It's with a very heavy heart that I write this entry. Sometime over the weekend, the nest and part of the platform were destroyed. I didn't see #4 fledgling but I did see Antony on one of his perches. I can only hope that #4 is safe somewhere. I spoke to a resident who told me that he heard a " lot of commotion one evening over the weekend, a bunch of kids dropping the f-bomb etc." I quote "if you see or hear something, SAY something"... a good part of the platform is laying at the bottom on the grass.
I've observed 2 out of 4 fledge, 3 out of 4 in the nest. I have not seen fledgling number 4; hopefully it's deep in the nest. Cleo perches nearby with a watchful eye while Antony is on his usual perch.
Another steamy NJ summer day. The 4 siblings have gotten huge in a week - Antony wad on his usual perch while Cleopatra sat atop a tree. I'm thinking that they'll fledge this week.
I went to visit Romeo and Cleopatra during the first heat wave of July. Cleo and the brood were fine in the nest and Romeo was on his perch as usual. The nestlings are getting big. The smallest is holding its own so far.
I was wondering how the brood of Antony and Cleopatra were faring during TS Fay. During a break in the rain, I went to check on them. I couldn't see the fledglings, and I didn't see Antony. Cleopatra was wheeling overhead screeching. Maybe she was telling the brood to stay deep in the nest during the storm. I will check on them tomorrow.
typical hazy, hot humid summer day in NJ. Both parents and chicks breathing with beaks open, and Cleopatra tried her best to shade her brood with her wings. Antony flew from one perch to another. I was surprised to see all 4 chicks; two do look larger than the other ones. I can't believe how much they grew in one week! I'm thankful someone removed the red unidentified object from the nest.
Last evening I saw 2 chicks, but this morning there are THREE! and the red object looks to be out of the way. Interesting behavior that I saw last evening was that Antony left the nest with a fish. I presume he went off somewhere to enjoy his dinner alone.
Yesterday I saw a reddish object in the nest; looked like a deflated ball. Cleopatra moved it to the back of the nest, and didn't appear to be a threat.
Today I went to visit because stormy weather was predicted. When I arrived, there was a lot of chirping. Two ospreys were flying overhead while Cleopatra was on the nest. You must remember there are 2 nests about a football field away from each other. Then one flew away, and Romeo flew onto his nest. Both were chirping at each other, then both flew off. I could see the red thing sort of towards the middle of the nest. Both returned with nesting material, Cleopatra fussed with it while Romeo made a few trips back and forth with fresh nesting material. They both inspected the nest, Cleo remained on the nest while Romeo flew to his perch. The red object was still very visible, and I am concerned.
Today there was no sign of Antony; Cleopatra was up and down on the nest, moving around, so I'm still guessing something hatched. I stayed for an hour but no sign of Antony.
when I arrived at the nest site, Antony was on the nest with what looked like a piece of fish in his beak, and Cleopatra was looking at him and then down. The pair were moving a lot so I think maybe eggs hatched!
As I rode up to the nest site Antony was on a post of the nest. Then Cleopatra flew off as he sat down on the nest. He was very vocal while she was gone. Finally she returned with a snack, landing on a small marsh island. A crow had second thoughts about approaching her as she enjoyed her fish.
When I got to the the nest site I spotted Antony flying over the marsh, and luckily caught him land8ng. Conditions have been windy and partly sunny. It seems to me that Ant9ny spends a lot of time on the nest with Cleopatra.
Today Antony and Cleopatra were enjoying the great weather. April was very rainy, and last night there was a shower. Hoping that it stays reasonably dry for a bit.
As I was observing the other nest, a third osprey flew overhead; I had seen others before but this time I followed it with my camera telephoto. Much to my surprise, there was another nest about 2 football fields away from the initial nest! I was able to track the location, and so now there are 2 nests I will be observing. My name for them will be Antony and Cleopatra.
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