Wednesday was a lovely day. Don and Ann spent time around our duck pond, full of ducks, geese, and people having a good time. It was all topped off with an ice cream dipped in chocolate sauce. We ended the day sitting outside and taking a late walk with Toby. The leaves are definitely changing – the golden touch of the setting sun really highlights the changes every evening. The temperatures are still those of summer – 25 C. The farmer’s markets are full of fresh corn, local honey, blueberries, cherries, and peaches. It is one of my favourite times of the year! Tomorrow I am going to try and make charred corn and black bean nachos. There is a wonderful recipe in The Guardian this evening. Looks easy and delicious.
Thank you to the staff of The Guardian~!
Tomorrow, Miyoung arrives to cut our hair. Toby is in dire need, too, but I think I am going to leave him with his great feathering and his grinch feet. He loves his baths, and we cut out any mats that he gets, especially the burrs that he gets tangled in when he goes to the back of the property. He is so good at sitting and letting me clean the fur off the bottom of his pads and any mats—and he loves the massage with shampoo!!!!!!!!! What a joy he is to care for, especially since he doesn’t like going to the groomers so much. (We get his nails trimmed and his bottom tidied at the vet surgery).
I might just make this, take the laptop outside, and watch Wensi. The camera operators gave us some amazing images on Wednesday as Wensi got a fish delivery. Don’t ask me if it was Clarke or Iris – it was quick. No one wants their leg taken off by a ravished fledgling!
Iris and Clarke continue to provide fish for Wensi. This is surely one of the healthiest ospreys in the US this season. I would give anything if Wensi had a Darvic ring so we could hear about her in the future.
‘PB’ sent me a note saying M15 had returned to the SW Florida Bald Eagle nest in Fort Myers, ending his summer vacation. Will the female that he has been seen with join him?
At Big Bear, Shadow was caught on camera calling out to Kaydee, who responded. SK Hideaways has them and their morning duet – have a listen! https://youtu.be/YULMHzwlwJk?
Lizmn catches up with Milda, the White-tailed Eagle of Durbe County, Latvia, delivering fish but no fledglings there to grab it! https://youtu.be/p3omLB2V54M?
Beau is working on those restorations before Gabby gets home!
Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Wednesday 26th August 2026 It’s clear Season Ten is winding down – the Hoodies are very bold, there’s only one chick and Louis still around, and night cam is switching over earlier each night. Louis brought one fish today, a flatfish, and Juniper managed to finish it despite harassment by a Hoodie. The Nest Two tally now stands at four hundred and sixty one, including five brought by Dorcha. The weather was settled today, cloudy and achieving a high of about 20°C, and should continue cloudy overnight with a low of 13°C, and sunny intervals tomorrow with a high of 22°C.
I will be listening to the webinar tomorrow (1300 Winnipeg time).
Its almost Open House at our local wildlife rescue and rehabilitation centre, Wildlife Haven. They have now taken in twice as many patients in the first half of the year than they did all of last year!
Check out your local rescues and see if they have an Open House – and remember, save those clean, well-used towels and sheets. They can use them! Clearing out a house of a loved one? Don’t just chuck everything in the bin. Rescue centres need storage bins, woodworking tools, stainless steel dishes, laundry detergent, bleach – you name it – including toys for enrichment.
We are hoping to attend. We haven’t missed an Open House in years.
Get the tissues out. ‘PB’ sent me a link to a tribute to Jackie that I think you will enjoy: https://youtu.be/S7KAIlAcHLk?
There are still ospreys at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.
SE38 is sometimes shy about eating. We are all cheering that little one on – and Lady is helping. SK Hideaways captures Lady’s tender encouragement on video: https://youtu.be/ugAnJczXunw?
Now how many eggs do we have at Port Lincoln? Are there two? We are waiting. Bart says between 72-78 hours. As I am watching it is now 76.6 hours since egg 1 so any time!
For those worried that Mum isn’t incubating the eggs all day, this is delayed incubation. It helps get the chicks to hatch closer together. Some of the UK osprey females have made an ‘art’ of delayed incubation, hatching three chicks on the same day – sometimes within a few hours. It really does help with all of the bonking, and oh, do our ospreys love to bonk one another for dominance and fish.
She laid her second egg this morning.
Good news from the Ventana Wildlife:
Christopher has fledged at Tweed Valley this morning.
Some more good news coming out of Wales:
Thank you so much! We love having you with us. It is a gorgeous day for haircuts and then a trip to the country. Toby says it is a great day for ice cream cones! Take care. See you soon.
Thank you to all the contributors – SK Hideaways, Geemeff, all those who post on FB, including the UK Osprey Information group! Thank you to the owners of the streaming cams for letting us see the lives of these amazing birds, and to ‘PB ‘, who is very busy but always sends me news. Thank you. Also a big shout out to the Guardian food contributors for that great recipe – try it! And check out their page on the newspaper site along with their environmental news.
We hope that the beginning of the week has been good to each and every one of you. The weather has certainly cooled off on the Canadian prairies, and it’s wonderful! We seem to have a bit of a spring in our step – at least in the morning before we get too tired!!!!!!!
Ann took Don to Fort Whyte today, and they walked the Buffalo Trail and saw pelicans and Cormorants. Don said, ‘It was a good day!’ That is wonderful. Toby and I are still doing the Swedish death cleaning. We had things from the attic that needed sorting, and we got that done today while Don and Ann were gone. It felt good. Tomorrow is my ‘running around’ day, but for now we are going to enjoy a fresh peach crisp with ice cream and a quick dinner of salad and chicken. Oh, I love these easy end-of-summer meals.
We are all concerned about the environment and the changes that we are seeing. I am profoundly concerned about the impact on wildlife, especially the raptors. Roy Dennis’ the founder of the Roy Dennis Foundation and the individual who reintroduced ospreys to Scotland amongst other places has written an blog that should be of interest to us all.
Past news from Geemeff about the goings on at Loch Arkaig:
Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Monday 17th August 2026
Garry LV0 is still here, he visited Nest One today, bringing a stick and staying for a minute before flying off, perching on Pole Tree then flying eastward out of sight. A few small feathered visitors investigated the nest but there was no sign of Aurora 536, last seen on the 14th, and Garry didn’t bring any fish so his tally remains at two hundred and one. The Nest Two cam is still out until probably Wednesday, therefore using Steve Quinn’s formula, the adjusted fish total for Nest Two is now four hundred and thirty four. Thanks to LizB and her spotting scope, we know a chick was seen at 15.10 eating on the nest, with attendant Hoodie on the cam post. A chick was also seen at other times in the morning, whether both sisters or the same one, can’t be determined. There was heavy rain in the afternoon and evening and at the time of filing this report (22.30) it’s still raining. Heavy rain is forecast throughout the night with a low of 13°C, changing to light rain showers, a gentle breeze and occasional sunny spells with a high of 16°C tomorrow.
Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Sunday 16th August 2026 Nest Two cam is still down, Nest One cam is up for two thirds of the day but no one came to the nest today, and no one was observed in the area. Have Garry LV0 and Aurora 536 left? Garry was last seen on nest cam at
17.28.25 on Thursday 13th, and Aurora at 08.55.46 on Friday 14th, however, an Osprey was observed near the nest yesterday 15th, and recorded via long lens from across the loch by LizB, but too far away to identify. She also recorded one of the chicks chasing a Hoodie today, both clips are in the today’s videos section, and observed a fascinating sequence where a chick and a Kestrel chased a White-tailed Eagle! Hyvor no longer allows active links to comments, so scroll to LizB N2 17.08, and you’ll be able to read about the whole episode. Steve Quinn posted his weekly analysis of the fishing stats for Louis, currently being estimated daily until the cam is back on line, and still showing clear differences between years with males and years with females – search for Nest 2 fish summary to week 17 to read the full post. After overnight rain, the weather was mainly settled today and forecast to be cloudy and dry overnight with a low of 12°C, changing to heavy rain with a high of 19°C tomorrow
If you missed it, Jackie made The Guardian. Thanks, ‘B’.
Just announced by Tim Mackrill, here are this season’s Osprey chick ringing details. There are 24 chicks across 12 nests, comprising 14 males and 10 females. All have now fledged successfully.
Ringing date: 19/06/2026
Nest: Site C
Female parent: 25(10)
Male parent: 11(10)
8R4 (F)
Ringing date: 23/06/2026
Nest: Manton Bay
Female parent: Maya
Male parent: 33(11)
8R5 (M)
8R6 (F)
8R7 (M)
Ringing date:25/06/2026
Nest: Site K
Female parent: 00(09)
Male parent: 06(09)
8R8 (F)
Ringing date: 26/06/2026
Nest: Site B
Female parent: HJ8
Male parent: 359(21)
8R9 (F)
9R0 (F)
Ringing date: 29/06/2026
Nest: Site N
Female parent: Metal-ringed
Male parent: 6K(14)
9R1 (M)
9R2 (M)
9R3 (F)
Ringing date: 30/06/2026
Nest: Site L
Female parent: Unringed
Male parent: 3AH(17)
9R4 (M)
Ringing date: 30/06/2026
Nest: Site J
Female parent: 2AF(16)
Male parent: 1K(13)
9R5 (M)
9R6 (M)
Ringing date: 03/07/2026
Nest: Site Z
Female parent: 5H1(22)
Male parent: 3AY(19)
9R7 (M)
9R8 (M)
9R9 (F)
Ringing date: 05/07/2026
Nest: Site O
Female parent: Unringed
Male parent: 093(20)
9S0 (M)
9S1 (F)
9S2 (M)
Ringing date: 06/07/2026
Nest: Site Y
Female parent: Unringed
Male parent: 355(21)
9S3 (F)
9S4 (F)
Ringing date: 06/07/2026
Nest: Site S
Female parent: 30(05)
Male parent: T3(16)
3R9 (M)
Ringing date: 17/07/2026
Nest: Site W
Female parent: 3H9(23)
Male parent: 1H7(22)
9S5 (M)
9S6 (M)
I am happy to report that locals have been to the Osoyoos Osprey Platform and say the chick is big, healthy, and getting fish. Bravo!
Blue NC0 is still with Clyde at Alyth SS.
How to be an osprey? Some tips from Rutland!!!!!!!! Smile.
Looks like an adult at the Coeur d’ Alene nest in Idaho.
Like Clark, Gimbir has turned out to be a great provider!
We can see the rescue of the two condors in the release cages! Oh, my. You have to love the dedication of the folks from the Ventana Wildlife Society. https://youtu.be/WSb3GKTESh0?
Thank you for being with us today. It is a breezy evening, and it is about 22 C. Gorgeous. We are heading out for our next-to-last walk of the day. Take care of yourself. Take a breath. Send best wishes to all those fledgling ospreys struggling to find fish in the NE US.
Thank you to SK Hideaways, Geemeff, Roy Dennis, Rutland Water, and to all those who contributed on FB, including Jeff Kear and the UK Osprey Info FB Group. Thank you to the owners of the streaming cams and the news groups that are covering the life of our raptors.
The tributes to Jackie continue to pour in and your wonderful, heartfelt words have meant so much to me. I hope to include them in a short tribute to The Queen of Big Bear Valley once the aching goes away. She meant so much to us and motivated so many people. It is still hard to put it into words.
Celebrating in the Olympic Park as SE37 has its beak out and by the time I send this tomorrow, it will have fully hatched. Congratulations Dad and Lady! SK Hideaways has the video: https://youtu.be/1gUHaF2o7nc?
Lady can hear her babies wanting to hatch:
Migration is starting and Hawk Mountain has put out its first count. “The wait is almost over! Autumn migration returns to the Mountain this Saturday, August 15. As raptors begin their journey south, Hawk Mountain comes alive with opportunities to observe, learn, and explore. Enjoy the Autumn Lecture Series, free weekend programs, time at the lookout, or a peaceful walk on the trails. See what’s coming up and plan your trip!
As always, thank you for your support, and you can stay up to date on all Hawk Mountain programs and happenings at hawkmountain.org/events.”
If you live near Hawk Mountain, why not participate? Here are the details:
Autumn Migration Hawkwatch Begins
Daily, August 15-December 15 9 am to 5 pm Trail fee required for Non-Members
The Annual Autumn Hawk Watch begins August 15 at the Sanctuary’s famed North Lookout and is conducted daily, weather permitting, through December 15.
An average 18,000 birds of prey will soar over the Sanctuary’s rocky North Lookout, a 1,500-foot outcropping on the Kittatinny Ridge or “Blue Mountain.” Each year we tally the number and type of birds that pass. An official counter and interpreters are on hand to point out and identify birds.
Visitors should bring binoculars (or rent them at the Visitor Center), something soft to sit on, and a daypack with water and snacks. Plan to relax at the lookout and spend at least an hour. Many people spend the morning, afternoon or even the entire day!
Don’t miss out on this great opportunity to learn more about hawk migration and enjoy this spectacle of nature!
Date & Time
August, 2026
15
8:00 AM – 5:00 PM Daily through Dec 15
Location
North Lookout
We had a great Tuesday. Ann helped me with Don and together with Toby we went out to Wildlife Haven in search of a mystery. Lately there has been a Mississippi Kite in one of our parks. As it turns out, in 2014, a pair of kites made a nest and fledged young. One unlucky chick found its way to Wildlife Haven where it has been an ambassador ever since – Milan. Was Milan still alive? I had been at the rehab centre oodles of times, taking in birds, making donations, attending open house but I could never recall Milan. The cage was empty today but Milan is still very much alive. Inside away from the heat. We will double check on Open House!
Two Great Horned Owls were out, along with Majestic, and the two goofy Turkey Vultures – Gus and Leo. Gus and Leo will make you fall in love with Turkey Vultures, I promise. They are such characters.
Majestic.
Geese!
On our way home, we stopped in one of the developments just outside the City. I had been told by a former student, Selena Panchoo, that there was an amazing Latino bakery there. Her recommendation did not disappoint! Made on-premises- we could watch – the desserts were divine. A big plus was that, unlike most City cafes, Toby was allowed! The owner had owned a Cavalier at one time and fell in love with Toby immediately. They will certainly have our business.
Mango cheesecake – mango through and through and you can’t beat a Jarritos soda on a warm day.
Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Tuesday 11th August 2026 Some aggression was shown by the chicks today, especially over Louis’ first delivery, which was just a scrap of fish, but as the day went on and Louis kept delivering a steady stream of fish, the aggression died down. Louis brought eight fish, taking the Nest Two tally to four hundred and eight, and there was so much fish that even the marauding Hoodies got a share. They were out in force today, probably the same pair throughout the day, and even Louis had to put up with one at close range, while a bold Hoodie flew down next to Amber and grabbed a big fish from right beside her. However, as she had just received the eighth fish from Louis and both she and Juniper had bulging crops, it wasn’t the disaster it would have been yesterday. Garry LV0 brought three fish for Aurora 536 and the Nest One tally rises to one hundred and ninety nine. Noisy RAF jets caught on both nest cams disturbed Aurora and she left her perch on Pole Tree and flew over to the nest.
It looks like Dorcha is still in the area, just not coming to the nest, as LizB spotted an adult Osprey perching near Louis behind the nest. Although it would be great to see her, with the chicks’ current aggro due to hyperphagia, that’s probably a wise move. The weather was settled and forecast to continue, with an overnight low of 14°C and a high tomorrow of 24°C. Today’s videos:
The Black Storks in northern Europe appear to have fledged.
My friend, Sassa Bird brings me news from Lativa about the birds in that area:
That is wonderful news. I have been following some nests in Estonia – and so happy that Urmas is feeding the storklets, as it appears the parents are gone.
Wensi is, to me, very special. I don’t know if Iris, who is at a minimum of thirty years, will return next year to be reunited with Clarke and have other chicks. So I am treasuring every moment of them on the nest. They are on the big screen at our house -. I do adore this family.
Fledglings doing well at Clark PUD. Showing up for fish!
We have news that the only surviving osplet on the Osoyoos platform in Osoyoos, British Columbia is doing well and getting fish from the parents. The camera is down.
The osplet that was removed from the Tweed Valley nest due to thrashings and its old sibling not allowing it to it has been returned to the nest. Lots of fish gifts were left and observations show that the two are getting along and feedings are going smoothly. Well done, Tweed Valley and Forestry England.
Documentaries about a murder do not often have a connection with our raptors but in the case of the Edradymate Estate, they certainly do!
I was going to check on the status of the condors and the Big Sur fire and ‘B’ sent me the latest link. This is what he writes, “Hi Mary Ann,
I’ve pasted at the bottom of this email the link to a San Francisco Chronicle article about the Big Sur fire, which is dated yesterday and appeared in the print edition of the paper today. (I might be one of the last people who actually buys and reads the print edition of the Chronicle each day.)
It is only the last two paragraphs of the article that address the condor issue. To summarize those paragraphs, the article mentions that the fire has disrupted road access to the condor sanctuary, that Kelly Sorenson says the two condors confined there have gone four days without fresh food or water, and that Kelly is working with firefighters to open access to the sanctuary. But what I like best is the final quote from Kelly: “If for some reason they (the firefighters) are not able to do that (that is, open the access road to Kelly), then we’re prepared to hike up if need be.” Yeah, you go, Kelly!
Signing off. Don is out with Ann and Toby and I are going to go for a nice walk in the coolish breeze. It is such a gorgeous day. Tomorrow we are going to the farm to get produce and on the weekend, I am hoping we will have one of those mystery car tours. The goal is to get Don out every day and for me to get out, even if it is a walk with Toby and then a nice cuppa sitting in the sunshine. We have – Toby and I – decided no housework today! Melissa is coming Monday and she will have her work cut out for her.
You will notice that I have not included any of the thousands of tributes to Jackie. I am hoping that you will continue to send me a note about what Jackie meant to you so that I can include it on her Memorial Wall and here in the blog. I hope to do that next week, so please send a comment about Jackie or an e-mail. The address is maryannsteggles@icloud.com I will only use your initial!
Take care, everyone.
Thank you to Geemeff for her daily summary and videos, B for the latest on the Ventana Wildlife Society’s Sanctuary in Big Sur, to Raptor Persecution UK for following the most horrendous crimes against wildlife, to Sassa Bird for her notes about the NE European ospreys and storks, to Hawk Mountain for their great tracking of the migrating birds, and to all the streaming cams and individuals who put information on FB and images. I am grateful.
This is going to be a very, very short hello to everyone and a wish that each of you has a lovely weekend – and if it is a long one like it is in Canada, then please get out and enjoy some birdsong in the shade, if possible. It remains very hot here. Ann has taken Don out, and I plan on having a cuddling nap with Toby! The Girls are all sound asleep. Calico and Missey have not been happy with one another, so I am trying another one of those calming diffusers from the vet. I really do feel gutted when they are not getting along.
There is relief. ‘PB’ writes: “Hennie brought CH1 a dogfish (which was to tough to eat) and 2 menhaden which baby devoured. Hennie looks thin this morning but took off after 3rd fish delivery hopefully to get her own fish or eat some of it and bring back a partial.”
There was no help coming for CH1 like at South Cape May Meadows and those who care dearly for the adults and chicks at this nest – namely our Heidi – were devastated that CH1 would wither and die on that nest. Why not feed them? The answer was that the chick might fledge early. My response is – they can’t fledge if they are starving to death. Let us hope that more fish arrives for the adults, too.
There is other good news. Jackie is continuing to improve.
Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Thursday 30th July 2026
The chicks spent today flying around making constant short flights, landing on the nearby Scots Pine, returning to the nest for fish, competing for fish with each other and with Dorcha, and generally enjoying their new found freedom. For the first time since the season began in April, the nest is empty as both chicks are spending their first night elsewhere. This is another side of nest cam watching – we’re willing the chicks on to fledge, and then suddenly have to cope with empty nest syndrome! But we will have the pleasure of the chicks’ company for a few weeks longer as they fatten up and prepare for migration, historically Dorcha doesn’t stay too long after her chicks fledge but Louis will stick around bringing fish until the chicks leave. From now on every sighting is to be treasured. This time last year Aurora had already left but both she and Garry are still here, Garry brought her one fish today taking the Nest One tally to one hundred and eighty seven, while Louis brought five fish, taking the Nest Two tally to three hundred and fifty one. After a damp start the weather was settled although the ‘moderate breezes’ sounded very loud on nest cam, and it’s forecast to be dry overnight with a low of 9 °C, changing to thundery showers tomorrow with gentle breezes and a high of 15 °C.
It has been confirmed that little Sol will not be returned to the Fru Rauer nest in Norway but will be placed with a more experienced pair of adults where there is plenty of fish.
It seems that many places are suffering this year from a lack of fish. The wildfires and heat across the UK and Europe have had an impact as well as in North America.
Sadly there are a lot of condors dying from lead poisoning.
I cannot get enough of Iris and Wensi!
Nearing fledge in Minnesota. Two beautiful osplets.
Smile. There are still four feathered chicks at Blackbush!
Take care, all. I will be back on Monday. I am going to take a few days off. We are having some plumbing renovations done, and the plumbers are not here, so if the weather allows, I hope to get Don and Toby out for some walks and to visit with some friends and family this weekend.
Remember – please leave a dish of water out and food if you can!
Thank you to Geemeff, to PB, and to everyone who posted on FB, to the Ventana Wildlife Society and the owners of the streaming cams that allow us to view the lives of these magnificent creatures.
We had a wonderful birthday party for my daughter. Toby was so good… ours is a family of cat lovers, and being the first dog there has been some scepticism amongst the others. Of course, anyone reading this knows how I feel about my little man. He found some mulch, which he knew he was not supposed to have, and look at this silly character!
The weather cooperated – it was cool and sunny without any mosquitoes and no rain! It was so nice to have all the family (almost) together.
There has been some news about Jackie and I want to pass it along to you if you have not already seen it. Jackie is critically ill. She is in the best place she can be to receive care. It appears that she has some kind of toxicity. You might recall that Victor had zinc toxicity. He was a young eaglet, not yet fledged, and he survived to be released. What a glorious day that was.
I believe the date on the posting below is a typo and should read 21 July. So this is the latest information. Thanks, Sharon Pollock.
Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Tuesday 21st July 2026
More intruders today but nothing like the dramatic scenes of yesterday when 2024 Loch Fleet chick Blue 9A6 actually locked talons with Dorcha. None of today’s appeared on nest cam but Dorcha certainly saw them and reacted to them, and her day ended with her using her crow voice to warn off a Tawny Owl calling very near by. The RAF also intruded with several aircraft disturbing the peace including a trio of Typhoon jets caught on both nest cams. Louis brought three fish taking the Nest Two tally to three hundred and nine, and causing the two chicks to tussle over a flatfish which was eventually won by Amber 8P6 but not before Juniper 8P7 had had a good go at it. In between fish deliveries and intruder alarms they practised wingercising and both chicks managed a little lift off, only a few inches off the ground but helicoptering and then fledging is on the horizon. Over on Nest One, Garry LV0 brought two fish for Aurora 536, taking his tally to one hundred and seventy seven. He made another mating attempt then did some housekeeping, they’re both now ignoring the rotten but still intact egg, and it’s good to see them reaffirming their pair bond. The weather was settled and sunny but not too hot, and will remain so tomorrow with an overnight low of 12°C and a high tomorrow of 19°C.
Bonus update – Following the return of 2024 Loch Arkaig chick 1JW to Spain, here’s news of this year’s cohort of Scottish translocatees just arrived in Valencia:
There is excellent news – David Gessner is getting involved and giving a real voice to fight over the industrial/commercial fishing of Menhaden that has caused a collapse of the ecosystem and the deaths of the ospreys.
One of the ‘groups’ that I support that work hard and punch beyond their numbers is Ventana Wildlife and the California Condors. Here is some great news from Kelly Sorenson, the Director of VWS:
July 21, 2026
Dear Mary,After the heartbreak we shared recently, we are overjoyed to bring you some wonderful news. Condor (340) and Condor (868) have made full recoveries from lead poisoning and are back in central California!
Thanks to the incredible, life-saving care of our partners at the Oakland Zoo and Los Angeles Zoo, both birds are now resting and recharging in our Big Sur pen. Over the next few weeks they’ll build up strength and reintegrate into the flock before their return to the wild in mid-August. And thanks to explore.organd the Live Cams, you can help us keep watch. Once Condor (340) and Condor (868) arrive later today, they should be the center of attention, both for the rest of the flock and for the hundreds of viewers like you tuning in!
(These Pinnacles-released condors would normally return to the Pinnacles pen, but with that pen closed for its annual maintenance, Big Sur welcomed them home. It is a wonderful example of our close partnership with Pinnacles National Park.)
Condor (340), “Kun-Wac-Shun” This 22-year-old male, named by Chief Nelson Wallulutum of the Wasco Tribe, is a true legend. He is the most dominant male in the Pinnacles flock and famously raised the first wild condor chick to fledge at Pinnacles in over 100 years. After showing severe signs of lead poisoning on April 2, the Oakland Zoo’s around-the-clock care pulled him through a critical situation.
Condor (868) A resilient 9-year-old male and proud father of two, Condor (868) was captured on April 30 with clinical signs of lead poisoning and rushed to the Los Angeles Zoo, where the veterinary team brought him back to full health.
A reminder of why this matters: lead poisoning remains the number one threat to wild condors. It is also preventable. By choosing non-lead ammunition, hunters and ranchers become vital partners in keeping these birds safe.Watch Condor (340) and Condor (868) on the Live Cam →Learn about our free Non-Lead Ammunition Program →Read Condor (340) and Condor 868’s full bios →Recoveries like these are only possible because of you. Thank you for standing with this flock through the hard days and celebrating with us on the good ones.
With gratitude,
Kelly Sorenson Executive Director
…and the Condor Crew Ventana Wildlife Society
While we might not think that there is any silver lining to Jackie being rescued after a fight with a large sub-adult, she is getting treatment for an illness that she had that had nothing to do with that other eagle. My grandmother always told me to believe hard that everything happens for a reason. I am glad that Jackie is in care. Thrilled that she was able to have two chicks this season with Shadow to fledge – Sandy and Luna. Imagine if she had young chicks in the nest and got ill without treatment. So, I want to go to bed tonight sending all the positive energy that I can to Jackie for healing. I hope you will do the same.
At our local wildlife rehab, there are two orphan hawks that are in care.
Fledge at Ranworth in the UK:
Beautiful chick at Charlo Montana!
Beautiful chick at Hellgate Canyon:
Two gorgeous osplets at Coeur d’Alene, Idaho! There was a third beautiful healthy chick that tragically died during a very horrific storm that hit the area in late June.
The new couple at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum are terrific. Just look at those two healthy fully feathered osplets.
Mum sheltering her baby in the heat at Osoyoos.
CJ7 and three of her four babies at the Poole Harbour nest in the UK.
Two fledglings wishing for fish at Poole Harbour.
Elen and Teifi’s trio at Glslyn.
Thank you so much for being with us. I really needed you to know how Jackie is doing if you didn’t know. Take care.
Thank you also to everyone who has written to me. My son returns to the Caribbean on Saturday and I hope to have time to answer those letters by late Sunday.
Thank you to Geemeff for her summary and videos and the link to the information about Gessner, to Kelly Sorenson for the great news, to the Ojai Raptor Centre who are trying so hard to heal Jackie, to Pam Breci for keeping me posted, and to everyone else who posted information on FB along with images and the owners of the streaming cams who allow us to follow the lives of these bird families.
It is hot, but it is beautiful. We ate our breakfast in the conservatory instead of outside because the Starling family was having a good old bath. Now, according to Cornell, I should not have European Starlings in my garden this time of year. As a result, I made sure to take at least one image to post as proof! This year, we had two clutches. One family raised their young in the lilacs; they fledged (all six of them) and spent time in the garden before dispersing. Two days ago we thought we heard the ‘sound’ of Starling babies but couldn’t see them for the foliage. They came out today – there are three more. You have no idea how delighted I am to have had nine European Starlings fledge from my lilac bushes. Yes, I know that some people do not like them. They see them as invasive, but, according to Into the Red, they are globally threatened. So I am feeling good about providing them with a safe home to breed their young, a place to eat, and shelter and bathing. Into the Red says, “What monsters must we be, that we have reduced it to sit on the Red List.” (118)
I know individuals who dislike sparrows, Starlings, and any bird that is not ‘cute’. They refuse to feed or provide water for them. I wonder how they would feel if the birds were in charge and looked at them?
So it was a record year, promoted by plenty of food during the winter and spring, lots of water, and shelter – the three things that are required. Six baby Blue Jays as well with the one family. It is not clear to me how many baby crows there are, but there are at least three. They have trouble figuring out how to land on the lilac branches, often falling through the leaves till they decide something hard is safer. One had decided to hop and hop over the hot asphalt roof! Silly little one. Parents have them learn by doing! Dozens and dozens of sparrows!!!!!!
Despite the heat warning, Ann has taken Don to the park in the hope of finding some cool shade for them to have a walk. They won’t be gone long. Toby and I have made a Swedish sponge cake with whipped cream icing and fresh strawberries for their return.
Oh my God! An old man has climbed up to an Osprey nest just to take photos of the chicks!!
Don’t worry, I’m only joking!
The “old man” is Professor Pertti Saurola, one of the world’s leading ornithologists in the field of Tawny and Ural owls, but he seems to like Ospreys, too. He is now 87 years old, but he still insists on ringing Ospreys himself — even high up in the air.
This is the Janakkala nest. The male since 2025 is Aake, while the female is new and is called Ulpu. Together, they have raised three beautiful young Ospreys, which have already started practising their wings and will hopefully take their first flights very soon.
Aake likes to bring large bream to the nest — a very common fish species in Europe — which is probably why the chicks look so healthy and well-fed.
People in the chat are already discussing whether one of the chicks should be named “Pertti” in honour of the professor. Let’s see whether he will climb up to the nest again next year, at the age of 88, to ring the young ospreys…
I adore this ma – Professor Pertti. I have watched him ring these ospreys for years. Let’s hope that these three thrive!
Please watch this video “Save Menhaden – Save the Bay” by Robert Kellam about the osprey crisis and Menhaden: https://youtu.be/SVLjuIp20PA?s
I want to thank Pam Breci and everyone else who telephoned PSEG about the fishing line choking one or more of the ospreys on the PSEG Oyster Park platform.
You may not think your calls and writing help, but they do. My City was destined to have voted to ditch the 1.2 million-tree budget for our City. Were they in denial as to the type of heat and how well trees help reduce heat in urban environments? A writing-and-phoning campaign ensued, and the mayor overturned the decision. You can make a difference.
In Memorial for Iniko – a most special bird in all the world. Orange 1031.
Iniko hatched in a Big Sur redwood nest on April 25, 2020, the daughter of two of the most storied condors in our program: Redwood Queen (190), matriarch of the central California flock, and Kingpin (167), the flock’s dominant male. She immediately captivated the hearts of viewers. Watching the endearing chick with her parents on our live Condor Nest Cam provided joy and hope for so many during the isolation and challenges we all faced that year.
Iniko’s name means “born during troubled times”, after all that she went through. At 4 months old, the Dolan Fire swept through Big Sur on the night of August 21, 2020, taking the life of her father and nine other free-flying condors. The flames surrounded Iniko’s cavernous nest, but she miraculously survived. As her mother 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. Redwood Queen rushed in to defend her chick, and Iniko was force-fledged, falling to the ground during the scuffle. Redwood Queen chased off the intruder, but Iniko’s prospects seemed dim huddled on the ground with only one parent. Our concern grew as time passed and the chick remained vulnerable and showed a limp. Our biologists came to the rescue and hiked her carefully out of the canyon and transported her to Los Angeles Zoo for treatment. She luckily recovered, was re-released back to the wild with two other condors in 2021, and thrived in the years following.
This year, at 6 years old, Iniko reached breeding age and found a mate in 9 year old male Tyrion (840). The two had a nest in a remote canyon in Big Sur and we were excited to watch her journey in this new stage of life. Sadly, the nest failed. Then we recently got the mortality signal from her transmitter. Losing Iniko is especially painful, so soon after the passing of her sister, Kodama (646). Her early life story—surviving fire, injury, and rescue, is a reminder of what California condors are capable of overcoming and the passion and determination of the people who work tirelessly to save them.
Iniko was a wonderful ambassador for her species and we are grateful for what she has meant to us. Thank you all for caring so deeply about her. Iniko’s legacy will live on in all of our hearts.
She survived so much to die of lead poisoning. Unbelievable the damage we have done as humans to our planet and thus to the wildlife that try and survive.
Tiny at Blackbush has a huge crop today – thanks, PB.
Two chicks dead at the Clinton Osprey nest in CT.
At Kielder Forest nest 2, chick three has died. Two larger siblings were ringed today. Chick 1 is 1K4 and weighed 1270 grams. He is Keenly. Chick 2 was 1K5 and weighed 1370 grams. Both are believed to be male.
Her chicks are ringed. Fru Rauer is now helping dad feed the hungry mob as they fatten up for migration. https://youtu.be/MSf8Vx7Nmy8?
Fireworks cause death. Please work to eliminate them from celebrations.
I am going to sign off today and wish you a lovely end of the week. Take care. I will be back – at least on Monday. We are due to have extreme heat for the next few days. Will make all the efforts to keep the garden animals and my family cool and hydrated during this time. Hoping that the wildlife in the field will be alright.
Thank you to everyone for your posts on FB and images, for the comments you posted to me, and to the owners of the streaming cams that allow us to watch these magnificent creatures.
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:
April 2020: Hatched in a massive, ancient redwood tree in the Big Sur wilderness to parents Redwood Queen (#190) and Kingpin (#167).
August 2020: Survived the devastating Dolan Fire, which burned through the condor sanctuary. While her nest tree survived and protected her, her father Kingpin went missing and is presumed dead.
October 2020: Force-fledged after an aggressive, unmated male condor (Ninja) attacked the nest. Iniko fell to the forest floor and sustained a leg injury .
October 2020: Rescued by field crews from the Ventana Wildlife Society and transported to the Los Angeles Zoo for veterinary care .
December 4, 2021: Re-released back into the wild at San Simeon alongside two other female condors, Dian Fossey (#1011) and Rachel Carson (#1042), by the Ventana Wildlife Society.
Present: After thriving and foraging in the wild, frequently spotted near Pinnacles National Park and the Central California coast, Iniko’s mortality monitor went off. She is presumed to have died from lead poisoning. Searches for her body are ongoing but the area is remote and rugged.
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.
‘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
Empty & Rinse: Dump out the old water and thoroughly rinse the basin.
Scrub First: If there is stubborn grime or algae, scrub the bowl with hot water and a stiff brush before applying bleach.
Disinfect: Pour in your 10% bleach solution. Let it sit in the basin for 10 to 15 minutes to fully kill any germs.
Rinse Thoroughly: Dump out the bleach and rinse the entire bird bath completely with clean water until there are no traces of a bleach odor.
Air Dry: Allow the bird bath to completely dry in the sun before refilling it with fresh water. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8]
Important Tips
Frequency: Disinfect the bath once a week to keep it safe for your backyard birds.
Alternative: If you prefer not to use harsh chemicals, you can achieve the same cleaning power by using a mixture of 1 part white vinegar to 9 parts water.
Daily Maintenance: Change the water every day or two to prevent mosquitoes and bacteria from building up between deeper cleans.
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.
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
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.
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.
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:
“May 18, 2026 – GLEN HAZEL NEST STATUS
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:
It is FWS policy to let nature take its course at eagle’s nests and only approve intervention when there is a threat to the eagles that has a clear human cause such as fishing line entanglement or swallowing a fish hook. In this instance, the eaglets were ill, but not with a clear human cause where FWS and PGC would approve intervention. Much as that is difficult for us to witness, it is part of the natural history that eagles live with daily.
The eaglets likely passed from Avian Influenza. Their symptoms and the progression of the illness is consistent with Avian Influenza, and they could have contracted it from ingesting goslings and geese that had been brought to the nest as food. We cannot know for certain without testing, but this is the most likely cause based on the evidence.
The adults may also have been exposed to the virus. They typically have a stronger immune system than the young birds, and may be able to fight off the virus. Time will tell. We will be monitoring them. There is no treatment that can be given while they are free-flying. If one is on the ground due to illness, it may be able to be treated by a rehabilitator.
Our hope is that their immune systems are strong and they can remain healthy.
Our highest concerns at this point are 1. supporting the health of the remaining adult eagles and 2. caring for the moderators and community who love these eagles.
Now that the two eaglets have passed, PGC has had extensive discussions about the risks vs benefits of accessing the nest to retrieve the now two deceased eaglets. They have decided not to pursue retrieval, in part to not stress the adult eagles through human presence at the nest.
There is no practical benefit to confirming that the eaglets succumbed to Avian Influenza, beyond the human desire to know. The disease is known to be endemic in Pennsylvania now and there are no management actions that would be taken with that information.
Due to the regulations and Acts protecting eagles and their nests, any access to the nest would also require both PGC and FWS support.
PGC will be continuing to monitor the situation. If an eaglet should fall to the ground, they may pursue retrieval and testing since stress on the adult birds would be less, and FWS approval would not be needed.
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.
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?
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.
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.
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.
feeling happy in 
