Tag Archives: World Bird Sanctuary

Too much news…Thursday in Bird World

15 June 2023

Good Morning Everyone!

The inbox was bulging with happiness as each of you watched Little Mini at Patchogue eat its heart out Wednesday morning. My goodness, that little one even went back for seconds! More on Mini, later, but suffice it to say it made my day on Wednesday just a wee bit better.

The wildfire smoke is somewhat gone, the air outside is a little cleaner, and the skies are clear in southern Manitoba. There is no sign of the Blue Jay fledgling in the garden Tuesday evening, but I will check again as it gets late. Maybe. What a joy that little one was to observe! And the parents, too, keep a close watch. Overhead, at least 150 Canada Geese headed north to find space, food, and cooler temperatures. They might find some of this smoke from the burning fires. These are the ones without families to care for – so many, and this is not the first chevron of geese going over in the last week. So many without families this year. It is worrisome.

On Monday the 16th, I will be travelling north to do a Bald Eagle nest count. I hope to have some good images of wildlife for you on Tuesday. Today I am going to Delta Marsh on the southern tip of Lake Manitoba to see if I can find some shorebirds! Wish me luck. I will be out all day so hopefully, Little Mini will be persistent and get some nice fish.

Lewis was growling at the rain at couple of days ago.

Today he decided to play with his piece of Honeysuckle branch.

Missey just wants to remind everyone that she is ‘sweet’.

Both kittens remind everyone that planting a tree to remember someone or some pet is good for the environment!

Lewis and Missey also remind us that if you are doing some late spring cleaning, see if there is anything you have and don’t need that your local wildlife rehab clinic could use. It is incredible the things they need – check their wish lists and then also think of power tools to help build and repair buildings and fences. Anyone die recently leaving a lot of tools? Find out if the rehab can use them. What a lovely way to remember a loved one by donating to a good cause.

Wednesday turned out to be a mixed blessing day. We might as well start with the ‘good’ before I throw in a little of the sadness.

‘H’ reports that the Dahlgren Osprey platform and its osplets are doing fantastic. You can see the age difference in the plumage…this is good news.

It is day 41 for the second egg at Kent Island. I wonder if that one is unviable as well.

The other nests that ‘H’ has been monitoring are all doing well and she hopes that there are no turn arounds on them! Me, too.

Severna Park: Oh, we worried about Middle after we lost Little to siblicide but, things continue to go well. Middle is older and bigger and the pair are eating side by side. ‘H’ reports that fish are plentiful.

‘H’ reports that the Barnegat Light feeding 0944 to 1006:  The feeding was peaceful eating side by side until, at 0955 Big beaked and bit Little.  Little was able to return at 1001 and ate beside Big.  Total bites for Little = 60. (I hope this nest won’t go sour now, like so many others that started out peacefully).” We wait and see. Send good wishes..that Big one is rather vicious. Let them make it out of the reptile stage!

At the Cape May Osprey nest, it is day 38 for egg one and ‘H’ says we are on pip watch.

I spent the day checking on some nests that I monitor but do not often report on – or a few even that have fallen through the cracks for one reason or another. At the Collins Marsh nest in Wisconsin, there are three osplets for what I believe to be new adults at the osprey platform near the local nature centre. This nest is very difficult to watch as fish are not always plentiful – at all! Malin, the only surviving osplet, force fledged in 2021. I criticised the local caretaker consistently because help was not at hand and the little one died on the ground. There is a new person at the nature centre. I hope if there are issues they will get out and look for those babies on the ground! The nest is on top of a fire tower that was moved. There is no perch and access to the desk would be difficult (or so I was told by the last caretaker – I don’t believe it!).

No chicks yet at Fortis Exshaw near Canmore, Alberta. You can see the fires burning in the distance. It was raining when I checked in. That is good…no chicks! Bad for little ones.

What you are seeing below is the Marsh Meadows osprey platform in Jamestown, Rhode Island. It is one of several nests on Conanicut Island. The three eggs hatched on May 29, 29, and 1 June. By the 7th of June, all three chicks were dead. Was it starvation by parental neglect? or was it starvation through mitigating circumstances – male was missing?

Both adults were on the nest this morning so, since the male is not missing (so he did not die of Avian Flu as suggested on 7 June), did the chicks die of starvation from inexperienced parents?

Bay and Beau’s two little osplets at Island Beach are doing well.

The three at Wolf Bay, Alabama are thriving. Gosh, look at those three big osplets!

The three at Oyster Bay should be getting along but, there is often beaking.

Dad delivering a fish to the Oceanside, NY, Osprey platform.

Two chicks at Seaside. So far so good.

‘H’ reports that both of the Patuxent River Park Osprey nests have osplets that are full and civil!

I just caught the Dad at Patuxent II bringing in a monster of a fish at 2002. Wow.

Oh, just sit down and cry – joyful tears. It really is OK. Newmann is feeding his peregrine falcon babies. Their Mum, Savanna was killed protecting her nest from a GHO. Newmann has called Savanna and called her and is now taking full responsibility for their last chicks together.

Dale Hollow DH17 has been caught on cam and appears to be doing quite well. River has a new mate (or so it appears). Only time will tell if she rebuilds at the original nest she shared with her partner, Obey, who disappeared this spring.

Bonus and Waba are on the move (slightly).

Now, let’s take a look at Little Mini at Patchogue. Is the saying ‘The Early Bird gets the fish’ applicable? Mini did well for when the Big ones were sleeping. That early fish that landed on the nest at 0536 was a bonus. Little Mini ate, then the Bigs woke up, and by 0639 Little Mini decided he would go back to the table for seconds. He finished eating at 0652. Mini got some from the 0846 delivery between 0908 and 0912. He had nothing from the 1526 delivery. He was in submission. At 1537 two of the Big siblings are having a tug o war with the fish. Then it rains. During some of this time Little Mini seems to be shoved down and around. Parents are trying to encourage self-feeding amongst the big siblings. This may or may not be an issue for Mini. If he can get those early feeds, he is OK.

According to someone on the chat there are three lakes nearby and 2 creeks connected to the bay. Should be lots of good fishing.

0540

0639 Up for seconds.

0652. Full. Leaving the table for the second time.

0912. Enjoying a meal. How does it feel to go hungry and see all the other siblings fed. I hope Little Mini feels full and alive this morning!

Later…after ‘they’ wake up. LOL.

1536. Mini shut out.

1537. Tug o war for the fish.

Fish – teasers and big fish – land at the Patchogue nest after the rain and all the time that big chunk of fish is still on the nest. Mini is quick to take opportunities when the Big ones show no interest. Mum feeds a small live fish at 1723 and then moves to the big chunk left at 1736. Mini rushes and is at the beak at 1737 . He ate until 1751ish. Then another big fish comes on the nest at 1800. Mini is right there – two big pieces of fish. He starts getting fed at 1802 and is moved out of the way at 1830. We should really see some growth in Mini by Friday with all this fish.

Smart Mini. He is filling his crop and then dropping it so he can hold more fish. I hope Mum has a good look at this persistent third hatch. It reminds me of Tiny Tot Tumbles from Achieva or Blue 464 from Foulshaw Moss. A Survivor.

Mini had a really good day and he is going to sleep well tonight. Happy Osplet dreams, Mini.

Mini was up and had an enormous crop Thursday morning…way to go Mini! Dad came through at Patchogue with three large fish by 0959.

Speaking of the Foulshaw Moss nest, White YW and Blue 35 have three osplets again this year.

At the Boulder County Fairgrounds, a team feeding by the adults really helped the third hatch, Little, who has been beaked and shut out from most feedings. This nest is still problematic…and each pulls at our heart.

After…this little guy is really struggling. Send your best wishes that they team up to feed the chicks until Little is old enough to hold its own.

At the SWFlorida Eagle nest, M15 visits. Unclear if E22 is still around. Not seen at the nest for a couple of days. M15 will not leave the area until E22 is known to be gone. M15 has taken his parental duties very seriously since Harriet went missing in early February. Thanks Vijay!

The Ms are well…growing up on Big Red and Arthur’s nest. Fledge watch is what? a week away? They may be big but, when the rain came they all wanted under Mum! Oak leaves. Across Tower Road there are Oak Trees. Big Red likes her chicks, when they fledge, to fly to those trees. The eyases have imprinted everything from the type of prey that is safe to eat to now these leaves. (The pine is for insects).

Big Red’s E3 was out doing an educational visit today.

Murphy is enjoying the life of a single foster dad now…it is quiet and no one takes his food!

There is now only one eaglet in the Estonia hybrid eagle nest. ‘T’ explains: “Good news in Estonia is that the baby hatched in the nest of Greater and Lesser Spotted eagles. There are not enough Greater Spotted eagles, and many of them are lost during their massive European-African migration. They create mixed couples. This nest, in Harju County, Estonia, was the nest of male Tõnn, who used this nest since 2016. Sadly, Tõnn, did not return from Spain in 2020. We don’t know what happened to him.”

Here the chick is taking a mouse form one of the adults.

‘T’ writes that the Russian Ornithologist “Michail Korepov went to the National Park “Sengileevskiye Gory” to check the breeding situation of large raptors. So this year, they found 12 white tail eaglets, 6 owlets and 2 Imperial eaglets – they are growing up in the national park! And the number is not including 2 chicks of Altyn and Altynay.” Very good news on trying to increase the population of these critically endangered raptors for the area.

‘A’ has been keeping an eye on Deyani and writes, “Meanwhile, there are either storms on the way or Angel is having a sudden burst of empty nest syndrome at the thought of Deyani fledging, because at 7.30pm, Deyani has an OBSCENE crop and the nest is FULL of prey. A rabbit, a vole and something unrecognisable are literally filling the nest bowl. I have NEVER seen this on this nest. Any food that arrives is dealt with in seconds by Deyani and nestovers are non-existent. But not tonight. Angel is attempting to tempt Deyani, who is taking the occasional small mouthful from her, but essentially, mum and daughter are standing side by side at the back of the nest, surveying the smorgasbord spread out at their feet. Deyani is going to have to find an appetite if she is to sleep on that nest tonight. It is just after 9.30am here in Melbourne, and it is another cold day. Sunny thus far, but that will change apparently.”

Baby bunnies. They seem to have cleared out an entire nest! Oh, dear.

‘H’ reports that Mini at the Forsythe Nest had only 30 bites on Wednesday. It is, as she says ‘feast or famine’ for this little one.

The third hatch at the Evergy Topeka Falcon scrape still has feather issues. The feathers have grown but have not broken the shaft and it is having difficulty jumping up to the ledge of the scrape to get food.

Will be sending a note to Evergy. The little one tried to jump up to the perch so it could have prey but failed…

Everything about Peregrine Falcons in a nutshell:

Peregrine-biology-natural-historyDownload

Just look who has returned to the Cal Falcons scrape!

Doug Gillard reports on the little Red-tail hawk, Tuffy, let that has survived in the Bald Eagle Nest with his foster sibling, Lola.

Kathryn reports that one of the goshawks in Estonia has branched. She adds, “I have somehow watched this nest since the eggs were laid and I thought none of them would hatch since they were left out in the cold so often! But look at them now!” Beautiful hawks.

At the Black Kite nest in the Kurzeme Forest, the only chick of Gold and Griegis is doing well.

Dulles-Greenway gives us an update on Pat, the eaglet of Rosa and Martin, that is in care.

Meanwhile, Pi and Flora are being fed by the adults in the wetlands.

Each of us needs to know that what we do matters. We can change the lives of our raptors, but we have to take action. Sometimes it is simply ‘baby steps’ towards our goal, but each success will lead to another. We must realise and inform others that the fate of our wildlife, our beloved raptors depends on us because most of their challenges are human-caused.

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

Thank you to the following for their notes, videos, posts, and streaming cams that helped me to write my blog today: ‘A, Geemeff, H, Kathryn, T’, Dahlgren Ospreys, Severna Park Ospreys, Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ, Collins Marsh Ospreys, Fortis Exshaw, Marsh Meadows, island Beach Ospreys, Wolf Bay Ospreys, PSEG, Oceanside Ospreys, Seaside ospreys, Patuxent River Part Ospreys, Lachelle Koestert and Peregrine Falcons at Great Spirit Bluff, Aliengirl and Bale Eagle Live Nests and Cams, Maria Marika FB, Cumbria Wildlife Trust, Boulder County Fairgrounds Ospreys, SW Florida Eagle Cam, Vijay and SW Florida Eagle Cam, Cornell RTH, Cornell Cam Chatters, World Bird Sanctuary, Eagle Club of Estonia, Looduskalender Forum, Window to Wildlife, Evergy Topeka Falcon Cam, SK Hideaways and Cal Falcons, Canadian Peregrine Falcon Foundation, Doug Gillard and Nor Cal Birding, Latvian Fund for Nature, Dulles-Greenaway and Forstythe Ospreys.

3rd egg for Dahlgren, Lou feeds chicks…Wednesday in Bird World

19 April 2023

Good Morning to Everyone (or evening depending on where you live!),

It is Tuesday evening, as I write this, and the temperature is dropping on the Canadian Prairies. There was to be a drizzle, and the forecast is for three-day snow. I hope they are wrong! As a result, I did not stay inside. My motto is: do not put things off! If you feel good today, get up and go out if it works! There were two surprises at the nature centre. One was a fast-running Muskrat, and the other was a Wild Turkey. I do not have pictures of either. There were geese, ducks, and the usual feathered friends – the Goldfinches, the charming Chickadees, the Dark-eyed Juncos, and myriads of squirrels running everywhere. Even the frogs and garter snakes are waking up. It is, after all, supposed to be spring.

Jack and Harriet have their third egg at Dahlgren. ‘H’ clocked it at 02:00:43. Does it look like some of the garbage is off the nest? Oh, let’s hope! Thanks, ‘H’.

Just look at those beautiful eyes, wide open and round, of Annie and Lou’s little eyases. Precious. Everyone is eating!

Lou finally gets a chance to feed the chicks. ‘A’ notes, “By the time Annie comes in and takes over, the youngest (as usual, front and centre) has a crop! I just knew Lou would find the baby. What a sweetie. Annie, you can relax – he knows what he is doing and even removes the feathers properly instead of stuffing them into the chicks’ beaks. Good on you, dad. And he is certainly keeping the prey deliveries coming. Things will obviously get harder for him as these three grow but so far, he is keeping the pantry well stocked with fresh and well-prepared prey. Annie may have stumbled on a real keeper here. 

Annie and Lou made the Berkeley News.

Berkeleys-falcon-family-of-five-Annie-Lou-and-three-fluffy-chicks-Berkeley-NewsDownload

Sweet little Eaglet at Decorah survived that snowstorm. It was a gorgeous Tuesday morning in Iowa for the hatchery family to awaken to.

Laundry baskets are becoming a must want item for many wildlife rehabbers. Have any good extra ones? Call and see if your local clinic could use them!

World Bird Sanctuary just posted a time line for Murphy, the Rock Baby, and the Eaglet.

Gabby and V3 were at The Hamlet working on the nest and just hanging out together today. They are a gorgeous couple. I sure hope M15 gets himself a ‘Gabby’!

Confirmation of the second egg at Foulshaw Moss comes on Tuesday from Polly Turner for White YW and Blue 35.

About once a year I remind all my readers about a conversation that I had with Tiger Mozone a number of years ago. I wanted to know what made a ‘good’ Osprey. I kid you not that was my question. How do you determine if the Osprey parents are what it takes to raise really good, healthy chicks. Our conversation ended with Tiger telling me to think about race horses, their breeding, and the winners they sired. It is the genetics not ‘the physical’ look of the bird. One of those incredible male birds was Monty at the Dyfi Nest in Wales. His return rate for children and grandchildren is huge…he is a winning breeder. Monty bred with Glesni from 2013-2017. In the chart below, you can see that of the 12 chicks Monty and Gleans had that fledged, five of them have been positively sighted and have returned. Of those, all but one are male (according to Emyr Evans’ records). Monty bred with Telyn (she is currently the mate of Idris and one of my favourite couples) from 2018-2019. Of their six chicks, three have returned. Sadly Hesgyn was found dead last year but he did return! That is a 50% return rate. Fantastic. Of all those returnees, all are males but 2 – hence the reason that you will often see the term, ‘Monty’s Boys’.

I am particularly fond of 2016 hatch Tegid Z1 that was the chick of Monty and Gleans. One of Z1’s chicks, Z5 is back. She is Monty’s granddaughter. She needs a great mate and a nest. Tegid’s brother, Z2 Aeron, has just had his first egg laid with mate Blue 014 at Port Cresor.

You might recall that it was Z1 Tegid on Aran’s nest at Glaslyn the other day telling his mate to get home! LOL.

Karl II continues to wait for Kaia. Oh, this makes me so sad. She was so close behind when she entered Ukraine. Has something happened?

In Webster, Texas, Ringo is still returning to the nest for food and rest.

Sure do miss Thunder and Akecheta! Glad they had two eaglets hatch this year. So wish we could watch them!

Both on the West End cam on Tuesday.

Gorgeous Thunder.

15 and the Es are still going strong in Fort Myers. The female intruder has visited the nest to steal prey from the babies and the Es continue to enjoy one another’s company and to make milestones. Thanks EJ for this link.

Beautiful Bety incubating the four eggs at Mlade Buky nest of Bukacek. You might recall that two years ago Bukachek’s mate was electrocuted on a hydro pole and he took care of the nestling storks with the help of the community. They fledged! Great Dad.

Gosh, Harry continues to deliver a lot of fish. It seems like every time I check Abby and Victor are being fed. That is, of course, fantastic. These two are busy flapping their wings and getting those legs strong.

Iris had another one of her whopper trout on the owl pole but it was really windy and then the raining snow came. Iris stayed for a few minutes and off she went to find a better place to enjoy her lunch. Oh, if you are wondering…Louis and Iris have connected, literally, several times. There will be eggs, no one to look after them, the Crows will get them, and then Iris will spend her summers being a lady of leisure eating lovely Montana trout and getting healthy. Love you, Iris.

Only on really slow speed could I begin to capture the pounding rain-snow pelting our Iris.

Mother Goose was eating snow. It has all melted and hopefully she got time to go and find some food for herself. The male geese will guard the area but do not bring food. She needs to go and forage in and around the water.

Both chicks ate well at the Achieva Osprey nest on Tuesday. They are flapping their wings and attempting to walk on those sticks.

River brought in three fish for DH17 and 18 on Tuesday. They are 47 and 48 days old today. It is looking good.

River looking out over the Obey River – hence the names of her and her mate, Obey, who has now been missing for far too long to be classified as missing.

This memory came up on FB. This year we watched M15 raise E21 and 22 while grieving for his mate Harriet, contending with intruders – both human and raptor. Several years ago, Decorah Mum cried for her mate until she could not vocalise anymore she was so hoarse. She raised her three eaglets in Iowa by herself. She was amazing. Three of them!

Charlie arrived at Charlo Montana Osprey Platform Tuesday at 1825. Both are home!

‘H’ reports that both Rs have been eating at the WRDC nest. “At the Dade county nest –  R4 ate well for a total of about 35 minutes in two feedings yesterday.  Prey was reduced at the nest, not as many feedings.  R4 was not interested in eating when offered fish at 1855, but wouldn’t let R5 eat either, so Rose ate.”

Two great big eaglets at Duke Farms hopping and flapping those huge wings.

Those little bobbleheads melt your heart. The single eaglet at US Steel, USS6 is no exception!

‘A’ has reminded me to tell everyone that pip watch for Angel and Tom at the Leucistic Red-tail Hawk nest begins on Thursday!

Good Night, Big Red. It won’t be long til we are announcing your pip watch!

Another article on the importance of wetlands in the east of England but…it is not just there. The world needs a wetland system for our wildlife and our feathered friends. Wetlands need official protection. It ensures that they will survive despite changes in the mood of local politicians.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2023/apr/18/the-guardian-view-on-englands-east-wetlands-wild-beautiful-and-vital?CMP=share_btn_link

You might recall that Missy was reviewing a book, Water Babies. She loved the pictures but suggested that I would get upset by some of the text, including the part about Canada Geese. She asked me to pass on it! Too funny.

I have on the desk a couple of books – one that is a study of the use of birds during World War I and the other is about geese, The Meaning of Geese. Since spring has arrived, it might take me longer but I will get a good review out for you of the two.

Thank you so very much for being with me today. There are lots and lots of stories happening around the world. We are waiting for Ella to lay her second falcon egg in Winnipeg—poor thing. Hopefully, the winter weather will be gone when those babies hatch! Take care. We hope to have you with us soon!

Thank you so much to the following for their notes, observations, posts, videos, and streaming cams that helped make up my blog today: ‘A’, ‘H’, ‘EJ’, Cal Falcons, Berkeley News, Raptor Resource Project and Explore.org, The Raptor Rescue Society, World Bird Sanctuary, NEFL-AEF, Polly Turner and Friends of Loch Arkaig Ospreys, Dyfi Osprey Project, Welsh osprey and Loch Garden and Other Ospreys, Eagle Club of Estonia, Paul White and Webster TX Eagle Cam, IWS and Explore.org, SW Florida Eagle Cam, Mlade Buky, Moorings Park Ospreys, Decorah Goose Cam, Achieva Credit Union, Dale Hollow Eagle Cam, Sydney Wells and Bald Eagle Live Nest and Cams, Owl Research Institute, WRDC, Duke Farms, Cornell RTH, and The Guardian.

Lou and Annie’s fluff balls, hatch for Milda and Voldis, Osprey soap opera…Saturday in Bird World

15 April 2023

Good Morning Everyone,

Some excellent news has come to me via Karel and Bogette’s Livestream from Cornell this morning. Last year, Big Red’s beautiful girl, L1, was killed when she struck the breezeway that connects the old Stocking Building and the new Stocking Hall on the Cornell Campus. It is also the building where L3 was injured. Two years ago, a Bird Strike Committee was established at Cornell to remediate issues related to glass structures. The Acopians are now installed on the breezeway at Stocking so that Big Red and Arthur’s Ms and all other raptors on campus are protected.

This is Stocking Hall. The breezeway is in the middle.

The Acopians being installed.

The article about Bird Strike. Thank you, Cornell, for rising to the challenge since you are – Cornell Bird Lab! Now every building everywhere with glass should have these simple devices installed to protect our birds.

Red-tailed-Hawk-Fledglings-Face-Invisible-Challenges-Cornell-Lab-Bird-Cams-Cornell-Lab-Bird-CamsDownload

Oh, it was cold to the bone on Friday in the Canadian Prairies. The skies were heavy with clouds and only reached 4 degrees C. There was rain but that did not stop the Dark-eyed Juncos from seeking out the millet or the Starlings and Woodpeckers coming for the suet, thankfully. We will have some cloud and sun and then, believe it or not, snow is forecast for next week. Poor migrants!

The mate was waiting for its term on the Crabapple Tree.

The squirrels were out enjoying the peanuts! This is one of Dyson’s sweet babies from last year. Watching them chase one another through the lilacs, sending the birds fluttering away for a few minutes is such a pleasure. They all survived the winter.

Meanwhile, in the house, Lewis and Missy decided that rainy days were good for napping in the ‘Big Dog Bed’. They certainly fill it up! Despite their antics, the two of them are inseparable. Constantly having to touch one another, doing the same thing, grooming one another. It is pretty precious.

The early morning grin for the day continues to come from World Bird Sanctuary!

An intriguing interview and the ‘excellent news of the day’ comes from Conservation without Borders. This is one of the best – can wildlife thrive at a garbage dump? Listen to what Sasha Dench found out in Dakar, Senegal.

Annie and Grinnell’s Laurencium (Larry) has been breeding on Alcatraz and her and her her mate have four little eyases. Wow! That amazing pairing of Annie and Grinnell live on in their grandchicks.

Meanwhile, Annie and her new mate, Lou, have three eyases with constantly open beaks ready for prey!

‘A’ observes, “We’ve been wondering what sort of dad little Lou would be – I think this video answers the question. Isn’t he just the cutest little falcon? He looks so guilty when Annie catches him too, quickly offering her the food he had just carefully prepared for the little ones (he seemed more careful too about removing the feathers Annie is so fond of feeding the chicks). Love the little conversation between them.And those dear little eyases – all they know how to do at this point is open their tiny pink beaks as wide as possible. Unbelievably cute. I agree that it is now unlikely the fourth egg will hatch, which is probably a good thing, although I am quite sure this pair could manage to raise four. Lou is proving to be a very good provider, and like most males, he really wants some chick time.” 

The very young male falcon at San Jose City Hall is figuring it all out!

Iris was back at her nest Friday morning much to the relief of everyone after she was not seen for a couple of days. We all know that Iris is older than Mrs G and when we cannot see her, we do worry that she is no longer with us. Thank you for coming back to the nest, Iris. I have not seen any news of Louis visiting Iris since she returned from her migration. I find that rather interesting…or maybe he has been there and I have missed it.

In Wales, it appears that the quick visit by Monty’s 2016 hatch Z1 Tegid scared off one of the females vying for Aran’s attention to replacing Mrs G. Everyone loved that sweet female. Turns out she was Z1’s mate and he was wanting her to go home!!!!!! Tegid certainly has a beautiful mate and they have raised many chicks together. Let us hope that all is well.

The female on the nest on Friday was very assertive – a quality that many thinks bodes well for the nest sighting that ‘Aran likes to be bossed around’. Aran has been providing fish and the female is sleeping on the perch Friday night.

The new more aggressive female is still on the nest at Glaslyn with Aran on Saturday. He has brought her two fish and they have mated. Oh, I do hope she stays. She is a beauty! But also, Aran is an incredible male that deserves a super female. She has that look in her eye like Mrs G!

Then there is Kielder Forest and no one can figure out who is on what nest this year!

Mrs G has made the BBC news. No doubt numerous other news outlets will carry the story of this amazing osprey.

Gwynedd-osprey-charity-gives-up-hope-bird-will-ever-return-BBC-NewsDownload

It was a summery day – 28.86 or 84 degrees F – for Big Red incubating her three eggs on the Cornell campus. This appears to be a heat record for this time of year in the area.

The two eaglets at the Pittsburgh-Hayes Bald Eagle nest were hot -. were it was also 28 degrees C.

Those same blistering temperatures were also at the Dulles-Greenway nest of Martin and Rosa. But human debris is on the nest. Let us hope the winds get up and carry it away!

‘A’ found a video of one of the feedings at Dulles-Greenaway. On Friday, all the kids did was eat. They are growing so fast with those incredible clown feet!

The challenging and magnificent year at the SW Florida Eagle Cam is quickly coming to an end. E21 and E22 fly and soar, play and peck, and have entertained us. It will be so sad to see them go. The family made the news again. It is a beautiful story. M15 did it and in grand style – raised two month-old eaglets alone.

https://www.capecoralbreeze.com/news/community-news/2023/04/12/harriets-last-brood-its-been-a-wild-wild-ride/

More GHO strikes on the Es last night. Those owls are relentless.

Achieva and Dale Hollow: The early meals at Achieva on Friday appear to have mostly gone to the oldest chick on the nest; the same was also happening at Dale Hollow, although 18 did some of the early morning fish compared to the 3 bites that Middle got at Achieva. Food is a continuing problem at these nests, along with dominance issues.

It’s hot and the family is wishing for fish.

DH18 will move around to the side to get some fish away from the older sibling.

It is difficult to watch with the youngest prey calling to River. Heart breaking.

Trey had not been seen in Louisiana at the E1 nest (neither had Anna or Louis, as I understand it) for 11 days. Trey returned today and was limping. She is at the nest being cared for by her parents, who, most likely, was helping her away from the nest when she was injured. Everyone is hoping for a good rest for Trey and a great outcome to the limping leg.

The Bartlesville Oklahoma Bald Eagle nest lost a chick. It disappeared in the night several days ago. The third egg hatched and the couple are now raising two. Hopefully all goes well.

All of the other raptor nests that we have been following seem to be doing well. See note at the end about Achieva and Dale Hollow.

Trey has been moving around on the branches of the nest tree and was last seen on the fledge tree. Everyone is hoping that she might spend the night in the nest and let her injured leg rest and heal.

Rosie and Richmond have a new nest on the whirly crane this year. No eggs yet but soon. Are there specific reasons that raptors will build new nests? Akecheta and Thunder moved their nest. Was it because of the eaglet falling off? Andor and Cruz moved their nest. Was it because of Victor’s illness? Did Richmond and Rosie change the site of their nest on the crane because of Molate’s death last year? I wonder.

You can see the old nest further back.

I received news about the ill Bald Eagles in Cowlitz, WA. Thanks so much, ‘B’, for following up on this. The ill Bald Eagles had eaten the flesh of two horses that had been euthanised. As it happened, the backhoe broke before they could be buried, and quickly the eagles came in for the warrior, not knowing there was pentobarbital in their systems. The owner of the horses is working diligently with the local wildlife clinic to help those eagles. They had no idea that their actions would harm wildlife. Education is the key here for everyone. Please spread the world as it is appropriate.

Another hitchhiker! This time a Kestrel.

A map of Georgian Bay by Park Canada. Lots of islands.

Research into the diets of Kakapo found in ancient caves might help scientists help with new habitat locations.

There are a lot of open houses at the wildlife clinics coming up around the world. Check out what is happening in your local area and if you live anywhere near Ithaca (oh, don’t I wish), head for the Cornell Vet Lab. You will get to meet the ambassadors and one is a Big Red fledgling!

Congratulations to Milda and Voldis on the hatch of their first eaglet of the 2023 season. Voldis fed his little one some fish. Send all the most positive wishes to this family. Milda deserves it!

Last, Karl II is working on the nest for Kaia’s arrival. She is now in Ukraine. Soon! Karl II looks pretty comfy in that nest…he will have it perfect for his mate’s arrival.

Thank you so much for being with me today. It is always a pleasure to have you with us. Take care. See you soon!

Oh, and I forgot to say. Please feel free to share my blog on FB and Twitter if you wish. Just click on the buttons below. If you like what you have read, click the ‘Like’ button. Thanks!

Thank you to the following for their notes, videos, posts, and streaming cams that helped to make up my blog today: ‘A’, ‘B’, Karel and Boggette’s Livestream, Ellie VanHoulen and All About Birds, Corviforms and World Bird Sanctuary, Geemeff and Conservation without Borders, Cal Falcon Cam, SK Hideaways and San Jose City Hall Falcon Cam, Montana osprey Project, Welsh Osprey and Loch Garten and Other Ospreys, Bywyd Gwyllt Glaslyn, BBC, Cornell RTH, PIX Cams, Dulles-Greenway Eagles, S & M Turkatar and Dulles Greenway, SW Florida Eagle Cam and D Pritchett, Capecoralbreeze.com, Achieva Credit Union, Dale Hollow Eagle Cam, Tonya Irwin and Kisatchie National Forest Eagle Cam Fans, Sutton Centre, Golden Gate Audubon, Canadian Raptor Conservancy, Parks Canada, Department of Conservation (NZ), Cornell Hawk Cam Chatters, Latvian Fund for Nature, and Looduskalender Forum.

Murphy fed the baby eaglet, Maya lays historic 4th egg…Thursday in Bird World

13 April 2023

Good Morning Everyone!

It is a balmy ‘summer day’ on the Canadian Prairies. The temperature was 12 C with a blue sky and winds of 19 kph. It was a perfect day to go to the park and check on the arrival of the Canada Geese.

Several Ring-billed Gulls were enjoying the water. Ring-billed Gulls have white markings on their outer wing feathers. You can see these in the image below. They also have pale eyes with a red eye-ring. I like to think of them as celadon eyes, that coveted green-grey glaze from China. There is also a black band on the end of the yellow bill.

There were geese everywhere…at least 75 in a small area around the pond.

In the garden, there has been much joy with the arrival of the first European Starling around 1700. Also, there were three Blue Jays today. Last year, we had Junior and the three babies. Will there be another arrival tomorrow? We wait to see if four return from migration to join the Dark-eyed Juncos and the arrival of the Starlings.

This is the older Blue Jay, Junior.

Blue Jays are incredibly picky over peanuts. They test and shake each one for its weight. No sense in using all that energy for an old dried-up nut. Smart. About 1/3 of the peanuts in the ‘new’ bag appear not good enough to make the cut.

A blurry photo of the first European Starling for the year.

This woodpecker prefers this type of feeder while his friend is at the log suet feeder.

Migration counts continue across southern Manitoba where I live. At one site in part of an afternoon, 825 Red-tail Hawks, 130 Bald Eagles, and 3 Golden Eagles flew over. Fantastic.

The giggle for the day comes from Sharon Pollock!

The two little falcons are adorable. Lou doesn’t quite seem to know what to do but he is bringing in prey items, thankfully. Things work out. Maybe there will only be two!

‘A’ notes “Lou is a bit nervous of the little ones – as I mentioned, he trampled through the scrape and trod on one of the chicks’ heads today when retrieving prey from the back corner! He may have a bit to learn on that front. But Annie has it covered, and as long as he keeps the pantry full (which it seems he is doing so far), he will be doing his job. After all, he will be way too tiny to brood chicks for very long! What a cutie. And those little white fluffy babies with their tiny beaks open wide whenever they hear mum e-chup. Oh how gorgeous are they? Don’t you just want to snuggle them up? Well, no, that would upset Annie greatly, but you know what I mean. Such darling little creatures.”

SK Hideaways gives a good video of these two darlings!

 

Well, it doesn’t get much better. Murphy abandoned his ‘rock baby’ to care for a little eaglet that needed a parent. It was an experiment and it looks like it has worked.

The little eaglet gets a parent and Murphy gets to share his love. Win-win.

Wild Bird Sanctuary has just done a late posting. It is fantastic. Looking for a place for a donation, however small or large. Think of donating specifically for Murphy and the eaglet at Wild Bird Sanctuary!

Bella and Smitty’s little only eaglet is doing very well indeed. Check out the crop and it is going to have a second meal right away. There are so many advantages to eagle parents having only one to care for.

Meanwhile, at the Manton Bay nest of Blue 33 and Maya, the couple now have their third clutch of four eggs! The couple previously fledged two clutches of four eggs. They are heading for a record. These two are not going to let anyone else get the Super Couple award! Better put some more stock in Rutland water! Thanks, Geemeff!

Our beautiful couple need all the rest they can get during incubation!

At Glaslyn, it appears that Aran and the unringed unidentified female osprey have also come to an understanding. Aran has been sky dancing and bringing fish and she is at the nest. She is a beauty, too. Like Murphy and the eaglet, Aran is lucky that this young lady chose him when Mrs G did not return from migration.

Oh, it was wet from all the wind and storms but as the day progressed, things began to dry out a little in Wales.

Telyn and Idris have been having some discussions. It was believed Telyn laid an egg but I see no evidence of this. It was storming badly and both ospreys took to the ground so they would not be blown about. I hope Telyn did not lose her first egg of the season.

It has been a bit miserable for Dorcha and Louis up in Scotland at Loch Arkaig, too.

Gracie Shepherd posted a sweet screen capture of E21 and 22 sitting together near the pond. Oh, how we are going to miss these two. M15 has done an amazing job teaching them and they have certainly experienced more than most. Each knows how to defend a nest!

I have received word from Sassa Bird that my favourite white-tailed Eagle, Milda, whose nest is near Durbe in Latvia, has a pip in her egg! Milda is gorgeous and she has had a very tragic two years after losing her long-time mate, Ramos, just when she had laid her eggs in March 2021. We are hoping for a wonderful year for her and her new mate, Voldis.

Wondering what happened at Centreport, New York with Mum? Well, she is incubating two eggs with D3.

Cape Henlopen had a tragic 2022 season. There is a new platform this year and hopefully a new couple. Heidi McGrue brings us news of a visiting osprey. Fingers crossed.

One of the reasons that we love Jackie and Shadow so much is the fact that they love each other sooooooo much. Today Shadow brought in a massive fish just for Jackie in the nest. We know both of them would have liked to have had a replacement clutch. Might they still? We wait. Regardless, they are adorable and every day brings another giggle and smile.

Things continue to go well at the Moorings Park Osprey platform in Naples, Florida. Yes, Abby can eat a lot of fish but, we can assume that because she is a female she needs that for her extra growth in body mass and feathers.

It seems that Indigo has left to find his own way in the world. Diamond blocked him from the scrape on Saturday and he could be heard or it was thought. May he have a long and productive life full of adventure and prey.

A good way to end a great day is an update from Dr Sharpe and his team at the Channel Islands. He goes through all the nests and, of course, gives an update on Thunder and Akecheta. You get to see the most beautiful landscape – and yes, there are at least two eaglets in Thunder and Akecheta’s nest. You can see them!

Dale Hollow and Achieva, brief report: River brought in a small fish to the nest on Wednesday around 0900 despite being chased by intruders. One of those intruders sadly ate part of DH19’s body that had been left on the nest. It was a male. Many hope that River will accept him as her new mate – he did not harm 18 and 19. Then he could help raise the eaglets. That would be wonderful!

Harriet, Jack and the two surviving osplets at Achieva have eaten well. A visitor landed on the nest while the adults were away. I presume Harriet is out fishing!

The Ventana Wildlife Society is being so pro-active in the battle of HPAI with the goal of it not wiping out the Big Sur and Pinnacle Condors. Our hearts break for the Arizona condors losing a battle against this deadly disease.

Dear Mary,Today, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service provided an update on HPAI infection in the Arizona condor flock stating that as of April 12, 2023, eighteen condors have succumbed to this terrible disease (6 of which were confirmed to be HPAI and 12 are suspected). In addition to these deaths, five condors are currently in treatment. Our thoughts continue to be with our partners in Arizona and The Peregrine Fund. 

In addition to the measures taken since 2022 to prevent the spread of HPAI, we are now working closely with partners to develop even more contingency plans. This week, we raised $80,000 in support of the purchase of 10 quarantine pens which will arrive in two weeks. SPCA for Monterey County has approved the temporary use of their land on which to setup these pens. Once placed, these pens can be used for treatment, vaccination (when available) and even safeguarding healthy condors from HPAI. We are especially thankful to our partners at SPCA for Monterey County for their collaboration.

These new quarantine pens will be crucial in the fight against this disease, but we still need support for our staff to care for the flock. We will be sure to keep you updated as we know more.

Kelly Sorenson

Ventana Wildlife Society, 12 April 2023

Here is a story that shows you that hard work and persistence – and believing – can pay good dividends when it comes to our raptors.

Ospreys-return-from-extinction-in-England-and-Wales-UK-News-Sky-NewsDownload

While the UK is gleeful over the success of the restoration projects for the Ospreys in North America, citizen scientists are needed to help understand the impact of climate change on birds. You can be one of those that help. Read the article and please do a daily count and send to eBird. Thanks to my eagle-eyed daughter for this one!

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/windsor/bird-migration-timing-climate-1.6800129

Thank you so much for being with me today. I am checking on Milda but no word of a hatch for our Latvian WTE yet. She is rolling eggs and being coy. Take care, everyone. See you soon.

Thank you to the following for their notes, posts, videos, and streaming cams where I took my screen captures that helped make up my blog today: ‘Geemeff’, ‘T’, ‘J’, ‘A’, Sassa Bird, SK Hideaways and Cal Falcons, Sharon Pollock and Orange Australia Peregrine Falcons, World Bird Sanctuary, Deb Stecyk and NCTC, Bywyd Gwyllt Glaslyn, Dyfi Osprey Project, Friends of Lock Arkaig and the Woodland Trust, Gracie Shepherd and Raptors of the World, Latvian Fund for Nature, Rob Schwartz and Bald Eagles of Centreport, NY, Heidi McGrue and Raptors of the World, FOBBV, Moorings Park Ospreys, IWS, Dale Hollow Eagle Cam, Achieva Credit Union, and Ventana Wildlife Society.