Writer, Conservationist, Activist, Bird Lover
3 July 2026
Hello Everyone,
Here is today’s special treat for you. Ventana Wildlife has their documentary on the California Condors winning all kinds of rewards and it is free.
Here is your link -. https://youtu.be/uqMUafNHwco?
This is a great video and you will learn so much. Enjoy!
Thank you Ventana Wildlife Society for the documentary and OpenVerse for the image of the Condor.
Credit for image: “Flying California condor” by USFWS Pacific Southwest Region is licensed under CC BY 2.0.
26 June 2026
Hello Everyone,
There are some posts, like Gessner’s article on the pending extinction of the osprey in The Bay area, that deserve their own blog. Today there is also another one – and I am posting it separately.
I adored Iniko and followed her story from the time she was just a dot in a shell, the hope of Redwood Queen and Kingpin, the leader of the California Condor condo. She was incredible and I remember that December day when she was finally released into the wild with so much hope resting on her after spending nearly two years rehabilitating in the Los Angeles Zoo. May her soul soar in the skies over California.
Iniko’s bio on the Ventana Wildlife Society website:
2020 was a year of trials and tribulations and many of us identified with Iniko (1031), the condor chick that delighted viewers on our Condor Cam, powered by explore.org. Iniko means “born during troubled times” and was suggested by camera viewers after they saw all that she went through that year. It started off fine for Iniko (1031), snug in her redwood cavity under the care of the most prominent pair in the population. But the good times would not last.
The Dolan Fire swept through Big Sur on the night of August 21, 2020 taking the life of her father, Kingpin (167), and nine other free-flying condors. The flames were hot for Iniko (1031) as well, but she managed to survive in her cavernous nest. As her mother Redwood Queen (190) rose to the task of being a single parent, a new challenge emerged. An unmated male condor, Ninja (729), entered the nest, possibly seeing an opportunity to claim a vacant territory left open by the passing of Kingpin (167). Redwood Queen (190) rushed-in to defend her chick, and Iniko (1031) was force-fledged from the nest; falling to the ground during the scuffle. The entire story was told in our first documentary, Giants of Big Sur, Part Three, Born During Troubled Times.
Redwood Queen (190) chased off the intruder, but Iniko (1031)’s prospects seemed dim huddled there on the ground with only one parent. Our concern grew as time passed and the chick remained vulnerable, even showing a slight limp. The field crew moved in on October 19th and rescued Iniko (1031), hiking her carefully out of the canyon and transporting her to Los Angeles Zoo for treatment and care. Luckily, she sustained no long-term injuries, and Iniko (1031) was re-released back into the wild with two other female condors on December 4, 2021. Iniko (1031)’s story serves as a reminder that we, too, can make it through troubled times.
Since her return to the wild, Iniko (1031) has flourished. She seems to have bonded closely with the other female condors in her release cohort and spends most of her time foraging and flying with them over the scenic landscape of Pinnacles National Park.
Our Star, Iniko (1031) also appeared in our second film, Condor Canyon released in 2024. Now she’s of breeding age, with her head and neck (and eyes) are becoming the orange and pink hues of an adult! She is thriving and forming new connections with condors who could soon become her mate. One of these condors is Apollo (718), who Iniko (1031) has consistently been observed with in the early part of this year. We are excited to see where Iniko (1031) continues to journey as she reaches this new stage of life!
Iniko #1031 is an iconic California Condor. Some facts:
Iniko (California Condor #1031), whose name translates to “born during troubled times,” is a famous wild-hatched condor whose survival through multiple crises in Big Sur, California, captured global attention. One of the most famous was when she was a chick and survived in the natal Redwood tree while the fire took out the forest. Her mother Redwood Queen returned to rescue her daughter but Iniko was injured by a rival male and taken to the Los Angeles zoo.
Her life story is a dramatic timeline of resilience and conservation:
A video of Iniko’s rescue by Cali Condor: https://youtu.be/VzgVrPpaiwE?
A great film about the life of Iniko, “Surviving against all Odds”: https://youtu.be/0TDawpr5KPE?si=61C8o8qlmiUCVH_x
The June 25th Condor Chat reveals the death of Iniko and what can be done about lead poisoning. https://www.youtube.com/live/akoVgSzZ1x0?
They are working hard about issues related to hunting and fishing in California to change the use of lead. Ventana Wildlife even makes lead free ammuntion available at a reduced cost or free.
There is already a ban in California against the use of using lead. If you listen to the Condor Chat live, you will find out why there is still lead in the environment. The market is not supporting the switch to non-lead in all calibres.
This is a tragic loss that did not have to happen.
I want to thank the Ventana Wildlife Society for all they do to try and protect these most endangered birds that are crucial to our environment. Thank you to Cali Condor for the videos and the Ventana Wildlife Society for the videos and images.
19 May 2026
Hello Everyone,
‘PB’ just sent these great images of Iris leaving with a huge headless fish – the third or fourth NG2 has brought today!
It remains damp and cold on the Canadian Prairies. Poor Toby has to have his feet washed every time he comes inside from running about. We have a small pond in progress, and he is drawn to the mud there!!!!!!!!! Spaniels love water. I am thinking of getting him a kiddie pool for the summer. He might not like it because he can’t swim but we will see. There are enough neighbourhood children that would enjoy the pool if Toby rejects it!
Like so many of you, I have lived a long life, one that allowed me to enjoy a time when nature was not under threat every second. Of course, we did not know then what we do now about how our behaviour was impacting the environment. What would we have done differently had we known?
There are things that I miss. We had the most magnificent Magnolia tree in our back garden and several Mimosa trees in our front garden. At the very back was a wall of bamboo at one time, later replaced by my father’s rose garden. He learned how to grow roses from his grandmother and mother – she had a huge stroll garden lined with hundreds and hundreds of rose bushes. There were Cardinals and Bluebirds that lived in those trees. I also miss the duck pond at the University of Oklahoma. I cannot tell you how many hours I spent there, joined later by my children. Whether or not it was our garden or the ponds and parks near to where I lived, there were always some kind of birds. Some were in drawers with old yellowed cardboard labels in the Sutton collection at the University. They fascinated me! It is nice when everything seems to be falling apart to sit back and recall the magic of our childhoods and how the opportunities we had impacted our lives today.
Like all of you, I have been distressed by the level of Avian Flu spreading across North America. I do not want to add to this, which means disinfecting the bird feeders and tables every 2-3 days. My plan, when the last half-bag of birdseed is finished, is to put out peanuts and those solid seed cylinders to try to avoid contamination. The bird baths and bowls of water have to be cleaned and disinfected, too. The rule is 1 part bleach to 9 parts water.
How to Clean and Disinfect
Important Tips
NOTE: Do not use the brush used to clean the bird bath and water sources for any other purpose. Put it somewhere safe where no one can get to it and use it. I have been known to put these brushes in the dishwasher when I am running a cycle without any dishes to clean the machine.
I was so happy to see that Irv is serving up fish at the US Steel nest – a nest that shares the same river as the Glen-Hayes nest.
https://sportsmansparadiseonline.com/2026/05/18/maz-takes-over-stellas-fish-us-steel-nest
Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Monday 18th May 2026
Another quiet day, a bit damp as rain fell in spells throughout the day, but otherwise peaceful with no alarms or intruders. Garry LV0 brought one fish for Aurora 536, taking his tally to sixty eight. Aurora stashed the remains of that fish on the nest and at the time of this report, near midnight, she is cuddled up beside it. Louis brought three fish for Dorcha and his tally is now level with Garry’s at sixty eight, with the Nest Two tally at seventy due to the two fish brought by Dorcha before his return. Louis loves spending time on incubation duty, and was moaned at by Dorcha for a good few minutes before reluctantly handing over when she returned after polishing off her second fish. Light rain is forecast all through tonight and tomorrow, with a low of 8°C and a high of 15°C.Today’s videos:https://youtu.be/b07a-dMixso N2 Louis brings a whole tiddler trout 10.02.10https://youtu.be/tQL5oriH2dQ N2 Dorcha’s second fish is a decent size 14.45.58https://youtu.be/aJ9dTcnY-nI N2 Dorcha chirrups at Louis but he won’t move 15.59.30https://youtu.be/2Vul7RV667I N1 Aurora calls and Garry brings fish 16.19.14https://youtu.be/GPQqVzFJ2bI N2 Louis happily exchanges fish for time on the eggs 18.36.52
Blast from the past, this day in previous years:
https://youtu.be/at5go-cg9A8 N1 Louis’ turn to dump a stick on Aila 2019
https://youtu.be/9_X4DMti3Gk N1 I’ve got your back: Louis, Aila, and a stick 2020
https://youtu.be/W04J7cJyYss N1 Aila screams until Louis brings fish 2020
https://youtu.be/Z6UfoL5Hb7c N1 Time to go – Aila head-butts Louis 2020
https://youtu.be/0vfmJaN8vG4 N2 Little bird perches next to Dorcha 2023
https://youtu.be/Epa8-yc2CKU N1 Louis warns away a distant intruder on his old nest 2023
https://youtu.be/M2Fz6H4TedA N2 Unringed intruder on the nest! 2023 (zoom)
https://youtu.be/vHH0SsHb-Ls N2 Dorcha practises her ballet moves 2024
https://youtu.be/oG-WC3EAf5E N2 Air on a Sunset: glorious sunset in quicktime 2024 (Classic Ospreys: JS Bach)
https://youtu.be/3hMF9N6hYbs N1 The second fish arrives and departs in 13 seconds as Aurora watches! 2025
https://youtu.be/EXW79QoaRtU N2 Having declined the first, Dorcha grabs the second fish 2025
I really respect Ruth, the author of Raptor Persecution UK. Gamekeepers can be rather threatening/frightening people. She is a very brave woman.
For those who love the James Herriot series set in the Yorkshire Dales, they are not all nice and cheerful just like some of the big estates in Scotland do the most horrific things to our raptors.
The loon cams are live!
Donations are down to every wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centre – including all of the dog and cat rescues. The Ventana Wildlife Society is having their major on line auction which might net you a tour of the Big Sur Condor area!
I want to add something. We praise those groups that are proactive and the Ventana Wildlife Society is no exception. 20 Condors died in Arizona from Avian Flu. The VWS set about getting permissions to vaccinate their condo. (Yes, a group of condors is called a condo!). The Ventana Wildlife Society, in partnership with the Oakland Zoo and Pinnacles National Park, vaccinated 98 wild condors (not those in zoos) from the Central California flock. 81 condors received at least the first dose, while 45 received the full two-dose series to protect against HPAI.
It was no easy feat with container cages needing to be built in a rather remote area! The determination of this small but dedicated group of individuals is admirable. It made me wonder why those who have access to chicks on streaming cams do not set about to not only band the birds but also to vaccinate them. A single dose vaccine has worked on mice and monkeys and would be ideal as it would be difficult to give the two-dose vaccine as eaglets and eyases are on the nest such a short time.
This e-mail contains all kinds of news related to what the Ventana Wildlife Society is doing.
We are approaching fledge for Big at the Achieva Osprey platform in St Petersburg, Florida.
I love Big Red and Arthur. It is so exciting to see Big Red let Arthur fully participate in family life – he has certainly earned the right. Arthur is so devoted to Big Red and their babies – the pantry is rarely empty – unless it is on purpose near fledge. I am sad that they lost one of their babies but we don’t seem to need to worry about P3 who is small but mighty.
New Guy 2 has now brought Iris three fish (so far) today! I am so glad that the rushing river calmed itself in time. Cornell Bird Lab caught one of those deliveries on video: https://youtu.be/RkGQmYEkZro?
My goodness Iris is loud when she sees NG2 arriving with a fish!
I am so glad that fish did not break those precious eggs.
There are three osplets at Patuxent. Oh, my goodness. I worry about those nests.
The latest statement that I have found about the Glen-Hayes eaglets and whether or not the eaglet bodies will be retrieved:
Status Update: Carol Holmgren, Executive Director, Tamarack Wildlife Center
Our hearts go out to all who love these eagles and are grieving. We have been blessed with 100% survivorship of eaglets from the Hays/Glen Hazel eagle nests over the past 14 years, while it is typical for 30% of eaglets to not survive until fledging age.
Kudos to the Glen Hazel moderator team for promptly noticing signs of illness in the chicks and notifying Tamarack Wildlife Center’s Executive Director and Licensed Rehabilitator Carol Holmgren on Friday morning, May 15. Carol immediately reached out to Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) and Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) colleagues, to loop them in that day, and has been in conversation since then. A few updates:
Below is the full statement shared by our colleagues in PGC today. We appreciate the thoughtfulness with which they have considered this situation, and their continued collaboration.
The Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) appreciates the concerns of the public regarding the eagles in the Glen Hazel Eagle Nest Cam, located in Allegheny County.
Wildlife watching opportunities, especially ones that can occur from anywhere thanks to wildlife cameras and digital technology, are a popular way for the public to learn and love wildlife.
Unfortunately, nature can be hard to watch at times. When situations occur on live wildlife webcams, including this eagle’s nest, human intervention is not always recommended or possible.
PGC evaluated the situation carefully and considered many factors including human safety and exposure to potential pathogens. Additionally, human intervention could further stress the adult eagles. Any actions must also comply with federal regulations related to the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act. At this time, we have chosen to not intervene. If a safer opportunity presents itself in the future, we may pursue disease testing to hopefully determine what caused the death of these eaglets.”
I ‘love’ Blue 33 and Maya and I am so glad that the three little bobbleheads are doing so well. Those blue eyes and that light soft taupe down with their lovely back stripe and that black eye-liner. They are so precious….all babies are so cute but I do love the tiny little osplets before they hit the reptile stage!
The Girls got their favourite crunchy treats while Toby needed a new Little Lamb. These little squeaky toys were his first and to this day, some 15 months later, they remain favourites. This one is getting ready to celebrate Canada Day on 1 July.
Thank you so much for being with us. We wish you peace and calm.
Thank you to Geemeff for her extensive report on all things Loch Arkaig, to ‘PB’ for her great images and notes, to all those who posted information and videos on FB or YouTube keeping us informed of the latest happenings at the nests, and to the owners of the streaming cams, we are so very grateful to be able to share the lives of these amazing Avian families.
25 October 2025
Good Evening Everyone!
Late Breaking News: A couple of hours ago, the oldest of Mum and Dad’s sea eaglets attempted to fly up to the branch to be with Lady and did not make it. The sea eaglet is on the floor of the Olympic forest and is being monitored by WIRES. Deborah Victoriana gives us the news in her FB post:
We had our first really hard frost during the wee hours of Wednesday, the 22nd of October and another the following night. Not wanting to pound the point too hard about how much our climate has changed, but when I moved to Canada, we often anticipated that the first frost in August would kill the garden flowers. Even so, you might get sick of me saying how much I am dreading winter this year. Is it because I am a year older? Or is it because there is a growing puppy that is now—gosh, time does melt—getting on to nine months old and needs to be outside walking several times a day? I used to love bundling up and trudging through the nature centre in the dead of winter. Now all I want to do is bundle up with the log burning, warming the snug, reading a good book with Toby cuddled up next to me.
The garden is busier than ever in the morning. It is comforting to sip tea after breakfast while counting the squirrels, the Crows, and the Blue Jays, realising that everyone is present and accounted for. The Starlings come around 3:30 to eat dog and cat kibble, and dear Brock shows up at least twice, if not three times, during the day, all the while trying to keep out of Toby’s sight. Life is good despite my grumbling…it is, as many of you would say, all first-world problems. I have a comfortable home; it is warm, there is food, and I can go to the doctor whenever needed without fear of a bill showing up in the post! I am lucky to be able to afford to feed all the animals in the garden, along with Toby and The Girls. Many just dream of being able to afford a pet, while some have had to give theirs up due to rising costs. Grateful is the word. The joy in life is not about money or buying ‘stuff’ (oh, to have finally almost decluttered everything) but in the small, simple joys of everyday life.
I read a very interesting blog post on the growing interest in hobbies and it reminded me of the ‘Back to the Land Movement’ (in part) of my generation. You might enjoy reading about the resurgence of hobbies like knitting and embroidery and the move to get away from social media. I found it fascinating. Perhaps you will, too.
Before we check in on the nests, the Bald Eagles continue to gather in one of my favourite spots, Hecla Island. Oh, I wish I were up there to see them hanging around the Marina.
So, let’s check in on our favourite raptors!
Most of the chatter is about the Bald Eagle nests coming on line or the raptor couples working away for their future getting those nests just perfect for little ones.
There has been concern about one of Jackie’s eyes and the folks in Big Bear Valley have been keeping good track of her and any issues. The latest post gives much clarity and relief as it appears that her eye might be improving according to Big Bear Lake Bald Eagles FB.
Our dear Shadow! Then and now.
In the mailbox was this from ‘B’. I knew that you would be as excited to check out that video – which I had seen years ago but not recently – of a young, a very young, Akecheta!
‘B’ writes: “In the West End chat today there was mention of a video of the banding of Akecheta in 2016. The video shows Dr. Sharpe fetching Akecheta from the Los Pinos nest and attaching his band and wing tags. Not all that exciting, but I just had to watch to see our handsome Akecheta in his youth. You might be interested in taking a peek if you haven’t seen it. I had to watch the whole thing (!!!), but just seeing the opening retrieval and glancing at him being held for banding and then returned to the nest would be more than enough for most people!
Elsewhere, I found a Facebook discussion from 2018 by watchers who were saddened by the disappearance of Superman from West End and the appearance of this young upstart Akecheta wooing Thunder. Not that different from us, sad that Thunder is missing, and yet somewhat reluctantly pleased that someone (Haku) is there in her place for Akecheta. The cycle of nest life goes on. https://youtu.be/VJctnVtsq-4?
Trempealeau is online, and everyone would love for TE3 to fly into camera view. The Raptor Resource Project tells us all about what is happening in that area of Wisconsin.
The latest migration statistics from Hawk Mountain in PA, USA are in. Could you take a look at the Broad Wing Hawks? Goodness.
Beautiful Big Red. So grateful to Suzanne Arnold Horning for her ‘hawk eye’ in catching up with our favourite Red-tail Hawk.
In the mailbox – oh, I do so love the questions that show up once in a while. Heidi wonders if Mum caused the eggs to be unviable by stopping incubation, or if the eggs were already non-viable, which is why she stopped incubation. What a great question.
The analysis done at Adelaide indicated that the eggs were fertile but that the osplets had stopped developing.
So we are still back to this: It appears to be one of those six of one and half a dozen of another events. Heidi confirms that Dad has brought in the same number of fish pre-hatch as he did in 2024. That means one or two a day. Females incubating do not use much energy, and that is sufficient. Many raptors continue to incubate even when the eggs are not viable. Shadow insisted on staying on the eggs for sixty days a year. We have seen this behaviour in various raptor nests. Mum should have been hearing the chicks because hatch was approaching. So my question is this: Did Mum hear them, then didn’t, and then stopped incubation? And if this was the case, and it wasn’t her stopping incubation that caused this, then what did?
The late Laura Culley would tell you that Mum knew precisely what she was doing and that her babies, which she is devoted to, were not alive when she stopped incubation. I hope that Port Lincoln will discover what happened. It could be a while.
What are you thinking?
Giliath and a fantastic fish, demonstrating that he is doing very well after hatching from Mum and Dad’s nest on the barge in Port Lincoln in 2023, along with Bradley.
The Currawongs in the Olympic Park are very brave in their attacks on the little sea eaglets. Nesting Bird Life and More has that attack on video. https://youtu.be/X_z3cZk1v6w?
The oldest sea eaglet has now jumped up to the second branch! https://youtu.be/Jiaalbsqfm4?
SK Hideaways has the most recent video on the Melbourne 367 Collins Street Falcon scrape: https://youtu.be/vDS7DxjwH8A?
Incubation continues at Orange. Are you getting anxious for hatch and to see how Gimbir will do as a first-time dad?! So am I.
California Condors are or have been released. I am looking forward to Ventana Wildlife Society’s release on Saturday the 25th but here is some information on other releases by the Yurok Tribe. You might find this interesting if you love these very endangered birds as much as I do!
Some of the most beautiful birds can be found in Asia. Thank you, BaoWan, for posting this beautiful image of White-naped Cranes.
I am a huge fan of our local wildlife rehabilitation centre, Wildlife Haven. Most of our donations support the fantastic work they do, persevering under sometimes dire conditions to ensure wildlife returns to the world they love. Everyone has been eagerly awaiting news of the rare lynx that came into care, and I am delighted to report that, although it will not be released back into the wild, it will be a permanent resident at our Assiniboine Park Zoo, where it will have a spacious and suitable home. Read all about that and more in the centre’s latest newsletter. These are inspiring, dedicated individuals! They give me hope, as do so many other centres.
The lynx is making the local news, too. Quite the celebrity! https://youtu.be/No1qBUS6sZE?
Book Alert: For those just joining our community, every evening after Toby’s walk, it is story time. This began when I was trying to coax Calico into trusting me and then, later, when she came into the house. Calico is interesting. She loves story time, but lately the books have not been exciting enough for her to stick around! So today, I have one for you. It is titled Life Changing: Cley and Salthouse Marshes by David North. It is one of many recent publications that are journals examining life on the marshy coast of north Norfolk through a single year. This one weaves the months of the marshes into a beautiful narrative illustrated by nearly thirty excellent artists. The woodblock prints and water colours are worth the price! Of course, I was first drawn to it because of the many entries about geese, but there are frogs, bitterns, all manner of geese and ducks, Avocets, and others, including owls, drawn to the site. It is a place I hope to travel to —near where I lived in Lincolnshire —but you don’t need to live in the UK to appreciate the excellent writing and those gorgeous images!
A lovely little 350 word opinion piece in The Guardian’s Country Diary on Canada Geese! How grand.
Country diary: A lesson in rest from the Canada geese | Josie Georgehttps://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/oct/24/country-diary-a-lesson-in-rest-from-the-canada-geese?CMP=share_btn_url
Thank you so much for being with us and being part of our Bird World community. Please take care. Enjoy the outdoors if the weather permits (and bundle up and get out anyway, even if it doesn’t!). We have to keep these legs moving! Will see you on Monday with a short posting and update on SE35.
I want to extend special thanks to SK Hideaways for their videos. Thank you to ‘B’ for that link to the fabulous video of Akecheta being ringed. Thank you to the individuals and owners of streaming cams, as well as those posting for various FB groups listed in Bold. The Guardian continues to publish informed articles on wildlife and the environment as do many of the authors such as David North. In our chaotic world, it is refreshing to be amongst people who love nature and want to protect its inhabitants.
17 January 2024
Hello Everyone,
Gosh, it warmed up here in Manitoba to a balmy -17 during the day. Everyone was smiling. Seriously, it feels so much warmer than yesterday (I am writing this on Tuesday so Monday). It is now -21 C just after midnight.
‘B’ sent me a note wondering about the falcon investigations and trials. I have mentioned the theft of Peregrine Falcon chicks and eggs sold as if they were bred from captive birds in the UK. There are actually several ongoing cases involving different individuals. And, yes, the time incarcerated is so little it is almost a joke, certainly not a deterrent when these birds are fetching such high prices in the Middle East. Maybe some of the other raptor numbers in decline are due to theft? I wonder how many other countries have nests that are targeted? And why aren’t they breeding their birds in the Middle East? That might help put an end to this despicable behaviour.
The girls are fine and so is The Boyfriend. He came up to the deck to eat Tuesday afternoon instead of having ‘delivery’. There were 13 European Starlings in the garden along with the usual group of garden animals. Everyone seems to have survived the very cold temperatures. I am smiling.
Calico continues to do well on her weight loss programme. She would love to have lots of treats, but she is getting used to have 3 or 4 little nibblers. She finally let me clean her right eye today. Now, will she let me cut her nails tomorrow? Oh, I love this cat. OK. I love them all. Surprise.
Missey enjoyed having a nap by herself while Hugo Yugo and Baby Hope tore up the house playing ‘kitty cat hockey’ with a ball of paper.
Hugo Yugo watching me as I put up paint swatches for the wall behind the cat tree. It is finally time to paint and bring some life to the walls! I just wonder if she will have some other stripes? (I did finally get the little bits off of that eye!). Hugo Yugo still has her round kitten face and she is getting so fuzzy…love the eye line that resembles that of a little osprey.
The top of the cat tree is a 14 x 14 inch square. You can see how tiny this 4.5-month-old kitten is – half the square! Seven inches. Ever so little, but dynamite comes in small packages, and this is one huge character. Hugo Yugo runs her battery down to empty. If there is something to get into, she will find it. The twinkle tree has all its ornaments put on daily so that Hugo Yugo and Baby Hope can tear them off at night. Hugo Yugo seems to have two speeds – zero and 100 kph! Did I say I adore her? She is also the sweetest snuggle bug when her battery is completely flat.
On the other hand, Baby Hope is monster-size for a six-month-old. She has gorgeous almond-shaped, celadon-coloured eyes. She looks so much like Mamma Calico with that teardrop. Baby Hope is the first to come when you call her specific name and the one who always cleans up her food dish. She is a very gentle soul.
There are certain ways that Baby Hope turns her head, and I think, at a glance, that it is Calico. This is one of those.
Congratulations to Pepe and Muhlady on their second egg of the season laid Tuesday afternoon. Hard incubation and good positive wishes for this couple that lost their first clutch.
Ron made sure the nest was stocked for Rita and R6. That little one is a cutie—no word on a pip in the second egg.
With the bad weather, I am very concerned for little C11 at the Captiva Eagle Nest.
‘A’ comments “The only food that was brought in today was the head of a catfish that Connie caught and obviously ate most of herself. She has to eat. The little ones got a few mouthfuls only – perhaps three or four at most for CE11, who did clean up the leftovers and even tried to swallow the bone. (CE10 did finish the ibis bone later in the day.) There has now been virtually no food at all for CE11 for over two days. If he doesn’t eat well tomorrow, he won’t make it. Luckily, the weather is forecast to clear, but it has been a very hard couple of days for the eaglets. CE10 has been no more aggressive than usual, which is a bonus, but if they have a third day like this tomorrow, there will definitely be at least one casualty on this nest, which is horrifying to contemplate. Clive brought nothing in all day, and only one speckled trout the day before (from which CE11 effectively got nothing). So this is a very unexpected situation for Captiva to find itself in… The good news is that both of the PSs I have seen from CE11 today have been healthy. That is something.”
“I’m praying for a large, early fish. Problem is that both parents are hungry too, so like early yesterday morning, when Connie headed off and quickly caught that catfish, only the remnants of its head were brought back to the nest at 08:17. CE11 did get three or four smallish mouthfuls off it – he got himself quickly to the table and it appeared that Connie wants both her babies to live because she was very careful to ensure that he got a little bit of that catfish head. Not much, but she coaxed him to start eating fast, not wait for CE10 to allow it! He also cleaned up a piece that had been left on the nest and even tried to eat a long thin bony bit (he picked any flakes off it first). So a couple of mouthfuls, though as I said, during the day he did do a couple of PSs that looked healthy. He had only two mouthfuls of the partial fish Connie brought in about 4.07pm and apparently spat one of those out. And he got nothing at all from the little piece of fish Clive brought in about 4:13pm. So CE11 has had just enough to survive a little longer. But he must eat and eat properly as early as possible today (17 January). At least both parents ate today and CE10 had enough to eat – just. She is, however, becoming much more aggressive towards CE11, who is in turn becoming increasingly submissive. At the last feeding of the day, around 4.17pm, CE10 got a small but adequate meal, while CE11 was too frightened to even lift his head until the food was pretty much gone. His hunger did drive him to take a few risks today, none of which really paid off for him. I’m very worried, though at least he’s still trying. He is looking a little unsteady though, perhaps suggesting he is getting a little weak and disoriented. Tonight, it is not raining and it is not too cold, so hopefully the little ones will dry out, which should help a bit with energy conservation.”
Ron is at the nest as of Wednesday night. Let us hope that C11 has had enough food and will get more fish tomorrow – oh, please.
Great news. C11 has a huge crop! Life is good.
“Both eaglets have eaten now – you should watch that feeding (from about 08:08). CE11 was so smart. His crop is now actually larger than CE10’s! He has had a big morning – self-feeding, learning to shelter on the far side of Connie, and demonstrating sheer courage in the face of CE10’s aggression. And to cap everything off, he did a PS at around 08:03 that proved he still had something in the reserve tank – he would have made it another day, even had there been nothing to eat today IMHO. I could be wrong, but that’s what his behaviour and his PS suggested to me this morning.”
Small fish delivery by Clive. Every bite keeps C11 going until more food can come on the nest.
More fish came after 0900 and C11 is filling its tank again. C10 has already a huge crop.
There is concern for Ruby and Jack, the Ospreys at Captiva. ’H’ reports, “Ruby was last seen on cam on 1/11. Jack was seen every day until yesterday, and was even bringing fish to the nest, waiting for Ruby. Jack was a no show yesterday. The area has been inundated with really lousy weather for several days. Lori has been at her Captiva home since 12/30. She said that Ospreys in general seem to have vacated the immediate area. Yesterday, the only O seen on cam was an unidentified flyby.”
The weather tapered off at Fort Myers. Little E23 is doing well – has had many full crops. No worries at this nest after the fright over the fish bone the other day.
A dual feeding, something that M15 loves to do! Precious.
R6 is doing fantastic. ’H’ reminds us: ”At Dade: No pip on R7 egg yet…will be 38 days today at 1355.”
At the NEFL nest, both get a fright. Pip watch should not be for another ten days, around the 27th, perhaps – if that egg is viable.ls
https://www.facebook.com/AEFNestCams/videos/1069926117588390/
The annual review of the year from Centreport, New York has been posted on FB. I cannot post those links on my blog but if you are interested, you can go to the FB page of the Centreport Eagles and find it.
No word of a pip coming from Berry College yet.
‘H’ sends news and a video of the storm and damage at Hog Island.
Good news coming out of Port Lincoln. The chick that was at Whaler’s Way fledged and has returned to the nest. Excellent news. This is that very precious nest on the cliffs.
At the Port Lincoln Barge, there were three fish deliveries by 1315. Gil got the breakfast fish at 0641 while Brad took the 1235 delivery by Dad and the large fish at 1315 delivered by Mum!
Condor in care doing well.
I am loving seeing all the birds from where I grew up. There were so many hawks then. Look at this beautiful image below. You might think it is a Red-tailed Hawk if you did not look at ‘the tail’. Look. It is a ‘Red shouldered’ Hawk and isn’t she a beauty? Wow.
The weather in Oklahoma dipped to 0 degrees F but felt like -17 F with the wind chill on Tuesday.
Big Red and Arthur were out with another hawk on the Cornell Campus on Tuesday. When it is cold the little critters hunker down. Big Red in all her glory. I am putting the photograph Suzanne took of the ‘visitor’ below. It has light eyes and could well be one of the Ms visiting the nest area. Big Red and Arthur did not seem to be concerned.
It’s cold everywhere and people are looking to feed the birds to help them make it through the freezing weather. Here is another recipe, a Vegan one, for bird suet.
Geemeff sent me this article showing the lovely poster that people received for supporting the efforts to get the mice off Marion Island.
The December count for the Albatross at the Midway Atoll is in!
What has Audubon Florida been up over the past year? Here is a copy of the latest edition of The Naturalist. Have a look.
White-tailed Eagle flying over Wales gives everyone a wonderful surprise. “White-tailed Eagle formerly bred in Wales, but has been absent since the 16th century. The recent reintroduction programme on the Isle of Wight has seen birds spread throughout southern England, resulting in the first English breeding record for 240 years in 2023.”
Thank you so much for being with me today. Take care of yourself. Stay warm and safe during these periods of extreme cold weather wherever you are. We hope to have you back with us soon.
Thank you to the following for their notes, videos, posts, images, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog today: ‘A, B, Geemeff, H, J’, Raptor Persecution UK, Gracie Shepherd, WRDC, Window to Wildlife, SW Florida Eagle Cam, SK Hideaways, WRDC, NEFL-AEF, Berry College Eagle Cam, Friends of Hog Island, PLO, Ventana Wildlife Society, Oklahoma Ornithological Society, Suzanne Arnold Horning, Real Gardens, Saving Marion Island’s Seabirds, USFWS, Audubon Florida, and Bird Guides.
6 September 2023
Good Morning and what a grand morning it is!
I finished reading to the kittens – yes, did you know that reading aloud to your pets is also soothing for them? Calico’s kitten is now learning about ways to save our vanishing birds by listening to A Wing and a Prayer. The Race to Save our Vanishing Birds by Anders and Beverly Gyllenhaal. You can find time to squeeze in a good book by sharing with your pets!
The book is well written and insightful. I am learning so much. Did you know that more than 8,000 species of plants and flowers in the Americas depend on hummingbirds for pollination? Or that productivity in apple orchards goes up 66% if there are insects? The book is about finding ways to keep the birds alive because human life depends on that. In Kauai, there are only a few hundred Puaiohi Thrushes. These birds spread seeds around the island, creating the rainforest. “Without forests, we have no flood control. We have no drinking water.” (219) Baby Cal is learning what we all need to – first, how important our wildlife area to our existence, what problems we have created for them, what a lack of balance means to our existence and theirs, and how some talented individuals are figuring out ways to save some of these fragile creatures. So how will they save the Puaiohi Thrush? By releasing lab-bred mosquitoes. AI is being used in the Sierra Nevada to track and protect the Spotted Owl.
I had just finished a chapter when I noticed a note from ‘H’. Was I surprised? Then another note about Collins Street. Thanks so much, ‘H’
Port Lincoln has their first egg!!!!!!!! I am overjoyed and I am hopeful that we might see a big change in the behaviour of this nest unless, of course, the fish supply is limited. From Ernie’s recent catches that does not appear to be the case.
I am so happy for Mum. Nesting material had been brought in so this new couple had some idea that yesterday was the big day.
Dad was there by her side. I am going to like this guy if he is a good provider and there is no siblicide.
We are expecting an egg at 367 Collins Street and guess what? It arrives. We have lift-off in Australia!!!!!!!!!!!!
Spotting Ospreys: Blue 550 hatched at Llyn Clywedog in 2020 was seen and is believed to have a nest in mid-Wales. Fantastic.
Migration continues in the US. These are the latest numbers from Hawk Mountain.
Checking on some of the Osprey nests – who is home and who is not.
Patchogue: Mini is home and Dad has been seen down by the lake. Someone mentioned that Mom might still be around as several Ospreys were seen flying. Mini continues to adapt as she struggles with that left leg – often late in the day. She certainly does better after having a long rest on the nest! She is flying, she is eating – whether or not it is dad feeding her, Mini catching fish or both – she is eating. She is not lethargic. Mini is doing what this spunky independent determined fourth hatch always does – she gets on with it. She is living her life as a fledgling osprey the best she can with the issues that she has.
Mini landing at 1909.
Beautiful Iris is still home at her nest in Missoula Montana. Iris maintains one of the most splendid Osprey nests I have ever seen. Just like some of the others she is adding a few sticks to continue to lay claim to the nest. Soon, she will fly south – thought to be the oldest osprey in the world – we live in the hope that she will return in late March or early April and maybe, just maybe, have one of those young men waiting for her that she met this summer.
Iris demonstrated her great fishing skills even when there were flood waters. What marvellous fish she brought to the owl pole. The result, if you look carefully, is a fat little bottom. Eat up, Iris! We want you to make it to your winter home in southern Texas (??) safely and in good shape.
Of course, Iris is not ringed and no one knows for sure where she over winters but it is believed it could be the southern part of Texas and not further afield in Central America or Mexico.
Glaslyn: Aran is still home and so is 0H1 as of the time of this writing. OH1 is 98 days old. OH2 has not been seen since 4 September when he was 95 days old. That nest looks rather empty! Waiting to see if OH1 is still home on the 6th of September.
Harry is still delivering to Chirpy as of Tuesday. Chirpy was 103 days old. Both siblings and Mum have left on migration from Alyth.
Here comes Harry!
That amazing Dad is bringing fish to Mum on the nest at Boulder County Fairgrounds. What a loving couple and what better way to help your mate with a safe migration than to help her eat well after raising three strong osplets this season to fledge.
Snap and Crackle are both eating fish at the Dunrovin Osprey nest. T hanks, Swoop!
Fledgling fish calling at Collins Marsh – and still being fed! It was a really windy day in Wisconsin. You can’t tell the trees are blowing but look at the feathers of the juvenile. Fantastic.
‘H’ brings us up to date on Molly and Dorsett:
Kent Island 9/5 – Molly flew to the nest at 0625, fish-called a bit, then she flew away 20 minutes later. That was the last time she was seen at the nest. She was soon spotted on a nearby boat lift. In the evening, the cam focused for a long time on an osprey in the distance on a pole, but it was unclear if it was Molly.
Barnegat Light 9/5 – At 0735 Duke delivered a fish to Dorsett at the nest, and she flew to Duke’s perch to eat her breakfast. Dorsett did return to the nest a couple of times, but sightings of her were scant throughout the day. Dorsett arrived back at the nest early to wait for her much anticipated 7 p.m. dinner fish, but her dinner never arrived. As the sun was setting over the bay, Dorsett resigned herself to going to sleep hungry, and she spent the night perched on one of the camera braces.
Do you live near Cornell University at Ithaca NY? Have children aged 8-18? Check this out! What an amazing opportunity for young people. In the book, Lead! Finding your Voice a Chaotic World by Barry Dore, Tim Mackrill, talks about the opportunities he had as a young person to volunteer and learn about raptors. It changed his life and led him to create opportunities for young people through his charity Osprey Leadership Foundation.
This event at Cornell is another super opportunity to get young people involved who might become our future conservationists.
The seat eaglets were up for an early morning walk about and then back to the duckling resting position waiting for breakfast.
‘A’ comments on part of the day including the self-feeding of 31: “
At 15:38, as Lady is looking around in a very agitated manner at something near the nest tree, at about the same height as the nest, SE32 starts eating the food she has in her talons. He is giving this self-feeding thing a try, having closely watched his sister eating prey that looked the same as this (he was just TOO TOO funny – ducking down with his head under her tail to peer between her legs and watch her doing very well indeed at her first self-feeding).
SE32 pecks at the food a few times but all he can reach is a leg, and no matter how many times he picks it up, he cannot work out how to eat it. So he moves closer. SE31 is paying close attention to this – she has reached out for the food once or twice herself but is not in as good a position now as SE32 is. Lady is very upset by something and paying no attention to the food or the chicks. SE32 has moved further forward. He is up on his feet now, self-feeding on the meaty bit. Lady resuming feeding him, even though she continues to be distracted by something. SE32 remains right up on his feet while he takes the bites.
Shortly before 15:40 Lady resumes feeding SE31. SE32 turns and moves away from SE31 a little but then turns back to face the table and Lady. He just wanted space between himself and his sister. But he gets offered no bites. At 15:41:24 he tries unsuccessfully to steal a big bite, but overbalances and falls forward, correcting himself with his outstretched wings. Lady still feeds SE31. At 15:41:30, he tries to steal another bite. Again, he fails. The next bite, he grabs incredibly fast. No-one else had a chance. He got given the one after that, then his sister gets a bite. The one after that is a big piece and destined for SE32. He grabs it and works hard to swallow it.
Lady is still very distracted. Periodically, she gives SE32 a bite. Both eaglets have good crops now. At 15:42:34, SE32 grabs a really big piece. He swallows it with relative ease, as Lady doesn’t even bother trying to retrieve it from him. There is still an amazing amount of meat on this carcass. The two have eaten well. Both have good crops but both are still keen to keep eating. SE32 is very brave, diving for every bite and winning most of them, especially all of the really big pieces. Lady occasionally gives a bite to SE31, but she is not competing with SE32 and is largely just watching him grab and swallow.
At 15:44, SE32 grabs a large piece of meaty flesh with a longish leg and a foot attached!! He horked the lot with no trouble at all. By 15:44:30 he is back competing for and winning bites. Lady is feeding both eaglets plenty of food but overall, SE32 is getting the better of the feeding at this point. He is winning most of the bites that are competed for and Lady is offering him way more bites than she is SE31, who is sitting back a bit by now.
At 15:46, SE32 swallows the second leg and foot, also with flesh attached, though not as much as was attached to the first leg. Still, he swallows it without difficulty. Within 10 seconds, he is taking the last few bites from Lady and cleaning the table of leftovers. The feeding is over by 15:48. Both chicks have very large crops, and SE32 has already done a couple of small crop drops during the feeding to fit in extra food. That second piece of prey had a really large amount of flesh on it. The head was gone, but the body provided a great deal of food. Both eaglets have had plenty to eat today.
There may be more food – I will check. But they did well for the day – eventually – and both will go to bed with full crops. “
‘A’ reports on the Royal Albatross Chick, Manaaki: “GLY may have been in today to feed Manaaki off camera but we’re not sure. We know GLY has fed Manaaki behind the camera at least once recently. The chicks are a lot more mobile now and are doing a lot of exploring as they prepare to fledge. It is starting to get scary when Manaaki is off camera for six hours or more on occasion – we think he might have fledged and we missed it! He still has about a fortnight to go until he reaches 240 days, but of course at least four chicks have already fledged from the 33 at the colony and Manaaki is one of the oldest (and though he does have a lot of fluff remaining, QT did too). He has not done enough wingercising, in my opinion, and still needs to be doing a lot more practising. We need to see much better hovering, and face-planting is an undignified landing for an albatross. I think he has quite a lot of work to do before he is ready to fledge. Let’s hope he doesn’t leave before he is good and ready, but often, it is the winds that determine the timing. As with Lilibet (QT). “
Beautiful Gabby. What a lovely couple – I miss Samson. But life moves on and we have the most amazing memories of him. Gabby mourned last year and took her time selecting a new mate out of the many contenders. Let us hope that V3 is up to the task. He has big talons to fill.
Lady Hawk caught Gabby bringing in her breakfast.
No one is home. Louis, Dorcha, and Ludo are on their way with only Sparrowhawks visiting the nest. Look at this beautiful capture over the nest as the sun rises. Stunning.
Visiting Sparrowhawk.
We always need to be reminded, especially with there still being hot days in many parts of the world, of how we can help wildlife. Please read and keep them in mind. Water is essential. Water and some shade.
Let’s see how much you know about Condor numbers! (Answers below)
Do you want to know more about the efforts to protect and grow the California Condor community? In 2022, the Ventana Wildlife Society commissioned a documentary to be made to introduce people to the Condors of the Big Sur. They are working on another film in 2023 called Condor Canyon. It isn’t finished but, for now, why not check, out Part 1 of the 2022 film. You can find the other segments on YT by doing a search or checking on the side panel.
Thank you so much for being with me today. Please take care. See you soon!
Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog today: “A, Geemeff, H’, PLO, 367 Collins Street by Mirvac, John Williams and Clywedog Osprey Group, Hawk Mountain, PSEG, Bywyd Gwylld Glaslyn, Alyth, Boulder County Fair Grounds, Dunrovin Ranch, Collins Marsh, Kent Island, Conserve Wildlife F of NJ, Cornell University Bird Lab Raptor Program, Sydney Sea Eagles, NEFL-AEF, Lady Hawk and NEFL-AEF, Geemeff and The Woodland Trust, Ventana Wildlife Society, and Durham Wildlife Trust.
Answers to the three question Condor number quiz: 1. The answer is e. 559 total number of Condors. 2. The answer is b. 345 live in the wild. 3. The answer is a. 93 live in the wild in central California.
24 April 2023
Good Morning Everyone!
Thank you so much for being here with us today. We hope that the week is starting out well for each and every one of you!
Mr Crow and a friend have returned. He has been yelling at me all day. It is unclear whether he wants his cheesy dogs or his cat kibble but he is making quite a ruckus right above my head as I write this. The first Common Grackle of the year has appeared in the garden along with the normal array of Dark-eyed Juncos, Sparrows, European Starlings and woodpeckers. I can see Little Red running through the lilacs to get to the suet while Dyson and the gang are hovering around on the ground. They much prefer the Black Oil seed when they have finished all the peanuts.
Hatchery Mum and Dad and DH2 give us another cute moment with their family portrait from Sunday. Isn’t it beautiful? That adorable little eaglet. So precious after the tragedies of last year with HPAI.
The award for the most diligent mother of the week has to go to Sally at Moorings Park who is always feeding her osplets, Abby and Victor, even at 11pm!!!!!!!
On Monday morning, the new unringed female, nicknamed ‘Dot’ at the Glaslyn Osprey platform, will be given an official name! She has now been with Aran for more than a week. It has been a joy watching the two get acquainted and bond; this is terrific news. Wonder what the name will be?
New nesting material is in and Aran has perfected handing over the fish to his new mate. All we need are some lovely eggs in that nest now!
The new female is named Elen. “Our new Glaslyn female now has a name! She will be called Elen, named after Yr Elen a mountain in the Carneddau range in Eryri (Snowdonia). As you will be aware, Aran is named after Yr Aran another mountain in Eryri.”
Their story unfolded quickly as Elen laid her first egg this morning at 10:37! What a brilliant start with a new name, too.
Dorcha has laid her second egg at Loch Arkaig with her mate Louis.
Sasha Dench is in Guinea. She has discovered why water and climate change are important to the Ospreys that migrate between the UK and West Africa. Have a listen. You will learn a lot about how our changing world impacts everything! We are all interconnected.
Flo left the Captiva Osprey nest around noon on Sunday. She looked down at the only egg that – well, it would take a miracle if it was viable – and flew off. Angus has returned to the nest. He is on the perch in the last image. The couple was seen together in the nearby trees. Their bond is essential. They can begin again next year. It was a rough season for everyone at Captiva this year.
The situation at Dale Hollow continues to weigh heavily on people’s minds and our hearts. The American Eagle Foundation and the Tampa Raptor Centre offered expert climbers to go to the site and remediate the issue. The nest is on public land, US Army land, accessed by a road through private property.
There is more news coverage of what is happening to the eaglets and letters are now going out to everyone who wrote advocating for the eaglets. I want to thank each of you from the bottom of my heart to the tip of my tiny toe for taking the time – for your love and your caring for our wildlife. You could just as easily close your eyes and ignore everything. You didn’t. We may not win this one, but we cannot give up. In an ideal situation, that monofilament line comes off. River breaks it and removes the mess from the nest. That is the perfect solution. If that does not happen, and it hasn’t yet, we must seek help for those who cannot ask for it themselves. I am so proud to be in such excellent company as all of you.
I have just opened my evening’s e-mail to find a host of similar letters and notices of television news coverage in Tennessee. We owe it to the eaglets not to give up. I have said that twice. It is crucial. Everything takes longer than we want. Bureaucracy takes time – and nothing happens on the weekend. Not even for Dr Sharpe!
Here is the letter going out to those who contacted Tennessee Wildlife Resources. Thank you to everyone who sent me their copy. It takes an army! Last year when I posted letters on my blog, DH labelled them as ‘fake news’. The letter below is not fake – many of you will have received the same one from the official.
Thank you for sharing your concerns. The Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency (TWRA) was notified of an eaglet tangled in fishing line by viewers of a Dale Hollow live eagle camera on Friday, April 22. TWRA staff who received the notification immediately contacted Agency staff responsible for wildlife conservation. The Agency also notified our partners at the US Fish and Wildlife Service and the American Eagle Foundation about the eaglet.
TWRA is actively monitoring the situation and is in communication with federal wildlife authorities. Although no longer listed on the federal list of endangered or threatened species, both bald eagles and golden eagles are protected by the Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act and the Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Due to their federally regulated status, the US Fish and Wildlife Service is the agency with oversite and authority in cases of eagles in distress.
Federal laws prohibit the disturbance of eagles and their nests, which includes any substantial interference with normal breeding, feeding, or sheltering behavior. Any rescue attempt would be considered a disturbance of natural behavior, and therefore requires federal permitting to take place. Additionally, only individuals who have been properly certified are allowed to climb to eagle nests for the safety of the individual and the eagles.
Disturbing the nest, even for a rescue attempt, comes with significant risks. Nestlings may be startled by human activity near the nest and prematurely jump from the nest before they are able to fly or care for themselves. This could result in the death of both nestlings. Adult eagles can also become territorial or defensive of the nest, and attack humans who attempt to approach the nest.
Live wildlife cameras serve as an important education tool for members of the public to safely view nature. However, from time to time, the public may see the disturbing footage of sick, injured, orphaned, or otherwise distressed wildlife as part of the natural course of events. Unfortunately, the eaglet in this situation was tangled in a piece of litter. TWRA always encourages individuals enjoying the outdoors to properly dispose of any trash to prevent injury to wildlife. Littering on public property carries varied offenses ranging from misdemeanor to felony charges.
This is a developing situation, requests for additional information should be directed to the agency with jurisdiction, the US Fish and Wildlife Service. Federal officials are aware of the situation and any additional decisions or action on the issue will be made by the US Fish and Wildlife Service with the full cooperation of TWRA.
Respectfully,
Emily Buck
Director of Communications and Outreach
Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency 5107 Edmondson Pike, Nashville, TN 37211
Because of you more news agencies are picking up the story. Why not be the heroes and help the eaglets?
More news this morning:
As of this morning, DH18 is still in the same position on the nest it has been for days with the entanglement materials underneath it – in other words, DH18 continues to be tethered to the nest. River dropped the fish and was dealing with intruders.
I would love to be posting all those amazing images of the Es but they belong to the photographers that took them. Please head over to the SW Florida Eagle Cam FB page to see what the Es and M15 are doing off camera. They are amazing!
Vijay caught the breakfast delivery on Sunday! Listen to those eaglets as they know M15 is on his way!
It is Sunday afternoon in Iowa and all eyes are on every twitch that Mother Goose is making.
Mother Goose was up for her evening break but was not gone very long at all.
It is 0715 and there is a big pip and a crack in one of the Goose eggs at Decorah! Yippeeee. Thanks ‘A’ for the head’s up.
‘H’ reports that R4 had a good feed yesterday. Continuing good news for this eaglet at Miami.
Nesting is also beginning at the Osoyoos Osprey Platform in British Columbia.
You have to love the Cal Falcon feedings. Two for you and then two for you and wait, yes, two for you. As ‘H’ reminds me I have always said if you want a peaceful nest watch the falcons and the hawks! And just imagine – it is not long until we have pip watch for Big Red and Arthur!
Great video by SK Hideaways of this little number three – feisty!
Wondering which egg is which of Big Red and Arthur’s? Cornell tweeted their ID.
Sunday was happy hatch day for two California Condors. One is one of my all-time favourites, Phoenix 477. He is the mate of Redwood Queen, the mother of Iniko (with Kingpin, who died in the Dolan Fire). Phoenix got his name because he also survived a tragic wildfire. He and Redwood Queen raised #1174 in Pinnacles (a new nest for them) in 2022.
Karl II and Kaia continue their bonding and getting their strength back after their long migration from their winter homes in central Africa.
The Pitkin County Osprey Platform had its second egg today. The nest is located on a platform in Roaring Park Valley, Colorado. Last year both osplets were pulled off the nest when nesting material attached to them was attached also to the female. One died and the other survived to be released this spring.
One of those heart warming stories that we would like to see happen everywhere! The leg of the eaglet was lodged in the nest material. The AEF came to the rescue.
There is lots of wing flapping going on at the Duke Farms Bald Eagle nest. Not branching yet. Soon.
The plumage is not nearly that of Duke Farms but the Dulles-Greenway Eaglets are standing very well on that nest. Just look at those healthy eaglets. Three of them!
Haven’t checked on Cassidy and Sundance at Farmer Derek’s GHO nest for awhile. Gosh, they are looking out to the world beyond that nest today.
A visitor came to the Achieva Osprey nest Sunday. The distinctive heart-shaped head looks like the head of Tiny Tot Tumbles hatched in 2021. She was the third hatch many believed had died of starvation on the nest at least three times. She did not and became not only the dominant chick but also the defender of this nest against adult birds during the summer of 2021. It sure looks like her head with the narrow white stripes and the dark heart!
The osplets at Achieva had one fish on Saturday, and Jack delivered a fish at 2009 on Sunday. The eldest continues its aggression due to a shortage of fish in the nest. We must remember that Mum, who feeds the chicks, is also hungry. This nest remains very precarious.
There is good news coming out of the KNF E1 nest of Anna and Louis. Trey has been on the nest jumping about. Way to go, Trey!
Kathryn has reported that Lake Murray had its third osplet hatch Sunday afternoon!
Jackie and Shadow continue to visit their nest in Big Bear Valley. We will all look forward to the late fall and the next breeding season for them. Regardless of eggs, chicks or not, it is always good to see Jackie and Shadow!
Congratulations to Llyn Brenig on the second egg of the 2023 season laid Sunday afternoon.
Continue sending your best wishes to the nests with issues – Achieva and Dale Hollow. Tomorrow keep Bald Canyon in your thoughts as an attempt will be made to rescue the eaglet that fell from the nest. We hope that it is still alive.
Thank you so very much for being with me today as we flitted about the nests that we have been watching. There are positively some many things happening internationally in Bird World that it is hard to keep up. I hope at the beginning of the week to check on all those UK Osprey nests closer and also the ones in Finland. Take care all. See you soon!
I want to thank everyone for their notes, their tweets, posts, videos, and streaming cams that helped to make up my blog today: Kathryn, A, H, B, L, S, T, J, W, WRDC, Osoyoos Osprey Cam, Raptor Resource Project and Explore.org, Moorings Park Ospreys, Bywyd Gwylld Glaslyn, Mary Kerr and Friends of Loch Arkaig, Conservation without Borders, Windows to Wildlife, Sylvia Jarzomkowske and Bale Eagles Live Nests and Cams, Nicole Norment Whittemore and Bald Eagles Live Nests and Cams, SW Florida Eagle Cam, Vijay and SW Florida Eagle Cam, Decorah Goose Cam, Cal Falcons, SK Hideaways and Cal Falcons, @CornellHawks, Ventana Wildlife Society, Eagle Club of Estonia, Sydney Wells and Bald Eagles Live Nests and Cams, Carol Craig and Osprey Friends, Albert Li and Big Bear, Duke Farms, Dulles-Greenway Eagles, Farmer Derek Owl Cam, Achieva Credit Union, KNF-Ei, Llyn Brenig Ospreys, and FOBBV.
30 January 2022
Good Morning Everyone,
I hope that you had a good weekend. Maybe you were able to go outside and see the birds. Perhaps you watched from your windows like I did with all our cold and wind. They bring us such joy and remember – if you are stressed out by anything just stop and visit with your local feathered friends or tune in to your favourite streaming cam.
It is pretty clear that Zoe has left Port Lincoln to start her independent life. WBSE30 is doing great in care, and there is a new Osprey streaming cam for you coming from Naples, Florida. So much happening and we are just getting ready to ramp up for eaglets fledging and osplets hatching! It will be a little crazy.
Making News:
Beautiful WBSE 30 is really thriving in rehab. Just look at how gorgeous she is (lighter bird in front). There are two separate and slightly different postings. Thanks, ‘H’ for alerting me to this!
There is a new Osprey nest!!!!!!!!!!
There is a new Osprey streaming cam in Naples, Florida. It is Harry and Sally and as of the 29th of January the couple have two eggs. Will there be a third tomorrow? The first was laid on the 24th at 0615 and the second on the 27th so tomorrow will be the day if there are to be three.
The EU Court has ruled that trapping finches in Malta is against the law and is not research. This is excellent news.
Did you know that until the middle of 2021 it was legal to trap songbirds in France with those inhumane sticky glue papers? This victory in France that made glue trapping illegal and the EU Court ruling on the Malta case is all good news. We cannot give up the fight to have our wildlife treated humanely. It takes time and effort but, they need us. And we need them!
Many groups trying to increase biodiversity in the UK and various nature and birding groups in North America are working hard to protect wetlands and, in some cases, to increase the amount of and number of wetlands so that our waterfowl can live. It is, thus, with some sadness that some of the few wetlands in the Middle East are drying up. Specialists in California say that even with the recent torrential rains and flooding, it might well not be enough to overcome the drought that threatens that State. What does all this mean for our wildlife?
How much do you know about feathers? Are you aware that many vets around the world have feather collections – especially if they work with many raptors. Those feathers are used to replace lost primary and secondary feathers (as well as others) to injured birds. Feathers are invaluable and having a library collection of them is one way of helping birds to return to the wild.
An Indian woman, Esha Munshi, has started a feather library in India. It is the first in the country and will be used as a resource, not as a site for replacement feathers. Read about why this feather library is important in a world when species are going extinct.
It is a strange morning, this Sunday, 29 January on the Canadian Prairies. Not only is it desperately cold at -32 C but, I also find myself thinking about Zoe, the fledgling Osprey from Port Lincoln. Zoe is not without controversy. The siblicide of both Little and Middle polarised many viewers. As one reader put it, ‘She is living for three’. She certainly is. I have received more letters about this single Osprey than all of the other raptors put together. So, I will say what collectively those that sent e-mails or made comments have said – I want Zoe to not only be the largest female osprey ever ringed in South Australia but, for the sake of her siblings, I want her to become the longest living osprey in the history of Australia. I want her to raise many chicks to fledge. Then it would have been all worth it.
It is pretty clear that Zoe flew north yesterday at 07:55:34 and left Port Lincoln for good. What motivates these fledglings to leave when they do? and why head in the direction that she did? Was it the winds? The water appeared to be rather choppy yesterday. We are awaiting an update from her sat-pal when Australia wakes up in several hours.
The nest is empty at Port Lincoln and Dad is having some quiet time in the shed. I have not seen an update on Zoe but will check for tomorrow!
Zoe is definitely not returning to the natal nest at the barge in Port Lincoln. This is her latest tracking:
Zoe has crossed the Eyre Peninsula flying across the inland where there would have been little or no opportunities for food. Incredible…Perhaps she knows a secret and it is faster to get to Mount Hope this way??? She is now on the West Coast which is a good place for Ospreys. Eat well, Zoe!
This is the posting by Friends of Osprey:
Connick has had a wonderful Sunday. There has been lots of good fish and he or she went to bed with a crop the size of a large golf ball. Connie has really stepped up the feedings and the little one is no longer covered in sticky fish juice. Such a little sweetheart.
You can see Connick’s ear. That lighter round circle on the side of the head below the eye. This ear will be covered with feathers.
I did almost choke when I saw the ‘something’ wrapped around Connick’s wing. My palms began to sweat but…is it nesting material? It looks like string to me. Whatever it is, it is off Connick’s wing and I hope it does not return.
Connick is growing. I have said like a ‘bad weed’ for several blogs now but, it is true. Once Connie got on to the feeding and did so with gusto, the little one just sprouted.
Much of the soft natal feathers is disappearing. We can see that thick Matty thermal down coming in on Connick’s nest and chest. And just look at those beautiful eyes and beak. We have come a long way from the little chick we worried over with fish juice everywhere.
Can you see that golf ball size crop? Connick has sported one after every feeding today it seems.
It didn’t start off raining in Louisiana. It was rather a nice day with Valentine and 02. We can see the difference in the juvenile feathers coming in. These two are adorable. Life on the KNF E3 nest is good. Alex and Andria have proven to be capable parents.
By noon the drops were starting to fall and the rain just got heavier. At the KNF-E3 nest Andria tried her hardest to keep Valentine and 02 dry but, to no avail. They are simply too big to fit under Mum!
The rain didn’t stop Alex from bringing in a fish for the family. Well done, Alex!
Oh, the nest of Anna and Louis KNF-E1 got really soggy, too.
Sunday was a beautiful day in central Florida. Pearl and Tico are growing so fast. They really have their juvenile feathers now and even though they can feed themselves, one of the parents seems to also like to still be with their eaglets. It is not long until they will fledge – Pearl is 53 days old and Tico is 52 days old. The average fledge age for Florida eagles is 77 days. It is hoped that the pair will spend another month at the nest getting fed and learning to hunt prey and getting their wings strong.
They are seriously gorgeous siblings. They have beautiful shiny ebony beaks, nice yellow lip surrounds, bright black eyes, and gorgeous ebony-espresso juvenile feathers. They are healthy. And they sure look happy!
As the sun sets over the nest, everyone has eaten. It was a good day.
At the Captiva Osprey nest, Mabel and Angus were on alert today. It is prime real estate. Hopefully there are no territorial battles for this young couple. No eggs as the sun set on Sunday.
No eggs at the Achieva Credit Union osprey platform in St Petersburg either. Jack and Diane were on and off the nest and at one time it appeared an intruder might have landed when they were away.
There can sometimes be strange creatures on the Southwest Florida Eagle nest that will be lunch. As we all know, Eagles do not waste anything and they often bring carrion (dead animals) to the nest such as road kill. Once last year M15 brought in a domestic cat. I do not know what is on the nest today on the right side!
‘A’ was right…both Es are sporting Mohawks today! Thanks for the heads up, ‘A’.
Shadow decided enough was enough and he wanted some incubation time with the precious eggs. So what does Shadow do?
As the approaching storm begins to get closer and closer and the winds were gusting, Jackie and Shadow get ready to hang tight.
The little eaglet, Boots, at the Webster TX Bald Eagle nest did get some prey today. I was quite worried. It seemed that Ringo – who is MUCH bigger – was the only one getting fed and little Boots was hunkered down in the nest not eating. But, Boots did get fed! Fantastic.
What do we think? A BIG sister and a ‘tiny’ little brother? Lots of fish on the nest and part of a Coot.
Here is the link to the discussion and talks that took place on the 26th with the Ventana Wildlife Society and the Condor Crew. There are currently 93 California Condors free flying. There has been one death this year. 5 January 2023 was the date that Wassak died from lead poisoning. The Ventana Wildlife Society supplies free lead-free ammunition to farmers and ranches in the Condor areas of California. Why then do they die of lead poisoning? It has to be so frustrating. Funds have been received for VWS to hire a position to further push information and free ammunition to stop these horrific deaths.
All of the nests appear to be doing well. We have the first Osprey eggs in Florida at the new Moorings Park nest in Naples. We are waiting for eggs for Captiva and Achieva. The first one should be laid at Achieva this week. All of the eaglets on the nest are doing well including little Boots where the pecking and plucking has stopped. Boots has some catching up to do and I know that we will all send good wishes his way for just that! Join me also in wishing Zoe a good and long life. Mum and Dad will now be able to get a much needed break and get back in shape for August/September and eggs!
Thank you so very much for joining me today. Please take care of yourselves. See you soon!
Thank you to the following for their tweets, posts, videos, and streaming cams that make up my screen captures and blog: ‘H’, Raptor Recovery Australia, Moorings Park Osprey Nest Naples, FL, @Birdlife_Malta, The Guardian, Friends of Osprey, Port Lincoln Ospreys, Window to Wildlife, KNF-E3, KNF-E1, Superbeaks, Achieva Credit Union, SWFL Bald Eagles and D Pritchett, FOBBV, SK Hideawys and FOBBV, Paul White and the Webster Texas Eagle Watchers, and The Ventana Wildlife Society.
13 July 2022
It was really fantastic to hear from ‘B’ that there are super donations going into Ojai Raptor Centre for Victor from the Fraser Point Nest on Catalina Island and for Little Bit ND17 who is in care at Humane Indiana Wildlife. They are much loved not-so-little eagles. Forever grateful to those that work in the wildlife rehabilitation clinics donating their time and volunteering so that the wildlife get the very best care they can have. They do it with love, not for money.
Victor made the newspapers today! California loves its raptors and it is always encouraging to see stories about the Big Bear Valley Eagles – the antics of Spirit and her parents, Jackie and Shadow and those ever adorable Cal Falcons – Annie, Alden, Grinnell Jr and Lindsay.
Here is that link:
Again, some of those amazing eagles and ospreys get forgotten when there is a crisis. Takoda is one gorgeous fledgling. Mr President continues to supply him with wonderful fish. Looks like an early morning catfish.
Wonder if Dad will bring in a dinner fish?
Lancer is on the rocks by the Two Harbours nest late this afternoon.
It doesn’t look like there is anyone home at the West End Bald Eagle nest of Thunder and Akecheta.
If you love California Condors, the Condor Cam is up and running and there are Condors in the trees around the site. They are often there feeding on carcasses provided for them by the Ventana Wildlife Society.
Here is the link to the camera in Big Sur:
This is a very quick look at a few nests this afternoon. I have spent the day creating a flight path for the garden birds – and there is a huge mess to clear up. I hope that everyone is well. Check in on your favourite birds. Many are about and still coming to the nests for food. Take care. See you soon!
Thank you to the following for their streaming cams and/or FB pages where I took my screen captures: Explore.org and the Institute for Wildlife Studies, Ventana Wildlife Society, and the NADC-AEF.
7 June 2022
This blog is mostly about Little Bit 17. It has been a good day for our little trooper!!!!!!
Little Bit 17 (formally known as ND17) at the ND-LEEF nest is 63 days old today. Big is 68 days old and Middle is 67 days old. Little Bit is decidedly behind in food from the two older eagles and he might well be a third of their size but that does not stop him. I call these third hatches ‘The Little Eaglets that Could’. Little Bit 17 has no idea he is small. No one sat down with him and explained size ratios, lack of development due to lack of food, etc. Now, some people might think it is a bad thing that Little Bit is a little eaglet. Perhaps not. He is decidedly quick- he can snatch and grab the prey before the two big eaglets. He is also extremely intelligent – he has learned to read the environment and know when to go in after the prey rather than get injured. Great lessons for the future. Later on he will be able to get that prey and fly off with it.
Today ‘something with a pelt’ came on the ND-LEEF nest. The older siblings simply cannot be bothered to work hard for food. That is another huge difference. Because Little Bit has been so hungry, he will eat things that the older two, more privileged will not. That really ticks the box for survivor for me.
At 13:41:08, Little Bit 17 grabs that squirrel pellet and works on it. At 13:56:23 he horks it down! Don’t worry. He will not choke. You have probably seen falcons being fed feathers, etc. The raptors do not waste a thing. Each has a purpose. In her book, The Hawk’s Way by Sy Montgomery she reminds us that people do not have to hunt but hawks do and so do eagles and all of the raptors. They live by four rules in the wild: Hunt hard. Kill Swiftly. Waste Nothing. Offer no Apologies.
Little Bit 17 watches the older sibling eating. He sits waiting. It must be 15 because the two of them tolerate one another rather well.
Little Bit 17 has taken the pelt and is eating it. The older sibling does not care.
Little Bit 17 works away on his meal – grateful to have food today!
At 14:47:54 Little Bit takes a UFO that lands on the nest!
But wait. At 14:55:39 Mom brings in a Rock Bass. The older siblings look at it but no takers. Little Bit waits and watches. When he is sure that 16 is not going to rip him up if he gets near it, Little Bit 17 moves in and takes that fish. Little Bit ate the whole thing.
The Rock Bass has arrived.
One of the older siblings checks out the Rock Bass but doesn’t want to have to unzip it. Meanwhile 17 is watching —–and you can bet that Mum is watching what is going on, too.
Little Bit has the fish. He is mantling.
Little Bit is pulling it over to the porch where he feels safe. He will eat the entire fish.
Little Bit has a huge crop. Isn’t it wonderful. In fact, Little Bit has been eating most of the day. He should definitely be energized. Let us all hope that this warrior of an eaglet will get as much food tomorrow!!!!!!!
The struggle that this little eaglet has made to live is inspiring. We should all sit back and take a page out of his playbook. Little Bit never gave up – never!!!!!! Little Bit is grateful for any and all food that he gets. He has taken each day and has made the best he could out of it. When there was no food for several days, he rested saving up the energy he had until food did arrive. Little Bit 17 is pretty amazing.
There is good news coming out of the UK. One of the Salisbury Cathedral eyases fell from the scrape. It is hard to imagine that it was not injured. Have a read:
L1 is going to give everyone a heart attack. She is going to fledge any moment.
Middle remains on the UFlorida-Gainesville Osprey nest. He is inspired also and has been taking prey items and not deferring to Big. Confidence is growing and growing. Like L1, he is going to fledge any moment.
The population of Condors is so very fragile. To lose one is a real tragedy. Condors clean up the ‘dead’ – the carrion like the Vultures, Eagles, and other birds like Corvids. They are highly susceptible to lead poisoning. Help make the world a better place – tell your friends and family to use non-lead fishing and ammunition. Write to your government leaders. There are options that would greatly impact the life of our raptors and Condors.
The 18 year old male at the Cape Henlopen State Park Osprey nest in Lewes, Delaware is believed to be missing. He did not bring in a fish this morning or at all during the day. The chicks are old enough to be left alone but still are too young to not predated by larger raptors. I really hope that Dad returns. Fingers crossed. Will Mum go fishing? Yes, she did. She returned wet but with no fish. Just look at those three chicks! Send all your positive wishes!
Right about now you might be thinking that I am wishing for Urmas to send over his fish basket! or for him to climb that platform and put some fish on that nest!!!!!
Big Bob on the Llyn Clywedog Osprey nest is being unkind. He gave Little Bob quite the going over today right when a fish arrived. This nest has had weather issues and you might remember that Dylan was missing in action for a day. Hopefully, Big Bob will settle down. He should! Seren was fighting with a fish delivery that went wild across the nest.
A falconer friend of mine posted this article on the Japanese falconer, Hidetoshi Matsubara. He has been a falconer for more than 50 years. Learn about falconry in another culture! It is a beautiful 7 minute read.
I had a wonderful afternoon and found lots of ducklings and some goslings. More about that tomorrow.
Thank you for joining me today! So happy for Little Bit 17 that I can’t think of too much else. I just wish that camera had higher definition so we could actually get a good image of this little warrior. See you soon. Take care.
Thank you to the following for their streaming cam and/or FB pages where I took my screen captures: Ventana Wildlife Society, Cornell Bird Labs RTH, Osprey Web Cam Cape Henlopen, Nd-LEEF, CarnyX Wild, and UFlorida-Gainesville Ospreys.
