I didn’t expect to be posting another blog today, but the information in a FB post by Ben Wurst, Conservation Officer in New Jersey, prompted me to reach out to all of you.
We have been talking about protecting Eagles and Golden Eagles but we MUST protect all wildlife and that includes my beloved ospreys who two years ago found their chicks dying on the nest, and who last year laid eggs and abandoned them. I get letters from individuals in Virginia of nests failed early this season and now we watch Little Dewey.
Little Dewey cannot be allowed to starve to death while people sitting at cafe tables below his nest eat fish. That is simply scandalous. I would go to jail for feeding him – and gladly use that as a test case to get this bloody mess of intervention sorted. I do not live in the US, so some will say that is an empty action, but yes, I would do it. My early life was full of social activism and, in particular, fighting for civil and women’s rights and against the Vietnam War in Oklahoma.
This is what Ben Wurst posted today on the Menhaden – Little Fish, Big Deal today:
Yesterday I flew the entire 130 mile coast of New Jersey. Our goal was to locate schools of menhaden. This was the first time that I’ve ever flown in a Cessna and along the coast. After what we saw with osprey reproduction last year, I knew it was crucial to get independent data on menhaden presence or absence off New Jersey.
The conditions were optimal for flight. Light north winds. Excellent visibility. Great light. We flew from Barnegat Inlet south to Cape May and then north to Sandy Hook.
Throughout the entire flight, which was around 1500 and 2500’ AGL and 1-3 miles offshore, we did not see any schools of menhaden.
The pilot I flew with grew up on the bay and is a life long fisherman, who knows what to look for when reading the water. The whole coast was so calm and quiet that it was eerie. All we saw (marine species wise) were several small pods of dolphins. There wasn’t even much fishing activity.
Right now in NJ many osprey nests are empty, as females did not lay eggs this spring. Those nests with eggs are still incubating, which is odd for this time of year. Most nests should have hatchlings. Those that do have young are entering a crucial period in their development, where plentiful food is required. At one nest that I surveyed today, I noticed how skinny the incubating female looked. All of these behaviors have been observed on the Chesapeake in the past few years. Where are all the fish?
I hope to fly again in another week or two to see if any fish show up but things are looking disastrous.
Do whatever you can to help for the future and for now, if you can.
Thank you for being with us and please wish for fish.
Thank you to the owners of the Dewey Beach streaming cam for allowing us to watch this wonderful family and feisty Little Dewey.
I want to first thank you for all of your messages on FB, comments, and e-mails. There are hundreds of them and I am going to share some of the thoughts that have come in regarding the change to the laws that impact raptors (Eagles and Golden Eagles) in the United States. I am, in particular, referring to the call that something be done after Scout was banded and returned to the natal nest. This single act has caused outrage and I hope activism that leads to a positive end and a law that might be named after Scout.
I have, as you noted, gotten really worked up about what happened to Scout. It isn’t just Scout – it is all the others over the years whose nests would have benefited from a rescue or a fish tank placed nearby. I want to see compassionate governance – people in positions to give permits that allow others to help when help is needed. We do not need government personnel threatening to revoke the licenses of wildlife rescue agencies and rehabilitation clinics if they help. This has certainly happened in at least one instance that I am personally aware.
So thank you to everyone – maybe we can start a movement for change. As I said I do not wish for us to fall into despair, sitting on our hands, and believing that nothing is possible. It is. We might not be able to save them all but each life saved is one life not lost! Remember that.
Just a few excerpts from various social media sources I have received. (I am not going to add names or where people or from- I hope no one minds. These are bona fide readers from around the world who care deeply.)
“I read your blog. You had an awful day and I gave you even more bad news. I’m so sorry. Praying for the eaglet, as you said, hoping beyond hope. We both know that miracles do happen. It depends on how much the eaglet wants to live, if he really wants to, the wish may be granted. Until then many people will send their healing spells to him, he is not alone!
My standpoint is very clear. I believe helping is our sacred duty. We are useless in nature: We don’t have sharp beaks, or claws, we are not fast, have bad eyes and ears etc etc. We are not predators. What we have is brains. I honestly believe that our job is to be the caretakers of Nature. Look what we have done instead. No wonder Nature is angry.
To those that say „many other (in this case) eaglets suffer too“. Yes, they are. But they are beyond our help because they aren’t being monitored. If someone would find one of those eaglets, they would be obliged to help in my opinion.
It’s the story of the woman throwing small sea animals stranded on the beach back into the water. In the big view it’s a useless thing to do since so many more are laying on the beach it hardly makes a dent. For each of those little animals, it means Life.”
“I’m so sad in tears. I would look at that poor little eaglet, before they shut the camera off and knew that what I was looking at wasn’t going to be around forever. It was just too too pitiful. The little one was just hungry!! I despise most people. Scout shouldn’t have been taken back to the nest after they banded him!”
“Where is the courage to do the right thing by our wildlife?”
“Hi, Mary Ann! I hope you’re doing fine. I just read your shoutout about Scout, and I fully support it. I also voted for the change of regulations. It’s beyond my belief how they could let this happen, because, even if his weight was within limits at the time of banding, they knew what was happening. I’m sorry for saying that but the “big guys” not granting the authorisation took part in killing him. That is what I firmly believe in.”
“Thank you, Mary Ann. I totally agree with you & MicPark. I understand there are protected species (though not so much protected as abandoned by our current administration) but I will never understand the “no human intervention” ideology. Scout was suffering & needed intervention. Snow’s nest needed to be propped up because we all knew what was going to happen before she/he fledged. If it is okay enough to intervene and put cameras in their nests for the world to see then it should be just as okay to intervene when these birds are in danger. Thank you for all you do & I’m so sorry for all that you’re not allowed to do ❤️”
“Maryann, thank you for all you say and do for the animals. You will not be forgotten by us or the animals. What you say is correct. I knew animals were part of our world or we are apart of theirs. Whatever way you look at it, we are all in this together. We owe them help when we see a problem. Whoever started this ‘nature knows what’s best’ thing should be shot. Nature is an idea, not an entity. Nature is a word made by man. No wonder the US has turned into an authoritarian nation. Just look at us. We won’t disintegrate if we feed a hungry animal, and neither will they. Thank you, Maryann.”
The thing is not to lose the momentum. A petition is going around to change the Eagle and Golden Eagle laws. It is on change.org. You do not have to pay anything, just repost. That helps reach a broad audience. Gayle Gordon is leading that campaign in the US to get that law changed.
It takes a long time to change laws. Let us not fool ourselves. What we need to do now is positive action. Quick responses. I applaud those individuals who have reached out to me and who have osprey platforms on their land and are near the Chesapeake Bay. I will never divulge their names or locations, but some who had cameras have turned them off. What they did instead was set up fish-farm containers full of koi on their property. I understand that several are having a positive impact on their nests. We have to try.
Images of Snow sent to me by ‘L’ while being rescued and in transport.
Geemeff’s summary was missed by a few seconds last evening. There is now a second baby for Louis and Dorcha at Loch Arkaig nest 2.
Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Tuesday 2nd June 2026
Daily summary Tuesday 2nd June 2026
It was another damp day today, and the chick was kept warm and dry and well fed by Louis and Dorcha. Almost too well fed, as Dorcha fed a too large morsel which got stuck in the chick’s throat, but fortunately she eventually noticed and removed it with no harm done to the chick. Louis delivered three fish taking the Nest Two tally to one hundred and three, and Garry LV0 delivered two fish to Aurora 536, taking the Nest One tally to ninety three. At the time of filing this report (midnight) none of the remaining three eggs has pipped yet. Eggs 2 & 3 on Nest Two could start pipping tomorrow and Saturday respectively, and the single egg on Nest One around Thursday. More rain expected with an overnight low of 11°C and a high of 15°C with occasional sunny spells tomorrow.
And that special video of the second hatch(Edited compilation starts at 05.49 and goes through to 06.22 when hatching is completed, and a bit of footage at 09.36 showing the chick’s progress three hours later:+: https://youtu.be/FMnpIeDqGss
This is from today as I will not have Geemeff’s summary for today in this post. That first hatch of Louis and Dorcha is going to be a handful. It’s already out of the egg cup looking for fish!!!!!!!!!! Look at this video! https://youtu.be/FWh4AUGHiW0?
There is now a third hatch at Borders Osprey for Samson and Augusta!
Jeff Kear at UK Osprey Info FB included the information on the second hatch at LOTL:
A good rescue story from the UK -imagine picking up an osprey and taking it into care. Bravo.
Screenshot
Beautiful baby for Liberty and Freedom at Glacier Gardens.
Heidi reports on Dewey Beach for yesterday: “ Dewey is doing well. I have no concerns so far. They had 3 good meals yesterday. Huge headless shad at 13.53, 30 minute meal; leftover shad at 16.24, 12 minute meal; more leftover shad at 17.24, 10 minute meal.”
Baby Dewey has attitude!
Thank you everyone for all your notes, comments, and mail. I continue to go through them and will post more each day. We need to keep up the momentum and help those that are getting official means started in the US.
Take care. See you soon and thank you for being part of a world that gives hope to our wildlife and our planet. I am so grateful to call each of you a friend.
Thank you to everyone who wrote in, to those who posted information on FB, left comments, and sent me images, to Geemeff for their daily summary, and to the owners of the streaming cams that allow us to watch the lives of these amazing creatures. I also want to shout out to everyone associated with the Great Lakes Bald Eagle nest, and to those involved in Snow’s rescue and care, for their transparency and compassion.
Second, Snow’s nest slid. It took rescuers only 11 minutes to get to the nest site and find Snow.
The timeline:
4:36:19 Harry w/fish -huge one, Harriet follows in and takes control of fish; 4:37:06 Harry to SB, Harriet hops down into nest with fish, feeding #3; 4:54:04 noise & both Harriet & Snow look.
Snow is decidedly injured. Precisely what is wrong is not clear but please send good positive wishes. Scout might not ever fly: broken wings can be repaired. I hope there are no internal injuries. That was a hard fall. Let’s hope beyond hope.
Snow is alive, and hope must prevail. Waiting for updates.
Donations for Snow can be sent to Northern Sky Rescue Centre. There is a donation button. www.northskyraptor.org
There is a growing movement to change the laws so that no other eagle has to suffer as Scout did. We want eaglets in danger who are banded and known to be having difficulties to be kept in care. More on this later, but I am going to say something that will be considered controversial by some. As all of you know, I believe in intervention. If historic buildings can be torn down without authorisation, if sacred lands can be drilled for oil and put wildlife in jeopardy, if….then we must find ways to do something positive. So my question is this: What would happen to someone who put fish in a nest? Didn’t return an eaglet but kept it in care so it survived? Might this not be a test case in the US that could go to court to change these archaic laws? I am a Canadian, but the wildlife – the eagles and birds – move back and forth across great swaths of North America – and belong to all of us. Their welfare is up to us. So think about this! I would love to see a test case to determine whether a starving osplet could be fed fish!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I plan to write a more scientific/academic response to this question, but not tonight. I am hoping that Geemeff’s summary will be in but if it isn’t, I am going to say goodnight. I will include it tomorrow.
It has just been a day of rocketing emotions. I am worn out.
Thank you for loving these amazing birds.
Thank you to everyone at the Great Lakes Bald Eagle Cam – the mods, the rescuers, the owners of the cam and everyone who worked so hard to make sure that Snow was helped.
We finally got a little bit of rain and were thankful, but in London, it was coming down by the bucketful.
But I am going to the leading news.
Snow’s nest – the Traverse City Bald Eagle nest in Michigan – gave way as Snow was being fed. The rescue team is on its way. Last two images.
The second tragedy is that Scout has died. That is the nest with Sunday where the eaglets were removed to be banded and Scout returned without regard to the conditions. He was denied food and beaten badly by Sunday.
Quite honestly. Someone will criticise me harshly but I am one for intervention. I say it loudly. If people can destroy public buildings, kill innocent people, drill on sacred lands, then someone can switch off a camera and put food on a nest. Make it a test case all the way to the Supreme Court. What is it going to hurt? It might help!!!!!!!! I am so angry for the disregard for the lives of the wildlife that we share this planet with – they don’t leave their trash for us to hurt our children. But we do! Any ideas, folks?
The good news is that there is a hatch at Glacier Gardens.
SK Hideaways has been away watching the flying in San Jose and those four little feisty male chicks of Monty and Hartley!
SK Hideaways Videos, week of 24 May 2026
FOBBVCAM Eagles ~ Big Bear Valley, CA ~ Jackie, Shadow, Sandy, and Luna Courtesy FOBBVCAM | Friends of Big Bear Valley Nest Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4-L2nfGcuE Wide View Cam (Cam 2): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41eq4VzCYc4 Live Recap & Observations https://bit.ly/3Md8TSz Jackie Tries to Brood Her Big Eaglets as Wind Rocks Nest🌪️ (2026 May 26) As Big Bear blustery winds rocked the nest tree, Jackie protected her eaglets as she always does from any perceived threat. Sandy nipped at her while she tried to aerate Sandy’s spot, but soon settled. Happily, the winds eventually settled a bit as well. Sandy and Luna are 52 days old. Video: https://youtu.be/Ni1s0kUuII0
Fraser Point Eagles ~ Santa Cruz Island, CA ~ Cruz, Andor, Sasha, Zume, and Ryder Courtesy Institute for Wildlife Studies | explore.org | Fraser Point Eagles Cam Ops Nest Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OY4V_AppZ6s With 5 eagles on 1 nest with endless fish, space is getting tight!(2026 May 24)Eaglets Sasha, Zuma, and Ryder are all 8 weeks old (give or take a few days). When both parents are also on the nest, things get a little cozy. The video captures beautiful golden sunset light on the Zen Nest as the last fish of the day was consumed and gold turned to dusk. Video: https://youtu.be/9fGQ2246s18 San Jose City Hall Falcons ~ San Jose, CA ~ Hartley, Monty, Jet, Scout, Stewart, and Walton Courtesy San Jose City Hall Peregrine Falcon Cam Nest Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBSxPjy5sow Ledge Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pp9TisLmLU Roof Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQLhmV6bP6o Fledge Day 2 ✈️ Scout, then Jet Fledge ➕2 Rescues 🛟 2026 May 29 Reporting from the ground in San Jose, here’s a look at what the cameras caught during fledge day 2. Feeling incredibly grateful to be here live observing these stunning, graceful falcons. As such, reporting will be sparse and delayed for the next couple days. Video: https://youtu.be/kIcphBp29qU Stewart’s Fledge ~ Walton’s Rescue ~ Busy Day for Hartley & Monty (2026 May 28)The 3 chicks remaining at the nest played in the rain in the wee hours. Then with little fanfare, Stewart inadvertently fledged from the same spot where Walton stumbled yesterday. This time, we saw Stewart fly beautifully, with Monty right behind making sure all was well. I hear that he has found a good place to roost. Later, Walton was found on the ground and escorted up to the City Hall rooftop, where he stayed until Hartley tempted him down to the Mayor’s balcony for a late lunch. He fluttered down and ended up getting two meals for his trouble. He has done some traveling since then, but we’ll leave that story for another day. Video: https://youtu.be/hW4WVZR6AAU The 4 Boys’ Last Morning Together as Fledge Fever Begins + Walton’s Fludge (2026 May 27)When peregrine falcons have fledge fever, we know the time of nest-level innocence is waning. So we captured the last moments of this time, culminating in Walton’s unintentional departure from the nest ledge aka his fludge. As of this post, Walton has been rescued from the ground, returned to the City Hall roof, and fluttered down to the Mayor’s balcony, where he’s been well fed. Video of his rescue to come. Video: https://youtu.be/4a0U6yTjfAo Scout Scales Nest Board, Explores Upper Ledge, Flys to Low Ledge 😮💨 (2026 May 26)In keeping with his name, Scout (blue) worked on his merit badges and being prepared. He scaled the nest board, dropped down behind it and returned, explored the upper ledge, and flew from the upper to lower ledge when Hartley arrived with dinner. He returned to perch on the nest board with Monty, who was not in the mood for father-son bonding, but Scout didn’t seem to mind, as he basked in his day’s big accomplishments. Video: https://youtu.be/gJPOZNVVLf4
Chicks Play Shell Game ~ Who’s Who on the Ledge? (2026 May 24)All four chicks perched on the low east ledge at once for the first time. Keeping track of who was who as they shuffled themselves around was a shell game of epic proportions. Video: https://youtu.be/jZzoKaYdx1c
I have received a sad letter from our good friend and osprey monitor (writer, etc) VV from Maryland – nests are appearing to fail. There are at least 15 of them within eye shot. They note, “My husband tells me most of the fish our ospreys eat IS menhaden, I had thought the fish were mostly spot. I also just learned alewives and bunkers are the same fish as menhaden. They say never to old to learn … Friends on boats tell me the trawlers are busy at the mouth of the bay.
The fishing still seems plentiful enough, but this is the second day I haven’t seen the male on the one nest I was sure had hatched chicks. And a nest I can only judge when a bird stands, I finally caught sight yesterday of a female standing with a very depleted crop. Plus it is windy again today.
It has been very windy the entire “spring” – which has been unusually chilly. If egg laying happened the week in April I thought, then this is the week chicks should be hatching. I’ve seen a couple nests where there had been incubation but now abandoned,–including a well-established and traditionally productive nest directly across the creek at Jack’s (my husband) aunt’s house. Foliage has grown in around other nests and I’m hoping they’re still brooding viable eggs. But unless the male returns to save the day on Nest 5, the 5 nest platforms along my yard have only one active nest remaining. And they’re first-time parents.”
What is happening at Indian Creek has already happened at other sites. I am keeping a very close eye on Dewey Beach, with its one osplet and a nest right in the middle of this storm.
The male is landing but no fish so far this morning and Mum is busy fish calling. I wish she would go and try her luck.
Congratulations to Loch of the Lowes that had their first hatch at 0430 Tuesday, 2 June!
That’s it. I am going to watch for news of the rescue of Snow but I am not hopeful that beautiful eaglet survived. Few do from that height. I remember Scout and Bella’s babies from last year and the MN-DNR nest of Nancy. But send positive energy. I want to be wrong.
Take care.
Thank you to SK Hideaways and to all those who post images on FB and the owners of the cams so that we can watch the nests.
When the Oyster Bay nest was cleaned Thursday morning, the individuals removed everything from the nest. Mum flew away with the twine wrapped around her and then returned.
The twine, as we know is still wrapped on her body. She would have to be immobile for the rescuers to be able to capture her and remove the material.
It is hot, hot on the Canadian Prairies. We now have a yellow heat warning. This means that we had our breakfast on the deck and watered all the plants before the heat around 1100 set in. We also walked Toby, cleaned all the bird baths and left cool water and dreamed of a fountain for the birds! We are expecting 32 C – direct sun but still cooler than it was in London the other day. Today we are both 28 C.
For the first time in years, the very old crabapple tree in the front of our house is covered in blooms from the top to the bottom, back to front!
We plant trees to remember people and animals. The apple tree was here when we bought the house and we were told that along with the single peony plant and the wild roses, it was from 1902. The tall Blue Spruce to the left was planted in 1999 in memory of our son William. It was only about 2.7 metres high at the time. It is now about 16 metres tall. The Scotch pine to the left of it was planted for Don’s mother when she died. There are three other trees you cannot see – all in memory of cats (Tootie, Melvin, and Honey).
This tree is amazing and it makes me so hopeful even in this heat. There are little birds, Red-eyed Vireos that have their nest in this apple tree. By the middle of June, I am expecting that 3/4 of my property will be a canopy of cool for all the birds and animals that come to us – and for us, too.
Please plant trees if you can.
I am going to start with a nest that needs your help. Oyster Bay. You will see another post that there were people at the nest cleaning up. Go to the live stream, and you will see that the green rope appears to be wrapped around the female. The nest is owned by PSEG, the electric company on Long Island. The same company that ran the camera on the Patchogue osprey nest. Thank you.
There is a baby on that nest – at least one. Here are the images of that green twine.
Rescue and Rehabilitation in the area: If you encounter an injured or distressed raptor (such as an osprey, owl, or hawk) in the Oyster Bay area, immediately contact the Wildlife Centre of Long Island via their Wildlife Hotline at (516) 674-0982 or email info@wildlifecenterli.org.
I did not know last night but the smallest peregrine falcon fludged and flew at the San Jose City Hall nest. Everyone was worried. No sightings. This is the latest news.
Send this little one your most positive wishes. I am going to be saying this a lot today as we need to continue to ‘support’ Snow’s nest and hope that the heat on Dewey Beach doesn’t kill the only osplet….so just, please, keep our raptors in your hearts and minds as they go through various challenges.
‘MP’ sent me a note. Do you know this nest? I do but I have not been following it so I appreciate the update. This is disturbing.
“There is a nest on Long Island that needs some hope. She laid three eggs and is now brooding one chick. An intruder startled the female during the nighttime hours when the camera is off, causing her to kick the chick and one egg out of the nest bowl killing the chick. The third egg hatched and she is brooding her now.
This nest is always dirty with trash the two adults obviously find precious. They do need support. The quote below is from the conservation biologist, Michael Farina, at the site.
“The incident happened during the nighttime hours when the camera is shut down to conserve battery life. We hypothesise that the female sleeping during the night after the first chick hatched (5/8/26) was violently startled, causing her to kick the chick and an egg out of the nest, leaving only one egg left. Possibly by a Great Horned Owl or another osprey in the area. The 3rd egg hatched on 5/12/26.” Michael Farina wrote.”
The surviving chick is 16 days old today. They need to do something about that owl – just like every other streaming cam needs to protect their ospreys from owls because we have the red strobe technology that can help.
Eggs being incubated at Landscape Arboretum in Minnesota. Dad stays close.
A nest clean up has taken place. If you see ospreys in dire straits due to human garbage, flood the owners of the streaming cams and local rescue. You can just Goggle the location of the nest and ask for contact information on local raptor rescues.
After cleaning:
RSPB Loch Garten have now declared that Blue KL5, mate to Myrtle, and osprey who kicked out three eggs, has met his demise. He has been missing for too long during a critical period of the breeding season.
KL5 kicking out the eggs.
The Traverse City nest seems to be holding at about a 45 degree angle. Adult was in the nest feeding Snow earlier today! Please, please, keep sending positive energy. Snow is only 47 days old and we need a good 2-3 weeks for this eagle to get its wing strength and coordination to fly and then it needs to return to the nest for a good month to be fed by the parents while it perfects its flying.
DH3 is older than Snow and is making itself comortable higher and higher on the branches of the nest tree.
First hatch at Carova Beach for Frederick and Betsy.
Oh, my heart skips a beat every time I see a little osplet being fed fish. Here is Poole Harbour – looks like egg 4 could be a Dudley.
Pitkin County has two osplets. Here is the info below the cam, but it doesn’t include the second hatch. Do you know?
🥚Osplet #1 Laid: 12.4.26, Hatched around 3.36 am 21.5.26 🥚Osplet #2 Laid: 15.4.26 🥚Osplet #3 Laid: 18.4.26
Two chicks at PSEG’s Oyster Bay nest.
I want to draw everyone’s attention to Gayle Gordon’s FB page. Many of you might have read her posts. I am including some of her recent posts because they are hugely important. I respect the research she does and the corrections she makes to false information circulating on social media. I have written to her and have received permission to cut and paste her posts. Instead, she is sending me links to them. Please read and get involved in the conversation. We need to save our wildlife – and we definitely do not need false information stirring the pot. Chaos makes us tired. We need our energy, instead, to help.
Thank you, Gayle, for allowing me to share your work with my readers.
Everything you need to know about the Cyanide Bombs written by Gayle Gordon -this is such a huge thread to the entire food chain that I am shocked anyone would even consider using cyanide bombs in 2026.
We have talked about how people in various European countries care for storks. The retired man in Croatia, who for years cared for a White Stork around the clock and then fished so she and her mate, who still migrated, has continued to warm my heart years after she died and Klepatan stopped coming. ‘LC’ sent me this today – it is a historic reminder of that decade and a half of devotion. There are some remarkable human beings.
The historyofcoolkids included this history on the chat:
“In 1993, retired Croatian school janitor Stjepan Vokić found a wounded female stork named Malena after she had been injured by hunters and left unable to migrate.
He rescued her and cared for her at his home in the village of Brodski Varoš, where she spent winters indoors because she could no longer survive the long journey south.
In 2001, a male stork named Klepetan began visiting her nest. Every spring, Klepetan migrated nearly 13,000 kilometers from South Africa back to Croatia to reunite with Malena, always returning to the same rooftop nest. Because Malena could not hunt or fly long distances, Vokić helped feed the pair and care for their young. Over the years, they raised 66 chicks together.
In 2021, Malena passed away of old age after 28 years under Vokić’s care, reportedly with Klepetan beside her.
Klepetan still visits Malena’s grave beneath an apple tree whenever he returns to the village, something considered highly unusual behavior for a stork.
Why didn’t he stay with her? When she could survive in that location alone, then he also could have had! He just migrated each time to avoid the hardships of the harsh season and went back during the mating season.”
If you are interested, search for Malena and Klepetan on YouTube. There is also a book about their love story. It is a great insight into avian behaviour.
I will post Geemeff’s daily report on Loch Arkaig tomorrow. I am hoping that some of you will call the Wildlife Centre on Long Island to try and get help to Oyster Bay. PSEG owns the platform, and as a utility company, they have the equipment. It is a human-made problem, so permits should not be an issue. Thank you for caring.
Thank you so much for being with us today. Please check out Gayle Gordon’s FB page and sign up to join the conversation. Here is the information again:
Thank you to those who sent me notes today including ‘PB, SP, LC’, to the authors of FB posts that are both educational and informative, the authors of newsletters, and the owners of streaming cams that allow us to witness the lives of these extraordinary creatures. Thank you also to Gayle Gordon for letting me share her posts today.
Hello everyone, from a very hot Canadian Prairie that is due to get hotter. Ann kept Don and Toby inside. Friday is to be 34. I think that sounds like a walk at the mall!!!!!!!!
Allow me to take a deep breath, and before we get into the lawsuit in Florida about Scrub Jays, I want to say that by some miracle, the branch that broke on the Traverse City Bald Eagle nest in Michigan, fell and caught itself on the tree adjacent, and is supporting that tilted nest. How long it will hold, we do not know. I hope it is long enough for Snow to fly. We need a good three weeks. The average is 10-14 weeks. So, right now, Snow is 6.5 weeks old.
Now, back to the Endangered Florida Scrub Jays. We have a detective in our midst, and ‘R’ was able to find out the following information which should really bring a light to the threat to the birds!
“I searched for this, and got the following:
Yes, it appears Colosi knew (or should have known) about the protected status before buying. Key facts: • Purchase date: March 2024.  • Habitat plan: Charlotte County’s Scrub-Jay Habitat Conservation Plan (HCP) was approved in 2014 — a full 10 years earlier. It’s been public policy since then, with clear rules and fees for building in designated areas.  • Public records: The county’s property records for his specific parcel note that “Land value may be adjusted due to scrub jay habitat.” It’s also visible on the county’s GIS maps (a public online tool)
Did he actually know? • Colosi and his lawyers (Pacific Legal Foundation) have not directly said whether he was aware of the restrictions when he bought it. When journalists asked, they avoided answering. • Critics and local observers point out it’s hard to miss: the restrictions are on maps, in public records, and part of standard real estate due diligence in the area. Many people assume he bought it anyway, possibly betting on a legal challenge. This is a classic “buyer beware” (caveat emptor) situation. The restrictions were already in place long before he purchased the 5 acres. He’s now challenging the fee system as unconstitutional rather than claiming he was blindsided.”
I love this type of deep digging and finding the true facts. Thank you, ‘R’. I hope that there are lawyers representing Scrub Jays. They have represented ‘trees’ why not birds and rivers? I must look into this. Gosh I wish I had the time I had before Don’s dementia entered my world.
A respected scientist recognized.
We are all pulling for Dewey Beach. Last year, the only surviving osplet died on day 50, five days from fledging, due to starvation. This year only one egg hatched and this little sweetheart has woven itself into our hearts. Dad is finding little fish, sometimes a nice sized Menhaden. Please keep sending positive wishes that this single osplet survives and flies. Now the question I have is this: When does Omega Protein start taking out all the fish?
Found out: Omega Protein’s menhaden reduction fishing in the Chesapeake Bay typically begins in May. For the 2026 season, operations are set to ramp up significantly in June.
Fundraising at Poole Harbour. Looking for a beautiful osprey print?
Myrtle, the female whose five eggs were destroyed by two different males, has returned to Loch Garten and is being courted by a pale male.
‘PB’ reports that there are four osplets at Steelscape in WA. They note that the older two are already fighting! Send them positive wishes. Mum is trying her best to feed all including little 4.
Please be sure to go and vote for the name for NewGuy2 at Hellgate Canyon. Iris’s great mate needs a name!
Help name Iris’s mate! Vote on your favorite name by June 2, and you could win free enrollment in Bird Academy’s Hawk and Raptor ID course. Vote here https://hubs.la/Q04hFrKD0
A nest of hawklets for Big Red and Arthur!
Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Wednesday 27th May 2026
No rain, no intruders, just sunshine and plenty of fish today. Louis delivered two fish for Dorcha, taking the Nest Two tally to ninety, while over on Nest One, Garry LV0 delivered three fish to Aurora 536, taking that tally to eighty five. Aurora actually refused the second fish but took the third one eagerly, perhaps she’d worked up an appetite following her encounter with a Great Tit which startled her so much she fled the nest. Safe to say, the tiny passerine was also startled – the size difference is stupendous. Another dry night of clear skies and light winds is forecast with a low of 9°C overnight, continuing tomorrow with sunny intervals, a gentle breeze and a high of 25°C. At the time of filing this report (00.30), Cam Two is still on day mode. This time next week we could have our first hatch! Fingers crossed these calm conditions continue.
Monty and Hartley certainly have their hands full with these four boys. Thanks, SK Hideaways for capturing some of the antics: https://youtu.be/gJPOZNVVLf4?
The trio at the nest of Maya and Blue 33 are now in the Reptilian Phase. Big ones in food coma and Maya feeding the third hatch. It looks like the final egg is a Dudley.
One of those short reads that is so informative – think White Storks and how people love them. They bring luck and my friends and readers in Poland and other parts of Europe treasure these beautiful birds and pray that they will make a nest on their home!
‘PB’ sent me a note at a time when I really needed a renewal in trusting humans to help. A female White Stork whose eggs were hatching lost her mate. The community takes turn feeding her just like they did at Mlade Buky.
Good night Bety and Bukachek.
Little Golden Eaglet safe under Mum in Estonia.
Black Stork Nest 3 in Estonia has 3 eggs.
Toby says ‘enough is enough’. It is time to play fetch! How can I resist those eyes?
There is a second hatch at Pont Cresor! Yeah for Aeron Z2 and Blue 014.
Thank you so much for being with us today. Take care. Stay cool and hydrated if you are in a region that is hot like it is here. See you soon!
Thank you to all my contributors – to SK Hideaways and Geemeff for their videos and reports, to ‘PB’ for keeping me up to date on several nests, to the folks that are literally with their will power and that supporting branch miracle holding up Snow’s nest, and to the others who wrote reports and posted them on FB and to the owners of the streaming cams who let us view these incredible bird families. Thank you to all! We are so fortunate.
Toby and I have watered the garden, planted an area of wildflowers for bees, swept, cleaned the bird baths, and finished all of our evening chores. Now we return to the Bald Eagle nest at Traverse City, MI, where Snow, the 6-week-old plus a few days eaglet, is in a nest that has lost its support limb. It appears that the limb has somehow caught itself on a neighbouring tree, and that, along with calm winds and good weather, might bring some luck to this tense situation.
The adults have been on the nest and fed Snow.
When I checked Snow had a crop. Single adult returned to the nest and tried to lure Snow up to the top rim to have some fish that was buried there.
The adult made its way a little lower being very cautious and Snow did get some more bites of prey.
Then the adult carefully made its way to the branch that extends at the bottom right in the image.
Snow will go to beed with a nice crop.
Snow is resting at the bottom of the nest as sunset begins.
Send this family your very best wishes. This is a situation that happens in the wild, far more often than we probably imagine. I was hoping someone would fabricate a false nest and somehow get it below this one so that if the nest slid down, it would land on the artificial nest rather than plunge 100 feet. (There appears to be some difference in opinion on whether the nest is 100 ‘ or 200’ off the ground.)
Kudos to the mods on the live chat and to those who are leaving the camera running. You are the best!
FOBBV is doing a magnificient job in collecting donations to purchase the land where Jackie and Shadow’s nest resides – along with many other species. (This is only part of their post).
Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Tuesday 26th May 2026
Another peaceful day, although Louis spent a few minutes alarm chipping at an unseen intruder while he was on incubation duty, but nothing came of it and he didn’t leave the nest. He brought two fish for Dorcha, taking his tally to eighty six and the Nest Two tally to eighty eight. Nest One was untroubled by intruders, unseen or otherwise, but Garry LV0 only brought one fish for Aurora 536, taking his and the nest’s tally to eighty two, keeping in mind that Cam One is offline for a few hours each morning. The weather forecast is dry overnight and for the next two days, with a low of 9°C and a high of 22°C tomorrow. The days are getting longer as the countdown to hatching ticks away and at the time of filing this report, midnight, Cam Two is still on day mode, with a very light sky and the loch clearly visible.
The Condor Chat is live on Thursday the 28th. They also have a fantastic on line auction if you wish to help out these incredible people who work hard to protect this very endangered species.
The Least Flycatchers are flitting about all over the garden. I can see several grey squirrels coming for peanuts along with Mr Crow. They are especially enjoying the nice, clean, cool water that Toby and I put out. Meanwhile, Little Red is inside the small covered feeding helping himself to Black Oil Seed. I will try and get some photos this week but for now it is good night.
Take care everyone.
Thank you to Geemeff for their daily post about all things Loch Arkaig. There are many more videos, but sadly, this system will not post them! Makes me growl. Thank you to all the people who are posting on FB and the owners of the streaming cams that allow us to watch our bird families in the good, the bad, and the unknown times.
This is going to be a quick posting. It continues to be hot, and we are inside enjoying the benefits of AC. Toby was exhausted after his walk with Ann, and Don was sound asleep. The heat has made me tired, but it is really helping the garden to become green, and everything feels like summer, not spring. Hydration is the key and please, if you can, leave water for wildlife.
The big news is the Bald Eagle nest that is sliding – Traverse City MI. Send your good wishes to those standing by to rescue Snow, the 6 week old eaglet.
We have the first hatch for Elen and Teifi at the Glaslyn nest but, wait…the second chick decided to hatch later in the evening. Well done on that delayed incubation!
Six week old eaglet Snow is in peril as Traverse City Bald Eagle nest slides when supporting limb breaks.
This is the latest picture that I have as Snow hangs onto the nest that is sliding off. Rescuers are on standby to help. Send positive wishes that Snow escapes injury. The nest is 100 ‘ off the ground.
The smallest osplet that had been attacked and denied food at Patuxent River Park has died.
CJ7 and Blue 022 have three little osplets today.
Three full babies at the Dyfi nest of Idris and Telyn.
Thank you for being with us today for this quick check at a few nests. Take care. See you soon!
Thank you to everyone who has posted information and images, and to the owners of the streaming cams where I took my screen captures. I am grateful to everyone in MI who is waiting to help and has permits in hand! Let us hope the outcome is good.
I continue to fight a horrific beginning of spring cold! Thank you for all the various remedies – I am trying them! Lots of honey, lemon, and ginger! Don and Toby have embraced the day since it is raining outside as just another ‘pajama day’. That has been grand.
There continues to be sadness at Western Maryland Shore Old Town Home. The second hatch died six days ago of starvation, and today, the first hatch, a tiny little thing that was not only starving but could not get sufficiently under Mum to keep warm, died of hypothermia in the rain. For whatever reason, Mum decided to incubate the unviable egg instead of her brooding her chick. Perhaps it is a blessing. That sounds horrible, I know. But I cannot stand to see these wee things starve, get a little fish, starve some more, eventually dying a few days before fledge – emaciated.
This image is from Heidi and ‘PB’ – the little osplet had 17 bites of food at that meal, its last.
Big Red took care of her three chicks brilliantly in what has been a soaking wet day on the Cornell Campus. Fed and warm.
In the UK, there was almost a tragedy when Seren accidentally kicked one of her three chicks out of the egg cup. This is an amazing osplet – I cannot wait to see what they do in their lifetime if they manage this. Geemeff has it on video: https://youtu.be/ByCRVMITshM?
Scout on the Falconshire Bald Eagle nest is alive. There was much concern over this eaglet’s welfare. Let’s hope lots of prey come so that Scout might thrive.
Speaking of prey. Let’s think about this. Agricultural practices have changed around the world. The fields and woods are not full of rodents and gophers because humans don’t like them around. The Raptors would thrive. The rivers are full of toxins like phosphates, are warming, and have fewer and fewer fish. So when someone says it is just ‘nature’, think again. Maybe it is something linked to humans, but less obvious than a fishing line.
Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Saturday 23rd May 2026
Another uneventful day with spells of rain, fish deliveries, and incubation duty changeovers. Louis delivered three fish for Dorcha taking the Nest Two tally to eighty two, and Garry LV0 delivered two fish for Aurora 536, although the second one was really just the tail-end of his dinner.
Garry’s tally now stands at seventy eight. More rain is forecast for tonight and tomorrow, along with what’s referred to as a gentle breeze. However, one of last night’s ‘gentle breezes’ completely upended Dorcha, so here’s wishing her an uneventful night on the exposed nest. Temperature spread is a low of 11°C tonight and a high of 16°C tomorrow.
There are two little bobbleheads for CJ7 and Blue 022 – and there are a lot of fish on that nest!
There is a wee baby for Idris and Telyn at the Dyfi nest in Wales along with a pip in the second egg.
Good news story of the day: The eagle nest collapsed. One eaglet went into care. Everyone wondered if the adults would feed the other but then a human-made nest went up and yes, the eagles are caring for their chick!!!!!!!! Humans can do good things. This is wonderful. Thank you!
Everything you wanted to know (or not) about Iris’s eggs.
Look for the NG2 name choices to be posted on the 26th of May.
Thank you so much for being with us today. Take care everyone. Stay safe and I hope, beyond hope, you do not get this summer cold or flu whatever it is.
Thank you to Geemeff for her report on all things Loch Arkaig, to Heidi and ‘PB’ for drawing my attention to what has happened at WMSOTH, and to all those who created videos or posted on FB; we are grateful. Thank you to the owners of the streaming cams that allow us to watch our lovely families.
