(movie) A morning visitor to the nest.

http://news.discovery.com/videos/animals-gorillas-play-tag.html  Tag, you're it!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Dx5ZlSbJXIQ&feature=related Another of a Gorilla dad and kid play tag

http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/nottingham/hi/people_and_places/nature/newsid_8944000/8944151.stm

Operation WildLife volunteer Bill Whinery bent low, preparing to toss a young red-tailed hawk into the air.

“OK, here he goes,� he said.

The bird gave several hard flaps with its wings before flying to a nearby tree to perch.

“Definitely, he’s back home again,� said Samantha Walker, a natural resource specialist for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Clinton Lake.

Last month, the bird was found just several hundred yards away near Clinton Lake’s maintenance shed.

“The poor little guy, he was skinny, held his head crooked� and had a damaged wing, Walker said.

She decided to take the bird, which most likely was hit by a car, to Operation WildLife, a nonprofit in Linwood that provides veterinary and rehabilitation services for injured and orphaned animals.

Once at Operation WildLife, the bird was given a shot to reduce swelling in the brain. Volunteers fed the bird pieces of rodent until it was strong enough to eat on its own.

And the big test came in the L-shaped flying pens. Before it could be returned to the wild, the hawk had to be able to round corners.

After four weeks of rehab, it was ready to return home Thursday morning.

“We always want to try to release them where we get them because most raptors mate for life,� Whinery said.

While the hawk, which was born this spring, was probably too young for a mate, Walker said she thought she spotted its mother in the weeks following the hawks’ trip to rehab.

The crew at Clinton Lake will keep a close eye on the bird, mostly out of curiosity, Walker said.

The potential for the bird to live a long and happy life is good. Once red-tailed hawks reach adulthood, they can live up to 15 to 20 years.

“Hopefully, it will have learned its lesson to avoid cars. But after that it should do just fine,� Whinery said. “Clinton Lake is a great place because you got the lake and they can always rely on dead fish.�

Along with the hawk, Whinery released a black vulture on Thursday. Rare to the region, the vulture was found in Overland Park, starving and unable to fly. It, too, was rehabilitated at Operation WildLife.

Whinery expects the vulture to spend the remainder of summer at the lake and then fly south this fall.

Watching the birds fly away is the high point for Whinery.

“They don’t turn around and say thank you for all the hard work. They just fly off,� he said. “But it is really rewarding to see all your hard work end up with an animal released to the wild.�

http://www2.ljworld.com/videos/2010/aug/26/32325/  Hawk release and Vulture video

The southward migration of ruby-throated hummingbirds continues to move through our area. While the bulk of these tiny avian treasures has already passed through, many will continue to make their way into and through the area in decreasing numbers from now through the end of October.

The vast majority of hummingbirds you see at your flowers and feeders are not local birds.

Adult male hummingbirds that breed in our area started leaving their territories in mid-July. The first baby hummingbirds that were born in our area started leaving their nests in early June.


If you didn't see hummingbirds at your flowers and feeders during June, it means these avian jewels do not breed in your immediate area. By mid-August, the only locally born hummers at our flowers and feeders are just a handful from late nesting attempts.

The birds you're seeing now may have already traveled from as far as Pennsylvania, New York or even Ontario, Canada, and mid-western Canada.

Most of the hummers you see at your feeders and flowers are one-day wonders. They're replaced the next day by others following the same route to customary wintering grounds in more tropical climes.

A few may sojourn for a couple of days, taking advantage of abundant resources to increase their body mass. All of these tiny birds will increase their weight significantly as they travel southward, and some will even double their mass by the time they reach the Gulf Coast.

The additional mass is accumulated in the form of fat located just below the skin. If you look closely at the birds visiting your feeders, some are noticeably plumper than others, and when perched may even appear to be "hump-backed."

For most of our tiny hummer friends, these fat deposits are ultimately fuel for an amazing nonstop flight across 550 miles of open water, the Gulf of Mexico.

Depending on the winds and weather conditions, this flight may take 16 to 24 hours, the tiny winglets moving nearly every inch of the way.

Hummingbirds do not glide well and must use powered flight to transport themselves.

For many years, scientists were perplexed by the question of how these miniature marvels could make such an epic journey, until they discovered the birds' ability to increase their mass by accumulating fat stores.

Fats have double the calories (energy) of carbohydrates or protein. Unlike humans, birds can readily convert their fat deposits to energy, and thus the mystery of the ruby-throated hummingbird's amazing long-distance flight ability was solved.

Pic worked when I clicked it.

Great Blue Heron chasing Juvie Black Crowned Night Heron: M/D  Nothing in the skies, so their eyes moved to the river.

 Thursday, August 26th, 2010

 Empty Nest Syndrome

 Here at Lowes we are all starting to suffer from empty nest syndrome, with all our ospreys having left on their autumn migrations. There are still occasionally ospreys being seen nearby, mostly birds passing through on their way south using nearby Lochs as ‘lunch breaks’.

 The nest here, high on a Scots pine on our Loch shore, now looks rather forlorn, with its wide bowl of sticks now looking rather dishevelled. During the breeding season so much care is lavished on it by our ospreys – a constant tidying of sticks by mum and refreshing of the bedding material by dad- that it seems odd to have it untidy! The soft lining consists of grass, moss and dried pond weed, which accounts for the nice crop of greenery now sprouting on it.

 The nest is in fact a huge structure- about six foot in diameter , built by our ospreys over many years, but is secured on a metal base put up by staff here at the reserve many years ago to provide stability. This should ensure it will survive the winter storms and snows weight, and next spring our ospreys will only have to do their usual renovations and stick additions to make it ready for another breeding season.

 Ospreys are legendarily site faithful and even if a nest is blown down, they will usually rebuild on the same place. The prefer sites with excellent visibility and have been shown to readily take up artificial nesting platforms- effectively starter kit homes! During the autumn and winter is the time that conservation groups, rangers and enthusiasts all over the UK will be looking to erecting more of these to attract more young ospreys to take up residence in new areas- helping them re-colonise more of their former historic range and help the species recover.

 Emma Rawling

 Perthshire Ranger

1pm Update: the camera are back!!! We’ve had line engineers here all morning and the great news is that our cameras are back on line! Let’s hope it stays that way!

 Friday, August 27th, 2010

Update: the camera problems persist! BT have been informed again and we’re just waiting on a reply (don’t hold your breath!) It might be a long black-screened weekend! Sorry folks! Fiona

Who said Osprey season at Lowes was over? Nature always has the capacity to surprise and delight us- the most certain thing I have learned about ospreys after four years studying them, is that they surprise you somehow every year! Though we often talk in generalisations about’ normal’ behaviour, there is always room for individual variation and, if I can anthropomorphise for a moment, birds do seem to have unique personalities.

 But back to the excitement at hand- a visiting osprey spent a couple of hours with us at Lowes yesterday afternoon, and led us on a merry dance trying to identify it! At about 4pm, a large adult bird (solid chocolate plumage, not a speckled youngster) flew in and perched on one of the pines across the bay from the nest. The bird was very large, and so probably a female, but we did not recognise the head markings as one of our local birds.

 The osprey then frustrated our attempts to catch sight of its legs, to see any distinguishing rings, but to no avail. Perhaps it was an unringed individual, and so we will never know were it visited from. The Bird spent a good half hour preening- probably a sign it had flown quite a distance, before fishing on the loch for tea. Our Loch is exactly the kind of valuable safe stopping place for birds on the move that are crucial in their migrations. It left later in the evening to either perch up for a night, or continue its journey south.

 This reminds us that many ospreys from further north are still to pass us and that there are many more sightings to be had on migration routes this autumn. If you do se ospreys, be sure to try to get a view of leg rings- particularly the coloured Darvic rings, and report them if you can – Roy Dennis is always “extremely interested in sightings of colour rings and would be very grateful if reports of colour rings, including digital pictures showing the colour ring are sent to my email address: roydennis@aol.com â€�

 Emma Rawling

 Perthshire Ranger

Update: 11am  Sorry folks cameras down again- it still appears to be our internet connection.

Osprey Diary August 28, 2010
Saturday, August 28th, 2010

A grand morning at the Loch! Crisp, calm and clear.

Last night I was gazing north over the Tay valley, rolling wheat  beneath my feet, tall deciduous trees along the wide river banks, and up to a few, as they are called in the Western Isles, “pappsâ€�, Beinn Mhor and others at more than 1000 metres/ 3300 feet. Above, were determined swallows in a large continuous flock heading directly south aerial foraging as they went. I use the words “determinedâ€� and “directlyâ€� with intent; as I intend to underscore the drive of migrants, their ability to pool their resources and skills to one end/destination/goal.

There are salmon thrashing up the rocky gorge of the Braan just west of Dunkeld these days. A drive far stronger than the downward thrust of the cold water and gashes of stone on scale.

And so, ospreys move from this large island. As some of you know we witnessed the presence of an osprey for about two hours on Thursday afternoon on the Loch. Surely a “she� popping in to a no doubt known (to her) territory of a prime osprey nesting site. Perhaps this bird knew that if an osprey nest was nearby, fish supply and security was guaranteed… Yesterday morning too, I saw an osprey fly through the area from the crannog hide, moving south.

One of “our� blog people posts recent U.K. osprey sightings. I encourage you to scroll back to yesterday for an update. Good stuff.

These are determined times; flights of birds overhead, mass feeding sites, along shore, woods and water. The magic of life surrounds. We too are driven. I hope that we “know� why.

The best of wishes for all migrants, including human ones today. Rinchen

MAK/Dan Broad St Bridge: 2 Minks, 1 Kingfisher and no falcons 6:43am

Gorillas are so smart and fun to watch. Thanks Bobbie.

I'm sorry NYC, I didn't mean to offend you.  

Even a peregrine can't hide. Thanks sage. Your pics are cool. 

[WanderingFalcon (Carol P.):]

WanderingFalcon (Carol P.): 3 adult falcons! 2 on OCSR. 1 on top of Xerox south side with food. Very dark helmet small. Took towards HSBC. 4th pefa came around other??

4 falcons all in one area!!  One is a small adult with a dark hood? Hmm.  (biting nails).

MAK: Andrew St Bridge: Beauty on top Ibeam, Archer on 2nd Ibeam NE side OCSR.

[More than 500 million birds of different types are expected to pass through the nation’s skies this winter]

The great stork migration is upon us. Thirty-one thousand storks flew down the country to rest in the Negev and around the Dead Sea on Tuesday, before heading to their winter homes in eastern Africa.

Tuesday was the first day of the height of the migration, Jonathan Meyrav, survey director and project manager for the Israel Ornithological Society, told The Jerusalem Post. The society is part of the Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel (SPNI).

“This was the first big day of the height of the migration. For the next week to 10 days, we’re likely to see a lot of storks flying by,� he said. The migration will likely take six weeks since starting in early August. All told, 350,000 are expected to fly over the country from north to south in that time, he added.

On Tuesday, the birds flew from the Beit She’an Valley, over Kfar Adumim, to land in the Negev.

At SPNI’s suggestion, farmers in the Beit She’an area plowed their fields to uncover the rodents that plague them. The rodents made a tasty dinner for the storks.

As it has every year for nearly 30 years, SPNI and the Israel Air Force are surveying the birds.


The purpose of the study is two-fold, Meyrav said, for scientific purposes and to prevent collisions between jets and birds.

The project began on August 1. Surveyors stand in a line in the northern valleys to watch the storks fly overhead and estimate the size of the flocks, and in the Judean desert to watch the birds land. Seven thousand birds flew over in one flock on Tuesday.

On Wednesday, SPNI will send up a motorized glider to fly with the flocks. Throughout the migration, SPNI will be sending up planes to photograph and film the birds.

More than 500 million birds of different types are expected to pass through the nation’s skies this winter   

[‘Snuffleupagus]

Wraxall, UK - Three young owls are set to become a hit with visitors to Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm in Wraxall, as they begin flight training which will see the feathered friends feature in daily flying displays, educating the public about important birds of prey.

‘Snuffleupagus’, a lively African Spotted Eagle Owl, and ‘Bertie’ the Barn Owl, were hand-reared by dedicated keepers at Noah’s Ark, along with ‘Big Bird’, an American Burrowing Owl. Much to the joy of staff and visitors; the unusual threesome quickly became a close feathered family and now begin their flight training with their surrogate ‘Dad’, Head Keeper Chris Wilkinson.

Now 5 months old, Snuffy and Bertie will be taught to fly on vocal commands from keepers, taking food from perches and posts in the zoos popular Animal Show. ‘Big Bird’, the cheeky little burrowing owl, will demonstrate his natural ground-foraging behaviour outside in the outdoor Birds of Prey display. All will help teach visitors about special adaptations of different birds of prey.

With much previous experience of hand-rearing owls and running the flight displays, Chris Wilkinson says “Owls are highly specialised for hunting prey and very popular with visitors here at Noah’s Ark. I’m currently training Snuffy and Bertie to recognise their names and follow some simple vocal cues so they will be comfortable flying in the daily Animal Show. This is a great educational show, and our birds are very well looked after here.�

Owl flying displays are one of several daily educational events used at the zoo to help teach visitors about the biology, ecology and behaviour of certain species; with the aim of fostering interest in the natural world and important conservation issues.

Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm can be found just outside of Bristol and only minutes from the M5 motorway, open Monday – Saturday 10:30am – 5:00pm.


There are now over 100 sorts of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates at Noah’s Ark, including several important species classified as ‘endangered’ to ‘vulnerable’ on the IUCN Red List. These include Cotton Topped Tamarins (Critically Endangered), White Rhinos (Near Threatened), Brazilian Tapirs (Vulnerable) and Siamang Gibbons (Endangered).

The African Spotted Eagle Owl (Bubo africanus) is one of the smallest of the Eagle Owls and is also named on the IUCN Red List, categorized as a species of ‘Least Concern’. An important bird of prey but at lower risk of serious population decline.

The Barn Owl, Tyto alba, is well known for its hooting call and for its silent flight when seen but not heard during summer evenings in the UK. Barn Owls are recognized as an important species in terms of conservation, even though they are widely distributed, geographically, around the world.

Burrowing Owls are one of only a few species of bird which nest and roost in holes in the ground. The breeding season begins in March/April in North America. The female will lay a clutch of eggs (usually 4-12) and incubate them for 3-4 weeks. Upon hatching, both parents will tend the chicks for about 4 weeks in the subterranean nest.

Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm has been running owl and hawk flying displays for its visitors since 2005. Using a series of posts and perches around a public arena, either inside or outside, vocally-trained owls and hawks fly on the call of a keeper to feeding stations, providing the basis for fun, informative talks on adaptations in birds of prey.

Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm attracts over 130,000 visitors each year and can be found just 6 miles outside of Bristol, towards Clevedon. Started in 1999, animals include lions, giraffe, zebras, rhinos, tigers, gibbons, camels and 100 other types. As well as the longest hedge maze in the world, visitors can enjoy huge indoor and outdoor adventure playgrounds. For more details see our website: www.noahsarkzoofarm.co.uk