of southern France. We will get those 4-10k walks in one way or another. It arrives on Wednesday.
I don’t make New Year’s resolutions because they have never worked for me. However, our goal is to make 2025 an even better year than 2024. Wish us luck! We plan to plant more trees and shrubs, modify the wood boxes with chicken coop lamps, and launch Calico’s Corner to help feral cats and wildlife—that should keep us busy for a while. What are you hoping to do?
As someone commented in the Achieva chat, it is difficult to watch Jack sitting on the perch, calling for Diane. We have no evidence of what happened or any ring numbers to provide clarity. The one thing we do know is that the platform is currently unsafe for eggs and chicks and requires restoration. There are many ospreys in the area that could utilize the platform if it were fixed, but if I were a female osprey, I certainly wouldn’t lay my eggs on that nest!
Osprey platforms are very expensive to build and install. Just ask the folks at Friends of Osprey South Australia! The Achieva nest has withstood several hurricanes, including Hurricane Milton. I am surprised that no one has volunteered a cherry picker to fix the holes and replace the nesting material to encourage occupation. We learned from Newfoundland Power that helping ospreys by adding nesting material and making the nest comfortable can change the behaviour of the female. For the first time in many years, Beaumont and Hope successfully fledged two osplets in 2024. It felt like a miracle happened at that nest.
Raccoons can get almost anywhere. One was on the Whirly Crane, the old nest of Richmond and Rosie in SF Bay, early Saturday morning. I wonder if they moved their nest last year because of the predators? https://youtu.be/vnp2jx-bzlU?
Need a smile? Wisdom is back from foraging and has relieved her mate to incubate their egg on the Midway Atoll.
Many people are finding comfort in watching the Bald Eagle nests in Captiva and Southwest Florida. The adult eagles are demonstrating experienced parenting, and there is plenty of prey available on the nests. We have the joy of observing four adorable eaglets as they develop into fledglings before we know it!
It looks like it if fish dinners with an egret side course at the Captiva Bald Eagle nest of Clive and Connie and C12 and C13.
M15 brings in some interesting meals. It looks like fish and the two SW Florida eaglets are just cute little itchy pin feathered buttons.
Already stuffed to the top of their little Mohawks and they are getting more food at SW Florida! It was one of those beautiful tandem feedings.
Gabby took her typical spa day before the eaglets hatch. She used to do this when she was on the nest with her much loved Samson.
Many people in the UK are eagerly awaiting the arrival of the first ospreys. We hope to see Blue NC0 at Loch of the Lowes and Maya at Rutland in early March.
Some of the Peregrine scrapes are getting busy.
A nice thought.
Idaho is working for wildlife. I would love to have a few of these in Winnipeg!
If you have been following the saga of the Florida Manatees, there is good news and bad coming out of the state.
You can’t find a happier osprey FB group – I seriously mean this – than the Ospreys of Nova Scotia. Healthy, happy nests (31 nests lost only 2 chicks last year post-fledge), a responsive utility company that amends nests if there is an electrocution, lots of friendly chatters who check on their sites and post daily, and then there are the frantic laughs provided by the members.
Geemeff sends us news about walking our dogs!
These little birds fly up to 10,000 km, only to be disturbed by humans walking their dogs, who probably don’t even notice these gallant little migrants.
What are the threats to the European Turtle Dove? The European turtle dove (Streptopelia turtur) faces many threats, including:
Habitat loss: Intensive farming practices, such as the use of pesticides and herbicides, reduce the number of seeds available for the doves to eat.
Illegal hunting: Turtle doves are often illegally hunted or trapped, especially in the Mediterranean. Hunting is prohibited during breeding season by EU law, but the problem persists.
Disease: Disease can contribute to the decline of the turtle dove population.
Unsustainable hunting: Unsustainable levels of hunting can threaten the turtle dove population
Thank you so much for being with us today. Please take care. We hope to see you soon.
Thank you to the following for your notes, posts, articles, images, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘Geemeff, J’, Achieva Credit Union, SF Bay Ospreys by Golden Gate Audubon, Jeff Kear and Colins Cornflake Capers, Window to Wildlife, SW Florida Eagle Cam, SK Hideaways, Tewkesbury Peregrine Falcons, Alt National Park Service, Idaho Transportation Department, The Weather Channel, Ospreys of Nova Scotia, National Wildlife Federation, The Guardian, OpenVerse, Operation Turtle Dove, Countrypress, Hilton Head Wildlife Reserve
