[A trio of young ospreys are visible as the River Explorer passes near their nest atop a navigation marker on the Tennessee River.]

The tornado that slammed into Chickamauga Dam on Tuesday not only damaged the area but also destroyed the homes of some of Chattanooga's seasonal dwellers: ospreys.

According to Riverwalk Bird Club member Harold Sharp, the twister blew away what some local birders believe is the highest osprey nest on record. The nest was located on a tower near the locks. Ospreys have already migrated south for the winter but will return to the area in the spring, Sharp said.

"We filed a claim with Guinness World Records claiming this as the tallest osprey nest in the world at 297 feet above the water," Sharp reported. "Guinness has yet to confirm this. They replied that they would research it for a price."

The nest had been there for two years, Sharp said.

"We believe they'll come back next spring and rebuild this nest because it has been at this location for two years," he said.

According to a TVA website, ospreys once were considered endangered, but environmental laws and endangered species programs have restored the population throughout the country.

A trio of young ospreys are visible as the River Explorer passes near their nest atop a navigation marker on the Tennessee River.

Today's WAI!

[A]

A is for American Tree Sparrow  (Spizella arborea)

Adults have a rusty cap and grey underparts with a small dark spot on the breast.

These birds migrate to the United States or southern Canada to spend the winter

They mainly eat seeds and insects, some berries.

I love the expression!

Someone must have said "Smile"! 

[The show kicked off at 7 p.m. and runs through midnight. How great is that? The live edition of the show features an investigation of the Buffalo Central Terminal in Upstate New York.]

are investigating the Buffalo Terminal Tower right now LIVE. Is this the same building the falcons are on?

SyFy channel right now.

The show kicked off at 7 p.m. and runs through midnight. How great is that? The live edition of the show features an investigation of the Buffalo Central Terminal in Upstate New York.

Sounds like a plan Aafke...(in between trick or tr-eater's) !! They be rollin in now!

There's a Watcher down town handing out Candy.....can you guess who this is?

Beauty rooting for her Home Town Team!   

Good one, Ei!! 

There's a Watcher down town handing out Candy.....can you guess who this is?

Now that's a lot of...(crows)?

     That's nothing Donna!         You should see them in the morning over at WSP(Washington Square Park).     The sky is just black with them when they're leaving for the day.

   
But their BATS!!        

Janet and I both have our Halloween sox on today.  

A little friend looking for Beauty. 

Now that's a lot of...(crows)?

Halloween bats

Well I'm BATTING zero today! Shaky 2, Donna zip.     

[I think we all knew the nest box was Haunted.]

I think we all knew the nest box was Haunted.  I caught this on cam. Have a very    and let's eat LOTS of

It's not haunted. That's just the Rfalconcam Executive Committee.

Well OK then, my mistake. Didn't recognize them..

Four live rescued owls were released into the wild on Saturday morning in a unique celebration of Halloween.

A couple dozen people gathered at Utah Lake State Park to watch the four barn owls take flight together. One of the owls was rescued after being found soaked in oil. Three others were siblings found together.

Highlights of the event included seeing and hearing the owls scream, and then watching as the four birds took flight together, soaring to eventually alight in the huge trees bordering Provo River.

Patti Richards, director of the Springville rehabilitation center, told those gathered that she hoped the owls would scream for them, since it was Halloween. The first owl was silent as it was removed from a large animal carrier and put into the hands of a lucky audience member, chosen to participate in the release. The second owl was also silent, but the third put on a show, making a sharp hissing scream for a couple minutes, its mouth opening surprisingly wide.

"These are the only birds of prey that can swallow a mouse whole," said Richards. "See how big its mouth is?"

Reed Stone, 88, was the lucky member of the public chosen to help with the release. Stone is also one of the founders of the local bird-watchers group.

"This was a great experience," he said. "As far as birding goes, this is just about the top."

April and Lee Kirk of Provo brought their three children, ages 2,6 and 8 to the event. The kids got to take photos with Moonshine, a four-year-old rescued barn owl who is licensed to Richards as an education bird.

"I learned that owls can't turn their heads all the way around," said 8-year-old Shalauna Kirk. "And they can swallow mice whole."

Richards told the crowd that in the wild, barn owls suffer when they overwinter and often only live to be two or three years old, but in captivity they live to be 16 years old. They will eat several mice a day, and thousands over a lifetime.

All four of the barn owls released on Saturday were first rescued by the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center of Northern Utah, based in Ogden, and sent to the Great Basin Wildlife Rehabilitation in Springville over the past month, where long flight pens are available to test the birds to prove they can survive in the wild. Both rescue groups are nonprofit organizations that rely on donations to survive.

For information about Great Basin Wildlife Rehabilitation, or to donate, visit GreatBasinWildlife.org.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/26704961@N03/5072538025/in/photostream/ Pretty neat.