A new update on Bailey from the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey:

Yesterday was a big day for patient 799-17 aka Bailey the Osprey. She made it up to the high perch in our 55' rehabilitation barn!

Up until now, she's been doing low flights and spending all her time on the lower perches. Being able to fly up to these higher perches is a good sign that her rehab is progressing; but she will require much more time to build up conditioning and stamina. Small victories like this help give us hope, as Bailey's possible release depends on continued improvement in her rehabilitation.

In the photo, Bailey is on the right and Osprey 230-17 aka “Burn� is on the left. Burn was so named as he flew through a methane flare stack and singed all his major flight feathers.



I think it is very encouraging that Bailey is able to gain height and fly up to the higher perches. It is also good that she has another osprey for company. 

https://www.facebook.com/AudubonCenterforBirdsofPrey/photos/a.178902082122714.47191.178399165506339/1717702354909338/?type=3&theater

Many thanks for the update on Bailey, Kris! I think the transfer to the Audubon Center for Birds of Prey was a very good decision, since they are so experienced in caring for raptors. They did a wonderful job with Peace from the Northeast Florida nest earlier this year.

Bailey looks a little scared in the photo, which is totally understandable since she had had a very long day, ending up in a new place with new people. The people at Audubon seemed very happy to have her there.

Here is the trailer of a documentary about Polly and Algo at Echangeur Turcot.
Hoping you can see it...

https://vimeo.com/240714992

Very interesting trailer, with beautiful images of the falcons. Thank you, Penelope!

Here is a link to the documentary. The site comes up, but the documentary does not play for me. Since I have the world's worst Internet, I hope the link will work for others.

http://watch.cbc.ca/short-docs/-/algo--polly--turcot/38e815a-00d61d463ed

Spirit has been released. She looks very beautiful and in great condition. It is clear that she has received the very best of care at UQROP. Stay safe, beloved Spirit.

Spirit was indeed returned to freedom today, November 19, 2017, as the first snowflakes of winter arrived at Chouette à voir! It was a hard working volunteer who assists in the transport of injured birds of prey, Roger Rousselle, who carried out this release after having made a donation to UQROP to help pay for the cost of her care. We reached almost 20,000 people with the announcement of this release. Imagine how much this would help UQROP to save other birds of prey if each one had donated $1! A summary of Spirit's story will soon be published on this page and on our Internet site. Continue to follow us . . .

Beautiful photos by Christian Fritschi, who is also the person who rescued Spirit in July.

Beauty having breakfast:

   

DC arrived for a very short visit:

     

The nest box at Great Spirit Bluff was taken down, and a new nest box has now been installed. Apparently this was done in an attempt to deal with the bloodsucking insects which have killed a number of chicks over the years.

The area has some very pretty scenery, but I still think that the site itself is too dangerous and unsuitable for chicks, with a sheer drop of some 600 feet from the nest box and no space for the chicks to strengthen their flight muscles before fledging. It has long been recognized in Europe that some kind of platform or deck or other exercise area is necessary to give the chicks a better chance to fledge successfully.

I wish that the new nest had been installed in a safer location.





More information:

https://www.facebook.com/RaptorResourceProject/photos/pcb.1509887962381151/1509876672382280/?type=3&theater

Is that a nest box or a cliff wart?

Good one, Shaky! 

Someone on the base of Mercury:

Ospreys who have nested for ten years on the steeple of a church on Anna Maria Island have now lost their nest. The church was fumigated, using poisonous gas, and the nest taken down. Poor ospreys. 



https://www.islander.org/2017/11/but-church-fumigation-results-in-osprey-eviction-from-steeple/

The nest box at Great Spirit Bluff was taken down, and a new nest box has now been installed. Apparently this was done in an attempt to deal with the bloodsucking insects which have killed a number of chicks over the years.

The area has some very pretty scenery, but I still think that the site itself is too dangerous and unsuitable for chicks, with a sheer drop of some 600 feet from the nest box and no space for the chicks to strengthen their flight muscles before fledging. It has long been recognized in Europe that some kind of platform or deck or other exercise area is necessary to give the chicks a better chance to fledge successfully.

I wish that the new nest had been installed in a safer location.





More information:

https://www.facebook.com/RaptorResourceProject/photos/pcb.1509887962381151/1509876672382280/?type=3&theater

[FR3 found!]

There is good news about one of the 2015 osprey chicks.

From the blog:

FR3 found!

FR3 has been spotted safe and well in Bulok, Gambia!

As many of you know, FR3 was a chick born at loch of the Lowes in 2015. He was fitted with a tracker so we could monitor his migration south and his movements while he was down there. This continued for roughly 2 years in and around Gambia when we stopped receiving data from the tracker (2 June 2017).



Photo: Chris Wood.

We postulated a number of theories, and even sent Fansu Bojang, a freelance nature guide who has worked with the Rutland Osprey team to search the last known location from the trackers to no avail.

It’s nice to know there must have been a malfunction with the tracker as Chris Wood got in touch today with the fantastic news and sent us the image and video of FR3 perched on a tree top. He was spotted at around 9:30 this morning near an irrigation bank.

FR3 was also one of LF15’s first chicks with LM12 at loch of the Lowes. This is really exciting news as FR3 will be approaching the age of sexual maturity so may return to Scotland next year.

Christy
Visitor Centre Assistant
Loch of the Lowes

The blog entry, with a short video:

https://scottishwildlifetrust.org.uk/2017/11/fr3-found/

I did save a back view of the female. I can only go by what I see on the screen, but you have the advantage of seeing the birds in person. 

I have 3 faclons on site, one large like OC.   Going back out, if anyone is watching please take photos if you see anything.

I'm watching this site along with others, Carly, but I haven't seen three falcons. No one is there at the moment.

Lucky was at the nest:



Then Aria came in to land. Can't see her face, but it looks like her coloring. Then they both left.



Were you able to save any pics of the three?

Having watched the site off and on all morning, I just checked again and Juliet has laid her second egg! Congratulations to Juliet and Romeo!

I would say that is Lucky in that last photo. 

Thanks, Carly. I thought it was Lucky, but thought it would be good to have a second opinion.

On October 6, one day after Aria's arrival, did you happen to see the remains of a bird on the ledge, in the corner behind the nest tray? It was hard to tell what kind of bird, but something seemed strange at the time.