Good news has been scarce this year. Black flies snuffed out first nesting attempts by virtually all breeding pairs and will reduce chick production by about 40%, compared to last year. One of the few pairs to continue incubating in defiance of the flies hatched chicks, only to lose them to infanticide when a new young male evicted the male breeder. And one of our most consistent chick producers and well-loved birds, the 19 year-old male on Jersey City Flowage, barely survived severe entanglement in fishing line that caused him to lose 20% of his body weight.

A few days ago, we received a bit of good news. The Jersey City Flowage male, after surgery and rehab work done by the folks at REGI and release near his original territory, has not only shown the capacity to feed himself normally, but has re-paired with a female hatched on Fisher Lake in Vilas County in 2010. This May-December pair seems settled at the north end of Jersey City Flowage, according to Linda Grenzer. Now, whatever judgements we are tempted to make about the age disparity in this relationship, it is nice to see the old male get himself back in shape and ready to give life another try.