Tag Archives: raptors

Chick at Hellgate doing well, RJ does the shake shake and gets that fish hook out of its talon…late Saturday in Bird World

13 June 2026

Greetings Everyone,

My goodness.

First up. Some good news. At the NCTC nest of Bella and Scout, RJ got a fishhook attached to a stick stuck in its talon. That chick did the ‘shake, shake, shake’ and got rid of that nuisance. Well, it is more than a nuisance. Could have caused permanent harm or death. Here is the video: https://youtu.be/Kx5Fw2LwQT8?

Sad news coming from the Salmon River Bald Eagle nest. ‘PB’ writes, “1:41 Salmon nest baby 2 gone confirmed with Idaho Fish and Game. Parents brought more twine in, and Sweet #2 was by mom’s foot when she left, took the twine and the baby with her. He managed to hang on to the far left side before falling, and they had someone check, and he was confirmed dead.”

More information from the Missoula team:

Post about the hatching process of a baby Osprey, detailing the egg's structure and development.

Cutie Pie waiting for some more fish.

An osprey standing on its nest made of twigs and branches, with an empty parking lot and trees in the background.

Clark brought several fish and then a mid-afternoon whopper!!!!!!!

An osprey standing on a nest made of sticks and branches, with a fish partially visible in the background. The scene is set in a parking lot area, indicating the nest's location.
Two ospreys in their nest, with a view of an empty parking lot in the background.

Oh, my heart.

A close-up view of a young osprey chick sitting in a nest, surrounded by dried leaves and grass.
Close-up of a young osprey chick resting in a nest made of twigs and grasses, with some greenery in the foreground.

Wide open. Iris seems to be getting more fish around its beak than in its mouth.

An adult osprey feeding a chick in a nest, with the chick visibly begging for food.
A close-up view of a young osprey chick being fed by an adult osprey, with remnants of fish visible on the nest.
An Osprey chick is being fed by an adult Osprey in a nest, surrounded by nesting materials and greenery.

I hope that baby got some fish – it is definitely hungry.

More fish for Iris! Clark, I want to hug you. This time Clark ate the head but the fish is big and it is getting late.

Two ospreys in their nest with eggs, perched on a structure made of sticks and twigs, with an empty parking lot in the background.

Baby gets feed while Clark keeps watch over it and Iris.

An osprey stands on its nest surrounded by twigs and branches, with two chicks visible in the nest. The background shows a parking lot and trees.
Close-up view of a young osprey chick in a nest, with a glimpse of its parent's wing in the foreground and other chicks visible nearby.

Two precious babies and baling twine on the Charlo Montana nest. Please make some calls if you are in the area. Try the biologist for the Fish and Wildlife Service and the Audubon Society. This is human-caused!

A newly hatched bird chick is resting beside an unhatched egg on a bed of pine needles and small debris.
An adult osprey is seen close to its two newly hatched chicks, which are pecking at an eggshell in a nest made of twigs and other natural materials.
An osprey is sitting in a nest, gently inspecting a single speckled egg surrounded by green vegetation and twigs.

I dislike the camera at Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. No rewind. There are babies. You can see movement but that is all I know.

A bird of prey sitting in a large nest made of twigs and branches, with a park and playground visible in the background.

Just look at the temperature on the nest at Dewey Beach today and our precious Little Dewey.

An osprey standing beside two chicks in a nest made of sticks, with a scenic backdrop of water and buildings.
An osprey standing in a nest with a chick, surrounded by sticks and branches, overlooking a waterway and buildings in the background.

Menhaden are a big deal for the ospreys that live in the NE.

Map displaying fishing fleet locations near Reedville with annotations for schools of menhaden fish and probable set locations marked in red circles.

D3 and D4 nearer and nearer to fledging at Decorah.

Decorah Eagles: DH3 and DH4 Climb Higher Before First FlightsDownload

Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch ArkaigFriday 12th June 2026

Today was much calmer after the upset of losing little Chick3 yesterday. Early this morning Dorcha removed the body and disposed of it in the forest, leaving the two remaining chicks more room and a cleaner environment. There were some minor intruder alarms but none came close enough to be caught on nest cam, and both males had ample time to fish, and in Garry LV0’s case, to take over egg-sitting duties and release Aurora 536 to eat and stretch her wings. Sadly it does look like their hard work might be in vain because today is Day 43 and Osprey eggs usually hatch between 37-42 days. However, there is still a very slim chance that their egg might hatch, many eyes are watching Nest One hoping for a chick for them this year. Aurora returned to the nest with fish shortly after the cam came online, almost certainly caught by Garry and with his other delivery, the Nest One tally now stands at one hundred and fourteen. Louis brought three fish today and the Nest Two tally now stands at one hundred and thirty two. The thunder didn’t materialise but the showers did, with frequent dry spells throughout the day. However more rain is forecast for tonight and tomorrow, with an overnight low of 10°C and a high of 14°C tomorrow.

Today’s videos:https://youtu.be/BZs0k59dgeQ N1 Unfortunately there’s no sign of a pip 02.11.42 (zoom)https://youtu.be/lppct_pvTHc N2 Early breakfast, fish one is still flapping 05.41.39https://youtu.be/_tczuzhplOk N2 Dorcha removes the remains of tragic little Chick3 08.09.00https://youtu.be/34AODPhClto N1 Aurora appears with a fish when the cam comes online 08.25.02https://youtu.be/gjkV9TBdV1A N2 A second whole trout arrives 14.55.39https://youtu.be/HWDQIKWiWac N2 Fish supper for the family, fish three today 19.18.57https://youtu.be/PvnULhnXmC8 N1 Fish supper for Aurora, second fish today 20.20.03

Bonus Osprey longevity info – for those who feared Louis was too old to return when he was late back this year, at thirteen or fourteen years old he’s not even half as old as the world’s oldest known Osprey – Iris of Hellgate Montana. She’s been nesting there since 1999, and yesterday, at the grand old age of thirty or thirty one, she hatched another chick! First hatch of her clutch of three eggs. Congratulations Iris and new mate Clark!

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

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

You need to be vocal. Not only is the price of timber causing habitat loss at a time when we need trees more than ever, but tourism and luxury hotels are now threatening wildlife and our precious birds. In Manitoba, our Premier and everyone I know have been protesting AI data centres. I am glad our leader is Indigenous. I am proud that he is protecting wildlife habitat in the north. But I still need to be vigilant because my City seems to be doing the opposite! Please have your say when you hear about new developments – with strong united voices, we can invoke change. We just have to be patient sometimes. We cannot give up!

‘The birds will fly away’: can Albania’s flamingo revolution keep its wetlands free from Trumps and tourists?https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/jun/12/albania-flamingos-wetlands-trump-tourists?CMP=share_btn_url

Quiet Eagle brings us an update on little eaglet Snow that was in the nest that slid at Traverse City and survived! https://youtu.be/j756uY1hbZE?

I want to close with an image of one of our local ospreys. My grandson, Jeremy, sent it to me. It is a short video and this osprey has a fish.

We have a growing number of osprey in our City. People are putting fish into the retention ponds for them. That might be an idea for some of you in the US, where there is a fish shortage. :))). I can’t seem to post the video so here are some screen captures. Look at the size of that fish. Wow.

A bird, possibly an osprey, perched on a pebbly beach with water in the background.
An osprey takes off from a pebbly beach, carrying a fish in its talons, with water in the background.
A bird flying low over calm water, reflecting its image on the surface.

We have rain or storm clouds brewing overhead. So much rain! There should not be any wildfires, and the trees and shrubs are doing incredibly. It is a green paradise with a touch of pink or red! There are now four fledgling Starlings – I probably said. They fascinate me. Tonight they are eating a New Zealand dog nugget that is a whole meal – Toby said he didn’t mind since we ran out of minnows and hot dogs! The weather is cooler – 14 C. I wonder if that makes them need more food to stay warm?

It’s too grainy. I so wish I had my long lens camera!

They are so cute and have entertained us all day.

Two small birds perched on a feeding tray filled with grain, surrounded by greenery.

I want to thank you for being with us today. Please take care. We look forward to having you with us again soon.

Thank you to everyone who posted information on FB, with or without images, and to Geemeff for her daily summary of the activities of the two nests at Loch Arkaig, Scotland. I want to thank the authors of newsletters and articles that provide us with a wealth of information. To the owners of the streaming cams, we are grateful to be able to watch the lives of our feathered friends and their growing families. I also want to thank the Guardian for their continued reports on the environment and wildlife and last, but not least, Jeremy, for remembering me and sending me that great osprey video to share with you.

Golden Eagle female missing and chick cannot self-feed…late Friday in Bird World

12 June 2026

The female at the Golden Eagle 2 nest in Estonia has been missing since the 11 June. Dad continues to supply food to the eaglet but as his role is hunting and protecting, he is not feeding. The chick has tried to eat but just can’t. This could quickly turn into a very sad situation where we lose both a healthy bouncy eaglet and its Mum.

A nest in a tree with a chick resting among twigs and greenery, surrounded by lush foliage.

“The Bald Eagle 2 nest camera is located in the extended danger area near the Estonian Defence Forces Central Training Area in Northern Estonia. Defence Forces training involves quite noisy activities or a large number of equipment and people moving around the training area. In order to clarify the impact of these activities on eagles nesting in the vicinity of the training areas, the State Defence Investment Centre has commissioned a study, which is being carried out by the Eagle Club. During the study, we installed a nest camera on a bald eagle nest, among other activities.

Kaljukotkas 2 is a native territory of golden eagles – one of those located south of Lahemaa National Park in Põhja-Kõrvemaa. The nests have been located in this territory over time on different bog islands or on the edge of the bog; the generations of golden eagles have changed there, but the territory has remained the same. The eagles have been nesting in this nest at the end of a large stump since 2016. In recent years, the chick here has become capable of flying, although at a later time than average. This indicates that the laying of eggs is later than average. The chick of 2023 also got a companion with the help of our German colleague Oliver Krone. It flew from the breeding territory to Latvia in early November, returned to Estonia in early December and spent the winter here. We have not added the monitored golden eagles to the migration map, because they tend to be quite sedentary. However, some of the young birds hatched in Estonia move as far as Poland and Ukraine for the winter.

Both adult birds are here without rings, so we do not know their age or origin. The first egg appeared in the nest this year on March 26 at 2:46 p.m. We can expect the chick to hatch at the end of April.”

Clark brought the first fish right after 0900 but immediately an intruder was in the area. He flew off with the fish and returned it to Iris at 0931 so that her and the baby could eat.

Two ospreys are standing on their nest made of sticks and branches, with one chick visible among the nesting material. In the background, a green space and a parking lot can be seen.
Two ospreys are nesting on a large nest made of sticks and greenery, with a parking lot and trees visible in the background.
A pair of ospreys in their nest, with one chick visible among twigs and greenery, set against a background of an empty parking lot and trees.

Baby has had at least one other feeding before noon! Things look good for Iris and Clark who has been bringing in nesting materials, too.

Heidi reports that Miles and Hennie now have three babies. Wish them well.

An osprey nest containing three chicks, with one chick being fed by the parent osprey. The nest is made of twigs and is located in a grassy area.

There is a baby at nest 12 at Kielder Forest!

Nest 12 hatch news

Dani Connor saved a plantation forest in Sweden near her home in the north through a GoFundMe. She was determined that the red squirrels and other wildlife would not lose their home. Just look at what is happening in Norway. Our wildlife need trees and it isn’t just the birds. Our planet needs trees. I know the plantation trees were planted to be cut down but perhaps with the climate heating up so much, it is time to find a way to purchase these lands.

A view of a logging site in Gudbrandsdalen, Norway, showing cleared land with fallen trees and stumps, reflecting deforestation efforts. The background features a green landscape and cloudy sky.

This reminds me. It appears to me that the fundraising for Moon Camp to protect the land around Jackie and Shadow’s nest has stalled at about 3.3 million. That is a huge amount of funds donated by fundraising by viewers and local school children. They are posting that they need 6 million by the end of the month. If you are intending to donate but haven’t yet, please check in and do so. Help them save this land where other wildlife also live. Go to SaveMoonCamp.org

A plea for donations to save Jackie and Shadow's home, mentioning a fundraising goal of over 6 million by July 31.

It looks like SK Hideaways has caught Jackie and Shadow’s Luna getting lift, and believe me, everyone is concerned about fireworks with Luna and Sandy. They are in a fledge window. https://youtu.be/W1TSYPxDU_I?

I love this family tree from Big Bear that was posted on FB.

Infographic detailing the Eagle family tree associated with Big Bear, featuring images of eagles and their names, from the founders Ricky and Lucy to current generation Sandy and Luna with 2026 eaglets.

SW Florida’s Bald Eagle nest in Fort Myers on the Pritchett Property M15 has a new female to replace F23 who was killed during the 2026 season. Check out Photos by Donna Lee on FB to see all of the images of M15 with his new mate.

A Facebook post dated June 10, 2026, describing the author's encounter with a bird named Mighty M15 and his new companion, the Lady Eagle, including a narrative of their behaviors and a photo opportunity.
A collage of several images featuring a Bald Eagle perched on a metal structure, showcasing its feathers and silhouette against a cloudy sky.

Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch ArkaigThursday 11th June 2026

Sadly, there’s only one talking point today and that’s the loss of little Chick3. Hatched on 6th June shortly after midnight, the little chick was five days old today and didn’t really have a chance against its two big siblings. Despite Louis delivering plenty of food, Dorcha keeping the chicks warm and dry, and the older pair mainly taking out their aggression on each other, the youngest chick was too weak to survive on a reduced diet. Comfort can be found in that Chick3’s death was as peaceful as is possible on a lively Osprey nest. In other news, Dorcha furiously saw off an intruding Osprey who first perched on the camera pole and then on the nearby Scots Pine – she kept it so well away that it was impossible to see if it was yesterday’s intruder JJ4 returning, or a stranger. Louis delivered four fish taking the Nest Two tally to one hundred and twenty nine, and Garry LV0 delivered three fish to Aurora 536, taking the Nest One tally to one hundred and twelve. Aurora’s egg is now forty two days old and the possibility of hatching is improbable but not yet impossible. The weather was a repeat of yesterday’s, wet and windy, and tonight’s overnight forecast is light rain and light winds with a low of 11°C overnight, continuing with thundery showers, a moderate breeze and a high of 15°C tomorrow.

Today’s videos:https://youtu.be/000FxooDYzw N2 All three chicks are up and begging when fish one arrives 04.21.29https://youtu.be/yMsFcwb3ydo N1 Dorcha furiously sees off an intruder Osprey 08.34.16 (zoom)https://youtu.be/I8khzUqtd8I N2 Mum blocks the view when fish two is dished up 09.06.53https://youtu.be/XhHOcGuOSM0 N2 A little life has ended: RIP Chick3 10.00+https://youtu.be/i7VWDUd6J0k N1 Is Garry’s first fish a Silver Tourist? 10.53.39https://youtu.be/gRTAjaxD40k N2 Fish three is huge but there are only two chicks 14.15.26https://youtu.be/fVKuNTE9nDo N1 Aurora’s very quiet but does take fish two 18.45.22https://youtu.be/fn1jj9Oh-4w N1 Aurora takes fish three and stumbles on a loose bit of bark 21.36.09https://youtu.be/u3rJzYfaS1M N2 Fish number four is tiny and is quickly demolished 21.51.01

Bonus read: Toby Carvery apologise for cutting down one of the important trees on Woodland Trust’s Ancient Tree Register and will plant 1,000 new trees (Ed: as if that could replace the 500 year old oak!) 

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c05yz89jrleo

You’re invited to join the friendly community at Woodland Trust’s Osprey forum, it’s friendly, fun, and free!

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

I am happy to say that our garden animals are thriving. We now have four European Starling fledglings! And I have discovered that Crows like large raw minnows – the ones that were in the freezer that Toby decided were not ‘dehydrated’. So there you go – have large minnows in your freezer, and you don’t go fishing, well, feed the crows. Their babies need mushy protein.

Thank you so much for being with us today. I am signing off. Toby and I are going to relax a little while Don is out with Ann. We wish you a lovely weekend with a lot of ice cream. And watch Iris and Clark with their new baby – . Might there be others? I promise you that unless there is another weather event there, this nest is going to be one to watch and I was a huge skeptic.

Toby loves strawberry ice cream.

A close-up of a bowl of pink ice cream on a colorful patterned tablecloth, with a small dog resting its paws on the owner's leg, eagerly looking at the ice cream.

Thank you to everyone who contributed information and images to FB, to SK Hideaways for their video, Geemeff for their daily summary, and Donna Lee for those great images of M15 and his new lady. Always great to have news from Heidi and Keilder Forest. hank you to the owners of the streaming cams that allow us to watch these amazing bird families.

First bites of fish

11 June 2026

I don’t know about you but I am so overjoyed that if my house blew away today it would probably not have even phased me.

Clark arrived. Saw the shell, listened to Iris, saw his first baby and went fishing. Within three hours, he had brought in three fish. It is 1827 nest time and it might have even brought in more. It seems his protective instincts along with paternal ones kicked in right at the time of hatch and right when the Clarke Fork River had descended and slowed. Dr Green noted that it was now good for osprey fishing.

Did you shed any tears as you watched Iris gently feed that wee babe the tiniest little pieces of fish? Despite not having had chicks every year, Iris knows how to feed them so they get the fish.

An osprey feeding a chick in a nest, surrounded by twigs and grass.
An adult osprey peering at its chick in a nest, surrounded by twigs and grass.

As you know, I was extremely worried, even going so far as to wish those eggs would not hatch. That was when the first egg was hatching!!!!!!! I worried Iris’s babies would starve to death. This has happened with Louis. Or worried she would be so hungry she would have to leave them. Well, thank goodness for miracles! And today felt like a miracle.

Proud parents.

Two ospreys are nesting on a platform, surrounded by sticks and grass. One osprey is holding a stick while the other looks on. A parking lot is visible in the background.

Happy Mum! The oldest breeding osprey in the world – at least thirty years. Imagine.

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

Oh, another fish. 1747.

Two ospreys on their nest with twigs and green grass, in a parking lot setting.

Iris plays with her stick while Clark prepares to brood his baby and incubate the other two eggs.

Two ospreys sitting on their nest, with visible chicks and greenery around them, set against a background of a parking lot.

It sure sounded like Iris was ordering more fish when they exchanged places and Clark flew off.

Osprey sitting in its nest made of twigs and branches, with a parking lot and trees in the background.

First fish: 1242. Second fish: 1414. Third fish: 1512. Fourth fish: 1747.

I might have missed one between 1512 and 1747 but if you look that is five hours and four fish. I would say Clark is doing so well as a new dad. I am without words.

RP sent the following video links for us to enjoy:

Chicks first PS

Little Dewey got fed well today, too. Three fish by the time this image was taken. Little Dewey looks like the Hulk. Thanks ‘PB’ for the image:

A close-up of a young bird in a nest, with fluffy gray feathers and an open beak, surrounded by twigs and branches.

That’s it for today….let’s all walk around smiling. Two nests doing fantastic. With Little Dewey not so little anymore. Notice the feathers coming in. What a character.

Take care, everyone. Hugo Yugo and Toby wish you a great end of the week.

A dog resting on a cat tree with a scratching post, while a cat peeks out from a small hiding space below.

Thank you to PB and RP for their images and video links. Much appreciated. Thank you to the Montana Osprey Project and Cornell Bird Lab for their streaming cam so that we can watch this miracle unfold at Hellgate Canyon.

Clark arrives with a fish…

11 June 2026

The time was 12:42:50.

Clark arrives with a small fish for Iris and gets a surprise – the hatch of his first chick!

Two ospreys standing in a nest made of twigs and branches, with some green vegetation visible at the center.

Iris was so hungry, and this will feed her, but we need lots more fish as this baby gets bigger. I wonder if Iris will try to feed the newly hatched chick???

Clark was curious about the eggshell.

Two ospreys sitting in their nest, with one osprey holding an empty eggshell. The background shows a parking area and foliage.

Clark stayed with Iris while she ate her fish making me think that there could be intruders about. Then I think Iris gave him some marching orders for more fish!

Two ospreys are seen in their nest, with one bird looking towards the camera and the other partially visible in the background. The nest contains sticks, grass, and possibly some eggs.
An osprey sitting in its nest made of twigs and branches, with greenery in the background and a parking lot visible in the distance.

I am cautiously optimistic – don’t kick for not being over the moon. I am really concerned about what is going on around this nest. Is it the river causing issues? Does Clark not understand how many fish are required? Are there intruders?

I know you wanted to know if fish came and it did!

Take care.

Thank you to the Montana Osprey Project and the Cornell Bird Lab for this streaming cam and remember – they are fundraising to keep this cam streaming!

Hatch continues at Hellgate with no Clark and no fish and will more people speak up for ospreys?

11 June 2026

Greetings,

If you have read my blog for the past three years, you will be very familiar with the word ‘Menhaden’, a species of fish that is crucial for ospreys in certain regions of the world. In fact, it is the basis of the ecosystem of The Chesapeake Bay where many species depend on it. But with Omega Protein taking all of the schools of fish through trawling with huge industrial ships and spotter planes, there is nothing left for the birds and marine life. A new study puts the problem squarely on over fishing while many over the years have tried to find other reasons. Politicians in Virginia – which are really holding up the changes since Omega is stationed at Reedsville – even blamed the Bald Eagles for taking all the fish!!!!!!!!! Do they think we are that stupid?

https://www.cbf.org/news/new-study-links-starving-chesapeake-bay-osprey-to-menhaden-woes/?fbclid=IwY2xjawSXu81leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFMT01yTjZFMk1MR29TSkllc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHvcMqcfw3ZxwVx2R-_ayVd5ch9hYNoTxBkb4I8j6WMTTtXiuxNasnYHgUFJx_aem_XGbseQfXHe_VJvAjGggebA

Justin Hawkins wrote on Menhaden – Little Fish, Big Deal a good analysis of what is happening and why Menhaden are so important.

“The Localized Depletion Debate: Can a Healthy Menhaden Stock Still Leave Predators Hungry?

For years, one of the most common responses to concerns about industrial menhaden harvest has been straightforward:

“The stock isn’t overfished.”

According to Atlantic menhaden stock assessments, the species is not currently classified as overfished, and overfishing is not considered to be occurring on a coastwide basis.

To many people, that sounds like the end of the discussion.

But for a growing number of fisheries scientists, conservation groups, and recreational anglers, it may actually be the beginning.

The reason is a concept known as localized depletion.

It is a simple idea that asks a surprisingly complicated question:

Can a fish population be healthy overall while becoming less available in the specific places where predators need it most?

Looking at the Coast From 30,000 Feet

Stock assessments are designed to evaluate fish populations across enormous geographic areas.

For Atlantic menhaden, that means examining the entire Atlantic coast.

Scientists estimate population size, fishing mortality, recruitment, spawning success, and long-term sustainability across a range stretching from New England to Florida.

From that perspective, the species may appear healthy.

But critics argue that broad-scale assessments can sometimes miss what is happening at smaller scales.

After all, predators do not live on a coastwide scale.

A striped bass feeding in the Chesapeake Bay is not utilizing forage fish off Rhode Island.

An osprey nesting on a tributary of the Bay is not hunting schools of menhaden hundreds of miles away.

Predators live locally.

They feed locally.

And they respond to local prey availability.

That distinction lies at the heart of the localized depletion debate.

A Grocery Store Analogy

Imagine a city with one hundred grocery stores.

Ninety-five are fully stocked.

Five are nearly empty.

Looking only at the citywide inventory data, food supplies appear abundant.

But for the residents living near those five stores, availability is a very different story.

Supporters of the localized depletion theory argue that forage fish may function in a similar way.

A coastwide stock assessment can show healthy overall abundance while predators in specific estuaries, bays, or feeding areas experience reduced access to forage.

The fish exist.

The question is whether they exist where they are needed.

Why Chesapeake Bay Became Ground Zero

No area illustrates this debate more clearly than Chesapeake Bay.

The Bay serves as one of the most important nursery and feeding habitats for Atlantic menhaden.

It is also home to striped bass, bluefish, weakfish, dolphins, ospreys, pelicans, and countless other predators that depend directly or indirectly on menhaden.

Historically, the Bay also hosted much of the Atlantic reduction fishery.

For decades, hundreds of millions of pounds of menhaden were harvested annually from this single ecosystem.

Conservation organizations began asking a straightforward question:

If such large quantities of forage are removed from one of the most important feeding areas on the East Coast, can local predators remain unaffected?

That question remains largely unresolved.

What the Osprey Studies Suggest

One reason localized depletion has attracted scientific attention is because of osprey research.

Biologists studying portions of Chesapeake Bay documented declining reproductive success in some nesting populations.

Researchers observed that adult birds were bringing different prey species back to nests and, in some cases, appeared to be delivering fewer energy-rich menhaden than historically observed.

The concern was not simply about osprey numbers.

It was about what the birds might be indicating.

Osprey are highly efficient fish predators.

If they struggle to locate preferred forage in specific areas, researchers naturally wonder whether other predators may be experiencing similar challenges.

While alternative explanations certainly exist, including habitat changes, climate factors, and environmental stressors, the findings fueled further interest in localized prey availability.

Predators Don’t Read Stock Assessments

One criticism often voiced by anglers is that predators respond to conditions in real time.

A redfish cannot eat a coastwide biomass estimate.

A striped bass cannot feed on statistical abundance.

Predators require actual prey in actual locations.

This is why many fisheries scientists have become increasingly interested in ecosystem-based management.

Rather than focusing solely on whether a forage species remains abundant overall, ecosystem approaches attempt to understand whether enough forage remains available to support predator populations.

It represents a subtle but important shift in thinking.

The question is no longer only:

“How many menhaden exist?”

The question becomes:

“How many menhaden are available to predators when and where they need them?”

The Challenge of Measuring Local Impacts

One reason the localized depletion debate remains unsettled is that it is extremely difficult to measure.

Fish move.

Predators move.

Environmental conditions change.

Water temperatures fluctuate.

Weather patterns influence distribution.

Separating the effects of fishing from natural variability is one of the most difficult tasks in fisheries science.

As a result, definitive proof can be elusive.

But many researchers argue that uncertainty should not be mistaken for evidence that local effects do not exist.

In fact, some contend that localized depletion may be one of the most important unanswered questions in forage fish management.

Why the Debate Matters

At its core, the localized depletion debate is not really about menhaden.

It is about ecosystems.

If forage fish become less available in key feeding areas, the effects may extend far beyond a single species.

Striped bass may have to work harder to locate food.

Osprey may experience lower nesting success.

Marine mammals may alter feeding behavior.

Entire predator communities may be affected in ways that are difficult to detect through traditional stock assessments.

Whether those effects are large, small, temporary, or significant remains the subject of ongoing research.

But the question itself has become impossible to ignore.

A Different Way to Think About Fisheries

For decades, fisheries management focused on whether harvested species could sustain fishing pressure.

Today, scientists are increasingly asking whether ecosystems can sustain it as well.

Localized depletion sits at the center of that transition.

It challenges the assumption that a healthy stock automatically means a healthy ecosystem.

And it raises a possibility that many anglers intuitively understand:

A fish can be abundant somewhere and still be scarce where it matters most.

That possibility is why the localized depletion debate continues to shape discussions about menhaden management, predator conservation, and the future of ecosystem-based fisheries management along the Atlantic coast.”

A shoreline view featuring tall grass and waves, with several blue and orange fishing boats in the background and the text 'Local Ecosystems Pay The Price' overlaying the image.

But…this is happening now.

I continue to check in on Iris with tears in my eyes. Babies hatching and no fish for her or them. Where in the world is Clark? How far does he have to go and get fish?

This just might be the nest that breaks me this year.

An osprey resting in its nest made of sticks and twigs, with green grass peeking through, set against a background of a parking area and vegetation.

Please send Iris and Clark your good wishes. We need fish!

The river’s levels are low, but it appears to be still flowing fast. The forecast is for cooler temperatures, thank goodness. Will Iris leave the nest with the babies to go fishing? This is the question of the day, along with the problem of Clark’s presence. He was so good til he got into that altercation with the Bald Eagle. Oh, I am worried.

A chart displaying discharge rates and conditions for three nearby rivers: Bitterroot River, Clark Fork, and Blackfoot River. Includes flow measurements in cubic feet per second (cfs), wind speed, temperature, and high/low temperature for specific dates in June.

Weather forecast showing temperatures and conditions for June 11 and 12, with various times of the day and expected weather including sunny and partly cloudy skies, and one instance of light rain with thunder.

Thank you for being with us again this morning.

Thank you to the Montana Raptor Project and Cornell Bird Lab for their streaming cam and the FB group Menhaden – Little Fish, Big Deal for covering the disaster that began several years ago in the NE. Thank you also to River Reports.

Iris leaves eggs for fish, Little Bob Dies…Thursday in Bird World

11 June 2026

Hello Everyone,

It is a heavily overcast morning with light rain that is making the garden appear to be the most gorgeous emerald green. Dyson has already been for food and so have the Crows, the Blue Jays, and the Starlings. The foliage is so thick I can only see them on the table feeder or if they go in the bird bath. Otherwise they fly in and out so fast. Mr Blue Jay and Mr Crow have babies to feed. The Starlings appear to have at least one fledgling. They will leave soon – when the fledglings can adequately fly and they will return in the fall.

A blue bird perched on a feeder filled with peanuts, surrounded by lush green foliage.

Well, I don’t know what anyone else thinks but Iris left the nest yesterday three times – she is hungry! The weather and the absence of Clark for long periods is concerning. It is not clear to me what is happening where they fish and I wish Dr Green would post us some information. At any rate, there is a rumour that the first pip is happening. Please pray for Iris and these babies. She has been so devoted and so was Clark that it is hard to believe that there won’t be food for them. Iris has been at this rodeo before…please give us a miracle.

A view from an osprey nest positioned atop a platform, showing a mostly empty parking lot with lined spaces and trees in the background. The nest is made of sticks and contains some greenery.

It breaks my heart to hear Iris fish calling and Clark not flying in with a big one. Is the noise on the camera the river rushing? Does anyone know?

An osprey resting in its nest made of twigs, with a partially empty parking lot and trees in the background during early morning light.

The first chick has hatched at Charlo Montana.

Fru Rauer has three beautiful babies at the Fru Rauer nest in Norway.

An osprey feeding its chicks in a nest surrounded by sticks and branches.

Little Bob at Loch Arkaig 2, the nest of Louis and Dorcha, has been struggling and died early this morning. Condolences to all.

Little Dewey was tucking into a really nice big fish so him and Mum will eat well.

A young bird sitting in a nest surrounded by twigs, with a large fish nearby, likely being fed by a parent.

There will be two hatches at Osoyoos in British Columbia by the time you read this. It is another problem nest where you get heat domes and the fish disappear. Thanks, Heidi.

A bird standing in a nest with several eggs and newly hatched chicks visible.

Geemeff’s summary from the 10th of June:

Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Wednesday 10th June 2026Plenty of fish were delivered today, two to Nest One taking Garry LV0’s tally to one hundred and nine, and Louis’ four fish take the Nest Two tally to one hundred and twenty five.However, that didn’t stop chick aggression which was on show at mealtimes and whenever Dorcha left the nest, and there were concerns about Chick3, but the little chick had a really good meal from the second delivery, and seems to have the good sense to duck down when older siblings C1&2 are fighting each other. There were a few intruder alarms, some seen, some not – a Buzzard was heard near Nest Two and handsome JJ4 from the western Arkaig nest landed on Nest One but only for a few seconds before a furious Aurora got rid of him. It rained on and off today, and more rain forecast: light rain and a gentle breeze with a low of 9°C overnight, continuing with light wind and light rain and a high of 14°C tomorrow.

Today’s videos:https://youtu.be/byWNjhyHNU8 N1 Aurora arrives with the remains of an offline delivery 07.51.35 (zoom)https://youtu.be/VvSrSnztF60 N2 Late breakfast finally arrives 09.23.08https://youtu.be/wbVDZeqzlpU N2 Chick3 struggles to get any of fish two 10.33.35https://youtu.be/2McuL8yMtw4  N1 Western Arkaig male JJ4 intrudes on Aurora 11.50.52 (+screenshots)https://youtu.be/IY8Lo9kRGoM N2 Louis returns fish two, and the littlest chick gets a very good share 13.06.15https://youtu.be/M_v_knfLaWQ N2 Fish number three is a really tiny trout 17.13.06https://youtu.be/z9S7WEdiHao N1 Garry brings a fish supper for Aurora 19.12.22https://youtu.be/hiPksYDW890 N2 Fish number four arrives with Dorcha on high alert 20.54.06

You’re invited to join the lively community at Woodland Trust’s Osprey forum, it’s friendly, free and everyone’s welcome:

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

Please send your good wish to Iris. I had hoped these eggs would not hatch after the delivery of fish fell so dramatically.

Take care, everyone. I need a wee break from all of this…it is a tragic year, and we all need to take a breath sometimes.

Thank you to Heidi, PB, Geemeff, and all those who posted information on FB. Please follow Iris and send her good energy, and if you can, drop a fish – wish for fish!!!!!!! Hugo Yugo is fine this morning, and I am going to enjoy the birds in the garden today, even if it is raining. I know they are well fed and alive, and even Dyson is coming out, so I can see her! Thank you to the cam owners so that we can witness the lives, the good and the bad, at these nests.

A squirrel sitting on a wooden feeder, holding a piece of food, with green foliage in the background.

How Can I Actually Help?

10 June 2026

Hello Everyone,

Further to the posting of the industrial accident at the Longview Paper Mill in Washington State, USA, ‘MP’ has researched how you can help the most to get attention to the nests where the chicks are dying due to a lack of fish because of the explosion and release of toxins into the branches of and the Columbia River.

Please make the calls.

For anyone who is local or watching from afar, here are meaningful thing’s that can be done to help.

This is from Co-pilot AL on identifying which agency would be most responsive when contacted.

This is a situation where the right agencies will pay attention, but only if the impacts on raptors are reported through the correct channels. Osprey are a sentinel species, and what you’re seeing is ecologically significant.

Below is a ranked list of the agencies and wildlife groups most likely to respond to or investigate osprey impacts tied to the Columbia River fish kill.

🦅 Top Agencies & Groups to Contact About Osprey Impacts

1. Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife (WDFW) – Highest Priority

Why they matter:

They are the primary state agency responsible for raptors, fish populations, and ecological impacts. They do track osprey nest success in some regions and will take reports of nest failures, starvation, and abnormal behavior.

What they can act on:

  • Osprey nest failures
  • Prey scarcity affecting raptors
  • Fish kill impacts on wildlife
  • Habitat disruption

Where to report:

WDFW Wildlife Reporting Hotline (non-emergency)

WDFW Regional Office (Region 5 – Vancouver/Longview area)

2. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (USFWS) – Migratory Birds Program

Why they matter:

Osprey are protected under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and USFWS oversees large-scale ecological impacts, especially when industrial pollution affects protected species.

What they can act on:

  • Mortality events
  • Nest abandonment
  • Food-web disruptions
  • Potential violations of federal wildlife protections

They may coordinate with EPA if the spill caused ongoing harm to protected birds.

3. Washington Department of Ecology – Spill Response Program

Why they matter:

They are already leading the chemical spill investigation. They need wildlife impact data to assess the full scope of damage.

What they can act on:

  • Documenting secondary ecological impacts
  • Expanding monitoring zones
  • Triggering additional cleanup or enforcement actions

They often rely on citizen reports to identify downstream effects.

4. Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission (CRITFC)

Why they matter:

CRITFC monitors fish populations, river health, and ecological impacts across tribal territories. They have biologists who track fish availability and predator-prey dynamics.

What they can act on:

  • Fish population collapse
  • Impacts on culturally important species
  • Habitat degradation

They are highly responsive to ecological concerns.

5. Local Audubon Chapters (Portland Audubon, Vancouver Audubon)

Why they matter:

Audubon groups monitor raptor nests, conduct citizen science, and often escalate wildlife concerns to state and federal agencies.

What they can act on:

  • Osprey nest monitoring
  • Field verification
  • Public awareness
  • Coordinating volunteer observations

They are often the fastest to respond and can mobilize observers.

6. Osprey-Specific Research Groups

These groups track nest success and population trends:

  • Oregon State University Osprey Research Program
  • University of Montana Osprey Monitoring Project (they sometimes consult on regional events)

They may not be enforcement agencies, but they do document ecological disruptions and publish findings.

🧭 Who Will Actually Care the Most?

If you want the highest likelihood of action:

Start with WDFW + USFWS + Audubon.

Those three together create a triangle of:

  • regulatory authority
  • scientific oversight
  • on-the-ground monitoring

The observations of starving chicks and siblicide are exactly the kind of data they need.

Thank you MP for continuing to follow up on this story.

Toxic emissions kill fish…Late Wednesday in Bird World

10 June 2026

Hello Everyone,

Thank you so much for your notes. I learned about ‘Thunder Vests’ from ‘P’ and have ordered one for Toby who was frightened by thunder of last night’s storms. Our environmentalists tell us that we should expect our lives to have more storms during the summer – and this is the eerie part. It will be the coolest summer we will experience and the hottest. In other words, while we are going to have extremely high temperatures this summer, they will be nothing to what is coming next year!

We went to bed and slept through everything. Hugo Yugo went to the vet and had her teeth cleaned and one molar removed. She has been home for two hours and is resting – Toby was way too excited to see her, so she is now sequestered in my room. She is absolutely fine and in good health. Bravo. We won’t have to go through this again for another year or more.

Anyone reading my blog will know about the Menhaden crisis impacting the osprey nests in the NE USA. Chicks are dying as I write. Adults are thin. But another crisis is now looming. This time on the Columbia River in Washington, three miles from the Steelscape osprey nest. They lost their first chick after doing well. ‘PB’ wanted to know why and discovered an explosion at a paper mill three miles upstream, which has emitted toxins into the river, killing thousands if not tens of thousands of fish.

Another reader MP has discovered the following: “Here is a better explanation from asking Co-pilot (AI). What I sent you was from Google AI which has been proven to be a bit deficient.

Multiple agencies are actively monitoring the aftermath, but the situation is more complex than it may appear from the osprey behavior you’re seeing.

Here’s what the verified reporting shows so far, and how it connects to what you’re observing with the fish and osprey.

🧭 What we know is being monitored

State and federal agencies are on the ground and continuing environmental surveillance after the Nippon Dynawave paper mill tank rupture in Longview, WA — the event that spilled a large volume of white liquor (a highly caustic sodium hydroxide/sodium sulfide mixture) into the local drainage system and ultimately into the Columbia River.

✔ Water quality monitoring

  • Washington Department of Ecology and the EPA are actively testing water pH and contamination levels in the river and connected ditches.
    KOIN
  • Officials report that pH levels in the Columbia River have returned to normal ranges, and no ongoing contamination is being detected in river discharge.
    KOMO

✔ Wildlife impact monitoring

  • More than 2,200 dead fish have been collected so far, including carp, catfish, bass, sunfish, suckers, and even a few salmon.
    KOMO
  • Agencies involved include:
    • Washington Dept. of Ecology
    • U.S. EPA
    • Cowlitz Indian Tribe
    • Yakama Nation
    • Local and regional environmental teams
      AOL

✔ Ongoing cleanup

  • Vacuum trucks, flushing operations, and wastewater treatment are still in progress inside the mill and surrounding drainage network.
    KOMO

🐟 Why you’re seeing severe fish scarcity even though agencies say pH is “normal”

This is the part the official updates don’t fully capture — and it aligns with what you’re witnessing at the osprey nests.

1. The fish kill was large and sudden

Over 2,000 fish died in the first days after the spill. That’s a major localized collapse of prey biomass. Even if water quality is now “safe,” the fish population doesn’t rebound instantly.

KOMO

2. Fish in affected sloughs and ditches were hit hardest

Many fish died in the shallow, slow-moving waters where osprey often hunt. These areas had the highest pH spikes and the slowest recovery.

KOMO

3. Osprey are extremely sensitive to short-term prey shortages

When fish availability drops even briefly:

  • Adults struggle to feed chicks
  • Chicks weaken quickly
  • Siblicide becomes more common in food-stressed nests
    This matches exactly what you’re describing.

4. Monitoring is focused on water chemistry — not osprey ecology

Agencies are tracking:

  • pH
  • chemical residues
  • fish mortality
  • drinking water safety

They are not (at least publicly) tracking:

  • osprey feeding success
  • nest outcomes
  • broader food-web disruptions

So while the chemical spill is being monitored, the ecological ripple effects you’re seeing may not be part of any official assessment.

🦅 Is anyone watching the after-effects on birds and the food web?

Based on current reporting: No agency has announced active monitoring of osprey, eagles, herons, or other fish‑dependent wildlife.

The focus is on:

  • human safety
  • water quality
  • fish kill documentation
  • cleanup operations

There is no mention of raptor or waterbird monitoring in any official updates so far.

KOIN KOMO

This means the distress you’re seeing in osprey nests is likely real, under‑reported, and not currently being tracked by the response teams.

🧩 What your observations mean

Your firsthand monitoring of osprey nests is valuable ecological data. What you’re seeing — chicks starving, siblicide, adults unable to find fish — is consistent with alocalized collapse of prey availability following a major chemical-induced fish kill.

Even though agencies say the water is now “safe,” the biological recovery lags far behind chemical stabilization.”

The disaster is making the news, thankfully but please call in to your local USFWS if the nest you are watching is in the impacted area and mention human cause and providing prey and fish. Thank you.

I hope that this is true about the PH level as there were tens of thousands of fish that died and toxins would impact raptor nests all along that river. We know that Steelscape is downriver from the papermill while Cowlitz is upstream.

Map view showing the Columbia River, with highlighted areas indicating points of interest and route information.

The heavy rains are impacting osprey nests in the UK.

A Facebook post discussing the challenges faced by a pair of ospreys at nest 2 due to bad weather, detailing fish delivery issues and the care of their eggs.
A bird of prey, likely an eagle, is seen in a nested area among twigs and greenery, appearing to tend to its eggs in the nest.

Good news coming out of Llyn Clywedog nest for a change.

A young osprey named 4R1 perched on a nest located at Usk/UVO, with a scenic view of the countryside in the background. The bird is displaying its wings, indicating movement, while another osprey is resting in the nest.

Blackbush has a hatch.

Two osprey birds are seen in their nest, which is made of twigs and branches, with three eggs visible in the center. The scene is set in a natural outdoor environment, featuring grassy areas around the nest.

Sad news from Ferguson Museum, Fishers Island, New York.

An osprey sitting on a nest with visible road and greenery in the background, depicting a scene of concern for the remaining chick.

Remember I told you that Pam Breci made some phone calls about the orange twine on the Salmon Idaho osprey nest. They promised they would clean the nest and they did.

Remember – you can make a difference. Sometimes you just need to make that phone call.

A bird sitting in its nest surrounded by twigs and orange twine in a natural setting, with grassy fields in the background.
An osprey perched on a nest made of sticks, with a backdrop of mountains and a cloudy sky. In the distance, buildings and a utility truck are visible in the green landscape.

Some of you have been worried about the third hatch at Loch Arkaig since Dorcha fed it a large piece of fish. The little one is fine and was fed to the brim today! Geemeff has it on video – it will also appear in their summary of the day. https://youtu.be/IY8Lo9kRGoM?

Two adult birds in a nest with three chicks, surrounded by twigs and greenery in the background.

This is appearing in the chat along the live stream for Iris and Clark.

@CornellBirdCams​​Love the Hellgate Ospreys? Help us keep the cams streaming and support our goal to raise $55,000 by June 19. Donate today: https://give.birds.cornell.edu/page/1…

It’s mid afternoon and I have not seen any fish delivered to the Hellgate nest. I find this concerning and quite honestly as excited as I was – and each of you – to see chicks on this nest, I am not beginning to hope those eggs do not hatch.

An osprey sitting on its nest made of twigs and branches, with a view of a parking lot and surrounding greenery in the background.

It is a happy nest for Big Red and Arthur as their chicks get their juvenile feathers and are now really good at self-feeding. The oldest enjoys a chippie in this video by Cornell Bird Lab: https://youtu.be/4m2uE_gQPMY?

A nest of Red-tailed Hawk chicks with a parent bird, surrounded by twigs and greenery.

There was concern at the Syracuse University Red-tail Hawk nest when one of the hawklets slipped off the nest and had to hold on for dear life as its mother Ruth looked on. Watch the Sylvia’s Ramptor Cam videos to find out the outcome. https://youtu.be/OEdiO-jqGjA?

Two 6-week-old hawks, OR6 and OR7, sitting in a nest made of twigs and branches.
A hawk nest located on a building ledge, with a parent hawk watching over two chicks. One chick is being fed by the parent as a camera monitors the scene.

A wonderful nest at Glaslyn.

Screenshot of a social media post from the Glaslyn Osprey Group, detailing the caring behavior of a first-time osprey dad named Teifi, highlighting his efforts in bringing food and making the nest comfortable for his family.
An osprey hovering over its nest, with chicks visible and a fish lying nearby.

And an uplifting video and note from ‘CG’ and thoughts on nests – we need to think about what protections the wildlife need and even if it feels useless, sign the petitions, make the phone calls. We tried. You will feel better:

ONE WEEK OLD & READY TO RUMBLE! 🐥 EAGLETS Patience & Compassion | Glacier Gardens Alaska

“Uplifting video of Patience and Compassion, the week-old eaglets at Glacier Gardens, Juneau, Alaska, nest of Liberty and new mate Prosperity.  They have the distinction of being the final nest cam hatches of the US bald eagle 2025-2026 breeding season.  

Lots of information in the Description and captions throughout the video letting us know all of the changes that are happening to these eaglets.  A great delight!

Uplifting after all the tragedies. 

Royal Oaks bald eagle nest, Vancouver, WA, just lost an eaglet, Harmony.  It fell off the nest and landed lower down in the tree and hanging upside down for a while.  It was considered in the “fledging window.”  Later while moving around, it fell a second time to lower down in the tree.  Mum knew where it was and perched on a branch close by.  It later went out of camera view and was found on the ground.  It passed away.  Lots of angry people because they wanted the eaglet rescued. Now the responsibilities of nest cam operators are in question.  Totally different situation to Scout but the result for both is lots of angry people who want changes to those archaic laws that you have even mentioned in your blog. 

Times have changed.  These cameras were originally for research, I believe, and now they have been opened up for public viewing where compassionate people are watching, not some cold, clinical scientists.  I would call it a morality issue.  These animals might be wild, but if there are health, suffering, or danger to life issues, I believe humans have a moral obligation to help.  However, not if it endangers a human, e.g., Snow’s slipping nest where a climber could have died or been severely injured if the nest fell on them while climbing up the tree.  Another tree had a widowmaker that a climber would have had to crawl over.  I think it was the nest with the bobber and fishing line. “

The great news is that Telyn at the Dyfi Osprey Project in Wales – who swolled a line and hook – has made it over the critical period and appears to be fantastic.

Hugo Yugo is doing well. Thank you for all of your good wishes. Toby really missed her, and she is still groggy and doesn’t wish to play, so he is ‘sad’. Meanwhile, I have discovered our sump pump needs to be replaced as it was hit by lightning or something during the storm. Thankfully, I have all new plumbing in my basement, and it did not flood like so many other homes.

Take care, everyone. I am going to close with a bad image of a newly fledged European Starling from the nest in our lilacs.

A bird perched on a wire, surrounded by lush green foliage.

Thank you to ‘PB’ and ‘MP’ for the research into the Longview Papermill. Thank you to ‘CG’ for writing in with views on our duty of care towards wildlife on streaming cams, and to everyone who posted information on FB and/or added images. Thank you also to the owners of these streaming cams who do allow us to watch the wildlife – and sometimes get ulcers at the same time, whilst drinking champagne and celebrating at others.

First hatch for Winnie and Swoop and Sasha fledges…Late Tuesday in Bird World

9 June 2026

Hello Everyone,

We are in the direct path of a series of supercells forming south of us and moving slowly north, so this post is going to be short and sweet. We are under a severe tornado watch and have had ping-pong-ball-sized hail. Toby has been very upset by the storm and the heavy, heavy downpours. We are fine. I grew up in Oklahoma, so I am familiar with those big F4S tornadoes, and we know what to do.

Image on FB by Katie Powell in St Anne Manitoba:

A dark, ominous sky with a large, swirling funnel cloud forming above a building, indicating a severe storm or tornado.

Sasha has fledged at the Fraser Point Bald Eagle nest of Andor and Cruz. Congratulations! SK Hideaways has it on video: https://youtu.be/TGfNgOd13wg?

Clark brought in two fish yesterday. Some of the local fisherpeople believe that he had to go to the Rattlesnake River to get them – one came late at night also. That was incredible. It is difficult enough for ospreys to see in rushing muddy water, but at night?

A pair of ospreys perched on a nest made of branches and twigs, with one osprey sitting while the other stands nearby. The background shows a parking lot and trees.
Close-up image of an osprey sitting in its nest, showcasing its distinct brown and white plumage and sharp beak.
A close-up of an osprey nest, showcasing a young osprey interacting with three eggs on a bed of twigs and grass.
Close-up view of an osprey's talons resting near two eggs on a nest, surrounded by pine needles and greenery.

It is just past 1500 on the Canadian Prairies. It is one hour earlier at Iris’s nest. I have seen no fish deliveries today, but it has been raining periodically. I wish we could find out more about the status of the river near the nest. This issue with getting fish is going to seriously impact these chicks!

Clark came in with a small fish that Iris quickly snatched.

Two ospreys near their nest, one holding a fish while the other stands nearby, with a blurred parking lot in the background.

‘PB’ alerted me to Jill’s big fish for the kids. This nest is doing so well and those fledglings are getting big and strong so they can survive on their own. She has been an outstanding mother.

A close-up of a dog holding a fish in its mouth while standing on a pile of sticks and debris.

Geemeff – thank you for following what is happening with that natural material or twine or whatever it is that Dorcha worked hard to try and get off that chick! We will appreciate any updates.

Geemeff Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Tuesday 9th June 2026

It rained on and off today but more concerning than the weather was something wrapped tightly around the leg of one of the chicks, Chick2, it seems, but a closer look is needed to confirm. It appears to be organic rather than man made but it will be a relief when it’s off, Dorcha tried and failed to remove it today. Another, minor, concern is the attitude of the chicks – not yet in the reptilian phase, but their aggressive instinct to dominate and ensure priority on the feeding line has kicked in early. Chick3 does its best to keep out of the way of its older siblings but doesn’t always succeed. However, this is all perfectly natural and seen every season in varying degrees. Even a season with a solo chick had aggression – lacking siblings, the chick constantly attacked Dorcha! Louis ensures there’s a steady supply of food and each chick got fed from every fish so this season is proceeding along the usual lines, including the inevitable arrival of unsuitable sticks which cause mayhem, it was Dorcha’s turn today. Louis brought two fish, taking the Nest Two tally to one hundred and twenty one, and Garry’s single fish for Aurora takes the Nest One tally to one hundred and seven. Day forty for Aurora’s egg ended with no sign of a pip yet, but there are still a couple more days in the hatching time frame, perhaps we’ll have a surprise in the morning – fingers and talons firmly crossed for Garry and Aurora. Light rain forecast for overnight with a low of 7°C, changing to thundery showers with a high of 13°C tomorrow.

Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/1ZJd_MubgFo N2 Two eldest chicks prefer fighting to fish! 07.44.17
https://youtu.be/jbhaZwjRscs N2 Not good! One of the chicks has something tight around its leg 14.23.01 (zoom)https://youtu.be/xD5vP8wcEUI N1 Garry arrives covered in fish blood, Aurora grabs the fish and goes 18.01.11

https://youtu.be/spH0oa8uJRI N2 Youngest chick doesn’t get much of fish two 19.15.39

You’re invited to join the lively community at Woodland Trust’s Osprey forum, it’s friendly, free and everyone’s welcome:

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

At Dunrovin, the first hatch for Swoop and Winnie! That is one strong-necked chick.

An adult bird feeding a chick in a nest surrounded by eggs and natural debris.

It appears that the Little Tiny Bob at Steelscape did not survive the sibling rivalry.

Dewey Beach, on the other hand, is doing well. Love Baby Dewey. There are issues with fish deliveries at many of the nests that sadly might continue. Send good wishes. So far, Dewey isn’t one of them. Look at that chubby osplet chick. That is what they should all look like – fat.

An osprey standing on a nest with a chick and two eggs, overlooking a waterfront area with buildings in the background.

I am going to say good night. It looks like the storms are now east of the City of Winnipeg, so I am going to relax. We still have some lightning, but I hope no more hail or wind, but oh, there is thunder again. So far, only one tree fell on a car on our street (not mine).

Take care everyone.

Thank you to Geemeff for their daily summary and for keeping an eye on that material on nest 2, to SK Hideaways thank you for the videos, and to all who posted information and images on FB, I am very grateful.

A miracle happens amidst the tragedies…late Monday in Bird World

8 June 2026

Hello Everyone,

UPDATE: Clark has returned to the nest. He must have had great difficulty fishing. He came in with a nice one for his beloved Iris who had to be absolutely at her wits end and starving. Time 1106.

An osprey standing on a nest made of sticks and branches, with another young osprey nearby. The background shows a parking lot and greenery.
A close-up view of an osprey on its nest made of sticks, overlooking a parking lot and a train passing in the background.

I am hardly controlling my tears of joy. After the past week, it just felt like something terrible was going to happen. I could hardly bring myself to hope. But here is the miracle that I was waiting for! Clark is home. Iris is fed. Now, to get those rivers to calm down so Clark can feed their babies. We are on pip watch.

My inbox and FB Messenger are full of comments about how we – humans – have failed our planet and our wildlife. Right now, that focus is more on the disaster that has occurred in and around the Chesapeake Bay. That ecosystem has been destroyed by one company, Omega Protein out of Reedsville, Virginia. It isn’t just ospreys that are going extinct – yes, I am using that word – but also Striped Bass, terrapins and anything in the food chain that depended on Menhaden. ‘The Bay’ is dying. Why isn’t someone doing something? That is the question you are asking.

Those ships are out -.

Map showing the location of fishing ships and flight paths, with 5 Omega ships highlighted in yellow and 2 independent purse seine ships in red.

Last week I received a little book from a friend in the post, Song of the Seasons. a Meditation on Cycles, Story, and Humility by Emmanuel Vaughan-Lee, a Sufi writer and spiritual ecologist. Vaughan-Lee maintains that the problem is that humans do not believe that our planet is a living entity and that they have dominion over it. “The story of forgetfulness that has distanced us, that has put us to sleep…is about the denial of the spiritual nature of this living, breathing Earth.” (32) “Our senses can again become attuned to the spirit that flows through all things, so that when we hear the birds at dusk, we let their song penetrate our being. Why would we not want that? The song that we hear, in this moment, is of this place, and of this season. And this song wants to be heard….it wants to be heard not just with the outer senses, but with the…ear of the heart, so that that birdson becomes part of us and links us to this moment, to this cycle, to this place. Vaughan-Lee is asking us to be present in this moment – to literally, as Ram Dass asked us to ‘Be Here Now’. At the same time is the underlying thread that every living thing including our Earth is sacred, a belief held by many cultures and religions. So special is the soul that my Jain friends in Udaipur will not even step on an ant or kill a fly. One of my best friends taught me that all things have souls and I will always be grateful to Ikuhiko for teaching me about Shinto.

I feel that the Earth has become nothing more than a commodity – AI centres using up all the water, dredging ocean floors and ruining marine life, and then there is the focus of my anger at the moment, the commercial overfishing of Menhaden in the NE US and in the Gulf region of the US by Omega Protein. It is not just this company – don’t kid yourself. But all is not despair, although I might feel that way today. There are good people doing amazing things around the world, including fighting against the establishment of AI Centres, lobbying for no drilling on lands where wildlife thrive, purchasing electric vehicles and beginning to use alternative energy, growing gardens and teaching others; the list is long. We cannot give up because if we do, we give all the beauty that we love over to what I want to simply call the dark side – those that would destroy all our planet and its wildlife deliberately for their own gain.

I hope this is for real.

Announcement about the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge remaining untouched after the latest oil and gas lease sale drew no interest from major oil companies.

As I write this, the rivers in Oregon and Colorado are drying up due to drought and the fish are dying.

A group of dead fish stranded in muddy, dry reservoir beds, highlighting the impact of drought conditions.

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/podcasts/horizons-with-pbs-news/as-the-colorado-river-dries-up-how-western-states-are-confronting-the-water-crisis

I really hope to get to some good news by the end of this blog. And it happened, it is at the top.

Clark has not returned to the nest he shares with Iris at Hellgate Canyon in Missoula. The rivers were raging, and fishing was difficult. He was last seen on the 6th, and that was, as far as I know, the last time Iris ate. Their eggs are ready to hatch. Clark is also known for being overprotective of Iris and their nest, and he lost at least five tail feathers in what is assumed to have been an altercation with a Bald Eagle. Clark was very attentive, and my concern is that he has met with a battle he could not win. I want to be wrong.

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

At Lake Murray, the GHO took the last two of the three osplets last night.

I wonder what we would find if we put up a big map and put a red pin on places where osprey parents fledged their full clutch. Which ones can you think of? Venice Beach. Achieva (that is a huge surprise). Any others? We will do this again at the end of the season.

Big and Little continue to be well cared for by Mum Jill. Such stability at that nest. Big and Little came together to the nest about the same time that Jill goes fishing every day. She is an amazing mother. I wonder how the female is doing in Minnesota who is raising three osplets alone – from incubation to now. This could be Iris if the Crows wouldn’t take the babies and if Iris would go fishing for them.

Fishing at Loch of the Lowes: https://youtu.be/c9UP6e5tChQ?

Telyn appears to be fine, although some are wondering if she swallowed a braided line and a different hook, one used by poachers. I am just glad she is doing well as are her three chicks.

An osprey sits on its nest made of twigs, with three chicks visible. The background features a green field and distant hills under a clear sky.

Latest updates on situation from Dyfi Osprey Project:

https://www.dyfiospreyproject.com/blog/emyr-mwt/telyn-swallows-fishing-hook-and-line

I am going to stop because I am so delighted that Clark is home I don’t want to ruin the day by finding out something else has happened on another nest. Yes, I am going to stick my head in the proverbial sand for a bit.

Take care everyone. Delight in this miracle and pray for the river to calm so Clark can feed their babies quickly.

Thank you to everyone mentioned in this post and the owners of the streaming cams, authors of newsletters and FB page information. Always grateful.