Bittersweet Day…Late Monday in Bird World

22 June 2026

A very happy but, sadly, belated ‘Happy Father’s Day’ to everyone who has ever cared for another living soul and to our raptor dads especially who work hard to provide for their families in a very rapidly changing world.

I so enjoyed my friend Ruth’s visit on Sunday. Normally, visitors are Don’s friends keeping tabs on him, so this was quite special for me! She brought me the most beautiful fabric – a William Morris Co ‘Blackthorn’ pattern on a heavy linen fabric. Now to contemplate what to do with this treasure.

A detailed floral pattern featuring vibrant flowers and leaves on a dark background, showcasing various blooms including daisies, bluebells, and bellflowers, with intricate detailing and rich colors.

The garden news is that the Crows have fledged their young. I cannot keep enough ‘meat’ on the bird table for them!!!!!! It is still unclear to me how many there are because they still want the parents to feed them. They have yet to make an appearance where I can get a photo of them, nor has Dyson stayed long enough. She has babies in a nest somewhere! And her trips back and forth are short, so it is close by.

There is, however, a lingering sadness around our entire block. Brock and another dear cat, Charlie, went missing on the same day. Everyone has looked, driven around, called, and now checked sheds and garages. My heart is very heavy. Brock was very special to me, and I hope that he miraculously shows up. If I do not see him in another week, I will have to accept that he is gone. That something happened. He was a sweet soul, and a tree will go up in his memory. I hope he did not suffer.

Photo taken by a neighbour last summer.

A black and white cat sitting on a gravel surface, surrounded by green plants.

I find solace in looking at my bunch – they help keep me calm and they know better than to ever want to be outside! It is dangerous out there.

Toby thinks he is a Calico cat.

A calico cat lounging on a cat tree while a sleeping Cavalier King Charles Spaniel rests on a nearby surface, both pets are relaxed in a bright room with greenery visible outside.

Thankfully, the fish have continued to come into Little Dewey at Dewey Beach. Heidi jokingly said not to tell Omega they had been bringing in Menhaden. We don’t know where Mum is finding them, but keep on – we still have more than a month to go before fledge, and Little Dewey is going to need lots of fish. Might we find a fairy in the neighbourhood?

Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Sunday 21st June 2026

The weather was settled today, sunny and dry, and both males provided well – Garry LV0 brought three fish for Aurora 536 taking his tally to one hundred and twenty eight, and Louis delivered six fish including a pike, the Nest Two tally now stands at one hundred and seventy two. Dorcha was startled during one of Louis’ deliveries, but not nearly as startled as the chick who got an eyeful of poo from an ill-judged squirt by the other. Or perhaps not so ill-judged – the chicks had been fighting earlier and the one who came off worst was the one who squirted!  The forecast is dry overnight with a low of 11°C but a possibility of light rain showers tomorrow, with a high of 22°C.

Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/KfZv1C4F5QM N2 An early breakfast of fresh fish arrives 05.06.20

https://youtu.be/Aqx-2N9xm8U N1 Aurora departs with fish one  leaving Garry in charge 09.45.28

https://youtu.be/ydvxHPeA38o  N2 Fish number two is demolished in no time10.15.37 

https://youtu.be/ZvbPCbVmGWE N2 Chick gets bumped, throws a strop, attacks the other but quickly regrets it 10.38.23

https://youtu.be/1SOAPki_Nfg N2 On yer pike! Louis brings a predatory fish 12.32.18

https://youtu.be/lK-tmPLwISI N2 Back to normal, fish four is a large trout 12.54.25

https://youtu.be/SCdDaM8sCMw  N1 Garry moves a few sticks when Aurora departs with fish two 14.45.54 

https://youtu.be/78jxnM-aF3o N2 Louis startles Dorcha when bringing fish five 14.4.07

https://youtu.be/FSHQ11ZwFwQ N2 Here’s mud in your eye – erm, that’s not mud! 18.38.41

https://youtu.be/vfw0nM8DA3E N1 Garry brings a third fish and both he and Aurora depart 19.21.01

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

Everything you need to know about what is going on in the California nests by SK Hideaways!

Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Saturday 20th June 2026

Another day where the main talking point was fish – Louis delivered both the season’s earliest fish at 03.21 and the season’s latest at 23.40, with both deliveries made while night cam was on, and put in his longest working day at 20 hours 18 minutes. His delivery of five fish takes the Nest Two tally to one hundred and sixty six. Louis startled Dorcha twice today, both times by appearing quickly – the first time she jumped up and winged him away, and the second time she let him land with his fifth fish. He had more problem deliveries, he caught his wing on a forked stick when bringing fish two, and he clattered that same stick departing after fish three. By contrast, Garry LV0 had no problems with either of his two deliveries to Aurora 536, and his Nest One tally rises to one hundred and twenty five. For a pleasant change there was more sunshine and less rain than forecast for today, and the mild sunny weather will continue with an overnight low of 10°C and a high of 19°C tomorrow.

Today’s videoshttps://youtu.be/tCFldIg9RDw N2 Night cam’s still on when Season’s earliest fish one arrives 03.21.51https://youtu.be/gEr6xkOPOeE N2 Oops! Louis catches his wing as he delivers fish two 05.13.13https://youtu.be/57URAZuS-AA N1 Garry egg-sits when Aurora leaves with the first fish 11.46.08https://youtu.be/QEucER1tVio N2 Louis clatters a stick departing after bringing fish three 14.20.07https://youtu.be/XMHl5ExOmts

N2 Big fish number four flaps frantically 16.21.43https://youtu.be/WHWqXNiUju4 N2 Is it Louis who startles Dorcha? More than likely! 19.50.29https://youtu.be/_pkScM6isoU

N1 Nice fresh fish supper for Aurora 20.01.13

https://youtu.be/8IqQQgPIv6g N2 Season’s latest fish arrives, number five today 23.40.25

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


SK Hideaways Videos Week of 14 June 2026

FOBBVCAM Eagles ~ Big Bear Valley, CA ~ Jackie (~14 years), Shadow (~12 years), Sandy, Luna (both 76 days as of 20 June)
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

Sandy & Luna Squeeze Onto Back Porch to Say Good Morning ~ Watch Helicopter (2026 Jun19)
Luna and Sandy greeted viewers from the back porch, squeezed together like peas in a pod. A little later, their attention was turned to a helicopter flying overhead. We lamented the possibility of increased air traffic should the Moon Camp property be developed. We support the effort to stop any such development. Shadow then arrived with the first fish of the day, which Sandy quickly claimed. Luna would get the other half when Sandy had enough. 
If you would like to support the preservation of Moon Camp, learn more at  https://savemooncamp.org/.
Video: https://youtu.be/urk5hiJB95A

BIG ACCOMPLISHMENT! Luna Climbs to Y-Branch ~ Perches Even Higher (2026 Jun 17)
Luna stepped up to the Y branch and kept going up! This is a big developmental accomplishment as fledge time approaches. Sandy was suitably impressed with Luna’s progress, but was content to manage her branches. Eagles typically fledge between 10 and 14 weeks, so the window is now open for Luna and Sandy, who are 73 days old. Males typically fledge first as they are smaller. 
Video: https://youtu.be/If_H8omr7nk

Fraser Point Eagles ~ Santa Cruz Island, CA ~ Cruz, Andor, Sasha (hatched 3/28), Zuma (hatched 3/30), Ryder (hatched 4/1)
Courtesy Institute for Wildlife Studies | explore.org | Fraser Point Eagles Cam Ops
Nest Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OY4V_AppZ6s


BIG DAY AT FRASER POINT‼️  Zuma’s Fludge+Fledge ~ Partial Nest Collapse ~ Ryder’s
 Near Fludge (2026 Jun 20)
The day began normally ~ Sasha bouncing around in the treetop, Ryder bouncing around the nest, and Zuma on the overnight perch. 
~ Things got exciting when Zuma tried to descend from her perch to the nest and lost footing, falling to the ground. Ryder advised her to flap and asked if she was OK ~ turns out she was. 
~ Later, while showing off her magnificent wingers, Ryder landed on the nest ledge, a big chunk of which broke off and fell to the ground, throwing up a big plume of nesting material. Fortunately, Ryder is much stronger than the first time she got too close to the edge (26 April 2026) and was able to recover and return to the nest. 
~ We finally caught sight of Zuma at 12:47 (minute 7:46 in the video) as she made her way up the hill and took several short flights. We won’t wager on when she might return to the nest, but we’re quite confident that she will. 

All in all, an eventful day at Fraser Point. 

*Note: there has been no formal declaration of the eaglets’ genders. Our references to gender are just our best guesses.
Video: https://youtu.be/AM7s0HwvKNY

Zuma Goes Out on a Limb ~ Explores Life Off Nest for 1st Time (2026 Jun 17)
Call it branching or branch-hopping, Zuma went from the nest to a branch off the nest. A big accomplishment and deserving of praise. Zuma took up residency on that right side branch mid-afternoon and traversed back and forth several times before perching there overnight. Congratulations, Zuma! 
Video: https://youtu.be/3YbwXv9AAQY

Ryder & Zuma Choose Bounce House ~ Sasha Likes the Jungle Gym (2026 Jun 14)
After Cruz and Andor filled the dawn with a beautiful duet, the eaglets began their morning chores. For Sasha that meant flying from one branch to another on her “jungle gym”. For Zuma and Ryder it meant strengthening their wings and legs with big wingers and jumps in their “bounce house”. The younger two seem content to watch Sasha explore the nest tree and beyond for now. We’re very happy for them to stick close to home as long as they’d like. 
Video: https://youtu.be/UcVY8wb2Ksk


Sauces Canyon Eagles ~ Santa Cruz Island, CA ~ Audacity & Jak
Courtesy Institute for Wildlife Studies | explore.org | Sauces Canyon Eagles Cam Ops
Nest Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rnTsOesC6hE

Audacity & Jak Watch Sunset  & Retire to Fave Night Roost (2026 Jun 17)The amazing IWS/explore cam ops team found Jak and Audacity watching the sunset before they retired to what I call the nest-watch roost. Such a treat to see them together ~ as sweet and bonded as ever. 
Video:  https://youtu.be/CX4ZUTb8cy4


San Jose CH Falcons ~ San Jose, CA ~ Hartley, Monty, Jet, Scout, Stewart, Walton 
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


Fledglings Inseparable 2+ Weeks Post-Fledge
 ~ Parents Still Feeding (2026 Jun 15)
All four fledglings were on camera today, beginning with their overnight roost on the louvers adjacent to the nesting area. Throughout the day, cam ops found them both apart and together (3 of them anyway with 1 just below). What a treat to see them all 2+ weeks post-fledge. As a bonus, we saw Hartley feeding them, Monty making a Dad Dash delivery, and the two of them bonding in the nest box. 
Video:  https://youtu.be/u0dIuFbxwBs

Boys Perform Morning Aerobatics ~ Top Gun Training Progressing Well (2026 Jun 18)
From dawn till dusk, the stellar cam ops team followed Jet, Scout, Stewart, and Walton ~ as well as Hartley and Monty ~ through their entertaining activities. 
~ The morning brought incredible flying scenes followed by predictable loafing to refuel. 
~ Scout interrupted Hartley and Monty when they attempted to pair bond in the nest, causing the long suffering parents to bolt from the area. 
~ At day’s end, the boys came back together on the louver to roost, with an adult around the corner. An exciting and eventful day in San Jose! 
Video: https://youtu.be/rOC0Zu3gY6Y


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

Peregrines Hassle Cholyn ~ Chase Goes Talons Up ~ Cam Ops Give Us a Finale Treat (2026 Jun 19)
Two peregrine falcons were unhappy with Cholyn and Chase’s presence, so became something of a nuisance. They swooped on Cholyn in the nest ~ she rose up and swatted at them. Then Chase arrived and soon went talons up when he was swooped. That took care of the nuisance. Once sure that the intruders were gone, Chase took his leave and cam ops gave us some stunning close-ups of Queen Cholyn. At the end, she and Chase exchanged beautiful chortles before she departed to meet him elsewhere. 
Video: https://youtu.be/b3HcKlH1X3U

‘CG’ sent us a video list from the Syracuse Red-tail Hawk nest where we have some fledging happening!

Home to Ruth, Oren, OR6, and OR7.

OR7 fludges at 46 days old on the evening of 6/12/26.  After making a safe landing, flying here and there, he spends the night on a railing. https://youtu.be/FKUe7phkj7A?s

Day 2 of life off the nest.  Exploring the surroundings, 6/14/26.   https://youtu.be/ijghFmrz_IA?

Day 3, OR7 comes home after a busy day trying to make it back to the nest, 6/15/26. https://youtu.be/Fh5xf5-K0Y4?

OR7 shows OR6 how it’s done.  OR6 fledges at 51 days old 6/17/26.  They spend the night together in a nearby tree. https://youtu.be/IZlav2VcHa4?

Videos by Sylvia’s Raptor Cam

Oh, wow. I am so grateful to Geemeff, SK Hideaways, and CG – it is great to get such good coverage of specific nests!

In Wales, Katherine Keir has kept everyone appraised as to Aran and I am happy to say that he got to celebrate Father’s Day this year with his new mate. It seems they have one chick.

An osprey and its young on a nest made of sticks, surrounded by greenery.

Ping Shen writes about Harry and Sally in Seattle with some great photos!

“Harry and Sally’s 3rd chick hatched sometime between June 16 and 17, and Harry has been very busy making fish deliveries. Mom and the 3 Osplets seem to be doing well – fingers are crossed they can keep them fed and happy. It is still quite a joy to watch these parents tend to their new young – I didn’t visit as much last year during these early days and regretted it, so am trying to make up for it now!”

An adult bird feeding four hungry chicks in a nest made of twigs and branches.
An adult osprey feeding its chick in a nest, with another osprey looking on.
An osprey is flying with a fish in its talons above a nest where another osprey is resting.

I need your help. My Memorial Page is missing eaglets, eaglets, hawks, and ospreys from the streaming cams that have died. Please take a look and send me a note, as I don’t want to leave anyone out. Don’t be shy! I have tried to keep them in chronological order but towards the end they aren’t.

There is something else that I am doing. This year, I hope, with the help of a much-too-busy Heidi, to put together a map. That map will show the nests that fledged their full clutch. I want to see where the successes are visually, and this is difficult to do on our forms. I do not believe there will be many on streaming cams who manage to raise all of their chicks, but I would like your input. When fledge comes, send me the nest name and location! I might already have it, but that is alright. We don’t want to miss any nest.

Breaking news: The Fraser Point nest of Andor and Cruz has collapsed. Ryder appears to be alright.

The second eaglet has died at the Lesser Spotted Eaglet nest in Estonia as was sadly expected. When the oldest didn’t kill it, the adult chose not to feed. They only fledge one no matter how many hatch. It is ‘their way’. In this instance, it was familial homicide.

A parent eagle stands in a nest with two young chicks, surrounded by trees.

Bety was aerating the nest at Mlade Buky around the single egg today.

A stork standing in its nest atop a building, with several houses and green hills in the background.

A miserable day at Cornell nest of Big Red and Arthur. Not good for another fledge – drippy feathers and all. P1 is at the nest too, having fledged two days ago. No doubt they are all hungry!

Three red-tailed hawks perched on a nest with green trees and a city street in the background.

New of fledges at Chichester!

Our baby at Hellgate is losing its little down and turning into a dinosaur! Do you realize that ospreys are some of the only dinosaurs to survive the dinosaur age? And we are murdering them as one of my reader’s states, in the NE USA -. They sent me a poster after reading about the Menhaden issues. I agree. Our planet is on life support and a few greedy corporations and people are killing her and all that is beautiful ———we simply cannot let that happen.

Illustration depicting Earth as a sick patient in a hospital bed, connected to medical equipment. The scene conveys a message about environmental harm, featuring elements like pollution, industrial smoke, and a critique of corporate greed.

Small acts of kindness matter. A friend in London saw a pigeon drinking from a tiny, dirty puddle. They had a bottle of water and a cup in their car, and they went over and, in a safe place, left water for the bird. It went immediately. Remember. Water is life. It costs little to leave out a pan of cool water in a spot for wildlife. Please, if you can, leave out water, especially during these heat domes. Water is often more important than food.

Iris feeding her little dinosaur. Clark brought a huge whole fish for the family.

An adult osprey feeding its chicks in a nest, with a fish laid beside them. The scene is set outdoors with greenery in the background.
A close-up of baby ospreys in a nest, one of them is being fed a fish by an adult osprey. The nest is made of twigs and grass, with some natural surroundings visible.

Iris makes me happy.

Thank you for being with us today. The rains are supposed to come down heavily the rest of the week, and today is packed with errands, including getting Toby’s nails trimmed. It was a joy being outside the last few days. I may take a day or two to write again. Summer is now officially here, and it will go by in a blink.

I want to thank Geemeff, SK Hideaways, CG, and Ping Shen for all their news! I really appreciate your generosity in sharing news with all our readers in Bird World. Thank you to the individuals who send out newsletters, post on FB with the latest information, and the owners of the streaming cams that allow us to view these amazing birds.

Worries continue at Bald Eagle nest in Michigan…late, late Tuesday in Bird World

26 May 2026

Toby and I have watered the garden, planted an area of wildflowers for bees, swept, cleaned the bird baths, and finished all of our evening chores. Now we return to the Bald Eagle nest at Traverse City, MI, where Snow, the 6-week-old plus a few days eaglet, is in a nest that has lost its support limb. It appears that the limb has somehow caught itself on a neighbouring tree, and that, along with calm winds and good weather, might bring some luck to this tense situation.

The adults have been on the nest and fed Snow.

A pair of adult bald eagles standing near their nest, with one eagle looking down and the other perched on the nest. The nest is made of twigs and is situated among green trees, with a body of water visible in the background.

When I checked Snow had a crop. Single adult returned to the nest and tried to lure Snow up to the top rim to have some fish that was buried there.

A bald eagle stands on the edge of a nest, surrounded by twigs and branches, while two eaglets are visible in the nest below. The setting shows a natural landscape with water in the background.
A bald eagle and its chick in a large nest made of sticks, perched high in a tree overlooking a body of water. The scene shows a sunny day with informational overlay about the location and time.

The adult made its way a little lower being very cautious and Snow did get some more bites of prey.

A pair of bald eagles in their nest, surrounded by branches and foliage, with a view of water in the background. The scene is partly cloudy and the time displayed is 6:51 PM on May 26, 2026.

Then the adult carefully made its way to the branch that extends at the bottom right in the image.

A bald eagle stands on a large nest made of twigs with two eaglets visible underneath. The background shows a body of water and trees. The image also includes a timestamp and weather information.

Snow will go to beed with a nice crop.

A young bird sitting in a nest made of twigs and branches, overlooking a body of water with trees in the background. The image displays time and weather information for Traverse City, MI.

Snow is resting at the bottom of the nest as sunset begins.

A close-up view of a large bird's nest made of twigs and branches, located near water. The nest appears empty except for some nesting material. Surrounding trees are partially visible.
A young eagle is standing in its nest made of twigs and branches, overlooking a body of water. Surrounding the nest are pine trees, and the scene is set on a sunny day with a blue sky.
A young eagle standing in its nest made of twigs, with a view of the water in the background. The scene shows a sunny day in Traverse City, MI, along with a display of current weather conditions.

Send this family your very best wishes. This is a situation that happens in the wild, far more often than we probably imagine. I was hoping someone would fabricate a false nest and somehow get it below this one so that if the nest slid down, it would land on the artificial nest rather than plunge 100 feet. (There appears to be some difference in opinion on whether the nest is 100 ‘ or 200’ off the ground.)

Kudos to the mods on the live chat and to those who are leaving the camera running. You are the best!

FOBBV is doing a magnificient job in collecting donations to purchase the land where Jackie and Shadow’s nest resides – along with many other species. (This is only part of their post).

Post discussing the fundraising campaign to protect eagle habitats from a proposed development near Big Bear Lake, detailing the financial goal and potential impact on local wildlife.

Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Tuesday 26th May 2026

Another peaceful day, although Louis spent a few minutes alarm chipping at an unseen intruder while he was on incubation duty, but nothing came of it and he didn’t leave the nest. He brought two fish for Dorcha, taking his tally to eighty six and the Nest Two tally to eighty eight. Nest One was untroubled by intruders, unseen or otherwise, but Garry LV0 only brought one fish for Aurora 536, taking his and the nest’s tally to eighty two, keeping in mind that Cam One is offline for a few hours each morning. The weather forecast is dry overnight and for the next two days, with a low of 9°C and a high of 22°C tomorrow. The days are getting longer as the countdown to hatching ticks away and at the time of filing this report, midnight, Cam Two is still on day mode, with a very light sky and the loch clearly visible.

Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/U4N0qYOjTEs N2 Early breakfast for Dorcha 06.10.16 

https://youtu.be/AeTSJzyIlEk N2 Second fish from Louis for Dorcha 15.34.11

https://youtu.be/puWi04WxUqY N1 Finally! Garry brings a fish for Aurora 16.46.30

In the UK, politicians and the legal system continue to fail the raptors they are charged with protecting!

The Condor Chat is live on Thursday the 28th. They also have a fantastic on line auction if you wish to help out these incredible people who work hard to protect this very endangered species.

The Least Flycatchers are flitting about all over the garden. I can see several grey squirrels coming for peanuts along with Mr Crow. They are especially enjoying the nice, clean, cool water that Toby and I put out. Meanwhile, Little Red is inside the small covered feeding helping himself to Black Oil Seed. I will try and get some photos this week but for now it is good night.

Take care everyone.

Thank you to Geemeff for their daily post about all things Loch Arkaig. There are many more videos, but sadly, this system will not post them! Makes me growl. Thank you to all the people who are posting on FB and the owners of the streaming cams that allow us to watch our bird families in the good, the bad, and the unknown times.

Double hatch at Glaslyn for Elen and Teifi, hat trick at Dyfi, tension at Bald Eagle nest in Michigan as nest slides down…late Tuesday in Bird World

26 May 2026

Hi Everyone,

This is going to be a quick posting. It continues to be hot, and we are inside enjoying the benefits of AC. Toby was exhausted after his walk with Ann, and Don was sound asleep. The heat has made me tired, but it is really helping the garden to become green, and everything feels like summer, not spring. Hydration is the key and please, if you can, leave water for wildlife.

The big news is the Bald Eagle nest that is sliding – Traverse City MI. Send your good wishes to those standing by to rescue Snow, the 6 week old eaglet.

Quick news:

It’s a trio for Idris and Telyn at the Dyfi nest!

https://www.dyfiospreyproject.com/blog/emyr-mwt/hat-trick-hat-tricks?fbclid=IwY2xjawSC39RleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEewff9yxu0V34kdZRt4Y160bYYA6Tv25-lcIHGoSGJDnP9ZWcDWj9qxMeOJnA_aem_fUzHJ1vZLN_ecq_V7EOl9g

We have the first hatch for Elen and Teifi at the Glaslyn nest but, wait…the second chick decided to hatch later in the evening. Well done on that delayed incubation!

A chick just hatched in an osprey nest, sitting next to two unhatched eggs. Another adult osprey stands nearby on a branch overlooking a green landscape.
A bird of prey sitting in its nest, tending to several eggs or hatchlings on a bed of twigs and soft materials.

Six week old eaglet Snow is in peril as Traverse City Bald Eagle nest slides when supporting limb breaks.

This is the latest picture that I have as Snow hangs onto the nest that is sliding off. Rescuers are on standby to help. Send positive wishes that Snow escapes injury. The nest is 100 ‘ off the ground.

Link to nest: https://www.youtube.com/live/vMW-S6ZoYgY?

An eagle's nest perched high in a tree overlooking clear blue water, with two dark eaglets visible nestled in the nest. The scene is set on a sunny day, showcasing the natural habitat.
Bald eagles Harry and Harriet with their 45-day-old eaglet named Snow in a nest surrounded by trees.
An adult bald eagle sitting in its nest, surrounded by greenery, with a younger eagle partially visible in the background.

The smallest osplet that had been attacked and denied food at Patuxent River Park has died.

CJ7 and Blue 022 have three little osplets today.

Three chick birds in a nest, peeking up with open mouths, surrounded by pine needles and remnants of eggshells.

Three full babies at the Dyfi nest of Idris and Telyn.

An osprey feeding its chicks in a nest, surrounded by twigs and remnants of fish.

Thank you for being with us today for this quick check at a few nests. Take care. See you soon!

Thank you to everyone who has posted information and images, and to the owners of the streaming cams where I took my screen captures. I am grateful to everyone in MI who is waiting to help and has permits in hand! Let us hope the outcome is good.

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?

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.

Monday in Bird World

5 January 2026

Hello Everyone,

Yes, did you notice? Two Mondays in Bird World. Alas, it has been a tiring week!

Don is home from the hospital, missing his brand new SuperPuff long coat, glasses, and runners. What does one say and do? You file a form and hope that they turn up! In the meantime, you carry on and try to find replacements! Don was safe, but no tests were conducted in eleven days, just assumptions made. Please don’t hesitate to ask me if I am happy. I am decidedly not. I need an ultrasound to determine if this is a prostate issue or something else. If it is a prostate problem, then what is it? Thankfully, they won’t be sending me a bill!!!!!!! And I won’t have to mortgage my house to pay for his care.

Toby was relieved that Don was home.

I will be calmer when the issue at hand is resolved as you can imagine.

SK Hideaways videos week of 12/28


AEF-NEFL EAGLES: Nest of Gabby, Beau, NE32, and NE33
Courtesy American Eagle Foundation/NEFL Eagle CamOps https://nefleaglecam.org/
Nest Cam 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouWBQoVFegI
Nest Cam 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQrJv_Dt4tY
Cam 3 (Approach view) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ImHK7o8UHXE
Nest Cam 4 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gkln9bA4CwE

Mom Tricks ~ Gabby Stops NE32 & NE33’s Fighting by Brooding Them
 (2026 Jan 2)
NE32 is 2 days old, NE33 1 day.  They have already found the boxing gloves, but their closeness in age makes it a fair fight. When Gabby ‘s food distraction didn’t stop the mayhem, she simply brooded them ~ putting an instant stop to the fight. Just six minutes later and a couple half-hearted punches, they sat like little angels and took food from Gabby. Her maternal experience worked it’s magic. 
Video: https://youtu.be/uEn8H53cEwg

Beau Meets Super Bobblehead NE33 and Feeds Super Snacker NE32 (2026 Jan 1)
Gabby made Beau wait a while before letting him meet NE33, but when she finally did, it was a sight to behold. Beau was immediately smitten with his third offspring (his first being Bodie in 2025) and settled in to brood both NE32 and NE33. A short while later, NE32 let Beau know it was snack time and dad was happy to oblige. While NE33 was still tuckered out from hatching, the smell of fish did cause the little one to stir. The stirring too the form of much wobbling and falling from side-to-side ~ seeing as that big head isn’t quite yet cooperating. We’re sure they’ll both be super snackers by tomorrow. 
Video: https://youtu.be/DZBMVvi5tp8

NE32 HATCHES!
 12-Hour Lead-Up ~ Congrats Gabby & Beau!  (2025 Dec 31)
NE32 arrived after working to escape its shell for about 36 hours. We summarized the 12 hours that led up to NE32’s arrival. Congratulations to Gabby and Beau, and welcome to the world NE32!
Video: https://youtu.be/i4lIg-u3yIc

FALCONCAM PROJECT: Nest of  Diamond, Gimbir, and Girri
Girri Flight Training with Dad ~ 2 Days, 3 Cameras 
(2025 28-30 Dec)
As mum Diamond watched, Girri soared around the tower and beyond with dad Gimbir. We think this big, strong female has aced flight training and is ready to move on to hunting.
Video: https://youtu.be/m1LEx9dQ_pQ
Courtesy FalconCam Project, Charles Sturt University NSW (http://www.csu.edu.au/special/falconcam/)
Box Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yv2RtoIMNzA
Ledge Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VuZaWzhXSAI
Nest Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KCFRoO6URs
Tower Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQxrTGgNu4M


TWO HARBORS EAGLES: Nest of Cholyn & Chase
Cholyn & Chase at 27-years ~ Morning Check-in, Brunch on Nest (2025 Dec 30)
At 27 ~ almost 28 ~ years old, Cholyn and Chase are still the lovebirds they were when they first paired up 22 years ago. They checked on their nest this morning, which is already in good shape for eggs, should they grace us with them next year. Later, Cholyn returned with a nice fish, which she took her time to enjoy. Every moment with this special pair is a precious gift. 
Video: https://youtu.be/GOApBZhGIb8
Courtesy Institute for Wildlife Studies | explore.org | Two Harbors Eagles Cam Ops 
Eagle Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E5T2eHM8tcI
Overlook Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yx7RKxpyzQ

There is sad news coming out of FOLFAN. The ten-year-old nest tree collapsed during a storm. Oh, if only there were the resources to help support these old nests!

Incubation continues at the new Window to Wildlife Winter Park, Florida Bald Eagle nest and cam. The female is blind in one eye. Link in post.

The two surviving eaglets at Superbeaks are doing very well indeed and now have their fluffy white down Mohawks.

Gabby and Beau continue to do a magnificent job at NE Florida.

I wanted to get those videos of SK Hideaways off to you before the end of Monday. Please take care. My posts will be short – I have to be caregiver and nurse and we are still monitoring Toby for any issues. Send us good energy as we move forward.

Thank you to SK Hideaways, those who post on FB, particularly Bald Eagles 101, and the owners of the streaming cams that allow us to participate virtually in the lives of our beloved eagles.

Sky fledges at West End and other brief news in Bird World

22 June 2022

Oh, it is simply a gloriously beautiful day – blue skies and bright sun. No rain forecast! A first for several days.

Sky did some amazing hovering yesterday at the West End Eagle Nest.

All that practice paid off. At 06:09 Sky flew off the nest just like he had been flying for years. He was 104 days old.

Congratulations Sky, West End Eagles, Thunder and Akecheta and to Dr Sharpe and the staff at the Institute for Wildlife Studies. It has been an awesome year. We look forward to more visits for all three – Kana’kini, Ahote, and Sky for awhile.

Keeping a close eye on the ND-LEEF nest, home to Little Bit, that partially collapsed yesterday at 15:43:30. last night, Mum landed on the ND-LEEF at 21:16:53 wanting to finish up that Raccoon. ND16 had been nest to Little Bit 17 up at the front of the nest. 16 moved to eat. Little Bit went over for a short time – but he had a large crop and wasn’t that hungry. Looks like Mum and 16 cleaned it up. An adult was up in the branches of the tree looking for ND15 I think. They will want it back on the nest to feed, if they can get it there. The collapsing of the nest would have been quite frightening.

Looks like Little Bit is going to stay close to those two branches if there is any more movement of that nest. Good job Little Bit. You can see his crop in the image below.

ND15 has been caught on camera flying very strong. That is excellent news since the forced fledge yesterday. This morning Mum arrived early on the nest with prey. ND15 is hungry and came crash landing into ND16 and Little Bit 17 at 08:23:30. It was a bit crowded but so far the other part of the nest supported by 3 branches is holding. Fingers crossed it stays intact until all have fledged and spent time returning to the nest for food.

All of the excitement is now over – it will probably happen again and again as prey is delivered. In the image below, this is ND16 cuddled up with ND17. I would like to think that 16 is taking comfort from 17 and they are both being very still so that nest does not break any further.

I have missed checking on Iris. Here she is – so beautiful – on her nest on the 21st of June, Summer Solstice. The little sparrows in the nest below hers have hatched. I wonder if Iris even noticed them??

I am so glad that ‘H’ introduced me to the Mispillion Osprey Nest. It is always fun to see a different family and this mum with her passion for all things a certain shade of yellow is just fascinating. Mum has been aerating the nest after lights out tonight.

The daylight cam switched over at the Dyfi Nest of Idris and Telyn at 04:15. I wonder if they are still eating that huge fish that Idris brought in earlier?

Blue NC0 and the kids are waiting for their breakfast at the Loch of the Lowes where the sun was up even earlier. Laddie is not on his perch so he is out chasing off intruders and protecting his family or getting the breakfish.

Dorcha is also waiting for Louis to bring in a fish at the Loch Arkaig nest.

It wasn’t a rooster or the bleating sheep but cows mooing at the crack of dawn in the Glaslyn Valley.

As far as I can tell, these Osprey nests are doing good.

There is, however, sadness at Nest 5A in the Kielder Forest, the home of Mr and Mrs UV. Both of the chicks have perished. One by accident getting caught in the nest and the other has appeared unwell. That makes my list of losses now up to 62.

They were both doing alright on the 20th, two days ago.

I love the Utica Falcon blog. Today there are some wonderful images of Astrid making some in-air food exchanges yesterday with Percy!

That is just a brief look at the news this morning. I hope that everyone is doing well. There will be a long check on the nests later this evening. Take care. Thank you so much for being with me this morning.

Thank you to the following for their streaming cams and/or blogs used for my screen captures: Kieldner Forest, Utica Peregrine Falcons, ND-LEEF, Mispillion Osprey Cam and DDNR, Friends of Loch of the Lowes and Scottish Wildlife Trust, Friends of Loch Arkaig, People’s Post Code Lottery and the Woodland Trust, Byrwyd Gwyllt Glaslyn, Dfyi Osprey Project, West End Eagles and the Institute for Wildlife Studies.