8 November 2026
Greetings Everyone,
It is 1700 on the Canadian Prairies (Saturday), and it is 14 degrees C. Toby and I have just returned from a marvellous, slow-sniffing walk. No rushing. People running or walking their dogs, children jumping on trampolines, or neighbours barbecuing. It feels a wee bit like summer and not the beginning of the second week in November!
Thank you to everyone for your supportive notes. They really do mean a lot and lift me when the days seem nothing but icy cold and grey. Caregiving is hard, but navigating whether or not to bring your loved one home from the hospital when they cannot walk or place them in a long-term care facility is even more difficult. There are too many variables like staffing – here, the turnover can be huge. Then there is not enough staff at night to help with a two-person lift. I could go on, but I suspect many of you have had experiences with LTC facilities, and I don’t need to say anything more. We were fortunate to find my mother a wonderful facility in Edmond, Oklahoma, when she needed it, and I wasn’t allowed to bring her to Canada. Here, the best facilities have 1-2 year wait lists.
If you find yourself or a friend beginning to care for someone with any type of dementia, I urge you to pick up a copy of The Days Memory Leaves Behind. A Compassionate Guide to Understanding Dementia, Navigating Its Challenges, and Finding Meaning in Everyday Life by Sylvan Everleigh. This is not a medical book – it is one of the most practical guides by a caregiver I have seen! I wish I had read it earlier.
The ‘bird book’ I have been waiting for since I saw a note that it was being written and illustrated is now for sale. Kathryn Keir (author) and Penny Albright (illustrator) have finished their book about Aran, the Glaslyn osprey that was mate to Mrs G and Elen. All proceeds go toward the camera and maintenance at Aran’s new nest (he lost his mate, Elen, and Glaslyn’s nest to Teifi in 2025), and he had a new mate and chick in 2026. Kathryn Keir kindly kept us informed through photographs, but now, in 2027, we can watch this much-loved male again with his new mate.
Here is the information so you can order your copy- and please do support this great effort. The price is right and all funds go directly to streaming next years events!
But further…there are many streaming cams that solicit donations that are owned by millionaires or the Dept of Natural Resources in the US who get funds from selling hunting licenses to operate their cameras. Support those small ones that actually need the money to operate!
Kathryn will be away for a few days so if you don’t hear from her, don’t fret.
The really good news is that SE37 and SE38 fledged from the Olympic Park WBSE nest in Sydney and RETURNED! They have been fed on the nest and all is well. Relief.
SK Hideaways has the reunion of the two fledglings at the nest on video: https://youtu.be/ax8qh1BGq90?
Long time viewers of this nest and readers of my blog will recall the concern over the Currawongs driving the newly fledged eaglets out of the forest. However, for the past two years, this has not happened and the eaglets have gotten stronger and wiser by being fed at the nest and then, following the parents, down to the river. Yes, we might find them in care (or worse), but they survived the fledge and returned to the nest!
Parents at 367 are slowing food deliveries as the two surviving chicks of four reveal their juvenile feathers and begin flap, flapping.
Fans of Pepe and Mulhady will be celebrating a second egg. Gracie Shepherd caught the first on video: https://youtu.be/MBt4K2ZzSR4?
We are on egg watch for Gabby and Beau at the NE Florida nest near Palm Court.
New patients and some releases from our local wildlife rehabiliation centre, Wildlife Haven:
| nside the Hospital: This Week’s Patient Stories |
| Migration is underway, and that means we’re seeing a lot of birds come through our doors in need of care along their journey south. Here’s a look at the patients, progress and happy endings your support helped make possible this week. |
| A New Arrival: Rough-Legged Hawk This Rough-legged Hawk arrived at Wildlife Haven a few days ago after being spotted along the roadside near Petersfield, Manitoba. The finder had driven past him twice before deciding to stop and bring him back to his farm. He noticed the bird could only manage short jumps and was unable to get enough lift to fly properly.  The Rough-legged Hawk was found on the roadside struggling to fly. |
| On examination, we found a fracture in his wing, as well as a blood blister, which was removed, cleaned and sutured. Dr. Celena applied a wing wrap to help stabilize the injured bone, and we’ll be rechecking him in a few days to see how he’s progressing. |
 Dr. Celena applies a wing wrap to help stabilize the fracture and support healing. |
| A Little Saw-whet Owl Returns to the Wild This little Northern Saw-whet Owl was found in a Steinbach backyard unable to fly and suffering from significant head trauma. We’re not sure what happened, but it may have been the result of a collision. |
 |
| Northern Saw-whet Owls are one of the smallest owl species in North America, standing just 18 cm tall and weighing about as much as a robin. |
| When he first arrived, he was barely responsive, so we got him started on pain medication and anti-inflammatories, gave him a quiet space to recover, and hand-fed him throughout the week while he regained his strength. It took several days, but slowly he started becoming more responsive (and even hissing at us again!). Before long, we spotted him flying around his enclosure!  The little Saw-whet needed to be hand-fed for several days to regain his strength. Our Assistant Rehabilitation Manager wipes his mouth after being fed. |
| He was successfully released back into the Steinbach area this week and can now continue his migration south. |
| A Virginia Rail with a Dislocated Toe A Virginia Rail arrived from Winnipeg this week with shoulder bruising and a badly dislocated left toe. Our veterinary team repositioned the toe and splinted it, but after another assessment, discovered healing would take several weeks, if not longer. |
 |
| Virginia Rails are very secretive and spend most of their time hidden in thick marsh vegetation. They are a migratory species and travel to southern parts of the United States and Mexico for the winter. |
| She couldn’t afford that delay, as she should already be migrating south for the winter. To give her the best chance back in the wild, the team decided to amputate the toe for a faster recovery. Dr. Celena performed the surgery on Thursday. The Virginia Rail is now on the mend, and we hope to get her back out to the wild, healed and feeling better, to make the trip south before it gets too cold. |
 Dr. Celena performing surgery the Virginia Rail to remove its dislocated toe. |
Some of you might be worried about Shadow and Kaydee but both eagles have returned to the Big Bear nest after being away for quite a few days (nearing a week, I believe). They are both fine.
The latest news from Knepp Farm:
Rat poison continues to kill wildlife, including beloved White tail Eagles in the UK:
Grouse Moors and missing 154 Hen Harriers!
New osprey chicks have been spotted at nests throughout South Australia and the sole remaining chick on Thistle Island appears to be thriving.
It was 14 C yesterday but cooler today and damp again. Toby is not a fan! He would rather curl up in a warm chair.
Calico reminds us that reading is good!
Thank you so much for being with us today. Take care. We will be back with you soon!
Thank you to SK Hideaways, Kathryn Keir and Penny Albright, Raptor Persecution UK, Sydney Eagle Cam and all those who posted on FB or created videos as well as the owners of the streaming cams. We are always grateful.