Nickname
Fripp Island Platform 7
Coordinates
(32.3309, -80.4622)
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
| 2023 - BettyP | 2022 - Lindas | 2021 - BettyP | 2020 - BettyP | 2019 - BettyP | 2017 - BettyP | 2012 - KristenM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| aAdult Arrival | 3/13/23 | 3/3/22 | 3/8/21 | 3/12/20 | 3/12/19 | 3/4/17 | |
| aOccupied | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| aActive | |||||||
| bEgg Laying | 4/22/23 | 4/19/20 | 4/17/19 | ||||
| bIncubation Initiation | 4/24/23 | 4/30/17 | |||||
| cClutch Hatching | 6/6/23 | 2/21/06 | 6/3/17 | ||||
| dNestlings | 3 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 1 | ||
| eFledglings | 3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | |||
| eFirst Chick Fledging | 8/3/23 | 7/25/21 | 7/22/19 | ||||
| fChicks Last Observed | 7/5/17 | ||||||
| xNest Failure | 7/5/17 | ||||||
| xReason For Nest Failure | unknown reason |
Select Seasons
Show reports, diaries, and photos from:Current 2022 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 2012
Activity reports
2012 Nest Activity Report by KristenM
| Adult arrival | Nestlings | 1 | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nest Occupied | No | Fledglings | 1 |
| Nest Active | First chick fledging | ||
| Egg laying | Chicks last observed | ||
| Incubation initiation | Nest failure | ||
| Clutch hatching | Reason for nest failure |
2017 Nest Activity Report by BettyP
| Adult arrival | 03/04/2017 | Nestlings | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nest Occupied | Yes | Fledglings | |
| Nest Active | First chick fledging | ||
| Egg laying | Chicks last observed | 07/05/2017 | |
| Incubation initiation | 04/30/2017 | Nest failure | 07/05/2017 |
| Clutch hatching | 06/03/2017 | Reason for nest failure | unknown reason |
2019 Nest Activity Report by BettyP
| Adult arrival | 03/12/2019 | Nestlings | 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nest Occupied | Yes | Fledglings | 2 |
| Nest Active | First chick fledging | 07/22/2019 | |
| Egg laying | 04/17/2019 | Chicks last observed | |
| Incubation initiation | Nest failure | ||
| Clutch hatching | Reason for nest failure |
2020 Nest Activity Report by BettyP
| Adult arrival | 03/12/2020 | Nestlings | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nest Occupied | Yes | Fledglings | |
| Nest Active | First chick fledging | ||
| Egg laying | 04/19/2020 | Chicks last observed | |
| Incubation initiation | Nest failure | ||
| Clutch hatching | Reason for nest failure |
2021 Nest Activity Report by BettyP
| Adult arrival | 03/08/2021 | Nestlings | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nest Occupied | Yes | Fledglings | 3 |
| Nest Active | First chick fledging | 07/25/2021 | |
| Egg laying | Chicks last observed | ||
| Incubation initiation | Nest failure | ||
| Clutch hatching | 02/21/0006 | Reason for nest failure |
2022 Nest Activity Report by Lindas
| Adult arrival | 03/03/2022 | Nestlings | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nest Occupied | Yes | Fledglings | |
| Nest Active | First chick fledging | ||
| Egg laying | Chicks last observed | ||
| Incubation initiation | Nest failure | ||
| Clutch hatching | Reason for nest failure |
Nest Activity Report by BettyP
| Adult arrival | 03/13/2023 | Nestlings | 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nest Occupied | Yes | Fledglings | 3 |
| Nest Active | First chick fledging | 08/03/2023 | |
| Egg laying | 04/22/2023 | Chicks last observed | |
| Incubation initiation | 04/24/2023 | Nest failure | |
| Clutch hatching | 06/06/2023 | Reason for nest failure |
Photos of this nest
Nesting Diaries
05/12/2022 by BettyP
The afternoon of my last posting a female came to the nest and they have spent the time between then and two days ago building the nest, eating and mating together. But Tues the 10th, there was no nest activity, and the female roosted all day in a nearby tree. There was no male. Yesterday, no activity and no female and no male. Thought everything was on track but it seems as though something has happened.
04/28/2022 by BettyP
No one was in the nest for the rest of Wed., 27th. The male flew into the dead pine on the golf course and roosted there until after dark when we could no longer see him. This morning there was no activity in the nest. At about 7:15am I observed the male sitting in a live oak (466 Porpoise) about 50 yards from the nest. Later he flew into the nest and has been sitting there alone. It is 8:30am. I think I have solved a part of the mystery.
04/27/2022 by BettyP
After the last posting, that afternoon a female came to the nest and they spent several hours up there together. The following day there was sporadic activity with chirping and flying, I did not see any mating. Then this morning, around 6:35 am, the female flew into the nest followed by the male and mating occurred. They have not been in the nest for the rest of the day. It is now3:45 pm.
04/25/2022 by BettyP
Since the last diary posting, there has been a lot of mating, and some nest building. However, something is now wrong with the nest. The female has not been seen by us since the middle of last week (04/20/22) I was out of town but my husband said he heard a lot of chirping on Friday, indicating nest activity. But now the nest is quiet. The male comes and sits in the dead pine on the golf course, and sometimes sits in the nest chirping. We will keep this diary posted.
03/31/2022 by BettyP
There has not been much activity in the nest in the last few weeks. The pair has spent a little time there, but almost no nest building has occurred. Lately, however, there is more activity. Some mating, and some bringing of nest materials to the platform. Things may be picking up.
03/03/2022 by BettyP
Yesterday for the first time the male and female were sitting in the nest together. They were there again this morning. Hooray - they are back.
08/05/2021 by BettyP
This nest had three, healthy chicks. Two of them fledged on 07/25, the third fledged several days later. They are currently flying about and learning to fish. The Male father is still here, but the female appears to be gone.
03/15/2021 by BettyP
pair arrived a week ago. They have been mating but they have not repaired the nest.
07/22/2019 by BettyP
Today both of the chicks flew for the first time. The older one flew early in the morning, several times in a circle around the nest. The second one flew a bit later, and got stuck in a dead pine tree. It hung upside down with its wing sort of open. We have never seen this before, and were concerned. However in a few minutes, it righted itself and flew back to the nest. All is well. Mom is still in the area.
05/27/2019 by BettyP
Yesterday and today we have seen the pair standing in the next, and this morning the female was definitely feeding something. Would have to say that an egg must have hatched on the 25th or 26th of May.
04/18/2019 by BettyP
on March 18, the male and female started mating and acting like a couple. There have been several other osprey soaring about, but this seems to be the final two. The appear to be the two from last year.
There has been much mating and nest building activity for these last few weeks. Recently the pair have been roosting for the night in a pine tree about 300 yards from the nest.
Yesterday, April 17, the female finally started sitting on an egg. This morning they both took turns sitting on the egg. We will not be able to see how many eggs are laid until the chicks hatch. We are now watching and waiting.
03/12/2019 by BettyP
Lots of activity this morning. Last night the male osprey had a fish in the pine tree about 200 yds from the nest pole. This was quite late, almost dark. This morning, I was watching at first light and at 7:20 am he flew in with a little piece of fish. He stayed for about 15 minutes, left and returned at 7:50 am and sat there until 8:20 am. Several times he spread out his wings and hovered over the nest holding the little piece of fish. One or two? females soared around, and finally a female and the male sat on the next together. The male is definitely "our" male, but the female looks a bit different.
03/11/2019 by BettyP
The male osprey has been back for a couple of weeks. About three weeks ago a female landed on the nest but did not seem to be the one who nests here. She has not returned, nor has the usual female. We and the male Osprey have been watching and waiting. He flew into the nest yesterday am and sat for half an hour. He flew away and a different male flew in and sat for around 10 minutes. No one has been on the nest this morning.
07/28/2018 by BettyP
We have had 3 healthy chicks growing up in the nest, and today, we had first flight. Two of the three have circled the nest. All is well. They have been wonderful to watch.
06/06/2018 by BettyP
Sure enough, on Sat, May 25th (37 days after last post) it looked like something was hatching. Instead of sitting the nest, they were on the side for part of the time and looking in. Since then, they have been feeding little ones. We can not see into the nest from here, but today, in the spotting scope, we finally did see 3 little heads popping up for food. Very exciting. They are 12 days old now.
04/19/2018 by BettyP
After posting yesterday, we found that the female laid an egg in the morning. She has been sitting low in the nest, and at evening time, remained there. The male was roosting in a nearby pine. This morning around 6:00 am, she called, and he came over and switched places with her for a while. All is well. We will start counting.
04/18/2018 by BettyP
We are watching for egg laying activity, but to date have seen none. Monday evening, the 16th, they both roosted together in a nearby pine tree. They had been doing this for some days. Usually in the early dawn, the female would fly to the nest, and the male would join her 15 or 20 minutes later. However on Tuesday morning, the 17th, at dawn I noticed that she was already in the nest.. Last evening, the 17th, at late dusk, she was in the nest, and he could not be seen in their usual roosting spot. I awoke at dawn again this morning, and she was still at the nest. However she was not laying, but standing in a roosting position. This was shortly after 6:00 am. I think she probably spend the whole night there. The male arrived around 6:30 am. The frequency of mating seems to have diminished.
04/08/2018 by BettyP
In the last few weeks since the female arrived back at the nest, there has been much nest building activity and courtship. We really felt that at last an egg had been laid on April 4th. with possibly a second one on the 6th. But on Saturday, the 7th, we had wind and rain much of the day and colder temperatures (mid 50's). The female remained on the nest all day through the rain. Then this morning, we were awakened by loud calling, and although we did not see what happened, sensed that the nest did not have any eggs any more. Maybe an eagle? Maybe the cold rain? The pair of Osprey just sat in a tree, not far away. She stayed there most of the morning until he brought her a fish. This morning was 45`. However, the sun has come out, and they have returned to the nest and mated at least once that I saw. We will keep watching.
03/08/2018 by BettyP
Much activity in and around the nest this morning. We believe the female has returned from her winter migration. There were three osprey soaring around the nest early in the morning, each one landing briefly on the nest. Later in the morning, the resident male who has been around now for several weeks, and the returned female sat quietly on the nest for long periods, maybe 15 min or so, leaving and then returning for another sit..
01/24/2018 by BettyP
01/19/18 In the morning, a male osprey sat on the nest platform for 15 min. or so. About an hour later, a female sat on the nest platform.
01/20/18, and 01/21/18, a juvenile Bald Eagle sat on the nest platform (see photo). At one point it entered the nest and moved twigs around.
01/14/2018 by BettyP
A female osprey stood on the nest platform (which had been substantially damaged during Irma) at around 3:00 pm. Stayed for only a minute then flew north. I could not tell if this was the female from last summer. The male has been coming and going all winter. Last saw him on Jan 4th, and he, too stood on the nest platform briefly.
07/12/2012 by KristenM
2 adults urging fledge to leave the nest-adults in nearby trees-fledge on house roof-lots of loud shrieks! Glorious
06/08/2012 by KristenM
one chick observed-very loud, noisy bird-adults often in nearby tree listening
04/12/2012 by KristenM
Nest blown away-two adults with twigs rebuilding-lot of activity on the platform