Whidbey Island, Washington. Grove of hemlock trees in field next to wetland. Maybe 1 mile as osprey flies to Puget Sound. On private land easily visible from public road.
Nest Cam URL:
Monitoring Groups:
Latitude:
48.019324
Longitude:
-122.450867
Followers:
None
Past Seasons
Show reports, diaries, and photos from:Current2012
The nest was visited by me or others a few times a week, and watched by the landowner as well. The pair mated and fixed up the nest as usual this year and were in attendance regularly, but at a time when babies are showing up all over Whidbey Island, there is no sign of them at this nest. I remember that two ospreys were fledged from this nest last year. Maybe they'll try again next year.
7/3/12 One bird flew off the nest when I arrived but another guarded from a perch near by. The guard chased off a Bald Eagle. Another eagle cruised by but continued going. The guard took to the air but didn't have to attack. The birds no longer seem to be incubating. Perhaps there are chicks in the nest that we can't see.
He goes out and hunts and brings her fish. She lifts up and looks at him for a while, then takes the fish and lies down. I have no way of knowing if there are babies in the nest until I see activity towards the top.
5/12/12 I may be wrong about incubation. Today the female sat in the nest and arranged a branch that the male brought her. This may show that they are not ready to lay eggs yet.
5/10/12 The nest was empty when I arrived about 3pm. Soon 3 ospreys arrived - one female (slight dark bib on breast) and 2 males. The female settled into the nest, and one male chased the other one off. Both males flew away, and after about 10 minutes, so did the female. After about 15 minutes, still no ospreys. How are they ever going to hatch eggs if they keep leaving the nest?
May 2 2012 I observed one osprey watching at the edge of the nest and the other sitting in the nest. For a while they looked at each other as if to communicate. The one at the edge of the nest flew off but came back 5 minutes later. I think there are eggs being incubated in this nest.
I finally can see the nest clearly from my vantage point along Ewing Road. Today an osprey sat on the branch next to the nest and ate, then flew into the nest and gave the other osprey some food. Then the first osprey flew off. The second one sat in the nest rather restlessly, occasionally turning or poking at the edge of the nest. The second one then flew off the nest, down to the adjacent pond, splashed for a moment, then flew away. Neither one came back for about 15 minutes. I think this means she has not yet laid eggs. I'll increase the frequency of my visits.
4/19/12 observed the male bringing more nesting material to the nest. It's going to be very hard to see inside the nest, if not impossible. We will probably have to make do with inferences.
April 15 saw osprey fly in with a fish, dropped down (probably onto nest) and came back up without the fish. I can't see inside, but she must be in there!
Past Seasons
Show reports, diaries, and photos from:Current 2012
Activity reports
Photos of this nest
Nesting Diaries