There is always a reason to celebrate, even when there is sadness. My friend, Geemeff, says that getting weary over the recent deaths is ‘because we care”…and yes, that is right. We fall in love with these little ones, and we want to help them when they are ill – desires most of the time that simply have to be nothing more than that. Today’s sadness comes from Mooring Park. It appears that this nest that began with three will have only one to fledge this year.
Blinken, the second hatch at Moorings Park Osprey Platform in Florida, was showing signs of being ill several days ago. Eagle-eye ‘PB’ spotted it. Sadly, the little one passed this morning, but not before looking lovingly and saying goodbye to Mum.
The very last time chicks were dancing and fledging from Loch Arkaig nest 1 was in 2020, with Louis and Aila’s trio. Aila did not return in 2021, and Louis never went back to their nest. He made nest 2 his with Dorcha. Today, Geemeff writes that Aurora has laid her first egg! Congratulations. It is nice to see that both nests at the lach will have babies this year!
The other good news is that it appears that Big Red and Arthur not only have one pip but two!
OR 6 and 7 are doing great at Syracuse University’s Red-tail Hawk nest. This is also great news.
Charlie and Lola fans will be glad that the injured female and her mate have reunited on a different nest, choosing to live in what we hope is peace. Let the intruders have their old nest. Let’s wish them luck.
Speaking of intruders, Lyn Brenig had one in the dark!
And then we have this post from Dyfi. Did Idris think his mate Telyn was an intruder?
I am waiting for Geemeff to send her summary of today’s events at Loch Arkaig. I suspect that with the arrival of the first egg in six years at Loch Arkaig nest 1, there is much to do and lots to celebrate. I will post that summary, along with all their wonderful videos, separately when they arrive.
I know that I am missing many who should appear on the Memorial Page. If you can help me with names – storks, hawks, eagles, ospreys, etc, I would be grateful. They should be remembered. Thank you!
Thank you for being with us today. We will be back with you soon!
Thank you to ‘PB’ for alerting me first about Blinken’s condition, to Marc Bekoff for his studies in animal behaviour, to Dyfi for their newsletter, to all who post on FB and keep us up to date and to the owners of the streaming cams mentioned, thank you. We would not be able to share the lives of our favourite bird families without you.
They have four little eyases, pink beaks, pink toes…white fluff. They are readying to be able to see (it usually takes 4-5 days). Monty and Hartley’s little falcon babies are so cute. Each one is doing so well.
Audubon Florida has published their annual report. These summaries are very interesting and you can learn a lot! Take, for example, how hurricanes benefit some shorebirds: “When multiple hurricanes and storms in 2024 rearranged habitats across the Gulf Coast, the resulting expanses of bare sand created ideal conditions for beach-nesting birds, especially Wilson’s Plovers. Combined with a lack of major storms in 2025, our team saw encouraging results for many coastal bird species all around the Sunshine State, thanks in large part to the dedication of our incredible shorebird steward staff and volunteers.”
Check it out. We can all learn something and what is happening in one region might give some insight into what is occuring in others.
Ospreys have returned to the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum platform.
Ospreys have also returned to a very sad nest at Collins Marsh in Wisconsin. It is on top of the roof of an old fire watch tower that was hauled in to the nature centre. This nest has always needed attention and I feel for these two because it looks as if there are no rails at all and the whole is sloping downwards. My wish would be that every owner of a streaming cam connected to an osprey platform make an effort during the off season to clean and refurbish – and strengthen the nests and the platforms.
I just want to call it ‘evil’. I am still trying to wrap my head around the mind of an individual who would shoot a mute female swan incubating eggs and then stomp on her eggs, leaving her life-long partner to mourn. Now, the poaching of Bald Eagles in Michigan. These inconceivable acts of abuse and violence against animals happen in every country. No region is immune. Some blocks away from where I live, but close enough for discomfort, a seemingly normal couple tortured and killed cats on the dark web for money. They were looking for a child to be next when they were caught. The cruelty by the individuals against the swan, the eagles, and the raptors in places like Scotland tells me that if a person would hurt an animal, what in the world would they do to a human? They have no heart.
There is great news coming from the Snow Lane Osprey Platform in Newfoundland, Canada – Beaumont has just returned. Let’s hope his new mate arrives safely!
We have egg number 3 at Lyn Brenig in Wales.
The female at Loch Garten returned today after a week’s absence and laid her first egg.
Things going very well with Andor and Cruz’s triplets after the return of Ryder who fell out of the nest by the IWS.
Beautiful eggs of Teifi and Elen.
‘PB’ sent me a note that USS 11 was returned to the nest along with some nice fish gifts! Congratulations. Well done.
Thank you so much for being with us today for this quick report. We hope that you are well and enjoying the beginning of your week! Take care. We will be back in a couple of days – unless Big Red and Arthur have hatches and we will be back sooner.
Thank you so much to ‘PB’ for her alert, to the owners of the streaming cams for allowing us to view the lives of our bird friends, to Jeff Kear at UK Ospreys FB for keeping me on my toes, and to all who post information and images on FB to keep us up to date on what is happening.
It has been precisely a week since the iconic Southwest Florida Bald Eagle, Harriet, went missing. Search parties are still looking for the Queen, hoping to find her and trying everything possible including vocalisations. Another team is set to head out on Saturday searching through some thick brush areas. So far there has been no sight of her and there have been no birds taken to wildlife rehab centres that are Harriet. The resolve to not give up is strong in many around the Fort Myers nest site who have watched Harriet raise her eaglets with Ozzie and then M15 who was, apparently, the ‘Frequent Visitor’ mentioned in many reports. We wish everyone well as they give their all and their love to trying to find dear Harriet.
Meanwhile, M15 continues to take fantastic care of the eaglets. Someone said if there is a silver lining to all of this it has been the amazing care that M15 has given to the nest. There were no less than 8 feedings on Wednesday. E22 had such a huge crop that it simply could hardly walk!
This was how E22 looked at 13:08. Do eaglets get indigestion?
M15 returned for the 7th feeding at 15:44:55 with a really nice fish.
E21 got up first to eat having dropped its crop from the very early feedings. E22 was simply not interested in food. Can you imagine? E22 not interested in food? Our Snatch and Grab King! There would have been no place to put even a flake of prey having eaten at least one if not two fish earlier! M15 fed then half the fish to 21 and left the other half on the nest. Wise move, Dad.
At 16:44 E22 watches Dad aerate the nest. Notice how big that crop still is. Not much difference from 13:08. E22 is full up to the dandelions on top of its head!
M15 returned at 17:24. E22 still had no interest in eating and 21 went to bed (as did 22) with a nice crop.
Both of the eaglets were fed well and are being taken care of diligently – and protected – by their Dad. M15 even did some aerating of the nest and tried to cover 21 with nest material which caused me to laugh. Prior to Harriet’s disappearance, M15 loved to cover up the babies with the nest materials. All is well on this nest. In the on line discussion this evening hosted by Christian Sasse, it was noted that the people for the most part have left the area and those leaving food are no longer a problem. This is great news. M15 can get on with it and we already know that he is up to the job!
Good night, Dad.
It is Thursday morning and M22 has already brought a fish in for breakfast. E21 has a great crop and 22 got fed some fish, too.
Postscript: I missed this entirely. M15 brought in two white rats on the 7th of February, Tuesday. E21 ate all of them. Lady Hawk caught it in a video.
Where in the world do you get white rats/mice with pink eyes? (You know what I am thinking already, don’t say it..that word that begins with an R).
Other Nest and some Other News Thrown In – in no particular order!
A new couple have moved into Sue and Otto’s territory at the Graveyard at Syracuse University. Here is that announcement.
Congratulations to Diane and Jack whose first egg of the 2023 season came after an amazing labour display at 06:51 on the 8th of February in St Petersburg, Florida.
It’s two eggs for Ron and Rose at the WRDC Eagle nest in Miami! Oh, things are starting to get busy with all these eggs. It will be difficult to keep up with them. Congratulations to this new couple! Ron will be an amazing mate for young Rose and we all hope that Rita is recovering well in rehab.
Pat Burke called it at 18:09:57.
HeidiMc got it on video:
The cold winds are whistling around the MN-DNR nest of Nancy and her new mate. Both were at the nest. Nancy spent a lot of time on the nest today – in the nest bowl. I wonder if there is an egg in there? I cannot see one. Tonight, standing guard.
Do you live in New York City? near Central Park? have you seen an unusual owl? Geemeff sent me news that there is an owl on the loose. It is not just any owl that has lived in the wild all its life. No, vandalism caused Flaco, at the Central Park Zoo, to leave his cage Thursday night – the same day that Harriet went missing. Flaco has never had to feed itself and the weather in the area is worrying many. Here is the story:
We are focused on M15 – a male Apex Raptor taking care of his eaglets after his mate disappears. Around the world, similar stories are playing out – a mate is killed or disappears. It is or would be extremely rare for one of our feathered friends just to up and decide they ‘had had enough’ and left a nest of babies. In this case, a male Swan in Boston MA has charge of his five goslings after their mother died on the nest right after they hatched. He is reported to be doing a superb job, too, even allowing them to ride on his back!
There has been a break and the nest has plenty of food back on it. Ringo really enjoyed a good feed and had a huge crop at the end of it, just like E22 did at SWFlorida today.
The ‘baby’ isn’t such a baby any more at Barry College. Missy still stays on the nest but doesn’t have to brood B16 tonight.
All of the eaglets on the nests are growing and growing and moving through each of the development stages just like they should be doing. The first of the Bald Eagles on streaming cams to hatch this year was Pearl and Tico at Superbeaks. Just look at these beauties. Pearl is 62 days old and Tico is now 61 days old. The average age of fledge in Florida is 77 days. After fledging, it I normal for the eaglets to return to the nest to be fed by the parents who will be teaching them to hunt prey as they strengthen their wings and enhance their flying skills. This period lasts for normally a month or five weeks (sometimes more). I am always very distressed when I see a fledgling shoot out of the nest and never return.
If you do not have your calendars marked, then please do. We are now six days away from the 15th of February which is pip watch for Jackie and Shadow. So far everything is going like clockwork. This adorable couple have kept the Crows at bay and protected those two precious eggs they have been incubating. I wonder if we are in for two ‘spirited’ eaglets this year?
Connick, the only eaglet of Clive and Connie at the Captiva Bald Eagle nest has a huge crop today, too…what is it with today? Every eaglet has been stuffed til they can hardly walk! I know what you are going to say…these ‘babies’ are now sporting their thermal down, the feedings are not so close together, and yes, they can hold a lot more food at a single feeding! And you would be absolutely correct.
At the KNF-E1 nest of Anna and Louis, they filled E-03 up to the brim too – right before the heavy rains came to the area.
Remember. E-03 will be named. You can vote beginning at noon on Friday the 10th (tomorrow) until Saturday at noon. Three names are selected by forestry staff and voted for on the chat. Head to KNF-E1 nest on YouTube. Wonder what the names will be this week?
Valentine and Nugget were soggy over at the E3 nest on Lake Kincaid. Andria makes an effort to keep her ‘big babies’ dry! After the rain settles, Alex is on the nest and it looks like Valentine was doing some self feeding.
Is this Alex or Andria? I am not sure.
Ever wondered what an eagle nest might smell like with the rain and all the fish bits and bobs? Oh, goodness. Just the thought.
Andria trying to keep those babies dry. Sweet Mum.
Alex and Valentine literally looking for a midnight snack.
It was pitching down the rain in Orange, Australia, too. Diamond before and after drying off. I have never seen Diamond so wet!!!!!!!
At The Campanile, Annie was in the scrape box – after what looks like a meal and then scraping and eating some stones. Oh, so nice to see you, Annie. When might we expect some eggs???
We knew we couldn’t call him ‘The New Guy’ forever. Cal Falcons seem to think Annie has decided that this one – albeit a slow learner about the prey gifts – is the one she will share her scrape box with. So there is going to be an opportunity coming up quickly to suggest names and vote. Cal Falcons tweeted the details on Twitter.
I received a note from ‘H’ and it appears that Zoe has missed two check ins. Send positive wishes for a transmission this evening!
Thank you so much for being with me today. It is always so nice to have you hear and to get your notes and comments. Please take care. See you soon!
Thank you to the following for their notes, photos, videos, announcements and streaming cams that help make up my blog: H, Geemeff, SWFlorida Eagles and D Pritchett, Red-tailed Hawk Tales, Achieva Credit Union, WRDC, Heidi Mc and the WRDC, MN-DNR, Inside Hook, The New York Times, LEXNAU and Matthew Wraifman, Paul White and the Webster, TX Eagle Watchers, Berry College Eagle Cam, Superbeaks, FOBBV, Window to Wildlife, KNF-E1 and KNF-E3, Charles Sturt Falcon Cam and Cilla Kinross, and Cal Falcons.
Would you like to receive the blog in your inbox daily? You can sign up here and you can unsubscribe at any time. Your e-mail address is safe. No ads, no fees, no selling of e-mail addresses. Just a group of people who love raptors.
