[Wow, I watched a video of Sissel the other day, she's from Norway and has a beautiful voice. Great video Ruth.....thank you!]

Wow, I watched a video of Sissel the other day, she's from Norway and has a beautiful voice. Great video Ruth.....thank you!

http://player.vimeo.com/video/30447882?autoplay=1 Found another by the same person...this is quite amazing too!!

And now I see TWO! One perched on the opposite building and someone who is clearly playing in the wind: swooping, circling, diving! So pretty to watch: wish y'all could see!

Please yell out the window and tell them to go to the nest! Thanks so much Kat! 

[Ultralight crane flights grounded]

Ultralight crane flights grounded

The ultralight-led migration of endangered whooping cranes from Wisconsin to Florida has been halted in Alabama over the failure of a group to comply with federal regulations involving their use of the small aircraft.

An attorney representing Operation Migration - the group that leads whooping cranes to Florida each fall and winter - confirmed Tuesday that the aircraft-led migration was voluntarily halted in December.

Attorney Charles R. Barnett III said he hoped to resolve the issue quickly.

Meanwhile, the nine birds and their handlers are grounded in Franklin County, in northwestern Alabama.

After departing from Wisconsin in the fall, the cranes' final destinations are two national wildlife refuges in Florida.

Operation Migration posts developments almost daily but has made no mention of standing down because of regulatory problems.

The issue: Pilots of ultralight aircraft are prohibited by the Federal Aviation Administration from flying on a paid basis, but Operation Migration pilots are compensated for their work.

A former pilot for Operation Migration filed a complaint with the FAA in 2011.

Chris Gullikson said he had been asked to conduct nesting surveys at the Necedah National Wildlife Refuge, where many of the cranes have lived since their reintroduction. But he was informed by aviation experts that he could not carry out a commercial enterprise with an ultralight.

"I was hoping for a resolution early on," Gullikson said, noting he made his complaint in early 2011 when it was uncertain whether Operation Migration would be operating from a new site to work with the birds. The group moved from Necedah to the White River Marsh State Wildlife Area. Barnett filed a petition with authorities Dec. 27 that seeks to exempt Operation Migration from the regulations, even though this year's migration was well under way.

In an interview Tuesday, Barnett said Operation Migration does not want to intentionally violate federal air regulations.

In an email, Federal Aviation Administration spokeswoman Elizabeth Cory said it was her agency's understanding the pilots with Operation Migration were reluctant to fly if they were violating the law.

The group's annual migrations with the birds are a key plank in a public-private partnership's in reintroducing whooping cranes to the eastern United States, Barnett told authorities in his petition.

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said it is considering keeping the birds at nearby refuges if the flights can't continue.

JSOnline

They moved the cam back to the nest! Thanks KAT!!!!

Bobbin hunting at night!

Beauty just landed on Mercury

http://vimeo.com/21294655 Beautiful

[(I'm waiting for my neighbors to throw theirs out)]

Old Christmas Trees Make New Bird Cover
Posted on Monday, January 02, 2012 by eNature
Female Dark-eyed Junco


Instead of discarding the family Christmas tree this year, turn it into cover for the birds. The life of the festive tree can be extended for several more months by taking it outside and laying it down or propping it up near or next to a bird feeder. In a matter of minutes, the old Christmas tree is providing new natural cover for the birds.

Every New Year’s, after undecorating our Christmas tree, I drag it outside and anchor it upright behind a low tray feeder just outside the sunroom where we eat breakfast and lunch everyday during the winter. The addition of the tree as cover behind the tray feeder immediately increases the number and kinds of birds that feed at the tray. In addition to the usual ground feeders, such as dark-eyed juncos and American tree sparrows, the Christmas tree cover attracts chickadees, nuthatches, northern cardinals and mourning doves. One year, we had a bobwhite use the feeder, and during other winters, ring-necked pheasants and wild turkeys visited.

If I want more cover than my one Christmas tree offers, I have gathered up and used the discarded Christmas trees of my neighbors, who have left their past glories at the curb to be picked up by the garbage man.

One year, I was late removing the Christmas tree in the spring, and an American robin built a nest in its rusty red boughs, and raised four youngsters.

—George Harrison

(I'm waiting for my neighbors to throw theirs out)

Jeff needs a girlfriend!

Maybe that's why he's staying longer!!  Lots of girls there too!

Hey MAK, I think you posted the wrong link to your KGallery album.

I think you're right Carol. I'm having problems, hopefully I can get a link that works.

OK I think it works now.

http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/creativeapps/slideShow/Main.jsp?sourceId=533754321803&cm_mmc=eMail-_-Share-_-Photos-_-legacy&localeid=en_US

http://classic.kodakgallery.com/ShareLanding.action?c=8kv5yqu9.322971d1&x=0&y=hbgza8  OK, try this. That link goes to Lou's album. 

http://www.friendsofblackwater.org/camhtm2.html  Up and running!!! 

Nest Update

01/03/12:
We're back up with our new PC. Thanks again for your patience.

We've seen our eagle couple rubbing each other and touching up the nest, so we think they're in good form for a new season. You might see some occasional static on the cam caused by wind and local traffic, but it should come and go.

[I'll post them as I get them. Jeff decided to do a double tour this year. He will be there for 14 months, not his usual 7. Only a handful stay there during the cold cold Winter months. He's CLAZY!!!! Hope he has Xbox!!]

I'll post them as I get them. Jeff decided to do a double tour this year. He will be there for 14 months, not his usual 7. Only a handful stay there during the cold cold Winter months. He's CLAZY!!!! Hope he has Xbox!!

http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/creativeapps/slideShow/Main.jsp?token=819849607705:2052054014 Found this album of Lou's from 2009 when Joyce ID'd the new female in town....Beauty!!

http://www.wvec.com/video/featured-videos/New-year-new-start-for-Norfolk-bald-eagles-136538598.html  Interview with Reese Lukei on the new female