Osprey Enlightenment
The male returns each spring before the female arrives. He begins to prepare the nest for the female but more importantly, he’s reclaiming and protecting his territory from other Osprey. While the female generally tends to the eggs, and the male tends to her and the nest, males will share incubation duties.The female lay's an egg every other day or two, up to four eggs and begins incubating them as soon as the first one is laid. The first to hatch is often a female.
May 22, 2010
I arrive to find the male flying over the nest bringing fish to the female. At first glance they seem identical in appearance, but upon further observations, a lot of time and the help of a gracious woman who is an expert in Ospreys, I’ve learned that there is a difference, sometimes quite subtle, but a difference none the less.
The female is distinguishable from her darker markings on the neck, familiarly called a ‘necklace’, her darker overall appearance, larger size and broader wings. The male has an all white neck & breast, or a very faint necklace. I watch for quite some time, the sun and clouds move in and out as the birds build the nest, inspect their surroundings, and I watch and enjoy their peaceful existence.
May 30, 2010
It's cloudy and windy and the female is laying low in the nest, talking and scanning the horizon. I wait, but the male doesn't return. I'm sure he will, but I still worry that he may have come to harm.
June 4, 2010
While photographing the Osprey I often times miss details of the scene that is unfolding right before my eyes, and isn’t until later at home looking over the photos that I see what I missed. At first glance what appears to be a play of light turns out to be a gold fish, Yes, those lovely and expensive Japanese Ornamental Goldfish; Koi, seemingly a favorite of my ospreys.
The tension surrounding the nest has increased and the female, while rarely leaves the nest, holds her tolerance on a short string, and she calls out to her mate whenever anyone or anything gets too close to the nest. Her loud calls will range anywhere from a gentle warning, to an all out five bell alarm! Perhaps the eggs have hatched. Although Osprey’s are fiercely loyal to all members of the family, they are, by nature, docile creatures. They sound the alarm with ear piercing screeches, fly over head, glaring, screeching and buzzing, but they don't attack, though it has been reported to happen. So, I learned to respect the boundaries they place and watch from a distance.
They seem to inspect the nest or it's contents with interest and curiosity, then Papa flies to his favorite perch, leaving Mama to tend to things.
June 5 2010
Mama, as I now call her, sits in the nest while Papa is off fishing. The hours pass fairly uneventfully, then suddenly the quiet of the day is broken when her alarm goes straight to panic mode, escalating so quickly that I become alarmed. What is it? I look but can’t see anything out of the ordinary. Then, I see it, an Osprey in the distance. The Osprey nears the nest and the female really starts hollering, vocal sounds I’ve yet to hear.
The Osprey flies over the nest, appears to attempt to land, but takes off, and right on it’s tail the female.It's apparent that this Osprey is not Papa. The Intruder lands on the nearby cell tower, the female chases him off, and for the next few minutes the chase continues until the intruder finally leaves the area and the female returns to the nest. It was very, very tense for some of us!
June 6, 2010
The female has been leaving the nest but these short trips only seem to last a few minutes. The male stays close for a time but then he’s off for several hours, bringing fish for the female when he returns. It's a quiet day at the nest.
June 16, 2010
The male joins the female in the nest and they both seem to walk gingerly, perhaps stepping lightly around the chicks, and both are talking quite a bit during the process. Then the male suddenly flies from the nest to a nearby telephone pole, something in his talons. It was too far away to be certain, but I think it was a dead chick. My heart sinks a little. Knowing that they are fish hawks I wonder what they do when a chick dies.
Ospreys are ‘fish hawks’ and that says it all. They eat fish, and the majority of the fish they eat is live. They don’t eat rodents, or insects, they don’t eat birds, nor do they eat reptiles, although it has been reported that they eat snakes. It’s my belief that those snakes were having a swim in a lake when they were spotted by an Osprey. So, to answer my own question, when a chick dies in the nest one of the adults will either remove it, though sometimes they leave it in the nest where nature reclaims it.
June 18, 2010
It's hot, it's windy, and the soccer fields are full of children, parents, soccer coaches and dogs. I attach my camera to my mono-pod and begin taking photos. Mama is talking, and I see Papa in the sky, bringing fish. A woman walks over and asks what I'm looking at. I don't want to be rude but I'm anxiously awaiting proof of Osprey chicks so I keep my eye on the viewfinder while I chat with the woman. Then, I see it!
A little head, an open mouth and Mama gently putting bits of fish into a baby osprey's mouth! Then a second head, a smaller chick trying very hard to share some of that fish! I stay for a very long time, long after the soccer games end, the coaches, parents, children and dogs leave and I am, finally,alone with my Osprey 'family'.
June 27, 2010
It’s been over a week since my last visit and all is well in the nest. The female sits on the nest, while the male looks on from the nearby cell tower. A hawk flies over the nest, but the Osprey’s barely take notice. After an hour, I decide to call it a day.
July 1, 2010
It’s a clear, sunny day and the Osprey’s are very active. Papa brings fish for Mama and keeps a watchful eye on their surroundings while she eats. He then retreats to one of his favorite perches, the cell tower.
July 4, 2010
We were not able to make it to the nest until close to sunset; the sky and birds golden at first, quickly turn pink and lavender as dusk settled in, the nest quiet. It was plain to see that the female was waiting for the male to arrive. I’d learned, by then, to understand some of the body language, and calls, to know that he was near, and from what direction he’d arrive. Their eyesight, binocular-like and precise, enables her to see her mate long before I am able to spot him. She can see up to three times further than we humans. When he does arrive we see that he’s brought her a nice Koi, in fact this day was the first time I realized it was Koi, and not just a play of sunlight on the fish!
Ospreys have impressive vision amongst the raptor world. Their eyes face forward giving them depth perception, a much needed advantage while fishing and searching the sky for danger. They see in color which also aids in fishing, hence the Koi!
Their legs are slightly longer than most raptors, their feet are designed for fishing, and fishing is what they do. With small, spiny barb-like foot pads called ‘Spicules’, and an outer toe that is reversible, combined with their excellent vision, they are indeed, an impressive fish hawk!
July 10, 2010
Today is the first time I get glimpse of a chick since that first sighting, its size amazes me, it’s so much larger than I expected and the colors are emerging giving me a hint of the adult it will become, however, I only saw one chick and that is cause for concern. I saw it poke its head up several times, and it could have been three different chicks I saw, but no way to tell. So, I remain optimistic, yet still a bit concerned.
Predation from above is one of the main danger zones for chicks; eagles and Great Horned owls their worst enemies, and raccoons from below. If a chick falls out of the nest it’s not likely to survive, as it cannot fly, cannot defend it’s self, and although the adults guard their chicks fiercely, they are no match for the owl or eagle.
I also notice that today the female leaves the nest for a few short flights around the nest, and at one point she lands on the cell tower, perches there for a while then, as if by a secret signal, heads back to the nest, lands on the edge and waits for Papa, but Papa is nowhere to be seen, although I’ve come to learn that does not mean he’s not nearby, it just means I can’t see him.
July 12, 2010
Back again, and I’m hoping to get a head count.
The female is clearly feeding something in the nest and it isn’t until I’m able to look at the photos later, at home I took that I see there are, for sure, at least two chicks. I feel better about that number, but I’d feel even better if I’d have seen three chicks. The female is very vocal, and her head is like a pivot, looking in all directions. The soccer being played in the fields doesn’t help, but, on the other hand, it doesn't seem to affect them very much. They have adapted.As the numbers of breeding Osprey‘s increase in any give territory, and as suitable nesting trees become harder to find, Osprey will nest on light poles or man made nesting posts, and all too often those are located right in the middle
of human activity, ball fields, parks and sometimes right along a highway. They have adapted and thrive.
July 13, 2010
The clouds are rolling in and out; I’m hoping they don’t bring storms. Today is a stellar day, though at the nest. Quiet at first, the female standing guard on the nest, the male on the cell tower, having just dropped off fish at the nest, I finally spot all three chicks!! I am relieved, to say the least. But, as I watch, I discover that not only are the chicks alive and healthy, they are active! I’ve named them, Big Sister, Little Sister and Dumpling, and although I can't really tell them apart, I still use the names fondly.
The first to hatch are generally females, therefore they tend to grow bigger, faster. While still quite incapable of flying, it is evident that at this age they have the instinct, the desire to soar with the clouds. At this age they emulate their parents, flapping their wings, as well as ‘playing’ with the sticks in the nest. They will pick them up, move them or toss them from the nest.
At first she leans into the wind, feeling it in a different manner than yesterday or the day before. I watch for an hour while her nest mates lay low in the nest, but Big Sister seems preoccupied with the wind and the sky. I find it harder and harder to pull myself away from the nest with each visit, but it's been a long day, I'm tired and the clouds look like they are definitely bringing a storm. I get to the car, and once again things at the nest begin to change. I see her silhouette as she stands in the nest and begins So, I grab my gear and head back to the nest and watch in delight as she discovers her wings.
July 15, 2010
I arrive late in the day, nearly 7 p.m. just in time to see the male arrive, landing in the nest which is becoming more and more crowded as the chicks seem to grow before my very eyes. He lands and heads straight to the female and they brush up against each other, seemly hug and nuzzle as the chicks begin to wail. He stays briefly, and then retreats to his post; the cell tower. The female and the chicks continue to wail, begging him to go fishing. He eventually acquiesces, returning nearly an hour later with a nice, fat Koi.
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With both adults out of the nest there’s plenty of room for the chicks to play,and wing flapping is what they like to do! Dangerously close to the edge of the nest at times, the chicks seem to have no fear. The sun is getting lower in the sky, so I call it a day.
July 23, 2010
There are soccer tournaments tonight and the female is very aware of her surroundings. She doesn’t seem overly concerned, but she is absolutely aware of her surroundings, her head pivoting constantly! The male sits on a branch in the nearby trees, content to let the female stand guard, they talk to each other, assuring sounds. The chicks, however, do not make an appearance, except a brief glimpse of Big Sister, I presume. She seems to be the adventurous one. The games are over, everyone has gone home and I watch until the sun nearly slips from view before heading home myself.
July 24, 2010
9 a.m. and the chicks are fairly active when I arrive. I missed the arrival of breakfast by mere minutes. The female, in her usual stance, watches over the chicks as they feast, the male looks down at me from his cell tower, clearly curious, but not very concerned, after all, I am not near the nest.
By 10:30 a.m. the chicks have settled in the nest and the female is circling over me, surveying the area, the nest, me. I think I’ve irritated her now. I decide to give them some space.
I head home and return later in the evening. When I return the wind has picked up, the chicks have eaten and rested and now they have discovered …wind, real strong wind!
I watch in pure delight and a bit of fear as Big Sister first stretches her neck, face into the wind, then begins to flap, but flap like she’s never flapped before. I see she’s a little too close to the edge of the nest and I worry that she’ll fall. She tries to jump but she’s not that coordinated, then as she pauses, Dumpling gives it a whirl! And before I know it, Little Sister has joined the act and mama just watches as though it’s no big deal.
Then, as suddenly as it began, the wind dies down, but only for a moment or two. It went on like that for over an hour; blowing wind, flapping wings!
July 25,2010
I arrive to find both adults on the cell tower, Papa on the left, Mama on the right, her wings drooping, face to the sun. She is drying her feathers in the morning sun. How odd she looks, yet graceful on the pole.
Then, the peace and quiet is broken by an intruder. It flies over my head, and Mama and Papa are off like a rocket. This is a no fly zone and they mean business. They chase him off but it's an intense chase that lasts over 15 minutes and oddly enough, the chicks watched most of the ordeal, rather than flattening themselves, ‘pancake style’ in the bottom of the nest. They are learning!
Then, when the coast is really clear, papa takes off, fishing I suppose, and mama is left to the task of guarding the chicks who are very agitated by the time she returns.
Papa returns around four p.m. with fish and mama feeds the babies, who look nearly as big as she. However big they have become, they still beg and eat like little, helpless chicks
I return later that day, and the timing is perfect. Dinner is arriving, the clouds are moving out, and soon the chicks have fully bellies, and are ready to play. I love to watch them. They're getting stronger and will soon be flying.
July 26, 2010
While waiting for the Osprey I notice the abundance of Barn Swallows at the park, and can’t resist taking my attention away from the nest and turning it to the antics of the Swallows.
The Ospreys are quiet. Perhaps it's the heat. Big Sister peers over the edge of the nest as the others lay low. Mama takes a few trips around the nest, then flies to the cell tower but stays only briefly. She seems edgy. Perhaps it's the heat. As the sun sank below the hills behind me, I moved to the opposite side of the nest and was just in time to see Papa bring the last fish of the day.
July 28, 2010
The chicks are sitting on the edge of the nest, giving me a good look at just how big they’ve become, and I cannot believe my eyes! Their feathers, still tipped in white have taken on more of an adult look than a juvenile; the markings on their face are nearly mirroring that of the adults and they are vocal!!
Shortly after I arrive, Papa flies over the nest nearly touching mama as he does, and I can’t be sure, but I think he dropped a fish into the nest. He didn’t even stop, just dropped it as he flew over the nest! Then I see two of the chicks eating a piece of fish, it looks like they are sharing
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Now that everyone has eaten and they preen and clean, the wind starts to pick up, and the show begins! At first it’s just a few flaps here and there, with a lot of teetering. Then, the flapping is combined with hopping and I laugh aloud at those silly birds! 
Sometimes their necks are stretched so far they look as though they’ll snap.
Suddenly a gust of wind lifts Big Sister and I cheer! Her nest mate looks on and Mama seems not to notice, but Big Sister is airborne! I watch as she floats back down, toes stretched like an open hand, talons reaching for the nest. It is breathtaking to behold.
The wind continues to gust and Big Sister continues to flap, but she doesn't quiet become airborne again today. Eventually the chicks settle down, the clouds roll in and both parents retreat to the cell tower, scattering the collection of starlings that had gathered.
July 29, 2010
I’ve wondered how they keep the nest clean, and have been curious what the ground looks like under the nest. I decide to take a look, a quick one as I don’t want to alarm the birds. I discover there isn’t much on the ground, a few large sticks that have been tossed from the nest, and a couple fishy things, gills or something, and obvious white splotches in the grass This leaves me wondering how they keep the nest poop free! Well, I found out, yes I did! In hindsight it’s plain to see, but it wasn’t until I watched one of the videos I took that I noticed something odd, so I watched it again, and there it was, the answer to my question, ‘how do they keep the nest poop free?’
Now, looking through the photos I see it all the time!
They will walk backwards to the edge of the nest, raise their tail end and 'release'. Kind of gross, I know, but that's what it is!
It's early evening and I miss the delivery of fish again, but I know they are eating, the movement in the nest tells me so. Big Sister must have had her fill because she has her attention aimed elsewhere.After some gusty winds toss her forward she faces the wind, her neck stretched, she attempts flight once more.
She turns just enough to give me a glimpse at her wings; her flight feathers have filled in completely and I know it's just a matter of days before she sets sail! As Mama watches the chicks and the sky from the cell tower
I know Papa watches from the trees.
As the sun sets on the nest, the chicks try one last time to catch the wind and soar, but it isn’t time for them to fly yet, just time to dream of flying!
Good Night, Osprey Family!
July 30, 2010
At 9:30 am it’s hot, it’s windy, the black flies are biting and the Ospreys are laying low. I wait an hour and there is no activity in the nest. Papa and Mama are on the cell tower and I’ve decided to go home, but just when I get to the car I hear one of the birds call out, so I look to see what’s going on. The chicks are finally starting to move about, so I go back to watch them for a while longer. 10:42 am, the wind picks up and suddenly Big Sister is flapping her wings, and before I know what’s happening, she’s off, flying! Soaring! Big Sister has left the nest!
The folks playing tennis must have thought I was crazy as I shouted, ‘Go girl! You go!!!’
So, rather than go home like I had intended, I stayed for a very long time. She flew a few laps around the field then settled on a light pole where she stayed for quite sometime. mama and Papa surveyed the area, landing in the nest to check on Dumpling and Little Sister, then back to their perches to watch the show.
Little Sister and Dumpling both tried, but today was not their day. It would come soon enough, and then the fun will really begin!
Big Sister seems unaffected by her new found freedom. She surveys the area, she examines her feet, looks at the ground below, peers at me, head bobbing as she tries to focus on me , the creature that has been focusing on her for so long and then after several minutes, off she goes back to the nest where she discovers there is a part two to flying. Landing! It's not as easy as one would think. She does land, but only stays a few seconds before leaping flapping, tettering and tottering but this time she only goes a few feet from the nest to one of the lights on the pole as her nest mates look on in amazment. She stays for quite some time, wondering, no doubt how she got there, and how she was going to get back to the comfort of the nest. She finally rejoins Little Sister and Dumpling in the nest and they all settle into a routine of preening and wing flapping which continues off and on for several hours, the wind gently urging them to the skies. Big Sister hops back and forth between the nest and the light, but neither Little Sister nor Dumpling make it beyond wing flapping.
July 31, 2010
I arrive to find Big Sister perched on a light fixture on one of the poles away from the nest, her nest mates still in the nest, Mama is on the tower and Papa is not in sight.
However, another intruder has flown by and Mama is in hot pursuit. She returns quickly, the intruder was easy to usher out of her territory. Meanwhile, Big Sister has returned to the nest. She knows the drill.
60 minutes later, the clouds rolling in, Papa returns to the nest with dinner, a nice Koi, and all three chicks greet him enthusiastically. Mama doesn’t join them right away, but eventually, the whole family is in the nest. Papa finally retreats to the trees, Mama to the tower and the babies pick the bones, then they all start another wing flapping session.
August 1,2010
Well, it’s 10a.m. and from and I think I see all three chicks are in the nest. Mama is in the trees and Papa is on the cell tower. He sees me clearly, I’m right standing below him today, rather than my usual spot on the other side of the field, but I can see the nest better from the east side of the nest at this time of day. Papa tolerates me for a few minutes, but then flies off to chase an intruder. When he returns he seems agitated. He keeps circling over me, lands in the nest briefly, flies over my head buzzing and squawking and I can’t quite figure out why. I move away from the base of the tower to stand closer to the nearby building, but he still appears agitated. Then, I finally see what the fuss is all about. Not 50 yards from me, perched on an old style telephone pole is one of the chicks! I look to the nest and see there are only two chicks there, not three as I had earlier thought. No sooner do I make the realization when one of the two chicks remaining in the nest takes off and lands across the field. Dumping is still in the nest, and looking a little left out!
August 5,2010
Dinner is delivered, but I notice that parents are starting to entice the chicks by bringing fish to the nest but also flying over the nest with it several times before landing, and occasionally taking it out of the nest almost as soon as they land with it.
It’s clear that all three chicks are flying now; each still struggling with landing but that’ll come with practice. As nest mates, it seems as though they want to be near each other, so when one lands on a pole, another will follow, but landing, as I stated earlier, is still choppy at best, so they tetter and totter, dip and sway as they each try to land with solid footing. I watch them, in the golden light of evening, as they fly and land, fly and try to land, and fly and land. At times I think I can hear them scream, ‘Whoa! What did I get myself into here?” I watch their antics, near misses and safe landings until the sun is too low to cast much light on them and am forced to call it a day.
Good Night Osprey family!
August 7,2010
There is much excitement and confusion when I arrive at the nest today. There are, at one point, six birds to keep track of, four in the air and two in the nest. By my count, that’s one too many! I can’t tell who is who, but I do know one doesn’t belong, and even though I don’t know which one doesn’t belong, the Ospreys do.
Eventually the sixth one is chased off, although this time it took a very long time and the birds flew very high before the sky was safe again. And this chase was different, this time Big Sister helped chase off the Intruder! When they return there is a lot of buzzing and chirping from all parties involved, Little Sister has left the nest and joins the family as they circle the park, while Dumpling still clings to the safety of the nest, and it concerns me enough to try to get a closer look. He begins to sound the alarm as I get closer, and from the trees behind me I can hear another bird, perhaps an adult has landed. I decide to let him be, and as I turn to go he flies away, perfectly fine. My concerns were unfounded.
The birds are over head again, this time one has a fish in its talons, or do two of them? Its hard to keep track as they glide through the air, quickly turning this way and that. One lands in the nest, then flies up and out, but returns immediately to the nest. It isn’t until much later when reviewing the photos that I realize it was one of the chicks with a fish in her talons. Big Sister has caught herself a fish! She Just needs a little schooling in how to land with a fish in her claws! The other was Papa delivering fish to the nest. Not sure if his chicks were in nest or not he flies and hovers over the nest, then eventually drops the Koi into the nest, where Big Sister sits with her trophy, and is soon joined by Little Sister. Dumpling is off on his own watching from a distance.
August 11, 2010
It’s very hot today, the birds are quiet, even the Barn Swallows are taking it easy in this heat. One adult osprey is on the cell tower, the other heads to a light pole, one chick is in the trees, and I hear at least one in the nest, but it’s laying low so I can’t be sure how many are in the nest. It’s a quiet day, and it is too hot, so I head home. I hope to see them soon, but I know that one of these days I’ll arrive to find an empty nest.
August 13, 2010
I arrive to the nest after work worried about the severe storms last night, but the nest and chicks are fine, in fact, they great, very active and making so much noise that I guess it must be dinnertime, and sure enough Mama arrives with a gigantic fish! 
There is a lot of noise and fussing about, but the chicks quickly settle down as they eat.The quiet doesn’t last long. They begin to move about, in and out of the nest. It reminds me of an airport, while one bird lands another takes off, the third waiting to taxi! This goes on for nearly an hour before they settle back into a routine of preening. Then, as the sun began to sink, they all took to the sky, a family night out. One by one the chicks flew to a light pole and there in the growing dark is where I left them.
August 14. 2010
It’s a cloudy day and when I arrive late in the day I see two chicks in the nest squawking like babies, and Mama is perched on the cell tower. Within minutes one of the chicks leave the nest as Papa flies in from the east carrying a large Koi. I wait and watch as the black flies bite my legs and finally the chick that left the nest returns with a fish in both feet, which makes landing in the nest, or anywhere, nearly impossible for this youngster. He flies over the nest several times, nearly landing, but pulls up at the last moment. He finally seems to figure it out; one foot holds the fish, the other reserved for landing. He finds a good spot and eats his hard earned catch.
August 15, 2010
There’s a lot of excitement in the air. The birds are circling about, chattering, squawking and squealing, seemingly having a party , and in a way I suppose they are. Here comes one of the chicks in the distance. They are venturing out on there own more and more, staying away for slightly longer periods of time, and when they return the whole family engages in what can only be described as utter delight as the prodigal chick returns! Their calls, usually reserved for mealtime or intruders, sound loud and clear. It makes me clap and laugh aloud, something I find myself doing quite often as I watch my birds.
Dumpling has even taken to the sky and he is curious about me. He flies over me, buzzing and squawking, in fact they all seem to be enjoying my company today giving me quite a show, both visual and vocal.
They fly about, coming and going like kids in a playground. As they master their flying skills they work on their fishing skills and so far, Big Sister seems to be the first to succeed in every new skill they learn. Mama and Papa still bring fish to the nest and the chicks still partake in those meals, but today, Big Sister and Little Sister each made off with half of the fish, retreating to the solitude of the trees while Dumpling sat, stunned and amazed and alone in the nest with no fish to show for it! It was rather comical, they way he wailed until finally more fish arrived.
August 20, 2010
The activity in the nest is changing. The adults are no longer answering the cries of the chicks who are fully capable of fishing for themselves although they still prefer the safety and security of the nest. Mama does not make an appearance today, and Papa watches his brood from his usual perch, the cell tower. Although he ignores their cries for food, they certainly try, and their nearly constant vocalization is amazing. They fly in and out of the nest, then as they stop briefly, they glare at Papa who eventually brings his left-overs to the nest and the chicks devour it in short order.
I also discover an important rule..if you play with the settings on your camera, be sure to switch them back before you forget or you will end up with over saturated, over sharpened photos!
August 21, 2010
It's late afternoon, hot and windy. The field is full of activity, swallows, bluebirds, dragonflies and the occasional monarch zip back and forth but the nest has quieted compared to the usual state of affairs. I see one chick, standing on the edge of the nest, squawking, looking into the trees. For all the noise that's coming from the nest I have to think there is at least one more chick in the nest. Shortly after I see the second chick, Papa arrives with a fish which sets the chicks off. Just about as soon as the fish hits the nest, one of the chicks makes off with it and heads straight back to the trees. The remaining chicks stares in surprised indignation and is fairly screaming! I wait a while to see if Papa returns with more fish, or if the remaining chicks flies off to get his own, but sadly he stays, hopeful that Papa or Little Sister will return.
August 23, 2010
Another hot, windy day, and the clouds are rolling in and out. It feels like a storm is brewing. There's a chick on the light pole and one in the nest. I'm happy but a little surprised. There is a lot of activity today, the birds are noisy, Papa is on the cell tower completely ignoring his chicks. After about an hour, the clouds seem to dissipate, the sky is blue. Dumpling is doing his usual crying, flying over my head, buzzing and chipping, while Little Sister takes refuge from the heat in the shade of the trees. Then out of nowhere, Big Sister makes one last. brief appearance. She's gone in a blink, with hardly a goodbye glance. Until next year, Big Sister!
Comment
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Comment by Laura on October 7, 2010 at 1:35pm -
Thank you, bindu, my pleasure!
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Comment by bindu krishnan kutty on October 7, 2010 at 7:42am -
A great job! Thanks for sharing your experience with us.
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Comment by Laura on September 27, 2010 at 5:08am
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thanks, Ricky. I'd forgotten about this. I was editing/adding to it and decided to post date the posting of it, forgot all about it, and now I see I haven't finished. I better get on it! :)
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Comment by Ricky L. Jones on September 26, 2010 at 9:52pm -
Great stories and excellent pictures!
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Comment by Laura on September 1, 2010 at 6:05am
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Yes, in part because the are not like other raptors that can fly in and out of wooded areas more easily so they like to build their nests more in the open, which leaves their chicks vulnerable to predation from other raptors; owls and eagles. They do nest in trees, of course, but those are usually on the edge of a water way, lake, river, etc. And just from my observations, there are a lot of non resident osprey's that scope out the nest & territory which makes the resident birds very edgy, although nothing more than a long, vocal chase ensues. I've done a lot of reading about them, and the information I've received from the woman I met has been invaluable. It's been such a journey!
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Comment by Lisa Mayo on September 1, 2010 at 5:38am -
Thanks, Laura -- good luck with the effort. As long as the platform is about as high (or higher) than the light, the ospreys will likely take it. Ospreys have a real need for being higher than what is around them. I think it makes them feel safer.
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Comment by Laura on September 1, 2010 at 5:30am
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Hi Lisa, and thank you for reading & commenting. I'm happy you are enjoying my osprey's.
I talked to a local woman who is an expert in Osprey and she used to work for the Parks& Recreation as a consultant. She, nor the park district knew of the nest until July. She contacted them and said they may build a platform. I think I'll email them as well, and reiterate the importance of a platform.
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Comment by Lisa Mayo on September 1, 2010 at 5:05am
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Thanks so much for sharing all the photos and details. It would be nice if someone could build a tall platform near the nest so the ospreys would move over to it in future nesting seasons and have a safer place to nest. I know I've read of others doing that for ospreys that chose to nest on lighting structures.
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Comment by Laura on August 28, 2010 at 6:09am
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Hi Rosanna! Thank you! Just wait, it gets even better as they grown and learn to fly, fish and help chase intruders away!
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Comment by Laura on August 28, 2010 at 5:16am
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Hello, Corinne, thank you for reading & commenting! I have to say, it's been a wild ride observing this family. I just can't get over my luck in that they chose a nesting spot so close to my house which has made it so easy to watch them. Thanks again Corrine.
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