Nesting Diaries
one perched on tall corner t perch but the perch has fallen sideways, hope it holds for any future fledglings this year. will repair in the fall
one deep in the nest, one in the marsh on favored pole
both on nest today no incubation apparent
one on corner board, waiting patiently, 64, S 7 mph, 4:30, sun and clouds
osprey on nest corner board today, looks to be staying as it was chasing some other birds in the fog
just one chick seen today at 7 pm, female on nest calling for fish
one on nest today, seemed low to have 2 week old chicks
one incubating in nest today, observed egg rolling
2 up on nest, did not see incubating behavior
i can not tell 100% but appeared one incubating today when mate brought fish to nest, will confirm next few days,
both adults at nest with 3 growing chicks
not sure of activity on this nest, hard to see it without scope, adults still at nest
hatch date may be closer to 5-21 but the 24th was first day i was close enough to confirm feeding behavior
one deep in nest, did not see mate
one incubating, did not see second
first day to see both osprey on the nest, first arrived 3 days ago
no osprey seen in over a month
6:45 pm this evening one adult osprey standing on the platform
one adult on the nest this evening just before 4 pm, lots of osprey activity in the air overhead
one adult on the nest today and one perched on the close by PVC pipe
continuing to see both adults at or near the nest even though they have no family to raise. they just take it easy and catch fish and guard their home.
female on nest today with a slightly fuller looking nest and male on snag near James Farm trail, eating a fish
one rearranging nest material today
this pair rarely does well. i can assume the nest failed due to predation as it is in a remote area where we do see owls and eagles. they most likely had just started hatching chicks. they have now been perching on an unused platform near the observation platform of james farm purple trail and it looks like they have been building up the nest there.
one incubating, second osprey not seen but poor vis and raining.
one deep in the sparse nest. I checked twice and it appears to be on eggs. wish they had spent more time building up the nest but this is their M O.
just before sunset one was in the nest with one down in the marsh. the nest is much bigger but still not as high as it needs to be out in the exposed and windy marsh field. We tried to fix this platform during the winter but were only able to remove most of the old solar hardware and place a predator guard. The platform is extremely high, over 20 feet, and it has no corner boards or side bars to hold nesting material so it is always bare and difficult for chicks to survive the weather thru the entire season.
Today was the first day I could confirm this pair at their tall platform in the east marsh of James Farm. There is a nearby James Farm platform on the waters edge of Joshua Cove and one pair of osprey had been visiting both platforms but all 4 were counted on both nests today at 4 pm. There is a large piece of white pipe like material in the nest.
end of season: did not see any activity at the nest after 6-21-17. I would guess great horned owls or eagles as the cause of failure because of the dense woods across the marsh from the platform although we had a lot of heavy rains also.
One adult on nest feeding with one chick visible, adult male on nearby pvc pipe
this date for hatchlings doesn't really square with incubation date but such a tough platform to get my eyes on except for with my scope and with the darn ticks this is the best date I can confirm chicks feeding and both adults on nest
hatchlings are due and most likely here but although I see activity I have not been able to confirm chick feeding. heavy rains and mist making it hard for me to see nest clearly, will confirm this weekend with good weather
challenging to see this osprey in the nest but with patience I am still confirming incubation. today the mate was on a nearby pvc pole eating a fish
one incubating and one on nearby marsh level pole
still incubating on a platform with no wind resistance. very little nest material. we tried to get to maintenance of this very high platform with old solar panel and camera but never got it done. the pole is super high and we did get out to it but realized we will need a team to do the job, maybe fall 2017.
one osprey incubating and one took off after an immature eagle that passed over the platform.
The pair was sitting together on their platform at 6 pm. the platform is very flat with no perches or corner boards so I can rarely see much nest material. the nest is in a large open marsh area and prone to high wind so I hope they can nest successfully this year but it is a tough set up.
Noon, South winds, 14 mph, 2 osprey on the nest.
No osprey but for past week or so there is a pair of immature, first year I believe, bald eagles hanging out on this platform.
I am somewhat sure this nest failed due to the extreme storms during May 2016. This platform is scheduled to be improved for 2017. There is no nest material remaining because it is a flat platform top and the material blows off. Also raccoons may prey as there is old solar equipment on the pole. We are going to try to remove all solar equipment,place a predator guard on the pole and if we can get a tall enough ladder we will build some platform corner boards to hold nesting material as this nest site is exposed to extreme wind.
Both adults were at the nest today but no nesting activity observed.
the 2 other nests in this same area failed after chicks were hatched. I would guess the reason to be either owl predation, Or at this nest in particular raccoons, or the heavy rains. However there has been eagles with a young family of 2 hanging around this area too. It is hard to lose so many nests but in this case I do think it is purely nature and not human interference.
I get a better look at the nest today and though I see both adults on the nest there doesn't appear to be any chicks or feeding or sheltering behavior.
Today I see one adult on the nest but can not see any chicks. I have been monitoring this nest from quite a distance and mainly just seeing the adults coming and going and seeming to feed chicks. The nest is not easy to get to at this time of the year due to ticks and chiggers.
It is quiet at the nest today with one adult shading chick (S)
Both adults on the nest, one appears to be feeding chicks. I am concerned with the lack of nest material. This platform is in the middle of a secluded marsh and surrounded by a tall evergreen tree line. The platform was built by The Center for the Inland Bays and has no predator guard, no perch or side supports. It is essentially a flat board on a 6X6 pole that has angled 2X4's to support the pole and old solar hardware from an old webcam set up. In short it has no protection from ground predators and no protection from high winds. The nest failed for a number of years until one chick survived the 2015 season. By the time the chick fledged there was no nest material left on the platform. This year is similar and I am just hoping a chick can survive.
One adult feeding chicks. I have been checking this location each day and there is always activity but I can not yet see any chicks heads. Clearly feeding and shading behavior with either one or both adults at the nest.
Past 2 days I monitored this nest there appeared to be shading behavior but I haven't caught actual feeding. Each visit I saw both adults with one coming and going but staying very close to the nest site each time. Have not seen fish brought to nest yet but I am 90% sure we have chicks again this year.
It was very warm and humid today so I can not be 100% sure if the osprey on the nest shading was shading chicks or just up off the eggs but I would bet there were chicks on the nest. Later I checked again from another vantage point and the second osprey was on the platform and both were perched high, not low and incubating. It certainly is time for chicks.I will visit again tomorrow.
One incubating and one on the nest
One incubating and one on nearby snag
One bird on nest incubating
This pair has new neighbors at Joshua Cove new platform erected to relocate the Cove Ct. osprey (6016). The Cove Ct birds are now bringing nest material to their new nest and the Sloughs Gut pair have been visiting the new nest site and tolerating it!
This platform is fitted with solar panels but is not "online". Mature bald eagles often seen perched near this nest site, also great turkey and heron/egret viewing. platform nest material has very little support against wind.