TPC, do you remember what year that was? I have been watching this site since 2005, when the cam was first installed, and I don't recall chicks being lost at this site for that reason. That did happen at the Woodmen site in the early years, when all four chicks died one year due to excess heat out on the ledge. As a result, a roof was installed on one of the two nest boxes there.
Ah nuts, I got my Nebraskas mixed up. Funny, I was remembering it was another Manitoba female but didn't even twig it was the wrong the location
It was 1997, and Winnie from (you guessed it) Winnipeg was paired with the famous Zeus at Woodmen in Omaha. There are two different causes of death which have been reported - heatstroke due to reflected light and "suspected poisoning". Guess it could have been either - never did hear if a necropsy was done on the chicks and "suspected" would seem to imply never confirmed which in turn would seem to imply no necropsy.
By the way, I was the one who posted the article above.
Nuts squared, sorry Alison, was scrolling and reading quickly before I had to head out. Thank you to Alison for posting the article
And Alison and RCF for keeping a close eye on this nestsite!