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.
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.
There has been a lot of discussion about the industrial fishing of the Chesapeake Bay and the lack of Menhaden for the Ospreys.
The Bay is one of the main areas for ospreys in the United States. There were hundreds of thousands of them. That is a lot of fish required for adults and chicks and the fish are just not there. Can the osprey adapt to eating a different kind of fish? They have certainly adapted over 61 million years, but the problem is – what other fish? Talk to Brian Collins or some of the other fishers from the region and we immediately understand that Striped Bass numbers are down as well along with all other species. Has the industrial overfishing impacted the other regions? Some debate that.
Ben Wurst’s recent newsletter from Conserve Wildlife of NJ indicates the lack of prey is the root cause of nest failure in the area of the Bay. Thanks, Heidi, for this great article.
Heidi, Viki, and I monitored the changing behaviour of osprey in the area. We noted that Duke and Daisy chose not to breed. Viki noted that in 2024, all chicks starved in the fifteen nests they had monitored for twenty years in Maryland. Last year, those same adult osprey laid their eggs and abandoned them before hatching due – I strongly believe – to a lack of food. No sense hatching them if they are going to starve to death. Please don’t tell me our raptors are not intelligent. They are. I continue and will always add what Laura Culley taught me – they are smarter than humans!
The problem is we are killing them and their habitat.
One thing that we cannot ignore is the rising temperature of the oceans, lakes, and streams. This is killing off fish and that will have an immediate impact on seabirds and other raptors that rely on fish as their sole source of food.
So as we move into osprey season, I want us to educate ourselves on some of the major challenges the populations face in different regions of the world.
Thank you for being with me this morning. Take care. Regular blog back the end of the week!
Thank you to Heidi for sending me the article by Ben Wurst. Thank you Ben for writing it and to The Guardian, we are always grateful for your coverage of the environment.
It is actually Sunday evening when I am sending this out. Ellen is coming early to take Toby for his walk on Monday morning, and we are busy with projects. Hopefully, nothing will happen in the next 12 hours!
I am delighted to tell you that we had a really wonderful week. Despite the temperatures plummeting, the early part of the week was marvellous, and we had some of the best walks of the entire winter. The garden is full of chickadees at dusk, with the European Starlings arriving several times a day to feed on cat or dog kibble. Brock is doing well. He was here Sunday evening and then found his way to my neighbour Jane’s, where he ate a feast and rested again. The pizza delivery driver came and, instead of bolting, he went to the other end of the porch and waited til the all clear. I hope he stays at Jane’s. It would make all of us have better blood pressure readings!
The Girls and Toby are also marvellous. Toby’s fur is as soft as a cloud. It is because of the dehydrated sardines. They helped us clean out the bookcases of all books and move the cases to the conservatory. They will be primed, painted, and reloaded. The plan is to move my desk and desktop computer out into the library area right in the middle of all the action within the house. Then I can keep an eye on everyone. At the same time, the books are out in the conservatory, ready for us to grab a new one at any time for story time.
So, wish us luck with all this painting! Missey’s tail seems to be the only problem – she always gets into mischief when it comes to paint, and we would think it would be Hugo Yugo.
Always nipping at one another!
These are the moments that get birders excited – a very rare bird in the Tommy Thompson Park in Toronto – a King Eider. Here is the news report with some really good information on Eider migration and ‘why’ it might have stopped over in Toronto: https://youtu.be/l4VPXXuXaOM?
I couldn’t stand it and had to check on Mum and the hatchling at Duke Farms. It is always a worry when a new hatch opens, and a storm hits. Sleet is starting to accumulate in New Jersey, around 1500. You can hear it hitting the camera lens. Send good wishes!
SK Hideaways outdid themselves on videos this week. Please check them out – this is a lot of hard work and incredible effort!
SK Hideaways Videos Week of 15 February 2026
Channel Island California Eagles Livestreamed nests: ~ Fraser Point ~ Santa Cruz Island ~ Cruz & Andor ~ Sauces Canyon ~ Santa Cruz Island ~ Audacity & Jak ~ Two Harbors ~ Catalina Island ~ Cholyn & Chase ~ West End ~ Catalina Island ~Resident in flux
Cruz Welcomes 1st Egg ~ Andor Snoozes in Waiting Room (2026 Feb 19) Cruz laid her first egg of the season after a day spent mostly in or near the nest bowl. Andor was perched nearby and will be ready to meet their egg first thing in the morning. Video: https://youtu.be/UlT9pQ_J9c8
Kestrel Brings Mouse to Snag ~ Dining Balance Act No eagles today, but Mr. Kestrel was quite entertaining. The neighborhood kestrel enjoyed his mouse breakfast while balancing on the tip of a snag. Feaking (cleaning beak) was a slippery proposition. (2026 Feb 21) Video: https://youtu.be/gkMOPrtpRz0
Chase Catches Fish 1 that Ate Fish 2 that Ate Fish 3 (2026 Feb 20) Chase brought Cholyn a massive fish gift that turned out to be a three-for-one deal. According to our resident fish expert, Chase caught a big Kelp Fish that had eaten the Topsmelt (whole, mind you), that had eaten a Sardine (also whole). Needless to say, both Cholyn and (finally) Chase filled their crops. Chase once again showed his excellence as a great provider and mate. Video: https://youtu.be/O7Spi_nane4
Chase Calls Cholyn for Fish 2x ~ Stunning Close-Ups (2026 Feb 15) At the height of nesting season, Chase is collecting lots of brownie points by delivering many fish gifts to Cholyn. Oh, Cholyn does love her fish! We were then gifted with some stunning close-ups of beautiful Cholyn, thanks to the stellar Two Harbors cam ops team. Video: https://youtu.be/PBj80qZsZdg
FOBBVCAM Eagles ~ Big Bear Valley, CA ~ Jackie & Shadow Courtesy FOBBVCAM | Friends of Big Bear Valley Resident Bald Eagle male: Shadow (unbanded) since May 2018. Estimated hatch year: 2014 Resident Bald Eagle female: Jackie (unbanded) since September 2016. Estimated hatch year: 2012 Nest Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4-L2nfGcuE Wide View Cam (Cam 2): https://youtube.com/live/LCGYWfbyBWc LIVE Recap & Observations https://bit.ly/3Md8TSz
Jackie Nibbles Shadow’s Neck on Frisky Friday Date Night (2026 Feb 20) After evening nestorations, Jackie was quite demonstrative about being ready for romance, which included her loud declarations and neck nibbles. Shadow was not quite ready and continued with his branch management. They made up for it later behind closed branches. Video: https://youtu.be/hwiTHNebbx0
Juvenile Eagle Interrupts Shadow’s Lunch ~ Jackie Comes Home to Mate (2026 Feb 18) As with Jackie’s fish a few days before, a juvenile bald eagle followed Shadow back to the nest hoping to share some of his lunch. Shadow, of course, wouldn’t hear of it, complaining until the youngster flew off. A bit later, Jackie arrived for nestorations and mating, the latter fairly rare on the nest. They departed together and were seen together later on the Lookout Snag for more mating. Fingers still crossed for a second clutch. Video: https://youtu.be/ctSrnTXP7wY
Jackie & Shadow Enjoy Snow Day Feesh & Sticks (2026 Feb 17) A snow-covered valley and nest did not keep Shadow from delivering a fish gift to Jackie nor did it keep her from happily collecting it. Shadow also delivered a stick, which required some placement negotiations. As a bonus, there were snowy beaky kisses. A brief but eventful visit. Video: https://youtu.be/2PqA-NX63FY
Juvie Spoils Jackie’s Peaceful Feesh ~ In Warmest Memory of Sandy Steers 💙(2026 Feb 15) As we remember Sandy Steers, the heart and soul of Big Bear Valley wildlife conservation, we are grateful for the opportunity to watch the lives of Jackie and Shadow. We think Sandy would have enjoyed today’s happenings.
Shadow brought one fish to the nest, which he peacefully enjoyed all to himself. But when Jackie brought her fish, a wily juvenile followed her in hopes of getting a few bites. Well, of course, Jackie was not about to share her fish and let the juvenile know in no uncertain terms. Jackie managed to finish her feesh with, the juvie keeping close watch, and then shooed it off. Much to our delight, the juvenile soared around the valley, gifting us a wonderful airshow. Even Jackie may have enjoyed the show, now that her belly was full. Video: https://youtu.be/WZqLPjTDxyU
John Bunker Sands Eagles ~ Combine, TX ~ Mom, Dad, and JBS24 JBS24’s Bottomless Buffet (and Belly) (2026 Feb 16) JBS24 is 3 weeks and 1 day old. The eaglet is spoiled for choice at mealtimes with Mom and Dad both often in the nest offering a variety of prey. JBS24 is growing up fast, now sporting grey thermal down and almost always a full crop. Video: https://youtu.be/h_Nks375XLg Courtesy John Bunker Sands Wetland Center Eagle Cam Eagle Tower Camera 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9wdo7BzUU_g Eagle Tower Camera 2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEDb2KqvvyQ
When I checked, both Jazz and Nola were in food comas in the Kisatchie National Forest E3 Bald Eagle nest of Alex and Andria II? III?
Gracie Shepherd catches E26 at the SW Florida Eagle nest of M15 and F23 trying out their wings in the wind. That eagle can really hover! Are we ready for this beauty to fledge? https://youtu.be/vEAmBdxHWlQ?
Suzanne Kay reveals the banding results from Dade County:
Quinn late Sunday nightwas hunkered down in the nest as a storm was rocking the nest at Captiva.
Beau and Gabby sure make beautiful babies – Kai and Eve, fully feathered and gorgeous. (I am a little soft on this nest!)
There is some amazing news coming out of Rutland’s Osprey Project.
Calico has a special video for everyone today. They have wings but are not raptors. Dani Connor Wild is in Mexico, and she went up to the top of the mountain on horseback and found thousands of Monarch butterflies.
It is so wonderful to have you with us. I always welcome your comments and your e-mails. I think I am almost caught up in answering – please accept my apologies for any delay. Take care. It is going to be a busy week, and I really hope that it is completely uneventful, no drama, nothing! We will see you again on Friday.
I am so grateful to SK Hideaways who so generously arranges their weekly videos for us – for all the others who contribute videos on YouTube, post information on FaceBook, and write articles that eduate each and every one of us. There is always something to learn! To the owners of the streaming cams, everyone is grateful to you. We would not know about the lives of our most wonderful raptor families without those cameras. I want to thank you, my readers, for caring for our wildlife, for writing those letters, and for being there and trying to help when it is needed. You are amazing and I am so grateful to have you as part of the Bird World family.
The only viable egg at Duke Farms has hatched! There is a very strong and predicted to be quite powerful blizzard headed towards this nest. Please keep this family in your prayers.
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.
