Nesting Diaries
06/01/2014: Also see <a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S18646080"><b><u>eBird Checklist S18646080</u></b></a>
06/01/2014: Observed two young and two active adults. Please see 3 photos posted from this date. The young do not appear ready to leave the nest yet. One adult brought in some nest material to what appeared to be a well-made nest. All appeared well and normal.
18 April 2013: Please also see ebird http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S13800560 ; Observed 2 adults sitting on the nest. Each adult took turns "fishing." One adult may be "right" handed, and the other "left" handed (?) "Lefty" appeared to give a fish to "Righty."
The incubation date of 04/18/2013 is probably late - incubation probably began earlier than this.
10 Feb 2013:
Also please see eBird Report http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S12918820
We observed one adult Osprey actively building the nest.
On 12 May 2012, Roy Brown and several other birders observed 2 adult Osprey feeding at least 2 chicks at the nest. Roy took photos and posted 2 photos here.
12 May 2012: Roy Brown posted 2 new photos (from this date) of adult(s) feeding chicks in nest. Several birders confirmed there are at least 2 chicks in the nest.
On Sunday, 25 March, 2012, Melissa Martin, Frances Brown, and Roy Brown, observed the mated pair on the nest. One adult stayed on the nest then entire time and appeared to be incubating eggs. The other adult appeared to be hunting and bringing the nest adult food. Both Osprey appeared healthy. Dates and specific times in this eBird report: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S10269242
On 14 March 2012, Roy Brown observed Nest #205 at Veteran's Memorial State Park at Lake Blackshear.
The mated pair spent some time together on the nest. They engaged in presumed copulation activities. The presumed female remained on the nest during the entire observation period of 4:00 PM until 5:30 PM. The presumed male left and caught a fairly large fish and brought it back to the nest after eating a portion of it. The female did not appear to eat any of the fish. 5 photos of these activities were posted to Ospry-Watch.org.
Below are links to larger views of the 5 photos (same as the thumbnails) taken on 14 March 2012:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rbinv/6837492286/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rbinv/6837492670/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rbinv/6983616701/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rbinv/6983617077/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rbinv/6837493736/
IMPORTANT NOTE regarding ADULT ARRIVAL DATE: The date of 7 February 2012 is a "best estimate" based on research in eBird and interview(s) with park staff. We have photographic and other evidence that the mated pair was on nest by at least 7 Feb 2012. Though this date is reasonably close, we do not know if this is the actual "early date" with certainty for this pair on this nest.
2 March 2012:
Took photos of nest and mated pair. Pair appeared to be in court-ship activities.
There was always at least one Osprey on the nest, except during period of time when fisher-men (in a boat) were too close to nest.
Links to photos:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rbinv/6801319270/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rbinv/6947426679/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rbinv/6947426981/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rbinv/6801320266/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rbinv/6947427799/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rbinv/6801321042/in/photostream/
7 Feb 2012:
Observed a mated pair on the nest in the middle of the water north from the entrance to the nature trail; eBird report: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S9782200
19 Feb 2012:
Observed mated pair on same nest platform out in middle of water, north of nature trail entrance; eBird report: http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist?subID=S9904936
1 March 2012:
The photos I added today are photos of the mated pair. The photos were taken just west of the nest, as the Osprey were soaring. One of the Osprey appears to be molting (looks a little ragged in the photo.) Here are links to the photos to see larger:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rbinv/6843093723/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rbinv/6843093163/in/photostream/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/rbinv/6843092593/in/photostream/