Tag Archives: wildlife

Sunday in Bird World

10 March 2024

Hi Everyone,

The girls were really enjoying the sunshine and the warmer temperatures on Saturday. Today it is supposed to get up to +5 C – this is going to melt a lot of this beautiful white snow and turn it into muck. Yuck!

You can’t tell it by the two images below, but Hugo Yugo and Baby Hope (now answering to Calico Kitty Kitty) practically tore the surface off of the hardwood today. When they stopped running and climbing over everything, they slept. Calico Kitty Kitty aka Baby Hope was so exhausted she did not mind being Hugo Yugo’s pillow.

Missey continues to find the highest spots in the house to get away from those two. Calico hides.

We are now five days away from Hugo Yugo’s operation. It happens on Friday at noon. Nothing has happened before, but I am always nervous – just like I am about all those baby eaglets on the nests, especially when it rains. There aren’t as many feedings and sometimes the nest stays damp and sometimes the oldest gets to be naughty and worrisome.

Today was the day we were supposed to ‘spring’ up our clocks. If you forgot, go and fix that right now. Some of mine change automatically, and others don’t—mind you, the only clock in the house is on the microwave, the cell phone, and the computer.

It was beautiful on Saturday. The intent had been to go on a sleigh ride—all spaces were booked! The sky was blue, and the snow was white and still fluffy in places. The main roads were clear, butke mine were still full of snow. Spring feels like it is coming again. I felt sorry for those ea side streets lirly-arriving geese. So it was just a long walk. Tomorrow, will be an exploration of a new park if it isn’t too soggy.

In the UK, it is Mother’s Day today. I want to send a big shout-out to anyone who has ever cared for a living, breathing being. Feathery hugs to all those Osprey mothers on their way home to raise a new batch of bonkers and to Blue NCO anxiously awaiting her Laddie.

Proud parents Thunder and Akecheta and their first hatch of the 2024 season.

Both so happy….Thunder loves being a dad.

Jak and Audacity’s egg is intact and we are in hatch range.

20, 504 people were watching Jackie and Shadow around 16:32 Saturday afternoon. You could hear the Ravens. Shadow got off the nest at 13:21:07 and Jackie got on at 13:23:49. Again, Ravens could be heard in the distance. The couple are still hopeful and there is still time. A lot of positive energy is being poured into this nest from around the world.

At Achieva, there appears to be no movement with the eggs yet. The big excitement on Saturday was a visit from a squirrel and a great Egret flying by the nest in the early morning.

The Achieva Osprey platform has always made me anxious. Tiny Tumbles just about did many of us in, and she survived to become big and strong. ‘H’ has been keeping track of the age of the three eggs: Egg # will be 42 days tomorrow. Egg #2 will be 39, Egg #3 will be 36.” It is possible that the first two eggs are not viable. Will three hatch? I wonder. Maybe it is a good year not to have osplets in Florida.

Speaking of early arrivals, Blue NCO is 9 days early. She left early…I wonder if there is a correlation. Blue NCO has been working on the nest and looking for her partner, Laddie LM12. I do worry about him. He was not in great shape at the end of the season last year. I fear that he did not survive migration….but, then again, I thought Blue NCO was dead. So what do I know?

They have removed the bin lid from the Manton Bay nest of Blue 33 and Maya in anticipation of their arrival on Saturday.

Nest at Llyn Brenig is waiting.

Waiting for Louis and Dorcha at Loch Arkaig.

This year, the Alyth SSEN Transmission Substation will be closely watched because of plans to increase its capacity. How will this impact the ospreys?

‘H’ reports that ‘The Boathouse’ is being significantly repaired and renovated since the storms. This is where the ‘Hog Island’ Ospreys have their nest. It should be finished by the time the birds return home from migration.

More…

Bazz Hockaday has been busy photographing the Port Lincoln Osprey family. What a delight it must be for everyone involved in this nest over the years, but especially this year, to see these fledglings hanging out with Mum and Dad and their elder brother, Ervie. There is something to say about having male chicks – they want to stay home!

Swampy and Meadow are fantastic.

Getting those skills for self-feeding.

E23 just wants to get to the top of the nest tree and fly.

Look where Cal is! Oh, he wants to fly just like E23! Some believe that today will be the day.

Johnson City-ETSU looks alright. Yes, the oldest gives some bonks but, for the most part, these two get along. Boone comes in on Saturday and makes sure that the little one gets a good feed.

It’s been raining at Bluff City and there were not a lot of meals today. I wonder how that little one is doing?

It also started raining at Duke Farms, too. I didn’t get a chance to watch this nest much today. Hoping that both got fed well because, despite all the fish on the nest, I didn’t see a lot of feedings.

Archie might like to hunt before dawn but Annie doesn’t seem to like to have her breakfast that early!

We are 8 days away from pip watch for Ellie and Harvey whose nest is on the property of Farmer Derek.

Bonnie and Clyde, the GHOs, are nesting on Farmer Derek’s land. The first egg is 33 days old, and the second egg is 30 days old.The average hatch time is 33-34 days, although the range can be 30-37 days. So guess what? This couple’s aWe are on pip watch!

Hancock Wildlife in British Columbia, Canada is celebrating the first egg of the season at the White Rock nest. Congratulations.

What bird is half female and half male?

A green honeycreeper spotted on a farm in Colombia exhibits a rare biological phenomenon known as bilateral gynandromorphism.

This-Bird-Is-Half-Male-Half-Female-and-Completely-Stunning-The-New-York-TimesDownload

Everyone should know that I love condors, vultures, and carrion eaters that help clean up our planet. We should all embrace them, but instead, their numbers are rapidly declining in places where they are considered icons of their country.

These-Birds-Are-National-Symbols-but-Getting-Harder-to-See-The-New-York-TimesDownload

Oh, there is so much happening. This was just a quick look today. We hope you are all well. Please take care. We look forward to having you with us again soon.

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today; ‘H, J’, IWS/Explore.org, FOBBV, Achieva Credit Union, Scottish Wildlife Trust (LOTL), LRWT, Llyn Brenig, Woodland Trust (Loch Arkaig), Alyth SS, Friends of Hog Island, Bazz Hockaday, Eagle Country, SW Florida Eagle Cam, Window to Wildlife, Johnson City – ETSU, BluffLadey Deeagle55, City-ETSU, Duke Farms, SK Hideaways, Farmer Derek Owl Cam, Farmer Derek Eagle Cam, Hancock Wildlife Foundation, and The New York Times.

Blue NCO returns, Hatch at West End…Saturday in Bird World

9 March 2024

Good Morning Everyone,

Goodness me. Things are starting to heat up. By next week, our heads will be spinning. The voting for which streaming cam osprey in the UK would arrive first is now over. The leader was Maya. She was beaten out by the arrival of Blue NCO at Loch of the Lowes. Blue NCO is the mate of Laddie LM12, and I, amongst others, feared that her early departure on July 15th last year meant she was no longer with us. There had been a lot of intruders around the loch. Well, here she is! Not dead but looking really good, back home and ready to begin another season. (Note: Last year she arrived on the 17th of March.)

Laddie cared for the remaining fledgling while having untold issues with intruders last year after NCO’s departure. He seemed exhausted at the end of the season. I hope he makes it back safely.

The video of this happy arrival captured by Geemeff. She looks around to see if Laddie has arrived.

Blue 5F, or Seren, is not on her usual perch in West Africa. She has not been seen for a few days. It is assumed that she is on her way home to Llyn Clywedog to be reunited with Dylan when he arrives.

Mid-afternoon Friday. A hatch is in progress at the West End nest of Akecheta and Thunder! Oh, my gosh. Do you think they will have three eaglets again this year? Something to look forward to after what looks like sadness at BB.

Thunder and Akecheta are hilarious.

They were feeding a chick Saturday morning. Congratulations.

More than 32,000 people were watching Jackie right after 0900 on Friday, hoping, like the rest of us, that one of those last two eggs is viable.

Jak and Audacity’s egg has held. It is 36 days today. Can we start dreaming of a pip?

Just look at how deep that egg cup is at Sauces. I wonder if this is why the egg has stayed intact this year.

New bark at the Achieva Credit Union Osprey platform. No sign of a chick, but Diane isn’t showing us much either!

No sign of a pip later on Friday at Achieva.

As Bella incubates, Scout has proven himself to be a fantastic new mate. He not only incubates and provides food, but he also had to protect Bella from a GHO attack.

Lewis is actively courting the new female at the Dulles-Greenway nest.

Dr Andrew Digby is an expert on Kakapo. He has done several podcasts and this one is really interesting. Have a listen!

https://www.podbean.com/ep/pb-t8xag-15a03c1

If you missed it, both of the Royal Cam chicks are males.

If you miss see Brad and Gil on the Port Lincoln Osprey barge, rest assured that they are both fine. They are hanging out with Mum and Dad and enjoying learning to fish!

Look are out swimming together – Ervie and Giliath. Just think. All boys. Ervie, Brad, and Gil. They could all hang around Port Lincoln. Wouldn’t that be awesome. Best be finding places for platforms!

I mentioned several days ago that the GHOs had taken over the Wolf Bay Osprey Platform in Alabama. Today, they have two eggs in the nest.

Rosie Shields posted the story from Bird Life South Africa of a phenomenal migration by an Osprey.

I am wondering how extensive and detailed these daily cam updates will be.

Daily-Cam-Updates-Now-Available-On-Mastodon-Cornell-Lab-Bird-Cams-Cornell-Lab-Bird-CamsDownload

The US Ospreys are arriving faster than I can enter all of the data into my research forms. Lucy arrived at Lake Murray on the 25th of February, Frederick arrived at Carova Beach on 1 March with his mate Betsie arriving on Friday the 8th. Jack appears to gotten to his Dahlgren Nest on Friday the 8th while the couple at Danville arrived on the 7th.

Jack at Dahlgren. Just wonder what toys he will bring to Harriet this year. I really hope none. Those poor eggs that have gotten lost in that nest and the potential for chicks to get entangled in those ‘stuffies’ drives me daffy.

I expect more flurries of arrivals in the US, UK, and Europe this coming week. If you are watching an Osprey nest and see birds arriving, please write to me and let me know so I can put in the correct data in the ongoing International Osprey Data Bank Project. Feel free to add this as a comment (I am behind in answering and apologise) or send me an e-mail at maryannsteggles@icloud.com. I appreciate all of the information sent to me. Anyone who watches a specific nest – one of your favourites – consistently, please alert me to hatches, fledges, and any possible siblicide. Again, I am very thankful for all of your ‘Osprey eyes’. ‘H’ and I could not complete this ongoing and extensive research project on siblicide and, now, more generally, causes of death on Osprey nests without your help. Thank you.

Have you ever heard a million cranes gathered during migration?

Turning back to the eagles for a minute. Swampy has that Buddha-like stance today. Few dandelions left on the top of his/her head. Gosh, these eaglets of Abby and Blaze are big.

Quite the expressions.

The Dukies seem to be doing fine. Nice big chunks of fish on that nest at Duke Farms.

Things seem to be alright at Johnson City with Jolene and Boone and their two eaglets.

There are two at Bluff City, and they are cute and tiny. Congratulations, Franklin and Frances, on your second successful hatch for 2024.

At Captiva, Cal wasn’t going to let Clive (I think it’s Clive) steal his fish. Oh, no! Any pretence of aerating the nest to get closer to that fish caused Cal to grab it and take it to the rails for a meal. — It is hard to train a single eaglet to protect their food. As we all know, it is very different when two eaglets are on the nest the age of Cal and a fish arrives. They fight for it like they will have to do in the wild. So we have all these single eaglets this year needing parents to get ‘tough’.

Look how Dad creeps up on Cal…

‘H’ reports that Ron and Rose are working on R6’s self feeding. “R6 had a very good experience self-feeding on 3/8.  He had nothing to eat all day except a few bites of a leftover squirrel, then at 1805 Ron delivered a headless bluegill.  R6 grabbed the fish and mantled, so Ron left him to it.  R6 was doing a much better job of pulling and tearing off pieces of fish.  Then, as a test, Ron returned at 1817 and tried to steal R6’s fish.  Ron briefly had the fish but R6 put up a good fight.  He bit his Dad on the talon, took the fish back and dragged it over to the other side of the nest where he continued to eat.  He couldn’t finish it all, so he still had some fish saved for breakfast.   R6 woke up in the middle of the night (0230ish) and began to eat from the fish piece again!”

JBS20 has been pecking at the nest as if looking for leftover fish. Mum was on the nest with her eaglet and Dad was seen there, too. I am unclear who did the feeding at 1700.

Gabby and Beau are protecting their nest. They were caught mating on another tree today. How nice it is to see them together after their clutch failed this year. We have something to look forward to for next year.

Tula, the White-tailed Polish Eagle, has laid her first egg for the 2024 season.

White Tailed Eagle Nest Cam

Roof Sealant. Another potential bird killer.

Gorgeous sunset over the Sandpoint Osprey platform.

Thank you so much for being with me today. Tomorrow, Saturday the 9th, promises to be another day for Osprey arrivals! We will also have some new eaglets in the US. We might even have an osplet at Achieva. Time will tell. Take care. See you soon!

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, articles, screen captures, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post: ‘EJ, Geemeff, H, J’, Scottish Wildlife Trust (LOTL), Mary Kerr, Geemeff, John Williams, IWS/Explore.org, Tonya in N.O., FOBBV, Achieva Credit Union, Deb Stecyk, Dulles-Greenway Eagle Cam, Sharon Dunne, Bazz Hockaday, PLO, Wolf Bay, Rosie Shields, All About Birds, Dahlgren Osprey Cam, Explore, Eagle Country, Duke Farms, Rollin’ Rog, Johnson City-ETSU, Bluff City-ETSU, Window to Wildlife, WRDC, JB Sands Wetlands, NEFL-AEF, Wildcat Creek Wildlife Centre, SPO, and Sandpoint Ospreys.

Hatch at Bluff City…Thursday in Bird World

7 March 2024

Good Morning,

It is 1747 on the Canadian Prairies and we have been in the midst of a blizzard for five hours now. We got all of the donations to the kitten charity and rushed home. Thank you so much for your wishes on bountiful donations. People are generous and it is a good time since many are doing some spring cleaning. I feel so sorry for those people who cannot keep their pets because they cannot afford to feed them.

The wind was really gusting. The snow had piled in where ‘The Boyfriend’ and other feral find their food. There were no birds in the garden and the squirrels had completely disappeared to their dreys or tree homes.

The girls were all asleep. As for me, I was glad to get off the City streets as they got slicker and the wind picked up to the point that in places you could not see. As Dorothy says, ‘There is no place like home!’ When I did look at the kitties, I was drawn to Calico who, this time last year, would have endured several big storms. I am so glad this gentle soul (she is except for the ongoing snit with Missey) is inside this year, safe and warm.

There is no news coming out of Big Bear Valley about a pip that I have seen. Indeed, despite the good response to the auction, I have been rather muted and sad today. It is unrealistic, but I wish an ‘Eagle Egg Fairy’ existed. Or someone who had an orphan eagle that needed two great parents. If they could drop that little one into the Big Bear nest, Jackie and Shadow would be elated. That eaglet, like Calico, would have won the ‘so-called lottery’ – a home with loving parents and food. On the other hand, I would love it if that third egg would hatch for Jackie and Shadow. I feel like I am losing hope. The impact of DDT has been horrific on wildlife decades later.

The camera isn’t even going in close. Feeling gutted for them. Egg 1 is 42 days old and I presume it to be non-viable. Egg 2 is 39 days old. Has it begun pipping? No visible pips seen. Egg 3 is 36 days old. Please send positive wishes for that egg to be viable for these two so hopeful eagles.

Jak and Audacity’s single egg clutch looks good. But will that egg be fertile? Oh, please.

Still waiting at Achieva, also.

No eggs, but Milda and her new mate are working on their nest in Latvia. I am expecting eggs right before the end of March.

Red Wing captures all the drama at the Spirit Bluff Peregrine Falcon scrape – who will Newman choose?

It is always a relief when a mate returns from migration. It is always a heart ache when they do not.

Rosie has been home for a few days and Richmond is bringing in the fish gifts.

Annie and Archie are fine. Starling is on the menu.

We are on a countdown for the UK returnees as well as those in Europe – all of the migrating birds, including the storks and ospreys.

Observers of the JB Sands Wetlands Bald Eagle nest report that Mum’s leg appears to be slowly healing. She is not missing. She was on top of the tower and flew down and took a fish from Dad and even fed the eaglet. Dad fed the eaglet as well. It was quite the scene with the live fish. thank you ‘MP’ for this encouraging report! That eaglet is big and is really feeling its wings, too!

Rainy at Duke Farms. Mum fed the eaglets, but less close in feedings than you might have seen at some of the other eagle nests with little ones. It seems to have gotten wetter throughout the day.

The Duckies seem fine.

My dear friend, the late Phyllis Robbins, who loved the Sea Eagles in Sydney also loved Eagle Country. I have to say that at the beginning of this season I really worried for Meadow. Well, just look at Swampy and Meadow today. Abby and Blaze are incredible parents. Despite their age and size, those two eaglets are being constantly fed. They are so well provided for that this eagle nest has quickly become one of my favourites, too.

As the rain came, Swampy and Meadow got a little wet. No problem. They have their thick thermal down and their juvenile feathers are coming in. The little ones like those at Duke Farms must stay dry.

The little ones of Jolene and Boone at Johnson City-ETSU did get wet on Wednesday. I really hope that they do not get a chill. They have to eat and it is difficult for the adults to feed them without them getting some rain.

Close by at the other ETSU Bald Eagle nest at Bluff City, Franklin and Frances have a pip, and it is raining.

And they have a hatch! It is BC24.

At Ron and Rose’s WRDC nest, R6 attempted to eat some fish that Rose had left on the nest. He did manage to get some of it. Unlike Cal, R6 seems to be behind in his self-feeding.

At the ND-LEEF nest in South Bend, Indiana, Dad’s new mate has been named Gigi.

While all the attention was the on the death of Flaco, another owl, this time an Eastern Screech Owl, died. The little one had been an ambassador for 15 years at the Raptor Centre in St. Paul, Minnesota. Unlike Flaco, who could fly and hunt, Warner suffered from lack of vision caused by an early head trauma. She spent 15 years educating people about owls.

This is news from the 5th of March. Sorry for the delay in birthday greetings to two very special Kakapo.

Nothing needs to be said anymore about the trauma and death caused by fishing line. We need to clean up our act if we fish.

I never saw one when I was growing up in Oklahoma, but these lucky birders were so fortunate to see this leucitic Red-tail Hawk there! She is even whiter than Angel.

A-white-Red-tailed-Hawk-from-Oklahoma-–-Red-tailed-Hawk-ProjectDownload

Over 400,000 songbirds were trapped in Cyprus so people could eat a delicacy. This really makes me ill. Can it be stopped? And in what other countries is this happening?

More-than-400000-songbirds-killed-by-organised-crime-in-Cyprus-Birds-The-GuardianDownload

There are many birds that actually winter in the UK. They are now preparing to migrate back to their spring and summer breeding grounds in the far north. Let us all hope that they are not trapped somewhere, but make it home safely.

Country-diary-The-sound-of-water-up-in-the-trees-Birds-The-GuardianDownload

Your feel good moment. An osprey in care for 10 days for a soft tissue injury is freed! Remember – some people said ospreys do not do well in care. Others said not to supplement their feeding and look what happened positively at Port Lincoln! So smile…they do well in care most of the time like any animal.

Thank you so much for being with me today as we sit on our hands waiting for several pips or hatches. It’s not easy, especially when they are Jackie, Shadow, Jak, and Audacity.

Thank you to the following for their notes, observations, screen captures, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘J, MP’, FOBBV, IWS/Explore.org, Achieva Credit Union, Heidi McGrue, Latvian Fund for Nature, Raptor Resource Project/Explore.org, SK Hideaways, Lucille Powell, JB Sands Wetlands, Duke Farms, Eagle Country, Johnson City-ETSU, Bluff City-ETSU, WRDC, ND-LEEF, The Raptor Centre, Kakapo Recovery, Lin Lawson, The Red-tailed Hawk Project, The Guardian, and Wild Florida Rescue.

Waiting for pips…Wednesday in Bird World

6 March 2024

Good Morning Everyone!

Well, it is a beautiful blue sky sunny afternoon on the Canadian Prairies. The white snow from the other day is glistening. It looks like diamonds have been scattered everywhere. It is a little chilly today at -8 C but is warming up to +5 tomorrow or the next day. This means we come back to the icky beige puddles from the salt and sand they use on the roads.

It feels like spring, though. You might recall that we had one little red squirrel living in the garden shed, and he found a friend. Today, a brief count indicated that there are now four red squirrels. Unfortunately, they live in the tree across the lane on the property of a not-so-gentleman who doesn’t like squirrels because they chatter. How many there will be at the beginning of the summer? Somehow, I doubt that they are either all male or all female!

Hugo Yugo is ‘wild’ this morning. She had her ‘jet pack’ on and wanted to play fight with everyone!

Missey tried to stay out of the way.

Baby Hope and Hugo Yugo ran from one end of the house to the other play fighting in every room.

Calico was so happy she was out of their path! These two did not stop for over an hour!

Baiba caught what appears to be at least one pip. I am ever so hopeful. The one egg with the arrow pointing at the crack that came also seemed to have other cracks on the opposite side. As far as I know, at the time of writing this, FOBBV has not called a pip.

These are the ages of the eggs, and from this, it appears that egg 1 is not viable unless it is the one that is pipping. Egg 1 day 41, egg 2 is 38 days, and egg 3 is 35 days.

The view of the eggs Wednesday morning.

Waiting at Achieva. There are three eggs – one really blends in with the nesting material and is hard to see.

It is a beautiful day at Sauces Canyon. One precious egg set to be ready for pip watch on Saturday the 9th of March. It was laid on 2 February.

The West End nest of Thunder and Akecheta also has an egg laid on the 2nd of February. Could we have a hatch at both nests on the same day?

Swampy and Meadow are fantastic. Getting those beautiful dark, dark espresso feathers on top of that soft charcoal grey thermal down. Just look at that grey fluff being hidden by the incoming feathers. Of course, these two are itchy!

At the Johnson City ETSU nest there is bunny and fish on the menu. Maybe some other surprises hidden in that nesting by Jolene. These two little bobbleheads are not going hungry!

There was rain at Duke Farms. Mum kept the kiddos warm and dry feeding them quickly when there was a break. Lots of nice fish on the nest. These two bobbleheads seem to be doing just fine.

At the Captiva nest, Cal is quite a bit larger than those little bobbleheads above. Ready to fledge, but loving having the adults feed him and I am certain they enjoy it too. He should be around for a month after fledge to get those wings strong and learn how to hunt from Mum and Dad.

Window to Wildlife is hosting a fundraiser to replace the current camera at the Captiva eagle nest and to create a memorial at the base of the tree for Joe, Hope and Peace, and Lusa. Information on the merch that is up for the fundraising is below in a link on the streaming cam. There are various mugs and a mousepad available. Here is an example:

We know that Pepe and Muhlady are feeding eaglets, but we sure can’t see them! And we have no idea if there is one or two! There should be two. I really dislike not having that overhead camera for this nest!

The eaglet at JB Sands Wetlands is huge! Look carefully. The adult has been feeding the eaglet periodically throughout the day. I presume this is Dad. If a parent is injured or dies – which is always so sad – it is better that the eaglet/s is/are older so that a single parent can care for them.

E23 is dreaming about flying.

US Steel eagle nest of Clair and Irwin now has 4 cameras!

Video of that third egg for Claire and Irwin that was laid on the 5th of March.

Three eggs for Scout and Bella.

Rosie is always beautiful. Looks so rested from her winter vacation.

Big Red was testing out the egg cup on Tuesday! We could be within a week of the first eggs for her and Arthur to kick off the Red-tail Hawk season.

Tom and Angel were both seen working on their nest today in Tennessee.

Peregrine Falcons hatching in Japan. Spring and the cherry blossoms are arriving along with these little ones.

Field notes on Florida’s Bald Eagle season from Audubon Birds of Prey:

2023-24-Bald-Eagle-Nesting-Season-Notes-from-the-Field-Audubon-Center-for-Birds-of-PreyDownload

Oh, this is precisely the type of action that we have been calling for. As my friend ‘R’ says who gifted me this article, ‘For years, officials asked people to crush invasive spotted lantern flies. But as the pest continues to spread, some researchers say it’s time to send in the birds.’ Let’s add to that – send in the raptors to get rid of the mice! No toxic poisons required.

How-birds-can-help-in-the-fight-to-kill-invasive-spotted-lantern-flies-The-Washington-PostDownload

Water is essential for life, and it is imperative for migratory birds, especially shorebirds and waterfowl. Lake Abert in Oregon USA is only one area that is drying up and will have major consequences for several species. Lakes, rivers, and wetlands are important to every living thing.

‘On-a-razors-edge-migratory-birds-rely-on-this-salt-lake-–-but-its-dying-Conservation-The-GuDownload
Environment-and-Climate-Change-Province-of-ManitobaDownload

Droughts in other areas such as China in 2022 have caused populations to significantly decrease.

How-the-Poyang-Lake-drought-is-affecting-migratory-birdsDownload

Audubon was discussing the fate of waterfowl and humans in 2019 with the following article.

Diminishing-Lakes-Pose-Serious-Consequences-for-Communities-Livelihoods-and-Wildlife-AudubonDownload

I often get upset at the thought of duck hunting. As my friend ‘R’ has pointed out, sometimes we must partner up with others on the opposite side to protect our beloved feathered friends. In Canada, Ducks Unlimited is increasing the area of wetlands. They do a wonderful job regarding environmental education at Oak Hammock Marsh, near where I live. They also hunt ducks. The important thing is that they want duck numbers to increase, and by protecting and enlarging the wetland areas, it is also good for other waterfowl such as Canada Geese, Plovers, Great and Lesser Yellow Legs, Swans, etc. Perhaps, one day, we will only shoot ducks with our cameras.

Thank you for being with me today. Please take care. See you soon!

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, articles, screen captures, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘B, J, R’, Baiba, FOBBV, Achieva Credit Union, IWS/Explore.org, Eagle Country, Johnson City-ETSU, Duke Farms, Window to Wildlife, Superbeaks, JB Sands Wetlands, SW Florida, PIX Cams, Deb Stecyk, SF Bay Ospreys, Cornell RTH, JPN PF, Audubon Centre for Birds of Prey, The Washington Post, The Guardian, MB Government, China Dialogue, and Audubon.

It’s 3 for Scout and Bella, still waiting at Big Bear…Tuesday in Bird World

5 March 2024

Good Morning Everyone,

Monday was a busy day for me and I had little time to check the nests. That said, I did continue to monitor Jackie and Shadow and to check with some keen viewers of the JB Sands Wetlands nest as to the situation there. We are expecting pip at Achieva Osprey nest any time. And for those of you thinking about Jak and Audacity, the egg is holding and hatch watch begins shortly.

Hugo Yugo now has her pink onesie and it fits. Not the most glamorous of costumes but it will keep her and Missey from licking her incision. That surgery is ten days away. This onsie is perfect. It has some stretch, the legs fit and she has the ability to go to the litter box unencumbered. There is a velcro closure on the back. It is a good design. She will not be able to lick that incision. Thanks, Auntie ‘J’ for the recommendation.

So, Big Bear Valley. It is just mid-afternoon on Monday. At one time there were more than 34,000 people watching the nest. Amazing.

Most of us are driving ourselves crazy by not being able to get a clear view of the eggs in their entirety. Yes, we can see one side, but what is happening on the other? We don’t know, and, as yet, FOBBV has yet to call a pip. I do not think they will until they are 100% certain; in reality, none of us can say that. But putting my neck on there chopping board, it sure looks like it.

So – images from Monday. Dirt? Pip? Crack? Nesting Material?

Then Shadow arrived and we are still wondering.

It is that right egg and that hole that makes me believe there is a beak the past, working on that spot…but, in things have happened, so deep breath. Fingers crossed. We wait. Jackie and Shadow will know if there is a little one wanting out and I wish to goodness there is.

Someone agrees with me.

The other nest that I made queries about is the JB Sands Wetlands Bald Eagle nest in Texas. Keen observers noticed Mum had injured her leg over a week ago. She had been missing for a few days or so, it seemed. According to the site administrators, She was up on top of the tower. Dad is now feeding the eaglet. Mum comes to the nest and eats. She was there last night, according to ‘MP’. I am very grateful to him for monitoring the situation along with ‘AE’. So, the eaglet is old enough to be left alone. One parent can take care of it – M15 is our guide, along with others like River last year at the Dale Hollow nest. We are sending good energy to Mum for her healing. She is eating, and that is a good thing. Her leg may heal wonky like Ma Berry or Mini at Patchogue. We will just have to wait and see. Right now, she is probably in a lot of pain, but I am thrilled she is eating, and Dad is helping by taking care of the baby! Well, not such a baby anymore. JBS20 hatched on the 26th of January, so it is -if we count hatch day- 39 days old. Nine days older than when E21 and E22 lost their mother, Harriet, and M15 took over.

The screen capture is of Dad delivering a fish Sunday evening by ‘MP’. Mum is on the nest. She is sitting on a fish and another prey item. She does not feed the chick. She will snatch that fish from Dad and later, Dad will feed the baby. So please send good wishes to this eagle family. Dad is working very hard to feed all three of them and get his baby to fledge.

Trudi Kron got a video of JBS20 a couple of days ago. Mum is in the nest.

Meadow and Swampy are doing fine. Abby and Blaze are incredible parents, and despite some hiccups with that bonking, these two are developing nicely. Meadow is considerably smaller than Swampy, and from their behaviour, we might suspect that Swampy is a female and Meadow is a male.

Cal is working on a fish and we are on fledge watch for the Captiva Eagle nest of Connie and Clive.

That Johnson City ETSU nest of Jolene and Boone is stacked with fish dinners. Those little bobbleheads are so cute. Growing like bad weeds.

Cute little babies at Duke Farms. Mum is very attentive and both seem to be doing alright.

Looks like one cam is on the blink at Superbeaks! Cannot see how the eaglets are doing.

Is it an injury from a territorial dispute, blood from prey, or a fish hook and line. It was unclear when Scout came to relieve Bella of incubation duties on Monday what had happened to the right side of his neck.

Deb Stecyk believes that there is a fish hook and possibly some line that is embedded in that neck causing issues for Scout. If that is the case, let us hope that it comes out without further injury.

The good news is – there seems to be no cause for worry and look, a third egg! What is it with these three egg clutches this year?

Commentary from Wings of Whimsy on the Dulles-Greenway nest and their observations, “Lewis and his new lady return to the nest at 8:47 am. They mate on the Cam perch at 9:00 am and Lewis delivers three sticks by 9:20 am. An eagle flying by gets them a bit excited just after the third stick delivery but the eagle doesn’t stop by to say hello. Smart eagle. Lewis’s new lady moves back to the nest and covers the egg with bedding after Lewis moves to the Cam perch at 9:24 am. Lewis and his lady fly down the creek and appear to chase off an eagle at 9:30 am.One of Rosa and Lewis’ eggs are uncovered when Lewis returns to the nest at 6:49 am. A sad reminder of what could have been. Lewis aerates the bedding around it and moves a stick or two before he moves to the Cam perch at 6:52 am. He flies off from the Cam perch at 7:05 am but returns at 7:06 am. Lewis works on a stick before he flies off again at 7:08 am. Vocals are heard just after he departs.

Lewis and his new lady visited the nest several times yesterday. Lewis delivered leaves and grasses and they mated twice. What will happen in the future is anyone’s guess but for now It appears that these two are setting up housekeeping or “nestkeeping” in this case. Lewis’ lady arrives in the nest just after midnight for a sleepover. She aerates the bedding and moves to the Cam perch at 12:12 am. She hops down from the Cam perch when Lewis arrives in the nest at 5:58 am. Lewis steps over to help her aerate the bedding but gets a few pecks for his trouble. This female is more assertive than Rosa. She pecks and pulls on Lewis more than Rosa ever did, one of the differences that I mentioned yesterday. Rosa and Lewis got along quite well when working in the nest with nary a disagreement between them. The behavior with this female is much different. Lewis’ lady poops in the nest at 6:02 am, something Rosa would never do. Bald eagles do not go to the bathroom in their own nest. As soon as they’re old enough to move around, eaglets will shoot their poop off the side of the nest as well. Lewis joins his lady after she moves to the Cam perch at 6:02 am. They fly off together at 6:10 am.”

Tom and Angel are working fast on their nest. Isn’t it gorgeous?

It is always touching when both Royal Albatross parents show up at the nest site. That is what happened with LGL and LGK on 3 March. What a nice surprise for the Royal Cam chick.

Please make sure your windows are prepared for spring migration so that no injuries or deaths will occur. Again, Feather Friendly tape is excellent and will last many years making the initial cost much lower. The most reasonable and fun – if you have any artistic talent – are the Window Writers. Markers. It comes of with White Vinegar. We put up too elaborate of a design. There were no injuries or fatalities but we did cut the light from spring and summer with the writers so we are getting more of the Feather Friendly tape for the sitting room windows this year.

Many of you will have noticed the gorgeous linocut that went along with the research on Eurasian Owls and the article by Suburban Birds that I posted on Sunday. I hope you read it – it was very enlightening and disturbing. No doubt you would not wish any animal to be in a cage if it could be helped. I loved the image. Many in the Flaco FB group wondered if it was for sale as a print. I wrote to the writer/artist, and she set up a site to sell prints of the image on good-quality matte paper. They are available in various sizes at a reasonable price. I ordered a 12 x 12 because I have the perfect spot for that size. To me, Flaco the Owl was more than an escapee. He was an inspiration. He showed the world that he could survive when many doubted him, and he did it with a presence that captivated all. I want to remember him and that spirit – a spirit that loved life.

The pricing. There are four sizes. The 20 x 20 inch is $36, and the 12 x 12 is $22. I think this is great value. The information for ordering is below- and, as always, no profits for me in this just the joy of sharing what looks like a wonderful raptor print. I will let you know when I receive mine.

The Farne Islands are reopening after having been closed a full two years because of HPAI.

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The Farne Islands are just southeast of Berwick-upon-Tweed, off the coast of North Humberland. The seabirds in this area of England were devastated by Bird Flu.

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A 47 year old man was quickly charged after killing a goshawk in Scotland. This feels like a first. Let us hope that the penalty is high enough and not the joke that some others have had – demonstrated by their laughing when they left court. It really is time that the courts took these offences seriously – if they do then we might see a slow down in the deliberate killing of the beautiful raptors that fly the skies of the Highlands.

Gamekeeper-in-Scotland-charged-with-killing-goshawk-on-a-Perthshire-estate-in-February-–-Raptor-PersDownload

Pip/hatch watch for Diane and Jack at Achieva Credit Union Osprey platform in St Petersburg, Florida.

The average time for Diane’s eggs to hatch is 36 days. These are the dates and times from last year and the dates of eggs laid for this year at Achieva.

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, screen captures, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘AE, B, H, J, MP’, FOBBV, Rollin’ Dog, JBSands Wetlands, Trudi Kron, Eagle Country, NCTC, Deb Stecyk, Wings of Whimsy, Dulles-Greenway Eagle Cam, Johnson City-ETSU, Duke Farms, Superbeaks, Window to Wildlife, Sharon Dunne, NYC Audubon, Suburban Birds, BirdGuides, Google Maps, The Guardian, Raptor Persecution UK, Achieva Credit Union, and International Osprey Data Bank.

Shadow rolling the eggs …Monday in Bird World

4 March 2022

Hi there,

First, no hints this morning from Jackie. We wait. There is a second egg at Fort St Vrain in Colorado and the NCTC nest of Scout and Bella.

The storm hit north of Winnipeg where a former student of mine described the winds so high that the ‘birds were being thrown out of the trees’. There was some rain that turned to ice. The snow arrived later than predicted. It is now nearing midnight and the beautiful clean white adorning the branches of the spruce trees makes it look like we are preparing for Christmas, not spring. Oh, it was so dirty and grey. Tomorrow will be so gorgeous!

Today I saw Dyson. She was eating at the small feeder. It was so good to see her. One of the kits from last summer and Little Red were here along with dozens of sparrows all eating as fast as they could. The animals are, more often than not, a good predictor of the weather – better than the human or computer forecasters. I did not see the Blue Jay/s or the Starlings or any of the other birds, but rest assured they slipped in for food while I wasn’t looking. Every feeder was empty as the sun began to set with the snow gently falling all over the garden.

‘The Girls’ didn’t care. They explored all of the pet items put out before a decision was made on what would be donated to raise funds to help feed the rescue Mamma cats and their soon to be kittens.

It turns out that the tent beds that Lewis and Missey used can be useful if you want to play hide and seek Hugo Yuko and Baby Hope style.

These two convinced me to keep the little tent bed! They played for over an hour. It was so much fun to watch them trying to figure out which way to go to out wit the other.

Will there be room for both of them?

Sometimes it is so nice when they are asleep.

I have finally figured out why I am so tired. It is Hugo Yugo. She has to sleep under my chin at night or on my head. She must have woken me 6 or 7 times during the night trying to get herself ‘fixed’. I am not complaining — just in need of a good sound sleep tonight.

Hope prefers to sleep on the wicker if she is by herself.

Osprey fever is hitting new heights with the spotting of birds flying over the Straits of Gibraltar and now a confirmed sighting at Leighton Moss!

Lancashire. Leighton Moss Nature Reserve…look north of Liverpool. Oh, aren’t you getting goose bumps?

A sighting in Scotland!

Jak and Audacity’s egg is still holding. Here is the lovely couple from the Sauces Canyon nest Sunday morning.

More sightings of ringed birds in Senegal. If you listened to Tim Mackrill’s presentation about his new book, The Osprey, you will have learned that the tagged UK ospreys taught researchers so much. After their first trip to West African or the Iberian Peninsula for the winter, they ‘learn’ from their trips. They will land at almost the exact, if not the exact, tree or post. We know that Seren has a favourite spot and now, Dismount Blue 215 has also been spotted in their location in the Saloum Delta. Very predictable. They learn where to forage and as they age they will fly longer but slightly safer routes away form the coast depending on the weather.

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We have falcon eggs! There are two of them at the Peregrine Falcon scrape in Leimpde the Netherlands.

In California, Annie and Archie are working on that scrape!

Jackie just takes it all in stride. The weather does seem to be getting a bit better Sunday morning in Big Bear Valley.

The switch.

Are we looking at every spot? Seriously, it looks like a pip to me. I am happy to have egg on my face. Maybe there are even two pips.

Mum incubating one egg at Pittsburgh-Hayes this year with her new mate. He brings her a really nice meal! Let’s hope he is good at incubating, brooding, and providing for his new family when that egg hatches.

No one is precisely sure what is going on at Dulles-Greenway. Lewis appears to have returned to the nest, but no one is sure if Rosa is with him or another female. Too much drama this year. Turn down the volume Bald Eagles!

Both of the eaglets at Duke Farms are getting fed. Mum is incredible. The little one did not get as much as the oldest, but that is normal. They both seem strong and the second hatch seems much more feisty than the first who had that horrific ordeal with the shell while hatching.

Every time I look, from before dawn to dark, Jolene is feeding the two eaglets at the Johnson City ETSU nest. They are darlings.

Abby and Boone seem to be doing what all the others are – constantly feeding! Swampy and Meadow are so big compared to the little eaglets at ETSU or Duke Farms. Just think – in a couple of weeks those little bobbleheads will look like the eaglets at Eagle Country. Then in another few weeks they will be using the nest as a trampoline just like Cal at Captiva.

This video by Lady Hawk is now three days old. Cal is really, really getting the wind under those wings and fledge is at hand. Where did the time go?

For Pepe and Muhlady, their eaglets have clown feet, long legs and are getting all of their thermal down with some pin feathers, too.

E23 is not far behind Cal! S/he loves looking out over the territory from that branch and still likes to be fed. Such a good year for this new family on the Pritchett Property.

The eaglet at JB Sands Wetlands has a cute little mohawk now. sometimes when I check on the nest I cannot see it – and then panic sets in and there, right in front of me, is the eaglet. Has this happened to you?

RSPB Scotland needs our help. Please tell them no to putting telecommunications towers on these beautiful natural sites where the Golden Eagles live along with other wildlife. It would be so nice to leave some part of the world pure and free of a human footprint.

And, please, while we are at it encourage people out in nature to take off the headphones and ‘listen’ to nature not to a podcast or music. Please.

For those who enjoy the Alabama ospreys at Orange Beach, a Great Horned Owl appears to have taken over the nest.

Murphy made the cover of National Geographic Kid’s Magazine!

Bird Flu is wreaking havoc. It is an international problem that continues to devastate waterfowl and other birds. Alderney has lost 30% of its Gannets. We might expect similar numbers from other places…so the idea that the waterfowl population in certain areas is growing needs to be examined in light of HPAI.

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A recent article in The Smithsonian Magazine wants you to leave that pedicured lawn back in the 20th century where it belongs and embrace ‘the natural’. It is a win-win for everyone. Forget about your neighbours, do what is right for the planet! Be an inspirational leader to those who doubt you. Talk about the benefits. Think of all those toxins not going into the soil to kill the insects that the birds eat that make them sick and kill their nestlings as well as them. Not only do you save the soil from all those toxins, you create a biodiverse garden that will being much joy to you.

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I want to close with an article on Flaco and Flaco’s siblings that were also in captivity. It is very sad but also quite enlightening and is a must read. Written by Nancy Geary and it takes about ten very worthwhile minutes to open your eyes to the plight of these beautiful owls.

If you like the image of Flaco, the artist has said that she will make prints for sale on her Etsy shop. I will keep you informed in case you are interested when they appear.

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Thanks so much for being with me as we wait for any word on what still appears to be a small crack/hole in one of Jackie’s eggs. Is it a pip? Or am I just driving myself crazy? Take care all!

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, articles, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘Geemeff, H, J’, Jeff Kear, Google Maps, RSPB Alan Petrie, IWS/Explore.org, Kielder Ospreys, Liempde Falcons, FOBBV, SK Hideaways, PIX Cams, Duke Farms, John City – ETSU, Eagle Country, Window to Wildlife, Superbeaks, SW Florida Eagle Cam, JB Sands Wetlands, RSPB Scotland, Orange Beach Osprey Cam, World Bird Sanctuary, BirdGuides, The Smithsonian Magazine, and Suburban Birds.

Is it a pip for Jackie and Shadow?

3 March 2024

There is no confirmation yet from the Friends of Big Bear Valley, but it sure does look like there is a pip in one of the eggs when Jackie gets up at 0916 Sunday morning.

More clearly, You can see the charcoal grey hole in the left egg above the ‘d’ in ‘Presented’. There are small radiating cracks, it would also appear.

I am not jumping up and down and the tears of joy are being held back til there is a positive confirmation of a pip from FOBBV on their FB page. But, it looks promising….that mini bottle of champagne is waiting.

You can go to the Friends of Big Bear Valley FB page or stay glued to the screaming cam or both! Will this be the year that Jackie and Shadow have a nest full?! And maybe Jak and Audacity, too.

Rosie returns from migration…Sunday in Bird World

3 March 2024

Good Morning Everyone,

We are within a fortnight of Ospreys potentially arriving home from their winter grounds to their spring/summer breeding sites. I get ‘Osprey’ fever. Suddenly, you will think that eagles have vanished from the face of the earth as this post gets taken over by the ‘fish hawks’. I will continue to report on the eagles and, as we know, falcon and hawk season will begin also. I will, however, be watching closely for all osprey arrivals and eggs laid. Last year ‘H’ and I monitored over 300 osprey eggs from the time they were laid through fledge and migration. It is daunting and we hope to add more nests this year. You can help!

We do not have all of the European nests in our data system. If you are fans of a particular nest in Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Spain, etc., please do send me the name, a link to the streaming camera, the names of the adults, the date of their arrival, dates for eggs laid, hatch, and fledge. The more eggs and chicks monitored the better the data. My long term study is on siblicide, but I am now including mitigating factors leading to siblicide and other causes of death to the osplets. Last year there was the Nor’easter in the US, overfishing of the Menhaden, and in the UK much predation by other raptors. That also happened in the US. Do not be shy. I am very grateful for all the eyes on the nests and information.

If you see an osprey nest and are concerned that siblicide is taking place and I have not mentioned it in my post, please do let me know. You can do this through the comments or by sending me an e-mail: maryannsteggles@icloud.com

Thanks so much!

Tim Mackrill, Director of the Roy Dennis Wildlife Foundation, has been talking about his new book, The Osprey. There is much about migration because that was the focus of Mackrill’s PhD at the University of Leicester (yeah – my alma mater!). It is a really good listen and you will learn a lot so, even before we get to Jackie and Shadow, here is the link to that Zoom presentation. I promise you will thank me after you listen to all of it!

Waiting. We are waiting for a storm to hit, but we don’t know if it will actually happen. Meanwhile, the big storm that is going through the area around Big Bear appears to be worse north of Jackie and Shadow. Still, I know that we all worry about them. There are three eggs. The first was laid on the 25th of January. So how do you count? Is it six days in January, 29 in February and now three in March. If so, the first egg is now 38 days old which is right in the frame of 38-39 days for Jackie’s historical hatches. The third egg is 33 days old. The couple have been so diligent, so careful, so dedicated to this clutch. Please let one of them hatch and be a perfect little eaglet.

Jackie and Shadow continue to make the news: CBS evening news with Nora O’Donnell. Thanks, ‘R’

I didn’t know it. ‘B’ wrote and directed me to BENSWEATHER.com This will give you a better forecast for Jackie and Shadow’s nest.

It continues to be miserable. I really do not like it when the weather is wet and cold and there are little ones. These eggs can wait a few days, OK!

A video of the mid-morning switch over.

Richmond was waiting for her and preparing the nest. Rosie arrived Saturday morning at 0713. Relief.

The first one was stuck to a shell and feared lost. The second unzipped its egg in what felt like record time. Now both of them are the cutest little bobbleheads! Duke Farms aka Dukies.

One of the first feedings for both eaglets at Duke Farms.

Should we call it ‘Spike’? One of the Johnson City eaglets.

Indeed, my stomach sank several times today because of the Johnson City eaglets. I knew there were two. I could only ever see the one trying to be a Tyrannosaurus Rex. Finally there was the second head.

There’s another one with a long neck or as ‘J’ says, ‘A Nessie’. This time at Superbeaks.

Meadow goes under Abby to eat! Declares it a ‘no bonking zone’ from Swampy.

Ron and Rose are still feeding R6, their ‘big’ baby.

There were several fish species delivered to Cal at the Captiva Bald Eagle nest on Saturday. They included a Tilapia, a Sheepshead, and a Striped Mullet. Cal likes to be fed, too! That Sheepshead looks yummy. Cal can also self-feed much better than R6.

A video of E23’s successful branching earlier on Saturday.

Two immature Bald Eagles have visited the Dulles-Greenway nest that belonged to Rosa and Martin and then Rosa and Lewis (part of one season only). Could these by Rosa and Martin’s fledglings returned older? I would love to think that one of their offspring would take over their nest like Samson did with his parents, Romeo and Juliette, at NE Florida.

Did you know that California Condors rarely nest two years in a row? Kinda like the Royal Albatross. Well, that might change this year.

Why are condors important to the environment? Remember, I promised to slowly introduce you to these amazing carrion eats. See if you can make a list before peeking below! Don’t look.

The US National Park Service says, “

Indicators of Wildland Health

In addition to keeping wild landscapes clean, California condors are also good indicators of the ecological health of wildlands and ranchlands. Condors are very long-lived birds and they reproduce slowly, averaging successfully fledged young every two years. Condors can fly many miles in a day in search of food. They are also sensitive to certain toxins (like spent lead ammunition), and nestlings are at risk from ingestion of garbage (like small bits of microtrash). Because of their far-ranging movements, longevity, slow reproduction, and sensitivity to toxins and pollution, condors are strong indicators of ecological health on the open landscapes they inhabit.

As members of a high-profile endangered species, condors serve as the proverbial “canaries in a coal mine,” drawing attention to toxins and pollutants that affect many other species of birds, mammals, and wildlife. Promoting condor recovery also supports wildland health and vibrant wildlife populations in general.”

Another article on what is causing the gorgeous Rainbow Lorikeets to become paralysed.

They are one of the most rare birds in the world. They live a perilous life. How can you help the California Condor? Audubon California gives you some ideas. If you live close, you could volunteer. You can also donate and you can also advocate on their behalf. If you decide to donate at some time, please provide your funds to the Ventana Wildlife Society. You can go to their website and see the amazing work that they do on behalf of these amazing birds in Pinnacles and Big Sur.

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Calypso, the 2019 fledgling from the Port Lincoln Osprey barge. First believed to be a female has now been determined by behaviour to be a male.

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Ferris State University will have its osprey cam up and running before the birds arrive.

It’s to Murphy the Bald Eagle incubating a rock and then getting an eaglet to raise. No, it is Hinkley, the Vulture, who is nesting with rubber duckies at the World Bird Sanctuary. So cute.

Lena continues to want to bond and is preparing the scrape on the cliffs of Anacapa.

For those of you waiting for Angel’s cam to go live, it is!

https://www.youtube.com/live/admo2pS3SuY?si=oRdQ_v4OXVH9_QQX

And last, but never least, Big Red. She spent a lot of time at her nest on the Cornell Campus on Saturday. Some of us were holding our breath thinking it would be the earliest egg laid by this 21 year old Red-tail Hawk. And then she left! Lookin’ good. For those of you that are not familiar with Red-tail hawks, just look at that tail and you can see why they got their name.

Thank you so much for being with me today. Thank you to ‘B, J, R’ for their notes. Thanks also to the following for their posts, articles, videos, screen captures, and streaming cams that also helped me to write my post today: Osprey Leadership Foundation, FOBBV, CBS News, Cali Condor, Bensweather.com, SF Bay Ospreys, Duke Farms, Ondabebe, Johnson City-ETSU, Superbeaks, Eagle Country, SK Hideaways, Dulles-Greenway Eagle Cam, Ventana Wildlife Service, Friends of Osprey Sth Aus, The Guardian, US National Parks, Ferris State University, World Bird Sanctuary, WRDC, Window to Wildlife, and Cornell Red-tail Hawk Cam.

E23 branches…Saturday in Bird World

2 March 2022

Hello Everyone,

It was +5 degrees on Friday. The day was so beautiful at the nature centre. The ice was melting on the smaller ponds. It was a good day for a very long walk. The thought of more snow and being inside instead of out in the fresh air was inspirational to getting that 5 km completed. It really is one foot in front of the other and before you know it you have accomplished something you didn’t think you could do! I still remember the first walk at the nature centre and thinking about how far 2 km was. It was daunting…and now, it feels like nothing. When my mother broke her hip, the doctor told her – because she didn’t want to walk because of the pain – that if she “didn’t use it, she would lose it”. It has motivated me beyond belief – that single thing that doctor said.

Our weather alert reads: “A strong winter storm is poised to affect southern Manitoba this weekend. This system will likely bring snow, rain, freezing rain and even a few rumbles of thunder. Snow will begin in southern Manitoba Saturday evening…snow may change to freezing rain before switching back to snow Sunday night. Strong winds gusting up to 60 km/h Saturday night and Sunday may produce reduced visibilities.” Remember. I did wish for winter. Be careful what you wish for!

That forecast has now changed to gusts up to 70 km/h for the Montana Low that is moving in with 2-5cm of snow.

There were five young deer near the hide. They did not notice me.

Hugo Yugo is just cute. An order has been placed for a kitten onesie from Amazon. Let’s hope it works! Thanks Auntie ‘J’.

Missey often looks for high places to take a nap, far away from Hugo Yugo and Baby Hope when they wake up and tear through the house.

Before I left for the nature centre, 27,235 people were watching Big Bear Eagles Jackie and Shadow incubate their eggs. Is there some Guinness World Record for the number of people watching a Bald Eagle streaming cam? Surely, this must be the winner. Its 1020 nest time.

The eggs before sunset at Big Bear. Good night, Jackie and Shadow.

It is a miserable morning in Big Bear.

The big news of the morning is that E23 has officially branched. S/he made it look easy! There was no question of those two feet being solidly on that branch and whether or not the eaglet flew to the branch. Lovely milestone for M15 and F23’s first eaglet together.

While we wait….it is day 29 for Jak and Audacity’s egg at Sauces. We are a week away from pip and hatch watch if this egg is viable.

One of the three eggs at Fraser Point has broken.

It is difficult to imagine that we once worried that Meadow was going to starve to death at the beak of Swampy. These two are huge – like so many of the other eaglets this year.

Meadow was trying to hork a possum tale. It is caught in this video. The sequence begins at 10:38 if you want to fast forward.

Another look at what fishing line can do to our beloved raptors. Just look at the feet and talons of this poor hawk. It makes me ache.

Geemeff spotted the little Duke Farms eaglet moving at 0859 Friday morning. That one is now looking good and the other is pipping fast.

Ondabebe got the little one on video.

Bella and Scout now have two eggs. Scout is very attentive when he watches Bella rolling those precious little white ‘things’.

Sylvia caught Scout figuring out incubation – he is a good observer!

Oh, my goodness, they’ve grown. They are so cute. Dixie is 11 days old and Mason is 9. They are all over the nest. Did I blink? What is it about time that it seems to go by so quickly? Pepe and Muhlady are going a fantastic job.

Meanwhile, at the WRDC nest, R6 would have loved to have been fed a nice fish meal by Rose or Ron. They seemed to leave fish on the nest to see if he would go for it. He tried. “Needs more practice”, says the adults.

The eaglet, JBS20, at John Bunker Sands Wetlands is huge. That nest doesn’t give this little one much room to move about. Thanks, ‘MP’ for this great capture!

First egg at Fort St. Vrain in Colorado!

Claire and Irwin have their first egg at the US Steel Plant nest. Friday night.

You might have followed the Lover’s Trio of Starr, Valour I and Valour II, whose nest was along the Mississippi Flyway near Fulton, Illinois. Dennis Becht found her, and Starr is currently on eggs. (I must catch up and find out who her current mate is – not either of the Valour’s that I am aware of).

Ospreys are beginning to return to their nests for the upcoming breeding season in the UK and Europe.

Thinking of Iris. In case you have been wondering how old she might be.

Frederick has arrived at the Outer Banks Osprey nest in North Carolina (Carova Beach) on Friday afternoon around 13:13. Welcome home. Betsy will be back soon!

The streaming cam at Loch of the Lowes has gone live. We await the return of Laddie LM12 and we will see if Blue NC0 does return. Did she leave for migration early in 2023? or did something more sinister happen?

Rutland Water, Manton Bay, has remained live. The lid and bricks are to thwart the Egyptian Geese from making a nest before Maya and Blue 33 arrive. We could be less than two weeks away from arrival.

In Latvia, female White-tailed Eagle, Rasene, and her mate Akacis, are preparing their nest in the Kemeri National Park. They will join four other couples this year raising eaglets. You can easily see why they are called ‘White tailed’ eagles.

Acacias is helping prepare the nest when he arrives at the end of January. He has been working for a month.

Another beautiful Latvian raptor streaming cam to follow:

As spring approaches each year, I see posts telling people to save their dryer lint or pet hair and put it outside for the little songbirds. Please do NOT do this, and please DO tell anyone you know why. Laundry soap and dryer sheets have toxins in them. Pet hair. The cat or dog might have been treated for fleas or ticks. This is also toxic to little birds.

We should all want a Bald Eagle as a neighbour. But why? I hope you have a read.

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If you missed the Condor Chat on the 29th, here is the archived zoom chat.

Tim Mackrill talks about his new book, The Osprey. (My copy is on the way from the UK and I will compare it to his earlier version for the RSPB in April).

Thank you for being with me today. We still have our eyes glued to the Big Bear nest of Jackie and Shadow as we move towards the more realistic dates for a first hatch based on the nest’s history. Take care everyone. See you soon.

Thank you to everyone that sent me news, ‘AE, Geemef, H, J, MP’, and those that posted on FB, wrote articles, made videos, or ran streaming cams that helped me to write my post this morning. They include: FOBBV, Gracie Shepherd, D MorningStar, Eagle Country, Joseph Trotter, WINORR, Ondabebe, Sylvia, Superbeaks, WRDC, JB Sands Wetlands, Lisa Levesque, PIX Cams, Dennis Becht, Jane Dell, Lin Lawson, Carova Beach Ospreys, Toni Hoover, LOTL, LRWT, LDF Forum, Sassa Bird, For Fox Sake Rescue, Raptor Resource Project, the Ventana Wildlife Society, and the Osprey Leadership Foundation.

Friday in Bird World

1 March 2024

Good Morning Everyone,

Gosh, I am tired! Cannot possibly tell you why, but I would like nothing better than to snuggle up with Hugo Yugo for a long sleep. Is it from waking up all night to check on Jackie and Shadow? Maybe!

Today is day 36 for egg 1 for Jackie and Shadow. The average hatch day at Big Bear is 38-39 days. It sounds windy today at Big Bear.

Oh, it was a day for pictures. Hugo Yugo was into everything. She first decided to attack Baby Hope to become the ‘Queen of the Cat Tree’. Then she modelled her ‘onesie’ – which was returned. It is a great idea, but they need one for cats. I am thinking of a newborn onesie with cut-out arms and legs. Would that work? And then there is Calico and Hope. The image is blurry. I apologise. There is something magical about these two when they are together. I still tear up, thinking of the miracle of seeing Hope find all of us. But first, they have to watch the birds! Not the real ones outside all over the feeders and the lilac bushes, but on the screen. It sounds like humans when they walk in the woods and take their phones—watching a screen.

Hope goes to the front of the telly when she wants me to turn on the Bird Video. She lays there hoping to catch my attention. She never meows or anything. Just waits patiently.

Hugo Yugo loves to watch things on the big screen, too! Especially the Blue Jays. I keep telling her we have Blue Jays in the garden. She doesn’t listen!

Then Hugo Yugo got ‘antsy’. You can see it in her eyes. She’s ready to go!!!!!!!!! Hope follows. They get to the back and the Cat tree. Hope arrives first.

Hugo Yugo pounces.

Hope has so much patience with Hugo Yugo.

Hope was relieved when Hugo Yugo was distracted by a European Starling landing on the glass ceiling.

Hugo Yugo can get awfully rough. They throw each other into the sofa and the wall and run all over the place.

Now, they are friends again.

Then it was time to try on the onesie. It was made for a tiny Chihuahua. Didn’t fit right. Still, a great idea to keep the animals from licking their incisions. We will try something else.

The light coming in from the conservatory washed this image out. But there they are in their favourite spot to be together. It is a daily ritual – sometimes several times a day. These two could never be separated. Thank you to those who sent me stories and images of their rescue mothers and kittens who, like Calico and Hope, like the comfort of one another. It is so appreciated. Thank you for sharing.

We are going to start with Eagle Country. The images say it all. I hope they put a huge smile on your face.

Second. What a couple of feisty eaglets. Johnson City. Goodness. There was even a dual feeding by Jolene and Boone on Thursday.

Waiting for eggs to hatch is nothing short of agonising. I am not even sure that I wouldn’t like long fingernails being dragged across a chalkboard more.

We are still waiting for a pip at Big Bear Valley. Jackie and Shadow do not know that more than 21,000 people watched their every move today. We checked every piece of dirt and espresso-coloured feather to see if it was a pip. We drove ourselves crazy. Is the microphone sensitive enough to pick up the cheeps from the eaglet like some others?

The eaglet at Duke Farms trying to hatch from the crushed egg has survived. It still has some shell attached as of Thursday early evening. It is breathing. The hope is that the shell will dry and break off and that the eaglet will be alright. There is a pip confirmed in the second egg at Duke Farms.

The latest: (Oh, BTW, the AI that is associated with this site seems to change the spelling for Rollin’ Rog. I do spell it correctly. Apologies for all that!)

It was not until 20:32:52 Thursday night that the little one had its head completely free of that shell. Will there be any lasting injury? Let us all send positive energy. (I was a little surprised at how Mum moved that chick about…oh, please, let us hope it is OK).

I cannot tell if the first hatch has survived at Duke Farms (I am hesitant to say that it died, but it really might have). There is nesting material all matted around. The second egg has a large pip – by Mum’s beak. We wait to see the status of hatch 1.

Avon Lake Eagles have their first egg.

Just look at that eaglet at J B Sands Wetlands. Did that juvenile plumage grow over night? Big and strong with gorgeous feathering coming in. Beautiful surviving eaglet. Glad that all is well here in Texas.

R6 is big and strong, too. ‘H’ tells me he isn’t as proficient at self-feeding as I thought he was – too bad. But, he will get there! Ron and Rose will make certain he is prepared for the wild.

Cal is doing very well. Likes to look out over the world form that branch and still loves to be fed by Mum and Dad.

Another huge and healthy eaglet is E23. Check out the size and the wingspan. How many of you are thinking female?

At Redding, Liberty and Guardian have one of their three eggs crushed on Thursday. This brought a ripple of sadness through their many fans.

Jak and Audacity’s egg looks fine. Fingers and toes – and all talons crossed, please!

The embryonic development of an eagle by Dr Sharpe. You might find this very interesting.

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Lots of information about Rita, the Bald Eagle, Ron’s former mate at the WRDC nest, that I bet you didn’t know! I learned a lot. Great little video.

I am so glad that people are realising the value of a nest’s history. Often we do not know it. So in addition to the one by Rita, there is also now a slideshow history of the Centreport Eagles.

The new Dad at Pittsburgh-Hays is so funny. He reminds me of Shadow at times.

Canada Geese. They are starting to arrive in Vancouver, and the City of Vancouver seeks to ‘lethally cull’ the geese. The Animal Alliance of Canada is against the measures proposed by the City because it, the City, is not following the guidelines they set up. In addition, Geese are protected under the Migratory Bird Act! Permission has to be given and I hope those that receive the City’s application check the accuracy of their claims.

Those who often benefit and scaremonger the public are the pest companies who financially benefit. So please read the following article. If you live in the area and this issue touches your heart, get involved. The Geese are only on land that was historically theirs. We are taking away their habitat everywhere. So, Educate yourself. Then with knowledge, not emotion, write to your local councilperson and the City Parks department. You will have to use their online forms. Please Google: Vancouver City Parks Department for those. For those living outside of Vancouver, you can voice your concerns over the lethal culling without first using the non-lethal measures set out in their own documents.

There is no proof that the number of geese will rise. Geese are susceptible to HPAI. We still have Avian Flu. I have written to Cornell Bird Lab to get the statistics on Canada Geese, their growth or decline population, and future projections. I will let you know what I find out if they answer my query.

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The Canada Geese are also now arriving in Manitoba amidst cold temperatures and snow. Is this early for Oak Hammock Marsh? Here are the statistics for the last 25 years.

‘H’ tells me that Lori Covert has decided to name the new female at the Captiva nest despite the fact that she has not laid an egg. Her name is Edie after Edith. If you can’t read the text below from Lori’s Instagram, she says that she is keeping with the tradition of naming the birds after family relatives. So this is Edie pronounced ‘eedie’ which is for her Uncle Jack and Aunt Edie.

There is some good news coming out of EuroNatur but, as Geemeff, asks, what is the point of designating an area a national park and then stealing its water? Doesn’t that sound quite wrong to you?

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As we move into osprey nesting season, it is good for us to conjure up the images of Dr Greene and his teams in Montana clearing osprey nests and trying to save the osplets bound up in baling twine. Baling twine is used to secure hay and straw bales in farming areas. It is made of various materials, but it is deadly to ospreys. They gather it up – it seems they love the plastic orange twine, and they take it to their nests. It is there that their chicks get wrapped up in this deadly mess.

There must be an inventor out there – maybe it is you reading this – who can figure out a way to secure hay and straw bales without using twine or any plastics that would injure or kill wildlife. Just imagine if some of the billionaires spent some money on working to save our wildlife instead of sending rockets into space. I wonder what we might discover!

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Everywhere we turn, there is something ready to kill our wildlife, our insects and bees that pollinate our plants that help us to survive. And there are government agencies that continue to approve such toxins as Neonicotinoids. Please note, “Despite nearly 15,000 people calling for better support for farmers and wildlife, the UK Government recently approved the use of a bee-killing pesticide (known as a neonicotinoid or neonic) on sugar beet crops in England for the fourth year in a row. For our February edition of Wild LIVE, we will be discussing why more than a third of sugar beet farmers chose to not use the chemical in 2023, and how we can support more to make that transition and stop the reliance on these hugely damaging pesticides.”

In this instance, this is about sugar, sugar beets, and British Sugar. Here is an interesting discussion on how easy it is to ban this pesticide and still have sugar. (Manitoba grows a lot of sugar beets – now I wonder if they use these deadly poisons on their crops. I must check that.)

If you live in or near NYC (or just want to be there and live half way around the world), think about joining the others in a tribute to Flaco – an Owl who brought many together through its hope and resilience.

From Port Lincoln, Giliath has been filmed bathing near the Yacht Club and Ervie has been visiting Boston Island frequently.

Spring is in the air in San Jose! If you don’t believe me, just ask Monty and Hartley!

Thank you so much for being with us today. We hope that you enjoyed about hearing the comings and goings of some of our favourite raptors. Take care. See you soon!

Thank you to the following for your notes, posts, articles, videos, screen captures, and streaming cams that helped me to write my post today: ‘Geemeff, H, J, N’, Eagle Country, Johnson City-ETSU, FOBBV, Gracie Shepherd, Duke Farms, Avon Lakes, JB Sands Wetlands, WRDC, Window to Wildlife, SW Florida Eagle Cam, FORE, Baiba Graustina, Raptor Resource Project, Marathon Wild Bird Centre – Crane Point, Bald Eagles of Centreport, PIX Cams, Animal Alliance of Canada, Oak Hammock Marsh, Lori Covert, Euronatur, Flathead Audubon, WILD LIVE, Dimi Belchev, BK Dave, Port Lincoln Ospreys, and SK Hideaways.