Nesting Diaries
Still no osprey have returned to the duck blind. The blind is falling apart so this pair may have found a more stable spot.
No activity as yet....the blind has been damaged over the winter and the roof is now highly slanted. The Osprey may not be able to return to this site. We'll keep an eye on it!
Definitely abandoned. No Osprey have been near the log for nearly three weeks.
The nest on the log has been abandoned. We are so sad to see the osprey leave us but grateful that they weren't chicks in the nest.
The photos on the left show the duck blind with its damaged top, a 'blue shot' of the pair when they first returned and selected that log, and an evening shot of them having completed their nest.
Well, they didn't choose a tree. Instead they built their nest on a fallen log in the middle of the creek. Other Osprey pair have tried this log before and each time, their nests have failed. This is definitely a worrisome situation.
This is an interesting story. The duck blind was pretty well ruined in the last storm and the platform upon which this pair always built their nest is now cracked, broken, slanted, and unusable. Both Osprey are back, both are near the blind all the time, but no nest building has begun. Hopefully they can find a site nearby and start fresh.
Despite a late start, the osprey are doing well raising their two chicks. So far, so good!
She is definitely incubating eggs. Went out in a canoe to ensure that we were seeing 'incubating behavior' and confirmed eggs in the nest.
Very busy this weekend building a new nest. They are both carrying in sticks right and left.....hopefully they can get it together in a timely way.
Both Osprey have returned and have been seen sitting atop the blind. However, the nest was blown down last fall and the two Osprey have not begun to make a new nest. No stick-carrying behaviors have been seen. We'll just have to watch and wait, fingers crossed.
Once again the nest is totally gone. It must be related to high winds and they hadn't made a very good one due to the late start. This is a disappointment but not a surprise.
Okay. The nest in the nearby tree is complete. BUT the geese are gone and the osprey have returned to the duck blind. But the nest they created has been thrust over the side and two eggs are hanging in the detritus. Are they goose eggs? Are they osprey eggs? We can't tell from this distance. The nest is a mess and the osprey seem unwilling to leave the blind. More to come this week as this saga unfolds.
Both adults are on the branches of the tree by the new nest but not incubating at this point.
As of last Sunday, the 10th, two Canada Geese have taken over the nest, laid eggs, and are incubating. Frustrated pair of osprey spent much the first week dive-bombing the geese and then sulking in a nearby tree. Last Sunday, the two osprey began to build a new nest in that same nearby tree. So now, the nest is completed and the two osprey are sitting on branches nearby. They haven't laid eggs yet but seem to be nearly ready.
No osprey in or near the nest today but three or four flying overhead. May belong to our duck blind nest. Will check again next Sunday.
The two adults were seen on the nest on Wednesday, March 9, by a team member kayaking by.
One confirmed baby. I don't know if second was just my imagination or if it died. Anyway, one baby for sure.
Looks as if the female is standing on the side of the nest. Is it because the eggs have hatched or is it just that the weather is soooo hot that she can sit beside the eggs, knowing they'll stay warm? I'll be back tomorrow to check.
The two adults are both constantly there and the female appears to be incubating eggs. This is all progressing nicely.
the two adults have returned and are constantly chasing away two other adults who want the spot. Hard to tell who used it last year....defending stolen territory or defending last year's territory?
Two heads have definitely been seen. Great success at this spot again this year!!!
The nest is completed and the eggs are laid. The female is definitely incubating her eggs.
June 6, 2013: Observed both adults at this nest in late morning. Finally observed nestling, approximately 3-4 weeks old
March 29: observed one OSPR on nest and other perched in tree nearby in picnic area. Nest appeared to be larger.
14 March 2013: observed OSPR standing on nest continuously for about an hour. Then joined by another OSPR as I was leaving