Hornby Eagles are back!

Hornby kids names are David and Alexandra (eldest). Named for Canadian environmentalists David Suzuki and Alexandra Morton.

Sad situation at Sidney BC nest -- one eaglet is caught in fishing line and can't get free. Intervention will be difficult because nest is in dead tree -- unsafe for climber. Would require a crane -- and ground may be too wet for that. They are looking into what can be done.

It's been a tough year for raptors. In real life the hawk nest I watch lost a father (Mom and two babies doing well with supplemental food provided by rehabber).

A hawk nesting at NYU has a swollen leg possibly caused by band. She could have been helped by our wonderful local rehabber, who is fully willing and qualified to capture, treat and return her to nest -- but bureaucrats got involved and nothing has been done.

NYU hawk cam sponsored by NY Times is here:

http://www.livestream.com/nytnestcam

The Times' coverage is spotty/inaccurate on the hawk story. They mis-estimated hatch date because no one knew how to watch for incubation starting; then they failed to notice she was banded.

The wonderful wildlife biologist who participates in Hornby chat helped me come up with some accurate background to send reporter. He may not care, but it makes me happy to point out some errors.

I have to admit, every time there is a new post on this thread I'm filled with dread. I'm going to avoid watching the Sidney nest, it would break my heart to see that. I'm hoping that intervention will be successful.

A fishing line?! honestly. I fish (it's a constant internal struggle for me, I fly fish mostly and crimp all my barbs and only do catch and release). Whenever I'm out, I take everything back with me, including the really short lines I cut. And I always clean up after others, too. My boyfriend thinks I'm nuts, but it angers me so much when other fishing people are so reckless. You'd think they'd be a bit more environmentally friendly but they're awful. Grr.

With all of this sad news, I thought I would add an upbeat note to report that all three of the Decorah eaglets http://www.ustream.tv/decoraheagles are still alive and seemingly well. :) They are gaining their juvenile feathers and spend much time preening.

yeah, I check on the Iowa eagles as well as the Hornby and Sidney (though not now for Sidney, I just can't bear to look). I also check on Phoebe, she lost one chick this clutch, though; it fell out of the nest :(

With Hornby chat full of sadness and tragedy on the bird cams, someone posted this in the middle of a discussion about nature poetry:

They gave me a box of tin soldiers
I threw all the generals away.
I broke up the majors and colonels
Now I play with my privates all day.

It really is a funny group sometimes (not always).

The Sidney eaglet was rescued today. He was released from fishing line (or whatever it was), examined and returned to the nest.

They finally got a crane in -- apparently that's the only way to reach this nest. According to reports, the parents returned to the nest and he's eating and doing well.

Hornby kids are getting bigger by the minute.

That is good to hear Pam. :) Thanks for the update!

it was all over the local news here, I was SO happy to see that they were able to rescue him! and the camera's no longer fuzzy from strategically aimed poop ;)

Phoebe (hummingbird)'s lone baby fledged this afternoon! that was fast. I imagine she'll lay another clutch soon, that little baby machine!

Oh my goodness -- does Phoebe never get a break? I guess that's what she was born to do.

Very sad. http://www.kare11.com/news/article/9...rnado-cleanup-.

The Decorah eagles started branching today:
http://www.ustream.tv/decoraheagles; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wAi81_OqIgk. Right now there's one sitting in the nest alone who seems a bit perturbed.

oh, that is sad news. One of our co-workers who was 53 also died of a heart attack a couple of weeks ago.

I thought the iowa eagles were on the move, I only saw one in the nest today.

There is an eagle nest about a block from my workplace. They had no luck last year but this year they had 2, and they have semi-fledged. They were gone Monday but yesterday I saw one back in and around the nest (no camera for this one).

I kid you not, there is a teddy bear in the Delta nest. The parents brought it and Jet loves it.

http://www.hancockwildlife.org/index...ta2#new-camera

Delta forum has screen caps of Jet and the little friend she is rapidly destroying.

http://www.hancockwildlife.org/forum...how=8&page=599

This is the second time Delta parents have brought a teddy bear to the nest. News report on the 2008 bear:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fI957yZ_9lw

Sad story in Richmond, VA. A Perigrine Falcon fledgling was very hesitant to take flight, and it became a minor event with a Falcon Watch and spotters and articles in the newspaper. You can do it!!

Well, the little guy flew and promptly crashed into a building and fell straight down, dead.

*sigh*

Tulip, that is sad about the baby falcon. Breeding season inevitably produces some tragedies.

One of the Franklin Institute hawks (in Philadelphia) ended up with a broken bone after premature fledge. Story is here:

http://sunnydixie.blogspot.com/

The NYU hawk fledged yesterday:

http://urbanhawks.blogs.com/urban_ha...-tailed-hawks/

Hornby eagles are due to fledge any day now.

Unfortunately, this cam will be turned off after they fledge. There apparently are disagreements among the parties involved, and the cam owner is calling it quits.

In other bird news, here's a funny short video of baby hawks listening to music in Central Park. These are Pale Male's kids; video is from palemale.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=vXo0hOjV2cI