Tag Archives: raptors

Betty Lou Fledges…Friday in Bird World

30 May 2025

Good Morning Everyone,

The highlight of Thursday was the fledge of Betty Lou, chick of Jak and Audacity, at 76 days. Oh, she had been doing some incredible hovering on Wednesday.

Nestflix Memories caught that fledge! (I wonder if Jak and/or Audacity saw their miracle chick fly for the first time?). https://youtu.be/k1egvndhupg?s

Betty Lou likes the pine tree branches!

She returned to the nest and grateful parents Jak and Audacity presented their fledgling with a whole fish, which she devoured! There was a lot of squeeing…check it out on the live webcam.

If that wasn’t enough, ‘PB’ sent me the message by Pat Burke that all three of the Duke Farm’s eaglets fledged one after the other on Thursday. Amazing!

We are just waiting for Sunny and Gizmo and the San Jose Falcons and we are just sitting on pins and needles.

One of the incredible stories of this year has been the Tweed Valley nest where two females with a single male laid their eggs. All along the two females have supported themselves, sharing fish, and tending to the eggs. The male hasn’t been around the nest for many days (but seen in the area). The females have taken turns fishing and sharing their fish. They have each cared for and fed, together or separately, the two chicks that have hatched.

You will need to join their FB group to see the video but here is a screen capture.

This may well be the year that we see females rise to the occasion and raise chicks alone – White Rock, Tempeauleau, and Tweed are three that come to mind. Can you think of others?

The garden has been busy! The Baltimore Orioles have arrived along with a host of different Warblers, to the garden! The birdsong is phenomenal. We have made a little nook to sit with Toby, and it is like being in the middle of a jungle surrounded by birds.

I sincerely appreciate your understanding and the wonderfully supportive letters I have received. Choosing to reduce the frequency of my posts from Bird World was a tough decision, but it is essential for my family’s well-being at this time. I am committed to creating Bird World updates that not only educate and inform but also keep you connected to the happenings in the nests. I truly hope you find the content I share valuable and enjoyable!

The weather in Winnipeg has been warm and sunny. In the north and east of my province, large wildfires are raging. The Province has declared a province-wide emergency. People from larger towns that are threatened with being burned to the ground are being evacuated to Winnipeg. The smoke has coloured the sky, and many people are having health difficulties due to it.

Just one image of hundreds showing Flin Flon, Manitoba. The entire town has been evacuated. (Someone flew a drone and the water cannon aircraft could not fly setting off this catastrophe!).

IIn Norway House, the only highway access in or out is on fire. This is just one of the many fires burning in the northern and eastern parts of my province. We are okay for now, aside from the smoke. Our thoughts are with everyone affected, including all the wildlife in the forests that were once their home but are now ablaze.n Norway House, the only highway access in or out is on fire. These are only two of the numerous fires burning in the north and east of my province. We are alright except for the smoke. Our thoughts are of course with every breathing soul including all of the wildlife in the forests that was once their home and is now blazing.

This is the current fire danger map for Canada. We need some of that rain that has been plaguing our raptor nests.

I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone who reached out to check on us after hearing about the wildfire conditions in our area. Your concern means the world to me and truly showcases the strength of our community. The dry conditions are quite alarming, but there’s hope on the horizon as the forecast indicates a couple of days of rain next week.

In the meantime, I’m grateful to have Toby and Don by my side, helping to keep the garden containers watered. Our dried peas and beans are beginning to sprout, which is an exciting sign! We experimented with cayenne pepper around each planter box, but the squirrels have completely ignored it in search of cozy spots to stash their peanuts. Dyson and I definitely need to have a chat about their antics!

I’m optimistic that in a few weeks, I’ll have some stunning photos to share of our thriving climbing peas and beans, so let’s keep our fingers crossed! Meanwhile, the lilacs continue to bloom magnificently. We’ve discovered a charming, shady spot for a couple of chairs and a small table, the perfect setting to enjoy our coffee with Toby. It’s such a joy that he is now trained to go outside. Sitting there, listening to the cheerful birdsong and surrounded by the delightful fragrance of blooming flowers, truly elevates our moment of tranquillity together.

The view of some of the lilacs, the crabapple tree, and the trees at the back from inside the sitting room. This entire space is full of birds singing. It is wild. Nothing controlled by humans here, just the way the birds like it! And the rabbits, the raccoon, and the squirrels. What about those deer that visit?

One type is so gorgeous.

I’m truly relishing every moment spent outdoors. Tonight we played a captivating game of ‘Miss Marple.’ After finishing his late meal, Brock piqued our curiosity, prompting us to follow him and, perhaps, uncover his current living situation. To our surprise, he appears to be residing under the deck of a house just half a block away. This could be an ideal shelter for him, except for one drawback: he must cross the street to access our feeder.

I hope you’ve had some time to reflect on the incredible rescue at the osprey nest in Western Maryland Shore Old Town Home. How many times did we urge people to remove some of the osplets from nests around the Chesapeake Bay when food was scarce in 2024 due to the overfishing of Menhaden, the primary food of ospreys, in the Chesapeake Bay by a Canadian company, Omega? Many of you yelled at your screens when help did not come to the osplet at Colonial Bay. Of course, there were at least another hundred nests in the same situation.

It is unclear whether or not the rehabilitation of the third hatch at Old Town Home will be successful. These are some things to consider:

Young ospreys in rehabilitation have variable outcomes, depending on the severity and nature of their injuries or circumstances, as well as the quality of rehabilitation provided. While some ospreys, such as those with leg injuries, can recover and return to the wild, others may face challenges with feeding and development, which can impact their long-term survival. 

Factors Influencing Osprey Rehabilitation Success:

  • Injury or Condition:The type and severity of the injury or condition will significantly influence the likelihood of successful rehabilitation. 
  • Age and Developmental Stage:Young ospreys are particularly vulnerable and rely heavily on parental care for essential skills like hunting and flying. 
  • Access to Food and Water:Providing the right diet and ensuring proper hydration is crucial, especially for young ospreys who may not eat well in captivity. 
  • Rehabilitation Techniques:Some rehabilitation centers use innovative approaches like introducing juvenile ospreys to the concept of fish from the water through supervised practice. 
  • Release Strategies:Successful release often requires careful planning, considering factors like the bird’s physical condition and the availability of suitable habitat. 

Examples of Successful Rehabilitation:

  • Ospreys with leg injuries that regain function and are successfully released back into the wild. 
  • Young ospreys rescued from entanglements that are rehabilitated and released.
  • Ospreys that are re-nested in new nests after being rescued. 

Challenges in Osprey Rehabilitation:

  • Difficulty with Feeding:Ospreys can be notoriously difficult to feed in captivity, and some may not eat at all, making it challenging to rehabilitate and release them. 
  • Developmental Delays:If young ospreys are not properly cared for and lack parental guidance, they may develop delayed or incomplete hunting skills. 
  • Entanglements and Other Threats:Ospreys can be entangled in fishing nets, twine, and other materials, potentially leading to injuries or death. 

The third hatch at Maryland Western Shore was quite tiny and young. It had a head injury and could have had other internal injuries caused by the male stepping on its body. It was also denied food but had a large crop when removed from the nest. Looking forward to updates with the hope that this little one is another miracle of 2025.

Sadly, on Wednesday, there was some concern for the middle hatch at Maryland’s Western Shore. It has died of hypothermia. Thanks, ‘PB’, for keeping me informed of the situation.

Weather and lack of fish have plagued the osprey nests in the Chesapeake Bay area for the past few years. It is taking its toll this year. I wonder how many osprey nests will fledge their own clutch this year?

Some interesting spring migration counts and news is coming out of Hawk Mountain in Pennsylvania. “Count coordinator David Barber summed the season up as follows: The count ended on a low note with three days of fog and rain. The last official migrant of the 2025 count was an unidentified raptor on the afternoon of May 12. Trainees, staff, and volunteers counted 220 hours over 38 days. The total count of 1,271 birds was 30% above the 10-year average of 980 and was the fourth highest spring count recorded at Hawk Mountain. The high day was April 18 with 581 birds including 2 turkey vultures, 6 ospreys, 3 bald eagles, 6 northern harriers, 1 sharp-shinned hawk, 12 Cooper’s hawks, a season high 542 broad-winged hawks, 5 red-tailed hawks, 3 American kestrels, and 1 merlin. The broad-winged hawks count of 885 was 71% above the 10-year average and a new record high! The count of 33 northern harriers was 61% above average and the highest count since 2013. Counts of Cooper’s hawks, American goshawk, and American kestrels also were above average, whereas counts of black vultures, turkey vultures, ospreys, sharp-shinned hawks, red-shouldered hawks, and red-tailed hawks were below average. All other species had average counts this year.”

Migration eUpdate Spring 2025 Wrap UpDownload

White Rock, British Columbia: The single Mum, together with a generous fish fairy, is keeping the two eaglets alive. I don’t think anyone would have believed that these two would live to get their thermal down, and if you look closely, you will see some feathers coming through!

Kielder Forest: The first hatch at nest 1A for parents W6 and KF13. The latest post from KF also reads, “The weather has been very poor since Saturday with strong winds and rain at times. The parents on Nest 7 have been doing a wonderful job balancing sheltering with feeding their three chicks.

Although there is rain in the forecast for Kielder Forest it should be mainly just showers with less wind and warmer temperatures.”

Well, by Thursday all three eggs had hatched at Kielder Forest. Congratulations!

FOBBV: By the time this is posted, I expect that both Sunny and Gizmo will have fledged. (more below)

Sauces Canyon: Betty Lou is ready to take to the skies, too. And as reported above, she did just that! https://youtu.be/8bsdSUkulpY?

White Rock Eagles: The two raised by the single Mum are doing fine. Thanks, fish fairy, for lending a hand and some fish!

Ely Cathedral Falcon scrape: Two eyasses this year as one of the eggs did not hatch.

Birds of Poole Harbour: An update by BoPH for us on this year’s happenings. (more below)

Osprey Webcam 2025 Update – Birds of Poole HarbourDownload

Glaslyn: It appears that it is now official. Five-year-old Teifi, the son of Idris and Telyn from the Dyfi platform, has now taken over the lead male role at Glaslyn. Aran continues to be seen in the region.

Dyfi: Idris and Telyn feeding their clutch as high winds make their way through the valley. Check out the cows below.

Birds of Poole Harbour: CJ7 and Blue 022 now have four osplets in the nest as of Thursday. The 4th hatch has already had its first fish meal.

Llyn Clywedog: The miserable weather has the two hatches of Dylan and Seren beaking one another. Let’s hope that cold and wet clears up.

Foulshaw Moss: White YW and Blue 35 are doing a good job with their three.

Trempeauleau: Mum doing a great job – all alone!

Denton Homes: The nest has dried out and we are just waiting for these three beauties to branch.

Little Miami Conservancy: Two beauties. Like the others getting ready to branch.

Cardinal Land Conservancy: These two are so ready to fly.

Cornell Red Tail Hawks: O1 and O2 are standing, walking around, and getting their beautiful juvenile feathers. Both are doing exceptionally well as we would expect with parents Big Red and Arthur. Big Red is still staying with her babies at night.

Hellgate Canyon: NG has been fighting intruders at the nest over the last days. Iris has also been coming around.

San Jose City Hall: They are ready to go. Will they take off at the same time? Like Duke Farms? (Thanks, PB, for the screen capture.)

Big Bear Valley: Jackie, Shadow, Sunny, and Gizmo were all together on the nest Thursday evening. What a beautiful family. This could be one of the last images of the four on the nest, as fledging can happen at any second.

SK Hideaways caught some of the action at Big Bear: https://youtu.be/io-MSVvvUWQ?

Patuxent River Park 2: All three chicks have perished while the camera was down for a week. Cause unknown.

Moraine State Park:

Maryland Western Shore Old Town Home: The only surviving chick of three with a big crop on Thursday.

Loch Arkaig: The latest from Geemeff on what is happening at Loch Arkaig!

Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Thursday 29th May 2025
Today was all about fish – plenty on Nest Two but none on Nest One. Garry LV0 did turn up where Aurora 536 had been waiting for hours – she wanted fish, he wanted to mate, and neither got their wish. This is day six of thirteen without fish, his tally is becoming slightly meaningless and remains at sixty six. Louis on the other hand is performing magnificently and delivered another five today, and as Steve’s stats show, he’s Mr Consistency as it was the same as this day last year. His tally shoots up to one hundred and twenty two. Although it appeared bob3 didn’t have much, it must be remembered that being so much smaller than the other two means needing less food, and Dorcha did take care to include all three chicks when sharing out the food. It rained today as forecast but there were breaks in the weather. The forecast is light rain showers and light winds with a low of 11°C  tonight, and light rain showers and a gentle breeze tomorrow morning, clearing in the afternoon with a high of 17°C.Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 23.33.57 (03.40.51); Nest Two 22.43.36 (04.03.43)
Today’s videos:https://youtu.be/1gX2u2eGvIE N2 A chick nutmegs Dorcha with a squirt! 10.00.58https://youtu.be/yZEt_-fipSU  N2 Breakfast is very late because dad’s eaten most of it! 10.09.55https://youtu.be/uJJIn3vt96o  N2 All three chicks get some of fish two 15.43.44https://youtu.be/wsqyBae4VAo N1 Aurora wants fish, Garry wants to mate, neither succeeds 16.43.03https://youtu.be/M7avkNa__fw  N2 Fish number three is finished quickly but bob3 does get some 18.53.49https://youtu.be/za_qjIHMpaU N2 Dorcha blocks the view of fish four being shared out 21.07.49  https://youtu.be/GMtWeYvN1_4  N2 Fish number five arrives – will there be another today?  22.14.10
Bonus guide – when is a wood not a wood? When it is a forest!http://woodlandtrust.org.uk/blog/2024/12/difference-between-wood-and-forest/

Blast from the past, this day in previous years:

https://youtu.be/JrHUpXY-a7c  N1 First chick has arrived! Happy birthday Doddie-to-be 2020

https://youtu.be/gOLg_bK_xP0  N1 First look at his chick for Louis 2020

https://youtu.be/8s40lObbaYA  N1 First really good look, and a magic moment with mum 2020

https://youtu.be/oMbnjRm-XpA  N1 First squirt just misses Aila’s fish supper 2020

https://youtu.be/OmRsqDDynoY N2 Dorcha goes for a quick comfort break, no pip visible 2022

https://youtu.be/7BLSruxJFzE   N1 Affric (Blue 152) and Prince? on Nest One 2023 (zoom)

https://youtu.be/KBZ2QR7ya5Q  N1 Louis does a bit of nestorising 2023

https://youtu.be/wKZuLPNZEOI  N2 A close up look at the eggs – is that a pip? 2023 (zoom)

https://youtu.be/3PgLtnW4E7I N2 Rock chick song and dance 2024 (zoom)

https://youtu.be/XQA-9K4Tu90  N2 Fish number two, small whole trout, all the bobs get some 2024

https://youtu.be/UJaqA0uIc_I  N2 Louis and Dorcha have a chat 2024

https://youtu.be/RSx0V5DBRHA  N2 Bob3 starts a fight then leaves bobs1&2 to get on with it 2024

https://youtu.be/VrWzAVSrBHw  N2 Lovebirds – Dorcha gives Louis a hug 2024

https://youtu.be/38GAjtlL70M  N2 Fish number five arrives in a sunset glow 2024

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

‘A’ shares a few of her thoughts: “Did you see Mrs T brought in a huge bouquet of flowers to the Trempeauleau Eagles nest this afternoon (29 May)? I’ve never seen that before. T3 had a bit of a nibble. Mr T hasn’t stolen a fish from this nest for several days now – we hope his other nest is doing as well as this one is. 

And the hawklets at Cornell are doing well, although the younger one is still much smaller than its sibling. Plus, I thought you might like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yxbrs5MplyA

Isn’t Mama kestrel gorgeous? And those hungry chicks! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGPOAL5fUZU

And Betty Lou is a wonderful outcome for a nest that has seen so much heartbreaking disappointment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbNysUP8how Such a happy family. Well done Jaks and Audacity. Perseverance pays off for darling Audacity, whose determination has made her one of my favourites as you know! I do hope her bone density is not compromised by all those fragile eggs she kept laying. 

And Jackie and Shadow are watching their pair preparing to leave the nest. Both Sunny and Gizmo are looking fabulous. It really has been a mixed season – great success for some nests and tragedy for others, including the RTHs at Cornell, usually a nest that never loses a chick.”

And than you to ‘L’ who had a Cooper’s Hawk visit their birdbath in South Carolina reminding all of us that water is essential for the birds – please put out some bowls!

Calico’s Tip for the Week: Get your legs moving! You don’t need to hit the daunting target of 10,000 steps every day; studies have shown that just 4,000 steps can keep you healthy and active. It’s crucial to maintain strength and muscle in our legs. As a wise surgeon once told my mother after her hip replacement, “If you don’t use them, you will lose them.”

This past winter, we relied on a stationary bike because the icy sidewalks made walking outside too risky. To avoid falls, we opted to stay indoors, venturing out only for short walks at places like The Leaf and IKEA.

Now that summer is here, we’re excited to take Toby out in his stroller for our walks. In just five weeks, once Toby has completed his vaccination series, we’ll be ready to let him explore on his leash, helping him maintain his fit and energetic puppy figure. Let’s stay active and enjoy the great outdoors!

The New York Times has some ideas on how to get walking.

Well 4 ways to trick yourself into taking a walkDownload

Thank you so much for being with us today. We will see you on Monday. Take care.

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, comments, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog today: ‘A, Geemeff, L, PB’, Nestflix Memories, Pat Burke, Tweed Valley Osprey Project, Streetheart, Chesapeake Mermaid, Maryland Western Shore, Hawk Mountain, White Rock Eagles Community FB, Birds of Poole Harbour, Gywyd Gwylld Glaslyn, Dyfi Osprey Project, Llyn Clywedog, Geemeff and the Woodland Trust, Cumbria Wildlife Trust, Trempeauleau Eagle Cam, Denton Homes, Little Miami Conservancy, Cardinal Land Conservancy, Cornell Bird Lab Red-tail Hawk Cam and Hellgate Canyon, Big Bear Valley, Popular Science, IWS/Explore, Accuweather, Moraine State Park, Maryland Western Shore Old Town Home, SK Hideaways, The New York Times, Laura Rose and Trempeauleau Eagles, UK Osprey Info FB

Tuesday in Bird World

27 May 2025

Good Morning,

Update: Third chick just hatched at Loch Arkaig for Louis and Dorcha. Oh, I was hoping that this one would stay in the egg as the others are so big. But, no. They have three!

Hatch at Boulder County Fairgrounds.

Hello, everyone. It is nice to be back with you after being away for a week. The hours and days flew by and it was a week that was anything but uneventful! Let’s see if I can remember a few of the highlights:

-Toby’s ear infection got worse. Then he started clawing at his left ear, and went back to the vet. This time, they realised that putting drops into Toby’s ear wasn’t working for Toby, me, or the infection. They gave him a treatment that was to last a fortnight. Hopefully that will do the trick! A snood has been ordered. A scrunchie ties these floppy ears back with a covering for the ears themselves. I will send photos when it arrives. To make my life easier, Toby is sleeping through the night. He has learned to go potty outside. This is a big deal and I am shocked at how smart he is. Does every puppy parent say that? The issue is you cannot do something once and think you won’t have to repeat it so it takes thinking at every turn not to be caught into creating a bad behaviour. Toby loves to play fetch, and he drops his little lamb at my feet so I will toss it again. That poor lamb. Toby shakes it and shakes it. I am told it goes back to when Spaniels were ‘helping with the hunt’ and would subdue the prey. Today, it is often a way of getting rid of some energy, thank goodness. Toby has lots of energy and continues to be either in ‘off’ or ‘on’ mode. There is no middle ground. Toby loves Hugo Yugo, and they often play chase! Initially, I wondered if I had made a mistake getting a puppy. It was ‘my’ first dog. My father always had dogs, but they were under his care, and I loved the cats at our house. So Toby has been a new experience. It is getting easier and I adore him.

-I lost my credit card. Anyone who has lost a card will understand the frustration this causes.

-Garden planting. We have all the containers on the deck planted with pollinator-friendly plants, herbs, or a combination of three types of beans and peas. The Kentucky Wonder beans have already sprouted! There are cherry tomatoes and peppers in patio pots, and we picked up some bright red Salvia today for the hummingbirds when they arrive. The new hose is heavy. The new brass nozzle is divine. We also planted four hydrangeas, and to our delight, the three peonies we planted last year are coming up nicely.

-Little trips. We helped with my bestie’s Golden Retriever while she was away – a walk and a small feeding at noon. Then we headed out on various trips, including Baby Days at the wildlife rehabilitation centre, the opening of Oak Hammock Marsh, and a couple of trips to Pineridge, where the antique shop held a yard sale. We found two lovely French terracotta jardinieres, as well as another on a stand. The plan is to create a focal point on the deck. We have been able to visit with some friends during all of this, which was delightful. Today, at Pineridge, we ran into our granddaughter, who was there with a friend checking out its potential as a wedding venue for June 2027.

-Nice things that happened. I have desperately been trying to make my life easier. Three areas that require attention when one has a puppy is grocery shopping, hair cuts, and doctor’s appointments. We were able to solve the hair cuts by getting an appointment with one of our City’s most respected mobile salons. Will keep you posted. We ordinarily do not go to malls or large grocery stores and Toby is welcome in the Farmer’s Kitchen at Pineridge and St Leon’s Market, thankfully. That is perfect for us. Now just to figure out what to do about the doctor’s appointments or treatments. If I know that they are on prone to be on time, it is not a problem. We are trying not to be away longer than 1.5 hours due to the issues related to ‘withdrawal/separation anxiety’ within this breed.

So the week was a balance of the good and the bad. Thankfully, there was ‘no ugly’.

What I realised during this time away from writing the blog is that our summers are very short. This past winter was not conducive to being outside often due to the ice on the trails. One of the things I want to do is spend much more time in the garden with Don and Toby, as well as friends and family. Simple meals and laughter, hopefully with few wasps! (The feral feeder is being relocated to help with that.)

I have consistently emphasised the importance of spending time outdoors in nature and finding a balance in our busy lives as crucial for prioritising self-care. I often remind myself to secure my oxygen mask before assisting others. As Don’s dementia evolves—albeit subtly—he continues to help with many things around the house, which allows him to feel valued. Yet, sometimes I find it challenging to discreetly untangle his assistance without him noticing. Communication is growing more difficult, but there are moments of striking clarity that leave me almost speechless.

This summer, my intention is to dedicate more quality time to him, fostering patience, fun, and cherished memories that will sustain us during tougher times. With all this in mind, I’ve made the difficult decision to shift my blog schedule. Difficult? I have made so many long-time friends through the blog that not reaching out to you every day has caused me some anxiety. I need to slow down, and I know you understand. Rather than daily posts, I will share updates twice a week—on Mondays and Fridays.

I intend to summarise all the weekend happenings on Mondays, while Fridays reflect the week’s events. I aim to revamp the format to better engage with you by addressing your questions from the mailbox, spotlighting key happenings at the nests, and featuring one educational topic of current interest related to nest activities. I appreciate your understanding as I navigate these changes.

I also want to thank all those wonderful people who continually support me by sending me news from the nests. You have no idea how helpful that is.

Australian Bird news: Alison gives us a run down on what has been going on ‘down under’:

“In bird world, Diamond and Xavier are well. Diamond regularly has a giant crop – she was crop dropping this morning, twice actually, so she has plenty of room for a largish lunch. Xavier is such a darling. He is very fond of Diamond, though he is twinkle-toed when it comes to bonding sessions, when he darts out of the box as if afraid he’ll get squashed. 

At Port Lincoln, mum and dad were both on the barge this morning, Mum on the nest and Dad in the mancave. Both are looking well and seem to like their renovated nest. 

At Collins Street, there is no activity, and won’t be until eggs are due to hatch (assuming we get eggs this season). 

At Olympic Park, Mum and Dad have been working on the nest, bringing sticks and nesting material around lunchtime yesterday. They went fishing in the afternoon, then settled near the nest overnight. 

At Taiaroa Head, SS Trig chick is on her nest this morning, looking absolutely gorgeous as usual. It is so lovely to see that snowy-white plumage unblemished by any incidents of spilling. This is plumage that indicates a childhood totally free of bullying! She is exquisite, she really is. Mum came in yesterday at breakfast time to feed her chick and the little one was given a supplementary feeding two days ago (24 May). We’ll see what her weight is like tomorrow (Tuesday 27 May), which is weekly weighing day. SS Trig chick has fairly consistently been on the skinny side, with her parents seemingly unable to find enough food for her. Thank heavens we have the rangers – the squid smoothie fairies. These gorgeous birds really are given the very best of care. It’s astonishing how far these rangers go to ensure their safety and to assist them to breed successfully. A wonderful example to the world. 

Winter is quickly approaching in Melbourne, with icy mornings but sunny days.”

Stork Intervention is not new to the European Union.

‘PB’ reports: “Watching white stork cam in Hungary and they rescued baby #5. They said its taken to a rehab where they later release it. So happy they saved it before parents threw it over.”

So, just why do people help the storks?

People in Europe help storks due to a combination of cultural beliefs, environmental concerns, and the birds’ role as a symbol of positive aspects like good luck, new beginnings, and family life. Storks have been associated with good fortune, and their presence on rooftops was believed to bring harmony and even protect against fires.


Here’s a more detailed look at the reasons:
Cultural and Symbolic Reasons:
Good Luck and Fertility:
Storks are widely believed to bring good luck, and in many regions, they are associated with fertility and the arrival of babies.
Family Harmony:
In Central and Eastern Europe, storks are believed to bring harmony to families on whose property they nest.
Symbol of New Life:
The storks’ tendency to nest on rooftops is seen as a symbol of the arrival of new life, contributing to the belief that they bring babies.
Protection Against Fire:
In some regions, storks’ nests on houses were believed to offer protection against fires, further enhancing their revered status.
Conservation and Environmental Efforts:
Habitat Protection:
Storks are highly dependent on wetlands and other natural habitats. People in Europe are actively involved in protecting and restoring these habitats to ensure the continued survival of stork populations.
Awareness and Education:
Programs like the “Stork Route” in Brandenburg and initiatives like the European Stork Villages network help raise awareness about storks and their conservation needs.
Public Relations:
Festivals and events celebrating storks, photography contests, and other public relations initiatives help foster a positive relationship between humans and storks.
Stork Villages:
The European Stork Villages Network encourages communities to embrace storks as part of their natural and cultural heritage, fostering a sense of responsibility for their well-being.

As an advocate for intervention, I find the actions of individuals helping storks to be noble and I wish these attitudes would translate themselves to the eagles and ospreys that need help throughout the world.

One significant relationship that became internationally famous was that of a Polish man and a female white stork who could not fly and her mate. If you do not know this story then please watch this video that captures the extraordinary measures that were taken to care for this female and to ensure that each year she could spend the summer with her mate raising storklets.

Her name was Malena. https://youtu.be/sXMfbY8CawY?

Another video by Unity: https://youtu.be/b3Sb3-u4vAk?

Bonus: You might also recall when Urmas rescued the surviving storklets of Jan and Janikka after Jan disappeared on June 1, 2022. It is believed that he was probably electrocuted. The storklets were taken to the veterinary clinic on June 5, and there, along with Dr Madis, they were first raised by humans and mechanical storks before being placed into nests. Bonus was adopted by my favourite Black Stork of all time, Karl II and his mate, Kaia on 30 June. Bonus was fitted with a transmitter. We know from a sighting that the transmitter was down when he was alive and well on August 3, 2024, at Turov, Belarus.

Video of Urmas removing the storklets: https://youtu.be/oCJd5RLfN6M?

Video of storklets being fed by by humans and mechanical storks: https://youtu.be/3-Jf2gTlvbQ?

Video of Urmas placing Bonus on the nest of Karl II and Kaia: https://youtu.be/UrFLFPbDGZk?

Video of Karl II feeding his storklets and Bonus: https://youtu.be/JKU6H1NH85E?

Mlade Buky, Czech Republic: Community comes together to feed the stork nest when parent is dead. Caught on video by Tomas Borbely: https://youtu.be/nm5wTNjWfC4?

There are many more examples of human kindness towards storks. I encourage you to find them; they will warm your heart.

I want to publicly thank the individuals at Maryland Western Shore Old Town Home Osprey nest and streaming cam for rescuing baby three on Monday, the 26th of May. Owl Moon Raptor Centre will be trying to save this little one. It is one of the youngest, if not the youngest, osplets I have seen go into care. I know they will try their best to help this baby. It had been pecked and had a bloody head, had been denied food, and on Monday morning, Dad stepped on its head and stood there for some time. The little one was rescued and taken into care. It is unknown whether it is too small or ill to survive at the time of this writing, but I am grateful for the kindness shown. It is time for all interventions to occur. Fish are in short supply, and fish fairies are needed! As are rescues.

What has been happening in the UK Osprey nests (and the few North American ones) while I was away the last week?

Rutland Manton Bay: Blue 33 and Maya have four osplets this season. It is not the first time. Sadly, the last time there were four, tiny little Bob perished. Blue 33 is hauling in lots and lots of fish and all four are doing well. The tiny little Bob is quite the character and gets itself up there for the feedings!

Birds of Poole Harbour: Blue 022 and CJ7 have three beautiful and healthy chicks! Chick 4 is emerging from the egg.

Loch Doon: Frankie and Angel have sadly lost their little third hatch. It is quite cool at the nest and the older two got under Angel after a feeding, but little three didn’t. It perished very quickly being unable to thermoregulate.

Llyn Clywedog: Miserable damp cold weather here, too. Seren Blue 5F is keeping her two Bobs fed and warm. Unclear about the third egg.

Glaslyn: First up. The good news is that Aran has been seen after being MIA for a number of days. People were getting concerned. Thankfully the BOGS have been keeping a good eye and saw him!

Elen and Teifi are sheltering in the trees.

Dyfi: The weather is miserable and Idris was trying to feed them a very tough flounder this morning. Idris and Telyn have had their three eggs hatch! Dates were:

🐣 17th May at 16:22 (38.1 days)

🐣🐣  18th May at 13:15 (36.0 days)

🐣🐣🐣 21st May at 15:29 (36.0 days)

Three Chicks Hatch – Including Bobby Bach (Eventually) _ Dyfi Osprey ProjectDownload

Foulshaw Moss: All three eggs of White YW and Blue 35 have successfully hatched.

Kielder Forest:

Nest 7: KX7 and KM18 have three successful hatches.

Tweed Valley: This is the latest news, and it’s a week old. I hope the weather has improved and more fish have come for the two females – eggs should have hatched or be hatching soon!

Loch Arkaig 1 and Loch Arkaig 2: See Geemeff’s daily summary below.

Hellgate Canyon: Iris and the ‘New Guy’ are still together! She often gives him a right ear full. It is too funny. No more eggs this year, just take the time to enjoy every moment with this amazing osprey! The new guy shares some of his fish. What a couple.

Charlo Montana: Pip Watch is coming soon! Coyotes were observed on the streaming cam going across the valley.

Golden Gate Audubon: Richmond and Rosie have one chick this year, which hatched on either the 10th or 11th of May. (I have no knowledge of another hatch, but please correct me!)

Snow Lane, Newfoundland: Beaumont and the New Female have been sighted around the nest. No eggs yet. Maybe not this year.

Russell Lake, Nova Scotia: The unseasonal weather has stopped. Oscar and Ethel are incubating eggs, but only for another 7 or 8 days.

Trempeauleau Eagles: The success of this single-parent nest (male has another nest) is outstanding. Just look at T3 all kitted out with its juvenile feathers.

FOBBV: Sunny and Gizmo are getting great height as they prepare for fledging.

Sauces Canyon: Betty Lou has also been getting some amazing air. What a miracle child for Jak and Audacity. So thankful that they were able to be parents this year after so many tragic attempts.

Fraser Point: Kaimana and Blue Day are 65 and 63 days old. Adorable eaglets! Andor and Cruz are great parents.

Denton Homes: The trio are really getting into jumping on that nest. They have survived storms and what a relief it is to see that nest held during some dramatic weather. It will not be long.

Kansas City Eagles: Kanza is 9 weeks old and getting some air. Ellie, Harvey and Kanza have suffered through some rough weather like The Majestics.

Latvian Golden Eagle Nest: Spilve, Grislis, and Meldrs. Food has not been plentiful. Grislis finally brought a squirrel! https://youtu.be/7uXlT8ve3bk?

Fort St Vrain Eagle Cam: We worried they would get caught in the sticks and could not escape. We feared they would fall over the edge. Could you look at the two surviving eaglets on this nest?

Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Monday 26th May 2025

A slow day on Nest One, Aurora 536 spent time perching and waiting, then Garry LV0 arrived but without any fish. He had other ideas and mounted her successfully but it’s probably too little too late for eggs this year. His tally remains at sixty six. Over on Nest Two, Louis brought a big breakfast in the form of a massive trout from which the bobs had plenty of feeds. He’d eaten the head but still seemed hungry and returned for a mid morning raid, discovering the fish tucked under Dorcha’s feathers and foiling her attempts to stop him taking it by pulling her across the nest until she let go. He did return the fish a little later, however the fish’s travels weren’t over as he took it away again with Dorcha in hot pursuit until he returned it for the bobs’ next feed. Later Dorcha’s attention was on a distant aerial chase as two Ospreys pursued each other, too far away to confirm ID but one was probably Louis. The day’s action ended with Louis bringing a small fish supper so fresh it was still flapping, and he remained on the nest watching Dorcha feed the eager chicks. At the time of posting this report (midnight) some watchers think the third egg has pipped but the view hasn’t been clear enough to confirm it. Perhaps those who watch through the night and submit their excellent reports will have exciting news for us tomorrow morning. It was a wet and windy day today just as forecasted, and the rain’s expected to continue overnight with a low of 6°C but with the possibility of sunny intervals tomorrow and a high of 13°C.
Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One (03.50.35E); Nest Two 22.35.27 (04.04.54)
Today’s videos:https://youtu.be/Tz7Y_155TwI N2 Dorcha tucks into breakfast, Louis covers the chicks 07.30.55

https://youtu.be/Rb60Etc3cw0 N1 Aurora calls for fish but Garry has other ideas! 10.25.19https://youtu.be/nC9LVBEwMcg N2 Dorcha tries and fails to stop Louis taking a fish 11.40.42

https://youtu.be/43o1eD2kI3I  N2 Louis steals the fish but Dorcha makes him return it 13.57.46

https://youtu.be/2FqE3EXsIwY N2 Dorcha watches as two Ospreys chase each other 14.41.05 (zoom / slo-mo repeat)

https://youtu.be/QrzNvjRaZWU N2 Louis delivers a fresh flapping fish supper 19.44.59

Bonus – fancy solving a puzzle? Loch Arkaig jigsaw puzzle featuring Louis & Dorcha is on sale:

https://shop.woodlandtrust.org.uk/woodland-trust-loch-arkaig-osprey-jigsaw

Blast from the past, this day in previous years:

https://youtu.be/j2zFGdLHFfI  N1 What spooks Aila? 2019

https://youtu.be/OtayWPtR_fo N1 Aila repels an intruder Osprey 2020 (real-time)

https://youtu.be/Ocm48b6Os7s N1 Same intrusion in slo-mo 2020

https://youtu.be/dedcBVUI0dQ N1 Tug of fish: Let go, Louis! 2020

https://youtu.be/AYQ–hL3MLU N1 A Jay visits 2023

https://youtu.be/EJXmdCL0D2g N2 Dorcha has breakfast while Louis does the housework 2023https://youtu.be/qgZZjeA6M5U   N2 Fish number three, headless trout – bobs are home alone 2024https://youtu.be/CMBJis-X6UQ  N2 No one wants fish number four so Louis takes it away 2024

Everyone’s welcome to join the community at Woodland Trust’s Osprey forum, it’s fun, free and friendly:

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

Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Sunday 25th May 2025

A soggy night and wet for a good part of the day too, but that didn’t prevent the second chick hatching. Pipping was seen yesterday  around 10pm, and tucked away warm and dry under Dorcha, bob2 allowed brief glimpses from time to time as it made its way out of the shell, emerging fully by 3am. By 5am bob2 had had a first feed from Louis’ first fish delivery, and things are looking good for these two. The third egg is a few days away from hatching and will need to be strong and determined to compete with this pair. Louis delivered a second fish and his tally rises to one hundred and eight. Unusually when returning the second fish to Dorcha, he sat on top of the chicks and wouldn’t let her feed them, prompting a discussion about his usual lack of enthusiasm for chick-sitting as opposed to his extreme enthusiasm for egg-sitting. Over on Nest One, Garry LV0 put in an appearance after not being seen yesterday, and rewarded Aurora’s patience with a fish. His tally rises to sixty six but Aurora would probably prefer it rises a bit faster as she sat patiently perching for many hours waiting in vain for him to return with more fish. Dorcha’s mumbrella skills will be needed as more rain is forecast throughout the night with a low of 6°C, and thundery showers and a moderate breeze with a high of 11°C tomorrow.
Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 23.08.17 (

03.51.04); Nest Two 22.39.52 (04.10.50)
Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/NyeaPABkHboN2 Welcome little bob2 – second chick is here! 02.58.07

https://youtu.be/Oij43i5RvqQN2 Fish number one – bob2’s first feed 04.56.58

https://youtu.be/Nsf3B2QYrC8 N1 After yesterday’s no-show, Aurora’s glad to see Garry with fish 

09.35.23

https://youtu.be/Lr0bAPHnRHY N2 Dad brings a second fish and mum feeds the bobs 13.00.47

https://youtu.be/f2aHh2WdLOA N2 Dorcha would like to feed the chicks but unusually Louis is sitting on them ! 15.19.36

Bonus advice – George WTS’ 2024 post on how to survive the highs & lows of nest cam watching:

https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/trees-woods-and-wildlife/osprey-cam/?ht-comment-id=14839719

Blast from the past, this day in previous years:

https://youtu.be/8FYcojpPJQc  N1 Louis brings a v-shaped stick 2020

https://youtu.be/5f4o-219oIs  N1 What time do you call this? 2020

https://youtu.be/DKhP0pbVLbQ  N1 Louis is given his marching orders 2020

https://youtu.be/if-vCqrqRLI  N2 Unusually persistent Hoodie annoys Dorcha 2022

https://youtu.be/Isc_NPFqB4M  N1 Louis visits again 2023

https://youtu.be/rLwmdraNUD4  N2 Dorcha’s branching out 2023

https://youtu.be/4pTHER9sy-w  N2 Bob1 has a go at self-feeding!!!!! 2024

https://youtu.be/GRCzf9FTFRo  N2 Olympic hero! Louis pole-vaults in  2024    

https://youtu.be/vZcMnDPsX-s  N2 Fish number three, first flatfish of the season 

https://youtu.be/EpDxudcMp6Q  N2 Tough as old boots – Dorcha and the fish skin 2024 

https://youtu.be/P_1jqw2RRf8  N2 Purple haze: Louis & Dorcha caught in the glow of sunset 2024

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

Big Red and Arthur and O1 and O2. The hawlets are getting their feathers! What a beautiful nest! Everything continues to go smoothly with Big Red in her element as Queen Mum.

Latvian Goshawk: The eyasses were ringed. Here is the video! https://youtu.be/sHUHLcDdJwM?

San Jose Falcons: Oh, they are mischievous! SK Hideaways catches them in the act. https://youtu.be/uhz-X5Mg4hU?

Looking for Loons? The cams are back up!

2025 Loon Cams are LiveDownload

Wildfires continue to burn in our province. Grave concerns for wildlife – not only the mammals but also the migrant raptors and songbirds that come to Manitoba in the late spring to raise their young. Send positive wishes.

A beautiful story of people working together to transform sheep fells for birds. “A groundbreaking tree-planting programme is uniting farmers and rewilders, as portions of common ground in the Yorkshire Dales national park are being restored to their ancient glory.” Why can’t this be happening everywhere?

Bringing back the birds: the ‘ghost woodlands’ transforming England’s barren sheep fells https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/may/26/ghost-woodlands-rewilding-sheep-fells-yorkshire-uk-aoe?CMP=share_btn_url

Thank you so much for being with us today. Please take care. I will see you again on Friday!

Thank you to the following for their notes, comments, posts, messages, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘A, Geemeff, PB’, Eagle Goddess, The Dodo, Liznm, Unity, Tomas Borbely, Maryland Western Shore Old Town Home, LRWT, Birds of Pool Harbour, Loch Doon, Llyn Clywedog, Bywyd Gwylld Glaslyn, Dyfi Osprey Project, Cumbria Wildlife Trust, Kielder Forest, Tweed Valley Osprey Project, Montana Osprey Project, Charlo Montana, Golden Gate Audubon, Snow Lane Osprey Cam/Newfoundland Power, Nova Scotia Ospreys/Connie and Don Dennis, Geemeff and The Woodland Trust, Cornell Bird Lab Red-tail Hawk Cam, Trempeauleau Eagle Cam, FOBBV, Sauces Canyon/IWS and Explore, Fraser Point/IWS and Explore, Denton Homes, LDF, Xcel Energy, The Weather Centre of Manitoba, LDF/Verotaja, San Jose City Hall, SK Hideaways, The Guardian, Loon Preservation Society, Farmer Derek

Wednesday in Bird World

21 May 2025

Good Morning Everyone,

Tuesday was my respite day. I cannot tell you – well, I do, over and over – how grateful I am to have Anne helping me. Her love of animals and gentle nature spills over into everything she does, including teaching me how to administer medication to Toby properly. The cats love her, and today we delighted in watching Toby and Hugo Yugo play hide-and-seek and chase. What fun they had!

It is 16 degrees C. With all the rain the garden is turning emerald green before our eyes. The conifers are looking much better with new growth evident. If only the sun would come out! Some of our nests will be hoping for that as well. One of those is Trempeauleau.

PB’ reports that Mum has just brought in a fish and is feeding T3. Very wet there. ‘PB’ also asks: Did you know that the camera at Trempeauleau has a wiper? I did not!

A great Audubon article on internationally famous Iris! It is a good read – please celebrate our Queen! “At 29, Iris the Osprey has outlived the odds to become a cherished internet star whose brood of offspring is helping track river health in Montana.” “Researchers have tracked Iris, named for the unique inflections in her eye, since she started nesting along Missoula’s Clark Fork River in 1999. Because Ospreys start breeding around 3 years, experts who monitor her estimate that she is an extraordinary 28 or 29 years old—far outlasting the average Osprey lifespan of about 15 to 20 years. “

The World’s Oldest Known Osprey Is an Online Sensation—and a Living Indicator of Watershed Health _ AudubonDownload

Heidi’s Osprey Notes:

Smallwood osprey cam: Mom and Dad are great parents, and the fish is plentiful.  There have been a few scuffles between the chicks, some started by Little, but so far no significant problems at chow time.  The chicks are 15, 13, and 10 days old.

Dewey Beach:  Life is good for this family with two babies, ages 7 and 5 days old.  It is looking like the third egg will not hatch.

Geemeff’s  Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Tuesday 20th May 2025

Garry LV0 and Aurora 536 spent a little time on Nest one, bringing nesting materials (him), perching and preening (her) and in between Garry found time to deliver two fish for her, taking his tally to sixty. He delivered them directly without any tricksy showing them off then departing with them before returning them later half-eaten as he’s done a few times recently, but Aurora took no chances and made off with the fish as soon as she seized them from him. Over on Nest Two, after an early morning visit from a Jay with a Tawny Owl hooting unseen in the background, Louis also delivered two fish, taking his tally to ninety nine. Both were a decent size to make up for the single tiddler delivered late yesterday, and he had no problem handing them over to Dorcha immediately in order to settle down to his favourite occupation of egg-sitting. The settled weather continues through to Friday, with clear skies tonight and a high of 22°C.

Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 23.22.39 (03.14.06); Nest Two 23.57.23 (03.38.38) 

Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/4FEYkjXc1fQ  N2 An Owl hoots nearby and a Jay visits when Dorcha returns from flyabout 07.14.44

https://youtu.be/4eNP2JsrD9A N2 Dorcha gets a big breakfast 09.34.28

https://youtu.be/cWw_YGFdmmc  N1 Aurora’s patience is rewarded when Garry brings her a fish 10.26.59

https://youtu.be/1uwGM0wUba0  N1 Garry brings a second fish for Aurora 15.51.45

https://youtu.be/BQADE2-A0yU N2 Dorcha wastes no time seizing fish number two 20.23.13

Bonus read – all about the hatching process:

https://www.fayrehalefarm.com/wp-content/uploads/Hatch-1157697_432879363493726_407957231_n.jpg

Blast from the past, this day in previous years:

https://youtu.be/I6EiEJdBMEk N1 Aila’s misty morning flypast 2020 (slo-mo)

https://youtu.be/GYmMQvGGdbE N1 The eggs are bugged! 2020

https://youtu.be/56srG8Li0pY N1 Two mating attempts by The Stranger and Blue 152 2021

https://youtu.be/Gki0u5vCQg4 N1 Blown away! Comical failed mating attempt 2021

https://youtu.be/eY3vcsWUfmk N2 Very early breakfast for Dorcha 2022

https://youtu.be/XZMfSUpsMc4 N2 Little bird singing away on the high perch 2023

https://youtu.be/sTZm9BK7okg N1 Affric 152 and LV0’s visit Nest One! 2023

https://youtu.be/ROkPADnW6JI N1 Louis brings a fish to Nest One 2023

https://youtu.be/i9K2-HCbD-o   N1 An unexpected visitor arrives – it’s Affric 152! 2024

https://youtu.be/Nrr-H6eK0m4  N2 Pip pip hooray – cam’s been zoomed! 2024

https://youtu.be/P81chr8zJFs   N2 Louis bring another fish for Dorcha 2024

https://youtu.be/5fl9uzsupuY N1 A Jay (Garrulus glandarius) perches on the centre perch 2024

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

Snow Lane Osprey Platform, Newfoundland: The Snow Lane Osprey Nest, with the Beaumont and Hope FB group, has compiled a nest history from 2016 to 2024 in their files. What a great way to educate viewers now and in decades to come. Every nest should have historical information readily available online. Thank you to everyone who contributed.

Loch of the Lowes: Sadly, one of the two remaining eggs was broken. One egg left. Perhaps this is a blessing in disguise for our new couple who are, we believe, first time parents.

Big Bear Valley: Sunny has branched! SK Hideaways has it on video as this gorgeous juvenile makes it to the Front Porch. https://youtu.be/bizDGFI0HMc?

San Jose Falcons: What’s this about drains? https://youtu.be/BXNcoTMi1wA?

Johnson City ETSU: We have a fledge! Baiba catches JC25’s flight for us: https://youtu.be/gHpuRq8Cj5k?

Bluff City ETSU: Two beautiful eaglets are ready to fledge, and thankfully, neither of the Tennessee nests has been damaged by the many storms moving through this region.

Denton Homes: The wind is blowing and hopefully drying out the eaglets and the nest from the downpours and huge storm of Monday.

Wild Bucovina, Romania, Golden Eagle nest 2: Pausa is a lovely little eaglet.

White Rock, BC Eagles: Terry Anita’s latest post: “White Rock, BC. Eagles Mom (Dad missing) Eaglets Miracle and Phenomenon. Hatched 4/30/25
Although they missed out on the baby crow. Mom flies out and back, in seconds, with a fish from the fairy. 🐠🧚‍♀️Only one eaglet ate..
The eaglet are 20 days old today. Their thermal down is in and they’re progressing well. What a season 2025 miracle these two eaglets are..
Live cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KYpwF0hteVA”

Dyfi: Bob 3 was almost out of the egg – beak peeking out in the wee hours today.

Rutland Manton Bay: All four are up and ready for fish early this morning!

Poole Harbour: No visible pips yet!

Llyn Clywedog: Recently hatched Big Bob waiting for Seren Blue 5F to feed him/her their fish dinner!

Black Stork Nest, Lodz, Poland: Aren’t they darlings? They are being fed a goldfish dinner! https://youtu.be/mTDMp143khA?

Taja International Black Storks:

Mlade Buky: Bety and Bukachek have two little storklets recently hatched!

Mark Avery lists the species currently impacted by HPAI in the UK: “Bird flu: the list of affected bird species has reached 36 for the UK in 2025 with two additions in the last month: Mute Swan, Whooper Swan, Bewick’s Swan, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Pink-footed Goose, Barnacle Goose, Shelduck, Mallard, Eider, White-tailed Eagle, Red Kite, Buzzard, Goshawk, Sparrowhawk, Peregrine, Kestrel, Curlew, Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Black-headed Gull, Yellow-legged Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Common Gull, Little Gull, Sandwich Tern, Gannet, Cormorant, Razorbill, Guillemot, Barn Owl, Long-eared Owl, Tawny Owl, Grey Heron, Pheasant and Starling. The flaws in the ‘surveillance’ scheme mean that it is difficult to know what this species list means in terms of species affected.”

I want to remind everyone about the changes to the Migratory Bird Act in the US. As one of our readers, ‘TC’ notes: “— Keep the ESA intact,AS-IS. This proposed change could prove to be one of the most harmful things we have done to nature in the last fifty years.
— NO TO nullifying the ESA passed by the U.S. Congress in 1973. The proposal is counter to the purpose of the ESA to protect imperiled species and the ecosystems upon which they depend.
— We cannot protect the species without protecting their habitats. Without the habitats, wildlife would go extinct.
— We are all connected—humans, animals, and the natural world. To ensure a thriving planet, we must protect all wildlife and the habitats they depend on.”

You should not have to be a US citizen to comment on the changes made to the law that are not productive to having a healthy world shared with our non-human friends.

All comments are considered public and will be posted online once the Interior Department has reviewed them. You can view alternative ways to comment or you may also comment via Regulations.gov at https://www.regulations.gov/commenton/FWS-HQ-MB-2024-0127-0055.

With the ospreys hatching and eaglets fledging, it is not an opportune time for me to take a break from writing the blog, but I need to step away for a few days. Toby’s ear infection has kept me busy and very tired, as he hasn’t been sleeping well. My garden desperately needs attention, and the work needs to be done immediately. We will return with all the news on Tuesday, May 27th. See you then. In the meantime, please take care!

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘Geemeff, Heidi, PB’, Raptor Resource Project, Audubon, Geemeff and The Woodland Trust, Snow Lane Osprey Nest, with the Beaumont and Hope FB group, LOTL, FOBBV, SK Hideaways, Baiba, Bluff City ETSU, Denton Homes, Wild Bucovina, Dyfi, LRWT, Llyn Clywedog, Terry Anita and Hancock Wildlife Foundation, Mark Avery’s 21 May Newsblast, Bozena Isla, Taja International, Mlade Buky, Smallwood, Dewey Beach

Heidi’s Osprey Nest News

20 May 2025

Hello Everyone,

For three years, Heidi has been providing us with up-to-date news on the many osprey nests that she monitors. To my knowledge, this is the first year that ‘strange’ things have happened in terms of my posting her information and receiving it. Sometimes the problem lies directly with me, and at other times, it feels like WordPress is playing tricks – images are shuffled, ads appear, and others disappear. I’m going to try again and get Heidi’s entire report here for you, as there’s some exciting news!

And I have discovered the culprit: I am at 199.7 out of 200 MB in my storage! I have deleted some images from very old posts in the hopes that you will find 4 with their narratives attached to this post.

Brevard County: The eldest chick is practicing self-feeding and doing some wingers.  The chicks are 41 and 40 days old. There is no doubt in my mind, chick 2 has thrived because of Mom catching those huge fish at least once a day.  That has made all the difference at this nest.

Congratulations to all the nests and much thanks to Heidi, Brevard County, Mispillion Harbour, Maryland Western Shore Old Town Home, and Barnegat Light for their streaming cams.

Tuesday in Bird World

20 May 2025

Good Morning Everyone,

The Victoria long weekend is over. People have gone to the greenhouses and planted their annual flowers and herbs. We now live in the hope that frost does not return!

Toby is doing much better. His switch is either on or off. There is nothing in the middle! Today Toby discovered The Girl’s water fountain. He loves drinking out of it instead of his dish. Yes! That makes my life much easier. And he even got to go on an adventure. Toby went in his pram to the greenhouse so we could pick up some red and purple fuchsia for the hummingbirds and some bright red Salvia. Once home we planted three different types of peas/beans: Latvian Soup Peas, Osayo Endo Pea, and a Kentucky Wonder Climbing bean. The cherry tomatoes are in big pots with frames along with the peppers. Dill and Rosemary are planted and all we need are to move the Hibiscus outside and plant some Japanese eggplant, English cucumbers, and maybe some of the small watermelons. Hopefully the weather will cooperate. I bought a new watering hose last fall and the hope is that it does not tangle around itself – it is not supposed to!

I should say that Toby was an angel both in the car and in the pram moving around the greenhouse. What a wonderful little traveller. Today I knocked on wood because he also doesn’t bark or whine. If he is on the sofa and needs to get down, he makes two faint little barks and I do mean faint. I could not ask for anything more – he loves his cheese and peanut butter, eats his kibble, and is about 97% accurate when hitting the bull’s eye on the puppy pads. Our friend ‘AK’ sent us an ad for scrunchies to hold back the ears. These should really help as his ears and legs seem to grow over night. I am hoping that they will help prevent water getting in the ear when he is drinking and maybe help with infections! So cute.

The Girls are doing very well. Do you remember when Hugo Yugo was small? It seemed that she was destined to stay small. Well, something happened. Overnight, she seemed to grow, and I do mean grow. She is long and tall, and I believe it is bigger than Calico overall!!!!!! I hope to take some better photos in the next few days, so you can see what I’m talking about. It is a shock. She is still the lovable baby of the group, regardless.

The relief in hearing about Akecheta’s survival has filled my inbox. Monday morning there were over 1900 letters with more than 1000 of them overflowing with love for A61, blue wing tag, male resident at the West End nest. Each and everyone of us hopes, beyond hope, that Thunder is with him. I will continue to ask: Why not? The experts didn’t think Akecheta would be near Ojai, California so why not have Thunder with him? She left her eggs (almost unthinkable for an eagle mother) and was not seen at the West End after the 28th of February. That was approximately six weeks after Akecheta’s injury on the 19th of January. It makes sense to me. Everyone wishes Thunder had a wing tag, too! But maybe someone will capture more images of Akecheta with a female and we can see if it might be Thunder.

Coupled with this unbelievable miracle was the sadness at the Golden Eagle nest of Spilve and Grislis. It is a rare exception that the second eaglet survives. Knowing that this is practically inevitable in this species, it is much better if the little one goes quickly right after hatch. We have, in the past, witnessed the second eaglet survive to the point they were getting juvenile feathers and then get starved or killed or both in that order.

If you watch, there is often a pattern. The adults will withhold food. Once the second eaglet is no longer, food arrives, like a reward.

More information: In golden eagles, siblicide – the killing of a sibling – is a well-known phenomenon, particularly when there is a difference in size or strength between the nestlings. The older, larger chick may aggressively attack the younger, smaller sibling, leading to its death through physical injury or starvation. This behavior is often referred to as “bill-stabbing,” where the older chick jabs its younger sibling. 

Here’s a more detailed look at siblicide in golden eagles:

  • Asynchronous Hatching:Golden eagles often lay two eggs, and the first-hatched chick is usually larger and stronger. 
  • Size and Strength:The larger chick may start aggressively attacking its smaller sibling soon after hatching, leading to its death. 
  • “Bill-stabbing”:A common method of killing involves the older chick stabbing the younger one around the neck or body. 
  • Obligate Siblicide:In some cases, siblicide can be obligate, meaning that the younger chick almost always dies. 
  • Survival:The larger chick’s survival is often favored due to the potential for more efficient resource allocation and a better chance of fledging
Wilson- Golden EaglesDownload

Many theorise that the siblicide in Golden Eagles is based on the gender of the first hatchling.

Breeding – Golden Eagle – Aquila chrysaetos – Birds of the WorldDownload

We have certainly noticed the difference in ospreys. There is a higher likelihood of siblicide if the first hatch is a female and is much larger and older than the third hatch. All we have to do is think of Solly or Zoe at Port Lincoln to understand this. There is, of course, the all-time issue of enough food for all the chicks and the ability of the female to manage the feeding of all.

Border Osprey News:

Border Osprey NewsDownload

Glaslyn: It would appear that Aran has, indeed, relinquished his nest to Elen and Teifi. I am glad that he is alright. Many times these raptors will fight to the near-death or death for their territory.

Llyn Brenig: We have sat mesmerised by the ringing of the chicks on all of the nests, whether it be an osprey, an eagle, or a hawk. Chicks are weighed, measurements are taken, and identification rings applied along with satellite trackers (sometimes). Genders are announced based on the measurements at the time. A colleague once told me “Don’t argue with the ringers!” They do not always get that gender correct. Olwen is a good example!

Hellgate Canyon Ospreys:

Union County Falcon chicks are ringed! Watch Sylvia’s video for all the action: https://youtu.be/JMxgasJZLT4? She comments: “It’s banding day for the 4 eyasses of Union County. The chicks are taken out one by one, put in a tote bag and taken downstairs where they will be banded and examined out of view. The inside cam is wiped clean and the igloo gets some new gravel inside. The torn greenery is also replaced. The crew returns with 3 females and 1 male. Unfortunately there was a big glitch in the stream and time gap. Three are already inside and the 4th comes out of the bag. They have a lot to say but eventually they calm down and recover from their field trip”

White Rock Eagles: The two eaglets being raised by the single mother are still thriving! Sandy Jo captured a recent feeding. It does include a live bird as prey so exercise caution if you might find this disturbing. https://youtu.be/fxTg8DNHXPU?

Trempeauleau Eagles: Another eaglet being raised by a single Mum. T3 is doing very, very well. There is a big fish waiting for dinner!

‘PB’ reports that it is going to be a wet day for this nest.

Denton Homes and OPPD Fort Calhoun Ospreys are in the line of a huge storm that is approaching as I write this (1900 Monday the 19th of May). The winds are really picking up. ‘PB’ advises that the storm chasers are in the area as the line of tornadoes approaches.

At 1930 the winds are really picking up at Denton Homes. You cannot see the swaying unfortunately. Mum is on the nest with the babies.

By 1955, the winds were roaring, and the sway of the tree could make even a sailor seasick. Hang on, Majestics. This is a bad storm. We need this nest to hold. Remember, Clive rode out Hurricane Milton by hunkering down in the nest. Many people are sending prayers and positive wishes to the Majestics.

Mum and chicks are shaking off the rain while it and the wind continue. The nest is soaked to its core. I hope the weight of it is not a problem.

‘PB’ says the rain should stop for both nests around 0300 – that is six more hours.

The nest held!

Foulshaw Moss: The second chick has arrived for White YW and Blue 35.

Heidi’s Nest Note:

Brevard County: The eldest chick is practicing self-feeding and doing some wingers.  The chicks are 41 and 40 days old. There is no doubt in my mind, chick 2 has thrived because of Mom catching those huge fish at least once a day.  That has made all the difference at this nest.

Heidi is absolutely correct. Many of the females resort to adding to the pantry and in almost every instance it has meant that a smaller chick has survived to fledge!

Geemeff Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Monday 19th May 2025

Daily summary Monday 19th May 2025

As I was preparing this report stating no fish today, Louis turned up with an unusually late first fish – just a tiddler, but Dorcha tore into it and polished it off on the nest while Louis stood next to her, not moving towards the eggs, and he departed soon after she’d swallowed the tail. His tally rises to ninety seven. On Nest One, Aurora paid a visit in the morning but Garry didn’t come to the nest today, although an Osprey was seen via LizB’s telescope eating fish in a tree near the nest, with another Osprey perched nearby. As only fish delivered to the nest are included in the fish stats, his tally remains at fifty eight. The weather was settled again and will stay that way until the weekend. If the forecast is correct, hatching could take place in the rain, but Dorcha is a very good mumbrella and should keep the the tiny chicks warm and dry.
Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 23.27.00 (03.14.45); Nest Two 23.50.27 (03.45.19)

Today’s videos: https://youtu.be/p8Yth43EMw8 N2 Sunset delivery of fish number one and only 22.32.21
Bonus history – how much do you know about the remarkable Kenneth Watkins who founded Woodland Trust in 1972?https://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/about-us/working-with-us/our-people/our-founder/

Blast from the past, this day in previous years:

https://youtu.be/4gYRLpvvSRs  N1 What startles Aila? 2020 (slo-mo)

https://youtu.be/rZ424IJOGjg  N1 Aila chases an intruder Osprey 2020

https://youtu.be/hgdwz6wYRbU  N1 A tiny toy deer grazes by the nest 2020 (slo-mo)

https://youtu.be/haFOLmUsLbQ  N1 Has Aila swallowed a fly? 2020

https://youtu.be/bcSQSQaeRGE  N2 Dorcha is disturbed by an intruder Osprey 2022

https://youtu.be/Ts2KcLv9_YQ  N2 Previous day’s unringed intruder female is back 2023

https://youtu.be/T7OstzxP05A  N1 Little songbird serenades as dusk falls 2023

https://youtu.be/7VpUP7pU9LU  N1 Who’s causing Garry LV0 alarm? 2024

https://youtu.be/73Bvt21AH5k N1 Garry LV0 returns bringing moss 2024 (zoom)

https://youtu.be/LLle366zcQg N2 Louis brings Dorcha a second fish 2024

https://youtu.be/dX1RADsAqbs N1 Garry LV0 returns a third time, brings more moss 2024 (zoom)

Latvian White Tail Eagles, Durbe County: Milda and Zorro’s chicks have names -Leo and Neo -and are going to fight over prey! https://youtu.be/XzgP_axFDsE?

Cornell Red-tail Hawks: O1 and O2 are the cutest little things. They are getting big and often peek out from under Big Red.

Everyone’s welcome to join the community at Woodland Trust’s Osprey forum, it’s fun, free and friendly:

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

I would like to take a moment to acknowledge that Kelly Sorenson is celebrating thirty years with the Ventana Wildlife Society. Congratulations!

Thank you for being with us today. Please take care. We hope to see you soon!

Thank you to the following for their notes, comments, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘AK, Geemeff, Heidi, PB’, Wilson Bulletin, Cornell Bird Lab Birds of the World, Rosie Shields and Border Ospreys, Bywyd Gwyllt Glaslyn, Llyn Brenig, Montana Osprey Cams, Sylvia, Sandy Jo, Trempeauleau Eagles, Denton Homes, OPPD Fort Calhoun Ospreys, Geemeff and The Woodland Trust, Lizmn, Brevard County, Foulshaw Moss/Cumbria Wildlife Trust

Sunday in Bird World

18 May 2025

Good Morning Everyone,

Morning Updates:

Dyfi: Second osplet hatches for Idris and Telyn.

Foulshaw Moss: First hatch.

Latvian Golden Eagle: Both chicks of Spilve alive.

The cooler weather, 3 C, continues on the Canadian prairies. It is so wet and so cold. I feel for any little birds in the nest. It reminds me of when the osprey nests (or eagles) get damp and cold.

Missey and Calico are even friendly when it is chilly. I have the tiny space heater plugged in and both found the precise spot where the heat dispersed the best and shared! My goodness what is the world coming to – Calico and Missey sharing?

Little Toby is doing better. He is not scratching his ear nearly as often and he does not yelp when I put the medication in. He does love his little pill dipped in peanut butter and thinks if we head for the fridge it is ‘cheese time’. I don’t fall for it every time. He isn’t going to train me this young!!!!!!

We left Toby home and made a quick trip to the greenhouse. This is the long weekend of May commonly known as Queen Victoria’s Birthday weekend. Gardeners call it ‘Greenhouse Weekend’. It is the time when normally we would not fear a frost and all plants could go into the ground. They had been holding a jasmine plant for me and the woman had a new climber, Butterfly Blue. You make tea out of the blue flowers and it is supposed to help with cognition and stress. It is, “Butterfly pea (clitoria ternatea) is a flowering plant also known as Asian pigeonwings, blue butterfly pea or blue ternate flower. It is a type of pea, but its flowers are more famous than its fruit. The purple blooms have been used for centuries as a natural food dye.” A tea shops says, “These flowers have the power to delight, changing colour from blue to purple to pink, depending on what they’re mixed with. They have been used to add colour to celebratory drinks in various locales around the world since forever. 

Butterfly Pea Flower is perfect for making exotic tea-infused cocktails, unicorn lattes or just for a little fun in your cup.

Blue butterfly pea is also rich in antioxidants. It can slow down the skin aging process, prevent premature aging, and improve overall skin tone and texture.”

I will be excited to try it.

It is the weekend and we have some hatches starting in the UK.

Dyfi Osprey Project: The first hatch for Idris and Telyn! Idris has a good look. We can count on lots of Mullet for the family. Idris is an incredible provider.

Poole Harbour: Soon!

Storm took down their nest but one eagle was saved! How wonderful.

Loch of the Lowes: The new male has been filmed fishing at the loch. He is going to be a good provider for the new female and their family. https://youtu.be/g8XmC9Afok4?

Duke Farms: Sylvia catches the first fledge on video. https://youtu.be/dM8vQNEk9VA?

Boulder County: Those pesky little birds would like to get Mum off those eggs. They think they might make a tasty dinner.

Wolf Bay: By 1636, there had been six feedings for the osprey trio.

Rutland Manton Bay: Maya has been feeding all four of the chicks. Send good wishes. Their hatch dates are spread and the last two are tiny. If any couple can pull this off, Maya and Blue 33 can.

Finnish Nests: Incubation continues on all nests.

LVM Klinšu ērglis (Latvian Golden Eagle nest of Spilve and Grislis): The eldest eaglet survives. There has been lots of food. The small one was being fed, but the older one continually bonks it and it is not popping its head up to eat. Sadly, as we know, there is the imperative of the oldest to kill the second hatch. The oldest golden eagle hatchling may start acting aggressively to its younger sibling(s) as soon as it or they hatch. Within the first two days, this often escalates into “bill-stabbing” wherein the younger sibling is jabbed around their neck or the middle of their body until a gaping, fatal wound is created.

Silve is feeding the second hatch. In instances where there is lots of food and good parenting, there is an opportunity for the second eaglet to survive.

Geemeff Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Saturday 17th May 2025

The day started with an early visit from an inquisitive Buzzard who checked out the nest even to lifting bits of bark to look underneath, and returned a second time to preen and shed a few little feathers. Later in the day an unseen intruder near Nest Two caused Dorcha to flee the nest and not return for five minutes, while on Nest One Garry LV0 made some alarm calls and shortly afterwards both he and Aurora fled the nest and didn’t return for three hours. However when they did return, Garry brought a fish for Aurora, and less than three hours later, delivered a second, which takes his tally to fifty six. Louis made Dorcha wait for a meal today and delivered only a single fish but that fish was a whopper and made for a substantial meal. His tally now stands at ninety four. Today’s weather continued the pattern of clear sky overnight and sunshine during the day, and that should continue tonight, with sunshine and a high of 22°C tomorrow.
Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 23.17.16 (03.17.06); Nest Two 23.45.07 (03.39.18)

Today’s videos:https://youtu.be/ErDsAnWi3-E N1 A Buzzard pokes about inquisitively 06.36.32

https://youtu.be/JvJOyJzMabg N1 The Buzzard returns and does some preening 06.42.37 (zoom) 

https://youtu.be/U2G-xjJBEKs  N1 Aurora waits for Garry then grabs the fish and goes 13.26.06

https://youtu.be/OFrj8CuZmPQ N1 Another fish for Aurora not long after the first 16.15.11https://youtu.be/prod5jXGvEU  N2 Nearly 24 hours after the last one, a fish finally arrives – it’s huge! 18.50.12 
Bonus advice – what to do if you find a chick out of the nest:https://www.popsci.com/environment/what-to-do-if-you-find-a-baby-bird/

Blast from the past, this day in previous years:

https://youtu.be/2xr0kHFi4BE  N1 Aila brings a new Louis-removal device 2019

https://youtu.be/2SeN0J1rxOg  N1 Close encounters of the bird kind 2020 (slo-mo)

https://youtu.be/Rh1aeXJkWng  N1 Co-ordinated stick work by Louis & Aila 2020

https://youtu.be/IW7bBXUG7QM  N1 Woohoo! Successful mating by the Newsome Twosome 2021

https://youtu.be/aip-ZV4vZ4g  N1 First fish delivered to Blue 152 by The Stranger 2021

https://youtu.be/akMXEPJOQIo  N2 Dorcha sees off intruder Osprey Blue PU0 2023

https://youtu.be/miF-Q3_MxDg  N2 Intruder Blue PU0 returns and very nearly lands on Dorcha 2023

https://youtu.be/9aC3rufAdio  N2 Dorcha uses her ‘scare crow’ voice 2023

https://youtu.be/5cCaq5kTqkI N2 First fish is number 100 and also season’s earliest! 2024

https://youtu.be/ebw5Gj3hh4A N2 Louis arrives with an unsuitable stick 2024

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

‘AR’ sends us some of the latest information on mapping the evolution of our feathered friends!

Researchers Have Mapped the Evolution of Every Known Bird Species

Heidi sent this video discussion to me and I would like to share it with you. Perhaps you have seen it, I haven’t. It is a discussion of the owl attack on Dory, the female osprey, at the Audubon Boathouse.I don’t know if you’ve seen this: A video collaboration from Explore.org and Audubon Seabird Institute

Heidi says, “I thought this video was well done.  Dory was an excellent mom and mate and we loved her.  Dory was a predator, but she was not at the top of the food chain.  Dory became prey. Warning: briefly graphic.”

Also a nest note from Heidi that is truly a miracle: “
5/17 – Havre de Grace osprey nest:  The babies hatched on 5/12 and 5/13.  A very inexperienced Mom did not feed them for nearly two days… she did not know how.  At first she just ate and made no attempt to feed them, despite their apparent readiness to receive fish bits.  Later she would lean toward them from about 2 feet away to offer them bites… like ‘come and get it’.  I thought for sure those babies were going to die.  But her instincts kicked it, Mom learned, and now she’s doing very well… and so are the kids!  I was relieved that Mom suddenly seemed to get the hang of it.  There is not a lot of time at that stage for a long-duration learning curve.”

‘EJ’ sent me a note about a rehabilitation officer that might interest all of you. They write, “I wanted to bring your attention to the Southwest Wildlife Foundation of Utah, run by a man named Martin Tyner, who has cared for raptors, mainly Golden Eagles, his entire life. He has lots of YouTube videos which you will love, especially the release of rehabbed raptors.” Oh, it is always a delight when our raptors have been healed and can go back and live in the wild. Check out his channel!

‘EJ’ also sent a cute video. Do you think owls like baths? https://www.thedodo.com/daily-dodo/she-was-miserable-and-trapped-in-manure-now-shes-unrecognizable

I could not leave without checking on Big Red, Arthur, and O1 and O2. The chicks are getting some pin feathers. There are clown feet. Life is looking good and the sun is shining in Ithaca!

I want to thank everyone who has sent a list – short or long – to help me with the Memorial Wall. Please keep them coming! I know that I am missing eaglets that have died. Any information is appreciated.

Thank you so much for being with us today. Please take care. We hope to have you with us again soon!

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, comments, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘AR, EJ, Geemeff, Heidi, PR’, Dyfi Osprey Project, Birds of Poole Harbour, TA Montague and Bald Eagles 101, LOTL, Sylvia and Duke Farms, Boulder County, Wolf Bay, LRWT, Saaksilvie, LDF Golden Eagle Nest, Geemeff and The Woodland Trust, SciTechDaily, Explore.org, the dodo.com, Cornell Red-tail Hawk Cam, Havre de Grace

Saturday in Bird World

17 May 2025

Hello Everyone,

Morning Updates:

The 4th egg has hatched at Rutland Manton Bay.

First fledge at Duke Farms.

USK Valley: Children have given the ospreys their names: “We are pleased to announce that our male osprey is to be called Syfaddan* named after Llangors Lake, which is one of the favoured fishing grounds. The female will be known as Clogwyn** after the imposing rocky outcrop on the Allt overlooking their nest. This feature has also assumed the more romantic mantle of “the Pride Rock from The Lion King” – for fairly obvious reasons – by other children in the area.”

What’s in a name_ — Usk Valley OspreysDownload

Heidi Nest Notes:

‘PB’ reports two osplets at Salt Point.

The pouring rain continues. The grass and leaves turn a deeper emerald green with every drop. The temperature is dropping, however, and with the wind chill it is -5C. The potted tomatoes, peppers, and hydrangea are inside on the island, as snow is predicted. Brock’s dishes are all full. The birds have abandoned the garden to the squirrels, who continue their search for peanuts and seeds. It must be hard on the outdoor animals – this rollercoaster ride of a season.

The Girls have been busy watching everything flying about. The lilac blossoms are beautiful but I fear that with the high winds they will not last.

Hugo Yugo is under the table having been cornered by Toby. Baby Hope looks down hoping she is high enough and out of the way.

Toby and Hugo Yugo wanting to play with the same toys! These two are actually friends.

Thank you for all your good wishes for Toby. He appears to be getting better. We had a dear friend for lunch today, whom we hadn’t seen in several years. Toby and she hit it off brilliantly! What impressed me most was that ‘R’ picked up on Toby’s attachment to ‘me’. She asked Don if he was jealous. His reply was more thoughtful and elaborate, but in essence, he said, ‘no’. I had always brought the cats to our house, and they had always gone to him, so it was only ‘fair’ that Toby could be mine. Had I not been driving, the tears would have streamed down the front of my sweater. A complicated question answered precisely and accurately with empathy from a very dear man.

Quickly getting to the news highlights form Bird World:

Surrey Reserve Bald Eagles: Hancock Wildlife Foundation has sent a climber to retrieve the bodies of SR10 and SR11 so that they can be tested to determine the cause of the eaglets’ death. The post read, “A four member climbing team thankfully retrieved Brit & Rey’s two deceased eaglets. Lots of fresh fish was left for the parents. Thanks to all who organized this retrieval, and we hope this gives some peace to the deeply grieving parents.”

FOBBV: Special moments at the Big Bear nest captured on video before the darlings Sunny and Gizmo fledge. https://youtu.be/WraMnX8mFy0?

Loch Doon: First hatch of the 2025 breeding season came on Friday the 16th.

Kielder Forest: Rutland’s two-year-olds are making their presence known!

Another 2023 Manton Bay female! _ Kielder OspreysDownload

Nests are coming under heavy winds and rain. Will they hold up, ‘PR’ asks. They write, “We have a very windy day. The wind blew part of a house finch nest half off. I checked and they were still in process of building and no babies or eggs yet. But Oppd Osprey, Denton Homes and Trempealeau nests are all in heavy winds today. If you look at Denton it’s really blowing that tree around. Photos in order.”

‘PB’ reports that the Denton Homes nest is swaying considerably in the high winds.

We are all concerned about nests collapsing after the death of the triplets, three very healthy eaglets, of Scout and Bella, at the NCTC nest.

Cornell Red-tail Hawk Nest: Beautiful little chicks of Big Red and Arthur, bursting after a great meal. https://youtu.be/8VgHH2iV034?

Trempeauleau Eagle Nest: T3 is growing so well, and Mum gets a huge gold medal for raising this beautiful eaglet single-handedly.

Norwegian Osprey Nest: There are at least two eggs, perhaps three.

Goitzsche Wildnis: Incubation continues.

Golden Gate Audubon SF Ospreys: Rosie and Richmond had their first hatch on the 10th or the 11th of May. It is unclear if there have been any others.

Rutland Manton Bay: The age spread is great. Maya and Blue 33 are very experienced. Will they be adding another to the three hatches already? Quite frankly, I hope not. Number 3 is rather tiny.

Cardinal Land Conservancy: A fantastic nest that I haven’t checked on enough. Great parents, eaglets growing up with four meals and a turtle on Fridays. Incredible.

San Jose City Hall: SK Hideaways catches the frantic nature of having four ringed and hungry eyases! https://youtu.be/vpojZPJghJo?

Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Friday 16th May 2025

Today was calm and routine – Louis brought two fish for Dorcha, taking his tally to ninety three, but Garry didn’t bring any fish for Aurora, engaging instead in a mating session which looked successful. His tally remains at fifty four, the weather remains settled, and we’re moving along nicely towards pip-watch with first hatch expected around 21-23 May – that’s next week!

Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 23.16.47 (03.21.04); Nest  23.44.37 (03.43.07)

Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/3ainCb_9inA N2 First fish arrives to the sound of birdsong 05.51.01

https://youtu.be/FmbBKyiOcBI N1 Successful mating for Garry & Aurora 18.36.48

https://youtu.be/jj0bPDw-OAE N2 Louis finally lands and gives fish two to Dorcha 21.36.22  

Geemeff’s sends two other news items:

Ospreys and menhaden – again! https://penobscotbaypress.com/articles/forum-islandadvantages/are-osprey-in-trouble-again/

GenZ have discovered birding – will their interest help stop some of the stripping away of wilslife and environmental protections?

https://www.deseret.com/magazine/2025/05/15/bird-watching-captures-new-generation

‘VV’ gives us a report of some strange activity happening at the Maryland Osprey nests near the Bay: “One of the nest owners of N5 (where the gull ate the eggs) has returned. W/o the other around I can’t discern M from F. If  Female, it means Nests 2, 3, 4, & 5 had established males this year who left their nests this month, 2 w/ mates and 2 w/o

Just as I was typing an eagle forced an osprey to drop a fish and the eagle retrieved it – these osprey cannot catch a break here this year.  OH NO, I think it was the male of N9 – where incubation is still ongoing – who lost the fish. The eagles tag teamed him, I think they have a nest directly across the creek from me but deep into the pine.

Anyway, at least 3 males self-deported this month from the 5 nests off my porch. If males consistently fail to catch enough food for the nest, would they just stop coming home? Forcing the females, incubating or not, to fish or starve. There appear to be many unattended nests along the creek which had previously been rigorously attended – and in a number of cases believe were incubating eggs.

Also, like N5, one osprey has returned to N14 after days of absence. IDK M or F on that nest. Regardless, I have to conjecture only a regional dearth of food leading to  impending starvation would prompt ospreys to leave off their breeding duties, from mating through to incubation.”

‘A’ sends us some news and comments, too! “Just look at these GHO owlets. They are the cutest things and couldn’t hurt an eaglet or osplet (yet)! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frFP0GfDFK8&list=TLPQMTQwNTIwMjWuwzEhGO60dQ&index=7. And we are soon going to lose our cute fluffball from Taiaroa Head. The countdown begins. Eight or ten weeks to go I think. September is fledge month from memory. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1W2RCbyMiTk&list=TLPQMTQwNTIwMjV0ZXQf2Szmxg&index=2. The little one has been under the average weight for a female chick of her age for a couple of weeks but was fed twice the day before this video and should now be in the normal weight range again. These birds are absolutely exquisite, and so gentle. I adore them. 

Lady and Dad have started to prepare their Olympic Park nest for a new season, and are spending nights near the nest much of the time. Earlier in the week, a juvenile sea eagle was seen around the island, catching a fish on the river. I wonder whether it is one of their past SE fledglings. Obviously, we hope so. Meanwhile, Mrs T continues to do a great solo job with T3, whose crop is immense nearly every time I check. She has really been a wonderful mum in difficult circumstances. Mr T continues to try and steal food from the nest when he can to take to his other nest, over on the island but Mrs T is still managing fabulously well with T3. I only hope the eaglet/s at Mr T’s other nest are doing well too. 

At FOBBV, we are waiting for Sunny and Gizmo to take the plunge, as you are well aware. At NEFL  the nest does look very empty. The juvie who adopted Bodie and the nest was such a strange addition to an already unusual season at NEFL. What a special year it really has been. I am absolutely certain that having siblings is a huge plus for eaglets (and presumably osplets etc) and it was a massive bonus for Bodie that the juvie arrived. It really did look as though the two of them enjoyed each other’s company immensely – I know I’m anthropomorphising but I’m just observing, and surely the juvie would have left again if that had not been the case, or if it was there purely for the food, would have fought Bodie. It was also interesting that a parent continued to bring food to the nest, making no serious effort to drive the intruder away. At Orange, Diamond and Xavier are doing a lot of bonding – several times a day – with Diamond also showing a lot of interest in cleaning up the nest box, even arranging pebbles. Diamond is on her ledge as I type, but has only a medium-sized crop (normally, she arrives with a crop so large it makes you wonder how she flies with it), so lunch might be on her mind. And Betty Lou looks so healthy – it has been a wonderful season for Jaks and darling Audacity.”

News from Knepp Farm:

News from KneppDownload

They are adorable!

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/gallery/2025/may/16/week-in-wildlife-hitchhiking-cygnets-a-criminal-duck-and-hopping-hares?CMP=share_btn_link

Thank you so much for being with us today. If the weather isn’t too bad, we are heading out to look at some jasmine plants today. In the meantime, take care. We are on hatch watch for the UK nests!!!!!!!!! It is finally going to get exciting. Take care. See you soon.

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘A, Geemeff, Heidi, PB, VV’, USK Valley, Dewey Beach, Barnegat Light, Hancock Wildlife Foundation Surrey Reserve Bald Eagle Nest, FOBBV, SK Hideaways, Loch Doon, Kielder Forest News, OPPD Fort Calhoun, Denton Homes, Cornell Bird Lab Red-tail Hawk Cam, Trempealeau Bald Eagle Nest, Fru Raurer, Joan Castnyer, Golden Gate Audubon, Geemeff and The Woodland Trust, VV Maryland osprey report, ‘A’s report, Knepp Farm, Barbara Wolfson and Bald Eagles 101, Rutland Manton Bay, SK Hideaways and San Jose City Hall, The Guardian

Thursday in Bird World

15 May 2025

Good Morning Everyone,

Morning Update: It is raining hard as I finish up the blog this morning. Oh, I hope that this will help the wildfires raging throughout my province – and, hence, save the lives of the wildlife and people.

Toby is sleeping on his little pink blankie next to me. He has had his pain medication and his ear drops but, honestly, I do not know if he is any better. I hope so.

I dipped his pain pill in peanut butter and he opened his mouth wide. Then gave him 80 ml of water with a syringe. After the pain medication took effect, he ate his kibble and played some. It was nice to see. Tomorrow I will get another two days of pain pills and have them check that ear. It is so tender – more than it was! Gosh, it just breaks our hearts when one of our pets (or one of the raptors on the screen) is unwell.

He is just not his sweet little energetic self – please send your good wishes for him to get well.

The very hot weather broke and you can feel the cold wind pouring down – a wind that is going to drop temperatures from 38 C to 3 C. All of our plants must come inside. The conservatory will be full of tomatoes and peppers. The delicate herbs are already on the kitchen counter.

There are new birds arriving daily. Yesterday we watched three Blue Jays and today the Crows are arriving for their cheesy dogs. If there are not little ones in the nest, they will be there soon. The Chickadees are coming to a new tiny feeder and the various sparrow species are pecking about. The lilacs are blooming somewhat early and the beautiful crabapple tree that we planted in memory of our Blue Abyssinian cat, Abigale, is full of the most gorgeous pink blossoms. Brock even had a nap under it today!

Migration is in full swing!

Take all the precautions that you can: turn out the lights, encourage others to turn out the lights including your town and city, leave out water, and if you can supply some food. Water is life-saving and shallow bowls can save many, many lives. I love ‘The Girls’ but it is time to keep the cats indoors!

Heidi’s osprey news:

South Cape May Meadows, 5/14: Hera and Zeus have been caring for three eggs.  Zeus hasn’t been seen since 5/11.  Hera finally left the nest a couple of times today to take care of herself.  And, at 18:24 she left the nest to roost.  It is looking like Hera will not have any fledglings for the fifth straight year.

Dewey beach Lions Club: Their first baby hatched on 5/14.

‘VV’ brings us the report for some undisclosed location nests near the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland:

“The good news:  Ethel, that trollop of the neighborhood, finally settled back down into her original 2020 nest (N1) with her original partner (M1) – after they’ve spent the past 3 years and start of this one fighting & teasing one another. She’s incubating in N1 for the first time since 2021 and M1 has been feeding her for what I think is the first time ever. He was a very poor mate and dad in ’21.

Across the creek, in Nest 9 – a tall box nest on the shore, Aunt Suzanne and Uncle Roland are still incubating and the same for Nest 16, on a much lower piling in the creek bed.

From what I can tell that’s it. Even Nest 5 with it’s accurately named Mr. & Mrs. Perfect, who have been incubating since late April abandoned their eggs in advance of the rains early in this week. This appears true of all the other nests I can observe on Island Creek,  except possibly #12, which is difficult to judge

Now what would have that many nests abandoning incubation around the same time?

In Nest 5, the Perfects have nested there easily for a decade,  with one successful male replacement. She has sat through terrific storms and hatched chicks, she has incubated way beyond hatch dates not giving up despite ultimate failure. She is an excruciatingly pragmatic mom.  So WHAT moved her, and other experienced females off their eggs it would seem within the same week?

In Nest 5 I watched a gull eat the eggs – the gull would repeatedly lift one whole egg aloft in his beak – it was so shiny I would have said it was wet. But each time he put it down and then lifted it again it was still shining. He also held aloft a broken egg shell, and maybe it was just a very slimy nest by then – but even the broken shell looked shinier than I’ve ever seen an egg on the cams.

We  have not had the intruders of past years – we had the one new pair ultimately settle, but they stopped mating perhaps a half-week or so before N5 abandoned their eggs. [I think I’d seen both at N5 the day before.] 

Also of note: 2 unattached males with nests attracted no females while females at Nest 5 a few years ago and Nest 11 this year replaced males within the season of their previous mates’ disappearances. These 2 unattached males left the neighborhood shortly after the new pair stopped mating and the same week N5 was abandoned. Neither Mr. or Mrs. Perfect have been back to the nest. Some of the other nests still have osprey occasionally perched on their edges.”

Sadly, the two eaglets at the Surrey Reserve Eagle nest in British Columbia, SR10 and SR11, have died. It is possible that since this happened so suddenly that it is HPAI.

The two eaglets at the White Rock Bald Eagle nest in British Columbia, being cared for by the single Mum, appear to be doing well. They had a nice fish dinner on Wednesday!

Trempeauleau Bald Eagles: Mum caught a single fish and the male took half of it off the nest. Looks like she flew in with a bigger fish later.

FOBBV: A reminder of the importance of writing to get changes to the Migratory Bird Act changed.

“We are requesting public assistance & asking you to comment on the proposal that aims to nullify the Endangered Species ACT (ESA) & remove habitat protections from it: https://bit.ly/4dhLsWT“

Sunny and Gizmo are so anxious to fly and we are so anxious for them to stay.

Duke Farms: The trio are ready to take to the skies, too!

In Wales at the Glaslyn nest, it appears that Aran has lost his nest and mate, Elen, to Teifi KC6.

Kielder Forest: The most recent news release.

Egg 2 for Nest 5A _ Kielder OspreysDownload

Birds of Poole Harbour: Incubation continues. Blue 022 and CJ7 have been putting up with an intruder at the nest. Send positive energy. We do not need either of these incredible adults injured.

Dyfi: Telyn has been leaving fish at the cot rails of the nest. We are expecting pips in the next days. Egg 1 will be 37 days old on Friday. I cannot wait. Idris and Telyn are incredible parents.

Foulshaw Moss: We are expecting the first hatch for White YW and Blue 35 this coming weekend!

San Jose Falcons: SK Hideaways has the banding video for us! https://youtu.be/D1RlvHE804o?

Remembering Annie at Cal Falcons. Such a touching tribute. We miss you so much, Annie.

I have wondered what has happened to Annie and Grinnell’s offspring, Lawrentium, who was raising eyases on Alcatraz. This is what I have been able to determine in my search for answers about the impact of HPAI in the San Francisco Bay area. HPAI has had a significant effect on falcons in the Bay Area. We are aware of Annie, but recent studies indicate that 40% of the peregrine territories in the area are unoccupied. This includes Annie and Grinnell’s offspring on Alcatraz, Lawrentium, whose scrape Cormorants are now using.

Bird Flu Flocked Into The Bay! This is How it’s Affecting The Region – The PioneerDownload

Worcester Cathedral Falcons: More saddness. It almost feels like the falcon population is being wiped out everywhere. The latest post reads:

“We have made the decision to shut down the Livestream, not a fault this time. As many have noticed the chick has not been fed today, this is a deliberate act by the adults. From 5am it became clear the chick was not well, not calling for food & acting lethargically, the adults know this & will not normally attempt to feed ill chicks. Avian Flu could be a cause here as the chick has exhibited 3 or 4 symptoms. 10 minutes ago, no interest was shown when the female landed with prey & proceeded to eat it the box. This would also explain why the chick stumbled backwards onto the ledge yesterday. If by any chance there is a recovery we will restart but highly unlikely. A sad end to this year’s season but looking for positive results next year. We will post another update when events here become clearer.”

Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Wednesday 14th May 2025 

Intruders caused Louis to fly off and defend the nest but they were only seen in the far distance, while the intruders who actually landed on the nest were much smaller and less of a threat – a Jay intruded on Dorcha, a Tawny Owl and a Great Spotted Woodpecker paid a visit to Nest One. Aurora did a little gentle nest prep while waiting for Garry to bring fish, he obliged twice, and his tally rises to fifty three. Louis skipped breakfast and brought Dorcha elevenses instead, but made up for it with a further two deliveries – those three fish take his tally to eighty eight. As predicted, the weather was settled and sunny today, tonight’s forecast is clear skies with a gentle breeze and sunny tomorrow with a high of 23°C.

Night cam switches on (day cam): Nest One 23.10.05 (03.50.42); Nest Two 23.34.36 (04.17.09)

Today’s videos:

https://youtu.be/o_ES4CRH3LM N1 A male Tawny Owl visits 01.16.22

https://youtu.be/xZrjpYMESsU N2 A Jay (Garrulus Glandarius) pays a visit to Dorcha 07.14.10 (zoom)

https://youtu.be/KdoqMsKxDfY N2 Breakfast’s late but very fresh: a lively flapper 11.51.34 (zoom)

https://youtu.be/lzo2elmyrE8 N1 A Great Spotted Woodpecker pays a flying visit 12.02.36 (zoom)

https://youtu.be/46A6Z1S0HfQ N1 Aurora grabs Garry’s fish, nibbles it, takes it away 13.48.48   

https://youtu.be/dFz4DDAOzOY N2 Louis arrives with a second fish 14.52.25

https://youtu.be/x8Eyx_HduCo N1 Aurora does nest prep while waiting for Garry with fish two 18.02.38 (zoom)

https://youtu.be/VGy_u8YhYXQ N2 Dorcha’s delighted to see a third fish arriving for her 18.30.12

Bonus – first watch, then take action and join Woodland Trust’s call to Restore Our Forgotten Forests:

https://campaigns.woodlandtrust.org.uk/page/166361

Blast from the past, this day in previous years:

https://youtu.be/FlMmlJjYav0  N1 Aila’s attacked again by an owl 2019

https://youtu.be/a82-7I-dU0A  N1 Musical nests: Aila & Louis hop on and off the nest 2020

https://youtu.be/d-HM-pAELtE  N1 Sleepy Aila manages an afternoon nap 2020

https://youtu.be/SbgWzXqVX2g  N1 Ghostly apparition? 2020

https://youtu.be/UQsvtAT9sAI  N1 Blue 152 pays a dawn visit to the nest 2021

https://youtu.be/V1vbOK3ewwc  N1 The Newsome Twosome are getting better at it! 2021

https://youtu.be/zsPVChFoZ88  N2 Dorcha and the big stick 2023

https://youtu.be/j4RTRS0Yni8  N2 Intruder Blue PU0 invades Nest Two 2023

https://youtu.be/bSxkqptK4Eg  N1 Louis mantles at an unseen intruder 2023

https://youtu.be/B_R0BHuZaZg  N1 Is it a Tree Pipit dashing across the cam view 2024

https://youtu.be/WPtsG8MRD6k  N2 Does an egg move by itself? 2024 

https://youtu.be/r6nJXvhKANo  N2 What time do you call this? 2024

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

It is very easy to get very sad (or worse) when our raptor families are sick, missing, or dying. They are like family to so many. We have known them for years and shared their hopes and dreams. Sometimes we need to find other outlets and have a break. One of our readers has done just that and they sent some good news, “There are three sites that I still check daily, because they usually make me smile: – Follow The Feathers: the cutest parrot flock around, with Bruce in the berry dome and Chester the budgie with the big hairdo and Sonny the elderly Amazon and the other cuties- The Cascadia pet shop with Paula the 65 year old stripper (Cockatoo)- Wild Heart Ranch. The good news story is that Skylar the bald eagle has been released!!!

https://www.facebook.com/WildHeartRanch/videos/1206311474323270

Skylar was the one that started my Wild Heart Ranch journey, the one that got the boots fitted and was expected to become an ambassador, you might remember the video of Annette losing her cool when she saw that Skylar could live normally. Skylar is back in the wild, hurray!!!”

Hellgate Canyon: A note from Dr Greene: ” Hello everyone, We would like to remind folks that nest cameras allow us an intimate view of the lives of wild creatures – with all the trials and tribulations they face. Just because what we are lucky enough to watch is on a small screen, it does not mean that these are “feel good” movies. These wild creatures are doing their best to thrive, and they are operating according to their own rules.

Although it may be worrying, scary and frustrating to watch, these wild creatures are not operating according to human etiquette, and we should not project our values on them.

We all may have strong feelings and responses to what we are seeing, but PLEASE refrain from attacking each other, and attacking the behavior of the ospreys. Instead we urge you to appreciate and marvel at the difficulties and challenges that Iris and other ospreys face, and their resilience to keep on keeping on!

Sincerely, Erick Greene and the Montana Osprey Team”

Let’s close with a look at Big Red and Arthur’s two fluffy little chicks at the Fernow Tower nest on the Cornell Campus in Ithaca, New York.

Thank you so much for being with us today. Take care everyone. See you soon.

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, comments, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog today: ‘Geemeff, Heidi, J, VV’, Ross Ellett, SCMM, Dewey Beach, Undisclosed Maryland location, HWF, Trempeauleau Eagles, FOBBV, Duke Farms, Bywyd Gwylld Glaslyn, Kielder Forest, Dyfi Osprey Project, Birds of Poole Harbour, Cumbria Wildlife Trust, Cal Falcons, The Pioneer, Worcester Cathedral, Geemeff and The Woodland Trust, Dr E Greene and the Montana Osprey Cam, SK Hideaways, Cornell Bird Lab

Links to send comments about proposed changes to Migratory Bird Act….please read!

14 May 2025

I was alerted by one of our long time readers that there is a potential issue trying to get the link to work to send a comment about the proposed changes. That note reads:

“Thanks for your extra bulletin today urging comment on the proposed change in the Endangered Species Act.   I have now submitted a comment.  However, the link in your bulletin that followed the words ” You can read all about the proposed change and comment here:” did not work for me.  It took me to a Federal Register page that told me “Page not found”.  I wonder if this is related to the various problems that seem to arise from Word Press?  Perhaps the link works for others, but it did not for me.  I tried many times with the same result.

What helped me was that you included the link to the Friends of Big Bear Valley facebook page, and I saw that FoBBV also had included the same text urging folks to comment on the ESA (although I had to click “See more” after the words ” Important Announcement And Request For Public Assistance…” to see the full text).  Once I saw the full text on the FoBBV facebook page, I was able to click on what appeared to be the same words and link that I had clicked in your email, and it did get me to the correct Federal Register comment page to submit a comment on the ESA.  Which I did submit.”

The reader also notes that the ‘Comment’ at the bottom might be confusing as it is part of my blog.

Each and every one of us regrets the difficulties in trying to submit our concerns but please bear with it and get yourself through as suggested above so that the further degradation to wildlife is stopped in its tracks.

Take the time and do this for Jackie and Shadow, for Liberty and Guardian, for Gabby and Beau, for Pa and Missy Berry – for all the animals and raptors.

The birds belong to the world. They migrate, some like the Arctic Terns, for over 10,000 km. The eagles come to Canada to breed, the Geese fly over the US and come to breed in Canada. These changes are – well, quite frankly, a disgrace.

A society must be judged by the way that it treats those who cannot stand up and speak for themselves. Jackie and Shadow and all the others deserve a ‘wild’ environment that is free from building zones, has clean water, and is safe from hunting to raise their young.

Please speak up!

Please Help Protect our Raptors!

14 May 2025

Good Morning,

I wanted to send this out separate. Please read this. And please write – no matter where you live. Migrating birds travel tens of thousands of miles in some instances and cover many continents. We need them and their habitat to be as protected as we can – and we all know that weather has caused decline along with loss due to human growth.

Friends of Big Bear Valley and Big Bear Eagle Nest Cam

eortosnpdSm9957auhcufg24067gf5776ga7lc735f07ctm1gumg5l2ig81t  · 

Important Announcement And Request For Public Assistance

The US Fish and Wildlife Service has announced a plan to fundamentally alter the Endangered Species Act (ESA) to be interpreted differently than it has since its creation.

Currently, the ESA disallows harm of an endangered species (without mitigation to make up for the loss.) It defines “harm” as “take,” which currently means an act which actually kills or injures the wildlife. It is currently interpreted to include significant habitat modification or degradation where it actually kills or injures wildlife by significantly impairing essential behavioral patterns, including breeding, feeding or sheltering.

Specifically, they would like to delete the definition of “harm” in the act. Removing this definition of “harm” means that they would NO LONGER CONDUCT ANY IMPACT STUDIES, as is currently required by The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). NEPA now REQUIRES federal agencies to assess the environmental effects of any proposed action prior to making decisions.

Removing the definition of “harm” which includes “habitat modification” from the ESA would NULLIFY THE ACT and everything it has done to save Bald Eagles and every other species it has protected, since it was signed into law in 1973. The cascading effects of this change would absolutely impact Jackie and Shadow, the rare plants in our valley, and all of the precious and beautiful nature that surrounds us in our country.

The public is allowed to submit comments to the agency. Comments are due by May 19th at 11:59 pm. We are asking each of you who is willing, to please submit comments using the link below. Many of us will be adding our voices against this detrimental and shortsighted decision. Keeping the ESA intact is of utmost importance, not only for Jackie and Shadow, but for all wildlife. This proposed change could prove to be one of the most harmful things we have done to nature in the last fifty years.

As we ask you to please comment, we want to caution that it is important to keep your comments polite, respectful, factual, and concise for them to have an impact. Please keep in mind that comments will be public. You can provide a statement anonymously but they do not guarantee that it stays that way. If nothing else, we urge you to read the public comments that have been submitted so far to understand what the change may do. And if you will, please pass this information along so that others can take action.

To make your voice best heard by the agencies and to maximize the impact of your comments, we recommend

1. State clearly that you are writing in opposition to the proposal.

2. Point out that the proposal essentially nullifies the ESA passed by the U.S. Congress in 1973. The proposal is counter to the purpose of the ESA to protect imperiled species and the ecosystems upon which they depend.

3. State the fact that we cannot protect the species without protecting their habitats. Without the habitats, wildlife would go extinct.

4. If possible, add any other facts or observations that you personally see or have experienced regarding the impact the proposed changes would have on endangered species.

You can read all about the proposed change and comment here:

https://www.federalregister.gov/…/rescinding-the…

Previously submitted comments are available here:

https://www.regulations.gov/…/FWS-HQ-ES-2025…/comment

P.S. Thank you very much for your assistance and participation. We hope that many of us leave our comments on the government website and make our voices heard.

At the same time, we ask you to please refrain from political comments and arguments under this post. Let’s keep our focus on the wildlife and our role in ensuring their future on this planet.