Today is a short posting because this one story is so remarkable you do not need to hear or read anything else! Would you believe it if someone told you that two little eaglets on top of a hydro pole, one just hatched and another hatching, could be rescued and saved? Well, believe it and watch this video to see what happened! https://youtu.be/-UaKaFwGz58?
Meanwhile chicks everywhere, if they haven’t died or fledged, are flapping away getting ready.
Jay Koolpix nest:
Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Sunday 26th July 2026
No fledge as yet but both Juniper 8P7 and Amber 8P6 were hop, skip and jumping over the nest today, balancing precariously on the edge, peering down into the depths, and doing helicopters. Juniper hasn’t yet gone off the screen as Amber has but she’s getting closer all the time. So it’ll be eyes peeled tomorrow watching for that magic moment when they find their wings and go off into the big wide world that’s waiting beyond the nest. There were more intruders about – perhaps newly fledged from nearby, or more likely unattached older birds looking for their own nests and mates – but no one came near enough to bother the chicks. Louis brought five fish, taking the Nest Two tally to three hundred and thirty four, and causing a tug of trout between Dorcha and a determined Juniper. But it was all fairly low key with none of the aggressive assertiveness we’ll see once the chicks go into hyperphagia, when Louis can expect to get his leg pulled or even bitten as the chicks fight to get to the fish first. Actually, it’s not just the chicks – Dorcha accidentally got his foot instead of the fish today but soon let go with no harm done. Over on Nest One, Aurora was calling for fish but Garry arrived and mounted her instead, choosing to reaffirm their bond with a mating attempt. His total remains at one hundred and eighty two. It didn’t rain as much as forecast and should remain dry overnight with a low of 10°C, changing to light rain and a gentle breeze tomorrow with a high of 17°C.
Thanks everyone for being with us today. Take care! See you soon!
Thank you to Pam Breci, to the people who care enough to really try and save our osprey babies, and to Geemeff for their videos and summary. To all those who posted on FB or are owners of streaming cams, we thank you immensely.
Before I begin with some news from the nests, I want to thank everyone who donated to Save Moon Camp. It is very special to me that half of the funds came from ordinary individuals like you and me. I am grateful that others came with the remaining amount so that the habitat could be saved.
It is important to save these special places – more so now that there are development companies quick to want to build housing estates and condos in the most beautiful natural places on our planet. We need to ensure that they don’t. One of the great Canadian writers, Margaret Atwood, helped champion the conservation and ecological protection of Pelee Island in Lake Erie, Ontario. Rather than saving an entire island from physical destruction, she and her late partner Graeme Gibson focused on preserving its vital natural ecosystem by co-founding the Pelee Island Bird Observatory (PIBO) and advocating for its migratory bird habitats.
You don’t have to be a famous writer or a millionaire to save land. You simply have to understand that humans can do wonderful, marvellous miracles ‘together’. I continue to advocate for ‘one garden at a time’ – we don’t need huge goals like 100 acres or 35,000 acres. Imagine if every home, beginning with yours, had Butterfly bushes, trees for shade for the birds and animals, places for water for them, and, if you can, food. Then add the next house, and the next, and the next….then close your eyes and imagine the forest sanctuary you have created. Please, if you can, start a movement. The wildlife need habitat.
We are in the beginning stages of planning to dig up the area behind our conservatory to cover it with trees that grow quickly. We may take the other area where wood is stacked as well. I will document the change in photos once we begin. For now, the animals and birds are enjoying the shade and the three bird baths. Water has been the key during the heat that we had and the new heat dome that is arriving tomorrow. Today it is so humid and hot it is hard to stay outside very long.
I have not posted much this week because the children have been helping me finish up my decluttering! They did the attic in no time. What an amazing team they are. I miss them today. The house is quiet, and we are left to go through one large box of photos. Toby has a mild case of conjunctivitis that is slowly getting better, and I do mean slowly. The Girls are fine, and well… we will enjoy the quiet today and tomorrow. Tuesday is the day the plumbers will be here tearing things apart.
Do you know how to tell if your toilet is leaking? Pour soy sauce in the tank and see if it runs down the sides of the bowl! My water bill doubled in a month, and we knew something was amiss. So not only are they putting in a new loo, but they are finally installing the gorgeous German vanity that I purchased before the pandemic! It will be dusty and dirty.
So what has been going on with the ospreys? Well, in the UK, they have been fledging. Not having the problems that the US ospreys have had with food, the chicks are healthy. Aran’s only baby with his new mate fledged and sat on the perch, wondering what to do. This is its second flight:
The only one at the Loch of the Lowes, Blue 2JB, at 53 days, has fledged, and the little boy of Elen and Teifi’s finally took to the sky. Others that fledged have returned to their nests. US ospreys are fledging too – Santiam Canyon had one this morning. It is hard to keep up with them now! All fledglings need to return to the nest to be fed by the parents for several weeks or even a month. Instinctively, ospreys know how to fish – 61.5 million years of developing- but they still need help from the adults.
The latest news from Big Bear: ·
Habitat Update
We do not have an update on Jackie currently. Ojai Raptor Center said they would not be giving any additional information on Jackie until Monday at the earliest.
We have had many questions about the sub adult that likely battled with Jackie and has been very present in the habitat for several days.
We spoke with Dr. Peter Sharpe, Bald Eagle expert and Conservationist regarding the sub adult. He aged this eagle at 3 ½ years old. Bald eagles generally reach full maturity at the age of 5 years old, though they can be ready to mate and lay eggs at the age of 4, however that is not as common.
Dr. Sharpe feels that it is a bit early for this sub adult to be looking for nesting territory and/or a mate. Shadow did show defensive behavior against the sub adult for several days while Sandy and Luna were at the nest and seen in the area on both cameras.
Though we have been hearing vocals that may be Sandy or Luna in the habitat, the last time we saw them on our cameras was on 7/23. With several other young eagles in the area, these vocals may or may not be Sandy or Luna.
If Sandy and Luna have indeed left on their life’s journey, their timing is completely normal. At the Big Bear nest, previous eaglets have generally dispersed at around 4 weeks. It is not confirmed Sandy and Luna have left the area, we can only observe and time will tell. If Sandy and Luna are not in the habitat, Shadow would not feel the need to protect the territory.
When the eagles are not in nesting season, they are much more tolerant of other eagles. Sandy Steers and I spent over an hour watching Jackie and a sub adult back in 2023 (pictures attached). Jackie was not concerned at all about the subadult perching with her. In fact, she continued to preen and seemed very relaxed, though glancing over at the other eagle occasionally to keep an eye on it.
A soft reminder, please be kind to the FOBBV team and each other. We are all going through this together.
Stay tuned for future updates, we will continue to post information here.
GW”
A good message for all of us:
SK Hideaways Videos for Week of 19 July 2026
FOBBVCAM Eagles ~ Big Bear Valley, CA Resident Bald Eagle male: Shadow (unbanded) since May 2018. Estimated hatch year: 2014 Resident Bald Eagle female: Jackie (unbanded) since September 2016. Estimated hatch year: 2012 Sandy hatched 4 April 2026, Luna hatched 5 April 2026 Courtesy FOBBVCAM | Friends of Big Bear Valley Nest Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4-L2nfGcuE Wide View Cam (Cam 2): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41eq4VzCYc4 Live Recap & Observations: https://bit.ly/3Md8TSz Shadow and Sub-Adult Share Nighttime Roost Tree (2026 Jul 25)
Shadow’s vocal were heard in the early morning, but not again until the evening just after he flew by. A sub-adult was flying behind him but stopped to perch on Twin Pines and then the Simba Tree before flying off to join Shadow on his and Jackie’s roost tree. Missed seeing Sandy and Luna again today and wish them a safe night along with all Big Bear eagles. Sending positive thoughts for Jackie’s speedy and complete recovery. Video: https://youtu.be/uRxUyUgKTpo
Sandy & LunaPossible Last Sightings ~ But Not Last Squees~ 2026 Jul 23 I held this video for a couple days in hopes of seeing Sandy and Luna back on camera. So far we haven’t seen them, but believe we have heard them ~ quite a lot. Whether we see them again or not, this video brings some sweet and poignant moments of their typical mornings together ~ good morning squees, flying from favorite perch to favorite perch, and even some beakie kisses. A nice collection for the memory book. Video: https://youtu.be/O32HJ6mozQI Shadow Calls for Jackie Morning & Evening ~ Send Positivity Their Way(2026 Jul 23) Shadow calls for Jackie probably more often than we see on camera. In my opinion, he misses her. Also in my opinion, while he is dealing with the presence of visiting sub-adult bald eagles, he has no interest in taking another mate. His focus is on Jackie’s whereabouts and taking care of Sandy and Luna. Sending oodles of positive thoughts to Jackie and Shadow for a happy reunion one day soon. Video: https://youtu.be/IaJECLI95kk
Shadow & Sub-Adult Perch Peacefullyas Eaglets Watch ~ Fiona & Fast Finale(2026 Jul 22) Shadow and a sub-adult seem to have reached a truce to some extent. This sub-adult followed Shadow all over today. Each time it landed near him, he immediately flew off, except for a 25-minute period in the afternoon. He had much to say to the youngster but there was no physical aggression. Perhaps the truce included the condition that the sub-adult not breach the nest again.
At day’s end, Shadow perched behind the pine boughs next to the Cactus Snag for about 90 minutes. Was he trying to ditch the sub before roost time? We’ll never know, but he retired to his and Jackie’s roost tree. Luna roosted back on the Simba Tree and Sandy stayed on the high Y branch of the nest tree. Fiona and Fast Freddie took advantage of the empty nest and had quite a party. Video: https://youtu.be/qc4eJpY9-EY Shadow Stays Strong ~ Sub-Adult Remains ~ Another Day Without Jackie~ 2026 Jul 21 I chronicled this whole day as a testament to the strength and keen survival instincts of these bald eagles. It seems Shadow kept the persistent sub-adult from returning to the nest with great support from Sandy and Luna. He also managed to deliver 3 fish in the span of a half-hour in the morning and another 3 in the evening.
Luna and Sandy are venturing farther away as evidenced by Luna’s 9-hour absence from camera view and Sandy’s 3-hour absence. Shadow returning to an empty nest in the afternoon was difficult to see, but fans were soon treated when Luna and then Sandy returned to the nest in the evening.
I sprinkled the video with photos of Jackie ~ remembering happier times and sending oodles of positive thoughts for her speedy and complete recovery. Video: https://youtu.be/lFjfSoF_-7o
Sub-Adult Returns to Nest Tree🌲Shadow Divebombs, Locks Talons on Descent The sub-adult that Shadow had flushed out earlier in the day returned in the evening. This was not a good idea. Shadow first gave the visitor a stern verbal warning before diving on them. They both descended and their talons locked briefly before Shadow chased the sub-adult across the valley. Shadow then returned and perched on the Simba Tree during which time Luna and Sandy briefly checked on him there.
At nightfall, Sandy and Luna perched on the nest tree basement while Shadow retired to his and Jackie’s night roost tree. Sending positive thoughts for Jackie’s complete and speedy recovery while she is at the wildlife rehabilitation center being well cared for. And we wish all Big Bear eagles well as they all navigate life in the wild. (2026 Jul 19) Video: https://youtu.be/u-Wjj6i0cZU
Sub-Adult Breaches Nest ~ Shadow Attacks and Chases as Luna & Sandy Fly In(2026 Jul 19) One of the persistent sub-adult bald eagles followed Shadow to the nest. Shadow made his displeasure known vocally, but when Luna arrived, Shadow leapt over him and flushed the sub-adult from the nest, chasing them to the lake and possibly beyond. Sandy arrived at the nest as the chase was unfolding, and she and Luna looked on, squee-less. Not a minute later, Shadow was perched on Twin Pines and 9 minutes later, Sandy and Luna perched on the Cactus Snag. Shadow remains on Twin Pines, on guard as we publish. We wish all Big Bear eagles well and continue to wait for definitive news of Jackie’s whereabouts. Video: https://youtu.be/3OnNjmhclpo
Fraser Point Eagles ~ Santa Cruz Island, CA ~ Cruz, Andor, Sasha (hatched 3/28), Zuma (hatched 3/30), Ryder (hatched 4/1) Courtesy Institute for Wildlife Studies | explore.org | Fraser Point Eagles Cam Ops Nest Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OY4V_AppZ6s Two Eaglets Rouse Cruz from Her Night Roost ~ Hang Out Awhile(2026 Jul 23) Fans were treated to Princess Cruz on her overnight roost followed by not one but two eaglets rousing her in the wee hours. She exited stage left pretty quickly. The eaglets stayed long enough to show us some of their signature shenanigans and progress they’ve made in eagle school in the weeks since we last saw them. Video: https://youtu.be/-wNvLxUawZI
San Jose City Hall Falcons ~ San Jose, CA ~ Hartley, Monty, and chicks Jet, Scout, Stewart, Walton (hatched 4/21/26) Courtesy San Jose City Hall Peregrine Falcon Cam | Predatory Bird Research Group Nest Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VBSxPjy5sow Ledge Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-pp9TisLmLU Roof Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQLhmV6bP6o Walton and Scout Make Surprise Visit to Nest Area ~ Adult Skedaddles(2026 July 18) Walton arrived, screaming, of course, while an adult was on the runway. With no drama, the adult flew, at which point Scout arrived. What a treat to see them both for this short visit. They look to be healthy and spunky. Video: https://youtu.be/NhsJmukFq2w
Cholyn & Chase Defend TerritoryAgainst Peregrine Falcons (2026 Jul 18) The Two Harbors peregrines must be in the midst of their nesting season, as they’ve been very territorial lately. They seem to have forgotten who rules the territory, though, as they persist in stooping on Cholyn and Chase. Our royal couple, despite their 28 years, are more than capable of defending their territory and displayed a most impressive series of evasive actions to keep the speedy peregrines at bay. Video: https://youtu.be/v2CFlmN1tpc
And then our other great contributor, Geemeff brings us the news from Loch Arkaig and the Woodland Trust:
Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Saturday 25th July 2026
Today’s big news is that we are officially on fledge watch! The chicks have been wingercising and taking little hops but today Amber 8P6 did a proper helicopter, disappearing out of the cam view at the top of the screen while Juniper 8P7 looked on in amazement. Juniper also got airborne, but only a few inches above the ground so it looks like Amber may well beat her older sister to first fledge. All eyes will be concentrating more than usual on the nest tomorrow! Meanwhile Dorcha is still fending off intruders, an unringed probably male Osprey flew very close, and there were one or two other alarms but no one else caught on nest cam. Intruders didn’t seem to take up Louis’ time as he delivered three fine looking trout including a gold coloured one, and he was sporting a very well-filled crop. The Nest Two tally now stands at three hundred and twenty nine. Aurora 536 spent a fair bit of time on Nest One, Garry LV0 delivered one fish taking his tally to one hundred and eighty two, and stayed to do a bit of nest tidying. It rained overnight but despite the forecast was mainly dry during the day, and there’ll be more rain overnight with a low of 12°C, continuing throughout tomorrow with a high of 17°C. There should be an early evening break in the rain tomorrow which would be ideal conditions for a fledge. However, the chicks will decide when they’re ready.Today’s videos: https://youtu.be/EJgW5nIVUuQ N2 Louis brings a huge lively trout 08.59.22 https://youtu.be/jf8-s_O-qUM N2 Dorcha warns away an intruder Osprey flying too near the nest 10.16.23https://youtu.be/f4RRAzdVszw N2 Juniper’s keen when fish two arrives, Amber joins in later 11.18.18 https://youtu.be/wSUiOyv4KMo N1 Aurora grabs the flatfish, has a nibble, and leaves with it 18.06.26https://youtu.be/J6Ki2ZIxvoI N2 Amber does a proper off-the-screen helicopter! 18.57.16https://youtu.be/wMGEFDUt_EoN2 Louis brings a very colourful third trout 19.53.04 (zoom)
Come and join the friendly community at Woodland Trust’s Osprey forum, it’s fun, free and everyone’s welcome:
Zeus has been making fish deliveries to Cape May to the chick who we hope will fledge soon! Another miracle. One little survivor.
There are still four osplets at Blackbush in Prince Edward Island. Against the odds, little four is going to make it unless something very strange happens.
Despite heating rivers and dying fish, Clark works hard for his family and delivers a nice fish for Iris and Wensi early this morning.
Wensi is working on building muscles to fly.
Two osplets at Oyster Bay – at least one has fledged and returned. Fish are coming to the nest, but the one who might not have fledged (apologies, I have not kept up with this nest as much as I should) is constantly fish-calling.
Looking to the upcoming season in the Southern Hemisphere:
Mum and Dad are on the barge nest and mating constantly! Meanwhile we hope Ervie and his female mate have chicks this year, too.
Lady and Dad in the Olympic Forest nest where Lady is incubating her two precious eggs.
Beautiful Diamond at the Falcon Scrape on the campus of Charles Sturt University in Orange, Australia. Gimbir is safe and sound and often in the scrape. He is quite the character. Looking forward to more healthy chicks this season.
The streaming cam at 367 Collins Street – home to the Melbourne Falcon family – will be turned on once there are eggs.
Thank you so much for your notes. I am so glad that you appreciated the photos of Toby and The Girls! They are so very special to my life.
Toby keeping us company as we sort through photos.
Have a lovely week. We will be back with you on Tuesday or Wednesday.
Thank you to Geemeff, SK Hideaways, Pam Breci, to all the contributors on FB, and the owners of the streaming cams that allow us to watch our bird friends.
It was a wonderful time with out son and daughter-in law as well as our daughter and her partner. A busy week. They took my list of things to do and just go on with it. The Peletron bike now longer haunts me sitting by the dining room table. The box room is cleared up and it has a new home. The attic is 95% cleared out. All the good stuff was kept, lots donated, and some sadly made it to the landfill. They were so organised! My contribution was to ‘stay out of the way’. The kids leave to return to their home in the Caribbean in a couple of hours. Gosh, I miss them already!
I apologise for I have not caught up with answering your e-mails. My inbox has exploded since the funds came through for Moon Camp.
A lot has happened in Bird World.
First of all, everyone knows that the funds needed to purchase the land and put it into a trust – Moon Camp – to preserve the foraging area of Jackie and Shadow and whoever comes after them is secure. They did it with a week to spare. Bravo!
Thank you to everyone who helped to make this happen. Now we just need Jackie home —- and she is in the best facility possible to help her, Ojai Raptor Centre!
Sadly, as it happens every year, a White-tail waited til the osprey fledglings get nice and fat for fledge and then struck. AK wrote: “ Sadly, UMU, the #4 nestling in Finland, was taken by a White-tailed Eagle.”
If you follow the images below you will see that the osprey cme to try and get its chick to no avail. The WTE slipped into the forest.
You can see the sequence here, and the osprey flies up to the forest and then turns to the right. So sad. They wait, those eagles and hawks, til the osplets are fat and ready to fledge.
It is fledge watch and Geemeff just sent me the cutest video of Amber flapping her wings and then helicoptering out of view of the camera. Soon! It comes too quickly! We sit and wait for eggs to hatch – that seems to take endless time – and then before we know it they are losing their baby look and turning into ferocious reptiles and then beautiful juveniles. For all those who survived this most tragic year, we salute you and anyone and all who helped.
Ping Shen reports from Seattle: “Hope you are well and the heat and smoke are not too bad. We are getting a bit of both here in Seattle, though nothing like what the midwest and northeast had last week.
Some good news mid-week – a very short visit today and all 3 young continue to look good. Mom delivered a Starry Flounder not five minutes after I arrived and lunch was served. The pecking order is very clearly established – you can see #3 sitting back while the first 2 surround mom, the little one not even trying to get in there and seemingly content to wait. However, since it seems to still be doing well, I guess there has been enough fish for this complacency to work! Fingers crossed they continue to well but so far so good. They are now well past the stage where they lost #3 last season, so an improvement already…”
News from Viki and Indian Creek: “LB seems to have split now that Lily has returned. Lily had no problem getting the first AND the second fish I threw this morning, ate them both, not even stopping by the chick’s nest, and since she was full she let the third one I threw sink and the chick has not been fed. It’s like one step forward, two steps back.
Full blown construction surrounds me in the neighborhood today. I sit out on the porch (second day in a row of lovely weather) with noise canceling headphones on. Waiting for LB to show up so I can throw a fish to him to bring to the chick.
LMAO – you are right! An osprey from the other side of the creek just now got that fish. Glad to know they float for a long while.
Heading out to give Lily one more chance – I cover up with a Dr. Seuss XL pajama pant and a long sleeve shirt from one of my husband’s political campaigns. Hoping it was LB who took #4 fish. Sheesh. This is becoming stressful!? [Note: Viki is the mother of the chicks.}
Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Friday 24th July 2026
More intruder action today but Dorcha made sure they didn’t come near the nest, allowing the chicks to get on with wingercising and stuffing themselves with fish. There was a lot of fish to get through as Louis delivered seven fish taking the Nest Two tally to three hundred and twenty six, and the chicks are in great shape. Both Amber 8P6 and Juniper 8P7 have been exercising their wings, strengthening them ready for fledging, doing little hops, and Amber in particular did some quite high mini-helicopters, when she wasn’t tangling her talons or wings in a stick, as she did on one occasion. Over on Nest One, Aurora and Garry have stopped paying attention to the rotten but still intact egg and Aurora sleeps elsewhere now, but they are still attending the nest, bringing fish and bedding and adjusting the furnishings. This bodes well for next year when with luck they will produce a viable clutch. Garry brought two fish for Aurora, taking his tally to one hundred and eighty one. The ‘gentle breezes’ forecast for today seemed much stronger than that, but of course, exposed nests at the top of tall trees will feel the effects more. Those ‘gentle breezes’ are set to continue tonight and through tomorrow, with heavy rain, a low of 13°C and a high of 17°C. At the time of filing this report (half past midnight) the rain has begun and Dorcha is on the nest next to her chicks.
I will have more news on Monday. I am still trying to rest up from that wonderful visit! This morning we went to the English Gardens with Toby. Don is doing well after I adjusted his medication four days ago. The change has been rather phenomenal and I am delighted.
Toby checks out all the flowers.
My gorgeous granddaughter, Elysha, who long time readers will know – on her wedding day in Australia.
My family wishes you a good weekend.
See you on Monday!
Thank you to SK Hideaways, Ping Shen, and Geemeff for their great contributions, to those who posted on FB and to the owners of the streaming cams and YouTube stations.
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.
Today is my daughter’s birthday so there is a party which hasn’t turned out to be a surprise like I thought it was – but we will have a great time celebrating her special day.
It is also cool at 18 C and Toby and Don will get to have a wonderful walk with Ann as long as the rain stays away!
Ojai Raptor Centre is the BEST place for Jackie. They have treated Victor, Andor and Cruz’s chick, which had zinc toxicity. He fell off the nest in 2022. Only after 36-48 hours, Ojai Raptor Centre had raised $250,000 towards Jackie’s care. That is brilliant. I will also remind you of the other wildlife centre, San Dimas, that transported and cared for Jackie the distance to get to Ojai. They are San Dimas.
The world’s most famous eagle is getting a lot of attention and I hope that some of that generates the remaining funds necessary to purchase the land so that it cannot be developed. That would be tragic. CBS LA carries the battle by the water: https://youtu.be/0WX9ayTQiUs?si=_NzC92LEVBWMjshG
Update on Jackie:
We also have an update about Sol in Norway – the smaller osprey rescued so that it could survive with the understanding that lack of fish, heated streams, and heat domes are human caused. Bless them. https://youtu.be/2XeVWs9zgkU?si=EHqysyTCKDGfHH3R
All appears alright at the nest of Iris, baby, and Clark at Hellgate this morning.
We still have one chick surviving at Osoyoos.
The only surviving chick of three at Field Farm fledged this morning. Congratulations! They beat the odds and have one to fly.
The only surviving chick on the nest (one is in rehab but we do not know the status) fledged at Great Bay this morning. Again, congratulations. One fledge at a nest is great in a time when so many have their entire clutch perish.
One chick flapped and fell into the river at Blackwater and died – two remain. We hope they fledge successfully.
Great news from Viki:
LB leaves his perch before I toss the fish now so he’s sure to get to it first …. It’s not quite throwing popcorn to gulls, but I think the local ospreys are paying attention. And when I flubbed a throw LB chased a heron away from the shore., presumably on its way to grab the fish.
Once this morning LB was full enough to not bother with one of my offerings himself but to drop the still frozen fish in the nest and Big Girl took a while but she managed well. I can’t tell the difference between the two chicks now, although one seems very submissive, but if I can’t pick them apart as big and little I figure Little is doing as well as can be hoped.
Jack is working w/ a local fish house to get frozen bait fish (alewives) but I’m not sure LB will go for the mangled ones – maybe as time goes on, but as for now I think he needs a face and tail to believe it is worth going after.
Nevertheless, I feel we humans are making a small mark for good each time LB grabs one I throw!!!”
Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Monday 20th July 2026 Quite a dramatic day today, with two serious intruder Osprey encounters, both involving Dorcha. The first took place in the morning when a ringed intruder kept divebombing Dorcha on the nest until she flew off and chased it away. It was a Scottish female with a left leg blue Darvic ring which unfortunately couldn’t be read, and was possibly the same Osprey who attacked Dorcha in the afternoon. That time the ring was read, Blue 9A6, a 2024 female from Loch Fleet, the same area where Aurora 536 fledged in 2022, so potentially siblings. The attack was fierce – 9A6 flew onto the nest and locked talons with Dorcha for a moment then Dorcha went for her and both went tumbling over the side and crashed down through the branches of the nest tree in dramatic scenes. However both were seen flying in the distance, and Dorcha returned unharmed to the nest where the chicks were still safely pancaked. When Louis arrived with a third fish an hour and a half later, the family were ready for a meal and tucked in eagerly. He brought a fourth fish later but Dorcha got most of that one as the chicks appeared to be still satisfied from the previous one. His four deliveries take the Nest Two tally to three hundred and six. Over on Nest One, Garry LV0 brought one fish for Aurora 536 taking his tally to one hundred and seventy five – she thought she was getting a second, but when Garry answered her calls, he arrived fishless and attempted mating instead. In other news, the chicks were intrigued by a dragonfly and made lazy attempts to catch it in their beaks as it flew around the nest. The weather was settled again, and not too warm, and the forecast is pretty much the same – light winds, partly cloudy with a low of 12
°C overnight and sunny intervals with a high of 20
Thank you for being with us today. We are off to a birthday celebration. Take care. We hope to have you with us soon.
Thank you to everyone. Thank to Geemeff for her videos and daily summary, to PB for news on Jackie, to dear Viki for being my heroine – who else is feeding osprey to keep them alive? To those who posted on FB and the owners of the streaming cams who allow us to watch these incredible birds.
This will be an incredibly short posting with what I hope is some really great information.
I have avoided mentioning dear Jackie, our beloved Mum and mate of Shadow at Big Bear Valley, until I saw and heard some information that felt ‘transparent’. A message recording has been put out and here is the link:
Thank you, Pam Breci, for sending this to me. We are waiting for any confirmation. This is why Darvic Rings are important, but it would have been nearly impossible to have ringed Jackie, as she hatched in that gorgeous, very tall tree in 2012. She shared with Mr B, then with Shadow and their chicks.
SK Hideaways has sent their video listing for the week:
SK Hideaways Videos for the Week of 12 July 2026 While we may have seen the last sightings of the four siblings at the San Jose peregrine falcon nest, we continue to enjoy Sandy and Luna at Big Bear, as well as any and all happenings with the Channel Island eagles. My Southern Hemisphere coverage will ramp up over next few weeks. That’s just my little world of coverage for now. Mary Ann covers much, much more and we’re eternally grateful.
Sub-Adult Breaches Nest ~ Shadow Attacks and Chases as Luna & Sandy Fly In (2026 Jul 19) One of the persistent sub-adult bald eagles followed Shadow to the nest. Shadow made his displeasure known vocally, but when Luna arrived, Shadow leapt over him and flushed the sub-adult from the nest, chasing them to the lake and possibly beyond. Sandy arrived at the nest as the chase was unfolding, and she and Luna looked on, squee-less. Not a minute later, Shadow was perched on Twin Pines and 9 minutes later, Sandy and Luna perched on the Cactus Snag. Shadow remains on Twin Pines, on guard as we publish. We wish all Big Bear eagles well and continue to wait for definitive news of Jackie’s whereabouts. Video: https://youtu.be/3OnNjmhclpo
Dramatic Tug-o-Fish Episode ~ Sandy & Luna Split the Difference (2026 Jul 18) A dramatic nest entrance and tug-o-fish session ends with both Sandy and Luna getting some fish. Then they perch together like nothing ever happened. Video: https://youtu.be/Y1ibuAnekiI
Cross-Valley Eaglet Chortles ~ A.M. Tug-o-Fish ~ Three on Cactus Snag (2026 Jul 18) Dawn at Big Bear brought another symphony of chatter with Sandy and Luna squee’ing across the valley. Sunrise was magnificent as they continued their conversation. When they left their night perches, Sandy and Luna met on the Cactus Snag till Shadow flew past with the first fish of the day. They raced to the nest to collect their snack ~ Luna beating Sandy to the grab. About 1/2 way through the fish, Sandy snuck in for the steal; at 3/4 gone, Luna took it back. They digested on the front perch before returning to the Cactus Snag, where Shadow ultimately joined them, chortling to Jackie, who remained off camera. In a spectacular finale, Shadow struck an horaltic pose that mesmerized even Sandy and Luna. A glorious morning was had by all lucky enough to see it. Video: https://youtu.be/ah5ksEbUODY
Shadow’s 7-Fish Day ~ Sandy & Luna Compete Fiercely ~ Score Evenly (2026 Jul 17) Once again Shadow outdid himself in the fish delivery department. He brought one fish early, which no one came to the nest to claim. But then delivered 6 more in a 4-hour timespan. Sandy and Luna competed quite fiercely for 3 of the fish, as Shadow looked on with an expression we dare not attempt to interpret. It could have been anything from pride to concern to mild interest ~ we’ll never know. The other 3 fish were grabbed so quickly that the “losing” eaglet had no chance of competing for it. Suffice it to say, both Sandy and Luna both went to sleep with very full crops tonight. Video: https://youtu.be/rTgvrWi6hWQ
Shadow’s Fish Fest ~ 2 for Sandy, 2 for Luna ~ Food Comas Ensue (2026 Jul 15) Shadow was on a mission this afternoon bringing FOUR FISH in just over an hour. Sandy and Luna were in fish heaven ~ they got two each. Shadow left them to their food comas, which they duly embraced, each on their favorite perch. Video: https://youtu.be/nh_hKzhHc1g
Sandy & Luna Get Their Own Fish ~ Preen Each Other and Nap (2026 Jul 13) Master angler Shadow made sure both Sandy and Luna got their own fish this morning. It was a flurry of feathers with each fish delivery after the eaglets raced across the valley to claim their prize. Once they’d enjoyed their snacks, they settled down together for some beaky kisses, tail biting, and ~ as the food coma set in ~ naps. Cuteness overload ensued. Video: https://youtu.be/VTjElRgpchQ
FOBBVCAM Eagles JACKIE’S HOME! Whole Family Meets on Nest for Fish! (2026 Jul 12) As we’ve learned since this video was released, Jackie is spending time further out in the territory keeping an eye on sub-adult eagles who are passing through the area. She and Shadow are making sure that Sandy and Luna’s efforts to hone their skills in preparation to become independent are not hampered. But she did make an appearance on the 12th.
After Jackie and Shadow perched on Twin Pines together, Shadow departed to get Jackie a welcome home fish. She was very grateful and enjoyed it mostly to herself, even when Sandy and Luna came home expecting to get some. Life lessons were taught. But ever the doting father, Shadow brought a second fish, which Luna happily scarfed down. With this fish, Shadow had fed the entire family today. Well, of course he had. What a gift to see the entire family on the nest together. It was a good day in Big Bear Valley. Video: https://youtu.be/_Ilx0Vwopd0
Sandy & Luna End/Begin Days with Beaky Kisses ~ Stunning Sunset/Sunrise (2026 Jul 11-12) Sandy and Luna ended the day together on the nest, sharing beaky kisses and allopreening with a lovely sunset as their backdrop. When Shadow delivered supper, Sandy swooped in, mantling with her magnificent wings, but left Luna a few bites in the end. The eaglets then shuffled some branches before Luna departed for his overnight roost on the Simba Tree.
As dawn broke, the eaglets remained on their respective night roosts. Then Big Bear came aglow with a most stunning and long-lasting sunrise during which Sandy traversed across the valley to join Luna on the Simba Tree. Ultimately, they relocated to the Lookout Snag, where they finished watching the sunrise together. It was a magical time and one which we won’t soon forget. (2026 Jul 11-12) Video: https://youtu.be/Ua-mAhCld3Q
Walton Learns Territory Defense from Monty ~ Dive-bombing, Talons Up (2026 Jul 14) As Hartley relaxed on the ledge, Walton zoomed in and bumped her off. But in a twist of Walton’s prior experiences, Monty was right behind him. Monty flew over, circled back, and swooped on Walton, causing Walton to go talons up and tumble to the runway. Monty circled back around and flew over once for good measure (secretly we think he was checking Walton was OK). Poor Walton got a tough lesson in territorial defense, which he pondered for a minute before departing.
As devoted fans, we wonder if we’ll ever see the boys here again, but some of the trackers seem to be working. Walton’s tracker pinged in San Francisco and Oakland (~35-45 miles away as the crow flies). Scout’s has pinged further away at Hellyer Park in south San Jose (~6 miles). Jet’s has pinged in the Fremont Hills (~18-19 miles). And, unfortunately, Stewart’s tracker has stopped working. 75% is not bad, though. While we’ll miss them, we’re grateful to know they are dispersing healthy and hearty. Video: https://youtu.be/RZ71UkrSYZU
Cholyn Chills While a BIG Rattler, Lucy Franco, and Rowboater Visit (2026 Jul 16) While Chase was off doing eagle things, Cholyn sat on their couch as a host of visitors slithered and floated by. A VERY large Southern Pacific rattlesnake visited the overlook nest in the pre-dawn hours, the Lucy Franco tugged by a bit later with goods for a local port, and an intrepid rower bobbed by. All the while, Cholyn remained on her couch watching the world and visitors go by. How cool to see what was happening all around Cholyn and Chase’s habitat. Video: https://youtu.be/9PVJot6LfqI
Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Sunday 19th July 2026
Another day featuring intruders, this time Ospreys who divebombed and overflew Nest Two, including a ringed Osprey. The ringed Osprey didn’t fully appear in the camera view so the ring couldn’t be read, and Dorcha flew off the nest to get rid of it when it perched in the Scots Pine. When the chicks weren’t pancaked because of intruder alarms, they practised wingercising with enthusiasm, getting ready for the day when they find their wings and fly off into the world – not too long now. Louis stayed for minutes at a time after delivering his fish, despite Dorcha’s urging, and even did a little nest scraping, but he didn’t desert his duties, and delivered five fish today, the last of which was his three hundredth for the season – quite a milestone achievement! The Nest Two tally, including Dorcha’s two, now stands at three hundred and two. Over on Nest One, Garry LV0 delivered two fish for Aurora 536 taking the nest and his personal tally to one hundred and seventy four. The weather was settled and mild, and set to continue with light cloud and light winds overnight with a low of 12°C, and sunny intervals with a high of 21°C tomorrow.
Today there were a record number of fledges in the UK – they are calling it Super Sunday. Ten chicks from streaming cams fledged, including – hang on to your seat – Aeron Z2 and Blue 014’s trio, all within a few hours from start to finish, with each returning to the nest. Remarkable. I do not recall that ever happening. Dads and Mums are busy delivering fish at all the nests with some fledges still to come.
Deaths continue in the US osprey world. Too many that need to be added to the Memorial Wall now.
My hero of the day is Viki who is desperately trying to keep the only two chicks on Indian Creek alive. Imagine watching twenty osprey nests for more than two decades to see a nest, now without its female who left a few days ago, struggling. Viki is providing frozen fish. The male is eating and has delivered to the nest and the eldest chick can self-feed but the younger one can only peck at the fish. Let’s hope it gets the hang of this quickly! But if one chick can be saved, it is a miracle considering that all other nests failed.
Females are leaving the nests. They must fatten up before migration, and it is clear they understand how difficult it is. They are leaving to find fish elsewhere. We see this behaviour later – the normal is that the females help supply fish after the chicks have fledged and then leave much earlier than the males, who continue to bring fish to the nest til the last chick has departed on its first migration. I remember that Aran at the Glaslyn nest had to wait until late September one year to leave. But in the US, these chicks have not fledged! Many have no parents to feed them. It is my fruitless hope that those individuals who have the authority (or not) will declare what Norway did and that the heat domes, the warming lakes, oceans, rivers, and ponds due to that heat, and the lack of fish are all human-caused. Help would then be provided – no bloody excuses!
When Viki wrote me today she said: “Also, I heard a very interesting thing from a local man who takes folks out fishing. He’s discovered that the little fish swimming on top of the water, always indicative of larger fish beneath them, have no larger fish beneath them. Weird.” ——- I guess those larger fish have all been scooped up by the nets of the industrial/commerical trawlers.
I never thought I would live to see an ecosystem as beautiful and alive as The Chesapeake Bay die, but it is dying. And our beautiful fish hawks are dying with it – ‘the canary in the mine’. The warning signal of the total collapse to come. It breaks my heart.
Meanwhile, the Norwegian osplet at Fru Rauer’s nest that was rescued because it was getting bashed and being held from getting sufficient food, is doing splendidly in care. Here is the update: https://youtu.be/2XeVWs9zgkU?
Thank you for being with us. Please do take care. Send good wishes to all the nests.
Thank you to Pam Breci for sending me all the latest on Jackie, to SK Hideaways and Geemeff for their videos and daily summary. To Viki – my hero who is desperately trying to keep two babies alive and to the camera owners who allow us to watch these families as they struggle to survive in a changing world.
When your neighbours call late at night and don’t know what to do with a little one who doesn’t seem able to fly…He pecked me when I picked him up to check him over. Nothing appeared broken. He is young and his tail is not as developed as it should be, but he can fly, knows to get away into the lilacs, and to be quiet. I hope that his parents find him early in the morning. His call is rather quiet, but the hearing of the Blue Jays must be better than mine!
Isn’t he sweet?
I asked what happened to Duke at Barnegat Light. Heidi answered: “Duke and Daisy did not have eggs in 2024, but they spent a wonderful summer together. We would see them together almost all the time.
In 2025, Daisy did not return from migration. Several females vied for Duke and his nest. Duke chose a female that was named Dixie. Dixie laid 3 eggs. Then there was a storm that lasted for a couple of days. Duke could not provide fish for Dixie, so Dixie started to leave the eggs to try to fish for herself. On one such occasion, gulls took two of the eggs. Dixie returned, but did not adequately incubate the last egg, and it eventually broke.
Fast forward to this season: Duke’s mate from last year, Dixie, was around a bit in early spring, but she didn’t stick around. There were two or three other female hopefuls, but none of them stayed. Ben thinks lack of food availability caused the females to move on. Duke is seen every day, usually eating a fluke on the marsh perch.”
If you look at the pole in the marsh, there is Duke~
The weather took another bad turn with high winds in Missoula but that didn’t stop Clark from bringing in a whopper for Iris and their baby.
Clark needs to eat – he had the head, thank goodness. What a guy.
Good night Iris and baby.
Remember, overall development and, in particular, feather development, depend on good food and lots of it. I wonder if we put Iris’s baby next to another one (a survivor of three at one of the other NE nests) what you would see.
Geemeff’s Woodland Trust summary disappeared. I think I hit delete tonight. Apologies all around. Geemeff is so kind – she sent it again so we don’t miss anything. Thank you!
Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Friday 17th July 2026
It was a slow fish day today, both males brought two fish to their respective nests, taking the Nest One tally to one hundred and seventy, and the Nest Two tally to two hundred and ninety four. The weather was settled and the temperature more comfortable today, so perhaps it was intruders that kept Louis busy. The first intrusion was early morning around 4am, Dorcha was on high alert with Louis heard in the distance, and again around 10.30am. That’s just what the nest cam captured, there’s a lot of prime Osprey territory out there for Louis to defend, and Amber and Juniper are healthy and well fed and two big fish made decent meals for them today so no worries on that score although more fish would be preferable. Dorcha filled in some of the waiting time by bringing unsuitable sticks and creating havoc causing the chicks to move out of her way or join in to help get better placement. She made herself a new perch from one particular stick and hopped up onto it looking pleased with herself while later Louis used it to feak his beak. The settled weather continues with the forecast of partly cloudy, light winds and a low of 10°C overnight, changing to sunny intervals, a gentle breeze and a high of 21°C tomorrow. At the time of filing this report, quarter past midnight, only Cam One is on night mode, and the sky seen on Cam Two is still very light with traces of pink sunset glow.
More osprey chicks are dying as their parents abandon them due to a lack of food. The latest appears to be the little chick at The Wetlands Institute. I know that many of you felt this was a peculiar situation. From the outset, the chick was hungry, and living things react differently to starvation. The chick reacted to its parents. After three and a half days, it took its wings to the sky – no more hunger.
I want to state something categorically. All of this starvation is ‘human-caused ‘. I don’t care if it is heat domes, lack of fish, habitat loss, warming rivers and lakes that take the fish deep so the osprey cannot fish – it is our fault. We do not need another study about what is happening at the Chesapeake Bay. How few ospreys survived? With this in mind, I have included the team’s explanation of the rescue of Sol at the Norwegian osprey nest of Fru Rauer. I believe we should write to everyone and use Norway as a moral compass for how we address these losses.
The postal address of The Wetlands Institute is below along with their phone number if you have free phone coverage across the US:
The Wetlands Institute ® | 1075 Stone Harbor Blvd, Stone Harbor, NJ, 08247 | 609.368.1211
Their e-mail is: info@wetlandsinstitute.org
A great explanation from the rescue team that removed Sol from the Fru Rauer nest.
“Many people have asked why we decided to remove Sol, the youngest chick, from the nest instead of letting nature take its course.
Under normal circumstances, we would never interfere. Wild osprey have successfully raised their young for thousands of years without human intervention. However, we believe these are no longer normal circumstances.
The challenges facing this nest were largely created by human activity. Climate change has led to prolonged periods of extreme heat, causing fish to remain in deeper, cooler water where they are much harder for the adult ospreys to catch. At the same time, pollution and the long-term decline of fish populations in the fjord have reduced the amount of food available.
As food became scarce, competition between the chicks increased. Sibling aggression is a natural behavior in ospreys during times of food shortage, and Sol, being the youngest and smallest chick, had very little chance of survival.
From the very beginning of this project, we made a promise: if the chicks were threatened because of conditions caused by human impacts—not by natural processes alone—we would consider intervention. We believe this situation met that commitment.
By rescuing Sol, we are not trying to change nature. Instead, we are trying to reduce the consequences of environmental changes that humans have contributed to creating. Our goal is to give one young osprey the opportunity to survive, be rehabilitated if necessary, and eventually return to the wild, where it can contribute to future generations. Every osprey matters. Protecting individual birds today also helps strengthen the future population of this remarkable species.
We understand that not everyone will agree with our decision, and we respect those different opinions. However, after careful consideration, we believe rescuing Sol was the most responsible choice under these exceptional circumstances.”
I wish that everyone in the Chesapeake Bay and surrounding areas where the osprey nests have been challenged, like little Sol, would have come to the same conclusions and stepped up to help the raptors. It breaks my heart that no one wants to take a stand and say that industrial/commercial fishing of Menhaden has caused a catastrophic collapse of an entire ecosystem.
Translocation project between Scotland and Spain continues this year.
SK Hideaways Videos for the Week of 12 July 2026 While we may have seen the last sightings of the four siblings at the San Jose peregrine falcon nest, we continue to enjoy Sandy and Luna at Big Bear, as well as any and all happenings with the Channel Island eagles. My Southern Hemisphere coverage will ramp up over next few weeks. That’s just my little world of coverage for now. Mary Ann covers much, much more and we’re eternally grateful. FOBBVCAM Eagles ~ Big Bear Valley, CA ~ Jackie, Shadow; eaglets Sandy & Luna (hatched 4-5 April 2026) Courtesy FOBBVCAM | Friends of Big Bear Valley Nest Cam: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B4-L2nfGcuE Wide View Cam (Cam 2): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41eq4VzCYc4 Live Recap & Observations: https://bit.ly/3Md8TSz Cross-Valley Eaglet Chortles ~ A.M. Tug-o-Fish ~ Three on Cactus Snag (2026 Jul 18) Dawn at Big Bear brought another symphony of chatter with Sandy and Luna squee’ing across the valley. Sunrise was magnificent as they continued their conversation. When they left their night perches, Sandy and Luna met on the Cactus Snag till Shadow flew past with the first fish of the day. They raced to the nest to collect their snack ~ Luna beating Sandy to the grab. About 1/2 way through the fish, Sandy snuck in for the steal; at 3/4 gone, Luna took it back. They digested on the front perch before returning to the Cactus Snag, where Shadow ultimately joined them, chortling to Jackie, who remained off camera. In a spectacular finale, Shadow struck an horaltic pose that mesmerized even Sandy and Luna. A glorious morning was had by all lucky enough to see it. Video: https://youtu.be/ah5ksEbUODY Shadow’s 7-Fish Day ~ Sandy & Luna Compete Fiercely ~ Score Evenly(2026 Jul 17) Once again Shadow outdid himself in the fish delivery department. He brought one fish early, which no one came to the nest to claim. But then delivered 6 more in a 4-hour timespan. Sandy and Luna competed quite fiercely for 3 of the fish, as Shadow looked on with an expression we dare not attempt to interpret. It could have been anything from pride to concern to mild interest ~ we’ll never know. The other 3 fish were grabbed so quickly that the “losing” eaglet had no chance of competing for it. Suffice it to say, both Sandy and Luna both went to sleep with very full crops tonight. Video: https://youtu.be/rTgvrWi6hWQ Shadow’s Fish Fest ~ 2 for Sandy, 2 for Luna ~ Food Comas Ensue (2026 Jul 15)Shadow was on a mission this afternoon bringing FOUR FISH in just over an hour. Sandy and Luna were in fish heaven ~ they got two each. Shadow left them to their food comas, which they duly embraced, each on their favorite perch. Video: https://youtu.be/nh_hKzhHc1g Sandy & Luna Get Their Own Fish ~ Preen Each Other and Nap (2026 Jul 13) Master angler Shadow made sure both Sandy and Luna got their own fish this morning. It was a flurry of feathers with each fish delivery after the eaglets raced across the valley to claim their prize. Once they’d enjoyed their snacks, they settled down together for some beaky kisses, tail biting, and ~ as the food coma set in ~ naps. Cuteness overload ensued. Video: https://youtu.be/VTjElRgpchQ
FOBBVCAM Eagles JACKIE’S HOME! Whole Family Meets on Nest for Fish! (2026 Jul 12) As we’ve learned since this video was released, Jackie is spending time further out in the territory keeping an eye on sub-adult eagles who are passing through the area. She and Shadow are making sure that Sandy and Luna’s efforts to hone their skills in preparation to become independent are not hampered. But she did make an appearance on the 12th.
After Jackie and Shadow perched on Twin Pines together, Shadow departed to get Jackie a welcome home fish. She was very grateful and enjoyed it mostly to herself, even when Sandy and Luna came home expecting to get some. Life lessons were taught. But ever the doting father, Shadow brought a second fish, which Luna happily scarfed down. With this fish, Shadow had fed the entire family today. Well, of course he had. What a gift to see the entire family on the nest together. It was a good day in Big Bear Valley. Video: https://youtu.be/_Ilx0Vwopd0
Sandy & Luna End/Begin Days with Beaky Kisses ~ Stunning Sunset/Sunrise (2026 Jul 11-12) Sandy and Luna ended the day together on the nest, sharing beaky kisses and allopreening with a lovely sunset as their backdrop. When Shadow delivered supper, Sandy swooped in, mantling with her magnificent wings, but left Luna a few bites in the end. The eaglets then shuffled some branches before Luna departed for his overnight roost on the Simba Tree.
As dawn broke, the eaglets remained on their respective night roosts. Then Big Bear came aglow with a most stunning and long-lasting sunrise during which Sandy traversed across the valley to join Luna on the Simba Tree. Ultimately, they relocated to the Lookout Snag, where they finished watching the sunrise together. It was a magical time and one which we won’t soon forget. (2026 Jul 11-12) Video:https://youtu.be/Ua-mAhCld3Q
Walton Learns Territory Defense from Monty ~ Dive-bombing, Talons Up (2026 Jul 14) As Hartley relaxed on the ledge, Walton zoomed in and bumped her off. But in a twist of Walton’s prior experiences, Monty was right behind him. Monty flew over, circled back, and swooped on Walton, causing Walton to go talons up and tumble to the runway. Monty circled back around and flew over once for good measure (secretly we think he was checking Walton was OK). Poor Walton got a tough lesson in territorial defense, which he pondered for a minute before departing.
As devoted fans, we wonder if we’ll ever see the boys here again, but some of the trackers seem to be working. Walton’s tracker pinged in San Francisco and Oakland (~35-45 miles away as the crow flies). Scout’s has pinged further away at Hellyer Park in south San Jose (~6 miles). Jet’s has pinged in the Fremont Hills (~18-19 miles). And, unfortunately, Stewart’s tracker has stopped working. 75% is not bad, though. While we’ll miss them, we’re grateful to know they are dispersing healthy and hearty. Video: https://youtu.be/RZ71UkrSYZU
Cholyn Chills While a BIG Rattler, Lucy Franco, and Rowboater Visit (2026 Jul 16) While Chase was off doing eagle things, Cholyn sat on their couch as a host of visitors slithered and floated by. A VERY large Southern Pacific rattlesnake visited the overlook nest in the pre-dawn hours, the Lucy Franco tugged by a bit later with goods for a local port, and an intrepid rower bobbed by. All the while, Cholyn remained on her couch watching the world and visitors go by. How cool to see what was happening all around Cholyn and Chase’s habitat. Video: https://youtu.be/9PVJot6LfqI
Concerns grow for Loch Doon fledgling Blue 5B4, who flew out of the nest strong on Friday afternoon. Frankie has brought in five fish, but she has not returned to the nest.
Second chick not ready to fly at Loch Doon.
Little Dewey or Sassy has had lots of fish at the Dewey Beach nest since its fledgling. Thanks, Heidi and Pam, for keeping track!
There is only one nest that appears to be doing well in Connecticut.
Yesterday was a good day for Oyster Bay. Today they are fighting some – hungry.
It is the second flight for Aava at the Janakkalan nest in Finland. Look at the face of the siblings! Aava hatched on the 28th of May.
Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Saturday 18th July 2026
There was a lot of intruder action today affecting both nests, and Dorcha’s reaction to one event seemed to indicate the intruder was an eagle, as she flattened herself and the chicks onto the nest, instead of rearing up and warning them away. Both species of UK eagles nest in the Loch Arkaig area – White-tailed Eagles and Golden Eagles – and both Louis and Dorcha have encountered them before, details in the bonus section. Despite the alarms, Garry LV0 delivered two fish to Aurora 536, taking the Nest One tally to one hundred and seventy two, and Louis delivered three fish to Dorcha and the chicks, taking the Nest Two tally to two hundred and ninety seven. Juniper 8P7 and Amber 8P6 had a tug of fish which came perilously close to the nest edge but went no further, and
Steve Quinn gave us his usual thorough weekly analysis of Louis’ fishing statistics: hyvor doesn’t allow comment links so pop Nest 2 fish summary to week 13 into the search field. The weather was settled and not too hot, tonight’s forecast is partly cloudy, light winds and an overnight low of 8
°C, changing to sunny intervals with light winds and a high of 21°C tomorrow.
Thank you so much for being with us today. Also, thank you for your letters and your commitment to helping rectify the terrible situation in the US. It is too late for our little ones this year, but commercial fishing has to be stopped. Menhaden stocks need to be placed in the Bay to reproduce, etc., etc. And Industrial fishing needs to stop. As humans, we need to evaluate what our actions have on wildlife, including the waters that hold the fish needed by the fish-eating birds.
I am taking Sunday off. We will be back with you on Monday. Take care all.
Thank you to SK Hideaways and Geemeff for their videos, to Heidi, who has such a great historical file on all these ospreys as well as a fabulous analytical mind, to all those who posted on FB with information and images, and to the owners of the streaming cams – thank you for allowing us to watch these avian families.
It is cloudy. We had another thunderstorm last night and that thunder jacket for Toby and Missey really came in handy. Poor things when the first clap rattled the house they yelped and starting running around like someone was chasing them with a cow prod. The jackets certainly worked and both settled into bed with me for a long quiet night.
Have you watched The Last Osprey? If you haven’t, then I urge you to do this.
Here is the link: You will need to watch it with ads which gives them revenue so just click to watch with ads. It is that good.
It will not make your day turn into sunshine but it will highlight what Heidi and I, Michael Academia and others have been saying for years — industrial fishing in The Bay has to stop. The question now is: is it too late? Studies have already been done. Adding another putting off the cessation of industrial fishing only ensures the demise of the osprey and other species in that ecosystem. Why not a moratorium until a study is completed? That makes much more sense based on what we know. But, sitting where I do in Canada, I wonder who has any common sense? We have watched and are now watching – again – adults abandoning their only surviving chicks because of too little or no food. In Norway, Sol was removed from a nest and place in another that is thriving.
I do take exception with one aspect of part 1 of the documentary, The Last Osprey. The myth is that ospreys do not do well in rehabilitation. Our friend who was at the Audubon Raptor Centre in Florida, Lisa, would tell you a different story. I don’t think I mentioned Mr Krispy – he had been electocuted and lost almost all his feathers. He was released a little more than a year after going into care. Pitkin County’s chick fell over and was taken into care and released. Those are only two stories but what about Bailey at the Raptor Centre? The key is to getting them soon enough before their organs begin to shut down. It is too late for those sitting on some of the nests you are watching.
I want to applaud Heidi again. I thank whatever spirit controls this world for her coming into my life many years ago. She is tenacious, and she was not going to let PSEG Oyster Bay get by with having fishing line on that nest. I believe she would have climbed up there herself if she had lived in the area, but she knew to contact Bobby Horvath. If there is a chick in danger in Manhattan or on Long Island, Bobby is your man. That chick is alive today because of her video—but also because of all the phone calls everyone made to PSEG, Bobby, the DEC, etc. It takes more than a village, and you cannot give up!!!!!!!!!
This is Oyster Bay today.
It isn’t fishing line, but it is human debris – a takeaway box. Gosh, humans make messes, and ospreys love to bring things to the nest. There was a running joke that maybe it was fish and chips. The kids are fish calling. These three should fledge. Thank goodness.
Tiny at Blackbush – four of them – continues to do better than I thought it would. This is one determined little osplet.
Different parents at Minnesota has really changed this nest with two thriving osplets.
Osoyoos. This nest needs fish!
One of the discussions in the documentary The Last Osprey is the amount of energy parents must expend to furnish their nests and care for their young when the young are starving, too. Feather development. Emaciated chicks. It is hard to tell, but there is not a lot of fat on this chick at Osoyoos compared to those at some of the other nests. Meanwhile, with the rare exception, the UK nests are thriving, and I have word that the Aviemore ospreys are safe from the wildfire scorching the area.
Pam Breci sent this to me – and we always need to cherish and cheer on those nests that are doing well.
I loved Duke and Daisy. They decided not to breed one year. I wonder what eventually happened to them. Does anyone know?
This is Sandy Hook and instead of eating Menhaden, they are eating fluke.
AI information on Fluke:
AI Overview
Fluke fish, also known as Summer Flounder, are a predatory marine flatfish found in the western Atlantic Ocean. Highly prized by both commercial harvesters and recreational anglers, they are famous for their sweet, mild, and delicate white meat, which is excellent for searing or rolling.
Key Characteristics
Appearance & Camouflage: Fluke are flat and laterally compressed, meaning they swim and lie on the ocean floor on their side. They are nicknamed “chameleons of the sea” for their ability to change their top-side coloration (grays, blues, or browns) to match the ocean floor.
The “Left-Eyed” Trait: While born with an eye on each side, the fluke’s right eye migrates to the left side of its head as it matures. When held with the belly facing down and eyes facing up, its head will point to the left.
Distinctive Spots: They typically feature five or more prominent, dark, eye-like spots (ocelli) arranged in a distinct pattern on their back.
Ambush Predators: Unlike bottom-feeding scavengers, fluke are aggressive hunters equipped with large mouths and sharp teeth, feeding on small fish, squid, and crustaceans.
Fluke vs. Flounder
The relationship often causes confusion, but the easiest way to understand it is that all fluke are flounders, but not all flounders are fluke. “Flounder” is a broader umbrella term for various species of flatfish. Fluke specifically refers to the Summer Flounder, while other species (like the Winter Flounder) are right-eyed, smaller-mouthed, and lack teeth
The fluke being brought in is keeping this nest thriving, and both adults are fishing for their kids. Lots of small fish is just as good as a few big ones.
I want to remember this season with Iris, Clark, and their chick. I know that we cherished the year she bonded with Finnegan and they raised two to fledge: Sum-eh and Antali. Iris is doing great as a mum, and Clark is not only a wonderful provider but also a protector. Each of us should cherish these next weeks with this wonderful family. This year has been hard on Iris because of the heat, yet she will protect her chicks before anything else. She is going to need time to ‘fatten’ up for her own migration later in July before she departs sometime in September. I wonder if there will be a naming contest for the chick? Gosh, I hope so. Maybe I missed it, and they have already started. I must admit to enjoying the newly fledged birds in my garden. I cannot take my eyes off of the gorgeous Blue Jays. The Starlings have moved on to their summer grounds but will return late in the fall and spend the winter. It has just been glorious!
Look how big Iris’s ‘baby’ is!
Posted a week ago:
Chick at day 20! Don’t you just love the attitude?
Wonderful news just keeps coming from Knepp Farm in the UK and their commitment to rewilding.
The latest report from Geemeff and the Woodland Trust:
Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Thursday 16th July 2026
It was a quiet day, with just a little intruder action, not enough to send an adult in pursuit, and the chicks spent most of today wingercising. Juniper 8P7 in particular was very animated, actually doing a two-footed hop, and moving perilously close to the edge. But she kept inside the cot rails, and had a good look over the side as if figuring out how high up she is. She and Amber 8P6 are looking very strong and fledge-watch can’t be far away. Louis delivered five fish today although Dorcha might argue it was only four as he inadvertently took one of them away with him when he left, dropping it overboard with a clunk. Fortunately it was the smallest fish, a partial flatfish, and he returned forty five minutes later with a decent sized trout so everyone had a good dinner. The Nest Two tally now rises to two hundred and ninety two, while over on Nest One, Garry LV0 brought two fish for Aurora 536, taking the Nest One tally to one hundred and sixty eight. Their unviable egg is still intact, and after delivering the second fish, Garry did settle down on it but soon left. The weather was hot and sunny, and set to continue with an overnight low of 13°C and a more comfortable high tomorrow of 24°C.
===========================================================Mum and Dad slept on the barge in South Australia last night. Dear souls.
Beautiful Lady incubating her two precious eggs at the Olympic Park White-bellied Sea Eagle nest in Sydney.
Gorgeous Diamond. She lost her mate eleven years ago and a miracle happened when Xavier appeared and cared for her and her chicks. We have now sadly had to say goodbye to Xavier, also, and hello to Gimbir who keeps us entertained and who has turned out to be a very good mate.
The week in wildlife in photographs by the Guardian.
Thank you for being with us. Toby and I are going out for a walk. My son and daughter in law will come for a visit today – so good to see them again and Don is out with Ann at the nature centre. It is wonderful to have a day wit no heat ande no rain. All the little birds are so very happy.
I am working with my new camera to see if I can get you some decent images from the garden. Keep your fingers crossed. I have been very frustrated since I sold my DS850 and I might just hve to get a better mirrorless camera.
If you did not know, the Ferguson Museum chick, which was starving, was predated by a Bald Eagle this morning.
Enjoy the weekend. We will be back with you again soon.
Thank you to everyone who posted images and information on FB, to Geemeff, thank you for your daily summary, to PB – special thanks for our chats and the life support line when things get so sad you can’t stand it. To everyone who called about the PSEG nest and especially to Heidi for her persistence, thank you so much. You saved a life. People can create positive change. You just can’t give in to despair. Thank you to the Guardian and the owners of the streaming cams.
We woke up to 18°C and rain. It was wonderful. I wish I could send this rain to Scotland, where wildfires are threatening the wildlife near Loch Garten, Loch Doon, and the Cairngorms.
This will be a quick run-through of some nests with issues! Some strange ones. But first…’The Last Osprey. In August, I will receive a Zoom meeting link for a special showing and discussion that I can invite you to, but for now, Heidi has sent me the link to Part I. I suggest that you not only watch our beloved ospreys but also have a box of tissues handy. As you know, I love these fish-eating raptors, and I just had to go in my room and shut the door. This is tragic. Please note: Click on “Watch with Ads”. There is no other way to watch it, and it helps with revenue, so be patient.
The Wetlands Institute: Heidi has been monitoring this nest since the arrival of the osprey and provides the following information on it and South Cape May: “The chick at Wetlands attacks Dad too. Dad brought in a fish at 12:10, but the chick attacked, and Dad flew off with the fish, and hasn’t been back.
The most recent time Mom was able to feed was two days ago. She was very tentative, but fed the chick some bites, and this went on for 3 minutes. Then all of a sudden the chick attacked her.
But, both Wetlands and South Cape May are suffering from lack of fish for the past couple of days.
At Cape May, Hera has not been seen for two days. Zeus dropped off 2 fish yesterday, one of which the chick couldn’t eat. Neither parent has been seen yet today.”
You may recall that last year the adults began to abandon their nests once fish was not plentiful enough. It is going to be a very ‘tough’ year emotionally as the last of the ospreys perish.
Problems at Ferguson Museum as well.
Thank you to Heidi and Pam Breci for contacting Bobby Horvath and the DEC to try and get some help for the chick entangled in fishing line for some time at the PSEG osprey platform at Oyster Bay. Heidi sent videos and neither – along with many others – quite phoning.
You can make a difference. Do not give up. This chick would have died without this intervention.
A welcome fish.
The camera at the Port of Ridgefield has been hit by lightning and will not be operational again this season. Reports say the ospreys are fine and have been seen flying around.
The camera has been down at Osoyoos for several days, but it is back up. It has been very hot. We still have one surviving osplet. How wonderful, but this nest needs fish badly.
At Glaslyn:
At Poole, 6T7 has returned to the nest after fledgling. All are home wanting more fish with DJ7 on the pole calling to Blue 022 to bring more and more fish.
Geemeff’s Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch ArkaigWednesday 15th July 2026
Louis’ day started at 04.58 with fish one and ended at 22.58 with fish three, which was a very long day with only three fish deliveries. Perhaps he was busy seeing off intruders, like the one who caused Dorcha to react furiously when it came close enough to be caught on nest cam. Or perhaps the fish went deep due to the heat, temperatures reported to have got as high as 31.2ºC at Loch Arkaig, not the 27°C which was forecast for the area. Whatever the reason, those three fish take the Nest Two tally to two hundred and eighty seven, and Garry LV0’s one delivery to Aurora 536 takes the Nest One tally to one hundred and sixty six. Tonight’s forecast is for partly cloudy and light winds overnight with a low of 14°C, and the high temperatures will continue tomorrow with full sunshine and a high of 28°C.
Thank you for being with us. There is lots and lots happening. I will be with you again tomorrow for a check on some other nests. Take care! Be safe.
Thank you to Heidi, PB, and Geemeff for all you do, and to all the others who posted information and images on FB, thank you. We are always grateful to the owners of the streaming cam! And to the folks who created The Last Osprey – that was tough to make, but maybe your message will make a difference before it is too late.
I took a day off. It was lovely. I decided to do some self-care, and before that, I sat and reflected on the simple things that make me ‘happy’. I love Organic Meadows Strawberry ice cream, and on these hot days there is nothing nicer. Taking Toby for a walk brings me such joy. Sitting in the garden listening to the birds and watching all the animals scurry about, eat, and bathe is marvellous. Last, having a luxurious bubble bath and tonight with candles and a decadent Bergamot and Hinoki mixture, I fell into bliss. I needed this day. Every once in a while dementia catches up with me, and I just have to shut it out. Today was one of those days. Running parallel with Lewy Body Dementia is Parkinson’s Disease, and I believe, perhaps wrongly, it is starting to roar its ugly head in Don’s body.
Today is Missey’s birthday. She is four years old.
Missey is with her bestie, Hugo Yugo, the ginger.
She will enjoy her very own tin of tuna this evening and everyone will have treats! I tried to find a cake mix for cats but all I could find was one for dogs.
At Loch Arkaig, the chicks have names: Amber and Juniper. I don’t mind saying that several individuals, including myself, suggested Juniper. So I am happy! Amber for the lighter chick and Juniper for the darker – like the berries.
The camera is down at Osoyoos or has been turned off. What has happened to that remaining chick? That poor little soul.
I have some concerns about the remaining chick at the Cowlitz PUD. I hope I am wrong, but the chick does not seem strong to me; rather, it seems to be protecting what energy it has. This has always been a difficult nest. Eagles have taken healthy chicks. Eagles take the fish from the osprey.
In contrast, the two at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum are doing amazing.
I have heard about the strange goings on at the Wetlands osprey cam. The female has been unwell and as ‘MP’ writes tonight: “I don’t know if you’ve seen this, but it is an amazing communication moment between chick and mom. Mom has been ill for a while and not able to feed chick, so chick has been self-feeding even though s/he too young. S/he’s been doing a good job though. Today, @09:14:47AM mom drops down from perch as dad brings fish in and chick and mom begin to communicate in a way I’ve never seen before. It certainly is a learning moment. If you can go to it soon, the time is timing out. Oh, and chick attacks mom because I assume is angry over he not feeding chick?”
I didn’t get to it until 0956 but later the chick, with a fish behind it with some bites out of the soft sides, was giving the female the what for on the perch. This chick is hungry. It is trying to feed itself and it needs more fish than it can currently eat – it is, however, managing to stay alive. Let’s wish this baby a lot of luck.
There was a fledge at the Birds of Poole Harbour on Tuesday morning.
At Dyfi, Ogwen fledged this morning! He was the male.
Saturday began with an urgent call about 3 nestfall Osprey chicks that David had found on his morning walk.
Soaked and grounded after yesterday’s rainfall, the chicks had tumbled from their nest that had become waterlogged, which had resulted in a serious break in the structure, and then a full collapse.
The fall, of about 20m / 60 feet was significant and first we arranged for David and Melissa to return and uplift the chicks to go to fabulous vet Ella at Highland Vet Referrals & Emergencies with the full cooperation of the estate.
There, sadly, one chick was found to be badly injured so on welfare grounds he was spared any further suffering and euthanised. The other two had miraculously avoided any serious trauma and once dried, they perked up well. Ella kept us fully updated while we took advice from Brian about next steps. An Osprey expert on “the team” comes in very handy!
Without delay the sensational ornithology duo of Brian and Daniel kitted up and headed to the nest site where a phenomenal rebuild got underway.
With the two chicks cleared for return David and Melissa collected them to head back to their newly refurbished nest where Brian and Daniel got them back in situ with a combination of professional tree climbing skills and expertise as ringers.
Reaching out to colleagues, experts, professionals and friends is an essential part of our work. Collaboration, consultation and teamwork can create wildlife magic and these two lucky youngsters now have a second chance, with their parents in view and our entire team happy to have helped them get back up high, where they belong.
If you missed it, the adults have returned to the nest.
Look at Tiny! Thanks so much ‘PB’ for this great screen capture. That is some ‘sassy’ chick. I love this fourth hatch.
‘R’ wrote and asked me why I had not mentioned wildfires this year. So far, we have not had them because of all of the rain this year – indeed, even flooding but there are massive fires in NW Ontario. But there are horrific fires burning in the US and now in the Cairngorms in Scotland. The heat in France has caused fires. There was even a fire near to Geemeff in London. Wildlife have been impacted around the world due to these fires and the droughts – and even the torrential rains that flooded their nests and killed their chicks.
Geemeff Woodland Trust daily summary for Loch Arkaig Tuesday 14th July 2026
Daily summary Tuesday 14th July 2026
Today’s big news is the naming of our chicks. From the hundreds of suggestions, the judging panel decided on Amber and Juniper, reflecting their colouration – therefore the golden chick 8P6 is called Amber and the dark chick 8P7 is called Juniper. Many thanks to everyone who participated in #2026NAME. The next big milestone for Juniper and Amber will be their first flight, which is probably at least ten days away – longer if dad Louis keeps bringing lots of fish and they get even bigger and heavier! It was quiet today, no intruders, apart from the RAF sending three noisy aircraft this time, noted by the family who didn’t otherwise react. Dorcha did react when Juniper got herself in a fankle when she got her wing stuck on a cot rail – mum came over and moved it for her, snapping bits off before repositioning it. Dad Louis brought three fish taking the Nest Two tally to two hundred and eighty four, and over on Nest One, Aurora 536 received two fish from Garry LV0, taking his tally to one hundred and sixty five. Aurora nearly lost the second, clattering the cot rails as she left, but did manage to hang on to it. The weather was settled, hot and sunny, and it’ll be misty overnight until about 7am, with a low of 13°C, then full sunshine for the rest of the day with a high of 28°C and light winds to help mitigate the high temperatures.Today’s videos:https://youtu.be/0i2fWOyh8Vg N2 Introducing Amber (8P6) & Juniper (8P7)! https://youtu.be/45eOSJgzJZg N2 Only the chicks are home when Louis brings fish one 04.26.27https://youtu.be/PhTsALMZJfU N2 Juniper gets in a fankle! Mum helps out 07.17.24
Iris is such an amazing mother. She has shaded her lovely chick in the hottest of weather and I do worry about her.
Tiny at Blackbush isn’t so Tiny anymore. Thanks, ‘PB’.
We now have an image of Ervie’s ‘girlfriend’!!!!!!!!
That’s it for today. Please take care, everyone. I hope to be back with you either later tomorrow (Thursday) or on Friday. It looks like there will be many fledges happening in the UK!
Thank you to Geemeff for her daily summary, to PB for those great captures of Tiny, to everyone who posted images and information on FB, and to the owners of the streaming cams that let us watch these wonderful bird families.
Update
