Nickname
baypeep 3
Coordinates
(37.754, -75.7405)
Substrate
Osprey Nest Platform
Followers
None
Monitoring groups
What to look for
a
Adult Arrival
Look for 2 adults on the nest. The adult pair will show pair bonding behaviors such as vocalizations, aerial sky dances, and the male feeding the female fish. You may see the pair copulating, which typically begins 14 days before laying eggs.b
Incubation Initiation
Females will lay 1 - 4 eggs at a rate of one egg every 1 - 2 days. After laying, incubation starts. Look for adults taking turns sitting low in the nest incubating eggs. The incubation period can last 35 - 43 days.c
Clutch Hatching
Chicks hatch ~39 days after incubation begins. Look for adults bringing food to the nest and making "head bows" into the center. Chicks typically can't be seen until they are 2 - 3 weeks old, so feeding behavior is the only way to know chicks are there.d
Nestling Count
Around 4 weeks after hatching, look for the heads of chicks to show over the rim of the nest, particularly when adults bring food to the nest. Other times they lie flat and are harder to see. Count the number of chicks in the nest before they learn to flye
Fledgling Count
Chicks begin flying around 7 - 8 weeks old, and are still fed by the adults. Count the number of chicks who have successfully fledged the nest and are observed flying.f
Chick Last Observed
4 - 10 weeks after fledging, chicks begin leaving the nest area to migrate south, once they have learned to fly and feed themselves. Record the date that the last chick left the nest.x
Nest Failure
Look for signs of nest failure like adult abandonment, adults no longer incubating eggs or feeding young.Review All Observations
| 2012 - peep | |
|---|---|
| aAdult Arrival | |
| aOccupied | No |
| aActive | |
| bEgg Laying | |
| bIncubation Initiation | 5/3/12 |
| cClutch Hatching | |
| dNestlings | |
| eFledglings | |
| eFirst Chick Fledging | |
| fChicks Last Observed | |
| xNest Failure | |
| xReason For Nest Failure | nest destroyed during storm |
Select Seasons
Show reports, diaries, and photos from:Current 2013 2012
Activity reports
2012 Nest Activity Report by peep
| Adult arrival | Nestlings | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nest Occupied | No | Fledglings | |
| Nest Active | First chick fledging | ||
| Egg laying | Chicks last observed | ||
| Incubation initiation | 05/03/2012 | Nest failure | |
| Clutch hatching | Reason for nest failure | nest destroyed during storm |
Photos of this nest
Nesting Diaries
04/09/2013 by peep
Nest appears to be inactive this season. There are a few sticks on platform, but I have not seen an osprey on platform.
07/25/2012 by peep
As the summer progressed it became very difficult to observe this nest by boat due to growth of brush and trees. So we found a way to observe nest by driving to small fishing village of North Side Chesconessex and observing from crab harvest retrieval dock used by watermen. On July 22, we observed a nest that was empty of birds and partially destroyed by storms I am guessing. We also noticed new dock construction in rather close proximity to nest. I don't know if the dock construction was cause for abandonment or not as we were unable to view nest for some time. There are currently no adults or fledglings in nest, but earlier in summer nest was active with both adults and the appearance of incubation of eggs. Too bad.
07/25/2012 by peep
As the summer progressed it became very difficult to observe this nest by boat due to growth of brush and trees. So we found a way to observe nest by driving to small fishing village of North Side Chesconessex and observing from crab harvest retrieval dock used by watermen. On July 22, we observed a nest that was empty of birds and partially destroyed by storms I am guessing. We also noticed new dock construction in rather close proximity to nest. I don't know if the dock construction was cause for abandonment or not as we were unable to view nest for some time. There are currently no adults or fledglings in nest, but earlier in summer nest was active with both adults and the appearance of incubation of eggs. Too bad.
07/03/2012 by peep
Went out in skiff to check on nest after terrible storm of early am June 29. Nesting material is still in place, but we did not observe any activity in nest.
06/24/2012 by peep
Went by water in skiff to try to observe this nest. Unfortunately due to angle of sun and over growth of foliage, we were unable to observe nest. We will try again when sun is in a more friendly position for observation. Osprey in area.
05/13/2012 by peep
Observed nest from a distance by boat. Adult appears to be incubating eggs. We did not wish to stress osprey in nest as there was a battle going on between an eagle and two adult osprey in the vicinity of a close by nest. Nest appears to be healthy. Osprey in nest did not move while we were observing, but I know he/she had her eyes on the eagle attempting to invade near by nest.
05/03/2012 by peep
This nest was first observed a couple of weeks ago, but we didn't observe osprey in nest. Today when checking on two other nesting sites, we discovered incubation behavior in this nest. It is in same general vicinity as other two nests I am watching.