Wildpiczohio

08/17/2026

I saw this Mallard with a brand-new brood last week below Griggs Dam. It makes me wonder if this is her first brood this season or if her first one got destroyed by the weather or preditors?

"In the wild, mallards typically have one successful brood per season, though a female (hen) will readily re-nest up to several times if her first clutch is destroyed or lost to predators. In rare cases with very early successful hatches, a pair may attempt a second brood, but single-broodedness is the norm.

Clutch and Nesting Details:
-Average size: 8 to 13 creamy-buff eggs per clutch.
-Re-nesting behavior: If a predator or bad weather ruins the first nest during laying or early incubation, the hen moves and lays a replacement clutch, though subsequent clutches tend to have fewer eggs.
-Timeline: Incubation takes about 27 to 28 days, managed entirely by the female."

8-9-2026- Franklin County, Ohio

Canon EOS R3
Canon L RF 100-500mm
Canon RF 1.4 teleconverter

08/16/2026

In light of seeing companies trying to profit off of Bald Eagle Jackie's death, I've decided to create a special print gallery and sale that will benefit the Ohio Wildlife Center.

This gallery features photos of the juvenile bald eagle that I found on the ground a few weeks ago. The juvenile is currently being rehabbed by the Ohio Wildlife Center which is why I chose them as the beneficiary of the profits from this sale. Sale lasts until September 16th 2026.

100% OF PROFITS MADE FROM THIS SALE WILL BE DONATED!

Olentangy Nest Juvenile

08/15/2026

I watched this family of White-tailed deer moving through Scioto Audubon Metro Park the other morning. It was cute to watch dad come back for one of the youngsters that was lagging behind.

8-3-2026- Franklin County, Ohio

Canon EOS R3
Canon L RF 100-500mm
Canon RF 1.4 teleconverter

08/14/2026

Thank you all for taking the time to vote on the name for the Olentangy juvenile bald eagle! It was close, but Clyde is the winner!

Clyde- 8 votes
Brutus - 6 votes
Flash - 4 votes
Elvis- 3 votes

08/14/2026

This young Blue jay has not learned to be skittish around people yet. I think he might have been as interested in me as I was in him.

Canon EOS R3
Canon L RF 100-500mm

08/13/2026

Sorry for the lack of updates this week, but I haven’t had Electric due to the storms in Ohio. With that being said, we’re gonna go ahead with the naming contest of the juvenile bald eagle from the Olentangy nest. Please reply in a comment with the name that you like the most.
The submissions are…

Flash
Elvis
Brutus
Clyde

This video is from yesterday where I went to check on the nest to make sure it was still in place and it was. I did not see the juvenile bald eagle but I did hear him!

08/10/2026

We lost a legend and one of the best ambassadors for the American bald eagle in America! Jackie has brought us so many amazing moments and lessons over the years, and her loss will be felt by many for a long time. Please understand that Shadow must move on, and it will be interesting to see what happens from here.

Fly high, Jackie! RIP 🦅

Patient Update: Bald Eagle 26-519

It is with profound sadness that we share that Patient 26-519 passed away in the early hours of this morning, following more than three weeks of intensive medical care.

Over the past several days, her condition continued to deteriorate despite intensive treatment and the combined efforts of our veterinary team and consulting specialists. She remained critically ill, receiving oxygen therapy, supportive treatment, and around-the-clock monitoring in our intensive care unit.

Throughout her time at Ojai Raptor Center, every decision was guided by the available medical evidence, her welfare, and our responsibility to do what was in her best interest.

Her remains have been transferred into the care of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW).

We know this news will be deeply felt by the many thousands of people around the world who have followed her journey, hoped alongside us, prayed for her, and supported the people caring for her.

Our team is heartbroken. It has been an extraordinary privilege to care for her.

We ask for patience and kindness as our staff process this loss. We are working closely with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the California Department of Fish and Wildlife and will provide a more comprehensive statement including additional information on her treatments and test results.

To protect our staff and community during this difficult time, comments on this post have been turned off.

To everyone who cared about Patient 26-519, thank you. Thank you for your messages, your prayers, your encouragement, and for standing beside our team throughout these past weeks. We are deeply grateful for the way Patient 26-519 brought people together through a shared love of wildlife.

08/09/2026

This was my first time going to Scioto Audubon Park since Star's release last summer. There wasn't much going on, but I did see this young Great Blue Heron hunting for breakfast. I kneeled down on the boardwalk anticipating the catch, but it got spooked and took off when a jogger got close to me.

Canon EOS R3
Canon L RF 100-500mm
Canon RF 1.4 teleconverter

08/08/2026

I was behind my vehicle taking off my waders after spending some time in the water below Griggs Dam when I noticed movement in the trees directly in front of me. After watching for a few seconds, I realized it was a fox squirrel building a new nest. I must have stood there for 15-20 minutes watching this little one relentlessly going back and forth between the nest and surrounding trees as it grabbed materials for the nest. Finally, after non-stop movement for 15 minutes, the squirrel grabbed a small apple for much-needed energy refueling.

"Fox squirrels build two types of homes: permanent tree cavities (dens) and spherical exterior leaf nests (dreys). Dreys are woven from green twigs, leaves, and bark at least 30 feet high in tree forks. Cavities are preferred for winter and raising young, while leaf nests are common in summer.

Types of Nests:
-Tree Cavities: (Dens): Naturally hollowed trees or old woodpecker holes; roughly 6 inches wide and 14–16 inches deep. They offer maximum protection from weather and predators.

-Leaf Nests (Dreys): Spherical structures 12–24 inches wide made by weaving pliable green twigs with leaves attached. They are lined with moss, grass, and shredded bark for insulation.

-Summer Platforms: Flat, simpler saucer-like resting pads built during hot weather."

8-3-2026- Franklin County, Ohio

Canon EOS R3
Canon L RF 100-500mm
Canon RF 1.4 teleconverter

08/07/2026

These photos of a Mallard mom and duckling were taken over a 3-week period during the month of July in the Olentangy river by the bald eagle nest.

7/12 - 7/29/2026- Franklin County, Ohio

Canon EOS R3
Canon L RF 100-500mm
Canon RF 1.4 teleconverter